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Reviews
Elysium (2013)
It's the future of our current world
I watched Elysium years ago, and it's one of those types of films that sticks in one's mind. Especially given current world events and the general trajectory of the world economy and demography.
I find it amusing to read Americans' reviews of this film, in all their varying faculties of English. Decrying it as improbable and boring socialist propaganda. Meanwhile every European is nodding along whilst watching the film. After all, as capital continues to accrue to the fewer and fewer: first the top 1%, then the top 0.1%, top 0.01%, and so on, this film presents a very real extrapolation of our current world.
Space technology becomes mature, yet the energy cost of escaping the planet's gravity well is beyond the reach of 99.99999% of the world's population. The elite minority want to live in a clean paradise, yet don't mind polluting and destroying the planet on which they no longer depend.
Elysium presents a possible future of our corporate-led globalization and unregulated capitalism. My one criticism would be casting Jodie Foster as the bad guy; she's too irreproachable for such a slimy role.
3 Body Problem (2024)
Faithful to the book
I've read Liu's trilogy and enjoyed them immensely at the time. Having suffered through Apple TV's interpretation of "Foundation", I did not have high hopes for the adaption of The Three Body Problem.
But actually, it is fantastic and fun. Reducing a 1000+ page book down to eight episodes was always going to leave some things out, but the writers have included all the best parts, and it's consistent with the ideas and story from the book.
Liberties have been taken with the internationalisation of the characters and set, but it doesn't detract from the story in any way. The Chinese adaptation of the book hardly touched on Mao's 1960s terror (for obvious reasons) so if anything, the Netflix adaptation is more true to the original source.
It is intelligent TV, fun to watch and I am already looking forward to seasons 2 and 3. I can't even begin to imagine how the multidimensional aspects will be portrayed.
The Empress (2022)
Fun to watch, just turn your brain off first
Well, the show is engaging, colourful and fun to watch. Great scenery, good acting, handsome people and beautiful costumes. A fantastic aid for people learning German.
Unfortunately it's about as historically accurate as watching the Soviet army shoot up Washington in WWII.
Why stick to one time period when you can depict them all? A lady with a bob haircut in Victorian times? An inner-city hobo successfully passing herself off as a country countess for months? Sure, why not? The writers didn't limit themselves to one royal court and revolution -- they conveniently combined them all into one series!
Perhaps the second series will introduce something about the real Sisi?
The Matrix Resurrections (2021)
Dire
Just barely watchable. Reeks of a group of 60 year old men throwing millions into a project to make disconnected vignettes of what they think would be "cool" and "awesome". The 90s called, they want their kung-fu and slow-mo bullets back. I felt like there should be a black cat walking past, as we've seen it all before.
Foundation (2021)
Apple owes us an apology
I kept my Apple TV+ membership on life support for months, looking forward to this show. I figured that Apple, being able to spend the millions on the visual world building required to bring Foundation to our small screens, would at least produce something semi-intelligent and engaging.
Well, it looks like they spent the millions. It's pretty and colourful. But it's empty and lacking a storyline, because it isn't Foundation. Clones, AI humans, Terminus looking like a refugee camp: none of it was part of Asimov's world. The result is a set of unmemorable actors inhabiting an unmemorable story. I started to nod off during the third episode!
I can now see why Iain M. Banks' family stopped Amazon producing a series based on his Culture novels. If this is the calibre of California's best then it's better to leave it to someone else down the line.
Needless to say, I've just cancelled my TV+ membership. If you're looking for something good to watch during the cancellation notice period, try The Elephant Queen. At least that is a real story worth telling.
Palmer (2021)
A story with intelligence and heart. Pleasantly surprised.
A deep story of regret, generational interconnection and one man's relationship with society after being released from prison.
With Timberlake's involvement, I expected a bubblegum flick but am pleasantly surprised at the story's maturity and the good acting from all involved. In many ways, it is Manchester By The Sea set in the South, so do keep some tissues handy.
Apple TV+'s catalogue may be small, but I think I will keep my future subscription regardless. It's refreshing to have my brain engaged whilst watching TV and their shows consistently shine a welcome spotlight on the more marginalized and voiceless parts of our society.
Tales from the Loop (2020)
Beautiful and mesmerizing
Tales from the Loop is art. From the perfectly timeless visuals to the enduring relationships between the towns' characters and the sublime music -- this series should be in an art gallery.
It is slow, it is melancholy, it is dark, as it should be. It is also sensitive, moving and so very well done. The last episode had me in tears.
Such an antidote to today's formulaic films. Thank you!