Review by Jordy
VIP8This is somewhat reminiscent of the 2014 Godzilla film in the sense that it's trying to be a drama first and a spectacle second. Don't worry, you'll get more of the titular monster here compared to that film, but those who are just looking for destruction are bound to walk out disappointed. In theory this should be right up my alley for that exact reason, but despite being a relatively small Japanese production, the end result I found oddly commercial. Take the character drama, which thankfully is handled more interestingly than the Gareth Edwards film. It puts in just enough work as an analysis of post-war trauma in Japan (I like that they play up the angle of Godzilla as a metaphor for this, wish they'd pushed that a little further) and they put more effort into making us engage with the characters than a movie like this usually would. However, there's still something very calculated and safe about it. In particular, the dynamic between our main 'family' is very obvious because it uses many predictable tropes that play out exactly as expected. For example, our tortured protagonist doesn't quite view the little kid he's living with as his daughter yet (I wonder where that'll go). Moreover, there are plenty of cheesy calls, which during its worst moments lead to scenes that are straight up manipulative. Without going into spoilers, this movie has one of the most annoying final scenes I've seen in a long time, completely backtracking on a major emotional beat of the movie. It honestly felt like the movie pulling a middle finger at its audience. What doesn't help either is that the dialogue, acting and filmmaking aren't the best. Subtleties are spelled out through exposition, every emotion is underscored with generic string sections, the actors are overdoing it at points (even for Japanese standards, trust me). Long story short, the choices all feels very ... Hollywood. I'm not expecting Grave of the Fireflies here, but why focus half of your movie on this aspect when it isn't anything special. The action bits I found slightly better. This movie generally has decent direction, with some design/effects work I'd genuinely call excellent. The fact that they made this with less than 1/10th of the budget of Godzilla vs Kong is really funny to me. Still, the sequences with Godzilla aren't visionary enough where they'll leave a mark on my brain, which is something you really need when you're working in the big monster/disaster genre. Going back to the 2014 film, that movie has a very distinct atmosphere with a very memorable finale. The camera placement and overall presentation here are much more on the functional side. Entertaining enough, but also very reliant on convenience and cheesy, ridiculous moments. For instance, I dare anyone not to laugh at the news crew standing on the roof when Godzilla attacks the city. It's so stupid, but played completely straight. Overall, while I expect a lot of people who think they're cultured for liking Hollywood movies that aren't made by Hollywood will like this, I thought it was the usual middle of the road same old, same old.
5/10
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You citing 2014 jusy says to everyone that you don't know Godzilla movies, and then your review further highlights that fact.
You're entitled to your opinion of course, but just know that for those who know Godzilla films your opinion is wrong.
XVI century Portuguese people speak English, for some reason, but Japanese people speak Japanese.
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@kuuzo I don't have to convince anyone or anything. I don't know if you're a Japanophile or part of the weeb community, so as to explain the double standard, but you seem to have no problem with Japanese in your American production, but all of a sudden Portuguese on a historical show about languages, missionaries, political schemers, translators and clash of cultures and religions, where that's the entire point of it, you're here advocating for less quality and immersion, like it's some secondary thing and not the entire "Portuguese and catholicism being the línguas francas and point of conflict of the show" goal. I imagine, in hipocritical manner, you'd be displaying "whiny" arguments about how it's lessening the content if "made-up" languages like Elvish and Dothraki (that didn't need no American convincing or "subtitles are bad" either) were removed from LOTR or GOT, e.g., however the very real Portuguese, the 5th most spoken language in the world, and the lingua franca of foreign relations in South Asia (India, China, Japan, Formosa, Indonesia, etc.) in the Discovery Age is a big no :thinking:
Ambitious…. But messy.
There is some good stuff here but also some things that just didn’t work. At times the action looked phenomenal, at other times I couldn’t follow what was happening with the shakey cam and the way some of it was cut. I liked the story and exploring the past. The training break between 2nd and 3rd act was the weakest part of the movie. Also felt little unsatisfying with the way it wraps. I think Dev showed some good traits though and will definitely check out whatever he does next. Shout out to Shantel Copley, he’s great as always!
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@ryezoo I think Dev wanted Neill Blomkamp to direct but he said that Dev should do it. I guess Dev still wanted some Blomkamp in the film so he got Sharlto to be in it. From what I've seen Dev had a lot of problems during production and had to finish shooting in Indonesia. He even had to shoot some parts on phones and gopros so it's a miracle that it looks as good as it does. One of the most obvious low quality shots was when he was first at the temple and the reverse of Alpha looked awful... but I generally agree with your assessment. I love that he made it and look forward to see what he can do with a sequel when they inevitably throw money at him to make one.
