Tag Archives: reviews

Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End (Apocalipsis Z: El principio del fin) (2024) Review – Exploring the Past

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TL;DR – A solid Spanish zombie film, with good tension, a capable lead, and strong worldbuilding.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Post-Credit Scene – There is no end-credit scene.

Disclosure – I paid for the Amazon Prime service that was used to view this film.

Warning – Contains scenes which may cause distress.

Zombies swarm.

Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End Review Introduction

Tonight, as we are spooky season adjacent, I thought I would dip into a horror film and the new Spanish Zombie film was recommended to me. It was at that point that I remembered that I had planned to watch the first film in the series but never got around to it. Well, there is no time like the present to fix that.

So, to set the scene, it is the new year in Spain and Manel (Francisco Ortiz) and Júlia (Iria del Río) are on their way back from visiting Manel’s family when a traffic accident changes their lives. A year later, things are a bit tense as a virus has the EU thinking of closing borders. Life is moving on, as the cases are ‘contained’ in Spain, but there is fear that collapse is on the horizon, and important people are being moved out to the Canary Islands for some reason.

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The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland (1999) Review – Exploring the Past

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TL;DR – While it is a film where you do need that nostalgic hook to get the most out of it, I do have to admit there is still a charm there.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Post-Credit Scene – There is no end-credit scene.

Disclosure – I paid to view this film.

Elmo gets sucked through a portal.

The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland Review Introduction

Today I am looking at a film that was a direct request from one of my friends. Was that friend in an exhaustive haze at the end of a long convention? Probably. Will we need to dive back in time to before the Y2K bug? Yes. Have I ever watched this film before? Absolutely not.

So, to set the scene, Elmo (Kevin Clash) is looking for his blanket (it is behind him; the children yell), who is his best friend (I am not sure that is healthy). After a Blanket-Best Friend song, there is a segue to an impromptu percussion party in the laundromat. On the way home, Elmo is trying to comfort Zoe (Fran Brill) with animal impressions because she can’t go to the zoo. After a series of unfortunate events, the blanket ends up in Oscar the Grouch’s (Caroll Spinney) trashcan, and Elmo could not wait for Oscar to return home and gets accidentally sucked into Grouchland.

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VisionQuest: Firewall [S1:E5] – TV Review

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TL;DR – How do you visualise robots hunting each other down in cyberspace? Well, with a play, my dear.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the Disney+ service used to view this series.

The gang in colour in a black and white room.

VisionQuest Review Introduction

Well, we have entered that back half of this series, and so far with No Strings, Theseus, Reboot, & Malware we have gotten a lot of setup, a lot of sheer glances, and a lot of furtive statements. But we don’t have a lot of solid ground, and we are running out of time to stick that hard landing. Will today’s episode prove to be that foundation?

So, to set the scene, well, this is not good. Vision (Paul Bettany) gave Ultron (James Spader) access to his body to stop Jocasta (T’nia Miller) from killing everyone, including Thomas (Ruaridh Mollica). Still, once you give Ultron a crack, he takes a mile. In this case, by locking Vision, EDITH (Emily Hampshire), FRIDAY (Orla Brady), DUM-E (Henry Lewis), & U (Jonathan Sayer) up in the loft he was once trapped in. But sure, they may be in jail, but four AI programs with moxie can still achieve a lot. Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be [SPOILERS] ahead.

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Minimum Wage: Pilot [S1:E1] – TV Review

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TL;DR – This was a wildly odd first episode. I am not sure how to take it, but the absurdity is strangely compelling.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the Netflix service used to view this series.

Luke Burke floating in a lake in a pizza mascot costume.

Minimum Wage Review Introduction

One of the odd joys of enjoying weird comedy groups is that occasionally they blow up, and you get to see them take things to new heights. See Aunty Donna or even what Zach Cregger is up to at the moment. Today I get to add to this with American High School’s dive into Netflix.

So, to set the scene, in the Village of Liverpool, New York, USA, there is the odd pizza place: American Height’s Slice Club. They have a habit of buying all the streaming services and crashing pizza vans into lakes, but maybe not making a lot of money, which may be important for Mr Sylvester (Randall Park), who owns all the Slice Clubs. Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be [SPOILERS] ahead.

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VisionQuest: Malware [S1:E4] – TV Review

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TL;DR – The pivot point of the season, in many ways.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the Disney+ service used to view this series.

A TV bathed in red light showing a mirrored crow taking flight.

VisionQuest Review Introduction

In many modern shows, there can be a pivot point that yanks the narrative in a very specific direction. To use an MCU example, when we found out that Wanda is in control in WandaVision or when Wanda is in control in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Well, today is that time.

So, to set the scene, at the end of Reboot, things were starting to look up. Tommy (Ruaridh Mollica) had started to get over his phobia of water, Vision (Paul Bettany) had turned off and on again, and Paladin (Todd Stashwick) found the wrong synth. It was all going well, until FRIDAY (Orla Brady) discovers that something or someone snuck in during the reset. “The Power of Code Compels You” because it is time for a little exorcism. Also, I think you should be taking the anniversary of Sokovia with a bit more interest Vision. Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be [SPOILERS] ahead.

