Change Your Image
samuel-audet-11
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
Wonka (2023)
Paul King's 'Wonka' leaves you with a smile on your face
I wasn't expecting to enjoy Paul King's prequel to one of my favourite '70s films, but I did. I really did. It far exceeded my expectations. From beginning to end, it kept a smile on my face, with a 10/10 cast who all excelled, but in particular Olivia Colman as Mrs. Scrubbit. The film maintains a good balance of storytelling and songs, with well placed humour throughout. The set design, costumes and use of vibrant colours were fantastic. To be honest I am not Chalamet's biggest fan but he was a very convincing young Wonka and added something new to the character with his own style, that wasn't too far removed from Wilder's.
If I can find fault with Wonka it is probably with its musical song choices. While none of these were bad per se, most of them fell short of the timeless classics of the 1971 version. Nevertheless, the musical numbers are well-integrated into the plot, adding to the film's whimsical charm, and I thought the placement of pure imagination was perfect. The storyline might have benefitted from more focused world-building and a less scattered approach, but it still captivates with its imaginative flair.
What I loved most about Wonka however is that it manages to suck you into its crazy world effortlessly, providing almost 2 hours of pure entertainment. More than anything it is just uncomplicated fun. And with everything going on in the world currently it provided a welcome refreshing break from it all, while paying homage to its predecessors.
Nanalan' (1999)
Who's that wonderful guuuurrrlllll
Where do I begin with "Nanalan'"? Who knew that a show about a young girl visiting her grandmother could warp into a TikTok phenomenon? Welcome to 'Nanalan'', the unintentionally hilarious puppet show that has millennials and Gen Zers losing their minds. Forget high-budget productions; this is where the magic happens.
First off, the star of the show, Mona. Her adventures at her grandmother's house are nothing short of surreal. One minute she's learning about vegetables, and the next, she's in a psychedelic world of her imagination. And let's not forget Russell - the dog that looks like he's seen things, things no dog should ever see.
The puppetry is simple but brilliant. The characters' expressions oscillate between hilariously exaggerated and mildly concerning, giving you a never-ending stream of meme-worthy material.
Now, the plot - or should I say, the wonderfully whimsical lack thereof. Each episode feels like a drug-fueled stream of consciousness. You never know where the story is going, but you're too mesmerised by the vivid colours and bizarre characters to care.
As an adult, watching "Nanalan'" is an experience. It's like rediscovering a childhood toy and realising it was way weirder than you remembered. And thanks to its resurgence on TikTok, a whole new generation can question their reality just like we did.
In conclusion, 'Nanalan'' is a masterpiece of unintentional comedy. It's educational, in a way that leaves you questioning what on Earth you just watched, but also wanting more.
The Mandalorian: Chapter 24: The Return (2023)
Satisfying ending to a disjointed season
While the season 2 finale was one of the best episodes of any season I have watched and therefore a tall order to match, 'The Return' ties up the loose ends from season 3 nicely while setting the precedent for many more adventures to come for Din Djarin and Grogu.
Din Djarin and Grogu get to show what they're really capable of throughout this episode, something that has been lacking throughout season 3, and something I am excited to see a lot more of.
There were a lot of fan theories floating around about how this episode would wrap up the many subplots throughout this season, and the fact that many of these were off the mark doesn't make it poorly written in my opinion. It did however feel a little safe and there were no real surprises that emerged, but the simplicity of the Mandalorian was what made the first two seasons so brilliant. I hope this is a sign of things to come (and Jon Favreau has confirmed a script for season 4 has been completed!)
Jurassic World Dominion (2022)
Jurassican't
Not only the weakest of all the jurassic movies but one of the limpest movies overall I have seen in years. Bringing the original cast back could have made for a fun nostalgia rich cinematic experience, but instead the writers tried to replicate the original jurassic park with early 90s cliche and terrible dialogue that just doesn't hold these days. I genuinely struggled to sit through it. There was no tension. There was no threat. There was no suspense. The plot was as bland and hollow as anyone could have come up with given there are literal dinosaurs on the screen for 90% run time.
The ONLY good thing about this film was the well rendered CGI dinosaurs and ironically, they had more soul than any of the human characters we were supposed to care about.
I was really looking forward to this movie and enjoyed the previous two jurassic worlds despite their flaws, but this was truly a stain on the franchise, and one that felt as if Colin Trevorrow had thrown in the towel on knowing that enough Dino toys would be sold off the back of it to at least make a profit.
Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019)
Gripping, haunting and thought-provoking
It has been 3 days since I finished watching this documentary and I can't stop thinking about it. That it is a true story makes it all the more disturbing.
Don't F**k with Cats tells the story of a narcissistic psychopath who began posting videos of himself torturing and killing kittens. That was bad enough, but the series of events that unfold leave you ever more shocked as they unfold until his graduation onto a person; it is an incredible yet frightening story as well as a fascinating insight into psychopathy. If you have any interest in psychology, you should watch this. It is not just a run-of-the-mill real crime doc.
I have since looked up Luka Magnotta and what actually happened and, if anything, they downplayed the nature of his murder. He actually ate parts of his victim Jun Lin, and his head was found in a nearby park - both details I am surprised were omitted from the documentary.
They also didn't explain why in the video of the python eating the kitten the neighbour was involved, who they were and whether they were charged with animal abuse and/or complicit in any other of Luka's crimes. There are a couple of other small details that could have been approached better, which other reviewers have mentioned.
However the way this story is told is gripping beyond belief, and by far the best mini-series I have watched in a very long time. It is really is a must-see.