All 2021 Films I've Seen So Far Ranked

Well, we're just about to reach the halfway point in 2021, so it's about time to reflect on the movies we've seen so far. Honestly, it hasn't been too bad a line-up all things considered, especially when comparing what we'd seen from 2020 this time last year. There's been a fair share of great films, a couple of weak ones, and some inbetween. Nevertheless, let's take a look at all the ones I've seen so far, ranked from worst to best! I'm going to be a lot less detailed with the things I've reviewed already so just read my reviews of them if you'd like more detail. Let's get going!

15. Malcolm & Marie

This is a really weird movie, and simply for the reason that it doesn't feel like much of a movie. Malcolm & Marie has almost no plot - it is just back and forth dialgoue, usually in the form of monologues, for 90 minutes. That's not inherently a bad thing, but it hindered my enjoyment of the movie more so than added to it here. I was so bored, I was literally just watching two people rambling about stuff, most of which was as loud as possible. Yelling about something as loud as possible doesn't automatically equal dramatic brilliance, I know that just from doing drama at school. I can understand why someone might like this movie; John David Washington and Zendaya are both great actors, the aesthetic of the film is very stylish, and some of what is being discussed is interesting. I thought I'd like this movie for all these reasons, but I didn't because it made no effort to give me a reason to care about what I was watching. So, it's the weakest thing I've seen so far this year, and I'm pretty sure it's going to stay at the bottom for the rest of the year.

14. The Woman in the Window

I don't really know why I watched this movie, but I like a lot of the cast members and the plot sounded intriguing, so I guess that was enough. But, this was sadly another boring movie for a lot of the time. I will say that the talents of the actors shone through better here than in Malcolm & Marie, and at least this movie does have a plot, but I just wasn't really that engaged in the story or keen to see what would happen. It may sound like I'm a little short of things to say with this movie, and honestly, that's purely because I genuinely cannot remember anything about it. Let's just move on, there's not much to say here. It's fine but hardly worth your time. 

13. Army of the Dead

Once again, this movie did nothing but bore me. I think Army of the Dead is also fine - the characters are all passable, and the set-up is kind of decent, but my goodness everything else was just so forgettable, especially the action scenes. On top of that, as I've seen many people say, it is most certainly far too long. Not every damn movie has to be an epic two and a half hours, there's nothing wrong with making something that does its job in no more than 90 minutes. I'm honestly getting really tired of zombie movies, Shaun of the Dead is excellent and Zombieland is decent, but I just think it's an idea that has been explored about as thoroughly as possible. Stop making more. Anyway, as for this movie, it wasn't awful but I can safely say I will never watch it again.

12. Cherry

A surprisingly over-hated movie in my opinion. I didn't know what to think of Cherry going into it, but I like Tom Holland and the Russos so, what could go wrong? While I definitely think this is far too long and generally not the sort of thing I'd want to revisit again, I actually enjoyed it a fair bit. The plot was very engaging and I thought it very naturally progressed the main character's transition from ordinary teen to criminal. On top of that, Tom Holland is great in the movie; he's a much better actor than I previously gave him credit for, and I hope he goes on to appear in more low-key / indie stuff similar to this once he's done with his more big-budget gigs like Spider-Man, as I think it could make way for some great stuff. So, yeah, not the best film I've seen, but I enjoyed it a fair bit. 

11. Fast & Furious 9

Just another Fast & Furious movie. Some fun action and some likeable stars but nothing creative is being done overall and nothing memorable can be found, except for one particular set piece. Still, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a good time with it, definitely more so than all of the afore mentioned films. Read my review if you want elaboration.

10. Godzilla vs. Kong

This is just so much fun; it does exactly what it says on the tin by delivering all the chaotic, large-scale action you could possible want based on the title, even if it does get a bit tiring after a certain point. Read my review for more detail.

9. The Mitchells vs. The Machines

Huh, another movie with 'vs.' in the title. You've probably heard a lot of praise about The Mitchells vs. The Machines, and rightfully so. However, in all honesty, I didn't love it as much as I was hoping. The premise of a family taking on an army of robots just didn't seem too interesting to me, it felt kind of stretched out with its nearly 2-hour runtime, and (unpopular opinion) I don't know how keen I am on the animation style. That being said, I still really enjoyed this movie for the most part. It is extremely funny with how it reflects how modern society is so swarmed by technology and how it has changed the family dynamic in many ways, especially with how it depicts parents who cannot wrap their heads around how it all works (completely accurate might I add!) In addition, I really like how amidst all the chaos, it does tell a really heartfelt and wholesome story. Overall, when looking at the other contributions Lord and Miller have made to Sony Pictures Animation, this isn't as good as Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs or Spider-Verse in my opinion, but still a really solid film that I very much enjoyed and wouldn't mind watching again. 

