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The Disruptors (2022)
This documentary has ADHD itself!
I am a parent of a fairly young child diagnosed with ADHD and had a lot to relate while watching kids and families with same behaviors and struggles that I deal with on daily basis, however this documentary is non-consequential and exhibits ADHD itself. The narrative keeps jumping between candid snippets from various families, encouraging statements from various medical and psychology experts, interview snippets from celebrities, and even bold suppositions about historical figures with ADHD (although I am pretty sure ADHD diagnosis didn't exist in the times of Einsteins and Teslas or that someone scientifically went back to their medical files and derived a modern diagnosis, so just with these references the movie dilutes the credibility). The result is a hodgepodge of ADHD-related tidbits, most of which are already known to any parent with ADHD child. The movie fails to elaborate on any of them in depth to make the documentary effort meaningful. I suspect it maybe even a medication commercial cleverly disguised as a documentary. Most experts on the record, who at the start of the movie sympathize with ADHD and create an air of trustworthiness, then say in the middle of the movie in a chorus that medicating kids is a great (and surely safe) treatment option. The only other treatment option shown is therapy. The reason why even with blatant product placement for medications I am not even sure what is the point of the movie is due to a lot of points remaining disconnected and unclear in the process of switching the narrations. What was the period of observation for the families and is there a credible trend that kids get better self-control with age? What treatment options did all of the families in the movie seek and what worked and what didn't? Are all the celebrities being interviewed officially diagnosed with ADHD or do they only think they are? How did the selected celebrities actually put their ADHD to use (besides viewers just guessing based on the business they represent or having to do separate research)? If medications are truly so great, why is there a troubling tendency of many teens using them to gain better grades at school (which the movie actually admits)? At best there are partial and non-conclusive hints, like one family describing their struggle using two specific medications, another family that used therapy saying they didn't do meds, and one family maybe using meds (kid shown taken meds, but not mentioned specifically) and no info about other families or what other options have the families explored along the way. Anyway, giving the documentary 5/10 for just the reassurance that there are a lot of kids out there with same symptoms and that the amount of family support and love can make a big difference.
After the Bite (2023)
Balanced, yet inconsequential
It is true that the documentary presents an equally balanced set of perspectives on shark activity around Cape Cod. The whole film, however, is a rotation of perspectives delivered by local residents and activists. There is zero attempt to provide any independent or scientifically verified context even though marine biologists get the air time that is only used to capture their affection for marine wildlife... This is not a kind of movie that should leave you pondering the ambiguity, but this is what this movie does. I still enjoyed watching it because Cape Cod is a part of my family's history, but I wish the movie included something more concrete rather than just people's opinions. At least they could have been more definitive on the size of seal population (is it extraordinary large after all or not?) or do sharks or seals have anything to do with changing fish species based on actual scientific evidence? But, no, the movie stops at just telling us there are plenty of seals, less fish, and more sharks (but no more violent shark interactions since 2018). Well, we already knew that even without a documentary...
Ghosted (2023)
Adaptation of Mr. and Mrs. Smith for the Hallmark channel
Cheap, pretty looking, squeaky clean (including a farmer living in a plantation estate with not a speck of dirt on him), totally unrealistic and superficial spy romance story. Bland dialogues and polished, yet dull, characters. Cringy and repetitive bickering during action scenes. If you know what a "Hallmark channel" move is like, then Ghosted is their adaptation of Mr. And Mrs. Smith. Sorry for Ana de Armas to be getting such dud as the film project. Giving it three stars only for Subaru product placement as I happen to drive one of their vehicles. Don't waste your time on this, unless you are multitasking while watching it.
