Day of the Jackal

This currently one season series follows a professional assassin "aka the Jackal" (played by Eddie Redmayne) and the law enforcement personnel out to get him. There's a good amount of killing here and an OK story to boot. I especially enjoy the "random NPCs" (or small part characters) being so on the ball for a change, keeping the Jackal constantly off balance.

In this telling the Jackal is also not "flawless" (in this version) as he gets caught up in day dreams, worrying about his family and the like which is fine as it puts him in action sequences more frequently. I did not like the main cop pursuer though. Not sure if it was the acting or if they part should have been written better, but I was backing the Jackal the whole way. I'm looking forward to what season two has to offer!

Zero Day and Paradise

Series that involve presidential action.

Zero Day

After a cyber attack causes chaos and disaster all across the USA, former president Mullen (played by Robert De Niro) is made lead investigator and put in charge of a newly formed goverment group that can freely trample the people's freedoms to find the culprit. It's certainly an interesting chase, made more challenging given Mullen's slowly losing his mind. With only six episodes it's worth a watch, but man do I hate that "Who killed Bambi" song that keeps playing in every episode.

Paradise

This so far one season series follows a lead secret service security agent (played by Sterling K. Brown) whose life gets much more complicated when the president he's supposed to protect is murdered! With powerful people pulling the strings he's not sure who to trust. Good story with interesting hooks per episode that will make you want to watch the next one. Especially as there's only eight episodes currently its a recommended one to binge watch. :)

Lioness and Landman

Taylor Sheridan continues to create entertaining stuff.

Lioness

This so far two season show stars Zoe Saldana as a CIA case officer who likes to yell that is in charge of the special "Lioness" task force / kill squad which involves her hiring / training up women to then infiltrate friends and family of the target followed by ultimately killing said target. There's a fair bit of action each episode with a strong tendency towards torture violence and nudity, which combined with explosions is one of my favorite combos! Obviously I'm enjoying this one even though the operators don't move as cleanly as those in Seal Team (TV). If you like easy on the brain violence then you might enjoy this one too.

Landman

The oil business is what keeps the world turning and this show focuses on one of the people that makes that happen: the "Landman" (played by Billy Bob Thornton) who buys up leases and manages them. If that sounds boring then you're in for a heck of a surprising first episode as a drug cartel happens to be one of those leases he needs to balance. It also gives a nice peek into how the oil industry runs and all that heavy/dirty stuff is off set by the ridiculous hi jinks of his family and friends. Recommended, and it will probably be more palpable than Lioness to more viewers.

Red Sparrow Outside the Wire

Movies with manipulation.

Red Sparrow

A famous Russian ballerina (played by Jennifer Lawrence) is manipulated by her uncle into joining the SVR Sparrow school where she learns the art of sexpionage to use against their USA counter parts. The story is a rather dark one but good, and while there is a bit of violence here, there is obviously much more in terms of nudity (full frontal) and sex. Worth a watch but I'm not sure I'd want to watch it again as the content is a bit "heavy" and the run time a little long.

Outside the Wire

In a future with robot soldiers supporting their human counterparts, war still rages in Ukraine. A drone operator who disobeyed an order is sent to the front lines as punishment to work in a two man team with his superior, Captain Leo (played by Anthony Mackie) who rather quickly reveals he is an experimental android and their mission is to find "lost nuclear silos" in the region. Uh. Really? You have freaking robots, drones, satellites and you need to walk around ask where these things are? The drone operator could have used a stronger actor too. That aside there's an ok movie in here, but its not one you need to rush out and see.

Gyeongseong Creature (Season 1) and The Dry

Investigations into monsters.

Gyeongseong Creature (Season 1)

In this Korean made series set during the Japanese occupation of Korea 1945, a well connected pawn shop owner and a pair of sleuths tasked with locating missing people find clues that lead them to the local hospital where it just so happens the Japanese are conducting some monstrous experiments. While there are horror/monster aspects to the plot it isn't the bulk of the story, with heavy focus on the drama / love segment of it instead with some really colorful segments. That's not a bad thing but it certainly slows the pace down a bit, and I'm not sure I would have made it if we weren't watching at 1.5x speed. Entertaining enough to watch but I'm only going to be recommending it to K-drama lovers. Season 2 is already confirmed.

The Dry

This Australian made movie focuses on a Federal Agent (played by Eric Bana) who returns to his home town for the funeral of his childhood friend thought to be involved in a murder/suicide. Obviously he is asked to investigate but to complicate matters his history with the little town is spotty at best from a murder that took place in his youth. These two events really drive the two timelines that this story follows which nicely depicts rural Australian life. Basically, it's an Aussie whodunit and it is bloody good mate - she'll be right! Recommended!

