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Reviews
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Move Along Home (1993)
Hilariously bad, to the point of being iconic
I'd mark this as DS9's worst episode and amongst some of the least liked in franchise history. Its storyline, the laughable jargon made up for the game the Wadi species brings to the station, and the acting are really tough to stomach. The scene with the hopscotch-like dance with lyrics is surreal.
But all of this goes to making a memorable episode but not for the reasons the writers would have wanted. Many find it to be a throw away episode or one to be skipped over. I recommend you watch it, as a right of passage, if not for reference material for a smattering of jokes and references to it that are made in Star Trek: Lower Decks.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Under the Cloak of War (2023)
A Finest Hour
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has served up its finest episode so far. War trauma and post traumatic stress examined at an emotional depth that rarely is touched or given lease in a television program. On a topic where pulling punches is frequent these days, SNW goes head-long and strides further than most shows would go into traumatizing it's characters in order to get to a palpable truth on the subject matter.
Doctor M'Benga and Nurse Chapel are extraordinarily captivating in this episode, with Olusanmokun putting in his best performance in the role of the Doctor. Ragged tension cuts a jagged edge along the seams of this episode through their portrayals, yet the narrative and the lessons & realizations hold taunt throughout. This is as good as Star Trek gets at its primary purpose: examining the challenging elements of the human condition through the lens of science fiction.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
A Worthy Final Adventure
The franchise wraps up properly with a classic adventure that relies heavily on all of the original Indiana Jones tropes. And that's honestly what we all deserved and needed: the feel of the adventure seen in theaters in the 80's. The disgruntled and pessimistic reviewers will tell you that there's a failure here because it doesn't break new ground and is formulaic. But they miss the point because these films were always in keeping with the old adventure serials.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a superb jolt in the arm as the sidekick. While the film can be a bit long-winded in places, there's very little to be sad with here in exchange for a final Indiana Jones adventure that washes away the hurt from Indy 4. It has each of the things you need in an Indiana Jones film: train and car chases, the archetypical villain, a sense of history, a Macguffin, old world locations, and a lovely twist on Indy's fear of snakes.
Go to the theater and enjoy the adventure!
Enterprise: These Are the Voyages... (2005)
Good Concept, Poor Execution, Catastrophic Timing
Conceptually this episode is solid: an episode in an episode to explore duty and self-sacrifice, wrapped in one of TNG's finest episodes on the same topics ("The Pegasus"). The major character event is tipped too easily and less impactful. A poor end to a beloved character. Worst of all is that this good concept for an episode is used at the wrong time in the season/show. It shouldn't be used as a season finale, no less the series finale. Sadly, fans of the series were robbed of a pointed and focused conclusion to the story of characters they loved. There are a few utterly pivotal moments in Star Trek history that this episode is set around, but each is shortchanged in being explored. The overarching storyline that includes characters from TNG is repetitive, drawn-out without progression of the narrative, and eventually snuffs out any vitality to what should have been the focus in the first place: culmination of the storylines of Enterprise's main characters.
The most disappointing finale to any Star Trek series because it doesn't provide trust in the characters that had driven a fine, but underappreciated series, for four seasons. After a truly strong fourth season, this finale will leave you feeling betrayed.
Im Westen nichts Neues (2022)
Still stunned
It's been 30 minutes. I'm still stunned and numb and haven't moved from the couch. I sunk in shock and immersed in bitter futility from the interpretation of the violation of war that this adaptation of Remarque's masterpiece has laid bear. Perfectly and devastatingly captures on film in its definitive form. Gruesome in its honesty. Cruel in its reality. Vital in its message. Unwavering in its witness to the destruction that war brings to us all.
Erich Maria Remarque's novel is untouchable; this cinema version claws at every corner of the book as close as ever done. Paul's portrayal is enthralling. A must watch for any soul who still believes in the romanticism of war.
The West Wing: The Midterms (2000)
That moment...and then a superb moment around it
We all remember THE Bartlet moment from this episode. The superb monologue. But a fantastic episode touching continuously on crucial West Wing tropes and topics surrounds it. Top five WW episode.
The VelociPastor (2018)
Horrible. Watch it now!!!!
I'm not going to throw much detail into this review; I'm just going to tell you the only thing you need to know:
This is one of the worst movies I've ever seen and you need to do yourself the best favor you'll give yourself all year and Watch. It. Now. No regrets!
Mazes and Monsters (1982)
Worth it for the hats alone
This is an absurd film. There is much to unpack, but it's worth watching just for the character who wears a different utterly useless and out-of-place hat in every scene. 100% would recommend, but yeah it's mad haggard.