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Reviews
Mother/Android (2021)
I Loved It
This movie is a perfect example of why I don't trust general reviews. It, certainly, deserves a higher score than a 4.9, out of 10.
"Mother/Android" has so many things going for it. The concept is decent, the script is well-written, the characters are well-acted, and the overall pace is spot-on. From beginning to end, I was sucked into the story -- wondering what was going to happen next. The filmmakers do an excellent job making these characters feel real; which is key to any good story.
Chloe Grace Moretz is, quickly, becoming one of my favorite actresses. If a production sucks, it won't be because of her. As usual, she delivers a great performance.
The fact that this movie is sci-fi, and stars Moretz, is the sole reason that I chose to give it a shot. It could have been good, or it could have been crap. It's, definitely, not crap.
I won't spoil anything, since, not knowing a thing about it, gave this movie an excellent advantage to be great. I chose to watch it, early in the morning, with a nice, quiet environment; which always helps.
All I can say is, if you're a fan of sci-fi, you should give it a shot. I signed up for Hulu, just to watch this movie, and I wasn't disappointed.
Don't trust the bad reviews. I was torn between giving it an 8 or a 9. I give it a 9 because It's way better than a 4.9 average.
Rabbit Hole (2023)
Good Concept. Bad Approach.
I like the basic, loose concept of this show -- a show about a guy who's so paranoid that he falls down a mental rabbit hole; unable to distinguish what's real and what isn't. However, the problem with this show, is its approach. In the end, it's just too confusing, and tends to stray from the main appeal -- a man losing his mind by questioning reality.
One reviewer said it well. It's just too confusing. With a concept like this, the main character is supposed to become confused. However, the last thing you want to do, is confuse your audience, and this show does just that.
I was able to have an idea of what was going on. However, while I was watching it, I always felt as if I had a superficial grasp on all of the moving parts. I, completely, blame all of this, on the approach that the writers took, in order to explore this concept.
Instead of a complex story, with lots of twists and turns, multiple moving parts, and high-stakes operations that threaten democracy on a grand scale, we needed something far simpler and easier to digest. It needed to be scaled down, by a factor of twenty, with a laser focus on the main character, and his mental condition. After all, isn't that the whole purpose of the show -- the development of the main character's mental world, and how it devolves? I don't need high stakes that may alter the course of the entire world. I just want to watch a man's personal world, fall apart. To me, that would have been a lot more realistic, easier to manage, and would have been a lot less superficial.
John Weir is the main character. He's a paranoid individual who can't live life without being convinced that no one can be trusted. He believes that everyone has an angle or agenda. That's the good part. He should be distant, and unable to trust anyone. However, this isn't the central focus of the show. It should be, but it isn't.
Instead, this show focuses on actual, complex, inter-workings, at the government level. We're introduced to lots of players with complex motives, elaborate schemes, etc. Like I've said, it quickly becomes too complex, and too unrealistic. The result is a confused audience who has trouble accepting what's going on.
This show needed to be a lot more cerebral, and simpler. The first thing, that comes to mind, is "Monk". "Rabbit Hole", certainly shouldn't be a comedy, as "Monk" is. However, "Monk" always kept its focus on the main character's mental condition. This show could have used more of that, but ramped up to the extreme. We needed a show that had a feel that is a cross between "Monk" and "Dexter"; without the comedy of "Monk".
Instead of bringing in lots of supporting characters with tons of high-stake, moving parts. We needed a few characters, who Weir interacts with, consistently. We needed to get to know them, yet understand how Weir could always question their motives and authenticity. This way, nothing would ever seem superficial or hard-to-follow. Weir doesn't even have to work in any sort of espionage field; dealing with programs that could impact the world. We just needed him to suspect that the normal people, in his life, could be part of something bigger -- yet always finding actual proof to be elusive. This would have been a lot more engaging. Unfortunately, "Rabbit Hole" doesn't take this approach. Instead, we're just left with a confusing, hard-to-follow, mess.
The fact that Weir always uses burner phones, and the idea of the love interest, are good approaches for this story. However, in this show, the burner phones are a small part of the show, and the love interest is unrealistic. This is because the woman has no reason to care about Weir, and Weir has every reason to never trust her. For something like this to work, he needs to have known the woman, for many years, but is never willing to trust her. That way, she'd, at least, have reason to care about him -- despite him keeping everyone at a distance, due to his lack of trust.
Ultimately, "Rabbit Hole" is a missed opportunity. It needed to be simpler, with a better focus on the driving concept. I don't hate it. There's just no way for me to embrace it, or care about the characters, or the story.
Echoes (2022)
Good Concept. Bad Execution
I really like Michelle Monaghan; especially after attempting to watch this show. She's a solid actress, and, definitely, has the skills to pull off this role. I, also, like the concept. It's interesting, and provides something to play with. However, the overall execution, was a failure, for me.
I watched the pilot, was introduced to the good concept, and was excited to see where the story went. However, now, I've just finished the fifth episode, out of seven, and I don't even care how it ends. I lost interest, a few episodes ago -- mostly because I'm just lost.
What this show needed was a better pace, and more cohesion. It's too ambitious with its flashbacks, and makes too many assumptions. The audience isn't eased into the characters, so, before I can even remember who's who, what their motivations are, or where they fit in, they're already making critical choices that greatly affect the direction of the story. In the end, I just got confused, and stopped caring.
Characters are introduced without building, or demonstrating, the relationship that's supposed to make us care, or understand. I felt as if I was just getting used to the concept, but the writers were throwing in all of these angles and important relationships. Perhaps I'm stupid, but I just couldn't keep up.
It's like walking into a room full of strangers, being quickly introduced to all of them, and then you're expected to, instantly, remember their names, relationships, and connections. Next, they want to build a detailed story, on that wet foundation, before giving it a chance to dry.
The pilot is pretty good. Gina lives, and works, in Los Angeles. One day, she learns that her twin sister, Leni, has become missing. Leni lives in Mount Echo, where they both grew up. So, Gina goes back to Mount Echo, in order to find out what happened to her sister. As the search continues, Gina visits a childhood cave, which is a place where the sisters used to, sometimes, meet. There, she finds a book, as well as a change of clothes. Inside the book, she reads a short message, from Leni. It explains that Gina must choose to live her own life, or Leni's. It's at this time that we learn that the identical twins had developed a system where they would switch lives, annually. Now that Leni has chosen to leave, Gina must pretend to be herself, and Leni, until she tracks down her sister.
