I binged season 1 today, and found myself utterly fascinated by the competitors' talent and creativity. The judges are judgy, which is expected. That host, though, went from embarrassingly unprepared (she squealed about the judge using what she called a "monacle" to examine a piece, when he was using a jewelers loupe--a standard piece of equipment) to gratingly annoying as she incessantly attempted (and failed) to be clever and amusing. Though I'm glad that another season has been ordered, I'm less than enthusiastic about her returning as host.
Reviews
13 Reviews
All That Glitters: Britain's Next Jewellery Star
(2021–2022)
Love the talent, but the host...🙄
27 June 2021
Lizzie Borden Took an Ax
(2014 TV Movie)
Could not last more than 20 minutes
5 July 2014
I love Christina Ricci, and I have long been fascinated by the Borden murders, so I had high hopes for this film. Unfortunately, my hopes were dashed by the dreadful dialogue, the portrayal of Lizzie as a sex kitten meandering around in her slip during a period of time when such behavior would have brought down the wrath of her family and the condemnation of the entire community, and the very poor choice to use contemporary music over a film set in the 1890s. Grinding rave music over an 1892 party - - seriously? I stopped watching and deleted the film off my DVR when, after 20 minutes, I began to feel embarrassed for Ricci and the other actors in this ridiculous POS film.
Cat Dancers
(2007)
A compelling, tragic story
20 December 2008
Warning: Spoilers
I just watched this documentary, and found it haunting. Ron Holiday, a former professional dancer, with his wife, Joy, began performing with live big cats back in the late 1960s - an uncommon career choice, to be sure. But the Holidays were uncommon people. Now (in the documentary) coming up on his 70th birthday, Ron tells the story of their lives, which became intertwined with that of fellow performer Chuck Lizza and a number of big cats. It's an unorthodox story of love, showmanship, tragedy and, finally, loneliness.
Having been extremely successful for many years with golden tigers and other big cats, the Cat Dancers realized that rare white tigers were what the crowds really wanted to see. The decision to add a white tiger to their show was, by Ron's admission, made through his urging. The end results of that decision were devastating. I doubt that any caustic or condemning remarks made by others who have viewed or reviewed this film can possibly make this man feel any worse about what happened.
Ron Holiday is a survivor, but he by his own admission has not healed from the tragedies described in Cat Dancers. He states he never will. I believe him. He is a showman, donning a variety of wigs during the documentary, as he steps out to face one audience or another. But he also shows us his true self. He is a risk-taker, revealing truths about the unconventional life he shared with Joy and Chuck, truths that some may find uncomfortable. He is a lone storyteller, chronicling a shared life that certainly had many magical moments that were all too fleeting.
My main complaint with this film is that no expanded explanation was given regarding the euthanasia of the last tigers. Ron stated that he had made a pact with Joy and Chuck that if anything happened to them, the animals would not end up in "a compound." For those unfamiliar with exotic animal rescues, they are compounds. They have to be. They require extensive and expensive confinement and security measures, and even the very best of them cannot give the intensive, one-on-one daily attention the Holiday tigers had known their whole lives. Keeping an animal alive in a miserable situation is not humane, and it is certain that tigers which had been raised in a decidedly pet-like environment would be miserable in a new place without the person who had cared for them all their lives. I feel that the decision to euthanize his cats was a quality of life issue, and perhaps an acknowledgment that Ron, at 70, simply could not provide the quality of life to which the animals had been so long accustomed. Tigers are not house cats, no matter how they have been raised, so finding a facility that would take them isn't an easy task anyway.
I recorded this documentary with the intention of deleting it once I had watched it. Having seen it, I have decided to keep it. And I will hope, for Ron's sake, that he is able to follow through with the plans he describes for his 80th birthday.
Having been extremely successful for many years with golden tigers and other big cats, the Cat Dancers realized that rare white tigers were what the crowds really wanted to see. The decision to add a white tiger to their show was, by Ron's admission, made through his urging. The end results of that decision were devastating. I doubt that any caustic or condemning remarks made by others who have viewed or reviewed this film can possibly make this man feel any worse about what happened.
