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1899 (2022)
Another show too dark to watch
In the tradition of House of the Dragon and several other recent shows, 1899 is another show simply too dark too watch. I am on my phone in a hotel room with the curtains half pulled during the day, and my screen is just black for minutes at a time. Occasionally I can see some flickers of light, but that's it.
What is going on with Hollywood's insistence that people can only watch their shows in a pitch black room, on the brightest of TV's. I feel like this is the laziest cinematography since film began. If a director can not figure out how to set the mood without making the show unbearably and unwatchably dark, then they need to go back to film school.
Barbarian (2022)
This was surprisingly good, and I don't even like horror
I really didn't expect much, but this movie was really good. I thought it was an obvious formula, but nope, tricked me. I don't like murder and gore, but this movie was just the perfect mix of horror, fun, good script tension etc... to be really enjoyable and not leave me feeling like I wanted a shower after it ended.
For what I think was a a low-budget, indie film, there were no moments that were amateurish or poorly directed / acted to pull you out of the story. Everything was damn good enough. The writing was good, the story was fresh enough, the acting was good, everything was good and it was consistent from start to finish.
Even if you don't like horror usually, this movie is still enjoyable and a good time. I recommend it.
House of the Dragon (2022)
Good show, but so darkly lit it is unwatchable
I have watched most of this and enjoyed it, but the lighting keeps getting darker. I imagine it is a purposeful choice by the producers who are probably high on Art-house and the smell of their own farts, but by episode 7 the show is simply unwatchable. It is just black shapes moving around on a black background. I cannot see anything that is happening, and by episode 8, at the rate this is going, it will be an audio book.
I really wish that Hollywood would pull their heads out of their self-aggrandizing behinds and make shows for their audiences instead of for themselves and their own sense of artistic arrogance.
The Batman (2022)
Great movie - Patterson and Farrell are awesome
This is the first Robert Patterson movie I have seen. I have heard the name, but I think he has mostly done chick flicks up until now. I really like the energy he brings to Batman, the slow movements, the way he emotes with his eyes, everything about his Batman is both unique and yet the same, somehow. He really did a masterful job with the character.
Also, the writing and directing are great. Nothing is over explained, or under explained. You need to have your brain turned on for this movie, but you don't get lost in the riddles and details either. The dialogue is so refreshingly intelligent and realistic.
Lastly, Collin Farrell is just amazingly great in this. I had to do a search to find out who the actor was that gave the great performance, and I still cannot believe it was him. Completely unrecognizable, other than the skill level of the performance itself.
When every other franchise keeps getting worse, Batman never dissapoints.
The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
I experienced the 5 stages of grief, and that was about all.
But to be truthful, mostly just denial, anger, and depression. This is one of those movies that the longer you sit through it, the more you regret it, until one eventually submits to the frustration that they just wasted 2.5 hours of their life they will never get back.
It is also a chore to sit through, like it takes work. I left and came back 4 times to get through it.
I really don't recommend this movie, and if you loved the first Matrix or the trilogy, I even more recommend staying away, so as not to taint your fond memories.
Peacemaker (2022)
Finally a funny show
I am not much for comedies, because by and large they are not funny. This show had me laughing out loud every 5 minutes. I absolutely love this show. The only criticism is that season 1 is only 8 episodes long, when it should be 16. I love everything about this show.
SEAL Team: Nine Ten (2021)
After watching this episode I wish the Seal Team would target me.
Gosh, what a horrible episode. It is the kind of episode that makes you angry for wasting your time that could be spent doing something useful with your life.
Girl from Nowhere (2018)
Phenominal show
I haven't binge watched a show in ages, but this show is so intriguing. The story of Nanno is slowly revealed, but still a mystery. The production, cinematography, art, music, sound effects literally everything is fantastic. This is the most creative writing I have seen in ages, it is smart, deep, witty, philosophical. I can't say enough about this show. Just when I thought I had the formula figured out, episode 8 unraveled everything I thought I understood. The actress that plays Nanno is brilliant, but all the actors are great, which is a testament to the director.
Now on to season 2.
Cheolinwanghoo (2020)
This may be the best show I have ever seen.
Wow. Just wow! This was so good, I can't do it justice with words. Just unbelievably good. The main actress, Shin Hye-Sun, gave a mind-blowing performance. She made me laugh, cry, feel scared and every other emotion.
If you are not Korean, and you wonder if you will be able to relate to this period piece, the answer is absolutely! There is nothing about this that requires you to be Korean to understand it.
I could go on and on about this show. Now that I have finished it, I know I am going to have a hole in my heart for a while, missing these characters.
If you have the chance to watch this, I cannot recommend it enough. It was so good.
By the way, some people have posted things about the ending, and I was a little concerned going into it. Honestly, I have no idea what their issue is. The ending is great. I think a hand full of Korean's are upset because the ending doesn't match history exactly or something, but don't be afraid of the final episode, it was great and deserves the same high rank as every other episode.
