Tiger King (2020) Limited Series Review

Tiger King (2020) Limited Series Review

 Over the last few days this series has taken over both Netflix and the internet so my curiosity overcame me and I decided I had to watch the documentary series Tiger King and this is my review for the series. The premise of the series sees a rivalry between big cat owners take a dark turn where Joe Exotic is caught in a murder for hire plot.

Now if I described this show as an animal rights show it isn't doing it justice, it is a story about the world of these people owning Big Cats and how they are pretty narcisitic and eccentric to say the least. Joe Exotic is the main guy the documentary follows and wow this guy is as eccentric as they get, if somebody created this character I would have thought it was a bit far fetched but this guy is a real person and you can't take your eyes off of him. He is very entertaining to watch and you just want to see more and more of him on this show.

What this show does really well, is that it is pretty fair, every main character has some real issues, there are pretty much no good people on the show and even the animal rights activists are incredibly shady and just as unlikeable as the animal owners in my opinion.

It is fascinating, to see so many hypocritical people involved with this show and the steps that they take to try and prove their point as it feels pretty tragic as the majority of things were unneccessary and really feel like people just trying to show their the top people in there field. 

I was a bit worried when I saw this show was 7 episodes but it flew by perfectly, the show uses cliffhangers brilliantly to keep you interested and invested in it throughout with the stakes rising higher and higher leading to a satisfying ending but one that has me asking for some more questions.

Overall, for me this was an epic documentary for me that I couldn't take my eyes off and it will interest you all the way and leave you wanting more. 

Rating - 10/10 

Star Wars: Episode 8 - The Last Jedi (2017) Review

Star Wars: Episode 8 - The Last Jedi (2017) Review 

 I am almost at the end of my Star Wars film reviews and the next film I have watched is Episode 8 The Last Jedi and this is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees Rey attempt to convince Luke Skywalker to teach her the ways of the Jedi, while Kylo Ren & The rest of The First Order attempt to destroy the rest of The Resistance fleet.

Main Character

Daisy Ridley is back as Rey and she is front and centre in this film and I thought she was really good in this film. Her character has clearly developed since The Force Awakens and it is really interesting to see her go from the character she was to a more confident character who is attempting to learn this power that she knows very little about. They add some more mystery to her character that worked for me and it had appropriate parallels to Luke's journey in the original journey.

Supporting Characters

Mark Hamill reprises his role as Luke Skywalker in the film and his performance has caused plenty of debate including Hamill himself but I really liked his performance. He isn't just a copy of Obi-Wan & Yoda in the original journey as you can see he still has his flaws are there and that he isn't as wise as those characters. His view on the Jedi is fascinating to me and it continues the theme that The Jedi maybe aren't as squeaky clean as the original trilogy wanted to make the audience believe. Adam Driver is back as Kylo Ren and once again his really good in this film, he still has some of the conflict that he had in The Force Awakens but it develops even more and his dynamic with Rey is much deeper in this film and I found it particularly interesting. John Boyega as Finn is a great character in this franchise and he has a good personal story in the film even though I didn't care about the part of the story he was involved in. Oscar Issac is given a larger role as Poe Dameron in this film and I like his character, he feels less like a Han Solo rip off and his character goes through a journey in the film and it works for the film that we are watching.

Story

The story of the film again is quite divisive, there is a few different plot lines and some of them are more interesting then others. Seeing Luke and Rey's dynamic was a real highlight in the film and showed the depth of the characters, Kylo Ren and Poe also have good personal journey's aswell. However, there is a story arc with Finn & Rose going to a Casino that is literally just there to make a political statement and feels out of left field and not fitting the film, plus I found it easily the most boring part of the film. 

Script

The script has some powerful drama to it that provides some great emotional moments for the characters involved. However, this film doesn't have the same clever humour to it that the previous film had with it feeling a bit cringeworthy and there to try and make the characters funny but it doesn't quite work.

Style

The style of the film looks great, there are some memorable action scenes in different locations that make them stand out and feel unique to each other. However, the pacing of the film is a bit off to me, it feels like it goes on for 20 minutes too long, there are some powerful moments throughout the film but you forget about them as the film quickly has to have a final confrontation that feels a bit tacked on to the rest of the film.

Overall

Overall this is a good film, it takes some risks in its storytelling, sound land and some don't but I appreciate the risks they took, but overall it is a good sequel but for me nowhere near as fun as The Force Awakens.

Rating - 7/10 

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 2 (2009) Review

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 2 (2009) Review 

 Continuing my prep for the new season I have now watched Season 2 of The Clone Wars and this is my review for the show. The premise of the season sees The Jedi of The Republic have to deal with threats outside of the Sepratists starting with The Bounty Hunter Cad Bane. 

Main Character

The main character of the season is Anakin Skywalker and I thought his character was better this season. He still has the reckless and daring attitude that he had in the past but this season added more depth to the role, you start to get small incling into his evil turn in the future and it is handled very well and is clear to be a slow build. 

Supporting Characters

Obi-Wan Kenobi is the main supporting character and the relationship between him and Anakin is great and it really adds depth to their relationship which really helps build depth to their meetings later on in the franchise. Also, there is some added depth to his character that really gets you thinking about him in his later appearances. Ashoka Tano is used in the show a bit more sparingly but her character develops this season and I think the use of her character makes sure she doesn't transition to becoming an annoying character. There are some entertaining villains in the season, with the standouts being Cad Bane & Aurra Sing though I would like to have seen more of them in their roles. 

Story

The story is more cohesive this season with fewer filler episodes. The mini arcs usually fill a few episodes at a time but it is more interesting last season as it is not just watching Clones vs droids every episode. Also the story develops to some more mature themes and morality issues, the Jedi and Republic aren't portrayed as just simple good guys and it makes you question some of their actions and their moral compass, it does a better job here then it does in the films. 

Script

The script has some good humour and drama to it, but I felt like none of it really stood out. There wasn't a moment or a specific set of dialogue that stood out and made the characters feel more human then they are. 

Style

The show has some good action scenes to it and the different settings makes it feel fresh and different in the different arcs of the show. However, like last season there is 22 episodes and this is just too many, I think it could have been cut down even a few and it would have been really high quality and wouldn't sometimes drag like it does. 

Overall

Overall, this is a much improvement on the first season and does a great job of building the Star Wars world and make it feel more then just the war between The Republic and The Sepratists. 

Rating - 8/10 

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) Review

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) Review 

 Next step on the Star Wars review series is the first live action spinoff Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and this is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees a group of misfit rebels attempt to steal the Death Star Plans from The Empire. 

Main Character

Felicity Jones plays Jyn Erso the lead in this film and she is really good in the role, her character has plenty of depth to her and you really support her as the main character. You see her really develop over the film and it makes her journey a fascinating one to watch and makes you care about her as a character. 

Supporting Characters

This film has a huge supporting cast and Diego Luna as Cassion Andor is the main one, he introduces a new side to the Rebellion and it is great to see this more morally ambigous character associated with the Rebels as in the original trilogy they are presented as the squeaky clean heroes when it is clear there was more to them. Him and Jones has some good chemistry together and I liked how they interacted and how their characters develop during the film and bring out different sides to each other. Alan Tudyk voices the droid K2SO and he is the funniest part of the film, he makes you laugh plenty in the film but you also grow to care about him as he has more character then possibly any other droid in the Star Wars universe. Donnie Yen and Wen Jiang play Chirrut & Baze in the film and I really liked their characters, they have a really interesting dynamic together and I especially thought Yen's character was really interesting and a part of the most entertaining action scnenes in the film. Ben Mendelsohn plays the main villain Director Orson Krennic and he is the perfect Imperial in The Star Wars universe, he is very dislikeable and despicable making it easy not to like him, but it was interesting seeing his role in The Empire and how it affects him as a character. 

