crsunblast Reviews

A Million Miles Away (2023)

Excellent Biographical Film

[8/10 · 18 February 2024]

The film is a bit low on entertainment value, as it plays more like a documentary, but it's really worth your time if you have the heart for it. Michael Pena, Rosa Salazar, and several of the supporting cast put in some outstanding performances. A few of the details have been changed for flow and dramatic effect, but nothing that appears to appreciably alter the true story of one of NASA's most persistent astronauts. The film includes some actual footage of Hernandez and the US space program, including some rather poignant images and references to the Colombia disaster. The film should be a great marketing tool for the space program.

Risen (2021)

A good story gone wrong

[4/10 · 2 December 2023]

I'm not sure exactly who to blame for this. Risen is a great concept, horribly executed. Everything about the film seems horribly disjointed. I get where they were trying to go with the story, but the whole film seems to be haphazard. Perhaps the editing is to blame. The scenes are all out of order and the characters are developed out of sequence. I'm still unsure what the deal is with the investigator guy (FBI? CIA?) who appears to know what's going on but didn't realize it or act on it. If you watch this film, you'll feel like you watched a bunch of random scenes. The main character is poorly developed. I do love the basic story, though.

The Creator (2023)

Visually awesome... Weak story

[7/10 · 3 October 2023]

The script feels like somebody put the scripts for Elysium and Children of Men in a blender, then added a bit of fan fiction. WAY too much information crammed into a 2-hour film. It starts off great, but once the action starts, it just feels rushed.

I really hated this for JD Washington and Gemma Chan... great actors who tried to save a horrible script. I wish that the filmmakers had done more with the characters' relationship, especially regarding the child. Washington was awesome in Tenet, and I was hoping to see him expand his chops.

The special effects are great, though... just the right amount of CGI.

Hijack (2023)

Technically Inaccurate but Interesting

[3/10 · 1 July 2023]

Disclaimer: I'm an Air Traffic Controller and Pilot, so I'm biased. Unfortunately the glaring inaccuracies in the way Air Traffic Control is depicted and, to a lesser extent, airline operations, just made this series unwatchable for me. I stopped about halfway through the second episode.

Apart from that, the pacing is good and the characters are interesting. The "real-time" feel and keeping the hijackers' intent hidden help out as well.

However, the behavior of people aboard the airplane is inconsistent with what I'd expect post-9/11. I just don't foresee any hijacking being successful in the current climate.

The Expanse (2015–2022)

Very Well-Made and Thoughtful Sci-Fi

[9/10 · 30 January 2022]

I thoroughly enjoyed The Expanse. It has its flaws, and it's not entirely faithful in its adaptation from the books, but it's a good, solid show.

The Expanse is largely political, and is set in a futuristic, space-based, sci-fi setting with a decent amount of action. It's about as scientifically accurate as sci-fi can reasonably be, and does a good job of dealing with real human issues and realistic political concerns.

The series finale seemed a bit rushed and left some loose ends, but was largely satisfying. It was a decent stopping point.

Red Notice (2021)

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels re-make

[7/10 · 15 November 2021]

If you've ever wished for a reboot of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"... this is it.

This film is pretty much a vehicle for Ryan Reynolds to show his stuff. All of his old cliches from "Waiting" and "Deadpool" are right here.

Invasion (2021–2024)

Interesting, but Slow

[5/10 · 23 October 2021]

I'm giving this one 5 stars -- right in the middle -- because after 3 episodes we still have no idea what this show is about or if it's any good or not. I do find it somewhat compelling, so I'll stick around for another episode or two.

If you haven't started watching yet, I recommend that you don't. With the pacing, this is definitely something I would have preferred to binge watch, rather than slogging through one episode at a time.

There is some serious Game of Thrones level world-building going on. I'm going to have to start taking notes to keep up with the 6 or 7 completely unrelated (so far) subplots, and I'm still wondering what happened to Sam Neill and if he's every going to show back up.

Miss Sloane (2016)

A Decent Political Commentary

[7/10 · 3 October 2021]

The film has been widely reported as being about anti-gun propaganda, but the story isn't about gun control, it's about the workings of government, particularly as it relates to lobbyists and the motivation of elected congresspersons. Gun control is just the backdrop for the real story.

It's also a character study of the main character, Miss Sloane. This part is handled really well, and the acting of Jessica Chastain really drives it home. There are two big teases here... First, that there really is no momentous event in Miss Sloane's life that makes her so adamant about getting the bill passed. Second, that we never do get to find out what makes her the way that she is, which can best be described as "a morally positive anti-social." Perhaps she's a high-functioning autistic with an overactive conscience?

