#wachowskis reviewed

[jordybuzz]

I know a lot of people disliked the Knuckles series but I just gotta say that I believe they did a great job with Knuckles character, his goals, his attributes, and his even his flaws were done so well!

The way he interacts with everyone is so beautiful and every time he is on screen he makes me so happy!

One of my favorite moments is with Knuckles and Wade's mom, it's so precious!!

Also I loved the dynamic between Wade and Knuckles. They played off of eachother so well!

He's also so goddamn adorable like look at this sweet baby

As much as I wish the show focused more on Knuckles adjusting to the world and hanging out with the Wachowski's more and have the show be more slice of life, I'm pretty satisfied with what we got :)

[sparkles-rule-4eva]

Alrighty! @number-one-shadisper-shipper and I binged the Knuckles series today, so time for thoughts! SPOILER ALERT.

I'll admit the show wasn't perfect. I've seen the negative reviews, and I kinda get where they come from. BUT! I did enjoy this show greatly! And I'm not here to complain. Time for some happy thoughts, y'all! 💙🤩

I think you need to have a love, not just tolerance, for the SCU in order to properly enjoy this show. I do have such, so I had a lot of fun with it.

There were definitely scenes from every episode that had me either squealing, laughing, crying, or flipping out. But my favorite was likely the first episode, because come on, we saw the Wachowski family! Most of them, anyway! While I missed Tom's presence, I was grateful for that comment from Maddie about him being "out of town," so he wasn't just gone for no reason.

The SECOND it showed our three space babies hanging out together in their room?! I SCREAMED. THE BOYS!!!!

Tails sitting on his bed tinkering with one of his gizmos, Sonic rocking out to music with an air guitar, and Knuckles exercising from one of the ceiling planks. IT'S THEM!!! They're just hanging out, doing their thing, looking oh so much like brothers. And Sonic's narration at the beginning was GOLD. 🤣💙

Even though we didn't get enough of Maddie being a parent, we definitely got a nice chunk for it only lasting part of an episode. Maddie called Knuckles "one of our kids" (that had me SCREECHING). The angry mama vibes were GOLDEN. 🤣 The way she made breakfast for them, the "Boys, breakfast is ready!" I love the normalcy of it! Can't wait to see more in the future! (Her calling to them with "boys" is somehow just the sweetest thing and I'm melting.)

The poor mailman being like "I just wanna go home, man" 🤣

We were right, fellas, Knuckles had no idea what being grounded meant. 🤣 Although the way Sonic piped up with "Oh, I definitely know what it means," has me suspecting that Sonic himself has gotten grounded a decent amount before. 😂

Knuckles trying to talk back, and Maddie going, "ExCUSE ME?!" then just making those tiny, terrifying noises and Sonic being like "Bro don't mess with Mom when she's mad" (okay, he didn't say "mom" and that made me sad, but the mom vibes were 110% there so I'm here for it). 😂 And since Knuckles snuck out and later Wade said, several times, "Aren't you grounded?" seems to confirm that this entire show is basically what Knuckles does when he's grounded. 🤣 Although ... his comment about not being able to be grounded because he had no home made me very sad. 😭

I did not have an issue with so much Wade screentime! Sure, he isn't my favorite SCU character, but I love what this show did with him! I'd already seen his moments in the movies (like nearly shooting Robotnik in the face with an actual handgun). I like how they gave him actual family issues; a dad who abandoned him and his family, a realistic sister, a mom. Bad family memories. Awkward reunions. They could've made it a joke, but they didn't, and I greatly appreciate that. Especially since I've witnessed firsthand how painful family separations can be. 😔

All the emotional talks Wade and Knuckles had caught me off guard in the best way! The way they talked about their different family issues, the way they talked of betrayal from friends, and being left alone, hit way harder than I was prepared for. Especially that talk they had at the burger place in the middle of the night? Oof. Good talk right there.

Also, even though they took a "show don't tell" take with it, I loved how Knuckles relaxed more and more throughout the show. In the beginning, he couldn't rest, he couldn't sit back and have a genuine good time. But the more he hung out with Wade and his family, the more he learned. He learned about music and found "his jam" (that was literally amazing btw). He watched movies with Mrs. Whipple and ate snacks in the hotel room in Reno and watched more movies. He had his teenager moments of rolling his eyes and rebelling, but he was so well portrayed here, I loved it. I felt for him.

Despite the bizarre nature of the episode "Flames of Disaster," (we were cracking up so hard) I'm trying to glean bits of the truth of Knuckles's story from the crazy musical play that Pachacamac put on in Wade's dream. I mean, "Longclaw" and her tribe were there, and ... what the heck was that giant demon thing?! Iblis?! Does our Knuckles Wachowski have an actual history with freaking Iblis?!?! 😱🔥

I was deeply intrigued by the two main antagonists, especially at the implication that G.U.N. did seem to exist before the events of the first movie?! Did it exist, get disbanded after the Maria incident, then get reformed?! My brain is exploding. 🤯 I was even more shocked that they apparently died? I guess I shouldn't be surprised, the Wachowski kids don't seem to have much qualms about getting rid of the baddies for good as the game versions do. That was a terrifying phenomenon, what happened with the two rings. 🫣

And then the Buyer getting crushed by the giant glass ball 👀

Although in those last two episodes, I admit I was freaking out and legitimately near tears at Wade's seemingly having to "betray" Knuckles. Before the reveal that all was in good communication, all I could think was how relaxed Knuckles finally seemed, chilling in the hotel room, being excited about whatever Wade wanted to "show" him, questioning whether it was a song, him declaring that he was going to bring his favorite hat, 🥹 all I could think was of their previous discussions about betrayal from friends and family, and when Knuckles called Wade "my friend" right before the elevator doors closed, I just about sobbed. I was like "please, don't let him be betrayed, don't let him have come all this way and relaxed so much only to get 'betrayed' once again by someone he's come to consider a friend." 😭 We heaved a HUGE sigh of relief when it revealed he was aware of the trap the whole time. 😪

Maternal instincts went nuts when he got so badly hurt in that final battle 😭 I literally reached for the screen several times and was right back to almost weeping 🥲 And someone tell me I wasn't the only one noticing the parallel in that scene with Wade standing in front of his unconscious body the way Tom did with Sonic in the first movie. That, PLUS Knuckles's epic comeback, and his retrieval of his own power?!?! EPIC!!!!

