I am no authority on movies. No degree, no avid watching and eye to detail. I watch a movie maybe once ever. My review is simply based on what I remember, not even necessarily what is in the film. These reviews shouldn't be taken seriously, they are truly just my two cents, if that.
James Gunn's recent installment of "Superman" was surprisingly refreshing in the age of US military propoganda packaged as a superhero action film. Fairly well cast and pretty okay chemistry between the characters. I am also watching this after the many years of kind of not great depictions of Superman, including the cartoon tv series versions where he ends up evil or communist. Not that being a communist is bad (we allow for nuance here), but he is often poorly written.
Things that I liked
Unfortunately it's quite hard to not compare this to the hundreds of superhero action films before it, but in a way, it almost benefits from it because I have been so worn down by Marvel since Black Panther/Ragnarok that almost nothing has landed with me. Marvel is pretty much stuck doing fanservice and the little magic they had left is gone. I wonder what it would be like to watch this Superman as your first super film. Disney should only own disney stuff. Fly me in so I can divvy up the budget to 25 different indie film production companies and let them do a movie each. There's almost no way for Marvel to redeem itself except for me to be in charge of the money. Thunderbolts was... worth watching so I could form my own opinion. The dialogue was actually insufferable. ANYWAYS that's a different review.
I found it very strange that a major DC film decided to tackle the ongoing genocide in Gaza. I think the movie did as well as it could have. I am sure that there is definitely an argument to not touch that topic at all, especially given how current is and maybe in a few days I'll change my mind about this aspect of the film. Ultimately appreciated that the overall message is that we shouldn't be bank-rolling wars in the middle east and that the right thing to do is to step in and help.
I was also happy to not start from the beginning. Tom Holland's Spiderman did the same thing, hit some of the same beats but didn't make us go through the beginning of the story all over again. Which is a great choice, especially for a hero reimagined so many times.
Score simply did the job, probably the right call to go back to the grandoise brass sound. (Actually upon second watch, score holds up).
Things that I didn't like so much
In the end, I enjoyed it. The message was it's punk rock to care about things.Some very funny reviews on Letterboxd. 7/10. hi kahu.
Arcane is one of the best television shows I have seen in my lifetime. Unfortunately, I also think it's a victim of shitty writing and poor characterisation in the second season.
If it were a stand alone show, season two isn't bad. As a sequel to the first season, it is. Season one started forming some great social commentary and insight into our own lives and all that work almost completely disappears. Season two still had a lot of great moments and a lot of things I enjoyed (seeing Jace go through the ringer).
As something of an anarchist myself, Vi's character quickly became more and more fucking annoying in season two. Instead of maintaining her hatred for enforcers (very well founded, even without the brutal murder of her parents), she becomes what she hates? Humans will change their minds but becoming an enforcer is so ratchet. Terrible character assassination.
Unfortunately, Jinx's character doesn't escape poor writing either. I was more impacted by Isha's death than she was (at least from what we see in the show). I think her "I killed my dad and now I'm wondering around getting into fights" stage could've suited Vi way more. Isha would've suited Vi more as well, actually. I think that they ran out of ideas for Jinx and just decided to make things happen to her. A better relationship arc with Sevika could've been achieved for sure.
There are some other really good video essays about the characterisation of Heimerdinger, Jace, Victor, and Ambessa, so I won't get into that here. I do wish we had had more character choices from the Councillors though.
Definitely hated bringing Vander back. I think there are other reasons they could have brought Jinx and Violet back together. Maybe a more assertive invasion of Zaun by way of Ambessa or Jace fucking up, literally anything else other than what happened.
Anyway, I'm just waffling now. I hope better for the future shows they make but I won't be surprised if they fall a little flat. 7/10.
I guess I'm not reviewing just film but also television.
I started watching Steven Universe when it first came out and the first thing that caught my attention was the stunning animation. Quickly followed by the music and the endearing characters, I looked forward to each new episode. I am still thankful for the great writing and I am still upset that cartoon network fell victim to being a bitch and rushing the final seasons. Each of the Crystal Gems are incredibly relatable for me, even now in my 20s, and their arcs deserved my time! I hope that Rebecca Sugar and the other writers get an opportunity to make more things together.
I wish that Steven Universe Future got more seasons. I watched it for the first time way after it came out and it doesn't deserve the hate, but I understand how it may have come as a shock if watched soon after the original series. I think it makes sense for Steven to break down and suffer quite a lot for everything he's done (good and bad). There are so many gut punches in this series, Steven deleting the photo of a young greg killed me when I saw that for the first time. Perfectly realistic though. Steven's characterisation in the first series isn't sustainable. Being focused on one kaupapa for ages and then not having that anymore is burnout city, my friend.
There are also a lot of lessons we can learn from this show as organisers. Healing, communication, and fun are all great parts of this show. Also shows the impact of intergenerational trauma, neglected children, pride in love, etc etc. Amazing.
Favourite tracks from the show
Steven Universe will always be close to my heart, and helped normalise queer love in my family as my siblings and I grew up watching the show. Ruby and Sapphire are my favourite couple, and "Stronger Than You" playing in the background as Ruby tosses Sapphire up as they get engaged brings me to tears. Beautiful writing and beautiful music. Doubly beautiful given the real-life context of the episode.
Great show, will show my own kids if they end up existing. 10/10.
terrible. 1/10.
I do not think I like Marvel films at all anymore.
To be honest, I think I was confused about my gender identity as a kid so I threw myself away from femme presenting clothes and into the closest masc fandom and Avengers had just come out. I think there are definitely Marvel films I liked. But I also think that my memory fills a lot of gaps. We will never know what I truly think because I could NOT watch them again.
I think superheros were created (I THINK) (I am not SURE) to give people hope in wartimes (supposedly). That's not what this is. I am not hopeful. Especially not after this film.
Things I liked
Things I did not like
I am VERY confused about where the plot went. I do not like Valentina even as a villain. I also don't think I've seen enough of the recent marval installments because I didn't know or remember the majority of these characters. What the fuck happened with the emergency meeting? Isn't bucky worried as a congressman?
As expected, 2/10.
Best batman film (have never seen any other batman feature length film and I never will see any other batman feature length film).
Love a superhero film with some homosexual undertones. Makes me laugh. Very funny. Iconic. 10/10.
There's endlessssss rewrites so here's some short notes from me.
Things important to me that didn't happen:
Also daenerys is never pregnant. Up to season four, 8/10.
havent watched until now but had heard bits and pieces. didn't realise he literally JUST got the dog. for some reason i had thought he had had the dog for a long time and his wife passed a few years ago. idk why i thought that esp based on the very little i knew. regardless tho like yeah if anyone hurt my cat and i was capable of what john is capable of i probs would do the same.
also thought this came out early 2000s, idk why.
in writing this review im learning i make assumptions based on pretty much nothing. anyways, i liked it. cool concept of this strange community.
also thinking about how this is the second role i've seen alfie in where he acts like top shit bc of his father but his father doesn't even really like him.