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American Horror Story: The Future Perfect (2021)
Am I dead?
What did I just watch?! Who in there right mind thought this was acceptable at any level? This is not even a 1! I feel as if everyone involved decided to take a year off and give it to the undergraduate intern. Not "interns," but "intern".
What a mess!
-CDM.
American Horror Story: Winter Kills (2021)
What a mess!
This was a colossal disappointment given the actual result of the final ending. American Horror Story season 10, episodes 1-5 were decent up until the last episode. Those episodes, however, could've been completed in one hour. The story presented in episodes 1 through 6 was unoriginal, insipid, and complacent - in that the story was no different than Hulu's American Horror Stories season one, episode six, titled, "Feral," which only came out, as of this writing, a mere six weeks ago.
My biggest issue was with the little girl, the sociopath. I would use psychopath, but the character is void of any intellectual thought, much less emotional maturity and/or the potential for emotional, empathy with any other person or type of social structure, as she "grows" into adulthood.
Playing the violin will not change the world or enhance our knowledge for the betterment of humanity and its quest for knowledge and cultural acquisition. Playing other people's music will get you a job at a well-to-do restaurant (or mall, right inside Nordstrom), sure, but nothing more than that. If she were contributing (writing her own music) and adding to the compilation of music and its history, then, maybe, she would be seen as "talented" and "unique".
These characters were nothing more than sycophants, and a significant burden on its respective community, since they require the blood of others to live; whereas, the "pales" feed off dead animals, with some of them being alive, perhaps.
Red Tide can be summed up in one word: Selfishness; it is a type of selfishness that should have had consequences, and I hoped as the story came closer to the end that it would do that. It did not. Instead, it dramatizes self-aggrandizing negative, horrendous behavior as a positive and not as a negative, which, again, would have made for a good story; a story that would have explored the consequences of negative behaviors over positive behaviors, especially the types of behaviors that only serve to destroy humanity and beget a people to perpetual stagnation.
This is, unequivocally, the worst (not one of the worst but THE WORST) storyline (or plot) in American Horror Story, and the worst episode in all its decade-long run of 116 episodes.
-CDM
09/24/2021.
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
A Thoroughly Engaging Superhero Film
Wonder Woman 1984 (or stylized as WW84) is an incredible film! The story, directing and message of WW84 are bold, thoroughly thought-provoking, and will forever engender change to the superhero genre. I, for one, am excited at the prospect of future superhero films taking on a more serious tone in their storytelling - no need for mindless explosions or pointless CGI, as is the case with many other superhero movies, and how we, the audience, relate to their (superhero) more human plights.
The superhero genre has thus forever changed thanks to Jenkins and Gadot. No more mindless explosions and cookie cutter stories of "happy endings" - stories that end with little consequence or consistent continually (e.g., Iron Man 3), more so is the case in superhero movies where the message and consequences told through their story in the previous movie are all but forgotten and are therefore retold (lazy writing; nothing new going forward) or played to the titular character's "new" story in either its main plot or subplot (i.e., Loki in (all) Thor movies).
-CDM
12/30/2020
Brotherly Love (2017)
Ugh!
I can't imagine being friends with any of these characters. Similar to crazy Southerners that speak in nothing but Bible verses, these young kids speaking in nothing but movie quotes and actually say nothing interesting or provocative, much less profound. Don't waste your time with this "movie". I was only able to get up to the 52 minute marker. It was painful to watch.
Strapped for Danger (2017)
How?!
How does something like this get made? Rape is NOT FUNNY! Disgraceful! Shame on all those involved.
DO NOT WATCH THIS! You would be better off watching consensual gay porn, not this garage.
Do You Take This Man (2016)
Ugh...
Christ, talk about an all white cast! It's sickeningly all white. Even the background characters are all white models. As well as gays that don't seem to work yet have more money than doctors or lawyers or business owners. The real actors themselves don't even have this good of a life. I got up to the 17 minute marker. *vomit*
eCupid (2011)
Horrible.
