3.5 Razors

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker
  • IMDb: link

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker movie reviewWith The Rise of Skywalker J.J. Abrams returns to close-out the sequel trilogy which began with Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. Not content to end just this series, Abrams intends the film to work as the climax to all nine of the Star Wars films featuring mentions, Easter Eggs, and callbacks from every film (and even some of the various animated TV series). The shift also forces a change in the tone of the arc of the series as Rian Johnson‘s look to the future is replaced with a story tied very much to the past.

One of the complaints some had to The Last Jedi was the film wasn’t fan friendly enough. The Rise of Skywalker goes a bit overboard in attempting fix a problem which in my opinion didn’t exist in the first place. The result is a final entry to the franchise that feels like an attempt to placate more vocal fans by asking less of them the final time around and offering up a heaping of nostalgia and fan service instead. It’s more Return of the Jedi than Star Wars. On an emotional level, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker works. It’s a cathartic farewell to these characters. Story wise, however, it’s the weakest of the three sequel films.

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The Mandalorian – Chapter 1

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: The Mandalorian – Chapter 1
  • wiki: link

The Mandalorian - Chapter 1 TV review

The first episode of the Disney+ series introduces us to a nameless Mandalorian bounty hunter (Pedro Pascal) first through a rather routine bounty and second through a new job off-the-books that raises several red flags for our protagonist but whose payout cannot be ignored. Series creator Jon Favreau, who also wrote the first episode aims for a tone reminiscent of the Mos Eisley Cantina found in the original Star Wars. The early bar fight to open the episode and the later attack on a heavily-armed compound both show off the character’s skill-set, while the final scene of the episode offers a glimpse into the character’s emotional state.

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NCIS – The North Pole

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: NCIS – The North Pole
  • wiki: link

NCIS - The North Pole television review

In a callback to “Out of Darkness” and “Into the Light” which returned Cote de Pablo as Ziva David, “The North Pole” deals with the remaining mission Ziva wished to accomplish before returning to her family. The set-up of NCIS’ involvement is a bit awkward involving Odette Malone (Elayn J. Taylor) lying and tricking Bishop (Emily Wickersham) in order to secure the help of NCIS in the attempt to save a contact and friend of Ziva’s who was her lifeline during her years on underground. The twist the episode involves the reveal that the Sahar (Mouzam Makkar) killed was a lieutenant and not the true terrorist leader (Louise Barnes) who has been living under Gibb’s nose all this time.

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Hawaii Five-0 – Ka i ka ‘ino, no ka ‘ino

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Hawaii Five-0 – Ka i ka ‘ino, no ka ‘ino
  • wiki: link

Hawaii Five-0 - Ka i ka 'ino, no ka 'ino television review

Adam Noshimuri (Ian Anthony Dale) continues his role of stand-in for Chin-Ho as the team member to be attacked and framed for various crimes, repeatedly. Following the events of the previous episode, which involved Tamiko (Brittany Ishibashi) being kidnapped and her father murdered, and those responsible looking to frame him, Adam steps away from Five-0 without explanation looking towards his past to set-up a new future for himself and Tamiko. While not involved in the investigation, both McGarrett (Alex O’Loughlin) and Danny (Scott Caan) attempt to talk to Adam, but it looks like Adam’s days on the side of angels has come to an end.

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Richard Jewell

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Richard Jewell
  • IMDb: link

Richard Jewell movie reviewDirector Clint Eastwood‘s latest film examines Richard Jewell and the rise and fall of the security guard in the media from the hero who discovered a bomb during the 1996 Summer Olympics at Centennial Park to the FBI’s prime suspect in the bombing. An indictment on both media and the tendency of local and federal agencies to decide on a narrative and attempt to fit the facts to it rather than the other way around, the film focuses on how the lack of any evidence didn’t prevent either the FBI or the media at large from determining Jewell was guilty (despite the fact he was never charged with a crime).

Paul Walter Hauser is the stand-out as the naive Jewell who, even while being accused by the FBI, can’t help but try and help due to his hero worship of the police. Sam Rockwell and Kathy Bates are strong as the few supporters believing in Jewell’s innocence while the other side of the investigation features far more one-note characters with Jon Hamm is stuck in a cliched cop role as the man leading the investigation, and other actors as forgettable nameless support, and Olivia Wilde is a slutty reporter whose need to break the story costs Jewell everything.

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