zenmateisshite Reviews

True Detective: Night Country: Part 6 (2024) Season 4, Episode 6

Going around is circles

[3/10 · 19 February 2024]

So what, that's it? 6 episodes only?

All this drama, all this mumbo jumbo supernatural spiritual hallucinations. All these questionable decisions the characters make. How can they live their lives with all this nonsense they bring onto themselves.

And what did they find down there that could save the world? The DNA of a microorganism? Save the world from what? Unless that is the DNA of Superman who could turn back time 150 years, I don't know how can this organism save the world? And a research team helping to cover up the pollution that makes it easier to extract samples? How is that even possible?

Lazy writing. Asinine storyline. And a disappointing season, again. The same story would have been a thousand times better if they made it into a normal murder mystery - no drama, no spiritual superstitions.

True Detective: Night Country: Part 5 (2024) Season 4, Episode 5

Annoying

[4/10 · 11 February 2024]

This season is annoyingly slow. The first season was overall great but I do remember getting annoyed when they obviously stretched out the storyline with fodder. This season takes it 10 steps further.

(Second and third seasons were also annoyingly slow btw.)

Production is also annoying. The setting has lots of inaccuracies. The snow is obviously fake. The ice is obviously in a warm studio. Even the music is annoying. They cover happy songs in minor chords so they feel sad. Why? Just WHY?

Acting is good especially Navarro, the young officer (don't know the actors' names) and Foster, and the storyline is really interesting apropos actually. I just hope they didn't have to stretch it out. Story could have been told in half the episodes and done already by now.

Luther (2010–2019)

Great but could have been even better

[7/10 · 22 June 2023]

Luther, the brilliant copper who has high integrity and who is willing to bend (or break) some rules to get the bad guy, is a great character.

Elba plays him superbly - I would go to say this is his best acting and even better that The Wire, actually, a lot better.

The show itself is decent with interesting supporting cast and story development, BUT....

• sometimes the story does not make any sense, with plot holes here and there.

• the drama can be too much and gets in the way of the story.

• the villains can be over the top, I mean come on some of violence and explosions are too much. Even the best one, a smart and calculating vigilante in S3E3 could have just as easily injured the copper and got away with it but no, they chose the story line that is totally against what this character would do. Very disappointing.

• production is not the tightest, e.g. The amount of guns in London, the virtually empty streets, the way people speak, continuity issues, can be just unrealistic.

These make the show a bit comical; as in comedic as well as like a comic book, or a graphic novel. If that was the case I would give it 10 but alas the show is portrayed to be a realistic depiction of London's true crime.

They should have done another round of revisions before submitting the final story boards and screenplays. Gave it to someone seasoned, perhaps a novelist to tighten it a bit. It would have been the GOAT show.

The Last of Us (2023– )

Every once in a while a great show comes along..

[8/10 · 6 March 2023]

.. and this is one of those times. The Last of Us is great in every possible way.

This show is based on a video game, but it is by far the best of its kind. The story (about how fungi took over the human mind) while kind of out there, is the true definition of good sci-fi.

The storytelling is very edge-of-your-seat. I am not aware of the video game but it is clear that the story line have been thought out very very well, and will stand the test of time without any plot holes.

Acting and atmosphere and production are very good as well. Its been a long while since I actually look forward to watching something.

There are so many other shows about zombies but those are as mindless and empty as the brains of the zombies watching them.

Shrinking (2023– )

Interesting, but not quite

[6/10 · 19 February 2023]

The first couple of episodes were very interesting. They had a good premise and had potential and some "soul".

The acting in general is quite good, having this amazing mix of veterans as well as a few newcomers, and the chemistry seems to work well.

However, now getting to the critical part, the show runs out of steam quite quickly. The number of shows talking about psychiatrists and therapy seem to be exponentially increasing - its been done a lot since the 80s-90s.

And then the characters. It must be nice to live in a place where everyone knows everyone else, Neighbors, colleagues, patients, childhood friends, Everyone seems to be genuine, thoughtful, involved, and has some history with everyone else. Oh, and everyone is a well-educated doctor, or lawyer, happy to offer advice on a whim. Even the nurse is wealthy. Must be nice.

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

Poppycock

[1/10 · 29 January 2023]

All the other reviewers have said it.

Dialogue: superficial, pretentious, ludicrous, trying to sound wise and philosophical but failing miserably.

Acting: ok but sometimes felt like a lot of mindless reading of lousy dialogue (see above).

