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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)
How do you accomplish an impossible task?
Amazon taking on a loose adaption of Tolkien works that are dense, lore-filled, and largely unread seems, on its own, an insurmountable task.
Add to that that they were not given the rights to anything apart from the appendices of the Original Trilogy and the Hobbit, and you see why the writing team could only work with a patchwork of material to craft a story for the 2nd age of Middle Earth.
On top of all that, probably more than any other work of fiction and its subsequent adaptions, the LofTR is the most beloved series of all time and Peter Jackson's movies are lauded as absolute masterpieces. I would agree that they are masterpieces and I am one of those that watches the extended editions at least once a year.
So Amazon was given 1. A massive story to tell, 2. Very limited resources to craft the story from and 3. The most incredible fan expectations that I think any film or series could possibly have.
All of that being said, and all the context being known, I think the series so far is doing a perfectly admirable job. In staying true (for the most part) to the material they have access to and crafting a world that is both visually stunning and cohesive to what we conceptualize to be "Middle Earth" this show delivers. There have been moments in this show that my jaw literally dropped at how beautiful the set design is.
The amount of hate this show has gotten simply for existing is absolutely unwarranted. There have been many negative reactions to casting choices, the dialogue, and a lot of people saying the show "isn't Tolkien". I personally would like to see someone else do better, under the amount of scrutiny the writers were under, to come up with a cohesive story from what is essentially some footnotes at the bottom of a page.
Could the dialogue be better? Yes. Could the acting better? Yes. Could the story be more engaging? Yes. But can't we say that about almost every adaption of fiction out there? I think I can speak for everyone when I say there are far, far worse shows and adaptions out there.
I would have liked to see a faithful adaption of some of the Histories of Middle Earth or a story straight from the Silmarillion but those are works that the Tolkien Estate kept close to their chest. Amazon knew they couldn't remake the Trilogy or the Hobbit, but the only other material they were given were the appendices. Can you blame Amazon for filling in the cracks with their own characters and stories? In my opinion, If anyone is to blame for this show not meeting expectations, it is the Tolkien Estate for not giving Amazon more to work with without breach contract.
In any case, I still feel good about returning to Middle Earth. An older, different Middle Earth, but Middle Earth all the same. I'm glad the threats are real, the jokes are earned for the most part, and it feels like we're moving in an understandable direction. The Harfoots are fun and I can see how these folk eventually became the Hobbits of the Shire, The Dwarves and Mines are great although we haven't seen much of them, The Men and Elves are both very proud races as they have been described and it is nice to see the Elves actually trying to do something to improve Middle Earth rather than be complacent as they were in the latter part of the 2nd age. There have been some great moments as well which I won't spoil but certainly put a smile on my face. And once again, the set design is absolutely stunning. As much as people are bombing this show, most seem to agree that the sets are top notch.
This show is already way more respectful to the source material than the Hobbit Trilogy. If people want to prop up Peter Jackson saying he could do no wrong to Tolkien's works, just remember all of the worthless subplots and action sequences he created in those three bloated movies. The writers of Rings of Power at least seem to be trying to fit into the world of Tolkien without making it a complete joke. Compared to some other recent "reboots" from other large studios, Rings of Power is doing quite well in being respectful to the world it exists in.
Anyway, I'm here for this show and am looking forward to where it goes next. Once all the noise surrounding it dies down I'm hoping people will actually watch it for its own merit. Who knows, maybe the Tolkien Estate may loose their grasp on some other works and Amazon can produce something directly from Tolkien himself.
The Batman (2022)
Phenomenal - the Batman we really needed
This movie is awesome. I was getting so tired of superhero movies all feeling the same but The Batman tilt stands out from the Hyperstylized DC and the cookie cutter Marvel films we've been served in recent years. Besides Joker and Logan, of course.
Reeves had a vision and he went for it. The grit of Gotham is real and lived in. The Trauma of Bruce's upbringing is truly explored. The film truly soaks you in the world that is created, truly excellent. It may have felt a little long for a superhero film but it still left me wanting more in the end.
Anyone who doubted Pattinson is eating their words now and have also not seen anything he has been in in recent years (Good Time, The Lighthouse, and The Devil all the Time) he is truly a world class actor and he is finally getting the mainstream credit he deserves. Every other actor is fantastic in their role as well. I know it isn't fair to compare this to the Dark Knight but it is definitely up there with Nolan's best.
Torn (2021)
A genuine documentary with real heart and some minor flaws
I am very invested in the rock climbing scene and knew the Anker/Lowe story from articles, and documentaries of the past so I was very interested to see what the story looked like from the sons of Alex. I loved the heart and authenticity of it. For that, I give it 8 stars
From a technical and story structure aspect, I found it lacking. I greatly respect Max for tackling what is a very deep and personal documentary, but he certainly isn't the most experienced documentarian. Some of the editing was choppy and some of the visuals were used a couple too many times to maintain an air of freshness. The song during the credits is also used during the credits of the Alpinist, just kind of a funny coincidence.
