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Reviews
What We Do in the Shadows: Laszlo's Father (2024)
Best episode of this season so far.
"Laszlo's Father" is,.. well, about Laszlo's father, mostly and his shenanigans. Lord Roderick Cravensworth is a charming gentleman who is up to no good. His interactions with the rest are quite quirky and funny, especially with Colin Robinson, who needs a father figure in his life (despite having it... you know, Laszlo is still around). And a also a hug.
We also learn the importance of the passive income for the honest hardworking shapeshifters and the title of. Nandor's favorite movie and his secret passion for the Guide.
P.s.
Oh, the house also has window On The Other Side and Laszlo's classic ride is out of commission again.
Agatha All Along: Maiden Mother Crone (2024)
One question, though.
Who is the father? No, really? Who? Did they love each other? Was it a one-night-stand? Huh? Why not mention good old dad? Is it forbidden? He does not matter? Is this becoming a pattern? Why don't you show that he was a nice dude and Agatha was happy with him?
Is there a pattern? Sad, if true.
Anyway, this episode is a propper finale. Yes, they did whitewash Agatha (no, she did not trade the book for her boy), but only a little - she is still a monster who takes other witches power and life and uses her son as bait. Yes, Wanda's kid is responsible for deaths on so called Witches' Road and there is no coming back from it.
7/10, easily.
The Diplomat (2023)
Standart political propaganda.
Good acting, mediocore writing, not-so-subtle standart political propaganda. A rather pathetic attempt to use "shades of grey" to pretend to be impartial. Of course it does not work. A viewer is being fed the same cosy view of the world - there are Amazing Guys, that maybe-are-doing-some-shady-things-but only-for-the-good-of-all, and there are Bad Guys (same fellows since from the start of the Cold War 1.0) that are doing All The Evil in the world just because. This infantile approach is being multiplied by arrogant and ignorant approach to the current-day international reality. Nothing new, though i've seen worse.
P.s.
Oh, don't you just love it when the biggest financial oligarchy in the world calls itself a "democracy"?
I know i do. Loving it.
Agatha All Along: Familiar by Thy Side (2024)
Too long.
Way too long. Important story bits that matters last about 20+ minutes, the rest is just... well, pretty useless. The idea of bringing one of Wanda's phantom-child back as a sort-of-spirit, that took dying teen (i assume he was dying, despite what was later stated in the hospital) as a host is interesting, though it does contradict the rules and laws that showrunners set in "Wandavision". And they finally properly (sort of) adressed the terrible things that Wanda did to Westview population (they did feel the need to throw some idiotic "humour" as well... as always) and what kind of horrific experience that was for an individual. Permanent trauma, scarred for life and so on. Good.
P.s.
I wonder if they will bring back all the dead witches in the end or/and make Agatha to change her ways. Now that woule be rather pathetic.
Hellboy: The Crooked Man (2024)
Strange... in a good way.
No spoilers, i'll be brief.
Now, i've not read the source material, but did watch all three movies (liked 'em... even third one, with mr. Harbour, was not all that bad) though. And played PC game back in 2000 (i am old). So... this flick? Worked for me. 5/10 or even 6/10 easily. Has some good acting, has some bad acting, production budget is low and it shows, but the story is pretty good and horror elements are there. Old village in the middle of nowhere, deal with a devil, touch of witchcraft and necromancy. Do not expect fancy CGI, though some practical make-up is spot on. Probably would have worked better as a mini-series - say, four episodes, an hour each. More space for story development, character arcs and general progression.
To conclude. Not nearly as terrible as i thought it would be.
Not the greatest praise, i know.
But still a praise.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Shadow and Flame (2024)
No love for the Blue.
Yeah, the Stranger is Gandalf and he finally gets his staff. Screw the Blue(s), who cares if it splendidly fits the lore and the story? Dark Wizard most probably is Saruman. Arondir, unfortunately, survives the episode ('tis was but a flesh wound!) and Adar, unfortunately, does not. Tell me, were you surprised by any of this?
Nay, of course you weren't.
