{"id":2393,"date":"2025-06-26T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/?p=2393"},"modified":"2025-06-26T04:01:29","modified_gmt":"2025-06-26T04:01:29","slug":"movies-with-the-doomsayer-february-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/2025\/06\/26\/movies-with-the-doomsayer-february-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Movies with the Doomsayer – February 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Feeling a little heartbroken?\u00a0 Fear not, for I have the cure that ails you: movies asking if love is truly worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Companion<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MY LOYAL FOLLOWERS!!!\u00a0 What if Ex Machina<\/em> was focused on the dating scene in 2025.\u00a0 Then you would get Companion<\/em>; a film about Iris, a girl who goes with her boyfriend to a weekend getaway.\u00a0 After an accident occurs, Iris learns she\u2019s not human, but a companion robot and her boyfriend plans to pin the murder on her.\u00a0 It might seem like I gave away the whole movie, but much of this premise is established in the first twenty minutes.\u00a0 As someone who values their own peace and freedom over companionship, Iris\u2019s struggles were a staunch reminder of how often people just use each other within dating culture.\u00a0 The movie is definitely holding a mirror up to the almost transactional nature that is dating; it certainly reaffirmed my commitment to focus on my own personal goals.\u00a0 If you have started to hate the dating apps on your phones, then Companion<\/em> is a film for you.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Parasite (2019)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am often asked, Doomsayer, what separates a good story from a bad one.\u00a0 While there are certainly many factors at play, I feel the one of the best ways to judge a story is asking if the film is able to show its message rather than tell it.\u00a0 Take Parasite<\/em> as an example. The film never waxes poetically about Marxist theory, instead it depicts it through scenes.\u00a0 From the Kim family wrestling control of the Park house bunker away from the previous housekeeper to the Park family becoming visibly disgusted by the Kim family\u2019s smell after their sewage floods their basement, we begin to see the divide between the haves and have-nots.\u00a0 Parasite excels because it shows class divide rather than lectures you about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MY LOYAL FOLLOWERS, I must confess.\u00a0 As I walked out of the theater, I was mildly disappointed with Parasite<\/em>.\u00a0 NOT THROUGH ANY FAULT OF THE FILM; I must make that clear.\u00a0 As you can imagine, Parasite<\/em> has been on my radar for nearly six years, and over those years, I did my best to avoid any discussion surrounding the film, so I could go in blind.\u00a0 Unfortunately, my imagination began to run wild, and I assume the film would have some supernatural elements involved.\u00a0 To my disappointment, I found the film to be more of a psychological thriller in the vain of Fincher\u2019s Se7en<\/em> and Fight Club<\/em>, when I had my sights aligned for Poltergeist<\/em>.\u00a0 There are two things you should take away from this soapbox rant: one, having your expectations aligned for a film is important, and two, everyone should see Parasite<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Heart Eyes<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If someone captured Ghostface and made him watch nothing but romcoms, you would create Heart Eyes<\/em>.\u00a0 PICTURE THIS, MY LOYAL FANS.\u00a0 The movie opens with the most obnoxious couple trying to get photos of their proposal.\u00a0 The woman is berating her future fianc\u00e9e, claiming that the proposal needs to be \u201cInstagram worthy.\u201d\u00a0 The future fianc\u00e9, a typical finance bro, yells at the cameraman because he has to take out his frustration on someone.\u00a0 Just as the next attempt at the photos is about to take place, the cameraman is killed by a masked figure.\u00a0 The killer chases the couple through the winery and is able to dispose of them before the opening title scene.\u00a0 Heart Eyes<\/em> is Scream<\/em> mixed with modern day romcoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite mainly being there for gruesome murders, I did become invested in the relationship between Mason Gooding and Olivia Holt\u2019s characters.\u00a0 They initially felt like horror movie fodder, but you learn that the two of them both have their guards up from their past relationship experiences.\u00a0 See horror movies, I am not asking for the world; I am just asking for you to take five minutes to establish some details about these characters.\u00a0 Overall, I would say Heart Eyes<\/em> has stolen that slasher-film-that-references-other-movies crown from Scream <\/em>and is certainly in position to hold onto it for a while.\u00a0 Bring on Heart Eyes 2<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Friday (1995)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nice to know One of Them Days <\/em>was working off a cheat sheet.\u00a0 Jokes aside, my loyal followers, Friday <\/em>is another great 90s comedy film.\u00a0 Similar to One of Them Days<\/em>, two friends, Craig and Smokey, need to come up with two hundred dollars before the end of the day.\u00a0 The two leads, Ice Cube and Chris Tucker, have great chemistry, leading to the film being a buddy comedy staple.