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weaversgrrrl
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Wish (2023)
Lame is a compliment
Literally none of the songs fit the scenes they appear in or follow. The animation is clunky and disjointed. Lackluster "villain" with the most pathetic song in history. When you consider the power of Scar's song with hyenas literally marching like Nazis, "This is The Thanks I Get" is a whiner pop song that isn't even sinister enough to be fully narcissistic. There's no commitment to anything in this film. Wishy washy, doing too many things and none of them well, with no originality and nothing stellar. Forgettable is a kind descriptor. It could've been a worthy 100 year story if they hadn't tried so hard to throw Easter eggs and recycled 3D models of past character designs into ChatGPT instead of committing to something risky and awesome. Walt would be disgusted and it's a dishonor to his name where the company is going.
The Rookie (2018)
S1-2 awesome, 3 meh, 4 better
Hopeful season 5 will bring back what we loved about seasons 1 and 2, which they tried to recapture in s4. Yes, s3 was a clear departure into wokeville, but they still kept a lot of the heart of the show. I think they were testing to see how far it needed to go, which was unnecessary. This cop show does a great job of embracing diversity already from race and culture to neurodivergence. I understood they were trying to show that, yes, there are corrupt cops (and Brandon Routh plays such a good jerk that when he pops up on a show, I'm already booing him lol), but they ALSO showed most cops are in the job to help people and not ALL white men are the devil. Clearly, the show's frontrunner is one. Duh.
So I kept watching through s4 and they returned to the basics of what makes this a great show. I adore Nathan Fillion, and I love how they appeal to a wide audience balancing action/procedure/cases/politico-socio drama with personal stories, danger, and relationships we can't help but invest in. I'd bring it up to a 9 if there weren't quite so many conveniences taken in the storylines that stretch way beyond reality. But overall, it's fun. I really hope they keep it that way with s5+.
The Lone Ranger (2013)
I don't understand the hate
It's fun. A little campy, sure, but have you watched old Westerns?! Gore Verbinski once again brings a film that doesn't take itself too seriously (and thank God. Life is too short for stuffy films). It's not supposed to be high drama, it's supposed to be fun. A movie for the sake of telling a story, a bit of nostalgia, for the sheer enjoyment of it. Excellent cast who all played their roles to perfection.
Crime Scene Kitchen (2021)
Intriguing concept well executed
I enjoyed both of the first two episodes. They did a great job of staging clues, walking the audience through the contestants' thought processes, and then incorporating all the pseudo-mystery into a fun cooking competition. Nice balance of intrigue and deliciousness and hosted by a talented trio of personalities. Anything my family can agree on is a huge plus in my book!
Mulan (2020)
Different doesn't mean bad
I don't get the poor reviews. This was a beautiful movie. Its OWN movie. I almost wish I'd have been able to enjoy it on the theater screen because the cinematography was spectacular. Was it perfect? No. Was it a repeat of the animated version? Also no, but thank goodness. I want them to be two obviously separate films so I can enjoy both for their own virtues. I was thoroughly enchanted.
Girl Meets World (2014)
Finally a show I'm glad my kids watch!
Like many kids, mine love many of the offerings on Disney Channel. Unfortunately, as mom, I have to suffer through many stupid shows riddled with stereotypes and terrible writing in which the adults look foolish or the kids get away with inappropriate behavior without consequence. Girl Meets World is one of those rare shows in which the whole family has an active role, and characters that serve a purpose beyond superficial shallow crap. The kids are portrayed as fairly intelligent, capable, responsible (even the "bad influence" of Maya is at heart good), caring, and supportive of one another. Cory and Topanga are great characters in line with who they were as kids in Boy Meets World. As parents, they bring maturity to the show without being ridiculously cheesy. They believe in their kids and their friends. They know the kids' strengths and weaknesses and use these to teach life lessons not only to the characters but to the young audience as well. After the episode Girl Meets the Forgotten my 9 year old actually said, "Wow. That was a really great show, mom. I think the whole world should remember that stuff." I agreed. We have been able to have many great discussions after episodes and I'm able to see what my 3 daughters have come away from it with. There have been plenty of times we've all been choked up or laughed out loud together. The best part of the show besides its heart is that you don't see the typical stupid stereotypes like in other shows (*cough* Ant Farm *cough*) in which Fat Kid is the funny one in love with the unattainable Hot Girl, Blonde Girl is always self-obsessed and ditzy, Jock is an overgrown moron, etc. In Girl Meets World, sure they're all pretty good looking, but at least they all have more depth and personality! OK, so I'll wrap this up. Is this show exactly a full-on replication of the original Boy Meets World? Obviously not. And do you REALLY want it to be? That was an excellent show for the 90s. The nineties. Kids today are similar at heart, but their experiences in this era are different from ours. We need to embrace the updates to this show. Shows today follow a different formula because audiences today have different expectations for their viewing preferences than kids of the 90s did. I guarantee it. Watch BMW with your kids. They'll probably like it, but because GMW is more relevant (not to mention HD), they will more than likely show a distinct preference for it. So for all the crazed 90s fan-kids out there writing negative reviews because it's not a clone show--let go and just enjoy this show for what it is. A well-executed UPDATE. It's worth your time, and your kids' time.
