Princess Bride

Princess Bride (9/10)
(movie is available on Netflix)


Description: This movie begins as a grandfather reading to his bedridden grandson a story which has been read in their family for generations. The tale of the beautiful farm girl Buttercup, her childhood beau, Wesley, a malicious prince, a six fingered man, a Spaniard, a brute, a self proclaimed genius set on causing a war, and the ever notorious; Dread Pirate Roberts.


Bechdel Test: 5/10
This movie generally fails miserably in the sense of having strong female characters. Though the story is sweat and will forever be one of my personal favorites, Buttercup is pretty much the only named female character.  However! though she is alone, and even though she is expected by pretty much everyone around her to just sit there and look pretty, there are several moments where she fights back or makes the move no one is expecting in an effort to escape her captures.



Character Development: 8/10
There is not a moment in this film in which the history and personalities of these characters could be found boring. From start to finish the humor, mannerisms, and emotional backstories of each of the characters are captivating. In particular, the development of Buttercup, Inigo, and Wesly are the most thoroughly fleshed out in the changes these characters must make in order to adapt and survive will facing royalty and pirates alike.


Diversity of characters/Representation of Minorities:6/10
Other than perhaps André René Roussimoff (a.k.a. Andre the Giant) who is known for having giganntism, there are only really two other people who canonically can be identified for representing a minority of sorts. The albino dungeon man, and the six fingered man, are both decent characters though its not a great representation even then seeing as how both of them are villains in this film.



Acting Skills: 8/10
As this is a comedy (/action/romance), the acting and character portrayal is much more on the 'fun' side of things but even so, the actors so really good at fitting into their characters. their actions and words are well portrayed and generally look 'natural' rather than scripted which is a big part in what makes this movie so great! 




Visual Presentation: 7/10
As a somewhat older movie, there are no great special effects and a lot of the back grounds and props are incredibly cheesy. However, this only adds to why this movie is great because it gives you one more thing to giggle about while you're watching the characters do there thing.







Story Line: 10/10
As you might have already guessed, this movie brings back a lot of nostalgia for me and so these reviewing are probably a bit more bias than usual. Regardless, of my own memories of watching this as a kid, the story in this movie progresses in a way that will always have something interesting happening which will keep you engaged and interested to see what will happen next.



Additional Comments: This movie is funny, family friendly, interesting, incredibly quotable, and basically just a good time all around! There is next to no one who I wouldn't recommend watching this to at least once!


Let me know what you think about this show and if there is anything you would like me to review next!

Firefly

Firefly (9/10)
(There are only 14 episodes)


Description:Set 500 years in the future after a universal civil war, the crew of a small transport spaceship takes any job so long as it puts food on the table. The disparate men and women just want to survive and maybe have better lives, but they face constant challenges on the new frontier, such as the Reavers -- flesh-eating mongrels who live on the fringes of the universe.


Bechdel Test: 9/10
The female characters of this show are diverse in their personalities, abilities, strengths, weaknesses, etc... they are strong even when they are suffering and are incredibly well crafted characters. The portrayals of these woman are well balanced and incredibly entertaining. The weak and fragile is also the most powerful, the naive and innocent is also the best with the ship, the strong and the fearsome is intelligent and capable, the beautiful and seductive is the best trained and most respected.






Character Development: 8/10
There are only 14 episodes (although that is only because of a stupid grudge someone in the producing field had) So although the characters aren't really given that much (prepared) time to show much change, the fleshing out of personalities and backstories is done beautifully. However, because the show was unexpectedly cut short, I warn you now that there are plots and mysteries which are never satisfactorily answered, (though many are dealt with in the fan funded movie serenity).

(angry man is angry)

(angry man is angry, with his woolly hat on)

Diversity of characters/Representation of Minorities: 9/10
Also lacking in any cannon variations upon binary gender, this show includes representation for many different minorities and is able to do so by simply incorporating it into the character, instead of the more common, turn the character into the minority. One of the main characters is a sex worker, however, against the norm in any media which does include people who work in the sex industry, she is intelligent, has her own rights which she has no difficulty upholding by herself, and out of the entire motley crew, is the most well respected and diplomatic character. Along with this, there is representation of un-diagnosed mental illnesses including in some instances PTSD, two of the main characters are visibly identifiable as POC.






Acting Skills: 9/10
Every character is a person, the actors in this show are really well chosen for their roles and are able to be their characters in a way that allows them to show a wide range of emotions (like a real person does), and even to bring in deviations to the usual personality of a character in way which still gives them a realistic and consistent portrayal.


