botrytis Reviews

The Last of Us: Look for the Light (2023) Season 1, Episode 9

How can you go wrong with this too?

[15 March 2023]

I cannot fathom how hard could it be to go right with this finale? Here are the cons that should be pointed out right away:

Cons:

• In the game it was clear, that the surgery is imminent and Ellie is already on preparation for it. What that triggers in Joel (and in us players), who don't want to lose another daughter? We rush through the gunmen as fast as we can, making sure everything is clear in order to get to Ellie as soon as possible and get out of the building. Of course that's the reaction, that's human, that's fatherly, that's as natural and intuitive as it can get in that situation, for Joel. Yet, here, Joel, reacts in some robotic way, totally hesitant about the whole massacre, no matter, they can wait in the surgery room, sure.

• Even the game couldn't emphasize on how important the cure is to make it, and to distribute it to the mass survivors, nor could illustrate how much need is there for it, because the people seemingly could adapt to the post-apocalyptic world in a way humanity could survive for a long time if it wanted, no matter the zombies and mushrooms. But here, in the show, they couldn't illustrate nor that nor how dangerous the world is, that the cure was indeed the key for survival, and to solve everything in this post-apocalyptic world, because the main enemy and danger for humanity is human nature itself. There was no clear outline of the world where this whole story plays in, it wasn't specific about its danger and issues.

• In game, you could find many recordings about the tests they were doing for vaccines, that it was close to impossible to find any, and there was little chance to do anyways. Hence, that Ellie's sacrifice could lead any solution for salvation is very thin. Now compare this to the Joel's point of view, his pain, and the fear of losing somebody, but overall, this was all left to the players to decide in a really balanced argument where both sides had their reasonable reasons. Yet, even in The Last of Us Part II the whole narrative somehow wants to lead to the conclusion that the whole sorrow and wrongdoings against the people of this post-apocalyptic world is Joel's fault. No, not at all. But here in the show they really want to serve this narrative.

• What happened to the whole "Joel's panic attack"? I thought they wanted to make the finale dramatic with this new element, as Joel couldn't find any solution to save Ellie as rush to the surgery room no matter what gets in his way. I guess we could forget about that then, and make it as empty and un-dramatic as it can get on screen. Barely any emotional weight in those gunfights between Joel and EVERYONE.

• The episodes within this season were all over the place. It had no flow, some pointless stories/episodes here and there, sometimes we were getting the right narrative associated with Joel and Ellie, but most parts it was all fillers and derailed storytelling that weren't leading to anything. I have already mentioned in early episodes that telling all different stories instead of the main one leads to weightless attachments to the characters and whatever happenings occur to them. And, just as I predicted, the ending didn't have the same powerful shocking value the game had. The whole show was rushed, secondary characters and storylines got way more screen time than they should had, and main ones got way less than they deserved. Again, familiar dialogues are shot, told in a fast paced movie fashion, little time is left to drama and processing tragedies, emotional momentums, because "the next scene is right here at the corner, we gotta move fast!"

Pros:

• Overall visually pleasing, good lighting, where the game waves back from the screen it works, and that is true to the soundtrack as well.

• Still a better episode than most were in the season.

Overall: It was an overhyped season, with mush less to offer than the original. All the global schmoozle towards this production on the media/internet is shocking and displays the poor quality of taste people have and the censorship against people having any honest, negative opinions about it also shows the real enemy within these people. I'm only wishing you good luck wising up and getting over yourselves.

P. S.: Not the best adaptation to a game.

The Last of Us: Endure and Survive (2023) Season 1, Episode 5

Now we are getting somewhere

[13 February 2023]

That's what I call entertainment putting character drama and action in the right balance.

Henry and Sam was a good addition, especially from the aspect of giving some level of drama to the still not so convincing "dynamic" Joel and Ellie represent, because the latter somehow still missing something, the chemistry is a bit fishy or it is something with the 2 dimensional characteristic of Joel, who is just dull to watch, and I am really sorry to say that, but Pedro, come on man, give it some more colors, 'coz being numb, overly distant and being boring is two different things. I hope we will see something more of Joel.

Ellie, from the other hand though, is finally something that has compact, better fleshed out character, with being full of life towards anything, especially being with another kid to kill some time in joy, but also shows her fighter side which displays top level of survival skills and reliability as a team/party member. So this was a really beneficial episode from every aspect a series should display, as it was really on the verge to be in a sh***er with its previous episodes.

No matter what, if you want to do character drama, you gotta do it right, as the Walking Dead already did that pretty much for a decade, so you better take that job seriously. If you want to do a zombie action flick, you better do it well also, but if you blow up the previous premise, as being a drama, you won't get anything out of it, whatever you want to cover it up with, let it be action or nice scenery. But this episode finally got it right.

And haleluja, Kathleen died (hopefully) 'coz she just didn't work... like... at all. So plus one point for that.

So... yeah, everything was in the right place overall, just like with the pilot episode. That's finally an episode that could be called a good adaptation to the game The Last of Us. Keep this level onward, and you will get good results.

Just don't blow it!

P. S.: Come on imdb, stop messing around, and publish it!

The Last of Us: Please Hold to My Hand (2023) Season 1, Episode 4

Seems like it is getting weaker with every episode, and rushed

[5/10 · 7 February 2023]

I had the liberty to watch the gameplay walktrough again, to remember all the quality this franchise has, and gotta say that the show is way watered down to almost close blatancy compared to the original. Especially with this latest episode, seeing all the resemblance these two media product have, the series feel like rushing through all the checkpoints just to resonate with the fans, and to show a cheapened version of the original to the newcomers and alike. Emotional scenes and connections between Joel and Ellie seem to have almost zero weight, 'coz the cold, distant Joel has to bring down his walls covering his vulnerable self in order to bridge any emotional connection to Ellie and continue the whole story with some dramatic value, but many of the moments here in this episode felt really unearned and cheap, like throwing bones to the dog saying "Here, see? There you have it, the connection, the drama... satisfied? Now move along"... There is not much episode to be left to say this gripping, heartbreaking story, but that doesn't mean you gotta sprint through it.

And this brings us to the obvious issue people were complaining about for a week now: Was it really necessary to sacrifice a whole, and much longer episode to Bill and Frank, that, at the end, brought us only one conclusion that could have been told even in few minutes: Defend your loved ones? Was it dear Naughty Dog? Was it, dear HBO? Seriously?