All of this is an intriguing idea for a great story. The ride could take us anywhere, as we're left with tons of questions, just like Gina. Unfortunately, the show, quickly, goes off the rails. The pace changes, drastically, as if we're, somehow, supposed to know all of these people in Gina's, and Leni's, lives. Rather than slow introductions, via a method of discovery story-telling, we're thrown into the deep end, and are left scratching our heads. At least, that's how I felt.
This show would have worked well, had it continued with its original pace. Gina pretends to be Leni by putting on the clothes in the cave. She intentionally hits her head, with a rock, and then emerges into civilization, with a story to explain her wound and absence. She's not quite sure what Leni's been going through, over the past year. So, this would have been a perfect opportunity to use her head wound to her advantage. Gina has to ask lots of questions, because she doesn't know what Leni's been up to. It would have made since for her to explain that she couldn't remember everything, due to her injury. However, the writers don't use that. Instead, Gina, somehow muddles through, not knowing anything, asking questions, without causing significant suspicion.
After watching the pilot, I really wanted to like this show. Unfortunately, I was lost, half the time, in a story that dealt with love triangles and stolen horses; rather than something more profound, or interesting. To me, it just feels like a missed opportunity. They really needed to do a better job telling a story.
These writers could take direction from a show like "Resident Alien". "Resident Alien" is a comedy, and isn't my favorite show. However, it does a good job dealing with well-paced exploration, through the eyes of a character who's trying to figure things out. "Echoes" could have used some of that.
Fatale (2020)
Worth My Time
This movie deserves more than a 5.4 average rating. Is it excellent? No. However, there's really no reason to hate this movie.
I'll admit that "Fatale" isn't perfect. There are a few things that are implausible. Some of it is predictable, and sometimes, characters make bad choices; which is frustrating. However, it's not to the point to warrant hating this movie. Overall, it was better than I had expected, and I'm glad I watched it.
In many ways, this is a typical thriller. Although, it does seem to be underestimated, in a few respects. For instance, I enjoyed some of the score, for this movie. However, there doesn't seem to be a score that's available for purchase. It has a soundtrack, but the soundtrack doesn't feature any songs from the composer. It would have been nice to have, at least, a few of the score songs on the soundtrack. This is because the composer did a pretty good job coming up with a creepy tune that fits the feel of the movie.
I, also, enjoyed the pace of this film. Normally, I wouldn't take the time to mention this. However, I've seen enough bad movies to realize that some of them are terrible because of the pace or complexity. The pace, for this movie, is just right, for my taste. It's not dumb, but you're also not left scratching your head -- wondering what happened. It's not boring, but it's also not mindless, with superficial characters. I bring this up, because I still don't know why some people hated this movie, so much.
I'll admit that I wasn't overly excited to see this production, since I didn't expect much from it. However, it exceeded my expectations, and, easily, held my interest. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to watch a decent thriller.
Fried Barry (2020)
Completely Useless
This movie is evidence that ANY movie can win awards, and get good reviews. Actually, it's based on a short film that won awards.
Like I've said in my review description, this movie is completely useless. I only made it through about thirty minutes before turning it off.
The plot is almost non-existent. It has competent cinematography, but that's about it. It's not really grade B, or low budget, it's just bad.
It starts out with a man being yelled at, by his wife, for being a loser. He, then, goes out and does drugs. What we see, after that, is just a bunch of senseless, raunchy, scenes of this guy, walking around town, having sex, doing more drugs, and looking weird.
After turning it off, I decided to read the synopsis. It talks about how he's abducted by aliens. I can see why it would say that, since, we do see an abstract portrayal of this sort of thing. However, as a viewer, I just figured it was part of his trippy experience, due to him having done drugs.
I've also learned that there wasn't much of a script, when making this movie. Most of it is improvisation. So, a director, basically, just decided to make a movie about a guy doing drugs, and records some nudity, drug behavior, and alien costumes. Where's the value in that?
Once I realized that this movie wasn't going to go anywhere, and that it was just going to show nudity and sex, I decided to turn it off. There's nothing of value, here.
To be fair, I didn't watch this whole movie. So, maybe it's possible that something else happens. However, if all you offer the audience is senseless filth, for the first thirty minutes, why should I keep watching?
I'll make sure to steer clear of this director, and anything else that he does. If this is what he has to offer, I won't bother wasting my time watching any project that he's involved in.
Succession: With Open Eyes (2023)
A Good Show that Showcases a Classic Mistake
"Succession" is a relatively good show, and has gained lots of recognition. Overall, the writing is good, and the acting performances are phenomenal. However, the writers, for this show, are guilty of falling into the same trap that lots of successful shows have fallen into. It's the intent on having a shocking finale, at all costs.
When a writer attempts to write a powerful script, they have a few objectives to meet. Often times, the goal is to write characters, and circumstances, that are real and highly relatable. This gives the audience something familiar to hold on to. If we can relate to a character and their situation, the story can seem more personal, and have a greater psychological impact.
Another goal, that writers tend to feel compelled to meet, is to "up the ante", as the story progresses. The intent is to "wow" the audience. This isn't just true for shows, but movie sequels, as well. If the good guy fought a villain in the first movie, he'll fight an even greater villain, in the next. With a TV show, dealing with a finale, the idea is to pull out all of the stops, and make the most unimaginable thing, take place. If shocking things took place, earlier in the show, something outrageous has to happen during the finale.
The problem with this, is that it's difficult to pull this off, while still trying to make the story realistic and believable. "Succession" falls into this trap. They've produced a finale that wows the audience, at the expense of a realistic ending.
What Shiv does, at the end of the finale, doesn't make sense. It's completely out-of-character. I don't have a problem with her choosing to not go along with Kendall taking control of the company. Also, Roman was right, when he confessed that all three of them are jokes. However, why didn't Shiv realize this earlier? Why be totally onboard, one day, and, completely, opposed, a minute later? It's obvious that this was only done in order to offer a twist, whiplash ending.
