Change Your Image
euhafshzs
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
Russia 1985-1999: TraumaZone (2022)
Another monumental entry in Adam Curtis' corpus
Adam Curtis blesses us again with another multi-hour, hard-hitting, raw documentary. The concept of the footage speaking for itself is risky; however, the bet pays off fully, transporting the viewer into a realm of real-life ultraviolence. While not entirely a novel concept, it is a far more intellectual endeavor than a pundit panel or a classic history documentary.
Growing up in the 1990es Russia, my recollections of the period are vague and are in the process of being excavated by a psychologist. The series rips up the protective cortisol abatement of psychological trauma I experienced only as a spectator - a seven-hour panic attack fueled by violence, injustice, and disregard for human life.
While this viewing experience may sound like a definition of Hell, it is strangely therapeutic - perhaps by being so personal. It also, perhaps unintentionally, has a message of perseverance in face of the horrors of the human condition.
Scene highlight: man drinking low-quality bootleg vodka with disgust - sums up the atrocities depicted in the documentary quite well.
The Dick Van Dyke Show: It May Look Like a Walnut (1963)
Bad, sucky twist
Why is this the highest rated Dick Van Dyke show episode? The twist is bad and did not age well at all. I will not give it away, but Pyrocynical is spot-on on turning into a mocking meme. The twist undermines the clever humor and suspense of the rest of the episode, and leaves the viewer feeling cheated and confused. It might have been revolutionary at the time, but the same way the Beatles do not feel heavy enough today, the twist does not feel clever enough. "How will they write themselves out of this one?" With a quick fix-all of writing.
On the bright side, the humor was definitely enjoyable and it's refreshing to see the protagonist couple not fight and argue for once.
The Dick Van Dyke Show: October Eve (1964)
Quaint but interesting
I've watched a few episodes of the Dick Van Dyke show so far. It's a breath of fresh air to find an episode where the situational humor does not revolve around the protagonist couple constantly arguing or jeopardizing their relationship. In this episode, which plays very modern thanks to this deviation form the formula, they band together to solve a common problem, and the episode ends on a very positive win-win-win note. I'd like to extend a particular praise for an accurate and tasteful portrayal of a Soviet expat at the caliber of Ayn Rand and Vladimir Nabokov.
Overall, this is one of the better episodes definitely worth watching.
Smiling Friends: Mr. Frog (2022)
The struggle of a celebrity
Similar in spirit to Bojack Horseman series, this episode dives into hardships that a celebrity might face even at the top of their career.
What makes this funny is how an entire character arc is fit in 10-ish minutes with a ridiculous premise.
Rick and Morty: Rickdependence Spray (2021)
Cracking at the seams
I love the show. Really. However, this episode is a hiccup.
This is the moment when the show starts falling apart, and you can tell how it's constructed. An idea is tossed out at a writer's meeting, and more ideas stick to it. Case in point: Morty screws up and denies it. Things happen. Some jokes in the episode land, some don't. If the writers were hoping that the raunchiness of the premise will carry the episode- it didn't.
Seeing how Simpsons went downhill after turning into a show about stuff just happening, I am now concerned about Rick and Morty.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
A milestone relic
I've first watched this movie when I was 18, and thought it was the coolest thing ever. Teenage, 60es-obsessed rebellious me had taken in all the wrong lessons, and started applying them broadly. The ultimate gateway drug.
I still watch this movie once in a while, often with other people. I've noticed that it's harder and harder to sell a 90'es interpretation of 70'es nostalgia for the sixties to my younger friends. A lot of symbolism and themes simply do not land, and the movie becomes a stoner classic at best, and a quaint spectacle at worst.
The good news is, as the youth says, "if you know, you know." No mix of words or music or memories and all that, but if you are even remotely interested in ancient crafts of gonzo or psychedelic counterculture, the movie is an aesthetic masterpiece.
