peter-laganis Reviews

Nimona (2023)

How to Train Your Nimona (2023)

[4/10 · 14 January 2024]

Seriously?

Have I watched the same animated movie as all the other reviewers?

All I saw were undeveloped characters taken here and there from other Disney, Pixar or DreamWorks movies and forgettable villains.

Event the story (with its so "masterfully hidden" but palpable message) seems a bad copy of How to Train Your Dragon, full of forced LGBTQ references... like this is all that matters nowadays.

Usually I don't complain about the voices... but this are bad too. Ballister's voice for example is so excessively depressing, lazy and annoying, I had the feeling he was a sloth hidden in an armour.

In conclusion - one of those rare movies I felt totally uninvolved.

No Hard Feelings (2023)

More than 1 min trailers should be prohibited

[8/10 · 16 August 2023]

It's definitely not the funniest and original raunchy comedy we've seen on screen but it's probably one the best produced in the last 5 years with a palpable passion for this genre.

You can hardly find any missing ingredient: Hilarious and dark comedy moments. Direct and funny language. Sexy and even heartwarming scenes. Simple but meaningful story with the right ending.

Overall a throwback in the essence of this genre ruined only by the horrible 2 minutes long trailer preceding its release... literally revealing every single funny moment.

And YES - Jennifer Lawrence is/was a great choice for the leading role. Her acting feels so natural and convincing you can hardly differentiate it from her actual herself.

Beef (2023– )

A chicken with a chopped off head running across the yard

[5/10 · 2 August 2023]

So this is the exact feeling I had watching the first season of Beef - a tv show acclaimed for its originality (transitioning from one genre to another) and masterfully written story.

A season I continued watching hoping it will finally reflect all the good ratings. Again... I should have followed my rule of 3 episodes and stop.

Essentially this a show of unlikeable characters whose fate is of no interest to anyone. A show without a vision. A show which gives the impression of a headless chicken running across the yard or an endless story which events have been made up by a teenager on the fly, trying very hard to impress the casual or unexperienced viewer.

I genuinely don't mind the simple premise, diversity/mixture of genres, "unpredictable" twists, dark humor, romance or slow pacing... but the thin red line (even microscopically thin) is a must. And this is where this shows really falls short for me.

Apperently I'm expecting something more, than an aimless story that seems to have been written during a sunbath on the beach.

The Night Of: The Beach (2016) Season 1, Episode 1

I never felt like that...

[10/10 · 7 February 2023]

I'm trying so hard to avoid some cliched and overused superlative words ... but I just can't ... as this episode is probably one of the most perfect one in the tv-show history. And I'm just being down-to-earth.

The initial 30min are slow - some will find them boring. But when it starts to escalate you can hardly keep the peace of your heart beat.

The story is simple but masterfully unwrapped. It literally swallows the viewer and presents a real-life situation with a naïve and everyday character we can easily identify with... or almost the majority of us.

But the greatest praise should be given to the atmosphere, achieved with realistic side characters, places, rooms, sounds, camera positions and artistic details - like the cat that passes behind Naz's father at the end of the episode - like the cherry on the top of cake.

My compliments to every single person who contributed to this great cinema or tv experience.

The Big Lebowski (1998)

25 years of hesitating... I should have trusted my gut

[5/10 · 4 February 2023]

Finally or unfortunately I took almost 2 hours of my life to watch this renowned "comedy" masterpiece.

Apparently I belong to that handful of people who organically dislike the Dude and its story.

The story felt lazy, boring, unfunny and (simplistically put) stupid. I had to take a brake for a day or two at least 3 times. I really hoped it will all make sense in the end, but no... Everything keept on circling around being a looser, hanging with similar people, wasting your time, smoking weed and looking for conspiracy theories.

In conclusion: Back in the 90's we called that "trash comedy" and If you like it, than be my guest and watch it ASAP, , otherwise take a walk and get some fresh air.

The Menu (2022)

Looking for half of the movie. Has anyone found it?

[6/10 · 7 January 2023]

The idea is good enough to intrigue curiosity in many occasional viewers... but the story lacks of developed tension, real mystery, characters involvement and a proper ending.

Although the start is good enough and the acting is on average level, there is no real connection between the characters and/or villains.

Even the idea of human food idolization starts to blur quickly as there is no actual story, linking or motive to it.

In conclusion: Imagine The Menu as Reservoir Dogs (1992) or a more recent Knives Out (2019) without a sinister motive and linking between the characters and you'll realize that half of the movie is missing...

