BoredMovieWatcher Reviews

Argylle (2024)

Diluted version of Kingsman: The Secret Service

[4/10 · 12 May 2024]

Kingsman: The Secret Service is an action-packed spy thriller that was also comically good with its action scenes. It was wildly enjoyable. And now, Matthew Vaughn is making another spy movie that is supposed to be like Kingsman, but PG-13 instead of R-rated. What you get is Argyle; a watered down version of its predecessor.

How is it watered down? Well, the action for once isn't as grotesque as Kingsman. Usually a good action movie with actions scenes like in said movie is supposed to be violent. It really takes you in on the action by being unrestraint with it. Something that was obvious with the 'church massacre' scene. That was wild and awesome. Argyle on the other hand had an oil spilled floor ice skating scene that felt like a CGI fest. Or the colorful smoke filled hallway shootout... oh wait, that was in Kingsman too. So that's just copy paste. And don't even get me started with the opening 'chase' scene. Just a CGI fest that wasn't even good CGI.

Argyle is also supposed to be a sort of spy genre parody, except for the usual stuff you'd usually see in a parody movie. The only parody I saw from this movie was the spy clichés and tropes you'd expect a good spy to have. That being said, the movie trailers also don't exactly show much of what's actually in the movie. They use the cat as the main focal point; so it would lead us to believe the cat is the center that makes the spy parody a parody. But nope. The cat is just the main character's therapy pet.

Or better yet, the numerous amounts of plot holes Argyle has is just baffling. I know having plot twists are something usual in spy movies, but having so many thrown at you as the "parody"? Really? If you wanted to make a spy parody movie you might as well give me a plot twist every minute of screen time. The twists themselves don't really add much excitement to the movie. They feel like a wasted opportunity if I'm going to be honest.

Lastly, I have to say the premise of the story and characters felt wasted or were just rushed to conclusions. Samuel L Jackson, for instance, he feels like a wasted potential to play a pivotal role in the movie, but instead he just bums around. And the character for Elly was also a bit of a letdown. We definitely could've seen her reveal her real self through experiences throughout the movie like actual flashbacks or whatnot. But instead we were greeted with a quick synopsis of who she was in three minutes. What a waste. They really should've utilized Henry Cavill more as the imagination Elly sees but slowly becomes him as she relearns her old ways. But nope. Let's have your colleague try to punch you and next thing you know, BINGO!! I can fight like my old self.

Argyle could've been a memorable fun movie. But it just wasn't there, like it was half-baked and bland of its old recipe. It is a fun movie but don't expect more from it.

Fallout (2024– )

Surprisingly good for a video game adapted TV show

[9/10 · 16 April 2024]

Don't know how to put it, but Fallout really did take me by surprise. Being a big Fallout fan, I honestly was a bit skeptical to see how Todd Howard could try to not adapt the games into this story and instead go with a whole new story that goes differently than the OG games or the Bethesda titles. But I kinda like it.

The goods. First, the characters are actually well developed. Lucy, out main character, is quite charming and enjoyable to follow along as she tries to look for her father whom as taken from her in the Vault (Fallout 3 copy?). She does see the world outside in a more positive outlook in life, as a naïve Vault Dweller would, but would soon see it differently.

The Ghoul was another great ensemble to the characters. A once TV star that has endured the 200 years above ground and is now a bounty hunter that is also at risk of turning feral. It's also great that we have flashbacks of his past before the Great War.

Another great highlight is the story itself. Suffice to say it has everything a good story should have, plus the humor and charm that the Fallout games possess. Music, aesthetic, and of course, the whole plot with the Vaults like in any other Fallout game.

The only thing I would've loved to see was more backstory on the NCR and what happened to the rest of them when Shady Sands was destroyed. But crossing my fingers season 2 will tap into the New Vegas lore.

I would say Fallout is a great TV show to watch. And it's one thing that actually works in the minds of Todd Howard.

