tachiiderp Reviews

Fallout (2024– )

The era of well-done adaptations continues...

[10/10 · 20 April 2024]

Honestly, even from the trailer, there is hope this adaptation won't totally suck. And boy did it deliver. The world building, the moral dilemmas, the companions, and the set and costume designs, damn! This is one of the most faithful adaptations to a video game IP I've seen yet. The post-apocalyptic landscape looks fantastic with a ton of familiar locations, characters, music, and the story? It keeps you engaged as it slowly unravels the main conspiracy.

This is a love letter to the franchise and is one of the best video game adaptations, if not the best, I've seen yet. Not only was it able to keep the vibe, the feel, and the aesthetic of the series perfectly intact, it managed to create a cohesive plot with multiple perspectives. The essence of Fallout has a satirical lens to it. The world is incredibly violent and dangerous, but the inhabitants all deal with it differently, some often with a morbid sense of humor. There are plenty of moral choices to make, and even though you don't get to make them yourself, you get to see different perspectives and how each character makes the choice based on their own unique experiences.

Let's go back to the character and set designs because the show absolutely nailed it. The vaults had its retro aesthetic with a distinct futuristic look, the first town was filled with garbage, goons, and makeshift shops, the Brotherhood of Steel had its iconic power armor and advanced weaponry, the ghouls with its fantastic makeup design, and the absolute carnage and impact of various weapons. The show managed to capture the style so remarkably consistent across many different locations and factions.

When the production is this faithful to the source material, it's hard to find any flaws because the positives overwhelmingly shadow the negatives. You could argue certain characters are not your cup of tea, but they still act cohesively based on their past experiences. You could argue someone who hasn't played the video games might be left a bit confused or miss out on the familiar locations, but the show does a great job showing you the lore by switching between the past and the present. You can even argue the plot relies too much on being at the right place at the right time, but that is always a flaw when you have a world this massive while following multiple characters.

All in all, this was an awesome adaptation which definitely got me revisiting the games again (much like how Cyberpunk Edgerunners got me to finally play the game). There are more stories to tell, enemies to fight, and locations to see. We will see what happens next!

Parasyte: The Grey (2024– )

Not a sequel, or a remake, but more of a spinoff

[8/10 · 8 April 2024]

As someone who saw the anime almost a decade ago, which was an adaptation of a manga by the same name, I was very curious how this story could possibly be adapted into live action without looking very silly (see the Japanese live adaptation films).

Without spoiling anything, The Grey is not another live-adaptation of the manga, nor is it a sequel to it. It's more like a spin-off. The events that happen in Parasyte, in the original material, we only saw what happened in Japan. The Grey looks at what happens when the parasytes affects a different country. In this sense, you don't have to read the manga or watch the anime, as the TV series cover the worldbuilding fairly well.

Now, the big question is, did it end up looking as silly as the films? No. I'd say the special effects in The Grey were awesome. Probably the best parts of the show. It will no doubt look a bit cartoonish still but I was very impressed. How much of it was practical effects? How much was it VFX? They have blended it very well.

However, the shaky cam definitely didn't do the show any favours. Maybe it was a necessary evil to make the VFX looks as real as it did, but I rather have the camera stationary so we can focus on the fights, because some of the fights were pretty insane. But again, it might be because the cuts and shaky cams hid a lot of glaring issues and is why it was used.

Still, Parasyte was and still is an interesting series just because it asks some interesting questions about humanity, survival, and morality. I don't think the philosophy was as in-depth as the manga or anime, given there were only 6 episodes, but there is enough to ponder here and definitely makes me want to watch the anime again (highly recommended but also has its fair share of flaws). For those who knew the source material, the last couple minutes in this show was super cool to see.

In summary, Parasyte has an interesting premise and the TV series did an excellent job adapting it as a live action. Slowly, I think Netflix is producing more and more quality live adaptations which had been known for a long time to be a joke (Cowboy Bebop and Death Note is still a joke but Alice in Wonderland and One Piece was very good).

Anatomy of a Fall (2023)

Who was at fault?

[10/10 · 27 January 2024]

Where to start? The acting performances in this film were fantastic. Everybody played their role so well it felt like a documentary. We're simply witnessing real events playing out. For the next two and a half hours, we aren't watching actors, but simply people going about their lives and having to deal with a traumatic event.

It really cannot be understated how good the actors were. One of the more memorable scenes involved a long argument between the characters and you can feel the pain, anger, and sadness all leaking out from everyone.

The film does a really good job in terms of pacing and showing just enough information for you to follow, but there's always a sliver of doubt about the underlying truth. I feel like the conclusion is quite clear, but viewers can always doubt what aspects of the truth was told or twisted by the characters.