Bird Box and Bird Box Barcelona

The best way to save on monster CGI.

Bird Box

When the world is invaded by hostile creatures, a small band of survivors makes a trek to try find safety. Starring Sandra Bullock, the concept is quite ridiculous because as soon as you look at one of these things (which are never shown) you become intensely suicidal. Clever way to save on budget, but also ridiculous as people somehow manage to navigate without tripping over more than they should. Also, since you can't see them, the monsters aren't super scary because they have no physical abilities whatsoever (other than whispering aggressively if you aren't looking)? An interesting film nonetheless but... feels dopey.

Bird Box Barcelona

This film is almost the same as the last one, except in Spanish but with more of a focus on the crazies who are affected differently when they see the still invisible creatures. Just as ridiculous as the first film but the twist is decent enough to earn it a watch if you liked the concept.

Playing with Fire and Leave the World Behind

People winning stupid prizes.

Playing with Fire

Smoke jumpers are cool but this team (led by John Cena) are definintely just caricatures of them especially when they are forced to take care of a trio of naughty children. It's amazing that its the adults that are doing the overacting with child actors around, and while it looks like they enjoyed filming this comedy I'm not so sure I enjoyed watching it, especially as I wanted to drop the eldest child in a fire as the film went on (pretty sure she's an arsonist anyway). Not recommended.

Leave the World Behind

In this thriller a family led by their matriarch (played by Julia Roberts) goes on an impromptu vacation and shortly after arriving begin to experience some ominous stuff. Stuff!? Yeah I don't want to be more specific than that as that is the entire (and sole) hook to this film. Good acting, nice cinematography and a plot that keeps you guessing lead to a pretty interesting watch... until you get to the anticlimactic and unsatisfying end which sort of made the film feel incomplete. As such, also not recommended.

The Blacklist (TV Series)

When the FBI's most wanted person, Raymond "the concierge of crime" Reddington (played by James Spader), turns himself in to become a super high value criminal informant - a secret task force is established to hunt down people on his list which both takes criminals off the streets and advances Raymond's agendas.

I wonder if there's an abridged version...

It's a pretty decent setup and Spader is truly the highlight of the show with all his wonderful eloquence and endearing ticks. There's a modicum of action pieces but mostly its a crime thriller with some crazy ideas. With 10 Seasons worth of content (and a failed spin-off to boot) the strength of the plot wanes over time with relatively few pick-me ups and some characters carry the idiot-ball way too much. If you haven't seen it, it's worth trying out anyway. I just can't guarantee you'll stick with it. :P

Rabbit Hole (Season 1) and Garth Marenghi's Darkplace

What is real?

Rabbit Hole (Season 1)

A freelance corporate manipulator (played by Keifer Sutherland) is put in a tight spot when framed for murder. With powerful enemies and an already heavy dose of paranoia coupled with a vivid imagination, working out what is real becomes his only means to survive. Definitely a thriller with just enough combat to spice things up, and a decent enough plot to let the viewer question who and who isn't "a bad guy". Recommended, and looking forward to a season two if it continues on!

Garth Marenghi's Darkplace

This one season horror parody has almost no budget coupled with an intentionally terrible plot and bad acting which leads to either something super cringey or super utterly hilarious depending on your temperament with this type of comedy. All six episodes are centered around the Darkplace hospital which experiences everything between plagues and demons, and as a "bonus" there are commentary sections made by the characters to explain the deep significance (*chortle*) of what you are seeing. This might be a hit or a miss for you, but at least you can try it out for free on youtube.

A Quiet Place I and II

The biggest danger is stupid kids.

Hostile alien beasts have crash landed on Earth and despite being blind are really sturdy and fast to the point that they've become the apex predator on this planet. These films follow a small family of survivors (starring John Krasinski and Emily Blunt) and how they get by in a world where silence is golden, and the answer is - really easily, because they are smart and resilient. Unfortunately their kids do not share those same traits.

As you might expect these are quiet movies that make use of sign language (expect to read sub titles) and the monsters are actually nicely done and don't hide in the dark distance all the time. Interestingly, while there is certainly a lot of killing most of it happens off screen so there's not too much gore here - but plenty of things to still make the viewer squeamish. Worth watching both - recommended!

Prey (2022 movie) and Alice in Borderland (2 Seasons)

Killing for sport.

