rafika Reviews

The Princess (I) (2022)

Action packed! No joke.

[10/10 · 2 July 2022]

When they described this movie as action packed, they were not kidding. I enjoyed this film much more than I expected to. Joey King gave a stunning performance as the protahonist and Olga Kurylenko was riveting. I loved every minute of it and would be surprised if you don't too.

Charlotte Moon Mysteries: Green on the Greens (2021)

A sleeping pill for insomniacs

[2/10 · 15 December 2021]

A veteran insomniac, I have tried to watch this film three times and have fallen asleep during each attempt. I suppose I will never find out whodunit. There were serious issues with the acting and directing as well as with the original premise for the story. Finally, I have lost interest and moved on... I am surprised that some viewers described characters as wholesome since a number of them came across to me as downright creepy.

Back to the Goode Life (2019)

Worst movie ever!

[1/10 · 24 August 2020]

OK. I was set for a Hallmark-style snoozefest, but this was even worse. OMG! The acting was terrible, the settings were nondescript the direction was undisciplined, and the story line was ridiculous. I can't imagine whoever wrote this wasn't embarassed to see it on screen. I had the hardest time following the story to the end with all the cliches and stereotypes throughout. The pacing of this film was off from beginning to end. For example, there is an unexplained six-month gap in the story that makes no sense whatsoever. I felt no attraction, chemistry or energy between any of these actors and just couldn't wait until it was over and I didn't have to hear that shrill, screechy voice of the lead any longer. Do not waste your time watching this film!

The Mallorca Files (2019– )

Loads of laughs

[8/10 · 8 August 2020]

This was such a fun show to watch. I enjoyed the chemistry between the two leads and the tension with their gruffy supervisor. I hope there is a season two. The writers were quite delicately led the viewers to the conclusion that there would be more to come.

The Unearthing (2015)

A fun family film

[7/10 · 27 July 2020]

OK. This is a good movie on the path to being great. The cinematography was superb. I really loved the setting and felt the characters made the most of it by taking us to various locations to tell their story. The costuming was realistic and the plot was understandable. Unfortunately, the pacing made the viewer uncomfortable. There was silence when words would have been best, there was running for no apparent reason, there were lots of eye-rolling moments that left the audience wondering, "what is the problem, here?" The good thing about the characters is that they were likeable, relatable people, who made you want to know more about what was going on in their heads and in their lives. Parker's story was highly believable, but I began to wonder if he and Charlotte were in the protagonist's imagination. Anyway, I thought it was fun to watch and a splendid use of the beautiful scenery.

The Genetic Detective (2020)

Mystery, murder, mad skills, and more...

[10/10 · 1 July 2020]

I absolutely love this show! First, as our family's genealogist, I couldn't believe that someone was finally using this innovative and groundbreaking technique to solve crimes. Each episode is a fascinating adventure to see exactly how CeCe performs her detective work as she demonstrates her approach. Locked at home due to coronavirus, I could easily relate to her working from home on her laptop just as I do each day with family around, which will probably be the wave of the future. My true love is solving mysteries so after the first episode I was hooked. She is clearly deeply empathetic, professional and dedicated to doing the best job that she can. The fact that each of these cases gets resolved intrigued me. The appeal of the cold cases was that her technique had the potential to finally bring closure to these long-suffering families. However, I was thrilled to see her work contribute to securing a conviction for an active case resulting in a dangerous perpetrator being taken off the streets before hurting someone else. I know the law enforcement team in these various and demanding cases who worked every other tool at their disposal to solve these crimes are relieved and delighted to add this powerful tool to their arsenal. This show is profoundly satisfying in a way that many other reality TV programs strive to be and fail.

My Spy (2020)

Hilarious fun film!

[8/10 · 27 June 2020]

Honestly, I belly laughed throughout this movie from beginning to end. I loved the kid. She was perfect. The story line was a bit predictable, but enjoyable. Meanwhile, it made me forget how intense 2020 has been for a hot minute, so I appreciate the effort. Give it a watch!

Cosmos (I) (2019)

3 men in the woods? Much better than expected.

[8/10 · 21 June 2020]

My daughter and I sat down to watch what we expected to be a scifi movie that turned out to be a fascinating "bro show." Unexptectedly, we loved it! The story is engaging, the characters are interesting and honest, and the acting was fun to watch. We kept laughing throughout, although I doubt that comedy was the intent. The slow pacing at the beginning was hard on the attention span, but it really picks up towards the end, almost achieving a frenetic pace. By the end, we were cheering and felt we knew each of the characters personally. It was a lot of fun and not the usual first contact film you would expect. Give it a shot.

