Category: Good Solid Movie

Nobody: The Little Demon of Lang Lang Mountain “Review”

Release date: November 7, 2025 (USA)

Director: Shui Yu

Writers: Jia Liu, Shui Yu

Stars: Ziping ChenPig Demon(voice)

Yang LuToad demon(voice)

Wenliang DongWeasel demon(voice)

Cong LiuGorilla demon(voice)

Producers: Liaoyu Chen executive producer

Wang Jun producer

Art Department: Qian Kuan

Lead Background Artist

Running time: 1h 58m

Intrigued by people around me stating Ghibli esc & Funny – I had to give this feature a whirl.

Ever since Ne Zha caught my attention and loving learning about his lore. Similarly, learning about Journey to the West and The Monkey King from Black Myth Wukong etc. I’ve been seeking out opportunities to watch and learn all about this lore and Chinese Folklore.

This title is about our 4 demon creatures, Toad, Pig, Gorilla & Weasel as they band together through a fun story starting their journey to the west. As mentioned above. There maybe another group of similar characters and names that our group is taking on which adds a lot of fun playing off the two within this tale.

The movie is and was beautiful. Loved the characters and imagery on screen. It was a good movie, the majority of the time, a 7. But I’m torn between giving this a 7 or 7.5 as the last 30 minutes was an awesome 8/10 great movie where characters had shown their growth. The story came together. Action was insane. It was a blast. So you decide. Go watch Nobody – The animated Mandarin film not the American live action 😀 let me know what you think in the comments below.

Thanks again fellow movie goers for coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews”. It’s now time we depart the world of movies and enter the gaming sphere of Dispatch the conclude the epic tale that has been told thus far :D.

Until next time, everyone. Happy Movie Going!

0

Die My Love “Review”

Release date: November 7, 2025 (USA)

Director: Lynne Ramsay

Producers: Jennifer Lawrence, Martin Scorsese · See more

Running time: 1h 58m

MPAA rating: R

Distributed by: Mubi

I heard it’s weird, starred Jennifer Lawrence & Robert Pattinson, so I had to check it out.

Let’s get to the punches and to the point on Die, My Love.

It’s an incredibly heavy story to view and experience. But a story for those with the heart and stomach can admire, appreciate, and honestly maybe even learn from seeing behind the curtain.

Jennifer Lawrence plays Grace. Together with her partner Jackson, played by Robert Pattinson. Move into this little old house in Montana, where they conceive a child.

Did I mention this was distributed by Mubi… the very same that brought us Substance last year. (Go read my review on that – Maybe give you insight into my connection with this studio).

Die, My Love takes you through the very real and commonly occurring side effects of having a child. Grace develops postpartum depression. The movie doesn’t shy away from telling this story and it’s not going to be for everyone. But I appreciate everyone that had a hand in creating this movie.

It’s super well-crafted and a good watch. It’s just a hard watch. It’s not for everyone, but it should be seen and learnt if you’re not aware. I was totally thrown and wasn’t expecting this going in, so maybe my experience was impacted by that.

Mubi, please keep on distributing and finding these movies that offer very unique viewing experiences that aren’t being offered elsewhere. Popped review of 7/10. I almost gave it within the 6’s, but as a whole, it told this very heavy, complex story that I’m glad I checked out.

Thank you all for coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews”. Let me know your thoughts on this week’s most recent batch in the comments below.

Coming up tomorrow/Wednesday will be Sarah’s Oil & Nobody (Mandarin). Before we dive into the week that separates us from now and Wicked: For Good :D. Something is going to be bumped from my top 10 by the end of November… what’s it going to be :O? By the end of the year, my top 10 list will be changing, and something’s got to go.

This is the current standings. – The Colors Within is most likely going to be dropped. Then it gets tough. Possibly The Surfer from there and then between Last Breath / Life of Check is what I’m thinking. Looks like some repeat viewing is going to happen to refine my top 10 list.

