Nobody

9/10

In Nobody, family man Hutch Mansell (Better Call Saul's Bob Odenkirk) is hitting a rut in his marriage, his job, and in general. His home is invaded and this leads to a series of events that awaken something dormant in Hutch, something from a secret and violent past.

This was written by Derek Kolstad who wrote the John Wick movies. This is Wick if he had a family and the story took itself a little less seriously and had a little more fun. Really, the basic plot point has several points of similarity to the first Wick film. However, the movie is entertaining enough that I really didn't mind.

Nobody is just well done. The editing and pacing are smooth. The story offers a fun cast of characters, dialogue, and events. Course, this is an action film above all else and it really delivers here. (Though if you like fighting, but if you aren't a fan of excessive gore, there is one bloody scene that might be a bit much.)

It's Odenkirk's performance that helps make the film. It's weird the trajectory his career has taken. For decades he was known as a comedian, then Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul came and now he's an action star, and he completely manages to pull it off despite being in his late fifties.

The villain, Russian gangster Yulian Kuznetsov, may not be the most distinct villain, but he is fleshed out and pretty entertaining at times. Christopher Lloyd plays Hutch's father and it's just nice to see the guy in anything these days, he so rarely pops up.  

If there are any criticisms, the family themselves could've had more development. They're mostly just serve as the impetus for Mansell's actions. But, that's a quibble.

Overall, this was a blast. If you enjoyed the John Wick films, you'll like this.

Search Party- Season 4

 

5/10

NOTE: This review doesn't contain spoilers, but it could spoil the end of season 3 if you haven't seen it yet.

Dory (Alia Shawkat) is kidnapped by a psycho named Chip (Cole Escola). Meanwhile, the the rest of the gang try to move in on from the events of last season.

I really liked the last three seasons, but this was a huge let down. This show has always been a dark comedy, but this one went toooo dark. In the previous seasons, the reeeaaaalllyy dark moments were few and far between padded by the wackier comedy elements. This is episode after episode of a woman trying to escape or at the mercy of a very sick person. Sure, Dory has done some pretty awful stuff and you could say she's deserving of a punishment, but this shouldn't have been it. The situation is too much and uncomfortable and not in a fun way. Rather, it feels actual drama dark and not over-the-top comedy dark. Also, it's kind of boring. Dory's story is really stretched out. 

It doesn't help that there are a lot of leaps in real world logic in order to help Chip keep doing what he's doing. I know the comedy in this can be a bit exaggerated in it's humor, but this season in general really felt like it's pushing things.

Chip feels like a mistake. Escola does a good job and he is a fully realized character, but he isn't deserving of so much screentime. There isn't enough about him to be entertaining. He has specific issues and personal demons and they're repeated one too many times. Besides, it isn't very entertaining watching a character who's legit the-writers-don't-pull-their-punches sick.

This is too bad, the rest of the main cast's storylines are funny and provide new material for them, plus there there is a hell of a final episode.

In Elliott's storyline, SNL's Chloe Fineman continues to do a great job as shameless conservative TV host Charlie Reeney. Unfortunately, she isn't in this too much. I won't spoil who she is or what she's doing since they keep her out of any of the advertising, but Rebecca Robles also has a very fun recurring part.

Yeah, I can't recommend this season. Some may argue that I'm silly for complaining about a dark comedy being dark. But everything has it's limitations and this show just flew too close to the sun. 

Thunder Force

7/10

Thunder Force on Netflix takes place in a world where cosmic rays have given people superpowers, but only those with sociopathic tendencies, resulting in a world of supervillains known as Miscreants. Through a series of events, regular gal Lydia Berman (played by Melissa McCarthy) ends up being accidentally injected with a superhero strength formula created by her genius former high school friend Emily Stanton (Octavia Spencer). The two become superheroes in order to thwart the Miscreant menace. On the whole, I enjoyed myself, but the film isn't perfect.

