defmuse Reviews

This Is Pop: Auto-Tune (2021) Season 1, Episode 1

I don't hate T-Pain anymore

[10/10 · 19 April 2023]

I'm only on the 2nd episode of this series, but this episode taught me a hell of a lot. I've disliked (no, let's be honest, hated) T-Pain since he came out. I still don't enjoy auto-tuned vocals (unless done really well) as it comes off as super corny, and, as a (non-professional) musician, I don't like using it.

This episode definitely changed my view though. My hate (which I shouldn't have had in the first place, since there was a lot of knowledge lacking) has completely dissipated.

It can be embarrassing, but the humiluty felt after the awareness of everything surrounding auto-tuning (how it was made, how it was used, how it's being used now, and the vast creativity of musicians / mankind) was a welcomed feeling.

We're always so quick to judge + hate (as it's so easy, and makes us feel good about ourselves, moronically), that we block out all the incredible wonder too. I found myself relating to T-Pain as a basic human being as well.

I still don't like T-Pain's older stuff, as commercial pop has never been, and will never be my thing, but I definitely don't hate (him, and in general) anymore, and I'm going to enjoy the rest of this series, excited to having my eyes + mindset opened up a lot more.

Legion of Super-Heroes (2023)

DC Adult juxtaposed with DC Babies

[7/10 · 12 March 2023]

I have to admit that I'm a DC Universe Animation Original Movies fan overall. I've followed DCUAOM since Doomsday. They've made some really good ones like Flashpoint Paradox, etc. (Superman vs. The Elite being 1 of my favs).

Legion was fun, but I can't understand the decision to make an animated movie with adult themes consisting of violence, death, and horror (to a small extent - Braniac's demise), but then overlap it with dialog that felt broken (as if the actors were reading rather than acting), and dialog + voice acting that seemed aimed for toddlers.

In addition, personally, the voice actors didn't fit a majority of the characters.

I hope that the next installment will be made with a little more class (because DCUAOM has done it before), and better attention to the dialog and the voice actors chosen.

I still love, and remain consistently excited about all DCUAOM releases.

Black Crab (2022)

Entire intense atmosphere ruined by the end song

[7/10 · 8 November 2022]

Whoever chose that song for the end, minus points for you! I was drawn in, suspense-based beating of the heart, intrigued... and then that song plays. Ruined. An hour & 45 mins of thrills gone in a minute.

Great movie though; Noomi Rapace is the sickness.

And now, partial, semi-related lyrics to Superdrag's "sucked out":

Look around could it bring somebody down If I never made a sound again?

In your eyes you've already spread my thighs And you're rocking to the next big thing Kissing the bride 45 minutes a side This was my dream played out rocking routine

Who sucked out the feeling?

Who sucked out the feeling?

THE END.

The Flash (2014–2023)

"You Don't Have To Do This..."

[6/10 · 27 November 2021]

...seems to be the dialogue for every episode.

The show started off well, but post the 4th season, the episodes seems to blend into each other, with the same dialogue, content & resolve... just a different villain.

Every episode has become a Christmas special.

Struggled to get through Season 6 & 7.

But, still better than Batwoman.

Ladyhawke (1985)

The Ending... Capitol L to the O to the a bellowing L

[7/10 · 30 June 2021]

Childhood movie, so it's always going to be a classic.

I didn't recall the ending though. I died 🤣. And what was up with that anticlimactic, uncomfortably forced kiss at the end? A little bit of cringe occurred, ruining what needed to be a more satisfying conclusion.

Matthew Broderick is hilarious.

Legend (1985)

Téa Leoni is incredible as Jack.

[8/10 · 26 June 2021]

I've always liked Tim Curry. "IT" did it for me. But watching this movie after decades, his portrayal of Darkness is something sick (his expressions!). Definitely made to my list of Top 20 most bad-ass villains.

Oh, classic movie too.

The Flash: Harry and the Harrisons (2018) Season 4, Episode 21

No more Kate Sackoff, PLEASE.

[6/10 · 22 June 2021]

Her British accent is one of the worst I've ever heard, and she's just SUCH A BAD actor. Please stop, or get her an acting coach.

Every episode she has been in has ruined that entire episode. Such a shame.

