Change Your Image
rawlingsedward18
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
The Walking Dead: Squeeze (2020)
10B off to a solid start
This episode was a great way to hook us back in for the second half of season 10. The setting worked perfectly to add that creepy aura to the episode and was cool that the Walkers were a genuine threat. Melissa McBride conveys all sorts of emotions in this episode and the ending scene was really well done - some great acting on her part. Thought it was also a nice touch having her and Darryl at odds in the end, considering they've always stuck side by side. It will be exciting to see Carol come back from this too! Alpha and Negan scenes were good as we start to see him going up the ranks of the Whisperers. This definitely was the best episode in the season so far as there was plenty on offer and was thoroughly enjoyable.
A Star Is Born (2018)
A magnificent experience
I knew going into the cinema that this was going to be a good film, but when I left I considered it an amazing film. The events and music transpiring on the screen were so engaging and emotionally raw. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga both delivered from the bottom of their hearts. Cooper portrayed a broken man so powerfully and in the Director's chair he masterfully connected ideas of alcoholism and family trauma with jealousy, love and depression. Lady Gaga impressively came out of her shell and presented a beautfiul natural version of herself. Her acting was on par with Cooper and it was amazing to see her transform throughout the movie to a pop icon. Their chemistry was so well suited and never failed ro be convincing. The ending certainly gave me butterflies when she went back to her natural look and sung Cooper's song to her with vehement pain and sadness. The delivery of this ending scene clung to me when leaving the cinema. In terms of music, it was delightful to see the two actors thrive on their own and then blow the crowds (within and without the movie) away with their dual performance of "Shallow". The cinematography was excellent too, with the camera not shying away from close up shots that got right in the thick of the singing. As much as this film was gut wrenching, it was also nice to have some natural humour- nothing felt forced. "A Star is Born" was an intriguing look into fame and addiction in the music industry whilst also serving as a beautfiul and convicing love story. I cannot wait to purchase the blu ray and add it to my collection!
The Walking Dead: A New Beginning (2018)
Change is good
While I still enjoyed the Story of The Walking Dead seasons 7 and 8, the overall quality of the show was relatively poor. New Showrunner Angela Kang has made some key changes with this new episode that look promising for a really good season. The aspect of horror has returned with the Walkers feeling threatening again and the spider sequence was a creepy touch. Driving the story through rebuilding civilisation is a new and intriguing plot thread that makes the show feel fresh again. New scenery and improved cinematography is much more welcoming than the bland forest setting of the past two seasons. In terms of characterisation, it was so nice to have the main cast dominate the episode for once. Carol and Darryl shared a nostalgic scene together and Rick and Michonne shared many moments of love and teamwork. The most tense moments were between Rick and Darryl and Rick amd Maggie. These conversations were both rewarding to show how these characters aren't just black and white. The grey notion in Maggie was excellently handled as she is loyal to Rick, but still can't forgive the Savior which will lead to conflict later. The action was highly entertaining this episode with a couple of heart pounding moments and Gregory's shocking death at the end of the episode. This episode was generally thrilling and it was nice to have a successful blend of conflicting ideologies and character dialogue with entertaining action and thrilling moments.
The only issue with the show continues to be the massive cast, but tonight is was an indicator of how the creators were able to get around that.
Scream Queens: Hell Week (2015)
This show is going well!
It is with no doubt, that this episode was an improvement on the first. The opening monologue ,executed beautifully by the original "Scream Queen" Jamie Lee Curtis, established the symbolism and depth of her character and her disgust towards the youth. New developments with the Red Devil Killer made this episode very entertaining. Most noticeably, was the ending scene with Boone. Is he in league with the killer? Also what is being hidden in Kappa's basement? These are questions which the creators have successfully attracted their audience with and if the show remains this consistent, then the mystery style story will be very convincing right up to the finale. Most of the laughs in this episode came from Emma Roberts and her relationship with Chad which led to even more awkward extremes. This time round; the jokes were expected, therefore they felt appropriate and suitable as well as being quite humorous. Jamie's homage to Halloween by standing creepily next to the tree, was perfect and evoked a true sense of relevance to the past few decades of the Slasher Genre. There were not many problems with this episode, although I would like to see some more scenes between Skyler Samuels and Keke Palmer, as their relationship was importantly established in the Pilot. Also, Nasim Pedrad needs to be further developed as she has not been too convincing thus far, but has still provided some good laughs.Chanel #5 became interesting in this episode and had me suspicious of her being a candidate for the killer. Overall, an improvement on the Pilot and with this direction the season looks to be progressing fluently.
