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Series Reviews

Series Review: The Boys Presents: Diabolical (2022)

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There were a lot of ads as well as Reddit posts that tried to generate hype for this series, claiming that it would canonically expand on The Boys universe. I also saw a few ads and posts trying to hype up the fact that the Awkwafina be involved in the series. I love Awkwafina so I was rightfully excited. While the claims weren’t misleading, The Boys Presents: Diabolical doesn’t expand the world or lore in a meaningful way, at least not in a way that is worth your time.

The Boys Presents: Diabolical is an anthology of animated shorts focusing on different stories within The Boys’ universe. Each episode is done in its unique style and focuses on a different group affected by Vaught and the world of superheroes. While the art and voice acting are solid, the stories told aren’t interesting. Out of the eight episodes available, I only found myself liking one, and it wasn’t the Awkwafina one. The series leans on tropes already explored in the main series with the focus being on the other people in the universe. The problem with this is that this spin-off isn’t as good, and the commentary isn’t made as competently. 

If you watch this anthology, you will skip some episodes because the story or the narrative style isn’t interesting. I assure you that you aren’t missing out on any meaningful context if you choose to ignore the spin-off. Don’t waste your time with this series. There are better animated series out there more worthy of your time. But if you don’t believe me, you can watch this on Amazon with a prime membership. 

Series Reviews

TV Series Review: The Boys

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I know I am a bit late for this review, but I thought I would share it anyways. If you haven’t seen The Boys on Amazon, I highly recommend it. The Boys challenges the traditional tropes of superheroes by satirizing the current American political climate. There are three forces that control the superhero narrative. There is a narrative created for the public, one where the hero is just and honorable, ready to save the day. It is the expected narrative of the genre. But behind closed doors, in the shadows of society, there is the narrative that is kept a secret. One that is pushed away from the public eye, where heroes are revealed to be selfish and careless, causing mayhem and indulging in debauchery. If people truly knew what their beloved superheroes were really like, there wouldn’t be superheroes. It is up to the corporation Vaught to control the narrative, and sell the public on superheroes.

The series focuses on a band of misfits who want to bring to light the true evil that hides beneath the public narrative. They are brought together by the symptoms of Vaught’s greed and evil. They face impossible odds as they are up against the most powerful man and the superheroes he controls. 

I love this series because it is a refreshing take on a tired genre. I didn’t believe that live-action comic book adaptations could ever work, but I am glad I was wrong. If you have seen the series, I would recommend the comic. There is enough repetition between both where it won’t be repetitive, and it is a solid read. If you haven’t seen the series, you should stop reading and go watch it now. A bit of warning though, the show and comic are very brutal and gory. The deeper you get into the series, the more bloody and violent the show gets. The third season specifically tries to outdo its violence and gore with each additional episode and it is fantastic.

The story for this show is brilliant. There is violence, mayhem, and some very much appreciated satire. The third season is a little more obvious with its satire, often times parodying direct events from American politics, but it is well done and fits the overall tone of the series. The story is brought to life by an amazing cast who give some great performances. 

You need to watch this show if you haven’t already. Keep in mind that this show is very violent and bloody. If that sounds good to you, you can watch The Boys on Amazon with your Prime membership.

Movie Reviews, movies

Movie Review: The 355 (2022)

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As far as spy thrillers go, The 355 is just okay. I didn’t hate this movie, but it also didn’t leave much of an impression. I will forget what this movie is about tomorrow, and so will you. This movie doesn’t do enough to earn a recommendation.

A drug cartel has made a device that allows the user to hack anything. The race is on to get the device before it falls into the wrong hand. This world-ending device brings together a group of unlikely characters who must work together to retrieve the device and save the world. Will they be able to save the world? Of course they do, this isn’t a deep movie.

The movie has a great cast whose talents are wasted. The biggest problem I have with this movie is with its plot, it is slow and dry. If you are going to have good actors in your movie, make sure the story takes advantage of their strengths. As far as action movies go, this movie is limited by its actors’ abilities. There are a few interesting sequences, but a lot of it is awkward. If you aren’t going to have a good story, at least make the action fun and exciting. The movie suffers as it slows down for pointless backstory, and meaningless tech babble, and it tops it all off with obvious twists. If you watch this movie, you will skip a few scenes.

You can watch this movie on Amazon with your prime membership. While it is not the worst movie out there, I wouldn’t rush out to see it.

Movie Reviews, movies

Movie Review: The House of Gucci (2021)

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House of Gucci is one of the harder movies I’ve had to sit through this year. I took a break five minutes into this movie because of how bad the accents are. I have a headache from two hours of this nonsense. Save yourself the trouble and forget this movie exists.

The worst part of this movie is Lady Gaga’s performance as Patrizia Gucci. I couldn’t possibly pick a worse lead for a movie that wasn’t very good to begin with. I watched an interview with Lada Gaga where she talks about the different schools and methods of acting that she used for her performance, and I am here to tell you that none of them worked. She should stick to roles that take advantage of her limited range. The character is supposed to be a manipulative, obsessive, and powerful woman. Lady Gaga is awkward at best and flat the rest of the time. I struggled to restrain myself from skipping any of her scenes because of how boring they are.

