I've had so much fun keeping track of my reading for the last six years that this year, I've decided I want to keep track of the shows and movies that I watch, too! I hope to keep this updated with the series that we binge, the movies we see in the theatre, and the movies that we watch at home!
My Watch List for 2024:
Movies:
1. Heart of Stone (Netflix)
This one had bad reviews but I'm glad we watched it anyway! I love Gal Godot and this movie about a shadowy peace-keeping agency and a super quantum computer at the heart of it all was a fun ride.
2. Barbie (Max)
I saw this movie twice in theaters and this time we watched it in our cinema room and showed it to Vince and Joan, who loved it! I was fully engrossed even though this was my third watch. I think this might be in my top five favourite movies of all time!
3. The Family Plan (Apple TV)
We had very low expectations for this movie which might be why we turned out to like it so much! You really have to suspend your disbelief, but it is a fun action-packed romp with a family story-line that didn't make me cringe. Even the CGI baby was pretty entertaining.
4. Pain Hustlers (Netflix)
There have been so many movies and shows lately about the opioid epidemic in the US and the people who profited from it. This one follows Liza Drake as she goes from penniless stripper to wealthy pharma sales rep and all the ethical lines she crosses on the way. I'm huge fan of Emily Blunt and Chris Evens (although the accent he used in this was not attractive!)
5. Little Women (Netflix)
This is the Greta Gerwig directed version and for the most part I really enjoyed it! I was a bit frustrated by the jumping timeline - if I didn't know the story so well from the book I think I would have been lost several times. (Joel was a bit lost until I pointed out that the earlier timeline was color-saturated and the current timeline was more muted - that was really the only difference!)
6. The Beekeeper (Cineworld Unlimited passes)
I love Jason Statham even if he basically plays the same character in every single movie. This felt like a very campy version of John Wick and/or The Equalizer - retired badass goes back into action when a friend of his is taken advantage of and he wants to avenge her death. There are some very over the top characters - I particularly enjoyed Josh Hutcherson as the villain. There were weird parts - some of the bad guys felt almost cartoonish, but it was enjoyable enough.
7. Poor Things (Cineworld Unlimited passes)
We jumped at going to this movie in part because it was "Blue Monday" and the cinema was offering free Icees with our unlimited passes. While Joel enjoyed the drinks the movie was not to my taste at all. Thankfully Joel offered for us to leave and he would watch it someday when it comes out on streaming. It is very rare that we leave the theater in the middle of a movie but we only made it 30 minutes into this one - I hated it!
8. Mean Girls (2004 version - we own this)
We watched this in preparation for the new musical version coming out this month. What can I say, it is still one of my favourite films of all time, even 20 years later!
9. Becky (Hoopla)
This one has been on our list for a while and it was a nice short one to cap off an evening. Fair warning - it is brutal and bloody and yet a bit campy and kind of fun? I enjoyed the storyline, the acting was great - it was really fun to see Kevin James in a decidedly non-goofy role. I just wish they had answered a big question at the end that they didn't and it looks like the sequel won't either. That irks me. Reviewers on IMDB called it a mix between Home Alone and John Wick and I couldn't agree more!
10. What's Eating Gilbert Grape (Hoopla)
Joel had been wanting to re-watch this one for a long time so we finally did. I like my movies to be mostly escapism...so this one was a little too realistic for me. I can appreciate the story and the excellent acting and see objectively that it is a good movie, just not my type.
11. Jurrasic World (Apple TV - rented)
We watched this one while baby-sitting for our friend's daughters, who I thought might be a bit young for this but they loved it (and had previously seen it with their parents, we didn't break any rules!) For the record, I wanted to watch Frozen and at first we had a tie between Joel and one kid and me and the other kid. Then I tried to persuade them by saying, "with Frozen we can sing!" and then my kid immediately changed her vote to Jurassic World. I'll try not to be offended.
12. Mean Girls (Cineworld Unlimited passes)
I was so looking forward to this release of the Mean Girls musical edition! But I was sorely disappointed. I didn't know any of the music going into it and I found it only okay. Mostly I was very disappointed with the casting. Aaron Samuels was not anywhere cute enough to garner the devotion he received. The actress who played Cady was very understated and lackluster (perhaps a directing problem?) The actress who played Regina is apparently from the Broadway show and I think she is probably well suited for Broadway but on the big screen she came across as an over-actor and just did not have the charm and charisma the original Regina did - which is needed to make her mean character also sympathetic and likable. The two who played Damien and Janice were excellent, but I will be sticking to the OG version from now on!
13. Role Play (Amazon Prime)
This was eerily similar to the movie we watched just a few weeks ago - Family Plan. Except this time it's the mom of the family who is secretly an assassin and her mom who is trying to get her back in the game. It's so weird how movies with similar plots come out at the same time!
14. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Disney+)
We skipped this one in theaters and I am so glad we did - it was so long! At least at home I can pause for bathroom breaks. The story itself was, well, as far-fetched as most Indiana Jones movies are. Fun enough but nothing incredible. I do hope they are done with these now.
15. The End We Start From (Cineworld Unlimited passes)
Ugh, I was so excited for this one - billed as an apocalypse movie starring Benedict Cumberbatch! Instead, halfway through the film Joel summarised it with this statement - "What if we make a movie where really exciting things happen but only offscreen?" The story was mostly told through people emoting and sharing what happened after the fact. It was an interesting premise and could have gone so many interesting directions but we found it to be overwrought, didn't earn some emotional payoffs it went for, and most of the characters were terrible and made really strange decisions.
16. The Holdovers (Cineworld Unlimited passes)
I wish they had actually released this movie here before Christmas but I'm glad we got to see it now at least! It takes place at a New England prep school and "the holdovers" are the students who couldn't go home for Christmas. A grumpy old teacher gets forced into supervising them and it is in turns funny and heartwarming and heartbreaking. I highly recommend!
17. Anyone But You (Cineworld Unlimited passes)
A YouTube reviewer Joel watches said this one wasn't as bad as expected...so with a free soda given to us on our unlimited cards we decided to check it out. It was...not great. There were some genuinely funny moments but the acting was sub-par and as with many half-hearted rom-coms, most of the storyline didn't make any sense. I found the female lead particularly insufferable!
18. Slaughterhouse Rulez (Rakuten rental)
This 2018 British comedy is a must-see for anyone who lives a Simon Pegg and Nick Frost combo. It isn't as excellent as some of their movies together but it sure is fun!
19. Argylle (Cineworld Unlimited passes)
Whoo-boy. Joel and I were both really looking forward to this one - we love a good spy adventure and adore Sam Rockwell. This was not his best work (that is Mr. Right if you're curious!) It started out fun and then the storyline and action scenes just descended into the ludicrous. There was an end scene that implies there will be more to come in this world...I'm not sure we'll bother to see it.
20. How to Talk to Girls at Parties (Max)
This was not my kind of movie, but Joel really enjoyed it so I soldiered through. It takes place in Britain in the 70s and is sci-fi and super trippy and weird...mildly entertaining I guess.
21. Jerry & Marge Go Large (All 4)
This was absolutely my type of movie! A feel-good true-story-inspired romp about a couple who start playing the lottery post-retirement. It was so fun!
22. Melancholia (Apple TV)
I was in the mood for an apocalyptic movie and when IMDB listed this on their top 100 list and Joel said he had been wanting to watch it for a long time, we went for it. OMG it was AWFUL. I don't know which was worse, the absolutely tedious storytelling, the unbearable characters, or the shaky cam style of filming. I hate shaky cam, it literally gives me motion sickness. I was going to power through this one (aka play on my phone) but thankfully after 45 minutes Joel was ready to give up to and we switched to something actually entertaining.
23. Quiz Lady (Disney+)
This is my favourite movie of the year so far! Sandra Oh and Awkwafina play sisters and they are perfection together - it is especially fun to see Oh play the quirky one and Awkwafina play the boring one. The story was fun and fresh and hilarious - so many moments we had to rewind because we were laughing too hard! It also managed to be heartfelt and I teared up a bit towards the end. I highly, highly recommend this one! [EDIT: We have now watched it twice!]
24. Upgraded (Amazon Prime)
We picked another winner with this one! It is a fairly typical rom-com with a white lie spiraling into a misunderstanding but it is so well done and avoids most of the uncomfortable cringe these storylines often go to. The actors are all fabulous and it is very very funny. I would watch this one again and again!
25. Hope Springs (Disney+)
Woof, this wannabe Notting Hill starring Colin Firth and Heather Graham has none of the charm of the film it so desperately wants to be. It was short but not sweet, most of the characters were unbearable!
26. Austenland (Max)
This was a fun rom-com starring Kerri Rusell as a Jane Austen obsessed woman who goes to England looking for love. Jennifer Coolidge was as obnoxious as usual but the charm of the rest of the storyline made up for it. I enjoyed this one!
27. Madame Web (Cineworld Unlimited passes)
I didn't have high hopes for this one and going in with low expectations made it more enjoyable. It's not the worst of the films in this thread of movies (that one goes to Morbius) but it wasn't great. Dakota Johnson was flat and it was weird to see Sydney Sweeny playing a 16-year-old right on the heels of seeing her play a sexpot in Anyone But You. That kept pulling me out of the story!
