The Tomorrow War: More Emotions Less Bland CGI Shootouts

3/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Summary

A high school science teacher is conscripted to fight a war against aliens in our near future that could spell the extinction of the human race.

Chris Pratt usually brings a certain level of charm and likeability to his roles: his role here however was devoid of this. Indeed, any number of actors could have played Pratt’s part, some to a far better result as honestly Pratt seems bored for most of the film.

For the most part this film is a deeply average science fiction film. There is nothing here that you haven’t seen before and the premise feels a little overly familiar. Even the aliens look like a retread.

Although the occasional moment of pure and very real feeling emotion in this film helps to elevate it beyond mediocrity. The moments between Pratt’s character and his daughter feel very impactful, they effect you and if you are anything like me they make you well up a bit as well. Moreover, there are also moments between Pratt’s character and his estranged father played by J.K Simmons that also bring a tear to your eye. For an action film this is surprisingly emotional.

The cast, with the exception of Pratt excel here. Yvonne Strahovski, Simmons and Betty Gilpin all have scene stealing moments that really help to make the film and to standout against all the CGI shootouts.

Overall, a rare misfire for Pratt, but one that is slightly elevated beyond mediocrity by a strong heart.

Pros.

The emotion

Strahovski

The ending

Cons.

It is overly familiar

Too much of the film is just generic CGI shootouts

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The Bad Batch: Bounty Lost

2.5/5

Written by Luke Barnes

The episode starts out by ditching Crosshair once again and instead focusing entirely on Omega, a very bad decision. The reason why this is bad is because it loses all the tension and excitement from the previous episode and immediately makes the situation easier for the heroes as now they are just free to track Omega down no bother- which makes it less interesting.

We spend most of the episode with Omega as we find out more about her origins and watch her try and escape from Cad Bane. None of this makes you warm any further to the character, and the point still stands that without Omega the Bad Batch as a show would be much more interesting.

The best thing that comes out of the kidnapped Omega storyline is the bounty hunter fight between Bane and Fennec Shand, which is entertaining to watch as each tries to out do the other with some nice set pieces thrown in for good measure.

The series still seems directionless, yes we know that Omega is wanted and is valuable as she is a perfect clone of Jango Fett, but other than that we have no idea where the series is heading. Are we going back to more villain of the week episodes now that Crosshair has been sent back into the ignored void? Or are we going to get more origin story for Omega? Both prospects seem equally bleak.

Overall, Omega has easily become the worst part of the show and it needs to ditch her as soon as it can- she is no Grogu.

Pros.

The bounty hunter fight

The ending tease of intrigue

Cons.

Omega is a weak character and worse still annoying

They forget about Crosshair once again

The tension and build up from the previous episode is lost almost immediately

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Rick And Morty: Mortyplicity

3/5

Written by Luke Barnes

This episode was a big step back from last weeks’.

Though this episode had a few highlights, it certainly had the most on-screen deaths of the Smith family, it also reflected what I would say is the worst sensibility of the show, the gimmicky intellectual. A few of the weaker episodes of Rick and Morty across its run are not so much bothered about telling a fun story as they are with exploring a deep scientific concept and showing their audience just how intelligent their writers think they are. This is one of those episodes to a tee.

The concept of duplicates and clones of the family being killed off, and then later killing each other off, could work on paper, but as the episode progresses it quickly becomes apparent that their simply isn’t legs to the idea. It is vaguely intriguing for about the first five minutes then it becomes increasingly annoying as it continues.

Though that is not to say the idea is entirely flawed, it did show some imagination and I enjoyed seeing all the various different duplicates, some of which look noticeably different, that was a fun little distraction within the episode itself.

Furthermore, something else I noticed increasingly throughout the episode was how hostile Beth was towards Rick. Now, for the sake of series context, yes I can see why Beth would be upset in this situation as it mirrors something she went through last season and the point of the episode is to have the characters work through these issues seemingly. However, it makes no sense to have this episode be the second episode of the series considering Clone Beth was the previous season finale, it should have been the first. As it stands now, you have the Clone Beth episode, then an episode where Beth is fine to Rick and everything is forgotten about, and then an episode where it is all brought back up and clearly is a festering point of tension between the two, it is out of sequence.

Overall, Rick and Morty is better when it is trying to entertain us rather than prove how smart it’s writers are, sadly that lesson is ignored here.

Pros.

It is nice to see Rick get called out

Jerry has a few funny lines; my favourite was the one about his lemon bars

The imaginative duplicates

Cons.

It is trying too hard to prove how smart it is

The premise becomes tiresome very early on

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The Bad Batch: Reunion

4/5

Written by Luke Barnes

This episode finally brought back Crosshair. Finally.