Story

This film's story does a really good job of building the group and making you care about each of them, it also adds depth to them and develops them as characters. It is an exciting story and feels like a war film scenario where you care about the characters survival and want to see them succeed. Also this film does a great job in making A New Hope's plot better and adding more depth to it. However, my main criticism for the film is that the story isn't that interesting for the first act and jumps all over the place making it hard to focus on a particular journey but it improves as the film progreses. 

Script

The script is great for this film, as mentioned it adds moral complexity to the rebels that makes them more human and more relatable to the audience. The drama feels very real and it adds to the emotion for the characters that you have especially in the last act. The humour is also well done mainly through K2SO but it was funny and felt appropriate for that character in the film. 

Style

The film looks fantastic, the war like action scenes are brutal and exciting at the same time. Whether they are on land or in space they feel epic in scale and exactly how war should be shown in The Star Wars Universe. To help this film has possibly my favourite action scene in any Star Wars film and a film that kept me on the edge of my seat. 

Overall

Overall, this is a fantastic Star Wars film, it feels like the most warlike film in this universe and does a great job showing the earlier stages of the rebellion and how the wheels are set in motion for A New Hope. 

Rating - 9/10 

Opinion - Why it is time for a Mass Effect TV Show

Opinion - Why it is time for a Mass Effect TV Show 

 So this is the first of my opinion pieces that I will be doing and after watching the first season of Star Trek: Picard and watching The Mandalorian I came to the conclusion that now is the time for probably my favourite video game franchise Mass Effect to have its turn at a TV Show. Here are a few reasons why I think this property is ideal for a TV show in the next few years.

Chance for a show led by a strong female protagonist

One of the great things in Mass Effect is tht the main character Commander Shepard can be a male or female character. I personally would prefer the male version of the character as it is the one I usually play as but if they wanted to get more people interested in this show then it might be worth taking a slight risk and focus on the female version of the character it could bring a new audience to the show and really provide a different lead character then other sci fi shows like it. 

It has some of the best supporting characters in gaming history

The highlight for me in this franchise is the teammates that you have in the games, there are some real standouts. Garrus Vakarian, Urdnot Wrex and Thane Krios are some of the best characters in any game and the different ideologies and moralities would be brilliant to watch in live action and in a series. 

It's story is epic in scale 

The story of Mass Effect focuses on the galactic community having to come together to stop a synthetic alien race called The Reapers. It has a huge scale to it and brings together people from all parts of the galaxy so it shows different cultures and motives which is really interesting. Also as mentioned it is great to see how the characters progress over the games and a show with multiple seasons could show these characters develop and change. 

Could follow the success of The Witcher 

The Witcher came out late last year on Netflix and was a huge hit, the critics, general audience and fans universally loved it and it was the most watched show last year. Now I know the show was based on the books more but it is a video game property and the care that was given shows that with the same care other Video Game properties could succeed too. 

Shows have a larger budget 

Recent shows like Picard and The Mandalorian show that some shows have larger budgets then they used too and a show of Mass Effects grandure would need a big budget but with that being capable it could be a truly memorable show.

There is too much for a film series

Now I think it is inevitable we will get a live action version of Mass Effect but I do not want a film as there is just too much story and too many interesting characters to be contained in a two hour film, even if it was a trilogy that would roughly be around 6 hours which wouldn't be clearly enough for the story to be told effectively. 

Overall

Overall, I believe that Mass Effect could be a new huge franchise that people would get invested in it will just take a studio to take a risk and trust that it can be a success. 

Star Trek: Picard Season 1 (2020) Review

Star Trek: Picard Season 1 (2020) Review 

 It is funny while I have been reviewing plenty of Star Wars products recently I have just finished the first season of Star Trek's new show Picard and here is my review of the show. The premise sees a retired admiral of the Galactic Federation come out of retirement to attempt to save a young android from destruction by a secret Romulan assassination squad. 

Main Character

Patrick Stewart is back as Admiral Jean Luc Picard for this show and he does a fantastic job, you can see just how great an actor he still is by his performance on the show. He has so much depth to him as a character and you can't help but be inspired by him and understand why the rest of the cast follow him throughout. He is not just your typical action star and it is nice to see a character with some real depth to him and a really interesting moral compass. 

Supporting Characters

Alison Pill plays Dr Jurati and I thought she was a really interesting character among other interesting characters on the show. At first I found her pretty bland and uninteresting but as the show progresses she gets more and more screen time and really has some interesting dilemas that she is put in, she is torn between a few things and it really shows her morality questioned. Isa Briones plays the Android on the show and she is also interesting as you see her questioning everything and you see things through her eyes and how her life gets flipped on its head by the introduction of Picard. Michelle Hurd plays Raffi, a former Starfleet officer that has fallen off the rails and she does a very good job, I thought her and Stewart had really good chemistry on the show and I thought her character goes though quite a bit on the show to make you care about her. Santiago Cabrera plays the pilot Rios and at first I thought he was just going to be a Han Solo ripoff but he gains more character as the show progresses and you grow to like him plus the actor is very charming and charismatic which obviously helps. 

Story

As you can pretty much guess I really liked the crew dynamic on this show and I feel like having a likeable crew really helped making this a good story, I also liked the characters individual story arcs and thought they were really interesting. Also having an interesting moral dilema as the main crux of the stories helps, seeing both sides point of view makes the plot more fascinating to watch. However, I have to say I thought the ending to the season was quite weak, I can't go into details without spoiling it but it does something that takes away from some of the emotional impact of the finale. 

Script

The script is great, the characters feel like real people, there is more humour then I was expecting and for the most part it worked and the drama also felt dramatic which helped make these characters plight be something that we could care about. 

Style

The style has some great action scenes both on the ground and in space, you can tell this show has a big budget to it and it pays off making the show feel very large scale. It also has a great tone mixing the action and story elements that make the 10 episodes feel the right length ais it is never dull.

Overall

Overall, I was so suprised by how much I enjoyed this show. It had some great messages to it and some memorable characters and whether you are a fan of Star Trek or not I believe you will find this show interesting. 

Rating - 9/10

Star Wars: Episode 7 - The Force Awakens (2015) Review

Star Wars: Episode 7 - The Force Awakens (2015) Review 

 Next stop on my Star Wars review series is the start on the new trilogy, The Force Awakens. This may have been the most anticipated film I have ever witnessed and I was so excited before seeing this for the first time in the cinema and now I have rewatched it and this is my review. The premise of the film sees an ex stormtrooper, a scavenger and two smugglers team up in an attempt to stop the new regime The First Order led by a powerful Dark Side user. 

Main Character 

John Boyega plays Finn in this film, a former Stormtrooper who realises his mistakes and decides to leave The First Order and he is great in this film. The guy is just super charismatic in the role making him likeable but also he nails all of his dramatic scenes and he really delivers in making this character really interesting. At this point she was a newcomer but Daisy Ridley plays Rey in this film and she is also great, she is a really interesting character and she goes through a great journey through the film that takes twists and turns that are a bit suprising and a welcome suprise at that. The two's chemistry is very good and very natural making them a likeable pair of leads and great new leads for the franchise. 

Supporting Characters

Harrison Ford makes his return as Han Solo and he is really good, he is more of a mentor figure in the film and you can tell he has fun in the role. You can tell the version of this character has been through plenty since The Return Of The Jedi and it is told well by Ford as he gives a very good dramatic performance alongside the Han Solo charm. Now we get to possibly the best acting performance at the point of this film Adam Driver as Kylo Ren, I was absolutley enthralled by his performance in this film. He is a villain yes but it is great to see a villain with loads of depth and real drama to him. You can see throughout he struggles between the light and dark side and it did a better job then Anakin's arc in the prequel trilogy in this film alone. Domnhall Gleeson plays General Hux and he is a very good antagonist, he is similar to Tarkin in A New Hope as he plays the evil officer but he is so snivelling and power hungry that it works, I also liked the dynamic between him and Ren and added another side to the film. Oscar Isaac has a smaller but important role as Poe Dameron and he is really good. The chemistry between him and Boyega feels so natural and makes you like them straight away, you can tell he is trying to be the new Han Solo but it works and he is a very likeable person. 

