[9.5/10] They got me. They really did. I believed that Saul would do it, that he would find a way to lie, cheat, and steal out of suffering any real consequences for all the pain and losses he is responsible for. I believed that he would trade in Kim's freedom and chance to make a clean break after baring her soul in exchange for a damn pint of ice cream. I have long clocked Better Call Saul as a tragedy, about a man who could have been good, and yet, through both circumstance and choice, lists inexorably toward becoming a terrible, arguably evil person. I thought this would be the final thud of his descent, selling out the one person on this Earth who loved him to feather his own nest.
Maybe Walt was right when he said that Jimmy was "always like this." Maybe Chuck was right that there something inherently corrupt and untrustworthy in the heart of his little brother. This post-Breaking Bad epilogue has been an object lesson in the depths to which Gene Takovic will stoop in order to feed his addiction and get what he wants. There would be no greater affirmation of the completeness of his craven selfishness and cruelty than throwing Kim under the bus to save himself.
Only, in the end, that's the feint, that's the trick, that's the con, on the feds and the audience. When Saul hears that Kim took his words to heart and turned herself in, facing the punishments that come with it, he can't sit idly by and profit from his own lies and bullshit. He doesn't want to sell her out; he wants to fall on the sword in front of her, make sure she knows that he knows what he did wrong.Despite his earlier protestations that his only regret was not making more money or avoiding knee damage, he wants to confess in a court of law that he regrets the choices that led him here and the pain he caused, and most of all he regrets that they led to losing her.
In that final act of showmanship and grace, he lives up to the advice Chuck gives him in the flashback scene here, that if he doesn't like the road that his bad choices have led him, there's no shame in taking a different path. Much as Walt did, at the end of the line, Saul admits his genuine motives, he accepts responsibility for his choices after years of blame and evasion. Most of all, he takes his name back, a conscious return to being the person that Kim once knew, in form and substance. It is late, very late, when it happens, but after so much, Jimmy uses his incredible skills to accept his consequences, rather than sidestep them, and he finds the better path that Kim always believed he could walk, one that she motivates him to tread.
It is a wonderful finale to this all-time great show. I had long believed that this series was a tragedy. It had to be, given where Jimmy started and where the audience knew Saul ended. But as it was always so good at doing, Better Call Saul surprised me, with a measured bit of earned redemption for its protagonist, and moving suggestion that with someone we care for and who cares of us, even the worst of us can become someone and something better. In its final episode, the series offered one more transformation -- from a tale of tragedy, to a story of hope.
(On a personal note, I just want to say thank you to everyone who read and commented on my reviews here over the years. There is truly no show that's been as rewarding for me to write about than Better Call Saul, and so much of that owes to the community of people who offered me the time and consideration to share my thoughts, offered their kind words, and helped me look at the series in new ways with their thoughtful comments. I don't know what the future holds, but I am so grateful to have been so fortunate as to share this time and these words with you.)
EDIT: One last time, here is my usual, extended review of the finale in case anyone's interested -- https://thespool.net/reviews/better-call-saul-series-finale-recap-saul-gone/
Barbenheimer: Part 1 of 2
This is the kind of film I really don’t want to criticize, because we don’t get nearly enough other stuff like it. However, mr. Nolan has been in need of an intervention for a while now, and unfortunately all of the issues that have been plaguing his films since The Dark Knight Rises show up to some degree here. Visually it might just be his best film, and there’s some tremendous acting in here, particularly by Murphy and RDJ. However, it makes the common biopic mistake of treating its subject matter like a Wikipedia entry, thereby not focussing enough on character and perspective. As a whole, the film feels more like a long extended montage, I don’t think there are many scenes that go on for longer than 60 seconds. There’s a strong ‘and then this happened, and then this happened’ feel to it, which definitely keeps up the pace, but it refuses to stop and let an emotion or idea simmer for a while. There are moments where you get a look into Oppenheimer’s mind, but because the film wants to cover too much ground, it’s (like everything else) reduced to quick snippets. It’s the kind of approach that’d work for a 6 hour long miniseries where you can spend more time with the characters, not for a 3 hour film. I can already tell that I won’t retain much from this, in fact a lot of it is starting to blur together in my mind. There are also issues with some of the dialogue and exposition, such as moments where characters who are experts in their field talk in a way that feels dumbed down for the audience, or just straight up inauthentic. Einstein is given a couple of cheesy lines, college professors and students interact in a way that would never happen, Oppenheimer gives a lecture in what’s (according to the movie) supposed to be Dutch when it’s really German; you have to be way more careful with that when you’re making a serious drama. Finally, there are once again major issues with the sound mixing. I actually really loved the score, but occasionally it’s blaring at such a volume where it drowns out important dialogue in the mix. I’m lucky enough to have subtitles, but Nolan desperately needs to get his ears checked, or maybe he should’ve asked some advice from Benny Safdie since he’s pretty great with experimental sound mixing. My overall feelings are almost identical to the ones I had regarding Tenet; Nolan needs to rethink his approach to writing, editing and mixing. This film as a whole doesn’t work, but there are still more than a few admirable qualities to it.
