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Dune (2021)
I watch a little more... And a little more... And a little more...
I know Dune from the computer games when I was young. I missed the first part, but Dune 2 was awesome at that time (I heard part 1 was different). I saw some flashes of the old series and I tried to read the book. But somehow I lost interest after a few times. But maybe I must read it in my own language. I can already say that I want to read the book again.
So I wanted to watch this movie while walking for 30 minutes. I forgot the time, before and after I also kept watching. I think this is one of the definitions of a movie. Many beautiful shots, great atmosphere, great sound and the decor, people, suits, equipement, ships, machines etc. Everything together gives a special vibe.
But I do not like everything. Meeting with the Fremen was a bit weird and I think some actors were a bit miscasted or not giving everything. And other actors were bullseye.
I also did not like that some things seem to be going fast suddenly where other thing are going slow. I have the feeling that some scenes are just filling while form other things I wanted to know more. Like the spice, the production, the worm, the houses etc.
But I think it will not fit in one movie and maybe it will be explained later on, I do not know. But I understand it is a difficult book to film. And I like it. It gives me a special feeling that I mostly do not get when watching a movie. I do not like art, like paintings etc. But this really looks like art, with the big and wide shots, the big industrial scenes and the mystic scenes. Also the music is really helping. You are sometimes a bit misdirected on purpose and then you get the suprise. That is really nice.
So I am really looking forward for part 2.
The Acolyte (2024)
After 2 episodes: we will see...
I want to give it a 5 but I want to be positive this time, so a 6 that can go either way.
The scenes, settings, planets, costumes, ships etc. They all look like Star Wars, so that is nice.
The dialogues are just as clunky as Lucas himself would write them. Episode 1 stuff.
I must get used to the characters. I know that Carrie-Anne played in the Matrix. And I thought it was an inside joke to let the fighting look like the Matrix. But I see other Jedi do the same things. I like it that you see more of that side of a Jedi, but sometimes it feels more like ballet dancing then a real fight
I also like that you can see better that a Jedi has a lot of power. But sand is their kryptonite I think... (weird) And I like that the Jedi are having their noses up the air. They know everything better and always have something wise too say back.
I also like that they can put 1+1 together quickly. Not too quickly but also not dragging around. But still it feels dumb at some moments.
I think also that some characters must still get into their roles.
I do not want to go into details much because of spoilers. But let's see where this will go. The story is unfold, the pace is good, but if we keep chasing it will be boring quickly I think. But for now it feels fresh and new. It is not as bad yet as the Mandadorkian or Boobsa Fat and all the other forgettable Disney Star Wars stuff.
For me Andor was good and I gave Ashoka the benefit of the doubt with a six. I think this can be as good/bad as Ashoka. Ashoka was more epic, Acolyte feels more like a side quest. But who knows...
Fallout (2024)
Good, but just nog good enough
I played the Fallout games, but it is a long time ago I must admit. Fallout was a good game, with hice stories and a nice world. It has it's own kind of humour. I do not know the story so good, because I like to skip the videos because I want to PLAY the game instead of watching a movie.
Now it is the other way around. And I must say: there are times I am feeling it is just like the game. But there is also a moment that I have the same feeling why I don't like the game: the useless filling. If it is on purpose to get this feeling: brilliant!
Let's first start with the visuals: very good. Everything looks like the game.
The story: also nice, but sometimes I could not totally follow it. Maybe I need to rewatch it. But it is not a difficult story and there are plot twists. And almost everything is solved by a miracle. But I do like the choices everybody needs to make. It is like making your choice in the game. What is the right choice?
The acting: for me it is a high level.
The costumes: they look really nice. The Brotherhood looks like Power Ranger bots.
I like the guns and the sounds. The gore is there. The sillyness. But sometimes I think: it is too easy. If this was a game, it was on story mode. How can you survive that long let alone get through the frist night? The monsters are looking fake but it fits totally. They are weird.
So there is nothing really negative. But I feel like there should be more. There is still room for improvement. Like I said, there is no real danger in the world, how can someone from the vault survive that long? And I think season one needs 39 episodes or something. Just as long as the game takes :p.
