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Reviews
Territory (2024)
Great Idea but terrible writing
The production values are high and the backdrop a really good idea for a show, but the ridiculously contrived and repetitive episodes become just too much to sit through.
The snarky nasty old grandpa, the hard working women, the violence and family intrigue, is all squeezed into each episode, each time, it just gets silly.
Murders, theft, death, fires each episode but no police involved ? Over aggressive people declaring hatred or love every episode, just too much.
The writers are obviously under pressure to deliver interest but the lack of character and plot development is astonishing, so a 6 for the landscape.
The Midnight Sky (2020)
Well made but drab
Overall this is a well made movie, the issue is that the story is presented in a drab depressing manner. You sit through it waiting for the point of watching this to occur but it just ends, as it started, flat.
Clooney mumbles and stumbles through the entire movie, his behaviour matches the vibe of the whole movie, as each sad issue unfolds and disasters occur, his impending death eventually arrives.
About half way through it got so bad Clooney's time on screen becomes painful, you know he's not going nowhere, you know he's doomed, you know earth is doomed, it is just a sad movie, deliberately, no wonder it was a box office flop, why would you pay to see this at the movies ?
Disclaimer (2024)
Why all the anguish ?
Overall a pretty good show, cleverly written and well acted.
With slick production values and a red hot cast it needs to deliver and it mostly does. At times it drags a bit as the story develops but it has enough drops of info to keep you going.
The early standouts are Cate Blanchett, Leila George and Sacha Barron Cohen, all are convincing and committed. I must admit the Leila George 'Kyle's'' sex scene was one of the hottest sex scenes I'd seen in a while, she was DYNAMITE !
My big issue is that I still cannot see what the main character is so worried about, okay a young man drowns but it's not her fault, she just had great sex, the parents of the dead boy cannot cope with his death and both go pretty nutty, why all the anguish 20 years later ?
Catherine's son & husband get a surprise but why the terrible anxiety and overwhelming sadness ? She basically got caught having an affair 20 years after the event, it just doesn't balance out.
So it becomes a bit of a drag watching the obvious play, out, the writer just adds more and more sadness and anxiety which ends up in a dark place.
A simple story, told with darkness and remorse, but one great sex scene.
Sweetpea (2024)
Different but entertaining
At times, particularly in Ep1, this show can drag and be a bit flat, but it builds well into an unusual thriller. It leaves you feeling uneasy as the main character while in many ways worthy of sympathy and understanding, is a killer.
The interest comes from the viewer wondering if she is going to get away with it all, and even at the end you are still left a little unsure, probably set up for Series 2.
The charm comes from the 'normal' English backdrop and the lead characters, at times, endearing behaviour, so again you feel a bit twisted, after all, she's a killer.
A bit of an English Dexter, but very quirky, in all well worth a look.
Wolfs (2024)
Like a cake made of the correct ingredients that doesn't turn out well.
No shortage of high production values, a great cast and a good first 10 minutes that gets you interested, but then it just goes nowhere and just runs out of oomph.
Clooney & Pitt are a known and good combo, they attract your attention as does the script for the beginning of the film. It doesn't ever get really bad but it just doesn't build any tension or interest, it starts to drag and I grew not to care about the thin plot, something has gone wrong with the direction and script, it's just flat, lacking in intrigue.
Another detractor is the almost obligatory comedy repartee between the two leads, the routines are a bit too frequent and light hearted in supposedly 'tense' situations, you soon realise that these two are never going get into serious peril, despite the pretence of danger.
So in all, okay, but not that good, very middle of the road and ultimately forgettable.
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 (2024)
Beautifully made but BIG in scope so at times confusing
This is an exceptionally well produced and shot movie, with a big ambition to cover a big story. If you've seen How the West was Won, this is a similar western epic, but bigger.
The first hour or so is a bit jumbled because of the story set up and multitude of characters introduced, but it slowly comes together.
As often in modern westerns the women are far too polished and attractive, and the goodies and baddies are simply found, but overall it is a good western.
Costner ignores the film vs TV issue, this one covers both and is neither, I suspect by the third episode the pull on viewers will grow significantly, Costner lends on his Dances with Wolves experience, which is not a bad thing.
The Veil (2024)
Average
The requirements of a good spy thriller are present in this show but it only rates a 5 because of a couple of major issues.
