Category: Below – Above Average

The Damned “Review”

Release date: January 3, 2025 (USA)

Director: Thordur Palsson

Language: English

Distributed by: Vertical

Production companies: Elation Pictures; Netop Films; Wild Atlantic Pictures; Ley Line Entertainment

A very enticing trailer hauntingly got into my mind. This drew me into watching this feature, which kind of came from nowhere until last month before popping up.

So where do I start before suddenly stopping the review. Without spoilers I wont just suddenly leave you in limbo confused / working out what just happened. Did it hurt the overall score? Yes! But worthy watch for anyone interested in putting in the work during lots of slow build up.

Enticed or not, let’s get into The Damned “Review”. 19th-Century widow is forced to make an impossible choice, during an extremely cruel winter where you’ve succumbed to eating not only your reserved food but also the bait in which to harvest the food. Seeing a ship sinking off the coast, do you save those that may cause risking what’s left of the village’s dwindling supplies?

Odessa Young, playing our main lead “Eva” does a very good job in establishing herself in this world and involving her cast and the viewer through these haunting scenes. The sense of bitter winds, faced against odds. Hope only comes from those within your family and unable to trust or allow trust from any unknown sources.

Game of Thrones – Rory McCann does an excellent job here with Odessa fleshing out the opening scenes and creating bonds between the viewer and this family that’s against all odds coming into the winter season.

If you’re able to give this feature a chance. Just know the pacing can be slow but deliberate. Intentional to create several feelings within you along the way. Are these characters slowly losing it? Have their decisions come to haunt them. Are these visions/horrors something of paranormal or physiological? This film will have you questioning yourself by the end and that journey will be what makes or breaks this experience.

Is this a good movie? A close miss? A mid-range like that of our first movie of 2024 Night swim? If Night Swim is to be our 5/10 average middle of the pack film. I feel like the cinematography and direction from Thordur Palsson sets this feature above the pack at a 6.5/10. An above-average title that had moments of solid goodness but depending on your takeaway, narrowly or massively misses the mark and keeps itself from getting out of this tier for a Popped review.

Not a bad start to 2025 and happy new year to all those returning to Popped. Blog for another year. I appreciate all those that followed us here throughout 2024 and I’m excited to see our top 10 list slowly come together as we navigate 2025.

A trial and error pilot episode of the official Popped.blog podcast is out with another episode to come later into the weekend ahead. We’ll be discussing this title a little more and breaking down what’s to come throughout January for Popped.

Check out The Popped Cast by clicking this link.

Don’t forget to cast your votes for January’s Poll on the top menu of the page. Decide on which Anime/Movie you’d like reviewed outside of the mentioned or announced ones currently spoken of.

Thanks again and see you in the next batch.

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Kraven the Hunter “Review”

Release date: December 13, 2024 (USA)

Director: J. C. Chandor

Budget: $110–130 million

Story by: Richard Wenk

Distributed by: Sony Pictures Releasing

Based on: Marvel Comics

WoW! That’s a lot of $ to waste on this movie Sony. Maybe learn from WB and write it off on taxes rather than announce that this series is going no where and you’re done with your Spiderman less spin off movies.

Well, we’re counting down to the main event for the game awards so lets discuss the pros and cons. Or even the potential and wasted opportunities that Kraven the Hunter could have setup before Sony announced it’s going nowhere.

I’d like to start with some positives. The most positive is that this is a watchable movie and not awful like Morbius & Madame Web.

Loved the opening scene which they released online. I see why as it’s the best scene\s of the movie. Lots of good action worth checking out on the big screen. Honestly an entire could be cut from this feature to save 30 minutes would have gotten this back to a 7. I started at an 8 from the opening which quickly dropped with the backstory.

Loved Aaron Taylor-Johnson whom plays Kraven the Hunter. It’s a little odd seeing how he’s the “Good” guy of this title after playing Spiderman 2 video game. However! I loved the opportunity this movie sets-up to have an Amazing Spiderman 3 which bounces off this movie, the video game and the ending of Amazing Spiderman 2.

Maybe that’s why I ended up giving this a 6/10 because of the potential to have these characters in an actual amazing spiderman movie….Buuuut I have no idea what Sony is cooking up now. Will they start from scratch? Jump off where Marvel currently is? Try and salvage these spin-off movies but now include Spiderman? Love to hear your thoughts on that in the comments.

