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Reviews
Matlock: The Class (1993)
Poorly Executed
This is a very boring episode and another reviewer who mentioned casting pretty boys and girls was spot on. The acting was wooden and none of the characters were believable.
I used to constantly add "goofs" to the episodes in the first six seasons for poor editing showing the brown California mountains in Atlanta. Now we have the opposite problem.
I lived in Wilmington for nine years and now live one county south. It's fun to see and recognize the locations where the episodes were filmed since I've been to many of them. But they're not even trying to make the setting look like Atlanta anymore, with scenes of the marina on the Intracoastal and the Riverwalk downtown. Come on, y'all, Atlanta isn't on the coast or a river!! Very poor production!
Third Watch: The Price of Nobility (2003)
Way to Ruin a Formerly Great Show
For the first three seasons I was blown away by how excellent of a show Third Watch was. "Was" is the right word because once Bosco was moved to anti crime with that snarling, sneering and surly witch Cruz the show went from a ten to a one .
Whoever made the decision to break up the partnership of Faith and Bosco was an idiot. The addition of Cruz was probably the worst casting decision in the history of modern television shows. The actress has a perpetual sneer on her face and speaks like she has a mouthful of oatmeal.
And to top it off, after weeks without Alex, they bring her back and kill her off. The show has way too much focus on anti crime on not nearly enough of the firefighters and paramedics. I don't know how I'm going to finish the series.
Matlock: The Captain (1989)
Predictable
This wasn't a good episode of Matlock. We see the crime and therefore there's absolutely no suspense. Captain Hanna was so over the top that he was an unbelievable character.
Missing in this episode were Tyler, Michelle and even Julie. And no Don Knotts.
Typically Matlock is suspenseful with often a surprise ending. Since the audience already saw the whole set up in the beginning there was basically no reason to watch.
I'm still not at 600 words so I will type this: the Captain was played by Richard Herd who I will forever think of as George's boss, Mr Wilhelm, on Seinfeld.
If you miss this episode of Matlock you're not missing anything.
Third Watch: Collateral Damage: Part 1 (2003)
Boring Episode
First of all I don't like the way they've aged Emily. When they do that on soap operas we called it SORAS: Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome. Before last season Emily Yokas was around 10 years old. Then she was 13, to provide teen conflict with Faith. Meanwhile her brother stayed the same age. Now all of a sudden Emily is 15.
The scenes of Emily lying in bed were boring and the flashbacks of Faith were pointless.
But the worst part of this normally excellent show are any scenes with the sneering, mush mouthed, angry Cruz. The addition of her to the cast is ruining the show. Up until now I'd given the show a 10 but I'm going to have to rethink that rating.
The episode also loses points for the opening with the horrible rap "song" and scenes of drugs.
Manhattan Melodrama (1934)
Excellent For the Most Part
I really love this film and have now watched it 3 times over the last few years. My favorite actor, William Powell, and actress, Myrna Lot are the stars along with Clark Gable, whom I really like. The supporting cast is excellent as well.
A few months ago I was surprised to find out that Shirley Ross, who sang "Thanks for the Memories" with Bob Hope, was the woman singing "The Bad in Every Man". Call me crazy but I've come to love that version almost as much as the final version "Blue Moon". Ross' voice is so dramatically different than normal when performing the song at the Cotton Club.
Now for my problems with the movie. As others have mentioned, the fashions of the 1920s and 1930s weren't different in the film. I think in terms of casting that Mickey Rooney should have been the young Jim and the other boy the young Blackie. Finally, Jim should have NEVER prosecuted Blackie, there was an enormous conflict of interest, and he should have recused himself. I'll still watch Manhattan Melodrama again though, as it really is an excellent movie.
Frasier: Liar! Liar! (1997)
Just silly
I honestly don't know why the writers decided to have Frasier set in Seattle. All the talk of blue bloods, high society, opera, wine clubs and prep schools deserve a northeast setting.
