Time again for some mini-reviews of mine…

Film

The Empty Man (2020)

This one left me pretty empty (har-har…) But seriously: I heard and read (mostly) praise about this film; granted, it was criticised that it is a bit more on the slower side at times – well, what can I say: They were right, and overall it was a big disappointment to me.

Yes, it’s slow – way too slow. And it’s long, way too long for what it wants to tell the viewer. The final 10-15 minutes are a bit different to what one would expect while watching the acts before, and it leads to a weird ending; that’s not too bad.

But on the other hand, it turns into much nonsensical psychotalk and metaphysical mumble jumble explanatory talk in the last act: not a fan of that kind of stuff, if taken to the extreme, like here.

And generally, beginning with the middle part, it all falls apart: pacing, plot, my interest…

The reason why it gets two instead of just one star: The introductionary first 20 minutes are cool, and three, four other scenes are also nice.

But unfortunately, the rest of the runtime is indigestible stuff, with a dark, broody and heavy atmosphere, that actually fits most of the time, but occasionally verges on being comical, in my eyes.
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

As mentioned before, I’m getting burned out on the MCU (even though this one is not really 100% part of it, or is it? Sony vs. Marvel/Disney? I’m out of the loop…) and this iteration of Spider-Man, aka Iron-Boy is also not to my liking.
But that being said, it was a bit more fun than its predecessor; but still just average superhero mainstream blockbuster material.
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

Palm Springs (2020)

OK’ish; on the one hand not as repetive as feared from a Groundhog-like movie, but on the other hand, it was also not quite as funny as I hoped (or expected, by the trailer). So, overall, an Average-OK for me. I didn’t regret watching it, but if I hadn’t, I would’t have missed anything either…
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

Freaky (2020)

Wasn’t really on my radar, but the premise sounded interesting, I heard some good mentions about it and Vince Vaughn was good in the his more recent years’ roles – but this was a big disappointment. Of course, I expected that the serial-killer/slasher part would not be interesting to me or show anything new (except for the usual one or two innovative kills); but what was much more of a letdown was the lack of comedy that would work for me. I had higher hopes for the comedic parts, but that fell completely flat for me; so many missed opportunities…
★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 stars

Werewolves Within (2021)

I didn’t know anything about it, just watched it since I picked up some positive reviews and mentions of it in the last weeks. A surprsingly entertaining little dark comedy, liked it quite a bit.
★★★★☆ 4/5 stars

Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One (2021)

I don’t know the comics, but from what I’ve read online, it is a reputable graphic novel in the Batman universe; and that the story was slightly changed from the comics for this two-part movie.

Anyways, all things considered, it was not really my cup of tea. The animation was fine, and the story sounded interesting and started off well. But unfortunately, it moved into a direction that I couldn’t connect to much anymore (especially in part two).

I know, it sounds odd, but I’m not the bigges superhero fan (anymore) and the whole comic-cartoon extravaganza at times wasn’t made for me.
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

Batman: The Long Halloween, Part Two (2021)

~ See text for “Batman: The Long Halloween, Part One”~
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

The Final Girls (2015)

Never heard of this one before, but then I was pointed to it because it was mentioned positively on one of my preferred movie-review shows. Hm, like several instances before, it was a random suggestion that didn’t pay off for me: too generic and boring. I guess I should listen more to my gut feeling in the future, instead of such casual recommendations. Unknown gems are really rare…
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

Jungle Cruise (2021)

Well, speaking of generic: The next big summer-blockbuster/wanna-be-franchise-starter from the Disney juggernaut.

On the postive side: It’s off to an entertaining start, it never really feels lame, had a good pace and I generally liked the roles and actors (some more [Emily Blunt!], some less — funnily enough, I didn’t think that Dwayne Johnson was a good match for his role…).

On the negative side: Way too much green-screen and CGI spectacle. The story was of course also just an instance of what was done before, hundreds of times.
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

The Last Mercenary (Le dernier mercenaire) (2021)

My excuse why I started to watch it: It’s on Netflix, which I pay anyways, and it was new and promoted (I even saw a trailer, which looked somewhat OK). I’m not a JCVD fan, but maybe he would still have some nice action scenes? No, he doesn’t. Or maybe the humor would be good? No, it isn’t.

I saw maybe the first hour or so, with some effort; after that, my mind was wandering off, and I was just paying casual interest to it anymore. And then I stopped it, ignoring the final act because I couldn’t take it anymore.