These types of endings never really work. It's kind of like watching an intense sword fight, where the good guy is fighting hard in a violent battle against his arch enemy. Then, right when he's about to give the final, ending, blow, he decides to turn the sword, on himself, and commit suicide. It's shocking, but it doesn't make sense.
That's what this finale does. Shiv, and her brothers, try so hard to get the necessary votes that they need, and then, at the last moment, Shiv decides to destroy the whole thing. It's shocking, and no one sees it coming. However, it, also, doesn't make sense. Why didn't she feel that way when they were playing "crown the king" the night before? It's a cheap, whiplash trick, that is merely designed to stun the audience.
A show, or movie, doesn't have to have a whiplash ending, in order to offer a profound, satisfying conclusion. Just watch "Breaking Bad". Now, that's a show with excellent writing, and a satisfying, sensible, conclusion.
My four-star rating is a sole reflection of this episode, and not the entire show. Overall, the show deserves, at least, a seven or eight.
Finally, this show isn't a comedy. IMDB has it labeled as such. However, as far as I'm concerned, this is an inaccurate classification of this show.
The Stylist (2020)
Deserves Better Music
This is one of those movies that I thoroughly enjoyed. However, few people will appreciate it.
There are two ways to look at this movie. One way, is to view it as a horror, slasher film. If this is what you're looking for, and if your goal is to be scared, then you'll be disappointed. This movie won't quite rise to that level. You'll be better off watching something else.
Another way to view this movie, is to view it as a story about extreme social awkwardness and mental illness. If you're able to watch the movie, through that lens, and you don't have a problem with blood and a bit of gore, then this movie will have a lot more substance.
I watched this movie via the latter lens, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Claire is a serial killer. She's a hair stylist who drugs and scalps different women. As a hair stylist, she's able to listen to people's stories, and hear their innermost secrets. During that time, she has a special connection with them, because, it's during those times that clients, sometimes, divulge secrets that they'd never share with people, whom, they know. However, clients have to be careful. Depending on what you say, and how Claire views you, you may become missing, and your scalp may be added to her collection.
This film does an awesome job capturing Claire's extreme social awkwardness. Townsend, the lead actress, delivers a convincing performance. Her struggles seem authentic, as she tries to come off as "normal", to those around her.
The one area, where this movie could have used significant improvement, is the music. The right composer could have had a field day with this movie! What we really needed, is a theme. This movie could have used a creepy, sad, powerful, haunting theme, that would stick in the minds of the audience members, long after the credits roll. Unfortunately, we don't get that. Instead, we get a score that, although competent, is, also, unmemorable and chaotic. I'm quite bummed, because, I would have loved to have walked away, and purchased a score that would remind me of the struggles that Claire faces. In that regard, this movie showcases a colossal, missed opportunity. Just imagine watching "Dexter" without its necessary, thematic music.
I recommend this movie to those who are socially awkward, and who are able to appreciate atmosphere-driven movies. It isn't perfect, but it was, certainly, worth my time.
These types of movies have their place. If you're into movies about inner struggle, I, also, recommend "Enter the Dangerous Mind". It ranks around the same place as this movie.
Vesper (2022)
Problematic
This is one of those movies that deserves its low ratings. It has a number of problems, and, overall, it's just not good sci-fi.
Right off the bat, this movie has an uphill battle. This is because it takes place in a time that's not familiar to us. It starts off with a classic mistake. It provides a brief, written account, of what's going on, at the beginning of the movie. Lots of movies do this -- even the popular "Star Wars" franchise. However, to me, it's a lazy technique that makes the whole movie seem less real. Any movie is much better off attempting to set the stage in a more creative way -- via natural character dialog or news casts.
Another problem, with this movie, is the technology. It doesn't make sense. I understand that it's supposed to be advanced. However, it still doesn't make sense to have electrical fuses, mixed with biological tissue. There's also no consideration for basic things like sanitation, in clinical settings. Characters are supposed to have biological knowledge. However, they're working in dirty conditions, with dirty hands, spilling stuff on dirty surfaces, with no regard for hygiene or sanitation. It's a hard sell for the audience. A lot of it feels like a David Cronenberg movie, where we get to see lots of arbitrary guts and wires.
This movie already fails in terms of presentation and atmosphere. However, the story, is also lacking. It takes place in the future, where humanity attempted to solve ecological problems with extreme, biological engineering, that went horribly wrong. The result is a fairly ambiguous situation. For some reason, we're no longer dealing with basic food types, like wheat, corn, etc. Instead, there's supposed to be a class system, where a group of elites controls the food source for everyone else. The food is referred to as "seeds", yet, what we see are a wide range of visuals that don't make a lot of sense -- gooey stuff, worms, and organ-like objects scattered in mud fields.
Vesper is the main character. She's a young girl who has dreams to change the future, via her self-taught skills in biology. She lives with her father, who is fairly incapacitated -- hooked up to a strange machine. He communicates via a flying type of speaking drone. Once again, the technology is a hard sell -- primarily, because of its portrayal. The flying drone is a metal ball, filled with oozing biological tissue.
The whole futuristic trading system doesn't seem realistic. The story is completely unrelatable, and the characters are superficial. We have groups of people that are supposed to trade and interact with other groups. One man accepts children's blood, in exchange for bacteria. It feels completely far-fetched. I can't wrap my head around advanced technology that thrives in dirt settings, deep in the woods, with no clear rules on what does what, and for what reason. To me, it's just a huge mess. The whole thing seems fake, on top of fake, on top of fake.
Finally, this movie suffers from blatant, obvious goofs -- like stating that an injured creature can feel no pain, while commanding that it be put out of its misery, or a single man smothering one person, with one hand, while successfully holding back opposition, with his other. I just couldn't buy it.
Ultimately, I dozed off on this movie, a few times, and didn't care how it ended. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
Room 104: Jimmy and Gianni (2019)
The Anthology of Anthologies
I'm not a fan of this episode. To me, it's quite boring, and it doesn't do much for me.
Having said that, this episode is a reminder of just how vast, in diversity, "Room 104" is. You never know what you're going to see. I, now, consider this show to be "the anthology of anthologies", because the next episode could be anything. Even the genre is inconsistent.
