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Showing posts with the label Action

What’s Really Wrong with Punto Nemo? –A Deep Dive Gone Wrong

  Punto Nemo , available on Amazon Prime, tries to be a suspenseful, thought-provoking series about environmental urgency. It wants to be deep. But instead of pulling viewers in, it leaves them stranded in shallow waters. The First Question: Is It Really That Bad? At first, I wasn’t sure. The opening episode was messy, yes — confusing timelines, a poorly explained plot, and a tone that couldn’t quite decide if it was thriller, sci-fi, or something else entirely. Still, something about it made me keep watching. It wasn’t good , but it wasn’t unwatchable . So what exactly was wrong? From Confused to Completely Absurd As the episodes progressed, the cracks widened. Once they arrive at a supposedly deserted island, you might recall Lost , but get ready to be disappointed. Storylines started to collapse under their own weight. Characters made strange decisions with no explanation. The plot, already unstable, spiraled into the realm of the ridiculous. By the final episodes, it becam...

G20 - Viola Davis Commands a Nostalgic Action Thriller

  G20 , now streaming on Prime Video , is a high-octane action thriller that takes viewers back to the adrenaline-fueled films of the 1990s.  Directed by Patricia Riggen, the movie follows U.S. President Danielle Sutton, portrayed by Viola Davis , as she confronts a terrorist siege during the G20 summit in Cape Town. The antagonist, Edward Rutledge (Antony Starr), a former Australian Special Forces operative turned crypto-anarchist, orchestrates the attack, aiming to destabilize global economies through cyber warfare and deepfake technology. Viola Davis: A Commanding Presence Viola Davis delivers a powerhouse performance as President Sutton, seamlessly blending authority, vulnerability, and physical prowess. Her portrayal of a leader and mother navigating a crisis is both compelling and inspiring. Critics have lauded her for bringing gravitas to the role, with Time noting her "commanding presence" and ability to deliver "powerful speeches and impressive physical perform...

Timeless – A Sci-Fi Adventure Cut Short but Ending on a High Note

  NBC's Timeless blends history, action, and character-driven storytelling into a thrilling time-travel adventure. Despite its premature cancellation, the show delivers an emotionally satisfying conclusion. It proves that even an unfinished journey can leave a lasting impact. Mystery Through Time The story follows historian Lucy Preston (Abigail Spencer), soldier Wyatt Logan (Matt Lanter), and engineer Rufus Carlin (Malcolm Barrett). They chase a mysterious organization, Rittenhouse , through time.  Their mission? To prevent history from being rewritten. They add the moral dilemmas of altering the past to an already difficult task. The show brilliantly balances historical events with sci-fi elements. Its fast-paced, high-stakes storytelling keeps viewers engaged. Great Characters make Great Stories One of Timeless ' greatest strengths lies in its characters. Rufus, in particular, stands out as the relatable everyman. His humor, intelligence, and real fear of the dangers ahead...

American Primeval - harsh times

  Netflix 's American Primeval is profoundly moving. It immerses viewers in the brutality and beauty of the American frontierving.  The show vividly portrays how harrowing and unforgiving life was during the period when survival was a daily battle against nature, violence, and injustice. Bravery To survive, you couldn't be ordinary. You must be brave, strong, and resourceful. And that's Abish. Her courage and determination were incredibly inspiring, and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way. She's a testament to the strength it took to endure such a harsh world, and her journey is one of the most memorable aspects of the series. Justice is a strange word The series doesn't shy away from showing the injustice of the era, and while that made it hard to watch at times, it also added a layer of emotional depth that kept me hooked.  Isaac's death hit me especially hard. After all he endured, to see him go like that was heartbreaking. Sara remains a my...

Banshee Review: A Hidden Gem That You Can't Stop Watching

  After being thoroughly impressed by Antony Starr's performance as the villain Homelander in The Boys , I decided to dive into his earlier work in Banshee . To say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. This show is nothing short of a hidden gem that grips you from the very first episode and refuses to let go. The “Good” Villain At the heart of Banshee is Antony Starr, whose portrayal of the mysterious ex-con posing as the town's sheriff is nothing short of mesmerizing. Starr brings an incredible depth to his character, Lucas Hood, who is as complex as he is captivating.  On the surface, Hood is a rough, violent man with a past steeped in crime, but as the series unfolds, we see the many layers that make up his character. He's haunted by his past and driven by a sense of justice that often puts him at odds with the law. Yet, despite his flaws, he has a surprising capacity for loyalty and love. Mesmerizing Performances Starr's performance is the linchp...