Oh, we get to see a Balrog. For, probably, a minute. And that's it. Durin 3rd sacrifices himself (all of sudden capable of overcoming the Ring... cause Durin the 4th had 30 seconds to reminiscent about his childhood) to jump the fiery demon and... and that's it. Cave entrance collapses and Balrog will not appear ever again. Aha. Till the Third Age, I guess. Will fall back to sleep, cause... reasons,
I guess. Great writing, 1000 out 10, suck it up prof. Tolkien.
Episode felt rushed as hell. They had to update every single story within 70 minutes long episode and Eru Allmighty you can sense and see that. Adar is getting betrayed and killed, Galadriel is getting captures, Galadriel is getting beaten by Sauron, Sauron is getting his stage name Lord of The Rings (technically Sauron is also his stage name... whatever) from Celembrimbor, Celembrimbor is dying, Elendil is escaping capital city, Al-Pharazon is fully usurping power, Miriel is getting arrested, Isildur is swimming back home, but his wilding girl stays behind cause Al-Pharazon son is a douche... Faster, FASTER, FASTER!!!
Ahem.
To conclude. This show is still at best mediocre. Season 2 is better than season 1. Evolution and progress is there. Slow, yes. But present. We will have to be patient, I guess.
P.s.
Showrunners. You HAVE to change your approach to the casting of elves. Plumpish middle-aged homely dudes (a.k.a people like me) and dudeses should not be invited to play elves. Even if they are extras. Hobbits? Sure! Elves? Nay!
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Doomed to Die (2024)
The concept of Time. The concept of Distance. And some rant.
Let us talk about these two incredibly important things - Time and Distance. It really does not matter, what kind of fiction you are writing - High Fantasy or Hard Sci-Fi or something else entirely - but Time and Distance can become one of the main pillars of the world you are creating. That does not mean, that, for example, your reality can not have Giant Portals, that can transport entire armies over thousands of miles in a blink of an eye or interstellar armadas that traversing light years In a few hours using warp, lightspeed or subspace. But Time and Distance still dictate their will. And their will makes it all more real and believable - despite fantasy/sci-fi/etc. Setting. It is a known fact that professor Tolkien drew maps of his world - our world's incredible distant past, in fact - with rivers, lakes, fields and mountain ridges. Why? Well, to make certain that Time and Distance are there. Journeys will take weeks and months, ships will swim for many days, armies shall march and march and... And Eregion and Khazad-Dum are not two houses, located on the same street. When writers of "Rings of Power" will finally understand that, then the show has the chance to get better. Not "great". Not " really good". Better. Which is, in my book, a reason for some healthy optimism. Even if a limited one.
As for the rest of the episode... Well, visuals are amazing, as always (make up and cgi wise... style choices, for example, of a certain types of elven armor, are... eh... debatable). Some good acting is present. Some bad acting is present as well. Adar quotes Saruman. Strategically and tactically the entire siege of Eregion is ridiculous (Ravager... really?). I mean, not as pathetic as GoT's "Long Night" (the episode that finally killed that already very ill show) but getting there. These were the attempts to "quote" Peter Jackson's Helm's Deep and Siege of Gondor and these attempts failed. Failed hard, I must add. Anatar's mindgames with Celemrimbor are rather good. Elves are not nearly as good as cavalrymen as they are good as archers it seems... And troll. Only. One. Troll. Why? Too much for a budget to handle? They did not even bother to give him some armor. Basic one, you know. Well... Whatever.
What else?
Sauron. Well, I like that writers are trying to let us hear his reasoning, I mean, he does believe in Order and Progress. This is canon, professor's canon. Sauron true name was Mairon/Admirable, after all. But after Melkor/Morgoth, after the war (War in Heaven, basically) his ideas of Order and Progress got twisted into something... else. Here, this is a proper tragedy for ya. Maiar vs maiar, a civil war, kin versus kin (I mean, when Gandalf defeats Balrog of Moria this is basically bother vs brother). Could have worked with that more. Should have. Maybe will, in the future. Hopefully.
