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Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (1988)
Movie Magic
THE PROS: Part ode to the magic of the movie theatre and part a coming of age film, this film is a must-watch. While the comedy and mentor-like bond between the grandfatherly Alfredo and young Salvatore are easily the highlights, this movie goes above and beyond in creating a unique world full of memorable background characters and details in the quaint little village of Giancaldo.
Honestly not much else to say... if you are a film buff, just watch it.
THE CONS: Nothing really... my only small quibble is that the ending tries to be a tad too sentimental for my tastes and didn't hit me like I think the movie intended to. That being said, that was a personal taste thing and I did like the subtle building theme of changing times throughout the movie.
FINAL VERDICT: It is crazy to me that a film in 1989 was already indirectly predicting the rise of streaming and the argument of whether theatres are still relevant. Cinema Paradiso, however, builds a strong case and reminder of how magical the movie theatre experience was, is, and will be in the future. With COVID having shut down theatres for so long, I can't think of a better movie to recommend checking out before you go to the theatres again and reminding yourself of why it's so special. Highly recommended.
In the Heights (2021)
A Musical Celebration of Community
(Disclaimer: This was the first movie I watched in theatres since the start of COVID which may have caused a positive bias before the film had even started... take that as you will.)
The Pros: Besides the popcorn, the magic of the movies is strongly associated to being transported to another world on the big screen, being engrossed by the plot and its characters, and being part of a theatre community who can also share this emotional journey.
As one of the first movies released since theatres re-opened, In the Heights is a joyous celebration of community with likeable characters and uplifting messages that welcome viewers back; in addition, its elaborate choreography, spectacular direction, and vibrant colours simply beg to be seen on the big screen.
The movie has several jaw-dropping numbers particularly in the first half, whether it is the emotional solo of "Paciencia y Fe" or the catchy tune with jawdropping choreography of "96 000".
Overall, the mix of comedy and emotion in the movie works well and the characters are likeable. Particular standouts in this department include the loving elderly "abuela" Claudia, the college struggles of Nina (and her father's sacrifices to try and make her succeed). While the protagonist Usnavi's journey goes a bit downhill (see the cons), he is overall charming and funny even though I am not quite sure he works as the lead.
The Cons: Primarily, the biggest drawback of the film is that the second half starts to drag and there are three different moments where the film could have ended but kept going. What makes this particularly baffling is that there are several characters and subplots which could have been cut to easily fix the flow of the movie.
While Nina's college struggles are compelling, the film pairs her in a romantic subplot that remains very underdeveloped throughout the film. Lin Manuel Miranda pops in from time to time as comedic relief, which while funny, adds absolutely nothing to the plot. Interesting potential side plots (gentrification of the neighbourhood, DACA protests) get brought up and never expanded on, while certain dimensions of characters (Vanessa's fashion dreams) never gets expanded on... the list goes on.
One final negative but while the romantic chemistry between Usnavi and Vanessa (arguably the two leads) starts off strong, by the end it feels that the film is just adding unnecessary conflict to pad the run time. Also, Vanessa by the end of the film comes off as childish, encouraging and succeeding for Usnavi to give up his lifelong dreams literally overnight... just rushed storytelling there.
CONCLUSION: While the con section may have been long, they were by no means film-breaking and this was still a very pleasant movie. You could feel the passion behind the camera while watching and the energy was undoubtedly infectious. If you absolutely can't watch musicals, stay clear but otherwise, I strongly recommend to grab a ticket.
A Quiet Place Part II (2020)
A Decent Rollercoaster Ride
(NOTE: All spoilers of the film will be in the cons and identified in a spoiler warning)
THE PROS: A Quiet Place II follows its predecessor's footsteps in creating a memorable opening sequence that is easily the highlight of the movie.
The expanded scope and wordbuilding in this film at parts is interesting, even if underdeveloped (see the cons).
The first 20-30 minutes of this movie has minimal background music (one of my largest gripes with the first movie) that does wonders for the tension before it comes back in full force.
While the negatives will appear to be long, I do want to praise the film's brisk runtime; while not as good as the first movie, it was an entertaining ride and I did have a good time watching it even if I doubt I will be remembering much of it in a month.
