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Reviews
Judged by Matt Walsh (2024)
Deadpan humor at its finest.
Something about this show feels so much more organic than the average reality court show, it truly seems like the plaintiffs and defendants really are just random people who can't get their cases before a real judge. Every time I see someone new walk through the doors I can't wait to see the way they'll react to Matt's unbridled personality.
The jokes here are truly hilarious, while at the same time they often fly dangerously close to being cringe, but that simply makes them funnier because of the courtroom environment. If you understand who Matt is and how intensely straight faced he is when being sarcastic, then you'll have a great time with this show. It also helps if you have a functioning moral compass.
Dune: Part Two (2024)
Too different from the book
Dune Part 2 missed the mark for me. While it is visually appealing, it lacks the narrative depth and intrigue present in the novel. The book presents a complex web of plots and machinations interwoven into one story; the movie is more akin to other sci fi spectacles, and leans into an action movie vibe, which tonally doesn't work with the source material. It's like it's trying to be both things at the same time, and as a result accomplishes neither.
Many of the character arcs and storylines present in the novel are either heavily altered, or missing entirely. Naturally, a decent amount of this is to be expected whenever a narrative work is converted to film, but with Denis Villeneuve's Dune 2, the the changes are as numerous as they are baffling. Alia is never born in the film, and she doesn't kill the Baron. Paul does? (and the Emperor?) The introduction of Alia was perfect in book, and helps to revitalize the progression of events, keeping the story gripping and thought provoking. The movie on the other hand, spends an extortionate amount of time explaining the water of life, and exploring Jessica's new role as a Reverend Mother.
In summary, Dune Part 2 is a visually appealing, narratively lacking, cinematic experience, which is refreshing when contrasted with many other recent films. Those that are new to the dune universe will likely be somewhat entertained, whereas fans of the books will probably be frustrated at the various alterations and changes.