midtownwarriors Reviews

Barbie (I) (2023)

Don't waste your time

[2/10 · 26 December 2023]

Unless you have a mind numbing crush on Margot or Ryan, don't bother.

This movie wants to be fun and yet ruins it with conjecture no one wants to hear about.

We go to the movies, stream films to get away from conjecture and enjoy a fantasy land for 1.5-2 hours, not to be preached at or to made to feel guilty for stuff we had nothing to do with.

So this is up against Oppenheimer, ridiculously long and super smart, this is what we've got now, super dumb and overly intellectual. I don't know, Rebel Moon has a better chance than this movie to inspire women.

Other than a handful of laughs, it's not worth the 2 hr run time. Don't bother.

Ragnarok (2020–2023)

Not sure about the hate, but I loved it!

[9/10 · 8 November 2023]

Solid acting by a great cast, soundtrack great, filming was impeccable. And perhaps it's cliche, "it was all just a dream" finale, but it was fun and enjoyable to watch.

I grew up on comic books and mythology, Norse and Greek were my favorites. They did a great job honoring the classic written words, I wish there would be more episodes but they pretty much wrapped it up at the end.

Netflix has been sort of crap with new content, so I stepped outside and engaged this foreign production, and I'm super happy I did, once again, loved it, lots of cool nuances, and it's just a fun watch! Enjoy it for yourself!

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Subspace Rhapsody (2023) Season 2, Episode 9

Bleh to musicals, however....

[8/10 · 4 August 2023]

I think I speak for multiple ST fans, old and new alike, we love our sci-fi and Trek especially. But we may not be in to the Disney style impromptu musicals within shows and film.

The only musical I really enjoy is Tim Burtons Sweeney Todd and it's different and wonderful. This episode is right up there with that sentiment.

The approach of being out the emotions of the crew members is endearing and appreciated. It builds and even opens up the story ark with Kirk and Spock.

If you still despise the musical aspect, understood. Perhaps corny is your thought process, but let's not forget some of the goofball episodes from the original series and TNG, they were stilly and fun. Not everything HAS to be dark and brooding. So, let it be fun, that's what Star Trek is!

Orphan: First Kill (2022)

Solid prequel with twist

[7/10 · 21 August 2022]

Sure there are plot holes, but this was fun with a clever twist right at the end of the second act. Can't say much more other than give it a shot if you enjoyed the original.

The Bear (2022– )

Beautiful television

[8/10 · 25 June 2022]

Great acting, writing, direction. Shots and scenes are artful and not pretentious, soundtrack choice is excellent. Having worked in a kitchen and a fan of cooking/food shows, Bourdain, this is well conceived masterpiece.

Sure the episodes are short and only 8 episodes, but if that was its first and only season, it was short and sweet, and even the little bit of filler made sense. A nice tight package, a must watch!

The Orville (2017–2022)

8 for being great!

[8/10 · 16 June 2022]

I'm late to the party, but just started watching the show, and it's got the charm of the original Star Trek and TNG series, with tongue in cheek humor.

I went in with low expectations but am pleasantly surprised since a few other Sci-Fi shows have been stinkers.

Give it watch, if you're a Trek fan with a sense of humor, you'll enjoy it as much as I am!

Halo (2022– )

Pretty solid series

[7/10 · 10 May 2022]

I've never played the game but well aware of it, and as an older guy, not sitting in front of a PS4 or Xbox much these days, this show is plays very well and is quite entertaining. Knowing nothing of the Halo story, I do appreciate this one, it's engaging and right at work 6, really kicked off on the feels for me. The halo vision on whatever planet John and the Blessed One end up on momentarily was pretty epic. Soundtrack is excellent and CGI pretty decent. Looking forward to more!

I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020)

Pointless contrived horse manure

[1/10 · 25 April 2022]

I feel like 2 hours was wasted by multiple writers and directors that seemingly all wrote several movies/ideas, and smashed it all together.

