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This show caught my attention, as the premises are really intriguing, the mystery set at the end of the first episode is amazing and it really pushed me to keep going. The creators constantly make you wonder what is behind Andy and his company. They glance at a possible culprit for the murder, but then they introduce small details or sudden changes that completely alter the situation and make you look into a different direction. This makes you doubt all the clues that were collected, and keeps your attention on a high level. I enjoyed the general setup and the characters that were portrayed; I liked to see an unconventional detective like Darby. The plot is enriched by interesting flashbacks that deepen the story of the main characters and that will be present for the episodes, adding dynamicity to the narration. The show is slow paced and I liked it a lot up to the fourth episode. Starting from the fifth chapter, things started to be a little bit too stretched out: there are many long and at times repetitive dialogues that stall the plot. These do not add anything of use to the audience. For a mini series of just seven episodes this is a huge problem. The investigative sequences become dull and illogic. There are at times some incredibly lucky coincidences that are a bit too convenient and that in my perspective ruined the initial setup incredibly.

From a technical perspective, the show looks amazing, the photography manages to capture the cold and inhospitable environment. The few CGI shots are well realized. The cast is composed of many great names, and I was glad to see such big names like Owen Wilson or promising actors like Harris Dickinson and Emma Corrin. 'A Murder at the End of the World' had so much potential, but the development is dull and the ending is incredibly rhetorical and unoriginal. My final mark is 6.5.

"No Hard Feelings" is an enjoyable comedy starring Jennnifer Lawrence. I am always happy when big Hollywood actors take part in minor projects like this one. It is in a way a coming-of-age movie, where we see Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman) mature, in a quite peculiar way thanks to the help of Maddie. I liked how the relationship between the two protagonists developed as they helped each other understand which are their respective issues and how to fix them. The ending is sweet, as it closes a chapter for both of them, opening a new exciting part of their lives. This film in its simplicity brings a smile to my face, as there are several funny instances that I really appreciated. "No Hard Feelings" gave the audience one hour and forty minutes of light entertainment. I recommend it if you just want to relax. My rate is aligned with the average mark on IMDb: 6.5 stars out of 10.

"Come True" is a sci-fi movie with a great concept behind it. At first I was intrigued by the possibility that dreams and the real world could be intertwined. The way this idea is presented on screen is great: the special effects look credible and they are really well made. The nightmares sequences are captivating in their simplicity and they kept me glued to the screen. The photography has this ethereal look with all the neon lights that are a good match with the mood of the production. It is a film that is aesthetically pleasant and technically competent. The plot at first is engaging: the director and screenwriter Anthony Scott Burns managed to build a nice mystery around the character of Sarah Dunne. Unfortunately all the anticipation that was carefully built along the way, does not pay off, as the ending is quite disappointing. I have the feeling that the creators did not really know how to wrap up this project and they threw at the audience one of the most trivial and lazy endings that I have watched in a while. It does not provide any kind of solution for all the questions that the movie raised along the way. We really do not understand what happened to the protagonist. The last thirty minutes are a pure mess and this is truly a pity because I was really thinking that I found a hidden jem. It is quite frustrating to see a film that was completely ruined on its last act. I am gonna give this one the rate of 5.5, just because I truly enjoyed the photography, the CGI and the music.

I really enjoyed "Hawkeye" back in 2021, and the character of Echo was quite captivating. When a spin-off centered on her was announced, I was really looking forward to watching it. The content of the show is more mature, as the violence displayed is very explicit, for a Disney production. The stunts are well made and credible. Alaqua Cox has a good screen presence. Her character has a strong personality and we see her truly fighting, in order to reach her objective, nothing is handed to her. The series briefly shows some superpowers, but mostly Maya goes through difficulties using her human skill sets. This is an origin story that works greatly as a continuation of "Hawkeye", and I like the fact that I did not have to watch countless of other Marvel products in order to understand the storyline. I enjoyed the portrayal of the Native Indian of America that added a mystical twist to the plot.

This production does not shine in terms of technical qualities: special effects are low-budget and there is a massive use of the green screen that is pretty obvious, even to a non-trained eye. I believe that they could pull out something better. The ending was quite disappointing as it felt rushed and it did not give a proper closure. Maybe Marvel wanted to keep the door open for a possible sequel? Well, the answer is obvious. Certainly it is not a show that reinvents the wheel, but it is a decent entertaining experience. As a person that stopped a long time ago following the MCU, I am telling you that it is quite worth watching, especially if you enjoyed "Hawkeye". My rate is 6.5.

