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We Interrupt This Broadcast (2023)
Just a bunch of references and (unfunny) skits
First off: it's got a laugh track. I think that's enough to explain how funny this show is - they have to tell you when to laugh to get anyone to laugh.
The references are to current media but they have basically nothing to say about them. MasterChef - someone cooks with things that aren't food. Amazing Race - but they go to Canberra. So they just frame these really vague jokes as being critiques of specific shows, when it's really just "rich and hot people in shows are over the top" but prefaced as "THIS IS A PARODY OF LOVE ISLAND", even though it is the most tame and vague thing that any show could have it said about it.
It's a skit show based on the parody of other shows. But it makes jokes about bin problems with neighbours, but puts it in a fantasy setting saying it is a parody of HOTD when it just...isn't? It's just surface level observations, or "wouldn't it be funny if this happened in the show, like if an OHS worker went to Squid Game or a killer admitted to a crime on a question asking show." No. It isn't funny.
If I have to give it anything, the performers are trying. If they had actually funny things to say then it might be better. The only funny moments I can think of are all due to the actors. But they really have nothing to do with the show. And, even if they do have a funny joke, they ruin it by driving it into the ground. The jous joke was funny...until everyone just started screaming and freaking out.
The actors try hard and some jokes are almost funny, but the poor writing and focus on making jokes last as long as they can until someone laughs is just painful. It's a show that doesn't justify its existence, and only seems to to be something for a bunch of old people who don't like current media to gather around and laugh at all these observations and exaggerations. It's not funny, but it's 'criticism', and that makes some people laugh.
Gravity Falls: The Hand That Rocks the Mabel (2012)
These episodes keep getting better!
The Hand That Rocks the Mabel is a pretty great episode. It has funny jokes and good lines (I quote "I'm unappreciated in my time" so much since I first saw this episode).
But the best part about this episode is how much it develops Mabel. Mabel is supposed to be a main character equal to Dipper, but in the first three episodes she is relegated to a side character like Soos or Grunkle Stan. She makes occasional quips like the other two, but only really stands as the goofy opposite to Dipper's smarts (which is built onto in episode 8).
However, she is the main character in this episode. Her relationship with Gideon is the whole driving force of the story. She has to grapple with Gideon's ferocious obsession with her, and it is completely believable that she both wants to break up with him but can't due to how the rest of the town would react. It's very compelling and a pretty realistic portrayal of an abusive relationship.
Mabel and Dipper also shine as twins here. They have always been portrayed as best friends, which is always refreshing, and one scenes really amps it up to eleven. When Dipper offers to break up with Gideon for Mabel, where she's cocooned herself in her sweater and emotionally devastated, yet he's able to coax her out. It's a realistic reaction for the situation she's put in and how he's able to connect with her.
Wendy also has a somewhat bigger role. She's still a very small side character, but she has more than one line (unlike Episode 1) and has more than one scene (unlike Episode 2). She's such a fun character and I like how she gets more focus in the following episode and the rest of the show.
The episode is not as laugh-out-loud as Episode 3. It doesn't have as good physical comedy, with more of a subdued comedy style like with the clown painting and the aforementioned "unappreciated" comment, but a good balance would have made the episode much better.
I also think it's a little unclear if Gideon has mind reading powers - it's initially shown as being a gimmick of him just looking at obvious traits of the people (calling out a fan wearing merchandise as being there before, guessing Mabel's name even though it's written on her shirt), but later Gideon says something along the lines of "reading minds isn't my only power" and Stan and the kids later joke that he'll beat them with his mind reading powers, but then it's revealed he has the second journal (incredible ending, it really builds on the mystery and gets you amped for the next episodes) and maybe he learned how to read minds from there, I don't know. Maybe I'm missing something but I think that it's a bit contrived (like McGucket's plans).
Overall, it's great - probably the best of the season so far. It's not outstandingly hilarious, but the development of the characters and their relationships, the introduction of Gideon, and that spectacular ending make it a pretty terrific episode.
Daredevil: Condemned (2015)
Best Episode of the Show So Far.
(This is my first time watching the series and my perspective from six episodes in)
This episode was fantastic.
Everybody loves Cut Man - it is the second highest rated episode up to this point, and it is no doubt an incredible episode. However, I only really remember the final fight scene: an amazing fight scene, truly, but the whole episode isn't the most memorable. To be Frank, I had to read a summary for the episode to remember what happened aside from the last five minutes. I found this episode better than Cut Man.