On the plus side, the world and basic plot work well enough. There are some pretty good jokes in this, including a few laugh out loud ones.

As is often the case, the villains are more fun than the leads. Hands down, the best character in this is Jason Bateman's The Crab, the charismatic, level-headed one. He steals every scene he's in and the actor, who usually plays the straight man, seems to be down for anything and having the time of his life. Guardians of the Galaxy's Pom Klementieff is also good as the psychotic Laser.

On the negative side, for there are also a lot of lousy jokes in this. This is directed and written by McCarthy's husband Ben Falcone. As I've noticed in the unfunny opening of their The Boss and which has been the general criticism of their other films, the couple working with each other results in the inability to make the tough calls and a lack of restraint. A lot of the bad jokes suffer from no editing and being stretched too long. Some of them may've been funny if they'd been one and done. Luckily, the worse stuff happens during Lydia's training/exposition period. It's choppy waters for a while, but the sailing is pretty clear once it's over. 

This film can be frustrating at points, but I felt the good parts out-weighted the bad. It's worth taking a chance on.

Godzilla vs. Kong

 

8/10

I mean the title basically explains the concept but here's the synopsis anyway: Godzilla inexplicably attacks on the land, which raises the question as to why considering that he doesn't just attack for funsies. Meanwhile, Skull Island can no longer contain Kong, meaning that he has to be moved elsewhere. Soon the behemoths' paths shall intertwine and... the movie title... blah, blah, blah... Yeah, this was fun. 

First off, I owe an apology to director Adam Wingard (who previously helmed the recent Blair Witch, You're Next, and segments in the first two VHS films.) I had some reservations about him since he's my most "mixed feelings" director. Didn't quite love or hate his previous works. However, I'm pleased to say he proved me wrong and delivered a good film.  

GvK is an unapologetic, brainless giant monster film. Kong and Godzilla's brawls don't disappoint. The monster fights aren't as epic-looking, battle-of-the-gods style as those in Godzilla: King of the Monsters were, but they are far clearer and easier to follow. Seriously, they're well choreographed and are some of the best in the Monsterverse films. It really feels like a big match. Though Godzilla has fought other monsters in these films, Kong brings something new to the table what with his having hands. He's able to make greater use of his environment, grabbing onto things or using them as weapons.   

Visually, I think Kong's CGI looked better in Kong: Skull Island. However, I thought the film did a great job with his facial expressions. In an interview, Wingard stated that Toho, Godzilla's original studio and copyrights holder, wouldn't let the creature emote. However, even working within the limitations of that rule, there are a couple moments where Wingard manages to give Godzilla a couple bits of personality. 

I kinda liked the human storylines. Yeah, they don't have the charisma of the cast of Skull Island or are even as strong as those in the first Godzilla, but they are generally likable and serve their purpose. (Besides, for an action blockbuster, there are plenty of examples out there where the story turned out a whole lot weaker. This isn't doing too shabby considering that it's the fourth entry in the series.) Interestingly, there are two human subplots, one with a Godzilla team and the other with King Kong and almost never the twane shall meet. 

The Kong crew definitely has the stronger storyline and characterization. Though Rebecca Hall and Alexander Skarsgard aren't given the loftiest of material to work with, they get the job done. Credit should especially be given to Hall, who puts more effort into facial expressions than anyone else. Really, she didn't need to put in that much effort for a Godzilla/kong film.

The Godzilla crew have the less substantive storyline (a lot of exposition), but they're also the funnier ones. Stranger Things' Millie Bobbie Brown returns as Madison Russell from Godzilla: King of the Monsters and even though she has less screen time, I thought she was more entertaining. She's the straight man and does a good job reacting to stuff. Hunt for the Wilderpeople's Julian Dennison, who seems to have been typecast in his last couple of films as delinquent-style kids with bad attitudes, gets to play against type as the meeker member of the group. Bryan Tyree Henry as a conspiracy theorist delivers the funniest lines in the film.

