ArdiH's Reviews

Birds of Prey (2020)

2/10

14 February 2020

Warning: Spoilers

Saw this yesterday, felt like the movie almost stopped at times and the cast didnt really know what to do next. The asian kid was a remarkably bad actor and completely failed on her street urchin delivery. Margot Robbie has had a lot of work lately and for a reason, she more or less carries her role, but the rest of the house just kinda fell on her. About 3/4 through the film I was ready to leave, which happens rarely to me. And then we were only approaching the big amusement park fight scene, which was just a pain to sit through.

Cannot recommend. Save your time, save your money, go have a walk in the park or a good burger instead of seeing this movie.

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Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

5/10

Space opera turned to soap opera

16 May 2013

Warning: Spoilers

Space opera has always had a somewhat positive meaning to me. Its an adventure in space, one that does not take itself too seriously, but is still rich with unexpected developments. When done well (Iain M Banks, earlier Star Trek, Star Wars), this can be a hugely enjoyable genre, where the best elements of the classic adventure story are set into the endless imaginative playground of Space for one fun ride.

But JJ Abrams did not want to take the quality space opera look-and-feel of the known Star Trek. Instead, he wanted to stage it his own (oh so recognizable!) way. And without fail, he succeeds in making it completely dumbed down, extra lens flare. The movie has no style, zero flavor; everything is said out loud, no thinking or empathy required from the audience. Dialogue is dripping with emotions that have no depth, the drama is completely overplayed without any actual tension. The tricks of your common 3pm soap opera are taken and just poured into the plot - bad parenting, painful memories of the past, couples fighting, hands touching through the glass, good guy dies then wakes up and smiles.

And just like that, the great story of Star Trek is not played in space opera minor, but in soap opera major instead. I'd give it 4/10, but the effects and stunning visual must be recognized, so 5 it is.

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Game of Thrones (2011–2019)

9/10

A new dimension to an old story

2 May 2011

I have now watched the first 3 episodes of what will maybe be known in the future as the Season 1 of the Game of Thrones TV mini-series - or, if fate would have it, the "Game of Thrones" season of the "Song of Ice and Fire" series.

Yes, i do hope that all the books will be brought to life on the small screen, because the first episodes have been enjoyable to watch.

When I finished the last book of the series written so far, i felt.. sad. A truly wonderful experience had ended, and the words just stopped, never again forming into new adventures, but instead staying the same on the pages. But now, we are given a new, somewhat compressed, but nevertheless enjoyable way of reliving the story. With no changes to make it a different tale, but instead with something extra - a new dimension of faces, places and voices. Its a bit like looking through an old picture album with pictures from the good old days - the memories, the fantasy is your own, the pics are just there to help you remember. Only that in this case, all the pictures might not be exactly as you remember them..

Well, in my head, Ned was more noble-looking, Kings Landing never as sunny and Catelyn Stark younger. These self-made constructs are however fading and being replaced by the characters on the screen. Im willing to sacrifice that for the reward of enjoying the good old story one more time, anew.

And by the way, Tyrion is just perfect!

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Soul Eater (2008–2009)

7/10

A bit of original anime

14 September 2008

Im not a seasoned anime pro, i have seen like 3-4 series so far. Soul Eater is my latest discovery, and i must say I'm glad i found it.

Usually a fan of refined, state-of-the-art-graphics stuff such as Ghost In The Shell, Soul Eaters style didn't catch me from the first second. But having decided to give it a try anyway, i found out that this complete graphical madness somehow has reason to it. It emphasizes (with arrows! :) ) only the most important, almost childishly drawing out the obvious. Which is actually quite original, plus you get surprised a lot by the changing style.

Story is deep enough and has just enough background to tie the episodes together, yet always having a new twist. As childish as it is, it doesn't really feel like meant for kids - reminding me Harry Potter for that matter. Maybe its just me, but i found some other similarities with Harry Potter stories there..

All in all, Soul Eater is a series worth watching for every anime fan for its original style.

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ArdiH

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