8. Luca

Luca is another solid outing from Pixar. It's heart is definitely in the right place and it manages to be really visually enjoyable despite going to many familiar places with its story. I don't really care to see what Pixar does next as I'm certain they've shown us all they can do by now, so hopefully we can just see more simple and plainly good stuff from them like this if anything. I've written a review if you'd like a little more detail.

7. Nobody

Like Godzilla vs. Kong, Nobody does exactly what it says on the tin. The trailer shows Bob Odenkirk punching some baddies, and that's basically what the movie is - it is the Bob Odenkirk punching, shooting, and driving into baddies for 90 minutes movie. But, you know what, I am absolutely fine with that. This movie works because it just is what it is. The action is really well done and really enjoyable, and on top of that, it's made extra enjoyable when considering Odenkirk's character is just a Dad who suddenly starts beating some baddies up, which is a really fun set-up. Not sure if I'm rushing to see this again, but I would happily do so should the opportunity arise.

6. The Dig

This was a very gentle and slow film, but one I really enjoyed. The Dig features some really solid performances and has a plot that was quite interesting. I was a little ticked off by some strange camerawork and editing here and there, and I don't know if I really would want to watch this again, but I really enjoyed it. I can't really remember much about this movie so it may well not be as good as I thought. One thing I do remember taking away from it was the fact that at one point some of the characters are eating a lemon drizzle cake, which it turns out wasn't invented until the 1960s, and thus wouldn't have been around on the eve of World War II, when the film takes place. Funny little detail, eh?

5. Judas and the Black Messiah

Chances are you've probably also heard a lot about Judas and the Black Messiah and how great it is, and again, rightfully so. But, also once again, I didn't enjoy this as much as I was hoping to. Despite that, I still admire and respect so much about this film. It goes without saying that Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Steinfeld are both excellent, giving their all and truly becoming these characters rather than just playing them. Other than that, what I liked most about this film was how it had such great themes, exploring selfishness vs selflessness during the civil rights movement with the two lead characters, among many other things. I just wasn't emotionally engaged in the film nor was I really on the edge of my seat throughout. Still, that didn't stop me from picking up on some truly exceptional aspects of what is a really strong film.

4. Cruella

This is definitely the biggest surprise of the year for me, and kind of the only surprise to be honest. Cruella is just such a fabulous movie, anchored by some great performances, and featuring some stunning work in terms of costumes, hair and make-up, cinematography, and more. It's not groundbreaking, and it does feature way too many pop songs, but I just enjoyed it ever so much. Read my review if you want to hear me elaborate on some of this. One thing I will add here is that I have subsequently rewatched the original One Hundred and One Dalmatians from 1961, and I really liked it! The animation is really nicely stylised and doesn't go overboard with its cartoony nature, and it's just a really sweet and charming watch. I especially love the idea of all the dogs in and around London knowing each other and helping one another, that's so wholesome.

3. Raya and the Last Dragon

At the start of the year, this was one of my most anticipated movies for sure. I was so excited to see Disney back to doing something original that looked so unique and as if it was going to be a grounded and truly epic film. I wasn't so keen on spending £20 to watch it at home when I only had to wait an additional 3 months to do so for free, so I ended up waiting and catching it as soon as it became free on Disney+. As a whole, it wasn't quite as amazing as I'd hoped it might be but I think it's still pretty damn good. Of course it looks and sounds beautiful, but what I really liked most was the excellent world building on a level not usually seen in one-off films like this, and the really well implemented theme of trust. At times it felt like it had the grandeur of something out of the Studio Ghibli library like Princess Mononoke, however, what really bogged the movie down for me was the really frustrating humour. Not only was it simply not funny a lot of the time, but it felt kind of ill-fitting in the landscape of this story. If this movie took itself more seriously and wasn't afraid to be a bold and dramatic animated movie, I can safely say it probably would've been one of Disney's very best, because as it is, it's tonally very similar to almost everything they've made before, which is a little disappointing given everything else the movie had going for it. Still, I really cannot complain too much because I'm always delighted to see a solid animated movie from this company even if it's not a spectacular one, and even if it wasn't as good as it is, original work from Disney is also very welcome for me. 

