Reviews

Not that we couldn't have a Civil War but in this movie the causes never even given

And an alliance between Texas and California?

According to some Texans I know the idea would be repugnant

I've never been a photo journalist covering a combat zone but these people seem to be oblivious to danger

See a bunch of bodies right in front of you on the road? Let's go investigate!

We're photo journalists! Everybody will adhere to that code of conduct and leave us from harm.

And the newest "photo journalist" on this Mötley team had a camera that made me chuckle.

I've like my Nikon F3 so much that's been around the world with me that I can't bear part with it even though it's used today is mainly in a niche. I had to drive 20 miles across town to get some black-and-white film and I still toss it in the car When I'm going cross country

But I had to laugh when the newest photo journalist is carrying a Nikon F3 and I see her advancing the film

Just where do you plan on getting this developed?

And where do you find a way to buy film going through this apocalyptic landscape?

The landscape the Director and screen screen writers give isn't so much a Civil War but a mad Max scenario where there is total anarchy

Beyond that I suppose I would get the spoiler territory but I will say the movie was entertaining if a bit improbable.

I'm halfway through season three now - the last season - and while it is an enjoyable series my main criticism is that the "bad guys" - the corrupt white businessman and politicians - seem more like " snidely whiplash" characters.

Without offering any spoilers it seems that some of the bad they do it would not be in their power

However the reason it is so appealing is the martial arts and generally the bad guys getting what's coming to them

For those who don't know California history, the Chinese were treated terribly

In fact there was a law at one time that a Chinese person could not testify in court.

That part of the series got right.

I guess to give it a higher rating I would appreciate a little subtlety and nuance

Still, it is an entertaining series and recommended

By the way in my town, Sacramento, we have always had a huge Asian population. Part of the reason is the gold rush and part of the reason is mainly Chinese workers built the transcontinental railroad from Sacramento to promontory point Utah.

That's who the central Pacific Railroad used and the union Pacific Railroad going west used Irish labor

You see those tunnels they carved through the Sierra Nevada's and just have to admire them

In addition the Sacramento river used to flood annually for miles around when the Sierra snow melted and only so much water could flow through the Carquinez straight in the San Francisco Bay

And the Chinese built the first levees along the Sacramento river which contained the water. They came from the Pearl River Delta

If you want to see an interesting town along the river I call it a "living Ghost Town." It is the town of Locke. It's the only town in America that was built by the Chinese for the Chinese. And it was built with redwood from the San Francisco Panama exposition which had finished its time and was being torn down. Named the town of locke because at the time in 1915 Chinese were not allowed to own land in California and the rancher George Locke leased it to them

But the Chinese have traditionally valued close family and education and through both of them they've achieved positions at the highest levels of society here

Anyway I think they got the history and friction of the Chinese and whites right I just wish they had toned it down with the bad things done

There's some actions they did that in history I kinda laugh at. For those of you who remember Bonanza little Joe always used to ride down from the Ponderosa in Lake Tahoe to Virginia City and in reality that was a long ride down the eastern slope of the Sierras and up into Virginia city. He probably would've spent two or three days and had a sore butt

Once you get into season three you'll see what I mean in a certain episode.

But anyway without offering spoilers they played fast and loose aspects of history but got the main things right.

I am hardly what I would consider to be in the "Taylor Swift" demographic. A man past 70. But a female friend of mine liked it, and I like music so I went to see it tonight.

This is called the "Eras Tour" because the 3 hour show is divided into the various eras of her songwriting, with different stage sets and dress for each "era".

I read a few weeks ago, in the WSJ of all places, a bit about her tour - requiring 50 semis to carry all of the stage equipment from city to city. I was thinking just of the logistics and of all the people "behind the scenes" who put all of this together.

When you see the show, you wonder how they could do all of this in 50 trucks.

This was filmed at the last stop of her tour, the Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, CA.

It was sold out.

The visuals are spectacular, the costumes, sets, and of course her music.

And you are right on stage with her.

It isn't simply a recording of the show with 2 or 3 cameras angles but a very well thought out production and with a mystery to me, not an external camera in sight as you see various angles of the massive stage.

Very well done in all respects.

Today I saw this and if it weren't for the very creative CGI I would've left early. It has a 7 score here and is labeled as a comedy/drama. Hi Saul neither.

And it has some top talent stars - Tom Hanks and Scarlett Johansson.

