Ranking the Universal Monster Movies

     The continuation of writing about horror films resumes in this week’s blog. After my review of The Witch, I wanted to broaden my scope of horror, but I did not just want to choose any random movies. I wanted to go back to the beginning of horror, and what exactly is the beginning of horror? The Universal Classic Monster movies. No, they do not officially start the horror genre, but they start horror as a pop culture phenomenon. They are so simple, yet so effective in how they create the horror setting as well as the clichés that other films would copy from them. I had never seen the original Universal Classic Monster movies before, so I thought this week was as good of a time as any! I did not want to watch all of the movies since there are over thirty of them, so I will just be ranking what you would call the “big name” movies. I will be ranking the following films: Dracula (1931), Frankenstein (1931), The Invisible Man (1933), The Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Son of Frankenstein (1939), The Wolf Man (1941), Phantom of the Opera (1943), and Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954). Let’s get to the ranking! Spoilers ahead!!!

8. Son of Frankenstein (1939)

     Meh. I did not really enjoy this film at all. I do not think it is a bad movie per say, but it just felt uninspiring. The problem is that I had just watched the movie’s predecessors right before this one, and this movie simply does not hold a candle to those two films. I like the overall plot of Dr. Frankenstein’s son being the main star, but the Monster is barely in the film. Also, the Monster is downgraded from Bride so severely, so it feels like we are taking steps back instead of moving forward in relation to the plot, although I do think the Monster’s death in this film is very cool. The movie was just boring and way too long. I think the Frankenstein series should have just stopped after the first two since they were so amazing, and this film was just…not.

7. The Wolf Man (1941)

     Though this Classic Monster movie is a step up from Son of Frankenstein, I still felt dissatisfied when watching this one. Do not get me wrong, I think the characters of Larry and the Gypsy Woman are terrific and maybe some of the best in the Monster Universe, but even they cannot save my attitude towards the film. I wanted Larry as the werewolf to be more dangerous and scarier than he was, but I was again dissatisfied with that element of the film. The film builds these characters up, but it felt way too quick with the progression of Larry’s madness for there to be any payoff of me feeling for him or even his love interest. I know this movie is highly regarded by modern critics, but I just cannot get on board with their appreciation of this movie, so it ranks here at number seven.

6. Dracula (1931)

Now we are getting to the movies that I actually liked, and while I think Dracula was the weakest of the good movies, I still enjoyed it. I think that this movie was probably the “scariest” out of the other movies I saw. I mean none of the movies are scary considering they are outdated and maybe weaker in the special effects department, but I was perturbed a couple of times during the movie. Renfield as a character creeped me out especially when the sailors are staring at his disturbing expression on his face. Also, the uncanny castle setting at the beginning of the movie made me feel itchy and claustrophobic, and it definitely made me feel I was in Renfield’s shoes of feeling unsafe. The criticism I have with this movie is that besides Van Helsing and Dracula, I did not care about any of the characters. I know Mina is a popular character in literature and film, but there lacked character development with her. Who is she as a person? I could not tell you. Though those minor details bug me, I think the character of Dracula is great and makes for an interesting, yet frightening movie villain.

5. The Invisible Man (1933)

     What is the first word that comes to my mind when I hear The Invisible Man? Fun. That is the word because I had so much fun watching this movie. I think what I loved about this film is that it does not take itself too seriously, yet is effective in its storytelling abilities. This is the first movie in the Classic Monster Universe with Claude Rains that I saw, and he definitely left a lasting impression on me. I loved the comedy with the tavern owner and her repeated screaming, the montage where the Invisible Man is causing chaos throughout the land, and the scene where the Invisible Man kills his work partner Kemp. Those moments are definitely going to be ingrained in my head from my time of watching these Monster films. Though not a scary film, I do find an invisible person with no morals roaming the lands to be pretty eerie. Maybe it would not be too hard to catch him (for example the ending), but the presence of the unknown is a scary thing in itself. I was fully invested in this movie due to its memorable characters and its genius dialogue, so I could definitely see myself watching this again in the near future.

4. Creature of the Black Lagoon (1954)

Creature of the Black Lagoon is probably the most beautiful film in the whole list. The underwater effects of the Creature and zoologists’ scenes is so extraordinary especially for the 1950s. Not only do I think that the Amazon Rainforest is a perfect setting for the movie, but I also think the character development is really strong is this film as well. The characters feel very real, so you have to feel scared for them in their bizarre situation. One of my favorite scenes in the list of movies I watched came from this movie, and it was the scene where the Creature is below Kay in the water. The way the stuntman mimicked her every move in the water was so fascinating to watch that it came to be no shock when I found out that the scene is one of the most popular scenes in cinema history. The scene also gives us a peek into the Creature’s motives for terrorizing the crew as he is lustful towards Kay. Creature of the Black Lagoon was my first Monster movie, and it did not disappoint in the slightest. I really thought this would be in my top three favorites, but it still holds strong at the number four slot.

