daimposter Reviews

Civil War (2024)

Promising but went no where

[6/10 · 5 May 2024]

I didn't watch any trailers and saw maybe 10s of a commercial so I knew little heading into it. I was hooked early on with potential as the story unfold of a civil war. The acting was really good and liked the premise. The suspense was building and I really wanted answers on this civil war.

But after the mid point level I realized it was not going to be that much about the civil war, the causes, the problems, etc. It was going to be about journalism. I was still enjoying the story and movie after that but when the 3rd part of the movie came (final 30min or so), it just felt like it wasn't going anywhere.

It seemed like an empty ending to what I thought was a great premise.

Air (I) (2023)

Surprisingly entertaining film and well acted

[8/10 · 21 July 2023]

It feels like a low budget movie given setting doesn't change much but the story is very interesting and the acting is really good. Matt Damon did a terrific job as the lead but Viola Davis, Jason Bateman and even Ben Affleck were very good in their roles, especially Viola Davis.

Ben Affleck has become one of my favorite directors and he delivers again. Gone Baby Gone, The Town, Argo were all very high quality movies and well directed. I did not see Live By Night but that might be his only flawed movie. Air goes right back to a high quality movie. The pacing & filming were well done, the choice of lighting fit well with the era and the tone of the film, etc.

It's not a Jordan about Jordan from Jordan's perspective, it's a story of Nike finding Jordan and how it all started from Nike's side. From what I can tell based on online checking, the major points of the movie appear to be factually correct.

Black Mirror (2011– )

Many great episodes in earlier seasons. Mostly mediocre episodes S5 & S6.

[9/10 · 21 July 2023]

It's a tough show to review because each episode is a stand alone movie. Some of these 'movies' have been some of the best tv I have seen. Some are just mediocre and increasingly more often in Season 5 & 6 where majority of episodes are mediocre and no stand out. I'm giving this a 9 out 10 just by looking at season 1-4.

One reason I love the show is because it's a unique program often full of dark futuristic stories that really make you think about technology now and the future but also about broader human nature in stories unrelated to tech or the future. Taking chances like this will of course produce some misses but the mystery is what the story will be be about is addicting. In S1-4 it was often difficult to know where the story going -- often surprising you a few times while keeping you in suspense. S5 & S6 are less surprising and less important topics or just a bit too out there. I give S5 & S6 a 6.5/10. Worth a watch but not thrilling like first 4 seasons where I was hooked on the show.

Avatar (2009)

10/10 for movie theater experience, 8/10 story or TV experience

[10/10 · 3 February 2023]

I saw this movie in 2009 in 3D Imax and was simply the best movie experience ever. In fact, it was still the best visually stunning movie until part 2 Way of the Water! Given Avatar 1 was the first and it's improvement on movies was greater, it will always be the most in aww I have been while watching a movie.

I saw the movie twice on TV over the years and it was good but not great. 8/10 on TV. The movie relies a lot on the visuals and feeling part of the world. When it was released in 2022, I once again caught it on 3D Imax and was just blown away that a 13 yr old film was still the best visually stunning movie ever. It was only surpassed in Jan 2023 when I saw the sequel and the visuals were improved on. Why hasn't anyone else done any movie like that?

My 10/10 rating holds not only for 2009 but also for 2022 movie theater experience. The story was solid but it's not too original -- a cross between Dances With Wolves and Pocahontas. It didn't take too many chances in the story which shows up more in TV when you aren't enthralled in the stunning visuals.

The Last of Us: Long, Long Time (2023) Season 1, Episode 3

Filler episode, a bit too long, but beautiful story

[7/10 · 2 February 2023]

The story would be a 10/10. The fact that it's too long and could have been fit 20 min and the fact it seems to stall the journey for an episode brings it down to an 8/10. I love how really captures how life for some people would be in the 20 years after the pandemic. Really helps you understand the situation more. And, I've always been a little squeamish with two men being so intimate (same with old people love scenes but for both, I fully support it even it makes me squeamish) on tv and film but this was done so beautiful I felt zero uncomfortableness. It has to be a truly well written episode to accomplish that for me. They also didn't use stereotypical gays and i have a few casual friends who are gay and hung out with their gay friends - they are not all stereotypical gays often seen in media or gay pride parades. The way the story ended was truly magical and fitting and romantic. But, like I said, I knocked it down 2 points for being a bit too long and for feeling a little out place and interrupting the main story journey for too long. Would have been better if they split the story Into two episodes while they cut back to the main story in between then surprise us with the couples ending right before Joel arrives.