Review by PrisonMike
The writing for this show is worse than what you find on those daytime soap opera shows. Dunno what changed from first season to this season. First season was decent. It's like the writers never played the game....
SO FUN WATCHING THE SPARTANS WITHOUT THEIR SUITS ON...... SAID NO ONE. So what... no reg armor fits the Spartans? lol Everyone has some kind of armor on in this episode except the spartans who are only armed with a gun. Guess its spartan gear or nothing... lol. The director/producers/writers for this show, wtf man...
Soren pick a fucking lane when it comes to Dr Halsey. He hates her one episodes, loves her the next. Fucking dumb.
HEY lets add another dumb ass side character to the show. Let me introduce STG Perez and her terrible acting. All this chick does is panic and overact. "ma'am do you understand? ma'am do you understand? ma'am do you understand? ma'am do you understand? ma'am do you understand? ma'am do you understand? UGH!
WHO GIVES A BLIND MAN A GUN?????????????????
LOVE HOW NO ONE ADDRESSES CORTANA'S NEW LOOK!?!??! WTF man, they didn't even bring it up. Was confusing at first this season, like, did I miss something. This show is a complete shit show.
If you love the game, don't watch this shit. It's a complete let down.
ALL ALONG ALL I REALLY WANT TO SEE IS MASTER CHIEFS STORY WITH HIS SUIT ON OF COURSE. Shame on you Hollywood! Shame!
I OFFICIALLY HATE THIS SHOW. THIS SHOW ENDS HERE FOR ME. Won't be watching the next episode. (Actually I will be watching the next episode in spite of @Vortilion. Stay tuned next week for my next hardcore review of Halo Season 2 Episode 5.) People seem to love my comments or hate them, if you hate them, why comment, move on. You are being a hypocrite by sending me YOUR hateful comments. The first amendment gives me the right to state my hateful opinion of the writing and acting of this show. Thank you. Trust me when I say I don't care about your opinion if you don't agree.
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@mediacenterkodi actually a lot of people said it. But I’m glad we don’t have to stand your hateful comments anymore. Good riddance.
Shout by hirkiti
VIPEP2Incredibly boring and annoying. It’s the kind of film where they take pride in having bored and annoyed the audience on purpose. Plus all the characters are super unappealing - on purpose again I’m sure… Gosh I really dislike French cinema - except for comedies. As a testament to how terrible French cinema can be, movie theaters in France are required by law to play French movies (otherwise most of the time they probably wouldn’t).
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@hirkiti I've seen some bad takes before, but this one takes the cake.
Shout by PrisonMike
THIS SHOW IS STARTING TO SUCK REALLLLLLY QUICK! Remove Kwan's side story and every other side story and focus on master chief's story. People watch halo to watch master chief, not all these dumb ass side stories.
Kwan: Take the helmet off, they'll notice you. Kid takes helmet off and holds it. There is no way they can see the helmet when he is holding it....... dumb.
I do not like the "new" cortana. Stop fixing shit that ain't broke.
Unimpressed with the "build up" to the covenant attack. THIS ALL SEEMS SO DAM CHEESY!
MASTER CHIEF SHOULD HAVE NEVER TAKEN HIS HELMET OFF!
Dam Liberal Hollywood has to make every white role an ethnic one. So old!
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You definitely sound like someone that plays Halo
feminism and forbidden gay love in one episode? jesus zzz.... also was anyone hoping the crate would contain some kind of artifact from the quantum leap project? aside from the wokeness it was a just a mediocre action episode, a bit of an a-team knockoff.
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You dinosaurs have been bitching about this show since day one. But, for some reason you keep watching. My guess, Ian gives you a chubby, am I right?
Gal Gadot can't act !
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Doesn't matter, she's funny and HOT
The amount of bigotry in these comments is disappointing but not all that surprising. I should be used to all these sensitive little bigots running around by now really but I'm not.
With that said the film just ok and a little on the boring side :thumbsup:
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@earthworm Trakt used to delete them after reporting them but it seems they haven't been lately - my list of blocked users is growing.
I usually do not watch TV episodes till after the credits roll but there is actually an after credits scene here that noone should miss!
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@mellowb Holy heck. I would've missed that if you hadn't mentioned it.
Did all the writers go on vacation and leave the temp to write this episode??
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@nintenuendo If they did, they should get a promotion.
Is this show supposed to be so... cartoon-y ? It's just so over the top ridiculous, in the acting and character interactions.
I thought it would be darker and grittier, but it's giving off a teen-show vibe. That damn stereotypical accent definitely does not help this not seem comedic.