Edit: I rewatched this at home to see whether my feeling would change. I still stand by what I wrote in July, though the sound mix seems to have been improved for the home media release. It sounds more balanced and I didn’t miss one line of dialogue this time around. I’m slightly raising my score because of that, but besides that I still think it’s unfocused, overedited, awkwardly staged and scripted etc.
5.5/10
I'm seeing some negative reactions in here. Well, I quite liked it tbh. Had me glued to the screen the whole time. Maybe I don't remember the quality of seasons 1-5 or maybe I'm just happy with little, who knows. Everyone seems to hate this season and I have to say I'm not 100% happy with it. BUT. I really liked this episode. Anyway, what can I say.
Absolutely disappointing rehash of the first trilogy. Disney had a real opportunity to do something new and exciting with this ipr but resorted to rushed writing with an extremely compressed story that makes no sense and fails to make anyone care for the characters or events. Emo Kylo is an outstanding metaphor for the whole deal.
There's only a few times in your life you'll live through a cultural Phenomenon. First Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, The X-Files. Something people will remember, reference, and talk about decades later. I truly believe Stranger Things is one of those.
There were a few things that seemed iffy:
The fact that Marissa and Hanna immediately trusted Terri.
When she texted Hanna about Sandy; and how she's back to her tricks in the premiere.
Warning Hanna that Pioneer knows about her and Marissa in the second episode.
When asked by Hanna for Sandy's location at the end of the third episode, she told Hanna.
Then again, as far as the latter is concerned, Marissa knew her name; she said it in the car with her. As much as I seem to jump to the assumption of plot convenience, they may have met in the second season. But I don't remember at all.
No matter how you spin it, Hanna and Marissa, trusting Terri immediately: was stretching it a little too much. At the very least, there should have been some hesitancy involved.
The Chairman, going out in the field himself. Of course, we all know why, writing-wise. But that was still iffy.
Terri, being the one to bring the message to Ethan. For all Marissa knew, Terri could've been playing her. That was a dumb move, but we know the reasoning behind it, writing-wise. Still iffy.
Sandy's death.
I don't get why the writers had her killed. It's like they hinted at this rivalry between her and Hanna at the start of the season, making you think that they'll face off and it'll end in her death. That happened two times, yet she survived the first one, making you think she'll end up dying in the next one. Which she did, but Hanna didn't do it.
There was the slow build of Sandy's mental and emotional state from killing Anne, reaching the point of hallucinating her. The writers made a point of showing all of that, yet it's like none of it mattered. If it did, Sandy wouldn't have raised her gun.
So, either my theory is correct: that Sandy wanted to die so she wouldn't have to live with the haunting guilt of killing Anne and her unborn child, or the writers killed her for no reason, besides maybe wanting all three "bad guys" (her, The Chairman, and Brianna) to be dead.
And lastly, the reason for Marissa's death. It seems like the best writing for how Marissa will get shot that the writers came up with was for her to be dumb and try picking up the radio. I guess shooting The Chairman first and then picking up the radio was too much to ask: huh, Marissa? Embarrassing.
But, as expected: this series finale was bittersweet. For me, there were two or three reasons for that:
Marissa's death. I'm not sure if it was predictable for other people. But I was expecting it to happen. There were feelings of death flags for her throughout the season. And the title of this final episode also gave off the impression that she'll die, or someone will.