Ranking 2025 – Top 10Movie Title
1Ne Zha 2 – 9/10* – #1 Oscar Animated Feature
2Bring Her Back – 9/10*
3Sinners – 9/10*
4Better Man – 9/10*
5The Colors Within – 9/10
6Last Breath – 9/10
7The Surfer – 9/10
8The Life of Chuck – 9/10
9F1 – 9/10
10One Battle After Another – 9/10
0

Bugonia “Review”

Release date: October 31, 2025 (USA)

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Running time: 2 hours

Producers: Emma Stone, Yorgos Lanthimos, Ari Aster · See more

MPAA rating: R

Distributed by: Universal Pictures, Focus Features, CJ ENM

Loved the trailer & Poor Things – Had to check this feature out!

Quick “Review” – Loved the second half. The trailer was pretty much the first hour extended. 7.5/10 Looking forward to checking this out again with my wife. Go in watching nothing if possible. It’s not quite the same as Abigail, but….

Longer “Review” – Watching the trailer may impact your first hour experience. It builds more than the trailer shows, obviously. But certain scenes are shown which reveal the direction of the first hour during your viewing experience. Emma Stone as Michelle Fuller – Jesse Plemons as Teddy & Aidan Delbis as Don are your trio cast for this feature.

Solid movie which I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery and that second hour I can’t wait to revisit either on streaming or in theatres if time allows.

Spoilerish? – Alien or not? Find out within this two-hour feature between a CEO & Two conspiracy-obsessed men who kidnap her!.

Crazy? Insane! Messed up? Wild! – You decide on this one. Enjoy Bugonia and appreciate all that has come by Popped for this “Review”. – Last one to wrap the batch up? Finally caught up on last week’s release of Chainsaw Man. – Let’s get into it!

0

Shelby Oaks “Review”

Release date: October 24, 2025 (USA)

Director: Chris Stuckmann

Producers: Chris Stuckmann, Ashleigh Snead, Cameron Burns, Aaron B. Koontz

Screenplay: Chris Stuckmann

MPAA rating: R

Running time: 1h 42m

Trailer intrigued me – Then found out who wrote & directed this movie – Chris Stuckman!

The film starts off almost like a mockumentary style – the Last footage of Riley (Played by Sarah Durn) being alive. One of 4 members of a paranormal show called Paranormal Paranoid. As they’ve all gone missing and news spreads across the area around Shelby Oaks. We get introduced to Riley’s sister Mia (Played by Camille Sullivan) being interviewed by the news before this style of intro gets flipped on its head and enters an actual cinematography film. Done superbly, mind you. Both from the intro to the switch, this movie had captivated me from here on out. (Despite being mega tired from a close open shift, I forced myself to stay awake to not miss a second.)

I made big praise to Chris Stuckman as I used to watch his movie reviews on youtube awhile back. Now I’m a returned subscriber but also a fan of his movies from here on out :D.

As usual, I won’t get into spoilers. So with the above, and with Mia going to find out what happened to her sister Riley. I will let you know this movie creates tension. Scares across several layers of depth. Not just jump, sound, presence etc. This is a well executed and produced movie which I’d watch again if asked. I can see this being huge on streaming.

Thoroughly enjoyed the movie with some slight weakness for the last act. Ending saves it? You decide. But honestly a well worth watching movie at a Popped score of 7.5/10.

Appreciate you coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews”. A triple dose batch of worthy watches for someone across the board. Sadly holding out to watch Chainsaw Man on Monday for a sub version. Local theatres near me has majority Dub which I’m not a fan of to be honest.

If spoilers are something to avoid with Chainsaw Man and the Dubs are not bad, then let me know in the comments below.

Until next time, though, fellow moviegoers. Happy movie watching 😀

0

Regretting You “Review”

Release date: October 24, 2025 (USA)

Director: Josh Boone

Story by: Colleen Hoover

Producers: Anna Todd, Robert Kulzer, Brunson Green, Flavia Viotti

MPAA rating: PG-13

Running time: 1h 56m

Loved the trailer stayed for McKenna Grace & Mason Thames… let’s discuss!

