gitapar Reviews

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

Subpar MI installment

[3/10 · 13 July 2023]

Boring dialogue, incredibly tedious and terrible exposition, too many characters, killing off a central character and moving away from the central IMF team are all fatal mistakes that make for the weakest movie in the franchise. I cannot for the life of me even slightly understand how anyone thought this story was a good idea. A convoluted plot, sloppy characterization all add to its downfall. I always thought MI was superior to James Bond in terms of fight choreography, gadgets and characters, but I stand corrected. I am so disappointed. I had to laugh for most of the movie because the scenes were just so ridiculous and cringey.

Amistad (1997)

Good, sometimes even poignant movie

[6/10 · 31 January 2023]

Good and sometimes poignant movie. The white savior complex in full swing directed by Spielberg. It's the African American actors who steal the show and save an otherwise preachy and horribly heavy-handed movie. Other reviewer pointed out that Morgan Freeman was underused and i'm inclined to agree. On the other hand, Hopkins' screen time could've been cut in half and I wouldn't have felt I lost anything of value. Djimon (Cinque) shines playing the former Mende tribal leader. As does Yamba, another enslaved Mende tribesman, a character who gets his hands on the Bible trying to learn and understand white American culture and religion. In the most moving scene of the film he pages through an illustrated Bible and while pointing to different pictures how a child was born who selflessly cared for others, was ultimately killed for it. "Everywhere he goes," says Yamba, "he is followed by the sun." "Cinque shakes his head, insisting, "He must have done something." "Why?" asks Yamba, in a one-word question that captures all the injustice of slavery. "What did we do?" Then, with tears in his eyes, he asks Cinque: "Do you want to see how they killed him?"" "They took him into a cave. They wrapped him in cloth, like we do. They thought he was dead, but he appeared before his people again and he spoke to them. Then, finally, he rose into the sky."

"This is where the soul goes when you die here," Yamba continues. "This is where we're going when they kill us." The final illustration is one depicting heaven as a place filled with glorious light. Stroking the picture gently with his fingers, Yamba concludes, "It doesn't look so bad."

Source: from wikipreacher(dot)org.

Dog Gone (2023)

Great movies without the son ;-)

[6/10 · 13 January 2023]

The hopeless and drifting son aquires a dog and his fractured relationship with his parents takes a turn when he loses the dog because of his thoughtlessness and they band together as a search party.

The only thing the son proved was that he wasn't mature enough to look after himself or a dog. The parents had to save him from his own stupidity. See, I don't even remember the character names for any of them. Anyway, the parents and the dog saved the movie from being completely unwatchable. The son's actions were exasperating from beginning to end because he didn't seem to have grown from his experience and mistakes. There was no character arc to speak of. I love Rob Lowe and acting, but even he couldn't save the movie.

Catastrophe (2015–2019)

Funny but unwatchable

[4/10 · 13 September 2022]

Shaky camerawork cannot save an otherwise funny series. Next time ditch the "noveau" technique that makes you feel as if on rough seas and aim for practicality instead. This is not a documentary or mockumentary, justifying its existense. The plot is not original, two strangers who hook up, only for the woman to end up pregnant. But to be honest, I did not expect anything overly complicated. In fact I wanted to experience the Irish humour and lightness of comedy with hidden depths that family dynamics give you.

Additionally, another difference is Sharon, who I first saw in BAD SISTERS (2022) and turned out to be a hoot. The guy is a bit of a milquetoast snooze, but to be fair, I didn't give this series more than fifteen minutes because I was THAT put off.

The Princess (I) (2022)

Great action dipped in a weak plot

[5/10 · 27 July 2022]

Great action scenes. The princess and villain's mistress were the only interesting characters, everyone else was one-dimensional and boring. The ending didn't hold any surprises. Weak characterisation and a sloppy plot can't hold up what would otherwise have been a pretty decent movie.

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

Poignant story ruined by cheap jokes

[3/10 · 25 July 2022]

What could have been a poignant story dealing with grief and loss was ruined by too many cheap jokes. Tone it down. Less is more. The soundtrack was underwhelming. Also, Jane deserved better and Natalie Portman is better at drama than comedy. I think the only thing that was good in this movie was Christian Bale. But, because this is a Marvel movie and he's playing a "disposable" villain you already know how this ends without me needing to tell you. For shame. Why does Marvel have the tendency to kill of the three-dimensional villains that are actually interesting? They should keep pumping out complex and flawed villains, same as heroes. Otherwise, what's the point? For us to be bored to death? Mission accomplished. Marvel: Please do better.

8MM (1999)

Great movie with horrible soundtrack

[7/10 · 4 January 2021]

I didn't expect much from this film when browsing through the selection, but boy was I in for a ride. If it hadn't been for the absolutely horrible soundtrack this would've been a 8.5 star movie for me.

Never Have I Ever (2020–2023)

Annoying voice over narrator

[8/10 · 21 December 2020]

As a poc, I was delighted when I first read Mindy Kaling created another TV show. What could go wrong? After all, I had loved her TV show "Four Weddings & a Funeral" as well. However, I found the the voice-over narration to be an unnecessary and cringe-worthy addition to a probably bingeable streaming experience.

Holidate (2020)

Talentless actors in a mediocre movie

[1/10 · 4 November 2020]

Two actors with zero chemistry and acting abilities can't save a mediocre movie.

Searching (III) (2018)

An interactive thrill

[10/10 · 12 November 2018]

Directed by an Asian-American, starring an Asian-American actor, the storyline follows a desperate father's quest to find his missing daughter. Though the plot is fairly simple, the interactive execution left me breathless.

I can't wait to see what else the director has in store for us. Bring it on.