In short. Is this season a good TV-show? Nope. Is it better than Season 1? Yes. Evolution is there. It is simply slow. Well, such as every evolution, I guess. One episode left to go.
P.s.
When Celeborn comes back he and Galadriel will probably have to share long and heated conversation. May end up in a divorce.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Where Is He? (2024)
Desperately looking for the right kind of staff...
...like non-Gandalf in this very episode. And yes, he is Gandalf, for yet another quote - this time from Tom - is being thrown right into the viewer's face. Yay! And, Eru Almighty, how much I was hoping that he is one of the Blue ones. No, nope, nyet. I mean, why care? Make Dark Wizard to be Saruman, why don't you?
Meanwhile Eregion is getting besieged by the legions of orcs... pardon me, uruks, with tones of siege equipment. And Eregion, a major elven kingdom, does not have any scouts or outposts to warn the city's guards in advance. I mean, why bother, right? 10/10, telling ya.
All of a sudden Adar is aware that elven rings of power is a thing and that they healed entire elven kin with their magic. Sorry, what? Oh, he is also aware that Halbrand is Sauron but ignores Galadriel when she desperately screams at him that orcs should not attack Eregion for this is exactly what Sauron wants. 10/10, telling ya.
Annatar is screwing with Celebrimbor head, Durin the 3rd is falling down before the might of the Rings, queen Míriel is taking a swim (with a splendid PR result for her future political carrier), Farazon is touching palantíri without its consent. Elendil is pretty much useless and his son Isildur is mercifully missing from the narrative, along with his wildling girlfriend. Unfortunately, hardfools (yup, I am calling 'em that) are once again on the screen and once again boring.
So, elves of Eregion are deaf and blind, Annatar teleports from Khazad-dûm and back in a blink of an eye and we got a hint that Balrog will soon pay dwarves a visit. 10/10, telling ya.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Halls of Stone (2024)
They've been condensing events starting from Season 1. And now they are trapped.
Trap of their own making, i guess. Showriters felt the need to squeeze crucial events (that took decades or centuries to develop) into months, weeks and days. This is one of (many?) reasons, why this show has quite a few problems. For example, a future demise of Numenor (a local super power, unrivalled even by elven kingdoms) and corruption of Ar-Pharazôn (who was not a good guy to begin with, but who knew his limits... till certain maiar convinced him otherwise) was a result of a long elaborate plot, that took years and years to trully unfold. And here? Look, i am not "book purist" but don't you think, dear reader, that to show that Sauron capable to plan for that long ahead will make him far greater and formidable threat? Because he suppose to be just that. A supreme Dark Lord that ruled unrivalled over vast portion of Middle-Earth for really long time. Not a footnote in a local history book, like "Halbrand" or whatever. Same goes for making of the Rings, same goes for the corruption of the dwarven lords (their resistance against the rings influence was something that Dark Lord failed to predict). I mean, dear reader, don't you think that in this particular case it would have been better than what we got eventually?
Hater gonna hate, sure. But fanboyism/fangirlism is not helping either.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: The Eagle and the Sceptre (2024)
Cause for a celebration!
For one of the most annoying and obnoxious characters is dead! I am talking, of course, about Bronwyn! Yay! Good riddance.
As for the rest of this episode... well, this episode is ok. Frankly speaking, i was afraid for the writing quality of the 2nd season, given the terrible level of writing of the 1st. However, while the writing is not stellar, it did get better. The progress is here, and , hopefully, the other five episodes will, at least stay, on the same level. This will make entire Season 2 an improvement over Season 1. Which is... well, not a heroic feat, but an evolution none the less.
P.s.
Annatar/Sauron actor is doing an amazing job, as always.
House of the Dragon (2022)
Was never THAT good to begin with.
