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The Orville (2017)
Something's missing...
While I don't outright dislike "The Orville", I have a hard time imagining this will be a show that lasts beyond one or two seasons.
From reading some of the more positive comments, it makes me slightly optimistic that the show will take on a more substantive identity. But from what I watched in the pilot, I lean more towards skepticism.
Overall, the show just feels hollow. A cast of mostly one- dimensional characters, jokes that are so predictable that they almost write themselves, and acting that's terribly underwhelming.
The biggest criticism I have, though, is the vacant space in between character exchanges. The acting is so far from fluid that it almost begs you to see actors instead of characters. I also think Seth MacFarlane made a mistake casting himself in the lead, as it's very hard to take him seriously.
Not that this is by any means a serious show, but his entire backstory is more anecdotal than honest and the mental gymnastics it requires to see him as the character he's supposed to portray is something else.
I also think this show, while vastly different from Family Guy, bends towards Seth's comedic-style, which can come across as a bit basic for live-action. For example -- very minor spoiler -- when their ship's first setting out and the camera pans around the ship to give the proper scope; Seth uses this moment as an opportunity to spoof other Sci-Fi shows and pans around the ship at least a dozen times, lasting a few minutes. It's reminiscent of those moments in Family Guy where Peter injures his knee and just keeps moaning in pain.
It just drags on, for no other reason than to hope the irritation of it leads to laughter. A big gamble being that a lot hinges on this show's success, and it doesn't pay off. So to me, I think there's a real risk of this show's niche humor and low-end drama to drive it right into the ground.
It just doesn't have the heart to be felt, the magic to be awed, or the comedy to be fully entertained. The special effects are excellent so there is a lot of room for world-building, but it's going to take a lot of patience for Fox given what it will require to keep this show afloat. So overall, I just don't see it lasting. It's unfortunate, too, because I know this is a pet project for Seth and I want to like it. So far, though, I just can't.
The OA (2016)
Flawed, but excellent...
It's fitting that this show's being hailed as Netflix's best original series since "Stranger Things", because for all intents and purposes, it's a very similar show. Not so much stylistically, but conceptually there's a lot of overlap; the possibility of cross- dimensional travel, an (apparently) super-human lead character, a group of supportive-yet-reluctant friends trying to help her, and a lot of mystery throughout.
I won't go into any deep description to avoid spoilers, but it's ripe with science-fiction and touches on a lot of very interesting things. Although this will probably sound blasphemous, I honestly feel this is a better show than "Stranger Things". It's more mature and certainly more nuanced, and I think the writing was much stronger from beginning to end. I won't go as far as to say this is the best show I've seen, or even one of, but I'd definitely say it's well worth watching! I really liked it, and I think the more negative reviews of it are a bit short-sighted. It won't leave you with extraordinarily profound answers, but it will take you on an emotional journey and it does leave you glad to have watched it. Can't wait for Season 2.
Absolutely Anything (2015)
Definitely not "Hot Fuzz"....
There's a line in Simon Pegg's show "Spaced" in which his neighbor Brian asks him for advice on the clothes he's wearing. Brian asks, "Should I lose the waistcoat?", and Tim (played by Simon Pegg) goes, "You should burn it. Because if you lose it, you might find it again".
Well...This movie is the waistcoat. If you're watching it as a an avid Simon Pegg fan and are expecting something on par with "Shaun of the Dead" or "Hot Fuzz"; Don't. It's very silly, and I don't say that affectionately. None of the strange twists or adult moments are enough to pull it from the wreckage of its mediocrity, and none of the characters are even remotely memorable (except maybe Dennis the Dog...RIP Robin Williams). All-in-all, it's not a movie I'd watch again and I certainly wouldn't recommend it. Which is why I'm leaving such a dull and plain review. It's no bueno!
The Revenant (2015)
It was...A movie.
Since there are already reviews on here that have broken "The Revenant" down way better than I will, I'll just say this -- it's a movie. If you want to watch something for the experience of having watched it because everyone else is buzzing, you won't be disappointed. It'll give you the few choice scenes to keep you in conversations, but I don't think it has nearly enough substance to resonate with someone looking for something more.
Personally, I find this movie to be extremely overrated. Not in the sense that it's terrible, but in the sense that it's amazingly average. All the criticisms I've read from other people are fair in saying that the character development is flawed and that you don't engage enough emotionally to really care when something dramatic happens. Unless you're an avid movie buff who can survive on almost 3 hours of torture and brutality for an easily predictable ending, I certainly wouldn't recommend this film to you.
It lacks, in my opinion, a strong enough foundation to really make you concerned over any of the characters well-being...Including Glass (played by DiCaprio). You may be able to feel for the physical pain he's suffering throughout, but his emotional journey didn't resonate with me in the least. His deceased wife only exists in glimpses of his near-death flashbacks, and he and his son exchange maybe 10 lines of actual dialogue with each other. The rest of the film can be summed up with a lot of crawling, a lot of grunting, and a slow (but steady) progression from a should-be-dead man to a hobbled guy with nothing to lose and revenge on his mind.
