TV Show Review - Westworld (Season 2)

Season: 2
Genre: Thriller/ Drama
Number of episodes: 10
Year: 2018
Starring: Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright, Ed Harris, James Marsden, Tessa Thompson, Anthony Hopkins, Luke Hemsworth, Rodrigo Santoro, Jimmi Simpson

Description: Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, explore a world in which every human appetite can be indulged without consequence.

Review: On of the better new shows on HBO is without a doubt “Westworld”, which premiered its first season in 2016. This futuristic series takes the audience to a theme park of some sort, where rich people can let their fantasies come to life. Settings in which they wouldn’t dare to enter in the real life. And they can do anything in Westworld, steal, kill, rape, it will not have consequences. Because the victims are ‘robots’ made by Robert Ford and Bernard Lowe. And is Bernard that takes one of the most important roles in season 2. His character made for a huge plot twist in the first season.
After Ford dies, Bernard realizes a lot is going wrong in Westworld. The hosts, what they call the robots, start having memories and want to live their lives without being controlled by Delos’ company, who is also responsible for Westworld’s existence. Bernard starts his own investigation to the truth of what is happening and who is responsible for all the chaos. This brings him to lots of revelations about the happenings and himself. Delos’ troops are also send to stop the hosts from causing more trouble and chaos. Some of the hosts have completely set their own goals and want to go to the real world. Leader of the rebellion is Dolores Abernathy, who becomes relentless when trying to achieve her goals.
Another important storyline in season 2 is the mysterious man in black. He is one of the people that visited Westworld, but he never left and he is on a new mission. The last storyline that is of any importance is that of Maeve, who has memories of herself living in a house with her daughter, before she became the madame of prostitutes in a saloon. In her quest, she wants to find out the truth behind these memories.
The first season was surprising, unique, mind-blowing and had some surprising plot twists. the second season is just as great. Again great visuals, fantastic performances by the cast, plot twists and we get deeper into the characters and see backstories.
2020 will give us a third season, which will be different if I have to believe the trailer. But this second season definitely leaves us wanting more.

100 Movie Challenge 2016: # 93: 300

Director: Zack Snyder
Genre: Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 2006
Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Heady, Dominic West, David Wenham, Michael Fassbender, Rodrigo Santoro

Description: King Leonidas of Sparta (Gerard Butler) and a force of 300 men fight the Persians at Thermopylae in 480 B.C.

Review: The Spartans: brutal, big and without any fear. With only 300 men they went to battle with the Persians. This heroic chapter of the Greek history, inspired Frank Miller to a graphic novel: “300”. Drector Zack Snyder wanted to bring this to life on the big screen. Result: a two hour event that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Future king Leonidas is taken from his mother at age 7. He has to undergo a very tough training to get him ready for the future. To proof that he can be the kinf of the Spartans he doesn’t only hsve to be strong, also smart and brave. Twenty years after defeating a big beast, he is ruling as king. And a bigger enemy is coming, an army of a million men.
The movie was entire filmed in front of a green screen, so it took about 60 days to finish that. But everything looks so good. The fighting scenes are amazing, they have a gret dramatic effect to them. And Gerard Butler is very strong as King Leonidas.
“300” is a great adaptation of a graphic novel and very well made. Although the movie is pretty brutal, I think this movie will be liked by people who normally don’t like this type of film.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # What to Expect When You're Expecting

Director: Kirk Jones
Genre: Comedy/ Romance/ Drama
Runtime: 110 minutes
Year: 2012
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Matthew Morrison, Elizabeth Banks, Ben Falcone, Jennifer Lopez, Rodrigo Santoro, Brooklyn Decker, Dennis Quaid, Anna Kendrick, Chace Crawford, Chris Rock, Joe Manganiello

Description: A look at love through the eyes of five interconnected couples experiencing the thrills and surprises of having a baby, and ultimately coming to understand the universal truth that no matter what you plan for, life doesn't always deliver what's expected.

Review: The title tells you everything: all the ins and out about pregnancies and babies. The movie follows five different stories about this subject. First we have Jules, the presenter of a weight loss program, who is having a baby with her partner Evan. There is Gary and his wife Wendy who have been trying to get pregnant for two years. But when it finally happens, it’s not as fantastic as she always thought. Gary’s father Ramsey and his very young new wife Skyler are also expecting, and she does have the glow that Wendy was always hoping for. The young Rosie gets pregnant after a one-night-stand with Marco, the guy who left her on prom night. And finally Holly and Alex who are trying to adopt a child. Holly is ready, but Alex clearly isn’t.
It’s very clever to make an ensemble film out of this concept, multiple storylines work well very often. And various genres are mixed as well. This makes it to an unbalanced film. Over-the-top slapsticks switch to dramatic moments that don’t really fit in here.
Although I love Cameron Diaz, she isn’t the real star in this film. Elizabeth Banks and Ben Falcone, who play Wendy and Gary, and Anna Kendrick and Chace Crawford, as Rosie and Marco, have the most interesting storylines and are the most convincing. I especially think that the last two actors where underused.
It’s definitely an entertaining movie, but it never really hits the mark.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 44: The Last Stand

Director: Kim Jee-Woon
Genre: Action
Runtime: 107 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Forest Whitaker, Johnny Knoxville, Peter Stormare, Rodrigo Santoro, Luis Guzmán, Jamie Alexander

Description: The leader of a drug cartel busts out of a courthouse and speeds to the Mexican border, where the only thing in his path is a sheriff (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and his inexperienced staff.

Review: With the comeback of action star Arnold Schwarzenegger you expect muscles, cool one-liners and explosive action. They are all present, but not like back in his glory days. But his role as sheriff of a dull town is perfect for him and his constraints.
The escape of Cortez is spectacular, but because he spends most time in a racecar you don’t take him too seriously as a villain. There is not a lot of tension when it comes to confrontation with Cortez. Peter Stormare, as sidekick villain Burrell, is a more intimidating bad guy. The last shootout in the town is the most exciting scene of the movie and we see that Arnie is still one of the best action heroes. He even busts out a couple of fun one-liners.
Director Kim Jee-Woon made a visually good looking movie and the camerawork is also pretty impressive. Arnold Schwarzenegger is in his element as sheriff. He’s still not a fantastic actor, but I always like to watch his films. Arnie is back!

Rating: 3/ 5