Letterboxd - Justin🦊 https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/ Letterboxd - Justin🦊 Saint Jack, 1979 - ★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/saint-jack/ letterboxd-review-786383219 Thu, 23 Jan 2025 20:32:15 +1300 2025-01-23 No Saint Jack 1979 3.5 77166 <![CDATA[

A man who knows everyone but has no one. He can’t be fulfilled, but he can drink. He can’t attain wealth, but he can be his own man. He can’t bring peace, but he can obstruct those who would prolong war. He can’t save a dying friend, but he can see to his funeral. He can’t end the exploitation of women, but he can broker sex tourism in an upstanding way. A virtuous pimp. Who would have thought it possible?

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Justin🦊
The Guilty, 2021 - ★★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/the-guilty-2021/ letterboxd-review-786292896 Thu, 23 Jan 2025 17:56:27 +1300 2025-01-22 No The Guilty 2021 3.0 567748 <![CDATA[

I love that Jake Gyllenhaal gives 110% in everything he’s in. He can make a meh movie decent and a good movie great.

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Justin🦊
Lady Bird, 2017 - ★★★★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/lady-bird/1/ letterboxd-review-784924365 Wed, 22 Jan 2025 11:35:28 +1300 2025-01-21 Yes Lady Bird 2017 5.0 391713 <![CDATA[

People call each other the names their parents made up for them, but they won't believe in God.

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Justin🦊
The Wicker Man, 1973 - ★★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/the-wicker-man/ letterboxd-review-780525799 Sat, 18 Jan 2025 21:11:19 +1300 2025-01-18 No The Wicker Man 1973 4.5 16307 <![CDATA[

“Here Lieth Beech Buchanan Protected by the Ejaculation of Serpents”

As a huge fan of Midsommar, I knew I had to get to The Wicker Man sooner or later. Especially when it featured one of my favorite actors, Sir Christopher Lee. I truly wasn’t disappointed.

Using pagan/folk/cult elements in a horror film is a match made in well…hell, due of the mysterious and mystical nature of the subject. It immediately creates a sense of unease and unfamiliarity that at the same time intrigues you and piques your curiosity. This movie brilliantly wastes no time to introduce us to these oddities and by 20 minutes, we’re in full blown “what the hell” territory.

 Having a pious policeman as our point of view dramatically increases the contrast between what we’re used to and what is strangely normal to the residents of this island. What is presented in the beautiful setting of Scotland and the quiet unassuming village makes it all the more eerie. There’s no scary monsters or cackling villains to behold but you know that this man is doomed as soon as he steps foot on the island. 

I loved what this movie did with music. On paper having a horror film turn into an outright musical in parts doesn’t sound like it would work. However, after finishing it I am 100% certain that this film would be considerably less effective without it. It’s eerie and works it’s way under your skin and it’s actually good which is more than I can say for a lot of musicals.

At an efficient 90 minutes this film manages to go from 0 to 100 at an impressive rate. And yet, it doesn’t feel rushed and takes it’s time where it needs to. There are so many scenes that I know will be ingrained in my mind for a long time. This is a movie that sticks you like a thorn and keeps you thinking about it long after it’s over.

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Justin🦊
Woman of the Hour, 2023 - ★★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/woman-of-the-hour/ letterboxd-review-779157233 Fri, 17 Jan 2025 15:29:15 +1300 2025-01-16 No Woman of the Hour 2023 3.0 835113 <![CDATA[

Pretty much everything about this besides Anna Kendrick was mediocre. The serial killer felt more like a neck beard 4chaner than an actual intimidating presence so the fear aspect mostly fell flat for me. Every side character felt pointless and not well thought out. The fractured plotting just didn’t really come together and lacked focus. The best part of this was actually the underlying humor and that it’s based on a true story. There was a lot of potential for this to be great and don’t get me wrong it was okay, just forgettable.

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Justin🦊
Showing Up, 2022 - ★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/showing-up-2022/ letterboxd-review-778644998 Fri, 17 Jan 2025 06:05:40 +1300 2025-01-16 No Showing Up 2022 3.5 790416 <![CDATA[

Kelly Reichardt’s ability to make her characters feel real is unmatched and when characters feel real, you care about them more. This one didn’t sink the emotional hooks into me like her other films but her slow, methodical show don’t tell style is still shining. Here she displays the freedom of knowing that not everyone can show up for you but you can show up for yourself. The final scene with her brother and the bird was magical and some of her best. Give me more Kelly!

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Justin🦊
Baghead, 2008 - ★★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/baghead/ letterboxd-review-776230054 Tue, 14 Jan 2025 20:07:43 +1300 2025-01-14 No Baghead 2008 3.0 5759 <![CDATA[

Genrebending mumblecore/slasher? I love you Duplass brothers. It’s also crazy that the premise of this movie is that you can make a good movie under a thousand dollars and 15 years later Greta is making movies that gross over a billion.

