andersondavidthomas Reviews

Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities (2022)

Holy sh****

[9/10 · 30 October 2022]

Some episodes are better than others but I don't think there's a bad episode here. I love the idea of an amazing director, Guillermo Del Toro, working with lesser known directors to bring them into the spotlight of creativity. Each episode feels like it had a vision and that Guillermo Del Toro was the cool uncle in the background supporting each of these directors and gave advice to show he cared for their work but in the end stepped back and let the creators vision unfold.

I have a lot of praise for the show but would recommend watching it for yourself and creating your own opinion! Also go watch The Empty Man, the director for that movie makes the best episode here.

ARK: Genesis - Part 2 (2021 Video Game)

Ambitious and a different game

[7/10 · 17 June 2022]

I got annoyed seeing only complainers in the reviews and that doesn't seem fair to the game ARK as a whole. If you don't like it, don't play it it's fine.

Ark Survival Evolved in itself is a very ambitious game that delivers an intense, fun, and often infuriatingly frustrating experience. Yet so many people keep coming back. Genesis part 1 introduces new mechanics and goes deeper into the story of Helena, now our companion H-LNA. It put it's foot down that this was a sci-fi MMO. Genesis part 2 concludes that story of our robot companion and of Rockwell, an individual who's been teased and talked about through explorer notes hidden throughout the previous story maps.

There's more good here than bad but let's talk about bad first. I only have 5 things here actually.

1. The Space Biome, this is an amazing concept but is frustratingly difficult and that's mostly due to the controls if you can survive that long to see.

2. Difficultly spikes in the "easy" simulation missions. Nothing like dying to 5 scorpions poising you and black out And dying to 5 carnos, 6 raptors, and 4 snakes. And that's personal.

3. Shift to sci-fi. Personally I love the shift they made to all in sci-fi, but I know why many people hate it and totally understand. Playing Ark prehistorically is a blast! So if you don't like it, just play what you like!

4. Glitchy Tek. The Tek weapons and vehicles are glitchy as hell.

5. Some buildings can be entered but most can't. I think that's a huge mistep. If you allowed all buildings to entered I think more players would have loved it and you would have seen player made cities and some fun communities.

Now some things I think people with love!

1. The new tames! Taming has never felt so rewarding when you get yourself a new overpowered creature!

2. The suit. Tired of dying cuz you run out of breath underwater? Did you die cuz it's dark and you can't see the cliff you fell off? Want to get to the other side of the map quickly? Wildcard studios really went in and said, go crazy, and gave everyone a tek suit.

3. Mission rewards! Good rewards=incentive to do the story! Well done.

4. The story. Some parts are more difficult than the others, but talk about a rewarding and just great story! Discovering the story as you explore and complete missions is clever and makes the player feel good. And just a great story with great voice acting. Especially from David Tennet.

The Medium (2021 Video Game)

There is a beautiful game here

[7/10 · 29 November 2021]

I'm very torn on this game. As a fan of horror and thriller media, I feel that many people will appreciate what this game brings to them. The visuals are disturbing, unique, and beautiful. The story has some basic horror tropes and jump scares that don't feel earned BUT there are a lot of time this game gave me goosebumps that hurt and played with my head very beautiful. The story is unique and brings a story we haven't seen before.

The split screen is a new concept that is really cool in parts and then very annoying in other parts. The biggest downfall of this game is the camera. The camera has fixed angles to make the game look more cinematic and while it does, there are many times where I died due to camera angles and didn't know where I was able to and not able to go because of the camera. It's frustrating but it didn't make me want to turn off the game. Overall, this is a game you need to try. It's not groundbreaking and has plenty of problems but it is an experience worth diving into.

Cowboy Bebop (2021)

I'm really conflicted

[6/10 · 19 November 2021]

As a show I wish I would have watched this with no prior nostalgic love of the anime, I would have enjoyed this show much more. I understand that this show is an adaptation that the creators wanted to show us but after episode 6 it just felt uncomfortable. The story felt ever so slightly wrong with the changes made. I don't like a lot of the changes but I think we can count this as something that is not a live action remake that failed. As a show in itself it is good, it's just very weighted down by the idea of being based off one of the greatest animes made. I think the show could benefited from a few more episodes of adventures to create more depth with the new ideas and then to deeper out relationships with the main and side characters.

I say watch it if you want to watch an interesting show. But always go for the anime first in this case.

Midnight Mass (2021)

Yes, offend me daddy Flannagin

[9/10 · 25 October 2021]

I am a Christian and I love horror demonic and all. I don't get offended easily but as a Christian who loves God this show offended and slighted my faith and I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT! Ok look this show won't be for everyone and that's ok. Midnight Mass portrays a part of religion that should addressed more often. Control and fanaticism is dangerous in religious congregations and the connection and story built around a unique and oddly beautiful portrayal of vampires. I am interested in learning Mike Flannagins inspiration for the vampires portrayed here. It's a great show with amazing twists of horror and mystery!

