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.

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.

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.

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.

Year One

Year One

Columbia etc.

June 19, 2009
Historical Comedy
DVD
C-

Coasts too much on Black and Cera's established images, but could've been worse.  Harold Ramis directed and co-wrote, and, yes, he's done better (and worse, with Analyze That).

Year of the Dog (2007)

Year of the Dog (2007)

Plan B Entertainment etc.

May 11, 2007
Dramedy
DVD
C-

A woman understandably likes her dog better than the people around her, and then the dog dies.  Mike White wrote and directed, seven years after he starred in Chuck & Buck.

Yanks

Yanks

CIP etc.

19 September 1979

Historical Drama

DVD
C-

The Brits were more interesting than the Yanks.  John Schlesinger directed, three years after Marathon Man.

A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time

Disney etc.

March 9, 2018

Children's, Drama (tuned out before anything magical)

DVD

C-

This modern-day adaptation of the award-winning 1960s Madeleine L'Engle's novel felt off, from the search engine to the lack of glasses.  Ava DuVernay directed, after Middle of Nowhere and Selma.

Worlds Apart (2015)

Worlds Apart (2015)

Plus Productions etc.

17 December 2015

Romance

DVD
C-

Not exactly your typical meet-cute.  Christopher Papakaliatis wrote, directed, and stars.

The Wood

The Wood

MTV Productions/ Paramount

July 16, 1999

Dramedy
DVD
C-

I could picture some people loving this movie, but I couldn't relate much and the present-day stuff felt a little forced. Rick Famuyiwa directed and co-wrote

Wonderland (1999)

Wonderland (1999)

Revolution Films etc.

14 May 1999

Drama

DVD
C-

I couldn't tell how the threads connected, other than that the some of the characters are related.  Michael Winterbottom directed, a couple decades before The Wedding Guest and The Trip to Greece.

Wonderful Town (2007)

Wonderful Town (2007)

Pop Pictures etc.

8 October 2007
Drama

DVD
C-

The first quarter hour is slow-moving but innocuous.  Aditya Assarat wrote and directed.

Woman of the Year

Woman of the Year

MGM

February 5, 1942

Romcom

DVD
C-

A couple I'm not interested in falls in love at a baseball game, while I admire Hepburn's wardrobe and try to identify character actors.  (No, I don't know their names.)  George Stevens directed after Gunga Din and Swing Time, and before Shane.

Woman is the Future of Man

Woman is the Future of Man

CJ Entertainment etc.

14 May 2004

Drama

DVD
C-

This has an increasingly creepy subtext.  Hong Sang-soo wrote and directed.

A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop AKA A Simple Noodle Story AKA Sānqiāng Pāi'àn Jīngqí

A Woman, a Gun and a Noodle Shop AKA A Simple Noodle Story AKA Sānqiāng Pāi'àn Jīngqí

Beijing New Picture Co.

11 December 2009

Historical Comedy

DVD
C-

This is a remake of Blood Simple, which I surprised myself by liking, and this isn't bad, but it just didn't click for me.  Yimou Zhang directed, after Not One Less AKA  tiān shàng yǒu ge tàiyáng, but before The Great Wall.

The Wolf Man

The Wolf Man

Universal

December 12, 1941

Romcom/ Horror

DVD
C-

A man returns to the family estate, spies on a young woman, and harasses her into a date.  George Waggner directed.

The Wolf of Snow Hollow

The Wolf of Snow Hollow

Orion Classics etc.

October 9, 2020

Horror, Comedy

DVD
C-

The touches of humor make this more palatable than most horror movies.  Jim Cummings wrote, directed, and stars, a couple years after Thunder Road, which I also gave a C-.