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Justin🦊
Sherlock Holmes, 2009 - ★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/sherlock-holmes-2009/ letterboxd-review-774989078 Mon, 13 Jan 2025 19:16:54 +1300 2025-01-13 Yes Sherlock Holmes 2009 3.5 10528 <![CDATA[

One of my favorites from childhood. Haven’t seen it in years and it’s still a lot of fun albeit maybe not the best movie ever like I once thought. The banter and chemistry between RDJ and Jude Law is the highlight. It’s instantly believable that they are inseparable brothers and I love that.

I always wished I had the powers of deduction like Holmes here and I went around sizing people up and making up stories about them in my head, completely baselessly. I’d really like a third installment of this but it’s probably unlikely at this point. Until then I’ll continue to pretend to be a detective.

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Justin🦊
Paper Moon, 1973 - ★★★★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/paper-moon/ letterboxd-review-768371301 Thu, 9 Jan 2025 19:06:38 +1300 2025-01-08 No Paper Moon 1973 5.0 11293 <![CDATA[

“You still owe me 200 dollars”


I honestly thought this was perfect from start to finish. With a chemistry than only a real life father and daughter can have (which is the case), these two main characters absolutely steal the show. I genuinely think this is one of the best child performances I’ve seen. Paper Moon is charming and heartwarming in a way that doesn’t come off as forced or corny. It’s incredibly funny, with witty back and forths and clever schemes in full effect. The last thing I expected from this was action and yet it surprised me how well it’s implemented here. The pacing is so natural and smooth that it feels like you’re tagging along on this unbridled and endearing adventure. This definitely deserves a spot on the best road movies of all time. With an ending that leaves a smile on your face and a tear in your eye, we’re left with a timeless classic that I regret not seeing until now.

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Justin🦊
Perfect Days, 2023 - ★★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/perfect-days-2023/ letterboxd-review-760852462 Sat, 4 Jan 2025 15:10:41 +1300 2025-01-03 No Perfect Days 2023 4.5 976893 <![CDATA[

“What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again. All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”
‭‭

Life is full of sorrow and joy and this movie elegantly displays the peace that comes from accepting and embracing both at the same time. I love Wim Wenders and his ability to make me just sit and reflect on the nature of life and human existence long after the credits roll. With his most recent film, that I am shamefully just getting to, he explores the idea of living in simplicity and finding real, pure joy in the mundane and everyday.

It leaves you wondering, is this enough? Am I content with what I have? And why can’t a monotonous and routine day not be fully enjoyed? Its the idea that the little wonders that exist all around us are just waiting for someone to slow down and discover their beauty. Perfect Days is beautiful because it brings those things that are so easily missed into the spotlight. And I’m left realizing that a simple, quiet and peaceful life comes from within and can be easily obtained doing anything, even scrubbing toilets. 

“Next time is next time, now is now”

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Justin🦊
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, 1964 - ★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/santa-claus-conquers-the-martians/ letterboxd-review-759299089 Fri, 3 Jan 2025 14:24:03 +1300 2025-01-02 No Santa Claus Conquers the Martians 1964 1.0 32307 <![CDATA[

This genuinely might be one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. Hooray for Santy Claus was a banger though.

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Justin🦊
Nosferatu, 2024 - ★★★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/nosferatu-2024/ letterboxd-review-753728530 Mon, 30 Dec 2024 15:57:39 +1300 2024-12-29 No Nosferatu 2024 4.0 426063 <![CDATA[

As far as adaptations go, this was incredibly solid. After watching the 1922 version recently, I can say this is extremely faithful, almost to a fault. I think the movie does just enough to differentiate itself but at at times I felt like I was watching the same movie again. 

This was an incredibly well shot film with gorgeously dark gothic imagery. Pretty much what you would expect it to be based on it coming from Robert Eggers and the source material. At first, I wasn’t fully convinced as far as the performances go but as the movie went on Lily-Rose Depp got better and better and once Willem Dafoe entered the situation, it was full speed ahead. 

I will say one thing…this was pretty horny. They gave us the vampire dong that Twilight failed to deliver. My favorite part was when Nosferatu said “I vant to suck your tits”. The final shot was perfection and all in all I can’t wait for Nosfera2!

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Justin🦊
The Exorcist: Believer, 2023 - ½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/the-exorcist-believer/ letterboxd-review-748314891 Thu, 26 Dec 2024 15:38:56 +1300 2024-12-25 No The Exorcist: Believer 2023 0.5 807172 <![CDATA[

How many times are they going to keep making the same movie? This was comically bad and nothing we haven’t seen before. Also in what world would a Catholic or Protestant agree to work with a witch doctor to cast out a demon when they consider it demonic? Just silly.

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Justin🦊
Smile, 2022 - ★★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/smile-2022/ letterboxd-review-747247375 Wed, 25 Dec 2024 19:16:22 +1300 2024-12-24 No Smile 2022 3.0 882598 <![CDATA[

My horror loving in-laws decided this is what they wanted to watch to get in the Christmas spirit tonight. This wasn’t bad per se, it just felt like it relied heavily on every horror cliché that ever existed. The movie also had a knack for getting me hooked and then veering off over and over until the ending which I wasn’t the biggest fan of. There was a lot that I liked stylistically, the camera work was sharp and had a lot of really interesting shots. The performances weren’t bad either despite the bland script. While I probably won’t watch it again, I can appreciate that it gave me the creeps a few times and that was fun! Definitely better with friends or family.

