The Flash season four review

The Flash season four review 

  

Intro: Iris: You're not the Flash Barry we are the Flash. 

This video sums up my response to that line. 

Raise your hand if you think this will be a crappy season?  

The Flash season four: This season takes place months after Barry/The Flash is imprisoned in the speed force and team flash manages to keep the city safe since then. One day The Thinker (The main villain.) manipulates team Flash to get Barry/The Flash out of the speed force, this cause the creation of 12 new metahumans that The Thinker needs for his plan. So, team Flash has to protect them from him.        

This is another bad season that's sad because I thought this season would be good since the main villain isn't a speedster. That's what I like about the main baddie, by doing that it gives the team a chance to deal with the big bad in a different way. This season is too light-hearted for its on good, I might as well be watching Sesame Street. Once again the creators tried to adapt a story from the comics and they blow it, next time make it last for more than one episode. (Personally, the writers should have saved that story for the finale season.) I'm glad that some of the romance in this season is gone, what's the point of giving everyone a love interest if it has no payoff?  

Iris West is now the leader of team Flash and... Wait! What in heaven's name is going on here!?! Did the writers forget about how the previous season ended when Barry told Cisco he's the leader now? Either Iris seduce Cisco for that position (I smile a Jerry Springer episode.) or the writers have short-term memory. I have so many issues with this, first of all Iris is a supporting character. Heck, the creators didn't do the best job at making her that so what's the point of this? Second, if they did this to get her away from being the damsel in distress that wasn't the problem, I mean she can be a damsel in distress as long as she's not helpless. 

Third, there's a difference between being a leader and being bossy, a leader set an example and a boss tells people what to do. For the most part, she's more of a boss than a leader. Also, how can she lead a team of mostly scientists? I'm not saying that it's impossible however it would help the team if she can comprehend what they're doing. Finally, how did the other members approve of her being the leader, whenever someone that isn't a scientist tries to help them out, they treat that person like he or she is on meth. To add insult to injury she does things that makes her unlikeable.  

Cisco is more helpful in the field. It's a shame that he isn't leading the team because it would have been good character development for him because he showed moments where he has leadership qualities. 

Caitlin/Killer Frost is the Hulk, I'm not kidding about that. My gripe with her is her inconsistency. Also, we learn something about her past that raises more questions about her. 

Ralph/Elongated man is a slime ball, I can understand why fans despise him. Despite that, I like him because this season gave him a hero's journey story and there's more to him than that. Plus, he's the outsider looking in. What I don't like is how everyone besides Barry alienates him, granted he's annoying but he isn't disrespectful. Plus, they should be more grateful to him for helping Barry out of his dilemma.   

Clifford Devoe/The Thinker is an egotistical maniac! I was letdown that the writers turned him into Sylar from Heroes, what's the point of him being the fastest thinker if the writers don't do anything with that ability? I was hoping he would be like The Professor from the show Money Heist, The Professor thought of every possible scenario that could happen in a Bank Robbery. If The Thinker was like The Professor, he would have been a good villain, how can you screw up the fastest man vs the fastest thinker story? My Grievance with him is that his motivation would have made good social commentary if he wasn't a hypocrite, well you can use the means to an end argument. Also, we don't know what cause him to have this mindset. Plus, he did something I find disturbing.    

My problems with this season are that the creator's broth Barry back too soon, if the writers wait until the midseason final to bring him back that gives us the viewers a chance to miss him like the characters do. Also, I'm annoyed that Barry recovered from being imprisoned in the speed force too fast, the plot of team Flash trying to protect the 12 people from The Thinker is repetitive. Most of team Flash don't do anything to stop The Thinker beyond protecting his 12 targets. Just because he can think fast doesn't mean he can't make a mistake or his phychic. The final episode is anti-climactic.  

The bottom line is season four didn't recover I hope we won't get back another speedster as the villain anytime soon.                   

Arrow season six review

Arrow season six review 

Intro: Let me get this straight, season five ends with Lian Yu blowing up, and no one died or suffered PDST. Sorry, I stand corrected, a side character died, one is injured, another is in a coma, and everyone else is OK. What the fudge!?! 

