TV Series Review: YuYu Hakusho (Netflix 2023)

YuYu Hakusho (Netflix)
First episode date: December 14, 2023 (Japan)
Based on: YuYu Hakusho by Yoshihiro Togashi
Genre: Action; Adventure; Comedy drama; Fantasy
Network: Netflix
5 episodes
Original language: Japanese
Producer: Akira Morii
Cast: Takumi Kitamura, Jun Shison, Kanata Hongō, Shuhei Uesugi
Yusuke Urameshi, who died saving a little boy, is sent back to Earth and becomes a detective of the spirit world to fight all the demons found on Earth.

I tend to love live-action adaptations of manga/anime. Tokyo Ghoul, Bleach, Full-Metal Alchemist and now YuYu Hakusho! I had never head of this one before. The five episode series (yay for not drawing things out!) is based on the 1990–94 manga... I figured that out when I saw the outfits and hairstyles the characters had, lol, hammer-time pants everywhere!

 

 

The first episode was a little cheesy and I had my doubts but once the demons showed up and the fighting started...BOOM, I was hooked. They spared no expense on the choreography and special effects. So much fun! I've always loved the demons from manga/anime. Very creative and creepy.

If you enjoy supernatural Japanese series then check this one out. 

Look at the comparison of the live-action characters to the original... 

 

This guy bothered me a little. He looked like there was a pacifier in his mouth, lol

 

4.5 "spirit gun" Sheep!

 

 

 

 

SharonS

 

TV Show Review: Black Knight (Netflix)

Black Knight (6 episodes)
May 12, 2023
Director: Jo Ui-seok
Writer: Jo Ui-seok
Genres: Drama, Sci fi, Action, Adventure
Network: Netflix
Cast: Kim Woo-bin, Song Seung-heon, Kang Yoo-seok, Jo Ui-seok, E Som

Based on the webtoon of the same title by Lee Yun-kyun, it depicts a dystopian future where extensive air pollution has become a huge problem after a comet destroyed most of the world and forced the people who are still alive to depend on elite delivery drivers for survival.

"In 2071, extreme air pollution has turned the majority of the Korean peninsula into a wasteland after a comet wiped out all but 1% of its original population, who live in segregated districts based on their social status. They are also required to wear respirators and rely on the "Knights," specialized delivery drivers, to provide them with the supplies (especially fresh oxygen) they need to stay alive. One day, a legendary knight called '5-8' meets a boy named Sa-Wol, who wishes to become a Knight just like him, and decides to train him so that he can accomplish his dream in the dark and dangerous world that they live in."

The Delivery men 

My husband and I binged Black Knight. Full of action...every episode has a massive martial arts fight scene. The best part, you get the story from start to finish. No waiting for another season. The show is dubbed in English. It is a drama and gets a little dark and violent at times. I've noticed K-dramas don't shy away from killing characters the heroes desperately try to save...their villains are evil through and through, with no redemption arcs! But they also mix in over-the-top silly humor too. Your emotions will be all over the place...which makes for an entertaining ride.

And if you need another reason to watch... look at The Black Knight, deliveryman 5-9. The names come from the district they serve and their rank.

4 1/2 "Delivery" Sheep

SharonS

Movie Review: Murder Mystery 2 (Netflix)

Murder Mystery 2

Release: March 31, 2023
Directed by Jeremy Garelick
Written by James Vanderbilt
Cast: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Mark Strong, Mélanie Laurent, Jodie Turner-Smith, John Kani
Distributed by Netflix
Running time89 minutes

Rating: PG-13 (Suggestive Material|Bloody Images|Strong Language|Smoking|Violence)
Genre: Comedy, Mystery & Thriller, Action, Crime

Now full-time detectives struggling to get their private eye agency off the ground, Nick and Audrey Spitz find themselves at the center of an international abduction when their friend the Maharaja is kidnapped at his own lavish wedding.

My husband and I watched this last night. We haven't seen the first movie. I don't know what all the critic hate is about. It was hilarious, silly fun. We laughed from start to end. It is exactly what you think it is.

If you want something mindless and fun, give Murder Mystery 2 a watch :)

Don and I give it 4 "mystery" Sheep

SharonS

Movie Review: We Have A Ghost (Netflix 2023)

We Have a Ghost
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 24, 2023
Genre: Comedy, Adventure
Director: Christopher Landon
Writer: Christopher Landon
Cast: David Harbour, Jahi Di'Allo Winston, Anthony Mackie, Erica Ash, Niles Fitch, Jennifer Coolidge
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Violence|Sexual/Suggestive References)
Runtime: 2h 6m
Distributor: Netflix
Finding a ghost named Ernest haunting their new home turns Kevin's family into overnight social media sensations. But when Kevin and Ernest go rogue to investigate the mystery of Ernest's past, they become a target of the CIA.

