Review Archives - Entertainment For Us Entertainment For Us Mon, 15 Jun 2020 06:27:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 “13 Reasons Why”: Was it the Goodbye We Wanted? https://entertainmentforus.com/13-reasons-why-was-it-the-goodbye-we-wanted/ Mon, 15 Jun 2020 06:27:56 +0000 https://entertainmentforus.com/?p=7249 *Spoilers Ahead* After a long wait, the fourth and final season of 13 Reasons Why was released a couple of weeks ago and the Liberty High students finally graduated from high school. But, did all the characters receive the happy ending we were hoping for? And did the last season deliver the shock-factor the other […]

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*Spoilers Ahead*

After a long wait, the fourth and final season of 13 Reasons Why was released a couple of weeks ago and the Liberty High students finally graduated from high school. But, did all the characters receive the happy ending we were hoping for? And did the last season deliver the shock-factor the other seasons have given us?

The final season tells the story of the students’ senior year and the major events that occur including a student spray-painting “Monty Was Framed” on the walls at the school, someone tormenting the students while they are on a class camping trip, and during a walk-out, someone sets the principal’s car on fire. We also see Clay (Dylan Minnette) trying to be there for his friends and keeping their secrets while coping with his depression and anxiety with the help of a therapist. By the end of the season, we see that all of the acts of violence have been committed by Clay, who doesn’t remember doing any of them.

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Yup. Shit just got real.

A post shared by 13 Reasons Why (@13reasonswhy) on

It’s hard to imagine that the show’s hero is capable of doing all this destruction and that he doesn’t have any memory of committing these terrible crimes. The show’s writers make it seem as though Clay is capable of being a bully like the two characters he hates most, who were killed off in the previous seasons. But, by the end of the season, we see that Clay is back to his old ways of protecting his friends at all costs. And for a character as likable as Clay, we’re glad to see that he’s moving on past all the trauma that’s happened in the past seasons.

With a show that has so much going on, it wasn’t until the final episode and Clay’s speech at graduation that we see that the show’s overarching message is that you have to “choose to live” even when life is hard. This is perfectly summed up during Clay’s speech as the student speaker at graduation, “Hate is easy. Love and understanding are harder. But they are how we take care of each other, how we survive.”

While this message is inspiring and all the character seemed to have the happy ending we hoped for (including getting away with killing Bryce and framing Monty), we can’t help but mention Justin.

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Welcome to senior year.

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Each season of 13 Reasons Why left us dealing with at least one major death, but Justin’s death in the final episode of the series was the hardest to take. During the season we see pieces of a funeral and in the last episode we find out that it’s Justin who’s passed away. Justin seemed to be doing better after returning from rehab and he finally has the family he always wanted, but then we see him relapse after losing his mother to an overdose.

But the season doesn’t end there, Justin ends up dying from AIDs, a disease we had no idea he was suffering from. At the hospital, the nurse says he contracted HIV during his time on the streets as a sex worker and intravenous drug use and his condition quickly turned to AIDS.

View this post on Instagram

There are survivors around us all.

A post shared by 13 Reasons Why (@13reasonswhy) on

For a show that ends the credits of every episode with a character saying “If you or someone you know needs help finding crisis resources visit 13REASONSWHY.INFO,” we wish the series would have used Justin’s HIV diagnosis as an educational platform to show that you can still live a long life with HIV and that it’s not a death sentence. With the stigma around HIV/AIDS, it would have been more interesting to see the character thrive, despite the disease. Why couldn’t he have had the send-off to college the other characters had at the end?

But, all in all, we loved the character development throughout the series and we’ll miss following the students at Liberty High.

4/5

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“The Perfect Date”: Cliche and Predictable https://entertainmentforus.com/the-perfect-date-cliche-and-predictable/ Thu, 18 Apr 2019 05:44:36 +0000 https://entertainmentforus.com/?p=4463 The Perfect Date is a totally predictable and cliche romcom but hey, it is mildly entertaining. The new Netflix feature tells a story that is all too familiar. The protagonist comes from a poor neighborhood and lives alone with his father after his mum left the pair of them to start a new family. Now, […]

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The Perfect Date is a totally predictable and cliche romcom but hey, it is mildly entertaining.

The new Netflix feature tells a story that is all too familiar. The protagonist comes from a poor neighborhood and lives alone with his father after his mum left the pair of them to start a new family. Now, Brooks Rattigan (Noah Centinio) is desperate to become something more. He wants to date the most popular girl in school, drive a sports car and most importantly, he wants to get into Yale.

Similarly to Mean Girls 2 and 10 Things I Hate About You, Brooks starts out being paid to take a “weird” girl on a date. The only difference is that she is aware her parents have paid a guy to take her to a school dance and doesn’t actually seem to care that much. She is sarcastic and feisty and not what the mildly sexist Brooks expects, who explicitly says that all girls just want a knight in shining armor.

