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MannyNunezHermeticus
Reviews
Gisaengsu: Deo geurei (2024)
Better Than The Original Anime
This would be the second time that I find a live action Korean film based on a Japanese Anime (the first was "Illang: The Wolf Brigade" based on the Japanese Anime, "JIn-Roh: The Wolf Brigade"). I have been IN LOVE with Korean cinema and tv since I first saw the movie "Friend" more than 20 years ago.
As you may have guessed, I'm also a huge fan of anime. Now, the original "Parasyte" anime was not bad. It was a fun animated series. It didn't hold a candle to this. The characters are well though - out. The plot has enough twists to keep even someone like me guessing as to what's going to happen next (which I love). You don't even know when someone is going to be killed off (or how suddenly). And the production values -- come on, they're Korean production values. The production values are SO over the top. Why do you think this has ten solid stars?
The entire cast is excellent. The acting is very natural. Jeon So-nee plays the shy, introverted, humble, brave and beautiful and vulnerable orphan, Su-in. This is the first time that I've seen Jeon So-nee in a production but she's won me over so far in the four episodes that I've watched with my son. I'm familiar with the actor playing the secondary protagonist, Koo Kyo-hwan. I've seen him in "Peninsula," "Kingdom: Ashin of the North" and "Kill Boksoon." He's great. I can't go into the entire cast but they're all very good at what they do and the entire production is over the top.
HOLLYWOOD, TAKE SOME NOTES! STOP TRYING TO WOKIFY EVERY CLASSIC AND JUST TELL A REAL STORY LIKE THIS!
Cuando acecha la maldad (2023)
Good Movie With Serious Flaws
I don't want to provide any spoilers, so I'll stick to what is gathered in the first ten minutes or so of the film. The film uses the term "embichado" to describe someone possessed. Now, I'm a South American (Peruvian) and my paternal grandmother was Argentinian (where this movie was made) and I've never heard this term to describe someone possessed. "Embichado" literally means "bugged."
In the entire film there is ZERO explanation for where this term comes from; how these "bugged" possessions began; how the contraption used to execute them works; where the rules for dealing with them came from; what song the characters are talking about from which the rules originated; etc. In other words, the backstory has more holes than Swiss cheese.
Then we have the other very serious flaw in that the two protagonists are both idiots. This is not a comedy, it's a horror movie, so their idiocy is not charming or funny; it's annoying. Both Pedro and Jimmy have the charismas and the common sense of rocks. In fact, their stupidity annoyed me enough to fast forward through chunks of the movie.
It's entertaining but not great. Cheers.
Gyeongseong Keuricheo (2023)
What a Phenomenal Mixed - Genre Series!
First of all, if we want to classify this film's genre...it's really difficult to pin down: It has elements of Action, Drama, Suspense, Horror, Sci-Fi, and Romance in heavy doses.
Loosely (VERY loosely) based on the activities of the Japanese Biological Research Unit 731 in China during World War 2; this story takes place in Gyeonseong (Seoul), Korea, toward the end of the war. But here we have a group of evil scientists and soldiers (a little too much like Unit 731) under them doing insane experiments on the political undesirables of the city, in the basement of the hospital.
Into this background we have a host of fascinating characters and sub-plots interweaved. Korean films and series are something else. The production values I've seen in Korean films and series since 2001 are just stellar. If you love this series, just like I did, my next suggestion would be to watch "Kingdom," also on Netflix.
Malignant (2021)
Great Start but the last 20 - 30 minutes take a dive.
The first 3/4 of the movie is great. It tanks toward the end. I don't want to give spoilers but let's say that by the end of the film, you're looking at the massive numbers of people slaughtered by the serial killer that the lesson(s?) learned seem worthless. The ending was such a pointless letdown.
Throughout the majority of the movie, the creepy and supernatural elements of this murder mystery/supernatural horror film fulfill their roles very well. However, as we start getting to the end and the killer's true identity is revealed, the movie takes a serious dive. I only watched it through to the end because there were only about 20 minutes left in the film...but the more I watched, the more disappointed I got. It's not the worse, but I felt like I had wasted almost two hours of my life.
