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The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)
More Like Ministry of Ungentlemenly Borefare
What a disappointing movie this was. With such a great acting and a pretty robust cast from a well known director I guess I expected more from this one than yet another historical piece movie from the tiresomely overused WW2 setting with a dull and lackluster plot. I'm a part time history buff too and even I'm getting sick and tired of movies from this wartime era and at least try to do something different and change things up, get weird with it or have some type of hook or twist that keeps viewers invested rather than yet another espionage spy flick in the middle of WW2 that tries to emulate a cross between a James Bond and Mission Impossible movie that doesn't come across as half as intriguing or entertaining. I mean there are some moments that mildly entertain, mostly from the acting of my man Henry Cavill, but it just wasn't enough to hold together the jagged pieces of the puzzle from the rest of the this film from the uninteresting plot to the stretched out runtime. I mean the movie is just two hours on the nose and somehow feels like it's almost 2.5 hours. That is just how poor the pacing and storytelling was. Plus I wasn't a fan who they chose to play Winston Churchill. He just looked like he was in way too much makeup that you could kind of tell he was a younger dude in an old fat balding man's body. Overall, outside of barely a handful of funny moments and a cool action scene or two, I wouldn't recommend this one. Unless you are looking for a good nap in the few and far between interesting moments of this one.
Poor Things (2023)
A Cavalcade of Weird Yet Memorable Lunacy
It's been a while since a movie pulled me in and held my attention span with memorable dialog and imagery as Poor Things managed to do here tenfold. While some plot elements needed a bit of polish and more depth, it made up for it by having great acting, pacing and most importantly vastly memorable and quotable dialog coupled with gorgeous cinematography. Watching how Emma Stone's character goes from infantile like innocence to a downright raunchy and wily woman and ending up becoming a poignant and wise mature lady felt organic and natural over the course of the film. While the run time was a bit too long clocking in at 2.5 hours I thought that the writing was so captivating that it managed to allow you not to feel the lengthiness of the movie. If anything the movie should have won an Oscar for was its gorgeous cinematic film style. Some scenes were shot in a rare fish eye lens with a wide angle that felt strange at first then quite fitting for the theme and era it took place in. The vibrant and vivacious color palate was also a sight to behold too once the film switched from black and white. Between the colors, setting and timeline it took place in it just reminded me of the Bioshock Infinite video game at times with it's beautiful vistas and stunning atmosphere. Overall I highly recommend giving this one a go at least once. It's manic and daft nature is what gives the film it's robust charm that will have you quoting and talking about much of the dialogue and shocking scenes for some time after the credits roll.
Civil War (2024)
There's Heroes On Both Sides. Evil Is Everywhere...
While I can understand why this movie got somewhat mixed reviews, I thought it was pretty great. Sure, the context isn't all spelled out for you and there's little exposition machines to hold your hand as you walk across the finish line but in a sense I oddly liked that about Civil War. It respected the audiences intelligence enough to kind of write their own synopsis in a sense while piecing together what simply went wrong in a country divided. If some of the characters were only fleshed out a little more to develop more of a background to their personas I would have scored this a bit higher. However being this is a very dark and brutal film, showcasing the horrors of internal conflict where there's seemingly righteous beings on both sides striving for victory while those who stay neutral are considered mere statuettes as both sides sift thru them and even plow thru them as needed if they get in their way. Seriously nobody in this movie is safe as evil can and most likely does lurk around every corner. There's just such an uneasy feeling watching the main characters live and breathe in a world that's no longer a place of sanctuary. The acting is great too as all characters including Kirsten Dunst are all ragged looking and exhausted while being jaded of a war torn America as they as journalists travel from one part of the country to the capital to document the sheer horrors of the warfare presently occurring. Overall, if you're in the mood for a surreal take on what actually may end up happening if things in America do not change for the better in the not to distant future with immensely intense and grippingly violent scenes, definitely invest time in checking this out.