It is a shame, because the pilot was really top-notch entry, that not only nod to the original, but also brought fresh take to the whole narrative, that was pleasing even for fans, with its cinema quality lighting and visuals, acting, and overall storytelling. But it was also evident that a story centric game like The Last of Us had already solid written narrative that wasn't a huge challenge to bring it on screen as you had most of it already done in cinematics and in a realistic, flesh and blood gameplay in third person view... you just really had to get it on motion picture with minimum challenges of adapting if we are talking about storytelling and the way it is delivered.

And yet, they still managed to get almost totally derailed from the main focus throughout these latest two episodes. How hard can it be? A Warcraft movie could do it better with its 2 hours of runtime and had been executed vastly better. And yet they call this close-dumpster "The best adaptation to a game"... give me a break you streaming platform addicted uncultivated barbarians, you don't even know what you are talking about.

It is apparent for me now, that this show may have much less to offer than the game itself could do back in the days and still does today and less than a quality HBO show that takes its time to be developed and well made. But I guess that is the difference between a game that runs its story via much longer runtime and a TV show, where you are way more limited to different moviemaking problematics with so much effort put in that ends with way lesser quality payoff it originally should had led to. I mean, the acting even was not on par with previous episodes... who the hell plays Kathleen? Holly molly, what a weak acting that is, embarrassing to watch...

Whatever, I'm still interested where it goes, but hell, the game is way more engaging and fleshed out.

It seems to me like you done fu***d it up dear HBO and Druckmann. But only "seems", yet.

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

It's a homeflight

[9/10 · 3 September 2022]

Don't want to say much about it, I'm just a guy coming from a generation seeing disappointing sequels and franchise reviving cashgrab pieces of garbage for almost two decades now, and I'm here to say with top confidence that this is one of the best sequel to an old classic movie put out on this planet called Earth ever. It not just being worthy to wear the badge reading TOP GUN but also surpasses on some levels over the original. A rare gem to see in movie making history, and in the history of dear cespool world of Hollywood, a rare quality of honoring given licences, art, creations, and adding something to the table, not pulling anything from the table top, not smashing it, breaking it, but holding it dear, and adding things there where it is needed. THAT is how it's done today, and should be done. This is the way sequels, reboots, remakes should be ever done.

SO let this be the milestone, a reference of modern, mainstream moviemaking to every producer, creator, studios out there! Maverick showed us all that it is possible! So... just freaking do it this way everybody!

Thank you for reading. Have a nice day!

Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)

Not adding too much on the table, but succeeding at what it gives.

[7/10 · 24 July 2022]

So originally I got into the whole Resident Evil franchise via the movie Resident Evil (2002) made by Paul. W. S. Anderson, which at that time of age became an iconic movie with being a straightforward zombie flick coated with caustrophobic atmosphere and the scariest, most haunting theme song ever, that just gave away the tone instantly. It gave enough chills, especially for a kid, and even still today stood out as the only watchable RE B movie ever made... well, till today.

I have seen gameplays from the games previously, even from the remakes, remasters, so I'm pretty familiar with all the differences between the Paul W. S. Anderson's and the game franchise's.

That being said I didn't expect much from this adaptation, understandably so, because if Paul could get away with all that BS. That came out after his first movie, the bars were really below zero.

But this movie could deliver really decently. The cinematography was well done, given the fact that the whole environement that represents Racoon City wasn't that exciting as in Paul's. A little town, with small buildings next to a forest is just not that exciting as being the only survivor in the middle of huge, big New Yorkish city with tall buildings and demolished streets. But overall the visuals of the movie were above decent, also the pacing of the whole build up the story went through is in my oppinion masterful, it's nothing special, but with all the tools, and storyelements given, everything was narrated well, evading most of the cliches horror movies usually behold.

The acting was also decent, nothing bad about it, probably there were just too much unserious lines and moments helding back the overall serious tone of the whole theme and story, however I enjoyed every interaction between the characters, especially in the scenes placed in the police station.

The VFX were decent, its quality won't be surprising if you have endoured watching low budget horror movies that came out since the 2000's, but the lighting were good on creatures and birds, even though the animation still could be more realistic, a little bit.

The references, easter eggs - that I could gather, even though haven't played much with the games myself - were also fun to see, weren't overhelmingly placed in every second of the movie, and even if you are not fan of the games you recognise some of them and the movie itself won't lean on them heavily in a sense that the narrative and storytelling still will work for you watching the movie if you are not familiar with the lore at all, which is nice, as many fanflicks, adaptations do that excessively, especially in this modern era of movies.

There are definitely things worth to see from the aspect of horror movie making. The mansion scenes were fairly tense and gory to bring justice to the franchise and overall history of zombie movies. And some really dramatic and shocking events go down in the third act that, even for a movie goer veteran like me, hit me unprepared.

Overall: Is it enjoyable? If you have seen some of the previous RE movies, and probably have a little gist of the game franchise itself, you most probably have a good time with the movie, nothing special, but definitely not the worst thing you will see. Is it on par with Paul W. S. Anderson's RE franchise? Most definitely, as this at least stands close to its source material, and movie making-vise the film is above decent in most parts. Would I watch a sequel? I would definitely check out where the creators of this movie could go with the material if got enough atention and budget for it. Would I play the games? It somehow gave me motivation to play the games.

It's nothing special but not even that bad of a thing you will ever see. I might call this the best game adaptation next to the Warcraft: The Beginning for sure.

Mortal Kombat (2021)

Ehm... 1995 Mortal Kombat wins?

[6/10 · 24 April 2021]

I'm not getting it how hard it is to do finally a well shot, well written, well edited Mortal Kombat movie, both the 1995 movie and this had many great elements visual, set, scene-wise that could have been perfect if a little more creative work would have been put in but this nearly wasn't worth the wait at all. I think they wanted to do some Marvel Universe-like attempt with this franchise but that's just not the right direction to go with this, that's just way apparent right away.

(1) The sets that had anything to do with Mortal Kombat looked great, especially the Outworld ones. The costumes were fine, Sub-Zero and Scorpion for the win, but characters like Liu Kang, Raiden were a bit fishy overall, could had been done better.

(2) The story might have been good on paper, the plot associated with Scorpion/Sub-zero has a fine circle to it, but anything other than that is just a rushed narration that ends up being a hot messy filler being all over the place. Random things happen with random consequences (below the level of human logic or the understanding of a sober mind) on some occasions where you just cannot wrap your head around it, and have no time to even think about it because...

