postofficecb Reviews

Drinkwater (2021)

Coming-of-Age Canadiana Comedy

[8/10 · 5 November 2023]

Meet the Drinkwaters - the quirky father and son from Penticton, BC. The story centres on son Mike's last year in high school, his struggles to find himself, find love and find a future, in spite of a father who is unsupportive, a girl who doesn't notice him, a bully and a school that doesn't appreciate his clever challenges to Bernoulli's principle of flight. But, along the way he meets new neighbour Wallace, an American girl he introduces to Canada and who in turn helps him see past the roadblocks of the past.

Acting was great with particular comedy kudos to Daniel Doheny (Mike) and Eric McCormack (Mike's father Hank), and a winning smile from Louriza Tronco (Wallace).

The amount of work that went into this is really astounding - the details of the costume and design, the many nods to Canada in the writing and setting (filmed entirely in Penticton), the soundtrack which is replete with Canadian bands, and of course the Canadian cast. Although contemporary, it feels like the 80s, from Mike's groaning Gremlin to Wallace's banana seat bike with handlebar streamers. It's total nostalgia.

And it's a feel-good movie. Yes, a bit predictable at times, but sometimes you know what you want.

White Sky (2021)

Promising but ultimately fails

[5/10 · 5 November 2023]

This movie is well done for such a low budget. I disagree with others regarding the camera work. It was shot well. The opening credit sequence was quite interesting and conveyed a sense of gloom and fear.

Yes, 99% of the movie takes place in the woods, but whether the story was written around that setting for budget reasons (or not) is moot: the setting is still used effectively, especially during the night scenes, in which the silhouette of a figure in the moonlight is striking or the beam of a flashlight searches for the source of a disturbing sound. My only criticism is the appalling use of CGI for a campfire.

Acting was tolerable, especially the elder sister. Where the movie fails is that towards the middle it departs from the "aliens attack" / "altered beings attack" plot to get bogged down in the tiresome survivor trope of "can we trust each other?", which gets somewhat boring. This is unfortunate, because the parts that deal with altered beings can be invigorating, such as the intense nighttime sequence on their return from getting water.

The altered beings themselves are quite intriguing - over time it seems as though they are not the mindless "zombies" we imagined, and that their behaviour follows certain rules and may include a hierarchy. Finally, their design seems to evolve, becoming more alien - colour, hands and the inexplicable white powder. I'm so curious as to what that represents, but more likely than not it was a design feature added as an afterthought to generate interest, since it is not explained in movie. Much promise wasted.

Jack Ryan (2018–2023)

What happened to season 4?

[6/10 · 27 July 2023]

The first three seasons improve with time but season 4 was a let-down. It lacked a coherent plot. It's still unclear who was a terrorist and what their political goals were. Villains are all painted with the same one-dimensional brush, whereas in previous seasons they are more developed and motivations revealed.

It's predictable, like when a character has an epiphany that the villain is so-and-so and they're going to blow up the such-and-such, but you the viewer guessed this last episode. Yeah.

Finally, the ending. All the build-up for a cheap finale. The Triad's sinister plot is the complex equivalent of a child's grade 9 short story. "He saved them, the end." Great.

Pre-season 4 is a good time-waster however.

Morbius (2022)

Dubious

[4/10 · 12 January 2023]

I fast-forwarded through this. The problem is two-fold. One, no one cares about the characters. They are flat and insipid and any modicum of development is a caricature at best, particularly the opening scenes. Worse, it's performed by otherwise very capable actors.

Second, Hollywood must stop feeding the myth of the MCU, as it's generating worse and worse quality all in the name of the almighty dollar. There is no resemblance here to a superhero, and even if there were, story is abandoned in favour of makeup and special effects and a repulsive visage. The fetishization of all things MCU is second only to, well, the second amendment, and with 6 year olds shooting teachers, we know how useful fetishes can be.

Stop the MCU.

The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker (2023)

Mercifully Concise

[5/10 · 12 January 2023]

Great example of how a video can go "viral" and create a buzz worthy of any Hollywood satire.

Keeps the viewer interested by not revealing too much at once, hinting at more. Unfortunately, the reveal at the end is not that compelling. There's no grand mystery, no race against time, no whodunit, no mastermind. It's as dull as the folks who catapulted this dullard into internet sensation.