So for me it is a 7.5 but I cannot give it an 8.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024)
I enjoyed it
I saw many episodes of the first season of the cartoon, but not all. Back when there were no streaming services so I needed to watch it on television when I passed by chaning the channels. Through the years I got parts of the first story but never the last episode of season 1. So I am aware of the story.
I also saw the movie or movies, I am not sure how many there are. Het last one was not bad, it looks like this series. So I see the battle in the north again. But I must say, it was no problem. This series is very watchable. Sometimes you have amazing shots. But overall you can see the background faded and the foreground sharp and too much light, so you see it is fake. I think the really big amazing shots cost a lot of money and even that the other scens looking fake, it is still of a high quality. I think it is also combined with real shots.
I mostly like the characters, but many times I think: there is something off. Like the parents or the crazy king. Also the acting can be a bit off, like it is too static. Just like the fake backgrounds. It looks to clinical.
But overall I believe the characters. The most important characters are believable for me. It also sometimes has the same sillynes as the original. The pace is also good, but I think sometimes it is going too fast. I think they take some shortcuts, but overall you get the main story. I enjoyed watching this. I am starting watching the original again, but then from season 2.
So I think there should be a season 2. I do not know if I like it after I just saw the original. But I saw many horrible adapation of books, games and animation. This is a very good take. It can be a bit better, bit more clever maybe. But this is solid.
Frasier (2023)
It is getting better during the season
I really liked the previous Frasier. Years ago I finally had the chance to binge watch all the seasons (I mean 2 or 3 episodes a day). It had nice humour.. And also the silly things that were going on... Typicall sitcom stuff ofcourse, but it was coverd with some nice layers of humour, acting, teamwork, writing and more sides of a story. For me it was not the average 'farce'.
So I had zero expectations of the new Frasier. Nothing can top this and they are tyring it again many years later, why? But I can understand that Frasier can be an interesting character. He started in Cheers, got his own show and maybe now he can do the reverse?
No... This feels like a youth Disney production. I am always asking myself: why is someone watching this? Why is this populair? Must be a different generation. Maybe I am the wrong generation and these days we like brainless shows now. The jokes are not funny, the characters are not likable, it does not feel like one big family. You can see everything from a mile coming.
The level of jokes is like this: it never rains! Oh dear it rains! And I saw something of the Frasier flair back when they doing difficult about their dates. It was a nice mix up and. That they miss each other walking around was very dull ofcourse, but it worked good this time.
But it is not enough for a whole season. I have the feeling it was getting better. But still not good enough. I only watched this because I was ill and bored. If it had not the name of Frasier, I did not watch the whole season.
I think Frasier is not a good Frasier anymore. Just leave it, you had 11 great seasons. Just quit and we might forget the reboot of Frasier.
So this is good if you really have nothing better to watch. Maybe season 2 will be better, but they need to change things. Frasier deserves better writing.
Doctor Who: The Church on Ruby Road (2023)
Ok... Not for me.
So I am giving it a four because it goes with, I will never watch this show anymore.
Already many seasons I did not watch because the stories were bad, the acting, the visuals, the choices... So now that it is back I thought: let's give it another go.
What did I just watch? In theory this could be a good doctor, he is crazy enough. At times I think: yes, but mosly I think: something is not right.
Somewhere it feels like a good old doctor who epsiode but everything happens too fast, too simple, too much plot hole, too less information.
Everything looks great and sharp, sometimes you think: this is too much CGI, but then you see the goblins... And the king goblin... No guards... No taking all the stuff from the prisoners... And how long and fast the conveyor belt is. Why not throw the baby in his mouth? Much easier. But ok I am rambling about something fictional. For me it fellt a bit like Gremlins 2. And the most horrible thing is the singing for me. I really hate singing.
Anyway, it feels rushed, there is not much story, no character development (maybe a little) and when the Doctor speaks the final words I was finally not convinced that this will be a succes.
Maybe I should watch episode one? Give it one more try?
Rebel Moon - Chapter One: Chalice of Blood (2023)
Another Disney Star Wars franchise?
I was wondering if Disney made a new terrible chapter of the Star Wars saga. Lots of visual stuff and action but with no purpose. And stupid hero stuff: I do not want to fight! But bla bla bla, you know? Oh yeah, now I want to fight! Let's go!