The only thing that brings the story down (just a bit) is the rather amateurish dialogue. In many scenes, the conversation seems almost adolescent. The twist at the end is nice, but most folks will probably guess how the story ends less than halfway through the movie.

Foundation (2021– )

Not the Foundation

[5/10 · 24 September 2021]

This is yet another example of someone borrowing a title and character names from one story and making up a completely different story using those names. This show bears very little resemblance to the Asimov books, so if that's what you're expecting, you will be disappointed.

With that said, the first two episodes aren't bad in their own right, and this could end up being an interesting story of its own. I just wish producers would quit ripping off the names and titles of well-known works in a cheap attempt to grab a large audience.

Manifest: Turbulence (2018) Season 1, Episode 3

The NSA trope strikes again

[5/10 · 20 June 2021]

Yet another show where the NSA shows up when anything paranormal occurs, like the NSA is some kind of all-knowing secret police. Folks... that's not what the NSA does. And even if it were true that the NSA were some kind of clandestine alien-seeking task force, they wouldn't announce it to the world every time they show up. Rather, they'd impersonate and introduce themselves as agents of the actual agency that would be investigating these things... the FBI (or, more likely, professional specialist contractors working at the request of the FBI).

Boss Level (2020)

Fun to Watch

[8/10 · 27 May 2021]

A surprisingly good movie that skips all of the usual boring parts and avoids getting bogged down in tech-speak. The only real flaw is that this basic plot has been done several times, so it takes away any surprises. It falls somewhere between Edge of Tomorrow and Groundhog Day. With different editing, it could easily have even been an all-ages movie, which wouldn't have been bad, because it ultimately is about family.

Humans (2015–2018)

An Exceptional look at the Social and Political Aspects of Conscious AI

[9/10 · 28 April 2021]

Humans is really well-done, polished Sci-Fi drama. It is quite political, so if you're looking for action, you should probably look elsewhere... the lead characters include a human-rights lawyer, a nanny, and a laid-off shipping supervisor. Although it has flaws, the very good writing and acting are what carry the show, with only enough visual effects to get the job done.

Unfortunately, the series was canceled after only 3 seasons. Fortunately, the third season finale does tie up most of the loose ends nicely, although there is plenty of lingering material to continue the series if anyone ever decides to give it a go.

Vikings (2013–2020)

Not Bad, but skip the speeches...

[8/10 · 29 March 2021]

Vikings is a series filled with good action and good drama. However, it is peppered with long-winded speeches by the protagonists. After a while, you get tired of those. Best to watch on Amazon Prime, and then just fast-forward through the speeches.

Starship Troopers (1997)

A fun movie... but nothing like the book

[3/10 · 19 March 2021]

Starship Troopers is a fun movie to watch, but it's nothing at all like the book. Verhoeven even admitted that he never read the book. Apparently, there is a movement afoot to make a much more realistic adaptation of the book.

If you've read the book, then fair warning... This movie basically steals names from the book and then writes its own story. For example, Dizzy Flores is a very minor male character in the book who dies in the first chapter. In the movie, Dizzy is a major female character who becomes a love interest for the protagonist. By the way, the protagonist in the movie is Johnny Rico, an Americanized hero -- young, tall, white, American male. In the book, Juan Rico is a working-class Filipino.

Vikings (2013–2020)

Starts out great, ends up sappy...

[8/10 · 9 March 2021]

Like so many series of late, Vikings starts out with a great, fast-paced story. However, in the later seasons, it seems like every episode is a 30-minute eulogy for whichever character the viewers are supposed to have fallen in love with.

Blade Runner (1982)

I NEVER give a 10 rating, but Blade Runner deserves it...

[10/10 · 5 March 2021]

Gaff is the most powerful, enigmatic character ever...

The Handmaid's Tale (2017–2025)

Started out Great, then turned into a Soap Opera

[5/10 · 1 November 2020]

This series started out wonderfully... fast-paced with an intriguing story. Unfortunately, it's bogged down early in the second season, rehashing the same old themes. Eventually, you get tired of the protagonist squandering obvious opportunities to free herself and escape, and it becomes a soap opera... she's constantly just on the verge of a breakthrough, then dramatizes herself back into her old situation. By the middle of the third season, you'll be tired of seeing the same old story, over and over again.

The Handmaid's Tale (2017–2025)

A good premise, overshadowed by excessive drama.

[5/10 · 27 October 2020]

The Handmaid's Tale begins as an excellent political story, but quickly degenerates into an emotional story based largely upon plot machinations that seem to be specifically engineered to extend the story. I'm left with a heroine who can't seem to make the decisions necessary to further her own cause... she only makes those decisions necessary to barely forward the plot... it's a soap opera.

