meh

Stranger Things

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Hello Friends, Family, and Fans;

I’ve watched Stranger Things for the past decade. Here are my basic feelings for each season.

Season 1

An excellent, atmospheric love story to the “kids on bikes” genre from the eighties. The kids are great and they didn’t feel the need to over-explain everything.

I find both Will and Mike kinda boring but the rest of the cast is good.

The adults are idiots and the teens are annoying.

5 Stars

Season 2

They tried a little too hard to get the same feel and try and expand the drama. It really showed how little they were prepared for a season 2 and made a lot of the season boring.

I liked the addition of Max, she came off as competent and not just the “girl” character. Erica is also pretty cool.

Still not a fan of Mike or WIll. The teens are a little better but Johnathan gives massive serial killer / incel vibes.

Truly despise the adults other than Bob. RIP.

2 Stars

Season 3

This season really went hard into the 80’s and was better for it. The whole gang is trying really hard to be normal kids.

Both Will and Mike are less annoying. Steve and Robin are by far my favourite story. The teens are getting more interesting.

I still can’t stand the adults. Murray however is okay.

4 Stars

Season 4

This is the season the writers did two stupid things. 1. obviously firing any editors and 2. realizing they can’t finish the show on vibes and atmosphere. The awkward length episodes and horribly shoehorned backstories made this a slog.

Still can’t stand Mike or the Byeres. They seem to oscillate between bad attempts at autism rep and just plain creepy.

Lucas finally starts to be his own character and his story with Max is kinda cute.

Steve, Robin, and Nancy are much more likeable. Eddie goes from a performative rebel to a real badass. His character was mishandled and it shows that they just wanted a martyr.

Robin and Nancy being awesome reporters was fun. I found it weird however that Robin changed personalities from season 3 to 4. Going from badass, sarcastic, and confident to a walking ad for AuDHD with anxiety.

I mostly speed up the show when it was time for the adults to be idiots again. I may have skipped it if it wasn’t for chaos Murray.

2 Stars

Season 5

This season showed what happens when writers don’t have a plan. They tried really hard to clean up the backstory and get everything together.

The “age up” of Holly was lazy writing when they could have used Erica or introduced another kid. That being said, the actress killed the roll and took a boring story and made it interesting.

After 2 seasons of giving Max interesting stories, they basically turned her into a spirit guide/plot convenience.

There’s been a lot of hate given to Will’s coming out but it felt more authentic than a lot of the other parts. It was quick and awkward but that’s what coming out often is. Still can’t stand the kid. Mike is neither likeable nor interesting. Dustin actually has character development which is nice.

Most of the teens are likeable now. Badass Nancy is pretty awesome.

The adults are still insufferable and I’m sorry they didn’t die. I wonder what happened to Murray.

How the hell did they manage to bring in Linda Hamilton and have her villain be so uninteresting.

3 Stars

The Finale

Trite, overly sappy, and ambiguous. It reminded me a lot of the Fringe finale that was basically just giving the fans what they wanted.

It’s also very appropriate for the show since the whole thing feels like a Dungeons and Dragons campaign from a pantser DM. Which isn’t surprising, since a lot of the beats were based off the D&D (I’m old and I refuse to call it DnD!) adventures with Vecna as an antagonist.

The ambiguity of the ending for certain characters reeks of leaving the door open for a reunion movie or series in 10 years.

It also doesn’t show us the characters grieving and getting over the multitude of deaths.

Overall

This series is uneven both in its storytelling and its characters. It’s a fantasy of nostalgia written by people who have only known the decade from movies and TV. There was no plan and it shows. Throughout the series, D&D is treated with more respect than any of the characters.

There is some nice character development when the actors were given input.

I’m left with an overwhelming feeling that I could write better. (And I plan on doing so.)

3 Stars out of 5

Do you disagree?

Stay safe and be kind,

Éric

A Christmas to Treasure – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2022 film A Christmas to Treasure.

Story

The main gimmick of the movie was the treasure hunt, and it was lackluster at best. The love story was definitely front and centre, but the drama took more time than needed.

