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jliao27
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The Wheel of Time: What Was Meant to Be (2023)
Finally!
Finally, the episode that I was waiting for. This episode just blew me away, practically start to finish.
I remember reading the books in high school way back at the turn of the century. I remember reading about the blowing of the horn, the mist, the heroes appearing and just thinking how awesome it was. More than twenty years later, to feel the same awe and joy again was an incredible surprise.
The Wheel of Time is such a difficult, dense series to adapt. I just want to give the Amazon WoT team credit for accomplishing even this much. I didn't love Season 1, but this episode was the emotional payoff I've been waiting for. Looking forward to more!
The Wheel of Time: Blood Calls Blood (2021)
A letdown after last week's episode
Last week's episode was simply fantastic.
This week was a massive letdown.
The episode highlighted Stepin the Warder's grief from losing her Aes Sedai.
We get it. He's lost without her. He barely has a presence in the books, as far as I remember.
Lan is supposed to be a stone-faced killer most of the time. Here we seem him crying and beating his chest, tearing his shirt open with grief. It just doesn't make sense.
The books are about Rand and Egwene, Nynaeve, Lan, Moraine, Mat and Perrin. For them to take the majority of an episode to emphasize how strong the bond between a warder and aes sedai is, and wallow in that grief.
Unnecessary and overdone.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
Wonderful
I had read the advance reviews and was excited about the positivity and glowing feedback I'd seen. It means a lot to Asian-Americans to finally be put in the spotlight, and by a juggernaut like the Marvel machine no less.
Went to see a late night showing on Thursday, Sept 2nd, technically a day in advance of the official release date. Happy to say the movie did not disappoint. I've watched so many Hong Kong style movies over the years and the Shang-Chi film-making team did a spectacular job of importing that authentic, Asian-flavor of film-making. They did the kind of research I've come to expect from Marvel's creative team, and let this team leave their own distinct Chinese style from using Mandarin-speaking dialogue in strategic moments, to the very distinct style of Chinese-influenced music (totally awesome!), and the kung-fu sequences on the scaffolding, which is something you see in many of the old school Kung Fu movies. Michelle Yeoh, in particular, acted in many a movie in this vein back many years ago.
The filmmakers did a great job of melding old-style, Authentic Chinese Kung Fu cinema and themes (father-son tension, motherly devotion, male prioritized over female, etc .) with current Asian-American themes (underachieving children and over-expecting parents, general confusion in American society) and combining everything in the context of a fantasy-action movie with trademark Marvel humor to lighten things up.
I was a fan of the special effects throughout the movie, and thoroughly enjoyed the ending sequence as well. Like other reviewers, I loved the opening fight sequence between Tony Leung and Fala Chen. It's wonderful to see that Tai Chi - style of fighting introduced in a Western, blockbuster movie.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was a great movie but with Shang-Chi, I think Marvel achieved something more in melding disparate parts and taking on much more in bringing together cultures, generations and viewpoints in the context of a MCU superhero action movie. The next time we see Shang-Chi, there's no doubt most of us - moviegoers of all colors and cultures - we will be happy to see him again.
Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Better than the aggregate reviews
Back in 1999, I watched the Phantom Menace on a late night screening, the 1st night of its widespread US theatrical release. Twenty years later, in 2019, I went back to the same theater and watched the Rise of Skywalker, on the first night of its release.
Based on the early reviews, I was expecting this movie to be a real mess. Thankfully, it was not. I enjoyed the climatic, transformative scene with Rey, Ren and Palpatine. Part of me really wanted to see Rey and Kylo have that romantic union. I can't lie, it was satisfying.
There were parts of the story and plot itself that were admittedly far-fetched, odd and unexpected. Still, I didn't really mind them too much. I thought that the characters of Poe, Finn, and Rose were actually quite weak. I don't think these new heroes came anywhere close to achieving the cool, lovable underdog status of a Han Solo, for example. Poe felt totally one-dimensional and somewhat pointless. Finn was worse. Something is missing in the essence of these cardboard characters. Rey, on the other hand, I felt had a realized character arc and transformation. She felt substantive and I thought Daisy Ridley looked perfect as the heroine.
This movie did not attempt to reinvent the wheel. It was a reiteration of what we've seen before, in many ways. I enjoyed it, and I'm sure I'll see it again.
Gong fu lian meng (2018)
Wonderful
This movie is a Romantic Comedy with Kung Fu!
I looooooved it. Some of the humor is Hong-Kong style slapstick, but I felt that it all worked quite well. I recommend this movie. It's both cute and cool.
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
Amazing
Just returned from an opening night showing of Star Wars. It was 4 am and I was literally the only person in my particular showing. I have to say, I absolutely loved this movie. I had read some of the early user reviews on this website, and I was absolutely dumbfounded because I had also seen the rave reviews from critics, the majority of whom seem to appreciate this movie. After watching the movie, I'm relieved to say that this is a great movie.
I went in expecting some huge shockers in terms of the storyline based on critic reviews, so I did not end up being surprised by any of the plot twists. I expected Luke Skywalker to be an old, lethargic and cynical sort of dude. The only real surprise was the story behind Kylo Ren's genesis.
The movie does so many things well. The lead actors shine. The action is entertaining. There is some humor that works, and a few cute moments from the Porgs. I liked the campfire moment with Chewbacca and the Porgs in particular.
Signature moments between Luke and Leia, Luke and R2D2, were just amazing and extremely gratifying. To thing how far these characters and actors have come since the 1970s when the first Star Wars movie was released is incredible.
I loved this movie, and I believe Rian Johnson did a great job with what he was tasked to do. This was a better movie than the Force Awakens. I'm sure I'll be watching this movie again..