Jacob Aquino, Author at The Rogers Revue

Jacob Aquino

TV Reviewer

Since my first theatrical experience, Back to the Future Part II, I’ve been in awe of film as a story telling format. I’ve amassed scores of additional theatre viewings since, experimenting with a variety of genres, whittling down my preferences right down to the present that influence my Netflix queue choices. Inexplicably, my memory is quite adept at recalling even the most miniscule details of film in
general, a skill which would have served me better in school, but I digress.

Growing up I read as many reviews as I could acquire ranging from the terrific writers of my local Washington Post to what Siskel & Ebert would recommend on At the Movies. I try to be as well rounded and objective as I can in terms of viewings and I tend to see many different pictures from a variety of genres and to keep an open mind. I tend to prefer the style and aesthetic of older films, particularly of
the 70s and 80s, but I give everything a chance. I can be a little harsher than my contemporaries, but that’s only because I care. Often my opinions can go against the grain but I can provide you with a myriad of valid reasons to support my position.

Graduating from University of MD (Baltimore Co.) with a degree in psychology, I never pursued the idea of writing and reviewing until now at The Rogers Revue. I can appreciate the unintended humor and charm of schlocky B-movies and am not afraid to tell you why some beloved blockbusters are grossly overrated. As I said I’m pretty well-rounded in terms of viewing and overall knowledge, and
would love to civilly debate my aforementioned points and more with anyone in the comments section below or at a viewing.

My top 3 films of all time are: Taxi Driver, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and The Deer Hunter. There’s a lot more that I love, but figured the top 3 was enough. As I said, I tend to prefer the rawer grit of earlier decades, but look forward to giving new artists a chance to shine.

The Walking Dead “Coda” (Mid-season 5 Finale)

December 2, 2014 Jacob Aquino Television, Television Reviews

I kept threatening to leave. I did. Each year this show somehow got worse. First it was Herschel’s farm. Then it was the Governor, who was essentially a blowhard cartoon character suffering from a messiah complex that *somehow* lasted two seasons. And then there was the too long trip to Terminus that ended with Rick muttering something about being “screwed with” which came across as flat as it reads. Breaking Bad didn’t shy away from dropping the occasional f-bomb and just bleeping it out which was a much more effective approach which still conveyed the gravitas that embodied that cast of characters.

True Blood “Thank You”

August 31, 2014 Jacob Aquino Television, Television Reviews

Well, that was quite the finale, huh?! Somehow nearly everyone involved made a brand new idiotic decision, or continued to make the same boneheaded ones they began many episodes ago.

True Blood “Almost Home”

August 13, 2014 Jacob Aquino Television, Television Reviews 0

I thought— for just a moment— that after Eric took a sip from Sarah’s jugular that she had been less than honest about the exact means of how to administer the blood cure. Because we never actually saw her sister get cured, just before and after. At first it looked as though Eric was going to suffer a Scanners-type death before the cure finally kicked in. After that all the suspense packed up and left the remainder of the episode. And then the opening credits rolled. Had I known, I would have just turned it off right then and there. But there was still another 52 minutes of time to fill.

True Blood “Karma”

July 29, 2014 Jacob Aquino Television, Television Reviews 0

Well that was certainly all over the place. And I do mean ALL OVER. Sigh. I want to know how a late-stage HEP-V infected Eric is able to still somewhat easily slay a dozen or so armed Yakuza members while Pam is captured and chained immediately off-screen, only to have them set down in front of the classic death clock scenario, like an episode of MacGuyver. At least it looks like we’re finally going to get some answers regarding what happens to HEP-V infected masses. Indeed her reveal to her vampire sister that the antidote flows through her veins was the whole late in the game deus ex machina. Something tells me it won’t end well for the widow Newlin once Eric and the Yokonomo corporation discover this.