THE CONS: I won't go into spoilers quite yet but will say that there were a lot of questionable character decisions in this movie, as well as the monster being inconsistent of how quick and ruthless it was as a killer.
My biggest gripe with both films, however, has been with the movies not living up to their title. Both movies excel and are memorable in scenes that leave the characters struggling to be quiet in order to not be killed. Sadly, the movie seems skittish with this novel concept and insists in putting in "suspenseful" background music that spoonfeeds the audience of what they should be feeling at all times and ruins any moment of horror by having viewers bracing for impact.
And then there are the story problems with this movie....
(SPOILERS):
- Why does Emily Blunt's character not go herself after her missing child but forces an acquaintance from the old world to go instead?
- When Emily Blunt's character leaves the bunker, why does her son decide to leave and poke around the area aimlessly?
- Who were the survivors on the boat area and what was their motive/purpose?
- Why is the monster a ruthless, effective killer in some scenes (opening, attack at the camp) and then takes its sweet time to attack when it comes to the protagonists?
- Why was the ending so abrupt? What was the arc or character growth in this film?
... the list goes on
(END SPOILERS)
The Verdict: Overall it was a fun time at the movies but A Quiet Place Part II is not something I would put as essential viewing.
Onward (2020)
A Worthy Journey
The Good: As a fan of Pixar, I was very worried about this movie, particularly as the setting came off to me as so uninspired from the trailers. For the first half-hour (see the bad), these fears were not assuaged. When our heroes, however, entered the tavern, something magical happened and the film drastically improved as the setting started to open up and show the viewer some unexpectedly thoughtful commentary on urbanization.
While many reviews have deservedly focused on the ending that pulls on the hearstrings, they seem to miss that one of the key themes of the film is the growth of our protagonists' confidence throughout the film. Aligned with this growth is the opening of the setting, as what is an initially mundane premise increasingly opens up and adds magic and memorable moments to the viewer.
This all leads to the ending which I can't in good conscience spoil.... but just be warned that you will need to bring a pack of tissues for.
The Bad: As mentioned before, the movie starts very slow and seems very average/uninspired. It also feels like the movie's pacing could be a little bit tighter in places.
IMDB doesn't allow me to give .5 (this movie is screaming for a 7.5 score), but I want to mention that while the ending will stick with me, I feel like a lot of the movie is disposable (I can't remember the character's names for the life of me). That being said, the movie is still very entertaining!
Film Highlight: The ending... again I can't spoil but everything just really comes together.
Conclusion: While slightly disposable, this movie is still worth seeing (though not necessarily in theatres) and will grow on you as it goes along. Just make sure to bring the tissues.
Joker (2019)
Despite too much hype, Joker is still good cinema
The Good: Generally when watching a movie, I begin drawing conclusions about what score I am going to give it at around the halfway point based off how I am feeling. Joker is unique in that I was so engrossed by this movie that I wasn't even properly reflecting at all on any rating during this film.
While watching this movie, I was blown away by the production design, which gave a very Grimy Gotham that felt realistic, yet still unsettling in an incoming nightmare sort of way.
Following this of course is Joaquin's performance. While having everything being from Arthur's perspective led to some dissappointing moments (see The Bad), I have to commend the filmmakers for sticking so unflinchinglty to one point of view. Like it or not, we are stuck in Arthur's shoes and forced to empathize partly with him, and Joaquin Phoenix brings an amazing performance that ensures we are invested in the ride.
Zazie Beetz's character twist was a genuine rug pull twist that set up Joker's fractured mind well and the concept of him being an unreliable narrator.
The Bad: Overall, while I left the theatre satisfied, this movie still left me feeling a bit empty and like it could have been a bit more.
The biggest flaw for me in this movie was that Arthur didn't really have a journey. While the movie seems to argue that society has caused him to snap from the incidents presented in the movie, I feel that he was already there; that is, he was going to turn into Joker under any circumstances. For me, this ruins any real arc in the movie and lessens the tragedy of a good man going down the wrong path.
Moreover, the ending of this film rubbed me the wrong way the more I reflected on it. While it can be argued that Joker being an unreliable narrator is true to his character, this film was meant to be his origin and should provide a proper story. By saying that parts of his story was fiction (as the ending implied), it negates anything that happened in the movie and completely ruins any stakes that were there. This also just feels like a way to wave away the tons of plot holes that were in the movie, as it can just be blamed on the Joker lying.
