365 Days

This isn't sexy at all! It is just rape-y and full of misogynistic violence. If my face wasn't doing that 'ugh/argh/gross' expression, it was chortling out a 'HA!' because of how ridiculous it was.
Two thumbs down - that was HORRENDOUS. The sex scenes aren't even worth putting up with the rest of the it.

Bridget Jones' Diary

Here are some choice things my dad said during the movie. See if you can spot the theme:

D: Is that girl Canadian?
K: No, she is American
D: Oh... so she is pretending to be speaking English?

D: Hey Katrina... so Bridget Jones' Diary... is it set in England?
K: Yes

D: So it is an all British movie? The British accents?

Speaking Vietnamese to mum:
D: Katrina nói là người Mỹ. Cô học nói bằng giọng người Anh. Hmm nếu cô nói giọng Mỹ thì không hợp
Translation: Katrina said she is American. And she learnt how to speak in an English accent. Hmm if she spoke in an American accent it wouldn't match (the film)

D: She is so clever! She is American but sounds British!

Two thumbs up! But what does dad think? "If you weren't here I would turn it to NCIS"

Mission: Impossible

I needed to change out of my jeans after our turn-of-events Kindred takeaway dinner, but I obviously couldn't go out during that dangling scene.
Half a thumbs up "I guess it was good for its time" - Reb. Jeez some of those camera angles are rough. And I am so so happy the female leads/characters have become so much better than that useless skinny doe-eyed lady. God she was hopeless.

Jurassic Park

I still don't understand who (in the film) and why Jeff Goldblum is there?
One and a quarter thumbs up - just a couple of decades late but this was my first time watching Jurassic Park EVER. It holds up very well.
Side note: did Yvonne sing the Jurassic theme song on Whatsapp recently? Was it during the Diplodocus debate? Or just because?

The Watermelon Woman

Hmm... I don't feel qualified enough to really comment on it because I am not black or queer? But I really appreciate the themes and intersections it involves.
Half a thumbs up - good talking points, hilarious conversation snippets, but I can't say I enjoyed the flow and format all that much.

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

"Hmm but it definitely is not overly Chinese. It's not like they were pandering to the Chinese. Or should I say.... panda-ing?"

- Me, being a good one hehe. 

One and a half thumbs up - that was very enjoyable. Also they were thinking of Jessica Chastain as first choice female lead?! UGH. She is so boring and forgettable. Rebecca Ferguson stomps her (and Vanessa Kirby) any day!! Isla was so cool!

You've Got Mail

"When you read a book as a child, it becomes a part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your whole life does" - Kathleen Kelly (written by Nora and Delia Ephron).
Books, movies, music. So many of my favourites in all of these are still those that I loved and consumed as a child or teenager. In saying that, 'Moulin Rouge' was my first official favourite movie. I don't have an official number one anymore, just a rough top 5 - 10. However I think 'You've Got Mail' has been the unofficial favourite for a long time now. Am I ready/proud enough to call it? Not yet... but eventually I think I will cave in.
Two thumbs up - this is my go-to movie. For any mood. It cheered me up from being super cranky that afternoon (1. the all gold puzzle might have been a mistake; 2. why the fuck is everything damp/cold/wet?). No shame.

The Virgin Suicides

How do you have sex on the roof? Aren't you worried about rolling off? Or at roof tiles slipping? Also, Kirsten Dunst's character Lux is only 14! 14!
One thumbs up - it is one of those films defined more by it's image and aesthetics than plot or dialogue. Had some questionable overlays? that I had forgotten.

Philadelphia

I cried twice - once during the movie, and once watching Tom Hanks' Best Actor Oscar speech.
Two thumbs up - wow! It is intense but restrained. And as much as I hate this word 'woke' it kind of embodies that before it's time because I can't imagine the early 90s was very friendly towards HIV/AIDS. Also no-one ever mentions Denzel Washington or Antonio Banderas (I had no idea previously) and they were both crucial and amazing too.

Atonement

I could talk about how detailed and epic that one long shot of the beaches of Dunkirk was... or I could talk about how that isn't actually Benedict Cumberbatch's butt - it was a digital butt put in afterwards. And also, he was the creep!! Completely forgot that was him.
One and three quarters thumbs up - it is intimate and beautiful. Keira's Knightley's dress is definitely the iconic green dress. Some Vogue instagram page tried to put the MI4 green dress in the same category. Just no. Only Scarlett O'Hara's green curtain dress may be a decent rival.