donnagrei Reviews

Babylon (I) (2022)

Babylon is one of the most bizarre films I've ever seen

[7/10 · 23 July 2023]

I remember when Babylon came out, and it seems to have widely panned because of the outsized notice of some of the most decadent, decrepit and outrageous scenes in a non-horror regular movie ever put to film since Caligula. And yet, I can't stop thinking about Babylon, and not just because of the outrageous parts.

There is a message inside the muck of Babylon, although not awfully much of a story. And I suppose that was the point. There are also some top performances here, most notably from Brad Pitt as the ageing star Jack Conrad, to the lost party girl cum actress Margo Robbie as Nellie LaRoy, jazzman Signey Palmer (Jovan Adepo) and cabaret singer Lady Fay (Li Jn Li), to our "everyman" Manny Torres played by newcomer Diego Calva. Jean Smart also has a small but extremely pivotial role as gossip columnist Elinor St. John, and her scene with Brad Pitt's Jack Conrad almost had me in tears because boy, does it ever hit home for those seeking fame and fortune even today.

The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992–1993)

For years I thought I'd imagined these

[8/10 · 10 June 2023]

I saw these Adventures of Young Indiana Jones years ago and I honestly thought I imagined them because they disappeared for years. I would always tell people there were all these stories about Indy in World War I, and people didn't believe me. I was so happy to see the entire series is now on Disney+ and I can see them again.

Watching them years later, I'm surprised at how well they hold up. Sure, they didn't have the same budget as the films, but in many cases they did shoot on location and you really get a feel for Europe during the war.

Secondly, can I just shout at how GOOD Sean Patrick Flanery was as the eponymous Young Indy. Not only did he have the looks to match a younger Harrison Ford, but he also captured the character perfectly, if a much more earnest and innocent version of Indy (when and how he became more cynical I don't know).

Unfortunately, we never got another season and got to also see younger versions of characters from Raiders, especially Abner and Marion Ravenwood or Sallah, but we do get a backstory of the troubled father-son relationship between the Joneses.

Nope (2022)

Was better than I thought - and I don't like horror

[7/10 · 31 March 2023]

Wasn't sure. I was going to like Nope, as I'm not a fan of horror genre. But then this seem more XFiles or Doctor Who than outright horror so I watched.

Nope was surprisingly enjoyable. Is it the best film of its type? Probably not, but the things I liked:

> Horses: I loved that the main characters had this lovely ranch where they raised trained horses for Hollywood.

> Location: Beautifully shot, lovely location that gave a feeling of the old west.

> Action: Once the story got going, the suspense and action was exhilarating. But there was also a sly humor to the whole thing.

> A unique villain: No spoilers here, but the concept and execution was done really well! Kind of ridiculous but kinda cool too.

Note: Nope starts off rather slowly paced and it takes a bit to get to the heart of the story. Be a little patient.

Station Eleven (2021–2022)

Good adaptation from the novel - but felt a bit lacking somehow

[7/10 · 29 March 2023]

I read the novel Station Eleven some years ago, you know before the actual real pandemic, and found it disturbing, sad, and very ambiguous in the ending.

I thought the series did a pretty good job overall, keeping the focus more on the human story of the individual characters and how they experience the world-ending pandemic and weather the aftermath rather than focusing on the contagion or collapse of the world. Some characters were changed and/or mixed together differently than in the novel, which I suppose was done to simplify the story somewhat. I thought the casting was good overall, though some characters could've been more fleshed-out.

The one thing that bummed me out is the titular Station Eleven graphic novel that inspires and fascinates several characters was not filmed! In the novel you get that tale, and I find it disappointing the series didn't at least animate the story on the space station.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

This was Shuri's story - Ok but not best entry

[7/10 · 4 February 2023]

I believe a lot of the haters will hate on this because this Black Panther sequel became very much Shuri's story. Or, Shuri and the women of Wakanda perhaps.

Actually shifting the focus to the powerful women of Wakanda is one of the things I liked about this film and story. But overall, it just wasn't a GREAT story period. Instead of a sequel we got another origin story - this time for the scientific minded Shuri - and the problem is she just wasn't suited to be the Black Panther. I think the writers did what they could given the circumstances of the untimely passing of its star. And in a way, it made SENSE, but it also ended up feeling like a bridge story and that was unfortunate.

Nevertheless there are some good moments, and some sad moments that are much more of a downer than a typical Marvel movie. Initially, I liked the introduction of Namor and the underwater city, which was visually appealing. But again, Marvel wastes a villain on a rather petty dispute that could've been solved had they all just calmed the F down, as it was obvious the girl had not intended to harm anyone with her machine. Bizzare and useless plot!

A Christmas Story Christmas (2022)

A charming sequel

[8/10 · 19 November 2022]

A Christmas Story is probably THE most classic of classic Christmas films.

I'm not always for sequels, but A Christmas Story Christmas pulls all the nostalgia off nicely.

Much of this only works due to the commitment of quite a few of the original cast you know and love from the original film. Ralphie (Peter Billingsly) looks much the same and carries the sequel very well. Flick, Schwartz and even Farkus return.