Another aspect I enjoyed about the film is that the characters are quite intelligent, but there are clear flaws with them as well. While the plot slowly reveals the truth, we are also witnessing great performances that grip us to see what will happen next. The film also does an excellent job near the beginning to really put us in the shoes of the lead female character, but once the incident occurred, it felt like the perspective have shifted to the detective, and later on, to the child. This subtle shift gives the film a mysterious edge. What we thought we knew about certain people, it is slowly revealed perhaps there is more going on under the hood.

Overall, this was a very engrossing film. Two and a half hours flew by and major kudos to the original screenplay and actors. Heck, the dog was absolutely amazing in this film too. I honestly think it's probably the best performance from an animal I've seen in a while. Give the doggo an award!

Poor Things (2023)

A highly entertaining, artistic, and strange story about human development.

[10/10 · 17 December 2023]

I went into this film relatively blind other than having seen the trailer. Right from the trailer you know you're in for a chaotic yet stunningly beautiful journey.

The acting performances were top-notch. Emma Stone blew it out of the park and convincingly portrayed a very unique and quirky character. William Dafoe is not a stranger to weird characters, and his performances are equally natural and convincing. Mark Ruffalo was absolutely hysterical here.

The set designs are amazing. It's magical, it's delightful, and it flawlessly accentuates the perception of our main character. When she visits a new place, there is beauty and novelty in everything she sees, and we, the audience, gets to experience that with her. The soundtrack equally accentuates the film as a whole with its bizarre notes and wondrous themes.

There is also quite a bit of dark humor that, again, like the set designs, the quirky characters, and the odd music notes, help shape the beautiful world these Poor Things live in.

I enjoyed the character progression of the main character. We get to observe innocence, curiosity, hedonism, and a natural progression toward meaningful purpose. It is important to note there are quite a lot of scenes involving pleasure, but it is driving home a point about sexuality that you might agree or disagree with.

The plot progression definitely relied on a handful of convenient events, but I don't find them to be critical flaws for the film. I believe the message inherent in our main character's journey is a thoughtful one. There is a celebration to curiosity, to experiencing new things, and to constantly challenge your own views. I think it is very easy to lose that curiosity as an adult but it is an important lifelong quality to maintain.

With such an absurd yet fantastical premise, the film adapted its source material extremely well and is sure to be one of the most memorable films of the decade.

Hellbound (2021– )

Interesting premise, but the focus is too narrow.

[6/10 · 5 November 2023]

In Hellbound, there is a supernatural entity that is seemingly picking humans at random to "send to Hell". This definitely reminded me of Death Note which also had an arbiter of death. However, for Hellbound, the focus is entirely about a cult that is formed in an attempt to explain the supernatural phenomenon.

The lack of focus on any other aspects of society is the show's biggest flaw. There is no way the military-industrial complex isn't doing their darnest to figure out how to stop these beasts from carrying out their murders. The show does attempt police involvement in trying to stop the beasts, but ultimately you saw maybe a few gun shots toward them and that was it.

At one point the show declares the cult as this immensely powerful organization, with members in powerful positions politically, militarily, and economically. However, the "leaders" of the cult often seems incapable, irrational, and quite frankly comical when they're shown. It's this kind of dissonance that leads to criticisms. You can't just state that the cult is very powerful but at the same time show a bunch of incapable leaders.

Okay, so let's assume we take the show at its face value: the arbiter of death is some heavenly entity that cannot be stopped with any existing technology or manpower, and after a time skip, we now have half the world believing the arbiter kills "sinners" as defined by the cult. Then the major conflict of the show is now about the cult and people trying to debunk the cult's ideology.

The problem with this is we never got to see any meaningful resolution nor even the topple of the cult. Sure, it's a TV show that could get more seasons, but season 1 ends with way more questions than answers.

As a whole, the show missed a lot of interesting aspects. We're meant to assume a lot of things about the world which frankly just seems like the writer haven't really considered the complexity of the premise. Realistically, a supernatural event that leads to the birth of a global cult is a very complicated process. How, for instance, do you get powerful people on your cult to begin with? We want to see how the young Chairman managed to attract such a large following from the world's most powerful groups. We want to see the military's point of view and how they tackle this potential existential threat. We want to see how politicians try to use these events to their advantage. And so on and so forth.

With all that said, I did enjoy the show because the premise is pretty interesting. I just hope that the show do get additional seasons to truly flesh out the complexities with this premise. As only the first season was out on the time of this writing, the ending was quite disappointing and the time skip was quite a lazy approach to storytelling.

Beef (2023– )

Actions have consequences

[9/10 · 16 April 2023]

Honestly, the premise of a road rage cascading into a series of escalating events was not something that interested me at first. However, the amount of character depth even in the show's side characters pulled me in to see what can happen next.