As the story unfolds, Brooks ends up creating an app with his friend to take girls on dates so that he can make money to go to Yale. Throughout the film, the characters are all caught up in their own pretenses apart from the generic gay best friend, who is the only genuine character in the whole thing. Obviously, Brooks ends up sidelining him only to learn last minute that his friendships are more important than the fantasies he has got caught up in.

There was nothing original about The Perfect Date whatsoever and we saw the ending coming a mile off. Nonetheless, we found it mildly entertaining and if a trashy high school movie is your cup of tea, you probably won’t be too disappointed. As predictable and pretentious as they were, the characters were likable enough and the message was wholesome and uplifting. That’s about the only positive things we can say about the feature though.

2/5

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“Black Mirror: Bandersnatch” Review: One Hell of a Ride https://entertainmentforus.com/black-mirror-bandersnatch-review-one-hell-of-a-ride/ Wed, 02 Jan 2019 09:15:20 +0000 https://entertainmentforus.com/?p=3545 Charlie Brooker’s latest genius creation is a Black Mirror movie that features the revolutionary concept of allowing viewers to choose what happens next. But how do you review something when you know the version you watched will inevitably be different from the version that you, who is reading this, watched? For me, the answer was to keep […]

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Charlie Brooker’s latest genius creation is a Black Mirror movie that features the revolutionary concept of allowing viewers to choose what happens next.

But how do you review something when you know the version you watched will inevitably be different from the version that you, who is reading this, watched?

For me, the answer was to keep re-watching until I’d experienced just about every ending on offer ranging from a bad game review to abrupt suicide or double murder. Still, it is the experience you choose the first time watching which will be the best, because when you go in blind, the surprises that lie ahead are fresh and exciting.

To begin with, I’ll start by saying that the context and setting of the episode was brilliantly done. The depiction of Croydon in the ’80s was authentic and the characters were colorful and interesting. Being able to choose basic elements such as what music Stephan listens to was fun and satisfying. Although such decisions didn’t majorly alter the narrative, there were minor changes to the story which you notice if you choose to re-watch.

Stylistically, the movie was superb. The LSD montage was wonderfully done and there was a surreal, other-worldly feel throughout.

Now for the choose-your-own-adventure element. If you were worried that the decision-making process would jar the viewing process, this couldn’t be further from the truth. The decisions appear at the bottom of the scene and do not interrupt the narrative whatsoever. They are seamlessly added and are often based on questions posed by other characters. The scene smoothly continues based on what you choose.

When major decisions arise — such as whether to kill dad or spill tea on your computer — the decision seems to reveal more about our own character than Stefan’s. This is where things get crazy meta. When I chose the darker path, where Stefan ends up chopping up his dad’s body, I couldn’t help but feel like Netflix was watching and judging my darker preference when it comes to entertainment.

It would be impossible to review every ending, but I will mention my favorite. When Stefan is sitting at his computer, suspecting that someone is influencing his decisions, he asks for a sign. When “Netflix” appears as an option on the screen, you can’t help but laugh out loud. Trying to explain to someone in the 80s what a “21st century streaming platform” is, is no easy task. Things get even more meta when, after Stefan murders his dad, we are taken to the future where we see Colin Ritman’s daughter trying to reboot Bandersnatch for younger audiences. It’s ridiculous, amusing and sort of terrifying.

Overall, it’s hard to tell whether the concept Bandersnatch has employed is revolutionary or just a gimmick. Regardless, the film is one hell of a ride and will undoubtedly entertain, whichever grim path you decide to go down.

5/5

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“Everything Sucks”: awkward and relatable coming of age story https://entertainmentforus.com/everything-sucks-awkward-relatable-coming-age-story/ Wed, 07 Mar 2018 11:40:50 +0000 https://entertainmentforus.com/?p=1901 Everything Sucks! is new Netflix series, co-created by Ben York Jones and Michael Mohan. The series is set in the town of Boring, Oregon (which is actually a real-life place believe it or not) in 1996. The soundtrack and setting is a brilliantly nostalgic throwback to the ’90s and you will probably find yourselves endearingly laughing […]

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Everything Sucks! is new Netflix series, co-created by Ben York Jones and Michael Mohan. The series is set in the town of Boring, Oregon (which is actually a real-life place believe it or not) in 1996. The soundtrack and setting is a brilliantly nostalgic throwback to the ’90s and you will probably find yourselves endearingly laughing at some of the questionable wardrobe choices in memory of some of your own.

The show is not just a pleasant throwback but is a funny, awkward and deeply relatable coming of age which is a real pleasure to watch. The series is successful in making you genuinely care about the characters as we watch them battle their self-doubt, insecurities and struggle facing who they really are.

The Netflix series is not only sensitive in its treatment of adolescence but is also understanding in its portrayal of life as a single parent. The touching way that the adults are presented as still feeling similar emotions to the teenagers is a heartfelt reminder that some of our childhood insecurities never fully leave us.

