90s Movie Review - Good Will Hunting

Director: Gus Van Sant
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 126 minutes
Year: 1997
Starring: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Minnie Driver, Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, Stellan Skarsgård
Description: A therapist (Robin Williams) counsels Will Hunting (Matt Damon), a janitor with e genius IQ.

Review: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are big names now, but in 1997 that was not the case. “Good Will Hunting” was a real career starter for the two. They don’t only star in the movie, they wrote the screenplay as well. And for the last, they won an Academy Award.

We meet Will Hunting, a janitor at Harvard who also happens to have a very high IQ. While in mandatory sessions with therapist Sean Maguire, Will is clear about the fact that he doesn’t have any ambition of doing anything with his intelligence.

Matt Damon and Robin Williams’ performances are central to the film. Together they portray a beautiful and believable friendship. The two actors are very well attuned to each other and the scenes between them are the backbone of the film. Both performances are amazing, and Williams deservedly won an Academy Award for it.

The film is character driven, the plot comes second. It takes some time to develop. Will’s struggle between choosing for himself and what others expect of him is portrayed in a beautiful way.

The story grabs you and doesn’t let you go, yet the film isn’t too heavy. This combination is hard to find. It’s been a while since I last watched it, but after the rewatch I realized how much I really love this film.

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Review - The Roses

Director: Jay Roach

Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 2025
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Olivia Colman, Andy Samberg, Kate McKinnon, Ncuti Gatwa, Sunita Mani, Allison Janney
 
Description: A tinderbox of competition and resentments underneath the façade of a picture-perfect couple is ignited when the husband’s professional dreams come crashing down.
 
Review: It is not uncommon for a remake of a film to be given a slightly different title. However, int the case of “The Roses”, the difference says it all. Danny DeVito’s 1989 original was called “The War of the Roses”, and that war, the (literal) divorce battle that took up most of the film, is merely the dessert in this new version.

Back then the stars were Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, now they are Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman. Two actors who know how to handle both the verbal and physical dimension of comedy and who thoroughly enjoy their roles.

Some of the dialogue hits home. At one point, Andy Samberg’s character Barry says “When we were younger, I knew what she was going to say before she said it. Now I don’t know what she’s said after she’s said it.” This feels like something many couples might go though after being together for a long time.

Sometimes you really want a film to live up to your expectations. But a quarter of the way through “The Roses”, you know that’s not happening. It’s understandable that the film needs an introduction. But for at least half of the film, we watch a happy marriage. It’s just like any other romcom. Their marriage is then slowly falling apart, before it finally comes to an outrages divorce battle.  

No complaints about Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman, both great, together and apart. Andy Samberg and Kate McKinnon, who play friends Barry and Amy, are give little funny material. A waste of comedic talent I would say.

It was still and entertaining film. This is mainly because of the two leads. I expected a more raw, tragicomic film about a broken marriage. But we got a pretty standard romcom with some dark humor at the end.

Rating: 3/ 5

10s Movie Review - The True History of the Kelly Gang

Director: Justin Kurzel
Genre: Crime/ Action/ Drama
Runtime: 124 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: George MacKay, Essie Davis, Nicholas Hoult, Charlie Hunnam, Russell Crowe

Description: Australian bushranger Ned Kelly (George MacKay) and his gang flee from authorities during the 1870s.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 39: A FILM WITH RUSSELL CROWE
 
Review: The story tells the rise of Australian bushranger Ned Kelly and his gang in the 19^th century.
The film has a really strong opening. We see the storyline of Ned growing up. This is the most compelling part of the story. The film has a bold tone and the visuals are beautiful. And the performances are good (Essie Davis and Charlie Hunnam in particular).

The second half really didn’t work for me. It’s less compelling, with less interesting dialogue and a general feeling of emptiness. The modern clothing feels a bit out of place in this historical setting. And the film sometimes feels fragmented, which doesn’t make the story flow smoothly. And the movie just didn’t grab me, especially in that second half.

