tomic-nikola Reviews

Echo (2023–2024)

The Fall of Marvel...

[3/10 · 14 January 2024]

If Marvel shows are going to look like this in the future, don't count on me.

Marvel hasn't produced anything good for last 2 years, at least, and Echo is the culmination of stupidity in every sense. The first episode was very good, but it was very good because it's basically not Echo. What Echo actually is is found in the other 4 episodes, which are very short, but so full of nonsense. I'm afraid that those responsible at Marvel / Disney will also ruin the new Daredevil series, and that will be definitely the end.

I hope that Vincent D'Onofrio - otherwise perfect as the Kingpin - will not have the unfortunate obligation to act in stupidities like Echo is in the future.

The Continental (2023)

The best on Prime since The Boys

[9/10 · 8 October 2023]

Very good, very entertaining. Stylish. Great production. Some plotholes, but nothing important & honestly, who cares.

The fight scenes are excellently choreographed. Lots of chasing, shooting, explosions. Some good drama, too. The atmosphere in the Continental hotel is impressively presented.

Mel Gibson is excellent - the right measure of psychotic drama and subtle comedy. Jessica Allain (Lou) is a real find, she made a great impression and I hope to see more of her in the future. All other actors, Colin Woodel included, very good.

The Continental is the best series to appear on Prime since The Boys, after many highly ambitious misfires. I was skeptical, so I waited a bit to watch, but... kudos.

"The World of John Wick" still has a lot of potential for good and attractive stories, I hope Prime uses them.

Secret Invasion (2023)

Disappointing, nothing really works

[6/10 · 30 June 2023]

After first 2 episodes...

Very disappointing. I expected much, much more. Quite ambitiously conceived, promising story idea, very good casting (some actors like Olivia Colman are just brilliant, some, like a guy who plays Gravik, simply bleak), but the realization in practice... really bad.

These 6 out of 10 are like a sign of good will, nothing more.

I'm not sure exactly where the key error was made, but nothing really works. Also, there are some illogical solutions in the story that are impossible to justify.

I hope that some improvement is possible, at least to a solid 7/10, but even in that best possible case the impression of a missed opportunity remains. Pity.

The Mandalorian: Chapter 22: Guns for Hire (2023) Season 3, Episode 6

This is the (Hallmark) Way

[2/10 · 12 April 2023]

Was this the Mandalorian in the Hallmark production? I think comparisons to the Scooby Doo movies are an overstatement for such trash of an episode.

Plain stupid dialogues. Illogical storytelling solutions. Potentially ok plot that is so simplified as if it was written for 6-year-olds. Lizzo "acts" literally as if she is in a children's show. Jack Black redundant. Christopher Lloyd unfortunately wasted.

And the fact that Din Djarin has been reduced to a secondary character in several episodes already... as if he is a little helper of Bo-Katan... at the same time, his role in the series, due to the stupid decisions of the authors, has become pointless.

And that fight scene at the end... with annoying loud hysterical music, the lowest possible production values, and totally senseless outcome.

I agree that the whole season 3 is significantly weaker than the previous two, but there were some good moments as well... however this episode falls short in every possible way.

1883 (2021–2022)

Highest pretensions & mediocre results

[7/10 · 25 January 2023]

I am really glad that Mr. Sheridan and his protégé Mrs. May did not receive any of the most important awards' nomination for the 1883 - a series that could've been one of the best ever, at least in the Western genre - because they made of it a mediocre product, a melodrama with little connection to reality, cultural history, and even common sense.

Of course, TV series are not historical documentaries, but exactly Sheridan's insistence on "authenticity" emphasizes the importance of the simple fact that too much in the 1883, especially related to Elsa character, has nothing to do with anything authentic or real.

The 1883 - as a cornerstone of all the Yellowstone saga - had so huge potential and a strong start, but after only 3 episodes too many illogical errors in the story development began to appear, later even to dominate, and the whole series became subordinate to one character, who is simply not capable enough for such responsibility.

Teenage melodrama, teenage soap opera in the age of cowboys, with grown ups in supporting roles.

I stopped watching during the 7th episode, and will not continue.

There are too many good shows these days, there's no time and no need for those who combine highest pretensions with mediocre results.

What is without any doubt of the best quality in this series? As in the Yellowstone - great production, cinematography, music - plus brilliant Sam Elliott and Tim McGraw. Because of the aforementioned, my rating for the 1883 is still pretty decent: 7/10.

Yellowstone (2018– )

Very good show with too many repulsive characters

[7/10 · 23 January 2023]

My rating for seasons 1-3: 9/10. Now, I'm watching Season 4 and, after 4 episodes, Yellowstone is becoming more and more like a too annoying soap opera. Don't know will I continue.

First of all: production values, cinematography and music in whole series are of the highest order. Netflix, Disney etc should watch & learn from the good old Paramount.

But: there are too many repulsive characters in the series. In S4, also too much melodrama, plot holes and inconsistencies. Literally, the only good thing in S4 were the first half of 1st episode, and (some of the) scenes about everyday life of cowboys at the ranch.

Beth is just... a functioning psychopath. You know, even Nazis loved their husbands, wives, fathers... but that doesn't mean that they weren't evil. Kelly Reilly is a great actress, don't get me wrong.