The story doesn’t fair much better. With a better cast, I still don’t think this movie would be good. It would be easier to sit through, sure, but there isn’t enough here for a compelling story. You get to watch boring meetings, awkward conversations, relationship problems, and betrayal that happens off-screen. This story might make a good documentary, but there isn’t enough to make it the drama this film desperately wants to be. 

You can watch this movie on Amazon with your prime membership, but I wouldn’t bother. I understand why the Gucci family was offended. I am offended by them, and I am not even Italian.

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Movie Reviews, movies

Movie Review: The Karate Kid (2010)

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I remember watching this in theaters when it first came out. I also remember the disappointment I felt after watching it. It’s been a while since then, and I thought that time and the fact that it is free would dull the disappointment, but it hasn’t. I am still as disappointed as I was before, but somehow it stings more.

This movie is a shameless rehashing of the Karate kids franchise, but you are better off watching all the originals. This is beat for beat the first Karate kid, although it does borrow elements from its sequels. The acting is awkward, the story is dumb, and it lacks the charm of the originals. I don’t believe Jaden Smith has the acting ability that his father wishes he had, and as a result, we’ve gotten a series of bad movies that aren’t worth your time. Maybe he’s a better musician, but I don’t see any awards in his future.

I am glad the Karate Kid Franchise got its proper reboot with Kobra Kai. If you haven’t seen that show, I highly recommend it. There is a bit of high school drama that you can skip over, but overall it is a nice continuation of the saga.

You can find this movie on YouTube for free, but I wouldn’t bother.

Series Reviews

Movie Review: The Night House(2021)

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I expected The Night House to be another badly made and generic demon possession movie. Instead, I got a creatively disorienting narrative about a woman trying to piece together and understand the sinister events that slowly unravel around her. Beth is left to pick up the pieces of her life after her husband’s sudden suicide. Unfortunately, these pieces begin to unravel the dark secrets that her husband left behind. Is Beth’s husband as innocent as she remembered, or has the grief left her chasing shadows that aren’t there?

This is a fun movie that is very much worth your time. The acting is great, the visuals are amazing, and the story is entertaining without being convoluted. I love the direction and risks this movie takes in creating a truly disorienting experience. The use of shadows, mirrors and CGI all help create an endless maze of confusion as you are left to piece together a mystery with fragments of clues. The clues given are often incomplete or misinterpreted, further adding to the confusion and mystery. The deeper Beth gets into her investigation, the more confusing narrative gets. The horror of this movie doesn’t rely on cheap jump scares, but rather on the disorienting experience the aftermath of the suicide brings. Not knowing what is going on helps emulate the same fear and confusion Beth goes through. It is an experience that is masterfully done through the blending of reality, dreams, and delusions. Watch this movie for the interesting visuals and the fantastic performance. 

Go watch this movie on HBO if you like disorienting psychological horror. It might not give you nightmares, but you will have a lot of fun with it. 

Series Reviews

TV Series Review: Fairfax (2021)

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There is an audience for this animated series, it just doesn’t include me. There is nothing technically bad with Fairfax, it was just too obnoxious for my tastes. The animation is fine, the voice acting is solid, the attention to detail is fantastic, and there is a good soundtrack buried throughout the series. But this show was created with a specific audience in mind and it is not for everyone.

The show follows Dale, a kid from Oregon who moves to the trendy city of Fairfax California. While everyone is obsessed with chasing clout through popularity and fashion, Dale only wants to make friends and go hiking. Dale makes friends with a group of characters who try to teach him how to fit in. While he does have a lot to learn about the new culture he has been dropped into, he also has a lot to learn.

Fairfax makes a lot of important social commentary about the culture obsessed with clout chasing. The show is supposed to be obnoxious as it satirizes the ridiculous never-ending cycle of being trendy. Every episode is a tedious adventure about chasing the lasted fad only to end in the disappointment that there is a new trend to chase. The whole series is about a society stuck in this endless and stressful race of seeking attention. It is well done, for the most part, I just wish it was wrapped in a different package.

I will say that I respect the attention to detail put into this show. If you were around for the Hypebeast era, you will catch and appreciate a lot of the references. Slang, posters, and music, amongst the constant barrage of pop culture references, encapsulate a whole generation of culture. I just didn’t like the characters or the tone of the series. If you can get past both of these jarring details, you might have a better time with this show. 

The show isn’t bad. It has its moments, and it makes some very cool observations, but it isn’t for me. This show was made with a specific audience in mind. Those on the outside of this group won’t find this show entertaining. That said, you can check it out on Amazon if you have a Prime Membership.

Series Reviews

TV Series Review: The Terminal List (2022)

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I will say it, Chris Pratt doesn’t play a good soldier. I gave him a pass for Tomorrow’s War because no one could make that movie work, but with a slightly better story, he still falls short. He plays the exact same character in this, and I fear that Pratt might be a one-note actor. 