Dazed and Confused (1993)
A Complete and Utter Stoner Comedy with a Butt Kicking Soundtrack
This got recommended to me at a party I was at recently and since it's considered a coming of age, albeit stoner fueled, classic comedy, I thought I'd give it a gander to at least see the plethora of famous actors who were in it as baby faces. It was for lack of a better term a complete stoner comedy complete with goofball moments, teenage high school hijinks and equipped with a few memorable quotes along the way. The plot was well, there wasn't really a concrete plot. It took place on the last day of high school and kids were just partying hard smoking weed drinking beer and having a good time. There was some lite story about joining a football team or not. I couldn't really care to be honest. I was just like if I smoked weed or was intoxicated I could have enjoyed this a heck of a lot more than what I did but overall for what it's worth it was mildly enjoyable for the most part.
The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
Not The Slasher Movie You Were Expecting
Well this certainly wasn't your dad's slasher movie for starters. What begins as a simple getaway of five college students taking the old RV away to a cabin in the woods for some good old fashioned premarital sex and smoking the marijuana turns into quite the ridiculous yet entertaining over the top craziness some of which is actually decently written. Although by the final act of the film that devolves into a complete cluster of without spoiling much can only be described as highly pornographic use of a ton of different horror and slasher tropes used all at once. What I did enjoy was some of the acting mostly from the likes of Bradley Whitford and Richard Jenkins and Chris Hemsworth was fun for a bit as was the stoner friend. Overall, while there's some questionable plot points in the film like how can certain characters survive certain attacks and stab wounds from enemies amongst other silliness like the ending, which came across as a bit cheesy, I did find myself laughing out loud at times in this meta take on the slasher genre that had some comedic elements to it.
Falling Down (1993)
Michael Douglas Goes Postal and I Was There For It
I found a known YouTuber I follow recommending this film a couple of times throughout the years so I decided to give it a go and I was not really disappointed outside of a few minor almost too convenient plot points that seemed to neatly tie all loose ends together in the final act. Michael Douglas and Robert Duvall gave great performances but I have to give it to Michael Douglas' character As he delivered such a powerful performance that he should've won all kinds of awards for in my opinion. To watch him unravel from the seams from the start of the movie to its bitter end was engaging to watch to say the least. It also makes you question the throughs of society as a whole from the likes of retail store inflation to lazy construction workers milking the system to false advertising in chain businesses. Falling Down hits all those key points lovely and you can begin to even relate with Michael Douglas' villainous character by the end of the film. That to me is also such great writing when you the audience member can see both sides of the coin on the antagonist's motives. It isn't all black and white. There's gray areas and nuanced little ideals that an antagonist has that may not be far off from your own that may seem logical albeit they're going about it in the wrong sense. Meanwhile Robert Duvall's detective like character is on the other side of the spectrum. He's trying to hunt down Douglas' character and find him before he wreaks anymore havoc on the city of Angels. He's also on his last day of assignment before he retires so he's hoping it can go out with a bang instead of a whimper by putting away one last criminal and keep the city clean for just one more day before he hangs it all up and moves into his golden years. Overall, Falling Down is a great film that should be revisited in 2024. It is over 30 years old but society today hasn't changed much since then sad to say. And with inflation at an all time high and other entities still present within society that could use a bit of tweaking, it is always good to be aware of just how much we are all getting screwed over by not only the upper 1% but even the every day average joe from time to time.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024)
An Overly Bloated Yet Solid Prequel That Deserves To Be Witnessed
With all of the unnecessary sequels and prequels on the market in this day and age I think Furiosa is one that stands out as a middle of the road kind of film whereas I think that there were a fairly decent amount of people wondering about her backstory while the other half who saw Mad Max Fury Road were probably a give or take on the ask for a prequel story to the main character in Fury Road. And yes I say main character because Tom Hardy as Mad Max in Fury Road felt more like a supporting character in a film with his character's name in the title. Which I guess can be perceived as neither a good nor bad thing when the movie kicks as much butt as Fury Road did. Furiosa on the other hand kicked some butt and took some names but in no way near the amount of volume and pinpoint precise pacing as Fury Road did. While Furiosa was engaging at times and had great