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Mayor of Kingstown (2021)
They might be right about the human nature but that doesn't make this show good entertainment.
The first season provides something new and interesting, with competent writing and acting. The setting and especially the role of "the mayor" are unique and absolutely justify recommending season one.
There isn't much left of that in season two though. Nothing new or unique anymore, just a construct/plot with many involved characters - who one by one decide that now it's their time to be trouble. It's bland, repetitive and uninspired.
And the writers don't seem to consider the repetitiveness an issue, it's their core theme. Their idea of the driving human nature.
And while they might be right about that nature, it's not a reason why I would consider the resulting plot good entertainment or worth watching. Thus I chose to quit mid season two.
P. S.
Hey Milo, I'm (almost) rooting for you. The only consistently smart and competent character.
The Diplomat (2023)
Great show, weird character flaws.
I'm all for strong women and lead characters. And Kate obviously is intelligent, very experienced and knowledgeable.
So why in hell is this show, made by two women, portraying this character as some emotional and irrational wreck whenever Hal or Austin are involved?
She immediately expects the worst, rarely listens when they express their motivation and her first instinct always is to run first and then to follow up with some drama.
Or in other words: Everything you could possibly do wrong as a diplomat.
This series began so strong and there is still lots to like but this part is increasingly ruining my experience.
Seolganghwa (2021)
The 8+ rating can't be trusted.
Don't be fooled by the high ratings, it seems some Blackpink fans couldn't resist to consider this something great because of Jinsoo.
Theoretically, the setting in the late 80s with political conspiracies could have been interesting.
But all that this series achieves is a constantly repeating display of clowns and amateurs who got into positions of power thanks to their ruthless characters.
On the other side, we have a few characters with some level of integrity who stumble from one silly decision to another, in an endless loop. Worst of all is how they grant shady characters the option to betray them again and again and again. With little to no effort to prevent that from happening again.
In combination it's simply a hilariously absurd string of events, that's becoming more painful with every step.
If you enjoy drama for drama's sake, have fun. If you can handle drama only within realistic limits, you'll suffer and wonder after every episode why you are causing so much harm to yourself. There is nothing clever or inspiring you might experience in this series.
Isanghan byeonhosa Woo Young-woo (2022)
Not perfect but unique
The show has some flaws and weaknesses, you certainly shouldn't expert a realistic portrayal of attorneys or the legal system in general.
It's just not very immersive when you frequently register that all the elite lawyers struggle with basics that even a viewer with no legal background can immediately register, just so that the 'genius' main character gets an opportunity to shine.
But that is a not too relevant factor. The show offers all essentials of a feel-good show, with some excellent actors and episodes. It certainly provides plenty of drama and entertainment. I'd love to see a second season.
Star Trek: Picard: The Star Gazer (2022)
Hope - once more.
A promising season opening. But we've been there before and so far Kurtzman & Co always managed to disappoint later on. So I won't hold my breath for this one either.
The best part about a season at this stage is that it's still allowed to make little or no sense. The painful realization that it remains like that (again?) follows later.
Encanto (2021)
Almost excellent
Encanto is better than I initially expected it to be. It has lots of charm, the songs actually contribute to the story. Usually I despise Disney's tendency to provide some singing under any circumstances.
It's still "only" a 7/10 because the climax of the story couldn't keep up with the excellent rest. The general story buildup was great too though, as it left much room for the characters to develop depth.
Red Sparrow (2018)
Betrayal deluxe
This was so much better than other reviews suggested. No, this movie is not too long. No, it isn't confusing.
Red Sparrow is almost perfectly developing the character of the protagonist, in an extreme but not unrealistic plot. There constantly is drama, conflict and (potential) betrayal.
This was a wonderful experience, which you should celebrate by paying full attention. It's not some action/agent flick you can watch on the side, to celebrate explosions and killing sprees.
The Tomorrow War (2021)
Popcorn movies mustn't be this dumb and uncreative.