If you take this story at face value, there was a lot of lazy storytelling or plot holes. The biggest ommission was explaining how society was collapsing in Gotham, and why people were so drawn to Arthur. Moreover, how did someone record Arthur's performance to show Robert De Niro's character and get him on the show? Did they have camcorders in the 70s? Who let Arthur enter the show with a gun? The list goes on and on.
Finally, while the darkness of this film should be expected given the trailers, this was almost comically grim. Why does everything in Gotham seem intent to beat up Arthur?
Film Highlight: Arthur's interview on TV. What a tense, well-acted moment that also gave a huge light to what the film wanted to say of how society tends to give a blind eye to the downtrodden.
Conclusion: A well-acted, gorgeous film that unfortunately has some faults that keep it from being great.
Escape Room (2019)
An Adequate Afternoon Escape
The Good: I had no intention of watching this film until reviews consistently said it was worth an afternoon tv watch, which I have to agree after watching it for free.
Wisely steering away from horror, the movie is a fun little thriller, ratcheting the tension up in each escape room. These escape rooms are the highlight of the movie, as some of the clues to solve them are particularly clever, especially in the first room.
While I expected the characters to be detestable, I was surprised to find most of them likeable and for me to actually be rooting for them. While they are cliches, they bounce off each other quite well.
The Bad: The actively bad section was the final 20 minutes where it becomes revealed why these people were put there. The explanation was ridiculous, and it was very shameless how the movie did it's sequel-bait.
Apart from this, nothing was actively bad apart from this movie not being particularly exceptional.
Film Highlight: In the first escape room where the characters find out things are not what they seem. The tension here was raised magnificently.
Conclusion: Recommend watching as a light afternoon or evening watch.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)
Where's the Pants?
DISCLAIMER: While it is a fact that a movie can be for anyone, this movie was definitely not made for me. If you are asking why I decided to review this movie knowing that I am not the intended audience, the answer, dear reader, is that I want to keep my mind open to all kind of movies, even under the "BFF Slumber Party" genre (also I made a promise I would watch this movie to a friend, and I sadly keep my promises). Nevertheless, I am going to try and judge this movie on its own merits and not have any pre-notions bias my judgement.
THE GOOD: Not knowing what the movie is about (besides 4 friends being bonded by pants). I was surprised by the movie splitting up the four friends and saying 4 short stories. This structure was interesting and the way the friends interacted between each other was touching at times. The most crucial thing for this movie to achieve is believing in the bond of these friends and overall it was charming enough.
Carmen's story was the most human and she actually came across as likeable in her story. While some moments of her story were a bit forced (see the bad), her character had understandable reactions and was realistic in the context of feeling angered that her dad moved on. This story had realistic stakes and a sweet ending.
Tibby had a few interesting scenes shooting the documentary, particularly the scene where Bailey introduces her to the subject playing Dragon's Lair. These little moments actually seemed to be rooted in slice-of-life reality, and were charming to watch. While Tibby's storyline was a mess, the conclusion was still touching overall.
If you are Greek, the ridiculousness of some of Lena's scenes would make you smile.
THE BAD: Oh dear. Now, I am still going to be professional talking about this movie, but... it just didn't click. First, while the pants were an interesting conceit and linkage to the movie, they were hardly ever mentioned. At the very least, the pants could be with whoever's story we are seeing, but the writers could not even manage this, which raises the question of why these pants were important at all.
Looking at Lena's thread, almost every scene strained with any source of reality. While on a Greek island with her family, Lena interacts with virtually no one other than Kostas, which has a lack of world-building. Meanwhile, ignoring the ridicilousness of how Lena and Kostas met (how did she fall in the water exactly?), Kostas comes across as unlikeable. He pressures Lena constantly to have a relationship with him (despite him being in university and her in high school) and constantly stalks her around the island, appearing out of nowhere or sneaking up behind her. Yet somehow, the movie keeps trying to convince the viewer that Kostas is loveable and swoon worthy, such as in a scene where he sadistically forces Lena to touch fish despite her being clearly uncomfortable that made me question what I was watching.
