The Girl with the Needle, 2024 - ★★★★

I had no idea what the movie was about; I didn’t even read the synopsis. However, nothing could prepare me for the horror in this film. The fact that it is inspired by real events sent chills down my spine. The film explores how societal pressures and economic hardship can alienate individuals, compelling them to take extreme measures for survival. This desperation drives people to make questionable choices and seek harmful relationships, all in an effort to survive and experience even a glimpse of warmth to keep going.

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Nickel Boys, 2024 - ★★★★

I was eager to love this film. Its innovative use of a first-person point of view in the cinematography intrigued me. The story also seemed to provoke many conversations and emotions, depicting the shared bond between two boys in an inhumane reform school. However, the movie disappointed me in its execution. After watching the movie, I understand the need for a first-person point of view in the narrative; however, it did not work as well as I had hoped.

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Conclave, 2024 - ★★★★½

In times of change, we are gifted with the perfect opportunity to reflect on our faith and the course of our lives. The quote from Conclave, “Faith is a living thing,” prompted me to contemplate the nature of faith. If faith truly is a living thing, it requires our nurturing, for its potential for growth is limitless. However, like any living thing, it is also vulnerable to decline and can ultimately perish.

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Nosferatu, 2024 - ★★★★½

Nosferatu is a remarkable film, an adaptation based on Dracula, crafted by true masters of filmmaking. The directing, cinematography, sound, music, editing, and performances all come together to create something truly extraordinary. Particularly, the cinematography stands out. The clever use of shadow and darkness gives the impression that the darkness itself is moving through each scene and set. You can literally feel the darkness creeping in with every scene, creating this constant tension that pulls you deeper into the story.

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Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants, 2025 - ★★★½

The movie, *Legends of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants* (known as *มังกรหยก* in Thai), is a story that has been told countless times, with numerous remakes over the years. Despite this, this version stands out for its stunning visuals. The team clearly knows how to create impressive scenes and action sequences. The use of colors, visual effects, and cinematography is outstanding, making for a spectacular experience. However, while the movie excels in visuals, it heavily relies on prior knowledge of the story, making it difficult for newcomers or even casual fans to follow.

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The Substance, 2024 - ★★★★

The Substance is a wild ride and so over the top—like, how could you ever forget this movie, especially those last 30 minutes? It’s one of the most bizarre and grotesque experiences on screen. I love the style of this film; it has a unique taste in terms of cinematography, musical score, and all the technicalities involved. The movie excels at making you feel uncomfortable in your own skin and paints a vivid picture of the grotesque experience of society norms.

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September 5, 2024 - ★★★½

I have always been intrigued by stories that reveal the behind-the-scenes aspects of any production. So, it's no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed September 5. At first glance, it appears to be a typical sports TV production—a narrative about people working in television during the 70s. However, it gradually unfolds into something far more dramatic, and much deeper themes. The film navigates the challenges faced by a team inexperienced in live crime broadcasting, highlighting the real-time consequences of their decisions and the moral dilemmas accompanying their pursuit of sensationalism.

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Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, 2025 - ★★★½

Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy is a charming addition to the beloved series that pleasantly surprised me—it exceeded my expectations. There were many great dialogues throughout, and I adored how these characters interacted with each other. They are filled with humor and affectionate moments, making it both cute and engaging. They also captured friendships and the challenges of adulthood, which adds layers to the overall narrative. However, I found the plot involving the boy to be less enjoyable.

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Captain America: Brave New World, 2025 - ★★★½

"Captain America: Brave New World" feels like an extended episode of "The Falcon and The Winter Soldier," lacking the reintroduction and depth needed for Sam Wilson as Captain America, or even as a person. The story maintains the same beats and tone that align with the TV series. To make matters worse, they attempted to connect it to *Incredible Hulk*—a 2008 film released even before *Iron Man*—without providing a proper reintroduction and sufficient context.

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Flat Girls, 2025 - ★★★★

While *Flat Girls* has an undertone of girls' love, its primary focus is on social class and how it affects our interactions with people and the world. The movie seeks to illustrate the various dimensions of gaps in relationships: love, power, interests, and even survival. Each relationship has many layers, each with its own texture. Our interpretations of relationships and thoughts profoundly influence our decisions. This film centers on characters who cannot escape their own values, cultural standards, and worldviews.

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Flow, 2024 - ★★★★

"Flow" is a visually stunning animated film that captures the compassion, relationships, and the interconnectedness of all beings amidst a natural disaster. I think that’s truly beautiful how the movie portray how we share a universal language of kindness, even among different species. Each character—a cat, a capybara, a lemur, a secretary bird, and a Labrador dog—is incredibly cute, adding to the charm as they navigate their way through rising waters.

