thom-75887 Reviews

One Day (2024)

Don't get the high ratings fool you...

[4/10 · 5 March 2024]

...or maybe it's just not my jam? Trust me I'm into romance and drama but here.. nothing. It did not touch me. My biggest disappointment was to discover there were 14 episodes when I thought there were only 12. I thought I had reached the end but wasn't there yet. At the start of each episode I was checking how long it last, which is already a bad sign, I know. I was curious, wanted it to make sense, wanted to get attached to the characters. This did not happen.

I haven't read the books or watched the movie. At first I thought I had to hang on and that it would eventually get better -as most reviews say. However I don't feel it got better. Just an average episode after another. Emma's character was definitely more interesting to me, some parts were quite nice but overall it is just an average production. I wish I didn't watch it as I did not enjoy it, would have preferred to watch something else, but the Netflix advertising got me once again.

Irrésistible (2023– )

Fresh but unfulfilled

[6/10 · 21 February 2024]

Pretty nice to have some relaxed thirty something fiction, with French actors in a Parisian -yet not cliché- setting, figuring things about love through podcasts.

The plot is modern and sounds interesting. Camelia Jordana shines, she has a great energy, two of the male actors are also enjoyable to the eye, the decors are nicely chosen, even though a bit on the cheap side-particularly the repeated studio gatherings.

The story however severely lacks interests, doesn't take us anywhere, no side story is interesting or when it does it falls flat or leaves us hanging, and the main plot itself doesn't really grab the interest. The acting isn't great either, too forced, looks like a bunch of acting school students. The 6 episodes are pretty short, easy to watch while scrolling on your or and texting at times, as it is definitely not binge or full attention-worthy.

Good Grief (IV) (2023)

Slow, somewhat beautiful but unfulfilling

[6/10 · 5 January 2024]

The directing is quite good, image and general aesthetic are qualitative, acting decent, the dialogues bring at time some sort of accuracy; I liked the promise behind the synopsis and what the letter brings.

However it doesn't deliver properly, I have not been fully satisfied with any of the aspects of the development, of the characters. Even though it sometimes felt right, the whole thing was a bit tasteless, seen before and didn't drag me into the story.

It's as shame, as many ingredients were there to make a good movie, but it is just average and a bit cringy at times. I liked that the romance was treated as a normal romance rather than gay stereotypes, but I would have enjoyed a better development. The secondary characters aren't especially likable, and some moments or conversations just didn't felt right.

I don't know if it should have been spiced up a bit or just more focused but the result wasn't pleasant enough to want me to watch it again sometimes. I like movies about grief and overcoming it, but they should also uplift and bring some more feel-good to finish it with satisfaction.

The Last Thing He Told Me (2023– )

What's the point?

[5/10 · 27 October 2023]

The point is.. to « create content »!

Another show without a soul, particularly flat. What will you remember of it a month from now? Not much.

Like many I started watching for Jennifer Garner, she also is what kept me watching and I expected more from her. The whole thing seems shallow and without a satisfying ending. The beginning created some mystery but nothing really was pulled through, it was just a bit of this, a bit of that which in the end created a pretty useless show. The plot is too simple, the way it unfolds isn't entertaining, there's no thrill, writing isn't qualitative, most action falls flat, the secondary characters are as basic as it gets. Was there supposed to be an 8th episode to link everything together? Otherwise a 1h45 movie would have been way enough.

If the goal is to create content please at least make it good content...

Heartstopper (2022– )

Gen Z introvert material

[5/10 · 23 August 2023]

So I haven't read the books but was curious about this lgbt+ romance series. Turns out it really targets the 12-18 demographics, as the interactions are quite childish. It's cute but not very surprising. There's no adult part it in to broader the audience. A lot (too much) about texting, wide array of sexualities depicted, it's all about inclusivity and diversity. Ok acting but looks quite like a low budget show.

Mostly saddened that the actors look so normal I would have liked something more dreamy rather than seeing the acne marks on the faces, maybe the audience wants people who look more like them « normal » than the general stardom.

The Nick character is a true miscast to me, desperately misses charisma, doesn't look or feel like what is depicted as presumed straight sporty guy, he looks super shy and innocent rather than the star rugby player of the school.