3. The Phantom of the Opera (1943)

Most of the people who are reading this blog post right now have probably seen some version of Phantom of the Opera at a point in their lives. The Internet requested that I should watch the 1925 version, but it is a silent film, and I just cannot keep focus when watching silent films, so I chose the 1943 version, which the Internet said I should avoid. I do not know what problem the Web had with this version because I absolutely loved this adaptation of Phantom of the Opera. Yes, I do not have prior experience with the musical, but I can tell that this was a masterpiece of a movie. The music performed throughout the movie was magnificent, and I felt very tense listening to it knowing that the Phantom could strike at any moment. Claude Rains returns to the Monster Universe in this adaptation, and he really does a great job of breathing life into the eccentric and predatory Phantom. Christine is a likable protagonist even if her love interests make her seem unlikable at times due to them not being…likable. The film’s bright and colorful atmosphere juxtaposed with the dark and mysterious plot makes this movie a must watch!

2. Frankenstein (1931)

Speaking of masterpieces, Frankenstein is definitely one for the books. You can immediately tell this is going to be a dark and gothic movie in the first scene where Frankenstein and his assistant Fritz start digging up a fresh corpse to use for their experiment. Like Creature of the Black Lagoon, you really do get attached to the characters in Frankenstein. You can clearly see that Frankenstein is a good man who is deeply disturbed and who wants to be seen as an ingenious  man. This is proven as his character progression has him rescind back to being level-headed where he can see his faults of disrupting the laws of science. His girlfriend Elizabeth is also an interesting character where I feel as if we the viewers are supposed to be seeing everything from her perspective. Not only are the characters amazing, but the setting of the tower during the lightning storm is by far the most memorable setting in all of the Monster films I have watched. From iconic lines (“It’s alive!) to iconic scenes (The Monster being burned in the windmill) this movie is basically without faults, and I can definitely see why it is considered such a staple in horror.

1. The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

Coming in first place as not only the best Monster movie, but possibly one of the best movies ever is Bride of Frankenstein. If you ever wondered if there was a sequel that outperformed the original, there is, and it is Bride of Frankenstein. Not only does this movie expand upon the original story, but it also is requisite in knowing the lore of Frankenstein’s universe. From the very first scene of the Monster surviving his death and killing two villagers, I knew I was in for a treat. Though the Monster does get a bride, we see that Frankenstein’s bride becomes mad in this film as she thinks that death is coming to get her and her husband. Dr. Frankenstein takes a back seat from being the “mad scientist” as he never really wants to revert back to his old ways (though he does have doubts) until Dr. Pretorious, Frankenstein’s old teacher, eventually forces him to make a bride for the Monster so that monsters can become familiar to the world. Pretorious is such a convincing villain in that he is subtle in his wickedness as he toys with the Monster in convincing Frankenstein to build him a wife in such a calm and soothing manner. Speaking of the Monster, I cannot forget to mention that he learns to speak in this movie which again is essential to learning the motives and passions of the Monster. The part where he learns to speak from the blind man is such a powerful and riveting scene where you can feel the sadness and humiliation of the two men from being the outcasts of the village. Finally, I was confused to see that the Monster’s bride only was created in the last ten or so minutes of the movie, but then I thought that she did not have to be in the movie that long for her to be important. She was the impetus that got the Monster to realize that he would never be accepted even from his own kind and that he was made a fool of by Pretorious, so he took his life and their lives with him. You would never feel bad for the Monster if it were not for his character arc that was highlighted throughout the movie. He is by far the most complex Monster and dare I say character in all eight films I have watched. To me, Bride of Frankenstein is a flawless movie from its rich character transformations to its remarkable abilities in storytelling. It has to be a 10/10 for me because it is that astonishing.

Thank you for reading my ranking of the Universal Monster movies. Please leave a comment if you wish. I always appreciate feedback! Have a great day, and be respectful towards one another!

The Witch (2015) Review

     

     Recently, I have been obsessed with binging videos and podcasts from the YouTube channel Dead Meat . I have always had a love for horror movies with my first being Scream. Ever since then, horror films have been a huge part in my life and are a big reason why I decided to be an English major. I always hear on the Dead Meat channel that one of their favorite movies is The Witch. The film tells the story of a Puritan family who is excommunicated from their settlement due to different religious beliefs. After finding a new home, the family experiences great tragedy when their newest-born member is stolen and unbeknownst to them, killed by an old witch. Thomasin, the family’s eldest child, is mocked and tyrannized by her family for the child’s disappearance and the events that come after. Today, I will be giving my review on The Witch and what I enjoyed about the film as well as what I interpret the film to mean. Shoutout to Dead Meat for giving me the idea to watch this movie! Spoilers ahead!!! (The film is on Netflix if you are wondering where you can watch it.)