Just horrible. I won't state anything that hasn't already been said... I'm just curious as to what is considered poor for these people when they have a cabin, a house, and a business - oh yeah, they are 'super poor' and 'in the doghouse'! *my eyes rolled so much that my contacts came out*
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Mea Culpa (2018)
They who speaks first
This episode is telling people that as long as you speak first, you will be believed without skepticism. After all, who wants to go through the ordeal of telling 'their story' over and over again? Who wants to tell the world that they were 'weak' in the face of circumstance and power over not power with? And if the nature of the crime is heinous enough, then that alone in itself is proof that the preyed upon, the victimized is telling the truth, with all other additional information void, insignificant and certainly nonprobative.
-Carlos D. Montemayor
05/19/2020
Modern Family: Finale Part 2 (2020)
It's a sad thing...
It's over, and it ended after a long, unfunny two seasons. And once again, Cam was the center of attention and always thinks Mitchell never does anything for him. I, like many others, hoped for Mitchell to finally leave Cam. He is selfish, narcissistic, and disgusting, given all the worst versions of behavior he displays in stereotypical cartoon gay man, which is even worst because it's done by a straight man - my eyes roll so much over his character, that my contacts fall out. One thing they did do - they showed Mitchell's frustration with the whole issue of Cam moving for a job as a coach at a university (eye roll) that just so happens to be in his hometown, despite the fact that he actually moved to LA to pursue his college education. So, it can actually be left to our interpretation if Mitchell and Cam last or not. I choose to believe Mitchel finally left him. The viewer should also remember that Cam never actually sacrificed anything, because he did in fact move to LA for his own needs and only later met Mitchel in LA, which is Mitchell's hometown. Added to this - after years and years of trial and error jobs that Mitchell went through (still while supporting Cam), he was only a prosecutor for a year before being forced to move - NO ONE would move after getting their dream job, but we are forced to believe Mitchel was selfish, and not the other way around. Lastly, while the ending of Haley and Dylan moving into Mitchel and Cam's former home was cute, it's just unrealistic and confusing, similar to Mitchel and Cam moving into a million dollar home in the last two episodes. (another pair of contacts to the floor).
Modern Family: Spuds (2020)
There's no coming back now.
Modern Family has now been reduced to countless guest star appearances, redundant vacations, gay stereotypes continuously demonstrated by Cameron, and continuous flashback stories (this is the third or fourth this season) without calling it a clip show, which it is, peppered by a few banal dinner conversations.
Modern Family: Paris (2020)
Horrendous
It just keeps getting worse and worse. If you see past critical assessments from prior episodes, you will notice there is a continuous trend in the way that they are writing the series; it almost seems as I am predicting what they'll do next but tenfold worse.
-CDM
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Careless (2004)
Hypocrites
The ending of this episode only shows how hypocritical the law and its people governing can be. Why wasn't Finn fired, dragged through the court and media for murder, and sentenced by the court for contributing to the suicide of a social worker?
-CDM
Modern Family: The Prescott (2020)
How many lobbies does this place have?
How many lobbies does this place have? Apparently, it only has one, since you (Jay) keep ending up in the same place, god only knows how given it's only a residential tower. This episode was downright horrible! Modern Family, despite having a good track record at one point, should have ended two seasons ago. Seinfeld was right - it's better to end at a high point then it is to fizzled at a low point creatively.
As is becoming typical of newer episodes, Cam continues to be the worst character; a caricature of the worst homosexual stereotypes to ever grace TV. And it's shameful! Noah Galvin said it best years ago, and many of you threw your stones. He was right.
Newer episodes are also having an affect on me. The unfortunate result of bad, uninspired newer episodes is completely turning me off from the show in its entirety; earlier episodes from earlier seasons are no longer watchable. I use to watch the earlier episodes from prior seasons on the USA Network, and now I don't even bother to see if it's on.
The whole concept of this family working hard and never being able to find joy or time to relax and vacation, has lost character and story momentum. Some episodes were geared entirely around this family being able to make time and relax by rearranging their schedules, to risible results, and often to their own selfish needs, so that they could 'finally' relax and vacation. At this point in the series all I am thinking is - do they ever stop vacationing, do they ever stop pampering themselves, do they even work now? How do they rise up so fast in their 'careers' by going on nonstop adventures? Are we watching 20 hours (the season in whole) of family and/or friends home videos (the actors) celebrate 10 years of doing Modern Family or are we watching episode-after-episode of an extremely wealthy family go on nonstop adventures and vacations, using the most extravagant amenities available, while having one business fail and another on hold? I don't know any family that can do such things.
