da_rc Reviews

Team Bulldog: Off-duty Investigation (2020)

Great Korean mystery show in the vein of Sherlock Holmes

[10/10 · 26 July 2020]

This is one of the best Korean tv shows I've watched because it's built up like a Western tv show in the sense that there's no forced loveline and instead the show just focuses on being a great mystery/whodunnit show. The difference between this mystery show and Western mystery shows is that this one has added a healthy dose of comedy that gels really well with the main theme of the show, without ever taking up too much space.

This show is built like a movie in that most cases take 2-3 episodes before they end and the plots are built up just like in a movie. That gives the show ample time to create a great story arc for every mystery/plot line.

The cases are all really good and the acting is very well done by all of the main 5 cast members. That really makes things believable be it comedy scenes, more intense scenes or action sequences.

If you like mystery shows then this is definitely something you should watch! I've not been this entertained by a Korean show in many, many years.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)

Best blockbuster of the summer - best 3D effects ever

[10/10 · 30 June 2011]

Saw this movie yesterday and let's just start by saying that everything that Transformers 2 wasn't - Transformers 3 is. This movie is fast-paced and things happen constantly. This is what a summer blockbuster is all about - making the crowd entertained and at the edge of their seats.

The main improvement from the second movie though is the storyline. Not only is the main storyline very compelling but it is given plenty of time to get the viewer to understand the back story as well (in fact, the first 20-30 minutes are about the back story). The storyline is also very good as it keeps the viewer interested in the movie, unlike the second movie. Not only is this storyline very good and compelling but the one regarding Sam Witwicky is well done too. His character has a good story arc this time and it gives the movie another dimension other than "robots fights robots in cool ways". It should also be noted that the humor and comedic elements in this movie is very well done, opposed to the 2nd one. At one time, my friend told me that it was too much humor up till that point in the movie!

What also needs mentioning is the 3D. This is hands down the BEST 3D made in a movie - ever! I've seen every 3D movie that has been made and until now Avatar was in the lead, by a mile. But Michael Bay - with the help of James Cameron and Cameron's avatar team - has created a real 3D spectacle here! Gone are the problems with the dark glasses that make the picture darker - this time they've made the movie brighter from the start! There is a shot of the Hong Kong skyline in the night - and in 3D this looks absolutely gorgeous. You can literally see like 15 buildings all in front of one another. The one thing that's missing are objects that pop out from the screen.

Also, the cgi is extremely well done to accommodate the 3D. The cgi has always been great in the Transformers movie and now is no different. The transforming parts have been slowed down and one can actually see almost every single part that is transforming. Breathtaking in 3D sometimes.

It should also be said that the score is very good. EG, Linkin Park's Iridescent is used several times and one time in particular is really good (SPOILER ALERT: when you hear the singing and not just he music).

Finally, some of the scenes in this movie looks really awesome in 3D and is - even if u watch it in 2D - great. In particular there is a chase scene on a highway about halfway through the movie. This is the 2nd best chase scene I've scene, only upped by the one in Matrix 2. The reason is that the details can be clearly scene all the time and it never feels like you as the viewer is missing out on things thanks to the camera being too zoomed in. Bay has learned from the mistakes in the first movie and most of the fights are zoomed out so you can see everything!

There are a few gripes though: 1) There could have been a few more fight scenes in the movie. The ones we see could also have been a bit longer. For instance, the decepticon Skywave is made out to be a top top fighter for the Decepticons, yet he never fights by himself. A fight between him and Bumblebee would have been nice to see as the visuals would have been really good.

2) The main actress is as always in the Transformers movies criminally underused. I have seen people complaining about her acting skills. But come on - her main purpose in this movie is to look sexy and she does that easily. Would have been nice if she had a bigger role though.

3) Megatron was not used enough. In the first one he was a menace to be feared. In the second one he was suddenly not as good in fighting. In this one he is hardly seen.

All in all - go see this movie! It is a summer blockbuster and on that premise it delivers to 100%. It's by no means an Oscar winner (except for potentially special effects) but that's never what a summer blockbuster is - and should be - about. The movie's sole purpose is to entertain us and that is does flawlessly. Not only via the story lines but also via how well-shot it is and how great the 3D is