hammer_life Reviews

Cobra Kai (2018–2025)

So much nostalgia

[10/10 · 13 September 2022]

Years ago when Cobra Kai was just a YouTube Red series, a friend told me how good it was but with pretty much every remake from the 80s being atrocious, I was sceptical

Then it came to Netflix and I binged the first two series in three days (not that difficult when the episodes are around 30 minutes long) and was left desperate for the next instalment.

I've watched every season since in less than a week.

This show is absolutely perfect if you were a fan of the original three films. It's blends comedy and nostalgia with a soap opera / teen drama style show.

There are some really cheesy lines and some cringeworthy acting but it all just works so brilliantly.

I have to give credit to Ralph Macchio and William Zabka for their vision to bring this series to life and then all the writers and producers (including Will Smith) for keeping it going.

Bringing all the main characters from the first three films back into the fray is a stroke of genius and probably required a fair bit of convincing for some. Obviously the late Pat Morita isn't part of it, save for flashbacks.

I love this show as it reminds me of my youth and for once not in a way that makes me feel old but in a way that makes me smile for those times.

I'm not sure if this show can keep going forever as it would probably get a bit tired before long but I reckon it's got at least another two seasons in it.

Keep up the good work.

Final Score (2018)

Decent action flick

[6/10 · 13 May 2022]

I've watched this in 2022 as I felt like reminiscing at what Upton Park looked like.

Dave Bautista does what you expect him to do. He's big and intimidating. He smashes the bad guys and saves his neice. Brosnan is pretty low key but does his bit well. I would say the show is stolen by Faisal but my mates Billy & Joe were extras and although you probably don't see them, I know they are there and to me they are the best things about this film

As previously stated, I watched this in 2022 a week after West Ham played in a semi-final of a European cup so all the morons who mocked that choice of storyline....your earlier reviews haven't aged well.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: The Good Ones (2021) Season 8, Episode 1

Wokery

[1/10 · 21 April 2022]

Comedy is meant to be offensive to someone. It's meant to pick on someone. It's meant to mock someone.

This episode pandered to Black Lives Matter, racism and police brutality. There's no place for those things in a comedy show about police.

These aren't subjects that need to be avoided in all shows but it didn't work on this one.

I'm disappointed in the writers here. The messages are real and genuine but I don't watch a comedy show to be preached at.

King Gary (2018–2021)

Cringeworthy but hilarious

[8/10 · 1 August 2021]

The first series was really good and all the main characters have their individual moments of brilliance. The King family are middle class people's worst nightmare; a working class family who have come into or made money buy don't have the class and decorum for middle class life.

The second series was even funnier than the first series. The new neighbour makes the King Family look like neighbours from heaven.

I really enjoy this show and think it's a massively underrated show of comedic genius.

Coming 2 America (2021)

Decent

[7/10 · 6 March 2021]

Sequels are always going to be difficult but even more so when it's 30 odd years since the original. This was a throwback; a nod to times before when people could make jokes and if people didn't like them, they moved on rather than take offence at everything. The first scene in the barber shop was an example of that.

It's a comedy and despite the jokes being a bit predictable, like the bathing scene, it's still funny. When you go to see a band in concert you expect them to play songs you know so what's the difference with watching an actor/film doing jokes you expected.

Too many people have slated this film but for me, the nostalgia is good enough to make me enjoy it. I laughed and smiled throughout because it took me back to being a teenager when I watched the first film.

Don't take it too seriously.

The Undoing (2020)

Let's itself down

[4/10 · 1 December 2020]

This series has a strong cast with Kidman, Grant and Sutherland as well as some really good performances from relatively unknown in comparison actors. Most notably Noah Jupe who plays Henry the son. From the first episode I was gripped as to who could have done it and the behaviour of certain characters when questioned by the police and the insistence of other characters being innocent led me to speculate that maybe the most obvious suspect wasn't actually the suspect. This continued throughout the show, dropping in little hints and tips that send your mind darting off in one way or another. However the last episode came across like writers had given up; like they couldn't think not a way to keep the story interesting and just when you expected a twist, it didn't come. Such a good show until that last 20 mins which is utterly disappointing

After Life (2019–2022)

Beautiful

[8/10 · 17 March 2019]

Ricky Gervais has managed to find a beautiful blend of hilarious and direct humour, often bordering on embarrassing in a funny way, and a tremendously sweet undertone that leaves you with a message we should all adhere to. Reminiscent of the 70s film Harold & Maude