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ramosmeghan
Reviews
La templanza (2021)
Excellent Series, dubbing is AWFUL
One of the most beautiful and engaging series I've watched in some time. Even though it's pretty predictable, it was so entertaining - we binge watched the first 7 episodes in one sitting. Beautifully shot, lovable characters - I genuinely loved the struggle over goodness and decency - they addressed the horrors of slavery without making me feel like I was watching woke propaganda. I can't remember the last show that I enjoyed and rooted for the characters so much. The bit with the monastery was a little much - and the very end could have had a little more intimacy between the main characters, but overall this is going in my favorites.
I do need to rant here though, why on earth does this series default to English audio when it's filmed in Spanish? I tried to switch it to the Spain Audio but the subtitles were such a mess, out of alignment and poorly translated- I had to put it back to English audio. I generally prefer subtitles over dubbing, because so many of these Spanish shows are dubbed so poorly and my Spanish just isn't good enough to go without subtitles. The whole time I kept thinking, I wish I could be listening to their actual voices and it nearly ruined the series for me. I'll never understand why they don't hire voice actors with proper accents. Castilian, Mexican and Caribbean accents are like characters in their own right and you completely miss out that in this English dubbed version. It's like a children's animated movie, not a period romance drama.
Gran Hotel (2011)
Rerun this with English Subtitles
Started Gran Hotel a while back and made it though about episode 7 when I could no longer find it with English subtitles. My Spanish is pretty minimal and I've tried everything to get through the last couple episodes including google translate and finding the subtitles online. I am so invested and I try every month or so I try to locate the show, in hopes someone has translated it. I don't need it dubbed over in English, (I actually hate it when they do that on foreign language series because it sounds cartoonish) - I just want to know what the heck they're saying. If anyone knows of a way to find this series with English subtitles, I'm absolutely dying to finish this series.
After Ever Happy (2022)
Are you kidding me?!
Another to be continued? I don't understand why I keep watching this series ... movie after movie where almost nothing happens. I'd give the production quality a solid a 7, but the plot is so unbelievably bad...I don't understand how this got made into a movie, much less multiple movies. At this point I am finding it really hard to care about whether the characters make it... and I almost suspect they won't. I think I keep watching to see something that makes these worth the effort, but it's like watching paint dry. There are so many books out there to choose from, with much better source material.
House of the Dragon (2022)
A bridge too far
I have been so excited to watch House of the Dragon, GOT is probably the best show ever made... at least the beginning seasons. Maybe I'm just getting soft in my old age, but this show is foul and vile, with little of the redeeming qualities or beloved characters. There is so little character depth and a lack of variety in the storylines. It's so sad because the visuals and costume design are excellent. I can tolerate some of the gore but it's almost as though they're pushing the boundaries just to do so. I've previously sworn off the series after prior two episodes, was outright bored until the scene where rhaenyra swoops in on her dragon, and got a hint of the excitement and goosebumps like there was in fact going to be something worth watching. But the last couple of episodes that have followed have been so barbaric and in your face disgusting, I thought tonight I'd give it one more go and was disgusted. You can still produce an excellent show without brothel orgies, constant incest and heads being bashed in like a melon... but for now that's all they've got so I'm throwing in the towel on this one.
Persuasion (2022)
Very enjoyable
Loved this movie. Had extremely low expectations after reading the reviews and was prepared to hate Dakota in this role but it was such a pleasant surprise. I didn't find the modern vernacular or mixed cast at all distracting like some other period pieces. It's unfathomable to me that this has such lows reviews, and the garbage that was Dickinson and Bridgerton are all low to mid 7's? 🤦♀️
Persuasion was absolutely delightful. I giggled throughout the movie, absurdity is the point but they did it while still keeping the period feel. I've already watched it a second time. Its excellent for what it is: Beautiful sets, scenery and costumes and overall a fun and entertaining adaptation of Austen's work.
The Hating Game (2021)
A surprising good time
Knew nothing about this movie, which seems probably for the best... I'm more often than not disappointed by movies adapted from books. While the plot itself was predictable, the writing and chemistry between the characters was anything but. I lost count of the times I laughed out loud. It was absurd, offensive and yes.. over the top... but it was also smart, witty and fun...
I also really appreciated the language wasn't nearly as bad as a lot of other comedies, say like Holidate which was so trashy.
Loved it so much I started it back over from about 1/4 of the way through and watched it again.
