Cinema Disaster: Dune Warriors

On the tin, Dune Warriors is a Mad Max ripoff, set after the apocalypse with, you know, tires and infinite gasoline.

It doesn’t take long to realize the truth: Dune Warriors is a Generic Fantasy Movie <tm> reskinned to be set after the Apocalypse.

Seriously, it is. There are a lot of people for there to be “no water” (and everyone is, of course, far too clean). There are motorcycle jousting tournaments.

It just feels like what I call a Ren Faire movie, except that it’s set in the future, not Ye Olde Times.

And as such, it’s actually a little better than if perceived as a Mad Max ripoff. There’s no crazy vehicle scene (well, a half hearted attempt at one). There is a sword fight/melee that goes on far, far too long. A love triangle I could honestly have done without.

And the plot is so generic that I was yawning. But it has a bit of a charm to it, I suppose. I’ve certainly watched worse.

(Also, what’s with the woman who apparently visited wardrobe in a completely different movie? Somebody find her some clothes!)

Anna Pigeon 1.3 “The Preacher”

First of all, the writers of this show? They do not like the FBI. The FBI have already decided who did the robberies.

It’s up to Anna to prove her friend’s innocence and find the guilty party…which leads her to a church men’s group for men who need second chances…ex cons, addicts, etc. It’s led by a pastor who turns out to be on his own second chance. I’ve seen reviews saying this show can get a bit implausible.

The point where it rains money on the baptism is implausible. But I have to say: I don’t care.

The mystery goes through a few directions before you realize who you need to blame.

The titular Preacher is a bank robber with an MO that involved blackmail and the line “God doesn’t want anyone to die today.”

At a couple of moments, it looks like the show might be heading in an anti-religious direction, but it doesn’t end there. Thankfully, IMO.

And who killed Anna’s husband…

Anna Pigeon 1.4 “Hell Is Other People”

There’s a massive storm, Anna goes out on her own (well, with a very well trained horse) to rescue some horse campers who are in the danger zone.

Question: Why do spooking horses always rear in the movies when IRL they’re more likely to spin or jump sideways?
Answer: It’s easier to teach them to rear on command.

(I did have one problem, though. If you want to sabotage somebody’s tack, you cut a girth or cinch strap not a stirrup. Any competent rider will lose a stirrup and keep right on going. I once had one legit fall off the saddle while I was cantering and just pulled up and asked for help fixing it).

It’s the husband. It’s always the husband. But Anna is dealing with these people professionally, trying to keep them safe even as they argue with her and each other.

Anna gets more flashbacks, especially when the fire starts. But she’s also starting to open up.

Critter of the week is a lovely black horse, natch.

Daredevil 2.8 “Guilty As Sin”

We are finally introduced to the Hand…and find out Elektra was sent to honeytrap Matt. As sometimes happens, he trapped her.

Frank Castle faces his trial, and they plan an insanity plea, but Frank freaks out at the idea of ending up in an asylum…and actually quite demonstrates he might be insane in front of the jury, but this being a fictional courtroom, it doesn’t help him.

(I would absolutely have handed down a verdict of not guilty on the grounds of insanity on somebody who’s screaming his guilt across the courtroom. And we do know Frank is, in fact, insane).

Unfortunately, now he’s in prison…and hooking up with Wilson Fisk. This can’t go well.

Elektra has left the Chaste to work with Matt, but that can’t end well for her. You don’t just leave international organizations of assassins.

Daredevil 2.9 “Seven Minutes in Heaven”

More like seven minutes in hell, but what else does one expect from this show.

Nelson & Murdock appears to be over. Karen appears to be heading towards becoming an investigative journalist.

Wilson is taking over the prison by the simple expedient of setting Frank on his rival…hoping they both end up dead.

Of course, Frank kills a bunch of people, survives, and then gets beaten down by Wilson. They aren’t pulling any punches on the fact that Wilson Fisk, despite his soft appearance, is actually a bruiser.

We also discover that the death of Frank’s family was actually part of a sting gone wrong…oh dear. Conspiracy all the way up to the mayor, perhaps?