MaxGate Reviews

Castle (2009–2016)

Time to wrap it up, Beckett's makeup and the overly dramatic music is getting cringe worthy!

[15 December 2013]

It was a decent show when it started, not clever or realistic by any means, but entertaining.But everything good about this show has long departed and now it sounds and feels desperate. S06 E09 was the last straw.

The terribly dramatic music does not cover up for the lack for actual drama and a good story. The show is filled with more 'pregnant pauses' and 'meaningful looks' than any real content.

The worst of all is Beckett. I have never been a fan of her, she has never been convincing as a cop or as an emotionally complex woman. Her voice is too singsongy and flirty to fit the character and those heels.. in every single scene is a bit much. Of late her hair and makeup look as if she's just out of the salon and going to a tea party and not in the least detective-like. The stories are getting too childish to be entertaining anymore, I couldn't finish the 06-09 without cringing every few seconds.

IMHO it's time to get them married, get her pregnant, leave the force and wrap up the show.

Red Lights (2012)

Something new, something worth watching

[9/10 · 15 June 2012]

I was not expecting this movie to be the awesomeness that it was. De Niro and Weaver were the only reason I wanted to watch this movie, but I am glad I did!

This movie attacks the tired old concept of 'is ESP real?' with new vigour, new ideas and explanations. Not a single shot of the movie is unnecessary or a 'filler' shot. And none of the 'scary movie' theatrics to keep you on edge.

It has the right story line, right people and the right scenes to take you where it wants to take you, without the additional drama, not that it doesn't have some clever twists.

This is a 'clever' movie, doesn't spell out everything for you, makes you want to watch it carefully so as to not miss a thing. All in all, its one of the best thriller movies I have seen.

I completely recommend watching it!

Glee (2009–2015)

No story line, unappealing characters and below average performance.

[12 June 2012]

None of the characters seem to have any sort of consistency. They keep changing their personalities to suit the episode plot. Same with the story line. There is no overall coherence to what it happening. Every episode pushes and pulls the plot to suit that particular episode. The characters aren't likable. What motivated them is as yet not understood, neither can the audience understand how they call connect together. Besides dedicated fans to the actors, I doubt if anyone likes the show. The songs are just smoke and mirrors to cover up a weak script, story and characters. The way they keep adding new characters and new plot twists and obstacles seem a desperate way to keep the drama alive. The casting seem totally senseless, Lea Michelle most certainly does not come off as a wanna be diva or stuck up goody two shoes. All she portrays is a very annoying girl of below average IQ. Brittany seems to stupid to be true (considering the show is trying to keep it 'realist'). Sue's character seems to have holes in it than a sieve and Miss Pillsbury is another awful caricature! And Chris Colfer is so squinty and whiny at times its painful to watch!

A Christmas Carol (2009)

good adaptation

[9/10 · 16 November 2009]

A really good adaptation of the book, the movie is fascinating to watch. The graphics and animation are quite beautiful the attention to detail is fabulous.Though not a fan of Jim Carrey, his performance was brilliant, in all the roles .

The only aspect of the movie, I was put off by was Scrooge's (Jim Carrey's) strange accent. Although, this could have been the accent spoken in England, the time Scrooge lived. The movie can also be a little scary in certain scenes for the younger kids. It sure gave me a fright or two!

Reading the book before the movie definitely makes watching it a better experience as is the case with most book adaptations.