ijameson Reviews

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)

Nothing happens

[2/10 · 10 May 2024]

Another empty addition to the franchise that adds nothing. I assume the original cast needed the money, because there was on other reason to be part of this dreck.

The action is boring, the story is boring, the dialog is boring.

An evil god is released by an irresponsible child, but all is forgiven, because that's what family does. The saviour of mankind becomes amazing after 5 minutes of practice.

The evil dude is not even seen for 99% of the movie, and is easily dispatched when he finally turns up. Thanks to a bonding moment. Go you all American family!

Just stick to the original. It's still a fun movie to watch. Everything after is not.

The Marvels (2023)

Truely awful

[1/10 · 19 January 2024]

It's astonishing that this got the green light to be produced, and then during production no one had the backbone to mention just how awful it was.

Once again Larson phones in her role. There is no humanity behind her acting. The other characters were poor caricatures of what real people are like. Perhaps that was for comedic effect, but it failed if it was.

The action was tame, the script was embarrassing, and the effects were second rate.

I have to assume Jackson needs the money to appear in something as bad as this.

This was a pointless movie that just confirms that the MCU universe is devoid of interest and originality.

65 (2023)

Wasted opportunity

[5/10 · 12 April 2023]

This has very little going for it.

It adds nothing to the science fiction survivalist genre.

The plot is silly, the reason they crashed is silly.

The relationship between the 2 actors is non existent. They have no chemistry, entirely due to a plot device.

There is no reason to care about them, no reason to care what happens to them, or their mission.

The action is uninspiring, although the effects are decent.

This could have been epic, but is barely better than the Will Smith disaster "After Earth".

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The Portable Door (2023)

Inoffensive

[5/10 · 12 April 2023]

An inoffensive nothing movie with inoffensive young lead actors, who do inoffensive things, and act in inoffensive ways.

The story is inoffensive, the action is tame, unconvincing, and inoffensive.

The makeup is inoffensive, and the creatures shown are inoffensive.

There is nothing to this movie. Nothing under it, nothing behind it. Did I mention that it is inoffensive?

Waltz, Neill, and Otto are completely wasted here. They act as if they are in a pantomime. Given their abilities, that's slightly offensive.

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Black Adam (2022)

Silly nonsense

[4/10 · 30 December 2022]

Another silly origin story that has few redeeming qualities.

If the point was to show the superheroes as arrogant and unappealing, then mission accomplished.

And why so many, especially minor inconsequential characters? Only 2 of the superheroes made any contribution, so why add another 2 who didn't? One was the obvious comic relief, but the other had no purpose.

Black Adam was pretty useless. A being possessing god -like powers, who is easily defeated? Come on. His disdain for life got old quickly. As did his disdain for doors. His attempts at humour failed badly.

There was no point to this movie, and it's unlikely there will be a sequal.

The Flash: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Three (2019) Season 6, Episode 9

Major disappointment

[2/10 · 30 December 2022]

Watching these 5 crossover episodes was like watching a very long, very bad, episode of the Power Rangers.

The plot was woeful, and the script embarrassing.

And in all the years these shows have been running, why have none of the younger actors become better actors? They are as wooden as they were in the first season.

The humour was humourless. The action was Power Ranger bad. The resolution was pathetic.

The real insult was making viewers wait 6 seasons for this rubbish, then forcing us to watch a low quality show like Batwoman.

Who in their right mind puts Ruby Rose in a starring role? Then puts far better actors in minor roles that aren't fully utilised? What a waste.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: All Those Who Wander (2022) Season 1, Episode 9

Star Trek Uhura

[4/10 · 7 July 2022]

This could have been the best episode of the season, except the writers decided to ruin it by following Uhura, a minor character who is apparently now an expert in absolutely everything, even though she isn't part of the crew.

Please find writers who understand Roddenberry's vision, not this politically correct nonsense.

Foundation (2021– )

The politically correct Foundation no one asked for

[3/10 · 16 June 2022]

This is the racist version of Asimov's masterpiece, where black women are the heroes, and white men the villains.

Visually stunning, and Harris was always going to be great, but he can't carry this nonsense.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022– )

Significantly better than Discovery

[4/10 · 23 May 2022]

But so far has just been episodes following a woman crew member, showing how strong and resourceful she is.

I'm looking forward to this becoming less politically correct, and more Star Trek.

Update: Unfortuantely it has remained politically correct, preferring to follow women, rather than explore interesting ideas. It still isn't a real Star Trek.