     First, I must say that I liked the film. I would definitely recommend it to you to watch. It does not depend on jump scares, but relies on the uncanny atmosphere and the unknown appearance and motivation of the witch terrorizing the family. I think that is why I liked this movie so much. I do not like horror films with a paranormal focus and the reliance on jump scares. That is why I liked Us so much. It was scary without cheap jump scares. The writers did an excellent job in transporting me to early Puritan times due to the language they used as well as the talented actors they chose to showcase in the movie. The girl who played Thomasin and the woman who played Katherine were definitely the standouts in an already outstanding cast. I also have to give a round of applause to the other child actors who took such complex roles and made them into their own.
    

     A particular scene that I loved from the film is when Caleb comes home after going missing from the family after being seduced and taken by the witch. What comes next is definitely the most startling part of the film. Caleb is definitely possessed as his mouth becomes sewn and he coughs up an apple that the witch presumably forced into him. The apple symbolizes Caleb’s possession and before he dies, he finds comfort in god with a disturbing, yet cheerful grin on his face. You have to watch the scene to get the full effect of being fearful in that moment of watching the movie, but it is very well done by the actor who plays Caleb.


     Another reason why this film is scary is because of the way Thomasin’s family treats her due to thinking she is a witch. The fact that people were treated this way by family members back in those times is unsettling, and it makes me feel for those who were persecuted because they had different thoughts and feelings then those of the “normal people.” Seriously though, I wanted to reach through my T.V. screen and strangle her family. A theory I have of what the film is trying to convey is that religion can become hypocritical if you always try to find a way bring it into matters. Thomasin is shown to be talking to god throughout the film, but she does not abuse her religion like her mother and father do, especially the mother. The mother constantly brings her religion into every matter. The other family members are shown to be more rooted in their faith than Thomasin, yet she is definitely the one who sins the least in the movie. The mother constantly berates her daughter, her father admits his pride at one point, the twins jeer at Thomasin throughout the movie’s entirety, and Caleb shows lust towards his sister and the witch. To me, the movie’s ending proves this to be valid interpretation of the film’s motivation. 


     The ending of the film shows Thomasin being the sole survivor of the witch’s hands and the family’s madness. This is most likely due to her being saved from the witch because she knows that Thomasin is most like her (and the devil’s) kind. It is ironic that the supposed “good” religion is the one that makes Thomasin feel excluded, yet the supposed “evil” religion embraces her with open arms. At one point in the film, Thomasin pretends that she is a witch and mocks the religion by teasing her twin sister for her constant jabs, yet the religion still includes her with open arms. This is not to say that the religion is not evil because it definitely is, but the movie draws parallels to both religions by showing the family’s extremist religious beliefs that eventually turn “devilish.”


     The goat, Black Phillip, is revealed to be the devil at the end of the film who is responsible for Thomasin joining the cult of witches in the woods which was definitely the other scariest part of the film. It made sense why the twins were misbehaving in the film and why they tried to blame Thomasin for the family’s troubles. The twins eventually reveal that Black Phillip has been talking to them. I think that Black Phillip was just trying to get the twins to do his dirty work by causing chaos on the farm, so that he could find a new follower which would eventually be Thomasin. The scene where Black Phillip stabs the Will, the father, with his horn actually got me. It was the only jump scare in the film, but it served the purpose of Black Phillip getting  Thomasin to join his cult, so he had to get the father out of the way to speed up the process. The twist as a whole was very clever, and I liked how the writers tapped into the lore of goats being devil-like creatures.


     Overall, the movie is well-executed, and it shows a different side of horror that is not explored enough. It plays with your mind, and it makes you wonder if certain things are truly what they seem or not. I did not know about this movie until hearing about it recently which is quite a shame because I feel as if it is underrated and underappreciated. I will eventually rewatch the movie at some point because I feel as if I will see things differently or will interpret the message of the movie in another way. 


Thank you for reading my review and interpretation of The Witch. I would really appreciate some feedback and/or comments if you can. Please be safe and be respectful towards one another!

