TheDanielBaxter Reviews

Gruff (2024)

Poignant and beautiful.

[9/10 · 10 March 2024]

Gruff is a beautiful looking short, with a lovely message behind it.

The biggest selling point is the animation, and to say it is incredible is a huge understatement of the amount of care and love that went into making it. The movie is filmed using "Gekimation" style, papercraft models and set-pieces, with each movement of a character being done through intricate puppetry... I believe that there may only be one piece of CGI throughout, with that being an explosion, with everything else done using practical effects.

The creation of this short film was documented on Facebook by the creator, and it was an absolute pleasure to watch everything come together into one finished product.

The plot is simple but effective, concise, and emotional.

Gruff is a testament to hard work and passion for filmmaking.

The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023)

A decent movie that gives too much

[6/10 · 5 September 2023]

You see Dracula all the time, it kills the suspense and sense of horror. It's a shame because the acting and setting are really solid. The Demeter makes for an excellent horror setting, and none of the characters become unbearable.

The biggest letdown is that Dracula is shown way too early and in way too much detail, which isn't helped by the fact that the creature in this are average at best.

The gore in this is also really toned down, to the point where you'll hear a scream and maybe see some blood in the next scene, which comes off as cheap and cliché.

With all that in mind though, the film is never boring, it's an easy watch and like I said, the ship setting is really immersive.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

Just incredible

[10/10 · 9 August 2023]

The plot is so tight, the animation is absolutely insane, I honestly have never seen a more incredible looking movie. On a technical and visual level, this film incorporates literally every style of animation and cinematography that is available. It is jaw dropping what has been achieved in this movie. The characters are brilliant, with perfectly selected voice actors to match.

SONY really have achieved something unique here, and the animators should each be given their own award for the level of skill and attention to detail in this film.

I have superhero fatigue and am tired of Multiverse plots. But all that goes out of the window, just for this film.

A visual masterpiece. True art.

Green Lantern: Beware My Power (2022)

A bit lazy.

[5/10 · 5 August 2023]

The story is okay. Nothing groundbreaking. But a solid way to build up Stewart as the next GL of Earth. But there are weird inconsistencies and points where action replaces logic.

>>SPOILERS<< Stewart is taken to the JL Watchtower. Which allows him on-board, thanks to him possessing a Lantern ring. He opens the door to the command centre. Says "Hi", and is immediately attacked by Martian Manhunter, Green Arrow, and Vixen. It makes no sense. Manhunter is telepathic and never just blindly attacks. Also Stewart uses the ring throughout the fight and even has the Lantern Corps symbol on his chest, yet they all just rush him... this kind of thing happens numerous times throughout and you do question why no one is even looking at what he's using or wearing.

Speaking of wearing. Stewart gets his ring taken from him by Sinestro. Depowering him. He loses the Lantern uniform. Yet there are at least 3 instances where the animators forgot, and just left the uniform on him in one shot, then off in the next.

All in all it's decent, but a but lazy in parts. I'm not personally a fan of the simplier CG animation style. I prefer hand-drawn. With more detail. But I get that the animators are on a deadline and budget restraints.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022– )

Watched the first season. Did not enjoy it.

[3/10 · 21 October 2022]

The dialogue is terrible. Rarely if ever do characters talk to each other. Instead every conversation is just a setup to an over-written monologue about darkness and the sea.

There isn't a single likeable character in the whole showm, except for Elrond and Prince Durin. Galadriel is obnoxious, Halbrand is from Manchester and has no charisma, the stranger is boring, the Harfoots are Irish traveller stereotypes dialed up to 11, and all the humans are utterly dull and forgettable 1 dimensional add-ons.

Characters die that you have absolutely no interest in. Yet the music kicks in to try and force an emption, that isn't there, out of you.

This show also claims to be inclusive, and it is, if you call 3 black actors in a cast of about 30 inclusive. I wouldn't mind. But it doesn't even make sense... I mean you have society consisting solely of white Dwarves, and one black dwarf as the princess... Where are the other black dwarves. I'm not saying "get rid of the black dwarf". I'm saying "make the general dwarven population more evenly black and white, so that it makes sense".

I have the same issue with the black elf. Why are there 99 white elves and 1 black one. At least make it 60/40 or something. If anything. The show somehow seems more offensive by pointing out its inclusive, rather than less offensive.

Some pros about the series:

• the cinematography is excellent.

• the elven Green-Man armour's stunning
• Durin, his wife, and Elrond are great
• most set pieces (elf graveyard, human or, etc...) Look incredible.

• the ice trolls look great
• The orcs look very good.

Big Wolf on Campus (1999–2002)

The 90s were a great time

[8/10 · 3 August 2022]

As a kid in the 90s, you'd come home from school, watch Goosebumps, Are You Afraid Of The Dark?, Kenan N' Kel or Power Rangers (to lighten the mood), then Big Wolf On Campus. Followed by WCW Nitro and maybe Clash Of The Titans on TCM for the 30th time (did TCM have contractual obligations to show that movie every week?)

None of what I said above is a joke or exaggeration. Life was just That good back then, and I look back fondly at the great memories of Brandon Quinn and Danny Smith tackling cheesy monsters every episode.

Malignant (I) (2021)

This has to be a joke?!

[4/10 · 29 December 2021]

What a ridiculous film. From start to finish it plays out like a weird parody.

