Conclusion

After four and a half very long and in some ways unpredictable years, I am finally done with this project!  I know, I could've quit long ago, but I wanted to see it through.  I have sat through a lot of crap that almost no one would enjoy.  I have slogged through things that I can see other people enjoying.  I have been mildly entertained.  And I have been, on rare occasions, genuinely pleased or even delighted.

Originally, when Blogger allowed it, I was keeping stats, but that soon had to fall by the wayside.  All I know is, I watched almost 2500 movies.  (This is my 2496th entry here, but not quite every post has been a review.)  That's not counting the movies I had to give up on because the DVD wouldn't play.  Forgive me if it's all been a blur.

I don't have any plans for any more major blogging.  I've earned a break, perhaps for years.  But, yes, if there's one thing this project has taught me, you just never know.

Zoot Suit

Zoot Suit

Center Theatre Group etc.

October 2, 1981

Historical Drama, Musical

DVD
D+

Uninvolving, but the dancing is all right.  The playwright, Luis Valdez, directed.

Zoolander 2

Zoolander 2

Red Hour Productions etc.

February 12, 2016

Comedy
DVD
C-

This misfire sequel, released almost fifteen years after the original, doesn't seem to understand what made the original work.  I mean, seeing Justin Bieber riddled with bullets in the opening sequence doesn't exactly spell comedy to me.  And I can't remember whether or not I saw it in the theater.  Ben Stiller again stars, directed, and co-wrote.

Zoolander

Zoolander

Village Roadshow Pictures

September 28, 2001

Comedy

DVD
B

I thought this was hilarious at the time but hadn't seen it since.  It is still hilarious in spots, and generally amiable, with of course incredible fashions and fun music.  It also exists in a universe where almost anyone can show up, from pre-marriage Donald and Melania Trump to Garry Shandling to at least two of the Spice Girls.  (I laughed uproariously for several minutes at the David Bowie cameo.)  I tagged who I could.

Ben Stiller of course stars, but he also directed and co-wrote.

The Zookeeper's Wife

The Zookeeper's Wife

Scion Films etc.

April 7, 2017

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

A potentially interesting story, with stilted acting.  Niki Caro directed, after McFarland, USA and Whale Rider.  This is based on Diane Ackerman's nonfiction book.

Zombieland: Double Tap

Zombieland: Double Tap

Columbia etc.

October 18, 2019

Comedy, Horror

DVD

C-

I can see why some people would like this, though it's not really my thing.  (And, no, I haven't seen the first movie.)  Ruben Fleischer directed.

Zhou Yu's Train AKA zhōu yú de huǒchē

Zhou Yu's Train AKA zhōu yú de huǒchē

Sony

1 August 2002

Romance?

DVD
C-

Not bad, but confusing.  Director Zhou Sun adapted the novella by Bei Cun.

Zero Dark Thirty

Zero Dark Thirty

First Light Productions etc.

December 10, 2012

Action?

DVD

D-

Possibly racist, definitely violent.  Kathryn Bigelow directed, after Point Break and Strange Days, but before Detroit

Zarafa

Zarafa

Pathé etc.

8 February 2012

Children's, Animation, Historical Drama

DVD
D+

I didn't like the story, but the visuals weren't bad.  Rémi Bezançon co-wrote, and co-directed with Jean-Christophe Lie.

Zama

Zama

El Deseo etc.

28 September 2017

Historical Drama

DVD
D+

Colonialism.  Director Lucrecia Martel adapted the novel by Antonio Di Benedetto

You've Got Mail

You've Got Mail

Warner Bros.

December 13, 1998

Romcom
DVD
C

I saw this at the time, a time when I saw a lot of romcoms.  It offended me as a lifelong book-person.  Still, when it came along alphabetically in this project, I wondered what I would think of it now, a quarter century later, especially since I softened on Meg Ryan after watching When Harry Met Sally... a few months ago.

And, well, there are times when it's deliciously dated, from its concept to its OMG cast.  The soundtrack is generally solid, typically for Nora Ephron (who directed, and co-wrote with sister Delia).  New York City looks pretty and ridiculously clean.  But this movie still offends me as a book-person, because nothing about the bookstores is or ever was realistic.  (Don't get me started on its misunderstanding of Pride and Prejudice!) And of course there's the whole Tom Hanks amiably gaslighting poor Meg thing.  Still, I watched it to the end (again) and can't go below a C.

(And, yes, I've seen The Shop Around the Corner, which is over-rated but less offensive, if I recall correctly.)

Youth Without Youth

Youth Without Youth

American Zoetrope etc.

October 20, 2007

Historical Drama, Sci-Fi?

DVD
D-

Pretty hard to watch, with all those hospital scenes in the first quarter hour.  Director Coppola adapted the novel by Mircea Eliade 

Young Tom Edison

Young Tom Edison

MGM

March 15, 1940

Historical Drama

DVD
C

While the story isn't bad, I just wasn't invested enough in it, and the rape joke (from Mrs. Edison no less!) didn't help.  Norman Taurog directed, a couple years after Boys Town.

The Young Lions

The Young Lions

20th Century-Fox

April 2, 1958

War Drama

DVD
C-

Not bad for what it is, but Brando honestly doesn't have much charisma or energy here.  Edward Dmytryk directed, thirteen years after Back to Bataan.  This is based on the novel by Irwin Shaw.

Young Guns

Young Guns

Morgan Creek Productions etc.

August 12, 1988

Western
DVD
D+

For some reason, I couldn't disable the text-trivia track on my quirky DVD player, and I didn't find that there was much that it was distracting me from.  Christopher Cain directed, seven years before The Amazing Panda Adventure.

Young Buffalo Bill

Young Buffalo Bill

Republic Pictures

April 12, 1940
Western

DVD
D+

Apparently I was not quite done with Roy Rogers.  Joseph Kane directed, again.

You Should Have Left

You Should Have Left

Blumhouse Productions

June 18, 2020

Drama

DVD
D+

Good advice.  Director David Koepp adapted Daniel Kehlmann's novel, six years after Secret Window, which I also bumped up to a D+ for scenery.

You Might Be the Killer

You Might Be the Killer

Curmudgeon Films etc.

December 4, 2018

Horror, Comedy
DVD
B-

This was quite a surprise for me.  I'm definitely not a horror fan, but I found this funny and clever.  I can't say I totally got past the gore, but it was done in such a way that I didn't take it entirely seriously, even when I was invested in some of the characters.  The performance of Alyson Hannigan of course made a huge difference, but the rest of the cast held my interest even when her character was offscreen.  Brett Simmons directed and co-wrote.

You Kill Me

You Kill Me

IFC Films

June 22, 2007
Crime Comedy

DVD
D+

Not that violent, but not that funny.  John Dahl directed.

You Can Count on Me

You Can Count on Me

Paramount etc.

January 21, 2000

Drama

DVD
C-

Too downbeat for me, but the scenery was pretty.  Kenneth Lonergan wrote and directed, sixteen years before Manchester by the Sea, which had pretty snow.

A Yeti Adventure AKA The Yeti Adventures AKA Mission Kathmandu: The Adventures of Nelly & Simon

A Yeti Adventure AKA The Yeti Adventures AKA Mission Kathmandu: The Adventures of Nelly & Simon

10e Ave

5 October 2017

Children's, Animation, Historical  Comedy, Adventure?

DVD
C-

The story has potential, but the animation and the dialogue are disappointing.  Pierre Greco and Nancy Florence Savard co-directed, and Greco co-wrote with somebody else.