The ending was abrupt, sure, but the pure joy on Knuckles's face after everything as he jumped up to high five Wade was just too sweet. 🥹

So yes, even though I would have loved just a little more, a return to Green Hills, a reunion with Maddie, Sonic, and Tails, I adored this show. It was a wild ride, full of laughs, tears, excited screeching, etc. 💙💛❤️ I don't care what anyone says, nothing will make me hate it.

[piko-power]

So, the Knuckles Show...

It was a hassle to attempt and find the show somewhere else (pirate if you wanna watch), and also I had a lot going on that day, BUT!

I have finally finished all six episodes of Knuckles, and my final thoughts...!

...It was pretty good.

Honestly, nothing to ground-breaking and outstanding but it was fantastic and such a lovely treat to hardcore Knuckles fans. Like me lol. (It may not look like it, but TRUST ME THIS SHOW TURNED ME INTO A HARDCORE KNUCKLES FAN.)

All of my thoughts are under the cut, but to make a long story short, I really enjoyed it! (Forgive this post and me I'm not the best at sharing reviews DX)

Now, some things I wanna point out... (MASSIVE SPOILERS AND PERSONAL HEADCANONS AHEAD)

THOUGHTS ON CHARACTERS

I really liked Wade Whipple. He's goofy, and dorky, and he was fantastic for saving his family and Knuckles. His character arc was really interesting to watch, and he's got a lot of funny moments. Him and Knuckles also make a great team. I believe he would make a great Uncle for Knuckles. XD

Knuckles' arc was fantastic too. I was hoping that he realizes that Earth is his home, and he did. The Movie Series version of Knuckles is definitely my favorite version of Knuckles. EVER. Love this character to death. Number one favorite character right now.

The story was pretty good, too. Interesting that Knuckles isn't the only main focus, but I was onboard with the idea that Wade is also in the spotlight. I liked Wade but I love him A LOT.

The whole drama with Wade's family was something that honestly caught me off guard, but in a good way. It's just great to see more of his extended family. (And Wade's mother and is just so sweet and cool.)

Mason and Willoughby were fun to watch. Almost better than Orbot and Cubot, honestly. XD

The Buyer... I kind of forgot about him until the last few episodes. XD Cool villain, though!

Pachacamac... Never thought I would actually enjoy this character. Really wish he got enough screen time, dude is so hilarious. So much better than the Pachacamac we all knew from Adventure 1 pffffft. And hearing Doc Brown's voice coming out of Mac's mouth was the best part. He fits the role perfectly.

WACHOWSKI FAMILY CRUMBS! WE GOT TO SEE MORE OF THE WACHOWSKIS! It was only for one episode, but it's just so refreshing to see Knuckles with his newfound family, especially Tails. (Even though he didn't get enough screentime.)

No Donut Lord... 😔

MY HEADCANONS OF THE EVENTS DURING THE SHOW (and afterwards)

The house is still in construction after the second film. I have a feeling that the Knuckles show took place probably a month or two after the second film. (Or at least after the baseball field scene from the movie.)

And if that's the case, then it's probably why Sonic and Tails haven't called Maddie "mom" yet. Sonic JUST made Donut Dad official, but not hearing Sonic calling Maddie "mom" didn't surprise me, actually. Since he had a mother figure once before, and now she's gone. Sonic is probably still struggling to make Mama Maddie official after that whole mess. 🥺

And also I think Tails does look at Tom and Maddie as his parents, but calls them by their first names because that's what he's most comfortable with for now.

Sonic mentions that Tails and Knuckles are his roommates. ...Something tells me that he hasn't realized the bigger picture yet. 😈 Once the realization hits, it's over for the middle child.

I seriously don't believe Knuckles is sticking with the Whipples. He's got a bed at home, and "pretzel woman" is a motherly title of sorts for Maddie. I just think Knuckles and Wade have formed a really strong bond. Wade is more of a uncle figure for him, but the Whipples are part of the Wachowskis regardless. 💕

I bet Knuckles' grape stash that the moment Knuckles walks back home with Wade, Sonic, Tails and Maddie (and Tom if he came home) freaks the hell out because he just straight up left home without an explanation. Especially since he's grounded and shouldn't have step foot out of the house. But all that matters is that Knuckles is at home with his family. Did this calm everybody down? No, and yes. It's hard to explain. (At least Sonic knows now that Knuckles can finally relax.)

Ever since the events of the Knuckles Show, seeing visions of Pachacamac is pretty normal for Knuckles, whether he needs to be guided for something even if it's small, or he just casually shows up in his dreams just to say "hi." I feel like since he visited Wade while he was unconscious, I think Pachacamac would also visit other people's dreams or visions. It be so goddamn funny if this dude just randomly show up in Sonic's dream, scaring the living daylights out of him, and when he explains it to Knuckles, he's like: "Oh, that's just Mac, he's cool." and Sonic is like: "???????"

