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Hi everyone! So, I watched a lot of movies in December 2023 and here I am with my brutal honest reviews and overviews about the movies!
The Invitation
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2 out of 5)
Summary: Evie, a struggling New York artist grappling with the loss of her mother, takes a DNA test on a whim. To her surprise, she discovers a distant cousin in England, Oliver. Oliver, charming and aristocratic, sweeps Evie off her feet with an invitation to a lavish family wedding at his ancestral estate in the English countryside.
Evie arrives at the picturesque New Carfax Abbey, a Gothic manor teeming with eccentric relatives and an air of unsettling secrecy. The lord of the manor, the enigmatic Walter De Ville, welcomes her with an almost predatory intensity. The other guests, dressed in finery and radiating an unnerving elegance, seem to hold onto cryptic traditions and whispered family secrets.
As the wedding festivities unfold, Evie starts noticing unsettling clues – strange symbols, cryptic rituals, and unsettling glimpses of the manor’s dark history. Her suspicions reach a peak when she discovers a hidden room containing disturbing paintings and ominous texts hinting at a sinister family legacy.
Evie’s world unravels as she realizes the De Villes harbor a horrifying secret: they’re not who they seem. With the help of a kind maid, Mrs. Swift, Evie uncovers a shocking truth about the family’s connection to the legendary Dracula. Now, Evie must fight for her survival as she becomes entangled in a deadly game of ancient rituals and bloodthirsty desires.
Nathalie Emmanuel slays vampires in a gothic English manor. Sounds epic, right? But hold on, the plot gets lost in a twisty maze, leaving you more confused than Count Dracula after a bad blood donation.
Goods: Acting shines (especially Nathalie and Thomas Doherty!), visually stunning mansion.
Bads: Confusing story, underdeveloped supernatural elements, leaves you wanting more bite.
Review: Intriguing concept, messy execution.
Hope
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 out of 5)
Summary: Based on a true story, Hope follows So-won (Lee – Re), a young girl navigating the aftermath of a horrific crime while she was on the way to school. Her parents shrink to hospital walls and endless surgeries. They fight for So-won’s physical recovery, while she battles emotional trauma and memory loss. The community rallies around the Im family, supporting them through the trial of the perpetrator. The fight for a harsh sentence becomes a crusade for justice against child abuse. So-won’s path to healing is slow and arduous. The film doesn’t shy away from the emotional and physical burdens she carries. But even in the darkest moments, the film doesn’t forget the title’s namesake – hope. The film doesn’t offer easy answers or complete closure. So-won’s journey continues, but the final scene reflects a fragile hope for a new normal, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unthinkable tragedy.
Goods: Raw and powerful performances, gut-punching courtroom scene, a reminder of the human spirit’s resilience.
Bads: None (but keep those tissues close!)
Review: Powerful acting, as its based on a real story, it had mostly done justice to it.
The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4 out of 5)
Summary: “The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil” is a thrilling and intense movie about an unusual alliance. The Gangster and the Cop they work together catch a serial killer. As they work together, they face dangerous situations and build a gritty partnership. The movie is action-packed, filled with suspense, and explores the dynamics between law enforcement and the underworld in a gripping manner. The ending is very satisfying. Gangster: Ma Dong-seok, Cop: Kim mu-Yeol, Devil: Kim Sung-Kyun
Goods: Fast-paced action, hilarious moments, characters you’ll root for (even if they’re criminals), satisfying ending.
Bads: Predictable plot elements, some humor might miss the mark.
Review: High-octane fun with heart.
Deliver Us From Evil
Rating: ★★½☆☆ (2.5 out of 5)
Summary: Gruff cop Ralph (Eric Bana) stumbles upon super weird crimes – people possessed by scary demons doing bad things. Think freaky voices, creepy drawings, and folks acting wild!
Ralph is a skeptical guy, but he teams up with a cool priest named Mendoza (Edgar Ramirez) who knows all about demon-busting. Mendoza teaches Ralph the ropes of holy water, crucifixes, and the whole exorcism shebang.
Together, they fight a bunch of possessed peeps, each weirder than the last. We’re talking lion attacks, subway screaming, and even a demonic zoo trip!
But the main baddie is a soldier named Mick, who’s got a whole gang of demons living inside him. This guy wants to unleash even more evil on the world, so Ralph and Mendoza gotta stop him before things get really ugly.
They face off in a big showdown filled with yelling, holy water splashing, and maybe even some flying furniture. Who will win? Will Ralph keep his faith? Will New York City ever be safe from demon claws?
Goods: Phenomenal acting, especially from the lead cast.
Bads: Unfulfilled potential, underdeveloped story, leaves you wanting more scares.
Review: Good Acting but A lot could have but improved in the story telling
The Pope’s Exorcist
Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5 out of 5)
Summary: This movie is inspired by real-life Father Amorth. Born in Italy in 1925, he fought in World War II, became a lawyer, and even done journalism before finding his calling as a priest. But his most exciting job came later: battling demons! That’s basically the movie! He zooms around Italy on his scooter, ready to send demons back to wherever they came from. One case involves a possessed boy, and Father Amorth sends the demon into a pig… and then shoots it! Oops! That causes some trouble with the Church, but he’s got the Pope on his side, a wise old man who believes in Father Amorth’s tough-love approach. They travel to a creepy Spanish abbey where a young boy is possessed, and the mystery involves ancient secrets and a nasty demon named Asmodeus. It’s a spooky thrill ride with Father Amorth cracking jokes, facing his fears, and ultimately kicking some demonic butt!
Goods: Masterful suspense, incredible performance by Crowe, genuinely terrifying atmosphere.
Bads: Not for the faint of heart, might be too intense for some viewers.
Review: A masterclass in suspense for true horror enthusiasts.
