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Super Sweet 16: The Movie (2007)
MTV's attempt to capitalize upon its reality TV franchise
A movie based off of one of the most notorious MTV shows of all time? How bad could it be?
Simply put, it's not good at all. As other reviewers have mentioned, there are plot holes such as one of the main characters explicitly stating that she is vegan and then eating ice cream towards the end of the film. Compounding upon these issues, the script is pretty lackluster though the actors still give it their all. And the cinematography can be described as awkward in some scenes. Not to mention the obvious overdubbing at at least one point. All in all, the movie falls flat, not only due to its technical imperfections, but right down to its very plot. Throughout the film, the main characters emotionally manipulate their parents in order to get them to spend exorbitant amounts of money on their parties. Not much character growth occurs during the film, with the main characters not deviating much from their typical character archetypes.
One of the only bright spots was the music used in the movie, although the film does not commit to playing many of these songs in their entirety. Also, I have to give the writers credit for including at least one brave political hot take. At one point in the film, a character mentions a certain region in the PRC that has suffered much during recent history. I must give this film props for its courage to call out a formidable adversary. But, the few positives of this film do not outweigh the many negatives. MTV should have stuck with music videos.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
An instant classic
It's worth mentioning that the last time I had gone to the movies was to see 1917, right before the onset of the pandemic. This masterpiece of a film, Top Gun: Maverick, did the unthinkable and actually got me to go to the theatre again. After watching the movie, I concluded that it was definitely well worth a watch.
Amidst a slew of lackluster movies from the big name studios and great uncertainty as to the direction America is heading, this film stands out like a gem. Basically, the movie actually promotes American exceptionalism which was a factor in Maverick becoming the highest-grossing movie of 2022. Another aspect that I liked was the soundtrack. Throughout the film, countless hits serenade the ears in various styles from rock to pop.
Despite the preponderance of remakes in recent years, Maverick still manages to keep its content fresh by adapting to new circumstances and scenarios relevant to our present reality, With thrilling action sequences and an engaging story, there's no doubt that this movie was one of the greatest films of 2022.
Saved by the Bell (1989)
"It's alright, 'cause I'm saved by the bell"
Having not seen this show during its original run, I caught much of the show in syndication and by streaming it. Thus, looking at this show with little to no bias in terms of nostalgia, I have to say that it's one of those shows that's so bad that it's good. With glaring continuity errors and even the addition of a main character without much context or introduction, this show was quite a ride to watch. It's more of a live-action cartoon due to all of its zaniness like Zack's unexplained ability to stop time, but the show works because of it.
Although some situations may appear dated and may not have aged well, this show is still better than some more recent shows. It served its purpose well, providing amusing Saturday morning fare for young Gen Xers. In this way, Saved by the Bell is essentially a time capsule comprised of late 1980s/early 1990s culture. Following Zack's schemes and watching the gang grow up makes this show well worth a watch today.
Thor (2011)
A good Phase One MCU film
When my friend suggested I watch this movie, I was not sure what I was getting myself into. I had seen a few MCU films before such as the original Iron Man, but I didn't know much about Thor's origin story. Comparing this with Iron Man (2008), the MCU film that I watched most recently, I like the two films, but each for different reasons. For one, Thor felt less dated, as the opening sequence of Iron Man (2008) had a character mentioning MySpace. Even though Thor came out more than a decade ago, I still found that the special effects had aged quite well. Building off of this, another reason I enjoyed this movie was due to its great world-building. Asgard feels very fleshed out, with fairly interesting characters who reside there.
And I found it interesting that, despite revolving around Norse mythology, the plot had clear parallels to the Christ story. Thor travels to Earth and stays there for awhile, though he eventually returns to the heavens. Even before departing Earth, Thor promises to Jane that he will come back. All of this, especially the reference to the Second Coming of Christ, shows interesting similarities to the Life of Jesus Christ. Also, one could make the connection between Thor and Loki's relationship and that of Cain and Abel in the Bible.
All in all, this was a good film. Although some spots were fairly dry at times, the movie's payoff comes in the form of an intense battle as Thor and Sif & the Warriors Three defend themselves against the Destroyer, who was sent by Loki. Make sure to watch until the very end because Nick Fury appears in a post-credits scene as a nice setup to the then-upcoming Avengers film.
