Author: Michael Thomas

2017 Re-Watch: The Office – “Company Picnic” aka When The Office Should Have Ended

One of the core issues with American television programming is that financial concerns often dictate a show ending either too early or cause it to go on for far too long. While it’s always frustrating to see a show cut down in its prime or before it can really get going, that situation does at least cause the show to leave a good taste in the viewers’ mouth. A show that far outstays its welcome can be infinitely more frustrating and can do a ton of damage to a show’s legacy.

The [American] Office is sadly a case of the latter. Continue reading 2017 Re-Watch: The Office – “Company Picnic” aka When The Office Should Have Ended

8 Reasons Why The “Beyond The Wall” Episode of Game of Thrones Sucked

The Reel World generally does not like to write reactionary articles to television shows (especially individual episodes of television). We find that it’s more valuable to actually give shows time to breathe and for us to wait to share our opinions. We do of course sometimes break that rule, but something, something, something guidelines more than actual rules. Well, I am *really* breaking that rule here because I’m not even waiting for the season 7 finale of Game of Thrones before I tear apart the season’s penultimate episode. It got my dander up that much.

While the penultimate episode of the seventh season of Game of Thrones featured a number of great scenes, moments, and action beats, it was a complete mess of an episode overall. It was so bad that it would be completely reasonable to question whether or not the show is still capable of sticking the landing in the final seven episodes. What follows are eight reasons why this episode was fucking stupid. Continue reading 8 Reasons Why The “Beyond The Wall” Episode of Game of Thrones Sucked

8 Questions After Watching Season 1 of The Defenders

Season 1 of The Defenders is to the Netflix Marvel universe what The Avengers was to the MCU. Five television seasons featuring four main characters were all used to build to this team-up season. That may seem like an unreasonable time commitment to some, but not to the people with no lives who write for this website. Heavy spoilers, obviously. Continue reading 8 Questions After Watching Season 1 of The Defenders

Landline Review

Yes, it is I, a man, here to explain the female dominated Landline. In all seriousness though, this film is fucking brilliant. My perspective is obviously skewed by being a man so make sure you check out female perspectives on the film as well!Landline Poster

Warning: Here be spoilers

2017
Director: Gillian Robespierre
Starring: Jenny Slate, Abby Quinn, Edie Falco, John Turturro, Jay Duplass, Finn Wittrock, Marquis Rodriguez, India Menuez, Ali Ahn

“I’m not even sure if I’m allowed to ask these questions.” Continue reading Landline Review

4 Reasons Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets Artistically Failed

Luc Besson’s streak of not making boring movies continued with Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. The film had many fun individual elements and scenes, and there were a fair amount of positives to take from it overall. With that in mind though, this film overall was a mess that contained some serious structural issues that undermined the whole deal. Continue reading 4 Reasons Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets Artistically Failed

2017 First Watch: Total Recall (2012)

Total Recall: Mémoires programmées Poster

2017 will see me watching some films that I have never seen before and then writing about them. It will be a series of columns cleverly called, “2017 First Watch.”

In an era where remakes, sequels, spinoffs, etc. are getting made all the time for less than artistic reasons, it was understandable that the overall mediorce and unnecessary remake of Total Recall was roundly dismissed and/or ignored by critics and audiences.

The odd thing is though that a large portion of the film is actually fun and worth watching. Continue reading 2017 First Watch: Total Recall (2012)

2017 First Watch: The Client

Le client Poster

2017 will see me watching some films that I have never seen before and then writing about them. It will be a series of columns cleverly called, “2017 First Watch.”

Despite exploring some interesting ideas in regards to class and the law (and approaching said ideas with an appropriately cynical attitude), this John Grisham adaptation largely falls flat despite game performances from all involved. Continue reading 2017 First Watch: The Client

2017 First Watch: The Hangover Part III

Very Bad Trip 3 Poster

2017 will see me watching some films that I have never seen before and then writing about them. It will be a series of columns cleverly called, “2017 First Watch.”

When The Hangover came out in 2009, it felt like a genuinely fresh comedy helped in large part due to the breakout performance of Zach Galifianakis. Unfortunately, it was so financially successful that it spawned not one but two unnecessary sequels. Continue reading 2017 First Watch: The Hangover Part III