I have been waiting for a new season of "True Detective" since 2019, so when it was finally announced, I was so excited. The setting is not really original, as there are already several detective stories located in cold and isolated places, but it is something completely different for this show. The premises are good and the first two episodes build very well the mystery surrounding the murders of the Tsalal scientists. The investigation goes on and we see a captivating development. Unfortunately mid season, the show started to drag the plot in pointless clues and never really progressed the detective work of Liz and Evangeline. Moreover, the creators lost way too much time on the personal drama of the protagonists, adding irrelevant details that only brings away the main scope of the story. At times I wondered if I was watching a soap opera. I believe that in previous seasons screenwriters manage to reach a better balance. The creators added some mystical elements/paranormal to spice the story, but the final result is just messy. I think it was a lazy choice, in order to cover up some plot holes. There are just too many convenient things, which is something that I do not expect from a detective story. The ending is in my perspective very unsatisfying.

Kali Reis and Jodie Foster portray two characters that complement each other and they are respectively the muscle and the brain of the investigation. The dialogues between them are mostly dull and trivial, far away from the quality that characterized the first and the third seasons. From a technical standpoint the show is good. There are some shots that are really well made and Alaska inspired a story with darker tones. There are a few CGI sequences that look outdated. The song "bury a friend" by Billie Eilish is a good fit for the intro. "Night Country" is the weakest season of the show. It has some good ideas that were not properly developed, and worst of all, it was not able to make me interested in the investigation. My final mark is 5. Let's hope that the next round will be better.

The movie has a believable approach when it comes to personal growth and conflicts between the protagonist, her family and friends. The relationships and the interactions between different characters are not over-dramatized. This makes "Lady Bird" flow pretty well. I think that the length was perfect: the film told a story in one hour and half and not a minute felt wasted in pointless subplots. I enjoyed Christine's development from being an immature teenager, to reaching some kind of self-awareness. The relationship with the mother is very central and it feels real, with many ups and downs along the way. The world of Lady Bird is in constant evolution and the protagonist is not the only one that is going to change. I liked the fact that the screenwriter and director took the time to put this narrative world in motion, showing an evolution also of secondary characters. The sensation is that Greta Gerwig had a clear overall vision and this is why the film was never boring and the storytelling is simply great.

I truly enjoyed Saoirse Ronan's performance. She was convincing in the role of this rebel teenager. The actors that played the parents were amazing, however I think Laurie Metcalf really nailed the part of the mother, she was raw and intense in her interpretation. Timothée Chalamet was a bit dull to be honest and he played a pretty forgettable rich boy. "Lady Bird" has a nice photography that matches perfectly with the general mood of the film. This was a pleasant discovery. I strongly recommend this production, as I believe that it portrays the living conditions of an underprivileged household in such a realistic way. My rate is 7.

"Jawan" is an action packed film that has all the ingredients to be a good piece of entertainment: impossible action scenes that are clearly made with a humoristic intent, complex and colorful choreographies and overall a good plot that kept me glued to the screen, despite its length. The story is pretty simple, but it has a couple of interesting plot twists that make it spicier. The stunts are amazingly done and I was truly surprised to see what Atlee managed to pull out. There are some sequences that are ridiculously over the top. Some editing techniques are overused, such as slow motion or speed ramps. I am aware of the fact that these are quite popular in Indian blockbusters, but after a while they just become repetitive and they lose their effectiveness.

Some sections feel a bit overwhelming, as the director tried cramming too many things, with no particular logic. The film changes mood too quickly, not giving the time to transition between a happy and wholesome sequence and a dramatic moment. Some scenes just do not match well together, and I feel that some important adjustments needed to be done, in order to make this production a bit more accessible. Aside from this minor setback, if you are looking for some brainless entertainment, "Jawan" might do the trick. My final rate is 7.5 out of 10.

