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Scriptwriting so brilliant it can make your brain hurt
25 TV series that will/should really be missed
167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present)
16 Best TV SERIES ... EVER
Reviews
Levels (2024)
sum of its parts
In my many reviews here I have pushed the meme that a really good movie experience should be more than merely the sum of its parts. LEVELS 2024 is an excellent example of a production that unfortunately flips that notion upside down -- the film has many excellent parts, but the end result falls somewhat short. Creator Adam Stern, already known and respected for his work with visual effects, keeps production levels above what you might expect for a low-budget indie sci-fi. Cara Gee, who earned rave reviews for her work in The Expanse (one of the best sci-fi series EVER!) gives a solid performance that will only add to her fan base. The clever premise, the main arc, is a composite of THE MATRIX and FREE GUY, and raises many pertinent questions about the role of AI in our world-to-be. The final product, however, is much more interesting at that beginning than the end; and although the script tries hard to entertain, there are large chunks of dialog that cannot avoid sounding preachy and strained. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
Jolt (2021)
unusual genre of film
Forget the plot. If you haven't already. This film is less about the story arc and more about the star. Traditionally when a female actress in Hollywood starts to crowd the BIG 5-0, the roles offered change. Instead of being the ingenue, suddenly you are cast as the mother of the ingenue. This is the way of the industry, and has been for decades. But there is an exception, and it is worth noting. If, in your career; you once voted the Hottest Actress West of the Milky Way, and if, even in your dotage, you look 25 years younger than you actually are, you will be offered a role in a rare genre of film. Offbeat comedies. Action films with nutty premises. Fantasy scripts. Something that will attract your fan base without offending the critics. And now you know why this film exists. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
Hooten & the Lady (2016)
the real question
Lovibond reminds one of those older Swiss Army Knives. No matter what the situation, you can always find a blade or attachment that fits the situation. Similarly, to her credit, Lovibond never plays the same character twice, and yet always seems to command attention on the screen. Landes was, is, and always will be charm personified. This "adventure" series is technically excellent, but the real question will always be the chemistry. Is there any between the stars. Indeed there is. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
Ginger Snaps: Unleashed (2004)
the sequel that never was
You almost have to feel sorry for the creators. I said almost. You accidentally create a cult classic without realizing it. By the time you get what you did, and want to repeat it, you realize you have also killed off the main character. So you panic. And produce a script which relies almost entirely on the acting chops of the remaining character, in this case Perkins. Perkins is talented, yes, but the original had a clever script full of unexpected reversals, a rock solid high school setting, and of course Katherine Isabelle. Isabelle was on fire in the original, as may be gleaned from the many reviews by her fanboys. That said, considering that GS2 was hobbled and handicapped by its own creators, it is nonetheless technically solid and sort of holds attention in its own right. But it never comes close to the magic of the original. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
High Potential (2024)
not the review you were expecting
When a series is itself based on another successful series, you have to go back to basics. HPI, as it is known in France, is a successful and clever police procedural. If you watch a bunch of sodes, which this reviewer did, you will find that the entertainment value is less about the crime and more about the lead actress who, in her late 40s, looks and acts like a 25 year old. Seriously. That is the gimmick. OK, on the transplant to the US, the showrunners decided to outgun the French by finding an actress who is actually older than her French counterpart but could -- depending on the lighting -- pass for a teenager. Not kidding. This is the part of the review where you want me to say that both shows are great aside from the gimmick, but that is not so. The gimmick carries the show. You either connect with the lead actress or you don't. Guys probably will. Just a guess.
