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RichardBJ-1
Reviews
The Creator (2023)
Good bit miserable
TLDR: well made and exciting, but predictable and depressing AI vs humans story.
Really not my cup of tea. Sorry to say this but I prefer sci-fi to be fun and positive, this was a beautifully made, well acted and produced little epic, but was so miserable. It was proper tragic, in so far as, no spoiler intended.... It all panned out exactly as expected! I think true tragedy requires us to see/anticipate the inevitable. I think in one aspect there was supposed to be a twist or two, but they were too telegraphed to be really work.
Over-all premise not that original either, AI taking over the world etc.?
That's it! Pleased I saw it but won't be watching.
The Orville (2017)
WAS my absolute fav for series 1 and 2 but...
WAS my absolute fav for series 1 and 2 but... well I have gone off it now, afraid. When it started it was a quirky comedy Sci-fi almost parody of Star Trek. Then series two in some ways it was finding it's own space and less of a parody. It was always politically correct, which is absolutely fine by me. I feel series 3 is however, not a comedy at all anymore. It makes a point about society so obviously and loudly in most episodes now I feel I am being preached too rather than entertained. So I scored quite well /10, but would wait that as a 10./10 in the first series and pretty low in the third.
Gosford Park (2001)
Comedy?
Well its an excellent movie, but dont watch it for the laughs. It's not a comedy.
Set in an old country house in the 1930's it something is clearly amiss and the slow burn takes a while to unfold. It does eventually, and by the end all is revealed. Unbelievably, the first time I watched it, I seem to have missed the main plot and motivation (at the cinema), but second watching 20 years later, enjoyed it even more. Everything is revealed by the end.
Pretty unfunny although a few light moments. Lots of intrigue and a clever plot. WONDERFULLY acted and directed. A truly classy movie, but dont watch it for laughs.
The Orville: Electric Sheep (2022)
Not a lot of fun.
I had loved the comedy, light hearted fun slant Orville had on Sci fi. This episode blew that right out of the water. It's well acted and beautifully produced, but an all about suicide episode doesn't lend itself to comedy. It also preached a bit and tried to educate us.... IMHO, it was not the place for this. The world has been in turmoil and I was dearly looking forward to Orville returning and then this. Not even sure I want to watch the other episodes, lots of other sadnesses they could explore. The new character also, is deliberately horrible too (although given what she has been through, could say it's not her fault)..... all in all not a lot of fun. There is enough real life misery out there, and plenty of gritty drama. Please someone tell me the rest of the season is fun, so I can safely watch it.
Night Sky (2022)
Wonderful Sci fi - in slow mo
Requires some patience, great story, intriguing, great acting and little twists. Undoubtedly a little slow. I'm fine with this when binge watching, but if watching 1 a week, well... it wouldnt work! But back to back it was wonderful.
It finishes with enough tied up for me, but they partly, I believe, left some open ends for artistic reason (better left to the imagination) and partly, I believe, so they could do a follow on. A season 2 would be fun, and I'd watch it, but it wouldnt have the charm of this very original story.
Totally recommend it!!
Star Trek: First Frontier (2020)
Not a lot of fun for a Star Trek
Independent or not, I thought it was pretty good. SFX a little reminiscent of the late 70s in UK I'd say; Dr Who etc, but that's fine, you tune it out fast enough, just like on occasion when you watch a movie on a terrible old TV or something. Funnily enough, the biggest irritation for me was the sound dubbing, some of the women I could hardly hear!
My main crit in fact, was that it sort of lacked the light hearted spark most Star Treks have. But it was fine anyway, for me any Star Trek better than no Star Trek!
Finch (2021)
Lovely movie but a bit sad
So it's a sweet movie which pretty much just has the wonderful Hanks center stage from start to (almost) finish. Often a single actor movie fails imho, but not here. The story, albeit post apocalyptic, is cute... the dog is cute and the robot is cute. The 4 robot law play on Asimov's three laws was cleverly sneaked in and they leave us in some doubt as to how we actually got here. Don't Look Up comes to mind, but this is far more subtle and less judgmental.
So why only 8/10? Well now the mild spoilers (although it is no surprise) it is just too sad for me. Tragic in the old definition I think where the sadness is inevitable.
Typically I can't fathom why anyone would make or watch a sad movie. We have real life for that!! But in this case the movie would have been a bit pointless if Finch hadn't died. For the joy of seeing Jeff successfully learning to care for Goodyear ...well the human had to be gone!
Enjoy.
The Expanse: Babylon's Ashes (2022)
Finished in a rush
Pretty colours, lovely use of HD TV....
They are the pros. Really, its OK. Some cool actors, Avasalara (spelling?) great as ever.... Amos/Clarissa too work great for me...
Gave it an 7 I think because pretty good quality IMHO. I've read several of the books. Not seen this (S6) plot line though must be many books on....
Anyway had some issues with this. Looked wrapped up in a hurry. The main plot (no spoilers) finished a bit hastily. The Amos armchair in space attack on the rail gun assembly had me laughing I'm afraid. Unconvincing. Holden is more Holden than ever. Always found him irritating in the books, and the actor brilliantly captures that irritating-ness, and manages to amplify it! I am not sure I know the actor in anything else; I hope he gets the chance to play non-irritating parts also!