At a first glance "The Watcher" looks like the weakened version of the first season of "American Horror Story". Typical American family moving into a big and expensive house, starting to experience weird phenomenons. However, this show is anchored to reality, so what seems at first a paranormal event, has a rational explanation. Still, there are many recycled elements from "Murder House" in my perspective, and in general the first season cannot really stand out in any way, as Murphy uses too many tropes. The storytelling and the editing are what makes this show entertaining enough to be watched until the end, as the directors wisely used flashbacks to add dynamicity to the story. Also the cast contributed to make it pleasant. There are many great names and the interactions between characters were credible.

There are a few critical points that made me scratch my head. I wonder why Murphy and Brennan always need to put some edgy characters such as Karen, even when they are clearly not a match for the story. I hated every single moment that Jennifer Coolidge was on screen. For some series these bizarre and over the top personalities work greatly (like in AHS), but in this case they are just a nuisance. At the beginning of the first episode, the show claims that the plot is inspired by true events, in reality "The Watcher" only took the idea from an event that happened to a family that received threatening letters from an anonymous sender and then he invented the rest. So, if you want to know what really happened, make a research on the internet: you will find the complete story, and it is truly not that interesting, so I understand why the creators needed to invent a lot of stuff, in order to make it usable for the audience. Despite all the criticisms that I made, I still think that it is worth a watch. I liked how screenwriters built the mystery and developed the characters. My rate is a 6.

Maybe I am going against the tide, but I think that "12 Monkeys" is an inconclusive movie. The reasons why a man-made virus was used to wipe most of the world population is never explained. We get some clues along the way, but they are way too vague and inconsistent, and in the end they do not converge into a proper solution. I feel that the story just loses too much time in pointless and repetitive interactions, without providing any tangible development. Despite the cast being formed by important names such as Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt, I did not like their interpretations at all. I think that they lacked emotions and they both were a bit ridiculous in some sequences.

However, there are few redeeming qualities: the director at first makes you wonder if what the audience is seeing is actually real, or if it is simply the result of a deranged mind that suffers from psychosis caused by the time travel. There are many misleading elements that guide the protagonist towards the wrong path, pointing the fingers towards the wrong culprits, providing an interesting twist. The photography matches perfectly with the plot: there are peculiar camera angles that well portray the confusion felt by Cole. The sound and visual effects are absolutely on point and I liked the post-apocalyptic Terry Gilliam built, it was different than your average sci-fi movie. All the elements for a good movie were there, but at some point you have to give at least some basic explanations of what is happening on screen. I do not like to be spoon fed by movies, but I do not even enjoy being left completely in the dark. I believe that the creators could find some kind of middle ground, providing the audience a clearer picture. For this reason, my final mark is 5.

The style of "Hazbin Hotel" reminded me a bit of those Cartoon Network shows that were aired between the end of the 90's and the beginning of the 2000's: the heavy use of sound effects as a comedic tool, the animation reminded me of "The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy". This is animation for adults and there are many explicit images, so do not watch this with your kids. The series mixes funny moments with deeper sequences where the characters are showing some deep vulnerabilities. It is incredibly effective that the creator managed to tell so many things in just 25 minutes per episode. The original songs are used as a device to greatly shorten some plot developments that otherwise would probably require tedious and pointless dialogues. The soundtrack definitely adds dynamicity to the entire plot. Vivienne Medrano used the power of the musical at its best, providing a cohesive narration that kept me glued to the screen. Erika Henningsen and Stephanie Beatriz portrayed the two main characters perfectly, giving Charlie and Vaggie two opposite personalities, creating some sort of balance. I think that the interpretation of Alex Brightman as Adam was hilarious and added prestige to the show.

"Hazbin Hotel" is a story that surprisingly offers food for thoughts on many difficult topics, but it manages to do so with simplicity and levity which is a great achievement. However, the plot uses too many tropes that have been seen so many times in other similar products. I wish that both the creator and Amazon would dare a bit more when it comes to narrative solutions. Overall this toon deserves a 7, and I hope that this story will keep developing with a second season, as I am truly intrigued.

"Babylon" is a movie that with its irony brings you inside the mechanics of the showbizIt is a deep journey into a manipulating world that ruined several lives, especially the ones of vulnerable and non experienced people, such as Nellie LeRoy. It is a portrayal of the rise and the fall of the famous fictional actor Jack Conrad that knew his success during the 20s, in the era of mute cinema, but was not able to keep up with the times, becoming irrelevant. It is the sad representation of a successful Studio Executive that after all his efforts decided to throw it all away for a false promise. And these are just a few elements that characterize this three hour piece. Damien Chazelle told of a time where Hollywood was experiencing big changes due to the big technological advancements between the 20s and the 30s, with the introduction of microphone and sounds, the first color cameras that completely changed the way to perceive the pictures.

