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Game of Thrones has cemented its position as a monumental and ground-breaking achievement in the history of television and has set a massive bar for House of the Dragon to live up to. However due to excellent writing, impeccable performances and spectacular production values across all the departments, the first season of House of the Dragon delivers a very promising setup to a story that could very well live up to the quality and pop-culture significance of its predecessor.

Set nearly 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon follows the Targeryen family at the height of their power. Underneath the flashy action/battle scenes, the gore and the breathtaking dragon sequences, the show is at it's core, an emotionally powerful and deep character-driven drama as well as an engaging political thriller. The show is filled to the brim with exceptional performances, the most noteworthy being Paddy Considine as King Viserys. Rather than being depicted as a stereotypically strong, powerful and noble king, Viserys was portrayed as a grieving widower trying his very best to connect with his daughter and struggling to keep his family from tearing itself apart due to the brewing internal conflicts, all the while suffering from a fatal illness that is slowly and painfully killing him. Paddy Considine delivered a magnificent portrayal of the character making him humanized and relatable, which has got the masses screaming for an Emmy nomination/win for the actor, and deservedly so. The most noteworthy part of his performance comes in the sequences in Episode 8 where we see the extreme pain and suffering induced by the illness and Considine delivered an incredibly accurate and sympathetic portrayal of a man suffering from excruciating pain and agony, approaching his painful final moments. The throne room sequence and the dinner table speech were moments deserving particular praise for the actor.

Yet another standout performance was delivered by Matt Smith as Daemon Targaryen. Despite being an unhinged murderous psychopath, Daemon has quickly become an icon and a fan-favorite, thanks to Smith's charismatic portrayal and the nuanced writing of the character. Smith also did an excellent job in conveying the unpredictable nature of Daemon. The breakout star of the show was Milly Alcock who showcased an exceptional performance as Rhaneyra Targaryen, who definitely has a very promising career ahead of her. Emma D'arcy also delivered an equally impressive performance as the older version of the character. The supporting cast also did an magnificent job, particularly Ewan Mitchell as Aemond Targaryen.

One of the most noteworthy aspects of the show is its heart and emotional impact. The sequences depicting Viserys' miserable health conditions were among the most emotionally powerful moments in the entire Game of Thrones universe. The show consists of complex and deep characters and also focuses on the equally complex relationships between them. The season did an outstanding job in making us invested in the characters and their respective storylines and arcs as well as their roles in the overall story.

The cinematography of the show is nothing short of marvelous. Just like its predecessor, the show is filled with gorgeous, impeccably blocked and composed shots. The production design and costume design are among some of the very best ever committed to television. The visual effects totally lives upto the revolutionary achievements of its predecessor. The CGI work done on the dragons are particularly noteworthy. Not only were the dragons created with incredible designs and immaculate details but the VFX team also did a commendable job in the conveying the size and scale of the massive creatures, with respect to the live-action counterparts. The action/battle sequences also deserve a big round of applause as they were all wonderfully directed, choreographed and filmed. The Battle of the Stepstones from Episode 3 and the climactic Dragon duel from Episode 10 were sequences deserving particular mention. Ramin Djawadi delivers yet another beautifully composed soundtrack to the world of Westeros. All these aspects together make this show an enthralling cinematic experience.

Despite a few minor pacing issues regarding a couple of jarring time jumps in a few instances, the first season of House of the Dragon is a spectacular achievement in all aspects of filmmaking. It perfectly sets up the story, world, characters and conflicts and laid the overall the foundation for the future of a show that has a solid potential to be as big of a pop-culture juggernaut as Game of Thrones.

In an age filled with movies relying overly on computer generated imagery, it is refreshing to see a film that primarily utilizes practical effects to achieve even the most difficult of sequences, and the approach has clearly paid off. With Top Gun: Maverick, Tom Cruise and Joseph Kasinski delivers a thoroughly engaging, riveting and emotionally impactful sequel to a classic blockbuster, while simultaneously managing to improve upon the original in every possible way.

There is perhaps no other actor other than Tom Cruise who has managed to consistently maintain the same level of global stardom and public relevance for over four decades. Nearly 35 years later, Cruise returns to his iconic role of Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, the role that solidified his global stardom. Cruise once again showcases his acting talents and his unparalleled dedication to the craft as he along with other cast members, perform complex and difficult flight/aerial combat sequences that is all done practically by the actors themselves, with little to no usage of CGI. The rigorous flight training undergone by Cruise and the other cast members totally paid off, as all the aerial sequences, particularly the entire third act, forms the strongest aspect of the film. The dogfight sequences are quite possibly the best ever put to film and are constantly engaging and thrilling and keeps you at the edge of your seats throughout, due to realistic and accurate portrayal of them.

Another strong aspect of the movie was its emotional weight. The film has numerous callbacks and homages to the original film that manages to tug at your heartstrings particularly for long-time fans of the original film, as they manage to evoke a sense of nostalgia in them. However none of these come across as cheap nostalgia-bait or fan service, which has become common in many new Hollywood blockbusters. Instead, these are perfectly incorporated with the story and are even necessary for the development of Maverick's character. The impact of Goose's death in the first film is present throughout this film and the effect the event had on Maverick was perfectly portrayed. Maverick trying to be a surrogate father to Goose's son, played by Miles Teller and his subsequent relationship with him, forms the emotional center and the true heart of the movie. Val Kilmer's return as Tom "Iceman" Kazansky was a truly delightful inclusion and resulted in one of the most emotionally powerful moments in the film.