Visual Presentation: 8/10
In a future where Asian customs (mostly recognizable as Chinese and Japanese), are melded with those of the old American West, which are then all flung out into space, this show does a really great job of showing a realistic version of how human culture might have evolved in such a situation. From the set design to the costumes and makeup, everything is strange and beautiful yet it somehow all feels normal. Their bizarre future lives at times are entirely alien and yet their clothes look lived in, their rooms are alive, and they use strange made up technology in their everyday morning routines.






Story Line: 9/10
Once again, although the story was unfortunately cut short, not a single episode is wasted and even though their lives aren't entirely structured, there are consistent overarching plots which tie everything and everyone together.

Additional Comments: This show is one of my personal all time favourites! It of course has it's problems, and will always be way to short, but if you are at all interested in some great quality sci-fi story telling and wonderful world building/ loveable characters, I would highly recommend you watch this show! (also the director apparently really likes the gun towards the audience shot because almost all the characters I searched for pictures, had at least one image fitting that description).


Let me know what you think about this show and if there is anything you would like me to review next!

Daredevil

Daredevil (7.5/10)
(This rating is for  both season 1 and 2)


Description:Abandoned by his mother, Matt Murdock was raised by his father, boxer "Battling Jack" Murdock, in Hell's Kitchen. Realizing that rules were needed to prevent people from behaving badly, young Matt decided to study law; however, when he saved a man from an oncoming truck, it spilled a radioactive cargo that rendered Matt blind while enhancing his remaining senses. Under the harsh tutelage of blind martial arts master Stick, Matt mastered his heightened senses and became a formidable fighter.

Bechdel Test: 5/10
Unfortunately despite having a number of really interesting and well rounded female characters, this show rarely if at all passes the Bechdel test. The reason I haven't given it a failing rating is because the few female characters this show does have, are generally very interesting and experience a great amount of character development, (Karen Page in particular), as well as the fact that the cast is rather small.




Character Development: 7/10
Although the characters in this show are all really well pieced together, there generally isn't much change to them throughout the first season. It's only really when you get into the second season that you can really see the characters being affected by their situations. One character in which you can see this the most is Foggy Nelson (best friend of main character; Matthew Murdock). In the first season he mostly just seems to be there for comic relief, however, in the second season his character becomes much more independent and well rounded as a person. (Without giving anything away, my new favorite scene of his is the hospital almost fight in season two). 




Diversity of characters/Representation of Minorities: 8/10
Like before with the rating of the Bechdel test, there are very few characters who openly or visibly fit into a minority, however! the main character is blind so although he more than makes up for it with his other super enhanced senses, the fact that he is blind is a huge part of the story itself. Along with this, one of the most integral factors in this show are that there are many different gangs in Hell's Kitchen, all of which tend to focus around a specific nationality, (the Yakuza, the Cartel, the Irish, etc...) 




Acting Skills: 8.5/10
The characters in this show are all really well; cast, written, and preformed. Like with most shows, in the first few episodes (and sometimes first entire season), the acting tends to be a little more rough around the edges. While the actors are still feeling out their characters you will occasionally see a few odd timing choices and other little flub ups like that. Daredevil is no different. Not as good as some, but miles ahead of most, the acting in this show is almost always on point. I find it especially interesting watching Charlie Cox (who plays Mathew Murdock), pretending to be blind. It's really remarkable to see when you understand how difficult it must be to keep your eyes unfocused while you're trying to concentration on remembering your lines and keeping your movement loose so as to feel out the surroundings which you have to pretend not to see. 




Visual Presentation: 8/10
High contrast and beautifully designed lighting, this show is incredible if you are ever looking for drawing references.  My only issues are that the scenes which are not meant to be as vibrant as the ones featured below, sometimes end up being a little too washed out and 'dead' looking; that, or they are very dark and occasionally difficult to see unless your brightness is on full.








Story Line: 7.5/10
Confusing at times, (when you binge watch something it's easier to spot the plot holes), the story which this show follows is one of a "realistic" superhero. Someone who isn't all powerful, doesn't get thanked by the mayor, and isn't given a key to the city. This show is about a man who just wants the suffering of his city to end, and has take it upon himself to make that happen. As this is a new show as well as a Netflix show, there aren't really any filler episodes and the plot is always evolving, meaning that this show is generally well paced and will at least keep your interest if not your attention.


Additional Comments: Overall I would suggest Daredevil to anyone who is a fan of Marvel, Jessica Jones, or is really just looking for a well made show. Having binged season two as soon as it came out, I for one am excited by the small changes they've made between seasons 1 and 2, and look forward to what they will do next!

Let me know what you think about this show and if there is anything you would like me to review next!