This show relies heavily on misdirection, tension, and urgency but there is none to be found. This is equal parts the fault of not having a strong enough lead as well as the poor directing and writing. The series follows Reese, a navy seal who is investigating a giant conspiracy that has taken the lives of his team and his family. Throughout, the show will present inconsistencies in what Reese perceives to try to disorient the audience’s perception of the narrative. Is there truly some secret plot against Reese and his men, or is it all a delusion brought on by an existing brain tumor?

While this might not be the worst military/spy thriller out there, there are certainly better options. The biggest issue with this show is its pacing. There also needed to be a force or pressure pushing Reese through the plot. Compitant villains with the chance to catch Reese. Instead, I waited for Pratt to make it to the next cheesy one-liner. It doesn’t help that the story stops for shameless product placement or to replay that same memories. It all feels like filler and adds little to the narrative. 

The tension and suspense suffer from the series’ poor pacing. Why should I worry about Reese’s race against cancer or the government if he is sitting for dinner? He might be more mortal than the traditional action hero, but Reese still has the godlike ability to get out of every situation. The stiff action sequences are therefore a bore because the outcome will always favor Reese. There are moments where he is slowed down by the wear and tear of combat, but it never truly feels like Reese is in trouble. I have said it before, even if the hero wins, there needs to be tension and urgency to make the movie exciting. 

This show desperately attempts to set itself apart through its constant failed attempts at misdirection. I knew who the final bad guy was the first time he appeared on screen, and I waited impatiently for his disappointing reveal. The series tries to trick the audience into believing that the conspiracy might be Reese’s delusion. This idea is interesting and it could have worked with a stronger lead. I have nothing against Pratt, but he doesn’t have the range needed for this series.

If you are going to watch this show, throw it up when you don’t want to pay attention. There is enough filler in this series here where you don’t need to be completely attentive. If you like spy thrillers, there are better ones, but this might scratch an itch. Otherwise, don’t bother. It’s okay for what it is, but it’s not really worth its run time. You can watch it on Amazon with a Prime membership, but I suggest you skip the boring bits.

Movie Reviews, movies

Movie Review: The Black Phone (2022)

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The Black Phone is a welcome addition to the horror genre, one that leaves me hopeful for the future of scary movies. If you are thinking of watching this movie, just buy the tickets already. This movie is worth the theater experience. This terrifyingly suspenseful thriller will have you the most stressed you have ever been in a movie as you experience the cold isolated realm carefully crafted by the Grabber.

The sleepy town of Boulder Colorado has been hit with a series of kidnappings. The town is in a panic as they fear for the safety of their young boys. The movie focuses on Fin, the Grabber’s latest victim, who has the supernatural ability to speak with the dead through an old phone. Will Fin be the one to get away, or will he be just another victim?

This is a fantastic movie with amazing actors, a great story, and well-crafted horror. There are no cheap jump scares, farfetched storylines, or torture porn here. Instead, you have a tense and stressful situation effectively created through the isolation of the room and the maddening performance of Ethan Hawk. He is creepy, he is odd, and he is frightening. Hawk is a brilliant villain whose performance alone is worth the ticket price. But this movie is not possible without the equally brilliant child actors who help fuel a lot of the tension and suspense of this movie. You couple all of this with the movie’s terrifyingly stunning visuals and editing, and you get one of the creepiest movies I have seen in a while. The Black Phone is horror done correctly.

You need to watch this movie, and it needs to be in theaters.

Series Reviews

TV Series Review: Bang Bang Baby (2022)

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Bang Bang Baby sits as a unique mob story that I believe is worth your time. It is full of dreams, quirky characters, and action. While the English dubbing is solid, I would recommend watching it in the original Italian as you will lose a bit of the intended cadence and emotion in the dubbing. While the show can be a little cheesy in parts, the message and social commentary are serious and important.

The show follows a young Alice who spends her life as the invisible shy girl living a dull life. Her world is shaken when she finds out that her father, who she believed dead, is part of a very important mob family. Her father convinces her to help him out of trouble, throwing her into the mob life. The more she attempts to go back to her normal life, the harder it becomes for her to leave the mob world. Will she be able to save her father and get the normal life she’s always wanted, or will the call of the underworld be too persuasive to resist?

This is such a unique story full of color, wacky antics, and interesting characters. The acting is fine, the cinematography is fantastic, and the story is uniquely engaging. This isn’t your typical mob story with a focus on hardened stoic criminals, but rather a story that focuses on the underrepresented groups whose stories are never told or are always misrepresented. These would be the story of the women, the homosexuals, and the undesirables. The plot is a combination of different narratives about people who don’t fit into the traditional roles set up by the ruling mob culture. 

While there is an overarching mob element, the focus is on the outliers who are trying to find a place in a world that doesn’t want them. It is fantastic. You get a strong and capable female protagonist whose story doesn’t get preachy about girl power. You get LGBQ characters who aren’t caricatures or stereotypes and play an important role in the narrative. Most importantly, the show deals with breaking out of the traditions and expectations to find an identity that isn’t dictated by tradition or misogyny. You throw all this along with one of the best soundtracks in all of television, and you have a fun and unique show that I believe is worth your time. 

I will say that there are parts of this show that slow down a bit, but it never gets unwatchable. You can watch this show on Amazon if you have a Prime Membership.