At best, even during the first season, HoD was on the level of season 5th and 6th of GoT - seasons, when show's sickness trully started. Season 2 of HoD is getting progressively worse. Now, i am talking about writing, not CGI-spectacle or acting. The two - spectacle and acting - are mostly good or excellent (with few exceptions). The problem, as always, lies with screenwriters that, as always, think they can do better than the source material and, as always, they can not. They could not in GoT 5-8 seaons, not in Netflix-Witcher, not in Rings of Power, not in The Wheel of Time and most definitely they are not capable to do the same here. STOP. You are not helping the story progress with your "upgrades". Stop inventing stuff that contradicts the common logic and basic sense. Stop turning two power hungry merciless women into "victims of the society". Stop turning Daemon into third wheel. Stop... etc. You've utterly ruined the Others plotline in Got, now you are screwing with Dance of the Dragons. Trully, your talents are limitless.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)
Goofy Khal Drogo and Poop-the-bed Princess save the world from the Lich King.
No, seriously. This movie does feel like something that was written while using other stories and characters. Copy+C and Copy+V. The thing is, strangely enough, it is still managing to be more entertaining than the last few Marvel shows and especially one particular movie. You know, the one with plot stolen from "Space Balls", just without insane level of Mel Brooks and Rick Moranis charisma and talent.
6/10 flick. One-time thing. But not nearly as bad as some people claim it to be.
Plot holes? Sure. Issues with pacing? Yup. Way too dumb jokes from time to time? Duh. And yet - watchable. You can enjoy it, if Poop-the-bed Princes and Environments Messages do not bother you. If they do,,, well, tough luck.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Ad Astra Per Aspera (2023)
"...for every Julian Bashir that can be created, there's a Khan Singh waiting in the wings..." (c)
Reaching for emotional reaction is a poor way to prove a point, dear show writer. Especially, if your point is flawed and based on false analogy. "The Measure of a Man", "Drummhead" and "Doctor Bashir, I Presume" did far better job and these episodes happened decades ago . Invoking laws that justified slavery/holocaust/take-your-pick as an attempt to justify Illyrian's arrogance is pathetic. Childhood sob stories do not work either. Illyrian's laws are aggresivly supporting genetic engineering, while Federation forbids it (for a good damn reason). Illyrian wanted to serve as a Starfllet officer - not vice-versa. To compare violation of Prime Directive in order to save a civilization with a simple case of an individual that lied and thus betrayed the very organization she wishes to be a part of is hilariously unprofessional.
Humanity bled because of Augments. They were cursed with insane ambitions and desire to rule. Nature (twisted and genetically modified) not nurture - as was shown in the ST:ENT season 4 Augment-story-arc. But Illyrian lawyer , blinded by ignorance and delusion of grandeur (their traditions and laws matter, Federation must obey, cause... reasons) , fails to see that.
A "prejudice" that is based on history, facts and logic is not a prejudice, but common sense. Lawyer's empty demagoguery is not a brilliant closing statement, but simply empty demagoguery.
Sometimes being different is just being broken. I know, not the most political correct thing to say, but it is the truth nonetheless.
The Orville: Midnight Blue (2022)
There is definitely a pattern.
And this pattern is "humans know better". Funny, that we have never seen moclans trying to force their way upon humanity's throat - always the opposite. Amusing that this show is showcasing such deeply arrogant approach as something positive. Disturbing.
The Orville: A Tale of Two Topas (2022)
A tale of one's arrogance
I wish i could say that i've enjoyed this episode's message - is it woke or anti-woke i do not know - but the episode itself is oozing with humans arrogance. "You are basically allowing the Moclans to dictate human rights policy!" - is an actual non-sarcastic line. Excuse me? Human rights? Moclans rights. You are forcing humanity ideas of right and wrong down entire alien species throat! Not vice versa!
Hubris.
Arrogance.
Downfall.
The Terminal List (2022)
I guess it helps if you are an american...
... and since i am not, for now this (4 episodes in) feels like a poor man's "Punisher" (one of the few good shows Netflix produced). Chris Pratt can't hold a candle to Jon Bernthal's acting abilities - rage, grief, desperation, e.t.c - which is rather sad, since mr. Pratt can act. Well, maybe this is simply not his genre.
