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An error has ocurred. Please try againThe premise is, as follows: "Snow is falling. The holidays are coming. The Littlest Pet Shop pets are in the depths of despair. Pepper Clark is missing. Blythe Baxter has lost the plot. Her best friends are out in the cold. And the notorious Biskit twins are ready to make their move."
Reviews
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)
Zack Snyder had a story to tell, and this movie clearly shows.
It's become clear to me that Zack Snyder had his own ideas on how to portray these beloved comic book superheroes, and provided you're watching the Ultimate Edition, this movie really delivers! As grim, nihilistic and morose as the film is, it is also very action-packed. Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot both steal the show as the Dark Knight and Wonder Woman, respectively, and the rest of the cast give it their all, especially Jeremy Irons as Alfred. The visual style and cinematography are great; the opening sequence alone is beautifully shot, and the score by Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL does its job well, adding plenty of emotion and intensity to the film.
If you were to put a gun to my head and ask if I have any nitpicks with the film, I do have a few, and they are perfectly reasonable:
- The obvious: this movie is a very misguided attempt to set up the Justice League a mere two movies in, which is all the more evident in the title alone. It is abundantly clear that the heads at WB were trying desperately to play catch-up to Marvel and their established cinematic universe. Bringing in the Justice League midway through the film ultimately feels like an afterthought, as does Doomsday, who looks nothing like he does in the comics. It's sad to see the DCEU wasn't properly developed.
- As much as I personally admire the storytelling efforts, it is literally adapting two big comic book events in one movie with barely enough time to fully flesh out the characters and their motivations, which by themselves are somewhat nonsensical and over-the-top.
- Being a three-hour movie, the pacing can take a dip in some spots. I don't really mind the length of the UE, but I understand that this will either make or break the movie for others. I hear there exists a four-hour cut of BvS. I wonder if we'll get to see it at some point?
- Jesse Eisenberg, I think, is entertaining as Lex Luthor, but he embodies none of the key characteristics of the Man of Steel's archenemy and he often comes across as a mix between Jim Carrey's Riddler and Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka.
Bottom line, Zack Snyder really knows how to make his movies epic and grand in scale, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is no exception. This is one of the most divisive cinematic ventures ever made, but one that I can highly recommend.
South Park: The Pandemic Special (2020)
Three words...
That's all it takes to describe the show's first hour-long special episode, and they go something like this: Classic South Park.
Reality Z (2020)
Just As I Thought
Claudio Torres' amateurish Brazilian remake of Charlie Brooker's Dead Set is exactly what one would expect it to be: the first five episodes are a direct remake of the 2008 E4 serial the show is based on, while the second half of the season follows its own original narrative that picks up from a familiar storyline.
Is that to say the show is utter crap? Far from it. Even with the rehashed story beats and clichés associated with the zombie horror subgenre, it is still an enjoyable series that revels in its cheesiness. The cinematography and set design make it clear that this is a hammy, low budget remake of a British horror miniseries that was nominated for a BAFTA for "Best Drama Serial" a year after its initial broadcast.
The performances can range from authentic to corny, which is to be expected from a cheap remake like this. In my view, who could ask for anything more? The characters - old, new and all too familiar - will leave you with a sense of fun and excitement from watching them take down their undead opponents and deal with their own conflicts.
Speaking of 'undead', the revered zombies act more like the ones from Ruben Fleischer's Zombieland than the ones from Brooker's original series, but that surely doesn't make them any less of a threat to our main leads, especially since episodes five and ten end on cliffhangers immediately following tragic outcomes, quite similar to Dead Set.
All in all, Reality Z was a lot of fun to sit through, regardless of which dub - Portuguese or English - one decides to watch. This series doesn't hold a candle to the original miniseries, of course, but at least the latter is finally gaining the recognition it truly deserves. Get in, Mr. Brooker! And good luck on your next project!
Quarantine (2008)
A solid remake that manages to stand out on its own
Disregarding its narrative shortcomings and almost uncanny resemblance to the original 2007 Spanish classic, QUARANTINE is a competently-made Americanisation of the source material that manages to stand out with solid direction, magnificent performances, top-notch cinematography, effective scares, amazing practical effects and consistently unnerving atmosphere. Highly recommended if you enjoyed REC or are a fan of the found footage horror genre.
Dead Set (2008)
A Product of its Time, But a Brilliant One at That
Charlie Brooker's five-part E4 horror serial, Dead Set, is an expertly-crafted, sharply written satire on one of TV's biggest reality shows by mish-mashing the UK's version of Big Brother with the likes of Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later. Through mesmerising performances, cleverly written characters, subtle hints of meta-humour and darkly comedic undertones, creative bouts of traditional blood and gore, heart-pounding cinematography, Dan Jones' terrifying score and solid direction by Yann Demange, the series details a grim alternate reality where the British public are mindless slaves to reality television - and that's due in no small part to its bold and bittersweet ending.
For those who enjoyed George A. Romero's Dead trilogy and Shaun of the Dead - or those who are in for some Black Mirror warm-up viewing - or have a fond history of Big Brother, look no further!
A Quiet Place (2018)
A revolutionary horror gem
Short, sweet and to the point. John Krasinski's directorial debut is nothing short of phenomenal for many fans of the horror genre and the divisive work of producer Michael Bay's very own Platinum Dunes.
Joker (2019)
One of 2019's highlights, and also one of the best the 2010s has (or, more or less, had) to offer
As we leave the old decade behind, it is worth noting that Joker paves the way for a slew of upcoming superhero adventure flicks in what is sure to be recounted as a thrilling, chillingly plausible tale for DC Comics' most celebrated supervillain. May Todd Phillps' efforts be remembered by us all as a shining example of comic book cinema at its finest!
The Simpsons: Bart's Comet (1995)
One of the Greatest Episodes of the Golden Era
After rewatching this episode two days ago, I began to recognise this as one of the greatest Simpsons episodes ever written---not just in regards to the "Golden Era" as stated above, but rather the entire series.
This episode crams a lot of material in its 22-minute timeframe, and John Swartzwelder actually succeeded in making it work (at least, in my POV).
The comedic timing is on-point, the story follows a brisk pace, a sense of urgency looms throughout the third act, and the final scene offers a wealth of emotion and poignancy as the townspeople join hands in union and prepare for the end of Springfield.
This is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the highlights of Season 6, and it clearly shows amid first glance at its synopsis. A definite must-watch for Simpsons fans and newcomers alike.
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
Not as emotionally heavy as A:IW, but still great!
I saw this last night at the Odeon Luxe in Broadway Plaza, and aside from my dinner at Frankie & Benny's and the luxurious seating, I loved this flick, all the way through!
It has:
-Good humour
-Well-executed action sequences
-Compelling storyline
-Decent amount of emotional weight
-An accurately-animated underwater sequence with Wasp and Ant-Man
-A gripping mid-credits scene
I tell ya, I'd watch it again if I could. One of the best films I've seen all year, besides Avengers: Infinity War and Incredibles 2.
Definitely recommended for Marvel fans!