The Terminator (1984)

I have finally seen The Terminator and I can honestly say that it wasn’t what I was expecting. The Terminator is a sci-fi love story, who would have thought? I went in expecting an action movie classic and it was kinda that, but also not. I don’t know how to feel about The Terminator if I’m being honest. I enjoyed it once I readjusted to the movie being more of a sci-fi romance movie than it being an action movie. But with all the hype I have heard about the movie over years, I was expecting there to be more to it than that. Don’t get me wrong, the movie is very good. Arnold is at his peak here and I understand why it’s a classic. This was something different for the time and rejuvenated the action genre, before Die Hard completely changed everything we had known about the genre. I just was expecting something more and I think that’s because the perspective that surrounds the movie than the movie itself. Obviously, I recommend if you haven’t seen it already, just don’t go in with all the high expectations and you may enjoyed it better than I did.

Charlie’s Angels (2000)

I decided to watch the Charlie’s Angels after the trailer for the reboot. I liked the actresses in the reboot well enough to watch it, so I wanna to go back and watch the original movies (not show), so I would have an idea what the reboot will look like. And I’ll be honest that I didn’t expect too much from this movie, but I ended up liking the movie more than I expected. It’s cheesy and a bit outdated, but it’s also fun. Lucy, Cameron, and Drew have fantastic chemistry that the movie hinges on. I think the movie is actually smarter than it lets on, the villain was a typically “nice guy” the twist being that he turns out to be an actual misogynistic pig. The movie shouldn’t be taken too seriously, but I do think it deserves a lot more credit for a smart, but fun feminist movie from the 00s, I recommend.

Rope (1948)

This was genius. Rope has been on my watchlist for a long time and I decided sometime in September to just finally watch it. I don’t use the word masterpiece a lot, but I truly believe that Rope is in fact exactly that. It’s a masterclass in creating tension. Hitchcock manages to create and keep tension over the course of a 1 hour and 20 minute movie. The plot is so unique even by today’s terms. Seriously, I have never seen a movie with a plot quite like this one. Rope centers around two men who strangle one of their classmate, hide his body in their apartment, and invite his friends and family to a dinner party to challenge the “perfection” of their crime. How intriguing is that? Talk about hooking the audience before they have even seen the movie. James Stewart does some of his best work here and I seen Rear Window (he also great in that), but I got chills with his performance in Rope. Rope is phenomenal and I recommend it to everyone.

Freaky Friday (2003) (rewatch)

I am bias with this movie, because I loved this movie since my childhood. I think this movie is great, but I can see why some people may think differently. I am very nostalgic with this movie, whenever I watch it I am transported back to my childhood singing along with Lindsay Lohan’s band in the movie (I still remember most of the lyrics to their songs). Like a fellow Lindsay Lohan’s movie The Parent Trap, I watch Freaky Friday whenever I see it on television. I just love these movies, I don’t know what anyone who has never seen this movie would think of it, but who doesn’t want to see Jamie Lee Curtis acting like a angsty Lindsay Lohan. I recommend, even with all my bias.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Notice how I never mention Terminator 2 in my above post, well I did that on purpose. Terminator 2 is indeed what I was expecting from the original Terminator. It’s action packed and the story is bigger and better. I know many people refer to T2, as the best sequel ever and one of the best action movies ever and I can absolutely see why. It expands on everything good in the original and transform it into a explosive sequel. Most of the CGI holds up and a lot of it looks better than some CGI today which is impressive. Terminator 2 is indeed a fantastic sequel and a better movie than the original movie. I will say though, I wouldn’t add Terminator 2 onto my new favorite list of movies at least not just yet. It’s a movie where I would need more than just one viewing of it before announcing it as one of my favorite action movies of all time. It’s a fantastic movie that I recommend of course, but I seen so many great action movies in my life, that I would need more time to decide where T2 would rank onto that list.

United 93 (2006)

I watched this on 9/11, because as if that day wasn’t depressing enough I made it even more depressing by watching United 93. There’s no objectively way to review this or to watch this film. Paul Greengrass handles and directs the movie with respect and much care. This isn’t a movie to enjoy watching, it’s a movie that’s here to show the horror and terror that people who were on that plane on that day suffered and how they overcame it, saving many lives in process expect their own. It’s a intense and emotionally draining film that will leave you feeling if you’re anything like me, physically sick and repulsed that something like this ever happened. We all know how this movie ends, but Paul Greengrass makes every moment before counts to show how these everyday people make a decision that they should have never had to make. United 93 is as real and raw as a film can get. If you think you’re able to stomach siting through United 93, then I recommend, but if you don’t think so then you should probably sit this one out.

Expect a lot of horror and Halloween themed movies for Movies Watched in October. If I watch anything non-horror next month, then that will be a miracle. I have a list of movies I want to watch next month, so expect a lot of movies reviewed for Movies Watched in October.