My review of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles

My review of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles 

Intro: Don't you hate it when a show gets canceled after it ends on a cliffhanger? 

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles: This show takes place two or four years after the events of T2, and the Connor's are trying to keep a low profile. One day their spotted by a terminator and there saved by another one who was sent back through time to protect them. They learn that Skynet still exists, so they travel forward in time to stop Skynet from being created. 

I don't see why fans praise this series. Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's bad; however, it feels like a retread of T2. Despite that, this series is different enough where it can stand on its own. We learn in the future that the resistance builds its own time machine. OK, that explains how they sent soldiers back in time; however, that doesn't explain how Skynet sent their terminators back in time when their time machine was suppose to be destroyed. Speaking of the terminators, they don't look good in this series; the CGI of the terminators looks like a video game. I know this is a TV show; however, the effect should at least rival the effect from T2. Also, you couldn't get animatronic terminators? Another gripe I have with the terminators is that they're not strong enough to withstand certain bullets, which makes them look less scary and cheap.

There are plot holes with how they can repair themselves, the timeline, and setting up things with no playoff. Also, we learn that one of them has their own agenda for Skynet, but we don't know enough about it to be invested in it. Going back to the soldiers, they were sent back in time to stop Skynet, why!?! What's the point of John Connor surviving if the resistance is trying to stop Skynet despite him? We also get another explanation for why soldiers from the future are sent back, and I don't think that's a good idea, and I can't get into that without spoiling anything. In the future, we learn that there's tension between the soldiers and John Connor. I don't understand why. What happened to keep your friends close and your enemies closer? Before I talk about the characters, I want to say that it doesn't look like they learn their lesson in T2. 

Sarah Connor is not as masculine as she was in T2, but she's more tender, thank goodness. We learn nothing new about her beyond a few details about her past between the first and second films. When we do learn something about her, it's something we should have already known. Her relationship with John is tense, and I do feel sorry for her. She's trying to give her son stability, but she can't do that while preparing him for the future war. What bugs me about her is that she beat herself up for something she did. It's hard for me to take that seriously because she put herself in that position. 

John Connor went from a rebellious teen to an everyday one. He's willing to do his part to stop Skynet, but thanks to his mother, we don't see a lot of that. 

Cameron is John's Terminator protector, and she annoys me. When we first see her, she seems like a cheerful girl because when she reveals she's a terminator, she acts emotionless. She does provide unintentional humor, but it comes at the expense of her having a punchable face. My issue with her is in season two, she does things that make her untrustworthy. We learn that she's John's trusted ally in the future. Why would he send her back? 

Derek Reese is one of the future soldiers. I don't have much to say about him beyond that because the series doesn't focus on him enough. What bothers me about him is who he's related to. I don't like that because it undermines the character's backstory. Also, the creators wasted him what's the point of having a soldier if he doesn't show John some new tricks? I'm surprised that he doesn't have a strong relationship with the Connor's. To be fair, he made that difficult. Something happened to him that should have been a big deal, but it's underwhelming. 

Cromartie is one of the terminators that is hunting the Connor's the way he goes about it is stupid. I mean, he tells people he's going to kill them before he does it, thanks for the heads-up, moron. 

There are things I like about this series, like the twists and turns in the story, the mystery of who will build Skynet, and some of the humor. Overall, this is an OK series. If you want to see what happens after T2, then I would recommend this.               

My Gemini Man review

My Gemini Man review

Intro: That's what happens when you work on a movie for over twenty years you forget things. 

Gemini Man: This movie is centered on a hit man name Henry Brogan who's ready to retire after his last job. That gets ruined when someone targets him, he later learns that the assassin who's trying to kill him is a younger version of himself. So Henry has to figure out who he is and why he's trying to kill him. 

Despite that this movie feels generic at times it's a waste of potential! I say that because this movie is about old vs new. Yes! We've seen this concept before but not like this. We have a seasoned assassin facing off against his younger self if that's not scary I don't know what is. The problem with this conflict is that there isn't a lot of tension because the so-called older hitman can hold his own against his younger self for the most part. What's the point of having two of the same characters if there's nothing different about them beyond age? 

This movie also ruined the idea of how would your parents or grandparents use modern technology would they do the same dumb things kids do today? I hear elderly people say they wouldn't use technology to do foolish things, let's see if they're willing to put their money where their mouth is. The movie also presents the theme of humanity using human clones without emotions for war but screwed that up by having Junior (Henry's younger clone.) act human. What's the point of wanting human clones without emotions if they will have them already? What really bugs me about this movie is the climax because it made this whole movie feel like filler for the most part. I understand what the movie tried to do with Junior it's that the director went about it the wrong way. 

I don't have much to say about Henry Brogan because we don't anything about him. I'm sorry we do learn things about him but not enough to be invested. What bugs me about him is the reason why he's retiring because it's weak.    

