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Reviews
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023)
Loving this so far and it's FAITHFUL!
I dunno what some of the reviewers on here are watching, they must be watching a different show to me. Walker Scobell IS Percy Jackson. The actress playing Annabeth has captured her personality perfectly the lad playing Grover has done the same. Like many young actors they aren't perfect in their abilities but neither were the Harry Potter trio in the early films.
Firstly some Percy fans need to chill out with some events from the book being changed or left out, this happens in every adaption of a book to an screen and sometimes it's direct from the author. Also we'd be on season one for years if we had every single instance from the book put in. It is a faithful adaption in every way so far, yes there are some very slight alterations but all the main events are there.
Finally, it's just a good show, I've got friends I encouraged to watch this messaging me saying how good it is and now want to loan the books off me.
I really hope this is the beginning of something special for the PJO universe.
Black Adam (2022)
Could have been to DC what Iron man was to marvel
First off the movie itself. Pretty standard superhero movie with an anti hero. Starts of outside the lines, gradually comes round, defeats the bad guy and everyone's mates again.
Good action, snappy cheesy one liners, the rock. Don't need much else for a watchable superhero movie.
The rock said this was going to change the DC universe and from the looks of the post credit scene that was clearly the intention, it eventually tied everything together, all the other DCEU movies could finally be moulded into a universe arc.
I am all for James Gunns DC universe, HOWEVER he seems intent on creating it around the 'B' heroes. You just can't do that. While I'm not discrediting John cenas peacemaker, a peacemaker movie is hardly going to have the same draw as a superman movie. If you want a DC universe you need the justice league, the same way the MCU needed the avengers. It needs its big names.
I was so hyped after that post credit scene. Finally those surprisingly well casted justice league heroes are going to get the arcs and movies they deserve.
Then it was all ripped away.
Sadly to me this movie is just a reminder of what could have been.
I hope I'm proven to be wrong.
Elvis (2022)
It made me sad, but in a good way.
A really poignant, emotional and well constructed display of the kings life, instead of showing all the glitz and glamour that came with his fame and success it showed the most probable reality. The king was abused and manipulated by the colonel, how his life spiralled slowly out of his control and he was merely a passenger in it. It is a love letter to Elvis Presley but not in how we would think, it shows the ugly of his life but also what made him great his unique music rooted in gospel, R&B and soul that forms the base of so much of the music I listen to. It of course shows him doing what he did best, entertaining, breaking the mould of music.
I enjoyed the acknowledgment of the poetic justice of these two men's lives and deaths. Elvis died beloved by many and was subsequently mourned by even more. Through all the manipulation and greed of the colonel the kings talent is what shone through and lived on and his manager disappeared into the ether forgotten, it is hard to not feel some satisfaction there.
Waterloo Road: Episode #11.4 (2023)
Brilliant representation of kids with ADHD
I've worked with young people with ADHD for years now and I have it myself. I've never seen my issue and others represented so delicately, realistically and most of all positively. It wasn't shown as a taboo Illness that signals the end of a child's educational life. But one sad thing it did show was how other people can ostracise us without understanding us and why we can behave the way we do sometimes. How all the kids with ADHD need is to be heard and understood. Others might look at the scene with Kelly Jo at the school gates screaming and crying and shaking the gates as a over dramatic and far fetched piece of drivel but it isn't it happens every day, the two actresses playing mrs spratt and Kelly Jo displayed a scene I have lived through most days, it was like looking in a mirror of my daily life.
Fatman (2020)
Fantastic Christmas viewing
I saw this pop up on sky cinema last year and opted not to watch it, took the plunge this year and I don't regret it.
It's a cool twist on what we know about Santa, I could imagine a spoilt, angry little rich kid putting a hit out on Santa in this day and age if I'm honest.
People giving this poor reviews don't understand it, it's a satirical action comedy, watching a working Santa ground down by beurocracy and the twisted nature of the modern world while trying to keep positive. But the ending is dope, it turns out Santa is a badass and so is Mrs Claus but watching him threaten a child to be good or he's coming for him with some mafia level intimidation made me audibly laugh out loud. Mel Gibson is an underrated god of the action genre.
Inbred (2011)
Is it weird I want a sequel?
Weirdly, I want a sequel.
This is clearly a ridiculous budget indie film where the guy making it has a few connections because there's a couple reasonably well known British actors in it.
While the acting and the script leaves a lot to be desired but the gore and the story is actually executed (pun intended) well, there's a clear beginning middle and end which you don't always get with films like this and you even start to root for a few of the characters particularly the last two, but we all want love to win don't we? For the sake of the story I did want one to survive. Shame really.
Anyway my sequel idea. These are all teenagers and while they may be delinquents I'm presuming they have parents. I'd like a sequel where it turns out all these kids parents are hardened gangsters, coppers, soldiers and special forces and they all descend on this sleepy Yet 100% accurately displayed Yorkshire village and take revenge on the community of brother husbands and sister wives in a similarly gruesome fashion, and this time.... ITS PERSONAL.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine: The Set Up (2021)
People don't like the political stories cause they see themselves in the wrong side
People are constantly moaning in season 8 about it being "too political" as if that is something new for B99, always has been Terry Crews' speech about racism in the police force is one the best moments of the whole show.
People are just mad they see themselves in the O'Sullivan character (who's a hilarious character BTW) and he's being portrayed as the bad guy.
Euphoria: Trouble Don't Last Always (2020)
Superb absolutely superb
I'm late to the euphoria party and if I'm honest I don't think the series as a whole is particularly good. But this episode was fantastic, it was brilliant, because it was exactly what euphoria isn't, it was minimalistic and real. Colman Domingo was outstanding in this episode, his character is one of the few I like in euphoria and this episode really let him shine. Zendaya dropped the monotone too cool for school act and made me feel something. Two people sitting in a diner having a chat and it kept me glued to the screen for a whole hour. Bravo both actors.
