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Movie reviews and ratings by two married people (Z)ach and (E)llen and their third wheel (J)ordan. Scroll for the latest reviews or check out our ratings table to find our favorites.

Zach Rhodes 7/7/25 Zach Rhodes 7/7/25

Tron: Legacy

After all Jord’s hype, I was expecting insane visuals and a tailormade soundtrack, and Tron: Legacy delivered on one of those things. The visuals are insane. To the level that it’s worth watching even if the movie was terrible, which it’s not. The plot is certainly a rehash of the first movie, and some of the original charm isn’t there, but it’s good enough to really settle in and immerse youself in the universe that’s displayed. The soundtrack; however, I found to be a real letdown. I’ve heard this described as a 2 hour Daft Punk music video, but save a couple of undeniable bangers, the vast majority of Daft Punk’s soundtrack is run-of-the-mill orchestra, which is not only disappointing coming from Daft Punk, but completely does not fit the vibe of the universe. I mean, it’s almost unforgiveable. Anyway, that aside, this is a fun movie, and better than the reviews in my opinion.
-Z
Overall, I enjoyed the first Tron more than this second installment, but wow, did this one look better on the screen. The story here feels like a more Disney-fied version of the original Tron, which felt a little cheap at times. And despite Jord’s insistence otherwise, Z & I were not blown away by the soundtrack. But I am really intrigued by the Tron universe! This was a very fun movie and has me excited for where the visuals will take us in the next one.
-E
The Tron Ares trailer got me thinking: is Tron Legacy worth watching? The answer is now yes, and will always be yes. Why this movie has the reviews that it does truly confuses me. I thought the movie rocked, along with its soundtrack! This is a movie that was made for Z, and I hope he likes it as much as I think he will. Now, it isn’t a perfect movie, but it can be the perfect movie for different situations. It has a great soundtrack, a fun plot, and an awesome universe. It does fall into a few Disney "corny" issues, but other than that, I think it is a must-watch and I'm excited for Ares!
-J

Z 7.75
E 7.75
J 8.5

ZEJ 8.0

Zach Rhodes 7/1/25 Zach Rhodes 7/1/25

Tron

I had never seen either Tron movies, but Jord keeps hyping up Tron: Legacy, so we thought we’d start with the OG, and I’m so glad we did. While the 1982 graphics are a bit jarring at first, the digital world that’s shown is really unique and weirdly captivating. Jeff Bridges is always a vibe, but his care-free hippy attitude really makes this otherwise totally serious universe sing in a way it otherwise wouldn’t. I was fully awake for this movie, and can confirm it’s a delightful fever dream. The dialogue and acting holds up amazingly as well. Worth a watch if you’ve never seen it and a re-watch if you have.
-Z
The fact that I was incredibly tired while watching this may have amped up the fever-dream vibes, but wow, this was not what I expected! The animated visuals are very dated, but certainly don’t ruin the movie - they actually give it this creepy, nostalgic feel that I think works here, but still took me out of the movie a bit. The writing felt surprisingly pretty solid for a movie from over 40 years ago. The main reason we watched this was in anticipation of the upcoming Tron: Ares, and I’m glad we went back to the original source here!
-E

Z 8.0
E 7.75
J n/a

~ZEJ 7.88

Zach Rhodes 6/30/25 Zach Rhodes 6/30/25

F1

F1 was a tough movie for me to rate. On the one hand, the racing sequences are INCREDIBLE. And coupled with the fact that the ZEJ team made the correct decision of seeing it in MX4D, those sequences felt like a top tier Disney World ride. On the other hand, the story, dialogue, and acting was poor. This is the worst Brad Pitt performance I’ve seen, and that’s coming from a Brad Pitt superfan. Javier Bardem was a little off in this too, though, so I blame directing/editing more than anything. Clearly Joseph Kosinski (shoutout to a Marshalltown, Iowa native!) can properly deliver on action, having seen Only the Brave and Top Gun: Maverick from his filmography, but this felt like maybe it was a bit rushed. If you can still find a showtime with this in DBOX or MX4D, I do recommend it, but otherwise this is probably just for the racing and action fans out there.
-Z

