Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

IMDb plot summary: When Robin and his Moorish companion come to England and the tyranny of the Sheriff of Nottingham, he decides to fight back as an outlaw.
Directed by Kevin Reynolds. Starring Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Alan Rickman.

This movie is ridiculous. The decisions made on scriptwriting and casting are almost across-the-board wrong... with the exception of Alan Rickman as the Sheriff, which is the one ridiculous element that is actually enjoyable.

How it entered my Flickchart:
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves < 12 Monkeys
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves > Winter's Bone
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves < Talk to Her
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves > Stardust Memories
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves < The Blues Brothers
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves < It Could Happen to You
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves > Syrup
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves > Alice in Wonderland (1999)
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves > Play Misty for Me
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves > The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves > Kiss Me Kate
Final spot: #1907 out of 2838.

Scream (1996)

IMDb plot summary: A year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl is terrorized by a new killer, who targets the girl and her friends by using horror films as part of a deadly game.
Directed by Wes Craven. Starring Drew Barrymore, Neve Campbell, Skeet Ulrich, and Courteney Cox.

Oh, this is a lot of fun. The Scream mask has been so present in pop culture it isn't as scary as I wanted it to be, but the phone calls from the killer are scripted with a delicious sense of creepiness, and I love that. The ending is so fun and campy and meta and totally works. It's a fun one.

How it entered my Flickchart:
Scream > Captain Fantastic
Scream > Marty
Scream < Black Panther
Scream > Hard Candy
Scream < Evil
Scream > Cats and Dogs
Scream < Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Scream < Cats
Scream > Sorry to Bother You
Scream < The Virgin Spring

Final spot: #480 out of 2837.

The Fast and the Furious (2001)

IMDb plot summary: Los Angeles police officer Brian O'Connor must decide where his loyalty really lies when he becomes enamored with the street racing world he has been sent undercover to destroy.
Directed by Rob Cohen. Starring Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, and Jordana Brewster.

This movie is... kind of nothing, isn't it? Like there's barely even any fake stakes in here, and what is there gets forgotten in favor of car chases. This is not a good thing for me, as I learned while watching this movie that I have very strong negative feelings about car chases or people driving dangerously and revving their engines just to prove how cool they are. So, yeah, there wasn't much for me in this movie.

How it entered my Flickchart:
The Fast and the Furious < Bronson
The Fast and the Furious < Winter's Bone
The Fast and the Furious > Stalker
The Fast and the Furious > Get Smart
The Fast and the Furious > Deliverance
The Fast and the Furious < 2046
The Fast and the Furious < Annie (2014)
The Fast and the Furious < To Have and Have Not
The Fast and the Furious < Dracula (1931)
The Fast and the Furious > In Cold Blood
The Fast and the Furious < Raging Bull

Final spot: #2212 out of 2836.

All the Money in the World (2017)

IMDb plot summary: The story of the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III and the desperate attempt by his devoted mother to convince his billionaire grandfather Jean Paul Getty to pay the ransom.
Directed by Ridley Scott. Starring Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, and Romain Duris.

This is more than a little heavy-handed in parts, but it's pretty solidly structured and Michelle Williams and Christopher Plummer anchor it with two great performances.

How it landed in my Flickchart:
All the Money in the World > Ghostbusters (1984)
All the Money in the World < Crossing Delancey
All the Money in the World < Camp
All the Money in the World > Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
All the Money in the World > Cape Fear (1991)
All the Money in the World < The Testament of Dr. Mabuse
All the Money in the World > Stage Fright (2014)
All the Money in the World < Lagaan: Once Upon a Time In India
All the Money in the World < Mrs. Miniver
All the Money in the World < Bonnie and Clyde
All the Money in the World > Irma La Douce
All the Money in the World < The Woodsman

Final spot: #1125 out of 2835.

The Raid: Redemption (2011)

IMDb plot summary: A S.W.A.T. team becomes trapped in a tenement run by a ruthless mobster and his army of killers and thugs.
Directed by Gareth Evans. Starring Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim, Donny Alamsyah, and Yayan Ruhian.

This is a heck of an action movie. It's a fantastic setup that brings to mind a survival horror video game, where the evil creatures who want to kill you JUST KEEP COMING. The score is incredible (the first score I've heard in a long time that's actually been so impressive I paid attention to it). But most of all, the fight sequences are *stunning*. Usually I am bored by fight scenes, and there are a LOT in this movie, but these are truly more like choreographed dances than anything else. Brutally violent choreographed dances, yes, but there's a smoothness and a grace and a creativity to them that makes them so much more interesting to watch. Overall, this is pretty fantastic, and way more fun to watch than I thought it would be.

How it entered my Flickchart:
The Raid > Unbreakable
The Raid > Marty
The Raid < The Holiday
The Raid < Carrie
The Raid < The Basketball Diaries
The Raid > Show Me Love
The Raid > Zero Effect
The Raid > Bend It Like Beckham
The Raid < Detroit
The Raid > Coherence
The Raid > Sneakers
Final spot: #626 out of 2834.

Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan (2007)

IMDb plot summary: The story recounts the early life of Genghis Khan who was a slave before going on to conquer half the world in 1206.
Directed by Sergei Bodrov. Starring Tadanobu Asano, Honglei Sun, Khulan Chuluun, and Aliya.

Pretty interesting dramatization of Genghis Khan's early days, though the first half of the movie is more interesting than the latter.

How it entered my Flickchart:
Mongol > Interstate 60
Mongol < Marty
Mongol < Ripley's Game
Mongol < A Separation
Mongol > Office Space
Mongol < 300
Mongol > Liz & Dick
Mongol > For Your Consideration
Mongol < Seven Chances
Mongol < Mother!
Mongol < Ghost World
Mongol > Precious

Final spot: #1294 out of 2833.

Blindspotting (2018)

IMDb plot summary: While on probation, a black man begins to re-evaluate his relationship with his volatile best friend.
Directed by Carlos López Estrada. Starring Daveed Diggs, Rafael Casal, Janina Gavankar, and Jasmine Cephas Jones.

This is one of those movies that is going to keep making me think for awhile. To the point where I'm not sure I can comment much on it now. But it was good.

How it entered my Flickchart:
Blindspotting > Interstate 60
Blindspotting < Marty
Blindspotting > Now You See Me
Blindspotting > The Ring
Blindspotting > Phone Booth
Blindspotting > My Life as a Dog
Blindspotting < Muriel's Wedding
Blindspotting < The Scarlet and the Black
Blindspotting > Baby Driver
Blindspotting > The Front
Blindspotting > Inherit the Wind

Final spot: #741 out of 2830.

Christopher Robin (2018)

IMDb plot summary: A working-class family man, Christopher Robin, encounters his childhood friend Winnie-the-Pooh, who helps him to rediscover the joys of life.
Directed by Marc Forster. Starring Ewan McGregor, Hayley Atwell, Bronte Carmichael, Mark Gatiss, and Jim Cummings.

This movie is constantly teetering on the edge of cloying sentimentality, but it never quite goes over, and that is largely due to the incredible script capturing the tone of the original animal creatures *perfectly*. It doesn't ever feel like "somebody trying to tell a Winnie the Pooh story," it's just... Pooh and his friends. And the charm of those characters makes up, easily, for the awkwardness of how broadly the human characters are written. It's more delightful than it has any right to be, managing to never QUITE cross the line.

How it entered my Flickchart:
Christopher Robin > Interstate 60
Christopher Robin > Marty
Christopher Robin < The Holiday
Christopher Robin > The Graduate
Christopher Robin < Captain Blood
Christopher Robin < The Babadook
Christopher Robin > The Red Violin
Christopher Robin < The Land Before Time
Christopher Robin < Bicentennial Man
Christopher Robin < The Big Short
Christopher Robin > The Shape of Water

Final spot: #506 out of 2831.

The Meg (2018)

IMDb plot summary: After escaping an attack by what he claims was a 70-foot shark, Jonas Taylor must confront his fears to save those trapped in a sunken submersible.
Directed by Jon Turteltaub. Starring Jason Statham, Bingbing Li, Rainn Wilson, and Cliff Curtis.

Oh, this movie is absolutely ridiculous, and definitely too long for what it is, but it at least knows what it's doing and has a good time ramping it up. Seeing it on the big screen, the giant shark is pretty effectively thrilling, and they do some great cheesy reveals of it. It's goofy and terrible and a lot of fun.

2.5 stars.

How it entered my Flickchart:
The Meg < Alice Adams
The Meg > Mud
The Meg > Touch of Evil
The Meg > The Dark Knight Rises
The Meg < Primal Fear
The Meg > Smokin' Aces
The Meg > Walk the Line
The Meg > Snakes on a Plane
The Meg < Inland Empire
The Meg < 12 Monkeys
The Meg > Trainwreck

Final spot: #1513 out of 2832.

Myn Bala: Warriors of the Steppe (2012)

IMDb plot summary: A universal story about the freedom of the human spirit and the struggle against slavery and despotism, about love, loss and betrayal. It is seen through the eyes of simple Kazakh kids and teenagers.
Directed by Akan Satayev. Starring Asylkhan Tolypov, Ayan Utepbergen, Kuralai Anabekova, and Tlektes Meiramov.

This is the type of movie that, on paper, I should be absolutely bored by. Long epic war movie? Usually not my cup of tea at all. But something about this was surprisingly compelling to me. Maybe it was the likable leads, or the simplistic, almost fairy-tale nature of the plot, or the stunning landscape shots. Whatever it was, I found myself very moved by the film, particularly the final half hour.

3.5 stars.

