carojoshua Reviews

Silo (2023– )

First 2 eps great, followed by filler, and then gets back on track..

[9/10 · 30 May 2023]

Amazing set up. First two episodes thought we were in for an exciting ride, production value, acting, directing all top notch..and then it quickly skid into and settled comfortably in a string of episodes that are complete filler.

From what I've read about the books there is plenty of material to draw from, so seems to be a deliberate attempt at getting more seasons out of the concept? Not sure just speculating...

Only thing keeping me involved are slight hints that it's actually building toward something and the promise those first two episodes dangled. Everything has been so dull and aimless since then, acting, dialogue, close to no development in the plot - not sure how many more episodes I can take given this complete drop in quality.. first two episodes are a solid 8 ..last three 4's (or worse)

Here's to hoping this review ages poorly and I get to comeback and update it..

UPDATE- finally back on track with 2 great episodes (ep 7 & 8) .. Story is focused and narrowed back in with purpose and drive, upping the stakes, and with some great flashbacks sequences that inform on characters state of mind in the present.

Back to rooting for this show and also hoping episodes 9 & 10 keep it up

Glad I made it through the slump in ep 3-6 as I was closing to calling it quits.

Mar de fondo (2020)

Can't believe this movie isn't more visible in some way..

[10/10 · 17 January 2023]

I have a feeling that if this movie was made at a time when it could have been taken in for what it was, not only would it have been more on everyone's radar but would have basked in awards ..certainly from festivals that still reward challenge and bold artistry.

I'm afraid given the themes and realism that everyone chattered the cartilage out of their knees quaking in the fact that it is un-apologetically itself and cares little for catering to what has now been deemed acceptable when it comes to portraying the difficulties of existence and it's often unforeseen trials & tests.

Really brought me back to browsing and trying to watch every Criterion film I could check out from the local library when I was a teenager, where I was brought on journeys from around the world without ever leaving my humdrum suburban town, one's that stick with me until this day. So unique in its quietness, and in its quietness - where patience has been dashed over a stone - how many will never give this the proper chance it deserves?

The camera work seems to start far and perfectly work it's way into every moment, closing in at the exact right moment to what turns the soul of the story. And if you have ever spent any time in a small mountain town or small local beachside haunt in Mexico nothing about this is extreme or political (not everything is or has to be!) - get your head out of the sand and stop thinking that some slogan you've memorized to not be ostracized by your peers covers the entirety of existence, the entirety of the globe and the complexity of different cultures!

If you at all have managed to stay out of the instantaneous nature of virtually everything and like a good challenge in filmmaking, one that rewards in the most subtle way possible, please do yourself a favor and take this on..

And when that special person who has survived through the gregarious nature of pumped out throw away forgettable content, who has also kept their finger on pulse of the soul comes to mind while watching, please don't forget to tell them to sit down and take this in as well.

Maybe creations of this fortitude will forever be in some minority but Godspeed anyone who is so bold as to walk out on a limb and make them for those of us who take the time to appreciate them.

Absolutamente bellísimo!! Que profundo! Mil Gracias!

To the rest that want to munch three pounds of popcorn to Marvel or equivalent offering..don't worry don't worry challenges to those monoliths such as these won't stop you from being satiated into oblivion..

Goodnight Mommy (2014)

Movie before twist 10, w/ twist average

[5/10 · 9 January 2023]

There is an interesting quiet brooding feel that builds amazingly throughout this. It keeps you thinking and guessing...the only trouble is they are building something that is completely abandoned because of the twist. A twist that has not only been done before (and much better) but makes the sum of this story so plain and simple when there were so many unique directions it could have gone...

.. Also turns and goes for shock and gore when the rest of the movie was so unnerving without the over the top violence. Maybe for this reason the second time around the American version may have gone a different direction? (I don't feel motivated to watch and see..will just look up spoilers)

..too bad though because so many elements of this were amazing, ruined by a cheap ending.

Climax (I) (2018)

D.A.R.E. Programming 2018

[10/10 · 10 September 2022]

If they would have shown me something like this in the 90's as a kid in elementary instead of the DARE programming I probably would have never even sniffed a wine cooler.

This is one that brings out the love it or hate it camp with little middle ground in between. I went in having heard enough to think I would hate it but to my surprise despite the shock (that others here have already detailed well) I actually thought it was quite the experience and one I was thinking about days after.

The opening sequences, the dance pieces, conversation blocks, and just nonstop chaos from a certain point on being guided by giant one shot takes - you can't help but me mesmerized and pulled in by.

This succeeds in a strange space with little story or character, just one long drawn out immersive experience.

Even given my enjoyment of it, I would say enter at your own risk!

Bill Burr Presents: Friends Who Kill (2022 TV Special)

I tried to dig deep for Burr...

[1/10 · 8 June 2022]

...tried so very hard but save for a few minutes of new material from Bill (even that was uncharacteristically mediocre and virtue signal-y) this was a saltless meal. How many people only clicked on this because of his name? I was surely one of them

Can comedy be so bad that it's good? Like a good B movie or The Room. Only something meta could have justified this, thats how hard I was trying to dig to get into this..

Like Jessica Kirson - one night at the comedy store nearly lost my voice laughing during one of her sets but even she was off ...There was something stuffy and awkward during this whole thing, maybe the crowd didn't help or maybe this was a secret corporate gig and this is just what they feel like ...a bunch of co workers who barley like each other who don't know when or what to laugh at...

