By creating the world of Black Mirror, writer Charlie Brooker shows in each episode how technology can influence our lives. It shows how it can solve problems, but at the same time also how it can make people suffer by it, even if this wasn’t the purpose of that technology. That’s also the case with the final episode of season 4, which just like the episode White Christmas, consists of short stories set against a bigger backdrop. Continue reading
If you keep up with the technology news, you’ve probably heard of Boston Dynamics and their robot creations. It started with Big Dog that has been developed into Spot and the Spot Mini . But also creations like Handle , Atlas to the almost frightening Wildcat. Where these developments will possibly end is the subject of this episode of Black Mirror. Continue reading
Meeting other people who are looking for love has become a lot easier during the last few years thanks to dating sites and apps like Tinder. You fill in your profiles, send out messages, go out on a dat and find out if there is a sprak. The system which is used in Hang the DJ is based on that, but works completely different. Continue reading
Episodes of Black Mirror are generally dark and often leave you feeling uneasy after seeing them. This feeling arises because the subject matter is recognizable and very close to reality. Crocodile is perhaps one of the darkest episodes so far, but doesn’t succeed as well in making you think as a viewer. Continue reading
As parents, you must start letting go from the moment your child is born. You ensure that your children get the right skills, but they only learn by gaining experiences and making mistakes. However, that is not always easy because at the same time you want to protect them against everything. So it’s a balancing act in which you also learn and gain experience yourself. In Arkangel, Black Mirror looks at the upbringing of a child in combination with technology and, of course, how this sometimes doesn’t go as intended. Continue reading
One of my favorite series ever is Black Mirror and I was happy to see that Netflix released a new season recently. Because of its dark tone it might not be something you want to binge, I did look forward to work my way through the episodes. The Star Trek-like image which were released made me very curious about the first episode. Continue reading
Last year Netflix was involved in a fierce battle around Bright’s rights. They eventually managed to offer more than big studios like Warner Brothers and MGM and payed 90 million dollars for this title. The film is directed by David Ayer, who seems to specialize in police dramas (End of Watch, Training Day, Street Kings) and also major films such as Fury and Suicide Squad, is a title for which expectations were high. With famous actors in the main roles, Will Smith, Joel Edgerton and Noomi Rapace, this is the type of blockbuster for which you would normally head to the cinema. Now you can see it at home after a few clicks on your remote control.
It’s something not everyone is happy about (last year there was a heated discussion at the Cannes Film Festival about what services such as Netflix mean for film in general. Of course the convenience of watching it at home is very nice, but is Bright a title that is worth watching? Continue reading
While Marvel fans are treated time and time again to entertaining superhero films and the company is not afraid to dive into different genres (eg the spy thriller in Captain America: The Winter Soldier or the comedy with Thor: Ragnarok), DC still seems to be looking for what they want to bring their audience. Do they want their heroes to be darker or is it better to have lighter tone and add more humor? Batman vs. Superman was an example of the first, Wonder Woman an example of the second. How have they approached Justice League? Continue reading
When Star Wars: The Force Awakens was announced, the fans were tense. The second trilogy (Episode I to III) disappointed many and people wondered if it was necessary to make new films. Was it possible to make movies which reached the same level as the original films? J.J.Abrams also must have felt that pressure, as he decided not to take too much risk by using many elements of A New Hope and fan favorites like Han Solo/Leia plus introducing new characters like Rey, Finn and Poe.
It was this mix that ensured that fans embraced the film and were curious about answers to the questions that The Force Awakens asked. Who are Rey’s parents, what is the story behind Kylo Ren and what can Luke do to help the rebels? These are all questions that The Last Jedi tries to answer. Continue reading
The influence of 1982’s Blade Runner on the look of science fiction films has been enormous. In addition, it is a film that is widely praised by film lovers who can have a lot of discussion about what is the best version to watch and whether the character played by Harrison Ford, Deckard, is a replica or not. It is a classic and the announcement of a sequel was received with mixed reactions. Understandable, since too many sequels have been made that did not meet expectations. Yet there was a lot of hope that this might be a movie that would be worthwhile. The reason? The film would be directed by Denis Villeneuve who really hasn’t made bad films (Arrival, Sicario, Prisoners, Enemy and Incendies). In addition he would work together with cinematographer Roger Deakins and maybe that cooperation could lead to something that reached the same level of the original. Is that the case? Continue reading