Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

 

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)

Giant Monsters, Solid FX, and Pure Fun

★★★☆☆

Watched 28 Mar 2024 — A film that knows exactly what its audience wants: building-sized titans pummeling each other to the death.

Directed by Adam Wingard, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is an unapologetic spectacle that prioritizes scale over subtext. While it’s easy to dismiss a movie about giant monsters as "silly," the artistic merits here deserve recognition. The film successfully balances a two-hour narrative where the human characters manage to hold our interest between the main events. Most impressively, the special effects team manages to elicit genuine affection and animosity toward these CGI protagonists, proving that even a low-bar "monster mash" requires high-level craftsmanship to succeed.

"What they likely are looking for are glowing comments about great special effects and stimulating action of building size monsters battling each other to the death. Godzilla x Kong The New Empire delivers just that."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Cast & Crew

• Director: [Adam Wingard](https://www.imdb.com)
• Starring: [Rebecca Hall](https://www.imdb.com), Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens
• Supporting: Kaylee Hottle, Fala Chen
• Studio: [Warner Bros. Pictures / Legendary](https://www.warnerbros.com)

The Vision

Wingard’s vision for the "MonsterVerse" continues to lean away from the grounded realism of earlier entries in favor of vibrant, neon-soaked fantasy. He embraces the legacy of the "rubber suit" era while utilizing modern technology to make the action feel kinetic and personal. The focus remains on the personality of the monsters—treating Kong and Godzilla as silent actors with their own arcs. It’s an entertaining effort that aims for "solid special effects" and "affable creatures," ensuring that fans of the franchise leave the theater satisfied.

🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts

• The Guest Reunion: This film reunites director Adam Wingard with actor Dan Stevens, who starred in Wingard's 2014 cult hit The Guest.
• Evolved Godzilla: The pink "evolved" look for Godzilla was inspired by the monster's ability to store massive amounts of solar energy, a nod to the character's ever-changing biology in Toho history.
• Silent Protagonists: A significant portion of the film features no human dialogue, relying entirely on the visual storytelling and "acting" of the CGI monsters.

✅ Pros

• Top-tier special effects and monster action.
• Human characters that actually manage to stay interesting.
• A fun, entertaining ride from start to finish.

❌ Cons

• Story elements and dialogue are secondary to the action.
• The plot leans heavily into "silly" territory.
• Not for those seeking a "realistic" or deep narrative.

🏆 Final Verdict

A triumphant celebration of giant-scale destruction. If you're here for titans pummeling each other, stop reading and go watch it—you won't be disappointed.

View on Letterboxd

Ghostbusters Frozen Empire

 

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

A Heartwarming Family Film in Ghostly Garb

★★½☆☆

Watched 27 Mar 2024 — Solid as a multi-generational family drama, but lacking the edgy thrills of its iconic roots.

Directed by Gil Kenan, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire finds the franchise shifting gears into wholesome family entertainment. While it remains a "not bad" movie, it struggles with a significant identity crisis: it lacks the big comedic beats and scary thrills that once defined the brand. Instead, it positions itself as a heartwarming story centered on a mixed family of several generations. It’s a literal and figurative coming-together of the old guard and the new kids, functioning more as a moral tale than a supernatural thriller.

"Can a Ghostbusters movie still be good if it doesn't have many laughs or any scary thrills? ... What we have here is a heartwarming family film. And on that level, it delivers solidly."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Cast & Crew

• Director: [Gil Kenan](https://www.imdb.com)
• Starring: Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace
• The Originals: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson
• Studio: [Sony Pictures](https://www.ghostbusters.com)

The Vision

The directorial vision moves further away from the edgy, improv-heavy "comedy thriller" roots established by Harold Ramis and Dan Aykroyd in 1984. This entry feels more aligned with the animated series' "silly fun" and "morality tales" approach. Kenan focuses on the "chaperone" dynamic, utilizing the legacy characters to anchor a story about family unity and overcoming adversity. It’s a soft reboot that prioritizes sentimental heart over the sharp, scientific skepticism that made the original world-building so iconic.

🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts

• Alternative Casting: The original 1984 film was initially written for John Belushi and Eddie Murphy. Murphy eventually passed to film [Beverly Hills Cop](https://www.imdb.com).
• The Firehouse Return: This film marks the first time the franchise has fully returned to the iconic [Hook & Ladder Company 8](https://en.wikipedia.org) firehouse in Tribeca as a primary base since 1989.
• Practical Slimer: The production team opted for a mix of CGI and practical puppetry for Slimer to capture the nostalgic feel of the original "ugly little spud."

✅ Pros

• Solid, heartwarming family dynamics at the core.
• Great to see the original Ghostbusters back in action.
• High production value and nostalgic set pieces.