Wednesday (2022)
Unimaginitive regurgitation of teeny angst
While this series has an attractive visual styling and a line up of quirky characters, any novelties wear out by 5th episode when you already know them well enough (the characters are all shallow, so it doesn't take much to see them through). This is because there is nothing else original in the story. The narrative is extremely linear with Wednesday moving from one clue to the next one sequentially. Each clue she takes on with full confidence in it and with no reflection on how she was wrong previously. Each time the next clue is conveniently revealed when enough trouble is caused by pursuing the previous clue. Like every teeny movie, the main theme here is how 13 year olds already have enough knowledge, life experience, and stronger confidence in themselves to navigate the relationships, solve crimes, and talk down to elder family members while the adults are always either buffoons or narrow minded participants with limited ability to contribute to the situation. There is obligatory, but luckily not overbearing, incorporation of modern gender diversity and inclusion agenda. The rest of the show's stuffing is recycled from popular fiction and previous teeny shows. At times you can confuse this for the "best of" Hunger Games, Twilight, Harry Potter, Riverdale, and you name it... mixed together. I mean this show would surely be epic for your teenager, as it must have influenced Kamila Valieva to dedicate her last year's ice routine to this show. Uncharacteristically for Kamila the ice routine was rather bland, so I watched the show to see, if it would give more dimension to it, but it didn't. I will just have to wait for a new Kamila's routine with the hope that it will be inspired by something better than Wednesday Season 2.
Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (2020)
What is the target audience for this?
This is definitely not a kid-appropriate show. As a parent, why would I want my children to watch a bunch of spoiled kids obsessed with social media and somehow still avoid a demise to reinforce their entitlements? As an adult I am also not amused by watching immature and plainly unreasonable behaviors. The dinosaur CGI is great, but dinosaurs don't get much screen time compared to the spoiled kids. I am with the other reviewer secretly hoping that a T-Rex would eat them up and since it isn't happening soon enough, I am not going to be watching more of this nonsense.............................................................
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Overly pulpy
While this Top Gun sequel is definitely watchable, entertaining by spectacular flight sequences, and maintains an overall "feel-good" attitude, it didn't left me thinking that I watched a good movie. I had to suspend all senses of reality through the entire movie. It would have been more fitting, if the characters were wearing spandex superhero suits. And why not, if it is a pilot and not the box that determines the outcome of the dog fight, then the pilot might as well soar as a superhero and knock out a couple of 5th gen fighters out of the air with his fist (pretty much what Tom Cruise has done in a museum-aged aircraft). It is then also fitting that the superhero would return to the millionaire bartender who drives a Porche, owns a waterfront house in San Diego, and spends her racing a million dollar yacht. Enjoy this movie, if you are into excess glamour and perfect characters that mold circumstances to them rather than challenging themselves with any hardships.
Prehistoric Planet (2022)
Simply a great production.
This is officially the first documentary-like series that my 5 yo is able to watch full episodes end-to-end while still paying attention. This is a great series that will appeal to each family member from the young to the oldest. The narrative is broken down in short segments within each episode and is never boring. The content is perfectly balanced to clearly deliver the message that prehistoric life was all about fighting for survival, yet the scenes are not very bloody so the young kids can still watch without being horrified. CGI is amazing and super realistic. And there is plenty of T-Rex action ;)
Terror on the Prairie (2022)
Terrible on the Prairie
I was really looking forward to this movie because I like Gina Carano and I thought Run Hide Fight was a good Daily Wire project before. I gave this movie about 48 minutes of my time, but couldn't keep watching any longer because it is so bad. Looks like the producers didn't even bother to watch a TikTok video on how to make movies. This movie completely lacks character development. Even 48 min in it is completely unclear what is Gina's background and why is she unhappy on the prairie (the household is seemingly tidy with a working well and has healthy livestock and chickens that even lay eggs all day long in winter). This movie is illogical. Gina's husband tells her they are "living a dream" and then immediately goes to look for a job in town. Go figure. Then Gina picks up a firefight with several mean dudes while being totally out of practice. OK, she may still be a mysterious woman three quarters of an hour into the movie, but at least she's gotta have some basic self preservation instinct. Gina is totally miscast in this movie where she spends a ton of time shooting guns, wasting ammunition, and not hitting anything instead of her signature hand to hand combat. I gave up on this movie after they tried redefining the "Rebs" on top of the nonsensical plot preceding it... Seriously, the Little House on the Prairie novels for the elementary school kids have better and more engaging narrative about life and perils in the olden days out West than this movie.
