underscoremikecastaneda Reviews

Civil War (2024)

Don't waste your $

[2/10 · 11 April 2024]

I saw this on IMAX...lol. This is a movie about weird press photographers. There is literally nothing good about this movie. The movie is so bad that it's almost surreal. The only interesting thing about it is that it's so bad you wonder how it could've possibly been made in the first place. It's literally a drama about press photographers... That's it... Everything else is just weird ridiculous crap. The whole "Civil War" thing has zero depth that is at all worth watching. This wouldn't even be a good movie if it were made for TV quality. It's below that. Kirsten Dunst is supposed to be some seasoned veteran press photographer. Her partner is some weird dude that has zero value or depth in the movie at all. Then there's the young up-and-coming press photographer who idolizes Kirsten Duntz, who is like an extra that somehow has a staring role. I can't imagine how anyone could walk out of this movie thinking it was good. Every scene is just weird ridiculous soap opera filler drama that leads to nothing.

The Dynasty: New England Patriots (2024)

Love it

[10/10 · 16 March 2024]

If you are a sane, intelligent adult sports fan who watched the entire dynasty as it was happening there's no possible way you could give this a bad rating.

If you are a sane intelligent person who studied the history of this dynasty, there's no possible way you could fail to appreciate what the Patriots organization did in the Kraft/Brady/Bill era and how great it was presented in this documentary.

Quarterback is clearly the most important position in the most dangerous complicated popular sport on the planet. Quarterbacks not only have to be good at their position, but they also have to be inspirational leaders. Players have to want to be on your team because they believe that they can win. Players will play harder for them if they believe they have a chance to win it all year after year. No one transcended the expectations more than Tom Brady. He was also good enough to be a head coach in his ability to thoroughly master exactly what was going on with his own playbook and scheme, but also what to expect from all other teams.

When Brady, as a rookie, told Kraft that he was the best decision the organization ever made, he was exactly right. Not because he could see into the future, but because he knew how much he wanted to win, and he knew that he was going to work as hard as he could for as long as he could, no matter what, to make it happen. He knew he was going to do the work! And that's exactly what he did. He epitomized what it was to be the greatest player - in the greatest, most difficult and dangerous team sport - for almost a quarter of a century as an NFL player.

I loved watching the NFL when Brady was in it.

It was a great ride.

Black Mirror: Beyond the Sea (2023) Season 6, Episode 3

Ridiculous: S6E3 Beyond the Sea

[1/10 · 7 October 2023]

Totally ridiculous and unbelievable from just a few minutes in. I wish I would've stopped watching right there. At the very beginning the fact that astronaut replicas on the ground would not obviously have protection was ridiculous enough. Then when psychos destroy one of them, after brutally murdering his family in front of him, they don't automatically put security on the other one. It just gets more ridiculous on every level after that. The high ratings are clearly mostly bot fakes, along with some likely from drunk, high and:or remarkably challenged authors. Because wow...

After three outrageously bad complete waste of time episodes of season 6 it is clearly time to pronounce this show dead.

Ted Lasso: Beard After Hours (2021) Season 2, Episode 9

S2 E9 Beard After Hours

[10/10 · 19 March 2023]

I get why some would be disappointed if they watched this in first run after waiting a week for more of the same type of episode as the rest. Not the case for me since I binged seasons one and two after the fact. So I loved this episode for what it is and not what my expectation would have been.... Great episode. Brilliant change of pace. Brilliant in context of season progression. Much needed break from some of the seriousness that preceded it. Loved the "behind the scenes" feel; the way it felt more real, yet at the same time like pure folly. Great scenes, great music... This entire series is so good in so many ways. I'm currently rewatching seasons 1 and 2 before starting 3 which was just released a few days ago as of my writing this.

Tell Me Lies (2022– )

Season one.

[8/10 · 12 January 2023]

Season one:

Soul(less)mates finding each other. So heart warming...

This is actually very well made. However it can be disturbing in a multitude of ways which seems to be attracting some pretty low ratings - which I can't entirely disagree with. The fact that it's so well written and acted makes it seem more real, which can make it seem even more disturbing.