Race for Glory: Audi vs. Lancia (2024)

Ok, but was lacking

[6/10 · 31 March 2024]

Race for Glory would've been amazing but I was truly disappointed at the final result. How could anyone take such an amazing story like the Lancia vs Audi rivalry and just gloss over the important bits like they were in a rush?

If you don't believe me when I say the story was glossed over, just see the first few minutes of the movie. It literally starts with a worded message of how Audi dominated the 1982 WRC season with its all-wheel drive Sport quattro. That's it. There was no build up for the main protagonist the movie sides with: Lancia. No mentions of Lancia's dominance from the 1970s before Audi. That's just lazy. If we were to side with Lancia in this film, you can't just not include their reputation from before like it doesn't have anything to do with the movie. It certainly does.

Also, I really hated how the movie treats Audi. There was a lack of screen time for Audi or even Daniel Bruhl's (Roland Gumpert) character. The only times when Bruhl was on screen was when Riccardo Scamarcio (Cesare Fiorio) was there to rial up tension between the two. That's the only rivalry we get. There's certainly way better ways to capture rivalries like this; for instance, Rush. What Rush did with the Hunt vs Lauda rivalry was amazing. They actually filmed both sides of the story, not just stick with one character and roll with it.

Lastly, pacing. You go from one race and then the next, you're back to interpersonal drama. For a racing movie like this, it's an insult. Again, another thing Rush did well was allocate a good bit of time to show the racing action. This movie with its hour and 40 minute run time seems to hurry the exciting bits of rallying so that we get more drama between Fiorio and his team.

Suffice to say, Race for Glory's adaptation of the actual story was lackluster. If I wanted to know what happened, I would've watched a documentary or even Jeremy Clarkson explain it in less time. And even if you weren't a fan of rallying, the film just doesn't cut it to give the audience the thrill of what made WRC legendary as it was back then. Yeah, some of the scenes of racing seemed alright, but it just wasn't enough to keep me glued to my seat.

Shōgun (2024–2025)

FX nailed it with Shogun

[10/10 · 20 March 2024]

I'm already two episodes in, and my goodness, Shogun is as good as others say it is. The story, the setting, the design, characters; all just fantastic. It's another hit for FX, and one I did not expect to be this well designed.

I certainly appreciate the fact that the show sticks to Japan's roots (the language, the set pieces, and cultural practices) as it should be for any other "foreign" depiction in TV and movies. It's something you just don't really get when America does something involving another country and its culture. The biggest troupe would be where the Japanese main character all of a sudden can communicate with the English-speaking foreigner because 'why not?' Or even when Lady Mariko, who does speak English, is actually given a reason and background as to how she can speak English to John while the Spanish translators are not around. That's one example of good character building.

And as for the show itself, Shogun ticks off all the boxes for what you'd want in prime time TV. Shogun is deep in its story. It's not as simple as a foreigner washing ashore in Japan. Now the Englishman is in the midst of a Feudal impeachment which is consequential to starting a war. Camera work is really good, especially for that follow-up shot with the assassin in the palace or the rough stormy weather on the ship. Characters were also interesting with their own motive, with some even hiding something.

Overall, Shogun was really captivating for me even if I was only two episodes in. Definitely can't wait to see more.

Death's Game (2023– )

Amazing story witha beautiful message

[9/10 · 12 March 2024]

Death's Game blew my mind. At first, I thought it was like Quantum Leap, where you had to try to find out how the person will die but try to prevent that from happening. But at the same time, it teaches the audience a beautiful lesson that "life is precious."

First first few episodes were really there to explore Jee-jae's selfishness, how he was someone who couldn't bear living to being swooned by money once given a second change. But he was soon able to become serious once he witness his girlfriend die in front of him. Then the second half is like an elaborate plan to get revenge on the man who wronged her death.

That alone makes for a really good plotline; that death has come full circle to watch Mr. Park, the villain, suffer for what he has done. But I think the real beauty in Death's Game is that it symbolizes that life is too precious. To throw it all away through death would not only make you regret taking your life, but it brings great pain to those around you. It really was beautiful, even if the show was seen more of some horror/suspense. Definitely a lot more different than those K-dramas that do tackle these types of issues. At least you got an action-packed sub-story that ties in well with the message it tries to bring to the audience.