Ron Holiday is a survivor, but he by his own admission has not healed from the tragedies described in Cat Dancers. He states he never will. I believe him. He is a showman, donning a variety of wigs during the documentary, as he steps out to face one audience or another. But he also shows us his true self. He is a risk-taker, revealing truths about the unconventional life he shared with Joy and Chuck, truths that some may find uncomfortable. He is a lone storyteller, chronicling a shared life that certainly had many magical moments that were all too fleeting.
My main complaint with this film is that no expanded explanation was given regarding the euthanasia of the last tigers. Ron stated that he had made a pact with Joy and Chuck that if anything happened to them, the animals would not end up in "a compound." For those unfamiliar with exotic animal rescues, they are compounds. They have to be. They require extensive and expensive confinement and security measures, and even the very best of them cannot give the intensive, one-on-one daily attention the Holiday tigers had known their whole lives. Keeping an animal alive in a miserable situation is not humane, and it is certain that tigers which had been raised in a decidedly pet-like environment would be miserable in a new place without the person who had cared for them all their lives. I feel that the decision to euthanize his cats was a quality of life issue, and perhaps an acknowledgment that Ron, at 70, simply could not provide the quality of life to which the animals had been so long accustomed. Tigers are not house cats, no matter how they have been raised, so finding a facility that would take them isn't an easy task anyway.
I recorded this documentary with the intention of deleting it once I had watched it. Having seen it, I have decided to keep it. And I will hope, for Ron's sake, that he is able to follow through with the plans he describes for his 80th birthday.
Testees
(2008)
Silly, a little gross, but totally hilarious
11 October 2008
Sometimes stumbling across a program has good results! I hadn't intended to watch the premiere episode of "Testees" Friday night, but since it was sponsored by "Zack and Miri Make a Porno," I watched for the opportunity to see film trailers. I'm very glad I did, because I laughed until tears came to my eyes.
"Testees" is silly, gross, sexually inappropriate humor a la Porky's and similar films with wildly exaggerated stereotypes in wildly improbable situations - in other words, you'll laugh but you'll feel kinda guilty afterward. I don't know how long the show will last, but I've already set the DVR to record the series.
"Testees" is silly, gross, sexually inappropriate humor a la Porky's and similar films with wildly exaggerated stereotypes in wildly improbable situations - in other words, you'll laugh but you'll feel kinda guilty afterward. I don't know how long the show will last, but I've already set the DVR to record the series.
Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder
(1999 TV Movie)
Ever heard of research?
4 April 2007
I stumbled across this film on the satellite grid tonight, and was interested because I grew up reading the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. What a pity that the writer of this script never so much as lifted the cover of one of Wilder's books. There is far more factual information to be found on the Wikipedia site than in this film. I watched through to the end, but I made it only by pretending that this was not a film about Laura Ingalls Wilder.
The little girl who portrayed young Rose gave a good performance, but everyone else left me cold. I heartily recommend that LIW fans avoid this film.
The little girl who portrayed young Rose gave a good performance, but everyone else left me cold. I heartily recommend that LIW fans avoid this film.
Little Man
(2005)
A captivating and wrenching film
26 November 2006
This film sort of fell into my lap while I was channel surfing last night. When my boyfriend came into the room, I told him, "I'd like to see this, but I don't know that you'd have much interest in it, so I'll just tape it tomorrow and watch it later." He said fine, that we could watch one of our weekly taped programs.
Neither of us touched the remote control. The story of little man Nicholas was *that* captivating. It's also hard to watch at times, and makes you question your own beliefs in regards to where to draw the line with modern medicine as well as the lengths you would go to in order to save your child's life.
