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Reviews
Poor Things (2023)
Nope
I'm still struggling to figure out what message this film is trying to convey to the audience. I began watching Poor Things expecting it to be an unconventional take on the journey of growing up; about someone who grapples with coming to terms with some nonsensical norms of the society. Instead, I got a creepy story about a child who likes to have sex with men who mistreat her. Is this what the message is? That women should be okay with being sexually violated? Or even enjoy it? Either the people who wrote and directed this are out of touch with the real world or the world they live in is a very sick place.
They obviously prioritised style over substance, focusing on a bright picture to compensate for the lack of meaning. How they managed to get these A-list actors to star in this nonsense is a mystery. Unfortunately, only one star.
Oppenheimer (2023)
Three hours of pure happiness
I left the theatre with a mix of conflicting emotions - a blend of joy and dismay. The latter, as the weight of the events of the film sank in; and the former, knowing that cinema is very much alive.
Despite its 3-hour runtime the film is perfectly balanced, every scene serves a purpose in driving the story forward. There's never an unnecessary moment, and I never felt like anything was excessive or lacking. Oppenheimer's dynamic storytelling and editing choices kept me invested the entire time. It's a complete and masterful work of art, and a testament to the dedication and artistry of everyone involved in its creation. The cast is... what is there even to say? Every actor, no matter how big or small their role was, put in their 200%.
Oppenheimer hits the mark in every way possible. It's an unforgettable experience, and I can't recommend it enough.
Succession (2018)
10 million $ out of 10
The best thing about Succession is its amazing ensemble cast. Each character is so well written and acted, you end up both rooting for the Roys and wishing they failed at the same time. In the world of thus cutthroat family, where power is a currency and every decision can make or break them, they stop at nothing in their relentless pursuit of dominance. The show really makes you question where your own moral compass lies and how far you would go to protect your own interests. What's also amazing about Succession is how it mixes intense drama with biting humor. The witty dialogues and clever writing always catch you by surprise, jumping between shocking moments and dark humor.
The first season might have been a bit slow, but once the story takes off the tension just keeps building and building with each episode. I'm really glad they decided to wrap the show up at its peak instead of dragging out the story for the sake of ratings.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
A breath of fresh air
"Maverick" had me hooked from start to finish, mainly because it focuses on what really matters - an entertaining and thrilling story.
The movie has a diverse group of characters. However, it doesn't make the societal inequalities that plague many movies nowadays it's focus. These characters are simply competing to be the best, without any underlying context. And it works. I believe this is the reason the movie became a box office success. I am in no way saying that cinema should not deal with societal issues. The problem with modern movies is that they tell you how wrong the society is, completely missing the point of why we go to watch movies in the first place. There are many examples of works made in the past that managed to both tackle serious problems and have a compelling story.
The movie follows Maverick as he navigates the challenges of being a flight instructor. It's been 30 years since the original film, and Maverick is still haunted by the death of his partner. This serves as a driving force for his character development which adds depth to the action-packed scenes. What's even more great about "Maverick" is how it treats its own protagonist. These days it's less common for sequels to honor their main character instead of making them weak or useless. Tom Cruise brings his signature charisma and intensity to the role once again. The supporting cast also shine in their respective roles.
The fact that they actually filmed the scenes in the actual planes with the actors onboard is mind-blowing. The movie brings back the joy and excitement of films from a different era. It has an exciting yet simple plot, and introduces us to a cast of memorable characters. I hope we get to see more movies like these in the future.
Rick and Morty (2013)
A mind-bending insanity
This series has a knack for finding that perfect balance between hilarious and disturbing, and it's absolutely glorious. It's like someone mixed up a blender with total madness and pressed the "blend" button on full blast.
Beneath the layers of comedy and chaos, there is an exploration of the nature of human existence, and the consequences of our actions. It dives into more philosophical themes, tackling existential questions and issues. One of the things I love about Rick and Morty is its sheer unpredictability. The creators unapologetically blend more serious themes with dark humor, sometimes completely subverting your expectations.
