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kathrynlet
Reviews
A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017)
I wanted to like this a lot more than I did.
I was a little too old for the books when they were being released but my sister constantly talked about how cool they were. And, I would borrow her copies and skim them so that when she was talking about the story I would at least be able to keep up some idea of what was going on.
So when I saw that the series was on Netflix and I was like hey why not enjoy the series. Maybe in movie form they would be more my thing. And initially it was actually kind of good, for the first couple episodes. However the absolute stupid of basically all the characters aside from the children who are ridiculously overly bright as their sole defining feature really got boring quickly.
I don't know if everybody is this black and white in the books because it was a long time ago that I last skimmed any of them. I cannot l envision this series appealing to anybody older than like 14.
The cinematography is good however the CGI is seriously obvious. There's many points where it's clear that actors are literally standing on a green screen stage and everything surrounding them is being added digitally. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that Sunny seems to suddenly age significantly between events that as far as I can tell are supposed to happen in fairly short sequential order. I'm sure that had something to do with the fact that you're talking about three seasons but it's a very weird and totally non-addressed thing.
Well I won't get into actual spoilers because quite frankly there's a book series you could go read or cliff notes and I don't really care to talk about specifics. I will say that there are numerous plot holes that you could drive a tanker truck through with plenty of room to spare. There are also completely illogical decisions made by characters and the main driving subplot is never actually revealed in any satisfying way. This lack of plot revelation also means that it is extremely difficult to figure out who is siding with whom and why they care. They're also so many characters just thrown in palmetto but I don't even remember their names let alone what they're there for.
I'm not saying don't judge for yourself but I don't think it's very good. If it's this and being trapped at a dinner you absolutely can't stand I might actually go with the dinner.
Monster Hunter (2020)
A movie that know what it is and goes all in with it for an enjoyable result.
I have watched my BF play this game so I understood the premises. We both were not expecting much out of this film but really wanted to see it as it looked fun enough. It WAS a fun film with good production value and a fantastic lead duo. Clearly everyone involved understood what kind of film they were making so everyone just committed to that direction and it worked.
Yes there is almost no story to speak of.
Yes characters make seemingly illogical or out of character moves to advance the plot.
Yes 98% of the cast you either see for less the 3 minutes or gets killed so fast you don't get time to care about them.
Yes the ending is total sequel bate.
But it was fun and I was not watching the clock while watching the film. The CGI looks really good and there are some genuinely creepy to actually scary moments. Milla and Jaa play well off one another and the lack of taking to one another on screen is not an issue and honestly probably improves the film. The action is fast paced but feels like it has a point.
Basically go ahead and give it a go.
Secret Society of Second-Born Royals (2020)
Bland fun
If you ignore the two massive, movie breaking, plot holes it is an okay film.
First plot hole: how powers are given makes no sense if genetic based. The implication of it only existing in the Second born means either gens are able to predict the future of which baby will be born first or they are able to sentiently recognize when the other has been born and then edit the genome of the second kid.
Second plot hole: January and Inmate 34/Edmond have no probability of meeting in any way that makes sense.
A film that had potential and some interesting concepts but under used them while hitting the Disney original movie bingo card.
Divers cast? Check.
Minority lead? Check.
Teen angst? Check.
Young teens saving the world? Check.
Loving family? Check.
Everyone is special? Check.
Downton Abbey (2019)
You don't need to have seen the show to enjoy the movie
I knew it was called Dowton Abbey and Maggie Smith play the a sharp-tongued character. That was precisely everything I knew walking into the movie.
I loved it I thought it was beautiful watching the characters. There are no grand battles or cosmic good and evil. It's about people wanting a chance to be recognized as being the best, wanting to do the best, give the best and be the best. It's about a fading way of life and struggling to think about how to move forward into the future.
It's about the pressure of duty versus personal want and need. It's about being human with all of its contradictions and complications. And even though I've loved other movies this year I think this is my favorite because it's about people being human and wanting to do something that is so important to them that they're willing to take a few underhanded tactics to get a wish fulfilled.
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
Bad marketing tone but great film
I went and saw this on its last day in theaters. I was surprised at the tone shift. What I mean is that the trailers sell it as an action packed war movie with lots of ape on human fighting. That is not what you get in the theaters. So bad job on the marketing side.
I happen to like what is in theaters better but I can see how it would be disappointing to some. Aside from the opening there isn't another big ape vs human fight for the rest of the film. If your hoping for a climactic battle between the Commander and Caesar don't. Instead you will get a far more riveting look at justice, values and ideals when you are hurting and have the power to hurt the person who caused all this. It can kinda feel like a letdown but it's nice to have a different approach.
This is like its predecessors has a high level of introspection. It shows the complicated and conflicted choices for both groups, and that the right choice is a flexible thing. You root for Caesar but you also can feel for the solders and their ape slaves. In each movie it becomes clear that humans are losing ground and blame the apes for this. And in a way that is a justified reaction because the humans who created the virus are all dead so they blame the creation. That leads back to the complicate feelings and emotions of the participants.
You can also began to see how the story ties into the 1968 Planet of the Apes movie. This movie shows the last gasps of the old order and the beginning of a new order. I don't know if that makes me sad or not. It more feels like a completion not joy. How the actors or rather species can change but the same problems and hopes are still there.
