Recently Watched Movies 2026

[HuskyHawk]

I'm reading the book now. I'm maybe five chapters in. So far, it's a very good. The whole mystery/flashback thing is very well done.

I have the book on hold at the library. Not sure if others use Libby for ebooks. It can be frustrating if you're binging a series but it's great for one-offs.

 

[CL82]

I have the book on hold at the library. Not sure if others use Libby for ebooks. It can be frustrating if you're binging a series but it's great for one-offs.

For a while, I did a lot of e-books on my tablet, but lately I've gone retro and reading the paper versions. Both work, but for whatever reason, I prefer paper at least for the time being.

 

[HuskyHawk]

For a while, I did a lot of e-books on my tablet, but lately I've gone retro and reading the paper versions. Both work, but for whatever reason, I prefer paper at least for the time being.

I got a new color kindle at Christmas (3rd or 4th one), which I prefer to either paper or a tablet. Easy on the eyes like paper, doesn't sap melatonin, easier to hold, can adjust fonts, backlit so you can read without a light on. Been reading more since I got it.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Transformers. Needed something to do, and the preview had an Austin Healy I didn't remember. This is honestly not a bad movie. Certainly the best of the series. Shia Labeouf (worst name in Hollywood history) is reasonably believable as an awkward teen. Megan Fox is probably as sexy as any woman has ever been on screen. They had to be misting her, she glistens. Several good actors in supporting roles. Lots of action, simple plot, it's a classic Saturday Matinee movie.

 

[nwhoopfan]

"Thrash" (Netflix, just released). I was expecting B grade, this was more like D grade. Not quite as zany and over the top as Sharknado, but this made the mistake of taking itself somewhat seriously. It shouldn't have. Or it should have been made better. Huge storm nails a small coastal town, tidal surge floods everything. An army of ravenous bull sharks rides the waves and instantly devours anything that hits the water. Other than main characters wearing plot armor. I always like Djimon Hounsou, he did what he could with this tripe. How did they talk Phoebe Dynevor into this (and also, is her entire career going to be Netflix streaming content?)? She spent about half of the movie crying and screaming pinned by a tree limb in her car as flood waters rose around her. Spent the other half crying and screaming due to labor pains. And I'd been impressed by Alyla Browne in several movies before, but she had basically nothing to work with in this. Just a terrible movie. But hey they set themselves up for a sequel, oh boy.

 

[HuskyHawk]

"Thrash" (Netflix, just released). I was expecting B grade, this was more like D grade. Not quite as zany and over the top as Sharknado, but this made the mistake of taking itself somewhat seriously. It shouldn't have. Or it should have been made better. Huge storm nails a small coastal town, tidal surge floods everything. An army of ravenous bull sharks rides the waves and instantly devours anything that hits the water. Other than main characters wearing plot armor. I always like Djimon Hounsou, he did what he could with this tripe. How did they talk Phoebe Dynevor into this (and also, is her entire career going to be Netflix streaming content?)? She spent about half of the movie crying and screaming pinned by a tree limb in her car as flood waters rose around her. Spent the other half crying and screaming due to labor pains. And I'd been impressed by Alyla Browne in several movies before, but she had basically nothing to work with in this. Just a terrible movie. But hey they set themselves up for a sequel, oh boy.

Ironically, I looked at that one and passed before watching Transformers. I'm a bit of a shark guy, but it just seemed like too much.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The Housemaid. 2025, Syndney Sweeney is Millie the maid. Brandon Sklenar is like the most handsome dude alive and is the husband of Amanda Siegfried who hires Sweeney. They own a big house in NJ and Sweeney is desperate for a job. Now why would any wife hire Sweeney as a live in maid? This is an old school psychological thriller. There are twists, some you expect, maybe not all. It’s well done. Can’t say more without ruining it but this is fun and enjoyable. Absolutely love the ending.

 

[CL82]

I have the book on hold at the library. Not sure if others use Libby for ebooks. It can be frustrating if you're binging a series but it's great for one-offs.

Finished up Project Hail Mary. I enjoyed the book, though I wonder how well it translates to the screen. Is it worth seeing in theaters?

 

[HuskyHawk]

Finished up Project Hail Mary. I enjoyed the book, though I wonder how well it translates to the screen. Is it worth seeing in theaters?

Absolutely. Best movie I've seen in some times.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Dust Bunny. Mads Mickelson and a very plastic Sigourney Weaver, plus a little girl Sophie Sloan who is excellent as Aurora. Aurora fears the monster under her bed. It looks like a dust bunny. Her parents tell her not to worry, but then stuff happens. She enlists the services of her intriguing neighbor Mickelson, to kill the monster. This is beautifully filmed in a location that sometimes looks like a fantasy city, but is supposed to be the U.S. it’s offbeat and weird and you aren’t sure what is really going on. We all enjoyed it.

It's on HBO Max now, I just watched. It's definitely odd. Not really sure what to make of it. It's unique, that's for sure. I did enjoy it.

