Change Your Image
pmerrill-38726
Reviews
3 Body Problem (2024)
If you can stomach the characters...it's ok...
Most of the characters in this series are insufferable. They are arrogant, spoiled, obnoxious brats. Both the old and the young. Their dialogue swings between sappy and on the nose by the sentence. But, there's good news. I found that I could fast forward through most of the interpersonal 'filler' and suffer no loss of story progress.
This is one of those shows that thinks it's smarter than it is. A good example is the shows idea of 'innovation.' The propulsion system proposed in the show is seen by other researchers as 'ground-breaking.' But, in truth, this technique has been used in a number of sci-fi properties for years, and even presented visually on screen.
At one point one of the characters mentioned that they're going to go watch Rick and Morty. And the Rick and Morty reference made me laugh at the program, since this show seems well aligned for that crowd. It's not 'actually' smart, but plays like it is. That is this series in a nutshell.
It's probably enough material for a movie, but stretched to 8 hours, it quickly becomes laborious to watch.
I'd describe the series as "ok." I don't understand the hype behind it. Actual science is very difficult to understand at times. But, at no time was this hard to follow in the least. Dumbed down? Yes. Just dumb? Maybe.
Resident Alien: Alien Dinner Party (2022)
Writers with zero previous tv writing credits, and it shows...
This program is wildly inconsistent. Without Tudyk it would be cancelled within three episodes.
It appears that the 'writers' are just googling all the laziest ideas they could muster. Unoriginal, corny, and unattractive characteristics for what should be the protagonists.
The chemistry between Tudyk and Tomko keep the show afloat. Nearly every other character is insufferable. They speak lines that no normal person would say. And, here's a spoiler: the females will be 'smart,' but all the males will be 'dumb' or 'incompetent.' Every. Single. Time. It gets old. Fast. Especially since it is done with such a lazy hand. At least work harder.
I believe the core problem is NO female writer. If you want to write an empowered women's show, how about putting your money where your programming is? The worst is the child actors. I just forward through their scenes now. I get it - boy dumb, girl smart. Almost every single scene. Not almost. It's every single scene. Think I'm exaggerating? Watch the episode. And the previous ones.
This show started out as a fun subversion of genre. A fun semi-sci-fi show in the spirit of "Eureka," that's light and good hearted. Even with the murders, which is a weird combination.
But, the subversion is that the focus is on what I would call 'normal' blue collar women in mid life who are strong, flawed, but figuring life out. All the men are buffoons or criminals. So, what is the demographic that they're aiming for? Young men? Middle aged women?
This show is losing it's identity. They need to figure out what they are trying to do. I loved Eureka, even when it started jumping the shark. This show... Some episodes are so 'miss' that they are unwatchable. I still love Tomko and Tudyk. The rest can get taken by the Greys - I'm ok with it.
Resident Alien: Girls' Night (2022)
Nearly unwatchable...first episode I've forwarded through...
Not sure what they think they're doing here...
I've been really impressed with the subersive nature of the show up to this point. I'm hoping it's a one-off hiccup, because it's some of most lazy 'girl boss' writing I've seen in a long time. It's called subtext... The show just BARELY stopped short of a female actor shoving her face and shouting, "BOY BAD, GIRL GOOD."
It's nearly that bad.
Up to this point I've been really impressed with the structure and writing. While the message has always been there, it's been amazingly executed. This was just plain lazy.
I would actually recommend skipping this episode. It may put a bad taste into your mouth. Hopefully, better storytelling ahead!
Tudyk is a genius, as usual.
Beau Is Afraid (2023)
I don't even know who this movie is for...
I love the work of Ari Aster. Unfortunately, this work is not his finest. After thinking about it for a couple weeks, I've determined that someone appears to have decided that they could mix Aster's work with a poor imitation of David Lynch's work.
I love Lynch. I love all of Lynch.
But, this does not work. For the typical movie goer, there is a 90% chance that you will actively dislike this movie. There is a very good chance that you will be angry with what it did with your time.
It seems to be a movie made for freshman film majors. So many desperate attempts at "depth" that I just don't think are there.