((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
Bad Monkey (2024)
an acquired taste
Much the same way that the Goliath series had almost nothing to do with law, but rather was a vehicle designed to give Billy Bob Thornton fans the fix they had been missing, Bad Monkey is specifically for Vaughn fans. Period. End of Story. For the record, Vaughn is not merely a comic actor. His work in True Detective will be remembered as one of the most extraordinary examples of "physical" acting in TV history. Monkey has continuity issues, and VO issues, and many other flaws, but Vaughn fans will love it. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
Don't Move (2024)
don't watch
As auteur, Sam Raimi is pretty much Hollywood royalty. Over his career he has made a lot of controversial choices in his work but, surprisingly, most of them worked out. DON'T MOVE 2024 may prove to be the exception. On paper it is clever as Hell. In real life, however, there are issues. First, it is hard to imagine any self-identifying female enjoying the ordeal that "Iris" goes through. The overall effect uncomfortably mirrors what is known in the trade as Torture Porn. So there goes half your audience. Will guys perhaps go for the convoluted script? The fact that the Reacher book series is the all-time bestseller in Men's Fiction tells us that guys like a story that unfolds logically -- and, be assured, there is nothing at all logical about this film. So, who does that leave? Inquiring minds really want to know. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
The Shadow Strays (2024)
credit where credit is due
Credit where credit is due. Timo Tjahjanto is one of the most fearless and unpredictable auteurs on the planet, especially when it comes to violent revenge films. If he had only done one film in his entire career -- referring of course to THE NIGHT COMES FOR US -- he would still deserve mention in any film class on the planet. The opening arc here is original, not derivative. A trained female assassin makes a mistake on a mission, and is sidelined, told to take her meds. She forms an unexpected bond with a neighboring kid, and goes completely off-book, takes on the local mob. Not his best work, maybe, but it holds the attention and best of all makes you curious about what happens next. Recommended. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
Ginger Snaps (2000)
lost classic
Perkins and Isabelle are both pitch-perfect in this lows budget Canadian classic. Proves once again that if you cover the basics -- story, characters, flow, connection -- then even with minimal special effects you can hook the viewer from the opening to the credits roll. The sequel didn't have any of the magic. Isabelle went on to several secondary roles but never found the one she was looking for. Under rated and under appreciated. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
Blade: Trinity (2004)
3 different ways to review this
One, as the last of the trilogy, you could it is the best and most nuanced, having had the benefit of the first two as reference. Or, second, you could say that, as the last of the franchise, this is the one that killed the franchise because it was awful on almost every level, with terrible writing, and characters nobody cared about. Or, if you are an optimist, you could say that this hidden gem allowed Reynolds to develop a patter that, astonishingly, was still a cash cow for him a decade later. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
Trap (2024)
either works for you ... or it doesn't
Fascinating study, albeit unintentional, on the degree to which theatre patrons will allow themselves to be manipulated. In this case M. Night Shyamalan, a talented but unpredictable creator, uses his skills to mess with your head for almost 2 hours. (M. Night Shyamalan is the creator who wowed us with THE SIXTH SENSE; and horrified us with his failed attempt to bring AIRBENDER to life). Some viewers will go along for the ride. Others will bristle, because, to be honest, the manipulation is overlong and overdone. Interestingly, the critics loved this film. The patrons, not so much. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
Smile 2 (2024)
Finn gives a master class on endings
Smile 1 was competent but left you with the nagging feeling that the film was a clever idea in search of a clever resolution. Finn seemed to have that in mind with Smile 2. Although the first 60 mins of the overlong 2 hr drama were a little laggy, the last 30 minutes may possibly be some of the most memorable moments in the history of the genre. Props to Finn -- supported by an outstanding Scott -- who remembered that most creators today tend to let the audience down when a jolt is most needed. No one will ever say that about Smile 2. Ever. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
Bookworm (2024)
Two movies for the price of one?