2. In the Heights

Not really that surprised that the most joyful, feel-good and upbeat thing I've watched from this year happens to be one of the best. I have no connection to the original In the Heights stage musical, but I thought the film was ever so good. I smiled, I laughed, I tapped my feet, I just had such a great time with such a wonderful cast of characters. I've also got a more detailed review of this film, so be sure to read that if you want to know more. But, simply put, I really really really liked this.

1. A Quiet Place Part II

Yeah, there wasn't really much competition for the top spot. A Quiet Place Part II is just awesome. You've definitely heard many great things about this, and I've written a review spreading the word of those very great things, so I won't waste your time repeating myself here. Just see this movie if you haven't already, it is absolutely worth your time. 

Well, that's all that I've seen so far. Based on how things are going at the moment, I'm hoping that we will continue to see consistent new releases as the year goes on. There's still much to look forward to on the 2021 calendar, with Black Widow, Dune, No Time to Die, Last Night in Soho, Spider-Man: No Way Home, The King's Man, Shang-Chi, The French Dispatch, and much more, so I can't wait to hopefully see more great stuff.

Fast & Furious 9 - Movie Review - Finally time to hit the breaks with this franchise

I like the Fast & Furious movies - I've said it before, but I have no problem with sitting down and watching something ridiculous purely because it's entertaining and nothing more, and this franchise is basically the pinnicle of stupid but fun entertainment. In preparation for the newest installment, I went back and rewatched all the previous entries (excluding the spinoff Hobbs and Shaw) and my current thoughts are that 1 and 2 are average, 3 is quite mediocre, 4 is alright, 5 is great, 6 is decent, 7 is the best, and 8 is okay. They're at their best with action and set pieces that are just the right amount of bonkers as well as memorable and with the cast being extremely likeable and charismatic. So, I didn't have amazingly high hopes for 9, I was just hoping it would be another round of the same fun. 

In the film, Dom and Letty are living a seemingly normal life, but are called back into action when a new threat arises in the form of Dom's long-lost and vengeful brother. That's essentially all the plot that the film has. 

After watching the entire saga of Fast & Furious films, I've deducted that the main problem with them, the most recent ones in particular, is that they generally seem to add nothing. They aren't building on what the previous films established but rather just giving us more of the same. This one is probably the most guilty of all, as it just retreads familiar ground in terms of themes and character arcs, that being that it's about family and never turning your back on your family, something that literally all the last four or five films have been about. As a result, it's just reiterating what it has already said as opposed to doing something new, which make it a little uninteresting. By the end of this film, it doesn't feel as if we're anywhere new compared to where we were at the start of it, so the film ends up feeling quite superfluous, which is also a problem I had with the last installment. 

That being said, this isn't inherently a problem, especially for the Fast & Furious franchise. I and presumably many others don't watch these movies for the narrative / thematic elements, we watch them because the action and set pieces are really good fun and the stars are likeable. You can make the argument that every sequel in this franchise has been pointless, but the best ones feel worthwhile because you have such a fun time watching them, most notably 5, 6, and 7 for me. Unfortunately, this movie isn't really all that good when it comes to these aspects. 

The action and set pieces are quite bland; just CGI-heavy nonsense that doesn't feel distinct or too different from what's already been. Again, the best films in the series have memorable action scenes, such as the bank vault being dragged through the streets of Rio, or the tank chase on the highway, or the cars jumping out of a plane and deploying parachutes, or the car jumping through the skyscrapers in Abu Dhabi. This film doesn't really have much memorable action. There's a lot of cars and other vehicles crashing into things and blowing up, but that's kind of all there is to it. 

There is one set piece that was on par with the best of the previous films, and that was the (minor spoiler) bit where Tej and Roman went to space; not in a rocket, but in a car with a rocket booster strapped to the roof. Sure, it's utterly nonsensical, even by Fast & Furious standards, but that's exactly why it was so much fun, on top of being absolutely memorable. Other than that, the action wasn't bad, it was all fine and enjoyable enough, but unfortunately dull and forgettable.

