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Jan1968
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Constellation (2024)
Will probably not be renewed. It's THAT good.
We are being spoiled these days. Severance, Silo, 3 Body Problem and several other good shows. This is another one. But, like some other good shows of the past that were cancelled, this one has a problem: it doesn't really fit in today's quick-fix viewer mentality.
Constellation is a slow burner. Lot's of mystery, lot's of twists, lots of excitement, but it is served slowly and very deliberately so. Which turns the last episodes into solid nail-biting thrillers, because by now you finally begin to understand how deep the rabbit-hole runs (one of the main characters is named Alice and that is obviously no coincidence).
If this doesn't get a 2nd season, I will be, in the words of Prince Humperdinck, "very. Put out."
But I don't hold my breath. To my surprise and utter delight, Severance got renewed, but judging from the reviews Constellation doesn't have the same impact and is probably a bit too brainy for it's own good.
I will add Peter Harness to my ever-growing list of writers I will have to kidnap and torture in order to find some kind of closure...
Dune: Part Two (2024)
The Impossible Burden of Dune Messiah
Part 1 kept me glued to my chair for 2 and a half hours. I am a big fan of the source material and I was blown away by what Villeneuve did with it. Expectations for Part 2 were high and oh my, did he deliver...
This one is 15 mins longer but if it were 5 hrs I wouldn't have minded a bit. A lot has been said already on the strong points of the movie and I will not repeat them. There is also criticism and all I can say is, I get it. I didn't see any weak points at all myself, but I acknowledge that some people won't like the visual style, the narrative or the way it is brought to screen. If any of these things bother you, I won't judge you. All I can say is that personally, I want to be buried in this film. Villeneuve did with Dune what Peter Jackson did with Lord of the Rings: the impossible. He visualised what was thought to be unfilmable. And arguably, he even did a better job than Jackson (blasphemous thought, I know, but there it is). What made all the difference (in both these cases) is the unrelenting vision of the director. Jackson is a fan of the source material and he wanted to do it justice. Villeneuve went a step further. Not only is he a fan of the source material, he used the opportunity to make a film that is actually MORE true to the source material than the source material itself! Frank Herbert was disappointed that his intentions were misunderstood by most readers in the sense that Paul was seen as the obvious hero, instead of a false messiah. Villeneuve's interpretation is more clear on that part than the book, a change that would certainly be approved by the author if he were still alive.
But this is what makes me very, very afraid of what is to come. Dune Messiah was Frank Herberts remedy for the first book. It hammered the point home that Paul is not a saint but a conqueror. It's a devastating end to Paul's saga and as people who read it may remember, it also ends in a devastating tragedy for the main characters.
Villeneuve will do the 3rd movie, we already know that. He will bring the second book to screen and that is absolutely a.m.a.z.i.n.g. News. Because by now, we all know he will do the story justice, even if the studio will not want him to. Because let's face it: if he tells the story truthfully, on paper that should be the end of the franchise. That is what haunts me. The incredible prospect of the 3rd movie that is now a certainty and the fear that it will be the last.
The 3rd book (Children of Dune) is the redeemer of the 2nd. It's weird, strange and yet compelling but also seemingly impossible to visualise. Who will do this if not Denis Villeneuve? More importantly: who will DARE this if not Denis Villeneuve?
And, further down the line: who will ever give us the God Emperor (book 4)?
Silo (2023)
Intelligent, surprising and gripping!
I don't get the negative reviews. A lot of them are about the first two episodes being good and the rest being mediocre and boring. I thought the first two episodes were very good, but they felt rather introductory. Based on these reviews I half expected the rest to be less thought provoking and indeed boring, so I braced myself.
To my astonishment the 3rd episode was actually nail-biting. And the world building is so well done, the acting so great and the story so gripping that I just couldn't stop.
I've read similar reviews on The Peripheral, another great, intelligent SF-show. What is it with these people? They complain about "too much talking in a room" or about lack of action, apparently because not each episode is filled with dead bodies and martial arts. These people should watch Steven Seagal-movies, not write reviews.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
Boring, long, convoluted and altogether ridiculous
Right after watching Black Adam (and making fun of it) we started this one, only to realise we watched them in the wrong order.
I nearly fell asleep and looked at the timer several times, shocked by the amount of time still to endure.
I'll not get into all the stupid stuff in this movie, except for one thing. Everyone flies nowadays, apparently. But Namor? Four dove-sized baby-wings, two on each feet? Really? And with those he jumps around in the sky like a lens flare?! The most incredible thing about that is not the baby-wings, but the fact that they not only made the script, but even the film! And there I was, thinking that Yoda jumping around like a frog on acid in "Attack of the Clones" was ridiculous.
Another thing I have to get off my chest: as in most of the CGI-infested films these days, physics are completely off, which makes you feel like watching the cut scenes in a computer game. When you present a BIG thing, it should FEEL big, move slowly, fall graciously, in short: respect gravity. ATTENTION ALL FILM MAKERS: go see Avatar I & II and study it like it was your bible!! THAT'S how you do physics!!
Severance (2022)
Sad. Hilarious. Creepy! And absoluty BRILLIANT!!!!
It has been a long, long, long, LONG time since I was so impressed with anything on screen! I was very pleased with 'Andor' but this one blows everything else out of the water.
