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Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver (2024)
Magnificent Seven in Space - sort of
I watched the first one and felt it was okay if a little lacking for storyline and character depth. So came in without too much optimism for this but at least hopeful.
Sadly, the whole movie feels incredibly flat. The storyline is essentially just a rework of The Magnificent Seven. But almost all the characters are either vapid, unlikeable or just horribly fleshed out. The big bad of the first movie returns and is equally big and bad and so comically stereotypical it feels like a monkey has written the script.
There isn't a huge amount redeeming for the movie, in theory the cast is pretty heavy hitting, but hugely let down by writing, plotline and plotholes. The visuals, as you'd expect with Zach Snyder are great but visuals don't make a movie good if you're lacking substance.
Overall, it's not utterly awful. It's ultimately fairly easy to watch but equally incredibly easy to forget.
1899 (2022)
Well acted, well directed but awful twists
I came into this with an open mind, having not seen any of the previous works by the directors. Not really my usual cup of tea but was pleasantly surprised.
For the positives; The cinematography and acting is very solid. We begin to learn a snippets of each character, how they interact and their back story, usually dark.
The story is a slow burn, it's clear early on that all is not as it seems and it slowly unravels to show what is happening behind the scenes. I've seen some complaints about the premise but it was enjoyable.
As it picks up pace for the last few episodes you're left with a feeling that there's a nice clash and ending for the season.
I want to say the ending was great and befitting the rest of the series. Instead it was incredibly shoddy; at best it muddies most of the season storyline and at worst it just makes the entire season redundant. It feels like the writers wanted to throw in as many curveballs and twists just for the sake of it. While potentially destroying all they've done.
Overall it was an enjoyable show to watch, not really binge worthy, but the ending left a sour taste and the standard Netflix required cliffhanger.
Army of the Dead (2021)
Boom, bluster, stupidity and plot holes galore
It's hard what to make of this movie. It feels like it should've been directed by Michael Bay. A very slow build into them getting to Las Vegas then all hell breaks loose. Everyone can shoot every zombie in the head, everyone who has to die dies in very cliche and predictable ways. Then they're about to make it out before predictable movie endings so you get almost no drama.
There's also just huge amounts of the plot that are ignored and never explored. There's a zombie hierarchy that is just there. Never explained. Certain zombie have higher intellect. Never explained. Originally bank heist but needed zombie head. Could've been done early on. Geeta.
Overall the zombies look brilliant but the chracters are idiots. The story could've gone for a fresh angle with the zombie hierarchy element. Instead it went for the predictable and generic storyline.
If you like action then it's fine. If you like anything more to a movie then it's scraping the barrel. A zombie Expendables but with none of the marquee actors.
The Last Kingdom (2015)
Starts rushed then builds stronger steadily
The first season was a bit hit and miss. They introduced the concept of the storyline but totally skipped through Uhtred's upbringing. This meant that when he was all grown up you really don't feel much for him. When Alfred and others are introduced you miss a lot of the attitude of Uhtred and the brashness. A massive part of his identity is missing and so he just appears bratty.
However, in general the season progresses well. The big bad Dane's are there and then the plot of the first book is fulfilled. It's done well enough. Sort of most of the way through the season.
Then suddenly the plot becomes the second book but rather than fleshed out it feels ridiculously rushed. None of the characters introduced mean much and then it builds up to crescendo and fizzles out again. You're left not feeling much.
The second season improves greatly already. There's more nuance and intrigue and the tempo feels more even. Overall it's a lot stronger performance from everyone and you feel more for characters.
However, the show is a completely different beast when Netflix took on the mantle. It's simple to see the increase in the budget. The plot line feels better and everything is markedly improved.
I confess I can't remember too much of the book plot lines and I know there are definite changes from it. The books do take on a very copy paste formula and because they're all from Uhtred's perspective we would miss a lot of the intrigue that the show depicts,which is definitely beneficial to have in.
My biggest criticism of the show was the lack of character building initially for Uhtred and the lack of religion in the show. In the books Uhtred is constantly at conflict with the church and his own faith and fights multiple times with priests, calling more than his fair share. It's an integral part of his character that is totally missing.
One presume's it's because the books have a very anti-Christianity and religion feel to it and this wouldn't come across well to US and other audiences but is certainly a shame.
Overall, though, I'm looking forward to the next season coming as it should be great. The show is like a fine wine, maturing and improving with age.
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)
Great mock-comedy
The Eurovision is one of those things that almost seems like a parody in itself. This film does brilliantly to be humorous and ridiculous without going over the top.
It's an issue with plenty of Will Ferrell movies that it just becomes completely absurd and ends up being corny rather than funny.
The film has a very strong blend of ridiculousness with a strong plot line that isn't lost throughout. The assorted characters are well cast and add to the story fittingly.
Dan Stevens does a great job as a semi antagonist. Also playing a LGBT character without it being over the top and in your face. Hollywood has a habit of making LGBT characters ridiculously stereotypical to fit the "appropriate" casting rather than making a genuine character.
Overall it was highly enjoyable and ridiculous comedy. Would recommend
The Letter for the King (2020)
Interesting Premise quickly loses itself
It starts off well. The storyline is good; betrayal, suspense and threat. It quickly loses itself though. Plot twists make 0 logical sense. Characters become more and more irritating.
