AsianTalentHollywood Reviews

Dark Matter (2024– )

This is a bad version of Altered Carbon

[4/10 · 16 May 2024]

The script is really cliche and quite bad. I'll start with that as an excuse as to why Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly are just awful in this. But that doesn't explain everything because these two have no chemistry on screen. To make matters worse, the slow "perfect family life" start is just horrible. Every line and every scene is so rehashed from thousands of other shows that it's hard to even care about an upcoming storyline that might be good. I like these kinds of themes, and yet it continues to go downhill every episode with no excitement, no interesting characters, nothing happening, and no explanation as to where this is going. All that before I even complain about more white stars when I would loved to see any other color and some fresh faces. The only reason my rating is even this high is because there is potential that was totally wasted and the original music score works.

Bridgerton (2020– )

The 1800s turned upside down in wildly crazy fun way

[7/10 · 16 May 2024]

Let me start by saying this is so NOT my kind of show and I randomly started watching Season 1 just as the new season is about to begin. I binged the first season. Bridgerton is a modern day view of women saying, "this is how we are treated and feel" but taking the issues happening in the 2020s and shoving in the early 1800s in a time that actually treated women horribly and created humor and fun and slowly showing you how little women have progressed in over 200 years. The show mixes teen dramedy, mean girls, Harry Potter vibes with gossip columnist narration by Julie Andrews, with Cinderella predictable storylines, love sex and nudity and then writes about modern day issues but flops it into the 1800s Victorian, high society visuals that shouldn't work at all, but boarders on brilliant. What ties it all together is outstanding casting, colorful costumes and the race blind high society "isshues" and a script that finds clever ways to make fun of everything. For example, while high society people are waltzing across the floor to a beautiful orchestral number, the song sounded familiar. It was Madonna's Material Girl.

Devs (2020)

Right and wrong are not one thing...

[8/10 · 2 May 2024]

Slow burn series can fail miserably or succeed artistically. This show has a wonderful cast that feels like casting went out to do the work to find the best and not the most famous. When you add to this the complexity of the show and the exciting writing that doesn't feed us the same cliche lines, you have the foundation of something great. While it almost touches on great, it is excellent. This is a film about "development" but as it unfolds it really turns it into the morals of each main character and even supporting characters. AND it's a thriller! One of the things that I really found an artistic appreciation for is the very original way they told the back stories. While always necessary, they often become mundane and very unoriginal. This show really makes you think and those are the best shows.

Showdown at the Grand (2023)

For those who LOVE the movie theater, you get it

[7/10 · 20 January 2024]

This was pure fun and I had a number of LOL moments (Moses vs. Nazis) that was a mashup of Tarantino and Cinema Paradisio (Best Foreign Language Film 1988) with maybe a shoutout to French "Elvis" Johnny Hallyday? For me the simplicity of the story comes with a warm fuzzy feeling of being a kid watching movies on the big screen on a Saturday afternoon and walking away having been on an adventure. Shout out to Dolph Lundgren who owned his cheesy 70's b-flick character. Pure fun and I think anyone who doesn't enjoy the film is thinking too hard and needs to enjoy the ride and not try to figure out why the roll bar is too tight. I for one love independent film making for this very reason, artists enjoying making films and entertaining audiences. I was entertained.

The Brothers Sun (2024)

More asian stereotype heavy series

[6/10 · 6 January 2024]

Let's get this out of the way. Stop, please stop with stereotype Asian series! Chinese gangs, fight fight fight, and to cover all the bases, add in a younger brother who is the perfect nerdy Asian stereotype. As far as the series goes, we've seen this too many times and there is nothing new or original. Justin Chien is good as the older brother, but Sam Li really doesn't seem to get what project he's in because the comedy he's providing belongs somewhere else. He's not playing "clueless" to the family business, he's just playing bad, nerdy humor. Luckily Michelle Yeoh holds things together, but not enough to make this anything more than something good enough to watch if you can't find anything better. Back to my original thought, stop, please stop with the stereotype Asian series and give us something more original.