Rebel Moon
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5 out of 5 stars)
Summary: Kora (Sofia Boutella) gathers the rebels to fight Balisarius and save a peaceful moon called Veldt. They have big battles, close calls, and maybe even some funny moments. Will the good guys win? You’ll have to watch to find out! Zack Snyder paints a visually stunning space opera with a classic sci-fi feel. Epic battles, stunning visuals, and a story that echoes Star Wars and Dune.
Goods: Breathtaking visuals, action-packed battles, familiar sci-fi themes.
Bads: Story might feel derivative, not very original.
Review: Visually stunning, but lacks originality.
Rating: 3.8 out of 5
The Da Vinci Code
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.8 out of 5)
Summary: In Louvre Museum, Paris the curator kicks the bucket in a weird way, leaving behind riddles hidden in paintings. Enter Langdon, the brainiac code-cracker, and Sophie, the tech-savvy granddaughter of the dead man. They team up, chase clues across Europe (think Paris cafes, London fog, and Rome’s sunshine), uncover secret societies, and stumble upon a mind-blowing secret about Christianity. Turns out, the Holy Grail ain’t just a dusty cup, it’s a truth bomb ready to explode. But bad guys want to keep it quiet, so Langdon and Sophie race against time, dodge danger, and unravel the whole rustic dwelling before it’s too late.
Goods: Faithful adaptation, exciting adventure, great performances by Hanks and Audrey Tautou.
Bads: Minor changes from the book might bother some fans, pacing can feel slow at times.
Review: A thrilling adaptation that stays true to the book’s spirit.
Have you watched any of them yet?
Also Please Suggest me a Movie that I should watch and review in the comments.
We just watched ‘Feast of the Seven Fishes’ last night and enjoyed it. Would enjoy hearing your thoughts on it. p.s. thanks for the reviews of the movies in this article!
I’d check that out
I will have to check these movies out. I don’t think I’ve seen any of them and your reviews intrigue me. I have heard from other people that The DaVinci Code is a good one so I might check that one out first.
I have not watched any of these movies. The only one that I have heard of was the Davinci Code and I chose not to see it.
Great reviews! I have only ever watched The DaVinci Code and thought it was a really good movie. I never take the time out to watch movies anymore but we used to do it all the time.
Loved a lot of these movies! So many favorites! I can’t wait to watch some of the movies you’ve shared which I haven’t seen.
Wow, that’s based on a true story? What a lot they went through. 🙁 I’m glad they had a community for support.
From this list I’ve only seen “The Invitation” and “The Da Vinci Code”, I’d have to say I agree with your ratings. Might I recommend “Lucky Number Sleven”?
I’ll check it out
Your detailed and honest takes make it easy to decide what to watch next. “The Invitation” sounds intriguing, but I might need to brace myself for the confusing plot twists.
I’ve seen the Da Vinci Code a few times now. I thought it was a great movie! Have you seen the movie based on the next book, Angels & Demons? While I thought it was not quite as good as the 1st it’s still worth watching.
I haven’t seen any of these movies yet. Honestly I don’t watch a ton of television or movies. I’d rather be blogging.
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I have watched (and read) The Da Vinci Code and liked it.. Of the remaining movies (all unwatched), I do want to watch Hope .. and love the good/bad/one line review theme of this post.
I haven’t seen any of these, and I think my top pick would be the DaVinci Code. I enjoyed reading your reviews of these movies. Just enough to know whether or not to add them to my watch list.
I’ve watched the Davinci Code and all the sequels. They are AH-mazing!
The Popes exorcist is the only movie I watched in these movie reviews. But I’ll surely try to watch these movies.
‘Hope’ was a deeply moving journey, highlighting the human spirit’s strength amidst tragedy. If you’re up for a thought-provoking watch, ‘The Florida Project’ is one that stays with you. It offers a unique perspective on childhood and innocence. I’d love to see your review on this powerful film!
I’ll watch it
Great! I am waiting for your review 🙂
Seen Da Vinci Code, won’t watch the Pope’s Exorcist, but intrigued to see The Invitation!
Loved your movie reviews – like chatting with a friend! Your honesty about what’s good and what’s not is spot-on. Excited for more movie suggestions from you!
I’ve only seen “The Da Vinci Code” from this list. It was an interesting movie. I will have to check the others.
To my knowledge I haven’t watched any of these movies, I will have to check them out. thanks for sharing them with us.
I thought the invitation was interesting, I enjoyed watching it! Deliver us from evil had some great potential but they didn’t execute it very well. I want to watch Rebel moon soon but I have a lot of other things on my watch list before I get to that one.
No, I have not watched any of these movies. I’m not a big movie buff, but I have some friends that have watched The Da Vinci Code and The Pope’s Exorcist and really enjoy them.
No, I have not seen these. But you have a list of some great movies. I would love to see the Vampire invitation, it sounds awesome.
Having already watched Pop’s Exorcist, I must say that the experience of watching this movie has been completely unforgettable. I am planning to watch The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil.
I am not much into K-film. Never finished the movie The Invitation, it was a little boring for me or I fell asleep in the middle of it haha. I have to check the others from your list.
I still haven’t seen The Davinci Code. It’s so old but I need to give it a watch!
Awesome review and love the honesty. Just watched “The Invitation” and the “Pope’s Exorcist” and they we’re great for me too.
I have not watched any from the list. Will try to catch da Vinci code as it is Tom hanks movie.
I have only watched The Da Vince Code from this list and it was a great adaptation. There were slight changes from the book but it was still great. We’re rating it 4.5 out of 5 too!
I’ve seen Da Vinci Code but the Invitation looks very interesting
Wow! I felt like a watched all these in a crash course by reading your reviews! Sadly I hardly ever get the chance to watch, especially in months like December, when the kids are at home all the time!