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Reviews
We Met in Virtual Reality (2022)
This is embarrassing.
Sure, the concept of this documentary is interesting. A whole film entirely set in VRChat that's airing on a big network like HBO sounds neat...but I can't think of such an embarrassing and cringe way this whole documentary is handled.
We Live in Virtual Reality tries to pull your heart strings and make you feel sympathy towards these people, but it fails horribly because these people are talking about their issues and hardships while they're in anime and furry skins, the whole thing about gender identity being discussed by a hot dog is just absurd and ridiculous to the point it's laughable, when that's not even supposed to be funny.
This is on HBO, this is on the same network as critically acclaimed programming like Barry, The Last of Us, The Sopranos, Curb Your Enthusiasm, all such high tier programming and some of the best of all time, and for this to be on the same channel as those is hilarious.
Good for these people who are doing ok and doing good things for the world or themselves, but oh god please do not ever be in a part of something like this ever again.
One of the worst documentaries I've ever seen.
The Last of Us: Long, Long Time (2023)
It's good...but it's not a masterpiece.
As someone who adores the first 2 episodes, I gotta admit I was sort of led down by this episode, and no it's not because of any homophobic views.
I just thought it was a total pace killer from the violent, dramatic, and action oriented 2 episodes, as this one was more character driven, and I thought that the writing was still really good, and same thing is still said by the performances, it's all fantastic. Though, I wish we saw more of Joel and Ellie, but instead it was all about Bill and Frank's relationship, from when they first met to their death, and again, I'm not trying to be homophobic or anything, far from it, but I just thought this episode lasted way too longer than it needs to be, as this one is also an hour and a half, and some of the stuff they do I just don't care about, like the strawberry scene or when they are in bed together, that could of been cut out and nothing would of changed that much.
But still, a solid episode, though it's not as good as the first two, still though, The Last of Us is peak television right now.
The Last of Us (2023)
A video game adaptation done right.
I didn't expect to love this as much as I did, and I'm saying this as someone who's somehow never played the game before.
First off, I love the cast. I never expected that Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay could be perfect as Joel and Ellie, as they do give some amazing performances, but everyone else is up top of their game here, I especially loved Joel's daughter's performance in the pilot, THAT is actually good and heartbreaking acting there folks.
I also love the set pieces present, they must of been absolute hell to work on but they pay off near the end as they look absolutely gorgeous for a TV show, and so far I don't think most of those are green screens, those are actually real set pieces that they built and filmed on, and it's stunning.
One thing to mention is that I like how they don't use CG a lot, like for the people infected by the fungi, they have costumes and make up and it makes it look even more scary and terrifying that way, and with Ellie's bite mark, you can see the vanes popping out and it looks more real than it needs to be, and honestly I think the only use of CG in the show (or at least the first 2 episodes) is with the plane crashing when the fungi starts spreading in the pilot, and some of the blood effects when they got shot or stabbed.
The soundtrack is also really good, sure it's most of the time just a guitar only making a few notes at a time, but that's what makes it effective, though I think that the licensed music that's sometimes used is a little bit inappropriate to be honest, like in the final moments of the pilot, though that's only a minor issue.
Cinematography is also worth mentioning, the people involved deserve a medal because the cinematography is absolutely stunning, it's shows what you need to see but also hides a lot of things in the background for you to notice, and in the pilot when all hell breaks loose is absolutely incredible, with the camera shaking and focusing mostly on the characters and not what's happening around them, and that shot when the plane is crashing down is absolutely incredible and hard to watch, because it's filmed so perfectly and it doesn't show too much.
Overall, HBO'S take on The Last of Us is absolutely incredible, it's generally the best television show that's come out in a while, and that's something rare to say when you're a video game adaptation, especially to a game that's well beloved as The Last of Us, and I can't wait to watch more of it when the whole season wraps up soon, congrats to the team who made this, because this is an absolute masterpiece.
Shin seiki Evangelion Gekijô-ban: Air/Magokoro wo, kimi ni (1997)
A terrifying, brutal, comfortable experience.
...I don't know how to start this review, it's that special.
The End of Evangelion is an "alternate ending" to Neon Genesis Evangelion, essentially replacing the last 2 episodes of the show, and before you even watch this film, if you haven't already, watch the TV show first. Because this film has barely if not ZERO introductions to the characters, as they expect you watched the show already, so get on that before you seen this, or else you will be very confused.
Anyways, this may be the best animated movie ever made.
If we need to start somewhere, I guess we need to talk about the animation, and like with any GAINAX project, it looks fantastic. Colors pop and animation is really smooth with both the fight scenes and the abstract elements plastered throughout the 2nd half being major highlights.
The music is of course fantastic, it was already good in the show, but here it's more grand and action packed, while also containing more slower and quiet sounding Melodie's, and of course Komm, Susser Tod (Come, Sweet Death in English) being a standout.
The story is of course, just as abstract and absurd as you expect from Evangelion, but this time dialed to 11 all because of the third impact, and that of course it all builds up to a terrifying, dark and surreal finale that makes you feel like your mind is either high on acid or got "mind raped".
Which by the way, we need to talk about the controversial scene's and subject matter, this film talks about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the human condition and instrumentality, Adam, as well as topics of depression, anxiety and even suicide.
All is taken seriously, so if you are sensitive to this stuff, then don't watch this, including the show.
And we don't talk about the hospital scene.
Overall, The End of Evangelion is a masterpiece, and everybody from anime nerds to film buffs should watch it at least once.
That's all, go watch it on Netflix. It's good.