Change Your Image
Kingslaay
1= Abysmal. An absolute and utter disaster. Words sometimes don't do justice to describe how dreadful this production was. There were no standards, no redeemable aspects. Easily one of the worst things ever to hit the screen. Does more harm than good to the viewer by watching this. The list of problems, inaccuracies and errors is never ending.
2= Awful. A big let down. No one is at the wheel of this runaway disaster. No quality assurance and almost no standards. You have completely wasted your time. There are so many things wrong with this production. Unlike a 3 or 4 rating, it is futile and almost beyond saving and this production sits firmly in failure and disaster territory.
3= Terrible. An absolute waste of time. Nothing quite lands right. You question how such a production was given a green light to be made. How did this get made? Was there no quality assurance to improve it slightly to lift it to a 4 or even a 5 rating.
4= Weak production. Mediocre and falls short of standards. Almost nothing lands right. Expectations are definitely not met and it is a chore to finish watching this. You consider this a waste of time, especially if it is a long production.
5= Average. Nothing special and not horrendous either. There is some quality scattered through that might keep you tuned in. Forgettable, tends to fall below expectations in certain areas such as not being funny enough, compelling and interesting. The holes in the script and logic are likely to be identified. You might have a list of inconsistencies once you finished watching this.
6= Slightly above average. The production had its moments and little value but it still left a lot to be desired. It might have shown promise here and there but on balance the quality was not sustained enough to be considered as decent. A few inconsistencies or unanswered questions might come about after watching this. Expectations are not always met.
7= Decent. This is not a bad rating. The production was entertaining and the viewer experience offered some value. There is some accomplishment and merit with this rating but it doesn't quite hit the quality mark to earn an 8. A number of productions often fall in this category as they hit some quality checkpoints but not enough to cross into the top tiers.
8= Excellent and well made. A production or title has crossed into the top tier but at the entry point. An 8 is a very respectable and high rating, something to be pleased with. The production has made a very good impression and got a number of things right.
9= Quite outstanding and very well made. A very strong impression has been made. High quality and fantastic. Not flawless but a very good and well executed production. Definitely memorable and up there. It can be quite hard to get a 9.
10= Perfection and often can be called a masterpiece. One of the greatest productions of all time. Memorable and stands well ahead of all the rest, the cream of the crop. Excels in a number of aspects such as storyline, performances and direction. It is extremely hard to get a 10.
Lists
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Ranking Every James Bond Actor
James Bond: A ranking of 007 films
Reviews
Nobody Wants This (2024)
Worth a go
Nobody Wants This has some moments now and then. I think this is a show that would trend well with its target audience. It does not shy away from a lot and Adam Brody and Kristen Bell prove to be a good ticket and selling item for audiences. The calm, mellow and nice guy character is Adam Brody's niche and it works for him. Kirsten Bell also has her niche with her character and both play to their strengths. I feel the writing is not the strongest but its the chemistry and performances from the leads and strong supporting cast that carry this show. Having said that, it does get stronger towards the end and worth giving a go to try something different and see what all the excitement is about.
Don't Worry Darling (2022)
Not too bad
Don't Worry Darling has a great concept and captures you from the start. This perfect lifestyle, 60's setting and complete order is fascinating to watch but its a bit too perfect and orderly. I was drawn in by the mystery as to what was driving this and trying to discover this with the main character. I think this concept and story is so creative it leaps off the page and grabs your attention. The final revelation ties most of it together and explains it. But I feel where this film falls a bit short is the lack of explanation in the final moments of the film. It felt like a big rush to wrap it all up. What happens when Alice is awoken on the other side? What happened the first time she escaped? I think a few more scenes to expand on these events would have tied up the story well and made it stronger instead of leaving the viewer with unanswered questions.
The Sound of 007 (2022)
Decent
The Sound of 007 is quite a great watch. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the history of 007 in music and its rich and wonderful journey. It was magical to see excerpts and clips from the 60s and 70s of Bond artists who hit so many homeruns for the franchise. Music has such a deep way of moving people and this is very true of the greatest film franchise of all time. I learnt a few things and it was a complete treat seeing the films and music come together in such a beautiful display.
This well made documentary was quite deep in parts which was enjoyable. My only criticism is omitted a bit of Timothy Dalton's era, Aha and Gladys Knight which was disappointing and a bit too much time wasted on No Time to Die at the end which was a pitiful movie and went against the spirit of Bond to try justify a redundant "rebirth" and breaking a cardinal rule. These were great artists in the 80s and it would have been rich to have included more about them.