House of the Dragon: Season 2 - a Matter of Good Characters

  As a fan of the original Game of Thrones , I approached the second season of House of the Dragon with high hopes. Unfortunately, I found it a bit boring compared to its predecessor.  The intricate political drama and the rich character development that made Game of Thrones a global phenomenon seem to be lacking here. Still, the show features some compelling characters who hold my interest. Daemon Targaryen Daemon Targaryen remains one of the most intriguing characters in the series. Although his arc in this season isn't as strong as before, he still commands the screen with his charisma and unpredictability.  Daemon's complex personality, oscillating between villainy and heroism, keeps viewers guessing his true intentions. His relationship with Rhaenyra and his struggle for power add depth to his character. He is, no doubt, a central figure in the unfolding drama. Aemond Targaryen Aemond steps into the spotlight in the second season, bringing a new level of intensity ...

The Boys (Season 4) - Here we go again

  The Boys ' fans eagerly anticipated this new season and all the craziness it would bring. As happens often, when you have too high expectations, some are seriously disappointed. It's not that the show didn't deliver what it promised. The audience had too much time to create their own theories and guess situations, and some of them… were extremely defrauded. Kimiko and Frenchy One of the most criticized situations in the first three episodes was Frenchy's relationship with a man. Most fans imagined that he would end up in a romantic relationship with Kimiko. Sure, they ignored previous mentions of his bisexuality or that Kimiko rejected him. Honestly, I wanted them to be together, but the whole point of this show is to drive us insane with all sorts of unexpected situations. Starlight People can't stop commenting on Erin Moriarty's appearance. Yes, she looks very different, but so does Laz Alonso (MM), and it's okay. Why so much fuss (and critics) about her...

Gotham Knights TV Show: A Fresh Take or a Missed Opportunity?

  The Gotham Knights TV show offers a fresh perspective on the iconic Batman universe. It shifted the focus away from the Caped Crusader himself and onto his extended family and allies. This series explores the aftermath of Bruce Wayne's supposed death and the impact it has on those closest to him. Unfortunately, it did not convince me. Exploring New Dynamics Gotham Knights promises to breathe new life into the Batman universe. The show explores uncharted territory and gives lesser-known characters a chance to shine. However, this fresh take doesn't seem to resonate with the audience. It boasts an ensemble cast of intriguing characters with unique backstories and connections. This could be refreshing, but the acting could be better. It's Not For Everyone   While Gotham Knights has garnered praise for its darker tone and exploration of character dynamics, it has also faced criticism. Its writing, acting, and departure from established DC lore were poorly received. ...

Revolution - When casting goes wrong

  As a fan of Erik Kripke's work, I had to take a look at this 2012 show, even though it has been canceled. I'm five episodes into Revolution , and I'm starting to suspect that the biggest problem was with the cast.  The Story  Revolution brings us an interesting post-apocalyptic story (without zombies - refreshing) that easily keeps us watching.   To be honest, in the beginning, it sends a Walking Dead vibe, but it not only has nothing to do with the zombie topic but can also take its own spot and interest.  It's well articulated and has mystery without exaggeration. We have some answers along the way, which avoids the strange feeling of having a lot of questions that seem to lead nowhere.  Billy Burke saves the day Billy's character is the best by far. He and Captain Neville hold the show on their shoulders and deserve recognition. Billy did a great job here, and he is the reason I'll keep watching.  I must confess, though, that the train scen...

The Brothers Sun – A Riveting Blend of Action and Family Dynamics

  The Brothers Sun , now streaming on Netflix , is a refreshing departure from your typical family comedy. This action-comedy series stars the incomparable Michelle Yeoh as Eileen “Mama” Sun. She is a conflicted mother caught between her family’s dangerous profession and her desire to protect her naive youngest son.  Buckle up for a thrilling ride as secrets unravel, bullets fly, and unexpected alliances form. A Multilayered Family Dynamic At the heart of The Brothers Sun lies a family struggling to balance their criminal legacy with their individual aspirations. Charles Sun (played by Justin Chien) returns to Los Angeles to shield his mother and younger brother from a deadly threat. Eileen, the matriarch, has kept her other son, Bruce (Sam Song Li), blissfully unaware of their notorious Taiwan gangster lineage.  While Charles engages in globe-trotting fights, Bruce’s biggest concern is secretly spending his college tuition on improv classes. The clash between their worl...

