lilymei-34990
Lifetime Total
1+
IMDb Member
5 years
Reviews
The Block (2003)
Another show that calls itself "reality"
The Block began as a renovation show. The premise was that everyday Australians were given the chance to win a large sum of money by winning the proceeds of their hard work (over a reserve) once the completed properties are auctioned. Teams are always made up of two - usually a couple.
The contestants are given a budget. They are not necessarily skilled in any area of construction or building, and the teams are required to assemble a team of labourers or that team is provided to the contestants by the program.
The time frame has always been unrealistic - less than three months to renovate a home, one week at a time. How exactly the contestants achieve this is dubious - contestants hardly sleep, and the camera follows them around during the project.
That's the format The Block began with, and that's the format the audience enjoyed.
The Block is not that show anymore.
Presently, there is a distinct lack of renovation on this renovation show.
Sadly, someone thought it was a stroke of genius to favour contestants who are able to create as much drama as possible. If it doesn't exist, it will be manufactured. That's their reality.
The Block favours cruel, nasty, and bitter behaviour. There have been several "cheating scandals," but no contestant is ever held accountable or responsible for said cheating. Episodes are dragged out by useless plot exaggeration, completely irrelevant to the purpose of the show.
What you see now are contestants being bullied. You see contestants being gaslit, psychologically manipulated, and treated poorly and unfairly by other contestants. It's not entertaining. Basically, contestants can be as cruel, nasty, and as inappropriate as they wish, for their own twisted amusement, with impunity. The show fails to offer help, support, or intervention on behalf of the contestant(s) on the receiving end.
Thr Block is no longer a show about renovating and design ideas. In fact, it really isn't a renovation show anymore. It has jumped the shark and has willingly become a highly exaggerated, implausible, and toxic program, which is incapable of calling out their own cast on their appalling, mean, vicious, nasty, and cruel behaviour. As far as they are concerned, nobody should be accountable.
If you're after a "reality" program that:
Doesn't meet their own brief
Cannot define the type of program they wish to be
Is in complete denial about what their audience wants to see and their own integrity
Is toxic
Doesn't enforce their own "rules" of the competition
Rejects any form of criticism, feedback, or accountability, then claims it's a "conspiracy theory" against their show
Gabbles on tediously and repetitively over unrelated topics until it puts its audience to sleep
Constantly cross promotes and has insufferable product placements
Is a cacophony of backstabbing, jealousy, infintile behaviour, school yard bullying, and nastiness
Fails to use its "prime time" status as a teachable, instructive tool of how people should not be treated
Refuses to identify and prevent their "employees" from abuse (both mental and emotional), bullying, and intimidation
Deliberately and willingingly risks the health and safety of their contestants
Fails to identify themselves as part of the problem, not the solution
Is void of any acumen and still has the hubris to call itself, "Australia's favourite TV show"
This one might be for you!
The contestants are given a budget. They are not necessarily skilled in any area of construction or building, and the teams are required to assemble a team of labourers or that team is provided to the contestants by the program.
The time frame has always been unrealistic - less than three months to renovate a home, one week at a time. How exactly the contestants achieve this is dubious - contestants hardly sleep, and the camera follows them around during the project.
That's the format The Block began with, and that's the format the audience enjoyed.
The Block is not that show anymore.
Presently, there is a distinct lack of renovation on this renovation show.
Sadly, someone thought it was a stroke of genius to favour contestants who are able to create as much drama as possible. If it doesn't exist, it will be manufactured. That's their reality.
The Block favours cruel, nasty, and bitter behaviour. There have been several "cheating scandals," but no contestant is ever held accountable or responsible for said cheating. Episodes are dragged out by useless plot exaggeration, completely irrelevant to the purpose of the show.
What you see now are contestants being bullied. You see contestants being gaslit, psychologically manipulated, and treated poorly and unfairly by other contestants. It's not entertaining. Basically, contestants can be as cruel, nasty, and as inappropriate as they wish, for their own twisted amusement, with impunity. The show fails to offer help, support, or intervention on behalf of the contestant(s) on the receiving end.
