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ella451
Reviews
Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire (2023)
Truly terrible. Make it stop.
I usually don't write reviews for movies I don't like. But on the off-chance that this saves someone else from spending two hours on nonsense, here goes...
The movie: essentially whatever footage was left over from making the trailer.
The story: a vaguely plot-shaped device on which to hang visual effects and cool makeup/costumes
The plot: 70% nonsense, 15% good ideas borrowed from elsewhere (Harry Potter, the Matrix, Foundation series among others.) Yes, I'm aware that only adds up to 85% and therein lies my point.
The dialogue: feels like it was written by ChatGPT, then put into Google translate, translated into another language (pick any), then translated back to English - one imagines to make it sound more interesting/complicated/epic.
The effects, costumes & general aesthetic: absolutely killer, like actually insane. From an aesthetic perspective, it's exquisite. Hence, 2 stars (you can't score less than one, the second is for the aesthetic.)
My advice: put it on mute, turn off the closed captions and let it be a beautiful background noise while you invest two hours in something else more worthwhile, like Tetris, trying to teach your dog another language, alphabetizing your socks or vacuuming your Roomba.
Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol (2010)
Ummm wow, best Christmas ep ever!
I seriously contemplated skipping this episode. I've been watching here and there up until this season, rather than straight through. If you're doing the same, don't skip this one!
Usually I'm not a fan of of Christmas episodes, and Dr Who Christmas episodes have been a bit hit and miss in the past, but i LOVED this one.
It was so strange and otherworldly and bizarre but so wonderful. I actually enjoyed it far more than the original A Christmas Carol. It sounded so strange as a plot synopsis, but oh, wow. What an absolutely magical story. It's sentimental without ever being corny or over the top.
The Gilded Age (2022)
Charming and visually stunning
I wasn't sure I was going to like this, I've never been into period dramas, but I really enjoyed the first season. It's a visually spectacular, well-written take on New York in the 1880s. Very much focused on society, and it can be superficial at times, but it has a genuinely good heart and intriguing characters that you really root for. It made me decide to watch Downton Abbey.
Star Trek: Discovery (2017)
Made me love Star Trek
I've never been into Star Trek before. I've seen an episode here and there and it's always intrigued me, but I couldn't handle the old school effects and some of the really dated stereotypes. But THIS show made me love the Star Trek universe. The first season is slow to get started, it's a little sluggish and painful for the first half season, but stick with it because it gets SO GOOD from about two-thirds of the way through and just keeps improving from there.
It is SO well written, it never falls into any of the typical story traps, and the characters are complex, funny, smart and engaging. I cannot speak highly enough of it. I have no idea why people are giving it such poor ratings. I can only assume it's fans of the original or Next Generation who don't love the characters.
Don't believe the bad ratings. It's amazing. Especially if you're not a fan of Star Trek. I'm going back to discover next generation and the original. Star Trek fans, if you want to convert someone, tell them to watch this first.
Arcane: League of Legends (2021)
My partner made me watch this
I don't play League of Legends. I don't know much about it. My partner suggested we watch this, and I wasn't sure I was going to like it at all. I'm fact, I was almost certain I wasn't going to enjoy it. But it seriously blew my mind. I honestly thought that the rating must've been inflated somehow... I stand corrected. It took me a few episodes to get used to the art style, but after two episodes, I fell in love with it. I absolutely adored everything about this series. The writing, the art, the aesthetic, the music... I didn't want it to end.
Over the Garden Wall (2014)
A fairytale you've never heard before
This is, quite possibly, the greatest animated series I've ever seen. Ten times better than any Pixar animation, and - trust me - love Pixar and Disney stuff! Watching this was like hearing a fairytale for the very first time. Absolutely magic.
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Sweet, weird and wonderful
I avoided this movie for ages because I couldn't see how Wes Anderson and stop motion could possibly combine to create something cohesive. Boy was I wrong! This movie is sweet, weird, warm and wonderful - all the things I love about Wes Anderson's movies, but from a completely different perspective than we're used to. Loved it.
Escape Room: Tournament of Champions (2021)
How to ruin a surprisingly good movie...
(Turn it into a franchise.) The first escape room was such a pleasant surprise, but this one just doesn't hit the same. Given the way the first movie ended, I can see why they felt like they *had* to make this, but - for me - it was nowhere near as good. Still a decent thriller with good fx, solid acting and some fun moments, but it's nothing special. If you liked the first one and you're bored, or have nothing else to watch, it's probably worth a look. You could do worse, but just... don't expect too much.
Her (2013)
A hug from the universe
I wasn't sure what to expect from this at all. I tend to avoid romances, and although I generally love sci fi... the idea of a sci fi romance scared me, because I wasn't sure where it would go. But I absolutely adored everything about it. The story was so thoughtful, and it didn't make any of the turns I feared or expected. This movie is like a big bear hug from the universe.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)
Watch this if you need a pick-me-up
This movie is sweet, genuine, funny and feel-good. I found it at the perfect time and it's definitely one I'll watch again. Perfect for if you're having a bad day or need a reminder that there's beauty and good in the world.
Faerie Tale Theatre: The Dancing Princesses (1987)
I watched this non-stop as a kid
My sister and I watched this non-stop as kids. (Recorded from tv onto a vhs as per most 80s kid obsessions.) I'm scared to rewatch it now, I'm case I ruin it... but it was definitely one of my favourite things ever.
Wounds (2019)
Painful or laughable - you decide
Wow, this has to be one of the worst movies ever made. I mean, I get where they were going with it... clearly trying for David Cronenberg vibes, but all they succeeded in creating was a film full of deeply unlikeable characters and some bugs.