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Tiny Creatures (2020)
Cheesy, yes. But also entertaining, cute, and NOT boring!
Okay, yea...this show is cheesy. Indeed, it is overly-animorphisi..whatever that word is when they present animals as having human feelings. But...so what? It's actually cute to watch, spits out some interesting facts (rat snakes climbing trees? Who knew!) and is great for kids....or (here's a rare thing) kids and parents to watch together.
I will divulge a secret. Maybe a weird secret, but I watch this show with my cat. Yes, my cat got a bit addicted to Cat TV on Youtube...squirrels and birds eating seeds, etc...Well, I got so bored with squirrels and birds eating seeds, I decided to try putting on something she might like, but with a bit more substance to it. I chose "little creatures," because...well, cats like little creatures. What I didn't realize, was how much I would enjoy the show! This is a show we can watch together, without me getting bored (yay)! For instance, she walks away from the screen, and I keep watching.
So hey...if you have a cat that likes TV (or maybe a dog) perhaps you can try watching this with your pet for some bonding time.
I researched the show and found out there was absolutely ZERO animal cruelty (as people are accusing) involved in the making of this program. No little animals were ever in any danger from predators...the show employed good old-fashioned "split-screen" photography for drama, but all of the animal stars of the show were treated like...well...stars! Most of the shooting of the show was carried out in someone's very well-landscaped backyard in England. So yea...before I jumped on the bandwagon of "crying fowl," I did my research, and so should you.
The photography is amazing. And yes, like I said...this program is somewhat cheesy at times. Okay, downright silly and unbelievable! But, personally that's what makes it entertaining. You have to take it for what it is. No, it is not a regular animal documentary, so don't expect that. But there are already plenty of shows that simply provide beautiful photography and facts about creatures...and those shows can certainly be very interesting and awe-inspiring to watch. However, if you just feel like something a little different...a little "campier" with cute stories attached, maybe to watch with a young child (or your cat) I definitely would recommend this unique program on Netflix (no commercials...another bonus)! Honestly, I don't know why this show didn't receive higher scores. It must not have been easy to make.
GLOW (2017)
Starts off Okay....then makes you feel antsy.
After I finished Orange is the New Black, I was desperate to find another series show with the character development, drama, humor and complexity of THAT particular program. So, someone recommended GLOW, and here I am!
Now, I have never watched any wrestling...have never expressed any interest in wrestling (unless you count watching Nacho Libre and that reality show about Hulk Hogan...ha)! But I thought, okay...this GLOW gets such a high score.... so maybe there's something to it.
I somewhat enjoyed the first four episodes. I thought: This is no Orange is the New Black, but hey. At least it's somewhat funny, quirky and unique. So, I kept watching...thinking it would ultimately develop into something "more." However...it doesn't seem to be developing.
Somewhere around the fifth episode, I started feeling a bit antsy and bored. I wanted that MORE I was waiting for! Alas, this show is ....dare I say...shallow. I don't think it's ever going to have any real character development, since Orange is the New Black already had a ton of character development by the fifth show (actually, right in the first show). Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul...yes, even Gilmore Girls...all have a ton of character development in the first show. The humor seems to be dropping off, too. Where is the cleverness and complexity? There isn't any. What you see is what you get. Which becomes a bit tedious.
I think some more back story into the individual women would have helped me care more about what was going on with them. If done strategically, that can really be a great tool in character building. I don't particularly like any of the characters, either. So there's no one to "route" for. The main character (Ruth) seems very shallow and self-centered. So, will I continue watching? I don't know. I've already been warned about season 3! Who knows? Maybe I'll be the only person who likes that season. So yea...I suppose I'll keep watching when I have nothing else to do. But I don't feel this burning desire to "find out what happens next," like I did with Orange is the New Black, I can tell you that! Perhaps you would enjoy this show more if you were actually into that 80s wrestling. Maybe that's the ticket. Personally, I was hoping for a little more depth.
Sun Valley Serenade (1941)
A Campy Fluff Piece in the Snow that basically left me Cold
My husband has gotten into "old 40s music" lately, so this movie was hunted down on Youtube and I was subjected to some old timey film making. Did I like it? Well, in a word, no. Granted, I'm a modern woman and this movie is from a completely different era...but still. I was willing to give it a chance. However, I just couldn't relate in any way, didn't find it amusing in any way...plus, the plot was super thin and there was zero character development.
I feel people are giving this movie such a high score because of the famous actors involved and the Glen Miller big band music, which was so popular at the time. And yes, I can admit the players in that orchestra certainly have a ton of talent! This is the sort of talent popular music doesn't possess any more. And those tap-dancers! Wow! There's a lost art. They were amazing. So, I will give credit where credit's due. However...onto the movie itself.
In a nutshell, here's the plot: This Norwegian refugee (played by Sonja Heanie) is being flown into Ellis Island and (for some reason) the main character (played by John Payne) the piano player in the band, has offered to take the refugee on...thinking it will be a baby or a young child. Turns out, it's a grown woman! Well, sort of. More appropriately, it's a grown woman who looks and acts more like a flighty manipulative teenage girl.
Now, this man already has a very serious girlfriend who he seems very happy with. They banter and tease like an infatuated couple, and he wants to marry her. Well, we certainly can predict that trouble that will ensue, due to this blonde Norwegian flirt who has suddenly appeared on the scene!
The movie takes place mostly in Sun Valley, Idaho, at a ski resort. Turns out, this Norwegian refugee woman loves snow and loves to figure skate and loves to ski, whereas the piano-playing guy's girlfriend does NOT ski and does NOT like the snow. You can see where this is heading. A five year old could see where this is heading.
The Norwegian woman is very sneaky and manipulative, scheming to get the piano player to be alone with her and kiss her and yes, eventually marry her. She'll do anything to accomplish that...even though the two have just met and why she has decided she's madly in love with him even though she doesn't know him, and she must break up a happy relationship just so she can childishly have what she wants, I don't know. But that's exactly what she does, even going so far as to lie to the man, thrilled that his girlfriend will be so angry!
She's actually a very horribly self-centered woman who has zero morals, yet I know we are all supposed to fall madly in love with her "adorableness" and the poor man "can't be blamed" by being hypnotized by her adolescent-like charm and sexuality. I mean, what sane man could resist, right? The man's girlfriend doesn't have a chance...even though she really didn't do anything wrong. I mean, okay... so she doesn't like to ski. Gee, is that a good reason to break up with someone just because this other woman is a pro at whooshing down a mountain? Maybe the woman was better off knowing her boyfriend could be so easily manipulated by a blonde prepubescent-like predator, and yes, I say "predator" since that's exactly what this woman acted like.
A young Milton Berle is in this movie, so that was sort of funny to see. Although I use the word "funny" lightly, since the so-called humor in this film is incredibly dated. There really is no cleverness, wit, or nuance afoot here, so don't expect any. If you just want to watch a movie from another period and you enjoy big band music, help yourself. I just wish the writers could have made the plot a little more intricate...for instance, make the man have a good reason for being so infatuated by this blonde...like maybe his girlfriend does something really awful...or the Sonja Heanie character was simply a nicer, kinder and a better person, overall. For me, that would have made the movie a lot more enjoyable and would have left me with a better taste in my mouth.
As it was, I just walked away from the movie feeling sort of irritated, like...really? Did that just happen? Which is what brings me to these reviews where I see, alas, I am basically all alone in my opinion. Oh well!
The Royal Hotel (2023)
Well made, well-acted movie worth a look!
Two young adult women are backpacking around, ending up at the Royal Hotel in Australia (wow, if ever a place was mis-named, it has to be this ratty place) where they take a temporary job tending bar to earn money. I think they are on some sort of "work/travel" program and that's how they end up in this backwater place. However, what they don't realize until it's too late, is that this bar in this remote mining community contains some really rowdy locals who all seem to have a huge drinking problem!