Thr Block is no longer a show about renovating and design ideas. In fact, it really isn't a renovation show anymore. It has jumped the shark and has willingly become a highly exaggerated, implausible, and toxic program, which is incapable of calling out their own cast on their appalling, mean, vicious, nasty, and cruel behaviour. As far as they are concerned, nobody should be accountable.
If you're after a "reality" program that:
Doesn't meet their own brief
Cannot define the type of program they wish to be
Is in complete denial about what their audience wants to see and their own integrity
Is toxic
Doesn't enforce their own "rules" of the competition
Rejects any form of criticism, feedback, or accountability, then claims it's a "conspiracy theory" against their show
Gabbles on tediously and repetitively over unrelated topics until it puts its audience to sleep
Constantly cross promotes and has insufferable product placements
Is a cacophony of backstabbing, jealousy, infintile behaviour, school yard bullying, and nastiness
Fails to use its "prime time" status as a teachable, instructive tool of how people should not be treated
Refuses to identify and prevent their "employees" from abuse (both mental and emotional), bullying, and intimidation
Deliberately and willingingly risks the health and safety of their contestants
Fails to identify themselves as part of the problem, not the solution
Is void of any acumen and still has the hubris to call itself, "Australia's favourite TV show"
This one might be for you!
The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)
Not What You Think - For Good Reason
If you're after a film with only big scary monsters, set in space, this is not that film.
This is a film that requires you to think and to get out of your comfort zone.
Simply put, this is a film that is based on the premise of a paradox - leading to a conclusion that seems, to many, logically unacceptable and/or self contradictory.
If you can accept this premise, become absorbed in it, and leave your mind open to something that is not logical or linear, you will enjoy this film.
When I originally watched it, my expectation was more of "Cloverfield" (2008) and "10 Cloverfield Lane" 2016. Whilst it may be set in this universe, it is anything but part of a trilogy, but it is. Is that illogical? Yes - but it's Paradox.
For some, you need to watch it more than once. When I rediscovered this film, I loved it.
The cast is fabulous and the acting is very good. The story is intriguing and the more it unfolds, the more intriguing it becomes.
This is definitely worth a watch, or three.
This is a film that requires you to think and to get out of your comfort zone.
Simply put, this is a film that is based on the premise of a paradox - leading to a conclusion that seems, to many, logically unacceptable and/or self contradictory.
If you can accept this premise, become absorbed in it, and leave your mind open to something that is not logical or linear, you will enjoy this film.
When I originally watched it, my expectation was more of "Cloverfield" (2008) and "10 Cloverfield Lane" 2016. Whilst it may be set in this universe, it is anything but part of a trilogy, but it is. Is that illogical? Yes - but it's Paradox.
For some, you need to watch it more than once. When I rediscovered this film, I loved it.
The cast is fabulous and the acting is very good. The story is intriguing and the more it unfolds, the more intriguing it becomes.
This is definitely worth a watch, or three.
Oppenheimer (2023)
Oppenheimer
Let me start by saying that I am a huge Christopher Nolan fan. I love everything he has done... up until now.
I walked out of the cinema feeling nothing but disappointment.
At its core, this is a film about J. Robert Oppenheimer - "The father of the atomic bomb" and the role Oppenheimer played in history.
How can you truly tell Oppenheimer's story without first admitting to the audience that his discovery lead the United States to drop two atomic bombs, within three days, on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the impact and fallout of these decisions? How can you possibly tell a story about the birth of atomic weaponry without a certain focus on the 129,000 to 226,000 people that were killed by this decision, in addition to the many people who continued to die from the effects of burns, radiation sickness, and injuries? The majority of the people who suffered and were killed were civilians, and the fact that this remains the only use of nuclear weapons in an armed conflict?
Remember, this is sold as a film that is about history, and it is meant to be a biopic.
The film touches on Oppenheimer's inner turmoil with unleashing such weaponry, this kind of power, and who can be trusted with it, but it is fleeting.