THOUGHTS ON THE EPISODES - Fair warning, I've only seen these episodes ONCE (Including some clips I rewatched on Tumblr.) so some things here might be fuzzy or wrong, so bare with me here...

Episode 1 was a great start. I love the dynamic Sonic and Knuckles has. Bummer that we didn't get to see more of them together, but with the power of writing, that problem can be solved! (HUZZAH!) I love the small bit with Knuckles and his mother Maddie after he got grounded and how he just, took it okay with the fact that he's grounded. And I love Sonic trying to help his new buddy out, he's an absolute sweetheart for that. Pachacamac's appearance in the episode took me by surprise and he was such a joy to watch. Love the elderly goofball. Seeing Knuckles and Wade interact was nice, too, even when he gets to talk about his dad. It was a nice moment. And Knuckolas Cage. Best nickname ever, how dare Knuckles decline such a title for a perfect warrior XD

Episode 2 was great. Absolutely love the daydream scene with Wade's plan on saving Knuckles from the G.U.N. agents, and Holding Out For a Hero playing in the background. GOLDEN. Don't remember much else other than that and Knuckles and Wade rocking out to so music. (And Knuckles breaking the radio again.)

Episode 3 is when we get to see Wade's family members, and it was nice. Wanda is one of those siblings that we had and Wendy (is that her name?) is just so lovely. We got to know more of Knuckles' dad, and once more, it was a tender moment between an Echidna and a dork-ass Uncle. 😊 And we got a EPIC fight scene with Knuckles, Wendy and the goons. It was AWESOME. Also, love Wade's room. He's got good taste.

Episode 4... Oh, my God. It was a fever dream. Literally. It was so RIDICULOUS but it was the greatest thing I've ever seen in a long time. XD I love musical numbers that just come out of NOWHERE, and this was one of them! Adam Pally (Wade) in a Knuckles costume is just the most elegant thing. AND ECHIDNA MUPPETS ARE REAL! I WAS HOPING THAT THEY WOULD ACTUALLY BRING IN THE ECHIDNA MUPPET!! Jokes aside, it was a strangely epic episode of Wade going through Knuckles' past in a unique way. And the songs were pretty great. ...You think that's where all the budgeting went? On this gorgeous musical number? /j Also we got more of my boy Pachacamac, being one of my favorite characters besides Knuckles lmao GOD I wish we got more of Pachacamac. I love him so much XD

Episode 5 Is when they arrive at Reno. It was alright. We got to see Wade meeting his dad finally (also Knuckles is using a phone no problem I guess??) I think that's all I remember. WE GOT KNUCKLES WITH THE HAT THOUGH SO YEAH!

Episode 6 is the last one of the mini series and it was pretty kick-ass. More cool fight scenes, with Knuckles and the Agents, him against the Buyer, which was short and sweet, but still pretty intense. Wade and Pete was competing in bowling. Kept forgetting about that, but it was cool regardless. And Wade being the best uncle ever and protecting Knuckles while he was out. Also kind of forgot a lot from this episode, but nonetheless, badass way to end the mini series. Complete with the classic freeze frame of Knuckles and Wade getting a high five! Knuckles realizing that his home is on Earth was such a powerful scene. It was the first Sonic movie all over again.

And yes, there was a pretty quick post credits scene where Knuckles found a song and claimed it was his jam. It was really cute. XD

Really wish there was a scene where Knuckles came back home to the Wachowskis with the family flipping the lid over the fact that he left the house, but in my heart I know damn well it happened. I know this series too well lmao

That's pretty much all I wanna say about how this show made me feel. It was a fun time. Not was insane as Movie 1 and 2, but still as enjoyable.

Honestly, after watching this, I hope we get a Wachowski family TV show, where it's just the family on misadventures, and moments together that are comedic, fluffy, angst, any emotion you wanna feel watching it, and it's just a good time. I just wanna see more of this goofy little growing family. (Also it'd be cool if season 1 was after the first movie because I wanna see Sonic adjusting to his new life with Tom and Maddie and spending traditions and holidays with them before the sequel.) I love this series too much. 😅

This show got me really ambitious to work on my stories and I really wanna show the community how amazing these characters are. (I just need to get an AO3 in the future...)

It feels good to be back on the Wachowski bandwagon.

The Knuckles Show is flawed, but it was a fun time. I love the characters, I love the story, I love the choice of songs they used, and of course, I love Knuckles. This is the best we've ever seen of Knuckles, and I'm proud of how far this little, tough guy has came.

The Echidna Warrior made his debut 30 years ago, and he's never been stronger. Keep on punching, Knuckles! 😎💕

[martianbugsbunny]

the thing in the knuckles show that bothered me most was that the hotel had a 13th floor

[the-sky-queen]

JUST FINISHED EPISODE 6!!! Before I unblock the Knuckles Series tags, I wanted to give my closing thoughts.

Overall, I really REALLY enjoyed this! :D I laughed a lot, the tension was good, the animation and choreography was incredible, and everything was just all around amazing. I wish we got to cut back to Green Hills every now and then though. Getting a little side plot with Sonic and Tails would have been cute and very nice. But I really enjoyed Wade and Knuckles' dynamic, though I think Knuckles should have had a bit more development and screen time.

One thing I absolutely ADORED was the theme song, along with the constant theme of older music scattered throughout the series. I gasped out loud when I saw Wade's discman. (My sister still has one!) I grew up listening to CDs. When it was time for a roadtrip, my family would grab one of our big CD cases for the car ride. So looking at that theme song animation made my heart absolutely soar. ❤️ And while I didn't recognize any of the songs they played in the episodes (save for a couple), I can really appreciate the vibe. I also grew up listening to my dad's music. Stuff from when HE was growing up. It just felt right to have Wade into all kinds of music.