Meanwhile, Bridget's storyline is this horrible scenario, but reversed, as she keeps forcing herself on her coach (who professionally turns down her advances), despite not even considering the implication that she is a teenager and he is a young adult. Her horny attempts at seducing him are mainly played for laughs, but I have seen Tolstoy films with more comedy in them. Also, that thing where the soccer players worship her after she scores is SO stupid.
While Tibby's character is better by virtue of not being reprehensible, her storyline suffers one thing... a lack of stakes and conflict. In her entire storyline, there is only incident happening to her, but she is never really challenged. Everything in her storyline randomly happens, from Bailey's random appearance to the documentary that gets dropped for learning about Bailey's leukemia and it is never exactly clear what lesson was learned.
Finally, while Carmen's storyline is serviceable, it should be mentioned that the film goes out of its way to make her father and stepmother to be a bit too negligent. Also, Paul's dad being an alcoholic is introduced for no reason before the character is promptly dropped.
HIGHLIGHT: Slim pickings but I did smile at Tibby and Bailey interview the subject at the convenience store. Some rare jokes that actually landed and the interactions did feel natural for this one scene.
CONCLUSION: Do your research for this movie, but you will know if you will love or hate this movie even before seeing it (if you hate-watch it though, make sure to watch it with others so you can joke around and keep your sanity).
Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood (2019)
Quentin's "Roma"
The Good: The headline said this is Quentin's "Roma". By this, I mean that not much happens plot-wise in this film other than the end, as we mainly follow the characters throughout their lives. While some may say that this is boring, I would argue that the lead characters are so engaging that this does not matter.
Case in point, Rick Dalton, a has-been actor fighting his demons, is a complex character brought to life by Leonardo Dicaprio. His casting in this film is brilliant as he shows an air of patheticness not usually associated with his persona. What I particularly appreciated about the character is that he appears to have a stutter when he is not acting, and the movie never definitively answers what causes it? Is it his alcoholism; nerves and anxieties of being a has-been; something else? This casting also contributes to the themes of the film, which shows and tells us how appearances to the audience make or break careers.
This brings us to Sharon Tate, the rising starlet brought to life brilliantly by Margot Robbie. While there has been some controversy over the amount of lines Robbie was given, I would argue that her role in this film is not at all diminished by this. She portrays the innocence and joys of acting, and her silent acting brings a pathos to the film, especially as we the audience know what is going to happen to her in real life.
Finishing off the trio of powerhouse acting is Cliff Booth, who brings immense likeability to his role. This shades his character, as we find out early in the film that he may have killed his wife. Bringing tension to every scene he is in, as we are not sure about his stability, and also shades his violent outburst at the end of the film; was it really self-defense for him, or something he has done before? In addition, this also adds even more to the theme of public perception that is throughout the film.
Finally, it has to be mentioned that the production of this film is top-notch. Quentin and the crew went above and beyond to catch an era, and while I was not born remotely near the 60's, the love for the time period is apparent in every little detail the film captures.
The ending has drawn lots of controversy, which I still have not drawn a verdict on. For what it's worth, this violent scene is very quick and not drawn-out, as reviewers have made it out to be, and is surprisingly funny in the context of the film with an excellent callback. Ultimately, the scene feels like it is condoning rather than celebrating Cliff's actions, and Quentin's past films have shown that he is not someone to be squeamish regarding violence.
The Bad: The only actively bad thing about this movie are the constant shots of feet in this film that is a very off-putting decision.
Movie Highlight: Cliff at the compound. What a great scene filled with rising tension where I had no idea of what would happen.
Conclusion: Another Quentin Tarantino masterpiece. Go watch this movie if you love artsier movies or the 60's era in general.
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
Simply A Masterpiece
The Good: Literally almost everything. Because a review should have more analysis though, let's talk about the movie's simplicity. The premise is very simple: A woman left for dead seeks revenge from all the people who wronged her (particularly Bill). In that simple premise, however, comes a mash-up of action genres and scenes that simply top each other. The Bride's fight against O-Ren is one of the most visually beautiful moments of movies I have ever seen, but you could make a case for her fight against Vernita, the animated interlude, or any other moment in this masterpiece.
The atmosphere of this movie is top-notch and the way backstory and the inner lives of the characters are parsed out throughout the film is something to behold. If you want to see just action setpieces, this movie has you covered, but if you want to analyze and read more into this film, there are so many details to uncover.
