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PODCAST

Second Opinion - Films and Society

Our Second Opinion

Immerse yourself in the fascinating world of stories and films, presented by passionate bookworms and cineastes. Our channel is a diverse universe in which we deal with reading, film reviews, reviews and lifestyle topics. 🌟📚 In the new video series "Looking Back into the Future" we take viewers on a journey through their analysis of the present time. Instead of simply criticizing, they take a precise look at the developments and changes that have led to the values of our youth being pushed into

tv & film

All Episodes

14:21

Film Review: Carlos (FRA 2010)

Second Opinion - Films and Society ·

2025/06/26

Content: In this podcast, we talk about Olivier Assayas’s French film “Carlos” from 2010. It’s a five-and-a-half-hour epic about the Venezuelan terrorist Ilich Ramírez Sánchez. We describe Carlos' career, his motivations and his ultimate failure, places the film in the context of other films about terrorism in the 1970s and 1980s and praises Edgar Ramírez's acting performance as well as the detailed portrayal of the period. The film paints an impartial picture, but leaves many questions about

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4:23

Film Review: Final Destination: Bloodlines (USA 2025)...

Second Opinion - Films and Society ·

2025/06/23

Content: In this podcast, we discuss the horror film “Final Destination: Bloodlines” (USA 2025) by Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, Starring Kaitlyn Santa Juana. It is the sixth movie in the horror franchise. We note that the newest installment follows a college student inheriting her grandmother's ability to foresee death and being hunted by the entity. While acknowledging the plot is a secondary vehicle, we highlight the film's strength in its elaborate and gory death sequences, a hallmark of

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4:36

Film Review: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (USA...

Second Opinion - Films and Society ·

2025/06/19

Content: In this podcast, we discuss “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” (2014), directed by Matt Reeves. This film is the sequel to “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” (2011). We praise the visually impressive portrayal of the apes, especially Andy Serkis' performance as Caesar. However, the plot is clichéd and predictable, with a simplistic good/evil dynamic in contrast to the more complex previous film. “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” depicts a war between humans and apes, with the apes displaying

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7:39

Film Review: Exterritorial (GER 2025) – German Action...

Second Opinion - Films and Society ·

2025/06/17

Content: In this podcast, we discuss Christian Zübert's 2025 German action thriller “Exterritorial”, starring Jeanne Goursaud and Dougray Scott. While praising the film's technical aspects, particularly its action sequences and a single-take shot, we criticize its derivative plot and unremarkable performances. Ultimately, we suggest that "Exterritorial" is a technically competent genre film that struggles to rise above mediocrity due to its lack of originality and storytelling weaknesses, though

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5:05

Film Review: Love Exposure (JPN 2008) - A Bizarre...

Second Opinion - Films and Society ·

2025/06/14

Content: In this podcast, we talk about the Japanese movie “Love Exposure” by director Sion Sono from 2008, which depicts a complex love triangle between three emotionally abused teenagers. The film has been shown at film festivals around the world and has gained considerable fame. On the one hand, because the film is four hours long, and on the other, because it deals with multi-layered genre elements such as love, family, sexuality, religion, and the art of upskirt photography. The original cut

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4:21

Film Review: G20 (USA 2025) by Patricia Riggen –...

Second Opinion - Films and Society ·

2025/06/11

Content: In this podcast, we discuss Patricia Riggen's 2025 action film “G20”, starring Viola Davis as a US President facing a terrorist attack during a G20 summit in Cape Town. We highlight the plot, which involves the president, a former military veteran, using her skills to protect hostages and prevent an economic collapse. However, we find the film derivative and over the top, noting its strong similarities to "Olympus Has Fallen" (USA 2013) and criticize its implausible action sequences and

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20:27

Film Review: “The Aviator’s Wife” (FRA 1981) and “A...

