atmobilemail's Reviews

The Swarm (2023)

8/10

5 November 2023

The pacing is very realistic - slow in certain parts, but realistic. There is no over exaggeration of emotions, and tends to skip what could have been melodramatic moments in other shows. That's one of the things I loved about it. I wasn't too crazy about the relationship scenes, though, as they seemed to only have the purpose one of one of the partners being a victim.

The multiple filming locations are also fantastic, giving it somewhat of an international feel, much like Bond movies.

I haven't read the book and just saw it without any expectations. The last episode (of season 1) is where everything comes together, but not to a conclusion. Hopefully, there will be a second season.

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Dune (2021)

9/10

Incredible movie!

18 September 2021

Finally, a Dune worthy of Herbert's vision. Like Blade Runner 2049, it took me until the following day to fully digest the assault on the senses. The difference this time around, is that it reminds me of certain Euro art films from the 70s where there would be long close-ups of expressionless faces. Perhaps Villeneuve was inspired by Jodorowsky's Dune in the 70s that was never made, that was supposed to have Pink Floyd composing the soundtrack? Otherwise, it is very dark and brooding like Blade Runner 2049, and very much like the book and the mini-series (script-wise), but nothing like the 80s movie. Jessica is a little more vulnerable compared to her 'regalness' in the novel - at least, that's how I remember her from my reading the trilogy three times. And one person has changed gender! Dr. Liet-Kynes is now played by a woman. Regardless of gender, Max Von Sydow in the 80s film stands above the rest, because it is Max Von Sydow and his uniquely quircky personality that can give an added dimension to any role. If WB doesn't allow for a part II, I will never see another WB film again.

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The Sacrifice (2020)

8/10

Excellent production based on historical events

13 December 2020

This movie is about China's involvement in the Koran war with an ill-equipped army. The cinematography is excellent as were the majority of the actors. The pacing was a little slow, but this was due to the strategy involved, and not the directing. However, some scenes were used more than once, which was odd. One commentator wrote that this movie is propaganda; well, what does that make Saving Private Ryan and Pearl Harbor, if not over the top propaganda war movies?

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Hanna (2019–2021)

5/10

Based on the first episode (Revised rating)

20 February 2019

Warning: Spoilers

So far, I'm giving this an 8. This version is impressive as it mirrors almost scene by scene the original movie. The stillness and 'spookiness' of the forest is similar to the original. All the actors are superb - especially the girl. I gave it an 8 as opposed to a 10 based two so-so scenes: when the father is practicing fighting his daughter, one quick scene shows him giving a right-to-left punch. A trained martial artist, as witnessed at the beginning of the show when he fights the two soldiers, does not give a right-to-left punch. That's how dumb people fight. Secondly, the Polish boy the girl meets in the woods gives her a Snickers bar. Seriously, a Snickers bar? Is somebody trying to plug something? You can't even find one in France or Germany, let alone in the Polish wilderness. Besides those, which are minimal, I eagerly await the next episodes. I just hope they will not remake the scenes with the dumb tourists - which is something I loathed in the original movie.

Revised rating: my previous rating of 8 was based solely on the first episode. But the present rating is based up to episode 5 - my last episode. As per my original review's last sentence, my nightmare has come true. Not only did they duplicate the scenes with the retarded family, they actually managed to prolong them. What an artistic feat! Instead of going with the premise that this girl - who is a fabulous actress - is basically a trained survivor and assassin, they made her into a regular teenage rebel. Come on. The first time she has sex, she 'instinctively' knows how to undress a guy? The first time she enters a nightclub, she 'instinctively' knows how to dance? Episode 5 pushed it over the edge for me. Had they cut off all the scenes with the other teenagers it would have made it a tighter show, without the intentional 'stretching' of the show. Sorry, but I didn't sign up to watch teenage angst at parties and fallouts with their family. I'm going to go watch a REAL German series called Das Boot.

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The Passage (2019)

5/10

Has potential, but...

20 February 2019

I was going to give this a 7 rating initially for entertainment value, but the annoying flashbacks made me give it a 5. Flashbacks, used sparingly, can move a story forward. Like the series Lost, the use of these here are not only outdated, but annoying, to say the least. Most of them add absolutely nothing to the storyline, and what's worse, manage to ruin the suspense and give one the impression of stretching the episode because of a lack of ideas. Has potential, but...