Pretty boring action that lacks imagination and creativity, trying to compensate with CGI, quantity and by imitating other movies. All without success.
But the worst part is for sure the incredibly stupid plot. Even by genre standards.
The only decent parts are the performances of Simmons (little screen time) and Strahovski (more screen time, but only few good scenes).
Star Trek: Discovery: There Is a Tide... (2020)
Dumb and dumber, the series.
By now I think that this show is rather a modern adaption of Laurel and Hardy than a modern interpretation of sci-fi.
The only factor that prevents this crew from being wiped out every single episode, is their opponents being even dumber or the writers granting them some bizarre and unexpected way out of their misery.
If this would be a parody, it would be less painful. But these producers are serious about this show. Unfathomable.
The Midnight Sky (2020)
Space - void of content. Literally.
The greater plot lacks complexity and any form of exciting details.
So they used incredibly much screen time for pointless fillers, most them desperately trying to enrich the movie with emotions by action scenes. And every single one of them is a subpar unnecessary snorefest.
The movie has some emotional moments and good chemistry between some actors.
But these few moments aren't enough to safe this trainwreck. This movie could have been cut down to 5 or 6 minutes and it would probably provide better entertainment.
Star Trek: Discovery: Terra Firma, Part 2 (2020)
Free emotional breakdowns for anyone.
Better than the first part, but there really is no other plot or progress in the series, but emotional breakdowns.
Earth: Abandoned all their values because of emotions.
The Vulkans in their T'Kal-in-ket: Emotions over facts
And now they also broke "The Imperator" from the mirror universe, the anti-emotional bulwark.
I can't wait for them to bend scientific laws next, with their emotions.
Black Beauty (2020)
Talent strikes back
The first half of the movie is pretty good. Feels good, looks good.
But once when the troubles occur, there's simply too much cliché. Especially some of the characters are way over the top.
All that is left during the separation, is that you long to see the beautiful Mackenzie Foy again, missing her just as much as Black Beauty does.
And the (adult) reemergence of Foy is the one highlight this movie has to offer. Interstellar made it clear what potential she offered for the future. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms didn't offer much opportunity to shine, but Black Beauty did. I can't wait to see what's next. Hopefully more than just Disney.
Star Trek: Discovery: Unification III (2020)
All of the issues in one episode.
The T'Kal-in-ket event in this episode sums up the series perfectly.
It's initiated to convince with science and reason.
And ends up being all about drama and emotions.
About Michael Burnham too, of course. How could some greater event in the galaxy not be about Michael?
Star Trek: Discovery: Scavengers (2020)
Classic Michael
Michael must be the most uninspired main character in a Star Trek series ever.
Always the same attitude initially, when she rebels. Always the same "empathic' reaction, when others react to her moods and unduly decisions.
And Sonequa adds poor performance, to maximize the effect of the bad writing and character development.
She has just one set of facial expression for being competitive/rebellious and one for regret/acceptance. Rinse and repeat.
I really wonder how she had managed to become on my favorite actors in TWD.
Shame, because the episode wasn't great otherwise, but without the unnecessary drama about Michael, it was pretty okay.
Star Trek: Discovery: Far from Home (2020)
Old weaknesses
Damn, there goes my hope after 3x01, that the writers learned how develop interesting characters.
I don't know how they manage it, but somehow the complete crew of the Discovery is blessed with diverse character flaws, making it a challenge to like them and almost impossible to identify myself with them. This crew literally feels alien to me.
And Georgiou as the antipode for the Federation in general, won't be enough to save the show.
That the plot is so very very generic certainly didn't help either.
Mr. Robot: 401 Unauthorized (2019)
Revenge setup deluxe.
Incredible display of revenge mood, with all kind of variations by the different characters (and their escape mechanisms).
And how desperate and helpless they all are makes it so much more intense. Simply bravo!
Star Trek: Picard: The Impossible Box (2020)
Picard needs some counseling.
After #Picard 1x06 I finally understand that Deanna Troi was really essential in TNG. 🤔
Jean-Luc seems to struggle to register any emotional distress, even among his familiar entourage and therefore frequently behaves like an insensitive moron.
