kevinjloria Reviews

Death on the Nile (2022)

Interesting cast, Beautifully shot, improvement upon Orient

[8/10 · 15 February 2022]

I'm really stunned by the top reviews using the word boring. I'd say for the genre the pacing is perfect. It's as stylish and slick a retelling as ORIENT, less true to the text but I think in a way that streamlines it for the better. Big liberties are taken, even adding a moving backstory for Periot. The cinematography is beautiful, the Egyptian setting is used to fullest effect. The cast is clever and as interesting as it is diverse. Gal plays to glamorous type here, a French and Saunders team up is always appreciated even when watered down with drama. Russell Brand even has some impressive turns as well. Love the Jazz heavy Music choices throughout the film. It has all you'd expect from your period mystery and at 7 minutes over two hours, it's just right. I'd be up for a third outing.

No Time to Die (2021)

Solid end to Daniel Craig run!

[9/10 · 9 October 2021]

Whether you are looking at this as a 25(+) film legacy or just a 5 film arc, this one is a solid bow on Craig's arc with the character and maybe the character himself. None of the returning cast is phoning it in (ok much is actually on phones but no one lets Queen & Country down, the film's Big Bad ok ( R. M. always gives an interesting performance). It's Beautifully shot, definitely recommend catching it in IMAX! The movie's music has so many nods to the past, especially John Barry & IN HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, you hardly notice Hans Zimmer is at the musical reigns until the 3rd act ( particularly a John Wick corridor sustained scuffle). Ladies (& gents) will be happy to know DC spends a respectable amount of time with his shirt off, and oddly enough in suspenders, not at the same time... sorry ladies (& gents). The 2hr40+ running time, a record fir the franchise, isn't problematic, and we'll earned, although it may have the longest cold opening of any BOND as well. I'm definitely recommending get out, get your vaccine and catch this while it's in the theaters. Always support your local theaters, now more than ever, but show JB some love.

Beckett (2021)

A24 meets the Fugitive

[6/10 · 15 August 2021]

Like his dad I'd literally listen to JD Washington read the phone book. But this Everyman on the run with a Geek twist feels like it was produced by A24, everything is bit off. The protagonist seems to make one bad decision after the next as the stakes raise and he learns more of why he is on the run. Over all this is an engaging film, with interesting locations, that at times could be anywhere in Eastern Europe passing as Greece.

Music and dialogue is minimal til just before the climax, the most lines we get are exposition and a satisfying if ridiculous 3rd act.

F9: The Fast Saga (2021)

Better than the Hype! 9 stars for F9!

[9/10 · 26 June 2021]

"Suddenly science fiction" you say? You better keep up! Seriously, the series has raised the bar consistently each outing in a very organic way to get the the insanely fun madness that is F9.

The characters, the callbacks the deepcuts (to a crooked nose on a returning character!) this one delivers. THIS IS THE WAY to return to the movies (no offense TENET)! Everybody is on point looking to be giving their all. We finally get justice first Han and flashbacks long overdue that nicely recon new and old threads (like introducing John Cena and making a compelling character arc too). Returns include Queenie & Cypher with an even more disturbing haircut but terrific scenery chewing performance. At about 2 1/2 hours it flew by, FAST & FURIOUSLY even to the final minutes which is a shot to the heart.

Going in cold is fun, but if you're up to speed on the SAGA this has so big payoffs. Family y'all!

The Twilight Zone: Try, Try (2020) Season 2, Episode 9

Best of the Season!

[9/10 · 2 July 2020]

Brilliant take on the concept, maybe even the most believable take I've seen. Great casting really lends to the scenes with characters connecting and the juxtaposition of those characters completely disconnecting. Addressing concepts like entitlement, consent, morality and immortality.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Inquisition (1998) Season 6, Episode 18

Another Starfleet witch-hunt episode? Maybe not...

