I Watched The Invitation (2022)

One of the movies I’ve wanted to watch for a while now was The Invitation, a horror thriller written by Blair Butler and directed by Jessica M. Thompson. Released in 2022, it stars Thomas Doherty and Nathalie Emmanuel. Honestly, I was sold on the film by the trailer, because around the time it was released, I was reading more gothic inspired fiction than I am now. Even so, it took me a while to come back to The Invitation. But I’m glad I did, because this movie was fun and campy, which on occasion is exactly what I’m looking for.

The Invitation starts off relatively benign with Nathalie Emmanuel’s character, Evelyn (Evie) Jackson, working a catering gig where she received a DNA test, as a party favor, from a goodie bag. Which, you know, was kind of random, but it jumpstarted the story with the entry of long-lost family and an impromptu trip to England, for a wedding. The Invitation had a number of gothic fiction hallmarks—secrets, a strange mansion, a heroine who starts out naïve—particularly with a focus on the paranormal kind. So while the setup seemed ordinary, as Evelyn arrived at the manor with wedding guests and a strangely unwelcoming household, it didn’t take long for odd things to start happening. And with a situation like that there was only one way to go from there, and it was downhill for her.

For a large part of its runtime, Evelyn’s experience was almost contemporaneous to its modern time period, except for the hints pointing toward the uncanny and supernatural nature of the traditions that actually dictated the area’s social structure, down to the way of life for the locals. It was insular and the other characters—even those who only appeared in passing—had loyalties, which often clashed with Evelyn’s drive to survive the situation.

Some of the most thrilling parts of The Invitation happened close to the end of the film, when the reveals started happening, and it turned into to a game of cat and mouse. The villains were menacing and effective at creating a daunting challenge for Evelyn to navigate.

Overall, while The Invitation wasn’t a profound film, it didn’t have to be to be good at what it had to offer. And, ultimately, I had a great time watching it.

I Watched Marry My Husband (2024)

I watch K-dramas from time to time. It’s been a while since the last one, though, which was Business Proposal on Netflix. I’ve wanted another series that matched the levels of hijinks and drama in that one. And, low and behold, one of the serializations I read from start to finish got an adaptation this year.

Marry My Husband (which is available to stream on Amazon Prime) is a good adaptation that captures the overall vibe of the series as a whole. But, it’s not a one-to-one 100% accurate adaptation that includes every plot point from the comic. Some of the most marked changes came from how little screen time was devoted to the development of the other relationships outside of the main protagonists (Kang Ji-won, Yoo Ji-hyuk) and antagonists (Park Min-hwan, Jeong Su-min). And instead it centers the story on Ji-won and Ji-hyuk, while also making some smart changes that really emphasized the point of it: of the necessity of Ji-won giving her fate to someone else to avoid the misery, betrayal, and tragedy that jumpstarts the story.

Despite all the changes, this was still a great adaptation. One, the majority of the scenes I wanted to see brought to life was there. Two, the series didn’t mince how awful, controlling, and abusive (including domestic violence) Su-min and Min-hwan actually were. I mean, with friends (and a significant other) like those, who needs enemies?

The back and forth of will Ji-won escape her future or won’t she provided the tension and driving force for the story. It was so fun and satisfying seeing her gain confidence and scheme, because—make no mistakes—this is a story that is as much about taking back control of one’s life and finding happiness just as much as it was about getting revenge. Along the way Ji-won also gained a system of support and genuine friends.

I did like the way they used flashbacks, particularly for scenes where there was conflict and turmoil as well as where the future and the past (Ji-won’s present) overlapped. It revealed more of the characters backstory and also imparted information about sticky situations, without slowing down the narrative too much.

At the end of the day, I liked what they did here. One of the main takeaways is how people could change, and it was those who didn’t (who grew more resolute in their toxicity and capacity to do harm to others for the benefit of themselves) who fared the worst—and justifiably so—in Marry My Husband.

I Watched Pokémon Concierge!

Released on December 28, 2023, Pokémon Concierge is a stop motion animation series on Netflix. It follows Haru, a tired office worker, who, after a week of unfortunate personal and professional luck, decides she’s in need of a change of pace and joins the staff of the Pokémon Resort.

I love stop motion animation. It’s one of my favorite styles—i.e. Coraline is still one of my most frequently cited examples of this. I really enjoyed the design of this show. Visually it was a feast for the eyes. The characters (and Pokémon), background, and even the topographical details of the setting were bright, colorful, and full of a variety of textures that made it interesting to view. It really conveyed a laidback atmosphere of paradise, relaxation, and vacation.

