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The Sidemen Story (2024)
Mixed feelings
As somewhat of an oldie with the YouTube scene, I've been watching the sidemen (specifically used to watch KSI and W2S many many years ago) for quite a long time. This documentary has some really heartfelt moments that just tap into how far they've come with what they've done and how they have progressed as people; these heartfelt moments are easily the best part of this documentary. The reason why I have mixed feelings is that unfortunately these glimpses of the boys' personalities and honest moments don't really stay around for too long. There is so much filler content of people they know just reiterating the same old lines about how well they've done as social media sensations; how they've exceeded expectations; how television and Hollywood is bad and how they are the future. All of that is true, but we don't really need to hear that to understand the sidemen as people. There is also filler with some shots of behind the scenes videos on their sets/live performances which don't really add anything to the narrative, leaving the documentary feeling more like a slideshow than a film actually portraying the humanity of the sidemen.
For me, the sentimental moments should have been explored a lot more. We get short glimpses into their lives and some of their struggles or successes, but nothing ever really lasts. Once they have said this little bite of information, it's almost like they are rotated out to the background of the documentary and a new sideman has his 2 minutes of honesty.
I would love to really know the real people that clearly millions of people love to see every week, if not every day. I want to understand them as humans, and see their progress step by step to really connect with them and understand how their friendship works. In all honesty I'm not bothered about how much money they make.
It's an entertaining watch, but i wouldn't class it as much of a documentary. It lacks structure and doesn't really commit to anything it offers.
As a plus though, I now have a huge respect for Ethan for what he has been through and how he has overcome it - easily the best part of the documentary was learning more about him.
Im Westen nichts Neues (2022)
People have forgotten the book!
Whilst I will say this was an enjoyable film, it can't ignored that it was pretty poorly paced, as well as woefully misdirected in terms of the meaning and messages that the Remarque book conveyed. For some reason, important, key parts of the book were cut out completely in this adaptation. The most important missing one being the whole part of the book where Paul goes home and feels completely alienated to with his family and his former life. The film fails to grasp how much war psychologically changed these young men, and rather tries to show off its explosions and budget instead. As I say, it was an enjoyable watch, with some great action scenes and good acting. It's just unfortunate that it is so poorly paced, and there is little or no character development, and completely lacked the meaning of the book. I was disappointed beyond measure with this film, being such a big fan of the book. I think people should really understand the source material first.
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Part V (2022)
Still messy
Wow, are people this easily pleased?
After last week's monstrosity, Obi Wan returns with a somewhat decent, but still heavily flawed episode.
Positives:
Finally development with Reva (although, who really cares)
Awesome flashbacks to Anakin and Obi-Wan
More Vader screen time
Negatives:
- The Reva development is utterly ridiculous, surely she should be bitter at the Empire, rather than working her way through it to get to Vader? Also, she had met him on many occasions, how can she be from Jedi education and simply stand there and watch him destroy hundreds if not thousands or millions of innocent lifeforms, all the while apparently working against Vader? I think it was much needed development, but far too late in the series and overall pretty ridiculous. (Also, if she somehow survives after the Vader fight, it will further prove how this is children's television)
- The said flashbacks were cool, but really few and far between in the series. More were needed to really make you feel the emotional shattering that Obi-Wan had from losing Anakin.
- There is simply not enough development with Obi-Wan in his own show. It's sad seeing him so robotic, as if you could put a dollar in him and he would just say some generic uplifting line about hope.
- The action continues to be dreadful. The original trilogy somehow gets away with making stormtroopers look bad, but that fight against these civilians with guns? (The Path) it was totally embarrassing. I found myself saying "still haven't hit one yet" as all of these trained soldiers (storm troopers) were shot to pieces. It's so utterly tiresome seeing them perform so badly. The thing that a lot of other films do so well is make the enemy look imposing and threatening, and sometimes downright insane and murderous. Look at any WW2 film about the German side (will probably get censored if I say the name), most of them show how brutal a regime can be, which star wars always fails at somehow. I understand this is 'family viewing', but don't threaten us with sinister characters and actions if you can't show anything!
- a small note, but I can't stand Leia's character. The young actress does a great job at showcasing this bossy princess, but the writing makes her some sort of superbrain. Adults can't fix the doors to escape, so a literal child offers to climb into the vents... How the hell would she know what to look for? Isn't that also really dangerous since Obi Wan is meant to be looking out for her?
Finally. What the hell is this series meant to be about? This episode is definitely an improvement, but far too late to care. If there is a season two I definitely will not be watching, and finally admitting to myself that Star Wars is just completely terrible, moving on and growing up.
Zulu Dawn (1979)
Incredibly Underrated Prequel
If you're a fan of the classic film "Zulu", you will be guaranteed to enjoy this film! Although the historical accuracy has perhaps been questioned in places, I feel this hardly matters in the bigger picture. The film displays the embarrassing loss the British Empire suffered on its further quest for conquest in Southern Africa - it portrays heroism in places rightly deserved, but does not paint it as a true outrage, or either side in the right. The acting is absolutely superb throughout the cast list, as are the battle sequences, which are honestly some of the best I've seen in any war film. How this film is so forgotten about in comparison to it's predecessor absolutely baffles me; yes it doesn't show the Brits steamrolling the "enemy", or a display of defiance to ultimate victory, but it tells it how it is - that even the giants of the world are not invincible. If you want a solid prequel to Zulu, then please do watch it!