Cute show for introverted young audience struggling with identity, sexuality or bullying but I think the general grade is overly high, I didn't feel much spark or connection with any character, they seem super basic. In the end I felt like they were just random teens struggling, I wanted them to shine a bit more on screen, I think that I don't really like the cast.

After season 1 I checked a few sketches of the graphic novel, an anime film could have been a better option in my opinion. Started season two but it didn't make me more interested so didn't finish it. Also I liked the doodles when there were emotional moments (:

Ticket to Paradise (2022)

I wish it would have been nicer

[6/10 · 26 May 2023]

It was pretty much what I expected from the trailer. Nothing new, just a traditional romantic comedy that unfortunately lacks a bit of spark and entertainment. Julia & George's team still works, they are excellent actors but the story itself is really uninteresting, as well as the directing, all is very bland. It is still nice to see those two actors -Julia's smile just makes me smile. They have a great presence, which makes the daughter character bland as well: it isn't a movie about her, it's about the parents she's just the set. The Bali family and daughter's best friend add a nice touch but still not enough.

So I would say it's better than nothing, it is a positive movie, it is set in a beautiful location but it just doesn't take you with it. I wish it would have been a movie I would want to watch again.

Les Misérables (2019)

A Men's World

[6/10 · 20 May 2023]

Slow to start, the movie is all about showing the now well known desperate social situation in some French suburbs. Yes this is also France and what everyone is tired about, people living in misery over there and people hearing about this kind of scenario all the time in the media. Is is just a reminder that nothing has changed, an attempt to draw attention again? This kind of intrigue has been done before, these kind of characters, with good acting as often but once again they don't show any hope. You can't take one side because no one's right. For once it's not all about drugs yet they couldn't make a nicer plot as if there was nothing else to talk about?! It's all a display the mess, how integration doesn't work, how respect is lost, how violence and disdain are at the core of social interactions... this plus the slow (trying to be somewhat contemplating) pace of the movie does not make it one of my favorites of the genre.

The Innocent (2022)

Unpretentious and enjoyable French movie

[7/10 · 16 May 2023]

A bit of delicacy, a bit of mystery, a bit of emotions, a bit of laughter and a bit of spontaneity. A movie that doesn't pretend to be something it's not, bringing a nice story with talented actors (I discovered here Noémie Merlant who is sparkling and heady just as champagne: super talented and refreshing persona!). Probably has this very French « je ne sais quoi » that some reviews here couldn't catch, nothing tacky but nuances that you quietly get in their finess. It can be a bit uneven at times particularly at the beginning but everything holds nicely in the end.

I would say it's a movie about family, it is entertaining and of good taste.

The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022– )

Thank you (for season 1 -and please stop there!)

[9/10 · 15 May 2023]

I haven't read the books so I cannot have an opinion about the adaptation; but I did watch the whole thing at once. It has been a long time I had not been swept into a story like that, I did feel a lot of emotions throughout the story, with good actor play and good filming plus a perfect soundtrack! It makes you fall in love again, go on vacation and enjoy the simplicity of life again. I miss shows like this, where there's no display of drug use/almost explicit sex scenes or stupidity to make it more thrilling: it's a comeback to more simple and qualitative times and human interaction. A big thank you and I'm excited for season two this summer.

Edit S2: haven't been able to finish season 2 as it was so bad. All the spirit of season 1 is gone. Bad writing, stupid story line, annoying new characters. Now they are just trying to keep it going to « create content ». Extremely disappointed and gave up after 5 long and stupid episodes. I wish they would have stopped after season 1 and make it a mini-series. This isn't ok. Haven't changed the rating as it only stands for season 1.

Virgin River (2019– )

Just disappointing

[2/10 · 14 May 2023]

I really wanted to like this series. The average ratings were quite high, I liked the scenery in the mountains and the idea of a girl starting over with some cute romance... I started watching it on a rainy afternoon in my apartment surrounded by trees in the French Alps to get in the mood, but I didn't get into it at all: this series has absolutely no novelty. The doctor and mayor characters are unlikable and moody, the story is highly predictable and lacking interest, the acting is terribly average with actors without charisma or presence, plus the many flashbacks giving pieces of information about the main intrigue to keep us watching is an old trick that doesn't work anymore... it is just very bad television, like if a hallmark script was adapted into a series... i was expecting some substance, probably because of gems like Gilmore girls so it feels deeply flat. The high ratings might explain why I did get my hopes up for this show, as it did also happen for some like Firefly Lane recently, but ended up deeply lacking interest to me! I had to stop in the middle of the 5th episode as it really stated to feel to shallow to be using my time.

