Entheogenesis Reviews

The Matrix Resurrections (I) (2021)

A disaster - it feels awfully sad, but somehow, after two years of Covid-compliance, more or less appropriate.

[1/10 · 28 December 2021]

They say, "disappointment is a factor of expectation." But even though my expectations for Matrix IV were low ... it's hard to overstate how bad it really is.

The only reason I continued to watch it was out of curiosity to see how much they'd trash it. Suffice to say they basically turned one of the most profound and creative films of a generation ... into a pretentiously boring SJW-fuelled Marvel cartoon of idiocy.

It has no charm, no point, and serves only to degrade the memory of a brilliant original concept ... as well as further dumb-down the creative expectations of our current generation ... whose idea of "entertainment" apparently hit rock bottom (and then started digging), quite some time ago.

It feels awfully sad ... but somehow, more or less appropriate.

One thing the movie got very right was this.

"The Sheeple aren't going anywhere. They like my world. They don't want freedom or empowerment. They crave the comfort of certainty. They want to be controlled."

Given what we've seen of how easily and willingly most of humanity has been kowtowed into slavery this last couple of years ... it's pretty goddamn hard to argue with that.

#RIPMatrix.

Tenet (2020)

A Dumpster Fire - Travelling Thru a Wormhole - Into a Black Hole.

[1/10 · 16 December 2020]

You've gotta be kidding right?

This is what a C-Grade movie looks like ... when you throw $200M dollars ... and a bottomless pit of hubris, cluelessness and desperation at it.

Bottom-line? We don't care ... about ANY of it. One finds oneself veritably PRAYING for that world to be vaporised.

They should put Nolan into a mental-health facility and get him thoroughly checked, before allowing him to make another film.

Infidel (2019)

Play stupid games ... win stupid prizes.

[6/10 · 11 November 2020]

The fact this is a film with an agenda ... doesn't make what it has to say untrue.

If you go to Cairo as a high-profile Christian blogger ... and effectively "preach Christianity" to a massive TV audience of diehard Muslims ... don't be surprised when your life suddenly takes a rapid turn for the worse. LOL.

Having said that, this is a film worth watching, not so much for the mains (turning in occasionally hammy or contrived performances), but for the concept overall, and particularly the performances of supporting characters such as "Ramzi."

The harshness and lawlessness of the Middle-East felt real (if a little cliched in places) ... but you are left in no doubt as to the eternal divides which exist between the (primarily) Judeo-Christian culture of the West ... and its counterparts of radical Islam elsewhere.

In short, if these themes interest you ... the film is worth checking out.

Burnt (I) (2015)

Could have been so much more!

[6/10 · 23 October 2020]

Having spent much of my life in hospitality (bars & clubs), I'd been looking forward to this film.

In my experience, most chefs ... certainly the best ones ... are almost invariably insane (one reason I steered mostly clear of restaurants!).

Unfortunately, this film is a let-down. Notwithstanding good actors, and a decent concept ... the end result is like a sunken soufflé. The narrative seems disjointed, the characters disconnected, and there's no real chemistry between anyone there should be ... etc.

We don't believe these characters, we don't care about them ... and in a movie like this one, you need to. It's a shame really ... because with a little more thought, this could have been a truly GREAT movie about the kind of pressure and madness that comes with kitchen-life at the highest possible level.

But for the reasons noted (and a few others, such as the lame psycho-analytical subplot) it ultimately fell flat ... and to be honest, I was a little sad about that.

White Lines (2020)

It's a trainwreck, but you'll almost certainly watch all of it.

[6/10 · 10 October 2020]

A friend said to me, "it is so terrible it's difficult to stop watching." LOL. That's an interesting way of putting it. It was very much a trainwreck one couldn't look away from. By a few episodes in, I really wanted the idiot-protagonist Zoe dead. It's hard to imagine a more stupid, more annoying, more "no consequences" lack of responsibility, or infuriating character. In the real world, they would have sunk her in an underground cavern by the end of episode 3. Her brother seemed a right psycho as well. Very few likeable characters generally speaking (not that that necessarily makes any good production a non-starter) My favourite character was obviously Boxer. A great role, inhabited beautifully by Nuno Lopes. Having lived in Latin America now for over 12 years, this show reminded me somewhat of a typical Spanish telenovela (soap-opera).

Listening (2014)

Good concept ... script, acting, and plot needed more work.

[7/10 · 17 September 2020]

Long story short, this is a pretty compelling, although far from perfect film.

It'll be especially interesting for those who are into the kind of brain-computer interfacing tech at the core here ... that's probably going to eventually destroy or irrevocably alter humanity.

It is let down by some hammy dialogue, some inexplicable character decisions, characters we don't really like, a somewhat contrived and rushed plot, and a cutaway to a Cambodian Buddhist monastery which seems a little "accelerated" to be credible within the timeframe of the overall narrative arc.

