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Reviews
Gran Turismo (2023)
I could not finish the movie
The fact I could not finish the movie does not mean the movie is bad. I watched primarily to see Emilia Hartford, but her role is minor in the half of the movie I did watch. I was excited to see David Harbour from Stranger Things in the movie, and his role is great. Some of the special effects are cool. I just thought everything was mediocre and I eventually got bored. Not a lot of character development. A lot of cliché dialogue and situations. Nothing was bad. I will probably go back and finish the movie one day. Maybe the third act will justify watching the film. I was hoping for more excitement.
Ted Lasso: La Locker Room Aux Folles (2023)
I had tears of happiness at the end of this episode.
The writing for Ted Lasso is incredible. I thought this was an incredibly touching episode that really tugged at my heart. So many storylines. So many ups and downs. I love the Nate and Jade relationship. Roy Kent had a very touching speech. And the argument Coach Beard has about the best classis rock guitarist is priceless. I agree with Rebecca's choice. The music used at the end, All That You Are by Bear's Den is so fitting. I had to purchase the download. If the series ends after this third season, I will be disappointed. As long as it ends in a satisfying way, I guess I should be grateful. Not sure what is planned.
Wednesday (2022)
Heard the buzz and I had to check it out.
I really enjoyed Wednesday. I ended up binge watching all 8 episodes. Jenna Ortega's take on Wednesday Addams is fantastic and her dialogue is very quick and smart. Emma Myers who plays the bubbly roommate Enid is fantastic too. Many references to the original whimsical series from the 60's. This series is much darker than the original series. Fred Armisen as Uncle Fester is the only comedic character. If I had any complaints is that the show had too many plot twists that got confusing after awhile. Also, the Morticia and Gomez characters were a little over the top with their love infatuation with each other. I am hoping for a season 2.
Ted Lasso: No Weddings and a Funeral (2021)
Are you allowed to laugh at a funeral?
I thought this was a brilliant episode. It was sad and poignant, but at the same time hysterical. I think all the comic relief elements really offset the tragedy of people's lives that come bubbling to the surface during a sad event. To some it is just a social obligation that do not take it too seriously. A great display of the defense mechanisms of dealing with grief and awkward situations. I was crying (from laughing) at the end of the funeral scene. I do think the writing and characters are masterful. All the different plot lines that started, ended and continued with this episode. I look forward to each new episode.
Horrible Bosses (2011)
Predictable, but still funny...
I thought I was going to hate this film just going by the description. The film is actually pretty funny. Some of he humor is very adult. I love the banter between the main characters which I think is very well written. I could see some of the plot twists quite easily, but that did not take away from the film. The only major issue I had with the film was with Jennifer Aniston. She is one of the horrible bosses, but I thing some guys would be into her behavior. Her cougar behavior would be more intolerable if she were less attractive and much older. If you think Jennifer is hot, then you have to see this film! Kevin Spacey is fantastic. Colin Farrell's part is quite small. Jason Bateman is great. I am a big Julie Bowen fan, and she is also hot in her small role.
Not a great film, but it had me laughing at many points in the movie.
American: The Bill Hicks Story (2009)
More than a collection of comedy bits...
I was able to see this on my local cable provider's VOD. I half expected this to be part biography and part collection of comedy routines. It was heavier on the biography part and not as much a retrospective of performance bits. That was perfectly fine because this documentary was more about the man and what drove his comedy. Also, it appears Bill Hicks was an incredible blues guitarist from the few audio clips played. Most of the beginning is about his family and upbringing which sourced his early comedy. It also described his friendships and the relationships that led him into comedy. Towards the end, more of Bill Hick's comedy is performed, but more to emphasize the circumstances of his life and how he managed his career.
Bill Hicks will always be one of my favorite comedians, and to see the man behind the comedy was fascinating. I have a deeper appreciation of the man and his work after seeing this film.
How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
Great movie...so-so 3D
I loved the movie, but the 3D was not worth it. First the movie. I thought it was a very touching movie. A young boy who wants to prove himself as a viking, but he is kind of screw up that is always an embarrassment to his father. I think anyone who has had a beloved pet will love this movie. The bond Hiccup forms with the dragon is very sweet. The supporting characters are nothing special. I love Kristen Wiig, but her character is so lame that anyone could have voiced the part. Craig Ferguson is the only standout in his role.