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Travelers (2016–2018)

10/10

This show is just too good.

27 December 2018

You know it's a good show when you can identify with not one, but several characters. That's how good the character development is. Contrary to Continuum, which is basically about one person, Travelers is geared more towards an ''older'' audience. It's serious and slick. I just saw the last episode of Season 3, and almost fell off my chair. Which other show would end a season admitting that everything that came before was for nothing? The ending gave it the perfect premise for a Season 4. If this show goes on (and it must) for a few more season, it can be the first show to actually be able to ''loop'' in any order and it will still make sense! Bring on Season 4...next week!

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Origin (2018)

7/10

Potential to be better

7 December 2018

The first thing that struck me was the horrible acting - actually, that's not entirely true. The ''bad acting'' was actually due to ''bad direction''. A group of strangers awoke earlier than expected during their suspended animation en route to a distant planet. They discover that there is an alien on board. Instead of sticking together, they run off alone haphazardly like little spoiled brats whenever they don't get their way. Ouch. Now, the ship is about the size of a small city. The dialogue as well has much to be desired. A scientist, a leading geneticist, sees a digital mapping of the ship with blue lights covering it. He yells violently at a con artist, a girl with a traumatic past, a female astronaut, an ex orderly, and a young girl, ''what are those blue light? What are those blue lights???''. Ouch. The Last episode was a rehash of previous scenes from a different angle in order to explain the evolution of a certain character. Great idea, but it was WAY too long. The last episode summarizes the entire season: great potential, but too many loose ends with useless dialogue.

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Nightflyers (2018)

8/10

My rating is for the first two episodes.

4 December 2018

I think a lot of negative reviews - from what I've read of the reviews - comes from the fact that you can't turn your mind ''off'' and enjoy the ride, like you can do with the last two Star Wars movies. If you do that with Nighflyers, you'll be left with nothing. The effects are great. The slow pace and sense of expansion make you identify with the situation. The minus two stars rating is for the acting. The two main characters don't seem to fit in the concept of the show. They're too one-dimensional, especially the male lead. You tend to feel more for the supporting cast than the two mains. If you're a control freak, this movie will drive you mad, as everything is out of your control - including where the movie is heading.

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The Haunting of Hill House (2018)

3/10

I think I'm going to be a minority here

24 November 2018

After the first episode, I was very surprised at how good the cinematography was. Unfortunately, the second episode was a chore. The annoying ''flashbacks'' reminded me of Lost - which unsurprisingly, I never finished. They were just too frequent and most of the time never added anything meaningful to the story...especially not the pace. I really don't want to waste my time as some unfortunate souls here have. I'm stopping at episode 2.

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Westworld (2016–2022)

6/10

1st season was is a 9. Second season is 3. Hence the 6.

7 September 2018

The first season was novel and paced very well, along with the appropriate character developments. The second season was entirely something else. It was so bad it reminded me of Lost - which I stopped watching during the 3rd season. In Westworld, the pacing was gone. Useless flashbacks that had no importance to the story almost every five minutes ended any momentum it had. In fact, the flashbacks seemed as if somebody was just trying to ''stretch'' the show so that it would get a thrid season. As far as AI shows are concerned. I have a preference for Humans. After the second season, I couldn't see how they could have continued it with a third, but they did - and did they ever.

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In Darkness (2018)

8/10

A very good movie, short of being excellent.

24 August 2018

The acting was superb - no dumb or useless expressions. The music was amazing - interweaving between being part of the movie and being in the movie. The cinematography was slick, the story was refreshingly intricate. Those who complained that the story was too complicated should go back to watching Bugs Bunny - or come back to it in a few years. The only thing preventing me from giving it a higher rating is the ending. It seemed too precipitated and matter-of-fact. The main character attempts to do what she had planned to do, and just leaves. Overall, a very good movie!

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Line of Separation (2015–2018)

10/10

A touching series

6 August 2018

Very often we think of WWII in terms of the horrors, be it an atomic bomb, or a concentration camp. This series brings us to the continuation of the ''end'', and how, in a sense, continues to this day. It's a village version of the seperation of Berlin. As such, you get much closer to the small village feel, and as a result, to the people. The acting is first rate - no stupid one-liners or unecessary expressions. . Lauterbach is excellent as the distant and guilt-ridden aristocrat/father. Uhl is first rate as a stoic mother with survival instincts that will surprise you. The others are just as fanatastic. I have rarely seen such a touching series that portrays so effectively the two sides of the same and one coin. A sad and touching testimony of a moment in history of a great and proud nation, and a very human one at that.

