• TV

    Monthly TV – April 2023

    May 4, 2023

    “You” Season 4 – I was really hoping this would be the last season because this show has been going for too long. This show is so over the top and stupid that I expect it every season. I actually liked this season relative to the others because of the setting and the cast. I really hope Joe gets what he deserves in the last season.

    “The Mandalorian” S3 – I loved this season much more than the general consensus it seems. There was one episode I found boring (and it wasn’t the Plazir 15 one). The finale felt a bit rushed but it ended on a happy note. I am not a devout Star Wars fan. I have seen all the movies. I didn’t watch The Clone Wars or Rebels, only a few eps here and there. I’ve dabbled even in the fandom. I do find the Filoni and Favreau shows consistently entertaining for me to stick through with it. The action is great to watch and I’m glad we have cinematic TV. It’s not perfect writing all the time but it’s entertains stuff.

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  • TV

    Monthly TV – March 2023

    April 8, 2023

    I mainly watch shows after the season airs and binge them afterwards. This can be good because I find myself invested like I would a book or movie. I do want to give weekly show drops a chance to see if it’s better.

    Weekly Watching:

    “The Mandalorian” Season 3 – I like adding Bo Katan (Katee Sackhoff) as an addition. I watched Battlestar Galactica and Sackhoff’s acting on that was good even though she often plays characters who are emotionally limited which is common in sci-fi. This show benefits from having more than Din and Grogu, but I don’t find myself particularly enamored with the Star Wars shows as world building so much as the characters, the acting, and in this show’s unique case, the puppetry.

    “Ted Lasso” Season 3 – Seeing as this is the last season, I wanted to see if it would be good week to week.

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  • TV

    Monthly TV – February 2023

    March 16, 2023

    “The Flatshare” (18 02 23) – As a TV show, it was okay. As an adaptation, it was below average. I would like more London set adult shows that aren’t too dark but this one sorta missed out on some of the good and darker aspects of the book. I liked the acting I guess.

    “Ted Lasso” S2 (19 02 23) – Not all of S2. Just the last few eps which I didn’t up finishing in 2021. I had to finish it now that S3 has been announced soon. There were a lot of father issues on this season though which I guess is a nice change from mother issues on some other shows. Not as tight arc wise as S1 but I still think this show has its bonuses. I like its earnestness. I hate Nate though.

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  • Monthly Movies,  Movies,  TV

    What I’m Watching Lately – August 2022

    September 8, 2022

    “Emma” (2020) – This was okay. The Romola Garai 2006 mini series is still the best. I think Anna Taylor Joy can act but her and the script did not make her Emma sympathetic enough at the start. Emma is very annoying in the book but you still get a sense of how much she loves the people around her. This one showed her as a tad too manipulative of Harriet. Everyone seemed more miserable and they played it laughs which I did not find as funny. There was too much crying in the second half. I liked the supporting actors like Bill Nighy and Miranda Hart. The movie did look good with its costumes, settings, and decor.

    “Call my Agent! / Dix Pour Cent” Season 4 – I really like this show and I’m glad I caught up. My French is so rusty now! In any case, this was was suppose to be the final season and there seemed to be great character development with all the characters. We am cancelling Netflix for awhile but maybe I’ll get it back for this in the future.

    “Running Man” (primarily 2010-2013) – I have watched a couple of eps of this show before and it’s unavoidable if you know East or South East Asia media. I never really got into it until now. The Yoon Eun Hye teasing was one of the reasons I wanted to try the earlier episodes. I’ve seen a number of episodes in the last couple weeks. I’m still in the sub 200 ep range. I will not watch everything and there are resources to tell me the best eps thankfully. It’s been a fun journey.

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  • Monthly Movies,  Movies,  TV

    What I’m Watching Lately – May and June 2022

    August 16, 2022

    I watched everything in May and June except the end of Stranger Things. I did not watch much in July.

