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billyhoes
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Free State of Jones (2016)
Overly long and devoid of any hook
There is a good movie in there somewhere but just not on the screen. The slow pace coupled with the lack of anything to really engage with made for a long couple of hours. The constant one step forward, two back progression seemed genuine but when it is negative upon negative upon negative it just gets tiresome. I suppose that's how post-civil war reconstruction was but if you are going to give me zero happy you had better give me a large portion of profound. Sadly this story just sort of fizzles out without really every making a point. The main story with the couple of future story moments just didn't really work and it ended up being one of those movies where, when it ends, you just sort of say "finally" and move on.
Uglies (2024)
It's fine. Not Shakespeare but.... fine.
This movie is a 5/6 star movie from netflix. Anyone giving it more is probably related to a cast member and anyone giving less probably read the books and is not happy with this version of it. And that's fine. I have not read the books and so went in without any knowledge or expectation of how it could have been. So here is my take.
They don't explore reasoning behind uglies and pretties much but it seems clear why they set up that dynamic. Society was falling apart or had fallen apart and they used being pretty as the hook to get people to do surgery that made them malleable. They just forgot to tell them the last part and while that might be effective maintaining order, it isn't really doing much for the concept of humanity. So of course, it is bad. We all know it is bad, but it would seem the "government" likes the totalitarian status quo and the rest of society seems to not notice how off the pretties become post surgery so... evil seems to be triumphing. Will they win in the end? Of course not. You can't set up a story with a truly evil villian and have them win. Not if you want people to buy in to it. That might be a little too real world. Doesn't really matter though because we will never find out via a part 2. Netflix won't greenlight a sequel for a movie that gets mixed reviews. It is what it is.
Anyway, the movie could have been better. They could have developed the characters, developed the storyline, made better choices and has better dialogue. But all in all it was fine. Fine enough that I would probably watch part 2 if they made it but like I said, they won't. I would have watched the 3rd Divergent movie (that series I did read, btw) if they would have made that too. Not because I thought the movies were great but I was invested enough to see it through. Use that, I guess, to apply whatever appropriate grain of salt you feel you need to my review.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
Rate it like you see it....
I see a lot of raters saying it was not good and then giving it 6's and 7's. This movie was a solid 3-4. The writing was cringeworthy at times (lots of times if we are being honest), the beginning was inane, then post credit scenes were uninspired, and the overall feel of the movie was that it was written for people in their pre-teens. They didn't explain some aspects, they over explained others, the "trying to protect you" excuse was forced (you'll see what I mean if you watch it), and overall it just felt... lame.
I don't know why I expect Marvel to come out with better movies anymore. Big budgets and mediocre scripts and concepts seems to be their stock and trade these days.
Rabbit Hole (2023)
You have to let yourself get there...
You might be good after the first episode or 2 or you might not, but watch 3, 4, and 5. To be honest, if a show takes more than 2 I'm usually out; however, I wanted to like it so I watched a few more. Honestly, I felt the same way about The Last of Us and that show killed it by the end.
Anyway, the show has a ton of plot twists but they don't come out all at once. It takes a bit to work yourself into what is going on. Not going to lie, there is at least one scene that is a little cringe worthy in the disbelief suspension requirement but it is not something to bag the whole show on and it doesn't continue to require epic levels of blinders. Give it a chance even if you are feeling a pass after the first 1 or 2 episodes. It may surprise you.
Alice (2022)
Is what it is...
This movie is what it is. I'm not sure you can call it good because it either needed more time to develop or less time spent developing. To anyone that thinks this is an "alternate reality" piece though, this kind of thing happened. Maybe not EXACTLY this kind of thing but black people in the deep south were denied freedom well into the 20th century (as late as 1963). Don't believe me, google Mae Louise Walls Miller, A little research might help you appreciate the premise more and perhaps break away from the THIS DOESN'T FIT IN WITH MY WORLD VIEW SO I AM GOING TO THROW MUD AT IT crowd. Just sayin'....