The Bad: The first five minutes of this film are very disorienting and upsetting in a way that I feel is too much for this film (even though it does give us some backstory at the same time).
The feet scene in the middle is too much though.
Conclusion: A masterpiece of a film. Go see this movie now.
Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019)
Trailing In the MCU's Shadow...
The Good: Tom Holland continues to be perfectly cast as an awkward Spiderman who brings a lot of heart to the film. Zendaya also brings dimension to what is a fairly standard love interest role, and she brings plenty of chemistry. This movie excels when it is a teen comedy and focuses on the "coming-of-age" aspect of Peter Parker.
While most of the action may be lackluster (see The Bad), the final confrontation was very exciting and felt like it had good stakes. Moreover, the post-credits scene was one of MCU's best, and definitely hooked me for a sequel, especially with the surprise appearance of JJJ. While the twist about Mysterio was fairly obvious (at least to me), the concept of the character was still good...
The Bad: ...however, his illusions were very ill-defined. I realize there needs to be suspension of disbelief, but there is a limit, and it didn't make sense to me how Mysterio could conjure things so realistically using special effects (ie. the scene where he scares Peter Parker).
This particular scene had other problems as well, such as Peter being literally hit by a train full-on, but a few seconds later seeming perfectly unscathed with no explanation. If the hero can get up so easily, why should the viewer invest in any peril? This movie also had horrible exposition problems (ie. the scene where Mysterio gives his speech to henchmen who should already know his motivations).
The core issue with this movie though is that it didn't feel quite like a Spider-man movie. With so many references to past movies in the MCU, particularly to Tony Stark, the movie felt restricted in its identity and couldn't become its own thing most of the time, particularly in the super-heroics.
Conclusion: A breezy, passable movie on its own terms, but middle-tier Marvel and will definitely not win anyone who is not dedicated to the superhero movie genre.
Stranger Things: Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt (2019)
Bittersweet End
The Good: The production values for this season have skyrocketed and nowhere is it more apparent than in this final episode. Visually, this episode was very beautiful, from the Mind Flayer attacking, to the fireworks attack, to the underground lab.
The final battle was very exciting and it was great to see each character making a contribution. While it will be a controversial scene, the "Neverending Story" scene was very cute and a humorous respite from the nonstop action of the rest of the episode.
The callback to Billy's past was nicely done and brought a nice emotional redemption for the character as he also did his part to save the day. The ending before the credits was also quite emotional and wrapped up the theme of growing up and facing changes that this season has brought.
The Bad: Nothing was particularly bad. However, Hopper's death did not really achieve the emotional impact it was meant to, at least for me. Reflecting on it, I feel like the reason why is that Hopper was very much overacting this season and seemed more of a joke machine, which took away from his death and sacrifice (compared to Alexei who was very much a human character and whose death stung more).
The post-credits scene also took away from the emotion of the final scene, especially as it seems like the show is telling us that Hopper didn't really die. Why should we care about any stakes if you take away any meaningful consequences from the show.
Episode Highlight: The fireworks battle against the Mind Flayer was visually spectacular.
Conclusion: While the season started off with a slow-building character focus, this finale highlighted some of the pitfalls later episodes fell into: characters turning into caricatures and any consequences/stakes being removed. Still, this episode did have an impact and was visually beautiful.
Overall, Stranger Things Season 3 was a worthwhile entry and certainly a fun rollercoaster ride. However, an over-reliance on jokes took away from the second half of this season. Still, this season was strong and I definitely look forward to the next one- hopefully they can remember to focus on the characters more.
Stranger Things: Chapter Seven: The Bite (2019)
Back on Track
The Good: This episode started off with some spectacular tension that did not let up the entire episode. The show's turn into pure horror at the cabin was fitting for this point of the show and it was nice to see all the kids team up to fight the Mind Flayer.
The comedic relief with Steve and the gang was for once appreciated and seemed to be more dialed down. Robin and Steve finally stopped behaving like caricatures in their bathroom talk scene and it was definitely a subversion of expectations to learn Robin was lesbian.
Alexei's death was very sudden and tragic, and it's impressive that the show has made me care for a character that ended up appearing only for three episodes. Hopper's fight in the fair was very entertaining to watch and creative/beautiful to look at.