 

[superjohn]

Anniversary- I remember seeing a trailer for this a while ago and then totally forgot about it because it was marketed terribly and was a box office flop. Best newish movie I've seen this year. Way better than Sinners and some of the other stuff that got the full Hollywood push and won awards. It's on Hulu.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Anniversary- I remember seeing a trailer for this a while ago and then totally forgot about it because it was marketed terribly and was a box office flop. Best newish movie I've seen this year. Way better than Sinners and some of the other stuff that got the full Hollywood push and won awards. It's on Hulu.

I was curious about that when I first saw a trailer. Great cast. I don't have Hulu. Still waiting to see it.

 

[nwhoopfan]

"Apex" is new on Netflix. Charlize Theron is an adrenaline junkie/outdoor rec enthusiast. Boyfriend Eric Bana dies in a climbing accident at the beginning (come on it's not a spoiler, you can tell something is gonna go wrong right from the beginning of the scene). Goes to clear her head kayaking a remote river in Australia. Runs into complete nutjob Taron Egerton, who is stalking her in the wilderness. Gets pretty gnarly in a few spots.

 

[Marat]

I saw the Michael Jackson movie yesterday. His nephew did an amazing job of portraying him. I was impressed.

 

[CL82]

Absolutely. Best movie I've seen in some times.

I saw the movie this weekend and it was solid. I'm glad I read the book first because there's a lot of stuff they kind of breeze over.

I would preferred if they took out the added content and stayed closer to the book. I don't need the "holo deck", the tour of the Edani ship or the Eva Stratt karaoke. I don't feel like any of those really advanced the plot. I would've rather seen them take more time with Grace figuring out where he is, learning to work the ship, etc... and more time with the incremental nature of their experiments with the Astrophaige. That would've slowed the pacing a bit, but I feel like it would've made the payoff greater when they figure everything out.

That's just nitpicking though. It's still a good movie and worth watching.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Crime 101. Amazon. Big case, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, Halle Berry, Nick Nolte and one of my personal faves, Monica Barbaro. Hemsworth is a thief working in LA, he's super cautious, plans and executes meticulously and never hurts anyone. Ruffalo is a detective who has kind of figured out that these disconnected crimes are by one guy. Nobody in the department believes him. Halle Berry works for an insurance company analyzing risk and insurable events. Nolte is Hemsworth's contact/fence. This is pretty crisp and it holds your interest. I found the ending a little disappointing but overall can recommend.

 

[Palatine]

I saw the Michael Jackson movie yesterday. His nephew did an amazing job of portraying him. I was impressed.

I saw Michael as well. The kid who portrays 10-year old Michael is amazing. His dancing is crazy and the voice (I think it was enhanced and blended with Jackson's real voice), especially when he is in the booth with Barry Gordie is even more amazing. If you don't like his music , you will not like this film. But I really like his stuff and sitting in a theater with giant speakers blasting out the tunes is worth the price of admission. The story is a cleaned up version of his life and it ends before he buys NEVERLAND. But it gives you a sense of who he was and where he came from. Colman Domingo, who plays his dad, brings the heat. Enjoyed it.

 

[nwhoopfan]

Finally saw Predator Badlands. Definitely not what I expected. They did a good job of not really revealing much of anything in the trailers. I enjoyed it.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Novocaine. Stairs Jack Quaid as Nathan Caine, a bank manager who has a genetic disorder and cannot feel any pain. He falls for Sherry (Amber Midthunder from Prey) who works at the bank. The bank is robbed, she is taken hostage. So Caine goes after the guys to retrieve her and because he can't feel pain, takes an enormous amount of physical abuse in the process. This is where you suspend disbelief, because pain or no pain, concussions occur and damage can limit your abilities. Still this is fun once you get past that and quite humorous at times. Quaid is really perfect for this role.

@CL82 my mind immediately went to the parallels of the Winter Mantle effects on Dresden and this is somewhat similar.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Finally saw Predator Badlands. Definitely not what I expected. They did a good job of not really revealing much of anything in the trailers. I enjoyed it.

When I heard Elle Fanning was in it, I thought "what?". The most sweet, cute, kindly woman in Hollywood in a Predator movie? But she nails it.

 

[CL82]

Novocaine. Stairs Jack Quaid as Nathan Caine, a bank manager who has a genetic disorder and cannot feel any pain. He falls for Sherry (Amber Midthunder from Prey) who works at the bank. The bank is robbed, she is taken hostage. So Caine goes after the guys to retrieve her and because he can't feel pain, takes an enormous amount of physical abuse in the process. This is where you suspend disbelief, because pain or no pain, concussions occur and damage can limit your abilities. Still this is fun once you get past that and quite humorous at times. Quaid is really perfect for this role.

@CL82 my mind immediately went to the parallels of the Winter Mantle effects on Dresden and this is somewhat similar.

Thanks for reminding me about this movie. I've been thinking about watching it.