ruidanielbarrossss
Joined Apr 2017
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ruidanielbarrossss's rating
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ruidanielbarrossss's rating
Will be brief since this is just a first impression. If you saw the original Spartacus run, you know Ashur should not be here. But the Syrian schemer is back. The way they handle this "What If" timeline is quick, but it works. It clears the path for the story of Ashur managing a Ludus, juggling schemes, backstabbings, arena fights, orgies, and violent nut-crushing scenes.
Ashur is seen as a toy and an affront to the established Roman order. He is someone "impure" who does not deserve to compete among peers. To conquer the public, he injects a promising element we have not seen before: a female gladiator who actually tears it up.
I liked these first two episodes more than the start of the original series. Look, aside from that scene with Erin Cummings, nothing beats Blood and Sand, but this show wants to go further and it succeeds. The production quality feels bigger and the digital sets finally have some life in them. The supporting characters are a pleasant surprise, too.
So far, so good. We will see if they stick the landing. But if you are part of the "red pill" crowd, you need to watch out for the end of the second episode. There is a scene there that will make your needy little heads explode.
Ashur is seen as a toy and an affront to the established Roman order. He is someone "impure" who does not deserve to compete among peers. To conquer the public, he injects a promising element we have not seen before: a female gladiator who actually tears it up.
I liked these first two episodes more than the start of the original series. Look, aside from that scene with Erin Cummings, nothing beats Blood and Sand, but this show wants to go further and it succeeds. The production quality feels bigger and the digital sets finally have some life in them. The supporting characters are a pleasant surprise, too.
So far, so good. We will see if they stick the landing. But if you are part of the "red pill" crowd, you need to watch out for the end of the second episode. There is a scene there that will make your needy little heads explode.
Setting aside the online chatter, this adaptation of The Running Man is ok.
People keep comparing it to the Schwarzenegger film, but that comparison doesn't really work. This new version adapts Stephen King's original novel, while the '80s movie was its own campy beast that barely followed the book. They share the basic premise of a man fighting for survival in a deadly game show, but that's about it.
The cyberpunk world here looks expensive and detailed, a clear step up from the original's bargain-basement sets. There's some cheese, but nothing approaching Arnie's one-liners and synthwave spandex. This is pure Edgar Wright. Fast cuts, clever choreography, strong world-building, and characters with actual personality.
His style works well for about two-thirds of the film, mixing grounded storytelling with escalating absurdity. Then it doesn't..
The movie starts relatively grounded and builds momentum through smart writing and solid action. But somewhere in the third act, Wright's usual exaggerations spiral out of control. The film gets progressively more ridiculous until the ending feels rushed and undercooked, like they wrote themselves into a corner and shrugged their way out.
The core story still works. A desperate man trying to save his family, making increasingly bad decisions along the way. It's familiar territory. We've seen it in the original, in Gamer (2009) with Gerard Butler, and plenty of other dystopian thrillers. Nothing groundbreaking, but the execution carries it.
Bottom line. A mostly well-made movie product that delivers on style and energy before fumbling the finish. Worth watching if you like Wright's directing, less so if you need a clean landing.
People keep comparing it to the Schwarzenegger film, but that comparison doesn't really work. This new version adapts Stephen King's original novel, while the '80s movie was its own campy beast that barely followed the book. They share the basic premise of a man fighting for survival in a deadly game show, but that's about it.
The cyberpunk world here looks expensive and detailed, a clear step up from the original's bargain-basement sets. There's some cheese, but nothing approaching Arnie's one-liners and synthwave spandex. This is pure Edgar Wright. Fast cuts, clever choreography, strong world-building, and characters with actual personality.
His style works well for about two-thirds of the film, mixing grounded storytelling with escalating absurdity. Then it doesn't..
The movie starts relatively grounded and builds momentum through smart writing and solid action. But somewhere in the third act, Wright's usual exaggerations spiral out of control. The film gets progressively more ridiculous until the ending feels rushed and undercooked, like they wrote themselves into a corner and shrugged their way out.
The core story still works. A desperate man trying to save his family, making increasingly bad decisions along the way. It's familiar territory. We've seen it in the original, in Gamer (2009) with Gerard Butler, and plenty of other dystopian thrillers. Nothing groundbreaking, but the execution carries it.
Bottom line. A mostly well-made movie product that delivers on style and energy before fumbling the finish. Worth watching if you like Wright's directing, less so if you need a clean landing.
Just finished this series and yeah, it's basically Squid Game meets Battle Royale with samurai. Works pretty well for the most part, though it's not perfect.
The setup is solid! It's 1878, the Meiji era, and samurai have become relics. They've been stripped of their status, not even allowed to carry swords anymore. Then mysterious invitations appear offering 100 billion yen to compete in a deadly tournament. Enter our protagonist Shujiro Saga, once an undefeated samurai, now desperate to save his sick wife and child.
Of course, nothing is what it seems. Shujiro's got serious baggage from his past, and this "tournament" is way more sinister than advertised. Can't say more without spoilers.
While Squid Game used its death games to explore class and desperation, Last Samurai Standing tries to say something about the cost of progress and those left behind, but mostly it's just backdrop.
The show mainly uses its premise as an excuse for brutal sword fights and colorful characters like mysterious figures, warrior women, scheming villains, and shadowy conspiracies. Which is fine! The fights are genuinely impressive and the cast does solid work.
The first half is stronger than the second. It doesn't fall apart, but the ending feels more like a mid-season cliffhanger than any real conclusion. Also, the tone gets pretty melodramatic in places. The characters take themselves very seriously, but you probably shouldn't. It's got that anime energy where everyone's trauma is turned up to eleven.
If you want samurai action with death game stakes, you'll have a good time. If you're expecting Shogun-level depth, look elsewhere.
7/10 - Good samurai carnage with a fun premise, just don't expect profound insights into the human condition.
The setup is solid! It's 1878, the Meiji era, and samurai have become relics. They've been stripped of their status, not even allowed to carry swords anymore. Then mysterious invitations appear offering 100 billion yen to compete in a deadly tournament. Enter our protagonist Shujiro Saga, once an undefeated samurai, now desperate to save his sick wife and child.
Of course, nothing is what it seems. Shujiro's got serious baggage from his past, and this "tournament" is way more sinister than advertised. Can't say more without spoilers.
While Squid Game used its death games to explore class and desperation, Last Samurai Standing tries to say something about the cost of progress and those left behind, but mostly it's just backdrop.
The show mainly uses its premise as an excuse for brutal sword fights and colorful characters like mysterious figures, warrior women, scheming villains, and shadowy conspiracies. Which is fine! The fights are genuinely impressive and the cast does solid work.
The first half is stronger than the second. It doesn't fall apart, but the ending feels more like a mid-season cliffhanger than any real conclusion. Also, the tone gets pretty melodramatic in places. The characters take themselves very seriously, but you probably shouldn't. It's got that anime energy where everyone's trauma is turned up to eleven.
If you want samurai action with death game stakes, you'll have a good time. If you're expecting Shogun-level depth, look elsewhere.
7/10 - Good samurai carnage with a fun premise, just don't expect profound insights into the human condition.
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