Score: 0

Characters

I liked most of the characters but the main character felt very petty and young. The entire group felt like they should be in their mid twenties not thirties. There was an immaturity that felt out of place.

The queer romance was nice to see however.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

The movie felt like it was written too quickly and the dialogue was terrible. It felt forced, and several times like a low quality high school play.

The only exceptions being the really deep heart to hearts with the love interests.

Score: 0.5

Visuals and Music

The visuals were okay. I question how that one man decorated so much without noticing the treasure hunt, but other than that it was pretty.

The music wasn’t great and the mixing was distracting multiple times.

Score: 0.5

Fun

The movie was infuriating because it could have been so much better. The entire family’s opinion seemed to be “meh”.

Score: 0.5

Overall

The movie nails one or two monologues and isn’t terrible to look at, but don’t expect a fun treasure hunt.

Final Score: 2 Stars out of 5

Elio – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2025 film Elio.

Story

This story has been told before from The Last Starfighter to Spirited Away the odd/special/trauma kid getting sucked into another world isn’t all that original. This is probably the first Pixar movie not to make me cry at some point. It’s cute and has a good message but it’s been done.

Score: 0

Characters

I was Elio at his age (without the dead parents) and I felt for him. He was well written and his arc was believable. I also really liked Glordon. The Communiverse felt like a lot of bumbling academics rather than diplomats.

My big problem was with the Grigon. I feel like they wasted time with him on gags instead of showing us his inner turmoil about his son. It would have made his turn at the end much more powerful if we’d seen into his head more.

I’m not even going to touch the ethics and horror at the whole concept of the clones.

I did appreciate the cameo of Kate Mulgrew and the archival audio of Carl Sagan.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

The dialogue had a lot of sweet, funny, and silly moments. It was pretty good but felt very young. There was a lot of technology and ideas thrown out but no discussion about them beyond gags. Maybe after the critics said Lightyear was too advanced, they went way too simple on this one.

I did like the recurring gag of, “Goodbye. I love you.”

Score: 0.5

Visuals and Music

The visuals were stunning, but felt like they were the point of the movie. Like everything was built on the visuals instead of the emotion or story.

The music was amazing. I particularly liked that the Hylurgian’s had battle chants. That made them more terrifying and likeable at the same time.

Score: 1

Fun

This was a fun movie. Lots of cringe but still a really nice movie. The kids loved it and the rest of the family liked it.

Definitely not a movie I’ll be wanting to rewatch.

Score: 0.5

Overall

This movie is cute and works as a young kid’s first sci-fi but it’s not original and doesn’t have the emotional depths I’ve come to expect from Pixar.

Final Score: 2.5 Stars out of 5

Superman (2025) – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2025 film Superman.

Story

The least believable part of the story was its dated and naive premise that people can be swayed by the media. Lex had literal mind controlled monkeys manipulating the internet and yet didn’t have a plan for meddling newspaper reporters?

Beyond that part, the movie paints the most depressing picture of the human race I have seen outside of the news.

Everyone keeps talking about how hopeful the movie is and I only saw darkness. Superman may have been a beacon of hope but he was ridiculed for it, called foolish, made the butt of the joke, and even at the end of the movie, the other heroes do the most brutal acts in his name.

Score: 0

Characters

This Superman is wonderful. He’s human, believable, flawed, and impulsive. His acts of kindness, with one exception, are met with brutal retribution, mockery, and derision. However, the actor did a splendid job. Lex, Lois, and the Kents were wonderful.

The awkward misogyny of Jimmy and Tess was eye-rollingly bad.

The other metas were mostly jerks with large egos. Mr. Terrific lived up to his name however.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

Any part with Lois or the Kents was fantastic.

Superman’s speeches and Lex’s rants were equally well delivered.

Score: 1

Visuals and Music

The visuals were okay but relied on shaky-cam more than my migraine-addled brain would like. The large set pieces often felt superfluous to the plot. Style over story.

The music had homages to Reeves movies but the theme was played at odd times. Like they had to convince us that he was doing something heroic. It also never hits the clarity or strength of brass as the original.

Score: 0.5

Fun

I REALLY wanted to like this. I loved the new Superman but despite being named after him it was mostly “things that happen around Superman.”

