nargon Reviews

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: A God Buys Us Cheeseburgers (2024) Season 1, Episode 5

The Gods Don't Feel Dangerous

[8/10 · 11 January 2024]

Honestly, I am enjoying this show immensely so far. The actors are going for broke, the style looks fantastic (finding out the production designer, Dan Hennah, was the same one who worked on Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy made me understand why I like the visual style so much), and I'm really liking the way the main character dynamics are shaping up. However, I do have one major gripe; non of the gods we've met so far feel dangerous.

The gods in the book are, well, immortal, super powerful beings that can vaporize you with a look if you cross them. They are to be feared, and if you don't fear them, you'd better be willing to face their wrath. So far in this series, we have gotten no glimpses of the power the Olympians posses, only threats and frowns. They don't give off the literal vibes they gave off in the books, and have yet to display anything supernatural about them at all. The characters don't show nearly enough fear towards them, and I don't blame them, they aren't scary.

While that definitely deflates the episode a bit, especially in the climax, the main focus is on continuing to develop Percy and Annabeth's relationship, and on this front I feel they hit it out of the park. The length is also an improvement from the last installment, but it was still too short for my liking. Could absolutely have used an extra five minutes to make the retrieval mission a little more interesting. As for the story change made to this chapter from the book, I don't necessarily dislike it, since it is meant to facilitate Annabeth's character arc just as the last episode was meant to jumpstart Percy's, though I do think the show could stand to embrace the silly antics and ridiculousness of the original a bit more. One mustn't lose sight of the fun while telling a serious story.

Still, a good episode. I'm hopeful the next one will be longer, and bring back a little of that crazy fun the books did so well.

Doctor Who: The Star Beast (2023) Season Unknown, Episode Unknown

The Messaging is Still Far Too Heavyhanded

[5/10 · 28 November 2023]

While it is good seeing David Tennant's Doctor and my personal favorite companion back together, hearing Murray Gold's beautiful score, and enjoying some wonderfully composed shots from director Rachel Talalay, the episode unfortunately commits many of the missteps I was hoping they would avoid, but suspected they wouldn't. Despite still having a talent for writing excellent prose, and being able to write characters who (mostly) talk like normal people, the writer of this episode was saddled with having to establish a great deal in fifty odd minutes, leading to a quite clunky opener to this anniversary three-parter. This is, of course, excusable. What is less excusable is the treatment of the main character by the other characters. The Doctor, fresh from regenerating from his previous, female self, is openly mocked by several of the supporting characters for no other reason than his gender. While I have no issue with the Doctor having been a woman, and I have no problem with Donna insulting the Doctor to a degree (her argumentative nature being a core part of their prior relationship), the Doctor is made to feel degraded and humiliated for not understanding the frankly unintelligible ending of the story, which is, of course, put down to him being a man instead of a woman.

While the Doctor should never be portrayed as perfect, something most incarnations have no issue with achieving, he should also not be told to his face that he is stupid and it is because of his physical makeup, for the sake of a cheap laugh. The Doctor, after all he has done for the universe, deserves a lot more respect. Apart from that, the general messaging throughout the episode still evokes much of the eye rolling moral-lessons-without-substance-to-cushion-it that pushed many fans away from the franchise during Capaldi's era. While it is not wrong to have messaging, indeed, morals and messages have always been an important part of Doctor Who, the story should never work it so hard as to be inescapable, or integral to the plot. Doctor Who has always been at it's best when the message is secondary to the main story.

To that point, I have hopes that the second episode, without the baggage of reintroductions and establishing, very clearly, it's virtues, will be a better experience. We''ll see if that instinct is correct. Doctor Who has a lot of bad will to overcome from the fanbase, here's hoping there is more to it's supposed "return to form" than some familiar faces and unearned lectures.

Blue Beetle (2023)

Unambitious, but Very Fun (and NOT a Multiverse film)

[7/10 · 22 August 2023]

Don't take that as an insult, that's really just the best word I can find to describe the film. Unambitious. But honestly, it's kind of refreshing after so many overdesigned, overpacked multiverse films that have been made lately. It's a bit like stepping into a warm bath that you can just relax in. One thing I can say off the bat is that the trailer does an extremely good job of setting expectations for the film itself. If you saw the trailer and thought: "that looks pretty fun", you will probably exit the cinema thinking: "that was pretty fun".

