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KyleQ (267 KP) rated Halloween Ends (2022) in Movies
Apr 2, 2023
Surprisingly a step-up, the best of the trilogy.
Halloween Ends introduces us to Corey (Rohan Campbell), a young man with a dark image for having ended the life of a boy (he claims it was an accident.)
Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis) is trying to move on, along with Allyson (Andi Matichak), but Michael Myers still lurks in the shadows.
Halloween Ends is overall a mixed bag, but I was surprised that I mostly enjoyed it.
Rohan Campbell is great in his role, and Matichak gives her best performance.
The film has a darker more serious tone, I loved it.
Now for the downsides.
Laurie was annoying, her dumb, philosophical narrations are cringe-inducing, and she does little throughout the film.
Michael is practically pointless. He's shown as weak, and helpless.
The final moments with Michael are a letdown, the last 20 minutes or so are dull and disappointing.
Honestly, Halloween Ends would've worked way better as an original horror film centered around Corey,
All the throwbacks to the franchise and the final fight between Michael and Laurie felt tired and spiritless.
Worth a watch, but definitely not perfect.
Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis) is trying to move on, along with Allyson (Andi Matichak), but Michael Myers still lurks in the shadows.
Halloween Ends is overall a mixed bag, but I was surprised that I mostly enjoyed it.
Rohan Campbell is great in his role, and Matichak gives her best performance.
The film has a darker more serious tone, I loved it.
Now for the downsides.
Laurie was annoying, her dumb, philosophical narrations are cringe-inducing, and she does little throughout the film.
Michael is practically pointless. He's shown as weak, and helpless.
The final moments with Michael are a letdown, the last 20 minutes or so are dull and disappointing.
Honestly, Halloween Ends would've worked way better as an original horror film centered around Corey,
All the throwbacks to the franchise and the final fight between Michael and Laurie felt tired and spiritless.
Worth a watch, but definitely not perfect.
David McK (3251 KP) rated The Matrix Resurrections (2021) in Movies
Feb 9, 2022 (Updated Oct 1, 2023)
Unnecessary sequel
Summer of 1999.
Pre Millennium.
Just at the start of our current high-tech always-on society.
And The Matrix was released, becoming hugely influential in the process and popularising the concept of 'bullet time'.
Both the sequels (Reloaded and Revolutions) were released during 'the year of the Matrix' in 2003, doubling down on the philosophical ponderings of the first movie (in particular, during Reloaded, with the whole still-to-this-day confusing Architect scenes), with Revolutions also seemingly leaving the trilogy with nowhere to go.
Until nearly 20 years later, when one of the two Wachowski siblings decided to resurrect both Neo and Trinity in this.
I's very much a film of two halves, with the first half in particular hugely self-referential (lots of nods and winks to the audience, and even clips from the earlier films shown on TV screens within the movie), while the second half settles down more into your standard action fare.
Whilst enjoyable enough, it lacks anything to match the sheer pizzaz of the first movie, or even the Freeway chase/burly brawl/chateau fight from the second or the Neo Vs Smith showdown in the third.
Pre Millennium.
Just at the start of our current high-tech always-on society.
And The Matrix was released, becoming hugely influential in the process and popularising the concept of 'bullet time'.
Both the sequels (Reloaded and Revolutions) were released during 'the year of the Matrix' in 2003, doubling down on the philosophical ponderings of the first movie (in particular, during Reloaded, with the whole still-to-this-day confusing Architect scenes), with Revolutions also seemingly leaving the trilogy with nowhere to go.
Until nearly 20 years later, when one of the two Wachowski siblings decided to resurrect both Neo and Trinity in this.
I's very much a film of two halves, with the first half in particular hugely self-referential (lots of nods and winks to the audience, and even clips from the earlier films shown on TV screens within the movie), while the second half settles down more into your standard action fare.
Whilst enjoyable enough, it lacks anything to match the sheer pizzaz of the first movie, or even the Freeway chase/burly brawl/chateau fight from the second or the Neo Vs Smith showdown in the third.