acting and a blend of practical and special effects as seen in Fury Road, it's 2 hour and 28 minute runtime felt overly bloated causing folks like myself to get a bit restless watching the numbered chapters (yes there's numbered chapters like a book) unfold. The pacing tries to keep you stringing along but cannot hold a candle to the razor focused pacing present in Fury Road. Other than that, the plot kind of goes where you kind of suspect it does in the end as you watch how Furiosa goes from cautious child warrior to early adult warrior and they show how she loses her hand and such by the end of the film that brings back many callbacks from Fury Road including a lot of the key players from that movie minus Max of course. Although we don't need sir grunts a lot Tom Hardy when we have Tom Burke portraying Praetorian Jack, who looks and feels like Mel Gibson's Mad Max character in all but name who acts as a kind of mentor and friend to Furiosa for the good part of the second act of the film. I wish we got to see more of him as he held his own and did and said more in 1 act than Tom Hardy's Max did in the entirety of Fury Road. The other saving grace of this film was Chris Hemsworth as Dementus who really showed up for work in this one delivering a wacky performance and felt right at home in a movie about being a ruler in a daft post apocalyptic wasteland. Anya Taylor Joy was also very good portrayal of Charlize Theron's Furiosa of course as she typically gives her all in everything she does and she pulls no punches here either as the lead. Overall, while I enjoyed Fury Road as a whole more, Furiosa probably has better characters that feel a bit more fleshed out at least while retaining the feel of being a bit crazed within a mad gone world.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
A Vehicular Magnum Opus That's Short on Plot But Heavy on Everything Else
Rewatching this before Furiosa felt like a cornucopia of action, eye candy and quite simply, madness. It's a film that has a simple plot and premise but is heavy on pretty much everything else from dedicated actors sinking into the madly written lines and plot, gorgeous cinematography, an excellent audio score and the excellent use of practical effects. Seriously it uses such a blend of practical effects within special effects that compliment each other so well you start to believe they're actually in these crazy chase sequences including a ridiculous one through a live sand storm that was wicked to watch unfold. My only complaints would be it could have used a little more complex plot and Max himself could have been in the movie more as a protagonist instead of feeling like a supporting character in a movie with his name in the title. Other than that it's a wild ride from start to finish with almost near non stop action to keep you invested until the climactic, while partially abrupt, finish.
Saw X (2023)
A Solid Return to Form for The Saw Series with a Questionable Ending
I haven't watched a Saw movie in a good, damn long time. Probably since Saw II in 2005 after they just devolved to annual Halloween snuff films with lack of a better story like the original film. What Saw X got right I felt was they managed to humanize Jigsaw more than ever showcasing just how far he was willing to go to beat his terminal illness in delivering a grounded performance even when the classic and iconic torture games were being played out. Once he realized that all wasn't as it seemed after entrusting his life into what would later be found out to be con artists, he goes to great lengths to make them realize the error of their ways and then some. Now in regards to the ending I was not a fan of how it ended in a sense because one of the no good evil-doers I felt didn't get their full karma that they deserved. Also there were some uneven plot elements that felt like they could have been cleaned up a bit more like certain characters conveniently understanding English when the plot needed them to. Be forewarned there that it certainly pulls no punches in the meatiness of the gore department. But overall it felt like it was not as outlandish as the other Saw films outside of the first one and can provide an immersive and entertaining torture film that's once again heavy on the gore.
Young Sheldon (2017)
A Great Prequel Spinoff Series to Big Bang Theory with A Heart Wrenching Finale
After witnessing what was possibly the most heart wrenching series finale ever that caused me to have a panic attack and breakdown like a little bizznitch, I can safely say that this prequel to The Big Bang Theory can go down in history for delivering a quirky and whimsical overall tone while also bringing the thunder where and when it counted in the show's final moments. The acting was pretty stellar and while some episodes in the series 7 season run had some misses and ups and downs, it more so left you feeling complete by how it ended. All strings were tied to connect it to The Big Bang Theory and beyond along with rounding out most of the story arcs for the main characters. Overall, if you're looking for a great little sitcom that'll make you chuckle here and there while going the distance in the final 3 episodes and making you feel like you're in a glass case of emotion with no way out, then give Young Sheldon a shot. Or don't. I'm sure he wouldn't care either way because he's smarter than you and knows it.