Definitely watch.

Dream Scenario (2023)

Nick Cage's dark comedy at its best

[8/10 · 7 March 2024]

Dream Scenario is such an interesting concept at first: random strangers seeing the same man in their dreams. Dreaming of some ordinary man. But at the same time, while that concept is so unusual and interesting, it also tells a tale of what fame can lead to, and what society does to handle fame.

Dream Scenario really does explore the whole idea of fame and 'cancel culture' into a whole new realm. Rather than some celebrity being cancelled from saying something controversial years ago, instead we get this ordinary guy, Paul Matthews, who all of a sudden people are having nightmares about.

Kinda funny to see some people turning a scared eye when they actually meet the man in their dreams and literally run away or just throw shade at him. But it literally depicts everything wrong with society nowadays. People believe Paul Matthew's as a terrible person just because they "dreamed" of him being bad. They fail to see the real Paul Matthew's for who he is. And so they set out to ruin Paul's life just because they can.

Definitely a lot of cringe and awkward moments in the film, such as those small talk scenes from Paul and whomever he interacts with; or the new influencer tech that also points out the problem with influencers and modern tech. I mean, would you really want some random influencer popping up in your dream to sell you products you didn't ask for? Funny but sad...

What also really makes Dream Scenario good is that it's creatively good. Nick Cage is back, and I love it. It's an interesting way to address societal problems without obviously pointing it out.

The Creator (2023)

Looks great but...

[6/10 · 16 February 2024]

The Creator looks like a great movie premise. Futuristic world where humans and AI are at war and the greatest weapon is a child cyborg that can control technology.

The world environment looks great, visual effects are top notch. The movie does give me those Cyberpunk vibes.

BUT that's about all I can say that's good about The Creator. While I think the concept of the story does seem like it could work. The execution of it really disappointed me.

The biggest problem is the pacing. For a two hour long movie, it sure does cram a lot for us to take in. So the movie really just feels like it's rushing scene after scene to get things over with. The fast pacing really off puts any real storytelling or any character bonding. It's important for this movie particularly because the main character forms a bond with the child. And there really is no bond formed between Josh and Alphie. And because of the askew pacing, we never really get to take in anything.

Also, the terrible pacing also jumps to other scenes without any explanation whatsoever. You go from being in the city to being in the countryside in like 15 minutes. And the plot holes that are throw everywhere further twists the storyline up. So many flashbacks kept getting tossed here and there that it really ruins the point of introducing those chapter elements into the movie, like The Child, The Mother. Why even bother with chapter cards in the movie if you don't even allocate the time to build up any sort of backstory for it?

Really wanted more from this movie but the rushed pacing just killed all emotional aspects.

Expats (2023–2024)

What did I just watch??

[2/10 · 5 February 2024]

So I just watched the first episode, and I'm just confused. The beginning of the show felt like some PSA commercial rather than a setup for the show's plot. I know Amazon Prime just introduced ads into their streaming service, but I was literally thinking I was watching some unskippable ad about texting and driving.

With that out of the way, what about the build-up? Well... it's meh. We get introduced to Nicole Kidman's character, Margaret, who seems to live in a perfect life in a pretty nice area of Hong Kong. And she bumps into her neighbor, who tries to ignore her, but then she ends up being buddy-buddy? Wtf?

But then comes her husband's party, where she ends up getting some freak panic attack over some waitress, Mercy. They literally just saw each other in the distance without explanation and both are having a panic attack? Why?? There was no establishment as to why they panicked when Margaret and Mercy saw each other, only to hide that establishment until later episodes. But the worst crime is just how Margaret just completely forgets about the incident after getting some late night grub.

I was literally in utter confusion and boredom for those rest of the episode. I couldn't bother to focus on any of the characters, especially Margaret and her random outburst. It wasn't enough to convince me that this was worth watching for the rest.

