stuart_davies Reviews

NOS4A2 (2019–2020)

Becomes imbicilic by season two episode three

[3/10 · 20 February 2024]

Series one held far too many situations were characters go off half cocked or have no follow through enabling the protagonists to get away. It's like watching a Bond movie but were James is more focused on the white cat than dealing with Blofeld who consequently gets away every time. I started watching the second series and got to episode three, but the constant pouting and rushing headlong into situation without any preparation just made the self-pitying Vic look like a moron and I lost empathy for and interest in her character. I find if in watching a movie or television program you start to cheer for the baddie, then it's a sign that the plot is idiotic or the story has turned to excrement. The premise of the series is a good one and although I have not read the book, I found that throughout I kept hoping it would tighten up and characters would stop doing stupid things solely to move the story along. Such plot artefacts are the sign of lazy writing or a half-hearted rewrite for television. The production and acting is great and I'm just so disappointed that the story ran out of steam. It is a wasted opportunity and a damn shame.

The Marvels (2023)

Written by idiots for an audience of morons

[1/10 · 8 February 2024]

Captain Marvel keeps rushing blindly from one cockup of her own making to another, but this time she drags two village idiots with her none of whom can control themselves further adding to the chaos to the random plot-line. Very quickly I found myself cheering for the protagonist as even with three super hero's she manages to outwit them and obtain the two bangles she needs to destroy them all. Then from nowhere she explodes for no discernible reason and the movie is almost over... thank goodness. Frankly is this is the best Disney has to offer, I won't be watching any more movies they produce. The story is ridiculous,lacking in any logic or reason and must have had a target audience of lower apes as I can't imagine the most backward of human children would find this entertaining. Nick Fury is now a bumbling old man that with the best will in the world, even Samuel L Jackson couldn't repair the damage to his character. I started writing this review before the movie had even finished. But even then was glad when the movie ended. I just wish Hollywood would stop it's war on the superhero genre and having ground it into the dirt, would instead leave it to rest in peace. The whole movie is just awful, awful, awful!

The Mist (2007)

A far too real a portrayal of the inexhaustible stupidity of people

[8/10 · 8 November 2023]

It's a great horror movie that is light on the usual tropes of loud noises to cause fright, instead relying on grotesque evolution of arachnophobia and chapodiphobia. This adaptation of SK's novel isn't based on the supernatural, but is a sci-fi movie up there with the likes of alien and alien 2. It has intellectual characters who think themselves better than others finding their doom, plus religitards going biblical on everyone and meeting their end and finally even the supposedly civilised eventually succumbing to madness. Yet for me this was the movie's greatest strength and weakness, as it exposes humanity's flaws manifestly throughout. I know that humanity consists of stupid, selfish, delusional, irrational and ultimately self-destructive animals that would kill their loved ones under the right circumstances, but I don't need to be shown it so blatantly. It's certainly a great movie for a Halloween night, but definitely only for those aged thirteen and over!

Gen V (2023– )

Trivialising self-harm, suicidal ideation and mental health issues as plot artifacts is unforgivable.

[1/10 · 2 November 2023]

The sick puppies who scripted this monsterous TV show need help. When I say help, they should each be placed in a straight jacket, shut in a locked dark room, buried under a thousand tonnes of concrete. Those trivialising mental health issues as character plot artefacts needs to be ostracised, not voted for on IMDB. A girl who cuts herself to become a superhero and uses the resulting torrent of blood to knock things around. Another who purges her stomach contents into the toilet in order to shrink her size, so she can then ride fanboy cock in a cringeworthy scene I can't unsee! What were they thinking! I thought perhaps it was satirical or a clever commentary on youth culture and it's polution by social media. But of course, most people are incapable of coping with the influence of social media, I mean, it's what got a toxic narcisistic sociopathic child like Trump voted into the Whitehouse! Showing, even clever people can make disasterous decisions. Like I did in watching three episodes of this horse-apple of a TV show.

