Comic and video game streamer Terrance Parsons joined the show to talk about the best films that are based on video games.
Episode #195: Terrance Parsons & The Best Films Based On Video Games
Review – Uncharted (2022)
Uncharted (2022)
Pg-13 ‧ Action/Adventure ‧ 1 Hour 56 Minutes
Written by Rafe Judkins, Art Marcum, Matt Holloway
Directed by Ruben Fleischer
THE CAST
Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg
Sophia Ali
Tati Gabrielle
Antonio Banderas
THE STORY
Street-smart Nathan Drake, is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter, Victor “Sully” Sullivan, to recover a fortune amassed by Ferdinand Magellan, and lost 500 years ago by the House of Moncada.
THE REVIEW
I really crossed my fingers coming into this film. I really loved the Uncharted video games, they already felt like films that you could control, but Hollywood doesn’t have a great track record with turning video games into films. I’m happy to report that Uncharted was everything I hoped for.
Uncharted is fast paced, funny, and unlike many of its genre of movies….is actually interesting. Tom Holland does an admirable job playing Nathan Drake, the lead of the Uncharted series. Holland is naturally charismatic and fully embraces the role. He even moves like the video game character in very subtle ways, like the way he leaps out of windows gives a nice nod at the mechanics of the video game.
While playing the video game Uncharted, I often felt like I could just be playing a movie, with long cinematic scenes, decent dialogue and pretty clear paths you have no choice but to take in the game. Watching the film I occasionally thought, I could be playing a video game right now, thinking what I would be doing to solve the puzzles that the characters were faced with.
I also liked that the writers didn’t feel compelled to try and make Drake have a forced love interest in the film, as is a trap they often fall into for these action films. Drake is very focused on his mission; find his brother and the treasure.
Holland’s co-star Mark Walberg is consistent as Sully, the untrustworthy friend of Nathan’s brother. Walberg plays the role like he does most, nothing incredible, but generally believable, charming, and funny when he needs to be. Holland and Wallberg certainly have nice chemistry throughout the film, but we get the sense that both of them would have “nice” chemistry with anyone you pair them with. They don’t make a duo that you hope to see again and again, but they don’t miss the mark either.
What missed the mark for the movie for me was the lack of super memorable moments or lines in the film which is critical to build these kinds of franchises. Think Indiana Jones seeing the giant ball coming at him, or the moment he shoots the swordsman to avoid a dual. Uncharted needed this, or at least some dialogue I won’t forget. Yes, there are a couple action scenes that are super well executed and I will remember those, but at least one is taken directly from the game. Which I don’t think is even bad, in my opinion. It just adds to the sense of your favorite video game come to life.
Overall it is a fun film. Is it a riveting drama that will change the way you look at gold profiteering. No. It’s just a fun film that should be treated much like a video game. Sit down and enjoy and get lost for a couple hours in the adventurous tale they present.
THE BEST
BEST things about the film
- Very fun.
- Seamless special effects.
- One of the best adaptations of a video game to film.
- No forced romance plot.
- Felt like the video game came to life.
THE WORST
The WORST things about the Film
- Not a lot of background on the characters.
- Predictability.
- “Bad guys” motivations not really fleshed out well
- Lack of memorable lines or moments.
THE LESSON
Searching for treasure will help you find a lot of things. Just not usually treasure.
THE FINAL WORD
One of the best video games adapted to the big screen. It’s a fun, fast paced popcorn film that doesn’t disappoint.
THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It.
Uncharted gets a Like It
ABOUT SILAS
When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas Lindenstein can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.
Review – KIMI
KIMI (2022)
R ‧ Thriller/Crime‧ 2 hours 29 minutes
Written by David Koepp.
Directed by Steven Soderbergh
THE CAST
Zoë Kravitz and Rita Wilson.
THE STORY
A tech worker with agoraphobia discovers recorded evidence of a violent crime, but is met with resistance when she tries to report it. Seeking justice, she must do the thing she fears the most: she must leave her apartment.
