Change Your Image
michaelisking-66226
Reviews
The Beekeeper (2024)
Action that has you cheering things you shouldn't be cheering.?!?
That's right. I was actually cheering in places where I thought, "seriously am I cheering that?". Uh, yeah. Sweet revenge, over the top crazy combined with such gratifying...fun?!?! What does that say about us (I know I wasn't the only one cheering sweet revenge).
Better not to think too much and just enjoy the ride because baby, that was one hell of a ride. Jason Statham kills it, and that's exactly what you expect from him and maybe even a little bit more.
I have to admit the gas station scene made me question what I have become. It was crazy as hell, unexpected, really awful, terrifying, amazeballs bad as hell and I loved it! After all it is "just a movie". If you want action, bloody violent revengeful action, payback brutality, and excitement...you've got it in The Beekeeper.
Next installment please! I will take the thrill ride again. And again.
Star Trek: Discovery: Under the Twin Moons (2024)
Back to the Stars!
So excited for this first episode of the last season. It's the beginning of the end!?! How exciting! There's a lot of ground to cover...a lot of space to cover, between this first episode and the last. How about starting us off with a fast ride. Actually a couple of fast rides. One on the outside of a ship traveling at warp speed, and another on sand runners. It is Discovery so of course there is a little bit of everything. From the fast rides to the slower personal side of life and relationships onboard ship. It's the "mundane" life aboard a Starship, with the occasional party, drinks, some flirting between the crew...
A little bit of mischief, a few trouble makers, breaking a rule here or there. Just what we've come to expect from the crew of discovery. Oh, and while they're at it, they do end up making...discoveries! We'll see where it leads. Perhaps discoveries about the secret of life itself? This will be interesting...
Great special effects that we've come to expect and considering we're just getting started it looks like it's going to be a fun ride. Can't wait.
Mary & George (2024)
Fun! Gorgeous.The Kings are Queens!
Royal fun. Sexy, messy, danger is "the tea". How refreshing. Julianne Moore is perfect as the mother pimping her son (What? Aren't the fathers usually the ones pimping out their daughters for power and position?). Nicholas Galitzine could not be more beautiful or more perfect as "trade".
The future looks to be full of intrigue, danger, jealousy, backstabbing, buggering, and battles for power...and I for one can't wait! Everything is so well done. The show looks "rich". Wardrobe, cinematography, hair, makeup, are amazing...it's a pleasure to look at.
We know where the story is heading. After all, it's based on actual historic figures. In light of actual current day drama, this is a much appreciated reminder of how much some things change and yet...how little some things change.
Thanks STARS. Can't wait for more of this historic "fun"!
Dune: Part Two (2024)
You may think, "it must be perfect", it's not, but this is Si Fi movie going at its best!
I mean "Perfection"? I have not seen it anywhere. Ever. However a great moviegoing experience this is! Without a doubt. I mean if you don't like science fiction or you only want a movie to be exactly like "the book", I mean...there's no helping you. You're never going to be satisfied. So this review is not for those, this review is for people who just love to be immersed in worlds that almost seem unimaginable, and yet you're there. With the sounds, the sights, the vibrations, the feelings and all the emotions. Only thing missing is the smell.
One of the best movies I've ever seen on the big screen. Making full use of everything that the big screen and big sound offers you.
The acting is superb, everyone! Timothy Chalamet was perfect. You can't take your eyes off Austin Butler.
Costumes, sound, I mean this was a spectacle and I definitely appreciate it all. The writing, directing, editing, you name it. A Si-Fi masterpiece and a truely epic, if lawed, piece of movie making history! Thank you for creating and sharing it with us.
Down Low (2023)
I know I said 8, if i'm being completely honest, 7.5!
Original dark comedy, like nothing I remember seeing, as far as gay cinema goes. American gay cinema that is. Spanish cinema has done it quite a few times. With great success.
Not going to pretend it doesn't have some cringe moments, it does, but there's enough fun, laughs, weirdly loveable scenes to help you forget the pain and "gory".
Look, it's not a movie about all gay people. Is there a movie about all straight people? No. There's everything out there no matter what anyone says or thinks. It's a big crazy wonderful diverse world. We see cringeworthy every day. We see beautiful everyday. There's everything in between. It doesn't stop us from looking, from living, from loving or laughing. It doesn't stop artists from being creative either, that's for sure!
Zachary Quinto and Lucas Gage do an awesome job. Lucas (Cameron) is perfectly unloveable at first. Later I found him just loveable enough! I mean, who doesn't love a happy ending?
