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Reviews
Madam Secretary (2014)
Thanks for the Vision of Woman President and the ERA Passing
This was a really good series. The actors are all first right the script was good. It got a little bit cliff shade from time to time, but it was also pretty exciting at times too so That's a pretty good track record for a show that runs six seasons. I'm watching this finale of the show in 2024. I started watching it before that and it kind of got hum in the middle so I lost interest but after the election in 2024 I was feeling heartsick about the fact that I probably won't see a woman elected as president in my lifetime and I decided to watch this because I figured, the character in the show would have a good shot at running and that is how it turns out. If only real life could be the way it is in the movies. The ERA would finally become a constitutional fact and misogyny would have no legs. A lot of the topics that the show dealt with internationally have come to pass, although they never did get into the pandemic. It would've been interesting to see how that would've been handled anyway I hope someday we'll have a leader as by partisan and fair minded as this one because our two party system feels so broken, and I love that this series gave us an alternative that was actually working and brought both sides together, especially the idea of the president and VP making the decision to work together Instead of go to war against each other other. That was an awesome vision for the future. I hope our country can find a way to start building on common ground again, although it feels like that ship has sailed. So watching the series was like a glimpse into nostalgia of what might've been...
Point Break (2015)
Stunning stunts mediocre script Would've been a better standalone movie
I did not understand what the heck I was watching for most of the movie because it didn't make any sense to me that it was called point break. It wasn't anything like what I remembered point break was but I had to keep watching because the stunts were absolutely incredible, so that did make up for that stupid script and plot. It could've been so much better. They should've just created a separate movie and storyline and made a sequel or something, but it took away from it trying to fill the shoes of the previous characters it just didn't work for me in that way, and plus that Ideas behind the dialogue were good but they weren't scripted out well at all and the dialogue was really stupid and the plot drug. The only time it was interesting was when they were doing their extreme sports but everything in between was Hoham.
Kriger (2018)
Disappointing overall
It held my interest at times, and I liked the voices that were used for the voice, but I ended up preferring to listen instead of watch because the words did not sync with the action happening on screen screen there were times there was an audio track going, and their mouths were not moving at all. Perhaps watch this and listened to the original language and just read subtitles. It would have flowed better, but it didn't feel like it was worth the effort once I realized what the plot was. I did appreciate the tension that was built from time to time. The filming was pretty good, especially if you are into violent altercations, but the kind of tension that comes from cerebral activity was very limited.
Robbie Williams Live at Knebworth (2003)
Wow!
I live in the US and I've never heard of him before that's a pretty sad thing to say his music is really great and positive uplifting what a great performer just goes to show what a mess. The music industry is these days that he didn't get Airplay here. I can't understand that.
Anyway, glad I discovered him now and i've got some catching up to do! It also impressed me how well this footage was put together. And made me sad that the cons of my day didn't have the same technological advantages for footage of their concerts... thinking specifically of the amazing George Michael who was sp popular in the UK, and wishing there was more footage from him the crowds here at this particular concert for Robbie Williams were amazing!! Such a huge audience to play too. Sometimes I felt the camera jumped around a little bit too much for comfort because I couldn't really see what the staging was trying to show, but they did have a nice blend of close-ups Both of the performers and audience members.
A Última Floresta (2021)
Intriguing docu introduced culture seldom seen or understood by civilized people
Beautifully filmed it was a bit confusing how it jumped back-and-forth between actual footage and staged footage explaining mythologies and during sequences of beliefs held by the culture so it was a bit like putting together a puzzle to watch it a certain point they just quit subtitles and that was very disappointing because up until then they had been Translating, but once the Shaman started smoking, there was no more translation and that was really disappointing because I didn't have a clue what was really going on and that sequence at all and it would've been nice to get a little bit more explanation about what they were doing and The purpose it is sad to think that this tribe is only one example of native people who are not protected and allowed to live without interference if they choose. Since they've managed to survive in their culture and customs over so many years, it seems like living history and they should be allowed to continue without civilization encroaching upon them just as we protect other endangered species after all these are human beings.