Scream Queens: Pilot (2015)
Very entertaining with minor errors
This was a great first episode, featuring fantastic acting from both Jamie Lee Curtis and Emma Roberts who were both a pure delight to watch. It appears that these two will thrive on the show and help keep it going in response to some elements that general viewers seem displeased with. The opening scene was very odd and it immediately had me wary of the show. However, this proved to be wrong as the episode presented some amazing gore and witty dialogue, as well as some simple laughs. I also appreciated how Skyler Samuels' character did not fit the typical 'shy' heroine. This contributes to the shows concept of being a parody to the horror genre, whilst honoring and paying homage to it at the same time. The campy and funky feel actually works well. From the "box muncher" joke to the girls' reactions to the deaths, this show reflected some great humor. Some of it may be racist or a bit stale, but when Roberts or Curtis are delivering it the execution is successful. I am reminded of Madison Montgomery which is a good sign. While there are many fluent elements, some fall short. Firstly, the show feels a little too predictable considering it is largely a mystery/Scream film type story which was indicated by the Maid's death. Also some of the flat humor may be irritating for some as it tends to be overused or dragged out, like Ariana Grande's death scene. I'm looking forward to the development of the Red Devil killer and if handled correctly, then viewers can be assured that this will make for an exciting mystery. These are some elements that need to be tweaked in order to flow appropriately with the shows successful elements such as Roberts and Curtis. Overall, Scream Queens "Pilot" was very entertaining first episode that has set up the rest of the season well.
The Walking Dead: Made to Suffer (2012)
Fast Paced Mid season Finale!
Story:A new group comes upon the prison, Rick and the gang rescue Glenn and Maggie, Michonne has a gritty encounter with the Governor and Daryl is captured by the people of Woodbury.
This episode was very fast paced with exciting new developments. We see Glenn and Maggie make use of equipment by removing the bones of the dead walker's arm for weapons. The chemistry between these two is brilliant and this will flow well throughout the entire series. Him and Maggie attack Merle and his cronies before they are re- captured. Back at the prison, Carol is concerned when Axel appears to sweet talk Beth and Carl rescues a new group who has entered the prison. Rick, Daryl, Michonne and Oscar infiltrate Woodbury, then rescue Maggie and Glenn from being executed. Upon learning that Merle is at Woodbury, Daryl shows a desire to see his brother, but is quickly shut down by Rick. Rick and the others move out on to the street and exchange fire with the marines. Meanwhile, Andrea (who seems even closer with the Governor) is frustrated at not being allowed to participate in the attack. Rick gets Maggie and Glenn over the barricade to safety, while Oscar is shot and killed. Michonne who has escaped from the others, waits patiently in the Governors room when she hears a noise. She finds the Governors daughter and the Walker heads in glass jars. The Governor suddenly enters and Michonne kills his daughter. The two then engage in one of the series' most brutal one on one fights.Perhaps even better than Shane vs Rick in season Two. After some aggressive punches and glass to the face for Michonne, she ends the fight with a stab to the Governors eye. The creators have headed on a good course with Michonne and all we need now is some back story to make her an even more intriguing character. The episode ends with Daryl being captured and presented in the fighting arena to Merle, much to the shock of a clueless Andrea. All round this episode was very good and the deterioration of Rick has really become interesting. In this episode he envisions one of the marine's as Shane and kills him. After the death of Lori, Rick has become damaged, but this does not make him any less dangerous. Andrea is clearly confused with what side she is on after seeing both Michonne and Daryl. It is good to have two relatively new female characters (Michonne and Maggie) become just as bad ass as Rick, Glenn and Daryl.With Carol only slowly developing and Andrea becoming an interesting, but unlikable character, the show will still thrive through its diversity. There was not many prison sequences in this episode, but that was a good decision because the pace was kept with the attack at Woodbury.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
A gripping finale to the trilogy which will benefit with an extended version
I thoroughly enjoyed the Lord of the Rings and two previous Hobbit installments, but this was a truly compelling finale. The film is particularly successful in the captivating acting of the cast. Armitage and Freeman present a beautifully moving relationship that brings back the essence of their relationship in AUJ, only to finish it in a profound bond of friendship. While the lighter previous installments felt like an adventure, this film allowed the audience to engage with it's emotional atmosphere. Touching moments include (SPOILERS AHEAD) Thorin's death and Bard comforting his son during Smaug's attack on Laketown. The battle may not have lived up to the realism of LOTR battles but it was still very entertaining. Filler aspects of the film such as Tauriel, Legolas and Dol Goldur felt more welcoming this time round as they were expected. It was interesting that there was no prologue to the film like the other five middle earth films, but the opening Smaug scene set the mood for the movie.The only problem I had with the film was that the ending felt rather abrupt. However the extended edition will fix this minor issue. The lack of iconic aspects of the novel such as Beorn will be shown in the extended version. Also the CGI felt rather excessive, but this did not stray away from the heart of the film. This was the one film in the trilogy that would have benefited by being longer. Even though it had the least source material left to use the perfect tone established in the movie would have worked well to summarize each significant character at the end. The presence of LOTR connections fitted nicely into the movies and contributed to making both trilogies feel like one epic six film series. The emotional and significantly darker tone of this third installment, along with Character portraits ans Billy Boyd's "The Last Goodbye" gave the Hobbit Trilogy a more weighty and meaningful impact. The cinematography was amazing, but it would have been nice to see some more wide-scape location shots like in AUJ. This was a superb ending to the Hobbit Trilogy and Middle Earth saga that ought to be treasured for years to come.