One of those film oddities where, at the halfway point, you get an entirely different second movie. The first movie, which fills the first 50 minutes, is a genuinely interesting father-daughter roadtrip romp, with the daughter (Fisher) gettting the best lines: (dialog) "Am I still dreaming .. or did a 42 year old man really just wake up an 11 year old girl to tell her that he heard a creepy sound in the night?" Wood, late in his career, still has star power and the vibe between the two is solid. Then the tone changes and, much to the chagrin of the N. Z. Dept. Of Tourism, a friendly couple encountered while camping turns out to be anything but. The two halves of the film do not match, and the sour notes of the second half suck all the joy out of the first half. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
Ludwig (2024)
detective fans are a funny lot indeed
Off the top, it is exceedingly well produced. And the opening episode was one of the most interesting in quite a while. Which turn means that a lot of murder fans were hooked and can be counted on to binge their way through. Whch creates the first paradox. Namely, will the premise, which showed so much promise, hold up? Good question. For this reviewer, the answer is .. barely. First of all the premise. Clever, yes. Original. No. Could name a half-dozen Disney movies based on the notion of switched identities. Including the sub-arc of twins. Second, is this better as a movie or a mini-series? Given the demand for streaming content these days, the producers could have taken the high road and done a quite engaging movie. But there is more money in doing a series, so they decided to go for the fatter target. Which means that week after week, our hero has to keep trying to break a code, solve a murder, deal with the ominous senior policeman, maintain his secret from his prying underling, and assure his newphew everything will be all right. I have seen episodes of Zorro 2024 that are less complicated. And that is not a compliment. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
Take Cover (2024)
Finally Adkins get a role properly suited to his skills
For the record, I am a fan. I have an Adkins film on my list of all-best movies, a claim few other reviewers can make. But, at the same time, I have been outspoken in my view that, since his Boyka films, he has not really found an outlet to best showcase his talent. TAKE COVER 2024 changes all that. Writer Joshua Todd James has cleverly turned a hi-rise apartment into a killbox, showing once again how a limited set does not have be a disadvantage. Properly done, the suspense becomes palpable. The script cleverly pushes the "turnabout" trope -- Adkins's being targeted by a faraway shooter works well because, in the story, he himself is also a sniper. Clever! There is a lot of action and tension in Take Cover, and many of Adkins' special skills are effectively deployed for the first time in quite a while. Recommended. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
The Silent Hour (2024)
"No bounce No Play" (Stephen King)
An entertaining thriller just do just that -- entertain. It should not present a paradox to the viewer, or do anything which makes it harder for the viewer to identify with the main character. Yet this film actually goes out of its way to do just that. On paper, all the boxes are checked. Brad Anderson is both prolific and successful at his craft. Kinnaman is one of those actors who is easy to relate to, and never gives a bad performance or disapponts. The story is obviously a riff on the Die Hard formula, and pretty hard to mess up as long as you remember to "set up" the action scenes in advance. Even with the checked boxes, the result is a letdown. Giving Kinnaman's character a literal handicap -- even to the point of having him repeatedly fiddle with his hearing aid -- makes it harder to relate to the main character. The Die Hard arc is not well developed, and the action scenes do not deliver on the "killbox" promise that the audience expects. Instead of leaving feeling entertained, one leaves with the feeling that this could have been better done. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
Kaos (2024)
something wicked this way comes?
Clever. Well written. Well casted. Well produced. Not dull. But this cranky old reviewer can't avoid the suspicion that all is not what it seems. The PR package says that this is a never-before-attempted modern reworking of the Greek myths. And indeed it is. But other reviewers have compared it to the incomparable American Gods, and that really is a bridge too far. AG was unique, and attempted to define Man's relationship to the Divine without any prior framework. Working without a net. This series is something else entirely. It faithfully follows the arc of Myth -- no easy feat, that -- but also includes a not so subtle subtext comparing the fall of Greece to our own rather fragile civilization. The fact that both goals can successfully be managed at the very same time is both commendable and awkward -- especially for those of us who think their own generation is doing everything right. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
Tomb Raider (2018)
for film class only
Not so much a free-standing movie as an apology for the original. There is considerable irony in the fact that this film actually has a higher IMDb score than the 2001 classic. Now, understand that critics hated the original for all the wrong reasons. The original was designed to appease the masses and it succeeded too well, relying on the physical attributes of its star in addition to the action and effects. Critics aside, the original was fun and very re-watchable. Compare that to "the apology." Everything in the original has been turned upside down, including the fun. Vikander is talented -- in the dreadful JASON BOURNE she was literally the only actor who gave a damn about the film. Here she is the anti-Jolie, cast to prove that she is everything that Jolie was not. Ditto for the rest of the film. It is everything the original was not. That never ends well. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
Spooks: The Greater Good (2015)
the "M" in MI:5 stands for MUDDLE
In my many reviews here, I have time and again emphasized the need for audience connection. The goal is to keep the viewer interested and engaged, The last thing you want to do is confuse or annoy your customer. Even allowing for the "standard" and overcooked "mole" plot, this script still breaks all the rules. By the halfway mark, I was still trying to suss out who was doing what to whom, and was especially stuck on a scene where Kit Harington's character easily escaped, without a scratch, from a car with two armed escorts. (BTW, Harrington consistently displayed a natural athletic ability here, including an astonishing scene where he scaled an apartment bldg as easily as climbing a stepladder -- sad that this was not a career arc he pursued). There is also a scene off the top where the villain murders a female agent just to make a point, but still makes a "deal" with the disgraced MI-5 agent who put her in jeopardy. Guess, if you can get past that cognitive dissonance, you may actually like the film. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
Dreamcatcher (2003)
this film is literally part of cinematic history
If you get a chance to catch this, buckle up, grab an anti-nausea pill, and prepare to view one of the most significant films ever made. The film tested so badly with sample audiences the studio had to spend millions to redo the ending. It is silently credited with destroying the careers of Kasdan (director) and Jane (actor). It breaks every rule about audience connection I have mentioned in my 2000+ reviews here. It is almost as if it was intended, like a brilliant but deranged work of art, to disgust the viewer. Make the viewer want to run. The only true horror here is some of the best actors of their era trapped mercilessly in a script with no exit. Keep away from young childen and small animals. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
Strange Darling (2023)
Seen Gaspar Noé's Irréversible (2002)? Ever wanna see it again?
