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ScottLentz
Reviews
Supergirl: Blind Spots (2021)
Heavy-handed yet thought-provoking episode
The heavy-handedness of this episode was clunky, especially toward the end, which clearly upset the fragile egos of the more... let's say "Dean Cain-like" viewers. But the biggest win for this episode in this series is juxtaposing people with tremendous power against their failure to see the struggles of people who are often forgotten victims of systemic failure. Even the most well-intentioned people overlook those that suffer most in favor of what they consider to be bigger issues. This episode does a good job of not vilifying those people while shedding light on this problem. I would have preferred this storyline be spread out over a few more episodes so it didn't have to become so dense here. The ending scene with Kelly really packed in a lot of racial justice issues between her t-shirt and the books on her table. I don't begrudge them taking the opportunity to work those things in but the tone did feel off from the otherwise focused plot of the storyline in the previous three episodes.
Cowboys & Aliens (2011)
Fun Flick with Unrealized Potential
I greatly appreciate the ambition of what this movie wanted to be. A mix of two genres that couldn't be more different makes for a rare unpredictability that carries throughout the movie. On that front, the movie shines with a stellar cast and the character depth your expect to find in a classic western. The circumstantial melding of enemies really carries the film.
The wasted potential comes in the form of an unimaginative, mindless monster alien race that doesn't match the depth of the western characters, instead acting as little more than a plot device. I can see why it wanted to avoid becoming too silly, but I feel like there was more middle ground to lean into the absurdity of the premise without sacrificing the tone. The elements are there to make it work, but Favreau chose to play it safe with monsters. I respect that, but I found myself wanting it to realize its potential for a Woody and Buzz level blending of two worlds.
Would love to see the idea rebooted or expanded. In some ways I feel it's a victim of the time it came out in 2011 right in the upswing of the superhero wave. Parts of the movie, especially the VFX-heavy battle scenes, feel like it's trying to compete with those movies when it could have been something entirely unique.
Young Sheldon (2017)
Good Show with One Flaw
Enjoyable show with great "Wonder Years" vibes. Only flaw is that all of the personal growth of the Sheldon character happened in The Big Bang Theory, so they really have nowhere to go with the character in this show so he really fades into the background. All of the compelling arcs are with other characters.
Mary and George have great chemistry and compelling storylines that align with what we know about them from The Big Bang Theory. Sheldon's brother Georgie is the most compelling sibling while Missy is somewhat underdeveloped. Annie Potts' Memaw is a stark departure from the version of the character played by June Squibb in BBT.
Overall an enjoyable show even if you've never watched Big Bang Theory.
Depp V Heard (2023)
Trying too hard
This "documentary" makes the bold claim that social media is a powerful force to sway public opinion and that public trials get discussed a lot by the general public. Crazy, I know.
It tries very hard to also re-litigate a few details about the trial with very dramatic music over top of what I'm sure they think is real spicy "evidence". Wouldn't be surprised if this was produced by Amber Herd's team. Only Johnny's defense seems to be "fact checked", not Amber's
It certainly seems to want to mock and discredit the people who supported Depp throughout the trial and make Amber look like their victim.
If you like the drama, it's a fun and normal court doc. If you're actually interested in learning about the facts of the trial, you won't find much of that here.
A League of Their Own (2022)
Terrible Writing, Inauthentic Characters
The issue isn't the historical revisions. I actually find that modern trend to be interesting and compelling. The big issue is the characters are so painfully insincere and there is no real connection to what the original movie was about. It's like they teleported a bunch of 21st century characters to the 1940s, put them in terrible costumes and never bothered to teach them how to play baseball. 40 minutes into the first episode there was one whole baseball scene. The rest is a bunch of random conversations and personal drama. This could have been any show, set in any time period and nothing would have to change. Instead, it uses the profile of a masterpiece film and does meaningful with it.
The Tomorrow War (2021)
Terrible
I give it a 2 for good CGI and such, and it handles the suspense/horror aspects well.. but lordy this might be the most poorly written movie I have ever seen. I know there are "so bad it's good" movies out there. This is not one. This is bad even for a hastily thrown together FPS game. The opening "newsreel" and the pre-jump Q&A are two of the worst exposition scenes I've ever seen, full of some of the most poorly thought out, lazy details possible. Epic cringe.
I don't usually give up on movies out of respect for the filmmakers, but this was not worth the time.
Fate: The Winx Saga: A Fanatic Heart (2021)
Good Potential but Too Little Substance
Started off well with the first episode. I appreciated that it didn't dwell too much on backstory/origin and got right into it. Exposition was also done well at first. As it went on, it abandoned all world-building and fell into a plot-heavy mess of back-and-forth cliché teen drama and flat character development. There are still a lot of elements to draw from that I hope they explore if there are future seasons, but the potential is limited by lack of quality writing.
Upload (2020)
A One-Dimensional Take on the Digital "Afterlife"
"Upload" will draw obvious comparisons to "The Good Place" while lacking the wit, intelligent philosophy and overall charm. Much of the appeal of Upload is in the world building of a digital afterlife concept based on cellular data plans and technological advancements that appears to have solved hunger and transportation. Still, it's very hard to swallow that this show is set just 13 years in the future and feigns the idea that everyone will allow their entire lives (and deaths) to be controlled by digital tech companies with seemingly no resistance.
Where the show fails is in the lack of relatable characters whom we are supposed to care about. The main character - Nathan - seems to have no driving force toward anything, instead being a constant victim of his environment. The closest thing to a relatable character is Nora, who should be considered the main protagonist instead of a supporting love interest. There's even a point near the end of the first season where Nathan outright admits to having lost interest in his own murder investigation.
Said murder mystery plot is confounding in its own right. It is billed as a major plot, but by the end of the first season there is zero resolution to any of it. The state of the finale suggests there should be three more episodes. Can you call it a cliffhanger if we haven't even gotten near the cliff? Aside from one major revelation about Nathan's past, we only get vague hints at what really happened to him, and those are all covered up by all-too-convenient events that are dismissed immediately. When the person investigating the murder is, herself, murdered. The characters respond to her disappearance with a deflating... "hmm, weird."
All of this would be more acceptable if it were funny and poking fun at itself for these glaring plot holes. But humor is one thing the digital afterlife seems to be missing. The only part of the show I found the least but humorous were the corporate hybrid names such as "Panera Facebook." Otherwise, the show is filled with social concepts that range from nonsensical to downright disturbing. From adhesive bodycams to ensure consensual sex to the idea of "uploading" being a legal and widely accepted method of suicide. Again, this takes place a mere 13 years in the future.
The two most disturbing events are the 2 Gig floor of Lakeview and the woman and her baby in line at Freyond. The 2 Gig floor - akin to steerage on the Titanic - features a little girl pushing a paper towel roll down the hallway. Based on what we know about uploading, this would mean this little girl's family chose to upload her even though they couldn't afford much, dooming her consciousness to live the most bland existence imaginable for a unknown amount of time for their own selfish reasons. Horrifying.
Second, a woman and her 14 MONTH OLD BABY are waiting in line at a free upload service for a chance to kill herself and her baby because "hey, this might be our only chance to upload." Utterly disturbing.
Again, most of the characters in this show are supposedly alive today. This isn't even set in the distant future like "Idiocracy." It's 2-3 presidents from now.
The Ranch (2016)
Start to Finish, Nothing Changes
If you want a story about a family that treats each other like crap and has the same argument over and over again for 80 episodes, this is the show for you.
Some very funny moments in this show, but they literally have the same 5 arguments for the entire show. Really lost interest after Danny Masterson was written off the show.