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Reviews
Alaska Daily (2022)
Important story
The abuse, disappearences and murders of native Alaskans is a very, very important story to tell and I was so glad finally someone was talking about it. Acting was very good, story line was very good. Really loved it. Then came episode 7 and I realised it was only meant for 50% of the audience (again). The celebration of the infallable MSM was simply too much. I advocate for local news but despise the 'truth tellers' of the MSM. And of course the usual Trump references. Again. It's all so dreary and predictable.
Still it's an important story so 7 points (but was 9 points before episode seven)
A Christmas Carol (2019)
A dark but beautiful rendition
It's gritty, it's dark, it's opressive, it's depressive, it's cheerless, it's bleak but I loved it. Acting was superb, the music beautiful and it looked absolutely fantastic. Dark... but fantastic.
The only dissonent is mrs. Cratchit. She is some kind of girl power feminist voodoo woman. A huge dissonant in the story and the reason why immersion in the story was not entirely complete.
The last 30 seconds were beyond excruciating (and childish). Why ? Total unnecessary and it doesn't make any sense. It immediately catapults you out of the story and leaves a bitter taste in the mouth so I can understand (to a certain degree) the negative reviews.
-2 for mrs. Cratchit makes an eight.
Recommended (but be warned it's bleak, bleak, bleak)
Kwinmeikeo (2023)
A bit
Too cartoonish for my liking but the actors are good, the production value is good and enjoyed the story. I love political intrigue but as usual the activistic leftwing party is the good guy (like in almost 100% of the political dramas, it's so predictabe) and the endless virute signalling (woman are good, men are bad, employer bad, employee victim) have been done a trillion times before.
When I write cartoonish I mean especially the villains, no redeeming qualities whatsoever. So you get the gist early on.
Although I would have loved a series with more depth, more (believable) twists and originality (played by the same crew because -again- the actors can act and the director can direct) and perhaps a bit less emotioning so common in many Korean productions, a better, possibly more neutral and/or clever storywriter could have taken this series to another level.
6,5 (first part is definitely better and deserves perhaps an eight)
The Night Agent (2023)
Netflix cancelled Mindhunter but gave us this
The actor playing Peter Sutherland is a solid actor and plays his role well and believable.
Sadly he is held back by a disastrous performance of the lady playing the 'grieving' computer genius. I wrote 'grieving' because she never spills one single tear after the death of the two most important people in her life who raised her.
Her facial expression is always exactly the same as if frozen in place; the entitled angry look (so familair in current day cinema sadly). It really doesn't matter which scene she has to play; sad, in love, happy, depressed; just 1 single look forever etched on her face.
And then the plot and writing. Ouch. The lady, who needs protection because murderers are (for some reason) after her, is simply everywhere. She can't be shaken lose. Instead of hiding her somewhere she follows the hero of the story around like a spoilt all-knowing puppy.
And the plot goes from coincidence via stupid decision to Deus machina via stupid decidion to coincidence.
It's actually quite is disheartening because this kind of escapism is what people actually crave. We really need better writers and a main character that can actually act.
That said; the majority of the supporting cast was not too bad. They deserve a better writer.
Again; Netflix cancelled Mindhunter, a mature, intelligent show with brilliant actors. Loved by critics and the audience alike and decided to gave us this. Bizarre.
The Wheel of Time (2021)
Re-imagining
If you've read the books as I have you will hate this re-imagining. If you like fantasie movies and series in the vein of the first seasons of game of Thrones, House of the Dragon or the Tolkien trilogy you will hate this series. If you are of the opinion that book adaptations need to resemble the books in some way, you will hate this series.
In contrast do you like woke re-imaginings such as Willow, Velma, Halo, Resident Evil, The Witcher: Blood origin and so on & don't care about the original writer and the source material you will love The Wheel of Time.
Let's be clear; The Wheel of Time has zero resemblance to the wonderful, rich, intricate and exciting tapestry Robert Jordan created. Zero resemblance.
With a few exceptions everything produced by the current movie-industry looks exactly the same and esp. Fantasy lovers have been wronged terribly on a massive scale in these past few years..
Glitch (2015)
Late on arrival.
Very pleasant survive. Old school. A fun mystery they used to make a few years ago. And all great actors.
