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axelstewart
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Reviews
Russian Doll (2019)
A new favorite
This was the best show I've watched in a while. It is just captivating. I could give reasons, but I couldn't do so well enough to do it justice.
Just watch it!
Pine Gap (2018)
Undeserving of the poor reception it got
I was shocked to see that reviewers found it boring or without tension. I thought the curve of tension throughout was excellent.
Additionally, the show is full of well-realized characters, who I think play off of each-other wonderfully. In particular I'm a fan of Moses.
This is on top of clever writing and believable scenarios - but certainly not a dull show.
Thong Dee Fun Khao (2017)
Disappointing
It was worth watching for free, and I won't give it any more than that.
The film felt like every plot line was underdeveloped, which is an achievement. Trope-ridden at best, and just totally uncharismatic otherwise. All of the side characters were more interesting than the main character, who was essentially only concerned with becoming a better fighter and calling people master, which started to get disturbing toward the end.
While this isn't a critique of the film, I was also kinda shocked at how off-center the English title of the film "Broken Sword Warrior." The breaking of the sword happens inconsequentially in an unexplained fight sequence within the last 60 seconds of the movie. I hadn't been that disappointed in the disconnect between film and title since watching "I Eat Your Skin."
It also feels like the composer wrote every piece of music in the movie in sequence as well, and learned a significant amount about writing a soundtrack along the way. The opening theme was both generic and dissonant.
While they do get some things right - occasionally some good humor or characters doing what they should in interesting ways - the dull parts and poor editing are unjustifiable.
Sahara (2005)
Honestly fantastic
I came away from this movie having enjoyed every minute of it, and it saddens me to see that other people who watched it didn't get the same experience out of it. To that point, I'll address a lot of the complaints I'm seeing.
I didn't expect it to be a work of art, and it wasn't a work of art. It was funny, quick-witted, and well-paced, with an interesting plot that got only somewhat predictable right at the end. The characters interacted realistically - not establishing great trust or romantic interest instantly, but instead bouncing off of each-other and coming back together organically.
I don't understand any of the complaints about the acting. I didn't feel that any of the characters were wooden or overdramatic at all. None of them blew me away, but there wasn't any juncture at which they seemed not to be reacting to a situation properly, and I thought that the leads were all charismatic.
The suspension of disbelief necessary for this movie is something that any moviegoer should be capable of for the sake of their own enjoyment of life's fleeting pleasures.
The plot was not at all difficult to follow. There are only a few twists, and they are well-explained. The film only resorts to characters explaining things when it is much more efficient than showing through fully visual storytelling.
I get that the representation of the African people in the movie was not entirely flattering, and for that, my estimation of the film is subdued somewhat. It's arguable that this is just the stupid henchman trope or heroic immunity, but I think it's a bit worse than that. Still, I would hesitate to call this racist or exploitative - just slightly thoughtless.
I appreciated that all three of the main party were useful characters. The sidekick was not only competent and cool-headed, but also capable of solving problems creatively. Eva was legitimately not a helpless damsel - they didn't just give her one or two moments of usefulness, they allowed her to be a functional human being without the assistance of her male counterparts. The situations in which she failed were ones where she realistically should, and she was uncommonly brave and determined in the face of danger.
I did not read the book, nor likely will I, but I loved the movie. It was far better than I expected, and I seldom enjoy a movie this much.
If you didn't like it, that's okay, but relax a bit before you watch your next movie because you deserve to enjoy something this good.