felakan Reviews

Project Runway (2004– )

Rehashing contestants, culture division

[6/10 · 26 August 2023]

I'm writing this review during the airing of the last few episodes of season 20.

The standout since the new lineup in judges and mentor is clearly Christan Siriano. He had the difficult task to follow Tim Gunn who was so beloved by fans. Siriano manages to give good advice to the contestants while showing an entertaining personality and not copying Gunn whatsoever. The judges do a good job too in alternating talking to the contestants. A show host is really not needed anymore. I welcome the new concept and lineup of judges and mentor for sure.

Here's where it all goes wrong for me. The rehashing of the contestants is absolutely ridiculous in season 20 and was ridiculous in All Stars before. There are contestants who show up every 2 or 3 years to this show. What made this show interesting was to see each year new contestants with new aesthetics. Another aspect that I think is awful is the American culture dispute that is woven into the show. It's a reality competition show yes, they've got to show some drama in the work room yes, I understand, but stop with the culture battle. The rest of the world is well aware that the culture division is huge in the US these days. In season 20 people of one skin color repeat constantly how they support people of the same skin color, while emphasizing that the lady with different skin and hair color has to go. The 2nd on the chopping block for them is then the only guy left who has not their skin color. What is this? Is this about fashion or cultural division? Fashion and music can unite people and make people appreciate each others cultural differences. It's a craft and it's art. Instead in season 20 everyone is talking about who is the bigger victim due to cultural injustices inflicted on them in the past. This is also very visible on the social media accounts of the contestants, in case you the reader think I'm making this up.

Lastly the judging from the judges is alright, but of course there are always cases where you will disagree as a viewer. I hope PR comes back with new contestants each year. The All Stars format can be left discontinued in my opinion. And focus on the fashion and the contents of the contestants character and stop with culture division.

Making the Cut (2020– )

Elevated concept with flaws

[7/10 · 28 August 2022]

Concentrating on the creative aspect of designing garments works here better than on Project Runway. Contestants invited are already running their own business for years and are therefore a bit more seasoned. I enjoy watching international contestants. The drama is not completely gone in the workroom but a bit muted, which I like.

I miss an educational factor, which would elevate this format even more. Let them talk about big fashion designers and their influence, fashion history making garments, the fashion industry in general. The focus on Heidi and Tim is unnecessary. But as they are the Exec. Producers I guess they wanna be front and center.

The reasoning for the judging I can mostly get behind but the "have you changed your mind" moment is a cheap gimmick to let the contestants beg for their survival on the show, which comes across tasteless. But on the other hand, that's the fashion industry one-on-one. Kissing influential people's butts to get ahead in the game. Also the selection of the designers for the finale often seems very predetermined, way before the finale.

The biggest flaw is the partnership with Amazon. It feels llike they let only designers win who can be mass marketed. But the most talented designers can be successful without comprising their creations to fit the mold of the mass market and fast fashion. Amazon has the money and helps with the production value of this show tremendously, but it makes it look like they are searching for the next new fast fashion designer. I'd rather see new exciting talents in the vein of McQueen or Galliano.

Overall I enjoy the production value, multifaceted characters and their creative process during the design challenges. Will keep on watching for now.

Eternals (2021)

NO! I disagree with the negative reviews!

[10/10 · 16 January 2022]

No! I disagree with the very bad critics. This is a very good movie. I'm saying this without knowing the source material. So my review is based solely on watching this movie, without any acquired knowledge of the source material beforehand.

The story is more interesting than what most comic book movie adaptions have to offer, due to its more philosophical approach. The story is also coherent and well paced. Too slow you think? No it's not! It's just allowing enough time to develop the characters of the Eternals and their emotional bonds among each other as well as the inner conflicts each one of them has. The Eternals use their powers consistantly during the movie, which gives the viewer stunning visuals and entertaining action. This movie is not boring!

I read another critic that the Deviants hardly show up. I can't understand this critic. They are a recurring threat, from the very beginning, to the very end of the movie.

The acting is good, not spellbinding, which is absolutely fine for a comic book adaption. My favourite performances are the ones from Madden as Ikaris and Nanjiani as Kingo.