MX4D was the way to go for F1! I found the racing scenes INCREDIBLY fun and well done, making up for some of the lackluster writing and plot. While I agree with Z’s take that Brad Pitt was not quite at the top of his acting game here, he is still a must-watch actor for me - he just continues to make you enthusiastically trust in his unconventional schemes and plans! I’m also quite interested in the world of F1 now - as someone who knew nothing about it going into this movie, I think they did a great job giving us a (seemingly) realistic look at it.
-E
Can the racing scenes alone make a movie elite? Probably not, but they can make a mediocre story into a memorable movie. Z, E, and myself saw this film in 4D which also may have skewed the rating a bit, but objectively the racing scenes were incredible. The story was something to be desired, and definitely expected a bit more out of Brad Pitt, but it was not as bad as Z is most likely going to say. A really fun film that I think fits perfectly into the ‘Summer Blockbuster’ category that I think we have been missing for awhile. Now I am all into F1 and making my way through Drive to Survive. Find some time and watch this one!
-J

Z 7.25
E 8.25
J 8.0

ZEJ 7.83

Zach Rhodes 6/23/25 Zach Rhodes 6/23/25

28 Years Later

Danny Boyle doesn’t miss! At 68 years of age, the man is still pioneering cinema; and he managed to do it again on the revisit of his and Alex Garland’s zombie universe. While the quick flash cut style of the original is difficult to watch now, it was absolutely the style of the time and Boyle managed to mimic the energy of that style in a new way with 28 Years Later. What that does to the action sequences is certainly not my preference, but it is certainly unique and gives the whole movie this kind of fever dream quality, which is certainly the intention. The pacing is all over the place; certainly, and a movie like this has a ceiling, but it was super fun. The ending is also quite strange unless you’re aware that a sequel is set to this is set to release in January, as Alex Garland wrote this and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple as a pairing, and they were filmed back to back. Nia Dacosta, director of the Marvels directed the Bone Temple, though, and her disappointing run of the Marvels does give me pause. Nevertheless, 28 Years Later is well worth the watch, even if you’ve never seen the original two, as I would say they’re not strictly required.
-Z

I’m starting to think that this franchise, or maybe zombie movies in general are just not for me. I totally appreciate the effort to pay homage to the style of the originals, and I can't deny that this is a quality film, but to me, that style feels very dated for a 2025 release. Several areas here felt weirdly paced - there was a sense of rushing through, not really allowing the emotional weight of events to settle, but maybe that can be attributed to the reality of this world for the child who is our main focus. The world they are setting up here is undoubtedly interesting and I definitely want to learn more, but the fear of the zombies just doesn’t draw me in like other horror elements.
-E
I mean, this is what I wanted it to be. Looking online, reviews are all over the place, but I think this was the best of the trilogy so far, and I loved every second of it. I know the style isn't everyone's favorite, but I love that it was a great callback to the originals. I also just think the world-building was incredible; it's a toss-up between this, The Creator, and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes for my favorite worlds built in recent memory. Now, it's not perfect, sadly; there are some dialogue and pacing issues, in my opinion. Still, I bought into the story. I think it's believable where it went, and we got to see some exciting and brutal infected action. The ending confused me until Z informed me of the next one coming out, and it may be my most anticipated film now. Something about this really struck a chord, and if you can deal with gore, violence, and nudity, you need to get in and see this film!
-J

Z 8.5
E 8.0
J 9.0

ZEJ 8.5

Zach Rhodes 6/22/25 Zach Rhodes 6/22/25

28 Weeks Later

28 Days Later was worse than I remembered it, and 28 Weeks Later better, but there are some major plot issues in this one that really pull you out of the movie. It just was not clever in the way the original was at all. In my opnion, it’s not worth a watch unless you’re wanting to see the new one and missed this, and even then, a 5-minute recap is probably fine.
-Z
There were definitely some plot holes that plagued this, but I can still appreciate the energy and fun of the story - the intensity of it really did draw me in! After seeing all three of the films in this series as I’m writing this, I can say this one does the least in terms of advancing the world building of this universe, which would put it in third place for me.
-E