I have only a few complaints. First: Wanda was kinda really, really annoying. She got better as time went on, but she was really bad at first. She felt like a kid who never grew up. Like seriously, why is she still picking fights with Wade??? You're both adults! Act like it! The whole dinner scene over all was just painful to watch. It felt waaaay too similar to some dinners I've had with my own family, which yes, points for accuracy I guess, but I just felt like Knuckles the entire time. Awkward, wishing they'd just quit arguing and enjoy dinner, feeling out of place. I'm not sure if that's what they were going for or not. (The fight scene to protect the candles was very nice though :D)

Second: Pachacamac. I dunno, he was really annoying, and not at all like his power hungry, war mongering, cold, game counterpart. I also feel like he was really unnecessary? He probably could've been written out really easily. His 'funny' bits weren't even that funny and there was so many other opportunities for comedy during the episodes. He was really unneeded.

Finally: Almost everything in episode 4. The . . . low quality rock opera thing???? I'll admit, that the way they did all the practical effects and stuff was really cool! But everything else? WHY. Why are we doing this? Why are we singing? Why are we cutting Knuckles out of almost an entire episode? Why?????? I feel like this episode could've been done so many other different ways. HOWEVER! I really enjoyed the bit at the end. Seeing Wade stand up to Sinclair was AMAZING and I was cheering him on the whole time.

I kinda also wish they'd hinted at the third movie a bit. For a bit of set up. But they did clear up that GUN didn't always go by GUN, which I guess fixes our 'how did GUN kill Maria if they were only created after the first movie' problem!

Anyway, save for a few rough patches, this is a really good show! (Probably would've been better with one episode per week though. Can you imagine the suspense factor?? Would've been EPIC!!)

[bittyfromquotev]

So I just finished the Knuckles Show, and here are my thoughts:

It was a decent show overall. Only some parts were a bit random and gave me second-hand embarrassment. I also noticed how in both Sonic 1, 2, and Knuckles, there’s always a scene where they go into a restaurant or someplace with food.

Some of the things in the Shabbat episode seemed weird to me, like insinuating that Knuckles was “basically Jewish”. Also that both children were of law enforcement (no offense to Wade but still).

Overall the only thing that REALLY irked me was the vague advertisements for Doritos, Spotify, and Lays. Like please. Just stop advertising yourselves and let me enjoy my show.

[adamwatchesmovies]

The Matrix (1999)

If all movies belong somewhere on a spectrum between “Confrontational” and “Wish Fulfilment”, then The Matrix is so far on the side of power fantasies it circles back around to say something about the oppressive system that reality can be. Unmistakably 1999, extremely stylish and teeming with groundbreaking special effects, it's got dozens of quotable lines, moments, characters and action scenes. This is a movie everyone should see at least once.

Thomas Anderson (Keanu Reeves) is a computer programmer who moonlights as the hacker “Neo”. When he encounters the legendary Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) online, he becomes privy to a dark secret about our world. Joining a small band of rebels and told by their leader Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) that he is the prophecyzed hero they’ve been waiting for, Neo might be the only one who can save humanity from the shackles of “The Matrix” and the hidden oppressors that have us all in an elaborate cage.

Today, The Matrix is the first part of a franchise that includes several sequels, an animated anthology film, video games, and more. You probably know the film’s big secret: although initially, the film looks like it’s taking place in 1999 New York, that's a lie. This story is set at an unknown point in the future in which humanity has been enslaved. After losing the war between man and machine, everyone alive is imprisoned in a virtual world, unaware that everything around them is nothing more than signals fed through their brains. Meanwhile, their real bodies are fed intravenously and the electrical currents and heat our bodies generate power our mechanical oppressors. Woah. There’s no way you would’ve seen that coming in 1999. Even today, it’s a great premise that opens up a world of insane possibilities the film is eager to engage with when it isn't putting its focus on the action.

You see, Neo, Trinity, Morpheus, Cypher (Joe Pantoliano) and the others know the truth - they’ve chosen the red pill and have had their eyes opened. They know the real world isn’t real at all. This allows them to “cheat” at reality. The mechanical ports in their skulls (a great bit of skin-crawling cyberpunk horror) allow them to instantly upload knowledge into their minds. One moment you’re a regular pale-faced keyboard operator. The next, you’re a superhero with an unparalelled mastery of every martial arts known to man. Is there a more fulfilling fantasy? Our heroes instantly stand out from a crowd thanks to their impossibly cool long leather coats and dark sunglasses. They effortlessly blow away their opponents with weapons they conjure out of thin air (one of the perks of living in a digital world is that you can hack it) and when the bullets run out, they pull off the kinds of punches and kicks only possible in a video game.

The Matrix excels at delivering entertaining sights and sounds, at showing the audience what it wants to see. Though unassuming, “Neo” is “the One”, a human prophesied to free humankind from the big machine that’s got us all living mundane lives. At one point or another (probably in our teenage years) we've all thought “I wish someone would tell me I'm special”. The Wachowskis have taken our deepest desires and made them physical. Neo and his brothers-in-arms look impossibly cool, they can do things no one else possibly could. They’ve woken up from the dream. Now, societal norms and rules they only followed out of obligation no longer apply. Even the laws of gravity start backing off. People dodge bullets. Their jumps, punches and kicks are shot in glorious stop-motion, allowing us to see how impossibly well-choreographed and ferocious they are. If, by the end of the movie, the hero doesn’t get the girl, I’ll eat my hat.

