rayjenks Reviews

The Idol (2023)

I still have hope, but there's a lot of concern

[1/10 · 6 June 2023]

This episode offer's some promising elements such as the visuals and soundtrack that captures the dark side of fame. The premise of the show also shows promise. Who wouldn't be intrigued by the candid perspective of a Pop icon's revival while battling her own demons with public image and the toils of the music industry. With that said, Lily Rose Depp personifies the character Jocelyn fairly well with her looks and mannerisms.

The conclusion of the episode left me with obvious concerns. First of all, I'm a huge fan of The Weeknd, but he struggles in his role as a conniving love interest for Jocelyn. His acting needs work and the believability lacks in all of his scenes. Furthermore, Lily Rose Depp does what she can with her role as Jocelyn, but her character does not offer the sentiment and emotional foundation it takes for us to connect with her beyond the overly sexualized surface. Hopefully this changes in the coming episodes and we learn more about her character.

Lastly, what's the story here? I understand I'm only one episode in, but I'm not invested in a plot that stems from a explicit photo leak that doesn't seem to bother any of the main characters. I'm holding faith that I missed a larger issue or one is introduced in episode 2.

Time will tell.

House of the Dragon: King of the Narrow Sea (2022) Season 1, Episode 4

Drama filled episode, reminiscent to prime GOT !

[10/10 · 14 September 2022]

The drama in this episode hits a new high within House of the Dragon. At this point , it is like I am watching an episode from the original GOT , when we actually cared about the actions of the characters.

I love that we are starting to see some consequences from the decisions and actions of the characters. Rhaenyra faces consequences from her night stroll with Daemon . Daemon gets banished for making a move on Rhaenrya. The hand of the king faces the consequences for spying on the kings daughter and having his intentions questioned. I'm certain we will see Criston Cole face the repercussions for hooking up with the princess.

It is satisfying to see the characters face the reality of their decisions , especially after the late seasons of GOT when characters were immune from any serious repercussions due to the stupidity of their choices.

Lastly, I really enjoyed the scenery of the streets of Kings Landing at night . You get the true feel of the slums outside of the red keep and it feels both exciting and dangerous.

Out of Office (2022 TV Movie)

Don't take this movie too seriously. It's funny !

[8/10 · 8 September 2022]

If you're looking for a compelling plot , then you will disappointed in this film . If you accept this comedy as just that , a comedy, then you will enjoy some good laughs and find this movie to be fun . An A-list cast brings us a familiar but new face to comedy film , Milana Vayntrub . Milana is bubbly and delightful in her role which surprisingly blends well with the cast around her . The characters in this movie are definitely exaggerated but I believe that just adds to the fun of the film .

The premise of the film is something most of us can relate to , especially post pandemic when most companies resorted to remote work. Even though the movie loses some of it's premise by the end , it still provides a satisfying conclusion .

Remember, don't take this film too seriously. Enjoy it casually and you will not be disappointed.

House of the Dragon: Second of His Name (2022) Season 1, Episode 3

Flawed but promising

[7/10 · 5 September 2022]

Starting with the flaws , there are some critical moments in this episode that I wished provided more . One word the moments was the demise of Crab Feeder . It was unsatisfying to see the short lived villain killed without actually seeing anything. No single combat battle or even a monologue from Damon before striking the fatal blow . We are only left with our imagination of what happened , which is a bummer.

Another flaw was the CGI used for the bore and stag . The movements from the animal's just felt off to me and resembled something you will see in Narnia .

As for the promise, I'm starting to see Rhaenrya true frustration with the misogynistic nature of court and I am looking forward to seeing her fight for her right to make her own choices .

I'm also intrigued about the future of the realm knowing that King Viserys is hanging onto his diminishing power, both physically and emotionally.

The characters are starting to become real players of the game of thrones and power . I just really hope that the recasting will not ruin the progress these characters have made .

Keith (I) (2008)

Hidden gem of teen romance films

[9/10 · 2 September 2022]

Just like most of you , I came to this movie with little to no expectation from this movie . Teenage romance films are like candy. You crave them because we all romanticize our own high school experiences. But once you get a taste of the many different candies , you realize that there all just basically sugar and corn syrup. Once you watch one teenage rom , you basically watched them all and they all lack real substance. So when I stumbled on "Keith" , I was pleasantly shocked of how well the movie was made .

