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Reviews
Frog and Toad (2023)
It's perfect.
Awesome show! I had all of the Frog and Toad books in the early 80's. I remember they were part of my reading lessons and practice, but eventually I read them on my own because I came to love them.
It's wonderful to see it resurrected and brought to life in animation. Something that I never expected to happen in a million years. The series *feels* like the old books, and this is most important. Everything is retained. The look. The types of stories. The world that the characters exist in. It was exactly how my childhood mind imagined it to be.
I got a little emotional watching this series to tell you the truth, like I was reunited with old friends. The voice acting is right on point! They couldn't have picked better voices and the actors delivered a humorous, lovable performance.
Above all, within its most cherished qualities, the show held on to being wholesome and heartwarming. So pure and untainted. True to the source material. It's completely appropriate for children. I want to watch this show with my 5-year-old nephew. I think he might like it.
There is nothing to complain about here whatsoever. I absolutely love it. Thank you for making this. I am now a middle-aged man and a handful of years away from 50 but I will never be too old to spend time with my buddies, Frog and Toad.
Saw X (2023)
They did it. They actually did it... a genuine, old style Saw movie!
I was a huge Saw fan from the beginning and still am. I went to the conventions, collected props, and met the cast. I have wonderful memories of the time when the series was in full swing.
Never did I think I'd see such a beautiful return to the franchise. This is an honest to goodness Saw movie like we used to have. No BS. This is the real deal. They actually pulled it off in this day and age... and it's glorious!
I was overcome with feelings of warmth and nostalgia seeing Tobin and Shawnee together again. So much so that I teared up. They haven't missed a beat in all these years, god bless 'em.
This movie ranks as one of the best in the series. I can't say too much because I don't want to spoil anything, but the story is engaging and fulfilling. The thing I liked best was the "behind the scenes" look that we get between John and Amanda. Much of the film revolves around their interactions together and they don't always agree, we learn.
Sure, they were together for all of Saw III too but not like this. That was when wild stuff was going down. This is a more relaxed look at their evolving relationship earlier in the timeline. It even goes as far as giving us glimpses of how John instructs Amanda to set traps up and when. I LOVED this most.
The traps were especially brutal but not overly complicated. A little simpler than later installments and this worked well. I always thought that less is more when it comes to traps.
I was delighted to hear Charlie Clouser back on the score, and this is a matter of necessity. It wouldn't be a Saw movie without Charlie laying down the atmosphere. Every time, he pumps out a gorgeously haunting score. I still listen to my collection of Saw scores weekly.
This is a movie for dedicated fans only. I would hope it's not the last we'll see from the franchise, but if it is, I couldn't ask for a stronger exit to remember it by.
If you guys read this, I want to extend a personal, heartfelt, and sincere THANK YOU to Tobin, Shawnee, Kevin Greutert, and the rest of the crew. Saw X was something special. Your effort shined through as bright as the sun. In an era of dead, soulless, corporate-manufactured cinema, a big Saw group hug is what we needed most.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
This was such a beautiful, beautiful movie!
Believe me when I tell you that if you're even curious about it, go and see it. You'll likely enjoy it whether you're a fan or not. I took my 70-year-old mother with me to see it whose only knowledge of the Super Mario lore is what she remembers watching scroll across the TV in the 80's and 90's as I built my childhood. She absolutely loved the movie still.
As for me, I became a teary-eyed, middle-aged man in the theater. There was so much love and respect poured into this movie and it showed. Decades of history crammed into every crevice. I did not expect to get caught in such an unexpected emotional state, but there I found myself.
The film respected the characters, the fanbase, and Nintendo's vision. It felt so clean, so pure, without a hint of modern Hollywood toxicity or THE MESSAGE. This is something that you can take your children to see with 100% confidence in its wholesome nature.
The plot was simple but effective, as the Mario games were never really known for exquisitely strong stories. It was just enough. The voice acting was on point. At first I was kind of iffy about the casting choices but they wound up delivering brilliant performances. The colors were so rich and vibrant that they brought the Mushroom Kingdom to life.
And the animation... god, the animation was gorgeous! The details in the textures and clothing were incredible. You could just look at Mario's overalls or Princess's dress and KNOW what the fabric would feel like to the touch.
Bless the cast, crew, and animators who made this movie. I hope you make billions. You deserve it. People are saying that you've set the bar and new standards for the movie industry. Let's hope they're right.
