Category Archives: No Spoiler Reviews

Action, No Spoiler Reviews, Sci-Fi

OUTSIDE THE WIRE (2021): The Things I Liked…

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Outside The Wire (2021), Damson Idris, Netflix
Outside The Wire (2021), Damson Idris, Netflix

The best things about Outside the Wire, an action/sci-fi movie about a drone pilot and android officer’s mission to a deadly militarised zone are the two lead performances. Young Damson Idris (Harp) is a talent indeed, and Anthony Mackie is convincing as android officer Captain Leo.

The action sequences were generally well choreographed. Still, that’s not to say that there aren’t moments when I’d have preferred different camera angles so I could enjoy better views of Captain Leo’s physical movements during the fight sequences.

As fun as the action/combat scenes are, including scenes that featured the robot army, most of the fun action doesn’t happen until we’re well into the second half of the movie.

Even though overall, Outside the Wire isn’t as well-written or exciting as hoped, I enjoyed the dynamic between young Harp and Captain Leo. I wanted to see Harp’s growth, especially following his rookie mistake at the start of the movie. I needed to know if he’d get out alive and how he’d do it.

It’s a shame that the film’s focus wasn’t purely about Harp’s journey. Firstly, because Idris is very watchable, but also because the turn that Captain Leo’s story took around the one-hour, twenty-minute mark proved the most disappointing. Mainly because it’s so very cliché, while not being written cleverly enough to make the lack of originality less of a problem.

Even with all its issues, I mostly had a good time with Outside the Wire. As such, if you’re especially curious, give director Mikael Håfström’s movie a chance. It’s nowhere near Netflix’s best action/sci-fi movie; not that I can think of any good ones right now. But, at the very least, I’m glad I didn’t find it as infuriatingly disastrous as Extinction (2018).

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
Biography, Documentary, No Spoiler Reviews

PRETEND IT’S A CITY (2021): The Things I Liked…

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Pretend it’s a City (2021): Fran Lebowitz, Netflix

What to say about Pretend it’s a City, the new Martin Scorsese-presented series about humorist and raconteur Fran Lebowitz.

First of all, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would. And by ‘it’ I mean the first episode of a seven-part series. I wish I could have watched more than five minutes of episode two, but I had to stop because I couldn’t get into it.

The use of cinematic music to set the tone as the camera focused on Lebowitz walking through New York City was charming, at first. The charm quickly disappeared for me when I started noticing things that made me enjoy the show less.

I had a specific interview structure in mind for how the show would go and had hoped for a more thorough introduction of Lebowitz at the start. I thought that by the end of episode one, I’d at least have learned about who Lebowitz truly is; besides being known for her humorous observations of life in New York City.

I cannot deny that the way Lebowitz’s mind works is interesting. Yet, unfortunately, the structure of Pretend it’s a City didn’t result in an engaging enough result to keep me watching. I may also have tired of the ‘complaining’ – something Lebowitz is perhaps best known for doing – and doing well.

Even though the show’s focus is Lebowitz, I wanted to see presenter/interviewer, Scorsese’s face more than once. I mean, it’s been three days since my viewing experience, and I’m not even sure that I saw his face at all.

It wouldn’t surprise me if the details I feel are missing from episode one will come in the episodes that follow; in which case, perhaps I’ll give Pretend it’s a City another try. It is presented by the one and only Scorsese, after all. Give it a chance if you’re curious.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
Action, Horror, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

TRAIN TO BUSAN PRESENTS – PENINSULA (2020): The Things I Liked…

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Train to Busan Presents - Peninsula (2020), Lee Jung-hyun, Dong-won Gang,
Train to Busan Presents – Peninsula (2020), Lee Jung-hyun, Dong-won Gang

Train to Busan Presents – Peninsula, the sequel to my second favourite Korean film, Train to Busan (2016) has unfortunately not managed to escape the dreaded ‘sequel curse.’ The curse being that movie sequels are rarely, if ever, better than, let alone as good as the original.

Set four years after South Korea was devastated by a zombie attack, the story of Peninsula follows a former soldier who managed to escape overseas. The same soldier takes on a mission to go back. And to his surprise, there are survivors.

