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The_Foiler
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Fear the Walking Dead: The Beacon (2021)
Good story but illogical climax
When you kill someone, even if you are a villain, there is usually a valid reason. Your wife slept with someone, so you throw her off a roof. Your friend steals money from you, you off him with a gun. I don't get why Victor kills off Will. What strategic advantage does he gain from that? Whether there is an Alycia arc within that reason, is still irrelevant. Creators/writers made Strand kill off Will for only one reason-and that's for shock value. I'm good with shock value, but the events still need to make sense. When Michael Corleone killed Fredo at the end of Godfather 2, it was a shocker, but it also made sense.
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
To Those Naysayers Who Gave WW84 a 5/10 or Below, Please Read This...
I am not understanding why a majority of you are giving WW84 a 1/10. Well, I guess it's your opinion, and you're entitled to it. I am asking you to listen to mine.
My purpose in writing this review is not to change your opinion or your score, but to show you what you missed out on.
WW84 reminds me of The Dark Knight (TDK) in that TDK is not just about Bats vs Joker. TDK is a lot more than that. It has morality themes that make you think about issues after the movie is over. TDK is about social breakdown, and what you would do when faced with terror. Are you going to betray your fellow man just to save your own skin? Or are you going to do the right thing and find a way to save everyone; and in the process, save your own humanity? (Recall the two ferries during the climactic scene)
In WW84, it's not just about WW vs Cheetah/Max Lord. It has other underlying themes too. One of the biggest main themes is the concept of being careful what you wish for...because it just might come true. It is kind of an allegory (like some Twilight Zone episodes from the 60s) because of what Steve Trevor said, as he relates it to The Monkey's Paw-you wish for something, but as a tradeoff you will lose your most valued possession.
A lot of super-hero movies don't have underlying themes. They're all CGI, awesome fighting scenes, explosions, destructions, etc. But in WW84, they actually put some thought into writing this. You gotta give them credit for that.
There are some notable scenes that some reviewers didn't like. I'll assess each one, and compare it to scenes from other movies.
1. People didn't like that last scene when Diana renounced her wish. This is a very earth-shattering scene because Diana had to make the hard choice that heroes/heroines have to make. It's always the heroes/heroines who suffer at the end, just to save humanity. Bats did this when he took Harvey Dent's crimes as his own at the end of TDK, to save Gotham's soul. Nobody hated that scene. This also happened in Superman 2. Clark had to let Lois go, so he can get his powers back and save the world. Nobody hated this scene. But the difference is, Lois is still alive. In WW84, when Diana made her choice, Steve dies. That is a bigger loss.
2. People didn't like the last scene with Max Lord and his son. Max finally came to grips with his own humanity. This happened at the end of Return of the Jedi when Vader threw the Emperor over the railing, just to save his son. Even villains can have a change of heart. This is one of the greatest momentous scenes in the entire Star Wars franchise, and nobody hated this scene. In TDK, when the prisoner threw his detonator out of the ferry, and the businessman put his detonator back in the box, this shocked people in my theater, because it shows that everyday people can actually do the right thing. It doesn't have to be the hero/heroine who does the right thing all the time. It can be regular people too. And nobody hated this scene in TDK.
3. People didn't like it when Diana used her lasso to furtively tie it around Max's ankle, in order to send a message to the world about "the truth." Therefore, Diana with the help of Max was able to restore all of humanity. Isn't this what Stark did at the end of End Game when he snapped his fingers, and half of the deceased creatures in the universe were restored? Nobody hated this scene. This is also what Optimus Prime did when he used the Matrix of Leadership to decimate the spores and save all of humanity at the end of The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2 (G-1), and accompanied by the inspiring song "The Touch," sung by Stan Bush. Nobody hated this scene.
To be fair, here is some room for improvement:
1. The CGI during the desert convoy chase could be better.
2. The final fight scene between WW and Cheetah could've been better. It's all fake-looking CGI and bouncing around like acrobats. I wanted to see a fight scene that is in the same caliber as Cap's fight scenes in the ship at the beginning of Cap 2: Winter Soldier, and his fight scenes with Winter Soldier himself. Also the same caliber as the Bat-fleck fight scene at the warehouse in Bats v Supes, when he was rescuing Martha Kent. Those were amazing and exhilarating fight scenes that I wanted WW and Cheetah to emulate.
Other than that, WW84 is a pretty good movie! It's too bad you missed out on this greatness. In fact, you ended up losing. My family and I enjoyed it, but you didn't. And I feel bad. I wish you enjoyed it too, so you will not have that feeling of wasting your money, and wasting 2 1/2 hours of your life that you'll never get back. I wish you lauded this movie so you can look back on it with awe and inspiration. And that's a wish I will not renounce.