The cinematography by Claudio Miranda was another noteworthy aspect as the film is filled with gorgeous visuals. The sequences are made even more powerful by the exceptional music composed by Harold Faltermeyer and Hans Zimmer. May it be a heart to heart exchange between two characters or an intense dogfight sequence, the music always manages to perfectly fit and elevate the impact of the sequences.

With exceptionally crafted aerial combat sequences, beautiful cinematography, emotional weight, nostalgic callbacks and a spectacular central performance by Tom Cruise, Top Gun: Maverick succeeds at being one of the best legacy sequels ever made along with the likes of Mad Max: Fury Road and Blade Runner 2049, while simultaneously paying respect to the original film and further solidifying Cruise's unrivalled starpower.

Co-written and directed by Matt Reeves, The Batman takes a different route from the usual tropes of the superhero genre and instead delivers a suspenseful crime thriller as well as a deep character study of the titular character. With masterful execution in all aspects of filmmaking, The Batman takes the genre in unique and interesting directions and establishes itself as one of the best comic book movies ever made while simultaneously showcasing one of the best iterations of the titular character.

With a masterfully written script and flawless direction, Matt Reeves has created an engaging and suspenseful neo-noir crime thriller and the most realistic and grounded depiction of Batman ever put to film. Reeve's directorial talent shines bright throughout the film, especially through his usage of visual storytelling, which is particularly evident during the opening sequence which accurately conveys the terror and dread which Batman has induced in the criminals of Gotham. Another remarkable aspect was the incredibly crafted and visually impressive action set pieces which were coupled with impeccably choreographed fight sequences. Despite a runtime of nearly 3 hours, the film keeps you engrossed throughout without a single dull moment in between.

The film is filled with top-notch performances all across the board. Robert Pattinson delivers yet another stellar performance, once again proving his incredible talent and range. As Batman, he portrays a much darker, younger and relatively inexperienced version of the character. He plays an emotionally damaged, broody and asocial Bruce Wayne which is much different from the charismatic and gregarious versions of the character, portrayed by the likes of Christian Bale and Michael Keaton. The different take on the character is utilized to create a narratively satisfying character arc for Bruce. Pattinson's acting talents shines the brightest in sequences where he is able to succesfully convey a wide range of emotions and feelings without uttering a single word, even when his face is covered under a mask for the majority of the runtime. Another standout performance was by Paul Dano, who puts forward a terrifying and unsettling performance as the Riddler. Dano portrays a sinister, complex and unnerving version of the Riddler, which is completely different from the comedic and goofy take on the character by Jim Carrey. Despite the limited screentime, Andy Serkis displays a truly memorable performance as Alfred. Other major cast members such as Zoe Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright and Colin Farrell also showcase brilliant performances.

One of the strongest aspects of the film was the magnificent cinematography by Greg Fraser, who once again exhibits his talents behind the camera after his groundbreaking work in Dune. The film is filled with meticulously crafted and visually stunning shots with immaculate attention to detail. The cinematography combined with the incredible production design brings about the best depiction of Gotham city in any live-action Batman movie so far.

Micheal Giacchino adds yet another incredible score to his already stacked list of impressive film scores. Despite being distinct from the iconic works of Danny Elfman and Hans Zimmer, Giacchino has composed a spectacular score that perfectly fits the titular character as well as the tone of the film.

The costume design is also worth mentioning as we get to see what is arguably the best version of the bat-suit in live action.

With exceptional work in the fields of writing, direction, performances, cinematography and score, The Batman takes the titular character and the genre in a grounded, gritty and mature direction. With two proposed sequels in the works, The Batman has a promising future ahead as well as the potential to spawn one of the greatest trilogies of all time.

Despite being the 27th film in the franchise, Spiderman: No way home proves that the MCU is still not out of fuel and has a lot more yet to offer. Directed by Jon Watts, the film picks up directly after the events of Far from home and takes the MCU in unexpected new directions and expands the world further in addition to providing significant development for the characters. What could've easily been an over bloated and incoherent crossover, turned out to be a surprisingly heartfelt, coherent and thoroughly entertaining film, while also acting as a crucial part of the MCU moving forward.

The lighthearted and comedic nature of the previous two Spiderman movies was maintained here, but the story takes some unexpected dark turns as well. Tom Holland delivers his best ever performance as Peter Parker. Peter's growth from a child who was struggling to manage his new life as Spiderman, to a strong and matured man who comes into terms with the responsibilities that his powers has bestowed upon him, forms the primary focus of the film. The choices and sacrifices he makes, the scenarios he is put through as a consequence of his actions as well as his relationships with the people in his life, all collectively work together to create a satisfying and emotionally powerful arc for Peter, while simultaneously leaving the door open for further development of the character.

