Bria Lou Reviews

  It's almost time for Blogmas! I really do look forward to this time of year more and more, and a part of that is definitely due to the routine I've created watching and reviewing these Christmas movies. As usual, I'll be reviewing Christmas movies for the 24 days leading up to Christmas, starting from the first of December. They're from a variety of platforms and all made in or after 2020 so hopefully there should be some good ones in there. I'm about to watch day 5 as I write this earlier than usual, and so far the movies haven't been great so I'm really hoping they start to pick up! As always I'll be ignoring my usual ratings in favour of my Christmas rating system: Title (How original? How creative? How fun?) Originality (self-explanatory) Christmas Spirit (Is Christmas integral to the plot, or could the film's events have happened at any time of year?) Christmas Music (again, self-explanatory) And that's it - only a couple days to go! M...

  In 1986, Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) take a case that ends up being their last, as they face losing everything that matters. I'm always looking forward to the next Conjuring universe film, and because this is the last one of this branch, I was looking forward to it more than usual. Even though I didn't love the last Conjuring movie, I loved the first two so much that I really wanted to see how they would wrap things up. I really liked this movie! The opening was great, it takes us right back to the beginning and roots us firmly into Ed and Lorraine's world once again. There was something about this one that felt so much like the first, and I loved that. It's reminding us why we love these people and their stories so much, and it's smart to do that by making us reminisce about past movies we've loved. Thankfully, the story itself was really interesting. Movies like this run the risk of having the scares be the most important thing, bu...

  Finally, we've reached the last film! Technically 99 out of 100 but I'm not writing another post on Back to the Future, so this is the last bucket list post of the year! I saved this movie because it was probably the one I was most looking forward to re-watching. Of all the MCU movies, this one is definitely one of the best, and one of my favourites, so I always love when I get to see it again. The first thing I have to mention is the casting. As a group, I don't think there's ever been a more fitting casting that the actors we got for this movie. Whether you like them all individually or not, they completely embodied their characters and came together so well that you really believe in this team. And in saying that, I do really like all of the individual choices too. It's helpful that we were introduced to them in separate movies, so we got a chance to really get to know most of them before they came together, which is a key ingredient of these team-up movies (an...

  When Caitlyn (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) hires a new nanny, she finds that Polly (Maika Monroe) is not who she claims to be. I was in two minds about my excitement for this film, and that's mostly due to my love for the first one. It's not the most popular film, but I saw the first film when I was young and since then it has always been an important staple thriller in my home, so as interested as I was to see a remake, I was also really apprehensive about it. And I was right to be apprehensive because I have no idea why this was made. I tried to watch it without comparing it to the original but considering it's using the same idea and the same name, comparison is inevitable. The film never takes the time to develop any of the characters. Who are these people and why should we care about what might happen to them? And that's made even worse because while we don't really know them, we also don't know what their motivations are. We know that Polly is the antagonist...

  After a mother and son get into a car wreck, they and their family find themselves stalked by a revenge-seeking mutated deer. Another entry into the Twisted Childhood Universe! I was really excited for this film. Not only am I excited for all the TCU movies, but I'd heard this one was much better than the previous three. And while I am now completely used to, and actually enjoy, watching bad movies in support of this franchise, it was a welcome change for one to get some praise. And that praise was deserved because yes, this isn't a great movie, but it's a lot better than the ones that came before it! It begins with a really intriguing, creative animation that was a great way to connect this story to the original source material. From the very start the acting is leaps and bounds above the previous movies. For the most part, you believe the characters and their dialogue works. The story was actually really engaging - I was invested in finding out what was going to happen ...

