jnlurie Reviews

The Marvels (2023)

So much damn fun!

[9/10 · 10 November 2023]

Please don't listen to the poor reviews. This movie is fun. The dynamic between the leads is perfect. I cared what happened. And I laughed my butt off.

Superhero fatigue is to blame for the poor showing of recent marvel films. I disagree. I think they are too long and they take themselves too seriously. The Marvels addresses both of these problems. And it works.

Are there problems? Of course there are. But it's not all over the place. It's actually quite focused.

And the best of all, it sets up the future of the Marvel Universe at the very end of the film as well as the mid credit scene. And it's wonderful. The future of the MCU is going to be great.

The Flash (I) (2023)

Long, slow, dull

[3/10 · 11 July 2023]

The bad: Watching manic Ezra Miller act with manic Ezra Miller gets old. Fast. The editing doesn't help because the pauses are just a bit too long to make the conversations flow. But even before hand, the character didn't feel right. They turned the Flash into, well, an idiot. We get it: he's always hungry. We don't need 20 minutes of the same joke about him needing food. Or that he's the member of the Justice League who is cleaning up the messes of Batman. Funny? Sure. For a moment. But it drags.

The good: Once Michael Keaton enters the movie it moves. The filmmakers and Miller should have studied Michael Keaton acting with Michael Keaton works (Multiplicity) because he's a comedic actor. The man is just fun to watch. Thankfully he's in the film for the remainder.

More bad: the fight scenes. The filmmakers are trying to pull a page from Waititi's Thor. But it doesn't work when you try to have two Flashes who have known each other for a day working in perfect synch. It's forced. And dull.

Further bad: Zod. Completely support what they were trying to do. But they failed bc Zod is a one note character who was even dull in Man of Steel. His return should have caused us to care about the destruction of the world. We don't. But this isn't because of Zod. This is because the filmmakers take so much time on attempting to draw humor from two Millers that they fail to bring a human connection to the audience to make us care if anyone survives.

I literally cared about the dog in the beginning more than anyone else.

If they cut 45 minutes of the movie, maybe it would have worked. But at 2.5 hours? Not at all.

This was far from the 'best superhero movie made yet' and people claimed. It's far from even a competent movie at all.

Velma (2023– )

This is an origin story

[7/10 · 29 January 2023]

Hilarious and self-aware, Velma is her origin story before the Scooby gang unites to solve crimes. Because it's from her first person point-of-view, we see the modern high school world through her jaded, teenage vision. The humor rises from her fast-paced, pop-culture, tech driven view of the world.

It's the animated cousin of Edgar Cantero's novel, 'Meddling Kids'.

This is not the 'G' rated Scooby show. It's more of an animated Scream/Riverdale high school murder mystery which contains language and suggestive teenage thoughts and actions. It clearly shows personal pain and PTSD from past trauma and denial. And it all works.

The truth: if this wasn't a part of the ScoobyVerse it would be praised for skewering the tame 60s/70s depiction of rebooted animated blandness.

The Watcher (2022– )

Bad. So, so bad.

[1/10 · 26 October 2022]

What is it about Ryan Murphy shows that turn talented, often extraordinary actors into over-the-top emoters of garbage? Naomi Watts is usually charming. Bobby Cannavale is usually debonaire. But here? So, so poor. And it's not as if they are miscast. Any actor in these roles would not be able to pull out magic. The fact I continued to watch is a testament to what they have pulled off in the past. Alas, it never got any better. Which leads me to ask, why do these actors continue to sign up for this drivel?

Beyond the first three seasons of American Horror Story, Ryan Murphy's writing has been atrocious. The Watcher is no different. Plot holes galore. Characters who make choices no insane (let alone sane) person would EVER make. It's as if Ryan Murphy has a small nugget of a possible good idea and he decides to run with it, be damned the outcome. And when it's complete he says, "Edit? Never! This is perfection!"

People need to stop allowing him to write. And we, as an audience, need to stop watching his shows.