The Empty Man (2020)

Thank You Chris Stuckman

[10/10 · 14 October 2021]

Started watching the movie not knowing if I would enjoy it, finished having it become my favorite cosmic horror movie.

A unique and artistic vision of an idea from a new filmmaker. After watching Chris Stuckmans review and then the podcast episode he linked in the video, brings an amazing new respect for the filmmaker and the movie as a whole. Not everyone will like it and don't expect a thriller horror, it's the type of horror that is more subtle and sticks with you. It feels like a weird dream and I think it may hit in a weird part of your brain.

The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021)

Not perfect but a great story expansion to the universe

[7/10 · 25 August 2021]

It's entertaining to keep you watching until the very end yet you can't help but feel there's something missing that could make it better. But it's still a very good watch. Fans of the books and games will appreciate a story told that up until this point has only been referenced and briefly talked about. This is a film worth watching if you love The Witcher!

Attack on Titan (2013–2023)

It made me feel gross and I love it

[9/10 · 24 March 2021]

I started watching this show when it started coming out and as a teenager at that time I did not appreciate the show and got bored in season 2 and stoped watching. Now the year is 2021, I start rewatching, a week later I'm caught up. The shows themes of humanity and government are very well executed but you can enjoy the show without focusing on those themes too. There's a lot of discomfort and every time I watched an episode I had weird dreams too because the horror of titans lingers with you and the show keeps you hooked. I recommend having a happy show to watch after tho.

Assassin's Creed: Valhalla (2020 Video Game)

Not for everyone but a great experience

[9/10 · 10 December 2020]

At this point Assassin's Creed has become the Fast and Furious of video games but I'm ok with that. Valhalla has an immersive story that brings in familiar music and gameplay from the beloved beginnings with new characters, stories, and freedom that is making this game the awesome game it is. I started playing as the female but changed to the male Eivor 30 hours in because while she has a good voice actor, the story does not flow well and I find it hard to become attached to female Eivor unlike playing as Kassandra in Odyssey whom I would simp for hard. My issue? There are too many places you can get your character stuck and have to reload. A few times is expected and funny but when it's consistent that's when it gets annoying. The ability tree is overwhelming at first but it gets easy to work with the more you play and discover how you are wanting to play stories and just as a dope viking assassin. There's a lot to explore and so many ways to approach every situation that it really is your way to play. It keeps me interested but I do prefer Assassin's Creed Odyssey

Cyberpunk 2077 (2020 Video Game)

Great game except for one little thing

[9/10 · 10 December 2020]

I'm aware that I'm playing it on the Xbox One and my processing power is not up to where it should be for that seamless experience. This game is meant for Next Gen consoles, which is a struggle since not everyone can afford or even get a new system with them selling out like crazy. Gameplay wise the exploration and depth is fantastic and the blurriness of an Xbox One vs the new systems, is distracting but not a deal breaker. What is frustrating is how many times I've crashed and have had to redo missions but that also gives a fun change to approach the same mission in a new way. It's a complete, polished, and super detailed game but I wish it would run better on Xbox One and PS4.

Knack (2013 Video Game)

Knack baby!!!

[10/10 · 12 October 2020]

Knack baaaby! Well guys I gotto be honest...I don't like Knack...Knack 2 on the other hand....

Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (2016 Video Game)

Expected good didn't expect amazing.

[10/10 · 12 October 2020]

I didn't get a PlayStation until about 8 months ago for the first time and got Spider-Man, God Of War, Until Dawn, the remastered Uncharted collection and Uncharted 4. I didn't know what I was getting into and I played the first 3 Uncharted games and enjoyed them, they were very good games, so I had high hopes for 4. Uncharted 4 blew me away. I was expecting a good game, not one of the greatest 3rd person games ever made! Everything about this game screams polished. This is how you make a game. Voice actors, designers, directors, cinematographers, and writers should be taking notes from this game.

Knack II (2017 Video Game)

Knack 2 BABY!!!!!!

[10/10 · 8 August 2020]

Knack was a joke and Sony wasn't a part of the joke. But KNACK 2 IS A MASTERPIECE

Sputnik (2020)

Great concepts

[6/10 · 23 July 2020]

Overall I believe it is filled with really good concepts that are not executed as well as they could be or that we haven't seen before. if you want a good alien filled gore thriller, you will enjoy this movie

Assassin's Creed (2007 Video Game)

The one that started it all is bad

[4/10 · 14 July 2020]

I love the Assassin's Creed games. I love what the series has become. Yet the start is not a good game and people are buried with nostalgic love for this game. The first game that shot off one of the best selling RPG series, doesn't make the first one good. If anything play it to become introduced to the concepts and your two amazing characters of Altiar and Desmond.

Assassin's Creed: Unity (2014 Video Game)

Ubisoft knows how to fix games. Other games should take note

[9/10 · 14 July 2020]

Unity was totally broken when it game out. It had glitches that would haunt your nightmares, making it unplayable which made fans upset after all the hype. Ubisoft listened and not only fixed it, they gave the DLC for free. Unity is a game that took the cinematic side of Assassin's Creed and pushed it more towards that. Unity is solely based on story and what a story it is. This game gives a unique look at the Assassin's and the Templars showing you that both sides think they're right and that both are not as good as they may think they are. I was fixed from beginning to end in a very unique experience in an amazingly designed map that still holds up in 2020 and makes some newer games look bad. If you haven't played Unity, you should.