...and that planet with the dogs and the re-incarnation of the child??? Seems they forgot to finish that plot line. Were those scenes left in by mistake? I have seen continuities where people's tea cup changes to a wine glass mid scene etc... not sure I recall an entire plot line forgotten before. I guess I missed something.
Still worth watching, quality TV and all.
Foundation (2021)
Excellent (so far)
I am die hard Asimov fan... read most of the books, certainly all the Foundation series. Like so many I thought the Foundation was unfilmable. ...but expected an attempt for years. Finally a valiant attempt. There are complaints on this site that this does not faithfully (or even closely) follow the plot of the books, but, well that doesn't bother me. The books are written, go read or get an audiobook!! I thought this (so far, not seen the whole thing yet) is fine! Why not improvise on a theme. Clearly it is only loosely, but moving beyond that it is wonderfully filmed/created and intriguing and just excellent!
Don't Look Up (2021)
Great movie, but lacks the subtly it would really need to make a "Deep Impact"
So I enjoyed this movie, actually had heard nothing about it before watching and only realised it was even a comedy/satire well in @@. Watched on Netflix and initially amazed that we had found a movie with such an impressive cast. I am not great at remembering movie star names, but obviously Di Capri-Sun, Lawrence, Streep, Blanchett... Rylance, Jonah Hill, Himesh Patel and Perlman were all so familiar and they along with the other actors were fabulous in their respective roles.
The plot was well thought out, I thought, right to the end. It was funny enough, but in no way hilarious and I feel a bit sorry for those that watched this thinking it was going to be a Deep Impact like thriller - when in fact it was a satirical movie obviously. The "obviously" here was really the weak point.... There was no attempt at subtly. The political points they make, from the perspective of a (politically central) scientist (me) are valid... but they would be preaching to the converted I feel. They take swipes and media/big data moguls, popularist presidents (whoever that might be), social media, climate deniers, "red necks", media generally etc. I think it may have been more effective, and probably more enjoyable if they made an attempt to disguise their political points and actually sucker us in.
In someway they are guilty of the "crimes" they mock too. I don't think it is a spoiler to say that this seems (I haven't Wikipediad it!!) an obvious allegory of climate denial, possibly with a layer of covid-denial thrown in. OK, so take the first of these, social media moguls and politicians pushing their own spin and agenda on the incoming comet, rather than dry and accurate scientists speaking out. ...but here, in this very movie it is a case of superstar "reach" to push an (albeit worthy) agenda rather than scientists presenting the data themselves?
...another issue for me that I slip into most movie reviews.... Although doing the funny semi-American accent (the same voice/character as Ready Player One), the biggest baddie in the whole thing has to be an English actor (Rylance) introduced, I thought, as "Sir". I do so wish (as a Brit) they would not have to cast the villains as Brits almost every time. Generally, when a goodie shows up and has an English accent, you know there will be a twist and they end up as a baddie. That said here, Mark was pretty obviously the baddie from first appearance.
Cowboy Bebop (2021)
Disappointing End
No spoilers so can't really say why, but I found the key character morphing at the end just didn't fit with how they had been played until that point.
A great series though, starts by looking like it is just going to be hour upon our of kick arse and explosions - but it is quite a bit more complex than that. So I felt it really developed and drew me in. Albeit with a cold at home and not a lot else to do!
I thought the actors were all really great.
Likeable goodies, dreadful baddies. To gory for me (that will get a down vote!). But I know that is popular with kids.
So anyway, I recommend it and hope they have a second series that sort or repairs the end of this.
Star Trek: Discovery (2017)
So disappointed
So it's not too bad as a show, elements of Trek of course, but way behind TNG, DS9 and Voyager for me. But if you are a fan, the shocking decision to pull the release outside of North America 2 days awe needs to be punished in the ratings. So This is all I can do. I won't troll with swearing and abuse, but I will down vote the entire show now as a result.
Mi chao (2018)
Oh dear! Should have been great
So as ever for me, since I do enjoy a bit of, sorry, tat, I never know what it is that goes wrong with some movies like this for me. Peep blame the plot, the acting, the special effects.... no, or for me. I was happy with all that. It just seems to be the way it is put together.... is it script, direction, editing? I don't know. Also love Frasier so much (is that how it's spelt?) ... suppose I am disappointed when he shows up in a movie like this playing a, to avoid spoilers... a more "balanced" role. So I found it passed the time. If you've got a broken leg and can't turn the TV over, it's OK. If there are other things you enjoy... I'd go with those :-)
Intergalactic (2021)
Something missing?
I have currently only watched the first half of this Sky mini-series, so of course it could pick up by the end. I am surprise by some of the terrible ratings it has had, binary reviewers I guess? It has a lot going for it. The "universe" is cool, the action frequent, the dull bits rare, the special effects fabulous. Story/plot, well not quite possible to tell this early, but seems OK!
