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evelynmessner
Reviews
Doctor Odyssey (2024)
Exactly what I expected
I do not normally watch medical dramas, but this one caught my attention with the added element of it being on a cruise ship. And it is just that, a medical drama on a cruise ship. Which made it stupidly awesome. Certain things are made better with an added element of cheese, like the Golden Bachelor/Bachelorette. This show is so cheesy and stupid that I will probably keep watching it anyway. It's a perfect, ridiculous, brain cell killing, destress show. Overused jokes? Check. Major plot holes? Check. Nonsensical storytelling? Check. It's basically perfect, if you can handle cringing for an hour.
My Lady Jane (2024)
The Ella Enchanted of history retellings
If the writers/creators of Ella Enchanted opened a history book and thought, yeah I could make that different, it would turn out like this. Throw in some crass British humour and modern music and you'll have this show. I will admit I was sceptical at first, the first episode was underwhelming but I kept with it and I think it was worth it. I usually only watch historical shows if they are accurate, but this show stated from the beginning that it was going to be inaccurate so I can't say it was such a shocker. The Monty python style narrating really pulled the whole show together and it really was quite enjoyable if you are looking for a turn your brain off summer binge. (I'm also a mad sucker for anything enemies to lovers or arranged marriage, and this had both!)
Dune: Part Two (2024)
Wow, just wow
This movie was phenomenal! The cinematography was beautifully, the cgi was incredibly impressive, and the acting was amazing! It directly follows up the first movie and keeps the same pacing, while also adding more elements of action, comedy, and heart. My only complaint is that some of the transitions felt a bit abrupt but besides that it was the perfect movie! This is a must see in IMAX, it just completed the whole experience for me. Hollywood knows what they are doing with this franchise, I can only hope they get their act together and start to make more movies of this same quality. Absolutely loved it!
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)
Pretty faithful adaptation! Snow lands on top
Despite the many negative reviews on this site, I absolutely loved this movie. It is the most faithful movie adaptation out of the entire Hunger Games series. Like the other movies of course it is missing some interactions and smaller scenes, so people who read the book will of course have more context. I've seen quite a few people saying that they didn't connect with the main characters besides maybe Sejanus and that was the point! In the book Snow might have been slightly more sympathetic but his thoughts usually give away his true intentions so I'd say the movie did a good job of balancing him out since we could not read his thoughts. The slight changes made did not affect the overall story and large plot points were left unchanged. They did a great job considering it was not split into two parts and while it can feel a little bit rushed it really does follow the same timeline as the book. Loved every minute of this movie and would recommend it to all Hunger Games fans.
The Machine (2023)
I really wanted to like this
I really wanted to like this movie and I didn't hate it per se, but it was not what the trailer made it out to be. I am a huge fan of comedy/action movies like The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent but this one didn't quite fit the bill. The set up took way too long. I spent the first probably hour and fifteen minutes thinking meh I could leave and wouldn't care if I didn't see the end. It hit its stride in the middle and then tied everything together but not in the most satisfying way. The main character arc seemed a little abrupt and not so much earned. Mark Hamil was not used correctly. He did the best with what he was given and it seemed like a film he would have enjoyed making but his comedy was a little forced. The best part of this film was definitely the end, when the comedy reached its peak. The action was very fun to watch on the big screen but other than that if you've seen the trailer you've seen the best comedy it has to offer.
Renfield (2023)
Amazing comedic thriller
Hollywood has been making a comeback! I had high hopes for this movie after seeing Nick Cage in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and I was not let down. Renfield was perfectly balanced between comedy, drama, and thriller. There was slight romantic tension but not enough that it distracted from the plot. The casting was great, I never knew that I needed a Nick Cage Dracula but I am thankful for him now! The character development was strong and it was enjoyable to watch the characters grow throughout the film. I have no hopes for a sequel, but I don't think it needs one. This was a solid entertaining stand alone film that was refreshing compared to the films being released as part of cinematic universes. Lots of included Dracula lore for hardcore fans and a good exploration into the life of Renfield. A+ film!
Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (2023)
Refreshing
Is this movie going to win any awards? Probably not. Is it entirely original? Not so much. But it was the first movie that I have seen in a while that had absolutely no agenda. Just served to be an entertaining action film. The characters were were relatable and fun to follow. I especially liked how this movie let there be a strong male lead (Jason Statham) without having a women embarrass him or prove superior to him. The woman character (Aubrey Plaza) is one of the few female spies that proved she was tough and able to take care of her self without be super annoying about it. All the members of this team proved themselves worthy to be a part of it and they were all necessary for the completion of the mission. No wokeness was very much appreciated. A overall fun watch!
Mars Attacks! (1996)
I don't hate it... but I also don't get it
I feel like this movie had potential, especially considering the cast. But between the bad cgi and the just creepy alien experiments, and don't forget some forgettable characters that all die, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. Well I can mark that off the to be watched list.
Ella Enchanted (2004)
Well..
Let's just say this did not meet expectations. If you read the book it is a travesty. It would be charming if it were a cartoon like shrek but it's just too weird as live action. The casting and the acting was eh. I don't understand the mix of seventies and medieval clothing and the queen songs don't really fit but whatever. This movie is only good for a cheesy laugh.