domjanlaci Reviews

Mayans M.C. (2018–2023)

Sometimes better than SOA

[9/10 · 24 August 2023]

I was a big fan of SOA and had high expectations from Mayans MC.

Maybe Mayans had a bit more of annoying characters who are just whining, not adding anything to the main storyline and also there are complete storylines which could've been just left out, but it's far from boring.

I loved the first 2 seasons but I realized that the story is not really moving forward in the 2nd and 3rd seasons, while new storylines pop up, the old ones are just not progressing. I had the feeling that the writers were in crisis that time. I need to admit that sometimes I pressed the FFWD button while watching less interesting scenes.

Then a big change from season 4, finally more actions and more violence that SOA and Mayans both needed.

Season 5 was all about approaching the end and series finale, though predictable, but was well done.

I really think this series did not deserve a 6th season, it's complete and closed nicely. Maybe I wish I could've seen more SOA cameos, that's why it gets only 9 out of 10.

Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)

Beautiful cinematography - nothing else

[3/10 · 14 March 2023]

It started out so well. Interesting scenes, promising story, exciting cars, colorful cinematography.

By the end it became a beautiful but boring and pointless movie, with Tarantino-styled fight scenes and disturbingly feminist depth. Seriously, all the guys became bad guys, it was just ridiculous.

If this was ordered by the feminist club of Hollywood, I get it, but shouldn't have been dragged for almost 2 hours.

It felt like the producers wanted to get revenge on the 80s-90s male-dominated action movies.

I really liked the colors and beauty, but after a while it just became repetitive and overdone.

At the end all I liked was the red 944. That was a nice choice.

Glitch (2015–2019)

Really entertaining, with one season more than needed

[9/10 · 13 March 2023]

I liked the storyline, the actors performance, the speed, the long episodes, the zero filling episodes in the first 2 seasons.

Then season 3 came and it ALMOST killed the series - but luckily, they finished it there. I think the creators ran out of ideas and they brought in unnecessary storylines (Belle and Chi) - they should've made a shorter season of 6 episodes instead of this.

I don't understand why everyone is complaining about the ending, I like how it has an original ending, a really smart closure instead of the classic syrup-tasted hollywood happy ending. It's a nice and complete story.

Nyugati nyaralás (2022)

Way better than expected

[7/10 · 10 February 2023]

I really don't like lame family-comedies, especially Hungarian ones which smell like promotion.

Well, after watching this I had to change my view as it was mildly entertaining, sometimes quite funny, but most importantly, it was able to bring back memories from our childhood spent at lake Balaton in the '80s. Great choice of music, almost perfectly selected objects* and nicely portioned storyline with less negative socialist-era and more positive attitude that people actually had back then.

I expected a poorly made propaganda movie for VEB2023 (Veszprém-Balaton European Capital of Culture 2023), but it's not excessive and probably most viewers wouldn't even recognize that it's promoting Veszprém and Balaton.

If you're hesitating whether you should watch it or not, but like nostalgia, give it a chance. Especially if you like the '80s part in Aranyélet.

*I need to mention some of the goofs which could've been easily avoided:

• the rims and tyres on the BMW 3 series did not exist in the last century, especially not in '80s.

• A modern police car is visible in the closing scene.

• during the beach scenes, the family is obviously on the southern side of the lake, probably that's where the producers found untouched old walking paths.

The Wraith (1986)

100% '80s

[10/10 · 30 January 2023]

This movie contains everything I loved in my childhood. We used to watch this several times a year on VHS and I kept dreaming about it for days each time.

• the mystic Dodge Interceptor
• the beautiful cars (ALL OF THEM)
• the hot girls
• the iconic dirt bike (I guess Honda)
• Tim Feehan's Where is the Fire
• Billy Idol's Rebel Yell
• the evil but super cool Packard Walsh
• the nicely paved, curvy american roads
• the diners for cars only

Everything was awesome back then, as a child. Today I'm 40 years old and I have a Corvette C3 in my garage, same type what Packard Walsh drove.

Though the story looks extremely weak and unfinished, it looks like they just wanted a "sci-fi car movie", but I still love each scene. I think it would be worth to develop a remake for today's kids. Maybe after his woke thing is gone....

The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

Disappointing

[5/10 · 16 January 2023]

After In Bruges (being my all-time favorite movie) and Three Billboards, I expected another masterpiece.