The Wheel of Time (2021– )

Oh dear, another adaptation for television that screws the pooch

[1/10 · 25 September 2023]

It's very predictable plot wanders all over the place without making any real progress. It's basically a sequence of plot artefacts I presume were purloined from the books, having never read them, strung together with attempts at story threads that meander and bear little relation to one another, other than appearing in the same series. I managed to get to the end of the first season but the massive anti-climax at the end just disappoints. Season two is much darker and introduces too many characters to keep track of but not to worry as pretty much every character succumbs to emotional outbursts that drive their behaviour to try and keep the story moving forward, seemingly unable to make rational decisions or plan ahead to avoid falling into the hands of protagonists. It's dumber than a bag of spanners by episode six, so I stopped watching.

The Gifted (I) (2017–2019)

Moralising soap opera with terrible writing

[3/10 · 9 October 2022]

From the outset the writing is horrendous. It's like watching a soap for teenagers with the emotional intelligence of toddlers. Some scenes make you groan, others make you laugh, but not because of emotional engagement and instead you find it's the awful dialogue that's making you groan and the stupidity of the plot artefacts that makes you laugh. Half way through the second series I just turned it off as I needed to find better things to do with my time. Most of the time I found myself wondering why the mutant underground existed at all as they had no concept of self-preservation and spent most of their time saving the shows budget by trying not to use their powers. You're flogging a dead horse with this show as it's not even good enough to have on in the background while you do something more worthwhile.

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022)

With She-Hulk the MCU has degenerated into farce

[1/10 · 16 September 2022]

The first couple of episodes were Ok and the light-hearted approach didn't grate too much. Finding out this was supposed to be a comedy puzzled me as it's not at all funny. However, at episode 5 it's now obvious that there's not going to be any drama or tension of any sort and the whole enterprise feels like a pantomime. Not that there's anything wrong with panto, it's just that in this case you're taking a character never intended for farce and adding so much cringe that it's unwatchable. The production also leaves alot to be desired as the CGI is weak, and writing is at the kindergarten level. Basically, it's a mess that feels as forgettable as another recent farce, namely Thor Love and Thunder. Uuuugh!

Foundation (2021– )

Zero relationship to Asimov's masterpiece

[1/10 · 26 October 2021]

Episode 1 is promising, but the next six episodes are junk. The constant changes in director between episodes and the weak script make for an inconsistent pace and frustrating watch as you wait for something interesting to happen that doesn't appear.

The writing reflects the infantile perspective of it's creators, with outburst by characters that can't control their emotions, decision making that is unrealistic due to naivety and failure to comprehend reality and plot artefacts that are unsophisticated to the point of idiocy.

For example, I thought that culturally we were way beyond having degenerate cultures represented by dark skinned actors, with dominant ones populated exclusively by light skinned actors.

There's so little use of science fiction topics from Asimov's books, that I was unsure how this even sits in the genre.

Cinematography is at times stunning, however this can't override the poor writing, barren story and whiny main characters.

Unnecessary character changes aside, the story bears little relationship to Asimov's Foundation masterpiece.

It's obvious this is Asimov's Foundation in title only and simply another cynical cash-cow production trading solely on the reputation of a great writer.

The Meg (2018)

Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally!!

[1/10 · 15 September 2020]

Non-stop LOLs from start to finish. Morons disguised as marine biologists. Statham as the lemming. Negligent single Mom. Eight year old going on thirty. Qui-Gon Jin "There's always a bigger fish". Cute little pippin as an appetiser. Disappointment the fat-brat isn't eaten. Such classic dialogue as "I'm gonna make it bleed". Like Star Trek where everyone wears the red shirt. If you stuck for time just watch the end credits. I made it to the finale by swallowing my own tongue!

Godless (2017)

Town of only women, so desparate for 'real' men they practically give their mine away!

[4/10 · 8 January 2020]

Episode 1 was great laying the back story to what looked like a rich plot. Acting was flawless, production was comprehensive, detailed and appropriate. Episode 2 however turned idiotic with the town of women so desperate for men they virtually give their mine away to the first mining company that comes along. Then there's the Sheriff who trips up during an arrest as he's not heard of glasses... and the boy wonder sidekick who saves the day. I didn't watch to the end of episode 2 as it just became silly with naked cowgirls and John Doe who's lost his mind, likely due to reading the rest of the script.

