Change Your Image
dlaird8
Reviews
The 5th Wave (2016)
Awful
So bad that when CGM's character was crying my partner asked 'what's she having a panic attack about?'
This is truly awful. From the bad acting, the terrible plot holes, suddenly EMP's take out hydraulic brakes, and overly long run time, this is a film you shouldn't really waste your time watching.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Trade (2008)
Procedural Crime Drama that breaks basic rules.
You could make a list of the errors in this episode. Initially it follows the typical SVU plot framing with a rape and murder of a young woman, with a fire lit to destroy evidence. Suddenly though the detectives are led to a coffee trader by a spiritual healer (WTF) ignoring the fact she most likely would have had some or all of mobile/personal planner/laptop they could have gleaned information from. Maybe they got bored of using this method as TARU has been able to recover information from fire damaged tech previously. The usual back and forth ensues with the father and son lead suspects until finally at the end the crime scene unit does the job they should have done at the start and finds the hidden camera revealing the purp. I mean it had a SIM card, they'd found a hidden SIM just previously, there must have been access to tge camera to get the card without cutting a hole in the wall. Then sloppy policing in letting the killer out of the room to be able to commit a murder suicide is just ridiculous. In real life the father would be suing the department to bankruptcy. He certainly can afford the lawyer to do it seeing the son can afford to pay a lawyer that can dish out a 50k bribe plus whatever the PI got. Hang you're brain up for an hour and you might enjoy it. Writers would be better on Star Trek.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Part 33 (2019)
Worst. Episode. Ever
Since when did Police decide whether someone was guilty or innocent? The whole idea the detective Carisi, Benson or Rollins are going to decide an accused's fate ignores how the legal system works and reinforces the notion that police think they are the law.
This show becomes more left wing with every season. Awful.
Scrubs (2001)
My favourite TV series of all time.
Scrubs is and forever will be the greatest series of all time (IMO). Takes a couple of episodes to get into it and reestablish some cannon, and the last season is technically under a different name so you can include or exclude it based on your own preference.
Scrubs perfectly mixes long form story (J.D. and Elliott will they won't they, Carla and Turk, Turk and J.D. etc) with that 20 minute start to finish episode arc perfectly. So many great episodes that range from tear jerking to hilarious with some fantastic acting throughout (Judy Reyes performance from 'My Long Goodbye' immediately comes to mind). Unlike many shows that run for this many seasons (again you can inlude season 9 at your own peril) Scrubs still knocks it out of the park. Season 8 I think is one of it's strongest with e2, e5 and the original finale being standouts along with the double episode of the wedding of Lady and Janitor (or Jan Itor your choice).
Anyways I love this show and have watched it multiple times over and it makes me laugh, giggle, and yes cry. No other show I can think of has made me do that, and for that, I give it top marks 10/10.
Letterkenny: Bock et Biche (2018)
One of Letterkenny's best.
Fantastic episode. You have to have seen the previous episode with the Quebecers to fully understand the brilliantness of this episode, but would still be great for the casual watcher. Perfect series finale cliffhanger where the usual witty banter is included in the pre title card seen, the scrapping 'A team' go on a road trip to Quebec to celebrate a Buck N Doe party and help the same locals with some degens from up country.
Little gems throughout, Katy with the Slipitin Cider, the bottle of Guy & Bruce as opposed to the Ontario brand of Gus N Bru, and others if you look hard enough.
The final 7+ minute long scene in the bar where Darry gets his girl, everyone is dancing 'cept Wayne, Tyson, JB, and McMurray who are knocking back shots, and the previously alluded to niece walks into the bar, with Wayne unable to take his eyes of her, is one of the best scenes in the history of this show. Doesn't hurt that it is set to an absolute banger of a Quebecan 70s prog rock banger. Must have watched this scene half a doz times already.
10/10
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017)
Better than the rating suggests
Enjoyable sci-fi tale. There are some low points, the line 'love is the most powerful thing' (not verbatim) just seems to rip off Interstellar to me and I thought was unnecessary, proceeded by what I thought was a major change in character development by the lead, and some average acting across the board. But there are plenty of positives to outweigh these negatives in my opinion. Overall an interesting story, mostly well told. I can imagine this would have been impressive on the big screen (watched on Netflix).
Overall better than a lot of sci-fi pumped out recently and a recommended watch.
Might even havr to watch again with the kids.
Scrubs: My Hero (2002)
Starting Trends
Firstly this review contains a spoiler for season 3 and it's a big one so don't read on if you don't know who dies.
Alright, fair warning given.
This episode starts a few common occurrences for the rest of the series, JD yells 'Eagle' when being carried by Ben, which later on is yelled whenever being piggy-backed by Dr Turk. Also this is the first appearance of Teds band later to be named the 'Worthless Peons' (The Blanks in real life, check them out).
So Ben has been diagnosed with Leukemia in the previous episode and know has to begin treatment. Dr Cox tells JD he is to scared to accompany Ben to chemotherapy which of course bothers JD. Meanwhile the janitor is harrassing JD as he seems to know all about JD and his personal memories.
