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Guitarbarian
Reviews
The Last Kingdom (2015)
True Epic that doesn't let up
Simply put a great story told amazingly well and satisfying throughout. Television and RPG fans will adore it.
For fans of the medieval, historical genre. I have not seen a better series.
The tale of Uhtred and his life interweaves with English history and the formation of the nation.
The first season starts of well if perhaps a little slow, the colours have that classic cliched muting in favour of saturation. As Netflix picks it up after season 2, thankfully they move away from this trope.
Excellently shot, well developed characters with real arcs, the show carries the works of Bernard Cornwell expertly. It follows the stories of the book series and can be helpful to be aware of this. Some seasons will cover multiple stories some fewer but there are distinct beginnings and ends that follow in a sequence.
Characters are well developed with excess dialogue and human moments behind their interactions which so many modern shows entirely lack. Every choice has a repercussion later in the narrative and every character has to face the outcomes of these choices.
It has several very popular contemporaries in the genre but this stands out as one of the very best.
If you are a fan of the genre, history or even just a fan of great television this is a strong recommend from me.
Destiny, is all!
La planète sauvage (1973)
One of the great pieces of art of the last millennia
Fantastic Planet.
Where to begin. To assess this film, particularly in the category that it exists of animation it truly has no peer.
Based on the book, La Planète Sauvage, Fantastic Planet is an animated film depicting the imaginary, inventive world of the Draags. Mankind is a lower, animal creature and you learn about this universe through the eyes of the orphan protagonist.
As with all concept films of the era there is more than meets the eye and an open-mind and desire to understand is a necessary requirement.
The art is incredibly Dali-esque with gorgeous attention to detail in almost every frame. The surreal and other worldly visuals accompany the sultry jazz-funk soundtrack to give an unmistakably 70's vibe that befits it perfectly.
Given the extent of the information and world contained, pacing wise it feels as if the production rushes to meet its end at a slightly disorienting pace as can be the problem with book adaptations. More character depth would also be a very welcome addition that is also perhaps marred by the lack of time to explore, the book embellishes and ties together much more of this story. However, any film where the criticism is that you'd prefer it if it was longer is rarely if ever a valid fault.
Purely for the aesthetic and unique value this film brings I cannot recommend it enough. For those interested in psychedelia, science-fiction or incredible jazz-funk music (preferably all 3) set up an evening and arrange to watch it now.
Experience the Fantastic Planet.
Zardoz (1974)
Psychedelia at its peak
Don't be fooled by the hyper campy 70's mankini clad Sean Connery, there is a lot to unpack here.
Are you a fan of high concept cinema that brazenly attempts more than could possibly be chewed off?
Look no further. A true cult classic piece of 70's psychedelic cinema. On the surface it has a strange sci-fi adventure plot, with simple themes of masculinity, culture and humanity. What it transpires is that the film actually is attempting to address the great existential questions in a dizzyingly elaborate yet hippy-idyllic-communal world.
Surreal and intense at times, the pacing is not inept and rises to a substantial conclusion but if you are not following at certain key moments it will become very confusing, very fast.
Whilst the effects range from quite simple to incredible use of mirrors and projection. All of them hold up surprisingly well, a credit to the creativity and film-making on display here.
This is not going to be a film for everyone but if you are inclined, interested and willing to give it the attention it will need it might just rock your world.
Monster: The Bogeyman (2022)
Bizarre Message
I had very much enjoyed the show until this point if having a few issues with the depiction or lack of gruesome reality.
The concept of displaying a show from the perspective of such a strange and dangerous individual is naturally an interesting prospect. As the show moves away from this focus and real life account however is where the wheels fall almost entirely off.
This episode, in particular, seems to have taken such an artistic license with the source material that it veers so violently towards an at best fictitious sub-plot and at worst a blame removal for an incredibly dangerous and sordid individual. From reading criticisms of the show by those involved in the case first-hand, many of the scenes portrayed are not only not real or highly exaggerated but try to pen all of the fault of this notorious, wicked, and depraved murderer entirely upon a system of injustice.
Outlaw King (2018)
Underrated Braveheart Beater?
Another film that seems to have been given a lower score than I would have imagined upon watching.
-If my score was more specific I would've given it an 8.5 but in this case I'm happy to round it up. -
The film features similar events to Braveheart and depicts the gritty Scottish plight of independence well. Expect muddy, brutal battles, world building traversing, group rousing sabotage and authentic debate, all handled well here. You will be disappointed if you were expecting stereotypical kilt-wearing-blueface-screaming as it opts for a more balanced historical medieval politic and realism. This, for me, is a much welcome addition to the narrative and increases the immersion that often befits historical films of this genre.
The pacing, for the most part, is well executed. Whilst lacking in the lyrical charm of its counterpart Braveheart's opening act, the latter stages are handled far better and I was left feeling like I would be happy to explore more, not just to Robert The Bruce's story but to some of his perhaps under fleshed out contemporaries. The excellently handled Black Douglas (Aaron Taylor Johnson) being one.
Chris Pine commits a surprisingly measured performance in his role and has gone up in my estimations. The perhaps overacted elements of Mel Gibson's character by contrast, with his unnecessary (entirely historically inaccurate) seduction of the French maiden completely cheapened his character arc and did no service to the plot other than perhaps to highlight the use of Mel Gibson. There is none of that here and the romantic element is held with care, intent and respect, if perhaps a little undercooked.
This film deserves at minimum a 7.6 and at maximum an 8.5 depending on how much your cup of tea the genre is. For me its the latter and to be so far off the more famous Braveheart is an injustice and perhaps should even be Outlawed.
If it's your thing watch it. If it isn't try it.