Clay ( The main villain.) is the ruthless director of Gemini the company that created Junior. It's hard for me to see him as the big bad because he has understandable motivations for cloning. The only gripe I have with him is he contradicts himself.   

The two things I like about this movie are it has some humor and the action scenes. Overall, this is a forgettable action movie! It could have been better if the conflict between Henry and Junior was about old school vs new school, how these two different styles can help each other and Junior discovers his humanity. 

Rating = Trash 

 

My El Camino review

My El  Camino review

 

Intro: With the history of movies based on Cartoons and TV shows being bad for the most part with made you think this movie won't suffer the same fate? 

El Camino: This movie takes place after the events of Breaking bad and Jesse goes to his friends house to collect himself. After that he tries to get out of town that become difficult do to factors in his way. So Jesse has to work his way around them the best way he can. 

Did we really need this movie? I'm not saying it's bad however anyone could have guess that this is one of the things that could have happen to Jesse. This movie can pass as a fan film, I hope more fan films are on streaming services. I like how the flashbacks are use because they focus on Jesse's future. I'm surprise that this isn't a fugitive movie, I'm sorry it is it's just that there isn't a lot of suspect in the chase. Jesse is more or less the same as he was in the series, the only differences is that he doesn't say his signature Yeah BXXXh line. That's understandable considering what he when though with his captures. 

One of my many problems with this movie is we don't see what happen to other characters after the events of Breaking bad, what's the point of this movie being an epilogue to this show if it's not going to do that? I wish there are other parties after Jesse because they want the same thing Jesse wants. The movie needed more scenes of Law enforcement trying to find Jesse because they feel like there in the back round. This movie is underwhelming to me the creator could have done more with this premise without it turning into a typical chase movie. 

Basically this is an OK follow up to the ending to Breaking bad I would recommend this if you want to see what happen to Jesse Pinkman or if you like western movies. 

Rating = Rental 

My Joker review

My Joker review 

 

Intro: I didn't plan on watching this movie, besides the fact that I don't want to encourage DC/WB to worship Batman it's because this movie creates a fundamental problem and that is the Joker is a bad guy, not an anti-hero. Just because we find him funny that doesn't mean he's someone we should be rooting for. Also, out of all the Batman villains What made DC/WB think the Joker needs a solo film? Fans complain about seeing Batman's origin story in Batman Begins so how do you think they will react to this movie? 

If there's any adversary that needs his or her own film, it's the Riddler. The reason why I'm giving this movie a chance is the subject matter that this movie might address plus, this movie got Oscar buzz. (Seriously I would like to see an actor or actress to win an Oscar for playing a hero character in these movies, but I digress.) Also, the people who worked on this movie said that this movie isn't based on any Joker comics the movie is its own thing. 

we'll see.

    

With all that said did this movie live up to the hype or was it all hot air let's find out... 

Joker: The movie is centered on Arthur Fleck who's a party clown who wants to do more with his life. That becomes difficult for him when he experiences some of the ugly sides of life. So, Arthur has to cope with it the best he can or give in to the madness. 

This is not the best character study I've seen. I don't think it's bad however it could have been better. When you do a story about someone's fall for grace the main character has to be in a good place in his or her life, if they're not then the character needs a support system. Arthur does have a support system it's not the best one. Due to that his transformation into the Joker seems to happen by default, you'll see what I mean when you watch the movie. Plus, Arthur turning into the Joker would have been more tragic if he didn't have a mental illness, do I really have to explain why this is an issue for me? 

Another problem I have with this movie is it can be hard to tell what happen or didn't happen in the movie because there are scenes in the movie that plays out in Arthur's imagination. I do feel empathy for Arthur however I have no sympathy for him because he didn't do much to work past the problems he can fix. Also, I don't buy that he could have influence over others. What really bugs me about this movie is we see (My editor censor what I'm saying to avoid spoilers.) again, seriously I can't be the only one sick of seeing that. The way this movie ended will leave your head scratching. Also, I wish the creator didn't use an already-established character to tell this story because the Joker isn't a villain you shouldn't have sympathy for. Also, the movie is not subtle about being a PSA about treating people better.   

I'm sorry I didn't mean to sound like I think this movie is bad it's just that I have a lot of gripes with it, let's get into the things I like about this movie. I appreciate that this movie is its own thing, the creators can do what they want with this movie without dealing with angry fans for the most part. I'm surprised at the different social commentaries this movie addresses like creating our own demons because I didn't expect that. The movie also addresses does dark comedy having a place in society? I'm fond of the mystery around his family tree despite the fact that I'm not crazy about who's involved in that mystery. How Arthur goes from A to B is understandable and for a drama film, this doesn't feel depressing.  

Overall, this is a solid origin movie that could have been so much more. I would recommend this if you're into drama movies. 

Rating = Worth Seeing