(3) The pacing of this movie is SUPER FAST, on BRUTALITY level. Zero suspense at any dramatic scene because it doesn't give you time to even absorb the feelings a human can develop in a healthy way to try to even give 1% of a damn for any character on the screen. There is no time for that. Some character is just having a hard time, being sad? Who gives a damn, next scene, someone is explaining a lore to you to know some background story of a place, oh wait oh wait, next scene we are already fighting, oh wait, there are other not yet seen characters from the game in the movie, say hello to them as well, oh wait, let's fight again.... I mean, come on! We are just jumping from scene to scene, this is no way to tell a story of any sort.

(4) The music... what music? Oh you mean this POS? It had almost ZERO, and I mean ZERO reason to be in this movie or any other one for that matter. It's like it was made for a random Marvel movie and ended up here somehow. It's pointless, trailer/commercial-like, cheap, nothing-to-do-with-anything garbage. It might have been better to just leave the movie music-free.

(5) The acting was fine, I mean, if I know it well these people are mostly stunt actors and they had done everything from their power in an action/fighting movie, so no issue there. I definitely liked Kano the most, he brought good times on screen with his hilariousity.

(6) The visuals were decent, some places they were really good and on other places a bit underdeveloped. Sub-Zero's freezing VFX were probably the most well done as it seems they have used many practical effects for it, I loved these.

(7) The action/fight parts of the movie were well done, they have really put a huge deal of effort into that... if only I could give a damn about any of the characters that were fighting. Many times, during fights they were using fast cuts between close ups and really far, near panorama views that made the fightings chaotic and disorienting.

But what were surprisingly great were the Astonishingly Brutal Fatalities. Oh my... they were really a sight to see on the screen and something that captured the essence of the source material JUST RIGHT!

This just wasn't worth it in my sad but honest oppinion. If I'm thinking about this and the 1995 movie I'm shocked that I don't see much difference between these two. Both of them have many issues, elements that just backfires on many levels, but both of them are warmheartedly done good garbage flicks that in a way resonates with the source material they are adapting from. Both of them have such well executed elements cinematography/set/atmosphere/visual-wise that I easily could see those in a close perfect Mortal Kombat movie that could use them way better. But unfortunately this one too couldn't be that... well, maybe in another 15 years.

Monster Hunter (2020)

Honestly... it was good... yeah, I know, I'm not joking

[6/10 · 28 February 2021]

I wasn't expecting anything from WS Anderson, pretty much obvious why, but it seems like he finally found his right place and cast to work with. The dialogues were actually witty, including great situational comedies which wasn't expected at all, the music was interesting, typical hollywoodish though, but had good melodies and had some overall game music vibe to it. Acting was also surprisingly good from Mila and Jaa, and the other secondaries, and overall the pacing of the movie was just right... if only it had any plot to work with. There is seriously no other complaint about this movie only that it has no story. And it might have been a missed opportunity for the team as everything else worked pretty well for the movie, this could have been considered even a good movie, like, as in good action/adventure movie you usually go to the cinema to see.

I have no idea whether it is a good adaptation for a game as I wasn't playing the it, so from that aspect I have no idea how this movie works, but from overall popcorn movie goer aspect this is almost fully functional motion picture, that works better than any Resident Evil movie. Honestly... I liked this, don't hate me for it.

Raised by Wolves (2020–2022)

Where Prometheus should have led to

[8/10 · 27 October 2020]

Captivating addition to the whole Alien/Prometheus universe extension. It's weird, biological, technological, sci-fi/fantasy that makes the same method of using mythological/biblical references as Prometheus/Covenant did, but here at least the finished product is even watchable, and greatly executed (not like Covenant).

It operates with really provocative themes where, unfortunately, we the audience aren't really in dilemma as to which side we should pick as the "winner" of the argument, which is kinda unfortunate, but I'm hoping the series will lead to conclusions where both sides can be considered right and wrong, as currently it really leans to one side, massively. I despise propagandas, when stories are one sided and blaming everything onto the opposing group in an argument, and Raised by Wolves sometimes feels like it works with similar tools as propagandas, however it is too soon to come up with any conclusion about this as the second season will only be in development months later. Stories like these should be in balance, told in a way where the golden middle road is the most ideal path to choose, where there is no 100% right and 100% wrong. Overall Raised by Wolves handles it just well, yet, but it's up to the future episodes/series what opinion it really conveys in this topic, and I'm hoping for the best, potential middle solutions.

Soundtrack also has many similarities to the Prometheus' one, and it's just a great music to listen to during such weird visual presentation.

Overall it's a highly original piece to see among all those unimaginative trash series spreading all over the place, all over Netflix, HBO and other channels. Most Unique experience you will get nowadays, so I can recommend to anyone who wants to see a great show.

Halloween (I) (2018)

This is by far the best of them all

[8/10 · 8 September 2020]

We did a Halloween marathon this week watching all installment ever put out within the franchise; which are 11 movies. Gotta say that everything beyond Carpenter's Halloween all of them are pretty much pointless to see, but I'm glad I saw them because now I know that there is really nothing better than these two movies, the 1978 and 2018 one.

Carpenter's Halloween hasn't aged well, it might be even considered a weak horror movie for today's generations, including me, but I can see why it might have been a big hit back in the days. It has good cinematography, good craftsmanship behind it with artistic affinity and having POV with the killer itself is a disturbing concept no matter the age we live in, but most importantly... it has a specific tone, feeling to it that just gives it a unique charm.

And that charm was well transferred to this Halloween movie. It really captures all that specific tone Carpenter's Halloween had and the narrative itself is paced quite perfectly that makes this whole 1 hour 45 minutes runtime just past quickly. It is definitely a satisfying film for anyone that just wants to see THE Halloween spirit... again. Actually, compared to all the trash that came after the first ever movie in the franchise this might be even the best one among them all, and the only one that matters.

So, from a guy who watched all the Halloween movies I can say this is the only one you need to see after the Carpenter one. If you want to know what those 9 other movies are all about just watch some video summary on youtube... that's my honest advice on this matter.

Long story short: This and the 1978 one are the only Halloweens that should exist, and for me they do.

Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020)

2020 became not that terrible

[7/10 · 30 August 2020]

I wanna be short here, don't need to ramble about this movie nor the previous ones. Bill and Ted movies are about dumb, fun, cool moments and of course, rock'n'roll dudes, and there were plenty of those in this one too, and I cannot be more glad about the fact how lucky we the audience are to get a movie that overall turned out pretty darn good considering how crappy, "old franchise resurrection cash-in" movies are getting made in these years. And yes, that is something. That's already an achievement not to blow something like this, and let's face it, there are infinite possibilities to screw up movies like these... we have seen some examples...