Writing is meh. The line "There's evil in this world. It's our job to look it in the eye" (end of episode 3) is hilariously bad and i wonder if protagonist even understands the level of hypocrisy of him saying that. Probably not, though - our hero is not that deep of a charactrer, it seems.
Yet again - only 4 episodes in, maybe situation will change for the best.
The Boys: The Instant White-Hot Wild (2022)
Welcome to the dark side, kid!
Or not.
I mean, the light side is not that light, you know?
First things first - i am glad that they did not kill Dean Winchester... i mean, Soldier Boy. Excellent character, great actor, i, personally, would love for him to endure through the entire series.
R. I. P. Black Noir, the only thing that lacked in the very end is a visit from a flying blue unicorn named Happy.
Maeve has a chance to shine and she does. Brave girl. Knew, that she stands no chance against Homelander and yet still she fought him. Lost her eye, but gained her freedom. For how long? Who knows.
Oh, and Homelander. Loveable psycopath with split personality (well, sort of... kinda... remember the mirror scene?) is... he won. Yup. Got Ryan at his side, finally killed some annoying shmuck and recieved nothing but adoration right after. Awesome!
What else... Hughie is whining and apologizing to Starlight (though he did nothing wrong, i insist), Butcher has from 12 to 18 months to live, MM is mending relationship with his dauhter, Female is killing innocent Vott guards while listening to some cute music and Frenchy stands up for himself.
Now, was this episode great? No. Good - not great.
From time to time it feels repetitive. Last season Ryan hated Homelander and have chosen Butcher, now Ryan hates Butcher and have chosen Homelander. AA-train story is not going anywhere - he can run, he has problems with his borther; he can't tun he has no problems with his brother; he can run again and he has problems with his brother once again... Deep is a pathetic mess - as always. You know, maybe they killed Black Noir off, cause they did not know what to do with him? Cause his character in the show has nothing to do with his character from the comics? Who knows...
Anyway, Newman is VP and turning into main antagonist for the upcoming season. Oh maybe this is all but a red herring.
To conclude. An OK final for a mostly excellent season. Was it (the season, not the finale) more political (cause this show was always political, in case you missed it) this time? Yup. More than usual. I mean, mr. Kripke simply can not control it anymore and this is sad, for it does more harm than good.
But for now "The Boys" still got it.
7/10, easily.
Stranger Things: Chapter Nine: The Piggyback (2022)
"You are not a monster..." Sorry, what?
Yeah, spoilers ahead.
Dear Eleven.
You've been inside "Vecna" mind, you know it all. This "child" brutally kiled his own mother, little sister and almost killed his father and before that slaughtered plenty of smaller living things just... well, because. He liked it. He loved the power. He sees himself as god among insects and ALL OF THAT BEFORE "PAPA" DID AYTHING TO HIM AND TURNED HIM INTO "ONE". AND HE TOLD YOU ALL THAT JUST BEFORE YOU CAST HIM AWAY INTO ANOTHER DIMENSION.
Ahem. For Mind Flayer's sake girl, you've been there.
Who is writing this?
Sometimes being different is just being broken. I know, not the most political correct thing to say, but it is the truth nonetheless.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Part VI (2022)
Strange Case of Master Kenobi and Lord Vader
The tragedy of these series and of this final is quite simple - lazy and bad writing. Ancient curse, that killed Game of Thrones, came for the Kenobi-show from the get-go and poisoned it. The show was dead already - it just did not know it yet.
Now, were there good - hell, really good! - moments in the 6th episode?
Sure.
Ewan McGregor acting was sincere and powerful, "You did not kill Anakin. I did!" line was clever enough (you are more than welcome to disagree, dear reader, and call it a fanservice), duel between Obi and Darth was well done and two cameos were a suprise, to be sure, but a welcome one. Both Emperor and Qui-Gon Jinn paid us a visit.
The rest... was bad. Or mediocre, at least.
Are we suppose to feel sympathy for Reeva. Sorry, i can not. Now, besides her amazing healing abilities and the divine gift of teleportation, she is rather predictable and poorly-written character. Good thing that actress finaly has a chance to, actually, you know, act at the very end of the show, but... Too little - too late.
