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Reviews
Sugar (2024)
Farrell's Superb Performance Is Undermined by a Muddled Concept
Although I've disliked most of Colin Farrell's movies, I'm still a big fan of his exceptional acting chops. Since I'm also a fan of detective noir and science-fiction, I should be raving about this series. Instead I'm scratching my head in response to this show's use of a gimmicky, virtually irrelevant, s-f element. If the s-f element was going somewhere interesting, I would support its inclusion. In this series, however, the s-f is being shoehorned in simply to attract public attention. Does the s-f inclusion make this show better? The answer is obviously no. All it does is needlessly undermine this show's entertaining homage to noir, as well as Farrell's first-rate performance. The first season's final episode definitely did not leave me wanting more. Unfortunately, I suspect that this series will be quickly forgotten.
Justified: City Primeval (2023)
Disappointing & Tediously Generic Watered-Down Version of Justified
The original series of Justified was extremely well written with an wide array of interesting characters. The writing for this series is so typical and generic, it's a tedious chore to watch. The humour that was an integral aspect of the original show is missing -- noticeably so -- from this current remake. Unlike the original, ALL of the characters are so incredibly dull. The only thing that differentiates this current series from any other cop show is Timothy Olyphant. But this show is so poorly conceived and written, even he can't save it. As for the pointless inclusion of Raylan Given's incredibly annoying daughter, that's another strike against this heaping pile of doggie doo doo. Rather than wasting your time watching this mess, go re-watch the original.
Barry: wow (2023)
Don't Waste Your Time Watching the 4th Season of Barry
I looked to every episode of Barry during its first three seasons, but its fourth season was devoid of humour, dark or otherwise. The fourth season has so badly written and executed that it's ruined the entire series for me. The character of Fuches, Barry's handler/antagonistic, played brilliantly by Stephen Root, is all over the place. Fuches' motivation flips constantly, episode to episode. One moment he's plotting his revenge against Barry, then next moment he's back on Barry's side, and then he's back plotting his revenge once again. The behaviour of your characters should have some consistently. I find it bizarre that Fuches gets away scot-free while Henry Winkler's character, Gene Cousineau, is jailed. The implication seems to be that a self-absorbed actor is worse that a murderer.
The Mandalorian: Chapter 17: The Apostate (2023)
I Wish The 3rd Season Focused On The Mandalorian & Grogu
I really looked forward to every episode of the first season. I enjoyed the episodes of the second season as well. But the third season of The Mandalorian has been a disappointing mess. An article posted on Collider, written by Marco Vito Oddo, has the heading: "The Mandalorian Season 3 Premiere Loses Sight of What Made the Series Great". I would say that the entire 3rd season has lost track of what made the series great. Like most viewers, I watch this show to see The Mandalorian and Grogu. Instead of giving me what I want to see, the third season's episodes are focussing on secondary characters that I have no interest in. I hope Jon Favreau makes a course correction for season 4. This previously fun series has devolved into an incoherent mess.
The Last of Us: Long, Long Time (2023)
"Long, Long Time" is incredibly UNDER-RATED!
As another reviewer mentioned, my initial reaction to this episode was: "Oh no, not another Gay storyline." But that initial thought was quickly dispelled by this episode's exceptional writing and the moving performances provided by Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett. Unless your viewpoint is warped by severe homophobia, this has to be one of the best episodes ever produced for TV. Murray Bartlett's character, Frank, provides the episode's heart and soul, while Nick Offerman's character is a surrogate for Pedro Pascal's character, Joel. The scenes where these two extremely similar characters, Bill and Joel, are interacting are priceless. The episode's culminates with Frank providing Bill with unexpected guidance.
Wednesday (2022)
Jenna Ortega's Superb Performance Is Sabotaged By Gough & Millar's Melodrama
I'm not an Addam's Family fan. I decided to check out this series due to Tim Burton's involvement, although Burton has had many more misses than hits of late. To my pleasant surprise, I would the first four episodes of the first season, which were all directed by Burton, to be extremely entertaining. Jenna Ortega's superb characterization makes an odd character very likable. That's the key to making this series work. However, to my disappointment, with episode five came Gough and Millar's trademark melodrama and over-the-top character angst. That killed this series for me. If you liked the melodrama of Smallville, you'll like this series as well. Personally, I would have preferred the series to have focussed primarily on Jenna Ortega's winning performance, rather than having it subverted into another one of Gough & Millar cookie-cutter teen soap operas.