Usually, I'm not a fan of watching people continually make bad decisions but the show does a very good job of showing why the characters do what they do. At the same time, characters are continually growing and changing their thought process. Sometimes there is an act of kindness, and sometimes that kindness turns into something cruel.

The dialogue is also very sharp. Some moments are hilarious, or thoughtful, or painful. Characters can be lying on the spot and gives more questions than answers. The show balances a healthy approach to show, not tell. I actually wished they explored some of the side characters a bit more, such as the neighbour's housewife and what her true intentions were. Perhaps that was the intent. You're supposed to make your own judgment to what this character represented.

The acting is stellar across the board. Steven Yuen really knocks it out of the park and Ali Wong was not a slouch either. Both characters have the ability to show pain in a variety of ways.

Overall, I'm very impressed this story was able to be told in just 10 episodes that's around 35 minutes long each. The pacing was excellent. Ultimately, the takeaway message for me was this: self-reflect and understand where your anger and sadness come from. And think very carefully if you want to express them to a complete stranger. This is easier said than done, as most of us would rather live in blissful ignorance, blame others for our own shortcomings, rather than explore who we really are and how to improve ourselves. Remember, it is very difficult to control other people's behaviors, but you can learn how to properly react to theirs.

The Menu (2022)

Something to digest and share

[9/10 · 5 February 2023]

The films I love to write my thoughts about are the ones I love to read what others have thought about.

The reviews here have a number of different takes. Some really didn't get it, while others have provided insightful commentary. Whatever your takes may be, I simply appreciate a movie that makes us reflect about the world. To reflect about our need to experience new things, our need to harshly criticize about something we can't even make ourselves, and our need to enjoy a damn juicy cheeseburger.

Is the film realistic? Oddly enough, I felt it was very plausible. No, I wouldn't say every fine dining restaurant would end up going to this sort of extremes, but sometimes you hear about someone volunteering to be eaten by someone else. Sometimes you hear about what people end up doing with excessive wealth. Sometimes you hear about Van Gogh cutting up his own ear.

The Menu was an entertaining take on fine dining to the most obsessive extremes. There is an attention to detail on every plate, an artist using his own experience to push the boundaries of his creations, and we, the consumers, are morbidly curious to observe what happens next.

Not a movie without flaws, but I will continue to celebrate films that pushes us to digest and share something that we normally don't get to see.

The Woman in the House (2022)

That Show on Netflix with a Long Title Yet Still Happened to Confuse Many Viewers

[8/10 · 17 January 2023]

I'm only going to say this title once; The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window is a comedy. A spoof on a genre which is rarely made fun of.

Generally, we take murder mysteries very seriously. There might be comedic moments but it isn't focused so intently on making fun of the entire genre. This show does that and in turn can turn off a lot of viewers.

When a show breaks the mold of what you expect it to be... it tends to create a divisive experience. Either you didn't find it funny because you took it seriously, or you expected it to be funny but it seemed too serious. Or it's just overall too explicit or cringy for your sensibilities. Whatever the case it may be, I thought it was a crazy fun ride.

Most if not all the characters are wacky and borderline incompetent, with a ton of out of place dialogue you would not expect in a murder mystery, but at the same time the show did a good job of creating everyone as a suspect.

With that said, some jokes did not land, and I wasn't particularly thrilled about the last 5 minutes of the show either. Still, I had a blast watching this with my partner and it was hysterical how things went the way it did.

Alice in Borderland (2020– )

Probably the best anime/manga live adaptation I've seen

[9/10 · 28 December 2022]

To be fair, it's not that big of a feat, especially considering Netflix produced Death Note and Cowboy Bebop, iconic stories in their own right, and failed miserably with them.

But boy, they hit a home run with Alice in Borderland. The post-apocalyptic landscape of Japan looks incredible, the design and stage of each games are fantastic, and for the most part, the characters aren't all weirdos, *cough*, well a lot of them are but that's the charm, right?

Now you can probably find a ton of plot holes with how some of the games went, and you will totally see this in many other reviews. But, just the sheer volume of so many types of survival games to be adapted was a delight to see.

Not all games are equal in quality, but some really stands out, like most games that involves Chishiya and most of the games in season 1. All the games are absolutely brutal, whether it is a physical challenge, a mental challenge, or both. I was very surprised to see how some of the action scenes are done so well, like Usagi's parkour scenes, and probably the most memorable one that involves a katana.

As far as the story goes, you're watching this and reading this review because you have some interest at least with the survival games genre like Saw and Battle Royale. Alice in Borderland mixes Battle Royale with a decent amount of wit and a bit more set of relatable characters. I even thought some character progression to be delightfully done even if they're simple and straight-forward.

Alice in Borderland has gotten a lot of things right, and is probably the best anime/manga live adaptation right now. It certainly makes someone like me who has seen way too many terrible live adaptations of anime/manga interested to see if Netflix can hit another home run next time.