Arrow season six: This season takes place months after almost everyone survived the explosion on Lian Yu, and the survivors manage to go back to their routine, except for Oliver/Green Arrow. Now that his son is in his life, Oliver has to not only be the Mayor and Green Arrow but a father as well. One day, someone sent a picture of Oliver as the Green Arrow to the news, which resulted in him being investigated, Team Arrow being shattered, and a group of criminals wanting to take over the city. So Oliver has to clear his name, salvage the team, and stop this gang before it's too late. 

This season was disappointing! That's a shame, considering that this series got itself out of the hole it dug itself last season just to go back to that same hole. This season feels odd without the flashbacks because they became a part of this series. We do get flashbacks of other characters; they're fine, it's just that they don't tell us anything new about these characters. One of the many gripes I have with this season is the people of Star City; they're morons for not suspecting that Oliver is the Green Arrow. I mean, this is the third time he has been accused of being the Green Arrow, and people don't think that he might be the Green Arrow? You know the saying, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me, and fool me three times, I'm an idiot. Plus, they should be more involved with the story in this season. 

William is another issue I have with this series. He's nothing but baggage. If I were him, I would be mad at Oliver for starting a relationship with Felicity because Oliver doesn't seem like he's putting his son first. Plus, he lied to William twice. The dynamic of Team Arrow could have been better if alliances were shifted better. I was let down by the team of baddies because each member was suppose to be an adversary for each member of Team Arrow, but that didn't happen. Instead, two of them have a vendetta against Green Arrow, one is a double agent, one is in the background, and the other has some kind of rivalry with the Black Canary. Other problems with this season are leading the people of Star City to believe that someone who died in the past is still alive, plot holes on how hacking works, and characters being inconsistent.   

The crossover episodes are lackluster; they remind me of episodes from the Justice League cartoon, but not as good. This crossover is centered on Barry and Iris's wedding. That got interrupted by Nazi versions of themselves and other characters from the CW/DC shows from a different Earth. The Nazi version of our heroes wants one of them for reasons, so the others have to protect this person from themselves. What hurt this crossover for me ( Besides pushing an agenda) is the Olicity drama, that's right, the writers brought back one of the many things that made seasons 3 and 4 bad. If I were Barry or Iris, I would beat the crap out of them for taking up our moment. Also, this crossover has an evil version of an Arrow character who died. I wish he were the main villain in this crossover. This crossover could have been better if it were a cautionary tale. 

Oliver Queen/ Green Arrow didn't develop much since season 2, so what's the point of making him a father and the Mayor if he doesn't grow as a character? Also, am I the only one tired of the pattern of Oliver doing something wrong, someone corrects him, and he apologizes for it? That pattern makes him look stupid when it happens over and over again. He has the same problem as Jayden from Power Rangers Samurai, as far as he learns his lesson in one episode, then forgets about it in the next episode. Oliver needs to learn how to be a leader because that contributes to why Team Arrow is divided. The way he leads alienates his team; there's more to being a leader than just giving orders. Yes! He does help the team out with their problems; however, he doesn't connect with the latest members of his team the way he does with Diggle and Felicity. Whatever development the writers tried to give him this season was short-lived.  

OK, it's bad enough that this show ruined Felicity, but did you have to ruin Diggle, too? Yes! Diggle is unlikable this season because he does things that are out of character for him. There is a subplot of him wanting to be the Green Arrow. Why!?! Also, he doesn't need to be in the field because A Oliver has too many allies that can help him on the field and B he's suppose to be the Alfred of the show.   

Do I really have to comment on Felicity? I still want to give her a stunner for the most part. It makes me sick to see her be a surrogate mother to William. I say that because when she first learned about him in season 4, she didn't give a crap about him. Just like last season, she got away with murder.    

Dinah Drake/Black Canary is the level-headed one of the team; she's kind of like her comic book counterpart. She was in season five. I didn't mention her before because A she was underdeveloped and B I was too distracted by her... by her... Hair! My beef with her is that the writers hit the reset button with this character. You'll see what I mean. Also, she has done things that make you want to dislike her. I wish the writers would do more with her working at the police department.  

Quentin Lance doesn't do much this season besides assist the team whenever he can. 

Thea is one of the characters that should have died on the island because she serves no purpose in this season. 

Rene/Wild Dog is OK for the most part. You might have mixed feelings about what he did that plays a role in Team Arrow falling apart. I say that because some of the members are understanding of what he did. I'm not saying they shouldn't be considerate, I would probably do the same thing Rene did; however, what he did affects everyone, not in a good way. Also, he can be unlikable. 

