July 2017

Dark Matter – Isn’t That a Paradox?

  • Title: Dark Matter – Isn’t That a Paradox?
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Dark Matter - Isn't That a Paradox? television review

While not as amusing as the time-loop episode from earlier this season, “Isn’t That a Paradox?” is a goofy episode. The (often malfunctioning) Blink Drive has proved to be an intriguing plot element used to allow the show to do some more unusual stories. This time the malfunctioning device sends the crew of the Raza back in time to 2017 where they attempt to fit into suburban life while seeking out a second Blink Drive whose connection to theirs caused their unexpected journey in time. It’s an interesting idea that feels a little rushed (think of how much fun it would have been for them to be stranded in the past for multiple episodes).

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Hooten & the Lady – Egypt

  • Title: Hooten & the Lady – Rome
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Hooten & the Lady - Egypt television review

The third episode of Hooten & the Lady is a little more Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as Lady Alex Lindo-Parker (Ophelia Lovibond) and Ulysses Hooten (Michael Landes) work together in Egypt to find the long-lost tomb of Alexander the Great. Opposing them is a secret sect of Greek warriors with their own plans for the remains of Alexander. There’s tombs to be unearthed, centuries-old puzzles to solve, and once again a choice for Hooten and Alex about whether or not to allow such potentially-dangerous artifacts into the world.

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Atomic Blonde

  • Title: Atomic Blonde
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Atomic Blonde movie reviewIt’s easy to compare Atomic Blonde to John Wick. Charlize Theron stars as a talented killer who will leave a wide swath of bodies in her wake through a series of well-executed stunt sequences. Director David Leitch (who was un-credited for directing some scenes in the previously-mentioned Keanu Reeves action flick) takes the helm and brings the same energy and feel to this project. However, the comparison only goes so far.

One of the things that makes John Wick work is the simplicity of its premise. Wick is a revenge story without the need for plot to get in the way. The character is wronged and spends the rest of the film seeking vengeance. Adapted from the comic of the same name, Atomic Blonde is an entirely different animal. Rather than a stylish revenge fantasy, the new film is a spy story that relies on several twists and turns. These begin to drag out (especially during a convoluted final act) before eventually getting us to the end of secret agent Lorraine Broughton’s (Theron) journey. It doesn’t help that Leitch fails to take advantage of the setting (this movie never feels like a Cold War spy thriller) or that many of the twists are either easy to see coming and/or create some large plot holes no one is eager to address.

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