Change Your Image
mkimjewel
Reviews
Inventing Anna (2022)
Interesting story, bad execution
What a shame. When I first heard about the young woman who scammed New York socialites, I thought it would make a great story. This may have been true, however, unfortunately, the writers felt the need to shove in a boring and completely cliché journalist story.
Actually, the acting didn't bother me that much, but I cannot get it over how uninterested this character is in her own pregnancy and her future child, and how unbalanced her relationship appears to be. Additionally, the whole trope of a journalist finding a new great story and her superiors not wanting her to write about it, has been done to death, in my opinion.
German Genius (2023)
Fresh and fun
Normally, I'm not a big fan of German TV, but this was really fun to watch. The idea felt original, although it was something of a remake and about a remake. I liked how the actors played with their own image and there were a lot of wry jokes in it. Ramadan was a great lead and played the jokes straight, and his son was amazing as well. The family story was a nice diversion from the behind the scenes storyline.
Some actors went a little over the top for my taste, but perhaps that was part of the humour as well.
I recommend this to anyone who likes meta jokes and satire about the Berlin (or Babelsberg) bubble.
Doctor Who: The Church on Ruby Road (2023)
Why babies?
There is a lot I liked about this special: the aesthetic, the music, the pacing and many of the characters. The new doctor is also a sight to behold.
But why the need for such a dark threat? Especially in a Christmas special?
I might be biased because I have a baby, but the whole "baby close to being killed and eaten" plot really ruined the entire episode for me. I was on edge the entire time and I still wish I hadn't watched it. It took some of the joy away from this evening.
The main characters being so chill about the horror of the whole thing also seemed a bit jarring to me.
It reminded me of Children of Earth and if perhaps the show runner might be in a habit to use horrible dangers to children as a rather cheap story trick to heighten the tension.
Ordeal by Innocence (2018)
False advertising
When we bought the blu-ray, we expected a nice and exciting adaptation of Agatha Christie's work. Instead, at the end of the show I needed quite a while to pick myself up again, because I was shocked by the horrific and traumatising events through which these characters had to go and the in-your-face manner in which they were depicted.
Of course you might say that if someone was that sensitive they should not watch crime fiction at all. But Agatha Christie's work usually manages to offer an exciting and engaging story without flaunting the worst humanity has to offer in vulgar ways while also avoiding to completely gloss over the serious nature of the murder motif. It is this balance which I expected, and which I found to be completely lacking. For fans of modern thrillers, this show may be quite nice - but if you are going to invent additional torments for the characters and change the story completely, please advertise it accordingly.
Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020)
I really enjoyed it
It exceeded my expectations, it was funny, inventive and even touching. A colourful and fun movie to watch!
Future Man (2017)
One of my favourites
I absolutely adore this show. It has a tendency to take sci fi motives very far without becoming preachy or too depressing at all. Hilarious and outrageous at times. I could have done without the brutality in some scenes, but maybe this is part of its high energy atmosphere.
The faceted characters were something I didn't expect at first which made them all the more interesting.
The Ranch (2016)
Inexplicably Great
Whenever I read what the Ranch was about, I could not see myself liking it. However, something about the insult humour and the rural and conservative setting resonated with me. The type of jokes remains pretty similar throughout the show, but I never stopped enjoying them. The mix of humour with pretty dramatic storylines and highly conflicted characters is something I hadn't seen before. In some way it seems like they are unapologetically broken. The actors have great timing and chemistry with each other, as well.