The leads Jahi Winston and Peyton Kennedy are fabulous and we have our fingers crossed for a second season. A truly heartwarming coming of age story which is genuinely enjoyable to watch.

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“Red Sparrow”: extremely violent and shocking https://entertainmentforus.com/red-sparrow-extremely-violent-shocking/ Tue, 06 Mar 2018 11:05:19 +0000 https://entertainmentforus.com/?p=1895 Red Sparrow is a new controversial spy thriller which has taken the internet by storm. Jennifer Lawrence stars as Dominika Egorova, a Russian ballerina who has a terrible dancing accident and finds herself consequently struggling to look after her mother. She then finds herself at a spy school which trains “sparrows” to become secret agents who use […]

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Red Sparrow is a new controversial spy thriller which has taken the internet by storm. Jennifer Lawrence stars as Dominika Egorova, a Russian ballerina who has a terrible dancing accident and finds herself consequently struggling to look after her mother. She then finds herself at a spy school which trains “sparrows” to become secret agents who use seduction as a weapon to extract information.

The movie is extremely violent and shocking at every point. Dominika is beaten and sexually humiliated, causing many critics to question the expletive nature of the movie.

That being said, the movie does not entirely glamorize the spy life but instead demonstrates Dominika’s fierce battle to hold onto her humanity in the vicious world she has found herself in. The movie is stressful and emotive as well as distressing and violent. Dominika is meant to feel like a real person who is suffering, not to be the dehumanized sex object that the school is trying to turn her into.

Overall, the role is not Jenifer Lawrence’s best, but the film is still somewhat enjoyable, albeit quite dark and uncomfortable. Jenifer advised audiences on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert not to put any political weight on the film, but to remember it was made to entertain. Perhaps separating the movie from current social issues is, therefore, the best way to objectively evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of this movie and enjoy it for what it is – a shocking and violent psychological spy thriller.

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“Peter Rabbit”: A lively, funny, 21st-century adaptation https://entertainmentforus.com/peter-rabbit-lively-funny-21st-century-adaptation/ Sun, 11 Feb 2018 12:52:29 +0000 https://entertainmentforus.com/?p=1904 This February, Beatrice Potter’s beloved story of mischievous Peter Rabbit and his friends was brought back to life on our screens. Will Gluck, director of Easy A, took the story, which is over one hundred years old, and put it into a charmingly funny modern context. The animals are re-imagined as anthropomorphic digitized photo/animation hybrids. It sounds […]

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This February, Beatrice Potter’s beloved story of mischievous Peter Rabbit and his friends was brought back to life on our screens.

Will Gluck, director of Easy A, took the story, which is over one hundred years old, and put it into a charmingly funny modern context. The animals are re-imagined as anthropomorphic digitized photo/animation hybrids. It sounds awful in theory, but Peter Rabbit remains adorable and there is something very sweet about the vast display of human emotions on his little rabbit face.

The story follows Peter Rabbit’s feud with Mr. McGregor as they rival for the affections of the animal lover next door. James Corden does a wonderful job voicing Peter and the movie has largely been received better than expected. The feature is lively, funny and brings a new 21st-century touch to the original and widely loved tale.

Naturally, not everyone will appreciate watching Peter Rabbit adopt millennial text lingo like “homies” and “chill” and the digital adaption might seem a little crass for some. Arguably, however, the movie succeeds in keeping the story alive by bringing it to a new generation in a way which it will be cheerfully received. A charming movie that will probably split Peter Rabbit fans down the middle, but at least has the potential to entertain all.

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Re-portrayal of the wildly misunderstood figure skater, Tonya Harding https://entertainmentforus.com/re-portrayal-wildly-misunderstood-figure-skater-tonya-harding/ Tue, 23 Jan 2018 15:24:29 +0000 https://entertainmentforus.com/?p=1891 Based on the “insane true story that shocked the world”, I, Tonya is one of the year’s most acclaimed movies so far. Margot Robbie stars as Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding and brings a new, empathetic side of the story which has not been spoken about for years. The film does not focus solely on Tonya’s success […]

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Based on the “insane true story that shocked the world”, I, Tonya is one of the year’s most acclaimed movies so far. Margot Robbie stars as Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding and brings a new, empathetic side of the story which has not been spoken about for years.

The film does not focus solely on Tonya’s success and downfall as a skater but delves into a more personal, lesser-seen side of her life leading up to her career. Seeing Tonya portrayed in this way redefines the way you view the tragic events which occurred, bringing a touch of humanity and empathy to our perception.

For those of you who don’t know, or who have forgotten, Tonya was accused of injuring a rival skater’s leg after her ex-husband arranged for an attack to take place behind her back. In the movie, the moment that Tonya is sentenced to a life-long ban from skating is genuinely devastating to watch.

Margot Robbie gives a heartfelt performance and as an audience we feel for Tonya in a way we perhaps haven’t before. At that moment, we realize that everything that Tonya had wanted and loved her whole life has been taken away from her.

