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maddyhanna
Reviews
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)
Power and Light in the Darkness
The production quality of the first 2 episodes alone, is reason enough to watch. There is a scene in episode 2 in the water that had me absolutely breathless in its beauty. Each scene had me mesmerized. The setting is absolutely stunning. The casting is perfect so far. I am so excited to see where this story will go. I'm beyond excited to finally have a LOTR series and I am
hoping we get more from Amazon (similar to what Disney has done with Star Wars).
It is very interesting to see the beginnings of this tale and see the history of some of the characters from LOTR. I don't understand the hate being launched at this series (especially only 2 episodes in)! It's stunning, the acting is superb and I am definitely here for my LOTR fantasy adventures!
The Terminal List (2022)
Pratt Action Rambo
This series was easy to binge as I wanted to see what happened next. Chris Pratt plays a much more serious character than I've seen him play before. There's some really badass lines in the dialogue. The pacing is great in the beginning, towards the end the rhythm changes a bit.
I'm not sure why viewers are interpreting it politically, it has nothing to do with left or right ideologies. It reminded me of Rambo a bit.
The Batman (2022)
Practically Flawless
The Batman is a practically flawless film. Pattinson just might be the most appropriate Batman of all time. He was perfect.
It was dark, it was suspenseful, very noir as intended. Kravitz is probably my personal favorite Catwoman of all time as well. It was incredible. I will definitely be watching it again.
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)
One of my favs
Love this movie. I love the message and it is funny and heartwarming. It's not a laugh at very minute, but it's definitely worth a watch. I've seen it a few times. It's a bit of a traditional to watch this over winter break, I don't understand why anyone else puke hate this film. It's good all around.
The Tomorrow War (2021)
Terrifying Monsters & Lovable Heroes
I didn't think I'd like this film as much as I did. As a sci-fi fan, it hit every note of what is entertaining in a film like this. The CGI is flawless. The monsters are terrifying (and yes I had nightmares about them last night). I think the theme could be interpreted as an allegory as well for what we see happening to our planet currently. And it is up the the current generation to solve this problem for our children. I digress.
Action is top notch, I was certainly holding my breath many moments throughout the film. The story was interesting. I could see how the film is influenced by other films but it isn't in an overt or "rip off" way. The movie is also furthered by the relationships in Dan's life. I really enjoyed it. The creatures are absolutely terrifying. They are the scariest creatures I've ever seen in a film for sure. The story of their arrival was really intriguing to me as well. I would have loved to know more about that but there would be no real way for the characters to have that knowledge so it makes sense that the audience doesn't get to know either. It's over 2 hours, but you don't even notice the time going by because nearly every scene moves so quickly and is so suspenseful. Loved it!
Mare of Easttown (2021)
Amazing and Subtle
Wow. All the performances are incredible. Kate obviously is amazing but Julianne Nicholson was notably exceptional. I first saw her in the criminally underrated Red Road. Her performance in Mare is amazing. The story feels very real. I loved it. I really love limited series like these, but this is one I'd def live to see more of, even though there is a very clear ending to the show. It would be cool if they did another one in a few years with the same characters and a new case maybe. Kate and Julianne really are remarkably talented actresses.
Away (2020)
Incredible
Swank is incredible in this. You can feel her struggling with the weight of command and the guilt of leaving her family millions of miles behind. It is an honest portrayal of the brutal emotional battle that would go on in a mother's heart. The other characters also each have their own inner dramas and problems they are each trying to overcome.
There is also some amazing cinematography in this series. Some scenes were breathtaking.
So many sci-fi shows or films have a bad guy character or some loose cannon that the audience is always left anxiously worrying about and I really enjoyed that this show did not do that. There is some tension between the characters, but none of them are villains. The villain is space and the journey itself.
I rated a 10 because I wanted to give it a bump. It is not a perfect 10, but it is an incredible show and it deserves more than a 6!
The Duchess (2020)
Funny, Stylish and Empowering
I love Katherine Ryan's stand up, and this show did not disappoint.
The story is loosely based on some of her stand-up. She is a single mom, raising her daughter with her ex, and dealing with trying to navigate relationships without it complicating an already complicated life.
Katherine is sassy in this show and I loved it. It can be very empowering for women who struggle with being assertive. There is a scene late in the season where her daughter gets a haircut that moved me deeply.
It is funny, stylish, touching, and a little vulgar! I laughed and cringed and got choked up (haircut scene).
I think most moms will really like this show. My husband liked it even though he couldn't really relate to it. Sometimes it can be entertaining to see the world through a set of eyes you have little in common with.
I only wish the season had more episodes!!
Lorena (2019)
Surprising and Informative
I really enjoyed this documentary series. I was a child when this story first hit and I remember the headlines and coverage it received, but I have never known about the story in this much detail. It became kind of a joke during the 90's, I never realized the weight of what was really going on in this story. I think it is really important for everyone to watch this series, especially if you enjoy true crime, women's issues, or anything with mystery surrounding it. I think the film makers did a great job of slowly peeling back the story, keeping the viewers on the fence up until some pretty pivotal moments. I think it is wonderful we finally have a thorough look into this event.
Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)
I Expected More...
The animation was brilliant and we could expect nothing less of Disney. The story had so much potential. I liked the story arch, but I wasn't thrilled about the way they carried it out. My boys loved it (8 & 11).