Another Life (2019–2021)

Irritating muddled nonsense

[1/10 · 29 July 2019]

Formula used:

flat characters + poor story + bad Science + crap acting + 80's CGI + irrational plot + cringy dialogue

Basically a ill thought out, mish-mash, dreary rehash of sci-fi cliche. Netflix did not care enough to give it the correct ingredients and simply produced it as title fodder to add to its list, with little concern for quality.

The Children Act (2017)

Delicate and moving examination of love, loss, regret and choice

[9/10 · 6 April 2019]

As a sci-fi book reader of old, I prefer stories that allow me to use my imagination as part of building the plot and although a different genre, this story does the same. The way it is told allows you to bring your own experience, feelings and thoughts to bear in understanding the motivations and actions of each character, leading to a much more engaging experience. This also means that it stays with you long after the movie is over as the themes are invested at a more personal level. I suppose this is why other reviews seem to be at the extremes of the ratings in the main, because you either love it or didn't get it at all. The back story of each character isn't spelt out for you, but is hinted at through clues as the story unfolds. The religious and courtroom aspects are cursory to the main themes of love, loss, regret and choice and how they are experienced in maturity and youth. Throughout, they are handled in a delicate, poignant and quite moving way. There is no neat wrapping up or climax to the film, so you can go on your merry way without a second thought, but it leaves you hoping for the best.. *no spoilers here*.. Of course Emma Thompson is tremendous and other actors do a wonderful job, especially Fionn Whitehead and Stanley Tucci. It's not enough to say this is an intelligent and well-crafted film. Its strength lies in how the story has been brought to the screen, which in turn, I suspect is due to how Ian McEwan's book reads. I loved it.

Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2024)

Not Start Trek or even a pale imitation

[4/10 · 2 April 2019]

Reworking the ST Universe with a new look, aliens and history, then push politically correct stereotypes in as clumsy a way possible, add ill-fitting emotional junk throughout the plotlines and this series is what you end up with. It's like a drunk weird uncle crashing a kids party. It should know better and just makes everyone feel ikky! The production is fine, acting is not awful, but the directing gives fragmentation in place of action, which leads to little engagement with the story and all the flash-backery and emo-angst gives a feeling of unease instead of empathy with the characters. Towards the end, I found myself wondering when the depressed, gender or body dysphoric cyborg with dyscalculia was going to make an appearance *shudder*. Cutting to the chase, this is a blatant band-wagon of shit dumped over ST fans, old and new.

Close (I) (2019)

Good to see the force of will as opposed to ninja training winning the day

[7/10 · 25 March 2019]

Acting was great and the fight scenes realistic enough if a little predictable. The plot was ok, except where it fell down on maintaining the pace, like when the lead characters kept stopping for a fag and a bit of anguish, or the male rescuer ambles around till he predictably gets shot through the head. The interplay between the two woman started strong, but got a bit soap-ish towards the end. I just found the characters bland and unable to relate to or care about, so I wasn't that bothered what happened to them by the end of the movie. Worth a watch, just don't expect much entertainment.

Altered Carbon (2018–2020)

A great show that falls to pieces in the end

[5/10 · 11 March 2019]

The show starts off fantastic, working the sci-fi elements to the fullest with various explorations into the sleeve-stack elements and their implications for the storyline. Production seems no expense spared and adds to the flow of each episode without becoming overly dependent. The acting is good and character development is continuous throughout the series with a vital drip feed of back stories for each of them. The mystery is maintained in spite of flashbacks and the twists and turns kept me enthralled. Then in the last couple of episodes I watched in horror as the story took on a predictable feel with a "Mission Impossible" type finale and all characters morphing into pale shadows of what they had been in earlier episodes. The lead character became an emotional wreck incapable of decision making and prone to running through the streets bumping into every pedestrian he could, while all his "chums" became expert martial artists, top-shelf hackers and assassins for no reason in particular. So the ending becomes a clumsy, frustrating mess, leaving me pounding my keyboard in anger. Certainly comparisons with The Expanse and Ghost in the Shell are warranted, it's just a damn shame the ending was so mediocre.