Be open to more than just a movie filled with some generic "two super heroes face off in the streets of some big city" scenes. Allow your mind to wander a bit and be open to the world of the Eternals.

A Quiet Place Part II (2020)

Why do these monsters kill?

[5/10 · 1 January 2022]

There are many monster horror movies out there. The bloodlust of the monsters make it scary and fun. As dumb as the plots of horror movies often are, you still can figure out a reason why the monsters kill. Either it's becaue they defend their territory, maybe life, or they hunt the humans to eat them. Here in this movie these monsters run rampant, attacking everything that makes a sound. They don't defend anything nor do they kill to eat. So what's the purpose of the bloodlust?

The first movie has 2 major advantages working for it. We spend the whole movie with the same family and we connect with them quickly on an emotional level, because of their family dynamic. A family member gets killed early on. So we really fear for their life more and more, the longer the movie goes on. Then the concept of being quiet, not just the characters in the movie but also the audience in the movie theater. That was a bit of a novelty. Because of these two reasons, the first movie worked well when it was released. But these 2 reasons are gone with this sequel. I did not care a bit for any character to be slaughtered. I knew in the beginning the kids will save the day and the character of Emily Blunt will just be the mother hen. Which just made me think (out of boredom ) more of "why again do these monsters kill?".

This movie is boring and an unnecessary sequel to an above average predecessor. The cinematography is certainly above average, the acting is solid and the monsters are ok. So I don't rate this lower as a 5, but I was tempted.

Foundation (2021– )

Story keeps me interested, cgi is the strongest factor

[7/10 · 2 October 2021]

I've not read the books so I can't tell if this series is adapted in a faithful manner from the source.

I do think the premise and how the story progresses so far is interesting ( watched ep. 3). Time jumps, a variety of characters being introduced slowly, that all is fine with me.

The cgi though is the most compelling factor to keep on watching. The dialogue can be riddle driven but as this is just the beginning of the show. I'm patient enough to see how the story unfolds.

Here is maybe a weird complaint, at least I've never read it before on here. What's about the age gap between the men and women in relationships? The men all seem almost double the age as the women.

The actress Lou L. Playing Gael is appearantly 26 but she looks like 16 here, while her love interest seems in his early 30's. Same goes for Leah H. Playing Salvor looks like maybe 18 and her love interest looks like around 40. Didn't we progress from the creepy love couples from the 50's Hollywood area where this was supposed to be norm? Not saying the actors doing a bad job, but the casting in regards of couples is really creepy because of the age difference and therefore I'm not buying any chemistry between them.

American Gods (2017–2021)

Visually impressive but jumbled story line

[6/10 · 31 January 2021]

I delved into this series without reading the books beforehand. The concept and the striking visuals immediately made me interested in this series. The premise and the characters are promising within the first episodes. I liked the fact that I only knew a few gods by heart, like Odin, Anubis and Thoth. Others I quickly understood what they are all about, and for others it took me a bit longer to decipher.

Right from the start you are told that there is a war coming between the new and old gods? Now in Season 3, Ep. 3 - where is this war? This story development would only work for me when they have impactful confrontations (mini wars) between at least some of the gods every few episodes that drive the story forward. And no, just hurling some insults, a stand off, staring each other down is not a satisfying confrontation. Let them fight where they display their powers in some way. All what is really going on so far is that Mr. Wednesday is traveling through the country and meeting different old gods and introducing them to us very vaguely. It's tedious at this point and I get less and less enthusiastic getting to know and understand the gods. I can only watch this series if I'm in a very chill mood ready to experience trippy visuals and riddle driven dialogues. I mean even Shadow Moon is sick of all the riddled speeches of the gods!

And what about the story line of Laura Moon? Please, who cares about her story? Like she was a leech to her husband in season 1, so is she a leech to the whole story, just slowing everything further down. I fast forward every time she is on screen. As for Shadow Moon. Cool, since the end of season 2 we know at least one important fact about him but what's next? Is he then a semi god? What are his powers? When are they gonna tell us more? In season 6 which will come out in 2028? C'mon!

