Tag Archives: amazon

Series Reviews

Streaming Series Review: Outlaws (2021)

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Outlaws is a show on Amazon about a group of strangers that meet doing community service. Whether by circumstance or action, crime has brought these strangers together. The show weaves several different narratives as you explore each character’s past and growth. Most of the narratives fit together nicely, but some leaps are made to make the whole narrative work. There are some magical moments that you need to suspend your disbelief to believe. This narrative hinges on its serendipity where fate is the reason why everything works out.

As far as stories go, this one is fine. It is a little cheesy, as in friendship is a powerful force that one should cherish. The acting is fine, the characters are unique, and the story is entertaining enough; albeit the ending is a bit fantastical. If you like cheesy rom-coms where everything works out in the end, it is essentially the same sentiment but where strangers become friends.

I only fear that they will make a second season of this show. This first season wraps up well enough. There are a few story threads that they don’t revisit, but I don’t think they need to. I don’t have faith that they can address some of the emotional beats seeing how they solved gang violence.

Overall, if you are looking for a cheesy show that requires little effort, look no further. You can watch it now if you have an Amazon Prime membership.  

Movie Reviews, movies

Movie Review: School Spirits (2017)

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School Spirits is a kids/young adult movie about ghost hunting. The plot and acting are pretty good for a kids’ movie. This movie is a little slow at points, but I didn’t hate it. There is some cartoonish over-acting, and some awkward line reads, but it is a kids’ movie. There is also a bit of ex machina, but that is expected.

As far as kids’ movies go, this one isn’t annoying. The characters are a bit on the quirky side, but I never felt like they were trying too hard. I was never annoyed, even by the more cartoonish characters. School Spirits is about a group of teen girls who hunt ghosts to help them cross over. You have the tough one, the smart one, and the spiritual one. The movie does a decent job at making the main characters complex enough that they aren’t boring archetypes. Some tropes are still present. The girls work well together and were overall a positive representation. I like that this movie doesn’t fall into the overbearing girl power trap some of these movies tend to do. Every other line isn’t devoted to reminding the audience that these are girls and they are capable. Instead, the movie spends time developing plot points and character arcs well enough. I liked this ghost hunting group, and I was invested in their adventure.

I can’t recommend this movie unless you are a kid or looking for a kids’ movie. As far as kids’ movies go, this one is solid. The plot is simple, the acting is fine, but unless you are the target audience, it isn’t going to make much of an impression. Don’t get me wrong, if you are forced to sit through this, you won’t hate it, but I wouldn’t seek it out. 

You can watch this on Amazon Video if you have a Prime Membership. 

Movie Reviews, movies

Movie Reviews: Cashback (2006)

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Cashback is an odd artsy movie that is a bit pretentious. The film works as an exploration of loss, specifically the loss of a relationship. Sean has just gotten out of a relationship and is dealing poorly with his heartbreak. He doesn’t sleep; Sean spends the whole movie trying to hide from life and his pain.

The way that Sean deals with his heartache is by freezing time. Freezing time is a metaphor for his escapism. Sean doesn’t want to deal with the pain of his break-up, so he escapes into a world frozen in time. 

A world where he can appreciate its beauty without getting hurt. These moments usually turn into pretentious monologues about seeing the beauty in everything. Sean uses this time to express how this ability is unique to him because he is an artist and only artists can truly appreciate beauty. This message wouldn’t be problematic if it wasn’t constantly being repeated. But this movie does a great job at showing escapism. Sean isn’t the only one who chooses to escape the pain of life. You will be introduced to a collection of broken individuals who themselves need to escape. Each character has their unique method of escape, but you only get to see Sean’s dramatized. It is an interesting narrative that does address a lot of how people cope with the difficulty of life. I just wish it didn’t get so preachy. 

This movie isn’t for everyone. Unless you like artsy and weird movies, you probably won’t like it. A bit of warning, there is a lot of nudity. The movie tries to justify it as artistic expression, but it gets a bit creepy. There are some awkward monologues about the beauty of the woman form that get a bit uncomfortable to sit through. 

That said, I did enjoy this movie. Cashback is a solid movie with good actors, memorable characters, and a decent story. However, it suffers from its presentation. I appreciate its unique narrative style, and it did leave an impression, but it is hard to get past the pretentiousness. I get it, beauty is in every moment, and only an artist can understand this. I guess I am not an artist. You can watch it on Amazon if you have a Prime subscription.

Movie Reviews, movies

Movie Reviews: The VelociPastor (2019)

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I loved this movie, but I can’t recommend it. It’s not good. The VelociPastor was made for a certain type of audience, but it wasn’t a mainstream audience. Unless you love watching bad cheesy movies for fun, you are going to have a bad time.

The VelociPastor is about a Catholic priest who has lost his faith. He goes on a pilgrimage to find his faith, but he finds the power to turn into a raptor instead. With the help of a prostitute, he uses his powers to fight an origination of evil ninja. It is insane and I loved almost every minute of it.

