khoekie Reviews

Ride or Die (2021)

Not sure what to think

[6/10 · 27 June 2022]

I'm not sure what to think of this movie. On the one hand I found it fascinating and intense whereas moments later I found it long winded and hard to follow.

What baffled me most was how easy Rei was convinced to killing Nanae's husband. Apparently they hadn't seen or spoken to each other in 10 years, but one phone call and a brief meeting are enough for Rei to throw away her complete (and what seemed) bright future.

She easily leaves her partner with whom she was for many years only to run away with the love of her life who doesn't even remotely have the same feelings. On the contrary it feels as if Nanae just abuses Rei's feelings for her own good to get rid of her husband without making her hands dirty herself.

Only towards the end they seem to 'find each other'. Did Nanae discover lesbian feelings she hadn't had before or was Nanae a lesbian who got married to a man because of social pressure? I might have missed this, but I still feel Rei was sort of tricked in this situation because it was so easy to make use of her blind feelings for Nanae.

What baffled me also was how far Rei went to seduce this abusive husband. Why would she give this man oral pleasure and even lose her virginity with him? Would a lesbian woman not be heavily aversed to this? Was it really necessary to go this far to get a chance to stab this man?

Why did Rei have sex with the taxi driver? I really didn't get this scene. Why would a lesbian woman do this?

I was grabbed by some of the intense scenes were both Rei and Nanae talk about ending their lives or even killing one another. It created some fear with me to see a shocking ending of the movie, but then moments or even seconds later they laugh out loud and shortly after they can be seen sitting at the porch with a setting sun and caressing each other as if their deathwishes have suddenly disappeared. Possibly I am seeking too much behind all this but it left me confused.

All in all I'm still not sure whether to recommend this movie or not. It is a fascinating topic but the movie seems to be all over the place and too many scenes don't make sense to me.

Top Gun (1986)

Obnoxious Pete Mitchell

[6/10 · 20 June 2022]

I saw this movie many times and I remember loving it back in the 80's. Before seeing the sequel I decided to watch the original again. But the movie I just watched was just really lame.

The fighter jet scenes are still great for sure, but OMG this Maverick character is horrible. What a self absorbed, selfish, narcissistic person he is. I have not been in the service, but would a guy that never listens to anyone and who is always breaking the rules really be still in the Navy? And still be adored and admired? Come on people, he gets a soft slap on the wrist and then they go back to admiring his talents. Even though he breaks standard safety protocols and is leaving his wingman. Really? Is that something you'd still have to tell the best of the best? I reckon that is one of the first things they teach you when you're a Naval aviator...

And sure losing his friend hurts, but the way he just leaves without even saying goodbye to Charlie? Selfish @hole. It's all about Maverick.

He is even invited to a homemade dinner and then dares to show up late, sweaty and probably smelling badly because he couldn't leave the volleyball game... That's kinda disrespectful if you ask me... But hey I am no Tom Cruise so what do I know ;)

The last scenes are still spectacular, but why on earth do these guys have to be flown out to an aircraft carrier to handle a hot issue. Do aircraft carriers just carry fighter jets but no pilots? Are the pilots on board not capable or are only the best of the best trained properly for the job? What do those pilots do on the ship then anyway? I know it's Hollywood and all, but I have been shaking my head a lot the last 2 hours and decided not to go and see the sequel because it will be more of the same...

Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol (2020)

Very likeable, but the ending is ridicule

[7/10 · 26 March 2022]

I really enjoyed watching this typical romantic k-drama. But the ending ruined a lot for me. Why on earth would Jun let his loved one(s) think he is dead only to show up 5 years (5!!!) later laughing in her face and telling his love he wanted to wait with coming back until he was recovered.... I mean come on?!? Big thumbs down for the ending. Sure I get it, the writers wanted to wait with the happy end but this is clearly not to way to do it... 5 years he let her grieve, well if my girlfriend would fake her death like that she could stay away permanently. I would never forgive her.

Ted Lasso (2020–2023)

Be prepared to get sucked in quickly - what a gem this is!

