The acting is solid and some characters are very interesting, but the actual story is mediocre at best. A bunch of annoying and glaring plotholes along with a pace that alternates from slow to too fast. The show didn't captivate my attention at all from the first episode, but it does get just slightly most interesting as the show progresses. The premise seems to imply a thriller, but this show is most certainly a drama. I believe there is an audience out there for this show, that some people would love this kind of dramatic and all-over-the-place storyline, but it's just not the kind of show I was expecting to see.
Reviews
4 Reviews
The Circle
(I) (2017)
Had potential, but failed
10 December 2017
Warning: Spoilers
No no no. This movie had such potential, but failed. It's so predictable, the writing was cringe-worthy, mediocre acting, and it was so so unrealistic.
The Circle is about a woman who begins working at The Circle, a Facebook/Google/Apple-like company, a utopian world turned dystopian. As the story progresses, she works her way to the top, while striving to lead the world into having zero privacy, as she becomes "transparent" herself - allowing the world to watch and hear her every move all day. Mae is one of the most naive and easily-influenced characters I have ever witnessed in film history. It blows my mind how a sheep-like character like her could be portrayed as both a victim and a victor. Her parents cut off contact with her due to her, her close friend dies because of her actions, she grieves for about 3 days, and then returns to her work at the Circle, suddenly showing zero empathy as she joins back in her cult-like work, taking no responsibility for her actions.
And don't even get me started on the ending. She still goes on with her idea of wanting the world become transparent, yet unmasks the corporate heads. And for what?
3.5 stars because the idea was good, it was a decent movie to watch if you have nothing to do, and sure, I can see how it can be thought-provoking for some, though it still would've been more thought-provoking a decade ago. I rounded up simply because of Tom Hanks.
Please just go read the book by Dave Eggers if you're looking for something a lot more engaging story. This is a movie that can just be left playing in the background while you entertain yourself with something else.
The Circle is about a woman who begins working at The Circle, a Facebook/Google/Apple-like company, a utopian world turned dystopian. As the story progresses, she works her way to the top, while striving to lead the world into having zero privacy, as she becomes "transparent" herself - allowing the world to watch and hear her every move all day. Mae is one of the most naive and easily-influenced characters I have ever witnessed in film history. It blows my mind how a sheep-like character like her could be portrayed as both a victim and a victor. Her parents cut off contact with her due to her, her close friend dies because of her actions, she grieves for about 3 days, and then returns to her work at the Circle, suddenly showing zero empathy as she joins back in her cult-like work, taking no responsibility for her actions.
And don't even get me started on the ending. She still goes on with her idea of wanting the world become transparent, yet unmasks the corporate heads. And for what?
3.5 stars because the idea was good, it was a decent movie to watch if you have nothing to do, and sure, I can see how it can be thought-provoking for some, though it still would've been more thought-provoking a decade ago. I rounded up simply because of Tom Hanks.
Please just go read the book by Dave Eggers if you're looking for something a lot more engaging story. This is a movie that can just be left playing in the background while you entertain yourself with something else.
OtherLife
(2017)
Had potential to be a great film
1 December 2017
OtherLife had potential to be a great film, but the story development fell through. Great premise, great idea, thrilling, but no real story. Decent acting but not very well scripted. All in all, a fairly predictable movie, especially the ending.
Would recommend watching Total Recall, the Matrix, or Inception instead of this one if you want a more engaging and well-written movie with a good execution, however, this one will suffice if you're bored and just looking for any thrilling Sci-Fi to watch.
The "DMT security" was a nice reference to DMT, the psychedelic drug, which I laughed at. Clearly this was the source of inspiration for the writers, considering the DMT-type visuals that were added in some scenes.
5.5/10
Would recommend watching Total Recall, the Matrix, or Inception instead of this one if you want a more engaging and well-written movie with a good execution, however, this one will suffice if you're bored and just looking for any thrilling Sci-Fi to watch.
The "DMT security" was a nice reference to DMT, the psychedelic drug, which I laughed at. Clearly this was the source of inspiration for the writers, considering the DMT-type visuals that were added in some scenes.
5.5/10
Aftermath
(IV) (2017)
Emotional and thought-provoking, but that's mostly all
6 October 2017
A film about the aftermath of a tragedy. It portrays the blame culture in our world, and the primary focus is on two men coping with grief. One spiralling down into self-pity and mental instability, while the other descends into a dark anger-fuelled desire for revenge.
Good acting, but not so good filmography. The pacing is off and the script isn't great. All in all, not remotely close to Oscar material, but the story is certainly thought-provoking and emotional, bumping it up a couple stars. It is a decent movie that had potential to be amazing but failed in some areas, including the ending.
This isn't an easy watch, it's dark, and might bring out some uneasiness, frustration, along with sympathy at moments, making it quite difficult to review this movie in an objective fashion for some.
I disagree that this is an unrealistic story-line. Scapegoating and the egotistical culture is certainly not over-exaggerated in this movie. Some unrealistic scenes, but overall quite plausible.
5/10
Good acting, but not so good filmography. The pacing is off and the script isn't great. All in all, not remotely close to Oscar material, but the story is certainly thought-provoking and emotional, bumping it up a couple stars. It is a decent movie that had potential to be amazing but failed in some areas, including the ending.
This isn't an easy watch, it's dark, and might bring out some uneasiness, frustration, along with sympathy at moments, making it quite difficult to review this movie in an objective fashion for some.
I disagree that this is an unrealistic story-line. Scapegoating and the egotistical culture is certainly not over-exaggerated in this movie. Some unrealistic scenes, but overall quite plausible.
5/10
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