..but I do feel something is wrong, with its plethora of positives, why is it non-excellent for me? I don't really know, something missing. Will read the negative reviews post hoc to see if they have put their finger on it. I think the first thing for me is accents @@. Somehow I am used to Sci-if being more international with either US or more commonly a range of international accents. This is all UK accents including, what... Yorkshire/Lincolnshire accent? That is probably awfully offensive, so sorry, but just I can't imagine a Galaxy in 300 years time where people have augments and charge around in spaceships, earth has been abandoned... and people have retained UK regional accents? But no american Chinese Or Russian accents? So that reminds me of the both glorious and inglorious UK sci-fi of the 1970s and is off putting. That is not really a fair criticism. I think worse is some of the characters seem to flick between brutal and compassionate too easily. The makers would doubtless say this is the real world where characters vacillate and are complex.... but in the context of a 40min sci-fi episode it comes over a bit trite. No one is likeable really, not of the main characters, there are no goodies yet, perhaps one main character (but no spoilers here)... somehow I am not sure if the director is making Connaire (is that right), or Blake's seven or what. I think they should have tried to make it fun. There is not a lot of fun within. To hit the heights, for me less killing, less blood, more fun, more likeable characters..... but then perfect for me... but a different show!?
4 to 6 seems a sensible rating to me. More than that basically friends and family, less than that... well... a bit silly/harsh.
Finding 'Ohana (2021)
Is OK, nice.
A very "goonies" like movie. Pretty reasonable, but there is some sort of mystical endings that didn't sit too well with me? Pleased I watched it though!
Vacation (2015)
Good fun
Yea, it's funny, mostly in a cringe kind of way. Don't miss the titles at the beginning, no offence intended, but they were the best bit in my opinion. Hilarious, watch closely!
The Eiger Sanction (1975)
Hasn't aged well
Well, it's an interest movie, it the plot is full of spectacular holes.... and the datedness in terms of bum patting, racial jokes etc is really cringing.
Funny thinking of Clint Eastwood directing himself too. Look for the line ..."what are you, 35 now?" He was 45 ...and looked it :-)
Oh, it's ok, and a classic, it I don't quite know why? The locations? The apparently great stunts?
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)
Brilliant, if you always watched Eurovision, but always despaired of it!
So this was a tricky act to pull off; Eurovision itself is so ghastly parodying it seems impossible. You could just mildly edit a version and have something that to all intents and purposes would seem like a spoof. But I watch it every year anyway as a tradition. The movie, for me successfully delivered such a parody however. It was stupid, but kept to the simple plot just fine.
To enjoy, you have got to be onside with Ferrell. It is typical Ferrell. I think you probably have to be one of those people also, who always watched Eurovision and always thought it was awful!
If you either liked Eurovision (Annually) or didn't watch it I think this would be waisted on you. So that is probably a reasonably small catchment window.
Watching the Eurovision "stars" popping up throughout was great. If you didn't recognise them ...this movie would be waisted on you! Sorry!!
...so I have no idea how this would go down in the USA, where, presumably you don't have Eurovision? ...but if that is the case how did Will F. Even find out about it?
Go forth enjoy, may be have a few drinks first....
The Money Pit (1986)
Watch it whenever you move house
Last time I watched this was on the evening of moving into my current house. I think it is hilarious and recommend you keep it ready to watch when you move. I don't move house often, but I plan to watch this every time :-)
Britain's Got Talent (2007)
Britains Got No Talent
Just a few words. I hate negative reviews and trolling, but have given a 1/10. Just IMHO.
What I always hope to see is some talent. Someone who can play two guitars or a dog that can talk or something. There are some talented dance troupes some times, but Diversity already did that. I don't want to see someone risk their life and I am sorry, but I don't want to watch a bunch of lovely kids running about and having fun, but without any particular talent. I don't want to see a bunch of hard luck stories or very young/very old people who don't have talent but are just cute.
There I have said it and I feel like a real curmudgeon. I feel more horrid, but I expect the correct two word phrase that everyone will think of me is not really appropriate in polite company. Sorry, just super not by bag, but gives me a chance to use the full scoring range.
I Am Mother (2019)
Not a lot of fun
Quite a well made movie, with great interest at the start, and a little reminiscent of "Moon". But... overall rather miserable, and not really what I am looking for in my sci-fi. Yes I guess my tastes are crass, but they are mine :-)
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Long
Long. Very very long. May have rated it it higher if an hour or so shorter?
Agatha and the Truth of Murder (2018)
Unexpectly good
For a made for Tv drama this was very good. understated, simple, but well executed.
I never would have guessed the whole plot, but perhaps I enjoyed it more because I really wasn't expecting much!?
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)
Not. A. Lot. Of. Fun
Oh it's a good movie, in that it is poignant, well directed, well scripted and acted... but I'd have fathered something a little lighter and more fun.
This will surely depress you?
Widows (2018)
Great movie
Oh this is a great movie, balanced characters, believable, great acting. Loved the direction, little directorial touches all over the place. ...but not a lot of fun... so may be it was unfair of me to only give 7/10. Sensible level of violence, nothing deliberately gratuitous. For me, movies are for fun. This was exciting and brilliant, so I guess I should grow up a bit!