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Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)
We are all Harley!
It's like Todd Philips never intented his Joker to be the actual Joker, didn't like the fact that the audience wanted him to be and created a meta movie to destroy his rendition of him.
We are all Harley Quinzel in this movie. With our expectations for Phoenix's Joker and all that he could be. Fantasizing a sequel where the prince of the underworld would sit on his throne and watch the world combust. Instead, we are let down by this Joker that never was and was never meant to be.
If the Joker was the one writing the script and directing, you could argue that the cruel joke played here is right on point for the character. But he wasn't.
Salem's Lot (2024)
Enjoyed it, but...
First let me start with, I hate 1 star reviewers. People that seem to think that their opinion tramps everyone else's. You didn't like a move or a show. I get it. Good for you. Move on.
Now that this is out of the way. The movie is fun and enjoyable but just barely. The problems are many. There is no character development. There is no setup. The plot seems to skip ahead like crazy. One minute they are in a drive in relaxing, a moment later they are fighting vampires without questioning the idea. There is no credible antagonist. I think the big bad shows up in two small scenes and has the personality of a zombie. Straker, more of the same. The main character just a paper thin plot device to takes us to the end since the villain cannot off himself and roll the credits.
You can see that there was potential for a good mini series here. It has production values, good cast and an excellent source material. Something longer than 110 minutes would do. Unfortunately they made a movie instead.
Sunjae Eobgo Tweeeo (2024)
Enjoyed it but...
Whatched this series mainly because of the good reviews. And indeed it is a good show.
Cast is good and the acting stays in acceptable levels. The story even though is stretched manages to stay interesting till the end.
I understand that it is difficult and most of the times wrong to judge a different culture, but the female representation in this one is really anoying for me. Why do thrity something women talk like they are babies? I know that is supposed to be cute but for me it's just demeaning and creepy. Anyway...
The second negative is it is full of what I call PLOFS (plot forwarding stupidity) Only in very rare occasions any of the main characters choose to act according to logic and not for the benefit of the plot.
Longlegs (2024)
I feel conned.
Walking out of the cinema after the end credits had rolled I seriously felt like someone had conned me and had taken all my money.
Halfway through the movie I caught myself wondering at which point was it going to turn into this masterpiece I've read in the reviews. Well unfortunately it never did. Not only that, it never became at least a good movie.
Everything in the script is a mix of overly used tropes and ideas of other movies. Plot holes in every turn and nonsensical behaviors.
The great mystery that has even the FBI baffled is that families are killed with a calling card left behind by the killer but without a shred of evidence that any other person was present at the time of the killings. What a joke realy that is when that heavy expositional third-act comes rolling in and a mind boggling revelation is thrust upon us on how the murders are taking place.
To avoid the spoiler label - that I so often use on my critical reviews - I won't go into details about this, or all the other nonsensical plot points of the film. But you'll get it when you'll reach that point.
Or maybe you've already been there. Like me, you came here wondering if it was only you that you were conned by the critics and the promotions.
Well, rest assured. You weren't.
Stopmotion (2023)
I don't get it.
This is not a good film. I didn't like it and it would probably get a 6. That is my average score for the ones I don't like understanding that nevertheless, every movie is a group effort and there are redeeming qualities in everything.
But whatever my thoughts were initially about this movie, the sheer stupidity of the suffocation scene (you'll know when you get there) just can't allow me to give it a score above 4.
Fot the life of me I can't understand it sometimes. Say someone has a stupid idea that writes on paper. Don't the actors act it out when they are filming it? Anyway... 4, and I suggest you avoid this one. Or you will probably watch it as a background noise while fiddling with your phone.
The American Society of Magical Negroes (2024)
What a shame
After finishing this there was only one thought on my mind.... What a shame.
It's really a shame, because underneath all the racist stuff there is a pretty decent flick. What the movie is at its essence is a rom-com. Havier on the room side but the comedy is OK too.