Star Wars Movie Rankings

     Star Wars has been a part of my life for well over a decade now. I would go as far to say that I am more of a fan now than when I first watched the movies when I was nine years old. Say what you want about the new trilogy, but I am honored to have seen them all in theaters. That is something surreal that I will look back on as I get older. Though some movies in the franchise are better than others, every movie has something unique to offer. Today, I will be ranking the nine “Skywalker Saga” movies from my least favorite to most favorite. Spoilers ahead!








9. Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace 



It should come as no surprise that we find the first movie of the prequel trilogy in dead-last. The movie is a heaping pile of garbage. It is just a genuinely bad movie. The only good things about it are Darth Maul and Qui-Gon Jinn. That is about it. The plot is awful as the Sith are really not the main concerns. The child actor who plays Anakin cannot act to save his life, so that is something you have to deal with throughout the film. I thank god that Darth Maul was expanded on in The Clone Wars, but I really wish the movies would have acknowledged him a bit more. Also, we do not have to talk about Jar Jar Binks considering I have the same opinion of him as about 90% of the rest of the fanbase. The Phantom Menace is by far the worst entry of the Star Wars franchise. 







8. Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi


Ugh. I really did not like this movie. Sure it is better than Phantom Menace, but is that really saying much? I saw this in theaters, and I came out scratching my head, searching for the logic in the movie’s choices. We have Luke Skywalker being the opposite of who he used to be, Leia surviving being exposed to space, Rose and Finn’s subpar side plot, Snoke and Phasma’s premature deaths, and Laura Dern’s character. So many ideas that The Force Awakens had are completely dismissed in this movie, it is almost a slap in the face to fans of that movie. I really did not understand the logic in Rian Johnson’s writing and why he chose to go in a completely different direction than what the previous movie was setting up. There are so many things that made me cringe during this movie; however, I think the cinematography is this film is the best in any Star Wars film, so I will give the movie that badge of honor. The space battles are beautiful, and the set designs are so amazing. Other than that, The Last Jedi barely holds at the number eight spot of this ranking. 






7. Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones


At this point, I actually like the following films on the list. Yes, even Attack of the Clones. Did George Lucas show his greatest potential with the second entry? No, but he did not fail in my opinion. The lightsaber duels are some of the best in the entire franchise. Dooku versus Yoda still remains one of my favorite battles ever. The clone army being introduced in this film probably is the best part especially after watching The Clone Wars and learning more about the clones. Ewan McGregor’s gives a great performance as Obi-Wan as well. The cons for this movie include the acting, the love story between Anakin and Padmé, and the number of things they cram into the film. To me, Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman never had chemistry in their roles which really affects the prequel trilogy as a whole. Also, the movie starts to get boring after awhile due to the number of events that happen, which drags the movie down if I am being honest. Nonetheless, I still do like this movie, and I look forward to re-watching it in the near future.







6. Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker




Ok. This is probably an unpopular opinion of this movie not being lower, but truth is I actually really enjoyed ROS. Call me crazy. Like I said in my review, is it a perfect movie? Nope. Not by any means considering the movie never lets you breathe. Nonetheless, I had so much fun watching it. I think the movie did a great job of acknowledging the entire franchise, so that right there is a plus. Kylo Ren’s transformation as well as Adam Driver’s performance is definitely one of my favorite things about the sequel trilogy, so I was satisfied with this movie since there is a lot of Kylo Ren. Though I loved the way Leia died, I did not like the ad-libbing of her lines into the movie since the dialogue did not fit in those certain movies, but I appreciate the writers for including her in the final film. Also, Palpatine returning was quite strange, but I did not mind it. Maybe it could have been foreshadowed better, but I was honestly fine with it. The ending still gives me chills even after I have re-watched it over and over again. I really hope they expand on Rey again in the future because I do think her character can be expanded quite a bit more. Overall, I did like this movie better than most, but I do understand the criticism of the writing being a little sloppy.







5. Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith


Revenge of the Sith is by far the best film of the prequel trilogy. The movie is a genuinely good movie on its own, but it also makes the prequel trilogy worth it. It does not hold back, and for the only time in the franchise (maybe excluding ESB), the heroes lose. Fans finally got to see Anakin turn to the dark side, and the way the writers make him turn is great. The scene that always has me upset is when most of the Jedi are wiped out. It is something we had never seen in the franchise before, the raw and tragic reality of our heroes being overthrown and killed in cold blood. I also loved how the writers made Anakin become Darth Vader to protect Padmé only for her to give up on life because he turned into Darth Vader. It is the little things in this movie that made me realize that the writers knew what they wanted to accomplish all along even though they had to create a rising action that may have not lived up to its best potential. Despite there still being some below-average acting, Revenge of the Sith does a fantastic job of making its strong mark on the Star Wars franchise. 







4. Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens


My first time seeing a Star Wars movie in theaters did not disappoint. It was a surreal experience being able to see a franchise continuation that had started in the 70s make its way back onto the big screen. My parents had seen the movie when they were kids, and now I was seeing a Star Wars movie as a kid. Despite Force Awakens being somewhat of a retelling of ANH, I thought the movie was incredible. Seeing Leia, Han, Luke, C-3PO, Chewbacca, etc. on my screen again filled me with so much joy. The writers made me interested in the new characters as soon as they were on the screen which cannot be said for other movies. Kylo Ren was a great follow-up villain to the legendary Darth Vader, and Finn and Poe gave us a different perspective of how the First Order was affecting those in the galaxy. Han Solo dying still shocks me to this day, but the decision to kill him off gave the movie a fresh feeling that could not be seen in ANH. The Force Awakens will always have a special place in my heart, and I will always cherish the time I first saw it. 







3. Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi


The second runner-up spot goes to the sixth (technically third) movie in the franchise. Despite being the weakest of the original trilogy, Return of the Jedi is still a classic. The segment of Jabba’s Palace and the ending of the movie are two of my favorite moments of the entire saga. I even enjoy the Ewoks for what their worth. I mean I would rather deal with them than the Porgs or Jar Jar Binks. Even the twist of Leia being Luke’s sister was believable and not overdone after Darth Vader was revealed to be Luke’s father. Also in the film, we see Luke transform into a real Jedi who has control of his actions and the Force, itself which successfully brings Darth Vader back from the Dark Side. Overall, Return of the Jedi remains to be a strong entry in the franchise as it weaves together the stories that were set up in its predecessors.







2. Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back


This is probably an unpopular opinion for this not to be the number one spot, but it is only because I love the original movie so much. The Empire Strikes Back is an important lesson in how to make a worthy sequel to that of a critically-acclaimed original. The Empire Strikes Back expands the lore of the Force, and it explores more places of the Galaxy, creating a more intriguing setting for a viewer. From the Battle of Hoth to Luke force-communicating with Leia, the movie has it all. It balances action with character building that also gives motives to why certain characters are the way they are and why they do the things they do. The best twist of any movie ever is revealed in this film, and it still gives me the chills every time I watch it. I love this movie so much, and I gain an even deeper appreciation for it as time goes on, but the final movie in my ranking has a slight edge over Empire Strikes Back…







1. Star Wars IV: A New Hope


I mean what is there to say about this movie? It’s such an important piece of pop culture. Every single scene in this movie is iconic. The second we see C-3PO and R2-D2 aboard the Rebel ship, we are immediately transported into another universe. Like ESB, the movie meticulously balances action with building the characters. The music in this film is also probably the best music in the entire saga as it immediately became iconic in cinema. It is interesting when you re-watch the movie to see Luke Skywalker as only a kid as in the new trilogy he is an old man. I love how you can see him progress as an ignorant kid who cannot use the Force to a Jedi master in future films. Princess Leia breaks down barriers as a woman in the movie which was something that was not so prominent in the 70s, so the movie also had some important political undertones that paved the way for future films not only in the Star Wars saga, but for other Hollywood blockbusters as well. Her development is interesting too as she matures in later movies yet still manages to be so powerful and so inspiring in this first entry. What else do I have to say? It is one of the best movies of all time, so of course you cannot put into words how phenomenal A New Hope is. It is the reason that I am doing a Star Wars ranking right now, so of course it needs to be number one for me.



Well, that about does it. Thank you for reading my Ranking of the Skywalker Saga! I look forward to writing about more Star Wars in the near future. Like I mentioned in this blog, I have watched Clone Wars, so I can maybe write about my favorite episode of each season because I have a lot of thoughts on the show. Please remember to be nice to one another and to be there for one another during these rough times. Thanks for reading and stay safe out there!

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker Review

     

     The cultural phenomenon that is the "Skywalker Saga" has come to its final close. After 42 years, we have said goodbye to our heroes and villains, and it is very bittersweet. It's sad that we won't be seeing Luke, Leia, and Han on our screens ever again, but it's sweet in that there are more stories to be told in the Star Wars universe. On Monday, I went to see the final installment of the "Skywalker Saga." I went in with very low expectations mostly because of how disappointed I was with The Last Jedi. I wish I would have been writing back then because I had a lot to say immediately after I saw that movie. I went into The Rise of Skywalker very weary because I did not want to have to live that nightmare over again, and the critics absolutely hate this movie, which is the opposite of their opinion of The Last Jedi. Thankfully though, I really enjoyed the movie. Was it perfect? Absolutely not. Far from it actually, but I think it did an overall good job of closing out the saga. I am going to go over the goods and bads of the movie as sort of a list, so this will differ from my other reviews. Here we go:

The Bads

- The pacing of this movie was out of control. Woah, do so many things happen at once it seems. The first act is very quick where characters are jumping from planet to planet in what seems like seconds. It's hard to keep up at certain times and at times extremely messy, but the pace improves in the second and third acts. 

