MrSelfPaid Reviews

Fallout (2024– )

Pleasantly Surprised

[8/10 · 28 April 2024]

The promotional videos released prior to the premiere of the show did it a slight disservice, leading many to prematurely conclude that it would be disappointing-I myself was among the skeptics. Fortunately, I decided to give the show a chance, and I'm glad I did.

While it's not without its flaws, the series stands out for its originality, a quality that many shows today seem to lack. It consistently introduces fresh and interesting plot devices that ensure it never becomes dull or boring. Moreover, it possesses the potential to evolve into a masterpiece in future seasons.

I highly recommend watching it.

Dune: Part Two (2024)

Great, but not better than Dune part 1.

[8/10 · 4 March 2024]

Great movies should always leave you with a feeling during or after seeing them.

While this movie is being hailed as a masterpiece by many, I felt that it didn't give me the feeling of chills that Dune part 1 made feel multiple times.

Those who say that it is the greatest sci-fi movie ever made should be arrested at once.

This movie had all the ingredients to actually be a modern day masterpiece but it feels like Dennis was a bit restraint to go all the way, as if he could not dare to be free and do things he could have done with the story and action.

That being said, Dune part 2 is an amazing movie and I will see it again.

However. While I've seen the part 1 more than 6 times, I don't think part 2 will have that effect on me.

Time will tell.

Napoleon (2023)

Ridley Scott's worst movie... by a mile

[4/10 · 11 January 2024]

If I didn't know who directed this movie beforehand and someone told me to guess, I'd say it was directed by Uwe Boll's cousin.

What the f$#k did I just watch?

It's the most disjointed, discombobulated, bizarre, dumb, disingenuous, boring movie ever contrived by a master film maker like Ridley.

To think that this movie was directed by the same director that directed Kingdom of Heaven and The Last Duel is a mystery that must be studied by film historians.

This movie plays like a reality TV of the lowest caliber. It should have been titled 'Real Housewife of Napoleon'

Arrest the screenwriter and lock him up because some of the dialogue sounded like it was written by my three year old niece.

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire (2023)

A beautiful looking mess

[4/10 · 24 December 2023]

I'm a huge fan of Zack Snyder and I've seen 300 almost 300 hundred times and consider it one of greatest movies ever made. So I have nothing against Snyder.

That being said, Rebel Moon is a monumental failure of epic proportions. What the f was Snyder thinking when he said this movie is the beginning of a planned trilogy and expansion of a fictional world he built.

Someone stop him and get him some good stories to adapt as he is good at adapting other people's stories. Snyder has proved that he is a bad writer and reminds me of Dan Weiss and David Beniof, the notorious hacks who murdered Game of Thrones because of their incompetence.

A mess is a mess, even if it's beautiful to look at.

PS

I just found out that the Part 2 has already been produced and will release in April. I have seen the trailer. Ladies and gentlemen, we are in for another bombastic disappointment.

The Creator (2023)

I'm Tired... Alfie

[6/10 · 22 November 2023]

For the love of all that is good, can someone please tell Hollywood producers to stop using the old 'hero unwillingly saves a kid and finds out they have a connection' cliché? It's becoming really boring, tiresome, and frankly, insulting to many viewers with above-average IQs.

This movie proves that Gareth Edwards is a fantastic director but an average screenwriter, because 'Rogue One' and 'Godzilla', which he directed but didn't write, are great films.

Another user review on this site sums up the movie perfectly: "Lots of stuff happened and then it ended."

The movie ended and I felt... nothing, absolutely nothing.

Give me back 2 hours of my life, Gareth.

Foundation: Long Ago, Not Far Away (2023) Season 2, Episode 9

Expand on The Empire story arc and diminish the rest.

[8/10 · 8 September 2023]

The Cleonic dynasty story arc is the only reason a lot of viewers including me, are still watching the show and if there is anything Apple should learn and implement, it is that when the show focuses on the politics of the Cleons and the Empire they control, it becomes a much better show.

To be honest, I don't give a damn about what happens to the story arc of Salvor and Gale. All that 'The Mule' stuff is pretty boring and quite dumb.