Prey

Naru (Amber Midthunder) wants to prove to her tribe that she can be a huntress but is constantly overshadowed by her skilled brother. When a Predator on safari arrives from space, the hunters quickly become the hunted. While it is a simple story it is very well done and comes with decent action sequences to boot. Recommended!

Alice in Borderland

A strange event sends people into an alternate version of Tokyo where they must participate in cruel and deadly games to survive while collecting a deck of playing cards. This is a really odd two season show, but it is also really good with multiple excellent characters, great music, and good sets and cinematography. It also has loads of death and gore so be warned! If you are ok with that (or liked Squid Game) then this is definitely one you should watch.

The Batman (2022) and The Invisible Guest (2016)

Two crime solving movies!

The Batman (2022)

When a smart (and ultra sneaky) villain starts murdering people and leaving riddles addressed to the Batman, the police quickly involve the in/famous masked vigilante (played by Robert Pattinson) to help solve the case. This dark and gritty Gotham is nice as are the peppering of action sequences throughout but the movie is far too long for its ultimately average plot. There are so many scenes that linger too long for no purpose and regardless of the setting or time of day, everyone aggressively whispers to each other instead of talking like normal. I also felt the music composition was a bit weak. Only recommended for Bat or R-Pat fans who might be able to endure the long running time.

The Invisible Guest (2016)

In this Spanish mystery thriller film, a man (Mario Casas) accused of murder talks to his lawyer to try establish a defense for his upcoming criminal case. There is almost zero action here and the plot makes heavy use of flashbacks yet it is leagues better than the Batman, as you get invested quickly as the plot moves at a good pace and the "puzzle" of the crime does get your mind thinking throughout. Highly recommended.

The Gray man and Full Metal Alchemist (2017 / Live Action)

People who want to save people are the most dangerous people of them all?

The Gray Man

CIA trained assassin (Ryan Gosling) becomes the target of his own agency when proof of their corruption falls into his possession. While the plot is thin and predictable it is an action packed film with some good fight scenes and some laughs included. Entertaining enough to recommend, especially for Ryan Gosling fans. Just don't go in with any expectations and everything will be fine.

Full Metal Alchemist (2017)

Based on the popular manga of the same name, this series follows a pair of brothers desperately trying to retrieve that which they lost due to their own foolishness. While the film condenses and alters a bit of the story, it is still pretty solid for the most part (the ending is a bit lol and the pace means it lacks some emotional hits) and while the CGI isn't the best as its obviously on a budget, it's passable. The main issue for me is the protagonist.

While all the actors cheesily try to act like their comic counterparts the protagonist is simply unlikable or weak acting wise, but to be fair he also has the hardest job. His "blonde" hair is also the most distracting of all of them. In the end, I'm not sure I can recommend this because there are better methods to get the same / similar story and for fans, you already know the story so...? That didn't stop them from making two more live action movies though. :P

Criminal and Spine of the Night

Two mental movies.

Criminal (2016)

Jericho (Kevin Costner) is a bad man with mental issues, but these same mental issues make him a prime candidate for the memory transference of a secret agent who has a mission to save the world. Dubious science aside, this is a decent action thriller with some good actors but it would have been better if the cops didn't make so many stupid mistakes and hasty judgement calls. Still worth a watch, and this is one I'd watch again.

Spine of the Night

Some interesting fashion choices.

 
This animated fantasy is all about a flower that both gives you power and makes you trip balls, but the story spans across centuries and is told by literally having one character tell another what happened. Ugh! It also doesn't help that the story isn't that strong and that there are filler scenes/stories that didn't need to be there. Art wise the back grounds are great despite clashing with the fantastic frame by frame but shadowless style of the characters. I do have to say its like they were too proud of their art and made all the combat slow though. Anyway, only attempt watching this if you want something really out there.

State of Play

Little violence but thrilling nonetheless.

I heart you too, bro.

When Congressman Steve (Ben Affleck) is put on the hot seat, its up to grizzled reporter Cal (Russell Crowe) to help him clear his name and his reputation. There's very little in the way of violence in this flick, but the tight script and good cast do make it an interesting watch. As is the case with most thrillers, I can't really say more without giving the story away so all I can say is if you want something that will keep your attention or are a fan or Mr. Crowe of Mr. Affleck then this is one to watch. Three misdirections out of five, and yes - I'd probably watch it one more time.

The Bodyguard (series)

Not the Kevin Costner version.