Death on the Nile (2022)
Unfaithful adaptation
This should say 'loosely inspired' by Agatha Christie's novel of the same name. If you haven't read the book, you'll probably like the movie. I can't help but feel like this movie was made to indulge Kenneth Branagh instead of the viewer. Wasted precious minutes on irrelevant plot lines, original plot completely butchered, characters cut completely and others combined and new ones added. Add in some bad acting by the lead characters, cheesy dance scenes... all of the plot changes would be appreciated if they actually added to the quality of the movie, but they did not. After waiting years to push this out, I'm thinking it was a sign they just should've have scrapped it and started over.
The Woman in the Window (2021)
Just....Why?
Recently read the book for a new book club, and we all watched the movie to compare. I can't say I particularly liked the book, so this is one of those rare instances where I can't really complain about the book being better than the movie. They were both about as equally meh? Amy Adams' was brilliant as always and did the best she could with this poor attempt at a Hitchcock ripoff, carrying the movie entirely on her own. The movie pacing was terribly off, long drawn out boring scenes but virtually no character or story development. We learn next to nothing about Anna Fox, her husband, her therapist or the Russell's...Jane 1.0/Katherine comes off as a trashy stereotype when she should have been the smooth, cool and delightful creature she was written to be. They showed their hand by making Ethan behave creepily from the get-go. They had so many opportunities to improve upon a pretty blah bit of material, but instead made a whole bunch of obscure changes, dropped characters and added things that really didn't make a whole lot of sense... the director completely gave away what could have been an incredible twist. In both formats you don't really get to know Ana well enough to really root for her, and in the movie you there just aren't enough any redeeming qualities in any of the characters except for maybe Punch lol. The climax scene was so ridiculous I actually laughed out loud.
What Lies Beneath (2000)
Perfect blend
I first saw What Lies Beneath in theater when I was in college. I remember shrieking out loud with my best friend in one of the final climax scenes. 😜 I just watched it with my daughter for her first time so it was kind of fun to watch it through her eyes... she does not startle easily and she was covering her eyes and jumped quite a few times. I personally love this kind of thriller, without a bunch of unnecessary blood and gore. Michelle Pfeiffer is simply amazing if you see how much of the movie she carries all by herself. It's slightly slower paced, but that really allows the tension to build and the characters to develop. I love how everything is tied together, it's a very layered story and solid writing... unlike most horror movies that are very one dimensional.
Dash & Lily (2020)
So cute.
I was a little apprehensive about watching teeny bopper rom-com....but it was super cute and had a very original storyline. It definitely makes you think about the magic of romance and mixing things up a bit.
A Castle for Christmas (2021)
A good time
I had very low expectations for this movie, but I really enjoyed it! It was entertaining, had beautiful scenery and I loved Brook and Cary... who's Scottish accent was much better than I expected. I'm sure it's not realistic and yes, it's a bit corny, but was still a very enjoyable movie.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
The best movie I've seen in years.
As a child of the 80's, Ghostbusters is very nostalgic for me ... this one far, far exceeded any moderate expectations I had. I laughed, I jumped out of my seat, I even got a bit teary eyed. You know when you say, they just don't make movies like they used to? Well after this, I guess I can't say that anymore. We saw it in XD and my 10 year old said it was the best movie she's ever seen.
The Ottoman Lieutenant (2017)
Meh
It's hard for me to put into words; but in the end this movie was just ... meh... for me. Cinematography was beautiful. Loved Michiel Huisman and Ben Kingsley. The female lead just... lacked something... very ordinary, boring even... despite the extraordinary things she did for that era. About 1/3 of the movie in I was entranced... but the shallow plot left me not really caring about any particular outcome.
Ich bin dein Mensch (2021)
Thoroughly Enjoyable
I'm not generally a big fan of science fiction or movies with a bizarre robo-romantic plot lines... but loved Dan Steven in Downton Abbey, so I couldn't wait to see this movie. It's very slow paced, but engaging and entertaining. It was humorous, touching and definitely thought-provoking and tugged at the heartstrings. While the scenario is completely implausible, I chose to suspend belief and just enjoy it. The ending was a little too ambiguous to be satisfying, the only thing keeping me from giving it 10 stars.