The ending. Yeah, it was a "happy ending," so to speak. Hanna, Abbas, and Nadiya were all fine. None of them died. But the fact that Hanna left by herself, and wasn't able to be together with Abbas, at least for a certain amount of time, was bittersweet.
And the third reason wasn't as prominent as the first two, but I'll include it anyway: Sandy's death. Most people probably ended up hating her in this season if they didn't already and likely glad that she "got her comeuppance."
I thought she was more likable in the second season. And I thought Jules was a little dislikable. In my review of this season's premiere, I entertained the possibility that those roles will switch in this final season because I thought Jules was more likable, while Sandy was a little dislikable.
And it did, somewhat, so I can understand why people may have begun hating Sandy and wanting her to die. But while I didn't like her in this season as much as I did in the second season, and she got on my nerves a little bit, her death was bittersweet.
I find it interesting how this series finale, as the season finale of the second season, was the most decent episode of the entire season. In this case, I think it's even better because this is the series finale and not the season finale.
Even though there were things that I thought were a little iffy or was disappointed by, this series finale was a decent end to the show. As much as I thought this show was underwhelming and not as good as it could've been, as well as being sarcastic about certain things that were convenient or ridiculous, I'll miss this show. It was entertaining enough.
They'll just build a new one... and make the White Walkers pay for it.
This show is incredibly stupid and bad. But somehow it became a guilty pleasure for me.
It's so bad but at the same time in a way that it is entertaining to watch, just not how it was intended to be.
This show must have the most plotholes I have ever seen in a TV series.
If this wouldn't air on a major network like CBS it'd be cancelled after 3 episodes max despite the really, really low production costs that it must have, I suppose.
But since it's on CBS it got a full first season order of BS technobabble making no sense and characters so unlikable and sterile that I don't care for a single person and wonder how they made it through life so far. Not to speak of the positions they literally fell in.
Katharine McPhee (Paige, the waitress) is the only exception and good "feature" of this series.
Not because she is such a great actress, haven't seen enough of her to judge on that, but being the only halfway reasonable person on this awful cast of awful actors makes her the only likable person, in a way.
It's helping that she is cute, too.
I could go on and rip the premise and every episode apart and make fun of its absurd plots, terrible reasoning, repetitive and dumb dialogues but others did that already well enough.
Although being very nit-picky when it is about technology and terminology, that is basically raped on this show on a regular basis, my biggest pet peeve isn't within the above-mentioned.
Surprisingly it is with the blatantly wrong use of HTML syntax in the opening.
You have the maincharacter narrating that he has a higher IQ than Einstein and is one of the four people with the highest IQ on earth but it is subtitled with stuff like </starring> following the "stars". Ugh.
This contradiction is seriously annoying me and shows the technical and intellectual precision that this show has to offer throughout.
Ending was so damn exciting.... Guess you have to wait for the next episode to confirm that Jamie is dead or not...
I don't think he's dead tbh
Totally Ninja episode
The real question is why the hell did the guy charge money for snacks at the white house?
I am actually surprised they got William Shatner to make an appearance.
The movie is way too unrealistic. No one plugs in a USB cable on the first try.
Watching order
Because there are some issues with watching this, here is the order.
Copying from the site in case it ever goes down, but this info came from here: http://thunderpeel2001.blogspot.com/2010/02/battlestar-galactica-viewing-order.html
It's probably more confusing here on trakt, so go to the above linked site for a better layout.
The Miniseries
Night 1
Night 2
Season 1
1.01 33
1.02 Water
1.03 Bastille Day
1.04 Act of Contrition
1.05 You Can't Go Home Again
1.06 Litmus
1.07 Six Degrees of Separation
1.08 Flesh and Bone
1.09 Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down
1.10 The Hand of God
1.11 Colonial Day
1.12 Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I
1.13 Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part II
Season 2
2.01 Scattered
2.02 Valley of Darkness
2.03 Fragged
2.04 Resistance
2.05 The Farm
2.06 Home, Part I
2.07 Home, Part II
2.08 Final Cut
2.09 Flight of the Phoenix
2.10 Pegasus (56 minute extended version)
2.11 Resurrection Ship, Part I
2.12 Resurrection Ship, Part II
2.13 Epiphanies
2.14 Black Market
2.15 Scar
2.16 Sacrifice
2.17 The Captain's Hand
Razor (101 minute extended version - not the 81 minute broadcast version)
Important note: This was originally broadcast just before Season 4, but chronologically it fits here, telling more of the Pegasus's story. Some people argue it's better to watch after Season 3, as originally broadcast, but it makes most sense to watch it here.