* I would love to talk about the ending but this will not be a spoiler review. But I do appreciate the adaptation for faithfully adapting the ending (which I enjoyed, but it's certainly not everyone's cup of tea). *

Barbarian (2022)

Love the directions this movie went as a horror film

[9/10 · 18 September 2022]

Horror films. There are so many tropes and cliche at this point in the genre it's very difficult to create an unique experience.

Barbarian succeeds in this by continuously surprising the audience. There are very little expositions and the film does an excellent job of "show, not tell". The dialogue is also spot on and characters are consistent in who they are and how their personality and values decide their behaviours. Some parts are legitimately funny which really adds to the enjoyment of the film as a whole.

This is a film I recommend to everyone because I had such a thrilling ride with it. This was a brilliant rabbit hole to climb into if you are feeling for an interesting horror film.

Bullet Train (2022)

A crazy adrenaline ride with a cast of interesting characters

[9/10 · 7 August 2022]

I thought I was reviewing a Guy Ritchie film. Great ensemble cast, check. Witty dialogue and a interconnected web of characters, check. Excellent transition from one point of view to the next.

Exposition isn't in your face (although it could feel extremely fast paced) and character motivations make sense. The action was fun af as you see Brad Pitt uses just about anything in the train to fight against a variety of opponents.

What really makes the film work is the interactions between these archetypal characters. It definitely reminds me of the old heist movies Guy Ritchie is so fond of making. One can easily point out plot conveniences/holes but that's really the whole point of the movie. We want to see quirky interactions and crazy turn of events.

And the action, damn the action was exhilarating! I love sword fight scenes and you're gonna get it here. No weird and confusing shaky cams and you get to see blood splashes in all its glory. Lots of Jackie Chan-esque fight scenes requiring random environmental items and the camera work is on point.

This is one of the funnest movies I've seen this year. Easily recommended for all action fans and I'll definitely watch it again once it's out for streaming.

Nope (2022)

Captivating but going to be a divisive experience

[8/10 · 23 July 2022]

The biggest praise I can give is the cinematography and camera work. I really enjoy looking at wide shots of landscapes and the slow or sudden movements of the camera pushing the tension and anxiety of the scene without having to rely on dialogue or even any acting.

I think the film will be divisive among its audience though. I think this is due to a couple of reasons. First, the story progression feels confusing at times to what we are used to seeing in a thriller or horror. I think labelling it as horror will automatically steer away some people while those that enjoys horror may be disappointed that it lacks enough scares to be called a horror. The trailer I feel also gives away too much and puts the film in a box that might detract viewers. Ultimately, you really have to be open-minded going to this movie. In respect to the genre, Nope really isn't a horror, but more of a blend of some sci-fi, some mystery, some comedy, and luckily, no romance.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed the film. I think for movie lovers this will generally be a good experience. Peele seem to focus more on our shared love for films more than sticking to a particular formula of a single genre. There are many small things you'll enjoy if you already love movies, but it will probably have a visibly different experience to a casual movie goer.

The themes of the film is also a good one, I feel. It feels like a cautionary modern fairy tale and the somewhat real dangers of chasing fame and disrespecting nature.

Jordan Peele is shaping out to be a director whose name alone will generate an audience and I would put Nope as a more captivating experience than Us, and around the same level as Get Out despite being two very different stories. His vision and creativity continues to remain highly interesting and I'm so curious to find out what he goes to work on next!

Circle (II) (2015)

One of the most underrated films on IMDB

[8/10 · 22 June 2022]

I've been on IMDB for a long time now and for the most part I agree with most films I've come across that has a mediocre rating (under 6.5). But Circle's rating has always come off as underrated to me because it's such an interesting film and I've always had interesting discussions when I recommend this to others.

Why do we read stories and participate in sharing and exchanging stories? Entertainment is a huge factor, but we also want to perhaps learn something new, and discuss themes or messages we found interesting.

Circle is the perfect film to generate discussion among its viewers. It asks a very simple moral question and it shows many different approaches to answering it.

The film is basically a common thought experiment stitched into a film. Some may call this film predictable or even boring, but I think its value comes from the exploration of your own character and the social experience you share with others who have also seen the film. It is almost the perfect film to watch with someone you might not know very well and really get to know someone.

Now one might argue, well, we're never going to experience what happened in the movie, so what's the point of this thought experiment? To me, despite knowing that human behaviour and human thought can often NOT be reflective of each other, it does allow you to get a glimpse of who someone really is. And I think, if a movie is able to do that, then it is an interesting movie and thought-provoking in what it attempted to do.

