rozza-34691 Reviews

The Adam Project (2022)

About what you'd expect from a Ryan Reynolds movie

[5/10 · 13 March 2022]

Pretty standard, cookie cutter sci fi action romp / comedy. Story was fine but nothing majorly original or unexpected.

Ryan Reynolds using his same old quirky sarcastic humour that we've seen in so many of his other films. I like Reynolds but the jokes didn't really fit with the tone of the film on a few occasions. I just wish he would try some new things rather than basically playing himself in all these films, as he's clearly talented.

CGI effects were pretty decent apart from a fairly ugly deep fake de-ageing effect (you won't be able to miss it). I liked the design of the futuristic fighter jets.

Overall a mildly entertaining film but nothing groundbreaking and I'll probably forget about it before long.

Eternals (2021)

Missed opportunity

[6/10 · 25 January 2022]

There are some interesting concepts in the film that had good potential. There are many different ideas crammed in, but the film is trying to do too much and not succeeding at any one of them particularly well.

The main characters are well cast and I did find I was intrigued by them, but unfortunately none of them are really fleshed out enough and I didn't feel fully invested in them or the story.

There were also some pacing issues, around the mid point of the film there was a huge exposition dump lasting at least 30 mins that made the film really drag.

I thought this would have been perfect as a disney + series rather than a film as each episode could have focussed on each one of the eternals individually and then a team up for the final few episodes.

Credit where it was due, there are some excellent visuals in this film, I watched it at home on a 4k tv and in imax format some of the scenes are stunning.

Don't Look Up (2021)

Really impressed

[9/10 · 30 December 2021]

The trailer for this film really doesn't do it justice.

I gave the film a go and quickly got into it and started to relate to / root for the main characters.

Great performances and a really clever script.

The film isn't so much focussed on the comet itself but more how people would react to it. It's crazy to think that if this were to happen for real we would probably react in the same way.

The ending took a dark turn but was surprisingly thought provoking and emotionally touching.

I would highly recommend this film.

Hawkeye (2021)

Disappointing

[5/10 · 25 December 2021]

I really wanted to enjoy this series. Out of all the avengers Hawkeye has had the least development over the years. I hoped this would flesh out his character. Unfortunately he is pretty much a side character in the 'Kate Bishop' show.

It's clear they are going for a lighter tone here and it seems like the series was pitched as 'marvel home alone'. I think the concept of a marvel series set at Christmas is really different and has good potential. But there are so many different ideas thrown in the mix that none of them are really effective, they don't match the tone they are going for and it's just a bit of a mess.

Hawkeye's dark past as Ronin is explored in a flashback in one scene, in another we find the Ronin suit has been stolen by some LARPers who are playing dress up with it and Clint has to play along to get it back... the tones just don't match.

The typical marvel 'jokes' are on overdrive here and a lot of them just don't land. The tracksuit mafia are basically made out to be a bunch of morons with most of their screen time played for laughs. This means that there is no sense that Clint and Kate are ever in any real danger.

I was excited to see Kingpin brought into the MCU, but his portrayal in this is almost cartooney compared to the netflix daredevil series. In Daredevil he is a huge threat that is a criminal mastermind and always one step ahead. He is a physical challenge for both Daredevil and the Punisher who have both had extensive training. In Hawkeye he is beaten in a fight with a girl about a quarter of his size who has only had some martial arts and archery lessons.

The pacing is pretty bad as well, a lot of the episodes dragged for me and felt like filler. There is no sense of urgency and the story never really sold the feeling that Clint had to stay and help Kate.

It's really a shame as there were some ideas here that had real potential. Why not focus on the Ronin idea? Maybe Kingpin could have found out Clint's identity as Ronin, who took out Kingpin's organisation during the blip? It could still have been set at Christmas, maybe Clint could take on the Ronin persona once more to take down Kingpin but you can see he is conflicted between the dark side the persona brings out in him and then thinking about his family, not wanting to lose himself on a dark path and getting back to them in time for Christmas.

Or how about remove Kate Bishop from the series entirely and instead start it with Yelena hunting Clint until they join forces to take on a bigger threat? Clint could act as Yelena's mentor and it would have been much more meaningful considering they past they both shared with Natasha.

Yelena was great, standout character in an otherwise forgettable series.

My Octopus Teacher (2020)

Just watch

[10/10 · 7 June 2021]

Exceeded my expectations and delivered pretty much everything I would want in a documentary.

Beautifully made, amazing visuals and a heartfelt captivating story.

Must watch.

Army of the Dead (2021)

Great fun, very impressed

[9/10 · 22 May 2021]

Don't know what all the hate is about. This movie was great fun. I was entertained and on the edge of my seat the whole time. Watched it on my projector at home, really glad I did but wish I could have seen it in the cinema. Give it a watch, you won't be disappointed.

The Green Mile (1999)

Beautiful film

[10/10 · 9 January 2021]

A spiritual, powerful and thought provoking film that I won't forget in a hurry. A must watch.

The Haunting of Hill House (2018)

Perfect

[10/10 · 17 October 2020]

More than just horror. Expertly crafted story with many unexpected twists. Episodes largely focus on individual characters, really fleshing them out and making them feel like real people. I could empathise with the actions and motivations of each character. The acting and direction was spot on, and to me the actors were perfectly cast. As the series progresses, each episode works towards unravelling the main mystery, culminating in a very satisfying and emotional conclusion. I think this is the best series I have watched on netflix. Highly recommend!