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

10/10 for movie theater experience, 8/10 story

[10/10 · 25 January 2023]

Wow. Just wow. This movie was even more visually stunning than the first. The water just made for an even better visual experience. The story was good but not great, much like the orinal. But this one and the original are by far the two best movie experiences of my life. I'm sure it will "just" be an 8/10 when I watch it at home but this is a must see at the theater / cinema. I could say the movie could have been 30 min shorter for a better story but it was the perfect length for the type of movie this is- a visual masterpiece that benefits from long visual scenes. At least three times I raised my hand to block something on the screen - my brain thought there was something in front of me to move away. Seeing the original when it eas released a couple of months ago and then seeing this soon afterwards made it easy for me to see how much it improved on already a great visual movie! The original is still in 2022 when rereleased better visually than any movie ever until part 2.

Smile (V) (2022)

Copycat horror movie similar to what you've seen the past decade

[6/10 · 15 October 2022]

This is just a copycat of many of the popular horror movies of the past decade. 30 jump scares, tense music playing for half the movie, and very predictable movie throughout. If you like that type of movie, you will love this, but I personally am bored of these types of movies. I miss the unpredictable horror movies of the late 90s and early 2000s that didn't have as many jump scares. I am referring to the sixth sense, the others, the ring, stir of echoes, etc. I predicted the ending halfway through, and I was annoyed by some of the potholes that were obvious throughout the movie. I recently re watched the exorcist, and that was an amazing horror movie. Generic horror movie, typical of the past decade.

House of the Dragon: The Rogue Prince (2022) Season 1, Episode 2

Not as good as episode one but a solid episode

[8/10 · 1 September 2022]

Starts off a bit slow and felt a little off in the pacing but the second half picked up and finished great. We start seeing a lot more of the storyline that will continue forward and this season has lots of potential. The acting is proving to be top notch and casting director did a great job. Who would have thought Doctor Who can play such a wild character?!

Second half of the episode and the final scene really left me wanting to see more! Unfortunately it's not a Netflix show where we can binge watch.

Best show on tv in 2022 by long shot. Nothing close to it. Best show on tv in 2022 by long shot. Nothing close to it.

Barry: ronny/lily (2019) Season 2, Episode 5

Not like the other episodes -- but perhaps the best

[10/10 · 25 May 2022]

Wow. What a weird but great episode. It's basically just 4 characters with wild action and slap stick comedy. There was some moments of seriousness that the show typically has but this was almost entirely wild over the top action and slap stick comedy. This was a risky attempt because they must have spent a lot of money for the choreography and CGI. Plus such slap stick comedy in the middle of a more serious dark comedy was risky. Bravo -- this could have been a movie by itself.

A Quiet Place Part II (2020)

Entertaining but too many plot holes

[7/10 · 24 April 2022]

This had a lot of potential but some parts were just lazily written. The son becomes an idiot. The daughter too becomes an idiot and abruptly leaves the family and safety because she thinks she can find a source of the radio music all by herself? That was one of the most poorly written parts. The daughters disgust for Emmet (Cillian Murphy) seemed way out of place and poorly written. The people at the dock had no explanation for their behavior - and they were on boats but they never figured out these creatures can't swim? I loved the beginning when they flash back the moment before and during the initial confrontation with the aliens. They need more of that. There is a part 3 in the works and I'd rather it be prequel showing how humans fought the aliens initially before going into hiding.

Overall, some major plot holes and a few moments of lazy writing but overall still an entertaining movie.

The Descendants (2011)

Good writing, poorly directed

[7/10 · 10 April 2022]

I thought the story was very interesting and really liked how the characters developed but I think the director made a lot of bad decisions. It was a too slow, the music was too boring, and the cinematography was kind of dull for a movie set in Hawaii. The over aesthetics of the film was just boring. Great acting from Clooney and Woodley.

