kaimal Reviews

Star Trek: Picard (2020–2023)

Abomination

[1/10 · 5 May 2022]

My favorite show of all time is Star Trek:TNG. It's wonderful in such a myriad of ways. It also taught or reinforced for me so many of my core values and principles. I learned to appreciate great storytelling, and the show inspired me to pursue a life long love of good literature.

This horribly awful show has done the one thing I thought could never be done. It's made me dislike Star Trek a little. I will never forgive these hack writers and producers.

Ajin (2016–2017)

This show is a mess

[5/10 · 14 July 2016]

This show is a complete mess. I started watching this show because I heard the protagonist is more or less a sociopath. I've watched Dexter, which had the same conceit, and I enjoyed it (for the first 4 seasons at least).

This show doesn't really know what it wants to be. I had no problem with the show having no clear good guy, but the way it portrayed people being wishy washy and unclear in their motivations was absolutely infuriating. The only I guy i actually rooted for was Sato, who I think was supposed to be the true "bad guy" in a show full of bad guys. Nevertheless, I only liked him for being clear, concise, and true to his character.

I was sick of the weaknesses of every character. Kei, the "hero", doesn't even follow the logical progression of his sociopathic character. I expected a big reveal of his selfishness at the end of the series, but the show didn't even give me that.

There was so much potential for this series. I'm bummed because I was so close to loving this series considering its overall themes.

Dark City (1998)

Great score

[15 March 2003]

I remember liking the movie despite the fact it was style over substance. I particularly liked the score and I think that Trevor Jones is perhaps one of the most underrated composers out there. The soundtrack for Last of the Mohicans (his parts) was simply brilliant and among my favorites. I really hope he gets to work on higher profile movies in the future.

Alvin & the Chipmunks (1983–1990)

good cartoon; skewed message

[10 August 2002]

Alvin, Simon, and Theodore were three characters young boys could relate to: one was brainy, one hungry, and the other naughty. They practically represented the personalities of all boys. However, the plots mainly centered around the world of males. Unfortunately, the creators of the show brought in female characters in reaction to this, each the antithesis of their male counterparts. Invariably, they would often compete with the boys, and the boys ALWAYS lost. They never won, and while these scenarios might have given girls inspiration and confidence in the real world; the show's creators completely forgot about the young boys who originally tuned in to watch the chipmunks harmless antics. Ultimately, the message the show gave young boys was that girls are competition. The creators of the show should have emphasized a message of cooperation like they do in many present day cartoons. Instead, by having the girls beat the boys in practically every episode they were in, many young boys grew to resent the idea of female empowerment-- an idea no young boy should learn to resent.

Reign of Fire (2002)

Decent popcorn flick; could have been great

[7/10 · 15 July 2002]

Unfortunately, it has become the norm for a movie to have a great look and a paper-thin story. This movie is certainly an example of this trend. The special effects and set design were top notch, and the actors were very good with the material they had to work with. However, the premise hardly worked, and the holes in the story were too numerous to count. I hated having the feeling that Christian Bale was trudging along, not really having an idea what he was doing in this movie. It had all the elements of the typical Hollywood movie: the hero you identify with (Christian Bale), the wise-cracking sidekick (Gerard Butler), the heroine/eye-candy who's just there for the ride (Isabella Scorupco), the semi-bad guy who turns good (Matthew McConaughey), and the villain (the dragon).

The movie definitely had its moments, especially with a helicopter/skydiving scene that equally measured Hollywood action with fantastic thrills. However, the movie was simply action scene pieced together with action scene and nothing in between. With a little more thought put into the story, the movie could have been great. I truly felt that this movie wasn't limited by its premise by any means.

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000)

Fascinating characters, worthless story

[6/10 · 15 July 2002]

The movie wasn't bad at all. However, it wasn't great either. I felt that the filmmakers had a lot of potential with the character of D. Unfortunately, they felt that he would look cooler if he was wooden and quiet. The inner turmoil of being a Dunpeal (half vampire/half human)was never adequately explored. The other characters were quite inventive, especially the Barbarois freaks. It really is too bad that these characters were thrown together into an incoherent and ultimately pointless story. Everything completely falls apart in the end, and the audience is left with the feeling of great potential wasted.

Slackers (2002)

Title refers to the filmmakers

[1/10 · 12 July 2002]

It was so bad that it made me depressed after seeing it. The actors were simply horrible, and they had no comic timing. The script had no funny parts and relied a lot on poorly done slapstick (mainly people falling down). The movie was about 80 minutes long, but I really want those 80 minutes back.