The leading couple actors are really good, their scenes are well written and they have great chemistry. The writer /director clearly has talent.
If the racisism was toned down a little I'm certain that more people would have enjoyed it. So my suggestion is that even If you are put off by it, you should still give it a chance. You most probably have a good time for 2 hours.
Renegade Nell (2024)
~Fresh~ Stale
Initial score: 8
Just two episodes in and and I find this series extremely good. Acting, story and action scenes are all well done.
I love the setting and the fact that it mixes period drama and fantasy. The leading actress is well cast which is something rare these days. Thank God not another Instagram plastic with duck lips but a real person, believable for that day and age.
Also great work on the villains of the story. Well written, not two dimensional and with appropriate menace and self conflict.
I hope it keeps that standards of the first episodes. I will update my rating, up or down accordingly as I watch more. But from what I've seen it most probably go up.
EDIT: well, that was unfortunate. It seems the creators, writers, directors had only two good episodes in them. The rest 6 are plagued by bad writing, no action scenes and that of low quality, unfocused plot. It even has a cruella de vil character and a queen that obviously lives in a stable and no means to protect her. Awful.
Agui kkot (2020)
Good but typical k-downhil
As it happens in most 16 episodes K-Dramas it has an interesting premise and up untill the 10th episode it has a perfect combination of plot twists, good performances and logical progression.
And then, when we reach the final stretch everything goes downhill. People start behaving irrational just to move the plot. The twists become idiotic. The amount of bending you have to do with your brain to accept reasonings and coincidences unimaginably overwhelming.
It would be to its benefit if the show was half a dozen episodes shorter. And it's a real shame because it could have been really great..
Sanyanggaedeul (2023)
Ends up typical K-Drama
I have a love-hate relationship with k-dramas. I like them in general but most times I'm left disappointed.
Usually they start very good. The initial, first second, episodes are really good. Great cinematography, good writing, lots of production value and most of the time a nice concept to build upon. You can always tell that about half or more of the production money went to that one - two episodes. And then....
It all goes downhill. Whatever the initial concept was it will always end up a group of people going against some type of villain. They will sit and talk and eat and plan various unintelligent ways to attack the villain. They will attack but for some reason the villain will escape their grasp. Then the villain will attack and probably kill one or two of them. This back and forth will continue depending on how many episodes the season has and at the end the good guys finally will do what they should have done a dozen episodes back. All the above while the tone of the series will flactuate between very moving scenes and cringy slapstick humor.
This show unfortunately does not escape this pattern. It has its ups and it has its downs.
Special mention to the last two episodes that were awful. It probably would have gotten another star if that wasn't the last taste the show had left me with.
Blood (2022)
If only...
If only there was a place we could take our children when they contracted a weird disease and needed blood to survive.
And if only by any chance there were people there that had the expertise to do tests and all sorts of things to tell you what was going on.
And if only the mother of our child was working in the same place and had some kind of training of these type of procedures.
Since all the above are not true for some reason, I guess it is highly probable that any mother in her situation would start murdering rabbits and people and I don't know what else (since I couldn't for the life of me, keep watching)
The Capture (2019)
Thumbs up
Although it has its ups and some downs, overall it is a good show. Well written and manages to sell its outrageous central idea quite well. Some excellent acting even though Grainger, while I like her a lot, seems to be posing a little too often for my taste.
My average score for things that I like seems to float around 8 but the exceptional finale of the second season made me push upwards by one more.
I hope they have interesting ideas to make another enjoyable season. This show will certainly be on my radar. Well done BBC.
Maybe loose the green overcoat/shirt next season. I imagine it's a Lutheresque wink but it looks weird for the central character to dress in the same clothes everyday. Just saying.
Red Rose (2022)
Factory reset
Apparently teenagers these days don't know how their smartphones work, take them with them everywhere they go - even when the phones are demonicly possessed and don't use the option to reset to factory settings in cases of maleware.