The biggest issue is that none of the young actors seem believable as people on the cusp of knighthood. And the way they're written makes them seem like little kiddies.
The ending is predictable and yet completely and utterly underwhelming. The big bad enemy never looks like winning. There's no suspense at the end and it all appears so wooden.
Kingdom (2019)
Highly enjoyable period zombie fun
Reading reviews it seems to be a love it or hate it series. Definitely not deserving of 1 star votes but not flawless. Seems like people are exaggerating on both scores.
Back to my personal opinion. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. I wasn't sure what to expect from it and it definitely surpassed my expectations. I'm normally not the biggest fan of zombie movies; they're done to death and usually follow the same trend line. That or you never feel like the main characters will ever get touched or hurt. To an extent this is the case with this series, we never really expect the Prince to turn into a zombie early on. But others around are less indispensable.
To the series as a whole. Not knowing much about Korean culture it feels authentic enough. With outfits, buildings, customs etc. The storyline feels plausible and with the weaponry the spread of "disease" has more credibility. Something lacking in most modern takes on zombies. The storyline can be slow at times but overall it has a strong thread whilst jumping to different areas of the country to forward the plot.
However, it's not without flaws. The actions of some people are slightly comical and there is definitely a lot of overacting going on. It does slightly undermine the feel at times.
But as a whole, highly recommended and enjoyable series. Well worth watching if you enjoy zombies or aren't usually a fan.
The Umbrella Academy (2019)
Unexpected and fantastic
Started watching this on a whim when saw a little bit of the trailer on Netflix. Had no real idea what to expect of it, having read no comics or not even finished the trailer.
Undoubtedly a bit of a slow burner but by the end it's incredibly enjoyable and an enthralling climax with a strong cliffhanger that leaves me waiting for 2nd season already. There's a little bit of everything in the show and the characters are all unique. They're "superheroes" without being super and without really being heroes. As has been said it's largely similar concept to the characters of Misfits. Superpowers and yet extremely flawed individuals.
Overall the acting is fantastic, everyone plays their characters brilliantly. Although Robert Sheehan, as is common in his roles, steals the show.
Definitely worth watching
The Jurassic Games (2018)
No worse than expected but no better
The easiest way to describe this film is a low budget version of Gamer. The storyline is almost identical. But rather than having to survive against fellow convicts and controlled by fellow humans it's AI and dinosaurs.
The CGI is comically bad. The acting is tolerable. And the storyline is very generic.
Not a total waste of time. But hardly a decent B-movie
Outlaw King (2018)
Potentially great but falls flat
Watched this hopeful that it would be good. And for parts of it it's exciting and dramatic. Chris Pine does a good job as Bruce. Stephan Dillane is great as Edward I. Most notably.
But found it hard to empathise much with a lot of the characters. We know they should be significant but when something dramatic happens it always feels a bit anticlimatic.
Main annoyance is the fighting feels extremely lazy. When a lot of fighting films focus on great fighting choreography Outlaw King has a lot of wild swishing. To much fighting where everyone is going for strange wild haymakers. Can understand for untrained fighters. But with most of the fighting focus on the leaders they would've been skilled swordsmen.
In the end it was enjoyable to watch in places. But felt very rushed and a little flat for chunks of it. A poor child of Braveheart, which says a lot.
Supergirl (2015)
Average at best. Cringy for most of it
Only real reason I watched this was because of the Arrowverse and cross -overs so felt some obligation to watch it. I came in with an open mind though. Never read the comics. Initially it felt like a copy pasta of Superman as a female, similar origins (of course), similar job that then becomes identical job and felt like they missed a trick. Granted that's probably down to the comics but felt lazy.
That didn't really bother me.
The main issue is how gimmicky the fights are. Nothing looks natural, everything is slow and exaggerated. At first you might think new show, actors learning but no, nothing improves throughout the series. Of course you need choreographing but there's a difference between blatantly obvious and natural looking.
The next biggest issue is the love storylines.......It's so basic and fake. All the major guys fall in love with Supergirl. Supergirl falls in love with all the generic guys she should fall in love with. You got the generic "friendzoned" guy. And then they throw in the LGBT coming out lesbian storyline to tick the next box.
In the end it's worth a laugh watching but it's the definition of trash tv show.
Hagane no renkinjutsushi (2017)
Enjoyable albeit rather rushed
I'll firstly say I haven't seen the anime so came into this with an open mind. So can have no complaints about whether it's accurate to original source material.
As for the film: The base plot is pretty simple. Brothers set out on a life's pursuit to get one of their bodies back with the "Philosopher's Stone". And from that point of view the plot line is fine and it builds steadily to that. However, it proceeds to get rather confusing at various points. Nothing is really explained about what's going on in the world around, seemingly there's a Civil War. Various characters are introduced including the main villains. The purpose of the main villains is never explained or who they really are. Even by the end of the film their purpose, goals or origins remain completely unknown. I don't know whether that was the purpose to lead to another movie or was just because of time constraints.
Overall I enjoyed it. The visuals are great. Acting is ok, although it does become exaggerated and gimmicky but that felt deliberate. Story was good even with random characters.
The main criticism is that the plotline just felt very rushed. Everything was thrown in all at once and then had to come to a head at the end. Probably could've done with being split into 2 films.