Pretentious, no plot, just bleak desperation, with the only redeeming quality is the female dancer at the end. Why anyone would rate this above a 1 is merely lying to themselves that this is art.

I can't "spoil" the film, because there's no plot nor point. The only revelation is that you'll regret losing the time spent viewing this nonsense.

The Batman (2022)

May be the best Batman-Batman film

[9/10 · 18 April 2022]

So many other films have shown origin stories and featured the villains and their ruse to power. However. This film plops us right in to "year two," I'm thinking it's a sort of homage or direct pull from a Frank Miller graphic novel, but either way, IT WORKS!

Batman is already established, along with Falcone and Penguin. Cat woman gets a touch of origin story but it doesn't take away from the gritty feel of just following Batman as a detective, as he always was when first featured in Detective Comics decades ago.

Yes, he has cool gear and an awesome car, but all seem very practical and almost believable to be useful in real life. Other than a scene in an opulent room inside the Wayne high rise, we don't see the billionaire playboy as depicted in the past. We see mostly Batman's interactions with crime scenes and Gordon. The fight sequences are fewer than any of the previous films, but again, IT WORKS! He uses his brain more often than just brute strength. So this is a refreshing take.

The overall feel through color scheme, lighting, and soundtrack really gave us life long fans of the hero what I think what many of us have waited for. This delivers. The actors are excellent and I hope they explore another film, especially since there is the hint of the dark prince of crime rooming next door to the Riddler.

Choose or Die (2022)

If you think it's slow, stick with Michael Bay films

[6/10 · 16 April 2022]

I liked the nostalgia with the 80s tech pull, and the homage to Ring/Ringu mixed with Black Mirror feel.

Not scary, but entertaining. There's a 1 Hour Photo feel, characters and the background color schemes matching/blending, that's pretty cool. Soundtrack is solid, acting decent.

Not sure if it's rewatchable, but I enjoyed the 85 mins for what it was, popcorn flick with friends.

All the Old Knives (2022)

Decent flick, but simple

[5/10 · 9 April 2022]

Plot is Uber simple, nice story telling elements and acting. But I just don't buy the CIA being so dumb to not notice the simplest details. Perhaps city gumshoes, but not the elite detectives of the world not discovering a mole until EIGHT years later. It's a little contrived to send the mole out to investigate the innocent members of the team just to off him in the end. What's the point other than dram for a screen. Not practical at all.

The Bubble (2022)

Bad reviewers believe more in Covid hype than humor of a film

[7/10 · 6 April 2022]

Lots of hurt feelings by a bunch of Covid-scammed wimps. The humor is true to form and it insults those that took the scamdemic as ALL facts, regardless of the misinformation.

The jokes are great and the acting seems fairly organic, lots of allusions to Tropic Thunder. Tons of relevant points made, a bit too long with a couple slow spots, but overall entertaining!

Julia (2022–2023)

Three episodes in, I'm in love

[10/10 · 2 April 2022]

Since the Julie and Julia film, I fell in love with Mrs Child., that movie is excellent and this series is so effing good. The sincerity and acting is impeccable. As a cook and artist myself, I appreciate the attention to detail that brings this series alive. It's amazing!

The Green Knight (2021)

Gawain is a turd, and so is this film

[2/10 · 19 March 2022]

I'll agree with others, nice production value, but as far as story goes, far too long for f a film that tells nothing more than Gawain was a jackass and more or less gets his just desserts for being an unhonorable man.

Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2024)

Fun and enjoyable

[7/10 · 18 March 2022]

I've been a fan of Star Trek since I was a kid, watching and growing up on Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and of course all of the films. Enterprise is amazing with showing how everything develops in the tech.

Discovery is a fantastic reinterpretation of the history prior to Kirk era, and then leading in to the future past the time wars, showing another conflict with "the burn."

I get how some fans don't favor the social diversity sort being crammed in several episodes, more females in charge than males and gay or nongender characters. I really don't care about that. Those elements don't take away from a fun and original story line and I hope to see more.