  This is one of the last films on the list, for no other reason than all the others were more accessible, and it was one I'd never seen. I was quite apathetic towards watching it. I knew a basic version of what the story was about but had never delved deeper into it, so it felt like I went into it semi-blind. One thing I did know was that it was often compared to Thelma and Louise, so because I love Thelma and Louise so much, I thought that I'd probably like this too. I went back and forth with my like of this one. For a start, it began in an odd place to me, in that it felt like I had missed some context. It starts off at the first meeting of the characters, there's no one without the other. And as much as this sends a really interesting message about who these people were, I would have liked to know a bit more about who they were before they met. But I know that's not the point of the film! The main actors, Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, had amazing chemistry. Ultim...

  Iris's (Molly Gordon) first getaway with her boyfriend hits a snag when Isaac (Logan Lerman) reveals that he's not looking for a serious relationship. I was looking forward to this one. Back when the trailer first came out it looked really unique and fun, so I made a note to check it out when it was released. I liked this film a lot. I liked it instantly. The main characters had a great introduction, so I was really happy to follow them and see how their story continued. And it worked so well because the actors had a great, specific chemistry that worked with the plot of the film. It may not have worked if this was a straightforward romance, but because there's so much going on here, their interactions are believable. But that's also because it's really well written. The dialogue in particular feels really authentic, and the pacing was great. It moves really quickly and finishes at just the right point. I really liked that the film took the time to allow the audie...

  After learning that their previous victim, Maya (Madelaine Petsch) has survived, three masked figures return to finish the job. I gave the first film a 4/10, so you can tell exactly how excited I was to see a sequel, or to even hear that a sequel was coming out. This was not a good film. I didn't think it would be, and yet it still surprised me. For a start, the thing that the first three Strangers movies did was centre each story around completely different people with no connection. Not only does that keep things interesting, but it also means that these villains actually feel scary because they can do this to anyone. I wasn't interested in seeing the characters from Chapter 1 again, and have no idea why the film didn't just go for another fresh take. While watching, it feels like most decisions are made for comedic effect, because it made no sense for a single person to make so many bad decisions over and over again. It got so bad that I actually ended up rooting again...

We're down to the last 3 movies! This is one that I was saving. Not only is it one of my favourite horror movies, but this is the start of my favourite franchise! So I was really looking forward to finally getting around to it! For a start, the team behind this film have gone on to make so many iconic horror movies.  James Wan and Leigh Whannell are amazing at what they do - together and apart, so it's really nice to see where it began. It's also great to see Whannell acting in this one. He created a great character in Adam and became so important to the franchise even if he wasn't in it for as long as he should have been.  And Cary Elwes was also great as Dr Gordon, and without spoiling the other movies too much, it's always nice to see him as this character.  But speaking of the actors, this was the start of Tobin Bell as Jigsaw, and what perfect casting! This is an iconic character played perfectly, and the fact that it has spanned so many films is amazing. From ...

  After an amazing first date ends abruptly, Charlotte (Isabelle Fuhrman) goes searching for answers and uncovers a secret that changes her life forever. The thing that made me immediately want to watch this film was recognising the two main actors. Particularly with Fuhrman, this is a role that I've never seen her do, so I was really intrigued about it. Unfortunately, this one was a bit disappointing. Without spoilers, the thing that disappointed me the most about this film was knowing what it was actually about. How many times can this story be remade? The actors were great in their individual roles, but when they came together, it weakened the story. They didn't have the chemistry they needed to make the audience believe they were truly soulmates, yet the filmmakers pushed the soulmate angle really hard. The story is told in a really weird way. The main couple spend so much time apart that it doesn't even feel like a romance. By the time they come together they haven...

  After moving into a new home with her family, Chloe (Callina Liang) soon begins to feel a mysterious presence. I knew nothing about this film beyond 'family gets haunted', but I was interested due to that alone. Haunting movies always have great potential, so I was looking forward to this. I liked this film, but it definitely wasn't what I thought it was going to be! For a start, the camera work. Without going into it too much, the film is created and shot in a really original way, putting the audience into a position that we rarely get to be in, and that was really fun. The most powerful themes of the film, grief, parenthood and childhood, are explored through a unique lens, partly down to the way everything is shot. I did feel like some of these could have been explored in more depth, but they were still interesting to see. The family dynamics feel so real that some scenes are almost hard to watch. These actors work so well together, to the point where you truly believe...