In terms of pros and cons, for me at least, the jokes were mostly unoriginal, but still funny, very funny at times, the action was fairly typical, but well lit and still very cool to watch. Speaking of lighting, the film looks great. Costumes, sets, cinematography, lighting, all good. It's less washed out than older DC films like Batman V Superman, but less saturated than more extreme Marvel films like Thor: Ragnarok. It looks very real, with just enough extra color to make it pop satisfyingly.

The plot was predictable, but at least they chose a good plot, and the cast was very endearing, I couldn't help but get invested in their over-the-top family antics. Xolo Mariduena is a revelation as Jaime Rayes, able to sell the part of the young hero without overdoing it on the "young" aspect, something that can plague other superhero films with young protagonists *coughs* Shazam 2* coughs*. There is a good balance being stuck between Jaime's reluctance at being unceremoniously saddled with the irreversible power of an alien superweapon, and his natural excitement that any of us would have to acknowledge at being able to fly and catch rockets.

Big plus for me; the villain is actually a villain. She isn't very sympathetic, and although the implied bias against the latino characters is a little on the nose, the film does a good job of showing that she is pretty despicable in all aspects of her villainy. Proper evil antagonists will always be more fun for me.

All things considered, I would recommend giving this a shot. It's campy, yes, but it is full of the hearts and souls of the people who made it, and I'd rather watch a movie that sets and hits a fairly low bar, than a film that feels like it was made on an assembly line.

And, if nothing else, just savor that this film takes place in one place, in one time, with one version of the character.

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

A Little Long, but Still Excellent

[9/10 · 15 July 2023]

Definitely has some length to it, but perhaps that's earned after all this time. While I personally am not a huge Mission: Impossible stan, I know enough to be able to appreciate how well it continues the story of Ethan Hunt and his ragtag team of rogue agents. The action scenes were, of course, a major highlight, well choreographed and realistic, without the gritty, brutal, bloody messes that other action flicks employ. The camera quality was wonderful, something about it evoking an earlier day of cinema, without any weird filters or motion blur, or an overabundance of frames that are designed to make the motion more realistic, but have always made my eyes hurt. The film is crisp, beautiful, and overall, worth the price of admission.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

A Tightly Written, Artistic, Action-Packed Masterpiece

[10/10 · 9 June 2023]

No other way to say it, this is an exceptional piece of cinema. The movie follows in it's predecessor's footsteps with a beautiful artstyle, or rather artstyles, which are unique to each of the universes we are treated to. The writing is fun, but plenty serious, with the characters dealing with very sobering events even outside of the usual superhero fare that we are used to seeing. Gwen is given an expanded role in this chapter, her development coming as an essential part of Miles' story, which is anything but sidelined. The acting is realistic and highly believable, the cast working seamlessly with the animators to bring across brilliant performances, and the lack of almost any celebrity voices is refreshing and helps the believability of the film. It maintains a great sense of humor, but it doesn't come at the cost of the drama. There is a myriad of things to discuss after a viewing of this movie, with hidden or background objects and detail giving clues to the depths this multiverse is boasting. The animation has perfected what the first one attempted, the movements more fluid, with every character getting personal movesets, and the world around them feeling even more fantastical and vibrant then before. The fact that this is only the first part of two does not bother me. If anything, I am so excited that the next one promises to be a continuation of this wonderful story. Safe to say, I'm invested.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once & Always (2023)

Strikes a Good Balance

[8/10 · 29 April 2023]

Power Rangers Once and Always has a tough job to do, and I think it does it pretty darn close to the best it can. The special, unlike blow-out anniversary team-ups that have come before it, this opts instead for a smaller, more personal look at some of the former "Teenagers with Attitude" that first donned the mantle of Power Rangers on the small screen. Focusing on three characters in particular, namely Zack, Billy, and Trini's daughter Minh, it takes as much precious screentime as it can spare to explore their motivations, their relationships with eachother and their fellow rangers, and the realities of dealing with tragedy. While the runtime does not allow these concepts to be taken quite as far as I think they could have, the writers are clearly doing their best to make the special, which had be made around a variety of real-world complications, feel heartwarming and deeply personal.

