‘Watched’- June-July

Hey there! Welcome back to ‘The Confessions of a Random Blogger!’

So every couple of months I like to come here and talk about some of the movies and television shows I’ve watched over the past few months. Unlike my music favourites series, in which I’m pretty positive about the items on the list, I’m usually pretty critical during the instalments of this series.

Solely because of the fact that for every good movie I watch, there are around 5 bad ones that take its place. Maybe I’m just really bad at picking out movies? Maybe Netflix is just absolutely terrible at recommending things that I’ll actually like?

Then again, Netflix’s recommendation list is based on a personalised algorithm that detects your most watched movies and television shows; which would make the terrible options once again my fault. In that case…shut up.

I’m going to stop rambling now, let’s get started!

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A Perfect Murder

I’m a sucker for anything psychological/thriller/horror/suspense.

‘A Perfect Murder’ is a crime thriller from 1998, starring Michael Douglas (his thrillers from the 90s are some of the best) and Gwyneth Paltrow (I guess she actually was an actress before she started selling liquid garbage to bored housewives).

I think there’s something to be said about a to-the-point thriller that wraps itself up at the end without making you have to think too much about it.

It shocks you while you’re watching it, but it isn’t so focused on being “original” that it becomes completely unrealistic. I find that modern thrillers create these completely insane plot lines in an attempt to differentiate themselves from other movies that it just ends up being unbelievable.

It’s one of those movies that grabs your attention without making you have to draw a diagram to solve the case. The perfect film for a lazy day on the couch.

One Day At A Time

You can quote me on this. ‘One Day At A Time’ is the best sitcom ever.

Yes, even more than F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

This show is a remake (more of a reimagining in my opinion) of a sitcom from the 1970s of the same name.

It’s one of those shows that somehow manages to discuss social issues without seeming pretentious or holier-than-thou.

It also doesn’t discuss these issues for the sake of “diversity” or “targeting a younger, more politically correct audience.” It’s literally just what the characters go through on a daily basis because they’re human beings. Sitcoms don’t always have to be roses and smiles all the time.

To name a few, ‘One Day At A Time’ discusses racism, LGBTQ+ rights, PTSD, ageism, gun violence, ageism, immigration, depression, suicide, the Pedro Pan operation, alcoholism and substance abuse, parent-child toxicity and literally so much more.

Those are literally just off the top of my head.

I also love this show because it’s one of those rare times when Latinx culture isn’t reduced to eccentric, stereotypical caricatures. It’s absolutely amazing to finally see some representation that doesn’t turn non-white people into cartoon characters.

5 Flights Up

You know those movies that are super comforting while you watch them but after it’s over you just don’t understand what happened?

This movie is one of those.

5 Flights Up is a comedy-drama film that portrays an old couple in New York City that are trying to sell their apartment (which is 5 flights up, wow how clever).

Then the movie shows them looking at new houses. Then it shows a bunch of flashbacks of racial prejudice in prior decades. Then it shows their sick dog having surgery or something. All the while there’s some sort of ongoing news story about a supposed terrorist.

Once again, I did enjoy the movie while I was watching it. However, I couldn’t help but wonder what the dog, the flashback scenes and the news story which has nothing to do with the sale of the apartment had to do with the plot.

It’s one of those movies that you play in the background while working or something. You don’t even need to pay attention to it completely because it won’t make sense anyways. I mean that in a good way… somehow.

Host

This movie is so so cool.

‘Host’ is a supernatural thriller that was filmed completely through Zoom. The entire movie is a recording of a Zoom meeting between a group of friends performing an online séance, simply because they’re bored during the pandemic.

This movie has a ton of really cool details, like the fact that the movie is the exact running time of the maximum length of a Zoom call.

It’s also completely realistic, with the characters not just being plagued with demons and spirits; but also with poor Wi-Fi connections, dropping your phone and having to wear a face mask before escaping the demon that’s trying to kill you.

Friend Request

The worst film on this list. I absolutely hated it.

‘Friend Request’ is a 2016 supernatural psychological horror about ‘the dangers of social media.”

But it revolves around Facebook. Which college student was using Facebook in 2016? Will I really ever be possessed by a demon just because I choose to unfriend somebody on Facebook?

What lesson am I supposed to learn here? Facebook is full of weirdos? Don’t unfriend creepy stalkers? It was so weird.

The writing was bad. The acting was bad. The plot was bad. The special effects were bad.

It was just so bad.

Kim’s Convenience (Season 5)

Why do all my favourite shows have to end?

No seriously, why does Grey’s Anatomy get like 18 seasons but a show that is genuinely entertaining and funny has to end after like 5 seasons?

Kim’s Convenience revolves around a Korean-Canadian family that owns a convenience store in Toronto. Kim’s Convenience was one of the few shows that would actually make me laugh. It was everything you want in a sitcom- wholesome, funny and just a little bit of cringe.

Apparently there’s some sort of spin-off coming soon; but I already know it won’t be the same.

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Thank you for reading! You can check out my last few posts here:

• The Scariest Things That Actually Exist
• borrowed poems from an anonymous- ‘Expressions of Love’ and ‘Experience’
• The Horror of Surveillance
• Pet Peeves
• Happy Panda- Random Blogger Interviews

Connect with me on Instagram!

Until Next Time.