I thought this was easily the best of the recent batch of Bad Batch episodes, we finally got the tense standoff between the inhibitor chip free clones and the possessed evil Crosshair that the series has been building towards. Luckily for all, this confrontation feels meaty and well-paced, neither can truly best the other and both sides are hurt. The only way I think this could have been made better is if Crosshair killed one of the Bad Batch or at least gravely wounded them, this would have added to the impact of the episode.

I thought the re-emergence of Cad Bane was both a pro and a con to the episode. It is a pro in that the character is cool and it is nice to see him return and carry on his storyline, but at the same time it is a con as it feels very random and there was little to no build up to him returning. With him taking Omega at the end of the episode I hope she stays out of commission for a while so the Bad Batch can properly deal with their defeat and really rally to the cause.

Overall, a high point for the series so far I can only hope the next lot of episodes keep the same pace and tone.

Pros.

Finally bringing back Crosshair in a meaningful way

The tense cat and mouse elements

The action

The ending

Cons.

Cad Bane’s return feels a little random and unplanned

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Rick and Morty: Mort Dinner Rick Andre

4.5/5

Written by Luke Barnes

This will be my first Rick and Morty review, I have been a fan for a long time and I thought that I would start covering it on here so I could share my passion.

I was very mixed on season four of Rick and Morty it had a few hits but by a large it wasn’t of the same consistent quality as the previous season. However, if this first episode is anything to go by season five might be bringing the show back to its previous glory.

My favourite part of this episode was the evolving story of Morty and the wine. In an effort to age the wine for his dinner guest Rick sends the wine into another dimension wherein time moves differently whereby a few minutes to us is centuries to the inhabitants. Moreover, Morty is tasked with entering this dimension over and over again to get more wine, each time doing so managing to hurt someone or destroy something, thereby becoming basically the devil of their reality. What I enjoyed about this is the escalation, each time Morty goes back the people of the other dimension have evolved to defeat him, I think the idea is quite interesting and is used in a way that is both visually impressive and also funny.

Moreover, I like seeing Morty and his long time crush Jessica finally acting on their feelings for each other. Sadly it doesn’t pan out and the can is kicked further down the proverbial road. This would be my only downside of the episode, I would have liked to see Morty and Jessica finally get together and then have the two of them adventuring with Rick and seeing how that changed the dynamic. Wishful thinking for now.

I think the Rick story involving the arrival of his nemesis Mr Nimbus was the weakest part of the episode. Until the closing moments this story did nothing for me at all, it felt very random and slapdash, and I feel it could have been better done if Mr Nimbus had at least been mentioned before in the show. However, I did like the emotional pay off of this storyline, when Mr Nimbus ends up saving Rick, Jessica and Morty at the end of the episode: I thought the emotional growth of Rick as a character in this moment felt earned and mature. I would like to see Mr Nimbus return in the future, if only to further explore his relationship with Rick.

Overall, a very strong start to the season let’s hope it keeps up this level of quality

Pros.

The building of dramatic tension

Morty and Jessica

The emotional growth for Rick

Beth and Jerry have a funny bit

Cons.

Until the end the Mr Nimbus storyline is a dud.

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Infinite: Mark Wahlberg’s Audition Tape For The Role Of Neo In The Matrix

3/5

Written by Luke Barnes

I was not aware there was a new Mark Wahlberg action film coming out. Did anyone know about this film? I certainly didn’t.

I found the concept for the film quite interesting, these two warring immortal factions that keep all of their memories when they die and are locked in a never ending war about the meaning of their existence. Though this intriguing premise is countered by all the plot holes that litter the film, and the logic the film uses to try and create stakes.

Moreover, though I usually like Wahlberg action films I actually think he is one of the weaker parts about this film and can’t pull of the Neo charm, as this film is basically a reskinned Matrix, that this film needs. Funnily enough Wahlberg’s previous incarnation was played by Dylan O’ Brien, and he would have made for a much better lead in my opinion.

I also thought Sophie Cookson was the surprise breakout star of this film and had all the best scenes. Though I was aware of Cookson from The Crucifixion she really shined here, and easily had more charm and charisma than Wahlberg for most of the film. Did I care if Wahlberg’s character made it out of the final fight? Meh. Did I care if Cookson’s did? You better believe it. If they make a sequel make her the lead.

Overall, a passable science fiction action film that has enough dumb fun to keep you around, just don’t overthink it.

Pros.

Cookson

Mantzoukas

The premise

Cons.

Wahlberg

The plot holes

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Bad Batch: Battle Scars

3.5/5

Written by Luke Barnes

So this episode gets straight into tying up the mysteries of the previous cliff-hanger, and we now know that the sisters were talking to our old friend Captain Rex- who comes in an immediately makes things better. These last two episodes have been the best in the Bad Batch so far, though that is not saying much.