The acting is laughably bad. The soundtrack sounds more like it should be in Riverdale. The plot is bananas, and reminds me of a Karl Pilkington movie. And I cannot tell if it's a joke or not.

I give it a 4. Because, as bad as this film was, I did laugh. So it was entertaining, I'll give it that.

Another Life (2019–2021)

Try it yourself, before reading the reviews.

[7/10 · 10 November 2021]

Currently Another life has 6% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 5.2 on IMDB, and I feel that these low ratings are unjustified.

I've seen reviews damming the series, with quotes like "It's not doing anything new" amd "it uses Sci-Fi tropes"... Which to be honewt, is ridiculous, because it's like criticising every fantasy series made after LOTR, for using similar concepts.

Another Life is fun to watch and engaging.

The characters range from interesting and likeable, to annoying and one dimensional. And the CGI sometimes looks great and sometimes bad. So it's basically like every other Sci-Fi series.

Only problem I've seen is that it does star that guy who played Goku in Dragon Ball: Evolution... And man, he's never gonna escape that decision. He's got a beard and a denim jacket, but we know who you are. Don't try and fool us.

Locke & Key (2020–2022)

Hated Season 2.

[5/10 · 25 October 2021]

Oh where to start... The writing is atrocious, with cringe-worth quotes, and dialogue that sounds like it was written by an "edgy" 12 year old. One particular instance being a grown adult saying "sorry, I'm mansplaining to you!" To another grown adult... Or another one being Kinsey saying with all sincerity "I do have a choice. I choose my own fate"... Though kudos to her acting chops for being able to say that without cringing into the fetal position.

Every character, across the board, makes the dumbest decisions imaginable, all of the time. From fighting unkillable demons in a pushing contest, giving keys and revealing secrets to anyone with ears, charging headfirst into fights every damn time, and losing the same way every time.

Charge into fight, lose immediately, key stolen, rinse and repeat.

Oh and if you didn't already know who the villains are, you will after seeing them smirking to the camera, every time they turn around.

Another thing. Thank god that the woman that plays Dodge is only in two episodes. She can't act to save her life, and seeing her shout "you will obey my Command" sounds more like a cheesy pantomime villain, than a serious threatening character.

Side note: Kevin Durand playing an english redcoat is laughable and ridiculous.

The Nun (2018)

I don't like this film

[2/10 · 13 November 2018]

The Nun fails in every single aspect that made The Conjuring a success, and is honestly hard to watch.

Firstly. The setting is literally a giant gothic castle, surrounded by hundreds of crucifixes, sat in the middle of ramshackle European Country town that is so "spooky" even the horse won't go any further (yes they really use that old horse cliche)

You would think that with a setting like that it would be scare central. But it really felt so ludicrous that I lost all interest almost immediately.

The Nun herself appears all the way through the film and either jumps out at you or stands creepily. But the film is so boring that you feel no suspense or fear and can time ever scary moment to the second.

So the Nun is actually a demon from the Nunnery, which used to be some satanist's castle who had a portal to hell in his dungeon and so on... Honestly I rolled my eyes just typing that out. Could they really not think of anything more original than that.

Everyone spouts one-liners. The priest is a bitter old man with a troubled past - because of course he is. The french peasant looks like a model. Oh and the film actually uses stock footage from The Conjuring.

The Blood of Christ himself is in this film. It looks like red wine inside a glass grenade (no joke).

It isn't a fun film to watch. I don't know why I wasted my time on it.

AVOID

The Predator (2018)

I really don't like this movie

[2/10 · 13 November 2018]

From terrible unnecessary CGI to comedic deaths I have to say that this film actually make me depressed when watching it.

The normal predator looks good. His high-tech armour is sleek and his build isn't huge like in AVP. But it's all for nothing because SPOILERS HERE > He dies as soon as he faces the big predator, and it isn't even a meaningful or good death < SPOILERS ENDED.

The plot is an absolute mess. Honestly it's just so stupid that I gave up caring as soon as the jokes kicked in, and the jokes kick in 5 minutes in. But they are really bad "yo moma" jokes as well as slapstick deaths that killed any nostalgia I felt for the predator.

There are so many AWFUL references and nods to previous films like the following two quotes: *Munn looks at sedated predator* "You're one beautiful mother f----r" And *pointing at bikes* "Get to the choppers"

That first quote in specific had me rolling my eyes at just how ridiculous a phrase that was. A phrase that no one has ever uttered. And it's so heavily spoken that I'm surprised Munn didn't wink at the camera afterwards.

The main and supporting cast are always spouting ridiculous phrases that no human ever states and they literally embody their one single trait; Sassy scientists does science and swears Tourettes man says "funny" lines Joke man only makes jokes

The predators and predator hounds are all CGI, look about 10 years out of date and move like Spider-Man on crack.

Every death is treated like a joke. To the point when an 11 year old murders a man and silence follows to give you time to laugh.

The bad guys kill their own men like it's nothing (a cliche I can't stand) and they just constantly do stupid bad guy stuff like kidnapping a kid.

The effectiveness of guns varies so wildly that most of the time the bullets bounce off everything until the plot calls for a death. Then a single bullet kills instantly.

The protagonists seem to find new vehicles and weapons in every scene, and it happens a lot as well. Enough to be a drinking game.

All in all I hated this film and I give it a 2 because I liked the predator's armour. Nothing else.

AWFUL