- General Hux being the spy did not make me angry, but the execution of him revealing that "He is the spy" was so cringe. Then, he is killed right after this throwing his storyline right out the window as if it never happened. This felt very 'meh' and sort of lazy writing. I wish they would have further explained his motivations for things.

- I mentioned before that the pacing was all over the place, but there is also a lot of contextual information to take in. New information is coming in at rampant speed. In every scene, there is something to take in, which is overbearing at times. Interesting, but overbearing.

- The conflict of C-3PO not being able to translate Sith is pretty dumb. I'm not gonna lie about that. I thought that was too on the nose. I think it was just to make the plot not as simple and to make the characters struggle a bit more, which is fine, but kind of ridiculous if you ask me.

- I liked how they incorporated Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) into the film because I was so confused on why the writers/producers did not want her to even be in the film especially after she survived The Last Jedi. I am glad they did, but some of her archived dialogue felt very "mad lib-like." You could tell that they took what they had of her and just made the characters talk around it. It's very noticeable and annoying, but it is not completely overbearing.

- The lack of Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) in this film is absolutely mind-boggling. Yes, he's there, but barely. It's MARK HAMILL. Why would they not utilize him more in this movie? Hell, this whole trilogy. We got him a lot in The Last Jedi, but that was not Luke Skywalker. That was a grumpy old man who hated his life, so he made others feel miserable. I really wish he played a bigger part in this film. 

- Finally, why could we not have gotten Luke, Han, and Leia in all in one shot together? We never got a scene of all three of them together in this whole trilogy! Why? This is what so many people wanted, and the writers never took advantage of this. Such a stupid decision. This will always be baffling to me. 

The Goods

- The performances are amazing. They are probably the best they have ever been in the Star Wars universe. Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley give it their all. I really think they should both get some form of recognition during award season. Their relationship in this film plays out very well.

- The core group of characters (minus Luke, Leia, and Han) are back together again. A big problem I had with The Last Jedi is that our heroes were all separated from each other. It did not work, and the movie felt incomplete without them all together. We get plenty of our heroes together in this movie, and their dialogue with each other is so good and witty.

- Some of you may hate me, but I liked the decision to bring Emperor Palpatine back. Was it kinda out of nowhere? Yes, but I think it worked for this film because we did not have any villains left after Kylo Ren turned from the Dark Side, so we needed another one. People are saying that Darth Vader throwing Palpatine off the bridge feels cheapened now, but I disagree. It wasn't about Palpatine's death, it was about Darth Vader protecting his son. There is a difference. Also, Palpatine is absolutely terrifying in this film. He's probably the scariest he has ever been, which made me like the decision to bring him back even more.

- Leia's death scene gave me chills. It really did. She gave all of what was left of her to call out to her son to distract him, and it was amazing and very upsetting to watch, especially since this was the last time we will ever see Carrie Fisher in a movie. After this scene, Kylo officially turns back to the light side after being visited by none other than Han Solo. This scene was also very touching, and it mirrored the scene where Kylo kills Han, but with an opposite insight from Kylo.

- The new characters are great. They are not overbearing or too forced like Rose was in The Last Jedi. No shade to the actress because she's great, but her character...not so much. I think we could possibly get some spin offs with Zorii or Jannah because we learned a little about them, but not enough for their arcs to be complete. We shall see, but I have a feeling they might pop up in other installments of the franchise.

- Lando Calrissian is back and better than ever. I cannot believe that Billy Dee Williams is 82 years old. He still has it, and I am so damn happy he survived this movie. At least a non droid/alien from the original trilogy survived everything. I hope to see him in another movie before he gets too up there, but if this is the last we see of him, I can say I am satisfied with his arc.

- The light saber battles are probably the best of any other Star Wars movies, especially the final fight between Rey and Kylo on Kef Bir. The cinematography and action of these scenes had me on the edge of my seat. They were beautiful and did not seem forced in the slightest. 

- A particular scene I liked is when Rey and Kylo are using the force to communicate with each other, you can see the light and brightness behind Kylo and the darkness behind Rey, showing the juxtaposition of these two characters and showing that both respective characters have contrasting feelings/actions in them. 

