ErReads Reviews

Ahsoka (2023– )

Least favorite Star Wars live-action media

[5/10 · 5 October 2023]

I was really looking forward to this series, as I typically love all Star Wars movies and series. But...ugh. This really was disappointing for me. I know people are raving about it - and I don't usually differ THIS much from the average - but I really did not react as most people did.

I think the main reason may be that many reviewers were kids when they saw the Clone Wars series and Rebels - and so they have a very strong attachment and affection for those characters. I watched those 2 series as an adult. I really enjoyed them, but maybe don't have the same nostalgia?

On to my reaction.....the biggest issues for me with the series: (1) The actors were bland and low-energy. The only character that had charisma and energy was Ezra. Ray Stevenson (Baylon) also had a great presence, but his character mostly stood still, peering off into the distance.

(2) I thought the pacing was just slow as molasses. This could have been told in half the episodes.

(3) Writing/story-telling issues. The fact that Sabine basically reversed Ezra's sacrifice for the galaxy was pretty much glossed over. Even Ezra apparently had zero problems with the fact that now millions might die since Thrawn and Nightsisters are back. Additionally, the reunions between Ezra and Sabine, and at the end, Ezra and Hera, made it seem like they had only been apart for a couple of weeks. Their reunions should have been joyous with hugs galore! There were way more story-telling problems, not worth detailing as it would take time and not change the overall review.

(4) Disney needs to recast Leia, Han and Luke so we can see these characacters interact with current characters. I am not sure what the big hangup is here. They are really ham-stringing themselves from telling much better stories!

What I did like about the series: (1) Kevin Kiner did an amazing job with the soundtrack.

(2) I liked Ezra very much.

(3) Anakin's appearance was quite good, and I liked the World Between Worlds episode a lot.

To give anyone reading this review a good idea of my typical reaction to Star Wars series, here are my IMDB ratings: --Book of Boba Fett 7/10 --Rebels 8/10 --Clone Wars 9/10 --Mandalorian 10/10 -- Bad Batch 10/10.

Foundation (2021– )

Sci Fi Game of Thrones

[10/10 · 18 September 2023]

The Foundation series has the possibility of eventually taking over my number one favorite series ever, Game of Thrones. I probably need 2 more seasons to see if that will be the case.

Basically, Foundation is a fantastic, epic-in-scale, emotional, thrilling, full-of-twists, Sci-Fi series. There are so many compelling characters to adore (though sadly, they don't all survive the seasons). The CGI, cinematography and music are A+. The actors are great (well, with one who isn't quite as good as the others, but she's not terrible).

It is going to be a LONG wait for the next season - especially so, due to the writers strike. :(

Star Wars: The Bad Batch: Plan 99 (2023) Season 2, Episode 16

Excellent, emotional finale for Season 2

[31 March 2023]

The latter half of season 2 of Bad Batch has been really great, equaling season 7 of Clone Wars for me. I am not a big animation fan, and in fact, Clone Wars, Rebels and Bad Batch are the only animated series content I have truly liked since becoming an adult.

In a nutshell: this two-part finale was excellent. I actually shed a couple of tears!! Tech's death was very sad and unexpected (at least to me). I think the musical compostion really boosted the emotional aspect of the last couple of episodes of the season. That, along with the character development (Tech getting more in touch with his feelings, Hunter's fatherly agony/determination when Omega was taken, the obvious grief of Wrecker's face while trying to comfort Omega after Tech's death). This must have been a heavy watch for the kids watching the finale.

I was glad episode ended on a note of sheer determination (the Batch determined to rescue Omega) and interesting mystery, with Omega learning that she had an older clone sister. I look forward to seeing how these storylines play out next season. I hope it isn't a long wait!

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

Very Entertaining and fun. Loved seeing the support and warmth of the Ant-Man family!

[8/10 · 17 February 2023]

Despite some storyline choppiness, I thought this was a thoroughly fun and entertaining film. All of the central characters are very engaging to watch. Paul Rudd had great father-daughter chemistry with Kathryn Newton. Jonathan Majors is great as the villain. And I even liked most of the new side characters, including a red blob-like creature, a telepath and a warrior woman.

