nigelowen2 Reviews

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)

Very by the numbers and predicable

[5/10 · 11 May 2024]

It has been awhile since I have seen something so predicable.

It felt like the script had been copied from the standard WW2 movie then all the quality suspense, excitement and character development which is normally in these movies replaced with vague attempts at humour and actors which feel like they are all running on idle.

There are so many good actors in this which could carry almost any movie but they have such a bad script to work.

The whole production feels like it is missing 95% of a good script to the point I am not sure they even had one and didn't just wing it and hope to put something together in editing, though as the actors deliver so poorly I assume they must be following a script.

Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver (2024)

This is bad

[2/10 · 22 April 2024]

It simply does not make sense. It doesn't even make sense or maintain consistency within a 60 second action scene.

Synder wrote the script, produced and directed this. Supposedly it was his "baby" that he has tried to get off the ground for a long time.

But this reflects so badly on him, everything he is involved with just does not work. Yes he can direct a camera but everything else is below what I would expect from a film student.

You have solid actors with zero to work with, a script that a 5 year old likely came up with the plot outline, dialogue so bad I couldn't even laugh, and his visual "style" they only thing he has got going on full display.

I have no idea how he gets job, his movies are all rated average with a couple of exceptions. And those exceptions I think are more to do with marketing then skill.

Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2024)

Very Glossy and lots of action

[2/10 · 5 April 2024]

The show has 5 seasons, it is popular with critics. Though that is meaningless the way reviews are bought now.

They obviously managed to deliver to their audience so if you are the target audience then this is solid.

Target audience, is someone who wants flashy, predicable but shiny and superficial sci-fi, has zero concerns about it making sense and is ok with the whole identity politics gushing.

Something where characters will stop in the middle of any action to discuss their "feelings".

Where everything will stop so the engineer can get in a slow "sarcastic" comment or story.

Almost every scene breaks any previous Star trek lore. This is definitely not Star Trek so just let it go.

If a scene does not break lore, it breaks logic or physics or even the consistency of previous episodes.

Look at the writers list for the episodes, in most cases they have no experience writing sci-fi or in a lot of cases anything. So expect "magical" plot points which fix everything.

Then the Captain who has the answer to everything, and no matter how out there, illogical, or pointless it is always right.

So much lecturing, if a character looks male no matter the species the Captain will crush them because their actions will be wrong no matter how illogical and silly hers are. This gives her an opportunity to lecture how wrong they were and how right she was.

The American Society of Magical Negroes (2024)

Catchy title and interesting concept

[2/10 · 2 April 2024]

I think this was sold on the catchy title. While it definitely has a bit of a racist concept I think the writer was hoping for some sort of cult following and some sort of deep commentary on race relations.

But everything about this movie is so so boring.

So much talking I assume to allow some "deep" philosophical statements.

Incredibly bland scenes.

The start feels like is it inspired from MIB.

Has some good actors who are running on autopilot. I think the director must have told them to remove 95% of the personality from their performance.

The director who is also the writer is a shocker, nothing works, just setups for lame jokes that all fall flat. I assume the director/writer thinks they are clever.

The surprising thing is that this actually got released, it obviously didn't cost that much so I assume it was the racial undertones of the title which meant nobody in the release chain said no way. This is not even a student project level quality.

Constellation (2024)

Concurrent stories

[3/10 · 14 March 2024]

Random realities impacting other realities and the POV jumps between realities. Throw in Quantum physicals observer stuff and some mystery somewhere.

There is a mcguffin device that impacts and I assume it going to be used to save something.

There is likely some deeper meaning but I don't care enough to waste any effort thinking of it. It is entirely possible the writer wrote something which does not even make sense.

But basically the whole script from the writers is to create a challenging narrative and sense of mystery I think it is failure it is not interesting enough to bother.

The actors all have a record of delivering quality and individual scenes they can show their stuff, but I just don't think the writers were up to writing a script which is capable of delivering on the premise of this.

