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The Midnight Club is a huge waste of time. Even if you enjoy horror anthologies and mysteries, this is a very weak entry into either genre. I wouldn’t bother with this series even for the morbid curiosity.

The Midnight Club is a collection of poorly written and acted ghost stories that exist within a mystery. In a hospice designed for teens with terminal diseases, a club was formed to help cope with the ever-looming death around them. The teens gather every night to tell ghost stories and blow off steam. But there is something sinister is afoot. The teens see ghosts and hear voices that aren’t there. There is something about a cult, but I honestly stopped caring pretty early on.

The acting is bad, and somehow the writing is worse. Scenes that exist outside of the ghost stories fair a little better, but barely. The biggest issue I have with this series is with the ghost stories. The stories are generic, and often parodies of better horror stories or movies. This would be fine if the intention was to parody, but it isn’t. This is a serious attempt at horror with very little value. Each story comes with an overbearing and poorly read narration that kills any tension the story could have. Some of the stories recap events that have occurred in the series, making this a redundant and uninteresting mess.

I wouldn’t mind if this show was a horror anthology if there wasn’t so much narration. I wouldn’t mind the stories if they didn’t take away from the overarching mystery. This series feels like several different shows, and none of it is cohesive. I often forgot there was a mystery tying the series together. I can’t tell you how many times I almost gave up on this series because nothing of note ever happens. This series has ghosts, tragic backstories, cults, death, and none of it matters.

The pacing is terrible. There is a lot of filler in this series. Most of it comes from the ghost stories, but there is a fair amount of self-service. The ghost stories are often interrupted by snide remarks or criticism from the other characters, and it kills any suspense the stories have. There are minutes dedicated after the stories to remark on how great the story and storyteller are. The main character won’t go an episode without talking about how smart and talented she is. It is infuriating how pretentious these characters can be.

The series does have a few interesting moments. I liked how the kids dealt with their mortality and talked about their illnesses. There are some interesting conversations about the social struggles they face due to their illness, but there isn’t enough to make it worth your time. Other than their illnesses, the characters have no depth to them.

Don’t watch this show because it is bad. The characters are flat, the plot doesn’t matter, and the acting isn’t even good. But if you don’t believe me, check it out on Netflix.

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Series Reviews

Series Review: Shaman King (2021)

October 7, 2022 josechurape 6 Comments

I used to watch the original Shaman King when it first came out long ago. It has been a while since then, and I don’t remember too much of the show, but I remember liking it and playing the game on the Gameboy. I was very excited when I saw that Netflix was remaking the anime, and while it may not be the best, I did enjoy it.

Yoh is a young shaman destined to save the world. Yoh wants to have an easy and carefree life, but his destiny won’t allow it. When Yoh turns 13, the tournament that will determine who the next Shaman king begins. Yoh joins the competition, making many valuable friends along the way. Yoh and his friends must use this competition to beat an ancient shaman who wants to destroy the world. Will they be strong enough to save the world?

This is a cheesy anime, but I believe that it is part of its charm. If you enjoy early 2000s anime, it is very reminiscent of the era. That said, this series isn’t for everyone.

The art has improved from the original series, with better-animated fight scenes. The pacing has some overall improvement, but I felt like the ending was rushed. I was very disappointed by how the series ended, but I still enjoyed it. I read somewhere that this reboot is more true to the manga, but I haven’t read the manga to know for sure. The voice acting was solid for the most part with a few of the original actors reprising their roles. The writing is a bit generic, and it feels like it was written with a younger audience in mind.

What I love most about this show is how they treat death. I was too young to appreciate the amount of work that went into writing this narrative the first time around. This time I was able to catch a lot of the references and I appreciate all the different cultural beliefs about death. Death and the afterlife are heavily featured in this series, and the series explores as many different ideas as they can fit in a season. I like that it never suggests one belief is better than others as they all seem to stem from the great spirit. It was cool to see how each belief and practice manifested as an ability. A lot of this information comes in the form of exposition dumps. I had no problem with these dumps since usually they were very informative.

This anime has its audience. It can be cringey and cheesy at times because a lot of the conflict is solved through the power of friendship. If you are a fan of the original, check it out for nostalgia. If you aren’t and are on the fence, maybe hold off because there are better anime. If you can stomach the overall cheesiness of this show, check it out on Netflix.

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Movie Reviews

Movie Review: Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)

October 5, 2022 josechurape Leave a comment

Most people are already done with this IP, but Illumination seems to be determined to milk it for all its worth. While it might not be the best addition to the franchise, The Rise of Gru is certainly one of the better ones. If you have kids, you’ve probably already seen this movie. If you haven’t, you can stream it on Peacock.

The plot is a simple origin story. It focuses on the mentorship of Gru as he comes to his own as a villain, while also establishing him as a sympathetic character. I didn’t feel like it added much to the lore or did anything worthwhile, but I didn’t hate it.