And from the moment he's wronged, you know what Glass's story arc's going to be. There's very little deviation from what you think's going to happen and what actually happens...Save a few close calls and run-ins to break up the monotony of all that crawling and grunting, of course. All in all, I'd rate this film at a 4/10. I didn't love it...I wouldn't recommend it to many people...And I have no intention of watching it again. I think the Oscar really was an "I Owe You" to Leo more than it was an actual validation of the film itself. Or maybe this year's crop of movies just weren't all that great. Either way, watch with caution...It may not be as amazing as your friend seems to think it is.
The Last Man on Earth (2015)
Ignore the bad reviews...This show is hilarious!
I suppose it's expected that a show this unique is going to have its fair share of love/hate responses, but I'm extremely surprised to see it get this much criticism.
My suggestion for the detractors out there is, because it's a comedy, just let go of the OCD nature of trying to dissect what is and isn't realistic in a doomsday scenario and just follow along with the show's humor. Don't overthink it.
Too many reviews are criticizing needless things, like; "Where's the abandoned cars in traffic?", "Where are all the bodies?", etc...But those things are completely unnecessary in terms of buying the show's premise. I think they did the right thing to not edge themselves out with grim imagery. It doesn't need a drama element.
It's supposed to be funny, and for that reason they had to make the decision (and rightfully so) to dismiss the typical and obvious aspects of a last-man-on-earth scenario and just go straight for the comedy. If they didn't, none of the humor would land as quickly and easily as it does.
Personally, I think this is one of the funniest and most interesting shows I've seen in a long time. It's rare to have a comedy nowadays that's so quotable and full of brilliant one liners, and because the characters and the situations they find themselves in are so strange, what comes from it is an incredibly original and fresh show with the potential for many future seasons of hilarious moments.
So if you're at all reading this review and are comparing it to other reviews to see if this show is worth watching, I suggest you just watch this show and see for yourself. I, for one, love it, and can't imagine how someone wouldn't. If it's not for you, you'll know instantly...But if it is, you just found a gold mine that will have you in laughing out loud at least a dozen times an episode. Definitely recommend!
Låt den rätte komma in (2008)
Interesting. Flashes of brilliance. Way incomplete!
For all of the "10 Star" ratings this film's received from other viewers, I truly don't think it carries the the depth or the consistency to really deserve anything above a "5". Although I definitely liked the style and simplicity of it, at times it's almost too simple and the lack of dialogue (especially strong dialogue) makes it somewhat disengaging. I wouldn't quite go as far as to say it's boring, because it isn't, but it is a bit empty.
There are also just too many points during this film where you're stuck asking questions that don't ever really get answered. The plot centers itself too much around small moments that don't add up to a complete film and, although that can seem magical or brilliant in some films, in this one it doesn't. It feels very unfinished.
There also is a complete lack of a supporting cast and the only two characters who are even mildly interesting, in my opinion, are the two main characters; Oskar and Eli. Everyone else seems like they've come straight from a 1980's Stephen King shoot, which almost just splits the movie in two. There's the scenes with Oskar and Eli, and then the other scenes which are either corny, irrelevant, or both.
Overall it's not something I'd strongly recommend and I certainly don't see myself watching it again in the future.
The Happening (2008)
Worst. Movie. Ever.
This movie's so bad, you'll be thinking that Mark Wahlberg should've just stuck with rapping. I can't even describe how terrible this movie is. If you're sifting through reviews to find a reason to watch it, don't. It's normal for a film to have cynics and skeptics, but in this case every criticism is well earned. The acting? Nope. The plot? No. And the dialogue? Hell no.
This movie has absolutely no continuity whatsoever and the pacing is so bad that you'll have at least a dozen moments where you just sit and think "Maybe they made this movie this bad on purpose. Like, to end up in the Hall-of-Fame for worst movies of all-time or something". Because, trust me -- it's absolutely that bad!
I literally don't understand how this movie could make it from production to premiere without a wall of people protesting it for its awfulness. I wish I could grade this film with dookies instead of stars, because even giving it the lowest slotted amount of stars (1) feels wrong. I'd feel much better giving this film one giant dookie...Or ten. Or 50,000. I'm not even sure at this point, that's how bamboozled I am by this horrible movie.
I didn't even think it was worth a review until I realized I may be the difference between someone watching and not watching and so I feel it's my civic duty to not let that happen. Save your two hours and go watch paint dry. You'll be thankful you did.
The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
A Truly Good Movie!...Don't Let the Bad Reviews Fool You.
After watching this movie, I won't say that I'm surprised to see so many negative reviews. People who look to this film for cliché moments and things to gripe about will find them, but only because they're not capable of getting beyond what they perceive as unrealistic story-telling to see the true essence of what this film is trying to express; a story of suffering and of trying to find purpose in life, even when that purpose has to change and adapt to the suffering.
