The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season 1 (2022) Review

I am a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings but I did not want to watch this show and had little interest. But with Season 2 just starting its release schedule, I thought it was time for me to watch this show and I have now watched the first season of Rings of Power and here is my review for it. The premise of the show is set thousands of years before Lord of the Rings and sees the different species try to survive against the dark forces of Middle Earth. 

Main Character

Morfydd Clark plays a young Galadriel and I did find it unfortunate that I really didn't care about this character. She is just really dull and the show doesn't do a good enough job of making you care about her or her character. Clark, does try and that deserves a bit of credit but with her being the clear protagonist of this show, she falls really flat. 

Supporting Cast

The cast is pretty large, and it is mixed for sure. I think a lot of the performers were hampered by shoddy writing and poor storytelling which gave them little to work with. 

Robert Aramayo plays young Elrond and I really liked him. He doesn't really feel like Elrond but I can't deny that he is entertaining to watch and there is plenty of depth made to his character and I found the scenes involving him and Durin played by Owain Arthur to be the most entertaining of the show. 

Charlie Vickers plays Halbrand and he is alright, he actually has some charm and charisma to him which helps him rise above some shoddy writing for the character. I thought he did a good job and made me intrigued by his character. 

But the rest of the cast really suffers, Arondir played by Ismael Cruz Cordova is really boring. He is great in the action sequences, but he is so monotone and soft spoken that it was hard to care about him and he just falls really flat, especially with how much time we spend with him. 

The story involving Daniel Weyman as The Stranger and Markella Kavenagh as Nori is really dull and boring. It tries to be mysterious but it never really goes anywhere, it took till the finale to try and make them interesting but there characters were a sore part of the show. 

Story

The story really misses the mark. I saw it described as a fan fiction of JRR Tolkein's work and I am afraid that it does really feel like that. The show tries to force intrigue and interest by hiding a lot of information about the characters but that made it really hard to get invested. Then the final episode has a few reveals that feel rushed and not earned for the show and I hope the story improves in the future.

Script

The show is unfortunately not written well. All the dialogue feels really forced and those bits that are good are due to the actors rising above this shoddy writing. Not much makes sense and making so many storylines that involve mystery makes things feeling frustratingly not complete. 

Style

Easily the best part of the show is the style. The show looks beautiful, you can tell it has a huge budget and for the most part it is really effective. Middle Earth looks great and I am glad that this show has the essence of the universe with both its looks and also its fantastic music choices. The action scenes are also great and have a bit more brutality which I definitely enjoyed. 

Overall

Overall, Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power Season 1 is a bad show and falls really flat of its licence. It is definitely an example of style of substance and I hope the second season is a huge improvement on this as the franchise deserves way better. 

Rating - 3/10 

Twisters (2024) Review

I happened to be away travelling when this film came out, but due to its success it is still in the cinema and I managed to watch Twisters today and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees a retired tornado chaser convinced to come back to Oklahoma and work to find out ways to stop the impact that Tornados have on people. 

Main Character

Despite what the marketing told everyone the main character is Kate played by Daisy Edgar Jones and she was great in the film. Her character is really great and Edgar Jones manages to do the best with the material and I really rooted for her character and wanted to see her succeed as she is just so likeable in this role. 

Supporting Characters

Glenn Powell plays Tyler and I love his character in this film. Powell is super charismatic and charming mixed with the obnoxious nature of his character. He is just having a blast here and seeing a guy enjoying himself so much is really nice and I genuinely think Powell can be the biggest name in Hollywood over the next few years if he keeps on going the way he is. 

Anthony Ramos plays Javi and he has a big connection with Kate and I really thought their chemistry was great. He kind of gets relegated once Powell appears but I think Ramos does the best with what he has and delivers a good performance. 

The rest of the cast are great too. David Corenswet who will be the next Superman plays Scott and does a good job as an annoying antagonist and it was nice seeing Katy O'Brian in a different role that we have seen her lately in recent franchises. 

Story

The story does its job solid enough, it showcases its characters really well and makes you care about them as these massive tornadoes are after them and causing havoc. They dip into the real problems that natural disasters like this affect people with death and destruction. But this film is pretty one dimensional with its storytelling and there is a sub plot that doesn't really go anywhere and kind of feels like it was added to the script to make the film a bit longer. 

