matt-r-jones Reviews

Class of '09 (2023)

Excellent Sci-fi

[10/10 · 9 January 2024]

This is an excellent thought provoking limited series. I must confess, I suffer from super hero/ star wars fatigue and was delighted to find something with a little more depth on Disney+.

The story revolves around a class of FBI recruits in three time periods, the past, the present and the future. In the future crime prevention and detection is managed by an A. I. The story explores its inception.

I found the acting to be exceptional, which is unsurprising considering the cast. The portrayal of the future is stunning and eminently believable. The themes explored are interesting and the writing clever. I highly recommend this series.

Agent Elvis (2023)

Love it!

[10/10 · 18 March 2023]

This is an excellent concept beautifully delivered. It reminds me of the brilliant Mike Tyson Miseries.

Netflix took a risk making this. It's obviously directed at a young to middling audience: unfamiliar with the 60s/70s celebrities/ references (me included). Not a concept that would usually get passed the first sounding board. Thank god it did. A highly original and unusual series

The series follows Elvis Presley, voiced by Matthew Mconnehey, his two side kicks and agent CeCe, played by Caitlin Olsen, living a double life as a vigilantly and secret agent.

The animation style is a cross between Hannah Barbara and the Power Puff Girls. The writing is sharp, witty and the story lines fulfilling. There's gadgetry and action.

Highly recommended.

The Lazarus Project (2022–2023)

We'll done Sky

[9/10 · 16 June 2022]

Finally Sky deliver a brilliant Sci-fi. Fantastic concept, written perfectly. The actors are brilliantly cast and their characters are developed well. I was hooked from the first episode and watched the entire series in less than a day. The finale episode is one hell of a cliff hanger, so I pray a second season will be commissioned.

The Lazarus project prevent extinction level disasters through a time loop. George, the lead, develops the ability to remember these loops. The series chronicals his journey.

The Moth Effect (2021)

Loved it

[10/10 · 10 January 2022]

This is a great sketch show. Obviously, with any sketch show it is hit and miss but it was more hit than miss for me. I loved the time traveller and lost at sea Matrix sketches.

Cobra Kai: The Rise (2021) Season 4, Episode 10

A poor end to a poor season.

[1/10 · 2 January 2022]

The writing has become a cheesy cliche. The characters switch between each dojo and character traits at the drop of a button. Terry Silver became a characture (much like his original appearance). No good at all.

Cowboy Bebop (2021)

Excellent

[10/10 · 23 November 2021]

I loved this! I haven't watched the cartoon for years, which meant I could watch it with an open mind. Great visuals and storylines. Loved everything about it..

No Time to Die (2021)

It's long!!!

[6/10 · 18 October 2021]

There are some great scenes and a good story but this is ultimately marred by the length. I was pretty bored for the middle hour or so. Many of the scenes were unnecessary.

The Green Knight (2021)

Marmite

[10/10 · 25 September 2021]

You'll either love this film or hate it. I am in the former category. This film is a metaphysical artwork. It entertains, but challenges. It is the antethisis to the current stream of Hollywood fantasy blockbusters (all of which I enjoy). It is a slow paced, thought provoking, visually stunning journey. Loved it.

The Strain (2014–2017)

Wigs and more

[3/10 · 23 September 2021]

There's a few things the creators of this show love: wigs, Just For Men, annoying children and no cohesive vision.

Rick and Morty: Rickdependence Spray (2021) Season 5, Episode 4

Cheap and sleasy

[2/10 · 13 August 2021]

This episode was designed to shock and that's it. Terrible.

Ghosts: The Bone Plot (2021) Season 3, Episode 1

Great episode!

[10/10 · 10 August 2021]

Great writing. It's nice to have a good comedy that the whole family can watch.

Manifest (2018–2023)

Arghhhh!

[4/10 · 31 July 2021]

I did it again. I watched a drama on Sky One. I thought, I'll give it a chance. Yes, everything I have watched on Sky One has been a heap of excrement but I thought I'd try anyway. Never again. Sky Atlantic all the way.

Manifest has every cheesy trope in the cliche playbook. It's as if the last 10 years of TV's cultural development never happened. Why...just why...😭

The Grand Tour: The Grand Tour Presents: Lochdown (2021) Season 4, Episode 3

Not that good.

[4/10 · 30 July 2021]

It's quite boring unfortunately. Just a blip in an otherwise good series of specials I suspect. It feels like there were plans for a trip abroad which fell through, due to Covid, and they had to throw something together on the fly.

Loki (2021–2023)

Just brilliant!

[10/10 · 14 July 2021]

This show is a bravely written and styled science fiction masterpiece.

Marvel often produces simple but engaging cinema. This series pushes the envelope by increasing the complexity. Some fans will dislike this direction; it is a risk but one that I think pays off.

The 70s stylisation of the TVA is a stroke of genius and the stylisation in general deserves an award in and of itself.

This is my favourite Marvel production to date. I hope that Disney have the guts to continue taking these kind of risks.

Loki: The Nexus Event (2021) Season 1, Episode 4

Great episode.

[10/10 · 30 June 2021]

It is clear that Disney have created a Marvel series that values the story above all. Fantastic plot twists.

Intergalactic (2021)

Truly Aweful

[1/10 · 5 May 2021]

This is bad, really bad. A low budget prison soap opera set in space. How in the world did this get approved? Did anybody read the script before things had gone too far to pull the plug? Weaponised dreadlocks, really? Cliche Mad Max esq. Costumed colonists. The dark hair blonde fringe denoting somebody special. Crackers with your cheese?

This kind of thing makes me lose my faith in humanity.

ZeroZeroZero (2019–2020)

Just brilliant

[10/10 · 4 May 2021]

Congratulations to Sky. Beautifully written, acted and directed.

Cursed (2020)

Good fun.

[8/10 · 20 July 2020]

This is an enjoyable series. People are rating too harshly. I don't think this series was ever meant to be a serious thought provoking drama. It's tongue in cheek and doesn't take itself too seriously. I really enjoyed it.

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (2019)

It's a good movie

[8/10 · 21 December 2019]

Star Wars is one of those franchises that can do no right. There are too many fans with strong fastidious opinions that will never be satisfied (lest they exclusively write, direct and produce the film themselves). Unsurprisingly, many rate this film poorly.

This is a good film. The production is the best of the latest three. There are nostalgic nods to the previous films and a good deal of originality. Catch it in the cinema if you can and ignore the fanatic rantings of the impossible to satisfy.

Another Life (2019–2021)

Shame

[4/10 · 30 July 2019]

This show answers the question, what would happen if you sent idiots into space? A question that is answered over and over again in a crescendo of calamities, leaving you pulling your hair out with frustration. Maybe the script writers should pen "Mr Bean in Space" and put their farcical writing style to better use. To add insult to injury we are treated to the clichéd flash back/ 6 hours earlier story telling forms, that have reliably produced a collective sigh, from viewing audiences, for some time now. Sorry Netflix, more sci-fi please but stop trying so hard to attract main stream audiences. There are enough sci-fi fans to make a hit. Look at Altered Carbon.

Battlefish (2018– )

Awesome

[9/10 · 26 September 2018]

Respect to the boys on the TNT. Great series. It really portrayed the hardships of tuna fishing. Congratulations Netflix for producing a fantastic documentary

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

Not good

[1/10 · 18 September 2018]

The script lacked depth and the characters were one dimensional. The writers tried to force the equality debate through the L3 character, something that becomes progressively more absurd and irritating as the movie progresses. This is a far cry from the brilliance of Rogue One. Back to the drawing board Disney.