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xander-t96
Reviews
Halloween Ends (2022)
So, this one was interesting
I just finished the new Halloween trilogy last night and have some thoughts on this one. The first 2 movies were basically what you would expect from the Halloween series, but "Ends" is really different.
I read just the headlines of a few reviews of this movie before watching it with a lot of them talking about how this movie isn't a slasher. I watched the trailer and it looked much like a continuation of the first 2, so it's safe to say I was conflicted from what the reviews said vs what I saw in the trailer. After finishing the movie I get it now.
This movie, while it does have some kills, mostly in the second half, focuses more on the idea of Michael rather than him being set loose as a force of evil. The reason I appreciated this is because it felt like Michael killed like 80 people in the first 2 movies, so the final film slowing things down and wrapping the story up felt appropriate. I get why some didn't like it and I honestly think I would've liked it less had I gone into the movie totally blind, but having a sense of what I was about to watch mentally prepared me.
Overall, this was an excellent trilogy that I plan on rewatching every October from now on. I wish more of the classic 80s and 90s horror series had more modern reboots with the original characters like this as it doesn't really get much better.
Halloween (2018): 9/10
Halloween Kills: 8/10
Halloween Ends: 7/10
Overall Trilogy: 8.5/10.
The Continental: Brothers in Arms (2023)
Incredible Episode
Reading the negative and middling reviews really lowered my expectations for this show so I'll have to rewatch it for a more accurate take but man what a great episode. With a lot of shows that are divisive among reviewers, even if I enjoy the show, I can often see why someone might not like it, in the case of "The Continental" I truly don't understand the hate.
Most of the show takes place somewhere in the mid 70s and while some of the little details like costumes or sets or cars seem to be from a different time period, I personally love it. It makes the show feel unique, like it's in an alternate universe, where the viewers know it takes place in New York but the city has more of a "Gotham" vibe than a 70s NY vibe.
The creators clearly put a ton of money into set productions as they are nearly all mind blowing. The John Wick franchise has always emphasized the classiness of its environments and The Continental is no exception.
I don't mean to gush so much but I really was not expecting much from this series and I'm very glad I decided to give it a chance. I have yet to watch the 2nd episode as I'm waiting for the 3rd to come out so I can watch them back-to-back. I implore everyone to give this show a chance before you let the average and bad reviews get in your head. Well done to the creators (at least so far)!!!
Westworld: The Auguries (2022)
Forget about waiting for the former glory of season 1
Season 1 was simply a masterpiece and I don't think it's physically possible for this show to produce another season on that level. Season 2 was pretty good for the most part but season 3 was very average TV, not bad, but nothing special either. 1 episode in to season 4 and it already feels much more engaging than the prior. I hope the showrunners build on this because it feels like they've found a way to turn the ship.
Reviews rating this below a 4 are just done with the show in my opinion, which is fine as it did dip in quality in season 3 but if you still have hope for where this show can go, like me, then give season 4 a chance.
The Boys: Payback (2022)
Pretty good start, but....
I am praying Starlight's storyline doesn't descend into girl power nonsense. I hate how shows are so on-the-nose these days whenever they put anything having to do with "the message", whatever happened to subtlety? Starlight being promoted to co-captain feels organic but then the show has to outright explain the moment to us... we get it.
Every other scene was amazing and I just hope they can at least keep anything related to social justice to a minimum.
Succession (2018)
This show is an actual masterpiece!
Just want to start out by saying that Season 2 of Succession is one of the most compelling seasons of TV I have ever beheld. I don't know why but every sentence of the second season is pitch perfect to me, and the finale is so good it's hard to watch other shows after seeing it.
I was surprised and not surprised simultaneously at how many negative reviews this show seems to have (yes I'm aware it has an 8.8/10) but there are many recent negative critiques. This show is certainly not for everyone, I myself had to watch the first episode 3 different times until I finally got hooked and blasted through the rest. If this series isn't for you and you only watched a few episodes before quitting, why waste people's time with your opinion? Watching 2-3 episodes and then reviewing the series as a whole would be like watching the first 15 minutes of Lord of the Rings and then eating the whole trilogy, just move on with your life.