Little Woods (2018)

Hold onto the edge of your seat!

[8/10 · 20 June 2020]

I was terrified through most of this film, worrying about dangerous turns it took from one scene to the next. The acting was great. Tessa Thompson and Lily James really worked well together and were quite believable as siblings with family issues. This film explained some of the reasons that the poor have difficulty rising out of poverty--many different forces aim to drag them back down as they aim to dream and soar. The cinematography was high quality and the dialog was believable. We enjoyed this film, but it really kept us tense and attentive from beginning to end.

Fast Color (2018)

Completely surprising and worth watching

[9/10 · 20 June 2020]

My daughter and I decided to watch this movie tonight having run out of other appealing options. I was delighted to see some familiar faces among some new ones. The story takes a surprising twist about a quarter of the way into the story. The score was engaging and matched the twists in the tale precisely. The interaction between the characters was intriguing if sometimes predictable. We enjoyed the pacing and the backstory that was woven into the action. And, we really loved the ending. This is different kind of movie that makes the audience think about what's going on and wonder who the people are and care about what happens to them. It's worth the watch.

Ophelia (I) (2018)

Beautifully presented must-see tale

[9/10 · 23 May 2020]

As a huge fan of Shakespeare, I truly enjoyed this alternate take on the tale of Hamlet and Ophelia. The star-studded cast was a delight to watch deliver superb performances. The sets were absolutely breathtaking and the costuming was tasteful and evocative. The film was a rich feast of color and the music touched my heart. I found myself singing along with the theme and humming it after the end of the movie. I just love that a woman wrote the book, another the screenplay and the director was female as well. This definitely is a step in the right direction of telling "herstory" to take its rightful place aside "history".

E.M.P.: 333 Days (2018)

A fun film for the family to watch on a rainy afternoon

[8/10 · 6 March 2020]

I selected this film to watch on a lazy, rainy day and am glad I found it. I enjoyed everything about the film - the photography, the scenery, the actors and the script - except the music. I really didn't like the music, which I either found jarring or inappropriate to the scene. Otherwise, I liked the plot and the subtle tension it evokes in the viewer throughout. I don't know anything about EMP technology, so I found that premise plausible. The star actress was extremely believable in every situation and I was not sure how to assess Will's character, but he grew on me, eventually. I liked the way Niamh grew in skills during the 333 days. If you enjoy prepping and homesteading, you may find yourself agreeing with the film's underlying theme - survival of those who are ready for whatever may come.

Lying and Stealing (2019)

A lovely surprise

[8/10 · 20 January 2020]

We stumbled upon this film and found it a wonderful surprise. The story was unpredictable, for the most part, while the characters were quite interesting. People were believable, but didn't always behave the way we expected, which gave the story an element of excitement. What we really enjoyed was the somber mood throughout and the relationships between the characters. I wish the movie had moved along at a bit faster clip, but overall it maintained our interest until the very satisfying end. Nicely done!

The Bonfire of Destiny (2019)

Worth watching through to the end

[10/10 · 14 January 2020]

My daughter selected this intriguing series and we were hooked from the very beginning. The film is a period piece from the late 1800's, a time that we love to learn more about through books and movies. The stories of the people's lives were fascinating. Some elements of the series challenge one's suspension of belief, and the dubbing and subtitling definitely left a lot to be desired, but we loved it none the less, especially since we have suffered through much worse in other works. The actors are fun to watch, particularly the children, who deliver eye-rolling and facial expressions to be lauded by the viewer. The tension between men and women and the upper and lower classes was completely believable and highlighted the corruption of the authorities, which is at the foundation of the series. I strongly recommend that you give this series a chance and resist shouting at the screen when the actors behave as you think they should.

Christmas in Rome (2019 TV Movie)

Best Hallmark movie ever.

[9/10 · 27 December 2019]

Excellent pacing, international location, no boring snowball fights, and actual good acting. This is a more realistic drama than Hallmark's usual formulaic fare that is becoming sickenly trite. I'm not impressed that everyone always falls madly in love within a few days of meeting each other, but the fact that Angela is able to turn Oliver's head, teach him Italian, and introduce him to the secrets of Rome was quite remarkable. This movie showed all the actors' skills in the best light. Different aspects of the film made everyone in our family happy--tradition, magic, Christmas, romance, and travel. Nicely done. Bravo, Hallmark!.

After Darkness (2014)

Not what I was expecting

[7/10 · 22 December 2019]

Definitely slow moving and a challenge to get to the end. We watched this after Wound and it was definitely MUCH BETTER acting, plot, cinematography and ending. We couldn't believe the low ratings this received by comparison with some other movies we have seen. Anyway, the characters were interesting and the issues they faced were intriguing. This could have been better directed, but it merits far higher ratings than "1". Watch Wound and tell me I'm wrong. LOL!