It is a movie that manages to build a lot of tension on some instances that is relieved by effective comedy sequences that are so well placed and that made me genuinely laugh. The director managed to keep a good rhythm for the entire length, achieving a good balance between dynamic sequences and slow paced dialogues that deepened the different characters. The cast conveyed so many different emotions, but with big names such as Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt, I was not expecting otherwise. The photography is amazing and there are many shots that in my opinion will be iconic. Give it a few years. The first 30 minutes alone are memorable. The intro set perfectly the mood of the film and it immediately put the audience in the middle of the action. Great filmmaking there. The ending is truly a love letter to the Cinema, that in my perspective lasted way too long and it required some trims, in order to reach perfection. Other than that, this for me is a solid 8 and I strongly recommend watching "Babylon" if you are a movie goer. This is definitely a movie that I wish I had watched at the Cinema.

"25th Hour" is a journey inside the mental state of Monty Brogan, a drug dealer that got sentenced to prison. We get a raw portrayal of what his last few hours as a free man looks like, dealing with the fact that he will not be able to conduct a normal life for a long time. So he and his two best friends and his girlfriends decide to spend one last night together, going out "celebrating". These characters all have different emotions regarding this sad occurrence. There are a lot of discordant emotions, characters feel confused and they really do not know how to behave: should they just enjoy these last few moments? Should they be sad?

Spike Lee developed the psychological profile of each character: Frank is a successful Wall Street broker that is very judgemental towards Monty's choices, defining him as a person that made money on people's desperation, while is basically doing the same thing by luring people in "investing" money on risky stocks, exploiting their weaknesses. Jacob is an insecure guy, trying to always see the good in people. He is very moralist, but in the end he commits extremely questionable and unlawful acts. These two characters have many altercations, because they are so different, yet united by hypocrisy. Ultimately we see a lot of tension between characters that build up for a while and that finally burst into some intense unfiltered dialogues. Edward Norton, Barry Pepper and Philip Hoffman were amazing and their acting was absolutely on point. They managed to convey different emotions effectively. Spike Lee made truly an original movie, and as always he makes some social protest, in this case about certain aspects of New York City, in a captivating monologue performed by Norton. I think that the ending is a bit stretched in terms of time, but it is poetic and it gives to the audience an alternative perspective of how things could have gone, if only different decisions were made. This is a deep and solid movie that deserves a 8 out of 10 mark.

Despite being 20 years old, the message of this film is still very current: accepting the end of a relationship is not easy, especially if it was a meaningful one, but eventually you need to let it go. "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" conveys this through visual allegories that are very effective. It really makes you understand how Joel is trying to grip onto the memories of a love that has ended, having distorted memories of what it used to be. At some point he thinks that he had an idyllic experience with Clementine, even calling her the love of her life. By the end they discover to be absolutely incompatible, as they have two opposite ways of seeing life. Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet gave a wonderful performance and they managed to convey all the tension, pain and confusion that the couple needed to pass through during these final moments. The director enhanced these emotions through a creative editing that showed some powerful images that stuck with me after the end. Michel Gondry portrayed this love-story in a realistic way: just two regular people, with a normal job and lifestyle, trying to deal with a breakup. The final act is truly bittersweet and it is just perfect, as having a definitive closure after a troubled relationship does not need to be a negative experience, but can also be seen as an opportunity to actually enjoy what it was. This movie is so relatable, as everyone sooner or later went through a similar situation. I normally do not watch romantic movies, however a lot of people suggested to me this classic over the years. I believe that in order to fully understand it, you had to live a similar experience in your life and this is why I probably waited to be 29 before watching this simple, but yet such a beautiful film. I'd never thought that I would give a 10 to a romantic drama/comedy, but this one is truly a gem. I definitely recommend it.

