bjbsf Reviews

Reminiscence (2021)

What was the director thinking?

[4/10 · 6 September 2021]

This movie has problems on multiple levels. It is impossible to figure out what the director was going for here.

I don't usually rate movies this low, but I deleted one extra star for wasting the talents of Hugh Jackman, Thandie Newton, and Rebecca. Ferguson.

Maybe Warner Bros should figure out that directing two episodes of a TV series under the watchful eye of the showrunner, with characters and story lines well established, is not equivalent to helming a feature film. The wife and I were throwing verbal tomatoes at the screen with 20 minutes remaining.

Unforgotten (2015– )

A contender for Best in Class

[10/10 · 22 July 2021]

Season/Series 4 was as good as TV crime drama writing gets. Superbly plotted with compelling characters deftly developed over the course of the six episodes, Unforgotten 4 was exceptional. Add in the remarkable cast and the result was extraordinary television, in a select class that, for me, includes Line of Duty and the final season of Bosch. Just superb.

The Queen's Gambit (2020)

A Grand Master of a Production

[10/10 · 28 October 2020]

Ana Taylor-Joy is simply mesmerizing. If anyone did not recognize this young English actress before, they will after watching this superb limited-run series. Great things lie ahead for her, and for her audience.

The direction of this show stood out for me. The director made chess exciting, imparting just enough knowledge to appreciate the game at the highest level. The special effects were a perfect device for showing how an world-class player thinks so many moves ahead. Overall the look was gorgeous, the pacing spot on, the tension perfect.

Well done Netflix . This makes up for those boring warrior Princess shows. Now get this production team another project ASAP..

Now, back to figuring out what to watch.

7500 (2019)

Bad Faith Reviewers on IMDB

[8/10 · 29 June 2020]

The inexplicable number of one and two star reviews is becoming all too commonplace on review sites. These reviews are intended to purposly distort a fair rating. There is no way this movie deserves its current low 6.1 rating. I would give it an honest 7.5, but I'm rounding up because of the moron factor, which is unusually high among those giving this decent-=to-good movie an ultra-low rating..

Hunters (2020–2023)

Killing Nazis is always great fun, but. . .

[6/10 · 23 February 2020]

Watching Nazis die is always a guilt-free pleasure and a fun and uplifting experience. You just can't kill them off fast enough or violently enough for me. Adding in a revenge factor is the cherry on top.

But the show has a lot of flaws.

In the alternative universe in which this show is placed, no one seems to know that the US smuggled Nazi German rocket scientists out of Germany before the Russians got them. Even though Werner von Braun was a household name in the 1970s, the FBI is unaware that Nazis were recruited into NASA's rocket program. (Nazi intelligence officers were recruited too, but that's a future series.)

Our young hero is a whiny, super smart idiot who wallows in self pity while making poor decisions, all while surrounded by one-dimensional compatriots. Pacino is surprisingly not annoying, which says more about his surroundings than his acting.

I gave the show (based on 3 episodes only, to be fair) a 6 because it is uneven and slow moving. I would give it a lower score but watching Nazis die is so entertaining. It might be worth watching just to see the evil young American Nazi bite the dust. Super violently, I hope.

Robin Hood (2018)

What Were They Thinking?

[4/10 · 24 November 2019]

You've heard of movies that are so bad they're good?

This is not that movie.

It's so bad it's awful.

Carnival Row (2019–2023)

Engaging Fantasy in a Stunning Visual World

[9/10 · 5 September 2019]

Fantasy is not my favorite genre, but this surprisingly entertaining series creates a gritty, richly detailed fantasy world for its characters and story. The production values are impressive, as is the acting, which is solid across the board, especially the leads, with Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne lighting it up, literally. Delevingne, in particular, is absolutely charming as the fairy lead. It's no surprise that the camera loves her.

I'm looking forward to Season 2 and what this immensely talented creative team can do next.

It appears that some reviewers are projecting their political views and sandbagging their scores. That's unfortunate. Those reviewers should keep in mind that the themes of this show are universal. They might be surprised that refugees, migration, and ethnic conflicts follow most wars.

Breaking Bad: Ozymandias (2013) Season 5, Episode 14

Perfection

[10/10 · 17 July 2019]

If there was a better episode of drama in the history of television I would love to see it. It is the beginning of the finale of an extraordinary, brilliant show.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

How did this get made? Wow!

[10/10 · 23 March 2019]

Simply amazing animation and storytelling. I'm having trouble putting this film into a category. Hard to describe.

It must have gotten made simply through the sheer force of vision and talent.

I am quite sure i'm waaaaay outside the target demo, but I loved it!

Hats off to all involved.

Derry Girls (2018–2022)

Brilliantly Conceived and Written

[9/10 · 3 January 2019]

Hilarious, quick, quirky and brilliantly written. Funniest thing on Netflix. Set in Northern Ireland during the troubles, the jokes come from all directions-family, growing up, fitting in, Catholic schools, the folly of religious conflicts, and on and on. Lisa McGee has created a phenomenal show populated with engagingly funny characters everywhere you turn.

Ófærð (2015– )

Superb Police Thriller, Great Atmospherics and Plotlines

[10/10 · 30 November 2018]

What a pleasant surprise to find this gritty, realistic Icelandic police drama featuring engaging characters, fine acting, characters worth caring about, and a complex plot that unrolls over 10 episodes with a solid payoff at the end. The photogenic remote Icelandic community that is the setting for the series deserves a mention as well. The writing is first rate. Looking forward to season 2!

Hunted (2012)

Terrible Show. No Wonder it Never Saw Season 2

[3/10 · 17 October 2018]

So much is wrong with this show. Cliched flashbacks, lousy acting, weak writing. I just couldn't suspend my disbelief enough to believe that this show wasn't a steaming pile of horse dung. And who exactly were the good guys here? The private operatives, who are the closest thing to a protagonist we have, had no trouble killing one of their own because, hey, it's in the job description. Laws are for losers! The bad guys are more sadistic but stand on the same low moral ground.