Dragons of Wonderhatch (2023– )

A very successful Disney+ original

[7/10 · 26 December 2023]

This is wonderful for a few reasons, most notably that it's not based on another source. It works as an anime and effortlessly transitions into live action. Mackenyu continues to prove what an accomplished actor he is; not just an extraordinary action star. Even as a voice over he gives his character punch. His acting is a very grounded, dramatic performance in the live action world and stands apart from the fantasy/anime part in a perfect way giving the character a sense of mystery in the live action world and a sorta anti-superhero hero. It's quite brilliant.

The anime part itself is an exciting adventure that can stand on its own and fits perfectly with a Disney audience. In fact, Disney could just as easily turn the anime world into a live action sequel since the adventure itself is great as a standalone. Once into the real world these hero's from another world help teenagers face all the problems of being a teenager and that gives the fantasy series that wonderful feel good Disney feeling we all remember as children.

The Creator (2023)

Sophisticated, thought provoking sci-fi

[8/10 · 21 December 2023]

This is what sci-fi should be, and although the storyline and performances are great, less chase and more of the character development would have taken this to an even higher level of excellence and confusion over who to cheer for. Hence the rating. I think if this had been developed as a limited series with more time to develop back stories it could have been what it should have been.

The cinematography, location, VFX and the human like androids are all amazing and while these things don't make a great movie, that makes a great movie that much better. Shout out definitely goes out to the young child actress who absolutely holds her own among all these great performances. John David Washington, Allison Janney and Ken Watanabe have never looked better. Although Gemma Chan is one of the primary cast members, she perhaps has the performance that is the weakest.

One Piece (2023– )

Oda's vision, Mackenyu's performance

[8/10 · 31 August 2023]

It seems that Hollywood productions got wise to the fact that if you wanna work to get the best live action from Japanese manga include the author! It's seems like a no brainer and it's surprising it took this long. Visually this series is stunning and the casting, with Oda's approval, checks all the boxes in bringing the manga to live action. Mackenyu is brilliant and definitely the stand out performance. His action scenes are amazing. His skills with two swords is effortless and smooth. The other thing about his performance is how he's able to maintain the juvenile, playful fun of the series and yet give it an adult spin with his acting. It's why he shines above the rest of the cast. Inagki Godoy has the childish innocence that is a great match with Mackenyu and really embodies Luffy. While each episode seems self contained and a bit minimal in some respect, it matches the essence of Japanese manga and keeps it accessible to a broad age range. The fact that Oda was able to have editing and approval over the script is the key here. Overall, this will appeal to both fans and non fans of One Piece. It's hard to believe I'm saying this, but maybe the code has been cracked. Any studio wanting to translate Japanese manga into live action take note...include the author who knows better than you how to translate his manga.

Rubikon (2022)

Real SCIENCE Fiction

[7/10 · 2 July 2023]

Apparently most people who are giving this bad reviews think science fiction is cowboy action adventure in space. And for those who think it's too slow it's because cowboys in space again. This has the complexity of science and the philosophical questions of life and death, humanity, planet earth and the complexities of trying to understand the universe. No cowboys because this is the real thing. The concept is a great and relevant idea and the story unfolds with mysteries discovered and solved and more layers found underneath. This film is a great journey and it's refreshing to see an original dramatic movie script with depth. True Sci-Fi.

The Idol (2023)

It's COMEDY for any offended reviewer

[7/10 · 8 June 2023]

Apparently there are a lot of people that never heard of parody and are so busy being offended by everything that they end up the brunt of the joke! It is easy to see specific entertainers, reps and executives in all these characters and everything that is wrong about the entertainment industry is stuffed into the series and then amplified. To be fair, while it is funny, the thread of truth that runs through this does make you realize how much money talks and everything is about fame and money. The entertainment industry is as much about tragedy as it is fame. This won't appeal to many for this reason, but as parody, it's very good.

American Born Chinese (2023)

Very Disney

[5/10 · 27 May 2023]

Being very Disney is neither good nor bad, it's about who the audience is that will enjoy this. As yet another Asian immigrant story instead of just an Asian American story it probably starts out limiting how big it's audience will be. This seems to be a constant where Hollywood is making stories about Asian Americans that makes them look non-American. They are important stories to tell, but it's continuing to limit opportunities for Asian talent. Now on to the actual show...this is basically every Monkey King movie made in China adapted in English to a Disney audience. So basically it won't have much appeal to adults. As a teen show it's fun and fantastical like The Monkey King movies, but like the movies, it's also mostly forgettable from the fantasy aspect. Playing on stereotypes for comedy is a bit cringe worthy at times, but somehow Ben Wang pulls it off and makes it feel less cringy. The casting is fine, but it also seems more of a "grab the obvious choices" than actual best casting. All of this adds up to something that doesn't suck but also isn't great.