Man Down (I) (2015)

Portrail of a broken man, driven by love and yet led by fear and guilt

[8/10 · 21 December 2018]

I didn't have any expectations for this film and only took a look at because of the actors in it, especially Gary Oldman. It took me a couple of steps back and forth in the timeline of the story to get into its rhythm and although not fast paced, I found the story unfolded like a book, where each page added a layer to the plot. As such, I found myself at times hoping the next page didn't pan out as badly for the characters as it did. So I wasn't exactly surprised by plot twists as much as I was emotionally invested in the plight of the characters and so saddened by the terrible cost each of them paid. This was a frank attempt at portraying a man in turmoil through the disintegration of his belief system and the burden of his actions both past and present. I would certainly recommend this film to others and am surprised it didn't get better reviews.

Inhumans (2017)

Stan Lee must have died of shame

[1/10 · 14 November 2018]

Idiotic plot, poorly acted, with dialogue written by children. It's the worst thing to come out of Marvel Studios and they've butchered many a story in their time. FANT4STIC, need I say more! Stan Lee must have died of shame.

How It Ends (2018)

Lemmings roadtrip to nowhere

[1/10 · 27 July 2018]

Characters with suicidal tendencies instead of survival instincts, keep getting into bad situations of their own making on a roadtrip with mild concern for getting to a family member in a disaster zone. So bland that even the filmmakers gave up and didn't provide an ending. Pointless!

Patriot (2015–2018)

Neither comedy, nor drama and trying too hard to be quirky

[3/10 · 9 March 2018]

I really don't understand how this receives so many positive reviews. I couldn't get through the pilot and turned it off after 43 mins because as quirky as singing your days' experiences for therapy is, if such odd behaviour is going to be the basis of a comedy, it's certainly lost on me, as I found little humour or even drama in it. It looks to me like the remainder of the series is going to consist of a supposed intelligence asset walking into ridiculous situations either of his own making or thrust open him by the complexities of balancing a NOC's existence. I suppose some novelty could be found in such chaos, but I imagine not enough to keep me interested till the end of the fist episode never mind a whole series. The episode was well acted and had some recognisable faces, but the script seemed to be trying too hard to be in the same vein as a Coen Bros. production without success and ultimately became irritating and yet equally drab at times.

Salvation (2017–2018)

Techies who aren't technical and physicists that don't know physics

[3/10 · 3 September 2017]

So you have an asteroid on a collision course with Earth and have a probe out at Jupiter or you could build a gravity tractor to intercept it. So then why can't you use the probe itself as a gravity tractor at least until you are able to build a specialist device? Also why are all characters preoccupied with relationships instead of the impending doom?? A hacker/billionaire who designs a computer system that doesn't have backups??? Everyone keeping secrets that they don't really need to, just to add plot artefacts that blow up in their own faces???? Considering this is supposedly set in a high-tech framework, the story is poorly written with characters that are simply dumb about their own jobs. Then everyone seems to be trying their best to sabotage the rescue plan. Eventually you start to want them to fail. I got to the end of episode five before realising I didn't care anymore.

The Defenders (2017)

As poorly written as it's four predecessors

[1/10 · 24 August 2017]

I must congratulate myself for getting all the way to Episode 5 of the first series before bailing on this utter garbage. The plot is filled with bad clichés from horror movies and b-movies of old. The difference being that B-movies became cult because they didn't take themselves too seriously, whereas this tries to be grown up at the same time as having the dumbest characters and cheesiest dialog. At one point, like a spoiled schoolboy, Iron Fist confronts the hand in a board room intending to give them a good telling off, but instead ends up bitching about what a bad childhood he had and then gets his ass handed to him... pitiful! The characters have no depth and behaviours that the plot relies heavily upon to stretch the story with danger entirely of their own making. As an avid comic reader in the past, I get the impression the writers made the mistake of assuming that because their story is told in drawings, they are childish and write this story accordingly. If he cared enough about what they are doing to his legacy, Stan Lee should bang a few heads together and get some decent storytellers on the job... please Stan stop the rot!