The actress who plays Monica is just awful, painfully mediocre, and the character of Monica is just awful, without any logical development, and everything about poor Casey's wife is, well, awful.

Casey is the only likable character among a main roles in the series. Too dependent on (awful) Monica, but... that's a life, I suppose.

Jamey is pathetic coward and helplessly spineless. (it's not the actor's fault, of course).

John is... well, like a Godfather from famous movie trilogy. Kevin Costner plays his part very well, this is probably a role of his life. John's alleged blindness for Beth's sadism is psychologically understandable, but irritating in the same time.

Taylor Sheridan is a fantastic writer. Just, please Mr. Sheridan, control your ego. As an actor, your role in S4 is so annoying.

My final rating, the first half of S4 included: 8/10. But, probably I will take a longer break and move to... 1883 and 1923.

Godless (2017)

Much better than The English, among the best ever

[10/10 · 14 January 2023]

This is an exceptional series. The best Western I've seen in recent years, or rather in the last I don't know how many years.

I think it's much better than The English, which I consider, in addition to its very good direction and cinematography, as too pretentious, too intrusive, with too many plot holes and illogicality (7/10).

At first glance, Godless is more modest in its ambitions, at times even very directly and honestly taking elements from classic Westerns, but it reaches the highest heights.

Also, unlike The English, where everything, and I mean - everything, is subordinated to the performances of 2-3 actors, here we really have an ensemble cast, very coordinated and harmonious, where the whole does not suffer due to the over-emphasis of its individual parts.

Godless belongs to the so-called "revisionist Western", but for all its qualities it belongs to the very top of the genre as such in its rich history.

Warrior Nun (2020–2022)

Disappointed in Netflix

[8/10 · 21 December 2022]

The Warrior Nun is canceled?! What a shame. This is intelligent, entertaining, exciting and technically well done show, with charismatic Alba Baptista in leading role. Probably not in line with 90 percent of recent Netflix production, which is so... boring, predictable and plain stupid. Unfortunately, recent budget cuts in streaming industry affected mostly those who are different, and much better, than play-it-safe average. At least at Netflix. I am truly disappointed with canceling of the Warrior Nun because this show could lasted for long, it truly had a strong potential for a long term cult status.

Atlanta: New Jazz (2022) Season 3, Episode 8

The Odyssey of Al

[10/10 · 12 December 2022]

The best episode this season. Al's Odyssey in the city of Amsterdam. What really happened, and what was imagined in his head, we'll never know. But who cares. BT Henry had masterful performance in this one, and Donald Glover shows once again how talented he is.

Amsterdam is brilliantly depicted, I never had a wish to visit that city, but after this episode of Atlanta hopefully I will. Cobbled narrow streets, river channels and bridges, and a bunch of a bit weird but so interesting people wandering around.

And, yes, Al is very gentle soul. So lost and fragile without his beloved mother. But... his Earn is there and all will be cool.

A brilliant episode!

The West Wing: Drought Conditions (2005) Season 6, Episode 16

A piece of great TV

[10/10 · 23 August 2022]

One of the best The West Wing episodes ever. Unusual arty direction, for example the scene by Will and Kate at the gala, and deepest inquiry into Toby's character yet. Very moving dialogue with CJ, for example, masterly acted by Richard Schiff. Also, all his scenes with a lady in the bar are perfect. Director Alex Graves and R. Schiff, supported by all the others involved, made of this episode an example of great TV.

The Tit and the Moon (1994)

Highest recommendation

[10/10 · 27 November 2021]

Bigas Luna was a true genius. Probably more talented than his counterpart Pedro Almodovar even.

And this is a film that I will remember forever.

One of the most beautiful I've ever seen.

Pure joy and happiness of life.

Red Notice (2021)

Your average blockbuster

[5/10 · 23 November 2021]

So shallow. So predictable. So stereotypical. So forgettable.

Some stylish scenes from attractive locations around the world. Some charming moments. One interesting chase & fight (at the very beginning).

But, above all, the most beautiful Gal Gadot!

Cowboy Bebop (2021)

Funny!

[8/10 · 22 November 2021]

Above all, it's so funny! SF cowboys' adventure, a lot of shootings, fights, heists, chases - many of those in and with spaceships and on different planets, a lot of humor, in one word - joyride!

Of course, don't expect too much, especially hardcore fans of original anime, this is something very different.

Also: Actors are pretty average, production budget pretty cheap, screenplay no brainer...

But, great fun! Really nice dose of good old tv entertainment before a bedtime.

Just relax and enjoy, it's worth it!

Nazi Death Squads (2009)

In fact, it's 10/10

[9/10 · 19 November 2021]

Too painful to watch. That's why 9/10. But, actually, deserves straight 10.

One of the most important documentaries about WW2, Nazism and antisemitism ever made.

And with some the most painful scenes, practically unbearable.

The Harder They Fall (2021)

7/10 better than many

[7/10 · 18 November 2021]

Quite good western movie with all Black cast, very stylish, refreshing, mostly exciting, some actors are brilliant (especially bad guys and girls), but I have strong feeling that it's full potential isn't achieved.

Likes: Production, soundtrack, atmosphere, acting, story idea.

Dislikes: Rhythm, some illogical solutions, story development.

Overall: 7 out of 10, and much better film than majority of Hollywood/Netflix blockbusters.