Definitely history lite, but very entertaining. I loved the series when it first came out. Seasons 1 and 2 are the best; the quality of the last two diminish quite a bit, in my opinion. Once they were done with Anne Boleyn, it seems like they didn’t know how to spruce up the rest of history, and just went with bland retelling of facts and events. Wives 3-6 had little personality or story to tell.
The second season is so much better than the atrocious first one. I'm glad I gave it a chance.
I like my humour either very witty or very crude, and this is neither. Sort of bland actually. But I am watching for Steve Buscemi, and honestly I’d watch him host one of those fireplace channels and be happy about it.
The season starts really strong, with much intrigue and a fantastic setup. The 1950s storyline is wonderfully written, filmed, and acted. The budget is obviously generous enough to give us some beautiful renderings of Godzilla and other monsters, breathing with life in every scene. The rest of the show is a hot mess, I am afraid. I thought this would be the highlight of my winter television season, but I don't think I care to see Season 2. Now, what was it about the longitude and latitude of Alaska...?
Just like with the rest of the show for me, I really didn’t care for the main conspiracy plot/freaky experiment son bit, but I thoroughly enjoyed the standalone, monster-of-the-week episodes. Season 11 started out rough, but quickly found footing, with some episodes feeling like the classic X-files.
Loved this show. Beautiful cinematography that is on experimental side, and haunting soundtrack to match it. The story is slow, but purposeful, and focuses on human struggle. A very believable portrayal of near future. I think they missed with marketing, trying to catch a greater audience, hence the lower ratings. I hope they don't cancel this show because of it, because it is one of the most unique out there. The First will forever be one of my favourites.
Good show, but I just wasn’t as obsessed as others. Beth’s drug and alcohol bender was just rough to watch, and not in a sympathizing with the character kind of way, but more of a “I’m kinda over it” way. And while I liked Anya Taylor Joy in other stuff, I thought her acting here was too on the nose. At least the setting and the subject matter of chess were wonderful.
I don’t know about All Stars Season 1. It feels rushed and half-baked, the challenges are a bit convoluted, and eliminations barely make sense. The queens chosen for the inaugural season are pretty questionable too. I guess I understand that Mimi Imfurst and Yara Sofia were picked based on their memorable personalities rather than skill, but weren't we supposed to have the best of the best? Hopefully, the next seasons are a bit more polished.
If you are willing to suspend your disbelief, you will enjoy this very entertaining show. Except that last episode. That was sloppy.
Being Canadian, I remember following this case. It was quite a shocker on the level of Bernardo/Homolka and Pickton Farm cases. Still, the documentary gave me a whole lot more to think about. The internet hunt for the killer angle is actually pretty fascinating. These people picked apart each video and each photo for the tiniest of clues, and they actually succeeded at identifying the suspect and tracking him down much earlier than the police did. It's all great and entertaining to watch. However, there is a reason why police choose not to engage with so-called "armchair detectives". Civilians being involved with a potential serial killer is trouble waiting to happen, evidence might get dismissed in court based on how it was obtained, jurisdiction and chain of command issues, you name it. They don't need vigilantes running amok and potentially messing up their case and hurting themselves.
The "nerds" claim that if they were taken seriously the murder could have been avoided. I doubt it. Knowing how easily people get away with animal abuse due to some loosey-goosey laws on the subject, the cops probably couldn't have done much beyond a ban on owning animals and some probationary crap for distribution of explicit materials online. There was no stopping the murder from happening. In fact, there is a big question, and it's touched upon in the documentary, whether the existence of the "internet nerds" and their persistent efforts to track the guy actually egged the killer on. He craved the audience and they gave it to him. He wanted a game of cat and mouse and they gave it to him. Unfortunately, you can't help but think that they were unwitting participants in this thing. While Baudi Moovan acknowledges this fact and obviously feels somewhat conflicted, I thought that John Green character was disturbingly nonchalant about it. I mean, the guy watched the murder video at least twenty times when it came out because he just couldn't stop. Just saying, it's a bit creepy.
And there is also the whole debate about the guy in Africa, and how the group's actions and witch hunt actually might have contributed to a very tragic event.