The much anticipated return of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield and their subsequent interactions with Holland's Peter was without a doubt the strongest aspect of the movie. What could've easily been moments of cheap fan service was instead utilized exceptionally to provide significant development and powerful closures for Maguire and Garfield's characters. Maguire's Peter preventing Norman from being impaled and Garfield's Peter saving MJ's life were defining moments for their respective characters, instead of being mere call-backs. The sequence where they share the grief of the loss of their loved ones to Holland's Peter was another noteworthy and impactful moment. Andrew Garfield delivers a show-stealing performance and showcases the unrealized potential of The Amazing Spiderman films.

The return of the villains was also really well done for the most part, with Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus and Electro recieving several moments to shine, while Lizard and Sandman were mostly sidelined without having any major involvement in the story. Willem Dafoe once again proves that he is one of the most talented actors working today, as he adds yet another iconic performance to his outstanding list of movies and performances. He delivers an exceptional performance as Green Goblin, perfectly utilizing his incredible versatility to portray both the contrasting faces of the character. He transitions from the confused and sympathetic Norman Osborn to the evil and psychotic Green Goblin with remarkable ease.

The action sequences were another stand-out aspect of the film, particularly the final battle sequence and the mirror dimension sequence, the latter being the most visually impressive sequence in the film accomplished by well-crafted CGI. The film also provides homages to the Raimi and Webb films with numerous references and call-backs.

However, there a are certain plot points which happen just for the sake of convenience and came across as lazy writing, particularly the sequence where the characters instantly come up with the "cures" for each villain and Ned's sudden ability to use magic. The humor was quite strong for the most part, but there were a few instances where the usage of humor undermines what otherwise could've been emotionally powerful moments.

Despite some convenient plot points and a few misplaced usages of comedy, Spiderman: No way home sets itself as one of the strongest and most ambitious entries in the MCU. The film accomplishes the monumental task of creating a crossover event of three different cinematic universes and successfully incorporates these storylines and characters into a single coherent film which also manages to provide satisfying continuations and resolutions to the storylines of each universe and their respective characters. The film also provides an emotionally compelling arc for the titular character while simultaneously setting up a promising future for the character and the MCU as a whole.

Despite being nearly a decade since its conclusion, Breaking Bad still remains as one of the greatest, if not, the greatest TV series of all time. Consisting of 62 episodes over the course of 5 seasons, Breaking Bad tells a spectacularly crafted story of multiple complex, well-developed characters, with fully realized character arcs. Vince Gilligan and team managed to create a groundbreaking story with one of the greatest conclusions ever, with satisfying and poignant endings for multiple characters, a task at which many similarly big properties have failed. With El Camino, Gilligan managed to create an incredible epilogue to an already perfect conclusion. It also serves as a bittersweet tribute to the show as a whole, especially for the character of Jesse Pinkman, one of the two main protagonists of the show.

In El Camino, we follow Jesse Pinkman directly after the events of the final episode of Breaking Bad. Aaron Paul once again delivers an exceptional performance as Jesse, who was the most tragic, sympathetic and likeable character of the series, who often served as the moral center of the story. Paul's versatility is clearly evident as we see Jesse, who has evolved into a much different person than what we saw in the earlier seasons. His portrayal of the effects of the trauma he endured was particularly noteworthy. The story follows a non-chronological format as we frequently cut back to crucial events from Jesse's past, particularly his time in captivity under Jack and his men. This structure was a genius writing choice on Gilligan's part as we see how long of a way Jesse had come since we saw him in the first episode of the series. The structure is effectively utilized to create a well crafted send-off to Jesse and to the show as a whole.

Another noteworthy performance was that of Jesse Plemons who makes a great return as Todd Alquist, who was one of the most despicable characters in the show. The film explores Jesse's relationship with Todd and also the physical and psychological torture he endured at the hands of Todd and the crew. Plemons magnificently portrays the creepy nature of Todd, who hides his true ruthless and manipulative nature under the veil of a likeable, nice guy personality. As his final on-screen performance before his death, the legendary Robert Forster delivers another memorable performance. Other remarkable aspects of the show such as the exceptional cinematography and soundtrack also make a comeback.

The cameos of returning characters was another noteworthy aspect of the show, particularly those of Walt, Jane and Mike. What could've come across as moments of cheap fan service, turned out to be some of the most relevant and crucial events of the film as these sequences are effectively utilized for Jesse's character building as well as for serving as a tribute to the story as a whole.

Although on the first look, it may look like an unnecessary addition, El Camino turns out be something we didn't know we needed. The film serves as an excellent epilogue to one of the greatest and groundbreaking TV shows ever created. Not only did it give a chance for die hard fans to revisit the world of Breaking Bad, but it also expands on and concludes the story in a very heart-warming way.

With Parasite, Bong Joon Ho once again proves that he is a master of social commentary in cinema. Eventhough he has tackled several socially relevant themes in his previous movies, particularly in Snowpiercer, it hasn't been as immaculate as his work on Parasite. With a masterfully written screenplay and flawless direction, Bong has created a cleverly constructed critique on the class divisions of our society.

