 So after starting and then abandoning so many shows on Apple TV, I finally found one that I’d happily keep watching!
The Studio was the perfect antidote to a Hollywood that no longer seems to know how to make good movies, and this satire on the industry, by people in the industry, is reassuring because it shows that at least some of them have a clue! The show is incredibly well written, well-made and funny! The second episode alone is pure cinema!! (Seriously, it’s the best bit of filmmaking in film or TV that I’ve seen in YEARS!) If you love cinema, and are a fan of Seth Rogen humour, then this is a no-brainer. Best show on Apple TV by a country mile, and the best show this year on any platform, with ease.
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 I watched this film for the first time (again, it was late, I was tired, so I needed to watch something under 90 minutes), and I actually really enjoyed it!
Firstly, the artwork is gorgeous to look at. It’s one of the great tragedies of the modern era that Disney no longer produce hand-drawn animation. These films of the past posses so much character and are far more innovative than the slop that Hollywood serves us these days (a running theme in my criticisms of modern cinema). Secondly, the characters are utterly charming, and the setting of Paris is perfectly depicted! Yeah, the story is nothing to write home about, but for the visuals and characters alone, it’s worth watching. The ‘comedic’ bumblings of the butler, and his storyline, were utterly boring though! Still, check it out and admire the artwork and risk-taking of a bygone era.  I saw Inside Out years ago, and for the life of me, couldn’t remember the story, but I remember that I wasn’t overly impressed. Still, I’m a fan of animation, and so I thought I may as well check out the sequel.
While I was watching it, I was thinking ‘this ain’t great’. The art was the usual, boring Pixar plasticky style; literally zero innovation or experimentation, which is sad for a company that was founded on those principles. Pixar is now a byword for playing it safe. But then, during the second half of act two, the story took a different turn, and by the end, I felt I had been delivered a profound experience about growing-up and losing what makes childhood so precious. It’s true what they say: an audience will forgive anything for a great ending. Watch it, it’s not only touching, but for all you parents out there, it will give you more empathy towards the challenges facing your adolescent children, and remind you of what it was like when you were that age. Being a kid is probably the most joyous experience you will ever have, and we have to keep it that way.  I wasn’t expecting much from this film, and that’s exactly what I got!
As with many films these days, the problem lies in very basic storytelling mistakes. The John Wick character worked because his motivation was so strong; it was a classic Western archetype, the retired gun-slinger. John Wick never wanted to return to a life of violence, but when he’s attacked, he has no choice but to avenge his loss (it’s not just the dog, it’s what the dog represents). Therefore, his vengeance is a noble quest, and not merely to satisfy his egotistical need for revenge. As an audience member, we’re completely sympathetic to a character that is a killing machine, but has no desire to be one, and fundamentally, just wants to return to a life of peace. The protagonist in Ballerina is the opposite of this. She’s on a mission of revenge to satisfy her own egotistical desire for ‘justice’, innocent lives and peace be damned. As an audience member, I don’t really find myself rooting for her, or her quest. What’s worse, they sully the John Wick character by bringing him into this miss! What makes matters worse is that the person she’s getting revenge for, is no angel either! Her father was a member of the clan, and thus an assassin too! One could argue that his death is an occupational hazard, and she would serve his memory best by having nothing to do with that world; instead, she follows in his foot-steps, becoming a contract killer, which doesn’t exactly make her a righteous character, and one that we can empathise with. I could look past the inconceivability of a petite woman beating the sh!t out of men three times the size of her, after all, these movies aren’t exactly grounded in realism, and less so with each film. The action was ok, but again, if you’re not invested in the character or their quest, it’s all just noise. The film also felt way too long. All in all, a lacklustre and forgettable experience. The John Wick franchise peaked with number two and has been in a steady decline ever since.  Hadn’t seen this film in decades!
I clearly remember when it came out, and eagerly reading the comic book adaptation in anticipation (because in those days, films would come out in the UK months, and sometimes even a year after their US release). The first Predator was a staple of my childhood, and I so wanted to see Arnie return to do battle with the Predator one more time… except, they went and pulled a Nightmare on Elm Street part 2, and made a movie that barely has anything to do with the first one! At the time, it was a major disappointment! (Although, not as much as ‘Nightmare on Elm Street part 2’, which at the time, was the most disappointing sequel ever! ‘The Last Jedi’ has since stolen that crown) Seeing it now, you realise that it’s actually not that bad. Danny Glover does a good job as the lead, but he was never going to be able to fill Arnie’s shoes, and the supporting cast doesn’t compare to the original film’s either. If the film had a cast of heavyweights, then it would definitely stand up to scrutiny, because the concept is pretty solid. Replace an actual jungle with a concrete one, and have the Predator hunt down violent, gun toting drug dealers, with plenty of civilians caught in the cross fire! The Predator is actually the good guy, cleaning up the city more than the cops, which is probably why the cops wanna get rid of him! He’s making them look bad! The film also featured the first ‘Easter Egg’ that hinted at a shared cinematic universe (decades before Marvel movies normalised the idea), by showing the skull of a Xenomorph from the ‘Alien’ movies. I remember everyone being excited by the idea, which lead to the Alien vs. Predator comic book, and eventually the abysmal movies. Speaking of which, Predator 2 is by far the best sequel to the original masterpiece, with every subsequent iteration being utterly sh!t! There’s a lot to like in this movie, and although it doesn’t stand up to the original, it’s definitely worth revisiting.  In Britain, we can’t talk about the negative aspects of high immigration levels without being labelled a racist, or discuss the benefits of a state owned industries without being called a communist; the result of which is a country in perpetual chaos and denial. We can’t fix our problems, because we’re never allowed to discuss them honestly; instead, our politicians obfuscate their ineptitude and incompetence by keeping the electorate fighting amongst one another. All of this orchestrated by our completely untrustworthy media and (right wing) news barons.
To add to our problems, we’re trapped here! Scandinavia looks like a great place to live, even temporarily, but none of us will be able to, thanks to bloody Brexit! Anyway, this was another great series by the always affable Simon Reeve! He keeps it honest and charming, highlighting the positives (such as the aforementioned state-owned industries), but not shying away from acknowledging the negatives (violent gangs brought in by mass migration). In other, completely unrelated news, I need to find me a Danish chick so we can get married and live happily ever after in Copenhagen! |
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A chronicle of films, shows, and theatre I've seen, as well as books I've read, and talks I've attended. Archives
August 2025
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