what I watched recently ⭐️
It’s time for another What I Watched Recently :)
To be honest, I didn’t watch nearly as many films in May as I usually do. Between the sudden heatwave, moving into our new flat, concerts, dinners, after-work drinks and generally spending as much time as possible with my friends, I found myself outside a lot more than in front of a screen (the sun’s out and suddenly I‘m a social butterfly)
That being said, I still managed to watch quite a few things over the past two months, especially at the cinema. There’s just something about sitting in a dark, air-conditioned cinema when it’s boiling outside that really appealing to me after work!
So while this month’s list is a little shorter than usual, there were still some films and series that I really enjoyed, so let’s get into it :)
Drop Dead Gorgeous is such a ridiculously fun film! I love a good Mockumentary and the cast was really insane for this film (I adore Kirsten Dunst).
What I loved most was the vibe. It perfectly captures small-town America with a darkly comic edge, and the humour is really mean-spirited (very funny to me). Overall the film is just soo charming, you really just have to see it for yourself.
The story isn’t particularly deep, but that’s not really the point. The film succeeds because of its quirky characters, chaotic energy and high shock value. Not every joke lands, but when it works, it’s genuinely hilarious. Absolute cult classic!!
The Virgin Suicides is a haunting, beautifully made film that lingered in my mind for a while after watching. It has a slow, dreamlike pace, but that suits the story perfectly, giving everything a sense of distance and mystery.
What makes the film really interesting is its perspective. This is not the girls’ story told from within, but rather a memory filtered through the neighbour boys who observed them from a distance. The film feels incomplete, as if we are always just outside the lives of the Lisbon sisters, trying to piece them together from fragments, rumours, and nostalgia :(
We never truly knew them, only the idea of them that the boys constructed over time.
The Princess Bride is pretty much THE perfect film.
That‘s all I have to say about this one!
I rewatched Reservoir Dogs (again), and no matter how many times I see this film, I‘m still totally invested every time :)
What I love most was the tension between everyone. The film keeps you guessing about who can be trusted, and the drama just keeps building and building. The characters are all memorable in their own way, even though some of are… special, to say it nicely.
I will say that the violence is quite intense in a few scenes, so it is not for everyone (I still have to close my eyes whenever we get to the scene with the ear) but I really recommend it!!
I finally watched It Happened One Night, and I completely understand why it’s considered such a classic. I didn’t really expect a film from 1934 to feel this charming and easy to watch, but it honestly surprised me in the best way. Can‘t believe this was filmed before WW2 to be honest…
What stood out most to me was the chemistry between the two main characters. Their conversations are so witty and natural, and got me kicking my feet and giggling :)
For me, this is the definition of a genre-defining romance film. It’s made me look at older romantic films in a completely different light, because you can really see where so many modern stories get their inspiration from (though I have to say this film feels very modern for its time). A true classic that definitely deserves all the praise it gets!!
I really wanted to enjoy Mandalorian & Grogu, but as I already expected, it left me underwhelmed and a bit disappointed.
The biggest problem is that it feels more like a few episodes of the TV series stitched together than a standalone film. The story is quite thin, the stakes never feel particularly high, and much of it comes across as a side quest rather than an important chapter in the Star Wars universe. I think seeing it in German Dub also affected my rating negatively, as the German voice for Rotta the Hutt straight up killed me. I could not take anything he said seriously…
Pedro Pascal and Grogu remain likeable, and there are some impressive visuals and creature designs, but that isn’t enough to carry the film. I really enjoyed seeing Embo again though, and I thought Grogu was especially cute in this film.
It’s not a bad film per se, but it’s a very safe one. Fans of the series will probably find enough to enjoy, but as Star Wars’ return to the big screen, it feels surprisingly small and unremarkable. I think they tried to release this one to not have Starfighter be the first big star wars film after 8 years, lower stakes and stuff. But I would have been satisfied to see this arc in a 2-3 episode Mandalorian season 4 instead :)
I watched Perfect Blue in cinema with my boyfriend during the 4K remastered release, and it was basically a dream come true for me! We both love Satoshi Kon, and this film is something we already adore, but seeing it on the big screen made it hit even harder.
One thing I really don’t agree with is the rather popular take that Perfect Blue is some kind of 'rape fantasy' (saw a post on reddit and it has been stuck in my mind). To me, that completely misses what the film is actually doing. It is not presenting anything like that for enjoyment or shock value in a shallow way - it is deliberately uncomfortable because it is showing how Mima is being stripped of agency, identity, and control in every part of her life.
What Perfect Blue really focuses on, in my view, is Japanese idol culture of that era, and the intense pressure around it. It shows the disturbing overlap between fans, management, and performers, where young women are treated less like people and more like images to be consumed. Mima’s attempt to move from a clean-cut idol image into a more 'serious' acting career reflects something very real about how those industries work, and how hard it is to escape a manufactured identity once it’s been built for you.
At its core, the film is about identity being distorted and taken over by everyone else’s expectations. Mima is constantly being defined by other people, until even she starts losing grip on what is real. The way the film blurs reality is intentional as it puts the audience in the same confused, uneasy position as her.
Just my take on the post! Beautiful film, amazing soundtrack, stunning visuals. Maybe not a film to watch with your parents in cinema (poor dude sat next to me with his mum) but definitely a must watch!!
Also watched The Others, and I did not expect to get whiplashed by the plot twist, that‘s for sure!
It’s a slow, quiet kind of horror, not really scary just very unsettling. There are no cheap scares or constant jumpscares and therefore probably a great film for horror film beginners :)
What I loved most was the atmosphere. The whole house feels heavy and isolated, and you really start to feel trapped in it alongside the characters. Nicole Kidman’s performance is incredible as well - I love, love, LOVE her as an actress!!
I did not see the plot twist coming and was genuinely baffled by the ending of the film.
