davidantzelevitch Reviews

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

Pops in all 3 dimensions

[9/10 · 31 December 2022]

Dimension 1- visuals. Blows every other Hollywood blockbuster out of the water. Pun intended! I would only watch this movie in 3D. The world comes to life. I never got tired of the crystal aqua sea. It served as the perfect virtual vacation for a winter movie release.

Dimension 2- story and drama. Classic storylines of man vs nature. Explorers vs natives. Greed vs good. Family vs faction. Action sequences effectively utilize the stunning environments, and the story was strong enough I didn't yawn once the entire 190 minutes.

Dimension 3- characters and dialogue. Considering all the characters are tall and blue, it's hard to create a cast with vastly diverse appearances and personalities. But the characters have enough personality to keep it interesting and support the story.

Before I Fall (2017)

Checks all the boxes

[8/10 · 19 December 2022]

As a sucker for time loop movies, this one was another winner. Up there with Palm Springs, map of tiny perfect things, happy death day... time loop movies are all so good. They're able to activate a lifetime worth of emotions in one repeating day. Forcing the viewer to recognize the impact of every decision we make. They put life into perspective. As for production value, this movie checked all the boxes of A+ movie making. Visually beautiful, well written, well acted, colorful characters, intriguing, mysterious, suspenseful, happy, sad, scary, all culminating with an important message about life.

Five Days at Memorial (2022)

final 3 episodes bring it all together

[7/10 · 27 September 2022]

Originally, I stopped at episode 5 because that was the fifth and final day at memorial hospital. Hence the title, I thought the series was over! But then I realized there were three more episodes. Glad I watched. The final 3 covered the aftermath, particularly the ethical questions and legal battles over how to handle patients that cannot be saved in a natural disaster. I believe doctor Poe made the wrong choice. But under the circumstances maybe it seemed like the right choice. Either way it made for a suspenseful final 3 episodes of legal maneuvering, where doctor Poe's freedom was on the line.

Escape Room (I) (2019)

Whoever made this is an artist

[8/10 · 1 September 2022]

In the second room, one of the kids takes in the astonishing environment that he and his friends are experiencing. The shocking dilemmas that they're faced with. And the great pain they're enduring... and through all of it, he whispers to himself "Whoever made this is an artist". A perfect quote to describe the movie.

I give escape room an 8/10 for the brilliant artistry that went into crafting this wildly original concept. The mix of likeable characters, creative sets, terrorizing situations, and breathtaking suspense- all come together to form a highly entertaining COMBINATION, no pun intended!

Black Bird (2022)

Emmy worthy performances

[9/10 · 14 August 2022]

I had doubts that such an unnatural friendship between two wildly different personalities could work. But it did thanks to emmy worthy acting performances. Another winner from apple.

The Map of Tiny Perfect Things (2021)

Made perfect sense

[9/10 · 14 August 2022]

I put off watching this because I didn't think another time loop movie could be any more original. But wow was I wrong. This one brought a fresh entertaining story that delivered profound messages about life. Ideas that I never before thought of but made perfect sense.

Cherry (I) (2010)

8/10 with a cherry on top

[8/10 · 3 July 2022]

Delivers a great message about the messiness of humanity, contrasted with the precision of science. Great performances by the 14 year old and the college roommate. Smartly written. Polished story.. and funny too.

Kimi (2022)

Lost interest 50 minutes in

[5/10 · 14 May 2022]

This one lost my interest. I simply didn't feel the tension and drama that the director was trying to convey. I didn't understand why the main character was so paranoid.

WeCrashed (2022)

Jared Leto. Wow.

[9/10 · 4 May 2022]

Amazing performance. Took the viewer through the exciting journey of building one of the most overhyped innovations. It's a must watch. Another masterpiece from Apple TV.

The Girl from Plainville (2022)

Deathly slow, no pun intended

[4/10 · 4 May 2022]

I usually love dramas based on true events but this one fell flat. The characters didn't draw me in and it didn't reveal anything interesting about the events. I wish it focused more on the legal battle. Save your time and just watch a 20/20 about the case.

Taken at Birth (2019– )

Misleading

[4/10 · 18 January 2022]

The show misleads us into thinking dr hicks was doing terrible things when In actuality he was doing a great thing. Convincing moms who wanted an abortion to carry the baby and give it up for adoption to a family who wanted to provide a good home.

Mare of Easttown (2021)

The story tried too hard

[6/10 · 22 July 2021]

I enjoyed the slice of life aspect. Seeing how messy lives are in small blue collar towns. Kate Winslet was phenomenal. But by the end the story got a bit too far fetched to be taken seriously.

The Serpent (2021)

International intrigue

[7/10 · 7 July 2021]

I'm a fan of biopic mini series. Aside from the dark stuff, there is some nice scenery from Thailand, Nepal, Paris, etc. You'll feel like you're on a vacation trying to catch a serial killer. If you like dark content based on true stories, you might like this one.

Frances Ferguson (2019)

I didn't get it

[4/10 · 19 June 2021]

I kept waiting for the story to take an interesting turn, but it never happened. And I didn't understand the ending. It was a nice try at being different and artistic but fell way short.

General Magic (2018)

Great lesson for investors

[6/10 · 24 May 2021]

A group of egotistical computer nerds who think they're changing the world by pulling all nighters. Trying to build a smartphone a decade before the technology is ready is simply moronic. And everyone who invested in it should be embarrassed.

What If (I) (2013)

Formulaic

[6/10 · 22 May 2021]

Good chemistry between the leads and cute story, but a bit formulaic to give anything higher than a 6.

Bravetown (I) (2015)

Not bad

[6/10 · 8 May 2021]

Cute unique story. Could have been more powerful if they connected the music more with overcoming grief.

American Factory (2019)

Interesting!

[7/10 · 25 April 2021]

Shows why China is such a manufacturing powerhouse. It's not just because they do it cheaper. They're simply good at it.

Harpoon (2019)

Shocking indie film

[9/10 · 25 April 2021]

This indie film is like nothing you've ever seen. And it's well worth riding out the storm.

At Eternity's Gate (2018)

Fascinating biopic

[7/10 · 25 April 2021]

Super interesting story of Van Gogh's early years and an intimate look into the genius behind so many amazing masterpieces.

Outer Banks (2020– )

Started out as a 10...

[8/10 · 25 April 2021]

This started out as a 10 for me. Amazing scenery, cast, story, romance. It had it all. Just went a little "overboard" at the end, pun intended.. but I still loved it. And can't wait for season 2.

American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020)

Firsthand look at the events leading up

[8/10 · 25 April 2021]

Documentaries through text messages and video clips is such a great way to tell a story. It was interesting to see how the relationship unraveled. I personally found the wife annoying. :-O.

The Queen's Gambit (2020)

Couldn't stop watching

[10/10 · 25 April 2021]

The lead was mesmerizing. I couldn't stop watching. And immediately after I took up playing chess. Now I just need those green pills.

Southside with You (2016)

I didn't want the date to end

[9/10 · 25 April 2021]

Perfect portrayal of Obama. Casual, confident, and charismatic. I didn't want the date to end!

Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong (2015)

Awkwardly beautiful

[9/10 · 25 April 2021]

I love these indie films. I didn't want the night to end. And that was exactly the feeling this film wanted to evoke! Beautifully done.