The child in this film, Nicholas, is not only afflicted with mysterious congenital issues the doctors can't identify, but the woman carrying him develops a life-threatening condition that requires him to be born roughly halfway through the gestation period or terminated. Some might argue that these developments could have been nature's way of saying, 'No, this child should not be born." Prolonging the lives of premature babies is a highly controversial subject. The child's life -- and quality of life -- isn't the only life affected, of course. Families with preemies (who so frequently become special needs children) struggle and frequently fall apart under the pressure. Not only is this film about the struggle to save a child who has seemingly every strike against him, but it is also about the struggle to save a relationship and a family. Anyone who tries to make the argument that same-sex marriages aren't really marriages should watch this film. These women are a team, every bit as much as any husband/wife team. Yes, they have the difficulties and struggles, but they are a team more dedicated to saving what they have than most of the heterosexual couples I know. I can't begin to count the number of people I know whose heterosexual marriages fell apart after the development of cataclysmic health issues.
Several times throughout this film, I found myself thinking, "I would not be able to do that." I so admire the director of this film for going so public with this very, very personal fight. Several times, I found myself thinking, "Is it fair to put this child through so much? Is it right?" I can't answer the questions about fairness or rightness. After all, I didn't live this situation. It wasn't my child or my relationship. What I will say is this: This film is every bit as joyous as it is wrenching. It's not so much a film to be watched as it is experienced. As I said, my boyfriend and I fully intended to turn away from this film and watch something else. The story, the way it was told, and the honesty with which it was told made turning away impossible.
Neither of us touched the remote control. The story of little man Nicholas was *that* captivating. It's also hard to watch at times, and makes you question your own beliefs in regards to where to draw the line with modern medicine as well as the lengths you would go to in order to save your child's life.
The child in this film, Nicholas, is not only afflicted with mysterious congenital issues the doctors can't identify, but the woman carrying him develops a life-threatening condition that requires him to be born roughly halfway through the gestation period or terminated. Some might argue that these developments could have been nature's way of saying, 'No, this child should not be born." Prolonging the lives of premature babies is a highly controversial subject. The child's life -- and quality of life -- isn't the only life affected, of course. Families with preemies (who so frequently become special needs children) struggle and frequently fall apart under the pressure. Not only is this film about the struggle to save a child who has seemingly every strike against him, but it is also about the struggle to save a relationship and a family. Anyone who tries to make the argument that same-sex marriages aren't really marriages should watch this film. These women are a team, every bit as much as any husband/wife team. Yes, they have the difficulties and struggles, but they are a team more dedicated to saving what they have than most of the heterosexual couples I know. I can't begin to count the number of people I know whose heterosexual marriages fell apart after the development of cataclysmic health issues.
Several times throughout this film, I found myself thinking, "I would not be able to do that." I so admire the director of this film for going so public with this very, very personal fight. Several times, I found myself thinking, "Is it fair to put this child through so much? Is it right?" I can't answer the questions about fairness or rightness. After all, I didn't live this situation. It wasn't my child or my relationship. What I will say is this: This film is every bit as joyous as it is wrenching. It's not so much a film to be watched as it is experienced. As I said, my boyfriend and I fully intended to turn away from this film and watch something else. The story, the way it was told, and the honesty with which it was told made turning away impossible.
The Legend of Lucy Keyes
(2006)
An enjoyable spooky yarn
18 October 2006
I caught this film last night and was very pleasantly surprised. Other reviewers have covered the basic plot, so I won't bother here. I have to say that I was most impressed by the little girl who played contemporary Lucy. That tot can act! She was cute without being cutesy, and solid without being wooden or robotic, as some child actors can be.
It was fun to see Jamie Donnelly on screen again. Although she has changed quite a lot from her Grease days, the voice and the eyes are still the same. Living in a small (pop. 3000) town myself, I found myself chuckling about the rather clichéd "town eccentric" character Donnelly played and thinking to myself, "Why OF COURSE there's a town eccentric!" But her character was central to the plot and she turned out to be more than I expected.
I recommend this film for those who want a spooky yarn without all the slash-and-gore contemporary film makers seem to think all ghostly tales must have. It does have some bloody moments, but compared to most of "Let's dismember people" films being made today, they're not too bad.
It was fun to see Jamie Donnelly on screen again. Although she has changed quite a lot from her Grease days, the voice and the eyes are still the same. Living in a small (pop. 3000) town myself, I found myself chuckling about the rather clichéd "town eccentric" character Donnelly played and thinking to myself, "Why OF COURSE there's a town eccentric!" But her character was central to the plot and she turned out to be more than I expected.
