ChangoMutney Reviews

The Tourist: Episode #2.1 (2024) Season 2, Episode 1

Oh. Come on!

[4/10 · 25 January 2024]

I was looking forward to season 2, as season 1 had been a fun 'brain off' type of fair.

Unfortunately, it seemed to be less a drama and more a comedy. I'm taking specifically about the chase scene after the main character been kidnapped, then escapes and just runs along the road. If you're trying to shake off an ancient van, you'd run off road. Then the two idiotic characters, the ex bf and the detective, just round out the comedy.

Also, in a quiet lakeside cafe, you'd think the sounds of a struggle between 4 people, including the smashing of a large mirror may raise some concern or even attention. Nope, apparently everyone is deaf.

I suppose I'll watch the second episode, it may improve but I think it probably won't.

Black Summer (2019–2021)

Good and frustrating at the same time

[8/10 · 12 July 2021]

I was interested with this as it was the '28 Days Later' style of zombie rather than the lame TWD shuffling zombies.

The first season was very good, timeline and focus jumping back and forth in chapters, so stuff you come across in the background has it's place later in the episode. You don't get spoon-fed, you stay with the characters and there is no cutting to government or anyone else in charge, to get a wider view.

Season 1, guns weren't too widespread, so zombies were a major problem. Even so, people were slow to headshot (if at all) zombies which got frustrating.

Season 2, it was very hard to keep track of who was with who, why they got split up, when they got split up and it got very hard to like or feel empathy with any of the characters that were left (including mum/daughter combo who were going to shoot a harmless man for simply getting them lost trying to find a ski lodge which he ultimately found)

Some real frustrations in season 2, just shoot them in the damn head already!!

Extraction (2020)

Very enjoyable

[8/10 · 28 April 2020]

I really liked the fact this film *wasn't set in the US, Paris or London". That gives it a little more 'unpredictability'.

The action sequences were great, especially the 11 minute chase sequence which I had to rewatch to appreciate the camera work in particular- amazing!

Sure the plot was a little threadbare and there was barely any character development but I still enjoyed the film immensely.

To all the people whining about it misrepresenting Dhaka, so what?? London, for example, has been misrepresented so many times, but it's a film, it's not supposed to be real life.

Goliath (2016–2021)

S1 and S2 really good. S3...what on Earth...

[8/10 · 16 October 2019]

I am 5 episodes into S3, and I am wondering what is going on with the story.

S1 and S2 showed a flawed human being who was a legal genius, fighting the big guys on behalf of the small people.

S3....as I said, I'm 5 episodes in and he's spent most of the time wandering around in a chemical daze, with a super annoying woman who has appeared out of nowhere. There are 3 episodes left and they haven't even begun to tackle (the woefully underused) Dennis Quaid and his cabal.

Things better pick up soon!

Rated 8/10 on the strength of S1 and S2

Carnival Row (2019–2023)

Leave politics at the door

[9/10 · 31 August 2019]

Too many reviewers are unable to let go of the real world and enjoy a fantasy steampunk series.

Personally, thoroughly enjoying it so far, a much needed slice of steampunk, well executed. If they only could make Perdido Street Station, I'd die happy!

Room on the Broom (2012 TV Movie)

Fantastic adaptation

[10/10 · 14 April 2019]

I'd been reading this book to my 3 year old for a while when I stumbled across the animated version. We sat there enraptured, both laughing at the same bits and me explaining things she didn't understand - like the witch fainting which wasn't mentioned explicitly in the book.

This is an absolute joy, and to the reviewers who said there's no humour for adults, well you need to pay more attention. Without giving anything away, watch the cat in the haystack scene, and the adult frog when the dragon flies over. And there is more.

An absolute joy, plenty of rewatch value. I am looking forward to introducing this book and animation to my younger daughter

Informer (2018)

Brilliant...until the cafe shooting reveal

[8/10 · 25 January 2019]

This series was excellent. The pace, the acting, the story, all amazing. I couldn't watch it quickly enough.

However- the reveal of who the cafe shooter was (in the last episode), was a huge disappointment. The person had no motive, no real skin in the game, and it brought the whole series crashing down as a result. Such a shame, as there were some very interesting characters that are begging to be explored further.

The Domestics (2018)

Great film

[9/10 · 29 December 2018]

Ignore the fools, this is a fun movie. Some idiot pointed out that only 3% of the population remained and took umbrage that there consequently were so many people. Well duh, that's 9m people still, and of course they'd band together- and mostly in population centres.

Anyway, the world building in this was nicely done, you got an overview of the different gangs and what their USP was. This definitely was something I wanted to know more about.

Storywise, pace was good, I was never bored and it certainly seemed more realistic than the overrated Walking Dead

I hope they make a second, keen to see more of their world, but somehow I doubt it given all the negative reviews.

CHIPS (2017)

Why even bother?

[1/10 · 11 April 2017]

I loved CHiPS as a kid, even watching reruns now is totally enjoyable. It was great TV, maybe a little preachy, but it was of the time.

This film, however, is a shambles. There was no need to even call it CHIPS, just call it "2 Dumb Cops" or whatever as the original heritage makes zero difference to this. It's a huge shame this has any link to the original TV series.

Avoid.

