Monthnotes 27 Jan 2024

2023 ended without too much excitement. 2024 has started, and I'm impressed with the number of films I've seen so far this year. I know I won't keep this up, but I was able to catch up with some I've wanted to see for a while.

Aside from work, and watching films, I've spent my time mostly hiking and driving around looking for what we want for our house, which should start construction this summer.

Watson Lake, Prescott, AZ

It's been a number of years since we hiked Watson Lake. It didn't disappoint. Scenery that's very different than the red rocks around Sedona.

Night Sky in a Dark Sky Community

Not sure if I've mentioned it before, but Sedona is a Dark Sky Community. That basically means the residents and businesses are dedicated to avoiding light pollution in the night sky.

This gives us incredible views of the stars on clear nights. You can even see the milky way with your naked eyes.

Movies

• Polite Society was a blast. Really fun flick about a younger sister who wants to be a stunt woman who thinks the family her sister is marrying into has sinister plans for her. Has a vibe similar to some of Edgar Wright's films like Baby Driver.
• Leave the World Behind is an interesting movie about what an invasion or takeover of our country could look like in the digital age. I really liked Sam Esmail's Mr. Robot TV series, and this film has a similar feel.
• Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom was fun to watch. I think it was better than the first film, but honestly, I can't remember that much of the first film to say for sure and not really interested in going back to watch that one again.
• The Witch: Part 2. The Other One is kind of a sequel, or side-story, with the Part 1 film which I really liked. This one has the violence of the first film, but I don't think it stood on its own very well. First film is still amazing, but don't feel you really need to see this one unless you want to live in that world a little more.
• The Beekeeper has Jason Statham kicking ass. If that sounds like fun to you, you'll love this. I did.

• Summer of 84 has been on my list for a while and it didn't disappoint. It really had me feeling like I was back in the mid-80's. The story, about a teen who thinks his next door neighbor, and cop, is a serial killer, is really good. Especially loved the ending.
• Killers of the Flower Moon is another great film from Martin Scorsese. You can feel a master's touch in everything. There are even scenes framed such that it feels you're looking at a painting in a museum. The story itself about how the Osage people were murdered for their oil rights, is devastating.
• Poor Things. I loved it. My wife hated it (except for the costumes). For me it came down to just being on a fascinating, unpredictable journey with Emma Stone's character in the film's dreamlike world.
• Godzilla Minus One Minus Color was released in black & white and somehow it's even better that way. Reinforced it being my top film of 2023. Amazing.

Reelhouse Foundation Films

• Comfort and Joy (1984) is a strange film that eventually is about two families in Scotland battling over their ice cream. Sounds funner typing that than I recall the film actually being.
• The Return of Captain Invincible (1983) is wacky. A musical super-hero film with songs from Richard O'Brien, who did The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and has Christopher Lee singing in the bad-guy role. Songs are actually pretty good. Movie, not so much.

• The Loveless (1981) is both Kathryn Bigelow's and Willem Dafoe's first film. The film was a bit boring, but Dafoe is captivating on screen like his is in every film he's ever been in.