The gang converging at the end was very satisfying to see and the cliffhanger definitely made me want to see the last episode.
The Bad: The show unfortunately continues its recent habit of having characters do quippy things or talk about small-scale nonsense in the face of world-ending threats. It was particularly bad here, as Lucas and Mike do random jokes/banter as Eleven is dying and in need of help. The product placement has also been quite noticeable this season and the "New Coke" scene was particularly blatant, feeling like a commercial in the middle of the show.
Episode Highlight: The attack on the cabin
Conclusion: A great episode that brings the characters together and some genuine excitement. Bring on the season finale!
Stranger Things: Chapter Six: E Pluribus Unum (2019)
Losing Steam Fast
The Good: Alexei continues to be so charming and likeable. Hopper letting Alexei go for him to come back was one of the most clever things he has done this season and it also gave us insight into Alexei's character.
The reveal of Billy's childhood was very tragic and fleshed out a character who was 2-dimensional most of last season. His speech at the end was terrifying and successfully brought back stakes, especially with the shot of the Mind Flayer growing in the end.
Steve and Robin's bonding in the torture chamber felt realistic given the situation and underlined the growth Steve has had over the last 3 seasons from d-bag obsessed with popularity and girls to someone who wants to be himself and truly happy.
The Bad: Unfortunately, the Steve and gang storyline continues to be very cartoon-like and over-exaggerated. It is way too jarring seeing other characters facing end-of-the world danger stakes and going to a plotline that feels like it was lifted from Scooby-Doo.
This episode was also very guilty of having characters just throw quippy one-liners at moments that feel inappropriate and that they should be focusing on actual stakes. It is especially dissapointing to see after the first half of this season has focused so much on character.
Episode Highlight: Billy's speech at the end to Eleven. Simply terrifying.
Conclusion: With the end game fast approaching, hopefully Stranger Things can stick the landing and focus on characters rather than just the jokes.
Stranger Things: Chapter Five: The Flayed (2019)
Run!
The Good: The opening sequence was highly entertaining and exciting to watch Hopper take on the Russian. We got introduced to a new character (Alexei) who brought some excellent comic relief this episode and was impressively well-defined. It was good to see Murray again, and his appearance this season was logical and entertaining.
Nancy and Jonathan's fight with the Mind Flayer was very suspenseful and there was genuine tension of who was going to die....
The Bad: ... that being said, that both of them managed to make it through unscathed shows a worrisome pattern from this show of main characters having plot armor. The show needs real stakes and consequences, particularly as Jonathan should not have survived (the amount of abuse he got from the monster was ridiculous).
The Steve and friends plotline is starting to get too over-the-top even for this show. In particular, Steve and Robin are starting to act like caricatures, and whenever the show went to them this episode it felt like I was watching a cartoon.
Episode Highlight: Alexei, Joyce, and Hopper at the 7/11.
Conclusion: This episode still had some very strong elements, but some cracks are starting to show. Hopefully the show can bounce back and pull through for the next three episodes.
Stranger Things: Chapter Four: The Sauna Test (2019)
Turning Up the Heat
The Good: The final 15 minutes of this episode was gripping, excellent television. Through two seasons, Eleven has been shown to be very powerful and hasn't faced any real threats. To see Billy beat her and almost kill her was shocking and seemed like a terrible possibility in the moment. Earlier on in this scene, Billy pleading and then attacking Max was very suspenseful, while also giving us key information that Billy is not fully possessed.
Before this amazing scene, I appreciated seeing the kids coming together so quickly and not questioning if the Mind Flayer had come back. It makes sense after two seasons that the kids would be used to horrors happening and I was glad we didn't have to sit through scenes of them arguing.
Nancy and Jonathan's argument was heartbreaking, especially because you can see the point of view for each of them. Steve and crew finding the Russian elevator was an exciting development and I am curious to what they will find (and how it will help answer some questions).
The Bad: Hopper beating up Mayor Kline felt very unrealistic and out of character. In fact, Hopper and Joyce's storyline this episode felt off and over-exaggerated.
Erica is a very unrealistic character and feels very blatantly like a writer's idea of "precocious child" rather than how an actual kid would talk. Also, she is not as funny as the writers appear to think she is and I do not look forward to her joining the story as she is so bratty.