A sincere THANK YOU, from an old-time "gamer" who first put his hands on a joystick at a Donkey Kong arcade cabinet in 1983.
On the Line (2022)
It's pretty incredible!
First I'll say that I love Mel Gibson. I hope he never needs or wants to retire. Naturally I put this movie as a priority to watch and moved it to the front of the queue. Great decision!
Everything about this movie was quality. Great acting from not only Mel (as usual) but the whole cast. The score was exciting. The production values were high for such a smallish film.
But what makes this unique was the story and the ending! I don't recall anything similar being done before, or not that I've ever seen anyway. It's completely original, fun, and a blast to watch. Believe me when I tell you that it's almost impossible to guess which direction the events will go.
The twist(s) got me good! After the disbelief settled I found myself thoroughly satisfied and smiling. I can't say much else because this is one movie that you do NOT want spoiled.
Watch it, and be prepared to go for a ride. ;) I'd absolutely recommend it. You'll have the most fun if you watch it yourself first then show it to someone unsuspecting, or watch it with a group of people.
Soft & Quiet (2022)
Soft and Quiet came out punching hard and I liked it.
I watched this knowing very little about it and was knocked straight on my backside. Just in the first 40 minutes, I haven't heard so many red pills dropped in ANY form of modern media since American History X.
Was... was this supposed to be a parody or satire? If it was, then ironically they wound up presenting the unfiltered truth. Every single thing was true. I'm *hoping* that was perhaps the point, covertly disguised as satire, in order to make it more digestible for the zombie general public. Whatever their intentions, I liked it.
That alone deserves a higher score, but let's talk about the rest of the movie. The beginning already won me over so of course I continued watching with much anticipation.
The remainder was good, but not without problems. The acting was well done. Very natural, and therein lies the catch because they act exactly as you'd expect women to behave.
Basically the film boiled down to 1½ hours of four women loudly, hysterically clucking like chickens. And the way it was shot was strange. Kind of like they shot it with a moving HD camcorder. The result was too chaotic for comfort. Too disorderly.
Have you ever watched a jerky recorded video of somebody's birthday party on your 70-year-old mother's cell phone with the volume blaring at max? You'll get a similar sensation watching this movie. Maybe this was a conscious artistic choice. I don't know, but it was not pleasant on the senses.
There are several other plot issues that require you to look past but the ending was surprising. It's worth seeing at least once.
Due to the ending I find myself wanting a sequel somewhere down the line to see how these girls clean up this mess. The cliffhanger is almost too good not to continue the story. I need to know what happens.
I'm gonna give seven stars out of 10 for this based film. I was impressed with the start but have to make some deductions for the other stuff. It's watchable and enjoyable but not perfect.
Prey for the Devil (2022)
Bland
This movie was a slog to get through. There's nothing "wrong" with it per se if you're comparing it to other movies of this type. It's just flat. Not engaging or scary. The thrills are weak. Cheap tricks. At times it feels like it doesn't know which direction to go. They have a woman in a Catholic priest's collar which I felt was mildly disrespectful.
It's so middle-of-the-road that there's not much else to comment on. You'll watch it and forget it. You could do much worse if you need something to watch for 1½ hours.
But you could do much better too. The Exorcism of Emily Rose was far superior if it's an exorcism film you're looking for. I'd recommend that instead.
Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (2022)
Fantastic!
See? This is the kind of Star Wars content that I love! None of Disney's BS, just good stories with the characters that we know and adore.
The Clone Wars style animation was great and the voice acting was on point with a few of the real live-action actors taking back their roles.
There were so many little gems in this series. Events leading up to and during the prequel trilogy that were unseen or unexplained thus far. And young Dooku with Qui-Gon! Wow!
Consistently, anytime some Star Wars project is produced in this animated format it knocks it out of the park.
Many thanks to the writers, animators, and voice actors. This was an act of love for the franchise and the fans. I enjoyed it immensely.
Can we get another season with more short stories? Or how about the reverse "Tales of the Sith" detailing what Darth Maul, Dooku, and Sidious were up to during that period? There's a lot to explore there.
If you're a SW fan, *especially* if you're like me and only follow pre-Disney canon, then this is for you. It's a must watch!
Feed Me (2022)
It's a shame about this movie.
The other reviews are right. It was bad.