The Creator - Ambitious Yet Disappointing

  The Creator seemed to be an epic story about how humanity is more than being human, and the power of machines and how dangerous they can be… Does it sound good? Well, it did, at first. I was kind of excited to watch it, to tell you the truth, but it was so… boring.  Does this never end? It dragged on, and there were moments when I thought it would never end. Don't get me wrong, I like long movies as long as they are interesting, but The Creator put me to sleep. At some point, I was checking if it would take too much longer every five minutes. Always waiting for something really attention-grabbing to happen, but it never did.  Boring film with great performances The movie doesn't match the epic aura they tried to sell through the trailer. It felt just another sci-fi, with little to offer except perhaps the actors' performance. The brightest part of this movie was Madeleine Yuna Voyles ' acting skills, which were impressive. She brought some real talent to the table a...

Gen V - a review

  Gen V is a new Prime Video show, and there was a lot of hype around it. Why? Because it is a spin-off of the successful show The Boys from the same platform.  I think spin-offs are always a shot in the dark, but Gen V delivered a product that matches The Boys ' quality. Its biggest problem is the lack of a charismatic character to love or hate, such as Homelander , Butcher , or Soldier Boy in the original show. Despite that, Gen V entertained and grabbed our attention to keep watching and see the story unfolding. It gets better with each episode.   Team Work While Gen V may lack a charismatic character, the outstanding group chemistry among the leading actors compensates for this shortcoming. That's a massive plus for all the "less good" scenes on the show. Sam and Marie have the potential to grow and, eventually, become the charismatic characters we need. For now, there is still room for improvement. I saw Marie as a weak protagonist in the first two episod...

Walker - it's about a Texas Ranger, but not THE Texas Ranger

  Once I learned about this show, I couldn't ignore it. I'm a big fan of Jared Padalecki , and, like many of us, I would love to watch him again in a new show. Also, I remember watching Walker, The Texas Ranger , as a kid with my dad, so I expected a little of the warmth that comes with childhood memories. Well, after 10 minutes into the first episode, I concluded that this show and this Cordell Walker have nothing to do with Chuck Norris' 90s show. At first, it felt like a slight disappointment, but that feeling disappeared. It is different, not worse. Family Drama From what I can recall, Chuck Norris' Walker was a very one-dimensional character, and his profession defined him. He was a Texas Ranger, and that's all he was (or near it). Padalecki's approach is quite different. It is a family drama, with all the sad and sweet moments due to that genre. At the end of the first season, I concluded that the show was not about a Texas Ranger. It is about a grieving w...

The Boys - the definition of unexpected

Many people talked to me about this show from the start, but since I’m not a big fan of superheros’ stories and didn’t know this universe at all, it took me a long time to check it. If only I knew… Once I started watching, there was no way I could stop! Surprise! The premise is excellent and makes total sense to me. After all, if people could have such a significant amount of power and zero consequences for their acts… how many wouldn’t go rogue? Yet, what makes this satire priceless is the incredible, surprising stuff that happens all the time. In such a way, “surprising” is the best word to describe The Boys . Every time you are chilling watching the show, something will happen, unexpected and… absurd (in a good way). The characters The characters are, all of them, absolutely great. They are complex, with many layers, and just as everything else in the show… surprising. Even in the most odious of them, you can take a glimpse of humanity, and sometimes, you may feel sorry for the bad ...

House of the Dragon - review

  When I first learned about this prequel to Game of Thrones , I was sure I wouldn't want to watch it. The Targaryens were not even my favorite family. Yet, like most of us, I couldn't avoid checking it out. Slow Beginning The story happens 172 years before the Game of Thrones story, and there are not that many changes. The universe is the same, the world, the costumes… but, simultaneously, there are so many things you don't recognize. Big families are not that important yet; new families you have never heard of take the central role. You may need some time to get used to it. I started watching the show, but I didn't like it very much initially. It was all about a couple of characters; it lacked the juicy intrigue Game of Thrones had made us love. Rhaenyra seemed to me a spoiled little girl, quite annoying sometimes. And the king… well, he was a pawn who lacked authority. So I had to ask myself, "Do I want to continue watching this?" I'm glad I did. Plot...

