Change Your Image
alexanderfrancislee
Reviews
Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire (2023)
A STAR WARS WANNABE
The acting was okay. CharlIe Hunnam's accent was abhorrent. For a movie THIS LONG, character build up leaves you wanting for more. I can see the Magnificent Seven (Seven Samurai) build-up here but it is slow in the telling. The characters are too quick to agree to join the crew (for whatever reasons given) and you don't really get a chance to feel for them. Action sequences are okay. Just slow, somewhat predictable and way too long. I can see why it was panned by George Lucas. Shall we wait with bated breath for Part 2? This was an anti-climax to be honest after all the build-up. Showed promise, though.
Kudüs Fatihi Selahaddin Eyyubi (2023)
HISTORY ON A BUDGET
Well what can I say about this series? I am a non Turkish-speaker and honestly, this is the very first Turkish TV Series that I have watched fully. But I enjoyed this series thoroughly. Ok, acting was alright and don't expect a cast of "thousands" for the battle scenes. I mean it is the general idea that the "armies" were huge although just showing a paltry number of soldiers/knights. Plot-wise keeps you glued to the screen - cross, double-cross, espionage, romance, ok fighting scenes, handsome actors who manage to exude the love/hate aura they portray onscreen, etc. Quite unrealistic though, that the Ghazis win almost EVERY battle with almost no casualties on their part, Other than these shortcomings, it was an enjoyable ride.
Hidden Strike (2023)
Another JC action flick but with overuse of CGI
This movie was a bit of a dissapointment. The side-premise of a disenfranchised father-daughter relationship is similar to that in JC's other film - Ride On. (spoilers) But how they very quickly reconciled was predictable but well-worn. And what was the point of Pilou Asbaek's character instructing his goons to "make it look like the Chinese did it" to cover the murder of Amadeus Serafini's character? When it was never even convincingly questioned subsequently in the movie?
What made JC's movies successful in the past was his true-to-life real daredevil stunts. Of course, he is now of age but the over-reliance and overuse of CGI in his latest movies make it a totally unbelievable brick. Don't get me wrong. I love the guy but the action sequences are still ok here but leaves much to be desired in credibility. Just sayin'.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTING SEND-OFF
What can I say about the legendary Indiana Jones that has not already been said. I enjoyed the series enormously except for the last 2 (this included). Too long and the action sequences were better with the CGI-aged Indy in the 1st part of the movie. I think what also killed the atmosphere is the ubiquitous overkill of using the theme music too early in the movie and THROUGH OUT the movie. There is no sense of pride when it is played. I mean, not like the Superman movie(s) or even Star Wars where when the theme music is played u can get goose bumps. Just saying.
Maybe the ending was not as expected but an ok attempt of a send-off.