At the beginning there is the promise of a call from prison, but they never show it and that's a mistake. We want real interaction in the "now" to bring this documentary full circle, but we're denied. We want the "why" finally answered, but it eludes.

Saving grace, it's quite brief by Netflix standards.

Harry & Meghan (2022)

Sometimes Self-Serving Is Needed

[8/10 · 1 January 2023]

After all the hate Harry and Meghan endured at the hands of UK media, the Royal family's communications dept., and internet trolls (including estranged members of Meghan's family), it is so refreshing to hear their side of the story - which is their story after all - but also a story which is really quite beautiful, loving, important and at times tragic. And to have it done in an intimate setting, as though we the audience are joining them in their living room, is quite inviting.

The couple come across as sincere victims of prejudice and harassment allowed to run rampant, deliberately isolated and unprotected by the Royals. Both of them were betrayed by their respective families, which pushed them away. This is sad not only for them but also for the public. The inclusion of a biracial member in the Royal family was an opportunity to add relevance to an institution still tied to a racist, colonial past. It was also an opportunity to use Royal influence in improving the lives of women of colour; typically the most neglected and overlooked demographic in the world. But, not all is lost. Watch the documentary to find out what happens next. And to see how this couple weathers the storm together; it is, after all, fundamentally a love story too.

P. S. It's curious how many of the lowest ratings come from either new members or those who have never posted before.

Better Watch Out (II) (2016)

Not As Advertised

[4/10 · 28 December 2022]

The trailer makes this appear to be a horror version of Home Alone, but it's not. It starts out that way then veers far into left field a la Funny Games. Is that more original? Perhaps, but original doesn't always mean good.

The story still lacked the promised black humour. The characters are almost universally unlikeable, and it's hard to know or care to root for anyone. The main baddie has a smug grin for the entire movie, which gets quite tiring, and nothing in the story seems spontaneous. Any setbacks are minor and easily overcome, so that there's no need for cat-and-mouse interplay that would have otherwise heightened tension, excitement and set up a dark, brooding humour. If there is any humour, it's as out of place as those door knobs.

Awake (III) (2021)

A Sleepy Apocalyptic Thriller

[7/10 · 28 December 2022]

One family's journey to survive a cataclysmic event, made increasingly tense as each hour ticks by. When the world is no longer able to sleep, the breakdown of society (and sanity) is assured - it's only a matter of time. Gina Rodriguez does a great job as a failed mom who springs into action to keep her kids safe. Unlike other films, this heroine doesn't suddenly use martial arts to fight off 20 baddies. Rather, the writers keep it honest and realistic as she uses street smarts, steely determination and luck to push through some impossible situations. This is not a big film in terms of story or production, by any means, but it is a sincere one that makes good use of the symbolism of life and death (and the themes of love and forgiveness). To say more would be to spoil it.

Begin Again (II) (2013)

Record Company, Schmecord Company

[7/10 · 27 December 2022]

6.5. A quaint film for the music lover, thought not as quaint as the title, which is about as evocative as a tumbleweed. Still, the film celebrates the joy of music and a certain indie spirit as likeable characters converge to record an album using only their wits and personal resources.

Highlights are the songs, which may not be everyone's style, but are sweet and melodic and sung by Knightly. Mark Ruffalo stands out as the has-been producer desperate to resurrect his career. James Corden and others seemed under-utilized in terms of comedic potential of an ensemble (think Hugh Grant's friends in Notting Hill).

It would have been nice to see more cameos from the industry, especially in documenting its manufactured nature, as well as Knightly being challenged with stardom. Will she go down the same path as Adam Levine, etc.? Of course, her final decision regarding the album is intended to answer that question, but seeing it in action would have been much more entertaining.

Beyond (I) (2016–2018)

Beyond sense

[4/10 · 23 December 2022]

Okay, check it out. Dude wakes up with special powers but we don't know how or why, and he doesn't care. He avoids them, except when playing games, all because he wants to live "a normal life".

When dude meets others who went to the realm, he does the opposite of a normal person and avoids discussing or investigating it in any detail, even though he's told it's a place "with more wonder and magic than you will see in a lifetime".

When a super hot woman says they spent TWELVE YEARS together and she was his "realm bae", he's not interested in getting to know her and immediately dates someone else.

