To my surprise, I think the visual style is the most interesting thing about this - the way it's shot is very expressive, at least compared to other Netflix shows. It doesn't always work; sometimes it suffers from the flat boring lighting that other CGI heavy shows are prone to, sometimes it will look like it was filmed on a phone, and the framing can be baffling and off-putting at times. But I think overall it's great that such a big show is actually experimenting with a unique visual style, when it could easily have settled for a bland shooting style and coasted off name recognition. The same goes for costume and production design, which feels lovingly crafted in homage to the source material, while still making its own choices. The script is probably the weakest part of the package. A lot of the dialogue comes across awkward and stilted, and it's full of cliches. But those shortcomings are carried by really solid performances from the leads, who have a lot of chemistry with each other. For a Netflix anime adaptation, the whole thing is shockingly well cast. Iñaki Godoy in particular brings so much youthful energy and charm into every scene. Overall, this is a very fun show that overcomes its average dialogue with great performances, style, rollicking action and a fast pace.
Reviews
51 Reviews
Secret Invasion
(2023)
AI? Really?
29 June 2023
I know that Marvel has long taken an artistically stifling, assembly line approach to much of its content, but this is a new low. I can't in good faith respect any piece of art/media/entertainment that uses Algorithm generated "art" at any stage of its creation, even something seemingly harmless like a title sequence. There is no moral or creative justification for algorithm art. It doesn't benefit the artist or the consumer. It's purely a cost cutting method for producers, and if this instance goes well, it won't be long before major studios are doing visual effects with unethically sourced algorithms, or even writing scripts with them. This is the thin end of the wedge, it can't be allowed to stand.
Perfect
16 August 2022
As close to a flawless ending as I could have hoped for. A unique and bittersweet way to resolve Jimmy's tragic character arc. A simple and predictable ending in a way, but executed so with so much quiet, understated beauty and complexity. Not the explosive climax that some Breaking Bad fans may have been expecting, but this is almost incomparable to BB's finale - this was something wholly unto its own. Cements BCS as one of the best shows ever made.
"You were white yesterday!"
21 April 2022
Hilarious, multi-faceted and weird as hell. This season is definitely very odd and scatterbrained but after being gone for so long, I'm sure the show runners had so many ideas bouncing around that they wanted to tackle. These sort of Twilight-Zone style episodes are a great outlet for them.
Great Nightmarish Episode
13 March 2022
Funny light Episode
22 February 2022
Not sure why everyone seems to dislike this episode so much, I found it pretty funny and cute. Sure the concept has already sort of been done on Buffy before but it's a different approach and it has lots of good jokes and character moments.
Pulse
(2001)
Frightening in more ways than one
25 October 2021
Not just a terrifying ghost story, but a gut-wrenching look into isolation, nihilism and death. The fact that this story intentionally transitions from traditional J-horror to an entirely different kind of movie by the end seems to have gone over the heads of many of the reviewers on this site. Beautiful slow-burn with a deep melancholy sadness to it. And yet not entirely without hope by the end.
Who cares?
6 March 2021
At this point the overarching story of The X-Files has completely lost me. I have absolutely no interest in following it's endless convoluted twists and repetitive soap-opera conflicts. The show seems to have no interest in evolving its narrative beyond what was established in the first couple of seasons; it's storytelling style has completely stagnated at this point. From here on out I'm sticking with the show for the one off episodes only, which are still pretty consistently good.
Makes absolutely no sense
24 February 2021
Amazing central premise but it does absolutely nothing with it. A bunch of poorly paced one-take scenes that build sluggishly to a non-resolution that means absolutely nothing. They were trying so hard with the gimmick that they forgot to include any substance or payoff. Total dross and a complete waste of time. How on earth is this episode so highly rated?
Unique and fun
4 January 2021
A really fun and original mix between slice-of-life and big-robot-fun-times. The endearing characters and clever humour are enough to carry the one or two weaker episodes. The six stand-alone eps do somewhat pale in comparison to the astoundingly good two-parter. All in all it left me wanting more, which is good because there is!
