(series review) [STREAMING] - YOU: Season 2

So, when this show first started, a few of my friends kept asking me, "Have you seen, YOU?", "Are you watching, YOU?", "Let me know when you start watching, YOU!" and I tried to get through it initially and was only able to get through 3-4 episodes.  When I saw the trailer for season 2, I was determined to get through it so that I could start the new season.

So, I rushed through season 1 and by the end of it, I was shocked.  This Joe guy is an absolute mad man, but for some reason, with his twisted outlook on life and love, you somewhat sympathize with him to a degree because, I guess everyone wants to love and be loved, right?  So, as the season finishes, you wonder what is going to happen to Joe, next.  You are left invested.

Season 2 picks up with Joe having moved from New York to Los Angeles and he finds himself in a very similar situation with falling for a lady named "Love".  But as the episodes go on, life for Joe becomes as complex as Joe's life usually gets with his past haunting him for his actions in season 1.  Things become even more complicated with Love's twin brother "Forty", who is a flamboyant, arrogant, entitled, rich kid whose Los Angeles friends and lifestyle present problems for Joe's Love.

This season was brilliant.  Having watched season 1 and watching season 2, you find yourself siding and rooting for Joe, EVEN WHEN HE KILLS SOMEONE, it's really disturbing, if you think about it.  You really want Joe to get love, but also you are wondering if he will get caught due to his actions, but slyly don't want him to get caught because what he is doing, for the most part and in a sick way, is good!? His morals are in the wrong place, completely, although his heart is mostly in the right place as he cares deeply in other ways.

The acting among everything else is excellent.  Very well shot and directed.  The cliffhangers are as great as they usually are as the first episode for a start was pretty much plain until the very end when the twist hits.  The end of episode 4 was completely bonkers and then everything else picks up after the crazy ending of episode 8 and every other episode after that.  The series even finishes with an unexpected twist which now has you wondering what is next for Joe and this is what YOU does best.

Although I found the use of the word 'YOU' a little distracting as I felt they over used the word and I absolutely hated the names Forty and Love, but I guess that played into the characters eccentric parents.  Joe is a very flawed character with many layers and among other things, keeps you invested.  At this point though, I'm not entirely sure how far they can take the series but is definitely a series to check it out and see.

(film review) - Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker

Generations.

Star Wars is special to different people at different times from when they first experienced it.  Star Wars has also played an integral part in the lives of many and a lot of people globally want and desire many different things from what they will call "their" Star Wars.  Those in their mid to late 30s into their 50s will want one thing based on the Original Trilogy and those younger than 30, such as 20s onwards, are likely to expect or want something different.
Me on the other hand, give me some Lightsabre battles, give me some dog fights, give me someone evil and I'm good. Show me some Force moves and I'm delighted.  I come in the range of the mid-thirties (only just) and although I've seen every Star Wars movie, watch the animated shows and am currently watch 'The Mandelorian' (shhhh...don't tell any body!), I wouldn't classify myself as a Die Hard fan, but I do love me some Star Wars.
What I will say though, I think over the years, this recent trilogy (known as the Disney Trilogy, I guess), was never going to please everyone throughout the many generations that Star Wars has touched.  Also, it would be telling to find out what those who disliked 'The Last Jedi' ultimately thought of this movie because everyone everywhere is saying, if you liked that, then you will hate this.  But my understanding is, those who hated that, said it didn't feel like Star Wars.  This movie couldn't be any more safe AND Star Wars that it is unapologetically Star Wars and people, still dislike it.  As I think about it, those who hated the last one should love this one, but I don't think anything is ultimately terrible with it.  I'll get into it.

After the events of 'The Last Jedi', Rey (Daisy Ridley) is off learning from the Book of the Wills and Kylo Ren is seeking the believed to be dead Palpatine to finally end him and become the ruler of the galaxy and leader of the Darkside and Sith.  However, due to Palpatine's message, our heroes Po (Oscar Isaac), Finn (John Boyega), Chewbacca and BB-8 along with Rey are on a scavenger quest to hopefully stop Palpatine and Kylo Ren and any other galaxy conquering plans they have in store using as much of any rebel forces they can gather to their aid.

I saw this as soon as I could as a lot of sites I frequent, cover Star Wars, which was making it impossible for me to navigate.  Star Wars is everywhere and a lot of people have a lot to say.  JJ Abrams had an impossible job with the passing of Carrie Fisher and "impossible" job of finishing what he started with 'The Force Awakens' because the "middle" movie 'The Last Jedi' changed the direction of the storyline somewhat.  Some may argue that there was no structure before they even started renewing the franchise and although that might be so, I still enjoyed this movie with the efforts made.  It's not terrible, it's good but I understand the frustration from fans are the no clear or lack of direction making the 2 directors work harder than they should have and having a mish-mash of a trilogy.  And without going into spoilers, it did what I needed it to do to tell a semi-cohesive story and have fun with it.  JJ kept a lot of the risks Rian took and used them in clever ways.  The strongest elements of the movie were both Rey and Kylo Ren.  There were some added characters that we could have done without, but at the same time, regarding the final act, I see why.

This is a Star Wars movie, so everything about it is excellent. Sound, visuals, acting, set-pieces, vehicles, imagery, battles, but the story could have been executed a touch better.  However, I find that we the audience want everything explained and then when we do get things explained, there is too much exposition.  Maybe it is the wrong things being explained, but I had no issue with how Palpatine was still alive or how he did what he did, we saw his cunning in the prequel trilogy, so....Palpatine innit!

There are a few very minor things I didn't like in the movie and a few things I sensed/guessed was going to happen anyway as they were practically telegraphed and one scene/shot/moment they carried out and went through with which could have been left on the cutting room floor, but other than that, there were a few things that gave me the chills and things I really liked from the movie.  Palpatine's laugh fills me with joy every single time.  The slight lineage twist, I thought was great although not really needed but it even plays into previous movies and was accented.  However, the great thing is, I went in listening and reading non-spoiler reviews, went in with an open mind and I enjoyed it for what it was despite the flaws.  Maybe you should also go in with an open mind not expecting anything as you might also just like it.

(series review) [STREAMING] - Don't F**k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer

First of all, this documentary is NOT about cats!!!

Maybe it was wild to think it was about cats, but from what I saw in the wording, it seemed soo ambiguous and I thought I'd give it a watch.  Not that I love cats or anything, but I wondered what all the fuss was about.  I was curious.  It's just a couple of episodes so maybe I could give the first epsiode a watch then switch to something else if it doesn't float my boat.

We are introduced to Deanna Thompson, a Las Vegas casino worker who is a part of an Facebook group who discovers a disturbing video.  Deanna along with other group member John Green look into trying to figure out where the video came from.

As the series goes on, it is left on a cliff-hanger which entices you to either watch more, if it has hooked you or watch something else because you don't wish to see how they progress with their internet sleuthing.

There are only 3 episodes to the season and to be honest, I flew through these episodes because Netflix had me on lock.  This is a documentary based on real life events that not only surprised me, but had me invested due to the nature of it and frankly, I wanted justice.  I almost jumped onto social media to look up these events mid-episode one because my mind was racing.

This show is definitely not for everyone and if I'm honest, I wouldn't have watched this had I known it WASN'T about cats, because I don't watch Crimewatch and things of that nature, but I will definitely recommend people to watch this 3-episode series just to identify and notice what they are showing you in order to help stop these things from happening again.  I wanted to go into more detail, but then tat would spoil it.

Watch it of you can.