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Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)
A distillation and worsening of the weaker aspects of the original movie.
Quite the disappointment.
The first movie was at times unsettling, mostly because it was so over-the-top and violent, but also due to a few moments of simple, misplaced vulgarity. But there was also a well maintained mystique, a style if you will.
This second movie keeps the bare minimum of the style and decisively ups the exagerations and the weaker, less palatable elements. There is a very confused, often self-sabotaging moral perspective at work here - not something that a movie about a self-righteous elite group can afford to have.
And the vulgarity. Oh, the vulgarity. It has pretty much taken over.
This is a movie with no soul, attempting to build one over the ghost of the previous one, which is mentioned far too often for this to even attempt to be its own thing, despite dramatic yet somehow also half-hearted attempts to upset and redefine the status quo.
While technically there are many new elements and revelations, they are all utterly derivative and can't compensate for the loss of self-respect. The franchise has already become its own satire on its second installment.
Such a pity.
Maybe I just don't like Mark Millar's style. I don't know.
7500 (2019)
A good laboratory for situations of deep pressure, perhaps
This is a technically competent movie, but whatever motivated its creation seems to have eluded me. Everything works well, but pointlessly.
It is conceivable that the story meant to lampshade that terrorists are ultimately not too different from everyday people. Is that some sort of insight? I feel like I knew that already. I hoped for some sort of exploration of the motivations and personality of the characters, but other than the pilot there seems to be no interest in building some depth beyond the obvious message that terrorists are not a breed apart.
This could be a good movie. But it does not want to make the attempt.
Sam (2017)
A fine surprise
The premise is hardly original, but it is developed here in a competent, direct and uplifting way.
Many of the scenes and much of the characterization are definitely on the unsubtle side, but I think that works well in the end. The characters are well established and grow in interesting and convincing ways. I particularly liked the interactions between Margaret and Samantha.
The 5th Wave (2016)
Just too weak.
There are interesting ideas fighting to get through this movie.
Unfortunately, the plot is pedestrian, the delivery weak, the pacing abysmal.
All around, just a terribly weak movie. I managed to make it two thirds of the way. Then I got tired of the constant exposure to plot points that were both obvious and underdeveloped.
I can't bother to wonder how it ended.
The 100 (2014)
An intriguing first season, a disappointing second season
I am surprised by other reviews, but I guess they agree with me in so much as the second season is perceived as a whole different thing from the first.
First season had two very contrasting environments and casts and dealt a lot with the human drama, up to and including actual political intrigue. It had problems, but it also had a lot of promise and some unusual, interesting situations.
Then the second season happened and it was all jettisoned without warning. The characters have kept their names and appearances, but they are hardly recognizable otherwise.
That the sci-fi aspects have become less significant and been handled worse is almost inconsequential by comparison. By rights the second season is a different series, of a different and far less interesting genre, with a rather more boring implementation.