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Justin🦊
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, 1966 - ★★★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/how-the-grinch-stole-christmas/ letterboxd-review-746988806 Wed, 25 Dec 2024 14:18:05 +1300 2024-12-24 Yes How the Grinch Stole Christmas! 1966 4.0 13377 <![CDATA[

I wouldn’t touch you with a 39 and 1/2 foot pole is a crazy roast

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Justin🦊
Frosty the Snowman, 1969 - ★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/frosty-the-snowman/ letterboxd-review-746687567 Wed, 25 Dec 2024 09:27:21 +1300 2024-12-24 No Frosty the Snowman 1969 2.5 13675 <![CDATA[

That rabbit must have been fried out of its mind

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Justin🦊
Home Alone, 1990 - ★★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/home-alone/ letterboxd-review-745076871 Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:22:45 +1300 2024-12-22 Yes Home Alone 1990 4.5 771 <![CDATA[

Is this the GOAT Christmas movie? Quite possibly. Chris Columbus magic ✨

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Justin🦊
Kes, 1969 - ★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/kes/ letterboxd-review-743938130 Sun, 22 Dec 2024 17:21:53 +1300 2024-12-21 No Kes 1969 3.5 13384 <![CDATA[

Akin to Trainspotting, this would have been impossible to watch without subtitles. This was great child acting by the main character, and was the highlight of the film. A bleak and realistic view on class and the upbringing of the next generation that stays bleak until the end. I do feel like the story needed something more and was lacking a depth that would have taken it to the next level. I’d like to see an update on Casper’s life, where he went, what he did and if he ever trained another hawk. Life is cruel man.

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Justin🦊
Conclave, 2024 - ★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/conclave/ letterboxd-review-741472889 Thu, 19 Dec 2024 20:10:12 +1300 2024-12-19 No Conclave 2024 3.5 974576 <![CDATA[

Give Ralph fiennes an award for his performance here. There’s a lot of cool shots and it’s paced beautifully but the ending felt a bit gimmicky and out of left field. Also what does the pope even do??

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Justin🦊
Nosferatu, 1922 - ★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/nosferatu/ letterboxd-review-739830070 Tue, 17 Dec 2024 17:05:28 +1300 2024-12-16 No Nosferatu 1922 3.5 653 <![CDATA[

Over 100 years old and still really creepy. It’s amazing how it holds up most of the time, though it does move pretty slow in places. I loved seeing the iconic shots and the black and white contrast was amazing. Can’t wait to see what Eggers does with this!

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Justin🦊
Don't Look Up, 2021 - ★★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/dont-look-up-2021/ letterboxd-review-739158872 Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:33:11 +1300 2024-12-16 Yes Don't Look Up 2021 3.0 646380 <![CDATA[

I’m Firepuma142 on Twitch, do you game?

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Justin🦊
Le Trou, 1960 - ★★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/le-trou/ letterboxd-review-737022605 Sat, 14 Dec 2024 12:24:29 +1300 2024-12-13 No Le Trou 1960 4.5 29259 <![CDATA[

I’m a sucker for prison breaks and this one really did it for me. There were so many cool aspects to this firstly being that Jean Keraudy was hired to play himself in a movie about his own escape, what a flex. Did some Wikipedia-ing into his life and his story is really interesting if you have the time. 

The movie deliberately and methodically shows every grueling strike, chisel and saw that it took for the men to find freedom and in doing so, puts weight into their efforts. You would think it would be boring to watch someone hammer away at cement for over half the movie but I could have watched it all day. 

Another thing I noticed is how the absence of any score allows us to hear every footstep, crunch of a rock and whisper. It also adds to the theme of confinement and dehumanization. I loved how this film had room to breathe and something as simple as digging a hole became enthralling.

Every character was unique and had their own motivations for wanting/not wanting to escape which made them really easy to invest in. The way the twist at the end was incorporated was masterful and every creative method used to escape was so interesting. Definitely watch this if you like escape movies.

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Justin🦊
Dinner in America, 2020 - ★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/dinner-in-america/ letterboxd-review-735905657 Thu, 12 Dec 2024 19:25:36 +1300 2024-12-12 No Dinner in America 2020 3.5 653664 <![CDATA[

We all need a little punk in our lives! 🤘🏻

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Justin🦊
Interstellar, 2014 - ★★★★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/interstellar/ letterboxd-review-735229595 Wed, 11 Dec 2024 20:09:35 +1300 2024-12-11 Yes Interstellar 2014 5.0 157336 <![CDATA[

Nothing I could say about this even matters. Transcendentally epic.

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Justin🦊
Black Mirror: The National Anthem, 2011 - ★★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/black-mirror-the-national-anthem/ letterboxd-review-734534771 Tue, 10 Dec 2024 19:29:05 +1300 2024-12-10 Yes Black Mirror: The National Anthem 2011 3.0 495314 <![CDATA[

Thought this may be less disturbing 13 years later…it’s not. What an interesting decision to start the series out like this but I guess it kept me watching.

