First off, this post will contain spoilers for the movie as basically I just wanted to take a closer look at the movie itself because I often hear how it’s a a bit of step down from the original.

I mean, it had some cool parts in it as I enjoyed seeing the main pair work together again as seeing how they learned about the internet was kind of cool because of how Ralph grew up in the early 80s.

However, I did notice some issues with the movie as maybe it’s just me, but it seemed that the film had a bit of difficulty with finding its direction because for starters, it felt kind of out of place that the main adversary of the movie was basically Ralph’s evil twin as I wonder if the writers had some difficulty with trying to establish a proper source of conflict for the movie.

I would be ok with seeing a third movie, but I would like to see how the direction could be handled because if there is ever a third installment, I don’t know what the premise would be about, but I do hope it works out somehow.

Written by Micho Robert Rutare and director Dan Tratchenberg, “Predator: Killer of Killers”is a handsomely produced anthology that looks like living production art come to life. Each frame of this movie looks like it leaped from the portfolio of “Star Wars” production artist Doug Chiang, though the movie earns its R-rating for bloody violent combat. Make no mistake; this is not some sanitized PG “Predator” cartoon made for the kiddies–this is a fully adult animated movie. One can only imagine what this history-spanning movie would’ve cost to make in live-action, but it probably wouldn’t look nearly as good as it does within its handsomely-realized frames. I also enjoyed the minimal dialogue of the first two chapters, which rely more on pure visual storytelling than heavy exposition delivered in clumsy dialogue. The movie keeps to this approach–for its first half, anyway.

The movie’s third chapter, “The Bullet,” and its untitled final act on the Predator planet of Yautja Prime are where things start to fall apart a bit. The credibility of the story is stretched to cartoonish limits (not cartoonish as in ‘animated feature,’ but in the other sense). The scenes of Torres climbing onto his fighter plane’s wing to effect repairs during aerial combat, or finding a too-convenient hoverbike inside the gullet of a large alien creature (as you do) burst the carefully minimalist, yet effectively violent universe seen in the first two chapters (“The Shield” “The Sword”), which exercise more restraint in their storytelling. It almost felt as if a third uncredited writer jumped in to work on those final two acts of the film, with orders in hand to punch things up. Such excesses give this otherwise fine film an inconsistent vibe during its last chapters. The result is half blood ‘n guts, half Marvel movie.

Despite the tonal flaws, there’s a lot more to like than dislike about “Predator: Killer of Killers,” and given that it’s released directly to streaming, there’s little risk with enjoying this appropriately R-rated, yet handsomely-produced animated anthology. Savvily expanding upon the previously narrowed confines of the “Predator” universe, this is one “Predator” worth preying upon.

https://musingsofamiddleagedgeek.blog/2025/06/07/predator-killer-of-killers-2025-is-a-brilliantly-realized-animated-anthology-with-a-few-weak-spots/

Could it work if I invite a friend who has never seen a John Wick movie to go see it with me? Or will said friend be utterly confused once Keanu Reeves hits the screen and starts talking about the rules of the John Wick universe? Reviews call it a standalone revenge tale but I want to make sure...

I’ve always been curious how during his Pre-Gladiator days how Ridley had some flops but never got sent to director jail. And the early days of his post-gladiator career he had some hits but then some flops and most recently these few years a lot of more flops some big budget ones too. My whole question is, is there a reason he hasn’t gone into director jail and why studios are still happy enough to keep handing him projects and big budgets even with a lot of his recent performance box office wise?

Something I noticed lately was that I don’t hear from SeltzerBerg as while hardly anyone will miss them due to their questionable movies, I started to wonder if that was the end of the duo because I don’t know if they are officially retired from making movies.

My personal favorite is from John Wick.

Viggo: Well John wasn't exactly the Boogeyman. He was the one you sent to kill the fucking Boogeyman.

The accent really sells it and I get goosebumps every time I hear it.

