joebloggscity

This final season (supposedly) of Squid Game undoubtedly arrived on a far lower key than the last after the very poor reception of the second season (and I agree). Anyhow, this season is a pickup in form, but to be honest, it doesn't fully recover all the goodwill lost.

We're back on the island, and our remaining characters after the failed violent putsch are resigned to continue with the games. Everyone's favourite Korean cop is out there still sailing around in circles with his motley crew trying to find the island whilst the rest of the world remains oblivious of the games.

One major problem is that possibly there is little new that can be done any further here. So many plot points in this season had me thinking that this reminds me of this or that from season 1 and so on. The games are new but frighteningly violent as before. As before, we have the empathetic crew and a crass, selfish crew, it's much the same really.

Despite that, there's still much good too, in particular the acting and the emotive moments really are visceral. The settings & games are disturbingly immersive, and there's some neat twists too.

Yet overall it never reached the heights of the first season despite some very emotive moments. It's still worth a viewing, but probably they'd already hit a glass ceiling in the first season and will likely not come close to hitting it again.

Just be prepared for some follow-ups and spinoffs.

I've just gone to the cinema to watch 28 Years Later and if I was to summarise it, then well:

• it has no major link really to the previous films (could have been a standalone movie)
• doesn't make much sense much the time
• not scary or exciting
• missing much of the great music that really characterised the original films.

Yet, I still found it watchable, mostly due to a great run by the lead protagonist, in a coming of age storyline for a young boy out to save the one he loves & cares for the most.

This film clearly has some overtures from other films like The Wicker Man and even Apocolypse Now whilst also stealing partly from The Last of Us (i.e. Evolved/developed of zombies), but in fairness goes its own way. I kind of felt that it was not grabbing my interest, but I admit not having been a great fan of the second film. I admit also that really I'm quite tired of Zombie trope films & series.

In any case, those who loved the first two films will get something out of it, much more interest to them than me. The ending (which I won't spoil clearly shows there's still a lot more 'life' (no pun intended) to come out of this series).

Unlike the majority of viewers of this program (whom I assume are American), I've got no truck with Favre as an American Football player or his club. I personally watch very little of that sport and only have a passing interest.

Anyhow, this is a story of a sportsman put on a pedestal only to attempt to knock himself off of it whilst his supporters seem to turn a blind eye to his off-field shenanigans. Granted many sportspeople are not angels, but the gulf between the reality and belief on this one player is quite stark. He won't be the last one.

This documentary is a very interesting look at the allegations, focussing in particular in his text-stalking of Jenn Sterger, albeit I think they focussed too much on that side, and too little on the public funds scandals which should have destroyed his entire career. Sadly though to his fans, his misdemeanours have been left unchecked and he remains a hero to the blinded fools. His reputation really should have gone down like the Wickerman.

If there is a weakness, I concede that this documentary has him guilty as charged without giving a defence, that is a problem here I find. In some ways quite uncomfortable, but too many of the facts are clear enough and evidence is too strong to ignore.

It's an interesting but admittedly uncomfortable documentary.