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Dune: Part Two (2024)
Too Long
I don't share the concerns of those complaining about the intricacies of the plot. I haven't read the book, but watched David Lynch's version back in the 80s and understood this just fine. Mind you, I have read Jodorowsky's Dune-influenced Incal, so this was nothing to that level of bizarre and fantastical. My concern was the ridiculous length. It seemed like the countless Netflix movies, where they think that playing two piano chords in a long drawn out way and showing characters blankly pondering emotions, makes it a Scandinavian masterpiece.
Dune Part Two just took too long to do very little. Considering the book is considered unfilmable, I expected there to be too many concepts and plot lines crammed in. But instead watched three hours of drawn out, ponderous scenes, attempting to be a hallucinogenic trip but not having the conviction to commit to it.
It was undeniably magnificently shot, scored and choreographed. The sound design was incredible. I enjoyed looking and listening to it, especially the unique action scenes. But dialogue was often very trite and too on the nose. The vehicles were still good, but lacked the visual impact of Part One. And characters were given disappointingly anti-climactic payoffs.
This was a top end 12 as well. Very graphic and uncomfortable in many places. Beware taking sensitive kids to see this.
I enjoyed Part One (I gave that 7 stars), but was more wowed by the spectacle than the acting or plot. I love Denis Villenuve's work, but Lynch was a closer match to the source material. This instalment lacked the impetus of the first, and therefore flapped pretentiously about as a placeholder between part one and three. It lacks the wonderful weirdness of Frank Herbert's world-especially in the very poorly cast emperor (love the actor, but out place here), Jodorowsky had cast Salvador Dalí, and somehow that tells you all you need to know.
I'm not afraid of a long film, or an arthouse film. I love science fiction, from The Forbidden Planet and Star Wars, to 2001 and Arrival; this perhaps simply suffers from the praise heaped on the original, and ended up working too hard to be even more spectacular.
Star Wars: Visions: Sith (2022)
Yawn
I won't be watching any more of Visions. Star Wars has gone to the dogs. Trite, tired storyline, patronising dialogue, smug and self-satisfied episode of a smug and self-satisfied show. I am expecting an avalanche of thumbs downs for my opinion that is contrary to all of the reviewers worshipping everything Disney produces. Have viewers' expectations of what constitutes good quality storytelling fallen so far that they feel this is actually worthwhile?
I skipped through the reviews and saw that everyone who didn't like an episode has had only one or two positive responses, I am fully expecting the same. Disney Star Wars has become a cult. Any voice of disagreement treated like the remaining humans in 1978's Invasion of the Body Snatchers.
By the end of this series there are very few reviews on the episodes, no one is bothering to say how they feel, perhaps for fear of the downvotes, or perhaps because they (like me) stopped watching.
The art style seems to be deliberately attempting to be interesting. Character design gives nothing new, at all. Moral? Be yourself! It also flies in the face of any previous tale about the difficulty of leaving the Sith and Dark Side behind.
I'm boring myself, I feel like I did when I finally gave up on Marvel during She-Hulk. I'm so far away from the audience Disney wants, my voice does not matter.
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi: Choices (2022)
Redundant Chin-Stroking Episode
A repetition in many ways of the previous episode. Another corrupt senator and another dour sidekick to urge Dooku against any kind of free thought. And he seemed naively surprised to hear of the reasonings behind the petty rebellion.
As for the revolutionaries, their motivations for murder and then assassination were incredibly vague. There is no indication at all that the planet is suffering under a tyranny that would make such an action more understandable.
We do get a hint of the politics of the Jedi in Windu, which was interesting. But, as with every potential plot point, it was underdeveloped.
It seemed rushed and yet ponderous, beautifully animated, but somehow lacking the quality of the Clone Wars, and had a script that felt as if a stack of subpar action novels were thrown in a blender and they just stuck what was blasted out together.
Does this series get better?
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi: Justice (2022)
Filoni Painting with Broad Strokes
As other reviewers have noted, this is definitely a better episode than the first, giving us a glimpse into a relationship most have been very keen to know more about. It was much more enjoyable and engaging, but felt unimaginative and contrived. After staring to watch the Clone Wars series again with my son, this felt far more juvenile in its writing.
We have the issues of the Republic demonstrated, an oppressed populace cowering under decadent rulers, social outrage and sympathetic Jedi. Dooku's Dark Side leanings extremely obvious, and an extremely swift change of policy.
There is nothing challenging here, nothing imaginative, all the way down to creatures from Earth. A rat and dog, with nothing I spotted on one viewing to indicate they were in any way alien.
Very Disney era, very modern, very underwhelming. This serves no real purpose apart from being Star Wars content. Bland box ticking with drab characters including an extremely dour Qui-Gon. I'm rapidly losing interest in this series...
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi: Life and Death (2022)
Ahsoka's Unrequested Origin Story
This opening episode was notable by managing to make Ahsoka dull. It was bland and by-the-numbers, totally unnecessary and telling a story no one needed. There was also something odd about the animation-that I hope will not be present throughout the series-a high level of detail, but with unrealistic movement of the characters. They move around as if animated by someone learning the software. The creatures as well are uninspired and lack the slightest degree of invention.
I've heard that the rest of the series is worth watching, so will persist, but would love to be able to erase this damp squib of an opening episode.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law: The People vs. Emil Blonsky (2022)
Not Written For Me
I hated this episode, just hated it. That's not to say I think it's bad, although I'm sure a critical analysis could point out a fair amount of flaws (lack of effective supporting cast a possible starting point), but it's just not written for me. I'm a comic book fan, I'm an MCU fan, I'm someone who enjoyed the humour that sat alongside action in Guardians of the Galaxy, I'm someone who enjoyed the understated wit within Superman The Motion Picture... I'm not someone who enjoys many American sitcoms.
This was the most complete episode to date, the format is becoming clear. It's just jokes. It has the air of a parody of the MCU, a series of comedy routines on a theme. There must be an audience for this kind of show, otherwise millions would not have been invested in the premise, I'm just not part of that audience.
I didn't laugh, I didn't like any of the characters or what they have done with characters I did like. It wasn't enjoyable.
The MCU I have followed since the Ed Norton Incredible Hulk is now history and they are looking to evolve into something new. I just didn't know I was longing for something that is now outdated until I watched this show.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law: Superhuman Law (2022)
"Chick Hulk"?!
You know the level of the show you are watching when a pivotal moment like the naming of the titular protagonist is handled as a ill-conceived gag. In an interview after the courtroom incident on a news broadcast, the interviewee says, "So this chick (turns and points to camera), pretty decent (turns back to interviewer), turned into a Hulk, like a chick-Hulk." Then the interviewer names her with the line, "A She-Hulk?"
This is not how humans talk, or how television news sounds. The writers have already said they don't know anything about the legal system, but it appears they are unfamiliar with everyday human interaction as well.
Just as a side point; I've seen a lot of reviews complaining about the quality of the show, and then the short length of the episode. This strikes me as masochistic, surely it being over quickly is a welcome relief..?