    Shiva Baby (24 05 2022) – I saw a short scene from this many months ago on Youtube and didn’t know the name of the film. I saw it again on a film analysis video and I decided to watch some clips of it on YouTube before watching the film. I really enjoyed how tight the script was and how it was shot. You could tell a lot of work was put into it and the tone of the movie was chaotic and tense. The movie got a lot of pathos from everyone in a short time. I was not surprised that was it from a short film and am glad the director-writer was able to make it a feature.

    “Stranger Things” Season 4 Volume I – After the first two eps, I spoiled myself and basically watched it in the background. I am not a fan of horror but I continue to watch this show. Also, some of these actors are good. The hopper and jock storyline were so weak that I fast forwarded to them.

    “You” Season 3 – The appeal of this show for me is about 75% Penn Badgley and the other 25% being the writing and the location shooting. Everyone is so hard to like on this show but it’s played for dark comedy. I think I like this season more than the second one. I like that show changes locations every season and the next one is already shooting in London should be fun.

    “Stranger Things” Volume II – Overall still fun. It was not a bad season. Too gory and violent at times though.

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  • Monthly Movies,  Movies,  TV

    Monthly Movies & TV – Nov and Dec 2019

    January 4, 2020

    I was been watching a lot of shows or movies this past autumn. November and December did bring more some better shows.

    Movies

    Hobbs & Shaw – I have not seen a Fast & Furious movie in a long time, but we both enjoyed the trailer of this movie way back in the spring. It was fun. I spent the whole time making candied peel for my stollen. It was the perfect movie to bake or cook to.

    Murder on the Orient Express – See review here.

    Knives Out – Mystery whodunnit kind of holiday flick. Loved this. Everyone did a great job and I look forward to seeing more Benoit Blanc mysteries. I really hope this means the return of more mysteries in theatres and original franchises.

    TV

    “Midnight Diner” Season 2 – This is such a cozy TV show if you like Japanese shows. I found a couple of the episodes in the season didn’t work as well as Season 1 but I still love this show overall. It has a real ambiance and vibe similar to some sitcoms, but quieter in the Japanese style.

    “The Crown” Season 3 – I did find the writing and storylines in Season 3 less engaging than the first two seasons. There was a lack of character development on the Queen. I did not like the “woe is me” narrative that Charles had. Acting is still very good. My favourite episode was probably “Bubbikins” and “Aberfan”.

    “Masterchef The Professionals” Series 11 – This is one of my favourite shows. Pure comfort in watching professionals competing without drama.

    “The Mandalorian” Season 1 – One of my favourite new shows in the year. “Baby Yoda” (or Not Yoda) is adorable. I love the body language acting by Pascal and the doubles. The writing and episodic nature are tight. Most of all, the music is some of the best TV soundtracks I’ve heard in awhile.

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  • Books,  TV

    Umbrella Academy

    June 9, 2019

    Volume 1 and Volume 2

    I did not like the first volume. It felt disjointed and chaotic. There did not seem to be a lot of character development. I felt indifferent to most of the characters. This often happens with comics and graphic novels which is why I favour graphic novels with strong character work. As a result, I did not really care if the characters survived and the plot was rather loose too. The first irked me to the point where I almost didn’t read the second one.

    I did like the second volume much more as it seemed to work on character backstory more. There definitely more moments of character development and relationships. I looked forward to the third volume and the TV series by the end of it.

    Read Volume 1 on May 21, 2019. Read Volume 2 on May 24, 2019 in comic book reader file.

    Umbrella Academy Season 1

    For the most part, I liked season one. The music was good and the casting worked for the most part, but I found issues with certain characterizations and the length. The series was too long. I actually think this is a common problem with a lot of Netflix shows. The show would have benefitted from cutting some storylines much shorter and making this first season about eight episodes rather than ten.

    Having said that, the show really took the characters and gave them some character development. I think casting worked well for the most part. I do think Allison could have received more character focus especially compared to her brothers and even Vanya. I did not like the addition of Leonard/Harold or so much extra stuff with the Cha Cha and Hazel. A little goes a long way with these kind of villains.