A moving and darkly funny movie which provides a much-needed re-portrayal of the wildly misunderstood figure skater, Tonya Harding.

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Sincere glimpses of humanity that make “The End of the F***ing World” great https://entertainmentforus.com/sincere-glimpses-humanity-make-end-fing-world-great/ Sun, 07 Jan 2018 14:52:53 +0000 https://entertainmentforus.com/?p=1709 With only eight episodes per season, The End of the F***ing World is easily watchable in one entertainment fueled afternoon. Perhaps it is the fact that each episode is only twenty minutes long, or perhaps it is the fact that the characters intrigue and compel you to watch more right from the very start. Whatever […]

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With only eight episodes per season, The End of the F***ing World is easily watchable in one entertainment fueled afternoon. Perhaps it is the fact that each episode is only twenty minutes long, or perhaps it is the fact that the characters intrigue and compel you to watch more right from the very start. Whatever it is, I was gripped instantly.

James (Alex Lawther) is a disturbed seventeen-year-old intent on killing someone. When he meets angsty Alyssa (Jessica Barden), he decides that she is the perfect victim. Naturally, as we watch the characters develop and their backstories are disclosed, it becomes apparent that Alyssa is shaping up to be more of a love interest than James’ first murder victim. After the unlikely, or perhaps comically obvious duo run away together, a special bond reveals itself beneath the whacky, unexpected and often completely outrageous events which make up the season.

At times shocking and at other times totally hilarious, it is the small and sincere glimpses of humanity in the forms of fear and kindness which make the show striking. Is another season on the cards? Maybe, but we’re not giving anything away about the ending.

4/5

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“The Shape of Water”: Heartwarming and bizzare https://entertainmentforus.com/shape-water-heartwarming-bizzare/ Tue, 02 Jan 2018 13:08:19 +0000 https://entertainmentforus.com/?p=1707 Del Toro’s new film The Shape of Water is being recognized by fans and critics as a genuinely heart-warming masterpiece and it looks like it might be in the running to win an Oscar. We already know that Del Toro has a love of monsters, but this time the monster is not there for the […]

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Del Toro’s new film The Shape of Water is being recognized by fans and critics as a genuinely heart-warming masterpiece and it looks like it might be in the running to win an Oscar.

We already know that Del Toro has a love of monsters, but this time the monster is not there for the appeal of hardcore horror fans, but instead presents something of a love interest for the unlikely leading lady, Elisa (Sally Hawkins).

Del Toro wrote the script with Hawkins in mind to play the lead and her performance does not disappoint. She captures the character exquisitely well and gives what could quite possibly be the most heartfelt speech of the year so far, only she does it without saying a single word. The fact that Elisa is mute does not inhibit Hawkins but instead inspired her to give an incredible performance which critics are likening to that of a timeless silent-movie star.

Naturally, the cinematography is hauntingly beautiful and the movie leaves its audience with a sincere, human message of love and acceptance. Regardless of how you feel about the fantasy genre, there is something in this movie for everyone. Will it win an Oscar? It is hard to say because, despite its merits, the niche and bizarre nature of the movie might present a challenge. Either way, it is absolutely worth a watch.

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“Black Mirror” Season Four: The Darkest Season Yet https://entertainmentforus.com/black-mirror-season-four-darkest-season-yet/ Sun, 31 Dec 2017 15:22:30 +0000 https://entertainmentforus.com/?p=1708 The new season of Black Mirror came out on Netflix and it is without a doubt the darkest season yet. Charlie Brooker spoiled us with not four, but six new episodes of the popular sci-fi drama. The show has an infamous reputation for not only being incredibly entertaining but for the fact that it might […]

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The new season of Black Mirror came out on Netflix and it is without a doubt the darkest season yet. Charlie Brooker spoiled us with not four, but six new episodes of the popular sci-fi drama. The show has an infamous reputation for not only being incredibly entertaining but for the fact that it might be giving us a fair warning about the dystopian future of technology if we are not careful.

The season kicks off with USS Callister or what most people are calling “the Star Trek episode.” The episode will have you on the edge of your seat and although it grapples with some of our most innate fears and horrors, there is a dark humor and gaudy aesthetic to the episode which makes for a highly entertaining watch. Its unique style and thrilling plot put this episode at the top of my list for season four.

The rest of the season introduces us to some of the most advanced and horrifying technology yet. Everything from dating apps to memory readers and human-hunting relentless metal dogs features this season. The darkest technology is saved for the final episode Black Museum, where the audience is treated to three shocking mini stories about some of the most radical and unsettling technologies so far.

The season deserves an admirable 4.5/5 for its creative genius and writing alone. All that is left to wonder is whether Charlie Brooker can continue to shock us further now that he has dug out some our deepest, darkest fears and put them on literal display in Black Museum.