Bare in mind, that part of that balance involves it still being recognizably and unmistakably Power Rangers, complete with cheesy one-liners, color coordinated grown adults, heavy handed references, and props that are clearly just the collectable toys you can buy at the store. We catch up with original adjacent characters Kat and Rocky, and it is nice to see two lesser appreciated characters get their due onscreen, without overshadowing the main protagonists. The action is elevated, not having to kowtow to the kind of censors that watch over children's cable TV, and as such we are treated to a more violent and serious take on the fight scenes. It's not exactly Cobra Kai, but it is entertaining.

Overall, Power Rangers Once and Always' biggest downfall is it's rushed pace due to a tight allowance from Netflix. However, It was clearly made with the hearts and souls of those involved, from the actors, with a particular standout in Walter Jones as Minh's adopted father figure Zack (who can still bust a move after all these years), to the directors, stunties, and crew members. Ranger Fans should go into this with the right expectations. If you are looking for an army of past rangers with a fleet of zords and the largest battle the galaxy has ever seen, you will be disappointed. But, if you want to see a small group of beloved veteran characters strap on the helmets again to honor their comrades while shepherding the wild youth of the next generation, you will leave with a happy heart and tears in your eyes.

And it nothing else, its worth it to see Zack enter Dad Mode.

Power Rangers (2017)

Ranger fans Cannot Discard this Film

[9/10 · 28 April 2023]

I think Power Rangers fans went into this film with the wrong expectations of what it would be, and were therefore dissapointed. If all you want is the 1995 film with a bigger budget, you will not get it here. What you will get is a thoughtful, patient look at the lives and troubles of five young people who learn not only the value, but also the nessesity of finding meaningful human connection, and the beauty of true friendship. Because in this movie, these are actual teenagers with actual attitude. After we've done that, it's 20 minutes of great looking heart pounding action the likes of which the show could never achieve. It, unlike most movies today, does not use nostalgia as a crutch, rather it dares to try something new and unique, keeping the heart of its source material, if not always the look. A sequel could have given us more morphed action, introduced a fan favorite character, and continued more in the vein of that the original show. Sadly, if Ranger Nation continues to be upset because the film dared to give the infallible TV show characters some flaws and depth, we may never see Power Rangers rise to it's full potential.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

A Fantastic Ride from Start to Finish

[9/10 · 9 April 2023]

Just good, honest fun. You don't need to know anything about D&D the game to have a good time here, but if you do you will have plenty of references to keep you pointing at the screen like Leonardo DiCaprio. It's got just enough jokes to keep a smile on your face without ever overdoing it. The humor is allowed to breathe and sink in before moving onto the next quip, and it has a genuine heart and soul that keeps you invested all the way through. The characters are highly likeable and you cannot help but root for them, and nobody overstays their welcome. The villains are a touch underdeveloped, though powerful enough to present a tangible threat to our heroes. The film making is excellent, showing rather than telling, and it keeps a consistent tone all the way through. The effects are very well done, and all of the actions scenes were exciting and a treat to watch.

Highly recommend for a good old fashioned movie night!

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (2019)

Pretty Unbelievably Bad

[1/10 · 2 July 2022]

Seriously, this movie should have swept the Razzies. The cast is trying so hard, they really are. But there was never any saving this mess from the constant rewrites, lack of any trilogy planning, JJ Abrams-isms, and comeplte disconnect from the fans that Disney has proven with this franchise.

Modern Hollywood garbage at its finest.

Obi-Wan Kenobi: Part V (2022) Season 1, Episode 5

SO. BORING.

[2/10 · 2 July 2022]

There is a lot wrong with this entire show. The direction is bad, the writing is atrocious, the characters completely out of character, the cinematography is nauseating, still shots okay, but its like watching "Concept Art: the Series". They had ideas for some shots and everything else came after and didn't matter as much as just getting those trailer shots. As far as I'm concerned this is not canon in Star Wars, which really is the only way to choke through it because it's so, dry-heavingly stupid and insulting that I want to throw my Obi Wan Kenobi lightsaber at the screen. Reva is still an awful character in case you were wondering. Utterly incompetent and super annoying.

GET. BETTER. WRITERS.

YOURS. SUCK.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go play Jedi: Fallen Order. A much better version of the story.