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Terminal (I) (2018)

10/10

An incredible film

23 May 2018

I can understand why some people didn't like this movie; they expected to see Lost in Space or something to that effect. Terminal is a dark (literally), off-the-wall, eccentric, European movie that plays on mood and ambience. The colours are strong and vivid. The actors are superb - especially Margot Robbie. While I was never a Mike Myers fan, his role here was an eye-opener. An excellently paced and shot movie that I'll watch many times over.

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3% (2016–2020)

9/10

Excellent from the very first scene to the very last one.

6 March 2018

If you like the idea (story) of The Hunger Games, but find it too juvenile and predictable, with plastic characters, then you'll really like this one. Unlike The Hunger Games, the test of abilities to attain a ''better world'' lies in a battle of team work, intelligence, social skills, love, and intergrity, and not in a physical battle. Whoever said that it had to be a physical battle in the first place? Some reviewers criticized the budget. Say what? There was nothing wrong with the budget. I've seen movies or series - as most have - with MUCH higher budgets that looked like school projects. The Last Jedi was one of them. This one was slick and well-filmed. The pacing and the character developments were surprising. Each person had a unique personality - for better or for worse - that shone through and made the shows that much more credible.The only minor criticism that I would have are the flashbacks. While they are not as frequent and as obtrusive as in Lost, I felt that there was just a little too many. I'm glad that I saw this in 2018; this means that I won't have to wait as long as some of you have for season 2 .

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Extinct (2017)

6/10

6 seems to be pretty fair.

27 February 2018

I love the ideas and the premise behind this story. As some have mentioned, it has a bit of Falling Skies, Wayward Pines, Stargate, and even a bit of The Walking Dead. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the latter's acting abilities. In fact, most of the actors - except for the British girl who plays Feena - seem to be fourth-rate ''plastic'' actors that never actually took acting lessons. The worst offender being Silus, who has no credibility whatsoever. To make matters worse, the dialogue seems to be written for uneducated kids, except that there are no children around - or rarely. I gave this a 6 because through it all, I felt there there was a genuine effort to make something honest. The pacing was good, the action was not overhyped, and there was no blatant use of foul language in order to make it ''seem'' cool.

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Altered Carbon (2018–2020)

8/10

Excellent Science Fiction series.

19 February 2018

I love this one; in fact, I love it so much I gave it an 8. Here's why: with a story line so strong, and effects to match, my expectations were high. Very high. There were, however, one main element that fell short of the show's loftiness: some of the dialogue. A lot of it seemed like fillers - long and drawn out for no apparent reason, that had no bearing on the story line (the main character's sister who tries to justify her decisions at the end seemed forced and unatural). Vernon's first encounter with a ''pleasure girl'', again at the end, said that ''he's not into that kind of thing'', as if he had just witnessed the most horrible thing ever (as do the two guys monitoring him from the hotel). This is coming from the guy who, only minutes later, shoots someone in the forehead and slices two guys' throat without even blinking. Hence the 8. If you like the darkness and despondency of Blade Runner, mixed in with a bit of Aeon Flux, time travelling, and a bit of British quirckiness, you'll love this.

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Britannia (2017–2021)

5/10

If you like historical drama, watch Vikings.

2 February 2018

Ouch. I was really excited about this series. Having followed Vikings since day one, I was really looking forward to seeing something similar from the ''other side''. Alas, with a premise that had such great possibilities, that was not to be. In Vikings, the characters spoke English so that we, the viewers, can understand. However, they nevertheless make it a point to have old German or old Norse (or old French) thrown in here and there to remind us that English was not spoken in those days - especially not by the vikings. This enables us to really get into the period mood of the series. In Britannia, the first utterance from anyone is, ''Holy s**t''. That's right, people said ''Holy s**t'' constantly in English not long after Jesus' death. This of course was followed by f**k, bit**, and s**thole in almost every third sentence. If that wasn't bad enough, the rest of the ''normal'' dialogue is almost like North American street language, but spoken by Brits who were supposed to be first century Celts. If this sounds confusing, it's because I am as well. I have no clue who is who in this series. At least they did a fairly convincing rendition - however little we know of them - of the Druids. If you want an excellent and exciting show based on old European history, watch Vikings. It's an incredible saga (as it should be), and you'll learn some history from it at the same time.