Kelsey (2 KP) rated On a Pale Horse (Incarnations of Immortality Book 1) in Books
Oct 25, 2017
Philosophical ideas (2 more)
Characters
The world building
Great idea, not my favorite writing style
Contains spoilers, click to show
I honestly love what he’s trying to do with this story, I just personally am not a fan of how it’s paced, and his overall style for the book. The ideas he is putting into this world and this story are amazing and I love seeing how his mind works on ideas like death and life and religion. I do also feel though that the book seems sort of rushed and I’m more than halfway through and haven’t really experienced anything significant in terms of plot, other than the thing revealed early on with Zane becoming death. I will say I am not done yet so I reserve the right to amend this, but honestly my problem isn’t with content so much with how it’s put out there which probably won’t change in the last hundred pages. I will say, I want to read the rest of the series so I am at least compelled to do that which is more than so many books have been able to do for me.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Regarding the Pain of Others in Books
Nov 8, 2017 (Updated Nov 8, 2017)
Not what I expected but powerful nevertheless
Acclaimed American writer Susan Sontag returns with an extended essay about photographing war and inhumane circumstances, an extension of her 1977 work "On Photography". I had expected a philosophical take on pain but this was still important nevertheless.
Sontag's earlier "On Photography" is justifiably regarded as a classic. This book is promoted as revising some of its more important arguments. Like the earlier book this is mainly a summary of points with which most teachers, and students, in this area are likely to be familiar. It is useful to have the arguments drawn together. Without doubt, Sontag's words exude intelligence, exploring how we look at painful images from photojournalists, our reaction to mass media, and how we interpret terrible news about war, even how we look at religious paintings.
She takes us on an argumental debate that covers all aspects of visual imagery through descriptive text. Shes talks of the shock and horror seen by some in photography, to how others see it as political leverage. What this book does, is to make us understand that one photographic image can have a double purpose, and that not all in a war image is truth. A good essay for the Sontag collection.
Sontag's earlier "On Photography" is justifiably regarded as a classic. This book is promoted as revising some of its more important arguments. Like the earlier book this is mainly a summary of points with which most teachers, and students, in this area are likely to be familiar. It is useful to have the arguments drawn together. Without doubt, Sontag's words exude intelligence, exploring how we look at painful images from photojournalists, our reaction to mass media, and how we interpret terrible news about war, even how we look at religious paintings.
She takes us on an argumental debate that covers all aspects of visual imagery through descriptive text. Shes talks of the shock and horror seen by some in photography, to how others see it as political leverage. What this book does, is to make us understand that one photographic image can have a double purpose, and that not all in a war image is truth. A good essay for the Sontag collection.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Dark Star (1974) in Movies
May 31, 2018
Massively influential spoof of overly-solemn and pretentious 60s sci-fi movies looks like what it is - a student movie blown up to feature proportions. John Carpenter was known to comment that the world's greatest student movie would still only be a pretty unimpressive 'real' film and there is an element of truth in this, for Dark Star is often slightly primitive, especially in its visual effects.
But never mind that, just enjoy the way it deconstructs the likes of 2001 and their philosophical concerns - 'never mind all that intelligent life crap, just give me something I can blow up,' snaps the commander early on. Classical music is eschewed for a jaunty country tune, and so on.
Most significant is way the pristine interiors of other films' spacecraft are replaced by the squalid, utilitarian quarters of the Dark Star's crew - this is space bereft of novelty and glamour, it's just a boring and dangerous place to work. You can see the 'used universe' aesthetic of the late 70s SF boom and beyond being invented here. Plus this is the movie that directly led to Alien. Not the biggest or best SF movie of the 70s, but still one of the most significant in the history of the genre.
But never mind that, just enjoy the way it deconstructs the likes of 2001 and their philosophical concerns - 'never mind all that intelligent life crap, just give me something I can blow up,' snaps the commander early on. Classical music is eschewed for a jaunty country tune, and so on.
Most significant is way the pristine interiors of other films' spacecraft are replaced by the squalid, utilitarian quarters of the Dark Star's crew - this is space bereft of novelty and glamour, it's just a boring and dangerous place to work. You can see the 'used universe' aesthetic of the late 70s SF boom and beyond being invented here. Plus this is the movie that directly led to Alien. Not the biggest or best SF movie of the 70s, but still one of the most significant in the history of the genre.
