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Jeopardy!: Austin Rogers Game 6 (2017)
A very intense episode
Very Minor Spoilers
For the past five episodes, Austin Rogers has won big money with his wealth of knowledge. So imagine my shock when Amy Servat actually pulls ahead of Rogers in the first half of the game. Rogers got his lead back, but Servet was very close behind. Even though I already knew who would win, I was on the edge of my seat wondering who was gonna pull out the win.
The game ends with some massive bets by the contestants and I was shocked by how much they won. I imagine this game must be even more intense for someone who doesn't know the ending.
Not to mention, Austin Rogers is genuinely entertaining throughout. I'm going to be devastated when Rogers inevitably loses. Great episode.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
I wasn't sold on this movie, then I rewatched it
Minor Spoilers
I've never read very many comics, so my knowledge of Spider-Man is very limited to the movies. So... when I first watched Spider-Verse back in 2019 on Netflix I was very confused as to why there was an old-timey Spider-Man, why there was an anime Spider-Man, and why in the absolute hell is there a Looney Toons Spider-Man? I didn't like that three totally different characters just entered the movie that was already halfway done. I originally didn't like the fact that both Peter Parker's were just hollow copies of Toby Maguire's Spidey, I thought it was boring. I didn't see what was so special about the animation because I hadn't read any comics at the time. The film's break-neck pacing didn't help my understanding either. I first left the film thinking, "This is everybody's favorite Spider-Man movie? What the hell?"
By some miracle, I actually decided to watch it again a while later. Needless to say, I enjoyed it a LOT more upon rewatch. The knowledge from my previous watch allowed me to spot details and catch dialogue that I didn't before and the fact that I had seen all the characters before gave me a sense of familiarity with them. I left my second watch with a much better understanding of what was happening, and the animation had grown on me. I understood a few of the comic book inspired frames. Still, after having watched the movie for the fourth time I don't understand who Spider-Man Noir, Penni Parker, or Spider-Ham are, but I suppose they're not the main characters and I don't need to understand them. However, due to my many rewatches of this movie, after playing Insomniac's Spider-Man video game, and watching The Amazing Spider-Man films, I understand who Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy are a lot better than before. (At the time I'm writing this (October 31, 2023) I've just watched Across the Spider-Verse on Netflix, which is a lot heavier on character development for Miles, Gwen, and Peter B. Parker than the original). I've liked the animation style more every time I rewatch the movie. 8/10.
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)
An Entertaining Action Movie!
Very Minor Spoilers
This is a really fun action spectacle film to watch with friends and family. The CGI for Godzilla and Kong looks beautiful. Scar King and the Frost Lizard have really colorful and interesting designs.
The human story seems to get better with every new Monsterverse movie, and this is no exception. The relationship between Jia and Dr. Andrews is compelling. Brian Tyree Henry and Dan Stevens are hilarious and provide some great comic relief.
The music is nice to listen to, even if it doesn't always fit the scene.
Its biggest weakness is that it doesn't do anything particularly new, just puts tropes into a different context. The movie is very entertaining.
Star Trek: Generations (1994)
The Original Series & The Next Generation don't mix
Minor Spoilers
This film is billed as Captains Kirk and Picard team-up. They don't until the last 20 minutes or so, and I'm glad they don't. This film worked best when it was Captain Picard and the rest of the Next Generation fighting Dr. Soran and the Duras sisters.
The opening 20 minutes with Kirk, Scotty, and Chekhov on the new Enterprise is fine enough, but it was unnecessary after their perfect send-off in Undiscovered Country.
As much as I'd love to see Kirk and Picard team-up, it was a terrible mistake to make it happen. The two have such different stories and those stories take away from each other, making for disappointing film.
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
The Undiscovered Country is my favorite Trek film
Spoiler Warning
The idea of having Captain Kirk privately deride Klingons (Christopher Lloyd killed his son a few movies back) is really shocking and pretty damn bold. It is so damn compelling when he's on trial and the audio is used against him. Immediately he (and the audience) realize how stupid it was for Kirk to say he hates Klingons.
That heavy topic is only really around for the first half of the movie, but it does everything it needs to, to get the plot rolling. This movie has some particularly sharp editing and nice camerawork.
The mystery of who on Enterprise killed the Klingons is really intriguing and it's genuinely shocking when Lt. Valeris, someone who's been standing by the main characters for the whole movie, is revealed as the killer.
Wrath of Khan and First Contact have more memorable villains, but The Undiscovered Country has the most complex and mature plot.