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Reviews
Black Sails: XXXVIII. (2017)
Solid Finale, Somewhat Underwhelming
Black Sails has been an interesting progression of a show. After a promising but slow start, seasons 2 and 3 picked up and proved to be on par with TV's best productions. The first half of season 4 was phenomenal as well, but... the last four episodes have left a lot to be desired. I REALLY wanted to enjoy this, and for the first half hour of the finale, all guns are blazing and it's great. But from there on out it feels like the writers are trying to wrap things up in a hurry; which makes sense given the essential tie in to "Treasure Island," the novel on which the series is based. Still, as the end credits rolled, I couldn't help but feel like this was an opportunity partially missed.
Blackbeard was underutilized as a character, that much is clear by the ending. The keelhauling episode was fantastic on its own; but when you take into account the endless banter (and no action) of episodes 7 and 8, his presence is sorely missed and makes you wonder what could have been. Part of me is biased because I wanted to see him get vengeance for Vane, but we never got to see much of what made him a legend; lighting cannon fuses in his beard for example. It's disappointing when a pirate show featuring the most fearsome pirate in history doesn't have a major role in the narrative.
It also would have been fulfilling to see Jack meet his historical end at the hands of the noose. He's visibly affected by Vane's death throughout the season, and there is foreshadowing early on that he might meet the same fate. Seeing how he would respond in the face of death and a heartbreaking last scene with Anne would have been more satisfying for his character arc. The nod to Mary Read at the end was cool though.
I'm not buying Thomas Hamilton being alive on a slave plantation after all those years, even if it is in Savannah, where Flint dies in the book. The entire war against civilization is thrown away so that Silver can be with Madi... kind of cliché and anticlimactic that that's the primary basis for their divide.
And Max? Most useless character ever.
Overall, Black Sails has been a very good series and is easily the best pirate production ever filmed. That said, it does fizzle out a bit in the end and leaves some things to be desired. Hopefully it will serve as a blueprint to be expanded upon in future productions.
Black Sails: XXXIII. (2017)
Calm Before the Storm
"XXXIII" is an excellent mid-season transition that effectively sets up the approaching endgame. Though the episode consists of mostly talking, the dialogue is effective in progressing the plot forward and the visuals are breathtaking to behold. The introduction of Havana is especially noteworthy; not only is the depiction of the town impressive, but it's great that the writers didn't leave out the looming threat of Spain, given that Season 3 spent so much time building that up. Not having Max around for an episode was a welcome relief. Can't wait to see how the ending unfolds.
Black Sails: XXXI. (2017)
Wow. Just Unbelievable.
Black Sails once again gives Game of Thrones a run for its money in one of the show's best episodes to date. I don't remember watching anything like this; the combination of subtlety, dialogue, and sheer brutality of the events that transpire are parallel to none, save for Rains of Castamere. The writing is Shakespearean-esque, and equates to watching a novel in the form of a top production TV show.
I can't help but question the writers' decision in offing a major character so early in the season; it will be interesting to see how things play out after a somewhat underwhelming start. XXXI is a gem by itself however; one of the series' best offerings thus far.
Onward we sail...
P.S. Ignore the pretentious history buffs. This is not a documentary, nor does it proclaim itself to be. It's a TV show based on a CHILDREN'S BOOK which draws INFLUENCE from historical events. Stop picking your noses.
Black Sails: XXVII. (2016)
Brilliant TV; Criminally Underrated.
Black Sails is without a question the most underrated show on television. Its writing and pacing are second to none, and no show does a better job of building on itself.
The big anonymous event in this episode is gut-wrenching and tragic; the writers do a fantastic job of portraying the pirates - who were essentially terrorists at the time - as empathetic and human. In doing so, the audience is compelled to root for the pirates in a war they were doomed to lose from the beginning. It's a show for the underdog.
It's been extremely rewarding to watch the progression of Black Sails evolve from a cool show about pirates, to one of the most intelligent, suspenseful, and well written ever made. It will leave a lasting legacy.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
Ignore the Critics; This is the Best Spidey Movie Yet.
It would be an understatement to say that I was never a fan of the Raimi films. Whether it was the lazy kidnap Mary Jane plots, William Dafoe in a Power Rangers outfit, a miscast Tobey Maguire, or Kirsten Dunst turning everything into a superhero soap-opera, I failed to understand the universal acclaim surrounding Raimi's first two movies (we shall not speak of the atrocious Spider-Man 3) in which the source material was largely abandoned for a more conventional movie approach.
With Marc Webb's direction, we finally have a film that understands the essence of Spider-Man. Its predecessor in 2012's The Amazing Spider-Man was a fine effort, but with Peter now fully immersed in the role of Spider-Man, things get more interesting. There's plenty to love here, and fans of the comics will no doubt be pleased. The cast is outstanding; Andrew Garfield deserves an Oscar for "Best Actor to Ever Portray a Superhero." From his very first scene where he's knocking on the truck window of a Russian terrorist, the wisecracking nature of the Spidey we know and love from the comics is in full swing. Also returning from the previous film is Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy, who once again provides dynamic chemistry with Garfield that is light years beyond Maguire/Dunst. The two of them shine on screen together and it's delightful to watch.
Electro is clearly the main villain in the film, but it is Dane DeHaan who really steals the show as Harry Osborne. Desperate to save his life, he believes Spider-Man's blood is his only salvation to his deteriorating condition. And this is what makes his portrayal so intriguing; he's essentially a tragic villain spawned by desperation and we sympathize with him. Though his Green Goblin is largely set up for the next film, he is infinitely more menacing than Dafoe's campy portrayal, and generates excitement for the future of the franchise.
Complaints of a bloated plot and an unfocused narrative have been common criticisms from film critics. This sequel picks up where the first movie left off on the origin story surrounding Peter's father, which is cool, how they've evolved the mystery of Peter's parents into an enticing back story. Meanwhile, we delve into Peter's trauma regarding the ghost of Gwen's father, his deteriorating relationships as a result of his responsibility in being Spider-Man, all while a slew of super- villains are served up by OsCorp (Well
really only two). Sure, there is a lot going on, but some slight disorganization is certainly justified by the sheer level of ambition.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is everything I've ever wanted in a Spider-Man movie; it is the most faithful, thought invoking, and entertaining adaption to date of bringing the web-slinger to the big screen. The cast is phenomenal, the ambition is Dark Knight Rises caliber, and there's no shortage of heart; I was reduced to tears twice. Ignore the critics; this one is for the fans. And let's face it, we deserve it.