I finally get why Hong Kong banned this show: it was too boring and misleading to what a good HK production should've been. Mediocre writing with ok acting and not enough to show any real appreciation of Hong King's vibrant aesthetic.

Ferrari (2023)

Pretty good biopic but...

[6/10 · 4 February 2024]

Ferrari is a pretty interesting movie about the rather dark time in Enzo Ferrari's history. We all know of Ferrari's racing legacy and what it is today, but I definitely enjoyed learning more about the dark past in the early days of the company's foundation. But how does Michael Mann make of this legendary car brand? Well... meh.

Coming from a legendary director like Mann should make for a great movie. After all, he does do sound design pretty outstanding like with Heat or Collateral. Ferrari does pretty well with sound design, unlike the Lamborghini movie where they get the sound completely off. Ferrari at least has sound as a compliment.

But my main gripe with Ferrari is just how cheap the crashes looked. Coming form a top Hollywood director, you would think the stunts and crashes would be top notch like in Ford vs Ferrari, but these crash scenes felt cheap. The CGI was just laughable. I kinda chuckled a bit at those dramatic crash scenes because I couldn't get over how bad it looked.

Also, same with the beginning scene of young Enzo as a race car driver. It looked so cartoonish and green-screened like some sort of toy animation. I don't know if that was to make it look timely back in the 1930s but it was goofy nonetheless.

Ferrari is good, but on the hierarchy of racing movies, it probably sits somewhere in the middle of the field. It certainly isn't gonna top Ford vs Ferrari, or even Steve McQueen's Le Mans, even though that movie doesn't have drama. But my goodness, the cinematography of Le Mans is something spectacular.

Plus, this movie costs roughly the same amount to make as it did with Ford vs Ferrari; so where did all the money go to?

Tropic Thunder (2008)

There's no comedy like this

[10/10 · 24 November 2023]

Tropic Thunder his one of the greatest comedies ever made. I feel like this was ahead of its time back in 2008. And it definitely wouldn't be made in 2023.

This movie was made in a time when people didn't get offended by small things in life. The whole "black face" controversy with RDJ's character going next level method acting by "becoming" black would definitely not slide today. Funny enough, nobody is actually taking offense to RDJ other than the people who aren't even supposed to take offense to it.

But Tropic Thunder also got me was in the beginning of the movie with all those fake movie trailers. They nailed the aspect of the 2000's movie trailers, including a lame action sequel, the goofy toilet humor comedy, and a serious drama (which ends up being more goofy that the first two).

This movie even includes a rare sight of Tom Cruise playing a comedic role as Les Grossman. Why can't Tome Cruise do more comedies like this? He's definitely a hidden gem in comedy besides being the kick ass star of action thrillers.

Tropic Thunder is just hilarious, and we desperately need another movie like this. If only Hollywood had the guts to just make a movie like this without having to give in to social-political norms.

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Re-watching it in 2023, and my god is it funny!!

[10/10 · 24 November 2023]

The Wolf of Wall Street is another one of Martin Scorsese's finest works, although a lot different compared to other works like Goodfellas or the Departed. But in Scorsese fashion, he usually does a phenomenal job in depicting the rise and fall of the main character/villain.

For the movie, we're given an intro to Jordan Belfort's life of wealth and how he started. As the movie progresses, we see him unravel from a young and about money hungry stock broker to extravagant, doped out playboy. Of course, all of this was sort of based on Belfort's real life, except Scorsese left out some bits from the book. Plus the book left out a lot of things that Belfort did irl.

What's so great about the movie is that it has comedy in it. Again, it's not as other Scorsese movies where the entirety of it is all serious business. The Wolf of Wall Street has funny moments of seeing the wealthy lose their mind and fortune, but also has very serious elements like Jordan and Naomi's argument.

The level of acting between DiCaprio and Margot Robbie are amazing. Just their fight alone felt so real and quite frightening. And then there's other actors who really do a phenomenal job at their roles, even as a side character, like the FBI agent played by Kyle Chandler or Matthew McConaughey's small role from the beginning of the movie.

I enjoyed it.