Soft & Quiet (2022)
Well Done - At first, I didn't think I could watch it. Glad I stuck it out.
The acting is more than passible , and this is well put together. It doesn't feel like a B movie at all. It is horrifying to watch as these women bond over their shared beliefs in racial inequality and Then begin to unravel due to their own hatred and inability to see the other as a human being. They become the very monsters they are projecting onto people of other skin and ethnic backgrounds. Interesting that the man is more the voice of reason in this scenario than the women who are egging him on... Also interesting how Their motto soft annd quiet is the opposite of what they actually are but as a title for the movie it is aptly named. I would love to see a sequel for this movie, Part two since the ending leaves resolution of all to the imagination.
Dark Waters (2019)
Must see important to understand how this happened
My Favorite scene says it all... "Have you even read the evidence this man has collected? All of us should! The willful negligence? The corruption? Read it ! And then tell me we should be sitting on our asses. That's the reason why Americans hate lawyers. This is the crap that fuels the Ralph Naders of the world. We should want to nail Dupont. All of us should. American business is better than this gentleman, and when it's not we should hold them to it. That's how you build faith in the system.
We're always arguing that companies are people. Well these people have crossed the line -to hell with them!"
The acting was great. The script could've been tightened up a bit and made into a powerhouse film, but I suppose Dupont wouldn't really want it to be that hard hitting. If it swept the Oscars it might get too much attention after all.
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody (2022)
Really hard to watch....
Tucci Was completely believable as Clive Davis. Naomi Ackie Not so much. Oh, she had all the mannerisms of Whitney down, including close-ups vocally. You couldn't tell she wasn't singing this herself, which is no small achievement... Body language wise, she nailed the part and really she should have received some acknowledgment at least a nomination for that huge undertaking... But there was something about her that was so unlike Whitney and her features when she wasn't performing, it was really really hard to except as time went by and there were more performances. I became willing to suspend the disbelief. But overall, I found the film, disappointing. Maybe there's no way it could be anything but because of the angst that she left us the way she did. Truly heartbreaking still, The damage she caused to herself and her beautiful voice. At her peak, there was no one like her and never will be ever again. I would like to see more in-depth movie about her life than this one was... Somehow, even though it hit all the categories, it felt like there was something missing. Maybe it needs to be a documentary with real footage of her? She was more than princess. She was a queen and her loss And the subsequent loss of her daughter is beyond heart wrenching. Her mom Cissy recently passed away, surviving all that heartache living into her 90s. The celestial choir is complete now.
Wentworth (2013)
Wow -- 8 seasons and did not disappoint at the end!
It's really unusual to find a series that consistently reinvents itself for as long as this one did and then actually ends in a satisfying way. Yeah there were a few ends that got tied up maybe just a little too tidy? Leaving room for a spin off perhaps but at the same time it didn't end in a way that made it stick in your craw the way I have felt often after investing seasons upon seasons in other shows only to have the ending either be very abrupt without tidying up the plot line at all or ending the plot very unsatisfactory to the point where I wish I hadn't spent so much time watching the show at all -no this show left me feeling like the ending made a lot of sense and for the most part there was some justice even while there Was enough ambiguity to make you want to keep seeing more. This series is a classic -well done and nuanced -great character acting all the way through and the writing was really good. Great ensemble work and I would enjoy owning this series and watching it again to relish the nuance now that I know how the whole thing is going to play out.
Spotless (2015)
I would've rated this higher, but it ended on a cliffhanger without resolution
Started off slow, but by the time it hit the boiling point, it just ended without giving any resolution. This show definitely needed a second season and could've kept going. All the characters were so interesting and there was so much more to work with. It's really sad that they ended it when they did, really really disappointed that I watched it all this way just to have it and on such a bad note with all those loose ends left hanging what happened? Did the wife and kids get away or were they killed? Were they kidnapped? It doesn't look good for them not a lot of blood just a little drop on the window that indicates that there's hope there's still alive somewhere maybe hanging out at the grandparents ... Yeah, there was plenty to build a second season around and the dad could've showed up from wherever it was. He was hiding out elsewhere in the world without continuing the crime aspect and continuing to build on the family relationship relationships they were all really interesting characters and I was sad this was over if this had been better executed for the game, I would've rated it, but I couldn't do that when it ended on such a satisfying note.