No Tomorrow (2016)
Funny and refreshing
Stumbled across this on Netflix and it's the most original, funny and refreshing show I've seen in ages. I honestly can't remember the last time I watched a sitcom that made me laugh.... out loud... It's a little dumb at times, unless most sitcoms these days this show isn't just flat out stupid. I loved the premise, the chemistry between Evie and Xavier... the dry humor in all of the characters. I watched all 13 episodes and can't find the epilogue anywhere, it's not on Netflix, so will have to accept being left hanging. I think this show is just a victim of cord cutting, if it'd had better marketing and availability to watch it across various platforms I think it would have caught on. It's very frustrating to get invested in characters when series after series gets canceled without any forethought into the viewer. I think No Tomorrow could easily have been a one or two part mini series, they don't all need to run for 8 or 10 seasons. I hope producers will start planning seasons that stand on their own instead of leaving viewers high and dry with no ending or one that's poorly thrown together. Regardless, I loved No Tomorrow and think I'll be making my own Apocolyst.
Black and Blue (2019)
Excellent
I haven't read the other reviews, don't want my first reaction to be tainted. Naomi Harris was absolutely fantastic. I love the many layers of the characters, how you see both good and bad in all of them. Really shows the humanity. It's an intense movie with a good amount of action throughout. I was really rooting for the truth to come out. Sure some of it seemed implausible, like why doesn't she just call the captain or someone else? Well what would be the fun in that. Excellent, timely movie.
Land (2021)
Beautiful Movie
So glad I wasn't swayed away from watching this by the low reviews. Beautifully done, very touching movie.
Malory Towers (2020)
Beautifully done
So nice to find a wholesome show but also interesting and unique plot line. The scenery and set design matching the era are incredibly well done. Loved it!
It Was Always You (2021)
Could have been so much better
There's nothing inherently bad about this movie, but it's just not very original and definitely trying too hard to be "perfect." Characters had so little chemistry until near the end and what little personality they had felt forced, even cringey at times. Pretty sure Erin Krakow is wearing a wig, just...why? And they made George out to be basically an automaton. I hate to be a couch critic because I love a good hallmark even if it's predictable, but this one just fell flat for me.
The Capture (2019)
Captivating
Brilliant, gripping... was engrossed all the way through. Very original and was a bonus that it wasn't full of profanity. I'm a little salty about how it ended, but I also think it makes sense.
Bridgerton (2020)
Your experience will vary.
I read the first Bridgerton novel some years ago and loved it, filing in the fun-but-shallow bodice ripper category. I was kind of surprised to see it was being made into a series - I think there are others more worthy of being made into a production- but I was excited to see it nonetheless. I really wish I could have enjoyed this series as a unique experience, but instead I couldn't help but compare it constantly to the book. IMO it falls short in capturing the essence of the original story, the fun and light hearted banter between Daphne and Simon... the passion the develops with them is much greater and while it's never feasible to get an entire book into a series, the show's producer adds unnecessary and distracting elements with the historically inaccurate casting, using current pop music and I don't understand the motivation to change some of the important plot lines and scenes from the story. So, if you're not a historical fiction purist and/or haven't read the book - you'll probably love it. Also, people please don't insult Jane Austen by suggesting this is anything like her exceptional works. Even the book is nowhere in her league.
Holidate (2020)
Trashy
So much to love about this movie, funny, great chemistry between the leads... while the storyline was cliche, aren't all rom-cons to varying degrees? It would have gotten a solid 8+ from me had it not been so foul-mouthed and trashy. I don't mind language or inappropriate humor to some degree; but to me it's taken too far and shows a lack of imagination or breadth of vocabulary.
Wild Mountain Thyme (2020)
Bizarre
Near miss. Beautiful scenery, interesting story line and great actors... they all gave committed performances despite the fact they would have done better with Irish leads for Walker or Blunt's characters. Writing just took a wrong turn somewhere towards the weird and too-bizarre. Just didn't hit it for me unfortunately, could have been excellent.
Follow Me to Daisy Hills (2020)
Meh
Very predictable storyline, not enough chemistry between Busby and Williams but I liked them both. A few cute moments... I think I'd have liked the sister in the main role better... it also gets hard to watch multiple movies with the same lead coming out around the same time. Perfectly adequate time killer, but not a favorite.
Love, Guaranteed (2020)
Very Original
I am incredibly surprised by the low reviews and question whether these people have a heart or a sense of humor. I absolutely loved this movie. It truly has some lol moments, very relatable - of course a little cheesy at the end but overall a very fun and entertaining movie. I also very much appreciated the absence of foul language or crude content, which is hard to find these days while still being funny. I about died when Tiffany's "I think we're alone now" came on in her car - it was the very first cassette tape I ever owned in the 80's. 😂🤣 So maybe this movie is just only relatable for a specific target audience like myself. 🤷♀️