God bless counselor Troi for informing him all these years!
My feelings about this show in general are still very mixed. The start was certainly more promising than the recent episodes.
Maybe Jean-Luc can't do space anymore?
Star Trek: Discovery: Through the Valley of Shadows (2019)
A good day to quit Star Trek Discovery.
I never would have considered this possible but I actually wouldn't mind if a Star Trek series gets canceled.
There is barely any logic in STD season 2, either in minor or huge events. Or in other words: Spock would never consider wasting any precious time for this.
Star Trek: Discovery: The Red Angel (2019)
Unbelievable, but season 1 was actually better.
Somehow they managed to combine all the usual recent disappointments in this episode.
* The events make little to no sense.
* The emotional story elements are too long and frequent but also of too shallow quality. Remarkable achievement, such a combination.
Generally: Besides Saru no character of the first season managed to improve. The season's plot isn't better either. It's pretty rare that a second season falls behind the premiere season.
Star Trek: Discovery: If Memory Serves (2019)
Bloated
Hmm. I don't get the enthusiasm for this episode.
There is extremely little relevant material for the greater story arc. We already knew about as much about the red angle, the only new information is that somehow life on several planets would end. Wow!
Considering this story deficiency, the plot is shockingly bloated, feels very 'constructed' and is often enough illogical. I won't bore you with details why it was completely unnecessary to travel to Talos, when simply sharing experiences was enough to heal Spock. Or how disappointing and shallow the Spock-Michael interaction was. Or how the communication with Pike could have been far more efficient, if they hadn't used Vina and her mastery in missing the point.
Star Trek: Discovery: The Sound of Thunder (2019)
Starfleet, do I still know you?
I'm not really fond of this episode. The history and relation between Kelpians and Ba'ul was very predictable. I had imagined that the Ba'ul could also be the Kelpians after their transformation, as the only alternative.
The Starfleet on the other hand acted pretty much nothing like they were supposed to. How they ignored the Prime Directive for some lame excuse was actually one of the lesser sins and is almost Star Trek standard.
But to transform a complete race without their knowledge or consent, ignoring the risks that those might face from the Ba'ul, with either a genocide or war as the result? Absurd.
Star Trek: Discovery: Brother (2019)
The most unlikely of all plot developments
They fixed one issue I had with season 1: They spent more time introducing the characters better. Smart was how they introduce the staff to Captain Pike (and the audience too).
But the plot was pretty absurd. How likely is it that there is a special event within a special event regarding the special event of the special event?
And exactly this is what they tried to sell us here. A mysterious signal, special event 1. An asteroid smashes that signal, special event 2. Oh, it's not a normal asteroid either, it's something unheard of! Special event 3. And of course there is a Federation vessel entrapped on that asteroid, special event 4.
That's just ... too much. Far too much. And I probably forgot some smaller "special events".
Mr. Church (2016)
A challenge
Oh, I discovered that I can produce manly tears too. And I did so for about an hour, during this movie. Very recommended.
Elizabethtown (2005)
For Kirsten Dunst fans
A movie with some touching moments, but not really "8/10 great".
What makes it special for me though, is that the role of Claire Colburn offers the exact mixture of charm and emotional ride between sadness to joy, that is perfect for Kirsten Dunst.
Max Steel (2016)
Yes, it is as bad as the rating implies.
I'm baffled by some reviewers claiming that the ratings would be unfair, because they'd ignore the movie's limited budget.
Let's see what Max Steel has to offer:
Bad acting (Andy Garcia, wtf happened to you?).
Bad script ("I have a brilliant plan to beat the villain! It's exactly the same someone else had previously! The villain will never see it coming!").
Dumb characters, who can't think straight forward for even a second.
Annoying sidekick(s) with incredibly bad humor. At least I understand why the main character avoids listening to them.
All fighting scenes are a f***ing joke.
Max Steele is pure trash and that's all.