Won’t get into spoilers, as I didn’t know this occurred after watching the trailer (Unless I missed it). Quick “Review” – As mentioned above. Love those above for playing characters Clara Grant & Miller Adams. Their relationship was beautiful and so sweet. Honestly got my rating from a 6.5 to a 7/10.

Longer “Review’ – Morgan Grant (Played by Allison Williams) with her partner Chris Grant (Played by Scott Eastwood) find themselves expecting a little one. Forward 17 years, we have Clara. Sister to Morgan is Jenny (Played by Willa Fitzgerald), who has a child with Jonah Sullivan (Played by Dave Franco) which have an interesting relationship that we get to peel back throughout the movie.

I’m not sure if it’s the writing of the novel or the movie for Dave Franco’s character, but he was in and out of his scenes so fast I wasn’t able to really connect/learn about his character until much, much later on. This made the movie feel long, but totally saved by the younger couple. I did enjoy Allison Williams playing the mother and totally got behind her feelings & emotions throughout this feature.

It’s a touching watch worth checking out. As mentioned at the top. It’s mostly a fine movie with lots of good scenes/moments. If you’re connected, you’ll be in the 7’s. Otherwise, probably in the 6’s. I have no idea what the critics were smoking when scoring it in the 30%’s over on RT.

Did you read the book or check out the feature? Love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. With that, let’s head to our 3rd title of the batch – Shelby Oaks.

0

Roofman “Review”

Release date: October 10, 2025 (USA)

Director: Derek Cianfrance

MPAA rating: R

Running time: 2h 6m

Producers: Alex Orlovsky, Lynette Howell Taylor, Jamie Patricof, Duncan Montgomery, Dylan Sellers

Distributed by: Paramount Pictures, Miramax

Trailer looked like a lot of fun….then you find out that there’s a based on true events tagline, which the movie opens up with a true story, and wow, this movie may hit like last breath…..

Roofman, as mentioned above & includes real witness statements and recordings from the actual individuals throughout the credits is about Jeffrey Manchester (Played by Channing Tatum).

Jeffrey isn’t doing so well in life but after his daughter asks for a bike on her birthday sets Jeffrey up on an endless trial of terrible decisions that begins with him robbing 45 odd McDonalds via the roof! This is our opener and the first of many terrible decisions that leads Jeffrey to prison.

It’s a fun and touching story where we get to meet Jeffrey, his wife and his children and see that bond and love he has for them… well.. mainly for his children and even more so mainly his daughter.

Being a nice guy and befriending those around him at the Prison. Jeffrey manages to find away out and eventually to a Toys R Us where the majority of the movie takes place from here on out.

Enjoy Jeffrey’s story along with some more fun and emotional journeys for our other fantastic cast. Kirsten Dunst playing Leigh Wainscott, Peter Dinklage as Mitch, LaKeith Stanfield as Steve and hold the freaking phone Uzo Aduba from Orange is the new Black :O as Eileen :D.

Get to learn about the Roofman and his story while he’s still in prison until 2036 :O insane! Grab some popcorn and maybe the family? It’s an R rated movie so that’s up to you haha.

Popped scoring of 7.5/10 – Had a fun time in this one. Good Solid Movie.

Thanks for coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews” – Tomorrow I’ll be checking out Kiss of a Spider Woman tomorrow so let’s see how this one is :D.

Catch you next time, fellow moviegoers. Now I’m heading off to the land of Critical Role to watch last night’s Episode 2 of Campaign 4 :D. Until next time.

0

Tron: Ares “Review”

Release date: October 10, 2025 (USA)

Director: Joachim Rønning

Music composed by: Nine Inch Nails

MPAA rating: PG-13

Producers: Jared Leto, Steven Lisberger, Emma Ludbrook, Sean Bailey, Justin Springer, Jeffrey Silver

Running time: 1h 59m

What an interesting release window right after Sora 2 for a discussion on AI within Tron

Maybe you’re against AI, with it, or indifferent to the sides of good use and bad use. Here comes Tron Ares to continue a franchise, in honesty, the perfect moment in time with releases like Sora 2 in the real world.