The sci-fi elements are more believable than the characters. And I have to add too the main actor is annoying AF and always looks like he's struggling not to go in his pants. I found myself wanting his "young self" actor from ep1 to have been cast in his place instead. What does that tell you.

Evil (2019–2024)

Everyone needs a bit of Evil

[8/10 · 23 December 2022]

Less a horror show than a show about horror, as it deftly balances family drama, comedy and demons. And why not? It works when you've got a great cast playing likeable characters (including even the evil Dr. Leland Townsend) and original stories (with an arc) that mix modern concerns with traditional ones, and lampoons a few technological ones too, such as social media, and even themselves ("don't skip the credits or you will be haunted" the title sequence warns at some point). That said, there are a few moments that make your hair stand or your stomach churn. And that's what is so nice about the show, they don't hold back.

Don't be put off by season 2, if it seems meandering with too many loose ends (don't get me started on the providence of those dolls, ugh) and characters flaking (Kristen really tries one's patience here). Stick it out, because season 3 pulls it back together and our investigating protagonists continue to gel as a trio. It's just a shame they only made 10 eps. - in a time when streamers unduly stretch season lengths, this one stands out as unduly compressed. Weird. Perhaps that is due for a supernatural investigation too???

Black Adam (2022)

Written by a computer

[3/10 · 21 December 2022]

This story is so flat it's as if a computer was fed a formula for superhero movies and churned out a film completely devoid of human emotion; of passion, humour, suspense.

Every single character is wafer-thin - from the mom with no backstory and her precocious son with a skateboard, to the "Justice Society" (whoever they are), to Black Adam, and finally the villain, the latter really an afterthought (like Act 4 afterthought or Act 5 maybe). In fact, half the time, the movie seems to be about the Justice Society and the uber-annoying Hawkman. As for The Rock, he actually acts like a rock; laconic, awkward and humourless, like he's losing his action star virginity. So sad. He normally has such presence.

Even the production value is terrible. You can tell it's filmed on a studio set made to be Middle Eastern in a tv-quality way (NCIS quality, not Homeland quality), with Persian and Asian people, East European cars, British mercenaries, and Wakanda-like tech. Computer, what have you done? P. S. The pyramids at Giza correspond to the same time as your ancient Kahndaq. Ugh.

The Desperate Hour (2021)

Decent waste of time type of movie

[5/10 · 31 October 2022]

I know, I know. 90% of this is in the woods with Naomi Watts on her phone. It should totally suck, and yet I found the concept drew me in. It reminded me a bit of Wheelman (an even better film), in that it focused on one character in one setting and the odyssey they travel. I'm sure film students have a name for it (and not just "cheap").

I found Naomi Watts fairly believable, except for her expert use of phone, which was impressive. I also liked that it was filmed/presented in real-time, so you are "living" the events along with the main character. Finally, there are some twists that help with the momentum.

Okay, it's not amazing, but if you're looking for a quiet, sleeper of a film to pass a rainy afternoon with, this is it.

The Old Man (2022– )

Hook, Line and Stinker

[5/10 · 31 October 2022]

This is a show that captures your attention with an invigorating first episode, then quickly degrades with each subsequent episode, as the action is replaced with talk of feelings, relationships, muddied interactions with ghosts of the past, and questions of "who am I"? Is there a place for such emotions? Yes. In between the action sequences! After all, this is a show about a senior citizen who can take out SEAL Team Six. The fight scene in the first episode is epic.

Soon after, we take a left turn that keeps turning, when we encounter a romance of sorts. This has loads of potential for tension and action (think she is kidnapped, or arrested and he has to bust her out, or maybe she busts him out, e.g.), but instead it's wasted and dragged out. Ho hum.

All of this might be improved by an intriguing back-story and mystery about connections to Afghani "warlord" Hamzad, who is whispered about like some kind of Keyser Soze, but really just seems a low-level leader easily manipulated by others. Not much of a villain. And the Old Man's nemesis and fugitive hunter ("all the classes we teach are based on him") FBI Assistant Director Harold Harper is more friend than rival or threat. And so, no villain = boring. Too bad no one taught screenwriting 101.

Finally, the season finale twist can be seen a mile away, at least episode 2 for those paying attention. At the end, I kept screaming it at Harper onscreen. Sigh.

5 stars for ep 1 and the dogs, otherwise less.