Perfectly embodying the oppressive simulated reality prison these rebels are fighting against is Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith. He’s the kind of bad guy you can never forget. He's not a man. He's literally part of the system; a program within the Matrix that’s allowed to bend the rules of physics so he can squash any rebellion. It’s clear the actor is having the time of his life with this character. He’s cartoonish in a way but it works because the whole film is exaggerated. It wouldn't have been enough for him to have been nasty; he needed to be larger than life and smug too.

It doesn’t take long for The Matrix to get going and once the energy starts to crackle, you get non-stop bolts of lightning directly into your eyes. Is the movie deep, or is it just a steady flow of would-be religious and philosophical themes? It doesn’t matter. The expertly choreographed action scenes and dazzling special effects keep things moving. In other circumstances, the characters (who range from well-developed to mere archetypes) would feel like tools used to segway us from one scene to the next but something about the entire package makes you believe this is everything the Wachowskis have always wanted to show, fully realized. It’s a dream come true, and you can’t wait to see what’s next. (On Blu-ray, January 1, 2022)

[queenseneca]

Oh GOD this was a disappointment. And yeah, spoilers or whatever. I don't really care.

Get it out of the way, this was not the Knuckles show, this was the Wade show. Too much Wade. Too much. Way too much. It's annoying. Look, I liked him in the movies, he did a good job there because he wasn't the main focal point, and in the first couple episodes I could excuse how he acted.

But no. OH NO. After episode two, he just got so bad. Taking the spotlight from, frankly, the MUCH better character. Episode one set a perfect precedent for how the series could have gone. But nope. They threw it all away.

Then by episode five, they've literally made Knuckles a side character. In the show that's NAMED AFTER HIM. Oi vey.

This really should have just been named Wade. But no, if they named it that, it wouldn't get the people watching it. Because no-one likes Wade. He's a side character; keep him as such. He went from ok in he movies, to tolerable in the first two episodes, then 3-6 he became full on egotistical.

I wish Knuckles had been the main character. I wish he'd been given the spotlight. I was so looking forward to it. I was looking forward to watching something about him, learning about him and how he interacts with the world, how he comes to terms with his inevitable home in Green Hills. I wish he'd had more interactions with Sonic and Tails. But they're thrown out after episode ONE. After that, it's random unimportant person after random unimportant person. Seriously think this show had been written and voiced by AI. Because it's just that bad.

And I haven't even gotten to the lackluster villains. I know they're supposed to be important and everything, raise the stakes, but they're really not. Just generic "bad British woman and coloured man to show diverse cast". I mean, they literally tossed a man, who was white and blonde, into the Mushroom planet with no reason whatsoever than political stuff, I'm sure. And they tarnish the good name that Jim Carrey made playing as Robotnik. Even if he isn't in the show (thank god), they treat him like he's nothing more than a commodity, someone to link to every bad thing that G. U. N does.

Oh yeah, haven't mentioned that yet. They're using THAT G. U. N. Y'know, the one that's supposed to be super powerful and secretive that, for hopes of Sonic fans, will be treated with respect in the 3rd movie? The one that offed Maria Robotnik and drove Gerald crazy and started Shadow's entire character arc? That G. U. N. They aren't even given that much screen time. Two episodes, then they're tossed away until episode five. And the woman is all "oh woa is me, I wasn't listened to because I'm a woman and the place I work for is misogynistic and I was given a desk job to keep me safe waaa"

And the ending. Oh boy. Ok, to put it in simple terms, I'd call the ending of season one (and hopefully the series), stupid. For 6 episodes, they had a chance to grow genuine chemistry between Wade and Knuckles, to give them a chance to get along. To give them a reason. And you'd think with a series like Sonic whose games are rife with dark and mature themes, they'd explore it. But nope. It's just the first movie, remade with Knuckles and Wade, but done so much worse. The Jewish stuff wasn't important. The dad abandonment wasn't needed. It's important to Knux, I know, but Wade didn't have to have it too just to find a way to relate.

And guess what? His dad is another white blonde man! Because they're just the devil in the media these days! I'd say he's British too but it doesn't contribute to the story. He's treated like a narcissist, an uppity person (like apparently all people are when they're repeat winners in a certain sport or game). god forbid a man be proud of himself.

They also did that one scene from the Sonic movie where they faked Knuckles' death, and Wade made an attempt to stand up but failed because he's a useless character. Then he said some stupid crap that he apparently "learned", even though he really didn't.

Shit like this makes me wish that the movies didn't exist.

0/10, don't recommend.

Please, for the sake of your sanity, don't watch this. Or if you do, have a pallet cleanser handy. (The jokes are awful, you'll definitely need it)

And for the comments that'll say it's for kids, the characters use a huge amount of swear words, so that rebuttal holds no ground.

[raisedbyascreen16]

The Gays Made It Out Alive

[bulletbra77]

Two Cool Movies Made by The Wachowskis

“Two Cool Movies Made By The Wachowskis” is a mini monograph I made last year that focuses on two undeniably nineties movies, Bound (1996) and The Matrix (1999), and their connection to trans cinema. There may be some typos/not the most "professional" writing at points (aka me being like "It's just so cool I dunno what else to tell ya" and then proceeding to tell ya else) cause it was something I did kinda on a whim.

Here is the link to the PDF.  Hope you like it!

A brief preview will be below.

Along with a preview of the better visuals that you get to see in the focused sections cause I'm well aware the introductory stuff is not terribly enthralling to look at:

Thanks for checkin' this out! There is also a page dedicated to this on my blog in case you lose the post/for anyone who stumbles upon it.