I see many people complaining it looks like other movies/series, but I do not mind. If you have seen Star Trek, X-files, The Matrix, Battle Star Galactica, Star Wars, Stargate etc. Almost nothing is original anymore.
I want to place this in the same category as the Mandalorian and Boba Fett. Such horrible series. But I am only missing something to cuttle, maybe the robot?
So the story is thin. Just some empire who want to rule the world and ofcourse there are some personal connections. The young student betrays her master... Like I said, it is not original, I don't mind, but do it in a good way please.
The enemy excists of some brainless stereotype steriod sniffers who only want to kill everything and everybody. And they have some big cannons. The ship is very mighty, but it looks like a ship from a cartoon.
The looks of the movie are fine, but sometimes it looks cartoony and I am looking at a computer game. Out of nowhere you have slow motions and even the slow motion will have a slow motion.
The character development is almost not there, it feels rushed. You have all the cliche basic things of telling a story, but they did not cover it well. At the end you have a bunch of characters which we did not see in action. Well maybe one: he can tame animals... People are working an believe, faith and hollow words. If they are feeling down, they only need a bad pep talk and they will give there lives.
The whole movie I was waiting for something big, that did not happen. Maybe the second episode will be better, but I do not have high hopes. Why not cancel this instead of some other good series?
WALL·E (2008)
Just perfect
When our daughter was a baby she really liked this movie, now 8 years later we watched it again. And while I watched it a lot of times when she was young, to see it back is just as amazing as back then.
It still looks and feels amazing. There are little things you can pay attention too. There are a lot of simple jokes, the story is good with a good message and still very actual.
I don't give a 10 easily, but this is for me a masterwork. Everything is right about this movie. And it feels like looking at art when you are on Earth.
I do not have a feeling something is forced upon me, it does not as a political agenda, it feels like a fairytail.
Gen V: Guardians of Godolkin (2023)
Bit boring
After a while all the exploding things and blood are getting boring. For me this epsiode was very compact, short, boring and not a satisfying end. I had the feeling they needed to rush everything, because they need to finish some stories, and make some deeper or renew them. The plot is not very original or new. I was growing into the show and now suddenly it stopped with an easy ending.
Ok it looks good and the acting is also good, but the magic from the previous episodes is gone somehow, I do not believe them anymore. And the writing and the choices are too easy for me.
It's like eating something you really want, but it is like from the microwave. Less taste, more heated snotty blob and the smell is good, but it is not special. It is easy to forget.
Halo (2022)
I was hooked somehow
First I must say I am not a Halo fan. I play on the pc and playstation and once I could play it on the pc I was very disappointed. I did not understand the hype. Do people like to shoot the same enemy over and over in boring worlds. They also have enemies that can multiply... But the weapons fellt great so for me it was a mediocre shooter. I also did not follow the story much.
Starting watching this series I had the same feeling: mediocre. The acting was mediocre, the effects were, much cliche stuff happening. Why if you have a gun and you shoot bad guys, you do not pick up the advanced rifle?
But it looks a lot like battlestar galactica combined with robocop or assassins creed. But then a level lower. Still I wanted to see all the episodes. And it is a bit of an open ending. Lots of cliffhangers there, so I hope there will be a second season. But I do not understand why there is a big story about the girl Kwan or something. Without they could have more Halo for me. It fellt like a cheap Dune or a Xena episode.
Many times the cgi really looks horrible and you think it is from 1990 or something. But suddenly I do not pay attention and it actually looks great. I mean when they are in space or at the military base.
I like the politics and how the characters are connection. Very cliche ofcourse but I don't know, there is just enough to enjoy it. I wanted to know more about the Chief and why everything is happening.
Spoiler: when the AI takes over the body of John: why not shoot the alien leaders why they were floating in the air? The war was maybe ended?
Looking forward for season 2, please give it an engine update ;).
It has big potential! That is why I give it a 7. I was hooked and I am sad it is over. I want to play Halo again... Weird... Maybe it is not a bad game after all? Neeehhhh that would be cliche :P.
Gen V (2023)
Good start
So they are selling this like it is really over the top and shocking. It should be completely wild what will happen!
