mumblesh Reviews

The Creator (2023)

An entertaining sci-fi, lacking depth. A generous 7

[7/10 · 22 January 2024]

This is a movie, like films such as Avatar, and even AI in some regards. Simple, beautifully made, and entertaining. The issues I have are like I have with those aforementioned movies, in that it doesn't do anything new, and isn't great at leaning on the complex messages and philosophical themes that this should throw up.

Firstly, it is very watchable, it does that Hollywood thing of making the plot easy to follow, clear motives for the protagonists and overarching heroes and villains. This to me is also its biggest problem. Everything is far too black and white, and the sci-fi plotting never asks the audience to ponder much at all.

Very quickly you realise that this film is simply about East versus West. That idea is pervasive from the start, and never leaves. How very left-wing an idea that is in this day and age! East good, West bad and if only in real life it was that straight-forward. There is a little more to the plot I cannot divulge here, but had there been the intelligence to leave some clever ambiguity and made you walk away with things to talk about after, this could have been much more memorable.

I am saddened that I didn't enjoy it more as it drew to its conclusion, which it almost seemed to want to get over and done with all too quickly.

That said, this is not a bad movie, just not a classic one. I hope that this director can look to make a movie like this, and genuinely goes out of their way to find a great piece of writing to interpret. There are so many good sci-fi stories that never seem to get told, as maybe Hollywood thinks that a modern audience is too stupid to grasp the complex ideas buried within.

ONE LAST NOTE - on plot holes. Some reviewers seem to find plot holes in sci-fi, and they do this by determining that the science/logic is flawed in some way. It's sci-fi, it's made up. There's a good chance you could easily make up a perfectly reasonable explanation to said flaw. So-called "flaws" are not necessarily flaws, just something that an individual has a had time accepting the science/logic of (and you can't go about explaining away every little thing within the movie). That's down to you. Most of us can accept minor flaws as long as we are having a good time, this never did Star Wars any harm. Get over it.

Lou (I) (2022)

We've been here before... so, so thriller!

[5/10 · 28 May 2023]

So, this is a action thriller with some military secrets nonsense involved. It drags a bit at points, as it builds to it's inevitable climax. We've seen this kind of thing before and the biggest problem here is a complete lack of any tension whatsoever. You will start looking at your phone part way through and get distracted if not careful.

I tried my best with it and stuck till the end, but it never did anything new or exciting. It ended very predictably for me and I get the feeling that no one will feel there's a lot of genuine jeopardy to raise the heart rate even when it seems to be really trying. A so, so thriller, filler for Netflix's disappointing catalogue.

The Book of Boba Fett (2021–2022)

Fun fantasy Western, if lacking a little depth of character.

[7/10 · 26 September 2022]

I don't get the negativity about effects and then saying the character should be this, or that. That's all nonsense mostly spouted by man children. They remember this bounty hunter character as a superhero from the orignal movies, he's not (he simply got eaten) and now he's much older. And the effects are great for a TV show, this is not Syfy channel standard, get a grip! You must need your eyes tested if you believe that.

I like this as it's fun and fills in a some blanks in the history of things. Sure some of the dialog could be better and maybe the character could be different, but the idea that some things are set in stone when this character had barely anything to do in movies previous is laughable. We already have the Mandalorian - who is an actual Mandalorian. Bounty hunters are not super humans and I like that although they kill tons of enemies and do amazing feats, they get hurt, but he's a "tough bugger" for sure. This pans out very much like a sci-fi/fantasy Western (as the Mandalorian was to old samurai classics), slow in parts, taking its time telling a story, revelling in the theme and the place. It builds up to a giant set piece you know is coming and it looks pretty cool to me.

It's full of life, and I think it could have actually been better had it had more humour to separate it a bit from the other series. I never take anything fantasy too seriously, (this is really a Sci fantasy) but if it's weak its because it doesn't have much of a statement to make about anything in general, and the characters can be a little too dry. That said I think they have decided that Fett isn't a complex character because he never was, and they play on that fact. If anything he's simply changed as a consequence of the Sarlacc Pit and his adoption by the Tuskans. His capacity to convince others to join his cause and bring many allies to his side are what give him strength as he's getting on a bit.

So on its own its still an enjoyable romp, but I'm not sure how much more longevity there is in Fetts's tale as a whole. If you've watched the Mandalorian this is essentially the 3rd part to that, and you may want to watch it for that reason. Just don't dig into too much and you'll enjoy your time. And to those that go to bed dressed as a Mandalorin cuddling a Grogu doll. Please, grow up.

Interceptor (2022)

Markedly average, feminist, B-movie action.

[5/10 · 12 June 2022]

With a lead who tries her best with a poor script, clichéd action and characters, plus some very forced feminism, this is a movie that should have been so much better.

I'm not against a feminist action movie in the slightest. Growing up in the 80's, young boys/men were showered with charismatic, macho male action stars in creative fun movies that captured the imagination. It's sorely time young girls/women got the same movies to enjoy and we are seeing more this generation. It's this reason alone that the movie gets a flat average score from me at all. But it's not this that makes it poor.

But it's bad because it lacks self-awareness, from how cliché the characters are, how daft/uninteresting the action is (OTT a little too far at a point) and how heavy-handed the message is put. A little humour (a criticism of so many dumb action movies) would have gone a long way here at least, so we can relax as we embrace the silliness of it all. This is especially true when directing the action itself and if you get the right people onboard, even if you have nothing else in the movie, stylish memorable action with humour would've given it a pass for many.

Anyway, I hope a generation of young women do enjoy this, as it seems clearly aimed more at them. But it's a shame, as it should have been much more enjoyable for absolutely everyone.

Kate (I) (2021)

By the Numbers Netflix Movie

[5/10 · 12 September 2021]

So ok this is my take. Every year the big studios are handed scripts, many scripts and many are rejected. How many scripts with the whole "trained assassin" have we seen? Netflix must get thousands with the same bloody main plot, and reject them. Warner Bros, Sony probably do too and keep maybe 2 out of a hundred. Netflix, on the other hand, get (say) a hundred of these assassin scripts and keep 50, and seemingly work through them making movies to fill a need. They love them. They tolerate much more, lame and average scripts, than you would expect a movie studio to... but then they are essentially a TV station, and have more time to fill.

This film is your typical double-hard assassin movie. Well made - I like the lead and supporting cast - plus it looks good, is watchable, but ultimately is generic and predictably unoriginal. The plot will have no surprises, and will be the least interesting aspect, but it won't offend you too much either. Maybe as a slightly older person, I have seen too many movies like this to be involved and excited by it. Were I half my age, with less experience of such film, I might have better things to say. As it stands, if you like this kind of assassin getting revenge movie, you'll have a good time. Just do not expect anything new here.