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Star Trek: Picard: Võx (2023)
Night and Day
As someone who left true, non "bombing" reviews for episodes of seasons 1 and 2 that went as low as a legitimate 1/10, and only ever as high as a 4/10, I hope that lends some weight to the 10/10 I gave this episode. No Star Trek would have received a similar score since Voyager episode Blink of an Eye in late 1999/early 2000. After Voyager ended, Star Trek went MIA and hasn't been seen since. Sure, other science fiction shows may have used the name "Star Trek", but they were no more Star Trek than Rey is a Skywalker, and that includes the first two abominable seasons of this very show (which could easily be argued as the worst of all the modern Trek)
I know this season was a one off and we'll likely never get anything like it again, so to Terry Matalas who somehow, whether through trickery, bribes, favors, or even plain just staying under the radar, managed to get this done in the manner it was, you did an amazing job. I only wish this wasn't an aberration and was instead a sign of things to come, but I'm not as naive as I once was and I'm absolutely positive it'll be back to business as usual for "Star Trek" going forward.
Well, for all the generic science fiction shows they'll create that will unjustly appropriate the name anyway. Which is why I've once again cancelled by subscription after the finale aired. If nothing else, Terry showed that it is possible to win back the countless people modern Trek drove away, but we all know they won't take the learnings from this season and apply them going forward.
That being the case, this will likely be the last new Star Trek show I'll ever see. I couldn't have asked for a better way to wrap up the franchise than this (and only this) season of Picard.
Well done Terry.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More, with Feeling (2001)
21 Years Later......
And it's still one of my favorite episode of TV ever. I recently went through the entire series for the first time in probably 15 years, and after a rocky first season, this show has held up incredibly well.
What's more impressive is that I'm usually not a fan of musicals or musical episodes of shows, but the songs were amazing, and fit the context of the turmoil Buffy was experiencing perfectly.
Hollywood in 2022 could learn a whole hell of a lot from this show. It showed it is not only possible to cover social issues without sacrificing the story, but how to do it in a way that actually benefits it.
Today, everything is so hamfisted that they're actually doing harm to the issues they claim to be representing.
House of the Dragon (2022)
1=Bomb / 10=Simp
My main point in writing this quick review is because I see so few LEGITIMATE ones posted so far. Anyone who gives this a 1 is simply review bombing, and anyone who gives it a 10 is show simping. Neither of those two scores should be listed to or taken seriously, as this series premier isn't either of those.
I was torn between a 6 and a 7, but I went with 7 since I'm probably more skeptical than I should be because of how GoT season 8 went down, so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt in my score.
I'm not going to get into much about the story bc I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but more of a 10,000 foot viewing of the show, it has promise. Not as good as GoT series premier, but that's to be expected.
Reading this (or anyone's) review of a show like this likely won't sway anyone's opinion as they've already decided if they'll watch it or not, but I really wanted to offset the haters and fluffers and say it's good, not great, but that doesn't mean it won't be as the show progresses.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022)
This show......
Isn't a 0 or 1 like many will (and have been) tempted to review it as, and I even made every attempt at being more nuanced than a 2, but upon reflection, anything higher would be dishonest on my part. Bad CGI, cringy dialogue, hamfisted, infantile messaging, and the neutering of another legacy character.
If I knew nothing about this show, watched the first episode, and someone told me it was written by a couple of middle schoolers for a project, not only would I have thought it probable, but would have said to myself "ah, NOW much of what I saw makes sense"
1UP (2022)
Nope
Not going to waste my time diving into the "writing" or the "acting". This "film" wasted enough of my time. I'm only here to do my part to ensure anyone on the fence about seeing this, doesn't.
They/Them (2022)
Was This Satire?
Watching it, this movie seemed to take itself seriously....it wasn't until after it was over that I started asking "what the hell was that?". I started second guessing on if this was supposed to be satire that was just poorly executed, but then again, with today's Hollywood, there's no way they'd have poked fun at the demographic by making it satire.
