ClioRickman Reviews

Bob's Burgers: Apple Gore-chard! (But Not Gory) (2022) Season 13, Episode 6

So bad it's scary

[2/10 · 1 November 2022]

Disappointing. The episode had none of the charm, wit, warmth, or zaniness of earlier Halloween episodes ("Full Bars," "Fort Night," "Teen-a-Witch"). It got off to a bad start: it lacked the traditional opening sequence. Were the writers too lazy to think of Halloween puns for the names of the exterminator and the shop next to the restaurant? Overall, the episode just wasn't funny. Part of the reason is that the characters didn't DO much of anything. Tina and Gene went to school and stood around (literally) in their flimsy costumes. That's it. Linda went to the school to fix the costumes. That's it. We get a one-second cut-away showing her making the costumes, and that was funny. It should have been expanded. Teddy didn't do anything except show up at the restaurant only to be told by Linda that she had to close because she needed to go to the school.

In the orchard, Bob's preoccupation with bees should have had some kind of payoff when he finally found the hive. But there isn't one. And have the writers forgotten who Louise is? She would have mocked the horse skull costumes or thought they were cool; she wouldn't have been afraid of them. Remember "The Hauntening"? Maybe they'll do better next year.

The Queen's Gambit (2020)

Tut Tut Tut Tut

[2/10 · 12 August 2021]

Potentially compelling story marred by political correctness or what I suppose is called "wokeism" nowadays. The only good thing to come out of the show is an awareness of Gillian Hills' terrific 1963 song "Tut Tut Tut Tut."

Death Wish (2018)

When seconds count, the police are minutes away

[8/10 · 30 May 2020]

It's interesting that the reviewers who denounce this movie because they perceive it as being pro-gun propaganda likely don't have the same reservations about the ten times as many Hollywood movies that spout anti-gun propaganda.

Frasier: Someone to Watch Over Me (1995) Season 2, Episode 19

Unrealized Potential

[8/10 · 26 May 2018]

I agree with the review by studioAT that this episode is "very nearly brilliant." It could have been brilliant if it ended differently. Either Frasier and Kari could have met face-to-face and she could have explained how lonely she's been since her husband died and that this was why she became so focused on the compassionate Frasier. Or Kari could have remained a mystery woman, a tantalizing shadow.

A good episode that just misses greatness.

Unnatural Causes (1993 TV Movie)

Worth watching but nowhere near as good as the book

[5/10 · 5 May 2017]

If I had watched this without having read the book, I'm sure I would have liked it more. But it pales in comparison to the book. As another reviewer mentioned, the film removes the whole premise of Dalgleish visiting his aunt on the Suffolk coast, taking some time off to sort out his feelings for Deborah Riscoe. Accordingly, it removes Dalgleish's Aunt Jane (an interesting character) and inserts Riscoe into the action. While I like the Riscoe character, she seems extraneous here.

The character that's the most different compared to the book is Sylvia Kedge. Here, she seems pathetic and pitiable. In the book, she's manipulative, calculating, and flat-out murderous, especially in the climactic scene with Dalgleish on the roof of Tanner's Cottage. One element that was removed in this adaptation is the tape recording dictated by Kedge in which she explains her reasons for the killing the Setons. This is one of my favorite parts of the novel: hearing Kedge speak, as it were, from beyond the grave. Very creepy.

All in all, this is worth watching but don't expect a faithful rendering of the book. Marsden is wonderful as always. I miss Inspector Massingham (John Vine)!

Jaws (1975)

Should be called "Shaw's"

[7/10 · 11 September 2016]

This movie should be called "Shaw's" because Robert Shaw owns it. Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss are competent, but Robert Shaw's performance as Quint is superb.

As other reviewers have noted, "Jaws" isn't really scary, but it IS exciting (especially the second half). I would call it an adventure movie rather than a horror film. As other reviewers have also mentioned, apart from the the now-famous "approaching shark" motif, the John Williams score is insipid and sometimes seems utterly unsuited to the action on screen.

If you've never seen it, see it if only for Shaw's bravura performance.

Tormented (1960)

Hokey but somehow also creepy

[5/10 · 9 June 2012]

A creepy little film even though it's hokey. The story line is engaging, the island setting is very atmospheric, and the acting isn't too bad (I enjoyed the relatively young Lillian Adams as Mrs. Ellis). And there are some eerie touches, such as the wilting flowers and drooping candles in the church scene. But the movie suffers from all the campiness (e.g., Vi's floating head) and a terrible, discordant early-1960's jazz score.

Oddly, even though Mrs. Ellis is an interesting character, it's not made clear why she's even in the story or what her blindness has to do with anything. (Ostensibly, her blindness renders her more perceptive, more attuned to things others cannot see, more willing to believe in the supernatural than others in the household, but this angle isn't taken up in a satisfying way.)

Not worth purchasing, but if it shows up on late-night TV, give it a shot!

Splinter (I) (2008)

Not brilliant but still engaging

[6/10 · 12 February 2012]

A nice little horror movie, "Splinter" isn't brilliant, but it's engaging nevertheless. It offers a creepy atmosphere and competent acting. My main quibble is with the writing -- specifically, the sometimes illogical and implausible things the characters do and the occasionally silly dialogue.

I also would have liked an explanation of what the creature was and how it formed. There's a lot of talk about the age of the trees and how the surrounding woods are an "old forest," but this fact never comes into play in relation to the creature. Nor does the orange sign (which seems important because the camera zooms in to show it to us) posted by the side of the road proclaiming the region an "experimental" area. Perhaps there are plans to explain everything in a sequel. Despite these shortcomings, this film is worth seeing.

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)

Don't Waste Your Time!

[1/10 · 18 June 2006]

Absolutely awful: incoherent, meandering, and confusing. Puzzling symbolism and bizarre dream sequences (which are, of course, typical David Lynch elements) need to make SOME modicum of sense to be of any value, but the ones in this movie do not make any sense. Also, many writers deliberately refuse to tie everything up at the end of a film, preferring to provoke the viewer into speculation. But in this case, the viewer is left feeling merely frustrated at the end because of all the unresolved questions. The movie is visually striking and certainly boasts an extraordinary cast, but its incoherence overshadows these assets. Even fans of the TV show "Twin Peaks" with whom I watched this movie were very disappointed.