Comedy: childish and doesn't make any sense 90% of the time.

Story: going around in circles and getting nowhere. More plot holes than a sieve.

Premise: done and done and over done. Some say take it lightly, but how can we when they are so serious about relationships and quantum mechanics and the universe, while in the next breath they don't seem to understand how evolution works or how sausages are made. Like I say, poppycock.

A friend of mine said it has a nice message about mental health and depression. What a very subtle way to tell a story. Give the director an Oscar for most lurid movie ever. If this was a cartoon or anime or whatever you wanna call it, I'd give it a 4 for effort. But as it is, it doesn't deserve more than 2 stars.

Next Exit (2022)

Boring

[3/10 · 25 December 2022]

The idea is interesting at the start but the characters do not fit the narrative.

They are suicidal yet they don't act like it. They maybe bipolar, or schizophrenic yet they don't act like it.

The writing is just all over the place and does not help the story line or the narrative. Seems like a few lines cobbled up together for no reason, and most of it does not make any sense.

Then there is the Indian British character whose father is an Hispanic american. I guess that could happen, but is highly improbable.

Then there's the ending. All it takes for these seemingly suicidal characters to realize that they still actually love life and that they were depressed just for a phase of their lives is: getting laid, and a psychedelic hallucinogenic trip? Jesus!

I do not recommend watching. The acting is subpar (I don't blame the actors as much as the stupid writing) and it's an overall unoriginal story.

Annihilation (I) (2018)

Brilliant

[10/10 · 14 October 2022]

Its the third time in 4 years that I watch this movie. I don't know why all the hate and confusion.

Some guy rights: "It doesn't come off as the sort of movie you would be able to understand if you were just a little smarter, or a bit more well-read, instead it seems as if the issues it has are largely narrative." Talk about inferiority complex. Let me break it down to you bud:

The story: as simple and as complex as Predator (the original). An elite team are sent to take care of a problem, then find themselves in a mystery that they can't solve and realize that others before them have also failed in conquering it. I give it 9 stars.

The sci-fi: DNA is getting refracted or scattered which is creating a totally new way of "life", mixing existing DNA. Is it an alien life form? Is it conscious? We are not sure. (spoiler: yes, it became conscious when it experienced it in humans for the first time, and it is still living in the two main protagonists, in a slightly new form). Have to admit, there are some plot holes in this so give it 7.5 stars.

The visuals, music and production: top notch. Give it 8 stars.

Overall I think is it worth 8 or 8.5 stars but seeing that it is holly underrated in IMDB, I'll give it a full 10.

It is in my opinion better than the highly overrated Nolan movies like Inception and Interstellar, which by the way have plot holes as dense as the black hole McConaughey fell into.

Tenet (2020)

Far too stupid for its own good

[3/10 · 19 September 2022]

Nolan has proved again that he is a stupid person's idea of a smart person.

He takes basic physics natural phenomena and breaks every law this brain could think of. That could be exciting to make as an action sci-fi movie but in his case it isn't.

In Inception people can influence other people's decisions using dreams and dreams within dreams (OKAY!). In Interstellar love is used to navigate through a black hole (yes I am not kidding), and in Tenet this "inversion" malarkey is used to reverse time.

This is yet again a stupid idea that I might have come up with when I was 11. Nolan is a grown man and his ability to convince other grown women and men with his utter nonsensical ideas is stellar. I'll give him that.

His movie making abilities on the other hand are really, really, really overrated and it is painful.

Black Bird (2022)

Missed Opportunity

[6/10 · 5 September 2022]

Some of the actors are amazing (Paul Walter Hauser, Robert Wisdom, and Greg Kinnear) but others are not so good (Taron Egerton (miscast IMO) and Tony Amendola). Average score 8.5/10.

Story goes from good to dull to all over the place. They do strange things like the girl remembering and narrating her own life, and they forget about the investigation for entire episodes. Average score 6/10.

What is absolutely inexcusable for this type of big budget production is the lack of attention to details. The weird accents, the unrealistic repetitive conversations, the strange out of place riot, the utter falseness of the "maximum-security prison for the criminally insane" which it clearly ain't, the color of converse shoes changing all of a sudden. Average score 3/10.

Its just a bad production with lots of: "that doesn't look right" moments. Watch at your own peril.

Thirteen Lives (2022)

Brilliant

[9/10 · 13 August 2022]

This story shows you how the human spirit can be inspiring if we all focus on what's actually important in life rather than focusing on money and power and greed and success like most humans believe.