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022)

Decent show, but it's not typical Marvel

[6/10 · 18 September 2022]

EDIT: I still truly enjoy the show, but the season was uneven and all over the place, so I lowered my rating by a star.

Here's the thing: if you read these reviews, you'd think this was the worst show in the last decade and Marvel is going in the toilet.

Please don't listen to these reviews.

This show offers a glimpse into a superhero who doesn't want to be a superhero. She just wants to live her life as the attorney she was living before she came into her powers. Each episode shows the growth of her coming to grips with her new life.

It's funny, silly, and interesting.

How does she navigate a personal life? How does she deal with clothing that doesn't make her look like a child in adult clothing when she shifts?

Is the show perfect? Far from it. It has a problem following characters we don't care about on their own. Honestly, we need more She-Hulk. There is also a problem with pacing. Its awfully slow in parts, but when it's clicking it's awesome.

If they can solve the problems, the show will be memorable. Stick around.

For those childish reviewers who toss up negative reviews and ratings for every show or movie that is diverse and has a female lead, go away. Evolve. Your time is done.

Lightyear (2022)

It's an adventure, not a comedy

[8/10 · 13 August 2022]

If you go into this with the understanding that this is not Toy Story, rather, it's an adventure story that Andy saw and caused him to want a Buzz Lightyear toy, then you'll enjoy it. This isn't about a child growing up, it's about a space ranger trying to fix a problem he created and in doing so he forgets to live life with those he loves. There are some comedic moments, but, again, adventure, not comedy.

This a good film. Give it a watch.

Never Have I Ever (2020–2023)

Mindy Kaling is a genius

[9/10 · 12 August 2022]

Never have I ever ... enjoyed a teen comedy as much as I do this show. Seriously. I'm a 48 year old man who started watching with my family thinking, "I love Mindy Kaling, but there's no way she's winning me over here." I was wrong. So, so wrong.

I think what did it was the John McEnroe 'inner voice' of Devi (the main character). The reasoning not only made her accessible to everyone, but the constant McEnroe delivery raises the humor into literal laugh out loud territory. I still giggle thinking about many of the lines.

Give this show a real chance. It finds its groove a few episodes in and ... and it doesn't stop.

The Sandman (2022– )

Beautiful adaptation

[9/10 · 11 August 2022]

When you're following the life of a 'personification' then things get ... weird. Time sprawls. Reality blurs. Gods walk among the living. It's beautiful and haunting and if you pay attention you'll see the threads of connection.

Prey (I) (2022)

Best since the first

[8/10 · 6 August 2022]

This film is a bare bones tale about the alien species coming to earth 300 years ago and hunting Comanche (and more.) What's cool is you get to see the Predator's own tech scaled down for the time jump. And why, like Arnie, is a teenage girl a worthy adversary? Bc, like Arnie, she uses her head and learns.

The 'woke brigade' is out in full force for the negative reviews here. Ignore their petty attempts at dissuading your viewing.

This is well worth the watch.

The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch (2020– )

Campfire tales. No actual science.

[2/10 · 17 July 2022]

The premise of the show is to investigate what's happening in Skinwalker Ranch. Yet almost everyone refuses to actually investigate. The first episode is filled with a discussion over whether to dig into the ground to test radiation (among other things) levels. The scientist says dig. The others say 'bad things happen when you dig. So they don't want to dig. And this is all you need to know.

If you tell your audience you are searching for answers to unexplained phenomena you MUST actually search for unexplained phenomena. Of course you do it safely, but you search. But the man who owns the ranch and is paying for everything doesn't want people to dig into the ground to figure out what may influence events.

This show is laughable in justifying not searching for the 'secrets of skinwalker ranch' while actually claiming they are searching for the 'secrets of skinwalker ranch.' Once you disregard any use of science then facts turn into storytelling around the campfire. Which can be fun. But only if the audience understands it's all fiction because science isn't allowed to join the fun.

