Films That I Saw: January 2026

 

It is a new year, yet it does not feel like a new year with the same shit still happening here in America. We are set to celebrate our 250th birthday this coming July but there is nothing to feel celebratory about it. Instead, we must deal with the fact that the state of Minnesota and the people at the state including the city of Minneapolis are now under siege by ICE who have already killed two people in Renee Good and Alex Pretti who were only regular good people that got killed in cold blood by a bunch of assholes. The latter of which was a nurse trying to help people and stop ICE from taking someone all because they are an immigrant or might not be a citizen of this country. These are forces that is supposed to protect people, but they are nothing more than just thugs answering the call for our fuck-head dictator who do not care about who they capture or who they kill. They even used a child as bait and will deport children to other countries.



The people I am worried about the most are some of my fellow bloggers who I know live in Minnesota as I do hope they remain safe. Yet, I am worried about what will happen if ICE comes to Georgia in full force as they have made a presence in certain areas in and near Atlanta. My mother has a relative in Georgia that does not leave the house as she is afraid of getting captured by ICE as she had seen people be taken away in the worst ways. It is hard to ignore what is happening as the rest of the world is watching with disapproval and many people in this country wanting to leave. It is dangerous and I rarely go out these days as I do not have the urge to even go to the cinema anymore. I have lost a lot of enthusiasm and excitement over what films to see because there is nothing out right now that makes me want to go to the movie theaters. Plus, I have become unhappy with the film-going experience as I have become tired of 30 minutes worth of awful commercials and movie trailers before the movie even starts. I try to sit in a seat with few people around yet there are those who still turn on their fucking phones.

It is going to take something special for me to go to the movie theaters again as there are very few films that I am eager to see coming in the new year. Instead, I have chosen to stay home and re-watch The Lord of the Rings trilogy in their extended versions at my own pace and relax. I am half-way finished in writing a review for the third film and even thinking about making a list to celebrate the trilogy’s 25th anniversary. That is all I have been doing as I have not even had the chance to even get started on this year’s Blind Spot Series because of timing and wanting to do other things. In the month of January 2026, I saw a total of 8 films in 7 re-watches and only one first-timer. The highlight of the month is The Lord of the Rings trilogy as I will not make a list of the re-watches I saw as there has not been much.

Monthly Mini-Reviews/What Else I Am Watching

The Lion King (2019)

This is a film that my nephew Mateo had been wanting to watch for a while as he would watch it at my mother’s house as I would watch it with him. Visually, it looks good as I do like the photography and some of the voice casting with Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar. Other than that, I feel like it is a film that is unnecessary considering that the 1994 animated version is already perfect. It is faithful to its predecessor, but its pacing feels very sluggish at times where they stretch scenes for too long while the voice work of Beyonce as Nala lacks personality. It is an OK film by Jon Faverau, but it is a film that is not needed though Mateo liked it.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians (season 2, episodes 6-8)

The last series of episodes in the second season has been top-notch not just in terms of the stakes but also in the performances of its young cast. Notably Daniel Diemer and Dior Goodjohn in their respective roles as Tyson and Clarisse as they both shine in their supporting roles. The latter of which becomes the true badass the show needed where she is tasked to complete the quest to retrieve the Golden Fleece despite her reluctance to get help in obtaining the Golden Fleece. The season does end on an ambiguous note as it relates to a prophecy on who would wage war on the Gods where Percy is not sure if it is about him, but the ending suggests that it could be Zeus’ daughter Thalia. The episode also ends with a small teaser for the third season coming later in the year as it is a great show.

Well, that is all for January 2026. Other than my Blind Spots and my review of The Return of the King. I have no clue what I will do next month while I have been thinking about creating lists for potential projects. I do not know what I will do. Personally, I would rather just take it easy. Whatever first-timers I stumble on, I will log it unless it is a film that I really want to see.



Before I bid adieu, I must acknowledge those that have passed on to another universe this month which includes Renee Good and Alex Pretti as two people who deserved better, yet they will be celebrated as good people trying to do the right thing in these dark times. Also who have passed this away this month includes the legendary filmmaker Bela Tarr, the great Catherine O’Hara, Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, Demond Wilson of Sanford and Son, songwriter Bryan Loren, British actor/filmmaker David Andrews, Sly Dunbar of Sly & Robbie, Franz Buchholz of Scorpions, comic book artist Sal Buscema, Italian actor Carlo Cecci, Yvonne Lime, wrestler Bobby Duncam, Rob Hirst of Midnight Oil, actress Patsy King, filmmaker Roger Allers, Kenny Morris of Siouxsie & the Banshees, Hong Kong actor/martial artist Bruce Leung, T.K. Carter, music composer Guy Moon, actor John Cunningham, songwriter Jim McBride, and actor John F. O’Donohue. We will miss you all. This is thevoid99 signing off and for everyone in Minnesota and everywhere else around the world. Please, stay safe.

© thevoid99 2026