Geekofriendly's reviews

If I were forced to pick only one single piece of entertainment I could see in 2025, "Andor" S2 was and still is the first choice.

Having said that, the first 6 episodes were somewhat disappointing and lacklustre. Mostly due to the directing; partly due to the writing, cinematography, and editing; and partly due to not enough touching moments by Nicholas Britell's score.

All of this is back in a big way! This episode was a breath of much-needed tense air and lush sets, a convincing bridge between Gilroy to Lucas. It is the first time in S2 that everything felt in its rightful place.

Most of all the touching score, which I sorely missed. I truly believe that music is a major, understsated reason why the first 6 episodes of S2 just felt flatter and didn't make as much of an impact as I'd have hoped for.

With a new director at the helm, things are definitely looking up.

Ryan Reynolds' love for Deadpool-and honestly, just about EVERY other character in the MCU-is so obvious it could be seen from space. You can't help but admire his passion for bringing this ensemble together (if you've seen the movie, YOU know).

The two main hero battles are a bloody good time, and the final multiverse-fueled street fight-complete with that epic, never-ending tracking shot-is straight-up legendary. Not to mention the cameos... absolute perfection, chef's kiss.

That said, what I felt was missing was a deeper emotional connection to the story. The expositional scenes sped by in a blink-and-you-miss-it fashion. With so much happening all at once, I ended up losing track of the "why" and the "how." Despite having seen *Loki*, I found the TVA plotline too intricate to follow on the first viewing. It's a testament to the movie's tight editing, but also a complaint-because, frankly, the TVA plot doesn't make a lot of sense.

The soundtrack was the weakest part. For some reason, most of the music choices made me cringe-not in a good way.

And Ryan Reynolds breaking the fourth wall every five minutes? It got a little overdone. But hey, the guy's so charming, I can't fault him for trying so hard to please the fans. Honestly, it's commendable-he really pulled out ALL the stops and gave Wolverine one last epic movie. Kudos!

Like with "Top Gun: Maverick", some witchcraftery was undoubtedly used to shift a thin, generic story into considerably more poignant, refreshing, even warranted territory.

I loved "The Fall Guy" for what it is! A fun, feel-good blockbuster that knows exactly what it wants to accomplish...and does so in tremendous style that feels as peak Hollywood as a movie can get.

Also, it's a much-needed and endearing homage to stunt performers and the tremendous(ly overlooked) value they bring.

The movie doesn't miss a beat, it looks gorgeous (the production value is top notch), Gosling's as charming as ever, and the ending felt so deserved and satisfactory that it left me with a huge grin.

What more could I possibly ask for 😁

"Ted Lasso" continues to be one of those shows that transcends its genre.

Most of the episodes contain barely any football matches, and yet, the stakes seem surprisingly high. The main characters are likeable, yet flawed, which of course makes them even more likeable. And each of them has a clear journey they're on.

And when they take steps towards achieving something, it feels supremely deserved. As if I can feel the rest of the viewers cheering them on as well.

"Ted Lasso" is a rare gem that we probably don't appreciate quite enough. I think it touched a nerve with the audience because it's sweet, sometimes sad, and always true. Which, I think, represents a life well lived.

Among a great cast and crew, the unsung heroes of "Andor" are its writer Dan Gilroy and composer Nicholas Britell. The first one has created smart SW characters and intertwined them into a surprisingly absorbing story, the second one added soul and raw emotions to the story as it unfolds in front of our eyes.

"Andor", to me, is doing the impossible. It's making me interested in Star Wars again. Yes, Grogu is great, but The Mandalorian (2019)'s simple storytelling doesn't keep me very engaged. With "Andor", we get a behind-the-scenes peak that's more akin to The Wire (2002) than any previous SW iteration. Until now, I didn't know this was exactly what I wanted.

The MCU is living proof that too much of a good thing can be bad. The first 3 Phases carefully built up to a satisfactory and epic conclusion, but in the process also made us accustomed to a very high standard of storytelling. A most daunting challenge even for Kevin Feige & his team of merry writers.

Phase 4 has been a misguided case of quantity over quality and it has spread the Multiverse saga so thinly across so much MCU content that one can blink and miss ... barely anything.

The best thing about "Werewolf by Night" is that it's not generic. Unlike the MCU of late, it's fresh, it's daring, it's kind of inspired. It manages to bring new life into the MCU and strangely enough, it also feels more relevant to the multiverse saga than its cinematic brethren. It's a fairly short black and white movie about particular characters sharing a particular night.

There's plenty of style and enough substance to solidify Michael Giacchino as a legit director. I was rooting for him and this movie from start to finish.

While this movie doesn't redeem the misfired Phase 4, it does singlehandedly take the biggest steps into uncharted MCU territory.

I bow to the creators of this series. And to everyone in front of and behind the scenes of "The Offer". They managed to create a more than valiant addition to the legacy of one of the best movies ever made!

Everyone on screen shines and the entire cast has done justice to the real-life people. The tremendous scene-stealer Matthew Goode amazingly manages to take it even a notch further in this last episode. If he doesn't win every single award possible, he will be robbed.

Also, if you haven't been watching the post-credit behind the scenes of "The Offer's" behind the scenes, you're missing out ... big-time! This last one, accompanied by Mychael Danna's wonderful score from "Moneyball (2011)" is the final nail in the coffin to one of the best mini-series I have ever seen.

Salut!