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mattstenson
Reviews
Dune: Part Two (2024)
Extremely Lackluster
"Dune: Part Two," despite its ambitious attempt to continue the epic saga, falls significantly short of the expectations set by its predecessor, leaving much to be desired in both narrative depth and character development. Where Denis Villeneuve's first installment offered a visually stunning and philosophically rich entrance into the universe of Frank Herbert's iconic series, this sequel struggles to maintain that momentum, veering into the realm of cinematic redundancy and superficial spectacle.
The film's pacing is one of its most glaring issues. It oscillates between rushed sequences that skim over crucial plot points and tedious stretches where little of consequence happens. This erratic tempo not only disrupts the narrative flow but also undermines the story's emotional weight, leaving the audience disengaged from what should be high-stakes moments.
Character development, or the lack thereof, further detracts from the film's appeal. Newcomers to the cast are introduced with great fanfare but are given scant screen time to evolve beyond one-dimensional figures. This oversight is particularly disappointing given the rich backstories and intricate personalities that define Herbert's characters. Even returning characters, who were previously portrayed with depth and complexity, are reduced to mere shadows of their former selves, often acting out of character or being pushed to the sidelines.
Visually, "Dune: Part Two" continues to impress with its breathtaking landscapes and meticulous attention to detail in costume and production design. However, these aesthetic achievements cannot compensate for the film's narrative shortcomings. The reliance on CGI spectacle over substantive storytelling feels like a missed opportunity to explore the novel's themes of power, ecology, and human nature.
Moreover, the script seems to struggle with balancing the source material's dense political intrigue with the need for blockbuster action sequences. As a result, much of the film's potential for thoughtful commentary on imperialism and environmentalism is lost in translation, replaced by generic battle scenes that lack the emotional resonance seen in the first film.
In conclusion, "Dune: Part Two" is a visually captivating but ultimately unsatisfying continuation of the Dune saga. Its failure to capitalize on the groundwork laid by its predecessor results in a sequel that feels both overloaded and superficial. While die-hard fans may find moments to enjoy, those seeking the depth and nuance of the original will likely be left wanting more. This sequel, unfortunately, suggests that in attempting to broaden its appeal, the franchise has sacrificed the very elements that made it distinctive and compelling in the first place.
The Creator (2023)
Don't understand the negative reviews, this movie was fantastic
I personally think this movie is an 8.5/10 but am rating it 10 to offset the ridiculously low ratings.
Yes there are some plot holes, and yes having a child as the main protagonist is clichè, but this movie is hands down one of the best films this year, especially with AI becoming so prevalent in modern society.
John David Washington blew it out of the park with his performance, and the cinematography was immense considering the budget was only $80M. This looks visually better than most $300M+ films.
It was refreshing to see the USA as the bad guys as opposed to always 'saving the day'.
I had high expectations after rogue one, and can honestly say I was not let down at all.
Inside the Mind of a Cat (2022)
Decent, but I forget that every Netflix show has an agenda
The show was great, informative but as a cat owner, nothing was new to me. Every topic in this show could be easily found out through personal experience if you own a cat. A lot of these 'breakthrough discoveries' are just common knowledge.
About 3/4 of the way through, the stereotypical old cat lady with nothing in her life besides her career starts harping on about men oppressing women in the Middle Ages. This is a documentary about Cats, let's leave the PC nonsense out of it please.
I don't know how much longer I can bear watching Netflix, it seems like every show is now pushing some sort of agenda.
Morbius (2022)
Best movie this year with the exception of The Batman
Where do I start?
From very start of the film, you are captivated into a thrilling story with extremely likable and relatable characters.
Jared Leto has an amazing performance and the directing and CGI was top class.
I dont understand the hate so far, obviously some people dont appreciate proper cinema.
10/10, can't wait to see it again/.
Dexter: Argentina (2012)
Best episode in the series
I can't stress how good that episode was. Perfect acting and directing. Extremely underrated.
Dexter and Deb had amazing performances, so did Sirko, and we saw a side of joey we never have seen before.
Couple that with the ending scenes; perfection.
Escape Plan (2013)
Don't know why the low rating?
This film is a masterpiece. Heaps of action, suspense, and plot twists. Should be a 8.5/10 at the very least.
Great performances by Arnie and Stallone.