At least if that were the case maybe some money was raised for a good cause?

Digging deep..smh..

Fast forwarded through a couple sets, and as I held back from doing so with every single one still did not find any laughs..

For any acts that get hold of the absolute verbal beating this is taking just remember the real one uppance of BS kicked into the highest gear possible with the back to back "grand finale" musical numbers ..and if you weren't part of those you could probably walk away from this feeling semi redeemed from this haunt of a mess ..

Dr. Brain (2021– )

Where it was parked...

[6/10 · 3 June 2022]

First 5 episodes had some flaws but I was all in..

Often a show rests on where it lands and the finale went super B movie to a point that was head scratching..did the production schedule get squeezed or was the ending not fully written when they started filming...Rather disappointing since again was such a compelling piece up until the disastrous finale..My wife and I looked at each other so confused..

Maybe there's a behind the scenes creative squabble that will never see the light of day? Maybe they lost the budget the last week of filming, crafty canceled, and they were forced to fast work in 16 hour shifts? Who knows...

Anyway enough was there that I hope to see Apple TV continue to invest in filmmakers/storytelling from around the world and see more non English content if nothing else..

Shining Girls (2022)

Does not add up, deep dive, or deliver..

[1/10 · 3 June 2022]

I almost never watched this show because the way it was criticized and disparaged out of the gate but after seeing the trailer and the fact that Leo was one of the producers thought it might be worth a look...

Three episodes in I was glad I looked past initial reactions, it was working on every level, great atmosphere, writing, execution, concept, acting .. everything was on, I was hooked..

Where I feel compelled to write a review is this show hinges and relies upon the explanation and reveal of the concept that is driving everything and it unfortunately completely crashes off a cliff in the finale ... where it not only doesn't give anything concrete but neither does it find a good place of obscurity that provoked any engaging speculation...like some great pieces are able to accomplish even in obscurity...

In fact if anything it tries to do so much in an everything all at once sweep in the finale that it further muddles the umbrella concept the show is built under into really not making any sense whatsoever. Resting on a strange unexplained flashback and couple scientific sounding lines that are echoed from earlier in the show. The resounding note is that - this is just how it is, and you must accept it. Which is strange because that's what the show asks of you as a jumping off point from the very beginning and settles/is content to leave you there by the end. It's like a house being half built and then stepping back and being satisfied with the result without ever finishing it...and then meanwhile letting you be distracted by the characters taking a few more laps through the house..

Maybe this all makes sense in the book it's based on but they did not translate it to screen in a comprehensive manner whatsoever (not that it is confusing at all to follow along with just that it never deep dives and gives you more than the surface) and wasted what was excellent up until that point..

In this golden age of TV & Film (and it's abundance) the most common pitfall seems to be lack of story or more accurately finishing a story strong and fully delivering..

Guess not everything can be a masterpiece - even still, many things can be enjoyed at many levels...By the end of Shining Girls was left feeling more apt to think there was no reason to have watched at all with how much the finale fell short. It played way too much cloak and dagger with its own concept instead of boldly taking a stand and trying to do something profound with it.

Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)

First half laughable, Second half almost decent..

[3/10 · 29 May 2022]

First half (episodes 1-3) are absolute cringe and almost unwatchable...

Ewan barely keeps it afloat and seems to not even be the focal point of the show as they try to set up subplots..

Rupert Friend as The Grand Inquisitor has a great intro scene and was setup to be a great villain but the focus is quickly shifted to Third Sister played by Moses Ingram (the writing/terrible acting was set to tank the show almost single-handedly)

Don't forget about Leia! Awful acting might be afforded some grace since she's just a kid...but is there a backstory where she's an Olympic Runner that I don't know about? Chase scenes so cringe you can't even laugh..straight embarrassing..

EPISODE 3 had nothing more to offer but a different set of gags and continued poor writing (many other reviews have done a great job detailing...weird run away fight scene with Darth Vader..Obi Wan killing a pack of guards and surrendering to the next with no fight two seconds later...fire that couldn't be walked around LOL) while also maintaining what was already awful about the show (tanking writing and terrible chops of Third Sis and Leia).

*************EPISODES 4-6**************

Honestly felt like a whole different series, does it make up for the laughable first half? I wouldn't take it that far but at least it was enjoyable and managed to have some novel moments and fight sequences namely with Vader and Obi-Wan (felt like I was actually watching and engaged in a story) while keeping the established cringe to a bare minimum (but don't worry there are still some moments lol).

Also having seen Moses Ingram in other stuff yes she can act so maybe the fault can be found solely within the writing and directing (but even her characters writing and execution picks up in the second half too, even if it's a little predictable still much more watchable).

Maybe that's not a good way to judge a show, "well at least it wasn't as bad as" sort of criteria but what can I say second half changed my rating from 1 to 4. Is that saying much? Not at all but it made me glad that I decided to finish the show after having gave up on it. Hopefully there's much better in store for Star Wars in the future because Disney is driving on several flat tires since they took over..

Raised by Wolves: The Beginning (2020) Season 1, Episode 10

Listen to the thrashing it's getting on here..

[1/10 · 4 October 2020]

..9 episodes with so much working all dashed over a stone by this awful Finale - my gawd I'm in shock at how badly they flubbed this!!!

Is there really a second season ??