True Blood “Lost Cause”

July 22, 2014 Jacob Aquino Television, Television Reviews 0

The end is nigh

Word to the wise, I don’t know if the two of you are fucking or not. But that’s going to have to stop right now. – Jason Stackhouse

And so concludes another in the long line of frustratingly odd episodes of True Blood. It took Sam’s upcoming baby momma Nicole to finally say something about just how wrong it was to celebrate in such a grand fashion following the deaths of so many townsfolk, human, werewolf and vampire alike. I mean, Andy proposed, two different sets of people hooked up and there was a stabbing on top of everything. Bon Temps really knows how to get down. And we got a terrible excuse for Jackson (Alcide’s dad) to reappear yet again – to give a glowing toast to his dead son and to eavesdrop creepily on Sookie. She confessed the most trivial of reasons why she mourned his death: “he was big and strong.” This kind of writing isn’t going to leave me wanting more by the end of this already halfway over farewell season.

True Blood “Death Is Not the End”

July 18, 2014 Jacob Aquino Television, Television Reviews 0

Totally rockin’

As the final season chugs along rather clumsily, I am becoming increasingly fearful that True Blood will end up like the poorly received (and deservedly so) final season of Dexter. Somehow even though the season has been shortened by two whole episodes, it feels like there’s more filler than ever. Do we really need an onslaught of past cameos? Terry? Alcide’s Dad? The Vampire Magister? Freakin’ Hoyt way up in Alaska?

The Walking Dead “A” (Season 4 Finale)

March 31, 2014 Jacob Aquino Television, Television Reviews 0

As the credits rolled, the first thing I thought was: what did David Chase (if he watched) think? The guy created and had creative oversight in basically all aspects over The Sopranos. That show explored a multitude of different complex, overarching themes. And while I’m the first to admit that the last season faltered a bit, (Kevin Finnerty and the infamous fade to black over Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing”) even at its worst it was still better than 90% of its television peers. That show allowed characters to grow and breathe and you were able to see a new wrinkle in the fabric of its magnificent richness that you initially overlooked but became clearer upon repeat viewings. So I’m insulted as an audience member last night when Rick explained the concept behind the rabbit snare trap to Carl. If it were any other show without a history of this kind of sloppy storytelling, I wouldn’t have thought much of it. But I was placed on high alert as Rick delved into the idea of forcing small game down an intended path into the trap. There’s no way this won’t not come back into play, likely in a very heavy handed kind of way. And I was disappointed when I wasn’t wrong.

The Walking Dead “Too Far Gone” (Midseason Finale)

December 4, 2013 Jacob Aquino Television, Television Reviews

Did the repetitive themes and dialogue sink in yet? It’s been a couple of days for you people to process and grieve, if poorly acted melodrama leaves you emotionally distraught. This fourth season started off rather strongly, with a very promising first two episodes, before taking a bizarre turn involving an outbreak of zombie-flu strain that seems to be easily combated with standard antibiotics. Good thing nobody important to the show (like Glen) died. Glad he was well enough to board the bus Read more

Dexter “Remember the Monsters?” (Series Finale)

September 23, 2013 Jacob Aquino Television, Television Reviews

Pulling the plug: what should have happened to this show after the second season.

It’s hard to believe at long last we have been privileged to enjoy perhaps close to an excellent 20-something episodes of Dexter, but have been forced to endure the other 70ish episodes. That’s right, for a show that started off so strongly and maintained its momentum right through the near-perfect hunt for the Bay Harbor Butcher, everything that occurred since has been more or less meh. A lot of people heap far too much praise upon the fourth season’s Big Bad, the Trinity Killer; and that’s fine, I’d place it just after the first two seasons in terms of ascending order, but remember it arrived on the heels of the Miguel Prado/Skinner debacle so of course it’s going to seem that much better. But really everything after the dispatching of Arthur Mitchell has been a downward slide; an avalanche right into the bowels of hell.

Game of Thrones “Mhysa”

June 10, 2013 Jacob Aquino Television, Television Reviews 0

Not tired, but goes to bed hungry

Oh Daenerys, how I wish your hijinks Across the Narrow Sea moved at pace slightly faster than stale molasses. Since so little actually occurred I’m just going to leave you with a couple of questions/observations:

Crowd surfing certainly seems to demonstrate poor form for a queen.

If I recall correctly, the Yunkai slaves that are freed were ‘bedroom slaves’, not the warriors like Grey Worm who now serve Daenerys. What use will their services be to her party (the Unsullied) after accepting her as Mother?

Is it just me, or is it ridiculously difficult to take Daario seriously as he poses outside the city walls, knowing that he’s portrayed by an English rapper Ed Skrein?

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