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Wolf Warrior 2 (2017)

8/10

Hollywood-style nationalism - except that it's not from Hollywood

31 January 2018

A lot of people here don't seem to like this movie based on its nationalistic themes. Yes it is nationalistic, but no more than Independence Day or Saving Private Ryan. It's just a new brand of nationalism that were not accustomed to seeing. Take that away, and it's a well-made action movie. No one said that this is like Farewell My Concubine. The overall effects are excellent, except that the blood looks too fake (CGI). There are a few ''corny'' parts, and it does lack character depth, but taken solely as an action/war movie, it's very good and entertaining - and no, it's not the greatest film China has ever made.. Don't see this expecting a grandiose spectacle like Hero or Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and you won't be disappointed.

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Missions (2017– )

10/10

Science-Fiction - the way it should be.

30 January 2018

When you talk about Science-fiction today, most people's first thoughts would a bing-bang-boom all-out war movie with big bad aliens. At least that's the impression I get whenever I talk to people - and with good reason. That's the way Sci-fi has come to be portrayed thanks to Hollywood. Gone - or rare - are the Sci-fi shows that have social commentary. Of course, there are a few gems: Battlestar Galactica (remake), Humans, The Machine, Ex-Machina, and a few others, are the exceptions. What usually comes to people's minds is more along the lines of Aliens, Independence Day, or Falling Skies - basically war movies that substitue the ''enemy'' with aliens. Missions is different. It has a very retro feel to it. It almost seems like a high budget 70's film that just got unearthed. The pacing is superb, and one never has the feeling that the budget was ever a consideration; it's as good as any out there. The music is fabulous - harking back to Vangelis' soundtrack for the original Blade Runner, and far more creative than the new one. One of the reasons why I mentioned earlier that it seemed retro, is because of its theme: who are we, and where did we come from. Without giving away more, I'll leave it at that. If you're looking for a stylish and moody sci-fi show with the smarts, then go for it!

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Béliveau (2017)

9/10

Not just for hockey fans

11 April 2017

I've only seen the first episode so far so everything is obviously based around that. Very similar to Maurice Richard (The Rocket, 2005), the cinematography and period costumes are breathtaking. Punctuated by flash-forward scenes - as opposed to the presently overused flashback scenes - it actually drives the show forward in a very touching and refreshing way. The acting is excellent, but maybe a tad caricatural in its portrayal of some of the big ''business'' characters in the show. Like in The Rocket, it takes us back to the early years of Béliveau and to his humble beginnings, and to how he met his one and only sweetheart. Unlike The Rocket, it portrays just as adeptly the more mild-mannered and level-headed side of the man we now know as Jean Béliveau, as opposed to the explosive fighter that was Maurice Richard. Another great Hockey movie, and a fitting tribute to another Québecois hero who left us only a little over two years ago. I'll be watching the other episodes in parallel with the Habs playoff games. If the Habs make it far into the playoffs, I'll be keeping the last episode for the very end. Go Habs Go!

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The Creature Below (2016)

8/10

A VERY good movie!

1 March 2017

True, there are other somewhat similar movies. What makes this one stand out is the excellent acting. Other more mainstream movies of this kind inevitably always have linear acting - meaning that what you see from the first scene is what you'll get in the last frame. Not so with this one. Anna Dawson starts off by portraying an ambitious go-getter who becomes increasingly taciturn. The supporting actress, Michaela Longden, starts off by being something akin to a party girl, but ends up emotionally distraught. The silent ''screams'' at the end are surreal, and as such, are even more terrifying - reminding me of some nightmarish scenes seen in Europeen movies of the 70's. Very often, a film with a smaller budget has to maximize its limited resources in imaginative and creative ways that seem to elude bigger budget films. The Girl With All the Gifts, Morgan, Dog Soldiers - although all unrelated - are movies with limited budgets that excel in imagination and mood management. The Creature Below belongs in this company. I hope they make a sequel!

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The Girl with All the Gifts (2016)

10/10

Love it! Love it! Love it!