Haru was interesting. Her story was a pretty simple and straightforward one, and much of the four episode length is about her learning to navigate her new job. There was a learning curve full of humorous mishaps and endearing interactions with some of the Pokémon (and trainer) guests who were staying at the resort.

Overall, the series keeps a lighter tone, and it goes for cute and funny over something darker and more serious. That’s what I liked about it, though. It was as fun as I thought it was going to be. So it was true to the trailer, which you can checkout below.

If you’re looking for a quick series to view, then I highly recommend checking out Pokémon Concierge.

Check out the trailer!

So, I Watched Matilda the Musical

One of the first movies I watched this year was the Matilda the Musical on Netflix. The trailer was enough of a hook, but, my co-blogger, Adri, watched it before I could and recommended it. For context, the 1996 film is one of my favorites. It was charming, but it also had frank commentary mixed in with plenty of literature themes, and creative (and justified) uses for telekinesis alongside a handful of comedic moments. There’s also the narrator, who interjected at just the right moment. So, I was interested in Netflix’s version, since, as I read, it’s an adaptation of the stage musical—which is a version of Matilda I haven’t seen before.

There were notable differences, but I didn’t go in expecting the musical to be a perfect match for the 1996 film. Either way, I was hooked.

The intro is almost whimsical and colorful, but it’s also entirely ironic, given the substance of the majority of the rest of the film. However, it introduced Matilda’s parents as well as her circumstances in a succinct way. To quote Adri, “It’s an intro I didn’t skip.” It also served as an early offering of the kind of musical numbers to expect going forward. And that aspect was really well-done!

Like the earlier movie, the musical didn’t shy away from the tougher subjects present in the titular character’s story. Agatha Trunchbull is still terrible—personality wise, but also by her actions and behavior towards others. But, I liked the way it was handled, especially how some of the song portions accentuated the narrative.

Overall, Matilda the Musical was bittersweet but hopeful, and the ending was expected, especially if you’ve seen the 1996 film. But, after everything, it was entirely satisfying to finally get there.

Thought Corner: I Watched Nightbooks (2021)

Released on September 15, 2021, Nightbooks (Netflix, 2021), is a dark fantasy film that follows Alex Mosher (played by Winslow Fegley), after he inadvertently finds himself trapped in the apartment of a witch and forced to tell scary stories each night. It was a race against time. It was an interesting set up, and I approached the movie with an open mind, since I wasn’t familiar with the book it’s based on. But I was really excited for it, based on the trailer.

I really enjoyed this movie, I was surprised by the direction they went with it. Much of what Alex’s day-to-day life was like was a mystery. It was due to the start of the movie. In the beginning, we don’t spend much time with Alex or his parents in his ordinary environment. Instead, Nightbooks offers up a small but tantalizing offering, enough to get the viewer interested in what could have possibly happened to cause Alex to tear posters from his walls and shove books into his backpack before leaving in a hurry. The questions of “why” is part of what propels the narrative forward and provided another mystery outside of the apartment and the witch.

From there, the most threatening and magical aspects of Nightbooks were quick to be known. Characters introductions were sort of brief, but it was well acted. Natacha, the witch, is played by Krysten Ritter. She was menacing, and her motivation was largely unknown for a long time. Given that the setting was limited to the confines of the apartment’s many but strange rooms, there was only one other prominent character besides the cat. Yazmin, played by Lidya Jewett, was a highlight of Nightbooks.

The movie had a far moodier atmosphere and more horror/jump scare instances than I thought it would have. There was danger, but despite the brooding tone, there was still an element of whimsy and a lot of Grimm’s Fairy Tales references. I also enjoyed how the movie told stories within the story, the titular Nightbooks. Those scenes were fantastic.

The ending, while a satisfying conclusion for Alex and Yazmin, ultimately leaves room for another movie. I would definitely watch it.

All-in-all, Nightbooks was a fun film. It had the kind of spooky viewing experience perfect for October. And if you saw Netflix’s A Babysitters Guide to Monster Hunting, released October of 2020, then this one is a must watch.

Check out the Nightbooks trailer...

 

I Watched Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Story (2020)

It has been a while since I’ve been this excited to talk about a holiday movie, but Jingle Jangle deserves all the praise. This is probably one of my favorite movies released by Netflix to date, and it goes alongside others I’ve recently enjoyed—i.e. The Babysitters Guide to Monster Hunting and Vampires VS the Bronx. Jingle Jangle was fantastic, and it ticked all the boxes for everything I look for in a musical. It’s the kind of family-friendly movie that feels like it’s going to be a holiday classic, and in my opinion it more than has the potential to cross that threshold.

