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Reviews
Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)
Well acted and researched insight into a layered culture.
Having grown up in the Church, this series reminded me very much of the thinking of devout Mormons. Praying constantly for guidance and protection, believing every trial is a test to be overcome, and believing that developments in science have been made since Joseph Smith's revelation in order to help spread the gospel are very common.
Since researching aspects of the Church and LDS culture that the Church authorities discourage from being discussed I can sympathize with the character of Jeb Pyre who is slowly discovering deeper layers to Mormonism.
Some faithful Mormons may attack this great series, claiming it is false and anti Mormon. It's not. It deals with doctrine that the mainstream Church hides by omission if not outright denial, but which can be found in historical writings and even the Church's own scripture.
Some will claim it is inaccurate, but it's not for the time this production is set. The blood oaths that once formed part of a the temple ritual have been changed to reflect the sentiment of members. Likewise, the doctrine of blood atonement that was once taught has largely been forgotten, except by Mormon splinter groups who believe the mainstream Church is in apostasy. Even the mention of LDS women being helped to cope with antidepressants is based on reality. Utah had the highest per capita use of antidepressant drugs on the planet.
This production is very well researched and the acting is superb. The stress and emotion of the children is portrayed to the point of being disturbing to me. The doctrine of seeing everything that happens as part of Heavenly Father's plan creates frustration and tension which is displayed by Andrew Garfield so well that I am taken back to my own experiences in the church where I believed life was a trial to be endured to the end; not meant to be easy.
Those who dismiss this series as anti Mormon lies should educate themselves on any topic they believe is false. The information is widely available now, unlike when this story is set.
Peacemaker: It's Cow or Never (2022)
Woke anti capitalist climate change anticlimax
The production company that made this show investing CAPITAL in a CAPITALIST society for a return that only comes if the show is enjoyed by people, uses its platform to dump all over this very system.
They also manage to call scientists that don't believe CO2 at current levels is killing life on earth "unscientific". If these Hollywood types believed the world was actually ending because of CO2, they wouldn't be flying everyone to Vancouver to take advantage of cheaper labor in Canada.
Way to ruin a great show. Stop preaching your religion.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015)
Politically biased and not funny
Monologues are like the opening for a DNC convention, but they are less funny.
Then the interview style is like something from when you couldn't say "toilet" on TV.
People must be 5 beers in and dozing off to rate this above a 2.
In from the Cold (2022)
Could have been more character driven
Not bad, but the interactions between characters seemed formulaic. Directors should set the scene then allow actors to act spontaneously.
I know it's science fiction but a gut shot repaired with a staple gun, then the shooting victim on their feet and walking??? Come on writers.
The Degenerates (2018)
Black comedians only taking about white people...
I mean talk about obsessed. The rest of the comedians actually discuss other topics.
When your entire act is comparing yourself to "wypepo", time for new material. This isn't 1979.
You (2018)
Season 3 got political
The producers want to demonize anti vaxxers because of their opposition to one particular type of vaccine but they end up portraying pro vaxxers as psychopaths in this season.
Netflix needs to stay out of politics. We don't need it in escapism.
Dave Chappelle: The Closer (2021)
This is what real comedy is.
Dave roasts everyone in his comedy. He doesn't discriminate.
If you're comfortable with who you are you can laugh at yourself. If you're a bully and want to make everything political you won't laugh and you will try to stop other people laughing too.
Very few groups on the planet are so insecure that they want to silence COMEDIANS from talking about them.
Dave's timing and delivery are impeccable. A brilliant performer.
Hannah Gadsby: Douglas (2020)
None of this is funny. The jokes on Netflix.
This is like a group therapy session where one person hogs all the time. Netflix certainly has diversity of content. They even have people who call themselves comedians who attack by gender.
Chad (2021)
Isn't playing an identity other than your own supposed to be offensive?
I mean this woman doesn't have a clue about teen boys.
This is supposed to be a comedy but it felt like they were setting Chad up to be killed off in the plot. It's not funny at all. Not even close. Is like a story about an androgynous kid that suicides. Just sad.
Utopia: Life Begins (2020)
Couldn't get past the texting on screen
Unnecessarily patronizing to appeal to "the kids". Really not what the first episode needed.
The one page view per bid? Huh? Page chosen by the seller and each buyer gets a different page. Who's then bidding against them? But maybe they are buying the entire comic. Then why view only one page? Who writes this?
Fell asleep at 30 minutes.
The Mosquito Coast (2021)
More Hollywood anti Americanism
Like all "woke" Hollywood productions, people are categorized by race into oppressors and victims. The white family running for their lives ironically represent the oppressors, which we are reminded of several times. They're American and white, so must be oppressors right? This is what being "woke" is.
The producers accidentally let some truth prevail though. The oppressors of Americans regardless of race are those ruthless individuals selling drugs across the border and making money on human suffering. All humans. Not any particular race.
This American self hatred in film and TV is insideous and intrusive and increasing. As a non American it's very obvious to me.
Hunters: While Visions of Safta Danced in His Head (2020)
"All Nazis are white people"
Totally unnecessary and divisive. It added absolutely nothing to the episode.
Imagine something similar being said of another race, ethnic group or religion for no reason in the plot.
Hunters (2020)
It's like what woke people think all white people are like.
That's how the Nazis are portrayed. It's over the top and Indiana Jones level writing.
Logan Lerman carries this series. He's a great actor. I felt his anger and frustration when his character was told to go home and read the Talmud because he's just a boy who didn't protect his grandmother.
I find Pacino tedious. Always have. If Lerman wasn't front and centre I'd have stopped watching.
An American Pickle (2020)
Seems the most woke Hollywood stars don't mind ethnic jokes
I just can't get passed the hypocrisy here.
It's it okay to make low effort ethnic jokes if you're left wing? Can you imagine the outcry by Rogan is someone he opposes politically made such jokes?
Are we supposed to be moving passed this stuff like Hollywood virtue signalling is all about? If not, creators like Rogan need to stop the hypocrisy.
Brüno (2009)
The woke Trump hater is a homophobe
Ever notice the most outspoken woke types use racial and other stereotypes all the time? Whether it be identitarian bigotry or this type of nastiness, it's actually they who are what they project on conservatives.
Low effort cringe.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
How?
Really? Nobody thought to ask how all this was happening?
People don't act like this.
I watched to the end for answers. None came.
Tenet (2020)
Couldn't watch it past the ridiculous pistol scene.
The idea that bullets are placed into an item in the future which will get "un-shot" in the past is beyond my ability to suspend belief for a movie.
This, along with the frustrating mumbling that so many British actresses are prone to do made me look at the time remaining - 2 hours - and throw in the towel.
Oh, and the theatre scene at the start? The best way to escape from a box seat is to smash a window, swing down, then try to run across all the knocked out audience members giving a clear shot for those above? Wow.
And the torture scene. Someone's pulling a guys teeth out between trains and nobody calls out or calls the police?
So much nonsense in 15 minutes.