Max Livingstone

@mlivingstone12
13 Followers
12 Following
330 Posts
I'm just a guy with his opinions, mostly on movies and video games. I write short reviews of titles I'm experiencing for the first time.
Bloghttps://maxle2000.wordpress.com/
YouTubehttps://youtube.com/@maxlivingstone
Letterboxdhttps://letterboxd.com/Maxolm/
Max Livingstone17h ago

*Battle Angel Alita* [AKA just *Battle Angel*, AKA *Gunnm*] (1993).
This two-episode OVA is, I suspect, an extremely condensed adaptation of the manga. It rushes through the story at breakneck speed, just enough to convey the basic idea but not leave an emotional impact. Still, even if the rushed pacing renders the characters not overly engaging, the world itself is.
My rating: 65%.

#film #movies #anime

Max Livingstone1d ago

*Project Hail Mary* (2026).
A terrific sci-fi outing that cements Andy Weir and Drew Goddard as a winning combination.🙂 First it unfolds like a mystery as Ryland Grace pieces together what happened to him, then it becomes an innovative take on first contact. Both halves are smart, compelling and emotional, complete with amazing music.
My rating: 85%.

#film #movies

Max Livingstone2d ago

*Hoppers* (2026).
The trailer made this look *awful*, but left out some crucial context that makes all the difference. I was never fully on board with the first half or Mabel's rather misguided goals, but the idea of interfering with nature leads to an outrageous second half that finally makes the movie.
My rating: 65%.

#film #movies #pixar

Max Livingstone3d ago

I begin this week with one more Disney sequel.

*102 Dalmatians* (2000).
It ramps up the comedy much more than the first movie, but none of it works and it just becomes annoying. I'm not sure what's worse: the jokes themselves, the trite story, the exaggerated camerawork, the talking parrot escalating the animals' sapience, or the moments that blatantly defy common sense.
My rating: 25%.

If you're curious, I don't like the 1996 *101 Dalmatians* very much either.

#film #movies #disney

Max Livingstone5d ago

This week, I watched three pairs of live-action Disney movies.

George of the Jungle — 3½ stars
George of the Jungle 2 — 1 star
Hocus Pocus — 2 stars
Hocus Pocus 2 — 2 stars
Maleficent — 2 stars
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil — 2 stars

#LetterboxdFriday #LastfourWatched

Show threadMax Livingstone6d ago
*Maleficent: Mistress of Evil* (2019).
It's only slightly better than the first movie. It's at least easier to appreciate as its own thing, but every plot beat is so bog-standard that the supposedly emotional moments fall completely flat. When Maleficent's exploring the Dark Fey cavern, it somehow looks like a scene straight out of *Avatar*.
My rating: 45%.
Show threadMax Livingstone6d ago
*Hocus Pocus 2* (2022).
I didn't like the first movie either, but this sequel disappoints for different reasons; it's more underwhelming than annoying. There are several unwelcome retcons, it tries to have its cake and eat it regarding the villains being simply misunderstood, and how do the witches suddenly know *One Way or Another*?
My rating: 35%.
Show threadMax Livingstone6d ago
*George of the Jungle 2* (2003).
A cheap, terrible sequel in every respect. The CGI is atrocious, only a couple of actors return, every plot beat is utterly clichéd, and instead of having fun with kids like the first movie did, this one sardonically talks down to them. The only positive is that it's mercifully short.
My rating: 15%.
Max Livingstone6d ago

This week, I watched three pairs of Disney live-action movies: *George of the Jungle*, *Hocus Pocus*, *Maleficent* and their lone sequels. In all three cases, I've seen the first movie before, but wanted to refresh my memory – and see if I'd end up liking them any more or less. If you're curious, I give them 7/10, 4/10 and 4/10 respectively. Now I'll attach my fifty-word reviews of the sequels as replies here.

#film #movies #disney

Max LivingstoneMar 13

Another week, another series.🙂 This week, it's the *Dirty Harry* sequels.

Magnum Force — 3 stars
The Enforcer — 3½ stars
Sudden Impact — 3½ stars
The Dead Pool — 3½ stars

Out of view is the original *Dirty Harry*. I give it 4½ stars; I love that movie! Needless to say, I think it blows all the sequels out of the water.

#LetterboxdFriday #LastFourWatched