Z 7.0
E 7.5
J n/a

~ZEJ 7.25

Zach Rhodes 6/21/25 Zach Rhodes 6/21/25

The Phoenician Scheme

The Phoenician Scheme is definitely being slept on. It’s delightful and comforting, in only a way Wes Anderson can do. What holds it back from the heights of Grand Budapest Hotel; however, is the scattered humor. There’s much more laughter to be found in Grand Budapest Hotel, and that strikes a better balance for the dialogue than the Phoenician Scheme. Interestingly, it currently has worse critical reviews than Asteroid City, but higher audience reviews, and most importantly, a higher ZEJ ratings. I definitely think the characters in the Phoenician Scheme are far more interesting than Asteroid City, but perhaps critics are suckers for the ridiculous amount of cameos there. Alas, I heartily recommend you watch it.
-Z

It’s hard not to compare this with Asteroid City, which I believe I enjoyed more than the rest of the ZEJ team, and I’m thinking that might be the same case here. I love the vibe of Wes Anderson films, especially the style of dense, dry, overly formal dialogue which I find impressively humorous. Not quite as funny as it maybe could have been, but an overall fun experience with excellent visuals.
-E
"Have a hand grenade." -Zsa-zsa Korda
It's hard to believe that a little over a year ago I had never seen a Wes Anderson film. Now I've seen five, and I really enjoy them. They always move fast and they're always beautiful, but I think this one falls in the middle. It's not Grand Budapest or Fantastic Mr. Fox, but it is better than Asteroid City, in my opinion. The biggest issue is that despite it being really enjoyable, there's no flair. We've seen this act before, and I think that's the biggest thing holding it back. I really enjoyed Michael Cera and thought it was acted well by all, but sadly, it was a bit drawn out. We all find comfort in the norm, and if that's what you're looking for, then this is perfect, or if you haven't seen a Wes Anderson before, you will love it. As what I think you can call a fan, it is sadly just a little played out. Overall, still an 8, and it should be seen by all!
-J

Z 8.25
E 8.25
J 8.0

ZEJ 8.17

Zach Rhodes 6/19/25 Zach Rhodes 6/19/25

Ballerina

The best parts of Ballerina are the John Wick scenes, and it’s not even close. Unfortunately, the action sequences without Keanu is not up to snuff with the rest of the John Wick franchise. MANY cuts, and the stuntwork was just not what Keanu has brought to the table. Minor spoiler, but there is a whole flamethrower sequence that is just… embarrassing. Cinema has never understood flamethrowers very well, and this sequence felt almost like an Austin Powers spoof. It was bad. All that said, I still had fun with it, and will watch any thing on the big screen from the John Wick universe.
-Z

The John Wick franchise is one of my favorites of all time - I will never stop being amazed by Keanu Reeves’ fighting choreography style. This film definitely brought us back to that world, and I was surprised by the amount of John Wick we got, but the style here felt a little bit more cheap and flashy. Some great scenes, but the action and story were not quite at the John Wick level. Still a very fun watch!
-E
"You are Him. The one they call the Baba Yaga. How do I start doing what you do?" -Eve
I need to preface this: I haven't seen all the John Wick films. I was planning on watching all four as in-flight entertainment for a vacation, but I couldn't get them downloaded. So, going into this, I'd only seen the first and the last John Wick. Because of this, I think it allowed me to like the film more than Z and E did. I thought it was an interesting deeper look into the John Wick universe and also showed the introduction into the program. I know Z was disappointed in the action, as it's not as good as John Wick, but luckily for this review, I don't have that comparison. One last thing I liked about this film in comparison to the John Wicks (more so the fourth than the first) is that it seemed to have actual dialogue instead of just repeating action. Overall, I think Ballerina is worth watching and will most likely get me to watch the two John Wicks I'm missing. I think it's a must-watch if you like the series!
-J