Baby Reindeer (2024)
Messed Up But Oddly Immersive
I kept hearing buzz about this one from numerous places so I decided to take a gander and found that right off the bat the show wasted no time pulling any punches in the severely demented department. The two characters being showcases on this show are very mentally unstable and I think the theme here is better mental help and support for folks out there who are simply unwell emotionally. The amount of graphic content may be too much for some as well but if you're not too disturbed or just mildly disturbed by the situations unfolding on screen then you may find yourself being sucked in a bit and immersed into the depraved world of Donny a late 20 something bartender with hopes at becoming an aspiring comedian by night only to come up short on his stand ups almost every time. Until he meets Martha, a woman who is about 15 plus years his senior and is severely charismatic to a fault that you soon begin to see. Donny becomes intoxicated with her addictive personality and presence and while he isn't physically attracted to her per se he finds himself constantly thinking about her even while with his significant others. The rabbit hole only gets deeper and darker as as each episode unfolds in the short 7 episode run which are only about 30 min each on average. It all comes to a head to in a gripping, bone chilling finale that makes you seriously think about how messed up the people in this world can be sometimes, preying on weak minded individuals to further their sick, twisted goals and agendas. Overall, if you're a fan of psychologically charged dramas and have a strong enough mental state to endure some cringe worthy segments, then give this one a whirl.
X-Men '97 (2024)
A Near Perfect Organism
I had no idea what to expect going into this but with a lot of folks out there saying it's very well crafted along with the scores I've been seeing online I decided to first rewatch the original X-Men '92 series first prior to this just to have the full effect and boy oh boy was it almost a night and day comparison in regards to how much alike yet different each show is. While '92 is more geared towards children more times than any, '97 is pretty much grounded most of the time and delivers such an impactful tale from start to finish that isn't disjointed and all over the place like the original series but rather laser focused and gets deeper and darker as each episode unfolds. I also found it pretty stellar they got most of the original voice actors back. It just takes some getting used to the new voice actors for Professor X and Magneto. If I had to have any gripe or complaint about the show it's that some or one plot point that carried over from the '92 series isn't really explained all too well until the last couple of episodes and even then it feels kinda of a little too convenient to the plot. The cameos that toss in here and there too were pretty awesome yet subtle. They even had throw backs to the 70's-80's X-Men and also dug into the X-Men movies too, parodying themselves which I found quite hilarious. Overall it's such a great indulgence of a show that sucks you in and spits you out feeling like you took part of something with meaning and conviction that will leave you salivating while waiting for a second season. And saddle up folks because I read we may be waiting a few more years for a second season as the creators and writers said that the first season took years to craft and that is just A-Okay with me. Take all the time you need to weave and spin another round of mutanagenic gold.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
Stick With The Remake Trilogy
While I didn't hate this new entry in what will probably the next trilogy of Apes films, it just could not hold a candle to that of its three predecessor films. For one it was way too bloated coming in at almost 2.5 hours. Secondly it took forever to get going and once it finally did it just kind of ended with a cliffhanger that I guess was meant to be interesting and intriguing but came off as cheap, forcing the audience to wait a few more years to see what happens next. What I also found ironic though is in a movie with such a long runtime it felt like it rushed through some of the more important plot points such as the lead ape Noa getting to learn the history of how the evolved apes came to be from his newly encountered friend Rocka, a last surviving ape of the clan of Caesar who studied all the ways of the founding elder ape Caesar. By the end of the film Noa was preaching the Old Testament of Andy Serkis' Caesar like he was studying the works of Caesar for months to years when he and Rocka only were in each other's presence for a mere days if that. Also they don't really explain how Freya Allen's May human character can speak unless that's just kinda what happens after hundreds of years of humans devolving. They just kinda sorta evolve on their own again. Oh whatever. What I did like about the film was the acting was pretty on point. Proximus Caesar sounded menacing and Rocka's ape character was charismatic and entertaining while as brief as his on screen presence was. I also liked the special effects. The apes looked and felt as visually stunning as ever before. Other than that it was just kinda lacking in the impactful department. I was bored half the time and looking at my watch wondering where the chase was and when we were going to cut to it. If and when the next film comes out I'm not going to see it in theaters though that's for sure. It'll be a streaming special thru and thru.