Turk wants to know why he isn't the best surgical intern and the Todd is. Lastly Carla and Elliot are in trouble for filling out an unflattering 'anonymous' performance review of Dr Kelso that only they did.
This episode sets up a season 3 episode for a returning Ben which is one of if not the finest and most gut-punching episodes in the entire series.
So if you feel like a cry go straight to episode 14 series 3 after you have finished this one.
Go on, off you go.
Le chant du loup (2019)
Fantastic French
This movie blew me away. The Wolf's Call is definitely something different to most of Netflix's usual fair.
Loved the story, was neither cliched or predictable and had drew me in with the way it created suspense from start to finish.
Strong acting, well shot and scripted. You can tell the influence of Hunt For Red October, intentional or not, and it is definitely up there in terms of quality. Highly recommend.
After Earth (2013)
I like the story, pity acting is awful.
As I said in the title, the story, I think, is good. The acting however is absoloutly terrible. Even some of the periphery characters are awful. You can tell the casting budget was swallowed up by the Smith family.
As the story goes, Smith senior is a legendary Ranger on mankinds new home Nova Prime. Smith junior is his disappointing son. They crash land on earth and blah blah blah.
Sorry, the terrible acting makes me not want to finish this review.
Certainly an unknown child actor and a different big name lead would have made a much better movie.
Will Smith wanted this movie to be all about him and his son, unfortunately for him it is. Just not the way he wanted it to be.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Disaster (1991)
TNG Does Disaster Movie
Very enjoyable episode, all main characters have a role to play.
While there are several disaster movie cliches, overall they contribute nicely. Worf delivering a baby is one of the funniest things in the whole series.
There are a few plot holes which have to be ignored to enjoy this episode fully (why is absoloutly no one in engineering, why is an unqualified idiot like Troi able to be in command?).
The Highwaymen (2019)
One of Netflix's Best
First of all Costner and Harrelson still have it. Costner does his usual brooding tough guy, and Harrelson the slightly goofball but capable partner, very well.
This is, for the most part, a reasonably accurate historical telling of the 'attempt' to capture Bonnie and Clyde.
Very enjoyable throughout. Obviously has some added scenes for action and to try and provide background into the main characters. None of that however detracts from the story. If you're looking for a film that has good story, well acted, but doesn't try to be as high brow or media arts student essay like a Coen film, you'd be hard pressed to go past The Highwaymen.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Half a Life (1991)
Initially Grating, Lastly Emotional
While personally not a fan of either Troi, this episode focusing on Deana's mother Lwaxana is emotionally entertaining.
A scientist from a reclusive isolationist culture boards the Enterprise to conduct an experiment that could lead to the restart of his worlds dying sun.
Lwaxana develops a relationship with him only to find his culture has a very different way for dealing with their elderly.
The episode deals with a social issue facing our own cultures, posing an arguement that while logical, clashes with those of both ourselves and the Enterprise crew and guests.
Overall a good episode, though started for me with a verbal explitave after the initial log being a personal one from Counsellor Troi.
A great addition to the TNG universe.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Loss (1990)
Lowest Rated Episode of Series 4
This eposode grates. The only reason this gets up to a 5 for me is the half of the run time that doesn't feature Counsellor Troi is decent. My biggest problem is Troi resigns as soon as she is in trouble. Aren't Starfleet officers made of sterner stuff?
The 'woe is me' narrative might be aiming for empathy, but fails miserably. Picard should have accepted Troi's resignation and dropped her at the nearest starbase.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Family (1990)
TNG at it's emotional best.
This episode is somewhat a continuation of the 'Best of Both Worlds' episodes as it features both the ship and crew recovering after their encounter with the Borg.
Picard and Worf visit and have a visit respectively with their family. Dr Crusher has a message for Wesley from his father.
I enjoyed Wesley's part in this episode, it seems many others did not. It certainly is the weak subplot, Worf's subplot is far stronger, although less emotional, hey it's Worf, what do you expect?
Picard's role in this episode is fantastic. A view into his experience and the effect it had on him while being part of the Borg collective. Great story telling to further add to the narrative of ' Best of Both Worlds'.
The Orville: Lasting Impressions (2019)
Great Ending
The Orville gets better and better. This episode does not have any space element to it although there is some Voyager in there.
Focusing mainly on Malloy with a secondary story from Bortus and Klyden.
As usual there is a lot of social commentary in this episode. Well paced, not perfect, but the ending is fantastic.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Yesterday's Enterprise (1990)
Right in the feels.
I never saw the first few seasons of TNG as I would have been 3yo in 1987, TNG was my first introduction to Star Trek. I remember watching sporadically latet season episodes. Now it is on Netflix I have been watching these early episodes for the first time.
I didn't particularly like Tasha Yar, I never knew she existed till recently and am only a casual fan. Her death in series 1 didn't bother me. Just watched 'Yesterdays Enterprise'. Jesus it hit me right in the feels. Not ashamed to say I was on the verge of tears when Yar requested a transfer from Picard and for the rest of the episode. This episode was fantastic story telling. Highly recommended for any viewer not just Trekkies.