Change Your Image
RagScreen
Reviews
Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire (2023)
Snyders overuse of slo-mo is like wanting a webpage to load on dial-up. A Bugs Life was better for this much used plot
Looks like it's Zack Snyders turn to revisit the classic story of The Seven Samurai or Magnificent Seven plot which of course was the plot to A Bugs Life.
Small village is invaded by an overpowered bandits/gang/imperial forces forcing them to give them tribute or die.
A single brave soul is sent to recruit help in whatever form to help village survive. There will be a big battle.
Snyders take on this plot unfortunately is the worst take. The previous plots found ways to give genuine reasons for why protagonist's would help complete strangers. Snyder has struggled to find these reasons or just plainly not bothered with reasons.
Earlier versions of the 7 trope also find unique ways to not take itself too seriously. Snyder can't seem to do that in any of his movies - filling almost each scene in this movie with an overload of gravitas that's simply not warranted or sensible.
His overuse of slo-mo is a testament to that as he tries to inject intensity into his shots but has all the excitement of trying to load a webpage with a dial-up modem. All you can do is sigh and hope we just move on
Overall - I think it's a poor version of a classic plot and you're better off watching A Bugs Life again.
Blue Beetle (2023)
A film released in an time of superhero fatigue
Imagine going to an all you can eat buffet every couple weeks where you're now just sick of 'insert food here'
Sure...you can eat it - but it's meh now. Done to death. You've eaten so much meat/bbq you're contemplating being vegan - even for a short time.
Just - anything to alleviate the monotony. A brief respite.
You now want a salad to watch with your partner. You don't even really like salads. It's just so you can rest your now bloated guts. Dry your meat sweaty brow.
This is unfortunately what it's like to watch Blue Beetle after being subjected to 10 years+ of superhero franchise. I loved superhero movies. They were so good. But the MCU & it's wish version - the DCEU have dulled the senses.
Actors were good - but just another poor, done to death premise.
John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
This is a VERY average movie
Yes - Reeves is much beloved in the media world and by fans and so called alike. He is a really good dude. Perhaps that's what accounts for the high scores here.
But it's just an average movie and some of the scenes (like pt3) are further examples of say a budding cook who doesn't know when to stop adding unnecessary things to a meal.
Stupid unnecessary scenes. It's like a bunch of yahoos talking over a comic book idea after snorting lines of coke and thinking it sounds cool in their daze.
Yen's blind swordsman character is pointless and you can tell he's only been hired because of that "next level" adversary and the fact the producers wanted a "blind swordsman character" nothing more.
His blindness is actually pointless. Why the fk can he read his poker hand? The blind swordsmen trope historically gets used way better than this nonsense.
It's just a bunch of shooting each other in various elaborate ways - I'm surprised the stage musical hasn't been made (pt 5 perhaps?).
Disappointing addition to the franchise and it needs to stop.
Astérix & Obélix : L'empire du milieu (2023)
This is a FOREIGN film and shouldn't be watched in English
If you don't like foreign films then this will be a miss for you. This movie is funny if you understand the French humour and screenplay.
It's like trying to watch Kung Fu Hustle in English. It just doesn't really work - the humour will be lost on you.
Really enjoyed this movie.
Cacophonix scenes cracked me up a plenty. It had the right amount of ridiculousness I expect from Asterix & Obelix. The play on names is still there and the characters reminded me somewhat of the beloved comics I read as a kid. The satire is still there and the comic book style of fighting too.
However if you don't enjoy watching this in non-English probably give this a pass.
Shadow and Bone (2021)
Made excellent by combining Bardugos two main sagas
This show is actually well done for a book adaptation where so many adaptations have really failed.
By combining Bardugos Grisha saga w the Six of Crows trilogy you have some great characters - like Brekkers crows and Rollins lions that really stand out in contrast to Starkov and Kirigans story.
The casting is pretty spot on and the acting is pretty good. Doesn't come across as as YA/teen angst story so you're not rolling your eyes.
The magic system is pretty well made and the world gives a graceful nod to Bardugos universe. Probably helps tremendously that the author is an executive producer and they're actually listening to her.
So big thumbs up from me.
Shortland Street (1992)
When aspiring kiwi stars job prospects are bleak
This show has been going a horribly long time
Maybe we wanted this to be General Hospital or ER or something?
But it's full of the most dreadful script, actors and plots.
I wonder if some of the long term actors really wonder where they went wrong in their careers and chose not to develop themselves further.
I mean - Marton Csokas, Karl Urban & Tem Morrison did it. Leaving this dreadful drama behind. Dead horses have more use for society than this show ever will and it's another sad and apparent reveal at how bad NZ is at making something original tv wise. Now and again we create a gem - but this show is nothing more but left over tinfoil covering badly cooked chicken = avoid at all cost.
The Repair Shop (2017)
In a world of excessive consumerism & waste - this is a joy to watch
They don't make things the way they used to it's said - and the memories & stories associated with the myriad items that get restored in this show really bring a feeling of warmth along with worthy smiles for everyone.
Many of these items were made by people with incredible skills using very little in tougher times and seeing these things restored is awesome to watch.
I wonder what items in todays day and age would be able to hold up to the weight of sentiment these memories have delivered to families over the years - considering we are so used to throwing things away just so we can buy the next flash in a pan?
It makes you look at what's important & long lasting at the end of the day
Really good television.