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r-bentley
Reviews
6 Underground (2019)
Fun and has potential
It's a Michael Bay film so you know what you're getting. It's not highbrow, it's shallow and good entertainment. Ryan Reynolds plays Ryan Reynolds and the supporting cast look like they're having fun. Corey Hawkins adds what little emotional content there is but it's a fun action movie. Plus he finally gets an R rating so no holding back on the violence. It stutters in the middle a little but overall, a decent Saturday night movie.
Game of Thrones: The Bells (2019)
Incredible Episode
So go on then fanboys, start complaining again about how this series has gone downhill. Utterly engrossing television and everything that was promised. What an episode.
Game of Thrones: The Long Night (2019)
Best episode in Television history
Having watched the episode and then read some of the reviews, I'm drawn by the contrast between fans of the books and those that revel in a story being told on television.
So, let's cut to the chase.......regardless of certain fans insistence that the battle MUST follow their interpretations of the prophecy, regarding Jon Snow, what we have witnessed is a beautiful adaptation of what it all REALLY meant - Every character was at Winterfell for a reason. Jon and Dany as Dragon riders. Beric and The Hound for Arya. Theon for Bran. Jorah for Dany. Their character arcs have set them in place for this night, this battle. Whilst this episode's storyline will be dissected in the future, the initial impact is a staggering example of television making at its very, very best.
Massive appreciation must go to the film makers for this episode. It is no surprise that this was entrusted, once more, to Miguel Sapochnik whose previous GoT CV reads like the "Go to Guy" for when the action gets bloody. However, on top of the immense battle scenes, the rest of the episode was handled beautifully. Yes, some will argue that GoT seems to have lost its chops in its penchance for murdering your favourite character, but we're now at the sharp end of the story. If a character is to die, it should be for a reason, not just because "nice guys finish last".
Finally, with respect to the ending, there will be those that aren't satisfied that it was Arya that dealt the death blow to the Night King. That, somehow, the chosen one prophecy of Azor Ahai doesn't fit with the narrative. Firstly, this can be dispatched as speculation - Dany could be Azor Ahai, Jon could be the Prince that was promised - Both deeply involved in defeating the Night King and bringing the key characters together, including the Dragons. The scenes involving Melisandre all point to Arya being the key to victory. Secondly, it falls onto the shoulders of the writers to adapt George R. R. Martin's books and ideas for the small screen. Remembering that he has guided the filmmakers and writers for the last 3 seasons, it should be taken as tacit approval that the story unfolded this way. If not, based on what has been put onto celluloid, who really cares? With storytelling this good, we should allow the team some leeway to tell the story their way. It really doesn't get any better than this.
Game of Thrones: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2019)
Well that was a 10
After last week's episode, I was a little concerned that this season would suffer with the poor pacing of season 7. This episode, however was occupied with the preparation and impending doom of the Night King's arrival. Knowing this is the last time we're going to see some of our favourite characters was touching, especially the scene in the hall. The investiture of Brienne was truly moving and the dialogue was aided more by what wasn't said, not just what was. We all know that the big battle is coming next week and some of the characters we've come to love aren't going to make it to the end. This was a fitting final hurrah before they fight. A superb episode to set up the Battle against the dead.