The series takes you on an interdimensional journey alongside an unforgettable duo of protagonists. Rick's larger-than-life personality and genius intellect are balanced by Morty's relatable vulnerability and moral compass. Their dynamic is the heart of the show, as together they encounter bizarre creatures, explore parallel dimensions, and challenge the very fabric of reality. The animation and overall design of the series is also has a style all its own, with vibrant colors, quirky character designs, and fantastic landscapes.
Rick and Morty is a wild ride. It's crazy, funny, intelligent, and fresh.
Ahsoka (2023)
Potential wasted
It's disappointing to see such a decline in the quality of the writing, especially considering the success of previous works by Filoni.
It's also remarkable how the characters in Ahsoka manage to defy logic at every turn. I mean, why bother with common sense or rational decision-making? It's almost as if the writers believe the audience has the intelligence of a pet rock. Despite having great potential, the writing falls disappointingly short. Let's just throw in Anakin, 3PO and endless references of Leia.
I wouldn't even be able to summarise the plot, because there isn't any. With an overload of fan service, the show fails to deliver a coherent, meaningful narrative. What's clear is that the writers prioritized filling the screen time with fights and superficial dialogues rather than diving deeper into character development. While the lightsaber fights are indeed on another level here - there's nothing else to the show. Some of the established characters are left at square zero. The treatment of Sabine is definitely a misstep. In the Rebels, we saw her grow from a reckless teenager to a more mature and responsible individual. Why did Filoni revert her back to her 17-year-old self? Also, making her force-sensitive only discredited her abilities and skills, and, unfortunately, turned her into Mary Sue. What's going on with Hera? Why is she suddenly not capable of backing her words with evidence that she clearly has? Another major letdown is Thrawn, a strategic mastermind, who acts in line with Plot Convenience. In this show, Thrawn's decision-making comes across as illogical and inexplicable. It's unbelievable how the writers manage to butcher established characters. This departure from the established character traits not only undermines their credibility but also creates a frustrating experience for fans who were eager to see them.
Unfortunately, Ahsoka fails to live up to the same level of excellence of other works done by Filoni. We are forced to settle for mediocrity, with its abysmal pacing, excessive fan service and lack of substance.
Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World (2022)
Worth watching
Yes, it is largely about humans, but this is what makes this documentary wonderful. Our species makes a bigger part of the population of the planet and we affect the environment in the most significant and devastating ways. The role of humans in this type of documentary usually centers on how we fail at being a responsible species. While it is definitely true, it was refreshing seeing people who try to reduce the negative effects other individuals had had on the ecosystem of Patagonia. Many stories were quite inspirational, especially from people who "switched sides", like the guy who went from being a hunter to being a protector. Seeing that there are people who try very hard to help the wild nature of Patagonia stay wild gave me hope. This series was just as educational, only in a different way.
The Last of Us (2023)
What was the purpose of the show?
This show suffers from a contrived setup and a lack of direction for the main storyline.
The creators really embraced the "tell don't show" approach. This is especially evident in the last episode. In the matter of a couple of episodes, Joel went from "I don't need you" to "I will slaughter innocent people for you". When did that happen, did I miss something? There's a time gap between the events of the last two episodes; why not take this opportunity to demonstrate how the bond between Joel and Ellie grows in the aftermath of the previous episode? When it comes to the finale as a whole, it seemed that the writers had no clear understanding of what they wanted to do with it, so they threw in random bits of conversations and interactions that are so disjointed it's frustrating to watch. The tension or suspense that should have been there is rarely present. The subject of the infected is barely touched upon. From what I gathered, they are pretty scarce and don't pose a big threat to others.
They spent an unforgivably long amount of time as they delved into exploring this jumble of supporting characters, only to have them all killed at the end of each episode. None of the significant scenes and dialogues were given time to really sink in, looking like a series of checkpoints, something which was better executed in the game.
The only light in this never ending darkness is the actors, especially Pedro Pascal. However, the series on the whole is pretty superficial, mainly because the screenplay had no clear direction.
The Last of Us: Kin (2023)
Top-notch acting
With the snow-covered mountains looming in the background, Joel and Ellie continue their journey.
