This is one of those shows where IQ levels are rather transparent in the comment section.
For those looking for a brain-off action show, you might enjoy parts of a few episodes. Hopefully the subtitles will filter you out before you get too far in.
No demon action but in my eyes this is one of the best episodes; it's a little reminiscent of Negan's introduction to The Walking Dead. I never read the webcomic but I'm just hoping this show doesn't turn into another "humans are the real monsters" story and do away with the awesome demons entirely.
As the end nears, the talking -- especially the exposition -- increases. We're getting a lot more "tell" and a lot less "show" at this point...
Again, they really managed to compress the story appropriately. Not only does it fit Arlong's end, but also a long epilogue part, cutting off as the crew set sails to the Grand Line.
This comes at the cost of fights. Secondary fights are anecdotal while in the manga every arc includes every crewmate fighting one of the sub villains. Even Luffy vs Arlong is pretty quickly done, making it look way easier than it should.
Apart from that and way too much Koby, it's still very close to the spirit. Good season ending, hope for more.
The show is good. My only complaint is that guy who plays Usopp. He can't act for the life of him
Some people might say it doesn't feel like Black Mirror because of the lack of the sci-fi. But to me it still is one of the best episodes of the Netflix era just based on the fact that this is a very british episode which is a quality I have been missing very much from the most recent seasons no matter how good or bad they are. Very reminiscent of the first two seasons. And it still has that social commentary which is even more important to the Black Mirror feel instead of it being sci-fi IMO.
Not everyone will like this season and will be very disappointed bc they get used that this anime is just about fights, war and blood, and they will be angry that this season hasn't that stuff, but for real if u give a chance to enjoy the drawing, soundtrack, and the most important thing is the talks between the characters, it's masterpiece
it's so deep and so strong for the person who is focus with the talks of any anime or series in general!
so yah
this season has a lot of great talks and messages and u can rethink about many thing's while watching it
u just watched someone turned from the hell to the right way( yah maybe it's appear like he is so silly and weak ) but no, he is fighting his past as much he can, so I'm proud of this anime character.
anyway
i liked this season so much
and can't wait for the new one.
Peak land saga , anime of the year contender
If last season's theme was revenge, this season's is clearly acceptance. Not only of ourselves but also of the world around us.
Vinland Saga is a great anime, and I think the themes it deals with are extremely important.
Violence is not and should never be the answer.
Thank you Vinland Saga and especially to this masterful season for making us understand that.
The sharp turn season 2 takes isn’t for everyone, but I think it enriches and adds to everything before it. I’ve enjoyed it more than the first season, personally, but it’s all amazing. I’m definitely going to read the manga after this season finishes airing.
Road to Oppenheimer: Part 1
In the months leading up to Oppenheimer, I have decided to watch all of Christopher Nolan's filmography and briefly give my thoughts about each one as a sort of preparation for his 12th directorial outing.
It's often said that greatness comes from small beginnings, which is a phrase that I feel encapsulates my thoughts on this film quite well. Despite its minuscule budget and absurdly short runtime (68 minutes!), that special Nolan quality is still felt throughout every aspect of the film, from his signature twists and time dilation to his meticulously crafted characters and unfortunate low sound quality. The movie is also paced very well, with meaningful reveals and revelations keeping the story moving at a breakneck pace.
Despite all of these qualities, Following suffers from one big problem: it's forgettable. While almost every Nolan film is remembered for some big action setpiece or an insane, mindbending reveal, Following kind of just comes and goes, not leaving much of an impression mere days after a first or second viewing. Of course, this isn't a film-killing issue, but when compared to Nolan's future filmography, Following certainly falls a bit short.
An interesting episode about sons and chafing at the lives their father figures have thrust them into. Chris finds out that being a made man is tougher than he expected and seems to have reluctance about it despite his initial excitement once he sees the black bird. Jackie Aprille Jr. is trying to live up to his father and uncle's role and chafing at Tony and his organization.
And then Tony himself connects his fainting issues to seeing how his father made a living, and it's a big bundle of the meat, the violence, and sexualization. And then when AJ feels like he's being groomed for the same kind of life as his father, and gets leadership through violence while he's cheered on by his dad, he faints too. There's a lot of interesting parallels in the episode and it works well as a sort of sequel to Season 1's "Down Neck" that plays in the same theme of generational neglect and inherited problems.