Script

The script has some genuinely really funny dialogue and moments and these characters do feel like real people. I mostly cared about the drama and I wanted to see these characters get through these situations, but some of the writing doesn't quite work and that does kind of link to narrative in the film. 

Style 

The film looks fantastic, with modern technology it allows us to see Tornadoes in all of their CGI glory and really put these people under threat. The film is paced really well and balanced the action and character work very well. 

Overall

Overall, Twisters is a great film. It is a genuine surprise for me and I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anybody and I can't wait to watch it again. 

Rating - 8/10

Game of Thrones Season 2 (2012) Review

I continue my re-watching of Game of Thrones with the second season. I have managed to watch the entire season and here is my review. The premise of the show sees after the deaths of Robert Baratheon & Ned Stark, war rages amongst the 7 kingdoms with many parties looking to stake their claim and take The Iron Throne. 

Main Character

After Ned Stark's death, the show definitely became more ensemble. But I think the character that steps up is Tyrion Lannister played by the fantastic Peter Dinklage, he is the hand of the king this season and it means he gets way more interactions with main characters and he is great. He is charming and charismatic with his character truly developing over the season and Dinklage deserves a tonne of credit for that. 

Supporting Characters

Just like the first season, this show has a load of characters and everyone is fantastic, probably even better then the first season but there are way too many to talk about so I will only be talking about some that really stood out to me. 

Lena Headey reprises her role as Cersei Lannister and she continues to be brilliant on screen. She is manipulative and just pure evil but Headey is such a good actress that at times you even start to feel a bit of sympathy for this clear villain. 

We get way more time this season with Charles Dance as Tywin Lannister and he shares a lot of scenes with Arya Stark played by Maisie Williams. Williams is so much better this season then she was previously and Dance is always amazing. Their interactions are genuinely some of the best moments of the season and just simple conversations were captivating. 

Jerome Flynn as Bron is one of my favourite characters on the show and he really gets time to shine here alongside Tyrion. As he is in Kings Landing, he also gets to interact with other main characters and it gives him real time to shine.

Jack Gleeson has become more grown up as Joffrey Baratheon and this is easily one of the most evil and sadistic characters put onto a screen. He is just so arrogant and annoying and a whole fanbase unites in wanting to see him dealt with. 

Story

This season certainly has way more storylines then the previous season and some of them are really great. Everything that happens at Kings Landing is fantastic, the intrigue and politics mixed with action makes it my favourite part of the show alongside Tywin & Arya's storyline at Harrenhall. But there are some story arcs that I just didn't find as interesting, mainly being Jon Snow at the wall and Daenerys at Qarth. I understand that they fit a purpose but I just felt like they weren't that interesting here and was just focus for future seasons. 

Script

The script is still fantastic, the blend between drama and humour is fantastically managed and makes the majority of theses characters feel like real people that are just in crazy situations. The writing is top notch and even though it is an extravagant show, that is probably the best part of the show. 

Style

The show has very clearly had a budget increase and it uses it superbly. Everything feels more crisp and polished, culminating with The Battle of Blackwater Bay which is one of the greatest episodes of the entire series run. The pacing of the show is well done, despite the amount of balancing of stories and I was thoroughly engaged. 

Overall

Overall, the second season of Game of Thrones is fantastic. It is still at the high level of writing and the larger budget allows them to show battles that we didn't get in the previous season. There are just a few stories that don't quite work which holds it back from being truly epic but it is a fantastic season that continues the strong quality of the show. 

Rating - 9/10

Alien: Romulus (2024) Review

After a few years, we have a new Alien film and though inspiration from Ridley Scott, the franchise is in new hands and we get a film that is made my new people who are passionate about the franchise. I saw Alien: Romulus yesterday and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film is set between Alien and Aliens and sees a group of young people trapped on a station with organisms that are out to get them. 

Main Character

Cailee Spaeny plays Rain and she is the main character of the film and I thought she was great here. I know very little of her work but she definitely gives a strong performance here and is a great lead character that we are meant to care about and I think that I did for sure. 

Supporting Characters

My favourite character in the film is Andy played by David Jonsson. Early on we find out that he is a synthetic and I think the film is really clever in the way that it handles his character and his role amongst the group of young people. He deserves a lot of credit for playing this pretty emotionless character and manage to make him one of the most interesting parts of the film. 

Unfortunately, the rest of the group fair a bit worse and I really didn't care about any of them. The young cast come across as annoying especially the one played by Spike Fearn who feels like he should be in a completely different film. 

