petervd

"KPop Demon Hunters" (2025)

First off, this is definitely the best K-Pop movie I have ever seen. Also... the only one so far.

The animation is beautiful, funny, and unique. Sony Animation once again proves they are becoming one of the greats. The humor is cute, the story is unique, and some of the songs have already become guilty pleasures.

My biggest issue is that everything felt kind of rushed. Maybe I didn't pay enough attention to the beginning exposition, but throughout the movie I kept wondering if I had missed a prior movie or series. Both the world-building - which is interesting and could definitely be expanded on in a sequel - and, more importantly, the three protagonists' relationships and their roles in the band and as fighters, felt underdeveloped.

(Small spoilers:) When conflict arises between the friends, it felt like it could have used more buildup - or at least let the tension linger a little longer. The same goes for Rumi's (the main lead's) family and their story. I suppose it's a credit to the world-building that I wanted to learn more, but it's not great when it starts to impact my engagement with what's actually happening.

I wouldn't have minded an extra 20 minutes to flesh out the girls' relationships and backstory. How did they meet? Have they always known about demons? Have they fought the big demon personally before? And so on.

What I'm saying is: I'm here for a sequel - but also a prequel.

Rating: 7/10.

"Civil War" (2024)

This movie didn't match my expectations from the trailer, but that's always a risk.

Some scenes and shots were quite good and interesting. I enjoyed seeing a war movie set in an unusual location, though typically associated with the Middle East. The performances were fine overall. However, the world was more captivating than the actual plot.

I wanted to learn more about how this war started and what people were fighting for. The movie seems to encourage the audience to draw their own conclusions about its connection to real cultural struggles in the US. This would be fine if the protagonist were neutral or from another country, but both the movie and the protagonist clearly favor one side.

In short, the movie was too vague for my liking. While the scenes themselves were great, I missed a broader context. A mini-series could delve deeper into the history of this version of the US or at least extend the scenes to be more impactful.

Overall, it was a fine movie with an interesting world, vague characters and plot, and some good scenes.

Rating: 6/10.

"Scoop" (2024)

For those seeking a better version of the movie 'Scoop,' (2024) I recommend opting for the real interview instead. The film's most commendable aspect lies in its faithful recreation of the interview. While the acting suffices without notable accolades, the performers fulfill their roles adequately. However, my primary critique is in regard to the script and creative decisions.

The central character and Andrew's advisor lack substantial depth, leaving unanswered questions regarding the advisor's unwavering faith in the royal institution and her misinterpretation of the interview's outcome. Furthermore, the portrayal of Sam McAlister, portrayed by Billie Piper, lacks considerable character depth/motivation.

Additionally, the cinematographic choices, characterized by a distracting and ill-suited blue, "Nordic Noir" lighting, fail to captivate. The camerawork, also, lacks innovation and exudes a sense of budget constraints.

Netflix has had a tendency to resemble direct-to-DVD productions the past couple of years and this is one of them. Ultimately, while not awful , the film falls short, in that it is boring, uninteresting, and forgettable.

You want a better version of the story just watch the interview.

Rating: 4/10.