Change Your Image
cunaguaroselvatico
Reviews
Unknown: Cave of Bones (2023)
Very interesting and then maybe do some extra research
I won't add to the criticisms here that already point out several holes in the theory of how the bodies got to this steep narrow chamber. I agree, probably they got in some other way 250000 years ago. I also would have rathered they edited out the bit when the senior anthropologist of the expedition couldn't convert mm to cm. Nonetheless I found the doco super interesting I hadn't heard of Homo Naledi before. I've been to Cradle of Humankind and the doco makes me want to return more informed. When we went to I think it was Sterkfontein cave where they also found hominid remains, the explanation is that probably they fell through a hole in the marsh soil above. Seems more likely. This does not cancel out that Homo Naledi may have had burial rituals, carved hashtag/diamond figures on rocks or anything else. That could be true. But dragging the body through a cave that several others might die in the process maybe not so likely.
How to Become a Cult Leader (2023)
Lazy and shallow
This is a lazy attempt to produce a docuseries similar to their last production on How to become a Tyrant, which was MUCH better. How to become a cult leader has few former cult member interviewees, close to no professional interviews with "cult experts" (anthropologists, psychologists, theologists, sociologists, whatever) and at least one if not more actors passing off as former cult member, the case I looked up was Lola Blanc. Who comes out throughout the whole series as a former cult interviewee but in actual fact has never been part of a cult, and looks like she is repeating scripted information. So although the image bank is good, and the cults and leaders chosen interesting (and new to me, I only knew of Manson and Jones) there in no depth in the research or information. Another bone to pick is all the cult leaders are men. Where are the women cult leaders? They only mention Anne Hamilton-Byrne and The Family, but why not make a chapter on her? How about Africa cult leaders, there are MANY. So yeah kinda informative but could have been better, with a little more effort... and less of the cartoon recreations.
Inside the Mind of a Cat (2022)
Nothing that isn't already obvious about cats
As other reviewers have said, this documentary would only be informative for people who have never had anything to do with cats. And it's disappointing because from the title and the amount of "cat experts" in the documentary you would have thought there were going to be some cutting edge revolutionary information. Maybe the title should be something like: "why love cats?" Or "cats can be cute and cuddly" or "cool things cats can do". So that the title matches closer to the content and the expectations of the audience. But if you're into cute and funny cat videos it's ok. I would imagine there are many scientists who are doing more in depth studies on cats minds/brains.
Naked Attraction (2016)
The real deal
I watched several of this series back to back one night getting over jet lag. First I applaud the variety of ages, sexual orientation, shapes and sizes of the people on the show, and second the kindness and respect with which the choosing contestant must talk about the people they are looking at and sizing up to choose. I think the show really helps get away from the hollywood/porn/celeb perfect body image, and accept average looking people. Having said that I did notice that on several of the chapters the chooser did end up - maybe indadvertedly - choosing the youngest person of the group (that would be a 20 yr old woman for a 28 yr old woman, a 22 yr old man for a 30 yr old woman, and another case was a 55 yr old trans woman for a 75 yr old bi man). So although when first interviewed they said they were looking for a companion, viscerally they chose the naked bod of someone who would not be a suitable life companion (according to the contestants in the post date interview), I thought that was quite interesting. Something that really resonated with me was when the 28 yr old chooser said she came on the show because she doesn't like dating apps, but finds that just trying to meet people in a bar going up to them for a chat nowadays is seen as weird and creepy. I also find dating apps boring, time consuming and non conductive too actually meeting someone you'll actually like. Another contestant said she likes to know what people smell like, and that is also the same with me, and impossible with dating apps. Anyways all in all I gave the show a 9 for the edginess and bravery of the people who dare to bare all to the world, the respect that is maintained throughout the commentary and the heartfelt and honest reflections of the contestants.
The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez (2020)
Horrifying
This is a disturbing documentary about a boy who was systematically abused by his mother and her boyfriend, and nobody did anything about it, although the signs of physical abuse were blatant. I don't regret watching it because I work in social services, with children and youth, and it is a reminder of our duty to them above anything else. I would not recommend everyone to watch it as it gave me nightmares.
Aquaman (2018)
Hot dude, lame story
Why invest in so much flash and so little in script?
Zulu (2013)
Too much violence
Good acting (not SA so I can't judge the credibility of the accents). Interesting because it is set in South Africa and gives glimpses into nieghbourhoods, beaches, post apartheid society and tensions. It just got to a point that it had too many scenes of extremely harsh and cruel violence, that it made me feel uneasy and stole the attention from the story, like a less glamorous Kill Bill.