First is the dragging out and twisting of a simple plot in an attempt to make it look more interesting. It just goes in pointless confusing directions just to go back to the simple story, at times you wonder what is going on, the answer is, often, nothing.
Next is the big one, Elizabeth Moss is terribly miscast, initially I watched it thinking there was some angle or twist coming to explain her character, but no, she is the hero, the international spy, saviour of lives, the issue is she doesn't fit the profile at all, she always looks out of place, her attempts at being cool or hip are just terrible.
The sex & fight scenes are often just stupid, she throws one punch at a so called highly trained agent and bang, she knocks them down better than Mike Tyson.
Her attempts to be seductive are laughable at best, it's just not in her range, so the drama and intrigue is lost.
So change the lead and drop an episode or two and this would be a better show.
Fake (2024)
Okay
The production values on this series are good, the story gets you intrigued early on, mainly from the 'what's going on' perspective.
The obvious point that such an educated, successful, attractive woman is so lonely, is something you need to get over, plus the fact that she's so desperate to meet a man, she's prepared to drop all doubts and oddities associated with him, just to get him.
Once the odd behaviours grow the story slowly develops, behind lovely Australian backdrops and city scapes, the heroine's fears and questions pop up and she looks for answers, again why she's so determined to hang onto this man is a bit of a mystery.
Things I found annoying, the need to insert alcohol into many scenes, the fragility of the female character, the sinister male lead, the gay but oh so fun friends, everyone seems wealthy and in luxury, but often unhappy, all very typical of Australian shows, so typical you fight the impulse to fast forward occasionally to get on with the story, so at times it gets 'dull', you want it to develop and it doesn't.
A Family Affair (2024)
The worst of American cinema
The list of bad things is long with this one.
Zac Effron looks weird
Zac Effron reads his lines like a robot
The daughter is an painful character
The scenario is so fake and unrealistic
Everyone is a rich white person who lives in a mansion
The attempts to make Nicole Kidman look 'sexy' are forced and fail
Nicole Kidman's inability to look and act her age is sad
The script is dull and clumsy with stereotypical jokes and situations
The homes, work places and sets in general are all so squeaky clean they scream fake
The plot is so 'Hollywood' and sickly sweet it brings on a gag reflex
Nicole Kidman looks weird, this is made worse by her sad attempts to be 'fun' or 'normal'
Bates as the plain speaking grandmother is boring and predictable.
Bad Country (2014)
Almost
Great cast, interesting story, this movie has the basics of a good film, but it just stops short of being good. Dillon and Dafoe make a great gritty team, there is a lot of violent action, you start to get into it but something goes wrong.
My guess is the writers had the basics of a story but lacked the skill to develop it into a good script. The characters do not develop enough for you to like or dislike them, plus the story seems to move too quickly, jumping to action scenes.
The police side of the story makes them look like idiots and often not much different to the criminals.
They should remake this with the same cast but into a 3 or 4 part mini series.
Under the Bridge (2024)
Okay, but dragged out
Firstly, the surprise lesbian connection has become so normal it no longer delivers any twist, in fact if the lead couple was straight in a modern series, that would be a twist.
Next, the mystery builds but keeps getting speared by the continual flashbacks and while character development is important, it is too much and often feels annoying and pointless.
Thirdly the Rebecca G. Character is very unlikeable, she keeps inserting herself in other peoples lives, again not adding much to the plot.
So while at times engaging it could have been better, plus shorter with an episode or two less, the dragged out episodes included too many superfluous characters, adding to the choredom.
Gojira -1.0 (2023)
Good fun and as Godzilla was intended to be.
Hollywood got hold of Godzilla and tried to turn it into a type of Marvel hero movie and as Hollywood tends to do, made it boring.
Minus One gets the concept back to its creative source, Japan. This version is a cleanly executed good old fashioned monster movie.
They have combined modern special effects to the original wacky Japanese concept, complete with attacks on Tokyo, battleships, explosions and the acceptance that sea monsters can pop up any-day.
The post war references are unusual and brave for a Japanese movie, they usually avoid that topic.
All up a movie not to be taken too seriously just enjoyed for what it is, as Godzilla was supposed to be, the action is BIG, the acting over the top, the plot simple.
Atlas (2024)
Waste of good effects
Modern effects can open up fantastic sci fi worlds and this movie offers up some good effects and a reasonable sci fi movie.