The River Wild (1994)
A Wild Ride if you're looking for entertainment
Really hard to believe the low reviews this movie got. Not only did I purchase this on DVD back in the day because I knew I would want to watch it again, but it is still thrilling years later. The combination of scenery and the special effects on the rapids made for a fabulous fun adventure. Add in the stress of finding out you've been taken hostage by a couple of, insane money, hungry thieves, who are most likely going to dispose of you anyway, and a disconnected family system which needs trust rebuilt and is easily manipulated by the Criminals... Set aside any plot loop poles and just enjoy the film and you will have a great time for them to survive!
Major League II (1994)
Not funny script hated the woman owner
It was good watching the team and I liked the baseball shots. The subplots were basically conveniences for the sake of having some thing to tell a story about, but it was fun to watch the baseball that was really the only thing that made the movie fun to watch watching the team come together and finally get past there Insecurities and jealousy, etc., to become a team and overcome their personal challenges to work as a team and win the series that part was enjoyable. The other plot devices were irritating and not believable at all. So if you're watching for comedy and you don't care about baseball, I don't think you'll find it here but if you enjoy baseball and you don't care about comedy, you might still enjoy it.
The Return of Tanya Tucker: Featuring Brandi Carlile (2022)
Not a huge country fan, but this movie was very moving
I found the music deeply moving as it was documented from its grassroots inception and the creative process in making the album along with a little bit of backstory to contrast the miraculous event. It truly was for Brandi to be able to bring Tanya Tucker into the studio and create the environment for her to flourish once again, although I am not a huge country music fan I don't know her history much just the rough sketch but I found the music she wrote for the album. This documentary is about deeply moving probably because it's so authentic and real and comes from a place that I can relate to as I am about the same age , I'm so glad that Brandi followed her heart and created the space and process for Tonya to contribute her gifts to us in this way. Also glad it was a feel good story to be told where she got the recognition she deserved for her contribution not only in this beautiful album, but really her life's work because this album was a culmination of that. It left me wanting to know more about Tonya and the years that she was off the grid. Perhaps she will do a biography at some point.
Divergent (2014)
Surprisingly enjoyed it
I knew nothing about this, and it drew me in from the very beginning the lead actor Who played Tris was very compelling and the chemistry between her and four was very believable, but it didn't feel like a teen movie at all. I really enjoyed the story and wasn't looking for reasons not to believe the futuristic setting and society so I was just waiting to see what would happen to, the divergent survivors among those who were forced to conform And I really enjoyed watching the play out. I look forward to the next two and only hope they can do as good as job at keeping my interest as the first one did. Also should mention I'm not that big a fan of a lot of modern day marvel comic book type shows and although I enjoyed reading the hunger games, the movies didn't excite me nearly as much as this movie caught my imagination. I almost gave it 10 stars, but it didn't pull me into tears at any point so, I could only give it nine.
Weather for Two (2022)
Weather for Who? Why and Whatever
A convoluted drama about a disputed family fortune. A promiscuous husband and father, his long suffering wife, child, lovers and mother. This plot had some potential, even though the execution of it felt very broad, There are some human traits that carryover from one culture to another regardless of social standing Or geographic location. So from a cultural point of view, I was curious to see how these elements would be resolved. After a few plot twists (or dream sequences) the movie ends with no clear resolution or explanation of what the ending is. This is very frustrating because although the whole tone of the movie feels very amateur, it had potential and I was curious to see what the outcome would be ...so getting through it only to be left hanging that way was beyond irritating. Even though it's only a little over an hour of your time it's time better spent doing something else.
