Wicked (2024)

Loved it!

I was basically tearing throughout the film. Cynthia Erivo's performance forms the heart of this film, IMHO. It's also a visual spectacle.

My Favourite Cake (2024)

There's something about how a lot of Iranian filmmakers craft a story out of something ordinary, which also end up making some social commentary.

The performance by the two leads drew me into this one. But the last frame left me wondering what will happen next. And what is the commentary the filmmakers are making with this tale.

Lee (2023)

Didn't know this was set during WWII until I watched it. Winslet is the basic driving force of this biopic. I learned a bit more about this person after watching the film. 
 

The Apprentice (2024)

Pretty linear depiction of a character, starting from when he isn't so respected. To how he learns, and becomes someone who will pull all the stops to become a winner as opposed to being a loser. 

IMHO, Sebastian Stan, Jeremy Strong and Maria Bakalova give powerful and poignant performances. Ably directed by Ali Abbasi.
 

Ghostlight (2024)

Poignant and powerful family drama that deals with grief in a not so outright manner. Great performances from the main cast.

Some really funny bits, like when the teenage daughter questions a teacher's qualification for using the word irregardless, and a statement about how Leonardo DiCaprio doesn't look like how he does in Romeo & Juliet anymore.

Also appreciate how the communal theatre gets incorporated into the narrative and the film's themes.

Here (2024)

It started off being a bit of a frustrating watch visually after awhile, but once I got into the hang of the visuals and the different characters stories, I started to think this is one of the year's best films. The film also doesn't really go deep with the characters, yet provides some situations that we may be able to recognize. Probably, the most interesting character for me is the place where the film is situated, as we get to see the changes that happen through time.   
 

Memoir of a Snail (2024)

Nice!

Makes me wanna check out Adam Elliot's earlier works.
 

Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)

Probably one of the year's best films, in which everything from the storytelling to all the various creative and technical departments excel.

Essentially it's about someone who's just looking to be loved. Except everyone just loves his public image, and care little about him personally.
 

Wonderland《樂園》(2023)

Mark Lee basically shines in this emotionally driven drama. One of the better Singapore films to come along in a while. 

Megalopolis (2024)

Couldn't really engage with the story or the characters.

 

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)

Entertaining,
 

The Wild Robot (2024)

Nice!

Very pretty animation, dynamic sequences in motion and great sound design help to bring the characters and their environments alive.
 

The Killer (2023)

Nice.
 

Last Summer (2023)

I generally like this. I'll describe this as a drama about a character's decent into a state of torment or hell. What kept it arresting for me was the deliberate direction and strong performances. And watching this drama unfold in a cinema definitely added to my appreciation.

The Killer (2024)

I watched a trailer that did a nice job of selling the film to me. But I found the film very cluncky and I didn't really like it that much. 
 

Quiz Lady (2023)

Generic by the numbers comedy, although there were also a few sprinkles of laughter for me from the ridiculous silly department.

My fav dialogue from the film:

"...don't waste time trying to find happiness in other people... (pause) Because happiness does not exist. Nothing in life is good. All there is is bad and less bad."

It Ends with Us (2024)

Didn't engage with it as much as I'll like. After watching, it was pointed out to me how several scenes are executed from the perspective of the female character, and how that links with the story; and I thought, that's interesting. Storytelling could be tighter and more focused, maybe? 
 

Alien: Romulus (2024)

Not too bad.
 

Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line (2024)

Knowing only "Beds are Burning", I know nothing more about this band except they may be politically and environmentally conscious and the trailer hooked me.

So after watching this, I have a bit more idea who Midnight Oil are. Watching this in a theatre also meant "Forgotten Years" sounded so good when it played over the end credits!

How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (2024)

Approached this after being amazed by the film's box office success. Kept my expectations low.

Film is simple. Focus is on the story, though I think it can be tighter. The topic of being nice to someone to become the beneficiary of their inheritance, especially in an Asian society in which filial piety is expected, makes it a pertinent topic for a story, IMHO. This film just hits the surface, but it does has some sweet moments crafted to engage the mainstream audience.

Inside Out 2 (2024)

Generally enjoyed this in a mainstream way. I recalled not being blown over by the original, but that was a different me in a different time and place.
 

The Teacher Who Promised the Sea (2023)

Nice story based on actual characters and events, although I was unsure of the relevance of the present day story and character. There's a lot to cover, and I felt there's a lot of depth. The actors performances were generally great. Went to read up a bit on the Spanish Civil War after watching.

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

It's all right. It's more fan driven than plot driven.
 

Salam Gembira (2024)

I don't know a lot of films that touch on Islam and the individual so I guess this is one of the things that make me feel this is an important film to support.

That aside, is this a comedy of errors about a young Muslim man trying to hide his non-Muslim girlfriend from his family, or a call for gay people to be recognized? These two points are linked very superficially, IMHO.

As a comedy of errors, most of the talents deliver enough for it to be a fun watch. But the film also comes across as weakly structured.  While the characters remind me of people from real life, there's too much to their stories to integrate into a movie of this length beyond what is just superficial. The story of one of the supporting character (Mateen) did engage me though.