After watching "Hermana Muerte" the prequel film that tells the story of the nun Narcisa, I decided to give a shot also to "Verónica". The movie has some elements that makes it slightly different than your average demonic possession film, as the protagonist does not really take the shape of a monster and she is not tied to some bed, but she can operate as a normal human being, with no visible change in her behavior at first. The photography shines especially towards the end, where Paco Plaza managed to pull out a creative sequence shot. Verónica is a young teenager that comes from a underprivileged single-parent household. She needs to constantly take care of her siblings, as the mother works in a bar and she is very busy, ending her shifts late in the night. Her unconventional and busy life is also hindered by the big physical and psychological changes that adolescents go through. All these elements have an impact on the entire horror element. I am surprised by the depth level that screenwriters managed to achieve with her character.

From a technical standpoint, the movie is solid. The practical effects are nicely done, the CGI unfortunately looks basic, however it is well integrated. I was pleased by the photography techniques, as the director uses some blind spots, shadows and reflection to his advantage, creating tension. "Verónica" is a well written movie with an engaging story, hence my rate is 7 out of 10. It might not be a groundbreaking story, but it works and the acting is good.

Paco Plaza made a horror movie, using the photography, the lighting and a good sound design to scare his audience. The director never used cheap jump scares and exploited the supernatural element in an effective and grounded way. No cheap CGI demon, just good camera movement and excellent makeup, aided by some minor VFX that are integrated seamlessly. Overall from a technical perspective this film is well done and the editing has some creative ideas that I particularly enjoyed. "Hermana Muerte" uses the fear of the unknown to its advantage, making me doubt if there was really an evil presence, or if it was just my mind playing some tricks. I am all in for slow burner films, however I think that there are a few scenes displaying pointless dialogues and repetitive interactions that negatively affected the pace of the film. There were some moments where I wondered when the story would finally progress. Then, in the last 20 minutes, the movie just throws all at once the solution of the mystery. This took me a bit away from the intensity of the narration. I was hoping for a more gradual reveal of the dark events happened in the monastery, maybe by giving clues along the way that would keep me more engaged. There are some sequences that are tense, however I cannot really say that I was feeling scared, because we start to see the danger of the entity pretty late in the movie. The film goes from 0 to 100 too quickly. This is in my perspective the issue that prevented this production from achieving its true potential. The cast did overall a good job and the actors were credible in their performances. I have to particularly praise Aria Bedmar who was able to portray Sister Narcisa well, being able to convey the terror through her facial expressions. I give this Spanish horror movie a rating of 6, mostly for the effort to create something unconventional and that deviates a bit from the usual tropes of the genre. If you are into possession/supernatural cinema I definitely recommend a watch.

The film begins with a short sequence that explains how a parasite from outer space gets on Earth, taking over humanity, with no chance to win over it. It duplicates and kills people while they are sleeping. For sure this is not your average alien invasion, and the events are narrated in such a realistic way, with no over the top, unjustified violence. There are so many original elements: the alien species takes the shape of a peculiar and apparently harmless flower. Humans start to collect them, attracted by their beauty, like a carnivorous plant that sets traps for mosquitoes. The movie makes you constantly doubt: is this invasion really happening, or is it a mind trick Elizabeth due to the stress? Who is still human and trustworthy? Who is already duplicated and trying to lure the protagonists? This constant tension kept me on the verge until the very end, as I wanted to know how humanity would handle this threat. The cast is formed of many great names such as Donald Sutherland and Leonard Nimoy famous for portraying Spock in the acclaimed sci-fi franchise of 'Star Trek'. Because of his physical presence this guy was always suited for science fiction roles. Despite his limited screen-time, he covered an essential role that give the plot an interesting twist.

The special effects are simple and well made. The production used a lot of practical effects that look great and integrate seamlessly in the various environments. The few CGI shots are incredibly more advanced than a lot of modern productions that have more tools at their disposal and for sure also bigger budgets than "Invasion of the Body Snatchers". It is truly a movie made with passion and it shows. For Cosmic Horror lovers, this is a must watch and it gets a solid 7.5 rate.

"Wonka" tells the origins of the famous chocolate maker telling how his small business started. The staging is dreamy, but also grimy, creating a wonderful mix of different styles that merge well together. The directing of Paul King perfectly captures the mood of the film. The symmetry of the sets makes some sequences extremely engaging. The CGI is overall good and it blends seamlessly with the real environments. Unfortunately the oompa loompas played by Hugh Grant did not look up to today's VFX standards. I can pass over this issue, considering that in this film the character was very marginal, but in case of a sequel, this is an aspect that they definitely need to improve.