If aliens visited earth and saw the effort that was put by all the volunteers from all over the world risking their lives and livelihoods to save a bunch of kids - they might actually spare the human race. But if they visited a board meeting at a big pharma company or the offices of a faceless hedge-fund on Wall Street then they will annihilate the human race (for good reason).

In terms of production, the movie is excellent. The story telling, production, realism, and acting all amazing.

PS: Poor Ron Howard got the measurements wrong - the boys were 2.5 miles (not 2500 meters) inside the cave.

Prey (I) (2022)

Below Average

[5/10 · 9 August 2022]

I saw this just because The Critical Drinker liked it.

But right off the bat, we're not even 10 minutes in and there is something off, or quite a lot, that shows this is just a low budget, low production values, lacking inspiration and anything exciting.

• What's with the Braveheart face painting, and clear as silk skin.

• There is no way in hell her axe is that sharp, or she or any human, is that strong to stick a throw on the long flat edge of the blade to the bark of a tree.

• CGI is subpar.

• A bear or wolf trap that catches a dog's tail, not leg? How did that even happen?

• Shooting an eagle or hawk from that far away? Yeah right.

Remember, this is only the first 10 minutes. The problems get more frequent and bigger the longer it went.

Yeah. Its a low budget Apocalypto. Don't waste your time and skip this trite people.

The Orville (2017–2022)

Great and less annoying than before

[8/10 · 17 July 2022]

I wrote the first review two years ago (can read it below), and this is an update. I initially rated it at 6 stars but now upgraded it to 8 based on the latest season.

The Orville is much better than any of the new Star Trek shows, there isn't even comparison. The recent episodes touch on very sensitive subjects like trans and slavery but they do it in a very subtle way. In the old Star Trek you knew where the Federation stood on these subjects but with The Orville the writing is so that they don't show subjects as being black and white, which is good I think, an evolution of TV shows (even though it might confuse viewers).

However, like I said in my previous review, the ubiquity of humor makes it less serious and a bit childish (for a younger age demographic). Also in this season there is a lot of drinking as if the crew (especially the senior staff) are alcohol dependent. I don't know if this is added on purpose or if this is a subliminal cry for help by the writers/producers.

The problem might be that each episode is longer than an hour which means there is a lot of filler scenes which does not serve the story well.

______________________________________ Good but annoying There is a little of Roddenberry (or Braga) in there, some good sci-fi moments and topics that make you think - just like the good old TOS and TNG. But there is a lot of MacFarlane in there as well.

The humor is good, some of the social subjects certainly have heart, but a lot of it is just teenage or college level relationships and romance. Its all good if it wasn't a recurring theme, such as the on-off relationship with the 1st officer.

So you never know what's it going to be this week: a brilliant sci-fi episode or a childish rom-com - and this is very annoying.

The Orville: A Tale of Two Topas (2022) Season 3, Episode 5

Why all this confusion

[8/10 · 17 July 2022]

Lots of comments are interpreting the same things in opposite ways, based on their own biases.

Lets break it down. These are the opinions/views/beliefs of the Orville's crew (the majority of them anyway) based on what we saw in this and the previous episodes:

• Allowing Topa's sex to be changed to male when she was born a female, as per Moclan tradition - bad.

• Topa, as male, feeling like he was in the wrong body - expected
• Topa wanting to change his male sex to match his female gender the one she was born into - normal
• Topa going ahead with the re transition - good

This episode is not against transgender, or re transitioning after a wrong decision. It is about matching gender with the natural birth sex.

Ultrasound (2021)

Excellent

[9/10 · 18 June 2022]

Red Letter Media brought me here, and like Jay said, Ultrasound deserves a second viewing.

First half hour is confusing but stick with it and trust the storytelling process.

This is a very good movie.

Star Trek: Picard: Farewell (2022) Season 2, Episode 10

You cannot polish this turd

[1/10 · 13 May 2022]

Kurtzman should flush this down the toilet and leave us the f alone.

Go away! Go make marvel movies. Leave Star Trek alone.

If he is the producer of the next season, I will not watch one single episode.

Frasier: Daphne Returns (2001) Season 8, Episode 19

Excellent writing

[9/10 · 8 May 2022]

I must have seen this episode 20 times. However, like Niles, I never understood why was Daphne so apprehensive, and why was Frasier pleading with Niles to rethink his approach - until now.