Of course there are the usual (beyond) stupid decisions (they can't stay together for more than a second, even when a murderer is around) but hey that's old school stuff too. The science makes no sense but it was just a good watch. Much better than most what has been produced in the USA this four years.
Season one and season 2 a ten. Season 3 made a unexpected nosedive and well... please remake season 3. It was not only a huge downer but people began acting out of character (abducting your girlfriend so you can help your sister, really, why not just ask her, who wrote this stuff, a 1 year old ?)
But the actors did their best with the weak script so a 6 (but deserves probably less)
Glass Onion (2022)
A well deserved 9
Untill the ridiculous end. What a cop out.
Remember when you have been done wrong burn all the paintings made for mankind because well.... you are angry.
Don't get me wrong the anger is well deserved.
Pro:s almost everything. It is not as good as the first movie. The setting is less interesting, the characters are less interesting but it is perfectly acted and well written so a well deserved nine)
But the end, dear God. Totally ludicrous. What a mess (literally and script wise).
And Hollywood will celebrate a destruction of art meant for the entire mankind.
Totally ludicrous.
One of the few times in my life that I watched a movie that I really, really liked getting (almost) destroyed by the pathetic ending. And I have seen a lot of bad endings but somehow I didn't care but this was ... pffff
Top notch writing all the way and then (I guess) some 6 year old took over.
The Witcher: Blood Origin (2022)
Parallel universe
We live in a terrible timeline, especially if you are a fantasy/SF fans. Everything has been wokified and destroyed and this proces is continuing each and every day. This show has absolutely zero to do with the The Witcher.
Almost no one can act. Talking planks of wood. And of course again; zero resemblence to the source material. Every single movie and series is now dressed up as LA Highschool. Doesn't matter if the movies are adaptations, based in fact and history or simply require a certain type of casting; everything looks the same. Bland, predictable, dreary, politics. It's almost impossible these day to immerse yourself into a story.
And the writing ?
Toddlers in a kindergarten write better stories.
Where do they find these people ? Wat has happened to the brilliant writers of time past ?
This timeline reminds me of the movie Equilibrium. The bookburners of the future.
The Witcher is just another example. Star Wars: destroyed, Star Trek: destroyed, Rings of Power: destroyed, Willow: destroyed, The Wheel of Time: destroyed, Terminator: destroyed and so on and on. Only House of the Dragon escaped the malaise.
I feel sad for the young ones growing up in these desperate times where entertainment is now just a vehicle for the narcissism of a handful of writers and producers with zero affinity with the soure material and the many disappointed fandoms.
And Netflix is rasing the prices again because well ... they are treating the customers like kings and queens, you see. They keep feeding them garbage while claiming it's a banquet.
What a joke.
The Recruit (2022)
First episode was bad
And I seriously hesitated to see the next episode but it picked up some space. Slowly, very slowly
The music is beyond irritating (possibly the biggest flaw of the entire show, horrid, horrid) and the relationship of the protagonist with his study mate's love life and ex girlfriend (freshman college buddies) are totally superfluous (It could be cut out all together (unless you are a die hard Friends fan). Beyond boring.
O yes 'our' hero is smarter than everyone. He can talk himself out of every situation.
But like I wrote earlier, it picked up some speed and became gradually more mature and suddenly I found myself a bit more invested in the story.
The acting is reasonable to good, the writing is so so (for example the relationship with the 'older' female CIA collegue (who only wants to give information if you date her is ... well ... pretty infantile).
A skiny girl (killing every single hardened hitman is also.... well... pffff. (really again ?) However the actress playing her played her well.
Overall a 6. In the end I enjoyed it but suspend your belief and don't get too annoyed with the constant childish music, meant for 14 year olds and a few adult babies (and trust me dear makers of this movie, won't 'age' good).
Do I want a series 2 ?
Perhaps. No one was too obnoxious (like for example in Resident Evil, Rings of Power or Willow) and in the end it was quite enjoyable if you prepare yourself for constant ultra loud moronic music, "Friends" and a total suspension of belief.
Personally I liked the somewhat more gritty/serious parts (like in the prison) but that's probably my personal taste.
And to be honest; that's a pity because this show could be so much more.