So... I'm just glad that Bill S. Preston Esq. and Theodore Ted Logan, and Death, I mean, the Wyld Stallyns returned for the last time in a really warmhearted, well made, enjoyable, funny and crazy third installment that could be easily crappy but luckily it's not. And that's already, most definitely a most triumphant outcome we could get in our days.

Alright, now you know it's coming, this is the part of the review where the famous words come and we most definitely should live by: "Be Excellent to each other and Party on dudes!"

Diary of the Dead (2007)

Are you serious?

[1/10 · 15 March 2020]

This was one of the lamest - not just zombie - but anykind of movie I have ever seen; and I have seen Resident Evil series, 28 days later, 28 weeks later, Dawn of the Dead, Land of the Dead, REC series...

But this movie was so blatant that I couldn't cope with the fact that this somehow got 62% on Rotten Tomatoes...

Like... seriously? FOR WHAT did this movie got so much appreciation than 20% even?

The Steven Seagal's zombie movie was more watchable than THIS!

It wasn't scary, it wasn't frightening, it wasn't a horror movie, it wasn't a good parody, it wasn't .... a MOVIE... What was this? The dialogues were über-primitive, the acting was way below average, the music didn't work at all...

I am SHOCKED right now how this movie gets any positive reviews, I'm shocked about your taste, please go watch Godfather, Apocalypse Now, hell, go watch R.E.C. and see the difference between that and THIS!

On the scale where REC is one of the best found footage/zombie movie ever made with a 10/10 then this movie gets a 0/10... there is literally nothing I can give points to for this movie. On the scale where Blair Witch was one of the most innovative found footage movie ever made that started a new generation of found footage trend with a rating of 10/10, this ... Diary of the Dead gets 0/10. On the scale where Shawn of the dead is one of the best zombie parody movie ever with a rating of 10/10 this movie gets a... 1/10... it might get somewhere on this scale...

Masterfully shameful production, the epitome of blatancy and lameness...

The Jesus Rolls (2019)

Couldn't even finish it

[3/10 · 6 February 2020]

If there was any reason for wanting to see this movie was the opportunity to experience an additional Big Lebowski-like entry, or anything close to that quality. That movie is something really american, but in a unique way, something really masterfully clever and stupid at the same time, where every moment beheld maximum focus on detail told in a really pleasantly paced narrative...

This... is nothing like that... this movie is plain stupid and paced terribly. It's just another american movie with forced sketches, humor, everything. Nothing unique about it. It has that potential of going into something artsy in the second half, but it's just doesn't get it what made Big Lebowski big. Torturo and his fellow writers have no idea at all, and should have left this project alone as a postponed screenplay locked in the shed somewhere deep in the garage...

If you want to see a Big Lebowski movie, you won't get it here... if you want to see A movie you will probably appreciate something about this, but that's just like watching any other slapstick B-flick. Totally disappointing experience...

I don't recommend this to anybody actually, just watch the classic instead of this.

Doctor Sleep (2019)

Surprisingly good addition to the original where probably the worst parts were the nostalgia service ones

[8/10 · 2 February 2020]

Shining isn't my favorite horror movie that's for sure but I appreciate all the effort put in making something gripping, haunting, psychedelic production, that wasn't about the cheap jumpscares and bland slasher movie solutions, not to mention its emphasis on ambiguity will keep it on the top tier horror movie list.

This same ambiguity is represented here in the sequel, but also has the guts to explain some aspect of it that still keeps the whole concept in the mist making us ramble in unsureness with a bit of a direction.

The tone, atmosphere resonates with the original, the visuals are haunting and well executed overall, yet there are some aspects of the cinematography that kinda had that B movie vibe to it compared to the Kubrick's wide, rennaissance-like perfection where every image seemed like a painting, an art.

Acting is great, nothing to complain about, probably the girl protagonist was a bit wooden and reacted to really shocking happenings minimally.

The 2/3 is a really powerful buildup to a not so satisfying climax. The last 20 minutes of the movie is more of a nostalgia/fan service where the well built up 2/3 of the film was kinda cheapened, betrayed. It seemed like the closer the creators got to the old, familiar places of the original movie the less sure they were about what they really want to do there, which is unfortunate as this should have been the moment of awesomeness, the answer to this story, but it got dragged down by the direction being out of focus.

Overall it feels mostly a worthy sequel that builds on its predecessor and has many good ways to extend the story further, however some of the places where it really should have been powerful it wasn't unfortunately. Nonetheless it's a good installment that definitely needed to be seen by The Shining fans.

The Kitchen (2019)

More of a blatant imitation of the genre than anything else

[3/10 · 31 January 2020]

I wasn't expecting much of this as it was that typical political agenda supporting movie but I just cannot fathom out how people can get away with such undeniably antipathetic worldviews and messages and do movies and distribute their production to the mass.

I get it, some of the women are oppressed, some of them got hurt really bad, unjustly, I can't deny that, I understand, but for the love of god stop feeding the audience with BS like we live in the early 1900's, because HELLO, it's the 2000's. This is the same issue just like the racism question between the afro-americans or other race and the caucasians, you can't make anti-racist message with racist message, just like you can't make anti-sexism one with sexism.

In this movie the men (again) are either arrogant evil people or totally pro-feminists or totally stupid. There is no other choice, there is no other alternative, no middle-ground. But of course the women are smart, are totally cunning and arrogant, self-important, psychopats yet the movie wants to make them sympathetic and likable people.

But you know what? I could go along with this concept if there was anything else this movie could offer, but literally there wasn't... the movie, - even though had a story - it couldn't tell it at all. The narrative is blatantly executed with very little informations to give out to the audience, we keep going from scenes to scenes with something to happen but have no idea what was it for or what point did it have. Everything happens only for the sake of being something that reminds the viewers that this is somewhat of a "gangster" movie staring wannabe powerful women. People get killed, shot in the head... who were they? What were their part in their organization, what influence they had to their environment? We never get the details, only the actions, just we don't know what is going on the screen, why, and most importantly HOW?

How things happen? How we got from this to that? How this movie got made? How any of you people think this is a good or watchable movie and not a cringefest over 9000?

Shame on everyone who had a part in making this movie.

The Skeleton Twins (2014)

Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig... enough said

[8/10 · 27 January 2020]

I am on Kristen Wiig fever for two weeks now wondering how I haven't got to know her career before and now I make up for all that I have missed out. So I spend my late nights googling out her movies, and watch all of them, a movie on each night.