28. Barbie with the Director's Commentary (Max)
Yes, this marks the 4th time I have seen Barbie in total. Yes, I still enjoyed it as much, if not more! It was so fun to hear Greta's reasoning behind the story arcs, costuming choices, set design, etc, and to get an insight into how movies are made. If you love this movie it might be fun to watch!
29. Come From Away (Apple TV)
The Broadway stage version of this musical was filmed in 2021 and I absolutely love being able to watch live musicals from the comfort of my own home. I heard rave reviews about this one from family and friends who had seen it, and it did not disappoint. Even Joel, who is very picky about musicals, loved it. The story had me alternately laughing like crazy and bawling like a baby, and I ended up referencing it in my next sermon!
30. Maybe I Do (Rakuten code)
We used a free rental code to watch this 2023 rom-com starring some heavy hitters like Diane Keaton, Susan Sarandon, and Emma Roberts. It explored the relationship of a young couple as they decide their future - she wants to get married (because her parents have had a long happy marriage) and he doesn't (because his have had a long unhappy marriage.) There was a lot of humor and a lot of heart, if you like rom-coms, I would recommend this one!
31. Monolith (Hoopla)
I was really drawn in by this movie the whole time and I found the concept to be really well done. There is only one on-screen actress the entire film - she is creating a podcast and all interactions are done over the phone or online. I thought the tension built really well and was thoroughly creeped out (in a good way) at times!
32. Dune: Part 2 (Cineworld Unlimited passes)
Sigh. I did not care for Dune: Part 1 and was not looking forward to this one. I absolutely would not have gone if it weren't for Joel wanting to see it. So I'll admit I didn't have the best mindset going in. But this world is just not for me. It is dark and dreary and depressing. I needed subtitles as I couldn't understand half of what the actors were saying. But that's okay because I also didn't really care. It was a slog for me. If they make another one in this series I will beg someone else to accompany Joel to the cinema!
33. Irish Wish (Netflix)
I love a good holiday movie and there is a distinct lack of St. Patrick's Day movies - this one, however, is not it. It's cheesy and campy in all the wrong ways and just some really bad writing. Kind of fun to watch to make fun of it, but not worth it if you actually want a good rom-com!
34. Damsel (Netflix)
This Netflix original starring Millie Bobby Brown was excellent. It subverts some fairy tale tropes and the visual effects were stunning. I highly recommend this one!
35. Ricky Stanicky (Amazon Prime)
Normally this is not my kind of movie, it is pretty vulgar and crass humor, but, I was in the mood for it when we watched it. It was just the thing to pick me up after a bummer day. If you want some laughs and enjoy Zac Efron and John Cena at his silliest, you'll enjoy it.
36. Godzilla (Max)
In preparation for the new film coming out we thought we would dive back into the "monsterverse" to make sure we were ready. Thankfully they are all available on Max!
37. Kong: Skull Island (Max)
This one was as good as I remembered, I really enjoy Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson on screen!
38. Godzilla: King of Monsters (Max)
We were traveling when this film first came out in 2019 so we missed it, even though we went to the next one in the series. Watching this one definitely filled in some holes for us.
39. Godzilla vs. Kong (Max)
A fun monster vs. monster romp!
40. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (Cineworld Unlimited passes)
We splurged on seeing this one in 3D 4DX and that was the right call - it was so entertaining to get splashed with water every time Godzilla dove into the ocean! It didn't quite have the same heart as the earlier ones, and some of the story got downright ridiculous, but it was still a fun time.
41. Wedding Daze (Hoopla)
This 2006 rom-com is definitely a product of its time and didn't age super well. But you get to see Isla Fisher and Jason Biggs on screen together and they have decent chemistry. The story is outlandish and none of the characters are very good people, but it's fun enough and clocks in at a quick 91 minutes.
42. The Impossible (Netflix)
This movie is based on one family's real life story of getting caught in the destruction and aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. It is superbly acted by Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor and a very young Tom Holland! It was stressful to watch but mostly enjoyable.
43. Princess Mononoke (Netflix)
This anime film tells the story of Ashitaka as he goes on a quest to find the cure for a curse and gets caught up in the middle of a war between the forest gods and a mining colony. It is a pretty classic hero's journey and an enjoyable film.
44. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (Cineworld Unlimited passes)
This nostalgia-bait cash grab is probably exactly what you expect from it - not great, not terrible, just grab some popcorn and enjoy.
45. Monkey Man (Cineworld Unlimited passes)
This was not a Bethany movie but Joel enjoyed it! It's been described as similar to John Wick, and I would agree with that, although it is darker and more gory. It was written, directed by and stars Dev Patel, who I do enjoy as an actor. If you like brutal fighting revenge stories this one might be up your alley.