Had Peninsula been absolutely terrible, I’d have stopped watching and I probably wouldn’t commit any words to type about the experience. ‘Great’ is not a fitting word to describe Peninsula. Yet, there are a few moments in director Sang-ho Yeon’s movie that I’ll remember fondly. The first being the ‘daughter’s driving’ and the second involves a scene or two where the action is so intense that I had to pause to catch my breath.

As for specific elements that didn’t work well, part of what made Train to Busan great was the humorous moments. There’s sadly none of that in Peninsula. Furthermore, the zombie makeup looked as good as the first time. But the first movie had much better zombie action sequences.

Performance-wise, generally, everyone did well. Yet, they were let down by the film’s reliance on many very familiar tropes. The most frustrating moment of all frustrating moments in Peninsula concerns the use of an overly familiar trope to the most EXCESSIVE degree; to the point where it was r.i.d.i.c.u.l.o.u.s. Ridiculous!

If you haven’t already watched the original movie, please do so because it’s great. Now, try your best to forget that this new one exists. That is, of course, unless disappointing sequels happen to be your thing.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
Adventure, Animation, Comedy, No Spoiler Reviews

THE CROODS – A NEW AGE (2020): The Thing I Liked…

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The Croods – A New Age (2020), Universal Pictures
The Croods – A New Age (2020), Universal Pictures

I remember having a lot of fun watching the first The Croods (2013) movie. An animated action/comedy/adventure about a caveman family trying to survive while on a long, dangerous trek.

In the 2020 sequel, The Croods – A New Age, the same prehistoric family find themselves caught in a rivalry with another family. A group who claim to be better evolved. And the best I can say about it is this: ‘The animation is pleasing, and there are some rather funny moments‘.

Starring, Emma Stone, Nicolas Cage and Ryan Reynolds, I was surprised to find that overall, the story felt forced and I, unfortunately, cannot deny drifting off a few times.

Now, I promise I was not in a bad mood before I started watching The Croods – A New Age. However, unlike in the first film, this time it was easy to identify almost all the actors behind the voices. And for some reason, that annoyed me. I still stand by me not being cranky when I started to watch the film. If anything, my disappointment with the story execution is the reason for any alteration in my mood.

The good news about directors Chris Sanders and Kirk DeMicco’s film is that at the very least, it’s ‘quite watchable. As such, if you liked the first The Croods movie, then give this one a chance. After all, it looks as though most people had a good time with it.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
Drama, No Spoiler Reviews, Romance

SYLVIE’S LOVE (2020): The Things I Liked…

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Sylvie's Love (2020), Tessa Thompson, Nnamdi Asomugha
Sylvie’s Love (2020), Tessa Thompson, Nnamdi Asomugha

I found plenty to enjoy in writer/director Eugene Ashe’s romance/drama Sylvie’s Love. A delightful movie that’s dreamy, stylish and romantic in a way that’s both old fashioned and modern; thanks to the visual style, costumes, lead character and the 1957 setting.

Starring Tessa Thompson, Nnamdi Asomugha, Aja Naomi King and Regé-Jean Page; Sylvie’s Love is just the kind of well-acted escape one needs from time to time. It’s a film that deals with the kind of predicaments/challenges most, if not all of us can relate to when it comes to friendships, romantic relationships, family and life.

I enjoyed Sylvie’s Love as a story that happens to be about more than the romantic love between Sylvie and Robert (Nnamdi Asomugha), a young man with dreams of becoming a saxophone player. In my mind, the film should almost be called ‘Sylvie’s Loves’ because it’s also, to a significant extent, about her professional aspirations/love, since she is a woman determined not to lose herself and what matters to her, regardless of external pressures from various angles.

Don’t be surprised if, by the end, Sylvie’s Love has you reflecting on just how helpful it is to have people in your circle looking out for your relationship.

For those who enjoy jazz music, like a little romance and or the costume design in shows such as The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, you’ll likely be glad you watched this one.

Lastly, if you’re wondering whether Sylvie’s Love shares strong similarities with the impressive If Beale Street Could Talk, (2018) the answer is ‘only in the sense that both stories feature the love stories of two young black Americans. Meaning, Sylvie’s Love isn’t going to completely shatter your heart due to a tragic and hugely unjust, racially motivated event.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch