I Watched 7 Movies For The First Time During 26 Hours In Plane Rides, Here’s How I’d Rank Them

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I Watched 7 Movies For The First Time During 26 Hours In Plane Rides, Here's How I'd Rank Them

As a frequent flyer who’s seen more movies than I care to count during my countless hours in the friendly skies, I must say that these films truly stood out!

Just returned from an incredibly recommended trip to Japan, and let me tell you, both journeys were quite the marathon. The entire flight took approximately 26 hours, and every moment of that seemed endless.

To put it simply, during my flight, I had some fresh movies to keep me entertained. In total, I ended up watching nine films, but two stood out: “Jaws” and “The Wizard of Oz”. I could watch “Jaws” forever, and the other one was “The Wizard of Oz”, as a preparation for the upcoming movie, “Wicked”.

But, the other movies I watched were all new to me, which I think is a great way to spend your time on a long flight across the ocean. Now, I was sitting beside my son on the plane, so I couldn’t watch some of the R-rated movies that I wanted to, like the “sultry sports drama,” Challengers, or even rewatch one of my favorite movies, Everything Everywhere All at Once. Instead, I had to stick with mostly PG-13 fare. So, here are all the “new” movies that I watched on the plane, ranked.  

I Watched 7 Movies For The First Time During 26 Hours In Plane Rides, Here's How I'd Rank Them

7. Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts 

In this “Transformers” sequel that we highly recommended, you essentially receive double the heroic Transformers for the cost of one, with the well-known Autobots and the entirely new (in movie terms), Maximals making an appearance. The term “Beasts” in the title is derived from the popular “Beast Wars Transformers” series, as the Maximals are associated with this specific series.

In unison, they confront the Terrorcons, a menacing force intent on offering our world as a sacrifice to the cosmic Transformer, Unicron – a being that feeds on planets. During this journey, we encounter two fresh human characters: Noah (Anthony Ramos) and Elena (Dominique Fishback), who actively participate in the storyline rather than getting lost amidst the chaos of explosions.

I must admit, I was quite let down because I expected to enjoy this film more than I did. Being a dedicated fan of the movie “Bumblebee,” I had high hopes for this one too, given its emphasis on human characters. However, for some reason, it didn’t resonate with me as much as I had hoped.

Instead of being fully awake due to the loud noises in my headphones, I kept falling asleep. To my disappointment, it seemed like the Autobots were given more focus in the story compared to the Maximals, who I found far more intriguing. Overall, it was alright, but not as great as I had anticipated.

I Watched 7 Movies For The First Time During 26 Hours In Plane Rides, Here's How I'd Rank Them

6. Roman Holiday 

In the 1953 movie titled “Roman Holiday,” directed by William Wyler and starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, a princess (Hepburn) decides to take a break from her royal responsibilities and finds herself smitten with a reporter (Peck). Initially, he’s only interested in securing an interview, but eventually, he too falls for the princess. It’s a charming film.

Additionally, it might have been overly adorable. Given my fondness for timeless black-and-white films and heartwarming romantic comedies, Roman Holiday was undeniably a film I intended to watch at some point.

It turned out pleasant for me to discover that the movie was among those offered on the flight. However, I should clarify that it leans more towards “romance” rather than “comedy,” and unfortunately, I didn’t become deeply engaged with the plot.

In my opinion, the dynamic between Hepburn and Peck was passable, yet failed to ignite any deep emotions about their connection. To be frank, it felt rather mediocre, which was rather disappointing given my expectations. However, I must admit that the scenic backdrop was pleasing to the eye, so there’s a silver lining.

I Watched 7 Movies For The First Time During 26 Hours In Plane Rides, Here's How I'd Rank Them

5. Twilight 

Indeed, you’ve understood correctly. I’ve never seen the Twilight movie, but I did catch New Moon once. It’s odd, I know why. This 2008 film, directed by Catherine Hardwicke and featuring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in leading roles, follows a young girl (Stewart) who relocates to a gloomy town and develops romantic feelings for a vampire (Pattinson).

He warns her not to get too close, but she just can’t help it, which kind of throws her into peril once other vampires arrive. It’s a whole vibe. 