Lost in Space (2018)
I waited a long time
To watch this but to my surprise this was actually a very good family series. Thoroughly enjpoyed it. No wokeness. Strong family, strong girls, strong boy, strong father. Inspiring. No obnoxius teens either . Unique these days (See Resident Evil or Willow) Just Old school. Great family entertainment. So much better than anything Disney produces. Yes, quite unexpected. Of course the family has some bad luck (e.g. Crashing into a planet just a few weeks before it disappears into a black hole (that's a 1 in a 10008904 billions chance) but I didn't mind.
Is it a ten, probably not but it is at least a 8,5. 1,5 is for the stilly 1s.
I've heard we won't get a season 4, that would be a huge shame, because this is probably one of the tiny few series which could be watched by everyone (another is Wednesday). Such a fun series with loads of suspense, thrills, humor and great (space) music.
Why not make a season 4. It's bizarre.
(Then again Netflix also cancelled Mindhunter while giving 125 million to Meghan Markle).
Grand family entertainment, highly recommended.
Willow (2022)
Massive disappointment
Bad writing, bad acting and bogged down by the message (but apparently that goes without saying these days). I loved the brilliant orginal movie. So fun, so warm, so entertaining.
But Willow 2022 is a different cup of latte all together. First off the obligate ticking off the boxes. Yawn. Everything looks exactly the same these days. Doesn't matter if is high fantasy, a historical drama, an animation or a high school drama.
Moreover you are never immersed in the story because the writing is shallow, infantile, generic and at times insulting (e.g. When a character dies and no one cares. It is as if he was never there). The characters (who all lack in depth) are so unlikable, esp the spoiled princess. The modern music at the end is totally out of place and the raging river of anachronisms is jarring to say the least. It is all so incredibly dumb.
I seriously wonder if this is actually written by children ?).
On the plus side it looks pretty good, hence the two points.
Less virtue signalling and preaching and hire better story writers please Disney.
Mary Queen of Scots (2018)
Modern day sensibilities from a tiny cabal
Trumps everything. It has exactly zero historical value. Nothing adds up. Just more modern day politics shoved down our throats.
Hollywood (and I include the BBC) have become the villain.
How stunning and brave they are.
George Orwell wrote about these people.
""Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book has been rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street and building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And that process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped."
Avoid at all costs.
The Spanish Princess (2019)
If you hate history,
& hate immersion in a world which feels real and authentic but you love to have modern day sensibilities and the woke religion mercilessly shoved down your throat than this is probably for you.
Just another soulless creation from our modern day movie industry. Updated to appease the 1%.
This is just another case of the rewriting of history to satisfy the narcissism of a few.
The customes are stunning though, I've to give them that (but real life was a bit grittier at the time). But hey stunning nonetheless.
George Orwell wrote about these people in his dystopian novel 1984. The rewriting and erasure of history.
Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
My third review
My third review (and trust me I wrote absolutely nothing wrong) . But I guess we are not allowed to 'not like it' or you are automatically an 'ism'. The nines and tens (often nothing more than blatant attacks on the critical reviewers) will remain but all valid criticism will magically disappear so in a few years time some innocent reviewer will read these comments and think; hey sounds good, let's buy it. A bit like removing the dislike button at youtubes. Protect the big corporation who are tuining or myths, stories and beloved movies.
Well let's try it again; Disney's Star Wars has nothing to do with Star Wars. The Kenobi writer admitted himself ! He doesn't had a clue Anakin was Vader. That's the kind of writers Disney hires.
The Batman (2022)
Not bad
I love the gritty dark movies and for the first 2/3 I would give this movie a solid 8.
Farrell is a brilliant actor. But the last third was just not very good. Minus 2 points. Makes 6. And of course the usual obligatory casual racism about white people (white privilege line) (but that's Hollywood these days). Minus two. Makes 4.
The Witcher (2019)
Sad
Just another book adaption given the woke treatment. Everyone looks the same. Every country look the same. Multicultural dwarves and elves. It makes zero sense It's a book based on medieval Slavic mythology. I give three points because Henry Cavill is great. But with the current lot of (ideology driven) writers everyone is doomed.
Just another fantasy infused with modern day politics practized by a small cult in LA.
The Watch (2020)
Another beautiful book destroyed
By the modern day bookburners. It ain't about the story, it ain't about the characters, it ain't about the wonderful and rich world Terry Pratchett has build but it's all about the writer's feelings and The Message you see.