One of the biggest shockers in this film was how emotional the sequence of events are . There are moments that will have you laughing out load and smiling . There are other moments when the emotions take a turn towards sadness and sorrow. And this is done in a surprisingly unique way as compared to other teenage films. The movie strings together these emotions with a genuine and authentic story that is relatable enough to truly believe and understand.

Keith is also filled with iconic moments throughout the movie that will leave you thinking about them far after the movie has ended . These moments are fun and reflect what it like being a teenager in love.

Jesse Mcartney and Elisabeth Harnois are perfect for their lead roles. Their chemistry blends together well with their performances. Both of their characters are intriguing and genuine enough for the viewers to sympathize with them both .

Finally, the ending is both sad and worthwhile.

You will not be disappointed with this movie !

House of the Dragon: The Rogue Prince (2022) Season 1, Episode 2

Still waiting to be hooked

[5/10 · 30 August 2022]

I wanted to be drawn in with this episode. I tried to connect with a character but they all seem to have the personality of a stone . Where's the characters like Little Finger with his mischievous nature or King Robert Baratheon with his bellowing laugh and fearlessness. Or the characters you start to despise like Cersi or prince Joffrey ? It seems like all the characters in house of the dragon fall into the middle of admired and despised, which results in me losing interest since I'm not rooting for or against anyone. The heavy dialogue in this episode really doesn't help either .

The plot moves forward a little in this episode but I find the story still difficult to grasp and two episodes in , I'm starting to get a little worried. Daemon's plot line is most interesting to me so far but it is still missing the "why" factor. We all know he wants to be heir to the throne but his motive is not clear and obvious enough to easily understand. All of the other threads in the story are uninteresting or hasn't picked up yet or at all .

I really hope that this episode is just a setup for something big to happen when the character arch's begin to take shape .

House of the Dragon (2022– )

So far , really good

[9/10 · 22 August 2022]

It's not a stretch to say that this episode is more compelling than the GOT pilot episode. House of the Dragon starts with a good balance of necessary dialogue and dramatic moments. The character roles are performed well and it is great to dive further into the familial conflict of House Targaryen. The ending of the first episode adds a lot of potential for different storylines , hopefully adding to the variety of of interesting character arcs .

Hopefully.

Never Goin' Back (2018)

The void of logic within two teenagers misadventure's

[1/10 · 18 August 2022]

Two teenage girls want to go to the beach . They do drugs , go to jail and lose all of their money . They do more drugs and attempt their hand at robbery which goes horribly right . They continue to drugs and go to the beach .

THE END

Literally.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

A wonderful story about life

[8/10 · 23 July 2021]

This movie is made for dreamers who yearn for the actual excitement for life. The message behind this movie is strong and will leave you dreaming about a wild adventure. Ben Stiller is amazing in this role along with the supporting cast. A must watch!

Game of Thrones (2011–2019)

It was perfect until the end

[9/10 · 21 July 2021]

I'm writing this review solely based off of the TV Series Game of Thrones.

Seasons 1-6 are some of the best television you'll ever watch . You will be taken on a roller coaster of emotions as the plot and character development riptide you in a masterful and clever way. The story will be unpredictable and fascinating. Your interest will only grow when the credits start to roll at the end and you hear the ominous score seep through your speakers.

Season 7 is where this show goes down hill. It is still worth the watch ,knowing that you have already invested and are determined to see it through the end. The character development takes a major nose dive in this season and your interest will slowly turn into confusion.

Season 8 is a slap in the face .It's like you're on a date with a person and they're really captivating. The date is going extremely well and you start to become invested to the point where you are expecting something magical by the end . When the date ends , you envision a romantic kiss to end the perfect date. Instead, you get a painful slap and a goodbye. This season is a perfect example on how writers can ruin a television series. The character development hits rock bottom. You begin to question everything. The end leaves you unsatisfied. On the bright side, the visuals in this season are fantastic and the score is amazing.

All in all, Game of Thrones is one the best shows you'll ever watch. Just be aware of the last two seasons .