deepgloat Reviews

Fallout (2024– )

This series resets the 1-10 scale

[10/10 · 16 April 2024]

I just finished the season 1 finale of "Fallout".

I feel like I need to go back through all of my IMDb ratings where I awarded a "10" and lower them to "9". This series is a game changer.

This was not just one of the best video game adaptations I've ever seen.

This was not just one of the best debut seasons of a television series that I've ever seen.

This was, quite frankly, astonishing.

Come for the coal mine-dark humor. Stay for the engaging performances. Walk away, mesmerized by the in-depth world building, the heartbreaking twists and turns, and the agony of knowing that you will have to wait at least a year to see what happens next.

Amazon Prime has finally, at long last, found its "Game of Thrones"... but "Fallout" has the potential to eclipse that series. Okie dokie!

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Subspace Rhapsody (2023) Season 2, Episode 9

There are hundreds of hours of Star Trek...

[10/10 · 4 August 2023]

To everyone who is gagging at the thought of a musical episode of Star Trek-Strange New Worlds: There are sixty years and hundreds of hours of Star Trek floating out there in the void, waiting for you to enjoy and discover them. Is there no room in your heart for one hour of pure joy?

Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations may have been stretched a bit with this wonderfully goofy episode, but I can assure you this is not a sign of the "writers running out of ideas." This actually was an important episode for the character arcs of Spock, Christine, and La'An, and is not to be missed.

And speaking of La'An, what a season Christina Chong has had! Going into this episode I knew that Celia Rose Gooding was a Grammy winner (and her character Uhura's solo was definitely an episode highlight), but my goodness-Christina Chong was an absolute revelation in"Flying Blind". If there is not an Emmy category for best musical number, ATAS needs to invent one and award it to Ms. Chong for her heartbreaking, stunning performance.

If you don't like musicals, that's fine; musical theater is not for everyone. But if you're not sure, or if you're apprehensive that they did a half-a**ed job, don't fret a moment longer. It is blindingly obvious that the producers, cast, and crew put a lot of love, time, and energy into this episode, and that they had an absolute blast filming it.

Watch the episode. You might just find yourself re-watching several of the music numbers, and unless your heart is as cold as frozen deuterium, you might even crack a smile or two. This was the jolly, heartwarming episode of Star Trek that we all needed before what looks to be next week's grim, horror-filled season two finale.

What a sophomore season "Strange New Worlds" has had!

The Last of Us: Long, Long Time (2023) Season 1, Episode 3

A beautiful hour of television

[10/10 · 3 February 2023]

Ignore the homophobic comments. This was a sincere, beautifully acted hour of television. Murray Bartlett and Nick Offerman are all but assured of garnering guest star Emmy nominations for their performances. Watching Offerman's gruff character Bill giggling with utter delight at eating a strawberry was an unexpected highlight of the episode. The tenderness and affection that both characters had for each other was searingly evident, utterly touching, and ultimately heartbreaking.

And to the homophobes who have complained about "pandering to an agenda", I will remind them that Bill was a character in the video game that this series is based on. Like so many of the ugly, specious arguments such pinheads are wont to make, this talking point does not hold any water.

Interview with the Vampire (2022– )

The rare adaptation that surpasses the source material

[10/10 · 15 November 2022]

AMC's "Interview with the Vampire" is the rare adaptation that meets-and often surpasses-its source material. Breathtaking, stunning, hilarious, surprising, and horrifying-often all at once.

I have read and loved all of the books, and am gobsmacked by what the cast, writers, directors, and crew have achieved here. Anne Rice was an executive producer and was actively involved with its creation just before her untimely passing. I am confident she would have not only approved but would have been strongly in favor of the changes small and large, because the spirit of the novel is very much "alive" (pun intended) in this series.

Do not be surprised to see this series and it's creators featured prominently at the 2023 Emmy Awards. Indeed, what would be shocking is if the show does *not* get multiple nominations across multiple categories. It is THAT good. 10/10.