  This is another one that I was saving because I was really looking forward to it. I'm pretty much a fan of most superhero movie franchises, and that definitely includes X-Men in a big way!  I wrote a post ranking the X-Men movies back in 2018 and I ended up putting this film at number 5, because I loved the prequel movies so much that they overtook my love of the originals.  And while I've seen pretty much all of the movies again since writing that post, it was fun to go into this one remembering that post and now seeing if I'd still put it in the same place. And I'd definitely move it up! I still love the prequel movies, but this one is something special. Of all the superhero movies on the bucket list, this was my biggest surprise because the X-Men movies are never given the credit they deserve. Which is especially sad because they have one of the most interesting and important messages of all superhero franchises. But anyway, on to this specific movie. I like this ...

  When washed-up, paranoid ex-revolutionary Bob's (Leonardo DiCaprio) daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti) is captured, he has to connect with the person he once was to find her. I was looking forward to seeing this film just based on how interesting the premise was, but all of the incredibly positive reviews made me want to see it that much more! I absolutely loved this film. And I knew from the first 30 minutes that I would. I had a weird experience in that, due to cinema issues, I ended up seeing the first 30 minutes of the film twice. And that really helped me because the first time around I was so enthralled and engaged with the first 30 minutes that I really really wanted to see the rest and was really disappointed that I couldn't. So the second time around, I knew enough of what was coming that I would watch the beginning as a re-watch and really get into the details of it, and then I finally got to see the rest, which at that point I was desperate for. I wouldn't want to...

  I was really excited for this one. This is my favourite origin story in the entire MCU, and my favourite trilogy. But while I watch the second and third movies a lot, I don't really go back to this one, so it was nice to see it on the list. And as usual, with every time I watch this movie, I loved it. It starts in a really interesting place, already setting up for the future of the franchise as well as laying the groundwork for the characters we'll be interested in for years to come. Speaking of characters, Steve Rogers is such a fascinating one. The film really gives us the opportunity to get to know exactly who he is and what his motivations are. Before he even starts to become a 'hero' we are rooting for him and invested in his story.  But of course, the characterisation makes it clear that he's a hero before he becomes one, and that's one of the reasons I love this story so much. Particularly looking at earlier superhero movies, for me Steve is one of the ...

  A real-estate agent (Ke Huy Quan) finds himself thrust back into the world of crime when his past as an assassin comes back to haunt him. I don't really know what made me watch this film, other than it being available. The premise was somewhat intriguing, but I'd heard a lot of not-great reviews, so it wasn't one that I was particularly hopeful about. So because of that, it wasn't a surprise that the film wasn't great. But that doesn't mean everything was bad. Marvin (Quan) was a great character to follow. He was fun, we could connect with him, and he's easy to root for. The action scenes were also great. But while they were well-choreographed and created, they didn't have any substance, and after a while they stopped adding anything to the story. The chemistry between Marvin and Rose (Ariana Debose) never felt right to me. They never seemed like love interests and they didn't work particularly well together. I wouldn't even really call this a ...

I saved this one for as long as possible, but as I'm getting closer to completing this year's bucket list, it was time. I don't usually watch Christmas movies outside of December, but I had to make an exception! And to be honest, I'll probably watch this again in the lead-up to Christmas anyway. I was really surprised to see this on the bucket list. It's definitely a classic, beloved movie, but you never really see Christmas movies (or any seasonal movies) considered classics in lists with the 'Godfathers' and 'Gone with the Winds' of cinema, so this was a really nice surprise. And a welcome one! It's always nice to have a comedy in amongst the dramas, and this year's bucket list had some great comedies. I love this film. It's a staple every Christmas and with good reason! First of all, the iconic cast.  We have Catherine O'Hara, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern and John Heard amongst an amazing supporting cast, and leading the film was 9-year...