We all know this fail business and business on hold is going to lead to something bigger... my question is - how? How are you going to show characters going through the 'mud' and their business is failing only to give them something grand while still vacationing like 18-year-olds?
Modern Family has gone from showing a middle-class family work endlessly for their treats to showing an extremely wealthy family living grand, regardless of their career successes or failures.
-CDM
Impractical Jokers: The Bogey Man (2018)
Quite gross, morbidly bankrupt "guffaws"
Sal always seems to be the loser in the end. Now, seriously, how can you not expect him to be given the tasks required of him to win, and this episode is a great example of unfair tasks given to me. The first challenge involves him being being half naked under a coat with his friends getting him (Sal; as part of the challenge) to acknowledge being only in his underwear to a woman in an office setting - if there isn't a more clear example of asexual harassment, I don't know what wouldn't be. And of course he failed. The next challenge involves Sal taking a crap in public in from of a woman. Of course he failed. To recap Sal's challenges - sexual harassment and public nudity. I am glad he did fail, though. Sal seems to be the only jocose character, while providing audiences - and those he comes across as part of any given challenge - clean fun. His friends, however, seem bent on being morbidly perverse with no redeemable characteristic qualities.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Remember Me (2018)
Life is not about upping one another to get their story told
I have had many things happen to me in life. It's unfortunate. It's frustrating. It's horrible. And it can be downright confusing. That doesn't mean I am going to hurt others equally (or more) to get my story told. That's not how life works. Years ago, I had my whole life changed by two racist professors in graduate school. They dug into my life and pretty well destroyed it. It took years for me to recover. Not many know of my story, not many can understand the significance of the hurt and damage they did to my life, nor did I get any justice for their wrongdoing, but I was also never taught to hurt others regardless of my perspective of needed justice for wrongs done to me.
This episode of Law & Order: SVU is teaching younger views - and, sadly, even some adults - that some crimes, especially if you have "had it worse," which is also a matter of your own perspective, is perfectly fine. If your story hasn't yielded enough attention, then commit a crime, especially against the person(s) that harmed you. And if someone gets hurt or killed in the process, as it did happen in this episode of Law & Order: SVU, then that's okay, too, because that's all that matters in the end, at least to those writing and running this show seem to suggest.
Seeking revenge is NEVER, ever an okay thing to do. It's that plain and simple.
-CDM
King of the Hill: The Petriot Act (2005)
Agh!
It is one of the episodes of King of Hill that only makes you angry rather than joyful through guffaw. I would NEVER expect some stranger, regardless of who they are, to pay $1000s for cat surgery or doctor visits (of any kind) for a cat. I wouldn't even pay such prices for people I know, much less a random pet. I have my own family to worry about, regardless of being flush with extra funds or not, because it's that very "or not" that could be the moment in which my family needs me. Of course this episode is ridiculous and the whole show's context is reliant on over-the-top ridiculousness, but, again, this only angers one rather than bringing joy because, sadly, there are people like this - gullible to fall for such ridiculousness and happily (or angrily) pays the bills of such ridiculousness, those willingly hoping to fraud others through such programs highlighted as "community outreach," and then those who are happy to call you "scum" or "trash" for not willing to pay such outrageousness billed as "community service".
The only winning grace in this whole episode is the ending with Bill - for his service, and his care and attention to taking care of a solider's pet while on duty, he is awarded a ride on a jet and given a pilot's helmet with his name on it (Bill). It was a touching ending for Bill and the audience; to see Bill finally get something good in life by those that recognize his value as a human being and as a hard worker of community outreach, especially since he truly is good and does put his all into the things he does.
-CDM
King of the Hill: Peggy's Pageant Fever (1998)
Peggy Hill... ugh!
I have NEVER liked Peggy Hill. Her egotistical, arrogance knows no bounds. She reminds me of a lot of people I met growing up (at least they actually had degrees) who I later found to be sad and limited intellectually as I grew up (and moved and got my own degrees and awards at known universities). See, they were the type to put people down, instead of help them achieve greater, or be right beside them as they achieve greater. Anything they didn't understand, they put down or called "low class" or thought of as "dumb" and not going anywhere in life. They, similar to P. Hill, were overly opinionated, and not for that of the good of the people, but only that of herself. This was Peggy Hill.