Speaking of humor: Some of it maybe related to the translation, but certainly not all. Looks like french humor and I really don’t go well together, as I’ve learned over the years, with only a few exceptions; most of the time I just have to roll my eyes at it, sorry…
★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 stars

The Big Ugly (2020)

I stumbled upon this one by chance and it was exactly what I feared it to be: a very generic and mediocre B movie. Actually, below average even in all major aspects, be it technical (Who lit the scenes? Apparently no one…) or artistic (bad script, weak characterization). But I’ve already wasted enought time about on disappointment. The verdict: Two stars.
★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 stars

Goblin Slayer: Goblin’s Crown (2020)

A while ago, I watched the first season of the TV show on Netflix, out of curiosity. It wasn’t that good, but watchable enough that I finished all episodes (see Mini-Reviews #24). This one on another hand, is… a movie? A bonus episode? Not quite sure. But what I’m sure about is that it gambled away all the good-will the TV show had accumulated with me: Sooo bad and boring…
★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 stars

Mortal Kombat (2021) (2021)

Uhm, it was what I expcected… – just a bit worse. The first fight scene is cool, but after that it’s just downhill, very fast! There are the usual quips here and there in the first half, but the rest, especially the actual fights, is atrocious. And the “story” or “characters” don’t matter anyways, of course.
★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 stars

Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020)

I watched it because it was just new on Netflix and as a way of “preparation/update” for the Harley Quinn character in upcoming The Suicide Squad. Well, what can I say: It was pretty much a waste of time (and it even looks somehow cheap). Margot Robbie is great in the role; but overall, it’s just forgettable fluff.
★★☆☆☆ 2/5 stars

The Suicide Squad (2021)

Much better that the first incarnation, with some very unexpected (and some expected) surprises.

On the one hand, bloody and violent as hell, on the other hand, not as much as I was hoping for (granted, it’s still a Hollywood mainstream blockbuster-attempt). Also, the humor was also not as prominent as I expected, but maybe it’s a good thing, not to mock every situation…

I had entertaning two hours, and some scenes will definitely linger in my brain for longer, but as a whole, it’s not a movie for the ages.
★★★★☆ 4/5 stars

Batman vs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2019)

That was actually more fun than I expected it to be, mainly because of the TMNTs. Not as terrible as the Batman Ninja from 2018, this one had just the right amount of camp in it. That being said, it’s clearly just a better episode of a non-existing, bloody cartoon show; not really a good movie in the classic sense.
★★★☆☆ 3/5 stars

TV

Mythic Quest — Season 1 and 2

(Or Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet for the first season.)
I was somehow always interested in the computer games industry, so the premise of this ‘dramedy’ sounded interesting. And while I was a bit skecptical after the first two episodes (which should be normal: new show, new setting, unknown characters and was maybe also related to my personal mood that day), I was quickly won over: One of the finest shows in the sitcom-with-drama genre, in my personal hall of fame already sitting next to Scrubs and Community!
★★★★★ 5/5 stars

Masters of the Universe: Revelation — Season 1 (Episodes 1-5)

OK, speaking about the elephant in the room: Of course I read and heard about the public outrage over these first five episodes. I was not and am not a big MOTU fan, of course I watched the original Filamtion TV show back in the days, read a few comics, had the toys as a kid and even watched the really bad movie from the late 1980s.

But all that was a long time ago, and I haven’t kept tabs on later incarnations, so my “emotional investment” in this affair was rather limited. That being said, I fully understand why the fans feel fooled (Q: “Will it be, that X happens?” A: “No, that won’t be!” Spoiler: X was exactly what was done…). Even if the second half of this first season will switch things around again, the damage is done.

But regardless of all that, I simply didn’t like most of Revelation, even looked upon it independently: The story, the pacing, the animation, the characters – none of it felt right or interesting.

I will watch the next five episodes, just to see how the train wreck of a situation that Kevins Smith and Netflix got themselves into, will be resolved. And maybe, after that, I may even look at another season (if there will be one), because Castlevania also started off pretty boring with its first season and got better with season two and three (and a bit worse again in the final/fourth season…), but as a whole, the show is just a on a “meh…” *shrug* level of anticipation for me.
★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 stars

The Good Place — Season 2 and 3

After a good first season, it just got better (just as I’ve read and heard on many reviews/podcasts in the past). It’s a really well-made sitcom, with some positive messages, too. Good stuff!
★★★★☆ 4/5 stars