[9/10 · 8 April 2021]

After watching the first episode I didn't really get the high ratings. It came across as quite goofy and not too funny. I thought the whole football scene was too cliché and the jokes a bit too obvious and predictable. But that changed quickly! Somehow after the second and third episode the show grabbed me full on and sucked me in completely. The character development is wonderful and the jokes got better and better. And it's not just fun, but we get to see the emotional and 'other' side of the characters as well and to be honest I loved every minute of it. Jason Sudeikis is great and so are the characters Nathan, Higgins, Rebecca, "Beard" and Roy Kent among others. I'm not great at reviewing shows, but at least I can share with you what I like about it. This show is great and I highly recommend you give it a go.

The Spy (2019)

Wahida Olympics

[8/10 · 26 October 2020]

I thought this series was entertaining with a great performance by SBC.

Aside the series itself, it was funny to see that Sacha Baron is definitely not a runner. While training for the spy job I noticed he was running exactly the same way as how he was running in the Dictator (during the Wahida Olympics). In the Dictator I thought the somewhat goofy running was intentional but clearly it wasn't LOL.

At the same time he also reminded me of Freddy Mercury a number of times. I can imagine why he was considered for that role and I think he would have done great.

Anyway this series is worth the watch.

1917 (2019)

Is it just me, or is it getting crazier out there?

[5/10 · 30 January 2020]

In 2019 I got quite confused as to what classifies as a great movie. I had high hopes for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and got utterly disappointed. The Irishman was long and boring with actors that were doing the same routine for the 1000th time. And again with 1917 I don't get why people rave so much about it? 1917, like Dunkerk is not a great movie. Both movies are very weak and totally unbelievable.

I admit, the one shot camera work in 1917 is nice, but it did not leave me with my mouth open. And then the story itself is very shallow, it's just not gripping or believable. The 2 soldiers sent on the mission lack depth and they look more like they're on a school trip. There's no fear, no emotion, no tension. It's all very shallow and unrealistic. Not once do you get the feeling they are on a dangerous mission. Even when one of them dies he seems quite relaxed about it and not panicked or worried at all. Oh well I guess I'm gonna die, too bad, but hey what can you do?

The other soldier gets shot at a thousand times by both snipers and regular soldiers, but I guess they used the A-Team approach here, lots of firing but somehow he never gets hit...

In the end we see a reprise of Saving Private Ryan, but not in a good way.

I'm not a director or an actor, but I found this movie utterly weak.

I haven't seen all Oscar nominees, but Joker should get it or any of the movies I still have to see. If this movie wins then I'll just give up trying to understand what makes a good movie. But 1917 isn't one... It does not even deserve the nomination.

Ray Donovan (2013–2020)

OMG that Smitty character is getting annoying!

[8/10 · 7 January 2020]

I really enjoyed Ray Donovan for the first 6 seasons, but season 7 doesn't really do it for me... Mickey surviving this mega blast was just ridiculous and that Smitty character is really starting to annoy me... What is his purpose for this show? OK having seen the last episode he finally "did" something, but for the first 7 episodes he was just a whiny annoying character. Sorry to the actor ;). Anyway let's see how this season ends...

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)

Tarantino lost me after Inglorious

[6/10 · 12 September 2019]

I'm not sure what happened with me or with Mr. Tarantino, but I can't really be bothered anymore with his movies. I tried with Django, then tried again with The Hateful Eight and tonight I was excited to see Once Upon... Why? Because it got great reviews and many raved how this was his best work so far... Well did I walk out of the theater disappointed and grossing in wtf's.

The best thing to me is Leonardo DiCaprio's performance as he is pretty darn good and yes Brad Pitt is kinda cool and funny, but he's far from memorable. And why did Margot Robbie agree to do this movie? She is mainly hired for her gorgeous looks, but in the movie itself there's nothing to gain for her and her screen time is very limited.

And then my main annoyance... This movie is incredibly boring. It's slow paced, it's hardly funny and the few funny moments are fairly predictable. And there is no character development or storyline whatsoever. You don't feel for any of the characters and it lacks the type of dialogues that QT is famous for. Looking at my watch hardly an hour into to the movie is not a good sign.

I don't know, maybe I have gotten older and this simply isn't for me anymore, but I beg to differ. During the previews they showed the trailer for Joker and that got me more excited then 2 1/2 hours of Once Upon... I'll skip QT10.