46. Civil War (Cineworld Unlimited passes)
This A24 produced film is my favorite theater release of the year so far. It is dark and extremely tense, although there are moment of light and humor. It takes place in a near future USA where Civil War has broken out. The story is told from the point of view of journalist and war photographers who are documenting everything happening on the ground. The acting was incredible and the sound design was really interesting (not something I usually notice.) I would highly recommend this one.
47. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (Disney+)
I picked this one when I was in the mood for a dumb adventure movie and it did not disappoint. DC has nothing on Marvel!
48. The Spectacular Now (Max)
We first watched this coming of age rom-com when it came out in 2012. It stars some people who are now much bigger names! We enjoyed it then and enjoyed it again now.
49. Catherine Called Birdy (Amazon Prime)
I have to admit, my main motivation for watching this movie was to see Joe Alwyn in action (aka Taylor's ex, lol.) But it also starred Bella Ramsey from The Last of Us and she is an amazing actor. It was a historical comedy and I think really well done!
50. The Green Knight (Max)
I remember being excited for this one when it came out but then somehow we missed it in theaters. Turns out I'm glad we did because it was a slog for me - so slow! Joel enjoyed it though, and since we watched at home I got to distract myself on my phone during the boring bits.
51. The Fall Guy (Cineworld Unlimited passes)
We feel like we had to wait for this movie to come out for.ev.er so we were excited to finally see it on opening day! Starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt this action packed rom-com was just what we wanted to kick off a summer of (hopefully good) movies. I highly recommend it. We might even go see it a second time in 4DX!
52. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (Disney+)
I remember watching this one when it first came out and enjoying it. We get to meet Ceasar as a baby and as he grows up and has a relationship with James Franco's character. We are watching them all again in prep for the new movie!
53. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (Disney+)
I remembered seeing this one, too. It's a bit violent for my taste but I enjoy the story and the characters enough to watch it.
54. War for the Planet of the Apes (Disney+)
We somehow missed this one when it came out in 2017 so this was our first time watching it. I enjoyed the storyline though it was very tense and violent at times. Woody Harrelson was excellent and I even found myself moved to tears at times.
55. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (Cineworld Unlimited Passes)
I thought this one was the weakest of the series so far - and it definitely needed to be cut down from it's two hour and twenty minute run time. Apparently, it's kicking off another trilogy so there are two more to come - I'm not sure I'll want to go to those!
56. Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (Netflix)
We try to watch this one every year during Eurovision season - it is so fun and funny and a good introduction to what Eurovision is if you have never heard of it before!
57. Hit Man (Netflix)
We watched this one on my tablet while in a hotel room in Toronto...and I wish we could have done it more justice. It is absolutely worth watching on a big screen if you can. The acting was phenomenal and the story managed to surprise us!
58. Atlas (Netflix)
This futuristic sci-fi film starring Jennifer Lopez deserved the small screen we watched it on. Despite some big name actors the storyline was weak and the special effects kind of lame. They had the seed of a good story but didn't really do it justice.
59. Wish (Disney+)
I didn't hear good things about this movie so my expectations were low...and they managed to go under them. This is the worst Disney movie I have ever seen. The story is nonsensical, the tributes to past Disney films are clunky (she has 7 friends who correlate to the 7 dwarves in stupid ways), and the music is AWFUL. It has no meter, poor rhyme structure, and just flat out doesn't make sense half the time. One song had the line "So I look up at the stars to guide me / and throw caution to every warning sign." What does that even mean? NOTHING! You can't throw caution to the warning signs! That is absolute nonsense! It bothered me for the rest of the movie and still bothers me now. Might become a bit of saying in our house, though.
60. American Fiction (Amazon Prime)
This is the first movie we watched back in our cinema room at home and it was so good! It is smart and funny and takes a sharp look at race relations in a new and interesting way. I highly, highly recommend it.
61. Road House (Amazon Prime)
This remake of the original, now starring Jake Gyllenhal is surprisingly so good! If you want just a fun action popcorn movie, you can't go wrong with this one.
62. Inside Out 2 (Cineworld Unlimited Passes)
We love Inside Out so of course we had to go see the sequel right when it came out. I enjoyed it, Joel a little less so. The introduction of new characters was fun, though a bit odd in the world since they had previously shown grown up brains with only the original 5 emotions. But if you don't need your cartoon world about personified emotions to make complete logical sense (ahem, Joel) then it is really entertaining and has some great messages!
63. The Idea of You (Amazon Prime)
I heard a lot about this film - starring Anne Hathaway as a 40 year old woman falling for a younger man - the original buzz I heard was that she was an inappropriate choice to play a 40 year old...which is dumb because she is 40. Anyway, the story definitely could have had more heart and I felt it lacked chemistry and follow through. I'd skip it.
