Tag: Cliff Curtis

“Chief of War” Review: You’re Not Going to Want to Miss This

August 3rd, 2025

Chief of War is a brand new Apple TV+ miniseries. The first two episodes premiered this past Friday with new episodes every Friday until its finale on September 19. Created by Thomas Pa’a Sibbett & Jason Momoa, the show stars Momoa, Luciane Buchanan, Te Ao o Hinepehinga, Te Kohe Tuhaka, Brandon Finn, Moses Goods, Temuera Morrison, and Cliff Curtis. With Hawaii’s four kingdoms divided by war, the ferocious warrior Kaʻiana embarks on an epic mission to unite his people—as an existential threat approaches their shores.

I was taken back when I first heard about the show a couple of months ago. I am a huge fan of anything Apple TV+ puts out, so I tend to watch just about anything and everything they produce. What caught my attention was a new TV show with Jason Momoa when his schedule already seemed jam packed as it is. Apparently, this show was initially pitched as a movie ten years ago. You can actually tell where creators Thomas Pa’a Sibbett & Jason Momoa poured their heart & soul into this during that time, and even before, because there is so much authenticity here unlike anything else I have ever seen.

For some reason, I didn’t know the show was going to be mostly spoken in Hawaiian. I skipped all the promotional material, so that was a surprise. Also, you don’t really see much spoken in that language nowadays. It took me some time to get used to watching a show in a foreign language as I rarely do that. With shows like Squid Game, it’s easier to put on the dubbed version to make sure I don’t miss anything important. After a little bit of getting used to it and understanding where this show was going, I was hooked.

It’s impressive how much work Momoa put into this on top of the other things he’s got going on. Luckily, he has a creative partner throughout it. Still, it’s even more impressive when he’s speaking in two different languages, immersing himself in the action, and even dabbling as a director. That may easily be Momoa’s best work to date. The closest I have ever seen him have a physically demanding presence like this was in Game of Thrones. The difference is that he is speaking a lot more and he gets to have a bigger presence to the story. The finale is even incredible with the level of scope he is working with.. It makes me wonder what he could do next.

It seems like everything that’s labeled as a miniseries eventually gets a second season, and I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if it does get one. I think the intention was to make it a miniseries. That’s probably how it was pitched in order for it to get made. If the viewership isn’t there, it ends on a great note. If the viewership is there, then I am all in for what happens next. With that being said, the story goes in a very interesting direction that I didn’t see coming.

Since the first two episodes are available to watch now on Apple TV+, viewers familiar with what happens at the conclusion of episode two probably knows what I am talking about. Just when you think the show is going to be about one thing, it turns into something else. I honestly thought we were going to get the immediate aftermath. Instead, it jumps a year into the future. With only nine episodes this season, it would have been nice if it had ten episodes to show more of what happened during that year. Not really sure why making every first season nine episodes on Apple TV+ is a thing.

There is always something compelling going on. This world is rich with interesting characters and fascinating history. It feels like something rarely seen these days. Every character is giving a meaningful & satisfying arc from start to finish. With only nine episodes, there is a sense of urgency and timeliness to the story that’s being told. Just when something bad happens, you feel for them and feel a sense of satisfaction with the direction their stories go in.

Coming off the heels of his work on F1: The Movie, Hans Zimmer returns – this time teaming up up with James Everingham. I am not sure how much overlap there was between the two composers. Based on what I have heard out of Zimmer’s work, he brings the same energy to the story, turning every moment of his work in a grand spectacle. For a TV show, it’s incredible work, and it makes me excited to see what Zimmer does with the third season of Euphoria. We’re incredibly lucky to be alive at the same time as his music.

Overall, Chief of War is a huge success both on a technical and storytelling level. Momoa delivers both in front and behind the camera to give us something meaningful during a specific time in history. Any fans of Hans Zimmer needs to seek this out to listen to his new music. An extra episode could have helped cover more of the story. With what they were given, I don’t think they ever wasted a single moment.

VERDICT: 4.5/5 (Amazing)
“Last Breath” Review

March 9th, 2025

Last Breath is a 2025 survival thriller from the same director of the 2019 documentary of the same name. The film stars Woody Harrelson, Simu Liu, Finn Cole, and Cliff Curtis. Based on a true story, the film follows seasoned deep-sea divers who battle raging waters to rescue a crewmate who’s wrapped hundreds of feet below the ocean’s surface.

I was a little late on this one. I took time off to spend time with loved ones and now I’m trying to get caught up before things get even more hectic this month. The film appeared to be somewhat generic. While it does have that generic tone, I was completely enthralled by how realistic it was.

The key aspect I was completely blown away by is the attention to detail in the production design, both above and below water. I can imagine this had a modest budget, especially with boasting an A-list cast ensemble. It’s not easy to still make everything look authentic and realistic.

Above the water, there is a lot of detail in the locations. It’s clear bringing in the same director from the documentary was the right choice to make this from the get go. The underwater scenes fully immerse you in the situation. When the inciting incident, my body went numb. The idea of being trapped in a void of emptiness terrifies me, and the film does a great job at conveying that.

The performances from the 3 key actors are all great. Finn Cole is truly the lead, even if he is cast 3rd on the call sheet. This is his story, but I get why Harrelson & Liu are above him. Harrelson plays his typical likable self that he is good at. He helps convey the heart and importance of the story. Liu does a great job at playing something different. I truly wish the guy would get more roles.

The biggest problem the film faces is how it prioritizes the realistic situation over the characterization. Outside of Finn Cole, there’s really none. The key actors are great, but Harrelson’s character lacks the reason to his character. Liu’s character is the typical character that’s too hard on the new guy for no reason. Then, there is Cliff Curtis, who I consistently forgot he was in the film. It’s a shame, because he is also a terrific actor.

With a 93 minute runtime, the film flies by, which is a good and a bad thing. It’s great to waste no time paying for what you are wanting to see, yet a longer runtime could have improved these characters and their goals. Adding at least 30 minutes to the beginning could help raise the stakes for these characters and why they need to accomplish their goals.

The dialogue also doesn’t quite always work either. It can be cliché and overdone at times. The dialogue just feels like a typical thriller rather than creating something documentary. I personally don’t understand how Liu’s character would understand that Finn’s character would come back. He does come back, but I don’t even understand how he made it back. Then, there is the ending where the dynamic between Cole’s character and his fiancée was resolved within seconds. I had a hard time buying that. At least give the fiancée more to do in the film.

Overall, Last Breath fully immerses you in the situation with its production design, cinematography, and direction. The performances are great with Cole showcasing he can lead a film, but the characterization is severely underdeveloped, lacking the needed suspense for the story. Improving the development and dialogue would help improve the film. Other than those critiques, I still found this to be a fully immersive film that’s worth watching.

VERDICT: 3.5/5 (Pretty Good)

Tag: Cliff Curtis

“Chief of War” Review: You’re Not Going to Want to Miss This

“Last Breath” Review