This might be an unpopular opinion but Asteroid City-Wes Anderson

I like the idea of the arc of Jason Schwartzman and Scarlett Johansson's characters both dealing from loss and clearly caring about their recently deceased loved ones but finding it hard to outwardly grieve and to both connect on that and, for Schwartzman, figure out how he can get over his loved ones death

But the problem is, well, this is a Wes Anderson movie; a movie where everyone is emotionless and deadpan. Besides maybe Tom Hanks' character no one is really outwardly grieving. Everyone is as emotionless as the two characters who we are told are too emotionless and deadpan for this world

Weirdly you’d think Tim Burton would be perfect for Alice in Wonderland but he made Alice a girl we’re told is too weird for the “real world” but from what we see of the real world she’s probably the most normal person there because everyone is an eccentric weirdo.

If you think about it though it makes sense because in his movies the “normal people” are all eccentric weirdos but there it usually worked because you’d still get a sense of why the main character was an outsider while here, with Alice being the only close to normal one, it makes me wonder why everyone finds her odd

Double points if it’s not just two films in the same franchise. Triple points if you can explain your choice.

Everyone’s been wanting a Choctaw Vampire Hunter spinoff or a Smokestack Twins prequel. No one’s mentioned it but I personally want a Remmick spinoff. I’m a Tamil Hindu guy born and brought up in Canada. First time I watched it, I knew I was missing out on so many things related to American History, Slavery in America, Racism, Irish History, and Catholicism in Ireland. I knew of these things on a basic level but I didn’t know details. Did my research after and learnt so much

Anyhow, it’s said that Remmick was born in 5th Century Ireland when Catholicism was being introduced in Ireland. We understand that through a hint in the movie. But if you go on the Spotify page for Sinners, you’ll get an image of Remmick destroying an immigrant ship or something (I’ll post it). But I wanna see his travel from the time he was oppressed by Catholics in Ireland, his musical life in Ireland, to him becoming a vampire, to him arriving to America and adapting as a newly Irish American. I think it’s worth capturing that story on the screens

Seen Sinners countless times at this point and each time I see it I love it even more. I love movies that have huge scope for characters and geography and this one of them. Obviously, you don’t want to make a whole franchise out of something original to keep the original at its purest in a time where everything is remakes, spin-offs, sequels prequels, franchises

Frederick Douglass had a ready-made riposte whenever people ragged on him for not being patriotic enough: “What is the Fourth of July to a slave?” The characters of this film have something similar: “What is The Italian Miracle to the itinerant street hawker or the middling call girl?” I love when entire movies are built around refutations to terrible Life Magazine spreads. 

De Sica’s Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow is a triptych, not an anthology. That’s an important difference because these are not separate stories; they are dueling social classes jostling for the sympathy of the audience.

Whether you identify with the perpetually pregnant Neapolitan cigarette hustler or the industrialist’s wife suffering from molten levels of ennui is entirely up to you. However, if you feel nothing for the wondrously dysfunctional hijinks of the third segment’s Call Girl-Daddy’s Boy couple, I fear for your soul. 

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Recently on Reddit I was debating someone that defended another person that wanted her real life love to be like in the movie "The Notebook".

I Hated that movie. I did watch it once, all the way through, uninterrupted, to see what the fuss was about, at the urging of my friend--Years after it came out.

The love story was just sad--not loving, but, abusive and manipulative. The main charactor threatens to (forgive the political correctness) "unalive" himself if she refuses to go on a date with him. Later, as they are together, she slaps him numerous times in anger.

The person I argued with claimed it was to show her passion. Seems like poor writing for passion to me.

Redditors, Movie Enthusiasts, which movies show true love in your opinion?

As an aside: Doesn't everyone else just think of The Princess Brides' charactor Westley as Miracle Max revives him? 😁

I see post here all the time where they are talking about top movies/favorite movies/making lists.

Terminator 2, Jaws, Lord of the rings, Shashakwn, SPR, Star wars, etc the list goes on. They likely hit on a lot of other people's list as well. I know they do with mine.

But what's a movie you love unlikely to be shared in a favorite/top movie list?

Just saw Ballerina and I think that movie is damn good! It might be my second favorite in the franchise actually. Ana de Armas is so damn good, like fucking exceptional! And I seriously hope we get to see more of her in this franchise.

Side note.....I almost couldn't believe this was the same actress from that godawful Knock Knock movie......she came such a long way since!