64. Bad Boys: Ride or Die (Cineworld Unlimited Passes) [Did Not Finish]
It is rare that Joel and I stop watching a movie, especially one we've actually gone to the cinema for, but this one was just so stupid. I think the only direction given to Martin Lawrence was to over-act his heart out and when there was a slow-motion scene of him eating skittles and that then powering him up to win a gun fight I was done. Just too ridiculous. A YouTube reviewer we watch said the last third of the movie was better but we'll never know because we were gone by then.
65. The Greatest Hits (Disney+)
I don't want to say anything about the premise of this film so as not to spoil it - but if you like music and romance you'll enjoy this one!
66. Fargo (Max)
I've long wanted to see this classic film and we finally got around to it. It was definitely more gory than I expected, but an interesting enough story that kept me entertained. I don't think I would go as far as to call it one of the best films of all time, but I'm glad I've seen it.
67. On the Rocks (Apple TV)
Bill Murray plays an eccentric father to Rashida Jones who is afraid her marriage is on the rocks (roll credits!) They team up to follow her husband to find out if he is cheating. I found this movie heartwarming and fun and, honestly, way better than I expected. I recommend it!
68. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (Amazon Prime)
I love that since Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe has basically done whatever he wanted with his career. Seeing him play Al Yankovic was absolutely epic and he smashed it. The story was wild and weird - but what else would you expect!
69. A Family Affair (Netflix)
This one surprised us in the best way! We put it one for a bit of escapist fun but it was actually heartfelt and funny and really quite good. It's what the Anne Hathaway movie (The Idea of You) wanted to be, but the main characters her actually had things in common - and they were brilliantly portrayed by Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron. I highly recommend this one!
70. A Quiet Place: Day One (Cineworld Unlimited Passes)
This prequel to the Quiet Place films took place in NYC on the day of the invasion. Lupita Nyong'o was brilliant as was her feline companion. I enjoyed the story and it made me want pizza for dinner!
71. Fly Me to the Moon (Cineworld Unlimited Passes)
This was better than I expected - a fun romp set in the 1960's race to the moon. Scarlett Johanssen plays a PR whiz who rallies the country and funding behind going to the moon, and plays opposite Channing Tatum as the serious and focused launch coordinator. It's worth seeing!
72. Longlegs (Cineworld Unlimited Passes)
This film was highly acclaimed by critics...which should have been my first clue that I would hate it. It was slow and dull and for someone who is seriously so super easily scared it did not scare me even once ever! It's being called one of the best horror films of the year, if not ever, and I just do not get it. 0/10, very sad I wasted 2 hours of my life on this rubbish.
73. Freelance (Amazon Prime)
John Cena is hit or miss for me but this was another hit! He was adorably paired with Alison Brie - she was a journalist going to interview a dangerous dictator and he was her bodyguard. It was filled with hijinks that require you to suspend your disbelief, but it was action packed, fun, and even had a bit of political commentary thrown in for good measure. A great popcorn film.
74. Elemental (Disney+)
This Disney animated film set in a world with cloud people, fire people, water people, and earth people was enjoyable enough, if quite predictable and heavy-handed with the social commentary. There were some genuinely funny and touching moments. A good one for kids, I imagine!
75. Deadpool & Wolverine (Cineworld Unlimited Passes)
Oh, Em, Gee this was a wild ride of a movie and I loved every second of it. Filled with trademark Deadpool humor and fourth wall-breaking it was also full to bursting with so many Marvel easter eggs I'm sure I could never catch them all. I laughed so hard my stomach hurt and it's one of those movies I could watch again right away. I will say, you probably need to be a well-versed Marvel fan to truly enjoy it!
76. Twisters (Cineworld Unlimited Passes)
We waited to see this one with Steve (our stormchaser friend) so he could debunk all the science after the film. He said it was fairly accurate, though they misused some terminology. I found the story compelling, the characters well acted, and overall enjoyed it far more than the original!
77. Save Yourselves! (Max)
This was a fun little apocalyptic romp. A couple goes to a friend's cabin for the weekend to unplug from technology and reconnect with each other. Little do they realize how poor their timing is, as the world is about to change forever! I really enjoyed this one.
78. Borderlands (Cineworld Unlimited Passes)
I have never played the video game this movie was based on, but it was fun to watch nonetheless. It definitely was not a cinematic masterpiece, and you can't really think about the story too deeply, but it had some fun visuals and I would call it a decent popcorn flick.
79. Twister (Max)
After watching the new one in the theater we decided to watch the original in our home theater. Steve was over so he could explain the science (and mistakes) to us. It was as good as I remember!
80. Trap (Cineworld Unlimited Passes)
Like many an M Night S. movie this one had potential...and squandered it. I was intrigued by the premise, but so much of the story just ended up completely unrealistic and the characters did things that made absolutely no sense. The end was particularly infuriating as the cops allowed things to happen that they would literally never do. This was a swing and a miss.
