andrewkiselev Reviews

Star Trek: Discovery: Whistlespeak (2024) Season 5, Episode 6

Singing bowls?

[3/10 · 3 May 2024]

Star Trek has always been about spinning a ripper yarn that gets you thinking, even if they sometimes chuck in some far-fetched science for dramatic effect. Discovery is still giving it a fair go, wrestling with some pretty weighty themes about life, identity, and the whole kit and caboodle of the human condition. But crikey, singing bowls and sound healing? What's next - are they gonna completely chuck out the scientific heart of the Star Trek universe? I mean, I'm all for expanding our horizons and exploring new ideas, but this New Age malarkey feels like a bridge too far. It's starting to veer away from the show's core identity. The writers need to remember what makes Trek great - grouse stories that transport us to a speculative future, not crystal-waving woo-woo. That's what keeps us fans coming back, not bleedin' chakra alignments and cosmic vibrations.

The Postman (1997)

what a shame

[4/10 · 21 January 2024]

The Postman," directed and starred in by Kevin Costner, attempts to deliver a post-apocalyptic tale of hope and resilience but falls short, meriting a 4/10 rating. Despite its ambitious storyline, set in a dystopian America where a lone drifter, played by Costner, revives a defunct postal service to rekindle communication and hope, the film's execution is lackluster. It's weighed down by a bloated runtime (178 minutes) and a self-serious tone that undermines its potential. While the concept of rebuilding society through communication is intriguing, the film's execution is marred by inconsistencies and underdeveloped characters. Notable performances like Olivia Williams (!!!!) as Abby and Will Patton as General Bethlehem offer some redemption, but they can't save the film from its overindulgent direction and missed opportunities. In essence, "The Postman" could have been a poignant narrative about the human spirit's resilience, but it ultimately feels like a missed opportunity - a disappointing venture in Costner's otherwise notable career.

Evacuation (2019)

Tortures and awesome soundtrack

[8/10 · 26 January 2022]

Chechnya today is a territory of terror and total absence of law. Film tells a story of just one torture victim, evacuated from that hell along with story of pro-government violence against civil right activists and lawyers that help torture victims to seek justice or at least witness and preserve evidence of that crimes.