If you watch "The Outer Limits", you know that every episode will be sci-fi. If you watch "American Horror Story", you know that each season will deal with horror. With this show, each episode could be anything. One show can be a home run, while, another, will leave you scratching your head; wishing you had turned it off.
This episode has a pretty low rating, which, I believe, is warranted. However, those who decided to write an actual review, have, often given it relatively high ratings. I understand the great divide, since, I suppose, nearly anything is bound to appeal to someone.
Originally, I was going to give this episode one star. This is because it does nothing for me. However, I've decided to give it two because, after watching the previous episode, I'm reminded that it, certainly, could have been worse.
By the end of this episode, I was wondering if it may have been a type of parody. It's not. Because it's not, this gave me another reason to give it two stars, instead of one. After all, some people really are helped by, and do value, this sort of thing. It's just not for me.
I'd love to go into the details of why I don't like this episode. However, if I do, I'll have to give spoilers, and I don't want to do that. However, I will say that this episode won't appeal to the masses. This is because, when watching an anthology, people, generally, want a good story. This episode doesn't offer that.
If you don't mind spoilers, then don't hesitate to read one of the good reviews. Nearly all of them give spoilers, in my view. This is because you can't really talk about this episode, without explaining what goes on.
It's true that, with "Room 104", you can see anything. However, as one bad reviewer put it, I really do feel that the last few episodes should be spaced out, a bit. It wouldn't hurt to mix some of these up, in terms of order. For instance, if one episode is simply us watching a wall of paint dry, the next one, really should be an intriguing story. This would help to balance things out.
Room 104: A New Song (2019)
So Abstract That It's Useless
I'm, primarily, writing this review, in order to warn other viewers, and prevent them from wasting their time with this episode.
"Room 104" is a decent anthology. However, one of the bad things about anthologies, is that you may end up with some dud episodes. This is one of those episodes.
After about the first five, to ten, minutes, I began to wonder if I should just shut it off. This is because it started to seem as if this was just another one of those abstract episodes that don't amount to anything. It wouldn't be much of an exaggeration to say that I've watched music videos that have about the same amount of substance as this episode.
I won't give away spoilers. However, if you were to read the synopsis, then that tells you all you need to know. This is because, this episode, literally, doesn't have much more to offer than its basic, single-sentence, synopsis.
Trust (2010)
Creepy, Disturbing, and Heart-breaking
As is often the case, I watched this movie without knowing a thing about it. I like to do this, so that I can experience the surprise and intrigue of an unfolding, unfamiliar story. With this movie, my experience was disturbing and creepy.
Having said all of that, this movie remains as a realistic, cautionary tale. Some of the acting performances are excellent -- especially from Liana Liberto, who is one of the youngest cast members. Clive Owen, also does a great job.
This movie offers a whirlwind of heavy emotions, and is a drama, through and through. I wouldn't classify it as a thriller. It's not suspenseful, nor is it lighthearted. It's a realistic drama that is powerful, simply because of its subject matter, and the reality behind it. It's not for young children, but it's perfect for adults who have children.
Had I known what this movie is about, I probably wouldn't have chosen to watch it. This is because it's more about education and awareness, and less about entertainment. I'm always looking for thought-provoking, mind-bending, and exciting stories -- especially within the sci-fi genre. This is none of those things. However, it is powerful, and is useful, in its own right. Every parent should see it. Just don't expect traditional entertainment.
Lone Wolf (2021)
There's Nothing to See Here
This movie is trash. The writing's bad, the concept isn't, at all, interesting, and it seems to pose as a sci-fi movie -- which, it isn't. This is my assessment, after making it through twenty-nine minutes of this film.
To be fair, it is possible that there's some sci-fi element to this movie, and I just didn't bother to stick around long enough to find out what it is. Like I've said, I only lasted twenty-nine minutes.
As far as I can tell, the only thing that may be considered sci-fi, is the notion of automated surveillance. If that's the sci-fi concept, then it's pretty thin.
I stopped watching this movie because it's painfully boring, and doesn't seem to have much of a direction. After a while, I found myself wondering, "What, exactly, am I looking at?"
After turning it off, I read the synopsis, and concluded that the synopsis does a better job explaining the movie, than me actually watching the movie. This is a clear sign of terrible writing.
If your audience watches twenty-nine minutes of your film, and is confused about what they're watching, your writing isn't clever, or innovative, it's just bad. After reading the synopsis, I came to realize that I hadn't missed anything. My confusion wasn't due to me not paying attention. After all, the synopsis seems to fill in the gaps and explain what I was watching. However, if I have to read the synopsis, in order to make the movie more coherent, then the writer has clearly dropped the ball.
I don't recommend this movie to anyone. Unless you're the writer, or unless you helped create this movie, in some way, or are a friend of someone in either of these capacities, then you're not likely to find any value in this film.
I give this movie two stars because, although the writing and execution are terrible, the filmmaker does have competent technical skills. The camera isn't shaky, the audio is fine, the acting is adequate -- things like that. However, that's a low bar, when we're talking about the quality of a movie.
Zone 414 (2021)
Severely Lacking, But Not as Bad as It Could Have Been
Whenever I see a movie poster with a tough guy holding a gun, I immediately become skeptical. The first thing that comes to mind, is that the movie will be extremely typical, superficial, and will be full of cliches. This movie certainly has its many flaws. However, it wasn't quite as bad as it could have been.
I chose to watch this movie because I love sci-fi. Had that genre not been associated with it, I wouldn't have even given it a chance.
The best thing about this movie, is that it explores a relatively interesting concept. Although the concept isn't completely original, it certainly has the ingredients for a good story. Unfortunately, this movie makes a few critical mistakes. The biggest, is that most of its characters come off as completely fake. They tend to dress, talk, and behave in a way that no human being ever would. It's that cheesy implementation where eccentric people can't just be eccentric. They're shown as over-the-top, clownish eccentric. They're silly characters who speak the way that poetry often sounds. It's just not, at all, realistic.
I can't help but wonder what this movie would have been like if the writers had taken a more serious, realistic approach with the characters. It's a real shame that they didn't.