The Guv'nor (2016)

A bit drowsy

[4/10 · 3 October 2022]

Found it kinda boring. Right away Lenny's sibling refuse to speak, so we're left with anecdotes told by his son, many of which have the flavour of urban legend. This undermines the credibility of the film as a documentary, but it also makes it less full, bold and character-rich. Lenny seems flat, and for a character who really only had notoriety in a tiny corner of the world, it is that spice of character, background, motivation, personal struggle etc. That is needed to make such a story worth telling. As it stands, it feels like a story told by the barman over a couple pints late at night before closing.

The Gray Man (2022)

Great action, not a great action movie

[5/10 · 31 July 2022]

Half way through and I wanted it to stop. Does this have non-stop action? Yes. Cool hand-to-hand combat? Yes. Over-the-top chases? Yes. And after an hour, it's starts to get exhausting.

If only it had an interesting story, but it's very formula driven. The first half hour of dialogue is cringy: "I want you to work for us. The CIA. You will be part of an elite squad" blah blah blah, as though written by someone who's either 12 years old or has never read a book or both. And the characters are universally flat, except for some last-minute attempt to give background to the hero, at which point it no longer matters. He has the depth of 007, probably a favourite of the directors, hence the lack of story/dialogue/character.

Ryan Gosling isn't bad but quite wooden, and oddly invincible. The rest of the casting is odd. Chris Evans is more annoying than villainous. Rege-Jean Page is too young and pretty to be an experienced plotter. And the references to Harvard are weird. We never meet the "old man" unless it's the youthful fellow in the final debrief.

It's not enough to throw money at a movie. You have to try.

Young Wallander (2020–2022)

A Decent Time-Waster

[6/10 · 2 July 2022]

The story is a bit muddled and the motivations tenuous, but overall it is an entertaining show, stretched a little thin over 6 eps.

The main actor is lacking charisma and is quite soft-spoken. He also sticks out as the only non-English actor. Feels like poor casting. Is this the future Branagh?

It is also annoying when the character is stupid or blind. Viewers will know who the evil puppet master is 5 eps before Wallander and cringe as he shouts stupidly about it, like a rookie tracking mud through the crime scene.

The Fades (2011)

Entertaining but Frustrating

[6/10 · 2 July 2022]

An entertaining premise that attempts to inject a fresh supernatural teen story into the mix of bad vamp/werewolf shows. But there are 4 issues with it:

1. Nothing is ever explained. Mythology is vague. Powers are random. Ending fix is something that already existed.

2. Main character is more lifeless than the dead antagonists. Lacking that boyish geek charm that his buddy played by Daniel Kaluuya has. Plus he seems to wear the same clothes almost every ep.

3. Choppy editing, as if several explanatory scenes were left on the cutting room floor in place of the constant "vision" filler. Superpowers get displayed for the first time and characters act next scene like it's no big deal. Others leave relationships without explanation after craving same relationship for last 3 eps.

4. Villain is as scary as the teenager with really bad acne who lives down the hall from me.

The story of the two friends is a good one, I will grant that. It would have been nice if that had been written into the main plot more, to be part of the motivations, good or ill, but too much air time went to the sister, mother, and the girlfriend, none of which contributed in a major way to plot movement.

No One Gets Out Alive (2021)

Save Yourself

[4/10 · 26 June 2022]

So, there is a woman in a creepy house, and there is a mysterious box from Central America. The story of a vulnerable immigrant woman was compelling and had the threat been thematically related (as in the novel), providing commentary on the immigrant experience through the use of horror, it would have been great. But the writers chose instead to create another story about a box unearthed by a family and never, ever explain it in any way. Ever. It shows up in flashes here and then the two stories collide in a climax that is unsatisfying.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Great fight scenes and that's it

[5/10 · 25 April 2022]

The trailer for this looked great: lively, funny and full of cool action. And, it had an Asian superhero for once, and not super-tropey. But, it's nothing like the trailer. The story was long and rather boring, probably re-written by multiple "collaborative partners" so many times they forgot where it started. And the characters were poorly written, particularly the main, who seemed thin and lacking charisma, and the sister who seemed vacuous, and the fact there was no deep connection between them in the end, or the mother who was likewise thin. Only the father had any depth, but why didn't the others, especially when this was a story about Family and they had over two hours? Over two hours?!

