josephellis Reviews

Star Wars: The Bad Batch: The Outpost (2023) Season 2, Episode 12

Best episode so far...

[10/10 · 9 March 2023]

The Clones were created at a time of war. When the separatists loomed over the galaxy. The Clones were powerful soliders, who were not only ferocious but had good hearts and were in every way good men. They served the republic despite being born and created for war. War is a clone's purpose. Without combat and duty a clone is nothing. However they were decieved, thrown away, abandoned and they fought for nothing. They had chips inside their brain to turn them into aggressive monsters that would make them slay the generals they fought beside. The relationship between a Jedi and Clone was close, and when the chip turned on, they killed their friends and generals, and the bond between them was broken.

After Palpatine's ascension to Emperor in the new Empire, which replaced the Republic. He discarded the "expensive to make" Clones and replaced them with the "cheaper to hire" Stormtroopers. Which were paid soldiers that could join the empire whenever they wanted.

In this point of the story, the clones are being replaced at a fast rate. Forced retirement, suicide missions, and sometimes secret genocide. Two clones travel together to recover cargo they cannot even retrieve. Only one of them will make it through the journey. But when they discover what the cargo is, it shatters Crosshair's world completely. And the death of his fellow clone "MayDay" drives him to further grief and torment. As he realizes that everything he and his brothers fought for was for nothing. They were slave-soliders who fought for a dying republic. According to Mayday, "Respect is something that is earned", but in the end. They earned no respect, and they now amount to scraps leftover from an old war.

Final thoughts: these latest episodes are really good. And this series has so much potential, however we keep getting these filler "side quest" episodes that don't enhance the story or push the plot at all. I want to see these characters fleshed out more. I feel like Crosshair, Hunter, Echo, and Omega are the only members of the Bad Batch I can understand. I feel like I understand them as characters, but Wrecker and Tech feel like stereotypes. "Dumb strong" and just plain old "I'm the smart one 🤓" aren't valid character traits. I hope they flesh out the characters more as the series goes on.

More episodes like this please.

Claymore (2007)

GREAT at some moments. But so REPITIVE and PREDICTABLE at most.

[6/10 · 26 May 2022]

Claymore was a show I've been meaning to watch for some time. It had "some" great characters and episodes but most of them were forgettable and boring. The show started off good, had a great middle, and a boring ending. With the same tripes for every episode

Each fight scene is the same. Bad guy acts all tough and has a NANI moment and loses and there are side characters annoyingly saying hmm interesting, like DO SOMETHING. The fight scenes are barely animated. Because it does the thing in anime where each character teleports and moves faster than the speed of light. There is no weight or fluidity in the fighting animation. And my goodness the soundtrack, it's good at first. But they overuse a lot of the tracks. Some of this show reminds me of Berserk but it's just worse.

Now I loved the dynamic between Clare and Raki, loved Theresa, but that's where it really ends for me. The epsiodes with Clare and Theresa were so moving and emotional and it couldn't really pick up from there.

Also "The Organization" makes no sense. Seriously what's stopping the Claymores from just all leaving? They are stronger in every way and it's ran by humans, and humans mean nothing in this series. Because they can't move at the speed of light. Why can't humans kill monsters? Also the world they made is not very diverse for my Fantasy. It's just medieval times with humans, monsters, and claymore (breed of both human and monster). There isn't much expanded upon and it makes little sense the more I think about it. So if the organization controlling the badass warrior women as pawns is weak. Why do they have this much power?

I loved the creature designs l, even if the fights were so slow. Artwork is impressive. And the English isn't THAT bad. Japanese is better. That's usual with most anime.

If you turn your brain off you may find something more worthwhile. Good show with lots of flaws.

Mega Man X: The Day of Sigma (2005)

Would've loved an anime like this.

[8/10 · 18 May 2022]

Good voice acting, tragic story, fitting for mega man x. It's a shame this is only a short. Because I would've loved a series just like this. Loved sigma in particular. We get to see his transformation to evil and get X's character more fleshed out. Definitely a watch for all mega man fans.