Benedick Lewis (3001 KP) rated 24 - Season 8 in TV
Jul 15, 2018
Drama at its best (1 more)
The last third is very dark
A fitting end to an innovative series
24 has had its ups (season 5) and it’s downs (season 6) but it has always been exciting television - largely in part to Kiefer Sutherland owning the role of Jack Bauer.
The show opened the debate about use of torture, especially in extreme circumstances and took on philosophical view points like utilitarianism and Shakespearean tone. Season 8 wraps everything up - until Live Another Day - in terms of the character arc of Jack Bauer. Will he get a happy ending? Will the ending he gets serve the whole of the show? What happens to Chloe? All of these are answered in some way or another. I didn’t want the show to end but understood it had to. The first half of the day does go over some very well trodden ground but the second part picks up and goes very much on a ‘only one way out of this’ route.
Regardless of what people thought of the ending, 24 was an inspirational show to a new wave of television and it will be sorely missed but very much loved.
The show opened the debate about use of torture, especially in extreme circumstances and took on philosophical view points like utilitarianism and Shakespearean tone. Season 8 wraps everything up - until Live Another Day - in terms of the character arc of Jack Bauer. Will he get a happy ending? Will the ending he gets serve the whole of the show? What happens to Chloe? All of these are answered in some way or another. I didn’t want the show to end but understood it had to. The first half of the day does go over some very well trodden ground but the second part picks up and goes very much on a ‘only one way out of this’ route.
Regardless of what people thought of the ending, 24 was an inspirational show to a new wave of television and it will be sorely missed but very much loved.
Jesters_folly (230 KP) rated Ergo Proxy in TV
Jul 18, 2020
Ergo Proxy is a Japanese anime series of 23 Episodes.
Earth had become un-inhabitable and the remaining humans live in the Utopian domed city of Romdo aided in their lives by autoReiv's, androids that act as anything from butlers to children. However, things in Romdo are not as idyllic as they seem, the AutoReiv's are being infected with a virus that gives them emotions, the ruler is close to death and mysterious monster known as a proxy is on the loose . It falls to Re-l Mayer, a female detective and her friends, Vincent Law, an immigrant and Pino, an autoReiv child to go down to the the dead planet and find out the secrets of the Proxy's.
Ergo Proxy is a philosophical story that is almost always questioning what it is to be human, the story is very slow paced giving the characters time to reflect on what is happening.
There are a few times where the plot seems to contradict its self but these issues are solved by the final episode.
The characters are interesting and the story draws on inspiration from other works such as Pinocchio, the Wizard of Oz and Icarus all mixed together in a dystopian, cyberpunk future.
Earth had become un-inhabitable and the remaining humans live in the Utopian domed city of Romdo aided in their lives by autoReiv's, androids that act as anything from butlers to children. However, things in Romdo are not as idyllic as they seem, the AutoReiv's are being infected with a virus that gives them emotions, the ruler is close to death and mysterious monster known as a proxy is on the loose . It falls to Re-l Mayer, a female detective and her friends, Vincent Law, an immigrant and Pino, an autoReiv child to go down to the the dead planet and find out the secrets of the Proxy's.
Ergo Proxy is a philosophical story that is almost always questioning what it is to be human, the story is very slow paced giving the characters time to reflect on what is happening.
There are a few times where the plot seems to contradict its self but these issues are solved by the final episode.
The characters are interesting and the story draws on inspiration from other works such as Pinocchio, the Wizard of Oz and Icarus all mixed together in a dystopian, cyberpunk future.
RəX Regent (349 KP) rated 127 Hours (2010) in Movies
Feb 25, 2019
Probably the best that it could have been...
Contains spoilers, click to show
Danny Boyle is a director with an eye for the modern. visceral styles, sharp editing and the belief that the combination of both will draw the audience into the action, emotion and mood of the situation at hand. There's no doubt that the stunning true story of adventurer Aron Ralston's accident resulting in his right arm becoming trapped under a rock in the middle of nowhere, required a special director and a style as described above.
