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lukathehunter
Reviews
Christmas...Again?! (2021)
Time loop Christmas movie, it can't fail, right?
...wrong!
This holiday tragedy is hardly watchable. On paper it sounds amazing; Christmas day over and over again in a loop. So many possibilities to develop screenplay (drama? More towards comedy? Or as here - neither), characters, story and yet... Nothing.
The movie felt like 1.5h long commercial, it's poorly acted for the most part (Beth Lacke was the only one who did her role believable) and most roles were poorly cast. Each scene feels emotionless, artificial and overblown with many dialogues and monologues (oh my, the wannabe comedian...) adding next to nothing, not even much sense. At time I felt embarrassed by what I was watching.
Sadly, a fantastic potential was done as semi-amateur school project but hey, doesn't matter if the movie is bad, at least it ticks all the modern agenda check-boxes ;)
Avoid, I've suffered through it so that you don't have to.
Oppenheimer (2023)
Don't fall for the 'Nolan hype', this isn't nearly his best.
Spoiler-free breakdown (not that you CAN actually spoil it since you probably read about Manhattan Project by now).
So I went to the theater not expecting a new Batman or Interstellar since this is drama/biography first and foremost. Here's what's good and what's not.
GOOD:
- great introduction of many important scientists since pre WW2 era
- the actual development of the bomb
- great casting
- soundstage and its timing
NOT so GOOD:
- typical Nolan 'Dr. Mann' in form of Iron Man this time, bipolar paper thin character which is sad since Downey did an excellent job
- many actually interesting moments, like concern about endless reaction presented without proper impact
- not enough focus on what was happening in Los Alamos
- missed opportunity regarding consequences of drops other and some dialogue and Oppi's visions
- WAY too much focus on political side of it and it just wasn't that interesting nor was it thought through
CONCLUSION: Had first and especially last hour of the movie had shorter runtime/focus and more focus was put on the actual development of the bomb and it's consequences it would have been a way better movie. This way last hour felt like a boring political gathering where Nolan tried to (unsuccessfully) enforce some kind of tension with some great music score and people were generically talking in a room. Seriously, it was like watching a parliament discussion on TV but with epic music. He grabs you, the viewer, by the hand "see, THIS is what I think is important" and it just isn't. Instead, I'm yet to see him do some drama where things just happen and we create our own feel on it without being fed.
Long runtime in BR2049 ex. Was justified, but here, what was to be done in 15min was stretched into an hour.
It's a good movie, but not nearly a masterpiece with all the hype around it suggesting so.
1899 (2022)
Ehhh, I mean it's not bad, but promised so much more after 1st episode
6.5/10
What started as amazing setting and tension built interest turns into an average Dr. Who episode stretched into oblivion. And while somewhat trashy mystery works in Dr. Who format, for 8x1h strongly connected plot, it looses my interest and I caught myself playing with my phone from time to time.
About third of the main cast is average culminating with Anton Lesser just being totally unbelievable in his role even with voice acting similar to "Papa" from Stranger Things.
And then the very end, last 5 minutes that was supposed to be that big revelation and mind blown moment, it's nothing unseen but a mix of Matrix and SOMA game; wake up from "matrix" and realize you're floating in space.
Recommendation: See at least 3-4 episodes as E1 suggests something much more interesting than what we actually got.
The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror XXXIII (2022)
Best one in years!
Together with the show, Treehouse of Horror episodes declined in the last 8+ years. They rarely had more than 1 good short story in them. I went into this one open minded, after the IT parody which was solid for modern Simpsons. And boy did they deliver, FINALLY all 3 of the stories are actually interesting, gory, but also keeping in touch and being funny. I won't spoil anything but let's say, we have a classic Halloween special story, after which there's a great anime parody that really impressed me how they drew it without taking the focus away from dialogues. And lastly we get a lot of nostalgia, it was hard to keep up with some scenes with all the references for old Simpsons.
9.5/10, go ahead and enjoy it.
Cobra Kai: Head of the Snake (2022)
I dare to say the best episode so far and...
...maybe even a missed opportunity to extend some 15mins, wrap it up and end the show on a high note (yes, I also want more of it).
I thought long and hard what to write and not to spoil. So this season gave us back some of of the "Lawrence humor". And the episode? It has some of the best action and plot points in the series and ends the season on a very high note. Which is refreshing in the sea of mediocre "Netflix Originals" that are served this days.
Acting feels less corny, most of the emotions are believable and it leaves you all pumped up looking forward to season 6 (hopefully in less than 12 months time). Cobra Kai seasons mostly had transformations from 80s like easy humor/drama into more tense and serious topics and yet E10 of this season turns the latter part up to 11. The 45min run time will feel like much less and you'll be on edge of your sit. Great work on this one and what's even better I didn't feel like it went stale even for a moment. Keep it up for season or two more!
Stranger Things: Chapter Nine: The Piggyback (2022)
Fans should really make up their mind!
Crying "oh nooo, if you kill XY I won't watch". And strangely enough none of the main cast died. Now every one is crying "oh nooo, tHeY doN't DAre tO kIlL oFf mAiN cHaraCTer". But Eddie, crap was I sad, he was so lovable...
On the episode itself, it was amazing for the most of part with lots of tension but the later part left me with mixed feelings. I still need to let it all settle down and decide if it makes sense that 001 got away. I mean El had him right there. Was expecting him to be done and final confrontation with the Mind Flayer for the 5th and final season because now all that mystery is gone and I wonder how can S5 be mystical when it's very clear what the central conflict will be.
But let's see. Now we have the painful waiting.
Cobra Kai: The Rise (2021)
Best season finale so far
Do you remember how S3 ended and we all waited what will come out of it? Well all I'm saying is there are so many tense, opened points that the worst part is, we all need to do a Miyagi thing and be patient for S5 now.
I'll be honest and first few episodes did not impress me, they lost all the tension built in previous season and there wasn't enough "Johnny humor". But boy did the season culminating with this episode redeemed itself! It shows great character build/grow and I can't wait to see what will happen next. Don't read, just watch it!