Calypso by the way was the character I’d cut from this movie. I’m not sure her origins from the comics but in this movie she’s not needed. Kraven’s brother Dimitri played by Fred Hechinger which you may remember most recently from Gladiator 2 would be my almost cut from the film but offered enough where I’d like to see his character more in an Amazing Spiderman sequel.

Loved Kraven’s dad being played by Russell Crowe. Sadly the storyline that played out wasn’t the one setup in my head from the start which was unfortunate. Still had lots of awesome worth watching scenes and I enjoyed where he took the story of Kraven toward the end of the movie to jump from into what’s going to come next? If anything comes from it at all :S.

I’d place Kraven probably 2nd best Sony Spiderman movie of the spin-off movies. 1st place going to Venom 1 of course. I did enjoy this more than Venom 2/3* (Overall – 3 Had some good scenes still) and way more than the previous mentioned Morbius & Madame Web.

I’d love to get the video game Kraven from these actors in a sequel but who knows what Sony is doing next with these properties.

From a 8/10 down to a 7 then eventually a 6. I gave Kraven the Hunter an above average 6/10 rating and with that, we wrap up the spiderman less spiderman movies from Sony. Let’s give them lots of good feedback for their new direction.

With DC resetting, Marvel? Rethinking their direction?, now Sony resetting? I’m excited to see if Comic Book movies can come back and be done right again.

Thank you all for coming by Popped.blog – Enjoy the Game Awards and I’ll see you next time with potentially Sonic or ??? an unexpected viewing of The Order maybe?

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September 5 “Review”

Release date: January 9, 2025 (Germany)

Director: Tim Fehlbaum

Producers: Tim Fehlbaum, Sean Penn, Philipp Trauer, Thomas Wöbke, John Ira Palmer, John Wildermuth Jr.

Distributed by: Paramount Pictures, Constantin Film

Cinematography: Markus Förderer

Music by: Lorenz Dangel

Got to watch an early access screening of September 5 the other day. With a limited release this kind of hits 2024/25 but I wont be long with this one.

September 5 is set in 1972 during the Munich Olympics. An American sports broadcasting crew finds themselves thrust into covering a hostage crisis involving Israeli athletes.

Before I go into my thoughts, however brief. This is based on true events. Several people after the showing were discussing with myself and some others that they actually lived through this and remember it well. They came away enjoying this title so I wanted to start with that before the later half.

When it comes to my experience. I warn those that are tired, to rest before this feature. Going into this tired with its slow pacing, dated, yet intended for the time period can have you dozing off. Unlike that of Conclave I didn’t find myself compelled to stay awake to see what’s happening as the pacing was just so slow and none of the characters, cinematography, visual beats was enough to grab my attention in such a tired state.

That was my experience, but I hope that if you went to check this title out. That you came away having had a good time and maybe learnt something of historic events.

It’s not much of a “Review” but a pin in the calendar for watching and scoring this for the year. The trailer was good to lure me in but sadly the film in my tired state wasn’t enough.

6/10 – Above Average

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Red One “Review”

Release date: November 15, 2024 (USA)

Director: Jake Kasdan

Budget: 250 million USD

Story by: Hiram Garcia

Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures, Amazon MGM Studios, Universal Pictures

Music by: Henry Jackman

Welcome, fellow moviegoers, to Popped. Blog with this week’s batch of “Reviews.” We started with A Real Pain, now for the real pain of a movie Red One.

Red One showed so much promise and yet gave it all away within the trailers. Failure from creation itself, some may find that their batch of cookies to Santa may be salvaged toward the end. However, the undercooked middle and surprised aftertaste of the first bite could put people off.

Red One opens with a younger version of our main character Jack O’Malley being played by Chris Evans. This opening scene felt like a Christmas movie before the 30 year time skip to present times.

Callum Drift (Played by Dwayne Johnson), an ELF member and bodyguard of Santa Claus is one day away from retirement as the naughty list grows each year with worse and worse adults. The magic of Christmas is waning on him but Santa reminds him that he does this job for the children that are no longer children to remember that feeling of their younger child.

Jack O’Malley, an L4 bad guy, gets into a situation where his actions result in Santa being kidnapped by an unknown group. Callum and Jack go on an adventure (which is all in the trailer) to rescue Santa and save Christmas.

The ingredients are all there. There is so much goodness behind Dwayne Johnson that he takes up 90% of the screen time. If only he gave the camera to anyone else to show off the world of the awesome creatures and characters supporting the film for 10% this could have been enjoyed more.

