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3 Body Problem (2024)
The killing of the innocents killed the series for me
Nowadays, most Sci-Fi movie/series are pretty stupid. The storyline of the 3 Body Problem holds pretty well, for the large part. However, I cannot bring myself to continue to watch it after E5 when the Royal Navy, under the command of a mysterious government official, destroyed an oil tanker with hundreds of people, including small children, on board. And that is that. After the killing, nobody seemed to give a damn about the people killed. Nobody showed any regrets or remorse.
This is ethically corrupt and practically impossible. Practically speaking, the action is against the rule of engagement of any modern army, because none of the people on board were convicted criminals or carrying a death sentence or carrying weapons or an immediate threat to anybody. Second, there were children on the tanker, and it's not possible for any modern army (except for Israeli army) to kill everyone indifferently.
It's ethically corrupt. In one of the interviews, the author of the original book showed his disregard for human life and his eagerness to sacrifice human lives for a grand goal. That mentality is inherited from the Lenin/Stalin/Mao era and pure social Darwinism.
Yet, the producers had no problem adopting it and the main characters gave no regards to the innocent lives killed. The care for humanity is lost in the series and it became a pure game of survival at all costs.
That's when I lost interest in this show altogether.
Master Gardener (2022)
Philosophical vs nuanced drama, this one missed the balanced a bit
This movie reminds me of "American Beauty". Both had the main character as the narrator and had a philosophical/ melodramatic feel. However, the "Master Gardner" (MG) felt short.
Movies should show, and don't need to tell. Show is the fundamental, and tell can enhance the show. MG tells a bit too much, but doesn't show enough.
One key miss: how did Narvel and Maya develop their chemistry? We understand the rationale - both needed a second chance - as they told the audience but didn't show enough, so it felt arbitrary.
How did Narvel become a changed man? The was some evidence but it didn't show enough to be convincing.
But overall, it's still an entertaining movie and I enjoyed watching it.
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Worth watching many times
I am a guy whose favorite movies/shows are dark true crimes such as Mind Hunters and Narcos. Silver Linings Playbook is almost the opposite to those. But I somehow love this move so much that I just watched it again on Netflix. This is my third or forth time watching this movie!
First, this is by far Jennifer Lawrence's best performance in her career. She was brilliant in this movie and just oozed incredible charm as if the movie was written for her. Maybe JL is a little crazy herself, you might think because she portraited a bipolar person so incredibly well. I bet it will be challenging for her to find another role that she can match her performance in this movie.
The second best performance belongs to Jacki Weaver, who played Pat's mom Dolores. She is such a beautiful and skillful actress and her expressive eyes are truly precious. You could not tell from her accent that she is actually Australian.
Bradley Cooper, being a Philly native, had solid performance. However, I felt cooper missed a moment to bring it home when he was reading Nikki's letter. It should be a very emotional moment and his expression felt a tiny bit short. It could be just me.
It is a fun story about two mentally challenged persons and how they found each other. Go watch it on Netflix, unless you are a Cowboys' fan LOL.
The Killer (2023)
Seriously flawed plot killed the movie
Something is series wrong about this movie. I could not figure out why until a couple of hours after watching it while multitasking. The plot simply doesn't make sense. It's a simple story. A professional killer had a rare miss and his client agreed to a "clean-up" with the agency to eliminate the traces of assassination attempt of an important figure. So what was the clean-up? Beating and torturing of the killer's girlfriend by two professionals. What kind of clean-up is this? The best way of silencing a bear is to kill it. Instead, they decided to poke the bear's left eye. What a great strategy that nobody else can really think of.
This series plot flaw made the movie felt really stupid. The end is really stupid too. It has something to do with the main character, the killer.
Also, the main character doesn't feel like a real human, more like a imperfect robot. He has no relatable emotions. He is very calculated. I guess it makes sense because in this dangerous business you have to be cold and calculated to survive for a long-time. But in the end, he let go of the billionaire client and left him with a threat of potentially coming back and killing him. It's a billionaire who is capable of hiring a dozen killers like him to kill him and remove the threat. Why would he let him go and leave a threat? Pure stupidity.