The Muppets. (2015–2016)

Underrated and fun

[8/10 · 17 October 2020]

Fun little series. Smart writing and subtle humour. A shame there's only one series as it has good potential. Existing fans can enjoy it whilst it could also introduce new viewers to the muppets in a format and style relevant to current times. Definitely worth a watch!

2012 (I) (2009)

A bloated mess

[4/10 · 13 June 2020]

It felt like this film would never end. A concept with good potential, but the film is crammed full with so many unnecessary sub-plots and two dimensional characters that it loses it's way pretty quickly. There are 30 or so main characters that we are forced to follow, and expected to care about. Unfortunately, I didn't. On the positive side, the visual effects were impressive, but when you don't feel invested in the characters or story, it felt like the filmmakers were 'polishing a turd'.

The Captains (2011)

Interesting but flawed

[7/10 · 13 June 2020]

An interesting look at the personal stories of each of the actors who portray the star trek captains. Shatner presents the documentary which is great as he relates to a lot of the stories told by the other actors. It focusses on negative aspects of the role for longer than I would have liked. The subject matter and editing can be a bit meandering and it tends to lead back to the focus being on William Shatner quite a bit. However, when focussed, Shatner's charismatic presence and skill for hosting is clear. The Captains is an insightful exploration of the phenomenon that is star trek. The doc includes a lot of behind the scenes stories and candid viewpoints from each actor. Might be harder to appreciate / less accessible for the casual viewer, but I'd recommend to star trek fans. If you like this I'd highly recommend the what we left behind documentary about star trek deep space nine.

Call Me by Your Name (2017)

Beautiful film

[10/10 · 22 March 2020]

I can't get this film out of my head. Truly beautifully made. The characters feel so real and relatable. I feel like I've gone through the same emotions with them. I'd say great acting but you don't even notice it, you just feel like you're watching real people. So got to hand it to the actors and director for that. The Italy setting is perfect, peaceful and makes the story feel like a fairytale. Italy feels like a character on it's own. Music compliments the story and really gives you a sense of the character's emotions. I can't remember the last time I was touched so strongly by a film, won't forget it in a hurry. Strongly recommend.

Dinner for Schmucks (2010)

Messy, meandering and not funny

[5/10 · 17 March 2020]

Really wanted to enjoy this film, seemed to have good potential considering the cast. Sadly I think there was only one moment where I actually laughed. The story has a fairly mean spirited feeling, and the premise of it is so thin that the majority of it feels like filler. I felt myself getting bored at several occasions. not sure why the film is 2 hours, really not necessary. It seems like this would be better as a skit for SNL. Paul Rudd, Steve Carell and Jermaine Clement are the highlights of the film. Clearly they are very talented and doing the best with the material they're given. But sadly the writing is just off, and the jokes don't land. I'd give this a miss.

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

My favourite christmas movie

[9/10 · 29 February 2020]

Make sure to watch this every year. Never fails to get me in the Christmas spirit. Wonderful performance from Michael Caine. The muppets compliment this story perfectly. Watch it this Christmas :-)

Event Horizon (1997)

Underrated sci-fi horror

[8/10 · 29 February 2020]

Really an underrated film. Perfect mix of sci-fi and horror. Gripping and entertaining. You need to watch this!

Star Trek: Picard (2020– )

Mid season review

[6/10 · 21 February 2020]

My initial impression is that this is an interesting concept for a star trek series, trying to go in a fresh direction to previous series', whilst still appealing with long time fans of star trek with call backs and cameos from the older series'/films.

It's great to see Picard back on screen again, Patrick Stewart is executive producer and it shows that its his ideas for the character at a later stage in life that are being explored. I expected the character to be seen as a legend/veteran/hero. So far, quite unexpectedly the majority of the other characters react to him fairly negatively. There are reasons for this in the plot, but it may be a bit jarring for fans of the TNG era to watch. The main ensemble of characters are all fairly interesting, however I'm not getting a feeling of chemistry between them yet. Maybe it's too early in the series for that.

Growing up, I saw star trek as my 'safe place' in that it was an optimistic view for the future, and complete escapism from life. This series feels very different to that. It has a pessimistic, dark feeling that makes it seem different to Gene Rodenberry's original vision for the show. This series is clearly trying to draw parallels to current events in order to push political agendas. While this may be more appealing to viewers new to star trek, it could alienate fans who have an emotional connection to the values and ethics the previous series' follow. I'm on the fence about this new direction. Although it makes the series feel relevant for today, it also seems disrespectful to Gene Rodenberry's legacy.

Although I enjoy the fact that one overarching story is covered over the series, rather than the style of TNG when it was a new story each episode, it feels a little like the main mystery was uncovered in the first few episodes, partly through some clunky expositional dialogue between the villain characters that felt fairly forced. Half way through the series I feel like each episode is mainly 'filler' until the finale act and finale.

Overall, I am enjoying the series. I think it has good potential, but perhaps hasn't quite found it's stride yet. Although it has flaws, I an definitely invested in the story and am intrigued to see where it goes.

Muppet Treasure Island (1996)

My favourite film

[10/10 · 20 February 2020]

A wonderfully silly comedy/action romp for all the family to enjoy. Lots of heart and humour. Never fails to put a smile on my face, even after repeat viewings.

What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (2018)

Definitely worth a watch

[10/10 · 20 February 2020]

A surprisingly candid, insightful and interesting look at my favourite star trek series. Plenty of behind the scenes stories from the actors. 2 hours but the time flew by. If you're a fan of deep space nine I'd really recommend.

Okja (2017)

Touching, thought provoking, wonderful film

[9/10 · 19 February 2020]

A wonderfully made, touching film. At times difficult to watch due to the hard hitting nature of the story, but really worth it. I would highly recommend.