Loki (2021–2023)

Amazing

[10/10 · 24 November 2023]

Loki is the saving grace of Marvel TV shows. It has all the things that I want in a show; a plot that keeps me hooked on and wanting more for the next episode, the twists, and its shrouding mystery.

Usually sci-fi shows that involve time can be very hit or miss. People can become overwhelmed with the characters trying to explain what's going on, or maybe the whole concept of the "timeline" is just fairy dust. Loki on the other hand doesn't geek out completely by telling you how it works, but rather why it works. Just go along for the ride.

Loki presents itself with a problem, a solution, and an action plan. There's no cluttering of ideas to waste the audience's time, as Loki so kindly relives Groundhog Day all over again. No time for bs.

Nonetheless, Loki seasons 1 and 2 were amazing to watch. It's a Marvel show that doesn't bore you nor does it leave you dumbfounded. It takes you on an emotional rollercoaster filled with ups and downs, and quite stunning visual effects.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)

Okay, enjoyable superhero movie

[6/10 · 20 November 2023]

Shazam! Fury of the Gods is one of those 'ok-ish' superhero movies. It's not groundbreaking like Avengers: Infinity War, but it's not boring or awful like Morbius. It's just, ok...

The good news is that Shazam! Does provide some layer of superhero action with some elements of comedy. And the story is serviceable for the most part. But other than that, the rest is all fluff.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods seems to have a not so strong villain in terms of motive. The villains just want the magical staff and destroy Earth as "revenge" for something they had nothing to do with. It's a big let down considering you got top actresses like Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu playing the villains. Yet, their performances are restrained because of the script.

The first Shazam! Movie was good, but the sequel? Not as great. A shame to waste what could've been a successful film series for the DC Universe.

Moving (2023– )

Was not expecting this one

[9/10 · 24 September 2023]

Moving is basically like the show Heroes back in 2006, but produced as a K-drama with some romance and action combined. What surprised me is that each episode does a great job developing each character, like Bong-Seok trying to hide his emotions until his secret powers were exposed to Hee-soo.

While the high school romance drama part is something that can make some sort of Disney+ show about teenage superheroes, the other mysterious part of an assassin hunting down other people with powers is the real kicker. Im already 5 episodes in and I'm roped into the whole plot.

The thing is, this show just does a good job with pacing. It doesn't feel like a drag, 40 minute episodes, none of those minutes were wasted trying to show the landscape or whatnot, and good character development. And it's a much more needed superhero show that stirs away from the usual "hero saves the world" type of thing we've seen from Marvel in the past few years. A show about past heroes (and new ones) being hunted down by some unknown assailant is refreshing.

Heart of Stone (I) (2023)

Blatant rip off of MI: Dead Reckoning

[2/10 · 24 September 2023]

I swear, these Netflix original movies keep getting boring. And worse yet, this movie almost feels exactly like Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1 but without much of the quips and good action sequences.

It might be serviceable if you're in for anything action. But if you're looking for something different then any other movie, than tough luck. Heart of Stone has nothing innovating nor interesting. And the script almost is an exact copy of Mission Impossible. That's some "innovating" writing right there.

But is the action any good if you just want an action movie to watch? Ehh... Netflix has Extraction 2, which is a lot more serviceable due to its continuous action sequences that really takes you into the action like a roller coaster. Because if you were to watch some good spy thriller, just watch the Mission Impossible franchise. They have a much better presentation of the risks the agents take.

Extraction II (2023)

Pretty top notch action movie

[7/10 · 21 September 2023]

Extraction 2 is definitely a step in the right direction for action movie alike. The main thing that sets this apart from the rest is its choreography. It's sort of like John Wick levels of choreography but this features a single continuous scene where the camera is following the main character throughout. Best example is 20 minutes into the movie with the prison scene.

That scene is why I like about action movies; the camera is taking you along with the fight. It's not like those other generic action flicks that have multiple tales for one fight scene, which usually ruins the excitement.

The rest of the movie I couldn't really care much for. The story is plausible for why it is. It's not the worst and it's not as generic as those other secret agent save the world type of tropes. But just don't expect masterclass storytelling. You're only in it for the "one take" action scenes that really sells the action.

