Just Your Regular Joe

      Just want to inform everyone that in order to streamline all of the content I've created over the years, I'll be moving back to my WordPress account as well for the various customization options. All of my content on Blogger will be posted on that site throughout the month. Aside from that, everything will proceed as plan.     The link is right here:  Thoughts From You're Average Joe – I bring up whatever on mind and talk about to you wonderful people. (thoughtsfromyoureaveragejoe.com)

    So for those unaware, I've decided to indulge my cravings for horror films that are have been building up for a while by dedicating the next 15 reviews or so to that genre. I have plenty of movie lineup, the first of which is director Lucky McKee's mixup of oddball comedy and psychological horror May .     Released back in 2002 to a rather decent critical reception, May has attained more of a cult status over the years. I was introduced to this film by a good friend of mine, and we watched it together with other people, and that was a pretty good time. But having to watch the film again myself has actually help me really appreciate what McKee wanted to tell with this story.     Even though the film contains some rather violent imagery, a lot of the horror in this story is rooted in the concept of loneliness. Our central character May is very much disconnected from everyone else around her. Throughout the film, she desperately tries to make attachments to various characters

      Before we begin, I will warn will that this will contain spoilers for Monster Hunter Rise . If you do not wish to see them, then this article is not for you.     For those who read my Monster Hunter Rise review, you would know that while I'd basically loved everything that game brought to the table, there was this lingering sense that the production got bottlenecked at some point, likely due to Covid unfortunate existence. This meant that a good chunk of content was unavailable for the game's initial release back in March, as that still had to be polished before players could get their hands on it. It's very evident considering that the NPCs talked about facing the game's two elder dragons when it revealed that they are still alive, but players will be unable to slay them properly until the next update in May.     Releasing for all players today, however, the game's first title updates bring several new monsters into the mix of various types.     The Elder Dr

      Grade: B-     The best way to describe the newest live-action take on the beloved fighting game franchise is that it's a pretty neat car commercial. At least good enough to convince you that the car itself might be worth your wallet. And while you're while waiting for this nice shiny vehicle to come out, you can at least rely on that promo to get you through in the meantime.      As someone whose childhood was somewhat defined by the joyous bounty of gore and carnage that the games infamously brought to the table, the film certainly tickles the inner fan in me through various callbacks to the franchise that doesn't get too much in the way of the overall narrative and are just used sparingly enough so that the overall impact isn't diminished.      In comparison to past efforts, Mortal Komabt also gives fans the long-awaited R rating. Watching people's limbs get ripped and twisted will surely be a crowd-pleaser. The action is pretty fun for the most part, with

    Grade: D+     What's the first rule of a comedy? Be funny. What's the first rule of a superhero story? Be exciting. Yet somehow, Thunder Force fails at being both. Starring Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer with the supporting cast-around out by well-known faces such as Bobby Cannavale, Pom Klementieff, Kevin Dunn, Melissa Leo, and Jason Bateman, Thunder Force is another collaboration between McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone who once again is in the director's chair. McCarthy and Spencer played two childhood friends who invent a way to become superheroes to combat criminals who are born superpowered.     If anything is a personal annoyance of mine, it's watching talented actors working with material that is so clearly not up to their level. Without a doubt, the only film that remains in the semi-watchable realm is trying to make the script work. It just that this cast is stuck in a film that feels half-baked. And it such a shame because a pairing such as Me

    Grade: C-      I can recall my first review of Pain and Gain back in the day was one of the few reviews that I've written that had people respectfully expressing their disagreements with my intense dislike of the film at the time. And in some ways, I admit that I was a little bit too harsh on the film.       Despite my many grievances with Micheal Bay as a director, I share his fascination with this true-life story and want to portray it on the big screen. With how tragically absurd the whole situation got, Bay does make some keen observations on the American Dream, hiding one's insecurities through over-the-top displays of machismo and the desire to make it to the top at any cost.       The cast is solid. Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, and Anthony Mackie do a lot of heavy lifting to making Pain and Gain watchable through sheer charisma and energy. Johnson's struggles between wanting to be a good man for God and being a criminal got the biggest laughs out of me. Ed Ha

