gsantonas Reviews

Echo: Chafa (2023) Season 1, Episode 1

What is happening?

[5/10 · 11 January 2024]

I enjoy Marvel shows but this pilot was thrown together expecting people to already know the story of Echo. I knew a small amount and was completely confused. What are her powers? Why does she have them? Why did they split the girls in the beginning? Who is Fisk and why did she work for him? Why did her father? What is the story of Hawkeye and DareDevil with her? I am sure some of you are rolling your eyes but a pilot should set up the story and explain the back story. This jumped time and location with no explanation. I was excited about this show but now I am not sure I want to continue.

The music and cinematography is well done. As usual, the fight scenes and special effects are also good. But if you want to reach a bigger audience, you need to remember that n ot everyone has read all the graphic novels or seen every movie.

Napoleon (2023)

Main reason studios are losing money

[2/10 · 24 November 2023]

Who read this script and thought they should spend $200,000,000 on it? Probably the same studio heads who fought a raise to the below the line workers.

I was excited to see this movie. Napoleon is a fascinating subject and that time in history was epic.

I came away even more sure that war is stupid and it is either over religion or rich men who want other men's riches and use the poor to lose their lives cruelly to get them.

But I digress.

This movie takes place from Marie Antoinette's beheading (he was not there in real life) to his death. A lot happened over his lifetime. This movie jumped from event to major event as an afterthought . If one did not know French history then you were lost. The longest scenes were Napoleon and Josephine on various couches with him whining and her crying. It was a bad soap opera.

The script was painful. When standing up to the Admiral of the English Navy, Napoleon says, "Well, you have all the boats!" And stormed off is a hissy fit. What?!

I saw this at a screening with producers and directors and people were laughing nervously because the lines were so ridiculous that you couldn't tell if it was supposed to be a comedy. I never saw a theater of professionals run out before the credits were even done.

The most ridiculous was the fact that almost everyone had English accents. You couldn't tell which country each was from. Joachim didn't even bother with either accent. His Napoleon was a pathetic, whiny man-child. Not really someone who once was an emperor of half the world.

The war scenes were visually stunning but again, hard to follow as far as a story.

Even the soundtrack was disjointed. I am not sure what notes the composer received.

This all seems like an odd FU from Scott to the French. A very expensive, silly waste of money and 2:38 of every viewers life.

You People (2023)

Waste of Talent

[4/10 · 31 January 2023]

The beginning I had hopes. There were a few chuckles. I loved all the cameos. But it falls apart once the parents are introduced. It was cringeworthy. This is an example of producers/writers/directors getting too famous that no one says their stuff is crap. It was so offensive that it felt more like a 1050's comedy than one in 2023. Can I get a high paid job to edit the scripts before they shoot? I often wonder where studios get their executives that decide on these movies and programs. For all I know, the original script was great but the executives made them take out the funny stuff and added in the "tone deaf" outdated humor.

Anatomy of a Scandal (2022)

Waste of great actors - Spoilers

[5/10 · 20 April 2022]

This was the most boring and see through story I have seen in a while. It is like the old 80's movies where no one recognizes the girl because she wears glasses.

It wasn't even that much of an assault. Yes, I know that is not very PC of me but she was into it as well. She was just mad he ran off.

It makes women seem so helpless and ridiculous. As a woman, I was annoyed by all of the ones in this show.

Atlanta: Three Slaps (2022) Season 3, Episode 1

This is so Amazing *Spoilers

[10/10 · 29 March 2022]

What a fabulous episode and start of the season. Every scene was masterfully flowed into the next. That story about the women who adopted the Black children because they were Black and gave them a terrible life then committed suicide was on that haunts me to this day. The way they told it and how the boy got there is genius. It got all the complex issues between how different groups of people are raised and how we are brought up. The not having a hand cloth cracked me up. Being a White woman, it was a good lesson of always assuming you know what is better.

I wish the child in this story had the same effect as real life.

This show is so, so good.

Gone for Good (2021)

Bad casting - Finnegan as a Nice Frenchman?

[6/10 · 23 August 2021]

This was an ok series but the main character was so obviously not French that it drove me crazy. The other super annoying thing is they never close any door behind them! Even in the brother's "secret palace" he leaves the front door wide open.

Schmigadoon! (2021–2023)

Adorable

[8/10 · 5 August 2021]

I am happily surprised with this gem. It is just what we need during this terrible year. The cast is amazing. The music and dancing is fun. It has some great subtle and not so subtle adult humor. I am really enjoying it.

The White Lotus (2021–2025)

I can't go past Eps 2

[4/10 · 21 July 2021]

I wanted to like this. The cast is great. The idea seemed great.

The problem is that there isn't a single person I like. The children are so horrible that I can't sit through watching another minute of it.

The Subject (I) (2020)

Loved this film

[8/10 · 10 January 2021]

I was so impressed with this film. I wasn't sure what to expect but it was extremely heart felt and engaging. I liked the mix of documentary style and cinematic. It was beautifully shot. The writing was really good as well as the score. I hope this does well and many people see it. I think it is extremely poignant for these times.

