morcego Reviews

Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver (2024)

Worst than part 1

[4/10 · 20 April 2024]

Humm, lemme think how can I write a review without spoilers... Oh, wait! There is nothing to spoil.

Formulaic, slow drawn for no purpose except to pad the run time (I'm being generous here).

Part 1 was not exactly good, but I, at least, could see some promise. Could see where it was heading, in it's hushed way. Part 2 is the oppose, in a bad way.

While part 1 hurried along, trying to created several hooks, deal with several issues and unite a lot of people, without stopping in any point to explore the possibilities, part 2 drags... and drags... and drags.... Long scenes of people harvesting grains is just an example, and far from the worse of it.

Sure, this is not as bad as, say, Moonfall or Battlefield Earth. And that is the thing I can say about it.

3 Body Problem (2024– )

A different kind of good compared to the books

[8/10 · 28 March 2024]

Remembrance of Earth's Past might be, if not my favorite book series, on the top three. When I've heard they were adapting it for Netflix, I was scared. When I've heard who was behind the project, I was even more scared. But, on the same time, I was... kind of hopeful? Sure, we had the Tecent adaptation... The news about the cast and and the teasers left me even more fearful.

I did get hopeful from time to time, like when I heard they were calling the others "San-Ti" and now "Treesolarians", showing they went back to the original language books.

I was right to be scared, and I was right to be hopeful.

The adaptation if good, but good in a very different way the books are good.

It is the same story (mostly), and they are being faithful to it (mostly). It can't compete with the books regarding the science, but it is good where the books are weak (character development).

The casting works. Liam Cunningham is going a great job. Marlo Kelly is perfectly cast. Benedict Wong is spot on. Everyone else is going a competent job at the very least.

The pacing is faster than the books but, then again, how could it not be. But not so fast that they don't take their time to show us the characters.

Even having had the books and knowing the story, it is worth the watch. Not only as an adaptation but, mostly, by itself.

Argylle (2024)

Fun movie, made bad because of questionable casting

[5/10 · 14 March 2024]

I don't have a problem with any of the actors. I don't think they are bad actors.

That being said, this is a Sam Rockwell movie. It was what I expected when I saw this name. He was the perfect actor for the job. John. Cena, perfect also. Too bad we didn't get more of him. Bryan Cranston, spot on. Ariana DeBose was spot on, and Dua Lipa.was perfect for her part.

Catherine O'Hara? She make it work. Not a great choice for the role, but nothing that damaged the movie.

But Bryce Dallas Howard? She was a really bad choice for the part. She was a bad Elly, and an even worse Rachel. Actually, as Rachel she seemed like a dollar store Katee Sackhoff (who I think could have made that work at least better than Bryce).

This movie had so much potential, but the bad casting choices were so... bad.... that I really couldn't just relax and enjoy. It was like a sore tooth.

Samaritan (I) (2022)

Good, but predictable [mild, indirect spoilers only]

[6/10 · 26 August 2022]

The plot twist was so telegraphed that one could even imagine it was intentional.

The movie was ok. I suppose I was expecting one of the different Samaritans from comics, but as far as I can tell this is none of those.

Stallone is good and back to form. The sad thing is that his was the best acting on the movie, and that's saying a lot.

I had low expectations for this movie, so I guess that is what allowed me to enjoy it.

Watch it if you have the time to spare, but don't go out of your way to do it.

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

Know what you are watching and enjoy it. It was what was promised.

[9/10 · 18 July 2022]

This is a Taika Waititi movie. So of course it would be funny, lighthearted and wouldn't take it too serious. A lot of people keep saying it is its own parody and yes. Again: Taika Waititi.

Don't let it destroy your enjoyment. This is an adaptation of a few comic book storylines that I don't think anyone but Taika could pull off. Thor was never a really serious character, and they got a good adaptation of the Mighty Thor story arch, if somewhat reduced (and "reduction-ed") to fit a movie.