Too much time was used fighting random monsters that could have been used on character development and interactions. We see Clark for one scene, there are three with Lois and him, and only two with the parents.

When I said I wanted a more human Superman, I didn’t mean I wanted to see him get beat up and bleed. I meant I wanted to see him as himself not just the icon.

I’m also annoyed that at the end he decided to start killing. I get why he needed to kill his clone but the flying soldiers at the end were fried with no chance or compassion.

Score: 0

Overall

This is a hopeful Superman in a world that believes the news and where billionaires can get their comeuppance. The movie’s message of hope is lost in the mocking and brutality, and in the fact that Superman did almost nothing except survive.

The movie spends more screen time with gags (like Krypto being poorly behaved) or pointless fights than it does developing characters or plot.

Final Score: 2 Stars out of 5

The Working Man – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2025 film The Working Man.

Story

The story walks the line between horrifying and a little bland. No one gets violated and none of the good people get killed. The movie writers went out of their way to make sure we felt nothing for the villains.

Score: 0

Characters

Statham tends to play three characters: the seemingly emotionless killer, the angry vengeful killer, and the befuddled killer. In this one he’s the second. Unfortunately, giving him a daughter didn’t add much to the story. It was probably the lack of interactions with her.

As usual, the supporting characters were interesting, and the kidnapped girl kicks serious ass.

The villains are bland beyond remembering.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

A few lines were great and I really liked all the interactions between Harbour and Statham; they were excellent.

Score: 0.5

Visuals and Music

The locations were great and the sets looked very grimy. Everything was shot in a way we could see the action. It was well done.

The music is a little loud but does its job well.

Score: 1

Fun

I was less invested in him and more invested in the kid and the kidnapped woman. I found myself getting bored at times. I watched this alone and although the action was great it just wasn’t all that interesting.

Score: 0

Overall

An extremely competent action movie with lots of death, explosions, and Jason Statham kicking ass. However, it wasn’t great at keeping my interest and the villains were so bland I didn’t care.

Final Score: 2 Stars out of 5

Y2K – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2024 film Y2K.

Story

It’s a standard survival horror with almost no deviation in plot.

Score: 0

Characters

The “awkward dude gets the hot popular girl” is a really tired trope. Making her good with computers is a nice twist but makes him even blander which I didn’t think was possible.

The rest of the movie’s characters were tired tropes pulled from survival horror or stoner comedies.

Score: 0

Dialogue

The dialogue was written by nerds for nerds and is unironically goofy in the best way. The “edgy” dialogue is pretty much what we all thought was edgy back in 2000 but in retrospect is kinda childish.

Score: 0.5

Visuals and Music

The camera work was excellent and the special effects were pretty impressive.

The music was nostalgic and fun.

Score: 1

Fun

This isn’t a great movie but there were some fun parts. I watched it on my own because it is really not kid friendly.

Score: 0.5

Overall

A lackluster plot with nothing special that can’t seem to decide if it hates the 2000’s or loves it.

Final Score: 2 Stars out of 5

A Cinderella Story – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2004 film A Cinderella Story.

Story

The story is in the title and it’s very much an early 2000’s take on Cinderella. There’s an almost made-for-TV feel to it.

Score: 0

Characters

The characters are dated clichés from a bad take on a John Hughes movie. Although the actors manage to perform the roles with charm, they can’t overcome the script. The good characters are flawless (except that she’s too nice and he’s too popular. Oh, and both of them don’t want to confront their parents.) and the villains are reprehensible.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

There’s some funny lines and some adorable flirting but the absolute industrial quantity of body and food shaming is disgusting.

Seriously? How did the early 2000’s think this was okay? How the hell did we go from Jennifer Coolidge being a sex symbol in 1999 to her being considered disgusting in this movie? The woman’s acting is perfect in both, but we don’t need the body and beauty shaming to show she’s ugly on the inside (as the character!).

Score: 0

Visuals and Music

The camera work was okay but everything felt very made-for-TV quality.

The music was a lot of fun and nostalgic.