Immediately following the cliffhanger of the previous episode, Condemned is a thrill ride. Matt escapes an impossible situation in a way that is believable, and his interactions with Vladimir is really compelling; the transition from spiteful enemies to mutual respect is terrific. The whole time, we are continuously swapping between perspectives of all who are affected, and so there is never a dull moment. Everything is clear and concise, and overall enthralling.
This episode is entirely about characters, some who had been absent for at least the last episode, which lends to a better paced episode that explores each character's immediate reactions to a pretty important moment. The characters take a front-seat here, with dynamics being key: Matt and Vladimir, Foggy and Karen, and Urich and the police. There's also a heavy focus on Fisk, and this relationship not only with Matt, but with the city in general - where A World on Fire showed Fisk's ruthlessness with good intentions, Condemned shows the lengths he will go to get what he wants. His conversation with Matt is also extremely telling of his insecurities and fear he hides under his power.
The violence in the show can get pretty strong sometimes, so it is nicer to have an episode where the violence is mainly just blood. Even then, the violence that does occur on-screen is tasteful. The fact that the big shootout at the end is entirely offscreen plays more into the fact that this episode was not action - there's no crazy karate outside of the first scuffle, just mind games between Fisk and Matt. There's a shootout that we see very briefly, and although graphic is barely shown. It's intentional, rather than gratuitous as it appears in In The Blood.
The limited locations garners a claustrophobic feeling: the warehouse becoming an aching echo of Fisk's desire to fix the crumbling city, the hospital a pleasant reprieve from the explosions where people make up assumptions about the attacks, and Fisk's SUV that surrounds the Kingpin in a void that accentuates his dominance. It's all so tight and precise, increasing the immersion.
This episode is the reason I don't call this show an action series. It's a drama-thriller about corruption, allegiance, ideology, and morality. It has deep characters and dynamics, with incredible performances from all actors, an impeccable script, and great pacing. This episode was truly a delight.
Attaway General (2020)
Why?
Why does this exist?
Honestly, a show entirely made with Tik Tok "Influencers" that basically just takes inspiration from the worst parts of Grey's Anatomy.
This show has it all; bad writing, bad directing, horrific acting, stagnant cinematography. It has "comedy" sequences that fit perfectly on the worst Tik Toks.
Why does this exist?
Tenki no ko (2019)
Never let the rain stop. Let it flood.
(Context before this starts: I live in Australia and this movie was released in select theaters on the 22nd of August)
I have been a fan of Makoto Shinkai since I watched his movie 'Your Name' in 2017, it being my favourite movie of all time. A timeless movie about determination and love, an atypical romance where lovers are obstructed to be with each other through time and space. Emotional, riveting, dramatic, intense and incredibly entertaining throughout. And one of the greatest worries for this film was that it would be too similar to Your Name. that it would be boring and unappealing.
Weathering with You is not Your Name.
We open to rain, a recurring happening in this movie, in Tokyo. The camera moves backwards through a window and we see a girl staring out. We then see she is inside a room of a hospital with a patient on life support in bed. This immediately sets the tone for the entire film, and the difference between Your Name. and Weathering with You. This film shows the viewer straight away that this film is not a happy film like Your Name. Where Your Name. has tragedy and death, Shinkai focuses more on the relationship between Taki and Mitsuha. It shows how their love will bring them together with themes of determination, culture and strength of mind. Weathering with You is somewhat cynical towards life. It shows the gritty parts of Tokyo with police brutality, underage prostitution and homelessness. The film is dark and morbid for most of the run-time, but breaks up the intense scenes with comedy or more hopeful moments.
The direction from Shinkai is breathtaking and complements the art style beautifully. It works in symphony with the character and landscaping designs that you lose yourself in the film, starring in awe at what you see. I saw this film with my brother and no kidding there was a scene where our jaws dropped and we stared at each other before taking out our phones to screen shot it. The movie has multiple lingering shots on beautiful pieces which is just Shinkai saying "I know you wanna see this, so I'mma just let this shot stay there for a couple more seconds..." which I don't object to. The film knows it's gorgeous and it even improves its art style from Shinkai's previous works. This comes from mainly one thing. The rain. This has to have the best rain I have ever seen. Each individual rain droplet is painstakingly drawn with low fog on very surface, and the audio design of the rain on walls and glass in a surround sound theatre was incredible. It was very realistic and made me shiver on multiple occasions.