This was the first movie of her that I have watched and was totally surprised that after all the comical sketches she did back in SNL she had this really powerful dramatic side in her, she is indeed one of her kinds, a fantastic actress. Not to mention with Bill Hader, who also plays usually in comedies brought his dramatic self also, and these two together are just a delight to watch, the chemistry between them works perfectly, they could do anything together and would be an experience to see.

The story is captivating, it depicts the mundane, everyday life of suburbian people with dark comedy and really good laughs mixed with the cold realism of depression and self-hate in general. These are not normal people and the story perfectly reflects on that with its slowly building up narrative. It's a drama, it's a dark comedy, it has... it's real life scent to it all over. As I am getting older I kinda find these independent, more silent dramas more and more important to see, they tell stories that just have the quality of holding up a mirror in front of you, and just... give you some perspective about your own life in general, that are you really doing everything in order to feel... alive and... complete? Because that's the question I have at every Kristen movies each...

I'm glad that I have this Kristen Wiig fever, because these latest weeks were one of the best experiences in my almost totally miserable life at the age of 28 as a young lad spending his last 10 years mostly in fear and passiveness. Just watch all of her movies, you seriously need them, whatever life you have!

Girl Most Likely (2012)

Refreshing pleasantness

[7/10 · 18 January 2020]

Kristen Wiig is fantastic, her affinity towards comedy and drama is top-notchly represented here, the story is kinda crazy and absurd but also relatable overall, with everyday situations. It's a warm, pleasant movie to watch that just wants to give you a nice ride with you sitting in the passenger seat running through as minimal bumps on the road as it can.

Overall it's nothing special but nor unoriginal, it's sitting right in the middle between these two and you won't mind it a bit because it's just fun to watch.

P.S.: I just wanted to watch a movie at late night with having a minor depression, under the weather effect on me and this flick was just the perfect thing to see.

Gemini Man (2019)

Well this was... the most awkward and static action movie I have seen so far since the 90's

[2/10 · 2 January 2020]

Pros: (+) At least the woman character ain't an over sexualized one, she was fine, but couldn't give anything to the film, literally anything in the third act. (+) Acting ain't bad (+) At least the final scene with them at the University was funny, the de-aging CGI was so terrible here that it gave some good laughs.

Cons: (-) Everything else; The plot was utterly boring, and dragged like hell, it basicly builds on one sentence premise. There is no story to tell at all, it was totally structured for action scenes, but they kinda forgot to bring the action on the table... like seriously... (-) For an action movie this is the most un-actiony, static movie I have seen so far for a blockbuster oriented one. (-) Random, Tourguide-like scenes that didn't add anything to the story, they were just an excuse to drag the whole cast to some exotic places to blow off steam. (-) CGI is totally out of date, some closeups of the de-aged character are "decent" as a whole, but for a blockbuster movie even the "decent" scenes are below average... even movies from late 2000's had better CGI. (-) Environment as a whole is uninspired, there was no concept the whole worldbuilding was built around, the whole visual narrative is just a consequence of cheap, expense-evasive moviemaking. (-) This movie should have been only 1 hour with all these elements it has currently, and even then it would only go for TV not on BIG SCREEN.

Overall: It's an utter garbage that is uninteresting, and nor even good or bad dumb action movie, this movie is the definition of "Nothing"

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (2019)

It's like when DC totally wants to make Marvel movies, and fails at it, but here Star Wars wants to be Star Wars and fails at it.

[3/10 · 20 December 2019]

For two years people were rambling about their damaged goods The Last Jedi did to them, blaming Rian Johnson for destroying Star Wars, the whole franchise. This was going on for two years non-stop to the point Disney slowly put down their arms and decided to please as many people as they can.

I loved The Last Jedi, better than the Force Awakens, which latter was just an excuse to bring all the fans back to the cinema in an exchange of one full episode from a trilogy. Alright, acceptable. Then Rian Johnson brough a really bold, crazy, mindblowing, and mindboggling movie at the same time that brought freshness and put the Star Wars through some new territories, it was everything you should love to see nowadays, but hell, most people weren't pleased by it, most people overrambled all day long everyday throughout 2 years under every SW posts ever on social media and forums.

So Disney decided to what... to be scared by all the anger that burns all over the internet, media, and in fear they ended up to put out the most chaotic Star Wars episode ever for the all "lovely", death threatening fans out there who demand their drug dealer to bring all the right jejos in all different tastes put on the table so everybody would be happy. Amazing visuals nearly reaching the Michael Bay's style of explosive movie making? There you go, thousands of them in every 5 minute. I heard you love plot twists, and expositions. Well, you are at the right place, here you get 'em every 5 minutes (not joking by the way, that is really the case here). You didn't love the previous characters brought up in the previous episodes? Don't worry, we will bring new ones just in case, but be aware, we gotta be PC too, so we can't just change characters in our last episode in the trilogy. Oh, you didn't like Rey being a nobody and yet having force powers? Well, don't worry then, if you don't want to relate to a character then we will change her family background, just like that...

I mean.... come on... this is a mess, you can't just make a trilogy without having a vision about its ending, its finale right from the begining. If you want to keep the episodes in check, then you should consulate with the directors about the story, its main courses so it wouldn't be messed up in the end. But don't change your own vision in the last moment just because others say it to do so. You either do your job, but do it right, as you would like to do it, or do not do it at all.

I will also state it here that I didn't watch this in the cinema. Nope. I won't pay for something that has this messed up control behind it. I won't support this violent, agressive fanbase, their selfimportant movement, I feel totally ashamed of them, as a people, and as a fan. I won't support moviemaking like this where film studios are consumer support firms and leave the whole artistic creation oriented procedures behind. Nope, you will not get my support on any of this, and you managed to bring down not only Star Wars to ground zero but the whole essence of watching movies in cinema, the whole experience of going to cinema nowadays.

There are many forms of cancer, and here, we had the opportunity of engage two of them at once; These kinds of film studios and these kinds of fans.

All of you should feel ashamed of yourselves!

So now, about the movie. Is there any good elements? Yes there are many actually. Probably the second half of the movie is more comprehensive and more "movie-like" than the first half, because that... oh my god, what a mess. Characters getting from hot situations into another, then get onto one planet to another in every minutes, you just can't catch a break figuring out what the hell is going on on the screen. The second half tried to ease the tempo a bit, the whole Palpatine element of the story was totaly unnecessary but probably the most likeable one in this whole mess. What they did to Rey... well... I totaly loved the whole "a nobody, yet still one with the Force" but... I'm not that crushed with this either where it ended up. I'm more crushed about the whole practices the studios put out and the way people act nowadays. I feel ashamed of being somebody who watches Star Wars and I have never thought I will end up feeling like this, but hey, anything can happen, and this happened.