Following a terrorist incident on a train, police sergeant Budd (Richard Madden) is tasked  to protect a highly visible and outspoken politician. I don't dare say more as it might spoil this six episode crime thriller drama, which is indeed worth a watch.

Guard duty: Both boring and difficult!

After the intro the first two episodes do drag a bit, but if you get past that the pace picks up nicely. The acting is pretty good and the plot will keep you guessing (and towards the end, glued to your seat). If you like detective type shows, this one should be on your radar. I give it 3 spasm hands out of 5.

Memento

"Now, where was I?"

After suffering an injury during a home invasion, Leonard (Guy Pearce) can no longer make new memories but that doesn't stop him in seeking revenge in this well written and well acted thriller.

Now there are few movies that I've seen which require your full attention at all times, but this is clearly one of them as half of the story is presented in reverse chronological order.

But is this a lie?

While it makes it harder to follow, it also makes it far more engaging. Guy Pearce does a fantastic job as Leonard, but so are the rest of the cast. As I don't want to spoil it, I'll just say if you haven't seen it yet please do so, as it is a very good film. Just be warned, it's not one you can switch your brain off while watching. I give it out 4 insulin shots of 5 and would certainly watch it again.

Split (2016)

People with problems are better than those without.

In this M. Night Shyamalan thriller, a group of girls are abducted by a kidnapper with a multiple personality disorder. This serves as a fantastic vehicle for James McAvoy to show off his range of acting talent. Everyone else was good too, it's just he literally had ... 9(?) roles to fill.

It also helps that the script and cinematography are spot on, though I did find it funny how there always seemed to be an excuse to keep making the girls slowly undress as the film went along (but hey, it turned out to be important)!

Many personalities, many faces.

Not something I thought I'd enjoy, but it's now something I'd probably watch again and can recommend it to people who like thrillers, or movies like Unbreakable. I give it 3 windows out of 5.

Now You See Me 2

Even more unbelievable than last time.

The dormant group of magician vigilantes from the last movie re-emerge with seemingly infinite resources, even more bogus magic powers, and have somehow retained their world wide fan base. The tables are turned when the bad guys have tricks of their own.

While it has decent acting, effects and comedy the plot feels quite lacking and required "filler"? One particular example is a complicated card passing sequence that could have been 90% shorter.

Cool, but not necessary.

Entertaining: yes. Better than original: no. I'm not sure who to recommend this to other than magic fans (I guess?) and it's not one I'd watch again. 2 throwing cards out of 5.

Double Space: Infini and Interstellar

Infini

Featuring teleporting with seizures!

In the future, 95% of the world is in poverty. How is that important? It isn't really. Stupid introductory text! In any case, mankind has progressed a lot in the exploration of space managing to practically teleport across vast distances via "slip streaming" using some grafted technology. A clever way to get around requiring space ships in the film, though it does come with some "BS time dilation" jargon which one of the characters in the film actually lampshades.

Any who most of the film focuses on one guy's disastrous first day on the job which sees him sent to the most distant, abandoned space outpost. Another squad is then sent to retrieve him but things go really bad when it's discovered there's something else out there with them. I have to say it's a pretty gripping thriller at the start, where you don't know what the hell is going on but as things become more clear it sort of loses traction a little and at some points even becomes silly (intentionally, judging how some scenes are cut).

Trippin balls in space.

This is one of those films that I feel could have been made a lot better if it did "x" (like a better focus on fighting) but for what it does do - it's pretty good, and it does make sense at the end why the combat isn't really the main focus of the story. I'm not going to give it away here, so if you like futuristic space thrillers then I think this is at least worth one watch. Expect to have a few unanswered questions though! Personally, I'd actually watch it again and give it three manual overrides out of five.

~~~

Interstellar

A lesson in relativity.

It's the future and the Earth is dying from simple starvation as crops simply lose viability. It's up to Matthew McConaughey and the remnants of NASA to find a new home for the human race. Right off the bat this is a high quality production from the much required and well done CGI and the experienced "big name" people that might even just show up for ten minutes of screen time. There are also lots of quiet moments, musically but these work well for the scenes they are used and are a nice contrast to the rest of the orchestral sound track.

Keep an eye out for them aliens.

Yes, much like the deus ex machina wormhole there are holes in the plot too, especially on the science end I would imagine (I wouldn't know though, not really my field) and the last section really just goes ultra weird but for me anyway it tied everything together decently (though not perfectly). Despite all that this is a bloody enthralling movie despite the long run time and one I would definitely watch again. I give it four gravitational pulls out of five and would definitely like to watch it again. Also, props to having a unique idea for robot design!