Story

The story of the film is great, each of the main characters have really interesting plot threads which see their characters start at one point and develop and end somewhere completley different which shows great story structure. Yes this film has gained criticism for having similar plot elements to A New Hope and yeah they are there but I thought it was handled very effectively in this film, and with a film that connects very heavily to the original films it feels appropriate for the film to have a similar structure to that one. I also have to say the film has a great ending that at the time and even now gets you excited for what the sequel might bring. 

Script 

The script for the film is a real positive, one obvious criticism of the prequel trilogy was just how bad the scripts were and how the dialogue made the characters feel like robots or boring but there is no issue with that here. The humour when used works and feels natural, the characters feel like regular people not robots, the drama also nails every level with one of the most emotional moments in Star Wars history happening in this film for sure. 

Style

The film's style looks fantastic, the action scenes are brilliant and will keep you on the edge of your seat. The lighstaber battle here feels less rehearsed and more personal then the prequels making them feel very intense and really dramatic which honestly I prefer in my lightsaber battles. The pacing of the film feels right and flows between character bits and action sequences really well to keep you interested and excited at the same time.

Overall

Overall, I cannot stress how much fun I had watching this film, yes there may be a few small issues but overall my love for this film is huge as it creates a film that tries to move Star Wars forward while paying homage to the past and I think it really succeeds at that. 

Rating - 10/10 

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 1 (2008) Review

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 1 (2008) Review

 With the new season of The Clone Wars upon us I have decided to rewatch the whole series and here is my review for the first season of the show. The premise of the season sees Anakin Skywalker, Ashoka Tano, Obi-Wan Kenobi and fellow Jedi's attempt to defeat the Seperatist forces led by General Grievous, Count Dooku & Asajj Ventress.

Main Character

Not suprisingly Anakin Skywalker is the main character on this show and as I mentioned in my Clone Wars Movie review it is really entertaining seeing the character in his prime as a Jedi Knight and we really see why he was such a respected Jedi and why both sides were keen on him being on their side. However, his character is pretty bland and actually at times quite annoying, it seems for somebody so experienced he makes plenty of mistakes and it seems like the other characters are always right over him which does hurt his character. 

Supporting Characters

Obi-Wan Kenobi is the main supporting character on the show and his dynamic with Anakin is interesting as it shows them as friends more which we less in the films so it does help make that arc feel more realistic in the films especially Revenge Of The Sith. Ashoka is back as Anakin's apprentice, even though that makes no sense as established in Revenge Of The Sith and she is a fun character, she has probably the best development of any character in the show as she really grows form her place as padawan to a more senior Jedi and it is nice to see. Captain Rex is the main clone Trooper on the show and he is great, he is battle tested but you also see his loyalty to his Jedi and it makes him a character that you care about and want to see survive. The villains share some screen time but I would say Grievous is probably the main one and even though his character is made to look very weak you find a bit more about his character and how he ended up the way he is and it interested me enough, but he needs to get the upper hand more in future seasons. 

Story

The story shows the depcition of the war very well, it literally feels like the entire galaxy is at war and that there is really nothing but the war which keeps are heroes always heading to the next battle. However, this show is very episodic, it lacks a season long narrative to keep you invested and focuses either on one epsidode arcs or at most a three part story. This is showed by the pilot and the season finale's that feel like isolated episodes and don't really connect to anything else which is disappointing. 

Script

The script for the show does a good job at making even the Jedi feel more natural and a bit more comedic then the films make them making them more interesting in the process. However, the show decides to make the battle droids comedic relief and they are just cringeworthy and not funny at all and it also takes away from the severity of the battles. 

Style 

The style of the show looks great when it comes to the action scenes, it is great seeing The Jedi in full force and seeing the clones and droids engage each other in huge scaled battles either on ground or in space. But I will say this season has 22 episodes and I felt like even though they are only 25 minutes long there are a few episodes that could have been cut and would have made a better contained story. Also and this is something the show can't help but it is sometimes difficult to get invested in the battles when you know the main characters can't die as they are going to be in Revenge Of The Sith. 

Overall

Overall, this is an okay first season of the show, you can tell they are getting then hang of the show and it is entertaining to watch but I hope it does improve vastly in the future.

Rating - 6/10 

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Movie (2008) Review

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Movie (2008) Review

 After finishing the original trilogy and the prequels George Lucas decided to pursue a passion project in creating an animated series set during The Clone Wars. Now this film is forgotten by most people but it was released in cinemas and was basically a long pilot for the show and introduced Star Wars fans to what the show would look like, I have watched this film tonight and this is my review for it. The premise of the film sees Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin's new Padawan Ahsoka Tano attempt to rescue Jabba The Hutt's son from The Separatists led by Count Dooku & Asajj Ventress.

Main Character

The main character of this film is Anakin Skywalker and similar to what I said in my Revenge Of The Sith review it is nice to see him in his prime as a Jedi leading armies as we never really see it in the films. He still has the edge to him that the character has in the films and it feels like he is not your conventional Jedi and he is getting frustrated more and more which obviously leads to his character in Revenge Of The Sith. The other main character is Ahsoka Tano, she has a lot of charm about her but she is one of those characters that she really rides the line between charming and annoying but I think she just comes across as charming. The relationship between Ahsoka & Anakin develops well for the film and you can tell it will have the legs as the show progresses. 

Supporting Characters

Obi-Wan Kenobi is a more supporting role in the film but I thought he had some pretty funny moments and good one liners to make him feel like the Ewan McGregor character in the films. He doesn't have any character development really, but it is entertaining to watch him in the role and you see why his character has plenty of reputation as a big warrior in the films. This film introduced Captain Rex the clone who leads the groups forces and he is awesome in the film, he distinguishes himself from the other clones with a gruff edge and toughness which makes him a great character to watch with a bit more personality then a regular clone trooper. But there are some characters that don't do anything for me in this film, Padme is literally introduced in the film with 20 minutes to go and she plays an important role but it did nothing for me and it actually feels like what she does doesn't really fit her character at this current time. Also Ventress is pretty much the main villain for the film and even though she has a decent lightsaber fight but she turns up out of nowhere in the film with very little backstory and for this film you know nothing about her and it hurts her role in the film. 

Story

Now it is very clear how they made the story for the film, it seemed to be 3 episodes of the show mashed together to attempt to create a story. The main story of seeing the Jedi and Separatists fight for Jabba's affection is interesting and it is a good development between Anakin & Ahsoka. However, I hated the way this film ends, as mentioned Padme's arc doesn't start till the end and she comes in and fixes everything and it just feels a very cheap way out and clear evidence that this story was meant to be a new episode but they had to force it into this film. 

Script 

The script actually has some more entertaining lines in it then the prequels making these Jedi actually feel like human beings and real people which the films mostly failed to do. However, I felt like the drama didn't quite work, it didn't get me emotionally invested enough to care enough about the situation.

Style

This film is really unique looking and especially in the action and battle scenes it looks fantastic. It really feels like a war is going on and I liked how it gave both armies unique looks and exciting scenes. Though, there are times when the animation doesn't hold up and it feels like it was unfinished and it made me a cringe a little bit.