Having said all that, it is original and fresh ... and there's otherwise some good stuff in there. At least it is not formulaic trash, like so much other derivative sci-fi out there these days.

I'd say most people, if they give it a chance, will find something of interest to enjoy in there.

The Social Dilemma (2020)

Hmmm.🤔 Some good stuff ... and some very bad.

[6/10 · 13 September 2020]

Hmmm. 🤔 Some good stuff ... and some very bad. The first half, and about the last five or ten minutes ... where practical (data-driven) advice is given in terms of identifying problematic issues, and managing kids' usage (particularly) ... is good. But I found most of the second half to be seriously condescending and propagandistic ... in respect of "conspiracy theories" etc. Which is hilariously ironic, because the whole doco is basically talking about the ACTUAL (massive!) conspiracy-theory which has played out over the last 20 years to mine our attention and make users a disposable product. LOL. 🙄 Obviously I wasn't expecting much (it being a Netflix production). But there are problematic issues, and at least they are raised in this doco ... even though the production comes with a bucket-load of stuff I think is assumptive, selectively judgmental, manipulative, fundamentally irrelevant to the main problems, and accordingly, unhelpful and a little irritating to sit through. Overall though, it is absolutely worth watching ... mainly for reasons of being able to unplug kids before they become completely useless human beings. For some though, it is already too late. 🙁

Locke & Key (2020–2022)

A great premise wasted ... by lazy writing and incredibly annoying protagonists.

[3/10 · 1 June 2020]

The least annoying character in the whole show ... is the supposed baddie, Dodge.

At least she's beautiful, badass, single-minded, ruthless, focused, and smart.

The supposed "good guys" are by turns, stupid, disorganised, self-absorbed, reckless, and essentially, always seem to rely on "dumb luck" to make it through to the next "battle."

Accordingly, you just want Darwinism to kick in, and see them all die off. Unfortunately that doesn't happen.

The writers of this show need a solid kick up the backside, for making these characters do the dumbest stuff imaginable ... which is what makes them so annoying that you just can't root for them.

I get that it's for teenagers ... but really, have we dumbed-down people so much by now, that they'll put up with having their intelligence insulted to this degree?

Sadly, it appears so. :(

Us (II) (2019)

Pretentious, unoriginal, condescending, meaningless garbage.

[1/10 · 1 June 2020]

I cannot believe I wasted my time on this awful mess.

Any rating of this film over 5 ... is utterly undeserved in every respect ... purely coasting on the coat-tails of JP's previous effort, "Get Out."

This film has nothing though ... absolutely nothing.

It is hard for me to imagine how someone who made Get Out ... could actually make (let alone release!) ... a hackneyed disastrous pile of steaming feces like this.

Two hours you'll never get back ... very very disappointing ... don't waste your time ... thank me later.

Welcome to Wonderland (2006)

A Fabulous Depiction of Australian "Bush Doof" Culture

[9/10 · 19 September 2012]

If anyone has ever wondered just who these folks are who dress up and go to days-long electronica festivals in the middle of nowhere, this is as good an introduction as you will find regarding what it's all about. Australia has become one of the world leaders in putting on these kinds of electronic-music dance-parties/festivals in the outback, and this documentary focuses on those parties and the people who love going to them. It is difficult to imagine a better introduction to this sort of scene, for all those to whom it may currently still be an utterly foreign world. Full kudos to James Short and his merry band of revellers for putting together something truly special with this documentary film.

After (I) (2009)

A Great Exploration of Mid-Life Ennui & Hard-Core Partying

[8/10 · 5 July 2012]

I cannot believe this film is only rating 5.1! I thought it was a gripping, gritty and realistic descent into the sort of nightlife madness which comes along once in a while when people are determined to push things to the edge of the envelope. Fragile mental states are exposed, as is the inevitable questioning of the worth of everyday reality when one enters those altered states and environments. What drives these characters to do what they do? Is it worth it? What does it cost them, etc? The cinematography and direction are both outstanding. As are the characters and the acting. In short, I loved it!

The Crisis of Civilization (2011)

Should be mandatory viewing for people everywhere - especially Governments.

[9/10 · 6 April 2012]

This documentary is one of the best I've seen for a long time. It takes a very considered and sober look at some of our planet's most pressing problems - not in isolation but together, and extrapolates some conclusions which should give us all great cause for concern. The human race is locked into a number of systems of behaviour, commerce, politics and economics which serve certain vested interests ... to the long term detriment of our planet, and therefore ourselves. But these systems and belief structures are so entrenched (and reinforced by those vested interests - who influence our governments) that breaking out of them (necessary for human survival) is going to be very challenging, and probably very painful. The sooner people WAKE UP to these truths, and start taking individual action based on these truths, the better off we will all be. There is a PAIN-TRAIN coming for human civilization as we know it, one way or another. How are you going to prepare for it?