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rbstoker
Reviews
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)
I guess I need to watch the first two episodes again.
After reading all these positive reviews I am thinking I must have been half asleep when I watched episodes 1 and 2. I have been looking forward to this version since I saw the first teaser back in January. However, I thought the episodes weren't very exciting and the storytelling was sub-par. The CGI and costumes were good. I've never read Tolkien and have only seen Jackson's LOTR version and the later Hobbits trilogy. So I am not any kind of purist, I just like a good story that is realistic in the context it is presented. This is suppose to be an origin story type pre-quel. The first episode starts by indicating that evil has touched and ravaged the Elves domain of Valinor. So they sail a mighty fleet to Middle Earth to battle it. Yet thousands of years later(after thousands of Elven deaths) their King sends his best warriors back to Valinor...aka the Undying Lands to ascend to a higher plane of existence. On the premise that because they haven't seen the enemy in years he thus no longer exists and disappeared into thin air. Yet at the last minute the Commander of these warriors jumps out of the ship in the middle of the sea and starts to swim back to Middle Earth. I realize they are capable of living for centuries and are darn near invincible, but still we are expected to believe she is going to swim that huge distance and without a compass no less? Also, there seems to be hatred and distrust between the Elves, the Dwarves and Men. Which we knew existed, but the reason isn't included in the first episode of the pre-quel. So if you knew nothing of the LOTR at all you would still be left wondering why they don't get along. And what's up with these Harfoots people and their very pronounced Irish accents? Their story arc seemed kind of stupid to me, especially when the guy fell out of the sky. If his character is a key plot point why couldn't they write a better arc story? I found myself constantly looking at the time remaining during both episodes. The stories kept lagging which caused me to occasionally lose interest. I am going to tune in next Friday for the next episodes, but if they plod along like these two I'm probably done watching. I am going to force myself to re-watch the first two, but honestly I think a 20yr old Sci-fi show would probably be more entertaining.
Another Life (2019)
No matter how sexy Katee Sackhoff is, she can't make this show a hit.
I binge watched all ten episodes in one sitting. I am a big Katee Sackoff fan and could never get tired of watching her save the day while clad in a sports bra and skimpy workout shorts. However, apart from that, this show is pretty marginal. The writing is 2nd rate and the plot development is poor. The key dialogue in critical situations is a lot of profanity F-bombs and other words that probably appeal to immature audiences, but not the avg sci-fi fan. It's almost as if the writers all suffer from ADD and can't focus on continuity or their plot devices. They had a golden opportunity in the AI, but instead of doing an Andromeda styled angle. They chose to make him an ineffectual emotional mess at critical moments. The mcguffin in the story is really poorly developed.
Angel and the Bad Man (2009)
If you're going to remake the Duke, please use better supporting actors.
I am a huge fan of John Wayne and it goes without saying that I view any remake with a jaundiced eye. However, I am a big fan of Lou diamond Phillips and Jeff Bridges and feel both of them can play any Western that the Duke did. The problem with this remake in my opinion is the supporting cast. Phillips took the Quirt Evans role and made it his own and did not try to be a 2009 version of John Wayne. Alas, Deborah Kara Unger was very difficult to watch and totally unbelievable as a Quaker woman that a Bad Man would fall in love with and give up his world for. What happened to her beautiful looks anyway? In this movie she looked like a saloon tramp that has been "Rode Hard and Put Up Wet." Instead of a soft and warm woman that could melt the heart of even the hardest of men. Of all the TV actresses out there this was the best they could do? There was no chemistry even when they tried to force some in the kissing scene and it looked like a brother and sister kissing. Also, the father character wasn't too bad in his role, but the mother was not very good. I liked the Marshall and the Duke's grandson did a pretty good job as Randy, but the saloon girl Maggie left a lot to be desired and looked like she was forcing her lines. Kudos go to Luke Perry as Laredo, but those two sidekicks of his could have been portrayed by wooden statues. I laughed out loud when the Carson character uttered the line "...he had more money than he needed." when Quirt brought him to the Quaker home. Couldn't the writer(s) have come up with a better alternative to the water problem than overcharging for rent of a store? Three stars for Phillip's interpretation and one for Perry with the Duke's nephew and the Marshall character sharing one for their style.