Jurassic World Dominion (2022)

Perfectly enjoyable, but not groundbreaking

[7/10 · 26 June 2022]

The story is simple: a girl is kidnapped, and her parents go to rescue her (no spoilers, it's literally at the beginning of the movie). The rest? It's the Jurassic Park/World roller coaster. Don't expect more. Sure, the plot is recycled. The entire series is recycled. That doesn't mean it's bad. If you enjoy the fun of these actors and the CGI Dino fun, you won't be disappointed in this film.

Little Evil (2017)

Worth watching but flawed

[6/10 · 20 June 2022]

The acting, the story, the writing, the cast, the premise ... this should have been a home run. But it's painfully slow. And it needed the director to allow the actors to improvise to bring out true humor in the situation. Either they needed a better editor or a more competent director (he hit it hard with Zombieland but this? Not so much).

That all said, it's worth watching. If, for nothing else, the mens therapy group scenes. Actually laugh out loud funny. The rest? Not so much.

Ms. Marvel (2022)

Solid show

[9/10 · 16 June 2022]

It's a fun, creative show about a fan girl in a super hero world who gets powers through an object passed down in her family (no spoilers here - it's in the first episode and not a surprise). Give it a fair shot.

The Kids in the Hall (2022– )

Brilliance!

[10/10 · 13 May 2022]

Even if you didn't watch the old series you should watch this follow up. The humor runs the gamut from juvenile to high brow and they do it seamlessly.

GLOW (2017–2019)

Wonderfully great fun

[8/10 · 22 April 2022]

I know I'm late to the party but for anyone else who hasn't seen this show, don't hesitate. It's a fabulously great amount of joy. Even though it only lasted 3 seasons (Netflix stock keeps dropping) it's worth the ride.

Metal Lords (2022)

Flawed, but fun

[7/10 · 18 April 2022]

The movie is simple. But it works. And it's fun. You don't have to be a fan of metal, but it helps. Especially when the actual metal lords show up to give advice.

What makes this impressive, though, is all three are playing their instruments. Only Adrian Greensmith had any previous experience (guitar), but training ensued, and the result is what we see. It's hard not to smile seeing these kids grow and improve (it's also hard not to be jealous with Tom Morello training you).

That said ... It's hard to enjoy a movie when the second lead character is unlikable for many reasons. It's not just teen angst. It's being an a$$. To everyone. Old, fast. He does have an arc, but it sorta comes out of nowhere and is unbelievable.

Thankfully the other two leads are fully fleshed out to the point we see actual growth. Not a lot, but loyalty in a film like this goes a long way.

In the end, if you can overlook the initial flaws you should be pleasantly surprised.

We Need to Do Something (2021)

Stay away

[1/10 · 10 April 2022]

Please. You've been warned. This is - and I'm not joking - the worst film I've ever seen. The story, the acting, the dialogue, the plotting, the effects ... high school movies made in basements are better.

Death on the Nile (2022)

Rate the movie on its merits, not its 'wokeness'

[7/10 · 2 April 2022]

The movie has its flaws. It's long. The acting is sometimes dull (it's a large cast and there isn't much for them to chew on). But it's enjoyable. And it's a beautifully shot film (hard not to use CGI when presenting Egypt of almost a century ago so I'll let it slide.)

Anyone claiming to dislike this film bc it's 'woke' or 'a part of the liberal agenda' or bc *gasp* there are black characters, is just sad.

Pieces of Her (2022)

Terribly written and overacted

[1/10 · 25 March 2022]

I wanted to like this. Truly. But the writing is atrocious, the plotting makes zero sense, and quality actors are given nothing to work with so they overact.

There is one point in episode 3 where various characters are all staring at their phones. Waiting for them to ring. Contemplating life choices. When that's the best moment in the series you know there's a problem.

These actors deserve better.

The Neighborhood: Welcome to the Sister from Another Mister (2021) Season 4, Episode 3

This is based off of Rachel Dolezal

[10/10 · 10 November 2021]

For those complaining about this episode being PC or woke, google Rachel Dolezal. She was a white woman from Montana who lied her way into becoming the head of the Spokane chapter head of the NAACP bc she 'identified as black.'