haoqiuye Reviews

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

Four Female Stars

[8/10 · 14 July 2023]

There are four main female characters in this movie.

One of them is my favourite, who has been tragically killed by the script; One of them is the coolest, whose performance is always persuasive throughout the film but also killed in the end; One of them is the strangest, who, over half of her screen time, has been 'acting' for another character; One of them is the latest, whose arc of character no better than a ChatGPT written script, and is likely to become the leading role next year.

Still, comparing with its competitors from Netflix, I'm giving it an encouraging 8. I don't know about you guys, but I might still have high hopes for the finale.

Westworld (2016–2022)

A Solid 9

[9/10 · 23 March 2023]

Season 1 was something truly extraordinary, something I've never seen before.

Season 2 was something that still puzzles me to this day.

Season 3 was something else, a wide attempt, but few could argue a successful one.

Season 4 was still mind-blowing, albeit a bit of disappointment for the last episode.

The inner core of Westworld is something we couldn't be more familiar with: the uprise and revolution of robots/computers, but few have discussed this topic deep and thorough enough like Westworld. Watching season after season, I've come to like nearly every character in the series. The creators have designed each characters' arcs so unique that you can almost find something to sympathize with and detest against in every characters' development. Although I have to say that I'm a bit confused with Clementine's role after Season 2, her character certainly wasn't deep enough to support a separate storyline, yet the writers insisted on bringing her back on some awkward moments (maybe to just remind the audience of her existence?) I didn't follow this series when it first aired, and scrolling through the comments made me want to leave this comment for Westworld. It might not live up to audience expectation after Season 1, but, comparing with what Netflix are feeding us nowadays, I would give this a solid 9 out of 10.

Jet Lag: The Game (2022– )

Perhaps Resembling a New Type of Reality Shows

[10/10 · 9 March 2023]

When youtube algorithm first recommended this show to me, a Wendover Production subscriber, I was completely shocked by the fundamental logic of Jet Lag, that a few youtubers can create a reality show of this quality by their iPhone cameras. In China, we have similar travel shows with big budgets on TV, featuring big stars every episodes, and every element on the show is sponsored: cars, clothes, even the yogurt these stars were drinking. But except for some breathtaking scenery footages that come with the all professional cameramen, I don't like it at all.

Jet Lag The Game presented me with something different. Even there was no 'cinematography' in this show whatsoever, I enjoyed the raw footage shot by iPhones showing these three's true emotions when they were doing a challenge or just taking the public transport. I felt like that's the closest I can get to travelling myself: the lighting, frame is nowhere near perfect, but just being 'on the road'.

Sam, Adam, and Ben themselves just become the biggest selling point of this show. When watching those reality shows filled with stars, the producers always try to schmooze the stars' massive fan base by staging perfect characters for them, or even if they try to show a 'different side', it's phony by first look. But watching Ben and Adam discussing strategies or completing a challenge just feel real, like I was witnessing two friends having a chat when they were travelling. I'm willing to believe that they carry a true part of their personality to their behaviors on screen, and I would love to meet these cool 'friends' in real life. This kind of intimacy with the audience beats all other glamorous extravagance in filmmaking, and perhaps the fact that footages were shot with iPhone cameras also contribute to it.

Of course, these challenges alongside were perfect catalysts to the show. Give credit to the amazing visual effects people that make all these cartoon-style maps, tokens possible. They successfully elevate the show to the position where they're now, separating it from random youtubers' travel Vlogs.

P. S. Always rooting for Team Ben!