Change Your Image
janssen86
Reviews
South Park: Joining the Panderverse (2023)
Well executed hit on point, detail warrant a rewatch
Producers and writers of franchises managed by Disney, particularly Marvel and Star Wars have been sacrificing good writing and the creation of original content to following DEI checklists. At the same time, these franchises have lost viewers.
South Park has been satirizing cultural issues like game addiction ("Make Love, Not Warcraft"), alarmism ("ManBearPig"). This time, they chose Disney's DEI actvism and lazy approach to storytelling by applying Disney's tropes to the world of South Park. In the side story, they make fun of academics who are unable to do jobs that "require having arms", i.e. Trades, while they are themselves being replaced by AI.
The story works because it reflects the experience of the Disney audience and also does so in a very clever way. In particular, the producers brilliantly executed the swapping of the South Park characters. Here, particular praise goes to the voice actresses that nailed the swapped characters: Janeshia Adams-Ginyard, Montana Jacobowitz, Diana Lauren Jones and Bibi Mama.
It pays to watch the episode to catch all the details (character-swapped detective Yate's moustache).
All in all, I expect this special to become one of the classics of the series.
Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
Almost, but not quite, as awful as Terminator Genesis
The story starts off with a slap in the faces of the previous Terminator movies, of the fans and of general logic. It proceeds to gender-swap the protagonists, but somehow not the main antagonist, of the saga in order to basically retell T2.
The explanation given to pull this, the movie's premise off will make you not only cringe - it will contradict several events and and the appearance of a notable character later on. This character now has a story that, again, slaps the previous Terminator movies in the face. Several plotholes later, the events stumble to a finale that is basically and as mentioned a retell of T2.
I cannot imagine why both Linda Hamilton as well as Arnold Schwarzenegger decided to spoil their legacies with this movie. Nor were they really needed for its story. As if they had belatedly realised their mistake, they unhappily rattle off the platitudes handed to them by the script-writers.
The only interesting role is surprisingly in the one that ended up being played by Mackenzie Davis. Or it would have been, if the actress had perceived the tragedy of her character and made something of it. But I already knew Davis as being either unable or just unwilling to act from the Martian, and I gather the producers just cast her for her looks this time, too.
The supposed main protagonist comes across as an object as animated as a pinball. Why Natalia Reyes was cast in that role is a question that can only be answered with: Nobody cared. So I didn't, either.
Add to that the largely uninspired cinematography and editing as we arrive at the conclusion: a sad end to the Terminator franchise. The best that can be said about it: It's almost, but not quite, as awful as Terminator Genesis. And it deserves as much time and attention.
Doctor Who: Resolution (2019)
Adolescent, preachy story, carried out by unconvincing actors
This season has seen the demolition of a franchise that gripped fans for decades, and this episode is its worthy tombstone. Apart form the now common white-male bashing, here's what its writers offered the remaining fans:
A lore-breaking setup (medieval weapons can defeat a Dalek) that then turns to contradict it self (same Dalek later defeats the modern British Army). Logic-breaking twists, e.g. Dalek takes over human bodies, but then doesn't when it would be smart to do so but end the story - but then does when it creates drama. I'm not even going into the absurd story the writers concoted about the Dalek reconstructing itself.
We have also Ryan involved in a sub-plot about as original as an episode of East Enders, which served as a rather forced setup to the above-mentioned drama - or, as in previous episodes, as therapy for the writers' dad issues.
And where is the Doctor in all of this? She's busy scratching her head over kitchen items before making everything right with her screwdriver and many a preachy monologue.
Oh, and UNIT is being put out of the picture - by Brexit.
Conclusion: Adolescent story-telling for the purpose of lecturing the audience, made worse by often stilted acting.
Peppermint (2018)
Jenniffer Garner back as Action Hero in Movie Directed by Pierre Morel
I hesitated to watch this movie after the critics' damning reviews. However after a few minutes I was pleasantly surprised indeed. Jenniffer Garner stars in a very satisfying action/revenge flick, which offers all the drama, plot twists, anger, action, grit and realease you expect from a good movie of this genre.
The main (but not only!) twist is Garner herself, who starts off apparently as in some of her previous roles (I thought of in "Butter" and "Alexander"), but turns into the opposite (e.g. as in "Elektra" or "Alias"). In fact, the movie occasionally pokes fun at itself through this contrast.
Technically, the action and fight scenes were well done indeed. No, the scenes weren't realistic, but so isn't John Wick and we don't go into action movies for a glimpse of the real world. Pierre Morel had also directed e.g. "From Paris with Love" and "96 Hours" and his craft shows.
The only beef I have is her fuzzy path from ordinary mum to female Jack Reacher. I feel like this phase could have been fleshed out with a bit more conflict and decisions.
All in all, a great movie for an evening out with lots of popcorn! I am looking forward to see more of Garner in such movies under the direction of Morel.
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
Great Eye Candy, Terrible story
Pros:
- Space-battles, light-saber duels: Lots of nice eye-candy
- Mark Hamill. It is almost as if he had waited for decades for playing in this movie. Which makes me feel a bit sorry for him.
Cons:
- More plot holes than you could shake a space cruiser at, held together by ridiculous coincidences.
- One-dimensional characters who talk about but show no emotions and who, when discarded, leave the audience indifferent - other than established characters who are discarded for no discernible purpose.
- Characters whose behaviour seems to serve no rational goal.
- Entire plot lines that severed absolutely no purpose but to have the characters pontificate.
- Serious breaks with the sagas' premises to allow for developments that again leaves the audience puzzled.
- Scenes as absurd as a flying English nanny they made me wonder what Disney thinks about its audience.
All in all, Disney seems to go the same path with the Star Wars franchise as Sony went with Ghost Busters: Forget the hitherto loyal fan-base, clean the slate - and then play silly games with it.
A New Hope was the first movie I ever went to twice. I count observing my kids as they watched episodes IV to VI in wonder to my fond memories. After the prequels and The Force Awakens, Rogue One seemed to be a turn to the better. But now, I think Disney is on spot with its message of The Last Jedi: Leave the past behind you.