Did he pull it off? It's a though sell, 90 minutes of a man and rock but I think it was done about as well as it could have been. The story is interesting and told with a sense of humour and a philosophical attitude appropriate for the subject matter, but it all boils down to the moment when he performs his DIY surgery, a plot point that may well sell the film to most people, as it sold news papers back in 2003.
Overall, well told, very well acted by James Franco as Ralston and along with Boyle's signature direction and jukebox soundtrack, whilst not blowing my skirt up, it made my wife cry, myself cringe and was as well conveyed as this story of a man trapped quite literally between as rock and hard place, ever could have been.
Did he pull it off? It's a though sell, 90 minutes of a man and rock but I think it was done about as well as it could have been. The story is interesting and told with a sense of humour and a philosophical attitude appropriate for the subject matter, but it all boils down to the moment when he performs his DIY surgery, a plot point that may well sell the film to most people, as it sold news papers back in 2003.
Overall, well told, very well acted by James Franco as Ralston and along with Boyle's signature direction and jukebox soundtrack, whilst not blowing my skirt up, it made my wife cry, myself cringe and was as well conveyed as this story of a man trapped quite literally between as rock and hard place, ever could have been.
Cori June (3033 KP) rated The Dragonstone (Mithgar, #1) in Books
Dec 3, 2018 (Updated Dec 8, 2018)
The book follows our heroines and heroes hoping to avert a possible disaster by finding the jade egg and defeating a wizard. Their only real map a puzzle of a prophecy that they have to figure out. It does use a lot of what I call "old or high" language where the meanings have changed from today's usage and there are a lot of thee and thine. As well as a peppering of what I think is Japanese and possibly French words. He also really likes the word whelm. The Dragonstone is philosophical inclined and many discussions about free will vs. predestination are inside.
Technically, I rate this book as 7 1/2 stars (I'm not sure how to do a half rating & enjoyed it enough to round up). I received over half of his books over ten years ago about the same time as the LOTR movies came out. Yes, they are very similar. You can tell he is a LOTR fan. Like a lot of his books, this story starts in the middle and builds through flashbacks. One of my favorite things about this books series is that you get multiple p.o.v. And you can read the series all hodgepodge with few as "true" sequels or trilogies- most of those are contained as one book now.
Technically, I rate this book as 7 1/2 stars (I'm not sure how to do a half rating & enjoyed it enough to round up). I received over half of his books over ten years ago about the same time as the LOTR movies came out. Yes, they are very similar. You can tell he is a LOTR fan. Like a lot of his books, this story starts in the middle and builds through flashbacks. One of my favorite things about this books series is that you get multiple p.o.v. And you can read the series all hodgepodge with few as "true" sequels or trilogies- most of those are contained as one book now.
James Koppert (2698 KP) rated Rattlesnake (2019) in Movies
Nov 15, 2019
Concept is cool execution less so
Rattlesnake has a great concept. A women gets a puncture and while fixing it her daughter gets bitten by a rattlesnake. Suddenly a trailer appeared and a women cures the bite and says she will talk about payment later. Payment it turns out is she must replace her life with the life of another or her daughter will die as payment has not been met.
So the concept is great, any artform which makes you think what would I do and helps you empathise with the characters is usually on to s winner but that's where it starts to be let down. It's right here where some amazing philosophical debates could start to begin. Could you find someone evil and feel ok about killing them when there is an opportunity that this person could change in the future and positively impact others? Is it right you should take the life of another when fatalists and people of religion may say you are going against god's plan. Or is it ok to take the life of someone seriously ill when there may be opportunity of miraculous recovery you are taking away. All these a brilliant film would make but it doesn't explore or question the situation at all, there is only acceptense. It's a shame really, opportunity lost.
So the concept is great, any artform which makes you think what would I do and helps you empathise with the characters is usually on to s winner but that's where it starts to be let down. It's right here where some amazing philosophical debates could start to begin. Could you find someone evil and feel ok about killing them when there is an opportunity that this person could change in the future and positively impact others? Is it right you should take the life of another when fatalists and people of religion may say you are going against god's plan. Or is it ok to take the life of someone seriously ill when there may be opportunity of miraculous recovery you are taking away. All these a brilliant film would make but it doesn't explore or question the situation at all, there is only acceptense. It's a shame really, opportunity lost.