Change Your Image
Pantera-996-832071
Reviews
True Detective: Night Country: Part 2 (2024)
Sub-par TD but hoping for better
Hmmm. I'm TDS1 biggest fan. I know they've rebadged it TD:NC. But why even use the TD name at all? It just doesn't have the same tone, acting, writing, cinematography, soundtrack, score, sets, etc., as the original. It shouldn't really be attached to the TD series within IMdB right here in my opinion. Opening graphics are nothing - as is using an already existing track from billie eyelash. I hate that bloody track - it's an annoying sing-song rhyme that everyone apparently loves and it does my head in.
I think what the creators would keep saying is, it's a spin-off show, stop comparing it - but how could we not?! Call it something else or do an original TD show.
The whole thing feels more like a standard series any channel but HBO. It does have the connection to the original first season with the swirly icon mark that's appearing everywhere. And I wouldn't be surprised if they literally phoned-in a Rust Cohle cameo at the end of the season because of this - but I doubt it.
I wondered if they might have gone more supernatural with this show from the trailer, especially as it was rebadged. That could have made it a distinction from the original TD. But I'm sure it'll be just another scooby doo tale.
Not sure why we need Chris Eccleston doing a bad american accent. He's a great actor but he's never managed that accent well. A few British and Irish actors in here actually but wasted so far, as is JF herself. And, do we really need to see another cliched lesbian with green hair in anything?
Were the posters in that guys pokey room with the cop (with those annoying and distracting cheek piercings), actually made-up rock bands? Never heard of 'Metal' with a logo that looks like 'Metallica'. No idea if I'm wrong but that's a very lame set design if that's made up.
Loved the opening scene for this episode and got really excited when the guy started coughing - but after the credits the whole episode just fell flat. It almost felt like we were about to get a bit of 'The Thing' going on (which clearly is a deliberate feel). But no.
Having said all this, it's not as bad as some reviews here - but I think the fact it's not the quality of the OG-TD might be the reason HBO delayed it. Delaying is never a good sign. Maybe the writers strike stuffed the show. Anyway, let's see what the rest of the series brings. I'm not put off yet. But it's disappointing to wait so long for something so average in execution.
Ahsoka (2023)
Spiceworld!
Welcome to Disney Star Wars. Where, if you can find a male, they've been reduced to a second rate character.
I actually found the first episode quite interesting to watch. Subsequent episodes so far have plodded as usual with all the SW tv series.
Another annoying factor of these star wars series are their random episode lengths. The first I think was over an hour. The next 45mins and the next after that 30 mins?! You end up finding yourself constantly checking how long is left and guessing if it will suddenly end in the middle of the plot or chase sequence.
I couldn't get into Andor, it seemed to go so serious in response to the childish episodes of Mando and Kenobi that I found it boring. Kenobi I found was very kiddy so never got through it. First season of Mando good. 2nd got into Disney kids territory and the first episode of the 3rd season was so laughable I never bothered with the rest. I heard it was terrible.
But the thing that slaps you in the face with this series is its distinct, and unrealistically so, lack of male characters which hitherto suggests Disneys male-bashing bandwagon is STILL going on. I'm sure we'll be fashionable again in the future. Oh wait, aren't we in the future in SW? Who knows, who cares.
Black Mirror: Demon 79 (2023)
They should do a 'red mirror' series
I've now watched 3 of this new season. And only a handful of ones from past seasons. I find BM can be a hit and miss affair. Sometimes a bit too predictable like watching that old series 'Tales of the Unexpected' if anyone remembers that?
But Demon79 was so much more nuanced and fun. Who cares if it wasn't about technology? Do a whole season of 'Red Mirror' please. This is exactly what it was like living at the end of that decade. Script and acting were sublime. Top marks to the fashion and sets too. Sometimes these retro scenes can look like a modern day students idea of the '70's - but the detail in this was done really well and it had a fantastic soundtrack that didn't pick all the obvious tunes.
Best thing I've seen on TV in a very long time.
Influencer (2022)
How did the other review give this 7?!!
Awful.
For starters the sound mix with any music was so bad it made what any of them were saying unintelligible. Which was most of the time.
I don't think this movie is a commentary on how easy it is to steal someone's identity. I think it's a commentary on how dumb, vacuous and self absorbed gen z are. Absolutely no sympathy for any of the characters whatsoever. It's the first thing you need to earn when making a horror movie. Which leads me to my next point...
It's not even a horror movie - so why is it on shudder? It's more like a gen z scooby doo version of murder she wrote played out on instagram.
The acting was woeful especially the boyfriend casting.
Anyway, cheap budget tv movie looking film.
Deadstream (2022)
Not scary. Not funny. Dumb.
Baffled by the high score.
Like a 12 year old tried to remake a cross between Blair Witch and Evil Dead. Not funny, nor scary just dumb.
Raimi did this in '81 with far less money. 40 yrs on this is the best you can do?!
3 stars for effort. Actually could have worked if the idiot protagonist went from jokes to actual terror - but it was stupid all the way through.
Baffled by the high score.
Like a 12 year old tried to remake a cross between Blair Witch and Evil Dead. Not funny, nor scary just dumb.
Raimi did this in '81 with far less money. 40 yrs on this is the best you can do?!
3 stars for effort. Actually could have worked if the idiot protagonist went from jokes to actual terror - but it was stupid all the way through.
