TV Review: STRANGER THINGS: SEASON 3

Release Date: Now streaming on Netflix (Malaysia)

Genre: Fantasy / Horror

No. of Episodes: 8

Cast: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Fin Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Dacre Montgomery, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson

Series created by: The Duffer Brothers

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My first TV series review! I've always limited my reviews to films being shown in the local cinema but with so many high quality releases on Netflix and the likes, I just had to start reviewing some of these series or made-for-TV movies.

When this season kicked off, I was actually letdown by the first three episodes. It was really slow. There was so much unnecessary time dedicated to Hopper (Harbour) trying to break off the budding teenage romance between Mike (Wolfhard) and Eleven (Brown). It was kinda going nowhere for me as different characters had their own thing going: 

• Dustin (Matarazzo) just came back from camp and claims he has a "prettier than Phoebe Cates" girlfriend.
• Will (Schnapp) is just fed up with his friends' budding romances; Mike and El, Lucas (McLaughlin) and Max (Sink).
• Nancy (Dyer) and Jonathan (Heaton) are working as interns in the local newspapers.
• Steve (Keery) is now working with this girl Robin (Hawke) in an ice cream parlour in the newly opened Starcourt mall [Interesting fact I just found out. Maya Hawke who plays Robin is the daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman!! OMG!]
• Joyce (Ryder) is still mourning. 
• Karen Wheeler, Mike's mother, is trying to score (?!) with Max's brother, Billy (Montgomery)

Thankfully, things start to pick up steam from Episode/Chapter 4: Sauna Test onwards and just like a roller coaster ride, the pace doesn't slow down thereafter. It just keeps getting faster and more exhilarating until the huge finale where some major characters meet their final destination (yes, there are deaths).

Only then I understood why was there a need for the creators to set up these characters doing their own thing in the earlier episodes, especially the plot involving Hopper trying to break off Mike and El's romance. Because when the pay off comes at the end, oh my, it comes in heaps and buckets. The ending is just so...sad. 

As for the overarching plot of Season 3, this time round it involves some Russians and this "being" (possibly from The Upside Down world) taking over the bodies of some of the residents from Hawkins. Oh, and there are imploding rats. And, it's up to the kids to stop this evil force again. 

Speaking of implosions, there is a higher level of gore and violence in this season reminiscent of 80s horror movies. Of course, it's very much toned down compared to say, the classic John Carpenter's The Thing (Brrr...that movie still gives me nightmares everytime I think about it).

I'm glad the creators didn't just rely on nostalgia to engage its audience. Yes, there are some cheesy 80s references like this rip-off Terminator character and a memorable left field moment where two characters break out into a popular 80's song. And the brilliant production set pieces such as the mall and the fun fair really gives this series a proper 80's vibe.

But it's not the nostalgia that makes this series entertaining and successful. It's the performances, the direction and overall, good storytelling. There are a handful of standout quiet moments weaved in between the nail-biting sequences to give it some breather. One of it involves Steve and Robin having a vulnerable conversation in the public restroom.

I'm looking forward to Season 4 next year as it seems that the creators may change the direction of the storyline judging by the epilogue.

RATING: 8.5/10 

(I hope they won't bring back this character in Season 4 because it was a satisfying emotional wrap up. If they do, I may have to review the rating of season 3 again)

YESTERDAY

Release Date: Malaysia, 17 June 2019

Genre: Romance / Fantasy

Running Length: 1:56

Cast: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Joel Fry, Ed Sheeran, Kate McKinnon, Meera Syal, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Alexander Arnold

Director: Danny Boyle

Screenplay: Richard Curtis 

When I first saw the trailer to YESTERDAY, I was immediately intrigued by its concept. And oh, the songs! It was a must see for me. 

Obviously, the expectations was high walking into the screening of this movie. Unfortunately, I walked out feeling disappointed that such a good idea went to waste. 

What's this movie about? Well, it's about Jack Malik (Patel) a struggling musician who gets hit by a bus one day and when he wakes up, he finds that The Beatles and their songs are erased from existence. Imagine a world without the music of The Beatles! Nobody on Earth has ever heard of their music except Jack. Yup...he decides to seize the opportunity and claims ownership of The Beatles' songs. This is not a spoiler as it's all in the trailer (see below). 