I also saw many complaints about the plot and the repetitive nature of certain elements in the show. About the plot; this show is not intended to be about the plot. The only reason there even is a plot is to engage the characters. What this series is really about is the characters and the dynamics of the Roy family. The dialogue between the characters might be the BEST I've ever heard in a show (seriously!) and so different from any other show. Now I've seen the show through all 3 seasons twice and I have to say I never felt any repetitiveness, except for maybe Logan wanting to buy Pierce in season 2 and 3. But when he mentions it in S3 it's hardly ever brought up again afterwards, it's literally just to show the audience that Logan does in fact go after Pierce every couple of years.
I'm obsessed with this show but it's hard for me to recommend it to people because I think most people would either find it amazing or trash. After watching a few episodes everyone should be able to tell whether or not they will like it.
Season 1: 9/10
Season 2: 10/10
Season 3: 10/10.
Jupiter's Legacy (2021)
I read the comics
I'm not a huge comic book guy in general but I have read these and they are awesome. The biggest mistake this show makes is not killing Sheldon Sampson (Josh Duhamel) in the first season. In the books Sheldon is killed pretty early on by his brother and it is epic. That would've really gotten people's attention if he'd been killed in this first season (the creators probably didn't want to get rid of Josh so soon but it's what the show needed). Potential-wise this show had the chance to be among the greatest superhero shows like The Boys and Invincible but the budget wasn't high enough and the creators weren't ambitious enough. It's a shame because the source material is really cool.
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
People can like whatever they want
However... if you do like this movie AND consider yourself to be a Star Wars fan, honestly, I question your intelligence. This movie took a MASSIVE DUMP on all Lucas-era Star Wars stories, and it did it on purpose! I don't understand how Rian Johnson can call himself a fan of Star Wars when he gets to direct a mainstream Star Wars installment and go out of his way to destroy everything that comes before it. Rian Johnson is an idiot in isolation with this movie (he's actually made some good stuff in the past) and he is just so proud of it. I'm proud when I drop a clean deuce but I don't go around telling people about it. This movie (and the entire trilogy really) sucks so hard I will never watch them again.
P. S. JJ Abrams is a talentless hack who is actually getting worse with every new movie he makes. It's actually kind of impressive.
The Mummy (2017)
Typical Modern Day Hollywood TRASH
Alex Kurtzman is such a talentless hack I don't understand how he keeps getting jobs, but it's really no surprise when you realize he was brought up in the movie business by the king of talentless hacks, JJ Abrams. Both of these guys are a cancer to anything they touch, I just wish more people would realize this. I guess it doesn't matter at this point since they're both filthy rich and have destroyed every pre-established IPs they've come into contact with, namely Star Trek and Star Wars.
This movie is hardly a movie at all. I'm fairly certain staring at a deuce I've just dropped (I'm talking a Taco Bell deuce) for 2 hours would provide more entertainment than this abomination. I worry for the IQ of any person who enjoys this movie.
A Quiet Place Part II (2020)
Most overrated movie of the year
Literally every single moment of "tension" comes from one of the characters making decisions so dumb and unbelievable it just immediately takes you out of the story. This problem stems from terrible writing. Sure there are some cool sequences of people being chased with really well-done cinematography but those scenes DO NOT come anywhere close to saving this movie. This movie is not a 1/10 I'm just offsetting at least 1 dummy that gave it a 10. I can't believe how well this movie was received as it is not good.
Sons of Anarchy (2008)
Ignore Bad Reviews
Seriously I don't what people on here are smoking to give this a bad rating. Sure it's not perfect (especially season 6 which does drag a little) but damn is it good! The main draw to the show is the characters and the perfect casting. Season 1-4 are outstanding, I would give them all 10 stars. Seasons 5 and 7 are very elite, like a 9.5. Season 6 I would have to say is 7-8stars but still worth watching to see the last season with correct context. Charlie Hunnam as Jax Teller is not only super badass but highly believable. Ron Perlman is also incredible, as he is in everything.
Just for a sense of what I consider to be top tier TV shows I'm going to write down some of my top shows (all time) in no particular order: Succession, Game of Thrones (seasons 1-4), Ozark, Breaking Bad, The Boys, Bates Motel, and Chernobyl. I would rate SOA probably 1 tier below these shows but it's still excellent excellent entertainment.
I was honestly shocked at all of the bad reviews. I get this kind of series isn't going to be for everyone but rating it 1 star is just objectively wrong.