Your Honor (II) (2020–2023)

Disappointed

[6/10 · 30 December 2020]

This is just too much. Too ugly, too convoluted, too unrealistic. It is like they through every idea at the board and they stuck and decided to use them all. Such a disappointment because it is a great cast. But it is all been done before. There is no humor or intrigue or beauty to take away from the ugliness of the story. It is another, poor Black people need to be saved from themselves and powerful people mess it up more for them. I am tried of seeing Black people either being poor criminals or corrupt politicians. Plus the White man savior. Oh, I forgot the hot, Black lawyer who wants to change the world, along with the hot, White female detective, trying the same. So tired. I love New Orleans and hoped to see more of the life of people there but this is just not a good look. Showtime really has to up their game to stay in competition with the other channels.

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)

Wanted to like it

[5/10 · 29 December 2020]

This was such a bummer of a movie in every way. I couldn't even like Boseman's character. He was amazing but...no spoilers. I loved the music and the opening with the dancers. The entire cast was amazing. But the story was just too much sadness and not enough music.

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

So disappointing

[3/10 · 26 December 2020]

What happened? How did this get released? Did anyone watch it before releasing it? Was the script this bad or did the big wigs mess with it too much? The story was lame. Completely unbelievable and not true to the characters. There were holes as wide as the ocean. The special effects weren't even good after the first part.

Indebted (2020)

Painful to Watch

[3/10 · 7 February 2020]

It truly was painful to watch these two actors who I love, Fran Drescher and Steven Weber, in the tired, old-sitcom. Why is Steven Weber speaking like an old Jewish man from a NYC deli? The writing is so bad. I waited for a rim shot after every line. I had to shut it off when they showed up on their date. Plus I thought the wife was annoying. When are the networks going to realize that this type of comedy was over in the 80's? I wish I liked it but no.

Altered Carbon (2018–2020)

Did I watch the same show?

[5/10 · 5 February 2018]

I wanted to like this show. The actors are two of my favorite. I enjoy SciFi shows as well. This was some of the worst writing I have ever seen. It was so cliched. This is supposed to be hundreds of years in the future but there is still Latinos speaking Spanglish? If we are intergallactic I think we would be a bit more blended by then. Of course, she is a spunky Latina quoting her Abuela and crashing a "limo" and low and behold, she is the Captain of the police. She is concerned he is a terrorist and takes him out for drinks to a strip club the first night? The dialogue is horrible and the acting is stiff. I know it is not the actors, they are great in other things. It is just so cartoonish. I didn't even finish the pilot episode. I was getting too annoyed to waste my time.

Game of Silence (2016)

What were they thinking?

[4/10 · 15 April 2016]

I know NBC is desperate to get their ratings up but I feel that this show has gone over the edge. I was looking forward to it because the promos made it look so intriguing but instead, you find out everything in the first episode. It is bad enough it is about 4 preteens being sent to jail for a ridiculous reason but they go to the harshest jail there is and at this jail they are continually beat up and gang raped. They all cross paths as adults. The bad boys and jailers are still together doing illegal business. Please. On top of it you keep seeing flashbacks to them being abused and raped. I do not want to spend my free time watching this. It is not educational or artfully done like "Crime Story". I don't know why this show is getting a 7 rating. Maybe NBC has plants. Or maybe I am just not the audience. Who would the audience be?

The Red Tent (2014)

Surprisingly well done

[8/10 · 30 December 2014]

This was a favorite book of mine. I was very worried that they would screw this but it is very true to the book. No, it is not an exact retelling of the Bible. Then again, the Bible has many versions and is written word of stories passed down. This is historical fiction loosely based on the Bible and the way women lived and were treated at the time. That is really the main point of the story. That women can learn from each other and that we cannot always rely on men to do the right thing. That women are strong, resourceful and are often supporting men behind the scenes. The problem I have is that the main characters "The Good Guys" are obviously English, light skinned with English accents. The dark ones more often than not were "The Bad Guys". Also, they kept showing her in satin sheets. I doubt they had satin sheets in 1000 BC or whatever the date was.

The Marriage Ref (2010–2011)

Just let yourself have fun

[8/10 · 13 March 2010]

I love this show. It reminds me of all of those silly and funny game shows of the 70s. Yes, not crazy about the host but he may get better with time. This show does not pretend to be anything else. I like the idea of different panels. Again its like Match Game or one of those. They need to have Betty White on it, she was queen of those shows. I grew up on those shows and they were always fun to me with their "Whoopie" comments and innuendos. These other reviewers take themselves way too seriously. It is just meant to be silly fun. I do think they will run out of people but then again everyone in America seems to love airing their dirty laundry.

Bend It Like Beckham (2002)

I left this movie smiling

[9/10 · 14 March 2003]

What a wondeful movie. It doesn't take itself too seriously but still makes its point. It shows how everyone has obstacles, being an Indian girl in England, being an son of a difficult man, Irish in England, etc. It is funny, sweet and with an excellant soundtrack.