On top of that, I wouldn't even say the cast was firing on all cylinders in this movie. The main saving grace of the eighth movie was the chemistry / banter between Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham which was just so much fun. It's no surprise that they then became the main characters of a spinoff movie, and that it was such a fun movie. But, they're not here, which is really annoying! There's not really much left when you cut them out. I mean, Tej and Roman are always fun and likeable, and while they are a lot more tongue in cheek in this movie which was enjoyable, especially in the space sequence, it does feel as if they're just going through the motions at this point. 

Han is also in this movie, and I enjoyed him here as much as I've enjoyed him in the other movies, but it continues this annoying trend in movies nowadays where not just presumed dead but very clearly dead characters are somehow alive all of a sudden. Seriously, can movies stop doing this? It really undermines dramatic moments, and I hate that. But, despite that, he's a very welcome presence. I like how they've continued his character trait of always having a snack. 

Beyond these guys, none of the other actors were particularly fun to watch. John Cena is the notable new addition to the cast, but I wouldn't say he was that much fun. He felt like he was taking it all a bit too seriously, similar to Vin Diesel, which is kind of a shame. Then again, Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham initially felt as if they were taking their roles a bit too seriously, but they managed to ooze a little bit of charisma before eventually lightening up through and through. Perhaps Cena will lighten up a bit down the line, should there be any more sequels. 

As a whole, Fast & Furious 9 has enough of what I want to see from one of these movies for me to say I enjoyed it, with some decent action and some likeable performances, but there's not quite enough for me to say I liked it that much. It continues the Fast & Furious tradition of doing little to justify its existence by hardly developing or building on what the previous films have established, and it doesn't have much that's memorable about it nor does it have all the charm it once had to compensate for that. It is ultimately just another Fast & Furious movie, and based on the fact that I have similar issues with the eighth film, I think it's safe to say that the franchise is starting to run out of steam, because now it's just repeating itself. Like I said, I think there's still enough here to have fun with, but not much that makes it feel worthwhile. A passable time for sure, but I doubt I'll be coming back to it any time soon when 5, 6, and 7 are all far better. 

I'm going to give Fast & Furious 9 a 6.5/10

In the Heights + Luca - Movie Reviews - The summer movie season in full swing

I have seen not one but two new releases this week, and because I don't have a lot of time on my hands or too much to say about either, I thought I'd discuss the pair of them in one go.

First of all, In the Heights, the film adaptation of the stage musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the man behind Hamilton. I have no connection to this musical whatsoever, I purely went to see this because I'm a fan of musical films, and also a fan of Lin-Manuel Miranda's work, especially Hamilton and Moana. Additionally, it did look pretty amazing anyway. The story centres on the Latin American community in the New York neighbourhood of Washington Heights, including Usnavi, who owns a shop and is debating whether he should return to the Dominican Republic and fulfil his father's dream, Nina, who has been struggling at college and wishes to dropout to her father's dismay, Vanessa, who works at a salon but dreams to be a fashion designer, and Benny, who may be losing his job, all of which raise concerns that the community as they know it may be changing forever.

Despite my lack of connection to the film's origins, I really really really enjoyed it. The best part for me was definitely the musical numbers, and they were truly excellent. While the songs are obviously the product of the source material, with all the energy and lyrical genius we've come to expect from Miranda, they were brilliantly executed in such lively and upbeat ways, with some great choreography and cinematography, as well as some wonderful visuals. Even the weaker ones of the bunch were still really solid, and the best of them were simply amazing. My favourites were the opening, 96,000, Blackout, and Carnaval Del Barrio, with Blackout probably being my favourite as it's the one that's been stuck in my head the most since seeing the film. 

But, beyond that, I think the story is also really engaging, and the characters are so loveable, portrayed by some great actors and actresses. There is some social commentary in the story and some very grounded aspects amid the fantastical nature of the musical numbers, but what's so good about this is the fact that the film doesn't feel preachy, but just genuine. The characters feel like genuine people going through genuine struggles, and that is what conveys the social ideas so effectively. On top of that, it isn't drab as a result of its grounded themes, as the fact that it's such an upbeat musical makes the film feel like a celebration of the culture and community at the heart of it, which only strengthens what it's trying to say and also makes it far more enjoyable. I can safely say that, after watching this film, I've fallen in love with this community and all the people within. 