And to that, I enjoyed Circle, and I enjoyed the conversations I had with my friends about Circle, and I'm immensely curious of what experiences other people had. To me, your enjoyment of Circle is how serious you want to dive into its rabbit hole, how curious you are about other people's perspectives. To this, I hope movies like Circle continue to get made.

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

One glorious rollercoaster ride from start to finish

[10/10 · 15 April 2022]

This movie has everything I typically enjoy in a movie. Comedy that works, action sequences that are smooth and imaginative, and a well connected cast of characters.

I want to say the conclusion is a little wishy-washy but shouldn't really take too much away from the rest of the movie. I always appreciate stories that gets you to think about the relationships you currently have and reflect on your own life. Absolutely recommended for anyone open to a fantastical journey into the unknown!

Dune (2021)

A complete package to the start of a beloved series.

[9/10 · 1 November 2021]

Having read the book as a young teen, and knowing the major players involved in this film, the expectation I had for this film is off the charts. And my goodness did it deliver!

This film has it all. The quality of its direction, cinematography, and music is top notch. You really feel the scale of things and the importance of certain events. It's a film with a lot of characters and while the movie couldn't explore everyone's motivations, it balanced worldbuilding and character depth quite well.

All the Atreides are brilliantly cast and added to the richness of the film. One of the most memorable scenes has to be Paul and the box. The acting, music, and cinematography blended perfectly to not only reveal the strength of its main character, but of the careful attention to detail in its direction.

I think one of the best compliments to give is how the film didn't feel overloaded with exposition. The world of Dune is rich in its lore, and the film uses stunning visuals and music as another source to enhance its worldbuilding. The Voice is otherworldly, the Bene Gesserit is shrouded in mystery, the planet of Arrakis is harsh, and its inhabitants are tough but unyielding. The presentation as a whole is stunning and captivating.

I think the only criticism, barring spoilers, is how the film ended. It is clear the film will require a sequel (which is pretty much confirmed in its IMDB title), but it didn't really end at a good spot. That said, very few films based on novel series can. I am cautiously hyped for the next entry of Dune but this was a very, very strong start to a beloved series.

Hell House LLC (2015)

Creepy if you can tolerate the shallow characters

[8/10 · 25 October 2021]

Characters in Hell House LLC are completely careless and ignores all the creepy events that happen in the house so the viewers get to experience increasingly creepy events at their expense. You basically have to suspend your disbelief at how stupid some of the characters are to enjoy the rest of the movie.

But damn was it effective. The movie relies very little on sound as much of the story takes place as a fake documentary involving a lot of cam work. So the movie plays a lot on your expectations as it gives you subtle creepy events that happen around the house.

As a guy who have seen a number of horror films now, I can say Hell House LLC is one of the few movies that left a lasting impression. Of course the movie has a number of flaws, but it succeeded in creating a very creepy and uncomfortable experience.

8/10.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

A very good action flick before it was overtaken by CGI.

[8/10 · 10 September 2021]

The action is the movie's biggest selling point. The hand to hand combat is done exceptionally well and the use of the environment and camera movement added to the flow and intensity of each scene.

Character development and interactions is also fine. The only criticism I have is how the final fight got a bit too CGI-heavy. It really didn't need the super fantastical elements and definitely took away the character development the story was building up to. It kind of just felt like the higher-ups said a Marvel movie needs something grandiose despite the rest of the film was kept grounded.

Other than this, and the fact that a side character was able to pull a MVP hit out of thin air, the movie is very enjoyable. There is some truly breathtaking scenes and there's plenty of memorable martial arts scenes to go around. Growing up with these kung fu movies, I think you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

Come to Daddy (2019)

Unexpected.

[7/10 · 16 August 2021]

What can I say? 'Come to Daddy' is as weird as it is unexpected, but I will say not watching the trailer and going in this with the only expectation that something unexpected will happen will increase the experience.

I stumbled onto this movie through Elijah Wood as I enjoy the weird stories he finds himself into. I think he genuinely enjoys being in these quirky stories even if many of them are not rated well by the general public. Come to Daddy is no different. I can totally see why its rated this poorly, but I can also say this movie has its tense moments and its laugh out loud moments. It's weird enough to be entertaining, but don't expect... actually just don't expect anything.

The movie might be terrible, the movie might be a riot, but whatever you expected, it probably won't be that. And I think that's as much of a compliment as it is a critique, because I did expect something else, but what I got was not bad either. Well, your mileage will vary.

Sometimes in life, you just have to experience something different, and this movie definitely fills that box. As I end the review, I know I've literally said nothing of value, but it also feels like the perfect way to encapsulate this film. I also realize this is as ambiguous as the movie itself. Am I criticizing the film, or complimenting it? One will never know.

The Green Knight (2021)

A legend to be experienced.