      Grade: B     Treasure Planet was released in 2002 and is an animated science fantasy action-adventure known for being one of the last few traditionally animated films produced by Disney. Co-directed by Ron Clements and Jon Musker, the film stars Joesph Gordon-Levitt, Brian Murray, David Hyde Pierce, Martin Short, Roscoe Lee Browne, Emma Thompson, Michael Wincott, Laurie Metcalf, and Patrick McGoohan. In the studio's third rendering of the classic novel, a rebellious teen is given a map by a dying pirate, driving him on a grand adventure across the universe to find a planet that promises a neverending bounty of treasure.     While I don't find the film matches the heights of other Disney classics, Treasure Planet offers enough fun swashbuckling adventure and visual splendor to satisfy. Through a combination of traditional and CG animation, the film effortlessly brings this vision to life. I love the combination of futuristic and retro elements that is a keen element in th

      Grade: A      From the director of Hero and House of Flying Daggers comes Shadow, a 2018 Chinese wuxia film directed by Zhang Yimou. To achieve victory over a rival kingdom, a general devises an elaborate plan that involves his wife, a lookalike, and two kings.       I've meant to see Shadow for the past two years, but my luck really hasn't been that great as many could tell. But what I've noticed that despite how acclaimed both this film and director are, it's really seemed like it's gone under the reader. This is a massive shame because this is a stunning display of craftsmanship from a director who's clearly seasoned with this genre.        Anyone well versed with Yimou's filmography will know that Shadow is nothing short of visual splendor. While filmed with color in mind, the color scheme mostly utilizes black and white. Characters retain skin tone but really show true wonders when characters bleed out, and that vibrant red has such great contrast

      Grade: A+      You ever had that film that you remember loving years ago on first viewing, but get worried you inevitably decide to rewatch thinking your initial impressions could be viewed as wearing rose-tinted glasses?      And then you watch it and realize how stupid you were worrying about that in the first place. Yeah, that's Drive for me.     Drive was released in 2011 and was directed by Nicolas Winding Refn. Starring Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston, Christina Hendricks, Ron Pearlman, Oscar Isaac, and Albert Brooks. The film centers on Gosling's unnamed Hollywood stunt driver, who also works as a getaway driver. He finds himself attracted to his neighbor and her young son. When her husband returns home from prison while saddled with debt, the two men take part in a robbery with disastrous repercussions for everyone involved.      I'd remember when the film first came out to a rather polarized reception. Critics loved it, and Drive found itself a f

    Grade: A      I really love dreams. Something that we both equally understand and don't constantly. Something that can feel so real, and yet isn't—a fascinating trip into one's own consciousness that is truly theirs in every sense of the word. The surreal nature of it all can translate beautifully for a visual medium like a film such as Christopher Nolan's Inception back in 2010. But before that film blew people's minds, there was an animated film from 2006 that perfectly capture the beautiful absurdity that is dreaming.     Directed by the late Satoshi Kon, Paprika follows a research psychologist who uses a device that permits therapists to help patients by entering their dreams. When this technology ends up in the wrong hands, the psychologist and her colleagues must spring into action to recover it before being used for nefarious purposes.      Having seen this and Tokyo Godfathers years ago, I truly feel that we have lost a truly unique visionary. I can'

    Wow, an update post about that's not about the fact I finally remember that this blog existed? What a shocker!     Though, in all seriousness, it's pretty awesome that I've finally had the time and energy to start making consistent content for this site, and I'm hoping that my readers have been getting a kick out of my material. I just want to say that I've had my lineup for the rest of the reviews for the rest of April figured out and should all be wrapped up once the month is over.     Because in May, I have big plans to dedicate most of my time to the horror genre. It might be my favorite when it comes to sheer versatility that the best filmmakers take advantage of when creating some truly chilling masterworks of films. My goal is to explore horror films of all backgrounds and explore how each film makes its own special stamp on the genre.       It may not be in October where it would be most fitting because of the theme. However, I need to get my horror fix