I have never felt so uncomfortable watching any movie or tv show as I did with watching this episode highlighting Peggy's Journey in the pageant. To that, I have to hand it to the writers behind this episode. They really nailed the mind of someone with underdeveloped intellect and limited lifetime achievement in any capacity with that of Peggy Hill. Watch this episode, but if you grew up on the 80s/90s and knew of people like Peggy Hill, you may feel hatred toward another person, whether that be animated or in real life, after watching this.
Cyrus (2010)
What the ...
I saw about 20 minutes of this movie. I couldn't stand it anymore. It made me sick. What in the world is with the directing?: Zoom in, zoom out. Zoom out, zoom in. All the zoom in and zoom out in the directing is just weird and sickening. The directorial use of the zoom in and zoom out is overcompensating and distracting in an oversimplified melodramatic script. This is yet another case of critics thinking this is special because it's different - there's nothing unique about this other than it being weird and lacking in its writing, and audiences knowing what they want and expressing distaste against critical "acclaim". I'm glad audiences are expressing what they like and dislike about films, because it only further highlights how much of an influence the film industry has over its own films as to which will and will not be successful. Cyrus is garbage and it is sickening garbage with its overly dramatic (melodramatic) directing and simple (yet made to seem complex) writing. I recommend you see a "bad film" (based on critics) from the 1990s. You will be better off. Trust in me.
-CDM
Euphoria: Shook Ones Pt II (2019)
Magnolia did it better...
Plain and simple- this is a rip-off of Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia (1999); a copycat of one of the best films to ever exist. A film that, surprisingly came out at the end of the last century, and is thus, without question, one of the best films of the last century. Shook One: PT II lacks creatively and originality by using important attributes from Magnolia, from the way the multiple story arc is presented to the use of music and fast camera movements toward characters during character revelations (and therefore as we also first see them) and character developments. Save your time and watch Magnolia (1999). You'll thank me later.
Modern Family: A Sketchy Area (2018)
Priceless
A hilarious, welcoming addition to the Modern Family seasons. This is one of the funniest episodes in season seven. A priceless, brilliantly written episode. The courtroom scenes involving the sketch of Mitchell and Cameron work out right hilarious! Definitely a "must watch" episode. 10/10
The Radkes: Tell it to the Judge (2019)
A show that tries too hard
This is a horrible show, and the people in it are equally as horrible. The show tries too hard to elicit a laugh in questionable dialogue, such as: "My 13-year-old daughter has more of a life than I do" and "why am I at home on a Saturday night watching my kid do math; what, so he can become a mechanical engineer?! That's never going to happen!" (suggesting he's an idiot and is incapable of a decent career). Wow. What kind of a parent talks about their child in such a way? That's your kid you're talking about in such a demeaning way, simply to elicit a laugh, with doesn't work in the slightest. The only thing emanating laughter in this series is this obese, uneducated (and unemployed) woman with a risible personality and sense of importance. Perhaps this "mother" should go workout, perhaps she should go on a jog/run and reflect on the things she has said on television about her kids.
Modern Family: Fight or Flight (2015)
One-of-a-kind
Modern Family has many episodes of wonderfully produced stories through great writing and acting, Fight or Flight is definitely one of them. Elizabeth Banks returns as Sal and best friend of Mitchell and Cameron. Banks definitely adds much to this great episode. You will not be disappointed in watching Fight or Flight. Fight or Flight is sure to be a classic in complex, multi-character storytelling.
