nfirthpanetta Reviews

What the Health (2017)

Factually Incorrect...sadly

[1/10 · 13 August 2017]

I love documentaries that draw attention to the benefits of healthier food intake so I was looking forward to seeing this. HOWEVER, I cannot tolerate anything that is not factually correct so I was highly disappointed with this doco.

Minor Spoilers...

Here are my biggest problems. 1) eggs are not carcinogens. You can check it n the World Health Organisation 2) Eating 1 egg does not equate to having 5 cigarettes 3) The whole argument about meat and increased cardiovascular disease in the world just doesn't really work well. This is because numerous scientific studies have shown that the increase of cardiovascular disease is due largely to the processed foods we consume (which are high in those "toxins" this doco was so fond of repeating)

All up, this was woeful. I would recommend checking out alternatives that are more factually accurate.

The Magicians (2015–2020)

A Wasted Opportunity, An Unfortunate Production

[6/10 · 4 July 2017]

*NO SPOILERS AT TOP* Minor Spoilers after first section

This is a very unfortunate show. Not because it doesn't follow the books, but because it is just executed so poorly. Let's start with some positives first though!

The main actors are so perfect for the roles they play! Olivia Dudley, Hale Appleman, and Summer Bishil convincingly pull off their book adaptions, with solid acting that really gives their characters some much needed depth. Their performances even make you care a little more about them than the other characters. Additionally, some of the set locations are gorgeous and the effects the production team has used for the magic is top notch!! The costume design (which is great! Except for some super dodgy choices here and there), magic effects, sets, acting, and lighting really make this show feel like an A-grade contender.

Unfortunately though, this show falls short of greatness for a number of reasons. (MINOR SPOILERS FOLLOW) Some of the acting is just plain pathetic. I don't feel its the actors fault, but more the directors and they way their story has been written. Sometimes it really feels like you're watching them act out a draft cut rather than the final cut that should be on screen and it just doesn't feel good. Some of the sets really need some work as well. Embers Tome is an example of this. The huge stone/cement slab jutting out from the rock wall just doesn't fit in with the rest of Fillory. All it needs is a little work from their arts team to touch it up and make it look weathered, but they haven't, and it's continued laziness like this throughout the show that's let it down. Ember is also a joke! He is a god in the books, a mighty bipedal ram with a serious demeanour, yet in the show they have made him some perverted Satyr. Why they chose to do this is beyond my comprehension as it seriously detracts from the show!

Another huge fault is the story continuance and the depth. Some episodes are literally meaningless in the broader scheme of things and it's very disappointing. I in no way expect the show to be like the books. I didn't expect it with Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, The 100, or Game of Thrones. However while those shows followed the major plot lines and characters of the world, The Magicians has failed miserably to do the same. The plot is all over the place and never feels continually connected, relevant, or important. Because of this, there is a considerable lack of depth to this show that other adaptions have managed to hold onto. It's honestly a shame because the world of the Magicians is so vast and deep and there were so many additional stories that the writers could have explored that the books steered away from.

All in all, The Magicians feels like a wasted opportunity. Which is such a shame, because it could be so much bigger and better than what it is. Changes to the plot and story aren't for the better. Character changes aren't beneficial. And the world they've created is a shadow of what it should (and could) have been. Season 2 hasn't improved this show at all, and unless they seriously pick up their game, I have little hope for season 3 :(

Patriots Day (2016)

Good Film but Lacks Depth

[7/10 · 18 March 2017]

There seem to be a lot of negative reviews for this movie because of an apparent mis-telling of the story or true story or hoax or whatever else people have said. As I'm not American, and have very little to do with American events (so hence have no context as to the truth or hoax or conspiracy or whatever of the Boston Marathon) I shall just stick to reviewing the movie for what it is: a movie.

As a movie, they did a great job pulling it together. Mark Wahlberg plays his character perfectly. I have no idea if thats because of his acting ability, or if its more the fact that someone has yet again created a character that fits Mark Wahlberg to perfection. To be honest, it's probably the latter. Because of that, if you liked Deep Water Horizon then you'll probably like this because his acting is the same in both (which works fine because it's similar type of emotion and adrenaline you'd expect from both situations).

The character spread was also well done. You got to see the impacting/impacted characters early on and had a nice transition between their development as the movie progressed.

My only reservation about the film is that it pretty much gives you no explanation as to why the bombing even happened. Sure, it's easy for people to shout that it was terrorism or a hate crime, or done by hateful people, but that isn't an explanation. It might be true, but it's not an explanation, it's blatant ignorance which the world can no longer afford. This film could have benefited so much from shedding some light on the bombers motivation!!! To be honest, they were actually the one part that let this film down, Their storyline was wasted on surface level personality development and retracing of their steps throughout the event. Instead, the film should have used that time to instead show their motivation to commit the acts. This would have deepened their storyline and given the movie as a whole, a much richer and more stimulating story. In saying that, Themo Melikidze did a great job of making a believable character out of the little depth he was given.

All in all this was a good film, however, it does lack the depth and backbone necessary for a second viewing.

Fences (2016)

A segment of a life

[7/10 · 10 March 2017]

This movie is not for everyone. If you're looking for a major blockbuster with Denzel being his incredible self and badass then you need to look elsewhere as that is not the point of this movie or his character. Rather, this is a move about life. If you appreciated the subtle greatness of Manchester by the Sea then you should find this to your liking as well

Incredible writing and directing makes it little wonder that this film received Oscar nominations. Not to mention the outstanding acting from both Denzel and Viola Davis. Their performances deliver such believable characters that make it easy to empathise with their choices and emotions.