The pros of this movie are that it definitely held my interest while giving me someone to route for (Hanna, the one girl who seems to have the most common sense). The movie also kept me wondering, who exactly are the bad guys here? Are some of these awful beastly guys at the bar actually going to turn out to be good guys? What about this young guy Hanna sort of likes? Of the guy named "Teeth" her friend talks to? What about the owner of the bar who lives in a trailer? I never found the movie boring. It kept me engaged and thinking and wondering about stuff the whole time, like how is the girls' relationship going to survive the disagreements they keep having about staying at this remote place and dealing with these locals who obviously don't respect them?
Cons: For me, there really weren't any. Except for the fact everyone is drinking too darn much! It really makes you think if everyone cut down on the alcohol, their lives could be a whole lot less emotional and therefore, they could see things a lot more clearly. Like the fact they need to get out of that backwater place! Drink, drink, drink...all that drinking clouds judgement, especially for Hanna's friend who almost ends up getting...well, we don't know exactly, but she was locked into a car almost passed out, with all these beastly guys prowling around outside the car, so you guess what could happen in such a situation. Luckily Hanna grabbed an ax and found a way to rescue her.
I thought this movie was very watchable and believable and it held an element of fear and anxiety throughout...for these two Canadian girls who find themselves sort of trapped and at the mercy of this establishment which seems incredibly lawless and "anything goes" sort of atmosphere. They try to make the best of it to earn money, but you have to wonder if it's worth it. I would not have stayed, I can tell you that! The patrons of this bar they are tending do not respect women in the least, and it's that whole atmosphere of "lack of respect" and the sexual harassment and rude and disrespectful behavior that drives this movie as you see the girls trying to deal with it or ignore it.
Would this movie appeal more to women than men? Perhaps. All I know is that I thought it was very well made and I'm glad I watched it. I also can't help but wonder....are things really this bad in the rural areas of Australia?
The Seeding (2023)
This is the opposite of a "feel good" film!
In this movie, a man is traveling by himself in the desert to take some pictures of a solar eclipse. Then he stumbles upon a young boy who claims he is "lost," so the photographer dude tries to help him. However, the boy is leading him in the opposite direction of the guy's car. Right away, I sensed a big red flag. The guy with the camera, however, did not seem to notice that glaring red flag (which I guess is what makes the movie work). So, he is led further and further away from his car and civilization (and cell phone usage), and then the young boy runs off with a smug look on his face like he accomplished something. The photographer guy lays down to spend the night in the desert, shivering. He is out of water and lost. Not good.
Next thing you know, he hears some woman singing. He follows the sound and sees light...and then a long ladder which leads into a pit, which he climbs down! Okay, the red flags are really slapping him in the face by this point, like you would think he would be saying, "Hey. This is NOT a normal situation!" But no matter. He climbs down the ladder into the pit and finds the source of the singing...an off-the-grid woman who offers him food and water. He's grateful, but what bothers me, is that he doesn't ask her any questions. Like, do you live here alone? And...how did you end up here? You know, that sort of thing. Anyway, in the morning when he goes to leave, he notices that the bottom of the ladder is missing so can't climb out of the pit! He tries to climb up the steep almost vertical wall of rock and fails, of course, injuring himself. Okay, now the woman has to care for him.
Does this sound interesting? Well, I thought so. It was kind of a creepy mysterious dilemma going on. Then we see some feral boys standing at the top of the pit shouting some weird language and being overall frightening and menacing. Okay, so now I was really engaged. But the way the woman acted always bugged me. She was so...blah. I wish they had given her some personality. The man keeps trying to get to know her, sort of, but he never seems to ask the right questions, which also bugs me. Like...how the heck did you end up in this situation and why don't you want to do anything about it? And how do you get your food? Then the boys throw some food and supplies down, so that answers that. Okay....weird, right? What is this woman's connection with these feral children in the desert who seem to keep her trapped in the pit, yet don't want to harm her?
So yea...for "pros" with this movie I would say 1. It held my attention. 2. It was very atmospheric. And 3. It was thought provoking, like it definitely imparts the feeling of being hopelessly trapped, and makes you wonder how you would cope in such a situation.
Now, for the cons in this movie: 1). All the bleak, ugly people (both literally and figuratively). 2). The movie makes you feel icky. 3). It has a very unsatisfying ending. 4). There are really no likable characters, although I think the guy who has been trapped...the actor...did a decent enough job. 5). There isn't a lot of character development. 6). Things are not explained, like how did this woman end up in this situation in the first place? What is the background of that? Why is she so accepting about this lack of freedom? And why does the man sometimes act like he is "falling for her" which I find ridiculous? Why does the man have sex with her? Why does the man go back to her and act like he wants to stay with her after he has the opportunity to possibly get away? Why does the man follow the kid in the first place, and why does he climb down that really long treacherous ladder into a pit just to get himself trapped? Why doesn't he see any red flags in all of this?
Would I recommend this movie? That's a hard question. I mean, yea...it held my interest, but ultimately, the ending is so unsatisfying that I would have to say no. Don't bother! It will just leave you feeling so gross and icky. Maybe even a bit depressed. But also, it is a teachable moment as in, do NOT ignore red flags, people!
T.1.M. (2023)
Bland Robot, Bland Plot, Bland Movie.
Bland, predictable boring, cliche plot...as though written by a six year old, or an AI itself. Yes, that is ongoing theme here and it's one hundred percent correct! However...if they had taken this predictable plot and infused the movie with some humor, humanity, more realistic people, some sarcasm, etc...a bit of tension and suspense...even such a predictable plot could become at least a bit more watchable. But no...none of that was present.
The people in this film seem totally fake; one dimensional, and cardboard. I mean, we expect that from the AI...not from the humans! And, was this male AI robot anatomically correct? Why did nobody ask this question? I mean, c'mon! Real people would ask this question, right?
I didn't get any real sense of chemistry between the two main characters. None. Zero. That might have helped. You could tell they were acting, the whole time. There was nothing unique or quirky or interesting about either of the lead characters. Good writers know to stick this sort of thing in. We never saw the two main characters having fun with each other, either...laughing and joking and enjoying each other's company...with the exception, of course, of having sex. Therefore, their relationship was unbelievable, and the relationship was supposed to be at the core of this movie.
And why did they create an AI male who looks like THAT? Every time there is an AI female in a show or movie, it's always very attractive...often even sexy. But this is what they come up with for a male? Please!
And where was the rest of the world in this movie? Why was a TV never on in these peoples' home?...maybe showing advertisements of this company that's creating the AI and what (supposedly) it will do for people...that sort of thing.
Plus, the other woman in the movie? It's so obvious she's only placed there as a plot contrivance. A "game piece," as opposed to a real person. I mean, why does the rest of the world seem to "not exist," or at least not be aware of these human-like AIs? And why does this couple seem to not have any friends or family? I guess it's just easier to write a movie like this...separate from everything in the whole entire rest of the world so you don't need to bother writing them in!
Okay, true confession: I fast forwarded the last fifteen minutes or so. Maybe it was half an hour...I don't know. I just wanted it to end, and since it was so obvious what was going to happen, I didn't actually need to watch it. Fast-forwarding what is supposed to be the thrilling "crescendo" is always a bad sign. There was zero suspense in this film. Zero!
I was very disappointed by this movie, although I should have learned, by now, not to expect much from these cheap quickly churned-out pieces of bland formulaic boringness. Although, I did sort of enjoy M3gan...which seems like it SHOULD be in that category of cliches. Obviously, that movie was just done way better and held my interest.
So...do I recommend? Ha! Only if you have time to kill and a giant cup of coffee (espresso?) to keep you alert.
Eric (2024)
Three Points for the Puppets
What is with all the sickeningly glowing reviews for this mini-series? This show has a dark, ugly, depressing, mean and nasty tone. The main character is horrible. He's the real monster (I guess that's the point, but oh well). He's angry every second (come to think of it, everyone is always angry in this bleak little show). He's nasty and rude and appears to hate life even though he developed a TV show for kids (with puppets) which ironically, is all about "how great life is"!
He's a terrible father and an even worse husband. All he does is gripe and complain and criticize everyone around him. He argues with his wife in front of their child about inappropriate sexual things. The wife smokes like a chimney in front of her child, too. All this couple does is bicker and fight...it's so disheartening and ugly to watch. This is entertainment? I don't think so! So, the kid either runs away or is taken. We aren't sure which (although we certainly wouldn't blame him for running away).