I am used to The Boys. At the beginning you think: wow finally some brutal force, but later on it is more like: yes it is brutal, but it is more like a gimmick in a comedian way. Never too shocking or in detail. And the people do crazy stuff, but it is all rather safe.
The same goes for Gen V. The brutal stuff is still watchable, you know the standard chunks of body that will fly around when somebody explodes. But one of the characters has a power with blood. But it looks more like mud for me and somehow it is a bit difficult to watch. It is blood that can be sharp or something? Just like water? But it looks nasty for me.
So the quality of The Boys was going down with season 3, I have the feeling it is a bit up again with Gen V. I had flashbacks to Robocop about how they implement te world. I really like it.
The story is a bit boring. You have a school, you have a secret, you have problems, friendships etc. Nothing new here. But it is in the The Boys world. So it is enjoyable to watch, but I really hope it will not be like season 3: running around in circles with the story. I really get the feeling it will be a big risk here.
By the way, I really like that you can see a naked penis. There will be some delicate souls who will call the police for this, but I think they will not watch this show anyways. I like it, just show it like it is!
I really hope the story can level up a bit more and I want to see more of the world they are living in. It is interesting!
Update after the last episode:
I did not like the last episode, too rushed and some weird choices. I keep it at a 7. I enjoyed the episodes. There were some irritating things, but there are more good sides then bad. But with this ending I cannot give more...
Blue Lights (2023)
I binged it in one go
I would give it a 7.5 but I give it the benefit of the doubt.
I am just watching this show without knowing any background how the police should work there. But it looks like the useall, there is a kingpin who controls citizens and also has influence with the secret police. For me this was the worst part, why was this kingpin such a big threath? I know that he threatens people, but still I am missing some information. Also it looks more like a little gang, but they do big business somehow.
But ok I was more focused on the police and everybody the come in contact with. I liked the acting, I like how the criminals can also be smart with the law and they have a lot of protection from it. And ofcourse the rookies make a lot of mistakes.
I like that it is not about all the problems all the individual cops have. Suddenly there was racism with the son and I was like: not this again... This will drag on and on. But it didn't. The son shuts the door behind him while the mother is sitting in the car and that's it. No more problems! So they just throw in things and it is going everywhere. But maybe that is just the case when you are being a cop.
Also there is not a thick layer of love, that everybody wants to kiss and have sex. There are no fast and strong feelings happening luckily. But I must be honest, I watched it 4 days ago and I am not remembering it well anymore.
That is also why it is not that good. I want to watch all, but maybe because it is new for me. Maybe I did not notice everything yet. But I liked the acting, the setting, the story (not so original). It really focuses on the characters and having a partner.
The Batman (2022)
An extra point for effort
I have mixed feelings, but overall I enjoyed the movie.
I like that everything looks more realistic and the whole Batman thing is more on the background. Like the gadgets. Batman is not really the Batman from last years, he feels minimal. And he is more detective. He is on the background. But on the other side he is just walking in everywhere like it is normal some guy in a bat suit is walking into a club or a crime scene.
I was a bit confused, but I liked this side. He is more accepted but it still feels a bit clumsy at times.
So everything looks real, also the chasing with the car, it was not the average zig-zag through traffic. It really looked like it was crowded and they did not leave space on purpose like you see in other movies. But suddenly it turn like a comic/cartoon. It looks great, but it feels a bit unrealistic. But again... I like it. You have more of that moments.
The shots are amazing to watch, I do not like art, but I do like photo's and almost everything looks like professional pictures. The lighthing, the way the camera moves... Like I said before, that he just walks in everywhere dressed up, it feels weird to see him driving a motorcycle when he is dressed up. Het is just normal, but in a suit...
I liked all the characters, but I had to get used a bit to Bruce. He does not really look like the strong and confident person. I think all the characters do not have a lot of depth somehow. I know Bruce is struggling and I get it that Batman is mad at times. But still I am missing something. It is a long movies, but I wanted more of the characters background. Now everything is just there with some explanation. Maybe that is the way it should be, like a style choice. But the characters, while acting great, were a bit flat for me. I am missing the base.
