This was satisfying movie.
Highlights:
1. The mood: love the change to previous Batman movies. Love the characters concepts and communication.
2. The visuals: love the camera work
3. The sounds / soundtrack: love the this, so fitting to the mood. There is one tune that always evoked in me Westworld :-)
4. Villains (actors and characters): Paul Dano, Jahn Turturro, Colin Farrell - awesome acting, awesomely written characters.
extra: the pacing combined with the moon and visuals was 90% right, only in the end I felt already tired (by it and of it), yet still would rate it as very positive.
Lows:
1. Cast: Robert Pattison. a) he just looks weird b) he looks frail, whole movie I could not associate him with Batmen especially one that takes so much punishment in the movie c) His character as it was written was awesome, but at the end the melodramatic (1 emotion only) diminishes character growth at the end.
2. Cast: Zoe Kravitz, while she had more opportunity for showcasing more of acting, she was not able to draw me to her character. Again the visual frailness was disconnecting for with the action on the screen.
3. Ending: The Riddlers final plot felt to me very weak and not dangerous (rising the stakes). As well as the character growth was very moot (which is kind of ok, taking into consideration the whole pacing, mood, and narrative, but it takes something away)
First of all, coming to the review from the point of someone who has read the books several times (+ played the games), therefore hard to judge how someone completely new might perceive it. On other hand my wife has never read the books and she enjoyed the show very much, mind you I had to explain some things occasionally.
Season 1:
Overall:[9/10] Great effort in bringing the books to Show format. I liked that they started with the short stories and used couple of them to set the world and characters. The ending of the Season 1 is also and ending of the short stories and move to the novels, which was the production and from that stems the most often heard critique (rushed and confusing plot). Some of the stories used deviate from the source, but I felt that they captured the essence and --some-- key moments are there. If you read the books, you might cringe, but it will make sense. It was a tradeoff to fit things to ˜50 minute blocks.
Characters:[7/10] Here it is mixed bag, with inclination to positives.
Geralt (Henry Cavil) is for me so so. He fits, but I would like to see him more seasoned. His body is scarred, but his face is still unspoiled by one (contrary to books? or was it just my imagination). At the end he is fine, acting is ok and he grows on you.
CIri (Freya Allan) is a nice mystery for me. Acting wise, she did good job (for my taste) + there is something in her looks that is "mysterious" and I think she will fit nicely. Big question for me (as with many women in movies + shows ... sorry for that :-( ) is how they will handle swords. She seems too frail. Well will see.
Yennefer*(Anya Chalotra) unfortunately the biggest letdown for me. I really liked her playing the "hunchback" Yennefer, but later she does not cut it for me. She seem too immature. Also she had the most cringeworthy moment in one of the episodes for me (Rare species episode) where she fights with swords with the same skill as Geralt, where her character would fit to use magic, possibly fend one mercenary off, but preferably just watch Geralt do the work..
Jaskier (Joey Batey) is ok for me. I think he plays and is written well. He can sing well which is important. Unfortunately the overall music does not do it for me.
Plot [7/10] good inspiration from the books and some well chosen stories, but overall rushing is felt. Maybe they should have done 10 episodes and work in more character development.
Music [6/10] The main theme is weird, but in longer term in good way as it grows on you. On other hand, I am very spoiled by the game's soundtrack which is superb and I keep expecting those tunes to play in the show as well, which is not the case.
Visuals [8/10] good even, even great from location perspective and scenes and clothing. All really nice to look at. Little minus due to dragon's looks and rarely fell of not so much money/time to make it better (e.g. dwarves were so-so)
rating 8/10 + 1 due to fulfilling my wish to make the books into very satisfactory show.
No amount of people trying to justify week plot, chaotic storytelling, characters that you will be unable to relate to their actions and choices, will ever justify watching this crap of a movie. It is like taking a "sh*t" in the museum and calling it an art. I like good movies, even non traditional and I can appreciate cleverness, but this is week sause. Form over the function :(
Story: (bad): The story is chaotic, one nonsense over the other. Leaps and bounds that even at the end make you feel like that was completely unnecessary.
Characters: (bad): Characters are so off-real behaving that I had real trouble connecting with them. They are with the main story why it does not work as they are not relatable. Other comments state this is great "horror", I did not experience single "horror" feeling in the whole movie I I think it stems from this as visual can be quite visceral.
Acting: (mediocre): All actors can act in the movie, sometimes it fell like over the board though. And could relate to above characters comment why they were unrelatable.
Visuals: (good/mediocre): Visuals were standard good movie grade. On other hand it seemed to me that the movie preferential visuals over the function of the movie and i think that is bad approach. I could not care for the visceral scenes as they seemed completely unnecessary, just to gross out audience.
Music: (bad): no music. I think sometimes good choice as it can provide on intensity, unfortunately if the story is bad and characters as well, it intensifies the badness of the movie. So in this case bad.
Overall: I really wish someone would give back the time and money spent on the movie. I would recommend not to watch
Really good movie. The whole premise being hunted by sound and what that means for that situation/world was great! The silence, inability to speak and almost constant worry will get to you from the movie.
Story: 8: I like the story as it was refreshing premise. What would happen if suddenly we humans were hunted by creatures that are extraordinary in hearing. The story had some shocking developments pretty early, and kept tension up. One possible downside was that at time it felt like the tension is build up artificially, as one bad thing happens after another. Overall very enjoyable!
