ellagilbert-23101 Reviews

Everest (2015)

on edge

[7/10 · 7 April 2021]

The premise of climbing Mount Everest inherently gives this movie an edge, because it would be near impossible for viewers to not already have a heightened sense of anxiety about all of the characters, likable or not. I knew going into it that things would end badly because I was aware of the real events, but even if you don't, there is a sense of impending doom that makes everything tense to watch, in a captivating way. I would have appreciated more of an exploration about the politics of rich white people hiring local Sherpas for pointless expeditions, but that could be hard to weave in seamlessly.

A Kid in King Arthur's Court (1995)

camp

[7/10 · 7 April 2021]

Obviously this movie is made for kids and its full of bad special effects and silly plot lines. That being said, it has continued to be entertaining over the years and as an adult I still think its worth a watch. Nostalgia aside, some of the humor is genuinely clever, and it really is a cute story. It feels like a cinematic time capsule.

Sorry to Bother You (2018)

all over the place in a good way

[7/10 · 7 April 2021]

I try not to overuse this phrase when describing movies but this genuinely felt like a fever dream. There are a lot of strengths in this film- the characters feel incredibly real, the dialogue and relationships are interesting, and the premise is really fascinating. It really was dark, twisted, funny, and satirical as advertised. While the twist with the horse-humans was shocking, it also felt like not that much of a stretch. The nightmare that unfolds in this film could legitimately happen, and I recognized elements of it in my own life and in what I see going on in the world. I do agree that it could be edited slightly, and definitely think its not for everyone, but it was genuinely enjoyable to watch and grotesque in a thought provoking way.

Schitt's Creek (2015–2020)

not for me

[4/10 · 7 April 2021]

Everyone I know loves this show, and I legitimately tried to enjoy it, but I can't. After watching almost an entire season, I'm still not a fan of the overacting and the caricatures. I understand that it's meant to be a satire, but I personally don't enjoy the way that the viewer is taken out of the show because it's so obviously unrealistic. There are definitely some funny moments, but most of the humor didn't land for me, and I was not really compelled to keep watching. Overall, the issue was that it seemed to just regurgitate these stereotypical roles and settings without providing any further commentary, so the satire became hard to distinguish from bad acting.

Sherlock (2010–2017)

~cerebral~ but queerbait-y

[8/10 · 7 April 2021]

I was not intending to like this show, but the first episode alone is worth at least 9 stars. The episode writing actually improves upon the original stories, which I have read before and find quite boring-part of my issue with the books is that they just leave information out for the big reveal at the end, at which point Sherlock explains details that he withheld from Watson on purpose, giving the reader no chance to fairly attempt to solve the mystery alongside him. Instead, the show gives you insight into Sherlock's "mind palace" so that you think you know what's happening, and sometimes there are segments that are looked over, but in general you are much more engaged in the mystery solving. Additionally, this show does a great job of making Sherlock and Watson more than just investigators. There is personal drama woven throughout the mysteries, as well as moments of humor throughout. However, I do think there is an issue with coding characters, where Sherlock seems to be almost explicitly (key word- almost) coded as autistic, and both Sherlock and Watson queercoded. In fact, the constant allusions to Sherlock potentially being gay, and further, a romance between the two of them, does bleed into the realm of queerbaiting in my opinion. Watson's eventual romance with Mary seems like a facade, particularly at the moment when Sherlock returns from the dead-I think showrunners knew about the fandom's expectations and intentionally made things ambiguous to keep viewers hopeful. All that aside, Sherlock is a great adaptation of the original stories, with intricate storytelling and fascinating character development.

Les Misérables (2012)

love rewatching this

[9/10 · 7 April 2021]

I saw this in theaters at age 13, so not the target audience to begin with, and further, I am not usually a fan of musicals. That being said, this does not feel like you're watching a musical, or even something intended for the stage. The viewer will be enraptured by the lyrics of the songs in particular-many lines are often quoted in my household ("red, the blood of angry men," "lovely ladies," etc). My favorite is "Do You Hear the People Sing?" which is performed incredibly in this film twice. I have heard many complaints that the singing is not up to scratch, but personally found that the occasional faltering contributes to the weariness and raw emotion of the characters. Hugh Jackman and Eddie Redmayne stand out for their acting performances, while Samantha Barks and Helena Bonham Carter shine with vocals. Overall, this movie performance is immersive, easy to follow, and well acted.

The Crown (2016–2023)

just...boring

[6/10 · 7 April 2021]

Okay, so my disclaimer is that I've only watched about a season and a half of this show. However, I think that can provide a perfectly fair assessment. If you're only eligible to review shows that you've watch in their entirety, reviews will skew positive because those who don't enjoy the show likely won't continue watching.

