My movie roundup for the week:
Malignant is a deliberately campy 80s-like horror throwback that goes COMPLETELY INSANE and I dug it for that. The movie goes into total crazy territory unapologetically, and that's something I can't help but respect. It's one that has to bee seen to be believed. Regardless of you ending up enjoying it or hating it, it has to be seen. If you're a veteran of the horror genre you'll see the direction the movie is heading towards early on, but even then, you won't be prepared for exactly how it executes it.
Free Guy was surprisingly a lot of fun. Not every joke lands, but the majority of them do, and the plot is actually very uplifting and wholesome. A very predictable movie, but it still works. Ryan Reynolds has his charisma factor set at maximum for this one.
Cry Macho was good. It's a very simple story, but that's part of the film's charm. It also got surprisingly meta at times. The chemistry between the kid and Clint Eastwood holds the whole movie together.
And the big one... No Time To Die was very enjoyable. I liked Casino Royale and Skyfall more, but this was much better than Spectre or Quantum of Solace. I do think the film feels like they mushed two different scripts together because they knew Craig was only going to do one more movie, and as a result the film is really long to squeeze everything in, both the new material and tying up loose ends from past entries, but overall the narrative works well. And thanks to some good pacing and acting the film doesn't slog down and make you wish it would hurry up. Though the new villain is kinda underwhelming compared to past baddies; they try really hard to sell his menace but it doesn't feel as earned or as natural as it should have been. Still, a great send-off for the Daniel Craig era of James Bond and an excellent culmination of this Bond's story and character arc.
► Show Spoiler
James Bond dies in the end, but he dies a noble, honorable death, a true hero's death, sacrificing himself to save not only the world but his newfound family. And his legendary legacy endures thanks to his actions, his circle of friends, and his daughter.