  After agreeing to take care of his neighbour's cat, Hank (Austin Butler) finds himself caught in a battle against a group of gangsters who threaten to destroy everything he loves. I heard about this when it came out but it wasn't high on my watch-list, for no other reason than I didn't really know what it was about. But I was vaguely interested in seeing it.  And I'm really glad I saw it because I loved this film! From the beginning of the film when I had no idea what was happening or where the story would go, I was so engrossed in the lives of these characters that it didn't matter what the plot was. All of the actors had great chemistry, whether negative or positive. We believe these relationships, we believe the love and the annoyance and the fear. We believe everything we're shown because these characters feel so real and authentic. We're along for the ride with them because we feel a connection with them, especially Hank. Because Butler was particular...

  I'd heard of this film, but I had no idea what it was about or who was in it, so I had no expectations when I saw it on the list. But after looking it up and seeing it was a comedy that starred Bruce Willis and Matthew Perry, I was looking forward to watching it! That being said, I wasn't completely sold on the plot. This took a while for me to get into. For a start, I was expecting it to be funnier than it was. Not only because of the cast, but because the director's other works include 'Clue' and 'My Cousin Vinny', both of which I absolutely loved and found really funny. The tone for this one however, particularly at the beginning, felt more like a drama. And not a drama that I was particularly invested in. There were a few funny moments throughout, but I wouldn't say the film is funny overall. I thought the cast were well suited to their roles, but oddly I didn't like the roles themselves. They all felt a bit too straight and obvious, there was ...

  Private Investigator Honey O'Donahue (Margaret Qualley) investigates a series of deaths tied to a mysterious church in her small town. I loved 'Drive-Away Dolls', the first film in this unofficial trilogy, so I was looking forward to seeing this one. Both premises were quite vague, but because I loved that one so much, I was interested to see if this one would be similar. Unfortunately, this one wasn't nearly as good. While the characters were really fun and interesting on the surface, the more you watch and listen to them, the less they sound like real people. The dialogue is off, and their actions are just odd. I liked the setting, and the basic idea of the film. Small-town mysteries always have a lot of potential, and when executed well, can be really great, so it's disappointing that this one falls flat. The story takes a while to get interesting because we don't care about these people, let alone the people who die. This isn't a world we're intere...

  I've heard of all the James Bond movies, but the only one I've seen is the one that was on the bucket list last year - Casino Royale. And while I enjoyed that, it didn't make me want to watch any other movies in the franchise. So I can't say I was particularly excited to see this on the list.  However, as this one is the first, of course it's on a list of classic movies.  The score is iconic. I'm sure many of the movies use the same theme song moving forward, but it's great to experience it for the first time here because of how iconic it has become. Even if you know nothing of Bond, when you hear the score you immediately know what franchise it comes from.  It's interesting to see the way everything began. It's clear that things are being tried out and experimented with.  I can't say that the story itself grabbed me. It had engaging moments, but the overall plot wasn't one I was particularly interested in.  I also wasn't particularly i...

  I'd heard of this movie before seeing it on the bucket list, and I could guess what it was about, but it wasn't high on my to-watch list. So when I saw it on the list, I wasn't particularly looking forward to it. I don't love films with these themes, set in this and similar time periods - which doesn't mean that these films aren't good, I just personally don't choose to watch them unless I feel like I need to. And of course, they're not made to be entertaining or enjoyable, they're made to tell necessary stories. So it's hard to give a blanket statement about whether I 'liked' or 'disliked' the film. But one thing I did like was seeing so many recognisable faces - especially those who have blown up or been in really popular projects since the film came out. To name a few, Colman Domingo, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Aja Naomi King, and Gabrielle Union.  Of these actors, I think only Union was widely known at this point, so it's re...