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The Blacklist: Raymond Reddington (No. 00): Good Night (2023)
Disappointing
There is no bigger disappointment that watching a show with a character with such potential, just to see it end like it did. I get the whole idea of "taking the bull by its horns", but it surely deserved a more compound finale other than just throwing it away like it felt the producers did.
Besides the sad ending, also we didn't get to know what happens to the task force. Does it continue? Does it end? In what terms? The audience is just left to speculate.
However, these aren't even the biggest issues. For 10 straight seasons the producers have been taunting the audience with the real identity of RR, giving out clues just to contradict them afterwards, in a mindless show of misdirection that not even the final episode decided to clarify. Some might say "oh, but that's where the magic is!", however, from a spectator point of view finales should be able to give a sense of closure, which this one didn't come close to, even more for a show this long.
It's a shame, and i'd go as far as to to say even a lack of respect for the audience, that after this long we weren't told, clearly, who RR really was.
The show should have ended right on Liz's death episode, where it would have left with some dignity, where the most credible clue of RR's identity was given. It would have been a good finale, bringing it all together.
Instead the producers decided to keep the show, for what it seemed like a forced march towards a requiem of what the show could have been.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Mountain Brought Forth a Mouse
Regarding "surprise" and special effects, one of the best cinematic experiences out there today, no doubt, especially fot those who have been following Marvel's iteration of Spider-Man since 2002.
However, we got used to associate the charaters pertaining to "The Avengers" with a solid storyline behind, an almost perfect mix of accion, humour and drama, giving them an outstanding balance and cohesive personalities, with Marvel's incredible special effects studio putting the cherry on top.
I don't mind that this whole movie happens due to a juvenile mistake, given the fact that spider-man is adolescent. What does bother me is that strong built characters like Dr. Strange went along with it, bringing forth dramatic consequences.
I believe the most important thing about any good movie is a compeling and reasonable argument. On that matter, Marvel could have done a lot better and still maintain all the great features that, on scale, could have turned this movie "great" instead of just "ok".
The Blacklist: Konets (2021)
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
We all know the fabule about the boy who tricked villagers by warning them several times about a wolf, until nobody believed him and the wolf actually came... that's basically what this show has turned itself into.
For eight straight seasons the writers have lured us into believing that eventually we'd know who Raymond Reddington really is, and who he is to Elizabeth Keen. For EIGHT STRAIGHT SEASONS the show has revolved around these two characters, being the identity of Reddington the main undisclosed plot that kept on being pushed, and pushed, and pushed, and when finally everything pointed towards a respecful, dignifying and possibly epic end, the show got renovated for another season which also meant delaying (once again) the reason I believe almost everybody who watches the show does so.
I'm not even going to dive in the predictable way Megan Boon's character was disposed - or how the character died still unaware of the answers that built her entire personality since the very beginning (have I mentioned that was EIGHT SEASONS AGO?) - or how 45 minutes of what could have been a wonderful end to a creative show turned into an episode that leaves absolutly no connection to what comes next.
What I can be sure of is that likely, very likely, the show's going to lose its major stack of viewers for the season to come.
Mortal Kombat (2021)
2021 Special Effects, 1990 storyline
I believe that I'm speaking for most fans when I say that I was expecting this to be loyal to the original storyline - a thought that the movie trailer ended right away. Instead we were presented with lots of deviations, and a sort of "prequel" that states a hope to build a cinematic universe around Mortal Kombat for the coming years, which don't get me wrong, is a very good thing. What I do think it's bad is the general acting - regarding some exceptions - along with character build up. Outworld characters appear to fall from the sky with little to no storyline attached to who they are and where they came from, when there was a lot to tell, especially about Shang Tsung, Mileena and Kabal. Actors playing Liu Kang, Kung Lao and particularly Raiden were close to average, along with their argument which was little to none. Kabal's voice was also not adequate to its figure. The guy's breathing through a metal mask and is stuck in an "iron lung" and sounds like a young wannabe highschool bully.
Now the big elephant in the room, Cole Young. Adding a new character isn't that bad, but a new protagonist... that's an entire different thing. It's a very risky move, mostly because not only shatters the whole storyline, but also because a main character needs to be likeable to the general audience in order to stand. Personally, I found him closer to indifferent than good or bad, just kind of there. Fortunatly we can see that at the end, there's an intention to bring Johny Cage, who should already be present nonetheless along with Kitana (how can we have Mileena without Kitana?).
Also there were some unecessary scenes, like Nitara (totally random choice by the way) literally appearing on screen just to die in the following second, following the footsteps of Rain in MK Anihalation. One way to get around that and other unsuited scene changes would be to increase the movie's lenght or simply not screening the character at all.