The true genius of the film lies in its subtlety. Instead of presenting the themes in an on the nose manner, the film utilizes several symbols and metaphors using the characters, as well as the impeccable production design and blocking, both of which was aided by an exceptional screenplay and one of the best usages of storyboarding in cinema. The film conveys its themes entirely through these aspects with little to no reliance on exposition. The theme of wealth inequality is presented through the lives of two families who are at the two extreme ends of the financial spectrum and the parasitic relationship that occurs between them. One of the most notable achievements of the production design is the portrayal of the localities of the two families. The Kim family lives in a congested, cluttered, stink bug infested, frequently flooded semi-basement house in the lower regions of the city, relying on cheap food, surrounded by crammed up houses of similar conditions. On the other hand, the wealthy Park family lives in a modernistic, spacious, well-organized house with expensive possessions, in a beautiful neighborhood, in the upper regions of the city. The best visual representation of this can be seen in the sequence where Ki-woo walks up to the Park family house. A cleverly placed edit, suddenly transitions the gloomy, congested alleyway of the slum, to the sunlit, spacious driveway of the Park house. Another example of the brilliance of the production design is the subtle portrayal of the increasing wealth of the Kims. The cheap possessions seen in the house of the Kim family in the earlier scenes are gradually replaced by more expensive objects in the subsequent scenes.

The movie showcases how the existing class divide in our society, forces a parasitic relationship between the upper and the lower class. This is best expressed through the infiltration of the Park house by the Kim family, followed by them existing almost as parasites on the Park family. This parasitic existence makes them temporarily rise above their hardships. This is evident from the sequence where they finally manage to chase away the drunkard who constantly urinates near their doorstep, symbolizing them standing up against the pathetic living conditions that have been plaguing them for years. However, the wealthy also live as parasites on the poor, as seen by how the Parks utilizes the Kims for their needs.

Another aspect the movie addresses is the competition which occurs among the members of the lower class, which is a direct result of parasitic relationship between the rich and the poor. This is presented by the conflict that occurs between the Kims and the housekeeper and her husband. Both families who live as parasites on the Parks eventually discover each other, and engage in a bitter conflict with one another, to claim their place as the "parasite". This internal competition within the lower class, results in their own downfall, as the ensuing conflict results in them ending up in a much worse situation than before. An attempt to change this, will ultimately result in the downfall of the society as a whole, since the modern society is built on the existence of class divisions. This is symbolized by the climatic birthday party sequence where all the three focal families suffer fatal casualties. This results in the Kim family finding themselves in a much worse spot than they already were at the beginning of the film, which is the eventual outcome of the internal conflict for power which occurs among the lower class.

The film also showcases how both the classes are affected differently by the same events. This is most evident by how differently both the families are affected by heavy rain. The Kims' lives are nearly destroyed by the flood, while the Parks view the rain as a mild inconvenience as their camping trip had to be canceled. While Ki-Tiek grieves the loss imposed on him by the rain, Mrs Park gleefully talks about how the rain had reduced the pollution and freshened the air.

The film also deals with the destructive nature of false hope, symbolized by the Scholar's rock which Ki-woo receives from his friend. The rock, which promises wealth, instills a false hope in Ki-woo and his family. This prompts them to go on this risky affair which ultimately results in their own downfall. This leads to one of the most effective instances of symbolism in the film, as the rock is used as weapon against Ki-woo, symbolizing how his hope had betrayed him.

By a blend of exceptional works done in the field of writing, directing, acting cinematography, editing and production design, Bong Joon Ho has constructed one of the best critiques of the modern day class divisions and wealth inequalities of the modern society. Despite detesting class divisions, Bong also acknowledges that such a division ultimately acts the backbone of the society. Once the distinction between these classes become inconspicuous, the foundation of the society will be disrupted, resulting in its destruction, a theme presented quite explicitly in his previous film, Snowpiercer.

Through the eyes of the Kim family, Bong Joon Ho showcases one of the sad truths about our society. Due to the existing class divide, the poor in search of a better life, are forced to live as parasites on the rich, which in-turn causes an internal competitive conflict among the poor, resulting in their own doom, bringing them back to the same condition as before or to a much worse spot. These series of events are inevitable because our society is built on this nature and any attempt to change this nature will have catastrophic results. The film doesn't criticize the families for their actions. Instead, it criticizes the nature of the society which forced them to commit these actions.

The problems of studio interference and the conflict of ideas between filmmakers and studio executives has been a major topic of discussion in the film industry. We've seen several movies ruined by problems such as this in the past few years. There is perhaps no better example for this than Justice League. Plagued by behind the scenes drama and a last-minute director change, Justice League came to theaters in 2017 as a sloppy, rushed and disappointing mess. However, after four years of waiting and as the result of a strong social media campaign, fans have finally got to witness the true version of the film and it was well worth the wait.