Overall this is a pretentious movie with one of the most stupid plot ever. What a waste.
Black Summer (2019)
The second season makes zero sense and is pure stupidity
The first season was quite good. The second season is really bad. How bad is it? It makes the last season of Game of Thrones like a master piece.
Typically I have very low bar for zombie movies in terms of plot because the whole concept is flawed. But let's just watch and pretend it's plausible and enjoy the stories.
Then the second season of Black Summer came along. Everything there makes 0 sense. It's pure stupidity. All the characters' IQ dropped by 99% and they seemed to be ones lost their brain, not the zombies.
When 2 more people entered the grocery store fully stocked, why do you have to drive them away to danger, when everyone can take whatever they want and there would still be plenty left? When you drive them away, they will likely turn into zombies, and you increase your danger.
Why would 2 large group of people with weapons start to shoot each other for no clear objectives?
Why would anyone leave a warm, well stocked city to go to a frozen tundra without food?
Why would anyone not caring the lives of another human, whose population is diminishing and whenever you kill one human, you create a zombie?
Why don't they stock firewood during the day but risk going out during the night?
Why are a whole house of people with 4, 5 guns trapped by a single zombie, who can't break the door?
If the zombies can't break the door, why not just hide in the house with food and water and wait it out?
I can go on and on and I have to wonder who wrote the plot. Maybe a zombie.
A Good Person (2023)
Good and can be great
Exceptional performance by the leading actress Pugh. The performance by Freeman was brilliant at times but overall not as impressive or powerful as you would expect from a star at his level. That's a big missed opportunity to take the film to the next level. To be fair, his performance was good, just not as exceptional as Pugh.
The supporting casts were outstanding. I enjoyed the performance by O'Connor.
The plot was overall good but not great. Some part of it feels a bit artificial or even unrealistic. Ryan arranged a surprise meeting between Allison, Nathan and Nathan's girl friend. Any person with an EQ above 0 would not have done such a dumb thing. Ryan is not dumb. So that twist is artificial and off-putting.
The movie ended with a "happy ending" that provides hope. That's comforting. But I can relate to what Daniel said in the letter: love your fate.
Black Mirror: Beyond the Sea (2023)
Dark, dramatic ending
I see a lot of complaint about this episode. I am typically very picky on Sci-fis, because most sci-fis are pretty stupid, predictable and boring.
This episode is again a brilliant setup, and story is quite dark and dramatic. I don't think it's too long. Some parts in the middle kind of dragged a bit but overall I am fine with pace because the peaceful scenery and background provide contrast of the dramatic, dark events and give the audience the shock.
The actors for the main characters acted brilliantly. Paul as Cliff with the sad look implies where the story heads, and Hartnett as David has that edgy and uncontainable side that makes me feel uneasy.
Overall, for a sci-fi show, don't think too much, otherwise 95% of sci-fi movies are unwatchable. To me the setup is acceptable, and the plot is brilliant.
Swan Song (2021)
An intelligent Sci-fi movie when the whole genre gets dumber and dumber
Great thought-provoking sci-fi movie where there are no insane villains or indestructible superheroes or artificial twists. It's a remarkable master piece of elegant styles from clothing, architecture, to interior design and to acting.
The moral dilemma it presented makes you ask yourself, throughout the movie and even afterwards, what you would do if it were you. It is an example of the moral dilemma posed by new technologies. It also brings the question: what is a person and what is life. Can you really replicate a person? If you can, what's the identify of that "new" person?
Great sci-fi movie should be like this one: depict what future might look like and how it may change the way of life at the personal level.
The acting is superb, expected from the brilliant Ali. The style of the clothing and decoration is elegant.
Overall, it's a great emotional journey. If you like movies like Avatar, this one is probably not for you.
Finally, so far, it's not possible to clone a human and replate his/her memory. That's just not how biology works.
Wednesday (2022)
Harry Porter and X-men's child
The best thing about the show is the lead actress. She is born for the role and played it to perfection.
