davidatom1

Alice Braga brings the right mix of grit/grace to the role, but the supporting cast have holes. Not action dominated, acceptable level of production (too sloppy for a movie but OK for TV), mediocre camera angles, solid lighting. As others have said, if you enjoy gritty drug dramas it does the job.

However, the dialogues are predictable and often repetitive, obvious plot holes drag this drama down. The writing makes this feel like a Latin day time drama put in the body of a gritty crime movie.

TLDR; average TV drama with incoherent plot/writing, that Alice Braga is working hard to carry.

Lots of reviews cover why this anime is bad because of the lackluster ending and mediocre writing, but it really delivers some powerful scenes and the soundtrack is INCREDIBLE.

The plot is generic futuristic/alternate reality mecha: a world on the brink of war and young people's experiences through the ordeal (typical Gundam archetype). The big characteristic is the stoic main character that isn't overprotected by a plot armor, I've come to appreciate his stoic style. Animation is great, mecha fights are well executed. However from plot and animation itself it is slightly above average at best, what really makes this anime an 8 is the INCREDIBLE soundtrack by Hiroyuki Sawano (Attack on Titan, Gundam Unicorn, Guilty Crown, etc).

Overall bit better than Episode I, well executed and updated yet classic CGI Episode VII is great for all viewers. Predictable plot, predictable twists, lackluster re-skinned technology, and underwhelming cast pulls this movie down to a 7. If you are an avid fan of the franchise, this movie will no doubt be slightly disappointing but as a production it attracts new viewers to the franchise without overloading them with information and has levels to the dialogue that is friendly for all ages. It has enough Easter- eggs to reward veteran viewers and builds suspense over the unraveling of the gap well. The movie just answers enough questions to keep us interested.

The most common complaint about this drama is the slow pace and the lack of development through the first 5 episodes. However, I believe that the characters are the main problem with the series.

Aside from the terrible performance by Frank Dillane, the junkie son scenario doesn't play out realistically. From the lack of liability he should've been during the crisis to the understanding and support that the family gives him development is too formulaic and predictable.

The most diverse family on the face of the planet is just not a very relate-able group. So let me get this straight a Middle-Eastern guy with a Hispanic ex-wife and mixed kid is dating the widow Kim Dickens and living with her 2 white kids from a previous marriage. I get that the show was trying to show the strains of having two families from divorce but the show's lack of flashbacks and explanations makes it feel very awkward and unpolished.

The OG badass Daniel is played by Ruben Blades, despite his performance the plot skips his decision making and interactions with his daughter at weird times making the plot very choppy.

Overall, watch this if you are a fan of TWD and if there isn't anything better to watch. I'm going to stick with this show for the full first season but if the writing and acting doesn't get dramatically better through character purges and increase in pace I won't be back.

Lets get couple things out of the way for the Hunger Games lovers. I am an avid movie go-er and enjoy great deal of fiction books. I have read all 3 books as well as watch the other 2 movies.

If you read the book you would have seen this coming from this series. While first 2 books keep a good balance between inner dialog and the plot, the last book was emotional driven swamp that almost slowed the plot to a stop. (forgive me ladies) It read like the writer was going through her menopause for the entire 3rd book. It was just that bad, the only motivation that had me finish the book was my desire to end the series. The books series was clearly written by a inferior writer than the recent book-to-movie authors. The movie was accordingly was horrendous.

Instead of introducing the character's feelings while the plot unfolds, the writer chooses to keep the reader on the character's emotional roller-coaster while giving vague news about the actual plot (revolution). The characters have no depth to them and the plot plays too close to archetypes.

The movie was barely not worth watching therefore a 4. There isn't the quality or the quantity of action to be a serviceable action/adventure and the low quality of the actors/actresses doesn't save the terrible writing. The camera work or the directing isn't top shelf by any means, might be one of the worst big budget work I've seen in decades. I tried to like the book, I tried to like this movie but there is just no redeeming quality about either.