MCU has had some misses post-endgame for me, but this wasn't one of them. Quantumania isn't a 10/10 for me, but it still delivered an enjoyable couple of hours and I look forward to seeing where things go from here. The mid-credits and post-credits scenes really sealed the story as well.

I disagree with critics on this one! This definitely is way higher than a 43% it has on rotten tomatoes.

Edit: One reviewer said this movie had no heart. I don't know what they are talking about. This was an MCU movie in which a family (The Ant-Man Family) loved each other, supported each other, displayed forgiveness and affection towards each other. That was one of the things I liked most about it.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Fantastic, Emotional Movie, but need more light!

[9/10 · 24 January 2023]

I absolutely loved this movie. Even days later, I will cry listening to Rihanna's Lift Me Up, which very much encapsulates the emotion and spirit of the movie.

Leticia Wright, Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira and Lupita Nyong'o hit it out of the park. The acting of each of these ladies, especially Wright and Bassett, was just perfection. I didn't think there was any way I could accept Shuri as Black Panther, but now I do.

This would have been a 10/10, but....the darkness of so many scenes was just ridiculous. I don't understand this new filmmaker fad of having half your scenes in close to absolute darkness. I am looking forward to watching the movie again on TV when I can dial up the brightness.

Prescription Thugs (2015)

Terrible documentary

[1/10 · 28 August 2022]

This is really just the filmmaker exploring his familial issues involving drug addiction - and trying to blame it all on the pharmaceutical industry. His go-to source for the "medical" voice on the issue is........ a homeopathic doctor. Seriously. Cause sure, homeopathic doctors don't try to sell people on ingesting pill after pill of questionable, non-FDA approved or monitored substances. SMH. Clearly, this filmmaker has some personal issues and I feel it would have been a good idea for someone to stop him from making this. Of course, the pharamceutical industry is not blameless in opioid addiction, but there is a lot more to the story than that and you don't get any of that - or anything actually backed up with data/science/studies in this film.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Story: 1/10 Visuals/Composition: 9/10

[6/10 · 24 August 2022]

Technically if I was going to average my two ratings, this would be a 5/10, but I went up a point just because the cinematography really is beautiful. There isn't much of a story. Characters have pretty much zero background. They also barely speak. Charlize Theron has the most depth so I liked her the best.

The Orville (2017–2022)

Seasons 1-2 mediocre; Season 3 Great!

[9/10 · 21 August 2022]

Season 3 was a huge improvement on this show. The acting, writing, CGI and overall tone/direction came together and I enjoyed every episode (except the haunted house themed one). The finale really made me smile - and tear-up in a good way. I promptly changed my previous IMBD rating of 6.5 to an 8.5 (rounded to 9)!

Victoria's Secret: Angels and Demons (2022)

Overshadowed

[3/10 · 19 July 2022]

This documentary had so many interesting elements and history to explore regarding its topic. But unfortunately all of that was was overshadowed by the non-stop slew of pouty lips, cleavage, etc etc. SO.., let's see, in a documentary pointing out the sexism and misogyny of these billionaire men, the documentary itself fully embraced the objectification of women- in order to (likely) please men viewers.

It was kind of disgusting, to be quite honest. Could have been a 7/10 if more restraint in documentary style had been applied. Instead, gets a 3/10.

Austenland (2013)

Truly terrible movie

[1/10 · 8 May 2022]

One of the worst movies I've seen in a long long time. Truly low quality all across the board. The writing and dialogue are 2nd grade level quality- but with some sexual references sprinkled in. Acting is weird, flat, off, etc. Like the movie was made by editing together all the first takes. Keri Russell is dreadful in it: Bored, bland, mute half the time. The character of Nobly is the only one somewhat well acted.

I gave up at the halfway point. Feel bad for anyone who paid to see this in a theater.

I never rate movies a "1." Ever. This is a first for me.

All Creatures Great and Small (2020– )

Charming and cozy!

