What Katie Watched

Tag: movie recommendation

  • No Hard Feelings (2023)

    1h 43mins

    2/10

    First time watch

    Comedy – Romance – Coming of Age

    Maddie is struggling to make ends meet, so when she sees an advertisement to take out a wealthy couples son in return for a car, she jumps at the opportunity.

    I can see what the film was probably aiming for, but it was a miss for me.

    I found the fact that the boy was finishing up his senior year before college and she was a 30 something really grossed me out. Especially as her pursuit of him was all set up by his parents wishes of wanting him to lose his virginity before college, in return for a payment of a car. Just all together yuck!

    Whereas, something like 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), where Patrick pursues a date with Kat in exchange for payments, there is not this huge power imbalance of an adult pursuing a teen.

    All the scenes that were meant to be cringey-haha, just made me incredibly uncomfortable. I just felt like I was watching a young kid being taken advantage of by an adult.

    Would not watch again.

  • A Simple Favor (2018)

    1h 59mins

    7/10

    Rewatch

    Playful – Kitsch – Mystery

    When her glamorous new friend Emily (Blake Lively) mysteriously disappears after asking her to pick up her son, Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) dives into a tangled web of secrets to uncover the truth.

    I know this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I enjoy it as a playful mystery/detective film.

    I love Anna Kendrick and adore her humour, she’s so funny!

    I love the extravagant costumes.

    I still find it an enjoyable watch while knowing how the film ends. I like the pacing of how the story unfolds.

    I feel it doesn’t take itself too seriously which adds to the charm of the film.

    I’m not saying it’s a masterclass in mystery storytelling where you’re left feeling “I never saw that coming!”, but it’s an enjoyable easy watch with Anna Kendrick being hilarious.

    Would watch again.

  • Clockwatchers (1997)

    1h 36mins

    5/10

    First time watch

    Wry – Satire – Melancholy

    Lost and lonely, twenty-something Iris thinks she’s finally found her people while temping at a dull corporate office, but when a new hire arrives and a string of petty thefts unsettles the workplace, the group’s fragile bond begins to fray, forcing them to question their trust in one another and where their true loyalties lie.

    A finding yourself story, where so many people seek the acceptance of others and can fall into identifying who they are within the job they do.

    I have seen through other reviews that this appears to be quite an accurate depiction of being an office temp. You can see how power dynamics are amplified in office spaces where some people are desperate to exert even a small amount of control over others to make themselves feel important and how those on the receiving end are left thinking “Does it really matter?”

    A film where not much happens, yet it captures the everyday office drama that arises from trivial matters, highlighting how people are often drawn to these distractions as a way to survive the monotony of jobs they’re indifferent to.

    Although I enjoyed this film enough, I would not be fussed about watching it again.

    Would not watch again.

  • Wicked (2024)

    2h 40mins

    10/10

    Rewatch

    Musical – Emotional – Magical

    Wicked is the untold story of the witches of Oz, going back to how Elphaba became “The Wicked Witch” and Glinda became “Glinda the Good”.

    Still fills me with so much joy watching this, even if some scenes bring me to tears.

    My review from 20th January 2025 still applies:

    I felt like I came floating out of the cinema the first time I saw this. I felt so light and full of joy.

    I held off going to see it for a while where it had been so hyped and I love the theatre show (seen 4 times). I always have lots of reservations about anything I love being remade as I am not a fan of change. I went to see it by myself so that I could leave if I was hating it and not worrying about the opinions of anyone with me.

    Within the first few minutes I knew this was not going to be a problem. I felt the goosebumps creep up my arms and spread up my neck. I was hooked into the magical world of Oz. The music was beautiful, singing epic, dancing fantastic, sets mesmerising, costumes stunning and acting superb.

    I cried multiple times as I was pulled in and swept away in this beautiful story.

    It stayed pretty true to the original musical, no changes that made me recoil with it being “too different!”.

    I loved how grand it was and all the musical numbers having the epic scale like old musicals do.

    My only complaint is that I have to wait until November for the second half, Wicked For Good.

    I wish I could give this film a hug for all the joy it has brought me.

    I’m still listening to the soundtrack on repeat.

    Would watch again

  • Another Simple Favor (2025)

    2hrs

    6/10

    First time watch

    Kitsch – Playful – Mystery

    Stephanie reluctantly agrees to travel to the island of Capri to be Emily’s maid of honour, but keeps her wits about her as she is sure Emily is determined to get her revenge.

    I absolutely loved how over the top this film was!

    Are the costumes insane? Yes and that’s all a part of it’s charm!

    Is the storyline far fetched and chaotic? Yes, but I would have been disappointed had they tried to go down a serious dramatic thriller of a mystery story. That is not what I have come here for!

    It’s witty, it’s playful, it’s an enjoyable easy watch with a fun bit of mystery tied in.