Euphoria (2019)
Wishes it was skins
It's a terrible representation of modern teenagers. None of them are actually like this sure there's teenagers with the issues presented in this show but are they all stuck in one place? No, no they aren't. It gets a lot of comparisons to the uk skins. It is nowhere near that level. All the cast are as unstable as effy and that's just not the case in real life. Skins is realistic because while they all have issues they are relatively normal teenagers who rally around their troubled friend.
Also the swearing is excessive. No one swears as much as they do in this show.
Black Widow (2021)
Solid, really solid showing.
Black widow finally gets her long overdue stand alone movie and although people were hoping for more of an origin story for her film this hits well and fills some gaps from her story and allows us to know Natasha Romanov better.
It appears the vibe of 'Thor: Ragnarok' is the model the MCU is following now, just enough comedy during the boring parts to keep us interested which is fine. All in all the action scenes are great and the movie is well paced. The chemistry between black widow and her sister is fantastic and they bounce off each other well. I especially enjoyed her mocking the poses.
It's also good to see more great actors in Rachel Weisz and Ray Winstone get a showing in the MCU.
A great send off for the character in my opinion.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)
A generous rating for the fact its a well done movie
Theres a couple of things right with this
1- Charecter names
2- Locations of the story
3- The protagonist actors did well.
The positives stopped there. This movie came out when the books were still coming out, I was 13 and a huge fan of the books. This is a well done movie, the acting is good and there's some good humour in there. Although Steve Coogan as Hades was an odd casting. Unfortunately its completely removed from the source material. The storyline is completely changed, I could look past the older actors (I thought they would change the series prophecy from 16 to 21). I distinctly remember sitting in the cinema and going "oh they messed up" out loud when the first image of percy pops up on the screen.
Really disappointing for what could have been the next Harry Potter.
Ginny & Georgia (2021)
This made me feel old...
I'm 24... the characters are making references to popular culture from my (and most likley the casts) youth and referring to it as retro. The 00s is retro now. I have a weird fascination with these high school teen dramas. Mid 20s cast playing characters almost 10 years younger than them? Sign me tf up.
It's pretty funny, witty and has a good story. I'm from the UK so I dont know what US high school is like, but it portrayed a lot of the coming of age stories really well. It was really cringe at times, both in the good and bad ways. The Taylor swift joke made me giggle. Weirdly I felt myself relating to the mother more, because I realised I'm actually closer to her age. See I'm getting old.
Was good to see my boy Jason Street back though!
Also I've never felt a quote more than when georgia said "we're broke as hell, welcome to adulthood" I felt that in my soul.
Overall pretty good, worth watching.
Adding more:
I don't understand the hate on Ginny's character! She behaves in a way that is totally normal for a teenager with mental health issues. That is what people with mental health issues do, they put on a front then behind closed doors it all comes out in some form, in Ginnys case it is self harm. Occasionally however it bubbles over and they give outbursts to people. Georgia as her mother has no boundaries, is extremely overbearing and doesn't allow Ginny any space to breathe or process her past trauma, instead she encourages her to ignore it and bury it deep down.
There's a lot of excellent portrayals on real world issues however, particularly from Ginny hers are the most authentic.
Also on the cliffhanger, the police can't actually prove Georgia killed Cynthia's husband unless obviously some mystery evidence comes out in season 3. Just because she was there doesn't prove she did it. In reality a barrister that costs as much as Paul's family one probably does would have her out of custody within 10 minutes. But for the sake of the story I imagine she'll go down.
The 100 (2014)
Lexa deserved better
Binge watching this again to ignore my uni work. I still find clarke extremely annoying, for some great leader shes incapable of making a decision. It's interesting Kaine becomes Simon socialist as soon as he leaves space.
Octavia is still the best character, indra is still a badass and Lexa still deserved a better death than being accidentally shot.
Also this is the most aesthetically pleasing post apocalyptic group of people I've ever seen. Seriously, everyone is hot, it's odd.
Doctor Who: It Takes You Away (2018)
A solid 7 for the first 40 odd minutes
This was a good episode, a bit creepy, intriguing plot, a good villain and I emotionally connected with the characters. It's no secret the chibnall era of nuwho has been a tad inconsistent, but this was a good episode. Right up until the damn talking frog. It didnt completely ruin it, but why? Why a talking frog? It made no sense.
But overall a good episode and further highlighted how incredibly dirty Jodie Whitaker is being done
Dirty Grandpa (2016)
ITS NOT PC
I urge anyone who hasn't to watch the longer uncut version. It's dead funny. This film is not PC but it's not offensive either, it's vulgar, sarcastic silly. Zac Efron seems to have a talent for these movies, he does them well. Robert DeNiro seems to enjoy them too. That's why I think it's good. I get the feeling everyone involved was enjoying themselves while making it.
I laughed for two hours solid.
Definitely worth watching
Utopia (2020)
Haven't seen the original in a while, but this is just as good so far
I forgot how unbelievably ruthless this series was. I've always had a morbid interest in conspiracy theories, never really believed them obviously but it's always cool to see them imagined in the real world.
It's American so obviously it's a little different. It's definitely missing that british grittiness though.
Ackley Bridge (2017)
Better than Waterloo road!
Bro, this made me feel a lot of stuff, it tackles big issues in a brilliant way, the comedy in it is timed perfectly and the more serious parts are done fantastically. Having only left school in the U.K. 7 years ago I found I could relate to the characters in this more so than Waterloo road, it's a really good representation of the U.K. secondary education Environment and particularly the One I was in. A little more realistic than Waterloo road as well.
Also I love Mrs Paracher and want to be related to her.