I don't want to be harsh in the film by any means. I truly enjoyed it. I give it an 8 for the genuine respect I have for the Lowes and Ankers and the authenticity that was brought to such a hard topic. It fell short of a 10 for me only for film making reasons.
The Newsroom (2012)
Hell will freeze over before Aaron Sorkin doesn't blow me away
How has this show flown under my radar for so long? I am so late to the party.
Just watched the pilot tonight and I know already why this is lauded as one of the best shows ever created. Excellent acting, incredible writing, and the tension is electric.
I already love this show. I am looking forward to watching the rest
Ad Astra (2019)
The Misadventures of Emotionally Distant Brad Pitt in Space
I get that most people were expecting this to be an action movie and not an ethereally existential drama, but I don't understand the hate that this movie has gotten.
The only bad thing about this movie is the marketing that lead people to believe this would be an action movie in space. Curb your expectations from Nolan to Kubrick and you can appreciate this much more.
I was engaged the whole time.
The Mandalorian (2019)
Everything Star Wars should have become
When George Lucas created the original Star Wars, he wanted to make a "Space Western". Many of the stylistic choices that have since become iconic of the franchise (costumes, sound effects, character design, cinematography) we're made due to budget constraints. What we know as Star Wars now evolved from a simplistic concept.
Something I loved about the original Star Wars was the characters, situations, landscapes, and special effects that came from those constraints and the world building that always seemed to just scratch the surface of worlds, and characters that were introduced. One of the primary problems I have with the prequel trilogy and especially the new trilogy, is that the creators seemed only to have the desire to expand the universe rather than give it the depth and grit it deserved.
The Mandalorian fixes all of that.
Jon Favreau, who despite probably having heaps of money thrown at his budget for this show, keeps it remarkably restrained in special effects and simple storyline. He shows genuine respect for the characters and world he is working in and, in turn, shows respect for the audience the show is targeting.
In the two episodes I have watched, I have gotten everything I wanted from the show. The linear and engaging storytelling, the Wild West atmosphere, the Characters you can care about, the grit and grime of the underworld of the Star Wars universe. It's everything I wanted it to be. I've even gotten some high budget Firefly vibes from what is an increasingly in-depth space western.
If Star Wars were X-Men then The Mandalorian is Logan. It is legitimately that good.
Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018)
Charlie Brooker, you evil genius
I think it is safe to say that Black Mirror continues to be one of the most thought provoking and grotesquely original shows in existence. From season one I have been hooked by the dark, calculated, and purely brilliant plots Charlie Brooker and his team keep churning out and Bandersnatch is no exception.
With Netflix rolling out this new format of "interactive entertainment" the realm of possibilities, from my point of view, seemed limited to children's programming and gaming based shows. Never did I imagine that a well established and incredibly well regarded show would be able to successfully tap into the new interactive platform.
However, Black Mirror has succeeded in their attempt with flying colors.
Truth is, I believe Black Mirror may well be the only show on television to be able to pull off this feat in a beleivable and thematically relevant way.
The overarching theme of Black Mirror doesn't so much hinge on the dark side of technology as it delves into the dark side of human nature as it pertains to the use of technology. Episodes frequently revolve around a protagonist who gradually loses control of the situation they find themselves in at the hand of some technological force. With the exception of a couple episodes in season four, episodes always end in a dark sense of justice with very little catharsis, usually at the protagonist's expense.
Bandersnatch is no different, except this time the viewer is drawn into the story as the vital role that has always existed in a Black Mirror story - the dark hand of technology.
It is absolutely brilliant.
Every BM episode exists as it's own morality tale and in Bandersnatch we, the viewers are confronted by the exact thing that draws us to BM and metaphorically slaps us upside the head with our own sick expectations of what should happen in the narrative. I am almost surprised that Stefan never looked directly at the camera and begged for us to stop only for us to choose for him to bash his head into a wall.
As a fan of the show, I almost felt guilty when the show itself directly pinpointed how sick it is that we take the misfortune of the characters as "entertainment".
I think it says something about us.
The show clocks in at 1 1/2hrs. minimum. Be prepared though, you may find yourself suck into a spiral of madness trying to discover every possibility. Just don't jump off a building or murder your father. Not very pleasant ways to go.
Black Mirror is back and it is just as twisted and immersive as it ever has been. The narrative is perfectly tailored to the interactive platform and any fan will love it.
Charlie Brooker, you evil genius.
10/10