Like Niles, I always thought he and Daphne were meant to be together. It was so obvious and clear to me that I never imagined that this is a normal relationship that needs both parties to be on the same level of thinking.

This was probably one of the best written drama/comedy of that late nineties early noughties era, and IMHO, very few shows has managed to create the same level of intellectual thoughtfulness since. Friends or Modern Family, for example, are nowhere near this.

And the acting: Superb. David HP was amazing form the first scene when he enters Nervosa till the last one when he's smirking with his patient.

Bosch: Legacy (2022– )

Love it

[8/10 · 7 May 2022]

It is really refreshing to see that some reboots are actually good. Hope is not lost.

In this iteration of Bosch there are slight differences than the older version:

• Only a couple or three cases (the older version had so much happening)
• Less characters. They introduced one or two new ones like that excellent "IT/hacker" guy, and Mady's cop friends, and done it so well.

• Better editing, dialogue, and sound. I think this version is made in such a way to appeal to the masses.

All this makes the new show very easy to digest and I love it.

The only disappointment is that the new theme intro is not as good as the old one; "Can't Let Go" IMHO, and that we don't see his cool apartment, at least not for a while.

Glad they featured Michael Kiwanuka's song in episode 1.

We Own This City (2022)

So far so good, but..

[7/10 · 3 May 2022]

... the editing and directing makes for a confusing story. It is very hard to follow. They flashback to 5 years ago, then ten years ago, than 20 years ago, and the timeline very hard to follow. I get it, they are trying to tell the story of how people got to where they are but it gets confusing the way they did it. At the same time you need to know all the names G-Money, Shropshire, Allers.

This is very poorly edited, and makes it hard to really care about the characters and story.

They should have kept it simple because the story is interesting and the actors are all amazing. Since this is just a mini series, I only hope they tie it up smoothly together in the coming episodes.

Life (I) (2017)

Good sci-fi, bad storytelling

[6/10 · 27 April 2022]

Like one recent review said: "This is a creature with the brain of Predator, with the defense of Alien and with the biology of Thing."

I totally agree that this movie TRIES to be all three, but fails.

The sci-fi and tension was good, the acting and suspense was decent, and it 100% gave me some scares, which rarely happens - but the writing is just frustrating.

The characters were inconsistent as if the writers/producers don't know how real astronauts are trained to react in such situations. One scene you'll see them react in a certain logical way as expected from a well-trained professional, following the rules. Then the next scene they'll be an emotional reck all over the place, then back to being solid logical pros, then a minute later acting like teenagers on prom night.

The movie had potential to be one of the classics but the writers/producers/director unfortunately failed.

Predator (1987)

Deceptively Thoughtful

[9/10 · 22 April 2022]

I cannot count how many times I've seen this movie. The first time was around 1995. Of course its Arnold, the great cast, the great story telling, the over-the-top action and explosives, the jokes, the sci-fi mystery elements - all of those things.

But I recently realized that the music and score were a very crucial element in this as well. There are a lot of scenes, especially towards the end when there is no dialogue, that the music is telling the story and driving the action like very few movies. Of course it did win a few awards for music, but to me it was overshadowed by the other elements.

Another crucial element that I overlooked until recently is that you can tell that the writers/producers knew about military operations. Small things give the clue. For example that scene when everyone was firing into the jungle, and got nothing. Yes you can overlook that as a mindless action shootout but in fact the way it was choreographed was excellent.

After Blain goes down, Mac confronts the hostile enemy not knowing what it was. He starts shooting. Dutch sees his Sergeant firing and he starts to fire as well because this is how they are trained. Then the others do the same thinking surely the experienced ranks in the squad acquired the target and knew what they are shooting at even though we cannot see it. They carry on with this until the mini-gun is out. They were confident they got their target, but once they realize they got nothing, their world comes down crashing and the sense of urgency is heightened 100 folds.

1- sustained heavy fire for 1-2 minutes in open jungle and we got nothing?

2- this is what our training told us to do but it did not work. What are we up against?

3- the same thing happened to the elite green beret team before us and they got skinned alive. Is that what's going to happen to us?

4- This is some serous shit we're up against.

The movie builds the mystery and tension in various ways. The stoic reconnaissance scout who's being thrown off by something. The horrified hostage not escaping. The decorated Stg losing his cool when his friend and comrade is killed, and when he wasn't able to hurt the culprit.

