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The Wonder Years (2021)
Solid start, eps 3 & 4 being standouts
Generally, this show is enjoyable and easy to watch. The first two episodes I would give a 5, but the second two are an easy 8. The difference between these episodes is that the first two focuses on the boy, Dean, and his relationship to his friends and other middle school dilemmas, whereas the second two focus on his relationship with his parents. I find that much more interesting as it makes it relatable to the likely demographic for the show. I hope that as I move through, we see more situations that involve his parents directly involved because that is what will keep me watching.
One flaw with the show, like another reviewer mentioned, is that when the original show came out, there was nostalgia for the 60s. Based on that, this show should be set in the 90s, in which case, many more people would probably find it more relatable. In the first few episodes, it seems like the 60s was intentional to highlight the Civil Rights Movement, so if the show can continue highlighting what it is like in that era, then I can see why it wasn't set in the 90s.
Don't judge solely on the first two episodes, but at least watch up to the first four if you are intrigued.
And Just Like That... (2021)
Awkward first day at school
I read some of the reviews before watching this and it seemed it was very love/hate. Halfway through the first episode, the new series has some laughs but also some very awkward moments where the characters seem like they are trying to adjust to a "new" world while in their 50s. There are too many jokes that reference "during the pandemic" (still not over), and there are a lot of what some people might called overly PC comments crammed into some of the scenes (likely hitting back at some of the critics for the first series). It seems like the writers tried to cram everything about 2020/2021 into the first episode, hopefully in a "get it out of the way" fashion so we can move onto what the girls are up to.
I love how the show started so that it feels like they never stopped talking over the past 10+ years and gives it a very natural feel. I also like that it shows they have evolved through life and are continually moving through changes. I was also very glad to hear a snippet of the original theme toward the beginning.
I have hopes that the next few episodes will level off the awkwardness. The above isn't a reason to stop watching, but to give it a shot to see if it can evolve into another great series.
Tom and Jerry (2021)
Who was this movie made for?
I didn't expect it to be great, but I didn't expect it to be this bad. At first, I was happy to see the antics between Tom & Jerry, but then the whole hotel and wedding story didn't fit. What kid watching this movie is going to care about a fancy wedding in a hotel? And what Tom & Jerry fan is going to care about a fancy wedding in a hotel? As a fan, I want to see the dynamics between T&J and not all these other filler characters that are unnecessary.
I couldn't watch more than halfway through, as it was evident that it was going to just be bad. This movie doesn't give kids a good story, nor does it give T&J adult fans a story. It just a script with two loved characters to get people to watch. Skip this.
Magnetic (2018)
A diversity issue exists, but it's a beautiful film
Now it's on Netflix, but this movie is deserving of an IMAX viewing. The sports that these people take on is insane yet intriguing... the drone shots show how small humans are compared to these athletic feats the subjects take on. The paragliding/speed kiting section is the best of the film and absolutely mesmerizing.
The biggest (and only really) con is that with all the sports, only one woman is depicted the entire movie. While many men do these sports, there are still women that do them as well. I would have liked to have seen that more, but maybe the next adventure film maker is reading this and can remember this.
The BFG (2016)
Good sorry but terribly slow movie
I was excited to see this film as I am a fan of Roald Dahl and his kids' stories. The pacing of the movie was so slow that it made me wonder how a child could enjoy this movie if I was having trouble paying attention to it. The scenery and locations are gorgeous, but I felt like it was more of an artwork that actually telling the story. The last half of the film was much better as things started to unwind and become more interesting, but by that point, I was waiting for it to be over.
I was highly disappointed in this movie. It's a beautiful story and beautifully shot, but it wasn't a movie that keeps you hooked the whole time.
The Lost City of Z (2016)
Not so much of an adventure
I read this book and I thought that the trailer was pleasantly surprising. The movie does not have the hook that the book did. Like many other reviews stated, the screenplay is seriously lacking. Instead of doing creative storytelling, the movie does a very linear story and tries to cover as much of Percy's life as possible rather than focusing on his goal of finding the lost city.
I was surprised how little we were actually in the jungle, as the story chose to focus on Percy's home life and the Great War, as well as his dealings with the Royal Geographic Society. What I did not feel as a viewer was that I was in the Amazon Rainforest. The film made it seemingly easy to communicate with local tribes to get information and like they would definitely find something if they kept looking. The movie does a terrible job at revealing the vastness of the jungle. I visited the Amazon on a trip to Ecuador and hiking through it and looking around, it is so possible that there is a lost city there because there is SO MUCH to explore. But the movie almost made it too believable.
I would love to see a remake of this in 20 years with more creativity and cinematic power instead of, essentially, a biopic.
Free Havana (2012)
Informative, but not compelling
This film is very informative, but the narrative has more of a classroom documentary feel or news feature and might be better told in a book rather than in a film.
The six interviewees are interviewed one by one and tell their personal stories. The film is more of a compilation of coming out stories than anything else. We aren't able to see the day-to-day lives or problems that the interviewees face, but only see them sitting in front of a camera in their homes.
In between the interviews are photos, and facts about the issues the LGBT community faced/still faces, as well as the progress that has been made.
S.W.A.T. (2003)
Average COP movie (mild spoilers)
A quick summary (cop represents more than one character):
Cop gets fired, cop gets another job, cop gets big job, cop goes bad, cop kills himself, cop goes home.
This movie was too simplistic and very predictable. The plot of this movie was about a fugitive who offered large amounts of money for his escape and the loopholes the S.W.A.T. team had along the way. A thing that bothered me is that this plot line happened very late in the movie. There were very few things I liked about this movie. Samuel L. Jackson did a good job. I'm glad I saw this before I opened this DVD that I got for a good price while I still had a chance to return it.