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mikevanderkolk
Reviews
Ashes in the Snow (2018)
Disappointing adaptation; fine movie
As someone who enjoys teaching the novel Between Shades of Gray to my students, I was disappointed with much of this movie. The acting and cinematography are fine, but there are so many missing plot points and character development. Mr. Stalas is one of my favorite characters in the book, and I was excited to see Cosmo play that role. However, I was let down that he was just a face in the crowd. He's the most recognizable actor in one of the most pivotal roles from the novel, and he does next to nothing? Plus, this adaptation proves Lina right about Kretzsky. Instead of she being wrong about him being just another cog in the Soviet machine, he finds a way to be unredeemable. They no gray area in this book. The Lithuanians are all wrongly persecuted, and the Soviets are all maniacally oppressive abusers. Book Kretzsky is a representation of there being people who shine light within corruption.
The scene that gave me the most hope was when Lina drew Komorov. Despite her envisioning a snakehead in the novel, she draws a flattering portrait. Though a beautiful drawing, my hope of the devilish sketch being her imagination fell short.
The movie was fine, but I can at least confidently tell my students to not watch it.
Game of Thrones: The Last of the Starks (2019)
Inconsistencies and laziness have tarnished the final season
Inconsistencies have become an issue lately with Game of Thrones. Why focus on scenes and dialogue to establish certain rules of the universe only to go against said rules? Armor's benefits were discussed with Jorah to Dothraki in season one. Red Viper targeted weak points in the Mountain's armor to gain an advantage. However, last week saw two characters see their demises due to having their armor pierced like butter.
Then we get to this week with a narrative inconsistency right of the bat. When Jon killed a White Walker at Hardhome, its pod vanished into dust. Last week, many soldiers were killed and subsequently resurrected by the Night King. They should've vanished; leaving little cleanup for the survivors. However, the show runners wanted to remind viewers how little was actually lost in the Battle of Winterfell and went against their own universe's rules.
Also, the time jumps are a bit much. With Jaime's travel north, the battle, Tyrion's journey south, and Euron's trip back to King's Landing, Cersei would certainly be showing signs of her pregnancy. Right? Either that or these guys are fools for thinking she's telling the truth.
Also, doesn't Euron find it at all weird that Tyrion knows about Cersei's pregnancy? Like, I'd be seeing red flags instantly because you sure as hell know no ravens are flying away with that news.
Lastly, why don't Euron's men fire away at a stationary Drogon? They already proved capable by nailing Rhaegal with their first three bolts, and he was moving. Surely they could've hit him sitting there and wiped out the foot soldiers with their high ground.
At least my boy Gendry is Lord Gendry Baratheon of Storm's End!
Game of Thrones: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (2019)
Stunning
Emotional episodes like this are why many viewers grew to love this series. It was stunning on all accounts for those who love the characters.
Game of Thrones: The Long Night (2019)
Heartbreaking for all the wrong reasons
"The Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" wonderfully reminded fans why we love these characters so much. "The Long Night" painstakingly reminded us fans how much the show quality has dropped since surpassing the source material.
All of the gradual buildup led to lackluster payoffs that made little to no sense. Plus, the cinematography was brutal: Too many choppy cuts was hard to follow. Dark lightning was hard to see. Sudden navigation led to confusion. I understand it was supposed to be a brutal, chaotic battle, but this was not the way to go about it.
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Next to nothing was lost other than Jorah, supplies, and the Dothraki race. Theon's arc was over, and he could've used more "umph" at the end. I cared about Beric and Edd, but I feel most casual fans had no idea Edd had a name or that he was Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. Why not one of the three in the love triangle between Brienne, Jaime, and Tormund? Jaime is the only one with any motivation against Cersei. The other two could've sacrificed themself for the other. Grey Worm? Don't get me started. He had no business surviving. Much like White Rat before him, he let his emotions get the best of him to sully his Unsullied name.
Then there are the White Walker lieutenants. What purpose did they serve? Nearly unstoppable threat who wiped out many soldiers and prove to be a giant hurdle for many of the main characters? Nope. Bodyguards for the Night King? Nope. Opponents for Bran's blinking contest? Ding. How much more impactful would Beric's sacrifice for Arya had been if he took out of the lieutenants while suffering his fatal blow? Imagine three lieutenants challenging Theon in the Godswood, Theon taking one out, but the other two overtake him before he can stop the Night King.
Give Jon something. I know he's had many pivotal moments in the show, but he should! He's the most important character to everything. Sure, Tyrion is the most connected narratively, but Jon is the centerpiece with Tyrion, Dany, Cersei, and Night King standing as the cornerstones. He could have killed Viserion a moment before Arya stabbed the Night King. Better yet, he never should have told Dany about his Targaryen heritage. It has yet to have a payoff, so it should've been shown instead. Dany and Drogon could've torched the wights that swarmed Jon with Jon getting "taken out" in the crossfire but revealing his immunity to the flames.
There is so much more, but those are the highlights. Casual fans are great, but writes pandering to their desires tarnished what could have been the most heartbreaking episode of television history.