Highlight of the Episode: The final 15 minutes.
Conclusion: While this episode had some worrying spots, the final 15 minutes of this episode were so strong that I have to reflect it in my score. Action has finally exploded to Season 3, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
Stranger Things: Chapter Three: The Case of the Missing Lifeguard (2019)
A Slow Build
The Good: Yet again, this episode builds the tension in a slow way but I can't complain since this character-focused approach seems like it will pay dividends later on in the season.
Let's start with Will and Mike's argument. So far this season, Will has been a bit in the background and ignored, and this came to a head this episode. What made this argument impressive is how it worked in the moment, but also brought out the theme of the kids growing up and changing interests which has been brought up this season.
The mall's storyline got much more interesting this episode, with Robin cleverly cracking the Russian's code and the mystery thickening now that we know that they're located in the mall.
Speaking of Russians, Hopper's fight with the "Terminator" of Russians this episode was a shock and thrilling to watch. The russian's motivations are still unclear, but I feel that we may be getting some answers soon.
The Bad: Despite giving us a thrilling fight scene, Hopper and Joyce going to the abandoned lab on their own without telling anyone was very stupid and asking for trouble.
Episode Highlight: Will and Mike's argument.
Conclusion: A focus on character has made the season so far gripping to watch. With some pieces slowly coming together this episode, I can't wait to see what the rest of the season has to bring.
Stranger Things: Chapter Two: The Mall Rats (2019)
The Mystery Thickens
The Good: Similar to the first episode, this episode was a little bit slow, but gave what seems to be important table-setting for the episodes to come. The character interactions still are the highlight. Max and Eleven's bonding in the mall was fun to watch, and introduced a new character pairing that will be fun to watch in the future. Mike was also consistent to his awkward personality established in previous seasons, and his floundering was amusing.
I didn't talk about Robin last episode, but she is a fun addition to the cast and has an easygoing chemistry with Steve and Dustin. Watching this trio begin to piece together the Russian message was enjoyable.
The opening with Billy provided a fascinating twist and raises more questions about the Mind Flayer. With his abduction of the lifeguard, does this mean an army is being built?
The Bad: Nothing really bad in this episode, but some things did drag or feel like too much exposition (ie. the Mayor and Hopper). Also, while Nancy and Jonathan's sleuthing may have been necessary for the characters, the amount of time spent with them was not necessary for the viewer as we already knew what was going on with the rats and it was a bit tedious.
Highlight of the episode: Max and Eleven's shopping spree.
Conclusion: While a small step down from the previous episode, this still felt like an important character-building episode that gave us some key information. Hopefully now that the puzzle pieces have been set, the proper plot can kick in.
Stranger Things: Chapter One: Suzie, Do You Copy? (2019)
Welcome Back To Hawkins!
The Good: Almost two years have passed since the show last aired, so a reintroduction to these characters is welcomed. While some may complain that this episode was slow, I'd argue that this episode took the time to make us fall in love with the characters, show us how they have changed, and possibly give us some stakes for the season to come.
Mike and Eleven's relationship is an amusingly realistic portrayal of first love and drives home how the characters have changed between seasons. Joyce and Hopper's reactions to these changes are amusing, and it's nice to see Hopper evolve into the "overprotective dad" role. Nancy and Jonathan working at the newspaper seems like a good direction to take the characters, and I look forward to seeing how it carries over the season.
The Russian opening was intriguing, and raises some questions of how they will relate to the Upside Down Monster. The ending involving Billy was a huge shocker and really hooked me into wanting to see more.
The Bad: While I enjoyed Hopper's reaction to Mike and Eleven's romance, I did find that there was a bit of overacting that bordered on cartoon-ish and unrealistic. Also, the Billy storyline prior to the end was very gross in a way that I think the writers didn't intend. I think they wanted us to laugh at the moms having a thing for Billy, without thinking about him being 17-years old, especially having Karen being the one considering an affair.
Highlight of the Episode: Billy being dragged by the Mind Flayer in the end. What a hooking ending to make me want to watch more.
Conclusion: With humour and heart, this episode welcomed me back into Hawkins and gave me excitement for future developments. Bring on the next seven episodes!