81. It Ends With Us (Cineworld Unlimited Passes)
I read the book this is based on last year, and I enjoyed it well enough. I wasn't particularly interested in seeing the movie until I saw all the drama about Blake Lively on TikTok. I talked Joel into going by tempting him with some new movie snacks (salted caramel popcorn!) and in the end I'm glad we saw it. It wasn't great, and the fashion, my goodness what were they thinking. I think Blake Lively was a poor casting choice, but Justin Baldoni was excellent. I can't say I recommend it.
82. The Instigators (Apple TV)
This Matt Damon and Casey Affleck flick is a fun action-filled romp that I would recommend if you're in the mood for a bit of plot and lots of explosions!
83. The Crow (Amazon Prime)
With the new one coming out, we had to watch the original. It is dark and twisty but full of heart and, strangely, compassion. I love it.
84. The Crow (Cineworld Unlimited Passes)
This piece of garbage on the other hand...we literally walked out with 45 minutes left to go in the movie. They took out every bit of heart and interesting story line. Everything they added was awful and they made the main characters intolerable. The actress who played Shelly is one of the worst I have ever seen. Absolutely 100% do not recommend.
85. The Union (Netflix)
My expectations were low for this action flick starring Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry - but they were exceeded! The story was fun, action-packed, and had a decent heart. I would recommend it and I hope they follow up with a sequel or two!#
86. Blink Twice (Cineworld Unlimited Passes)
I was always going to see this one because, Channing Tatum, but I'll admit I wasn't too excited about it until I saw Taylor Swift recommend it (yes, I am easily influenced.) Turns out she was right, it was excellent! It has a slow start...but after about 45 minutes the plot picks up and is fast-paced till the end. So good.
87. Alien: Romulus (Cineworld Unlimited Passes)
This reboot/follow up to the Alien series was not great but not bad. (At least we could sit through the whole thing!) Parts of it felt like watching characters walk through a haunted house and there were jump scares aplenty. It's nothing groundbreaking but it's a decent way to pass 2 hours.
88. The Other Guys (Max)
This was a re-watch for both of us but it was just as fun the second time around. It's hard to go wrong with a buddy cop film starring Will Farrel and Mark Wahlberg where Will Farrel is the straight man!
89. Beetlejuice (Max)
With the new one coming out we had to rewatch this classic. It was just as campy and cheesy as I remember!
90. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Cineworld Unlimited Passes)
Like many belated sequels this one leads hard into the nostalgia and call backs. It is even campier and cheesier than the original, the plot is a bit thin, and the resolution far to quick/easy, but it is fun nonetheless. I'm glad we saw it.
91. How to Date Billy Walsh (Amazon Prime)
We watched this one because a Taskmaster contestant we enjoy (Guz) was in it - but he definitely was not in it enough! It's a teen comedy drama and the characters were all kind of horrible to each other - perhaps realistic for teenagers, lol. It tried to be funny but fell flat for us and it's one I wish we would have skipped! (That's my bad because I picked it.)
92. Hocus Pocus (Disney+)
This classic is my favorite way to kick-off spooky season!
93. Hocus Pocus 2 (Disney+)
Shhh...don't tell the others but I actually like this better than the original. It is just so darn clever and hilarious!
94. Practical Magic (Pluto TV)
We had to watch this one with ads, but worth it for another great spooky season classic. They are bringing out a sequel next year, also starring Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock - I can't wait!
95. Love Potion #9 (Pluto TV)
Joel wanted to revisit this old Sandra Bullock film and I'll admit, it was entertaining, if quite silly.
96. Ghostbusters (Max)
Again, what's the start of spooky season without this classic?
97. The Critic (Cineworld Unlimited Passes)
I love Gemma Arterton so we went to see this film where she is a stage actress trying to impress a grumpy old theater critic. They end up tangled together in murder and mayhem. It was enjoyable and I liked the 1920's setting.
98. Uglies (Netflix)
I was in the mood for a mindless popcorn film when we picked this one, and boy did it deliver. The concept was fascinating - a future world where everyone undergoes a process at 16 that makes them "pretty" - and this process happened to magically solve the world's energy and climate change crisis. But like all YA dystopian novels not all is as it seems and our young heroine must figure things out and save the world. Blah, there should be 2 more in the series but I don't know if they'll get made or if we'll watch them if they do.
99. Jurrasic Park (Cineworld Unlimited Passes)
This classic came back to the theater in the 3D 4DX format and also I got to wear my dinosaur dress to go see it! Getting moved around and splashed during all the exciting scenes was so much fun!
100. Wolfs (Apple TV)
I love Brad Pitt and George Clooney and they did not disappoint in this film about two fixers forced to work together. I hope they make a sequel or two!