[7/10 · 14 June 2020]

Since STAR TREK; TOS episodes like "Court-martial" are a staple trope in which starfleet (or Internal Affairs or other administration entities, a.k.a. Section 31) begin a witch-hunt or tribunal or whatever, usually proven to have some grounds in truth twisted to suit a personal agenda the inquisitor character has for gunning to bring down a character. With the backstory twists and dominion POW experiences Julian becomes the target. These are usually tiresome and pedantic storytelling, even with Michael Dorn himself directing it's tedious with some twists and a nice introduction to the enigmatic section 31

Sym-Bionic Titan (2010–2011)

Breakfast Club meets Voltron

[10/10 · 28 May 2020]

Here's a quarantine binge recommendation for you: 2010's shortlived symbionic titan (all 20 eps are currently on Netflix ) it's from the #samurai jack /dexters laboratory writers & artists ( genndy tartakovsky, paul rudish bryan andrews, scott wills ) if you think you might like the Breakfast Club meets Voltron. It's the story of a Princess's flight from a War torn planet and her guardians, in the spirit of Akira Kurosawa's Hidden Fortress (aka Star Wars) but with High School. It has dynamic combat, quirky conversations and twists on teen troupes. Not as intense as the team's current series Primal (which I also recommend)but Lots of Bitchin anime imagery and a brilliant voice cast like Tara strong, Jjohn dimaggio, Brian Posehn (from Steven Universe) Spongebob's tom kenny & bill fagerbakke etc. Check em out. #cartoonnetwork #netflix #robots #mechs #anime #bingeworthy

Project Blue Book (2019–2020)

SAVE BLUEBOOK

[10/10 · 20 May 2020]

In the 70s I loved the short lived Project UFO, which was as influential as Kolchak the Night Stalker was on the X-Files Phenomenon. When History Channel introduced a more accurate telling of the Project Blue Book investigations I was thrilled and not disappointed. It's Mad Men meets X-Files. Colorful, beautiful with provocative performances. Game of Thrones' Aidan Gillen plays Dr Allen Hynek, the guy who literally wrote the book on classifying Close encounters with Extraterrestrial life. He was even consultant and an extra on Spielberg's film named after Hynek's classifications (you may have heard of it). Besides the brilliant Gillen, Scully to his Mulder is Michael Malarkey as Air Force skeptic Captain Michael Quinn. Together they have a great chemistry adding believability to some unbelievable stuff. Based on actual UFO cases, although not always in exactly the right order, but surprisingly ground (no pun intended) given the subject. All the performances from its ensemble of characters are amazing too, Laura Mennell as Mimi Hynek, the great Neal McDonough (from Legends of Tomorrow) as General Harding, Ksenia Solo as the complicated Susie Miller... sadly THE HISTORY CHANNEL is not renewing Blue Book after a terrific 2nd season. Maybe Amazon (or Netflix) will save this great series.

Project Blue Book (2019–2020)

SAVE BLUEBOOK!

[10/10 · 20 May 2020]

In the 70s I loved the short lived Project UFO, which was as influential as Kolchak the Night Stalker was on the X-Files Phenomenon. When History Channel introduced a more accurate telling of the Project Blue Book investigations I was thrilled and not disappointed. It's Mad Men meets X-Files. Colorful, beautiful with provocative performances. Game of Thrones' Aidan Gillen plays Dr Allen Hynek, the guy who literally wrote the book on classifying Close encounters with Extraterrestrial life. He was even consultant and an extra on Spielberg's film named after Hynek's classifications (you may have heard of it). Besides the brilliant Gillen, Scully to his Mulder is Michael Malarkey as Air Force skeptic Captain Michael Quinn. Together they have a great chemistry adding believability to some unbelievable stuff. Based on actual UFO cases, although not always in exactly the right order, but surprisingly ground (no pun intended) given the subject. All the performances from its ensemble of characters are amazing too, Laura Mennell as Mimi Hynek, the great Neal McDonough (from Legends of Tomorrow) as General Harding, Ksenia Solo as the complicated Susie Miller... sadly THE HISTORY CHANNEL is not renewing Blue Book after a terrific 2nd season. Maybe Amazon, Hulu or Netflix will save this great series. In the meantime write a review here & at Amazon & Rotten Tomatoes too. Also WATCH THE SKIES!