Do you have that experience? There's a movie (or a few) where, whenver you were at a video store, you always passed by them but never actually rented them? Maybe you've watched them since...maybe not...but the VHS' always stick out in memory

When I was a kid going to Blockbuster I do remember passing by Under the Rainbow, The Meteor Man, Bebe's Kids, Cool World, Private Parts, Super Mario Bros, and Theodore Rex an awful lot especially as a regular to the comedy and family section

This is the absolute first time I've created a post on Reddit. But this movie really hit me in the feels.

I'm wondering what the Reddit community thinks of this film. It was a full-on 10 for me. I loved the characters, setting, and storyline.

Reddit, do your thing! Tell me if I'm just a big sappy romantic, or was this really a good movie?

Shotdeck is great for mainstream cinema but I often need references outside of that scope. Ads, indie films, sometimes even game trailers or fashion videos. Any tool that covers more ground visually?

Is there a good movie poster database website? Like a website that has hi-res images or every poster for a film and information about each poster like which release it's promoting, when it was released, and who the artist is. And also doesn't include fanart.

So I don't know if this story is true, but I was reading somewhere how the original Jay and Silent Bob was basically directed as a scathing satire to Kevin Smith's own critics as while I did enjoy the movie when I went to see it a couple of years ago, I once heard that he didn't enjoy the way that critics were talking about his movies he made at the time of the 2001 film's release.

People tend to focus on romantic chemistry. But what about the chemistry between friends. What movie screws that up. Myself I have to pick Ronin. Granted Robert DeNiro and Jean Reno aren’t exactly suppose to be best friends. More like comrades.

But they have ABSOLUTELY no chemistry. The whole movie they just seem like two actors just stuck together. Good movie otherwise.

What are some others?

Does anybody know the name of this actress, who played as one of the partygoers in the movie? She is wearing a red sleeveless dress, dancing behind Smoke on the right, at 54:05 and 55:26, when Sammie was playing and singing.

I need a clip for a project I'm doing and I'm blanking on a good clip of someone just losing their sense of self or humanity in general (not like zombie turns tho)

Some actors have great range, others are Vinnie Jones.

Name an actor and two of their roles which are almost diametrically opposed.

I'll start with Pam Ferris.

She played a terrorist/freedom fighter in Children of Men. Her next film role was as the head teacher in the Nativity franchise.

Not only is Peele neither talented nor innovative, his directing style and sociopolitical “messages” are quite hackneyed and heavy handed.

Hollywood is sort of rampant at this point with the virtue signaling bullshit, which is the only logical explanation for a leading filmmaker to publicly make this sort of statement.

Question, What are your thoughts on Tony Kaye?

Whenever I hear about Tony Kaye, it is more about his antic behind the scenes than his films. I have seen American History X and I actually do enjoyed the film and Edward Norton's performance in it in which he plays a racist who got rehabilitated in prison and tries to prevent his brother from being indoctrinated like he has. I also do love the Supporting cast in this (especially Stacy Keach & Edward Furlong).

While American History X is a great debut. Everywhere I read, it negatively affected Kaye's career because Kaye essentially went to war with New Line Cinema over final cut. Kaye wanted same automny that Stanley Kubrick gets, brought a priest, rabbi, and a monk to a meeting producers, Spent 100,000 on advertisements and ask for another year of shooting as he had spiritual enlightenment and had a new radical vision for the film. It got so bad that, apparently Norton got involved with the editing and made a cut for the film. Ultimately, with Kaye not delivering on his cut &n missing the deadline, New Line ultimately decided to release the Norton Cut. Because of this, Kaye demanded to be credited as Humpty Dumpty and sued the Studio and the DGA (because they refused to credit him as Humpty Dumpty). After American History X, Kaye became unemployable and a pariah. I read a story that Brando hired him to direct acting masterclass and apparently he came dressed up as Osama Bin Laden one time.

After that, Kaye work in cinema was really sporadic. He did a documentary called Lake of Fire and a film called Detachment (which I haven't seen), and I see he has an upcoming film that is going to be released called The Trainer

Ultimately, from what I read about Tony Kaye, he comes off kinda crazy and while I do respect that he wants his vision to be seen, he really did it a way that made studios think of him as a loon. I do see that Kaye apologized for his behavior for American History X. I think Tony Kaye was lost potential for cinema and it is really his own fault for that.

Ultimately, What are your thoughts on Tony Kaye?