101. Twister (Cineworld Unlimited Passes)
This was also back in theaters in the 4DX format, and we weren't planning to go until my friend Amy invited us. Joel wasn't feeling well so he stayed home, but Amy and I had an absolute blast.
31 Scary Movies in October:
1. Final Destination (Netflix)
2. Final Destination 2 (Netflix)
3. Final Destination 3 (Netflix)
Series:
1. The Lincoln Lawyer (Netflix) [Season 2]
Joel and I binged-watched the first season of this on Boxing Day and we quite enjoyed it. The second season got off to a rocky start and Joel stopped watching it. I'm finding it a good background show as I get other things done, but it's not amazing.
2. Schmigadoon (Apple TV) [Season 1]
Joel and I first watched this last year and loved it so this time around we were introducing it to Vince and Joan, who also loved it! It's a short six episodes so we watched it over the course of only two days.
3. The Night Agent (Netflix) [Season 1]
This show got very popular very fast and was even recommended by a YouTube personality we trust, but I don't know what everyone saw in this one because it sucked. Joel stopped watching halfway through episode one, I stuck it out just to see what all the fuss was about. The female lead was insufferable and so many characters did things that made absolutely no sense. Just, ick.
4. Fool Me Once (Netflix) [Season 1]
I'm powering through stuff on Netflix till we let our subscription expire again in a few days. This one was decent enough to keep entertained over a long work weekend away but nothing excellent. So many of these mini-series things could have probably been a movie...and so many movies these days (I'm looking at you everything over 3 hours) should probably be a mini series. Anyway, intriguing enough but overall some bad acting and drawn out storylines.
5. Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office (ITVX) [Limited Series]
Now this was a show worth watching! Everyone around us was talking about it and I'm glad we finally watched it. I had no idea about the terrible scandal that rocked the post office - a software system they forced everyone to use recorded losses when there were none - and instead of fixing it, the post office prosecuted 3,500 sub-postmasters for theft. How they thought they had a rash of incompetent thieves on their hands instead of faulty computer tech I will never understand! It was heartbreaking and moving and a story that isn't really finished as while they have had their day in court, the people whose lives were ruined have not been restored financially, and no one from the post office has ever seen jail time.
6. Reacher (Amazon Prime) [Season 2]
We really enjoyed season one of this show and I think season two was even better! Reacher gets back together with his Army special unit to solve a crime that could have an effect on national security. It was fun to see them all use their special skills and kick some butt!
7. Echo (Disney+)
This 5 episode Marvel series isn't getting great reviews online but I enjoyed it well enough. I appreciate that they kept it short and sweet and I liked the Native American history and stories they explored.
8. Modern Family (Disney+) [Season 11]
I really enjoyed Modern Family when it first aired. Last year I watched all the seasons that were available at the time, which didn't include this final season. Somewhere through the years this show lost anything funny and all of its heart. The characters became caricatures and never had any growth. This final season was so deeply unfunny I think I only laughed once. Most of it was cringeworthy and almost every single "joke" hinged on the characters lying to each other left and right. Why is this such a sitcom staple? (I'm looking at you, Friends.) If people lied to each other like that in real life they would be so toxic you should cut them off immediately. I will never watch a single episode of this show (willingly) again.
9. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (Apple TV) [Season 1]
Oh my gosh this show was so good! I'm not even a huge fan of Godzilla films but this series is incredible. If you have Apple TV go watch it. If you don't, go get it! I cannot wait for season 2 (but I'm guessing I will have to wait a long time, haha.)
10. Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Amazon Prime) [Season 1]
I adore Donald Glover and will watch anything he is in - and you should, too! This take on the Mr. & Mrs. Smith spy thriller is so well done - it really focuses on and examines their relationship more than the spy aspect. Maya Erskine is excellent and she and Glover have incredible chemistry that makes the story so believable. I really hope they make more seasons!
4. Killing Eve (BBC iPlayer) [All 4 Seasons]
We actually watched season 1 of this way back in 2019 when we were living in Australia. I remember liking it well enough but not loving it, and since only one season was out at the time we kind of forgot about it after that. This round we decided to re-watch season 1 and it was so much more funny than I remember! By season 4 things were getting a little rough/choppy and I'm glad they ended it when they did. Overall I think it is definitely worth watching, there is some incredible acting from Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer and the fashion is to die for!
5. Kyle XY (Disney+, Australia) [Season 1]
This show follows a teenager who just shows up in the woods one day. He is taken in by a foster family and they start to explore where this kid came from and why he has superhuman abilities like a computer fast mind and the ability to jump off a roof without getting hurt. Some of the acting is very stilted by the storyline is interesting enough. There are two more seasons but when the mystery was solved at the end of season one we decided we didn't need to watch any further.