Aside from the gratuitous soft-core crap many of the moments with some great music really work well. One that comes to mind is the one with Skylar Grey's cover of Addicted to love.

From an entertainment perspective Diana is probably the best part of this show. Her final scene alone was worth getting through all 10 episodes. She's very watchable in all her scenes.

I waited until a day after I finished it to write this review. Otherwise, I probably would've had a lower rating. But after letting it sink in, I think overall, this is really good and worth watching if you're watching it for reasons other than the soft core stuff, which for me was a bit too excessive.

Depending on what studies you read approximately 1.5% of all humans are high psychopath. Those are pretty sobering odds. So hopefully parents are aware and teaching their kids to be careful.

Fleishman Is in Trouble (2022–2023)

Love it.

[10/10 · 30 December 2022]

As I progressed through early episodes I tried hard not to expect a standard genetic tv-ish drama that keeps me hooked but never delivers any real substance. Because of that I wished I could to turn this off a few times; as it seemed that the possibility of a satisfying conclusion seemed to get farther and farther away. Not giving any spoilers here except to say that in the end this was an easy 10 for me. I might actually watch the whole thing again.

As I progressed through early episodes I tried hard not to expect a standard genetic tv-ish drama that keeps me hooked but never delivers any real substance. Because of that I wished I could to turn this off a few times; as it seemed that the possibility of a satisfying conclusion seemed to get farther and farther away. Not giving any spoilers here except to say that in the end this was an easy 10 for me. I might actually watch the whole thing again.

Mythic Quest: A Dark Quiet Death (2020) Season 1, Episode 5

S1 E5: A Dark Quiet Death

[9/10 · 27 November 2022]

I started watching this show to have something on while playing video games with the sound off (Mass Effect Legendary on Series X). When I got up to this episode I paused my game to give it my full attention. Wow. Good story, well acted, well written. Totally unexpected after the first 4 episodes. I'm going to try to keep watching the show, but if I don't make it I'll definitely be glad I made it up to this episode....... That concludes my planned review. However IMDb wants 600 characters minimum. So... regarding episodes 1-4 - Poppy is awesome. Salieri, from Amadeus, in the show is a little weird. So many of the female characters being really young is a little weird. But the show is entertaining and I've been a video game guy since the 80's. I'm going to hit submit on the review again, so if there's nothing further that means I hit 600.

Raymond & Ray (2022)

Pleasantly suprised

[8/10 · 21 October 2022]

Edited: I was still thinking about this movie the day after I watched it and might watch it again; So I must like it... It's a little surreal for me remembering that these guys were once Todd Anderson in Dead Poets Society and young Renton in Trainspotting back in the day. I'm in the same age group and I don't feel that old lol... This was a much better movie than I thought it would be. I wish it would've been released in the theaters because I would've gone to see it. There is one change I would have made to th ending, that disappointed me at first. That is why I am editing this review. Overall I would definitely recommend the movie.

The Handmaid's Tale (2017–2025)

No relief in sight???

[5/10 · 30 September 2022]

So I just started watching. Three episodes in and this is a major downer. Although it is kind of interesting, I just looked ahead and saw there are five seasons of this, and by the thumbnails for each episode it looks like nothing good happens on this show ever... How can she still be a handmaid after five seasons? I feel terrible for the people who have been waiting since 2017 for something good to happen only to come back each season to more pain and suffering... Has this really been as perpetually depressing as it seems for literally a half decade of this show existing?? How do you people do it? I mean...I'm going to at least try to get through the first season, but.....wow.

ESPN First Take (2007– )

Molly is the only thing good here.

[1/10 · 30 August 2022]

Even the delightful Molly Qerim can't keep me from changing the channel on this every time. Molly needs a raise. She's basically a nanny to a sad adult toddler millionaire that gets paid to behave like an excrement orifice. And he's so good at it because that's who he actually is. I hope he gets that turned around someday.