Looking forward to starting the Picard series and then Captain Pike Enterprise series soon to come out.

You're either a Trek fan or not. Some films are better than others as well as shows, but together, they all work and I love it!

I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore (2017)

Great dark comedy

[8/10 · 13 March 2022]

Perfectly crafted film with simple story telling, yet the gold is in the details. Characters are fun and quirky along the lines of Napoleon Dynamite, shots are great and flow well together. Soundtrack is thought out and compliments the scenes they're in. Slightly over the top like a Tarantino film in a couple parts, so it works without looking/feeling like another film ripoff.

The King's Man (2021)

Better than the first two

[8/10 · 23 February 2022]

Not sure why such low reviews, but this was a fun flick that incorporated history with the Kingsman mythology. Sort of the Inglorious Basterds for WWI. Pretty cool and original story and great acting, soundtrack, and cinematography.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)

Poor story great kills

[6/10 · 21 February 2022]

Don't let the plot holes get you too down, the kills more than make up for it. Which is why I give it a 6. Yuppie/liberals kids making a poor choice to invest in a ghost town, wrongfully kill an old woman by their actions, well, decent enough premise for wanting Leatherface to go to work.

There are definitely some issues with how characters end up where they do, but the brutality of the kills give them film redeeming points. The final kill made me happy, giving the movie the final point to make it a little above average in its overall score.

Malignant (I) (2021)

Well made B flick, stupid yet funny

[3/10 · 3 February 2022]

Worth watching, but a throw away flick. It's campy and not thrilling and not scary at all. Glad her idiot husband got the neck knot in the beginning, but otherwise, you don't really care about the characters.

After Life (2019–2022)

The best of the best dark British humour

[10/10 · 30 January 2022]

I just finished the series finale, and it's a tough series to watch and enjoy. Perfectly done, writing and direction. If this series doesn't hit you in the feels, you've got no soul. It's perfect!

Beyond White Space (2018)

Solid B flick

[6/10 · 9 January 2022]

Basic non complex personalities , simple plot and dialogue. But production value is solid, good soundtrack. It's Moby Dick in space-and you can see a reference in discount Gerard Butler captain quarters.

Some cool visuals and references to mythology, it's definitely worth the watch.

Don't Look Up (2021)

Perfect social commentary film

[10/10 · 28 December 2021]

I've been saying it for years, but this planet needs a big asteroid, meteor, or comet.

What you see in this film is EXACTLY where we are in society. I laughed so hard because all of the jokes are true. Humanity, or lack Theron, is the punchline.

Bored to Death (2009–2011)

Quirky fun

[8/10 · 26 December 2021]

Over the top ridiculous premise that some how works. A long time Ted Danson fan, so I had to check it out. Don't take the show seriously because it doesn't. The show reminds me of 70s BBC sitcoms, because it's so absurd, but fun.

The Matrix Resurrections (I) (2021)

A sequel that didn't need to be made

[1/10 · 23 December 2021]

It's funny that the grandson of the architect calls the Matrix a regurgitation, because that was my thought exactly. Unlike Ghostbusters Afterlife, a blend of nostalgia with a respectable continuation of the first film, Resurrection delivers terrible plot holes, loads of CGI that doesn't compliment the limited practical effects, and the Rocky sequels peppering of flashback footage does not redeem this terrible film.

There is a message in the film, and that is the only reason I give 1 star at all, even if zero was available. This film did to the originals what Terminator Genisys did to the it's franchise. It's a blatant reboot but horribly executed, there's no need to watch this, and even less of a reason for it to have been made in the first place.

Please, Wachowski, STOP making films.

Hellbound (2021– )

I'd take a beating by the goons than watch this

[1/10 · 25 November 2021]

This show is hell. The concept is bizarre and should never have been put on screen. Watching each painfully drawn episode is worse than being incinerated by the demons.