Needless to say, I have no idea what I just watched.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: The Elysian Kingdom (2022)
Too Early
Although this was your typical TOS or TNG holodeck episode, it came far, FAR too early in the series. The point of these types of episodes is to juxtapose who a character normally is with something completely out of character (think Warfs "I am not a merry man!")
Problem is, we don't know who these characters are yet. I think we could have (maybe) made this episode work this early in the series, but the writing for the episodes before it would have needed to be perfect, as would the acting. The writing wasn't, nor were the actors, who have been uneven and still feeling out who they're supposed to be.
Earliest this kind of ep could have worked would be sometime in season 2....or even season 3 if the character development continues to be as uneven as it has been thus far.
I still have hope for this series, but the last 2 episodes have shown either a lack of experience, lack of awareness, or most likely, a little of both.
I just keep reminding myself how rough the first season of TNG was, however, TNG was made at a time when studios knew how to self correct. Short of this seasons Stranger Things, I can't think of another example in the past decade of a show able (or sadly willing) to do the same.
Terror on the Prairie (2022)
Good Movie, Few Plot Issues
It was good seeing an old school turn your brain off shootem up western again, but like a lot of movies these days, there were coincidences that had they not occured, the plot couldn't have happened.
Better that 90% of current movies, but not without it's flaws.
What Is a Woman? (2022)
Important movie
This movie gets a few extra points for its cultural importance. In a day and age where "facts" and truths seem to change daily and arbitrarily, this movie grounds itself in the objective, which is something we don't have much of these days.
Props to DW.
Ricky Gervais: SuperNature (2022)
Shows Comedy Isn't Dead
Even if this wasn't hilarious, this was still an important production to show comedians they don't need to bow to the extremely loud, extreme minority of people who are offended by the sun coming up in the morning.
Interceptor (2022)
This Made Me Cancel Netflix
Title says it all. This was the straw that broke the camel's back. Even if they tried, they couldn't have created a movie more intended to disrespect the viewer and their time, even if that was what the goal was, than what they made here.
Cancelled my Netflix, but I guess I pay a month in advance, so I'll have access to it for 3 more weeks.
If Netflix ever gets a clue and starts providing content people want rather than believe people will happily pay for ANYTHING they put out, maybe I'll consider rejoining....but I'm not going to hold my breath.
Space Force (2020)
Wish I could give it two ratings....
...one for season 1 and one for season 2. Season one was....an interesting take that didn't fit into the conventional show categories of "comedy, drama, etc". Instead it kind of did its own thing and in a lot of ways it worked.
Then season 2.... Moving away from the uniqueness season 1 had and devolved into low brow humor and a vessel to make sure everyone knows Netflix is progressive. The character in question adds so little to the show, I wouldn't be surprised if it was a last minute decision that had to be smashed into a story that was already written, and likely mostly shot already requiring re-shoots.
The drop in comedic intelligence and the blatant "look how inclusive we are!" changes killed the show, and I wasn't the least bit surprised it was cancelled shortly after. When you sell out your artistic vision to condescendingly cater to an extremely small sampling of people while giving the finger to the other 99.232%, being cancelled is to be expected and even encouraged so that hopefully it can be used as a cautionary tale to other shows going forward.
Firestarter (2022)
Most Average Movie to Ever Average
Lately when I watch a new movie, I ask myself "how would this movie be without it's special effects?". Too many movies get by on shiney and sparkley colors on the screen for a large part of the movie.
If you do that here, you don't even have an average movie.
What happened to Hollywood in terms of smart writing? I'd throw acting in there too, but I think it's unfair to judge actors when they have the scripts and writing they're dealing with now. I'm not even sure how they can say many of the lines with a straight face, so that's impressive I guess.
If you literally have nothing else to do, this would be ok to have on in the background.
The Rookie (2018)
You've Read It Already
You've read the other reviews, and most of the recent ones have discussed what happened to this show since the end of season 2. I want add to it, but I'll just say I agree with all of it.