This movie was not at all what I expected and I was a bit disappointed. Strong start, disappointing finish. A waste of great talent.

Rating: 2,5 / 5

Movie Review - Weapons

Director: Zach Cregger
Genre: Horror/ mystery
Runtime: 128 minutes
Year: 2025
Starring: Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Benedict Wong, Alden Ehrenreich, Amy Madigan, Justin Long
 
Description: When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.
 
Review: “Weapons” is a horror film directed by Zach Cregger, who also made “Barbarian”. This movie really surprised me with its originality and shocking twists. “Weapons” is no different.

At the start of the movie, we learn that all but one kid from the same class have disappeared. They all vanished at the exact same time in the middle of the night.

The film has a complex, non-linear structure in which the story is told from different points of view. This makes the film unpredictable and captivating. It has a mix of horror and thriller, with elements of dark comedy. It constantly balances tension, terror and humor, avoiding conventional horror tropes.

I praise Zach Cregger for his creative and idiosyncratic storytelling style, which kept me on the edge of my set the entire time. The film is definitely not for everyone and especially towards the end it’s pretty gruesome. It has great performances by Julia Garner and Josh Brolin and I loved the bold approach to the genre.

Please go in with a blank slate, knowing as little as possible about the film. This way the experience is so much better, because it has many unexpected, surprising twists. “Weapons” is unique in its storytelling and content. Get ready to be blown away. My favorite film of 2025 (so far).

Rating: 5/ 5

Book Review - The Family Experiment by John Marrs

Title: The Family Experiment (Dark Future # 5)
Author: John Marrs
Genre: Science Fiction/ Thriller
Published: 2024
 
Description: The world’s population is soaring, creating overcrowded cities and an economic crisis. And in the UK, the breaking point has arrived. A growing number of people can no longer afford to start families, let alone raise them.
 
But for those desperate to experience parenthood, there is an alternative. For a monthly subscription fee, clients can create a virtual child from scratch who they can access via the metaverse and a VR headset. To launch this new initiative, the company behind Virtual Children has created a reality TV show called The Substitute. It will follow ten couples as they raise a Virtual Child from birth to the age of eighteen but in a condensed nine-month time period. The prize: the right to keep their virtual child, or risk it all for the change or a real baby…
 
Review: I have already read “The One” (book one) and “The Marriage Act” (book four) in this series by John Marrs. They can be read out of order, because they are all different stories, with new characters. They are only set in the same universe. An alternate, not so distant future. Events from the other books are always briefly mentioned in the other stories. “The Passengers” is the second book and “The Minders” is book three. I still need to read those.
 
With “The Family Experiment” we enter a dystopian future in which virtual parenting is a thing. The book follows several participants in a reality show who are raising a virtual child. Whoever wins, can either keep their virtual child or win money to raise a real child in the real world. Because in this future it’s become nearly impossible to have a child and raise one, because of the economic crisis.
 
The set-up of the story is very similar to the other two book I read. We follow several POV’s/ storylines of people dealing with the same situation. Regular chapters are interspersed with adds, news bulletins and social media responses, and we also get some scenes from the past. You don’t really get to know what these ‘flashbacks’ have to do with the rest of the story, but the mystery of this makes it more interesting.  
 
The book has many unexpected plot twists. The suspense is compelling and the way each contestant is dealing with the situations is fascinating. The characters are very different, so it’s easy to follow. The amount of characters might be a bit overwhelming for some readers, especially if you’re not used to reading from multiple perspectives.  
 
John Marrs is known for building tension and ends his chapters often in cliffhangers. This makes you want to keep reading. It’s a very fast paced book. I found this book very original and it deals with AI and the dangers of it.
 
If you have enjoyed “The One” or “The Marriage Act”, or are a fan of the anthology series “Black Mirror”, you will most likely enjoy “The Family Experiment” too.
 
