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Andor (2022)
Just what Star Wars needed
My interest for Star Wars had gone stale since Disney bought the IP...a lackluster movie trilogy, 3 TV series one of which was really entertaining but the other two were totally missing the point... I had the constant feeling that, instead of playing with the massive sandbox Lucas left for them, they were putting themselves in a straight jacket, always retreading the same waters, trying to explain little details that needed no explanation, filling gaps that were better left alone...
Enter Andor. That promise of a huge sandbox that was only hinted at by the Mandalorian is fully realized here. This TV series builds its own place, marks its own pace and does it in a very mature way., willing to explore the gray areas of Lucas' creation. Add to that really good actors, outstanding cinematography and really tight scripts and you get the best Star Wars in decades, one that has really re-ignited my interest in the franchise.
A must see series!
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Part III (2022)
Somewhat enjoyable...but lacking
Some good things and some lackluster aspects, that's my summary of this series so far. I'm really glad to have Ewan back: he was one of the highlights of the prequels and has lost none of his charisma and good acting chops, portraying OB1 with a delightful sense of gravitas and bitterness. There are some moments where I say to myself..."this is great"...only to be followed by some cringeworthy situation.
Writing is mostly lazy and production value are all over the place. Take the return of Mr. Vader: should have been a moment for the ages, but it's harmed by some bad editing, lackluster direction and horrible writing. Some of the shots and situations seem to be taken straight from one of those fan fiction shorts that populate Youtube. Mandalorian and even BOBF managed to pull off better setpieces...why not OB1?
Hopefully things will be better from now, with 3 episodes left. But right now I have the same feeling as with BOBF...great to have you back, but not for this!
The Book of Boba Fett: Chapter 5: Return of the Mandalorian (2022)
Shocked and amazed to realize...
-... That the best episode in the book of boba Fett has no boba Fett.
- That Din is much more badass and lethal than Boba. That brawl in the butcher den...
-...how much I miss The Mandalorian as a character and his dynamics
-... That they have redefined the expression "to steal the show"
-... That in the end this episode has highlighted all the problems with the Book of Boba Fett and how bland they have turned its main character to.
Eternals (2021)
Surprising
Flawed, but one of the best MCU movies out there. One of the very few still able to surprise me and keep my interest throughout its running time. Kudos to the team for having crafted such a beautiful and different movie.
Foundation (2021)
Superb
A thought provoking series that is not a crowd pleaser. Single episodes might be more enjoyable than the series as a whole (that sometimes feels disjointed due to time jumps and character shifts) but the themes covered, the sheer ambition and the visual prowess make Foundation one of the most interesting Sci-fi TV shows of the moment.
Watchmen (2019)
Watchmen's Leftovers
The seminal Moore / Gibbons masterpiece is so unique that trying to adapt it or make a sequel using its own language seems like a lost battle. And we do have Snyder's version, which was a direct translation of Watchmen universe. So I am on totally intrigued by Damon's vision for this series, which (just guessing) deals with the consequences of Veidt plans in a not-so-different-from-ours world.
Had this series been released after Lost I would have had many doubts regarding Damon's ability to pull it off, but after the amazing Leftovers I am totally in for the ride
Game of Thrones: The Iron Throne (2019)
Please remake seasons 1 to 6...
...so that they can fit this new sitcom that D&D have devised in the last 2 ones!
It's time to get rid of all those complex storylines, nuanced characters, earned payoffs, deserved deaths and shockingly logical twists and pave the way for a more streamlined show, one where plot armors will make you feel safer, logic is a relic of the past and none invests too much time caring for character progression or overall arcs.
And of course, get rid of Mr. Martin...he just was an annoyance that was tampering with the true vision that D&D had for this show.
Remake them, so that we can truly experience the real GOT fans have been eagerly waiting for!
Game of Thrones: The Last of the Starks (2019)
Sad but true, time to move on
OK, the funny thing is that I truly think this is the best episode of this season so far, but that's not saying much.
Look guys, D&D are not mr. George Martin and it has been showing since last season. The showrunners did a fantastic job adapting George's material (that's out of any question) but when they were left on their own to continue with the story, they have not been up to the task.