Cry Macho (2021)
It's a postcard
While this movie is watchable, it doesn't come nearly as close to the impact of Grand Torino, many scenes of which I remember up to the present day. So I don't understand why Clint Eastwood would make a lower quality look-alike at the end of his career. Everything in the movie feels contrived and artificial, like a color saturated post card. As a result, the movie is unrelatable. If you consider it a fairly tale (there are many implausible turn of events), it still doesn't carry any deep morals. It is directed badly starting from the rushed early scenes just to get the man and the boy on the road that don't have any character development to emphasize with either of them. Like another reviewer said, all what's left is to admire chicken's acting, who, by the way, no spoiler intended, plays a key part in the movie.
Belyy sneg (2020)
An OK movie, but not great
Unlike most new Russian movies, this one is actually watchable to the end, yet it has several flaws. There are three things that the movie does well. It develops the character of Elena Vyalbe as a determined, ruthless, and patriotic athlete. I don't know, if in real life Elena is exactly the same, but the character displayed in the movie fits the stereotype of what you expect of a sports champion. The movie also portrays coaches fairly as tough, but caring. Lastly, the movie gives credit to the team dynamics and how the behavior and achievements of Elena's teammates adds up to her personal record.
The main problems with the movie that dilute positive impressions from watching it are poor story line and cinematography. The movie overall is structured chronologically from Elena's childhood and culminates with her epic victories in the World Cup in Norway. There are awkward omissions and gaps due to too much narrative that doesn't fit the run time. The biggest gap is when the second man in Elena's life appears for the first time in Norway with the pretense that they already know each other, yet this is totally out of the blue for the audience. No movie time at all is dedicated to Elena's competing in Olympics. There is a short fast-forward collage of victories without any sense of what it took to achieve them. There are several flashback moments that throw off the linear narrative and not clear what was the purpose of inserting them out of order. Despite the movie omitting important biographical milestones, there are several episodes like the flag change in the Kremlin and the artificial over dramatization of the final race that are either unnecessary or too long. Visiting the residence of the royal in Norway was clearly important and dear to Elena, yet she didn't have to show it twice in the movie that cut corners on many other things. Cinematography for competition scenes is terrible. In the close up shots the actors do something else with their arms, but definitely not skiing. Adding slow motion to the race scenes misrepresents what in reality is a really graceful and agile sport. Luckily, in the end credits the movie includes actual race footage, including the unedited real final moments of the relay in Trondheim. When you watch those you will feel sorry for all the time and effort the director wasted bastardizing those scenes earlier in the movie... The acting overall is OK.
Wasp Network (2019)
More coherent than The Americans
Wasp Network is finally a reprieve from movies that are based on true stories of mass murders, financial crimes, or corruptions. This movie is ahead just by showing that human deeds can be motivated by something else than greed or mental disorder. The acting is superb. The revelations and suspense keeps you glued to the screen. The movie is not perfect as at the end I was left confused about all the figures, organizations, and initiatives that plotted against Cuba, but it is a minor gripe overall. The biggest disappointment at the end of the movie is not about the movie itself, but in the Cuban government that set up their heroes to be exposed, yet didn't do anything to try ex-filtrate them in time.
Nobody (2021)
Movie of a misplaced identity
This is supposed to be a feature length movie, but in reality is a collage of fight scenes set to a bad soundtrack that are stitched together without any logical connection to each other. For example, it won't be a spoiler to say (since you see it in the trailer) that a person who misses garbage pick up every week first would end up living in a dump at his house and certainly would not have enough mental capacity to plan and set booby-traps, as this is what happens later in the movie. I don't think the director knows what is a "character development". It is a mystery, if main character's wife knew him before career change or not. There are some scenes that allude to some previous more exciting life for the couple and then in the other scenes the wife is totally clueless. The injuries sustained by the main character don't seem to affect his level of activity in further clips. So it is a movie without an identity. It is not a music video because it is too long. It is not a super hero movie because characters don't wear silly costumes. It is not a good old-school action movie because it is nonsensical. It is not a movie deserving 7+ rating because it is a waste of time... If you want to let the steam out by watching something brutal, then just borrow Kill Bill or any of the grindhouse flicks and you will get much more satisfaction.