Hello! If you're here, that means you've found my blog! This is actually my second time making a blog, as I'm currently in the process of migrating things over from my Wordpress site. Neocities is way less restrictive, and I'm happy to be here.
I'm hoping that this can become a cosy space to document my thoughts on music, books, videogames, and anything else I can come up with. My main interests are new-wave and post-punk music, Sci-fi and high fantasy media, and casual photography.
Last year I learned about letterboxd from a friend. I've watched a lot of bad movies in my time, and even a few good ones, so I decided to start tracking what I watch. (I love statistics!)
The 5 stars system of reviewing doesn't leave much room for nuance, so I'll be using a x/100 system.
In early October, I watched Demolition Man (1993). This is your standard 80s action movie with surface level social commentary. Sylvester Stallone wakes up in a highly sanitised future without human connection, and he must teach everyone how to be human again. Narratively it felt a bit like Orwell's 1984, but far less pessimistic and with significantly more cheesy 80s fight scenes. I also have to give the writers some credit for predicting VR-sex. Pro-Cop, but very camp. 70/100
I watched two very different movies in November; Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), and Threads (1984). This version of Robin Hood is my childhood favourite, and I have completely biased nostalgia for it. It's the perfect amount of cheesy. There's a Bryan Adams song. Alan Rickman is there. It's ever so slightly too long, and I love it anyway. 75/100
Threads, however? The most horrifying not-technically-a-horror-film I've ever seen. It was a painful experience, but completely necessary. Nothing captures the panic and terror and futility of a nuclear war as well as Threads does. I started feeling numb towards the end of this one, and the weird hollow feeling lingered for around an hour afterwards. Maybe don't watch it if you're planning on going anywhere that day? 80/100
In December I finally watched American Psycho (2000). He's obsessive, he's violent, he's the original lifestyle influencer. He's Patrick Bateman. The memes and the pop culture references don't really prepare you for the reality of sexual violence in the film, so be warned. I found the film's themes of repressed sexuality and gender performance fascinating. Wall street culture in the 80s seems very performative and exclusionary. It's compelling to see a man so repressed snap and sabotage his own manufactured life. Sometimes you have to call it quits and realise that pretending to be an ideal person is too hard, before you kill someone. Now if you don't mind, I have to go return some videotapes... 85/100
My Christmas movie for 2025 was Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). Nearly every scene in this film has been referenced, copied or parodied in action movies since, but you can't blame it for being a classic. I like rewatching it and spotting which scenes feel most familiar, and the vibrant John Williams score is wonderful every time. God doesn't like Nazis, and neither should you. 80/100
On Boxing Day, I finally sat through all of Casablanca (1942). It's on TV every year here, but I've managed to miss it until now. The film has a certain charm, and war movies from the 40s and 50s feel more honest than modern ones. A war film should be a tragedy, and not a high-budget hollywood action movie, in my opinion. The core of the film is a tragic romance, but it is also a story about hope and freedom. This had more of an impact on me than I expected, and after the cafe scene I might like La Marseillaise now... 75/100
I have less to say about Sonic the Hedgehog 3 (2024). It was funny, arguably better than the first two movies in terms of plot and pacing, and it seemed to honour fans. The Sonic expert in my friend group was very pleased with this movie, and I am a converted Shadow stan. Congrats, you got me. The Live and Learn scene lived rent-free in my brain for weeks. 75/100
Why is the Indiana Jones movie about aliens the least interesting one? Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) does have some redeeming qualities though. I like the part where Indy is chased through an anti-communist protest by members of the KGB. It’s the 1950s, Nazis are out and Greasers are in! 60/100
The Matrix (1999) is a brilliant movie. I wish I could download it straight into my brain like they do with the combat training. I love the green tint to all the scenes that take place inside the simulation. I love the colours in general. The action sequences are some of the best I’ve ever seen, definitely the coolest. 90/100
As we’ve established, I love a well-choreographed fight scene. Even better if it’s part of some pre-planned revenge murder spree. In The Equaliser (2023), it’s definitely deserved. I prefer movies with a bit more going on, but it was enjoyable. 60/100
Next up, Totally Killer (2023). This is a time travel comedy wearing an 80s slasher Halloween costume, and I love it. The soundtrack had some 80s hits, but the ones I was most happy to hear were New Order (Again! Lucky me!!) this time with Bizzare Love Triangle!! and Echo & The Bunnymen’s The Killing Moon. It’s a cheesy horror comedy that made me want to go back to the 80s. 70/100
It’s honestly criminal that I hadn’t seen Shaun of the Dead (2004) before. This is a great comedy horror, and it’s so satisfying to watch the pieces fall into place. I love the premise that thw average person is so zombified and focused on their own life that you wouldn’t notice a zombie apocalypse happening. The characters are realistically human, until they aren’t, and the comedy elements resonate with me. 80/100
The fact I hadn’t seen Shaun of the Dead is even weirder because I have seen Hot Fuzz (2007). I was able to appreciate the Shaun of the Dead references this time around, especially the fence shortcut scene. I love a good conspiracy, and this film has me convinced that my local neighbourhood watch are evil. 80/100
Finally, we have the original Jurassic Park (1993). Is this the best film of all time? Maybe. It’s definitely one of my favourites. Jurassic Park is an incredibly influential film, and one that demonstrates ethics beautifully. It reminds me of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. You have an influential, arrogant man who thinks he can play god by controlling life itself. The dinosaurs are ressurected in defiance of death, and their missing genetic material is replaced with DNA from other creatures. This creation puts innocent people, including the creator’s family, at risk. There’s no killing an island full of dinosaurs, and there’s no undoing it either. Jeff Goldblum’s character identifies the issues of science and ethics in the film with the following: “Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should”. Man tries to play god, and is punished for his hubris. In short, the dinos are a metaphor for your ambitions biting you in the ass. I hope all the ambitious tech billionaires get eaten by their dinosaurs (hubris) very soon. 100/100