What a pleasant surprise! My husband and I watched We Have A Ghost last night. It has its downfalls, like a predictable plot, but it was heartwarming and funny. The cast was fabulous, especially Jahi Di'Allo Winston (Kevin). He is such a natural actor. Look forward to seeing him in more movies. Even though it was a little over 2 hours, it didn't feel like it.

Worth giving it a watch.

Husband give it 4 1/2 Sheep

I give it 4 "haunting" Sheep

SharonS

Movie Review: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Director: Rian Johnson
Writer: Rian Johnson
Cast: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista 

Release (Theaters): Nov 23, 2022
Release (Streaming): Dec 23, 2022
Rating: PG-13 (Some Violence|Sexual Material|Drug Content|Strong Language)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Comedy, Drama 

Runtime: 2h 20m
Distributor: Netflix 

Benoit Blanc returns to peel back the layers in a new Rian Johnson whodunit. This fresh adventure finds the intrepid detective at a lavish private estate on a Greek island, but how and why he comes to be there is only the first of many puzzles. Blanc soon meets a distinctly disparate group of friends gathering at the invitation of billionaire Miles Bron for their yearly reunion. Among those on the guest list are Miles' former business partner Andi Brand, current Connecticut governor Claire Debella, cutting-edge scientist Lionel Toussaint, fashion designer and former model Birdie Jay and her conscientious assistant Peg, and influencer Duke Cody and his sidekick girlfriend Whiskey. As in all the best murder mysteries, each character harbors their own secrets, lies and motivations. When someone turns up dead, everyone is a suspect.

My husband and I loved Knives Out and looked forward to this follow-up. It was definitely entertaining. Not quite as good as the first movie but still worth seeing. Lots of humor and a twisty murder mystery. I think they tried too hard to capitalize on Benoit Blanc's quirkiness. I like large ensemble cast movies and this one delivers.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a perfect movie to watch over the holidays with friends and age-appropriate family :)

My husband and I give it 4 "glass sheep."

 

SharonS

Movie Review: The Gray Man (2022) Netflix

The Gray Man (2022)

Release Date (Theaters): Jul 15, 2022
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 22, 2022
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Writer: Joe Russo, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Regé-Jean Page, Billy Bob Thornton

Runtime: 2h 9m
Distributor: Netflix
Rating: PG-13 (Strong Language|Strong Violence)
Genre: Action
When the CIA's top asset -- his identity known to no one -- uncovers agency secrets, he triggers a global hunt by assassins set loose by his ex-colleague.

The Gray Man, based on the book by Mark Greaney, is action-packed from start to finish in typical Russo fashion. Chris Evans and Ryan Gosling were just the frostings on the exploding cake.

The storyline is full of action movie clichés and predictable but it's still a lot of fun! Chris Evans' character isn't deep... just an over-the-top bad-guy psychopath. But they don't try to make him a serious character evidenced by the porn-stache. 

My husband and I were entertained and glad we watched. There are 12 Gray Man books so this could be the start of a franchise. I'm there for it like Bourne and Jack Reacher.

If you enjoy blow'em-up movies with outrageous car chases then you want to see this one.

My husband and I give it 4 "Gray" Sheep

SharonS

TV Series Review: Resident Evil (Netflix)

Resident Evil series
July 14, 2022
Netflix
Genres Action, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Cast: Ella Balinska, Tamara Smart, Siena Agudong, Adeline Rudolph, Paola Nuñez, Lance Reddick
The story takes place over two timelines. The first of which involves 14 year old sisters Jade and Billie Wesker moving to New Raccoon City. They come to realise that their father may be concealing dark secrets that could destroy the world. The second timeline takes place over a decade in the future, where only 15 million humans remain, with over 6 billion animals and people being infected with the T-virus. It follows Jade, now thirty, in her efforts to survive in this world.

A lot of negative things are being said about the new Resident Evil series from Netflix, and most of that hate is from the die-hard video game and movie franchise fans. So if you're not one of those people but love action/horror/sci-fi shows, you will probably love this. I did!

I never played the games (not a gamer), but I've seen all the movies and love me some Alice (I always wanted to cosplay her). The new TV series is more of a spin-off series with roots in the movies/games, but they created something different. I don't think the die-hard are the target audience.