No Time to Die (2021)
This Bond Film is a Tedious & Incoherent Mess
Daniel Craig was one of the best, if not the best, James Bond. Craig's portrayal of Bond has been so good, it has consistently elevated the poorly written scripts he's been given to work with. However, the script for No Time to Die is so haphazard, episodic and melodramatic, even Daniel Craig's superb portrayal of Bond can't save it. This movie is a bore, it may be the MOST boring Bond movie ever made. Daniel Craig deserves better than having to star in this mess.
The Batman (2022)
Too Long, Too Slow, Far Too Much Talk - Matt Reeves Next Batman Will Probably Be MUCH Better!
There's a lot to like about this film. Matt Reeves succeeds in creating a more grounded Batman. To my surprise, Robert Pattison's portrayal of Batman is also superb. Although all the supporting cast members are exceptional, the standout is Colin Farrell's portrayal of Oswald Cobblepot/The Penguin. Even with these positive attributes, how many of you would want to sit through this 3-hour movie again? It's slow -- painfully so. Aside from the brilliant car chase, not much happens in this 3-hour movie. And let's be honest, the dialog is more cliché than exceptional. Nolan's first Batman movie is definitely not as good as Nolan's second Batman movie -- with Heath Ledger as the Joker. I'm hoping the same holds true for Matt Reeve's follow-up Batman movie.
Halo (2022)
Steven Spielberg's Version of Halo is an Excruciating DULL DUD!!!
With Spielberg's involvement, I was expecting episodes that followed Master Chief John-117 on a series of fast-paced and thrilling adventures. Instead we're supposed to be entertained by a LOT of talk, over-the-top angst and by having an annoying pseudo-teen character continually RAMMED our throats. Do the writers and creators have to work at making a series this BAD or does it just come naturally to them? This series has more in common with Seaquest DSV than it does with Halo? Does anyone remember Seaquest DSV? Seaquest was another Spielberg produced turkey -- gobble, gobble -- that was sabotaged by the inclusion of a superfluous and annoying teen character. Thankfully, Seaquest DSV only lasted two tedious seasons. Unless Paramount+ is desperate for content, Spielberg's Halo will likely suffer the same fate.
Halo: Homecoming (2022)
Steven Spielberg's "Halo: The Soap Opera" - Part IV
With each episode, this series is becoming more and more unwatchable. The creators and writers and this series, Steven Kane and Kyle Killen, seem to be completely clueless about how to write and/or construct a compelling story. Rather than focussing on the Master Chief, John-117, Kane and Killen keep jumping to TEDIOUS subplots and secondary characters that the viewer has no interest in following. The way this series is going, it won't have ANY viewers by end of the first season -- it's just too BORING!!!!
Halo: Unbound (2022)
Steven Spielberg's "Halo: The Soap Opera" - Part II
This episode is a snooze-fest. The director, Otto Bathurst, seems to believe that by simply employing lingering shots it makes a scene important. In reality, all it does is slow down the pacing. The character angst continues to be spread on nice and thick. On the plus side, this episode actually focussed on the Master Chief, John-117. Then again, the Master Chief didn't do anything of consequence, other than emote. But this is a soap opera, so this is what we get. Now imagine a Halo series where (a) John-117 was the primary character (b) John-117 did NOT remove his helmet before the end of the first episode and (c) there were angst-ridden tweenagers. Wouldn't you rather watch that series than this soap fest???
Moon Knight (2022)
Despite Never Having Heard of this Marvel Character, I'm Hooked on this Series!
Being completely unfamiliar with this Marvel character and having disliked most of the movies that Oscar Isaac has starred in, sorry Oscar, I didn't think I would like this series. But Oscar Isaac is perfectly cast in this complex lead role. Given the fact that the first episode of this series focuses almost entirely upon Oscar Isaac's lead character, without an exceptional actor this series could not succeed. The casting, writing, direction, production values and CGI are all first-rate, as usual for a Disney+ production. I don't usually given a 10 out of 10 as a rating, but everything about the first episode was executed so well, I think it's deserved. I'm really looking forward to seeing where this character goes, which is precisely what the first episode of a series should accomplish.
Star Trek: Picard (2020)
Just Like STD, This Series Continues to Disappoint & Frustrate
Although I'm an avid Star Trek fan and an avid fan of Patrick Stewart's, I cannot stomach this series. The best thing that can be said about "Star Trek: Picard" is "it's better than Star Trek: Discovery", but that's not saying much. The writing for this series is so weak, even Patrick Stewart's charisma and acting chops can't save it. Paramount+ obviously needs to recruit a creative team who have an appreciation for the franchise Star Trek franchise, its history and its fans. The writing team currently involved with Star Trek: Picard seem to follow a "paint by numbers" approach to the tripe they're churning out.
