Hello and happy September, aka the start of spooky season.
The last couple of weeks have been packed for me.
My fiancée and I went to Chicago to see The Lord of the Rings: The Musical and it wasn’t great but we had a great time soaking in all the touristy Chicago things to do. Side note: I highly recommend My Pi Pizza for a deep dish pizza. They have great regular and vegan deep dish choices.
Once we got back I only had a couple of days before I had two of my wisdom teeth removed. It went well but I have been on the mend and did not do much…except start my Halloween movie watches for the year.
A new episode of Agree to Disagree just came out! I had to rewatch one of my least favorite movies released during Covid times. Please give it a listen and let me know what you think!
FILM
Highlight: The Wizard of Oz | Victor Fleming | 1939 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Young Dorothy finds herself in a magical world where she makes friends with a lion, a scarecrow, and a tin man as they make their way along the yellow brick road to talk with the Wizard and ask for the things they miss most in their lives. The Wicked Witch of the West is the only thing that could stop them.
Hey..uh…did you know this movie absolutely rips? 85 years later I am still amazed at how well the effects look, and how strong the performances are. It had been a while since I saw this and I like it even more than I ever did and I watched it a lot when I was young. I don’t know what to say that hasn’t been said a million times. If it’s been a while for you, I recommend just popping it on sooner rather than later and getting lost in the movie magic.
Men in Black | 1997 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This movie is so much fun and just incredibly silly. I had a blast rewatching it and speak a little bit more on it on the newest episode of Agree to Disagree.
13 Ghosts | 1960 ⭐⭐⭐½
I watched this at the Music Box Theater in Chicago with some homemade Illusio-O glasses while outside in their garden, where they rigged up a smoke machine, strobe lights, and the host dressed in costumes during key moments. The movie was pretty fun, but the experience was amazing.
The Old Guard | 2020 ⭐
I really dislike this movie. If you want more please listen to the new episode of Agree to Disagree. All I’ll say here is it’s boring and poorly shot.
National Treasure: Book of Secrets | 2007 ⭐⭐⭐
I had this on as background noise while I worked from home while recovering from my wisdom teeth removal. It’s not as fun as the first one, but it’s still a good time with the gang again.
Cry of the Banshee | 1970 ⭐⭐⭐
This was pretty good, but forgettable. I liked Vincent Price’s performance and the set design, but it drags a bit and other performances aren’t as “in on it” as Mr. Price.
Murders in the Rue Morgue | 1971 ⭐⭐⭐
This was a fun twist on the Edgar Allan Poe story: a theatre crew is putting on a play adaptation of the story while the movie’s plot happens. It’s more closely aligned to Phantom of the Opera in the end, but the twists and turns are fun and Jason Robards gives an equally fun performance!
Apocalypse Now | 1979 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Don’t let the film bros turn you off of this one! It’s an excellent anti-war movie, shot as a fever dream. It’s mesmerizing, eerie, tense, and not like anything else.
Beetlejuice | 1988 ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
I’m pretty dang excited about the sequel, and hadn’t seen the original in a long time. It’s fun, raunchy and so 80s. Michael Keaton man…perfect casting for this role.
Ghostlight | 2024 ⭐⭐⭐
I finally caught up with this movie from a few months ago and it pains me to say it was just okay. I think it was a little overwrought in its screenplay and could have benefitted from stepping a little into magical realism to dream logic. It was still good and makes a compelling case for theatre as healing.
An American Werewolf in London | 1981 ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Halloween is SO here! Great creature design and very funny!
Descendents: The Rise of Red | 2024 ½
This was for my co-host’s final bad movie musical club meet of this year and he picked a stinker. I don’t know where to begin with this utter slop.
976-EVIL | 1988 ⭐⭐⭐
This was a little slow but the set design was peak grimy 80s — think pizza places, movie theaters, and high school bathrooms. The plot is silly but knows it. I can see how this is buried under the greatness of many other 80s horror.
The Fugitive Kind | 1960 ⭐⭐⭐
Sidney Lumet and Marlon Brando are doing pretty good stuff here, but it’s not enough to save how dull this can feel. Anna Magnani and Joanne Woodward are also acting their pants off, but this feels forgettable, unfortunately.
Long Day’s Journey Into Night | 1962 ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Normally I don’t love when single room play adaptations don’t take advantage of being a movie. But there are a few really interesting camera movements and shot compositions that I can forgive it. Also, every single cast member is incredible — Dean Stockwell, Katherine Hepburn Ralph Richardson, Jason Robards.
Heathers | 1989 ⭐⭐⭐½
This was my first time watching this and it was very fun. I think the stage musical works better for this story, but it was great seeing Christian Slater as a little freak and Winona being the best as always.
TV
Highlight: Craig of the Creek, Season 1
This show has stolen my heart very quickly. It’s very cute and very kidsy, but so charming and fun. The first season is mostly just an introduction to the wide cast of characters and the ecosystem of how the kids of this neighborhood exist while at the creek. Many of these kids have hyper-specific personalities, i.e. horse girls, biker kids, ninja/anime kids, nerds, etc. I love the autonomy these kids have with their afterschool free time and how well the show captures the spirit of just hanging with friends. There are some hints that a wider story arc will open as the series continues which intrigues me, as Steven Universe did that as well and I love that show.
I’m not tracking all the random single episodes of things I’m catching on Pluto TV but it’s now pretty consistently playing something.
Books
In Progress
A Way of Kings | Brandon Sanderson - 42%
Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination | Neal Gabler - 22%
The Weathered Tome Society
A Boy’s Life | Robert R. McCammon — 36%
Games
In Progress
Persona 4 Golden | PS Vita | Atlus
Elden Ring: The Shadow of the Erdtree | PS5 | FromSoftware
Ghost of Tsushima | PS5 | Sucker Punch Productions
YouTube
RED ALERT!! Every Frame a Painting is so back and dropped another excellent video essay. This is probably my all-time favorite YouTube movie essayist and they’ve been dormant for 7 years and they just dropped a random new video. I was ecstatic, to say the least.
Thanks for reading, I appreciate it!
Til next time!
— Colton
Every frame a painting and Nerdwriter are my go to. So good and I wish I could make video essays like them.