This movie doesn’t do anything special, and I would only recommend it if you have kids. The voice acting is mostly solid and I enjoy the art style. It is hard to write too much about this movie because you’ve seen this type of origin story done many times. There were some cute moments in this movie that help The Rise of Gru stand out among the rest of these movies, but nothing I would rush to see.

If you are looking for something to throw on for a family movie night, this is a solid option. If you are looking for something to throw on in the background, why not. Otherwise, you can probably live without it. You can stream it on Peacock.

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Movie Reviews

Movie Review: Hocus Pocus 2

October 4, 2022 josechurape Leave a comment

I wasn’t impressed by this sequel. As of writing this, I struggle to remember what I just watched. If you are a fan of the original, you have already been disappointed. For the rest of you, watch the original instead.

This attempt feels heartless and empty. It is a very cheesy and cartoonish movie, clearly written for a younger audience, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that this movie is boring. The acting is great for the Sanderson sisters and Gilbert, but everyone else feels flat. The main characters feel shallow because they are poorly written. I did not care for the main characters or the fact that they were no longer friends because there wasn’t enough to them for me to do so. The conflict between them seemed manufactured to fill the run time. Their only motivations seem to be driven by the script instead of any defining characteristic. I can’t even name you any of the main characters because they only existed to chase after the sisters.

The plot of this movie is clearly a shallow attempt at cashing in on some nostalgia. There isn’t any tension in the movie despite there being a deadline. The villains and heroes were all goofing around so I stopped caring pretty early on. If this movie isn’t wasting time on pointless high school drama, being politically correct, or making references to the original, then nothing is happening. This movie builds up, if you can call this poorly written plot build-up, to a very disappointing conclusion powered by terrible writing and Ex-Machina. It is anti-climactic, and the Sanderson sisters deserved a better conclusion.

This movie was clearly written for kids. Hocus Pocus 2 was a sloppy attempt to reboot the series for a new generation. I expected more. You can stream on Disney+, but I recommend you watch the original instead.

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Movie Reviews

Movie Review: Athena (2022)

October 3, 2022 josechurape Leave a comment

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

I absolutely adored this film, and if it isn’t on your radar, it should be. Athena is a beautifully shot and stressful journey through a chaotic riot brought forth by racism.

The community of Athena is shaken by the death of a young boy at the hands of the local police. Fed up by the police brutality plaguing his community, Karim takes arms against those who killed his brother. Riots break out, and with the help of the local gangs, Karim wages war against the police. Will he be able to bring his brother’s killers to justice? Will this war bring the change Karim is hoping for?

The film is in French, with subtitles available in many languages. The acting is fantastic, although I only understood bits of it. The big draw to this movie is how perfectly it captures the chaos of the riots. I was blown away by the long sequences that beautifully told this chaotic story. I respect the amount of work and coordination required to make such a massive conflict fit within this movie.

There is some dialogue, all of it is key to the story, but most of the storytelling is achieved through these long sequences. The clashes with the police and the long walks through the war-torn apartments tell an amazing story with very few words. The story told is intense and suspenseful. I was at the edge of my seat, consistently stressed by the escalating conflict throughout the whole experience, and it was wonderful.

Stream it now on Netflix.

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Series Reviews

Series Review: The Umbrella Academy

October 1, 2022 josechurape 5 Comments

I love the Umbrella Academy, and this new season did little to change that. It might not be the best season, but it still holds up against up well against the other shows in the genre.

The Umbrella Academy is an orthodox way of looking at the superhero narrative. The show is about a family of superhumans adopted by an eccentric man with selfish intentions. The seven members of The Umbrella Academy endured a traumatic childhood where their father raised them to be superheroes. They struggle as adults to adjust to normal life because they are restrained by their traumas. Now that the end-of-the-world is at their doorstep, they must learn to work through their issues and save the world. Can they do it?

I haven’t read the comic, and I can’t make a comparison between the two mediums. As a series, however, it is fantastic. The story is great, the acting is solid, and the soundtrack is amazing. Sure, some of this series is bogged down by family drama, but that’s the point. The Umbrella Academy isn’t just about superheroes saving the world, but about people trying to work through trauma.

It is important to note that these are not traditional heroes. They will mess up a lot, they will act selfishly, and sometimes not act heroically. The show does a good job of showing how the pressures of heroism take their toll on each member. Each member has a moment of crisis that they have to deal with, and they don’t always deal with it well. The charm of this show is the constant state of crisis they seem to find themselves in because they are flawed. As a result, it is fun to see how experience changes each character throughout the series.

The Umbrella Academy is one of few narratives that handle time travel and multiverses well. I never felt overwhelmed by the jumps, changes, or the number of narratives because of how well the story is told. Everything in this series is held together by a mystery that will keep most audiences guessing till the end. I think by the third season you should already be able to solve the mystery, but with all the changes in the timeline, it can be hard to know for sure.

I recommend you watch this series. It is full of fun action, serious moments, and some fantastic music. This series is well done, and there is enough of it to keep you busy for a while unless you end up binding it in one sitting. If you do, I don’t blame you. Check it out on Netflix.