- I actually really liked the twist that Rey is a Palpatine. It is a twist that actually works, and it does not seem too forced. We learn in the film that Palpatine was Rey's father's father, which gave me satisfaction on learning who Rey's parents were and not this bullshit that they were "nobodies." Ugh. Also, this twist gave Rey an internal problem, which is much more interesting to watch rather than going in the direction that her parents were "nobodies."

 

- Leia being revealed to have learned the ways of the Jedi made a lot of sense in the grand scheme of the trilogy. I got some tears in my eyes when they showed younger Luke and Leia. Yes, it was CGI, but it reminded me of when I was younger and these movies not existing yet. Plus, this just made Leia such a more bad ass character than she already was.

- Ok. The best scene in the entire movie is when Rey is down and seemingly out of the fight, and she hears the voices of the Jedi who have passed. Chills. What a damn good scene, and she definitely knows she is going to die, which makes it even more powerful. After she dies, Kylo gives his last bit of energy to heal her and return the favor of her healing him after wounding him before. This is how you close out a movie. I loved this scene so much. It is probably one of if not the best scenes of the whole franchise.

- Rey takes the last name of Skywalker and looks out on the sun of Tatooine. Credits roll. That is all. Immediate chills. Complete satisfaction.

     

     Like I said y'all. Was the movie perfect? No. Did it have flaws. Yes. Is everyone gonna like it? No, as it is evident by the critics and the score on Rotten Tomatoes. But I did, so I cannot complain. This movie will be divisive among fans for years to come, and I can see why especially if you liked The Last Jedi because a lot of what happened in that movie is thrown in the trash. The truth of the matter is that J.J. Abrams should have wrote all three movies to make the trilogy more cohesive. He did what he could with this final movie by taking Star Wars back to its roots, one last time. If I had to rate the movie, I would give it a 7.5/10, which is pretty good especially in comparison to other reviews it is getting. I cannot wait to see what the franchise has to offer next. Whether it gives us spin offs or a new trilogy, we are all probably going to go and see them right?

Thank you for reading my review of Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. What did you think of the film? Leave a comment. Soon, I think I am going to do a ranking of all the Star Wars films, but I have to do a rewatch of all of them first! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, and have a happy New Year!   

   

Top 10 Best TV Episodes of 2019

     Well another year is over, and a new decade is upon us. This year was an up and down with television, but with mostly ups. I have watched many shows this year with some being spectacular (Succession) and some being sub-par (Game of Thrones), but one thing is for sure: there were fantastic episodes of television this year. For this blog, I will be showcasing my top ten favorite television episodes of 2019. These episodes will not be ranked, but rather be shown in alphabetical order. Let's get to the list...


1. Barry- "ronny/lily"
   

     This episode of Barry is one of the most batshit episodes of television I have ever seen. Barry is forced to murder a cop's ex-wife's current boyfriend in order for the cop to keep his secret of being a hit man. The hit does not go smoothly as planned, though as the target is a master of Taekwondo. Not only does Barry have trouble murdering the man, but his daughter is also a student of Taekwondo to where she possesses almost animal-like characteristics. I really felt like I was on an acid trip while watching the episode. I had never seen something so off the rails before that encompassed both drama and comedy (but mostly comedy). It was quite something to watch, I will tell you that.


2. Chernobyl- "The Happiness of All Mankind"


     In one of the most beautifully crafted, yet disturbing shows of all time, the fourth episode of Chernobyl was definitely the best episode of the miniseries in my opinion. Most of the episode deals with a young man named Pavel being forced to execute stray pets left from residents that lived near the Chernobyl Power Plant in order to rid the lands of radiation. The episode is heart wrenching and very hard to take in, and it shows what these people had to do in order to save their country from being destroyed. The episode also featured a scene where men have to go on the roof of the plant and almost by hand extract the radioactive rubble. It's a very tense and cringe worthy scene, but it is beautifully shot. Though Chernobyl is one of my favorite shows ever made, it is a show that I do not have to see again due to it being a very graphic and disturbingly emotional watch.


3. Evil- "Rose390"


     Evil has been one of the most surprising shows for me this year. It has been such a pleasure watching it; I am always excited to watch the next episode! In the episode I chose from the show, David, one of the main protagonist is called in to help a young boy whose family thinks he is possessed. David makes progress with the boy by telling him that he should call on God whenever he needs something. At first it goes well until David sees that the boy's infant sister is at the bottom of the pool. My mouth dropped while watching this happen, especially since the show is on CBS, a broadcast network. I knew this show was something special when I saw that. Not too many things get my mouth to drop like that...