Then there is some puppet "monster" who suddenly appears to help the father find the son...I mean, totally stupid. And yea, that's just the first episode and that's all I've watched because that's all I can manage to watch. I don't want to watch any more, and that is ALWAYS the sign of a bad show! The show should have hooked me. Instead, I couldn't wait to run away from it. There is no charm, humanity or humor in this show. Zero. All the characters are unlikable, so you don't care about them. Even the little kid has zero personality. And all the "social issues" jammed in is nauseating! I think that's the real reason they made this show. To jam all their "issues" in.
So folks...now I'm back after actually finishing this angry mini-series that I swore I wasn't going to finish. My husband wanted to "find out the mystery," so we suffered through until the very end. Did my opinion change about the show (because truthfully...sometimes that can happen if you give it more of a chance). I wish I could report that my opinion did indeed change; that characters were developed and layered and nuanced, and the dad who seemed so unpleasant and acerbic actually had a softer, kinder, more human inner core so we the viewers could get behind him. But...well...you go ahead and watch (if you have time to waste) and see what you think. And I repeat. What's with the glowing scores and reviews? Personally, I don't think such ugliness of character and spirit is very entertaining.
The Holdovers (2023)
Very disappointing.
Here are some adjectives I would toss out for this movie: Formulaic, tedious, boring, cliche, monotonous and blah. What is with all the fantastic scores? Did these people see the same movie I did? Why do so many of these scores seem fake, like "best movie ever," "perfect," "new favorite holiday movie," etc...? Give me a break! Full confession: My husband and I could not make it until the end. We were both falling asleep, so we turned it off and watched an old episode of Deep Space 9. What does that tell you?
Yes, I loved Paul Giamatti in Sideways. Sideways was a great movie! It had clever dialogue, lots of dark humor, characters who seemed authentic...you even care about the main character; a struggling writer who loves wine a little too much. You actually find yourself routing for him. I did not like anyone in this Holdover movie. Okay, the "cook" lady was decent. She was probably the best character. But the grumpy teacher and the obnoxious kid? No thank you!
The movie seemed like it was "trying too hard." Trying too hard to make itself Oscar worthy; trying too hard to be "artsy" and "important," trying too hard to look (and sound) like it's in the 1960's. All that "trying too hard," yet not "trying hard enough" to write an interesting and compelling story with authentic characters and real character development...something you can really sink your teeth into. This movie's dialogue was trite and the plot so unbelievably thin, it almost seems like it was written by an AI. And I would never say that about the plot of Sideways! That's because Sideways was so unique. This movie, alas, seems like it stole a little from here and a little from there and just awkwardly pieced it all together. Doesn't work.
This is all very disappointing, since I was really looking forward to watching this movie. I was so happy when it became available for free! I had high expectations. I even made popcorn! I guess I thought there would be more depth; more interesting personalities; more...something! Even the small attempts at humor seemed incredibly contrived. This movie just meanders along in a very tedious way. There is nothing unique about it. I would not recommend it, unless you are suffering from insomnia. I think I'll go watch Sideways now. Even the music in this movie is terrible! This is the sixties, man! Play some cool music from that time...there's lots to choose from!
Poor Things (2023)
Still not sure what I think of this bizarre movie!
I've read that either you love this movie or you hate it, but honestly...I feel like I'm right in the middle. I respect the unique and artistic and out and out bizarre aspects of the film....the surreal dream-like photography and scenery, the crazy clothes with the sleeves puffed out a mile, the intrusive and odd music...but also felt grossed-out many times while watching, even going so far as to turn the movie off in disgust...only to turn it back on again the next day out of sheer curiosity. This movie reminds me of a bad accident you can't look away from.
Honestly, though. It's not all bad, and that's the truth. It's just very, very weird. Surreal. The whole thing resembles a surreal piece of artwork. You stare at it and wonder if you like it or hate it, but one thing is for sure. You can't look away!
This movie is like a "female Frankenstein" sort of theme. A dead woman (Emma Stone) is brought back to life (by a "mad" scientist) with the aid of her baby's brain after a suicide is attempted, and I know. That sounds super weird to begin with! But that's just the beginning, trust me. So, at first, you have this grown woman staggering around with a baby's brain inside her head.
I didn't realize the whole "world" would be surreal in this movie; the sky, the scenery (looks like something the AI art generator would spit out), the buildings, the boat, the other people...but yes, it is. And you might think that's super strange at first, but it's really the only way this movie would work. Honestly, I thought the movie would be about a very strange girl trying to fit into a perfectly normal world. But no...that's not quite how it is.
Because this girl has a baby's brain and then a toddler's brain, etc...in her head, she is sort of amusing to watch. The disjointed child-like way she talks, walks and thinks are all strangely funny. Obviously, at first, she knows nothing of the real world outside of her odd mansion she shares with the mad scientist (played by Wilhem Defoe).
But then...as time goes on...she discovers a certain (pleasurable) thing about herself! And when I say "thing," I mean...well, you can probably figure out what I mean. And yes, that was one of the "gross" parts I turned off. But then, as I said, I turned it back on right the next day.
There's a man in the story (he is like the mad scientist's "helper") who agrees to marry this girl (Bella). The mad scientist encourages this marriage, thinking it will be good for Bella and "keep her safe." But then a "bad man" (played by Mark Ruffalo) enters the picture, and he is someone who just wants to "use" Bella for his own sick and perverted pleasures.
Bella is interested in this "bad man" because she wants to get out and explore life and she's feeling a bit trapped in the mansion at this point. Plus, he "excites" her, if you get my drift. So she leaves with the Mark Ruffalo character and then a whole bunch of adventures (misadventures?) happen. In the process, she learns about the world, life, good and bad people, and most of all, herself.
So. Is this a good story? Well, it's almost too bizarre to judge. Mostly what sticks out from this movie is the over-the-top strangeness. (And yes, if you have a problem with a ton of sex and nudity in your movies, do NOT watch this. And please, do not let your kids anywhere near it)! On the other hand, the sex does seem to sort of "fit" in the theme of the movie, so I don't know if you would label it "gratuitous." It certainly isn't airbrushed "sexy" sex, if you know what I mean. Hardly!
And I have to give all the actors credit for even attempting such a project, and most of all, Emma Stone. What she did is amazing; pulling this off. That must not have been easy. (Most of my five stars are for her)! So, if you aren't afraid of abject weirdness and tons of sex and nudity, go for it! Watch this movie and judge for yourself. Even if it's not one of my favorite movies (the plot is very thin, no doubt) I'm still glad I saw it. It's worth seeing just for the surreal aspects. Let me just say.... I've never seen anything like it before, and probably never will again. It's not really like a movie.
It's more like an...experience!
Falling in Love (1984)
It Goes Nowhere (and then somewhere it shouldn't)
Okay, so why am I reviewing such an old movie? Well, I just happened to run across it on Netflix and decided, what the heck. It's got two really great actors, so let's give it a whirl. But wow, what a disappointment! And by the way, I don't really blame the actors. We need to go back to the source. The Writing.
Here's the gist of the movie: Two upper class married (happily married) individuals meet on a train. Then they bump into each other at a very crowded bookstore (why are there such huge swarming crowds in this movie?) at Christmas time. They gaze into each other's eyes. She smiles cutely. There's....chemistry. Supposedly (although I never feel it).
Then they "bump" into each other again, and decide they really like each other, I guess. And they want to get to know each other better. You know...have an affair. Even though they're both happily married. Okay, there's your plot. That's it! Incredibly simplistic. The characters themselves are very simplistic and one-dimensional. We never really get to know anyone in this movie, at all. Such a lack of personality, overall. Maybe if both characters had more quirky or unique personalities, that would have helped a movie with such a simplistic plot. But...no...
Anyway, I won't give spoilers, although there are really no spoilers to tell since hardly anything happens in this whole movie! These two keep "bumping into" each other...which turns into "scheduled meetings." They stroll around China Town playing Tic-Tac-Toe with a chicken (one of the most interesting parts of the movie...ha) they meet for coffee, stand on top of high rises, then finally...they kiss! Still not feeling the chemistry, though.