The Wheel of Time (2021)
It is not exactly the books. And that's ok.
For those who are tanking this in their review. I get it, the books were outstanding and this doesn't follow them. But unless they. Have the equivalent of Min on the payroll they cannot guarantee the 14 or so seasons it would take to do the books as written (though I too think that would be must see TV), Honestly, not many shows make it that long. So they don't have the time to develop the backstories and relationships the way they did in the book. They have to cut corners in some places to make the storyline coherent without it. And they don't have the luxury of filling in all the details like Mr. Jordan did. But what they are giving us, if you can put down the books and just watch objectively, is a sight better than a lot of the dreck that is being produced these days. I'm invested in the story and the characters... changed though they might be, and I'm getting another WOT fix without having to read the books again. I'm cool with that.
Night Raiders (2021)
Pacing, character building, coherent storyline? Who needs 'em?
This not the worst movie I've seen. So anyone throwing a 1 or a 2 at it is likely taking themselves a little too seriously. Likewise, it is not great or maybe even good so anyone throwing a 6 or more is invested in the movie's success or else just tolerates mediocre much better than I do.
This is not a lot of action. Not a lot of thriller. And the only real sci-fi does not make a lot of sense. You will likely have a hard time actually caring about the characters and an even harder time remaining interested in the outcome. And then when it happens you'll wish it hadn't because you will realize your investment in the payoff didn't earn much.
Other than that though, excellent movie. Watch it yourself if you don't believe me.
Jolt (2021)
I would have gone a different way...
The movie starts off decent enough but just could not sustain its own premise. The plot, such as it was, was never really given a chance to make sense. They could have developed the younger years better rather than just give it 2 minutes of flashbacks which would have given the entire story a better sense of purpose. Don't get me wrong, you do get invested in Beckinsale's character but as far as the rest of the cast, not so much... like.... at all, and it seemed like a whole lot of wasted time and effort in the end. Factor in the part in the end where Susan Sarandon ham-handedly tries to make it all seem more big picture-y with a really stretched full circle "tie-in," and it just left me feeling.... disappointed. I just cannot believe anyone would do it that way; I mean, they just wouldn't. I suppose writers/producers/direction/whomever may be just setting up some sort of direction for Jolt 2. I would love to say "good luck with that" but in truth it will probably be made because the movies you don't really care to see all too often get a sequel or 5. Hopefully if it does they do a better job of it.
Agent Revelation (2021)
Ummm.... no
This is not the worst movie I've ever seen... but not for lack of trying. The dialogue is poor, the action scenes are often clunky, and I could not find myself caring about any of them... even Worf. I would advise a hard no on this one.
Kill Chain (2019)
A solid 6
The movie was a little all over the place at times. A little disjointed at times. A little slow at times. But it was also entertaining. There is chemistry between the main characters and the way they drew it all together worked for the most part (for me anyway). Certain characters, like the bad boss lady, could have used a little fleshing out but I didn't feel like the movie itself fell flat. The story end sets it up for a sequel if they were so inclined. The probably won't be but if they did I'd watch it. Like I said in the title... a solid 6. Not Oscar worthy but not "I want my 1.5 hours back" either.
Daughter of the Wolf (2019)
ugh.... just.... ugh
This is quite possibly the worst movie I've ever had the pleasure of watching and not caring about any of the characters. The dialogue is crap. The action makes no sense. Leaving someone behind to shoot at them when the bad guys didn't even know they were being followed. The idea that these man eating wolves would not eat our fearless, can't be killed but not for lack of trying heroine (or maybe kind of anti-heroine?), but would attack men with guns with dauntless aggression, only then to be scared off by our fearless, can't be killed but not for lack of trying heroine shooting a couple shots in the air is laughably nonsensical. From the opening scene to the final one.... ugh... just... ugh. Sorry, but it just sucked.