Now for the 3D. There is only one flying scene in the movie that had me go "Wow!", but the rest of the movie did not benefit from the 3D. If I am going to pay that much extra for a ticket, I want to be amazed throughout the movie. Maybe it is the technology, or the theater, or the particular pair of glasses I wore. I thought the scenes appeared mostly out of focus. My glasses kept picking up on the glare from the Exit signs and the aisle lighting. I saw it at a quality theater. Not worth the extra cost.
Star Trek (2009)
The more I think of this movie, the more I drop my rating...
If you are a fan of the original Star Trek, there is very little of it here. The character development gives a completely different take on the crew's origins. I did not like the new twists on everyone's background. Very poorly acted too, but I did enjoy Zoe Saldana. There is also a plot element to explain why everything is different. Plot-wise, not an enjoyable story.
The only two highlights of the film for me was Leonard Nimoy and the look of the Enterprise. But they made the ship look too high tech. It looks like it could run circles around the Enterprise D. Even though a lot of the humor was corny, I did chuckle at most of the jokes.
Very visual movie, but I did not care for the new direction of the franchise.
Tom and Jerry: A Nutcracker Tale (2007)
An enjoyable film...
I really enjoyed this film. I caught it by chance on TV. I did not realize it was made in 2007 and thought it was a lost Tom & Jerry special. It is not violent like the old, classic Tom & Jerry cartoons, but this is suppose to be a holiday film. Tom does get a banged up a few times, but nothing like the old cartoons. I am not familiar with the story line of The Nutcracker, so I do not know how close this adaptation is to the original.
I read some of the other comments, but I do not see their complaints. I think the animation is good, the music is good. The plot seems okay. I have my favorite moments. I like the look and feel of the scene in the dragons' den. The animation and music fit very well together.
If they had made this film like the later T & J cartoons in which they are friends and everything is corny with a bad laugh track, then I would have been very, very disappointed.
Transformers (2007)
I was disappointed...
First, I never watched the cartoon or bought any of the merchandising when I was growing up. I was excited to see the movie anyway. The only two redeeming aspects of the movie are Megan Fox and the appearance of the new Chevy Camero. Both are hot!!! Shia LaBeouf plays a very obnoxious teenager that is full of too much talk. I got tired of him right from the beginning. I saw that same character in "I, Robot". The movie also has the typical drawn out action/chase sequences where everything gets destroyed (buildings, cars, etc).
I did like some of the attempts at humor. The Transformers themselves were pretty cool. I just thought the movie was completely formula and the acting and dialog was terrible. If the movie was from the viewpoint of the Transformers instead of Shia LaBeaouf's character, maybe the film would have been better.
The Brothers Grimm (2005)
Terrible waste of talent...
I am a huge fan of Terry Gilliam. I am also a big fan of Heath Ledger, Lena Headey, Jonathan Pryce and Matt Damon. But I am very disappointed in this movie. Although the plot is very interesting, I think it is poorly developed. The film has all the Terry Gilliam trademarks. It is dark, mystical, imaginative, and it is well casted. But the pieces do not fit together well. Films like Brazil and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen are very visual, but this film has very few memorable visual elements. Twelve Monkeys had so many plot details that I pick up on new details each time I watch that film. Maybe that is what is lacking. I expected more depth. Also, I do not think the chemistry is there between Heath and Matt. I think the only strong performance was by Jonathan Pryce, a favorite actor of Terry Gilliam films. I did enjoy the comic relief of Peter Stormare.
King Kong (2005)
A good movie, but too many creative liberties for my taste...
First, Naomi Watts is stunning throughout the movie. I really enjoyed her performance, which had a comic twist. Jack Black is good, but I do not think he was the right choice for the role. He was good coming across as being obsessive, but almost in a comical way. Adrien Brody's role seemed more of an action part than any real acting, but he was good. Not a lot of character development.
My only complaint with the film is that the action scenes were way too long. What I see in a lot of action sequences, in this film and in others, is that "How complicated and impossible can we make the action and still have the heroes survive?" Many scenes defy the laws of physics. Cars from the 30's handling like sports cars, bi-planes flying like jet fighters. Another common thing is characters that constantly put themselves into terrifying situations that would go against human nature. A real person in many of these situations would be too petrified to move than chase the action or scale the outside of buildings.
Overall, I did enjoy this film. It is very well done and enjoyable to watch, but too many creative liberties for my taste.
Inside Man (2006)
A very engrossing movie, and it is by Spike Lee!!!