4.5/5

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ersion="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> Review Archives - Entertainment For Us Entertainment For Us Mon, 15 Jun 2020 06:27:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 “13 Reasons Why”: Was it the Goodbye We Wanted? https://entertainmentforus.com/13-reasons-why-was-it-the-goodbye-we-wanted/ Mon, 15 Jun 2020 06:27:56 +0000 https://entertainmentforus.com/?p=7249 *Spoilers Ahead* After a long wait, the fourth and final season of 13 Reasons Why was released a couple of weeks ago and the Liberty High students finally graduated from high school. But, did all the characters receive the happy ending we were hoping for? And did the last season deliver the shock-factor the other […]

The post “13 Reasons Why”: Was it the Goodbye We Wanted? appeared first on Entertainment For Us.

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*Spoilers Ahead*

After a long wait, the fourth and final season of 13 Reasons Why was released a couple of weeks ago and the Liberty High students finally graduated from high school. But, did all the characters receive the happy ending we were hoping for? And did the last season deliver the shock-factor the other seasons have given us?

The final season tells the story of the students’ senior year and the major events that occur including a student spray-painting “Monty Was Framed” on the walls at the school, someone tormenting the students while they are on a class camping trip, and during a walk-out, someone sets the principal’s car on fire. We also see Clay (Dylan Minnette) trying to be there for his friends and keeping their secrets while coping with his depression and anxiety with the help of a therapist. By the end of the season, we see that all of the acts of violence have been committed by Clay, who doesn’t remember doing any of them.

View this post on Instagram

Yup. Shit just got real.

A post shared by 13 Reasons Why (@13reasonswhy) on

It’s hard to imagine that the show’s hero is capable of doing all this destruction and that he doesn’t have any memory of committing these terrible crimes. The show’s writers make it seem as though Clay is capable of being a bully like the two characters he hates most, who were killed off in the previous seasons. But, by the end of the season, we see that Clay is back to his old ways of protecting his friends at all costs. And for a character as likable as Clay, we’re glad to see that he’s moving on past all the trauma that’s happened in the past seasons.

With a show that has so much going on, it wasn’t until the final episode and Clay’s speech at graduation that we see that the show’s overarching message is that you have to “choose to live” even when life is hard. This is perfectly summed up during Clay’s speech as the student speaker at graduation, “Hate is easy. Love and understanding are harder. But they are how we take care of each other, how we survive.”

While this message is inspiring and all the character seemed to have the happy ending we hoped for (including getting away with killing Bryce and framing Monty), we can’t help but mention Justin.

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Welcome to senior year.

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Each season of 13 Reasons Why left us dealing with at least one major death, but Justin’s death in the final episode of the series was the hardest to take. During the season we see pieces of a funeral and in the last episode we find out that it’s Justin who’s passed away. Justin seemed to be doing better after returning from rehab and he finally has the family he always wanted, but then we see him relapse after losing his mother to an overdose.

But the season doesn’t end there, Justin ends up dying from AIDs, a disease we had no idea he was suffering from. At the hospital, the nurse says he contracted HIV during his time on the streets as a sex worker and intravenous drug use and his condition quickly turned to AIDS.

View this post on Instagram

There are survivors around us all.

A post shared by 13 Reasons Why (@13reasonswhy) on

For a show that ends the credits of every episode with a character saying “If you or someone you know needs help finding crisis resources visit 13REASONSWHY.INFO,” we wish the series would have used Justin’s HIV diagnosis as an educational platform to show that you can still live a long life with HIV and that it’s not a death sentence. With the stigma around HIV/AIDS, it would have been more interesting to see the character thrive, despite the disease. Why couldn’t he have had the send-off to college the other characters had at the end?

But, all in all, we loved the character development throughout the series and we’ll miss following the students at Liberty High.

4/5

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“The Perfect Date”: Cliche and Predictable https://entertainmentforus.com/the-perfect-date-cliche-and-predictable/ Thu, 18 Apr 2019 05:44:36 +0000 https://entertainmentforus.com/?p=4463 The Perfect Date is a totally predictable and cliche romcom but hey, it is mildly entertaining. The new Netflix feature tells a story that is all too familiar. The protagonist comes from a poor neighborhood and lives alone with his father after his mum left the pair of them to start a new family. Now, […]

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The Perfect Date is a totally predictable and cliche romcom but hey, it is mildly entertaining.

The new Netflix feature tells a story that is all too familiar. The protagonist comes from a poor neighborhood and lives alone with his father after his mum left the pair of them to start a new family. Now, Brooks Rattigan (Noah Centinio) is desperate to become something more. He wants to date the most popular girl in school, drive a sports car and most importantly, he wants to get into Yale.

Similarly to Mean Girls 2 and 10 Things I Hate About You, Brooks starts out being paid to take a “weird” girl on a date. The only difference is that she is aware her parents have paid a guy to take her to a school dance and doesn’t actually seem to care that much. She is sarcastic and feisty and not what the mildly sexist Brooks expects, who explicitly says that all girls just want a knight in shining armor.