Also, because I am an animal lover and cat owner, I was very worried about the disturbing content and subject matter of the show. So here's my two cents for anyone hesitant to watch this. The first episode is all about the cat videos, so prepare to be sad. They don't show the graphic content, but the show's participants describe the videos in some detail before breaking down at the most horrific parts. So if you don't engage your imagination, you can get through it. It's still very upsetting emotionally, but there is no gore or visuals to give you nightmares. I thought the documentary was worth the discomfort because it is very well done if you enjoy true crime.
Some details are really stretched far though. While I can accept the Basic Instinct connection as a loose inspiration for the murder, the poster, the Casablanca clue, the cigarette, and the leg crossing thing were all just hilariously overestimated. It makes for cool entertainment, but obviously not realistic. I think they did get Manny's origin correct though. Use your own judgment and don't give in too much to the sensationalism.
Being Canadian, I remember following this case. It was quite a shocker on the level of Bernardo/Homolka and Pickton Farm cases. Still, the documentary gave me a whole lot more to think about. The internet hunt for the killer angle is actually pretty fascinating. These people picked apart each video and each photo for the tiniest of clues, and they actually succeeded at identifying the suspect and tracking him down much earlier than the police did. It's all great and entertaining to watch. However, there is a reason why police choose not to engage with so-called "armchair detectives". Civilians being involved with a potential serial killer is trouble waiting to happen, evidence might get dismissed in court based on how it was obtained, jurisdiction and chain of command issues, you name it. They don't need vigilantes running amok and potentially messing up their case and hurting themselves.
The "nerds" claim that if they were taken seriously the murder could have been avoided. I doubt it. Knowing how easily people get away with animal abuse due to some loosey-goosey laws on the subject, the cops probably couldn't have done much beyond a ban on owning animals and some probationary crap for distribution of explicit materials online. There was no stopping the murder from happening. In fact, there is a big question, and it's touched upon in the documentary, whether the existence of the "internet nerds" and their persistent efforts to track the guy actually egged the killer on. He craved the audience and they gave it to him. He wanted a game of cat and mouse and they gave it to him. Unfortunately, you can't help but think that they were unwitting participants in this thing. While Baudi Moovan acknowledges this fact and obviously feels somewhat conflicted, I thought that John Green character was disturbingly nonchalant about it. I mean, the guy watched the murder video at least twenty times when it came out because he just couldn't stop. Just saying, it's a bit creepy.
And there is also the whole debate about the guy in Africa, and how the group's actions and witch hunt actually might have contributed to a very tragic event.
Also, because I am an animal lover and cat owner, I was very worried about the disturbing content and subject matter of the show. So here's my two cents for anyone hesitant to watch this. The first episode is all about the cat videos, so prepare to be sad. They don't show the graphic content, but the show's participants describe the videos in some detail before breaking down at the most horrific parts. So if you don't engage your imagination, you can get through it. It's still very upsetting emotionally, but there is no gore or visuals to give you nightmares. I thought the documentary was worth the discomfort because it is very well done if you enjoy true crime.
Some details are really stretched far though. While I can accept the Basic Instinct connection as a loose inspiration for the murder, the poster, the Casablanca clue, the cigarette, and the leg crossing thing were all just hilariously overestimated. It makes for cool entertainment, but obviously not realistic. I think they did get Manny's origin correct though. Use your own judgment and don't give in too much to the sensationalism.
There goes my favourite character :(
Oh Edith, I think you’re prepared to throw yourself at any man who paid you even slightest attention. And to think Sybil scandalized the family...
Fantastic dialogue, with majority of zingers delivered by the incredible Ann Sheridan. A very good film noir.
Gloria Swanson is a treat to watch in Sunset Blvd. In any other film she would have come off as overly dramatic, but as a washed-up silent era diva she is absolutely perfect with all of the accompanying hand-wringing, dramatic head angles, and intense eye glares. It's old school acting, where theatre was more of an influence than realism.
William Holden's Joe is a typical macho hero of the Golden age: sounding grumpy and slightly shouty, but simultaneously emotionally blank. He typically calls his much younger love interest "kid", grabs her by the shoulders and smashes his mouth into hers as his interpretation of a passionate scene. I sort of dislike him. He takes advantage of Norma's wealth, but then acts like it's a burden, age shaming her to no tomorrow.
At the same time, the movie is a wonderful satire of the realities of Hollywood. How sad that a woman past her early thirties is considered a has-been with no prospects? While not as bad nowadays, the practice seems to persist, with most movie moms with teen children being played by 30-year-olds.