Rating: 4,5/ 5

Book Review - Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez

Title: Say You’ll Remember Me (Say You’ll Remember Me # 1)
Author: Abby Jimenez
Genre: Romance/ Contemporary
Published: 2025
 
Description: There might be no such a thing as a perfect guy, but Xavier Rush comes disastrously close. A gorgeous veterinarian giving Greek god vibes – all while cuddling a tiny kitten? Immediately yes. That is until Xavier opens his mouth and proves that even sculpted gods can say the absolute wrong thing. Like, really wrong. Of course, there’s nothing Samantha loves more than proving an asshole wrong…
 
… unless, of course, he can admit he made a mistake. But after one incredible and seemingly endless date – possibly the best in living history – Samantha is forced to admit the truth, that her family is in crisis and any kind of relationship would be impossible. Samantha begs Xavier to forget her. To remember their night together as a perfect moments, as crushins as that may be.
 
Only no amount of distance or time is enarly enough to forget that something between them. And the only thing than one single perfect memory is to make a life – and even a love – worth remembering.
 
Review: “Say You’ll Remember Me” is an emotionally charged romantic novel. I stated before that I’m not much of a romance reader, but somehow these romance books, with a lot of emotional topics by Abby Jimenez have worked for me.
 
This book tells the story of Samantha and Xavier, who have one amazing date. But when Samantha is leaving, to take care of her mother miles away from Xavier, it makes an actual romance impossible. You might say….
 
Reviews for this book were mixed, so I was a bit skeptical. But I really enjoyed it. It has depth, humor and warmth. And I love the emotional load, especially from Samantha’s storyline. Dealing with her mom, who suffers from dementia and Samantha trying to take care of her. The harsh reality of life really touched me, since I had a grandmother who suffered from this. It hits close to home.
 
The hopeful love story really made me smile. I was really rooting for Xavier and Samantha. I liked both characters. Their romance had a rather rapid development, I’m not a fan of those “insta-love” type stories, which felt a bit implausible at times.  This is the only criticism I have. But I loved how they  tried to make it work, while life wasn’t really helping them. And the fact that is was not a pure romcom, made it better for me. This last point might be the reason why many readers don’t like is as much of Jimenez’s other books.  
 
“Say You’ll Remember Me” really moved me, but if you like Abby Jimenez’s previous books you won’t automatically love this one. It’s a romantic story with a heavy theme and emotional depth. And that’s what I loved about it.
 
Rating: 4/ 5

00s Movie Review - Angels & Demons

Director: Ron Howard
Genre: Thriller/ Mystery
Runtime: 138 minutes
Year: 2009
Starring: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Stellan Skarsgård, Ayelet Zurer

Description: Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) works with a nuclear physicist to solve a murder and prevent a terrorist act against the Vatican during one of the significant events within the church.

Review: “Angels & Demons” open with a bang, as well as visual as sound. Director Ron Howard sets the tone to the spectacle we are going to experience. You are overwhelmed with tons of info, see grotesque images of the Vatican and the laboratory of CERN. After that opening, we see Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon for the first time in this film. He is called to the Vatican to help them with the kidnapping of the four preferiti.

The movie has a quick montage and it looks all so impressive. But there is also some room to breathe and reflect. The search for the missing preferiti is exciting, but sometimes a little bit predictable. But overall it’s a well-executed thriller that keeps you on the edge at all times. I loved Tom Hanks in “The Da Vinci Code” but also in “Angels & Demon” (okay, I love Tom Hanks in everything). Ewan McGregor and Stellan Skarsgård are solid supporting actors.

Although I really enjoyed “Angels & Demons”, I prefer “The Da Vinci Code”.