Modern Family: The Storm (2016)
A joke or two isn't worth foregoing logic in storytelling
The story presented in this episode of Modern Family is extremely disjointed. Problems in the story's timeline are so happenstance for the sake of presenting a "funny" scenario that the overall story becomes disjointed, confusing, and distracting. First, the Dunphy family - in the early morning hours of that day, the Dunphy family celebrates with their neighboring residents at the annual block party. Phil decides to dress up as a clown for the enjoyment of the neighborhood children, only to find himself scared in front of a hall of mirrors and passes out from seeing himself as clown. Phil has a phobia of clowns (i.e., coulrophobia). He (Phil) thought that dressing up as clown would not make him scared, as he states, similar to "Not being able to tickle yourself, so how could you scare yourself". Cameron typically does the clown for these events, but Claire states that he was busy with Lilly's birthday party. This is where several "what" or "where are these people" moments come into play. Lilly's birthday party was not until later in the afternoon. So why wasn't Cameron helping the family with their block party, as they typically do according to Claire? Additionally, Mitchell, Cameron, and Lily, are shown at home resting at the same time (early morning hours, before the party) as the Dunphy block party. This was the moment Lily received confirmation that a popular student in her class was going to be in attendance at her party later in the afternoon. Furthermore, the family (Dunphy) is already at home resting and enjoying their company, while Cameron and Mitchell are shown at Lily's birthday party. Additionally, where was everybody for Lilly's birthday party? Why wasn't anyone in attendance at her party? She may be adopted, but she still is family.
When I first saw this episode, I thought Mitchell and Cameron were hosting their daughter's sleepover party with fellow classmates and not Lily's actual birthday. What is made worst is the fact that no one in her family is even acknowledging Lilly's birthday. I didn't hear one character in this story mention "birthday" and "Lilly" in a sentence, much less the phase "happy birthday".
While enjoyable to watch, this episode of Modern Family was disjointed and confusing, with odd plot devices used for the sake of one or two jokes about a man dressed up as a clown and scaring himself to the point of passing out. That seemed to be the only joke the writers of this show wanted to tell, and the only plot point in the story worthy, ostensively, of dismissing all other characters and their relation to the story or fully actualized scenarios that could have worked for us to watch 30 seconds of Phil dressed up as a clown and scaring himself. For the record, building a story around one or two jokes can work.
A story built around one or two jokes that does work is exemplified in season 5, episode 21 of Modern Family titled, Sleeper. In that episode, Phil buys a record of a song that reminds him of his teenage years, only to later realize he was listening to the exact song that played when he first had sex, and there therefore felt as if he was cheating on his wife. In the end, Modern Family can indeed produce good stories with funny and interesting plot devices without sacrificing continuity, story logic, and character development, but that was not seen in The Storm.
-CDM
The Radkes (2019)
The USA Network has some explaining to do...
As more episodes are produced, filmed, edited, and premiered on television, the more likely foreign audiences are to have nothing but distain for Americans and the American way of life.
These shows should NEVER be made. The Film and TV studios in the USA need to stop making this type of garbage. It's absolutely disgusting, embarrassing, and, most of all, disheartening - that this is, with so much money and talent at the heels of TV and film studios, what they produce. Don't even waste your time watching, yet again, another White fat family in America. White people are the only ones were they can get famous being fat and uneducated (Honey Boo Boo, among many). Name a Hispanic or other minority race in America that are fat and lazy with TV shows, and you will be puzzled. One might think - what about George Lopez in the George Lopez show.
Allow me to answer and explain why that is completely different. George Lopez, unlike many of this White counterparts in TV shows was openly criticized to the point where if he 'did not' make long-term changes to his health and appearance he was 'not going to have a show' for much longer. In the end, George Lopez made significant changes to his health and appearance. He began to care about how others perceived him and his way of life. Why is this so different with his White counterparts in TV?! Either way, this new show - The Radkes is beyond redemption. I would not even recommend this show be watched by the bored and uneducated, because they deserve better. Canceling this show will be the 'only' redeeming value the USA Network will gain from the monstrosity of an embarrassment upon the American people shown and produced in The Radkes.
Modern Family: Commencement (2019)
Horrible!
I have never given a bad review for any Modern Family episode, until today. This wasn't just bad, it was an abomination. What was anyone thinking when producing this episode?! The writing was horrible, and the acting - everyone comes off as tired and tried. I don't even think the actors want to be apart of this show anymore. Many have given up on this show, long time viewers. I never understood that until I saw this episode. Watching this episode will leave you wondering what you ever saw it Modern Family, as it doesn't even leave you missing the older seasons; it just leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth and wanting your 30 minutes back, though wondering how the commercials during the commercials breaks were more entertaining and memorable.