All in all, the potential is there. Great actors doing a great job but the story is too vague, moving forward in a snail pace in an endless repeating loop. I keep on watching until the end of this season 3. If the writers are not going to bring some substance and satisfying part resolutions to the story threads, I'm out. Right now it feels like a Tour de France, I mean America, with no stage wins and a finish line that is far far far away.

Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2024)

Stunning visuals but too emotional for ST

[5/10 · 2 December 2020]

Ok, so I read many reviews ripping this this series apart in every aspect. I have to say I don't mind the story been told so far in these 3 seasons. It is interesting enought to keep me engaged to see what happens next. The best part of this show are the visuals which I enjoy alot, especially since season 3. Is it necessary to have the story being told and so heavily centered around one character? No! It would not automatically ruin it for me. The major problem is, and here is agree with most of the reviewers, that the character of M. Burnham is annoying. Either that is how the part is written or Martin-Green is extremely overacting. It is truly frustrating to see the center character constantly having an emotional breakdown on a ST series. Your normal Joe working 9 to 5 cannot afford to be such an emotional wreck. How should we accept as viewers someone working on a science vessel in the future could be this unstable? And yes, she really does whisper all the time. Who came up with this? Unfortunaly this Burnham character goes tremendously on my nerves more and more and I actually do think about stop watching.

So please showrunners, make some major adjustment to Burnham and other wheepy characters, such as Tilly. Give the crew in general more of a backbone and less emotional traumas on a weekly base. Georgiou and Saru are my favourites because they don't cry a river each episode. 3 stars for the visuals, 1 star for the story and 1 star of course for M. Yeoh.

Mortal Engines (2018)

Well paced action packed apocalypse fantasy tale

[8/10 · 13 October 2019]

This movie does not reinvent the wheel. But that is what most reviewer here criticize. It's an action fantasy movie with a good enough script to feel emerged into the story. The pace is very well handled, from start to finish, no dull moments. The visuals, as almost everyone agrees here, are impressive and surely enjoyable. Characters are fleshed out and well acted.

So what's the problem really, I don't know the books, so I can't tell if it's well adapted to screen. But for all you can ask for, this is an entertaining movie that action and sci-fi/fantasy fans alike, should be able to enjoy.

The Expanse (2015–2022)

Reigning sci-fi series

[10/10 · 23 June 2019]

This sci-fi series ticks all the boxes. It's a hardcore sci-fi space opera. It's all what you could ask for. Steadily and carefully developed characters that are interesting, possible and multi faceted. Fascinating story with a broad spectrum of human relationships and the need of humankind to compete and expand.

There is no superficial hurry to introduce the audience to all the characters and scene locations. It all builds naturally in a well timed flow, without being boring or overwhelming. The characters are not white and black but have multiple layers instead, something even a great looking sci-fi series needs to have, in order to make it really spellbinding. All the actors do a great job. The visuals are top notch. I have never felt so immersed into space as when I watch this series. The space physics shown look more possible/real than completely made up, compared to other sci-fi series.

This series needs a bit of commitment at first to dive into the story but it did not take long until it gripped me and never let me go. While this is a brave statement, I do confess, without a doubt, this is the best sci-fi series I've ever watched. If you just care a little for sci-fi, give this one a try please.

Electric Dreams: Human Is (2017) Season 1, Episode 6

It's about humanity not war

[9/10 · 23 June 2019]

I'm baffled by the reviews I read here. People complaining that the wife accepts her husband to be alien, just to have a better marriage and having fun in the sheets from now on. Or people are not satisfied with the conflict scenario between earth and the other planet and think there should be some kind of conflict solution being presented by the end. But that is not what this story is all about. I mean do people even read the episode title?

It is about what makes a human really human. As Vera tells the council in the end, being human means to be compassioned, loving, caring and giving oneself up for someone else. That is the big question mark! Because Silas is not human anymore, yet he shows the characteristics mentioned by Vera. Characteristics that were missing by Silas the human. So once again, the big question here is: What makes a human really human?

In my opinion this episode is done pretty well. The environement looks futurustic, stylish and cold. The actors play humans that lack emotions and compassion. People who are quick to go to war. They fit right into this prison looking environment. I enjoyed the story and the performance of Cranston and Davis. The visuals transported me into this future world where humankind lost sight of compassion and love.