Missing (2023) - Mini-Review

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Missing (2023) - Mini-Review

Directed by: Will Merrick, Nick Johnson

Written by: Will Merrick, Nick Johnson

Starring: Storm Reid, Joaquim de Almeida, Ken Leung, Amy Landecker, Daniel Henney, Nia Long

Runtime: 111 min

Synopsis: When her mother disappears while on vacation in Colombia with her new boyfriend, June's search for answers is hindered by international red tape. Stuck thousands of miles away in Los Angeles, June creatively uses all the latest technology at her fingertips to try and find her before it's too late. But as she digs deeper, her digital sleuthing raises more questions than answers...

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Alice, Darling (2023) - Review

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Alice, Darling (2023) - Review

Directed by: Mary Nighy

Written by: Alanna Francis

Starring: Anna Kendrick, Kaniehtiio Horn, Charlie Carrick, Wunmi Mosaku

Runtime: 90 min

Synopsis: Alice (Anna Kendrick) is a woman pushed to the breaking point by her psychologically abusive boyfriend, Simon (Charlie Carrick). While on vacation with two close girlfriends, Alice rediscovers the essence of herself and gains some much-needed perspective. Slowly, she starts to fray the cords of codependency that bind her. But Simon's vengeance is as inevitable as it is shattering - and, once unleashed, it tests Alice's strength, her courage, and the bonds of her deep-rooted friendships.

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JUNG_E (2023) - Review

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JUNG_E (2023) - Review

Directed by: Yeon Sang-ho

Written by: Yeon Sang-ho

Starring: Kang Soo-yeon, Kim Hyun-joo, Ryu Kyung-soo

Runtime: 98 min

Synopsis: In a post-apocalyptic near-future, a researcher at an AI lab leads the effort to end a civil war by cloning the brain of a heroic soldier - her mother.

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M3GAN (2023) - Review

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M3GAN (2023) - Review

Directed by: Gerard Johnstone

Written by: Akela Cooper

Starring: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ronny Chieng, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Jen Van Epps, Lori Dungey, Stephane Garneau-Monten

Runtime: 102 min

Synopsis: M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll programmed to be a child's greatest companion and a parent's greatest ally. Designed by brilliant toy-company roboticist Gemma (Allison Williams), M3GAN can listen and watch and learn as she becomes friend and teacher, playmate and protector, for the child she is bonded to. When Gemma suddenly becomes the caretaker of her orphaned 8-year-old niece, Cady (Violet McGraw), Gemma's unsure and unprepared to be a parent. Under intense pressure at work, Gemma decides to pair her M3GAN prototype with Cady in an attempt to resolve both problems - a decision that will have unimaginable consequences.

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Mini-Reviews - 2022 Edition

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Mini-Reviews - 2022 Edition

Usually, I prepare this type of article near the end of each year and upload mini-reviews that I have in store for a few films I didn't have time to write a full opinion piece on. I'm going to do things differently in 2022 so that I can publish my thoughts on every movie I see this year without missing a single one.

Therefore, this article will contain the same concise opinions you've seen in other pieces like this. Small reviews of some movies I can't afford the time to write 800+ words on due to external situations that might occur in my life. In most cases, these are going to be films that won't have that much of an impact on my year-end reflection of the best movies I've seen in 2022.

This section will be updated each time I add a new entry, as well as its date of publication, so these compact opinions can be seen by everyone at any time.

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Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) - SPOILER-FREE Review

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Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) - SPOILER-FREE Review

Directed by: James Cameron

Written by: James Cameron, Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver

Starring: Zoe Saldaña, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement, Kate Winslet

Runtime: 192 min

Synopsis: Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, the sequel tells the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure.

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Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022) - SPOILER-FREE Review

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Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022) - SPOILER-FREE Review

Directed by: Guillermo del Toro, Mark Gustafson

Written by: Guillermo del Toro, Patrick McHale

Starring: Ewan McGregor, David Bradley, Gregory Mann, Burn Gorman, John Turturro, Ron Perlman, Finn Wolfhard, Cate Blanchett, Tim Blake Nelson, Christoph Waltz, Tilda Swinton

Runtime: 117 min

Synopsis: Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson reimagine the classic Carlo Collodi tale of the fabled wooden boy with a whimsical tour de force that finds Pinocchio (Gregory Mann) on an enchanted adventure that transcends worlds and reveals the life-giving power of love.

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Violent Night (2022) - SPOILER-FREE Review

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Violent Night (2022) - SPOILER-FREE Review

Directed by: Tommy Wirkola

Written by: Pat Casey, Josh Miller

Starring: David Harbour, John Leguizamo, Cam Gigandet, Alex Hassell, Alexis Louder, Leah Brady, Edi Patterson, Beverly D'Angelo

Runtime: 111 min

Synopsis: When a team of mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage, the team isn't prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (David Harbour) is on the grounds, and he's about to show why this Nick is no saint.

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Devotion (2022) - SPOILER-FREE Review

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Devotion (2022) - SPOILER-FREE Review

Directed by: J. D. Dillard

Written by: Jake Crane, Jonathan A. H. Stewart

Starring: Jonathan Majors, Glen Powell, Christina Jackson, Joe Jonas, Nick Hargrove, Spencer Neville, Thomas Sadoski

Runtime: 138 min

Synopsis: An aerial war epic based on the bestselling book of the same name, which tells the harrowing true story of two elite US Navy fighter pilots during the Korean War. Their heroic sacrifices would ultimately make them the Navy's most celebrated wingmen.

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The Woman King (2022) - SPOILER-FREE Review

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The Woman King (2022) - SPOILER-FREE Review

Directed by: Gina Prince-Bythewood

Written by: Dana Stevens

Starring: Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, John Boyega

Runtime: 135 min

Synopsis: The story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s with skills and a fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen. Inspired by true events, The Woman King follows the emotionally epic journey of General Nanisca (Viola Davis) as she trains the next generation of recruits and readies them for battle against an enemy determined to destroy their way of life. Some things are worth fighting for...

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