And they discuss "having an affair" with each of their respective friends. The thing is.... WHY? It seems to be a case of "the grass is always greener," if you ask me. These two people seem to have ZERO in common!
It's one thing if a couple met, say...on a train, and they were both married, but they were both struggling writers, so maybe they have that in common, and they start talking about their trials and tribulations with writing, and then it grows into something. Okay, that we could all understand, say, if it starts with friendship...then leads to an "emotional affair," and then grows to a physical one.
However, that is not the case! So....could it just be sex? Are these two strangers both super sex starved looking to get......? That does not seem to be the issue, either. If you want a "sexy" movie, this is not it! The movie moves at a glacial pace, by the way. No...this old movie is more about...are you ready....love. Yes, love! How ridiculous! These two strangers actually think they LOVE each other, and they don't KNOW each other, at all!
It all seems very "seventh grade." Now here's another thing. If the movie had explored (in some depth) certain problems each of the stars were experiencing with their current marriages, maybe us viewers could also understand why they were looking for some form of "escapism" from their lives. And that would have made the movie way more interesting. But....this is not the case, either!
In fact, Robert Di Nero's wife in particular seems like a wonderful wife! She's nice to him, she holds dinner for him when he's late, she doesn't even get mad when Di Nero's character says he can't take the boys to a Yankees game like he promised! What wife would be this understanding? Plus, she has a great smile. And THIS is the person you are plotting to cheat against, buddy? That makes zero sense to me! Plus, Di Nero and his wife have two young boys who are counting on him.
Streep's husband in the movie also seems decent, although they don't show him very much. He's a doctor and he seems to really care about his wife. But...no matter. These two idiots, Frank and Molly (I think those are their names) are willing to through everything away for some stupid chance encounter fantasy! Wow. I kept thinking, who would be this stupid? And then Streep's character risks her life rushing to see Di Nero...she almost gets creamed in a fatal car accident on a rainy road...practically gets run over by a train....oh, please! Is this supposed to be....romantic? Give me a break!
If you want to watch a really decent "cheating" movie.... I mean, something with a bit more suspense and substance...I would certainly suggest Fatal Attraction...or even Unfaithful with Richard Geer. Both of these movies are so much more interesting! Or hey, even that other movie with Meryl Streep in Iowa and Clint Eastwood and cheating, called The Bridges of Madison County. All three of these movies have way more substance (sorry to be so negative, but it's true) than this movie.
Wonka (2023)
2 Points for some Pretty CG!
Just....no. This movie was disappointingly tedious and boring. I almost fell asleep a few times. I sort of couldn't wait for it to end! I never felt this way watching the other two Willy Wonkas. And wow, I had really been looking forward to seeing this movie.
You hardly ever hear anyone talk about the Johnny Depp Willy Wonka version, and I have to admit. I liked it! It was so weird and quirky and strange and downright funny...including some very interesting back story that the first Willy Wonka movie didn't have. Don't get me wrong. Like everyone else, I adore the first movie; the Gene Wilder version. However, UNlike everyone else...I also adore the Johnny Depp version, just as much! So I'm not opposed to new things being made and using different people, etc... However, this new Wonka movie? It just didn't captivate.
This new Wonka movie wasn't fun, like the others. It wasn't unique and funny and entertaining. It was just sort of generic and soul-less. With the other versions, Willy Wonka is sort of an off-putting character...not very socially adept. But I think that's what makes him so interesting! There's this sort of "dark side" to him, which makes him say unexpected things. He's not predictable.
Now in this new movie, the Willy Wonka character is syruppy nice. Friendly and happy and incredibly social with everyone, and it's like...wait a minute. This isn't the Willy Wonka we all know! How did he go from this amiable lovable guy to this weird anti-social hermit chocolate creator?
Now if that had been the story arc of this prequel movie, maybe I could have accepted that. Like...what happens that makes this Wonka character the strange, almost sinister person he becomes in the movies we all know and love? But no...do not expect any interesting story arc like that, or you will be as disappointed as I was.
This new movie isn't about Willy Wonka being clever and creative and coming up with all sorts of machines to make his crazy candy. No...in this movie that all comes so easily due to some unexplainable magical powers Willy Wonka evidently possesses. Like, he can just wave his hand and make flying candy appear! He puts no work or effort into it, at all.
Then there's all the cringey songs, like this some sort of scrubbed clean Ice-capades show. And what was with that weird "new" past they show us, of when Willy Wonka was a little kid? Where is Willy Wonka's abusive dentist father? Why did they just take that out?
And yea...that whole story with the orphan girl? Horrible! This isn't supposed to be a movie about some orphan girl. It's like the writers weren't even sure what movie they were writing! Make a different movie about a poor orphan girl if you're so hot to do that. Oh wait. We already have one. Annie. And this girl in this movie? Zero personality! Yawn!
This movie was supposed to be about Willy Wonka and what led up to him running his candy factory and living like a hermit! Or at least I thought.
Okay, so you can I wasn't happy with the movie. And ONE Oompa-Loompa? We all KNOW there was MORE than one! Even if that Oompa-Loompa is Hugh Grant, and by the way, I just thought that was weird. I mean, I wasn't seeing an Oompa-Loompa, I was seeing a tiny orange Hugh Grant, for pete's sake!
So.... I say skip it. It's really just that bad. There's no charm or cleverness or Willy Wonka-ness about it! It doesn't feel like Willy Wonka, at all. And I'm sorry to say that, I really am. After all, I was really looking forward to this movie!
Spaceman (2024)
I'm not even sure why I gave this one star...
An English-speaking giant spider who travels the universe playing "psychologist" to a lonely and depressed astronaut? If this seems like an interesting and plausible plot to you, then be my guest and watch this movie. If not...well, you have been warned.
First of all, this movie is not a Sci-fi. It's pure fantasy! There are no "real" elements of science in this thing, at all. So just know what you're getting into. And, no...it is definitely NOT a comedy, so don't expect that! It is non-stop dreary music (worse than Lifetime channel music) and "exploring negative feelings and emotions." Blah!
Boring...slow moving...absolutely ZERO tension. Along with making zero sense and having zero purpose! Unless I missed something....some deeper meaning somewhere? I don't know. I just don't get it. How do these truly terrible and nonsensical screenplays get turned into movies? Did an AI write this? No. I think an AI would have done a better job!
Adam Sandler is supposedly an astronaut on a mission around Jupitar to study some big pink cloud of dust. He is alone on this mission, which seems odd. Why would they send one person? Plus, he has a wife who is pregnant, left back on Earth. Okay...what? This is weird on so many levels. I mean, how long does it take to get to Jupiter? I'm no astronomer, but doesn't it take longer than 9 months? Is this movie taking place in the future, where they have warp speed or something? I don't know...the spaceship looked sort of old fashioned, to me. And...hello! Adam Sandler and that woman appear way too old to be having a baby! I mean, c'mon! And what was with his wife? All she did was walk around whining and crying. No interesting or realistic personality, whatsoever. Didn't she ever have anything to DO? No dishes, work, hobbies...nothing??? Just endless free time to wander around crying. Imagine that!
And ...getting back to the alien spider...if we're going to introduce an alien, why not have it actually LOOK like an alien? Why would this creature resemble a common Earth creature? It should have some sort of unfamiliar shape! And there should have been some "language interpreting translating device" so at least it would be a little more believable that the two occupants of the spaceship could communicate.
I think the movie was trying very hard to be "artistic" so therefore (I guess the thinking goes) it doesn't need to make any sense. There's really no plot. No story. I think we're just supposed to fall "in love" with the cute cuddly alien spider who loves eating hazelnut spread out of a jar. We're supposed to go, "Awwww! Isn't he cute?" like we all did with E. T. However, unlike E. T., it just doesn't work. With E. T. there was comedy, hope, energy, cuteness, tension, etc...all elements of a good movie that are lacking here.