The series comes off as an amateur exercise in a writing class that someone took to seriously and funded it.

Wish (II) (2023)

Very bland.

[2/10 · 13 March 2024]

This movie sits in the areas of pointless it offers nothing. Everything from the script, visuals, music the whole this is so uninspiring. The people involved in this you can tell they had some ability, but it is running at 10% of what it should be. Definitely pay check material.

The flat boring presentation starts from the beginning, and just keeps going.

I particularly found the dull art choice horrible and irritating they chose a style which allows them to emote using almost realistic expression and then they emote way way to hard.

Every character is so boring, and the singing was just awful.

Using one word I would describe this as corporate, it has zero heart and so so far from what Disney should be it actually makes me sad.

Argylle (2024)

Less than the sum of its parts

[6/10 · 5 March 2024]

The movie as barely ok. But it is feels like two better movies badly sandwiched together with Sam Rockwell used as glue to try and make it decent where he plays the same character from the vastly better movie "Mr Right".

So many insanely good actors in such as poor movie with so much talent it was so unnecessary to have a script this messy and I cant understand why nobody commented on this as those actors must have cost a lot.

And while I realise the movie is a bit of "fun" you would think Dallas would have at least spent a bit of time in the gym to look vaguely convincing as super spy I assume she gets paid enough, and her minimal action scenes where off the charts bad. So lazy.

Cult Killer (2024)

Not great

[4/10 · 7 February 2024]

I just does not work. You have solid actors which can definitely deliver and s script/story which seems ok adequate but the whole movie has the overall aesthetic of a lackluster filler episode from a bad television series.

The visuals, cinematography, and overall production design lack anything close to what I would expect in a film.

The character interactions are filmed so badly it feels like a documentary with people who really don't want to be there.

The most disheartening aspect is that I like all the main actors but felt that the film falls so short of its potential. The execution and overall presentation leave much to be desired.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024– )

Everything just comes together

[8/10 · 2 February 2024]

If you can say anything about this it is "competent". The writing, the casting, the acting. Everything just flows together it has been a long time since I have seen a TV or film where everything just works so well together.

I don't know if it was the directing, or the casting but they got the perfect cast, the chemistry between all the actors works better then I have seen in a long time.

While there weren't really any surprises considering a previous movie it didn't matter, was happy to see how they got there and some twists.

The components are solid it and the end product is vastly better then what I was expecting, I couldn't help binge watching this.

Death and Other Details (2024)

By the numbers

[4/10 · 17 January 2024]

This is so incredible reductive. Its like the writer watched a lot of vastly better in the genre then removed all the parts they didn't understand to create this.

Its very derivative work of the parts they did understand. With whatever added with the directing and writing been pretty bad.

It sort of moves like what you would expect but with no substance.

The sets and backgrounds are good. I would recommend this if you like the actors then definitely watch it though they are very miscast, but I found it painful to watch such a waste of set and actors on something so badly put together.

It gets a 4 as I thought that sets were ok, but the camera did not to much for them, which I assume was the directors fault.

Hypnotic (2023)

Boring predicable mindless but ok

[4/10 · 21 November 2023]

If you are looking for some mindless, silly action with Afflect trying to emote some sort of caring for a script which should have been taken out the back and shot then this is for you.

A rip off of so many other more interesting shows at least it provides entertainment trying to work out show did it far better.

I will confess I could not finish this, I have no idea why shows feel a need to bring in a fantasy element which doesn't need it and just causes the story make less sense.

You have Ben Afflect running around trying to save the day, rescue the daughter. He man stuff, all good he has had practice.

You have a pretty lame villain, good actor but I couldn't watch far enough to understand his motives, but I am sure they are something awesome.

There is zero here that is not better elsewhere, and even for mindless entertainment, this is too boring and far from interesting, better to watch some flashing lights. Just work that light switch it will be more fun.

