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Death Race 2000 (1975)
A surprisingly good movie
It was the 1970s, and movies became more experimental. This movie surprised me. It shows a dystopian world in which racing drivers score by overrunning people. What makes this movie special is the social criticism. It provides a caricature of a society that graves for violence. The more people are killed, the better-a similar theme to Running Men.
We have two famous actors, David Carradine and Sylvester Stallone. Sly was famous before Rocky, so he was not yet famous.
David Carradine plays the driver of Frankenstein. What makes his role fascinating is how much hero status with a fanbase they gave him. One starts to think that such entertainment could become possible in a world that needs distraction.
Babylon 5: The Road Home (2023)
Babylon 5 is my favourite show
I really appreciate that they want to revive the show, but this output does not live up to what we saw in the 1990s.
Babylon 5 was brought to life by the performances of its actors, particularly the unforgettable Andreas Katsulas and Peter Jurasik. The absence of these talented individuals, who have since passed away, was keenly felt in this movie, adding to my reservations about it.
Regrettably, this movie failed to capture the essence of what made the show great. The shadows of the B5 show, with their eerie stealth tactics, were a menacing presence. In this movie, they were reduced to mere aggressors, stripping away the intrigue and depth that characterized the original.
The animations were terrible. In 2023, there should be better technology quality available. Another disappointments were the jokes. They were bad.
I will the wisdom, the deep storytelling, the character development.
Downsizing (2017)
Better than rated
When I watch I movie, I right away remove all movies below 6. I am glad I did not look at the ratings. It is a nice movie, it gives food for thoughts. What if we could shrink humankind? Yes, scientifically it is not accurate. But who cares? It is about the idea. We had amazing actors. Christoph Waltz is as usual amazing. Also the performance of the other actors was great. Hong Chau gave an amazing performance.
So, it will be the movie that you might enjoy one evening, it is for sure not the one that you will tell your grandkids about. It contains some elements of comedy, but most important of all it is about compassion and being a human being.
Anatomie d'une chute (2023)
A movie that makes you think, but no thriller
If I could sum up the movie's theme, it would be that we never fully get cleared of doubt. A woman is on trial for the suspicion of killing her husband. The peak message might be when one of the investigators claims that it is highly impossible that she killed her. The prosecutor asks, "But is it not impossible?" - "No, just highly improbable."
The viewer gets a lot of confirmations for the highly improbable murder. Can a smaller woman throw a heavier man from the balcony? It seems like the prosecutor is too obsessed with proving her guilt.
But suddenly, the story gets its question marks. We learn that she lied about some details, such as the marks on her hand. The psychoanalysts are biased and blame her for the death of his client. But still. We get one doubt after another.
In the end, her son, who has been the center of the movie, backs the suicide theory of the husband by telling a story about his father about dogs dying.... All this I write might be confusing for people who have not seen the movie. For those who have, it sums up some key scenes.
It gets clear. The husband and wife had a very troublesome relationship, and the movie is based on a lot of speculation. Is she hiding something? Does she have an affair with her lawyer - obviously, there is an attraction. Also, we are drawn into the uncertainty by a son who himself is not certain what he should believe. I think, if there is one thing that the story tells us is that no matter how much we get evidence for the obvious story, some doubt will always remain.
Sliders (1995)
Overhyped
Looking at all the reviews, there is a consensus: For many, the show was amazing until new writers were onboarded, and everything went downhill. I now bring a new perspective.
The idea is great: We have multiple dimensions, and multiple dimensions mean different realities. So the concept is outstanding, and I would want to watch such a show.
Now, we come to the points that I disliked. Ok, it is the 90ties. I grew up in the 90ties, and I see a lot of 90s feelings in the show, but while some hypothetical scenarios were interesting (What if the world would be almost all female due to a virus killing most men? What if the US would be still an English colony,...), it lacked a bit more complex ideas.
My biggest criticism is character development. I understand, it was written for young adults and maybe teenagers. But one by one
Quinn: He is a Mary Sue. On the one hand, he is the genius who invented the sliding machine, and on the other hand, he also represents the hero. He seems to have no flaws; he is young, athletic, and sensitive. But somehow, this all-in-one does not go well with me.
Arturo: As a science professor, one has a double role. He is a guy who speaks about high morals, and in many episodes, you hear him praise the values, and then again, he is supposed to be the voice of science. (which often makes it confusing, as he seems to be more the scientist than the genius Quinn). But at some point, he gets on the nerves. If feels like too schematic.
