Tag: Netflix

Bright: a fun yet flawed film.

3 stars
Netflix’s most expensive film yet, Bright has one of the most unique plots I have seen in a while.
It is set in a world where fantasy creatures like Orcs and Elves co-exist with humans but live in different social classes.
The Elves are the upper class, the human the middle and Orc the lower.
The film centers around human LAPD officer Daryl Ward (Will Smith) and his partner Nick Jakoby (Joel Edgerton), the first Orc police officer, who discover a magic wand, which they must protect from evil forces.
Since this movie is directed by David Ayer, who directed Suicide Squad and the movie seemed to have a similar feel by looking at the trailers, I expected the movie to be nothing more than fun garbage.
And it was… only without the garbage.
The best thing about Bright is the chemistry between Smith and Edgerton.
Will Smith in this movie is, well, Will Smith.
I honestly have not been able to differentiate between Smith and his characters for many of his films but Smith’s charisma makes up for it.
Then there’s Edgerton, who is the standout character of this film.
He is by far the most relatable and I could not help but root for him.

joel edgerton
Joel Edgerton’s Jakoby is the best character in the movie.

Also the make up effects to have Edgerton look like an Orc was very well done.
Seeing these two characters grow, especially Edgerton’s, throughout the film was great to watch.
The action is also pretty good and it will keep you entertained.
There was a really good slow motion sequence that was one of my favourite moments.
However, this is where my positives with the film end.
While I did love the concept of a modern day fantasy world, the ideas this world presented are half baked.
Then there are the characters who, aside from Ward and Jakoby, are incredibly one dimensional.
I cannot event remember the name of the elf character who Ward and Jakoby bring with them because she was so forgettable.
Then there is the villain who is right up there with Steppenwolf from Justice League in levels of a weak villain.
The only two other characters who were remotely interesting were a disabled gangster and the government agent elf sent to retrieve the wand but these two do not get enough screen time to flourish.

elf fbi
Edgar Ramirez as Kandomere, one of the few interesting characters in the film.

Also the climax of the movie is incredibly predictable.
I knew it was coming a full half hour before it happened.
So overall, this movie is a mixed bag.
Smith and Edgerton are great and the action is enjoyable.
But, on the other hand, the rest of the characters are completely forgettable, the idea and themes are half baked and do not come across well and the climax is predictable.
If they do make a sequel, which I find unlikely now since the movie is being slammed by critics, I hope they follow through on the ideas set up here a lot better.
Still, the movie is fun and I would encourage you to watch it.
Just do not expect anything special and you will have fun.

Back to the 80’s for Stranger Things season two

stranger things season 2
4 and a half stars
Stranger Things is back and kicking in season two of the hit Netflix series.
I was pretty late getting on the Stranger Things band wagon as I only watched the first season six months ago but when I did I was instantly hooked.
So, naturally, I was excited to see what season two would have to offer and, I have got to say, I was impressed. (WARNING!!! Minor spoilers ahead.)
Season two not only continues the story from Season one but expands on it, introducing new characters and interesting plot points that keeps the story fresh and thrilling.
The story telling here is just excellent, with so many twists and turns that I could not stop watching.
I binged watched the entirety of season two in just two days and I am so thankful this is a Netflix series because, if it aired weekly, then I would not be able to handle it.
Season two starts a year after Will was rescued from the Upside Down and a lot has changed since then.
Mike is still mourning Eleven’s disappearance, There is a new girl in town named Max, Joyce now has a boyfriend Bob and Will is experiencing PTSD from his time in the Upside Down… well, as we all know, it is not PTSD but it suits the story for everyone to think it is.
The season starts off great, introducing us to a bunch of new characters like Bob, Max and her step-brother Billy.
These characters are all very interesting and I cannot wait to see what they do with them in the future, Max especially because she is a very likable character and a welcome addition to the show.
max
Speaking of characters, I liked how a lot of the old characters from the first season were expanded upon like Dustin, Lucas and Steve.
Steve was especially good this season.
In the previous season I thought he would turn out to be a stereotypical, one dimensional bully but he actually surprised me by growing as a character and redeemeing himself.
The surprises with Steve continue this season, as he continues to grow into a likable, yet flawed character.
One thing this season definitely did better than its predecessor was present a feeling of danger throughout.
Although I loved the first season of Stranger Things, it was pretty obvious which characters would live and which ones would die (with a few exceptions, like Steve for example).
Not this season however.
Every time a character is in danger you feel like this might be the last time you see them and it has you on the edge of your seat with panic every time, unlike the previous season.
shadow monste
But just like last season, 80’s throwbacks abound!
There are so many callbacks to the 80’s and movies of the time.
I saw references to Alien, E.T and even one incredibly hilarious Indiana Jones homage.
This season is filled with twist after twist, all of which are thrilling.
The opening sequence of the first episode had my jaw on the floor.
Most of the episodes end on a cliffhanger, which has you begging for more and makes this almost the perfect show to binge watch.
I say almost because I do have some issues with it.
My biggest one being Max.
Now, as I said, I really liked her character but my problem lies with how the other characters react to her, more specifically Mike.
Mike does not like Max and it is for the stupidest reason.
He is a complete jerk to her, which makes him really unlikable.
Since Mike is supposed to be one of the main characters of the show, the fact that I did not like him this season is a really bad thing.
It does not help that this minor plot point is never resolved.
We never get a scene of Mike apologizing to Max about how he treated her, it is acted like it never happened.
This season also displays, once again, how incompetent the government forces are.
In season one, I found it highly unrealistic how Hopper was able to break into a top secret laboratory, guarded by trained soldiers, with relative ease and this season once again portrays how incompetent these people are.
While interrogating Nancy about keeping quiet about Barb’s death the scientists are stupid enough not to check for a recording device.
As a result, I found these government forces to be unrealistically incompetent but this is only a minor problem.
The final problem I had with this season was episode seven.
This episode felt very different in tone and just felt out of place in comparison to the rest of the season.
What is worse is the episode prior to this ended on a massive cliffhanger and this episode does not address the it, that is saved for the next episode.
Thank god this is a Netflix series because if the episodes had been released weekly I would not have been able to wait to see how the cliffhanger played out.
eleven
Other than those three problems however, I loved this season and I cannot wait for season three.
The story telling was brilliant, the characters were lovable and fun to watch, (both the old and the new) and the various twists and turns kept you engaged.
If you have not watched Stranger Things season 2 or any episodes of Stranger Things I would highly suggest you you go and watch it,
You will love it just like I did.