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Reviews
Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire (2023)
FEMALE ACTION LEADS ARE RIDICULOUS
For God sake, just stop it please. "Rebel Moon" is deeply disappointing on multiple levels. The film's attempt to subvert traditional action movie norms with a female lead in a role typically reserved for male characters is forced and unconvincing and the movie struggles to deliver a compelling narrative, regardless of the gender dynamics at play.
The screenplay, lacks of originality and depth, compounding everyone's frustrations. The dialogue and character development-or lack thereof-fail to resonate or provide any meaningful engagement with the audience.
The action sequences, though abundant, are hollow due to the underdeveloped characters and a plot that treads over familiar ground without offering new insights or excitement. This lack of narrative substance, combined with a perceived overemphasis on gender dynamics leaves me feeling that "Rebel Moon" is an uninspired addition to the sci-fi genre. Misses the mark in both honoring the sci-fi tradition and providing a satisfying, innovative cinematic experience. Knowing how imaginative Zac Snyder can be, it's clear that the executive branch of whatever tinpot studio made this is still pushing the agenda.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)
Literally underrated..on IMDB
The meta score is far more accurate. Really fun movie with enough surprises to keep you on your toes. Nick does a great job playing himself. A very well thought out character piss take with solid humour.
Invasion (2021)
A Complete Betrayal by Apple
It's promoted as a series based on War Of The World which means ACTION but delivers ..melodrama. The only think invaded is the audiences level of trust in this new entertainment network Apples level of commitment to entertain. It seems their priority is to re-educate the masses into adopting their corporate culture of ... choose your hashtag. The
All of this blowback could have been avoided if it was promoted as a drama. The us Soldier is so ridiculously aggressive, grotesque and unsympathetic he serves no purpose in the narrative.
Solos: Leah (2021)
Are we entertained?
No.
Hathaway delivers the most unauthentic brilliant scientist in the history of all media ever, now and in the future. And then we're supposed to feel something for the dying mom story? Pffft. Get over yourself Zachary Braffery.
Army of the Dead (2021)
A masterpieceofMeat!
The negative reviews Are born from smooth brained MCU FANBOYS with zero respect for comic irony let alone the gory irony. From the Roman inspired zombie king in the ruins of a empire quarantined from civilisation to the comedy of a using a zombie head as hostage or the deep dive into the horrifying tragedy of a zombie disaster. It's got the lot.
The Nevers: True (2021)
Ambitious
The explainer episode. I loved it even if the smooth brains here can't handle the genre shift - that makes perfect sense btw.
Dracula (2020)
There are a lot of inflexible unimaginative drones leaving misleading reviews here.
People have been so inculcated to tonally safe stereotypes and cliches from Hollywood that they literally don't know what's going on when presented with something utterly unique. Especially when that something is drawn from familiar source material. They suck more than The Count.
It's a great watch that's out to shatter expectations. Go for it!
Dead to Me (2019)
A twist every episode
Knowing a twist is coming makes this so much fun to watch. Perfect casting and witty dialogue don't dominate the very real human tensions and despair we can all relate to. It's so good you empathise with antagonists too. Very cool!
Chernobyl (2019)
Learn some science AND history.
Great performances with a script that deftly deploys science and drama in seem-less tension and understanding.
Wonderful stuff that all Russians/Ukrainians, in particular must watch, before Putin re hashes it with his own production in a desperate attempt to hide his countries ridiculous philosophies and deplorable human weakness.
Sing Street (2016)
My wife and I loved this
It's just beautiful and as a wanna be rockstar in his twenties the resonance squeezed the heart. Great characters and a genuine love story
Polar (2019)
Lotta hate in reviews but they lie
It's a genre flick! The genre is gore and violence. Iits a stylised graphic novel which is the source material, but you know what...it's got more a of a plot than most action flicks. Very hip stuff IMO and Roger Ebert deserves a bullet his review. How can he watch films all his life and be tone deaf to the pop art Of adult graphic novels? Great setup for a sequel...I hope it happens and art wins out. Totally unique film.
Sex Education (2019)
Clever and authentic
I'm over 50 so I'm not gonna pretend I know what it's like for kids these days but this feels true to me. It's also funny and tugs at the heart.
Instant Family (2018)
Didn't expect much from this but got a lot
This is a movie that they really got the trailer wrong for. Pushing a corny comedy angle? .nonononononono.
The comic lines are very good but it's wrapped up in a powerful drama that has the bonus of promoting a great cause. Just watch it. Even teens would ding it. All the acros are on point too.
Captain Phillips (2013)
A Pentagon Message
The Maersk was the first American ship hijacked since the 19th century so a certain hegemony needed to bring the consequences of daring to undertake such a crime to our attention in glorious Hollywood definition
Tom Hanks has to cry like a baby for the last 5 minutes as the director desperately tries to claw back sympathy for the protagonist after a trillion dollar war machine murders three teenagers enslaved to warlord and locks up a fourth for 33 years. The scene at the end was improvised and added the last minute. The nurse was a real chief (she was great. This scene was absolutely vital
The movie is otherwise technically fine but Tom Hanks is the only actor alive who has enough capital with audiences to pull off this miserable story and come out looking good
Goat (2013)
Waste of time
Whilst the lead guy does have solid presence it wasn't until half way though that I realised this was some cheap b grade rubbish. All the mafiosi tropes are here from makin da bolognese sauce to getting gunned down at a restaurant to the rat to revenge to you get the idea. The soundtrack shifted the tone so wildly that it gives you the feeling of different editors. They should have stuck to the gritty rock stuff instead of Italian arias at the hit whilst everyone does in slow mo...I kid you not. All of it reeks of some student effort: Constant time shifts...excessive narration...useless scenes. The lead tough guy guy crying while he jerks off?! lol Looks like a tax loss production to me
X: First Class (2011)
Enjoyable despite plot holes
These are the plot problems I had:
Despite Xavier admitting to seeing everything in magnetos mind/history he says the one thing do the least to change his mind in turning the missiles against the fleet; "They're only following orders" Come on..talk about pressing his buttons!
Raven tricks Azazel by morphing into Shaw with his helmet but she had never seen that before and he's still in the sub.
Xavier pleading with Magneto not to kill Shaw despite the fact that he's the one incapacitating him?!
The random mutations/evolution resulted in a mutant that looks Exactly like a storybook devil?
A Nazi became a mutant by irradiating himself? Never explained past this assumption yet they want us to suspend our disbelief of common medical fact?
It was still pretty cool though :)