Go see it again a few months from now, and give it a second chance.
The Walking Dead: World Beyond: In This Life (2020)
I See Some Improvement, Some Funny Moments, and a Plot Hole
It's a decent season finale. It sets us up for the next season. When I saw Will and his ragtag band, I see the analogy of the Rebellion versus the Empire.
Some funny scenes: during that awkward dinner scene when Felix finds out that Will is the second person to join the detail, Leo tells his daughters to get dessert ready, and without hesitation, they both get up and head straight to the kitchen. That was funny.
Good fight scene between Huck and Felix.
When Elton killed the 4 walkers before they reached Percy's unconscious body, it was a nice climactic scene because Elton couraged up in the end. But what he could've done was to get to the walkers while they were still 100 feet away, and use distractions to divert them so they wouldn't even reach Percy in the first place.
And finally the plot hole. I don't understand why the CRM would go through all that trouble to get Huck to escort Hope (the asset) to the chopper. If Hope was really that important, the CRM could've just captured her as early as Episode 1, and put her in the chopper while she was still at the university. If she was really that important, why make her travel that entire distance on foot and let her risk her life in the process?
The Croods: A New Age (2020)
Good themes such as teamwork but second half lacks originality
I enjoyed this sequel. It has some funny moments. I like the fact that teamwork was emphasized, as well as learning from each other's culture--Mrs. Betterman benefitting from cuddling with the pack while sleeping, Betterman daughter taking risks and having an adventure outside the wall, and the Croods benefitting from the Bettermans's technology, hygiene, etc.
I guess the only critique I have is the second half. Lacks originality. The giant King Kong-esque villain has to be fed, else he will wreak havoc. This is the main storyline of How To Train Your Dragon Part 1.
However, there are some original themes I've never seen before, such the punch-monkeys, as they communicate by punching each other's faces. That's pretty funny.
Overall, good film for the family.
The Walking Dead: World Beyond: Truth or Dare (2020)
It is getting better, but with a few minor plot holes
The first episode dragged. You want a Season Premiere to be captivating, like the Season 2 Premiere of The Walking Dead. That episode started out with a mega herd approaching our heroes in the highway, and then Sophia goes missing. Now THAT was a captivating premiere. It got you hooked. I wanted to know what happened to Sophia! In World Beyond premiere, nothing got me hooked. So the first few episodes didn't have that much momentum.
This particular episode with Huck's past, this got me a little bit hooked now. I like how they explored her past, and that moral dilemma she was faced with.
The only plot hole I see is the act itself. If you're a Marine, and you're with your troops for a long time, that's your brotherhood/sisterhood. You don't just kill them off, just because they were given an order (and it's NOT an illegal order too). If they are given an order to kill innocent human beings (just like in the movie 28 Weeks Later), it's not an illegal order because you're preserving the human race. Now, is it unethical/immoral? You decide.
But what Huck did though, doesn't seem realistic. You wouldn't kill your own friends that you've worked with, bled with, shared combat experiences with--those are your brothers! I think it would be more realistic if she found a common ground--like if she shot them in the legs or something.
Think about it. You are with your co-workers, or with your family members or friends you've known for years...you've partied with them, shared stories with them, etc., are you seriously going to shoot them and kill them in cold blood?
The 100: Blood Giant (2020)
Mixed Feelings - Last Scene Was So-So; Raven Scene Was Spectacular
I get it, that people are upset with the ending. I for one, am not. And here's why.
These characters have done a lot of evil things in the past. These aren't the characters that I typically root for. Clarke has killed the other people in the mountain in Season 2 because she has to save her own people. When someone tells her not to do it, she always says, "Then give me a better solution." They can't think of any, so they let Clarke do the evil deed. smh.
She has done this in many other seasons, asking, "If you don't agree, then tell me a better plan." We all know there is always another alternative. But yet, she always does the evil deed, and ends up killing people. Again.
Clarke, as well as other characters, have done so many bad things, that they are not the typical characters that I root for, such as MacGyver, Jack Bauer, Sam Beckett, etc. And yes, Bellamy has done a lot of evil things too. So when Clarke kills him, did I really mourn? Meh, maybe a little. But I would mourn a lot more if they killed off MacGyver or Jack Bauer, know what I mean?