This *could* have been good. The premise was interesting and different but the execution was unsuitable. The atmosphere and tone were completely wrong for this kind of film. It was way too campy and over the top. It should have taken a darker, gritty, serious theme. Think SAW or the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake from 2003.
And what was with that acting? I don't know why they chose our American Southern stereotype for one of the main characters. It's set in England. It was so out of place.
He wasn't convincing at all. The bad wig. The caricature accent. It came across like something you'd see on YouTube for comedic purposes.
That was one of the top sins that ruined this movie. The cannibal should have been slick. Mysterious. Conniving. Like a used car salesman but for the depressed.
Instead he was a cowboy. The lead character wasn't great either. The performance was overdone and felt exaggerated.
It was a mess all around. Don't bother.
Monsters (2022)
It faltered but was entertaining nevertheless.
I don't want this review to sound like I'm only complaining. There is a ton about this show to like. It was very well made. Phenomenal acting. Disturbing atmosphere. I really DID enjoy it quite a bit. I would recommend it.
But it goes off the rails exactly halfway through. Up to episode 5, I was hooked. Starting with the 6th it got progressively boring and slow. They threw a whole episode away on the deaf guy and it somehow became the Niecy Nash show.
On top of that, they totally rewrote things to give them some kind of political or social justice edge. Exaggerations to flat out fabrications.
Don't treat this as a documentary in any way. It's WILDLY inaccurate. They basically took the real people/places and tossed them into a sandbox to arrange them how they wanted but much of it is wrong. When you see the little asterisk with *based on true events* take them at their word... lightly "based on" with ridiculous liberties. I have to deduct major points for that, especially with how they tried to spin it.
And I wish they would have focused more on the killings but they kind of glossed over it while making it minimally gory. Much is implied but not shown. I'm not a fan of that style when it comes to horror or crime.
One thing I want to say that they did amazingly well, and I don't know if it was even on purpose, was the portrayal of Jeffrey's feelings and struggles with a personality disorder. I was diagnosed in my early 20's with the same thing as Dahmer, Borderline Personality Disorder. In this show he expressed constant and chronic feelings of emptiness, loneliness, and despair which led him to self-destructive behaviors and habits. They really got that right. I felt what Dahmer felt. I've lived that experience.
Anyway, enjoy it but remember that it's entertainment and not a history lesson.
Halloween Ends (2022)
Was this movie a deliberate troll?
God, this was terrible. Who wrote this?! What were they thinking? I don't even want to waste the time with a proper review.
I just can't believe how bad this was. I had to check and make sure that I was in fact watching the right thing.
How was this a Halloween movie? Michael Myers is some kind of background character in his own franchise. He's not even in it for more than 10 minutes.
No, it's a romantic dating movie with bad acting for 3/4ths of it including some light Horror here and there. Then it spends the rest of the time with Jamie Lee Curtis mumbling about a "dark path" and harassing people like an old lady with dementia.
I am incredibly sorry that I watched this. It will probably go down as one of the worst genre films ever made. It's a total embarrassment. Somebody actually spent MONEY... lots of it... to make this. Let that sink in. Don't even acknowledge that this movie exists.
Smile (2022)
I LOL'd.
I don't know WHAT my problem was, but never in my life have I laughed so hard at a horror movie. This isn't because it was bad. No, actually, it was quite good but something about it sent me into hysterics.
The people... the sh** eating grin on their faces... I died. And that whole birthday party scene? I was in tears cackling like a madman.
It was supposed to be creepy, and it was. Still for whatever reason I registered it as comedy. I've spent the last day or so just getting over a high Coronavirus fever. Maybe it made me goofy.
Either way, I liked this movie. The acting was good. The idea was original, finally something different in Horror. The score was very important and made an impact on the scenes. This is a must see for anyone who likes scary movies.
I think it could have ran a little shorter. It felt kind of drawn-out in parts where nothing really happens. The film builds momentum and lets it rest too long while it fades off.
Additionally I was disappointed by the design of the creature/entity/what have you. Totally generic. They could have done much better with that. Also I'll deduct two stars because I don't like the relationship between the husband and wife.
It's worth watching again at some point in the future.
Hellraiser (2022)
It's a different take that I liked... sort of.
