Change Your Image
taienverdain
Reviews
The Watcher (2022)
Mediocre
I watched for a while, but I stopped by the end of the fourth episode due to what I consider to be the overall weak nature of the show. There were a lot of scenes where the logic used to convince a character to go in a certain direction was extremely spotty, and where I felt like (in real life) people would have been more hesitant to accept what they were being told. The story about the 19-year-old teen pursuing the 16-year-old girl for sex was a bit cringe to me. Moreover, the way in which the girl takes vengeance on her father for her perceived injustices and the way it so sweepingly and instantly destroys their lives just seems so overblown and unrealistic. The police are extremely negligent to their duties in this series as well.
Wild Wild Country (2018)
Very much enjoyed it.
I was born the year after the Bhagnan arrived in the US but I have never heard this story. It's amazing what a few closed-minded, regressive, hateful old people can accomplish if they put their bigoted minds to it. The residents of Antelope succeed in labelling a peaceful religious movement a "cult" in order to demean them and stir up hatred, drove a formerly peaceful and happy woman insane through constant harassment and threats of violence, and even bombed their buildings in order to get people who weren't elderly conservative Christians away from them, as Christians do. After all, as Jesus preached, love thy no one except the white people who praise me. All this simply because Antelope residents "didn't like the way they looked" and "thought they were a bit odd" (direct quotes). Thoughts which grew in their fearful, small minds into vast boogeymen of Satanism and rampant immorality. Eventually, they succeeded in destroying a town populated by thousands out of nothing but hatred and fear. They were positively gleeful in their discompassion and hatred. I couldn't finish the final episode because it was just too disgusting and reminded me too much of today's America - that being a cowardly, hateful, regressive minefield of sub-intellectual animals as proven in 2016.
BigBug (2022)
Huh?
I have no idea what I just watched but I think I enjoyed it. The facial expressions alone are enough for nightmares/drug trips. So once again I guess I have to say....thanks, France.
Zone 414 (2021)
An excellent movie
I don't want to ruin any of it but if you like dystopian sci-fi this is some pretty good stuff.
The one complaint I have is the "chase" sequence is a bit shaky/blurry and was a little hard to watch because of this (headache-inducing if it had been longer).
Loved the resolution and ending. Seriously.
137 Shots (2021)
This documentary is excellent and horrifying.
Before the right-wing troglodytes get here, let me say - Netflix didn't make those cops say the things they said in those clips....they just played them. It's pretty clear that some officers are horrible monsters and that some organizations of police fraternity keep those people safe. This is a huge problem if we as citizens are expected to respect the authority these people in uniform are to represent. This documentary is enlightening and disturbing and I recommend it.
Black lives do in fact matter, and some are being taken by fearful children with low IQs (i.e. Bad police officers who should be working in gas stations, not firing weapons).
-A white guy.
Cowboy Bebop: Darkside Tango (2021)
Ok you get a 10 for this episode because....
...I love the "That 70s Show" reference. If you don't know what I mean, I'm referring to "Foot, Cockroach, Atomic Bomb." The description of the game is almost word-for-word how Hyde describes it in that show.
Cowboy Bebop (2021)
Five episodes in and I love it
I was in my late teens in the 90s when this show was released and I have to once again dissent with popular opinion because I am finding this series amazing. There are so many perfect recreations of scenes from the anime (or at least single shots from the anime). I don't mind the story changes at all. The guy who plays Jet is AMAZING at recreating his voice to the letter. And who cares that the main character is played by an Asian? An Asian wrote the story. He does a GREAT job of being Spike.
I am loving this series.
Space Force (2020)
I guess I'm weird because I always vote differently than other users.
And by that I mean, I really liked this show. It's not to be compared to the Office but is great in its own way. I hope they make more seasons soon. John Malkovich is seriously hilarious in this show. Though I despise the former President, I don't agree that this show was in any way a hit job on him. I think that the first season was a bit weak but so was that of the Office. Hope to see more.
Midnight Mass (2021)
Not jumpscare horror, surprisingly deep
I have seen the Vox review about the person feeling baited/switched about this show, and I just cannot say that I resonate with that opinion. Sure, maybe they misbilled it as horror, but this show was fantastic. The only unanswered question for me was about did (the antagonist) escape or not? Seems like they left it open for a sequel...