But I really like the movie and I give an extra point for all the effort. I have seen some things I did not ever see or don't see so much. And Gotham really feels gritty, dark, hopeless etc. I like that the powerfull Batman is now a beginning (I think?) uncertain character who is being used as a tool by some of the greatest criminals. So while Batman can take every shot (why?) he has also a weak side and he is a real human. I liked that balance.
There were sometimes some unrealistic things and moment where I think: come on hurry up and why are you doing like that? But it is a solid movie that is not for everyone I think. But I hope more will come from this .
Happy Valley (2014)
Refreshing
I have done 2 seasons now and I like it a lot. First season was very refreshing.
I do not like that every detective/police person has personal struggles, demons, weird experiences etc. It is getting boring, it is more like a soap then I police story. But maybe that is a police story these days?
So at first I was worried that it will be another story like all the others, because the situation the main character is in, is not normal. But what I do like is that everything feels as normal as possible. I almost never thought: that is weird! Who whould do such a thing?! I only had some feeling of that in season 2.
The acting is great, the shots are great, everybody looks very bad very soon when in a fight. And the bodies can be very in your face, but in a normal way. I never have the feeling they do it to show off or something.
So season 1 was great, I give it a 9 or a 9.5. Season 2 feels like more of the same and it feels rushed. Everything comes together in the final episode, while I had the felling the story did not develop yet to the climax. But that is maybe also because the story is a bit thin. So I give this a 7.5 or 8. There is less tention and danger. It feels that the story does not flow naturally. Not as natural as the fist season.
I wonder what season 3 will be. I hope it is gong up a gain. But thanks for this show, it is less extreme with all the problems then other series. And the main character is really believable.
Update after season 3:
It was more of the same. But the story is finished now, so that is good. This season is drama only I think. The police work is to the background because she is retiring. But do not get me wrong, more of the same is not wrong here. Still season 1 is the best, then it is going downhill a bit.
Ahsoka (2023)
It is a beginning... Hopefully it gets better
After 3 episodes:
Since Disney I really hate everything of Star Wars except Andor and the books. I really cannot understand why people like the series, I think it must be a generational thing. Let's say it is not my cup of tea.
So at first I am really happy when watching Ahsoka. They do a lot of things good. Visually it looks nice, a bit empty/plain but nice. I really have an empire feeling and something big is going to happen. The music is also great. The story can be great.
As I understand it continues the animated series, so I know the characters from watching one season. But I have the feeling we dive right in with Ahsoka. I think they slow down on the wrong moments, like Sabine 'driving' on the road and she needs to come back.
So Ahasoka is mad and Sabine is also... So the Hollywood template is saying that you first must have loss or you must be somewhere deep so you can crawl out and make everything right again. It is happening here, but it takes sooooo much time. Also the relationship/acting feels forced.
There is humor if you pay attention and I see hints of the crap the previous series were. But it is tuned down somehow. Everything is more in balance. But when I look at the blond bad girl... I think she can also tune it down a bit. Overall the action feels sometimes slow, like when the bad guy and woman are on the prisonship. It feels like slow motion and they are using the force.
The story is also going very slow. And I did not understand how you can find Thrawn by a map laying around and you need to go to different location. Maybe it is safe this way?
I already know that Trawn excists in galaxy far far away ;) but I did not read the Thrawn books yet. So there is still some urge to watch.
But for now I do not care much about the characters, they are boring and feel like static meatbags without much emotion. They can be anyone.
So it is not as bad as the previous garbage, but also not as good as Andor. Which also had it's flaws. Maybe that is the strategy of Disney: first make a lot of crap and then release some mediocre stuff that then looks better. And then slowy increase the quality?
But I must say, it feels more Star Wars since a long time, so that is nice. So I hope it goes up from now. And please hurry up a bit! I do not mind if it goes slow, but please develop the characters more...
Update after watching every episode:
I think I will leave it at a six. After the last episode I was like: when will the story start developing? Yes Thrawn is coming and now the other 2 characters are standed instead of the one who was lost.
The fighting feels like filling because it feels slow, unreal and everybody is waiting for each other and you know the bad guys cannot hit the heroes, only the filler people. And I do not mind really if the rest has high quality, but it isn't.