As the story unfolds, Brooks ends up creating an app with his friend to take girls on dates so that he can make money to go to Yale. Throughout the film, the characters are all caught up in their own pretenses apart from the generic gay best friend, who is the only genuine character in the whole thing. Obviously, Brooks ends up sidelining him only to learn last minute that his friendships are more important than the fantasies he has got caught up in.

There was nothing original about The Perfect Date whatsoever and we saw the ending coming a mile off. Nonetheless, we found it mildly entertaining and if a trashy high school movie is your cup of tea, you probably won’t be too disappointed. As predictable and pretentious as they were, the characters were likable enough and the message was wholesome and uplifting. That’s about the only positive things we can say about the feature though.

2/5

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“Black Mirror: Bandersnatch” Review: One Hell of a Ride https://entertainmentforus.com/black-mirror-bandersnatch-review-one-hell-of-a-ride/ Wed, 02 Jan 2019 09:15:20 +0000 https://entertainmentforus.com/?p=3545 Charlie Brooker’s latest genius creation is a Black Mirror movie that features the revolutionary concept of allowing viewers to choose what happens next. But how do you review something when you know the version you watched will inevitably be different from the version that you, who is reading this, watched? For me, the answer was to keep […]

The post “Black Mirror: Bandersnatch” Review: One Hell of a Ride appeared first on Entertainment For Us.

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Charlie Brooker’s latest genius creation is a Black Mirror movie that features the revolutionary concept of allowing viewers to choose what happens next.

But how do you review something when you know the version you watched will inevitably be different from the version that you, who is reading this, watched?

For me, the answer was to keep re-watching until I’d experienced just about every ending on offer ranging from a bad game review to abrupt suicide or double murder. Still, it is the experience you choose the first time watching which will be the best, because when you go in blind, the surprises that lie ahead are fresh and exciting.

To begin with, I’ll start by saying that the context and setting of the episode was brilliantly done. The depiction of Croydon in the ’80s was authentic and the characters were colorful and interesting. Being able to choose basic elements such as what music Stephan listens to was fun and satisfying. Although such decisions didn’t majorly alter the narrative, there were minor changes to the story which you notice if you choose to re-watch.

Stylistically, the movie was superb. The LSD montage was wonderfully done and there was a surreal, other-worldly feel throughout.

Now for the choose-your-own-adventure element. If you were worried that the decision-making process would jar the viewing process, this couldn’t be further from the truth. The decisions appear at the bottom of the scene and do not interrupt the narrative whatsoever. They are seamlessly added and are often based on questions posed by other characters. The scene smoothly continues based on what you choose.

When major decisions arise — such as whether to kill dad or spill tea on your computer — the decision seems to reveal more about our own character than Stefan’s. This is where things get crazy meta. When I chose the darker path, where Stefan ends up chopping up his dad’s body, I couldn’t help but feel like Netflix was watching and judging my darker preference when it comes to entertainment.

It would be impossible to review every ending, but I will mention my favorite. When Stefan is sitting at his computer, suspecting that someone is influencing his decisions, he asks for a sign. When “Netflix” appears as an option on the screen, you can’t help but laugh out loud. Trying to explain to someone in the 80s what a “21st century streaming platform” is, is no easy task. Things get even more meta when, after Stefan murders his dad, we are taken to the future where we see Colin Ritman’s daughter trying to reboot Bandersnatch for younger audiences. It’s ridiculous, amusing and sort of terrifying.

Overall, it’s hard to tell whether the concept Bandersnatch has employed is revolutionary or just a gimmick. Regardless, the film is one hell of a ride and will undoubtedly entertain, whichever grim path you decide to go down.

5/5

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“Everything Sucks”: awkward and relatable coming of age story https://entertainmentforus.com/everything-sucks-awkward-relatable-coming-age-story/ Wed, 07 Mar 2018 11:40:50 +0000 https://entertainmentforus.com/?p=1901 Everything Sucks! is new Netflix series, co-created by Ben York Jones and Michael Mohan. The series is set in the town of Boring, Oregon (which is actually a real-life place believe it or not) in 1996. The soundtrack and setting is a brilliantly nostalgic throwback to the ’90s and you will probably find yourselves endearingly laughing […]

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Everything Sucks! is new Netflix series, co-created by Ben York Jones and Michael Mohan. The series is set in the town of Boring, Oregon (which is actually a real-life place believe it or not) in 1996. The soundtrack and setting is a brilliantly nostalgic throwback to the ’90s and you will probably find yourselves endearingly laughing at some of the questionable wardrobe choices in memory of some of your own.

The show is not just a pleasant throwback but is a funny, awkward and deeply relatable coming of age which is a real pleasure to watch. The series is successful in making you genuinely care about the characters as we watch them battle their self-doubt, insecurities and struggle facing who they really are.

The Netflix series is not only sensitive in its treatment of adolescence but is also understanding in its portrayal of life as a single parent. The touching way that the adults are presented as still feeling similar emotions to the teenagers is a heartfelt reminder that some of our childhood insecurities never fully leave us.