    I am glad the show is renewed and it was a fun watch.

    Watched June 2019.

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  • Monthly Movies,  Movies,  TV

    Monthly Movies/TV – April and May 2019

    June 7, 2019

    Movies

    Hail Caesar! (16 04 2019) – I remember seeing the trailer a couple years ago and looking forward to it but the reviews were not great so I put it off. The pacing in this movie is odd. It’s lacklustre and often times feels like a bunch of random scenes rather than a cohesive movie. I didn’t hate the movie but it did drag for the most of it. Good points is that every scene looks great. I love this era in the film and you can tell the Coen’s do too as they put effort in the look and of course the great casting. All in all, I still gave it a thumbs up on Netflix but I wouldn’t recommend it.

    Bumblebee (24 04 2019) – Much better than anything Michael Bay could ever do. Sweet and easy popcorn flick. I hope the transformers franchise changes for the better.

    Solo: A Star Wars Story (20 05 2019) – I needed to wash my brain after that GoT finale and see Emilia Clarke in a character with nuance. I put off watching this for awhile mostly because I knew it would be a decent popcorn flick. I watched it while doing chores, having lunch, and making Swedish cinnamon rolls. Maybe it’s because I knew going in that the movie had some weak areas, but I liked it. I thought it had a great cast and that everyone got to do something interesting.

    The Death of Stalin (21 05 2019) – This is such an odd movie. It somehow manages to balance the inherent anxiety and fear of the time with black comedy. It’s very unique in its very dark themes and plot, but it is done well. Fantastic cast and acting. It is entertaining and thought provoking. While not completely historically accurate, it probably does capture the gist and spirit of history. A good watch.

    TV

    April:

    “The OA” – We started this late March/early April. We watched it slowly for about five episodes but I wanted to move ahead so I binged the rest of Part 1 and all of Part 2 around April 22. I really liked this show. Good acting, very well shot, but it has a very interesting premise and world building. It is very slow so I am wary to recommend it to anyone, but I enjoyed weird shows like this.
    “Line of Duty” Series 5 – Have not even seen series 1-4. I liked it and can see why it’s good, but some of these interrogation scenes were very long. End felt a bit dragged out.

    May:

    “Game of Thrones” Season 8 – I don’t want to talk about it.

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  • Monthly Movies,  Movies,  TV

    Monthly Movies/TV – February 2019

    March 9, 2019

    King of thieves (18 02 2019) – We watched this for the great cast and while there are some funny moments due primarily to the cast chemistry, the script and pacing was off. Tone was a bit weird too; it was darkly funny but then other times it couldn’t balance the darker moments.

    Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse (22 03 2019) – Very fun and worth the praise and help. This movie uses the animated medium to the best of storytelling. Great music and soundtrack and probably the best Sony spider-man movie ever. Will rewatch some of my favourite parts.

    TV shows currently watching:

    • Masterchef UK
    • My Kitchen Rules
    • Great British Sewing Bee
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  • Monthly Movies,  TV

    Monthly Movies/TV – January 2019

    February 2, 2019

    Movies

    Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (04 01 2019) – Finally got around to watching this. It was on the long side but enjoyed most of the movie and its characters.

    Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (06 01 2019) – Very fun. I love the jokes about video games and its tropes. Jack Black really stole his scenes. The cast was all great except Kevin Hart played himself. Definitely in for a sequel.

    Bohemian Rhapsody (19 01 2019) – The casting including the stellar Rami Malek and the last Live Aid scene was good, but this isn’t the best film I’ve seen in awhile. The script and directing were both lacking and I know Singer had to drop out (never liked him any way). The movie felt a bit staid bordering on having that manufactured biopic filming. I enjoyed it overall but it’s a testament to Queen’s music and the great cast.