Improve the dynamics of politics between the Cleons and the Empire they control. Give us more backstory on some of the Cleons who ruled generations ago, give us more backstory on the war against the machines, give us more backstory on Demerzel role as a leader of machines in the war between human and machines etc

Give us anything but the boring and quite dumb storyline about Seldon and his 'psychohistory'.

It's Empires world as far as I see it.

Foundation (2021– )

Glad I didn't read the books

[8/10 · 4 August 2023]

Enjoying the series so far. Best part about the series for me is the scenes involving the empire. Read somewhere that in the books two of the main characters are men, switched to women to tick the Hollywood diversity quota.

Effects are great, acting is above average, pace is steady.

So far so good.

I can't really complain about the diversity of many characters because I'm not an executive producer for the series. This is Hollywood we're taking about.

What's there to complain about?

Hmmmm. I'll leave that to your imagination, but if a tree never gave birth to a dog, let's not pretend it will at some point.

Black Mirror: Mazey Day (2023) Season 6, Episode 4

An Underappreciated Gem

[8/10 · 16 June 2023]

This episode, though met with mixed reviews from audiences, presents an intriguing blend of horror, dark comedy, and societal critique that deserves recognition and praise.

Mazey Day" stands out for its fresh approach to the Black Mirror formula, with a narrative that feels more akin to a Blumhouse horror movie than a typical Black Mirror installment. This stylistic shift, however, does not detract from the episode's core strengths. Instead, it allows the episode to explore its themes of celebrity culture, media intrusion, and the dehumanizing effects of fame in a new, riveting light.

While "Mazey Day" may not fit the typical mold of a Black Mirror episode, its exploration of fame and media intrusion, coupled with strong performances and an unexpected horror twist, make it a unique and compelling entry in the series.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

Is too much of a good thing, a good thing?

[8/10 · 4 June 2023]

The kaleidoscopic visual artistry of this film transcends the realm of the spectacular, painting a vibrant dreamscape on the canvas of our imagination. Its sonic narrative, a masterstroke of musical genius, weaves seamlessly into the film's fabric, nestling into its contours with the precision of a tailor's glove.

The adrenaline-fueled ballet of the action sequences leaves audiences on the edge of their seats, while the array of resplendent worlds that we traverse is a treat for the senses, each more magnificent than the last.

Yet, despite this dazzling array of positives, I find myself holding back from awarding the full bouquet of ten stars. It raises an intriguing conundrum: When does the intoxicating allure of abundance cross the boundary into the realm of excess?

The creative minds behind this film are no strangers to the art of spellbinding storytelling. However, in their noble quest to satiate fan expectations - offering a pantheon of Spider-Men from across the multiverse - they may have tipped the balance towards an overwhelming surplus. This resulted in a subtle, nagging sensation, a faint hum at the back of my mind that suggested a more focused narrative would have benefitted the film, particularly with more emphasis on the beloved spider-heroes.

After all, the true essence of a Spider-Man story unfolds not in the midst of soaring skyscrapers or explosive battles, but within the intimate, unmasked moments between characters.

And yet, the film's redemption is found in the final act - the artful setup for a sequel in the concluding twenty minutes. This masterstroke prevents the movie from tumbling into the web of the infamous Spider-Man 3, ensuring its place among the pantheon of memorable Spider-Man sagas.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022– )

Not the worst, not the best, but a massively missed opportunity

[6/10 · 5 September 2022]

I am a massive Tolkien fan and his books to me are the very best fantasy books ever written. No movie or show will do complete justice to the books because in my mind, I have created the world of Tolkien in my imagination. Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings is the best interpretation of the books I have seen thus far, but I still love the books more than the movies.

Now, that being said, I knew the only way I was going to enjoy this show is to approach it as a neutral viewer, which is not an easy task.

I viewed the show the same way I viewed Star Wars The Last Jedi: with very low expectations after having seen many negative reviews online.

My approached towards the viewing of the show proved to be a positive one because I was happy to see another interpretation of Tolkiens work on screen.

Now for the pros:

This show isn't the worst fantasy show ever made as some die hard fans will say. The visuals are spectacular and the locations feels rich and detailed.

The chemistry between Elrond and Durin feels real and was the only time I care what happened in the show so far.

The cons:

The main character has no charisma, no screen presence, and acts rather stiffly like an overbearing manager at a company that's going out of business. I felt nothing anytime she appears on screen and I couldn't care less if her characters lives or dies. Boring.

