gabriel-gibin Reviews

American Gods (2017–2021)

Reading the book now - and the TV show does not disappoint, superb!

[10/10 · 1 May 2017]

Well, I picked up the book a few weeks back, before the show premiered. I'm a little ahead but I tell you, the show does a great job adapting this wonderful fantasy by Mr. Gaiman, verbatim at least for the pilot. The pace is great and the contemporary take on mythical figures is perfect.

Great for people who enjoy mythology - if you know a bit about it beforehand it's going to improve the ride but not essential. Great if you enjoy fantasy. Amazing show. Watch it, it's worth it.

Only downside is - I think it should air on Wednesdays, not Sundays!

How to Get Away with Murder (2014–2020)

Heisenberg is not the danger - Lawyers are way more dangerous!

[10/10 · 8 April 2017]

A few episodes in, seems just like any other courtroom drama but don't be fooled. In short, the show is about a top lawyer with five of her students working for her at her office but then the crap hits the fan real hard and just about everyone turns out to be a psychopath or sociopath, murderer, bastard, pervert etc doing all sorts of reproachable things to win cases and get away with the crimes committed.

If I were a lawyer I'd be really mad at this show as it makes it look like every lawyer is a deranged immoral demon. Lots of fun to watch.

Legion (2017–2019)

4 Episodes in and all I know is... Nothing (Socrates would be proud)

[2/10 · 26 March 2017]

Apart from the synopsis released for this show, 4 episodes in and nothing but visuals were added. Storywise, much, if not all is left to the viewer - may work well for a movie, something shorter I guess but for a series it drags and makes you tired and then it makes you not care about the characters any longer - and that's sad.

After much disappointment from other primarily engaging shows like Lost or more recently The OA where writers seem to throw in a gigantic amount of "mysteries" to finally just drop everything without ever caring about putting things together just to trash it with a crappy, cheap ending (a disrespect to the people that have faithfully followed their shows, in my opinion...That made me swear never to watch anything ever again from Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindlof) - I really fear that's where things are going.

I hope I'm mistaken, let's see.

The OA (2016–2019)

Same feeling I had when watching LOST - great at the beginning, utter crap at the end

[1/10 · 3 January 2017]

Starts of great for any fantasy/mystery fan - Lots of visuals, a great premise (life after death, near death experiences, fringe science and all that), great visuals, dreamy scenarios and some tension with a nice villain to top it all. You really want to know what happened to the lead character, like - Why is she called OA, why is it necessary to do this and that, what is going to happen to the villain... why this and why that... And through it all only 8 episodes long.

But then, then, while you expect answers so the mystery can move forward... They just never come and, just like LOST, it feels the writers gave in to a sudden indisposition, stomach ache or diarrhea -they just drop their sh*t all over the viewer mercilessly like raving pigs over a fan.

At the end you feel you have sh*t all over you, just everywhere and the writers are asking you to dance like a pig on acid. Horrible, skip at all costs!

Suing the Devil (2011)

Dear Lord, what the hell was this thing?

[1/10 · 1 February 2015]

I really enjoy watching Malcom McDowell on screen and I really like dark humor and sarcasm. By the title it should hit spot on but oh boy was I wrong... Could only endure this cinematic monstrosity going through 3 separate sittings throughout the week - If you can do it in less time, congratulations my friend for your virtues are greater than mine. At the end it is hard to believe so many actors (and McDowell included) would endorse such a cliché movie supporting religion.

Hoped it would be a witty dark humor flick with Mr McDowell in it and all, thought it would be nice to see him as Satan...It is NOT that kind of movie at all; instead, very unfortunately, it is a cliché, Christian based and truly truly terrible acting from everyone, dare I say sort of like high school plays. A disappointment for a libertarian atheist like me, missed opportunity of producing a fun movie really.

We end up with a mesh up of biblical quotes, Jesus loving statements, clichés and terrible acting. Barely any jokes about religion or anything else at all.

It feels like it has been commissioned by a church of some sort but there's always this other possibility - this thing is so terrible that it could well be the work of Satan himself. Awful!

Rubber (2010)

LET THERE BE TIRE AND THERE WAS TIRE!...for absolutely NO REASON if I may add...

[10/10 · 26 July 2014]

Wow, where to start? Silliness? Nonsense? Idiocy? YES! But don't get me wrong, by no means is it just a silly movie. It starts off from the silliness of the premise but it, in my understanding, is pure existential joy. The opening speech (and entrance) by the cop, who introduces the whole concept is one of the greatest gems I have ever encountered - running over the chairs and, if you look closely, his gestures, the glass of water- oh my god! The glass of water lol! Priceless really!