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Justin🦊
Zathura: A Space Adventure, 2005 - ★★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/zathura-a-space-adventure/ letterboxd-review-732875746 Sun, 8 Dec 2024 17:29:43 +1300 2024-12-07 Yes Zathura: A Space Adventure 2005 3.0 6795 <![CDATA[

Get me a juice box beyotch!

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Justin🦊
Safe, 1995 - ★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/safe/ letterboxd-review-731402874 Fri, 6 Dec 2024 18:56:20 +1300 2024-12-05 No Safe 1995 3.5 32646 <![CDATA[

Wow this was really interesting. I love when movies can evoke feelings that I can’t even fully understand. This has an overlying eeriness throughout and is very unconventionally terrifying and unsettling in a way that is rarely seen. There’s a lot to read into here as far as the real meaning goes and the message is very subtly delivered, maybe even to a fault. 

The highlight here is definitely the camerawork. It expertly gives the sense of alienation and self isolation by keeping Carol at a distance until the final close up at the very end, which was a very impressive final shot. This is a totally different watch post quarantine and feels like it was prophetic in what our society ended up looking like. Interested in giving this another go in the future.

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Justin🦊
GoldenEye, 1995 - ★★★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/goldeneye/ letterboxd-review-730166574 Wed, 4 Dec 2024 19:14:14 +1300 2024-12-03 Yes GoldenEye 1995 4.0 710 <![CDATA[

The Bond of my generation makes his debut in a film that sent this franchise to a new level. I think what really makes this so memorable and even elevates it beyond the movie itself is the characters…Pierce Brosnan makes a great 007 with looks that suit the character, convincing physicality and the wry wit that Roger Moore and Connery perfected. Natalia and the sex crazed demon Xenia make great polar opposites as the Bond girls. Desmond Llewelyn reprises his role as Q which greatly helps carry the franchise over into the modern era. A Hagrid cameo. JUDY MF DENCH. Pervy little Alan Cumming. Just fantastic! But the best is the presence that is Sean Bean’s 006. Bond has had rival nemeses that have made great counterparts before but not as evenly matched and close as this and it makes for great entertainment.

There’s so much that makes this special. The pre title sequence ranks as one of the best yet. The action is paced very nicely with steady blazing guns and explosions and it even manages gives us time to get adjusted to the new actor. The themes of loyalty and betrayal, while done before, achieve a new depth. But what makes this the most fun for me is the companion N64 game. I played it long before watching the movie and I’m glad because it makes the film come to life for me. 

While this may not be the best 007 film, it will always be the most nostalgic to me and that’s what makes this franchise great…we all have that one that sucked us in and got us hooked.

007 Ranked

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Justin🦊
Gladiator II, 2024 - ★★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/gladiator-ii/ letterboxd-review-729862530 Wed, 4 Dec 2024 10:10:14 +1300 2024-12-03 No Gladiator II 2024 3.0 558449 <![CDATA[

This was…fine. 

Whether it be nostalgia or a personal affection, every time I watch Gladiator I am left feeling empowered, emotionally affected, and full of reverence for a fictional character. After leaving the theater today I feel indifferent. Was the entertainment there? Sure. The action, performances and a story of the reunification of a once great empire under a long lost prince. I welcomed the return of this beloved story with an open mind in a time where sequels usually disappoint, however I just can’t shake the feeling that this felt completely unnecessary.

Gladiator 2 relies heavily on call backs to the original and if The Force Awakens showed us anything it’s that it’s possible to do that and still provide an original story that is worthy of its predecessors. Unfortunately here it felt like it sought to raise the bar on every level with a modern sheen but failed to hit the mark.

I think the major chasm between the two movies is that the plight of Maximus was infinitely more convincing and emotionally driven than that of Lucious which feels contrived and derivative. There are things to like here, especially Denzel Washington who never fails to be great. I wonder how this will fare with time. It will probably become appreciated for me, I just wish it tried to be its own instead of existing in the shadow of something greater.

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Justin🦊
Licence to Kill, 1989 - ★★★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/licence-to-kill/ letterboxd-review-729445624 Tue, 3 Dec 2024 16:32:25 +1300 2024-12-02 No Licence to Kill 1989 4.0 709 <![CDATA[

This one took a little bit to pull me in but once it did it was a really enjoyable ride. Non stop action, relentless pacing, a Bond girl love triangle, a shark death trap, Q as a field operative…what more could you ask for. My favorite aspect of Bond movies is when we get into the personal nature of the character. This mission was as personal as we’ve seen with 007 going rogue to fulfill a personal vendetta and showing that he’s willing to defy the Queen herself if need be. 

It’s hard for me to say which of the two Dalton movies I liked more. The Living Daylights felt like he was finding his footing a bit but it’s freshness coming right off of Roger Moore’s dismal last outing was such a welcome sight. With this we see glimpses of the seriousness of the Craig Bond with a darker tone and some of the most gruesome kills yet. The Mad Max-esque ending really sealed the deal and now I’m left wishing they had done at least one more with him. Still, knowing Goldeneye is next has me really excited!