Despite having an intimidating runtime of 4 hours, Zack Snyder's Justice League keeps you engrossed throughout, as it effectively utilizes the long runtime for character development and world-building, most of which was missing from the theatrical cut. The most noteworthy aspect was the development and backstory given for the character of Cyborg, which made him the true heart of the story. The same was done with the character of Flash, as he is given a much more prominent role in this version. Unlike the theatrical cut, the teamwork aspect was also presented extremely well as each member of the team, equally contributes to the story. The interactions between the main characters were also a treat to watch since they are much more fleshed out this time. Steppenwolf was given a reasonable motivation and a slightly sympathetic nature. Another remarkable aspect was the incredible CGI work which brought the character to life, giving him a threatening demeanor and detailed facial features and expressions. This was a tremendous improvement over the generic design and the one dimensional nature of the character in the theatrical cut. The inclusion of Darkseid was another stand-out aspect, as it keeps us hooked for future installments. Jared Leto redeems himself from his heavily criticized performance in Suicide Squad, as he delivers a short, but magnetic performance in this film.

The action sequences were outstanding, eventhough it feels a bit overdone in a few instances. Another issue was regarding Lois Lane, who came across as a mcguffin for the story than an actual character. The frequent slow motion sequences, which is trademark of Snyder's visual style, is very effective for the most part. However it feels a bit unnecessary and out of place in a few instances.

Even without the comparisons to the original, Zack Snyder's Justice League is still a solid film on it's own and is major step forward for the DCEU. It is incredibly delightful to see the victory of artists over businessmen, who frequently try to suppress the former. The success of this film is a remarkable achievement in the field of cinema since the film will act as a strong argument for creative freedom in filmmaking.

With The Mandalorian, Jon Favereau and Dave Filoni gives us one of the most emotionally impactful and engaging stories in live action Star Wars. Underneath all the exciting action sequences and space battles, The Mandalorian is a surprisingly heartfelt story and an in-depth character study of the titular character as he forms an unlikely friendship which gradually brings out the humanity within him. Despite his face being covered by a helmet for the entirety of the show, Pedro Pascal as Din Djarin delivers an exceptional performance as he overcomes this limitation. By making use of his voice performance, body language and gestures, Pascal was able make us connect with his character so well and gave us one of the most memorable and complex characters in the Star Wars universe. The way in which he uses body language and how he modulates his voice according to different emotions, is particularly noteworthy. The Child, or Baby Yoda as he is commonly known, evolves from a mere mcguffin to the true heart of the show, since his relationship with Din becomes the central focus of the story. The development of the bond between them over the course of two seasons and the resulting changes it brings about in Din, slowly transitioning him from a cold-hearted assassin to a kind and caring father to The Child, forms the core of the story.

Giancarlo Espocito provides another remarkable performance as he plays arguably the most intimidating and compelling villain in live action Star Wars since Darth Vader. He proves that villains don't always require complex backstories and overexplained motivations to be memorable and engaging.

With Season 2, the show takes some unexpected directions as it expands the world much further, establishing connections to previous Star Wars media. The moments of fan service, which are many in number, have been integrated well into the story and does not come across as cheap or out of place. The show is visually gorgeous and Ludwig Göransson's score is also a noteworthy aspect. Both the season finales were the stand-out episodes of the show.

The presence of filler episodes are understandable since the show follows an episodic format. However, certain episodes felt like filler for the sake of filler, particularly Season 1: Episode 5 and Season 2: Episode 2 as they are the weakest episodes in the show. Also, this contained episode format makes the show feel slightly predictable at times.

Despite some very few missteps, The Mandalorian still remains as an exceptional show, proving that Star Wars is in good hands with a very promising future ahead.

With Tenet, Nolan once again showcases his unparalleled imagination and his skills with tackling out of this world concepts and visuals. Tenet is a blend of classic spy thriller elements with some of the most original and mind-bending concepts ever put to film. From a visual and conceptual standpoint, Tenet is one of Nolan's biggest achievements, as it contains some of the most impressive sequences he has ever put to screen, particularly the airport fight sequence and the final battle sequence, which are among the most memorable moments in the film. Despite the presence of quite a few exposition-heavy sequences, which are inevitable considering the complicated plot and concept, the film still manages to stay thrilling and engaging throughout without any dull moments. Robert Pattinson follows up his outstanding performance in The Lighthouse, with another incredible performance as he manages to become the stand-out actor in the film. The cinematography by Hoyte Van Hoytema was another noteworthy aspect as he captures some of the most jaw-dropping visuals ever. When it comes to the score, Ludwig Göransson had big shoes to fill and he absolutely delivered.

The mysterious and underdeveloped nature of The Protagonist played by John David Washington, is without a doubt an intentional choice on Nolan's part, as it is evident from the fact that the character is literally called just "The Protagonist". However, this decision made the character come across as a bit bland especially compared to the thoroughly fleshed out protagonists from Nolan's previous movies. However, since the movie is totally plot/concept-driven, this iszue doesn't affect the movie much. Kenneth Branagh's villain could've used a bit more development, since his motivations are a very integral part of the plot. Another aspect that could've been improved was the relationship between Washington's and Pattinson's characters as this ultimately turns out to be the heart of the movie.

Despite a few minor issues regarding character development, Tenet still proved to be an incredible mind- bending experience and one of Nolan's best works.

Despite being a fan of these weird/metaphorical movies, I couldn't find myself connecting with this one. Although such a narrative style has always been Charlie Kaufman's trademark, it wasn't executed as well as he did in his earlier movies.