Knights of the Zodiac (2023)

Unexpected surprise and visually stunning

[8/10 · 27 April 2023]

Well this is a nice unexpected surprise! First, Hollywood has typically done a really bad job of translating Japanese anime to live action because they don't get it and make a mess that fans hate and non-fans don't understand. Director Baginski understands that the story can't be rushed and does a beautiful job of introducing Seiya while leaving the story with a satisfying ending that points to the next installment. Japanese American actor Mackenyu who plays the lead Seiya is an action superstar already in Japan and his mind blowing action sequences prove why. Baginski, VFX award winner, is the creative talent behind The Witcher that was also an unexpected surprise which indicates he has a big future ahead in Hollywood. The star powered cast is so cohesive and the chemistry is great; casting got it right. This is gonna be a sleeper hit. Get it while it's hot!

Beef (2023– )

Doesn't stand up to the hype...

[6/10 · 7 April 2023]

This is very convoluted with things that don't work and too many dumb ideas thrown together. First and foremost, this isn't a dark comedy or any kind of comedy, it's a drama. Perhaps the quasi-comedic (and really substandard performance) by Ali Wong makes some think it's comedy. Nope, that's just bad acting. Steven plays this as the straight forward drama it is and the two actors clash, and I'm not talking about the BEEF, but the acting. And the same could be said about the script, it's not meaty. The other performances are good, but ultimately it's hard to to care about any of the characters because they are not interesting enough to care and that reflects on the quality of the script.

Monster: The Bogeyman (2022) Season 1, Episode 9

Brayden Maniago adds to great performances

[9/10 · 22 September 2022]

This episode, like "Silenced" are the best because they tell the story of Dahmer, whose mental illness was not about sexuality, but his need for power and control, and the tragedy inflicted on hundreds on people beyond those he killed. The Sinthasomphone family story is the biggest story because they had two sons victimized. While one brother escaped, the other was brutally assaulted, escaped and return to Dahmer by the police when he told them it was his boyfriend. Glenda Cleveland fought for Konerak and told police he was a child. That fell on deaf ears and he was then murdered. It never should have happened. An immigrant family was not important to police. Glenda Cleveland who tried repeatedly to get police to listen to her was a poor black woman who wasn't important to police. There were five murders that never should have happened because people of color didn't matter. This is the story that should have been told.

Monster (2022–2024)

Great performances, missed opportunities

[7/10 · 22 September 2022]

Peters is amazing not just in his acting but his embodiment of the character. Nash and Learned are also brilliant. Performances are deserving of the rating. The drawback is the sensationalized depiction, not just the focus on the grotesque murders but with dark lighting, butcher shop meat etc that seems more like a horror movie when it's a horrific true story. At ten episodes it's too long to tell this story unless it had more focus on the victims and their story, especially the Laotian family who had two brothers victimized by Dahmer. More development of victims story could have made this more interesting and less disturbing, but more importantly made this about telling the victims story. Sensationalize story telling wasn't necessary and missed an opportunity for original storytelling from the victims perspective and the impact Dahmer had exponentially on so many lives beyond just those he murdered, like Glenda Cleveland. Even the focus of those victimized is on Dahmer's family, white people. Yes they are victims too, but the balance is off.

Monster: Blood on Their Hands (2022) Season 1, Episode 5

Evan Peters...

[7/10 · 22 September 2022]

He's amazing not just in his acting but his embodiment of the character. Nash and Learned are also brilliant. Performances are deserving of the rating. The drawback is the sensationalized depiction, not just the focus on the grotesque murders but with dark lighting, butcher shop meat and overall looking too much like American Horror Story instead of a based on real life. At ten episodes it's too long to tell this story unless it had more focus on the victims and their story, especially the Laotian family who had two brothers victimized by Dahmer. Development of victims story could have made this more interesting and less disturbing, but more importantly made this about telling the victims story. Sensationalize story wasn't necessary and missed an opportunity for original storytelling from the victims perspective and the impact Dahmer had on so many lives beyond just those he murdered. Dahmer's story is not even about sexuality which seems to be the focus. He was a very mentally disturbed person who craved power and control.