The show does skip between two timelines throughout all eight episodes, and at first, they don't mesh well because you don't know the whole story yet, but the two start to run parallel the closer you get to episode eight. I think it is a fun piece of storytelling. Not like Oscar-winning, but for a sci-fi series, I was intrigued, and there is plenty of suspense. Lots of twists to keep it interesting. You have to overlook some things, like why didn't they just shoot them?! But that's the case in a lot of action scenes, lol.

My husband and I loved it and will be waiting for season two. Great sci-fi monster fun! Give it a shot.

4.25 "Joyful" Sheep

SharonS

Stranger Things: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book Hardcover – Pop up!

Stranger Things: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book Hardcover – Pop up
by Simon Arizpe (Author), Matthew Reinhart Kyle Lambert (Illustrator)
August 30, 2022

Embark on an explosive 3D journey through the world of Netflix’s hit series Stranger Things.

Netflix’s Emmy Award–winning series Stranger Things has captivated the imaginations of millions of viewers all around the world. Now fans can experience the series like never before with stunning, pop-off-the-page re-creations of iconic moments from the show. 

Inside, readers will adventure alongside Eleven and Mike Wheeler, crack the Russian code with Steve Harrington at Scoops Ahoy, face off against the terrifying Demogorgon, and much more. 

Featuring five richly detailed spreads packed with jaw-dropping pops, Stranger Things: The Ultimate Pop-Up Book is an explosive, must-have guide to Hawkins, Indiana, the Upside Down, and beyond.

AMAZON

TV Show Review: Elves (Netflix)

TV Show Review: Elves (Netflix)

AKA Nisser
November 28, 2021
Creator: Stefan Jaworski
Series Directed by Roni Ezra
Stars: Sonja Sofie Engberg Steen, Milo Campanale, Vivelill Søgaard Holm, Lila Nobel, Peder Thomas Pedersen, Ann Eleonora Jørgensen, Rasmus Hammerich, Lukas Løkken.
Genre: Folklore horror, dark fantasy, Danish, Scandinavian TV show, Young Adult TV show

Production Company: Netflix
Running Time: Season 1, six episodes
Official Website: Watch Elves | Netflix Official Site
A Christmas vacation turns into a nightmare for a teenager and her family when they discover an ancient menace that stalks their island getaway.

A mother and father decided that for Christmas this year they would take their kids on a family vacation by renting a house on an island. The problem is, this island has an electrified metal fence around some forest with a locked gate that keeps something deadly inside. This was done by the inhabitants of the island who only opened it occasionally put a cow inside as a sacrifice.

It was obvious to me that this was folklore horror. There is a sacrifice and a family that usually goes their own way for Christmas decides to come to the island instead. I still couldn’t understand why the islanders had put a stop to this, or even make sure no outsider comes to their island. But it was a plot hole to me. 

Anyway, the episodes went fast—only six, and there was a lot of potential to really make this scary, but it wasn’t. No explanation for the elves or why the islanders keep sacrificing cattle to keep the peace of the land. I think it could have been better with more episodes and a backstory to explain all of this. This should be on Santa’s naughty list for not delivering a good present for binge-watchers.

If you want to watch folklore horror, try Midsomner, The Wicker Man (the 1973 one!), The Witch, The Ritual (which I saw on Netflix before and it is set in a Swedish forest), and much more. For Christmas horror, try Krampus, Gremlins, Black Christmas (1974), and Rare Exports, a Christmas Story. Plus there are more out there.

I gave Elves 2 ½ sheep.

Reviewed by Pamela K. Kinney

Movie Review: Red Notice (Netflix)

Red Notice

Nov 5, 2021
Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Writer: Rawson Marshall Thurber
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, Ritu Arya

Rating: PG-13 (Violence and Action|Strong Language|Some Sexual References)

Genre: Comedy, Action
Runtime: 1h 57m
Distributor: Netflix
In the world of international crime, an Interpol agent attempts to hunt down and capture the world's most wanted art thief.

My husband and I watched Red Notice because we love action/comedy movies and all three main actors. We were not disappointed! Red Notice was a lot of fun. Some things were predictable but there were a few surprise twists you don't see coming.

Dwayne Johnson does comedy well. Ryan Reynolds is Deadpool in pretty much every role he plays. Gal Gadot won't win any acting awards, but she is beautiful!

If you love this type of movie, then you'll love this. 