Shirt Tales (1982–1984)

I had the lunchbox

[18 April 2002]

Unfortunately, there is not much I remember of this cartoon. I had the lunchbox and it served me well. I talk to my friends about the cartoon, and they seem to only remember their favorite character. Mine was the raccoon, but I don't really remember anyone else. However, this doesn't mean that I didn't care about the show because I did have the lunchbox. I find it unfortunately fitting that this show, along with the many others (Pac-man, kidd video, the smurfs, real ghostbusters,et al) that I am forgetting, represent my quietly fading childhood.

Jeepers Creepers (2001)

Starts out promising...

[21 January 2002]

Jeepers Creepers had the makings of a fun, very decent creepshow. Some of the opening scenes are extremely disturbing and get under your skin (in a good way). You are ready for further instances of terror and morbidity. Then you get to see the creature and see how indestructible he is. First, seeing what the creature is and what he does makes you want to laugh (not in a good way). Second, the creature being super-powerful is nothing new and the filmmakers don't even try to attempt anything new with that genre.

Ultimately, the film descends into an unoriginal, unabashed piece of trash that takes itself too seriously. The filmmakers obviously noticed how uninspired their film is and put in a deeply nasty twist of an ending (but don't see the movie just for the twist-- it isn't worth it). However, two redeeming factors in the film are Gina Philips and Justin Long who play the siblings. They definitely have bright futures. Unfortunately, I can't say the same about the filmmakers.

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Flurry of Visual Poetry

[10/10 · 17 October 2000]

Without a doubt the best of the Star Wars trilogy. It almost goes without saying. Even if you like another of the Star Wars film better for whatever reason, you cannot say that artistically and technically that those movies are better. That would be on the level of saying that the Goodfellas (which is one of the Master's best films)was better than the Godfather(I or II).

Everything from the cohesive sharpness of the dialogue ("I know" has to be up there with "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn")to the visual mastery was used to pure perfection. Surprisingly, the visual effects did not really stick out, blending into the story seamlessly. Granted the last scene of ROTJ is quite an adrenaline fest, the effects were all ROTJ really had.

I put this movie on the pedestal belonging to the cavalcade of the great poetic movies: Ikiru, 400 Blows, Pather Panchali, etc. and the great epics: Citizen Kane, Lawrence of Arabia, 2001 and so on.

Even if you don't like Star Wars in general or have never watched it; this is not one to pass over lightly.

Charulata (1964)

Not given publicity it richly deserves

[10/10 · 17 October 2000]

The best Satyajit Ray movie. Ray, at his peak, gave us his most convincing insight into love and loyalty, two of his universal themes. Unfortunately, the brilliant Apu trilogy has more of an visceral draw to Western audiences and Charulata is overlooked. The Apu trilogy invokes the idea of the Western view of India right or wrong while Charulata almost represents an anomaly of upperclass Indians in the late Victorian era.

Charulata actually is a better film that any of those in the Apu trilogy (as hard as that is to believe) not to mention the most visually striking. However, the one thing Apu trilogy has over Charulata is its freshness. But this almost the same situation as Martin Scorsese and Mean Streets and Taxi Driver. This is not to say that he didn't make any good movies after that. Goodfellas is perhaps his best.

In the end, Ray had style as well as substance in many of his films and Charulata represents that pinnacle while the Apu trilogy establishes what was to come.

Charulata (1964)

Not given publicity it richly deserves

[10/10 · 17 October 2000]

The best Satyajit Ray movie. Ray, at his peak, gave us his most convincing insight into love and loyalty, two of his universal themes. Unfortunately, the brilliant Apu trilogy has more of an visceral draw to Western audiences and Charulata is overlooked. The Apu trilogy invokes the idea of the Western view of India right or wrong while Charulata almost represents an anomaly of upperclass Indians in the late Victorian era.

Charulata actually is a better film than any of those in the Apu trilogy (as hard as that is to believe) not to mention the most visually striking. However, the one thing Apu trilogy has over Charulata is its freshness. But this almost the same situation as Martin Scorsese and Mean Streets and Taxi Driver. This is not to say that he didn't make any good movies after that. Goodfellas is perhaps his best.

In the end, Ray had style as well as substance in many of his films and Charulata represents that pinnacle while the Apu trilogy establishes what was to come.

Pather Panchali (1955)

Great Contribution to Indian Cinema

[10/10 · 17 October 2000]

A refreshing change from most of India's movies. Most movies conform to the Bollywood standard, Hollywood's idiot cousin. Of course, the metaphor is scathing because Hollywood is no paradigm of brilliance. Bollywood is the dumber to Hollywood's dumb. The movies that Ray has produced has shined light upon India's dismal cinematic portfolio. When looking for other good Indian movies, you must look at either the films of Bengal or Kerela.

Other Ray movies not to be missed: The rest of the Apu Trilogy (duh),The Music Room, Charulata (Ray's and my favorite), and Devi.