Spider-Man 2 (2023)
Spectacularly Amazing!!!
Just when you think Insomniac cannot get anymore amazing and spectacular, they somehow manage to outperform themselves. Besides minor gripes in regards to repetitive crimes and an odd choice of verbiage for naming Miles enhanced abilities after one of the main villains in the game, this was a stellar sequel. The story alone is a 9.5/10 for me. It's the Spider-Man 3 film we deserve. Not the crap we got. Who would have thought utilizing and combining 2 characters in such a way that hasn't really been done in the comics before would work tenfold. And even beyond that the way it ended sets up a very exciting
3rd entry in the series. One of the main villains hinted for the 3rd game was exposed in one of the side missions of all places and it was executed in such a subtle fashion once you figured out who the villain was going to be it was an utter delight to the senses. Combat and upgrade wise it pretty much built and grew off of the first game offering some enhancements to abilities and unique powers for both Miles and Peter alike. Peter has his spider arms at his disposal whereas Miles had his electro shock spider abilities, each with evolved upgrades the more you progress in the story. Quality of life improvements such as adding the most welcome and epic web wings to glide around the city at will which can only be enhanced by finding wind tunnels scattered around the city. And swapping between Miles and Peter was as slick and smooth and seamless as you would think. Also balancing both characters evenly with the story was nicely paced I felt. Even Mary Jane had oddly cool parts, partially because they gave her a way to fight back this time which was pretty rad. And the side missions were created uniquely that were tailored for both Miles and Peter separately so you needed to switch back and forth between each hero to do those side missions. And thankfully no more annoying catch the pigeon side missions in this game. And the amount of enemy bases to take down were kept to a minimum as well which were nice and allowed more of a focus on the story and more interesting side quests. Overall, this was simply sensational all around minus a few minor pet peeves. I am thoroughly looking forward to the 3rd and potentially final installment in this Spider-Man trilogy and shall indeed happily and merrily web swing my way there once it releases in the coming years.
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
A Satisfying Emotional Finale
The conclusion to the apes reboot films goes out with quite the bang in this emotionally fueled tale that picks up shortly after the last movie wrapped with Caesar and his gang being on the run and defensive after military forces are hot on his trail when a distress signal was called after the final battle in the previous film. The plot has pretty even pacing for the most part and offers great acting all around, once again especially from Andy Serkis. He should have won an Oscar for this role by now but sadly the Academy doesn't recognize motion capture work yet but should by now in my opinion because they're missing out on recognizing such great performances such as his. This is also a much darker and somber movie than the last two in the series as the stakes were never higher and the ending has such a rewarding emotional payoff that I can't help but tear up each time I witness it. Overall, minus some minor plot holes like how can some characters go undetected in an area surrounded by plenty of security etc, the movie is pretty well rounded while borrowing from many other classic films in the past that resembles a little bit of Escape From Alcatraz, Apocalypse Now, The Ten Commandments, Spartacus and more and just works as a whole to deliver a memorable film with likeable characters that'll stick with you for the long haul.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
A Truly Worthy Sequel
Compared to its predecessor, this movie pretty much feels like night and day, expanding upon so much that's transpired from the last film. First off the acting from the likes of Andy Serkis as Caesar somehow get even more profound and stellar, delivering a powerfully emotional performance that will only get better with the final installment in this trilogy. Next you have the constant tug of war between the apes in their community splitting them apart between diverse ideological views on humans. At it's best the movie tries to come off as deep and intelligent and it works for the most part, that is until you see an ape on horseback dual wielding assault rifles and lunging into a tank head first. But it's still an awesome spectacle to witness with some truly breathtaking cinematography especially during the battle scenes. The weak points of the movie as expected come from the humans. They try to come off like they have depth and meaning but in the end fall flat and just end up being a little too uninteresting next to the inspiring apes. Overall if you're a fan of the series or not if you like some interesting alternate reality concepts mixed with a little action and some shocking and kind of shocking and disturbing scenes that showcase the blight and folly of man that might even transcend humanity into another species, give this one a whirl.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
Sets a Solid Foundation for the Trilogy
This entry pretty much just sets and lays the ground work for what's to come and it does it well for the most part minus a few folly's here and there in the plot which kind of raises an eyebrow at certain decisions made within the narrative. But other than that it's a very enjoyable flick with great performances from a pretty decent cast. Andy Serkis steals the show though as doing the motion capture work for Caesar. His performance only gets more and more robust with each entry in this Apes trilogy too. Plus besides like I said some plot holes and silly decisions being made throughout the film, the tale of how the whole thing started and where it's headed is intriguing and interesting enough to keep you invested throughout. Overall if there's and Apes trilogies or films I can suggest it would be to start with this one as it offers what likely becomes arguably the best Planet of the Apes trilogy to date.
