journal features

movie review - Day Shift

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Kokubunji, 2022.08.18

This is a movie about a vampire hunter in Los Angeles. It does some good character development, some okay plot development that's really let down once or twice, and some really out-of-control world-building in which a number of things are set up but then ignored or subverted. So it's a bit of a mixed bag. I particularly didn't like the way our substantial investment in a secondary character was thrown out by the off-screen killing/turning of that character.

Not recommended. I used to have a 'cautiously' recommended category of movie review. I eventually realized that was a bit of a cop-out. I can either recommend it or not. And despite a great concept and some good elements, this one's the latter. I mean, one character's sacrifice is undone as the credits roll. WTF.

rand()m quote

Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

—Hermann Goering