(series review) [STREAMING] - Rhythm + Flow

I wasn't going to watch this at all.  Britain's Got Talent, The Voice, X-Factor, I just don't care about these type of shows because, well, I just don't care.  But I started watching this and after 2 - 3 episodes, I was hooked.  I am a hip-hop head so it was really cool and interesting to see these different people come together from across America to not only impress these judges and eventually win the money at the end, but to get a little insight on the industry.

The first few episodes is about meeting the competitors from different areas.  Cardi B from New York, T.I. from Atlanta and Chance the Rapper from Chicago. Whilst they all choose around 10 contestants each, the contestants slowly dwindle down to the final 4 by the end of the season/show.

If it isn't a rapping to impress the judges or battle rapping each other, the part where the competitors are required to direct a music video is probably one of the best parts of the show.  I grew up listening and watching Yo! MTV Raps and The Box (music television YOU control), remembering directors like Hype Williams making videos for the likes of Busta Rhymes, Puff Daddy or Missy Elliott to name a few, some of these videos were just great.

I had some favourite rappers and I was very interested in seeing who was going to get through to the next round at the end of every episode and to be honest, I was NEVER disappointed as I understood the reasons why certain competitors didn't get through.  However, in some sections, some of these challenges forced the competitors to think outside of the box, so the sample section was one of the weakest, but was still very decent.  The collaboration section was also very good and although one of the collaborations was very on the nose in terms of the pairing, it was nice to see these competitors work with superstar artists and producers.

The finale!  I kid you not.  The way they ended each episode with a cliffhanger towards the end and then when the finale dropped, I had my favourites.  I had to keep remembering that at this point, whomever didn't win, was still a winner because a bunch of these competitors were soo good, I do not see as to why any producer wouldn't want to work with any of them because, like I said, they are really good and that finale was somewhat stressful.   The winner, deserved it because throughout the entire series, the artist that beat the competition couldn't be any more an artist than the others and I was already "shipping" them off with other famous artists for music collaborations etc and stating that I would buy their album.

If you are into hip-hop and this kinda thing, or even if you are not, you should enjoy this because if not for the competition, artists or the special appearances by Hip-Hop and RnB stars, Cardi B is actually a hilarious character without even trying.  An enjoyable watch, you might get sucked in too.

(trailer review) - Antlers

Ok, so this film looks creepy.  How  kid they Littlegot turnsaway with sliding this past Disney, I don't know. gourmet chef and kills things to feed something he calls "Daddy".  Shows his boy in the woods and Daddy stands, which looks like 10 feet tall (perspective).  I mean, mum is sitting down at the kitchen table figuring out her child is a weirdo and he's into some shit.  I'm interested in watching this as it looks like a nice little fright...not for me as I don't get scared easily, but creepy, I'm down for!

Directed by Scott Cooper and starring Keri Russell and Jesse Plemons

(film review) - Terminator: Dark Fate

Ok ok ok...first of all, wow.  Secondly, Tim Miller....My Guy! I wasn't that keen on watching this one but I am a Terminator fan from when I was little.  I've seen all of them.  And while some are not great at all and some are better than others, none really captured tension like Terminator 1 or 2 did.  Don't get me wrong, Terminator Genisys wasn't terrible, captured tension to an extent, but it felt more like bigger and grander in explosions and action etc, atthough I manage to enjoy it, apart from the twist at the end among the other things that let it down.  But for the most part, to me, it was better than Salvation and definitely better than Rise of the Machines.  This one, not only gave you vibes of the first two, this one had me under soo much stress.

Dark Fate picks up 27 years after the events of what would have been Judgement Day.  Robots in the future are losing the fight against humanity in the future, so once again, they send a Terminator back to the past to kill whomever it is they see as a threat in their timeline, Dani Ramos (Natalia Reyes), by wiping them out in the past.  Ultimately, this leads to the return of Sarah Conner (Linda Hamilton) continuing her fight for a better future with the help of an advanced human named Grace (Mackenzie Davis).

Thirdly, the movie starts immediately in the opening credits where talking is being heard and it is soon to be revealed that this is the interview scene from T2 where Sarah Conner flips out.  Mild spoiler, but I feel it is justified in saying this to let you know that James Cameron is fully invested and involved in this movie, although he isn't directing it.  The explanation of Sarah Conner being back was great and made sense to the overall story.  The storyline itself actually made sense to me which led to some of the most touching and greatest moments in the movie involving the T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and Sarah Conner.  The new Rev-9 (Gabriel Luna) is a sight to behold.  Sometimes when I watch these advancements, I wonder how far they can actually take it, I mean, after liquid metal, what else can you do?  How about liquid metal which can split into two Terminators? (relax, it's in the trailer - Sorry if you haven't watched it)  I mean, technology and society has advanced and these Terminators sure have too.  This leads me onto Gabriel Luna as the Rev-9, who is just as menacing as Robert Patrick from Terminator 2 but has more charm to him.  One of the main stars in the movie Natalia Reyes did a great job as Dani Ramos and although there was a moment in the movie where she actually had a little moment, the film had a very steady/fast pace that kept you on edge.  The quiet moments are slim to none, but when you have a killer robot named a Terminator, Rev-9 Model, I mean, those quiet moments are going to be very, very small considering the world we live in now.  Arnold was excellent in this too.  His relevance was good for the story and if they DO think about doing a sequel, this could possibly be the last we see of him.  He looks GREAT in the role and he also reminds us how robotic, funny yet dangerous he is as the T-800, Model 101.  Mackenzie Davis is just as badass as Linda back in the day and playing an enhanced human (super soldier if you will), was good to see and her moves and fighting skills were great.  She proved to be a great foil to the Rev-9, it is unfortunate, the character has a great shortcoming that, to me, made her trip back to the past, irrelevant to an extent.

Also, just so you are not confused to whether this is a kids movie or not, swearing, blood it's all there.  The swearing (in which I don't mind), although more than what I'd normally hear in movies that are produced for children for toys etc, this movie does not hold back.  There was a moment where I blurted out a few expletives when the action sequences ensued.  Tim Miller didn't hold back and this made me happy.  I would say the visuals were good and there was a water scene I wasn't 100% on, but by that point, I was already sold on the movie.  Maybe there is an explanation to the scene and how it played out but meh, whatever.

If you are a fan of Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgement Day, I cannot see why you'd dislike this because to me at least, we are back on form, but where we go next, is a mystery.  Enjoy