     Air Force One is a 1997 action political thriller directed by Wolfgang Peterson and starred Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman,  Glenn Close ,  Wendy Crewson ,  Xander Berkeley ,  William H. Macy ,  Dean Stockwell , and  Paul Guilfoyle . When a group of terrorists hijacks Air Force One, it is up to the president to mount a daring rescue to save everyone by retaking his plane.       I can't remember the last time I've sat down to watch a good old-fashioned 1990s action flick in the same vein as classics like Die Hard and The Matrix. While it may not reach the same highs as those films, Air Force One is still a very well-crafted thrill ride. Just like Die Hard , much of the bulk of the action takes place in one location. This type of premise has, more often than not, is a goldmine for providing good setpieces, as it forces our hero to use everything at his disposal with limited resources and being on the run.      Speaking of the hero, Harrison Ford is a reliable leading action st

      They'll Love Me When I'm Dead premiered on Netflix back in 2018 and was directed by Morgan Neville. This documentary centered on The Other Side of the Wind's production, the final unrelated film by Orson Welles. With narration provided by Alam Cumming, Neville weaves the tale of Welles's final 15 years and the struggle he endured to get his work off the ground.        As someone who not only loves movies as a visual art form but also finds the behind-the-scenes details fascinating, the subject matter of this documentary is particularly made for me. For any cinephile that throws themselves in the world of western filmmaking, it is particularly impossible to escape even a mention of the name Orson Welles. I could just say he directed Citizen Kane and leave it at that. However, that wouldn't just barely scratch the surface of how much he's impacted the Hollywood landscape.      What makes this documentary so interesting is that it provides a real glimpse i

    1995's Mortal Kombat is hardly what I would consider a cinematic masterwork. It's a one big giant kung-fu cheese-fest with a strange story structure and a fair share of hammy performances. But it was fun. Faithful to the source material for the most part and had some fun action.      Compared to Mortal Kombat Annihilation , that film deserves to win an Oscar for best picture.      Mortal Kombat Annihilation achieves a rare feat. A feat that's so rare that it's shared by only one other film. It made me miss Paul W.S. Anderson being on the director's chair. Anderson is a very flawed director, but at the very least, he can be relied on this make his movies look like an actual movie. Annihilation made me wonder if I just stumbled onto a low-budget fan film—no disrespect intended to actual fan films, of course. Nobody would have to pay to watch them in a theater back in 1997—a very cursed year for sequels.     On a technical level, this film is an utter disaster. The

    MORTAL KOMBAT!     In preparation for the upcoming Mortal Kombat film this year, I've decided to go over the first two live-action films and assessed how they hold up now. Video game adaptations until Detective Pkihcu and the Sonic movie are usually agreed upon to be pretty terrible. And for a good reason. And if Resident Evil and Monster Hunter have proven anything, it's that combining that with director Paul W.S Anderson is a recipe for disaster.         So imagine my shock that I found this movie pretty okay. Certainly imperfect for various reasons, but it's easily Anderson's strongest adaptation and arguably his best film. Unlike my experience with Monster Hunter, Mortal Kombat tells a very appropriate story for its universe. Granted, Mortal Kombat as a video game franchise can be summed up as people killing each other in brutal combat. Still, I appreciate how this film doesn't try to do anything that would consider out there for this universe just for

        As the newest installment in the Monster Hunter franchise, fans were hoping for Monster Hunter: Rise to be the game that would combine the best elements of the classic Monster Hunter titles and Monster Hunter: World that made the latter such a monumental success both critically and financially. Having played over 40 hours, however, I would say it's a bit more complicated.       Rise takes the blueprint that World established and throws it into a blender with Monster Hunter Portable 3rd  and Generations . The result is a thrilling title that not only mixes the best parts of the series, both old and new but adds new additions that make this game stand out in comparison to past entries, World included.      As implied by the game's title, Rise put a major emphasis on verticality with the new Wirebug tool and expanded climbing abilities that allow the player to explore the game's five maps however they wish. Along with the standard policy, cats that come with their