\u00a0 Friday <\/em>is a great way to celebrate the 90s buddy comedies that once ruled the roost.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Captain America: Brave New World<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ll confess, my loyal followers, my expectations for Captain America: Brave New World<\/em> were so low, the film reel could have combust into flames and I wouldn’t have been surprised.\u00a0 My grievance did not stem from Sam Wilson or him dawning the Captain America mantel.\u00a0 I more had little to no faith in the rest of the film.\u00a0 The MCU has been in free-fall with lackluster villains, obnoxious side characters and storylines that are a substitute for sleep aids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, the film is well paced as a fun, action-packed, political thriller.\u00a0 A Winter Soldier <\/em>lite, as people have been calling it.\u00a0 The film definitely underutilized Giancarlo Esposito and the main villain; fans of animated The Avengers: Earth\u2019s Mightiest Heroes <\/em>will know what I am talking about.\u00a0 Outside of Sam, Red Hulk and the main villain, I struggle to remember other characters.\u00a0 I was only able to recall Esposito because he was mentioned in my notes.\u00a0 Thankfully, these issues will only be on-screen for a second before the film whisk the audience to another action set piece.\u00a0 AS I STAND ATOP THIS SOAPBOX, I WILL NOT CLAIM THE END IS NIGH FOR THE MCU.\u00a0 However, it is no where close to its phase 3 glory.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (1999)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It probably says a lot about me that I choose to watch Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind<\/em> on the same week as Valentine’s Day.\u00a0 For those unaware of the film, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind <\/em>is a movie where Joel (played by Jim Carrey) undergoes a procedure to erase his memories of his previous relationship after discovering his ex did the same.\u00a0 There\u2019s no doubt, I am drawn to the film, due to Carrey\u2019s cynical opening line about Valentine’s Day being invented by companies who want to make us feel like crap.\u00a0 Yet, I always end up staying for the philosophic debate the movie has about love.\u00a0 Would erasing memories of our worst relationship improve our lives?\u00a0 Are we all destined to repeat the same mistakes in our relationships?\u00a0 Is it better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all?\u00a0 Even as I stand before you, on my soapbox, I am still unsure if myself nor the movie have the answers.\u00a0 Maybe that\u2019s the ultimate point of the film: love will always be a mystery, and you’re better off following your gut.\u00a0 Between this philosophical thought exercise and the whimsical and quirky performances of Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet, I believe this film should be a staple for all during the month of February.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Monkey<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MY LOYAL FOLLOWERS, this film has a serious identity crisis.\u00a0 The Monkey<\/em> is a film about a toy monkey that will cause a tragic accident that will kill someone after it finishes banging its drum.\u00a0 The film wants to be a serious movie about mortality and generational trauma, similar to films like Hereditary<\/em> and Talk to Me<\/em>.\u00a0 However, all the kills are over the top and bloody, similar to films like Dale and Tucker vs. Evil <\/em>or the recent Destroy All Neighbors.<\/em>\u00a0 Take the opening scene, for example, The Monkey bangs his drum and the owner of an antique store is shot with a harpoon.\u00a0 Seconds later, the harpoon is reeled in, leading to the shop owner\u2019s intestines being strung along the store.\u00a0 In a horror comedy, this would work perfectly, but this film wants to sit at the adult horror table so it too can talk about trauma.\u00a0 Even the final scene, where father and son decide that death should not get in the way of each other\u2019s lives, is immediately followed up by a bus full of cheerleaders being decapitated by a speeding semi-truck.\u00a0 The Monkey<\/em> is completely at odds with itself, and you are better off watching a film that doesn\u2019t try to do everything at once.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every once in a while, you need a good reminder to punch a Nazi.\u00a0 No additional notes.\u00a0 Go punch a Nazi.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Feeling a little heartbroken? Fear not, for I have the cure that ails you: movies asking if love is truly worth it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2394,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2393","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-opinion","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2393","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2393"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2393\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2405,"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2393\/revisions\/2405"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2394"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2393"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2393"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gatecitygaming.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2393"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}