I can't really put a finger to why this movie was a disappointment for me. Perhaps the filmmakers didn't fully explore the effects of a world without The Beatles? Perhaps the moral dilemma of stealing the songs was poorly interpreted? Perhaps the people behind this movie are really talented people (Danny Boyle, Richard Curtis) but what they came out with was just...meh? 

Instead, Yesterday ended up being a cliched rom-com. And it's not even very good. The chemistry between the two lovebirds were only half believable. All in all, it's one of those movies that aspires to achieve a lot of things but end up achieving nothing.     

However, not all is lost. Lead actor Himesh Patel can sing (In fact, I'm listening to him singing now from the soundtrack). His performance is serviceable with one standout scene, where he was challenged by Ed Sheeran (playing himself) to a song writing + performance showdown. 

If anything, I've a newfound appreciation for the music of The Beatles and their songs are playing on loop now on my Spotify. 

RATING: 6/10

THE SHAPE OF WATER (Malaysia, 22 Mar 2018)

Genre: Fantasy / Romance
Running Length: 2:03
Cast: Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Doug Jones
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Screenplay: Guillermo del Toro & Vanessa Taylor

I can understand why THE SHAPE OF WATER recently won the Best Picture at the Oscars. But it's not because of a compelling story but it checks most of the boxes of what the Academy voters were looking for at this current time. It was the safest choice. It would have been interesting if Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri won because it would have been a controversial pick.

What's the movie about?
Set in the 1960s, a mute and lonely cleaning lady who works at a top secret government facility forms an unconventional relationship with a scaled creature that is being held in captivity. She attempts to free the creature from the sadistic government agent. 

What I like about it?

• The overall grandeur of the production. It's beautiful to look at and the set designs are detailed and rich. 
• The creature. Thank God the filmmakers didn't use CGI but instead opted for the traditional hours and hours of make-up job. But then it's a Guillermo del Toro film :) 
• Eventhough it's a fantasy, it's still a more realistic adult fairy tale story vs Beauty and the Beast. In this movie, the creature do behave dangerously like an animal at times. 
• Unconventional choice for a leading lady. Instead of choosing a pretty young thing, the filmmakers decided to go with a mature lady with a next door neighbour looks. And Sally Hawkin's performance as an "incomplete" lonely lady in love with a non-human being is very believable. She's very likeable here.  
• Homage to classic musical movies. Cinephiles out there will love what delToro did here. 

What I didn't?

• Shallow approach to inclusiveness, racism, homosexuality, women's empowerment, the black community, the Cold War, the Russian spy and technological unemployment. It felt as though the filmmakers threw in a buffet of such Oscar worthy subjects just to get noticed by the Academy. It was very heavy handed.      
• Unbelievable antagonist. Although Michael Shannon's performance here is scary and intense, his frothing at the mouth character is unbelievable and overly stereotyped (All white, heterosexual, Christian, American men are evil).
• Boring. Despite such an interesting concept, I was actually bored throughout most of the film. I wasn't immersed with the characters and some parts were just too predictable. (Three Billboards is much more interesting in its unpredictability and characters' arc).

RATING: 7.5/10

(COMBO REVIEW) THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES (2017) | A GHOST STORY (2017)

As I saw both of this films on the small screen (Meyerowitz on Netflix and Ghost on a flight), I didn't think of reviewing it. But after I watched a recent video by Nerdwriter I was inspired to write a combo review because they share a common theme (besides having 'story' in their titles) and that is: Moving on in Life.

THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES

There are many films out there about the typical dysfunctional American family but there's just something endearing about this film that makes it sad but yet hopeful. And I reckon it's because of the compassion of Baumbach (the writer and director) for he is able to paint a story of redemption in a broken family. Although this movie is dialogue heavy, viewers will not find it difficult to follow as Baumbach has presented THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES in a light-hearted manner.