I recommend this film for those who want a spooky yarn without all the slash-and-gore contemporary film makers seem to think all ghostly tales must have. It does have some bloody moments, but compared to most of "Let's dismember people" films being made today, they're not too bad.
Bewitched
(2005)
So disappointing
18 September 2006
I really wanted to like this movie. After all, I was a big fan of the original series, and I thought that casting Nicole Kidman as Samantha was a perfect fit. I cringed at the casting of Will Ferrell, thinking "Okay, that kills the idea of actually paying money to see this thing." (I have issues with Will Ferrell showing off his decidedly unattractive backside, and I outgrew thinking that spazzy loud guys are funny when I was about 13, so I automatically boycott his work.) However, when Bewitched came on a free preview weekend, I watched -- and was so disappointed.
Ferrell was exactly as I expected him to be - spazzy, loud, obnoxious, and far too willing to share far too much of his body with the world.
Kidman was okay, but clearly could have done so much better if only she'd had a decent script to work with! She is a world-class star, and probably should have informed the writers and the studio that she needed something more than this drek to work with. I almost felt embarrassed for her at times.
All I can say is thank goodness for Shirley MacLaine as Endora and Michael Caine as Samantha's father. They made the film at least reasonably bearable when they were on screen. In fact, I think it would have been much better if they'd cut about 1/3 of Ferrell's part and let MacLaine and Caine's characters develop. It is because of these two actors that I rate this film 2 points.
Ferrell was exactly as I expected him to be - spazzy, loud, obnoxious, and far too willing to share far too much of his body with the world.
Kidman was okay, but clearly could have done so much better if only she'd had a decent script to work with! She is a world-class star, and probably should have informed the writers and the studio that she needed something more than this drek to work with. I almost felt embarrassed for her at times.
All I can say is thank goodness for Shirley MacLaine as Endora and Michael Caine as Samantha's father. They made the film at least reasonably bearable when they were on screen. In fact, I think it would have been much better if they'd cut about 1/3 of Ferrell's part and let MacLaine and Caine's characters develop. It is because of these two actors that I rate this film 2 points.
Wrong Turn
(I) (2003)
Yawner
7 September 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Possible spoilers...
Although I love horror films and have watched them since I was a wee kitten, one of the things that annoys me is that the same genre that includes true classics (the golden age films like Frankestein, most of Vincent Price's work, Halloween, etc.) is also applied to run-of-the-mill slash-and-gore see-the-pretty-teens-get-killed movies. Had this film contained even FIVE minutes of genuine exposition about the bad guys (all we're told is that they're cannibalistic and inbred, and that information is departed begrudgingly)perhaps it would have been marginally tolerable. Except for Eliza Dushku, the acting in this "film" was either wooden enough to leave splinters or so all-around bad that I almost found myself wishing the bad guys would hurry up and take out the offenders. I think Eliza Dushku is a decent actress, but her character had no more depth than any of the rest of them. There were a few suspenseful moments that might get the average 13-year-old, but frankly I found this film dismally boring. The only reason I watched through the end was to see if any kind of expansion/explanation might take place in regards to how these inbred villains came to be. What a waste of time.
Although I love horror films and have watched them since I was a wee kitten, one of the things that annoys me is that the same genre that includes true classics (the golden age films like Frankestein, most of Vincent Price's work, Halloween, etc.) is also applied to run-of-the-mill slash-and-gore see-the-pretty-teens-get-killed movies. Had this film contained even FIVE minutes of genuine exposition about the bad guys (all we're told is that they're cannibalistic and inbred, and that information is departed begrudgingly)perhaps it would have been marginally tolerable. Except for Eliza Dushku, the acting in this "film" was either wooden enough to leave splinters or so all-around bad that I almost found myself wishing the bad guys would hurry up and take out the offenders. I think Eliza Dushku is a decent actress, but her character had no more depth than any of the rest of them. There were a few suspenseful moments that might get the average 13-year-old, but frankly I found this film dismally boring. The only reason I watched through the end was to see if any kind of expansion/explanation might take place in regards to how these inbred villains came to be. What a waste of time.