Overall

Overall this is an above average animated film, it shows the clone wars at its highest and is a good way to show what the show will be about. Though this film doesn't quite work as a film and feels like it could have worked as the first few episodes of the show, if you are a Star Wars fan and haven't seen this film then it could be worth a watch but don't rush to watch it. 

Rating - 6/10

Star Wars: Episode 3 - Revenge Of The Sith (2005) Review

Star Wars: Episode 3 - Revenge Of The Sith (2005) Review 

 Now we are here to the end of the prequel trilogy with The Revenge Of The Sith, yes this is the film that sees Anakin Skywalker turn into Darth Vader which at the time was probably the most anticipated film ever and the first film I remember vividly seeing in the cinema so this film was a big part of my childhood and this is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees Obi-Wan & Anakin sent to rescue Chancellor Palpatine from The Sepratists and aim to use their powers to try and end The Clone Wars. 

Main Character

I gave Hayden Christensen quite a bit of flack for his performance as Anakin Skywalker in Attack Of The Clones but I think he did a much better job in this film which is really important as he is clearly thr most important part of the film. You can see the progression that he has gone through since the previous film and it is interesting seeing him in his prime as a Jedi, you see from early on that he is really conflicted between the light and dark side and it is really great to watch. Ewan McGregor is back as Obi-Wan and he is fantastic, he is very charming and charismatic in the film and comes across as not just a wise Jedi but a good friend to Anakin. Their friendship is better represented in the film and it makes the ultimate split feel really emotional and you get invested in their final confrontation. 

Supporting Characters

Natalie Portman is back as Padme and she seems to have a smaller role in the film and I thought this was her best performance of the trilogy, don't get me wrong there is still the cringworthy romantic dialogue but it is in the film less. Their relationship feels a bit more natural in this film and I thought Padme managed to add to Anakin's story in the plot and it was a decent performance from Portman with what she was given. Ian McDiarmid as Chancellor Palpatine hasn't had huge roles in the previous two films but he is a huge presence in this film, his relationship with Anakin is the most captivating part of the film and it just adds more and more layers to the characters and his performance really worked for me. Frank Oz voicing Yoda was really good, you see that Yoda is still at his wisest but he has even been decieved and it shows exactly what the events are that lead to Yoda having to go into exile where he is in the original trilogy. 

Story

The story in this film sees Anakin's turn to the dark side and I thought it was interesting for the most part, seeing his and Palpatine's friendship grow really works for their dynamics, especially when you know where it is leading to. Also I thought the film made the Jedi a bit more mysterious and untrustworthy, there are times that you kind of see Anakin's point of view which does work. However, I feel like Anakin's turn happen's really quickly, he goes from a strong Jedi with a few issues to being a Sith Lord hunting down Jedi in about 15 minutes which felt way too quick and i thought it took away from the actual turn as a whole. 

Script

The script for this film is the best one of the prequels, the emotion is written much better in this film, there are some truly emotional moments and dialogue that are handled fantastically well and rise this above a bland movie. However, that awful cringeworthy romantic dialogue is there at times, though less it is still there and it does affect some scenes as it is hard to get invested when it sounds so ridiculous and like nothing any human would say. 

Style

This film's style has some really exciting action scenes, the battle scenes all feel huge in scale and keep you on the edge of your seat. Also the use of editing and John Williams score allow some truly memorable and impactful moments so credit has to be given there. There are also some good lightsaber fights, the one between Anakin & Obi-Wan is easily the best and shows two Jedi truly in there prime. However, it might seem like a silly critcism but maybe the film could have done with a few less lightsaber battles, every other star wars film before this pretty much had one lightsaber fight, but this film has 5 different lightsaber fights some are good (Anakin & Obi-Wan) and some are bad (Palpatine & Windu). They could have tried to be a bit more creative and have some force battles instead of just focusing on the lightsabers. 

Overall

Overall this is a good end to the prequel trilogy, it is easily the best film of the three. Though if you are not a Star Wars fan already I am not sure it is worth sitting through Phantom Menace & Attack Of The Clones just to get to this fim, but if you do you will find a good film with some very memorable moments.

Rating - 7/10 

Star Wars: Episode 2 - Attack Of The Clones (2002) Review

Star Wars: Episode 2 - Attack Of The Clones (2002) Review 

 The next stage of my Star Wars marathon leads me to the second episode of the prequel trilogy Attack Of The Clones and this is my review for it. The premise of the film is set 10 years after The Phantom Menace and Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker are tasked with protecting Senator Amidala from an assasination attempt which leads them both to question what is going on in the galaxy and The Republic as a whole.

Main Character

Hayden Christensen was cast as an older Anakin Skywalker in this film and I am just going to be blunt he isn't particularly good in this film. The character has some interesting moments and it does feel like he isn't as dull as some of the other jedi but it is just Christensen doesn't pull it off. It doesn't help that the story he is involved in drags down the movie and the script is really bad, which he can't rise above. Ewan McGregor plays an older and more wiser Obi-Wan Kenobi and he is great in this film and is the best character in the film, he has way more charisma and personality in this film and you really see his connection to Alec Guinness's version of the character here. 

Supporting Characters

Frank Oz voices Yoda in the film and even though he had a smaller role in The Phantom Menace his role is beefed up here and it is great seeing this wise Yoda at what could be considered in his prime. Natalie Portman is back as Padme Amidala and I thought she would be better in this film but actually after rewatching this film she is just as bad in this film as the previous possibly even worse. She gives such a wooden performance, the dialogue for her is terrible but she does nothing to attempt to rise above it and comes across as a very boring character. The amazing Christopher Lee plays Count Dooku in this film and he tries but he is very similar to Darth Maul in the previous film, he turns up very late in the film and you learn very little about his character to care about why he is going against The Jedi. Samuel L Jackson gets a bit more screen time as Mace Windu in the film and it is such a shame that such a charismatic actor such as Jackson is given nothing to work with and is possibly the most boring Jedi on film that there ever has been. 

Story

The main plot thread of this film is the on and off romance between Anakin & Padme and my goodness it is so bland and cringeworthy. The fact the performers have no chemistry doesn't help and that it actually is really creepy at times. You can tell they were going for a Han & Leia romance here but the difference is that there story was a secondary story not the main one, but this film focuses too much on this romance and it is just a really badly written romance. However, the story of Obi-Wan trying to locate the assassin is really interesting and well handled, you learn along with Kenobi and the revelations really work for the film. It is just a shame that the film didn't focus more on this part of the story as there was even more potential for intrigue in this plot thread. 

Script

Now as mentioned in my Phantom Menace review the scripts for these films are just really not good and this one might be the worst one there is. The romantic and dramatic dialogue is cringeworthy and feels completley unnatural making these characters not even feel like normal people and it makes you not care at all. The attempt at humour also doesn't work McGregor does his best and delivers some decent one liners but that is more down to his performance then the script.

Style

The style of this film has some great action scenes in it, the battle between Obi-Wan & Jango Fett on Kamino is one of my favourite battles in any Star Wars film because of how physical and different it feels to any other battle in franchise history. It is also really cool seeing Jedi in their prime taking down armies of enemies showing just how powerful they are. But, a big thing in the films is the lightsaber fights and this one really fails to deliver, they are less entertaining then Phantom Menace and don't have the personal feeling of the original trilogy plus it is really obvious that it is not Christopher Lee involved in the action scenes. Also the pacing of the film is even worse in this film then the previous one as it focuses way too much on the romance and less on the interesting Obi-Wan story. 

Overall

Overall, this film is better then The Phantom Menace with more entertaining action scenes and a few decent characters but the romance really drags the film down and lets face it this is not worthy of being called a Star Wars film either. 