[lserver362reviews]

I'm a sucker for 90's cornball queer cult films (I'm not a big noir person!!). This film objectifies the hell out of Gina Gershon's hands with her jaw harp (according to Wikipedia this was Gershon's idea!!!) and Bella Swan-ass truck, but her mouth alone is doing so much of the work! I guess the tattoos, earrings, and wardrobe do a lot too. If The Matrix made the masses buy leather trench coats, this movie makes me want to buy a lock pick earring set. This movie made me wonder do the Wachowskis love David Lynch? The elevator alone is giving Black Lodge. The outdoor scenes where Corky is spying on other characters felt like Lost Highway to me, funny how daylight can be eerie. Overall just some of the editing, flashbacks, and fading to white felt in the same vein as the fuzzy eroticism in Wild at Heart. I feel like DKL would love this soundtrack. It seems like everyone just had too much fun here (following the telephone cord!) and there's not one bit I can disparage about that! This movie pulls no punches. You can learn so much about how women view men from this film!!!

[guardianreadersofthegalaxy]

My ★★★★ review of The Matrix Reloaded on Letterboxd https://boxd.it/4IrvXZ

It's quite funny how those two operator guys on The Vigilant got killed not because of the machines or Smith or anything like that, they just had a shit railing that collapsed. Even in the robo-pocalypse, there's no excuse for poor health & safety

Also costume designer Kym Barrett doesn't get nearly enough praise for those jumpers they wear in the real world. They look so snuggly

[ogradyfilm]

Recently Viewed: Bound

The fateful first encounter between the co-protagonists of Bound—Jennifer Tilly’s femme (albeit not necessarily fatale) mob moll Violet and Gina Gershon’s (comparatively) butch thief Corky—is brilliantly composed by cinematographer Bill Pope. As the two women exchange fleeting, flirtatious glances, their matching closeups condense the space surrounding them, isolating the pair and reducing the world that they inhabit to an indistinct blur, as though their blossoming relationship is the only thing that truly matters. The illusion of intimacy, however, is abruptly shattered by a wide overhead shot, which reveals that the characters are actually occupying opposite ends of a surprisingly roomy elevator, with Joe Pantoliano’s sleazy gangster situated directly between them—elegantly (almost subliminally) establishing the story’s central conflict barely thirty seconds into the 110-minute running time.

Released just three years before The Matrix launched their careers, Bound is the Wachowskis’ answer to the Coen Brothers’ Blood Simple—a lean, mean postmodern masterpiece that deconstructs its chosen genre by boiling it down to its essential elements, playing its associated tropes and clichés with utter sincerity, and trimming away any excess fat. Indeed, despite its sapphic twist, this steamy neo-noir rarely deviates from the familiar narrative formula—a bare bones, no-nonsense approach that allows the filmmakers’ style to emerge as the movie’s ultimate substance, its raison d’être. And while it never quite delves into the delirious maximalism that would come to define the siblings’ later work (see: Speed Racer, Cloud Atlas), Bound features enough dynamic camerawork and bold framing to sustain the script’s taut, minimalistic plot and deliciously suspenseful atmosphere.

It is, in short, a perfectly calibrated thriller.

[the-influx-of-film]

Documentary Analysis and Review:

Side by Side, 2012

Directed by Christopher Kenneally

Is celluloid film dead? What does the influx of digital cinema look like now and what will it become in the future? Actor and producer Keanu Reeves delves deep into the debate, interviewing an array of experts to gain their perspectives on changes to the art of storytelling.

I have recently revisited Side by Side because I had a conversation with my dad about celluloid film. He showed me how he would make his own little projector as a child using a torch and a magnifying glass. He then demonstrated by finding old negatives and attempted to project them onto the wall using those same materials. It was a cool moment, leading me back to the documentary.

Firstly, Side by Side is a well-made piece, showcasing an array of artists, including cinematographers, directors, producers, actors, colorists and editors. Each artist convey different perspectives on celluloid film and, digital cinema. Hence the name, Side by Side.

These people are more than experts, they are living, breathing storytellers who know how to evoke emotion in an audience. How to use lights, shadows and angles to convey these messages. These artists know how to use special effects to represent something unreal, but make it feel like it exists. They manipulate shape, texture, colour, sound and analyse movements humans and other creatures make to create an authentically believable image. They are the brave ones who go above and beyond to convey the stories sewn into our culture. So, to those who want to learn more about the evolution of film, hearing what these artists have to say is invaluable.

Titanic, 1997 dir. James Cameron

The Matrix, 1999 dir. Lilly Wachowski and Lana Wachowski

Lana Wachowski predicts at the beginning of the documentary, that storytellers and their audiences need to be prepared to “mourn the loss of film.” This means there will be a grieving process to remember what was the beginning of storytelling and how we influenced culture. Moreover Wachowski’s comment speaks to a difficult transition for film makers who are accustomed to celluloid. This means using large celluloid cameras, filling and replacing the magazine and waiting to watch the final product of what was filmed the previous day. All these processes disappear with mourning the loss. And this means moving in a new direction, that being digital. This means a director may use a smaller camera, not needing to change the magazine because the capture is through pixels, and being able to watch the take immediately after shooting. What does this all imply? It implies a resistance, like with all other types of changes.

Celluloid camera

Digital camera

Some storytellers are resistant to changing the way they tell stories. The materials and processes involved have become just as important as the final product to these artists. Wally Pfister summarises this in an interview, saying, “It’s really sad right now to see cameras cording imagery in an inferior way starting to take over film.” Pfister speaks to new methods failing to live up to the standard of the twentieth century. However, it also speaks to his passion and appreciation for celluloid. This is because some film makers prefer seeing granularity, colour and texture of celluloid. Providing something that cannot be captured by the ones and zeros on a digital camera. Hence why Pfister will not “trade my oil paints for a set of crayons.”

