jakens-40321 Reviews

Jury Duty (2023– )

Reality Version of "The Office"

[9/10 · 29 April 2023]

The show was absolutely hilarious! It was such a great premise. They took a superb concept and nailed it. It was brilliant how they continued to ramp up the absurdity, but they did so slowly over the course of the season to ensure that the more outrageous moments towards the end of the season didn't feel as over-the-top as they would have if they would have tried to execute those moments early on in the show.

This was a show that I couldn't wait to start up the next episode after I finished watching an episode. It is well worth your time and is guaranteed to provide you with plenty of laughs and smiles.

Captain Phillips (2013)

Aye, Aye, Captain

[9/10 · 8 January 2022]

I am unsure how close to the real-life story this film remained, but dang, this film was a lot of fun. The climactic ending was relentless and intense. So much so, that I have found myself chasing that same feeling of pure excitement, anxiety, and intensity in other movies ever sense hoping to capture again what I felt at the end of this movie.

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Realistic and Rugged

[9/10 · 8 January 2022]

Wow. That D-Day scene...brutal.

This movie was so enjoyable. It brilliantly portrayed the horrors of war and begged the question - "Was it really worth all of this effort of the lives of these men to try to save one man?" Thought-provoking.

Circle (II) (2015)

Thought-Provoking and Fun

[9/10 · 8 January 2022]

If you're looking for a fun movie with a bit of thought-provoking content ("What would I do in this situation??"), this is for you. It was definitely enjoyable!

Fences (2016)

A Play or a Movie?

[3/10 · 8 January 2022]

Unfortunately, I went into the theater to watch this film knowing nothing about it. I had no idea it was a film adaptation of a play. I was incredibly bored throughout the majority of the film.

The Greatest Showman (2017)

Well Done, Hugh Jackman

[8/10 · 8 January 2022]

Hugh Jackman has solidified himself in my book as one of the most talented individuals in all of Hollywood. The man can simply do it all. The soundtrack for this movie is incredible.

The Most Reluctant Convert (2021)

Not a Full-Life Story

[6/10 · 8 January 2022]

For what it was, it was an enjoyable movie about a writer I have incredible respect for. The narration of the film was cleverly C. S. Lewis-esque, but I was a bit disappointed at how short the film was and that it did not focus on much of Lewis' life of writing novels, books, and essays. It remained true to its title, but it left me wanting to see more of Lewis' story portrayed on the big screen.

Shutter Island (2010)

Masterpiece

[10/10 · 8 January 2022]

I watched this movie several years ago, and it is still hands-down my favorite movie of all time. It properly pulled me so deeply into its narrative of distrust and suspicion that I genuinely did not even initially believe the twist at the end. A brilliant film that truly shocked me. I recommend this film to everyone I meet!

A Quiet Place (2018)

The Quietest Movie Theater Ever

[10/10 · 8 January 2022]

This was hands-down the best film I've ever watched in a movie theater. Typically, at least one or two people in a movie theater are disrespectfully loud or inconsiderate. Not this time. The content of this film lent itself to the single most intense movie theater experience of my life in which every single person in the theater was scared to even make a sound. An absolute thrill.

It Follows (2014)

An Acquired Taste

[9/10 · 8 January 2022]

This film is certainly different than most movies in the horror/thriller genre. While it can be a bit odd at times, I will give it credit because I spent several hours watching my back and refusing to close my eyes after the film ended. It's not the jump-scare type of horror. It's the "scare you from the inside-out" type of horror. The concept was excellently relentless. I greatly enjoyed it.

Inception (2010)

A Rollercoaster For Your Mind

[10/10 · 8 January 2022]

I am thankful I did not watch this movie at a movie theater. I watched it at home and had to pause it numerous times to think through everything I was seeing/hearing. It's a lot to keep up with...but it is a spectacular film.

The Chosen (2017– )

"For You Are a Chosen People..."

[10/10 · 8 January 2022]

This series excels in areas that most Christian movies/shows seem to fail. It sets a high standard for itself and consistently reaches that standard. Nearly every episode ended with me in tears considering the beauty, grace, love, mercy, justice, and power of the gospel. Absolutely brilliant. A must watch for believers and non-believers alike.

Don't Look Up (2021)

Properly Frustrating

[8/10 · 8 January 2022]

I found this movie to be incredibly frustrating, and I believe that is the point of the entire film. So, with that said, well done "Don't Look Up". Also, Leonardo DiCaprio can seemingly play any character across any genre convincingly.

Tenet (2020)

Did You Hear What He Said??

[8/10 · 8 January 2022]

Perhaps I would have enjoyed this movie much more had I watched it somewhere with Closed Captioning turned on. Alas, I watched it at a movie theater. While I found the concept and storyline of the film to be brilliant, the sound design lead to many instances in which characters were talking, and despite my best efforts to focus on their conversations, I could not understand a single word they were saying because the background noise was so much louder than the dialogue.

Squid Game (2021– )

Incredibly Entertaining

[9/10 · 8 January 2022]

My goodness...this show brilliantly took me down a path of horrors. Each episode digging deeper into terrible situations. And just when you think things can't get much worse, they do. But I loved nearly every second of it. Warning: One of the episodes definitely gave my girlfriend an anxiety attack.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Goofy Guardians

[5/10 · 8 January 2022]

This was definitely my least favorite MCU movie so far. I'm sure it was intended for a different audience than the group I must be a part of. I prefer my superhero movies be a bit more serious, but I understand that this movie is intended to be more light-hearted.

The Revenant (I) (2015)

Raw. Realistic. Revenant.

[8/10 · 8 January 2022]

This movie is intensely realistic. You really get an unrelenting feeling of everything the main characters are having to endure. Brutal at times. A truly enjoyable watch.

Silence (I) (2016)

Endurance Required

[6/10 · 8 January 2022]

I remember watching this movie in the movie theater late at night. While I knew it would be nearly 3 hours in length, this movie felt more like 4 hours long. I suppose that was the point so we would have to endure like the main characters were having to endure, but man...this required some serious endurance.

It (I) (2017)

It Is What It Is

[5/10 · 8 January 2022]

Perhaps I went into this movie with the wrong expectation that it would be a horror movie. I did not find it to be even the least bit unsettling. However, I do know quite a few other people who genuinely enjoyed the film.

The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

The Cabin of Clichés

[8/10 · 8 January 2022]

It's best to go into this movie having no idea what it's about - like I did. I believe this method lends itself to a greater appreciation of what the movie truly is.

Cloverfield (2008)

Motion Sickness Warning

[6/10 · 8 January 2022]

I genuinely enjoyed this movie and found its concept to be interesting. However, I do know some other people who have not enjoyed the shaky camera style.

Casino Royale (2006)

Poker, Poker, and more Poker

[4/10 · 8 January 2022]

If you enjoy watching special agents play poker for extended periods of time, you might enjoy this movie. This movie felt incredibly long, and when I thought the movie was finally coming to a close, there was still an additional 20-40 minutes remaining.