007 Ranked

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Justin🦊
Cronos, 1992 - ★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/cronos/ letterboxd-review-728773956 Mon, 2 Dec 2024 17:03:42 +1300 2024-12-01 No Cronos 1992 3.5 11655 <![CDATA[

Solid debut for Guillermo Del Toro. I really enjoyed the raw dark-fairytale feel that this had and the interesting take on vampires. You definitely can sense his style developing and it’s cool to look back on this after seeing how his career panned out. This sort of reminded me of a less gory Hellraiser but still had plenty of blood if that’s what you’re looking for. Ron Perlman was definitely a highlight here and it’s these types of roles that show his range and make him a really interesting actor. Overall this was a fun watch that I wish could have gone deeper into what it was doing. The ending felt a little abrupt but that’s always the hardest part of anything.

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Justin🦊
The Living Daylights, 1987 - ★★★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/the-living-daylights/ letterboxd-review-727031619 Sat, 30 Nov 2024 19:24:57 +1300 2024-11-30 No The Living Daylights 1987 4.0 708 <![CDATA[

Let me just start out saying that I totally love Timothy Dalton as Bond. Going in I heard a lot of people saying he was their least favorite and seen as a slightly glossed over speed bump on the way to the more tenured Bonds of Brosnan and Craig. But from this performance I was completely sold on his look (which might be the most book accurate), his physical capability (especially compared to Roger Moore), and even his charm which wasn’t so far off from Connery. He may not be the best at any particular thing but I’d say he might be the most well rounded Bond up to this point. 

As for the movie itself, there was a freshness to it that I appreciated…which admittedly may be from Roger Moore fatigue. The action sequences and settings were great and in my opinion, had a plot that felt like it was actually the point of the movie and not just a medium for all of the obligatory Bond tropes. I was definitely vibing to the music as well and the title track is currently stuck in my head.

It wasn’t perfect and there were aspects that felt safe but they succeeded in putting new life into the franchise that was much needed.

007 Ranked

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Justin🦊
White Chicks, 2004 - ★★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/white-chicks/ letterboxd-review-723491229 Mon, 25 Nov 2024 19:06:08 +1300 2024-11-25 Yes White Chicks 2004 3.0 12153 <![CDATA[

The fact that this movie was made is crazy. Times were so different 20 years ago. Terry Crews carried.

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Justin🦊
A View to a Kill, 1985 - ★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/a-view-to-a-kill/ letterboxd-review-722241580 Sun, 24 Nov 2024 12:14:27 +1300 2024-11-23 No A View to a Kill 1985 2.5 707 <![CDATA[

Overall a pretty meh way for Roger Moore to go out. There were some things to like though. The intro song by Duran Duran is one of the best we’ve had so far and Christopher Walken and Grace Jones played some pretty solid villains. Other than that it was a pretty dull plot with toned down humor and action. It just felt very safe and like they were going through the motions. Time to see what Timothy Dalton has to offer.

007 Ranked

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Justin🦊
Octopussy, 1983 - ★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/octopussy/ letterboxd-review-720017540 Thu, 21 Nov 2024 09:56:22 +1300 2024-11-20 No Octopussy 1983 3.5 700 <![CDATA[

Octopussy is an insane nickname to give your daughter.

Roger Moore is back as Bond in one of the better of his installments, and much improved from the previous. I’ll take 007 in any form whether it’s outrageously goofy or a serious action focused narrative, as long as it leans into what it wants to be. Here they took a more campy approach and I was totally fine with it. I mean Bond saves the day in a clown costume right after disguising himself in a gorilla suit, need I say more. 

We get some really standout action sequences, smooth spy work, and a lot of genuinely funny moments. Every character seemed to have a meaningful role, especially Q who sometimes gets left as an afterthought or obligation. The parts in India provided an interesting, albeit sometimes problematic setting and the last 45 minutes really stepped things up and brought this up a half star for me. On to the next!

007 Ranked

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Justin🦊
The Double, 2013 - ★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/the-double-2013/ letterboxd-review-719471520 Wed, 20 Nov 2024 13:13:59 +1300 2024-11-19 No The Double 2013 3.5 146015 <![CDATA[

To whom it may concern: I am a ghost”

This felt like if Wes Anderson wrote Fight Club. I loved the dystopian feel of everything from the lighting, drab colors, robotic line delivery and office setting. I feel like it did lose itself at times and I do think this concept has been done better before but overall I enjoyed this, especially the humor and what it was doing stylistically. It took me a second to realize where I knew her from but Mia Wasikowska was a perfect fit for the uncanny wonderland feel that this had. Jesse Eisenberg’s performance(s) were also great and he’s got a surprisingly impressive resume of indie movies.

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Justin🦊
For Your Eyes Only, 1981 - ★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/for-your-eyes-only/ letterboxd-review-717268893 Sun, 17 Nov 2024 16:33:17 +1300 2024-11-16 No For Your Eyes Only 1981 2.0 699 <![CDATA[

Bond goes 80s!

Back to my watch through of all of the 007 movies after a palette cleansing break. Not going to sugar coat it though, this wasn’t the best one to return to. This movie was a mess tonally. It was extremely goofy at times and dreadfully boring in others. The main story itself felt very formulaic to the Bond franchise (important item is lost/stolen, Bond has to get it back before it gets into the wrong hands…usually Russians). At this point in the franchise, it’s just lost its charm and intrigue which is pivotal to a spy movie.