I found satisfying

• the cinematography
• music
• brilliant acting from Colin Farrell (I hope he gets an Oscar this time)
• the dark athmospere
• the brutality
• thought-provoking conversations

What disappointed me

• poor story vs too long playtime
• lack of brilliant comedy that I expected
• no relief, I left the cinema with sad, depressed feelings, without a single good laugh

Unfortunately I really overhyped this one to my wife as well who will trust my recommendations less from now on...

The Walking Dead: Rest in Peace (2022) Season 11, Episode 24

Mildly entertaining episode... too weak for a series finale

[3/10 · 21 November 2022]

I used to love this show, at least the first 4-5 seasons. Then Negan came, refreshed everything, he became one the most interesting characters. After beating Negan, this show went downhill, best case 1 episode per season was great.

I expected a great finale though. I knew nostalgic scenes and emotional closures will come, it was also easy to predict how the story will end up... but still, I expected the unexpected: a surprise, a moment or scene to remember, anything that makes a series finale a masterpiece - or at least something that brings back the smart violence this show used to do so well.

It just never came.

I found myself touching my phone during the slow scenes, watching the emotional parts with a straight face and being mildly entertained by the final scenes which were supposed to be shocking..... but were not.

At least I know I don't need to start watching the spin-off, especially if it's written by the same team.

Better Call Saul: Waterworks (2022) Season 6, Episode 12

Peak

[10/10 · 13 August 2022]

This is the episode where both acting and cinematography reach their peaks. I love the level of detail, showing Mike's old booth and also that the reflection of the memories have color (see Saul's glasses). Extreme level of perfectionism.

I don't know if I was ever less ready to finish a series. The first seasons were somehow not that great, but by the end it became way better than Breaking Bad in my opinion.

I'd love to see another spinoff with Mike, Gustavo or Flinn and Skyler.

The Sinner (2017–2021)

My new favorite detective story

[10/10 · 29 May 2022]

Bill Pullman acts so fine in Sinner that I started to see depression on his face in Space Balls too.

The music, the story, the athmosphere are all exceptionally great in the first season. The newer seasons are somewhat less impressive, but it would be a sin to skip those.

Ozark: A Hard Way to Go (2022) Season 4, Episode 14

Mildly entertaining, not concluding

[3/10 · 11 May 2022]

I had high expectations, but the last episode failed to resolve many things... During the first season Marty didn't want to end up working for the cartels, in the last episode he just got stuck there for long term.

The last scene was great, but otherwise it's a disappointing episode.

Outbound (2021)

Reminder of the BAD old days

[1/10 · 6 February 2022]

I almost forgot how terrible Hungarian movies were back in the 90s and early 2000s. This one just reminded me. I have no idea why Netflix bought this. The movie tries to act like an artistic piece but totally forgets to entertain, it's a pure waste of time.

Money Heist (2017–2021)

Not bad, but finishing after 2 seasons would make it a legend

[10/10 · 4 December 2021]

I liked it all the way, deserves 10/10, but the second 3 seasons were definitely weaker than the first 2. Second season had an epic ending, while the 5th was so-so, felt like put together in a hurry.

Still I can't wait to see Berlin.

The Irishman (2019)

Great acting but too long

[6/10 · 5 December 2019]

All the actors in this movie are great, I guess their entertaining performances keep people awake for the whole movie. Story is predictable and I think many scenes could've been cut to reduce the length to 2 hours. Scorsese wanted to create a masterpiece so hard that I think he overcooked it, especially with the length.

The Walking Dead: The World Before (2019) Season 10, Episode 8

Weakest mid-season finale

[1/10 · 27 November 2019]

I think this episode was so bad for a mid-season ending that I honestly hope the main characters will all die in that cave. The Walking Dead should be over.

Gemini Man (2019)

Expected more

[6/10 · 20 November 2019]

Before watching it, I thought the idea was brilliant and shooting locations also amazing. Now I think the way they interpreted the whole story is mediocre, exotic locations make no sense and the CGI is just terrible. The unnatural look on "young Will Smith" face is the bottom of uncanny valley, not to mention the ridiculous motion during the fights, especially in the dirtbike scene. It really bothered me, they made a cheap movie out of a great idea.

Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)

Underrated

[10/10 · 8 November 2019]

I gave it a 10 because it deserves an 8 but I hate that it's so underrated. I loved the original Terminator and T2, this had also lots of references, camera views as an hommage to the old movies. As a Terminator-fan I really enjoyed it, as a movie-fan I think it was a proper action movie without too much fake scenes (like Transformers) and just perfect amount of romantics and humor. The only reason why I wouldn't give 10 stars is the copy-pasted fight scenes from the previous episodes and the simple explanation of John's fate (multiple terminators). However the storyline with Skynet and Cyberdyne was closed in a smart and acceptable way.

