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Reviews
Hitler: The Rise and Fall (2016)
Experts with questionable science.
In many respects this series is incredible. It offers inciteful information and a view into history. We see A. H. as he rises to power and wins some early victories that make him over confident. And we see his failures. What's really great about this series is it's window into what's likely leading to the transition from success to absolute failure. But that's also it's failing. The producers have employed the required historical experts to add honest testimonials to their observations. But, they take it a step farther and use so-called experts in body language to explain what's going on with Adolf and his motley crew. At best this type of analysis is faux science because it is so subjective. It becomes obvious these two "experts" are seeing what they want to find. It takes away from the whole series.
Dune (2021)
Still Not Up To Its Source Material
It seems that producers and directors keep struggling to present this tale - based on the voluminous novel written by Frank Herbert.
The novel relates a detailed story. It's full of hardware, science, and fictional descriptions that allow a reader to create a vision of this fantastic world and its convulsions. It makes me want to get ahold of some "spice" to expand my mind.
But movies are graphic and do not need to verbally fill in details of all the minutia - they can show us these things as the story unfolds without drowning us in needless verbal discourse or useless demonstrations.
This version of Dune gets stuck in the details as did its predecessor. At the one hundred minute mark I find myself wanting to get to the climax but wondering if I ever will.
It's not a flop. It's well acted and the cinematography and special effects are great. The musical score never overpowers but is an accent to the story.
All in all, it's watchable but it's a six not an eight or nine.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
A true Indiana Jones sequel with a twist
I am a fan of the previous Indiana Jones movies. They've all been full of action and rich with characters.
Dial of Destiny continues those traditions and reminds us of the past with the use of the animated maps and fast moving stunts.
Dial of Destiny follows the tradition of opening with an insurmountable problem that Indiana overcomes - then bringing us back to it as a main plot line twenty-five years later. There's a neat little special effect to accomplish this. Ford is de-aged and then returns in his current state to play the character a quarter century on.
The acting is superior. Ford still does that wonderful bewildered thing that makes him so endearing.
Mads Mikkelsen is incredible in the role of the bad guy - maybe even stealing the show. It's possibly a performance worthy of a best supporting actor nomination.
I don't want to give away the story, so suffice to say - it is well written - has that great Indiana Jones musical score - it's well acted - most of the cinematography is great - and it's wonderfully scripted with those humorous interludes we all love. Many of our old friends such as John Rhys-Davies and Karen Allen return so the movie is consistent with its predecessors. All in all, it's a great movie that's fun to watch and is worth at least an eight out of ten but I give it a nine.
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Another Sequel not as good as the original.
Avatar: The Way of Water is visually stunning and a real feat of imagination. That being said, it's not the exciting romp its predecessor was.
We spend entirely too much time being introduced to the water, its elements, and inhabitants without a lot of action. Edge of your seat action is critical to maintaining audience interest. Long dull periods lead to boredom and inattentiveness. In the first movie, we met the forest animals as they were introduced in action scenes. That is not the case here, and the movie is about twenty-minutes too long because of this waste of time.
The script suffers because of this doldrum, too. It lacks in these dull times, though it is strong and vibrant when things are moving along.
A movie with those issues would normally have failed. But this one gains from the incredible cast that delivers lines and action in believable fashion and the stunning visuals and computer generated graphics.
Overall, it's a good pic, worth seeing. Sit back and be immersed in an underwater adventure.
Star Trek Beyond (2016)
Star Trek Beyond Pops
This episode is the best of the three presented on the big screen. The chemistry between the triumvirate of Kirk, Spock, and McCoy is reminiscent of the Original Series cast. It is especially evident between Spock and McCoy. Karl Urban is particularly adept at capturing the McCoy personality and delivering his lines like /DeForest Kelly did. Simon Pegg obviously had a lot of input here. Being a Star Trek fan he'd have knowledge that other writers and the production crew failed to acquire before doing the first two films. JJ Abrams avoided doing a lot of homework by creating a new (Kelvin) timeline which to a fan whose been with the series since the Original's inception was a bust. The character of Jaylah adds a lot to this story.
Timeline aside, this third installment finally regains the "Star Trek" feel. It's a great picture to sit back, put your feet up, grab your popcorn and drink, and just enjoy.
Bullet Train (2022)
Too Frenetic
From the beginning, this movie moved quickly through one cliché after another. In fact, it transitioned from scene to scene so quickly at the beginning, I wondered from early on if I could sit through it. The film seemed in a panic to prove how funny it could be. By the middle of the movie, I'd lost all interest in it. With all the hype and some great previews, I thought it would be a good piece to watch but was sorely disappointed. I stuck with it as long as possible, but finally moved on to other fare. I lacked the fun of slapstick presentations like the Pink Panther and missed the subtle humor of other offerings. In the end, I found it a bust.
Stillwater (2021)
A little slow but spell binding.
A great story line. Excellent acting. It may be slow but it certainly builds suspense. It drags you in and holds you.
Matt is sensational in a part that is nearly a total departure from the usual. He sells the role making the viewer believe he's really the character.
But little Lilou Siauvaud steals the show. She makes you believe that a total stranger could show someone the love they never shared with their own daughter.
The story unfolds in a way that makes sense. The script perfectly fits the situation and cultural differences.
And the cinematography give us the full range from slums to beautiful French coastal views.
Star Trek: Discovery (2017)
I held my review
I am a Star Trek fan from away back - since watching the premier of STOS on NBC in 1966. I have enjoyed all the series and movies since. Some have been below standard and others surpassed expectations.
The thing about Discovery is that it is only fair Sci-Fi and is definitely not Star Trek. I kept waiting for it to evolve into something I'd recognize but it never has. It suffers from ridiculous story lines attempting to impersonate creativity.
It's packed with dialogue - with every episode based on some threat to the entire universe. There's nothing like those adventures fans got used to over fifty years. And it's stepped all over a history developed throughout those other series.
Discovery seems to take itself too seriously with everyone involved trying so hard to surpass other versions that they miss the mark entirely. I just hope that Star Trek Strange New Worlds sets its heading correctly because Discovery is way off course.
Star Trek (2009)
As a Star Trek It's Not Bad
First, I should say I am a Star Trek fan - from the beginning. I was a teen laying in front of the TV during the presentation of the original series premiere, and I've been a fan ever since.
It's apparent that this particular story was managed by a Star Wars fan who didn't want to do all the homework required to make it truly a Star Trek. By creating a new timeline, it was easy to present a story that did not have to conform to the franchise history. In that regards, it's a cop-out by JJ Abrams. Still on the bad side of things, it was gimmicky to shorten Captain Kirks academy time and literally circumvent experience. No military or paramilitary organization of any value is going to promote a cadet to Captain. That's a five rank jump for someone with no real experience.
That all being said, the script is otherwise well written and moves along very quickly. By the end of the movie the actors gel, displaying those social quirks that made the original series memorable. Of all the interactions, the relationship between Dr. McCoy and Spock feels the most like that of the original team. Zachary Quinto is exceptional. However, Eric Bana turns the evil Nero into an almost Comic Book villain - he's really over the top. Of all the special effects, travelling at warp is the best. It is presented in a manner that visually conveys the concept to the viewer in an understandable way.
All in all, it's worth the time. It's enjoyable entertainment.