Staying Positive in the Apocalypse (2014– )

Maintaining Humanity.

[9/10 · 7 March 2022]

I love not just the vibe this series gives off, but the message of it. Plague Roach as a character is always trying to stay positive in the lonely apocalypse and as depressing as it is, it's also kinda admirable. I love the fake robot guest idea and when George Lucas tried using modern art to make Plague Roach insane I was laughing a LOT.

Stay Positive out there!

Dudes of Hazmat (2016– )

Definitely one of my favorite animated videos on YouTube

[8/10 · 7 March 2022]

The surrealism, comedy, wacky and weird animation, and dialogue of Dudes of Hazmat is so unique that I encourage anyone to watch it. Whenever I watch any of his videos though, it always puts a smile on my face. Great channel.

Elden Ring (2022 Video Game)

Everything has brought us to this moment.

[8/10 · 1 March 2022]

Every game From Software has made over the years, everything they learned in development has brought us this. And it's beautiful. Combining the elements of Dark Souls 1, 2, and 3. Bloodborne, and Sekiro. Everything blends so perfectly. And it's still maintains a challenge that is hard but so rewarding. So many new bosses! Weapons! Abilities, Mechanics, to keep this genre of games fresh. From Software has never made a game on this scale before and it works.

In this day, I don't buy videogames on release anymore. Too expensive and often disappointing and unfinished. But From Software is a company that will uphold quality. They never rush art and it shows. This game is worth the $60. If you wanna wait for a price drop go for it. If you're into overcoming challenges and learning you will love this game. If you fear and hate death don't buy it. You'll die over and over and likely break a controller. Which is why when you play these masterpieces, you must be willing to learn and endure, like all Souls-Likes.

West of Loathing (2017 Video Game)

Fun, Funny, Funtastic RPG expierence.

[8/10 · 15 February 2022]

For 11 bucks this game is so worth it. Based off the web browser game Kingdom of Loathing (which is free and also really good)

I love the comedy, art style, gameplay, exploration, and customization. High replayability.

I wish more games were priced like this.

The Book of Boba Fett (2021–2022)

A review from someone who watched every episode.

[6/10 · 10 February 2022]

Good. For the most part. Boring in some places but overall good. Boba Fett's storyline is intriguing but not as intresting as Mando's storyline, but the two mesh well together. There are things that were screwed up to me. Cad Bane is a lot stronger than that and his death was anti climatic. The new character's are dull. And Boba Fett has gone softer for some reason but it doesn't make sense character-wise. He was a tough mercenary, a remnant of Clones and Mandalorian. He said the Sand People treated him like family but they didn't at first they treated him like a slave. And him losing that family drove him to work for the good of the people of tattooine. But it doesn't feel too fleshed out. Also he takes his helmet off way too much, talks too much, and his character should be smarter, and tougher. Boba constantly gets knocked down by the easiest of threats. But he prevails. His character is fun to see but it doesn't feel like the same Boba Fett from the films and clone wars TV show. Also he just hires some teenagers to fight off the syndicate, and I don't know where they learned to fight either. They just kicked ass for no reason. They just wanted regular jobs originally.

On more positive notes, seeing Luke and Ahsoka again was amazing. The music was good. Battle scenes were really well choreographed and fun. Amazing effects, practical and cgi included, that's to be expected in Star wars though. Loved the Mandalorian episodes and really loved the naboo ship, and when it through where the Pod race course Anakin went on in Phantom Menace. It had an enjoyable finale that felt conclusive.

The show has heart and promise, but lacks motivation and drive. Especially from Boba Fett. I want him to be further developed and hopefully the show can present what happened in his childhood as a young bounty hunter. Would gladly watch a season 2 but they have to be careful from here. I want the show to be good with it own main characters and not the side ones who have other shows to be in. Season 1 is a 6/10.

SsethTzeentach (2012– )

Hey Hey People

[10/10 · 2 December 2021]

Best reviewer ever. I only played like 2 of the games he reviewed but I just love the videos. He's just hilarious and great at talking about things. Join the Merchants Guild!