Seen the original Tron and/or the sequel Tron Legacy? There are some fun easter eggs set up, and within Ares, which… yeah, you guessed it :D, which they’ve set up for another sequel within a mid-credit scene shortly after the credits begin.

So what’s going on with Tron Ares? Well, playing Ares is Jared Leto (whether you hate him or not in Mobius or other works similar to that, his style of acting actually works for this character within Tron). He plays a programme within the digital world as the top-ranking key to protecting the grid. Eve Kim (Played by Greta Lee) & Julian Dillinger (Played by Evan Peters, (Which I love :D)) are two opposing leaders wanting to use this technology in vastly different ways. One wants to sell AI to the military with the ultimate AI cybersecurity. The other wants to use this for good and cure world hunger, cancers, drugs, etc.

Nine Inch Nails is doing the soundtrack for this feature and honestly is the strongest stand out. I missed it when it’s not playing as the movie felt a little long and a smidge boring waiting for the next epic scene when the music kicks in. It’s a fun popcorn movie.

It’s not getting the greatest reviews from IMDb, IGN & Rotten Tomatoes to average to okay scorings which means I’m at the higher tier giving a Popped score to Tron Ares of 7/10 good one time watch with a .5 going to the soundtrack which was awesome and I may even be okay watching again because I know I’ll love those scenes with it in.

Going to check out Tron Ares this weekend? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. However, until next time, I appreciate you coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews” and the next batch to arrive will be Roof Man & Kiss of a Spiderwoman.

0

The Smashing Machine “Review”

Release date: October 3, 2025 (USA)

Director: Benny Safdie

Producers: Dwayne Johnson, Benny Safdie, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia, Eli Bush, David Koplan

Production companies: A24, Seven Bucks Productions, Out for the Count

MPAA rating: R

Running time: 2h 3m

Was back & forth on watching this after seeing some reviews but… I’m glad I check it out :D.

The Smashing Machine focuses on MMA fighter Mark Kerr during 1997 to 2000 as his career is going exceptionally well however, his personal life is having extreme hardships.

Mark Kerr (Played by Dwayne Johnson) & his wife Dawn Staples (Played by Emily Blunt) are solid actors. However it’s hard to watch their struggles with how uncomfortable their dynamic is. Props to them both being able to act in those bubbles. Mark Kerr’s mentor, trainer and best friend Mark Coleman (Played by Ryan Bader) is also a pioneer of this sport along with Kerr which was awesome seeing some history that kicked off what we know MMA as today.

No bashing or discredit to Dwayne Johnson – I wish his contract would allow losses. Without spoilers or anything, just speaking on his contract and the disservices it does to a movie. Not being able to lose a fight really puts a damper on what could be an awesome comeback story. (Again, not speaking on or for this movie. Just the fact that his contracts are not allowing this.) It creates a no-stakes lack of involvement when it comes to whether there’s a win / lose or close call.

I saw some mid to bad reviews on this title and to be honest it put me off watching the movie. As mentioned at the top. I’m glad I watched it. It’s nothing Oscar worthy. But if you’re into a good story a lesson in history and learning about Mark Kerr and his past. This is a good solid watch. I wouldn’t be opposed to watching it again even. But it’s not walk out bad. It’s not even bad. It’s just a good solid movie and for sure worth watching.

Popped score of 7.5 a weak 8/10 – Good solid movie worth checking out. Great performances and an entertaining story. Did you check it out or on the fence? Let us know in the comments.

P.S – Loved that this movie also took place in Japan 😀 Love Japan, made me want to go back even more!

Thanks for coming by fellow movie goers to Popped for your movie “Reviews”. Anything I missed that I need to catch up on before we dive fully into October batches of movies?

Next up will be Tron 3 followed by Roofman later in the week 😀 Super excited for Roofman and Good Fortune.