The Sandman: Collectors (2022) Season 1, Episode 9

What's happening!?

[6/10 · 12 August 2022]

Not in a good way. Predictable, devoid of the complex elements that makes it great and over the course of the last 3 episodes has been dumbed down to something that looks closer to a series that should be on Disney+.

The Sandman: Dream a Little Dream of Me (2022) Season 1, Episode 3

Brilliant...

[10/10 · 10 August 2022]

Wow. Like a giant ice cream sundae with every topping you ever wanted. This episode moves through every feeling and emotion idea good bad love hate and does it beautifully and without any wasted filler.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022– )

Casting is the big flaw

[5/10 · 6 July 2022]

The casting, except for Capt. Pike, doesn't work well and looks like either the time wasn't put into it or the budget limited selections. While trying to capture the adventure and simplicity of the original, it just ends up feeling boring and dated. Perhaps trying to make it look dated as if it was actually filmed in the 1960s like the original series would have at least made it fit more easily as a pre-Star Trek series. Use the budget and a bit more VFX focused on the original Pike episode as a stand alone move or short series would have been a better decision.

After Yang (2021)

Breathtaking in its depth

[9/10 · 29 June 2022]

This is like a meditative journey on the philosophy of life from every angle and not just what's said, but what's seen and not said. No doubt the evolution of this film is because of the director. If you are not focused on the details you will miss things. It's the art of film that gets lost in the action, VFX and giant money making budgets that define so much of Hollywood. I was literally moved so many times in so many ways I have to see it again. What is life? It will seem even more complex than before you watched the film.

Tokyo Vice (2022– )

The Japanese all speak English in Japan!

[7/10 · 8 April 2022]

This looks great and is a slow grow crime drama in Japan about Japan, but why is it necessary to throw in a white guy from America? Even the premise for him being there seems random. To make matters worse he speaks fluent Japanese and is told his written Japanese is perfect. So why are all these Japanese people speaking to him in English? He is in THEIR country! These are basic things that I have trouble wrapping my head around that ruins the reality of this. Does a white person have to be the lead in everything coming out of Hollywood including a Japanese drama made in Japan? As for the performances, you put Ansel next to the great acting of Rinko Kikuchi and Ken Watanabe, it makes the white lead look even worse. Perhaps with a better, older white lead it could be better or better yet with a half Japanese actor that makes the Japan connection stronger, but that would mean no "white" actors really, right?

The Bubble (2022)

You too will get it

[7/10 · 3 April 2022]

If you didn't understand the humor you won't like it. It's a great mocumentary about hollywood and quarantine mixed together. If you watch it high it's super funny so try that too.

WeCrashed (2022– )

Trying too hard...

[5/10 · 18 March 2022]

Even Jared Leto, a great actor who is trying to prove what we already know is trying too hard to be relevant and raise this project to award status. It's dull and overdone. It was painful getting through the first episode.

Legendary (2020–2022)

This is the tea

[7/10 · 6 March 2022]

If you can't feel the roots and where this came from you can't truly enjoy the entertainment. This is about real FAMILY where biological family is missing for whatever reason. But it's also more. It's about art, self expression, embracing whoever you are an wanna be at your core, acceptance and, most importantly RESPECT. We may have heard many of the terms from RuPaul, but this shows that even shade is respect and in the end everyone is welcome and accepted. This teaches us to be fearless in being our original and true self. Entertainment on fire and a history lesson for me all rolled into one. #respect.

Station Eleven (2021– )

Post Pandemic Boredom

[5/10 · 4 March 2022]

This is not about a pandemic, it's just a boring character study set in empty spaces. Maybe that's the reason for constant jumping back and forth on the timeline with all the characters who are not interesting, i.e, to force viewers to keep watching and figure out the puzzle. But alas, there is no puzzle just boring interconnecting stories that that add confusion. It looks good though...