Second Opinion - Films and Society ·

2025/06/08

Content: In this podcast, we talk about two early works of French Nouvelle Vague director Eric Rohmer “The Aviator’s Wife” (1981) and “A Good Marriage” (1982). We analyze the plots and focus of both films, describing “The Aviator's Wife” as a reflexive examination of relationships and observations shot in the style of the Nouvelle Vague. “A Good Marriage” about a woman determined to find a husband, is highlighted as a turning point in Rohmer's work, as it tells the story for the first time from

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7:11

Film Review: A Working Man (USA 2025) Action by David...

Second Opinion - Films and Society ·

2025/06/05

Content: In this podcast, we discuss the 2025 action film “A Working Man”, directed by David Ayer, starring Jason Statham. We outline the plot, where Statham plays a former Marine turned construction worker who uses his skills to rescue his boss's kidnapped daughter. While acknowledging the film offers relentless action and caters to genre fans, we criticize its predictability and lack of originality, stating it recycles tired formulas and offers little emotional depth despite its entertaining

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6:07

Film Review: Rise of the Planet of the Apes (USA...

Second Opinion - Films and Society ·

2025/06/01

Content: In this podcast, we talk about “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” by director Rupert Wyatt from 2011. It serves as a reboot of the original "Planet of the Apes" film series from 1968 to 1973, which consisted of five films. The reboot currently includes four films. We praise the intelligent and emotional plot, particularly emphasizing Andy Serkis' convincing portrayal of the chimpanzee Caesar, who looks extremely realistic thanks to the latest CGI technology. The film not only deals with

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6:37

Film Review: Drop (USA 2025) – Cyber-Thriller by...

Second Opinion - Films and Society ·

2025/05/29

Content: In this podcast, we analyze the 2025 cyber-thriller “Drop” by Christopher Landon, starring Meghann Fahy and Henry Campbell. We note that while the initial premise, single location, and performances by Meghann Fahy and Brandon Sklenar are strong, the film is undermined by plot holes and a shift to an implausible, action-heavy climax. Ultimately, we conclude that “Drop” is a missed opportunity and an average film due to its execution issues. Plot: “Drop”, directed by Christopher Landon,

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18:56

Marriage is a Crazy Thing (KOR 2002) – A Korean Love...

Second Opinion - Films and Society ·

2025/05/26

Content: In this podcast, we talk about the South Korean film “Marriage is a Crazy Thing” by director Ha Yoo from 2002, which tells the story of an unequal relationship between Jun-young, an unmarried man, and Yeon-hee, a woman who desperately wants to get married. Their affair develops despite their different life goals and values, with Yeon-hee marrying a rich doctor while continuing her relationship with Jun-young. The movie shows the complexity of the relationship and the consequences of the

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4:24

Film Review: The Monkey (USA 2025) – A Horror Comedy...

Second Opinion - Films and Society ·

2025/05/23

Content: In this podcast, we talk about the 2025 horror comedy “The Monkey”, directed by Osgood Perkins, based on Stephen King’s short story. The movie centers on twin brothers Hal and Bill who encounter a cursed toy monkey that causes deaths, which resurfaces 25 years after they initially discard it. We critique the film harshly, stating it fails as both a horror film and a comedy, with uninspired visuals, awkward dialogue, and a weak script. Despite a promising cast, we found the movie to be a

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21:00

TV-Show Review: Succession (USA 2018-2023)

Second Opinion - Films and Society ·

2025/05/20

Content: In this podcast, we talk about the American TV show “Succession” (2018-2023), created by Jesse Armstrong, which depicts the power struggles within a powerful media family. The series paints an unsympathetic picture of the main characters, who fight unscrupulously and egotistically to succeed the patriarch. Despite the viewer's dislike of the characters, we describe the series as captivating and exciting, comparable to a Shakespeare play. We emphasize the special camera work and the

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9:06

Film Review: Warfare (USA 2025) by Alex Garland and...