Ninja bugeicho momochi sandayu (1980)
SPOILERS AHEAD
I want to make it as simple as easy for you, with plenty of spoilers so that you won't feel like you've wasted almost two hours of your life.
Personally, I detest movies in which just about everyone is killed except the protagonist and his love interest, which is basically what happens in this film.
The Momoichi clan, are supposedly entirely wiped out! Oh no! One sole survivor, who is more-or-less the prince of the clan, survives and goes to China with two daggers that carry the secret to a hidden treasure that the evil Shogun wanted. He returns to his native Japan and finds out - SURPRISE! - many of the people that he thought had died lived! Oh, joy of joys!
Well, that won't last for long. Every single one of those people gets slaughtered in this film over time. But they take their time in torturing you. First, his camouflaged spider ninja are mostly slaughtered and his four best friends are captured. Most of the rest of the clan are now really wiped out also. Hey, thanks for building up our joy and then tearing it down again, Director!
Oh no! His four best friends are going to be executed! What to do??? WELL, the remaining camouflaged spider ninja warriors have a great idea! "Why don't we risk all of our lives to rescue your four friends???" WOW! WHAT A GREAT IDEA! HOPEFULLY NONE OF THE RESCUERS GET SLAUGHTERED, RIGHT?
WRONG!!! THEY ALL GET SLAUGHTERED IN THE RESCUE!!!
IT GETS BETTER!!!
ONE OF HIS FRIENDS GETS SLAUGHTERED ANYWAY!!!
Along the way, this gorgeous Chinese girl warrior who is probably in love with comes to help!!!
SHE GETS SLAUGHTERED ALSO!!!
But Takamaru is in love with another girl, a Japanese girl who also happened to be part of his clan and was adopted by another ninja clan.
Anyway, as Takamaru and his friends are fighting the forces of the evil Shogun with all kinds of cool tricks, they all get slaughtered!!! YAY!!!
As Takamaru's love interest is about to be slaughtered, her adoptive brother jumps out of the bushes with his Ninja squadron and they save the day! Takamaru goes after the Shogun and slaughters him and he and the other last member of the clan go to find the treasure with her adoptive brother and his ninja clan. The End.
Maximum Conviction (2012)
This is a really bad movie.
I gave this film two stars because Stone Cold Steve Austin is in it and because there are fun action scenes.
Basically, I gave the film two stars out of kindness.
Steven Seagal should hire writers to come up with better plots for his films.
So the plot is basically that the characters played by Steven Seagal and Steve Austin are former spec ops operators who have been hired to decommission a prison and transport the prisoners to another prison. I don't know why this isn't done by Correctional Officers and a Sheriff SWAT team but it's a Seagal movie, so just roll with it.
For whatever reason, two women are incarcerated in the prison that is going to be decommissioned. It turns out that one of the women has some technical gadget hidden in a breast implant that is worth 200 million dollars. No, I'm not kidding. This is a serious plot that was thought up by a grown man.
A team of bad mercenaries is hired to invade the prison and get the woman with the breast implant (Or kill her and chop out the gadget? I don't know. It's a Seagal movie.). Seagal, in the meantime, makes a deal with the two women. If they behave, he'll kill them before the bad guys kill them.
Huh?
Yeah, the whole thing is a mess. But if you have absolutely nothing to watch or you're really stoned and drunk with your friends and want to watch a movie just to make fun of it, it could be a fun night. Good luck.
Gun Woman (2014)
If you're into ultra-violent Japanese Action films...
"Gun Woman" is one of those really weird Japanese action films with over-the-top violence.
It's not as weird as "Tokyo Gore Police," for example, but it's still weird. Here's the premise and I don't know if you consider this a spoiler or not but I'll put that it includes spoilers just in case.
"Gun Woman" begins with two assassins driving from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to reach the extraction point after a mission is finished. Along the way, the assassin who is driving tells the other the story about a man who inherited a massive corporation from his father and was prone to rape, torture and murder women. At some point he tortured, raped and murdered this woman in front of her husband. The man had his leg broken and he was forced to watch, then he was left behind beaten up.