Rating - 4/10 

Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (1999) Review

Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (1999) Review

 Now after one of the most epic trilogies of all time we have the prequel trilogy of Star Wars set around 50 years before a New Hope and showing how Anakin Skywalker would become Darth Vader, these films have polarising opinions and this is my review for the first one The Phantom Menace. The premise of the film sees two Jedi Knights sent to the planet Naboo in order to keep the peace, on their travels they come across a young Anakin Skywalker and new evil forces after them. 

Main Character

Liam Neeson plays Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jin and he is okay in the role, it is interesting seeing a confident Jedi in what could be assessed to be a golden age of the order compared to what they would become in the original trilogy. Luckily for the role Neeson has a real natural charisma so he manages to rise a little bit above the script and make you care a little bit but honestly he is a boring character. There is just nothing too him, nothing phases him and there is no interest in his character as he is very bland and generic with no flaws at all it seems which I am sorry just makes him quite boring and a lesser actor would have got nothing from the role. 

Supporting Characters

Ewan McGregor plays a young version of Obi-Wan Kenobi and even though he would go on to do stellar work with the role it wasn't evident in this role. He just isn't involved in the film that much and similar to Neeson he is given really no character at all, but unlike Neeson at this point McGregor didn't have the charisma to rise above and was just a generic supporting character that you wouldn't care about at all if he wasn't called Obi-Wan Kenobi. Now a younger Natalie Portman plays Queen Amidala in the film and I really feel she was the one performer that was really hindered by the awful script. You know she is a great actress because of other work she had done at the time but the dialogue written for her is so terrible and she doesn't add much to the role and in this film she was again a very bland character who would improve in future films. Ray Park plays the villain in the film Darth Maul and I am going to say something quite controversial, he is a really dull character in this film. Yes, he is great in the action scenes and he looks great but there is no character to him and you learn literally nothing about him in this film which when you have seen the evolution of  Darth Vader in the previous trilogy it makes you realise that Maul literally has no character in The Phantom Menace. Now onto the depressing part of the cast, first of all the absolutley annoying Jar Jar Binks, this character is so annoying and so grating that he pretty much makes the first half of this film impossible to watch. But I must say the actor Ahmed Best does not desreve all the horrendous abuse that he gets as I believe this was more a George Lucas problem then his. Then we get to Jake Lloyd as young Anakin Skywalker and wow this is a bad child performace, he is such a bad actor in this film and you just find him really annoying a whiny throughout. But again Lloyd shouldn't get as much abuse and hopefully he can get back on the right track of life. 

Story

The story is incredibly dull, when you see in the scroll of text at the beginning amd words such as taxation and debates you know you are in for a different type of Star Wars film. This film focuses way too much on the political parts of the film and lets face it is just really boring, the film thinks it is smarter then it is and literally for about 40 minutes the film goes nowhere and the slow bits don't add anything to the film and are just slow filler. Also the last confronation is all over the place, there are four stories going on at once and it is clear as day that two of them could have been cut out of the film and it would have been much more interesting and tense. 

Script

Now the scripts for the prequel films have been seen as some of the worst ever and this one is no different, the dialogue is truly terrible and it is either way too convoluted or just unrealistic dialogue with pretty poor performances to match. 

Style 

Now the one highlight for me with this film is the style, the lightsaber film that everybody reveres between Maul, Jin & Obi-Wan is fantastic and exciting to watch and it is very different to the battles we see in the original films. For me it doesn't feel as personal as any of those but from a pure fighting standpoint it is clearly better then the original films for sure. You also have to take into account this film came out in the late 90's and the CGI was revolutionary for the time and still pretty much holds up with some interesting choices that work for the most part. Though I will admit the best part of the film for me is the Podracing part, it is thrilling to watch and looks absolutley brilliant with John Williams score really adding to it and the lightsaber fight too. 

Overall

Overal, this is a really bad Star Wars film, with a few standout moments. Honestly, if you are a Star Wars fan then you have seen this this film but if you aren't then I would say not to bother as it doesn't provide enough to be worth a watch.

Rating - 3/10

Star Wars: Episode 6 - Return Of The Jedi (1983) Review

Star Wars: Episode 6 - Return Of The Jedi (1983) Review 

 To finish off the original Star Wars trilogy it is time to review Return Of The Jedi, a truly iconic film that had to really deliver as the payoff for the first two groundbreaking films and this is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees Luke Skywalker have to return to Tattoine to confront Jabba The Hutt in an attempt to rescue Han Solo, while Darth Vader & The Emperor are in the midst of builing a new Death Star in order to crumble The Rebel Alliance.

Main Character

Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker gets his final run out as the main character of a Star Wars film and I actually think this is his best performance as the character in the original trilogy. You can see he has progressed plenty since his encounter with Vader in Empire Strikes Back and you see he is truly on his way to being a true Jedi. But as I have mentioned in previous reviews he still makes some mistakes and acts out of emotion, I think you appreciate his performance more after you have seen the prequels and seen how the Jedi act there it shows Luke has more personality and feels more human and easier to connect with. 

Supporting Characters

Harrison Ford & Carrie Fisher are back as Han Solo & Leia and they both do good jobs in their roles and still give their all to the characters, however, I think it is clear to see their characters aren't given as much time to shine as they did in the previous film. Reports were that Ford wasn't keen to do this film but they convinced him to do it and maybe that was the reason their characters weren't given as much to do. Now we get to such an interesting performance and character and that is Darth Vader, he is more then just the intimidating monster in this film. He has so much depth to his character and you can see how much turmoil he is going through due to his deep feelings and even though you don't see his face you know exactly what he is thinking and you can see that turmoil very clearly. Ian Mcdiarmid plays The Emperor in the film and he was the perfect big bad for this film, for the previous films you wonder how this guy has so much power but you see it in this film. He is the ultimate evil in the film and his complexity and motivations are really dastardly and it is really easy to hate him and root for Luke against him.

Story

The story has some really interesting things about it, the turmoil in Darth Vader is easily the most interesting part of the film and easily the dynamic between Luke, Vader & The Emperor is captivating and keeps you interested throughout. However, my main criticism for the film is the lack of interest I have in the Han & Leia story on Endor and really my main gripe for the film The Ewoks. I know the empire are never really shown to be that strong in the films but I just can't take seriously that a bunch of bears can deal with The Empire. It also shows the first time that I feel George Lucas chose merchandise over the film by making the ewoks more child friendly instead of a legitimate threat, honestly, I feel like this film would have been better if they had just replaced the Ewoks with The Wookies and used that to give Chewbacca a bit more to do and I feel like this was a missed opportunity.

Script

The script for this film was great, the relationship between Vader, Luke & The Emperor is handled perfectly in the film and the dialogue moves you incredibly. The drama is off the chart in the film and it is a perfect emotional end to the franchise, mixed with a bit of well placed humour, with mainly Harrison Ford being Harrison Ford.

Style

The style of the film is great, the action scenes are really exciting and they are really varied from the venture to Jabba's palace to the final lightsaber battle on the Death Star. They are all exciting and look great especially for the time it was made, I loved how physical the lightsaber battle is and really uses the story to drive the fight as a very personal situation instead of the gymnastic style used in the prequels. Also even though I complain about The Ewoks I cannot deny the action scenes they are in are quite entertaining and feel very different to the previous two films. As the other films I watched the special edition and there is only one big difference that I really had an issue with but it doesn't cause the film to go down a rating.

Overall

Overall this is one of the greatest final parts of a trilogy ever made, it really delivers on the stories that you care about and gives a very satisfying conclusion to the original Star Wars franchise. This for me is the weakest of the trilogy but is still fantastic and a worthy end to this trilogy.