On the upside, Kano's role is incredibly well performed and gives the movie its whole humour, bringing balance and a reality feeling to it. The fighting sequences are good, well shooted from a nice different set of angles, with a lot of movement variety. It's also noticeable they gave enourmous attention to Sub-Zero's special effects, which I think is one the best things in the movie along with some easter eggs like Shinnok's Amulet or Kitana's Fan. Goro's animation is also on a good note.
Last but not least, the final standoff between Scorpion and Sub-Zero didn't let down. Very well shooted with an original choreography, and still managing to be loyal to some of the most iconic original moves from the game characters.
To summarize, it's a generally well done remake. Although needing a lot of work, mostly on actor's performance and argument, has potential to set the foundations for an upcoming cinematic universe to be explored, which after all these years, MK absolutely deserves.
Zeitgeist (2007)
A wake up call you've never had
Icredible. That's the correct term to describe this documentary. As said in the storyline, Zeitgeist is constituted by three parts, in a first look, very distinctive, but that in the end all serve the exact same purpose. The beginning of the first part describes the religion in a general fashion, slowly centering the argument in Christians. In a very mature and culturistic way, it makes you think if all that you've been taught by your family as a kid, concerning god, is indeed truth. The second part discusses 9/11, by showing the viewer all the recordings, statements and testimonies hidden by the government so far, that they didn't want you to see, stating that it was in fact, a way of finding an excuse to subsequently going in to war with Iraq, with one very simple purpose. Oil, which leads to importation, which leads to money. And which leads to the third part of this documentary, that talks about that very same thing, money. The third part is about how money is generated and how crisis are created, by telling the story about how the Federal Reserve of the United States was originated, what is it's purpose, and who has been behind it until now days. In general, it clearly tells the spectator who how and why is behind the curtains of this huge theater we call world economy. My advice to all the readers who are thinking about watching this spectacular documentary, is to actually watch it, and think. Think about the big picture that is this stage you're acting in, without even taking notice. But think about it with an open mind, and don't take everything as the only truth, do some research by yourself. Believe me, its worth your while.
Shutter Island (2010)
One to make us all go "goo goo"!
In modern days, it's hard to make a movie that can impress an audience. Themes are always the same, and the word "innovation" seems not to affect the movie industry. This movie is not any different. Mental hospital's a theme that's been approached many times, since "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" to "House on Haunted Hill", etc...
In these cases what counts is the way it is directed, the people acting in it, the argument and most important, the imagination that keeps us attached to the screen. And Scorcese hit the bull's eye once again, since "The Departed". DiCaprio seems to be one of Scorcese's favourites, and i don't blame him. For the last few years he's been in such movies as "Catch Me If You Can", "The Aviator", "Blood Diamond", "The Departed", and now, "Shutter Island", all of theme with a distinct participation in my opinion.
And now, about the movie itself. The only word that pops in to my mind is... brilliant! I believe Scorcese out did him on this one. The way he drives the audience in to believing everything's real, and in the end, the last taglines from DiCaprio leading me to assume that he was cured after all... It seems he was inspired by "A Clockwork Orange" since the ending type is almost the same!
Nice job Martin!!
Drag Me to Hell (2009)
Horror has gained a new meaning today... unfortunately
The movie is worth watching for the first half an hour. After that, comedy stick it's nose in.
Honestly, the first few scenes scared the hell out of me, mostly the scene where Mrs. Ganush threatens Christine in her workstation. After that, the napkin in the windshield scene also did an awesome job in my adrenaline flux. Last but not the least, the goat shadow scene. From there on, a supposed horror movie turned in one of the most disappointing movies ever. Why? Because the disgusting acting by Alison Lohman, the lack of horror notion and the way the occult and spiritism are characterized, got in the way. Not a movie i'll see again, that's for sure.
For the ones who are looking to waste one and a half hour, PLEASE do something else other than watching this movie. It doesn't worth your wasting time, believe me.
Anyways, i gave it a four only because the first few scenes.
The Illusionist (2006)
Forget reallity. Forget illusions. Just live!
I was told by a great friend of mine about this movie. But it's just one of those things you hear, but you don't give it much attention, so, i only saw the movie about two years after he said me to. Conclusion? Couldn't have done worse. Why? Simple... i didn't knew what i was missing! From the fantastic interpretation brought by Edward Norton, to the great movie scenarios, passing trough the love drama and one of the most unexpected endings ever, "The Illusionist" definitely takes a stand for its own.
The superb realization and argument makes "The Illusionist", in my opinion, a movie to absolutely add to your list of "urgent movies to watch"!