If you are a Bond fan then you should really enjoy this feature and homage to the music and sound of Bond.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
Creativity with no direction
It is very hard to describe or put in words how to describe this film. I have been told by so many people to watch this film and I appreciate there are so many interpretations of it. A lot loved it. I agree the concept is creative and interesting to consider. However so much of the strangeness is how this story is conveyed. I often think what makes a good film is a fine balance between creativity and direction. Creativity is a key element and anchors a film but when there is no one at the wheel it becomes a runaway train. No logic ensues, there is poor pacing and its all over the place. I feel this is true for Everything Everywhere All at Once. It overdoes it with creativity and leaps off the page. While the writers know what's going on and have fun with it, it doesn't mean the audience has a clue. Again its how you show me, sometimes less is more and having more of a structure can help. The acting is very strong to carry this somewhat mess of a film.
Oppenheimer (2023)
Snooze fest and overhyped
I have always felt Christopher Nolan has excelled in writing unique science-fiction stories and bringing these to life on screen. This creativity and type of film making was his niche and Inception remains one of the most creative and strong films I have seen. However I do not think he is cut out for historical features or even some mainstream type of films. Dunkirk, despite being praised, was dull and mundane. The same goes for Oppenheimer that is a complete snooze fest. This film is a chore to watch, it lacks flow, inspiration and weakly weaves the historical events together. There is no flair and I often got lost in so much unnecessary details and found myself asking what is the value of this particular scene, why is this part not fully explained? I am very surprised it scooped up any Oscars as this film is overhyped and dull in my opinion.
The Umbrella Academy: Six Years, Five Months, and Two Days (2024)
Leila and Five: The Romance no one asked for
I remember my Fiancé and I shouting at the TV for this storyline not to happen. It is beyond gross and lazy writing to have such a pointless and worthless romance. It is a bizarre romance no one asked for and it adds absolutely no value. Five and Leila worked best as characters on opposite sides of the table or trading off playful jabs at each other. Never in the wildest dreams would it be logical or easy to stomach to see such a pointless romance. I did not see what the point was except the writers were filling a gap in an already small reason. This was poorly done and wrong on many levels. It gave us the ick.
The Umbrella Academy: End of the Beginning (2024)
A bit of a comeback this season but confusing last episode
I was on the fence when I heard Umbrella Academy was coming back for another season, especially after the disastrous last season. But given it was the last season I gave it a go. For the most part its not too bad and the show makes a bit of a comeback as it brings the gang back together. The Cleanse is not the worst storyline and I was reasonably interested to keep watching.
The last episode was quite confusing. The concept of erasing the world of the academy was not a bad way to close out the series but it defied logic on so many levels. How could the rest of their family survive? Five himself explains the Grandfather paradox in an earlier season but for some reason they conveniently forgot and magically their family members (such as Claire) survive?
It's a shame when a show declines so much. The first and second season was fantastic and set it apart. They must have had a drastic change in writers for it decline so rapidly after that.
In Time (2011)
Great concept but not strong execution
In Time had a great concept that was so intriguing and thought provoking. The futuristic element and concept was both amusing and so interesting to see where this story could go. But sadly this was never explored and it never lives up to its potential. A lot of the issue is to do with the male lead, Justin Timberlake, who is not cut out for acting whatsoever and does a poor job at carrying this film. He seems unbelievable and lacks charisma. A strong male lead could have done wonders for the film. Amanda Segfried does a decent enough job in her lead role. The pace and direction also falls apart, it feels like this story descends into chaos where its simply hard to piece together a strong coherent story with any sort of emotional depth.
The Lie: The Murder of Grace Millane (2023)
Tough to sit through
I live in New Zealand and am a New Zealander so this was really sad that this happened in our country. I think so many us felt so shocked and angry such a tragedy could occur in a supposedly safe country. We clearly got a lot of work to do as Grace should have been safe here. This is a well made documentary that shows you the harsh reality of what unfolded at the evil hands of a predator. It is beyond shocking how he behaved, lied and tried to cover his tracks after killing Grace. Evil intent was definitely there and we see glimpses into such a disturbed person. Viewers are left asking what sort of upbringing or childhood did someone have to become a monster. Tough to watch but well made.
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Different players but same formula
I have been meaning to watch Crazy Rich Asians for some time. I heard a lot about it and was keen to give it a go. I enjoyed watching the world of opulence, the highs and all the wealth. So much importance was given to family and keeping traditions going. However this film still felt very formulaic and predictable. I somehow knew it would be a tough journey for Rachel and she would have to win everyone over. I knew there would be some real and romantic gesture in the end to save the day and everyone would come around. Nothing made this film stand out too much, only the players changed. The main attraction was the title and showing another side on how people live but other than that quite formulaic.
Enola Holmes 2 (2022)
Lukewarm
Enola Holmes is an elaborate story for a small, simple and somewhat interesting mystery. I appreciate a mystery that one can follow and understand. There are some good elements in this film. It starts off reasonably strong with Enola trying to strike out on her own and lands her first case. The case also links to a real historical event. Millie Bobby Brown's enthusiasm and energy helps carry this film. Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes also lends his weight to help shepherd the movie. However I found nothing too different and rather predictable. I somehow knew the person Enola was searching would be in plain sight and the film would involve a fight scene towards the end. The humour is lacking, the story is slightly mundane and film felt like a bit of chore to finish in the end.