4. Game of Thrones- "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms"


     Mostly everyone can agree on season eight of Game of Thrones to being a steaming pile of garbage. That is not secret; however, I think many forget about the first two episodes being amazing. In this episode, we had Brienne finally becoming a knight, Arya fully transitioning into womanhood, Jamie pledging his help to take down the white walkers, Jamie apologizing to Bran for paralyzing him, Jon revealing to Daenerys that he is one of her ancestors, etc. The episode had some impeccable character moments that made me really think that I was going to miss these characters once the show was over. The rest of the season should have been thrown in the trash, but "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" remains as one of Game of Throne's best episodes of the entire series.


5. The Good Place- "Tinker, Tailor, Demon, Spy"


     This episode of The Good Place was brilliant and so entertaining to watch. The show is known for not taking itself seriously which is why it is considered one of the best comedy series ever made. The twist in this episode was amazing and was thoroughly thought out by the writers. The audience speculated that Michael was replaced by an "evil" Michael, but really Janet was swapped by an "evil" Janet. Not only was that twist great, but the buildup of the audience finding out if Michael was the real Michael or not was so suspenseful. There is at least one exceptional Good Place episode a season, and I can say that this episode was season four's exceptional episode. I cannot wait to see the rest of the final season in 2020!


6. The Mandalorian- "Chapter 3: The Sin"


     The show that has inspired "Baby Yoda" memes everywhere finds one of its episodes on my list. The show has sparked somewhat of a mixed reception online especially on message boards (Reddit), but almost everyone can come together to say that this episode was everything a Star Wars fan wants. Action. Character Development. Suspense. The list goes on. This is the episode we really see Mando develop attachment to "The Child" and what he is willing to go through to save him. We see Mando take on all of the bounty hunters before being saved by his fellow Mandalorians. I think this episode will prove to be the heart of the show as it highlights what the show actually is. The relationship between the Mandalorian and "The Child."


7. Pose- "Never Knew Love Like This Before"


     This episode is definitely the most emotional and upsetting episode on the list. The episode gives us a shocking, unexpected main character death in Candy, who was built up to be unlikable by her fellow community members. Candy is murdered in a hotel room, and her corpse is shoved in a closet to where a maid finds her body. At her funeral, all of her friends and acquaintances have a conversation with her ghost to where we see almost everyone make peace and apologize for not giving her a chance. Also, she is able to make peace with her parents for not accepting who she was which is an incredibly touching moment. The end of the episode shows Candy a lip-sync performance before her soul departs. This episode is an all-around tear-jerker, and it really brings awareness to what is still happening to the LGBT community in today's world.


8. Succession- "This Is Not for Tears"


     I really love Succession. Plain and simple. And this episode proves why. After covering up sexual harassment claims and giving hush money, the Roy family is about to outed. They do everything they can to get these "allegations" off their backs, but to no avail. In the episode, Logan tries to gauge his family/coworkers for a scapegoat. He ends up in the end picking Kendall. He thinks Kendall will take the blame since Logan has dirt on Kendall from season one and has been his puppet the whole season. Kendall, in a twist, reveals at the press conference that his father knew about the sexual harassment claims and hid them while also revealing that his father is a horrible person to where his father watches from the TV screen and gives a slight smirk. All around brilliant. I cannot wait for season three of this crazy show!


9. Veep- "Veep"


     One of if not my favorite comedies sadly ended this year, but the series finale proved to be timeless. Selina Meyer wins the presidency in the end by manipulating and promising her rivals to drop out of the race and pledge their support to her if she passes and gives them what they want which includes giving Jonah the vice president position and outlawing gay marriage even though she has a gay daughter. We are reminded of what a despicable and ruthless political figure Selina is one last time. Not only does she do this, but she throws the one person that has been there with her the whole way to the wolves due to the scam she was attached to. Later we see that all of Selina's team has abandoned her as she sits alone in the oval office as she gives an upset look before snapping back into it. I love this finale, and will severely miss this show. Julia Louis Dreyfus is an absolute treasure.

10. The Walking Dead- "The Calm Before"


     After the clusterf**k that was season seven and eight, season nine of The Walking Dead felt like renaissance of the show. "The Calm Before" is one of those "big" Walking Dead episodes that happens every now and then. Alpha sneaks into the kingdom and lures/kidnaps people away to where she executes them and places their heads on spikes to mark her territory. The episode is very emotional, and it marks the final appearances of fan-favorite characters Enid, Tara, and Henry. I knew this episode was coming, but I was shocked to see who it was that was killed. It was also fun watching YouTube reactions the next day to see people's thoughts on the episode. This episode secured season nine as one of if not my favorite Walking Dead episodes.


Thank you for reading my list of my "Top 10 Best TV Episodes of 2019." What were some of your favorite television episodes of this year? Leave a comment!