This might be an unpopular opinion, but I'm really enjoying how toned down the violence is, because it really grounds the experience. Yeeting him off a second story catwalk and onto rebar is spectacle, but a simple stab wound in a quiet encounter really drives home how high the stakes are when the violence is so mundane. When it comes without spectacle or massive budgets. It reminds people of what violence actually is and forces them to connect with the intimacy of it, and I think this is something that's been a long time coming. I'm not the type to blame media for society's ills, but I do believe it could be doing more to impress upon people the consequences and nuance of violence, and The Last Of Us is a masterclass in this kind of storytelling.
I cried, then I cried some more and then I cried again. I imagine how this episode will be attacked by people who didn't receive love from their parents (right wings) and I just want to fuck it. this episode alone made tlou win awards and more awards, what perfection.
i think some people might be missing the point. yeah they they didn't end up flying off together happily ever after, but they did both get what they both needed.
Dom is last seen sitting in the plane, passed out. this is important because earlier it stresses the point that she has basically not had any kind of meaningful sleep or rest in like 5 years. this is her finally feeling some level of peace, and being in a place where she is not afraid of the worst and able to fall asleep peacefully.
Darlene has been so co-dependent it is crippling to her when she is forced to be alone. she runs off and has a panic attack in the bathroom, but wills herself to accept that she can be ok on her own and this serves as a turning point in her growth and ability to move on and be ok whether she is alone or not. she needs to be able to be alone before she can be with someone.
edit 12/11:
also forgot to point out what i believe to be an intentional play against the stereotypical scene in which the two would have united at the last moment, with a catchy pop song to go along with it by an artist who has been arguably borrowing from the 80s in a large portion of her catalog. and from what i can recall, but i could be wrong, the fact that you hear little to no current pop music as a part of the soundtrack in any way remotely similar to how it is used in this scene, serves to support the intended play against such cliches in other films/shows.
Vera is such an underrated character. The rawness of his hate, anger, and depravity is boundless. The acting was brilliant. Honestly, deserves more screentime of not for the fact we all hate him which is a testament to how good he is in this role.
It's okay guys. I can just rewind the episode and Trenton and Mobley will be alive!
Doctor Gorst being played as an inquisitive twink nerd is so much creepier than if they went the standard over-the-top psychotic doctor route
Probably not the worst finale possible considering the rest of this season, but I really don't get what they were going for.
Ugh. After last week's excellent episode, this was a major step down and makes me reconsider following this series. The writing was atrocious, with every other character quipping at the worst of times. (Worst offender: Sharon Carter quipping "Blam" after blowing Happy's head off.) Not only that, but the third act turn hangs on a supremely illogical and shitty character decision.
This, to me, is an example of what happens when the MCU "formula" is handled by bad writers. You get this illogical mess that thinks it's way funnier than it is. Hope this is the low point of the series and not a sign of things to come.
Another crazy old, white man as the season villain. It's all been done before.
Also, I have no idea who the woman is. Hard to be invested in this new couple.
Complete, stinking garbage. Recycled same ol story of Daryl being captured but the bad guys thinking he's cool. A complete wasted opportunity to make this group 3 dimensional and give Daryl a compelling reason to stay vs another dumb boring how are they gonna break free story, again.
This is an honest, spoiler-free review coming from your average fan (not a critic):
I just saw this new marvel film, and I have to say... it's no where near as bad as the critics make it out to be.
Yes there is a lot of dialogue. But it gives the characters a chance to shine and for scenes to breathe.
People call this film dense. I would disagree. Yes there is a fair bit of plot and history told, however I would say that other mcu films have simply much simpler plotlines most of the time.
There are moments when things are just about to become exciting, and then it is interrupted with more dialogue which instantly kills the suspension.
There are a number of plot twists in this film, and some unexpected things happen that I wouldn't have seen coming.
This film has a slow burn, but sometimes that's a good thing. Would I have liked more action? Yes. Was I unhappy with the action we do get? No.
I will admit, going into this film I was expecting a masterpiece, and while I wouldn't quite call it that, its definitely a well-made film, marvel or not.
Oh. And expect to have to do some reading at the very beginning. Kinda reminds me of a classic Star Wars opening crawl.
The Five Emojis of X2
:heart_eyes:
Amazing opening sequence, introducing us to one of the more interesting mutants from the comics, Nightcrawler.
With the base set in the previous film, Bryan Singer puts focus on developing characters further and fleshing out the world, while keeping everything interesting by adding new elements, of which the greatest one is the magnificent Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler.