2010 (1984)

A Grossly Underrated Movie.

[9/10 · 15 October 2020]

2010 is a spectacular, scene-driven film. Although not given as much attention as its prequel, 2001, 2010 is a much better movie. However, it's driven entirely by the acting, and the plot is over-simplified. Roy Scheider has several good scenes, particularly the confrontation with Bowman... chilling.

Tenet (2020)

A Good, Solid Movie, but a bit Derivative

[8/10 · 8 September 2020]

First of all, I must say that Tenet is well worth your time. It's a good, solid, spy thriller with a bit of twist on time travel. However, it seems that the movie struggles a bit with the intelligence of its intended audience. The most disappointing thing to me was that I correctly guessed all of the "twists" in the plot long before they were revealed. The script just seemed a bit naive and ham-handed in that respect... they were just too obvious. Maybe I've just seen too many "time travel" movies. I knew how the movie was going to end about 30 minutes in, and I think a lot of other people will, too. Definitely don't watch "The Time Traveler's Wife" prior to seeing Tenet, if you haven't already seen it, as a lot of the same concepts are re-hashed.

On the bright side, it is an engaging movie. The performances of John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, and Elizabeth Debicki are solid. Washington does a great job of portraying a "newbie" intelligence agent... at first you think it's just bad acting, then you realize it's part of the character. It was great to see Pattinson in an intelligent, adult role... and he does quite well in it.

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Who Watches the Watchers (1989) Season 3, Episode 4

One of the best NG episodes

[9/10 · 26 August 2020]

"Who Watches the Watchers" is surely one of the best episodes of Star Trek... any series. It explores many questions of evolution and religion, and was probably the genesis of the "Insurrection" film. Too bad this episode wasn't made into a film in its own right.

7500 (2019)

Not very inventive

[6/10 · 25 August 2020]

The movie creates a lot of unnecessary drama. In real life, the pilot would simply climb to a suitable altitude and disable the pressurization... If you don't stay in your seat with your oxygen mask on, you pass out.

Atomic Blonde (2017)

Excellent Female Action Movie

[8/10 · 18 August 2020]

It's not the most original story... basically a cookie-cutter James Bond-style action movie, but with a heroine (female). The best part is that the filmmakers didn't stick with the usual trope of keeping the heroine hot, sexy, and glamorous throughout the film. The cinematography and Theron's acting make this far more believable than most other heroine action films. A good, refreshing film.

Gattaca (1997)

Science Fiction with no explosions... a rarity

[9/10 · 10 May 2020]

One of the best written and directed science fiction films ever. My only real complaint is that Gattaca uses the old "Start the story in middle" trope, which is way overused. This story could have been told even better in chronological order. The flashback interrupts the storyline and is distracting. End of whining...

Ethan Hawke is masterful dramatic actor. See him also in "Good Kill," another criminally underrated movie. Xander Berkeley is particularly convincing in his role, the sole purpose of which is the reveal/twist at the ending. Loved seeing Gore Vidal in his role, and one of the better performances by Uma Thurman. Anton, played by Loren Dean, was kind of a weak character, though.

This is a brilliant story which has almost zero action, which is probably why it did so poorly at the box office. It's hard to generate an audience without "Bay-splosions." The movie is a not-so-subtle critique of racial discrimination. But just in case it was too subtle, they added a speakeasy run entirely by black people.

The best line in this movie was spoken by Gore Vidal... "No one exceeds their potential. If they did, it would mean we did not accurately gauge their potential in the first place." That's advice we could all use.

Coherence (2013)

An Interesting Departure from Time Travel Paradox

[7/10 · 23 December 2018]

There is no shortage of movies that explore time travel paradox, but Coherence takes a different tack. What if, instead of traveling through time, you could travel from one quantum reality to another? There are infinite possible realities, often separated only by minor differences, but sometimes by major ones. One character goes as far as to "surf" the alternate realities, eventually selecting the one she finds most desirable... but there is a catch.

The flaws in this movie made more sense once I learned of its limited budget and tight shooting schedule (only 5 days). No doubt the film would have been of higher quality with a bigger budget and more time. It still comes off very well, though. It just has a sense of being rushed and unfinished. Some of the decisions made by the characters flirt with being unbelievable. For example, the serious consideration of committing murder comes up very quickly and with a feeling of nonchalance... not very realistic.

Overall, definitely worth watching. If I could watch it for the first time again, I would have restarted it from the beginning at the point when I realized what was going on.