If you want to watch a show about police where the show runners obviously hate the police and want them defunded, then this is the show for you.
Halo (2022)
Not As Bad As Some Say
So as someone who has played all the Halo games and know the lore, this wasn't as bad as a lot of people are making it out to be (although I hear the second episode is FAR worse, so this is just about the first episode)
I guess it was far more..... visceral than I expected it to be and everything seemed to have "weight" to it. From the violence to the effects, armor, etc, I enjoyed all of that. The story....well, it wasn't a terrible start, but my hopes aren't high that they'll stick the landing based on how they chose to start. Impossible? No. Unlikely? Yes, especially if what I'm hearing about episode 2 is true, but again, it gets a 7 from me based on just this first episode.
From here.....I guess we'll see.
Last Survivors (2021)
3 but getting a 1
This movie is a 3 or 4, but I'm giving it a 1 to help balance out the early, obviously fake 9s and 10s.
Plot is a mishmash of a dozen movies you've seen before, and although it was nice to see Silverstone again and her acting was serviceable, the rest was below average to bad.
Also, am I the only one wondering how this movie warrants a "sci-fi" category?
If you literally have nothing else to watch, this could be ok to have on in the background while you browse your phone or something.
Arcane: League of Legends (2021)
What a Surprise!
Ok, first off, I'm not one of those people over simply likes a movie or show and that alone means I give it a 10. This show however, is a true 10. What an absolute surprise, and here I thought great writing in Hollywood was dead. Granted the video game developers Riot games was involved as it's their IP.
Being a gamer, I was passively aware of League of Legends, but never played it. Knowing the kind of game it was, I was skeptical it would translate into a cohesive story. Boy was I wrong.
Writing - Fantastic. It was adult and wasn't afraid to tackle political issues in a way that just plain worked. It didn't beat you over the head with it or assume the viewers were idiots.
Visuals - Combination of 2D and 3D where cell shading would be mixed with 3D elements....long story short, it was top notch
FIGHT SCENES! - The fight scenes in this show may well be my favorite stylized fight scenes....ever. It can't really be explained, other than it's fantastic and always has a great contemporary score.
Soundtrack/Score -
Loved it. Very different from most other animated shows. It's contemporary and the music type changes regularly in accordance with the faction that's on screen. Rock, techno, rap, it's all there and puts some already fantastic scenes over the top.
Side Note - The first 2 episodes are setup and don't reflect the season as a whole in really any way. It's setting up the universe and characters and their relationships to people and the world as a hole. Episodes 3-9 are the meat of the season
Nagative - The season is over! This is one of those shows where you're pissed you have to wait to see more.
That's everything. Watch it, you won't be disappointed.
Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)
Having ID Resurgence Over 5 Makes Me Sad
Title says it all. The fact that, statistically speaking, half the people who watched this movie gave it a better than average score speaks volumes about the overall intellect level of the general viewing audience.
Take the above paragraph as my review of the film and make what you will of it.
Cosmic Sin (2021)
Bad. As in, bad bad.
Don't even know where to begin. Script, directing, story, logic, acting....
Just everything, bad. I don't know if Bruce Willis owed the director a favor so he agreed to this movie, but this has to be the worst movie I've seen in a long while. And that's coming from a sci fi and Bruce Willis fan.
It's worse than bad actually as most of it is painful to watch, and even makes me angry to see Bruce Willis being tied to this dumpster fire.
Avoid at all costs
The Wrong Missy (2020)
Better Than Expected
So I wasn't expecting much....or even knew this was a movie until I fired up Netflix and saw it was released literally minutes earlier. I really liked Lauren Lapkus in the later seasons of The Big Bang Theory, so I was curious about her in this. It is a Happy Madison production, so of course many of the gang play small parts, and David Spade as we all know is very hit or miss.