Good Witch (2015)
Hated the ending
Season seven totally ruined everything that the proceeding six seasons had built. Up until then, the show was constantly filled with positive messages, but in the end it came crashing down with Cliches and you couldn't Makes sense out of anything. Adam was just creepy and the fact that Stephanie went back to him was creepy. Donovan and Abigail, breaking up after breaking the curse, made absolutely no sense. And all that talk about Grace and we get one little video chat and then the whole time everyone is dying because of their danger and need of the amulet and there was no mention of whether Grace was OK. Not to mention, the son just disappears and is never spoken of again. It made no sense. Huge plot holes. Bad writing. I really hated the way this season ended, especially after watching it for all this time, it was a real letdown and it made me mad.
The Great Wall (2016)
Disappointing watch for CGI only
Acting didn't matter because there really wasn't any story. The visuals were interesting, but became boring without a story. The creatures weren't that exciting, especially when there was so many of them. It was a lot more suspenseful when they were in the cave and they didn't know what it was I did enjoy the visuals of walking out with the rope and jumping was pretty intense, but I'm not much of a one for all the fighting anyway so it just bored me watching these monsters coming over the wall and getting stabbed I was really disappointed because usually Matt Damon has a lot of suspense in his films, but there wasn't any for me. It was just watching CGI effects over and over again and , the other lead actor woman was beautiful, but there was no real connection between any of the people. It was just an exercise in CGI.
Cosmic Sin (2021)
Poor Bruce, a cosmic sin that he ended his career with this film
You can tell he is totally ill in this movie. The lights aren't on and there is nobody home. He looks and speaks his lines like a zombie. He must've managed to memorize, but there was no meaning inside any of it . Just goes to show acting is a lot more than delivering lines. It's finding the meaning within them. It's really sad knowing his medical condition that they allowed him to make this movie. He must've been desperate for funds, but it's almost elder abuse that he was put through it. As far as the script, the directing the other actors if Bruce had been on his game, it might have worked, but there was no way without him inhabitanting his shell that there was any charisma whatsoever to make up for the lack of it everywhere else ... even a low budget B movie can become a camp P classic if there's some charisma somewhere... but this movie was lost in a black hole . The concept was not that bad. It was the execution failed all the way around. Who signed off on this sad waste? Kudos to the Razzies for withdrawing their nomination once it was announced that Bruce was medically ill and retiring from acting and thank God they're not letting him make any more films. This one is not a good way to remember him.
Forsaken (2015)
Solid watchable western drama deserves higher ratings
This is not a documentary, not meant to be a reality western so set aside all the technical objections and just enjoy the story and the acting which is over the top superb the scenes between father and son in real life are so moving especially now that DS is deceased even more so. Not often, I am moved to tears, but the scenes between father and son in this film did that Kiefer is such a great actor as is his father, and the two of them together are lightning in a bottle not to mention the supporting cast in this movie, the cinematography is gorgeous And the storyline no huge surprises but it ends well as much as can be expected in these kinds of situations. I really enjoyed this and don't understand the low rating at all in retrospect. I'm surprised no awards or nominations were granted to Kiefer for his performance, which was truly heartfelt and moving .
The Killing Fields (1984)
Fell short on second viewing
I saw this one at first came out, and it made an indelible impression on me, however, on a rewatch, it seemed slow and tedious granted I wasn't watching it in a movie theater and held hostage as a viewer for the entire length of the film. I hit pause when necessary, the movie didn't hold my attention the way it had when I saw it the first time the performances seemed somewhat wooden to me ... Especially the lead journalist, trying to portray an exhausted person. I didn't see his passion for what he was doing. That's for sure. I know this movie at the time it came out won Academy Awards And the subject matter certainly deserved a more flushed out storyline as far as building information about who these characters were and it failed to do that in the screenplay, the shock and the horror yeah that was there, but so many decades after these events occurred They are sadly not standing alone in the list of atrocities done in the name of war. Therefore, the need for a compelling character development storyline is greater and the real life characters certainly deserved better.