What drags it down is Jennifer Lopez, she over acts and generally is so bad she makes the movie boring. Firstly her need to have 'big' hair overrides all common sense, she just looks silly. Next is her inability to convey feeling without grossly over doing it, she seems continuously either in or near a complete meltdown, it is too much too often, you start to really dislike her.
Unless she helped fund this movie she does nothing for it, while I suspect the director thought her name would draw eyes to his show, it may but once they are there, her performance destroys everything else.
The director or writer or both, are heavily influenced by Aliens and Blade Runner, but it ends up a poor attempt to be serious sci fi. So it has good effects and action with a clean, fast moving modern look, but poor casting takes all the gloss off.
Shogun: A Dream of a Dream (2024)
A rare and unique program
Overall Shogun is a unique piece of television, rich in colour and costume with a script and plot that does not follow your your normal 'hit' series trends.
The hero or heroes of the show are not clearly defined, the villains are not necessarily baddies, just the other side of the story.
The female characters while on the surface submissive unfold as powerful players who are the centrepieces of most episodes.
While Western religion and culture is recognised it is not the main driver, it's Japanese. The violence at times is shocking but key to the story, the studies of death and service are stark but beautiful.
The big point is how it told it's story without following the typical plot patterns, leaving you feeling fascinated, even excited, but never certain about the next step, rare in modern entertainment.
Shogun: Crimson Sky (2024)
Epic TV, drama of the highest order.
Epic drama.
If Anna Sawai doesn't get an Emmy nomination for that performance then they should close the Emmy's down.
The build of drama in this show is fantastic, I haven't seem much recently compare with the quality.
The settings and art direction is high quality, the costumes luxurious, but the big difference or point is the depth of the intrigue and emotion the script and actors live out.
No spoilers from me because to watch it unfold is such a delight, it would be rude to steal that pleasure.
The character Mariko is probably the strongest female character in a TV series for many years, I cannot think of any better.
Gripping viewing.
Ripley (2024)
Tries too hard
For a start Andrew Scott is 48 years old and looks it, so the persona of the young drifter doesn't fit. Next, not just his deliberately slow dialogue but all the casts methodical serious approach to everything becomes a drag.
Add to this this monochrome colouring and the series fails to deliver much punch, surprise or atmosphere apart from dreariness, Ripley is more of a depressed desperate loser than a crafty conman and opportunist.
They've put effort and thought Into the production but they have over done the styling, it drowns out the intrigue and fun the story.
So an average show, that could have been better.
Dakota Fanning's character is so deadpan she flattens most scenes she is in, the beauty and sparkle of Naples is totally lost, the lightness and purity that Gwyneth Paltrow once gave this role, made the character far more appealing.
So I'm being generous with a 5, it's mainly for effort, they tried hard but failed.
The Creator (2023)
Amazing looking, average script, but worth it.
This is a brilliant piece of sci fi, the production values and results are beautiful to watch.
Some of the scenes stop you in your tracks as they show strange & new worlds in vivid reality, exceptionally well done. In the end the story comes together and it is a satisfying conclusion, but at times, particularly in the first 30 minutes where you have abandon the story and just hope it goes somewhere.
They try to push too much information from too many angles to allow you get into the story, I nearly gave up but the effects and visuals held me, it is as if the writers could not keep up with the effects department, but then eventually got into sync.
So stay with it and watch it on a big modern TV, in the end, particularly if your a Blade Runner/A. I./Philip K Dick fan, you'll enjoy it.
Leave the World Behind (2023)
Nearly Good but Not
The tension and plot builds as the movie goes along, you start to ignore events and want the answer to why these events are occurring.
A good cast with good production values sets you up to expect an enjoyable ride, but it never quite gets there.
I kept glancing at my watch wondering how they intended to satisfy the curiosity they created in the ever diminishing time left, the answer was sadly obvious, they couldn't.
Someones had a good story about the end of life as we know it, sold the concept as a movie, but never had an ending. It all just stops with a few minutes of facts and answers squeezed into a small scene dropped on you as if to say "there we just stole some time from you".
Or they hope to make a sequel to pull more time of you, it's hard to tell.
Heist 88 (2023)
Did they runout of money at the end.
Heist movies need that element of fun and adventure, this movie heads in that direction but doesn't quite get there.
The plot gets a little confusing and in trying to understand the moves involved it leaves the viewer lost at times.
It is also a little hard to believe that 3 people on the spot agree to help rob a bank when approached by a total stranger, it's just too convenient.
