Necrotongue

Well, it's safe to say that this series is shaping up to be quite the somber journey after just the first episode. What the main heroine is grappling with can be summed up as playing a bad hand. Any hope for a brighter future seems distant. What isn't bad due to others' fault, Alex makes up for with her own flawed decisions. I usually reserve three stars for pilot episodes, but in this case, it seems the downward spiral of the main character warranted an extra star. / Lesson learned: When life feels like it's crumbling in your hands, be sure that it will only get worse.

Yet another chapter in the Dirty Harry saga. Much like its predecessor Sudden Impact, it has solidified for me that the 70s version of Harry Callahan was better than his 80s version. It's not necessarily about the character's advancing age; the older stories simply felt more gripping. This time, the main villain was shrouded in mystery for quite some time, but upon reveal, he fell flat for me, barely registering as noteworthy. Harry seemed to spend more time at dinners than delivering his trademark dry remarks, and if not for the Italian mafiosos, I might have struggled to stay entertained. / Lesson learned: When aiming for a catch, it's best to wield a harpoon. 3*-

In this movie, Harry Callahan was a dozen years older than in his first film, but oddly enough, that wasn't the issue. The main flaw of the film was its inability to immerse me fully into its world. Throughout, it felt like I was merely watching moving pictures rather than being drawn into the plot. Clint Eastwood's direction didn't quite hit the mark for me. The lack of logical consistency and the presence of some entirely unnecessary characters added to the overall unconvincing nature of the film. It didn't manage to fully win me over years ago when I first watched it, and upon revisiting it today, my initial impression was only reinforced. / Lesson learned: Be cautious around carousels. 3*-

The follow-up to Dirty Harry brought back the iconic main character along with a small crowd of killers, though I'm not entirely convinced it added to the story. None of the villains managed to smirk arrogantly enough to make me eagerly anticipate their teeth being knocked out. Harry Callahan, true to form, remained cool as ever, echoing my sentiments from the previous installment. However, this time around, the story lacked a clear direction. Despite these critiques and its age, the film managed to captivate me more than many contemporary works, delivering an enjoyable experience once again. / Lesson learned: It's probably wiser not to provoke the traffic police. 4*-

Of all the funny content that can be found on YouTube, these minimalist episodes of a group of guys analyzing the peculiar logic of online games are my favorite. It's simply because I have been encountering similar characters in various gaming worlds for over a decade, so this often makes me laugh out loud. On the other hand, I suspect that a viewer unfamiliar with the issue may not see the appeal. Personally, I find the execution of some scenes almost brilliant :-) Oh, and Britt Scott Clark also appears in it. / Lesson learned: Even a garlic grower and seller can yearn for adventure.

Warning: This review is purely a subjective matter of an individual who has spent many years in the world of World of Warcraft. Viva La Dirt League are a group of enthusiasts who make fun of players, game worlds (especially their shortcomings), and themselves. They are really good at it. Maybe even a viewer who has never played online games can enjoy their ultra-short works, but certainly not as much as us, semi-professionals. This team simply knows what they're doing, so I regularly exercise my diaphragm while watching their creations, but Baelin's Route is quite different. Not only in terms of its length, but also because it had a more professional vibe. Once again, I had plenty of opportunities to burst out laughing, but at certain moments, it all had an unexpected depth that I didn't expect from these guys. I do not recommend it for film fans, but it is a must-watch for online game players. / Lesson learned: Treat NPCs nicely, you never know...

After what feels like ages, I found myself alongside Harry Callahan once more, chasing down Scorpia. It's been fifty-one years since Harry's first hunt (without me, obviously), and in this latest outing, his age shows, especially in the way the blood looked, almost like washed-out clay. But that didn't dampen my enjoyment one bit, because the core message of the film remains disturbingly relevant. Just like Harry, I'm baffled by the notion that any murderous scumbag deserves more humane treatment than their victim(s) (or their surviving loved ones, for that matter). While I don't advocate for a shoot-first-ask-questions-later approach for police (because let's face it, that's a recipe for disaster), there's still a thrill in watching a righteous lawman safeguard society and save taxpayers' dollars in the process. Major props to the casting in this one. Obviously, Clint Eastwood is top-notch as always, but let's talk about Andrew Robinson as the killer. That guy could smirk with such brazenness, he'd make a blunt object seem like a perfect argument in a deep, philosophical debate. / Lesson learned: If you're not good at maths, don't mess with Harry.

Finally got around to watching a Netflix series that actually had some tension and atmosphere, instead of just checking off diversity boxes (looking at you, Geralt). Sure, they went for a multiracial cast, but it made sense in this context. Set in New York, it was a fitting mix (unlike a Slavic fantasy, eh Geralt?). I was particularly drawn to the main character, both in terms of looks and performance, so big props to the casting team. Throughout the series, I was hooked by the quality tension and fantastic atmosphere. Plus, the story was genuinely intriguing, keeping me entertained... until the final episode, which left me a tad disappointed. All in all, I'd say this is a solid win for Netflix. I definitely don't regret the time I invested in it. / Lesson learned: Craving mystery? This series has got you covered.

Initially, I thought the weaker moments might pop up in the penultimate episode, but it happened in the finale. It's a shame because there was no shortage of tension or atmosphere, but what's the use when the script throws its own rules out the window and ends up tripping over itself? I feel like a well-crafted series deserved a strong finish, but it seems the creators had a different idea in mind. It left me a bit frustrated, honestly. I was tempted to give it just two stars, but I decided to cut it some slack. / Lesson learned: Don't mess with the demon. 3*-

The leap back to 1924 turned out to be quite the success for the creators. Sure, the episode didn't keep me on the edge with constant tension or a grim atmosphere, but I thoroughly enjoyed the journey to the root of all the troubles. Finally, the big picture came into focus, and it seems like we're inevitably hurtling toward a grand finale where not just two worlds, but all three time axes, will collide. At least, that's my hope. / Lesson learned: When someone asks if you can contain a whole new world within you, the correct answer is definitely a no.