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Reviews
Munô no taka (2024)
Cautiously Hopeful ...
When I was a kid I loved Japanese TV comedy dramas. "Shimuno" - about some feisty Office Ladies - was my favorite in the late-1990s.
I especially liked those shows with strong female characters. "Shimuno" had Esumi Makiko, who played the lead troublesome OL. Some years later we had "Doctor X" and the headstrong lead played by Yonekura Ryoko.
Like Arai Nanao, all three actresses are or had been models who later transitioned into acting. I don't know much about Ms Arai, but I do think both Esumi and Yonekura had or have acting talents. I hope the same is true for Nanao.
But that remains to be seen. My disappointment is that this series may not be the right vehicle or opportunity for her to do so. The obvious difference is that one of the two leads whom she plays seems to be on the autism spectrum.
No idea if this is really so or not.
In any case, the series gets a minus two points for being formulaic and recycling decades-old troupes about portraying Japanese men and women in the workplace. Aside from Nanao's character, there isn't really anything new with this show.
#SeAcabó: Diario de las campeonas (2024)
Intriguing and Informative
I hadn't follow closely the World Cup in 2023, and so the uproar over the non-consensual kiss on Spanish player Jennifer Hermoso by RFEF president Luis Rubiales was not a big item on my news feed.
But I definitely had heard about it. What I hadn't known, however, was the entire backstory about and the role of two men - Rubiales and the women's team head coach Jorge Vilda - in the leadership and management of the federation and the team.
The strength of this documentary are the interviews with key players and witnesses. It's weakness is not being able to get interviews with Rubiales and Vilda, to get their side of the story. It would also have been nice to get commentaries from neutral people who had in-depth knowledge of the whole thing.
My key takeaways: Had Rubiales not done what he did, probably none of this would have come out into daylight - at least not for many years afterwards. Also, the women players persevered and won - on and off the pitch.
Achtsam Morden (2024)
Sehr Gut!
Unexpectedly, I enjoyed this series a lot.
Excellent acting, script, directing, production value. There were some pretty big plot holes, however, but they could be overlooked for the overall engrossing story.
I love that the conceit of the series uses the popularity of mindful meditation in Germany, with many people practicing it during commutes and at work.
The Netflix series is based on a series of novel - and both share the same name - that has a different protagonist and a completely different plot.
In the TV series the main character is a lawyer involved in murders. In the novels the main character is a mindfulness coach solving murders.
Which is better? I don't know, because I have never read the novels. But I do like the TV series.
I recommend watching this in German with subtitles.
Will & Harper (2024)
A Missed Opportunity
This was a somewhat disappointing documentary for me.
I really wanted to know about how Will's and Harper's friendship changed - or not changed - or is challenged - or not challenged - as a result of Harper's transition.
I really wanted to know about their journey together - not just the literal one but also the emotional or philosophical one - during or post transition.
Instead, we get a meandering story about a very brief road trip with - in my opinion - mostly a shallow look at their relationship post-change. There were only a few emotional moments.
Literally, about half way through the documentary, Will asks Harper about her boobs. I thought it was going to lead to something more deep. But no ... instead, Will asks about bottom surgery.
Overall, it was great that Will and Harper remained good friends. But the documentary seems to focus too much on Will at times, and so it was a missed opportunity.
Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare (2024)
I'm Shocked ...
I feel this documentary would have been better if it had covered a few women or men who were catfished under similar circumstances, instead of just one person.
While the story of Kirat is compelling, I feel it couldn't really fill nearly 1.5 hours. It just felt too stretched out and repetitive at times.
Alternatively, had the documentary also interviewed the fake Bobby or a few others who whose identities were stolen, then I think it would have been really interesting.
Of course, that might have been too difficult, given the sensitive nature of the events. Still, it would have been useful to the audience to understand better what and why it happened.
Definitely a cautionary tale for all.
Ibelin (2024)
Heart-Warming
I've never played the game "World of Warcraft" but I do understand the need for belonging, community, comradery, and love.
The story of Ibelin and his guild members is interesting to me for the fact they were able to form such closed relationships through mainly virtual interactions.
The documentary style is good, especially the use of video game graphics interspersed with interviews and real-life videos to tell the story. Has this ever been done before?
If a life well lived means having a positive impact on the lives of others, then Ibelin's was indeed good. And, given his circumstances, indeed remarkable.
Nobody Wants This (2024)
Smart and Entertaining
I must be honest: Initially I was skeptical about yet another romance comedy from Netflix. The track record on this genre is largely badly written stories compounded by lead actors with little to no chemistry.
I was so happy that this is not the case with "Nobody Wants This". Likely a tongue-in-cheek title from the producers who recognize the generally subpar quality of this type of movies or series.
