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Reviews
Shôgun (2024)
Shows Much Promise
Visually stunning with good acting, dialogue, direction. Japanese representation is extremely authentic and feels like a native high-budget period piece (jidaigeki).
Unfortunately, people unfamiliar with the historical backdrop and the characters might find the first episode to be a bit confusing and overwhelming with many characters introduced in a short period of time amid multiple international tensions. Those familiar with the original series or the books should be fine, and the rest of the series should be more enjoyable once the main characters and their roles are firmly fleshed out. If the production value continues in this manner, I very much look forward to the rest of this series.
Just Mercy (2019)
Good movie, bad title.
Good acting across the board. Writing and cinematography nice as well. Not breaking any new ground, but a solid piece nonetheless. As with many of the movies in this genre, however:
If getting years in jail and a begrudging release is justice I hope I don't get any. I'd prefer the mercy that the corrupt prosecutor and law enforcement received by not being prosecuted for their acts. In the end, 'justice' was not truly served and 'mercy' was bestowed on the undeserving.
James May: Our Man in...: Go! (2020)
Watch with a dash of skepticism
Mr. May does a decent job of conveying the sense of confusion that most westerners experience when visiting Japan. This is due to the fact that despite stating that he has visited the country numerous times, he doesn't understand commonplace things and butchers even the simplest of phrases.
There should have been an assertive Japanese staff member present during the editing process, because he mistakenly:
Presents a clothesline as a shower control.
Warns us that the numbers on a signboard advertising the specials for a food ordering/payment machine don't match the actual numbers on the machine (though they do match).
Says 'Shigo' instead of 'shuugou' for 'assemble' (caption is wrong too).
This is full of bad translations, bad transliterations, and inaccurate assumptions presented as fact.
The Orville: Blood of Patriots (2019)
Just ignore the major plothole
While the 'feel' of the episode was very much in line with what we've seen from The Orville (good thing), building an episode based on a false premise completely removes all plausibility.
Assuming that the crew of The Orville have watched old episodes of Star Trek, which we should assume they have as they seem to be stuck on 20th century media for some reason, they should know that you NEVER EVER skip a medical scan for new arrivals!
The Orville: A Happy Refrain (2019)
Solid all around
So much easier to enjoy a show when the characters are relatable. The rest of the series has worked toward this goal, but this particular episode brought it together very well.
The performance by the handsome and debonair actor who played Yaphit was just icing on the cake.
The Orville: Ja'loja (2018)
Lack of Imagination
Somewhat weak episode to kick off the new season. Sets the record for most times repeating a piano refrain ('As Time Goes By').
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (2014)
Still relevant, just not as funny as it could be
I've been watching the show since the beginning, and it continued to do a good job at finding stories that are woefully under-reported (if covered at all) and yet still socially relevant.
Whether or not you agree with the story of the week or the show's take on it, it is important to get information out there and bring these issues into the spotlight. If you have trouble taking the assessment provided by the show you can always follow it up with some more research (hopefully from reliable sources).
The only issue that I have with the show (particularly this season) is when John Oliver goes off on one of his feigned outrage bits. It is not that I dislike this type of bit particularly, but most of them are simply not funny and the audience reaction seems to confirm this. Yet, he doubles down and sometimes triples down on the same punchline that bombed the first time.
I do find him to have a good wit and be funny in unscripted settings, but I think that his insistence that what he says is hilarious and we just don't get the joke discouraging.
I hope that the show continues and improves, as humor in politics is sorely needed.
Stargate Origins (2018)
Horrible, simple horrible....sigh
Have watched all of the Stargate movies and series. Even when the production values seemed lacking, the 'heart' was there. This is just a silly piece of rubbish (as an American, I reserve that word for extra emphasis).
There was humor in the other productions, but this is not humorous. It has fabricated, lazy attempts to appear comical, without actually being so.
Continuity problems and the return of Michael the Wraith aside, I just found it without any depth. Everything feels rushed as it is in 10-minute episodes, the fight choreography was glaringly bad and the goa'uld look forlorn for lack of proper worship.
Why do these producers feel they need to take a beloved franchise and go in a totally different direction with it? First they came for our Star Trek, now they've come for our Stargate. I hope that they all get an*l fissures.
Black Mirror: Crocodile (2017)
The hamster did it.
While this episode was mildly entertaining I had to try hard not to think critically. Somehow we are in a dystopian future where people are legally required to submit to memory probing if they were unfortunate enough to witness a crime. Actually, not even a serious crime, just an accident. Okay, overlooking that. The protagonist should be aware that this technology exists and is apparently used ubiquitously. Why doesn't she just say she lie and say she didn't see it or get a lawyer. She can say that she is opposed to it on the principle of personal privacy. Okay, overlooking that.
What I was most disappointed by and couldn't get past was: The first time they showed a man having his memory scanned it was surprising that he could remember another human's face well enough for identification. Yet, at the end, a hamster's memory can somehow identify an individual of a different species and they arrest the perpetrator in a matter of hours. WTHF!? For me this was the coup de grace. Or, that is one AMAZING hamster.
On a separate note: For those who are having trouble understanding the dialog, remember that this is a British show with an international ensemble. Don't get mad because you can't understand some of the actors. If you have trouble, use subtitles.