Ehhhh
7 December 2020
What should be a really impactful episode is totally brought down by lifeless writing, stilted and amateurish directing, poor vfx work and foppish fan service. I've been really enjoying this season so far, in fact I thought that episode 13 was maybe the best episode of the whole show, so it was a shock for me to find this episode so uninspired and silly. It felt like a fan-film in places. I have faith that the last two episodes will be better than this
Sherlock Holmes
(1954–1955)
Criminally Underrated
4 October 2020
I'm not going to go as far as saying it's aged particularly well, but as far as on-screen depictions of Holmes and Watson go this is by far my favourite. Both of them are very likeable and their dynamic feels oddly refreshing when compared to most other takes on the characters, where either Watson is often buffoonishly stupid and useless or Sherlock is coldly unemotional, neither traits being very accurate to the source material. Here I actually believe they are friends, and it's that friendship which makes this show so entertaining despite its age and the poor quality of some of the mysteries.
People seriously complain about this ending?
4 October 2020
Sure the introduction of the alternate universe came a little late in the story maybe, but I'd prefer an inventive if messy finale over a predictable one any day. This was a fantastic and satisfying wrap up to a great show.
Astounding
8 April 2020
"Repeat Business"
17 February 2020
One of the best episodes of the show so far. It's masterfully written and directed, with Anderson and Duchovny both giving exceptional dramedic performances as usual. The writers for this show (with some exceptions) really excel at juggling comedy, mystery and horror all at once, and this episode is a perfect example of that.
Best episode yet
7 February 2020
The first episode of the show that I feel comfortable calling perfect. Everything is absolutely top notch; the themes, the direction, the acting, the dialogue... I have no idea why this isn't one of the highest rated episodes of the show.
Great Episode
29 January 2020
The Fast Show
(1994–2014)
Classic Sketch Show
2 January 2020
Almost every sketch in the show is a winner, and the cherry on top is that unlike other sketch shows of the time, over time plenty of the characters actually grow and change (I'm thinking specifically of the storyline that develops between Ted and Ralph, which is of such high writing quality that it could easily have been it's own series). Other classic skits include Jazz Club (nice) where the presenter slowly grows disillusioned with the music on his show, Unlucky Alf, who's luck decreases exponentially as the show progresses and of course The Off-roaders, which is just brilliant satire. There are a few weak characters imo (I never found Swiss Toni or the Suit You Sir guys to be very funny, despite the fact that they were the most popular characters). Regardless, it's a milestone in TV comedy and, while maybe not remembered very well, has obviously influenced plenty of modern comedies. Highly recommended.
Back on track
26 December 2019
Burning
(2018)
Absolutely Incredible
30 June 2019
Don't be put-off by the slow and seemingly meandering first half: this film is an incredible slow-burn psychological thriller, and the snail-like pace ends up radiating a sense of unease and paranoia that gets under your skin more effectively than most horror films, all coming to a head in one of the greatest final scenes I have ever seen. Complete masterpiece.
Secret Agent
(1964–1967)
Fantastic Show
8 June 2019
Great little show that has aged surprisingly well thanks to it's clever writing and McGoohan's nuanced performance. John Drake is (for 60s television) a fairly deep character, and a welcome change from the more popular spy characters of the time such as James Bond and The Saint. The budget and the direction may seem quaint to modern audiences, but they meant that the show had no other choice but to focus on the scripts, almost all of which are great. I could count the number of bad episodes on one hand.
Think Fast, Mr. Moto
(1937)
God, I love these
2 June 2019
The Mr. Moto films are poorly written. The Mr. Moto films are poorly acted. The Mr. Moto films are poorly directed. The Mr. Moto films, in short, have not stood the test of time.
But I wouldn't have it any other way. I love them, not just for their few strengths but also for their many failures. Much like 'The Adventures Of Tintin' and other adventure serials, they are a window into the past; an entirely fictional past, endlessly exciting and full of ridiculous characters, exotic locations and crowbarred romance subplots.
Los Angeles Plays Itself
(2003)
Good Documentary
21 May 2019
Great editing and a well rounded insights, unfortunately overshadowed at times by stretches of boring, pretentious babble. I'd say almost 40 minutes of the narration could easily have been cut without losing much of value. It's not as if they needed to pad the runtime!
Star Trek
(1966–1969)
Low Budget, High Concept
24 April 2019
A consistently well written, well acted and well photographed TV show. While it has undoubtedly aged, it has aged gracefully. The outdated views on things like science, culture and women's rights can sometimes distract, but mostly they just add a quaint charm for the modern viewer. The only aspect that has aged to the detriment of the show is the limited budget for sets and props. But if you give it some leeway and let your imagination fill in the gaps, that problem fades away. Entertaining to the nth degree
Tell Your Friends