EvilPhoEniX

An enjoyable crime drama/thriller from Harlan Coben and this year's Netflix cannonade is incredible so far. We have the gorgeous Michelle Keegan playing an ex-soldier (I loved that she doesn't fuck with anyone) whose sister and husband have recently been murdered, plus her husband. However, after she sees her dead husband on a hidden camera, a decent carousel of events unfolds, supported by some nice twists and turns, and this whole crime has a much bigger scope, which I applaud. The characters are likeable, even the detective duo is cool, it has a decent pace thanks to well dosed information, I liked the music and surprisingly I enjoyed it more than I hoped before watching it. The final two episodes ratchet up the tension to the max and I have to say that I definitely didn't count on the killer being revealed and the final showdown, which is also very satisfying (albeit slightly shocking). It's not a masterpiece to remember like The Innocent, but it's very decent entertainment that won't offend fans of convoluted stories where you don't know the outcome until the last moment. 75%

It wasn't bad, but I expected more. Herman Yau can occasionally surprise, and the final action blast scratches a 4-star rating, but it doesn't quite achieve it. The story follows a group of detectives investigating a gang that robs trains. Chinese star Andy Lau is good, visually it's fine, there's not much action, more like chases (don't expect any fights), but the final shootout in the warehouse had a decent epic scale, it really surprised me, but the rest didn't excite me as much. It's not boring, but nothing that I would remember. 6/10.

It’s supposed to be the Japanese version of Evil Dead - ultimate gore anthology! Yeah, right. I haven't felt so embarrassed watching something in a long time. The film, if you can even call it that, is only just under an hour long, but it's still unbearable crap. The Japanese are somewhere else and they can't balance the boundaries of taste and humor, and most of the time it's just more embarrassing than anything else. The initial nod to Evil Dead, with chainsaw in hand, at least was passable, but the rest is awful. Instead of demons slaughtering, they coffee, jump rope, and laugh like kids. Well, that's what we all want to see. Really bad. 1/10.

Netflix has started off the year in a big way and ruthlessly crushing the competition. This is a pleasant surprise that I don't think anyone expected miracles from. The Brothers Sun is a combination of gangster and family drama, which I think is quite refreshing, and I didn't believe it could work, but it does solidly – though I would be more satisfied it it was purely a gangster drama. The best character is Charles, an uncompromising assassin and one of the two brothers who returns to LA to protect their mother and his nerdy brother from a new gang trying to take out all the Triads. The series has a very captivating and entertaining pace, something is always happening, and there are even humorous moments. You can relate to the characters, even the nerdy brother didn't get on my nerves too much (although some of his decisions were on the edge), and I really enjoyed the whole plot with the Triads. When it came to action, the creators really excelled. All the action scenes are shot in one take without cuts, and the choreography is very well done. Charles is a real cool guy and elevates the action scenes. It's not very brutal, because it's also a family drama, but I enjoyed it immensely. Especially in the 7th episode, the action finale took my breath away. There were also some twists and turns, the music is good, and visually, it's on point. Everything is in order. It may not be a masterpiece, but it's top-notch TV entertainment that shouldn't offend anyone. Everyone will find something here. 8/10.

Berlin is a Spin-off and prequel to the famous Money Heist, and no one expected it to try to match it. Those willing to come to terms with that will enjoy Berlin. For me, Berlin was the best character in the series, so I really enjoyed his return. His voice, wisdom, and speeches in Spanish are simply a delight, and it must be acknowledged that the new group of thieves is also very well done and likable. Each character is unique in their own way, and there is some resemblance to the previous group. Ramona is like a mix of Nairobi and Tokyo, but she is the right hot element for the series. The entire heist is imaginative, carefully planned to the smallest detail, and it also includes the trademark of the series, the tension and the buildup of the scenes where you know that things are getting serious. For me, the emotions, dialogues, and screenplay all worked well, and the entertainment value is evident throughout the whole series. In the last three episodes, two familiar inspectors, Raquel and Sierra, enter the scene, bringing a decent Money Heist vibe. There is quite a lot of romance, and at times, it has a touch of telenovela, which most people complain about, but I must say that I didn't mind it at all. It is because it is one of the best love stories and romances I have ever seen. Berlin is a great guy and a seducer, so I devoured his show with excitement, including Samantha Siqueiros, who is an incredible beauty that I also fell in love with. Personally, I am very satisfied and looking forward to the second season.. 8/10.