There is one thing about Godzilla vs. Kong that bugs me. There'ss one major plot hole if you saw the after credits scene in the last film.

I'd rank this above KotM and below the first Godzilla and SI, which I felt had better stories. Don't let this being third on my list deter you. This knows exactly how to deliver if you like mindless action.

Doctor Who- Fury of the Deep

8/10

In this remastering of a lost Doctor Who serial (original audio is combined with animation), the second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and his companions end up at a gas refinery with some sinister goings on.

This is prime Doctor Who. I can't say it is one of the more original ones or stands out from the rest, but it nails all the beats. This is just a fun sixties sci-fi tale. For a show from this era, it manages to maintain a surprisingly creepy atmosphere. 

This is back when there isn't as much character development with Doctor Who companions, but Victoria (Deborah Watling) is given some decent personality stuff to work with.

I like the background art in this. Has a pseudo painting-style to it. Though there is one "Easter egg" detail in this that bugs me, because it's non-chronological.

Overall, this is a fun watch. If you like sixties Doctor Who, then you'll probably like this.

History of Swear Words

 

8/10

The History of Swear Words on Netflix, looks at the history of... well, the title is self-explanatory. It's hosted by Nicholas Cage and features interviews with various comedians and historians or other experts. 

This is fairly amusing. Information is disseminated in a fun way. Though, it's kind of weird that this show looks at the different definitions swear words have had over the years, but never mentions that cops were used to be called dicks. I would've think that was an obvious speaking point.   

You get a good gang of personalities on this. I'm surprised that Nicolas Cage chose this as his first show ever (I believe). Then again, it makes perfect sense for him, this show being off-kilter. Nicolas Cage hosting exactly what you'd expect. He seems to be having fun as he bring his trademark energy.

Overall, I recommend this. It's an entertaining watch.

Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon- Season 1

8/10

Yashahime is the sequel show to the hit Inuyasha. It stars Towa Higurashi, half-demon daughter of Inuyasha's antihero half-brother Sesshomaru, who was raised in modern times. She finds a way back to her native feudal Japan and teams up with her sister Setsuna, a demon hunter, and Inuyasha and Kagome's quarter-demon daughter Moroha, a bounty hunter, to fight demons and investigate what happened to their parents and why Setsuna can't remember Towa.

Now, this show doesn't match the original. Whereas Inuyasha was mostly based on the stories from the manga by Rumiko Takahashi, this is a purely original work. Without Takahashi, the characters and storylines are missing the particular touch she had. The show feels more like your basic battle of the week-style anime. Also, a lot, but not all, of the demon designs feel pretty generic and uninspired.

But this is all compared to Inuyasha, the show by itself is fairly entertaining. Yashahime is definitely faster-paced than its predecessor, which was a slow burn.   

I was worried about the three leads being copycat characters, but that turned out to be not much of a problem, and I ended up liking them. Setsuna and Moroha are generally similar their fathers, but they manage to be their own characters as well. Towa as the most original of the trio, makes for a fine leader. She's a tough combatant who is also surprisingly sweet and empathetic. I hear the characters' designs are also by Takahashi. They fare better than a lot of the other characters on the show. Towa is pretty distinctive in her all white school boys' uniform. 

The main villain Kirinmaru works pretty well. Naraku, the big baddie in Inuyasha, was a despicable schemer and puppetmaster interested mainly in increasing his own power. The writers for this got the good idea of going in the opposite direction for Kirinmaru. He's a bad dude, but he's got a warrior's code thing going on. Plus, he also seems to see the big picture besides his own goals. 

There is one element in this, which I would consider a spoiler and can't go into details, that is really creepy. I wish they hadn't done that. 

Still as a whole, I recommend this. If you're an Inuyasha fan, you could be disappointed. Overall, though, I found this to be a decent time waster.