Kudos must be given to the writers, directors, and the actors - both lead and supporting cast. I totally bought into the chemistry between Kristen Bell's and Adam Brody's characters from the very beginning.
They pulled off something special here: A smartly written and entertaining romance comedy that is completely believable and engaging. There were a few brief moments where I was worried. But thankfully it didn't end up being too cliche.
I can't wait for Season 2!
Twilight of the Gods (2024)
Zac Snyder Redeems Himself
It's hard to believe that someone who made the atrocious "Rebel Moon" also had a hand in making this very watchable animated series.
I suppose having equal inputs from Jay Oliva and Eric Carrasco - two experienced and skilled story-boarder and screen-writer - made all the difference.
Zac Snider unguided or assisted by lesser talents gets us really bad movies. The only exception is "Sucker Punch" - that movie could have been really bad, but somehow worked.
"Twilight of the Gods" is not in the same league as with "Blue Eye Samurai" and it plays fast and loose with Norse mythology. But it's an interesting version of Ragnarok.
Uglies (2024)
Mediocres
Easily the worst Netflix movie in 2024.
Pretty much everything is bad. Instead of calling the movie "Uglies" they should have called it "Mediocres".
This is why hiring competent writers and a good director is so important. Skimp on these, and you're pretty much guaranteed to have a bad product.
The only reason I gave two stars instead of one is for the ending. I won't spoil it; but I will say that I was actually cheering for Joey King's character and hoping that ending we got is the final ending.
That said, lead actor Joey King really needs to pick better projects. If she keeps working with untalented people, she's going to ruin her career.
Do yourself a favor: Read the book instead.
Terminator Zero (2024)
Another Mediocre Terminator Story
A Terminator anime? Yes, please. A Terminator Zero story, hmm ...
I love the anime format. When used well. "Terminator Zero" had that potential. Unfortunately, the writers had to go and put annoying kids in the main plot, making the anime more like a Saturday-morning cartoon rather than a serious treatise on the Terminator lore.
Imagine "Blue Eye Samurai" being focused only on children. Or "Gozilla Minus One" being only about a kaiju running amok. The point is that "Terminator Zero" could have been so much better, and perhaps reboot the franchise.
What a missed opportunity. Only a few episodes in, I was rooting for SkyNet to just end it all.
Kaos (2024)
Refreshing and Entertaining
"Kaos" is a rare gem on the Netflix lineup of new shows: It's well-written, well-directed, and well-acted. The only (minor) downside is that it requires the audience knowing enough about Greek mythology to really enjoy it. Otherwise this show would easily be a 10.
The writing: This is where some grounding on Greek mythology is a must. It's still a good show without it. But with it, the show becomes even more entertaining and some things will make more sense early on. That the writers don't spoon-feed the audience is a really big bonus.
The directing: Another brilliant part of the show. There were no needless scene I could detect (and I watched all 8 episodes). Everything seemed to have been as long as it needed to be to keep the story moving forward.
The acting: Wow. The cast, led by Jeff Goldblum, and supported by excellent actors, was simply marvelous. I heard Hugh Grant was originally to play Zeus - and he would have been very good. But Goldblum, I think, hit out of the park.
Can't wait for Season 2.
Blood: The Last Vampire (2000)
Best Vampire Anime
There are so many vampire-themed anime out there. Most are not very good, a few are ok, but this one "Blood: The Last Vampire" is probably among the best if not the best.
Yes, it's short and the studio could have made more movies based on the main character - she's so mysterious, deadly, and even sexy. Sadly, they didn't. So we are left with just this anime and the live-action version, which is not as good.
I actually think the short runtime is a good decision. It keeps the movie tightly focused, gives it a bit of mystery, doesn't bore the audience, and makes you want more of the story. Brilliant!
Uranus 2324 (2024)
Something's Wrong
I wanted this movie to be good. Sadly, it wasn't.
What I had hoped for was a journey of love - between two young women - through space and time. That was what I was promised. What I had hope for was a coherent and well-crafted story, even if the budget was low and the special effects lacking. I was hoping for adequate acting at minimum.
Sadly, the movie - the director, the writers, the actors - delivered none of this. The story made no sense, it had no character development, no believable - or even understandable - plot, and certainly no credible love between two characters that is suppose to anchor this film.
Instead, we get very mediocre - and that's being generous - directing, writing, and acting. The only thing positive is that actress Rebecca Patricia Armstrong is much a better than the rest of the cast and, if she gets a better agent, can overcome this lackluster film with better projects.
Verdict: I don't understand the movie got 8 stars here. Did 2k+ reviewers see a different version of the movie?