Ninja Kamui (2024)
If Cyberpunk 2077 and Ninja Gaiden Had a Baby, It's Ninja Kamui
All flash, no substance. I typically use this term when giving my take on video games, but it can certainly apply here for this high octane anime on Max that focuses on ninjas and shinobi. At it's best it delivers an adrenaline junkie filled cavalcade of fast paced action with pretty smooth animations for the most part, with the exception of some of the last few episodes where the animation got a little strange and funky. In regards to the story, it starts off at a typical revenge tale with a brutal opening episode but unfortunately kind of begins to lose focus after that. The pacing is a problem and keeps jumping around without staying in one spot long enough for the audience to absorb what's happening until the final climactic battle when they try and rope it all in and it just feels very messy overall story wise. However, if you just want something to pretty much shut your brain off and enjoy the flashy pretty colors and ninja battles with over the top cheesy at times dialogue that feels like the English voice actors are just showing up for that easy paycheck and reading off script, then you may find some entertainment to be found with this one. But alas it is still no Blue Eye Samurai, which to me was top shelf Americanized anime of late.
How I Met Your Mother (2005)
An Enjoyable and Humorous Sitcom with Some Flaws
I finally got around to watching this in full and can say I enjoyed all of the shows shenanigans and quirky moments for the most part alongside its memorable cast. While the show definitely had its ups and down throughout the nine seasons, which includes some more frustrating moments as you ride the lightning with all of the main character's follies along the way, there were many more moments of emotional payoff that superseded the more annoying parts of the show, coupled with stellar acting from most of the ensemble along the journey. Barney Stinson is a living and breathing life size Quagmire from Family Guy and dare I say it, legend-wait for it-dary! And definitely the best part of this show. I also resonated with main character Ted and Marshall's undying love for the Star Wars trilogy. Now in regards to the mixed reaction of a finale, without spoiling much, I can honestly see why people had an issue with it. However, it was a pretty much give or take for me. I can go either way with how the finale ended and with the direction as to how the series wrapped all I kept saying to myself over and over again was we waited nine seasons for this??? But not in a bad way as one would imagine, but more in a "Wow we could've wrapped this up in a lot less than nine seasons folks!" But I digress the show as a whole is very humorous whimsical and if you're a fan of any of the classic sitcoms from the 90s and early 2000 you'll definitely find enjoyment here and then some.
Shôgun (2024)
A Great Period Drama
I really enjoyed this mini series and even though it was not the action packed show that I was expecting, I managed to find value within this dramatic tale of loyalty, deception and subterfuge within one of the many warring periods of Japan's history. The Sengoku era of conflict felt like a solid ground to set the tale in that centered around a shipwrecked England native who has to adapt and learn the Japanese customs to survive. And not all is as it seems with plotting and conniving threads transpiring in the background that keep you guessing from one moment to the next. The best way I can describe Shogun is Game of Thrones meets The Last Samurai with a focus on a last effort by a doomed Japanese samurai clan to make one final push to sieze power and control while a foreigner is learning their ways and trying their best to survive and rise to station within their land. There's some heavy hitting performances too by the cast and a slew of moments where you're on the edge of your seat, especially in the last few episodes. Lastly, while it does not possess a heavy focus on action like some other Samurai movies, it makes up for it with its cunning and witty dialogue, a-la Game of Thrones. Overall, if you're looking for a smart, well versed, evenly paced historical period drama with a somber yet satisfying bittersweet tone and appreciate the rich, lush Japanese culture then you'll be right at home with this one.