So...the question of the hour...would I recommend this movie? NO. WARNING! DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME!!!! Imagine flashing red lights here. Unless you want to watch just to see how bad it is!
The Amaranth (2018)
Not the worst movie...but definitely not the best, either
We open our movie with a retirement village. But not the usual sort with smallish homes and bingo at the rec center. This is a retirement village for very well-to-do folks, obviously. We are introduced to the "main couple," an older man and his (supposedly) younger wife (although she never looked as young as everyone was insinuating that she was).
The house this couple will now be living in is gorgeous. Actually, I think the house was the star of the movie! Just beautiful...wonderfully decorated. Yea, the house was great! The rest of the movie? Well, it was weird and slow. But intriquing enough for me to keep watching.
The woman in charge of showing the couple around is stressing how many great activities there are to participate in at this retirement community. Golf, swimming, etc...and the grounds, just like the house, are absolutely gorgeous.
But there's a vibe. A mysterious sort of "something creepy is going on here" vibe. But not too creepy. Not like "horror movie creepy." Just more...mysterious. The old people who live at this place are strangely energetic for their ages. Also, strangely sexual. So, that doesn't add up.
Then there's the "butler" the couple is assigned...a really nice guy who keeps giving the man and the woman odd looks, like he "knows something they don't." Well...that's because he does.
After the woman's husband has a stroke (or maybe it was a heart attack) the husband is taken to the hospital in the development. After he returns home, he's changed! Suddenly, he has a ton more energy, whereas before, he barely wanted to leave the house. Plus...he always wants to have sex with his wife! He wants to go to parties and he even flirts with other old women. And....now the nice butler has mysteriously vanished, replaced by someone else!
What's going on here? Of course, I won't tell you, because that would give "everything" away. But I will say, it's not all that interesting. In fact, the "reveal" is a bit of a let-down.
I don't believe this is a movie I would ever watch again, once I know what "the secret" is. That was the whole thing that kept me glued in the first place....wanting to find out what was going on. And now that I know...
Anyway, would I recommend this movie? Yea, maybe for one viewing and one viewing only. The acting is okay, and like I said...the scenery is beautiful! The main character, the woman, was a bit unlikable I thought...unfortunately. Perhaps if they had chosen another actress, that would have made a difference. She has a very annoying voice.
Also, they should have added some more "action" to this movie....like maybe someone having an affair or something, just to kick it up. Oh well. The one word that comes to mind when I think of this movie is "weird." And maybe "slow." But yea...for one single viewing if you have nothing else to do, it's not bad.
The Florida Project (2017)
If I could give this movie a zero, I would!
This movie is like torture. Unless you enjoy watching bratty rude kids running wild in the street, spitting on cars, and shouting obscenities at people. (Gee, what fun). Don't get me wrong. I don't mind kids in a movie. But these kids are like the total OPPOSITE of cute!
I don't understand the reason for this horrible piece of trash to even exist. Why, why, why? And what is with all the high scores? They have to be fake reviews, there's no other explanation! Or maybe people think we're supposed to "care" about these awful people living on the fringes of Disney World, so that's why they award the high (undeserving) score...just to prove they do.
Unfortunately, the lack of character development and the trashy vulgar lazy personalities of all involved (aside from Wilhem Defoe's character) makes it impossible for you to care about any of these horrible people. Plus, the movie goes absolutely nowhere.
The plot (or NON plot, I should say) involves an incredibly unlikable lazy and trashy woman who is the mother or her equally horrible and trashy daughter, a little girl of about six, who runs wild with a band of almost "feral" children around these cheap hotels in Florida. The mother is trying to hustle her way through life in order to pay the rent on her crappy room where she lays around smoking and doing a whole bunch of nothing. Certainly not parenting!
This woman is so incredibly unlikable, swearing around her child while encouraging the child to be equally rude and disrespectful to everyone. That's what's so hard to take in this movie (besides the lack of plot and everything else). The total disrespect for others, along with the way this mother is actually teaching her daughter to disrespect people! It's cringe-worthy to watch. And, since there's really zero plot along with the one-dimensional, unlikable characters, the movie gets so tedious.
If there was some great epiphany that happens...maybe the mother could realize that this is NOT the way to raise a decent human being who can grow up to be a productive member of society, and things start to turn around at some point...if there was just a tiny little inkling that the little girl had some good in her...some empathy for others...something positive, that would have helped, as well (like, say, Kevin from Home Alone, or even the little girl in that new movie, The Baker, who saves a bug and wants to make sure her grandfather uses his seatbelt so he stays safe).
But no...we are not given that. The child is just unlikable. The mother is unlikable. Their personalities (or lack thereof) just fall flat. We're left feeling sort of weary and tired of it all and we just don't care about the people in the movie...which is just as well, since they obviously don't care about anyone else.
I can certainly understand why people walked out of the preview of this movie. In the spirit of total transparency, I could not finish it. I could not be tortured any longer. Does that epiphany ever come? I doubt it. I stopped caring if it did. It's just all so...tedious. There isn't even any cute or witty humor. Just a big fat tacky big purple saturated color nothing. I'll tell you one thing. This movie sure makes me never want to go to Florida again!
I get it. This is supposed to be a movie about those poor people "living on the fringes." And that's fine, as a screenplay idea. I've seen a bunch of good movies that have this sort of theme. But give us viewers something to hang onto. Some heart and soul...at least some charm and humor. Somebody to route for. Some hope, something positive. SOMETHING besides two hours of drippy gross ice-cream and bratty kids! Do I recommend this movie? Uh...do I even need to answer that?
The Legend of Tarzan (2016)
Tarzan: The Legend of a really Horrible Movie!
Wow, what was that I just watched? That wasn't Tarzan, was it? Granted, I'm no big Tarzan-type fan. Never read the book. My husband wanted to watch this so I thought, okay, how bad can it be? Apparently, very bad!
We had recently watched the 1984 version of Tarzan and I found it a bit tedious and long-winded, trying super hard to be serious at times. However, to its credit, it still seemed like it was capturing the time frame and the essence of the original story...or at least, how I always thought of Tarzan, the jungle man.
Therefore, I figured the 2016 version would really get it right and be a lot better than the 1984 version. I sure was wrong about that!
I guess in 2016, the only thing that's important is making your CGI look like a video game. Not realistic, at all! It's like they just want everyone to be so wowed by how magnificent the CG looks. In the meanwhile, they are forgetting about developing an interesting story that keeps you hooked, along with engaging character development and emotions and feelings between characters that actually seem genuine. (Tarzan and his wife Jane? I wasn't feeling it...not in the least! It's almost like they were two strangers).
Scaarsgard and the woman who plays Jane were both incredibly blah characters. Zero personality for both and no energy. No charisma. No nothing. How are you supposed to care about characters who have zero personality? Answer: You don't!
And the Samuel L. Jackson character? Totally out of place! Not funny at all, and not representative of the time-frame Tarzan is supposed to take place. He made it all seem like one big joke...an unfunny joke, at that. More like Django Unchained, Tarzan style! Just...annoying, and completely out-of-place. The movie is trying so hard to be bad-asx and "cool." Why? That doesn't make it interesting or good or entertaining or engaging to watch.
The plot? What plot? I couldn't even follow it. And then, I stopped even caring about following it. And the animals? Not a single one looks realistic. It's so CG'd up, almost like they didn't WANT it to look realistic!
I was bored, irritated and stressed watching this. I just wanted it to be over. My husband pretended to like it...I think because it's Tarzan. He kept insisting, "It's not so bad..." and then proceeded to spend the bulk of the movie on his phone.
If you want a good version of Tarzan, watch the Disney animated version. It's cute and funny with wonderful artwork. That's my advice. Or even make some popcorn and commit yourself to sitting through the 1984 version. But definitely skip this movie!
The Baker (2022)
Not Terrible.
I watched this movie all the way through, which nowadays...is something! It's not great and it's not terrible. Something in between, which I guess explains my score of "6." As someone else already said, it's good to watch once.
I think Ron Pearlman does a decent acting job in this. He is believable in the part. In the movie, he is trying to find his "bad guy" son who has abandoned his little girl (Ron Pearlman's granddaughter) with the Ron Pearlman character at his bakery.
