The Forge- This is why I’m trying to play catch up. I don’t remember this audio description track at all. I know it had one when it dropped on Netflix, but I do not remember it in the slightest. What I remember about the Forge was thinking that the film would be much better off just as a faith based drama, that this really bizarre recruitment tool for fulfillment centers. Sure, the main story is about a young man who is learning to be a better person, and more reliable, and his job happens to be at a warehouse, but it felt like the message wasn’t so much about Christ, as it was that work is King. The climax of the film is this celebratory experience where our protagonist stays overtime and inspires all around him to stay “for the company”, so they can reach an irrational goal before the next morning. I think, if they really put their heads together, they could have found a better way of suggesting the power of Christ compels you other than working for the man in historically shitty conditions, but making it look cool. There’s a character that helps from home, as he operates drones in the store. They try to make his job look like he goes from being a gamer, to moving drones around. Go work at a fulfillment center. that’s what God wants. Is it?
Barely Rotten: Final Grade: C, Audio Description: ?
Speak No Evil- I actually watched both versions. they are pretty different at times, but I didn’t find either of them scary. the original, released just two years before the remake, is mostly in English. It has a TTS track on Amazon that doesn’t bother to translate the dialog not in English, which makes it pretty useless. The remake stars James McAvoy in a role that reminds you he probably deserved an Oscar nomination for Split. He’s really good at being unhinged, and that’s what makes the remake work. Either way, you are watching a movie about two families who barely know each other, but after having a brief but pleasant encounter, spend more time together. From there, things escalate. the original might be the better film, but it is so marginal, as McAvoy gives the strongest performance in either film. IN the end, the remake wins for having better audio description, but the original might just be a bit more of a horror film.
The 2022 version: Fresh: Final Grade: C+, Audio Description: D+
The 2024 version- Fresh: Final Grade: C+, Audio Description: B+
