journeyousglory Reviews

Community: Intro to Felt Surrogacy (2013) Season 4, Episode 9

Great episode, don't understand the hate

[10/10 · 5 August 2023]

Why do people feel the need to compare and come with expectations for what something needs to be?

If you appreciate this episode for what it is, it carries all of Community's best traits. A somewhat light-hearted foray into deeper, real-life topics. Character development. Random and well-inserted humor.

For those who might have missed the value in this episode, it's about the darker parts of us that we hide because we're afraid that we won't be accepted for them. It's about our individual "shadow"s, to coin Jung's term, and the shame that suppressing and not acknowledging them feeds, and the liberation we feel when we do acknowledge and own them.

We are only as whole as the extent that we acknowledge our rejected parts.

Cursed (2020)

Relax

[9/10 · 13 April 2022]

No one said this series was trying to be the next GoT. If you take any fantasy series and put it up against another standard, just because they both belong in the same genre, you're setting us up for failure.

I came into the first episode with rather low expectations, seeing as how the branding seemed more geared toward young adults, and not having heard anything of it. But I ended up being pleasantly drawn in. It's by no means (or even trying to be) a classic, or the next rave. But it's enjoyable, deals in themes of magic (some would say, purpose) and the hypotheticals keep you on your toes.

Yes, parts of it can get devoluted in the teenage romance aspect, the acting isn't perfect and not all of it ikeeps you completely devoted.

But, you do get transported to a magical world that doesn't need to be too far off from the one we live in, it's entertaining while not being drivel, and they've done a great job in creating the theme and world and details.

Deserves a solid 7.5/10.

Terminal (I) (2018)

style over substance

[6/10 · 16 May 2018]

Loaded with Alice references and quotes - but the only similarities in common with the classic tale is the theme of madness, which in this case was taken and ran with. This movie is decibel lit more style than substance, and curiosity will keep you moving through it despite the badly drawn plot. Characters did their best with what they were given.. Style over substance. It was just my style, really, if only there was more, anything more, to go on.

The Boarding School (2007–2010)

Too addictive, not good

[6/10 · 22 February 2017]

This show is addictive in a very unhealthy way. The plot twists can be as ludicrous as a novella, but it is better prepared. Some of the characters become tiresome, a bit obvious or one-dimensional. You get very quickly invested in the thickening and mysterious plot, so you will watch more just to see what happens, even though there may not always be a quickly developing pace- lots of repetition.

Actually, I don't know if this show develops quickly enough or not, there certainly are a lot of twists and turns. I think I am just tired of them all and want some sort of satisfying culmination to occur. This show is worse than crack.

Crazyhead (2016)

Delightfully weird taste; sadly lacking in everything else...

[6/10 · 28 December 2016]

The only reason this got a 6 out of 10 was for the awesome, refreshing boldness in it's authentically tasty weird style... and yet... no substance.

I tried really hard to like this, even claiming it was good and "my new show" despite then somewhat laboring to get through each episode after episode (I draw the line after 4 episodes).

I love Raquel's character. The blonde friend (which is sidekick I can't tell) is decent and can pull off some kind of chemistry. You can tell this show is really trying to pull it together with the other characters. I'm not saying there's nothing there, but it's not even close to enough. That with the lack of substance in writing, lack of depth and flavor in the characters (Raquel has flavor for sure, but not so much depth) and overall just no payout really leaves me sad because of how badly I truly wanted this to be awesome.

There's a lot of "glitter" enough to spark your curiosity, and many attempts made to appease our appetite by some raunchy bold humor every now and then.

The marketing is truly wonderful because of what's available to work with. From there it is pretty much a lot of minor letdowns.

3% (2016–2020)

Entertaining and Artistic!

[7/10 · 29 November 2016]

Cinematically and visually stunning, a political, hunger games-esque storyline with believable acting and I thought very interesting, life-like characters. The script is intelligent, the characters are strong, and the interaction is elegant in it's simplicity and natural air.

Excellent directing and cinematography here, a lot of subtle commentary in say a picture or shot (a thousand words). I believe it is the same cinematographer of City of God and the resemblance is there.

This won't have you walking away with too much feel-good or inspirational qualities. This does not much inspire you with it's beauty to be a better person, or help you in your struggles at an honest life, but it is a beautiful work of art that is gripping, entertaining, and has much fodder in the subtleties, particularly the social dynamics and the display of humanity in each of the varied characters. It is an exploration of psychology, social experiment, morality, and what humans are made of. It might make us ask along the way what we are made of.. but that is the extent of its ability to inspire.

If you believe we are heading into a 1984 era, you might welcome the realism in this work. Otherwise, it is a nice futuristic escape and exploration into what that might be like, while at the same time appreciating the human capacity in us all.

Nocturnal Animals (2016)

Nothing left to say after all is said and done

[9/10 · 19 November 2016]

What an awful, sick, cold, and very good film this was. I am appalled at the lengths it has gone to make sure we get the message, which is indeed revenge, at it's core-- the storehouse awaiting those who trample upon the sanctity and purity of... raw love? One is left at gunpoint, forced to ask if it is even legal to question, to walk out on a heart that is bleeding... do any means justify an end? The message of this film is a resounding, unforgiving "No."

The main protagonist of the film, a privileged and worldly artist (Susan) struggling with the life of a self-professed "realist and pragmatic"- who has trampled upon the allure and purity of idealistic hopes instead opting for her now unhappy partnership with someone who thinks the same way she does: with a bent towards callous cynicism, in her world of elitist, high-class art.

In the midst of her blatant unhappiness a manuscript from her ex-husband of a few, passion-fueled years surfaces as a neatly wrapped package in the mail. Dedicated "To Susan" and in it a violent depiction of a man's world, everything he loves and holds dear, snatched out from under him, and who bears an uncanny resemblance to the writer. What other resemblances, what other metaphors in this violent, cruelly honest portrait of the past, of the now present?

This film left me reeling, angry, and a witness to something horrific. But it was stunning, and I have nothing left to say.