    I prefer the first, A Simple Favor (2018), but I would still this one again.

    Would watch again

  • The Green Mile (1999)

    3h 9mins

    7/10

    First time watch

    Period Drama – Tragedy – Mystery

    A death row guard is thrown into turmoil when he begins to question whether the latest convict on his watch is truly guilty of the crimes that have condemned him to death.

    I have avoided watching this film for a long time as I struggle to go into a film that is new to me knowing it’s going to be a tearjerker. Plus it’s very long, so you need to purposely carve out enough time to watch a 3 hour film in one sitting.

    Having said that, I am glad that I have finally got around to watching this beautifully touching film.

    Who wouldn’t love the gentle giant inmate, John Coffey ( Michael Clarke Duncan)? His innocent sweet nature is so endearing and has you just as puzzled as prison guard, Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks), as to how on earth he has been convicted of such horrendous crimes. I loved that although Paul knew the men on his ward had committed terrible crimes, he still saw them as worthy of being treated as fellow human beings the whole way up to their last moments.

    I was taken by surprise by the supernatural element of the film, but found it interesting. I knew it was a Stephen King story, but I thought the darkness was going to come from it being set on death row and the use of the electric chair.

    A thought-provoking reflection on the darkness within humanity, the terrible choices people make and the suffering we can cause one another, balanced by a powerful reminder of the importance of recognising the good in others and choosing kindness.

    I’m not sure that I could say I’m racing to watch it again, not because it wasn’t good, but because it was a sad watch and the length of the film. I’m sure I will watch it again in a few years and wouldn’t say no if someone else wanted to watch it with me.

    Would watch again

  • The Surfer (2024)

    1h 40mins

    6/10

    First time watch in the cinema

    Psychological Thriller – Suspense – Drama

    A man is trying to return to his childhood beachside neighbourhood, where he’s met with escalating hostility from the locals who are determined to enforce their mantra: “Don’t live here, don’t surf here.”

    I personally really enjoyed this film, but there were a fair amount of people walking out of the Screen Unseen viewing and can see why it wouldn’t be for everyone.

    I love me a Nicolas Cage film and this delivered in a perfectly weird, quite surreal and trippy cinema experience.

    I loved the aesthetic of the film with its oversaturated colour.

    I enjoyed being kept in a level of confusion alongside Nicolas Cage’s character, The Surfer, where you’re not really sure what’s going on.

    It felt original, kept you on your toes and had striking, sun-scorched cinematography.

    Would watch again

  • 28 Years Later (2025)

    1h 55m

    7/10

    First time watch in the cinema

    Suspense – Survival – Post-Apocalyptic

    Twenty-eight years after the Rage virus outbreak, a young boy leaves the safety of a tidal island for his first day on the mainland, plunging him into a haunting, adrenaline-fueled journey, where the evolved infected and broken humanity collide in a desperate fight for survival.

    As a late comer to the “28 … Later” franchise, having only watched the first two this year, I felt a little apprehensive about seeing this one. I really liked 28 Days Later (2002), but I wasn’t overly keen on the excessive violence in 28 Weeks Later (2007). However, I was very happy coming out of this cinema experience.

    As much as this is a zombie film and I would be lying if I said there weren’t moments I wanted to hide behind my hands, I feel the main story is about humanity’s ability to love, find hope and seek connection with one another. Ralph Fiennes character stood out most to me, trying his best to live a life of kindness in a world full of fear and violence.

    I was a bit taken aback by the ending, as I felt it had a completely different tone to the rest of the film. However, now that I am aware that this is the first of it’s own trilogy it makes sense that it needed to have something to lead onto the next film, whereas I thought I was watching a finale of a trilogy.

    Would watch again

  • Top 3 Films – May 2025

    I watched 26 films over May. This includes watching films at the cinema, discovering new films at home and rewatching films I already know I enjoy.

    I watched 7 films for the first time and rewatched 19 films.

    Top 3 First Time Watches – May 2025

    Anatomy of a Fall (2023)

    Manchester by the Sea (2016)

    The Surfer(2024)

    Top 3 Rewatches – May 2025

    Wicked (2024)

    Pride and Prejudice (2005)

    Moana (2016)

  • Suspiria (1977)

    1h 38mins

    2/10

    First time watch

    Artsy – Mystery – Horror

    A young American dancer arrives at a prestigious German ballet academy, only to be haunted from her first night by strange occurrences and a series of gruesome, unexplained deaths.

    My favourite thing about this film is its use of colour. It is visually very pleasing to watch, but that’s about it for me.

    The pacing had that slow dragging feeling, which resulted in lots of clock watching from me.

    I didn’t feel there was much to the storyline and what little reveals and explanations it had were pretty meh.

    Would not watch again