Now of course, Ron Pearlman, a retired gangster, has no experience with children, and didn't even know he had a granddaughter. To add a weird twist, the little girl (of about eight, who loves sparkly unicorns) does not speak...and hasn't spoken since her mother died.
Okay, so there we have our plot. It's sort of cliche, but that's what we've got. Most of the movie takes place between Ron Pearlman and the little girl...with some assorted bad guys tossed in and a female cop. Anyway, I feel the movie would have been more interesting if the little girl had talked. Then there could have been some "back and forth" between the Ron Pearlman character and the girl which would have added more personality and maybe even a little humor to the movie.
They probably didn't want the hassle of needing the girl to memorize lines or whatever, so they took the easy way out and just made her a temporary mute. So yea...I think that would have made the movie a lot more interesting if she just TALKED!
Anyway, like I said, the movie is okay. It's watchable, it's easy to follow and understand (which nowadays, is saying a lot). So...watch it once, that's my advice. Don't expect too much. But it does have some cute moments, along with some action (if that's what you're into)!
Tully (2018)
This is no Juno!
Well, this movie would serve well as "birth control." I can't imagine anyone wanting to have kids after watching it! Actually, It made me very glad I chose to have just one.
I watched this movie because I wanted to watch a film by Diablo Cody...being that I enjoyed Juno so much. I mean, Juno is funny and quirky (there's that word!) and energetic...and yea, weird. But we forgive the "weird" because it's just so funny, quirky and energetic! It's hard to not like the Juno character. She's "larger than life."
This movie, on the other hand, is way more dark and depressing. Charlize Theron's character Marlo, an incredibly depressed mom of three, is just so UNlikable. In fact, she seems to possess zero personality, at least at first. You don't even feel badly for her. You just don't like her. Her husband, portrayed by Ron Livingston, is just as dull.
Dull and depressing...the buzz words of this movie. And yet...I kept watching, just to see what would happen. That's why I gave the movie 6 stars, because it kept me "tuned in." If I really don't feel a connection with a movie, I'll just turn it off. So, there you go...6 stars because I stuck with it until the end.
However, make no mistake...the end was disappointing! I feel it was just sort of "rushed"...tying a neat bow around everything. The dialogue in this movie seems somewhat wooden and fake. Plus, like I said, there are no likable characters. Now the "night nanny," Tully, does have some personality, at least. (As an aside, who has ever heard of a night nanny? Wouldn't most of the work of a nanny be done during the day...like bathing, cooking, playing with the kids, etc...? I just thought that was weird...to pay a nanny when the baby is sleeping most of the time except when the baby wakes up to nurse...and the mom needs to get up for that, anyway...or the dad if the baby is bottle-fed. Just saying)!
Then really weird things happen with this twenty-six year old "night nanny" comes to the house. She's way too breezy and "free-spirited, like some sort of fantasy sprite...claiming she's "there to take care of Marlo, too...not just the baby." She befriends Marlo and they get really close. Suddenly, Marlo seems a lot more content...happy, even. (There's a weird sex scene with Marlo's husband, Marlo and the nanny which is creepy and disturbing....but that's all I can tell you about that)!
Now, strange things happen here and there. For instance, Marlo keeps having a dream about being underwater....and mermaids keep factoring in, so you wonder...what's up with that? Is it some sort of clue? Is there a fantasy element here? Something other-wordly?
Then, near the end, Marlo just leaves the house at night without telling her husband so her and Tully can go have a drink somewhere in the city and enjoy the nightlife. Now I ask...what kind of mom would do that? That definitely didn't seem right to me. Well, keep watching until the end, and you will figure out the "twist" (which I'm not allowed to say here). But maybe you won't figure it out. I wasn't exactly sure, so I had to ask the chat AI what the twist was, and then I found out what I expected all along.
Okay, enough rambling. Would I recommend this movie? That's a tough one. Not really....maybe if you're really bored and have Netflix so you can watch it for free. I wouldn't watch it again, whereas I've watched Juno a number of times. I wouldn't watch it again because it just isn't...fun. There isn't a lot of comedy in this movie. Not a lot of funny lines or amusing sarcasm and wit. I don't feel you should give up yourself to be a mom. I mean, doesn't this woman have any hobbies or interests? She does sort of come across as an empty husk, so yea...maybe that's why she's depressed.
We also get a sense that she misses her younger "party" days and that just seems sad. Anyway, where was I. Oh...recommending the movie. Yea, probably if you've had kids you can relate to it more. However, bear in mind... it's no Juno!
Sydney (1996)
I give this movie a hard 6!
This movie starts out with promise. You think...oh, something deep and insightful is going to happen! There's going to be a magical cool evolution of the relationship between this old gambler dude and this young loser type guy. You think these characters are going to be fleshed out and you're really going to get to know what makes them tick. Or maybe there's going to be some great heist at a casino, or a big winning streak that leads to...something. But....if you think that, you would be wrong. Because nothing much really happens, and the characters never really evolve, and you don't ever feel like you really get to know what makes them tick!
That being said...this movie is watchable enough for one viewing...(or even another viewing, if you feel you missed something the first time). The acting is decent enough. For some reason, it's not boring, although for the life of me I'm not sure why. I mean, it SHOULD be boring considering there really isn't much of a story, at all! It just sort of drifts along....picking up Gwyneth Paltrow's character at some point...(she plays a depressed cocktail watress at the casino).
But the characters are never really developed. We don't understand their motives, and a lot of the time, their motives don't even make any sense. The characters are not very likable, especially Gwyneth Paltrow's character who has absolutely no personality or energy or ambition or anything. Actually, none of these characters seem to have any ambition. They're just floating through life. And what...do they get comped rooms and meals every single day? That's a little hard to swallow. What is their purpose? We don't really know! Is there a story arc? I'm not sure.
Perhaps this movie could have used a "Voice-over" from one of the characters...probably Sidney, the main character, since the other two characters don't seem very bright. Some narration and revealing of inner thoughts might have helped give this movie a little more depth. I understand there is a big "secret" that is kept until the very end, which of course I can't reveal here. But it just feels awkwardly tagged on at the last moment. Perhaps some flashbacks would have helped so we could understand the gist of what happened in the past (because yes, something big happened) and then we could have a little more understanding of why it happened?
So, would I recommend this movie? Sure, if you enjoy movies that take place with a casino type background. Just don't expect too much. And here's another thing...why all the over-acting at the craps table? People (in real life) at a craps table do NOT act like this!!! Movies and shows always get that wrong.
Younger (2015)
As addictive as junk-food!
Is this show great? No. Does it have a ton of silliness and unbelievability to it? Yes. Do they try too hard sometimes to present the "dorky 40-year-olds" versus the "super irritating (yet infinitely cooler) millennials? Absolutely! Does Sutton Foster look 26? Of course not! But do you know what I say to all that? SO WHAT! This is just a fun entertaining light-hearted show, and I can't stop binge-watching it!
I find this show is like a bag of potato-chips. You can't just have one! You want to keep on going until you feel sort of sick (from greasy bad-for-you junk food) and the bag is almost empty. I watched this show a few years ago, and just recently discovered it on Hulu and decided to watch it again. And I'm having so much fun with it...even the second time around!
Is this show as good as Sex and the City (which it has been compared to)? No. Absolutely not. Sex and the City had amazing insight, incredible humor and wonderful character development. Younger is definitely more in the strictly silly entertainment category. But sometimes you need that. And yet, for a silly comedy, it actually does have some character development. Plus, the relationships amongst the woman are solid, which is nice to see. Especially lately, when it seems like there aren't a lot of good shows out there geared specifically for women.
As far as Sutton Foster (who plays the main character Liza..(.a 40-year-old divorced woman lying about her age to make it in the cut-throat publishing industry in New York) not looking 26, well here's the thing. She's 40. She is a 40 year old woman trying to LOOK 26, via her clothes and make-up, hair, attitude, etc.... So it actually makes more sense that she really looks older, although I don't think she looks 40...at least not in the first season. More like 30-something. If they had hired a younger person to play the main role...like say, a real 26 year old, then everyone would be complaining that the main character doesn't look 40! Besides, it's fiction. You just have to "go with it." How she really looks isn't even the point. The point is the cr...p women have to deal with in the world.