The structure is also neat, being told from the point of view of a murdered man. In the end, this film has an unmistakable tinge of gothic fiction - a tale of a haunted house, where the haunting is the apparition of regret, old glamour gone shabby, and madness. The monologue and snappy lines also put it squarely into a film noir territory - the quality kind, not overdone to death. Billie Wilder was a visionary filmmaker.
This movie shaped my worldview when I was a teenager. It defined who I am today.
Oh no, a new man appears on Edith’s horizon!
What a narcissist lol. Of course in her eyes she was too complicated and wild for Big, instead of batsh*t crazy, clingy, and ultimatum-y Carrie she is in reality.
My feelings about DeepStar Six are colored by childhood nostalgia. It was on a continuous rotation for a couple of months on one of those movie channels, so I watched it probably like a dozen times. Loved it then, and it still stands up well today. Not a lot of substance, but much better than the underwater thriller released the same year - Leviathan, - in terms of character likability.
I had to downgrade my original rating. In my early 20s I loved this film, but now I see some glaring issues that become apparent with maturity. The film is entertaining enough, but feeds on the typical melodramatic stereotypes of shallow romcoms that the original show tried to destroy. Samantha's storyline of choosing to be true to herself is probably the only thread still linking this generic cheese fest to the superior characterization of the small screen. Some things didn't age well. I had to pause for a bit to figure out what was wrong with Sam's tummy - still looking. Carrie accusing Miranda of ruining her marriage was just rich too. Women (Carrie, Miranda, even Louise from St. Louis) who must forgive men who jilt them is the kind of backwards empowerment message I have to scratch my head at. I feel like the show that gave so much power and freedom to women, destroyed all that progress with toxic and immature romance drama of the movie. It's not horrible, but it is disappointing to the fans.
Wow, I’ve never seen such a despicable human being in a show, and I’ve seen some nasty villains.
It would have never happened in real life, but it’s good to see the Crawley’s stand by their own. Bates is untouchable.
The actresses who played young Mia and Elena did good job imitating Kerry Washington’s and Reese Witherspoon’s mannerisms. Though KW’s face-acting looks unnatural on anyone.
Eh... For the first hour and a half, I'd say, the movie struggled to find footing. Adding the clueless old men and their drama, and leaving out Bethany for most of the adventure was a wrong move. Dwayne Johnson did horribly trying to impersonate Danny DeVito, but the slack was promptly picked up by Awkwafina, who did superbly as a grumpy grandpa. Kevin Hart as Danny Glover was okay - I actually chuckled a few times, - but not as funny as in the first film. I missed Jack Black as a ditsy cheerleader because his other character is completely forgettable. Karen Gillan, unlike in the Welcome to the Jungle, has little to work with. Her sole purpose here is to be hot and kick ass. I liked the action sequences (especially the monkey bridge one), but the rest was just meh. I really wish the writers found a better explanation for the characters ending up in the game again.
What a cliffhanger! I love the twisted dirty secrets.
The further it goes the less I am willing to suspend my disbelief. Children learn to read on their own and know how to vocalize what they read without knowledge of phonetics. A whole lot of human history, science, and invention fits into the few books that can be stuffed into the box they inherit. They talk about building weapons that kill hundreds and how they can just do that from written documents. Characters don’t age even though nearly two decades pass. The twins are irritating little shytes. Things come to them too easily and it just feels fake. I like watching See for the setting, because it reminds me of Horizon Zero Dawn minus the machines, but the plot isn’t that engaging and the plot holes just make it worse.
Drunk Baron determined to try pizza pie was the best part of the episode.
Jeez Mia, you are supposed to be an adult and take a high road when confronting a privileged, but very traumatized teen. Instead, you decided to be a bitch. I really have a hard time connecting to Mia's character or feel sympathetic for her.
An incredibly stupid series of events. Instead of using the key that would solve the problem in 2 seconds (the mind control one), they just repeatedly give the guy 50 different opportunities to hold each other hostage.
Personally, I liked the first movie more. This one is trying to do a lot: not one, but THREE megs, another creature surprise, corporate espionage, swimming at 25,000 feet, secret evil base, dino doggos, uncle with the clicky button going all Jaws 4 with the psychic connection with the shark... (Jiuming made me cringe so much). It's a lot, and not really thought through. Just meh for me.