The Walking Dead: What It Always Is (2019) Season 10, Episode 5

Good morning everyone

[10/10 · 4 November 2019]

Finally the series woke up from the long-term hibernation. Last season was so crap that I was happy to see many characters die, and this season was also too slow and marginally entertaining, so I'm very satisfied now to see Negan make a comeback. I really think he keeps this series alive for me, I wouldn't mind losing even more characters (good guys) if that makes the series interesting again.

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)

First Tarantino movie that doesn't get 10/10

[9/10 · 20 August 2019]

I know and love QT's work - it's only the high expectations why I'm a little bit disappointed. Brilliant camera work, unbelievable level of details really bring us back to 60's LA. However I missed the genius dialogues and tense scenes that chain my attention for most of the movie. It looks like lots of wasted time and left the real action for the end. The ending was so great that it made me give 9/10, without that it would've scored a 6 only. Too slow for too long. Pitt and DiCaprio are brilliant, that's no suprise. I also loved that Michael Madsen showed up for a tiny scene.

Game of Thrones: The Iron Throne (2019) Season 8, Episode 6

Yes I liked it

[10/10 · 20 May 2019]

I think this was the most balanced ending possible. Ghost was petted, Jon got back to the north and also didn't become a king (he didn't even wanted to), everyone else is happy. Maybe Drogon's story should've been ended somehow.

Again, beautiful cinematography.

I gave it only 8/10 because I felt the same rush, a big hurry to close the storylines, just like in the past 2 seasons.

Game of Thrones: The Bells (2019) Season 8, Episode 5

Great episode, maybe too fast

[8/10 · 17 May 2019]

I loved the cinematography and the continuous action.

The only reason why I don't give 10/10 is that I sense some "hurry" in the storyline. Everything happens and changes too quickly, no great death for Lannisters, I thought Cercei's death will be a moment that viewers will remember. It looks like HBO wanted to shut down GoT but still had 2-3 seasons of story in the drawer.

Game of Thrones: The Long Night (2019) Season 8, Episode 3

Perfect, BUT...

[9/10 · 29 April 2019]

I enjoyed this episode, it was extremely entertaining, amazing for a TV show. It generated really high amplitudes of emotions. Great soundtrack and I loved that there was no cliffhanger at the end.

BUT.

• terrible visibility, too dark and flickering camera, this is how you go cheap on fx.
• too many hopeless scenes saved by miracles (how did the saviors show up in the last second? Once we get over it, but we saw this 20 times)
• Theon, Jorah (?) that's it? Where is the merciless GoT we loved and feared so much? Why to spare with characters now? I expected more deaths, I feel cheated. At least one main character should've been gone.
• too fast, simple and stupid closure:

Fast, because we waited 7 seasons for this moment, and there was this stupid hollywood moment where the bad guy wasted time by just looking at Bran, waiting to get killed. If Arya was able to move without being seen, why didn't she do that before, instead of escaping door to door?

What's happening now, are they spending 5 episodes killing Cersei and closing love stories? I can stop watching then, this looks like a happy ending.

Although I'm complaining about the storyline, in general it deserves a 9 because it was so much fun to watch.

Control (2003)

Weird but funny and entertaining

[9/10 · 16 April 2019]

Amazing soundtrack and athmosphere, great actors. If the scenes with the "bear girl" would have been skipped, it would deserve 10 stars - but it only gets 9 because that storyline is boring and makes no sense. Otherwise it's really funny and scary at the same time, full of original ideas from Nimród Antal.

Bullitt County (2018)

Not recommended

[1/10 · 15 April 2019]

I was expecting a smart thriller. It turned out to be a boring, chaotic movie with bad actors. Not even a thriller. I will never be in the mood to watch something like this.

Game of Thrones: Winterfell (2019) Season 8, Episode 1

Better than expected

[10/10 · 15 April 2019]

I loved that some secrets were not held any longer and we marched into the new season pretty fast. It's quite entertaining as long as you don't start thinking logically: asking Bran could probably solve EVERYTHING.

The Walking Dead: Wrath (2018) Season 8, Episode 16

I'm out

[1/10 · 18 April 2018]

I suffered since several seasons to see that Rick and the team loses their balls and the walking dead stops focusing on the walking dead. This episode is the worst, weakest seasons's finale I've ever seen and it confirms that I should stop watching the series.