Is this episode an absolute piece of idiocy, the worst thing ever aired on TV? Nope, of course! Even when reduced to a shadow of its former self GOT delivers some really great entertainment; but when you have in mind the outstanding quality of the first six seasons I can understand the fury and disappointment that has been running wild among fans, leading to those 1 ratings.
Once again it all goes to the writing. Lazy, uninspired, kind of botched...they seem to be interested in wrapping up the story as quickly as possible, leaving no time for nuances, or character evolution. The choices that both the story and characters take look absolutely rigged, not earned...and that's something that sorely sticks out in a show like GOT.
So that's all I think we are going to get in the last 2 episodes: fantastic production values and great acting by the cast tarnished by the lazy writing. Sad...but most probably true!
Game of Thrones: The Long Night (2019)
Disappointed
One has to accept the fact that since season 7 GOT has morphed into another kind of show, a more streamlined, simple and hollywood-like one.
Still, I have been able to enjoy the ride so far just because of the sheer spectacle they were throwing at us and the nostalgia factor. Up to this very episode.
The Long Night is beautifully shot and very well crafted (kudos to the team) but the writing is so lazy that in the end it made the battle (and the TV series) feel hollow.
The biggest threat ever is ended at the very first big battle they have to go through, and the end comes in the shape of a blatant and unearned Deus Ex Machina.
3 episodes left. I am really curious about them and of course will be watching them, but the anticipation has faded away. I truly hope they still have a hidden card under their sleeve, but nothing is suggesting that's the case.
Star Trek: Discovery: If Memory Serves (2019)
Outstanding episode
This is a Star Trek for the 21st century. Expertly written, very well acted and with a main arc that finally seems to be going somewhere.
And Spock... Sorry, but it has made me forget Zachary Quinto version in just a couple of episodes!
The Haunting of Hill House: Silence Lay Steadily (2018)
Thanks
For such an amazing series and a wonderful finale: left me speechless, stunned and with tears in my eyes.
If someone expected a gory scary or frightening finale...I think they have not understood what this series is about, or what a ghost (in this story) really is.
Well done!
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
The wrong path
I was in absolute awe when Rian Johonson was chosen to write/direct VIII. I truly loved Looper and Brick and was ready for "the best SW movie since Empire". Jezz, what a let down. The movie started with Poe's prank and somehow my head went back to good old Spaceballs...
Leia flew back to the Mon Calamari cruiser...a big WTF was blinking in red in front of my eyes
By the Casino scene I was already scratching my head wondering if this was a sequel to Guardians of The Galaxy, not a SW one.
Every single time Holdo or DJ popped in the screen something felt off, like "I'm not watching a Star Wars movie"
And when Luke died for no apparent or at least well deserved (plot-wise) reason I got really angry.
In the end Star Wars is suffering because of the lack of a clear map of how this new trilogy was going to unfold. When Rey, Snoke, Kylo or the Lightsaber were introduced in VII I thought that they had clear in mind their overall arcs and backstories, but as Rian Johnson has admitted there was no plan at all. And man it shows. It's clear that the plot for VIII was not what JJ Abrams would have written, and that Rian didn't like what JJ did in VII. Instead, the new director was obsessed with avoiding the pitfalls of VII (a copycat of episode IV) and thus he tried to surprise viewers...with almost every important decision made gone wrong. And since the trilogy was not mapped at all he could basically do what he wanted to do. TFA very clearly tried to set up new characters, mysteries...and Rian simply doesn't care at all. He is a man on a mission: getting ready a clean slate but doing it in a very surprising way. And in the process he lost track of what a Star Wars story should be and having characters acting out of character, even the new ones.
Is the movie a complete disaster? Should its rating be a zero? No way. It's beautifully shot, Hamill and Driver just kill it, John Williams is back, the FX are top notch and somehow you feel that there is a good movie buried under a pile of bad plot decisions. There are brilliant and thrilling sequences that should rank among the best in the series. But sure, I understand that for most diehard fans (like me) some of the mentioned plot decisions eclipse everything else. Now, the funny thing is thinking how JJ will try to fix the situation in IX...he created something promising, Rian thrashed it, and now he is receiving it back with the aim of closuring it ...somehow. We'll see