[9/10 · 8 August 2021]

The Green Knight is a refreshing and fantastically weird film in today's cinema. Despite its oddities, it is a coming-of-age hero's journey. And I have too much of a soft spot for the genre.

The first thing you will notice is the camera work. It is very well done. I am clearly not an expert on this, but the cinematography is fantastic, and is a movie worth watching on the big screen. The colors are vibrant despite the overall green hue, and there is quite a bit of otherworldly elements that likely will confuse you on your first viewing. Still, I appreciate the artistic direction they decided to take in its worldbuilding. It feels delightfully mythical and otherworldly in many scenes.

The next thing you will notice is the slow pacing. The Green Knight takes its time, allowing the viewer to pick up emotions and thoughts the main character feels, despite no words being said. Personally, I find fast-paced films more enjoyable, but the presentation of the film made the slow pacing worth it. It is such an odd film but I appreciate how it completely took me away from our current reality and transported us to the mythical legend of Gawain and the Green Knight.

And lastly, I appreciate the themes of The Green Knight. I find a movie to be compelling when it successfully shows growth in its main character in a way that makes sense. And this is a feat considering just how weird The Green Knight was. I also think you will have a good time reading the interpretations of the community on how the movie ended. It certainly makes me want to watch it again.

The Gentlemen (2019)

A Guy Ritchie Film

[7/10 · 20 July 2021]

Having seen LS/Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, RocknRolla, and the new Sherlock Holmes films, I don't think there's a better description to describe The Gentlemen: it's a Guy Ritchie Film.

Expect criminals with themes of betrayal, trust, greed, and pride, and a good ensemble cast with a web of intricated twists and somewhat convenient situations.

The remarkable similarity between Ritchie's films is how he often portrays a sympathetic anti-hero who is clearly involved with all the illegal good stuff but there's something we root for despite his villainy. It's the inherent morality involved in his character. He might be killing people, breaking the law, but he has his principles. And he abides by them. He is charming, assertive, and most of all, he is adamant on smiting those that betrays him, and rewards those that honors his trust.

But how he rewards the trust is very subtly displayed in film, if at all. It's never directly stated how much he trusts his henchmen, just the general comradery he displays with them. You also see Ray, his go-to henchman, is pretty well off financially. But you never really see just how intimate he trusts his henchmen. And that... is a Guy Ritchie film. Characters are often quirky, and it's interesting to see how they interact with other quirky characters, but it's a bit difficult to say you actually care about them. Rather than feeling like real people, they are caricatures and the vehicles to see how the plot unfolds, rather than the driver that pushes the plot forward.

That is a subtle nuance, and one might argue it's simply a preference. And it is. There's nothing wrong with characters being pushed by the plot, than the other way around, but you do just end up caring less about them. I often don't remember anything about Guy Ritchie films, other than the unique style and my weak spot for having an ensemble cast.

As a whole, the Gentlemen is entertaining, but I can see why there's an abundant of reviews here talking about how the critics are wrong and the audience loved it more. If you've seen his previous movies, as a critic, The Gentlemen will feel too similar, rather than a distinct story on its own. The general audience will find this a blast with its slick edits and dark humor.

The Devil All the Time (2020)

Gritty, but is it intelligent?

[6/10 · 9 June 2021]

I think the film had some tense moments, some uncomfortable moments, and the acting was good, but the story just felt a bit too one-dimensional. It showed a bunch of terrible people doing terrible things and frankly, many of them did it for completely stupid reasons.

The most obvious is the preacher in the beginning. Roy Laferty killed his wife on the delusion that God will resurrect her immediately. Even his friend (or brother?) mentioned how stupid it looks after he did the deed. Then there's Willard, the main character's dad, who killed his son's dog as a sacrifice in hoping his wife's cancer will be cured. I understand people do dumb things and will use religion as an excuse, but that's about the only message the film went as far as telling you. Unless the message was implying that gotcha! Religion is the reason for these violent acts! But we know you can be a devout religious person and don't use religion to justify moronic behaviour. This isn't really showing the bad side of religion, but more about how idiocy leads to terrible things.

Let's talk about some of the other characters. The villains are rather straight forward. We got a pedophile priest, a corrupt police officer, and a serial killer. It is never explained why the serial killer kill people. Yes, he likes taking photos of soon-to-be dead people, but how did he get this fascination to begin with? And how does the girl just run with it for over a decade before getting tired of it? You can see toward the end she no longer wants to do it, but this was only done to create tension in the final moment between Tom Holland and the serial killer duo. Then there's the pedophile priest. He likes materialistic goods and dresses nicely. He gaslights how bad the food is so he can eat it for himself. And the crème de la crème, he manipulates young girls into having sex with him. Again the movie here doesn't try to offer an explanation for why he does this, and essentially shows, once again, how someone uses religion to act out bad deeds.

