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philrealdeal
Reviews
Resident Alien (2021)
Brilliant, but almost ruined.
This show is hilarious! Alan Tudyk is true to form and on his game on this one. It's still complex enough and interesting to keep things interesting. Although the writing can seem a little childish for a show with a TV-MA RATING.
The borderline show ruining character is the sheriff. He is cringey, unappealing, and consistently overacting to a point where it is almost actually ridiculous. It's amazing that Tudyk can be cringy in a way that is genuine and wholesome, but the sheriff makes you want to turn the whole tv off.
Overall, I recommend this for a watch!
The rest of this review is filler for the character count. The rest of this review is filler for the character count.
Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
Meh
The show is well done. Exciting. Great nostalgia and tie ins. I think it does the series a good service in fleshing out a great part of the story that fans needed.
What I don't care for is the overacting from Inq. Reva. It almost ruined the entire show for me. Overdone most of the time and exhausting to keep up with.
Kenobi and Skywalker are beautifully done and portrayed. Young Leia is unbelievable and does a better job than most adults in the industry. Major props there due.
The rest of this is filler because of the silly character count. The rest of this is filler because of the silly character count. The rest of this is filler because of the silly character count. The rest of this is filler because of the silly character count.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (2023)
Still giving a shot
I'm conflicted on this one. I think the writing and premise is solid enough. But I think it is plagued with unlikeable characters. I just can't get behind them or into the main trio. While their stores are genuine and deep, they feel phony and shallow in their delivery. It also feels like there are cheap plots and hidden agendas throughout. Let's just make a good show.
I need more monsters. More action. This show should take notes from the movies and give the people what they want.
It expands the lore in the American Godzilla universe. But I need more. Deeper. More weight.
When you wish characters had died sooner, it's a bad sign.
Yellowstone (2018)
Pretty over it
This show started out really strong. The characters were interesting, the story was great, all was right in the world. This show NEVER knew squat about ranching, which is fine for some Hollywood production rather than a boots on the ground show.
It spiraled out of control though. It's so amazing that there has been zero character development throughout the series. Beth is still winey, John is still a dusty old fart that won't give up control, Jamie is a baby. It's frustrating committing to a show that has nothing to offer in latter seasons. Just the same old situations and problems that vary slightly. This one needs to wrap it up and try to end on a high note.
Ted Lasso (2020)
Great show, could do with less politics
The first season was absolutely phenomenal. How the show handled stress, anxiety, and breakdowns was done masterfully well. As the show progresses, there are more and more, less and less obvious jabs into current events and hot topics. I think the final straw was the comment by Ted about police in the finale. I think it's this kind of "propaganda" that apple and other outsets shouldn't push.
The show tells great tales of triumph, friendship, and self respect. I think there are plenty of great moments. This show will make you actually feel something. I just wish it wasn't in your face with off the cuff moments that take away from the good.
This show should be added to the list of great television because of how it changes the formula of a series. It skips the menial, time consuming parts and let's the user fill it in. However, that is an issue I have with it as well. Game of Thrones was so addicting because it tells you everything in painstaking detail. It's a show where you watch and everything is explained. Ted takes the opposite route. It's a refreshing change, but writing I can't get into.
Better Call Saul (2015)
The pinnacle of television
Full disclosure: there are several shows that reach the top. Each for their own way. This one hits the mark for me and so much more.
The acting in particular is unbelievable. The way that each of the leads out so much passion into each episode is so powerful. More than once, I've lost it because of the contagiousness of emotion and how it all felt so real.
The way each character is developed over time, the slow burn of it all is exactly what should be shown in film classes everywhere.
Also, Gilligan et al. Are masters of cinematography. Their trademark wide shots let the show develop and give a ton of weight the the situation. Love it.
1923 (2022)
Does anyone even care anymore?
I think this show and 1883 fall victim to the same problem: it's too short.
When Miren goes through a "heartbreaking" cry in the pasture, I'm so unattached and just don't care. Partially because I haven't gotten attached to her character, or any character for that matter. We are seeing any kind of development in any way. Not really much of it going on in Yellowstone either. It is just western, crowd pleasing television. Characters need time for their developments to be meaningful (I.e. Breaking Bad, Mad Men). Otherwise, we are just along for a mindless ride.
Pretty over this series and any other series Sheridan can't help but shamelessly cast himself in.
Glass Onion (2022)
Blanc said it best, completely dumb.
This started out with a lot of potential. Craig is on his A game and so are numerous other cast members. But the lead in Monae. Just brings the whole squad down. She is unlikable with her phony accent and dry acting, so you never really root for her.
On top of this, to center the whole movie around idiocy is the wrong move. Knives Out was brilliant and smart. The central theme of stupidity is lost on the target audience.