The storyline is good if you like teen drama. If you think about story, it's really a mixture of Harry Potter and X-men: a born-again monster, outcast students who have special talents, final showdown between the monster and the "chosen one", and the death of the principle (the headmaster).
Sounds awfully familiar, doesn't it? Guess it's hard to be original nowadays.
Started out really strong and quite a number of twists and turns but overall storyline is not that innovative.
But again, I still recommend it for the performance of Ortega. She is exceptional.
House of the Dragon (2022)
Not inspired, not hooked, quite surprised with the selection of actors
I was watching this then I decided to multitask because it's just not that interesting. I was hooked from the 1st episode of GOT. But not this one. I am not fascinated by any characters. The whole cast seriously lacks charm except for the prostitute who is so beautiful. But can't imagine she will become a main character in here. The main characters? The princess showed no promise. Why her (the actor)?
The plot? Maybe there is something in there but it just doesn't interest me. Hopefully they can turn it around quickly.
Overall, un-inspiring characters and uninteresting developments.
PS: not a single drop of blood on the ground when wagons of body parts were taken away. Not a great effort on the technology side either.
The Northman (2022)
Watchable Vikings movie, but fell short
The Vikings series got sloppy after season 6. But they still managed to deliver much more drama than this highly anticipated big screen work. Overall, the movie is like a MTV that lacks a song. If you expect "The Vikings" on a big screen, you will be disappointed. I am still puzzled how they blew it. It's between a MTV plot and a documentary. It wasted a stellar cast. The only breakthrough was Anya's fully-nude behind, which to me is a first on screen.
Love Hard (2021)
Some lines pretty funny, wished a bit more chemistry
It's very enjoyable move with some very funny lines for some good laughs. The story is predictable but warm. The lead characters are lovely. But there is not enough chemistry between them to make the story convincing. Yang is a great comedian but not sure this is his type of move to shine.
Shadowplay (2020)
Talking about Soviet brutality
In response to KkonaW's review about Soviet brutality after the war, I think it's the opposite. The brutality of Soviet is not exaggerated. The brutality of Soviet soldiers is largely overlooked. Japan occupied northeast China for over 30 years but it was the Soviet army that exerted brutal force there - rape and robbery were just their standard practice. But the Chinese Communist Party just looked the other way.
Remember what they did to the Polish resistance? Statin tricked them. Then the Soviet arrested them sent them to Siberia.
It's not stereotyping. It's the reality.
About the show itself, the story of the main character felt very faky. The love story with Claire was really puzzling. His attitude towards Claire was really hard to understand the presumptuous.
The rest of the show was overall good.
Raised by Wolves (2020)
HBO has outdone itself on this one - worse ending than GOT
I thought the other reviewers were wrong saying the show went down hill mid-way. In the end, they were right.
After watching the last episode, I felt like I just swallowed a fly and wanted to vomit. I really like the first episodes and was quite addicted. Even the second half I gave it a chance and wanted to see where this was going. But in the end, what a joke! The whole show became senseless and directionless. It felt like a bad joke from the writer/director on the audience.
It is absolutely not uplifting, not going to brighten up your day.
GOT ending is terrible. But it has a final feeling good episode to partly compensate for it, like a good coffee after a hangover. This one doesn't. After watching the last episode, you just have that terrible taste in your mouth and stomach, and you tell yourself- I will never come back to this.
In the Shadow of the Moon (2019)
Watchable
I watched it to the end and it's an ok movie. I watched it because it's shot in Philly. Otherwise, it's not a particularly smart scifi movie.
Game of Thrones: Winterfell (2019)
Worst writing ever
The last season of GOT is a hugely disappointing. HBO, where are you going?
Season 6 and 7 are not that great, but still watchable. Season 8 is a complete disaster. I am not only surprised by how poorly the season 8 was written, but also the lack of quality control by HBO. Netflix is kicking your behind!