Of course, the girls never try to decline his invitations. Not one was shown to retaliate, and Tom's character, Arvin, only suspected the priest after an officer told him her sister was pregnant. Arvin was about the only competent character in this show. His motivations were clear, his background justifies his acts of violence, and he shows intelligence by tailing the priest and taking the bullies down. Unfortunately the intelligence stops there. Being a serial killer, Carl, the story even explains how he is paranoid and showed how he removed the bullets from his wife's gun. Okay, Carl, if you were paranoid and a serial killer, you didn't see how Arvin was very uptight the whole time in the backseat of your car? The script only displayed intelligence when it is convenient. It is trying its best to show that bad people will be punished, so Arvin needed to be smart to kill the priest, he needed to be alert and calm to shoot the serial killer. It is this type of convenient story writing that turns me off. These aren't the only examples either. I haven't talked about the corrupt officer's arc, but there are dumb moments there, too. The people he killed just let him come into his house and take their gun, knowing full well that the bullets are untraceable.

As a whole, I understand that the film depicted a bunch of average people going about their lives in the 60s of rural America. They lived in gullibility, made a lot of dumb decisions, and in turn resulted in a lot of violence. The show has no issue depicting uncomfortable things, such as paedophilic acts and violent acts. It tried to create a tense and gritty atmosphere in exploring the worst of humanity during this time.

However, many of its characters actions lack thought and come off as idiotic. Characters were only thoughtful when it was convenient to do so, and overall lacked complexity. Killing someone was often the only solution the characters know what to do, and there was a lack of intelligence anywhere you looked. I don't think the film and its script wanted the message to be: stupid acts can lead to very violent outcomes. It nonetheless often felt this way based on many decisions and behaviours of its characters.

Was it tense and gritty at least? Yes, but things will naturally be tense and gritty when characters are constantly facing the barrel of a gun. Effective tension can be created without such a direct manner and it was rarely seen. Overall, the acting was good, but the story failed to deliver an impactful punch.

The Platform (2019)

A film with a great premise but also lacking in its impact.

[8/10 · 23 May 2021]

The Platform is perhaps the most obvious story that will get people thinking about the current state of our society. There are so many nuances and the director and story writer displayed so many of them in this movie.

Where to start? The simple idea is how the platform levels somewhat represents socioeconomic class. For example, the ones at the top have an ample of resources, and they often don't care about the people at the bottom. In a brilliant stroke, the film also shows how people on the top can force people on the bottom to follow an agenda, even if its a noble one. The show even goes out of its way to show two different ways to do it. One involves passing down the idea with a vocal threat, and the other being a direct show of force.

The Platform shows a bunch of other ideas as well; how the ones on the top who aren't fighting for survival could have issues with mental health, as there's always the threat that they'll end up at the bottom. It's a bit of a stretch to correlate this to real social trends, but I like the idea that the film attempted to highlight problems at all strata.

I think a more nuanced theme that emerged, perhaps not intentionally, is how humans attempt to create meaning in a meaningless world. Toward the end, the MC is grasping at straws at what the Administration wanted from its participants. He thought bringing the girl up is the solution to their situation. However, there is no evidence suggesting the Administration's true intentions at all.

The ending definitely leaves something to be desired. We never get a definite conclusion to the MC's endeavors. It's pretty clear he passed away at this final act, but the story ends as the girl goes up on the platform. There are some interpretations to this. I could see it as a futile act, as realistically the platform moves way too fast for a child to hang safely to reach the top. Perhaps she does reach the top, and the Admin's staff carried her back to another platform. Perhaps the child didn't even exist and it's just the MC hallucinating to validate Miharu's death in his mind. Perhaps his plan worked!?

Whatever the case might be, leaving it ambiguous simply doesn't make the film impactful enough. It has a great premise and displayed the human condition very well. However, what then? It's like telling the world there's a fundamental problem, but we weren't able to see if the solution worked or not. Not having an answer is worse than having the wrong answer. I can totally see the ending being incredibly bleak, but it's important to pull the final punch than no punch at all. By not giving us that, it feels like the story had a beginning, middle, and even climax, but no resolution. It kind of just ends at the climax.

For me, a conclusion will almost always create a better impact. And I think an impact is needed for this film given how great the premise was. Perhaps the director thought it would be too bleak, but there's a sense of optimism in stories with bleak endings as well. Alas, we will never know. The Platform is a missed opportunity to become a masterpiece, but it is still a great work to get people thinking about the world.

Searching (III) (2018)

An innovative examination of reality currently.

[10/10 · 6 April 2021]

Searching (2018) has a simple premise but with a very interesting presentation.

