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Reviews
Fallout (2024)
Attempts to upgrade the zombie apocalypse genr
The latest, much-publicized science fiction blockbuster series is "Fallout", now streaming on Prime and Freevee (without and with ads, respectively; both are from Amazon). It stars Ella Purnell as Lucy MacLean, Walter Coggins as the mutant bandit ghoul, and Aaron Moten as love interest Maximus. While it is getting a high rating of 8.7 on IMDB I would rate it a barely watchable 6.0. The plot is that VaultTec, a manufacturer of fallout shelters, has conspired with other powerful interests to start a nuclear war in order to drive customers into its shelters. Some 200 years later the surface is inhabited by warring remnants of humanity as well as mutated monsters. This series is based on a popular video game and feels as juvenile as one might therefore expect in spite of its multimillion dollar production. It is not so much science fiction as it is one which is only a couple steps above being a zombie apocalypse film. There are all sorts of plot holes (e.g., how is it with surface obliterated back into the stone age, electricity seems to be working in every abandoned building and high-tech weaponry proliferates). Characters are stereotyped and inauthentic. I also wearied of combining ultraviolent visuals with retro nostalgic singing. I did watch all eight episodes but I think one must be a sci-fi or gaming addict to do so.
Apples Never Fall (2024)
Well worth watching
This is the story of a family with secrets and resentments, all of which come to the fore when the mother disappears and may have been murdered, Contrary to some other reviewers, I thought the acting was great, the characters and relationships well-developed, and there is a good mystery to boot. One reviewer criticized it as being a Lifetime type show, but I think those who like relationship movies would appreciate it. For me, the "Lifetime" epithet means maudlin and "Apples Never Fall' was certainly not that. It certainly held our interest and we were never tempted to skip ahead to episode seven to see how it all ended,. It is based on the best-selling book by Australian author Liane Moriarty.
One for the Money (2012)
Go see it!
As an Evanovich fan, and contrary to some reviews here, I found the movie to be an excellent transfer of the novel to film, thought the actors were well-cast, and my wife and I came out of the theater hoping the entire series will be made into films. Highly recommended.
The only character I had pictured differently in my mind was Grandma Mazur, whom I pictured as older and with one foot in dementia. However, Debby Reynolds' portrayal was great too, and just seemed a different and very nice take on the character.
In particular, I disagree with some here about Heigl as Stephanie Plum. She made a believable and likable Stephanie, and O'Mara as Morelli was right on also.
Courageous (2011)
Well produced but extremely preachy
Though I am a Christian, I do think Christianity is not well advanced by this preachy film which uses a veneer of family relationship drama as a cloak for sermonizing at the audience. It is marketed deceptively as an action-relationship film but even I felt like I had paid my money to be lectured at by holier-than-thou script inserted for religious rather than theatrical reasons.
The film has a sound message (men should step up to the plate and be good fathers) but overrides this with the usual Jesus is the answer message. This comes from a dogmatic point of view which would also hold that men who do step up to the plate and are outstanding fathers, but who do not accept Jesus, are going to hell. That is, it is a dishonest film in this respect. Christianity is better advanced by a film which asks the hard questions, not just the apple pie and fatherhood easy questions.
You will see a lot of rave reviews here from people who like sermonizing and want to induce others to see a film of this sort. I just think that if it were marketed honestly, then people who see the film would not feel manipulated and tricked.