Again, this movie isn’t for everyone. The writing is bad, the fight scenes are cheesy, and the costumes and special effects are terrible. This movie looks like it was shot at someone’s house. That said, the acting was surprisingly good, the soundtrack was great, and the sound was amazing. It is often the case with low-budget movies like this for the sound to be awful. I’ve seen movies where dialogue is barely audible or full of reverb. The VelociPastor has its sound on point and I appreciate the filmmakers for it. I can forgive bad acting and terrible special effects, but the sound is hard to overlook. That said, a normal audience will not enjoy this movie.

I am not normal, and I enjoy watching bad movies. I loved this movie for what it is, a goofy attempt at a polymorphing action movie. The one-liners, the costumes, the action scenes, and the big twist at the end were all very much appreciated. It does slow down towards the middle, I think they were running out of ideas, but they were able to bring me back in with a grand finale. This is easily my favorite bad movie. 

If you like making fun of bad movies, check this out. For the rest of you, it’s hard to recommend. The lack of structure and overall goofiness isn’t for everyone. If you are interested in watching The VelociPastor, do not take it seriously. Have fun with it. You can watch it if you have an Amazon Prime membership.  

Series Reviews

The Legend of Vox Machina – Final Thoughts

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I have reviewed this show with my initial reaction, but I would like to leave you with my final thoughts. I have watched this series multiple times at this point, and while some of my initial thoughts prove to be accurate, there are some revisions I need to make. If you are on the fence about this show, you shouldn’t be. Watch this show. Even if you aren’t a fan of fantasy or Dungeons and Dragons, the amazing storytelling, unique characters, and terrific voice acting will leave you wanting more. There is not a doubt in my mind that this is a step in the right direction for both the fantasy genre and the health of Dungeons and Dragons.

The Legend of Vox Machina does a great job at being beginner-friendly. I’ve said this before, this is casual fantasy at its best. You don’t need to learn new languages or keep track of multiple houses, but that does not mean the story isn’t complex. There are multiple narratives nicely woven into in the form of important backstories and impactful lore. You do not need to have seen Critical Role, although there are enough Easter eggs to keep the fans happy. The only problem I see people having with this show is with the magic and the skill checks. They don’t name their attacks like in anime, and skill checks happen, but they don’t matter unless you’ve played the game. Knowing dungeons and dragon rules only really adds flavor because some of the rules have been adjusted for narrative reasons.

I was skeptical at first because I didn’t know how they would adapt a tabletop role-playing game into a story, but they do. The story is amazing, and the fights are done beautifully. I will give a bit of warning; this show is heavy on the gore. I don’t mind it, but it might be a shock for those of you who aren’t used to it. This is an adult cartoon with adult themes, so viewer discretion and all that. I am excited for season two and the future of fantasy as a genre.

If you are on the fence about this show, don’t be. You can watch the entire first season over on Amazon.

Movie Reviews, movies

Movie Review: Chick Fight (2020)

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Every once in a while, I stumble across a bad movie that leaves me feeling angry about the time I’ve just wasted. Chick Fight is one of those movies. There is so much I want to say, but here is the short version: This movie is terrible, do not watch it. The plot is lazy and predictable, the acting is mediocre at best, and the characters are unimagined.

I knew this movie bad. I felt it in my soul, but I wasn’t ready for how bad. The title alone should have been a red flag, but unfortunately, I watch anything once.

Chick fight is as generic as they come. The main character trains for a high-stakes big fight at the end while facing impossible odds. Somehow, through mostly confidence, she overcomes these odds and wins at everything. Think Karate Kid, but never as good.

My main issue is with Anna, the main character. She is as boring. She has nothing to lose, that is her motivation, but the plot gives her things. She gets the fight club, she gets to win at the end, she gets the successful coffee shop, and she gets the guy at the end without ever struggling. She gets all this because she believes in herself now? Fighting real people gives her the strength to fight life. That is the moral of the story, and I hate it. This movie takes every chance it gets to include a line of dialogue to slap you with its cheesy moral.

The cheesy message of empowerment aside, there is no way she wins her final fight. Anna joins the fight club, not knowing how to fight. Everyone in this fight club demonstrates some real skill, and then you have Anna, who has never even thrown a punch. Anna has two months to get good enough to fight the best fighter in the club. The rival, Olivia, has never been defeated. Olivia is shown beating three fighters at once. There is no way she wins the fight at the end. But through the power of character and shitty foreshadowing, Anna wins. Just watch Karate Kid.

There is so much I want to say about this movie. I have pages and pages of angry notes, but I will end it here: This movie isn’t worth your time.

Series Reviews

The Legend of Vox Machina (2022) – Revisited

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The second set of episodes have just been released for The Legend of Vox Machina; I would like to take this time to revise my initial review. I was correct in assuming that it was too early to tell whether or not this show was any good, but I was right in saying that it was heading in the right direction. With this new set of episodes, the writers show important moments of character growth, and I for one am here for it!