Force ghost of master Qui-Gon should have been used as a motivator and propper reason why Obi all of a sudden regained his skills and force abilities.
There are oher "small things" (no tie-fighters in pursuit, "escape vessel" that is like 1/5th sieze of the ship it is escaping from, Reeva's ability to get to the Tatooine while Vader still pursuits rebels rust bucket... e.t.c) but i will stop.
Master Kenobi, you deserved better.
We all did.
Morbius (2022)
Not that bad. Simply meh.
Seriously, though.
After bunch of medicore/outright bad super-heroes/super-villains/anti-heroes movies (Black Panther, Strange 2, Captain Marvel, Justice League, B. Vs. S, W-Woman 2, Venom1/2, Eternals, e.t.c.... ) why, all of a sudden, our dear haematologist is getting so much flak?
Plot holes? Yup. Inconsistencies? Sure. Issue with internal logic? You bet. Not the first time, though. Marvel/DC progeny often suffer from the very same curses, and yet so many viewers are asking for more.
Acting here more or less decent - special respect to mr. Smith! -, production budget is not that big for the movie of this specific genre, so keep that in mind, don't expect Avengers level of cgi quality, scale and magnitude.
So, in conclusin. This is a medicore flick, derivative, predictable... and nothing more, or nothing less.
5/10 or 6/10? Easily.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Part V (2022)
A glimpse of Darth Vader
Well done. In this very episode we finally see lord Vader. A sith. Maliscious being of tremendous power, that toys with the prey and sees right through enemies plots and plans.
Lovely.
The rest of the episode was... well, uneven. There were some painfully stupid scenes - shoot out at the point blank range, for example. Reeva, that is plotting with Kenobi right in front of Storm Troopers, e.t.c. But - uneven, remember? - there was other good stuff. Like flashbacks towards Obi and Anakin training. Oh, and Anakin did learn THAT lesson eventually, it seems.
Another briliant moment was Reeva being stabbed by lord Vader (and i cheered, not going to lie), but... alas, she will survive. Yup, darksiders did not finish her off. Stupid? Sure thing. But her character will endure, it seems. A pity.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Part IV (2022)
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...there was an imperial base without sensors.
And AA-guns. No PD whatsoever! And no officers with common sense, propper training and good hearing. Also, this base has no shields, cause, you see this stronghold, this fortress is so scary that no one will ever dare to attack it.
Do you like this explanation? If you do, then "Obi-Wan Kenobi" is for you!
If not... well, let us grieve together.
Now, my commentary on previous episode got deleted (was it because of RLM Nerd Crew refrence and some "true SW-fans" got their panties in a bunch?), so i'll try to be as blatant, inoffensive and boring as Disney SW (with Mandalorian and R-1 being somewhat of an exception). Which is super easy, barely an inconvenience.
Ben is reflecting some blaster bolts. Finally, a tiny glimpse of an Old Kenobi. Not there yet, oh no, not by far, but i guess this is a start. Disney, you do remember that this is a man who slayed Darth Maul with a single sweep of a lightsaber? And no, i am not talking about tPM. What is canon to you, lord Mouse?
Ellaria Sand is fighting two fully armored troopers while using her bare hands and Element Of Surprise, disarming one of them (troopers, not her hands) and then killing both. She is also Master Of Silent Assassinations, capable of smothering dude, while his comrades are sitting in a few meters away.
Third Sister is trying to look tough while interogating (if you can call it that) little girl, Darth Vader is in the episode for a few minutes and Brother In A Dorky Mushroom Helmet is whining again. We have a scene that tries to copy certain moments from "Fallen Order", but where video games excels, this high-budgeted tv-series failes.