Score: 1

Fun

I enjoyed the movie to a certain extent. I love the Cinderella archetype and it makes for fun movies, but this one doesn’t hold up well.

The kids enjoyed it, but not to the point of wanting to rewatch it later.

Score: 0.5

Overall

A dated take on Cinderella that is held together by the charm of the actors, but even their skill isn’t enough to save it.

Final Score: 2 Stars out of 5

Spellbound – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2024 film Spellbound.

Story

The story felt very retro and a little like a made for TV special that is trying to explain emotions and divorce to younger kids. It was okay but missed a lot of opportunities to be more nuanced. It was also really slow to start with.

Score: 0

Characters

The parents as monsters were fun and the main character was your usual sassy but bland hero. The Oracles were fantastic and more interesting than the rest of the movie. I also really loved Bolinar although that felt forced to be comedy relief.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

Glib and shallow, the dialogue was pretty unmemorable.

Score: 0

Visuals and Music

This was a beautiful movie. The art was great and the use of shadows was excellent.

The music was good and I wish there was more.

Score: 1

Fun

I was bored waiting for the inevitable quest but the kids loved it.

Score: 0.5

Overall

An interesting idea that turns out to be pretty predictable and with little for the older audience members. Fun side characters, lovely animation, and good music just aren’t enought to save this one.

Final Score: 2 Stars out of 5

The Hunters (2013) – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the 2013 film The Hunters.

Story

This is a mashup of Indiana Jones and Spy Kids, but it works. The story beats are predictable but interesting, and the world building was fun.

Score: 0.5

Characters

There are a few times where I think the writers got confused about which brother was which but besides that, they were passable characters. Thankfully the acting was significantly better than the dialogue.

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

There was a lot of useless explaining and some mixed-up lines, along with some strange reasons for doing anything. That being said, at least the writers understood how to write a romance subplot.

Score: 0

Visuals and Music

The special effects were bad but the locations were nice (Yay BC!). The fight choreography was passable.

The music did its job but wasn’t particularly good.

Score: 0.5

Fun

I enjoyed it but it wasn’t great. The kids got bored a few times.

I usually love when this sort of story mixes myths and reality but the entire made up story of Cinderella’s shoe was frustratingly under-researched and under-utilized.

Score: 0.5

Overall

A fun take on the archeology/adventure genre but its special effects, terrible dialogue, and poor research take away from the overall enjoyment.

Final Score: 2 Stars out of 5

Wish – JenEric Movie Review

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Hello Cinephiles,

Today we’re talking about the  2023 movie Wish.

Story

There were two movies going on, the first half and the second half. The first half is a meandering mess and the second half is halfway between a revolution and some overly saccharine idealized version of Disney.

Score: 0

Characters

While the main character and the king both get some good developement, the rest of the cast don’t, and that’s too bad because they were interesting.

I loved the goat and the star (the nose booping was cute).

Chris Pine ate up this role and was fantastic. I hate that they made a relatable villain who could be redeemed and chose to make it impossible for him because of “magic rules”. It took away his agency. I prefer my villains leaning into evil instead of being trapped in it forever because they read a book. (Good message there, Disney.)

Score: 0.5

Dialogue

There were a lot of great Disney callbacks and inside jokes. Beyond that, most of it was okay but not amazing. The best lines belonged to the villain and the goat.

Score: 0.5

Visuals and Music

Normally I love Disney’s innovation but the characters in this look like a made for TV animation from a decade ago. The backgrounds are spectacular though.

The score is a great homage to older Disney films but the songs are paradoxically catchy and forgettable. Like someone who was trying really hard to write a Disney song instead of a Wish song.

Score: 0.5

Fun

When we watched the movie, it had a weird stuttering in the video when it panned or zoomed. It bothered me enough to play with my settings before I realized it was the movie. It wasn’t fun for me.

The movie itself was fun but not engrossing. I liked the ending enough.

Score: 0.5

Overall

The most forgettable Disney movie since Black Cauldron (although I haven’t seen Home on the Range). It’s not a bad movie but it tries too hard to be a Disney movie and forgets that each has their own special magic.

Final Score: 2 Stars out of 5