Relax. Enjoy.
Filip (2022)
All is fair, in love and war?
Well, well, well, what a wonderful surprise!
This movie was a journey into wartime survival. More than survival, being alive! Living. At great cost, at great risk, and with great "reward?". Beautiful at times, not "pretty". To the contrary. There's just enough joy, humanity, friendship, sex, laughter and perhaps love on the screen, to keep you from loosing all faith in mankind. At a time of such inhumanity.
Then and now.
The perfect time to see this movie?
Great performances by the way, especially Eryk Kulm. Deliciously sexy, angry, savage at times. Emotional, satisfying and powerful. Victor Meutelet and Caroline Hartig, really the entire ensemble did an incredible job. So glad we're able to see wonderful European movies on Netflix.
No. It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea. However for those who can appreciate other "perspectives" in life, cinema, storytelling, art and yes, history. Drink up! Loved it.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)
They say, good things take time...
So true. So true. I am very glad i've learned that if it's a series, writers can take time and really develope a deeper story, with more complex character development. They do not have to put it "in simple terms" so you can easily and quickly see everything all at once.
That doesn't work for some viewers. They don't have the time, they do not want to put in the effort. I do!
The Falcon and The Winter Soldier was a slow churning locomotive spinning on the tracks as it started to move. Then it picked up speed.
It turned into a freakin' runaway train heading for the bridge where the dynamite just blew the f'n tracks to smithereens!!
No, it's not a "simple" story. No it's not a oversimplified plot for childlike minds. It ain't " black and white", good vs evil. This thing has some gray matter to chew on.
Yum yum.
When's the next season? I'm hungry, ready to chow down!
Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire (2023)
Oh man, if Sci-fi is what you like...
This is a Sci-fi fun fest. Right off the bat you start to care about these people. Their homes, their lives, their passions. Their families and their world. Then all that you care about, is in danger, and it's real, ugly, mean, mess up your whole world kind of danger. Let the battle begin!
Fascinating worlds, strange beings, amazing graphics and big, wild battles in the stars. These warriors are also wild and each "big" in their own way. Kora is one of the biggest and baddest! A fierce fighter and leader, of a band of the wildest, butt kicking bad asses ever assembled!
What's not to like? The ride is fantastic, fierce, big, imaginative and beautiful.
I want to go again!!
Saltburn (2023)
A Journey Into The Art of Storytelling and The Visual Arts!
No not for all. Doesn't want to be. I thank you for it! What beauty and yes, what ugliness. Wealth and lack. Rich color, light, shadow and sound. Images of excess and endulgence, of emptiness and want. A visual journey I am happy I was able to go on. It wasn't always easy, but it was exciting, shocking, a little twisted, uh yeah, and quite beautiful. Surprising yet at times it was boring like the lives on screen. Beautiful people, surrounded by beautiful things, and yet ugliness was always there. The actors were perfect. Jacob Elordi and Barry Keoghan especially convincing, great performances. Barry's dance at the end was the perfect digestif after such an indulgent and excessive feast.
The Winter King (2023)
I'm in. Not like anything out there right now. Great distraction at the perfect time.
Yes sir. I couldn't be happier. This has come at the perfect time. It may not be Vikings, or The last Kingdom or Britannia. It doesn't have to be. Let it be what it is. Perfect for right now. A story, a fantasy, an adventure. Love, war, friendships, honor, betrayal, truth, magic, gods and men.
Great scenery, beautifully shot and at times the smaller scale and smaller budget is evident but the feeling and the artfulness of the writers, cinematographers, the director, and the actors take us into this world with ease. If we let it.
I'm letting it. I'm needing it. I'm enjoying it. I'm grateful for it!
Perfect it's not, but what is? Seriously. Not as good as this or that, it's terrible, not "right"...
OK, watch something else. It's perfect for me right now. I'm gladly watching this first season and then I want more!
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Subspace Rhapsody (2023)
Well that was a first!
Look, I love I love I love Star Trek, science fiction, and quite frankly I can appreciate a good musical. Never have I found myself in this situation. The two combined. There have always been episodes since the very beginning of Star Trek, where you're like, "okay that's not my favorite episode but I still love it". The show I mean. If you've paid attention to life at all you know that you're not always going to have your every dream fulfilled, your socks knocked off, or all roses and daffodils... if you're into flowers at all.... anyway la di da.
Wasn't what we're used to? No! Did I get into it, once I got out of my own way? Yeah.
