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Aftermath (2017)
Not an Arnold Schwarzenneger movie
This is a sad drama about grief, loss, despair, tragedy and, most of all, revenge.
This is not an action flick in any way, nor is it the normal Arnold Schwarzenneger flick people who downvoted probably expected.
It's sad and riveting. I am not sorry I watched it but it weighed heavily on me after watching it. It's a very good movie. I watched it right after Commando and it's the complete opposite.
This is not a casual watch, this is a sad piece of cinematography that shows you that, indeed, Arnold Scwarzenneger CAN act and has range. I personally never expected that and I am glad that I found out.
Watch it but, be warned, it's not a happy affair.
Tracker (2024)
I missed shows like this
This is a very clean-cut and overly-done show but I really missed them. I rated it a 8/10 for what it is. It's not Game of Thrones. It's unpretentious, doesn't take itself too seriously and is the perfect Saturday fare that I used to watch as a kid.
The protagonist is a lone wolf, bad boy with a golden heart, dark past, falls in love with a new love interest each episode, is better than anyone else at fighting, thinking, policing, tracking, etc.. and defeats the "villain of the week" with ease.
I missed this so that's why I rated this so highly, but it's really cute and cozy and you definitely know what you're getting into. Simple entertainment, without any agenda. Just a decent guy trying to make the world a better place, one reward at a time. Quite fun.
Baghead (2023)
Seen this all before
I have seen this before a bunch of times, and so have you, especially in the past 10 years.
It's very simple - all men in the movie are evil, bad or silly. All women in the movie are strong, powerful and misunderstood.
Understanding this (as in so many other movies of the same type, with 2 female protagonists), the movie becomes predictable and lame. Nothing really pops, nothing really works. The idea is decent, the name is very interesting, but that's about it.
I wonder how many horror men-bad/women-good movies they are going to pour out until they start losing money. Not even the ending was satisfying.
3/10 - For the title and great actress that I also loved in the Witcher.
Lioness (2023)
Good but very predictable
This is a solid action show from Taylor Sheridan. If you watched any of his other shows, like Yellowstone, Mayor of Kingstown, 1923, etc. - you know what to expect. From the intro to the outro, it's basically the same thing, but with female operatives in the War on Terror.
The good is - almost everything. The cast is absolutely spectacular, even secondary characters are played by masterful actors you definitely saw in other worthy productions. The cinematography is superb and the characters are well written.
The bad is - it's SO predictable. From the first time they meet I kept saying to myself "please don't hook them up, it would be SO stereotypical". I kept on hoping that Sheridan would suprise me and develop a true friendship bond and not dillute it with a sex scene and romantic scenes.. And this just spreads throughout the series. Higher ups act like angry buffoons, even Morgan Freeman in a cameo (not a role), the tough sniper chick is a tough sniper chick, etc.
Too many stereotypes and easy pickings from a story that could have felt fresh but as is... a compelling 7/10.
Mayor of Kingstown (2021)
Rare 10
I haven't given a 10/10 review in such a long time, I can't remember.
First off, this is a brutal show. It's up to par with Banshee, with vibes from Oz. It's not gory or visceral, it's just brutal and it grinds you up until your nerves are raw.
It can be funny, it can be mean and it will make you feel stuff. Acting is amazing from the whole cast but Jeremy Renner is just pure awesomeness as a leading man. Again, similar to what Anthony Starr did in Banshee, only better.
Second, It's fast paced, but it still makes you connect to a lot of characters, it makes you hate a bunch of characters. It makes you care. Perfect binge-show and an utter surprise.
I am at episode 8 right now but it can only get better.
The Darkest Minds (2018)
Surprisingly good!
I didn't expect to like this, but it's well made, with decent CGI and wonderful character development.
Almost everyone is likeable, characters do not make stupid decisions and it's easy to relate to them.
Quite the opposite of what I expected from a teen flick, to be honest. Interesting movie on Disney+ for a lazy afternoon. This is on par with Maze Runner and Insurgent as a teen franchise with potential for deeper storylines and interesting characters.