The Lighthouse (I) (2019)

David lynch does Lovecraft via Repoman

[8/10 · 17 November 2019]

As Strange and disturbing as it is hypnotic and enthralling. Upshot: A pair of lighthouse keepers struggling to fend off madness. Pulls from a style that is reminiscent of early works of David Lynch and material that's reminiscent of Lovecraft, Melville and Blake. There's some amazingly intense performances helped along in no small way by the films ratio and it's black and white media.

Hancock (2008)

If you are even mildly a comic book fan, I'd recommend it

[10/10 · 19 August 2019]

There are lots of stories about what if Superman wasn't raised by perfect Stepparents, and turned out to be a bit of a jerk (most recently The Boys). Looking back on this after 10 years, I think it is underrated. This may be a typical action/comedy/sci-fi Wil Smith fare but charming in many ways. Jason Bateman is really the heart of this film. His sincerity as a PR guy who wants the change the world and Hancock's image is pretty lovely. His coaching sessions are terrific. . The story arc is a bit predictable but fun. Charlize Theron is less entertaining but as bankable as ever. Effects hold up well, even today. Much of what is suggested off camera, instead of on, really adds to this FX longevity. If you are even mildly a comic book fan, and who isn't these days, I'd recommend it.

Cold Pursuit (2019)

Surprisingly entertaining revenge flick

[7/10 · 12 July 2019]

Quirky villains, interesting cast, surprisingly entertaining revenge film. A Citizen of the Year turned vigilante with a snowplow is sort of an epic movie pitch. It gets tangled up in its villain's arc(s) and isn't quite sure of its tone, lots of random pulp fiction conversations. But what you need to take away from the film is what a great on screen couple Dern & Liam are, just the perfect amount of crazy.

Aquaman (2018)

Damn entertaining movie! (feat. Wet beautiful people)

[9/10 · 16 December 2018]

Based on a True Story! 🔱 Ok, maybe not, but it is TRULY Visually stunning, obviously, loads of fun, perfectly cast hot wet people ( ok maybe not Willem Dafoe and his Atlantian French Twist! & Mera's hair is more distracting than Black Manta's canonical helmet ). Jason Mamoa is the embodiment of the best spin on this character and entertaining in every scene. Unnecessary to be familiar with DC Universe or to have picked up a comicbook to be (pun intended) "immersed" in the story. But director James Wan takes many comic tropes and turns them on end. Well done Aquaman!

Batman Ninja (2018)

BATS, MONKEYS, ROBOT CASTLES & more PAGODA TOPS than you can shake a KATANA at!

[9/10 · 5 May 2018]

Batman Ninja as advertised delivers Batman & a ninja or two or four. Beautifully animated (especially the weird dreamlike visit to the Joker's Farm), it presses all the classic anime buttons almost to a fault: pets & sidekicks, impossible proportioned distracting anatomy, even a tongue in cheek climactic "mech" battle ( when one of the climatic battles anyway)! The story is about as coherent as any DCEU plot, but Grodd is as good an excuse as any to assemble Batman and his allies and rogues gallery to Feudal Japan. If you are expecting an Elseworlds retelling of Batman set in another time and place this isn't quite that, but it ain't quite canon either. But what it is is fun as Hell. In the dubbed (English) version the voice talent wasn't bad, Roger Craig Smith is no Kevin Conroy, but he may be the next best thing. Tara Strong is the current reigning Harley Quinn queen, so great cast there. Tony Hale's Joker is interesting as is Tom Kenny's Penguin, and recurrent video game Catwoman Grey Griffin is excellent. Ultimately it feels overlong by 15-20min but I like to get something extra for my money, so I'd likely be wanting delete scenes if they had cut them. Although it has an awesome post credit scene(s). Yugo Kanno's epic score is less anime or DCEU and more MCU, not a complaint. BTW This contains both Dubbed and Subtitled editions.

Lost in Space: Impact (2018) Season 1, Episode 1

Solid start!

[8/10 · 14 April 2018]

Solid opener for the 3rd incarnation of groundbreaking sci-fi series from the 60's. Lots of nods to the original series including John Williams' theme (although IMDB haves no credit for him on NETFLIX series). We get a non-linear introduction to the Robinson Family and why they are colonists and some of the groundwork for their relationships. FX, sets and locations are nifty. Before the episode's close we get a cameo from the original cast which sets into motion major threads to come.