Pascal's portrayal of Joel in this episode is heart wrenching, it hits like a dagger through your heart. I can already see him getting his Emmy this year. It was an amazing decision from the writers to bring the other side of this stoic man to the surface, exploring the emotional fears, struggles and doubts of someone who is 'supposed' to be a valiant hero.
This episode truly expanded and added depth to the existing material. The only gripe I have with this episode is that while it creates suspense, soon it becomes clear that that was about it - just words, no real danger.
Overall, the director did a great job. I found myself so immersed in it that I completely forgot I was watching a fictional story until the very credits. The cinematography is outstanding, some shots are nothing short of breathtaking.
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Disney at it again
First Kenobi, now this?
The only way to send Disney a clear message is to stop buying their products.
They don't read the reviews or listen to the fans, they look at the $$$ you give them and decide that what they've done is very successful.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Part IV (2022)
The Mouse Empire ran out of money
My personal favourite highlights of this comedy sitcom episode are:
1. The stormstroopers not noticing Obi-Wan climbing up behind the pillars. Three metres away from them.
2. That guy who was like "you're not getting any help from me" and then 30 second later "you want my help? You got it". Here's some dynamic huh.
3. Tala slapping stormtroopers in the helmet.
Looks like the Disney wasted all the billions they had on something else and there's none left for the movies. What will the next episode be? 15 mins?
Beside the fact that everything looks cheap and clunky they cut the time too.
We're probably all done already with talking about how terrible the writers treat Obi and Ani, it's time we gave up all hope. But even Reva, they said we will explore the character and learn about her background and all, but season 1 is nearing its finale and so far we haven't learnt a thing, not has she shown any supposed character development.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Part III (2022)
This episode is the worst so far and made me really sad.
Kenobi and Vader's encounter was so badly written my god how could they have filmed a scene that was supposed to be so emotional to make it look like an insult to both characters? I'm sure we all hoped it would hit us the same way Luke's return in the Mandalorian did. After 15 minutes of the episode I found myself not caring whether Obi-Wan succeeds at getting Leia home or they both get killed. What makes the script even more terrible is the fact that we know very well both of them will make it out alive, and yet there's no tension and it's hard to root for the characters, even if we love them.
Deborah Chow, as the showrunner, had one (1) job but it looks like she couldn't care less.
The music in the fight scene between Obi and Ani is awfully inappropriate, and is plain bad and misleading in the rest of the episode. Most of the time I wished it wasn't even there and would have preferred silence in some scenes. I don't know if it's the composer's fault, but either way I feel like they should've hired Ludwig Göransson for this too.
I'd rather watch Revenge of the Sith every Wednesday than this mock up of Star Wars.
Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
Disappointing
This one star belongs to Ewan. The rest of the show doesn't deserve even one.
Can I start with that attempt at recapping Kenobi's life at the beginning of the first episode? There are tons of youtubers who make out-of-this-world videos for free, yet there are paid editors at Disney who just went "eh" and deemed what they put up acceptable enough to put into a show that so many fans waited for. Secondly, did Deborah Chow think we forgot what happened on the prequels? Why did we even need that recap that wasted the time they could've spent on something more meaningful? Episodes 1 and 2 could've easily been one 60 minute episode. There's too much inquisitors and Leia, but definitely not enough Obi-Wan, for a show that has his name in its name. The Leia actress looks 7 at best, and while I don't want to say anything bad about her, because I'm sure she did her best but there's only so much you can do when you're kid, I think a little "push" in the right direction from Chow would've have improved her situation.
I feel bad for Ewan who is a phenomenal actor and who visibly put effort into bringing Kenobi back, only for those efforts to be in a place where others don't care. I hope the writers don't mess Vader. Hayden has suffered enough with all the prequels madness, he doesn't need more of that.
Let's hope the show improves from episode 3. May the force be with us.
Don't Look Up (2021)
Fantastic and very bold
This movie basically sums up the reality of the modern world. It's interesting how it was actually allowed to be produced since it speaks the truth so uncomfortable for businessmen, politicians and the media that feed people information convenient only for them.