All if a sudden it's the heist day and the excitement builds and they are nearly away and then the movie ends ! I just sat there going, really ? Is that it ?
Either they ran out of money or the director got confused because it is too blunt and quick leaving many questions unanswered, very badly done.
.
The Killer (2023)
Monotone
A well shot film, heavy on atmosphere with a coldness permeating everything, I suppose to reflect the coldness of the life of a contract killer.
Fassbender is suitably clinical in his performance, he suits the role well. No one else really stands out because the movie is 95% just about him, his work and thoughts while working.
The voice overs helping the viewer piece together a very simple plot starts well but gets over done and repetitive.
The film reflects the killers methodical planning in it's feel but in that it strangles itself by not changing or doing anything to surprise the viewer, it becomes totally predictable and at the very end, flat.
Dan in Real Life (2007)
A refreshing movie
This is an unusual movie because it is so understated, no car chases or death or violence. The relationships are gentle and created at a normal pace, the characters are not flashy or perfect, it is a very 'normal' group of people.
I note several low ratings here which I just don't get, it is a story that does not try to be anything else, add to that it's good humour, as always so well by Steve Carrell, in fact the ensemble cast does a great job all round, I've watched it 3 or 4 times and enjoyed it each time.
No big sets or costumes, this movie is deliberately low key and low glitz, it challenges the viewer to watch & relax, which is too much for some.
Babylon (2022)
An confused mess with good looking actors
So much effort & money thrown at a creative idea, with some of Hollywoods finest, it's just that someone didn't string it all together with a plot.
The outcome is a colourful montage of crazy scenes with massive sets, that often feels more like a documentary than a movie, in that lies the boring bit, they get the message across but it is not enough to keep you on track.
It feels like 10 sub plots behind a broad message, the characters come in and out but never connect, you want to get into a story but it just flys along, on and on, Margot Robbie gets the best lines and handles them well, she's developing as a top lead actress, but even her character seems shallow for long stretches.
The Winter King (2023)
Too much mystical rubbish
Obviously made on a smaller Budget this series at times is so undercooked and low key it's silly, some of the 'big' battles are made up of 5 or 6 guys on horses with the camera held at odd angles to reflect chaos ?
Another annoying part of this series is the Druid woman, Nimue, her endless 'seeing' of things and curses just get so boring, grossly overacted, with the rolling eyes while she rolls around in the mud threatening people, she's not interesting just annoying, her magic is non existent, the character comes across as an over emotional hippy lost in time.
Game of Thrones has destroyed these low budget historical pieces, the castles are too small, the battles as well, the camera work is too close and the use of darkness to hide poor sets is overdone, there is no depth or big landscape.
5 was being very generous.
Oppenheimer (2023)
A big story, well told, but hard work.
Oppenheimer is not a film to be taken lightly, a serious topic played out in a humourless 3 hour grind.
The story is secondary to the big philosophical questions it drops on you, was Oppenheimer a demon or a saviour, it's hard to tell.
Cillian Murphy was excellent, but like the plot he delivered it in a sad jumbled timeline, through flashbacks and memories, he seemed exhausted.
Some really annoying special effects done to mimic or highlight fission made their point a little too often. Overall about 30 minutes too long, post the big bang it was just sad & reflective.
So a big movie, well made, but not a fun outing, not all films should be but this one left me feeling a little hollow (and tired).
Lioness (2023)
Nearly there
Taylor Sheridan pumps out TV scripts from his assembly line at a fast and furious rate, but to maintain the workload he is relying on cliches and set formulae to piece the plots together.
This series has all the basics covered to hold viewers but as the series progresses the storyline is getting more and more shallow.
Nicole Kidmans serious power broker role is as wooden as her features and at times is ridiculous. Also the freedom allowed these special forces units at home and in a war zone are silly, in some scenes they are literally marching around suburbia fully armed, while supposed to being 'covert'.
What started with promise is turning into a predictable soap, when the lesbian bit started in Series 1, I nearly laughed out loud it was so 'now' and so woke and predictable.
My biggest issue is Zoe Saldana, if any leader screamed as much as she does, no one would follow them, her inability to act angry is exposed, she swears and screams far too much, she looks silly and her build is too lightweight, the fight scenes where she takes on supposed hardened veterans and wins are stupid, her skinny little arms are more akin to a catwalk model than a soldier.