You know, I really don't know how to review this without rambling and certainly don't know how to review it without comparing it to the last 30+ years of movies in the series. I've been a Hellraiser fan for decades. Beloved Cenobite figures and Hellraiser posters are featured prominently in my apartment.
Let's take it one step at a time and first talk about what I liked. One of the reasons I love the movies is because it's Horror with a certain, deliberate artistic flair. There's a dark beauty in them from the Cenobites all the way down to the design of the Lament Configuration itself.
This definitely *felt* like a Hellraiser movie. They got the tone and atmosphere right and it was nice to hear that Mr. Barker was involved once again as Hellraiser is his gift to the genre, after all. It's plenty gory and the effects are fantastic. The story was just OK but not bad. Better than anything in the franchise for the last 25 years so I must give it some credit.
The score by Ben Lovett was excellent; a delight with Christopher Young's original theme sprinkled throughout. I have no complaints about the acting. The cast did well and on par for a Hellraiser movie.
Now let's talk about the elephant in the room: the new Pinhead, AKA "Hell Priest." I can say that I surprisingly liked this new feminine take on it! It felt fresh and different. I won't compare it to Doug Bradley because you just can't. He's a legend. I had the honor of meeting him at a convention once. A very pleasant and friendly guy!
No, Jamie Clayton did her own thing with the role and I can appreciate that. I wouldn't mind having her back again. The one criticism I can offer is that I didn't find her to be as imposing or menacing with an air of authority as Doug Bradley played it. Pinhead needs a bit of a bite to the character but she went a little too soft, I felt. Turn it up another notch and it'll be good to go.
The other thing I wanted to talk about is the new Cenobites in general. This is something I took issue with. The designs were awesomely sick, but they were way too organic. Some black leather and "Horror glam" outfits would have sent the new vision for them off the charts. The dressing of Pinhead and his minions is what makes them unique. I think this should have been utilized. Instead, the new Cenobites are just mostly bare skin.
I'd like my BDSM Cenobites back, please.
I could write volumes but this review has been too long so I'll stop here. Overall, I have positive thoughts about it and welcome it into the franchise. I'll watch it again soon! If you're an old Hellraiser fan, I definitely recommend it. If you're like me and you actually LIKE Hellraiser III and Hellraiser: Bloodline, then I see don't see any reason why you wouldn't appreciate this newest installment. This falls somewhere in between those later movies and the original two in terms of quality.
Fall (2022)
I needed several cigarettes after watching this.
You know, there's not much I can say that hasn't already been said. What a ride! I watched it in bed and my sheets are damp from the sweat coming off of my hands and feet. Gross.
The movie did its job, and did it well, so I can't fault it too much. They shot this practically without greenscreen and that was an amazing choice. I felt nothing other than immersed and in danger myself!
This can't be a review without mentioning some complaints but I'll go easy since I haven't been so thrilled and upset by a movie... since... I don't remember. Thirty years, maybe?
The value in this film relies on the experience rather than the plot or the characters. Honestly, I found the characters to be unlikable. Written as stereotypical internet-addicted Millennials. And I dare say I believe that the story would have worked better if it had just been 2 dudes doing it on a bet or something instead. The actresses were great, don't get me wrong. To me this seemed more suited for a story of two men, especially considering the physical feats involved in the events. I think it would have been more believable because as men we'd take stupid risks like that if challenged. It's the nature of the beast. Women? Not so much. They get up there and they're worrying about romantic entanglements stranded at 3,000 ft.
Also the shocking revelation part way through seemed totally out of place. Like they didn't know where to go with the story so they used a "get out of jail free" card.
I DID like this movie very much though. Do not mistake my criticism for hate. I will watch this again soon. I will show it to family if I have the chance, although my mother would probably be hysterical by the ending.
It still deserves an almost perfect score and I would recommend it to anyone who wants an adrenaline rush from the comfort of your couch or bed. They really don't make many pieces like this anymore. It deserves your time.
Goodnight Mommy (2022)
I liked it better once I understood the ending.
No, I haven't seen the original. I don't really care to track it down. I liked this one just fine.
Even better after I went reading about the ending. I must be an idiot because I missed every clue along the way. I was expecting something demonic or paranormal so my mindset blinded me to what's shown.
Everything is clear now but still one thing remains: If none of this was real and all in the kid's head, then what was the whole point of that scene where mommy was ripping her skin off? The child wasn't there to see it and she was alone so why did it happen? Did I miss something else? Was it meant to be a metaphor? I thought she was a ghost or something that needed to "renew" her flesh to keep up appearances when it started chipping. That was my line of thinking.