THE REVIEW
On paper, KIMI seems like it would make for a great thriller. A modern day thriller using an “Alexa” type device called “KIMI”, Angela, is a tech worker for the device who overhears an apparent assault crime while monitoring streams. Now she is pushing her bosses to get the police involved while her bosses try to silence her and keep the event out of the public eye.
It felt like this could be a new The Net with Sandra Bullock, but it falls so short of that. Kimi continually sets up interesting elements of the story and then tells them in the most boring way possible. People are wearing masks and Angela seems to have developed agoraphobia from the Covid pandemic, but we don’t really explore that much. The KIMI device raising some questions about privacy in our ever-increasing digital world, and yet not much of any eyebrows are being raised. Angela is suffering from agoraphobia as a probable result of the lockdown, but it isn’t really explored deeply.
The villains of the film….meh. Connection to the characters…zilch.
The setting of the film, beautiful Seattle is one of the treats. The other is watching the very talented Zoe Kravitz attempt to defy such an uninteresting script.
THE BEST
Three BEST things about the film
- Zoe Kravitz does a very nice job in the role.
- Interesting concept.
- Takes place in Seattle.
THE WORST
The three WORST things about the Film
- For a thriller it lacked ‘thrills.”
- Huge missed opportunity to make statement on these AI type devices
- Lacked connection with characters.
THE LESSON
Smart devices are used to make life more convenient, but it can’t help write a script.
THE FINAL WORD
Alexa, find something else for me to watch.
THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It.
KIMI gets a Lose It
THE TRAILER
ABOUT SILAS
When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas Lindenstein can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.
Review – I Want You Back
I Want You Back (2022)
PG-13‧ Rom Com ‧ 1 hour 51 Minutes (111 Minutes)
Written by Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berge
Directed by Jason Orley
THE CAST
Charlie Day, Jenny Slate, Scott Eastwood, Gina Rodriquez, Manny Jacinto
THE STORY
(In their own words) Newly dumped thirty-somethings Peter and Emma team up to sabotage their exes’ new relationships and win them back for good.
THE REVIEW
I Want You Back is fun Rom-Com that ponders the question, is love lost worth fighting for? Is a no-holds-barred, take no prisoners approach to winning back your ex really what’s best.
Peter and Emma work in the same office building and have a chance meeting in the stairwell as they are both finding a place for good cry. Turns out, they were both dumped by their significant other the same previous weekend. Misery loves company as this chance meeting of strangers turns to friendship. But they both have a yearning for their former loves, and one night out partying and lamenting they come up with idea. Emma will seduce Peter’s Ex’s new boyfriend and break them up so his ex will come back to Emma. And Peter will befriend Emma’s ex, and start convincing him to leave his new girlfriend and go back to Emma. It reminded me of the deal in Throw Mama From The Train, with a fundamental difference (aside from not murdering people). To the audience Peter and Emma need to remain unlike-able while they attempt to do something kind of crappy. Break up a couple for no other reason than to make themselves happy.
0ne of the interesting things about this rom-com is that there is no bad guy. There’s no arrogant or cheating boyfriend where the woman should be leaving for our hero. None of that. The exes actually seem in really nice relationships. To pull this movie off though, we have to like Peter and Emma. Which is definitely where this film has its strengths. Charlie Day does a fantastic job as Peter. He is extremely likable and gives us a fully fleshed out character. His portrayal is nuanced, subtle, and very committed to each moment. To a lesser degree so is Jenny Slate as Emma. While she is clearly a very strong actor, her character isn’t nearly as likable as Peter. But she does a great job portraying a lonely character who is both lost in love and life until she meets someone who believes in her.
The test of a good rom-com is whether you feel better about life after seeing it. And it succeeds in doing that. It is very smoothly shot, funny, and heartwarming.