I believe fans of brit humor like Monty Python or Fry and Laurie will enjoy this the most.

Probably most people don't get the point of this movie as it is not structured like a typical movie but I found it really amazing and quite enjoyable - I really missed movies like this one, GREAT but not for everyone.

Warehouse 13 (2009–2014)

Dr.Jones and Walter Bishop would be proud!

[8/10 · 21 October 2013]

Once in a while I browse for ongoing series I haven't heard of, so I have something new to watch. From Netflix I got to know this refreshing series Warehouse 13 and I may say it's a lot of fun.

The premise, the way I think of it at least, connects somehow with the end of Riders of The Lost Ark - The big warehouse where the Ark is kept at the end - That's it, it's a place where all sorts of mysterious objects are kept away from the normal folk.

In all the show does not take itself seriously, not for a long shot. So expect it to be Steampunk, Goofy, Nerdy, Slapstick with lots of Sci-Fi, nerdy and pop culture references by our pal Pete, the secret agent - lol.

Anyway I think it's very much a lighter version of Fringe - fun for Sci-Fi fans!

Assault on Wall Street (2013)

If you need to decrease your happiness levels, smile (not) - This is the flick for you!

[4/10 · 11 July 2013]

Well, what should I say... It's a good film, nice acting but don't expect an action flick, this is not it. As for the story, if you are overflowing with so much happiness and it even bothers you, it's so much you don't even know what to do with it anymore, then you've found pure gold! Did you feel sad with Dead Poets Society? Did you feel sad after Marley died in Marley and Me? Did you feel sad when ET went back home? Suppose at the end, ET discovered there was no more home to go back to because all his family had been murdered! Marley died during a SAW movie and was then turned into a centipede! And all the Poets committed suicide together! That's it, this movie will get even a lottery winner sad in no time at all! Wow, I was happy a while ago and see - just five minutes writing this and my keyboard is wet already, that's just "great"! Thank you producers!

The Lone Ranger (2013)

Great entertainment and the horse really deserves an Oscar!

[10/10 · 5 July 2013]

I don't know about you, but generally I go to the movies for entertainment value and this is what you will get when watching this movie. Of course, the movie presents the same revenge background common to this sort of film but it's so much more than that: - Great visuals, lots of thrilling scenes, chases, cowboys and all that.

Johny Depp is great, a bit "Sparrowy" as Tonto and his lines sometimes serve as the entry points for what I thought the best thing in this movie - the widely surreal feel brought by the mighty horse cameos. Just WOW - Felt like I was watching Monty Python on the Wild West on acid! Lots of lol moments which is really great and mixes well with all the thrill and adventure!

Best line: There's definitely something wrong with that horse! Oscar for the horse, now!

Redemption (I) (2013)

The director is a sarcastic bastard - and I like it yeah! - "Are you exclusively gay? No, this week I'm doing nuns as well..."

[8/10 · 28 June 2013]

It's the same framework for every JS movie, this one included - bad ass good guy kicking asses - but don't get me wrong, this IS a good movie but not for the obvious reasons in my opinion.

Well, what really stands out is the sarcasm and dark humor (I laughed out loud several times); I mean for the viewer with a sharp eye it will be clear that the director/writer mocks morals,religion, personal values in an absurd way (not even with suspended beliefs could you believe such surreal situations with the nun character) - but that is precisely the beauty of it and in my opinion it highlights that humorous tone due to that very reason.

Great, but just for fun and laughs. Nice one.

Odd Thomas (2013)

Very well made adaptation for the screen - couldn't tell the difference from the book!

[8/10 · 25 June 2013]

If you read Odd Thomas, which fortunately I did, you will hopefully find this movie quite truthful to the book which is really great. Superb job from the screen writers. Really, the characters are perfect in the movie and I think there would be no one better than Dafoe to play the Chief!

The book was a really fun read and the movie has exactly the same feel, too bad it's too short. I think books are the best because the thrill lasts longer but this movie is a go.

The rest of the acting is not Oscar material, but it is a very enjoyable movie and goes well with a soda and a bag of popcorn.

As for the end - get your tissues ready. Oh Lord, the humanityyyyyy!!!

The Call (II) (2013)

Who needs Chuck Norris if you got Chuck Berry?