R.I.P.D. 2: Rise of the Damned (2022)

Not as good as the original

[4/10 · 23 October 2023]

This has fallen far from the quality of the original which while not great was an ok, action romp.

The ingredients are here but I think it was built on a not very good script and directed by a not so good director.

It obviously has less money and expectation then the original but it is disappointing how low this is considering the actors and sets are definitely solid enough.

The script assuming it was followed by the director is pretty poor, added to the poor directing trying to capture the fun, over the top tone of the original just is not done very well here.

If you want illogical, mindless, nice scenery then this is fine, it is just sad how much potential and effort is here that they could not realize it.

The Mandalorian (2019– )

Each season is worse then the last

[3/10 · 21 October 2023]

The first season was good, it was simple, stayed within the Star wars Lore. It was a good story that happened to be in the Star wars universe which made a simple story way more interesting and I think it deserved high ratings. I also read that the first season was based on some previous unpublished Star wars script.

But each season has got steadily worse. Baby Yoda was so popular in the first season they had to bring him back to keep those toy sales up when his story was over end of season 1.

The acting got steadily worse as it tried to be more ambitious.

The "volume" they use for special effects is so overused the visuals are so so boring and limits any creativity from the director. Worked ok in S1 but just brings it all down in season 2 and 3.

Season 2 was ok, you have to be a Star wars fan to appreciate it and there are some dire episodes mainly trying to integrate Baby Yoda back into the show when his story was over in season 1.

Then we come to season 3, it is just bad, the writing is in the gutter, nothing makes sense the characters act illogical the dialogue is next level bad. It is not even consistent within a scene sometimes let alone an episode.

Season 3 feels like it was written by a business executive to encourage toy sales, everything of season 3 is paint by numbers mediocre I have never seen anything Star Wars which is quite as bad as Season 3.

3 Stars for turning up.

I Am Mortal (2021)

veneer of ok but silly plot

[2/10 · 21 October 2023]

There is a coating of awesome and protentional, a lot of the actors are solid, scene design, camera, the visual world are decent.

But it cant hide the most silly plot, ropey dialogue and character actions. No effort is made to sell the plot and it is so so boring.

Voiceovers at the start just bring the pace down further to what is a slow, plodding snooze fest.

I do wonder how these types of movies get created as some money was spent on this. I assume the money person had an idea and as they were paying for it nobody wanted to hurt their feelings by telling them the script sucks badly.

Well at least a lot of people got a pay check and a bit of experience.

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (2023– )

Pretty deep exploration of characters

[10/10 · 11 October 2023]

I have seen the first 4 episodes and they are so far above the norm in character story development.

There is not a lot of Anime I have seen which has reached this level of resonance with being alive.

It is firmly embedded in the traditional troupes of the the standard fantast anime world and uses this to tell the a slice of life of the main character Frieren and immortal elf experiencing the transient nature of human life as her friends journey ends. It isn't as negative as it sounds, it takes a wimsical approach more aligned with a Hayao Miyazaki. Movie.

While I have only seen the first few episodes I can only see this getting better.

The Retirement Plan (2023)

Worth watching

[6/10 · 25 September 2023]

Very paint by numbers script which provides an interesting contrast to the the actors who are so so much better then the writing and directing.

The movie feels like a "passion" project from someone who has no skill but a considerable budget. I cant see how else the writer/director and the actors could be in the same reality let alone a movie.

The majority are so good that every scene you are wondering if they are in different movie until you hear the dialogue. Though the acting gets rerailed regularly when the scene and dialogue is so bad they cant make it work.

I am surprised one of the actors didn't step in and try and help with the script. Though I note the director, producer was also the writer.

Worth watching to see the disconnect between the majority of the acting/location contrasting with the insanely bad script and so so directing.