What we got here with this trilogy is three standalone movies, the 7th and 8th episode resonated with each other, but this just doesn't with any of them... well... barely. This is not a trilogy, and this is not a movie. It's a fanfare, it's a Disney world, it's an amusement park (Just like how Scorcese stated about the superhero movies, in that same way), and that's where we reached the Marvel movie making essence, that's where Star Wars totaly lost it.

Nonetheless Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everybody. Please, be nice to each other, and let artists do their job as they want to do it in the future. Peace!

Joker (I) (2019)

When the system goes :O seeing their own product in action

[9/10 · 6 October 2019]

• This movie will show you how serious and uncomprehensible a mental state like this is.
• Joker didn't become like this just for no reason, the oppression, pressure, the environment that shaped him into this is all there. Making him not the only one to blame, or to call EVIL, the movie shows you perfectly how society can be dirty, unjust, inhuman, evil in the same way.
• You will feel for Joker, you will pity him, you will despise him, you will like him, you will fear him, these all feeligns will be there in you, the only thing that will be questionable is your judgement... you won't be able to judge him, only yourself and the system you live in.
• There is no hero here, it's a trip of torment where the pleasure comes in the form of understanding all the mess behind a twisted, deformed mind, a mind that by becoming a villain finally finds its peace, by becoming complete. There won't be a hero and a villain in the end, it will be a villain against other villain(s).
• There are already countless interpretations of all the plot this movie tells for 2 hours. But what's important here is the feeling you will have before-during-after the movie. Whichever conclusion you will get from this story it won't be happy.

• The storytelling is amazing, almost masterful, with only a few things that would needed more elaborativeness, details, and even those lacky parts only take place in the first half. So overall a close perfect story.
• The music is haunting, understandably conceptual, fitting organicaly to all this narrative.
• The acting is TOP-NOTCH! Just for that is important to see this movie, you won't see dedication like this anywhere that frequently.
• Cinematography is also hauntingly amazing, the colors, powerful, intimate scenes, you will see this world through the eyes of Joker himself, and the picture of this movie will represent that really powerfully.

This is an important and a must-see motion picture. This will be the best movie you will see today amongst all that BS Hollywood/America selfglorifying mess! We live in a messy, imperfect, arrogant system and you better face it. This production will make anyone, even those who point their fingers on others to look in themselves and get some perspective of their own reality.

Those Who Remained (2019)

Pleasant watch that doesn't want to explore that much

[7/10 · 25 September 2019]

Saw it on premiere on september 24 at Budapest's Corvin Mozi.

Probably the most essential thing to know about this movie is that it was made for television in the first place and later they considered pushing it into the Oscars, for big screens, as they thought it has the potential to win something. It probably has that potential but I don't think that it would be because the movie is that good... maybe for the acting as it was quite strong from the two main protagonists, or for the screenplay. Oh and for the music, that is indeed Oscar-worthy for today's standards. But if for anything other than that... well, then I would smell something fishinness behind that.

So as a TV movie this picture is far better than great. It has a distinctive visual atmosphere with its gray fuminess and late, cold autumny colors, the cinematography is beyond adequate for such TV movie norma, the world the story plays in is really authentic, beholds many details that reflects those old times. The dialouges are clevelry written, they behold the realism but also some theatrical factor for dramatic purposes. The acting is top-notch from the main protagonists, they bring well detailed characteristics into their relationship by which we really hold their connection close to our hearts, but overall all the cast did a good job. The soundtrack has probably the most appeal for an award as it has that really almost-but-not-yet cheesiness that can easily win your ears over, but overall a very pleasant music to listen to, reminded me of Clint Mansell's previous works.

What the whole movie might fall short on is the world building that plays in the post-war dictaturic times. There are some snipets about the oppression they maintained on all these people lived in the post-war city, however, other than having some tricky questions from the "comrades" it never went further than that, it didn't fully bring the overall alienating effect it should have for the story/narrative. It was kinda like only a world building element in order to remind the auidence what times this plays in, never fully did anything more than that. And probably, the ending, which refers onto this dictature didn't feel that cathartic, because of that "only-world-building-element" reason.

Talking with others on premiere some people found the whole fast paced evolution of the protagoninst's relationship unconvincing and out of place, that it needed much deeper, elaborative, slower tendencies to go through. Personaly I had no issue with it at all. I found the relationship really natural and organic in its own way, it was indeed a connection that is not that easily achievable by anyone, but these two somehow had the luck to have a mostly healthy relationship that helped both of them in some ways to heal all the scars the war times brought onto them.

So... basicly, that's all I got to say about this movie. From TV movie standpoints I found it really solidly done, a nicely put together motion picture that is pleasant to watch. For Oscar worthy theatrical experience it might fall behind a bit as it has some lack of details and elaboratness, so - even though I have no respect for Oscars nowadays - I kinda feel this movie has only oscar-worthiness on a few, specific fields and even there there is always much bigger fishes to fight against on awards like this. Again, if it wins any award other than the music, acting, or (maybe) for screenplay then there is something fishy back there in Hollywood (but it's Hollywood, the Oscars, so there is more dirty business than anything else today).

Rating: 6.8/10

Blair Witch (2016)

Being totally scripted is already a huge backlash from the original

[3/10 · 20 September 2019]

This motion picture wants to extend the original story in its own way that might be interesting for some, but overall it is just a lazy rehash of other movies' ideas.

The main issue is already apparent from the first minutes: It doesn't make the same effort to put these actors in a desperate situation in order to revoke real emotions to all the happenings this film includes. The dialogues are forced and most of times without any soul, any evolution. The interactions between the characters are also unrealistic and non-convincing. It is understandable in a way because many things here are supernatural and needed post-production, like special effects and such, so it would be difficult for the actors to react on things in real time... still that would be the real challenge for the creators to figure it out. That would be the real Blair Witch sequel.

And many s**t will happen in that forest, oh boi, many... just you don't know why, or where some of the ideas came from, how they have anything to do with all this story... like... flying tents, a deep wound in the leg that gets worse and is obviously a witchery thing, but in the end the idea of use this plot just kinda feel neglected as they had no idea what to do with it. It's like they held the "HOW TO MAKE A FOUND FOOTAGE HORROR MOVIE" guide book and followed many points from it but didn't figure out how to glue these ideas together. Not to mention some of these are seemingly stolen, or at least been already seen in other films. The neverending night plotline is for example used in Grave Encounters, an actually really well working found footage horror movie. The whole look of that monster (which is probably the witch, I guess) is also from REC/Grave Encounters. The wound thing is probably from some zombie movie with which they couldn't do anything... seriously, it had no function... at all... really... barely...