The Collective (2023)

Oh great, another generic action movie there to waste my time

[1/10 · 19 September 2023]

The Collective, like many other action movies that came before it, is pretty much the same as every other B-rated action movie out there. This one doesn't stand out as anything different, nor entertaining. Just a cluster of crap dialogue, a bored Tyrese, and spliced up action sequences like the Taken 3's fence jumping scene.

What really pains me is just how generic and same it is to every other action movie there is. There's the typical "evil bad guy" with the Bond villain evil plan, the usual "secret agency" that is secretive and highly skilled, and the newcomer that has a lot to learn and then becomes a bada** towards the end. Whoopi doo...

Couldn't the writers have thought of anything else that isn't just ripping off the James Bond formula? Like I've heard of so many action movies that have identical plots like this. Only this one is as generic, if not, even more painfully terrible than anything I've ever seen. At least it's not Steven Segal bad with him being untouchable and always being some edgy bada**. Still, don't think for a second that this is any bit better; it's not.

Lioness (2023– )

Alright for the most part, but don't expect anything mind blowing

[5/10 · 18 August 2023]

Usually those TV shows about government secret agent stuff doesn't really surprise me as anything great or worse tho watching. The same can sort of be said with Special Ops: Lioness. It's not to say it's a boring, uninspiring show that I would highly recommend skipping, but it's just an ok show.

Anything good? The characters aren't written entirely as a cliche (for the most part) or as one of those "strong empowering women that can do anything." It's more of a welcoming addition that they don't seem to give off the "I can do anything" vibe because they are actually written like what good characters should be written. But of course it's not the absolute greatest but it's whatever.

What about the bad? Pacing is somewhat fast or slow. There's those in between with the mission and family matters which usually come off as unnecessary. Adding the family drama helps to build more on Zoe Saldana's character but really does lose focus on what the real plot is. And the actual plot? They set up this whole show to infiltrate this high value target who knows someone who the CIA wants dead or something but never really gave it their all to explain why, just do.

Also, being 5 episodes in, where the hell is Morgan Freeman's character? I really expected him to play some pivotal role in this show but it seems like he's only there to be some President Obama filler towards the end. So another downside would be the under-utilization of characters. They had the guy from Jack Ryan but he's only there for a minute in each episode. Such a waste of good talent.

So, is it worth watching? Ehh. It's one of those "not great, not terrible" shows I will most likely forget after I finish it, but it's watchable for the most part.

Kandahar (2023)

How to ruin suspense

[5/10 · 17 August 2023]

Khandahar has a pretty good plot to go for. CIA operation goes dark once they realize it's been exposed by a captured whistleblower. While all this can make for a good story that I would watch, however, they really just shoved the whole twist on some news broadcast.

They literally gave a way the whole suspense of why Gerald Butler is now being hunted by showing his face on the news rather than find out later in the movie. Way to spoil the intended plot right away.

Not only that, they ruin any sort of suspense or surprise in this movie. It's pretty much an action movie and that's it. You're only here to watch stuff get blown up, see car chases, and... that's about it. The action is ok, definitely watchable for the most part but nothing really adds to it. It's just there to give us a grim reminder that the Middle East's conflicts and war are still present.

What about characters? Well... meh. Gerald Butler plays your typical secret agent with no time for bs. No real interesting moments with him. The translator, literally there to be Gerald Butler's translator but with an atrocious and made on the spot backstory of why he's there. Literally made up on the spot and that's just idiotic. And the antagonists? Who cares. Apparently, the Taliban AND the Iraqis are in on it, or the Taliban is with the military, and they are in on tracking and killing the CIA guy. IDK...

What pains me is that it's trying to be an action suspense type of movie that just ruins the suspense and gives you boring fillers. Even so, the ending was also disappointing. You have one guy pointlessly sacrificing himself for no reason at all, and Gerald Butler and the translator make it out alive thinking they will die at the front gate. But BAM, cluster bombs blow up the bad guys pursuing you because the movie has to end on some positive note.

