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Reviews
Five Nights at Freddy's (2023)
Memorable Movie for New Fans and Old
I honestly don't understand why the critic score is so low. I know basically nothing about Five Nights at Freddy's Lore, and still found this movie perfectly comprehensible. It's a good movie. A bit tame in its scares early on, but as you get invested in the characters it does help raise the tension. To say the aesthetics were really cool would be an understatement. This movie- this franchise- unquestionably has a unique visual identity.
As for nitpicks (spoilers ahead): A few parts of the plot felt a bit convenient / contrived, like the picture thing at the end, despite the fact that it was kind of foreshadowed. I was slightly disappointed we never found out what happened to Garret beyond the fact that Mr. Afton killed him; I thought maybe we could've seen him appear as a ghost or something. The overall message about not letting your past mistakes distract you from the people that should matter most to you in the present wasn't anything revolutionary either, but it's one that's easy to get behind. The start of the movie was also a bit slow paced for me, and it took a while for the horror elements to really effect our protagonist personally.
That might sound like a lot of complaints, but still really enjoyed this movie more than a lot of movies I've seen recently. Its story was unique and it had a fun, almost 80s horror flick feel, which to me is a good thing. I very much liked the concepts, setting, and set up, and the little girl was pretty realistic and entertaining in her behavior.
Even after the movie was over, with a little research, I discovered loads of references I missed that didn't take away from my experience for not catching. That said, I can only imagine how cool these references are for the hardcore fans. While this movie is pretty straightforward on the surface, it still has a few layers to dig into if you're so inclined. This movie was clearly made with love and, I think, represents another win for the new wave of video games adapted into movies.
The Blackrock Chronicle (2012)
Classic, Heartfelt Roleplay
One of the classic minecraft roleplays, 'Blackrock Chronicles' stands out for the main duos perfect combination of chaotic eccentricity (in the form of Zoeya) and Rythian, who more often than not plays the straight man to her antics. His dramatic role-playing and narrative goals (and the occasional probably-scripted-event) provide the structure, while Zoey's energy provides the heart and sets the stage for some truly spectacular and authentic feeling reactions. While I have no way of knowing just how much was pre-planned, sometimes Rythian truly reminds me of a DM whose players have just gone off the rails.
Besides the main duo, we also have a full cast of eccentric cast members who pop in and out, from Ravs the barkeeper, to Teep the mute but impressively-expressive-blocky-dinosaur, to Duncan the mad scientist who has way too many nukes, to a whole kingdom of dubiously sentient fungi.
Being a minecraft lets-play, it can be a slow burn with a lot of digging and a building, but if you want something to relax to that's full of pleasent atmosphere and good humor, while also containing the occasional sprinkle of intrigue, betrayel, and surprisingly emotionally poignent moments, then this could be for you. I truly believe what we got is deserving of a cult following- I only removed one star because the series never recieved an official ending.
Quest for Camelot (1998)
Creative and Underated
This movie is not about king Arthur. He just happens to be in the background. All of Camelot happens to be in the background, serving as the vague inspiration for a setting which is actually very creative and full of life in its own right. As a young child, I was both scared and inspired by the (literal) personality of the landscapes and near alien forests. I loved the music. I loved the protagonist; her tragic setup and her determined personality.
There's a lot of things to like about this movie if you are not overly triggered by diversions to silly dragon sidekicks and can get over the fact it does not care about Arthurian mythology. As a child, I didn't know anything about king Arthur either, and as such could only judge it by its own merits: weird, inspiring, occasionally emotional, and just a little dark.
People sometimes rank this among the worst king Arthur movies, whereas I really don't think it's fair to include it in those lists at all. This move is an AU fanfiction starring a female OC and I am okay with that- the same way I am okay with Anastasia not being a literal account of Russian history, and I once enjoyed a book where Sherlock Holmes was actually a wizard. Just make sure you know what you're getting into before watching.