The visuals have been hugely improved from the first film and still look really good.
X2 is a funnier and more exciting film, with higher stakes and a faster tempo.
This film some of the finest scenes in the franchise, such as the opening scene, the assault on Xavier's and the visit to Bobby's parents.
All the regulars are still amazing and we get a lot more beautiful Wolverine action.
Bigger, bolder and more natural action scenes really help make this sequel worth a watch.
Great to see humanity, lead by the tragic Stryker (expertly portrayed by Brian Cox) as the main villain of the film, since that deepens the main theme of the franchise.
The other villains are also more compelling compared to the first one.
Amazing score adds just the right tone to the more intense scenes.
Feels a whole lot more like an X-Men team-up film, with the script allowing the characters to complement each other.
That whole final act by the lake is dragged out but very well-paced, creating one of the stronger finales in the genre.
Incredibly powerful ending.
Hits the right emotional notes by being funny, touching and exciting.
:smiley:
Anna Paquin feels a lot more comfortable and natural as Rogue this time around.
Significantly better paced and divided between the school stuff and the X-Men stuff.
Bobby Drake and Pyro are given bigger roles and complete the cast in smaller roles.
Cool to see the uneasy alliance between Magneto and the X-Men as well as the build-up to the the third film.
:neutral_face:
The film kind of forgets about Storm, Cyclops and Jean for large parts.
Mystique still isn't particularly interesting.
Nightcrawler is sadly undetutilized.
:frowning2:
:face_vomiting:
The Final Emoji: :heart_eyes:
Brida should be long dead by now don't know why she is still alive. I think didn't like the negotiations, why are you negotiating now when you literally breached the fortress. I also didn't like lady Athelfled being chaste. Stiora should not have gone with him too.
Glad to see that Giancarlo Esposito is still an untouchable son of a bitch! Finally, someone to put Homelander in his place!
Well, I just finished the series. What do I think?
WandaVision began with a solid start. The whole sitcom format was always engaging, as it paid homage to a genre and era of television I haven't experienced. With these first few episodes, the mystery that follows each strange happening was interesting and had me excited to see the next episode. I wanted to see Wanda deal with her grief and come to terms with her reality.
Darcy Lewis, Jimmy Woo, and Monica Rambeau appeared, and I have to say the show lost some of my interest. Seeing Monica reappear in a post-snap world was exciting, and Jimmy Woo and Darcy Lewis were entertaining as hell! I was still curious about what was going to happen next, but I was a little weary.
Then the last few episodes rolled around. Monica Rambeau suddenly gets powers (for no reason?), Agatha pretends she's all-knowing by spewing exposition, and the show drops Quick Silver, Rambeau, Woo and Darcy to give Wanda and her family more screen time.
Finally, the last episode disappoints. I was so bored watching CGI fights that have no substance underneath them. Vision talking to the other Vision was cool and probably the best thing in the last three episodes. But then we go back to Wanda. She figures out that she's torturing people and finally lets go of her fake reality. But not because she's learnt to deal with her grief but because... uh... I don't know.
She lets go of her fake reality, and this happens,
Monica Rambeau: "They'll never know what you sacrificed for them."
Wanda Maximoff: "I wouldn't change how they see me."
But she sacrificed nothing; she was holding these people hostage, torturing them; she gave up a fantasy for them. Way to go, Wanda! Afterwards, she runs off to a cabin and doesn't have to face any consequences for her villainous actions. Yay!
So I guess the show is about how we're all destined to do terrible things and get away with it?
Overall, WandaVision is a fun time. Although the sitcom stuff had me weary, I preferred it to the answers we got in the last few episodes. Sometimes, the mystery is better than the answer.
TECHNICAL SCORE: 6/10
ENJOYMENT SCORE: 5.5/10
Imagine loving an anime and then something like changing studios happens and it becomes a total trash... That was a sadly true on this one! First two seasons are gold, I even rated both with a 9 but right after third season and with a new studio continuing the anime it become trash, I hate that word to reffer to something but not only the plot was almost unexistent but the animation quality looks so bad and cheap, they go from 10 to 1 in just one episode, I wasn't even going to write anything because it doesn't deserved more time wasted than I already waste on this but to warn the rest of people who still can save that ammount of time and watch literally anything else and it would be better.
[5.6/10] What a pile of mush. These overlong premieres and finales are so often a chore. The Walking Dead regularly struggles with pacing and structure, so giving it extra real estate may make sense for selling time to advertisers, but does not work from a creative standpoint.