Arrow: Shifting Allegiances (2018) Season 6, Episode 20

The best part about this episode...

[7/10 · 20 June 2021]

...is the fact that Kathleen Gati (Raisa) had more natural facial expressions in those last 5 seconds of the episode than Emily Rickards had during all 6 seasons (and probably the rest) combined.

Fun episode though.

The Flash: Attack on Central City (2017) Season 3, Episode 14

How did Flash cook so fast?

[7/10 · 14 May 2021]

Out of curiousity: flash makes breakfast superfast right at the beginning of the episode, but how would that work, considering only he can move fast... he can't affect the ingredients nor the flame to speed up the process, right?

This is purely interest. Comments?

Lucifer: What Would Lucifer Do? (2017) Season 3, Episode 4

Weird scene 7 mins into the episode...

[12 December 2020]

So, before the hilarious "So what, she drown?" scene, as a horse walks up the pathway, in front of the left red barn, a guy seems to be, what looks like, throwing something to the ground & breaking it into 3 pieces, or he was shooing away 3 pigeons that took flight, but then have up on life & took one last permanent dive.

Can anyone from this episode's production explain what happened in that scene? I'm so curious to know the story behind this seemingly angry man.

Perhaps he was, ironically, having a Greek wedding at murder scene...?

Fearless (2020)

Couldn't get through...

[4/10 · 29 November 2020]

The animation seemed absolutely fine. It was the voice acting / cast that I couldn't get past. I really tried. But they seemed so out of place, lifeless (read from a script rather than acted out), and almost out sync (due to its lifelessness).

Halfway through, the coulourless dialogue + voice acting were too prominent for me to enjoy the movie.

Darkman (1990)

Origins...

[6/10 · 25 October 2020]

It's so nice to see what Odo was like before DS9. No wonder they made him head of security.

Gretel & Hansel (2020)

Flaws, but good single-watch movie

[7/10 · 17 May 2020]

The movie, for me, starts off slow. Some of the camera-work seemed really out-dated. And what really put me off were the accents of Sophia Pills & her mother (in the movie). With the beautiful similies + dialogue, I felt their ways of speaking were too contradictory to the time period & rest of the characters' dialogues. Everyone else's dialogue allowed me to fuse with the dark period of the film's setting, but then their accents + form of speech would snap me back into the "now."

However, the good: beautiful sets, 90% of the camera-work was gorgeous, Alice Krige is phenomenal, and I liked the new version of this childhood tale. The eerieness of the sets definitely won me over.

Personally, from all the negative reviews I've read, it seems like they were written by people who were expecting more "action" in the end, but probably are the same critics that criticize action movies for having little substance.

For general horror fans: enjoyable one-time watch, great acting, beautiful set-design. Not b-grade at all. If you don't have a stick up your *oink," you'll enjoy it.

G-Funk (2017)

Terrific documentary about the G-Funk era

[9/10 · 7 December 2018]

I got done watching "The Defiant Ones" (which I highly recommend as well) before "G-Funk," and it was incredible discovering all these previously unknown details (to me), like the role The D.O.C. played, etc.

Similarly, with this documentary, my respect for Warren G shot up 213%.

If you're a fanatic of hip hop, and/or grew up listening to brilliant music from that Golden Age of Hip Hop, this documentary is for you.

I hope to see more featurettes like "G-Funk,' hopefully revolving around other extraordinary artists like King-T, DJ Quik, RBX, etc.

Powers (2015–2016)

The power of plain...

[6/10 · 23 October 2017]

Im a huge fan of Sharlto Copley & Eddie Izzard... to the point where I will watch anything by them. This show has kind of altered this appreciation & enjoyment.

I was not expecting Powers to be THIS cringe-worthy. Every sing episode: the dialogue was awful. Something out of a high school film project.

Cheesy dialogue, awful acting, and amateurish editing (video & audio - all of season 2, there is heavy large-empty-hallway-type reverb on most conversations taking place outdoors - I thought it was was my download, but I rented the Bluray, and its the same),

Lets not forget pointing out the over-exaggerated acting by Susan Heyward (her melodramatic " what the f*** " response to EVERYTHING, during almost all episodes), Adam Godley, Andrew Sensenig, and Eddie Izzard.