[10/10 · 24 January 2022]

I adore this show! I probably can't add anything different from what offer positive reviews say but I recommend ignoring the negative reviews! The show does not need to be exactly like the book. Or need to be like the older series decades ago. It takes the wonderful characters and ideas of the books and presents in a new way. The characters are lovable. The settings are beautiful and quaint. The human and animal stories are well done and interesting. I find myself smiling at the end of every episode!

Strike Back (2010–2020)

Give the new team another try! You won't regret it!

[10/10 · 22 September 2021]

I hadn't seen Strike Back since Scott and Stonebridge left because I didn't have Cinemax. Then recently I decided to get a month subscription so I could watch the last 3 seasons. The first season (Retribution) of the new team was pretty rough and I wasn't sure I was going to go on. But by the end of that season, the show improved. (Gracie Novin in particular is really appealing as a character).

As it turns out, I was really glad I persisted! Season 7 (Revolution) was actually great. It had an interesting storyline, several new charismatic characters (one played by Jamie Barber of Battlestar Galactica fame), and the interactions between the team seemed natural.

And then the final season: who knew Strike Back could actually make me cry? (See episode 6). And the finale was so cinematic. The settings, cinematography, music, story and ending scene were just great.

Overall, Strike Back was a very entertaining show, start to finish. I know I am probably not the target audience because I really dislike the ridiculous sex scenes (I can't stop thinking about how these male characters must have so many STDs). And there are too many scenes involving torture-which I strongly dislike. But the action, settings and characters make it worth it.

The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021)

Really enjoyed this!

[9/10 · 28 August 2021]

After watching this movie, I looked at the reviews here on IMDB and I see that many reviews are very critical. I think I see a trend; people who are familiar with the books (and maybe games?) had issues with the script and writing. I did not read the books or play the games. I have only watched (and loved) the Netflix series. I thought this story was really interesting and I liked the characters. I thought the animation quality was especially good.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch: Kamino Lost (2021) Season 1, Episode 16

Great finale!

[10/10 · 14 August 2021]

I truly don't quite understand the negative reviews for this episode. Personally, I thought it was a terrific episode. Very reminiscent of movies such as Poseidon Adventure, The Abyss or Underwater. It was really well-done and even had emotional moments. Overall, I thought this first season of the show was really good.

Big Little Lies (2017–2019)

Season 1- 10 stars, Season 2 - DNF

[7/10 · 19 May 2021]

I had trouble deciding how many stars I would give this as I disliked the second season so much I stopped watching after the 4th episode. Season 1 was fantastic. Great acting, great story, great mystery, great characters, great direction. Season 2's storyline didn't really interest me, and I found myself deeply disliking every character (like really, ALL of them, male and female alike) except for Jane. The acting was great again, so I can't fault that. Just the writing and character development/actions was not for me. I settled on 7 stars for the show as a whole.

The Queen's Gambit (2020)

Mesmerizing

[10/10 · 8 November 2020]

Mesmerizing. Captivating. It is hard to explain how this series grabs you. I thought the first two episodes were good but a bit slow, and I wasn't sure I would end up agreeing with 10/10 reviewers. BUT THEN, episode 3 basically sucked me into the point that I stayed up several hours later than I should of, until I reached the gorgeous final episode. The Queens Gambit is of the highest quality on all levels: acting, story, characters, soundtrack, cinematography, sets, costuming, and just overall production. I highly recommend it!!

X Company (2015–2017)

Fantastic show!

[10/10 · 29 September 2020]

I took a chance on this largely unknown (in the USA) show and it definitely was worth it! It was REALLY really good. The character portrayals, relationships, and the stories were exciting, expertly executed and had depth to them. Episodes were equal parts thrilling and heartbreaking. The sets, costuming, and music were fantastic. And to top it all off, the series ends in an emotional and satisfying way - something that is important to me when it comes to series. I went back and watched the final 20 minutes several times just for the emotion of it all!

If you like spy shows, and if the WW2 era setting sounds intriguing, I highly recommend this show. My only warnings: if you don't like violence in your media, or losing characters you care about, X Company probably isn't for you. There is quite a bit of violence, blood and torture. The show is pretty dark much of the time (unavoidably so, as it deals with Nazis), and gets darker as the seasons go on.