While some of the situations are different in this 1973 setting, they manage to carry on the humor of the original and you'll definitely have a smile and a chuckle whichever of the generations you fit into.

The Northman (2022)

What the heck did I just watch!

[7/10 · 5 November 2022]

Ok, so The Northman is a telling (or a precursor telling of Hamlet). In case you didn't know that. The film has two sides to it.

One side is a gritty, cold, rough look at life in the dark ages after the fall of Rome. It's a brutal film, violent, and full of superstition, dark deeds, and a bleak outlook. Surprisingly, I liked this take, and I commend the filmmakers and actors because it felt so real like I was there.

The other side delves into the mystical, and the beliefs and myths of the various Norse peoples. We have followers of Odin and Freya mostly, with a dash of animism and shamanic seeing. At times, this could be quite strange (a sword you cannot use in daylight?, flying horses?) and you wonder if the scene actually took in the context of the film, or if it was all a fever dream? Those mythic parts, while eerily beautiful and strange, took me out of the story just a bit too much sometimes, almost as though I was in Neil Gaiman's American Gods and not The Northman/Hamlet. I felt those would've been better saved to be served up at the end of the story.

Aside from that, The Northman is a good watch. Honestly, it's been one of the better films I've seen of late. Kudos to the actors and cast, this couldn't have been an easy film to act in-it felt so uncomfortable and cold sometimes. Solid performances from all, but especially from Alexander. Obviously, this film meant a lot to him and it shows because he was absolutely riveting to watch (and I'm not just saying that because he's an extremely attractive man). I've followed his career for a while, and he keeps getting better and better.

Perfumes (2019)

Perfumes - Interesting little film about unlikely friendship

[6/10 · 9 October 2022]

This is a good little independent French film that has humor and heart. It's a story for adults, but without sex, thought provoking, and has both humor and sadness. The two main actors are wonderfully understated here and believable as we watch their friendship emerge. I was reminded a little bit of the early seasons of BONES.

Perhaps it's me as an American viewer who doesn't get some of the choices made in structuring the film. Some scenes are cut seemingly short, we never know how she solved the "handbag smell" or stinky factory problem. Likewise, we don't see how she begins to create perfumes again. There is often some wonderful tension in scenes, tension that doesn't fully play out to dramatic effect. It made me wonder what else we missed from these capable actors? But perhaps this is the French way and I'm just used to American dramatics, overacting, and having many more details given for "the swelling of a scene?"

I also subtracted a couple of stars because while this is an enjoyable quiet type of film, the ending did seem highly unlikely considering he was a chauffeur and didn't have her chemistry background (at least she appeared to have a chemistry education). Perhaps had we seen more of them beginning to work together as a team to solve a customer problem together, this wouldn't have seemed such fairy tale type ending. Also, the scene with her doctor was just very odd - it played more like he was going to be a potential romantic interest or something, which felt off and didn't quite mesh with where the story was at at that moment. Nice film, but could've been edited better.

The White Lotus (2021–2025)

Bleak comedy with a definite point

[10/10 · 25 September 2022]

The White Lotus is an odd show. It's set at a posh private resort in Hawaii where the entire season focuses on the guests who arrive for their 2 week stays. Originally, I was expecting something like a Faulty Towers comedy, but this was so very much more! Skillful writing and performances show of the pathos of modern life, and how it affects the haves and the have nots. It's funny but also very "real."

Wonderful cast! They all did a great job here.

I give a special shoutout to Murray Bartlett as the unraveling resort manager Armond, who was unknown to me previously and gives a real tour de force performance here. Secondly to the always sexy funny Jennifer Coolidge as the hot mess of a guest Tanya, come to scatter her mother's ashes at sea in Hawaii. It's nice to see a mature female actor in the US getting such a meaty role. Tanya, for all her faults, was very relatable and probably the most self-aware character. She truly made me cry at times, and this was supposed to be a comedy. Kudos to Jennifer for that (and I read somewhere she had a horrible allergy to the self tanner that sent her to the hospital too).

We need more shows like this.

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978)

Terrible campy movie with really great cast of artists

[5/10 · 3 August 2022]

I must've been 11 when I first saw this. Sometimes I think I imagined it, because even at 11 it was a terrible and cheesy film musical that seemed heavily drug induced. Why would anyone think Beatles songs strung together make a cohesive or coherent movie story? Funny to think John was still alive when this film was made-wonder what he thought about it? Strange days indeed!

That being said, the cast of musicians, actors, and performers in this film are great and gave it their best go. I mean, where ELSE are you gonna see Peter Frampton, Bee Gees, George Burns, Steve Martin, and Aerosmith and more all together? And some of these artists produced extremely credible and entertaining covers of the Beatles tunes. My God, watch it for the cast alone cuz just look at who turns up!.

The Beatles: Get Back (2021)

A intimate glimpse of The Beatles

[9/10 · 16 July 2022]

I wouldn't say I was a huge Beatles fan given they were mostly before my time, but I found Get Back to be fascinating. I'm not musically inclined, but I love seeing the process of how music is developed and created, and that's pretty much what you get a whole lot of in Get Back! It's a slow watch at times.

