Showing posts with label Jennifer Beals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jennifer Beals. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

In Retrospect: The Book Of Boba Fett

I was debating on watching Boba or Visions, but I feel Boba has much more to discuss and this is penance for no May 4th stuff.





It's always important to rewatch stuff some time after, especially if you've had some notes on certain things. Thankfully the problems I had were very minimal, and more touched on the overarching television series "universe" if you will but all in all it's still pretty good. I still say the best parts for me was getting more Tusken culture in this, I found that section of the show some of the most interesting and engaging storytelling in Star Wars. I'll bring another point up near the end about this period but let's move on. Seeing Boba lay the foundations for his status as Daimyo of Mos Espa was interesting, again kinda what I gathered from the trailers that this was almost a crime drama set in Star Wars and I did notice some Godfather elements for sure. I think that's the part people kinda missed about this show is it's called The Book Of Boba Fett, and this is just chapter one I feel people look at this as only a one season show and there isn't any continuation. I feel there is plenty more ground this show can cover and will gladly settle in for a 2 to 3 year long wait for it to return. I mean Dave and Jon have so many plates spinning and I know I went on a tangent about the live action shows intersecting, but I also understood the reasoning behind it. The Mandalorian spearheaded this era, it's a flagship for all future series to travel in it's wake. I don't have a serious issue with Din having essentially an episode and a half just to catch us up on what's been going on. After all, Boba had many moments to himself in season 2 of Mando and it wouldn't surprise me if they balanced it out and gave us a whole episode of just Boba and Fennec in season 3, before going to Mandalore with daddy Mando and little Grogu. I took some grievance with Master Luke also being in this show, but let that not fool you I still loved it and while some may say it isn't entirely pivotal for this show I also couldn't agree to leaving it out because it does do some groundwork for what we'll see next. Hell it sets up a teeny bit of the Ahsoka series, and while we're on that subject just the tiniest little interaction with Ahsoka and Luke was nothing short of mindblowing, and that line man...it cut me deep. Regardless of whether or not something is succesful in terms of Star Wars it's never a waste or superflous, they give new material to expand on and tell more stories. There's always something new. For example, I knew from years of being too nerdy for my own good that Tatooine was once a water planet and you see that in this show during the Tusken portions and that is something I guarantee not everyone who has watched Star Wars knows. So adding things like Ahsoka, Cad Bane, friggin' jedi swordmaster Cin Drallig, among others is great for us old fans who have read the books, played the games, went the distance, it rewards us for knowing so much. Yet it works for new fans as well, because it introduces these new things and garners intrigue. So even if someone was like "Oh the Book Of Boba Fett was a giant pile of nothing, it just seemed like an unnecessary spinoff of Mandalorian" it still does something for this universe and these characters we've seen for some time. It progresses elements and shows something we haven't truly seen before. So I can truthfully let go of the small complaints, it's just entertainment at the end of the day and if we keep getting awesome moments and interesting stories, I just can't ask for more. They did such a good job, even with similar directors this felt like a different show doing it's own thing. Outstanding applause worthy usage of practical effects along with CG which dat look gud! The cast slips effortlessly into the parts, Temuera feels like he just got done filming Attack Of The Clones he just embodies that character, Ming-Na Wen good lord do not get me started I have a century to shout praises of this woman she is a queen, some people would say the Mods are not important characters and are there to make the plot progress but that's not to say the performances are at all forced. It just works in all aspects, nothing feels slapdash or forced, I don't have bewildering questions, I just can enjoy the ride. Not all things in this wonderful galaxy have to be the next groundbreaking peak level of Star Wars goodness. It's very good, the score I'd say remains an 8/10 but it sure is a stalwart strong 8/10. For sure worth a rewatch and discussion. And here we go for the end, what did I think of Kenobi? Only a Sith deals in absolutes.

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Vampire's Kiss

Boy we've been on a vampire turn lately huh?




I just wanted an excuse to finally see this movie. It's a bit more than what people would lead you to believe but the impact is still the same. I'm still fully processing what the shit I just watched but I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it. So our story unfolds of a publisher who after meeting a quite attractive young lady with a severe biting kink (no shame there I assure you), leads him to believe whether or not he is a vampire. Craziness ensues. Now I know it's easy to get swept away in the madness and antics of Nicolas Cage and it is glorious, but there's obviously more to it than a highly humorous highlight reel. I mean I do question the intent of the director, and how after we get the shot seen in the film he said "And cut, perfect, print it!" but credit is due for some shots and the overall tone presented. You'd think it would be a case of Nic is just f***ing bonkers and everyone else plays it serious and straight, not entirely the case cause everyone is a bit off. They are weird and eccentric individuals where you question exactly why they do the things they do. It's like if someone made American Psycho and decided to make it even more out there and add a twist of the supernatural. The cinematography is decent and while most shots are normal you occasionally get some true voyeuristic shots, with eerie score music and fair dues to the composer on that front. I mean it is a funny and wild movie but there is some quite honestly gruesome and disturbing things in it. I think Nicolas Cage might be the most freaky and terrifying vampire I've seen because he clearly is playing a character not fully mentally well and he snaps, and it is a bit unsettling in varying degrees. From eating a live cockroach, to harassing and flat out molesting his coworker, even the first time he gets bit it was a creepy and slightly disturbing scene with him freaking the hell out and thrashing a bit. Usually you don't get horrific necking in a vampire movie, either it cuts before you see something or is there for gore's sake, not the flesh crawling horror part. And this isn't a slam on the movie by any stretch but when I saw footage of Nosferatu it actually made me want to watch it again. I don't know, this was such a trip and difficult to really pin down what I thought of it. I of course loved the line delivery and over the top actions of Nicolas Cage, the plot wasn't afraid to dip it's toes into some mortifying stuff, it keeps you guessing if he truly is turning into a vampire until the end, and it was entertaining throughout. I know some people questioned my 10/10 for Studio 666, but it was a movie I fully got and enjoyed to the max when obiectively it was more of a movie between a 7 and a 8 but I could full heartedly recommend it. So when I rate this I am being on a pure objective view point, and not just howling in laughter at the ridiculous parts and leaving it at that. I give it 3 stars, 7.5/10, I apologize for the weird review schedule this week but work has a strong influence on life and not all of it good. So until next time, or more accurately the day after tomorrow.