The leads Jahi Winston and Peyton Kennedy are fabulous and we have our fingers crossed for a second season. A truly heartwarming coming of age story which is genuinely enjoyable to watch.

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“Red Sparrow”: extremely violent and shocking https://entertainmentforus.com/red-sparrow-extremely-violent-shocking/ Tue, 06 Mar 2018 11:05:19 +0000 https://entertainmentforus.com/?p=1895 Red Sparrow is a new controversial spy thriller which has taken the internet by storm. Jennifer Lawrence stars as Dominika Egorova, a Russian ballerina who has a terrible dancing accident and finds herself consequently struggling to look after her mother. She then finds herself at a spy school which trains “sparrows” to become secret agents who use […]

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Red Sparrow is a new controversial spy thriller which has taken the internet by storm. Jennifer Lawrence stars as Dominika Egorova, a Russian ballerina who has a terrible dancing accident and finds herself consequently struggling to look after her mother. She then finds herself at a spy school which trains “sparrows” to become secret agents who use seduction as a weapon to extract information.

The movie is extremely violent and shocking at every point. Dominika is beaten and sexually humiliated, causing many critics to question the expletive nature of the movie.

That being said, the movie does not entirely glamorize the spy life but instead demonstrates Dominika’s fierce battle to hold onto her humanity in the vicious world she has found herself in. The movie is stressful and emotive as well as distressing and violent. Dominika is meant to feel like a real person who is suffering, not to be the dehumanized sex object that the school is trying to turn her into.

Overall, the role is not Jenifer Lawrence’s best, but the film is still somewhat enjoyable, albeit quite dark and uncomfortable. Jenifer advised audiences on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert not to put any political weight on the film, but to remember it was made to entertain. Perhaps separating the movie from current social issues is, therefore, the best way to objectively evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of this movie and enjoy it for what it is – a shocking and violent psychological spy thriller.

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“Peter Rabbit”: A lively, funny, 21st-century adaptation https://entertainmentforus.com/peter-rabbit-lively-funny-21st-century-adaptation/ Sun, 11 Feb 2018 12:52:29 +0000 https://entertainmentforus.com/?p=1904 This February, Beatrice Potter’s beloved story of mischievous Peter Rabbit and his friends was brought back to life on our screens. Will Gluck, director of Easy A, took the story, which is over one hundred years old, and put it into a charmingly funny modern context. The animals are re-imagined as anthropomorphic digitized photo/animation hybrids. It sounds […]

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This February, Beatrice Potter’s beloved story of mischievous Peter Rabbit and his friends was brought back to life on our screens.

Will Gluck, director of Easy A, took the story, which is over one hundred years old, and put it into a charmingly funny modern context. The animals are re-imagined as anthropomorphic digitized photo/animation hybrids. It sounds awful in theory, but Peter Rabbit remains adorable and there is something very sweet about the vast display of human emotions on his little rabbit face.

The story follows Peter Rabbit’s feud with Mr. McGregor as they rival for the affections of the animal lover next door. James Corden does a wonderful job voicing Peter and the movie has largely been received better than expected. The feature is lively, funny and brings a new 21st-century touch to the original and widely loved tale.

Naturally, not everyone will appreciate watching Peter Rabbit adopt millennial text lingo like “homies” and “chill” and the digital adaption might seem a little crass for some. Arguably, however, the movie succeeds in keeping the story alive by bringing it to a new generation in a way which it will be cheerfully received. A charming movie that will probably split Peter Rabbit fans down the middle, but at least has the potential to entertain all.

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Re-portrayal of the wildly misunderstood figure skater, Tonya Harding https://entertainmentforus.com/re-portrayal-wildly-misunderstood-figure-skater-tonya-harding/ Tue, 23 Jan 2018 15:24:29 +0000 https://entertainmentforus.com/?p=1891 Based on the “insane true story that shocked the world”, I, Tonya is one of the year’s most acclaimed movies so far. Margot Robbie stars as Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding and brings a new, empathetic side of the story which has not been spoken about for years. The film does not focus solely on Tonya’s success […]

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Based on the “insane true story that shocked the world”, I, Tonya is one of the year’s most acclaimed movies so far. Margot Robbie stars as Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding and brings a new, empathetic side of the story which has not been spoken about for years.

The film does not focus solely on Tonya’s success and downfall as a skater but delves into a more personal, lesser-seen side of her life leading up to her career. Seeing Tonya portrayed in this way redefines the way you view the tragic events which occurred, bringing a touch of humanity and empathy to our perception.

For those of you who don’t know, or who have forgotten, Tonya was accused of injuring a rival skater’s leg after her ex-husband arranged for an attack to take place behind her back. In the movie, the moment that Tonya is sentenced to a life-long ban from skating is genuinely devastating to watch.