THE BEST
Three BEST things about the film
- The likability of the main characters was off the charts
- The lack of villains.
- An Easter egg, where Manny Jacinto makes a nod towards, The Good Place, an NBC sitcom that he starred in .
THE WORST
The three WORST things about the Film
- There was no bad guy/gal to root against. The only people you root against are happy, otherwise you are rooting against the main characters.
- Predictability.
- Unnecessary anger at the end.
THE LESSON
Don’t be determined that you know what your life is supposed to be like.
THE FINAL WORD
A fun and funny film about learning to let go of the ones who once loved you.
THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It.
I want you back gets a Like It.
WHERE TO WATCH
I Want You Back is available on Amazon Prime Video.
Here’s the trailer
ABOUT SILAS
When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas Lindenstein can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.
Episode #194: The Greatest TV Couples Of All Time
Guest and comic Tara Weidner joins Silas for this episode to discuss The Greatest TV Couples Of All Time.
Review – The Fallout
The Fallout (2021)
Review by Silas Lindenstein
Release date: January 27, 2022
Rated R ‧ Drama ‧ 1 hour 32 minutes
Written by Megan Park
Directed by Megan Park
THE CAST
Jenna Ortega, Maddie Ziegler, Shailene Woodley, Julie Bowen, John Ortiz, Niles Fitch, and Will Ropp
THE STORY
“High schooler Vada navigates the emotional fallout she experiences in the wake of a school tragedy. Relationships with her family, friends and view of the world are forever altered. ” IMBD
“The Fallout is a compelling exploration of the inexplicable resiliency of life and the hope that emerges out of loss. A raw and honest coming-of-age story for this generation, Jenna Ortega and Maddie Ziegler star in Megan Park’s directorial debut.”
THE REVIEW
To be honest, when I first saw the trailer for this film, I didn’t think I would watch it. The premise of the film, dealing with the aftermath of a school shooting, hits too close to my heart. I have three children and the idea of a school shooting is one of the most terrifying things I can think about.
But the film got some early praise from fellow reviewers and a lot of good buzz from its premiere at the South By Southwest festival last year. And I began to think about it more; if my teenager can handle going to school each day well aware of the dangers she now faces, if she can do active shooter drills since she was in Kindergarten, the least I could do was be uncomfortable during a movie to better relate to her. And isn’t that a goal of why we often watch a film? To better relate to people like the subjects.
I’m very glad that I chose to watch it. It is moving, powerful, and wonderfully well put together film.
The film doesn’t waste much time getting to the inciting incident. After a little brief series of scenes getting to know the main character Vada, played beautifully by Jenna Ortega, showing what she and her life is like before the shooting, she makes a trip to the bathroom after receiving a phone call from her little sister who just got her first period. While in there, she exchanges a couple awkward words with classmate and instagram star Mia {Maddie Ziegler). It’s then that shots start going off in the hallway and the girls run to a bathroom stall to hide. A few moments later they are joined by fellow classmate Quiton who runs in, covered in blood, after his brother was killed and died in his arms before he fled for safety. The three strangers huddle together until the all clear is given and they leave the bathroom and face the fallout in their lives from the event.
What follows is an examination of grief, shock, and second guessing of safety that no child should have to go through. We see how these teens and Vada’s best friend all cope with the tragedy in different ways. Ways that range from self-destructive to becoming an activist for change. We get to see how this event affects Vada’s relationship with her family. What we see if a very honest and believable portrayal of this kind of event. The movie delves into the depths of what it is to be human.
The directing of the film is very calculated and raw, allowing the actors time to feel the moments from the beginning. First time director Megan Park draws out very subtle, honest, and engaging performance from the actors. One of the most important jobs of the director is to make sure the tone of the film is right, which again, Park does a stellar job of making the film cohesive and consistent. Her first film shows the talents of a veteran director and I look forward to seeing what other works she creates.