As pointed out by the Nerdwriter, although there are rapid conversations happening between two people in a scene, it doesn't mean they are communicating. The real intent in these conversations are found not in their spoken words but expressed in-between their sentences, thus making this film a realistic (and entertaining) watch.

  

As good as Ben Stiller is, it is Adam Sandler who is a revelation here. His performance as the obliging eldest son is moving and heartfelt especially when his character is around his overbearing father (Hoffman). 

What is it about the power of a father's approval that will drive his sons day after day for a lifetime to prove to their father that they are good enough to be considered a man? 

RATING: 7.5/10

A GHOST STORY

A GHOST STORY is a haunting movie, but not in a paranormal kinda way. The movie stays with you long after the credits because the narrative reminds you of the need for closure in order to move on. It causes you to think rather than giving you the answers. 

If you watch the trailer, it plays out like a meditative arty indie film. It informs you of a couple where the husband dies very suddenly, and comes back in a Halloween kind of ghost to 'haunt' his grieving wife. Sounds like a self-indulgent, boring and almost cheesy premise, doesn't it? Trust me, it's not. What you see in the trailer is just the surface to a very original film. And that's all I'm going to say because anything thereafter may just constitute as a spoiler.

Although there are many scenes which are dialogue free (most of it are just long takes of silence), there is actually a lot going on underneath. Aside from what I feel as an unnecessary monologue, A Ghost Story is almost a perfect film. The storytelling is simple, smart and just beautiful to look at.

RATING: 9.5/10 

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THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES

Genre: Drama / Comedy 

Running Length: 1:50

Cast: Dustin Hoffman, Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Grace Van Patten, Emma Thompson, Elizabeth Marvel, Judd Hirsch, Rebecca Miller

Director: Noah Baumbach 

Screenplay: Noah Baumbach 

A GHOST STORY

Genre: Drama / Fantasy

Running Length: 1:32

Cast: Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara

Director: David Lowery

Screenplay: David Lowery

OKJA (2017)

Genre: Fantasy / Adventure
Running Length: 2:00
Cast: Ahn Seo-hyun, Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Steven Yeun, Lily Collins, Jake Gyllenhaal, Giancarlo Esposito
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Screenplay: Bong Joon-ho

(Although this Netflix original feature length production was not released in the local cinemas, it was released in selected US cinemas and simultaneously on the Netflix platform, including Netflix Malaysia. That's why I'm reviewing it here. Note: Don't miss the cool post-credits sequence)

OKJA feels like a Korean movie starring white people. Just like most Asian movies, the tone shifts pretty rapidly from one to another; from adventure to childish jokes to heavy use of F-bombs to serious action to horror and to tragedy. Viewers who are more accustomed to straightforward genre films may find Okja a weird watch.

Thankfully, somehow it worked for me because the tonality shifts felt seamless. At least it moved the story along without feeling terribly awkward. That said, I felt the film was manipulative in arm-twisting its audience to sit up and take notice of the meat packing industry. Its unflinching depiction of what happens at the assembly line in a slaughterhouse is so graphic and heart wrenching - it broke me.

Perhaps there is no other subtle way to convey this message as consumers these days are too desensitize. Or maybe, we just choose NOT to know how/where our food comes from. I believe this is true because just like how the consumers behave in this movie, we DO know. But instead, we choose to believe the marketing; "free range", "organic", "stress-free".

This movie tells of a tale of a little Korean girl (Ahn Seo-hyun) and her pet, Okja, a genetically enhanced pig (which looks like a hippo + elephant + pig). From the trailer, the little girl faces the possibility of losing her best friend to corporate capitalism and as a result, Okja would end up on a plate.

Never do we doubt that Okja the creature is real, thanks to the amazing CGI and convincing performance of Seo-hyun towards her beloved companion. Because of that, we become emotionally connected to the adorable and intelligent Okja.

This movie boast an impressive A-list cast; Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano and Jake Gyllenhaal. In my opinion, Dano is the most effective while Gyllenhaal is totally miscast. Whenever he appeared on screen, I was ready to cringe with his OTT Nic Cage-y performance. As for Swinton, what's with her teeth? Overall, the production value is high and I like the subtle score.