The Alamo (2004)
This Movie is a Revisionist Piece of Trash
Having endured this inaccurate movie I will admit that it is a more modern telling of the story than previous versions. Yet, it is so inaccurate and has has been made so politically correct that it made me mad after watching it. Davy Crockett was very poorly represented by Billy Bob, who I thought would have probably been better cast as Sam Houston given both men's love of oratory. I think self-absorbed Dennis Quaid(an actual Texan) would have been a perfect Crockett and it would have definitely fed into his starved sense of self-worship. As a Texan and a true believer in the Texas mindset I feel Davy Crockett was the quintessential Texan even though not born here. Our unofficial motto is "It ain't braggin' if it is a fact" was made for Crockett. And that last scene at the Alamo where Crockett is the last survivor has to be the biggest insult to Davy Crockett ever made. To even suggest that this giant of a man and seasoned fighter would allow himself to be taken alive is ridiculous. Three different eye witness accounts place him dead amid the bodies of a dozen or more dead Mexican soldiers after undoubtedly fierce hand to hand combat. Finally, that lame ending to the movie supposedly depicting the battle of San Jacinto as a mutual battle of 600 Texicans vs 700 Mexican Soldiers when there was actually closer to 1,500 well trained Mexican regulars. Every Texas school kid who pays attention in their first Texas history class knows the battle took the Mexican Army by surprise during siesta time and the Mexican army was so confused they could not form ranks and fled as they were not trained to fight frontier style hand to hand.
Fringe (2008)
Not Impressed
This had to be the most hyped show in recent memory. What a dud!!! The plot was slow and plodded along in the beginning. I tuned in with an open mind, but this show was so disappointing that I kept looking at the time remaining and hoped it would get better. To be fair there were a couple of scenes that I liked such as the LSD line and the Cow in the hall. However, the plot had some continuity holes and the writing just was not tight. If they expect this to keep and build a loyal following the writing and plot better start improving on the future episodes they have in the can or they will not make it to next season (imho). I did think John Noble's character was the best acted in the pilot he was the only one that was really believable. I guess playing crazies is his calling.
The Last Place on Earth (2002)
A Good Story
My goodness " a crime against God, Man, and Nature" is a bit somewhat melodramatic. I just finished watching this movie and agree it was not Oscar caliber. I almost did not watch it due to not recognizing any of the names on the digital TV Guide, but I liked the description and was surprised when I saw Tisha Campbell who I have always liked. I wonder why she was not included in the TV Guide billing, oh well unimportant. I can see where this movie might resonate with some people, like me, who miss a good story telling in movies. I was pleased that this movie departed from the norm and did not try and make us all weepy about her illness. Instead it focused on the characters and their lives and how precious life is. Also, I felt the movie kind of reinforced the old adage "to thine own self be true." I would recommend this movie to anyone looking for a good little movie to watch instead of the blockbuster repeats that dominate most cable channels. If you keep on open mind and remember that this was an Independent Film you will enjoy it.
Imitation of Life (1934)
This Movie Must Be Taken In Context of the Times....Yet.....
I have seen this movie several times as well as the re-make. Condidering they were made 25 years apart the re-make is more palatable for my African-American sensibilities. However, considering the state of race relations in the US and the prevailing climate in Hollywood at the time the movie isn't that bad. The story's premise of a white woman feeling pity for and taking in a black woman is credible given that all women especially mothers would find it difficult to turn their back on another woman in need. Yet, I feel Hollywood could have made some bold strides and tried to elevate Delilah's character to more than a "step-n-fetch" slave. How hard would it have been for Hollywood to make her an equal partner and decision-maker in the pancake deal. Interestingly, the light-skinned character played by Fredi Washington(who really is mixed) is vilified in the movie as wanting to pass herself off as white. In real Hollywood life she was told she could make more money if she allowed the studio to promote her as being white. She of course refused and her career ended three years later because she could not be accepted by either race in movies at the time. She was too white for blacks and too black for whites...Shame. I recommend all people to watch this movie and then also watch the re-make and appreciate how our society has changed and still has more opportunities to change.