Rating - 9/10

Rosario Dawson cast as Ahsoka Tano in The Mandalorian Season 2

Rosario Dawson cast as Ahsoka Tano in The Mandalorian Season 2 

So even though we are in quarantine some big news came out last night and that is according to many reports Rosario Dawson has been cast as beloved character Ahsoka Tano in The Mandalorian Season 2. In the UK The Mandalorian is set to start next week so I have not seen the first season of the show yet so I am going on what I know about the actress and the character from her time on The Clone Wars & Rebels, so for those who haven't seen it there will be spoilers for those shows. 

She Loves the Character of Ahsoka? 

I mainly know Rosario Dawson for her time playing Clare Temple on Marvel Netfix's shows and I thought she did a great job. A few years ago she revealed that if she was going to play a Star Wars character she wanted to play Ahsoka as she had watched The Clone Wars and grown to love the character. This should mean that she will really commit to the role as she is a great actress who really cares about the work that she will be doing. 

Will the show follow on from her story in Star Wars Rebels?

Spoilers for Rebels here, but at the end of the show Ahsoka & Sabine Wren agree to attempt to locate Ezra Bridger after he and Grand Admiral Thrawn are transported through space and time. Now the question has to be will The Mandalorian follow up with this plot thread, with Sabine's connections to Mandalorians will that be what leads Ahsoka and possibly Sabine to meet the main characters to progress that story.

Will she fit the tone of the show?

As mentioned I have not seen The Mandalorian season 1 but from what I have seen it seems that apart from Baby Yoda there aren't too many signs of force sensitive characters and especially no sign of lightsabers. So will a lightsaber using Ahsoka feel out of place on this show and put the focus of the show on the wrong place. Obviously, I am excited to see this character on the show I am just curious to see how she is used and whether it works for the show.

Will this lead to an Ahsoka Tano spinoff show?

With the success of The Mandalorian, it seems the future of Star Wars is in television on Disney+, so I personally think this casting is not just for The Mandalorian Season 2 but also for an Ahsoka spinoff show. Dawson is a big actress and her casting is a big deal it seems and I think it is a natural fit for a future show and could be a really interesting show. 

The Mandalorian Season 1 is set to debut in The Uk on Tuesday the 24th March on Disney+, hopefully with the second season coming at the end of this year. 

Star Wars: Episode 5 - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Review

Star Wars: Episode 5 - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Review

 So my next step in watching Star Wars films is the 2nd film released The Empire Strikes Back and I'm going to spoil the review for anybody watching this is my favourite film I have ever seen so expect me to be very positive about this film. The premise of the film sees Luke Skywalker travel to the planet Dagobah and learn from a Jedi Master in order to improve his skills, while Leia, Han, Chewbacca & C-3PO are on the run from The Empire with Darth Vader in charge of everything.

Main Character

There is sometimes some criticism of Mark Hamill's performance in the first two Star Wars films because he does complain and wine quite a bit. However, I think this helps make this character feel interesting to me, the other two jedi's we meet in the first two films in Obi-Wan & Yoda are very wise and all knowing so easy to respect but hard to relate to. Luke is us the audience, we don't understand the teachings of the Jedi and we get frustrated easily, Luke makes mistakes as a character which makes him easier to root for as he feels very human compared to these other characters who feel like gods. This film does a great job in making Luke flawed but also making us care about him and want to see him succeed in his mission despite these flaws.

Supporting Characters

As mentioned in my previous review Harrison Ford as Han Solo & Carrie Fish as Leia are brilliant supporting characters and they are great in this film together. They have so much charisma and there chemistry together is off the charts (probably due to real life chemistry), they have some of the most iconic scenes in film history together in this film and there romance really evolves in the film and feels very natural and appropriate for the two characters on screen. Now onto possibly the star of the show the character of Darth Vader, in A New Hope we are given a brief introduction to Vader but in this film he is centre stage and he is the embodiment of pure evil in this film. He is menacing and you are scared of his power as we aren't really shown that in the previous film, he is very commanding and you learn more about his character that makes him even more interesting then he was in the previous film. Frank Oz voices Yoda in the film and he was a great addition to the film, you can really see how wise Yoda is as a character and I really liked his dynamic with Luke in the film as you see two people pretty much at different points of life and how they treat things which leads to them clashing. Billy Dee Williams plays Lando Carrissian, a smuggler that are heroes meet and he also has loads of charisma and charm to him even though you can tell he maybe isn't as honest as he lets on and like Han from the previosu film he has his own motivations to help the team.

Story 

This film takes risks with its story by splitting the characters up into two different storylines but it really pays off. You have the slower but really interesting personal story with Luke & Yoda and you have the faster more exciting romantic story involving Han & Leia. They both mesh incredibly well and they both give an audience member different things to enjoy and it allows the pacing to feel perfect and well done. Obviously this film has some twists in it that are very well known but I wn't mention them specifically in case there is somebody who doesn't know about it, but it is all handled perfectly and really adds drama to this film but also the future films aswell that was pretty revolutionary at the time and even holds up now even though I know the twists.

Script

The script for this film is so well written, the dialogue makes the characters feel so real and the drama is amped up in this one to truly make you care about the characters and the plight that they are in. The humour is good too especially with Han & Leia as it fits there characters perfectly and feels right for them and their romance. Also the twists are perfectly handled and written brilliantly to allow you to really sink them in and understand them.

Style

This film's style is darker then A New Hope but it feels right as the heroes are plunged into a darker story and as the title of the film suggests the villains are all over them from very early on. In terms of action scenes The Battle of Hoth at the beginning of the film is one of my favourite battles not just in Star Wars history but in film history. Also the lightsaber battle between Vader & Luke is faster and just as personal as the one between Vader & Obi-Wan making it more exciting and a much better watch. Also John Williams score is even better in this film and really adds to the suspense and the darker story that is being told. I should also mention that I watched the newer Blu Ray version but unlike A New Hope the changes are very small and I actually thought they were fine and didn't change the film one bit.

Overall

Overall, I literally struggle to find any faults with this movie. It is the perfect middle part of a trilogy and should be watched as that so watch A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back & Return Of The Jedi in a short time frame to truly appreciate the development of the characters and the story. With this being my favourite film of all time I heavily recommend this film and the other two films in the trilogy.

Rating - 10/10

The Stranger Season 1 (2020) Review

The Stranger Season 1 (2020) Review 

 I have heard quite a bit about this series and now I have watched the first season of The Stranger and this is my review for it. The premise of the season sees a stranger give a man a secret which leads to his life spiralling out of control which affects everybody around him.

Main Character

Richard Armitage from The Hobbit plays the lead in this show and he is excellent. You really sympathise with his character as he goes through the ringer on this show and you really follow through his eyes. However, he manages to come across as a tough character to add to the depth of his performance, also he is not a typical good guy and has flaws about him thatmakes him a very relatable and real person. He feels like a leading man in this show and does a great job leading the show and making it interesting. 

Supporting Characters

Siobhan Finnerman plays the lead detective on this show and she does a great job, she seems a generic character at first but really develops into an interesting character as you see her slowly work out exactly what is going on. Paul Kaye plays a rogue policeman and his character is really interesting, there are some things about his character that aren't explored enough but that is more a story issue. He gives an intense and pretty captivating performance that makes him a worthy antagonist for this show. Hannah John-Kamen who was the villain in Ant-Man & The Wasp plays the stranger in this show and I thought she did a great job, you are interested throughout with her character and the mysteriousness of her performance really drives you to keep watching and trying to learn more. There are plenty of other characters on this show and they are functional but nobody stands out like these characters on the show. 

Story

The story is the key part of this show and I have to admit throughout I was being played along with the mystery and I was interested to see where exactly the story is going and it kept me on edge throughout. It is also fascinating to see how many people the stranger affects in the show and how large it ends up being. However, this show really relies on the reveal and for me it was a mixed bag, some of the things I thought worked but some things didn't really make sense or feel interesting enough for the story. Also there is a story arc involving the kids and it is frustratingly pointless, it literally doesn't go anywhere and it is annoying that the spend so much time on it when it really doesn't factor into the show in any way shape or form. 