Rating: 5/ 5

00s Movie Review - The Da Vinci Code

Director: Ron Howard
Genre: Mystery/ Thriller
Runtime: 139 minutes
Year: 2006
Starring: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Paul Bettany, Alfred Molina, Jean Reno

Description: A murder and clues in paintings lead to the discovery of a closely guarded religious mystery

Review: The church wasn’t happy with the book “The Da Vinci Code” by author Dan Brown. But I think the church hates the movie even more, because it’s very detailed, realistic and close to its source material. A plus for director Ron Howard, who gave Browns killer a face, lets the blood visually flow and made the search for the holy grail a mysterious quest. It’s a search full of discoveries, surprises and cliffhangers. Over two hours on the edge of your seat. 

How detailed the movie may be, you can’t be as complete as 429 pages. But there is no need to. Howard used enough references to history from daily life. Why Friday the 13th is an unlucky day for instance. They aren’t flashbacks, it’s like Professor Langdon and Sophie are thinking it all over, to help them with deciphering codes, anagrams and riddles. 

Off course nothing speaks like your imagination. It’s often said that the book is better than the movie, because the characters get a different face than you imaged for instance. But the casting is good. Tom Hanks leads it as Robert Langdon and, as always, does a great job as the leading man. Audrey Tautou convinces as well as Ian McKellen and Jean Reno. But it’s Paul Bettany that steals the show, as Silas. The way he portrayed Silas; possessed, brutal, submissive.

Howard used some modern tricks for the movie. Where Langdon and Sophie use a library database in the book, here they work their way around a pocket computer with wireless internet connection. And the drive in a Smart, that manages to sneak through a gap between two trucks, is also a bit more spectacular than in the book. 

The movie is not as complete as the book, but equally impressive. The movie challenges you to believe, or at least ask yourself questions about it. The truth behind it when it comes to religion and history. For many “The Da Vinci Code” is a collection of factual inaccuracies, but the truth is what you believe. And that’s what Robert Langdon thinks.

Rating: 4/ 5

10s Movie Review - This is 40

Director: Judd Apatow
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 134 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Chris O’Dowd, Megan Fox, John Lithgow, Albert Brooks, Maude Apatow, Iris Apatow, Jason Segel, Lena Dunham

Description: Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Leslie Mann) are both about to turn 40, their kids hate each other, both of their business are failing, they’re on the verge of losing their house, and their relationship is threatening to fall apart.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 38: A FILM WITH LESLIE MANN
 
Review: “This is 40” is a personal dramedy by Judd Apatow, a spin-off of “Knocked Up”, which explores the life of a couple that is about to turn 40.

Although my life is very far from theirs, many things are relatable when it comes to turning 40. The film show everyday family life with honesty and doesn’t shy away from topics like the struggles of parenthood, financial issues and relationships.

It is a comedy and it does have some really fun moments, many of the humor feels a bit juvenile and tasteless. Also, the film is over two hours long, which is way too long for a comedy like this.

I think the film is a mixed bag. I like the relatability of the film, and Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann are really good together. But the runtime is too long, and some of the jokes are questionable.

Rating: 3/ 5

Book Review - Revival by Stephen King

Title: Revival
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Horror/ Thriller/ Fiction
Published: 2014
 
Description: In a small New England town, over half a century ago, a shadow falls over a small boy playing with his toy soldiers. Jamie Morton looks up to see a striking man, the new minister. Charles Jacobs, along with his beautiful wife, will transforms the local church. The men and boys a re all a bit in love with Mrs. Jacobs; the women and girls feel the same about Reverand Jacobs – including Jamies mother and beloved sister Claire. With Jamie, the Reverend shares a deeper bond based on a secret obsession. When tragedy strikes the Jacobs family, this charismatic preacher curses God, mocks all religious belief, and is banished from the shocked town.
 
Jamie has demons of his own. Wed to his guitar from the age of thirteen, he plays in bands across the country, living the nomadic lifestyle of bar-band rock and roll while fleeing from his family’s horrific loss. In his mid-thirties – addicted to heroin, stranded, desperate – Jamie meets Charles Jacobs again, with profound consequences for both men. Their bond becomes a pact beyond even the Devil’s devising, and Jamie discovers that revival has many meanings.
 