If you like listening to a version of Howard Cossell that is less intelligent, less articulate, yet even more annoying and unwatchable then this show with Steven A is for you. He has only a basic knowledge of sports, a huge ego, a loud annoying demeanor, poor listening skills, and old school sad nutjob Jerry Springer guest communication skills. If that is what you're into then rock on brother.

The Batman (2022)

I didn't love it

[3/10 · 29 June 2022]

Well made dreary downer three hours long. I think a second one is in the works that will probably make a ton of money like this one did. I've never been a Batman guy. I really don't get the fascination. The costume is ridiculous. The idea of Bruce Wayne being a super hero in the same universe as Superman (also ridiculous) just seems ridiculous. Even worse just boring. Personal opinion - obviously - much better ways to spend 3 plus hours of your life.

Man in the Arena (2021– )

This is so good.

[10/10 · 26 June 2022]

This has been out since November 2021 and I had zero desire to watch it because I had no idea it was gonna be any good at all. Then I saw on my Disney one day and decided just to chime into the first episode. After the first episode I was like oh this is good stuff I'm gonna watch the rest. Blew through all the rest of the episodes and it's so good that I can't even think of a way to say how good it is in a multitude of ways, other than to say "this is so good". Brady's work ethic. Bradys philosophical approach. Brady's relationship with his family, his kids, his players, his career. It's easy to see why so many people I know tell me they hate Brady. It's because he seems too perfect. Well he's not perfect. No human being is. But he works and tries to be the best he can be in every way. Work work work. Literally how life works. How can you not appreciate and admire somebody who just does their best to do the right thing? That does the work? This is an easy 10.

So many other great things to say about this aside from all that. Clips of the so-called sports prognosticators totally getting it wrong over and over again. That never gets old. Great insights from players coaches trainers. Just so much great stuff. Easy 10.

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Yes

[9/10 · 13 June 2022]

Yes. So much yes. More yes than a barrel of yes. In the specific context of yes - yes. If your answer is not yes, the answer to you is not yes. Choose yes. Moreover; yes. In closing - yes.

Jurassic World Dominion (2022)

These are all terrible

[2/10 · 12 June 2022]

I think parents must be dragging their kids to these movies, and neither the parents or the kids actually like them. I can't think of any other reason why these Jurassic World movies make so much money. They're all terrible. Even the original 3 from 1993 couldn't save this piece of garbage. And why do the 1993 special effects still blow away all the subsequent jurssic movies? And why is this movie two and a half hours??

You may be asking why I saw this movie. I'm asking myself that same question.... The actual answer is that I go see a lot of movies because I like to have popcorn with peanut M&Ms on top and a large Diet Coke in a movie theater... And I already saw top gun Maverick twice...

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

Good message, but...

[2/10 · 17 April 2022]

...way too long. Some great moments about crucial wisdom that hopefully every human comes to realize in their lifetime. If this movie helps people gain that understanding then that's great. I definitely appreciated those moments. So much so that I may have gotten a little teary eyed... Yet, the humor aspect of it didn't really click with me. So through most of it I debated walking out of the theater. But I'm glad I was there for the payoff in last 25 minutes or so of the movie.

Kin (I) (2018)

Mogwai - Donuts

[4/10 · 23 March 2022]

I gave this a 4 because I didn't hate the movie and it was a cool time in my life. More than that because a song from the movie sound track that I really like pops up on my pandora once in a while and reminds me of it - Donuts by Mogwai.

Dexter: New Blood (2021–2022)

Loved it. But not for everyone.

[10/10 · 9 January 2022]

I understand why people can be disappointed by this, yet this is the right ending.

Michael C Hall was great in this role and the end was definitely sad. But the character was a serial killer who was nuts and losing his mind even further as his time progressed. That's not cool. That's not good. You should not end a show like that - with a character like that - with a happy ending. That would be irresponsible.

This final season is definitely better than the way the last season ended. There is actually closure. There's no wondering what happened to Dexter or what he's going to do next. I'm glad they decided to make this final season.

The Matrix Resurrections (I) (2021)

Resurrectile dysfunction...

[3/10 · 26 December 2021]

How did this movie even happen? The first Matrix was great - They should have stopped there. Second one was disappointing. Third one was ridiculously bad. And now, after 16 years to ponder, they drop this obscenely unnecessary convoluted craziness on the world? I literally just felt bad for everyone involved. I can't even make fun of it because it was such a sad offering. The Wachowski that sat this one out is the real genius here.

Dexter: New Blood (2021–2022)

Of course I'm going watch this...

[10/10 · 7 November 2021]

First of all, I had no problem with the way the previous show ended. Regardless of how or why someone is a serial killer, even in a TV show, it should not have a happy ending. After everything that happened to the character, and all the lives lost, the ending made sense. He shut down. That's why there was no dialogue of what he was thinking. Because he literally shut off his mind and exited from his previous reality... It's cool to see the show back again to see what the true ending will be. The first episode was ok, as it seemed to be just the foundation of Dexter's current status as the show gets ready to dive into main plot lines... It will be interesting to see where it goes.

Dune (2021)

Would have paid more to see...

[10/10 · 25 October 2021]

They left money on the table releasing on HBO as well as the theatre. I saw it the first time in the theatre not knowing it was also on HBO. I would have paid to see this multiple times in the theatre until I found out it was also on HBO. I didn't think I liked it that much the first time I saw it, but the next day I was still thinking about it and really wanted to see it again. Then I found out it was on HBO max. So instead of going back to the theatre I watch it 3 more times for free on my already existing hbo membership.

Little Women (2019)

Delightful. My mom would have loved this.

[10/10 · 22 October 2021]

This was just a delightful and uplifting movie. I went to see it the first time because after my mother passed away I found myself going to see movies she would have wanted to see. She would have loved this one. And as it turned out it was an easy 10 rating for me personally. I saw it twice in the theatre.

The Last Duel (2021)

Suprised by how good this is.

[8/10 · 18 October 2021]

This did not feel, to me, like a typical cookie cutter Hollywood movie with well known movie stars in it. It actually feels like it's the time it's set in and that the characters are actually the characters. I pretty quickly forgot who the names were playing the characters (and who was directing) and I was immersed as if they were actually the characters in the story. I was concerned that the 2h 32m run time might be a problem for me, but it didn't feel that long at all. I was personally very intrigued and interested the whole way.

Memento (2000)

Favorite movie of all time

[10/10 · 25 January 2021]

This has been my favorite movie of all time since I first saw it at the Music Box Theatre in Chicago when it was first released two decades ago. It is also my favorite soundtrack. I don't want to give anything away if you haven't seen it. But the movie is great on many different levels...Also the David Julyan music, and the Radiohead track, on the soundtrack are fabulous. I still listen to my playlist of it. Oddly enough I've never really liked much of the other soundtrack music from David Julyan. But in my opinion he really hit a home run on Memento... This seems to be one of those love or hate movies, from what I've heard from other people. I love it. But some people either just don't get it or just don't like it. However I highly recommend checking it out.

Run Hide Fight (2020)

The crazy low critic reviews are pretty ridiculous...

[7/10 · 16 January 2021]

This is not like Oscar winning or anything. However I give it a pretty solid seven as far as my enjoyment and entertainment experience. It's funny how the actual so-called professional critics are giving it such low ratings. The same critics who give totally generic mindnumbing rehashed recycled material glowing reviews just because there might be a well known celebrity in it. I would trust the user reviews on this one more than the actual critic reviews.

The Boys: What I Know (2020) Season 2, Episode 8

Sympathy and empathy for Homelander?

[10/10 · 12 October 2020]

Yes... Anthony Starr's Homelander performance was brilliant. Perfect emotional delivery of the true identity of Homelander - a sensitive little boy that was turned into a monster by monsters... And, sadly, even though he is a monster that was created by monsters, he is still a monster that needs to be put down... Although, since this is tv, I'm guessing he'll somehow how be rehabbed from his past and become a good guy.