Spot Reviews 08/04/23
Aug 04 2023
Apple Arcade - SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit (2020) [/] Platform continuous runner (in that for the most part you can go left and right but can't stop) where you play Sponge Bob trying to rescue his friends (which then become playable characters). Collect coins, beat up bosses, use special powers. Good enough controller support (unfortunately button actions are not standardized on iOS like on other platforms so every game seems to use a different action button, jump button, etc). Has spot voice acting. Entertaining enough I guess but not worth me keeping it around.
Movie - Evil Dead Rise (2023) [+] The fifth Evil Dead film though all new characters. In a rundown high-rise apartment building son Danny (Morgan Davies) finds an evil book and accidentally summons a demon that possesses mom Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland). Visiting sister Beth (Lily Sullivan) has to protect her nephew and nieces Bridget (Gabrielle Echols) and Kassie (Nell Fisher) from monster Ellie... Like other Evil Dead movies there are lots of jump scares, comically buckets of blood, and a chainsaw-wielding protagonist. It's pretty well done for a smallish budget and nice change having two female leads going at each other (though without the corny Ash Williams lines).
Movie - Mulan (2020) [/] Set during Imperial China, when invaders threaten China the emperor calls for an army. To save her aging father who has no sons to contribute, Mulan (Yifei Liu) disguises herself as a man and joins the army. She makes friends, saves their lives, is forced to reveal her identity, and then rallies the army to defeat the invaders... I haven't seen previous Mulan movies. Entertaining movie not especially good or bad. Imperial China, with it's magical elements, is not that interesting a setting to me.
TV Series - Better Than Us #1.1 to #1.5 (2018) [/] Russian science fiction series. A decade in the future androids are common enough (as workers and as companions) that there is a backlash against them. Arisa (Paulina Andreeva), an experimental android with feelings escapes from her company and imprints on little Sonya Safronova (Vita Kornienko) and her family... This is more drama and social commentary than action. Kind of got bored after five episodes.
Movie - Evil Dead Rise (2023) [+] The fifth Evil Dead film though all new characters. In a rundown high-rise apartment building son Danny (Morgan Davies) finds an evil book and accidentally summons a demon that possesses mom Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland). Visiting sister Beth (Lily Sullivan) has to protect her nephew and nieces Bridget (Gabrielle Echols) and Kassie (Nell Fisher) from monster Ellie... Like other Evil Dead movies there are lots of jump scares, comically buckets of blood, and a chainsaw-wielding protagonist. It's pretty well done for a smallish budget and nice change having two female leads going at each other (though without the corny Ash Williams lines).
Movie - Mulan (2020) [/] Set during Imperial China, when invaders threaten China the emperor calls for an army. To save her aging father who has no sons to contribute, Mulan (Yifei Liu) disguises herself as a man and joins the army. She makes friends, saves their lives, is forced to reveal her identity, and then rallies the army to defeat the invaders... I haven't seen previous Mulan movies. Entertaining movie not especially good or bad. Imperial China, with it's magical elements, is not that interesting a setting to me.
TV Series - Better Than Us #1.1 to #1.5 (2018) [/] Russian science fiction series. A decade in the future androids are common enough (as workers and as companions) that there is a backlash against them. Arisa (Paulina Andreeva), an experimental android with feelings escapes from her company and imprints on little Sonya Safronova (Vita Kornienko) and her family... This is more drama and social commentary than action. Kind of got bored after five episodes.