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Adding the kids, focusing the story around Wanda and restraining Raimi's madness ruined the movie

[6/10 · 3 July 2022]

I really had high hopes for this sequel, as the first one was (in my opinion) original, engaging and with the right sense of humar.

This one was completely the opposite - boring, predictable, annoying and childish.

Important to mention: Who had the "fantastic" idea to cast all the kids? I rarely see kids with absolutely no acting experience and/or talent in such blockbusters. Their acting was horiffying.

Regarding the story... as many other reviewers wrote... this was more "Wanda in the Multiverse of Madness" and certenly not something the majority of viewers hoped to watch.

I could only prize the special effects (excepts some masks) - these were really top notch. It's a pity good movies don't consist just of that. ;-)

All of Us Are Dead (2022– )

Scream, run, hide, share some personal facts, die and repeat

[5/10 · 5 June 2022]

I was really looking forward to finally get some frightening, suspensful and cleverly written story with unexpected and shocking or sad twists.

Instead I was fed with episodes which are almost identical one to onother and with a story that seemed to be written by a teenager during a lesson break.

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Honestly... I liked the previous two more

[8/10 · 24 May 2022]

In my opinion , the idea of establishing a thread between the previos spidey generations is defenitely ingenious and to be praised.

Combined with some great visuals and spectacular CG effects this should be one of the best Marvel's achievements.

Ufortunatelly not.

The story is lazy and slow, saved only by the slightly more clever ending. The scenes that are supposed to be funny are just lame, ackward and unecessary. But what I've really missed was the friendship energy that distinguished Spider-man from all the other Marvel movies.

To be honest I've enyojed the previos two chapters more... its definitely not a 7 but neither a solid 8 rating from me...

Station Eleven (2021–2022)

I'll never break my rule of 3 episodes again

[5/10 · 23 March 2022]

Like many other reviewers already wrote: Episode 1 is good, not exceptional or breathtaking, but good. All the other ones are (simply put) boooring. On the other hand the cinematography and acting is on high level... I've managed to watch 5 episodes and am still angry on myself I hadn't stopped at the third one as I always do with shows that don't capture my attention.

And just a thought about the depicted post-pandemic situation: Most of the population dies because of a mysterious flu and the remaining ones have no knowledge or practical skills... come on.

Dazed and Confused (1993)

It's alright...

[6/10 · 15 March 2022]

Matthew McConaughey stills the show with his iconic characterisation in a movie where nothing really happens.

If you looking for something more than just an insight into the lives of teenagers from the 70s, than you should skip it.

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021)

Was that supposed to be funny?

[2/10 · 28 February 2022]

After reading all the positive reviews I'm "seriously" considering one of the options mentioned above:

A) I've seen to many comedies in my life to really enjoy these old and mediocre jokes, situations and characters.

B) I no longer have a sense of humor.

C) The movie is probably meant for an American viewer, who finds it easier to empathize with the heroes, the local community, its society and people/characters.

In conclusion... I didn't laugh at a single joke.

The Girl Before (2021)

Hoping for something that never comes

[6/10 · 21 January 2022]

Everything seems so good: the idea, the storytelling, the acting, the atmosphere and the mystery... but... completely lets you down by the cliched and predictable ending. An ending so bad and poorly executed that underestimates the viewer's intelligence.

Not to mention the life experiences of the main characters that are completely irrelevant to the main story.

It's a pity as all the prospects for an intriguing and intelligent tv-show were there, by the reach of the hand.

Last Christmas (2019)

Even George Michael's marvelous songs couldn't save this mediocre movie

[5/10 · 19 December 2021]

The only part I've really enjoyed about this movie was hearing some of the greatest songs of George Michael.

Emilia Clark delivers an average performance for a completely unlikable character.

The side characters are unoriginal and without a real reason to be even present in the movie.

The story is uninteresting and without any palpable emotions.

The worst part is probably the ending twist. A "twist" the average viewer could easily figure out in less than 20 minutes.

Last Night in Soho (2021)

When poisoning and stabbing a person is not as it used to be...

[6/10 · 29 November 2021]

Unfortunately I haven't been capture by this wannabe teen fantasy thriller.

Acting was good but definitely not stellar.

The story is something we've already seen many times in many variations.

Girl transfers to a new town, girl sees what others can't, girl seems mentally unstable, girl unveils what has been in front of her eyes all the time and what the viewer noticed in the first 20 minutes.

Seems like the whole point of the movie is trying to revive the vibe of the 60's.

To be completely honest watching it till the end was quite boring.

Taxi (I) (1998)

Fast & Furious without the documentary part

[5/10 · 25 October 2021]

I'll be brief.

