Roulette Films

Well, I survived. I'm not sure if the drinks imbibed or the film I watched caused me more psychological damage, but that's really all you need to know about this experience. So, watch as I review Rebel Moon live while watching it, and also play a game where I need to take a drink whenever some very frequent, very painful thing occurs in the movie. Zack Snyder's still got it, it seems (this is not a compliment).

And if you're also a proud survivor of the Rebel Moon experience, let me know what you thought of the movie in the comments! I'd love to hear it.

On Thursday I went to see Joker 2, which turned out to be the most unfortunate 2 hours and change of my week. There are a litany of reasons for this that could never fit in this description, but I spend some time talking about a few of the most egregious offenses Joker 2 commits as a film over the course of this review. Whether it's engaging in compelling themes, having intrigue in its central plot, or just checking the very basic boxes that are expected of a musical, Joker 2 comes up short. I then spend some time comparing the movie to a much old film that seems to do everything Joker 2 wanted to do but much more entertainingly and successfully. Watch this review, along with relevant clips from the films I mention, on my YouTube channel here. And find all my other links here.

This past weekend I went to check out the sequel to the classic film Beetlejuice in theaters, and really liked it. To put it simply, I just really enjoyed the vibe that the cast and the crew and everyone who worked on this project curated and delivered to the screen. Everything from costuming to song selection to line delivery matched in its energy and came together to give a simple, good time. I talk about this and why it can make or break movies. What are your thoughts on Beetlejuice Beetlejuice? Did you like it as much as me? More? Less? Why or why not? Let me know!

Check out this review, along with clips from the film, on my YouTube Channel here. This YouTube channel also recently reached 500 subs, and I'm looking to do a special video for that. Let me know what you might want to see over on that channel!

In this review, I discuss the abject disappointment that was the Borderlands film. Taking a zany video game and turning into a blob of bland nothingness is no small feat, but it was achieved nonetheless. Really there are almost no saving graces in this film, and not much of anything can even be considered passable. There are a litany of reasons for the films numerous shortcomings, but one stands out above the rest, and in this review I discuss what that central issue is.
Did you subject yourself to Borderlands? Did you survive? If so, do you agree? What did you think of it? Anything I fail to mention that you noticed?

And find all my other links here.

In this review, I discuss the most recent seasons of The Bear and The Boys. Both of these shows are series I had enjoyed thoroughly in the past. Yet, both somehow have not reached the same heights that I know they are capable of. I attempt to diagnose and describe this problem, and maybe create some new vocabulary in the process. So, sit back, relax, and listen to me rant about Treadmill Seasons, the seasons of television which are just as much work as a real run of a show, but don't really get us to really *go* anywhere. Watch this review on YouTube with accompanying clips from each show here. And find all my other links here.

In this review, I discuss the follow up to Matt Reeves's Planet of the Apes trilogy, where a new character in a new era is the focus. I talk about how the legacy of the recent trilogy, as well as the legacy of the franchise in general, weighs on Kingdom. I talk about how Kingdom smartly manages to lift this weight and carry it with grace, succeeding where many other franchises burdened by the successes of their past have done less. Watch this episode on YouTube here, along with clips from the films I discuss. And find all my other links here.

In this review, I talk about how two shows I've recently watched use the perspectives they give us to enhance the messages of their narratives. Shogun constantly pushes the limits of our allegiances and loyalties with its major characters, and Blue Eye Samurai brings us headlong down the path of vengeance beside Mizu. Each of these are only possible through the specific angle these stories present themselves to us through. Any other lens and they are completely different. If you watched either of these series, let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Are there other shows or films you can think of that also use the perspective of the viewer to their advantage? Find this review, as well as accompanying footage from both series, on my YouTube channel here. And find all my other links here.

In this episode I talk about Invincible Season Two, which recently had its finale air. Specifically, I talk about some departures it has from its source material, and how I think those departures work to elevate the narrative rather than take away from it. I know adaptations straying from their original works is a hotly contested topic, but I believe the changes I discuss in this episode can be universally agreed upon as good, as well as be learning opportunities to understand what makes good stories good. Watch this review on my YouTube channel here, along with clips from the show that illustrate my points. And find all my other links here.

Dune Part Two was phenomenal. In this video I talk about how I think it did that. It kept us tethered to this massive, sweeping story by making sure to spend time with its characters in their smaller moments, so that we would really feel *with* them in the big ones. Watch this review along with beautiful clips from the film on my YouTube here. And find all my other links here.

In this episode I graduate from talking about a pilot episode to discussing an entire season of a television show. Percy Jackson was a show I went into with high hopes, coming back each week in the hopes of something that was better than or improved upon what we got in the previous episode, but it never came. I highlight issues endemic to the series, and bring up specific examples to highlight why these problems at the core of how the season was written make for such an underwhelming and unfulfilling experience as a viewer. Find this review with clips from the show on my YouTube here. And find all my other links here.