South Park: South Park: Post COVID (2021) Season 24, Episode 3

A Loveletter

[9/10 · 26 November 2021]

That's all this really is to me. A Loveletter to the show, everyone's all grown up and to be honest it's so different and yet very familiar. And it's also a lot darker and emotional, which is unexpected from this comical show. People say this show is struggling to be relevant but in all honesty, what are they talking about? This depiction of the future, whether you like it or not is depressingly real. Humor and culture and "being offended too easily". All of this was on point. It was annoying at first when they used the "this is the future" joke but it stuck with me because honestly this is the direction the future is heading. I cannot wait for the next episode of this new fresh start. Which feels like a big climatic end to a legendary series. And I wish it was.

Edit: I just watched this twice with my younger brother. We both liked it again. But I feel like only fans of South Park would find this special. It relies on old characters and general knowledge of the show to uphold it's quality. This really is not just a love letter to south park, but to the fans.

The Filthy Frank Show (2011–2017)

Add it to the top 100 Best Shows IMDB!

[10/10 · 19 November 2021]

This show has created mass influence and depisite the fact that it's dead, still is relevant today. It's funny as it is daring. And it is very daring. So let it be on there.

Fahrenheit 451 (2018)

Hilarious if you read the book, but unfaithful and stupid adaptation.

[3/10 · 28 October 2021]

The core issue is that this is a reimagining of the story. It tried to modernize the source material. Make Guy Montag a black man, change the characters to make em edgier and cooler. Show a social media-ish Livestream video. But this movie is really funny with friends to poke fun at. Now the 1960s version of the same name changed the story quite a bit as well. But it was still more faithful to the book. And the changes in that older film actually enhanced the story well. This movie however just made me ask more questions. Avoid it if you can.

Star Wars: Visions: Lop & Ochô (2021) Season 1, Episode 8

My favorite episode

[9/10 · 25 September 2021]

A story of redemption, family, honor, and love. It combines all these elements perfectly and capture the heart and essence of the star wars franchise. The only flaw is why can the main character use a lightsaber with no training with the Force?

Star Wars: Visions (2021– )

Perfect Definition of a Mixed Bag

[5/10 · 25 September 2021]

I do like both star wars and anime and the mere thought of combining the two sounds like an amazing idea. A nerd's dream. Some episodes were fantastic and others were just mediocre. Disney said that the stories told were gonna be not canon but a lot of the episodes actually mess up the rules of star wars. Droids cannot be Jedi. Colors of lightsabers don't automatically changed. But even if these changes aren't lore friendly I liked the ideas visually. Should this get a season 2? Definitely. I feel like a second season can be a big improvement from this one. Also if they continue this story I think they should stick with familiar characters and focus on some of the new characters as well. Maybe even do a clone wars or old republic style episode. Since the Empire Timeline has been done to death already.

Ephemeral Rift (2011– )

ASMR Extravaganza

[8/10 · 12 September 2021]

A creative middle aged man creates his own universe to create weird, expiremental, philosophical, light humored, strange ASMR videos.

Berserk: The Golden Age Arc III - The Advent (2013)

How the '97 series should've ended.

[9/10 · 25 August 2021]

They actually show what happens next. Stunning visuals, powerful scenes. Sad ending. Honestly this movie is the best out of the other two. You could skip those ones and watch this one.

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (2006 Video Game)

Fun Mechanics, Somewhat Repetitive.

[7/10 · 11 June 2021]

A fine addition to the castlevania series. You play as two characters simultaneously and can switch between the two. Lotsa cool items to use and spells to utilize. Some areas in the game don't have much variety. For example we have two circus areas and two desert areas, and two town areas. It would be better to make different painted worlds rather than copy and paste them. The boss fights are cool but also pretty easy if you use thousand blades. It is possible to be overpowered for most of these fights. Also the sidequests are a pain in the butt to solve and they are new to the series. Imo, Dawn of Sorrow is better.

Castlevania: It's Been a Strange Ride (2021) Season 4, Episode 10

How to end a series

[10/10 · 15 May 2021]

No more fighting, but instead a peace the characters earn throughout all their suffering. This episode made me cry and messed with my emotions. A Happy Ending to a dark story.

