RogerOThornhill1959 Reviews

Sun Moon (2023)

Better Than Expected

[6/10 · 24 August 2023]

"Christian Films" can be a gamble in the story department, especially the small ones. Many are sweeter than milk and honey, and they sound a bit more like a preacher's sermon than a film. This one was actually kind of a surprise. The premise is a teacher taking a job in a different country, dealing with a class of mostly unwilling high school students from a very different cultural background. No, this isn't To Sir, With Love, but it isn't that far off from being a remake.

Other than the strong similarity to a great film, there are some interesting strengths. Chief among these is the filming location in Taiwan. It is really beautiful, with some absolutely stunning shots included. Some of the directorial choices of what NOT to show were interesting as well. The movie launches very quickly into the premise with a short description of why the lead chooses to travel halfway around the world to teach a bunch of kids she can't really understand, and there are characters who are significant to the story who barely appear on screen at all. One other thing that is almost entirely missing is subtitles of the Mandarin dialog. This puts you very much in the place of the teacher who can't speak the language, but it is still presented in a way that you know exactly what is happening.

To my delight the film does also steer clear of the "Christian Film" tendency to make movies into a kind of sermon. Instead, it chooses to show people who are Christian being people with everyday problems and failings which don't get solved just because of simple faith.

The weaknesses are mostly minor. Of course, it certainly isn't original. There are a couple of sound issues as well. Since you don't get subtitles, some of the translation you do get is from smartphone translation apps, which can be a little hard to follow. More distracting is that the film rushes a bit through the ending, and in the process takes the safe route to tie everything up in a nice happy package. This is a little cliché, be not as bad as your average Hallmark movie. Overall, it is just an enjoyable film.

Creedence Clearwater Revival: Have You Ever Seen the Rain (2018 Music Video)

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

[10/10 · 29 July 2023]

This narrative video was produced to honor the 50th anniversary of CCR becoming CCR back in 1968. As such, we would expect the video to evoke nostalgia. The song itself was originally written about the tensions the band was having leading to the eventual breakup, so we would also expect that idea to be addressed in the narrative as well. The creators of the video have said that they wanted to capture the feeling behind the song, a time capsule of what the song means. It does all of this, incredibly well.

As you watch the last day three friends spend together, the feelings of nostalgia wash over you as they do when listening to any CCR song, and the tension for the impending split is always there, tugging at the threads. Have You Ever Seen the Rain is the soundtrack to this story, and to watch it as the band's music and Fogerty's vocals rain down on you is just magic. You don't want it to end, but of course it eventually does.

The Great Food Truck Race (2010– )

Oops there goes another good show

[1/10 · 9 July 2023]

They lost me for good this week. The show has always had its ups and downs. One of its biggest issues has really been the obvious extremely low budget, which has gotten worse over the years. It is a season long competition show with only $50k as the prize. One episode of your average daytime gameshow has that. On top of that, the contestants are given trucks that are in poor condition and even break down regularly, sometimes on the very first episode of the season.

Some people complain about the various questionable contestants they have featured, although I have mostly been able to accept that. It is a TV show after all. I continued to watch because I love food shows, and some of the creativity on this show has been great over the years.

But I can't handle them just openly allowing a team to effectively cheat. They let a team fire a member and then inexplicably let them bring ANOTHER previous eliminated team's member on to replace the fired worker. In the past when a team lost a member (not by choice) they had to go on with only two. Forget for a moment that the "differences" with the previous cook were almost completely the fault of the truck's lead and her nitpicking micromanagement. Regardless of that they gave a team an open advantage by letting them hand pick someone new. The minute that was announced we turned it off. Don't even care what happens.

M3GAN (2022)

No, Not Chucky

[6/10 · 13 February 2023]

Many are comparing M3GAN to Chucky, or maybe even Terminator. There might be a little of Skynet in this robot, but the movie has more in common with Ex Machina than with those other movies. There are tons of "evil machine" movies. However, why is the "evil machine" evil. Is it because machines have no morals and thus destined to become bad? Is it because they don't know the difference? Or, is it because the machine is built by humans who are ethically limited (at best)? M3GAN appears to try to tackle that question, but it is more than a little ham-fisted in its approach, even using some villain monologuing to get the point across. A very self-aware evil robot indeed.

Ex Machina explores it better, but of course Ex Machina is a great film and a lot less fun that a 4-foot killer robot running around.

Accidental Family (2021)

Fine for What It Is

[5/10 · 13 February 2023]

This is clearly a very low budget local production, the kind of production where all of the extras are listed in the credits. I have seen quite a few of those in my time, and this one has its good points.

The plot has some striking similarities to While You Were Sleeping, and a lot of the same feel. That is really something of a strength, albeit unoriginal. To say it is cheesy would be too obvious, but to me the real cheese was Swiss, as in holes in the story. Just don't think about this one too much and you will enjoy it more. In some ways that is a lot like your typical Hallmark movie, but I think this one is a bit more guilty.