Throughout the movie I just found myself laughing that all this was for some random outdated accounting machine looking thing that just ends up getting tossed off a cliff so anticlimactically. So many similar moments that just felt off and silly, like a man falling face first off of a mile high cliff just to barely have a scratch and the awkward silence of the last fight that desperately needed some music. There were some cool action sequences and Carole Boquet was a great Bond girl but other than that it would be hard for me to find a reason to ever watch this again.

007 Ranked

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Justin🦊
The Servant, 1963 - ★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/the-servant/ letterboxd-review-715520322 Fri, 15 Nov 2024 10:35:43 +1300 2024-11-14 No The Servant 1963 3.5 42987 <![CDATA[

A bleak slow burn psychological drama that is full of disillusionment. The class elements in this reminded me of Parasite. And while I pretty much guessed where this was headed from the start, it was still nice to see it unfold. Most enjoyable was how this film looked and its use of props and the house itself to tell a story. It did leave me wondering about the motivations of the characters though. Why break someone down, single out their weaknesses to use against them and utterly upend their life for no apparent reason? Because you can is the only answer I can think of.

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Justin🦊
Submarine, 2010 - ★★★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/submarine/ letterboxd-review-714434896 Wed, 13 Nov 2024 16:29:44 +1300 2024-11-12 No Submarine 2010 4.0 49020 <![CDATA[

Your enjoyment of this will be directly correlated to how much quirkiness you can stand because this is oozing tumblr. Thankfully I love the quirk.

 I like how this slips into the surreal at times and the scenery of Wales is gorgeous. If you’re looking for a coherent plot this is not for you. But as an examination of human emotion, love and the struggles of marriage, this totally works. Full of dry awkward humor and a killer soundtrack to boot.

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Justin🦊
Civil War, 2024 - ★★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/civil-war-2024/ letterboxd-review-713806519 Tue, 12 Nov 2024 17:25:40 +1300 2024-11-11 No Civil War 2024 4.5 929590 <![CDATA[

I sort of put this off because I didn’t think it would interest me as much as everything coming out at the time but this might be one of my favorites in 2024. I just completely loved everything it was doing stylistically. From the dissonant soundtrack to the snapshot camera perspectives this just felt fresh especially in a war movie context. The final sequence was perfect and the credits playing to the last picture developing was so cool. 

The performances were also fantastic with Cailee Spaeny absolutely stealing the show. I loved how the movie gave us so much time to absorb things with so many extended shots that we don’t get as much today. My only gripes here is the casting of Nick Offerman as the president, it’s personally really hard for me to see him as anyone other than Ron Swanson so maybe that’s on me but it sort of took me out at times. I also think it balanced the character development and the details of the war too well. It felt like not enough time was given for either of those things to be fully fledged out and I would have liked it to lean more into one or the other. Overall though I call this movie a major success and a interesting take on an imagined future that this country is no stranger to.

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Justin🦊
The Hangover, 2009 - ★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/the-hangover/ letterboxd-review-713051010 Mon, 11 Nov 2024 17:54:23 +1300 2024-11-10 Yes The Hangover 2009 3.5 18785 <![CDATA[

I know this movie is stupid and doesn’t make sense but it still never fails to get laughs out of me. I remember having to watch it on FX as a kid completely censored without my parents knowing. Little did I know that my dad also secretly loved this movie.

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Justin🦊
Overlord, 2018 - ★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/overlord-2018/ letterboxd-review-710606022 Fri, 8 Nov 2024 19:25:37 +1300 2024-11-08 No Overlord 2018 3.5 438799 <![CDATA[

As a big fan of CoD Zombies, this was a treat. Blowing up Nazis is always worth watching. This wasn’t perfect by a long shot and had a few problems. I wish the first hour of the movie was more of the horror aspect of this than the standard WWII action that we’ve seen a thousand times but the last 30 or so minutes were a blast. I also wanted there to have been more time to fully fledge out the characters and some of the script felt phoned in. The aunt side plot was also pretty unnecessary and left unresolved. Overall though, this felt a lot like a video game movie and was a lot of fun.

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Justin🦊
Challengers, 2024 - ★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/challengers/ letterboxd-review-709587769 Thu, 7 Nov 2024 06:25:19 +1300 2024-11-06 No Challengers 2024 3.5 937287 <![CDATA[

Luca Guadagnino loves to make movies about closeted gay men and cheating. Also Zendaya can spit in my face anytime she wants.

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Justin🦊
Amores Perros, 2000 - ★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/amores-perros/ letterboxd-review-708705011 Tue, 5 Nov 2024 16:15:31 +1300 2024-11-04 No Amores Perros 2000 3.5 55 <![CDATA[

“We are also what we have lost”

I thought the first act was the best, followed by the third but lulled quite a bit in the second. The performances, music and mode of storytelling were all great but after taking so long to weave all of the characters together, I would have liked a better payoff. I loved the idea of the duality of man being mirrored in the dogs. Overall definitely worth a watch for the filmmaking itself.