It's an ok movie that only really serves as your typical action movie to pass the time because you had nothing else to watch on Amazon Prime. Also, this was supposed to be based on a true story, like if that made a big significance.

Secret Invasion (2023)

Pretty mid

[5/10 · 20 July 2023]

I don't know this show even was a thing. I kinda just forget it existed until I opened up Disney+. Even though I'ma sucker for Samuel L Jackson, I really can't fathom why Jackson agreed to this project if his heart really didn't feel like he was in on it.

But the thing about Secret Invasion is that it's pretty boring. Disney really rushed this project since they never introduced the Skrulls in under 5 minutes of the episode airing. They're like, "hey here's this alien species that can impersonate anyone. And now they are planning a big invasion."

The big problem other than a slow felt acting is that the plot almost felt copied from another show, Falcon and the Winter Soldier because "outsiders want to take over from injustices so they plot to terrorize mankind." I mean, the villain's point was almost uninspiring or almost stolen from other shows. And even Samuel L Jackson feels like he's moping around 70% of the time.

Again, very mid at best. Marvel's probably losing its will since nowadays they're focused too much on TV instead of movies in order to promote Disney+.

John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

Awesome!!

[9/10 · 7 July 2023]

Just when you think a sequel of an action movie couldn't possibly get any better. It did. John Wick 4 is just phenomenal from beginning to end. And I'm even saying this as someone who doesn't exactly envy action movies in general.

John Wick 4 has such a spectacular cast and the action is always top notch. The choreography is so good it makes other action movies seem mediocre. To put it in perspective, Keanu Reeves did an amazing job with his gun-fu and hand to hand combat. Donnie Yen also did splendid being that blind assassin like he's Daredevil but with a sword.

All the characters are interesting and they aren't too much of a cliche villain or are they any bit bland. Even though I thought the main villain, the Marquis, kinda felt like he wasn't at all a serious villain to fear but to poke fun at, it wasn't comically goofy. Of course the other characters like Caine and Mr. Nobody are perfect deuteragonist that try to hunt down John but end up teaming up sorta.

Obviously the story, the bad guys, the seemingly infinite ammo are all complaints I do have with the movie. If you were looking for a serious story drama then this movie ain't it. I mean there were some points in the movie where logic and reason doesn't make any sense, not to mention John's insane pain tolerance he has in all the fight scenes. He can get hit by two cars and still get back up like he's some video game character. Or perhaps the suits the assassins wear; bullet proof suits that can "deflect" bullets instead of absorb them.

Plus, there were some action scenes that felt like a repeat of each other, like the usual flip and shoot the guy in the head move that John likes to pull off. But there were a lot of new action scenes that were amazing to watch, like John fighting Caine for the first time. Or John with nunchucks.

Overall, I think this is a great finale for John Wick that delivers great action, breathtaking cinematography, and a star studded cast that delivers. Of course if you're looking for a serious story, then don't expect anything but utter chaos. You have to watch this movie with low expectations and a mindset for orchestrated action.

Ip Man: The Awakening (2021)

Awful. Just a movie to capitalize on the beloved Ip Man legacy.

[2/10 · 18 June 2023]

Donnie Yen's poetry's of Ip Man was great. But this movie was just out of nowhere like no one asked for. So they decided to put this on Prime Video like we would want to watch this.

Let's get this straight, apparently this "prequel" to Ip Man has us follow a young Ip Man played by some dude, and he apparently discovers a human trafficking ring in Hong Kong lead by stereotypical British villains with god awful dialogue. And of course, he manages to take down the bad guys... yada yada.

The story is just pointless, the action is not exactly the best that it'll make you watch it over and over, and the villains are cringy to watch. And let's not forget watching this on Prime Video gives you this appalling English dub that made this viewing experience even worse than imaginable.

Trust me, it wasn't my intention to watch an Ip Man movie that isn't Donnie Yen (or Tony Leung). And neither should you...

Citadel (2023– )

Citadel proves that spy genres are dying...