The reason that the placement of Razor is a hotly contested issue among BSG fans is because of a bit of dialogue at the very end (in the last 10 minutes) which sets the tone for Season 4 (barely even a spoiler). Everything else in this TV movie is not a spoiler.
So why place it here, and not where it was originally broadcast, if there's any sort of issue? Because, chronologically, the story is set here, and by the time you reach the end of Season 3, the story of Pegasus will feel like ancient history. Indeed, that was the complaint echoed around the internet from fans after Razor originally aired -- it had nothing to do with what was going on in the story at that time.
As a result of this, most fans agree it's better to watch Razor here. In doing so, you'll appreciate the story more and it will have greater emotionally resonance. In short: I highly recommend that you follow my advice and watch it here.
There is one small caveat, however: In order to deal with the above dialogue issue, and so not to unintentionally alter the tone of Season 3, I have two, very specific instructions that I recommend that you follow for your absolute optimum enjoyment.
I will try not to spoil anything with these instructions, so pay attention. You need to press MUTE on your TV (and/or turn off any subtitles) in the following two moments. Both of these moments occur in the last 10 minutes of the story, so you can relax and enjoy the first 90 mins before you need to worry.
Press MUTE when:
and shortly afterwards:
That's it! That's all you have to worry about. Two very small moments, and even if you don't unmute it, it's not a huge spoiler, it just unintentionally alters the tone of Season 3 if you don't, so do try your best to follow my instructions.
2.18 Downloaded
2.19 Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I
2.20 Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II
The Resistance
A 10 episode web-based series bridging seasons 2 and 3. (25 mins.)
Season 3
3.01 Occupation
3.02 Precipice
3.03 Exodus, Part I
3.04 Exodus, Part II
3.05 Collaborators
3.06 Torn
3.07 A Measure of Salvation
3.08 Hero
3.09 Unfinished Business (70 minute extended version - Note: Not included on Region 2 DVDs, but is included on ALL Bluray releases.)
3.10 The Passage
3.11 The Eye of Jupiter
3.12 Rapture
3.13 Taking a Break From All Your Worries
3.14 The Woman King
3.15 A Day in the Life
3.16 Dirty Hands
3.17 Maelstrom
3.18 The Son Also Rises
3.19 Crossroads, Part I
3.20 Crossroads, Part II
Razor: Yes, this again. (Well this is where Razor was originally broadcast, after all.) Remember the last 10 minutes where I told you to MUTE two small moments? Well, guess what, now is when you get to go back and hear what was said. Watch the last 10 minutes of Razor here.
Season 4
4.01 He That Believeth In Me
4.02 Six of One
4.03 The Ties That Bind
4.04 Escape Velocity
4.05 The Road Less Traveled
4.06 Faith
4.07 Guess What's Coming to Dinner?
4.08 Sine Qua Non
4.09 The Hub
4.10 Revelations
Season 4 Continued (aka "Season 4.5" or "The Final Season")
4.11 Sometimes a Great Notion
The Face of the Enemy
A 10 episode web-based series (although it plays together like an intense mini-episode). (36 mins.)
4.12 A Disquiet Follows My Soul (53 minute extended version - only on Bluray releases)
4.13 The Oath
4.14 Blood on the Scales
4.15 No Exit
The Plan (DVD/Bluray movie)
A stand-alone movie that shows (approximately) the first two seasons from the Cylons' perspective. (You finally get to see "The Plan", mentioned all those times in the opening sequence!) Although The Plan was originally released after the show had finished, it is generally agreed that it should be watched here, so that everything is all tied up when you do reach the end.