Childish comedy, Predictable and a million times told story.

To sum up... action and stunts that make the Fast & Furious saga seem a documentary about car capabilities.

I stil cannot understand how they've produce 4 sequels of this disaster.

The Night House (2020)

A well done mess

[7/10 · 12 October 2021]

Not much to say... Great atmosphere, beautiful cinematography, good acting and well packed mystery.

Unfortunately the story turns out to be dull messy and without compass.

Watch it for the vibe and suspense but don't expect to be blown away.

Reminiscence (2021)

Reminiscence of when we were able to differentiate good movies from bad ones...

[8/10 · 2 October 2021]

Probably I'm already from a different era and can't figure out which movie is worth watching and which one should flushed down the toilet.

I really cannot understand how movies with good acting and messages are literally treated like garbage compared to the idolized ones that are soaked with lame and nonsense.

So before watching this well crafted movie... ask yourself. Would I (re)watch The Suicide Squad (2021). If the answer is yes, than do it right away as Reminiscence (2021) will bore you till death with it's ode to love and homage to old detective storytelling.

A Time to Kill (1996)

Everything that lot of movies (especially nowadays) are not...

[9/10 · 19 September 2021]

... or at least try really hard achieve.

A tremendous and painful opening. A display of characters who look like our neighbors. Slow escalation of tension. And finally ... everything summed up and masterfully reconnected with the beginning.

All that mixed with good acting by the leading cast an you have a movie defying the passing of time.

I've almost rated it with a 10, but there are some parts I found quite naive and improbable.

Malignant (I) (2021)

Such bad acting...

[5/10 · 17 September 2021]

Despite some really nice scenes/shots and an interesting twist this movie is just a display of unconvincing horrible acting.

Werewolves Within (2021)

Where are the wolves? (2021)

[4/10 · 13 September 2021]

This should be the title of this boring, unfunny and forgettable pseudo horror movie.

Really... a movie not worth anybodies precious time.

Oxygen (2021)

A predictable and mediocre sci-fi version of Buried (2010)

[6/10 · 13 September 2021]

I really suggest to watch Buried (2010) instead.

Simply put... this is just a mediocre (at times really boring) and predictable sci-fi version of the more accomplished title mentioned above.

Kengan Ashura (2019– )

Some really bad episodes here and there, but overall a good fighting anime series

[8/10 · 10 September 2021]

Despite some really bad, boring and cliched episodes in the first half of both seasons it is a good action and fighting anime series.

We don't see the main character much. Despite that... the way the Kengan tournament is being narrated (by presenting the participating competitors, their fighting techniques and backgrounds) is really interesting and likable.

What I really didn't like was the usage of CG. This may look good during the fight scenes, but is literally horrendous for the remaining part of the episodes. They could have accomplished (graphically speaking) much more by avoiding them.

And finally there is the female announcer - Sayaka Katahara whose Japanese voice is so annoying and irritating I had to fast-forward every fighter entrance/announcement.

Looking forward to see season 3 asap :-)

The Protégé (2021)

a GOOD 90's style action movie, new generations wont't like

[8/10 · 30 August 2021]

Firs of all... the acting of both leading roles is impeccable.

There are many other popular actors out there who may learn a lot from the duo Michael Keaton and Maggie Q.

OK, there is Samuel L. Jackson who plays himself... ;)

The plot is simple and doesn't bring anything new... but... is so perfectly executed we couldn't care less. Come on is an action movie.

And there is the pacing... slow, moderate and fast when and where it should be.

So if you're looking for some young bulked up heroes, perfectly shaped beauties, flying cars, in-existent psychics, childish jokes or lame story... this is not for you.

It is just a simple, good, 90's style action movie with nice direction and good acting performances.

The Suicide Squad (2021)

A great catcher for teens, with no real added value in the film industry

[3/10 · 7 August 2021]

I needed a brake after watching the first half... with some probably not comparable good stuff (The Joker (2019)).

Briefly: The acting is really bad. I can understand the acting was intentionally depicted in that way, but its execution hurts the viewer intelligence.

Some action scenes are solid, but the majority are just mediocre.

Yes, there are some jokes... but they won't make laugh my 10 year daughter.

...and finally the story and character development... was there any? Just a series of events and silly delusions to spend more than 2 hours of your precious life.

I've raised my vote by one just because it's slightly better than the version of 2016 and because of some good gore/bloody (R rated) parts.

And last but not least: Dear staff of iMDB, my reviews never contain spoilers. Marking them as spoiler to hide my opinion feels like censorship and promotion to me.

Regards.