I read somewhere that the Director said this is supposed to be a homage to the 1950s

Well I certainly saw that. I can remember growing up and passing signs like "dinosaur Park" and "asteroid city", or something very close to it

Do not wish to be a spoiler so I will say that they added some plot lines but to me they made no sense

I asked the two women sitting next to me at the end if they could explain it to me and they laughed.

They could not.

As I'm leaving ask 4 other audience members if they understood it and they shook their heads

Maybe it's just me.

And the sampling I took at the theater

But I sat through it because it was very creative as to the CGI. Like going into a wonder world.

I just saw this movie a few hours ago and was very moved by it. It's the first "10" I have given any movie. It is a story of redemption, healing, and hope from the viewpoint of 2 Combat Vets, one from Vietnam and one from Afghanistan, and one civilian who lost a loved one.

The main story is that of the Afghan Vet, and there are flashbacks to see what he experienced in Afghanistan.

"More books have been written about fly fishing than any other sport", is one of the lines. Throughout the movie, passages are read from these book that concern fly fishing and how it relates to life.

Perfectly cast and against the backdrop of a Montana river.

There's only two or three movies I've walked out on. I think the premise was good although you have to sort of check your belief at the door of the idea that by inheritance an American housewife gets a summons that she is now a mafia boss in Italy

That's fine because a lot of movies you just sort of go with it

But she's portrayed as such a bumbling fool. And I suppose this humor works for some but it would've been far better in my estimation had it been subtle humor

That is, she realizes what she has inherited and walked into but her naïveté keeps getting her into trouble. But her naïveté ends up saving the day

That sort of thing...

Anyway some may like it but her stupidity for me even fictionally was too painful to watch. Could anybody be that stupid and bumbling?

Although I did like the acting of her consigliore. And that acting was believable.

It's hard to make a movie that's a comedy full of Gore. But maybe I'll put kill Bill into that category

I watched this on Amazon prime and once I realized what was going on had to smile

The movie plays to so many stereotypes held by so many of these days.

In these politically charged times with so much polarization each side holds to stereotypical beliefs. If the two sides would actually talk to each other and find we have more in common than you suspect

Anyway the movie plays to those stereotypes with a lot of humor with a twist at the end

I'll just say it was an entertaining movie and let you decide.

I watched this sporadically when it was on the network. I thought it was funny but not hilariously so.

I've been watching it again from the first episode on Paramount + and I found a new found appreciation for it. I'm seeing many of the episodes for the first time.

Perhaps if I can use a phrase of my own as to the humor, it is cerebrally funny.

A lot of series after decades have a kind of dated aura to them.

Others, even some of those from the 50s, have a certain timelessness to them. Look at I Love Lucy. Still popular after nearly 70 years.

I think people will still be appreciating this series 30 years from now.

It's all about interpersonal relationships and life issues.

I would say that it is perfectly cast too.

Perfect writing and perfect casting

And even the dog Eddie is a riot.

Someone else mentioned that this movie reminded her a bit of To Kill A Mockingbird and I see that.

And what surprised me the theater was fairly full even in these Covid times and many of the theatergoers had already read the book.

That is unusual for a movie. Meaning they so enjoyed the book they wanted to see it on the screen and then talking to a few people exiting said it followed the book pretty well.

I did not read the book and still enjoyed it.

Makes me want to get the book now

Having seen a number of movies based on books, some of which follow the books better than others, I came to the realization that you cannot simply transcribe most books to the silver screen.

You've got about two hours to tell your story. I think this movie was masterful, going between the past in the present through much of the timr.

I would like to say more but don't want to be a spoiler.

Someone said "it's not a chick flick".

I think it could be a chick flick but most men would enjoy it too.

Has a surprise ending and that's all I will say to avoid being a spoiler.

What beautiful scenery along the North Carolina Coast and it takes great cinematography to bring that to the screen.

I think it was well cast too.

First off, let me say that I am a Believer. However, I have seen a few of these movies aimed at the Christian audience that simply quote scripture to reaffirm one's belief. I saw one a few years ago of a little boy who was clinically dead describe what he saw.

I don't need an affirmation, but was curious to see if the writers could effectively use an objective means outside of scripture to make the case for the existence of Heaven.

Of course, nobody can scientifically prove that Heaven (or Hell) exists, but the movie did have some good moments that would make most viewers pause with thought.

I will say too, that among Christians they run the spectrum of belief - outside of the essential things, of course. And some of Christians are critical and even condemn anyone straying from their own beliefs.