OK. You got me. In our modern world where most people have the attention span of a hummingbird, STRANGE DARLING 2023 is a nice diversion. It is well done. It is clever. Ironically, just like the main character, the movie makes you work extra hard for your thrills. But at the end of the day, when the popcorn is gone and you are headed home, this one will fade away like the one-trick pony it is. Which is the fate of all such films, films told backwards, films told in puzzle pieces, films without dialog, etc. You've seen it once. And once is enough. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
The Old Man (2022)
book adaptations aren't what they used to be???
Many years ago, a new thriller writer named Thomas Perry launched his career with a brilliant title called BUTCHERS BOY and, right out of the gate, won the Edgar award. Not too shabby. In such a situation, most writers today would have immediately built out the franchise, spinning off multiple sequels. Perry did not do that. Instead he wrote the kind of books he himself wanted to write, and established himself as an all-around, top-tier, suspense writer. He did return to BUTCHERS BOY every now and then, however, making that series, small as it is, one of the longest fiction series in American literature, in terms of end-to-end time span. THE OLD MAN was the last entry in the series and it was, as always, brilliant. BUT YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW THAT by watching this TV version. Because the writers of this well-acted, well-directed series used maybe 12% of the content in the book, and threw the rest out. This reviewer, being an actual old man, loves any series where old guys kick butt. Yes, it is well done. No, sorry, it is not an adaptation of the book. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
The Wasp (2024)
Crtics are a strange lot
Ladies and gents, what we have here is a well-acted, well-written, well-cast, well-directed, psychological thriller. It works well, it keeps you offguard, and the time passes very quickly indeed. These sorts of films were all the rage in the 1940s, a time when the industry was still transitioning from the static feel of a stage play (few backgrounds, lots of dialog) to the more kinetic medium of film. The only unusual thing about it is the fact that some big-name critics went nuts for the project, saying it was the best thing they had ever seen. Not really. But it does hold the attention. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
K.G. (2011)
Seriously?
In my IMDb list of all time greats, I have several martial arts entries. Properly done, they can be fun, even exhilarating. This entry, which loosely follows HIGH KICK GIRL, is literally the lowest possible level of movie export. No real budget. No real story. No real dialog. No real choreography. Rena Takeda does have a legitimate fanbase, and she has skill, but even in her native Japan she tends to get cast in B- and C- films. Even the English dubbing is terrible. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
Paris Has Fallen (2024)
Light fluffy fantasy series
A seeming terrorist group takes over an embassy event. You are thinking "Die Hard." A woman, who later claims to "work in HR," fights back and kills two of the attackers. She is really good. She should have her own show. You are still thinking "Die Hard." The woman, and an Embassy bodyguard, successfully foil the initial attack. The attackers retreat through a hole in the swears just as the police crash through the front door. The police immediately notice our heroine, mainly because she is holding a weapon which was recently fired. So far, so good. Moments later, however, the camera picks up our heroine being treated by a medic, blanket around her. Somehow, in the mere blink of an eye, even though she was holding a weapon when the cavalry arrived, even though she holds no official position in law enforcement, she has already been cleared and released. Now you are thinking "WTF?" I am making this point to show the importance of subliminal cues in a fictional series. You are barely halfway into E01 of the series, and your brain is already screaming, "this makes no sense." And it doesn't. France has produced some incredible TV content (Spirale, Le Bureau) but this is not one of those. This is light, fluffy, fantasy stuff. You may like it. Or you may not. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))