I am not in the age demographic (I'm about 15 years older than what they're looking for, probably), but still I found this a compelling view for a lazy afternoon.
The Scorpion King: Book of Souls (2018)
Way better than expected
The expectations were low. The only reason I even watched this film was Zach McGowan. I loved him in Black Sailz and he does his absolute best in any production he's cast in.
This was the case here. The plot was definitely forgettable, the cast were nice, but not very good - and the scenery was on point for a budget crew.
Zach McGowan was a better Scorpion King than anyone before him, Dwayne Johnson included. He made this budget movie into a very enjoyable experience. I really liked it.
I won't bore you with the plot, it's about what you'd expect from a Scorpion King movie, but the delivery, the action, the swordfight - VERY good.
I did not expect to enjoy this. I did. 8/10 for a movie that promised nothing but delivered quite a bit.
The Midnight Club (2022)
Interesting, heart-warming and weirdly satisfying
This was a very well-put drama of inter-connecting stories. Without adding any spoilers, I can say that the premise has a rather large and interesting cast of characters that join together and share stories, part their reality, part their fantasy, part fiction.
Most stories are quite captivating and they develop together in an inter-woven way of reality and fiction (again, from their point of view).
The main character (the character who gets the most screen time, really, because the entire cast matters in some ways or others) is unique in one way - extremely smart, extremely intelligent and RARELY makes bad or foolish choices.
I found that fresh and very appealing, as it's difficult to relate to characters who make stupid mistakes in a row.
The outlook on death is heart-warming in a way, and I personally discovered more about the way I look at death, disease and hope.
The North Water (2021)
Excellent acting, superb production value.
I always love period pieces and sea-faring stories and this one is both, and it takes place in the far north.
Colin Farrell acts amazingly well as a complex, intimidating and unfathomable character, but everyone else is perfectly cast as well, especially Stephen Graham.
As other reviewers has said, it's reminescent of "The Terror" and what historical and nautical knowledge I possess tells me that the sets are realistic, the interactions are well designed and fit quite well with one another.
I am usually troubled by little anachronisms, inadvertencies or anything else that feels out of place. This is not the case. Everything works well and delivers a compelling story.
It's an 8/10 drama. I gave it +1 for the setting and for my personal love of historical nautical shows. I gave it another +1 for the harrowing, believeable and fascinating portrayal that Colin Farrell offers.
Still halfway through episode 3, I hope it doesn't change pacing or quality. It seems it won't, it's tight wound and well framed so far.
Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities (2022)
Satisfying Anthology Series
I have to admit I am biased, having loved anthology books and shows and films all my life, but this was a very fun and intriguing experience so far (I have only watched 3 episodes at the moment of writing this review - the rest are yet to air).
Characters are well fleshed in the 60-minute runtime, with peculiarities and flaws portrayed pleasantly and with ease - the acting is top notch.
The stories have been interesting so far, predictable in a good way.
So, no complaints - I always loved Guillermo del Toro's work, so this came as a nice surprise. As usual, he likes to use religious symbols and motifs, but the series itself is a mix of SF and supernatural.
Naomi (2022)
I've seen worse
But here is yet another bad screenwriter's attempt to just slap "diverse" on a boring, unoriginal story to make it "fresh", "original" or "provocative".
This looks and feels like the bastard child between Power Rangers and Smallville.
I think that's the age-range they are aiming towards, too - so if someone has not seen any teen superhero show EVER in their lives, they may enjoy this.
I would just wish they stopped using token diversity characters to justify a bad plot. Also the dad suggesting that her daughter should "make a choice" about her sexuality in the first episode was absolutely abhorring, just showing that these producers know nothing about being progressive and tolerant AT ALL.
They just want to tick boxes and get easy bucks.
Last Action Hero (1993)
8 Then, 10 Now
I can't believe I rated this as an 8 in 2012.
Yes, it was an 8 then. And YES it is a 10 now. Why? Because times have changed. I'm older, the movie is older and it is a GOOD movie.
I now understand what it's going for. This movie is a satire for all 80s movies and still manages to pump up good dialogue and good action. It's like the Chuck Norris of Chuck Norris films.
