Predator 2 quick review

Predator 2 is not a good movie. It's a solid premise (changing the location from the jungle to the urban jungle), but it's a victim of 90's filmmaking - plot driven with characters you don't care about (and are generic stereotypes). Seriously, where did the 90's style of camera angles/cinematography and editing come from? It's not horrible and Danny Glover is OK, but the film is incredibly flat, bland and boring. Even the Alan Silvestri score is a weak rehash of the original film.

A shame it set the Predator franchise back so long, as it's a great concept; Predators was a fun return to form and I'm looking forward to the supposed Predator 4 by Shane Black.

Stranger Things review - thank you, more please!

SEMI-SPOILERISH WARNING (but not specifics)

A big YES to Stranger Things! A very fun and enjoyable 80s throwback filled with Spielberg, John Carpenter and Stephen King references, among others (it has a more kid-friendly True Detective season 1 vibe, as well as a bit of a darker The Lion, The With and The Wardrobe vibe). It might have some familiar tropes and and a slightly anti-climactic ending, at least with regards to the bad guys, but the 8-episode season leaves me wanting more, which is ultimately a good thing. It's a great start to the world and characters.

Two particular highlights are the John Carpenter-meets-Daft Punk synth soundtrack and the opening title sequence. On the whole, though, it has great sound design and visual aesthetic.

RELEASE THE SCORE! I WANT TO LISTEN TO IT MORE! (please)

I can't wait to see what the second season has to offer!

Hopes for the second season:

1. A slightly more cohesive story or a jump to an anthology-style series
2. Creative consulting (or episode direction) from either Cary Fukunaga (True Detective) or David Robert Mitchell (It Follows)
3. While they're 90s shows, any aping from either Twin Peaks or Eerie, Indiana
4. Character flashbacks that may be based more on forshadowing rather than in-the-moment emotional bits, or dumping them (they were nice, but also fluffy)
5-10. Other fun references to the 80s (Wes Craven?), maybe some gaming stuff
11. Generally, more of this

Highly recommended, flaws and all!