Fallout (2024)
Nuka-Cola Tested. Pip Boy Approved
As a dabbler in the Fallout games having only played Fallout 4 in its entirety and then some yet experiencing the likes of Fallout 3 and New Vegas briefly, I went into this one with low expectations and tickle me pink as I found myself not only liking it but finding it to be pretty great overall. From the acting to the setting and even the old school music soundtrack, which is a staple of the Fallout series, is spot on thru and thru. The plot is evenly paced focusing on 3 main characters along with various sub-characters and even with all of the time jumping it does from the past to present, I felt like it was so tightly wounded that when all the main characters converge in the finale there was such a satisfying payoff. What begins as a simple rescue mission ends in a culmination of various revelations that change the characters worlds as they know it. I was also fearing that the show would suffer the plague known as "The Girl Boss" where insert Mary Sue here who's immediately overpowered and invincible isn't faced with many challenges or hurdles to overcome and rest assured dear viewer that isn't the case here when it comes to Lucy the vault dweller. She's naive and vulnerable at the start but the character development on her is very well fleshed out and she becomes quite the sturdy gal by the season finale. This can be said about most of the main characters too. Walton Goggins is especially delightful yet tragic to watch as The Ghoul. Lastly I appreciated all of cool references to the game series such as the weapons to radiation equipment like rads items and even the vault tec gear like the Pip Boy. They also nailed the look and feel of not only most of the game's setting but The Brotherhood of Steel power suit and mannerisms as well. I look forward to season two especially after that great tease in the finale's credits to where they're headed next.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2024)
What a Disappointment
I truly disliked this experience. Not as a whole but the live service aspect gave me such a sour taste for this game as to what it could have been that I'm forever going to be salty because of it as I once held the developer Rocksteady in such high regard. Now that they have been consumed by the dark side all we have left to do is roll with the punches in a hollow game that's filled with repetitive missions, combat and loot to an extent of insanity. The only thing holding this game somewhat together is the interesting story that adds some levity and depth to what's otherwise a very poorly constructed game. Even the controls are bonkers at times, asking you to hit a random combo of buttons to weaken certain enemy types or bosses that just feels manic and unnatural. But getting back to the only saving grace of this game for me. The story is pretty good for what it's worth and the team had kind of had a Guardians of the Galaxy like feel and humor surrounding the Suicide Squad. I did enjoy their banter and chemistry and felt that they achieved decent character development by the time the game's story wrapped. Braniac is an intriguing villain to boot and I thought was a good choice for this type of story and setting. However with that being said it's just a shame this is how the late, great Kevin Conroy had to be remembered as The Batman before he passed on. I'm sure this is not how he wanted his legacy of Batman to end, going out in such an underwhelming fashion. In fact this game and story is not considered canon to me in the Arkham-verse. Arkham Knight was his last great video game role as far as I'm concerned. This was Earth-2 Batman and friends in a sloppily crafted world. And speaking of world I did not think Metropolis could be so boring and dull even with the highly chaotic things transpiring. It just felt like all I was doing was going from point A to B and ignoring the silly side missions which were just copy/paste wash, rinse and repeat even with some of the familiar Riddler challenges scattered throughout which just felt tacked on with an all too familiar, been there done that with numerous repetitive riddles to undertake. And lastly but certainly not least, it is HIGHLY laughable that the devs think anyone in their right minds would continue this game after the credits roll and go on to defeat Braniac a total of 12 more times in this type of utterly tedious environment. Shame on you Rocksteady and even more shame on you WB Games. You have deeply failed this city.