Freelance (2023)
Would have been better as a dramatic TV series
This movie gave me two revelations: 1) John Cena is improving as an actor, and he's not that bad - think Arnold when he was first starting out in the business, and 2) the story would have been much better as a one-season drama series than a comedy movie.
The premise of the story is interesting. No spoilers here. But think subversion of expectations. Which is why placing it in a comedic narrative didn't work. Had the screenplay been tweaked into a drama and given time to develop both the story and characters over multiple episodes, there would have been a chance of delivering something worthy of 7 or 8 stars.
And you wouldn't even need to change the actors. Cena is ok and although he's been in many comedies, I think he has the skill to pull off a dramatic role. At least his agent and the producers should have given him that chance. The guy just might surprise everyone.
But they didn't. A missed opportunity.
A Family Affair (2024)
I Couldn't Suspend Disbelief
Romantic movies are great - when they work. Both Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman are also fine actors - when they have good materials to work with.
Unfortunately, this movie doesn't work for me. The premise is ok - it's par for the course for romantic movies, and having a big age difference isn't a problem - it can actually be done well: think, "Harold and Maud".
The issue is that I didn't really sense great chemistry between the two characters. The setup just didn't land. Everything seemed forced to go along with what the plot requires. I think a different script could have made a big difference.
Which is ironic, given a plot of the movie.
"A Family Affair" is simply not funny nor romantic. Joey KIng's character just comes across as bitter and hateful, rather than being a humorous obstacle to Efron's and Kidman's characters that she really needed to be.
Gisaengsu: Deo geurei (2024)
Not As Good As Manga/Anime
Based on the manga and anime, this Korean version is, sadly, not as good as the original material.
There are many problems with this live-action version: Mainly, it's the plot that fails - in the original the parasytes try to remain undetected and out of sight (other than to the victims), but here they attack out in the open.
That's just one of many plot problems.
In the original, there are themes of survival and the right of all species to exist, what it is to be human, etc. Here, there is nothing as such - the series simply took the flashy parts without understanding the philosophical underpinning of the story.
The producers should have spent more on the script rather than the CGI special effects.
Shiti Hanta (2024)
Silly And Ultimately Empty
Based on the manga and anime films and series of the same name, this live-action version of "City Hunter" is as silly as the original source material, but lacks the endearing quirks that made the franchise fun.
I think a large part of the problem is that in this 2024 Netflix version, the main character Ryo Saeba has been very much toned down in his womanizing and lecherous ways. The original Saeba was a product of late-1980s Japan; this new Saeba is tame and uninteresting by comparison.
The story itself too is not as interesting. Nearly the first 20 minutes is devoted to a part of Saeba's back story that could have been better done in another way. That's about 25% of the total runtime of the movie. Such a bad choice and a waste.
Sadly, the live-action versions have never been any good. I recommend sticking to the anime movies and series.
Maseukeugeol (2023)
Too Many Genres Rolled Into One
The premise of this series, based on a webtoon, is really interesting. Unfortunately, the writing is not good enough to pull it off - actions and situations don't make a lot of sense - and there are other glaring technical problems such as sound design.
Billed as a black comedy crime thriller, I would say it's much less on the comedy side and more on the crime side, but without much morbid humor or even thrills. In other words, the series failed on the execution, leaving basically a weird tale that strains credulity.
I don't know if this series is a commentary of current society and culture of South Korea, but if it is, it's not at all effective. In the end, there were so many missed opportunities that I ended up wondering what was the entire point of the story,
Trigger Warning (2024)
Disappointing - Yet Again
First, J Lo. Now, Jessica Alba, too.
I love J Lo and I love Jessica Alba. But, wow, they have signed on to really bad movies for Netflix.
I think Alba's at her best in romantic comedies. Action films, not so much. But I think it's not entirely her fault - the projects she's signed onto in the past few years have had poor writing, production value, and directing.
Alba's not that old, so she can still do romantic comedies. I really wish she would go back to that. Ok, I understand if she wants to expand her range. But then she really needs better projects to sink her teeth and talent into.
As for "Trigger Warning", it's entirely forgettable and I could hardly make it through the entire runtime. I'm all for strong female characters when the writing is good - think "Blue Eye Samurai". Sadly, we didn't get one here.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (2023)
Strong Beginning ...
This refreshing take on the kaiju / Gozilla universe, plus the upcoming Gozilla Minus One movie, has gotten me very excited with the genre. I was worried at first that the steaming series must not be very good, but happily it's not too bad ... so far.
The Good: Kurt Russel and his son Wyatt Russel were excellent choices for this new series. They bring excellent acting skills and gravitas to the series, and I think without them it would not have been as good. The connection between the two storylines and timelines are very much dependent upon them.