Obi-Wan Kenobi: Part IV (2022) Season 1, Episode 4

What are we even doing?

[4/10 · 11 June 2022]

This is not the show I was promised. This is a man who calls himself "Ben" running around hunched over as if embarrassed to be there, very unsubtly trying to rescue a TEN YEAR OLD FROM TORTURE. Like, I know this is the Fortress Inquisitorius but even that just kept reminding me of a much, much better property, Jedi: Fallen Order. They say "no one has ever seen the inside" and I said "uh, yeah they have. Several people, actually. In fact, a lot of things in this shoe seem to be cribbed from the excellent Fallen Order game, such as the maim protagonists weak connection to the Force, the more uninteresting version of the Second Sister, the Fortress Inquisitorius.

So far, we have seen no Anakin, and far too much of Reva, who is so unintimidating she couldn't even successfully interrogate a child. A development that, by the way, completely breaks the oldest of canon, and I do not appreciate it.

So far, underwhelming and getting worse.

Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)

So Boring, Obi-Wan Deserves Better

[3/10 · 11 June 2022]

Disney is at it again with a canon-shattering yet mediocre plot, bad writing, and taking characters that we know to be badass and heroic and turning them into weak, pathetic pushovers. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Who we were introduced to in 1977 by him flashing his lightsaber and cutting someone's arm off), is in hiding on Tatooine. Not just there to watch over and protect Luke as he stated in Revenge of the Sith, he himself seems to be hiding as much for his own safety as the young Skywalker's. His connection to the Force is weak, and so far has used his lightsaber a grand total of twice. 4/6 episodes gone and he has yet to demonstrate that heroic swagger he had in the Prequels AND the Original Trilogy. We also have yet to see Anakin outsode of the Vader Suit. Hate to say I expected this, but it is Disney's MO to use better actors from a better era to hype up fans, then leave them flat when the project is released. Ewan McGregor is capable of much more that the Disney writers seem willing to give him. Honestly, it's sickening how poorly they are utilizing these characters in favor of incrediblely annoying new ones like Reva, who I am so disinterested I was hoping she would get killed off in this past episode.

All in all, the show looks fine, but as with nearly all Disney Era Star Wars, there is no soul to this shell of a better franchise.

Uncharted (2022)

Perfect Popcorn Night Out

[8/10 · 7 March 2022]

Nothing super deep, no thought provoking message or agenda, just a fun movie.

The action is well choreographed and well shot, the acting is decent and the story a feel-good Indiana Jones style adventure. The sets look amazing, excellent production value all around, good costuming and sound design as well. The editing is a little choppy, feels like there are probably a lot of delete scenes, and speaking as someone familiar with the video games, I think the casting weakens the movie as an adaptation rather dramatically. However, as a movie outright, it is exactly the kind of film Hollywood has been severely lacking lately. Just a lighthearted romp through beautiful locals and a healthy dose of well executed action and comedy that had me smiling the whole way through.

The Legend of Vox Machina: The Darkness Within (2022) Season 1, Episode 12

A Perfect Bookend to a Series That Elevates the Source Material

[10/10 · 21 February 2022]

This episode is the best of them all so far. Getting to see the characters become a cohesive unit over the season has a satisfying payoff here, allowing for inter-personal development that I worried it might not have been allowed given the time constraints. The visuals, music, and acting in this installment were beyond stunning, and it is clear to see how much the creators were looking forward to this finale.

All in all, a great ending to a great season, with the promise of an even better, more intense chapter in the future.

The Legend of Vox Machina (2022– )

A New Hope for Fantasy Entertainment

[10/10 · 5 February 2022]

One thing I have to give this show credit for above anything else, is the clear love with which it was made. Every frame is dripping with the passion of not only the original creators, but the animators, designers, composers, background artists, etc. Now passion alone does not make a good show, but combine it with people who are very good at what they do and you can make something truly special. This show will not be for everyone, and that's okay, it isn't meant to be. But for those who enjoy fantasy, D&D, animation, comedy, or those who just want an entertaining romp not bogged down by big studio expectations or the need to fill a content quota, I am confident you will fall in love with these characters and this world as so many have before.

And if you don't? That's alright. But for me, a show that isn't for everyone but was made solely because people wanted to make it will always top a show made for everyone that no one asked for.