Moving on. The production value (what does that phrase really mean...I sound like Netflix when they call every other show "cerebral") is noticeable. The costumes and sets (Buckingham palace!!!) are beautiful, and seem to be of the period, without coming off like a tv show set. I even think they did a good job training actors' accents to exude royalty. Claire Foy is perfect as the queen, and the rest of the cast does a great job embodying the smugness of the royal family.

Acting and design aside, the story was boring. In fact, because the actors did their jobs so well- becoming the royals- I did not care to learn more about their lives. None of the characters were sympathetic to me. As hard as the show tries to make my like Winston Churchill, he continued to infuriate me. Same goes for the queen, who is already a boring personality to begin with. If you're a history nerd or you like the royal family, I can understand the appeal, but I'm not sure I'll continue watching just to see Margaret live her spoiled bratty life and Elizabeth become the ultimate #girlboss colonizer.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

so unnecessary

[5/10 · 17 March 2021]

This movie won't make sense if you're not a big Harry Potter fan, and if you are a big Harry Potter fan, the plot holes and additions will just irritate you. First of all, the story could have just been one movie, rather than 3? 4? 5? not sure exactly how many they're planning, but it's too many. Then you have the issue of casting. It might seem like a minor detail, but Johnny Depp is literally 30 years too old to play Grindelwald at this point in the timeline. It makes things confusing when this film attempts to weave its plot into the already established Harry Potter/Wizarding world history. This film relies on the worldbuilding of Harry Potter, but uproots the setting completely, so we are left with only a vague understanding of wizard life and politics in America. Some of the characters like Queenie and Jacob were interesting, but Newt was very one dimensional for a lead. I'm not going to keep watching this series.

John Mulaney: The Comeback Kid (2015 TV Special)

never gets old

[9/10 · 17 March 2021]

I've seen this at least 5 times. John Mulaney's delivery is genius. I really think you can see this echoed in a lot of skits online nowadays- the way he frames his jokes and his intonation have spread into mainstream comedy. He can spin a very mundane topic into cry laughter. In particular, his commentary on the Catholic Church is very funny- he knows how to poke fun at his own upbringing and personality in a way that doesn't come off as attention seeking.

Bird Box (2018)

enjoyable

[6/10 · 17 March 2021]

This movie wasn't groundbreaking by any means, but it was very compelling and thought provoking. The suspense was great, and the disagreements between characters about how to approach various situations were interesting to watch unfold. Unlike other reviewers, I really enjoyed the ending. It was a reasonable conclusion, something that a lot of horror films skip out on (if there was no mention of how blind people experienced this threat, then that would've been a major plot hole).

Locked Down (I) (2021)

a messss

[4/10 · 17 March 2021]

Full of plot holes and weirdly paced. The entire premise is unrealistic. I think that the actual relationship was the most compelling part of the film, and it would have been interesting if it started off before lockdown. More context about the deterioration of their relationship would have made things less awkward. Awkward meaning the way their monologues would basically outline everything that had happened- it was very tell not show. If there were flashbacks instead of random incidents brought up, it might've been easier to follow. Overall it just needed a stronger script, because the concept was intriguing.

The Queen's Gambit (2020)

started off strong

[6/10 · 17 March 2021]

This show was definitely compelling from the start, I wanted to know more about Beth's upbringing, her time at the orphanage, and the chess scenes were suspenseful. That being said, it lagged in the middle. The show introduced a few characters and plot points that ended up not really being addressed. Beth's birth mother and Jolene were both significant early on, but those relationships weren't really developed or resolved. The queer representation was very iffy as well. Beth's brief hookup with Cleo felt very sudden and disingenuous, and it was almost completely passed over. Her friend Townes is portrayed as stereotypically deceitful about his relationship with a man. That whole aspect of the show made the character development feel incomplete.

Mrs. America (2020)

wasn't really expecting to like it

[8/10 · 17 March 2021]

I wrongly assumed this would leave out some of the complexities within both the feminist movement and the conservative movement of the time. In reality, this was a detailed and nuanced exploration of activism from both sides, exposing problematic issues from more than one angle. I like that the show addressed how Gloria Steinem's crowd tended to be white centric. I do think the show should have addressed more issues of lesbophobia and transphobia among feminists though. Overall, the acting was really good and I appreciated how each episode focused on a particular character, while still following through with overarching plots. Cate Blanchett was infuriating to watch as Phyllis Schlafly- she embodied the persona well. The sets and costumes were well done, making this feel almost less like a period piece and more like a documentary at times.