The murder was so pointless. There was no real weight to it, and it was pointless to solve. Coupled with a bad lead just sent this one down the toilet. A better ending would be if they all just blew up (as the probably should have with as big of an explosion as it was).
Monster (2022)
Not enough people are talking about Niecy Nash
I think this show does what more of these docs should: painting the subject like the monster they are. I love the focus on the families which totally breaks your heart.
Peters is good, sure. But Nash completely stole the show. The power in her performance outshines Peters in every aspect. This can also be said for main of the secondary characters during the whole series.
The way the show progresses and works through the victims is what breaks you down over time. It gives them personality and makes them people, as it should be. Too many true crime shows glorify killers. This show does not do that. This is outstanding TV.
Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
Really fell off the wagon
I loved the first two films. The really set the stage with so much lore, beasts, great acting, and great story. Amazing. This one was unfortunately plagued with bad casting and rough, over acting by some characters that are new to the series. Why can't we just pick good actors to come through? What happened to Waterston? She was phenomenal in the first two, but it appears she was recast for token wokeness. Over all this baloney. Let's just get back to making good movies.
But even past that, lacked depth. It just didn't jive for me. I don't care for the recasting on Depp with no explanation in film. But Mads is an unbelievable asset. He comes through for sure, but it still feels off because of the other two films.
Prehistoric Planet (2022)
I'm no paleontologist but.....
First of all, this show is totally worth a watch. It's absolutely beautiful and of course, Attenborough delivers.
To me though, I feel like there were so many liberties that were taken with dinosaurs for the sake of drama. Did Dino's REALLY live in the arctic year round? Was there REALLY a mini-migration of pterosaurs from a cliff to the mainland? Were some pterosaurs REALLY posing as females to get a mate? Do we really know all of these things or is apple trying to just make an interesting show?
If these things are true, great. Power to it. But it made me question some of it. That's all.
Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)
Bad casting ruined a potential goodie
Story and premise are all solid. Dragons, the unique lands, all dope. Awkwafina is in wayyyy over her head. Lame jokes and bad writing on her part turned this into a dump.
The Suicide Squad (2021)
Pretty solid outing
I'm happy with this one. You feel more for the characters and it's genuinely a good watch. Peppered with solid laughs throughout.
Bonus perks (spoilers): Pete Davidson gets his face shot off and Waller gets clocked for being the dick she is.
The Mandalorian (2019)
Great show. Shame it got political
The story, the acting, the characters, major kudos to Jon Favreau. I really genuinely loved the series as a whole. But then Disney sticks their nose in and fires a wonderful actress and key character because of her political views. Whereas the titular character is even more radical and irresponsible with his political agenda and comments. 10 stars for the effort. 0 stars for the agenda.
Nobody wants politics in the TV we watch. Let the show just be good.
Chernobyl (2019)
I wish I could give it more stars
I try to rate shows and movies as accurately as my opinion will allow. But this pushes past the limit of 10 stars. The amount of moving moments in this show are truly humbling. Seeing the explosion of Chernobyl portrayed that paints the picture of the decline of the Soviet Union is something that we all must bear witness to.
Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
Will lose yourself in your inner kid
I went into this movie really hesitant. I think back on all the good memories I had with the original movie with both my parents and grandparents, so I knew it would have to be perfect. AND IT WAS. This movie could not have been cast or conducted any better. This felt like a flawless extension of the original and I loved every minute of it. As an adult, I truly felt inspired and reminded of what it was like to be lost in a movie with this kind of childlike feeling and magic.
The Newsroom (2012)
Created an account just to rate this show
This was the single best written, and most enjoyable show that has ever graced television. The drama throughout is beautifully handled and progresses in a way that is truly captivating. It is a crying shame that this show was cancelled. The world was a better place with this show on TV.
Finding Dory (2016)
Disappointed
I watched this movie with very high hopes. I was a kid when Finding Nemo came out and it defined kids movies at the time. Finding Dory was significantly less impressive. The good: The move was very cute and the characters were fun. Ed O'Neill as a cranky octopus was especially nice.
The bad: The whole movie feels as if Pixar was pressed to come out with a solid movie and just threw this one together really fast. It felt very rushed and therefore the story line, which had a little potential, was hard to really get into and appreciate. 3/4 of the way through, though it felt rushed, the movie became very redundant and predictable. I was pretty over it personally and could have stopped the movie then and been a happy camper.
One of Pixar's lazier films and it's disappointing considering the astounding work they have done before it. If you want to enjoy a movie like this, just watch Finding Nemo instead. If you want to see the sequel to they aforementioned and terrific film, your imagination of how the movie should play out is probably better than the real thing.