I enjoyed the further exploration of Wrecker’s mind as he loses control to the inhibitor chip and its programming and becomes evil, for a few minutes. I think its interesting to see this evil side of a character that is often the most loveable. Furthermore, I liked that the show is continuing to explore the effects of the inhibitor chips on the clones. However, I think the greatest short coming in this department is the continued lack of and almost deliberate ignoring of Crosshair; you would think that now the Bad Batch know about the chips they would plan to remove Crosshair’s and save their friend- evidently they don’t care that much.

I think something needs to happen with Omega soon as she is quickly becoming the worst part of the show, she is not likeable and is often annoying: the gimmick of her being naïve is starting to wear thin. Moreover, the relationship between Hunter and Omega just isn’t coming along and more often than not feels forced in, it is a million miles away from the relationship between Din and Grogu.

Overall, this series is getting better, but it still has quite a few issues to overcome.

Pros.

The continuing of the inhibitor chip storyline

Wreckers turn to the dark side

Everything to do with Rex

Cons.

Omega

Ignoring Crosshair

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The Bad Batch: Decommissioned

3/5

Written by Luke Barnes

Baring the first episode of The Bad Batch this may be the best yet. Though Decommissioned doesn’t live up to some of the best episodes of Rebels or Clone Wars it does start to show the promise of this show and lay some much needed ground work; I am hoping from here on out the series can begin to turn around.

The episode is helped by not feeling villain of the week style self-contained and by progressing things from previous adventures. I thought it was nice to see the group get a base beyond the ship, and also presenting them as basically mercenaries or bounty hunters makes for some nice questions around what a soldiers purpose is.

Furthermore, I enjoyed that the show is starting to show the effects of Order 66 on the rest of the Bad Batch, with Wrecker almost giving into the conditioning after being hit on the head. I think the show desperately needs to go back to the Crosshair storyline and address it, as the group seems to have moved on from him and basically left him behind, which makes viewing them as heroes harder.

Moreover, Omega continues to be an issue with this series and one that is not seemingly getting better. The show clearly wants to mimic the parent-child style bond of the Mandalorian yet comes off as lacking and disingenuous. Nothing so far in this series has made me warm to Omega, and whenever an episode cuts to whatever she is up to, you know it is going to slow down to a boring degree.
Finally the ending tease is fine if a little obvious and baity. We don’t need constant cliff hangers to keep coming back.

Overall, better than the last few episodes, but the series still needs a lot of improvements

Pros.

Wrecker

More stability

The wider world

Cons.

Omega

The ending

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The Bad Batch: Rampage

2/5

This episode was yet another example of how this show is starting to lose me: the drama and stakes of the first episode have seemingly been ignored and now it is just week after week of pointless villain of the week sort of episodes with the wider mysteries that the series teased out just sort of existing in the either.

Likewise the character development has seemingly stalled, with neither the Bad Batch nor Echo receiving anything even close to development. It is the same beats and ideas over and over again; I also think it is odd how the band have seemingly just forgotten about Crosshair, other than a slight mention here they have not mentioned any thought to saving or rescuing their friend. An oversight of the writing perhaps.

The only real pro I can give this episode is that they build on the Fennec Shand stuff from the last episode. Proving that perhaps the character wasn’t just forced in and that maybe the series does have bigger plans for her.

Overall, I am starting to lose faith in this show.

Pros.

Building Fennec Shand

The end of the episode teases better stories to come

Cons.

Villain of the week

Forgetting Crosshair

The character arcs are trapped in a status

Written by Luke Barnes

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The Bad Batch: Cornered

2.5/5

Written by Luke Barnes

I am starting to become concerned now. This show has been going for four episode yet so little has happened and the direction this series is heading in seems even less clear now then it did a few episodes before.

Why was Fennec Shand brought into this episode/ storyline, when it would have made so much more sense to have Crosshair be the bounty hunter tracking down the Bad Batch? To answer my own question it was simply to act as fan service, to bait nostalgia and be like ‘remember her from the Mandalorian’. Now there is nothing wrong with fan service done right, but when it is done in such a way where it feels like it is stopping the development of the other characters in the show, Crosshair, then it becomes a problem for me.

Moreover, this episode, much like the last, felt very filler to me. It seems that maybe the series as a whole is having some pacing issues or maybe the fourteen episode order was a bit too much, but for whatever reason we are getting a lot of these little one off episodes where nothing of any real consequence happens and you are left feeling bored.

If I had to give the episode a pro it would be the action, specifically the sequence set in the hover traffic, I found that quite entertaining to watch and thought it was shot well.

Overall, I am starting to lose hope for this series, we need something big to happen soon.

Pros.

The action

The tease for more to come

Cons.

Nothing really happened

It feels like filler

The wrong kind of fan service

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