As far as negatives go, I really don't have too many. I'm usually one to complain about a long runtime, but I didn't take issue with this film being 143 minutes as I was so wrapped up in what was happening that it just kinda flew by, similar to La La Land. In fact, when it finished, I was kind of sad as I could've easily continued watching it for a bit longer! I suppose some scenes could've been shortened and, as I somewhat hinted at earlier, not every musical number worked for me. I also got the sense that the plot was often repeating itself and going in circles at points, which made some parts a little uninteresting. But, other than that, I can't really pinpoint much that didn't work for me. Because of my distance from the source material, I obviously can't comment on any changes made and how they might weaken the story / musical numbers, which is where a lot of criticism tends to come from with adaptations, so I might be more positive in my outlook than fans of the original show. That being said, the general reception seems to be very positive, so maybe there isn't any negative discussion to be had in terms of changes made. Again, I wouldn't know. 

Overall, I was very satisfied with In the Heights. It has a great story with some great characters as well as a delightfully celebratory tone that is elevated by some spectacular musical numbers. I'd absolutely love to see this again as I just had such a good time with it, and I'd also like to familiarise myself with the source material at some point to see if the film improved or weakened anything. But, until then, know that I thought this was splendid. 

I'm going to give In the Heights an 8.5/10

Now, let's move onto Luca, the latest offering from Pixar. As of late, I've kind of given up hoping for Pixar to make another film on par with the amazing stuff they put out during the late 90s and 2000s. I don't really think they have much left to prove as a studio, and unlike studios such as Laika, Cartoon Saloon, and Netflix, I'm not really eager to see what they do next anymore. So, I'm more open to the idea of them just continuing to make films that don't aim particularly high. So, Luca seemed like a very fitting place for them to go next, as it looked like something that would just be plainly good instead of anything special. The story follows a sea monster named Luca, who is told by his parents to never go to the surface. But, after meeting a fellow sea monster named Alberto, who is obsessed with the surface, he begins to learn more and more about the world beyond his own. 

As I'm sure you can probably tell from that brief summary, Luca has many plot beats that we've seen time and time again, even from Pixar themselves. The central idea of an initial reluctance to become acquainted with the human world being overcome is straight out of Ratatouille, the underwater aesthetic is very reminiscent of Finding Nemo, and the plot also goes to places that seem derivative of films such as Coco, Cars, and Monsters University. This made the film kind of predictable and it often felt like it was going through the motions which made it a little tiring. 

However, Luca still has enough going for it. One of the best things about it in my eyes is the animation. This is something we often take for granted in a Pixar production, but what I really admired about the animation in this film was how perfectly it aligned with the tone of the film. I usually complain about animated movies being cartoony and more comedic as it adds to the idea that it's just a medium to appeal to children, but because the film is very light-hearted, it was all very appropriate and not ill-fitting, unlike some other recent animated films *cough* Raya and the Last Dragon *cough*. I also very much like how nicely stylised it was, giving it a very unique appearance compared to other animated films. Additionally, it's quite difficult to dislike as the film definitely has its heart in the right place. Luca and Alberto are both very amiable, and the other characters they encounter are also very fun. Plus, the story and themes of the film are very sweet, even if they are kind of unremarkable. 

As a whole, this absolutely falls short of many other Pixar films, but on its own, Luca is very charming. It's visually and tonally sound with some endearing ideas at its core. Even if it isn't anything special it's still a pleasant watch and an adequate outing for this studio.

I'm going to give Luca a 7.5/10

A Quiet Place Part II - Movie Review - Worth the extended wait

A Quiet Place from 2018 is one of the best films of the last decade, especially one of the best original films. It's such an exceptional exploration of a simple but terrific concept with some impeccable acting, strong direction, remarkable craft, all in a very concise ninety-minute runtime. So, news of a sequel was obviously very exciting for me. At the start of 2020, the movie line-up wasn't a particularly strong one, but A Quiet Place Part II was by far my most anticipated movie, so it was ever so annoying to be forced to wait an additional year and a bit for it to finally be released because of COVID. However, it's here now, and I've seen it, so let's talk about it.

Following the events of the original, the Abbott family leave the relative safety of their home and search for help in continuing the navigate their world overrun by aliens that kill you if you make a sound. That's basically all that needs to be said in terms of plot. 

