Jon Loder's Reviews
Racial agenda - Not Sopranos at all
I didn't get very far into the series. It's all about racial agenda.
Created: 07-28-2026
It's an anti-woke theme in a B-movie
The story is based on someone trying to do something about rampant immigration issues. It's in a European city that's never specifically named. I think it's a composite of the Euro-countries that have let immigration get out of hand. The solution: kill the ones who rape and kill. Simple enough. The lead character is not as likeable as you may expect. There's wasn't enough tactical consultation to portray SWAT tactics. Try counting the mistakes they made. It's definitely a B-movie. The story never really resolved. It's more of a commentary showing the reality of how devastating cultural import can be on a peaceful society and the extreme measures required to counter it.
Created: 07-25-2026
I love this movie... and guitars
I had to give this one a tick of woke. It's actually a half-tick rounded up. Willie argues that Eugene would be "just one more white boy ripping off our music." Willie also gets called "mud-duck" by a white pimp in a small southern town. That's about it for the woke report.
The movie itself is based on the legend of Robert Johnson's deal with the devil at the crossroads. Willie is a harmonica player that spent his life in prison over a self-defense killing of a band member. Eugene is a privileged classical guitar prodigy who is obsessed with Robert Johnson. He believes Johnson had a song that never got recorded and Willie may be the last chance to find it. Eugene breaks Willie out of the hospital, and they go on the road. Eugene is looking for a lost song. Willie is looking for a way to back out of his deal with the devil.
The strength of this movie is the music. There's kind of a Devil Went Down to Georgia story at the end. It's a guitar contest between Eugene and the Devil's guitarist (Steve Vai). If you don't watch the movie, at least find the ending on YouTube. The contest is called "Cutting Heads."
Ralph Macchio learned to play guitar for this part. He didn't do the actual playing, but he developed enough skill that you wouldn't know it. Ry Cooder played most of the actual soundtrack. Vai, of course, played for real. It was awesome!
Created: 07-24-2026
A different take, apparently
I agree with the points that most reviews on here make. I just consider it to be more incidental than agenda.
I've read all of Mick Herron's Slow Horse series. I really like the books. This show follows them rather closely.
The main character, Jackson Lamb, played by Oldman, is actually pure genius. He's rude, offensive, and not hygienic at all, but he always figures things out before anyone else and manipulates the outcome.
The mixed-race couple is just that. I don't see an agenda in it. If you consider that woke, so be it. If the story portrayed them as having to endure intolerance over it, I would call it woke.
I don't remember any LGBT...+++ being represented, much less any agenda.
The girl boss is present. The main one is the "Second Desk" of MI5. She's a politically conniving backstabber who gets put in her place by Lamb on a regular basis. He always gets the upper hand, in both the novels and the show.
Casting: I looked up the first season on IMDB. The top 12 cast consists of 9 men and 3 women. There is one Asian, one Black an 10 white. I don't see any DEI in that.
The main characters consist of 3 white males portrayed as competent. The most incompetent, bumbling idiot in the show is the Asian. The black lady is portrayed as competent. I don't see any agenda in that.
The fist season is about some punks wanting to behead a Muslim on camera. I can see that as being woke agenda. Some of the following storylines have Islamic terrorists attacking. It's kind of across the board on that issue.
The wokeness may be there, but I don't think it comes with an agenda.
Created: 07-22-2026
Less than halfway through the first episode. Enough.
The protagonist was at a bar, talking to a tender who would set off anyone's gaydar. The next scene was them waking up together. If you can get through that, maybe there's a good show to be watched. I, myself, cannot.
Created: 07-21-2026
Only watched the first few episodes
The production is exceptional. This show had great potential ruined by minor doses of wokery in every little nook and cranny. It is mostly just incidental comments, but there nonetheless. I stopped watching when a transsexual was being treated. The chart had him as male. The attending physician apologized to him for the oversight and changed it to female. After all the political and social arguments, the one place that XY or XX matters is in medical treatment. A medical doctor should be the last person to entertain the delusions of trans sexuality.
Created: 07-15-2026
This one gets complicated
Zero woke. (Theatrical release)
Fun story about a one-hit-wonder band.
Tom Hanks wrote and directed it. He also played a significant part. He also wrote a couple of the songs in the soundtrack.
The complicated part:
There was an extended cut version released that revealed Hank's character to be in a homosexual relationship with a character played by Howie Long. I've never seen that version. I hope I never do. Tom Hanks didn't want that part in the movie. I don't blame him.
Created: 07-09-2026
Very underrated flick in my opinion
I really enjoyed this one. Cole Hauser did a great job.
An actor from a small midwest town found sudden fame by starring in a Hollywood action flick. He learned about fame the hard way.
When the Paparazzi pushed too far, they found out about a protective husband/father the hard way.
The only negative may be that the situations were kind of forced. Vengeance stories can be like that.
Created: 07-09-2026
As accurate as you can be in a two-hour movie
Firstly, it was completely non-woke.
Secondly, it was very entertaining.
Historical accuracy? If you're looking for that, it's foolhardy to think it will be highly detailed in 125 minutes of movie. The facts are mostly intact. The movie was about the beginning of George Washington's military career.
George Washington was one of the most respected military leaders in history. That kind of respect is earned. It would be hard to overplay his heroism and determination.
The main point of contention in some early reviews is the "glossing over" of slavery. That's a completely different topic. Historical facts don't often stand up against Confirmation Bias.
Created: 07-04-2026
Love this movie
This is the epitome of 1980's cornball funny. It's total irreverent humor that should generate a negative Wokness rating. It couldn't be made today because of all the racial slur humor. That must be why it can't be found anywhere on streaming or DVD. If you can find it, watch it.
Created: 07-02-2026
