teletrader85

... how they took a decent book and turned it into a nightmare of a mini series. They kept the book's flaws but turned its strengths into even more flaws. Not a single character was likeable, everybody was aggressive, stupid or both. The pacing was excruciatingly slow, dragging out scenes that should have been impactful, while rushing through crucial plot points that left viewers confused. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, stripping away the depth and nuance that made the book engaging. Instead of exploring the characters' motivations, the series opted for shallow caricatures, making it impossible to connect with anyone on screen. The once rich world-building was reduced to a series of clichés, leaving fans of the book feeling betrayed and frustrated. It was a missed opportunity to bring the story to life in a meaningful way.

First of all, selling this as a remake of a sensational film is a bad move. If you're not at least almost as good, you've already lost. But yeah, you probably get more views that way.

On its own, the film is OK. It's about basketball, after all, and it has one or two good scenes, such as Lance Reddick in the hospital. A 5 seems to be a fair rating to me.

In general, though, it's a good look at what's been lost in recent years. Microwave food instead of a home-cooked meal. Off-the-shelf goods instead of natural chemistry. Probably the zeitgeist of the decade. Maybe even Wesley and Woody wouldn't be able to make a film like the original WMCJ in 2023.

I came for the nostalgia and a bit of fun. I got politics and advertising. Still, cool to see the cast again after 30 years.