In the end... well, dear reader, in the end the carnival of absurdity reaches it's peak, with Kenobi smuggling Leia out of base-on-high-alert by simply covering her with stolen imperial coat. And no one saw anything, till Third Sister started to raise some noise. Aferwards two rust buckets are attacking the compound - a heart of Inquisition, i would like to remind you - and thus saving Benny, Annoying Brat and Oberin's Paramour. Yes, yes, Indira Varma is a terrific actress, with plenty of roles under her belt, but i'll stick with GoT refrences. Now, where was i... Ah, yes - our heroes are saved, but sneaky Third S-s-s-ister bugged Lola The Merch, to trace the terrori... i mean, brave rebels and Ben. Wow! What a twist!
You know what is trully sad? Some of this - some, not everything - could have been fixed without spending of a budget a cent. Like make Dornish girl to put some virus into the base's systems (since she had full access to the mainframe). A virus, that will mess with alarms, disable watch droids and defences... And allow Ben to use Force to mask Leia. You know, cloud vision of weaker minds. Simple illusion, jedi suggestion. Yeah, this is taxing for ol' Ben- but he does that and thus imperials in his way fail to notice the little girl...
But nope. *sad sigh*
This show needs script doctors. Or better yet - a physician team. Better them, than autopsist, you know.
Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
"I don't believe!'"
This famous quote of great Konstantin Sergeevich Stanislavsky comes to mind more and more often.
You can have your budget, your cgi, your make up, your costumes and sets - yet without writing and acting all these efforts will go to waste. GoT (last few seasons), Witcher, Wheel Of Time, Discovery, Picard.., And yes - Disney's Star Wars. With "Mandalorian' being somewhat of exception - not a masterpiece by a long shot, but more or less good. New trilogy and Boba Fett, though... Well, yeah.
For now "Obi-Wan Kenobi" provides with more doubts than optimism.
True, that Mr. Ewan McGregor is doing great job, as expected, mr. Joel Edgerton is very believable, certain other actors are not failing either...
But... eh... some ARE failing. Miserably. And they should not - given the importance and screen time of their characters. Story progression is somewhat questionable as well.
Four more episodes to go. May the Force be with this show and rise it above mediocrity that is prevalent nowdays. Holding on to hope.
The King's Man (2021)
A very (very!) alternative history
No spoilers, i'll be brief.
To enjoy this movie, you should accept one simple fact - this is very (very!) alternative history, that has as much to do with reality as "Wild Wild West" or "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter".
"The King's Man" makes infuriating and downright insulting rubbish like "Enemy at the Gates" or "Child 44" to look like a documentary. Besides, it is important to remember, that morality of the story is somewhat... questionable. You know, like a "pacifist", who is trying to keep certain countries in the Great War, so people of these certain countries could die in millions.
I mean, just be honest about it, mr. Screenwriter. "Pacifist", right...
So, if you want to more or less enjoy this piece of cinematography you will have not only to turn your brain off (just rememeber to turn it back on) but also to forget majority of historical events of the depicted era.
That hepls.
Not by much, though.
The Book of Boba Fett: Chapter 7: In the Name of Honor (2022)
Devaluation of "The Mandalorian" Season 2 final?
Since the ultimate goal of Mando was to deliver Grogu to "his people" a.k.a. Jedi. And what now?
Did Luke allow a child to actually decide? What? THE CHILD. A kid. It is not up to him to decide something as crucial as this!
He, potentially, can become on of the most powerful force users that ever lived. Don't you think that to trully restart Jedi Order you are going to need someone like him?
Or was it done storywise only to keep the child alive, since we know the dark fate that awaits Luke and his students, thanks to the abysmal hellish vomit, also known as "Disney Star Wars Trilogy"?
In any case, the series final (it does NOT need season two) was tolerable. Unfortunately, cyberpunks on flying colored scooters survived the battle - oh, how i wished for them to be gloriously slaughtered by Cad Bane! - Boba finally has a chance to shine - and he does shine, in a way - lots of cgi, special effects in general and pew-pew. Story and dialogue wise... Well, lets not dwel on any of it.
Rancor was great, marshal is alive, spice must flow, but not on Tatooine. Thank you "Book of Boba Fett" for episodes 5 and 6, but the rest... the rest should have remained unwritten. Or, at least, written by someone else.