The first thing I want to talk about is the opening sequence - a prologue depicting a flashback to the first day that these sound-sensitive aliens arrived on Earth. Oh my goodness this was an extraordinary opening. The best way to describe it is to think of the opening to Endgame, with Hawkeye and his family, except it's 5-10 minutes instead of 2. Seeing the Abbott family happily living a normal day but with the knowledge that it's not going to last is profoundly disturbing. Once the aliens do arrive, the action is terrific. It's gripping, tense and has some excellent cinematography that captures a lot of it in single, continuous takes. As a whole, I'd say it's better than any individual scene in the first film, it's truly spectacular. It's a little shame it was the opening as it meant the film peaked before it really got going, but that's not a big issue. The rest of the action in the film is really solid, always exciting and edge-of-your-seat.

What I really liked about A Quiet Place Part II is how naturally it continued on from the first film. It expertly continues the familial themes as the two children of the family take centre stage this time - they can't rely on their parents anymore, especially after their father sacrificed himself to keep them safe, so they have to become more independent and take responsibility, which they do during the film, and that feels like such an organic route to take after the first film mostly had their parents trying to keep them safe. I also like how the film expands on the world of the original in ways that are also natural, especially with the character played by Cillian Murphy. While the Abbott family represent those trying to make the best of the apocalyptic situation they live in, he embodies the pessimistic attitude in which there's no hope for survival or things getting better, serving as a direct contrast, which is such a fitting aspect to explore. It also introduces us to other societies which was interesting too. So, narratively and thematically, everything the film does feels so in line with what the original set up, to the point where it seems reasonable to believe that this was the plan all along, even though it wasn't. It makes sense why it's titled "A Quiet Place Part II" instead of just "A Quiet Place 2", as it feels like this is the logical next part in the story.

Aside from that, most of the merits of the first film are apparent here too. All the acting is strong and really sells the situations that these characters are put in, especially from the two children who are both outstanding, as well as established talents Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, and Djimon Hounsou, briefly. The craft behind it all is also great, with some beautiful cinematography, amazing production design, and some genius sound mixing / editing, all of which immerses the audience in the film so masterfully. One of the most remarkable things about both of these films is the involvement of John Krasinski - I find it really awesome that the guy who started off as just Jim from The Office, comedy on the small screen, has now not just starred in but directed and written two magnificent horror / thriller movies. He's such a versatile talent and I cannot wait to see what he does next.

One last thing I really liked about the film was the runtime - it's only ninety-seven minutes. If you saw my recent Top 10 films I watched for the first time during COVID, you'll know that I think the ninety-minute film has become somewhat of a dying art as of late. More often than not, films feel a need to be long and epic when they really don't need to be and end up outstaying their welcome, especially blockbusters. I like how this movie, like it's predecessor, is extremely concise, managing to do so much in a short amount of time. That's not to say I wouldn't have liked this if it was longer, I mean, when it ended, I'd have happily continued watching another thirty minutes or so, but I'm glad that for once a film accomplished all that it needed to as quick as possible.

Are there problems? Well, a few. The original only has a couple of issues in the form of the ocassional plot hole as well as some contrived plot points, both of which are less apparent here. However, because the first film has a very insular scope, focusing on a few characters over a short space of time, the greater breadth to what is going on here makes it feel slightly baggier from a narrative perspective. Still solid for sure and definitely what it had to be as a sequel that expands the world, but seemingly lacking what made the original as great as it was. The film also partially suffers from feeling a little repetitive after some time, as a lot of the action and encounters with the aliens are the same as what we'd seen in the first film with little variation. While this is obviously consistent, it made certain points less interesting even if they were tense.

Well, I have to say, it was worth waiting that extra year and a bit. A Quiet Place Part II didn't disappoint. It keeps up the momentum of the first film with a lot of the same greatness and builds on the foundations it set from a narrative and thematic viewpoint in very organic and satisfying ways. I wouldn't say it quite matches the brilliance of the first film, as the broader scope hinders it from replicating that wonderfully tight and concise nature, but I would definitely say it's a worthy follow-up that does everything a sequel ought to do, and it also has an entire sequence better than any individual scene in the original. 

I'm going to give A Quiet Place Part II an 8.5/10