Enola Holmes (2020)

Delightful movie

[10/10 · 24 September 2020]

This was a very delightful movie. It was beautiful to look at and had an entertaining story. I am pretty confused by the low reviews.

The Orville: A Happy Refrain (2019) Season 2, Episode 6

So sweet!

[9/10 · 30 August 2020]

This season has been mostly duds as far as I'm concerned (except for Nothing Left on Earth Except Fishes). But I really loved this episode. It was funny and sweet. Overall, I kind of wish The Orville would stop focusing on domestic relationships but even so, this one worked. It probably didn't hurt that Singin in the Rain is a favorite oldie movie of mine, so the music alone made me smile. I also thought a lot of the visuals in the episode were great including the symphony performance and the two-star system the ship encountered. I hope this episode marks the start of improved storytelling for the rest of the season.

Person of Interest: 4C (2014) Season 3, Episode 13

How can the show continue to be this good?

[8 July 2020]

Seriously. One episode after another I finish it and say "man that was great." This one was funny, massively entertaining, felt like a movie, and ended on a slightly emotional and fulfilling note. 10/10

Person of Interest: The Devil's Share (2013) Season 3, Episode 10

Can't believe how good this show is

[7 July 2020]

Honestly I can't. This show is just one great episode after another. Even the more procedural episodes are thoroughly entertaining and engaging.

I was very worried that Carter's absence would hinder my enjoyment (as she was my favorite character) but based on this episode, I think I might be okay. In fact, this is one of the top 3 episodes of the series to date. The actor who plays Fusco has just been blowing me away with the emotion - and still the bits of typical Fusco-humor. I have been thinking for awhile now that Fusco should be the one to kill Simmons (not John). And I thought that is what was going to happen and then his words and actions at the end made me cry. He totally honored Carter by the way he handled it. additionally, I so so loved the ending to this episode. So many fascinating characters connected in different ways. The writing for this show is fabulous.

Person of Interest: The Crossing (2013) Season 3, Episode 9

Stellar acting

[6 July 2020]

My god, I am a bit of an emotional wreck after this episode. The actors playing Fusco, Carter and John were just so fantastic. The story was gripping. I can not wait until Simmons pays a price for his evil!!

Person of Interest: Prisoner's Dilemma (2013) Season 2, Episode 12

Fantastic episode

[28 June 2020]

I am bingeing my way through POI, and basically, it is a fantastic show. And this episode is just perfect entertainment. Every single thing about it. Kudos to the writers for coming up with all the twists and turns, and even the fun little jaunt with Fusco. 10/10 A++

Battlestar Galactica (2004–2009)

8.5 stars for series as a whole

[8/10 · 16 February 2020]

For years I had heard that Battlestar Galactica was the best science fiction series ever. My verdict? No, it was not the "best" science fiction series ever, but it was entertaining and I am glad I watched it. I have a feeling that it might have felt like the best if I had watched it when it aired. (For me personally, the best would probably be The Expanse, Fringe or (new) Doctor Who).

I really liked seasons 1, 2 and 4. Season 3 was awful for a long stretch and I almost gave up, but the season finale was fantastic and kept me going. Overall, what I liked about this series: the space battles, the cinematography, setting, musical score and plot. What I didn't like about this series were the inconsistent, overly soap-operaesque characters. Every character (with the exception of Helo and Athena) was a horrid person (with moments of goodness thrown in here and there). I didn't find anyone particularly likeable per se. Not sure if that was bad writing or intentional.

The finale had a couple of iffy aspects, but as a whole, I was satisfied.

Doctor Who: Can You Hear Me? (2020) Season 12, Episode 7

9.5 stars

[10/10 · 16 February 2020]

I thought this was a fantastic episode. It was creepy, emotional and had interesting concepts. The only negative is something I am finding in all episodes since season 11: the music just doesn't fit what is going on all the time. The music always has a droning, suspense feel and that doesn't fit all scenes. It makes the tone and mood of the episodes wonky for me. I wish Murray Gold was back!