Dog with a Blog (2012)
Modern-day Disney show with a now-outdated premise
Blogging used to be all the rage on the internet, with its popularity waning due to the influence of social media. And this show marked the beginning of a trend on Disney Channel. Disney began incorporating certain aspects of the internet into their shows in an attempt to stay relevant. Just like other shows such as Bizaardvark and Coop & Cami Ask the World, the show fails in its execution. The novelty of Stan and his blog eventually wore off, which meant the introduction of new characters to add variety. Many viewers did not like the changes to show.
However, in my opinion, it was a very mediocre show to begin with. So many of the jokes are repetitive, from tropes associated with dogs to Stan's love life. The laugh track doesn't help either, with the grating sound of canned laughter added to almost every line. The show also likes to throw in the occasional undignified potty joke as well. In addition, the parents add virtually nothing to the story and their characters are so unintelligent and cartoonish that it's hard to relate to them in any way. All in all, the show did manage to make me crack a smile once or twice, but that was the entirety of the enjoyment I got out of it.
Comparing this show with previous Disney Channel shows, there is a noticeable drop in quality. The Disney shows of the 2000's were often quite clever and had realistic and relatable characters. Dog with a Blog is reflective of the newer era of the channel characterized by significantly lower standards of entertainment. In hindsight, this show was pretty average, though better than some of the shows that succeeded it.
Who Killed Captain Alex? (2010)
A cult film that defined a genre
Nabwana I. G. G.'s film was produced on a virtually non-existent budget but, what the film lacks in production value, it makes up for in heart. This was one of the very first Wakaliwood films which ended up crafting a new genre of Ugandan action flicks. In addition, this film was well-received by many on the internet when it was released free of charge, and it spawned some memes. Another reason as to why so many admire this film was the wholesome nature of its production. The film uses actors from Nabwana I. G. G.'s village which helps add authenticity to the story and provides the villagers with an audience that they might not have had otherwise.
In terms of the movie, VJ Emmie provides narration so that English viewers can understand what's going on. This dialogue isn't like typical voice-over narration as in dubs, since there are also English subtitles on-screen. VJ Emmie's delivery and comments add to the humor of this movie, with iconic lines such as: "This is serious! Everybody in Uganda knows kung-fu!" That's not to say that the movie's humor rests solely on VJ Emmie's shoulders but, rather, that the performances of other actors such as Bukenya Charles (Bruce U) add to the hilarity. As mentioned above, the film lacks in the special effects department, but the effects in the film have aged better than many older movies. The effects might not be cutting edge, but they get the job done just right. Any visual medium requires the viewer to have a certain amount of suspension of disbelief, but this film uses this to its advantage. It helps the viewer gain appreciation for the lengths that the filmmaker took to make this movie a reality. With a thrilling climax and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat, this film has cemented itself into history as a reminder that millions of dollars do not necessarily allow for the production of quality cinema.
Naturally, Sadie (2005)
Interesting take on the teen show genre
This show was originally quite groundbreaking when you think about it. It was a show targeted towards girls that featured a young woman interested in science. Along with its diverse cast, this show has a relatively modern feel.
In the first season, plots are centered around some aspect of science such as evolution and natural selection. And the series does a great job at applying scientific concepts to each episode's events. However, the show takes more of a traditional teen show approach beginning in the second season by focusing more on the characters' time in school. Although the show toned down some of the science-related aspects of the show, they do come up from time to time in later seasons. Usually, this comes in the form of narration by Sadie. Because of this, I have to give props to the show for not scrapping its original premise entirely.
Despite the changes to the show's format, it still remained distinct from other shows at the time airing on networks like Disney Channel. While other shows aimed at kids and teens at the time utilized a gimmick such as Phil of the Future and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, this show was more reminiscent of Lizzie McGuire in that it tried to realistically portray the everyday lives of kids and teens at the time. In this way, Naturally Sadie stood out from the crowd and offered a refreshing take in comparison with the typical kids and teen shows of the mid 2000's.