My husband says any movie with Gal Gadot gets a minimum of 4 sheep... he gives Red Notice 4.5 Sheep

I give it

4 "*whispers* worth it" Sheep

SharonS

Movie Review: Night Bites (Netflix 2021)

Night Teeth
Oct 20, 2021
Director: Adam Randall
Writer: Brent Dillon
Cast: Debby Ryan, Lucy Fry, Raúl Castillo, Megan Fox, Alfie Allen, Jorge Lendeborg Jr.
Netflix

Genre: Drama, Crime, Mystery & Thriller
Runtime: 1h 47m
To earn some extra cash, quirky college student Benny (Jorge Lendeborg, Jr.) moonlights as a chauffeur for one night. His task: drive two mysterious young women (Debby Ryan and Lucy Fry) around Los Angeles for a night of party hopping. Taken captive by his clients' charm, he soon learns that his passengers have their own plans for him -- and an insatiable thirst for blood. As his night spins out of control, Benny is thrust into the middle of a clandestine war that pits rival tribes of vampires against the protectors of the human world, led by his brother (Raúl Castillo), who will stop at nothing to send them back into the shadows. With sunrise fast approaching, Benny is forced to choose between fear and temptation if he wants to stay alive and save the City of Angels.

Night Bites is pretty much what it looks like in the trailer. Kind of a vampire rom-com-dram (I just made that up). It isn't a comedy, but it has the boy-meets-girl and they fall in love vibe, but with guns and vampires. The story is very predictable but good campy entertainment.

If you have Netflix and looking for some mindless fun, check this one out. If you want to watch it for Megan Fox, you're gonna be disappointed. She has a three-minute cameo.

3.5 "biting" Sheep

SharonS

Movie Review: The Devil Below (2021) Netflix

The Devil Below
(Streaming): Mar 5, 2021
Director: Bradley Parker
Producer: Alejandro De Leon, Diego Hallivis, Julio Hallivis, Andres Rosende
Writer: Stefan Jaworski, Eric Scherbarth

Cast: Adan Canto, Will Patton, Alicia Sanz, Jonathan Sadowski, Chinaza Uche, Zach Avery

Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller

Runtime: 1 h 28 min

There is an abandoned place nestled deep in Appalachian country where underground coal mines have been ablaze for decades. When a team of researchers try to find out how the fires started, they soon discover something more startling than the mystery that sent them there: they're not alone.

Okay, Rotten Tomatoes didn't even give this a rating...and the audience score is 13%. And if you are comparing it blockbuster movies then that would be fair. But this isn't that kind of movie. I don't know if it was supposed to be like a low-budget movie or if it actually was one, but it should be judged on a different scale.

Whether by choice or not, it has a 70/80s creature feature vibe. Instead of CGI, they went old school with two guys in monster suits (the credits showed two people as monsters 1 and 2). And using fuzzy camera shots, night vision, suspense music/sound effects, and some cheap video tricks, they still managed to build a lot of suspense. The acting wasn't terrible.

My biggest complaint was the conveniently stupid decision on where to cut the rope...

Here is the situation. 

Where do you cut the rope? You cut it between last guy and the monster, right? No! He cuts it between him and the last girl to sacrifice himself to save her because that makes her backstory revalent.

If you enjoy B-movie horror/monster movies with little special effects, then give this one a look. Make sure to watch it with someone so you can riff on it.

3 "creepy" Sheep

SharonS

Movie Review: Major Grom: Plague Doctor (Netflix)

Major Grom: Plague Doctor

(Streaming): Jul 7, 2021

Director: Oleg Trofim
Producer: Olga Filipuk, Artyom Gabrelyanov, Michael Kitaev, Roman Kotkov
Writer: Vladimir Besedin

Cast: Lyubov Aksyonova, Tikhon Zhiznevskiy, Sergei Goroshko, Oleg Chugunov, Mikhail Evlanov, 

Aleksei Maklakov, Dmitriy Chebotarev

Genre: Action

Original Language: Russian

Runtime: 2h 16m
Production Co: BUBBLE Studios

When a masked vigilante's killing spree throws a city into chaos, a renegade detective and his rookie partner are the only ones who can stop it.

This was a nice surprise! Major Grom: Plague Doctor is based on a Russian comic book series about St. Petersburg detective Igor Grom and his pursuit of the violent vigilante Plague Doctor. When I watched it I didn't realize it was based on a comic book, but I was going to describe it as Batman (if Batman was a regular guy with a side of Sherlock Holmes) vs Lex Luther (he actually is an eccentric, genius, rich guy) movie...ha!

It is in Russian but dubbed in English. There's comedy, action, drama, a little romance, and the characters are likable. Everything a superhero movie needs.