Others have complained that a 40-year-old wouldn't be so dorky when it comes to technology, and I have to agree with that. Then again, that "take" on things just adds to the comedy of the show! They do present the "millenials" on the program as being especially annoying, and they may be over-doing the "annoying factor." (I have a daughter who acts nothing like the young people on this show). Then again...that just adds to the humor. Sometimes, the show itself is trying to be "too cool" with its dumb music and idiotic clothes, but the good news is that the whole story is actually seen through the eyes of an "older woman" (yes, 40 is "old" in this show) so that makes it all so much more watchable if you yourself are not a millenial! (And don't forget...Carrie Bradshaw also had some crazy outfits on Sex and the City)!
It could be that I enjoy the show because it deals with publishing; a maddingly elusive industry that I have tried to push my way into with various things I've written. I love to see how cut-throat and commercial this industry is which makes me happy that I switched over to art instead of writing! (The only writing I do anymore is for reviews...whoo, what a relief)! So yea...you have the main character lying about her age in an industry that demands youth (and I used to think that was just the fashion and make-up industries and Hollywood, but oh well) and you also have interesting side-plots with the side characters who you get to know very well...along with Liza's various relationships...and then you have the over-riding publishing stuff going on, like Liza's company trying to sign a certain author who is very eccentric...there's a lot going on. The episodes zip by quickly, and then...you want another, and another. It's addictive! And I always seem to laugh at something while I'm watching. There are a lot of funny lines.
So yes, I would recommend this show, but don't expect anything really deep and insightful. It's strictly just for fun. But hey...fun is good. I gave the show 8 stars for the fun factor! I believe the show set out to be a fun watch, and it accomplishes that.
The Dictator's Playbook
Excellent NON-boring history show!
This is a shame, there are so few reviews for such an excellent and in-depth mini-series like this! There are all these truly awful shows that get thousands of reviews....oh well.
Normally, I am not some sort of history buff. Let's make that clear from the get-go. But honestly, this series of 6 episodes about 6 modern-day dictators is really, really interesting! A lot of history shows are boring and dry. However, the way they wrote these episodes using illustrations along with real footage and clever narration, makes them anything but boring. Put it this way...I was not bored once. (and lately, I'm getting bored quite easily from all the bad TV shows circulating about).
If you ask me, teachers should show these episodes in high school history class.
There was a cleverness about the style in which the shows were written....sort of "tongue and cheek" with the whole "playbook idea." Like (taking a page from the playbook) if you want to be a dictator, you must Reign Through Terror, and then the show would go on to present examples of how a certain dictator did just that. There were also examples of propaganda and how the general population can be complicit in the rise of these dictators.
Of course, I knew about Hussein and Hitler and had heard of Stalin and the North Korean guys. But I didn't know so much about Mussolini and the African dictators, Gaddafi and Idi Amin, so that was educational. Disturbingly educational, yes, but still very interesting. It's frightening how these rulers can come to exist and how people will be brainwashed to just go along with them...or maybe they know they have no choice but to go along with them or they'll be killed!
Anyway, I would recommend this show...even to people who claim they aren't interested in history. Unfortunately, those people will probably not be coming here to read any reviews! My only complaint was that they didn't have more episodes. Like, what about that guy in Syria?
An Unfinished Life (2005)
A relaxing movie...Maybe too relaxing?
This movie is fine. That's about the word for it. Fine. Nothing more, nothing less. It's a story about a woman (Jennifer Lopez) going to live with her father in law (Robert Redford) and bringing her daughter (the man's granddaughter, who he doesn't even know he has) because the man she (J. Lo) was living with was beating her up.
Now, here are two catches: The man (Robert Redford) blames his daughter in law for his son's death in a car accident, in the past. Plus, the man is taking care of another farmer (played by Morgan Freeman) who was attacked by a bear. And yes....we see the bear running loose in the beginning of the film, and then being captured and kept in a big cage somewhere in this small Wyoming town. Okay, so there you go. There's about the gist of the whole movie.
Basically, this is a story of "forgiveness." Can the man forgive the woman for the accidental death of his son? And can the other man forgive the bear for attacking him? Can J. Lo forgive the man she was living with for beathing her up? (Don't worry. That's a hard "no." But that isn't really the main point of the story).
At first, the story does sort of "suck you in." It has a "realistic" feel to it. You get expectations. Something deep and insightful is going to happen! There's some tension! The man does not want his daughter in law (and his granddaughter) staying with him, so there's tension there. We also find out that the man who was beating up the woman has tracked her down and is now stalking her in Wyoming. More tension! But slowly, the grandfather warms up to the granddaughter...the daughter in law gets a job in a restaurant...and things just sort of slowwww waaaay down. The tension becomes very minimal. It's not enough! Not enough is happening!
And in a way, I guess that's how the movie is supposed to be. It's more of a "slice of life" movie...not an adventure movie...not a clever movie with tons of witty dialogue and character development. Just a gentle "slice of life." Morgan Freeman is good, as usual. He adds an interesting quirk to the otherwise somewhat bland movie (as does the bear). But, like I said. It's not enough. We need "more!"
Here's another thing. I have a problem with the Jennifer Lopez character just suddenly "ending up" with the sheriff. There is no build-up to this relationship. One second, she asks him for a ride home. The next second, they are a "couple." That felt disingenuous to me. And what about the young girl? We don't really get to know her. Doesn't she get bored living on this farm? Doesn't she need friends her own age? What about school?
This is a movie where narration or a "voice-over" would have come in handy. I think a voice-over from the girl might have worked well. Or from the woman. Or the grandfather. Or Morgan Freeman. Or maybe the bear (just kidding)! But some inner thoughts from SOMEONE to give the movie a little more feeling and depth and insight (and maybe even humor) would have helped a lot.
I would recommend watching this movie is you are just looking for something very relaxing. Maybe have a cup of coffee handy...a big bowl of popcorn...but no pillows, or you may fall asleep. No, seriously...the movie is mostly good. Just a bit slow, like I said. Just a bit too...mellow. But perhaps I prefer slightly more "edginess" to my movies. Oh well.
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023)
Hey, God...I have a newsflash. Are you there? This movie is boring!
There are some books geared for younger readers that are turned into movies with wonderful results. Harry Potter comes to mind. Then there are others. Like, Are you there God, it's me Margaret.
There wasn't enough substance of plot in this book to spin it into an interesting movie. There is basically no conflict. No tension. No story. There isn't even any character development to speak of since the characters are all completely one-dimensional.
I understand this used to be a very popular coming-of-age story...in its day. But honestly. That day is gone. Who is the demographic for this movie? Older woman who read this book in the past? There isn't enough sophistication to make it interesting for them. Young tween girls and those on the brink of tweendom nowadays? They will be bored to death, since this generation of girls is so much more sophisticated and advanced due to technology, Smart phones, the Internet, streaming, etc...
There have been other "young person in the past" stories, like The Wonder Years and A Christmas Story....which are very enjoyable to watch. But these had an added element. There was an adult (of the child) voice-over narration throughout. The voice-over provides a retrospective "take" on everything that's going on, while adding much needed levity and humor, sophisticated sarcasm...and yes, insight.
The main character (sorry to say) has zero personality. I'm not blaming the actress. This is just how the book (screenplay) was written. The only character with personality is the girl Nancy...but even that character is basically a one-trick pony (but I must say, the young actress playing her did a wonderful job). The parents? Blah! The father is practically non-existent and the mother is way too smiley and nice...hence, boring! Way too "Hallmarky" for my taste. Mothers and daughters that age fight! They disagree! That's what's normal.
The religion stuff in the movie? Boring. Like...who cares? The "are you there God" little monologues? It feels like they were just "shoved in" because the audience expected it. They didn't really "fit" and seemed somewhat awkward.