The CGI is till fantastic and and the locations are wonderful. There are characters that feel under used or over used. Bad Ape is a bit over used and the comedic moments feel forced. He very clearly is suffering from PTSD and sever loneliness. The character is not bad just over used. Nova is the biggest question mark of the movie. She is the one that I feel worried for. At the end of the move I feel worried because while now she is safe what will happen now that Caesar is gone and when Maurice is gone. You worry that she will be the imprisoned and enslaved cause you fall in love with her.
The Truman Show (1998)
Riveting
Here I am watching this in 2017 and Spellbound by such beautiful work. I never knew a movie could quite be like this. If you've never seen this movie you need to see it. It's not a comedy but it's not the drama exactly. It's life pure and simple life and the Awakening to the fact that maybe it's not what you thought it was. Maybe it's a commentary on midlife crisis cease or maybe it's a commentary on the modern-day prevalence of reality TV. You could take it either way or you can take it for what it is. A story that sings.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)
If only the story and pacing had been a little bit tighter and stronger
Okay so let me just start out by saying I love the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. To this day I still think the opening sequence of the first one was fantastic. And I really like certain parts of this movie. The special effect are brilliant and the CGI is great. However the script is sadly lacking. It's not the actors are bad they just simply don't have anything to work with. I'm really not appreciating the direction they took Captain Jack Sparrow with constantly being flat-out drunk. It more feels like they were trying to wrap up a bunch of loose ends they left dangling 10 years ago and introducing a whole bunch of new possibilities at the same time. That's a tall order for any movie let alone one with a very short run time. To do such a thing would require a tight script tight pacing and everybody being on point. None of that really happened. Now the story is certainly more comprehensible than some of the previous installments. It lacks all the wit and charm that one expect.
Rogue One (2016)
Good but not special
I really didn't know that to think going in. I really had no idea what the movie was even about so I went in with little in the way of preconceived notions.
Rogue One is not quite the fanboy orgy that Force Awakens was. Though it is there you just have to look a little closer. The beginning is very jumbled and a bit clunky. Not a deal breaker though. The ending in my mind has the greater sin in trying really too hard to tie hen into A New Hope. So forcibly is it tied in that it renders part of the start of A New Hope into contradiction.
The characters are good but nothing really to make you feel all that much for any of them.I really wanted to like them but nothing.
Really this film I would say is on par with Revenge of the Sith so a middle of the road film that does it's job but won't really be remembered. Heck it doesn't even get a number. Though considering that that number would be 0 I suppose I can get why they went this way.
Spy (2015)
Fun but could have been better
Okay what this is is funny. I loved 90% of the movie. Really there is a lot here to like. Yes it is silly and crazy. But that is what makes it funny.
So why only 7 stars? One fight is boring because apparently getting clocked with a frying pan or stabbed with a knife or tossed into shelves are apparently not even remotely damaging or disorienting. Moves that will break a nose if not an entire face in reality a shaken off with barely a grunt. Props for some clever prop usage though.
Another fight is very well done but we could have skipped the projectile vomiting onto the newly deceased. I will admit that that vomiting is a likely possibility for someone not used to fighting and killing. But it was too gross to be funny.
Language was way beyond what needed to be used. This is my biggest peeve. I really don't get why this had to be laced with so much profanity. There is difference between an upset agent in a profanity tirade and then women using it a bonding(?). Clearly there were talented writers involved so why did the script dissolve to such drivel?
Really did we have to include dick pictures? I found that offensive.
Again theses are why I took off stars. I think most of this movie was clever and funny and woman centric which is cool. It just had some problems with a few points.
Oliver & Company (1988)
A good movie
I don't know when I first saw this movie as kid but it made an impression. Now watching it as an adult I still like it. The songs are amazing and the story while a little short on plot is still very enjoyable.
You see the love that the dogs have for each other and for their person. Dodger is a protective and loyal friend that cares for everyone. One of my favorite moments is when Dodger is settling-in for the night and Oliver comes over and curls up next to him. You get in that moment the whole center of this movie.
The gang to varying degrees understand why Oliver wants to go with Jenny and not stay on the street. They all have needs and wants that are sometimes at odds with each other. Rita seems to be the most understanding. I think she wishes that she had that chance that is being given to Oliver.
When Dodger looses his bandanna in the last fight you see him age and realize that this is all he will know and that he is happy. Yet somehow you feel sad for Dodger and his gang knowing that they are going back to the streets. Even though they have love they are living on the edge.
Basically give this movie a chance and decide for your self.
Doctor Who: Deep Breath (2014)
Heavy handed and weak
I really wanted to like the new doctor and I hope with time I will. This however was not the way to introduce him. A heavy handed story with all the wrong elements. Let's start with the weak villains that could have been so cool. We did steam punk robots before and they were scary, these were laughable. I was continually jarred by CGI that was horrific and clunky, case in point the Dinosaur. Then there were the obvious continuity issues throughout the episode. At Demons Run Madame Vastra, Jenny and Strax were good fighters. Here, they look pathetic. We even had to have manufactured side drama between Jenny and Vastra just to bloat the run time. The same thing with Strax and Clara. Clara continues to be a weak and wooden character. This troubling trend of one-dimensional assistants has been going on for while though Clara is by fare the worst. I blame the writer(s) and director(s) for this. I really hope this is not an indicator of the quality of the show but I am worried.