The French Dispatch (2021)

Pointless plot

[5/10 · 24 March 2022]

I don't know what I watched. There were interesting characters and the typical solid Wes Anderson comedy. But the plot? I'm not sure what the point of each story was. It seemed pointless and didn't go anywhere. I like Wes Anderson but I think this film is for die hard Wes Anderson fan only.

The Iron Lady (2011)

Great acting, weird film making

[6/10 · 22 January 2022]

Streep earned the Oscar and Bafta. However, the movie being told through a dimentia mind was just weird. It jumped around, had a weird tone, and I didn't like the cinematography of the film.

Squid Game (2021– )

Started 9/10, last 3 episodes 6/10

[8/10 · 22 January 2022]

The show is really entertaining because of the concept. It starts out great, maybe 9/10 through first 6 episodes. So much excitement and the concept of the games was a great idea. Then from 7th episode and on it just tanks. Bad writing, not as much suspense and boring final episode.

Braveheart (1995)

Beautifully made, subpar writing but very entertaining

[8/10 · 16 January 2022]

Pros: cinematography, landscape and the sets make it a visually stunning movie. Musical score is among the best of any movie. Great battle scenes.

Cons: highly historically inaccurate. I know little about William Wallace and Robert the Bruce but I know enough to know this isn't remotely accurate. That's not even the biggest issue - it's the writing. Dialogue was subpar. The English were made to be cartoonishly Evil and William Wallace and his soldiers were made cartoonishly brave and heroic. No flaw from William Wallace. The semi love story with Wallace and the princess made no sense - they fell in love/lust after one short meeting? I could go on

Overall: visuals and musical score are 10/10 but writing is 6/10. Writing isn't lower because it was still an entertaining story but could have been better written. Overall 8/10.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (2014– )

Great investigative journalism...with a bit too much bias

[6/10 · 12 January 2022]

The show is preachy and too left wing bias, hardly ever criticizing anything to the left of Biden. Some of the topics are interesting and they really uncover some good info but it's often told with too much bias. The jokes are okay, the real story is the actual stories covered. I much more preferred Daily Show with Jon Stewart which was funnier and while left wing bias, it wasn't as preachy. Stewart wasn't afraid to make fun of all sides at least a little.

The Lost Daughter (2021)

Most boring movie ever. Who is liking this?!

[1/10 · 11 January 2022]

It's a movie where little happens. Slow paced, meaningless and just odd film. It seems like it's going to build some suspense and then nothing happens. I had to skip about 1/4 of the film since nothing was happening. Don't watch this unless you like those really slow really boring art house movies.

King Richard (2021)

A bit slow and a bit cheesy but overall solid

[7/10 · 23 December 2021]

It's worth a watch if you have any interest in knowing about Venus and Serena as children. Good acting from Will Smith. However, it's sometimes a bit cheesy or overly dramatic and at.2hr 24min, it was a bit slow and long. Should be a 2hr movie not 2.5hr.

Nobody (I) (2021)

A better John Wick

[9/10 · 30 September 2021]

Better acting. Better story. And more diverse fighting - John Wick is all guns while Nobody is guns, punching, and more.

Tenet (2020)

Great concept, acting and visuals. Overly convoluted story

[6/10 · 14 June 2021]

Visually a a masterpiece. Great cast and acting. The concept is amazing. But....the story is way too convoluted. It's really hard to follow along with the story with so much going on and reverse with normal direction characters. Don't want to add spoilers so I won't go into details but it's really difficult to follow the plot. Add to that the difficulty in understanding what the actors are saying due to all the noise means you have to use close caption subtitles.

Best way to sum this up is it is Inception if they made it 10x harder to understand what's going on.

Black Mirror: Metalhead (2017) Season 4, Episode 5

Worst episode of Black Mirror

[1/10 · 26 August 2018]

An episode that tells you nothing and has little happening? It did not feel like a black mirrror episode to me.

Breaking In (2011–2012)

Good show, great characters, bad decision by Fox to cancel

[9/10 · 20 May 2011]

I was just getting to love this show, especially after they added Michael Rosenbaum as a full time cast member. The show was goofy and geeky with a leader of the group that is cocky, much like Community. In fact, it's very similar to Community and if you like Community, you probably like Breaking In.