If you’re looking for a Christmas movie where a “failed” parent learns a lesson and does a good deed then I’d recommend seeing Elf. You feel the magic in that film and the characters all get to shine, unlike this film which finds it hard to show the creations that are forced to the back.

I hovered in the mid scores for sometime until an hour and a half where I wanted to walk out as I was done. The last 5 to 10 minutes was fun and I enjoyed the remaining good cookies in the batch as the film got to show off for a moment its creation.

Back and forth on the rating, however, I’m going with a 4/10 below average movie that may even be lower than others. This brings good news to my bottom 5 list as Abigail has been saved from ending the year in my bottom 5 by being joined by Red One.

This maybe hard for some as I’m sure many were looking forward to this title. If you enjoy the rock spreading the Christmas cheer through adult language then you may enjoy this movie. For me though I’ll be enjoying Elf and the best Christmas Pageant ever.

Thank you all for coming by Popped. Blog and I look forward to seeing you next week for 2 big doses of “Reviews” – Wicked & Gladiator 2.

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A Real Pain “Review”

Release date: November 1, 2024 (USA)

Director: Jesse Eisenberg

Distributed by: Searchlight Pictures

Box office: $1,020,065

Produced by: Ewa Puszczyńska; Jennifer Semler; Jesse Eisenberg; Emma Stone; Ali Herting; Dave McCary

Production companies: Topic Studios; Fruit Tree; Rego Park; Extreme Emotions;

Welcome fellow movie goers to Popped.blog with this weeks batch of “Reviews”. Starting with A Real Pain followed by Red One.

A real pain follows two Jewish cousins David & Benji (Being played by Jesse Eisenberg & Kieran Culkin) as they venture on a tour of Poland to honor their late grandmother.

With an excellent sound track with beautiful melody of piano music travelling the inner connection between scenes. I fell in love with the surrounds and musical notes that brought scenes completely together.

The connection between the two cousins kept me engaged and entertained throughout. Benji is unlike David and with that some old tensions resurface while exploring their family history.

Benji had so many layers to explore the movie felt wrapped and yet open to explore with Benji’s journey. Something of which David was able to have closed in a manner that left me feeling a real pain to drop my 7 to a 6.5/10 just slightly missing the mark of a good movie.

It’s a fine line, a very fine line of being a good solid 7 however I wanted 1 more scene for Benji. The supporting cast with the tour group were a delight and honestly did a really good job mixing up their characters with Benji and David in totally polar opposite ways.

It’s a short movie and thus worth checking out if you happen to catch it streaming or at the theatre this weekend. Next week are the biggens so ensure some appetizers before the big 3 of November.

A Real Pain will be getting a 6.5/10 placing it above average.

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Conclave “Review”

Release date: October 25, 2024 (USA)

Director: Edward Berger

Distributed by: Focus Features

Based on: Conclave; by Robert Harris

Budget: $20 million

Cinematography: Stéphane Fontaine

Honestly with how high the reviews for Conclave were I was excited. Maybe this set my expectations to high or maybe it’s inflated by the divisiveness?

When events unfold and you’re tasked with one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events — participating in the selection of a new pope. This movie was interesting and surrounded by mystery that kept me in the theatre.

Sadly however the execution kept me asleep throughout periods of long boring silence. To awaken by a great tid bit of sound and intrigue as events unfold before the next nap.

The actors do a great job, however, sadly it takes to long to hit the beats along the way and it lost me constantly. When things start to pickup I was grasped once more. With this being a mystery I want to keep spoilers away. That being said it’s not going to be for everyone. Maybe the mystery entices you? Will the pay off be worth your 2 hours? Without going down a divisive spiral, it wasn’t enough for me to feel like it had a big pay off.

I hadn’t expected the film to go in such a direction but wish they went further to give more merit to the decision. How does this impact going forth and will this have ramifications. The film kind of just ends which is why I’m left with the feeling of wasting 2 hours of time.

It had elements of good, however the amount it put me to sleep I have to put it behind “Here” which I gave a 7/10 yesterday. It’s interesting this film came out around the US Election as it echoes in elements. It could have been good maybe even great but sadly feels like an above average movie at best.

Popped! Is placing Conclave at a 6/10 but leaving the theatre felt like a 5.5/10 however could be to harsh to say its average when there’s goodness in there.

We’re in the final 2 months of the year and plenty more to enjoy. Will my top 10 or bottom 5 be changing by the time January rolls around? I’m curious to find out. Until then though you’ll catch me either next batch or writing for NaNoWriMo throughout November.