In my opinion, the biggest reason for this movie's failure is the total lack of plot. In his earlier scripts like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind, Kaufman managed to create really interesting and original stories and managed to integrate all these metaphorical aspects into those stories. They worked because it was the plot which carried the metaphors and not the other way around. However, in the case of this movie, it feels the exact opposite. The metaphorical stuff take the center stage and the story is basically non-existent. The movie can be described as a serious of really weird events that serve as metaphors for various themes. Due to a total lack of an actual story, these metaphors come across as really pretentious. It felt like it was trying really hard to be weird and different just for the sake of it. The sequences that take place in the house started out as really unique and interesting and kept me hooked on to find out where it was headed. However, it also turned out to be just another unexplained event that is never addressed again, and it's only purpose is to serve as a metaphor for a theme.

As positives, the performances by the whole cast are praiseworthy, particularly by Toni Colette and David Thewlis who shined really well as the creepy parents. Overall, it was a movie with a lot of potential, a great cast and an interesting premise, which unfortunately turned out be pretentious and bland due to an overabundance of metaphors which lack a plot to be integrated with.

The movie deals with the competitive and manipulative nature of men and the desire for total control. Daniel Day Lewis, in his Oscar winning role, gives one of the best performances in cinema history as he plays Daniel Plainview, an oilman who is willing to do whatever it takes to eliminate any possible competition against him, in-order to attain total control. He employs whatever means necessary, regardless of how vicious it may be, for achieving his goal. He is disgusted by the idea of someone else attaining a similar status as his. He even goes as far as denying the existence of God, inorder to cement his position at the top. Eventhough it results in him being an extremely successful businessman, his deeds eventually destroys him emotionally and psychologically. Day Lewis once again proved that he is one of the most versatile actors ever as he completely disappears in the role, giving us one of the most memorable movie villains ever.

Another remarkable performance was from Paul Dano who plays a priest named Eli Cash. Dano manages to shine bright, despite sharing screen with a legend like Day Lewis. Despite being very different individuals, Daniel and Eli are essentially two sides of the same coin since their ultimate goals are the same. Eli as a priest, manipulates the people of his town using their superstitious religious beliefs, in-order to establish himself as a commanding figure.

Written and Directed exceptionally by Paul Thomas Anderson, the movie hooks you and keeps you engrossed throughout its whole runtime without a single dull moment. The cinematography by Robert Elswit, which won a well deserved Oscar, was genuinely mindblowing. Another praiseworthy aspect was its incredible production design which manages to successfully recreate the time period of the early 1900s. The score by Johnny Greenwood was also fantastic. All these aspects combined with the magnificent performances by Daniel Day Lewis and Paul Dano helped the movie to cement its position as one of the greatest movies ever made.

Despite being an year stacked with amazing movies, none of them managed to touch me as emotionally as this movie did. Directed magnificently by Sam Mendes, 1917 engrosses you and keeps you at the edge of your seats from the very beginning as the tense atmosphere and a constant sense of danger are maintained throughout the movie. The characters are not portrayed as invincible heroes but as regular young men who are trapped in this situation, fighting a pointless war. The character development for the two main leads was done subtly but very effectively, with limited exposition. The performances by George Mackay and Dean Charles Chapman were top-notch and makes us really empathize with their characters. The cinematography by Roger Deakins was nothing short of breathtaking. The one-shot technique makes the experience much more immersive as we feel as if we are present there along with the characters. The score by Thomas Newman was phenomenal and helped to elevate the impact of several scenes. Another noteworthy aspect of the movie was its incredible production design, particularly the battlefield and the abandoned town, which showcases some of the most impressive set constructions of the year. The sound design was outstanding and further helped to convey the intensity of the situation.

The focus is less on the battle and more on the suffering, destruction and loss caused by war. The soldiers in the movie themselves comment on the pointless and destructive nature of war. The incredible screenplay, direction and performances manage to present this theme in an emotionally impactful manner

It is pretty evident from the beginning that there wasn't an overall plan for the trilogy before production began. There are certain plot points that come out of nowhere without any set up from previous movies. The main examples being the return of Palpatine and the retconing of Rey's parentage. Palpatine's return was so abrupt and it is clearly understood that it wasn't something they had planned before. Rey's parents being no one was an interesting plot point and it fit her arc well in the last jedi, but that aspect was altered in order to please the fans. There are also a few other examples which showcases the conflicting ideas of Rian Johnson and JJ Abrams. The constant mcguffin chases in the first act become a little tiring after a while. The part where they discover the assassins ship and the dagger felt like a very convenient coincidence and was just lazily written. Palpatine's plan is all over the place and doesn't make much sense.

That being said, the movie also has a lot of positive aspects as well. The character arcs of Kylo Ren and Rey were executed perfectly. There was great chemistry between the lead characters although some relationships should have been more fleshed out, since they lack an emotional impact, especially the relationship between Rey and Leia. The performances by the entire main cast were top notch, especially Adam Driver as Kylo Ren who is without a doubt, the best aspect of the sequel trilogy. The fan service was handled very well and was mostly interwoven with the main plot, although it might feel slightly pandering at times. The action sequences and visuals were among the best in the entire franchise.The concept of the force was explored through some new and interesting ways, which gave us some great sequences. The sendoff given to Luke, Leia and Han were also executed well.