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The Apprentice, 2024 - ★★★½

The Apprentice movie offers a unique perspective on Donald Trump, highlighting the influence of Roy Cohn. The movie’s release timing is interesting, providing a glimpse into how Trump became the person he is today. What stands out in The Apprentice is the remarkable acting. While many might focus on Sebastian Stan’s portrayal of Trump, Jeremy Strong’s portrayal of Roy Cohn brings more intrigue and depth to the screen. Both actors deserve significant recognition for their performances.

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📝 My Stoic Journal Week 4: Take Another’s Perspective—Nobody Wants to Do Wrong on Purpose

Last week, I have practiced taking an outside view of my own struggles, as guided by “A Handbook for New Stoics.” This week, the practice shifts its focus to taking an inside view of other people’s actions. By doing so, we aim to gain perspective, cultivate compassion and understanding within ourselves—recognizing why people’s actions may appear reasonable to them. A fundamental principle of stoicism is that no one intentionally intends to do wrong, and everyone believes their actions are justified, and have valid reasons for their actions.

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A Real Pain, 2024 - ★★★★

Pain takes on many forms, and we can grieve over various things, expressing our emotions in many ways. Yet, we can sense the pain of those around us if we are willing to see it. Because pain and suffering are inherently rooted in every being—a part of life itself—making pain a shared experience for all of us. The dialogue in the film is beautifully authentic, with exceptional performances that convey deep pain and emotions.

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This Readwise update is incredible! Similar Highlights and Chat With Your Highlights features are like having a citation on steroids. After years of collecting thousands of quotes within the service, the payoff is finally here.

Companion, 2025 - ★★★★

I can’t say much about the story without giving away spoilers. If you’re interested in watching this film, I recommend going in blind—avoid trailers or any other information about it. What I truly appreciate is the metaphorical exploration of relationship dynamic and modern technology presented in the film. It serves as both entertainment and social commentary simultaneously. The screenplay is solid, and the performances by the main cast are great. All technical aspects effectively support the tone they aimed for.

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🎥 My Own Oscar Awards 2024 (Movies from 2023)

Welcome to my personal analysis of my favorite movies from 2023, which I like to call My Own Oscar Awards. After watching most of the nominations and beyond, I couldn’t help but compare these films to each other. My personal picks focused not on the names, prestige, or past work of the filmmakers, but rather on the impact these films had on me in each category. Each category features three nominations that truly sparked something within me.

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Flight Risk, 2025 - ★★★

I appreciated the cinematography and sound in this movie; they effectively set an atmosphere of suspense within a confined space with no way to escape. The premise also laid the groundwork for a compelling thriller. The performances of each cast member were good, given the script they had to work with. However, the screenplay was very lacking. The materials were all there to explore the idea of three individuals, each with complicated backstories, trapped together on an airplane.

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Sing Sing, 2023 - ★★★★

The story revolves around the notion that art has the power to heal the soul. Art is fundamentally human; it expresses the essence of our humanity and brings out the best in us. It also beautifully illustrates the process of grappling with our traumas, mistakes, hopes, and dreams for the future. Sometimes, when we step outside ourselves, we enter a transient space that transcends individuality and connects us to our shared humanity.

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I’m still trying to wrap my head around what’s happening in the micro.blog and omg.lol communities.

One thing I know for sure, though, is that people need to stop judging others, particularly when their actions don’t affect you directly and when your understanding of them is limited to text alone. It’s one thing to critique actions, but it’s entirely different to judge a person when we often lack the full context and nuances of their experiences and the subject matter.

Additionally, I believe that “you are not the platform/product/service you use.” Aligning your values with something beyond your control can only drain your energy and lead to frustration. If you apply that logic to anything in your life, you’d drive yourself insane. Trying to be a “good” person—counting points, pointing fingers, and weighing your moral compass—is not as straightforward, as shown in “The Good Place.” and “The Righteous Mind”.

That being said, this situation has been mishandled by all parties involved; emotions are running high, yet there’s a noticeable lack of constructive dialogue. It feels like nobody has truly questioned what they want out of this situation.

It’s vital to prioritize what truly matters and seek solutions and strategies that can move the conversation forward, rather than nitpicking who’s right or wrong in each interaction.

My identity and values are not reflected by the service I use. I don’t seek saviors nor perfect companies; what matters to me is that my rights and dignity are respected.