The Old Man (2022)
What the terminal list should have been
It makes that show look like a 90's throwback. This is excellent. Not seen something of this quality since the first season of true detective. Shows what you can do with seasoned actors and a good script.
The Terminal List (2022)
Entertaining. But not as good as it thinks it is.
By that I mean it could do with being a little more progressive. At times it feels like it was made in the early 2000s. It's great to see a show that has plenty of action and one you don't have to wait 5 episodes before anything happens. But some of the characters were a little pantomime with dialogue to match. And way, way, way too many dream/flashback sequences! I also find it hard to believe the protagonist had no problem killing so many innocent people on his quest for vengeance. Now if you had a director like Michael Mann or the Scicario director it could have felt more modern, real and documentative. However this felt like a violent show for families rather than adults. Still good but not great.
Men (2022)
!?*#?!
Don't understand all these low scores - did I watch a different movie? If nothing else it was a feast for the senses especially if you're a fan of horror. I don't know what all these reviewers were expecting to see?! Have you seen any of this directors movies? A lot more gory and trippy than I expected. In fact I hadn't anticipated gore at all. Does everything have to get into your psyche? I just appreciated it for what it was. Beautifully made and shot. Creepy and actually quite a good laugh. Stop taking film so seriously. Did you see Cronenbergs latest pile of dull nonsense? This is a masterpiece compared to that.
Pistol (2022)
Overstylised with nineties editing and that annoying 4:3 format!!!
To be fair only 2 eps in. However I'm tired of seeing retro pieces shown in 4:3 format just because the tv screen looked like this in 1976. No Boyle, it doesn't mean you can't film this in beautiful wide screen format. And if the impression was to be gritty that doesn't come across either. Topping that is Boyle's dated MTV style editing straight outta the nineties. These are distracting tricks that don't add anything and only serve to remove the viewer from the action. This might have been fresh in Trainspotting days but just looks a bit naff now - like a film students first brush with the editing software.
The characters are just way too pantomime especially rotten. Ironically his is probably the better performance out of all and closest in terms of verbal impression - but it's just too OTT. I don't think Glen sound or looked anything like that and I'm sure his personality wasn't that wet?! SJones ditto. The Chrissie Hynde character so far is the most naturalistic. Malcolm M looks like a 13 year old.
I think I want to watch the rest to know more about what happened. But I'm enjoying that more than the overall performance. I'm surprised at Jones and Cook if they think this is good and I expect JR is pissing in his Cornflakes but I'm sure he won't be watching it.
There's something about Boyle's style now and over the last several movies that just looks a bit dated and sort of Love Actually. Eugh.
Murder on Middle Beach (2020)
Incredible
A long while since I saw a doc as captivating as the jinx, making a murder or staircase killer. Hopefully he'll make a follow up.
A long while since I saw a doc as captivating as the jinx, making a murder or staircase killer. Hopefully he'll make a follow up.
We Own This City (2022)
Just plain boring
And another reviewer was right - what's happened to Bernthal? - his acting is terrible. You have to make a review of 150 characters but I'm struggling to find what to say about this dull affair.
Outer Range (2022)
Snooooze!
Josh is excellent as always. There's nothing wrong with any of the actors. It's just I was 4 eps in and it's booorrrriinggg! I can't believe I actually gave another 2 eps of my time in 5 and 6 - it's still not got anywhere! Who are the writers on these shows who think they have a captive audience? Covid is over. You can't keep giving a taste in the first ep and then boring us to death until the last. It seems we've just got an over saturation of tv shows that just don't deliver. There's still hope for film if this is the way tv is going. Everything's all - first and last ep with nothing inbetween - no need for it if the writing is no good. The last time I was on the edge of my seat for tv shows were GOT and first season of True Detective.
Malignant (2021)
Terrible
I thought the 5 min intro was a joke - the acting appalling and the score is really corny. The opening credits look like they were made in the mid nineties. Then the rest of the film unfolded and the acting continued to be terrible. It didn't know what movie it was trying to be. Just awful.
Malcolm & Marie (2021)
Utterly boring spoilt brats
I'm baffled who could relate to this besides annoying rich upcoming film industry yuppies. In a dialogue movie you need to care about the characters and the dialogue needs to be interesting. This has neither! I'm perturbed by Washington's recent movie appeal as he seems to be the same character in every one. 40 mins in I had to eject. And when she walked off for another pee only 10 mins after the first it should have turned into a horror movie. Absolute snooze fest with a director who somehow thinks they've stumbled across gold. We've seen movies done like this before only they were good.
Malcolm & Marie (2021)
Utterly boring spoilt brats
I'm baffled who could relate to this besides annoying rich upcoming film industry yuppies. In a dialogue movie you need to care about the characters and the dialogue needs to be interesting. This has neither! I'm perturbed by Washington's recent movie appeal as he seems to be the same character in every one. 40 mins in I had to eject. And when she walked off for another pee only 10 mins after the first it should have turned into a horror movie. Absolute snooze fest with a director who somehow thinks they've stumbled across gold. We've seen movies done like this before only they were good.
Servant (2019)
Boring 2nd season so far
1st season was interesting but waivers at times - 2nd season - I'm 3 in and it's a very slow start - no horror/scares whatsoever - more like a dull episode of friends or something - totally lost interest and definitely don't care enough about the characters to continue watching this season. The mother/wife is also a terrible actress and totally overplays the part. I'm so bored I'm actually writing this with it playing in the background. Shame.