As per tradition of every Wonka movie, this is a musical, and I truly enjoyed the songs that were very catchy and not too invasive, giving space to well written dialogues that made the story flow. I believe that the length of the movie was perfect, the film goes straight to the point. All the flashbacks displayed serve a purpose. This is how a fairy-tale is supposed to be: simple, short and sweet. I believe that this is one of those movies that both children and adults can watch and truly enjoy equally, and this for me is quite an achievement. Timothée Chalamet showed once again to be versatile and I believe that here shone, as he was able to demonstrate his skills as a singer and a dancer. Happy to see one of my all-time favorite actresses Olivia Colman, who was the comic shoulder, together with Tom Davis. I was glad to see Keegan-Michael Key who is always able to make me laugh, no matter the role. "Wonka" uses a lot of tropes, so the story is predictable. However it works, and not all movies need to be groundbreaking anyway. In my perspective it is definitely worth a watch, possibly to the cinema. This piece of art gets a solid 7.5 rate from me.

"The Lobster" is set in a dystopian world where being single is illegal. People have 45 days to find another suitable partner, otherwise they will be transformed into an animal. It is an interesting concept that criticizes how society perceives relationships, by highlighting all its dysfunctional aspects: the control that one partner can exert on the other, giving birth hoping that a child can fix a marriage, looking down on single people and putting them on a bad spot, considering them as individuals that do not have their life together or considering them inferior as they are not physically appealing. I was truly terrified by the portrayal of society in this movie, because it is the representation of certain cultures. The events narrated feel credible, despite the exaggeration of certain elements for staging purposes. In the second part the director focuses on the portrayal of jealousy and what heinous actions some people might do because of it. However, from the middle section onwards, the narration is too abstract and the message of Lanthimos is lost between all the different allegories and metaphors. Because of this, I could not fully grasp what was happening. This is also a problem that I faced when I watched "The Killing of a Sacred Deer". I do not mind a bit of mystery, but for me his narration (at least for these two movies) becomes too cryptic and I am not really able to completely enjoy the plot.

I really liked the photography, the composition of certain scenes truly resemble frameworks. I enjoyed the almost emotionless acting that serves well for the purposes of this film, showing a society where feelings are not valued anymore, as relationships are tied only to survival. The cast is phenomenal and we have many great names such as Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz and Léa Seydoux. If you like socially engaged movies and artsy cinema, I strongly suggest you give it a watch. For me this is a solid 6.5.

"Sisu" reminded me of those American movies from the 80's and the 90's starring Bruce Willis, Steven Seagal and Jean Claude Van Damme. Jorma Tomilla plays the one man army that kills an entire group of German soldiers for stealing his gold. It is a plot so simple that it is impossible to spoil it. The strongest aspect is the absurd and over the top violence. Everything is taken to the extremes and it is clear that this movie does not take itself seriously, making a joke of the entire action genre. The photography is nice and it gives some nice images. Maybe there are a few hiccups when it comes to special effects, but considering the budget, the CGI is good.

With that being said, there are better alternatives when it comes to parodies: overall the stunts are mediocre and not well executed as it is obvious when there are actors' counterparts during the fighting scenes. All actors have been dubbed, whenever they spoke English, but the acting quality is awful: it is amateur, the characters lack charisma and credibility. The main villain is just annoying. The conflict between Korpi and the general Bruno is uninteresting and does not generate tension or suspense. It is truly a pity, because the cast is quite capable when they speak Finnish. "Sisu" could be much more than this, if only the director oversaw this project better. My final rating is 5, it is a hard pass that will be soon forgotten.

This horror show produced by the Russo brothers has a really compelling beginning and the mystery that surrounds the small unknown town was interesting enough to stick around. The concept of a place trapping whoever is passing through, is amazing and the monsters add an element of tension. The creators managed to keep the interest of the audience with fairly intense cliffhangers that pushed me to immediately watch the next episode. "FROM" has many good qualities. In the first season the show leaves the audience with many questions, and I felt pretty confused trying to connect all the pieces of the puzzle. After the first ten episodes you do not really get any tangible solutions, but the season ends by opening several possibilities. In the second season the plot will expand beyond the town, exploring the world where these people are left stranded and finally making some reveals.