There is an appearance that is a big spoiler but made the film much more interesting and I thought it added a lot to the film but yeah I can't really talk about it so you will have to see the film to find out what I am talking about. 

Story 

The story is interesting, the reason for these kids being on the station isn't that deep but when they get there, these characters encounter interesting things and there are valid and logical reasons as to why these Aliens are on the station. However, this film has a twist towards the end of the film and it just felt really weird and out of place for this film and that took me out of this pretty enjoyable experience. 

Script

The script is okay, there are some good dramatic dialogue and moments that made at least some of the characters interesting and made me care about them. However, there was a lot of weak dialogue, the build-up of the side characters and the introduction of our gang isn't handled particularly well. 

Style

The film takes stylistic choices of a mixture of Alien, Aliens & even a bit of Prometheus and I thought it really worked. The action is fast paced, but there are those slower more horror based elements and the fact that the film has both makes it more interesting. But the film does have a bit of a pacing issue and that is mainly from the first and last act that don't quite work and I wish they could have been handled differently. 

Overall

Overall, Alien: Romulus is an above average film that when it is at its best it is really good. However, there was enough that I didn't like to hold the film back from hitting the heights that I think it was capable of. I do hope that this franchise can continue but improvements will be needed for sure. 

Rating - 6/10

Alien (1979) Review

I am off to see Alien: Romulus tomorrow, so I thought it was about time to rewatch the film that started the franchise and the film that takes place before Alien: Romulus chronologically in Alien. So I watched it today and here is my review for a film considered a classic. The premise of the film sees a crew answer a distress call which ends up with them encountering a deadly lifeform.  

Main Character

Sigourney Weaver plays Ripley and she is great in this film. She is a strong character and is one of the most famous female lead characters of all time and this film introduces us to the awesome performance. She gets plenty of time to shine in this film and she was a great lead character. 

Supporting Characters

A young Ian Holm plays Ash and for me he is the most interesting member of the Nostromo crew and Holm absolutely nails it in the role. He is the science officer of the crew and there is just a lot of intrigue about his character and Holm really excels here. 

The rest of the crew are good and involve some big actors such as Tom Skerritt as Dallas & John Hurt as Kane. They are decent but their characters are never really fleshed out but they fill the roles well and do well with what they are given. 

The Alien itself is such an interesting design and I love how this film conveyed The Alien as a true threat to the crew and its lack of screen time actually added to that effect and made every time it does appear feel special. 

Story

The story does a really great job of showcasing a predator hunting down its prey and these humans really struggling to deal with it. There is another interesting story that comes into play in the film which is pretty interesting but isn't particularly the focus here. The issue is that the film doesn't really make you care too much about the majority of the characters and spends a bit too long building atmosphere and tone instead of a plot. 

Script

The script is fine, there are one or two scenes that are pretty memorable and have some good dramatic dialogue. But I never really felt the relationship between the characters and as I mentioned above I never really cared about anyone and the lack of interesting dialogue plays its part. 

Style

The film does a really great job of building tension and atmosphere. You have no idea when The Alien is going to strike next and the film really delves into its horror vibe in order to keep the viewer on edge. But, I have to be honest this film is really slow, especially for the first act. It takes way too long to get going and doesn't do enough in that build up to add to the complexity of the majority of the characters. 

Overall

Overall, Alien is a good film that nails its atmosphere and the objective that it wanted. I know it is probably a controversial opinion to say this film is a bit overrated but I kind of feel like it is, but it is still a good watch especially if you are a fan of horror. 

Rating - 7/10

Game of Thrones Season 1 (2011) Review

After watching season 2 of House of the Dragon and seeing numerous clips of the original show online, I decided to go back and re-watch Game of Thrones and I have just got through the first season of the show and here is my review. The premise of the show sees noble families attempt to put themselves on top through war, politics and backstabbing. 

Main Character

Sean Bean plays Ned Stark and he is fantastic on this show and is the clear protagonist. This show is full of morally grey characters but Ned is just a good guy and Bean is fantastic in the role. He is a strong presence and I really loved seeing his character having to deal with the politics of the kingdom. 

Supporting Characters

This show has a massive cast, so there is no way I will be able to talk about them all and apart from some of the child actors, everyone is fantastic and really truly cares about their performances and trying to make this the best show possible. 

Peter Dinklage plays Tyrion Lannister and for me he is the best character on the show, he is so charismatic and you can't help but support his devilish side. Dinklage revels in this role and he just owns every scene that he is in. 