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Movie Reviews

Movie Review: Look Both Ways (2022)

September 30, 2022 josechurape Leave a comment

Look Both Ways is a cute story that explores how the life of a young woman splits after one defining moment. In her senior year of college, Natalie takes a pregnancy test that would determine her future. The movie explores how her life would have turned out with either outcome. In one version, Natalie works toward the goals she has set for herself while the other version of Natalie becomes a mother. The movie will constantly shift between the two, comparing each other’s achievements and hardships. It is a neat idea, and it makes for a cute story.

The movie is cute because of its cast and the chemistry they share. The story is okay, but it plays off as too much of a fantasy. There is hardly any adversity in this quirky little narrative, and what does exist is easily overcome. Everything works out in the end, so think of this as a fairy tale you watch when you want to relax.

I liked how they showed that life wasn’t over for Natalie after she got pregnant, and she could still work towards her goals. Both narratives were treated nicely but limited by this mirroring the narratives had to do. Each switch had to be parallel so the choices Natalie made had to be the same or similar.

My only complaint is that the ending was a bit disappointing, had it ended a few minutes earlier it would have been better, but it didn’t ruin the experience. Also having it limited to only two successful outcomes is a bit limiting, but any other combination would have either been too long or biased.

It’s cheesy, its fun, and you won’t hate it. It isn’t going to win any awards, but I enjoyed the story, and I appreciate how it was told. You can stream it on Netflix.

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Movie Reviews

Movie Review: Blonde (2022)

September 29, 2022 josechurape 4 Comments

I have mixed feelings about Blonde because while I appreciate what it tries to do, it is a slow burn. This movie didn’t need to be as long as it is, and I nearly gave up on it. What hurts this movie is its artsy retelling of history, but it is an innovation in storytelling that I can welcome. If you are coming to this movie to learn about the tragedy of Marilyn Monroe, it is done better in documentaries and books. The draw to this film is strictly for its artistry and storytelling. It is not for everyone.

Ana del Armas is amazing, and her performance was the only reason I was able to stomach this movie. Ana del Armas is able to embody the tragedy and desperation behind this story as she carries this film. I can’t think of a better actress for the job.

That said, this movie is too artsy for its good. Some scenes drag on way too long and others become repetitive. I do like the almost horror narrative style the movie takes up to highlight the tragedy of Maralyn’s life. The way it exaggerates the predatory affection men had towards her was terrifying. This movie does a good job of showing how fame was a curse to Maralyn, and how it led to her untimely death. It was interesting to see the constant struggle between Norma the person and Marilyn the symbol evolve through the film. It was a conflict that resulted in some truly powerful scenes. The problem I have with this movie is that it takes too long to make its points. I don’t have the attention span required to sit through this much symbolism.

Blonde isn’t a good biopic. I don’t feel like I came out of this experience knowing anything new about the actress like I did with Elvis. While I did enjoy the overall performance, the art distracts from the narrative.

The best way to enjoy this movie is to come into it knowing the history. This isn’t a movie that you will use as a historical reference. Read books and watch documentaries first, then maybe consider this movie. This is a movie designed to make the audience uncomfortable. Marilyn’s life is an uncomfortable tragedy. There is a lot of nudity and abuse in this movie, clearly earning its N17 rating. But, if you don’t mind weird artsy movies, this one is a slow burn that you should watch for the experience. Just be warned, it is very slow. I wouldn’t go out of my way to watch it, especially since this story has been done better elsewhere. But for those interested, you can stream it on Netflix.

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Series Reviews

Series Review: Devil in Ohio (2022)

September 28, 2022 josechurape 11 Comments

Image by Waldkunst from Pixabay

This series is average at best, but I don’t believe it’s earned a recommendation. If you are looking for something to throw on and not be invested in, there are still better options. If you are looking for a creepy satanic cult series, look elsewhere. This series has a deep focus on high school and family drama, and it eventually remembers its cult roots.

Devil in Ohio is about a family that takes in a mysterious girl who has escaped a cult. While she is trying to adjust to normal life, strange things begin to happen. Not everyone trusts Mae, but the matriarch will go out of her way to save her. Is Mae the sweet and innocent girl she seems to be, or is something sinister brewing?

This series wastes a lot of time on the drama that I didn’t care for. The acting is average at best, making the drama even harder to sit through. Mae is by far the only interesting character in this series, and she deserves better. I liked how she was constantly conflicted about acting on her own or acting as she was raised. Watching her begin to build her own identity was an interesting narrative, but one that wasn’t explored to its full potential. They of course ruin her development towards the end when they remembered they were making a horror series.

I didn’t care for the rest of the family. Most of them had no personality and would only appear for their mandatory appearance. There was really no reason for having a family this big. Most of the drama was fabricated only as a means to drag out the series, and none of it is meaningful. This series feels longer than it is.

In the end, I can’t really recommend this show because it isn’t good. With Halloween coming up, you shouldn’t add this to your marathon. You can stream it on Netflix, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to watch it.

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