December 2025

[Lord_Lyndon]

Just a quick reply to Rax regarding his last post on my thread from last year. Sorry it took me so long, Rax, but I wasn't very well in the last couple of months unfortunately.
It's a shame that you didn't like One Battle After Another, Rax. I remembered how you said that PTA films don't do much for you, so I guess this film was not an exception. If I remember correctly, Hard Eight (1996) is your favourite PTA film, so I guess his first film still remains your favourite from him. And, of course, the alternative title of that film is 'Sydney'. Cute coincidence.

Anyway, I saw 8 more films in December. 6 new films (4 of those are Anya Taylor-Joy films) and 2 rewatches. Now I've seen 14 films Anya was in.

83. The Gorge (2025; Scott Derrickson) 8/10
This film successfully combines so many different genres: sci-fi, horror, action, mystery, romance, even a little bit of comedy. It was entertaining and visually stunning. Anya and Miles Teller were good as both romantic couple and action heroes.

84. Marrowbone (2017; Sergio G. Sánchez) 8/10
It is a good mystery/crime film. Good performances from George MacKay and Anya.

85. Thoroughbreds (2017; Cory Finley) 8/10
Basically Heathers meets American Psycho, which means it's a dark teen film with some social commentary. I liked Cory Finley's cold and clinical direction. Anya was really great in this.

86. The Thin Red Line (1998; Terrence Malick) 10/10
I really loved how Terry combined intense battle sequences with more philosophical/meditative scenes. I really think this is one for the greatest films of all time.

87. The Northman (2022; Robert Eggers) 8/10
It's a very good revenge story with some stunning cinematography. Anya is in this too, but I agree with Gendo that Nicole Kidman stood out performance-wise.

88. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019; Céline Sciamma) 8.5/10
This film is a beautiful work of art which explores the connection between art and love. Highly recommended.

89. The Fellowship of the Ring (2001; Peter Jackson) 9/10
Still a wonderful fantasy adventure with stunning visuals and my favourite of the trilogy.

90. The Brutalist (2024; Brady Corbet) 8/10
Good movie. Loved the pacing and cinematography. I really think Brady Corbet did a great job in the directing department. I guess the acting was good too.

[Gendo]

As you may have seen, I also watched The Thin Red Line last month. Unfortunately my feelings on it are quite different. I may just not really like Malick's overall style; I'll be giving him another chance soon with The New World.

[Lord_Lyndon]

As you may have seen, I also watched The Thin Red Line last month. Unfortunately my feelings on it are quite different. I may just not really like Malick's overall style; I'll be giving him another chance soon with The New World.

I hope you will find something to like in The New World. I really love that movie.
Also check out his first two films:
Badlands (1973)
Days of Heaven (1978)
They are not long (both are roughly 1 hour 30 minutes in length) and they are somewhat different in style from his subsequent films IMO.

[Raxivace]

Sorry to hear you got sick Lyndon.

It's a shame that you didn't like One Battle After Another, Rax. I remembered how you said that PTA films don't do much for you, so I guess this film was not an exception. If I remember correctly, Hard Eight (1996) is your favourite PTA film, so I guess his first film still remains your favourite from him. And, of course, the alternative title of that film is 'Sydney'. Cute coincidence.

Yeah Hard Eight being willing to just be little genre film causes it to hold up better I think.

90. The Brutalist (2024; Brady Corbet) 8/10
Good movie. Loved the pacing and cinematography. I really think Brady Corbet did a great job in the directing department. I guess the acting was good too.

I had to split this up over two days (Stopping at the intermission), and I don't know why but the movie just completely lost me in that second half. Just could not get back into it at all- not sure if it was movie's fault or if I just was in bad mood that second day or what.

[Lord_Lyndon]

Sorry to hear you got sick Lyndon.

It's a shame that you didn't like One Battle After Another, Rax. I remembered how you said that PTA films don't do much for you, so I guess this film was not an exception. If I remember correctly, Hard Eight (1996) is your favourite PTA film, so I guess his first film still remains your favourite from him. And, of course, the alternative title of that film is 'Sydney'. Cute coincidence.

Yeah Hard Eight being willing to just be little genre film causes it to hold up better I think.

90. The Brutalist (2024; Brady Corbet) 8/10
Good movie. Loved the pacing and cinematography. I really think Brady Corbet did a great job in the directing department. I guess the acting was good too.

I had to split this up over two days (Stopping at the intermission), and I don't know why but the movie just completely lost me in that second half. Just could not get back into it at all- not sure if it was movie's fault or if I just was in bad mood that second day or what.

Thank you for your kind words, Rax.

Regarding The Brutalist, I read that a lot of people did not like the second half of the film. So it's not only you, Rax. I think that the consensus is that the first half is much stronger. I also forgot to mention that the film is mostly about immigrant experience and artistic integrity in my write-up. Thematically speaking, of course.