Aside from the overall concept, the story, itself, also had potential. However, it unfolds in the midst of these, sometimes, superficial characters. I say "sometimes", because some of the characters, are well-enough developed. However, they're mixed in with all of the bad stuff, that I just mentioned.
The casting of the two lead characters, is good. Which is evidence that this movie could have worked so much better, had the overall approach been more realistic.
John and the Hole (2021)
Don't Let the Bad Reviews Fool You
This is one of those movies that seems to receive bad reviews because the audience is upset by its disturbing nature. I, too, was upset. However, that doesn't make it a bad movie. It just means that I'm disturbed by what happened in the movie. Unfortunately, some reviewers aren't able to make a distinction.
One bad reviewer claimed that this movie has not plot. That simply isn't the case. It certainly has a plot.
John is a sadistic child who manages to drug his family, and hold them captive in a hole in the ground, out in the woods. Apparently, he wants to know what it's like to be an adult. Fortunately, he eventually sets them free. So, in the end, the family was quite lucky.
What's most disturbing is that the final scene shows the family, eating dinner together, as if nothing has happened. This is highly upsetting because this family could have been killed. It's as if none of them wants to deal with the fact that they're living with a psychopath.
Perhaps, later on, John will actually kill them, in some other way. If that were to happen, it'd be hard for me to be sad for the family. This is because they've chosen to ignore the fact that he could have killed them.
Within the movie, there's an alternate story of a mother with her young daughter. At one point, the mother does something that John would have loved. She packs her bags, and tells her daughter that she's leaving and won't be coming back. Her choice is to leave her daughter with enough money to pay the bills, and take care of herself. If the daughter doesn't misspend the money, it should last for several months. Unlike John, the young girl is scared and heartbroken.
Despite the frustrating nature of the story, I've enjoyed watching this movie. It's well-written, with believable performances. Unfortunately, the bad reviews are the result of an upset audience, rather than bad filmmaking.
The Man Who Fell to Earth (2022)
A Wasted Opportunity
I normally watch the entire season of a show, before choosing to review it. However, after only watching two episodes, I'm so frustrated that I can't help myself.
This show could have been epic. However, it screws up on some very important characteristics. It has some things going for it, while it drastically fails in other areas.
It has a pretty good premise, along with good casting and highly skilled actors. It also seems to have a healthy financial budget. This is apparent in its high production quality. However, its biggest mistake is that it doesn't seem to cater to the type of audience that would most appreciate this concept. Rather than cater to hardcore sci-fi fans, and offer a thought-provoking approach to an interesting concept, the creators patronize their audience. Rather than trying to be realistic, they sometimes go for laughs and cheap entertainment.
I can give many examples of how the writers fail, in this area. It's almost every scene where the alien attempts to communicate with humans, but does things that are supposed to be funny -- like yell out swear words, or push his face into a water-filled cooler. Such things are unrealistic, cheap and distracting. The only people who would laugh at this, are those who aren't likely to fully appreciate the concept, and take it seriously.
If an advanced alien species attempted to live among us, they certainly wouldn't be stupid about it. It's true that they'd have to learn quite a few things. However, they'd be smart enough to understand that they'd have to learn. They'd be careful to study us, adequately, so that they could blend in more seamlessly. It wouldn't have been difficult for the writers to get this right, if they wanted to.
Another problem is the "Justin Falls" character. Naomi Harris is a great actress, and her performance is believable. However, the writers screwed up, once again. If her character is so broke, why doesn't she jump at the chance to help the alien who offers her tons of cash? This would have been an easy way to provide believable incentive for her to play along. Instead, she keeps telling her friend how desperate she is, for cash. All the while, she's telling this guy that she doesn't want to take his money, and is refusing to help him. It doesn't make sense.
Also, some of these characters are just too fake. In the second episode, the guy in the woods is a disgrace. Once again, it's not the actor's fault. He followed the script, well; as it was written. I clearly blame the writers. Just try to bring it back to reality. Would anyone act that way, even if they were paranoid? Why not make a believable character who could advance the story in a realistic way? Instead, it seems as if they wanted to shock the audience by making the character behave in the most erratic way possible. It's a terrible mistake.
I could point out other problems. However, I won't go into all of it. I want to avoid a novel-length review.
What I really like, is what the first episode foreshadows. We instantly learn that this visitor intends to bring helpful technology, which will become irresistible to us humans. That's an interesting concept, and I'd love to see it explored. But why all of the aforementioned silly stuff?
The creators of this show, could have taken lessons from Chris Carter -- the creator of "The X-Files". There's a reason "The X-Files" was so successful. Had this show taken that more-serious approach, it could have been epic. Instead, they chose to sprinkle in all sorts of silly, which easily kills this show.
Infinitum: Subject Unknown (2021)
Feel Free to Skip This One
I'm a fairly patient viewer, and am somewhat forgiving of low-budget movies. If you have a good concept, a good script, and competent actors, then there's a good chance that I'll like your movie. You don't need tons of money, an all-star cast, or ground-breaking special effects to win me over. Unfortunately, this movie falls a bit short. It's quite lacking in both script and concept.
I won't spoil the movie by even mentioning the concept. I watched this movie without knowing anything about it. If I hadn't, my experience would have been a whole lot worse. I, at least, had the joy of exploration, since I had no idea what I was about see. However, even with that element of surprise, this movie was still a bit boring. With a run time of only one hour and twenty-six minutes, it felt as if it dragged on.
The best thing about this movie, is the atmosphere. Other than that, I can't give too many more complements. I'm a huge fan of an inviting atmosphere. Although, a filmmaker needs a whole lot more than that, in order to make a good movie.
I have to agree with most of the bad reviews. There's really nothing to see here. It isn't the worst movie I've seen, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
If you want a good example of a great, low-budget movie, I highly recommend "Cube". It certainly isn't a blockbuster, but it's still one of my favorite movies.
Reminiscence (2021)
Cheap Writing
Sci-fi is my favorite genre, and Hugh Jackman's a pretty good actor. So I was curious about this movie, and had decent expectations. Unfortunately, it's not good sci-fi. From the very beginning, it came off as highly superficial, with an unrealistic vibe.