Anyway, technically, it was otherwise well done. Good acting. Nice atmosphere. Beautiful scenery. A lot was accomplished with a total of about 6 cast members.
I'd recommend it. I'm going to give it another go, now armed with more insight, and take it in again. That speaks a lot for the movie. I like it enough to revisit it.
Watcher (2022)
This is one to hold on to!
Pay no mind to the negative reviews. I loved this movie!
I can't say too much about it else I'll spoil it. I can say that the acting was great, the story was gripping, and the atmosphere was top notch. Excellent and artistic camera work.
I have no real complaints about this film. It's a wonderfully disturbing time. This was one of those movies that really clicked with me... the kind of feelings that they were laying down. The suspense. Mysterious all the way through. The score sealed the deal and was fitting and haunting.
The watcher is there... looking... always... a shadow behind the window... but what are his motivations? The ending will surprise you. There are a few twists designed to throw you off so beware.
It's definitely more of a "slow burn." I would argue that it's the perfect format for this film. You'll need the extra time to let the events build. If you think it's boring then this might not be for you. I didn't find it to be dragging. The pacing felt right as it should.
Seriously, give this movie a shot!
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022)
I've had a change of heart.
I started out disliking the show but it's grown on me. It's light and not serious. It's entertaining for what it is. Tatiana Maslany is great in the role.
I've not come anywhere close to the point of LOVING it. However, I have found myself looking forward to the next episode. That's gotta be worth something.
Yeah, the CGI is bad. That's true. It's very uneven. Sometimes it'll look OK. Other times it looks like rubber.
And I've noticed that they can't decide how tall She-Hulk is supposed to be or how muscular. At times she's clearly 7' tall but then others she's only a head above an average 5'3" woman in the background. Then sometimes she's normal toned only to have hulking biceps later.
That's a quality control and consistency issue. I try to ignore it because it's really not important to the story but the problem is there.
I'll keep watching for now, I suppose. So far it deserves half a score at 5 stars out of 10. It's not terribly extraordinary but not unwatchable either with some fun moments. Tatiana is carrying the whole show, that's for sure. She's a big part of what keeps me coming back.
Wifelike (2022)
An OK Scifi movie with some flaws.
Look, this wasn't a terrible movie. It was fun. It kept my interest enough to care about what happens. I loved the wardrobe, sets, and futuristic aesthetics! The setting was a believable future.
The acting was good from most of the cast. Elena Kampouris was fantastic as a robotic wife. I'm wondering if some CGI trickery was involved because she's so beautiful. Almost too perfect.
And the movie started off well... but then the plot kind of went off the rails. Some big holes, more questions than answers, a little sloppy. I think it was meant to present the viewer with moral, philosophical conundrums but they got lost along the way in the foggy plot.
Also, maybe it's just how I was reading it... but there was a theme that felt man-hatey or like the demonization of men on a biological level. If so, that I didn't care for.
Nevertheless, out of all the movies of this type in recent years, I liked this one not best but amongst the better of them. It's worth the hour and 45 minutes to see what you get out of it.
Inside the Mind of a Cat (2022)
Scientific kitties!
This really wasn't as bad as some reviews are making it out to be. I quite enjoyed it. I'm a cat lover and there are many cats in the family. The Egyptians worshipped them for a reason. Cats are such regal and majestic animals.
It was interesting to see which experiments are being performed and how the results are reshaping our views of domesticated cats. I learned a few facts that I didn't know and their experts offer helpful advice on how best to nurture a good bond with your cat within their biological and emotional capabilities. It's worth taking notes.
On top of all the educational stuff there was the benefit of meeting many kitties! Pretty girls and handsome boys who work to keep mice out and live on Navy ships.
I have a complaint about that one lady. The speaker on the topic of cats in Medieval Europe. She definitely had some kind of axe to grind and veered off topic into a weird, aggressive, hate-tinged tangent of misandry. Completely unexpected and uncalled for. Very unprofessional. For that I must deduct stars.
Still, the overall documentary product was well made. I would recommend it to anyone who likes or owns cats. And the runtime was perfect. At only an hour long the pacing kept my interest.
Great job.
Scariest Monsters in America (2022)
A nice introduction for those who are unaware.