Little Women (2019)

if you don't enjoy this you're probably annoying

[8/10 · 17 March 2021]

The acting is fantastic, the scenery is beautiful, and the costumes are also very well done. Greta Gerwig included a necessary twist in the screenplay, as the plot would otherwise be an outdated, overdone story. The relationships between the women conveyed all the subtleties and complexities of sisterhood. Very immersive experience.

The Martian (2015)

very funny

[8/10 · 17 March 2021]

I tried reading this book and gave up like 5 pages in because it was so boring. The movie sounds even more boring- Matt Damon stuck on Mars alone for several months- but it's genuinely hilarious. The pacing is impressive considering the limited characters and settings. The science side of things is not overwhelmingly difficult, but it's also not dumbed down in an unrealistic way. You can really feel the tension when Mark Watney is communicating with people on Earth, and you can feel the frustration and isolation when he is struggling through survival tasks alone.

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

truly awful

[4/10 · 17 March 2021]

Appallingly bad. Full of plot holes and convoluted action scenes. Maximalism for the sake of maximalism is not entertaining.

Black Panther (2018)

better than the average marvel movie

[7/10 · 17 March 2021]

This is a good spin on a predictable genre. Other reviewers say that it's the same kind of superficiality masked by a black cast, but I disagree. I think this deals with a more complex subject like Pan-Africanism in an interesting setting. The soundtrack and costumes were both very enriching. Klaue seems to be a key villain early on, but this quickly shifts as Killmonger becomes the main threat. This complicates the surface level conflict of Wakanda vs. the outer world, as Killmonger has Wakandan roots. Anyone claiming that Killmonger was superficial is clearly biased, considering he's up against incredibly bland characters in other Marvel films like Thanos, Ultron, and Loki. I saw this in Oakland and it is probably my favorite movie-in-theaters experiences ever.

Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)

relevant

[8/10 · 13 March 2021]

This movie was quite well made. I have read about Fred Hampton before, but the absolute terror of the FBI upon his life was really made clear by this film. Daniel Kaluuya emulated the necessary leadership and charisma to portray Hampton. My only issue with his casting is that he is in his thirties, while Fred Hampton died at age 21. I think this is really crucial to the story- his assassination at such a young age is not a minor detail. I do appreciate that Akua Njeri (known at the time of the film as Deborah Johnson) and Fred Hampton Jr. were consulted for this film, and I think that is clear. While Bill O'Neal takes the forefront as a double agent, Fred Hampton's character is still highlighted and preserved. The ending was absolutely devastating, particularly the choice to include footage of the real Bill O'Neal. I think this film launches an important conversation about being complicit vs. actively harming someone, especially in the context of the Black Power movement. I also think it's important for people to learn about the FBI's assassination of Black Panthers, something which isn't typically taught in history classes.

La La Land (2016)

it exists

[6/10 · 24 February 2021]

Let's just say during the approximately thirty seconds we thought this had won Best Picture, I was unhappy at the decision. The setting and music are both good, but the plot and acting were very bland.

A Star Is Born (2018)

seven stars for lady gaga

[7/10 · 24 February 2021]

Shallow was really good, Lady Gaga was really good, everything else was meh.

Beauty and the Beast (I) (2017)

beyond unneccessary

[5/10 · 24 February 2021]

This movie never needed to happen. There were no substantive changes to the plot or characterizations, and seeing it enacted by real people changed nothing about my opinion of the story. Emma Watson is unfortunately a truly mediocre actress and singer, so that wasn't a highlight either. Even the ballgown was a downgrade.

Shrek (2001)

unironically good

[10/10 · 24 February 2021]

By far the best animated movie out there- Disney and Pixar are shaking and crying. The characters are an updated spin on fairy tales we know and love, but Shrek still achieves a timeless humor. Full of innuendos for adults to laugh at, but also completely appropriate for kids. A real gem.

The OA (2016–2019)

enjoyable but all over the place

[6/10 · 24 February 2021]

I binged the whole show in a short amount of time. This has a lot of potential, but I think they need to have a more clear thread by the end of the second season. Side plots kept getting introduced and then not resolved, or resolved too quickly without really being explained. I also wasn't very engaged by the characters- many of them seemed to have little/no personality or they were one dimensional.

Bee Movie (2007)

genius

[9/10 · 24 February 2021]

Genius. I wish IMDb didn't have a minimum word count because that's all you need to know about this film.

Free Solo (2018)

don't get the hype???

[4/10 · 24 February 2021]

I watched this after hearing multiple people gush about it and I really don't understand. This could've been heavily edited. Everything about the girlfriend was unnecessary and detracted from the enormity and suspense of the climb.