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Jessattard31
Reviews
Persuasion (2022)
The most faithful adaption yet
The best adaptation yet.
Persuasion is my favourite novel, even over Pride & Prejudice. Most adaptions present Anne as some limp noodle that deserves to pine for love.
Whereas this is an adaption almost like a fanfic. It's faithful to the original novel while giving us a good look at the feelings and actions of our one true pair.
Where past Austen adaptations rightfully give us an insight into their characters foilables, this Persuasion also shows us the deep friendship that is the foundation of Anne and Captain Wentworth.
Emma. (2020)
Solid adaptation
I would rank this the highest of the film adaptations. The director allows space and time between the high notes of the story, which allows us to more thoroughly feel her friendship with Harriet to be more genuine and to see the developing feelings from Mr Churchill.
Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020)
Okay.
Decent references to past ST. But for a supposedly female-protagnist led show it's clearly written by men. It's the difference between the same old jokes versus the witty, incisive writing of women-powered entertainment like Harley Quinn, Mom, Jones, Eve etc.
The Green Hornet (2011)
Mixed. Watch, but a product of its time and place
It fails women, and while it centres the rich white dude it completely acknowledges that the star is really Kato. It definitely has its funny moments, which gave it an extra star. And it has a lot of fun comparing, side by side, the useless rich heir to the industrious, genius worker.
Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020)
Ignore the 'reviewers' who rate 1-5 because the women aren't there to serve their boners
Dudes who are threatened by this movie are giving themselves away (oooo, self burn - that's rare).
Besides addressing the misogynist reviewers (when majority haven't even seen it!), I have to tell you to go see this movie.
Robbie is am excellent actress. The emotional depth she brought to Suicide Squad finally comes to fruition as she becomes a fully realised character.
Each Bird of Prey team member is given an adequate and satisfying background without feeling like an origin story.
The direction is inspired. It's fun. It's a metaphor for Harley's decay and madness. It's touching.
Lastly, it's funny and gorgeously violent.
I saw a girl in the studio today and I could only joyously envy her watching this and hopefully inspiring her to competently shoot people with glitter bombs.
Incredibles 2 (2018)
Meh
For all that ElastiGirl and the billionaire woman were supposed to be more in focus, it's clear that the creative team behind it were likely mostly male and very probably not diverse. Could have been a lot better.
Ming zhong zhu ding wo ai ni (2008)
It's okay.
Lacks the chemistry and charm of the K-version. The characters are more simple, with some reduced to just good or bad, and the male lead lacks nuance so he just comes off as a constant jerk.
Love, Death & Robots (2019)
Wasted opportunity
Feels like rehash of 70s sci-fi, including tired jokes. Would have been a great opportunity to introduce some new and exciting stories. Would also guess that it's a very homogenous group who were writing, directing etc.
The King 2 Hearts (2012)
This show had me at "Princess Pooh".
The badass woman protagonist stays fierce and strong even while exploring her vulnerable side to love and relationships. Her military and physical strength don't just disappear, and she is the one who saves him from physical dangers (a nice reversal of the damsel/ Princess in distress).
As many have noted the antagonist can be weird and over-the-top and the foreign actors can. not. act.
But, the Korean characters genuinely develop throughout the series and the tragedies had me crying. The love between romance characters and new family members feel genuine because of their growth.
K-Pop the Ultimate Audition (2012)
It starts okay, but never really develops into interesting
In comparison to other gender benders, I'd say it doesn't have the poignancy of Coffee Prince or the chemistry in Bromance. Very chaste and couldn't seem to decide on what major drama was the true hurdle for the characters.
Roboti Aniya (2017)
Very enjoyable, not in the top 10 though
SOFT SPOILER
I really enjoyed the secondary romance for the 'clueless, but kind man' and 'knowledgeable woman'; precisely because he's not supposed to be the character anyone falls for. It's very cute.
Main romance was fine. The lead woman was fantastic and lead guy was good. They were not steamy, but still had good chemistry; even though I felt they could have revealed her secret earlier.
Weiwei yixiao hen qingcheng (2016)
Annoying lead characters
I lasted to episode 10, but I had to stop watching. The premise is good as are the production values, but the leads were too passive (her) and too content to just stand around staring at people (him). They started to become annoying and that was that for me.
Ai shang ge men (2015)
Really enjoyed it
Once they got past The Tortured Prince bit at the beginning it was a funny and enjoyable show. Stick past the 2-3 episodes because it gets a lot less cringy and a whole lot ... okay, totally addict-able! That's right, I ended up watching this until the wee morning on a work night...!
If you like Tokyo Crazy Paradise manga or Coffee Prince k-drama you'll enjoy this show. The romance between the main two made my own heart skip a beat and the reactions to (what supporting characters thought was) a queer romance were a lot more accepting and inclusive than I thought it'd be.
The three way romance (in every k-drama!) is shown to be an option, but isn't taken up at all. It is relatively un-chaste; as the main couple believe they are both men the chase/courtship is less chaste and has very decent skinship.
(I rate this as compared to Tawain dramas. The production values etc were low compared to US etc and K, but for TW-drama I think it was absolutely amazing.
(I found the Nana sub-plot really bland, but I just ended up fast forwarding through those bits.)
Daphne & Velma (2018)
Wholesome, fun and funny
Plus great modeling for young men and women. Nice arcs for the main characters and it's good to see a new take on a tired show.
Dumplin' (2018)
Wonderful
I alternated the entire movie between crying and laughing. There's more nuance than 'mum sucks' and none of that tired trope of mean beauty queens (it's played as simply as: it's not their story).
I'm so happy to see a movie written, produced and directed by women. It makes a huge difference in authentic storytelling.
Byeol-e-seo on geu-dae (2013)
Better than I expected
Far more depth in the side characters than you would expect. Made funny and sometimes poignant by it's metatextual framing within the showbiz world.
She's super annoying at the beginning, but then she's supposed to, and she doesn't get 'punished' as much as simply living the life lesson, which I appreciate. I came to genuinely like her as a person.
I'm 2/3 into it and I can't say about him and his alien plot yet, but he's brought some lovely comedy as the straight man character.
Batman and Harley Quinn (2017)
Weirdly s*xualized
In 2017 did WB still think that girls and women don't watch this sort of movie? Panty shots, body close ups - you'd think they'd do better than constant T&A.
Disenchantment (2018)
Meh
Disenchanted's saving grace is its voice actors: the central three infuse charm and humour into their lines. Plus/And the antagonist from the IT Crowd is always face-palmingly hilarious.
The story is meh and, although the protagonist is a woman, it's clear the creative team (writers, directors etc) are men; so the story doesn't even have the freshness of looking through a new lens of gender.
Disenchanted is like a pale prequel to Futurama.
The Break with Michelle Wolf (2018)
People who say they're 'humanist', not 'feminist' will hate this show
Although, as she points out, her voice is like a foghorn, Michelle Wolf is sharp and hilarious - give it a go.