Review: Jamie Morton tells his story, of his life when he met Reverend Charles Jacobs. The story takes time to get going. It begins with a detailed description of the lives of Jame and Reverend Jacobs. The evens that lead to their fate are described at length.
 
Stephen King has always been a very descriptive author, with which it’s easy to picture characters, settings and situations. “Revival” is no different. The pace of this story is slow to medium, but I didn’t mind. The characters are so well-written and interesting, that it’s a joy to read about them in great detail.
 
The detailed narrative is convincing, but there is a chance the reader will lose interest because you have no clue where the story is going. It is actual the constant tension that makes you want to continue reading. At first, it feels like a literary novel, but more supernatural and horror elements will enter later in the book.
 
The story has a lot of depth and it’s very clear that King was inspired by books like Frankenstein or the works of H.P. Lovecraft. I believe that this is one of those King books that lots of people don’t know about. I went in with no expectations, but it immediately grabbed me and I enjoyed reading it.
 
Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - Thunderbolts*

Director: Jake Schreier
Genre: Action/ Science Fiction/ Adventure
Runtime: 127 minutes
Year: 2025
Starring: Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Lewis Pullman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Hannah John-Kamen, Olga Kurylenko
 
Description: After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, an unconventional team of antiheroes must go on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.
 
Review: Yelena, Black Widow’s sister, leads and empty and useless existence filled with running errands for the current CIA director, Valentina Alegra de Fontaine. When Yelena is sent to stop a thief who wants to crack a safe containing secrets that must never see the light of day, things turn our differently than expected.

After a short opening scene, which introduce both Yelena’s fighting skills and her depression, Yelena is sent to the safe, located somewhere in the American desert. The film then takes place around that location for over an hour. To keep this interesting, no openings to other dimensions are needed, no do entire areas need to be razed to the ground. The conflict is clear and simple, and the characters are diverse enough for amusing interaction.

In addition to Yelena, we see Taskmaster and The Red Guardian (all three introduced in “Black Widow”), John Walker joins the party as second-hand Captain America, and Bucky Barnes shows up as Winter Soldier. But even if this is your first Marvel movie, it’s pretty clear that these characters have a history.

There is also a character named Bob, introduced as a clumsy, everyday man. But he becomes more important as the story goes along. And Bob is incidentally also a big part of the theme: dealing with depression. This superhero story successfully addresses that subject.

Even though the characters are diverse, we don’t get to know each of them well enough. Ava Starr aka Ghost, for example, stays a bit on the surface. Would’ve liked to get to know her a little better too.
The threat in this film is big, but its only present for a short time. I think the final conflict could have been stretched out. “Thunderbolts” would have benefited from a longer runtime.

The Thunderbolts, being renamed the New Avengers, will be back. And I’m kind of excited about it. I enjoyed “Thunderbolts” a lot more then I expected, I wasn’t really interested when it was announced.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Review - How to Train Your Dragon

Director: Dean DeBlois
Genre: Action/ Fantasy/ Adventure/ Family
Runtime: 125 minutes
Year: 2025
Starring: Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, Nick Frost, Gabriel Howell, Julian Dennison, Bronwyn James, Harry Trevaldwyn, Peter Serafinowicz
 
Description: As an ancient threat endangers both Vikings and dragons alike on the isle of Berk, the friendship between hiccup (Mason Thames), an inventive Viking, and Toothless, a Night Fury dragon, becomes the hey to both species forging a new future together.
 
Review: Fifteen years after the huge success of the animated film “How to Train Your Dragon”, about Vikings battling dragons, the time has come for a remake. A live-action version of that it is. And not all live-action remakes work, just ask Disney. “How to Train Your Dragon” shows that turning an animation into a live-action film can definitely be good.

