Joseph Rivers

A failure to commit to being its own story or to connect to the larger MCU undercuts much of what kinda works for Ironheart. There are far too many instances where Riri doesn't think through logical problems, OR consequences are inconsequential. There were nice ideas or clever concepts that served as plot devices but had no emotional meaning. Who is the little kid and why do we even care? What an unrewarding love interest. Grief as a subtext without enough emotional resonance. It should get another season to (pardon the pun) iron out the rough spots.

Horror is a thing. A definable subject that has rules. Lovecraft Country isn't a horror show. It's a well intentioned attempt to over correct an under representation of blackness in a genre and capitalize on a social justice message set in a volatile moment in US history. The set pieces are lavish. Polished and well shot. The actors are all hotness, from top to bottom. Young and old. Muscled and fat. All poster children for afrofuturism and black revisionism in the post Black Panther era. Lusty and leer worthy. Fetishized. The content is an uneven mismash of poor construction and brand band standing. "Black" with a capital B! An opportunity to state, emphatically, "look, black folks can make crappy campy content too!" Over acted on so many levels it often comes across as cartoonish and that is not its intention. I want to keep watching but after 6 episodes, I'm exhausted by the uneven construction and pacing. Where "Watchmen" was self aware in a way that knew what it wanted to say, who it was saying it to and how to say it, LC is equally self aware but can't ever string together enough sentences to be coherent. It may end up sticking the landing but up to this point I have little faith in the execution.

Its a good thing I'm a faithful fan. The quality of the writing has steadily decreased. I'm hanging on by my fingernails out of fan service.

I'm a sucker for magic and fantasy and had middling hopes for this production. I admit I don't know the source material but felt like I could tell the contrived parts that writer/director invent to fill in gaps where they gutted the story. Backstories abound and leave those of us unfamiliar with the story baffled. Time shift that could have been clever but instead broke narrative momentum. Early world building that fell away to exposition. Characters who's value never rose above cliche. Visually sumptuous. Gratuitous nudity (I don't mind, it just feels there to say 'hey look how mature our content is!') and sex scenes that lacked chemistry. Middling expected and delivered. Nothing to hate about it and that's prolly a success for Netflix.

What to do with the hottie who has no personality? Gorgeous but has nothing new to say or interesting to add? Mortal Engines is gorgeous. Meticulously designed. Expertly rendered. Even during it's darker set pieces it still sparkles. It's put together so well that even the most callus observer would have to look twice. It's the 2nd glance that kills it. Stiff wooden performances all around. Hugo does some acting but isn't really given much to do. So much of the movie falls apart with a mere consideration. Even its poorly implied open ended ending that felt like maybe there's more to the story? Perhaps a sequel? M'eh! A love story? Rebellion leaders rebelling against who or what? Who betrayed who? Slavers? Ancient lost weapons? Unstoppable but easily stoppable golem? How are these people related again? How can everyone afford all this tech? The key to everything readily available with no effort on the protagonist part to acquire it? Ugh. It's fun when the leads characters are running through elaborately design sets. Who cares why they're running or being chased! It's exciting when impossible cities wheel across unbelievable terrain. It's boring the rest of the time If you're interested in eye candy I highly recommend this film. Sit back and lose yourself in all its visual glory, just don't ask Moral Engines to explain anything. It can't, it's to busy looking good!