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Justin🦊
Smiley Face, 2007 - ★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/smiley-face/ letterboxd-review-708057836 Mon, 4 Nov 2024 18:28:02 +1300 2024-11-03 No Smiley Face 2007 2.5 13168 <![CDATA[

This stressed me out but not in a good way. Anna Ferris was acting more like she was tweaking on meth than just being stoned. She was mostly just irritating and not funny like a movie like this calls for. The police bit was accurate though.

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Justin🦊
The Peanut Butter Falcon, 2019 - ★★★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/the-peanut-butter-falcon/ letterboxd-review-706849615 Sun, 3 Nov 2024 12:52:26 +1300 2024-11-02 Yes The Peanut Butter Falcon 2019 4.0 463257 <![CDATA[

Such a heartfelt movie. It’s effortlessly hilarious and the chemistry that Zak and Tyler have is infectious. These performances always remind me of how great of an actor Shia LaBeouf is. Despite everything in his personal life I just love seeing him on screen. The ending could have been better but this will always be a comfort movie for me.

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Justin🦊
The Sixth Sense, 1999 - ★★★★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/the-sixth-sense/ letterboxd-review-706228761 Sat, 2 Nov 2024 19:26:56 +1300 2024-11-02 No The Sixth Sense 1999 4.5 745 <![CDATA[

“Every day”

Yes I know it’s insane that I hadn’t seen this until now. With it being the most spoiled movie of all time, I always felt like I wouldn’t be able to enjoy it because I knew the twist. However, after finally getting to it tonight I realized that the twist isn’t what makes this movie great. In fact, I kind of liked knowing because it helped me pick up on a lot that I probably wouldn’t have. What really makes this movie is it’s heart. I was not expecting to cry tonight but the scene with Cole and his mom in the car pulled it out of me. As someone who has lost both parents, the weight of wondering if they’d be proud of you now is a heavy one to carry and that scene just hit like a ton of bricks. 

The performances here were nothing short of fantastic and Haley Joel Osment and Bruce Willis definitely caught lighting in a bottle with their chemistry. I love Shyamalan’s ability to create horror movies in which the scary things aren’t the point, they just keep us hooked. Signs is the same way and I also love it for that. This is definitely one of his best. All in all, I wish I had seen this sooner but better late than never.

Shed a tear

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Justin🦊
Scary Movie 2, 2001 - ★½ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/scary-movie-2/ letterboxd-review-706019598 Sat, 2 Nov 2024 14:01:43 +1300 2024-11-01 No Scary Movie 2 2001 1.5 4248 <![CDATA[

Way less funny than the first and way more misses but Beetlejuice being in this was amazing.

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Justin🦊
Scary Movie, 2000 - ★★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/scary-movie-2000/ letterboxd-review-704755303 Fri, 1 Nov 2024 04:00:30 +1300 2024-10-31 No Scary Movie 2000 3.0 4247 <![CDATA[

The Diddy party reference is crazy in retrospect. This is the epitome of Y2K humor. A lot of the jokes didn’t hit but I’d be lying if it didn’t have me rolling at some parts. As far as parody movies go this up there, so iconic.

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Justin🦊
The Skin I Live In, 2011 - ★★★ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/film/the-skin-i-live-in/ letterboxd-review-704175187 Thu, 31 Oct 2024 08:33:38 +1300 2024-10-30 No The Skin I Live In 2011 3.0 63311 <![CDATA[

This was so messed up. I need to go back and watch Spy Kids to restore my perception of Antonio Banderas.

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Justin🦊
Kelly Reichardt ranked https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/list/kelly-reichardt-ranked/ letterboxd-list-41861328 Tue, 23 Jan 2024 02:52:51 +1300 <![CDATA[

Ranking the feature films of one of my favorite directors.

  1. Old Joy
  2. Wendy and Lucy
  3. Certain Women
  4. Night Moves
  5. Meek's Cutoff
  6. Showing Up
  7. River of Grass
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Justin🦊
All time favorites https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/list/all-time-favorites/ letterboxd-list-37250646 Sun, 17 Sep 2023 12:17:54 +1200 <![CDATA[

Working all time favorite list (unordered)

...plus 47 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

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Justin🦊
Movies that make me want to smoke a cigarette https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/list/movies-that-make-me-want-to-smoke-a-cigarette/ letterboxd-list-48007522 Sun, 23 Jun 2024 17:56:06 +1200 <![CDATA[

🚬

...plus 14 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

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Justin🦊
Indiana Jones ranked https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/list/indiana-jones-ranked/ letterboxd-list-54830943 Tue, 10 Dec 2024 20:11:06 +1300 <![CDATA[

Let it be known I am a Crystal Skull truther

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Justin🦊
007 https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/list/007/ letterboxd-list-45792813 Mon, 22 Apr 2024 16:14:34 +1200 <![CDATA[

My rankings of the Bond films as I watch them.