DC League of Super-Pets - Review

  Once your kid overcomes the Paw Patrol phase, you can stop pretending you're too grown-up to watch cartoons.  I'm always up to a good animation movie and, last week, we decided to go to the movies and watch DC League of Super-Pets . The little one was bothering us for a while to watch it. I wasn't expecting much of the film, I'm not a superhero kind of person, but I liked it. It is a fun movie! The shelter At the movie's beginning, most pets from the league are in a shelter. You have an interesting couple of scenes there. The kittens never stay there for long. I got curious to know, in reality, what the stats say about this. The animals are sad, despite being well treated, and all the shelter workers seem to be fond of them. It is a subtle but important lesson to the viewer.  Lulu One of the animals in the shelter is Lulu, a guinea pig with no fur, which seems absolutely crazy. Well, she is. Lulu is the big villain in the movie, a funny one. Also, it took me a wh...

The 3 funniest moments of Umbrella Academy - Season 3

  The third season of Umbrella Academy is here. And sure, it has a lot of drama, death (more or less definitive), and the end of the world kind of things, but it also has some amusing moments. This season was absolute nonsense, so the humor kind of saves it… So, let's go. 3rd - Luther in love  The third position of this rank goes to Luther. He is living an adorable love story with the enemy, which is hilarious.  He is so naive and clueless sometimes that he will get a few laughs from you. 2nd - Klaus Klaus is definitely the funniest of the cast, and it is not easy to choose a single moment. I would say that 90% of the times he appears on screen, he will make you giggle. Because of that, he deserves second place on this list. The coming back-to-life scenes are among my top favorites of him this season. 1st - Drug store fight The first place goes to the drug store fight. The stars are Diego and his supposed son, who is quite good at fighting. They deserve the gold medal, n...

The Witcher - Season 2: the birth of a family

  After a slight disappointment with season one, this new season felt refreshing. It changed my perspective about the show. The Witcher is a story of war, and this season begins with the aftermath of the battle of Sodden. But now, Geralt has an important and delicate mission: Ciri. What makes someone a monster? This season also has a lot of introspection and self-analysis. The question, "What makes someone a monster?" arises from the very beginning. It is a subtle introduction to what was to come and the critical question of this season: Who is Ciri? Or even better: What is Ciri? In this season, there is a lot of questioning about most characters. Who are they? What are they? And some of them may surprise the viewer. For example, one of the main characters, Yennefer, has changed this season. She is vulnerable now and having second thoughts about herself. After all, who is she without magic? She is on a path of transformation and rediscovery. Generally speaking, in this seaso...

La casa de Papel 5 (Money Heist) - Finally ended.

  Although I watched the first part of season 5 when it was released, I waited for the second part to do this review. I wanted to be sure they wouldn't ruin the show last minute, as happened in many others before. They didn't. When the 5th season came out, I wasn't that willing to watch it. I was tired of the concept. It was time to finish the story. I gave it a try, and fortunately, it was a good ending. Nerve-racking as always When I started watching this season, I thought, "Oh, I knew it, this is terrible." I didn't like the first couple of episodes: too much shooting and fake blood. Things got better, though.   Around the third episode, Money Heist becomes the nerve-racking, full of emotion show we were used to. Impossible to look away from the screen. Alicia This character grew into one of my favorites. She evolved wonderfully throughout the story and ended up as a magnificent character. I loved it, but she has her flaws as well, right?  Let's face i...

Squid Game - What is going on?

  I'm sure you already heard about Squid Game , also known as Round 6 in some countries. If you didn't… Well, it's not possible. It is a true phenomenon in the streaming platform Netflix , and it has been a target for polemics. Why? Squid game is a Korean show about a group of people playing children's games in a deadly version to earn money. With the right amount of mystery, drama, and action, the show is about to make the title of most-watched ever on the platform. The Chosen Ones When I first started watching the show, I found it a bit creepy. My reaction to the first episode was, "Wow, what the hell?" One of the first questions that may pop into your mind can be, "Who are these people?" The whole organization is creepy and weird. It will probably make you uncomfortable. The players, on the other hand, have an exact pattern. They are people full of debts, living in misery, and desperately in need of money. How far would they go to get it? How f...