Netflix and J.A. Bayona deliver a reconstruction of the famous story of the plane crash with a rugby team in 1972, and although Alive is good, this more modern package suits it even better. Those who haven't seen the original will enjoy the film even more, but for those who don't remember it like I do, this remake is not harmful. Bayona is an expert on disasters, as he already proved in The Impossible, and the plane crash is brilliantly captured. Unpleasant, realistic, and brutal (that bone-breaking scene was epic, I had to watch it three times), the characters are likable; you will root for them, as the frost, hunger, and hopelessness mercilessly engulf you, which is an important element. I was hoping that cannibalism would be more developed (I hoped they would show some butchering, but that would be entering a different genre). The scene with the avalanche is also good, and despite its longer running time, the film quickly passed by, even though nothing significant or fun happens. Netflix delivered a decent, chilling survival flick right from the start, which will please fans of the genre. The story remains powerful even after all these years. 75%

James Wan is wasted with this digital crap. He needs either another horror movie or some action-packed smash, this film could have been directed by anyone else and the result would be the same - average. The first one was really cool, this is a bit of recycling, but at the same time without any added value. The humour doesn't work either, why the hell do we have the same villain and not someone new? I would have liked a horror and atmospheric sequence like from the first one (the with those creatures like from Alien – It's a shame that the spin-off with them was cancelled). The supporting characters don't have much space, Nicole Kidman, Amber Heard, and Dolph Lundgren are appear briefly, and although there’s one action scene after another, none of them really blow your mind. When I think back to that epic monstrous fight from the first one, the finale here is quite intimate, which is a big minus for me. The sound in Theatre Deluxe is great, there was something to watch, so I’m not pissed off, it's better than The Marvels, Ant-Man 3, and Blue Beetle, but still it isn't anything special. Comic books films are going in the wrong direction. 6/10.

After a long time, Nicolas Cage stars in something that is not in entertaining or a crazy B-movie, but a serious drama from the A24 studio, and is probably something few people expected. Dream Scenario has a very original thought-provoking concept. The main character starts appearing in people's dreams out of nowhere and becomes a viral phenomenon. As a professor, he desired fame and attention, so he is happy about it. But then he starts appearing to people in nightmares and Cage becomes hated by society. It is a pretty scary idea that something he is not responsible for could ruin his life. This is all fine, just a shame that there were very few of those dream sequences themselves (which are quite good), they could have taken up more time. I didn't find it funny at all, so I don't understand the comedy classification. Cage plays naturally, and since he is a professor, he has intelligent dialogues. It's a shame that in the end, when there could have been a significant twist, nothing happens, it just fizzles out. It is an interesting film that deserves attention, but I could imagine it being more audience-friendly. I would rate it between 3-4 stars, but this time I lean towards three. 65%

Action martial arts historical romp! I have been waiting for this film for over a year and finally got a proper blue ray version, and it is an amazing martial arts ride as expected. It is quite close to Rurouni Kenshin and the Korean The Swordsman, although the story here serves only as a sauce for the fights, which doesn't matter at all because I always appreciate honest craftsmanship and proper choreography. The protagonist is a blind swordsman and bounty hunter who is collecting money for his eye operation and decides to bring justice to a city that has suffered a tragedy. A groom has been brutally murdered and the bride brutally attacked. Revenge in this case means a pile of dead bodies and a lot of broken bones. Right from the opening fight in the rain, where the protagonist brutally mows down a gang of bastards, but in such a way that it hurt even me and it literally shot me off the couch, which hasn't happened in a long time. The film has beautiful visuals, and considering the low-budget film, they took my breath away in some places. Most of the fractures are even in slow motion, so you really get to enjoy every move and hit, and thanks to the highly developed choreography, believe me, there is something to watch. The protagonist uses about three different fighting styles, and although he is blind, he is the ultimate killing machine with no competition. He also has two strong opponents, a woman and a jumping lunatic with hooks, and the fights with them are worth it. The film is only 75 minutes long, so it doesn't have time to captivate with the plot, and you mostly just waits for the fight sequences, but it's still fantastic. If you like martial arts stuff, don't hesitate! It's a shame that the film was not two hours long and did not deliver more. 8/10.

I enjoyed the first episode more unfortunately. It's very nicely shot (the cinematography is breathtaking), the actors play perfectly, and there is less action, but when it comes to it is again very good. However, since I didn't remember the first part much, I got lost in the plot, it seemed to me too convoluted and because of that, I couldn't fully immerse myself in the film. Maybe I'll give it a second chance when it comes out online, but I just don't feel like giving it 4 stars, even it meets the parameters of a 4-star film. 6/10.