The CGI is b-grade at best, including the cosplay costumes.

However, if you're like me (a sci-fi / fantasy fanatic), you're still going to watch this, and enjoy it, even while being enveloped by cheese.

Lost Girl (2010–2016)

Confusing. (Spoiler only in the last line)

[5/10 · 4 October 2016]

I don't mean "confusing" in an intellectual way (which is impossible with this series); I'm puzzled as to why this show tries to be adult (with sexuality & blood), but then nullifies said mature theme with the CHEESIEST lines & acting I have heard & seen in a long time. It's as if the writers picked out a "Cheesy Lines For Dummies" handbook & crammed 50 years of unoriginal 1-liners into every episode.

I watched ALL 5 seasons hoping it would get better. I generally liked each episode's ideas & how expansive they got with each supernatural theme. But the acting & dialogue killed that enjoyment (esp. that of Ksenia Solo). Personally, the only people who brought anything likable (in terms of acting) to this show were Zoey Palmer & Paul Amos.

All in all, if you're a supernatural, sci-fi, fantasy obsessor like me, you'll cringe, but still enjoy it all.

SPOILER ALERT: If Ksenia had been killed off in ANY of the seasons, I would have changed my rating to a 7.

Torchwood (2006–2011)

For a sci-fi fan, great. But overall... mediocre

[6/10 · 11 July 2016]

Let me start off by saying that I am a Dr. Who Fan. I've even watched the Sarah Jane Adventures. And like any sci-fi or fantasy fan, you're going to enjoy all of it.

However, at the same time, Torchwood falls short on numerous levels. The creators have tried to make it a show for a mature audience with sex & blood (no complaints here), but I wish they spent a little more time on the dialogue & acting.

The plots for each episode & season are entertaining... some of them are pretty damn good. But every episode (and I mean every) has far too many cheesy, cliché lines (especially Season 4), and the acting is just over the top.

I'm actually a fan of Mekhi Phifer, and even Bill Pullman, but I was shocked at how horrible they were in this show. The writers notably gave Phifer some of the corniest lines I have ever heard.

Be that as it may, every actor is fantastic when compared to Eve Myles. Over acting would be an understatement. Ever episode: I was in agony watching her trying to act. This show would easily get a 7 out of 10 from me, but Myles single handedly brings it down to a 5. Still, I give it a 6, because as I mentioned at the beginning: I'm a sci-fi fanatic, and therefore enjoyed the show. I'm just glad (and hope) I don't ever have to watch Myles act again.

Andron (2015)

Pointless & a waste of my hour and half

[2/10 · 18 June 2016]

The Score: unoriginal, regurgitated, and outdated. A few of the pieces sounded like they were lifted off the Mortal Kombat soundtrack.

The Acting: horrendous... it's so bad that characters who are supposed to be dead, are clearly seen breathing on film.

The dialogue: worse. There are lines that are completely redundant... like they've been thrown in there due to lack of anything coherent by the writers.

The saddest part: Skin is terrible. I cringed every time she tried to "act." I don't know why, but she kept sounding like she was reading her dialogue to kindergarteners.

I want to give this movie a higher rating due to Baldwin & Glover being involved, but they don't add even a percentage of class or relief to this movie.

Pod (I) (2015)

Over-the-top acting butchered the movie

[4/10 · 5 October 2015]

I want to give this movie a better rating, but 2 of the actors' "acting" performances ruined it for me.

POD is a decent sci-fi / horror movie. It's entertaining. Hardcore sci-fi fans will enjoy it. And to be honest, the movie had potential to be a better-than-disappointing 1-time watch.

However, Lauren Ashley Carter's (Lyla) ridiculously melodramatic performance left me... severely annoyed. Her dramatics were just exceptionally & unnecessarily overplayed.

Brian Morvant (Martin) was the same, but it camouflaged well with his role.

All in all, this movie is for sci-fi fanatics, and is an entertaining single-time viewing. Best part in the entire movie (don't worry... NOT a spoiler alert): 1hr 2mins 50secs in. I think that single scene brought this movie from a 3, up to a 4 out of 10 for me.