This wasn't terrible but not groundbreaking either. It's a basic documentary covering all of the most well-known cryptids. Just an overview really without going into a lot of depth. There's not much new here for those of us who are into this kind of thing but it's a good introduction for someone less interested as a casual watch.
Many speakers are reputable, but some of their sources are of dubious credentials or seemingly ill suited to talk with any authority. That's one complaint I had. Along with authors and folklore researchers on this topic, they include others with titles such as "content creator" and "social media influencer." Why do I care what they have to say about cryptids?
Also as I stated before, I just wished they would have gone into the stories a little deeper to get those interesting, lesser known, local kind of facts.
For example, they have a segment about the Jersey Devil. That's in my backyard about 30 minutes away. What they don't tell you is that we still have people here descendant from the original Leeds family living in the area. They are actually "related" to the Jersey Devil. And you can still go to find the house where the Devil was born. The actual structure is mostly wrecked but the foundation and grounds are intact. Last I checked anyway, some 20 years ago.
Small things like that could have made the documentary more colorful. Maybe all of that wouldn't fit into the runtime.
Anyway, that's all. It's worth watching if you're curious or have somebody you'd like to introduce to cryptids. If you've been intimately acquainted with the subject, just don't expect anything extraordinary.
The Black Phone (2021)
Great movie!
I really enjoyed this! It was something new and different. Wonderful cast. Top performances from child actors. The story was equally interesting and thrilling. For some reason it gave me a bit of a Silence of the Lambs, Buffalo Bill kind of feel. Maybe it was the basement or the setting.
Ethan Hawke did excellent as The Grabber. He was creepy, mysterious, faceless... except for the mask which added to the uneasiness.
They captured the time period extremely well! Some things gave me flashbacks of my childhood in the early 80's.
Sure, a few things here and there might make you wonder what the characters were thinking and why they didn't act differently but it IS a movie after all. The adequate amount of suspense and curiosity makes it easy to overlook. You'll care about the ending. It has light horror elements but I wouldn't say it fits into the Horror genre neatly. Rather, those elements flavor the film and add spice.
It's certainly a keeper. It was nice to watch something fresh for once in a long time. Also the running time didn't drag on for 3 hours like a lot of modern movies tend to do. It's a little slow to start but once you get to the meat of it and find the nail-biting experience within you'll forget all about that.
I would definitely recommend! It's rare that something comes along worth watching these days but The Black Phone is one that you should see.
Bloody Summer Camp (2021)
I really don't know how to rate this.
I WANT to like this, but I don't know. I do like it... sort of?
On the one hand... it's an 80's slasher homage which automatically gives it some merit. The sets and wardrobe were great. The cast, I can't imagine how they found them, did an excellent job of capturing that 80's tone! For real, that's a hard part to emulate. Their attitudes, mannerisms, and tones were pitch perfect. They deserve credit for this. Bravo!
The jokes were brutal, totally politically incorrect, and funny. I appreciate this most. The gore effects were pretty decent and served well enough. The girls were cute and eager to show their assets which was a bonus.
On the other hand... altogether as a movie it felt sort of empty. It dragged a bit or something. It takes long to get going and when it does not much happens. The killer was kind of lame and generic. He needed more character or something unique.
One other nitpick, a strange complaint that I had... everyone had tattoos everywhere. Nobody had tattoos like that in the 80's. It kind of breaks the theme, reminding you that this was very much made recently when they worked so hard to perfectly capture the past. Stupid, but it did stand out to me.
A honest effort that deserves 6 stars at least but I can't see giving it more. It's worth a watch.
3 Demons (2022)
It stinks.
This was awful, sorry to say. I get that it's a budget movie but it had all of the worst qualities of a budget movie without anything redeeming. Some effects were OK. It felt like it was made for TV or something. Uneven acting. More than a few scenes were cringe.
That's all I can really say about it. Don't waste your time. I'm only giving it 2 stars because the doctor was a crazy hot mature knockout, whoever she was. That was the best thing about it.
American Werewolves (2022)
A documentary so satisfying that I howled at the moon myself!
I thoroughly enjoyed this! I'm not sure how to praise it without writing a novel. There's so much to say.
Just to sit and listen to the witnesses who encountered the "dogman" was a treat. I believe them. Their stories made me feel uneasy and on-edge for the rest of the night. It's obvious that these are regular, genuine people with no reason to lie. Their accounts are decades old, yet you can still sense the terror in their voices. It was chilling.