Anyway, the story was gory and a bit scary but not jumpscare horror. The plotlines were surprisingly deep and I found the main character Riley repeating almost word for word thoughts I've had about religion in the past. That Vox review described the movie as having the overarching premise that Christianity is comforting, but I think the point was that religion is so easily perverted by humankind and used for nefarious purposes.
I am an atheist as well but I loved Riley's description of death as it was very spiritual while still scientific. I also really empathized with the Sheriff who as a Muslim has led a persecuted life since 2001. I've always been a very liberal person and I could feel his utter frustration and despair over the constant misappropriation of his character.
There were twists I didn't expect, which is rare for me, but a lot of the themes are revealed early if you are paying attention. Bev is every self-ascribed superior churchgoer I've ever met. And I feel that the characters were developed enough that Paul's change of heart at the end is believable for me. He really just seemed like a good man who went down the wrong path and finally realized it and redeemed himself.
Colony (2016)
And we wonder why cable networks fail.
This show is fantastic and it kills me that I'll probably never get to find out what was going on and how it would have been resolved. Netflix picked it up but I haven't seen them do anything with it yet....so as much as I would love to beg for a continuation I doubt it'll happen.
Seriously though, this is the best non-pop sci-fi show since Warehouse 13 and Firefly.
Clickbait (2021)
Couldn't get through first episode.
This show was obviously intended for young audiences because the writing is pretty bad. I couldn't get through the first episode because if anyone acted like the character who is the focus of the episode, they'd get smacked (because she's completely irrational and has no self-control and one of the other characters pretty much tells her to stop acting like a "hysterical woman" and she just keeps on doing it anyway). I can't tell whether she's supposed to be a teenager or an adult, because she works as a nurse (would imply she's in her 20s) but also acts like she's still in middle school and parties with people who look like they're in their teens. Also what high-schooler doesn't know what metadata is?
Idk....too many instances of me feeling like "that's just dumb" for me to continue beyond the first episode.
The Ranch (2016)
Couldn't get into it.
I didn't get through the first episode. I guess it's just not my kind of show. There's a lot of conservative political jokes in it, and I find those to be stupid and out of place. I was a big fan of That 70s Show but just couldn't appreciate this.
Miranda Sings Live... Your Welcome (2019)
Quite possibly the dumbest thing I've ever seen.
I'd have to re-live my entire life to be sure, but this is up there.
Historical Roasts (2019)
Excellent Show (if you can appreciate jokes)
I really enjoyed it. Some of the jokes are a bit low-brow, but I really like the concept and the people they got to play various figures. If you don't know these comedians, you just haven't been keeping up with modern stand-up, because these are all pretty amazing stand-up comedians (with the exception of the first episode with Lincoln which is mostly aged celebrities, not that I care).
I'd recommend it if you can set aside the whole "I'm always offended by everything" thing and just laugh. I mean, the episode with Hitler is an absolute winner, because they're supposed to be roasting Anne Frank, but Jon Lovitz (as FDR) comes up and just rattles off like 50 jokes about what a loser Hitler was. I found that hilarious.
And I mean, Seth Green as David Bowie. Hahahaha....
Colony: What Goes Around (2018)
The writing in this episode makes no sense.
So they're in a raid on the armory and then Lori from TWD shows up mid-raid when they only had three minutes to get in and out, and they have this entire 5 minute conversation in the hallway at the place they're raiding....soooo stupid.
Black Summer (2019)
Good story, decent acting, terrible camera
I like the show in terms of story and character development, as well as the interpersonal conflicts, but it made my girlfriend incredibly sick due to the constantly-whirling camera. It's seriously like the worst camera work I've seen in a big production. It's like a spinning disco ball with the camera attached to it. I get that they were trying to be unique and artsy, but it just comes off as bad.
If you have vertigo, don't watch it. Otherwise, it's decent.
2036 Origin Unknown (2018)
Lost Me In The Opening Sequence
I mean, I assumed it was a low-budget film, but that opening launch sequence looked absolutely terrible. I know people on twitter who can make better 3D video. The ship that emerges from the rocket expands to three times the rocket's size, and I skipped ahead to see that it also has a HUUUUGE interior? Yeah I'm out.
That '70s Show: Backstage Pass (2001)
Good episode, but it has Ted Nugent.
Ted makes everything more repugnant with his presence.