Margot Robbie gives a heartfelt performance and as an audience we feel for Tonya in a way we perhaps haven’t before. At that moment, we realize that everything that Tonya had wanted and loved her whole life has been taken away from her.

A moving and darkly funny movie which provides a much-needed re-portrayal of the wildly misunderstood figure skater, Tonya Harding.

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Sincere glimpses of humanity that make “The End of the F***ing World” great https://entertainmentforus.com/sincere-glimpses-humanity-make-end-fing-world-great/ Sun, 07 Jan 2018 14:52:53 +0000 https://entertainmentforus.com/?p=1709 With only eight episodes per season, The End of the F***ing World is easily watchable in one entertainment fueled afternoon. Perhaps it is the fact that each episode is only twenty minutes long, or perhaps it is the fact that the characters intrigue and compel you to watch more right from the very start. Whatever […]

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With only eight episodes per season, The End of the F***ing World is easily watchable in one entertainment fueled afternoon. Perhaps it is the fact that each episode is only twenty minutes long, or perhaps it is the fact that the characters intrigue and compel you to watch more right from the very start. Whatever it is, I was gripped instantly.

James (Alex Lawther) is a disturbed seventeen-year-old intent on killing someone. When he meets angsty Alyssa (Jessica Barden), he decides that she is the perfect victim. Naturally, as we watch the characters develop and their backstories are disclosed, it becomes apparent that Alyssa is shaping up to be more of a love interest than James’ first murder victim. After the unlikely, or perhaps comically obvious duo run away together, a special bond reveals itself beneath the whacky, unexpected and often completely outrageous events which make up the season.

At times shocking and at other times totally hilarious, it is the small and sincere glimpses of humanity in the forms of fear and kindness which make the show striking. Is another season on the cards? Maybe, but we’re not giving anything away about the ending.

4/5

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“The Shape of Water”: Heartwarming and bizzare https://entertainmentforus.com/shape-water-heartwarming-bizzare/ Tue, 02 Jan 2018 13:08:19 +0000 https://entertainmentforus.com/?p=1707 Del Toro’s new film The Shape of Water is being recognized by fans and critics as a genuinely heart-warming masterpiece and it looks like it might be in the running to win an Oscar. We already know that Del Toro has a love of monsters, but this time the monster is not there for the […]

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Del Toro’s new film The Shape of Water is being recognized by fans and critics as a genuinely heart-warming masterpiece and it looks like it might be in the running to win an Oscar.

We already know that Del Toro has a love of monsters, but this time the monster is not there for the appeal of hardcore horror fans, but instead presents something of a love interest for the unlikely leading lady, Elisa (Sally Hawkins).

Del Toro wrote the script with Hawkins in mind to play the lead and her performance does not disappoint. She captures the character exquisitely well and gives what could quite possibly be the most heartfelt speech of the year so far, only she does it without saying a single word. The fact that Elisa is mute does not inhibit Hawkins but instead inspired her to give an incredible performance which critics are likening to that of a timeless silent-movie star.

Naturally, the cinematography is hauntingly beautiful and the movie leaves its audience with a sincere, human message of love and acceptance. Regardless of how you feel about the fantasy genre, there is something in this movie for everyone. Will it win an Oscar? It is hard to say because, despite its merits, the niche and bizarre nature of the movie might present a challenge. Either way, it is absolutely worth a watch.

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“Black Mirror” Season Four: The Darkest Season Yet https://entertainmentforus.com/black-mirror-season-four-darkest-season-yet/ Sun, 31 Dec 2017 15:22:30 +0000 https://entertainmentforus.com/?p=1708 The new season of Black Mirror came out on Netflix and it is without a doubt the darkest season yet. Charlie Brooker spoiled us with not four, but six new episodes of the popular sci-fi drama. The show has an infamous reputation for not only being incredibly entertaining but for the fact that it might […]

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The new season of Black Mirror came out on Netflix and it is without a doubt the darkest season yet. Charlie Brooker spoiled us with not four, but six new episodes of the popular sci-fi drama. The show has an infamous reputation for not only being incredibly entertaining but for the fact that it might be giving us a fair warning about the dystopian future of technology if we are not careful.

The season kicks off with USS Callister or what most people are calling “the Star Trek episode.” The episode will have you on the edge of your seat and although it grapples with some of our most innate fears and horrors, there is a dark humor and gaudy aesthetic to the episode which makes for a highly entertaining watch. Its unique style and thrilling plot put this episode at the top of my list for season four.

The rest of the season introduces us to some of the most advanced and horrifying technology yet. Everything from dating apps to memory readers and human-hunting relentless metal dogs features this season. The darkest technology is saved for the final episode Black Museum, where the audience is treated to three shocking mini stories about some of the most radical and unsettling technologies so far.

The season deserves an admirable 4.5/5 for its creative genius and writing alone. All that is left to wonder is whether Charlie Brooker can continue to shock us further now that he has dug out some our deepest, darkest fears and put them on literal display in Black Museum.

4.5/5

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