We can see the granularity talked about in the documentary in the image below:

So, we have the process of mourning the loss, and a resistance? What else is there to consider? The artists each talk about what they think is better and why…celluloid or digital? But who can really be the judge of what constitutes better? One approach to this question is summarised by filmmaker, David Lynch who says, “people like great stories… how they get there, it doesn’t really matter.” Lynch suggests that the story is the important component in the film-making process rather than how the information is captured. This leads us back to the belief that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. A cliche really, but it does hold true to this debate. Applying this logic here, we can then say, beauty is collected in the lens of the camera, no matter if there is an electronic sensor or film behind the lens. One step further, if we were talking about 3D capture, beauty is collected in the lens of the cameras. The story is then presented to the audience, who are able to draw upon the information and make connections and form new perspectives.

With all of this considered, there is also another element… nostalgia. In the era we live in today, people are seeking nostalgia. This is the longing for the recreation of the past. This is because things do not feel the same as they once were, such as the way we shop, the way we parent and the way we communicate with each other.

Social media has had a big influence on change in our culture. It has altered the way we communicate with each other, creating new dynamics between human beings. It has also produced an influx of data for us to consume, from the present and the past… nostalgia.

This reminds us of nostalgia and the role social media has in communicating it. One example is the Tik Tok algorithm. It seems to distribute videos featuring songs from the 80s and 90s. Most of the consumers on Tik Tok were not even born when these songs were released… myself included.

Perhaps a relevant example to the current topic is the reels feature on Instagram. A reel on this platform only lasts for a maximum of 90 seconds. A short burst of material. If we think about celluloid film cameras, they can only capture approximately 10 minutes of material, also a short burst of material. The name itself, ‘reel,’ speaks to maintaining a connection to the original way of filming within the new era, suggesting digital platforms haven’t lost touch with traditional methods of storytelling. It’s a friendly nod to what came before. An acknowledgement. It’s as if we hold celluloid film to be the pinnacle of storytelling. Having that connection makes users feel professional and creates another space for serious content creators. This reminds me of what Reed Morano said in the documentary, “when you run a film camera on set everybody seems to take things a little bit more seriously,” suggesting artists put their best foot forward when they know the money is rolling on the reel.

In a way, there is a greater appreciation for celluloid film because it’s inevitable rarity, considering major companies have ceased producing and distributing celluloid film cameras. This rarity increases the nostalgic effect all the way down the production line, from making a film all the way to the consumer. So even though celluloid is fading away, it is the people that will keep it alive, through consumption and reminiscing within culture.

However, it is mentioned in the documentary that transferring to digital is important because it’s in its infancy and needs to be developed. George Lucas is a firm believer of this. James Cameron elaborates by saying “I’m not sure I ever want to feel that we’ve arrived technologically. I always want to feel there is something we can do better.” Lucas and Cameron speak to the continuation of movie making and, understanding it is important to not only embrace this new mechanism, but develop it, refine it and redefine it. These artists see the potential and are curious about the unknown possibilities, which motivates their work. One doesn’t have to go far to see the lengths Cameron went to to create the first Avatar movie, using special effects and 3D cameras.

In conclusion, changes to storytelling in our culture brings forth an influx of relevant and necessary processes, including mourning, resistance, nostalgia, and excitement for the future. But celluloid is not dead and some artists will continue to make a conscious choice to use it…to keep the essence of it alive, but to also pay respect to what was the only way to capture images, emotion, sound and overall a story in the first place.

[multiverseofseries]

Matrix Resurrections: come risorge un film immortale?

Matrix Resurrections: metacinematografico, consapevole di se stesso e romantico, il quarto capitolo della saga riflette sui ricatti della nostalgia e sul valore inestimabile della libertà.

Matrix Resurrections: Keanu Reeves in una scena

Il Bianconiglio esce dalla sua tana, ci chiede di seguirlo e ci porta sempre nello stesso posto. Ancora una volta davanti a un bivio. Due mani si aprono dinanzi ai nostri occhi. Nelle lenti degli occhiali da sole si riflettono due pillole. Una rossa e una blu, ovviamente, rievocando il gesto più iconico di uno dei film più influenti nella storia del cinema perché questo sequel ci obbliga a scegliere. Prendere o lasciare. Ingoiare o rigettare. Niente mezze misure. Lana Wachowski mette al mondo un quarto capitolo strambo, per certi versi anarchico, che chiede al pubblico lo sforzo di essere prima di tutto accettato e poi capito. Perché, diciamolo chiaramente, per molte persone la saga di Matrix non aveva bisogno di un quarto capitolo. Per alcuni nemmeno di un secondo e di un terzo (che andrebbero rivalutati con attenzione). Data per buona l'esigenza creativa della sua autrice, questa volta senza sorella al suo fianco, Matrix Resurrections ci chiede il favore di non giudicare a scatola chiusa e di fidarci di una creatura bizzarra e affascinante come questo film. Un'opera imperfetta e scoordinata, che è tutto tranne che insulsa.

Matrix Resurrections: Keanu Reeves in una scena in cui Neo usa i suoi poteri

Wachowski ha tanto da dire, e lo dice in un modo a volte confuso, altre volte in modo sin troppo schietto. Se abbiamo parlato di creatura, è perché questo Resurrections assomiglia davvero a un Cerbero. Un cane con tre teste che pensano a tre cose diverse. Tre livelli che vanno raccontati strato dopo strato.

