JoE Stuff

Great Concept Undermined by Flawed Third Act Timer has an incredibly intriguing premise and a lot of potential. I loved the humor and rom-com vibes—it’s quirky, charming, and the acting across the board is fantastic. The characters are likable and relatable, and the sci-fi elements, while far-fetched, add a unique flavor to the romantic comedy genre. What really drew me in was the way the film raised fascinating questions about love, companionship, loyalty, fate, destiny, and freedom of choice. It challenges the audience to think critically about the ways technology and societal norms shape how we view relationships. For much of the movie, Timer feels like it’s setting up a thoughtful critique of blind reliance on technology. The Timer devices themselves act as a stand-in for big tech and corporate influence, dictating how people should feel and behave—an intriguing concept that the first two acts explore brilliantly. The movie also paints a picture of love as messy and unpredictable, suggesting that love isn’t black and white but instead exists in complex shades of gray. It shows love as something that can’t be easily defined or controlled, which I found refreshing and thought-provoking. However, where the movie falls apart for me is the third act. It feels rushed, contradictory, and ultimately betrays the core message the story had been building. *SPOILERS - By the end, the protagonist’s decision to stick with her Timer and accept its countdown feels like a complete 180 from everything the movie was saying up to that point. This decision undercuts the film’s critique of corporate control and blind faith in technology. Had the protagonist rejected her Timer—especially after it activated—it would have delivered a far stronger message: that she is capable of thinking for herself, that she’s at peace with uncertainty, and that true love doesn’t need a countdown to validate it. This would have symbolized her freedom from the social norms and corporate brainwashing she had previously succumbed to. By choosing to keep her Timer, the movie ends up reinforcing the very ideas it seemed to be critiquing.* The ending left me feeling frustrated and disheartened. All the interesting questions and themes the movie raised were tossed aside for a needlessly dramatic resolution. By the time the credits rolled, I felt like the movie had wasted its potential—and my time. In conclusion, while the first two acts are strong, thought-provoking, and enjoyable, the third act is so unsatisfying that it completely tanks the film. It’s a real shame because I enjoyed the first two acts immensely. I just wish it would have stuck the landing.

Ultimately the film just didn’t land for me. The film struggled to balance its mix of comedic characters and darker, more serious moments, leaving it feeling disjointed. I think if it had fully embraced a campy, more playful approach, it could have been a more enjoyable horror film. While I appreciated the classic vampire lore and some of the characters, the overwhelming bleakness overshadowed what could have been a more entertaining experience. 2 outta 5.

This review is for Episode One, but I will update my review as the season progresses. So far it's a great start to the show with some minor nitpicks because I'm a fan of the source material; however, for the visual medium I think the opening twenty minutes has some pretty good action and was more gory then the video games. Master Chief removing his helmet was okay with me, but then he leaves it off for too long. They should have taken a note from The Mandalorian. Remove the helmet sure, but just enough to quell the natural curiosity of the audience but short enough to appreciate it's significance. Unfortunately, Master Chief removes his helmet and then keeps it off until the end of the episode and I found that it overstayed it's welcome. Other than that there's not much else to say just yet. Cortana has not yet made her appearance, and while the side characters have been introduced they have yet to make a notable contribution to the overall story. Having said that, I find myself with a particular fondness for the other Spartans given their limited screen time. They don't have many lines but they have more personality than I thought they would. I look forward to see where the story goes and how the characters grow as each episode is released. For now, I give four out of five stars. UPDATE: I have binge watched up to Episode Six and since I've already left a lengthy review for episode one I will summarize my feelings towards the season thus far. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, KEEP YOUR DAMN HELMET ON MASTER CHIEF! Kwan's story is boring and pointless so far, the best episode has been the one without her in it. The action with the Spartans and The Covenant has been pretty good when it's actually on screen. The drama can be hit or miss sprinkled with some confusing character motivations. Overall, not an awful show but they're dragging their feet a bit. My rating has gone down from Four to Three. FINAL UPDATE: I finished watching the last three episodes and while I had a good time watching it I can't recommend this show for longtime Halo fans, but maybe for casual viewers. I was honestly fine with a lot of the things they changed from the video games but the quality is hit or miss. I feel like a good show is one that you can watch more than once, but this isn't that. I cannot see myself wasting my time re-watching this season anytime soon, nor do I have a desire to. I have hope that season two will be better but I don't think I'll be watching it week to week next time. My final rating for Season One is Two out of Five Stars.

Scream 2022 is a fantastic addition to the beloved franchise, with the returning cast that fans have come to adore and newcomers that fit seamlessly into the world of Scream. The film is a requel, combining elements of both a sequel and a reboot, and it's a unique and smart take on the classic horror series. One of the standout features of Scream 2022 is its self-awareness and meta commentary on the state of modern horror. The film cleverly addresses toxic fandom and the changing landscape of the genre, all while staying true to the spirit of the original movies. Scream 2022 is full of the brutal, bloody thrills that fans have come to expect from the franchise. The film is ferociously paced, with plenty of fun call-backs to the past and some truly shocking twists. Overall, Scream 2022 is a great example of how to reinvigorate a franchise while still paying homage to its roots. It's a must-see for horror fans looking for a modern take on a classic series.

This review is for Episode One, I will update this review week to week as each episode drops. While the MCU has had some issues with it's humor in the last few entries She-Hulk proves that when the MCU knows what works it can excel at it. Some things didn't make sense for me but they're quickly overlooked and the show moves at a brisk pace, however for some people those little details matter and ignoring them can seem like a contrivance. I had some good laughs and I enjoyed the dynamic between Smart Hulk and She-Hulk. The little action we got I thought was serviceable and I hope to see more in the next episodes. Overall, I enjoyed the first episode and I hope they can improve the writing as we move forward, there were just too many things that were rushed through and overlooked for me but I'm excited for episode two.