Taineun Jiokida (2019)
3 episodes in - when does this get good?
I am almost through the 3rd episode and so far this show is incredibly boring. I dislike nearly every character, and many of them are so annoying I want to turn the sound off when they appear. Most of the scenes feel like meaningless, unconnected, pointless shots of people doing random things.
This show has great ratings and reviews. When does this start to improve, because I don't know how much more of this I can stand. I feel like I am enduring this show, not enjoying it.
It is too bad that Amazon got rid of the comment section when they bought IMDB and removed a lot of the good functionality.
Kol (2020)
Great movie. Still thinking about it 3 days later.
I really enjoyed this movie. For starters, the other reviewers are not wrong about the ending after the credits began. It did ruin the happy ending, but it also set the stage for a part 2, which I hope they are planning to make.
The acting and story were both awesome. Even trying to figure out what would happen next, I couldn't guess; I can't remember the last time I saw a movie this unexpected and completely original. The movie didn't rely on over the top violence, blood or cheap jump-scares. It was great based on a great script and actors.
I watched this movie over three days, and here I am three more days later still wanting to watch more of it.
I really recommend this one. But that said, yeah, there is a surprise at the end that a lot of people don't like and I can understand why, but it didn't bother me, personally. The movie was too good overall.
Cobra Kai (2018)
A show about angry people being angry and doing one or two other things, too.
I am on the last episode of Season 1. The constant anger of all the characters is exhausting. They are all angry all of the time. Why do people like this show?
Your Honor (2020)
Decent show, but the kid is ruining the show
I don't blame the actor playing Adam (the kid), but man is this kid an annoying, unstable, reckless, overly-emotional, scrambled piece of horrible writing. I am 4 episodes in, and I hate this kid as much as any character I have ever seen, but not because he is evil, but because he is the most annoying, icky, poorly written character I have endured for a while. I am still giving the show a 6 at this point, but to be honest, every time this kid comes on screen I start to dislike the show.
This kid is, I think, the person you are supposed to be rooting for, but honestly, I can't wait until the bad guys catch him and he gets written off the show in an unpleasant and satisfying scene.
There are other actors I normally enjoy, who are wildly irritating, and after 4 episodes, I cannot list one character I like at all or even find interesting. At this point, the only thinking keeping me going is the lack of viewable content at the end of 2020, the promise of the actually good concept, and the hope that at least one of these actors will save the abysmally bad writing and boring directing.
I am really hoping for this kid to be written off the show. But, to be honest, the longer I watch this, the more the actions of all the characters are irrational and the scenes are boring. It is increasingly poorly written, and I am losing my patience with it, and I don't think I can recommend this to anyone.
Russian Doll (2019)
Pretty good show.
I liked it; it kept me interested.
Be aware, you better like the song 'Gotta Get Up' by Harry Nilsson because they play it almost non-stop through all 8 episodes. Plan to hear this song about 50 times. Otherwise, it is a unique story-line with clever writing.
Greta Lee is the best part of the show. She is so clever, and her lines are so much better than the rest of the script writing that I have to assume they are all ad-libed. The script is good, but Greta is better, that's all I am saying.
Worth watching; would repeat.
Ah-ga-ssi (2016)
One of the best movies I have ever seen
Full of surprises and twists and also humor. I have watched this movie twice, and will almost certainly watch it again in a couple years. I am not going to write a long spoiler, but this movie is great and not to be missed unless you only love Hollywood car chase movies.
Bad Boys for Life (2020)
Dumbest movie ever.
The exact same Hollywood action flick we have seen 1,000 times. Only the character names are changed, and the Tesla's are new. Unbelievably dumb scenes, for example, the one were a helicopter crashed and exploded literally into some kind of room that the good guys were in, and then exploded, throwing flames up multiple stories into the air, and burning everything in the building to a crisp, except... you guessed it... the stars.
Will Smith's character is reasonably intelligent, but the other guy plays the bumbling clown of a buffoon side-kick that should have gone out of style decades ago and is offensive to all human-kind, Even an African Gray Parrot is smarter than the side-kick in this movie.
This movie might be fun if you are not yet in your teens, and action movies are new to you, but how a grown, thinking adult with a brain could find anything to appreciate is beyond me.
Durante la tormenta (2018)
Complex, unpredictable and gratifying
This movie really exceeded my expectations. It took me a little while to get into it after the start, but it has levels of complexity that are revealed throughout the movie that are unexpected. The ending is gratifying. The acting is good, but the story is strong and well crafted, and the real highlight of this movie.
Stick with it and you will likely not regret it. Excellent movie.
Ji xian feng (2020)
10/10 Honest review, I swear, I am totally not the CCP
Speaking honestly, as someone who is not writing on behalf of the Chinese government, This is the greatest movie ever. It really shows the benevolent nature of our great leader Xi Jinping who wrote, directed, edited and marketed this amazing movie and tribute to the glory of the CCP.
