ScuzzBlog: Diaries January 2022 Entry 19th January 2022: Post 1: Star Trek - Back to the old frontier. Star Trek - Back to the old frontier. Over the winter solstice, post the Saturnalia fest I often partake of a few DVDs to honour the dark nights. So this fest I purchased a dozen or so treats to fill the spaces in my collection mostly from the Marvel Comics back catalogue. I had determined never to buy any more Marvel films following the debacle that was the Age of Ultron, but as it appeared the team would be cast to the wind following End Game, I thought I'd suffer some more of the Marvel nonsense, and just take it with a pinch of salt. I also struggled with a couple of DC offerings and a few films that for some reason seemed to have illuded me. First up though to Star Trek. Breaks into song ' Space may be the final frontier but it's made in a Hollywood basement '.... Californication from the 'Chili Peppers [Potts]. OK so when I reflect on the fact that it's been over 25 years since I bought the 25th Anniversary Star Trek Amiga game it'll give you some idea of the age of the original Star Trek series. The year was 1966 and I watched the series in black and white. At the end of each show they showed stills of the whole series. Me and my other brothers and sisters sat there screaming ' We've seen that ' as we got excited over ones we hadn't seen. You have to remember that these were not JJ Abrahams once every five year films, these were on every single week for like half a year. Time was we got our entertainment at a little more frequent time intervals. It is easy to be critical of the sets and special effects in today's world of CGI but in truth the stories still hold water and the performances are magical. I do have to say that Shatner's weekly love interest was a little more prolific than I recall, and the general use of women as sex objects probably not something that would happen today. This was the remastered edition so I could watch on my wide screen monitor. It had been executed with great skill and I did feel at times that this was a modern rendition. Forgetting all the obvious limitations of the tech the series really is very very entertaining, and I'm watching one a night and I am still only half way through. I do love just sitting down and watching Kirk, Spock and the crew go about their duties. The style of the Enterprise really does work for the era and it's a joy to watch. Once I complete the series I will certainly get the remaining sets. The stories are generally blunt and to the point and I do like the prologue at the end with the comical interplay between the cast. Shatner is quite magnificent as Kirk, as are all the other actors. Their performances are effortless. Well worth the money and well worth watching. As for the other films I struggled with I make comment below. So here is my Saturnalia review of films that I decided to add to my very own Room 101... not necessarily all failures but in truth hardly works of art. Star Trek - Back to the old frontier. My Saturnalia film review RoboCop: I struggle to see how making a film that so badly 'does not' capture the mood of the original, is worth making. Further, this was always a 'B' movie so have fun with it. Scuzzomato score 5/10 Batman v Superman: I didn't know that Gotham City and Metropolis were neighbouring cities. Question, does Ben Affleck ever enjoy making films. These movies are all too dark. I had no idea why Batman hated Superman so and then at the mere mention of his mothers name he loved the guy. It was slow, tedious, boring and as ever showed Batman as a sad unhappy type. The original shows with Robin were always colourful. Scuzzomato score 5/10 The Martian: How did I miss this film HOW? I so enjoyed this film. The only downside was he didn't build up a better relationship with his scutter There could have been a more convincing way of showing what must have been a serious test of his mental state given the time involved. Simply saying... 7 months later, really was a bit of a cheat. Saying that I really, really enjoyed this. Scuzzomato score 9/10 Lucy: Or more fittingly LUC'y as this was most definitely a LUC Besson film. Man do I like these films. The film at one point makes you question 2001 Space Odyssey and god.. with the words I am everywhere. I don't care how many stupid things happened in this film, I don't care that Morgan Freeman's role was pointless. I love Luc Besson.... And Scarlet, but hey. Scuzzomato score 8/10 Deadpool: Wait! is this the same Wade Wilson from Xmen Origins Wolverine, cus if so they decided to re-write the story. I have to say as I watched this film I kinda questioned why? .. was I watching this film. I seriously have issue with films that expect empathy with a character that enjoys gratuitous violence. I did not like the character. I had the same problem with John Wick. So sorry, that's the last. Scuzzomato score 3/10 StarWars The Last Jedi: Where do I begin. I guess it all started to go bad after the first Star Wars movie. But hey we are here now. The female main character cannot act to save her life. Luke's role was a comical jaunt showing how he survived on a rock for no reason. His only part to play in a story that had created a premise that he was a real threat, was to appear as an illusion and then fall off a rock and die. Rey's skills amounted to moving some rocks to aid an escape. And the baddies could not even sense the parties as they moved through the cavern This really was kids stuff and quite insulting. Scuzzomato score 2/10 Captain America Civil War: I like Captain America. I did not like this film. It was a film that basically split the Avengers in two so they could have the most boring moronic fight scene between themselves. Self indulgent twaddle. Scuzzomato score 3/10 Avengers Infinity Wars: Very good. Very good indeed. Mostly cus it featured a wider universe than the one I currently live in. It really got me hooked back into Marvel and was reason why I bought more DVDs. Scuzzomato score 8/10 Avengers Endgame: I have a problem with any film that resolves its story by introducing time travel. It really is a cop out. I also struggled with how Thanos chose his victims. I also had real problems with the resolution of the time fracture by going back and replacing the stones. Made no sense. I can cope with pure fantasy, but not one that tries to explain its reasoning. [ scuzz ] Scuzzomato score 7/10 Captain Marvel: I seriously enjoyed this film. The part played by Samuel L Jackson reminded me of his Die Hard adventure. The story was intriguing and very human in its portrayal. I found Brie Larsen to be very believable. And Jude Law makes any film fun. They seemed to have escaped the drivel that is Tony Stark incorporated. [ It wasn't Tony's fault by the way ... Jessica Rabbit syndrome ]. Scuzzomato score 8/10 Wonder Woman 1984: Why was this film set in 1984? It was so badly executed, had a most dreary cast. Chris Pine was cast as an idiot and Wonder Woman was anything other than the strong character she previously had portrayed. This is one of the few movies I watched that I fast forwarded. Scuzzomato score 2/10 Black Panther: I will have to watch this film again when I am in a better mood. For me I didn't see the point of this world or the value of his powers. Scuzzomato score 5/10 Ant-Man: This is where I get bored even typing these comments. I kinda sensed that the studios were scraping the barrel finding action heroes. Scuzzomato score 3/10 Ant-Man and Wasp: It got worse. I felt I was watching one of those cheap Saturday morning kids stories. Very badly conceived and even more badly executed. So much in this film made me cringe. By the way buildings are fed by sewers, power gas, water, cable, telephone and generally have foundations, which are way bigger for taller structures. And like nobody noticed a building suddenly appearing and disappearing. Scuzzomato score 2/10 Thor Ragnarok: Brilliant .. simply brilliant. I mean Cate Blanchett and Jeff Goldbloom. Classic Simply the best lines in any film ...' I tried to start a revolution but didn't print enough pamphlets' Taika Waititi is a genius. I could watch this film over and over again. Scuzzomato score 10/10 Guardians of the Galaxy: And we save the best for last. Why can't this kind of thing be on TV every night. It is what adventure is all about. Bonkers characters, bonkers storyline, bonkers locations and endless one liners. BLOODY WONDERFUL. Scuzzomato score 10/10 Guardians of the Galaxy 2: Ditto on the first. Just keep this stuff away from the Marvel Universe. The world I live in is boring as 'f' I just want to be entertained. I don't want to be reminded about how crap earth is. So with Guardians ... a whole lot more. Please. Scuzzomato score 9/10 I am Groot If you didn't already know.

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Last updated 19th January 2022

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