Eventhough the plot is slightly messy and inconsistent with the previous 2 movies, the rise of Skywalker is still a highly entertaining and satisfying conclusion that may not have utilized it's full potential

This movie proves that Scorsese is probably the only director of his generation who can still create masterpieces like this, at this age. He has managed to stay as relevant as he was during the 70s and 80s, without being overshadowed by the new and young filmmakers. The Irishman definitely ranks among the very best of his filmography.

Eventhough there are a few familiar faces and tropes from Scorcese's older movies like Casino and Goodfellas, the Irishman is distinctively different from those movies in its themes. While we see Henry Hill from Goodfellas look back at his gangster life as something he deeply loved and missed, here we see Frank Sheeran facing the pain, guilt and regret that his actions has brought upon him because of the life he chose. The movie also deals with complex themes such as loyalty, death, friendship and guilt. Eventhough Scorsese has dealt with the theme of death in some of his older movies, him addressing the same theme at this point in his life, feels much more personal.

Frank Sheeran's life as a hitman and his relationships with Jimmy Hoffa and Russell Buffolino forms the central narrative of the movie. Steven Zaillian's exceptional screenplay, Scorcese's direction and the performances, managed to thoroughly flesh out the characters and their relationships. Despite being over three hours long, the movie successfully keeps us engrossed from beginning to end. The performances by De Niro, Pacino and Pesci are top notch and are among the best in their entire career. Joe Pesci, who steals every scene he is in, proves his incredible range and versatility as he plays Russell Buffolino, who is nothing like the hot-headed psychopaths he is known for playing in movies like Goodfellas and Casino. Seeing the long-awaited reunion of these legends, which could probably be their last on-screen performance together, was incredibly delightful and depressing at the same time. The film has been widely described as Scorsese's swan song to his filmmaking career and to the Gangster genre as a whole.

The digital de-aging was extremely well done for the most part, eventhough it is slightly noticeable in a few scenes. There is also a scene where where De Niro's body movements clearly resembles an old man. But that is such a trivial issue and wasn't distracting due to the incredible performances, direction and screenplay

Eventhough it might look like another generic racing movie, Ford v Ferrari is actually a very engaging and emotional story about two people who work against the various obstacles they face in order to achieve their aim. The performances by Christian bale and Matt Damon were top notch and both their characters are throughly fleshed out. The storyline involving Miles's family was also executed very well and helped in further developing his character. The hard work done by Miles, Shelby and their team, in order to win the race at Le Mans as well as the constant interferences from the executives, form the central narrative of the movie. The movie portrays the contrasting perspectives of both these sides quite well. The racing sequences were directed magnificently by Mangold and keeps you at the edge of your seats. It was done primarily using practical effects and very little CGI and its impact is clearly felt

There are a few cliches that we usually see in biopics like this. There are also a few parts where we might find it predictable. But other than that, it's an engaging and excellently crafted movie that keeps you engrossed from the beginning, with well developed characters and a lot of heart

Never before have I felt such conflicted feelings towards a movie. On one hand, there are moments of genuinely brilliant filmmaking and on the other, there are some bafflingly stupid moments that makes you wonder how this was made by the same director.

Let's start with the positives. This movie deals with some really mature themes such as failure, letting go of the past, leadership etc. These themes were utilized very well to fulfill the arcs of Luke, Rey and Poe. Kylo Ren is arguably the most complex and well written character in the franchise. The lead performances, especially by Mark Hamill and Adam Driver were top notch. Rian Johnson's visual style is evident throughout the movie. The technical aspects like the production design, vfx, cinematography etc were outstanding and this is probably the most visually stunning star wars movie ever.

As a negative, there are instances where good storytelling is sacrificed for the sake of the theme. This is most evident in the scene where Rose saves Finn and says the much maligned, "saving what we love" line. This was an excellent message but it is misplaced and doesn't fit innthe context. The light speed ram is probably the most visually stunning moment in the franchise, but since it was done by a poorly written character like Holdo, it wasn't very effective emotionally. Rose was another underdeveloped character. The casino sequence was poorly executed and doesn't fit in this movie. It was very reminiscent of earth and I wish they could've done something a little more creative. The force awakens provided numerous opportunities to expand the story. But this movie wasted a lot of potential and instead of building up on TFA's story, it feels like it tried to be its own thing. Another aspect was the humour, which didn't suit the movie very well and caused some tonal inconsistencies.

I can clearly understand the divisive response this movie received. The main storyline which includes Luke, Rey and Kylo Ren was excellently crafted and incredibly satisfying. Eventhough I really liked this movie, I won't ignore the numerous flaws and wasted opportunities throughout the movie

We can't criticize the incomprehensible nature of the movie because it was intentionally written that way to capture the tone of the novel. Eventhough I personally couldn't enjoy this movie, I completely understand why other people like it. I understand what they were going for but I couldn't connect with it personally. All the performances, especially by Phoenix and Brolin were top notch. Both those characters were written extremely well. There were some genuinely funny sequences too. However there are several instances where Doc relies on coincidences and conveniences to uncover the cases. This aspect felt like lazy writing.