1922 (2017)
Not too bad
I was captivated by 1922 from start to finish by this interesting Stephen King story. If you don't mind a bit of gore and horror this will be a hard one to put down. Some solid performances, especially Thomas James, help carry this film. It is dark, well narrated and thought provoking. It makes one think how one mistake had a massive ripple effect across lives. The fate of everyone would have been so different if another decision was made. The rats also serve as good symbolism of Wilfred's guilty conscience and this problem grows worse as his guilt grows. The setting, pacing, use of lighting also add value to this film and bring it to life.
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
Random and lacked flow
I will be honest and say I was underwhelmed by Deadpool & Wolverine. I was quite looking forward to it. I know Deadpool has always been an outrageous and comical character. However this film was full of random events that were forcefully pushed together. It lacked flow and I feel a massive opportunity was missed here by coupling up the most rugged character in the universe with the craziest. The humour was passable and worked now and then but it definitely wasn't as funny as I hoped it would be, given the two leads and how crazy they could have made the villain or antagonist. The villain did not even look formidable and just someone in a suit. This was another missed opportunity to have someone who could have been as formidable and hilarious as the two leads. This film would have benefited so much by borrowing the elements from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1 that made it so funny, logical and fun to follow at the same time.
I just could not get into the this film and while people are raving about it, I honestly felt it was quite a weak mess of a film with no proper story, it was full of random and uninspired scenes and did not make as big a splash for me. This is a cash cow for Disney and Marvel but the quality of writing, great humour and nice story to weave it together was lacking.
Black Mirror: Beyond the Sea (2023)
Dark and haunting
A good episode from Black Mirror. The two main leads give some solid performances and make you feel the chill and intensity of the episodes. The beauty of Black Mirror is so much is perceivable and not too far from the imagination. While the events are dark and tragic and easy to denounce, its thought provoking for people as to what they might do in those circumstances. You have one person who loses everything and has a psychotic breakdown. It's hard to say how any of us would react in that situation. Black Mirror delivers its message well here. Too much technology interacting with human nature could have dark and disastrous consequences. There are a few happy stories out there but this sadly isn't one of them.
Agent Elvis (2023)
Disappointing
I was quite excited about this show, I have been a fan of Elvis my whole life. It sounded fun, edgy and creative. But it sadly falls flat. The premise and storyline is ridiculous. The additional characters like Scatter and Bobby Ray are plain annoying and add little value. This is a runaway train with driver at the helm, anything goes and it doesn't matter if it makes no sense. I would have liked more use of The King's music as well as some key historical events incorporated into the show. But these were missed opportunities to enhance the show and weave in some interesting and unique stories. I wished for so much more.
The Iron Claw (2023)
Quite decent
I quite enjoyed The Iron Claw. The history of wrestling can be fascinating. This was especially true of the Von Erich family who was devoted to wrestling but faced so much tragedy. I am perplexed as to how one family could face so much loss, its heartbreaking. I was captivated from the start and could not put this film down as it takes you through the volatile years of this wrestling family and how much they had to face. The direction, pacing, soundtrack and writing of this film lands well. It captures the mood really well of the times and frustration too. I was impressed by the attention to detail, wrestling matches and action that gives you a rich in depth look into the events. Some strong performances from the whole cast, Zac Efron has certainly come a long way as he matures and shows some believable and good acting in this film. 7.5/10.
World War II: From the Frontlines (2023)
Well made
This was a really well made doco. I was captivated from the first episode and just could not put it down. This is the story of World War II told meticulously from start to finish. Film restoration is also truly an art form and we see so much of the events in film. There is some truly remarkable footage, great recollections and accounts to give you an insight into the horrors of this world war. So many have to be grateful to have not had to live during those horrific times when life was so fragile. Amazing to see what a turn the war had taken and how much damage Hitler caused. The events are well narrated, paced, accurate and it is visually compelling to watch.
Hit Man (2023)
Good concept but fell off the rails
I was excited to watch Hit Man. It looked like it had a lot of potential. It was a great concept and film starts off reasonably well but instead of giving us an edgy, captivating film, it gave what no one asked for, a dull rom com. The film sadly descends into rom com territory and lets itself down. A great concept was now suddenly reduced to a flimsy rom com that you could easily poke holes in. For example, once Madison figured out Ron was a liar the whole time, she still falls in love with someone she doesn't know. The same goes for Gary or Ron, he barely knows her and has seen nothing but red flags. The ending of this film was also poorly done. Is the audience supposed to buy that they easily got away with murdering a police officer and living happily ever after? This is after Madison was already a prime murder suspect in a recent case. Also who cared about seeing a fast forward into their family life? It was so irrelevant and forced. I had hopes but was underwhelmed a bit in the end.
Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal (2024)
Decent
I was interested to watch this doco for some time. I remember seeing the Ashley Madison scandal and was so intrigued about something that was kept so hidden being exposed. The doco does a great job at showing how the agency got started, its edgy promotions and how they attracted people. The behaviour of the agency was shocking and it extorted so many people. Money was the ultimate evil here that pushed the agency to get up to all sorts of shocking behaviour. Equally shocking is the men who gave rise to this agency. In a way the scandal was poetic justice for an unscrupulous company and its clients. The doco gives a good run down of events and they unfolded. I was captured from start to end.
A Family Affair (2024)
Mess of a film
I had some hopes for A Family Affair but was bitterly disappointed. The storyline and direction of this film is dreadful. Zac Effron, Joey King & Nicole Kidman do as much as they can to carry this film but in the end this poorly written script sinks this film. There is some quality and interesting scenes around Christmas time where the romance seemed to land well. But good writing and direction was needed to remove the ick of this awkward relationship. The humour is very poorly executed. The jokes land flat to the point of just being sad and depressing. There is no driver at the helm of this runaway disaster and I wonder why it got permission to get made in the first place. Come on Netflix, please do better next time.
The Crown: Sleep, Dearie Sleep (2023)
A solemn end to an iconic series
The Crown has been a favourite of my mine since it started. To me Claire Foy is the definitive Queen Elizabeth and she and Matt Smith set some solid foundations for this show. The Crown always depicted its historical events with such flair, it was always captivating.
This final episode nicely focuses on Elizabeth's mortality, without stating the obvious, we know its about the end of such an incredible life. The final scenes show us it is sometimes more about what's unsaid and symbolised than explicitly telling the audience. There is also a great tribute to the previous versions of the Queen, by showing both Olivia Coleman and Claire Foy, that we enjoyed seeing on screen. I am sad to see a show of such a caliber come to an end but it's been a great journey.
John Farnham: Finding the Voice (2023)
Well made
I have been a fan of John Farnham for many years. This was a wonderful and well made documentary that gave an intimate and in-depth look at John and his journey. We see how John started with simple beginnings and how he found his voice and achieved the fame and glory he deserved. I learnt more about the iconic song, You're the Voice' and other great songs he performed. It was so interesting to see how he became a young sensation with 'Sadie The Cleaning Lady' but this sadly held him back for almost two decades. People have long memories in the music business. It was beautiful seeing the strong enduring friendships he made that helped him succeed. It was also wonderful seeing the historical context and other greats who featured during his journey. A well made documentary, would definitely recommend.
Manifest (2018)
Interesting concept but not the best execution
Manifest had such a great concept that it captivated me from the start. It continued to build on the mystery and intrigue over its earlier seasons. However it started getting a bit silly and ridiculous towards the end. It fell into the trap of many shows where they sell a big concept but lack the follow through and writing to make it pay off. Things got worse when they extended the threat to the rest of the world which is lazy writing. What the show failed to answer was why was this particular flight and people selected, what was the point? We needed a lot more than a moral after all these seasons. Also the writers fail to answer the overall question of why this plane disappeared for 5 years and what caused the callings, what was the deeper meaning? This was poorly answered in the end. I felt an opportunity was missed with the Al-Zuras journal and using this to anchor the storyline and tie together the whole mystery. The ending and last season was disappointing.
Fall (2022)
Average
Fall is a passable film. It sets out what it intends to show, a film about survival in tough circumstances. The viewer had to allow a lot of plot conveniences and leeway. If you watch closely, a lot of this film is unrealistic and not believable. A dose of realism and both wouldn't survive. I was hoping for some suspense and drama that would make you go to the edge of your seat but we all knew who would survive. A bit of realism might have helped carry this film. The acting is also weak, the cast lead of this film is weak and unconvincing. Besides weak performances, common sense is also lacking. Technology in this digital age also conveniently fails them. So much of this is unnecessary and could have been avoided if a bit of common sense was applied and they told someone where they were going.
The Crown: Ritz (2023)
Thanks for the memories Princess Magaret
I fell in love with The Crown when it came out. A young Princess Margaret and her fiery nature and character always grabbed my attention. In my opinion, Vanessa Kirby was the definitive Princess Margaret who brought this exciting person who once lived and thrived to life. We got to relive and see so many moments. I personally felt after season 2, despite big names like Helena Bonham Carter, portraying her, the character saw a decline. Some will argue that was the point, Princess Margaret, had a sad life and often spiraled downwards. Like her downward spiral, I felt the writing and direction for her went downhill. Nevertheless, it was touching and sad to say goodbye to a character (person) we've visually seen portrayed from a young woman and see her life evolve over this series.