So it's an over the top comedy, with a lot of physical comedy with Lauren. Some land, some don't (literally in one case), but I enjoyed it overall. Part of it I think was because it reminded me of when there were more movies like this. Movies that didn't take themselves seriously, some of which didn't work, but some of them really did (Tommy Boy anyone?). I'm not putting it in that stature, but there were nastalgic aspects of when movies were just movies and not platforms to shove an agenda down your throat. It was just good goofy fun with a lot of physical comedy and a tried and true base story of not knowing love was in front of you all along.
Behind the Curve (2018)
2 Part Quick Review
So, I want to comment on the 2 aspects I came across while watching this. First, it was EXTREMELY hard for me to watch. Now, admittedly, I have a hard time witnessing the depths of stupidity humanity has sprinkled within in. Always have, always will. This runs from flat earthers to religion and beyond. So this self failing negativly impacted my experience watching this. My gut reaction was to rate it much lower, but I know that wouldn't be fair for anyone reading this and thinking about watching it.
Second, as for the documentary itself, it was well done in one sense, but misleading in another. Most people going into it will think it's at least in part going to have some decent arguments from the flat earthers to justify their belief. However, the best "proof" that was given was "I can see that building there. If the Earth was round, I shouldn't be able to see it". Face palm. Instead, 90% of it was aimed at the personalities and mental mindsets of people who consider themselves flat earthers, and fortunately, it doesn't paint them in a very flattering light. The editing was well done, the people included in the documentary were ...... interesting, and the creators did their best to not go out of their way to make the believers look like fools.....that's something they did all on their own, so in a way, it was nice to see the producers and director not pile it on.
Bottom line, if you have spare time to kill and witnessing how ridiculous some of your neighbors can be doesn't bother you, it's entertaining enough.
Middle Men (2009)
IDK How This Movie is Only a 6.8
Middle Men is a hidden gem of movies that straddle the line between documentary and comedy. The acting is too notch, the story is fascinating, funny, and loosely based on a true story of what has become the biggest business on the internet. The comedic timing is perfect, the dialog funny, the story moves at a good pace and keeps you engaged, and it has an all star cast.... I really don't know how this movie doesn't rate higher. The only thing I can think of is people object to the subject matter.
For anyone that wants to laugh or even learn about a huge reason why online commerce is what it is today, give this movie a shot.
The Last Kingdom: Episode #2.3 (2017)
Brutal
This episode was one of the more impactful scenes I've seen in movie or TV....it's right up there with the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan in its authenticity and depiction of how harsh things were for certain people in times past. Nothing was watered down.
As always, the acting, music, directing, etc, were all top notch, and what we've come to expect from this show.
I've heard people say this show is underrated, and based on how few people I know have seen or ever heard of it, that would seem to be true, but I do have to say, that could partly be true to the brutal nature and accurate depictions this show demonstrates might not be for everyone. Nothing is taboo in The Last Kingdom, which is all the worse for knowing that this is exactly how life was for many people during that time. However, I think anyone even mildly interested in the genre should give the show a chance. It took me about 3 episodes to know that I'd be watching this series through its conclusion.
Supernatural: Exile on Main St. (2010)
Not Bad, But After Season 5 Finally, Picking The Story Back Up Was Going To Be Tough
Season 5 ended the main story arc of the first 5 years of the show. Starting season 6 having to basically reboot the series was always going to be tough and there was bound to be tons of haters. With the challenges the writers faced trying to find a way to basically start over, it was decent all things considered.
One gripe though is when shows that feature characters who are supposed to be weapons experts make even the most basic mistake in terminology....in a handgun, it's called a MAGAZINE, not a clip.
Legacies (2018)
Watered Down
My biggest gripes with this series is twofold....first, WAY too much teen highschool drama, second, watered down witches, vamps, and werewolves. In TVD and TO, just one of any of those individuals could take down a town singlehandedly. Yet, in order to fit a narrative, they conveniently forget their particular attributes, don't use them, or use them so sparingly they get their butts kicked.
If this were a new show, that wouldn't be a problem, but this is a spin-off where the cannon has been set, so it's glaring and annoying when what should be powerful beings get whooped just to prolong an episode or the story.