But the real pleasure of this movie was Bale's performance. This is not Thor's movie, this is a Gorr's movie, and Bale stole every scene he was in.

This movie was never meant to be serious, and the end product is exactly what it was intended (and what we were promised).

Jurassic World Dominion (2022)

Mildly entertaining

[6/10 · 14 July 2022]

The only saving grave for this movie is the cast, which do a terrific job.

The script is predictable, and mixes too many genres in a confusing way. Sadly, it is also very predictable.

Plenty of easter eggs, most of them far from sutil.

It passed the time. I don't regret watching it. But it is not rewatch material.

Spiderhead (2022)

Was a short story and should have stayed as such

[5/10 · 18 June 2022]

This movie is based on a short story, and that is how much story there was. If this movie was a short, say 30 minutes or less, it might have been great. Stretching it to a feature length was a mistake, and we end up with an exercise in mediocrity.

The cast was wasted, even if we did get good, or at least decent performances, and that is why I'm giving it a 5. But the story just doesn't hold (that would have been a 2).

The plot is predictable, the tone is inconsistent.

Not the worst movie I saw this year, but this gets a second or third place.

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

Just give it all the Oscars already

[10/10 · 19 May 2022]

I mean, when you think this movie can't get any more crazy, it just does.

The story is amazing, original, deep, moving, hilarious, boinkers, endlessly entertaining.

The 2h19m run time is just too short. Or maybe it is just perfect?

Just watch it!

I can't remember when I watched a movie this good before.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Good movie with a ... err... strange pacing

[8/10 · 8 May 2022]

I keep hearing about how a lot of people won't enjoy this movie unless they are super into comics.

Well, I might have read 1 Doctor Strange comic and a couple Scarlet Witch comics. And I still enjoyed it quite a lot.

The pacing is very strange, specially at the beginning, but I can easily see what they were going for. Contrary to what some other people commented, I didn't find it confusing. I also didn't find any of the "horror" people said Raimi put on the movie. At all. Then again, I finished reading the Remembrance of Earth's Past book series a couple weeks ago, so my definition of horror and terror changed quite a lot.

The movie was very different than anything else in the MCU, which is a good change of pace. And so I don't disagree with everyone else, I too found it to be very comicbook-y.

The only problem I've found was that the story became totally predictable after about 15 minutes. That, however, didn't stop me from enjoying the movie. Specially the acting. Elizabeth Olsen was simply amazing. John Krasinski was a nice surprise, which I won't spoil with comments.

The mid-credit scene got me really excited. I can't wait for what is to come.

Moonfall (2022)

A Kaspersky and Lexus Ad with the scientific depth of sharknado

[1/10 · 30 March 2022]

Do you know those movies that are so bad, they are good? This isn't one of them. This is just bad.

But nothing beats. The Kaspersky logo on an Endeavour shuttle screen saying it is protecting the system.

I'll give you a moment for that to sink in: an US space shuttle and flew from 1992 to 2011 has an internal system that not only runs Windows, but for some reason runs not only an antivirus, but one made by a Russian company.

At least Catwoman is no longer the worse movie Halle Barry was in.

In from the Cold (2022)

Manage your expectations and have a good time (minor spoilers only)

[7/10 · 29 January 2022]

I have seen some people talking about how this isn't how Russian spying works, or doesn't correctly reflect the roles US and Russia played and blah blah.

Ok, the ex-spy can turn into someone else that she casually touched and "absorbed" their DNA, and make herself invisible with "camo mode" (only naked, but hair is ok), and people complain about it not being historically realistic?

Lets take it down several pegs.

This is just some easy entertainment. Plenty of cheep tricks and common places.

Ok? Got your expectations under control?

Then get ready for some entertaining time based on a very interesting (if not new) premisse.

I never expected a masterpiece, just something that could keep my attention, and it mostly managed that. The acting is competent, if not brilliant, for the most part.