  1. Skyfall
  2. On Her Majesty's Secret Service
  3. Goldfinger
  4. GoldenEye
  5. The Spy Who Loved Me
  6. Licence to Kill
  7. The Living Daylights
  8. From Russia with Love
  9. The Man with the Golden Gun
  10. Live and Let Die

...plus 8 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

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Justin🦊
Movies that made me cry https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/list/movies-that-made-me-cry/ letterboxd-list-34027627 Tue, 30 May 2023 19:45:13 +1200 <![CDATA[

Not a list of sad movies just movies that made me shed at least one tear.

...plus 4 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

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Justin🦊
https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/list/mid/ letterboxd-list-43127918 Mon, 19 Feb 2024 20:22:22 +1300 <![CDATA[

Movies that were sorta mid and probably wouldn’t want to watch again

...plus 9 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

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Justin🦊
2024 spooky season watchlist https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/list/2024-spooky-season-watchlist/ letterboxd-list-52534133 Mon, 14 Oct 2024 19:10:52 +1300 <![CDATA[

🎃🧛🏻‍♂️🧟‍♀️🦇🕷️🕸️🍂🔪🪓⚰️🪦👻🐈‍⬛

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Justin🦊
Dad’s Favorites https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/list/dads-favorites/ letterboxd-list-39847818 Tue, 19 Dec 2023 12:15:05 +1300 <![CDATA[

I’ve been missing my dad a lot lately so I thought I’d make a list of his favorites to remember him.

...plus 18 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

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Justin🦊
⚡️HARRY POTTER⚡️ https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/list/harry-potter/ letterboxd-list-51777327 Wed, 25 Sep 2024 15:43:29 +1200 <![CDATA[

Films Ranked

  1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
  2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
  3. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
  4. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
  5. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
  6. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
  7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
  8. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
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Justin🦊
Movie Club https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/list/movie-club/ letterboxd-list-41592431 Wed, 17 Jan 2024 17:32:46 +1300 <![CDATA[

...plus 6 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

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Justin🦊
Wes Andy https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/list/wes-andy/ letterboxd-list-34774966 Tue, 27 Jun 2023 16:00:53 +1200 <![CDATA[

Ranked (so far)

  1. Fantastic Mr. Fox
  2. Rushmore
  3. The Grand Budapest Hotel
  4. Isle of Dogs
  5. The Royal Tenenbaums
  6. Bottle Rocket
  7. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
  8. Moonrise Kingdom
  9. Asteroid City
  10. The French Dispatch
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Justin🦊
Star Warz https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/list/star-warz/ letterboxd-list-32748071 Fri, 7 Apr 2023 18:00:11 +1200 <![CDATA[
  1. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
  2. The Empire Strikes Back
  3. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
  4. Return of the Jedi
  5. Star Wars
  6. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
  7. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
  8. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
  9. Star Wars: The Last Jedi
  10. Solo: A Star Wars Story

...plus 1 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

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Justin🦊
NOLAN https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/list/nolan/ letterboxd-list-35976430 Thu, 3 Aug 2023 16:19:23 +1200 <![CDATA[

So far

  1. The Dark Knight
  2. Interstellar
  3. Inception
  4. Oppenheimer
  5. Batman Begins
  6. Dunkirk
  7. The Dark Knight Rises
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Justin🦊
Sofia Coppola Ranked https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/list/sofia-coppola-ranked/ letterboxd-list-43885217 Thu, 7 Mar 2024 21:47:13 +1300 <![CDATA[

Pastels and sadness 🫶🏻

  1. Lost in Translation
  2. Marie Antoinette
  3. The Virgin Suicides
  4. Priscilla
  5. The Bling Ring
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Justin🦊
Denis Villenueve https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/list/denis-villenueve/ letterboxd-list-35866309 Mon, 31 Jul 2023 17:08:15 +1200 <![CDATA[

As I watch them

  1. Prisoners
  2. Blade Runner 2049
  3. Dune: Part Two
  4. Arrival
  5. Dune
  6. Enemy
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Justin🦊
Film Debuts https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/list/film-debuts/ letterboxd-list-38351102 Sat, 28 Oct 2023 19:55:54 +1300 <![CDATA[

List of standout directorial debuts

...plus 8 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

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Justin🦊
Tarantino https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/list/tarantino/ letterboxd-list-40813078 Fri, 5 Jan 2024 21:36:19 +1300 <![CDATA[

Ranked

  1. Inglourious Basterds
  2. Pulp Fiction
  3. Reservoir Dogs
  4. Kill Bill: Vol. 1
  5. Django Unchained
  6. The Hateful Eight
  7. Jackie Brown
  8. Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood
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Justin🦊
Friendship https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/list/friendship/ letterboxd-list-39007659 Tue, 21 Nov 2023 14:41:22 +1300 <![CDATA[

Movies that focus on the bonds that make us human

...plus 11 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

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Justin🦊
Bat https://letterboxd.com/jusdurham/list/bat-1/ letterboxd-list-38160091 Sat, 21 Oct 2023 18:38:49 +1300 <![CDATA[

Ranking of the Bruce Wayne cinematic universe starting with Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman

  1. The Dark Knight
  2. Joker
  3. The Batman
  4. Batman Returns
  5. Batman Begins
  6. Batman
  7. The Dark Knight Rises
  8. Batman Forever
  9. Batman & Robin
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Justin🦊