Earth to Echo (2014)
Way better than I expected!
My 8 year old watched this on Netflix with her little sister and proclaimed it "One of the BEST movies I've ever seen, Mom!" They then proceeded to nag the rest of us to watch it for the better part of a week. I'm so glad I finally did. I truly don't understand all the negative reviews. This is a fun movie with an excellent story line. Our whole family enjoyed it, and that's saying something. We all of course love the big budget CGI action flicks like what Marvel's been doing, but we also cherish the modern classics like Goonies and ET, which this movie has been heavily compared to.
Sure, this is no Spielberg or JJ Abrams, but it reminds me of the movies Spielberg used to make. It has a great story, and even if it is a bit far-fetched, what sci-fi flick isn't?! It's clean, and fun, with some really great effects, and it doesn't rely on nudity or the female character sexualizing everything like a many of today's movies. This kids are simply kids, navigating today's world, but with that timeless feeling we can all relate to. I'm pretty sure everyone who has rated this negatively has forgotten what it was like to be a kid, and how movies made them feel as a kid. When you're a kid, anything is possible, and the adult world is perceived as both frightening and exciting. and isn't it?
As for the reviews about the camera and shaky feeling, I thought it was a great cinematic concept. It made the movie really feel like you were with the kids and seeing things from their perspective. And for the people whining that the female character was a purposeful afterthought...really? Does every film have to align with someone's activist agenda? No. Great films are great because they tell a great story--not because they included a social agenda. Kids don't think about making sure their friendship circles include an equal racial and gender mix. They just see their friends, and that cute girl/boy they pass in the hall. The inclusion of Emma was a great addition and she helped the story line along. She learned things from talking to Echo that the boys never would have simply because it's how girls communicate. So I think negative reviewers ought to re-watch and think again, remembering what it was like to be a tween.
This film was great, and I would gladly watch it again! And I'm so grateful to have girls who would rather find quality stories like this to watch than the latest agenda-laden film or cheesy children's flick, or even Frozen. Storytelling for family movies is a lost Hollywood art.
Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse (2012)
The epitome of why people hate the Barbie doll
I have always been a Barbie fan, practically from birth. Now, as a mother of 3 daughters who LOVE Barbie everything, and who has seen every single Barbie movie at least once with those girls, I am disgusted by this Barbie television show.
I sat through one episode with my daughters, and was appalled that every character was portrayed as a superficial caricature that perpetuates every reason why feminists hate Barbie. The characters are extremely shallow, and even though some of them are "smart" and can use scientific words in a vaguely applicable context, somehow the writers have made even "intelligent" characters seem like air-heads. Barbie and her multitude of friends and sisters are placed in plots completely focused on superficial things like fashion shows, being in the spotlight, looking pretty--even her male friends.
I am so disappointed that after I had a dialogue with my girls (ages 5, 7, and 9, the Mattel demographic) about why this version of Barbie doesn't send the right message or portray the values we hold dear for girls even they agreed that it's a stupid show. The Barbie movies (back when Kelly Sheridan voiced them, before the new, young, shallow Mattel makeover in 2011) used to portray a better image for Barbie--even if the movies themselves were a little cheesy. We enjoyed those movies, and purchased every one of them. But after the ridiculous Fashion Fairytale, we have rented and rejected every movie since. Judging what I have seen of these recent Mattel productions and especially since seeing two episodes of this awful show, I'm *this* close to jumping on the anti-Barbie bandwagon.