❌ Cons

• Hardly any comedic moments or big laughs.
• Lacks the scary thrills and tension of the original.
• Feels a bit too "safe" for an edgy franchise.

🏆 Final Verdict

A conflicted transition for the franchise. If you’re looking for a wholesome family uniting for a heroic cause, you’ll find it here. If you’re looking for the edgy wit of Bill Murray’s heyday, you might leave feeling a bit cold.

View on Letterboxd

Road House 2024

 

Road House (2024)

Unabashedly Silly, Simple, and Combat-Ready

★★★☆☆

Watched 22 Mar 2024 — A positive re-imagining that tosses logic out the window in favor of a fun, uncomplicated ride.

Directed by Doug Liman, this 2024 update of Road House trades the cult-hit status of the 1989 original for high-octane modern polish. Starring the critically acclaimed Jake Gyllenhaal, the film wisely avoids trying to be a "classic" or standing up to deep scrutiny. Instead, it leans into its identity as pure entertainment, delivering exactly what the title promises: fighting, followed by more fighting. It’s a breezy, big-budget remake that lives up to its predecessor's humble success by keeping the stakes clear and the action relentless.

"Everyone knows this movie exists just to entertain. And not to stand up to any kind of deep scrutiny. If the viewer enters looking to have a fun ride, they are in good hands. Lay back and enjoy the fights."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Cast & Crew

• Director: [Doug Liman](https://www.imdb.com)
• Starring: [Jake Gyllenhaal](https://www.imdb.com), [Conor McGregor](https://www.imdb.com)
• Supporting: Daniela Melchior, Billy Magnussen, Jessica Williams
• Studio: [Amazon MGM Studios](https://www.amazon.com)

The Vision

Liman, the filmmaker behind The Bourne Identity, brings a kinetic energy to the Florida Keys setting. His vision eschews the "serious" tone of many modern remakes, opting instead for a vibrant, almost cartoonish physicality. The inclusion of MMA superstar Conor McGregor in an over-the-top debut performance signals the film's intent: it is a "home video success" spirit amplified by a blockbuster budget. It doesn't aim to fix a plot that didn't need reimagining; it simply provides a new sandbox for impressive sequences and "unabashedly silly fun."

🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts

• UFC Integration: To ensure authenticity, scenes were filmed during a live [UFC 285](https://www.ufc.com) event, with Gyllenhaal actually stepping into the Octagon.
• McGregor's Debut: This film marks the professional acting debut of Conor McGregor, who reportedly became the highest-paid debut actor in history for the role.
• Stunt Innovation: Liman used a "multi-pass" filming technique for the fights, allowing actors to throw real, fast punches that were digitally composited to look like they connected without hurting the performers.

✅ Pros

• Jake Gyllenhaal brings charisma and grit to the lead role.
• Impressive, modern fight sequences and choreography.
• Conor McGregor’s wild, over-the-top performance.

❌ Cons

• Logic and narrative depth are secondary to the action.
• Doesn't necessarily "need" to exist as a remake.
• Might feel too "silly" for viewers expecting a serious drama.

🏆 Final Verdict

A fun, high-energy ride that respects the spirit of the original by not taking itself too seriously. It’s a perfect "popcorn" movie—just lay back, ignore the logic, and enjoy the show.

View on Letterboxd

The Promised Land

 

The Promised Land (2023)

A Classic Western Tale with a Danish Twist

★★★★☆

Watched 18 Mar 2024 — A riveting, handsomely crafted epic featuring one of the most detestable villains in recent memory.

Directed by Nikolaj Arcel, The Promised Land (Bastarden) is technically a period drama set in 1750s Denmark, but it moves with the soul of a classic American Western. The film follows an underprivileged war hero fighting impossible odds to cultivate the barren Jutland heath. Guided by Arcel's steady, confident hand, the narrative expertly balances traditional tropes—the evil land baron, the orphaned child, and the affable underdog—while injecting shocking unique surprises and riveting thrills. It is a powerful exploration of class, legacy, and sheer human will.

"Not since Joffrey Baratheon has a story incited so much hatred for a despicable weasel of an antagonist... The film delivers riveting thrills and shocking unique surprises."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Cast & Crew

• Director: [Nikolaj Arcel](https://www.imdb.com)
• Starring: [Mads Mikkelsen](https://www.imdb.com), Amanda Collin, Simon Bennebjerg
• Supporting: Kristine Kujath Thorp, Gustav Lindh
• Cinematography: Rasmus Videbæk

The Vision

Arcel’s vision is a marriage of beautiful cinematography and gritty, excellent production design. By viewing 18th-century Danish history through a "foreign perspective" on the Western genre, he creates a story that feels both epic and intimate. The focus is on the collision between the "civilized" brutality of the aristocracy and the raw survivalism of the common man. The film's MVP is undoubtedly Simon Bennebjerg, whose horrific, memorable villainous turn serves as the perfect foil to Mads Mikkelsen’s characteristically powerful, stoic performance.

🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts

• A Royal Reunion: This film reunites Mads Mikkelsen and director Nikolaj Arcel for the first time since their Oscar-nominated collaboration, [A Royal Affair (2012)](https://www.imdb.com).
• The King's Heath: The film is based on the 2020 Danish bestseller *Kaptajnen og Ann Barbara* (The Captain and Ann Barbara) by Ida Jessen.
• Award Pedigree: The film was Denmark's official entry for [Best International Feature Film](https://en.wikipedia.org) at the 96th Academy Awards.

✅ Pros

• Trademark powerful performance by Mads Mikkelsen.
• A truly memorable and detestable villain in Simon Bennebjerg.
• Excellent production design and cinematography.

❌ Cons

• Relies on some familiar Western/period drama tropes.
• Features moments of shocking and brutal violence.
• May feel traditional to those seeking an avant-garde drama.

🏆 Final Verdict

An excellent, memorable film that proves classic storytelling still has the power to shock and rivet. If you want to see a "despicable weasel" get his comeuppance in a beautiful setting, this is a must-watch.

View on Letterboxd

The Zone of Interest

 

The Zone of Interest (2023)

The Boring, Mundane Reality of Evil

★★½☆☆

Watched 18 Mar 2024 — A polarizing, experimental look at the "banality of evil" that often feels as stagnant as the lives it depicts.

Directed by Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest is a film whose impact depends entirely on how the viewer interprets its lack of traditional narrative. On the surface, we watch the insignificant minutiae of a Nazi family's daily life. The artistic weight comes from the unsettling rumblings and screams of misery persisting in the background from the adjacent death camp. While it effectively illustrates how humans can become desensitized to suffering for the sake of self-preservation, the repetitive nature of these points makes the 1 hour and 47 minute runtime feel significantly longer.

"Evil can be as boring as a family picnic, or as mundane as washing the dishes... After awhile, one almost wants to beg and scream at the film to give us something worth watching and noteworthy. But that's the point."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Cast & Crew

• Director: Jonathan Glazer
• Starring: Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller
• Cinematographer: Łukasz Żal
• Studio: [A24](https://a24films.com)

The Vision

Glazer’s vision is undeniably "pretentious" and experimental, eschewing standard cinematic immediacy for a fly-on-the-wall perspective. He uses a static, multi-camera setup to capture uninteresting, familiar family events in a beautiful, idyllic setting—juxtaposed against the unseen horrors over the garden wall. The goal is to reinforce the idea that humanity can be selfish and ultimately cruel through institutional desensitization. However, by repeating the same morbid points in uninteresting ways, the film risks alienating viewers who expect a nuanced, complex narrative or character development.

🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts

• The "Hidden" Crew: To achieve a naturalistic feel, Glazer set up [up to 10 cameras](https://www.theguardian.com) in the house and operated them remotely, so the actors were alone in the set without a visible crew.
• Audio Horror: The "background" sounds of the camp were created by sound designer Johnnie Burn, who compiled a library of [industrial and human sounds](https://www.nytimes.com) to play throughout the film without ever showing the source.
• Oscar Success: The film won the Academy Award for [Best International Feature Film](https://www.oscars.org) and Best Sound at the 2024 Oscars.

✅ Pros

• Masterful and unsettling use of background sound.
• Powerful theme concerning the desensitization of humanity.
• Visually idyllic cinematography juxtaposed with grim reality.

❌ Cons

• Lacks a strong, thrilling narrative or complex characters.
• Runtime feels much longer than it is due to pacing.
• Points can feel repetitive and "pretentious."

🏆 Final Verdict

A film designed to be infuriating and mundane to mirror the boring nature of evil. If you value irony and thematic atmosphere over story, this is for you; otherwise, it may feel like a three-minute PSA stretched to feature length.

View on Letterboxd

Dune Part Two

 

Dune: Part Two (2024)

The Tragic Fall of a Chosen One

★★★★☆

Watched 13 Mar 2024 — A spectacular, thought-provoking anti-war film that trades classic heroism for dark political realism.

Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part Two is a spectacular adaptation of the second half of Frank Herbert's seminal novel. Expertly juggling dark themes of revenge, leadership burdens, and societal manipulation, Villeneuve transforms the typical "hero's journey" into a sobering anti-war statement. While Part One felt like the rise of a classic hero, Part Two explores the tragic fall of Paul Atreides as he is slowly overwhelmed by political forces, ultimately embracing a holy war for retribution and power.