[8/10 · 13 June 2013]

This is a good entertaining flick. Lots of tension, great chasing scenes and you will be on the edge of your seats during the entire movie. It's the standard psycho serial-killer hunt story but from a different perspective - that of a 911 phone operator, which by the manages to portrait the hard life of those professionals - they have to be really really tough not to crack down completely under pressure, wow!

As for the bad guy, pretty standard stereotype of a deranged killer. And the end, well that's a different story in my opinion. Satisfying but kinda comical really for the never ending sequence of stupidities. At times I found myself cursing at the screen for the unbelievably dumb moves by some characters, but fun nonetheless.

Worth a watch but be warned - this is a thriller and will get you on the edge of your seat!

Iron Man Three (2013)

After the twist I wanted to pull off my eyes with my bare hands

[2/10 · 19 May 2013]

It's a good action movie BUT oh my god, the "twist" completely ruined it in my opinion. How could they do THAT?? Don't get me wrong, it's great acting all over but it's a huge letdown for IM fans.

What a waste of potential after casting Sir Ben Kingsley (whom I am very fond of). Unforgivable, period.

Comparable only to the Lost finale, ouch. Shame on you Drew Pearce and Shane Black! You should be arrested for that one, tight scheduled, could't think of a better script? I don't get it,it is plain wrong, very disrespectful to the true fans

• Go work with Damon Lindelof!!!!

Cloud Atlas (2012)

Beautifully crafted box filled with a lot of nothing - visually interesting, nothing more

[3/10 · 28 December 2012]

It's a pretty movie, a feast for the eyes really. Soundtrack is also very nice and lots of good performances. Yet the story (which we know from the synopsis will show everything is connected) carries no punchline or at least I failed to see it. As I said, to me its just that which you know from the start, even before watching the movie - "everything is connected". Great, so how do you move from there? How do you deliver the punchline? To me there was none at the end of the 3 hour ride apart from the very premise.

So, if you want to be visually dazzled and have a lot of time to spare, go for it. If you are expecting a punchline or twist, not so much. Oh and makeup, nice but kinda like the scooby doo cartoon - you just know it isn't for real, lol.

Pretty overrated movie if you ask me.

True Blood (2008–2014)

Good show and worry not - nothing like Buffy Lol...

[8/10 · 6 October 2012]

Periodically I pickup TV series from the past years to watch as a passtime. With this one I was really surprised as it is not your typical vampire kind of show, it is clearly a series intended to deal with minorities, social prejudice, gray moral areas and all that in a more credible and humanized way (vampires are present in society, just like a different race) - which makes it different from the other vamp series.

For action sequences I think it does a very good job and the storyline is very promising (watching the 1st season now).

All that is seasoned with humor and sensual moments - but in sexual scenes that aren't sexy and sexy scenes that aren't sexual if you know what I mean. And well, Anna Paquin is beautiful.

Sound of My Voice (2011)

The sound of nonsense, duh

[2/10 · 23 September 2012]

Well, I won't write much about this one - Cult leader claims to be from the future and a journalist couple starts an investigation. OK, interesting start - If it ever were to be developed in the movie, but no.

Good atmosphere and convincing cult-like gimmicks - Very poor story/character development as never gets anywhere. Utter disappointment. Could have been much better.

The movie sets the atmosphere right, adds up tension until the end and when you are finally waiting for a satisfactory conclusion, the only sound of a voice you will hear is Don De Louise's revealing a prank and saying "Smile, you're on Candid Camera!" - Cheap and underdeveloped.

Compliance (2012)

Well made movie about the unbelievable power of human stupidity

[7/10 · 22 September 2012]

Very well executed movie, good actors and a good plot (said to be based on true events) - which is almost beyond belief, as the story relies on people acting in unbelievably idiotic ways just because a figure of authority tells them to. It is incredible that a person could suspend all common sense and all his or her powers of moral judgement to that level, just because someone told you to!

-Step on that rusty nail! -Chew glass! -Shoot the baby! And then the idiot does it...

Would anyone do that? I still can't believe the statistics that say there are lots of cases like the one in the movie all over... If that's really the case, there's something really wrong with people's common sense, character and moral judgement. I feel like punching the people who do not use their heads all the time - If you are not going to use it, you don't deserve to live with a head - be a man! Cut it off once and for all!.

Good one, but revolting. I once read - All it takes for evil things to happen is for good people to do nothing...