This movie stands as a tribute to what the great country of China can accomplish with the help of its VERY willing allies such as Hong Kong and Taiwan, when all willingly and with great desire, join the benevolent and god-like crusade of the humble Chinese government... willingly.
Please support this movie and the humble Chinese Communist Party in our great effort to bring joy and laughter to the world, because a world that laughs together, is easier to conquer.
El hoyo (2019)
Terrible movie
I guess if you need a movie to tell you that the rich get all the good stuff and the more poor you are the less you have, then maybe this is the movie for you. If you want to be entertained go beat your head against a wall that be fascinated as you watch your own blood drip. That would be many stars more enjoyable this this utterly disappointing movie. Oh, and by the way, the ending is the worst part of the movie, so be sure to hold your breath for that.
Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
Tencent Pictures
Started watching this despite the horrific reviews. Before the first scene it shows a graphic for Tencent Pictures. Nope. That is reason enough to boycott this film, and anyone on this planet that cares about freedom and peace should boycott it as well. The fact that everyone says it is a terrible movie is just extra.
Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020)
If you gave $84 million to a precocious 17 year-old film student...
... and then asked him to make a movie for a 15-year old audience. I imagine the movie would not be bad if you are in that category, but if you are over the age of 20 this is a real let down.
It could have been good with a great cast, nice sets, good color grading, but the wardrobe was bad, the script was bad, the great actors were BADLY directed and wasted and Margot really needs to hit the gym for a couple weeks before a movie like this, she looks way to soft to be an action figure. I am not saying you have to be in shape to be an actress, but if you are going to play an action super hero, you should look like you at least run around the block once or twice a month.
Basically, this movie is made by kids for kids, and I wonder if anyone at the studio actually monitored this project while it was being developed and filmed? It doesn't seem like it.
Tejano (2018)
Pretty decent movie.
Good story, Good photography, good acting all around, nice color grading, nice sound. Really, although this is an indie flick, there is nothing about it that makes it seem low-budget or amateurish. Every person on the crew and doing the post work is talented and it shows in the movie. You won't see this one at the Oscars, but you will not be sorry you watched it. It is a pretty decent flick.
Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet (2020)
This show is so great.
I am not going to get into a critical analysis or discuss characters or writing or anything else; I am just going to say that everything about this show is great. The actors, the acting, the writing, the story, everything about this show is perfect. There is not one bad thing about this show.
Personally, I don't like comedies, not because I don't like to laugh, but because almost all comedies are not funny to me. This show however, is silly and intelligent at the same time. It is clever, unique, fresh and funny.
I am really enjoying it (half way through the season) and highly recommend it.
Star Trek: Picard (2020)
Remember when Star Trek represented the best of what humanity could aspire to?
Ya, so that's gone.
This Star Trek highlights the worst of what humanity is. Sure, Picard is fighting for the principles embodies by the 'good' Star Trek, but he is about the only good person left in the human race it would seem. Where Star Trek: Discovery has the black unit where all of the worst of humanity is cordoned off and isolated from the rest of the Federation, in this show it IS the Federation. They seem to be wanting to make the Federation look as awful as possible, to create the biggest obstacle possible for Picard, but it ruins the entire spirit of Star Trek in the process.
Also, juvenile writing, acting and editing. some parts are fine, but some of the writing is so sophomoric it seems like it is written by film students... in high school.
Jean Luc is always great, but they made the Federation the enemy and ruined the very thing about Star Trek that made it great. It's ability to inspire humanity to aspire to a form of greatness where we have transcended our baser instincts. This is a Federation that might as well be run by Trump, Nixon, and Kissinger.
Edit: OK, so remember when I said up above that this show seemed like it was written by high school students? I am watching episode 3 and a character sitting with jean Luc, who she calls 'JL', takes a hit off of a Vape Pen and says the words "Pro-tip:" to Picard right before giving him life-advice.
I am taking off 2 more stars for this atrocity.
The New Pope (2020)
Can't anything just be entertaining these days?!
OMG, this show has descended into mind-numbing artistic pretentiousness. It is dark, boring, and so artistic that it makes my brain bleed. Watching this show feels like listening to a New York Art Critic analyzing a painting in a museum. I am so bored with this that I can't even force myself to concentrate on it anymore. I mean, I hear the words, but I just can't force my brain to make the sentences have meaning.
I like Shakespeare, but Shakespeare feels like Disney compared to this, which is so pretentious and poetic, with violins playing non-stop beneath the horrifically poetic dialogue, that I can't concentrate on it. Even the opening and closing credits are trying to push the boundaries of pretentious artistic boundaries.
So boring. Why can't they just make an entertaining show? Why does every tv show have to try so hard to push some agenda? Why can't anything just be entertaining?