So let’s talk about the themes, heavy-handed though they may be, since they’re one of the few quasi-positives in this one. I like the idea of folks like Aaron wondering whether they are building something that lasts, or something that will be washed away by the sands of time. You get that idea in Aaron talking to his daughter, in Judith writing down the events of the community, and even in our heroes visiting the library and seeing the stores of human knowledge.
That’s the broader philosophical conflict between our heroes and The Whisperers. The Whisperers think that nature is retaking civilization, and that giving into the dead is the only way to survive and persist in the new order. Erase your identity. Embrace nothingness. That’s the Whisperer way. But our heroes are aiming for the exact opposite, to build something that can last, to hold onto the scraps of civilization leftover and create a society and a people that will be the first chapter of a much larger story.
Sure, this is The Walking Dead so that’s dramatized with hamfisted monoglues, but still! It’s an interesting idea and one the show hasn’t really explored yet.
The same can’t be said for the “should we trust outsiders or treat them with suspicion?” routine. Dante’s betrayal understandably leaves people out of sorts, wondering how someone who’s been working against them could have lived among them and befriended them and become a part of their community for months and months. The montage at the beginning of the episode does a nice job at explaining the how, but the characters still have to grapple with the why and what it means.
Unfortunately, it leads to the same old “do we close ranks and protect our own, or do we live up to our principles?” debate that the show has been having since, well, at least The Governor arc back in season 3, and arguably from the very beginning. We definitely did it with The Saviors, and I gotta say that I’m just sick of it. You can only peel that apple so many ways, and we’re hitting seeds and core at this point.
We get it. The state of nature means it’s hard to trust people, especially when resources are scarce and there’s conflict. But good lord, we’ve just done this so many times, in so many ways, that the show doesn't really have any new take on it.
What follows makes very little sense. The Dante reveal is an interesting twist less because of the shocking “he was a bad guy the whole time!” pulling of the rug out from under the audience, but more because having a prisoner who betrayed you but could also be useful and maybe even have stockholm syndrome is an interesting place to take the narrative. Of course, TWD squelches that immediately by having Gabriel kill him in a heretofore unseen rage, one that is, I guess, supposed to be motivated by his own sense of being overwhelmed and guilt at being a bad judge of character.
Mind you, that’s preceded by the weirdest, most tin-eared couples argument the show’s had in a while, which is saying something. Rosita and Gabriel don’t feel like a real couple. They don’t feel like real people. They just feel like thin cardboard stand-ins for vague, unformed ideas. Rosita is worried about the safety of herself, for her daughter’s sake, which is something. But the dialogue is so rough that it comes out jumbled and frankly, bizarre. And we’re back on the Eugene love triangle thing, which, good lord, was always kind of a misstep and feels even hinkier now.
Oh yeah, and Siddiq’s dead, which surprised me a little. I figured that Dante had a legitimate attachment to Siddiq (which the show seems to confirm), and so he would only sleeper hold him rather than suffocate him. But there goes another character who had a little extra spark to him. We have a funeral and mournful words, but it ultimately left me cold, with how much other nonsense was packed into this one.
Speaking of which, we have Aaron getting info on where the horde is from Gamma, only to lead a coalition of the willing into one of Alpha’s traps. The scene between Daryl and Carol is heartfelt and good (as most are between those two) and the visual of them surrounded by Walker hands is a cool one. But man, they all seem like idiots for falling for the trap, and the whole thing comes off as contrived.
Last but not least, we see Michonne interrogating a man named Virgil who saved Luke and got caught poking around the Oceanside camp. Danai Gurira continues to make heartbreaking monologues out of poorly written lines, but this is the storyline that succumbs the most to the show’s endless retreads of “security vs. mercy” moral debates. The arrival of someone who might be able to give them a bomb sufficient to destroy Alpha’s horde is super convenient, but at least it leads to a few good scenes with her and Virgil. (And there’s some particularly adorable scenes with Luke and Judith before the shit hits the fan as well.)
But on the whole, this is one that spends a lot of runtime to have the same sort of overextended conversations the show has during regular episodes, and with less focus and coherence. The least TWD could do if it’s not going to be good is not overstay its welcome. Trying to pack so much in like this adds more pacing problems, and despite the odd cliffhangers we get here, does little too excite me about whatever’s in store for the back half of the season.