Some more observations I made through the years:
* No other movie will reward you this much for re-watching it. You'll pick up on details in visuals and dialogue, and even understand a completely schizophrenic storyline!
* No other movie will reward you this much for watching it in different altered states. You'll pick up on details in visuals and dialogue, and even understand a completely schizophrenic storyline!
* Don't read the book. Seriously. If the violent, sociopathic diner scene serves as a shocking low point in the movie, the entire book has the same tone. I suggest sticking to the pink (yellow?) tinted glasses vision of the movie that's less upsetting and more upbeat than Dr. Thompson's unsettling vision.
* Bloomquist's book is absolutely real and is sold on amazon. I have a copy, and the page quoted in Fear and Loathing book is a perfect match... so maybe you should read the book.
See you in Gonzovision.
Can't Get You Out of My Head (2021)
Give me more!
Hypernormalization not long enough for you? Here's a series twice its runtime! Enjoy, as I did.
Seriously though, I liked the new interesting concept of following often overlooked revolutionaries and thought leaders of the last century. Adam had perfected the craft of musical interludes that feel much like music video breaks on television before MTV had been invented. Keep it up, and I hope to see more.
HyperNormalisation (2016)
Fun little 3 hour exercise in alt-history
Get comfy, pack a bowl (of popcorn) and let Adam Curtis take you on a three hour psychedelic trip through modern history cut into pieces and shaken up into a beautiful puzzle, complete with various bangers and brilliant storytelling.
"2001 of history documentaries" (put this one on the box)
The Hangover Part III (2013)
reject comedy, embrace joker
What a heel turn! This film does a powerful rug pull, tearing down and abandoning the formula that it built up with the two preceding movies.
And that's a good thing. Too many franchises these days play it too safe, bringing nothing new to the table with every new iteration. I found the story engaging and captivating. Todd Phillips and Craig Mazin clearly wanted to show that they can make a "serious" action movie, and WELL DONE. These guys made Joker and Chernobyl, and this movie was a demo launchpad for their writing prowess.
Best joke in the movie: the mid-credit scene seems like a slap across the face of fans who were expecting another twelve more hangovers, and a miniseries, and a theme park.
Million Dollar Extreme Presents: World Peace (2016)
outta sight outta mind
In the year of our Lord 2021, stuff and people and things get banned, delisted, shadowbanned, cancelled left and right (mostly right). This will in no way come to bite the banners, delisters etc in the behind anytime soon.
Oh yeah, the show. When somebody wants you to not see or be able to access something, that means you need to go ahead and check it out. ASAP.
Death to 2020 (2020)
Something's off
Having watched all of Charlie Brooker's yearly wipes, including a 2020 one released in May, I was excited for this, only to be let down. There were some good jokes that landed well, like the Cuomo bit and some of Leslie Jones' quips, however, the main dysfunction of this movie is the same plaguing (hah!) all of modern American mainstream humour - you need to be 100% down with the agenda, laughing not so much out of entertainment, but rather in agreement. Five years of "Trump bad" jokes demoted them to knock-knock humour, but this film goes all-out on those.
Charlie also seems to have sunk an absurd amount of time this year on Twitter, as many topics raised and hot takes taken were deeply internet-esoteric, particularly the entire Karen-like character. Not sure how it landed with other people, but the half of my household not hopelessly addicted to memes had all of the internet humour cause nothing but confusion.
Finally, let's address Brooker's (in)ability to interpret and empathize with "the other side." This was always a flaw in his other documentary works, however tolerable. Here, all of conservative/republican/rock-banger caricatures are not just surface-level, but also take up a very good chunk on the movie. X does Y because they're a baddy-bad, villain-like meanie (also stupid). Laugh!
(If you've read this far without scrolling in further search of reviews that agree with you, congratulations! Your reward is knowledge that I'm neither a Republican, nor an American, for that matter. Another golden nugget is this: know your enemy, dig deeper, brush your teeth.)
Long story short, time wasted on this should've been spent on more Wipes or Black Mirror episodes.