Assassin's Creed: Syndicate (2015 Video Game)

Should have been better than it was

[5/10 · 14 July 2020]

One of the weaker Assassin's Creed in my opinion. They give you too much to balance between character and side missions and it's very disorganized. It took me years to beat it because I kept getting so bored. The location is beautiful and creative but is lost in monotonous missions and story. I did love the Jack the Ripper DLC. Other than that, meh

John Wick (2014)

Shouldn't work but does

[10/10 · 8 July 2020]

John Wick is one of those films you'll read the premise for and think it's going to be terrible. Yet here we are years later with it being considered one of the best modern action movies. With an All-star cast you get a wonderfully acted movie with tons of amazing action. Kudos to everyone who made this film, they deserve their praise.

The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan (2019 Video Game)

More fun with friends

[7/10 · 6 July 2020]

I first played the game by myself and I thought it was ok, but super short. Then I got a group of my friends together and we played it and we had a great time. Playing with friends you can either see them fail or have a great time yelling at each other to press buttons faster and make different choices. After Until Dawn it's definitely a let down but I don't mind that this is becoming an anthology series.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011 Video Game)

Endless stories to be told

[10/10 · 4 July 2020]

While there is a main quest, Skyrim is unique in the fashion that you create your character and choose how they live their life. You create your own narrative, backstory, morals, and skills. Once you play through the game once you can play through many times and yet, you will never have the same story told twice unless you choose it to be. Want to play as a ex convict that found their way in life, fell in love, started a family and got a job fighting dragons? Or would you rather play as a mercenary just in it for the money and loot? Or maybe somewhere in between? Skyrim is a breakthrough in gaming. While there are glitches, they add to the the enjoyment of the game and will make you laugh. If you have it on PC I recommend getting some of the goofy mods to have more fun. This game is a must play.

Joker (I) (2019)

An important, difficult, and beautifully artistic film to watch

[10/10 · 4 July 2020]

I think it's understandable to see why people wouldn't like this movie, it's not a base villian orgin story that we expect from marvel or DC and I think many people expected that going in. The film is very uncomfortable and that's the point. At no point do you feel like the bad things Author is doing is ok, you know it's wrong but you have understanding on why this broken man is making these choices and the situations he's been forced into by predjudice and violence from an outside society. The praise for this movie is well deserved and the messages and themes are important and should be dissected. Though be really for a very bloody and intense experience.

Serenity (2005)

If you haven't watched the show, you'll be lost and won't care about the characters

[9/10 · 3 July 2020]

Serenity is the sequel to one of the best Western science fiction tv show ever made, Firefly. We're brought back to our favorite crew with some having separated to live out their own lives. But after a bounty hunter begins to hunt the character River the whole crew gets forced back together to fight a battle so much bigger than their own crew.

I love this movie. The Firefly universe is defenitly one that belongs to the spotlight. First let's talk about a few things I did not like 1. Is not good as a stand alone film, it is meant to be watched after the series 2. While interesting and definitely scary, the Reavers were more terrifying not on screen. The tension of never seeing a full Reaver set you on edge. In Serenity you get Reavers all over making them a physical fear rather than a mental an emotional fear. I love the story with the Reavers, it's very clever and good, I just liked the tension with them not on screen 3. We never learn who Bishop really is and why he's so important 4. River being highly trained in combat was kind of random. They tied that in very well, but I feel as if it really could have been done better 5. We don't have more. The ending leaves room for more movies or a continuation of the TV series. Yet here we are, these many years later missing Mal and the remaining crew of the Serenity to make a return. Maybe one day.

Over all I recommend this movie. No movie is perfect and anyone can nitpick but it's a Firefly movie. It gives you what you want and leaves you satisfied, heartbroken, and wanting more.

Ragnarok (2020–2023)

Very enjoyable

[7/10 · 29 June 2020]

A very nice modern adaption of Norse mythology. About halfway through the first episode I couldn't take the bad English dub. So I switched over to watching it in Norwegian with subtitles on and that was so much better. It's a fun adventure of a teenager finding his place in the world after all this power and responsability is suddenly thrown on him. It's a fun show with some great messages but suffers from a few plot points that appear randomly and disappear just as randomly and that detracted from the experience of the show for me. I think it's definitely worth a watch but not a drop everything and watch it right now.

The Last of Us: Part II (2020 Video Game)

While it has flaws it delivered on what I wanted

[9/10 · 22 June 2020]

What an interesting game! The first game is my favorite video game and a story that I consider to be one of the best written and acted stories ever put to a screen. The Last of Us part 2 takes a risk with taking a basic revenge plot and remodels it to become unique and something that can be missed in a speed run or a quick play.