4.16 Deadlock
4.17 Someone to Watch Over Me
4.18 Islanded In a Stream of Stars (62 minute extended version - only on BluRay releases and Region 1 DVDs)
4.19 Daybreak (150 minute extended version - only on BluRay releases and Region 1 DVDs)
The Plan : This is where this DVD/Bluray movie was originally released (after the show had finished). It seems universally agreed that it's preferable to watch this after No Exit, instead of after you've finished the entire series, but there's no harm in waiting until now.
Then Caprica the series: http://trakt.tv/show/caprica
I looked at it according to the chronological order. Find it makes no sense at all otherwise.
VIOLET: 24 YEARS BEFORE THE HEIST
GREEN: 7 YEARS BEFORE THE HEIST
YELLOW: 6 WEEKS BEFORE THE HEIST
ORANGE: 3 WEEKS BEFORE THE HEIST
BLUE: 5 DAYS BEFORE THE HEIST
WHITE: THE HEIST
RED: THE MORNING AFTER THE HEIST
PINK: 6 MONTHS AFTER
Except one great space battle nothing happening. Andor is a collection of boring and really great episodes. So far each story arch has started with a quite boring episode and endet with a fantastic episode. Would be nice if we got all episodes of an arch at the same time - make less episodes but each episode about 2 hours. Or make the opening episodes less boring ...
I'm upset that no one kicked Kenny's ass. I really wanted to see that smug little shit go out on a stretcher.
Will Smith won't fucking do Suicide Squad 2, but he'll dip his wick in this?
:person_facepalming_tone3:
The script is the weakest and most prevalent aspect of Bad Boys for Life. It's the same as every other script in the series (retirement, friends for life, family...) yet somehow worse--probably because it never stops in this one whereas the others would give us some respite with the action sequences that are sorely missing here. Even the humor is circumcised from this outing, leaving us with a limp stick we can't use to beat the dead horse that is this flick.
:confused:
Not to mention the sad waste of a great cast (the talented Vanessa Hudgens and Paola Núñez serve as little more than decoration), and the tragic action sequences (normally the high point of the franchise) that are as rare as they are unoriginal.
:sleeping:
Trust me, watch Bad Boys 2 again to save yourself 10 bucks and a boredom enema.
-- DISCLAIMER: THIS BELOW IS ENTIRELY MY PERSONAL OPINION, YOU MIGHT NOT AGREE WITH IT --
So "The Defenders" is out, or how I like to call them "Heroes for Hire" (Whatever happened to that anyways?)
The Defenders, is the endpoint of each and every single one of the stories we've seen so far in the Netflix MCU.
It puts closure on all of the characters, not indefinite, but closure of what we've seen of them so far.
Because of this, I was not going in with high expectations, and thankfully in doing so, I didn't leave entirely disappointed.
Here's the catch tho,
I believe we can all agree that - this - is Marvel trying a more "serious", a more "adult" way for their MCU.
We can all agree that we cannot expect a Netflix series on Daredevil, JJ or even the others to be action-packed, mindless punching, d!ck hard-straightfoward-nofucksgiven-whatdoesthepoliceevendoanyways as much as we're accustomed to see on the big screen with The Avengers or Guardians of the Galaxy.
But let me tell you this:
There is a point - in time - where a man (or a woman) has this "we're the police let us do our job" - "you gonna end up in jail" - "You shouldn't do this, that" kind of bullshit talk so far up his butt, that it is impossible not to hate it.
The extent of milking out minutes and minutes, adding absolutely nothing valuable to the story is REALLY starting to annoy me very much. It was very light in Daredevil, it started showing in Jessica Jones and from Luke Cage it really went downhill. There's a whole new way of talking around, and around, and around pointlessly in these last shows that is really tiresome.
I'm talking about the side characters pointing out the same things, over and over and over and over, one time after one time after one time after one time.
"We are the police we can help you"
"Let us help you, you can't do it alone"
"You're gonna get in trouble"
"You're gonna go to jail"
Listen, screenwriters: shut the fuck up! They gonna do whatever the fuck they want anyways. We know it, you know it. And it showed.
I believe we can all agree (or at least try to) that Marvel won't ever (hopefully not) come up with something so profound, so intense, so serious (Maybe like we've partially witnessed with Logan) because they are too focussed on cliches, too focussed on this bullshit way of having to show how rebelious their characters are, and never focussed on the actual emotions and portraying them or conveying them to the people. I don't necessarily believe they should, that they are trying to do this, but at least... cut the bullshit a little, huh?