But for now, I'm staying away from eating meat.

RATING: 8.5/10

COLOSSAL (2017)

Genre: Fantasy / Comedy / Drama
Running Length: 1:50
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, Dan Stevens, Austin Stowell, Tim Blake Nelson
Director: Nacho Vigalondo

Screenplay: Nacho Vigalondo

Anne Hathaway's character in COLOSSAL discovers she is directly connected to a kaiju (a giant monster) terrorizing Seoul. It's as though she is remotely controlling the monster's actions from the other side of the planet. The story gets more quirky as the film progresses and in the third act, it takes an unexpected turn into dark territories. 

I can't elaborate much about the film's plot as I will definitely spoil it for the readers. But all I can say is if you're expecting to see a dark comedy about Hathaway's character discovering her connection with the monster, you'll be pleasantly surprised because this movie will take you to unexpected places. Just don't expect it to be another Pacific Rim. 

Eventhough it's a comedy, this film actually deals with very serious social issues. And if it's not dealt with overtime, it would grow into something colossal. And the monstrosity of our problems will affect or even destroy the people around us. 

Hathaway is perfectly cast in this indie fare and she does a very believable job here. But it's Jason Sudeikis' performance here that caught me by surprise. There's this intense scene involving a fire hazard which Sudeikis really owned it.   

I enjoyed the direction, clever camera angles and sound employed in this film. For example, the filmmakers were able to capture the carnage of the monster without actually showing any of it. Overall, I enjoyed this film because it's a refreshing way to tell a familiar story. 

But it does get too clever for its own good and as a result, the main message gets lost amidst its unconventional storytelling. I reckon this film would never be able to reach the masses but would end up as a cult flick. Nevertheless, Colossal is an impressive mix of comedy, tragedy and dark drama. Plus it's filled with hidden meanings, symbols and metaphors worth discovering and researching when you get back home from the theaters.  

RATING: 8.5/10

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES (2014)

Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Running Length: 2:24
Cast: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellan, Richard Armitage, Luke Evans, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Aidan Turner, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Lee Pace, Hugo Weaving
Director: Peter Jackson

I was expecting the worst from THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES as judging from the trailer, it was filled with excessive wall-to-wall CGI battle scenes, which to me quite frankly has become a soulless boring movie experience (no thanks to the Star Wars prequel trilogy). Fortunately, it wasn't as numbing as I thought. In fact, it was pretty engaging. It's probably because the film makers managed to balance the big battle scenes with "quieter" heroic moments that allow the central characters to stand out. Surprisingly, this installment being the most action heavy, has the strongest focus on character development. Timeless themes such as honour, friendship, love and self-sacrifice are nicely blended here without over preaching it. And speaking of CGI, it's less intrusive here compared to the barrel ride scene in The Desolation of Smaug (that was unintentionally bad). Not as grand and epic in scope as The Lord of the Rings trilogy but The Battle of the Five Armies is the best film of The Hobbit's series. (And what's with Team America the eagles flying in to save the day once again?)

Rating: 7.5/10

MALEFICENT (2014)

Genre: Fantasy/Adventure

Running Length: 1:38

Cast: Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Lesley Manville, Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple, Sam Riley

Director: Robert Stromberg 

MALEFICENT continues the trend of Disney retelling its classic animated fairy tales with new twists to appeal to the Internet generation (everything is edgier, the villain is the victim, "what you know is wrong"). However, those expecting Sleeping Beauty told from the point of view of the villain would be disappointed. Instead, this movie pushes the feminist agenda where our “evil female” is turned into a victim because of a male. I was hoping for a more interesting motive for Maleficent to break bad but it's the same "story". I get it that men these days are not playing their role as man but do we deserve to get bashed forcefully over our heads, over and over again (in such movies) for being the true "monster"? Frozen did the same thing; Anna falls in love with a man who turns out to be taking advantage of her. I really am tired of males being continuously shamed this way. This will paint an unrealistic portrayal of boys and love relationships for our youth. That said, the visuals in this movie look great and Angelina Jolie owned the show as our deeply tragic and conflicted protagonist.   

Rating: 5/10