Notably, I found myself enjoying it. The directorial style by Hardwicke gave the story a surprisingly campy vibe amidst its serious tone. In fact, I spotted someone peeking at it from the seat in front, as the characters played baseball.

1) I couldn’t help but laugh aloud when I came across this particular scene, which prompted me to give the entire movie a watch. To my delight, it lived up to expectations. The movie possesses a clear sense of identity, and I found myself appreciating it for just that reason.

I Watched 7 Movies For The First Time During 26 Hours In Plane Rides, Here's How I'd Rank Them

4. Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes 

In the most recent chapter of the Planet of the Apes series, I find myself mourning Caesar, a figure revered by some apes almost like a biblical prophet. Yet, amidst this sorrow, we are introduced to a new protagonist named Noa, hailing from a tribe known for their bird calls. Tragedy strikes when his home is set ablaze, leaving him alone and on the move.

Until he encounters a woman called Mae (Freya Allan), whose true nature surpasses expectations. In unison, they confront a powerful king ape that yearns to unearth the mysteries of history, aiming to accrue further dominance.

1. I’m quite fond of the contemporary “Planet of the Apes” films, and since the director, Wes Ball, is taking charge of the forthcoming “The Legend of Zelda” movie, I was eager to watch this one.

This film isn’t exactly “Apocalypto meets Planet of the Apes,” but it certainly held my interest with its captivating characters and plotline. Although I do pine for Caesar, Noa is a character I found interesting as well.

I Watched 7 Movies For The First Time During 26 Hours In Plane Rides, Here's How I'd Rank Them

3. The Pelican Brief 

In this intricate thriller featuring Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington, two Supreme Court Justices meet their untimely end, causing a law student (portrayed by Roberts) to flee for safety as her suspicions about the murders are confirmed. A reporter (Washington) joins forces with her, ultimately exposing a web of corruption that reaches from the highest echelons.

As a devoted admirer, I must confess that at approximately 141 minutes, “The Pelican Brief” seemed to overstep its mark, yet the captivating twists it presented were relentless, keeping me hooked throughout.

I found the collaboration between Denzel Washington and Julia Roberts particularly enjoyable because they seemed to mesh well on screen. By the time the movie ended, I was quite impressed and felt surprised that it doesn’t receive more recognition. Granted, it might not be as exceptional as The Firm or The Rainmaker, but I still found it highly entertaining.

I Watched 7 Movies For The First Time During 26 Hours In Plane Rides, Here's How I'd Rank Them

2. Blue Beetle 

A fresh graduate from college (Xolo Mariduena) encounters an advanced extraterrestrial technology that metamorphoses him into the superhero known as Blue Beetle. Now endowed with these extraordinary abilities, he has to figure out how to control them effectively and strive to be the top-notch superhero possible, not just for global safety, but primarily to safeguard his beloved family.

As a gamer, let me tell you, I wasn’t expecting much from Blue Beetle, given the mixed reviews out there, even our own. But boy, was I pleasantly surprised! The heartwarming story of this resilient Mexican-American family had me hooked, and I found myself rooting for them every step of the way.

That said, my son picked the movie out, and he absolutely adored it, so perhaps his enthusiasm is what made the film even more enjoyable for me. I don’t know, but I saw Blue Beetle on the way to Japan, and also on the way back, as my son watched it a second time. And, I liked it a lot both times. It’s fun.  

I Watched 7 Movies For The First Time During 26 Hours In Plane Rides, Here's How I'd Rank Them

1. Past Lives 

Originally hailing from Korea as young playmates, Nora and Hae Sung part ways when Nora’s family relocates, but their paths cross again once they become grown-ups.

The only issue is, Nora (Greta Lee), has married a really nice man (John Magaro), and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) is still in love with her. However, this isn’t your typical love story. No, no. This one may break your heart. 

It’s clear that the movie by Celine Song left me tearful, as I found myself wiping away tears more than just a few times during the screening. Some people are known to weep more readily when viewing movies on an aircraft, and this film seemed to have that effect on me.

Among the films I enjoyed during my flight, “Past Lives” stood out as the one that truly stirred my emotions. Therefore, it was undoubtedly the top movie I watched over the course of 26 hours.

1. Have you caught up with all these films? If so, did you happen to watch any of them during a flight, as I did?

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2024-08-31 23:07