And I'm not adding more to that statement.
Alright, since that's out of my system, let's talk everything else.
The baseline of the show and the story aren't that bad. I like that finally we get to see the Hand entirely, for what they are and who they are without the mist of bullshit that we ingested the past shows. The action "side" of "things" isn't quite as horrible as we witnessed in Iron Fist, so that's a huge pro.
The fighting coreographies weren't really that stale, let's be honest: who doesn't enjoy watching JJ or Luke simply lifting goons, or watching Daredevil jump around and that fucking metal batoon hit sound, ohhh so good...
But then... here comes THE LIVING WEAPON. HURRAAAY!
No. Definitely no hurrays for him.
Let me tell you this, chaps, and I won't put spoiler marks on this part because there's nothing new to this:
Danny Rand - did not - evolve from his standalone show, his character depth and importance is just words in the wind, his appeal is just as strong as watching a golden retriever with his face out the car window and his dribble splattered all over.
He's A FUCKING NOOB, and yes, I did scream that out loud, a few times. (Same goes for his girlfriend).
Someone needs to explain to me why Danny got a scar on his chest tattoo in the first episode and then it disappears for the rest of the season.
Plus, someone needs to explain to me if elektra can punch JJ and Luke so hard that it makes them shake a little bit, why doesn't she destroy Daredevil or Iron Fist with the same punch? How can they sustain a damage that can make Luke Cage feel pain?
And that's really most of what's wrong with this show.
Believe me tho, once you see it, you'll understand why I can get so upset.
What more could be said?
Music was good, I enojyed the few pieces, they were well placed.
The colors are always fucking cold and stale, the light almost always dark.
Sigourney Weaver is a great actress portraying a terrible, empty character, but ehhh, whatever.
It is definitely worth watching if you liked Daredevil and Jessica Jones. I could bare Luke Cage more here, he was kind of different, in a good way.
You know what's missing from this show?
A FUCKING GOOD ASS VILLAIN. BRING ME FUCKING KINGPIN.
Jesus christ I fucking hate Danny Rand and his stupid fisting duracell fetish.
I’m so lost as to what is happening. The whole journey to the underworld was a waste of time and distraction. Only 3 episodes left, I hope they make sense of this story.
The production value on this is visablly fucking insane. What a gorgeous show.
And with only 2 episodes out I am already hooked like haven't been by a show in a long time.
EDIT after full first season:
Damn, I'm disappointed right now. It started off so well with the first episode. But with each passing episode it felt more like two different shows. One on Trantor about Empire. Which was fucking amazing science fiction and mesmerizing to watch. But also one on Terminus about the Foundation itself. Which felt like a cheap SyFy spinoff in the same universe. Very bizarre.
Still an entertaining watch throughout but it could have been so much better.
BTW. I haven't read the books.
Imagine a nation with only 3 FBI agents and a city with only 1 cop. You'd think there would be worse crime there than this script, but you'd be wrong.
The ridiculous stretches made in this screenplay suck all of the fun that could possibly be had in this predictable yet stupid outing.
I f*king cried, Luke at the end & R2 ?! best episode ever. This even tops the sequel triolgy for me. You know, this even makes 2020 a good year. 10/10
bro, where are they going to take this in season 3. im so intrigued, i have no idea!
Wait a future that has everything digital still has ATMs & cash?
Robots don’t kill people, people kill people. LOL.
Dolores has pretty bad aim, didn't these robots learn anything from The Terminator?
That ending after the credits...I wonder if writers in Hollywood are running out of story ideas, so many plots using Nazi's. What's up with that?
This is how DC's Movies should have been made. It's action sequences are insanely awesome. Amber Heard is drop dead gorgeous like a goddess in this movie. Jason Momoa is born to play Aquaman. Perfect castings. Don't miss this amazing movie guys.
Michael Keaton's character is a low lying manipulative sack of human shit that deserves to die in the worst possible way. Burger King forever.
I don't get why Jemma had a hoarse voice the whole episode. Was it intentional or she was just sick? lol great acting though.