There are many other problems in the show but like I said, I suspended being a massive Tolkien fan for a day and watched the show like an average fantasy viewer.

"Don't look for problems and you won't find any" as the saying goes.

Die hard fans, you have been warned.

Please don't delete this review amazon.

House of the Dragon: Second of His Name (2022) Season 1, Episode 3

The show keeps getting better

[9/10 · 5 September 2022]

This episode has all the missing pieces that made me fall in love with Game of Thrones seasons 1-6

Great dialogue, amazing score, high stakes, characters I care about, brilliantly shot, great effects, etc

With the semi-disappointment that is Rings of Power, House of Dragons keeps going from strength to strength.

I will surely miss the actors who are going to be replaced, because they've given brilliant performances. I hope the actors that are coming in will give the same or even better performances

I hope the season continues to be this brilliant. After the massive disappointment of Game of Thrones, this show serves as a gleaming reminder that the show is better with the author's involvement rather than lack of it.

The third act of the episode is a breathtakingly perfect and reminds us that even though the Dragons are spectacles to behold, it is the human element of the story that makes us care about the story.

F9: The Fast Saga (2021)

Oh how the mighty have fallen.

[4/10 · 4 August 2021]

If you watch this movie, get ready for your brain to turn into mush.

Cars swing on ropes like Tarzan.

Cars go into space. (WHAT?)

Cars juggle human beings like soccer.

Bad guys shoot 1000 rounds 10 feet from the heroes and miss.

Cars flip over a dozen times and the passengers look like they just came out of the shower.

Cars defy physics to the point that a high school physics teacher might cry.

The heroes don't drown, they are bulletproof, they can fly in the air, they can lift 50 times their body weight, they can jump from insane height and not get even a scratch, they can dodge bullets, they can dodge rockets.

Our heroes are now... Superheroes.

I blame 'Hobbs and Shaw' for this sh"*show. They started this superhero s#*t.

I'm thinking we couldn't have had Avengers Endgame if the fast 9 crew was around. Thanos would have been defeated in a few minutes.

Chaos Walking (2021)

We've reached a new low.

[1/10 · 9 April 2021]

This movie serves one purpose: to prove that 90 percent of the human population have below average IQ.

Filmmakers ain't trying anymore to make coherent movies because they think most of the audience are dumb.

Seeing the rating on this site gives me a bit of hope.

All is not lost.

Warrior (2011)

One of the few movies that made me shed a few tears.

[10/10 · 14 August 2020]

Watching this movie from my perspective, made me shed a few tears. For someone like me who has a younger brother that I always look after, I reacted to every scene as if it was parallel to my life.

Great performances all around and one of the few movies that made me felt a range of emotions.

See it.

Dark (2017–2020)

Season 1 and 2 are spectacular. Season 3 is where the oil mixes with water.

[8/10 · 8 August 2020]

A lot of movies and shows have featured time travel in the past, but this show manages to implement creative ways to tell a story whose main theme is time travel and it's effects on those who meddle with it.

My main question is: how deep does the labyrinth have to get before it becomes boring, jaded, twisted and nonsensical?

Season three is the embodiment of that question.

1917 (2019)

An Experience

[10/10 · 8 March 2020]

A great movie will leave you with a feeling, an experience, a moment on screen that's etched deep in your memory and stays with you forever. A scene or two where your heart rate rapidly increases or tears feel up your eyes. A score that matches perfectly with what is being portrayed on screen.

In Lord of the Rings, it's the 'Wolves of Isengard' scene.

In Fight Club, it's the final explosion scene.

In 300, it's the slow motion fight scenes.

In Godfather, it's the final shot.

In The Dark Knight, it's the voice over of Gordon while Batman is making a run for it.

In The Matrix, it's the 'he is the one' scene.

In Braveheart, it's the 'Freedom' shout scene.

In Joker, it's the scene where he is cheered by the mob and he gives a bloody smile.

In Private Ryan, it's the final battle scenes where the heroes make their last stand.

In Kingdom of Heaven, it's the 'surrendering of Jerusalem' scene.

In Terminator 2, it's the 'robot self terminate' scene.

In Drive, it's the final scene.

1917 is a great movie. Enough said.