It's no longer about entertainment or escapism or staying true to the book and lore or give the audience what they crave for; it's all about politics and modern day sensibilities now. Modern day book adaptations are just a vehicle for moral grandsanding and virtue signalling.
We live in depressing times.
Avoid at all costs if you love the work of Pratchett.
Timeless (2016)
Fun but
Increasingly woke. Nice light stand alone stories, the actors were decent to good, the settings often superb and the background mystery interesting. However the shows becomes increasingly woke and therefore annoying. They even mentioned they voted Hillary Clinton in one episode (after helping the suffragettes). In the end it's all about 'isms' and it becomes simply annoying. It seems Hollywood will never learn.
Moreover the second season turns into a total soap with love stories galore.
It's a shame because we need some escapism and entertainment with a light touch. And I would have loved to see a few more seasons (without the forced wokeness and love triangles and so on)
First season 8, second 4.
Manifest (2018)
Down the hole
After a promising start this supernatural mystery turned into a boring soap. It´s no longer about the mystery but all about feeeeelings. I don´t blame the actors, though a few of them were not up to par but lay the blame entirely at the feet of the writers. There are still a few good script writers out there in America (just think of a shows like Ozark, Better Call Saul or Mindhunter) but they are few and far between, as if the current bunch are all produced in exactly the same School of Melodrama, Stupid Decisions, Zero Depth and Feeelings.
The characters get even flatter as the season progresses and the decisions more stupid.
This could and should have been a top notch mystery series but with these script writers it's an uphill battle to say the least. No I've to rephrase that; you will certainly lose the war. Even with the best actors in the world this show would be a disaster.
I add one extra point for the first episode. It promised so much.
La casa de papel (2017)
Promising start
The first two seasons were great (9,5 points). Then it devolved into a dreary woke Spanish soap opera. The last season was unwatchable (with some good moments). There are plotholes the size of titanics.
Arcane: League of Legends (2021)
Brilliant
9,5 I'm not a gamer, I usually don't watch animations but this was sheer brilliance. It has more character development and depth than 99% of modern day Hollywoke productions. This is how you create interesting believable strong woman (and men). This is organic 'diversity'. And everyone is flawed. The story line is great, keeps you guessing. You feel for the characters. It's just gorgeous.
(I subtract half a point for the music. Mostly it's good, esp. The classical ones but during fight scenes the rap/modern pop was (well let's say not for me and it felt a bit out of place)
Anyway; highly, highly recommended. More, more, more.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)
Another one bites the dust.
Another franchise captured by the woke mob. The cast is terrible. No one can act and no one resembles (nor acts like) the game characters (not woke enough you see). It looks cheap. This is the worst movie by far in the franchise and let's be honest they weren't Citizen Kane to begin with.
Jiok (2021)
Very good
This is a strange one. A philosophical 'horror' series which takes enough time (slow burn) to give us fleshed out characters, a brilliant storyline with incredible brutal intermezzos (and hopefully a second season)
Not for everyone. For some it could be too bloody (and I would definitely don't recommend it for children !) , for some it could be too slow with not enough flashy things every single second, for some it will be not 'diverse' and 'woke' enough. But I loved it. A thought provoking horror.
Another winner from Korea. Hollywoke has deserted us so other countries are filling the void and Korea is probably the frontrunner at the moment.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
Old school
Just an enjoyable movie with a nostalgic old school feel. Compared with the woke abomination Ghostbusters 2016 (loved by critics/hated by the audience) this one feels like real Ghostbusters. My little nephews absolutely loved it (and usually they are addicted to the phone). A rare family movie without political messages. To be honest the movie itself would be more of a 7,5 or 8 but I add 1,5 point for sheer enjoyment for young and old.
Also
Phoebe was fantastic. Who would have thought that a talented (not obnoxious 'look at me, look at me) girl/woman could lead a movie ?
That said; strong female leads already existed during the years of the silent movie in the 10s and 20s but hey, who cares about facts innit Hollywoke, it's all about virtue and feeeeeeelings these days ?
Concluding
A well made family movie with likable characters and a wonderful atmosphere.
Modus (2015)
This series...
Was the reason I almost gave up on Swedish detectives. They have become too political, too woke. One the one side of the vast chasm you have the brilliant The Bridge and on the other side this....
To be avoided at all costs.