If you think that, for example, Hell is full of fire and brimstone and tortured souls, and ready to condemn or "correct" anyone not holding this belief, this movie is not for you unless you at least are willing to consider another thought.

The movie had its slow moments, but it had 3 highlights for me. I enjoyed the interview of a Cambridge neurologist who tells us what our neurons can tell us and what they can't, but we perceive anyway.

There was an interview with a retired Christian singer, who filled stadiums, tell us how he had a crisis in faith. He describes what became his own view, using his love for his own son, how the Father loves us.

Don't want to be a spoiler, but I will say that his using his own love for his son, and then saying that should he want to remain "behind the scenes" in his son's everyday life, is that love diminished if the son strays?" I am not using the most accurate example in rephrasing, but will say that the man's argument gave me some pause for thought.

Of course, the near death experiences were interesting and compelling, and some of the interviewees weren't Christian.

In summary, the movie isn't ground breaking, nor could it be. But there is enough it it to make both believers and non-believers cause to reflect.

This is on Netflix now, and while I enjoyed it the first viewing, I really had to see it twice to fully understand it. Maybe I am slow, but once I really had the insight it was a beautiful story. It is a story of redemption not only for the main character, but a supporting character.

Some have complained about all the coughing the main character does - but to fully understand the movie the coughing - and the medicine he takes - is necessary to the plot.

Not trying to start a fight, but I believe some of the reviewers have gotten it a bit wrong as far as the character backgrounds. To explain this further I'd have to spoil it.

See it - and see it a second time if you have to.

Wish I could get the soundtrack but haven't seen it.

Just saw this today at Ground Zero, Sacramento's 75 year old Tower Theater that had right next door, Tower Drugs where the founder, Russ Solomon, started what became a world-wide musical empire.

I was not surprised at the influence Tower had on the recording industry, particularly after they opened up their Sunset Blvd store in Los Angeles. Didn't realize though that many big recording stars such as Bruce Springsteen and Elton John shopped there.

It's a fascinating look not only at the rise and fall of Tower Records, but the recording industry's changes over the years.

You'll even see how the Beach Boys changed their sales focus.

If Tower Records was in your life, and chances are if you are over 30 it was, this is a must-see.

Kudos to Colin Hanks, who spent seven years on this project.

I am in the 3rd episode of this series and recommend it highly. They have taken 14 diaries of people - from combatants to family members, and through good acting brought them to life.

We see a 15 year old Cossack girl who fights the Turks - a German girl who befriended a student pilot....

Follow an upper class British woman who volunteers as a nurse for the front lines...Or a German family who lets their son volunteer in 1914...

This series shows you on a multi faceted level the horrible effect the Great War had on society.

Think Ken Burn's Civil War series (itself excellent) brought to life.

This is the only reason I am extending my Hulu Plus subscription - to see all 39 episodes of this wonderful series.

Like The Mentalist - the hit series on CBS since 2008, the main character has 2 cases to solve each episode - the current case and the background, that of the murder of his wife.

Wonderful script writing - As the case develops, it is fun to see the logical deductions (played out by the actors in various scenarios) in the main character's (Belagan) mind.

If it has been canceled it is a problem of marketing or "getting the word out" - certainly not the wonderful scripts or their execution.

Wouldn't be the first time a wonderful series was canceled.

Only place you can watch this in the US is through Hulu Plus.

* I have added this since my initial review. Thanks to streaming services like Netflix and Hulu Plus, one can zip though entire seasons quickly. Seasons 1-5 apply to my review below - but it seems as of Season 6 it has become more like "24" and less realism. Which is fine, I suppose, but the story lines have become more outlandish. Since I don't want to spoil anything you be the judge.

Since I started streaming this from Netflix and Hulu, I have become addicted to this series. And I am reminded of a quip actor Michael Weatherly of NCIS gave in an interview - saying that the title of his show really stands for "No Character Is Safe".

Perhaps the creators of NCIS got their inspiration from MI-5, which made its debut a year earlier.

All I can say is you don't know who will be there for the next episode. Which is shocking at first, particularly if you start to like them but gives the show an edge.

I do believe the actual day to day world of the spy is a bit more cerebral and deskbound, but the show is still realistic. I mean, real spies probably would not want an Aston Martin DB5 while on assignment - they want to blend in - and in an episode I just watched one of the recurring characters actually mentioned that he'd prefer a less flashy car to the one he was driving.

But I would not be surprised if some real "Spooks" - active or more likely retirees, are technical advisers.