[2/10 · 28 April 2023]

In the world of spy thriller TV shows, there's just too many to name and not all of them are memorable. Amazon has some good spy thrillers like Jack Ryan and Reacher. And now, we have Citadel. A show with a star-studded cast and an A-rated director duo responsible for Avengers: Endgame. What can possibly go wrong?

So it's not right to judge based on the first episode, but I am. If the first ten minutes don't work, then you have no chance for making a good show that's memorable. And trust me, the next few episodes don't get better from here.

Where do I begin? It starts off with a mission on a train that went bad, and it nearly killed the two agents. The guy now wakes in a hospital with no memory and somehow the story just fasts forward 8 years to where he tries to remember. Then the show just jumps to these two people and one of them is being blackmailed to doing something. And then there's Stanley Tucci who's roped into something and we have no idea what the problem is.

The problem is just how the show just jumps from one scene to another in a minute; not giving any time to develop any sort of meaningful plot or character arc. Or you didn't care about story, then the action is not something that blows you away neither. An action sequence from the train would've been alright if they didn't have cuts every two seconds. Ever hear about choreography?

Oh it gets even worse. This show was rumored to cost around $300 million. Seriously? Did all that money go into just paying for the actors and nothing else? Cus the show feels so mediocre in production quality; like some of the special effects are atrocious. If $300 million gets you below average CGI and a plot that entangles itself with back and forth storytelling, then you're screwed.

Overall, Citadel just feels like another generic spy thriller that doesn't push its boundaries to what it could've been due to some cuts and not taking the precaution to actually develop the story from each scene.

Disposable, forgettable entertainment for you. That's Hollywood for you nowadays. I seriously couldn't have riffed on this review more because it pains me to see a big budget show become the most generic and boring show yet.

The Mandalorian (2019– )

The only good Star Wars show in this age. But the time has come...

[7/10 · 16 April 2023]

The Mandalorian is a great show. It features compelling characters and a story that doesn't fail to drag on to bore you. Of course, I am talking about seasons 1 and 2 for this review.

As great as this show was in terms of actually making the Star Wars IP watchable, all good things must come to an end. And season 3 proves to be the end unfortunately. I don't know what happened to the writing after season 2. They butchered Boba Fett and "made" you watch that show in order to get the continuation for season 3. Why Disney??

Usually I would like to watch a show and not have to watch another show to watch this season. But apart from Disney's corporate strategy to make you watch other spin-offs, the writing for season 3 kinda feels weak compared to seasons 1 and 2.

Too bad IMDb doesn't rate by season. Seasons 1 and 2 would probably get a 9. But season 3 drags the overall score down with this season being a 5/10.

Overall unaveraged score: 7/10.

The Night Agent (2023– )

Predictably uninteresting

[3/10 · 5 April 2023]

The first two episodes are what really make or break a TV show. As of the first episode, I can't really say I enjoy this show at all. I mean, any sort of show that involves government espionage and double agents really seem predictable or can't be executed just right. And this is no exception. This show throws logic and character development out the window.

The problem I have is that these characters don't feel all that interesting. One agent is put on night duty answering calls that rarely occur because of an incident that wasn't his fault, and he has to protect this lady who apparently knows something that would get her killed by federal agents. This doesn't make things any bit better because the main assassins are a couple, and boy are they absolutely cringy to watch sometimes. I don't give a damn about some awkward romantic evening and also being on call to some corrupt agent giving them assignments.

Worst of all, the acting was above average at best. I'm not acting expert but every delivery felt kinda dry. I'm not the one to say how to portray an FBI agent any better than what the actors could do but there's certainly a ton of room for improvement to make agents not feel static like they're directly reading off a teleprompter. Again, the antagonists as well; really weirdly played out. A couple being trained assassins just doesn't fit for being a serious show.

As I said before, this felt predictable. It's like I've heard of this espionage plot before. Because of this, it just made this show meh. Good disposable entertainment from your dear friend, Netflix. Watch if you want but don't think that this is a "must watch" show anytime soon.