Don't get me wrong. This isn't the worst movie I've seen. However, the creators made quite a few mistakes; causing this movie to feel fake. Everything feels like a cliche, and the story seems to go all over the place.
The best movies are those that contain characters that feel so real that you forget you're watching a fictitious story. This movie completely fails, in this area.
The first problem is that it starts off with story-telling voiceover. To me, this is always a mistake. It quickly reminds me that the whole thing is fake, because there's a narrator who feels compelled to tell me a story. Whenever I try to get into the movie, the narrator ends up being this voice that interrupts any possible realism. It's a lazy way to make a movie.
Another problem is that the characters are quite superficial. They don't feel real, and everything feels scripted. Ultimately, the whole thing just feels artificial. It reminds me of movies like "Jumper". Juxtapose that, with movies that contain characters that feel more real. I'm talking about movies like "The Mist", "Alien", or "Ex Machina".
Like I said. This isn't the worst movie I've seen. Just don't expect too much from it.
Come True (2020)
Enjoyable, If Watched Properly
This is one of those movies that will only resonate with a certain type of audience. Even then, I believe that, in order for its magic to truly work, it must be watched under the right conditions. You'll need a place that is dark and quiet, with little potential for interruptions -- like phones ringing, or that sort of thing.
Despite what anyone says, I easily don't consider this to be a horror movie. So if you're a huge horror fan, and are looking to be scared, or you're looking for lots of gore, then this isn't what you're looking for. Also, if you're an impatient viewer, who needs lots of crazy things happening, in order to constantly keep you entertained and on the edge of your seat, then you should pass on this one. This movie is for the type of person who can appreciate a slower-paced, simple story. It's not boring. However, you have to be the type of person who doesn't need a lot of stimulation, or a complex plot, in order to be intrigued. It basically has the pace of a tempered drama -- although, it's not a drama.
I watched this movie, early in the morning, while it was still dark, and while the world was quiet and still. I truly believe that, if I hadn't watched it in that setting, I wouldn't have appreciate it, as well. This is because it's an atmosphere-driven movie.
One of the things that quickly stuck out, for me, is some of the music, and the overall tone of the film. By the end, I knew that I would likely purchase the soundtrack, and since, have. This is one of those movies where the music plays a critical role.
The casting, for this movie, is done well. I've never seen the lead actress before. However, had someone else been cast in this role, you'd certainly have a different movie. I was impressed by her performance, since she made her character feel authentic, even though there isn't a ton of dialogue. She also has a certain look that easily fits the part.
I truly believe that most people won't like this movie. However, if you're the type of person who can appreciate atmosphere, and doesn't need a lot of loud, fast-paced stimulation, then you may enjoy this movie.
Warning (2021)
A Delicate Movie
This movie was better than I had anticipated. At first, I knew nothing about it; which was great. But then, I made the mistake of merely looking to see how many stars it had received. In doing this, two things happened. One, is that I recognized that it received quite a few bad reviews. The other is that I read a title of one review, which sort of spoiled the movie, for me, since it mentioned more than I wanted to know.
The bad reviews, lowered my expectations, which would have been a good thing. But then, the title-spoiler review, damaged them.
I sincerely believe this movie will be most appreciated if you know absolutely nothing about it. That way, you receive the gift of being able to watch it with complete surprise. Without that element of discovery, the movie is diminished, significantly. It's kind of like someone telling you the punchline of a joke, before telling you the joke. For that reason, I refer to this as a delicate movie. It's easy to ruin.
What I like, most, about this movie, is the atmosphere, and feeling of good sci-fi. What I don't like, is that there are elements of "God bashing", which is always a turn-off, for me.
Overall, I think this movie will be enjoyable for a select group of fans who are interested in serious sci-fi, without needing something epic. I find that, most of the bad reviews, amount to people who aren't able to appreciate what I just mentioned.
Just stay away from reading reviews, and learning too much about this movie, before you watch it. I wish I had.
Pig (2021)
A Great Movie For Drama Fans
This movie is another example of why I love watching movies without knowing anything about them. I watched this one, while only knowing that it's a drama, and stars Nicholas Cage. I'm certainly glad I saw it that way, since the mere plot, ended up being a surprise. What a great way to watch a movie!
It's important for people to recognize that this movie is a drama. Nicholas Cage is easily one of the most diverse actors of our time. He's stared in everything from comedies, to blockbuster action movies, to dramas. So, with him, you never quite know what you're going to get; other than that he's always delivered solid performances, in my opinion.
I believe that most bad reviews are from extreme action fans who were expecting to see an action movie. If that's you, and you can only appreciate action, then stay away from this one. It's certainly a drama, and if you can't appreciate a drama, then you won't like this movie.
I was impressed with this movie. The acting is good; which is expected. However, I also like the message that it sends. I like the fact that it's complex, yet subtle, enough to contain more than one message.
One reviewer explained what the movie meant, to them. They wrote about the message that they were able to take away from it. I see where they're coming from. However, I'm more impressed by an entirely different message, that the movie sends. I'll divulge that message in my "spoiler" section.
I recommend this movie to anyone who is a true drama fan, but who also isn't scared off by a few scenes of violence. If this describes you, then you should definitely give this movie a chance. However, my best advice is to stay away from watching the trailer, or reading too many reviews, which may, ultimately contain too much information about the movie. Seeing this movie, without knowing anything, made it a lot more captivating.
%%%% Spoilers Beyond This Point %%%%
This movie has all of the ingredients to be an epic "revenge" movie. Fortunately, it's not. It's something that is far more unique.
Nicholas Cage plays a Robin Feld. Feld is a famous chef, whose successful career ended, long ago, after he tragically lost his wife.
The death of Feld's wife, dramatically changed him, causing him to only focus on what he deems important, in life. The result is him transitioning from a high-class chef, to a hermit who lives alone, in the woods, with a pig.
One day, Feld's pig is stolen, due to its unique value and ability to hunt truffles. Feld spends the rest of the movie, searching for his pig.
As was stated, this movie could have, easily, been about revenge. Instead, Feld uses his polished craft of cooking, to resolve the ugly dispute.