Black Siren (one of the villains) is just the muscle. I'm annoyed with her subplot because the writers had a chance to do this last season, but they didn't. Also, it would make things awkward for Team Arrow.   

Cayden James ( Another baddie) is the brains of the team of villains. My gripe with him is that he's the main focus at the beginning of this season. This wouldn't bother me if he didn't overstay his welcome and wasn't boring. ( I wouldn't feel this way about him if he wasn't built up in the previous season.) Another thing it's hard for me to take him seriously because of how easy he was to manipulate. He wouldn't be in this series if Felicity didn't help free him last season. 

  

I'm not satisfied with the main villain, Raceto Diaz/The Dragon. This bugs me because he's Green Arrow's version of Bane. I was hoping the writers would get this character right since Batman writers can't get Bane right. Raceto Diaz is just a drug dealer; you'll find it hard to believe that he can pose such a threat to Team Arrow. I'm fond that he's an enigma and a behind-the-scenes guy, although doing this hurts him. To add insult to injury, he's the shortest person on the show; Oliver might as well fight The Penguin.    

Here are some of the things I like about this season. I'm fond of how the relationship between Oliver and Quentin developed from season one to now. This season did what season four tried to do a little bit better, as far as the theme of fighting for the city's soul. I'm glad that Team Arrow is divided because it gives them a chance to stand on their own. This season was getting better after episode 14, kind of. I enjoy some of the things that were done in the last episode; it would have worked as a series finale if it had played out differently.   

Overall, season 6 was a step backward. I'm surprised that this series got renewed because I don't know what story the writers can tell, or if they can tell any story, judging by how this season ended.    

My Speed Racer review

 My Speed Racer review 

 

Intro: Considering this movie came out after Iron Man and before The Hulk I mean The Dark Knight I can see why people overlooked this movie.

Speed Racer: This movie is centered on a track racer name Speed Racer who is good at what he does. One day he gets the attention of Arnold Royalton the head of Royalton Industries who makes him an offer. After Speed turns him down his life has gone upside down and his worldview is challenged. So, Speed must fight back, come to terms with a family secret and figure out if he can continue racing? 

This is the closest Mario Kart movie that you’re going to get! That’s what the races in this movie remind me of because of how over-the-top the races are. Also, this movie feels like a live-action cartoon and it makes references to the source material. The soundtrack complains the scenes in the movie. I find it hard to believe that the Wachowski directed this movie because it feels like it was directed by the man who did the Spy Kids movies. The story is told by showing us visuals of what happened instead of telling us. This movie tells an underdog story in a way that will take you by surprise. The jokes may be cheesy, but it has a charm to them. The themes of the movie are family and capitalism. This movie improves on some of the elements from the cartoon it’s based on like the characters and why the Mach 5 is so advanced?    

Speed Racer is much more likable than he was in the cartoon. In the cartoon, Speed is a self-centered crybaby. In the movie, he's a noble character and we see how his family played a role in the type of person he is. We feel sorry for him as we see him struggle with the downside of racing.   

Mom Racer is a supporting character who comforts and gives speed reassurance. 

Pop's Racer is a mentor to speed. He may seem grumpy, but he does have a heart. 

Spritle and Chim-Chim are the weakest part of the film for me. I know they are the comic relief, but it's distracting for the most part.  

Trixie (Speed's girlfriend) is also a supporting character who aids Speed. Trixie and Speed feel like a real couple unlike in the cartoon. 

Racer X is a cool and mysterious character. 

Arnold Royalton is a good villain because of how manipulative he is. There is one scene that reinforces that. He also threatens the two things Speed loves the most, they are racing and his family. 

One of the problems I have with this movie is how colorful and ridiculous it is. I know the cartoon is like this, but that didn't affect the action scenes or the seriousness of the cartoon, unlike this movie. Because the movie goes back and forth between being serious and lighthearted it creates moon whiplash. The movie looks cheap being shot with mostly blue or green screen. I wouldn't have minded this if the movie had half of its budget. The Wachowski are rough around the edges with making this movie family-friendly. The ending wasn't bad, but it feels like a cop-out. 

Overall, this is a good adaptation of the cartoon! I would recommend this to fans because this movie is an overextended episode of the show in the best way. 

Rating = Rental