This film, as I said, is different from Your Name. Aside from a recurring gag in that film, the movie is family friendly, little kids can watch and enjoy it as much as adults. Violence is only implied and no one is ever shown in pain. Language is tame and has one mild swear word, a few characters drink alcohol and one character smokes. There is around one intense/frightening scene with the meteor rush, and maybe you could count Taki's time trip as intense, but that's about it. Weathering With You is a contrasting film. This movie also has a recurring gag similar to Your Name. but it is called out and dealt with less seriously. This type of content is looked at more seriously, with women saying they have to sell their bodies to pay rent. This shows problems going on in current Tokyo where women are objectified by men and are used in terrible ways, especially for under-aged girls. There is infrequent but intense violence. Characters are beaten, shot at, slapped, tackled, one character sacrifices their life. Violence is not glorified, and the aftermath of shooting a gun has a character shocked and shaking in fear over what he had just done. A singular swear word relating to male cow defecation is said a few times by different characters and a light swear about someone without married parents said multiple times. A character is passed out with stubbed cigarettes next to him as he is riddled with guilt, and the same character is dealing with a nicotine addiction that he overcomes by the end of the film. This film has a many intense/frightening scenes, with the surprising chase through the flooding streets, characters coming to terms that if they want to be happy then one of them has to die and a long section where Hodaka is searching for the disappeared Hina where he breaks out of police custody, rides a motorcycle while avoiding police vehicles, then encounters his mentor whom attacks him and he pulls a gun on, police come in threatening to kill Hodaka when all his friends come in and stop the people trying to capture him so that he can see Hina for one last time, among others. In Australia, Weathering with You has received the age rating of PG which is recommended for children over the age of 12, but I believe that for the usage of quiet intense violence, difficult themes, some profanity, mild drug use and intense scenes, it deserves the rating of M for mature. Do not be fooled and allow little kids to watch this film, it is a mature film that is not suitable for younger people.
Overall, Weathering with You is, in my opinion, another masterpiece from the visionary Makoto Shinkai. Realised, flawed characters written expertly, stunning art design and direction, surprisingly dark and intense themes and scenes, emotional moments, gripping action and a satisfying and beautiful ending. This film is easily the best movie that has come out this year by far, and I say that this movie is perfect.
Valiant Hearts: The Great War (2014)
Tearful Truth
This game is beautiful. I have played Hundreds of games, and this is my #1 favorite game of all time. The ending was sad (I cried) and the story-line is amazing. The voice acting is amazing, as it goes along with the characters and their time. It is set in 'The Great War' and you play as four different characters, Emile, Anna, Karl and Freddie. The most wonderful thing about this game is it is child friendly, because you never kill anyone (except for one part at the end.) The art style is gorgeous, and the characters are driven by charming stories, Emile trying to find his son-in-law Karl, Anna trying to find her father, Freddie avenging his wife and Karl trying to get back to his wife. If you look at pictures you may write it off as an "Another crappy 2-D game." but never, Ever judge a book by its cover. 10/10.
The Angry Birds Movie (2016)
Like A Story Book
Ups: I watched this for my friends birthday, and I have to say I was surprised at how good it was. It was clever and relatively funny. They did push in a couple cursing jokes, like "Mother Clucker" and such. The animation was really good, and the funniest thing hidden in the background (Like a bank named 'Piggy Bank'). This is suitable for all ages and Maturity, so don't think it is 'just a kids' film'. This was really funny and I was rolling around in my chair in the cinema over how funny they were. Downs: The things that I didn't really like was how they rushed it all. They had Red being in court, then the pigs arrive, steal the eggs and then forgive Red and makes him their leader. Another thing they forgot was a catchy story line. Overall a good movie. I do recommend. 7.4/10
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (2016)
A Great Ending to A Masterpiece
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is easily one of the best video games I have ever played. I've played Uncharted 1 and 2, but never finished them, but I did finish Drake's Deception. I haven't played the multiplayer yet (but I did play it's beta) because I just started my second play-through of it on 'Crushing' difficulty (Very Hard). The ending was cute and unexpected. Naughty Dog obviously took in a lot of consideration making this masterpiece. If anyone hates it, it is probably due to the fact that they aren't PlayStation people and simply trying to attract attention. If I would choose any game to play this would be my #1 choice. I recommend this game because it is an Adventure, Puzzle, Shooter, Platformer, Comedy & Strategy. A Masterpiece! Simply a must have. 10/10.