I guess the writers want the greatest shock value, or huge ratings, or whatever the case may be. I think that works best if the "evil deed" is more logical. Clarke shooting Bellamy in the end, albeit shocking, is not logical. There are other ways to avoid putting Madi in danger. The climactic scene in 24 Season 6, Episode 4, when Jack Bauer shoots Curtis (his wingman) to save a terrorist--now that is a shocking scene, BUT it is the logical thing to do! You have to go see 24 to know what I'm talking about. Clarke's action at the end of Ep 13 was not logical.
On a good note, that scene with Raven and that female prisoner--now that was spectacular. I knew she wasn't gonna kill Raven after she confesses and says, "If it will bring you peace, then just do it." Now THAT was powerful!
I figured these two ladies are going to be allies in the future, right at the point when Raven admitted her own fault.
Into the Night: Terenzio (2020)
Great Show - Succinct and Straight to the Point
My family and I liked the entire series. Great suspense. Good cliffhangers at the end, which makes you want to binge-watch the entire series. We finished it in one day. The series goes straight to the point with only 6 episodes, at 40-ish minutes per episode. In today's times, sometimes you want a quick show. And this delivers!
There's a Langoliers feel to it. One could think it's a rip-off, but there's also another philosophy that films can be inspired by other films.
The only critique I have is how the heroine made that decision in the end. She cuffed the Major, and she says she did this because she's "a leader." This is not what true leadership is about. True leadership means she should have stayed with the Major, and ensured that everyone (including the Major) will be safe, regardless of what the Major did with Ayaz. Yes, a leader has to account for all the actions of the person, but she also has to account for one major act, which should have more weight than the other actions, and that major act is that the Major saved ALL their lives at the very beginning. That has to count for a lot more. So she shouldn't have left him there. She should've stayed with him. And then when Team Bravo didn't show up by the time window, then she should have uncuffed the Major, and high-tailed it to the bunker.
Furthermore, a true leader is humble--she would not say "I'm a leader." In order to validate that she's a leader, SOMEONE ELSE has to say that she's a leader.
We were rooting for her since the first episode. But because of her actions in the last episode, she is not someone we wanted to root for, anymore.
Anyway, that's the only critique I have. Apart from that, we really loved the 6-part series. The science may not be logical, but that's why this is science-fiction. I was also calculating the speed of the sun relative to the person on earth. The British pilot is correct. It travels approximately 1,000 miles per hour. (The earth is approximately 24,000 miles in circumference, and the sun makes one round trip in 24 hours relative to the observer. 24K miles divided by 24 hrs is 1,000 MPH.) No commercial airliner can travel 1,000 miles per hour. That's more than Mach 1. The Concord was retired ages ago. So the solution is to fly closer to the poles. British pilot mentioned that cosine equation, which validates it. You travel west, and you do it closer to the poles, you WILL outrun the sun.
Shimmer Lake (2017)
Opener-Eye Provoking-Thought Intriguing An
In conclusion, I highly recommend this movie. The End.
And thirdly, the script was clever. The writer did not just start spitting out ideas on a whim. He actually took time to ensure the plot had no holes, and it was just brilliantly made! Good job!
Secondly, the actors did an amazing job in fulfilling their roles. It's nice to have Dwight Schrute and the Office Space guy.
Firstly, this is not a rip off of Memento or Pulp Fiction. It's got its own originality.
To start my review, I just wanted to say that I thought this movie was cleverly made.
9-1-1: The Searchers (2019)
What a refreshing ending!
Pros and cons:
The cons: This is nitpicking. As the wave approaches the harbor, it looked so real. But when it hit the harbor, when the wave turned into white suds that waves typically become when it hits rocks, it looked a little bit fake. Ditto when it was being video recorded by the smart phone. He was moving the smart phone, yet the image on that screen was not moving with respect to the smart phone--it is as if the recording was already saved in the phone, and they are just re-showing it. But again, this is just nitpicking.
The pros: What can I say? It's a refreshing ending. Not just because Christopher survived the disaster, but because Eddie still knocked on Buck's door, and was still willing to drop off his son in Buck's care. It was refreshing and heart-warming because after all this, Eddie STILL trusts Buck.
And I like how Buck told Eddie that he failed him, but Eddie replied that it wasn't him; it was the tsunami that did all this; and that his son still raved that Buck was his hero. Amazing and touching moment!
"Next time, take him to the zoo--more inland, and no water." Haha! Good one.
Looks like Eddie missed out on that karma episode from an earlier season in which a tiger escaped from his cage.
9-1-1: Sink or Swim (2019)
How the devil did they film this?!!
The tidal waves looked real. The set--where that whole street was flooded and the survivors were on top of the fire truck--looked real. That giant half of a ferris wheel sticking out of the water, looked so real.
This seemed like a big budgeted disaster film with visual effects you would only see in a movie screen. And we saw it for free!