My Fake Boyfriend (2022)

Dang it. I *really* wanted to like this

[5/10 · 19 June 2022]

Dang it. I *really* wanted to like this movie. I'm a big fan of Samer Salem (who's MY fake boyfriend) and Keiynan Lonsdale, both of whom deserve to be in much better projects than this. But sadly, this movie will not be their breakout hit.

The film starts with a ridiculous conceit-that Dylan Sprouse's annoying best friend character can create a digital "fake boyfriend" on social media so that our protagonist (Keiynan's character) can be rid of his toxic boyfriend once and for all. (The plotting is so ludicrous that I could not even be bothered to learn the characters' names; that's why I'm referring to them here by the hapless actors forced to mouth the dialogue, which was written by what I can only assume are drug-addled club kids.)

The movie only goes downhill from there, and the final act was even worse than the first two-thirds. The product placement is frequent and intrusive, the plot is ridiculous (and borderline offensive in spots), and the supporting characters are more annoying than funny. 2/5.

The Baby (2022)

Twisted. Demented. AND I AM ALL HERE FOR IT.

[10/10 · 18 June 2022]

There is nothing quite like it on television.

Three episodes in, the closest I have managed to come when describing it is thusly: "The Baby" is what we would have gotten if "The Omen" had been written and directed by the creators of "Airplane!" after binge-watching all four seasons of "Monty Python's Flying Circus".

"The Baby" is sick. "The Baby" is twisted. "The Baby" is utterly demented. AND I AM ALL HERE FOR IT.

Avenue 5 (2020–2022)

Josh Gad needs to find the airlock

[4/10 · 10 February 2020]

Josh Gad makes the show unwatchable. To be honest, Avenue 5 is barely watchable as it is, but at least it has a great cast... except for Gad. He makes it painful.

The Orville: The Road Not Taken (2019) Season 2, Episode 14

They topped "Identity". Amazing.

[10/10 · 26 April 2019]

I did not think it was possible to top the previous high point of the series, the two-parter "Identity". I was delighted to be proven so unambiguously wrong. "The Road Not Taken" was an epic journey and tour de force for "The Orville". If this turns out to be the series finale (and IT HAD BETTER NOT BE), Seth MacFarlane and his talented production team left nothing on the table. Nothing short of brilliant.

Starship Exeter: The Tressaurian Intersection (2005 Video)

Starship Exeter is the real deal!

[10/10 · 12 November 2005]

Not since the original Star Trek have I seen anything that comes this close to the spirit, look and feel of the original. "Starship Exeter: The Tressaurian Intersection" is the real deal, folks! I think it goes without saying that the acting, direction, effects, original score, set design, videography, etc. are WAY beyond what you may have seen before in a "fan" film. But one of the things that really impresses me is something that is often overlooked or poorly done: the sound mix. Try "watching" "SE:TTI" by only listening to the sound... you will really get an appreciation for the professional and meticulous attention to detail in this area. Sound is so important to drawing in the audience to a story, and "SE:TTI" especially shines in this department.

Planet of the Apes (2001)

Tim Burton has done it again!

[8/10 · 3 August 2001]

I just came from seeing director Tim Burton's "reimagined" version of "Planet of the Apes". Burton applied the same visionary treatment that he gave to "Batman" and "Sleepy Hollow" to this movie, and the results are breathtaking, to say the least. A ripping good yarn, highly recommended, and **SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT** I can't wait to visit the planet we see at the end of the movie when the sequel comes around!

Parting Glances (1986)

The quintessential gay NYC movie!

[10/10 · 1 January 2001]

It's been almost 15 years since "Parting Glances" was first released and ten years since I last saw it, but today I just finished watching the newly-released DVD and was charmed all over again by this wonderful movie. Superbly acted, wonderfully scripted and confidently directed, this engaging story of two lovers at a crossroads in their relationship has held up remarkably well over the years. Sadly, this was director Sherwood's one and only film; he died a few years later of AIDS, disillusioned by the difficulties of getting movies made in Hollywood.

The DVD transfer is crystal-clear and includes some interesting production notes that only add to the experience of watching Sherwood's singular masterpiece. Whether you're gay or straight, if you appreciate the art of cinema you owe it to yourself to add this sweet little film to your movie collection.