Terminator Salvation (2009)

Fun, but can't get past some things

[7/10 · 12 June 2009]

Seemed this film went in fits and starts, lurching from a great scene to a scene where you had to suspend your disbelief more than normal.

Although it was good fun all around, I couldn't get past:

* they had tonnes of fuel available for helis, A10s and no doubt to run generators for the s***loads of stuff that needs electricity

* "they've never pushed up this far before"- well why the hell not? Clearly they have flying scouts which aren't easy to take out, surely their airfields and bases would've been scouted and vapourised by now? And also the huge stompy thing which clearly isn't easy to take down.

* finally- they are in SkyNet, they are mass-producing Terminators, yet only 2 bother to engage John/ Kyle, and none are bothering their transport outside.

I'd watch it again, but they missed an opportunity to make it more gritty and desperate, without everyone have ultra-white teeth and it not looking like mankind is struggling very much at all.

Silent Hill (2006)

Enjoyed it immensely

[8/10 · 3 June 2009]

I've never played the game, didn't even know what it was about. That's how I like films, no pre-conceptions.

And I was pleasantly surprised by the film. I like my horror eerie rather than gory, and this has it in spades. I felt it let itself down a bit once the claustrophobic and 'alone' feeling of just the two ladies was dispelled with the dash to the church and all the other people there. Also, once they 'befriended' the lady who was assaulting Dahlia, they didn't ask the obvious questions that I would've asked about the town

I did love the fact it wasn't sugar coated, and nothing was really explained- like why the ash from the air, why there are several dimensions etc.

RocknRolla (2008)

No Snatch or LSa2SB but still fun

[8/10 · 26 September 2008]

I went to watch this purposely knowing nothing about it other than a trailer I'd seen some time before. I didn't want to hear what the critics said, so I avoided any mention of it.

I was pleasantly surprised how much fun it was. I really liked the fact there weren't many big names in it so anyone could potentially be killed.

And once again, Toby Kebbell shows us what a brilliant actor he is. Only seen him in 'Dead Mans Shoes' previously, but his acting in that was astounding.

All in all, really enjoyed it. It's no Snatch, but that would be a very hard film to top. There's some laughs, some tense moments and some indestructible Russians.

I couldn't shake the feeling that the actor who played Archie, Mark Strong, looked very much like a young Andy Garcia!!!

The Kingdom (2007)

Great film, certain moments could've been better

[8/10 · 10 August 2008]

I really liked this film- energetic, fast paced and intelligent. The opening montage giving a potted history of the Saudis was very interesting and helps set the scene.

The fact we were treated to seeing life from the Saudi Police/ Military's point of view was excellent, and the 2 main Saudi actors who played Haytham and Al Ghazi were great in their roles.

Although it was heart stopping action, the scene where they save Leavitt right at the last minute was a bit silly- makes for nice cinema, but the film would've been darker and better off had they not made it in time.

That part did remind me a bit of the scene in Clear and Present Danger where they are ambushed by roof-top gunmen, but this was better executed.

All in all, great film, would recommend it to others, but it could've been even better!

Five Fingers (2006)

Never really gripped me

[5/10 · 16 November 2007]

Hmm.

Not sure what to make of this one. I thought it started very well, no pre-amble and got into the action straightaway. Colm Meaney's character seemed so lightweight you knew he was going to get killed.

About halfway through the film, I started to not care about Ryan Phillipe's character. I started not to care about his 'food programme'. And sadly I saw the twist coming and was proved right.

The acting was OK, Laurence Fishburne was great. It's just the story never really dragged you in. It felt like the film would've benefited more from being longer, allowing you to get more involved.

Open Range (2003)

Great film, nice surprise

[9/10 · 5 April 2004]

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw this film. I wasn't around in the "Western era" (obviously!), but I would imagine that gunfights were very much like in this film- smoky, loud and inaccurate gunfire. Aside from that, the film also accurately portrays what it's like to be hit by an object- you generally fall down and don't get up in a hurry. It just makes a change to see something unlike the other westerns where there were sharpshooters galore, and punch-ups go on for ever.

Kudos to the writer, director and actors for this gripping story, with particular merit to Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall who play the grizzled 'free grazers'. I was also surprised to see Michael Gambon in this film, but his role is also excellently acted and a great Mr Nasty character.

Panic Room (2002)

*****WARNING- SPOILER******

[7/10 · 8 May 2002]

SPOILERS BELOW************

The first half of this film was great, good build up, but I just couldn't ignore several holes....

The worst ones- 3 criminals, one of them an experienced guy who works for a security firm, break into a house with loads of cameras. First thing you do? Smash up the cameras, so the Panic Room occupants can't watch you, surely. Do they do that? No.

Raoul gets his hand trapped in the door- a very heavy door. Does he pass out? No. Does his hand, when freed, resemble a piece of bloody paper? No. In fact, this indestructable guy get additionally whacked over the head with a sledgehammer, knocked over a bannister and still comes back for more, to be a serious threat. Ridiculous.

And why, oh why,, just for once, can't the bad guys get away with it? Why did Forest Whittaker come back? Why not take off, and actually not be predictable? Using the morality thing, we know he was a 'good' character, didn't he deserve to get away with it?!

This could've been such a good film....