frerei Reviews

A Quiet Place Part II (2020)

Over before it started

[6/10 · 16 June 2023]

If this had been a two-part episode of a season, than it'd be good storytelling. We get to see some from before the events of the first movie, and some parts after - not enough of either one. Its like they couldn't decide whether it should be a prequel or sequel and ended up with something inbetween with a much too short playtime.

To be frank, it felt like this movie was over before it even started, taking a huge amount of time to do nothing but build up to a short and disappointing climax.

Speaking of climax, in comparison, A Quiet Place Part 2 is like 1 hour of making out and foreplay before going off in the pants while tearing each other's clothes off.

If this had been a prequel only - it could have been good, although a little disappointing storywise. If they had focused entirely on making a prequel it would have been better. If this had been a 10 episode series it would have been GREAT.

As far as the production, I think its fantastic, and you can never go wrong with Emily Blunt as she is just as fantastic in any role she portrays.

The Last of Us: Long, Long Time (2023) Season 1, Episode 3

I understand the critique, good and bad

[9/10 · 21 February 2023]

As someone who is tired of the diversity and sexual orientation quota in today's entertainment, whether it be TV or cinema, I really enjoyed this episode.

The revelation of Bill's sexuality made me roll my eyes at first. This generally has nothing to do with the series or the plot of the show. I think many can relate to this feeling of being pandered to or looked down upon. Its just the feeling of "We did this to upset people" as the showrunner of Ring of Power did.

However, THIS episode is how it SHOULD be done. Excellent writing and very tasteful romance in a story of brutal violence and injustice. Their relationship felt completely natural to me and the way they sprinkle in world-building information is excellently done.

With that said, I don't think this is a 10/10 episode. These are reserved for extremely memorable storytelling. I just finished watching this episode and there are many parts that are forgettable and some that sticks out to me.

I can almost recite my favorite episodes of all time from minute one to the end. In a couple of months, all I will remember from this episode is the piano, the strawberries and Ellie's incessant attitude about getting in trouble wherever she breathes. Maybe people running into pipes that is shooting flames into them as if they're zombies from TWD.

One part that completely sticks out in my mind as far as bad critic is concerned is Bill standing in the middle of the street, in the open and shooting a rifle with a scope on. Wasn't this man supposed to be a survivalist? That felt very forced to me.

9/10 for me and that's when I round it up.

The Predator (2018)

Jesus Christ what a mess.

[4/10 · 9 May 2021]

I held off as long as I could, because I saw it'd be a mess just from the trailer alone. Now, 40 minutes in, I realize this was a huge mistake. What a bunch of drivel this movie is. It even makes AvP: Requiem look amazing in comparison and that's saying A LOT.

Suspend your disbelief, turn off your brain, and its still a huge pile of dung.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Help me better understand this movie's greatness.

[8/10 · 19 October 2014]

I watched 2001: a space odyssey, out of suggestion from a buddy of mine. And I usually don't watch something when they nag me to death about it. Which meant I watched it with a negative mindset right from the start. That being said, I have nothing but respect for a movie with a fair amount of ingenuity and thought provoking ideas being crafted back in 1968. I was amazed and intrigued by a lot of the scenes as to how they did it - with what looked like just camera work. However, because of that negative mindset(as before mentioned), some scenes became horridly outdrawn ranging from sometimes five to fifteen minutes of random assaults of either complete silence or static/strange sounds. Instead of enjoying the obvious attempt to create suspense and atmosphere, it instead became a strenuous struggle on my poor head-phoned-ears.

(SPOILERS) As for the plot and story, ,aybe I'm not sophisticated enough to understand the message between the first part of the lunar monolith, the journey to Jupiter and the second monolith. I felt like that part had little to do with the actual message of the film and instead was just that - a space journey(Well DUH. It IS the theme of the movie). I've seen a lot of films where the depths are endless and the message or meaning can be interpreted in many different ways(Ex: The Fountain, Mulholland Drive). I still struggle here. It just feels empty to be honest. The idea that an alien or artificial intelligence provided knowledge to prehistoric man or in fact engineered our species isn't thought provoking for me. It is something that I have discussed and theorized with friends and as an atheist it is an idea that is common nowadays. Of course, this film has provided many authors, film directors -artists- with the inspiration for this idea - so credit where its due. But, for me, it is a piece of cake that I've already had too much of and does not impress upon me anymore.

I am very much for films where the director lets the audience think for themselves and agree on the fact that most entertainment nowadays "hold your hand" or "spoon feed you the content" throughout the whole experience. It might be nice to feel like a child again, but we have to grow up sometime and movies like these shakes that groggy dreamlike state Hollywood has forced upon our minds. I celebrate every movie, game, book that allow us to use our brain - but to me, as an atheist, this movie is not thought provoking at all(for the beginning of humanity's existence that is).

The controversial ending(As someone said) is interesting and freshly new, as for my film experiences. I liked the idea that he perhaps was traveling in time, a wormhole, and experiencing his death/aging by seeing the future. Every time something happened, a sound, a movement, the most obvious his glass of liquor, he saw himself in a vision older and when the other vision saw him it became him. On the other hand, the camera's point of view could have been from the monolith the entire time in that time-capsule, watching him grow old or making him grow old to be reborn a new.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the monoliths had something to do with HAL9000's malfunctions and odd behavior - or am I wrong on that point? There are probably some points I have forgotten and I'll have to watch it again sometime in a more neutral state. Right now it just wasn't that much of a memorable experience, other than the intriguing visual effects of the great camera work.

Feel free to help me understand the greatness of this movie, because I don't want any negative thoughts of a movie that was the inspiration for a hell of a lot science-fiction movies and books.

8/10

PS: That ending deserves an acid-trip. Heh..

Resident Evil: Retribution (2012)

The one who played Jill Valentine

[3/10 · 31 August 2013]

I'm sorry but, am I the only one who thinks that the one who played Jill Valentine got her part from sucking the d*ck of someone from high up? I've never, ever seen such an awful performance in my whole life. Even Bollywood actors performs better than her. Every single word that left that womans mouth came out sounding like pure diarrhea. Honestly, I got goosebumps all over my body and actually felt some puke in my mouth while watching this piece of garbage "act".

This movie, this plot, this dialogue and these god awful actors - Its like Asylum and Michael Bay came together to make a lovechild. Wow! I didn't expect much out of this movie to begin with, since this movie franchise has gone bananas with these past movies, but 1/10 has never been deserved so much in IMDb's history. It's a far stretch, but I managed to give it a 3/10 just because Milla Jovovich and Michelle Rodriguez deserves better than this.