Halo: Contact (2022)
Welcome to Steven Spielberg's "Halo: The Soap Opera"
Spielberg productions chronically over-emphasize angst in their characters. In the context of a soap opera that's fine, but Halo was not intended to be a tween soap opera. So if you're NOT into tween soap operas, you're NOT going to like this series. The Halo property has so much potential, it's disappointing to see it perverted into such cliché-ridden drivel. Sadly, this series is not going to get any better. From the first episode, it's obvious that this series is not intended for adults.
Until We Meet Again (2022)
This Movie Needs More Scenes With Leslie Jordan & Antonio Fargas
Until We Meet Again is written, directed and produced by Pece Dingo. I assume that Pece Dingo intended to create a classic romantic ghost saga in the vain of The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (1947), Ghost (1990), and countless others of this genre. Since Mr. Dingo was the film's writer, director and producer, I assumed that I would be watching a trainwreck of a vanity project. I have to admit I was wrong, it's not a disaster. The film's production values are first-rate. It looks like a product that was intended for theatrical release. The leads are competent in their roles, despite being hindered by a script that gives them with little to nothing to work with. This film's most memorable characters are played by the delightful duo of Leslie Jordan and Antonio Fargas. Those of you who are around my age will recognize Antonio Fargas as Huggy Bear, the most memorable character from the otherwise forgettable TV series Starsky & Hutch (1975-1979). This film would have benefitted greatly from having more scenes with Mr. Jordan and Mr. Fargas. As it stands, overall this film is bland to boring. In the third-act, out of the blue, an unexpected element of suspense occurs. In a well-written script such occurrences are foreshadowed, but that doesn't occur in this film. The evidence suggests that Pece Dingo is better at directing and producing than he is at writing. I'm generously giving this movie a 6 out of 10 rating primarily due to the entertaining efforts of Leslie Jordan and Antonio Fargas. These two gentlemen deserve to be cast in more roles.
The Book of Boba Fett: Chapter 5: Return of the Mandalorian (2022)
The Viewers' Favourite Mandalorian is Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin!
Ryan Airy on Screencrush astutely observed: "This episode reminds audiences that there's a better show they'd rather be watching." The preceding candid comment describe my feelings exactly. This is the first and only episode of this series I've been involved with. The preceding is attributable to Pedro Pascal's captivating portrayal of Din Djarin. Essentially, this is bonus episode of "The Mandalorian" -- which is obviously fine with the vast majority of Disney+'s viewers.
Peacemaker (2022)
Kudos to John Cena & James Gunn -- Extremely Entertaining!
I wasn't sure if the character of Peacemaker could be effectively used in an ongoing series, but James Gunn has done it. James Gunn's writing and directing has produced a winner of a series here. To John Cena's credit, he's somehow managed to make this highly flawed character extremely likeable. Cena's winning personality has made the preceding look deceivingly easy.
Jolt (2021)
Simple Plot Elevated by Performances of Kate Beckinsale & Stanley Tucci
I wasn't expecting to like this movie, but Kate Beckinsale -- gorgeous as always -- is irresistibly likeable in the role. The always dependable Stanley Tucci and Bobby Cannavale elevate would be otherwise be a typical and forgettable action flick. The movie doesn't take itself seriously, which makes for a fast and fun ride.
Zone 414 (2021)
Absolutely NOTHING Happens in this movie! It's ALL Talk!!!
Despite the many negative reviews, I decided to take a chance on this movie since its star is the fantastic Guy Pearce. To my disappointment, I discovered every negative criticism was accurate. This movie is all talk. The "mystery" is casually resolved during a conversation -- which is ALL this movie consists of. I really don't know how this movie got made. It definitely wasn't because it has a "great script". This movie is tedious and bland, I can't even recommend to those of you who, like me, are fans of Guy Pearce.
Ted Lasso: Beard After Hours (2021)
Beard After Hours - The Epitome of a BAD Filler Episode
Love this series but passionately detested this episode. Other reviewers have accurately described it as a "filler episode" and that's exactly what it felt like. Where's the humour? Where's the character development? This episode is completely incongruous to the rest of this fantastic series. This episode was painfully tedious and ultimately pointless. Given how painfully BAD this episode was, it's safe to say that next week's episode will be better -- because it CAN'T get any WORSE than this!