However there are things I kinda liked. When one of them was marked with a voodooish figurine and someone broke it the marked one was also killed in the same way in that right moment. This might be a totally misunderstanding what the real function of these figurines are it at least gave a chilling moment to this whole nonsense storyline. The relative timelapse is also an intriguing plot element that should have been used at least a bit differently from Grave Encounters. If they really wanted to make some connections to the Original movie they could have easily make daytimes much shorter than nights, and bam, it is already more unique, and appeals more to realism standpoints.

The most annoying thing in this film that it wanted to scare with "jump scares", which by the way weren't used one time in the original - and that is admirable - but this sequel end up using every horror cliché tools that have been in use for decades now. And there is nothing worse when the jump scares are done badly as they are already cheap narrative tools but doing it badly is even much worse.

It's indeed hard to make something new today, especially in this "found footage" subgenre... but if the intentions aren't clear then the ending product will also end up with the same overall "not clear" effect. But if they wanted to pull off one more skin of this horse, then they accomplished it with a mindnumbingly average product. If they really wanted to emerge this franchise onto a higher level (which I highly doubt) then they are way off.

Nonetheless not the worst found footage horror I have ever seen.

Us (II) (2019)

Even if you ignore the "metaphorical" layers it is still enjoyable

[7/10 · 20 August 2019]

I appreciated this movie from Peele much better than his predecessor, Get Out, which, even though I didn't want to feel like that, it felt really one sided, however "Us" is a much more universal, neutral horror/thriller, well... at least... I think.

It feels refreshing, and the classic horror narrative works really well, energetic. The satirical side of the movie also gives some giggles, fueling this whole crazy cinema experience. What I don't get though is the symbolism it wants to operate with, and through which it wants to send message to us, the audience. And that, honestly, pisses me off, as I am really into such movies that hold deeper meanings under the surface: I have been watching Kubrik, Tarkovsky, Nicolas Winding Refn, Bela Tarr, David Lynch movies for years, so I thought there is no movie language that could block me.

Well, somehow, Peele's movies do, and I don't know why. I really want to understand what this movie wanted to inform me with: Was it about our inner nature that we oppress by all the behavioral restrictions society forces on us? Was it about hypocrisy? Does it have anything to do with the Trump wall with that "holding hands performance art" thing? Is there something really liberal worldview behind it that I might find too naive? I am seriously lost to be honest the more I think about it, I admit it. I kinda feel dumb now, and I hate that.

Nevertheless, it was exciting to watch from start to the end.

Napszállta (2018)

"I Don't Know"

[6/10 · 8 June 2019]

The whole concept is intriguing, probably more than Son of Saul had back in the days as it was "just another holocaust movie" to experience, well that what I thought, probably many others, yet we got something totally unique in the end. But the theme of concentration camps were already told many times before, and often in painfully cheesy ways. A story about the begining of World War I, about its dawn holds more mysticism and freedom to be told, and after the Saul film I was really excited what Nemes had to tell us about that...

Well... it figures... not that much. All I could gather from the movie is that the team really loves their own narrative technique they used previously, and they just totally projected the sole storytelling language onto a theme where it kinda... mostly... backfired. The elements didn't glue themselves precisely, and they become a part of something that just smells really fishy. They probably thought copying their own concept is enough to keep the glory of Laszlo's artistic career, to make this whole language as an own brand, however it turns out to be underdeveloped and not that flexibly adaptable. And this howler created that specific something of which we might have heard many times in the history of movies: an Artsy Fartsy production.

It's a shame thought, because the images send you back right into that time of the 1910s, it lives in front of you... flesh and blood, the environment, the costumes, historical authenticity is excecuted top-notchly, the colors and compositions sometimes remind us about those avant-garde paintings made by pointilist/expressionist/impressionist artists, and on these factors the team cared to focus 100%.

What Laszlo, and his collaborate writers couldn't hold up to thought is the way a story like this should be told in order to it be realistic and believable. Because what's totally, laughably bad is the dialogue. The sentences these characters "exchange" are unrealistic, we would never encounter in such ever in our daily lives. And seeing the whole realism and authenticity before me I might wonder where this movie wants to be symbolistic/metaphoric and where it wants to be flesh and blood realistic... because these two dimensions just don't add up, barely maintain symbiotic relationship. Throughout the whole movie the summary of 70% dialogue is "well... I don't know" ... then the characters mostly stand there like ALL these words behold huge weight... EACH WORD... even thought these overall don't hold any meaning at all and they end up being fillers apparently.

Not to mention the begining of the movie is already nonsensical from realism standpoint; The Leiter girl tells the assisstants that she is there for the job ONLY after they tried several hats on her... like... what... she couldn't do that right at the moment she arrived to the building? So I guess we should have left the "realism" perspective right from the begining? Well okey, let's do that, but what should we gather then from this storytelling, when no one tells nothing essential 70% of the dialogue, and everyone is just acts unrealistic right at the moment when they have to interact with each other; they stare at each other, standing or sitting next to each other with 80% silence of total screentime... it becomes tedious and laughable reminding me of the acting pracice those no names do in a Barátok Közt episode.

So these problems are really apparent in the first half, the second half of the movie is getting more exciting and finally developing to somewhere, expressing its artistic, metaphoric language in a more adequate way. It gets darker, really atmospheric and foreshadowing, you can really feel the arrival of something dark and cold that could shatter all that fanciness and golden age of peace people believe to live in. The music, the sounds, the visuals work really well here, and all the tediousness and fishiness - that we got from the whole 2 and a half hour screening time - fall back a little, making the movie watchable till the end and leaving you with some satisfaction in some ways. But, again, the breaking the forth wall, staring at the whole audience with the eyes that tell you "YOU SEE? YOU SEE IT NOW? HEY! YOU SEE?" moment... well... it's just... really bad... because YES, for god sakes, we saw it, we watched the movie, you don't have to spoonfeed us.

So in the end, as I finished the movie, all I could feel as a conclusion from this all; well... "I don't know"

And that's... again... a shame, because the whole concept of the story that is being unfold on screen is depressingly beautiful; The rotten flashy surface being rusted by the ugliness it hides, and to that the Leiter siblings tell "No way, we shouldn't keep it on hold, release it, and let's face it, whatever is underneath!"

