drjay_87 Reviews

Vinland Saga: Somewhere Not Here (2019) Season 1, Episode 1

Overhyped slow and bewilderingly poor

[3/10 · 3 April 2023]

This anime is novel in a way sure, however it lacks quality and seemingly an earnest audience as there is simply no way this deserves the ratings it has received.

Slow paced which isn't offensive in itself but it also makes the mistake of being ultra boring on top. The characters are infinitely forgettable and there seems to be plenty of inaccuracy regarding way of life and feats accomplished.

I will be the first to admit after the lofty praise I heard for this show I was expecting it to not be out of place next DS, JJK, MHA and so forth in terms of quality and captivating story. There are very little user reviews for these episodes as well which is a tell take sign its accolades are being manipulated.

My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission (2021)

A backwards step in the movie category

[4/10 · 10 April 2022]

The previous BNHA movies had smaller stakes in terms of the potential world peril and yet they felt bigger and more cohesive than this offering. The animation is inconsistent, the quality at times worse than the anime and seemingly worked on in spurts rather than a unified production.

This is meant the be the ultimate global team up movie and yet much of it is spent in isolation. There is no real strategy to what is going on and too much time was wasted in exposition. You would also think that they could've started this movie by having shoto deku and kachan going through a training scenario with Endeavour before he gets the choice on whether they accompany him or not.

The timeline shows as them still being under his stewardship but you barely see the number 1 hero in the movie. It's definitely a let down this film because it is so clearly meant to tie in with the current timeline as well. Shouldve been and felt a lot more impactful than this.

There are some great moments sure, but it didn't overall feel like movie quality.

Jupiter's Legacy (2021)

Jupiter's Lethargy

[3/10 · 17 May 2021]

I don't normally write reviews but reading these glowing 8, 9's and 10's? Drug test those people immediately. This show is dire and the only thing you could seriously compare this to would be Tattooed Tenage Alien Fighters (From Beverly Hills) give that a YouTube and understand that what you are watching is a putrid knock off of every other against the grain Superhero serial currently out.

Now as to why I feel so strongly? They have a shared origin story which they proceed to make one of the lost boring and underwhelming ever. Do not waste your time plus as others have mentioned the costumes, CGI, acting and wardrobe are painfully awful. I want to apologise to Luke Cage season 2 fans I thought nothing would ever be worse on Netflix. This takes the crown!

Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker (2020)

Enjoy it for what it is instead of what it ain't...

[7/10 · 12 April 2020]

There are many reviews here at the time of writing this over 70...

They are all quite accurate in their praise or in their critique. This series is horse for causes. If you understand American drama tends to squeeze the juice from every little thing and it hardly ever stays strictly within the confines of accuracy you'll be fine. If you want a true historical account of the time you won't find it here; the reviews focusing on that element are absolutely true.

If you like period correct music or modern music that could sit within that vibe in your scores, I also understand that you might be upset with that element here. Those reviews are also hard to argue against.

The fleshing out of characters was up and down, it didn't delve far enough into people being of or beyond their time etc...

Still, I found the overall presentation to be very engaging, the editing was near enough invisible (which is good) and the acting was serviceable/entertaining. This isn't a perfect period piece nor is it the worst to ever be made.

So sure maybe the history isn't accurate, the music not period correct and so on and so forth but it was interesting to see a black based concept that showed the community as dealing with it's own problems and psychology vs the usual background of 'the man'. It's worth watching with a huge helping of patience and empathy.

Octavia Spencer, LeBron James, Maverick Carter as Executive Producers has a nice ring to it. Well done!

Kengan Ashura: Convictions (2019) Season 1, Episode 13

Sumo vs Wrestling the fight for supremacy

[7/10 · 22 November 2019]

One is a revered Japanese art and the other is designed for entertainment albeit entertainment that puts the physical body in harms way. Which one will prove the definitive wrestling form? What about the contestants will they each grow to respect each other throughout this showdown?

Kengan Ashura (2019– )

Poor mans Baki, MK & SF etc.

[3/10 · 22 November 2019]

It's so unambiguous and unoriginal that it straight up annoys me. What a mess of an anime. The only reason to watch this is to remind you how good the original run of Baki was. I'm not a fan of the new one. One thing these both have in common is how disjointed the story is and how much time it wastes on pointless things...

Stranger Things: Chapter One: Suzie, Do You Copy? (2019) Season 3, Episode 1

This was drab and dire...

[4/10 · 28 July 2019]

So slow and ponderous. Everything mildly interesting leads to a cut away from what happens next. Episode one was awful and two is no better. I was hooked from the off in Season one and I have a habit of going back to it. The beginning of the end it seems...

Sword Gai: The Animation (2018)

One you could live without...

[3/10 · 17 September 2018]

Let me preface this by saying, once I start watching something I have to see it through. This is one of the reasons I'm particular about what I watch. This anime really ought to have not been made. It's pretty dull and almost does the entire anime industry a disservice. I rated and wrote a synopsis for every episode so check that out if you want to get a feel for what happens in this series I won't spoil it in case you think I'm just hard to please. The mindlessness in the premise, the way the story unfolds and the like it's as if someone watched Deathnote in its prime plus some of Attack on Titan with a little Tokyo Ghoul and said hold my beer! Not in a good way though. The shows I've just mentioned have some major flaws (not doubting they are entertaining) so if someone found the path between them it would be a good show. This is not it. Mindless slaughter and characters as disposable as paper plates there is nothing holding this story together. The animation is clunky during fights and overall as I said the resources might've been better served elsewhere. Knowing how much time it takes to bring an anime to life gives me no joy in effectively trashing it but this does little to justify your time. Move on to better shows. The ratings I gave the episodes were based on the first episode onwards not against other anime in case you were wondering. So a 6 in an episode is a 6 compared to other episodes within the series and so on...

Death Note (I) (2017)

My word this is bad...

[1/10 · 15 July 2018]

If the DN existed in real life everyone associated with this film would need to be really worried. The anime was interesting and engaging this film is just shameful parody at best and disgusting exploitation at worst.

The Defiant Ones (2017)

Inspirational stuff

[8/10 · 24 May 2018]

It was a great watch with nice insight into genius at play. Also good to see an environment where real recognised real.

Amateur (2018)

Could've been so much more

[4/10 · 22 April 2018]

I wanted this to be so much more than it was. Not much weight to its construction and some might even say it lacks genuine feel for the game or the struggle of being a modern student athlete.