The Legend of Korra - 2/5

This show starts off by making some interesting updates and changes to the established worldbuilding, but quickly loses its way. The characters are almost exclusively terrible and annoying, and the underlying world view the show is promoting is pretty toxic; the men are useless, bumbling idiots, the women are brilliant and effortlessly talented. Apart from a few interesting moments and story beats, it’s not worth watching.

Closest comparison: It’s like Avatar: The Last Airbender rewritten by the makers of Skull Island (2023).

Setting: Fantasy
Plot: Adventure
Tone: Comedy

Ingrid Goes West (2017) - 2/5

This is an Instagram stalker story that flirts with the idea of having a point. It’s more interested in having a conversation about the dynamic between reality and unreality in modern social media than it is in forming any conclusions about the topic. It’s always fun watching Aubrey Plaza’s awkward humor, and Elizabeth Olsen is great in everything, but this film just putts along like it’s just trying to fill the runtime.

Closest comparison: It’s like Social Network by way of SwimFan.

Setting: Adventure
Plot: Stalker
Tone: Dramedy

Child's Play (2019) - 3/5

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good movie, it’s just also very disposable. Changing black magic to technology is a great update to the classic setup, and it plays out in exactly the combination of scenarios you’d expect. Aubrey Plaza and Mark Hamill do a great job drawing in the audience and making the world feel lived-in and engaging, although the movie follows in its predecessor’s footsteps when it comes to contriving scenarios where a child’s doll could murder people. Still, it’s quite well made and if you’re a fan of ‘80s pop horror this is certainly in the same vein.

Content warning: gore

Closest comparison: An update to the classic ‘80s pop horror movie.

Setting: Sci-Fi Horror
Plot: Slasher
Tone: Pop Horror