They definitely encountered SOMETHING. In my state we have the Jersey Devil in our Pine Barrens region not far away from me so I grew up hearing similar tales around mysterious beasts in the woods. The dogman isn't far off.
These things must have some basis in reality. It's likely there are horrific animals out there that we can't see or haven't seen yet. This documentary suggests that the dogman *could* be paranormal in nature; a product of the Indian burial grounds.
Personally, I reject this notion. No, as with most situations, there is a scientific answer here... somewhere. Dogmen, like Bigfoot, can possibly exist without the benefit of ghosts.
And boy, let's talk about the style of this piece! It uses an 80's VHS aesthetic with a great synth soundtrack which was perfect.
In keeping with this theme, for dramatic effect they used a bad, campy werewolf costume and it was awesome! I wouldn't have it any other way. The lighting they used makes it crazy scary as the scenes synced with eyewitness testimony. They elicited more raw emotion with probably 150.00 than a Hollywood studio would with thousands spent in CGI.
There is no reason why American Werewolves doesn't deserve a perfect score. I'm going to watch it again soon!
2000 Mules (2022)
Not exactly the smoking gun we were looking for but interesting nonetheless.
It was an OK documentary. It was presented well. Easy for the average person to digest. Polished but not overly flashy.
While none of their findings are concrete enough for a court of law, that doesn't mean it's without value. It still serves to reinforce suspicion that *something* was amiss.
No incumbent before President Trump lost reelection in 60 years. Bizarre things like missing surveillance videos from the public record that are unavailable when legally requested. Voting machines mysteriously and abruptly shut down. Thousands of ballots for Uncle Joe that just appeared out of nowhere overnight. A bunch of people involved with the voting process linked to domestic terrorist group ANTIFA and placed at destructive riots. Do you really believe they didn't have a hand in this somewhere? Not to mention the very rich, powerful globalist elites pulling the strings in the shadows who fund it all.
We'll never know the truth and people will believe what they want, but I believe that there's just too much that doesn't add up. Not like it matters now anyway.
The two complaints I had about the documentary were:
1. It was boring. Clear and well made, yes, but boring. It could have used a bit of flair or atmosphere somehow.
2. They utilized scenes and graphics that have that ridiculously fake Hollywood "computer hacker" feel to it.
That's all, really. Anyone who's interested in the topic should watch it but we've already made up our minds one way or another beforehand. We need to just put this to bed now and move on. We accomplish nothing by stressing ourselves out over it.
Eating Our Way to Extinction (2021)
I tried to watch with an open mind and I learned a few things.
Honestly right up front, I'm probably not the target audience for this type of documentary. I don't know too much about environmentalism. I don't particularly care about what happens and the likes of Al Gore and those make it off-putting. I'm pretty sure it's some type of carbon tax scam. I remember back in the late 80's when they were saying that the world was going to freeze over by now and California was supposed to sink into the ocean. That didn't turn out too well. One doomsday prediction after another just keeps passing without incident. How can we take them as credible?
Still I'm glad that I watched this. It was well made. It wasn't forceful or looking to guilt trip the viewer. It was polished and stylish. It was engaging and welcoming. I didn't detect any hard political slant.
I don't know enough to say if it's full of Chicken Little stuff but if even half of it is true it's concerning. I'm not even talking about concerning for future generations because I don't care about that. I don't have any kids. I'll be dead.
No, it's concerning right now for the quality of our food and what contaminants we're eating with it. I had no idea that fish farming was so toxic and disgusting. I eat canned tuna once in a while. Am I eating microplastics?
Here's the problem. Let's just assume that the film is 100% true. There's no realistic solution. Their sources are saying that the entire planet needs to reduce meat consumption by 80% to make a difference. That will never happen. A single person giving up their own meat intake is a joke. The industrial cattle farming machine is still going to march on either way. Being a cute vegan is futile.
I remember reading some time ago that they were working on lab-grown meats. What happened to it? THAT seems like the only possible way out because we can have our meat without the mass-farming of animals. It's win-win. Plus we won't have to worry about cruelty in the process anymore.
Anyway, again, I'm better for watching. I'm set to be the griller at a Father's Day BBQ today. This film will stick with me as I do so.