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

Better than Marvel

[8/10 · 23 May 2022]

This was a weird, funny, and moving, movie about a woman who wanted to do her taxes.

It is significantly better than the majority of Marvel movies, that start with CGI and make a movie around it. This movie put the story first, and used CGI as needed.

Moonfall (2022)

Silly empty movie

[3/10 · 2 April 2022]

This is a Sunday afternoon matinee movie that you forget as you leave the cinema.

Nice effects can't carry a movie that ignores centuries of evolutionary science.

The Adam Project (2022)

Another anti-science science fiction

[6/10 · 18 March 2022]

What's with the nonsense claim that there are things "man" just shouldn't know? It is a dumb and lazy plot device.

And apparently electromagnets are selective about the objects they attract, and when. Who knew?

The inserted music is inappropriate, and Reynolds doesn't bother playing any character but Reynolds, but here is some genuine humour.

Ok to watch once.

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

More average Marvel

[5/10 · 17 March 2022]

Just more of the same average CGI based movies you can expect from Marvel.

At least they have toned down Parker being a whiney teenager.

It adds nothing.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

More of the same from Marvel

[5/10 · 24 February 2022]

Although it gets a bonus point for not being totally driven by CGI.

Having said that, the CGI fights are, again, obviously fake. And I would suggest that any actor with only one name should never be employed. They will almost certainly be wrong for the movie.

Better than some Marvel movies, about the same as the others. You know what you are getting.

Stir of Echoes (1999)

Surprising gem

[8/10 · 4 February 2022]

A great horror/thriller without any unnecessary gore. It is reasonably taut, with no scenes included just for filler. If it's there, it's because the viewer needs to see it.

Kevin Bacon proves again that he is a great actor, but all of the supporting cast do a great job.

Definitely worth watching.

Eternals (2021)

Awful nonsense

[1/10 · 16 January 2022]

This is what Hollywood has come to.

Clichéd, average acting, average effects, obviously fake fights, and a central tenet that is Matrix-level stupid in a movie no where near as good as the Matrix.

Avoid.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

An unnecessary remake

[3/10 · 8 January 2022]

Another politically correct remake ruining the original movie. The characters are forced, and unlike the original, there is no chemistry.

Don't bother if you are a die-hard fan. You will be disappointed.

The Matrix Resurrections (I) (2021)

Poor parody of original

[2/10 · 31 December 2021]

Imagine a politically correct millennial getting the original script, adding women to make it gender neutral, then making those women strong enough to fight agents. Just because women have to be shown as strong, no matter how little sense it makes within the matrix universe.

The first half just copies the original movie. The second half the other two.

This is a movie that should not have been made. It gets two stars for Neil Patrick Harris.

Dune (2021)

Excellent

[8/10 · 23 October 2021]

Reasonably true to the book, but with a completely unnecessary politically correct sex change for one character.

This change also affects a relationship with another important character. Perhaps it will be ignored, or unnecessarily changed as well.

So it only gets 8 *'s.

Beautifully shot, and well acted. Paul's plight is very believable, with the movie setting up his fate without being ham fisted.

Looking forward to part 2.

Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)

A confusing mess

[3/10 · 14 October 2021]

This is a movie that had no idea what it wanted to be.

Was it John Wick? Was it 300? Was it a comedy?

Add an awful script, and the stupidest fight scenes, and you have a movie not really worth watching.

Free Guy (2021)

Cashing in on Ryan Renolds' popularity.

[4/10 · 11 October 2021]

A disappointing movie that exists only because Renolds is popular at the moment.

If you have seen him on YouTube over the past 12 months, then you have seen him in this movie.

Some nice effects, but they can't carry the movie.

Not really worth watching unless you are a die-hard RR fan.

Justice Society: World War II (2021)

Not worth the effort to watch

[1/10 · 28 September 2021]

Pretty much nothing about this is worth a positive comment. A stupid story, with below average voice acting, and average animation.

Don't bother.

What We Do in the Shadows (2014)

Overrated

[3/10 · 19 September 2021]

A plodding mockumentary following some Vampires in New Zealand.

It's not particularly interesting, and the violence and humour is simplistic.

Greyhound (2020)

Vanilla war movie

[4/10 · 18 September 2021]

While competently acted, as you would expect from Tom Hanks, and well made, it ended up being very vanilla.

There was very little tension, or suspense.

Barely worth watching.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)

Has aged well

[7/10 · 3 August 2021]

Still a good movie, 10 years after being made.

The acting isn't terribly consistent, but the young actors did what they could.

Better than the first part, but is let down by the incredibly weak ending of the final battle.