The original co-director, Dean DeBlois, returns to transform his animated world into a live-action version. And he has done an excellent job. He cast strong actors who closely resemble their animated counterparts, and visually the film looks polished. The high-quality production, costumes, and beautiful location also come into their own under his direction. Clearly, more effort has been put into this than the average remake.

Toothless looks convincingly real, and his bond with Hiccup is once again rock solid. Their friendship is still the beating heart of the film and it will touch the viewers. Composer John Powell is also back to reinforce the movie with his music.

All the ingredients are there, simply because the recipe has remained unchanged for the most part. The fact that it still works so well underlines how timeless the original story is. The end result is therefore solid, although it could come off as lazy, because it’s practically a shot-for-shot copy of the animation. But I rather have a copy of an animated movie that I already love and the live-action being just as great, then that they had made unnecessary changes and the film turned out bad or mediocre. “How to Train Your Dragon” is so fun and I’m not mad about it at all!

Rating: 4,5/ 5

80s Movie Review - This is Spinal Tap

Director: Rob Reiner
Genre: Comedy/ Mockumentary
Runtime: 82 minutes
Year: 1984
Starring: Christopher Guest, Michael McKeen, Rob Reiner, Harry Shearer, Fran Drescher, Ed Begley Jr.

Description: Spinal Tap, one of England’s loudest bands, is chronicled by film director Marty DiBergi on what proves to be a fateful tour.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 37: A FILM FROM 1984
 
Review: In this halrious debut film from director Rob Reiner, we follow the American comeback tour of the fictional rock band Spinal Tap. They are touted by fans as the loudest heavy metal band in the UK.
Absurd stage experiences are interspersed with interviews that start out realistic but invariably end up completely absurd. The band’s nonchalant attitude makes it extra funny. Much of the humor lies in what is not said: a surprised look, or the silence after a strange statement.

What elevates this film above a bland parody is the credibility with which it is presented. Because regardless off all the stories, the life on the road of a rock band is portrayed quite accurately here: the traveling, the hotels, the backstage areas, the tour bus, the stage.

“This is Spinal Tap” is an entertaining, hilarious mockumentary. Some of the songs in this movie are just to die for. Great film.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - The Thursday Murder Club

Director: Chris Columbus
Genre: Mystery/ Comedy/ Crime
Runtime: 118 minutes
Year: 2025
Starring: Helen Mirren, Celia Imrie, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, David Tennant, Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays, Jonathan Pryce, Richard E. Grant
 
Description: Four irrepressible retirees spend their time solving cold case murders for fun, but their casual sleuthing takes a thrilling turn when they find themselves with a real whodunit on their hands.
 
Review: Anyone who has read the bestseller “The Thursday Murder Club”, knows the story: in the fictional English town Fairhaven, the elderly residents of Cooper’s Chase lead a peaceful existence. For some of the seniors, that is too boring, so they get together every Thursday to discuss unsolved murder cases.

To do this, they transform the puzzle room into a small office filled with crime scene photos and clues. As a former secret agent, Elizabeth Best is the natural leader, supported by union representative Ron Ritchie, psychiatrist Ibrahim Arif and nurse Joyce Meadowcroft.

They all have a specialism, which naturally comes in handy during the investigation. When their retirement home is shaken with a real murder of a real estate developer, the foursome suddenly find itself with a brand new murder case on its hands.

Helen Mirren and Ben Kingsley were kind of already in my mind, when I was reading the book (almost 5 books in the series now). Mirren is perfect as Elizabeth and so is Kingsley as Ibrahim. Wasn’t sold on Pierce Brosnan as Ron. I pictured someone like Ray Winstone, but Brosnan is good in his role. He plays his own version of Ron, he is not book Ron. My favorite character in the books is Joyce and Celia Imrie brought her to life in the most perfect way. I love Imrie as Joyce. Still my favorite character.