Characters: 8: List of characters is narrow in the movie, basically evolves around family of 5 with 2 parents and 3 kids. I like each and one of them. Everyone was little special and I could imagine their reaction being like that in the world. I especially liked that interaction between the Father (John Krasinski) and his daughter (Millicent Simmonds)
Acting: 8: I like all of the acting. Especially Emily Blunt's (Evelyn Abbot character) performance was great, believable and delivering emotions over. All of the kids characters and acting was also great and deserve thumbs up
Visuals: 9: Really great. Lets start with the antagonists, the "predators". From the start of the movie they are used very sporadically, which build on the mystery and thrill. Later when they are shown they are for one never shown in full (so that your brain will always fill in more horrifying details), but when details is shown (head etc) it is in so great detail and well though out visual concept that I loved it.
The camera use felt appropriate for the movie, and all the details of the world (e.g. use of sand mo muffle steps, monopoly game with cotton figures, all the small detail was really great and though out)
Music: 9: The music but also the use of sound, or the absence of was great. It build on terror as for example with the daughter character, who is deaf, the sounds are off and you as view don't have any audio cue if there is a danger right around the corner, which you get with the other characters. In this move, less is more and the less matches well with the story.
Other observations:
Refreshing "horror"/"sci-fi" that matches well the premise, story, characters, visuals and use of sound! Will rank one of my favorite movies of 2018
This did not live up to my expectations. This is just an average movie, to the point that is borderline bad. I would not recommend watching, unless you are super Marvel Fan or for continuity of the Marvel movies.
Story: Average. While there are some good aspect (e.g. superhero from Africa), with somewhat believable story of hidden country there, the rest of the story is just sub-par. Completely predictable, generic. The middle of the movie will bore you.
Characters: Below average. Again some positives (Ulysses Klaue, made me laugh), all other were just textbook, one-emotion/purpose shallow characters. Also some storyarcs that are supposed to have emotional climax, are just blank as there is not enough story/buy-in.
Acting: Generaly OK. As mentioned I liked Ulysses Klaue (Andy Sarkis), I also liked Okeye (Dania Gurira), but otherwise again just an average movie.
Visuals: Good. Something to be expected and the driver of the movie. I like that compared to other recent movies, the scenery does not change every 5 minutes. Also the African location is a nice change.
Music: Bad. Generic Marvel Universe music here again. Nothing memorable. The lack of good music is even distracting.
Other observation:
1. It is also a weird mix of other movies. There seemed to be a hint of a Bond movie (when they the Black Panther was preparing for an action) which did not sit well with me. Too similar.
2. At some points the movie tried to be funny, but you could feel them failing.
Awesome movie. Intense, greatly acted, greatly written, great music. Lot of other reviews touched on many things, but here is why it was so special for me:
this creates emotional satisfaction. Some movies play with this "formula". And it's the case of the Whiplash. Here, everything happens in last 5 minutes, which then creates the "Wow" you can read in reviews. The whole movie is introducing characters their motivations, and gets them to the base for the climax. (decision to go back, he is at the lowest low, and shines).
further why the last 5 minutes are so strong is my second reason:
feel free to discuss if you don't agree :-)
First of all, what a great movie! Great acting, interesting screenplay, great graphics, lots of hardcore science done "right", great emotions.
Plot: (minor spoilers)
Earth is dying. Humans are trying to survive, but crops fail them and they face extinction. Their only chance of survival is finding new planet that is habitable. This is possible due to warmhole located near Saturn. Scouts have been sent in past to explore several options, but due to communication fault one more mission needs to be sent to confirm the right planet.
Story: (medium spoilers)
Copper (Matthew McConaughey; story protagonist) is a father, ex NASA pilot, living with his family as farmers, trying to survive by producing last grow-able food corn. He cares deeply for his children, but upon discovering NASA hidden station he faces decision to go to space, to find/confirm new planet human race could live on.
What the protagonist wants in the movie from the start is to get back. This is for me interesting screenplay. Cooper decision to go to space was almost given to him. He know that was what he needed to do, what he was born and trained to do. Saving human race for me is the background of the story. He promises to his daughter (Murphy) that he will return to see her.
She is his relationship character. She wants him to stay with them, not to go. Something that the protagonists fails to see in fullest, he know he wants it, but puts it aside for greater good, the mission. This part is important for the emotional side of story and is very strong!
As for antagonist: this is the universe, and the physical laws. Mainly time relativity. The movie nicely depicts the realities of any possible space travel and its implication to our exposure to time. This is the main obstacle to the antagonist to reconcile with his goal, to go back, to see his daughter, because she would die of old age before he would return back. So he is racing against the time, will he make it?
My summary and opinion:
Really great movie mainly due to screenplay that is well executed by actors and cinematics. Main strength i see in the "hidden" true story, that coincides with the fore-front story of saving human race. The resolution of the movie is well timed to coincide in three elements getting reconciled (The antagonist goal, the saving of human race, and emotional reconciliation with the relationship character (daughter) )
Well done!
On one hand i liked the movie. It created great atmosphere, the story and world are simple yet interesting. I love the play by Lena Headey (Ma-Ma), i think that she is the strong point of the movie. Conceptually, I really enjoyed the implementation of telepathy and the use of it by Cassandra Anderson (played by Olivia Thirlby). The scene where is goes to into Kay's head (Wood Harris) and messes with him just made me love her :).
On other hand, what i really did not like, were the costumes (e.i. Judge Dredd was comical with his helmet, or the Judge's motorcycles). I think that for a movie in made in 2012 they looked like from cheap sfi-fi movies in 80's or 90's. Finally, what made the movie, for me, to go down several points, was the scene with two (or three?) Gatling gun's and Judge Dredd running from their fire like for 5 minutes, and they firing thousands and thousands of rounds, destroying half of Megablock floor, killing a lot of civilians around Dredd, but never hitting him. That was just ludicrousness and i hate scenes like that.
This might be just for me, otherwise i would bump the rating to 7 and if you are a fan of Dredd comis (I have never read it) add another point to it.