For a movie about a toymaker, the holidays, family, and stolen inventions, the story was just good. It was a magical adventure with steampunk notes. It seemed equal parts heartwarming, sad, but still all around fun and humorous. And even when there were some of the more emotional moments, the movie never quite lost its hopeful tone.

Jingle Jangle is very stylish movie. The casting decisions Netflix made were top-notch with picks such as Keegan-Michael Key from Key & Peele, Forest Whitaker, and Anika Noni Rose who voiced Tiana. Every actor was phenomenal in their roles, and as a result the characters came off as charming and joyous. The costuming as well as the set design was colorful, wintery and eye-catching—and it really set the mood for the movie.

Since Jingle Jangle is a musical, I was paying close attention to the aspects related to it. Well, the dance numbers were excellent, the music is just “chefs kiss,” and even after the credits were rolling, I was already thinking about listening to the songs again. The scene transitions were notable as well, especially between the talking parts and the singing/dance segments. It was so smooth that the overall impression left by Jingle Jangle is that the movie found its rhythm and kept it.

Jingle Jangle was fantastic. I can’t recommend it enough, and if you’re looking for a holiday movie to watch, then consider giving this one a try.

Also, check out the trailer….

I Watched Labyrinth (1986)

After finally watching The Dark Crystal—which I talked about HERE—I was more excited than ever to check out the other movie that I’ve heard a lot about. As the title of this post suggests, I watched Labyrinth in December 2019, and oh man, I totally get why this movie is mentioned so often. I certainly understand why it’s considered a fantasy classic. Narratively it was entertaining to watch, and combined with a great cast—David Bowie as Jereth the Goblin King, and Jennifer Connelly as Sarah Williams—excellent set and puppet design, there was a lot to like about Labyrinth. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Labyrinth is the kind of story that’s part coming-of-age tale and also one about being careful what you wish for. That’s the lesson Sarah learns after she wishes her baby brother away, and oops…because someone was listening and had the power to grant it. I like these types of magical adventure films. There’s something campy and whimsical about them that draws me to them. Being a musical, Labyrinth had the leg-up on some of my other favorite films since David Bowie sings most of the songs. With Jim Henson company productions, I’m always in it for the puppets. One of my favorite aspects about the movie was in fact the puppets. There were so many, but each one was as detailed and unique as the last. The puppeteer work was just as great as it was in The Dark Crystal, and some of my personal favorite characters—such as Hoggle, Ludo, and Sir Didymus—were done so well.

There were so many areas to the labyrinth itself. From the castle looming in the distance, to the entrance—which was more like a standard maze and was a little empty and desolate, but definitely not lacking in the glitter department. The labyrinth was an interesting and ever changing setting, and the overall design of the film was one that I liked. It was dark where it was needed and lighter (or should I say whimsical?) where it needed to be with humor mixed in to break up some of the more serious aspects about the story.

All-in-all, I’m glad that I finally gave this movie a try.

Do you have any favorite classic fantasy movies? If so, leave your recommendations in the comments down below.

I Watched Klaus...

When I first heard about Klaus, I knew it was going to be something I wanted to watch, and it was as great a film as I thought it would be. The story was heartwarming and a little bittersweet at times. Overall it was fun and enjoyable to watch, and as a holiday film it worked.

Klaus follows the story of a (very reluctant and arrogant) postman named Jesper who, after disappointing his father, is stationed in a remote artic town called Smeerensburg. This film was kind of like an origin story, with themes of friendship and generational feuds balanced with the beginning of holiday traditions—particularly centered on the characters of Klaus and Jesper. From the start, it was a great premise to build on, and that’s exactly what Klaus does. From start to finish I was thoroughly engrossed in the movie. The voice acting was fantastic, and I can only describe it as expressive and fitting of the characters being portrayed. The attention to detail was something else. The animation was crisp and refined, and there were many scenes that were visually stunning. The style and lighting gave the film an almost hand-drawn feel. For instance, some of the texture found commonly in the background reminded me of pencil. Much of the film was colorful and vibrant, and it excelled at creating atmospheric environments that accurately portrayed the tone of any given scene—and the effect was simply an immersive experience. The character designs were unique and fit the overall style of the movie. The characters themselves were memorable, and at times some of the situations that occurred were on the more humorous side.

Klaus hit all the right notes in terms of animation and story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you’re looking for something to watch this holiday season, then consider giving Klaus a try.

Have you watched Klaus? If so, what did you like about it?