Once again we revisit a bully from the Crane boys prep school days, and once again the bully has a New York accent. I really think that Hollywood writers believe that tough guys sounds like they're from Brooklyn no matter what part of the country they were raised. Remember Laverne and Shirley, set in Wisconsin, for goodness sake, yet there were more New York accents there than on Seinfeld?
Having Martin stalk off to bed is getting overused.
The entire episode was silly and repetitive. I know that the show gets better as this is my second time watching the series.
Diagnosis Murder: Blood Ties (1999)
Skip It!
To be honest this show was really not part of Diagnosis Murder. It was yet again another "back door" pilot for a lame, boring and cringe worthy show about female police detectives. Thankfully it was never picked up and I'm not surprised, since the two women couldn't act. They were in that late 1990s to 2000s trend of tall, skinny model types cast for their looks alone.
The characters of the actual show we were trying to watch, Diagnosis Murder, were almost absent. For the first time since watching the series we turned it off before the end.
Overall Season Six has been a huge disappointment with only one or two episodes getting above a 6 star rating from me. This episode gets a one and that's too generous.
Diagnosis Murder: The Last Resort (1998)
Interesting Twist But ..
From the other reviews here at the Internet Movie Data Base and the Trivia section I'm learning that the premise of this episode is nothing new. The familiar plot reminded me of another show, which, in my opinion, did it much better.
Still, this was an adequate episode in a season that's been up and down in quality. Truthfully I prefer the lighthearted ones the most.
I liked seeing Joe Penny who is really nice to look at, as well as being a capable actor. Steve was acting so out of character that I kept waiting for the twist. When it came it was unexpected....but it was SO similar to my favorite episode of Miami Vice, Out Where the Buses Don't Run, minus the song they used, the brilliant Brothers in Arms.
Diagnosis Murder: Blood Will Out (1998)
Another Weak Episode
Rather than put this under "goofs" I'll just review this episode, which was another disappointing and weak episode from Season 6.
Under the "goofs" section here on IMDB someone already mentioned how silly it was that no one turned on the lights!! Most television shows are guilty of portraying night time in an office or building with no overhead lights on, and usually just a desk lamp. That's just ridiculous as no one works in the dark. If a crazy guy was actually loose in the hospital the hospital security would be searching for him and the place would be lit up. And Amanda doing autopsies in the dark? Seriously?
The new exterior shots of the hospital make it look like it's doubled in size.
The most glaring error was the orderly with a med cart. Only RNs (or doctors) would have access to meds. And anyone with a med cart in their possession would never leave it unattended.
This episode was so bad that I didn't even understand who the bad guy was or the whole motive.
Diagnosis Murder: Resurrection: Part 2 (1998)
Four Worst Episodes of the Series
I've been watching Diagnosis Murder from the beginning since I had never seen it when it originally aired in the late 1990s to early 2000s. I've rated many episodes a ten and most at least a seven.
Unfortunately this four episode story arc, with two episodes finishing season 5 and two beginning season six, didn't resemble the rest of the series.
A convoluted plot, a ridiculous motive, and a cartoon family of super villains ruined a typically light hearted show. Horrible miscasting for the part of Carter Sweeney in addition to over the top evil sister Caitlin made it painful to view. I could barely watch Goatee Boy and Sleazy Sister.
Thankfully this episode wrapped up the worst storyline in the show's history.
The Big Knife (1955)
Oh No, Eddie, You're Wrong!!!
I attempted to watch The Big Knife on TCM over the weekend. This was Noir Alley's film noir of the week. What a stretch! No wonder so many reviewers of older dramas which mention a crime consider them noir.
The Big Knife is an overwrought, over acted, over the top talky talky talky drama from Clifford Odets. The majority of movies based on plays are similarly talky and stagey and this film is no exception.
The over acting and the uber angst displayed by Jack Palance and Rod Steiger screamed Method Acting. This movie in no way resembles film noir.
