What Katie Watched

Tag: Movie review

  • The Substance (2024)

    2h 20mins

    8/10

    Rewatch

    This was my first time watching the film with other people and that somehow made the gruesome scenes feel even more difficult to watch as I was picking up on their discomfort to what was happening. I wonder what it was like to see this with a full audience at the cinema.

    I think this film is great for bringing up interesting conversations around our modern society being so image focused, especially for woman, and our unrealistic beauty expectations.

    My first review on 15th January 2025 still stands:

    I love this film.

    I do have to hide behind my hands for some of it as I’m pretty squeamish, but willing to do that to watch the film.

    It does an excellent job at making you feel uncomfortable.

    I think Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley are fantastic in this film!

    Very thought provoking film. Thinking about how aging as a woman is attached to our value/worth in society and the lengths people are willing to go to avoid it.

    I find the last 25 minutes utterly chaotic which is a great climax to the film.

    Would watch again

  • Companion (2025)

    1h 37mins

    8/10

    First time watch in the cinema

    Bloody – Twisted – Hilarious

    A weekend getaway to a remote cabin with a group of friends, we all know in the world of horror/thrillers there’s only one way for this to go down… only this time the danger is not from the outside, the group are not quite as they first seem.

    I was very excited to attend my first Odeon’s Scream Unseen. You get to attend a pre-release screening of a scary film without knowing what you are going to be seeing. I can be very hit and miss with scary films, where if the scare is coming from a lot of gruesome shots and blood baths, I can be spending most of the film behind my hands. Where this film is not driven by its scenes of violence, I really enjoyed it. I would probably categorise it as a sci-fi thriller with moments of comedy.

    My one criticism would be that I feel the movie poster gives too much away. I would have liked this reveal to come as a surprise as they build up to it in the film with a few subtle hints that you might have missed if you weren’t looking for them with the knowledge from the poster. I feel like you would have had that “something feels off” sense as you were watching it and then it would have been a good “ah ha” moment when it’s revealed in the film.

    Having said that, I still loved the film. It had me laughing while also being on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened next. Although you can guess what’s going to happen, there’s an excitement to see it played out rather than a “come on and eat on with it feel”.

    If you are a fan of the TV show Black Mirror, I think you’ll really enjoy this.

    Would watch again

  • Nightbitch (2024)

    1h 39mins

    7/10

    First time watch

    I can’t think of an Amy Adams film I do not like and this has kept with my trend of thought.

    I really enjoyed this interpretation of the struggles of motherhood for modern women. I feel that it highlights the importance of communication and letting others know what your needs are so that you are able to be your best self. It shows the how powerful it can be to allow yourself to be vulnerable with others that you trust and can often lead to them feeling that they can share their vulnerability back with you.

    Would watch again

  • True Romance (1993)

    2h

    6/10

    First time watch

    I have seen this film cover so many times but have never watched it.

    Where it is written by Quentin Tarantino I knew there would be violent scenes, which I’m not a fan of but it was my choice to watch this knowing that would be the case. Plus, I’m used to hiding behind my hands through any scenes that make me feel squeamish during a film and still enjoying a film for all the parts I did not hide from.

    I had many “Oh my god _______ is in this” moments during this film. Some really big stars with little moments on screen.

    I enjoyed the romantic storyline following the two main characters and feeling on edge waiting for the consequences to the mistakes they make along the way.

    Would watch again

  • Wicked (2024)

    2h 40mins

    10/10

    6th time watch in the cinema

    Yes I am obsessed with this film and proud of it! As much as I enjoy being able to watch it from home now, I feel this is definitely one to be enjoyed on the big screen if you have the opportunity to. So I will continue to go to cinema screenings for as long as I can!

    My original review from 20th Jan still stands:

    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

  • Wicked (2024)

    2h 40mins

    10/10

    Rewatch

    This was my first time watching the film at home and I had a fantastical time singing along rather than mouthing along to the songs when in the cinema.

    My original review from 20th Jan still stands:

    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

  • Babygirl (2024)

    1h 54mins

    4/10

    First time watch in the cinema

    I absolutely love Nicole Kidman and will always give something a go if I see she is in it.

    This is described as an erotic thriller, but I don’t think that I would describe it that way.

    There wasn’t any point where I was on edge waiting for the “dun dun dah” moment that you get in most thrillers. With a married woman having an affair, I don’t think it can be categorised as a thriller because she is worried her husband will find out.

    The “erotic” scenes felt more uncomfortable to watch than sexy, where I wasn’t sure if either of them were really into what they were doing.

    I guess a film that this slightly reminds me of which I feel satisfies the “erotic thriller” genre would be Chloe (2019).

    I spent a lot of the time watching Babygirl wondering do I like this, do I care what happens, do I feel like there’s a story to follow here. I left wanting to go home and watch Chloe again.

    Would not watch again

  • A Real Pain (2024)

    1h 30mins

    7/10

    First time watch in the cinema

    I went into this film blindly with no clue what it was about and I really enjoyed it.

    My main take away from the film is having the courage to be your authentic self with others. It is ok not to be “nice and pleasant” all the time. If you’re having a low day, it’s ok to be honest about that and not need to feel you have to hide that’s how you’re feeing in case it makes others feel uncomfortable. Allowing others to see your true self gives an opportunity for a deeper connection.

    Would watch again

  • Better Man (2024)

    2h 16mins

    6/10

    First time watch in the cinema

    I went into this film really wanting to like it, but it just didn’t click with me.

    I do not understand why it is being so heavily criticised, where although I didn’t love it, I don’t think it’s a bad film.

    It left me wanting to listen to Robbie Williams and remember some of my old favourites that didn’t make it into the film.

    I found myself comparing it to the recent biopics that have been around the past few years. I absolutely love Rocketman (2019) and have watched it multiple times. I really like Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), but find the ending too sad to want to watch it frequently. With Better Man, I understand that Robbie wanted to address his struggles with his mental health in this film, but I found the way it was portrayed quite repetitive, staying at surface level and didn’t tap into anything for me emotionally. I also felt that the different aspects of his life were dipped in and out of too quickly for me to get a feel of what was going on for him with the different people in his life.

    I guess I was hoping for something that felt more like a celebration of his music and what he has overcome to get to where he is now. Instead, I felt a bit like I was watching a “f*ck you” to the people Robbie has felt wronged by in his past.

    Would not watch again

  • Lost Boys (1987)

    1h 38mins

    8/10

    Rewatch

    One of my favourite vampire films. Absolutely adore all the 80’s clothing and music in this film.

    I love this dark take on Peter Pan’s lost boys. Instead of being whisked away to the magical Neverland you have to become a vampire to be forever young and having fun

    I am impressed by the special effects in this film for its time.

    Would watch again