Waste of good actors. As for the rest, like Awkwafina, all her good lines are in the trailers. There's no other comedy from her; just from Ben Kingsley, who is pretty damn good. He and the little creature were quite entertaining. And that's sad. They only have a few minutes on screen.

Watch it for the bus scene in the first 30 minutes then turn it off.

Antlers (2021)

Just not scary

[5/10 · 25 April 2022]

This has all the ingredients for a great horror: supernatural origin story, creepy atmosphere, isolated locations, troubled characters, and a very well-designed villain. There's even a potential though poorly developed parallel to abuse. But, none of it is scary. There's very little effort made by the director to craft tense, suspenseful scenes, and instead much of the horror is revealed early on, to the point one becomes bored waiting for something to happen, which occurs at the rushed climax. Just imagine if they took the location of that climax and turned it into something akin to The Descent? That would put you on the edge. But no, instead we're treated to hours of looking at that malnourished child's face and Keri Russell's brooding, wondering aloud when someone will wash their face and hand them a sandwich and some vitamin C. And let's not get started on the horror tropes such as child's drawings or the token Native person proffering a textbook sketch of the villain, a la Random House or Doubleday. Seriously. Maybe go back to TV where you can loaf if you write poorly. Or maybe "collaboration" is overhyped? Giving this 5 for the limited special effects they spent all their time on.

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

My favourite superhero film

[7/10 · 24 April 2022]

The reviews are all over the place with this film. People who adore serious yet poorly written Marvel movies (Avengers, etc.) tend to hate this. People with a great sense of humour love it. This review supports the latter and gives full credit to Taika Waititi, that special talent able to turn genres a bit on their side. Honourable mention goes to Thor, Jeff Goldblum's character, Korg, the insect guy, and Loki.

That said, the movie could not escape the usual humdrum superhero banality of a storyline, and eventually left humour behind in Act 3 for a villain showdown with all the usual Marvel mayhem studio execs eat up. The only consolation is that Cate Blanchett still looks pretty good despite growing horns. At any rate, that's the trade off for good movie-making in the Marvel universe. That gives this a 7 instead of higher. Still, would watch again.

Eternals (2021)

I Fell Asleep Halfway Through...

[3/10 · 24 April 2022]

...first thing in the morning.

I just didn't care. The characters are remarkably uninteresting, in no way resembling the prestige of an eternal being, and inserted into a storyline that lacks even the basics of entertainment.

Tribes of Europa (2021)

Europa at its most entertaining

[7/10 · 24 April 2022]

A lot is packed into 6 episodes of a post-apocalyptic future. Not only are there warring (or peaceful) tribes, but the promise of an almost mythically advanced civilization hidden who knows where. It is a family saga as well, promoting the ties that bind together siblings otherwise pushed apart by circumstance, fortune and sheer distance.

The story involving the youngest boy and his rakish scoundrel of a companion are by far the most entertaining, but there is much to enjoy in each sibling's adventures, destined to intersect, and to entertain, in unexpected ways.

P. S. This is a German production but the dubbing is so good you could watch it in English.

The Wheel of Time (2021– )

An Excellent Fantasy Series

[8/10 · 23 April 2022]

It's rare to find a fantasy series with as much production value as this one. I felt I was watching a Peter Jackson movie. One is so thirsty for quality fantasy and that's one reason for the score. The acting is also well done and Rosamund Pike easily steals the show.

It's quite thrilling to see aspects of the story come to life on screen. And many of the key concepts - the One Power, Aes Sedai, etc. - were fairly well explained, taking into account non-readers. The relationship between Aes Sedai and warders was beautifully treated. Unfortunately, it did seem a bit biased toward featuring Aes Sedai, and by extension Nynaeve and Egwene, far more prominently than the three Two Rivers "heroes" - Rand, Mat and Perrin, who become storylines of their own. But all is intertwined, and to see that heron-marked blade is promise enough of more to come. Perhaps Parting the Silk or The Swallow Takes Flight?

Indeed, there are changes from the books, which because they are so beloved, have evoked anger and hostility in some reviewers. This is understandable, but the core characters and much of the storyline are essentially there. And let's not forget there are 14 or so large books in the series, so there's lots of detail to draw upon, and lots that must be cut for a TV format and TV audience, which sadly by nature needs to be compact.