I made it through about 45 miserable minutes and fell asleep. The thought of trying to finish it tonight feels like a chore.
I gave the review two stars for the cool mid-century modern house and Ida Lupino. The soundtrack was horrible, the acting was grating and the inclusion of it in Noir Alley was ridiculous! Don't waste your time!
Brief Encounter (1945)
Absolute Perfection
Brief Encounter is not typical of my usual favorite films, and yet it is one of the best movies that I've ever seen. I've now watched it three times in the last few years and each time I've been blown away by how perfect a movie it is.
My favorite films tend to be screwball comedies from the 1930s and 1940s, film noir, and Alfred Hitchcock movies. I've watched many of them numerous times.
I had never heard of Brief Encounter until recently and just cannot praise it enough. The cinematography is fabulous as is the Rachmaninov soundtrack. The cast is excellent and the fact that it's comprised of ordinary looking actors and actresses adds to the overall impact.
Flawless perfection throughout!
Frasier: Slow Tango in South Seattle (1994)
Creepy, Actually
Although I got a kick out of seeing "J. Peterman" as the author of the book based on Frasier's experiences, as well as evil "Helena Cassidine" as his former piano teacher, this episode felt creepy.
It probably would have been a good idea to have had Frasier be 18+ at the time of his piano lessons. Instead it felt more like Mary Kay Letourneau and her underage beau ...and she served prison time for it. Reverse the situation and had Frasier been an underage girl and her piano teacher a mature man he'd have wound up in the sex offender list after serving his sentence.
Not a good episode at all. The only bright spot was the piano teacher's mother.
Diagnosis Murder: Living on the Streets Can Be Murder (1996)
Hollywood Homeless
From the very beginning, the movie and TV industry in Hollywood has romanticized the homeless. They are always, without fail, good honest people, with great teeth, down on their luck.
In old B & W movies, which I love, it's kind of understandable as many were made during the Depression. In the modern day, however, it's ludicrous.
First, a correction. Both the synopsis here and the dialogue from the show state that Patsy had eaten a "balanced" meal. Pasta, bread and vegetables is not balanced, there was no protein!
The story was fairly typical for Hollywood's version of the down and out, with Walter cleaning up beautifully after removing his wig and fake beard, and being drug free and articulate. For an actual picture of homelessness look at videos of Kensington in Philadelphia and see what drug and alcohol addiction, the main reasons for homelessness, do to people. The majority of people on the streets have mental health and/or addiction problems. A shower, shave, suit and tie don't solve them.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
6 Star Rating for the Three Ps
William Powell, Gail Patrick and Eugene Pallette make My Man Godfrey tolerable. Other than that this movie is an overrated hot mess
Let me start by saying that I love old movies, preferably black and white, post code, from the 1930s and 1940s. I consider anything after 1960 usually too modern. William Powell is my favorite actor and I love him in Love Crazy, I Love You Again, and of course the Thin Man Movies. I confess, he and Myrna Loy are my favorite couple, however I'll watch anything with Powell. I like Carole Lombard although she's a little too goofy at times. So I should have enjoyed this film, right?
Wrong! Lombard's character was an annoying basket case, not funny, and had no chemistry with William Powell (yes, I know they'd been married). I liked his interactions with Gail Patrick better ( and they're fun in Love Crazy.) Eugene Pallette was excellent, but Alice Brady, who was Oscar nominated, and who I'd never heard of, was as annoying and silly as Lombard. The Carlo character was totally unnecessary.
This is one I won't watch again!
Moonlighting (1985)
I Wanted to Love It
In the mid-1980s i didn't watch much TV except for football and Inside the NFL. My free time after work was also spent at the gym and going out, because I was young and single. I love the 1980s and everything about it, except maybe shoulder pads. So I should enjoy Moonlighting, right?
