Here at the Wood Word, many of us writers have our own current binges and/or comfort flicks. In this column, we’re excited to share with you What We’re Watching.
CHARLOTTE:
Together: Over summer break, I went to the movie theater quite frequently to see a lot of the upcoming horror movies. Before I saw “Together,” I knew close to nothing about it, only that it was a body horror movie. Dave Franco and Alison Brie, the two lead actors, had great chemistry – which, of course, given their real-life marriage – that was crucial to the plot and overarching theme. That theme being ‘losing yourself in a relationship’, which is used literally when the two fuse together in a revolting way, and become someone they are not.
Weapons: “Weapons” was another movie I saw in theaters this summer, the hype around this horror movie really had me waiting for its opening day. It follows multiple perspectives of a story of a whole classroom of students disappearing, besides one. This movie had its intended meaning of how alcoholism can affect a child’s life, but I thought it was about school shootings, like many others did. The scene with a floating gun in the sky solidified that original thought, but after finding out that the director Zach Cregger just dreamt that scene and put it into the movie, I didn’t take this movie as seriously, especially with the ending of 17 kids running after an old witch, eating her alive.
FELIX:
Karate Kid: Legends: Similar to Charlotte I spent a lot of time in the movie theater over the summer. The first movie I saw to kick off my break was “Karate Kid: Legends.” This was the sixth film in the franchise, which started back in 1984. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen them all, but viewers didn’t need a deep understanding of the five previous movies to watch the new one. It was fun to see Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan act as the new teachers, but nothing could beat the late great Pat Morita. I believe Ben Wang was an amazing choice for the “Karate Kid” and he didn’t disappoint.
How to Train Your Dragon: “How to Train Your Dragon” is back, but this time in live action. I’m not a big fan of movies taking a great animation and turning it into live action. I think it is lazy and unoriginal. However, I decided to give this movie a shot because the original is very good. After viewing it, I was surprised at how great it was. I think the cast was very on point, and the acting was top-tier. If you haven’t seen it yet, I strongly recommend you watch it. I am also very happy they are making a second one, also in live action.
TOBIAS:
Superman: This version of “Superman” brings the character back to his silver screen roots while adding that signature James Gunn flair from the quirky side characters. David Corenswet puts on a familiar yet refreshing take on the character, focusing on what it means to be kind and serve your fellow man when the whole world is watching. The rest of the cast is just as great. Nicholas Hoult plays a perfect modern tech-bro version of Lex Luthor with a smarmy confidence that makes you love to hate him. Nathan Fillion as the not-so-serious Green Lantern really brings that arrogant ineptitude to the character of Guy Gardner that shines through, and Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific steals the show with a performance so good, you’d think he leapt off the page. The plot itself seems almost too fast-paced at first, but if you’re a fan of comic books, you’ll feel right at home with the action-to-drama ratio. All around, I think the movie is very well made and an amazing start to Gunn’s new DCU.
Sinners: I watched “Sinners” over the summer, and I thought that this movie was an instant classic. Everything from the performances, to the costuming and sets, to the plot and scripts, all are 10/10 in my opinion. Michael B. Jordan is a powerhouse, acting as both halves of the Smokestack Twins, who come back to their hometown of Clarksdale, Mississippi, to start up a juke joint, recruiting many old friends and vagabonds along the way. Everything is going very well until a group of vampires shows up and starts to wreak havoc on the place, causing the smokestack twins and friends to have to survive the night. The themes of cultural conformity, being the death of racial and native traditions, shine through very strongly, but it does feel slightly jarring when the film goes from a period-accurate story of the southern black experience to a straight-up vampire horror film. That being said, I still loved it and think Ryan Coogler is making some of the best stuff being put out these days, and I can’t wait to see what he does next.