There are some parts of this movie that will be very scary for young children. Older children will enjoy these parts, younger children will not. My nephews had to sit on their aunt's lap and hide their faces during more than one instance. They were terrified and asked to leave. I also noticed many children in the laps of their parents looking terrified as I glanced around the theater. The scenes are too intense. Ralph and Venelope end up at an internet game called "Slaughter Race" and many of the characters are far too menacing for young children. I do not recommend this for children under 6, honestly. Wait for them to get a bit older. I was quite surprised Disney made some of those choices, but I think they were trying to appeal to the fans of the original, and with those fans being 6 years older now, they were thinking about them maybe. I'm not one who is usually so sensitive about things being a bit gritty for kids, but when you go to a Disney animated feature, you shouldn't have to worry about consoling scared children.
The movie was touching and I enjoyed it, but I just feel like it was missing something there. And ultimately, too scary for the little ones.
The Bad Batch (2016)
Poetic Allegory
This film was interesting. I think it was supposed to be an allegory for the modern world. There is so much symbolism in the film, and I think many viewers may have missed it as well as the point of the movie. Yes, the pacing was rather slow, there is not much dialogue. I had to use a literary lens to look at this moving picture through, and I think if others did the same, it would've been more fulfilling for them. It offered a unique vision into the modern world, into our relationships, into what we spend our time working hard for and what we probably really desire. Jason Momoa was excellent, Jim Carrey, an absolute chameleon, and the lead actress, Suki Waterhouse was perfect in this role. I really liked the message and themes of the film, even if the pacing seemed slow, I believe that was intentional and does serve the story well actually.
A Quiet Place (2018)
Beauty and Suspense
This film was really interesting. There are many complaints about how no back story was given on the family or events leading up to the post-apocalyptic setting of the film, but I think that was a big part of the beauty of the film. There is no past, no future, this family is focusing on the present in order to keep each other safe and survive (this is what many reviewers miss).
Character insight is developed through brilliant acting. You get glimpses into who they would be or who they used to be before these monsters arrived. These points of the film require emotional intelligence to pick up on, they are very subtle and very well done. That is part of what is beautiful about this film as well.
The moments of suspense were very intense. Emily Blunt's portrayal of giving birth in absolute silence with predators closing in was visceral. Krasinski's portrayal of a strong father protector was entirely moving. Perhaps this movie is better enjoyed by parents, who have a different understanding of what lengths we would go to in order to protect our children.
This movie evokes a real emotional response, and perhaps that is what other reviewers did not like, maybe they were just looking for some scares and cheap thrills. I was moved by the acting, captivated by the story, and petrified by the suspense. This film exceeded my expectations.
Wonder Wheel (2017)
Be Transported to Coney Island in the 50's
This film was very good. The sets were incredible and looked very authentic. I really loved the dramatic lighting. The story is a tale that's been told before, but the characters and circumstances in this film make it stand out. Kate Winslet plays a women who is deeply unhappy and equally flawed. She is trapped. Jim Belushi was impressive in this role and I thought he held his own with heavyweight Winslet in their scenes together which I was not expecting. Justin Timberlake is no stranger to acting and he fit into the role of optimistic artist Mickey very nicely. Juno Temple was sultry as always, but also exudes a sweetness few of her previous roles permitted. I thought it was a great film. This is truly a film about choices, the choices we make in life, and how they impact the future. I highly recommend this film.
GLOW (2017)
Interesting Story, Characters who Pack a Punch
This is another hit for Netflix! The characters are are very interesting and they really drive the story. The audience gets to know most of them fairly well, which is difficult to do with such an large cast. From the trailer, I thought it was a straight comedy, but it isn't, though there are many funny moments. It's serious at some parts, sometimes a little dark and it is laced with misogynistic theme, but it works well mixed with such strong female characters. It's hard to put your finger on, but it is worth a watch. I found my self smiling and laughing, cringing, and even moved all in one episode. It is certainly entertaining. The work the actresses put in the physical element is impressive. I binged the season in a week and I cannot wait for season 2.
Kevin Hart: What Now? (2016)
Face Hurt from Smiling
Kevin Hart doesn't disappoint in this record-setting stand-up feature. If you're a fan of his style of comedy, you are sure to enjoy this movie. When he first steps on stage, I got the feeling he might be nervous or something (a crowd that size is unimaginable), but he quickly found his footing and set the pace for a very funny set. He discusses topics relating to his family, his fears, and a number of other universal topics. The universality of his topics really add to his appeal and success. I really liked the effect of the digital backdrop enhancing certain jokes with a visual element we don't often get with stand-up comedy. I'd recommend to a friend, very funny.
A Tale of Love and Darkness (2015)
Beautiful Poetic & Personal
This film is truly beautiful. I was hesitant to see this film. I thought it was going to be a love song to the Jewish struggle in Jerusalem, but it was not very political at all. It does include the pure optimism of the Jewish people once they are given their own free state. There is also some beautiful narration describing the conflict as unfortunate and tragic. Instead, we are given a beautiful film of the personal story of a boy's relationship with his loving, troubled mother. She tells him different stories throughout the film, each one containing its own seed of wisdom. I was really impressed with the beauty of the dialogue. This is a film that can appeal to people who love language, but the beauty of each shot is also one of its strengths. A very unique film, filled with beauty and darkness (and love).