As a fan of movies, you’ve likely wondered what makes great ones so enjoyable. While certain elements can be subjective to viewers’ perceptions, all great movies share certain common traits.
Conflict is often used as the backbone for captivating cinematic stories, driving the plot forward by engaging viewers through conflict-driven plotlines.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie shine as romantic leads in this summer action movie that centers around their nontraditional marriage. Although it could easily turn into another Alfred Hitchcock remake, the filmmakers manage to blend romance into their story while maintaining all of its dark charm and violence that make such movies so appealing.
The Smiths live a comfortable suburban life but secretly. John (Pitt) keeps his guns and money hidden beneath the tool shed while Jane (Jolie) keeps her weapons tucked under trays that slide out from under her oven. Life together may be comfortable but neither John or Jane is truly satisfied, so they decide to seek therapy as an attempt to salvage their marriage.
As it turns out, they both work for competing assassin organizations, each assigned their own target to protect. When their lives collide and they’re asked to eliminate one target at the same time, their marriage becomes far more dangerous – while director Doug Liman adds an exciting and lively flair that keeps the audience riveted!
Mr. and Mrs. Smith is unique among action movies in its wealth of black humor; Jolie and Pitt’s dynamic works very well together; their relationship sizzles beautifully while Simon Kinberg’s script offers them plenty of material for them to exploit.
The Blu-ray’s transfer is generally impressive, with vibrant colors and fine detail that remain intact. The film’s sun-bleached interiors look incredible in HD while Abel Ferrara’s excellent work in The Amityville Horror comes to mind when viewing its cinematography.
Ghosted
Ghosting by someone you have been dating or simply someone who stops responding can be deeply unsettling and upsetting; even the act itself can activate similar pathways in your brain as physical pain.
According to relationship therapist Shena Tubbs, MMFT, LPC, CSAT-C, the best way to deal with ghosting is to pause and reflect upon how you’re feeling. Depending on the nature of your relationship, reaching out may be beneficial or setting boundaries around how much communication there will be in future.
Ghosting can be a complex issue in modern relationships and it’s often hard to know how to handle it. While no single reason explains why people abandon relationships, oftentimes this occurs after having experienced some form of betrayal such as cheating or some form of betrayal from a partner.
Chris Evans and Ana de Armas star as CIA agents who meet at a farmer’s market and quickly fall in love, only for Sadie (de Armas) to ghost Cole after just one date – prompting Cole to travel all the way back to London in search of answers on who Sadie actually is.
This film is an inconsistent romantic action comedy that attempts to offer something fresh on modern dating; unfortunately it never quite succeeds in doing so. At nearly two hours in duration and featuring characters prone to bickering between themselves constantly – the movie falls flat.
As with its predecessors, The Lone Ranger attempts too hard to be funny – an issue in an action comedy with so few laughs – making for an inauthentically enjoyable viewing experience. While its cast may make for some entertaining scenes, overall it does not deliver on its potential fun factor.
Killers
Horror fans frequently gravitate toward slasher films when it comes to horror cinema, while serial killer flicks offer something a bit darker and can keep audiences awake at night. Netflix offers many such titles that will ensure an unnerved night’s restful sleep!
Horror movies don’t only depict gory murders. A successful horror flick also explores humanity’s darker side by showing us how easily we succumb to evil fantasies or express them outwardly through human behavior.
Maniac and Scream have explored serial killers’ perspectives as they stalk and murder their victims. While these films may be unnerving to some viewers, it’s worth giving these films a watch.
Hulu recently released Boston Strangler, which chronicles journalist Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley) as she battles sexism and corruption within the justice system to investigate The Stranger’s murders.
Dark and unsettling, The Witches of Boston is an intriguing film that doesn’t shy away from depicting real-life evils that plagued Boston in the ’60s, yet remains entertaining to watch. No matter your genre preference or preferred filmmaking method, you will appreciate this film!
Se7en was a classic David Fincher movie that introduced audiences to a novel form of serial killer. A nearly-retired detective (Samuel L. Jackson) instructs his new partner (Brad Pitt) as they investigate gruesome murders that correspond with one of the seven deadly sins – an investigation which ultimately leads them to one serial killer’s motives and this movie became one of several psychological thrillers exploring these motives.
Knight and Day
Tom Cruise remains one of the most beloved actors worldwide, and his recent action films such as Mission: Impossible 4 and Top Gun: Maverick have proven this with immense popularity among audiences everywhere. Even as Cruise grows older and less physically active, his audience remains undiminished.
Cruise is known to turn every project he stars in into an event movie, yet his latest endeavor, Knight and Day, failed to meet its box office potential.
Production for The Firm was an eventful ride, until Tom Cruise and director James Mangold finally came together. Scott Frank originally wrote its screenplay which underwent numerous revisions.
Mangold’s skill as a director can be seen in how well he was able to manage all the changes involved and produce a coherent production on screen. Furthermore, his action sequences were exciting yet not oversaturated with violence or excess.
But the real surprise about Knight and Day is its surprising quality as a film. No, it won’t win awards but it certainly provides an entertaining summer blockbuster.
It may be slightly long but does not outstay its welcome, with plenty of action, drama, comedy and romance all packed into an enjoyable two hours and forty five minutes. Though not quite as clever or engaging as some other action/romcom hybrids out there, it does find the right balance of whimsy and excitement – not only thanks to Cruise and Diaz’s great chemistry – yet manages to avoid being overrun with misogynist undertones.
The Spy Who Dumped Me
The Spy Who Dumped Me is one of those movies that is difficult to classify; it straddles all three genres simultaneously while managing to do something few movies of its type can: take full advantage of its talented cast and unabashedly slapstick comedy tone for truly hilarious scenes.
„Pineapple Express” and „Bridesmaids” had lost much of their humor years earlier, yet „The Happytime Murders” restores much of it without jeopardizing the essential emotional bonds between Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon’s characters – something their friendship does no matter how ruthless or dishonest either one may become – making for a film with an authentic human narrative core.
Audrey (Kunis) and Morgan (McKinnon), two longtime best friends, share many similarities. Both are eccentric yet completely dedicated to supporting one another no matter what is going on in their lives.
Real life bonds between Audrey and Sam keep their friendship strong when their worlds collide with international espionage. Audrey finds herself thrust into this situation when her boyfriend, Drew (Justin Theroux), turns out to be a CIA agent, forcing the two girls into fleeing across Europe with Sam Heughan as their guide.
Director Susanna Fogel does an admirable job at keeping the action sequences captivating enough so we’re never bored, as well as balancing high-octane set pieces with more intimate scenes where Kunis and McKinnon can shine. And her Dolby Atmos audio mix keeps chases roaring while maintaining activity levels during quieter comedy moments.