You (2018–2024)

The plot couldn't do wonders

[5/10 · 13 May 2023]

I feel like they did as good as they could with a plot like that. It's not great, just mildly good enough to keep us watching. First season Beck character is as annoying and basic a girl like this can be, second season gets messy with low quality plot twists to keep us busy for 10 episodes. There are some too easy conclusions to plot developments, but well it could be worst. Grabs a bit of attention and that's what it is all about, producers aren't aiming for something groundbreaking: it's a teen thriller movie plot about a stalker turned into a series. I just don't quite understand why movies like that get a 5.3 average rating and this series a 7.7! Main actor's cute face and Gossip Girl past role I would guess. Couldn't keep watching after first episode of season 3, I felt like it was more something to occupy my time than something entertaining.

Wellmania (2023)

Loud energy... yet nothing special

[4/10 · 26 April 2023]

I didn't feel any sympathy or connection with this show, even though I liked the subject of wellness. I watched it and I could have missed it just the same as I won't remember much and have no interest of watching it again. It's the kind of show you can do online shopping at the same time, if you really watch it it doesn't grab your attention. I particularly did not enjoy having that woman share that many burps/farts/vomiting. Why picturing that, what is going wrong nowadays that people want to overshare their "realness"? That's not what I'm interested in when watching tv shows, I want good entertainments and nice storylines, emotions! Here we just had a whole lot of nothing. It sometimes felt like a low budget production with characters that have been pictured many times before. Could have been nice to picture and make us feel Australia a bit nicer.

I Care a Lot (2020)

Terribly enjoyable

[9/10 · 20 April 2023]

All the of the bad reviews and somehow low rating made me delay the screening of this movie but the trailer kept me wanting to watch it and I absolutely loved it! I really don't get why there is so much anger and disappointment in the comments, the acting and filming were brilliant, the storyline exciting and going in an unexpected direction, and I did watch the whole things in a mix of pleasure and excitement! It's fierce, badass, showing some of the American system limits concerning elderly caretaking. It's probably not perfect but I found it much more relevant and perfected than most Netflix movies... if you liked Promising Young Woman you'll probably like it!! Enjoy!!

Outer Banks (2020– )

Had potential, progressively loses it

[6/10 · 13 April 2023]

I think that the 10 episodes per seasons format doesn't suit the intrigue, it could fit in 6/8 episodes maximum. So the writers try to add some twists and side intrigues that lower the quality of the show, limits the credibility and add a lot of nonsense. Really unfortunate because the first 6 episodes of season 1 were good but everything progressively gets lost into stupidity and useless additions to the plot. The characters and the setting were good but it keeps losing relevance, and the treasure hunt is the only thing that still keeps me watching. I wonder: do they add so much extra stupidity so people will react on social media and will talk about the show? The whole pattern is however part of the industry's race for offering more content all the time, losing sight of the quality in the process...

Désordres (2022– )

Very shallow

[4/10 · 11 February 2023]

Super disappointed, deep lack of creativity. Most themes have been seen and done so many times there's just nothing new brought to the approach. It gets mostly nowhere, all characters are quite vain and unlikable. I used to love Florence Foresti yet now she just seems obsessed about aging and adding some drama to her identity. Yes she can do drama but it's just bad. What is she trying to convey showing depressing and taking pills? Thank god there are some of her energy left -but there is little left now, for the rest it got terribly boring. I noticed that I forgot to watch the end of the last episode but didn't even care enough to go back to it.

The Night Logan Woke Up (2022)

Pleasant but not groundbreaking, erratic

[7/10 · 11 February 2023]

Some great actors and setting but the focus gets a bit lost due to too many details and flashbacks happening. I didn't like the focus on drugs addictions and despair it didn't need to take that much space.

It's not hard to guess what did happen in the plot - it's a bit long to get to the end of it plus it's just a big deal out of not that much... Love that they recasted the actors from the original play! And very good set of unknown yet talented Canadian actors. Absolutely loved the Chantal character and the actress. Awesome music and imagery, I really liked the introduction with the credits at each episode but it feels like it's not adapted for this show!!