Great special effects this season, this episode was no exception. AND...
come on! Spock singing was so freakin' nice! Was every song My Favorite no but that brings us back to do you ever get you want, is it always 100% what you particularly love? No.
Loosen up, relax, if it wasn't your cup of tea, go have a beer, or a shot of tequila.
Now I'm going to go listen to Captain Pike sing. About how all the blame is always laid on him. Preach Captain preach or should I say sing Captain sing!
Enjoy it all.
Maybe next time it'll tickle your fancy.
Survive the Raft (2023)
WOW
Man oh man, talk about a sticky situation...a very sweet, tasty, nasty, dirty and oh so rich situation. Rich with possibilites!
This got real good real fast. That is IF you like drama, conflict, conflict resolution, survival, success, failure, and a little bit of fear? A good bit of anger, misunderstandings, miscommunications, physical exhaustion, mental exhaustion... emotional breakdowns, love, respect, disrespect. And... Don't forget the Money Money Money!!!
There's some teamwork, trust, mistrust, a whole lot of nature, a whole lot of ocean, a whole lot of sun, wind, rain, and a whole lot of natural human conflict.
It's really interesting to see how people try their best to understand others, and to understand themselves. They give it the old college try, and a lot of times fall short. But they're courageous in their efforts. They've got such good intentions. They want to understand each other and themselves. This is such a good study of what it is to be human. To be "family". On overdrive that is! But hey, the planet IS ON Overdrive! Right now! Let's watch ourselves and see how we do. Lets see what we do, with all we are given.
We're pretty amazing, resourceful, highly unusual, unique and creative creatures, us humans...
It's exciting! Next episode please!
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Those Old Scientists (2023)
Surprising and absolutely brilliant!
This has sparked my interest in Lower Decks! So much so that I believe I will start watching an animated Star Trek series (I never thought I would say that!).
It speaks to how brilliant this episode was. The writers did a beautiful job, talk about imagination. Add creativity, intelligence and humor! And let's not forget this is science fiction... fun science fiction! I was captivated. Spock was amazing, Captain Pike too. Ok everyone was great in this episode. Meeting your heroes, time travel, history. This episode had everything you could want. Man, I love the crew even more now. I love the show even more now. I didn't think that was possible.
La ley de la selva (2023)
It actually looks, feels and sounds like the law of the jungle!
This jungle is no joke. These people are really in the middle of bugs, humidity, heat, rain, mud, dangerous animals and humans! You see the bugs crawling everywhere. Their living quarters, of course in the jungle, also on their clothes in their shoes...
Personally I love the fact that the contestants are all so different. Unlike others who think that's not appropriate or shouldn't be discussed, for me it's completely the opposite. It shows how alike we are, even with our differences . Whether those differences be pronouns, hairstyles, skin color, body types, social economic, age, sex, gender, or sexual orientation. And definitely not something we should hide, but instead it should be exactly like they show here... be who you are and show What You're Made Of!
The challenges are tough, it's not always easy to watch but it's a great study of The Human Condition and what it means to be honest with yourself, with others, how to get along, but also why we fight, why we have our challenges...in the end it's a game too. Enjoy.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Ad Astra Per Aspera (2023)
Yes!!! Talk about true, mix it up, don't hold back "Star Trek"!! Man oh man this is it!
Perfect time for this episode! TIme? Moment? Week? Day? Year? Past, present, or future..some things just never change. Maybe I should say some things still change so slowly, whether it's in the past, present or future. I love this episode. One low review rater said, "just a courtroom show" and another very low review (I believe a one star) said "nothing happened". Why don't you see for yourself viewer. Was it just a courtroom battle? Did nothing happen?
Or did you witness what I witnessed? Science fiction at its best. Friendship at its best. Drama at its best. Beings at their best. Truth at its best. And the law at its best, though not perfect. What we see in this episode is ourselves. Our best selves. Or our worst selves. I think our worst selves would only deserve two or three stars, no make that one. I gave it a 10.
Tens across the board! Thank you Star Trek writers!
Warrior (2019)
Tough, rough, crooks, killers, brutes...and that's just the politicians and the cops. Then there's the Irish and the Chinese! Wow!
There's a lot happening in Good Old San Francisco. None of it surprising or hard to believe. Funny how the past helps us understand the present. Everything changes and nothing changes. This is good. It's brutal bloody and full of shady crooked people. But it's also got a smattering of righteous, courageous, souls trying to make a difference. Oh and then there's the action... bloody and brutal, exciting, crazy, wild, action! Lots of it. Don't forget the sex. Beautiful bodies, men and women. This is definitely not for everyone. But for those who want to see, it's all here. Laid out for all to see, lies, truth, intrigue, politics, history, culture, prejudice, fear, anger, hate, tradition and of course...love. This is some good sh*#! As one politician puts it in the middle of all the mess... God Bless the USA!