Script

The script has some truly great dramatic dialogue in it and you really feel the personal edge to some of the conversations and throughout the show keeps you on your toes throughout. However, the humour when used doesn't really work for the other characters and towards the end of the show it gets a bit too convoluted and as mentioned is a bit of a bittersweet ending for me personally.

Style

The show has some really suspensful scenes in it and I really liked how the reveals were staggered over the season and it kept you interested to keep watching. Though like quite a few shows I wish this show had a few less episodes. It has 8 episodes but I feel like there were a few story lines that were not necessary and could have made this a fantastic 6 episode season instead of just a good 8 episode season.

Overall

Overall, this is an interesting show that keeps you on edge throughout but it is held back by a bit of a medicore ending and some pointless side plots but if you are up fo an interesting show then this is worth a watch.

Rating - 7/10 

Star Wars: Episode 4 - A New Hope (1977) Review

Star Wars: Episode 4 - A New Hope (1977) Review

 

 With The Mandalorian set to hit the UK next week and with myself being one of the people in isolation at the moment I have decided to rewatch the Star Wars films and possibly the shows in order to catch up and I have now rewatched the first Star Wars Film A New Hope and this is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees a farmer join forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a wookie and a pair of droids in order to attempt to save a princess from the evil Empire.

Main Character

Mark Hamill became an actor that was type cast in the role of Luke Skywalker and this was the start of his journey as the character. Luke is a character it is quite easy to root for as he is like us, learning about these big galactic events like us the audience, he doesn't start as a big confident character but he wants to do the right thing and we can relate to that as if given the opportunity we want to be the hero of the story. 

Supporting Characters

This is a part of the film where it really succeeds, Harrison Ford plays Han Solo in this film and he is easily the best character in this film. He is cocky and arrogant but he is so entertaining to watch in the film that you care about his character, his character also has the best arc in the film and he really develops as the film progresses. Carrie Fisher plays Princess Leia and judging by the premise of the film you would believe she is just the damsel in distress but she really isn't, she gives the other characters attitude and doesn't take nonsense from the other characters and shows her character has plenty of strength to her as a leader of The Rebellion. Alec Guiness plays Ben Kenobi and his role is crucial in the film, he really plays a mentor to Luke in the film and sets him on his way as a character on the journey that he goes for in this film. Darth Vader is possibly the most important villain in film history and this is the first time we see the character and he is possibly the most terrifying looking character on film. You don't get all the details about his character but it really gives you enough to get invested in the background of his character and the powers that he possesses. 

Story

Again when you read the premsie of the plot of the film you probably think it is really basic and I guess it kind of is but it is executed so fantastically that it rises above the basic idea of the and makes it extremely interesting. Learning about the things such as the Jedi, The Empire & The Rebellion that keeps you intrigued and just sucks you into want to learn more about this situation and the characters. If any film can get away with being a bit predictable it is Star Wars as it feels perfect for the film you are watching and sets up all these characters for great arcs in the future. 

Script

The script for this film is great, it has some truly memorable lines that are remembered by fans and casuals alike. There are some funny lines that make the characters seem more interesting and likeable, plus the drama builds to some real emotional moments thatrises this film above other films in the same genre. 

Style

This film came out in the late 1970's and it looks incredible, the action scenes are some of the most exciting and entertaining of all time and they keep you on the edge of your seat whether it is a blaster battle, lightsaber battle or space battle it is great. I also have to mention how important John Williams score is to this film as it makes every scene feel so much bigger then it is and it makes this such a better experience. The one thing I must mention is that I watched the current edition of this film that has some added scenes with new CGI but in this film I just find these really jarring and don't think they add to the film at all and even look uncomplete. However, I felt that these scenes are few and far apart and don't take much away from the overall quality of the film. 

Overall

Overall this is one of the most revolutionary films of all time, it is a pretty perfect start to a franchise and sets up all the characters superbly for future films while providing a great film in it's own right. If you are one of the few people that haven't seen this film then watch it as soon as possible. 

Rating - 10/10 

Better Call Saul Season 4 (2018) Review

Better Call Saul Season 4 (2018) Review 

 Now I have managed to catch up with Better Call Saul as I have finished Better Call Saul Season 4 and this is my review of it. The premise of the season sees Jimmy suffer a personal tragedy which has him question what is next for him. Meanwhile, Gus Fring attempts to use Mike & Nacho in order to get a greater hand in the drug cartel empire.

Main Character

Bob Odenkirk is possibly at his best as Jimmy McGill in this season, he really does a great job. You can truly see in this season how Jimmy is really transitioning into the character of Saul Goodman and how it is changing him from the way he was in the first episode of the show to how he is now. His character really has a crisis of faith this season and it is interesting seeing how Jimmy reacts to certain circumstances and the schemes that he comes up with to get ahead without trying to cause that much damage.

Supporting Characters

Rhea Seehorn as Kim also possibly has her best season as a character, her character is really torn between how much she cares about Jimmy and her commitment to being a laywer. She has some real shades of grey and you can see the turmoil that she is having and that Jimmy seems to be having a more negative influence on her as a character and how that will lead to what happens to her. Jonathan Brooks as Mike has a really interesting story this season, this season does a really good job of setting up Mike for Breaking Bad and how is character is there. He is such a confident and cool character but you see he does struggle with certain aspects of his job and it shows that he isn't just a hired gun but an interesting person. Gincarlo Esposito as Gus is great and it is really interesting seeing his character in this role when you know how his character is in Breaking Bad. Michael Mand as Nacho & Patrick Fabian have smaller roles this season but they do really good jobs with there characters and they have interesting character arcs.

Story

The story of seeing Jimmy's decline as a human being is a farely predictable one as we know what happens to his character in Breaking Bad but the journey has been interesting to watch for sure. Also the supporting characters have really good arcs in the show and it makes them feel like characters you can care about. However, for sure this season has a slower pacing and around the middle part the show grinded for me and I wondered where the show was going but it picked up towards the end.

Script

The script is really great on this show, the humour when used really works and makes you chuckle the appropriate amount. Also the drama is ramped up especially, towards the end of the season as it makes you feel for Jimmy even though the show clearly tells you that you should have mixed feelings towards the character.

Style

The show this season feels more like a prequel for Breaking Bad then it's own contained story but for fans of that show like me it is great and adds context to things that happen in that show. Also seeing the different schemes that Jimmy comes up with it sets you up to the character that Jimmy will become. However, as mentioned the pacing is a bit slower and I just wish the middle part of the season could have been stronger as it would have been a truly fantastic show if that happened.

Overall

Overall this show is one of the most consistent I have seen, It continues to be great and the further we get in the shows run the closer we get to Breaking Bad and the more interesting the show can become.

Rating - 8/10 

Lost Girls (2020) Review

Lost Girls (2020) Review 

 With the Coronavirus leading to more and more films being delayed, it seems like streaming services such as Netflix will be the main source of watching new films and TV series. The new Netflix film Lost Girls came out today and I have had a chance to watch it and this is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a girl get kidnapped, after the police botch the investigation her mother leads the charge to get justice for her daughter and others like her. 

Main Character

Amy Ryan plays the main character in this film and she does a really good job in the film, her character has so much pain and you follow her through this journey as she tries to get answers about what happened to her daughter. Her character has some issues about her and she isn't the most likeable person in the world but you totally understand where she is coming from and you see just how difficult it is for her character to go through the tough circumstances. 