Aside from the process of creating music, you get a rare and candid glimpse into these four guys in their late 20's who've already been playing together for 10 years or more...and they're slowly fraying as their lives are changing. From a stifled George & Ringo, to a "in-love joined and at the hip" John, to a commanding Paul who resents being in charge, but marshals them anyway. But I also saw plenty of JOY in them as well - It's evident when they're fooling around and just jamming together playing songs they enjoy.

I loved the very human touches: a sick Paul working anyway, the hard work and long hours, their uncertainty and insecurities, how they sneakily roped in the talented Billy Preston, and most of all their humor and undying talent to make strange words into music that people relate to. They were often way too hard on themselves!

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021)

What an odd but fun movie

[6/10 · 12 July 2022]

I guess Barb and Star Go To Vista del Mar fits into one of those "it happened on vacation" type films, much like National Lampoon's Vacation, The Great Outdoors, Summer Rental, etc., because that's the vibe I got. It's overall very absurd, but was still pretty fun and mindless. Wiig & Mumolo are a treat at selling these characters. Dornan is unexpectedly fun as Edgar after his "20 Shades" outing, even though the romance is extremely un-probable given they're supposed to be 50-something women and he's supposed to be like 35. My only quibble was with the "villain" Sharon, who, for some odd reason, looks like a pale homicidal female version of Gru. Why? She could've literally been any normal villainess without the emo look, so this role didn't really fit the plot to me and almost ruined the abject silliness of the other characters.

Raised by Wolves (2020–2022)

Some of the wildest stuff on television today

[9/10 · 18 March 2022]

I was a little unsure about Raised By Wolves initially. It's WEIRD. Like really weird sometimes. And yet, I'm continually fascinated by what the colonists find on the planet Keplar-22B. The planet is rendered in such a way as to be both completely believable (they film in South Africa) and yet totally alien.

The cast is mostly unknown to me but for Travis Fimmel of the show "Vikings" but all seem standout, especially the actors playing the androids Mother and Father.

The series is what I'd call serious science fiction, meaning the extension of actual things we know today such as artificial intelligence, robotics, space travel, magnetic levitation, etc., used to leave Earth and colonize a new world. However, in true Ridley Scott fashion we also have aliens, strange alien artifacts, and themes about faith, belief, and a questioning about what it means to be human.

I would not call Raised by Wolves a horror story the way Alien or Prometheus was. There are some elements similar to those stories, (but they don't rise to that level, thankfully). I'd say RBW has some of the best elements of Prometheus before the android David infected everyone with Xenomorph spore. Space exploration, technology. New worlds, other lifeforms, and how humans bring both the good and the bad old ways with them.

It's really one of the better streaming series on right now.

The Favourite (2018)

It's an odd sort of historical - if you're into such things

[8/10 · 21 August 2021]

For this film I think one really needs to separate whether one "likes" or enjoys a film versus was it a "good" film.

As far as story goes, there isn't always a lot to like. Grasping, horrid people. A sad, highly depressed and ill older lady who happens to be the Queen of England. A feud of epic proportions. And rabbits. Lots of rabbits as metaphors.

But was it good? Yes. Unconventional and downright weird at times, but yes. There ain't no happy endings here folks. Just as it wasn't happy for the real people portrayed. Queen Anne's Revenge indeed.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (2016)

What the Heck Happened to this sequel?

[5/10 · 2 May 2020]

I watched Crazy Rich Asians and this film came up under the always-a-class-act Michelle Yeoh films. I had no idea they'd even made a sequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, so I was very excited to watch it.

Oh dear! What a hot mess.

Ms. Yeoh is always such a wonderful actor, but even she can't save the lack of coherent story here. While the film starts off promising enough with some awe-inspiring landscapes and cinematography and a spectacular fight scene with Shu Lien and her caravan being attacked, both the story and action begin to drag so badly half way through. Characters appear and aren't really given much of a backstory or depth. The actors are fine, I suppose they worked with what they had, which doesn't seem to be much, and tried to do their best. Even with some inspired fight scenes, the film begins to get boring and it's such a shame! The Sword of Destiny deserved a better film to showcase it.

I won't say it was a terrible film overall, there are certainly some great vistas and fight scenes to make it worth a watch, just don't high expectations. Sadly, this just felt so... constrained. Like all of the charm and mysterious dreamy quality of the original were lost.

Da Vinci's Demons (2013–2015)

SO SAD this series didn't last a little longer!

[10/10 · 9 December 2018]

Da Vinci's Demons was really a LUSH and detailed show. Yes, of course it was a fantasy involving the re-imagined early life of Leonardo Da Vinci in a sort of early Steampunk-ish fashion. But it was wonderful and fun. I'm only sad that the final season felt a little rushed and veered off. It seemed the show was being cancelled and they felt they needed to wrap it up, which is fine, but it didn't always quite jive with what had been setup previously. Oh well, at least it got something of an ending.