27 January 2017

This excellently-made movie is in the tradition of 28 Days Later and its sequel. Unlike other ''survival'' movies or shows, there are no hero-figures - nothing syrupy. That is what makes this movie three-dimensional. Its about the antihero. The acting from the main characters are superb - especially Gemma Aterton and Sennia Nanua. The music - especially the eerie repetitive vocal chant - gives it an avant-garde post-apocalyptic feel. This movie makes you think at every turn. Even the ending - suspecting a Philip K. Dickian turn - had me go, ''Oh, no!'' It's a slow-paced movie without ever giving feeling that it was dragging. More please!

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Morgan (2016)

8/10

A very good movie!

25 January 2017

This movie is in line with The Machine, Ex-Machina, and Humans (TV series). Similar to those three, it has a certain subdued ''British'' feel to it without it being an actual British movie, and not quite being on the same level. However, it is - in my opinion - an extremely good movie in spite of what some reviewers mentioned. First of all, the ''electronic'' music is sparse, and only adds to the coldness and spookiness of certain moods when it is there. One reviewer raised a list of questions that were apparently unanswered in the movie. I answered all of them. I won't list every single one, as this is not a ''reply '' to his post. Suffice it to say that, yes, the movie does explain why one of the people in Morgan's entourage got stabbed in the eye. Kate Mara is excellent in every way, as is Anya Taylor-Joy. The rest of the cast - except for the Chinese doctor perhaps - alas, pale in comparison. Some people criticized the ending. If you ''expect'' a typical Hollywood ending, you'll be disappointed. If, however, you're accustomed to the European, Asian, or Philip K. Dick type of endings, you'll be rewarded. 8/10 for me.

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Supergirl (2015–2021)

10/10

Not propaganda in the least

21 November 2016

This series caught my attention from two sources: one, from some of my own students, and two, from the negative reviews here about ''feminist propaganda'' that none of my students even mentioned. So here's my take: Yes, this is a TV show aimed at kids in their pre-teens or early teens. As such, it doesn't make sense to compare it to series such as Black Mirror or Sense8. It does, however, compare VERY well to similar shows, such as The Flash or Arrow. In fact, I think it's a great show for both boys and girls. There was not a single moment where I felt there was some sort of subversive feminist propaganda that some reviewers here mentioned so vehemently. I would even say that there wasn't enough of this so-called propaganda. Do some guys here have so little self-esteem that they feel threatened by a ''chick flick'' aimed at young teens? I think they should be more worried about shows like The Walking Dead (which I like, by the way).

It's great that we now have a superheroine to offset the abundance of superheroes. I say, ''Make more of these!'' And yes, clean up a little of the corniness :-)

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Stranger Things (2016–2025)

7/10

Has tremendous potential, but...

23 August 2016

Alright, I gave this a 7, but I truly loved the show and hope that there will be more to come. Let's start with the negative: - One of the things I disliked from this show - and from a great many other shows - is, what seems to me, the use of useless scenes, or ''fillers''. The teenage ''romance'' between Nancy and Steve is entirely unnecessary, and just slows down the pace of the show for no reason - except for wasting airtime. As such, it falls short of other tightly-written or directed TV series such as London Spy, The Night Manager, Humans, and The Man in the High Castle - to name a few. Every scene and word in these shows are clues and propel the program forward. There is not a single word wasted. - Another thing that annoyed me was the cartoon-ish acting of some of the characters: the two policemen, the librarian, and other minor characters. While this may be funny in comic books, in my experience, real-life people don't act or talk that way. - And my last negative point, which some here have pointed out, is the constant annoying whining from Joyce (Winona Ryder). It almost makes us not feel sorry for her plight. Now, on to more positive things!: - The acting of 11 is almost beyond belief. It was almost like a fully grown adult had inhabited a child's body. When I went (had to) go dig up some info on her and found out that her parents were Brits, I wasn't surprised. Great acting and presence is somehow in their DNA! - While I loved the music, I found that both the electronic and the pop stuff were out of place for this show. The electronic score would have better suited Tron or something slicker. I also doubt that Echo & the Bunnymen were the hit of the year in small town America. Then again, Jonathan was an ''different'' - so who knows. I'm really looking forward to how they will continue this. Or maybe, they can do like the Brits, and just end it on a high note, and make something entirely different.

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