Emilia Clarke plays Daenerys Targaryen and her story is very separate from the other characters and she does a fantastic job. She really develops over the season and I think Clarke really grows in her performance. 

Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister is a truly fantastic character, she is so unlikeable but there is definitely reasons to sympathise for her and the nuance of Cersei is a big part of the show and Headey knocks it out of the park. 

Aidan Gillen as Peter Baelish and Conleth Hill as Varys are two characters that revel in their screen time and the chemistry that they have together produces some of the best scenes in the entire show. Their characters are really well written and seeing their philosophies clash is fantastic. 

Story

The story is fantastic, you get a bit of everything from this show and there is a lot going on. But unlike some other shows it manages to make all of it interesting and make you care about it. Seeing the political debates and issues at Kings Landing with the supernatural elements with The Wall mixed with the war conflict between characters makes it feel like we get everything. The end of the season really pulls no punches and takes risks that I think makes it stand out and truly makes it legendary. 

Script

The script is incredibly well written and every character is written well to make you care and interested in their stories. The dialogue is so sharp and the blend between drama and humour is so well done that you literally just see people talking and it is some of the most interesting scenes in the show. 

Style

The shows look is fantastic, I love the costume design and the clear budget that Game of Thrones has. But it knows how to film scenes effectively that makes you realise that in this season it isn't too over the top and full of CGI, it feels gritty and dark. The different stories bounce together really well and they all are interesting and make you want to continue watching. 

Overall

Overall, Game of Thrones Season 1 is an Epic season of television and one that will go down in the history books and one that everybody should see. It shows the true quality of the franchise and how high the standards are. 

Rating - 10/10

Borderlands (2024) Review

It seems that video game based TV Shows have finally started to get a bit of traction but I still think video game based films haven't quite found their feet and the next to try its go is Borderlands and I saw it today and here is my review for Borderlands. The premise of the film sees a group of misfits attempting to open a vault and keep it away from an evil corporation. 

Main Character

Cate Blanchett plays Lilith and boy she really tries to make the best out of this role and the reason I am giving her some praise is just because of the care that Blanchett clearly has. However, Lilith is a dull character and one that becomes kind of absurd as the film progresses. I just didn't care about her and for your main protagonist that is not a good thing. 

Supporting Characters

Ariana Greenblatt plays Tiny Tina and similar to Blanchett, you can see that she really cares and enjoying herself on screen and that makes her somewhat enjoyable. But her character is super unlikeable and I didn't really care much about her. 

Kevin Hart plays Roland and this is probably the biggest miscast in the film. If you get a comedian like Kevin Hart then I would expect him to make me laugh but he was so boring and dull, his character is pretty serious and Hart offers literally nothing to the performance. 

Jamie Lee Curtis plays Tannis and she gives a truly awful performance, her character is all over the place and just makes weird noises and has strange delivery of dialogue throughout. She is a terrible person but the film wants you to care, but you really won't. 

Edgar Ramirez plays the villain Atlas and he is so dull its unbelievable. I honestly, can't believe this guy gets big roles as I don't think he has ever been good and that continues here. He is such a boring and generic bad guy that offers nothing to the film. 

Jack Black voices the iconic character Claptrap and I found him super annoying in this film. I think if it had been in moderation it could have worked but he is all over this film and he just doesn't stop talking and the majority of his dialogue isn't funny which takes away from the whole thing. 

Story

The story of the film is just garbage, it is the most boring and predictable plot line that you will see in a film. It is your traditional misfit gang that starts enemies and grow as the film progresses but it is really forced and I didn't care about any of the characters or their struggles. The final act is really stupid and predictable which encapsulates this film. 

Script

The script has absolutely nothing to it. I don't think I laughed once and I didn't care about any of the characters through the drama and emotion. With this cast it needed good writing but it just isn't here and it adds to the overall woes of the film.

Style

The film has some decent action sequences, they are fun and do a somewhat good job of representing the games but there just aren't enough of them. The CGI is varied during the film, some of it is okay and some of it is rubbish. The film is really short and feels a bit rushed for sure, though with the quality I am glad it was shorter. 

Overall

Overall, Borderlands is a truly awful movie which is such a shame because I really think there was potential here, really do avoid this film and with so much to watch in the cinema at the moment pick one of the other films which is hopefully better. 

Rating - 2/10