Until next batch, though, happy movie going!

0

Good Boy “Review”

Release date: October 3, 2025 (USA)

Director: Ben Leonberg

Language: English

MPAA rating: PG-13

Genre: Horror

Running time: 1h 13m

Poster had me, hearing it’s from the perspective of Indy, this dog had me intrigued. Let’s discuss shall we.

Stick around for after the movie ends, there’s a behind the scenes with the director and his dog Indy. We find out that Indy didn’t even know they were in a movie and it’s pretty cool the difference between movie scenes and the behind the scenes footage.

Todd (Played by Shane Jensen) has something going on, potentially health risk. He moves into his grand fathers haunted house where he lived prior to passing along with his own dog.

Within this hour and 13-minute movie, you’ll have a good horror movie. Filled with scares and uncomfortable scenes that Indy does an incredible job at, along with the directing of the scenes. (There’s a film style they used (Which I forgot) to play off the audience’s own viewing experience to fill the movement and meanings of how the characters are feeling/portraying.)

I was between a 7 and a 7.5 throughout this feature. Ultimately, going to give a Popped scoring of 7.5 for the story told. There’s potential to rewatch to connect dots, but also to watch along with others’ first viewing. This was a good horror movie done with a unique style that isn’t used often. It’s a mixture of the dog’s POV along with regular movie shots, focusing mostly on the point of view of Indy from outside the eye and within.

Thank you all for coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews” I’ll be back over the weekend with 2 more movies released this week Bone Lake & The Smashing Machine.

However, until next time – It’s time for Critical Role Campaign 4 to start 😀 and also, happy movie-going fellow movie goers :D.

0

Xeno “Review”

Release date: September 19, 2025 (USA)

Director: Matthew Loren Oates

Producers: Kevin Hart, Matthew Loren Oates, Shana Marie, Jesse Jensen, Luke Kelly-Clyne, Bryan Smiley, Rameez Khan

Production companies: The Henson Company, Tabooma, HartBeat Productions

Running time: 1h 43m

MPAA rating: PG-13

Rare opportunity to watch a movie based on the poster and nothing else… how was it?

WoW what an interesting experience. Looking at the RT scores so far only critics have there rating up which is crazy considering the polarizing contrast to Him’s rating.

Alien crashed down to earth in a rather dark opening for a PG-13 movie. Some of the films elements really pushed this rating. In England there’s a 15 rating which this movie got close to but kept within PG-13. Our main character Renee (Played by Lulu Wilson) is from an extremely toxic environment and family. Her only friends being that of her reptile friends mainly her pet snake.

Linda her mother (Played by Wrenn Schmidt) and mothers boyfriend Chase (Played by Paul Schneider) are not a supportive loving family what so ever. Chase is a dead beat drunken A-Hole of a person while Linda has not delt with the passing of her husband and stays with Chase as he makes her feel needed.

Unlike the chemistry of Big Bold Beautiful Journey, Xeno actually creates a touching story between Xeno & Renee. I didn’t cry but my feelings were for sure going within the last 30 minutes. Stick around for a mid credit scene by the way for a potential sequel 😉 :D.

For those watching Xeno with little ones. Maybe get ready for some dark / adultescent conversations afterwards. From dark matters within the home. To current situations within America when it comes to loved ones and the government. This movie touches upon a lot of subjects that may strike an emotional cord within you.

For the most past the movie was fine to good. But that last 30minutes really sealed in the 7 rating touching on some 7.5 aspects of emotional feelings and connection to the characters. Theirs growth and plenty of lore to peel back within a potential sequel. Kevin Hart was one of several producers along with his production company being apart of this title. So maybe give support if you enjoyed and see if there’s more to come from this property.

Thanks for coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews” :D. Appreciate you taking the time and hopefully excited or intrigued to see what comes next week with One Battle After Another. I’ve been hearing a potential award winner? We shall have to wait and see :D.

Until next batch though fellow movie goers, happy movie watching 😀

0

A WordPress.com Website.

Up ↑