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Them (2021)
This is an obligatory educational piece for white people... Too bad it's not fit for every age range.
Absorbing, moving and, most of all, truest on its masterfully designed horror. A terror not mine or yours, but every black life's. Witnessing it is like poetic justice; it disturbs and disrupts oneself - and I say this as a horror fan who was never this frightened by anything not remotely supernatural as this. It reminds me how this show delightfully married the unknown beyond to the unknown of the human condition - not being in someone else's, so thorny and heavy, shoes. I'm surprised it's not being more recognized.
Desalma (2020)
Simply bad
I'm a Brazilian who happens to be a horror genre fan. As everybody knows, it's not easy to produce good horror, especially nowadays - unless you don't wanna take yourself seriously. As I came to understand, Globo's production for TV shows are quite superb, so I was looking forward to this series. It does try to take itself seriously, unsettlingly.
I was hugely let down. It's not only because it's not done properly as a horror production, but mainly due to bad scripting, directing and acting. I remember Claudia Abreu being a great actress and yes, she does have her moments here - but the person who directed her parts dealing with the horror factor really had no clue about it. Also, the often forced, unnatural dialogue does not help her and many others at all. It's hilarious listening her say, with an accent from Rio, "I grew up in this village and never left" when the town is located on the South, where the accent is completely different. Speaking of which, they do have some Southern actors and they sometimes do decently, but nothing really outstanding. Nathália Falcão does a better job amongst the teens. There are many cringeworthy moments from scenes where people just talk to each other.
Cassia Kis is on a whole unique level herself and she does not disappoint, though. Her motives and overall wording sadly breaks any chance of this being a successful act.
The "twist" at the end with the cliffhanger did not work because it became obvious at some point that the "witch" wanted things to go a particularly way. The slow burn was a chore to keep up with and there were scenes that, well, how can I put this nicely: they're just not good.
I think it's impressive that nowadays some things really get greenlighted worldwide. You see it everywhere. It's people doing a specific job they shouldn't be doing. They could have someone check the story, the dialogue, the horror factor - heck, even the cultural approach they took regarding Ukraine, which is sometimes beautiful in the show but lacks depth. It just didn't feel natural. Also, it was very idiotic how the witch's daughter was upset about the boy she liked being gay, it felt out of place for her - it made no sense. Did I just say that? Oh, there are many more instances of nonsense here. You can start anywhere, help isn't needed.
With all that said, the series sparkled debate regarding "viralatismo", something that would have to do with Brazilians always feeling like anything outside the country is automatically better - thus, blindly criticizing anything just because it comes from our country. Even though this exists and this show received quite a lot of nonsense from the audience, with some even comparing it with Dark (German Netflix show - it has nothing to do with it, by the way), I wanna say this is not the case here. I gave it a chance like I do with any Brazilian productions as long as they interest me - and I can gladly affirm 2020 brought amazing shows in Kissing Game or Good Morning Veronica, for example, but this it not the case for this show. Classic actresses and a beautiful scenery will not save anything from the cliches of horror and boring, dull writing. There's a long, long way to go if you do not follow the right paths by simply caring for standards when exploring any genre to explore. Invest your time elsewhere.
Upload: Freeyond (2020)
Super overrated
The writing is very dull and it just feels idiotic. I can accept the silliness of it all through the season, the main couple is cute and everything, but ending the season like this is such a bad testament for the series. I would give the show a 7/10 rating, but because of this lacking episode alone it becomes a 5/10 at most... There's no way someone can let so many story lines down, like a mom that acts as Nathan's or the abandonment of his sweet cousin, crowning it with a disappointment of a finale and still let it be valued as something it's not. Here's hoping for better writing in Season 2, I will sure give it a chance based on the journey.
Boca a Boca (2020)
The trailer really does it no justice
I put this show on randomly to pass some time and it ended up as a huge, amazing surprise. Very artsy, unique cast chemistry - great acting too, by the way - and very current, daring themes. I love how simple, yet enchanting, the atmosphere feels. The main characters are amazing and it's not predictable at all. I look forward to many more seasons and more appreciation, it deserves it!
Time Trap (2017)
Very underrated
Realistically speaking this would be a 7, but the score is so low that I wanted to contribute. The movie really is unpredictable. It's not very smart and the low budget really shows, especially with makeup - but the story itself is fun and it's just a movie to enjoy if you are into sci-fi like me. The actors do decent jobs and (most) characters are charismatic with some great moments, but still - it's supposed to be silly, at the limit, but it does have fun with its own silliness. I enjoyed it! What made me write this review is that it's been a while since a silly movie made me actually finish it satisfied. I also watched the whole thing without turning away because it often finds new ways to surprise that audience and make you think "heck, what next?", which is to say something nowadays.