At the start of the first episode I was seriously doubting this would be for me. It just looked so depressing, with the obvious visuals, the stylised surroundings, the strange acting...
But the moment Mark goes down the lift and the muzak began to play (that is no typo by the way - for those of you who are unfamiliar with the term) I started laughing. And during his long walk through this ridiculous, convoluted, endless white corridors, I just kept laughing. And I was hooked. From that point on, I couldn't stop watching. Each single episode is better than the previous one. (And most of them are directed by Ben Stiller. Ben Stiller!?!?!)
As others have said, visuals, acting, writing, plot (not to mention the theme!) ... everything is P. E. R. F. E. C. T!!
By the way: this is not one for lovers of mindless action flicks. Go watch something else. This is for people who like their shows intelligent, thoughtful and provocative!
Let me add one thing: be prepared for an unbelievably tense finale! Most tv-series build up to that, but this one.... absolutely ridiculous!! I have never seen ANY tv show ending in such a nail-biting, thriller-like cliffhanger. Incredible!
Star Trek: Discovery (2017)
Fart Trek: Wet and Sloppy
Like so many others, I have tried. Die-hard Trekkie here. S1 was OK, I thought. Not great, but OK. Hoped it would get better in S2. Didn't happen. But S2 was still kind of OK, though the extremely unconvincing romance between Wilson Cruz (reasonable actor) and the totally inadequate Anthony Rapp gets really irritating. Cruz is convincing in all his scenes AS LONG AS RAPP ISN'T THERE! Not sure if it's just the bad writing or Rapp's terrible acting. Probably both.
And then S3 started. My god, soooo much crying.... all these women, supposed to be Star Fleets finest, who can't do so much as lift a torque wrench without a deeply emotional (and absolutely cringe-worthy) pep talk. Whilst the universe is supposed to be on fire.
And mid-season we get a non-binary teen who wants to be addressed as they/them... (insert facepalm). I really don't mind political agenda's, AS LONG AS YOU MAKE THEM WATCHABLE!!
There's just no excuse for bad writing and unlikeable characters (not the non-binary teen by the way - that's actually a charming actor/actress/someone who acts).
But there is no excuse for making a product unwatchable by terrible plots and ridiculous twists. To top it off, ensign Tilly (irritating character to begin with, very aptly described by the only fun character in the series -former psychopathic empress Philippa Georgiou- as having "the psychic dominance of a kitten") is now 2nd in command. O. M. G.
Philippa is fun. She and Saru (who's arc is actually believable) are just about the only convincing and likeable characters in the series.
Sonequa Martin-Green is attractive. Not sure if that'll help me through S4. And by Grabthars Hammer, there is even going to be a S5 if I'm not mistaken. The hits just keep on coming...
The Warrior's Way (2010)
The Style is strong with this one!
I stumbled upon this film by accident while channel jumping and I was immediately captivated by its striking graphic style. This is Tarantino meets Ang Lee meets Wachowski brothers.
People who are easily aggravated/offended by films with flagrant historically inaccuracies should stay away from it. Its just not that kind of film. This is a fairytale about the perfect warrior (the silent type, literally, since he speaks about 20 sentences during the whole film) that becomes imperfect (from a warriors point of view) by the power of innocence.
The film is so stylized that quite often the set is -obviously deliberate- recognizable as just that: a set. The film looks beautiful, gorgeous even, and so do the action scenes, of which some may think there are too few. I do not share that opinion, for this is not an action flick. Nor is it a high pitched drama. Its just a fairytale, boldly visualized, that happens to be set in an intentionally roughly painted western setting. The pacing is slow at times, which leaves you more time to enjoy the visuals.
If you liked Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Matrix for their visual flair, if you like Tarantino for his weird, over the top pulp stories, you really should try The Warriors Way.
Paul (2011)
Nerdfood
There aren't that many comedies I enjoy, but I really loved Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead, also with Pegg and Frost. This one is not quite in the same league, but still pretty good. As always, Pegg and Frost excel in portraying lovable goons, realistic to the point of cringing. At first glance the film seems to be aimed at the American market, but its not without a bite. It refuses to take the safe road and makes good fun of American preoccupation with UFO's, anal probing and faith. It boldly, bluntly and rather hilariously attacks Christianity repeatedly. It is also packed with references to the classics and pays homage to nerds and geeks, while parodying them at the same time, lovingly but viciously.
This really is one for the nerds. If you liked Galaxy Quest and are not offended by jokes at precious beliefs, this is definitely one to watch. If you do, pay attention to the T-shirt the Christian girl wears the first time she enters the screen. I laughed my head of.
Terror Peak (2003)
Star Trek TOS, but without the good story and the convincing special effects
Have not been able to finish this rubbish. No cliché is overlooked as Wonder Woman Lynda Carter (whining b*tch) is just as completely unconvincing but actually less irritating as Emily Barclay (spoiled (b*tch) as her daughter.
This is really a waste of time, especially for those watching. And the special effects really do resemble those of Star Trek TOS, but are not as convincing.
Actually the story telling also resembles STTOS. The pacing is agonizingly slow, the plot twists are ridiculous and the characters are cardboard. But hey, STTOS was a sixties TV show and what's more: it was SCIENCE FICTION. The stories where supposed to be ridiculous and at least they were imaginative. "Terror peak" is not.
The title is well chosen, though. Its another kind of terror, but it surely peaks.