And that group the girls had...the "no socks" group? All these young girls care about is increasing their "bust" size and getting their period and writing the names of boys that they like? Wow. This movie could set girls back 60 years with that retro way of thinking! These girls had no hobbies or real goals (beyond increasing their bra size and getting their period) whatsoever? Nobody was into sports or art or animals or music or books? That's really sad!
And that girl who is supposed to be their age in the movie, but looks like she's really 22? What was up with that?
It's obvious I was disappointed by this movie. I know this was a "classic coming-of-age" book for its time, and I guess I just expected...more. The book does not translate well into modern times. Therefore, it's time to just let it go. It didn't feel "realistic."
You don't feel engaged with the main character...or any of the characters. You are well aware, throughout, that they are all just acting and reading scripts. If you want a better coming-of-age movie, may I suggest watching Eighth Grade? It's much more realistic.
Sex and the City 2 (2010)
This is just fun entertainment; it doesn't need to be perfect.
Okay, so I liked it. Guilty! I just rewatched this 2010 movie the other day, and found myself sitting there laughing and having fun. Just like when I watched the show. Is it cringey at times? Absolutely! Is it flat out ridiculous at times! A great big giant YUP! But so what? It's FICTION! And it's just supposed to be fun! And...that's what it was. Fun.
The best part of this movie is the beginning (and no...I don't mean the silly over-the-top wedding, although that's good to laugh at). I mean the new problem with Big and Carrie now that they've been married awhile. Big wants to stay in and watch TV and order food. But not Carrie. She still wants to go out and party like it's 1999! And we find out...the reason is because she's terrified of turning into an "old married couple."
Carrie is now a somewhat famous author with a few books under her belt and Big is still a successful financier. They have a gorgeous home, beautifully decorated...everything they could want. And each other, of course. But Big's newest loves seem to be the couch and the TV, which, as I mentioned, is causing problems. And those problems are interesting! And yes...even amusing at times! The other ladies have their own problems...Charlotte is jealous of the new nanny, Miranda is not getting along with her new boss, and Samantha is battling menopause by getting addicted to various pills and hormones (also presented in a somewhat amusing way).
Then the girls are jetting off to Abi-Dabi (it's all explained in the movie...Samantha has a free room at a very expensive exotic hotel thanks to her old boyfriend Smith, who was shooting a movie over there) and off they go! Now is where the movie gets a bit "cringey." The private jet with private suites...the private car rides for each woman to the hotel...the private "butlers" each girl gets...the mile wide hat Carrie is wearing...I mean, come on! But you just need to go with the flow and understand they wanted to up the ante and do something different...get the girls out of New York, have some gorgeous scenery, etc...
Carrie running into Aiden in the middle east? Yea, that's one of those really ridiculous writing points! She could have developed an interest in a new guy she bumps into, and questioned her need to be faithful to Big and all that...and it wouldn't have been quite so ridiculous. But, like I said...you just have to go with it. Samantha having all her pills and hormones confiscated, and being afraid she's turning into a man? Well, that's a bit over the top, too...but it has its funny moments.
So yes, I stick up for my score of 7. It would have been higher if the movie hadn't devolved into absolute cringiness at times. But, overall, the movie is just fun, along with Big and Carrie dealing with married issues that are actually quite interesting and relatable. So...grab a bowl of popcorn and watch this movie again. It'll probably make you laugh, even if sometimes you are actually laughing AT it...but so what? You will have fun and feel good. Plus, a lot of the movie does retain the flavor of the original show (which I heard the new reboot does NOT...I don't know, cause I haven't watch it). Anyway, that's my review and I'm sticking to it!
Oppenheimer (2023)
Admit to being a bit disappointed.
Okay, I was a little bored. And a little disappointed. Maybe I expected too much...hearing all the raving going on about this fantastic movie. So yes...expectations were sky high. But...it didn't take long for me to start wondering when exactly the magic was going to happen.
First of all, they play with "time" way too much in this movie, jerking you backwards and forwards. It's like...there's no "flow" when they do this. You're just getting into a setting and you are abruptly jerked out of it to go somewhere in the future. Or in the past. Overall, this style makes the story very disjointed and choppy feeling.
Second of all...lack of character development. I know "voice overs" are passe and all that. But maybe if there had been some narration and voice over we could have gotten inside the star's head...and that would have made the whole thing more entertaining. As it was, everyone seemed a bit "wooden."
Third of all, the relationship of Oppenheimer and his wife was just...weird. They practically seemed like strangers to each other. And what was with his wife acting like she hated the baby and being a mom...and then suddenly, without any warning, we see another child has entered the picture! That doesn't even make sense (if she hated being a mom so much) and when did this even occur? The couple doesn't even seem like they talk to each other....forget making a baby! It all seemed so...disingenuous.
I watched The Manhattan Project (a series show) and it was way more interesting. There was more "humanity" to that show and ways to engage with the people who were living way out in the desert on this top-secret project. All the day to day stuff...where was that? The human interest stuff? Didn't some of the people working on the project get sick from radiation? Where was all that interesting stuff? And the effects of the bomb...there was so little "showing" of that, as someone else mentions. That would have made more of an impact if they had explored that avenue. Oh well. I gave the movie a 6 for the acting abilities of everyone. I'm sure they gave it their "all." I just wish it had been more....interesting! Would I watch it again? Probably not.
Leave the World Behind (2023)
Promising beginning...promise unfulfilled.
The movie starts out okay. There's a family in the city taking a vacay from their stressful lives...renting a big house by the ocean....then suddenly, while the family is enjoying a day on the beach, a huge tanker runs ashore and things develop a weird ominous feel that "something isn't right."
That's about where the movie stops being okay. And I say just "okay," since the characters and dialogue thus far aren't exactly winning us over. The son is obnoxious and never has anything nice to say. The daughter is strangely obsessed with the show "Friends" and well...that's about all there is to her "personality."
Unfortunately, one weird quirk does not make a personality. Yes, kids that age get obsessed with things. But there's usually more to them than that! It's just an easy writing ploy.
The mother is abrasive and hostile. The father...well, let's just say he's sort of blah, but definitely the most likable of the four. Anyway, after this tanker incident, a strange dad and his college-age daughter knock on the door of the house the family is renting in the middle of the night. Evidently, they are the owners of the house. They claim they can't go back to the city because there's a black-out.
This just strikes me as very odd. If this is indeed the case...why wouldn't they get a hotel room, you know? Isn't that what most people would do in that situation? Here again, it's a writing ploy to make this movie happen. The college age daughter is very hostile and unlikable. She keeps stressing, "This OUR house." (Yes...but you rented it to someone for a vacation...duh...).
So now we get a creepy ominous feel from this strange situation. We think maybe the father and daughter have a creepy plan afoot. Who knows? The mother of the family is then labeled mean and hateful because she doesn't want these strangers staying with her overnight. Well, honestly! Who would? I mean, people you don't know from a hole-in-the-ground knock on your door in the middle of the night, claim a bunch of stuff that you don't know is true, and then insist they stay with you? How many people would be happy with that?
So, eventually, they do end up staying...and after this, everything really becomes disjointed. Weird things keep happening. Weird things with deer....the electricity going out so the girl is frantic she can't watch "Friends," arguments between the people in the house along with some thoughtful discussion, but it all just doesn't "gel" as being believable. It all seems too forced. Too fake. The boy's teeth fall out and he gets sick...
Well, I won't tell any more of this disjointed weird plot, since there really isn't much to tell, anyway. From many other reviews, though, you learn that the ending is so incredibly disappointing and unsatisfying after sitting through all this nothingness just waiting for something to happen. It's a lazy writer's ending...more like a non-ending.
Kevin Bacon has a weird little part as a "prepper." Actually, that's one of the more interesting parts of the move. Perhaps they could have fleshed out his character more.
Actually, all the characters needed to be "fleshed out" to make this movie more interesting. They need to be more believable. Everyone and everything in this movie is just a "writing ploy" and it's obvious. I do NOT recommend this movie. It will feel like you wasted your time. If you are just curious as to how bad it is...well, then that's your reason for watching.
And somebody, please...learn from this and write a better screenplay!