Reality Z (2020)
Take it for what it is
This is an adaptation and it involves zombies. I love Dead Set and yes, that felt more consistent and more original, naturally.
There are lots of plot holes and, especially in the beginning, badly directed sequences, but we can't ignore the above average performances, the often high production value and the social critique. All philosophies have holes and are not perfect for no moment; humans are not finished on our ideals - there's no absolute perfection beyond the one that speaks to us as such. Very different approaches, when teamed up with the same objective, can result in great solutions.
Also, there were funny moments, unintentional or not, and very current social themes. There were also a great emotional moment and the lead (for the first part) was great. The show also felt realistic at times regarding characters not being overly armoured. It explored new themes for the genre and made a good call on Brazilian culture and scenarios in general, besides being quite self-conscious at times; the show knows that, as a horror production, it is not to be taken so serious, just like the original.
I would have given Reality Z a 7/10 rating considering all that, but I'm giving it a 10 because the gratuitous hate simply does not represent it. If you're into fiction with zombies, I would definitely recommend this!
The Good Place: Patty (2020)
Superb reading of the human experience as a bridge to the series finale
Without spoiling the very important experience of watching this episode, this show gets serious again camouflaged in silly, not-so-clever humor that still works because it's quite self-conscious. What I really love in this particular episode, besides amazing performances by the cast, is the very fundamental point of human existence that most people won't ever realize in their life. The show puts it quite nicely without dictating rules or being moralist. I'm so thankful for a production like this and feel honoured being able to get to this point - as someone else said, the show isn't as marvelous writing-wise as it used to be through season 1 to season 2, but it still have standalone decidedly incredible episodes all seasons - and I'm glad to tell you this is one of them.
Black Mirror: Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too (2019)
The score does not reflect the episode at all
This isn't top Black Mirror, sure, mostly because of the ending - which is mostly just fine. On the other hand, it's nowhere near the bottom of this series! It's no Metal Head or Waldo, being far better than others from last season. The episode is, firstly, entertaining; the story never lets up, it's always moving. The acting is great, it does not become overwhelming or unrealistic. It's unexpected and does great social critic regarding teens and their idols, family dysfunctions and feelings of isolation and loneliness - all through high tech advancements that are innovative and very future like.
I'm not sure at what the low ratings are aiming for, but it sure ain't the episode and its premise. People should give this a chance, it'll get more recognised with time for sure.
The OA (2016)
The score here makes it no justice!
I mean, this is just a magical TV show. Never in my life have I seen anything this poetic and smart, beautifully crafted into something we can all have our own opinion and feelings. Quite simply, it's art! Give it a chance if you're into original storytelling that speaks to your core.
Minha Vida em Marte (2018)
Worth your time!
As a Brazilian myself, I usually don't enjoy many movies from my country nowadays - a shame, really. This one, though, was the sweetest surprise, with beyond amazing chemistry between the leads and solid dialogue, very entertaining! Still, the story might sound too common or silly - what sells it is the golden acting and the way it's edited. It's great seeing serious themes explored in a light hearted way, such as divorce and gay dating, or even death, since nowadays everything seems to be taken too seriously sometimes. This movie doesn't take it this route, but take comedy on the other direction - very artistically. Well done! I hope everyone gets a chance to watch this and laugh it off every ten minutes like I did, you won't regret it.
Fear the Walking Dead: No One's Gone (2018)
Complete destruction
It's generous giving this episode 1 star. I'll let it pass for a credit to Kim Dickens. This was the episode that killed the soul of the show, a character we've been following from day one who had depth and humanity to it. Not only did they kill this very character meaning throughout the season - they went so far to actually assassinate her in the worst possible way. Very badly written, out of purpose and unjustified. We all know they only did it to make Morgan the lead - another character I just couldn't stand for years in The Walking Dead. I knew it would go downhill from here, and so it was.
Madison could be hated by many, but she had nuance and passion, she was real as she acted like a crazy mother in the end of the world who would go so far to do anything for her children - but first of all, anything to favor herself and her views. That's who she was. This show had a very great run in Season 3 and it amazes me that those episodes aren't even on par by rating here at IMDb seeing how this atrocious Season 4 have more or less acceptable ratings when it sucked really bad to begin with.
This was the end for me, it's disrespectful to a whole fandom to send the original show to hell and make a new (freaking bad) one out of its ashes. It's sad, unnecessary and pitiful really! Kim deserves better.