Megamind (2010)

The Most Misunderstood Animated Movie Ever

[9/10 · 27 April 2021]

Funny, emotional, charming, artistic, and just a great story.

The Return of the King (1980 TV Movie)

Bad, but too Charming

[6/10 · 13 April 2021]

Lots of plot holes and missing charcaters and no context but the music, animation, voice acting, art style, and it's flairs make it too charming to hate on. Easily one of the best So Bad Its Good type of film.

Don't Hug Me I'm Scared 5 (2015 Video)

Disturbing but not the best one.

[8/10 · 23 March 2021]

This is the goriest episode for sure, it has some chilling moments like with the phone and all. But the older episodes were scary by well, just being scary. Not my favirote but it's probably my third favorite

MeatCanyon (2015– )

Disturbing, Funny, overall just Out There

[8/10 · 23 March 2021]

I've been a subscriber to Meat Canyon since 50K. Hunter Hancock is a great animator on YouTube who is really good at what he does. Some say animation is hard to live by on YouTube but he prevails. Check the channel out.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords (2004 Video Game)

Woah

[9/10 · 27 February 2021]

I just completed this "game". And it is without question, the most intresting, diverse, philosophical, dark, and engaging star wars story yet. It made me think about my whole journey. It made the Dark Side and Light Side so intresting and diverse and NOT SHALLOW like in kotor 1. It explains how the Force is everything wrong with the galaxy, and the weakness of the Jedi, weakness of the sith. Honestly the story in this one grabbed me more than kotor 1. An amazing cast of characters, npc and playable. The world of the Old Republic is so interesting and far more diverse than anything the current star wars is doing now. We've seen vader, storm troopers, the resistance, palpatine, luke, etc; Over and over and its not cool anymore. But this era that is the prequels before the prequels reminds me of how enriching the galaxy is, and that you can do any new and intresting stories with this universe. Disney will say this isn't canon but who cares what they say, this is canon to me and is more inspired than all of their trilogy they made.

Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (1993 Video Game)

Challenging, but fair.

[7/10 · 18 January 2021]

This game has it's fun moments, it's fun gameplay, awesome soundtrack, cheesy but amusing cutscenes, and despite not being a metroidvania like symphony of the night or aria of sorrow, Rondo of blood has lots of intresting exploration and secrets. On my first playthrough of the game despite beating dracula at the end. I missed a lot of other content. The other 50% of the game is secret levels and bosses, maidens to rescue, a whole other character to play as and much more. What makes this one more different than the previous one is the sub weapon mechanics. You can use a sub weapon at a low cost of hearts, but use a stronger ability with subweapons at a higher cost of hearts. Compared to the last castlevania games on NES and SNES, they did not have this feature. You can also do a backflip that proves useful in some scenarios. Other than Richter, Maria Benard has some wacky abilities and attacks. And each one enhances the game differently than the other very well. But each character isn't stronger than the other. It's all balanced. This game has some really good boss fights too.

As for the problems in the game, goes to one of the stages, the stage before th final one. It is filled with really really hard parts that'll screw you over good. As soon as the level starts the bridge collapses and big bats with swords are chasing you and some are blocking your way and you will die. Sometimes you reset the level because you don't have enough lives for the next annoying parts like the gear jumping as medusa heads try to kill you. It's a bad level, and the boss is bery difficult at the end. But with enough perseverance you can beat him. Despite the games difficulty it's fairly short unless you beat the other 50%.

7/10

Cobra Kai (2018–2025)

Keeps On Delivering

[9/10 · 2 January 2021]

Season 1 was an 8/10 Season 2 was a 9/10 And season 3 was a 10/10

This show is so damn good regardless you've seen Karate Kid or not. Season three made many daring directions with characters we haven't seen for a long time and makes them work into this show so well. This show has lots of life lessons, morales between good and bad, and makes every character even the villians sympathetic. Watch it now. First season was a little bit cringey torwards the beginning but it's worth it all.