6. Expats (Amazon Prime) [Limited series]
I had high hopes for this show that follows an American family living in Hong Kong as they navigate a tragedy. Their lives are intertwined with other expats and locals and there are seeds of several interesting stories here....but ultimately they go nowhere! Don't waste your time.
7. Love is Blind (Netflix) [Season 6]
I have a soft spot for this show ever since watching the first season with my girlfriends years ago. It is messy and dramatic - just want you want from your reality TV!
8. The Way (BBC iPlayer) [Limited series]
There are only 3 episodes to this and it left me wanting more! It explores a future where there is civil unrest in the UK causing a rift between England and Wales. I enjoyed the story and it had some excellent social commentary. Also, some of it was filmed in Monmouth and some in another site we have visited - it's always so fun to see places we have been on TV!
9. Perfect Match (Netflix) [Season 1]
This Netflix reality show was a fun follow up to Love is Blind - bringing back "stars" from past reality shows to live in a house and date each other. It's ridiculous in all the best ways.
10. 3 Body Problem (Netflix) [Season 1]
Joel and I both really enjoyed this sci-fi futuristic series from Netflix, I cannot wait for more seasons to come! I don't want to give too much away, but the story follows a group of academic friends as mysterious things start happening and everything they thought they knew about the world seems to be about to change. It was deeply emotional, funny at times, and really made us think.
11. Renegade Nell (Disney+) [Season 1]
If you like historical fiction with a bit of fantasy thrown in (we sure do!) you will love this one! It was so fun and entertaining and I sure hope more seasons are coming.
12. What If...? (Disney+) [Season 2]
I enjoyed the second season of this show just as much as the first. It takes Marvel characters and puts them into alternate universe situations. I loved that this season had a through-line story as well and the ending was absolutely epic!
13. Fallout (Amazon Prime) [Season 1]
It seems like everyone is watching this show based on the video game of the same name, and I can see why! It is a post-apocalyptic adventure - though be warned it can be quite graphic. I had to look away many times. But overall the story was compelling and the character development was fantastic. I hope there will be more seasons!
14. Baby Reindeer (Netflix)
Everyone was talking about this Netflix show based on real-life events that happened to comedian and star of the show - Richard Gadd. This show is disturbing and one that we couldn't binge - could only handle one episode at a time. I'm glad we watched it but it isn't for everyone!
15. Dark Matter (Apple TV)
I read the book this was based on in 2022 so I was very excited to watch the series. From what I recall, it sticks pretty closely to the novel and the acting was superb! It is a multiverse story which is always right up my alley.
16. Love is Blind: UK (Netflix) [Season 1]
I mean, I had to watch this, right? It was great fun and I enjoyed chatting about it with friends.
17. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (BBC) [Limited Series]
This is based on a book I haven't read, and it was very intriguing at first. However, the main character is quite annoying and makes terrible decisions (perhaps realistic, she is a teenager after all!) and Joel found it too annoying to continue. I finished it by myself but I can't say I overly enjoyed it.
18. Utopia (Netflix: Australia)
This Australian sitcom is in the vein of The Office or Parks and Recreation. It follows the workers at the NBA (Nation Building Authority) who are trying to work on building Australia's infrastructure. They have to deal with the public and politicians and it is quite hilarious. At times it is a bit over the top, and towards the end some of the storylines got repetitive, but overall it was excellent. And it makes you realize how many problems are universal when it comes to dealing with people!
19. Emily in Paris (Netflix) [Season 4]
This show is pure bubblegum garbage and I love it. I hope they keep making it for as long as they can, with increasingly ridiculous outfits. Also I hope she moves on from Gabriel permanently after this season, he has lost all of his charm.
20. The Perfect Couple (Netflix) [Limited Series]
This is a limited series based on an Elin Hilderbrand novel I haven't read yet, so I might regret having watched this later, but I couldn't resist seeing the world of Nantucket come to life! The setting was stunning, the mystery intriguing enough, and there were some stellar actors. I feel like it could have been a movie instead of 6 episodes, but still enjoyable.
Other:
1. Trevor Noah: I Wish You Would (Netflix) [Comedy special]
I'm not big on stand-up comedy specials as I generally find them vulgar and un-funny. We tried one before this one and turned it off after 10 minutes...but Trevor Noah was a hit! This was hilarious and he made good jokes about Covid-times. We watched it with Vince and Joan and we were all laughing out loud!
2. Movie Pass, Movie Crash (Max) [Documentary]
We usually aren't too interested in documentaries but we wanted to watch this one because we were OG Movie Pass subscribers - like when there were only about 20,000 people in the early days. It was interesting to watch the behind the scenes of some things we experienced with Movie Pass.