The show manages to rein back the plot driving stupidity for the first four episodes and then goes downhill.
Culminating In the last episode which takes the cake.
Some of the highlights are:
Let's stop our protagonists from going anywhere. But then give them somewhere to go. And then stop them. And then setup a gazillion cameras and wait for them.
Let's destroy all evidence in order to distract the bad guy.
Let's all us victims hide from the police instead of staying and explaining like we should have done seven episodes back.
And of course, last but not least, let's add a totally unnecessary sacrifice for the sake of tear jerking.
As I've said, these are just some that pop in my mind as I write. It's really rare to watch something that the stupidity of the main characters is the only thing that drives the plot forward to this extend.
The Recruit (2022)
Good without wrapping up.
It's a good show. Binge watched it in one sitting. The actors are good, the characters likable, writing and dialog is enjoyable if you don't over analyze. The core concept of the show, fun.
Unfortunately the season's story didn't conclude and other than feeling disappointed, I am left dreading that Netflix will cancel another show that I like, completely wasting 7 hours of my life. Like they have done before many times.
For other show creators that might read this, please wrap up your season arcs. I'm sure if you are capable, 8 episodes are enough to tell a coherent story. No one wants to wait one or two years to find out.
The Punisher (2017)
Is this the Punisher?
I really don't understand why the Marvel Netflix shows have show runners that don't like the heroes their show is about. Why not pick someone that is a fan of the source material?
The Punisher is a dude where his family was killed by criminals. His whole mythos is based on that he punishes the bad, hence "The Punisher". The whole plot about his army squad being responsible is laughable and strips him from any motive. Why the hell change it? And after that he is just a skilled guy with a gun. He could be Rambo. He could be Bourne. Why use The Punisher brand if you don't like it?
And then we have this season.
Frank has moral dilemmas. Jigsaw is a good looking guy with beauty scars. Plot holes and 2D characters (that psychiatrist woman of jigsaws hysterical).
5 episodes in and that character that is mentioned on the title nowhere to be found. You know who I mean. That guy with the skull on his chest. With his vendetta against criminals of any type. The Punisher.
If only the show runners liked him better, it could be a show about him.
Safe (2018)
What an unexpected gem of a series.
Excellent casting and outstanding performances from all the cast is just the tip. I loved the dialog, the characters and the constant twists and twirls of the story. Amazing writing overall. Binge watched it in a day.
If you like a good mystery drama you shouldn't miss this.
-- Edit: Unfortunately I have to deduct one star from my initial review because of the final unnecessary and completely illogical reveal. The last episode should have ended 10 minutes before the actual credits.
Cobra Kai (2018)
An amazing series from start to finish... well, almost.
I was blown away by how much this TV show exceeded my expectations. Every experience I had with sequels of this kind were suggesting that this one would follow all the generic rehashing and exploitation of loved characters from the past. Instead we got amazing writing, great casting and performances and overall very good cinematography.
The creators chose to follow the aftermath of a legendary rivalry from our teenage years in a brilliant way. The dove in the essence of the characters and what made them the way the were, how the past affected them and they did it brilliantly.
One of the most successful and entertaining things I noticed was the use of political incorrectness. I chuckled every time Johny spat out a seemingly offensive remark to showcase the naivety of his character and how the world has changed around him but also it demonstrated the freshness of the script and how ethics can be promoted without the sterilisation and sanitation we experience in today's movies and shows.
And here comes the almost part. Suddenly the last two episodes malformed this amazing experience. The finale more so. The characters reverted for some reason to one dimensional caricatures, seemingly only to advance the plot. The teachings of Johny, for no apparent reason transformed his students from likeable, intelligent kids to obnoxious - no values thugs in mere minutes. The story woven so meticulously in all the episodes before them falling flat. I could go in detail but I prefer this review to be spoiler free.
Overall, thumbs up to all that worked in order for us to have this exceptional TV sequel.