Napoleon Dynamite
(2004)
Dud not Dynamite
22 July 2005
My boyfriend commented that when he was in film class, his professor warned him that there are films out there in which the opening credits are better than the film itself. He says he has now seen one of those films -- Napoleon Dynamite. I couldn't agree more. I had to leave the room to preserve brain cells lest they atrophy while watching this waste of time. We waited and waited and waited for a plot that never even thought about manifesting, everything that was supposed to be funny wasn't, and I quickly reached a point where I wanted to slap brother Kip hard enough to knock the taste out of his mouth. Maybe you have to be absolutely stoned to enjoy this movie -- I dunno. I'm just thankful that we borrowed the DVD rather than paying to rent it! Boyfriend says he's going to have a LONG talk with his daughter about her glowing recommendations of this film.
Sin City
(2005)
Well worth the hype!
2 April 2005
I've never read a Frank Miller graphic novel, but I was intrigued by the seemingly endless promotions for this film on SpikeTV. After catching a matinée today, I have to say that this is one of those very rare films that lives up to the hype. Though there were moments when I found the dialog a bit cheesy, the stories, the characters and the amazing cinematography were more than enough to keep me interested. I made a point of not doing any pre-viewing net research, so I was blown away by Mickey Rourke as Marv. I don't even like Mickey R. but I thought he was fantastic in this film. If you're looking to disassociate from reality for a while and you want a roller coaster of a ride, get thee to the nearest showing of Sin City.
Bram Stoker's Dracula
(1992)
This Dracula Sucked
21 September 2004
As a lifelong Dracula fan, I was hugely disappointed in this film. First of all, casting Gary Oldman as Dracula seemed as stupid to me as casting Tom Cruise as Lestat in Interview w/t Vampire. Tommy-boy looked like a ghoulish Tiny Tim in that film, while Oldman (who is a fantastic actor) looked like a geeky Brit trying to be sexy. I thought the pageantry in this film was wasted. Keanu Reeves gave his typical cardboard performance, while Winona looked pale and miserable. The only decent role was that completed by Anthony Hopkins, who manages to shine like the truly skilled professional he is in spite of being part of this neutered Dracula.
I wish that the director of this film had done a little research into the Dracula Appeal. It's all about SEX, of course. Forbidden fruit, dark desires, walking on on the dark side, etc. The original Dracula, Bela Lugosi, was just an odd-looking little Hungarian guy until he played the title role. Then he became a sex symbol of the era. The same did not happen for poor Oldman. My advice: stake this version of Dracula, burn it and throw the ashes into a moving body of water!
I wish that the director of this film had done a little research into the Dracula Appeal. It's all about SEX, of course. Forbidden fruit, dark desires, walking on on the dark side, etc. The original Dracula, Bela Lugosi, was just an odd-looking little Hungarian guy until he played the title role. Then he became a sex symbol of the era. The same did not happen for poor Oldman. My advice: stake this version of Dracula, burn it and throw the ashes into a moving body of water!
Little Shop of Horrors
(1986)
Silly, charming and lots of fun!
22 August 2004
I couldn't begin to guess how many times I have seen this movie. I consider it one of my favorite guilty pleasures. Though the ending is very different from the original film version (which is also rather amusing is a twisted sort of way), I thought Frank Oz and the whole cast did a wonderful job. Levi Stubbs was fantastic as the voice of Audrey II, and I am still amazed at the talent and powerful voice of Audrey. Looking at the comments here, I'm glad to see that there are more people like me who loved LSoH than gripers who just didn't get it!
I highly recommend this film if you're looking for a quick cheer-me-up. Just be careful if you allow your kids to watch it. I got in lots of trouble with my brother after my 6 year old nephew went home singing "I'm a Mean Green Mother from Outer Space." <snrk>
I highly recommend this film if you're looking for a quick cheer-me-up. Just be careful if you allow your kids to watch it. I got in lots of trouble with my brother after my 6 year old nephew went home singing "I'm a Mean Green Mother from Outer Space." <snrk>
Tell Your Friends