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Quantum Leap: Let Them Play (2023)
Great Episode if you're not a bigot
Oh no, does it tell a story about something you don't like? How can you watch a show that through its two different version has always challenged hate of various kinds?
I get it. Different can be scary. But why not watch a story like this one to try and understand it? Challenge your own views. I'm white. I'm a white straight male in my 40s. I don't live in a big city. I've no experience in what trans people (or other LGBTQ+) have gone through. But you don't need to have.
Episodes of TV like this one show what some people have to go through just to be themselves to be accepted. We should feel for them, not hate them. Not exclude them. Not even think of them as "them". Acceptance doesn't diminish who you are.
The Sandman (2022)
Magnificent Adaptation
I've waited so long for this adaptation. The original comics were what got me into non-superhero comics and I've got some very dog-eared trade paperbacks in my collection. I took out an audible sub just for the audio adaptation.
Like a lot of people, I was worried when I first heard about the show. I'd got these images of the characters and the locales burnt into my consciousness and knew what I wanted from it.
I didn't get that. Gender-swapping and ethnicity-swapping didn't fit what I had which was closer to the source material. The cast list was interesting, but with some very c-list or less Brits in it from soaps or comedy shows it didn't feel like a top-class adaptation. The Kumars? Lenny Henry? Stars of Emmerdale and Eastenders? Was this Netflix or Channel 5?!
Boy, was I wrong. I'm happy to admit that. The cast assembled work well together and are greater than the sum of their parts. The changes don't detract from the story and even add to it in some cases. Sometimes you just have to accept that creators know more than you do and you're an idiot.
I don't give 10s. 10 needs to be perfection and a show that's perfect has nowhere to go. That doesn't mean that this isn't a top-drawer show, and is one I'll rewatch regularly. Can the next season be better? Well, the comics suggest the best is still to come and I'm definitely happy to be along for the ride!
Charlie's Angels (2019)
No Angels but No Devils either!
I've been a big Charlie's Angels fan since I was really young when the TV show was on. The McG movies were what they were meant to be - fun, popcorn stuff and turn your brain off and enjoy. I don't see this as being much different to be fair.
Sure, it's not a great movie, but neither were those. But the people giving this 1s can't have seen the TV reboot from a few years with Minka Kelly and some others I don't even remember the names of - now THAT was bad!
You don't have to agree with something being pushed down your throat because it's there and whilst there's definitely "feminist overload" it's always been a story about strong, smart and powerful women overcoming odds generally from male antagonists. If you go into an Angels movie expecting otherwise then you can't know the franchise at all!
It's not the best casting, but they seemed to run with who was in the roles. Scott is probably the best of the core three, and whilst Stewart is of course the weakest she's not ridiculously out of place and at least shows a couple of expressions for the first time since... well, probably ever. The other girl's a newcomer basically and does what she's required to do. Some have said they don't find them attractive... so what? It's not a porn movie and since it's subjective I wouldn't say no to the latter two!
Sir Patrick Stewart as the original Bosley doesn't work and that's a shame. If anything, that's the character so out of place if he's meant to be the one from the original series and without spoilers what they've done to him is probably the most unforgivable thing.
But I can live with stuff like that. Not every movie needs to be Citizen Kane. There are FAR worse movies out there, adaptations or not.
Just make your own mind up. It's all about your own personal opinion at the end of the day - now click to say this wasn't helpful those of you who can't cope with someone's own opinion. I know you're going to so knock yourself out...
The Jurassic Games (2018)
Seen worse!
Let's face it, B movies or parody movies are never going to challenge the best movies around. But every now and then one embraces the genre and just goes balls out. It's how the Sharknado movies became so popular - they run with the ridiculousness and it's entertaining in a brain-switched-off kind of way.
This is another of those. It's totally ludicrous, the acting is never knowingly at par and the writing is either signposted, basic or insane. But that fits the movie. There are so called studio movies that take themselves too seriously and fail to grasp the basic concept to entertain, or even to understand their own premise like the Purge movies.
It's short. That probably helps, as you don't tire of it. There are twists, pretty much all signposted but at least they're logical for the narrative. Even the effects are just on the right side of ropey.
Watch it for what it is. If you can enjoy this sort of thing normally, you should do. If you don't just ignore it. It's not going to make your year but you might not pass some time as easily.
This Is Your Death (2017)
Thought provoking
Maybe I've watched this on the wrong day. Or possibly the right day. I have the closing credits still on, it's that raw. Just 10 hours ago I contemplated suicide. Not for the first time, but I had reasons. Strong reasons.
I didn't go through with it because of my family. Because of my future. But I've come home low, and obviously didn't tell my wife how close I came. So watching this... quite accidentally, actually. I didn't twig what it was about and how ironic it was until I was some way in.
It's helped. Helped me see that as down as you can get, it's such a final solution. I've always thought I've not gone through with it because the way I'd prefer to do it with a gun. Being English, I can't just walk into a store and buy one. I don't even know how to get one illegally - I guess I'm one of the good guys.
So as someone suicidal, this film totally resonates. Would I go on it? Quite possibly, yes. Not for the money, we're not in trouble. But because it legitimises the act. It makes it less personal, as I'm sure you'd feel a purpose to it. And suicide is about losing your purpose.
I know I'm not at that stage. Hopefully, I never will be. But this film, whilst I wouldn't say "it's saved my life" it's a help. Today of all days.
Thank you to all involved, if any of you ever read this.