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gabriellkramer
Reviews
The Chosen (2017)
An unreal, but extremely real show about the hope of mankind
Can't even watch this without being emotionally wrecked, moved, inspired in so many ways. This is it and it is amazingly produced. All you want is more. More, more, MORE.
To see this so well done and visually depicted. It's a must watch. Binge watch. You have to watch, experience, and tell others.
Yip Man 4 (2019)
What an Ending to the Donnie Yen Saga
Worth the writing and story-telling of this saga, I honestly think two more films could have worked. The fight scenes were incredible and of course loved the story.
I thought the racism was over the top, initially, but talking with my mother in law who watched it with me and lived through darker days in the US, she said she witnessed exactly that against the Asian community. I feel like this was spot on for those times. Sad but true.
Ip Man's character is a marvel to watch. I truly love what Donnie Yen and Wilson Yip have created here. Master story tellers and martial artists.
I was truly in awe with the fight scenes. And Bruce Lee was incredible!!! They nailed it man. I guess no more Ip Man, but every year I watch them over and over. Now thankfully I have one more to add.
Thank you Donnie Yen. Thank you Wilson Yip. Hopefully you can continue the story with Bruce Lee.
Eli (2019)
Too Sloppy
I'm not one too catch a lot of inconsistencies, but I just couldn't keep from seeing them here. From like the first 10 minutes on.
A kid throws a beer bottle that busts on the back of the family car window as they drive off, and the wide shot showing them drive off the window is clean. The girl throwing rocks at his window at the treatment center to get his attention, pebbles by the sound of it, but each one puts a small crack in the window.
The boy gets drilled into the bone of his leg, while he is still conscious- then he is walking and even nearly running afterward. He gets the back of his head shaved and gets drilled into it, but a few scenes later and there's no shave spot in the back of his head.
When he talks to the girl through the heavy glass room, somehow they hear each other pretty loud and clear where it would really be muffled. And there were more and more problems.
The whole thing to me just felt thrown together and not well thought out. Like they carelessly ran through the first two acts to get to the final act, which was a crazy twist. Maybe the end gives a pass to most of the issues I just listed, but it feels more like sloppy and rushed film-making.
Not a great movie by any of the stretch. Maybe it isn't even trying to be. Is it worth watching? After what I saw, I don't think so. My vote would be to find a better one.
It Chapter Two (2019)
No This Missed the Mark
Loved the first one and really looked forward to the second installment. From the beginning, it was so over the top. Why? What in the world happened?
Right into the first 10 minutes the storylines themselves took me out of the movie. Not over the top with horror but with character decisions. You'll see what I mean when you see it.
And from there it just didn't come together beautifully, like it did in the first installment for me.
Yes lots of CGI, which added to the over the top element. Felt more like just a bunch of cheap jump scares versus building up to key moments. It was missing so much magic of the first installment.
Even the actors, who are a great cast, felt slightly mistimed. There were many times where you knew they were trying to establish some connection because of their history together, but it came across as a delivered line rather than an emotional connection and believable.
It just didn't come together and close off what should have been an amazing ending with the storytelling and buy-in to the characters. The only thing they got right was the casting itself, as they do look like older versions of their younger selves. It just wasn't enough on balance with everything else. How disappointing!!! Two stars because it was such a let down.
Cobra Kai (2018)
Oh man, believe the hype!
I am with so many other reviewers on here - this show shouldn't be THAT GOOD. But it is!!! I just finished season 2, dying for more, and have to wait till probably 2020. I liked the karate kid movie back in the day but this blows it away. I cannot wait for another season. If the writing stays where it is, this show will only get better and better. Which seems impossible but yet possible!! If it does, holy shiz. It'll be day of release watch and 7+ hours of binging no question. Simply outstanding!