Some people view this movie, and recognize that it's a movie about loss, grief and how to cope with such issues. For me, the bigger message is about focusing on your true gift, and never losing sight of its value and importance -- to always revel in it, regardless of the circumstance.
Room 104: Shark (2018)
Good Writing
This is one of the better episodes; primarily because it's well-written.
Conceptually, this episode is fairly simple. Two guys, who make a living hustling at the game of pool, end up engaging in a dispute. However, the writing is so solid and engaging, that even this simple premise, does well.
What I like most, about this episode, is that the dialogue is written very well. These characters don't feel like characters. They feel like actual people, dealing with an actual dispute, in an entertaining way.
Franco is the brains, and Ollie is the talent -- at least that's the way Franco sees it. However, according to Ollie, Franco's nothing but dead weight, since he's not the one who's actually competing in the pool competitions. An argument ensues once Ollie realizes that Franco's been cheating him. The two of them are supposed to split the profits, fifty/fifty. So Ollie is upset when he learns that Franco has been skimming off the top.
What I love about this episode, is that you really start to recognize Franco's position. Franco, essentially calls Ollie "stupid", and you start to wonder if Ollie has reason to be upset with Franco. Maybe Franco really is cheating Ollie, and Ollie has a valid case. However, once you realize that the dispute is over a dollar, it becomes clear that Franco isn't too far off in his assessment of Ollie.
I really like this episode, since it adequately shows the power of good writing. The premise is extremely simple, yet the writer still makes the episode engaging, and fun to watch.
What more can you really expect from these short episodes that are only about twenty-five minutes long? For me, this is one of the better episodes, since it really shows good writing, acting, and directing.
This World Alone (2018)
Not Bad, But Extremely Frustrating
Based on some of the IMDB ratings, I didn't have high hopes for this movie. However, I was in the mood for a movie that has a lonesome atmosphere, and the title, to this movie, easily caught my eye.
This movie isn't boring. It is, however, a typical drama. So if you're expecting an action movie, with car chases, fight scenes, and shootouts, then you'll easily be disappointed. On the other hand, don't be mislead by those who claim that this movie has no plot. It has a plot. It's just a drama, and I suspect that those who said that this movie is boring, probably just don't like dramas.
There are a few things that I like about this movie, and a few things that I find hard to watch.
The movie takes place, years after some global event has occurred. The event has caused an obvious decrease in population and plunges us into a type of dystopian atmosphere, where the technologies that we've become accustomed to, are gone.
The main character is Sam, a young woman who was raised after this event. Unlike the rest of us, she only knows about our current, comfortable, technology-saturated, way of life, by means of stories that she's been told. In her world, there is no internet, no ambulances, 911, etc.
For the most part, I like Sam. Her character has a certain innocence, and the actress plays her very well.
Sam lives in relative isolation with her mother and a sister figure, named Willow. Once Willow becomes seriously injured, Sam is tasked with leaving her home, for the first time, in order to bring back medicine, and face the outside world. During her journey, she meets Dart, a young man who is also on a bit of a journey.
The majority of the movie, isn't bad. I like the interaction between Sam and Dart, as they learn more about each other.
Dart learns that Sam is looking for medicine in the town, from which, he lives. He performs the kind act of getting the medicine, for Sam; preventing her from having to deal with the potentially dangerous people, who live in the town.
However, the movie takes a drastic turn, for the worst, in the last fifteen minutes. Dart, who is a likeable character, up to this point, turns out to be a piece-of-crap human being. We learn that, rather than paying for the medicine, with ammunition that Sam had provided, Dart stole the medicine. He also ends up killing a man, and threatening Sam's mother. His actions are a complete 180, from everything that we had learned about him, before.
What bothers me most, about this drastic shift in Dart's behavior, is that there's no explanation for it. He had no reason to steal the medicine, and then, act as a complete jerk. It's just an abrupt twist, with no valid reason behind it. He has every reason to be good to Sam, since they really seem to be hitting it off. It just doesn't make sense.
Another frustrating aspect, is something that I've found in other movies.
At one point, Sam and Dart have a conversation about God and religion. They raise popular questions, but there's no one there to give them concrete answers. So it's like watching the blind lead the blind. As a Christian, this is always extremely frustrating to watch. People talk about issues, and ask questions, as if they're questions which have no real answers. However, when you know the answers, it's extremely frustrating to watch.
Overall, this isn't a bad movie; although it does get very frustrating. But the reality is that, if I were going to recommend a movie to someone who is looking for that lonesome atmosphere, there are certainly better movies out there. "I Think We're Alone Now", starring Peter Dinklage, is a great example. I'd easily recommend that movie, over this one.
Room 104: The Man and the Baby and the Man (2018)
Feel Free to Skip This One
A typical episode of "Room 104" is about twenty-five minutes long. This one is only about twenty-two. So it's saying something that this episode is so bad that I couldn't even bear to finish it. The reason is extremely simple. It has way too much nudity.
Nudity never helps any movie or show, yet nudity isn't shunned, at all, in this short episode.
The first time they started showing nudity, I do what I often do. I skipped a little bit, hoping to get to the next non-nude scene. However, with this little episode, that's almost impossible to do, since the entire episode seems to be nearly nothing but sex and naked bodies. It wasn't long before I finally just gave up, and turned it off.
Maybe this episode has some sort of twist, or point. A lot of "Room 104" episodes do. However, for me, it's not worth it to figure out what it is. Is it too much to ask that people keep their clothes on?
I don't recommend this episode to anyone. It's likely to only appeal to those who want to see sex and naked people, or for those who have no problem watching such things. Unless you fit into that category, you're better off just skipping this one.
Y: The Last Man (2021)
A Very Interesting Concept
This show explores a highly intriguing concept. What would happen if all men, in the entire world, died instantly, with the exception of one?
We'd have a complete apocalypse, as the entire world was plunged into death, despair, and total destruction. It'd be every woman for herself, as groups attempt to band together for survival, right? Well, maybe not.
This show does explore this very interesting concept. However, ultimately, I think they get most of it wrong.
As I continued watching the show, I couldn't help but wonder what the world would really be like if this took place. I've literally spent days thinking about it, since it really is an interesting concept.