The fight at the wall didn't make sense at all. Charging at the zombies when you can't see them? Kill the NK by a random act by Arya? Bran sat there without a role, and then became the king later on? The dragon queen went to the dark side because of the death of her best friend, and his boy friend refused to sleep with her? Dragons, the only air force in the show, ambushed by boats? Really? How do boats see better than dragons?
If the dragons are as powerful as they were in the last fight, why bother with everything else? They could have burnt all the zombies and left KN as the only zombie left and take care of him.
Too many problems with the plot to list. This has to be the biggest disappointment in TV history.
Black Mirror: Smithereens (2019)
The worst BM episode yet
The story doesn't make sense, and there nothing new about it. Self-driving cars are just around the corner so that you can text all you want while in the car. Striking Vipers is a much story but somehow received a lot of criticism.
Black Mirror (2011)
The baddest Scifi of all time
Charlie Brooker is the Albert Einstein in scifi story writing, the Jules Verne of our time. The series is dark, ingenious and thought-provoking. Typically a series can stretch for years on a single storyline that works. The genius of Charlie Brooker is that he can come up with so many stories that are all unique and interesting. Now this replaced Mind Hunter as my favorite show on Netflix.
The Fall (2013)
Great show with some loose ends
Another great show on Netflix. Enjoyed the story, music, acting. The main characters are complex and realistic, making the show like a documentary. The plot does have some loose ends. Spector volunteered to speak to the police after the video footage in the park was shown, and was instructed to write down the foster homes he was at. At that point, I thought, clever, because the police can compare the handwriting with that of the letter sent to victim's father. But they didn't, surprisingly, and nobody thought about doing it which to me is a very routine detective tool.
La tortue rouge (2016)
Every man lives on a lonely island
The story is a metaphor for a man's life. Every man lives on a small island, isolated, physically or spiritually, or both. A single man's life is lonely and frustrating, as illustrated by the character's early life scenes. A woman comes to his life by a miracle that changes his life. A child brings joy. Yet the family is the island, separated by the sea. The child grows up and inevitably leaves. Then there is lonely couple. Then the man dies after the last glimpse of the noon light, and the woman is gone after his death. It's a simple story that depicting the loneliness of human souls. Every family is like a small island, isolating the man from the world.
Gravity (2013)
It's a shame that it is nominated for the Oscar's
I agree with many comments here that the movie has a really weak and stupid plot, really artificial. It feels like watching Final Destinations in Space. Only that the Final Destinations series had more characters and more interesting and grabbing plots. I thought that the Oscar's was a serious award for professionals. Well, the fact that this movie is nominated demonstrated its lack of credibility. I have to wonder what's behind the scenes in Oscar nomination. Could be a lot of money/favor driven deals.
I don't blame the movie. Every year thousands of stupid movies are produced. I blame the Oscar's. While maybe I took them too seriously.
Sandra Bullock's acting was good. However, there is a limit what you can do in a shallow plot. Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine had the most impressive performance in 2013. In fact, it's one of the most memorable performance in years.
Yi jiu si er (2012)
An epic Chinese movie
This movie is a rare gem in the Chinese movie industry that's seeing crappy movies bringing big revenues. After all, talent is talent. Talent refuses to be swamped by the toxic environment. The movie is shocking to watch. It's so realistic, dramatic and sad, that the weight is almost unbearable. It looked at a historical event with a new lens, a modern Chinese view. It calls Chinese people to rethink patriotism. In a time when your life is in grave danger and would vanish at any moment, your government sits there doing nothing and kicks you around as baggage and throws you to the enemy, and the enemy gives you food that saves you life. Do you pledge patriotism to the government? Do you blame the people who avert to work for the invader? What does patriotism mean when our government doesn't care about your life? Chinese history is full of sad stories, and the movie is one of the first that tells those stories in a realistic way, such as the irony that the moral of situation all falls on a foreign reporter.
The acting is respectable, especially in all the male characters. Some of the female actors are not well selected (including Xu Fan), and not well situated in settings.
Overall, a great movie for Chinese to relive a dark time, to rethink about many fundamental questions about Chinese culture and society. It is probably good for foreign viewers who have some knowledge of Chinese history and culture to appreciate the movie.