Unfortunately Fox has decided to cancel this show even as it began to find its footing. What makes this show are the characters. The main character, Brett Harrison from Reaper, is a funny well grounded character (relatively speaking). His character is similar to Jason Bateman on Arrested Development where he plays off the wild actions of the supporting characters. Harrison is a very witty actor and found his acting style that I am sure will present him with another opportunity on a new show.

Christian Slater plays a wild, obnoxious but yet brilliant boss with horrible management skills but with a big heart deep down. The way he treats his staff makes Michael Scott in the Office seem like boss of the year. But just like Michael Scott, Slater's character still defends his employees.

Michael Rosenbaum plays a wild, obnoxious douche that has the brain of a 12 year old. He is like a high school jock that never grew up. He originally had just cameo appearance in the pilot but his character was such a hit they made him a full-time character after episode 3.

Oddette Annable (formerly Yustman) is probably best known for Cloverfield and The Unborn. She is one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood and perhaps the most beautiful woman on TV. She plays the only female character among the main cast. Brett Harrison's character is madly in love with Oddette's character and she herself is having romantic feelings for him. She is not a comedic center point for the show but she performs well as a former grifter that is lovable, warm at times, and a sex symbol.

Alphonso McAuley's character is a geek that will always live in his parents home (or garage as is the case here). His character is hilarious and provides many of the funny one liners or catch phrases (cover your mouth bitch!, Black Zeus).

Its sad to see Fox let another good one go. It did not run long enough to have a successful 'bring the show back' campaign like Family Guy and Futurama. I'd like see Slater and Rosenbaum go on to do other comedies.

The Simpsons (1989– )

Possibly the greatest show ever!

[10/10 · 10 July 2010]

The Simpsons of the 1990's was arguably the greatest show ever. Not the greatest animated show ever but the greatest show ever. The ride of this show is quite interesting.

We all know The Simpsons began as a sketch on the Tracy Ulman Show in the 80's. They spun it off, made a Christmas episode on prime time for the premier, and it quickly became a hit.

The interesting part of this 'ride' is that the first 2 or 3 seasons focused on Bart Simpson. Bart was the star and everybody else played second fiddle. 'Eat my shorts', 'Don't have a cow man', 'Cowabunga', etc. Those were famous Bart quotes of the first 2 or 3 seasons that were also plastered on many kid's t-shirts.

To most, the first 2-3 years are considered very good years but dated nonetheless. It was kind of raw, both animation and the characters, and when the show is compared the following period it doesn't hold up well. When most people remember the best episodes or best moments, they tend to be in the era shortly after the first 2/3 years. It hasn't held up as well as season 3/4 to about 10 or 11. Those are the 'Simpson Golden Years'. What happened in those years? Well, they switched the focus from the bratty troublesome little boy Bart to what would become the greatest character of all time....Homer Simpson.

Homer Simpson has topped many polls and lists of greatest character of all-time, and rightfully so. He is loving father deep down but flawed in some many ways. He embodies the American working class stereotype from being lazy and fat to being ignorant and crude. Watching the first few seasons again, you'll notice that the first season or two he had a very monotone voice and was not quite as lively .Around season 3 he became the Homer we came to know and love and by season 4 he was the star with Bart taking a back seat.

Homer Simpson could be the most quoted character of all time. His trademark 'D'oh!' in now part of the Dictionary. His famous phrases like "to alcohol, the cause of and solution to all of life's problems" can be heard from various people who grew up on The Simpson. Homer had a knack for saying the memorable.

The first 10 or 11 years saw this show become such a worldwide cultural phenomena that even though the movie was releases after it's 17th season and about 6 years after the last good year, the movie broke box office records. It opened up to over $70M on its first weekend en route to $183M domestic and $525M worldwide. One can only imagine how much better it would have done had it been released during it best years.

Around 2000, the show started to 'lose it'. It tried competing with more crude shows like Family Guy and South Park. The lovable characters became annoying at times and the show began to run out of ideas. 2002 or 2003 saw the show become a has-been. The rating began to tank. It was no longer funny. Since then, it's had some good episodes but never a strong a season. It has stayed on because even though the rating began to tank around 2002, they have stabilized and still draw a respectable number. No longer a top 20 or top 30 ratings hit, it does enough to survive. That basically sums up the last few seasons....it gives us just enough to survive but not enough to remember these episodes.