stevenonstage Reviews

Masters of the Universe: Revolution (2024)

Masters of the Universe: Redemption

[8/10 · 27 January 2024]

I watched the first episode of Revelation, switched off in disgust and vowed never to return.

I saw plenty of reviews which confirmed I made the right choice.

This is an entirely different show.

While it does pick up from season 1, there is an almost complete absence of the misandry and virtue signalling that defined Revelation.

The result is a show that feels exactly like what fans wanted to see the first time round.

Beautiful animation, cool story turns and heroic men and women working together without resentment.

I binged all 5 episodes and had a great time despite the odd technology driven storyline.

This is an action-packed show about good and evil, heroism and friends banding together to fight tyranny.

Just like it always should have been.

They pulled a Picard season 3 here and we all need more of that IMHO.

Onimusha (2023)

Traumatised by death, but she's got a sassy, condescending attitude 5 minutes later...

[1/10 · 9 November 2023]

So I'm a huge fan of the games. Resident Evil in the Edo period with samurai swords instead of guns? Sheer heaven.

The story and characters from the games were pretty cool with a surprising amount of depth.

I got halfway through episode 2 of this show and switched off in disgust.

The main character (modelled on the legendary Toshiro Mifune) and his companions find a lone survivor of a massacre (reminiscent of Newt from Aliens), she's understandably Shellshocked and traumatised but our heroes get her to safety in impressive fashion.

She then immediately becomes a condescending, obnoxious know-it-all who constantly insults the men who saved her life.

I've seen this crap a thousand times before and I'm not putting up with it ever again.

I don't know what happens next and I never will, I'll play the awesome games instead.

Severance (2022– )

Masterpiece is right

[10/10 · 4 August 2023]

I am literally amazed by this show. I know it's become a lot harder to trust reviews in recent years but trust me.

My opinion is formed not by politics, virtue-signalling or any form of indoctrination.

I love this show because I've been a science fiction fan since the 1980s, when stories were told with brains, 3 dimensional characters and compelling plots.

I'm shocked this show even exists and it brought me right back to the days when great writing like Farscape, Fringe and ONLY the first seasons of Westworld and Altered Carbon were the standard.

This is a character-based series about people who can't remember their home lives when they're at work and their work lives when they're at home.

Big deal huh?

Well it actually becomes one.

The premise begins to unravel as complications ensue, questions are asked and people try to regain the rights to their own identities.

Special effects are at an absolute minimum, but are brilliantly used to service the story, as it should be, in my book.

The characters and plot slowly become absolutely gripping, my heart was in my throat during the last few episodes of season 1.

This is the best science fiction tv I've seen in years, If you miss good science fiction, you need to see this.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch: The Solitary Clone (2023) Season 2, Episode 3

A better season premiere than the actual season premiere!

[8/10 · 14 January 2023]

I was not a fan of episodes 1&2.

I watched this one with a deep worry of disappointment.

I was completely wrong, this episode is magnificent!

It focuses almost entirely on Crosshair, after being rescued on Kamino, he's been seemingly demoted.

He is teamed with Commander Cody to assassinate a separatist insurgent where he displays skills and teamwork that left my jaw hanging open.

This squad was so skilled and efficient it almost had me rooting for the Empire.

Battle scenes were fantastic but doubts are growing among the clones regarding Order 66.

This is Star Wars everyone, I can only hope we'll continue in this vein.

I LOVED IT!!!

Star Wars: The Bad Batch: Spoils of War (2023) Season 2, Episode 1

Why did they waste a two-parter on this?

[4/10 · 7 January 2023]

Like all animated Filoni shows, season 1 of The Bad Batch began as mildly entertaining but nothing special.

Also like his earlier shows, it really picked up towards the end of season 1 and completely captivated me.

This is a giant step back.

This episode was written by the shows "co-creator", who I suspect was hired after Filoni created the show to insert Mary-Sue, Omega.

I firmly believe this was her only contribution, watching this episode convinced me even more.

In season 1,the batch were established as determined, brave and smart.

In this two-parter, the batch begin with a problem they are too weak, cowardly and stupid to solve, Omega steps in and fixes it without effort.

A few minutes later, they encounter a problem they are too weak, cowardly and stupid to solve, Omega steps in and fixes it without effort.

A few minutes later, they encounter a problem they are too weak, cowardly and stupid... I think you get the point.

It all feels like KK has gotten her ruinous hands on the show and spoiled it.

Two-parters used to be reserved for epic, significant events, this is dull and inconsequential, it feels like one filler episode stretched into two and missing both wouldn't take away from the show at all.

I can only hope we've got better episodes coming.

The Adam Project (2022)

Fun, laughter and feels. Everything I want from a movie!

[10/10 · 11 March 2022]

This is an old school, fun time travel movie with a great sense of humour and a perfect cast IMHO.

No politics, no gender criticism (aka sexism and bigotry), just a fun time with some surprising emotional punches.

It absolutely feels like the films we used to love as kids.

I laughed, I cried, I smiled.

I've missed films like this.

Chucky (I) (2021– )

Dawsons Creek with 5 minutes of Chucky is still Dawsons Creek.

[5/10 · 6 November 2021]

So I'm a big fan of most Child's Play movies (with the minor exception of 3 and 5).

I have seen 4 episodes of Chucky and it's not working for me.

The biggest problem is that the budget is clearly too low to do much with the Chucky doll. Instead we get padding with teenagers who might be interesting if they weren't hogging screen time that a movie would give to Chucky.

I love the movies not for violence or animatronics, but for the incredibly watchable psychopath who is trapped in a ridiculous body. His personality is entertaining and fascinating to me, so a show that barely features him is a massive disappointment.

Even when he appears his movement and facial expressions are a big step-down from even the original 80s movie.

His backstory is explored but we've had no exploration of how he went from psychopath to mystical voodoo sorcerer and I can't even say we'll ever get to see that, which would really help my interest.

Most of this show is teenagers going to high school or talking about Chucky without him really doing much.

I love Chucky but I'm so bored by this show.

Shame on SyFy for not giving the budget that was clearly needed.

The Twilight Zone: It's Still a Good Life (2003) Season 1, Episode 30

I understand the complaints, but...

[10/10 · 16 March 2020]

I get why people weren't satisfied with the ending to this episode, but I think it's very true to the spirit of the original. No lessons, no morals. I watched the 1961 original and the 2002 episode back-to-back and this episode seemed just as horrifying as the original. The original ended without hope or redemption, these people will continue to suffer, the 2002 episode proves that point as we realise that Anthony has grown up and had a daughter, but his relationship with the townspeople hasn't changed at all. He still inspires terror, until a ray of hope appears that could potentially save everyone from his anger. The one glimmer of comfort comes from the fact that Peakesville has been "removed" from the rest of the world so you are safe in your seat watching TV. Then his daughter undoes that, and these two monsters are free to terrorise our entire world. That's very Twilight Zone to me and I love it. I did not realise that was Cloris Leachman playing Agnes until the second episode, I'm a big fan (ever since seeing Young Frankenstein when I was a kid) and I thought she was perfect returning to this role 40 years later. Impressed by Bill Mumy and his daughter also, I could believe Anthony's severe case of arrested development and to think of those poor townspeople living in constant terror for 40 years was quite chilling. NOW THERE ARE TWO MONSTERS, AND THEY'RE HERE!