What I Watched in November 2022

THE MENU (2022) stands as one of the most impressive thrillers of the year. It’s an extreme dark comedy that always seems to have yet another shock or surprise left to serve you. Best of all, it can be read on multiple levels and still fulfills its goal of scaring the audience in unsuspected ways. You can look on it as a commentary on the Foodie culture that turns subtle flavors and odd pairings into art to be admired rather than eaten. Or it can be seen as underscoring how the people capable of affording the rarest delights that the world has to offer are often the least likely to actually appreciate them. The film has pointed things to say about the ethics of mass consumption and the harsh visions imposed on the world by ruling class. But all of these ideas and many more are suspended in a tense, unsettling tale that unfolds gradually as details are presented one course at a time. The performances are fantastic, the direction on point and the script is as sharp as a well-honed butcher’s knife. This is a film that stays with you long after the credits are over which is a rare trait these days. Marvelous! 

 

The List

TRACK OF THE MOON BEAST (1976) – 3 (TV movie)

TARZAN’S HIDDEN JUNGLE (1955) – 6 (Gordon Scott and a funny Cheeta)

THE GATE II (1990) – 7 (possibly better than the first one)

GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA (2002) – 7 (rewatch on the big screen!)

SEE HOW THEY RUN (2022) – 8 (great mystery/comedy)

BLACK ADAM (2022) – 8

TARAN AND THE LOST SAFARI (1957) – 6 (Scott goes to color – well done)

SCOOB! (2020) – 8 (very fun CGI reinvention of the characters)

INCEPTION (2010) – 9 (rewatch)

GHIDORAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER (1964) – 8 (rewatch on Blu)

INVASION OF THE ASTRO MONSTER (1954) – 8 (rewatch on Blu)

HOUSE IV (1991) – 5 (Nearly a sequel to the first film and about as good)

DIRTY WAR (1984) – 5 (half-assed Euro-mercenary action)

BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (2022) – 8

BLACK AND BLUE (2019) – 6 (solid but very familiar crime thriller – goes simple in the end)

ABBOT AND COSTELLO MEET THE KILLER, BORIS KARLOFF (1949) – 7 (rewatch)

DRUNKEN MASTER (1978) – 7 (Jackie Chan kung fu fun)

CREATURES THAT TIME FORGOT (1970) – 5 (Hammer’s caveman adventure)

THE LAST MATINEE (2020) – 6 (slasher from Uruguay/Argentina)

RESIDENT EVIL: WELCOME TO RACOON CITY (2021) – 5 (new film is OK)

SHADOW OF THE WHISTLER (1948) – 6 (short, dark noir)

ANTS! (1977) – 7 (TV movie)

THE INVISIBLE MAN VS THE HUMAN FLY (1957) – 7 (good Japanese SF crime tale)

BEYOND THE DOOR 3 (AMOK TRAIN) (1989) – 7 (Satanic Euro-horror)

SWAMP THING (1981) – 6 (rewatch of Euro cut on Blu)

FRAMED (1947) – 8 (tight noir)

HERCULES (1983) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

THE THIRTEENTH HOUR (1947) – 7 (6^th Whistler film is solid – final entry with Richard Dix)

THE RETURN OF THE WHISTLER (1948) – 7 (final entry in the series)

THE ADVENTURES OF HERCULES 2 (1985) – 4 (rewatch on Blu)

THE MENU (2022) – 9

SAN ANTONIO (1945) – 7 (rewatch) (Errol Flynn western with one hell of a final act)