The film is almost entirely shot in the lens of technology (either with a webcam, a computer monitor, video tapes, phones, television screen, etc.) What this means is you're seeing the main character often through a lens, whether it's through the phone's camera, the laptop screen and what he's searching on Google, and direct footages he might be viewing such as a video tape.

This sort of presentation puts us in an illusion that we are experiencing the scenes unfold in real time, as being physically present and observing the main character perhaps as a friend or watching these footages as the police. You can't help but follow along and try to guess what the main character will do next to unravel this mystery right in front of him.

The theme is also fairly interesting. It is essentially examining social media in our present reality. A father eventually realizes that he doesn't really know much about her daughter after seeing what she does on social media. It made me question about what would happen to me when I become a parent. You can do your best as a parent, but your children might end up at a place you totally didn't expect.

Now, this film is entirely fictitious, it is not based on a true event but it very well could be. It highlights how impactful social media can be and what a scary place it could be. It is a must watch for viewers who want to experience something different. While the plot structure and acting are fairly predictable, you can still sense the tension in many scenes. The film can show something as innocuous as a stock photo and make it feel sinister and wrong.

I rated this a 10 because of how much this film surprised me. According to IMDB, the crew only spent under a million to produce it? That is a fine achievement given the stellar presentation of using technology in such a way to tell a story. I do have to add that the trailer is very misleading, however. It was building the film to be some sort of cheap horror flick, which is entirely not what this was.

As a debut film from a new director, I am very interested in what he will make next!

Burning (2018)

The slowest burn I've witnessed recently.

[7/10 · 21 March 2021]

'Burning' was a title that came to my attention as I looked for mystery films. Unfortunately, most mystery films have spoiler-tastic trailers that shows you the entire plot. Being a man who loves trailers, I had to take the risk. And... the trailer of 'Burning' tells you very little, to my surprise. You're shown a bunch of clips and you're not sure which information is vital to the story. Added with the trailer is a slow, but progressive beat of sounds that tells you something is amiss. With cryptic dialogue and metaphors, you know you're in for a treat if you choose to watch this film.

And as I watched the film, I noticed immediately just how slow the pacing is. The scenes are sometimes so slow, you feel that the main character must also thinks and acts very slowly. It was only after I finished the film did I realize this story was based on a short written by Haruki Murakami. I have not read any of his works, but I know Murakami often writes stories filled with melancholy and surrealism.

And boy was this film filled with them. By the half way point, you recognize that the main character lives a very solitary life devoid of meaning. Yet, meaning surrounds him with the conversation he has and the things he has to do such as taking care of a calf and his father's home.

As we try to piece together what is going on, a mystery develops organically that begs the main character to solve. But what is brilliant about this film, and perhaps its greatest flaw, is that there are no exposition in this entire movie. Characters never explain their thought process, and cryptic metaphors and dreams are littered throughout the film.

You are responsible in determining what truly happened. You are responsible in finding meaning in this story, if any. And I think as a whole, many of us will be able to find some sort of meaningful commentary related to society, or adulthood, or what it means to live.

Perhaps this is what Mr. Murakami wanted. A story that isn't about finding the truth, but finding meaning behind the imagery. Whatever conclusion you end up drawing, I encourage you to explore some analysis that has been made about the film. It is very interesting to see what others thought about the film.

And I encourage you to come to a conclusion as well after watching the film. What really happened? What message is the writer trying to convey?

For me, the pacing and overall aesthetic turned me off. However, your mileage will vary depending on your mood and thought processes.

Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)

Eye-opening.

[8/10 · 1 March 2021]

As someone who did not know the real events or people this movie was based on, it was an eye-opening experience into what life was like back then. The camera work is rock solid, with genuine tense moments and powerful performances from the main characters.

Watching the events unfold back then brings an interesting juxtaposition to recent events in America. Police brutality rooted in racism is still a reality. People in power with discriminatory beliefs still exists. It made me think about several realities that are still going on today. It made me think about how people in power can easily abuse their position. We like to think regulation is important to keep these people in check, but who's regulating the regulators? People in power can easily hire regulators to maintain the status quo.

And what about crime rates? It disproportionately involves people of color because of centuries of racism that become rooted in the very culture of children born in lower socioeconomic groups. Violence begets violence, and crime begets more crime. We're definitely living in a better time now than what it was like 50 years ago. But we can do better. And nothing is more powerful than educating the next generation about the truth, about critical thinking, and about actively doing what they believe is right.

I have barely talked about this film, but I appreciate that a film like this exists. It allows the viewer into a glimpse of the past, informing the audience about an issue that perhaps they may not understand. It puts us directly into the shoes of a group of people doing what they think is right for their future generation. It is creative works like these that may challenge your world view, and it may help you understand about the struggles and plight of people that are different than you. To that, I applaud the film.

For those who have no idea about the real events like I was, this is a great film to increase your awareness on a subject you might not know much about.