The Matrix Resurrections (I) (2021)

The Matrix, but with Lana turned to 11

[9/10 · 23 December 2021]

I confess I had very low expectations for this movie, and I was pleasantly surprised.

This movie is so Lana Wachowski that we would know she written and directed it without even looking at the credits. It is her sense of humor, her sense of style. That is the thing that marks the movie and makes it so very different from the first trilogy.

The casting is amazing... and amazingly Lana: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Max Riemelt and Brian J. Smith. Those are names we can to associate with her works, and I don't blame her. They are great.

NPH was a scene stealer, as usual. I mean, he is NPH. Nothing else needs to be said.

Jessica Henwick is not someone I would ever thing of casting, which I guess shows why I shouldn't ever direct or have anything to do with movie production. She was amazing.

Jada Pinkett Smith left something to be desired, and so did Jonathan Groff. In the later case it is to be expected, for the same reason I wasn't impressed by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.

The story was great, a whole new direction for the Matrix movies, and the only thing was "detracts" from the whole are the fights and chase scenes, which felt forced. Like as if WB was demanded scenes like that to be in the movie, which I really don't doubt. Some parts of the movie felt very un-Lana, and those are the parts I didn't enjoy.

Not really a spoiler since it is on the credits: Lambert Wilson returning as The Merovingian was absolutely hilarious and, even if it is a clear fanservice, it was on point.

Dune (2021)

Very little respect for the source material

[4/10 · 17 October 2021]

Great actors, but terrible casting. Gurney Halleck should be "an ugly lump of a man" with an inkvine scar. Duncan Idaho should have a classic male beauty, someone that is always called to escort the ladies. Although Rebecca Ferguson is not an horrible choice for Lady Jessica, since the specifics of her looks are not so crucial to the story, she is supposed to have a regal look. Not a big problem there. Making Dr. Liet Kynes female doesn't really compromise the story, so that is ok for creative license.

That really bothered me was the way they butchered the lore. Thee move opens with Femen using lasguns, something they sneer at (at least at this point in time). The ships don't have noses, so how can the noses be shot off. Caladan is not as bright as the books describe it but that's forgivable since it rains a lot there.

I can see people who never read the book enjoying the movie. Or people who read it as a school assignment many years ago. By the dialogs, it is obvious the screenwriters know the source material. They make references to things that are only said in books way down the series, specifically the prequels. So why would they butcher so much?

And, I mean. Anyone who read the books knows that two characters they couldn't mess up was Gurney and Duncan. Specially Duncan. Why, oh why? Don't they believe in the potential of the IP? This movie is "part one", so they must believe enough to think there will be sequels. Even if the Honored Mothers that show up in book 5 are nothing something that could be realistically adapted to the screen these days, shouldn't they think down the line enough to keep Duncan as pristine as possible?

So many unnecessary inconsistencies. The Shield Wall is supposed to be a "natural feature of the desert", if my memory serves me right.

I could go on and on.

This is the 3rd attempt at adapting Frank Herbert's work. I have to confess I never had courage to watch the miniseries, but from what I've heard it was catastrophic.

So, anything positive I can say about the movie? They paid a lot of attention to make sure everything looked epic. They make sure to put several details for fans to recognize, which I found both nice and insulting (if they know the source material that well, why not stick to it as much as possible?). Why make the Emperor's orders for the Atreides to take over Arakis into a requests? It makes no sense.

Right, I should be saying positive things now Dave Bautista casting was perfect, and Stellan Skarsgård was inspired. I would never have thought of him, and he just works are the baron. Stephen McKinley Henderson was also a very good choice for Thufir.

Omfg! What did they do with the Atreides hand signals! They are supposed to be almost undetectable for those who don't know it. On the movie it is almost like waving a flag, or ASL. Why?!?!?! It is supposed to be a secret that was never broken by their enemies.

On the other hand, they did pay attention to some details. The date palms at not really date palms, but at least they are palms. And there are 20 of them.

I could go on and on, but that's the gist of it: no respect for the source material, all visuals and, as so many others mentioned, "no soul".