Overall this is a classic movie even though it is not too deep. It can be deceptively thoughtful. It shows you how the art of movie making is very complex but simple at the same time.

Infinite Storm (2022)

Something felt off

[4/10 · 16 April 2022]

I agree with GrassRootsGuy. There were somethings that did not feel right from the start. One scene its sunny, the next its a blizzard, then the wind is howling yet the trees in the background are not moving. She's supposedly an experienced climber yet was going up paths that are clearly not suitable for hiking and not exotic or interesting either, just risky to climb, which was plainly stupid - no one would walk up in real life its just an actor getting direction to go up some loose rocks that clearly shows they have no knowledge of mountains.

The mountain top should have been a wild, hard to get place but it is clearly a beauty spot that anyone with mild fitness can reach, if there was no fake wind.

It felt like some armature cinematographers, producers, directors doing their first movie.

This was very off putting, I could not finish but wanted to know what's the story about so I read the plot! Then the reviews all said the same thing so I was glad for not wasting the renaming hour on this.

Good effort, try again.

The Sopranos: The Ride (2006) Season 6, Episode 9

One of the saddest eposides ever

[10/10 · 13 April 2022]

A couple of week ago I watched this episode for the third time in 6 months (gone through the whole series). I was stoned and all I could see from the beginning was a damaged human, someone who's life is so tragic it cannot but end in even more tragedy.

Chris was so in love with Adriana. He lost her, the love of his life. Deep inside he was still grieving even though he could not admit it. Subconsciously he couldn't care less about "the thing they do" or about Tony, and he felt stuck. He had to choose "the family" and what did that get him in the end? Adriana was gone. She was an innocent casualty of the life they lived, and the choices he made. Yes he was having fun with Tony but none of this made any difference, he loved her sooooo much and now she's gone.

That scene when he was high in the park, then saw the dog. So sad and full of unrecognized grief (or unacknowledged). Drugs, alcohol, losing control is merely the result of that. He never had a chance poor guy.

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Half a Life (1991) Season 4, Episode 22

Right to Die....

[8/10 · 29 March 2022]

... or like one of the other reviews says: Duty to Die.

To me it makes sense, as evidenced by some countries allowing assisted suicide already. I wish it was not made to be a huge taboo because we should be able to talk about dignity in death with candor. I don't know why so many people are choosing to hide their heads in the sand about this subject. Fear of death I guess, or more like self-absorption - don't worry, we all die.

I think 60 is way too young and I would have done it differently than the Kaelons. Humans provide for their children until the age of 18, and that includes (in most countries) free health and education. Then they are allowed and encouraged to work and provide for society.

I would suggest after they retire they are also given free health and some other benefits for 18 years. After that they have to go through the resolution and it will also be covered - and it should not be treated as such a horrible thing.

Let's say the retirement age is 65, If someone was healthy and chose to work until 70, they are given free benefits for 18 years until they are 88. After that they must do the resolution. Say someone is wealthy and has enough money to retire at 50, they can choose to stop working but will have to follow the same rule so 65 + 18 they should do the resolution at 83. If someone chooses not to work at all in their life then they wouldn't be given any benefits after 65 and if they are healthy then they can live the 18 without any recourse but must do the resolution at 83 like everybody else.

I think that's fair.

Interstellar (2014)

Ridiculous

[2/10 · 26 December 2021]

Where do I begin:

• A manual Dodge Ram in the far future.

• An ICE Dodge Ram in the far future.

• A drone able to continuously function for 10 years only on solar power even though there is a global dust storm.

• Global dust storms, while the local climate is clearly not arid, a huge body of water is close by, and the abundant plants and flora.

• Literally, bricks for robots.

• A space ship made of concrete.

• His ability to become an astronaut in a very short time.

• Planets orbiting so close to a black hole and still having an atmosphere, and water no less.

• Waiting for 23 years, alone with not enough supplies and not knowing if they are alive.

• Gravity, like time, can go through physical dimensions, powered by love mind you.

• His ability to become a quantum mechanics physicist, and relay a solution to quantum equations through binary code.

• And finally the big one, falling into a black hole, surviving it, and using LOVE to find your way out back to a totally different galaxy.

There are more of course but I'm not going to waste more time on this.

The Nolans are taking the piss. They write these stupid stories, make them into high budget movies and their fanboys fall for them and pay to watch this utter nonsense. They are the reason humanity's collective IQ is dropping. They are the reason flatearthers exist.