It's a great show that has enough realism to make it believable and enough "Hollywood action" to make it enjoyable.

I was waiting for this movie to appear for several months, ever since it was mentioned in Road & Track magazine.

Really the only 2 great racing films are, in my opinion, John Frankenheimer's Grand Prix (1966) and Steve McQueen's LeMans (1971).

This movie makes 3.

I do like Senna that came out in 2010, but in my opinion it's more of a documentary on the late racing great Ayrton Senna.

So 40 years later comes another racing movie. The difference between this move and the previous 2 is that racing is really a backdrop to the clash of 2 very different personalities who came to respect each other.

In one professional interview with Niki Lauda the UKs Guardian I believe, it was suggested that Hunt was Lauda's foil - I agree but if it is possible from a screen writing perspective Lauda was also a foil for Hunt.

It has been said that the film highlights Lauda - I don't agree - it highlights the both with their contrasts.

To me - even more than Lauda's brilliant driving, I will always remember him for his courage after his accident (hardly a spoiler alert since this is common knowledge).

In Road & Track's interview with Ron Howard, Howard detailed the effort that he went to insure that this was an accurate portrayal - consulting people directly involved from Lauda himself to Ron Dennis and a dozen others.

It has, from what I understand, been well received in the F1 community.

Above all it is a fantastic film on 2 very different personalities and how they came to respect each other.

I started watching Foyle's War on the advice of a cinimaphile friend - went though all the wartime episodes and am so enamored with it stayed up until 3 in the morning watching a rerun of episode 1 Season 8 on PBS.

The series is great on 2 levels - first - the crime dramas in each episode are so well written that the screen writing on that alone would make it (or any series) great.

But above that the historical research - from how people acted during the Battle Of Britain - the attitudes of the "Sitzkrieg" - that lull between the time war was declared over the Nazis invading Poland and the Air War - When I found out they were filming more episodes - well, that accounts for my staying up from 01:30 - 03:00. Season 8 deals with the beginning of the Cold War.

Great stuff.

A realistic dog fight - you hear the purr of the RR Merlin and the different noise of the DB603 - with an unusual ending.

I have heard both and the director went out of his way to get some realism. See why the Luftwaffe pilots called the sound of the DB-603 "The stone crusher" .

I got this as a web address floating on the internet - http://player.vimeo.com/video/31202906?autoplay=1 Quite a nice production - although I question how both got to "this end" - without spoiling it I cannot say more.

Watch it and you be the judge. I enjoyed it so much I bookmarked the address.

I just saw this movie - a day after it officially opened and those in the audience who read the book said that Taylor Schilling nailed the character of Dagney Taggert.

I don't think I can write a background of the movie without spoilers except to say that it represents the age old issue of governments wanting to "help" people with the result being a stifling of innovation and people willing to risk capital and time.

It is a timely message - and I recommend this movie. The audience applauded and cheered at the end; something one rarely sees in movie theaters.

I believe this is the only movie I have given a "10" to - perhaps one other. There are so many levels and angles one could use to describe this movie.

One could take pity on a man for whom most of the world would believe had it "comfortable" - particularly in the background of the Great Depression - but one learns early that "Mr. Johnson" had his own deep problems and unlike most of us had to alternative but to face them head on.

When I saw his 2 young daughters history suddenly came alive for me, realizing that they were Elizabeth and Margaret.

There is some dry British humor when the speech therapist asks "Mrs. Johnson" if her husband can avoid speaking engagements.

History comes alive in this movie that is entertaining, educational and inspirational.

I left the theater believing George VI was a man who had a terrible handicap to overcome and through humility and guts, did so while leading Britain through her most terrible period.

This is easily the best movie I have seen in some years.

I knew of Wendover Airbase long before seeing this movie. Although the movie infers that Tibbets picked the field for its isolation (true) it was also where they taught heavy bomber crews during WW2. So the field hardly had to be developed for the special mission of the 509th.

And today it has another famous reason - it is the site of many movie scenes, such as Independence Day and ConAir.

In fact, when I went to visit the site - right on the Utah-Navada border, they were filming ConAir.

Today all one sees as a reminder of its importance are the old concrete foundations of the many wooden buildings - with signs telling you what each building's purpose was.

But to the movie - I know that the main points were factually correct - right down to the flight time a B29 required flying from Saipan or Tinian to Japan - and back.

14 hours.

It seems that the secrecy at this base was as stringent as Los Alamos, where the Bomb was developed.

Besides being an entertaining movie it is educational.