I saw the movie as a sneak preview. I thoroughly enjoyed the film. I have never seen any of Spike Lee's previous films, but I am familiar with his earlier work. This film is very mainstream. One thing that amazed me was the dialog. It seemed very natural, like I was eavesdropping on real conversations, especially in the interrogation room. The film can be confusing as the audience, like the film characters, are trying to piece together what is going on. I thoroughly enjoyed Denzel Washington's performance. I also found Terence Blanchard's musical score very riveting.
I did not like Jodi Foster's character, but I do not think her character was suppose to be likable. She plays a woman who knows how to get what she wants, and her services are in high demand. Not a big role, but memorable.
Imagine Me & You (2005)
A very charming movie...
I really enjoyed this movie. I got to see the movie at a free screening in Rochester, NY. I am familiar with some of the previous work of Piper Perabo and Lena Headey, and they were the reason I wanted to see this film. This movie is a very light romantic comedy. I thought the dialog and humor were very well written. The characters are interesting and seem very real. It never gets heavy or preachy about alternative lifestyles. The movie just deals with falling in love and finding the right person in your life. Kind of like the movie Serendipity (I like that movie too), but not as sappy. Overall, a very sweet, touching movie.
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Way too gory...
I am a huge fan of Tim Burton's films, but this film for me is almost unwatchable. The decapitations are very graphic. This movie looks more like a cheap slasher movie than a high-budget horror/fantasy film. Some of the gory scenes are even meant to be comical, which I did not find one bit funny.
The look of the film is very cool. It has a very nightmarish look. I think Christopher Walken is miscast as the Hessian Horseman. The part does not require any acting, and he has no lines. He does look very scary with the pointed teeth and wind-blown hair. I am also getting pretty tired of Johnny Depp portraying bumbling simpletons, even thought his character is suppose to be a skilled detective. There are no other roles that are memorable.
I knew the basic story of the headless horseman before seeing this movie, but I thought this was a poor adaptation.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978)
This is a fun movie...
I am a big fan of the Beatles. The fact that someone was able to take a bunch of Beatles tunes and turn them into a plot for a movie is amazing. The plot just serves to tie all the songs together. I enjoy all the different artists covering the Beatles' songs. Aerosmith. George Burns. Earth, Wind and Fire. Billy Preston. Steve Martin. The Bee Gees. Peter Frampton. The variety of artists covering the songs make for some fun renditions. The movie is definitely bizarre and very 70's, but I enjoyed it. I am sure any die-hard Beatles fan will find this movie a disgrace on many levels, but this movie actually got me interested in their songs.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Better read the book first...
I am a little disappointed by this installation of the Harry Potter series. I have not read any of the Harry Potter books, but I completely enjoyed the first three movies. With "Goblet of Fire", I found myself confused, especially towards the end of the movie, because I did not know the significance of everything that was going on. I have had to seek out my nephew who knows all the books by heart to explain why something happened. I still enjoyed the movie, and I liked the darker tone of the film compared to the other 3 movies. I will have to either read the book or wait for the next movie to fill in some of the gaps. Maybe the fact that the book had a lot of subplots that needed to be cut out to fit into one movie took away from the cohesiveness of the film. So as a non-reader of the books (that is my loss), I give the movie a lower score.
Corpse Bride (2005)
I really liked this movie...
I saw this movie over the weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought the movie was technically amazing, along with having a good story to tell. There were times when I found myself engrossed in the plot that I was not thinking about what effort must have been involved to photograph the scene.
The only problems I had with the movie were that the pacing of the movie seemed off. Some of the plot points seemed to be rushed. Some movies develop very slowly, sometimes too slow. This movie develops very quickly, almost too quickly. Also, not all the musical numbers are enjoyable. "The Nightmare Before Christmas" was a better movie for pacing and for musical numbers that stick with you after the movie ends.
So better pacing and better musical numbers would have earned this movie a 10 from me. I definitely want the DVD when it comes out.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
I was disappointed.
I guess I am a purist. I am a huge fan of the original cartoon and its uplifting spirit. Since the story had to be embellished to stretch its length, much of the added story is sad, mean or crude. The Whos are not portrayed as very innocent. They have their character flaws. The audience I saw the movie with did not laugh very much, along with myself. However, I did hear kids leaving the theater say they really enjoyed the movie. Jim Carrey is great in the role and the young actor that plays Cindy Lou is also fantastic. The movie has its moments, but it did not leave me feeling good like the cartoon did.