Game of Thrones: The Long Night (2019) Season 8, Episode 3

The Day Game of Thrones Died

[1/10 · 20 January 2020]

Sitting in my living room almost a year from when this episode first aired, I couldn't help but check my review of it. My first review was deleted by IMDb after getting so many helpful votes. Sure enough my second review has seen a drop of helpful votes as well. smh.

Well, here goes my third review. I'll make it short.

If someone asks me to pinpoint exactly which episode finally struck the fatal blow, I'll just say this episode will stand out as the Brutus to Game of Thrones.

I wont lie. It hurts. GoT was the only show I watched on TV. As busy as I was I always made time every week to see each episode when it aired or get it through other means. *wink wink

I also took part in Facebook groups, reddit, Instagram, discussing each new episode and fan theories.

Hundreds of hours of my life...gone. I will not forgive this incompetence from D&D. I will not forget. They ruined one of the greatest TV shows ever created and for what? A Star Wars project that they've been kicked out off!? Because they secretly knew they were mediocre writers?

I'll make this promise: After acquiring wealth, I will see to it that season 8 of GOT is remade, properly, even if its computer animated.

1917 (2019)

Gripping ... like the jaws of a crocodile.

[10/10 · 20 January 2020]

Beautiful, haunting, breathless, nervy, eye-catching, terrific movie. One for the ages.

I gave it nine stars because no movie is without flaws but it deserves ten.

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (2019)

How to enjoy this abomination.

[2/10 · 20 December 2019]

If you're a Star Wars fan, the best way to enjoy this film is to read all the negative reviews, watch all the YouTube videos, read all the leaks( they are mostly true) and head to the cinema a little drunk, with expectations lower than underground pipes.

Just sit in the cinema and get ready to experience the most rushed, nonsensical, cringy, plot holes bigger than the Grand Canyon, crammed, ridiculous Star Wars movie ever made.

Think The Last Jedi was a mess?

Haha! You have no idea what awaits you.

Update:

Star Wars is now a comedy for low IQ people.

The Irishman (2019)

Grandiose

[10/10 · 3 December 2019]

I've been an avid movie fan since the days of video tapes and sub par projectors.

Nowadays, I only watch one movie per week due to other commitments so when I decide to watch a film it better be darn spectacular or I'm out in the first few scenes.

This movie, simply put is a masterpiece. It demands your full attention, patience and effort in witnessing this marvel displayed on screen.

Netflix is really stepping it up with recent original releases.

The King (I) (2019)

Splendid. Subtle. Elegant.

[10/10 · 7 November 2019]

As a fan of medieval movies, this movie is a classic example of simple storytelling done right with the exact amount of superb acting.

Not too overbearing and it draws inspiration from many other epic films of its genre.

A sublime piece of art.

Well done Netflix. Well done.

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)

A farewell for Jesse Pinkman.

[8/10 · 12 October 2019]

It's like an additional two episodes of Breaking Bad.

Batman Begins (2005)

The best from The Dark Knight trilogy.

[10/10 · 20 September 2019]

This is the type of movie you'll watch on repeat and never get bored by. I've seen TDK many times and I always get goosebumps at the end; I've seen TDKR a few times and it's a great movie; Batman Begins triumphs both.

What Nolan did was create a masterpiece and raised the bar of story telling in a comic book movie to an insane level. Many directors have been trying to replicate it ever since.

Batman Begins isnt a generic comic book movie but a crime saga with dark undertones of brooding corruption.

A Masterpiece.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

The Best out of the three.

[10/10 · 1 July 2019]

If aliens were to visit us and demand I choose the best movie scene in the history of film-making, I'd choose 'The Wolves of Isengard' scene in this movie as the greatest ever. Just typing about the scene brings tears to my eyes. Bless you Howard Shore for such an epic score.

In a trilogy that explores themes of bravery, love, justice, fight against evil, loyalty, betrayal, family, honor, sacrifice; The Two Towers stands above its counterparts.

The Terror (2018–2025)

Bloody good.

[10/10 · 29 June 2019]

How'd you know a show is this good? Well, my mom came down stairs to have a chat with me about something else, saw that I was watching this series( around episode 5), forgot what she was going to say to me and we kept watching till episode 9, way past 2am. Before she left she said: do not watch the final episode without me.