Happy watching all and for those writing, good luck and have fun!

Thank you all for coming by Popped .Blog for your movie “Reviews” with me Prowen.

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Venom: The Last Dance “Review”

Release date: October 24, 2024 (USA)

Director: Kelly Marcel

Distributed by: Sony Pictures Releasing

Based on: Marvel Comics

Budget: $120 million

Edited by: Mark Sanger

Welcome back movie goers to Popped with Venom: The Last Dance…..I hope they break a leg O.o?

I’ll give you a quick “Review” followed by a little more detailed “Review” that may go slightly into spoiler territory.

Non Spoiler Version

I wish Sony & Disney Marvel could play nice having this within the MCU. Having the second Venom film leading into the MCU to then be instantly thrown out makes this movie a huge disappointment for any kind of easter egg going forth. We’re in the Sony Universe and this is the best they have to offer :S eeek!

I had some fun with this movie but sadly there was way to much drag between good moments. Even when times got good or interesting it was short lived.

If you’re watching Venom for Sony Verse then check it out. If not, save your time and get told what happens in the cliff notes. Better yet get yourself a PS5 / PC and play Spiderman 2. Thank me later.

Without going into spoilers I’ll give this a 5/5.5 out of 10.

Average movie, disappointing and honestly probably could be skipped unless Sony can do something with their Sony verse to get this on the track.

Little Spicy/Spoiler Version

Eddie Brock accompanied by the voice of Venom (Mostly). Are back in their universe and on the run from killing the officer from Venom: Let There Be Carnage.

Sadly no easter eggs planted along the way (That I Saw) but honestly a certain element that made this movie good. Could have been totally done better and for the build up at least lasted longer.

Again, go play Spiderman 2 and you’ll thank me.

Two end scenes for this feature. Mid scene is a setup for next movie just like Let There Be Carnage did. Last scene after waiting 10minutes of credits is a gag scene probably not worth it unless you utilize the time for a bathroom break and come back.

Took an hour to pickup and then shortly lived I’d say I’m rather disappointed with a 5/10 but some of the scenes were fun giving it the .5 to almost above average at best.

Real question is, should I watch Hit Pig or wait for Here to arrive in theatres. I really hope November turns things around because October had a lot of promise and some heavy misses.

2 Months remain of 2024. How are your top 10’s forming? Does it stack alongside my list and if not. What would you drop / add? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Thanks for checking out Popped. Blog and I’ll see you in the next batch.

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Smile 2 “Review”

Release date: October 18, 2024 (USA)

Director: Parker Finn

Distributed by: Paramount Pictures

Budget: $28 million

Cinematography: Charlie Sarroff

Music by: Cristobal Tapia de Veer

Welcome to the second “Review” in this week’s batch. Following that of We Live in Time. Buckle up for this “Review” you may experience a twist like no other!

Don’t Drink The WATER – Crazy is source

Shall I start with the jaw-dropper and move into the why! to save people time and only dive into detail for those interested? Go watch M. Night Shyamalan’s trap over this film or The Substance. You can skip Smile 2 if you’re waiting on a sequel to Smile.

“Review” Begins

The intro to Smile 2 started off strong. Setting the film up as a direct sequel to Smile following the events at the end. This molded nicely into the introduction of our main lead which turned out to be black mold and not the most perfect analogy to avoid spoilers.

I will attempt not to spoil and yet get close to the line while explaining my disappointment in this sequel to Smile. Summed up the amount of “scares” that occur has plenty of time to bore the viewer if you’re not connecting with our main lead and those around her. You’ll either tune out awaiting the next scare or jump scare which will be wasted on you as it’ll occur during your pit of boredom that it had no affect.

There was 1 true jump scare for me personally, that occurred after 1 hour of watching this film. For those coming over from watching Terrifier 3 this past weekend, Smile 2 will seem like a baby film. Even those interested in this kind of horror will find themselves feeling desensitized and may even have scenes lost on you because the movies had time to create that feeling of boredom.

For those interested in the story of Smile, you can honestly watch the first film and wait for the third. Those wanting a thriller horror then check out Trap, Long Legs, and Cuckoo. For those wanting body horror, check out The Substance.

Smile 2 had moments of being a good watch movie at a 7/10 however I’d have to say this is above average at best giving it somewhere around a 5.5 or 6/10. I wish the ending wasn’t so rushed as it could have landed at 6.5/10 but that’s where I recommend The Substance as this movie just continued to fail on so much fronts.