Huge props to the 9-1-1 cast and crew. Way to go!
Fear the Walking Dead: Today and Tomorrow (2019)
I am really worried that Season 6 might not happen
This is what happened to Z Nation, another zombie apocalypse show that I enjoyed watching. Z Nation's Season 5 kind of went downhill because the stories became less captivating. Fear TWD's Season 5 is somewhat in the same boat--the stories are starting to be less captivating, less interesting, etc. There are many illogical sequences, and many boring events; I won't belabor it--you've seen the other reviewers' comments.
I'll balance it out by pointing out the positives:
1. The "doing-random-acts-of-kindness" piece at first seemed impractical, because when you're in an apocalypse, your number one goal is your survival, and the survival of your family/friends. Nothing else.
However, after thinking about it, what happens during the majority of the time when you're in an apocalypse?
You get bored! There's nothing to do. Yes, there are threats that are two-fold: the walkers and the bad people like Governor/Negan/Jessie look-a-like-contest-winner from Toy Story. But after learning the craft of survival, you would be able to mitigate against these threats easily.
So what do you do now with the rest of your time? Man, you would be so bored that you need something to do. There is no more 9 to 5 job that will keep you busy; there are no more projects that will enable you to set goals for yourself; that goal of getting promoted is gone.
So you gotta do something to pass the time, right? So yeah, these altruistic acts by our heroes seem like the practical thing to do, especially since it's been, what, 9 years since the apocalypse started?
2. I will bring up the concept of "living vicariously" through these heroes.
If you look at my review for "The Omega Man" starring Charlton Heston, you'll see the same theme.
Have you ever wondered why post-apocalyptic movies/TV shows like The Road Warrior, Planet of the Apes, Fear TWD and TWD, are still being shown? Ever since Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone series from the 60s (which had episodes showing the post-apocalypse), up to now (almost 70 years later), they are still showing these shows. It's because everyone secretly would like to fantasize about being in an apocalypse. Why? Well, think about it. In an apocalypse, you don't have to pay taxes anymore. You don't have responsibilities. You can go to a bar, drink all the alcohol, and not have to pay for it! You can take anything you want from malls, supermarkets, etc.
You basically have the freedom that you will not get in the real world.
This is why people like post-apocalyptic movies. Because of the fantasy.
Viewers can live vicariously through Morgan, Alycia, Rick Grimes, Max Rockatansky, Taylor, and the rest of the heroes, and have that sense of satisfaction of fantasizing about that freedom that we don't have right now, regardless of how boring and less captivating this show has become.
Doomsday Preppers: No Such Thing as a Fair Fight (2012)
Complete the castle with a nice moat with alligators!
This is the first Doomsday Preppers episode that I've ever seen. Not bad!
Here's my philosophy. I wouldn't spend money, or time, to prep for the apocalypse. However, I wouldn't make fun of full-time doomsday preppers either. This is just in case I will end up needing their help. Remember the story of Noah's Ark? Everyone made fun of him and his family as they were building the Ark. Then when the flood did come, every one of them begged Noah to let them in.
I loved how "the king's" family worked together, and how the king did drills. My only feedback for his fortress is to create a moat around it, which is exactly what a medieval castle has. If there's no moat, anyone with a tank that is EMP-resistant, a canon, or a bazooka can blast any of the castle's walls; and the intruders can march right in. But if you have a moat, especially a really wide and deep one, no matter what weapon you use to destroy a wall, you still have to figure out how to cross that moat!
Fear the Walking Dead: Ner Tamid (2019)
Illogical Scenes and Lack of Originality
I am losing faith with Fear TWD. Two reasons: lack of originality and illogical scenes. It feels like the Rabbi story arc has been done before: Father Gabriel and his congregation from the original TWD.
The one illogical scene that got me disappointed was when John and June were on top of cars, and the walkers can't even reach their feet. That is impossible. Try standing on the ground next to a car. Trust me, you'd be able to reach a person's foot and ankle if he's standing on the roof of that car.
If these scenes keep happening, writers will lose credibility.
Bird Box (2018)
I have theories on what the entities are.
Bird Box review by The Foiler
3 Stars, out of 4, is my official rating. (I typically don't do 5-stars or 10-stars basis, unless it's necessary)
Let me get this hot item out of the way first, before I get to my review:
I like originality. So yes, I get it that people are criticizing it for ripping off "A Quiet Place" and "The Happening." But if you look at it another way, most top-tier movies have taken ideas from other movies. The critically-acclaimed Star Wars 1977 was not 100% original. The opening crawl was taken from the 1930s Flash Gordon TV show's opening intro. The giant boulder that chased Indy in the greatest action-adventure film in history, Raiders of the Lost Ark, came from the 1950s Duck Tales comic strip, in which a similar boulder chased Uncle Scrooge after taking a golden idol. The face-melting scene at the end of Raiders was also taken from the ending of 1955's Kiss Me Deadly. I can go on and on. So, I wouldn't write off Bird Box's premise just because people think it's a rip off.