BRANDON:
The Naked Gun (2025): I’ve always been a huge fan of the “Naked Gun” films. I loved the original trilogy’s comedy and was skeptical when the new one was announced. After seeing it, I’m happy to say that I had nothing to worry about. “The Naked Gun,” starring Liam Neeson, was incredibly funny. It’s the first comedy movie I’ve seen that has actually made me laugh in a theater in a long time. The movie is full of fun visual gags and verbal humor, and it pays homage to the original trilogy perfectly. If you are a fan of the originals or “Airplane!” or just comedy movies in general, I cannot recommend watching this enough.
28 Years Later: I have been a long-time fan of horror movies and zombie movies, which is why I was super happy to see “28 Years Later.” The third film in the “28 Days” series did not disappoint. The original writer, Alex Garland, returns as well as the original director, Danny Boyle. They return to this universe with a fresh new take and make an amazing movie; it touches not just on zombie movies but also goes on a deeper level about family as well as life and death itself. I loved watching this, and I highly recommend it. The cinematography was beautiful, especially for being filmed all on an iPhone. The sequel to “28 Years Later” which will be released in theatres on Jan. 16, 2026, and is titled “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.”
Jason:
Se7en: I have always loved a good murder mystery movie and “Se7en” is just that and more. The David Fincher film stars fan favorites, Brad Pitt as David Mills and Morgan Freeman as William Somerset. This movie creates a great and thought out plot about murder and how people view the American Society. The murderer, whose name is never mentioned, creates seven murders that represent and reflect on the seven deadly sins. I believe that this movie is a “must watch” and I highly recommend it. The actors are unearthly good in this film and really reel the audience in with their skills.
Megamind: Another movie that I watched in my free time was “Megamind.” Although I have watched this multiple times before, I feel that it gets better every time I watch it. Even though “Megamind” is classified as a “kids movie,” it contains great adult humor and a good plot, better than most “kids movies.” If you haven’t seen it, I strongly recommend you to watch it. It contains a lot of humor, and like most kids movies, it ends in a “happy ever after.”
ELLA:
The Summer I Turned Pretty: Like so many, all summer I have been glued to the TV screen on Wednesdays to catch up on “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” To say I am disappointed in the season thus far would be an understatement. This season lacks the summer magic of seasons past. All of the characters, minus Conrad, are insufferable. Jeremiah is so out of touch with his relationship, and so far, has spent the entire season complaining about a chocolate cake and pushing his fiance into his brother’s arms. Belly is simply unbearable. She has spent the last 10 episodes running around in circles, convincing herself that she wants Jerimiah, and denying herself her true feelings for Conrad. She disregards everyone else’s opinions and feelings, and she has been so reckless and careless in every sense. Poor Conrad has been put through the ringer, and everyone completely ignores his feelings. I secretly hope the season ends with him running away from this dysfunctional family and never looking back. It feels like all the money this season has been spent on obtaining Taylor Swift songs rather than putting together a cast that has chemistry. Lola Tung and Chris Briney’s characters of Belly and Conrad act circles around everyone else in the cast. Although the last 15 minutes of episode 10 gave me some hope for the season to redeem itself, I am holding on to the slightest bit of hope that Belly can finally grow, and that she and Conrad can actually have a chance at a strong relationship, or hopefully Conrad escapes his family.
Harry Potter: Every fall, I rewatch all eight “Harry Potter” movies, and they are the perfect movies to transition from the summer to fall months. The ambience of the Hogwarts castle mixed with the nostalgia the movies bring makes the fall months feel especially magical. Whenever I turn the movies on, they captivate my attention, no matter how long they may be on for. Harry, Ron and Hermione were a part of so many’s childhood, and it is so exciting to dive back into the world of Hogwarts every fall and watch the story unfold again and again. I love how each film expands on Hogwarts itself, while also introducing new parts of the wizarding world. All eight films truly add something to the storyline. I also really enjoy how each film gets darker in order to really show how Harry’s world is changing and how his fight with the dark lord is approaching. For those who love fun, lighthearted movies with a bit of mystery, the early movies are just that. And if you like movies with darker tones and scenes, the later movies give that ominous and dark vibe. There is truly a movie for everyone. If anyone is looking for a fall series to start on a cold, rainy weekend, my recommendation would absolutely be any of the “Harry Potter” movies.
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