Z 7.5
E 8.0
J 7.75

ZEJ 7.92

Zach Rhodes 6/18/25 Zach Rhodes 6/18/25

Paddington in Peru

It’s not surprising that the third movie in the Paddington franchise would be a comedown from one of the greatest sequels in movie history, but I wasn’t expecting this far of a fall. The charm of the first two just wasn’t the same, and as E points out, maybe that’s to do with the lack of London setting. I think a huge portion of the genius of Paddington 2 is that it’s so Wes Anderson coded, but it seems the new director, Dougal Wilson, thought that unnecessary? Anyway, despite the lack of charm and style, being a Paddington superfan, I did still enjoy this, and consider it a must watch if you’ve seen the first two already. It’s very funny in a few parts, and tugs on the heartstrings as it culminates. If you haven’t seen the first two, don’t start here.
-Z (6/18/25)
This is definitely the weakest of the 3 in the series, but still a very fun watch! I loved Olivia Coleman’s character. The adventure aspect was also quite fun, but I really missed the charm of London acting almost as a character in the other two films. It just didn’t hit quite the same. Excited to see the future for this series though!
-E (6/18/25)
“Embrace the risk” -Henry
As a Paddington truther, this is one that I had to get in right away. The Paddington series is going for a perfect trifecta so there is a lot on the line. Did it hit it perfectly like Paddington 2? Sadly it fell a little flat to that, but you shoot for the moon, you may hit some stars. It was still a great film, that most won't believe, but had arguably too much Antonio Banderas. The charm was still there and is a must watch for all lovers of the series! Paddington 2, followed by Paddington in Peru, and then Paddington.
-J (3/28/25)

Z 7.5
E 7.5
J 7.75

ZEJ 7.58

Zach Rhodes 6/17/25 Zach Rhodes 6/17/25

Predator: Killer of Killers

Predator: Killer of Killers is as close to the level of Alien vs. Predator as we’ve gotten, and that is genuinely high praise if you’re an ardent subscriber. After its release, most predator fans are ready to hand over the keys of the franchise to Dan Trachtenberg, and I really don’t disagree. Killer of Killers, an animated anthology of human warriors across cultures fighting different predators across time, has a lot going for it. The animation is stylish, in the vein of Spider-Verse, and surprisingly brutal, which really, is what you want for any Predator medium, but it’s also choppy, which I understand is a technique to make the action feel more fluid without the expense of those additional frames, but was certainly noticeable. The anthology aspect of it meant that some chapters were more interesting than others, and particularly the final character chapter, in my opinion, was quite a bit weaker than the others, and that did slow the momentum of this movie a bit. Overall though, a fun watch and the ending sets up an exciting new direction for the franchise, and it does make me hyped for Predator: Badlands, which is set to come out this fall.
-Z
A really fun idea for a film, and a great follow-up to Prey. The multiple timelines here was a concept I was already thinking about while watching Prey, so it was pretty cool to see that manifested here by the same director. I’m starting to think that this series is overall not really for me - I just can’t quite get into it for some reason. But I’m sure we’ll be heading to Predator: Badlands next, and maybe that will change my mind.
-E

Z 7.75
E 7.25
J n/a

~ZEJ 7.5

Zach Rhodes 6/16/25 Zach Rhodes 6/16/25

Prey

Our friend group had heavily hyped Prey, and perhaps too much, because we were both a bit let down. Despite a budget of $65 million, this straight to Hulu movie, did feel like a TV movie in a few aspects. The acting was a bit Hallmark-y at times, and having seen the actors in other mediums, I can only blame this on the director. It wasn’t terrible, mind you, but there were some scenes where it stood out. The worst aspect of this movie, the one that took me out of it the most, was the awful CGI. Which again, $65 million budget, so I’m not sure why it was so poor. That said, this was an upgrade over the original Predator, and a huge step in the right direction for the franchise, and when the CGI wasn’t pulling me out of it, I had a lot of fun. For now, Alien vs. Predator remains my favorite in the franchise and I’ll hear no words to the contrary.
-Z
I think a primary reason the Predator series was on our list in the first place was because of the high ratings of this specific film, but it sure took us a while to get to it! The storyline here was generally exciting and gave a unique perspective to the universe, but I still left the movie feeling a bit “meh” about this one. Far better than the original Predator, but not quite the awesomeness of Predator vs. Alien.
-E