Unfortunately the narration is too watered down and there are many pointless, repetitive and trivial dialogues that will stall the plot. The fact that you have to go through these long sections, before being finally able to see some progress, is quite frustrating. I believe that episodes are just too long and screenwriters did not know how to fill certain moments in order to get to the 50 minutes runtime. I believe that shorter episodes would greatly benefit the show, by providing a less dispersive storytelling. However, I do not think that MGM will change its approach. I think that unfortunately this will be a problem that is going to persist for the entirety of the show. I have to be honest: at some point I skipped certain dialogues because they were too tedious or mellow for my taste. It is really the only con of this production. But for a lot of people this might be a dealbreaker, as they would lose their interest pretty quickly. Such a pity, because there are all the ingredients to be better. After watching the first two seasons, I give "FROM" a rating of 5.2, hoping for an improvement on the upcoming third season.

"Scavengers Reign" for me was a nice discovery. I rarely binge watch a show, but this one is so captivating and rich in details, that I finished it in a few days. The creators managed to build a dangerous and incredibly diverse world, with different biomes, creatures and entities. The series immediately prompts the audience on the wild planet of Vesta. It introduces us to a crew that survived the devastating crash of their spaceship and they need to fight in order to get back home. The protagonists are scattered across this ginormous place, so the audience sees multiple parallel storylines, adding tons of dynamicity, slowly revealing why this group of people is stranded. You can perceive the vulnerability of these characters that find themselves in a place that they do not know, risking being killed on every corner.

The show develops many big issues that are deeply affecting our society: Kamen, one of the members of the expedition, manages alone to create considerable damage to the biodiversity of the planet, which will also affect the other members of the Demeter, just for his personal gain. This is for me an allegory about mankind that is quickly worsening the environmental problems such as global warming, because of their greed. The show has many other meaningful metaphors. For instance, there are a few sequences that highlight really well how our lives can be short and insignificant, especially if we compare them with the greater scale of the universe. Joe Bennet and Charles Huettner exploit at best the visuals and the powerful communication of the animation, through short but effective scenes, where there is not one single line of dialogue. The protagonists will learn how to embrace this new unknown reality, in order to survive, at times managing to actually synchronize with the nature that surrounds them. This is creativity at its best: a simple image can tell more than thousands words and this is why this series is so amazing. Treating such philosophical concepts in just a few seconds is something that requires a lot of talent. The soundtrack is just perfect and it highlights the mysteries of the planet, always keeping a veil of tension. The show proposes many explicit content, but overall it never uses over-the-top and unrealistic gore to shock the audience. This is exactly why it works so well: the dangers feel tangible and the creatures are truly menacing, the locations underneath their beauty are terrifying.

If I have to find a small con about this show is that at times things might be a bit too convenient for the protagonist: it happens in a few instances that the characters are miraculously saved by some stroke of luck, or they know exactly what to do, with certain natural elements in order to progress with their mission, despite their very limited knowledge of the environment. It is not a big deal to be honest, but this for me prevented this show from reaching perfection. I strongly recommend "Scavenger Reigns", especially if you love cosmic sci-fi. My final mark is 9.5 out of 10.

This is an entertaining movie about the commercialization of the popular "Tetris" game in the west. The narration is smooth and I liked that it was split into different parts, which made very clear all the different steps and related difficulties for the purchase of Tetris rights from the Russian government. There are several creative sequences that make the movie flow really well. The cast did a good job, I loved Taron Egerton, he was charismatic and very expressive. Igor Grabuzov who portrayed the bad guy was convincing as he was threatening. With his presence alone, he was able to generate a lot of tension. The director portrayed the USSR in a menacing way, as we see how much control the state applied to its citizens. However, at times the film mocks these methods, portraying the Russians as supervillains with parodistic traits. This is the weakest aspect of this movie. If you are seeking a biopic that illustrates in a realistic way how Henk Rogers obtained the Tetris license, look elsewhere: the movie narrates the events in a comedic way, and this is why it is simply not possible to take this feature film seriously. I felt entertained, but I was expecting something that was actually showing what happened, with no over dramatization and with no mockery. It is okay to put some funny scenes here and there, in order to dampen the serious tone, however in this case things are too caricatural, and this removes every kind of credibility. If you want to know the real story of Tetris, just search it on the web.. I am a bit disappointed, as I was expecting something different. However, if you love video games, and you want to spend a couple of hours watching something entertaining, "Tetris" might be a good choice. My final mark is 6.5.

