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Reviews
No Time to Die (2021)
Disappointing end
James Bond is the kind of agent many men would want to be. A man who can have all the women he wants but also emerge a hero by overcoming villains who are over the top in their plots to pull down society. And there is nothing wrong with that. It's a fantasy you pay for on-screen.
Until society decides that it has to unmake one of the longest-running characters in cinema history and turn it into something else. I find it a shame that the otherwise superb Daniel Craig 007 movies end this way, and not just because of the ending itself. This movie just lacked life. The feel and dynamic you could always depend on with a James Bond movie.
As to the future, we'll see how this storied franchise survives going forward with politically-correct influences and female headliners. End of an era. That's what this movie was, and it was a poor one at that.
Debris (2021)
Keeps getting better
The show is a bit emotional for my taste early on but the episodes are well written and the material for each episode is superb. After the first few it settles in really well and the characters start to really show through.
The female lead is fantastic. The male lead grows on you. I have to say it's nice to see a show like this with fresh actors too btw. By the time the first season is over I was happy with both of them.
Lastly it's hard to find great scifi shows. So for fans like myself this one's a rare treat. You know like all the good scifi shows this will be cancelled earlier than it should be, but hopefully it gets at least a few seasons because it's superb.
Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Glad that this chapter is done
I've watched every Star Wars movie and show. My love of the franchise goes back to standing in line with my family to see what was a trilogy of great storytelling. It wasn't perfect, but the characters were memorable and they along with that storytelling have carried this franchise for 30+ years.
But this movie (and the trio of movies it is a part of) simply cap an attempt to sell a poor story with all the trappings of Star Wars.
The actual storyline of this movie is completely unfocused. The characters are unlikable. But what makes me angry is that there is no homage to what came before, and instead there is actually a sense of disgust. They unilaterally dump on the themes and things that make this franchise so unique, as if this enlightened era in which we now live knows better.
It just comes up short in so many ways. Like for example with the mask and Kylo Ren. He didn't need the "new Darth Vader mask." Why not? Because the masks you see with the dark side are intended to extend the life span of the wearer, the evil personification of using technology to hold onto more life as you use the dark side to wreak havoc. If they wanted him to wear a mask you don't make it symbolic, that is ridiculous. You have him suffer a terrible defeat from which he grows into a darker and machine-fed/sinister version of himself.
But anyway. I could talk for days about how they came up short in this series. And this movie in particular is going to go down as a great example of doing it wrong for the next generation of film makers.
ZeroZeroZero (2019)
A series of rare quality
Tells a story through multiple factions and tells it well. What a joy to encounter a show like this.
For All Mankind (2019)
Creative and intriguing
Disregard the complaining and whining . If they had gone into Von Braun's background it would end up being consumed by that instead of a show that looks forward to "What if?"
This show is a fascinating exercise in that way, and I won't ruin anything for anyone other than to say it is well worth the watch.
El ministerio del tiempo (2015)
Absolutely superb
It's so nice to see a "sci-fi" show where they don't have to go crazy with CGI effects and where they maintain a focus on the importance of dialogue. The actors in this are outstanding, the characters are deep with their own struggles and ideas and their actions are true to who they are throughout the storyline.
On the plotting side the show has an overarching struggle vs internal decay and rogue agents and human stupidity and yet they string together missions that are fun and enjoyable here and there to keep things light. They also take time to demonstrate how the agents adjust to the difference in eras and sometimes to hilarious effect, and all of it ties together to create a show that is absolutely fantastic. Bravo!
Shut Eye (2016)
Solid show that could have been great
The strength of the show is the main character, who carries things along in the face of setback after setback. The rest of the cast is good as well, but overall the reason this show didn't ever live up to expectations is directly due to the plot.
First off, Charlie's psychic ability is a sideshow. It's a tease, that hints at there being more but it never materializes. It is an under-utilized mechanic in a show that without it is nothing special. The basic gist is that he gets outmaneuvered by the gypsies and thugs, and manages to win just enough to survive. This is something that was an enormous oversight by the writing team, where he should have a true psychic ability that allows him to win out a bit more than he does in the face of his situation.
Even in his love life he's the victim. Never does he bring anything to the plot that overtakes that victimization. And so my second problem with the show is his wife, who he is devoted to, but the relationship just seems to leave things wanting. That could have been addressed by him moving on, but again this show seems to be more about keeping him in the box.
Lastly Isabella Rosselini is superb in this show. I think it would have been better to have her get some wins in terms of her scheming, vice her fat son who seems to somehow be able to outsmart everyone else.
Good actors throughout this show, and it demonstrates the importance of writing and plot. Due to those reasons this show is solid, but unspectacular. I can see why it was cancelled.
Vinyl (2016)
What it could have been
This show has moments of clarity, but they're lost in negative turn after negative turn. Acting is great, but the plot and writing just never gives the watcher a reason.
It's a shame, because had they found a way to demonstrate some positive turns in the story to cling onto amid the endless complications that arise, this show could have been something special.