I love these books, would recommend them any time. And for the most part, Chris Columbus stays true to the source material. There have been changes made, which is always the case with a book to movie adaptation. And I’m fairly okay with them. I’m just not so happy with what they did with the character of Bogdan, towards the end. People who’ve read the book, will probably understand.

I really don’t understand why there are so many negative reviews out there. Many say the film is boring, but they probably found the book boring as well. This movie gave me the same vibe as the book did. The cozy mystery vibes are there. And the cast is amazing! I hope the do all the books (especially number 4), because I’m in!

Rating: 4/ 5

20s Movie Review - Poison

Director: Wes Anderson
Genre: Comedy/ Drama
Runtime: 17 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Dev Patel, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes
Description: When a poisonous snake slithers onto an Englishman's (Benedict Cumberbatch) stomach in India, his associate (Dev Patel) and a doctor (Ben Kinglsey) race to save him.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 36: A FILM WITH BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH
 
Review: “Poison” is a short film by Wes Anderson and an adaptation of a short story by Roald Dahl. We follow Harry Woods, who is lying in bed with a snake on his stomach. His associate and doctor are the ones that need to save him.

“Poison” has the signature Anderson aesthetic and masterful cinematography that we got to know from him. It’s a suspenseful adaptation, with a strong focus in the claustrophobic feel. And Benedict Cumberbatch’s intense and powerful performance makes you feel this even more. Because his characters needs to lay still almost the entire runtime, all he can use is his voice and facial expressions.

Anderson is known for his unique visual style, with an eye for detail and color. This short film ins no different. The explanatory narrative style, done by Dev Patel here, might reduce the tension a bit and might be a bit too much at times. But it does fit Anderson’s style.

“Poison” is a strong example of Wes Anderson’s ability to film the oppression and political undertones of a story, resulting in a visually stunning and suspenseful short film. Fans of his work will appreciate it.

Rating: 4/ 5

Book Review - Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

Title: Just for the Summer (Part of Your World # 3)
Author: Abby Jimenez
Genre: Romance/ Contemporary
Published: 2024
 
Description: Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it’s now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the  second they break up. When a woman slides into his DM’s with the same problem, they come up with a plan: they’ll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their live. It’s a bonkers idea… and it might just work.
 
Emma hadn’t planned that het next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass yp, especially when they get to rent and adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka.
 
It’s supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma’s toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they’re suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected – including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?
 
Review: “Just for the Summer” is the third and final book in the “Part of Your World” trilogy. You can easily read these three books separate from each other, because they all follow different people. But characters from previous books appear in this as well. And it probably makes a bigger impact when you have read the others first.
 
Here we follow Justin, who suffers from a curse, where every girl he dates ends up with the love of her life after she breaks up with him. He comes in contact with Emma, who happens to suffer from the same problem. And they think of the perfect plan: date each other, break up and then find the one. But life has other plans.
 
“Just for the Summer” is a funny, emotional and heartwarming contemporary romance. It has layered characters. What I’ve loved most about Abby Jimenez’s book is that it’s not just a cheesy romance. It deals with realistic characters and has some emotional layers as well. This books deals with themes such as mental health, trauma and parental issues.
 
For both “Part of Your World” and “Yours Truly” I felt a strong connection with the characters. Although I did like Justin and Emma and they had good character development, I never connected with them on the same level as I did with Daniel and Alexis or with Jacob and Brianna.
 
I praise Jimenez for also showing the less glamorous sides of life. Dealing with mental health issues such as anxiety and trauma. For Emma, the relationship with her mother, has always been a struggle. And Jimenez manages to portray this in a very realistic way. It’s heartbreaking.
 
I feel like I wanted more time with the characters at the end, the ending felt a bit rushed. It left me wanting more. This could be a good thing, but in this case it wasn’t.
 
I really liked “Just for the Summer”, but it never lived up to the other two books in this series.
 
Rating: 3,5/ 5