Second Opinion - Films and Society ·

2025/05/17

Content: In this podcast, we analyze the 2025 film Warfare (USA 2025) by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza, Starring Will Poulter and Cosmo Jarviz. We highlight that the film, based on co-director Mendoza's Navy SEAL experiences in the Iraq War, offers an unrelenting and visceral depiction of combat. "Warfare" is shot in real-time, focuses on a platoon pinned down in a house in Ramadi. We emphasize authenticity through detailed sound design, the absence of a traditional score, and real-life tactics

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18:45

Film Review: “Claire’s Knee” (FRA 1970) and “Love in...

Second Opinion - Films and Society ·

2025/05/14

Content: In this podcast, we talk about two films of French Nouvelle Vague director Eric Rohmer Claire’s Knee (1970) and “Love in the Afternoon” (1972). We praise “Claire's Knee” for its landscape shots and its revolutionary effect, while we consider “Love in the Afternoon” to be one of Rohmer's weaker works, but nevertheless highlights the Parisian cafés and emphasizes Rohmer's innovative use of film music. Both films offer insights into Rohmer's style and themes. We will gradually review the

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8:31

Film Review: Novocaine (2025), directed by Dan Berk...

Second Opinion - Films and Society ·

2025/05/12

Content: In this podcast, we talk about the 2025 action comedy “Novocaine” (2025), directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, starring Jack Quaid, highlighting its strengths as an action-comedy. We emphasize the plot, which centers on a timid bank employee with a rare pain-insensitivity condition who uses his unique trait to rescue his love interest during a robbery. We praise the performances of the lead actors, Jack Quaid and Amber Midthunder, noting their strong chemistry. We also commend the

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12:30

Film Review: Full Time (FRA 2021) by Eric Gravel

Second Opinion - Films and Society ·

2025/05/09

Content: In this podcast, we talk about “Full Time” by French director Eric Gravel from 2021. The film depicts the life of single mother Julie. It shows Julie's exhausting everyday life in detail, between working as a hotel employee and looking after children, and the additional difficulties caused by a public transport strike. We highlight the realism of the film and the uncomfortable questions it raises. Plot: Julie, a single mother, has a demanding job as a maid in a luxury hotel in Paris

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10:07

TV-Show Review: The White Lotus, Season 1-3 (USA...

Second Opinion - Films and Society ·

2025/05/06

Content: In this podcast, we examines the three seasons of the HBO television show “The White Lotus”. The first two seasons, set in Hawaii and Sicily respectively, are lauded for their sharp social commentary, stunning locations, ensemble casts including Jennifer Coolidge, and the creative genius of Mike White, who wrote and directed all episodes. These seasons are depicted as captivating and masterful examinations of wealth, relationships, and human flaws. However, we find the third season,

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11:13

Film Review: Hillbilly Elegy (USA 2020) by Ron Howard

Second Opinion - Films and Society ·

2025/05/02

Content: In this podcast, we talk about “Hillbilly Elegy” (USA 2020) by director Ron Howard from 2020 based on J.D. Vance's memoir “Hillbilly Elegy”. The film tells the story of a young man from a poor family in Ohio who, despite difficult family circumstances - in particular a drug-addicted mother - embarks on a successful career path and attends Yale. We highlight the strong acting performances and emphasizes that the film portrays the reality of a disadvantaged population group in an

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9:54

Film Review: I’m Still Here (BRA 2024) by Walter Salles

Second Opinion - Films and Society ·

2025/04/29

Content: In this podcast, we talk about the Brazilian film “I’m Still Here” (BRA 2024), directed by Walter Salles. The film is based on Marcelo Rubens Paiva's memoirs and depicts the forced disappearance of politician Rubens Paiva during Brazil's 1970s military dictatorship and his wife Eunice's subsequent search for answers. While acknowledging the importance of the subject matter and the quality of production, we criticize the film for its lack of dramatic tension, emotional depth, and

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116 results

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