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead (2023)

Original anime good this not so much

[4/10 · 2 September 2023]

The original anime has a high rating on IMDB and I think it is an example of why live action does not always work. When the Anime is so stylized such as Zom with scenes and cuts as well as a storyline which while simple is shown in a stylized way. It simply does not transfer very well to live action. Trying to do anime in live action which is basically unrealistic makes me wonder what is the point of live action when the anime already exists. If they had grounded the live action in a bit of reality and kept the spirit of the anime as a inspiration but I think this would have taken too much creativity.

IMDb on the Scene - Interviews: Citadel (2023) Season 5, Episode 30

Good parts bad result

[2/10 · 27 May 2023]

There are multiple parts to a good tv show, acting, directing, script, producer, etc. I think this highlights that good parts can still deliver rubbish.

The actors are such lost protentional they have so little to act with you could just replace them with anyone for the same effect, and they have all done way better.

The lack of chemistry between all the actors is incredibly cringe. It feels like they are performing in their own bubble.

The whole premise of the show is based on a macguffin thought up by a 5 year old.

All the themes are tired retreads of way way better spy shows, but does not even have the ability to make them into a story, so you get stupid character actions with silly dialogue and a silly script trying to join together too many themes with complete lack of skill or ability.

The tone is too serious to be fun, which may have given it a chance to bring together at least some of the ridiculous.

There is no real plot to this, they all just bounce from scene to scene, cookie cutter characters say exactly what you expect them to say and do. It then moves to the next expected scene where again cookie cutter characters say and do exactly what you expect them to do.

How can prime spend so much money on this then reach for bottom of the barrel to finish it off.

Gotham Knights (2023)

Not bad enough to be funny just sad

[3/10 · 15 March 2023]

This is bad. Only watched first episode but it is obvious where this is going.

Everything is so mediocre added together it is a mess. There are some good actors sprinkled in there but its obvious that nobody involved in this cared, the script is bad, the directing is amateur the characters are just ridicules.

You have the jokers daughter trying to channel some sort of joker mannerisms. Some how as a kid been in Arkham and related to the joker has given her skills. What she was doing in there as a kid ?

You have Batman's son who has the most unlikeable personality I have even seen in the CW, think plank of wood, 12 year old, idiot.

At a guess I assume the DA is the big bad, based on name, and declaration he knew who batman was. Would be good if we was a good guy, I like the actor, and it would provide some logic to the plot.

I assume batgirl was a character in this. She is hilariously inappropriate for this, at least get someone who has some physicality if she is going beat up scores of police.

The choreography of the fight scenes was insanely bad. The bad/police guys have to stop throughout the scenes so the hero can do something to them.

Every part of this screams first year film school. I think this was supposed to be animated but last minute they decided to go with live action. Though DC animated is normally better than this.

Moonhaven (2022)

Good

[7/10 · 8 July 2022]

This is what Scifi is supposed to be. Explore the "impact of actual or imagined science upon society or individuals" with good story/mystery/events so it isn't a speculative documentary. I think there are low ratings here as Scifi seems to be associated lately with high octane action flicks dripping in CGI.

The Wheel of Time (2021– )

Poor

[3/10 · 27 December 2021]

Its fine if they don't want to follow the books. But the poor acting of the main characters, the poor directing, and the appalling camera work which would be more appropriate on a cheap soap. Bring this production down to the bargain bin. This is a huge money grab with either untalented hacks in basically all areas of the production, or they are all phoning it home from another planet.

They obviously spent a bit of money of this, but they use it so poorly.

The Misfits (2021)

Not watchable

[1/10 · 24 July 2021]

Its awhile since I have been simply unable to watch a movie. The continual narration just kills what looks to be a pretty poor movie.

Avenue 5 (2020–2022)

Works for me

[9/10 · 8 February 2020]

Maybe a tad too subtle for most. Hugh Laurie is perfectly cast to the point this may have been written for him. The rest of the cast are also perfect.

I would summarise it by calling it a social satire on just how ridiculous people and situations can be, set in a scifi setting with enough reality for this to be broadly possible.

If you just want scfi this is probably not for you. If you just want House this is probably not for you.

The cast, script, direction is all quality.