Joseph Pesantez

Favorite films

  • Monty Python and the Holy Grail
  • The Lion King
  • Happy Feet
  • Waking Sleeping Beauty

All
  • Popeye the Slayer Man

    ★★

  • High Road to China

    ★★★

  • Grease

    ★★★★½

  • Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

    ★★★★

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Grease

1978

★★★★½ Rewatched

While this does have a few small issues that hold it back from delivering a masterful premise, this was still an excellent, albeit intentionally campy musical rom-com based on the popular stage play that has a lighthearted, yet very laid-back tone, memorable, sometimes energetic, song numbers that weren't too flashy or bombastic, likable chemistry between the two leads, colorful costume designs, a fun, if slightly dated, animated opening credit sequence, good acting in general, especially from John Travolta, and it's an overall impressive theatrical feature directorial debut from Randal Kleiser! In other words, it's peachy keen, jellybean, and then some...!

Happy Gilmore

1996

★★★★ Rewatched

While it's not the best golf-based movie or sports comedy of all time, this was still a very funny and occasionally very likable Adam Sandler vehicle from the 90's with a simple, yet entertaining premise, a mostly funny, if sometimes unruly sense of humor, an enjoyable ing cast, a distinct aura of fun and charm all throughout it, and a memorable cameo/fight scene from Bob Barker, however while a majority of the humorous dialogue worked for me, once in a…

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Normal Life

1996

★★★★½ Watched

Playing out sort of like a cross between "Fun With Dick and Jane" and "Bonnie and Clyde," this excellent romantic crime drama inspired by the lives of Illinois bank-robbing couple, the Ericksons, had characters whose domestic lives were anything BUT normal due to drugs, bankruptcy, and few doses of manipulation included for good measure, all of which are elevated by believable, yet sometimes volatile, chemistry between the two leads, especially from Ashley Judd, more committed acting performances from everyone else…

Adverse

2020

★★★½ Watched

This tough, gritty, but still quite good crime thriller had a basic, yet effective story, a dark, violent atmosphere, some powerful emotional moments, fine direction overall, and while the performances were good, in general, I felt like the actors could've been a little more convincing in their respective roles. Also, any visual effects they used, particularly those involving splattering blood, looked really fake and cheap and the script maybe could've used one more rewrite, especially since the main execution wasn't anything too original as far as these types of movies go.