Hopefully, Smile 3 grants us a true sequel to Smile without repeating the exact same formula on another individual without any of the good stuff we got to explore in the first film. Such a shame as the start had so much promise.

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My Old Ass “Review”

Release date: September 13, 2024 (Canada)

Director: Megan Park

Distributed by: Amazon MGM Studios, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Music by: Tyler Hilton; Jaco Caraco

Produced by: Tom Ackerley; Margot Robbie; Josey McNamara; Steven Rales

Production companies: Indian Paintbrush; LuckyChap Entertainment

If I could ask my older self one question, should I have watched this movie? The answer would have resulted in one less-viewed movie this year.

Let’s discuss…

Watched the trailer and ready for an exciting movie ahead? I was until an hour into the movie when the direction bored me, and then the film just…ends? Leaving me confused if more was to come but knowing it’s over and kind of felt like the movie was kind of ass. 6/10 If I’m being nice. Felt like an average slightly above-average movie.

So many plot points and story devices left unanswered which literally the trailer lures you in with. The main characters choices in the movie made no sense. Even trying to get behind her decisions they leave literally an entire plot and character out during this self-discovery. I’m not so much ranting but more disappointed that I watched this movie and wasted almost 2 hours after trailers to view this title.

Why does Amazon release this on the big screen while Wolfs by Apple gets placed on Apple TV :S lame. If they wanted to keep this movie short and concise they added SO MUCH fluff that was left unresolved.

Without going into spoilers this movie had a message to tell and only had content for it for about 20 minutes of the film. They pumped it up with the family, friends, weird mushroom storyline and left it all abruptly to sum up the main films focus.

I don’t know, a waste of time seems harsh but that ending was weak sauce. My Old ASS? This movie’s ASS! Catch it on streaming tbh am I going with a 3? Na it’s not a bad movie just average to above average at best.

I feel as if the trailer got me like it did so many with the Civil War movie trailer. Setting you up for one thing and delivering on another.

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Twisters “Review” & Longlegs “Review

Release date: July 19, 2024 (USA)

Director: Lee Isaac Chung

Music by: Benjamin Wallfisch

Story by: Joseph Kosinski

Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures, Universal Pictures

Based on: Characters; by: Michael Crichton; Anne-Marie Martin

Debated separating these two reviews as I’m behind. To be honest you’re not missing out on anything so lets tame the beast of these two.

Twisters starts off with a fun group of characters and loved seeing Nik Dodani…..however, that’s shortly lived before you’re left with the worst character of the movie Javi played by Anthony Ramos.

Every time he was on screen I was tuning out. I’d have cut his whole character out. Focused on David Corenswet (The new Superman) being the opposing group and made a better movie.

There’s some stakes created about an hour in. That’s ruined by the lack luster energy going into the finale. It’s not a bad movie, but it’s only just above average with a tornado level of 5.5 / 6 out of 10.

Loved Glen Powell and his wrangler buddy. The tornado wranglers were the best parts of the movie. Honestly thinking back to how tuned out I was after that intro I’d go with a 5.5 / 10 barely above average movie. Let’s get into Longlegs a better movie but still only a 1 time viewing experience.

Release date: July 12, 2024 (USA)

Director: Oz Perkins

Distributed by: Neon

Budget: <$10 million

Cinematography: Andrés Arochi

Produced by: Dan Kagan; Brian Kavanaugh-Jones; Nicolas Cage; Dave Caplan; Chris Ferguson

It’s a good thing these movies are cheap to make because this is very niche audience focused horror movie. I wont spoil this movie as for some, this is a good movie with some aspects preventing it from being better.

On the contrary the reason why people don’t like this movie as much are the reasons why I enjoyed it. So check it out and be prepared for a slow burn of a feature before getting into the good stuff.

Even then the good stuff is short lived with Nicolas Cage on screen. I wanted more from his character! That being said this had some excellent performances in moments however it wasn’t enough to keep myself and my brother in law engaged as he ended up falling asleep during this.

A 1 time viewing experience for sure but I wouldn’t go above a 6.5/10 into a solid good. Just a good for this one.

All going well next week Deadpool & Wolverine comes to save the end of summer 2024. Some gems dropping between then and November. Let me know what Fall movies you’re looking forward to after D&W.

Thanks for reading this double dose of ehh and here’s hoping we can fill the top 10 with 9’s before December. I believe there’s 4 more titles left to bump off then the true contenders fight it out for the 2024 top 10 list for Popped. Blog

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