Wade: Her role is simple. She is the one who is in love with Quinn, but he does not reflect her love. Then in some moments, she is supposed to be the voice of a woman, but all in all, she seems to be a quite unexciting character. Again, also she has no flaws.
Rembrandt: There was a time, when the black shrill guy was cool to have on a show or movie. Think of Eddie Murphy or Michael Winslow. The black guy was often the nice, but a bit crazy guy. This way, I guess, it came quite natural for white viewers to get used to black characters on tv. Rembrandt was exactly this stereotype.
I read about the latter seasons, and for sure, I would have stopped then. But I already stopped earlier because I was getting bored by hearing Arturo again talking about the ethics of Science or seeing that Quinn solves it all. I would have expected more complex character development, more edges and more provocative ideas.
But maybe this show was simply designed for a different time and age group.
Your Honor: Part Twenty (2023)
Another bad ending of a show that was not so bad
The final episode was much about justifying Eugene's deeds. Remember, he shot Adam. And the writer's played the card to create feelings in the audience for him.
This created tons of mismatches. He goes free, even though he shot a person. You would stay with this. Maybe you get a reduced sentence but free for shooting a person? What was the message: You can be black and the system can be in favor of you?
The scenes are long, the dialogue tiresome, and I started to fast forward them. Characters are starting to act illogical. For Michael, it seemed to be utterly ok that the Murderer of his son got free. Fia gives away her son. They shot Jimmy Baxter, but not even he can adequately die (as you would expect).
Story writers had the idea that every viewer had sympathies for all characters and they decided not to let anyone down.
The Mandela Effect (2019)
Sometimes average ratings are just right
I watched this movie because I love the thought models on parallel worlds and in general I am science fiction enthusiast.
So, it was just logical to say... 5.8... what the heck? It is an amazing topic, maybe it is too brainy and many people will simply not understand it and rate it negatively.
Well, I was wrong. This movie was boring. A father loses his daughter and he explores the idea of parallel worlds to reunite with her. Then it just gets predictable and boring. No compelling acting, a dull story and you start wondering why you did not stop when you still had the chance to get out without losing time.
Dirty Harry (1971)
It is 2023
Clint Eastwood is 93 and Andrew Robinson is 81. This movie had been made five years before I was born.
While watching it, I feel thrown back in a time when no political correctness conflicted with a good story.
Dirty Harry is a man with a gun. When he shoots, he shoots to kill bad guys. He has a clear agenda and he does not need any politicians tell him what to do.
He faces Scorpio, played by Andrew Robinson (whom I first knew as Garak in DS9 and who is a fantastic actor), who is an archetype of a villain.
In modern days such a movie raises suspicions. Why are most of the actors white? Could you not introduce a strong female sidekick? And what about colored characters? Should you have not someone who is maybe black and who would attract black viewers. And, of course, there are no kids who could appeal to the young generation.
This is what makes the movie so refreshing. Back then, nobody needed to take care that feelings have been hurt. Did he fire five or six shots? I have to admit, in all my excitement, I did not count. But I know that a man who wields a Magnum 44, the most powerful handgun, the movie is here to entertain.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
incoherent characters, missing the magic
They try to catch up with the old paradigm: Indy fights the Nazis, and it is somehow connected with history and archeology.
Then, you add what modern viewers might expect. You add a strong woman and an annoying kid suddenly skilled in many arts. And, of course, you add a lot of action. And, of course, every antagonist meets 100% the stereotype of evilness.
Then again, the plot gets predictable. The enemies work towards a goal to rule the world. They are close to success; they explain the heroes everything and how they want to dominate the world, and then they get sloppy; the heroes take their chances, and then suddenly, the heroes turn things around and in the end, they win over the bad guys (which have to be of course male and white).
There is then also no character development. Just the same old stereotypes and cliches, and often, when heroes make decisions, things are strange.
It is a franchise that could have evolved. Putting Indy in the 60ties was a good idea. But a story writer could have added new twists and plots, more complex characters and maybe he could have connected it with some theme of the era.
The Sandman (2022)
Stopped watching
The first episodes were quite ok. Not extraordinary good, but definitely something I would rate around 8 or maybe even 9.