This man; the protagonist, then decides to exact his revenge by sequestering a junkie prostitute, getting her clean off her addiction; training her to be an assassin; and surgically inserting a gun into her body so she can slice herself open, pull out the pistol and commit an assassination.
Yes, really.
The film is over-the-top in believability at times but it's entertaining and not bad within its genre. If you have watched and liked "Ichi the Killer" and/or "Old Boy" (which is Korean, but was done in that same ultra-violent action style as the Japanese films), then you'll enjoy this. And a shout out to my friend, Marianne Bourg, who did a great job in her scene.
Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)
Definitely the Better Version...
No, Joss Whedon doesn't suck as a writer. He's done some great work.
But Zack's version is definitely a lot better. Sorry.
This extended, less censored, more logically - structured and more detailed version of the film is MUCH better than the original released in 2017. I would suggest strongly to first watch this version and then watch the 2017 version, that way you can enjoy the surprises and action of the longer, better version of the film and then compare it to the version that was re-written and edited by Joss Whedon and see the difference.
Although the violence is more brutal, it's not quite gratuitous. Cyborg's character is much better explained in this version; and many of the scenes are just better. For example, compare the scene in which Barry (the Flash) meets Bruce Wayne in both versions (you can find it on youtube). In Joss Whedon's version there is this little piece of babbling that Barry does to try to explain why he doesn't understand brunch - for no reason.
What?? Yes. Exactly. Watch this version first. Trust me.
South Park (1997)
27 years and still going strong...
This series is legendary. Can anyone think of any other series (with the exception of some mega - successful soap opera) that has been steadily producing episodes for 26 years?
Yeah, me neither.
In the world of adult animated, cynical humor, South Park is the GOAT. Every single hypocrisy; every single ridiculous claim by the media; every single celebrity that can be mocked or outright disrespected (like Paris Hilton) if Trey and Matt feel like the person has no redeeming social value. From the sociopathic hilarity of Cartman's character to the utter idiocy of everyone from Randy to the Police Captain in the nearby city, the show is a gem of laughs. Not for snowflakes who are easily triggered.
Knock at the Cabin (2023)
Not Bad At All
This is a fairly decent film. It's disturbing in a suspenseful way and there are scenes with violence, although I wouldn't call it gratuitous and pointless violence - it is all related to the story and its realism.
I have never read the book, so my review is based solely on the film and its value and I do not know how well it relates to the original book. Dave Bautista's a great actor. He's absolutely believable as the ginormous, concerned and fairly quiet and humble teacher forced to lead three other people to find this cabin in the woods where a gay couple is vacationing with their adopted 8 year old daughter. One of the three of them must choose - of their own free will and accord - to sacrifice a life for the sake of the world. All of the actors in the film are good and the storyline is not confusing or strange.
About the only criticism I have is the realism in the bar scene from the past. How often does a drunk guy smash a bottle over the head of another person in a crowded bar and just stumble out without being grabbed, tackled and held for police? Seriously?
Aside from that scene, though, great film.
Dune (2021)
This is the Movie That Frank Herbert's Epic Novel Deserves!
This is the third time that Frank Herbert's epic novel has been produced as a film. The first version was David Lynch's 1984 film, with Kyle MacLachlan as Paul Atreides. While it had that grandiose vision, it was not executed as well as it could have been. The next version was a mini series that was released in 2000 with terrible special effects. I think I could only bear to watch a few minutes. Villeneuve's vision, while changing one slight piece of canon (Dr. Kynes' character is made into person of female sex and gender), maintains everything else on point and presents a sweeping, amazing, beautiful film.