    Me Before You (25 01 2019) – Yes, it has taken me years to watch this film after reading the book. I liked the book and I adore Emilia Clarke, but I put this off because I knew the ending. I managed not to cry by basically watching most of this while preparing for and eating dinner. Then cleaning up. Clarke and Sam Claifin have a lot of chemistry. I’m glad they didn’t make the sequel as I hated it, but I wish Clarke and Claifin were in more things overall and together.

    TV

    I forgot to track this but I think I got most of it.

    Tidying up with Marie Kondo (01-03 01 2019) – I liked the books. I found the show relaxing except for a couple of home owners. I wish there was more of Marie and Iida.

    Strike (27 01 2019 to 01 02 2019) – All three series: Cuckoo’s Calling, the Silkworm, and Career of Evil. After reading Lethal White, I realized I hadn’t watched the BBC adaptation of the first three. I watched it with my SO and he’s never read the books but expressed an interest in the show. We really liked all three of them. I’ve always liked Burke and Grainger and I think the show did a good job of cutting out the angst of their relationships. It’s also an easy procedural to watch; maybe a bit too easy. It’s not trying to be cutting edge or different than other TV, but since it’s a BBC production, it’s still very good. I look forward to the Lethal White one.

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  • Monthly Movies,  Movies,  TV

    Monthly Movies/TV – Autumn 2018

    January 10, 2019

    It’s been awhile since I did these kind of posts. I haven’t really been watching as many movies or tv shows as I use to, but I’d like to mark it here on a seasonal basis.

    September

    “Bodyguard” Series 1 (BBC) – This is BBC’s most watched drama in years. I enjoyed it a lot. I like Richard Madden and I’m glad he gets to stretch some range with this role. My partner is a big fan of Jed Mercurio’s “Line of Duty” as well and I will start that soon.

    To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (21 09 18) – Reviewed here.

    October

    Ocean’s 8 (22 10 18) – I had moderate expectations going into this because I knew it was not the most critically acclaimed. I really enjoyed it because it looked good and the cast is extraordinary. It’s not as stylish as Soderbergh’s films but I like Gary Ross’s work. There is not much in the way of character development, but this is a fun movie. I actually hope there is a sequel.

    “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” Season 1 (Oct 2018) – A tad long side. Found the mortal/Sabrina friends storylines were dull but witch ones are fun. Good cast and styling.

    November

    Ethel & Ernest (03 11 2018) – Very lovely animated film about an English family in the early twentieth century

    December

    L Storm (12 12 2018) – I’ve developed a tradition of watching Chinese or Hong Kong movies on airplanes. Decent plotting and suspense, but not much in the way of character development.

    Gravity (25 12 2018) – Really like Curaon as a director so been meaning to watch it. Quite nice and definitely a theatre movie but we only watched on our small screen. We watched Charade earlier the same day (one of my fav movies growing up) and it was jarring to see Clooney as a second rate Cary Grant.

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  • TV

    Monthly TV – April/May 2016

    June 10, 2016

    The Night Manager (20-23 04 16) – You watch this mini series for two reasons: the scenery/cinematography and the actors. Hiddleston, Laurie, and Coleman are the stars. I think Coleman is the best actor, but Hiddleston and Laurie are excellent. Hiddles is just pretty. The story and writing have issues. It’s not something to write home about, but this is a pretty, pretty series.

    Daredevil Season 2 (last week of May) – I think the first season of Daredevil was so excellent and so good in terms of being distinct. I loved the actions in S1 more. I find S2 hit or miss for me. The law drama aspect did not work. I liked the Punisher. I didn’t really care for the Hand stuff. I really liked Elecktra and Matt’s chemistry. I did feel that Matt got very annoying most of S2 as he kept lieing to everyone and himself. I look forward to Elecktra’s return, but I’m not sure Matt’s character development is moving at a good pace.

    Jessica Jones (last week of May into first couple of days of June) – As a followup to Daredevil, I finally watched the first season of this show. It was good. I do adore David Tennant and he was chilling in this. I really liked the writing, but I did feel that the search for Kilgrave could have been cut short by one or two episodes. Still, a very strong start.

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