Someone confused 'clever' with 'arthouse.'
I suspect that this will be the last time Aster gets an unmanaged budget of this scale if this is what he produces.
I did not enjoy this movie, and I'll be money that most of you will not, either. And I think that's easy money. Again, I'm left to wonder who this movie was for? It tells no tale. Dial the ego down, Ari. We still love you.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021)
They leave the most interesting part of clones behind
What should have been a wonderful deep dive into the flaw of clones and cloning falls into a trap of Disney formulaic writing. For some reason, nearly every SW project lately needs a "Kenny," a child to be protected, transported, and annoy any human over the age of 10.
For lovers of the Clone Wars, this endeavor will leave you disappointed. It really felt like the Clone Wars had built up the clones, and their programming had opened the door on a HUGE number of deep and haunting questions that could be explored about their existence. From existential questions to moral and ethical ones, there were few limits.
But, sadly, this just became more of the same already tired escort quest story lines from Disney. I was hugely disappointed. Perhaps that final CW season set the bar too high. Looking for a clone version of catharsis like Ahsoka vs Darth Vader might have been too much to ask.
The Thing (2011)
An unnecessary "prequel," that adds nothing and does it poorly.
It's really hard to understand why this was made. Other than the attempt at a cash grab, what reason would there be? The decision to use CGI in a movie coveted for it's in-camera effects is baffling, equalled only by the poor story telling.
From the onset, the story feels extremely rushed. It feels like the writers know that no one will like any of these characters, and want to 'get to' the monster as fast as possible. It's easy to see why. Who cares who any of the characters are? They are all fodder. The entire story travels at break-neck speed to get to an alien. Once there, it relishes it's bloodshed like only a computer could. And not one single element of the story works.
I guess this film should remind us how lucky we were to have the original. In this case they traded tension for gore, and it does not work in any way. This is an objectively bad movie.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
Baffling "mystery."
I'm stunned by the movie. All the talent involved, but it strained to make any sense. Firstly - you can't have an "unreliable narrator" in a mystery. Because, it defeats the point of the mystery. If the narrator can lie to you, then you're just waiting for a reveal, which, practically, could be anything. There is no meaning.
And that is the problem with this film. It is 99% style and 1% substance. The characters make no sense, the story makes no sense, there is no mystery, and the conclusion is drab.
The cast is amazing, as are the sets. It is an abundance of excess with no content. It is become what it claims to mock.
Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
Where is the writing talent today?
Top of the line actors, sets, and special effects. But, that's pretty much where the good of the series ends. The writing appears to have been completed in a middle school lunch room.
I just don't understand what is happening with this programming. There seem to be basic concepts of writing that are violated in a number of recent high-end productions. For instance (and probably the greatest consistent sin) is that you CAN'T put a character's life in jeopardy if the audience knows that the character survives. It deflates the scenes of any tension at all.
Top that off with a director who clearly does not direct action in any way, and you have loud noises, flashy lights and a lot of yawns from the audience. Wide shots of a child running from adults who just "run into" clearly visible objects and then fall over? That's why God created quick-cuts, my friend. Hide those horrible shots if you have to. So whether the fault is the directors or the editors, it is terribly executed.
And yes, we all "get it." Young females can be "tough." I think that you beat that dead horse about every six minutes. Seriously. It's such a heavy handed message that you find yourself rooting for the empire.
I'm a big fan of Clone Wars/Rebels, so I love the Third Sister, although that writing was so "on the nose" that she might as well have been a cartoon character. There is no subtlety for the actor to work with.
Congrats to Disney, I guess, who've now managed to screw up both Solo and Kenobi. Just sad that they can't do better than this. And it goes to show that money can't buy everything.
Eternals (2021)
Just terrible... So much more than a misstep.
I just don't understand what they were trying to do. The story is awful, the characters were just horrendous and laughable. The most bizzare part is the merchandising campaign. Did the company not watch the movie? Who would buy these stupid toys? Children? I can see that now - "hey mom, I want that guy who trys to murder all humanity and then commits suicide..."
What a total and complete mess of a movie.