It was quite obvious that there had been some gender-switching and coloring of characters. As I have not read the comics and I was not familiar with the original characters, it was acceptable for me. Especially, they casted the adjusted characters (e.g. Death, Lucienne or Lucifer) well.
Then starting from Episode 6, things got really weird. Suddenly, there was a weird confusing story, where you feel that the writers had decided to go for making the show more approachable for specific target groups. This completely disrupted the flow.
I decided to stop watching and continue with the Audiobooks instead.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Strange New Worlds (2022)
Not so happy
I love Star Trek and I was quite unhappy, when I felt that Discovery went a completely wrong way.
This episode was hard to digest. They twisted the original TOS characters too much. The new Spock is nothing like the original. I felt with that they completely screwed the heritage of Leonard Nimeo
Two doctors beating up Mercenaries. Even the old Kirk would have not been displayed so aggressive. It is simply ridiculous. Yes, they are on drugs and have heightened senses, but come on... these are trained mercenaries and the doctors have no fighting skills normallz.
The Star Trek I love is philosophical, not so action oriented, but this Star Trek.... I am not sure. Let's see how this goes.
Tough Guys (1986)
A movie to perceive ageing with a smile
If you watch this movie at some advanced age (without specifying what advanced means), it a pleasant experience.
Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster are role models that even when you age, you can follow a different role model than the archetypical grandpa.
Watch it in the evening, maybe with a glass of wine and then celebrate your age.
Included is a bit of an 80ties flair. A bit overplayed, maybe, but still it's good enough to show how the world has changed. Another piece of sentimentality is when that especially Kirk Douglas represents the old world of a guy who is simply a guy. Even in the decade of 2020, the simply stand for a different way of being. Not woke, just old man. Maybe they are rare today, but they will be remembered.
New Amsterdam (2018)
Season 1 + 2 were amazing, survive s03. From s04 it improves
But then suddenly Season 3 became all about race. It seems like the writers of Season 3 wanted to show its audience that in general white privilege is the only problem in the world and that people of color have to suffer because of white people.
I do not mind if racisms is addressed in a show, but if you start feeling that after every episode you need to apologize for being white and male, I start to wonder, if I became a victim of racism.
And this is really shameful, because Season 1+2 was for me the master example that a show with a diverse cast - which includes all forms of minorities and colors - can appeal to everyone.
So, fire the writers for season 3 and get back to a normal show that promotes diversity without hate against whites.
Update: S04 and S05 lived up to S01 and S02. Especially towards the end, the episodes are amazing again. So I corrected my low rating.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Tom Cruise - the superhero
This movie is made to attract a large audience. Without trying to spoil, I would love to highlight some topics.
* Lots of memories for those who watched Top Gun. They tried to reuse settings, styles and events. Gen Xers who watched Top Gun in their youth will have a 80ties flashback.
* No named enemy. It is clear that they fight someone, but this enemy is very unspecific. That way, you are inclusive.
* Diversity. We have a female pilot and every skin color is present (we might argue that we are missing a bit Asian American presence, but this is common in all modern movies, focus seems to be to include African Americans). The only thing missing was a gay person, but sexuality was not a topic in this movie (besides the one of Maverick)
* Maverick, the one and only, he is the hero. He and just he. It is difficult to write about it without spoiling something, but sometimes it feels it has been written also for Tom Cruise.
* Still, the movie provides what every one wants. Suspense, emotions, conflicts to be resolved, friendship, sexual attraction, sentimentality.
All in all, I see Top Gun: Maverick as a very good movie, just I do not see it as an elite movie. I assume this high rating is there because they do not piss off any group.
The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
Stopped after 20 min
The Matrix is one of my most favourite movies. After 20 minutes I knew that I can take a blue pill and be done with it.
Sorry to say it but most of the wacholdkis creative must have been lost during their transition.
No original idea, just boring and confusing. I was waiting that at least something from the first movie would be still visible, but no.
We see some new figures, it is impossible to connect with them. Then lots of action, but no story. I really tried, but no way.
If I can give one recommendation. Do not spoil your memory, rewatch the first movie again and do not waste your time.
A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014)
Not for everyone, but i loved it
Seth MacFarlane has a unique humor. I happen to love it. Yes, you have to be ok with farting and kicking balls, etc. And if you find that funny, you will love that movie.
There had been moments, I really had to laugh (and I am not easy to amuse).
It is quite entertaining, do not expect something too philosophical and just enjoy.
Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
Bad writing
It could have been worst. Knowing Star Wars since Disney, the last Star Wars was the worst of the worst.
Still this, this was bad writing. First of all, there are no new ideas at all. Storm Troopers and Destroyers still fail to aim hit targets as much as they try. Second, in the original scripts, there were some ideas what the Jedi and the Sith stood for. There is nothing to be seen in the show.
Resident Alien (2021)
Great show - Also Season 2 is nice
Many people hate season 2. I admit the episode Girls night was a low point, but all in all season 2 is not that bad. In Season 2, octobus is my favourite.
All in all, it is a feel good show.
Westworld (2016)
Could we rewrite everything from Season 2 onwards
Just restart from the end of Season 1 and continue. I completely agree with all the others that Season 1 was amazing and what came after was horrible.
Dune (2021)
Another failed attempt on a great book.
From a cineast point of view, this movie is perfect. But that is not what the book should be about. Who has read Dune knows that philosophy dominating the book and this was completely missed out.
Women are extremely dominant in the book. The Bene Gesserit are a religious order who have a lot of power. This power was lost. We also miss out the Mentat which are also central to the book. Peter de Vries was completely missed out (a central figure in the book). And then the water. One of the most central element of the Fremen philsophy missed out. Also the effect of spice on the mind. Lost.
And of course, we have a gender change + color change with Liet Kynes.
In short, the makers created a movie with a lot of action and shooting, it has an amazing cineast experience. But the soul of the book was missed.
The Green Knight (2021)
If you want to watch a medieval movie, you chose wrong....
The Green Knight is a fantasy movie. It contains tons of mythological elements. Although it starts with Christmas, it is clear that we have tons of fantastic elements that one might rather find in various sagas and pagan myths (giants, magic etc.).
The movie is slow paced and full of symbolism. If someone loves to discuss what one or the other scene could mean, it has tons of elements to speculate about. What is the theme? Is it mostly about honor? What does the green band represent? Or the knight himself? And all the figures. Or what kind of king is the Green Knight? The longer the movie gets, the more one can speculate.
I personally see Gawain as a flawed man who tries to live values of chivalry. But in the end, he learns to reject chivalry - instead of becoming the perfect knight (by fulfilling his duty) - he would fail and as a king lose everything.
So what was he destined to be be? The perfect knight? Was it pride that let him get into his initial conflict. He could have turned down the offer of the green knight or not harm him. What does his offer in the end mean? He will die, but he dies as a brave man.
Carnivàle (2003)
The best show
I watched many shows in my life... and this is the best.
It has everything a good story needs. Interesting characters, amazing plot, outstanding setting.
I wished we more shows like Carnivále.
Devs (2020)
A bit underrated
It has a good story and especially tech people will like it. Also people who love to contemplate in a if/then/else more.
People say that the main actress was horrible. Well, in my view, she was not the perfect cast, but also not so horrible as some people say.
So watch it, enjoy it, it is worth it.
The Good Liar (2019)
The movie shows amazing acting
I was especially convinced by the performance of McKellan. And many of the other reviewers will confirm that the acting was amazing.
About the plot. Many people criticise the twist. Without going into detail, I find their criticism not justified. I assume there is a phase in the movie, where people would love that the story would develop in one way, but in fact in develops in another maybe more sinister way. This might upset some people.
I found the twist good and matching and it gave something to the movie.
The Leftovers (2014)
Not the show for those who want action
The core of the show is how people deal with an unexpected event where 2% of the population is missing. Imagine yourself being in this kind of situation, that from one moment to the next 2% of the people are gone. No explaination.
What many other reviews to not highlight that in many ways, faith and belief is a core theme of this show. Right from episode 1, you meet the guilty remnants, a group who decided not to speak any more, dress in white and smoke all the time. You also meet Rev. Matt Jamison, in my view the best played role in the show. Christoph Ecclestone does an amazing job her.
You have to be aware that most actors act in many ways irrational. They seek answers to something unexplainable and their grief about the lost ones makes them act strange some times. Some might even say it is the show with the most weirdos, which might even become more extreme in season 2 (and season 1 is already quite tough)
David Lindelof, who most likely realised that the bad finale of Lost, prevented its show from becoming legendary, also ensured that this finale matches to the rest of the show.
Most of the episodes are slow and work on character development. There are also some episodes that work with suspense. So this is not the show you watch next to doing something else.