Chernobyl: Vichnaya Pamyat (2019) Season 1, Episode 5

The Conclusion that speaks to the whole world

[10/10 · 4 June 2019]

People from all around Europe may have some connections to this whole tragedy, the effects of Chernobyl Nuclear Plant explosion still brings death to some for nearly 30 years now. This mini-Series pays respect to all these lives that were abruptly taken by the consequences of the sole cold stubburness of dictature Sovietunion maintained by all its deception and lies. It defended its opressing rule 'till it suddenly collapsed and melted down in front of the whole world.

The mini-series is an in memoriam to all the people who lived back then, who suffered, and still suffers, and to all who were kept in dark. It's a drama with facts, it is a story that keeps its grip around our soul and heart. It might be romantic in some factor, but mainly it is a visual portal right to the sole sad truth went down in the late 80's in Chernobyl and places around it. It's a horror that should never happen, ever, especially under the supervision of the heads of a country.

My mother had a miscarriage around Hungary after these events. For me this show is also about this little unborn child, and it will haunt me, the family, just like this whole dark event will haunt the whole humanity around the world 'till the end of its days.

Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)

Bringing the Star Wars back on the table

[9/10 · 28 May 2019]

I have seen the whole SAGA throughout my childhood. I was there with you guys and girls, we were all there, we all love Star Wars for the same and some individual reasons, but overall we all know what Star Wars is about and what makes it Star Wars.

New Hope was an entry of a team of masterminds bringing a blasting new universe into our pop culture. It was only an Adventure movie, an action flick, but set in space, a fantasy movie with sci-fi environment. It was plain simple; there were the GOOD guys and the BAD guys, and the good guys won in the end. That was the whole story...

Then Empire Strikes Back came 3 years later showing that; "NOPE... that's not all... not in a long shot". Because the Force came in the picture, The Light and the Dark Side. It wasn't enough to be the GOOD guy to win. We got into a cold, desolate place where fear, distress, and darkness blooms realising that the Dark Side isn't a thing to just mess with without any consequences. It's a deep black hole where if you fall in it's most possible that you won't come out of it... ever... most probably. And that's why Empire Strikes Back is one of the all time best Star Wars movie, this made the whole Universe complete.

When Force Awakens came out in 2015 we were all hyped and were eager to experience the beloved franchise's new entry. And when finished the screening I felt numb to be honest. When I went to the cinema I was like "Yes, I am gonna see a Star Wars movie!!!" ... and when I came out I was "Well... yes... it was a Star Wars movie..." feeling nothing overall. It was a sad momentum, because it felt like it wasn't talking to me, as a moviegoer, a Star Wars veteran. It was totally set to please the audience of new age, kids from today that might have never seen Star Wars before, the old, original ones etc. and in short I wasn't sure how to feel about it, and still don't whenever I'm rewatching it. J.J. might knows how to handle the camera, how to make beautifull compositions, perfectly framed pictures in every scene, and I am talking seriously, there is no frame you might find problematic visual-wise, but the movie felt hollow and shallow. The only thing that brought any resonanse was the moment when Han and Ben have met each other, and the final duel between Rey and Ben. And that's all I can say for Force Awakens...

Then The Last Jedi arrived in 2017... and oh boi it was an EXPERIENCE; it brought a wide, colorfull pallette to show how many things can be done in a Star Wars movie today that still feels fresh, and new, living, with a spark of soul, that it is daring to overcome any clichés we might find really annoying or even hurtfull today. The perfectly framed pictures and compositions tell their story visually so well, that it reminded me of the new Mad Max's top notch visual communication. The Force is back, in the same unballanced way just like in the Force Awakens, but here it showed off its power in such wicked momentums that you either scream "WTF was that" or "OMG, did that just happen?" and such. You will hate it, you will love it, you will be amazed, and you will be shocked. So many feelings can be awaken by this movie that no matter how logical you will find the story it came up with you will most definitely FEEL SOMETHING (and yes, I am looking at you Force Awakens, that's how you should have done this).

I love every Rey-Ben-Luke-Snoke scenes in this flick; The works of the unballanced Force with its ridiculously wide amplitudes can lead to many surprises and uncertainty as the Jedi-Sith contrast ain't that black and white anymore. Sometimes you are not sure about Luke where he stands, which side on he is. Then there is Ben with his conflicting personality, and Rey's sweet naivity with which she marches throughout any action following the tide of the Force mostly intuitivly. Rey might be also a potential candidate for future unstable Force user, but let's just leave that to J.J. for the final episode.

The movie works for me perfectly because it knows what it wants to communicate seriously and what unseriously. And YES, you will get plenty both of those. Everything that is part of the main narrative keeps its Serious tone, and anything that can be considered secondary is easily blending to the side of Unseriousness, and these two tones switch each other overall perfectly. That's why I consider the Force storyline the Main Bone of this movie, because it communicates its serious factor the way it should. That's why I can ignore all the Porg humor because it is lighthearted and flies easily over your head. And even though I dislike Finn and Rose, their story has minor gravitational pull compared to the Force storyline, so your attention will always focus on those narratives that are really essential. You can bare to watch Finn/Rose's adventure as it is the part where the Star Wars adventure flick factor brings its well crafted and enjoyable actions, those... you know... Star Wars like adventure scenes.

And my annoyances about the movie are also connected to Finn/Rose, oh and of course the "Flying Leia" scene is questionable by everyone, even myself find it totally ridiculous, and laugh at it, but these are so minor issues compared to the whole positively engaging storytelling Last Jedi brings, especially with at least 2 STORY PINNACLES, or let's say PLOT TWISTS towards the end, and one really mindblowing momentum, so 3 really amazing, cathartic moments in total.

So overall this is my third most favorite Star Wars movie after the greatest Empire Strikes Back on the first place and Rogue One on the second. I am grateful to the whole team behind the Last Jedi and Rian Johnson who unfortunatelly gets much-much of hate, and mostly undeserving ones. I can only hope that J.J. will be able to bring simiral emotional ride with his next Star Wars installment, and that the boldness of this movie inspired him to be also more brave and more intuitive with his project.

P.S.: Mark Hamill's comment on the Last Jedi after he saw it - "probably the most sophisticated 'Star Wars' movie since 'Empire'...I just think it's a stunning film - it's challenging, it's surprising, it has humor. I have to put aside my feelings and try to realize the director's feelings the best I can."

Rating: 8.7