The writing of the film is quite beautiful. The dialogue is natural and film flows so naturally, you can’t see the strings that carry the film from each beat to the next. Again, those are skills of a great writer and director.
THE BEST
Three BEST things about the film:
- The acting. Jenna Ortega will be an early contender for best youth performance.
- The writing. Very genuine and honest.
- The directing. Nearly perfectly crafted story. Engaging choices.
THE WORST
The WORST things about the film:
- The only bad thing about the film is how likely the events of the film are to happen.
THE LESSON
Grief is different for everyone. How someone copes with tragedy is an individual thing.
THE FINAL WORD
THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It.
The Fallout gets a Love It.
Where To Watch
An HBO MAX original film, see it streaming on HBO MAX.
Trailer for the film
Video – The Bookend #5 – Aftershow for The Book Of Boba Fett Episode 5 – “The Return of Mandalorian”
Here’s episode #5 of The Bookend, an unauthorized, unsanctioned, and un-asked for aftershow for the Book of Boba Fett, Episode #5, The Return of The Mandalorian.
ABOUT SILAS
When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.
Episode 193: Silas’ Top 11 Favorite Films of 2021
Silas breaks down his favorite 11 films from 2021.
ABOUT SILAS
When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas Lindenstein can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.
Review: Four To Dinner
Four To Dinner (2022)
Directed by Alessio Maria Federici
Written by Martino Coli
Rated TV-MA | 1 hour 45 minutes
THE CAST
Starring: Matilde Gioli, Giuseppe Maggio, Matteo Martari, and Ilenia Pastorelli
THE STORY
In this rom-com challenging the concept of soulmates, parallel storylines portray four single friends as they pair up in different couple combinations
THE REVIEW
An Italian rom-com exploring the concept of soulmates in a uniquely told tale. Two pairs of single men and women meet/are set up at a dinner party. From there we follow the first steps of courtship between pairs, then suddenly we go back in time and see what would happen if the couples had matched up differently. From there on the film cuts back and forth between choice one and choice two. So two different storylines, or alternate worlds.
Do opposites attract or is more similar interests better? Would you be just as happy with Cindy or Sue if you didn’t know the otherwise? Would you make the same mistakes? Would you make the same choices that affect your love life?
Those are all questions this film makes you think about. Which is ultimately what I look for in a film; does it make me question life and choices I’ve made.
Then I look at execution of the film. Four to Dinner does a good job with the back and forth concept though there are a few transitions that are hard to tell which timeline they are in. Being a subtitled Film, it makes it even more challenging to keep track. However, for as many times as you miss the transitions there are equally beautiful, well done, surprising transitions.
The films strength are in the story and acting. The concept of “what if” has been done before I’m films like Sliding Doors, but not focusing so much on the idea of soulmates. The actors do well working as an ensemble and their comic timing crossing the language barrier. Very grounded and three dimensions performances.
This film won’t change your life, but may cause some interesting discussions with your loved one. It’s a worth a watch.
THE BEST
- The premise
- The way they tell the story.
- The chemistry between the actors.
THE WORST
- At times, have trouble telling when we jumped between “timelines”.
- Film doesn’t answer the question it asked.
- There’s a degree of predictability within each timeline.
THE LESSON
A soulmate isn’t necessarily your sole mate.
THE FINAL WORD
An enjoyable film that will make you ask questions about love, soulmates, and the choices you make.
THE VERDICT
Based on my 3 L system; Love It, Like It, or Lose It……Four To Dinner gets a Like It.
ABOUT SILAS
When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas Lindenstein can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.
Video – The Bookend #4: Aftershow for The Book of Boba Fett Episode
Episode #4 of The Bookend, an unofficial, unauthorized, unsanctioned, and unasked-for aftershow for The Book Of Boba Fett hosted by Silas Lindenstein and Brian Trendler. This episode discusses episode #4 The Gathering Storm.
ABOUT SILAS
When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.
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