This show is casual fantasy. It has enough fantasy elements to satisfy any hardcore fantasy enthusiast, but it doesn’t isolate those who just want something else to watch. As of now, you do not need to know and follow different tribes or houses. You do not need to keep track of different races or their languages. You do need to know who the main characters are and track the subtle nuances of their character development: their backstory, goals, and how they change over the adventure. This show does a great job at creating these moments of character growth without making members of Vox Machina overpowered and boring.

The strongest aspect of this show is its main cast. Vox Machina is crude, imperfect, and they struggle a lot. This struggle is important this early because it is in their failures and what they learn from them that the story happens. Despite Vox Machina’s poor reputation, the show does a great job establishing that they are still above average. There are moments in the show where an enemy easily overpowers guards or heroes, yet somehow Vox Machina holds its own. This helps establish Vox Machina as heroes without making them overpowered. They still struggle to win against these enemies, but just barely. They still have much to learn, which is perfect because it means more story for us!

I still believe that some knowledge of the Critical Role and D&D would help with the experience, although it isn’t necessary. There are a few inside jokes only accessible to fans of the show, and I as a fan enjoyed them thoroughly.

Lastly, this show also does a great job at translating tabletop to animated series. I like the way they handle skill checks and magic., but I can see it going over people’s heads. It helps to understand why a spell doesn’t go off or why a scene ends the way it does.

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TV Series Reviews: Panic (2021)

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Panic is a show on Amazon that promises a deadly fear factor drama about teens in a small town in Texas. It fails to deliver anything entertaining; I urge you to ignore its existence. The show follows a very dull protagonist who joins a game that has been a tradition in this town for a few years now. In this game, participants compete in dangerous challenges for a life-changing amount of money. Life-changing being only 50k. Challenges range from walking across high and narrow platforms to stealing from drug dealers. On paper, this show seems like a fun show full of suspense and danger. In execution, however, you get a generic and safe teen drama.

I never got the sense of any danger in any of the challenges. You know early on that the protagonist will win Panic, thus the sense of danger doesn’t exist. This poorly written show is predictable. From its plot points to its twists, there are no surprises. The worst of this show is the whiny and boring protagonist you are stuck with. Granted, the acting in this show isn’t great, but somehow hers is the worst. She has no emotion or personality. I already forgot everything about her character.

For a show like this to work, you need drama, suspense, and a sense of danger. Instead of any of that, you get shameless fan service at the cost of plot development. Or you get boring teen drama nonsense that I never signed up for. Maybe I am not the target audience, but I gave this show an honest try. It never gets any good. I got halfway through the series, and I was still waiting for any sense of danger or intrigue. I am so mad this show has the gull to sequel bait. I’m sure season two will be even more disappointing.

This show is poorly acted, poorly written, and poorly executed. Not to mention that the plot holes are hard to ignore. Do not watch this; it is a waste of your time. Maybe the book is better.

Movie Reviews, movies

Movie Reviews: Arkansas (2020)

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Arkansas is a movie about drug dealers that focuses on the revolving nature of the industry. It isn’t your typical high octane violent movie of an individual rising in the ranks and taking over the city; instead, the focus of this movie is on the rise and fall of drug bosses. It deals a lot with how volatile respect and power is. The power and respect a person earns in his lifetime can disappear in a blink of an eye.

This movie is a tragedy. It is about these tragic heroes who are stuck in this endless struggle of trying to make a living, but it can never be enough. The struggle is framed like a curse rather than this exciting epic rise to dominance. There is no permanence in life.

You need to watch this movie. Liam Hemsworth and Clark Duke play off each other so well. Clark Duke shows how much of a master he is at telling a compelling and interesting story. The pacing is great, the action is enough, and the story is one of my favorites. I am enamored with this movie and impressed with what they were able to do with their budget. This movie proves that you do not need a crazy budget to tell a good story. If you have Amazon Prime, it is included with your subscription. Go watch this now!

Movie Reviews, movies

Prime Movie Reviews: Defendor (2009)

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Defendor is another Average Joe Superhero movie. The movie has the delightful casting of Woody Harrelson; his charm is infectious in this movie. Harrelson plays Arthur, a man with mental disabilities who fights crime as Defendor.

What sets this movie apart is Arthur. Arthur has this strong sense of justice and duty that he has emulated from his comic books. There are moments when he shows some bits of his humanity, but his personality changes when he puts on the costume. Watching the contrast between Defendor and Arthur is well executed. Defendor isn’t a great fighter and often gets beat up, but that never stopped him. His real superpower is his determination to his cause. Don’t go into this movie expecting well-choreographed fights. The fights are filmed to fit the narrative. Defendor uses gadgets like marbles or wasps to create confusion and uses that confusion to get an advantage. They are fun to watch. And don’t get me started on his catch phrases. They are the icing to the whole movie!

The movie is a little slow at times. It bounces around from different aspects of his life as he tries to stop his nemesis Captain Industry.
The film spends a lot of time effectively building a back story for Defendor. The film also does a great job showing the impact that Defendor and Author make on the world. This film is successful at telling a compelling superhero story with what it has.

But, this film is not for everyone. The pacing can be a problem, especially towards the middle. But if you have an Amazon Prime membership and two hours to kill, there are worse ways to spend it.