The Bad: Unfortunately, the three young lead actors are not as skillful, and the writing for them also was not as good. In three episodes thus far, they grate on me like petulant teens. I really hope they improve as the series go on - otherwise, this is going to be quite annoying.
Thus far in 2023, this and Foundation are the only series worth watching on Apple TV+ for me.
Onimusha (2023)
I like Miyamoto Musashi
Another alternate history anime that came out in late 2023. Unlike "Blue Eye Samurai", however, "Onimusha" is not as well-polished though it is still entertaining but limited in its very Japanese-style of storytelling, such as too much exposition.
The Good: I do like this version of MIyamoto Musashi in anime. He's flawed, but he's got skill and determination, and he's smart and honorable (in his own way), which makes him the best samurai for his time - and in all of Japanese history and even fantasy versions.
The Bad: It's not a bad anime, but it falls far short of being excellent due to some major technical issues that cannot be overlooked. Chiefly, the story and plot are a bit disjointed and nonsensical, characters are not that well developed, and the dialogue not all that great either. And then there's an annoying kid.
Overall, it's a serviceable anime and a lot better than most that are out there. But compared to the very best ones, such as "Blue Eye Samurai" its flaws become very evident. Still worth a watch.
Blue Eye Samurai (2023)
Best Anime of 2023
I watch a lot of anime. I even watch a lot of bad anime. So when a rare gem comes along, I am so happy. "Blue Eye Samurai" is easily the best anime of 2023. It reaffirms what the medium is capable of and shows what talented animators, storytellers, and actors can produce.
The Good: Pretty much everything. The story, the visuals, the character design, the sound design, the thematic design of each episode, the voice acting (although the English original is not bad, I think the Japanese version is even better) - IMO Japanese voice actors are generally better at their craft.
The Bad: Honestly, this series is so well done that I would have to get nit-picky here to name something. But I won't, that's how much I love this series :D. But if I had to pick just one, it would be that the slightly xenophobic tone was noticeable to me - but then that's true to the period in which the story is set.
Special Mentions: Without going into spoilers, here are my most favorite things about "Blue Eye Samurai": (1) good plot twists, (2) suspenseful tea ceremony - I've been to only normal ones, fortunately, (3) sexual haiku, (4) bunraku theater theme, (5) beautiful tracking shots, (6) love and betrayal, (7) the coolest katana/naginata weapon I've ever seen, and (8) yes, strong female characters.
Go watch this series. Even if you don't normally enjoy anime. You won't regret it.
Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine (2023)
Disappointing Documentary
This documentary was surprisingly bland, not very informative, short on good insights into the James Webb space telescope project, and perhaps worst of all more of a sales pitch or propaganda rather than an educational film.
There was a point towards the end of the documentary in which a couple of senior politicians are given a cringe-worthy briefing by a NASA administrator on the first set of photos taken of the very first galaxies 13.5 billion years ago.
Throughout it all I was wondering why we are seeing this at all. What's the point? Where's the interesting stuff about designing and building the telescope? About the controversies of the naming of the telescope? About what it has done for astronomy?
This was definitely a missed opportunity and a disappointing documentary.
Sun Dogs (2017)
Not At All Funny
"Sun Dog" is a quirky movie. And not in a good way. Billed as a comedy drama, it is more disturbing and not at all funny, given the context of what happened to innocent people in the U. S. in the aftermath of 9/11.
I'm actually quite surprised that talented actors like Ed O'Neill and Allison Janney signed up for this project. It's also unfortunate that it's the directorial debut for Jennifer Morrison, who aptly played a doctor in the series "House."
Had this movie been a case-study in how extremism in America got started, even in a dark comedic way, it would have made more sense. Instead, we get a weird mix of teen naivete, awkward outsider, and loneliness.
Plus racial profiling. Let's not forget about that.
They Cloned Tyrone (2023)
Brilliant and Thought-Provoking
Whoever thought to pair John Boyega with Jamie Foxx is brilliant. Pure genius. Teyonah Paris in the third spot of the badass trio drug dealer, pimp, prostitute just brings it all together flawlessly.
Part sci-fi, part mystery, part action, and part comedy, "They Cloned Tyrone" is a perfect combination of mixed genres, intriguing plot, smart dialogues, and best of all believable chemistry among its actors.
The movie takes us down a rabbit hole of hilarious conspiracy and fantasy that not only African-Americans would appreciate. But to truly enjoy the shenanigans you have to have some understanding of Black American history.
And that's really the only downside of the movie - it's not made for an international audience that is unlikely to know the racial history of the U. S., the medical experiments done on minorities, the policies that kept people poor, etc.
That knowledge by the audience is an essential ingredient to get the most out of the movie.
Nevertheless, I think the general viewer can still enjoy "They Cloned Tyrone."