Seven Kings Must Die (2023)
We will always want more....
Hard to just say "I loved it". I did, and yet I hate that it's the "end"... of the series. Or ???.
Uhtred it seems has found that "the end" is not always what it seems. By the way, great writing. Well done! You've shown great respect in your treatment of the ancient beliefs and the ways of life many hold dear, still today. Especially those who hold non judeo Christian or religious beliefs.
You have made an exciting story out of history and legend. Of it's people. Bringing them to life. Your storytelling allowed us to journey with them. To love them and to fear for them. It was a journey many of us will not soon forget. I for one will see many of my favorites (Uhtred #1 of course) in my journeys/travels/dreams...and for that I'm grateful.
Loved it. Better to have loved and lost...
The Night Agent (2023)
Have fun on this wild ride.
It's exciting. There's lots of action, twists and turns and on yeah, it's fun! Just go with it! If on the other hand you are a secret service, FBI, CIA, special forces expert or a wanna be expert, with a critical eye for all secret or covert US and World government operations...well how about you just watch a documentary or read a training manual or something. Anything you watch won't be real enough for you.
Yes there are parts of the story that require a little bit of a "well sure, why not?" kind of attitude. Is that so hard? Really? Have you seen any of the world and US events lately? Truth IS stranger than "Night Agent" by a country mile.
Looking forward to what comes next Netflix. I'll gladly binge watch season 2,3,4 ...
Star Trek: Picard: The Next Generation (2023)
That incredible feeling, it's all here.
Everyone I'm sure will have high hopes just like me. But before we get into the details, let's talk about the feeling. It all comes back and if you're like me those feelings go way back. To the beginning. The very first season. Sitting on the floor in the den, so excited for each episode. It was the best thing in the world. Well, all these many many years later not only am I older, not only are we older, but the crews of the Enterprise, their families... all off us, older too. What doesn't get old? The feelings, the excitement, the anticipation. This first episode delivers. Can't wait for the next episode! It doesn't have to be perfect. This first episode wasn't. They don't have to be a 10 out of 10. The feelings and the joy, the thrill of these strange new worlds is still there. That's enough for me.
The adventure continues. So do our lives. Make it so.
Smiley (2022)
More please.
Even if you're not in love with all of the characters... you can definitely find a few to love in this passionate, smart, and yes, sometimes a little maddening series. Carlos Cuevas is so sexy and such a joy to watch in anything. I dare you not to fall in love with him. Or....how about just finding someone to love in this show and enjoy. Perfect for the holidays.
The original spanish is the best...however if that's not possible it's still very much worth it.
Love being able to see shows from Spain that are done so well. Merlí was also an excellent series. I hope we'll get a second season and a third, and a....
The Gray Man (2022)
Yep a10. Jealous?
It's a 10. Looks like somebody is mad about it.... Wonder why?
Haters gonna' hate....look, just get your popcorn, turn the lights down and enjoy the fun wild ride. Lots to see here. Ryan, Chris, yes please...bodyatti-yatti bad asses killing it in this exciting shaken not stirred cool as Bond thrill ride. Lots of action and great locations. Drone footage like you've never seen. Over the top YES! And we deserve it! More more more please! Thanks Netflix.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022)
First...so excited. Second...so happy! Finally!
Look all pseudo intellectualism and bougie high-handed reviews aside...this brought back the joy and the thrill of a young boy watching the original series so long ago...
I've had that thrill to varying degrees with all of the new series. Not all have hit it out of the park...but oh how I still love the game.
Keep being creative AND giving it all you've got!!!
Lost in Space (2018)
Watch!
Go on....give it a chance. Is it perfect? No. But... before it's over, you won't want it to be over. Relax. Enjoy.
Another Life (2019)
Push through! The reward is there!
It took me awhile. First couple of episodes had some tedious parts/people. People/situations that are so stupid... but hey, isn't that reality? I mean look at the world we're living in and tell me you don't see all the stupid people represented! I definitely could see that possible future and people acting exactly that way, from the government, to the scientist, to the crew members...absolute possibility. I mean just like us, "the reviewers". Everybody's here, you decide who's who.... I'm at episode 8 and I don't want it to end. Thanks Netflix.