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
Started out, loving it ended up, hating it
The scene where they met the French driver was priceless. Is there peanut butter in your mouth that kind of humor cracks me up but it ended up going too far for my taste by the end I didn't mind the mouthy children. I loved the part where granny got them in line, but the KISS at the end was just too much for me. It's one thing when there is a couple that really feels it, but it just didn't work for me at all. It was gross too gross to be funny. This kind of comedy is not my favorite genre. I can't stand fairly brothers for example but this had some pretty funny bits to begin with. It just ended up being too much for my taste.
Micki + Maude (1984)
I actually laughed out loud a couple times
Basically, thin plot, waiting for him to get caught, but that is where the humor is -finding humor in the despicable actions of a bigamist, trying to have his cake and eat it too, but Dudley Moore makes it funny and seem like a bumbling outcome rather than The behavior of a man who survives on secrecy and the excitement of the taboo. His intention was to leave his wife who doesn't want children for his girlfriend that got pregnant but when he finds out his wife is pregnant, he wants both and he does have a legitimate concern about his wife's ability to carry the baby determine so you can understand why he felt Obligated to keep it a secret . Miss Irving, however could've handled the heartache a little easier and they could've come to a more transparent decision about visitation with the child. He really didn't have integrity after all. This is a Hollywood movie some man's fantasy of having the best of both worlds that said as far as the plot goes, I didn't like it, but it did have a couple of moments where I did laugh at the end of the character DM pulled it off ... Hence the Golden Globe.
FTA (1972)
Interesting for the sake of history nothing more
Actually left a pretty bad taste in my mouth. Because of the way it was edited and put together?. It was informative though and I appreciated, especially being able to see Donald Sutherland's contributions.
The rest was basically filler and the anti-war propaganda stuff is hard to watch -not because I'm pro war -I'm not - But I'm also not pro aggression...
seeing the state of our world today- Israel and Hamas, Afghanistan, Russia, Ukraine,
Yes what are we fighting for but when does it ever end ? American troops have never been officially on the ground by draft the way they were during Nam- But we've still been on the ground fighting in a more underhanded undefined underground way, and the machine keeps churning out weapons and selling them to those who would wage war against those who just want to live ... So this film did not leave me feeling any benefit from the protest or from speaking out or from trying to make a change. All these decades later. Another country another war the only differences Americans aren't being drafted to join their volunteering. And the politicians are still spinning it and they aggressors are still taking advantage of any perceived weakness to make their moves. War Is not healthy for children and other living things But that doesn't change the fact that some world leaders would rather kill and maim to claim territory, then resolve differences in a peaceful way. I don't know the answer. I just know that seeing this Film broke my heart again just like living through this era did. And somehow the lessons have not been learned.
Skyscraper (2018)
Fell flat
Except for some pretty intense action, sequences, climbing the skyscraper, the rest of the violence was pretty much typical shoot them up, slap them around and didn't do much to drive the plot or add to the tension. As far as I was concerned the only time it got interesting was, when he was hanging off the side of the building that was pretty good so I rated it a six otherwise it wouldn't have gotten that far that the actors were bad. They just didn't have any kind of script to work with whatsoever. The idea the concept was pretty cool , but they didn't do enough to develop the characters and make it interesting to care about why there was the set up in the first place and whether or not the people were going to survive the kids were cute but again no character development just a brief sketch at the beginning showing a moment that was later reenacted toward the end, but not enough time developing the relationship that he had with his family that made you care that it was all on the line at the end not to mention the other characters involved and why they got set up in the first place.
Noah (2014)
Beautiful visuals but plot? Not...
So the premise is that everyone but Noah's family dies and then he's willing to kill mankind and let the animals take over the world again but divine intervention through Methuselah makes a baron woman fertile and lo and behold. There are two girl child born into the family. How are they going to re-populate the world interbreeding? Yuk. They really needed to adjust this plotline since they were already taking so many liberties. Perhaps the fact that ham goes hiking often into the wilderness, leaves an opening for him to discover some other female, but it really doesn't explain a lot since supposedly all the other human beings on earth had drowned in the great flood.
But that major aside, there were some great moments. It just could've been so much more definitely not the epic it might've been.