Oppenheimer will forever be linked, through history, to these events. This alone is a huge part of Oppenheimer's story, and I believe Oppenheimer himself struggled terribly with the knowledge of what he had created and the devastating impact it would have.
The cast is great. The acting is great. The sound and soundtrack does not compare to The Dark Knight (2008), Inception (2010), Dunkirk (2017), Tenet (2020), or, dare I mention the "I" word, Interstellar (2014).
Perhaps the production companies did not let Nolan do what he does best, and some of his creative control over this project was minimised?
Ultimately, it almost feels like this was a film about politics and climate change, using Oppenheimer as the vehicle rather than truly telling Oppenheimer's story. This is most present in the concluding dialogue of the film:
Oppenheimer: When I came to you with those calculations, we thought we might start a chain reaction that would destroy the entire world... Albert Einstein: I remember it well. What of it?
Oppenheimer: I believe we did.
Simplifying the incredible complex history of Oppenheimer and these events seems unjust and pointless.
I walked out of the cinema feeling nothing but disappointment.
At its core, this is a film about J. Robert Oppenheimer - "The father of the atomic bomb" and the role Oppenheimer played in history.
How can you truly tell Oppenheimer's story without first admitting to the audience that his discovery lead the United States to drop two atomic bombs, within three days, on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the impact and fallout of these decisions? How can you possibly tell a story about the birth of atomic weaponry without a certain focus on the 129,000 to 226,000 people that were killed by this decision, in addition to the many people who continued to die from the effects of burns, radiation sickness, and injuries? The majority of the people who suffered and were killed were civilians, and the fact that this remains the only use of nuclear weapons in an armed conflict?
Remember, this is sold as a film that is about history, and it is meant to be a biopic.
The film touches on Oppenheimer's inner turmoil with unleashing such weaponry, this kind of power, and who can be trusted with it, but it is fleeting.
Oppenheimer will forever be linked, through history, to these events. This alone is a huge part of Oppenheimer's story, and I believe Oppenheimer himself struggled terribly with the knowledge of what he had created and the devastating impact it would have.
The cast is great. The acting is great. The sound and soundtrack does not compare to The Dark Knight (2008), Inception (2010), Dunkirk (2017), Tenet (2020), or, dare I mention the "I" word, Interstellar (2014).
Perhaps the production companies did not let Nolan do what he does best, and some of his creative control over this project was minimised?
Ultimately, it almost feels like this was a film about politics and climate change, using Oppenheimer as the vehicle rather than truly telling Oppenheimer's story. This is most present in the concluding dialogue of the film:
Oppenheimer: When I came to you with those calculations, we thought we might start a chain reaction that would destroy the entire world... Albert Einstein: I remember it well. What of it?
Oppenheimer: I believe we did.
Simplifying the incredible complex history of Oppenheimer and these events seems unjust and pointless.
Extraction 2 (2023)
For Lovers of Action
Rarely does a film come along that surpasses all expectations of how good it can be. It's even more rare when the film is a sequel.
Extraction 2 is this film.
This film is a celebration of action and fight choreography. Whilst the story is compelling, the action takes centre stage.
The actors have fully committed to the action sequences, and these scenes are thoroughly, delicately and brilliantly executed.
If you enjoy: 1. Action films such as John Wick 2. Chris Hemsworth's Australian sense of humour 3. Directors, cast and crew that put their heart and soul into their craft or 4. The poetics and aestheticisation of violence, you are going to appreciate and thoroughly enjoy this film.
Extraction 2 is this film.
This film is a celebration of action and fight choreography. Whilst the story is compelling, the action takes centre stage.
The actors have fully committed to the action sequences, and these scenes are thoroughly, delicately and brilliantly executed.
If you enjoy: 1. Action films such as John Wick 2. Chris Hemsworth's Australian sense of humour 3. Directors, cast and crew that put their heart and soul into their craft or 4. The poetics and aestheticisation of violence, you are going to appreciate and thoroughly enjoy this film.