Star Trek: Enterprise (2001–2005)

Aggravating pitiful waste of good actors and a sad end to the franchise

[4/10 · 10 August 2017]

Years ago I was warned that the series just didn't meet the standards of previous incarnations of Star Trek. But the idea of a prequel to the original Star Trek intrigued me so I started watching it a few weeks ago.

If you venture out into space and find it has hostile species, you do not simply rely on blind luck to get through the challenges. You upgrade, refine and develop. Even allowing for being surprised by what you find, for the entire first series the crew kept blundering blindly into situations of their own making. This becomes frustrating and boring. The possibilities were endless, yet the stories were too simplistic and at times simply childish. It seemed the writers were trading on the success of the franchise to get through and just didn't put the effort in.

Series two was pretty much the same as series one. Series three at least developed the main story-line of a threat to Earth but the lack of imagination and one-dimensional writing of the characters still pervaded the core of each episode.

You're in a region of space with hostiles and no technological force shielding of other Trek story lines to stop antagonists transporting on-board your ship. So do you let everyone roam the ship unarmed or do you equip your crew with sidearms of some description.. as well as post security at critical areas like the engine room? Unfortunately the absence of such measures was used far too often as the basis of plot artifacts it got frustrating and silly.

Even when the pressure wasn't on at the start of a story, it appears the concept of planning to avoid catastrophe was simply absent and again used far too often as the basis for an episode.

I recently watched some episodes from the original series and they seemed riskier and more sophisticated than many of the moronic story lines of this programme.

There was a slight increase in effort by the scriptwriters on the main story-line of series three. I got the start of series four before the ridiculous plot-lines and gaping holes in logic made me want to gnaw through my own leg.

Bottom line, I stuck with it as far as I did partly in tribute to the other series in the franchise and partly because I'm an optimist and hoped it would get better.. it didn't.

Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)

Mundane loud confused plot less pointless garbage mess of a movie

[1/10 · 2 July 2017]

I don't expect much from the fifth sequel in any movie franchise... but hell, did it get pretty bad with 2.5 Hrs of absolute horse-apples. I expect in movies, like any other profession, you get good work and bad work, but for any professional to associate themselves with this colossal waste of $200 million, everyone involved should be thoroughly ashamed of this epic fail... and don't think anyone can console themselves with excuses like "I did my part to the best of my ability", because nearly all aspects of this movie are simply awful. No discernible plot, corny script riddled with cliché, CGI up your back- end, non-stop action for no apparent reason, poor acting from everyone, too much going on in each scene for it to make any sense unless you're on amphetamines. Bottom line... drivel of the worst kind.

Alien: Covenant (2017)

Ridley Scott has lost the plot...

[1/10 · 29 May 2017]

I was really looking forward to answers left by Prometheus and a continuation of the story in what was a great revival of the Alien franchise. However, any crew that has a member wearing a cowboy hat, denotes morons that must be exterminated in as many graphically violent ways as possible... except that we've seen that before, many, many, many, times. The story must have been written on the toilet having a lengthy poo after a particularly heavy night of booze. At least I assume that from the total lack of originality or creativity of any sort. The characters are two dimensional and the plot is wooden with gaping crevasses in logic. I'm not going to list them as other reviewers have already done so. Needless to say, well before the middle of the film the only reason you carry on watching is so you can cheer at the ridiculousness of the actions of the crew and the inevitable disasters that befall them all. If Mr Scott has taken the same approach to the Bladerunner sequel, I'm pretty sure he will lose all credibility and respect from his sci-fi fans, not to mention a visit from the hit-man I will employ on their behalf.

MI-5 (2002–2011)

Series 1 is dated perhaps, but stories are too fabricated

[7/10 · 16 May 2017]

The episodes are well acted and the tension is built to a usually satisfying climax in each case... however the last episode in the series is simply too predictable and unlikely to happen, it becomes obvious and somewhat comical to the extent I found myself cheering as each ridiculous plot artefact unfolded... A fortress building without a contingency for occupants in case of fire, or bomb, in the building... An agent that takes a laptop from the IRA and it doesn't occur to him that it might be booby-trapped? What sort of an idiot would do that? A security system so well designed it is disabled with a bit of chocolate fondant? What utter nonsense. The script writer needs a slap if this is their excuse for a good piece of work.. shame on them.