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@alexnader I’m British and I think his accent is great
Hey Ray, remember when you lied about a shoulder injury & killed that kid with a grenade, you self-righteous wanker.
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@lady-azkadelia yeah, but he didn't let anyone else in the team take the blame.
And he was pretty f-up about it.
But I can see where you're coming from.
Plus, do really think that anyone else on Bravo would agree to serve with Vic after that?
On the surface this film is about a group of people who have been labelled “villains”, working together to save the world. But really, this film is about one man and one man alone, he isn’t strong, but yet he defies all odds and sacrifices his life to save his friends. His only power is his bravery, he is the driver of the van and the main character of this film, Milton.
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@kieranlittleuk I don't remember a character named Milton. I think I'd remember. It's not really a common name.
another thing: I watched this movie twice, once with English and once with Polish subtitles. I noticed that when Ayano introduces Koharu to the doctor she introduces her as her sister in the English version but as her friend in the Polish Version. Could anyone with some knowledge of Japanese give me some closure as to which translation is correct?
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@pamerlaedschn It sounded to me like she introduced her as her sister. That would also make sense at the end when the doctor refers to Koharu as a friend and Ayano looks stunned for a second because she didn't assume that the doctor would figure it out.
Wow that was a terrible season ending. Not even funny.
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@d0ndada I don't know what you were watching, but that was one of the best episodes of comedy I've watched this year.
Erm.. okay I'm so confused
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@progshine No they really shouldnt. As someone that has read the books i dont agree with that at all. If the show cant tell whats happening without additional knowledge, it has failed in that regard.
I however also dont think that Calanthe not being dead and not married to Eist yet is horribly confusing. Both of them are definitely dead and if they are both walking around it has to either be a dream or the past. How is that hard.
Descent serial killer movie. I disliked the ending but apparently that is just me, as a lot of people call it the "best serial killer movie".
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It's based on true events. The killer hasn't been found irl yet either, that is why it ended that way.
I am incredibly grateful to Game of Thrones for this adventure I have found myself sucked into for some years now. I am grateful for all the emotions it brought me since day one, bitter and sweet alike. I am grateful for all the laughs, all the tears, all the jokes and gags, every single bit of it, I really am grateful and appreciative of it all. It's been just... wonderful.
That said, I am feeling robbed and betrayed right about now. This ending is arguably one of the worst series finales in the history of television and trust me I realize how bold of a statement that is. The terrible violations the characters have suffered this season, the lack of proper resolution to many of the plots and narratives developed over seasons worth of buildup, the seeking of shock value at the expense of quality writing... that and much much more solidified this as an absolute disappointment of a finale, as opposed to the marvel wrap it could've given this cultural phenomenon.
This episode does have its positives, as always the score, acting and cinematography are perfectly performed but I just do not think it's nearly enough to compensate for how lackluster the writing has been, as much as I wish they did. Oh well, sad as it may be, I'll just hold on to the good stuff and hope that GRRM's book, once finished, will tackle the ending in a more coherent, more respectful and more meaningful way. It's been real y'all...
P.S: I'll leave this here lest some people jump me again. This comment is a representation of my own personal opinion, I am entitled to one just as all of you are. If you enjoyed this season and felt this finale delivered what you were looking for then more power to you mate, but that doesn't nullify my opinion nor does it make yours any valid. If you want to discuss or challenge my views, I'd be more than happy to engage you on that basis but if all you have to offer are petty remarks then please keep them to yourself.
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@seanmsu It's funny how everyone who recycles this comment about the ending of Lost seems to fail to understand a very simple premise of writing. The same premise that had D&D re-do the pilot for Game of Thrones after initially sharing it with a room full of HBO writers and it's that if your audience fails to understand what it is that you're trying to relay, you've simply done a bad job, especially if it's as clear as you imply it to be.
Many audience members don't want to sit down and go full nerd trying to analyze the writers' creative decisions, which is why it falls on the latter to simplify the content for the former, you can of course call anyone who doesn't share your views a mindless twit who couldn't understand what the show was trying to do but the matter of fact is that it's the show's responsibility to make the audience understand and if it fails to do that then it's no fault of the audience, it's that simple.
I adore this show. It might be the most wildly imaginative series I’ve ever watched.
But am I the only one feeling zero chemistry between Chidi and Eleanor?
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@tvwatcha3 I feel the chemistry, if I think about everything that has happened to them, I understand the way they are with each other. They have their more "passionate" moments, but they're always comic, funny, and that's their love and I enjoy that a lot. Not every love story needs to be this big amazing thing where there are sparks flying everywhere, frankly that's unrealistic. I really enjoy their love and I hope it continues even with his memory gone.
