PhoenixWatches Reviews

Green Lantern: Emerald Knights (2011 Video)

Green

[9/10 · 4 October 2022]

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. I don't give Green Lantern enough credit, and have always viewed them as a bit silly or forgettable. This was a nice treat to change my mind and view of the Corps.

Visually stunning, some truly lovely and very exciting scenes were created to showcase the Lantern abilities, and I loved every scene for its artistic choices and color pallet. They paired well with each storyline, which was well laid out for the audience that didn't know much about them and their past. It was great to get Green Lantern history piece by piece, and Nathan Fillion was the perfect narrator- his voice is always a treat to me.

I did find myself struggling to pay attention as this is largely a bunch of small stories with an overarching but not very deeply delved into story in the background. It took me 3 different sessions to finish this movie cause I felt my mind wandering off. This may not be entirely due to the pacing, but certainly a portion of it.

In all, I would recommend this to DC movie lovers and beginners alike. One of my favorite DC animated movies so far. Great choices were made to put this together, and it deserves a higher overall rating.

Boo, Bitch (2022)

Had High Hopes

[7/10 · 3 October 2022]

I enjoyed the aesthetic of the movie and the teen vibe was on point, however, the plot of the story is really quite annoying and even upsetting as it goes on.

Lana's character goes from scared wall flower to rancid witch to... everyone's friend? Except that last part happens in one episode, and only in the last quarter. She did so many incredibly insufferable things to everyone around her, but the part where she's supposed to become likable again is incredibly rushed and there's no satisfaction or real closure. A majority of the show is her turning into a really awful friend and person and then the last episode pretty much wants us to forget all that, or to at least be all 'poor her'. If this was made in the days of TV and weekly episodes, it might have felt better, but on Netflix where they know people will binge... it was just not a good ending, or the ending was good, but the character 'development' was super pushed onto the audience instead of allowing us to get to like the main character again by showing us she deserved it.

As a person, there are so many things she did that I would have never been able to forgive, but somehow her best friend does (I guess?). There were a lot of points where I had to turn the show off and take a break, either from second hand embarrassment for how ridiculously shallow and callous she was being or from very real anger at how she treated everyone around her.

The acting was good, the outfits were AMAZING, but the storyline could have used an episode or 2 more. Or even less mega witch time and more 'I'm learning from my mistakes and making amends' would have brought this up to a 9 or 10. I'm not even sure about my 8 star rating, it may end up being a 7 after I finish this review.

Watch it for the aesthetic and actors, not for whatever the development was supposed to be teaching us (it's ok to be super horrible to everyone who likes or loves you as long as you give a 5 minute speech at prom). I mean, Mean Girls killed this concept, Boo, B!tch dropped it on the floor halfway through. Disappointed, for sure.

Catwoman: Hunted (2022)

Not Expected

[7/10 · 22 September 2022]

The first thing I noticed was the animation- not what I expected but not bad. Some of the vehicles looked a bit bizarre against the beautifully detailed backgrounds and sometimes flat characters.

It was cool to see a wide range of characters that I don't often see represented in tv and movies. They were introduced well so even if you don't recognize them or know their background, you can understand their character.

It was weird how often Catwoman talked to no one. I guess it's for the viewer benefit, but I prefer a more silent Catwoman. Just so many quips and useless comments. I liked Batwoman though, Stephanie Beatriz did a great job.

They/Them (2022)

Fast-paced & Interesting

[8/10 · 10 August 2022]

I genuinely liked this. It's obviously not the best horror movie ever, but I enjoyed the tone and story.

Kind of basic in events, but interesting shots and fun creepiness. I liked the acting and characters a lot, and some parts were definitely shocking. It's horror, but not exactly what you might be looking for, and that's ok.

Batwoman (2019–2022)

Trigger Warning, this show is not for everyone

[7/10 · 29 November 2021]

I enjoy this show but the fact is that I enjoy most shows. This is not something I would recommend to anyone to be honest, and would actively warn DC fans about if they showed interest. I can't speak on its closeness to whatever BW comics there are, but I can say this-

It's trauma porn. The first season is pretty much about the horrifying life of a girl who watched her mother die in an accident, was kidnapped after said accident, and forced to see and do things no child (or anyone) should. She spends more than a decade being held captive by a horrible man and his mother, and as a result she slips into an alternate reality (Alice in Wonderland) to cope with this trauma and the realization that her real family didn't find her. We get horrifying piece by horrifying piece of her life laid out for us, usually in front of our eyes the entire first season, but it doesn't stop there. Horrible things happen to her in the second season as well, but they decided to take the trauma porn in a different (not that different) direction.

Because they had to cast and create a brand new Batwoman, they had to make the second season about her struggles and because they went with a Black woman, those struggles include the trauma of Black Americans. We see Black people get wrongfully arrested and a Black man get shot when he pulls his phone out and it's 'mistaken' for a gun. I see the point they want to make here, but I don't feel like it was well done nor do I feel they're trying to bring anything new to media or the real life situation Black people live through every day. It really feels like they are trying to be edgy just to be edgy but instead it's exhausting and depressing. These characters keep talking about hope, but the audience is given very little hope at all.

Watch with a grain of salt or don't watch at all.

All I See Is You (2016)

Enjoyable and realistic

[8/10 · 26 September 2018]

I enjoyed this film very much, and I felt like it could be very realistic to what changes would happen in a relationship if one partner was blind and gained their sight back. Blake Lively did an amazing job and I love seeing her act in a more serious movie. She went above my expectations. I found her relationship with her husband a bit dismaying, even when the movie started before she got her sight back. He seemed very comfortable being the one in control but it seemed to annoy him at times, how much help she needed, which is strange given how much more angry he got when she could see. I suppose he didn't expect the confidence she would gain, but I don't blame Lively's character for that- he should have known that there would be changes in her personality since such an integral part of her was altered. While Gina was not perfect (no one is, that's what I love about the realism in this movie, there's not a single character who is 100% perfect), her actions were not very different from what I think someone else in her shoes would do. Her husband however was very aggravating and controlling to me, but I suppose that also would not be very different from someone who had never really known who his wife was, because she didn't. All in all, I enjoyed the movie and it's independent feel, and I very much enjoyed the visuals and the places they filmed. The acting was great to me, and I enjoyed the sexual scenes from the point of view of someone who was blind and then regained their sight. It's not a movie for everyone, sure, since it was more slow and, again, realistic than most movies we see nowadays, but I would still recommend it.

Once Upon a Time (2011–2018)

This show is just amazing

[10/10 · 5 July 2013]

Honestly, I've cried so many times after only two seasons of Once Upon A Time and I've felt joy along with all the characters. If a show or a movie can bring you to tears often, then you know that the acting is brilliant and the story-line is unique and awe-inspiring. It takes all the beloved fairy-tales, and more, and puts a beautiful twist on them that leaves viewers wanting more. You can get so involved with the characters lives and their story lines and you find yourself totally immersed in the lives they each live. I loved Once Upon A Time and I look forward to watching it as it continues. I would recommend this show to all of my friends. 10/10, no contest.