You even have Terminator cameos! How fun is that?
Yes, this movie is a 10 for what it is. An unapologetic, witty, funny and hilarious paradigm for what 80s/90s action flicks were all about.
Do you remember Terminator? Do you remember Alien, Predator, Dirty Harry, Commando and Rambo? If so, this movie is for you. If not, scroll up.
Commando (1985)
Perfect 10 for what it is
This movie is one of the staples of the 80s. Things blow up, the plot makes little sense, the bad guys twirl their mustaches and the hero saves the day.
The effects seem cheap to a modern ey (I'm writing this in 2022) and the acting can be downright cringy but the movie pokes fun at itself so many times that you can't help but overlook its many flaws.
It's a fun, old-fashioned, action romp right from the start, with Arnold carrying around a huge log up to the explosive climax.
This is the kind of movie you show your kids and you call it an "endless classic" and maybe they don't know what all the hype is.
This tiny piece of the 80s is just as enjoyable to me now as it was back then and has earned its place right there at the top of mindless fun action flicks.
Arnold looks especially buff, sporting a hewn physique he showcases throughout the movie and Rae Dawn Chong is gorgeous and fun. A nod to Bill Duke for playing a spectacular villain, as always.
Kin (2018)
Great idea, was worth more
First of all, the idea was brilliant. I loved it. Original, fresh, nice interpretation, nice acting.
The pacing was interesting and engaging. And then.. it ended. This feels like a pilot or the first half of a full feature. It would work better as a show or at least a mini-series.
After finishing this movie you get the distinct impression that there was supposed to be more but they just decided to cut it right then and there.
I felt a bit dissapointed at the end, but I still enjoyed watching it.
I Care a Lot (2020)
Horrendous and ethically abhorrent!
The first half was good. A couple of ruthless women are robbing old people of their life's work, their dignity, their sanity and all their money. They are drugging them, torturing them, isolating them from their families and friends.
These two repulsive monsters are also in cahoots with doctors, care workers, social workers and the police, all of them sharing in the big bucks.
When I painfully, slowly realised that these two despicable villains are supposed to be the protagonists of this story, that nothing bad ever happens to them, that they have "plot armor", I began to skip through the movie just hoping that they WILL get their commeuppance.
They never do. The movie's message? It's perfectly fine to rip off old people. The justification? It's a man's world and money matters above else. Yes, that's the reason.
This movie is not only bad, it's evil. It takes one of the lowest, most despicable crimes I could imagine (torturing and imprisoning old people) and turns it into a heroic con game that we are supposed to appreciate...
Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (2020)
Incredible
This was absolutely stunning. Watched this on a Sunday morning with hopes for a decent animation based on one of my favourite video games.
I was blown away. What I got was SO MUCH more. The quality is astounding, the fatalities and gore are off the charts and the story actually makes sense in the MK universe. It remakes the MK1995 storyline but integrates it better with current MK lore and the latest MK games.
This was perfection. This was MK as I have always envisioned it in my head.
As other reviewers said, this was too short. I want more, either as a regular movie thing (like the Justice League/Batman ones) or, better yet, as a show.
To sum it up, it looks and feels like Castlevania does on Netflix - only BETTER, if you can imagine.
I, Frankenstein (2014)
So bad it's good.
I only went to this movie because it was the only movie running and I had about 2 hours to kill. I had seen the trailer and some reviews and my expectations were dreadfully low.
"I, Frankenstein", however, managed to deliver. It's extremely campy (the main character spews one liners that would make Rambo cringe and burst into tears) and not even Yvonne Strahovski manages to make anything out of the role she's given. The film takes itself seriously, with prolonged action sequences, unrealistic dialogues and some of the worst acting from top-notch actors I have seen in years.
Due to these things, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I burst into laughter from time to time and just when I thought that it could not be any more cliché and that it couldn't reach a new low.. it did. It reached such heights of campiness and absurdity that I left the cinema smiling and, frankly, the film made me feel good.
I would recommend this movie if you want something to laugh at on a rainy afternoon.