Downton Abbey (2019)

Breathless

[10/10 · 15 September 2019]

This movie left me breathless. I forgot all my troubles for the time that it was on screen. The cinematography, the costumes, the story line all were engaging from beginning to end. I admit I am a huge fan of the show, so it was not hard to suspend my disbelief during the film, however, I loved the twists and turns the story took and the development of the characters since we last saw them on television. If you love Downton Abbey, don't miss this opportunity to return to the familiar scenes and see your favorite characters reprise their roles. This one's a keeper!

Late Night (2019)

Refreshing!

[10/10 · 15 September 2019]

What a fun story. I really enjoyed the humor, the costuming, and the wittiness of even the non-comedians in this film. What a wonderful gathering of talent. I am a huge fan of Emma Thompson and have been for many years, so that was what attracted me to this film. So many quotable lines will stick in your head after watching it. I look forward to seeing more of Mindy Kaling's work in the future. Don't miss this one.

Murder Mystery (2019)

A fun romp

[8/10 · 30 June 2019]

This was a cute little movie, and I don't even like Adam Sandler or Jennifer Aniston. Very predictable, however not in a way that you will not like. Watch this when you want to be mildly entertained and not challenged in any way.

Z for Zachariah (2015)

Outstanding!

[10/10 · 8 June 2019]

This was a rare find focused more on character development and story telling than on action. I loved the premise and would like to read the book, although there are comments that it diverges significantly from the text. The acting was superb and made this worthwhile. The cinematography is worth the watch as well. I was impressed with the director's ability to make me feel the palpable loneliness of the characters and their desire to connect. This is such a human need that is well portrayed on screen during this film. Kudos for a job well done!

Close (I) (2019)

This was an unexpectedly engaging romp

[10/10 · 10 February 2019]

I enjoyed this film from beginning to end. I expected it become predictable, and yet it took a number of unanticipated turns. Ms. Noomi's performance was superb throughout. I particularly liked the underwater scene as well as some of the landscapes along the way. The characters could have benefited from additional development, but overall I found the movie thrilling to watch and a great brain teaser.

Scales: Mermaids Are Real (2017)

This cute film had a lot of unfulfilled potential

[3/10 · 15 December 2018]

This is a cute story. It was beautiful in terms of the cinematography. Unfortunately, the pacing was exceptionally slow and awkward. Only the little boy seemed to behave and speak normally throughout the film, although some of his lines were a bit adult for his age. The tension between the hunters and the hunted seemed exaggerated. There was little understanding or compassion on either side except between the children. This could have been MUCH better, especially for a fantasy film. We liked the concepts about how the mermaids live and communicate with one another, particularly their unique songs, but a lot of story lines were left underdeveloped, which made the actions of the actors appear arbitrary, The star appeal attracted us originally, but their acting prowess never really materialized on screen. Finally, was no one else upset by the ethical issues presented by the actions of the mermaid girl at the end? This shocked us to our core. I hold the director accountable for the flaws of this cute little film. It could have been so much better in the hands of more experienced, knowledgeable leadership.

Madam President (2015– )

Enjoyable and Excellent for Arabic Language Learners

[10/10 · 28 May 2018]

This is a fun, family-friendly program that introduces a controversial theme in a completely plausible way. Viewers will get a sensitive look at modern Arab culture and some of the issues people realistically face in the Middle East. My daughter and I appreciated the clear enunciation, which helped us understand a dialect of the language we know well. Despite the low budget, the entertainment value was high and the acting was superb. The cast made the story credible and the characters likeable.I hope there will be a second season of Madam President in the future.

The Mind of a Chef: Noodle (2012) Season 1, Episode 1

Omg

[10/10 · 2 November 2017]

He had me at "ramen." Dave Chang is amazing. I got so hooked on this episode that I binged watched the rest of the season! He's a wild man and he introduces a lot of other avant garde food artists during his adventures around the world discussing and discovering the secrets of food. I've lived in or visited some of those places and now want to return. It's a good thing I had just eaten lunch before watching this program, because it seriously made me hungry!

Passengers (I) (2016)

Stunning!

[10/10 · 5 March 2017]

With so many disappointing scifi movies around, this lovely film was a surprising find that went against the norm. I was engrossed by the cinematography and the stunning visual effects. Every aspect of the film was enjoyable -- the engaging story, the poignant music, and the very credible acting. I was completely prepared for this movie to have an unsatisfying ending, but it surprised me. I highly recommend it to all lovers of scifi and outer space films.