"While other adaptations treated Paul Atreides as more of a classic hero... this version of Dune is more of an anti-war film... Part two feels more like a tragic fall."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Cast & Crew

• Director: Denis Villeneuve
• Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson
• Supporting: Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh
• Studio: [Warner Bros. / Legendary](https://www.dunemovie.com)

The Vision

Villeneuve’s vision is focused on the "nuanced look" at leadership and the "political deception" inherent in prophecy. He replaces the "crowd-pleasing" satisfaction of previous adaptations with breathtaking action that feels heavy and consequential. By emphasizing the "dark destiny" of Paul Atreides, he crafts a narrative that is as much about the manipulation of disenfranchised people as it is about intergalactic war. It is a visually engrossing morality tale that avoids simple binaries of good and evil, cementing its place as the first great film of 2024.

🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts

• Infrared Gladiators: The striking black-and-white sequences on Giedi Prime were filmed using [infrared cameras](https://www.indiewire.com) to create a sun-bleached, alien look for the Harkonnen home world.
• Worm-Riding Logic: The "Sandworm" sequences took months to develop, with Villeneuve insisting on a [consistent mechanical logic](https://www.variety.com) for how one would actually mount and steer a 400-meter creature.
• Austin Butler's Transformation: To play Feyd-Rautha, Austin Butler trained in [Kali martial arts](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com) and adopted a vocal tone inspired by Stellan Skarsgård’s Baron Harkonnen.

✅ Pros

• Spectacular visuals and breathtaking action sequences.
• Exceptional performances from an all-star ensemble cast.
• Thought-provoking, mature exploration of power and religion.

❌ Cons

• Dark themes make for a less "satisfying" traditional hero arc.
• Protagonist becomes increasingly difficult to root for.
• May feel heavy or exhausting compared to *Part One*.

🏆 Final Verdict

A technical and narrative triumph that demands to be seen on the largest screen possible. It is a haunting, epic contendere for awards season that proves blockbuster cinema can be as cerebral as it is spectacular.

View on Letterboxd

Perfect Days

 

Perfect Days (2023)

The Mesmerizing Beauty of a Simple Life

★★★★☆

Watched 07 Mar 2024 — A soul-soothing slice of life that finds profound humanity in the routines we often ignore.

Directed by the legendary Wim Wenders, Perfect Days follows the unremarkable yet cherished life of Hirayama, a humble toilet cleaner in Tokyo. Wenders weaves his cinematic magic through a repetitive, focused look at Hirayama's daily routines—cleaning, watering plants, and listening to classic rock. While a cynical viewer might question the significance of such tasks, the film transforms these simple pleasures into something mesmerizing. When an unexpected visit disrupts his rhythm in the second act, we are forced to drop our judgment and witness the beautiful humanity of a man society usually neglects.

"A great film to watch when one starts to feel overwhelmed by seemingly important things, which are really just insignificant if given the proper perspective."

— Ray Manukay

🎬 Cast & Crew

• Director: Wim Wenders
• Starring: Kōji Yakusho, Tokio Emoto, Arisa Nakano
• Supporting: Aoi Yamada, Sayuri Ishikawa, Tomokazu Miura
• Studio: [NEON / Master Mind](https://neonrated.com)

The Vision

Wenders' vision is a rejection of modern chaos, choosing instead to celebrate the "uncomplicated" person. By focusing on the meticulous care Hirayama puts into his work and his analog hobbies, the film highlights a focused way of living that has become rare. The directorial style is patient and observational, allowing the audience to relate to simple joys like sitting under a tree or driving to work listening to Lou Reed. It serves as a gentle reminder that life's most meaningful moments often exist within the insignificant minutiae of our daily existence.

🎬 Cinephile Fun Facts

• Best Actor Laurels: Lead actor [Kōji Yakusho](https://www.imdb.com) won the Best Actor award at the [2023 Cannes Film Festival](https://www.festival-cannes.com) for his subtle, moving performance.
• The Tokyo Toilet Project: The stunning public bathrooms featured in the film are real, high-design structures built by the [The Tokyo Toilet project](https://tokyotoilet.jp), which originally commissioned Wenders to make a short documentary.
• Analog Soul: Hirayama’s love for cassette tapes and film photography was a deliberate choice by Wenders to showcase a character who stays [connected to the tangible world](https://www.criterion.com) in a digital age.

✅ Pros

• Mesmerizing, career-best performance by Kōji Yakusho.
• Beautifully captures the "humanity" in everyday routines.
• A perfect antidote to feeling overwhelmed by modern life.

❌ Cons

• Extremely slow pacing may bore "action-oriented" viewers.
• The episodic, repetitive structure isn't for everyone.
• Minimal plot development until the second act.

🏆 Final Verdict

A cinematic masterpiece of observation. It asks us to look closer at the world around us and find the beauty in being present. It’s a film that stays with you long after the final frame.

View on Letterboxd