PoeticArson
Flick Fan
Member Since: 26 Aug 2024
Location: USA
Bio: Fledgling movie-watcher. Slowly making my way through the canon and various hidden gems. I have rated roughly 350 movies, but many of those came before I started using a 100-point scale (when I used either a five-star or 10-point system). I've decided not to retroactively rate anything; I'll rate old favorites on the newly-minted scale once I get back around to them. This is to say: just because I don't have something rated does not mean I haven't seen it. | Some of my reviews here are cut down from the ones I post over at Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/PoeticArson/ | You can also check out my barebones website, where I keep all my reviews and rankings of various media, as well as my poetry: https://poeticarson.neocities.org/
Recent Ratings
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Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) - Rated 09 Jun 2025
"Probably around my third watch. This is a strong entry in the series (still doesn't approach Iron Man '08), boasting its fare share of high-octane action sequences—although, the final battle is a bit of a mess. It also does an admirable job of establishing Captain America in his new world with the dynamic between he and Black Widow strong enough to carry this thing to the end, and with Falcon adding some decent spice to the mix. That said, there is no shortage of contrivance in this joint."
The Avengers (2012) - Rated 08 Jun 2025
"Probably third or fourth watch. Couldn't say. Generic, certainly, but still impresses as the culmination of, at the time, four (or five) other films. The set pieces are mostly great, with the plummeting helicarrier the standout, and The Hulk is a highlight. I can't help but project my now pronounced superhero fatigue onto this film retroactively. Still, this was a good moment in time. We couldn't have known how dire things would soon become."
The Pagemaster (1994) - Rated 08 Jun 2025
"Watched this a lot when I was a kid, but I hadn't seen it in many moons. A lovely premise, but I can't help but feel the movie never pushes the premise as far as it could go. Everything here is surface level, and with the whole wide world of collective fiction to explore, that's disappointing. And the characters don't break this trend, all of them various shades of uninteresting. Archetypal. And while there are certainly some beautiful sequences of animation, even that aspect is uneven."
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) - Rated 28 May 2025
"At least second viewing. Not sure when my first viewing was. Truly a product of the MCU, this is ultimately too much of a galavant to really feel like a Spider-Man movie. The insistence of Tony Stark, and then Peter at the end of the film, that Peter be a "friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man" puts an even finer point on this. It's all much too grand, which, if memory serves, only worsens as this trio of films progresses. Holland certainly belongs in the role, but he's in search of a better film."
17 Again (2009) - Rated 28 May 2025
"Umpteenth viewing, first in a long time. Another that used to be in the regular rotation. This is fun, but pretty stupid throughout, but fun, but dumb. Funny and quotable enough to get the job done. Efron carries this thing admirably, putting the body switch gimmick to good use, while Thomas Lennon oscillates between hilarious and tiresome. The nerdy love story between Ned and the principal is especially inane."
Enchanted (2007) - Rated 23 May 2025
"Umpteenth viewing, first in a long long time. This is surprisingly solid. Fantasy meets reality, literally and figuratively. Looking at the dangers of storybook romance while also avoiding unfeeling pragmatism, there are thoughtful writing strokes throughout and even some subtle character moments and revelations. Of course, this is adjoined to moments of pure schmaltz and pat messaging, but in a sense that only serves the metaphor. Amy Adams is delightful and oh so beautiful."
Sinners (2025) - Rated 23 May 2025
"First viewing. Largely great until the genre switch. While the second half of the film is where the thematics really come out to play, the pacing turns erratic. This movie is either too long or too short and I can't be sure which. Kaleidoscopic in its themes, the film is saying several things depending on what angle you take. Yet, I don't think it plumbs the depths of any of it. Still, this is stylishly directed and wonderfully acted. And by golly that soundtrack's a good 'un."
I, Robot (2004) - Rated 23 May 2025
"Probably umpteenth viewing, first in a long time. This is roughly the dumbest version of this movie if we adopt multiverse theory. Will Smith is in rare form (and not the good kind) as the loud-mouthed, technophobic Del Spooner. True to the script, Moynahan's Susan Calvin is the dumbest smart person around. So yeah, it's dumb and thoughtless. The action and set pieces are solid, and Sonny is great, but there's so much more one could do with this premise."
Curiosa (2019) - Rated 07 Apr 2025
"First, and I imagine only, viewing. I doubt I will remember having seen this in a month's time. It's all so broadly drawn, complete with myriad time jumps, making it impossible to get a beat on any of these characters. And for a movie so laser focused on its own eroticism, it's woefully lacking in passion."
Irreversible (2002) - Rated 07 Apr 2025
"First viewing. Chaos and order. Violence and vengeance. Brutal determinism. I was surprised to find such a consummately crafted film here. Noé is in clear control from beginning to end even as the camera careens in vertiginous spirals. The reverse chronology is inspired, packing even the most innocuous or pleasant lines with chilling, tragic irony. Slight overkill in its portentous dialogue, but the great performances mostly smooth that out. A shocking film, yes, but not merely shocking."