"Blue Eye Samurai" is a wonderful animated show set in the Japan Edo period, about Mizu, a young samurai seeking revenge. The series deepens the main character's motives, as her story is slowly revealed through effective flashbacks that made me empathize with her. There are some plot elements that are a bit trivial, however the show managed to surprise me with some unexpected plot twists, well written dialogues and engaging interactions. I liked how the narrative intertwined all the political subterfuges that the creators carefully lied down along the episodes, achieving a good balance: the show has many fighting scenes that do not shy away from graphic details and moments that take time introducing secondary characters and developing multiple storylines that will converge in a smart way towards the end. All this is accompanied by a good voice acting that gives a distinct personality to every single figure. This show uses the structure of a classic revenge story, but adding up some novelties and spicing the plot with some intense sequences where a positive outcome was not that obvious.

From a technical perspective, the animation is rich in detail. I liked the general artistic direction and the visuals are spectacular, especially when it comes to fights. There is a lot of dynamicity in the movements, the camera movements are very immersive. The show is quite violent, with a lot of gore details that manage to capture the aggressiveness of certain fights. The landscapes immerse the audience in a post-medieval environment, plenty of dangers, injustices and tensions. This is a good 8 episodes series that does not lose time in some trivial and pointless drama, providing a cohesive narration. My mark is 7.8. I strongly recommend "Blue Eye Samurai" and I really hope that Netflix will keep the same quality for the second season.

I enjoyed the premise of "When Evil Lurks", I think that it is an original possession story, that part ways with the usual stereotypes of this kind of horror. The evil takes over the lives of Jimi and Pedro slowly and painfully. The audience assists to this inevitable ascent of the darkness that multiple times outsmart the characters, despite all the precautions and strategies that they apply. The director took a realistic approach and some elements of the story are raw and credible. There is no unjustified over the top violence and no pointless jumpscares. The script takes the time to deepen the backstory of Pedro and his family, making him vulnerable and relatable to the eyes of the audience. The narration is fervid and there are many tense sequences that deliver some unexpected moments. This is in my opinion what made the first half great. Unfortunately the film starts to lose its appeal midway. All the tension that built up completely disappeared in the second part of the film. The protagonist takes impulsive decisions that have no logic and that will cost him dearly. In my opinion this goes against the nature of the character, that from the beginning constantly warns others how to kill the possessed, without contracting the curse. The ending is very dramatic and it leaves things open for a possible sequel (that most likely will not happen). Overall I liked the general concept of this film, but the director (who is also the screenwriter) made some decisions that prevented this film from achieving its true potential. "When Evil Lurks" could be one of the best 2023 horror movies, but unfortunately it only gets a 6. It is still a solid film, but I was expecting way better.

"Barbie" could be a nice comedy, with a good message, that could be inspiring for the younger generations. The only thing that shines through this story is that patriarchy is an issue, however there is not a constructive thought that can add any value to this film. The director spoons the audience with trivial concepts through the dialogues and what is depicted here is that basically the world is just filled by bad men. This is not the representation of reality. I do not deny that there are still several issues linked to abuses towards women, but this in my opinion is not the right way to address this matter. I think that with more creativity and without forcing your morals, the message would come across either way. There was a lack of respect towards the whole audience. Probably Mattel thinks that people do not have any critical thinking and they are not able to elaborate their own opinions, but they need someone that tells them how they should think and feel towards certain matters. Greta Gerwig drafts some interesting critiques towards our society that unfortunately are not properly elaborated. The script lacks structure: the story feels rushed and there are certain narrative choices that do not make much sense. The main culprit of this confusion is the editing that looks cheap and incompetent, with scenes that do not match together. The characters have no depth and their progression is very superficial.

I have to admit that overall the choreographic are nicely done and I actually liked the plastic and perfect world of Barbieland. The set designs were amazing and I truly enjoyed the general aesthetic of the film. There are a few funny moments that made me smile, but overall "Barbie" cannot even be considered a good comedy: jokes are not funny. Considering their sparkling careers, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling deserve so much better. Their performances are not that good and I think that Ken was extremely annoying,as the acting was too forced. This was an over-hyped film that I did not enjoy and I do not recommend it. My final rate is 4.