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Wildwood – Movie Review

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TL;DR – A stunning work of art that moved my soul.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Post-Credit Scene – There is a mid-credit scene.

Disclosure – I paid to watch this film.

Warning – Contains scenes which may cause distress.

Cherry blossoms in Portland by the river.

Wildwood Review Introduction

Today I get to talk about one of the most interesting films I have seen in an age. A film brimming with artistic talent, emotion, and an impact that with me long after the credits rolled. It is a movie that reminds me why film exists: to delight, to confront, to uplift, and to bring the tears.

So, to set the scene, Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) is at that teenage age where she is trying to isolate herself from those things that seem childish because now, she is an adult, apparently. While also simultaneously rebelling against her parents’ wisdom, a juxtaposition that is only found in teenagers. Her parents (Jake Johnson & Maya Erskine) get Prue to watch her baby brother Mac (Arthur Knight), but he can not go outside. Fast-forward to Prue taking Mac on a tour around Portland, Oregon. It is a delightful day, bar the unfortunate appearance of Curtis Mehlberg (Jacob Tremblay), oh and a murder of crows stealing Mac from the playground and taking him into the Impassable Wilderness, the one place her parents told her not to go.

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VisionQuest: Reboot [S1:E3] – TV Review

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TL;DR – When you introduce a villain in the same show as Ultron, you need to do it as well as this.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the Disney+ service used to view this series.

Pixelated fire at the heart of Vision.

VisionQuest Review Introduction

We have now moved into the next batch of episodes with VisionQuest, and after some solid set-up, it is time to get into the meat of the episode. Is what I would be saying if this was not another set-up episode, but when you are setting up such a solid villain, well, I will allow it.

So, to set the scene, at the end of Theseus, things are looking really bad for Vision (Paul Bettany). Paladin (Todd Stashwick) just shot him full of adamantium rounds, breaking his unbreakable case and leaking vital fluids all over the place. He would be dead if not for the fact that Tommy (Ruaridh Mollica) does not like to listen to such advice. But Paladin is under a contract and is not going to stop just because his third attempt to catch Vision failed. But while everyone was watching Vision die, they should have been watching the news for all the murders going around. Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be [SPOILERS] ahead.

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Scrubs: My Chief [S2:E4] – TV Review

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TL;DR – A lot happened in this episode, but only one thing landed its mark

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the Disney+ service that aired this episode.

Scrubs Review Introduction

Today we are looking at an episode that is a bit of a mixed bag, because at least one of its major points landed. However, the rest of the episode was kind of fine. Nothing remarkable, but just fine.

So, to set the scene, JD (Zach Braff) is having a problem. Someone in the hospital just made a huge mistake, and a patient had to be readmitted. This is a huge financial loss for the hospital, and JD, as chief, is looking to find which idiot doctor let the person go before they were ready. Unfortunately for JD, the answer is not the one he wanted to find. Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be [SPOILERS] ahead.

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Scrubs: My Ex’s Ex [S2:E3] – TV Review

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TL;DR – An episode that brings that old-school feel before kicking you in the face.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the Disney+ service that aired this episode.

Charlie stuck in-between JD and Carla.

Scrubs Review –

When I was reviewing Season 1 of Scrubs, or Season 10 depending on your perspective, one of my main criticisms was that it felt isolated from the older episodes because most of the supporting cast didn’t make the jump. Today is the first episode where it felt like we were finally getting back to that level.

So, to set the scene, at Sacred Heart, there are three relationships on show. JD (Zach Braff) and Charlie (Rachel Bilson) are in that first stage of romance, Carla (Judy Reyes) and Turk (Donald Faison) are working through living together after so many years of marriage, and for Elliot (Sarah Chalke), well, she is single again. Which makes it the perfect time for JD to run into Sean (Scott Foley), his ex’s ex. Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be [SPOILERS] ahead.

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Other Mommy – Movie Review

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TL;DR – Great production cannot save a profoundly hollow film from falling like a thud.

Rating: 1.5 out of 5.

Post-Credit Scene – There is a post-credit sting that you do not have to stay for.

Disclosure – I paid to watch this film.

Warning – Contains scenes with flashing lights.

A soft toy vulture on the top of a ball pit.

Other Mommy Review Introduction

Today we look at a film that is an odd duality. From the outside, this is a strongly constructed movie with a strong cast, engaging editing, strong cinematography, and an interesting spin on the supernatural monster mythology. It is also an insipid, hollow, dull exercise that turns a ninety-minute film into a slog.

So, to set the scene, on the surface, the Martin family of Ursula (Jessica Chastain), Russ (Jay Duplass), and little Bela (Arabella Olivia Clark) are the perfect unit. Maybe mum works a bit too much, maybe dad should have more going on in his life beyond painting miniatures, oh, and maybe Bela should not see Other Mommy (Jessica Chastain) in her closet at night.

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