Post by Martin Stett on May 30, 2017 3:46:49 GMT
Red Dwarf (Series VII) -- After the disaster of Series VI, it's good to see that the show is back on its feet. It is very inconsistent this time around, with episodes ranging from some of the very best (Stoke Me a Clipper, Tikka to Ride, Blue) to some average/mediocre episodes and one truly terrible piece of work (Beyond a Joke). But it is much more consistently funny and feels more like the Red Dwarf I love, and not the awful attempt at American style sitcom of the last series. The addition of Kochanski to the cast is a mixed bag; I actually feel that she is a very good character, but she doesn't fit into this crew; her best gags don't have to rely on any other characters, just her own neuroses. She'll never be a suitable replacement for Rimmer (whose antagonism with Lister formed the heart and soul of the show), but the writers are clearly doing their best with her.
By the way: The moment when Rimmer returns to the Starbug to speak with the depressed Dave may very well be my favorite damned moment in this entire show. Even if RD has passed its peak, that still has to count for something. 7/10
Angel's Egg (1985) -- I've said it before, I will no doubt say it again: No one can create an atmosphere like Mamoru Oshii. This movie is one of those damn symbolic art movies in which nothing actually means anything, but Oshii makes it work. The audible and visual themes and motifs come together to create an absorbing (if emotionally distant) world that these two people inhabit, and I would have been happy to spend much more time just soaking it all in. 7/10
It Lives by Night (MST3K) -- Meh. Not MST3K's finest hour. The movie doesn't offer enough to chew on, and regurgitating the same two jokes about bats every thirty seconds gets very old very quickly. 4/10
My Life as a Zucchini (2016) -- A lovely, touching movie for kids that is willing to take their intelligence seriously and isn't afraid to be harsh. I think the movie is waaaaay too short: I needed more time with these characters to really get the emotional attachment the movie fights for, and I wanted to spend more time with them because I truly enjoyed every character. It is only hampered by that, though; I really enjoyed the film, it just can't stick the landing because of the short running time. 7/10
By the way: The moment when Rimmer returns to the Starbug to speak with the depressed Dave may very well be my favorite damned moment in this entire show. Even if RD has passed its peak, that still has to count for something. 7/10
Angel's Egg (1985) -- I've said it before, I will no doubt say it again: No one can create an atmosphere like Mamoru Oshii. This movie is one of those damn symbolic art movies in which nothing actually means anything, but Oshii makes it work. The audible and visual themes and motifs come together to create an absorbing (if emotionally distant) world that these two people inhabit, and I would have been happy to spend much more time just soaking it all in. 7/10
It Lives by Night (MST3K) -- Meh. Not MST3K's finest hour. The movie doesn't offer enough to chew on, and regurgitating the same two jokes about bats every thirty seconds gets very old very quickly. 4/10
My Life as a Zucchini (2016) -- A lovely, touching movie for kids that is willing to take their intelligence seriously and isn't afraid to be harsh. I think the movie is waaaaay too short: I needed more time with these characters to really get the emotional attachment the movie fights for, and I wanted to spend more time with them because I truly enjoyed every character. It is only hampered by that, though; I really enjoyed the film, it just can't stick the landing because of the short running time. 7/10