Teenage Bounty Hunters (2020)

Buckle yourself up for a crazy ride

[7/10 · 18 August 2020]

This show is absolute genius. You never know what you are going to get from one moment to the next. It pokes fun and socially criticize every single thing, without ever being overtly a comedy or going into social critics.

One could say "this series is an exercise into deconstructivism using satire as a basic social commentary tool", and draw lines of comparison with the works of Jaques Derrida. Or even say how the different interactions with different parts of society is a manifestation of the different role of a human behind into a socially differentiated society that demonstrates, in the likes of the sociological work of Niklas Luhmann, who we no longer have an stratificated society. Or one could just say this is an amazingly fun and superbly written piece of quality entertainment, with a very, very well chosen cast. Yeah, one thing or the other.

Unfortunately, the ending of the first season disappoints, for two main reasons: first, it tries to hard to set things up for a second season, instead of wrapping up the first and let the second be what it may. And the second reason is the all too common sin of forcing a cliff hanger that really had no reason to exist. Without this problem with the season finale, this would have easily been a 9/10.

A Nice Girl Like You (2020)

Sexy sitcom for Disney Junior

[2/10 · 25 July 2020]

A sad attempt at a sexy funny story that is neither sexy nor funny.

The Perfect Date (I) (2019)

A paint-by-numbers, John Hughes-wannaby movie

[2/10 · 14 April 2019]

It is the same old story. So often repeated it is not even worth spoiling. Just think of something like any average John Hughes movie, throw in some "by now required representation characters" that are so ostensibly there only so satisfy critics (minorities, lgbt, african-american etc), and that's what you get. Yes, it is important to have inclusion and representation on movies, but please don't to it just like you are checking a box. The acting is not bad, but also uninspiring, except for Matt Walsh who was competent.

Seriously, don't waste your time. Go watch Pretty in Pink or something.

Bird Box (2018)

Weak lovecraftian-like story with good acting and great directing

[5/10 · 23 December 2018]

One of the majestic things about a Lovecraft novel is the mythology it builds. We don't actually see the monsters (heck, we have no way of really imagining them), but they are a solid background, not an excuse.

Bird Box tries to put us in a lovecraftian universe where seeing creatures will drive people mad. Unless you are already mad, which might put you in a cult like adoration. So far, so good. But you never get any really mythology building, except for some weak ancient-religion-I-searched-on-the-internet crap by a throwaway character. You are never really afraid of the monsters, because they are simply not there. It looks like the writers wanted to created scary creatures but, failing to do it, decided to pull a "what if we never showed them" plot device.

Malkovich is, obviously, perfect, and Sandra Bullock pulls some good acting. Which speaks both for the actors and the director. The story itself is barely B-movie material, unfortunately.

It was worth watching because, truth be told, anything with John Malkovich in it is.

Sense8 (2015–2018)

The Hill Street Blues of Science Fiction

[10/10 · 6 June 2015]

On an interview for Indiewire, J. Michael Straczynski mentions that while Startrek and BattleStar Galactica were to SciFi what Dragnet was to police shows, SciFi never had its Hill Street Blues, and that he hoped Sense8 would be it.

Now we have the answer: it is.

That is what we expect to get when we mix the creator of Babylon 5 (et al) with the creators of The Matrix. It is a SciFi show where there "heroes" are not only human being with human relationships, but also with all human flaws and beauties. Drugs, love, violence, greed, cowardice, weakness. It is one story, but it is also 8 stories. It is the story of all of them, and it is the story of each of them. It is their successes and their failures. It is life in all its beauty and all its ugliness in a scifi that is something as close to our world that you at times have trouble remembering it isn't. It is a magnificent piece of work, shot in all parts of the world using, and those places are not just a background, their are part of the story.

The premise for this show is quite simple: 8 different people will start entering each others minds, living each other lives, visiting and sharing. We learn the story as the characters do, while also visiting and sharing their lives. It is not an epic story, although it spans the world. It is a story told by its basic elements, with superb writing and production quality.