How it entered my Flickchart:
Myn Bala: Warriors of the Steppe > Imitation of Life (1959)
Myn Bala: Warriors of the Steppe < Meet Joe Black
Myn Bala: Warriors of the Steppe > The Prestige
Myn Bala: Warriors of the Steppe > God Wants Me to Forgive Theme!?!
Myn Bala: Warriors of the Steppe < Finder's Fee
Myn Bala: Warriors of the Steppe < Brave
Myn Bala: Warriors of the Steppe < Zoolander
Myn Bala: Warriors of the Steppe < Kingsman: The Secret Service
Myn Bala: Warriors of the Steppe < The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
Myn Bala: Warriors of the Steppe < I Heart Huckabees
Myn Bala: Warriors of the Steppe < The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Myn Bala: Warriors of the Steppe > Ant-Man

Final spot: #883 out of 2829.

Mudbound (2017)

IMDb plot summary: Two men return home from World War II to work on a farm in rural Mississippi, where they struggle to deal with racism and adjusting to life after war.
Directed by Dee Rees. Starring Carey Mulligan, Jonathan Banks, Garrett Hedlund, and Jason Clarke.

This is a tough watch. It's dark and unpleasant and angry and sad all around. I think it's a good movie, and it's definitely one that's going to resonate with me for a bit, but I can't imagine wanting to rewatch it any time soon.

3 stars.

How it entered my Flickchart:
Mudbound > Water for Elephants
Mudbound < Ordet
Mudbound < The Act of Killing
Mudbound > Out of Sight
Mudbound > Bill Cunningham New York
Mudbound > Ran
Mudbound > Lucky Number Slevin
Mudbound < Monsters
Mudbound > Malcolm X
Mudbound > The Trojan Women
Mudbound < Frank

Final spot: #1074 out of 2828.

Muriel's Wedding (1994)

IMDb plot summary: A young social outcast in Australia steals money from her parents to finance a vacation where she hopes to find happiness, and perhaps love.
Directed by P.J. Hogan. Starring Toni Collette, Bill Hunter, Rachel Griffiths, and Jeanie Drynan.

This is a fascinating, almost-great movie with several great moments in it. Toni Colette is such a gem of an actress, and she brings Muriel to life here in a really engaging way. So much of this story is wildly relatable and fascinating and funny and sad... but somewhere in the last third, it seems to miss a beat and come to a resolution too quickly. It's possible that it was just done too subtly for me to notice, and that on a rewatch it would all fall into place.

3.5 stars.

How it entered my Flickchart:
Muriel's Wedding > Le bonheur
Muriel's Wedding < Ordet
Muriel's Wedding > Les Miserables (2012)
Muriel's Wedding > The Magnificent Ambersons
Muriel's Wedding > American Outlaws
Muriel's Wedding > High Strung
Muriel's Wedding > The Scarlet and the Black
Muriel's Wedding < My Name Is Bruce
Muriel's Wedding > Tickled
Muriel's Wedding > Titanic
Muriel's Wedding > Split

Final spot: #719 out of 2827.

Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004)

IMDb plot summary: The Bride continues her quest of vengeance against her former boss and lover Bill, the reclusive bouncer Budd and the treacherous, one-eyed Elle.
Directed by Quentin Tarantino. Starring Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Michael Madsen, and Daryl Hannah.

After having seen volume one several years ago, it was way past time for me to see the second. I don't really know why I didn't watch them back to back as they're clearly just two halves of the exact same movie, but... *shrug* I do like this half a bit better, though. Both films are extremely stylish, as is par for the course with Tarantino films, but the ending gives this one some... interesting depth. It didn't take the easier route I expected in its storytelling, which kept it much more interesting than if they had just continued to tell the story the way they'd began in. Satisfying ending to the two-parter.

4 stars.

How it entered my Flickchart:
Kill Bill, Vol. 2 > The Untouchables
Kill Bill, Vol. 2 > The Road Warrior
Kill Bill, Vol. 2 < Black Panther
Kill Bill, Vol. 2 < The Sting
Kill Bill, Vol. 2 > Big Man Japan
Kill Bill, Vol. 2 < The Invisible Man
Kill Bill, Vol. 2 > Reservoir Dogs
Kill Bill, Vol. 2 < Center Stage
Kill Bill, Vol. 2 > We're Not Married!
Kill Bill, Vol. 2 < Crimes and Misdemeanors

Final spot: #589 out of 2826.

Good Time (2017)

IMDb plot summary: After a botched bank robbery lands his younger brother in prison, Connie Nikas embarks on a twisted odyssey through the city's underworld in an increasingly desperate-and dangerous-attempt to get his brother Nick out of jail.
Directed by Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie. Starring Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Buddy Duress.

Usually crime films are completely uninteresting to me, but there's something particularly compelling about this one. Robert Pattinson's character is a fascinating combination of sympathetic and reprehensible, and the framing device of his relationship with his brother adds a layer to the story that is more interesting than your typical crime drama.

3 stars.

How it entered my Flickchart:
Good Time > Sisters
Good Time < The Road Warrior
Good Time < Freaky Friday (2003)
Good Time < Crazy Heart
Good Time < Crocodile Dundee
Good Time > Lolita (1997)
Good Time > Dunkirk
Good Time > Frankie Go Boom
Good Time > Flypaper
Good Time > Downfall
Good Time < South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut

Final spot: #1327 out of 2825.