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chrismanrodt
Reviews
Moon Knight (2022)
Don't worry - the weird is really good
Other reviews talk about this series being weird. It's just creative - and it is telling a story that can't be told conventionally. Moon Knight is the most creative and risk taking Marvel production since the Netflix Daredevil series. And the casting takes this short run into the top tier of MCU productions.
Dota 2 (2013)
Starts out strong
I never played this game or the original WoW, but have spent a few thousand hours on other fantasy game worlds. Let's just say I am in their target demo for this thing. The protagonist is voiced by none other than Sasuke, wielding a sword and dealing justice to some amazingly animated dragons. For the first few episodes, it is epic. Then, a second, mostly unrelated, story takes center stage. It is convoluted, poorly written, and once unfolded, actually seems kind of dumb. It is a far cry from the charm or intrigue of Dragon Prince, and lacks the relatable relationships of Naruto, Fullmetal or even AoT.
Cursed (2020)
Netflix formula missed a negative
I gave this a shot because I think Frank Miller is brilliant. But Netflix supposedly has this great data engine that in theory shows them what will and what won't work in a show. Unfortunately I think their formula should have told them to winnow this thing down to six episodes. And unless you are a long-suffering Celtic Fey priestess, there is not a whole lot here that anyone would want to root for, or get behind, or feel much empathy for. The script writers should have learned from Carnival Row. The soul of a great show is in the vision to portray a tension that is both identifiable and relatable. But the central protagonists of this show are wooden, vapid, and probably spun directly out of a database of scripts and likes. I can only imagine the arm-twisting that Miller endured on set. My suggestion would be to pass on this thing unless you have a lot of spare time on your hands. I found myself watching more and more on fast-forward because I had little doubt about what was happening and what these automatons were saying to each other.
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
You have to watch it twice
Don't judge this movie from one viewing. They put a lot of stuff into it - It is just thick with plot, effects, and characters developing. It is just too much going on to take in the first time. It trust me - you will like it more the second time.
Skyfall (2012)
Not just the best Bond movie
It might be one of the most carefully and artfully crafted action films of all time.
Artemis Fowl (2020)
What a mess
This is the kind of movie that gets made when no one really wants to make it. Yikes.
The action sequences are incoherent. The storyline was totally indecipherable unless you watch it with an annoying person who tells you what happens in the book.
Most of the casting is regrettable. The dramatic moments are totally lost in the midst of abject confusion.
Skip this. Don't give D+ clicks for this thing. Demand they do better for their streaming customers.
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Not an MCU script - and it shows
Poor Spider-Man. He gets to be awesome in the avengers movies, and then has to be a dumb, selfish high school kid as the title character. This film has so many illogical holes in the characters' decisions, it is amazing the script got the green light
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Best MCU movie
It's not the biggest, the cutest, or the funniest. It's just the best stand alone production among all the MCU projects.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Shattered (2020)
THE BEST STAR WARS STORY EVER
Ahsokha Tano's story through the events of order 66?!?
You do not need to read a review. Just go watch it. If you don't get goosebumps, then start with close wars episode 1.1 and don't stop. It's a pandemic: you have time.
I have spoken.
The Expanse (2015)
Stay through the first four episodes
And then decide. I didn't think there was much new ground to cover with Space Opera, but wow, this thing has legs!!
Treadstone (2019)
Purée of plot points
Love Bourne. Love Ludlum. Love the twist on the premise for this show. Love the casting. Love the locations. But Mary Mother of Manchurian candidates! This show's production was edited in a Cuisinart. Using non chronological storytelling can help reveal plot points in a more entertaining way. But multithreading like an AWS server for no discernible reason is just plain mean to your audience. And mean people suck.