The bad part? Now we have to wait for season 2.

Ascension (2014)

Better than average, not exactly good

[6/10 · 16 December 2014]

First, kudos to Ellie O'Brien. Her acting was spot on. Best one on the series. That being said, what we have is a quasi soap opera with very blurry contours. Sometimes you feel like they wanted to go for a thriller. Sometimes for adventure. It is a 50s time capsule, the old ark concept. If humanity and the world is going to hell in a handcart (and with the threat of a nuclear war looming over their heads), why not build an ask and send everyone somewhere else?

What really got me on the wrong side is the predictability of the plot. Halfway through the first episode you will already have figured out the "big secret" of the episode. The big revelation in the end.

I will be checking back for the second episode. It might get better. Right now, it this series were a color, I would call it "beige".

Lust for Love (2014)

Unimpressive story, amazing cast, first class acting

[8/10 · 9 February 2014]

Lets start with the bad things. The story is recycled to the point of not even being funny. Not going to get into details not to be spoiler-y, but I can think of at least a dozen movies since the 80s (including one from John Hughes), which tell pretty much the same story. Oh, did I say bad thingS? I meant mediocre thing. Singular.

The casting is first class. I mean, not only we are filled with Joss Weadon alumni, as a bonus we get Caitlin Stasey. The production is simple but effective. Directing is one of the finest. Acting, also first class.

Lust for Love is a recycled love story, which would ordinarily make is a B movie even for an indie. However, the overall qualify of the movie; and yes, even the take on the story, recycled or not, make it something you definitely should watch.

Ender's Game (2013)

Too much, too little (minor spoilers only)

[7/10 · 17 January 2014]

Main comment: Not as bad as I feared Strong points: Managed to keep most of the major storyline points; Mostly good acting; Good effects. The combat room sequences were particularly well done, even if a bit two dimensional(exactly what it shouldn't be).

Weak points: Nothing on his siblings (expected); Felt extremely rushed. His development during combat school was pretty much ignored, as were his new combat tactics (which were the reason he was promoted to commander, and not his "empathy"); The ending sequence (everything after the final battle) was 100% Hollywood bullshit. Ender is NOT supposed to have a happy ending, not even a grayish one like that.

Rating: 7/10 (feeling generous today, almost gave it a 6/10)

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)

Worth watching once

[6/10 · 10 October 2012]

Let me state for the records I had great expectations for this movie. The moment I first saw it, I fell in love with the title. Now, having watched it, I feel disappointed.

It is hard to rate the overall product (movie) without using "mediocre" descriptions. The photography, filmography and editing was technically competent, but not beautiful. Acting was precise, but not emotive or brilliant. Casting was OK. Keira Knightley was maybe not the best choice, but she made it work. Steve Carell was very questionable. He was good, but definitively out of his comfort zone. Martin Sheen was the only strong choice there, too bad he had such small role.

The story was well though, and it develops along the line you would expect. General reaction about the end of the world is very close to what I would expect it to be, which is very rare. Actually, I think it is the first time I see it being depicted like this. However, the way the story developed in the movie was mild. Sorry, I have no other word for it.

This is a movie I can't recommend. It is OK to watch it if you are curious. You won't be wasting your time, exactly. However, don't expect anything more than mild entertainment.

Piled Higher and Deeper (2011)

Life in university

[8/10 · 4 July 2012]

I was never a grad student, and I love it. OK, I was pretty much raised inside a college (both parents are professors), and I worked at an university, so life as depicted on this movie is something I'm familiar with.

That being said, I was pretty impressed by the overall production quality of this movie. It is an indie movie with amateur actors, and it is still better than most Direct-to-TV movies you will find. The fact that most actors are actually grad students gives them a glint in the eye, and you can sense they are relating to those situations.

If you ever been to an university, or any place that mixes research and teaching, this is a movie you just must see.