Nuove ribellioni

Matrix Resurrections: Keanu Reeves nella scena dello specchio

Primo livello. Partiamo dalla superfice. Partiamo dalla trama di Resurrections, che non è un reboot, ma un sequel vero e proprio, un quarto capitolo che si ricollega alla perfezione al finale della trilogia. Ritroviamo un Neo, anzi un Thomas Anderson, inedito nel look ma sempre spaesato nella consapevolezza. Il nostro vive un'esistenza abitudinaria, eppure c'è qualcosa che lo turba. Sono strani ricordi che riaffiorano di continuo, schegge da un presunto passato che lo assillano. Per questo l'uomo va in analisi per provare a mettere ordine in questo caos mentale. Almeno sino al momento in cui l'incontro con una donna apre una crepa impossibile da chiudere. Facile intuire che parlare della trama di questo quarto Matrix è come grattare la crosta di un tozzo di pane. È solo patina, una confezione che nasconde molto altro. È forse per questo che lo storico dualismo illusione/realtà, con tanto di immancabile ribellione contro Matrix, è senza dubbio la parte più debole e meno riuscita del film. Da una parte abbiamo apprezzato il coraggio di un'impostazione visiva nuova, che ha la forza di tradire il classico filtro livido della saga, ma necessaria per prendere atto di una cosa: la nostra realtà è cambiata.

Matrix Resurrections: Jessica Henwick, Keanu Reeves, e Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in un'immagine

Non è più quella del 1999 e di conseguenza anche la simulazione di Matrix deve avere un aspetto nuovo. Dall'altra, però, tutta la storia dedicata alla nuova lotta contro il sistema perverso della Matrice non ha mordente, procede col pilota automatico e ci regala scene action poco ispirate e senza grande ritmo. Sembra un continuo omaggio a un passato glorioso che non può tornare. Consapevole che stupire il pubblico come vent'anni fa sarà un'impresa da Messia, Lana Wachowski non fa certo finta di niente, e si confronta di continuo col suo stesso mito. Un fardello pesantissimo che schiaccia la crosta di Matrix Resurrections. Però, per fortuna, c'è un altro livello da esplorare.

Matrix guarda Matrix

Matrix Resurrections: Keanu Reeves in una scena del film

Secondo Livello. Gatti neri, tanti dejà vù e immagini familiari che assillano il nostro Neo. Che Matrix Resurrections fosse un film metacinematografico lo si poteva intuire già dai trailer ( si, anche per i film usciti già da un pò, e che non ho avuto modo di vedere prima, guardo sempre prima i trailer) , ma si poteva essere propensi a pensare che fosse un sottotesto allegorico. Una metafora sussurrata nell'orecchio del pubblico. E invece no. Altro che metafore. Qui il dito medio di Lana Wachowski in faccia ad un certo tipo di cinema è esplicito. Il parallelismo è lampante: Matrix è Hollywood. Una fabbrica di illusioni e simulazioni affetta da una virus duro a morire: la nostalgia. Resurrections ha la nausea dei sequel senza anima, dei film ruffiani svuotati di idee, dell'eterno ritorno del passato che rassicura sempre e non destabilizza mai. Un cinema sempre più avaro di novità, sempre più pigro, sempre più in debito col passato. Con spirito sovversivo e molto auto-ironico, Resurrections sa bene di cadere in contraddizione, ma fa proprio della consapevolezza la sua arma migliore. Questo è un film che sa di essere Matrix 4, conosce le perplessità del pubblico nei suo confronti e instaura un dialogo diretto con lo spettatore. "Basta nostalgia", questo ci urlano Neo e Trinity. Perché se nel 1999 il primo Matrix si è imposto come un profezia visionaria sul futuro che ci aspettava, questo ha la nausea del passato e spinge il pubblico a smetterla di fare confronti. Prima di tutto con lo stesso mito di Matrix. Liberarsi da quelle catene e aprire la mente è una rivoluzione che spetta solo a noi spettatori.

Liberi di amare

Matrix Resurrections: Keanu Reeves e Carrie-Anne Moss in una scena

Terzo livello. Dopo tanti strati, si arriva finalmente nel nucleo rovente di Matrix Resurrections. Eccoci nel cuore pulsante del film. Ovvero una storia d'amore. La vera matrice di tutto è qui: nel rapporto simbiotico tra Neo e Trinity. Matrix ha sempre raccontato il braccio di ferro tra libero arbitrio e vincoli del destino, tra la libertà di diventare sé stessi e l'influenza opprimente della società e delle sue regole. Questa volta Lana Wachowski stringe il nodo attorno all'amore, quello più autentico, puro e impregnato di altruismo. L'amore che lascia liberi prima di sentirsi libero. Amore come fiducia incondizionata. E soprattutto amore che ti fa lottare contro tutti e tutti. Ovvero una delle più belle illusioni che ci siamo sempre raccontati. È questa la grande utopia dentro la distopia di un mondo dominato dall'ego e dall'individualismo: essere empatici, pensare agli altri prima che a noi stessi. Neo e Trinity ci insegnano come si fa. A noi la scelta: credere ancora alle favole oppure ingoiare la pillola rossa.

Conclusioni

In conclusione questo quarto capitolo ha tante chiavi di lettura. Tanti strati che raccontano film diversi. Una parte troppo fiacca, poco ispirata e senza mordente, una ironica molto metacinematografica e infine una storia d'amore molto potente. Un sequel difficile, anarchico e allo stesso tempo assai affascinante.

👍🏻

Il coraggio di un'impostazione visiva nuova, che tradisce la tradizione per raccontare il mondo di oggi.

La possibilità di leggere in film con vari chiavi di lettura.

La riflessione sulla crisi di ispirazione di Hollywood.

La storia d'amore è potente.

👎🏻

Le scene action sono la brutta copia di quelle storiche dalla saga.

La parte più superficiale del film non funziona e non ingrana mai.