As someone who is a Fantasy/Sci-Fi/Horror nerd and as someone who has read Frank Herbert's novels, I tell you that I LOVE this film and I cannot think of a single better Space Opera Sci Fi film (or a sci fi film of any kind) in the last 20 years that touches this. There are some great sci fi films that have been released in the last twenty years: "Inception," "Interstellar," "Sunshine," etc. All of those are great films. I'd rate all of those a 9 out of 10. This is epic. If you love Sci Fi, Space Soap Operas and EPIC films, you will NOT regret seeing this film. And you will want to watch Part 2 in the theaters when it comes out in November. Cheers.
Tulsa King (2022)
Stallone does it again.
While the storyline is sometimes a little over-the-top, Stallone's character, as the aging mafioso ex-cappo who is forced to reorganize his life in Tulsa, is energetic, likeable and very watchable. The series plays like a very entertaining blend of dark comedy and drama.
The dark comedy revolves around the strange situations that arise constantly. The drama revolves around everything from Manfredi's estranged relationship to his daughter to the miscommunications that begin to occur between Stallone's character, named Dwight Manfredi, and his former mobster family back in New York.
If you're a fan of Crime Dramas, whether series or movies, about the Mafia or Sylvester Stallone, you'll want to watch this. It's a great series so far, all through the first season.
The Last Kingdom (2015)
GREAT SAGA OF ANGLO-SAXON/DANE TIMES IN BRITAIN!!!
I think this is a singularly amazing saga. Each of the characters is completely fleshed out, with his/her best and worst traits clearly shown. Time shifts to show enemies slowly become allies and former foes aid others in preserving peace. It's a phenomenal series. We see "Uhtred son of Uhtred," go through so many sorrows and still to remain as stoic as he is. It's a beatiful series, but not for the squeamish.
Chapelwaite (2021)
SLOW START BUT GREAT SERIES!!!
This starts out as a slow burner but it picks up at the fourth episode. There are slight hints at what is to come in the first three episodes. It's the kind of horror that appeals to those of us who are more intellectually - prone.
The cast and production and direction are EXCELLENT. I love just about everything that Adrien Brody has done. He's an amazing actor; very versatile, and you can see that he bleeds a part of himself into every character, which is not easy to do.
This is a very intelligently - done horror drama. The only reason it does not have a full 10 out of 10 is because it is a slow burner for the first three or four episodes. Aside from that, it is a GREAT series for those who love a true horror masterpiece. The actors, production and direction are all outstanding. If you love intellectually - stimulating horror...this is the series for you. Adrien Brody, you've done it again, Brother. Cheers.
The Expanse (2015)
THIS IS WHAT SCI-FI SHOULD BE!!!
The best way to describe this series is "EVERYTHING that should be in a great science fiction series." It's simply amazing. Full disclosure - I'm also a member of the biggest Expanse fangroup on FB because...yes, it really is THAT good.
I remember that I had to watch the first episode twice to really take in everything. The series quickly takes off and does not slow down. The plot comes from the book series by "James S. A. Corey" (pen name) and what the screenwriters, producers, director and actors did with this series is nothing short of gold.
If you love a great sci fi series with lots of suspense, action, wonderful acting, great production values and a good touch of mystery...check it out. You will not be disappointed.
Motherland: Fort Salem (2020)
THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE SERIES TO BINGE!!!
If the world of the strange, the mysterious and alternate realities intrigue you, this is the show for you. In an alternate Earth, witches made a pact with the United States Government during the Salem Witch Trials and were granted protection in exchange for military service. Fast forward more than 300 years later and the very same witch that enacted this treaty is still the head General for the Witches in the US Army. The three main protagonists are three young witches who form a unit and through their training and natural abilities become extremely powerful warriors.
The beginning of the series focuses on a terrorist witch movement known as "The Spree," but it is revealed, eventually, that an old enemy was never destroyed. I will not throw out any spoilers, though!
The performances of all the actors are excellent and I am especially impressed with the lead performances of the three young protagonists - Taylor Hickson, Jessica Sutton and Ashley Nicole Williams. Another very young. Another young actor of mention is Amalia Holm (Bjelke). She plays a character who begins as a complete antagonist and slowly morphs into a strangely complicated anti-hero as the series progresses.
I I have passed out to this series two nights in a row. LOL.