Even though it smacks of DC characters, it has enough originality and some twists you don't see coming. Definitely entertaining and worth watching.

There is an after-credit scene. Creepy as hell, but awesome.

4 "" Sheep

SharonS

TV Show Review: Sweet Tooth (Netflix)

Sweet Tooth

Jun 4, 2021

Creators: Jim Mickle, Beth Schwartz

Exec. Producers: Jim Mickle, Beth Schwartz, Robert Downey Jr., Susan Downey, Amanda Burrell, Linda Moran

Cast: Christian Convery, Nonso Anozie, Adeel Akhtar, Stefania LaVie

Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy

Network: Netflix

Ten years ago "The Great Crumble" wreaked havoc on the world and led to the mysterious emergence of hybrids -- babies born part human, part animal. Unsure if hybrids are the cause or result of the virus, many humans fear and hunt them. After a decade of living safely in his secluded forest home, a sheltered hybrid deer-boy named Gus (Christian Convery) unexpectedly befriends a wandering loner named Jepperd (Nonso Anozie). Together they set out on an extraordinary adventure across what's left of America in search of answers -- about Gus' origins, Jepperd's past, and the true meaning of home. But their story is full of unexpected allies and enemies, and Gus quickly learns the lush, dangerous world outside the forest is more complex than he ever could have imagined. Based on the DC comic book series by Jeff Lemire.

Based on the comic book of the same name, Sweet Tooth takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where a virus wiped out most of the human population and caused the emergence of hybrid babies born half-human, half-animal. Because of this, many humans fear these hybrids and hunt them. Sweet Tooth revolves around Gus, a half-human, half deer child left alone after his father dies from the virus. Gus finds what he believes is a photo of his mother and the word “Colorado” written on it. As Gus journeys across what is left of America searching for answers, he quickly learns that surviving in the world outside of his old home is a lot more complicated than he thought.

I’ll admit that I was very skeptical about this story for many reasons. It’s pretty far outside my preferred wheelhouse for one. But curiosity got the better of me, and I binged this 8 episode series and was pleasantly surprised. Sweet Tooth is way out there in terms of fantasy, magic, and believability, even for fiction. Suspending what you think you know and what you readily accept for this comic book/fantasy story is definitely your best bet. It would make a great family movie/binge night pick while also opening up an opportunity to have discussions with kids about people who are different.

I was not aware of Sweet Tooth before the series came out. I had no idea it was a comic until recently, so I can’t say if it’s true to the source material or not, but I can say that the casting choices added to it the likability of the story. Each actor brought to life their part of the story and made their character relatable to the audience.

So overall, whether it’s your preferred wheelhouse or not, I highly recommend Sweet Tooth.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Sheep

Adria Reyes
Adria @ Adria’s Musings

Movie Review: Army of the Dead (2021)

Army of the Dead (2021)

May 21, 2021

Director: Zack Snyder

Writers: Zack Snyder, Shay Hatten, Joby Harold

Stars: Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Ana de la Reguera

Runtime: 2h 28m
Netflix

Production Co: The Stone Quarry
Rating: R (Some Sexual Content|Gore|Language Throughout|Graphic Nudity|Strong Bloody Violence)
Genre: Horror, Action, Adventure, Crime

Following a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, a group of mercenaries take the ultimate gamble, venturing into the quarantine zone to pull off the greatest heist ever attempted.

Well... Army of the Dead has all the predictable bank heist/zombie movie troupes they could shove in and delivers action/horror movie goodness with a dose of snark. It has one hell of an opening credit scene--a music montage of the fall of Las Vegas to a zombie horde.

You can watch it here:

I just don't know how I feel about Zack Snyder's vision...I've seen Justice League and Army of the Dead and I see his brilliance but also his weaknesses...so I'm pulled in two different directions. Which makes it hard to review Army of the Dead.

I'm really on the fence about what I think. My husband and I agree, it has some great scenes but I can't tell you what we had issues with because it will spoil the ending. If you want to know you can highlight: all but one person dies...it seemed like such a waste. I know most horror movies end that way but this time it bothered me.  But there is also some clever storytelling going on...there is going to be a prequel and possible other spin-offs.

It is 2 1/2 hours long, but there is enough action to keep your interest. If you love zombie movies and willing to jump over some plot holes (some might be intentional), you'll want to catch this one.

The zombie-killing action is at least 4 1/2 "zombie baby" sheep!

The story gets 3 1/2 "Easy peasy" Sheep

SharonS