In no way do I see this film as pretentious or nauseating. I think it tells a very honest story, even if it does so in a dramatic way. It's not a perfect film and the acting isn't always profound, but the story itself stays so true to its characters that I think the end result is a film which tells a very powerful story in an almost- perfect way.
Personally, I very much enjoyed it. I wouldn't give it a 10, but it's a solid 9. At no point during this movie did I wish it was over, and by the end of it I felt like I was able to gain something very positive...Which, by the way, should be the objective of any film. If realism is all you care about then watch the news. In my opinion, all of the negative reviews on this film are absolutely baseless. It may not be for everyone, but it is for anyone who has emotional depth or an appreciation for human experiences outside of their own...However idealistic they may seem.
And just to add some perspective -- I'm a 27 year old male with no close experience with cancer, or really anything expressed in this film, and I still was able to find something in it that I could appreciate on my own level. It's not a movie that's just for one kind of person, and I don't think it was created to be that way. I think this is a film for all people...And it's well worth the two hours it took to watch it. It will certainly leave you feeling some kind of way.
The Wire (2002)
Amazing! A truly perfect show.
This is easily one of the greatest television shows ever produced! I can't even wrap my head around the scope of it. This show has all the minutia to keep you engaged in every scene, but with such a strong real-life element that you never feel emotionally dejected to what's going on beneath the surface. The focus they've put into bringing this story to life is truly mind-numbing. Not just with the plot, but with the characters, the environment, the script, and the many layers that exist within every story-line of this show.
If you pay enough attention, this show can give you an education on almost every aspect of American life: Everything from knowing how dealers run their corners to how politicians run their campaigns. Knowing how law enforcement works, how they build cases, how politics within the judicial system affect what's moral and what's just business. The depth and complexity of it all is in every way true to real America. It's impossible to get through it all and not have a shift in how you see the world around you, especially if you approach it anticipating some stereotypical cop-drama because this is certainly not that.
With all that said, though, I think the heart of this show really lies in its characters. No character in The Wire is painted with a broad brush. You can watch this show despising a character on the outset, but become engaged in their stories and their lives, through their eyes, the very next minute. No part of any storyline, big or small, is left untold throughout this series. It tests every emotional reaction that a human being is capable of and the wisdom within this show will certainly leave a long-lasting impact after you've taken it all in. It's as quotable as the day is long.
As I said on the onset, this is a perfect show. You don't need to have any familiarity with any of the content to become immersed in it and appreciate it for what it is. The writing and casting is so flawless that it will bring you to a point of understanding no matter where you approach it from. If I could give it one-thousand stars, I would. Unfortunately I can't, so I'll settle with 10. Besides Breaking Bad, this is my favorite TV show that I've seen and I have no doubt I'll be watching it all again sometime in the not-so- distant future.
Boyhood (2014)
Truly unique!
I'm only about 15 minutes removed from finishing this film and already I want to set aside time in the next few days to watch it again. When you first hear that a film was shot over a 12 year span you think that this is basically the entire selling point of the whole movie and that, novelty aside, it must not be very compelling.
Speaking personally, I was incredibly skeptical that there could even be a movie that could actually follow the life of a young child (in this case, a family) into adulthood so seamlessly. For starters, what are the odds that these children would turn out to be good actors? What kind of writing depth can they achieve when so many variables can change at any moment? What could possibly even happen in a 12 year span that could leave you with any sense of closure? It's such an abstract concept that it seems almost impossible to get right...Truly, though, it does get it right. It's an amazing, amazing film. If it weren't, I certainly wouldn't be wasting my time writing such a long review.
And some of the criticisms of Boyhood being plain or uneventful are just so baseless in my eyes. It doesn't require any high level of emotional intelligence whatsoever to appreciate the magic of this movie, which becomes so present within the first 30 minutes of the film. I think that as we get older we forget what life really was like when we had to grow up and mature and find out who we are as people, and the internal dialogue that comes with that during our formative years. Instead of this film being some kind of biopic, I feel that it really digs deep into the subtlety of life and how it feels to be pulled along as a child into somehow finding enough of an identity to carve out a life for ourselves as adults.
This film didn't miss on any of that, and it always remained true to it's essence. I would recommend it very highly...To any and all people. To me, it's one of those films you just have to watch. If for no other reason than it will make you consider life a little more deeply. And for anyone thinking it just shows some Disney side of the maturation process, don't be fooled -- it's very real. It has every element of life that most kids face early on and it never hides any of the language or the harsh experiences of real life to leave you feeling more hopeful. It just flows along with the same rhythm you'd expect if you were observing any child growing up in today's society...Some innocence, some guilt, some peer pressure, and eventually a crossroads that will define who you turn out to be. Definitely a 10 star film! No question.