Kill (2023)

Super violent. I kinda like that the bad guys are also humanized in this.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)

Not bad.
 

A Family Affair (2024)

Pretty light fluff. I didn't buy into Zac Efron's character. The bits with him and Nicole K are also the dullest parts of the film for me. And as shallow as this whole film is suppose to be, at least Joey King is somewhat watchable, and there's a somewhat decent scene between Nicole K and Kathy Bates during a Christmas scene. And a few of the supportings do shine. But overall, this is basically a generic and bland affair, IMHO.
 

A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)

More like an art film than a mainstream pic cos it didn't really fit the standard mould. That cat is unbelievably calm and quiet throughout. And I didn't quite get the ending. Huh? What? Why?
 

The Convert (2023)

Nice!

Strong performance from Pearce. Liked it cos it's pretty gripping and touched on bits like the ugly sides of human nature, and the attempts to find peace while the rest of the world is just filled with thoughts of conquest. Can't help but think of comparisons to modern times. Most of the characters were nicely fleshed out, even the captain of the ship who only appeared bits.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)

 Nice!

Hit Man (2023)

I wanted to like this. How many movies do you get where you have a character like this? But the way the story wrapped left me unsatisfied and shortchanged.
 

Thelma (2024)

After watching this, I think I get why independence is so important for some seniors. And that line: "We're old, we're diminished and we're a liability to the ones we love" hits hard. Yet, despite some heavy poignant moments and recreations, I really enjoyed this lighthearted mainstream pic, which screams like a love letter by the director to his grandma. Can't help but leave the theatre with a smile after watching this.

And it was great catching this with the short, Of the Last Reel in Front of You (2023) by Ge Yang at the State Theatre during the Sydney Film Festival. 

Việt and Nam (2024)

Hypnotic, immersive mesmerizing and also sad. Beautifully filmed, and poignantly controlled and slow paced in the unraveling of its narrative. Also, the sound design greatly enhanced my engagement with the narrative.

All Shall Be Well《從今以後》(2024)

Lovely insight into themes of home, family and moving on after one's partner passes. Love what the director said about how the situation was dramatic enough, and so he took a more restrained approach with the narrative. While I love the focus on the main and supporting family characters, I also love the friends who played a smaller role in the film. One particular scene with a lawyer friend had me tickled. Most of all, I love that this story zeroed in on characters whose stories are usually not told a lot currently amongst popular culture. Those who caught the director's last film Suk Suk《叔。叔》will find a similar style here.

Late Night with the Devil (2023)

Not really my cup of tea, but I thought this was a simple premise but very nicely executed.

Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In《九龍城寨之圍城》(2024)

Hot! The fight sequences are amazing and the production design is wowzer! So glad I got to catch this in Cantonese, which helped with my appreciation for the film (why a country like Singapore still has language restrictions for commercial cinema flicks is brain stumping)
 

Atlas (2024)

Pretty by the numbers entertainment that doesn't really wow but isn't a stinker either.
 

Dune: Part Two (2024)

Not too bad. A mega production where the visuals and audio surrounds. I was seated all the way back and some of the night scenes seem a bit dark and I can't see too clearly (could be my eyesight or the hall I watched in). Ending felt a bit generic in setting up the (reported) next installment. I wonder how the experience might have been if I watched this from a prime position in an IMAX hall.      
 

The Fall Guy (2024)

Very entertaining! Taylor Swift, Phil Collins and Kiss!
 

Oversteer《速战人生》(2024)

Technically, this is pretty much up there with most of the mainstream commercial pics from SG. But the narrative kinda lacks focus and development. The car scenes, while far from what we are used to from more developed industries, do look fresh for a SG pic. Kudos to the mostly apt sound design too.

The cast are generally okay despite the characters being just broad strokes with little development. That very random musical number which came out from nowhere is probably my fav part of the film.

Overall, I'll say this is a decent effort. I still don't get why the dad and son speak different dialects when talking to each other tho. 

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)

Entertaining on a mainstream level. Very little development character or story wise. Pretty by the numbers. 

Drift (2023)

Glad I dragged myself to attend the screening that came with a  Q&A. Apart from bumping into friends and colleagues, the insight during the Q&A added further appreciation for the film's production process. Nice, quiet drama that touched on topics such as human connections and dignity.     

Anatomy of a Fall (2023)

Not bad. Very talkie film. I fell asleep around the part where the female lead was talking to her lawyer in the kitchen, IIRC, and woke up somewhere when the case was in the courtroom.

All of Us Strangers (2023)

At the end of it, I was thinking I might wanna watch again just to see how the dots join up.
 

Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (2023)

Fun!
 

Poor Things (2023)

The dialogue, "I must go punch that baby" really tickled me.  There's lots of sex, or "furious jumping" in this one. Loved it mostly. Emma Stone's performance is one of the key anchors of the film, IMHO. I do wonder if things were wrapped up a bit too nicely in the end, but this an interesting watch for those who are open to unconventional visual and audio storytelling.