Supporting Characters

Thomasin Mckenzie from Jojo Rabbit is in this film and she does a good job in her role, she is one of the other daughters in the film and it is interesting seeing the way that she deals with the dissappearance compared to her mother. Gabriel Byrne plays the policeman in charge of the case and his character goes through quite a bit in the film, he clearly wants to do things by the book but understands where Ryan's character is coming from. He questions everything in the film and it allows his character to develop throughout and be more interesting then your average policeman. Though I felt all the other characters weren't that interesting and felt that they weren't as powerful as these other characters and some even felt a bit cliche and unrealistic for a film based on true events. 

Story

The story is pretty tough to watch, as you clearly see a one woman mission to try and get answers, you go with her on the journey and you want to see her get answers in this film. However, I felt the pay off wasn't there in the movie, I know this film is based on true events so you can't change the ending but that means maybe it wasn't a story that should have been adapted. Also on another note, this film spoils its plot in the first minute and it took me out of the film and the ending.

Script

The script has some really good dramatic dialogue, the biggest compliment I can give to it, is that it feels very real, it doesn't feel like something somebody wrote on a piece of paper. But I felt like the script didn't delve enough into certain aspects of the film and it leaves you wondering if there were certain aspects of the script that were cut out of the film.

Style 

The style of the film is very methodical in its pacing, it keeps you intrigued in what exactly is going to happen if you don't know the story and it made you support the protagonist in its quest. However, it is pretty slow, and I questioned what was the film trying to achieve and as mentioned the film either accidentally or on purpose basically gives away the ending in the first part of the film.

Overall

Overall this film has an important story from real life and the film itself is interesting to a certain extent but overall I just thought it was okay and there wasn't anything that stood out. If you are interested in seeing a real story with a good lead performance then this will be a decent watch but you don't need to rush to watch it.

Rating - 6/10

Spenser Confidential (2020) Review

Spenser Confidential (2020) Review 

 This film is amongst many that are being released on Netflix over the next few months and I have now seen Spenser Confidential and this is my review of the film. The premise of the film sees an ex cop who has just been released from prison drawn back into the world of crime when a former friend is killed.

Main Character

Mark Wahlberg plays the lead Spenser in the film and he does an okay job in the film, he definitley has the presence of a film star and he manages to somewhat rise above a very generic and basic sript. However, there isn't really anything interesting about his character, he is very one dimensional and not very interesting as a lead performance to make you root for him.

Supporting cast

Winston Duke plays Wahlbergs closest ally in the film and he gives a decent performance, he is more likeable for sure and has a real presence about him on screen. But we just don't learn enough about his character in the film, his development is sacrificed in order to see more action scenes which I thought hurt the film. Alan Arkin plays Wahlberg's mentor and I just really like Alan Arkin as an actor, he has plenty of charisma on screen and he is just there as the older likeable character. But I must admit I wasn't a fan of the girlfriend role in the film, it just felt like a forced element of the film and one that doesn't have any substance or development in the film. Also all the villains are very basic and there is very little substance to them as well. 

Story

The story in the film is pretty boring, if you wrote a basic story of a buddy cop film it would probably be pretty similar to this one. There is no imagination involved in the story, you can predict where it is going from the first minute to the very last and it really believes it is a clever film with clever twists but it really isn't. For me when you can predict everything that is going to be happen in a film and the characters arcs aren't explored enough that equals a boring story. 

Script

The script has a few funny moments but not enough for it to be considered good, if it was going for a comedy then it isn't funny enough and the drama doesn't hit any emotional levels and is just there not really doing much or achieving anything of any kind.

Style

It cannot be denied the style of this film has some entertaining action scenes in it, mainly involving chase scenes and cars but this film is really choppy when it comes to hand to hand combat. It is edited so much that it is really hard to follow, the amount of quick cuts makes it really jarring and hard to buy into, especially when you are clearly suppossed to. 

Overall

Overall this is a poor film, it is one of the most basic and generic films I have seen in recent memory and a few decent performances isn't enough to make this film worth a watch for anybody.

Rating - 3/10 

The Invisible Man (2020) Review

The Invisible Man (2020) Review

 This film has been gaining plenty of traction in this last week so I decided to go watch The Invisible Man and this is my review of the film. The premise of the film sees a woman recieve a huge amount of money from an abusive ex, but she believes he might not be as dead as believed.

Main Character

Elisabeth Moss plays the lead character in this film and she is excellent in this role, you really are rooting for her in the film and you want to see her succeed. However, there is some depth to her character and some moral shades of grey that make her fascinating to watch and a great lead character. Also she delivers a great acting performance as plenty of her scenes are on her own and she does a great job in selling the premise of the film. 

Supporting Characters

Aldis Hodge plays her friend in this film and I really liked his character in the film, he is very likeable to watch and I thought he had really good chemistry with Moss to truly build that friendship. Also his character goes through some interesting things in the film and it makes him a more memorable supporting Character. Michael Dorman plays her ex's brother and I thought he was very good in his role, he is very slimy in the role and every time he is on the screen he just makes you feel uncomfortable. Oliver Jackson-Cohen plays her Ex in the film and I just didn't really feel captivated by his character, she seems to think he is back alive but you don't really get enough to care about his character or his motivation against her in the film. Harriet Dyer plays her sister in the film and she really has nothing to her, you don't really learn enough about her to be interested in their relationship and how it affects Moss's character in the film. 

Story

The story is really interesting, you see how Moss's character's life is affected by the death of her ex and this supposed Invisible Man. It is much more interesting then just your average slasher flick as you see this woman's whole life get put through hell by something that might not even be there. Also the ending of this film is really good, it feels appropriate for the film and gives the characters the ending that they all deserve, plus it also leaves some questions to ask and ways to interpret that ending. 

Script

The script is great in this film, there isn't much humour in the film which is to be expected but the great dramatic dialogue makes up for it and really brings you into the characters and the plot, it makes you really interested in what is going on and care about the characters.

Style

The style of the film is incredibly suspenseful and thrillling, the film sucks you into the atmosphere and makes you feel the same way as Elizabeth Moss's character in the film and feeling scared as her. But like that this film is pretty slow and can drag a little bit at times and I kind of wish the plot moved a little bit faster so we could get to the more exciting bits a little bit quicker. 

Overall

Overall this may be the sleeper hit of 2020, I was not expecting much going into this film but I had a great time with The Invisible Man, if you are a fan of thrillers and horror films then this is a film you should be seeing as soon as you can. 

Rating - 8/10

The New Batmobile is Revealed - My Impressions

The New Batmobile is Revealed - My Impressions 

 

 

With the disappointing news that No Time To Die has been delayed till Noveber, this is the other movie news that came out today and it is the first look at the new Batmobile for the Batman film coming out in 2021 starring Robert Pattinson. There isn't a huge amount to talk about but I believe there is enough to work out certain things in the movie.

This is an early version of The Batmobile

In the previous franchises we have seen very extravagant and extreme batmobiles ranging from Keaton's noir themed car, Clooney's Neon Nightmare, Bale's realistic car and Afflecks tank it is nice to see a more tame version of the car. This car looks basically like a regular car but with a few upgrades but it is definitley a car that hasn't gone through the dark times that the previous machines have. 

The Car seems to lack gadgets

The one thing about The Batmobile is that it usually has some gadgets involved ranging from Tire shields to a full on gatelin gun on the front of it, but this version seems to be a car with maybe a bit of a faster engine to it. This could lead to a lack of The Batmobile in this film, it could actually maybe be only used for Batman to travel between locations, hopefully this will lead to action scenes involving personal gadgets and I hope they get quite creative. 

The Car will probably get damaged or destroyed 

Also with this film probably leading to at least a Trilogy with Pattinson in the role I'm expecting that towards the end of this film The Batmobile will get either severley damaged or destroyed which will lead to Bruce Wayne getting a better Batmobile in time for a sequel where it can be used more. 

The Batman is set to come out in 2021 and will star Robert Pattinson in the title role.