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Reviews
Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome (2012)
Super Cheesy
After watching Caprica this is quite a letdown. It seemed that half the movie was CGI, the other half top-gun-ish a boy and his machine.
Oh yeah, boys and girls shower together! Every adolescent boys' wet dream. Character development? Uh not really. If I recall correctly Uncle Scrooge comics of the 1950's had more of such.
But not to be a total loss, the CGI was rather good.
Her (2013)
Vomit Inducing Lead Character
The main character, the flesh and blood one, the castrated one, is the epitome of modern western man's nadir. He mumbles, he suffers, he exudes sad puppy. Every other character in this film had some spark, some life and an actual personality.
I felt for the (can't even remember his name (ICERHN)) man's soon to be ex-wife. She was alive, had a personality. I watched this piece of dreck all the way through to the limp end expecting a surprise; he's actually a kung fu master practicing calm (nope his 'calm' was comatose). Anything would do to quell the idea that such a beaten creature actually roams the earth.
Every close-up of this guys face (and there were way too many such) was the equivalent interest to me of a long stare at over-cooked oatmeal - ugh. This film is the most nauseous portrayal of a man I have seen ever. A two pound Chihuahua has more balls and maleness. The ICERHN entity is but a dead man walking.
Primeval (2007)
Pure entertainment.. And NO PC
I love a good idea with action, nice men and women who are faithful to their character. In the U.S. I've have mostly given up on TV and movies, the writers here seem to be on a mission to prove their bona fide regarding any and all of the 'conscious raising' topics from Abortion to Zebra rights.
I'm in season 4 now, and so far there's no token minority, token gay, token black or even simulated sex scenes. The characters use typical English grammar with charming British slang like 'awright mate' or some such. There's some personal angle between the geek and the blonde which by U.S. standards would be too subtle. But this tension is left for the audience to wonder about, no scene of an epiphany of uncontrolled lust with groaning and grunting for five minutes. Thank you all.
Anyway British ladies are so enjoyable to watch too.
Star Trek: Voyager: Good Shepherd (2000)
A Great 'Moral' Story without the usual baggage
In any large group of people some are not going to feel included and so are resigned to being on the fringe of the group. But in the soft tyranny of our age ALL must identify and 'fit in' with the group.
The mess hall scene where the 'popular' Tom Paris, and the ever self important Ms Torres are discussing the outcast status of a crew member eating alone. High school never ends, even after 5 centuries. It was a nauseous, disturbingly sad scene.
And so, via the Voyager crew, an age old religion, the group-cult, exhibiting a group-think mentality of which even the Borg must be envious is ever with us (ref: Carrie). Thus enter the religious tie-in of the Captain as a stand in for Christ himself.
On first thought this was a heart warming episode of bringing back into the fold (sheep) the lost ones. But on second thought this is merely another instance of the co-opting a religious concept to enhance the current group-think more Borg than thou mindset currently in vogue.
Great acting by the outcasts. The captain as Christ was beyond belief as either satire or black humor. It's getting hard to tell anymore.
Truly disgusting.....But I love the series anyway.
What If... (2010)
Christian messages well delivered
Regardless of the critical comments I was very moved by this film. Can it be that such messages are not understood or well received? That is the main theme of this film, namely: "don't tell me anything, it's 'my' life", "I can do what I want", etc.
The usual problem with themes that contain personality changes is their believability. Ben's resistance to such a change struck me as quite realistic. The transition to his desire to change was a hard task the film had to accomplish.
But for all the fathers out there who remember the time they first held their baby son or daughter....that is a life changing experience. So this man took awhile. But Ben was surrounded by 'his' children and wife. Some fathers do take time to adjust to a new life role....ergo a believable transition.
The Christian themed messages were very well delivered. Even Ben's second, post conversion sermon was actually quite good and fit in well with the films' script.
My only criticisms: the few times the camera was bobbing about...come on guys, use a tripod, and there were some syrupy sweet parts that were a bit much. Otherwise when I'm in tears during a film then it's good enough for me.
Of Human Bondage (1934)
Try following the book, or at least believable characters
Such a disappointment after many readings of the W. Somerset Maugham's novel. The charm of the book's is main character, Philip, his struggles with poverty, a lonely childhood, fascination with Mildred, and other issues that are resolved beautifully by the author are totally missing from this movie.
The movie begins with Philip as a full grown man. What motives are there for the viewer to understand his behavior? Nothing.
The low-life played by Betty Davis is a huge turn-off. Gack! Who but a masochist could be attracted to her?
The Sally of the movie is nothing like the Sally of the book.
The books development of Philip and Sally's relationship has no development that is tender or shows Sally's character as in the book.
Philip's internal dialog in the book as he ponders not living with Sally, is barely given account.
So much of the book is missing this movie is a skeletal parody at best.