It looks really great. The tone is also set right. But there is not much happening. It feels like the first quarter of a new hope and stretched out.
Why is Thrawn a big threath? He has one star destroyer. Why are the witches following him? Maybe I did not pay attention to good? Or I really must watch the whole cartoon?
So I have mixed feelings about it, it feels like Star Wars, is smells like Star Wars, it feels like they have taken this serious, but it is not coming together for me. It feels like an empty shell.
Black Mirror (2011)
Please stop and split up
I loved Black Mirror. Not everything was great, but mostly it was. And I enjoyed it. After seeing some bad episodes I stopped watching. I do not know which season it was.
Suddenly there was season 6 so I gave it go! The first episode was ok and I had the feeling they need to align the compass a bit to find the perfect spot.
But with every episode it turned into Dark Horrish Fairytales, but then with the cliche and lazy writing. The acting and shots are of a high level. The ideas can be great, but the storytelling, the choices. It is just wrong for me.
Maybe the black mirror is indeed black and the creators cannot see what they are making?
So I am putting Black Mirror on my ignore list. This is not my cup of tea. Or I must rewatch the first seasons maybe...
Black Mirror: Demon 79 (2023)
Did not finish
As sad before, great performance and shots, but why is this in Black Mirror? I am watching this without knowing all the ins and outs of this show and who this is creating.
I think black mirror is transforming in to: dark fairy tales.
I did not finish the episode after she killed the 3 persons and finding out she needs to have one more. I fast forward evertying so the world is gone, but she is going away with a demon.
I found out that this was the last epsiode, thank god. I do not mind these kinds of episodes if they are a bit shorter and if you have 15 episodes in one season... But this has only 5.
Black Mirror: Mazey Day (2023)
Every episode it is going down a bit further
So I am reviewing every epsiode but it is the same again. It looks great, but the story sucks.
So you have the very rude photographers who will do anything for the money. And that is staying till the end. Because after all the main person experienced, she still wanted to have the one picture.
So I understand this is a big middle finger for everybody with a camera these days, doiging everything to be famous. But why need the person to be a were wolf? Is that for all the anger or something? This is something deep?
I liked that all the annoying photographers were killed brutally, but I am watching Black Mirror. I must be honest, I did not watch all episode of previous seasons because quality wend down suddenly. But I must have been missing a lot if this is the new road Black Mirror has taken.
Black Mirror: Beyond the Sea (2023)
Ok I see the pattern now
Wow Aaron can play other roles, nice to see the other person in his body.
So this is the 3the episode and I am starting to see a pattern. The acting is great, the shots are great, the idea is mostly great, the story can be great, but the way it unfolds... The choices are not connecting with all the other greatness.
This story is boring and you can see everything coming from a mile. And they take the easy way out again: just kill the family so they are even and misison can continue and Aaron learned his lesson (I guess). Uhm... I know you can expect weird things but...
It is difficult to binge this series, but I did. The whole time I am thinking: there is another boring episode coming. Slow build up, fast forward with the action and the ending.
Come on, give me something better please.
Black Mirror: Loch Henry (2023)
Boring and not very original
I think it was boring. I think 1 hour is too short if you do it like this. It was too simple and it is weird to see someone on an award show while he recently found out that his parents are sadist murderers.
Also the story was a bit simple and not original. The drunk who at the right time has a clear head, the girlfriend who has an accident, the mother who kills herself. Everything is too easy. But maybe that was the point? Maybe they only want to tell me 'still waters run deep'?
So it is not bad, but also nog really good. It just misses on almost every point. It could have been better.
I am still in for the next episode.
Black Mirror: Joan Is Awful (2023)
Creepy feeling
All in all a nice episode in which you see how far AI and personal data can go wrong. Nice also that Netflix makes fun of itself.
First half is good, it is weird and the it builds up slowly. Second half is a bit confusing and it feels rushed.
But I am left with the idea that this could be really happening right now. Not with the different realities but that they will use your data and link it with AI. Only because you did not read the user agreement (had to think about Southpark). So only for that I give it a 7. It is good to plant that seed in my head :).
