sidetrips Reviews

3 Body Problem (2024– )

Lost Potential in 3 Body Problem

[5/10 · 31 March 2024]

As a sci-fi enthusiast, I was drawn to "3 Body Problem" by its intriguing premise. However, my excitement waned as the series unfolded. The storyline, which initially held promise, lost its momentum after the first few episodes.

While some cast members managed to maintain a semblance of engagement, the overall execution felt lacking. The script failed to delve into the depth and complexity required to keep me invested in the narrative.

Eiza González's performance was hard to watch. It was high school drama class overacting.

In the end, "3 Body Problem" left me disappointed. Despite its promising start, it failed to deliver a compelling storyline that could sustain interest throughout the series.

The Beekeeper (2024)

If you like Jason Statham fight scenes you can watch the move in 20 minutes

[3/10 · 9 March 2024]

If you're a fan of Jason Statham's adrenaline-fueled fight sequences, you might find some enjoyment in this film by fast-forwarding through the rest. Unfortunately, the simplistic plot, poor writing, lackluster acting, and abysmal special effects make it a challenge to endure. Even Statham's charisma can't salvage this mess, as I found myself skipping through most of the 'dramatic' scenes to spare myself from the cringe-worthy performances exacerbated by the terrible script. And let's not even get started on the laughably unrealistic special effects-spoiler alert: apparently, 10 gallons of gasoline won't blow up a four-story building. The fight scenes, while typical for this genre, are so over-choreographed that they border on unintentional comedy. If you do decide to watch, keep your remote handy to fast-forward through about 80% of the movie and catch the highlights in just 20 minutes.

Oh, and honey doesn't spill out like tea when you break jars. The 'mafia' dude fires 17 shots from a pistol with a 10 round clip.

The list of laughable mistakes goes on and on.

Full Circle (III) (2023)

Breathtaking and Inspiring

[10/10 · 28 February 2024]

"Full Circle" by Josh Berman is a breathtaking testament to resilience and the pursuit of passion against all odds. Through the captivating stories of Trevor Kennison and Barry Corbet, the film beautifully illustrates the transformative power of the human spirit. Set against stunning backdrops and propelled by inspiring narratives, it leaves audiences uplifted and deeply moved. This documentary is not just a celebration of triumph over adversity; it's a reminder of the boundless possibilities that await when we refuse to be defined by our limitations. Both times I saw this at a film festival it had multiple standing ovations DURING the film. Do yourself a favor and find this film.

Ferrari (2023)

Driving a Yugo stuck in 1st gear would be more exciting than Ferrari

[2/10 · 27 January 2024]

Watching the film was an agonizing experience, especially for someone like me, a lifelong Ferrari enthusiast. Despite my passion for the brand, the movie failed to captivate even the most dedicated fans. The acting was abysmal across the board, leaving me struggling to stay awake. Both Driver and Cruz delivered performances that were not only stilted and overly dramatic but also inexplicably dull.

The pacing of the movie was excruciatingly slow, making the already painful acting performances even harder to endure. The chemistry between the lead actors was nonexistent, making their scenes together cringe-worthy. The race sequences, touted as a potential highlight, turned out to be disappointingly unrealistic, resembling graphics from a subpar video game rather than a big-budget cinematic production.

One would expect the driving scenes to be the saving grace in a film about racing, but they were nothing short of laughable. The so-called 'drivers' appeared clueless, mindlessly steering in a straight line and awkwardly sawing the wheel back and forth. It became painfully obvious that they were merely being pulled on a trailer, further detracting from any semblance of authenticity.

In essence, the movie not only failed to do justice to the Ferrari legacy but also managed to tarnish the reputation of its talented cast. A true disappointment for anyone expecting a thrilling cinematic experience, it left me questioning my allegiance to the beloved Ferrari brand.

Fargo: Bisquik (2024) Season 5, Episode 10

Easily the worst ending of a series ever

[2/10 · 17 January 2024]

Do yourself a favor and call it quits after watching episode 9. Any ending you can come up with is bound to be better than what they served up in episode 10. Sam Spruell's performance remained stellar throughout the series. Juno Temple's acting was okay, consistent with the entire season, but the writing made it seem worse than it actually was. Jon Hamm's acting continued to be subpar, just like it had been throughout the series. Every resolution to the storylines from the season left much to be desired. It feels like the series was treated like high school homework that was procrastinated until the last minute and hastily completed. Alternatively, it's as if they brought in new writers for the final episode who hadn't seen the previous 9. While Fargo has made some questionable decisions over the series (like casting Chris Rock), this ending stands out as a massive letdown.

A Murder at the End of the World (2023)

Unwatchable

[3/10 · 20 December 2023]

This Icelandic whodunit, set in a stunning location, falls disappointingly short of expectations. Despite the series attempting to capture the beauty of Iceland, geographical inaccuracies abound. The storyline, stretched over 8 agonizing episodes, is plagued by amateurish writing. The dialogue is stilted and unnecessarily melodramatic, riddled with plot holes and distracting tangents. The redeeming quality of the show lies in its depiction of Icelandic scenes, albeit inaccurately portrayed. The performances, however, are a letdown. The lead characters deliver the already lackluster lines with an astonishing lack of skill, with the portrayal of the Darby character standing out as one of the worst acting attempts ever witnessed. Her delivery is not only stilted but one-dimensional, reminiscent of Elizabeth Moss's overused angry stare. Despite a few poorly acted supporting characters, most are lost amidst the convoluted and aimless plot, rendering the series utterly unwatchable. Save yourself the time and skip the finale; it won't salvage this train wreck of a show.

Thin Ice (2020– )

Almost very good

[7/10 · 4 July 2023]

First, the scenery is amazing and almost worth watching the series for alone. Nordic crime drama are my favorite genre so this was wort the watch. The plot was unpredictable and keptenoug cliff hangers to make it binge-worthy. Several familiar faces made up the cast and all did well in their roles with one very notable exception. Bianca Kronlöf played a lead role but the writing for her character was at times childish and her "acting" was very difficult to watch. That alone dropped this from a solid 9 to a 7 for me. It was nice to see Greenland natives play key roles. It is worth a watch as I'm sure not everyone will find Bianca Kronlöf's acting so subpar.

Star Trek: Picard (2020–2023)

Great concept ruined by poor acting in several lead characters

[6/10 · 8 April 2022]

Nice to see the continuation of the series. It is probably the best incarnation of all the different spin-offs over the years. Interesting storyline and love seeing the return of Q and the Both Queen. Nice to see Patrick Stewart in action though he is showing his age somewhat noticeably. The writing is better than most Star Trek series and the visuals are incredible. What brings the score down substantially is the incredibly bad acting of Allison Pill as Jurati and Michelle Hurd as Rafaella. Their over acting makes it incredibly difficult to watch. The rest of the cast is solid at least. The storyline keeps the interest from week to week strong. I wish someone would put them in the red uniform as we all know what happens to the people in the red uniforms.

Against the Ice (2022)

Poor storytelling

[6/10 · 5 March 2022]

The story had so much potential but was let down by extremely poor storytelling and some of the worst editing I have ever seen in a film. No background was given to set up the story. I literally had to go back and see if I had fallen asleep at some point and missed 20 minutes of the film.

John Adams (2008)

Bad acting, worse cinematography.

[5/10 · 22 August 2021]

Shockingly boring and over dramatic acting. Giamati is so hard to watch. Not sure whose bonehead idea it was to tilt most scenic shots to an angle. It's a shame as it is a great subject.