What I've come to realize is that it wouldn't be an apocalypse. Of course, the world would change, but I seriously doubt that civilization would devolve, as depicted in this show.
The biggest mistake that this show makes, is that it gives women very little credit. It assumes that only men can keep the electrical grid up and running, and that, without men, no more planes would fly, and all modern modes of communication would collapse. However, that's just ludicrous, if you take a moment to really think about it.
Name one industry, in which, there are absolutely no women. It's almost impossible to do. The fact is that the world has female engineers, pilots, doctors, scientists, police officers, military personnel, construction workers, truck drivers, news anchors, business executives, video directors, politicians, etc. Quite simply put, you'd be hard pressed to find a single important industry, in which the world has no qualified women.
So if every man on the planet died, with the exception of one, all it would really mean is a whole lot of job openings for all of the women in the world. The electrical grid wouldn't collapse, and news stations wouldn't stop broadcasting. Planes would still occupy the sky, and governments would continue to function. So, no. There would be no apocalypse, and humanity wouldn't devolve into savagery.
Despite all of this, that isn't to say that the world wouldn't change. Violent crime rates would likely drop, since most violent crimes are perpetrated by men. Just think about it. How many terrorist groups, or inner city street gangs, are run by women?
The United States, as well as other developed countries which function under the premise of equality and freedom, would flourish the most. On the other hand, dictatorships would generally come to an end, since all of them are run by men.
The world would continue to have its problems, but it seems that the planet would probably experience an extended period of relatively extreme peace.
Now for the bad news. The world would now have to deal with the issue of reproduction, since there's only one guy. This would be any man's dream, right? Well, not necessarily.
The world would still have its share of scientists, geneticists and biologists. So, you can be sure that they'd all be working on the problem. Not to mention that, though the men have died, the women would still have sperm banks, which contain the key ingredient for reproduction. Though stored supplies of sperm would be limited, the women would have a significant head start, in terms of re-population.
The single man would hold moderate value, for the purpose of the women attempting to figure out what went wrong. And, of course, the man would still be fairly lucky, since he'd have a lot easier time getting a date.
Unfortunately, the show doesn't make much of a recognization of any of these facts. Instead, it pretends that all is lost, and that the remaining population is dealing with a situation that is similar to "The Walking Dead". However, it just wouldn't be that way.
I like the fact that, the last man alive, turns out to be an average guy. He's not particularly special, and is a bit of a disappointment. I'm glad it was written that way, since, in reality, that would probably be the case.
I also appreciate the fact that there was a group of women who celebrated the notion that they were no longer forced to live in the shadow of men. I can imagine that happening, for a certain group of women who collectively feel that way. I just don't think that the majority of women would take to the streets and choose to become violent thugs.
Despite its generally incorrect predictions, I did enjoy watching this show, including the noteworthy score; which I bought. I just think they were way off the mark, in terms of portraying how events would actually unfold.
Now that I've seen the show, I really can't help but wonder what actually WOULD happen, if this scenario played out. Am I right in my prediction? Of course I think I am. However, I can't help but continue to wonder. That's how you know that you have a really good sci-fi concept on your hands.
Black Mirror: Fifteen Million Merits (2011)
Still One of My Favorite "Black Mirror" Episodes.
To me, this is the episode which best captures the essence of "Black Mirror". Don't get me wrong, this entire show is filled with thought-provoking stories that will often make you think. It's one of the greatest attributes which consistently draws me to the sci-fi genre. However, for me, this episode nearly defines the entire show, in more ways than one.
"Fifteen Million Merits" centers on a futuristic civilization that is saturated in all things visual. Nearly everything is fake and synthetic; geared towards cheap pleasure, which offers no lasting meaning. The episode essentially takes what our current society values, from an entertainment standpoint, and extrapolates it into the future.
Let's face it. Human nature is drawn to superficial looks and "shock and awe". Just turn on the TV, and look at nearly every person on the screen. Every woman is a knockout, and all men have charisma. This is true from television shows, to news anchors, to even commercials. Society likes to look at beautiful people.
So this episode hits the nail right on the head, when it explores what happens when an innocent, attractive young lady enters a singing competition, with the hopes of winning first prize using her talented voice. In an "American Idol" style competition, the judges focus more on her looks than her voice. Innocence is stolen, as a heartfelt, noble dream is turned into something dirty.
This episode is of Shakespeare caliber, in terms of its writing. Not only is it highly creative, it also touches something that we can all relate to. General society, as a whole, is shallow. We're all judged, at least initially, on our looks; whether we like it or not. It's one of the ugly attributes of mankind, and this show's purpose, is to reveal it -- Hence the name "Black Mirror".
When you turn off the television screen, we're left with a black screen -- a mirror. That mirror reveals that we, as individuals, choose to watch what's on the screen. We see our own reflection, every time we turn off the screen. We're reminded of whose watching. The first episode makes this same point, but this episode does, as well.
After watching this episode, multiple times, I'm able to see its contribution to the series, as a whole. Bing escapes his life on the bike, by putting a piece of broken glass to his neck. That piece of glass resembles the same broken piece of glass at the beginning of every episode, in the title sequence. The title sequence shows the screen break on the "Black Mirror" title. Could one of those broken shards reflect this episode and Bing's new way of making money with his new stage prop?
I may be making an unintended connection between this episode, and the opening title sequence of this show. However, that's one of the beautiful things about this show. There's so much to be seen and recognized, since it truly causes viewers to think.
The music, for this episode, is also noteworthy. The composer did a great job conveying complete innocence with the beginning scenes of Bing and Abi. The characters connect on a completely innocent level, and the music captures this, perfectly. Appropriate music also captures Abi's fall, on the "Hot Shots" stage, when the judges and crowd, pick her apart, and cause her to give in to their sinister idea. The music perfectly conveys the chipping away of her innocence. She's like a lamb, being surrounded by hungry wolves. The directing is brilliant, and the writing is top-notch!
I love this episode, for so many reasons. It subtly underscores the way humans think, and what people tend to value, on an instinctual level. This not only makes the episode clever, but also highly relatable; and it does so in a tasteful, yet entertaining, manor. The director could have chosen to show lots of nudity, but they chose not to. It's able to make the point, without being the point. Well done.