So the first half has good acting, nice build up, good camera shots, also Salma is doing her part good. Suddenly they change gears and the main person is in a church pooping. I get why, but she went nuts too fast I think. Anyway we see Salma at her lawyer and suddenly I think: is she a good actress? Or is she only in it for her looks and her name? I did not see many movies of her, but the way she acts is like cardboard. It is one dimensional. And later on she can show of her looks and they focus on this.
Also from now on all the people you see are a bit silly. Must this be funny or something? I have mixed feelings. And the end was a anti-climax for me. She is a different person in a different reality or something? But is not the Matrix? The quantum computer can control minds? Anyway it is dead, because they do not have a backup ofcourse.
But looking forward for the second episode, the idea is good. Now bit better execution please.
Designated Survivor (2016)
More good then bad
I watched season 1 now and I have mixed feelings. First of all I cannot watch Hannah Wells anymore. I think there is only one dimenison with this woman, also the acting is not credible for me. I had the same with the kids, but especially with the son. But as it turns out they have almost no screen time and they are not on the forground. So that helps. And they are not dragging it out that the son should be mad about something that nobody is I think.
Most actors are good, for me the president is a bit boring and speaking softly. Maybe that belongs to his character? All the cliche things are passing by, but mostly it is solved quickly. A few things you can predict easily, like the IT guy who can fix evertyhing with the beeping computers... Many times I think to myself: yeah right...Typical Hollywood. There are some plot holes and other rules are at work then in real life. And I understand that, but this is too much at times.
The cgi is bad, but hey this is from the early 2000 ofcourse. Wait what? 2016? There rest looks great, The idea of the story is great, but soon it will be a mediocre story. I am missing the real excitement, the tension, I don't know. It is not there.
And the whole I love you very much and every body should love each other very much and let's do normal etc. Is refreshing, but people are accepting it to easily in my opinion.
So great idea, mostly great acting, great visuals (but not with the CGI), bit boring at times. But nice to keep watching. I wonder if season 2 will be any better, I am afraid not.
God's Favorite Idiot (2022)
Good start for a second season
I wanted to watch something easy and simple. I just got that! And I kept watching because I need something next to my computer game.
It is a bit difficult to watch the first time, but more comedy has that. The jokes are good, but predictable and I am not laughing out loud. It is more subtle and not original. Almost the level of fart jokes. And I like the make fun of people from this time. But the acting is good, the fantasy is fun and it is just mediocre but from the good side.
Do I need a second season? Not really, but it is nice there is still space to make these kind of comedy. There are far more better shows cancelled. But we need these kinds of shows, otherwise you will never have the diamond like the office(s)..
The American Barbecue Showdown (2020)
Not so much meat on the bone
During diner I wanted to put something on the television that my wife would like. She loves meat and grilling. I just realised I started with season 2...
We need to watch 3 more episodes, but I wanted to review it now. Because I do not like the show. My wife is watching with big eyes to see all the meat, but for me there is nothing much to like.
It is just a show where people are baking things, the judges will eat it and suddenly there is a winner. But on what is that based? The judging is weird. One of the contestants said that the plating can loose points. But they do not care about the plating. He even baked a cake which they did not judge! Is it about the meat? Is it about the plate? Is it about the combinations? Is it about BBQ?
So there is good meat, good machines, good food. It is eye candy for the one who likes this. But there is nothing much more. You do not learn much, there is also not a real competition. You can stay in with undercoocked meat. It seems like the judges have personal choices.
And I never know if the woman judge is making a joke or not. Or they cut out some frames so it looks more painful?
The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself (2022)
Not bad
The story and background is interesting but nothing new. The acting is actually not bad but everything feels a bit cheap. But on the otherside it has nice special effects. And nice ideas for the magic.
I think a teenager/young adult will like this the most. The violence is hard but not so special. Always the same: enemies shoot everything, have no mercy etc. And they are always with many, but when to get close to the heroes, the heroes can escape easily.
How can a person be so one dimensional about hate and having a cause? Training a person is a joke. Everybody sees he is fighting better, but I totally cannot see it.
After a while everything feels a bit boring, you know what will happen and it is a simple cat and mouse. Ofcourse there is love, that is not always believable.
But I kept watching, so that from all the trash, this one sticks out and is actually watchable. If you do not have high expectations.