Z 7.5
E 7.5
J n/a

~ZEJ 7.5

Zach Rhodes 6/15/25 Zach Rhodes 6/15/25

Titanic

“I'm the king of the world!” -Jack
Growing up, this was my moms favorite film. We had it on VHS which was 2 VHS’s because it was so long. I have seen this film a ton and I genuinely love it. I think it is a perfect movie in a lot of ways, and watching it again confirms that for me. The scale, the acting, the story, the drama, the score, just all of it is put together perfectly. A love story that still can make me tear up and can give me an afternoon with this film. It is almost impossible to not ‘dad watch’ the whole thing and realize I finished the film hours later. To think this came out when it did is also amazing and you can help yourself to appreciate James Cameron that much more. 10’s are hard to come by, and to me this is a no brainer!
-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 10.0

~ZEJ 10.0

Zach Rhodes 6/14/25 Zach Rhodes 6/14/25

John Wick

"I once saw him kill three men in a bar... with a pencil.” -Viggo
So, my first exposure to this was watching the 4th film. Which visually and action wise is incredible, but I felt like I was missing something. Everything from this film is what I was missing. A fun film that dives into John Wick, his motivations, and how we got to where we did in the 4th. I am not a usual all out action fan, but this was extremely fun. I was locked in from start to finish and I think it ended in a nice enough place that sadly to E, did not make me want to watch more. I have a hard time believing this isn’t the best one and I may just keep it that way for sure by not watching the next 2, but who knows…. Summer is long!
-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 9.0

~ZEJ 9.0

Zach Rhodes 6/5/25 Zach Rhodes 6/5/25

Bring Her Back

Wow. If you’re a horror fan, this is a MUST WATCH. The “spiritual sequel” to Talk to Me, I felt that this was way more fleshed out than that movie, and that the 32 & 33 year-old Philippou brothers are quickly becoming must watch in this genre, and I’m excited to see them branch out beyond it if they so choose. Definitely not a movie to watch if you’re not into horror. We are, and it was still the most visceral movie I’ve maybe ever seen. When E googled this ahead of the movie there was a disclaimer not to watch this if you have a weak stomach, which I thought is probably said about most horror movies, but, wow, that is a completely valid disclaimer. This is as close to a movie I’ve seen to Hereditary in the genre, and while perhaps a bit derivative, it’s surprisingly close in quality.
-Z

Creepy possessed child + graphic body horror = one of the more uncomfortable movies the ZEJ team has watched in the theater I'd say, but it was undeniably good despite being hard to watch. The actions of Sally Hawkins' character (an actress whose roles always feel a little manic it seems) may have felt insane at times, but they also were fueled by a clear motivation driving the plot forward, which I really appreciated. The story might not be the most unique, but it was done very well. I don't want to see it again, but I'm glad we got to watch it (in an otherwise empty theater, which really added something). Would recommend to any horror fans, which I guess I am now?
-E
This movie is MESSED UP. That could easily be my entire review. I talked with my brother about it and I had a hard time describing it beyond that. Does the gore and disgust play into my rating? Yes, but overall, I did not really enjoy this movie a lot. The story was predictable, despite how we got there being unique. I truly believe that Talk to Me was a better film, and I will stick to that, which I rated the exact same. This movie is not for everyone and is truly only for the strong-willed and strong-stomached. If you like scary movies and gore, go for it, but if you are unsure, you will most likely have a bad time.
-J