I don't dislike this movie but I can't like it either. I have such a complicated opinion on this movie. PTA is one of the best directors working today. But I couldn't appreciate this movie like I did with his other movies like The Master, There will be blood etc.

This is a mature and complex psychological thriller disguised as a comic book movie. Joaquin Phoenix, one the greatest actors working today gives one of the best performances of his entire career. He once again proves his incredible range as an actor. He had big shoes to fill and he absolutely delivered. Todd Philips proves his versatility as a director, since this is a genre that he didn't have much experience with before.

It tackles some very relevant themes such as class divisions, loneliness, poverty and mental illness and all these themes were incorporated very well without being too on the nose. Eventhough there were some criticisms aimed towards the incorporation of the Wayne family, I personally felt that this aspect was handled very well and was a crucial part in Arthur's character development. The background score and cinematography were amazing and really helped to elevate certain scenes.

A common criticism the movie recieved were regarding its numerous similarities to Taxi Driver and the King of Comedy. Overall this wasn't much problematic, since this aspect was openly stated by the filmmakers and were intended to be homages. However at times the similarities are too obvious and it almost feels like a remake of Taxi Driver. I was hoping that the homages should've been presented in slightly more subtle manner so that the movie didn't have to lean so heavily on Taxi driver.

Despite feeling slightly derivative at times, Joker is a refreshing and daring take on the comic book genre, which showcases one of the best acting performances of the year.

Let me start off by saying that I am not a big horror fan. Horror is the most subjective genre and different people get scared by different things. I personally don't find find modern horror movies like the conjuring, insidious etc scary. So I am happy that I finally found a movie that actually scared and deeply disturbed me in a really long time.

The best aspect of this movie was how complex and well written the main characters were, compared to the poorly written, bland, boring one-dimensional stupid teenagers that we are so used to seeing in modern horror movies. Another great aspect of this movie were the feelings of sadness and dread that is present throughout the movie. This movie has some really scary sequences which involves slowing building tension and dread without relying on cheap jump scares. The themes of grief, depression, mental illness and loss were incorporated very well into the story in a metaphorical manner. Toni Colette's performance was the best I've seen all year and it's a crime that she wasn't nominated for an oscar.

However I felt that, a small aspect during the climax could've been presented in a better manner. The naked cult members during the end turned out to be unintentionally funny instead of creepy and came close to ruining the atmosphere of the scene.

Overall I think this is one of the best horror movies of this century right next to the witch, tumbbad, babadook etc.

If you watch this expecting a typical Tarantino movie, you will probably end up being disappointed. This movie has a lot of Tarantino's trademarks but it also happens to be very different compared to the rest of his filmography.

The focus of this movie are the 2 main leads, a "has-been" television star and his loyal stunt double and their lives during 1960s Hollywood. This movie is Tarantino's tribute to the time period similar to how Roma was to Alfonso cuaron. These 2 characters are actually plot devices used to represent how things were back then. The relationship between these 2 characters is the heart of the movie and I will definitely watch hours of them just talking to each other about random stuff, because of how well written they are. Their individual subplots are equally entertaining. The ending was pure Tarantino and was the highlight of the movie

When it comes to the negative aspects, I personally didn't like the way Sharon Tate was included in the movie. I completely understand why she's in this movie but it would've been better if she was a little more involved with the storyline of the 2 main leads

Overall this movie was amazing and it's my third favorite Tarantino movie after django unchained and inglorious basterds

The plot felt unfocused at times because of the subplots but the overall storyline was pretty good. The gangster and sports elements were interconnected very well without being a mess and both these aspects worked together to create a satisfying character arc for Micheal. Rayappan was the best character and his relationship with Michael is the driving force of the movie. Vijay's performances were terrific and he portrayed both the characters excellently. Both of them were portrayed very differently, which proves Vijay' versatility as an actor. The highlight of the movie was the dynamic between those characters. There was a conversation between those characters which was clearly inspired by the conversation between Vito and Micheal Corleone at the ending of the godfather. The background score was great especially Rayappan's main theme. The vfx during the football sequences was unnoticeable and was well done

When it comes to negative aspects, Nayanthara's character was completely unnecessary and some of the romantic scenes were cringey. She had no involvement in the plot and was merely an obligatory love interest. Her only contribution to the plot was the scene where she changes the mind of the football player's husband and that was a pretty great scene. The romantic subplot was completely unneccessary and served no purpose other than fan service. The message regarding women empowerment was great and very relevant and I am happy to see a commercial movie like this tackle such themes. But it was too on the nose and overdone. The message should've been presented in a subtle manner. Some of the football scenes were corny and over the top. The football sequences should have been presented in a realistic manner. Some of the fan service were annoying and frustrating especially during the first act. The rest of the fan service were annoying at times but was done without overshadowing the main plot

Overall it was a pretty good movie which will be inspiring to women and Vijay fans. For the rest of us, it's a flawed but entertaining movie with a lot of heart and a very relevant message