Now on to my review. What I think these entities are.
SPOILER ALERT
I've always wondered why these extremely powerful beings cannot break inside homes, but they are deadly outside. I think it has to do with the open sky. Inside your home, there is no open sky, right?
So, what is present in the open sky?
Satellites!
Theory 1: It's a man-made entity that was weaponized by a warring nation, whether it is China or Russia. Heck, it could be the States. It's a bio-chemical compound that was released into the atmosphere, and it gets its energy when a signal from the ground is sent up to the satellites, and then beamed down to give these chemicals the needed energy. Once it receives the energy, it becomes potent. In other words, when you look at it, it affects the retina, and then affects the part of the brain that triggers suicide.
Theory 2: It is not man-made. It is alien in nature. But like Theory 1, it still needs open sky in order to trigger the entities' potency. A signal is sent from outer space that gives energy to the entity, but this signal cannot penetrate solid objects. It could only penetrate through air molecules and the vacuum of space. Which is why you are safe inside your home.
Theory 3: Nothing to do with open sky. These are just creatures that are so weak that they cannot break through doors. But if you are outside with them, they have the power to destroy you.
Think of pit bulls. Say, there are 10 hungry pit bulls outside your house. And you are outside with them. These animals will maul you to death. But if you're inside your home, you can have a thousand pit bulls outside, and they won't be able to break in to your house.
Overall, it's a nice film. Great acting by Bullock and Malkovich. Good pacing: it was suspenseful throughout the entire movie.
Reviewed by The Foiler, on 4 January 2019
"I will foil your evil plans."
The Omega Man (1971)
"There is no phone ringing, Dammit!"
3 Stars out of 4, is my official rating. (I typically don't do 5-stars or 10-stars basis, unless it's necessary)
A great film to live vicariously! I am a huge Charlton Heston fan, so please excuse the bias in this review. I will analyze the film in an objective way, and all I ask of you is to have an open mind.
There are so many post-apocalyptic movies out there, each one with different scenarios. If heaven forbid the true apocalypse happens, which post-apocalyptic film would you rather live through? My choice is The Omega Man. Think about it. You own the entire world. You can go to a mall and take all the clothes you want, and not have to pay for them. You can go to a bar, drink all the whiskey, and not have to swipe your credit card or give a tip to the bartender. You are the master and owner of the world!
The only catch is -- you only own the world during the day time. At night, better get indoors. Quick.
Oh, and another catch is to avert madness, loneliness, and sometimes-boredom.
This is the contribution of The Omega Man. For those naysayers out there who are panning The Omega Man, I say that watching a movie doesn't necessarily mean you have to analyze it for its entertainment value, or its character development, or the execution of its plot. A movie's purpose can be for entertainment, it can be for research, it can be for anything you want. As for me, The Omega Man's purpose is an interactive film in which I am living vicariously through Col-Dr Robert Neville. I own the whole world-I can drive around with my convertible and run all the lights, and not worry about rush hour traffic. I can speed and drive drunk, and not worry about getting pulled over, and being thrown in the slammer for DUI. I can take all the gasoline and rent all the DVDs I want (like in the Will Smith version). I can have everything, and I don't have to pay taxes!
Would you rather live vicariously through Heston in Soylent Green in which there is overpopulation and the only food is Soylent Green? (And you know what that is. I won't spoil it for those who haven't seen it). Would you rather live vicariously through Rick Grimes as he takes out Walkers, and have to worry about Negan's army? Would you rather be reduced to a slave while the Apes rule over you? Would you rather scavenge the wasteland for gasoline while The Humungous and his crew hunt you down? Would you rather go blindfolded like Sandra Bullock for the rest of your life, tripping over stuff, getting hurt, etc., and rely on parakeets just to find food and shelter? I can go on and on.
No, I would reject all the above. I'd rather own the world during the day time, ignore ringing payphones, talk to Cesar, talk to myself, "overact" as much as I want, do a Jesus pose, and have a blast.
So, treat The Omega Man as a ride. The ride of your life!
Live vicariously through Neville. And you will enjoy the film.
Reviewed by The Foiler on 4 Jan 2019
"I will foil your evil plans."