Such a strange movie in so many ways!
It's hard to cheer for Ben, even though he's clearly the victim of Mrs. Robinson, more than vice versa. He really treats Elaine a bit inhumanely, and the kid should get a job. Their first date was filled with two odd moments to look out for
Another movie glorifying Romanticism and impulse, like Good Will Hunting
The soundtrack is amazing; so many hits from Simon and Garfunkel
3.5 / 6 stars
This rewatch just upset me with how mental illness and Will's rejection of so many great job offers is portrayed. He also is portrayed like so many successful STEM folks in movies; everything is effortless and he's allowed to be an ass to people regularly because he's seen as a demigod
This happens in countless biopics glorifying famous scientists, mathematicians, and founders. Steve Jobs (the Fassbender one), The Social Network, A Beautiful Mind. I understand if makes for dramatic cinema. And of course abnormally intelligent and successful people can be mean. But most days they're just people
And yeah of course we're supposed to feel bad for Will because trauma, but real people react to trauma in many different ways: crying, introversion, paranoid fear that mostly doesn't hurt anyone else...
Gosh and they do that other trope where it's so effortless for him. Plenty of geniuses only know their field with any depth. Will randomly remembering obscure detailed Southern antebellum facts and organic chemistry is a bit much
I still liked the effort they put in; Robin Williams' character is very very likable, and there are a few great jokes, one of which equitably goes to Minnie Driver being one of the guys in the bar. Robin and Will definitely have a deep friendship that "Mr. Fields" can't parallel
SPOILER ALERT:
But perhaps it's the ending that's always really rubbed me the wrong way; we're meant to cheer for Will's choice?! He could have at least lined up a job on the West Coast before spontaneously throwing his life into disarray. Very common in American movies to glorify love, impulse, and rugged individualism instead of sensible decisions
Despite all my criticism, I do enjoy most of the movie. It gives us STEM folks more visibility and was really put together skillfully. There are just enough decisions to dislike, and it upset me. But I laughed, and certainly felt things
4.0 / 6 Stars
Comedy: Napoleon Dynamite, Harold and Maude, Ant Man 2, Inside Out 2, Mean Girls, Shrek 2, One Piece, Hercules, The Ringer, Mulan, Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, The Incredibles, Jackie Chan Adventures, That’s So Raven
Tragedy / Drama: My Dinner with Andre, Breaking Bad, House of Cards, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, Galileo, Madoka Magica, Hi Score Girl, Harry Potter 6 and 7, Animorphs, I Claudius, Death Note, Up
Romance: About Time, 50 First Dates, 21 Dresses, Hi Score Girl, everything by Meg Cabot, but particularly “Teen Idol” and “Avalon High”
Sci-Fi / Fantasy: Avengers: Infinity War, Star Wars, Obi Wan Kenobi, Harry Potter, Ender’s Game, Lord of the Rings, Eragon, Cornelia Funke, Artemis Fowl, Septimus Heap (Magyk, Flyte, etc.), Children of the Mind, Star Trek (the early 2000s film), Code Lyoko
Action: Dragon Ball Z, Iron Man 2, Cobra Kai, The Godfather, Jackie Chan Adventures
Mystery: Loki, Death Note, The Cat Who
Horror: Squid Game, Breaking Bad
I was just listening to Brandon Sanderson, so a lot more paper novels and YA made it on here than if I had just been listening to Alex Addams or Cinema Therapy
I’m just leaving this one here to get my juices flowing for future days. I’ve seen it at least 10 times, one of my all time favorites
If I had to sum it up in a few words, ND is hilarious, goofy, campy, and heart-warming.
It has a similar style of humor to the Adam Sandler or Will Ferrell movies in that era. Vote for Pedro!
5.9 / 6 Stars
Just nowhere near as good as the original. Would probably be a 4 / 6 if not for the fact that it’s remaking such a classic
I did like the modifications of the original iconic lines; they were definitely still trying. Sequels are hard
2.5 / 6 Stars
The original Mean Girls is so iconic. Everyone my age can quote this movie; Gretchen, Karen, Regina, Janis, Damian, Kevin Gnapoor, Mrs. George, Mrs. Norbury, Cady, Aaron Samuels, Mr. Duvall, and even Coach Carr and the feelings girl are all so iconic
I hate to put Cady so low on this list, but she’s just so bland compared to the other characters. She has a few funny lines, but mostly she, Mrs. Norbury, and Aaron are there for serious plot points. They play the straight men to Regina and Janis’ drama queens, and Karen and Kevin’s ridiculousnesses.
My favorite moments:
Gretchen falling on the gym floor during the trust falls
“You can’t like your friend’s ex! That’s just, like, the rules of feminism”
“Oh my god Danny Devito I love your work!” in the middle of the women’s restroom
The montage of everyone gossiping about and worshiping Regina
“You might think you like someone. But you could be wrong”
“Wait but if you’re from Africa, why are you white?”
“I have a fifth sense. It’s like I have ESPN or something!”
Mr. Duval slowly raising his hand after Mrs. Norbury asks the whole gym “how many of you have ever felt personally victimized by Regina George?”
The global popularity of this movie is only further emphasized by how much worse every remake is. Mean Girls 2 even gets a few kudos points for sending the main character off to Carnegie Mellon afterwards, but it’s just nowhere near as funny or as mean. Rachel McAdams’ real Regina George was the main difference. I could easily picture myself getting humiliated by McAdams, and the remakes’ performances are just nowhere near as brutal. She always gives me flashbacks to the coolest bullies in middle school
Hard to beat!
5.8 / 6 Stars
This felt like a cash grab. We all love Kim Possible and making a live action version was another way to get people excited about the cartoon, probably sell a few toys, etc.
At least they got the voice of Ron right, and the overall plot felt very standard KP. But idk, it just didn't feel motivated by the genuine urge to tell a new story and do a good job
The new best friend plot was so over the top; no one would get an award at a new school so early. We get it haha, she’s just like Kim but better
I also didn’t feel that bad for Kim on her first day of school; of course we’ve all been late to class before, but it’s not like she was failing out of class or laughed at by everyone for missing a basic word in the spelling bee. I’m sure theres some die hard dan of the Kim Possible live action movie somewhere, but for me, this was a miss
3.0 / 6 Stars