Wrong! I am trying to enjoy this show. We watch a lot of detective shows on streaming and even though "light" detective shows like Barnaby Jones and Diagnosis Murder suspend belief, they're watchable. So we are trying Moonlighting once a week.
We're up to Season 2 and I still can't stand this show. Normally I love Cybil Shepherd. The Last Picture Show was one of my favorite movies. I like Bruce Willis and he looked great back then. The premise of the show is cute. But so far, Moonlighting is awful! The bickering, the outlandish cases, the supposedly witty repartee...it just falls flat. Maybe it will get better?
Diagnosis Murder: My Baby Is Out of This World (1995)
Worst Episode of the 2nd Season
This was a silly idea for an episode and I don't think any guest stars should have made it better.
The synopsis here explains it and I was afraid at the outset that it would be like the vampire episode and not provide a logical explanation for an alien pregnancy. I figured out who the perpetrator was early on, which increased the boredom factor.
The main problem was the lackluster casting. The lead female character was horrible and wore the worst of ugly 1990s fashion. The other cast members were similarly awful. Just a really bad idea for a plot!
I still need more words so here they are: I hope the next episode is better!
The Constant Nymph (1943)
What Were They Thinking?
I attempted to watch this movie last night because I've always been a fan of Joan Fontaine, and I have just finished reading her rather strange autobiography.
I struggled through about 20 minutes of it. With an outstanding cast, The Constant Nymph should have been a good movie. Instead I found it one of the most abysmal films I've ever tried to watch. I could barely understand the actors in the first scene as their accents were so thick. The following scenes, supposedly set at a Swiss chalet, looked movie studio fake. Joan Fontaine's performance was grating and ridiculous, the dialogue sounded stilted and the whole effect was that of a high school play written by a student. Andy Hardy's play in Andy Gets Spring Fever was better!
Lastly, it wasn't the subject matter or Boyer's thick accent that bothered me because growing up Gigi was my favorite movie and I had a crush on Louis Jourdan. The Constant Nymph, however, seemed like a really bad play put on film.
Till the End of Time (1946)
One Casting Mistake....
....caused my 5 star rating. I would have probably given this movie a 6 or 7 had it not been for the role of Pat being played by Dorothy McGuire. Although she had a pleasant speaking voice she was totally wrong for the part. It stretched credibility that Guy Madison's character would be so obsessed with her. As another reviewer said, she looked old enough to be his mother and her hair and clothes didn't help. She was 30 at the time and Guy Madison was 24. Eleanor Parker, an excellent actress and a beautiful woman, 24 at the time, would have elevated this film.
Since it's been compared to The Best Years of Our Lives I have to add that it isn't even close. That's a 10 star movie that's flawless throughout, including the cast.
The Bob Newhart Show: Home Is Where the Hurt Is (1974)
What Were the Writers Thinking?
I can't believe that this episode was part of an otherwise funny comedy show. It was depressing and the weak attempts at humor fell flat.
The synopsis and other review are not correct; there was no Christmas party at the Hartleys. Bob, Emily and Jerry were on their way to the symphony on Christmas Eve.
I usually like Carol episodes but this one gets a *1* rating from me. One of the show's writers must have been in a Scrooge-like mood to come up with it.
If you enjoy the BNS for its witty and subtle comedy do yourself a favor and skip this one. Even the root beer egg nog was bad.
I still need 12 characters so here they are.
All Saints: Time Bomb (2005)
Lame Premise
From a logical point of view this was a lame episode. I just knew that the shopping center bomber wouldn't be the obvious choice, since writers the world over just can't resist being PC, woke, leftist or what have you.
Des Callahan sure was lucky that on the exact day and time that he chose for his publicity stunt there happened to be a man of middle eastern descent in the shopping center. What are the odds?
The writers are writing Teri very out of character and she, Nelson and Von are becoming an echo chamber of left wing bias (unions and now terrorism).
The only storyline that's remotely interesting is Vincent's.
Rules of Engagement (2007)
Truly Terrible
I would have given this show only one star but I really like Patrick Warburton. I only made it through 3 episodes before I deleted it.
I feel like I'd seen this show before, and better done. It was so similar to 'Til Death, another recent show, with the slightly older jaded couple and the younger newly together couple with the good looking, slightly sleazy wife. Unfortunately that show changed direction so many times it turned out to be bad.
I generally stay FAR away from American TV shows past 2005. The only decent sitcom (with a unique concept) was The Big Bang Theory. Everything else I've attempted to watch is filled with adolescent, excessively juvenile sexual humor (BBT sometimes did too). It's as if all Hollywood writers are 15 boys who fantasize about dating the popular girls but can't.
When I started watching Rules of Engagement I didn't realize that the completely unfunny David Spade was in it. As another reviewer mentioned his character has no redeeming qualities. I loved Warburton on Seinfeld (an outstanding sitcom) and News Radio (another good one until the tragic death of Phil Hartman), but Warburton isn't enough to carry this show. Skip it!
A Crime to Remember: Mother's Little Helper (2018)
Adequate Depiction
Since watching A Crime to Remember a few months ago I've read two true crime books about the murder of Franklin Bradshaw.
I just watched this episode again, and while the gist of the crime was portrayed adequately there are several things that could have been improved upon.
It was helpful to have Jonathan Coleman, the author of one of the books, as well as Marilyn Reagan, the eldest Bradshaw daughter, on to comment.
What could have made the episode better were several things:
1) The actor playing the murder victim had a good resemblance to Bradshaw, however he had a New York accent.
2) The victim's widow, Berenice, was a petite, beautiful woman throughout her life. She lived to 92! They used a frumpy, overweight actress with a Baltimore accent. Both Franklin and Berenice were born and raised in the west.
3) Although Frances, one of the murderers, was a heavy smoker (and died from COPD at age 65) I don't think anyone else in the family smoked. And to portray the majority Mormon police as well as Doug Steele as smokers was ridiculous.
4) Frances was not nearly as attractive as the actress they cast.
5) When all the real names are a matter of public record I'm not sure why they changed some of the names. The son who took flying lessons, was locked out for years (not once) and attacked his college roommate was Larry Schreuder (now Larry Bradshaw), the son (who was blond and chubby) who murdered Franklin was Marc Schreuder, and the daughter from the second marriage was Lavinia Schreuder.
Smart Girls Don't Talk (1948)
Held My Attention Throughout
I tend to watch old movies over 2 or 3 nights and with some I wind up only watching half. My ratings are never as technical as some of the others here; I rate them on whether or not they hold my interest, as well as whether the actors and actresses are well cast.
I'm perplexed at the overall low rating for this film. I'm familiar with Virginia Mayo from The Best Years of Our Lives, and Jimmy Stewart lookalike Robert Hutton from the Janie movies, but I wasn't familiar with the rest of the cast. Bruce Bennett was really good, great to look at, and was a former Olympic athlete who lived to 100!
Smart Girls Don't Talk held my interest and had a few twists and turns. I could find no flaws and enjoyed the music and the noir atmosphere. 10 stars from me!
Barnaby Jones: A Gold Record for Murder (1974)
Bizarre Episode
We watched this episode of Barnaby Jones last night and I'm still thinking about how truly weird it was.
Several other reviews covered my impression of it but what the heck, I'll review it anyway. Another reviewer had me laughing out loud when they said that Marjoe Gortner looked like the son of the dentist on Newhart! Great comparison. I've never liked Gortner and he stayed true to form with his overacting. He's a really bad singer as well.
The most bizarre aspect of this episode was the use of Jethro Tull's best song, Wind Up. We had to mute Gortner's butchering of it. Buddy Ebsen actually sang a better acoustic version.
All in all a poor show which could have been better with a different actor playing the murdering musician.