Aside from that, there is something to enjoy here. The lead actress does a good job in her role, even if some of what she does defies logic. The actress playing the fiancé is good as well, to the point that you hate her just like you are supposed to. Most of the other cast act well enough not to be a distraction.

I actually liked the final act. Most of the "twists" are of course predictable, but it is still sweet and satisfying. Like I said though, just don't think about the explanations too much. If this came out of Hollywood, it would be a lower grade, but I have to give it a 5.

Call Me Kat: Call Me Philliam (2023) Season 3, Episode 10

A Sad Loss for such an Improved Show

[10/10 · 14 January 2023]

When Call Me Kat premiered I wrote a review saying that I hoped it would get better. That pilot was something of a hot mess. It had a great moment at the end, but the show just didn't work. The only thing I didn't really criticize in that review was Leslie Jordan, who I noted was an excellent addition.

The show did get better, very much so. They slowly retooled the show into something special. There are still some uneven moments that show the writer's room still needs some work, but it has been an enjoyable ride. One of the best elements is how they developed the Phil character. He was probably the best thing about the show. I am so glad with how this episode ends his story arc.

How they will continue on without Leslie in the show is an open question. I question whether they will choose to continue after this season, but I hope they do. If they do will still be fun to watch the ride.

A Savannah Haunting (2021)

Enjoyable But Flawed

[7/10 · 3 November 2022]

As modern horror movies go, A Savannah Haunting is above average,. Although as modern horror movies go, average isn't the highest bar.

The action doesn't rely only on the jump scare the way so many horror movies do. There is a lot of psychological horror too, which certainly makes it more interesting. There are of course similarities to other popular movies, such as the various "haunted doll" movies. In particular it borrows major plot points from The Shining and Psycho. In my opinion the movie navigates this quite well, even if it isn't entirely original. I was particularly impressed with the way aspects of The Shining were incorporated.

(Here are the spoilers) Popular horror movies are big on misdirection and plot twists. Those are understandable and usually fun. However, when the advertising intentionally tells you something that is false, that is going too far. The big "twist" leaves you wondering why they actually moved to Savannah since the reason given in the plot summary is wrong. The movie does answer it, but you have been tricked into believing that explanation was just an excuse to avoid talking about a painful memory. When you go back and think about all that happened in the movie you find that the filmmakers actually navigated the twist extremely well and you are left wondering exactly what was real and what wasn't. If only the plot summary the filmmakers provided wasn't false.

New Amsterdam (2018–2023)

4th Season Train Wreck

[1/10 · 18 November 2021]

I don't think I have ever seen such a great show crash and burn as badly as New Amsterdam did in this 2021 Fall season. I don't know what staffing change must have occurred in the writer's room, but there is no way that the same creative team is behind this unwatchable season. Dr. Veronica Fuentes may go down in TV history as a character addition that completely ruined a show. An evil money scheming antagonist is one thing, but she is written so badly that they may as well have cast Mike Myers as Dr Evil. Sharks with laser beams would probably be more realistic.

Muppets Haunted Mansion (2021 TV Special)

For Those Who Enjoy the Ride

[7/10 · 31 October 2021]

If you aren't familiar with the Haunted Mansion ride at Disney, then much of this short movie will seem odd and corny. That is because Muppets Haunted Mansion really does take you through an extended version of the ride. It hits on all the major points of the ride, a ride relies heavily on corn and camp. The movie plays it out successfully, with plenty of nostalgia for fans of the ride. Use of the Muppets is really quite smart, because they fit in so well with the corny comedy ingrained in the story. There are no real scares here, just spooktacular fun.

A Quiet Place Part II (2020)

Satisfying, but not quiet (quite) the original

[7/10 · 14 June 2021]

Part 2 is a solid horror movie, and a great theater experience. The use of sound is of course incredible, just like in the first movie. The acting is great as well just as in the first, and Millicent Simmonds needs at least a few awards nominations for her performance. The story is truly a Part 2 and not a forced narrative that had to be shoehorned in. The flashback of how it all started was well done too. There are some heart wrenching scenes, and some absolutely harrowing ones. One particularly masterful aspect is the way the action of multiple storylines is shown. Krasinski's ability to put together a unique movie is proven, and he will likely be one of the top Hollywood directors in the coming years.

But this film does suffer from some of the horror movie clichés that did not plague the first one. You love to see more of the monsters, but that also means you see those monsters acting differently than they usually do, just to add suspense when they are around a main character. Even more distracting, in the original when a character did something irrational it was usually a human mistake, a sign of the character's failings. Part 2 jumped off the ledge into characters doing things that just didn't make sense, and often completely out of character. This was solely to set up the situations that the story "needed".

In fact, the primary mission that the movie revolves around is itself illogical. It is an implausible quest that only pays off due to a more implausible deus ex machina. While this sets up a very satisfying conclusion, it is still naggingly off.

A very satisfying movie overall that is worth the view, but not quiet (quite) the original.

The Map of Tiny Perfect Things (2021)

Well Done

[8/10 · 22 February 2021]

What do you do with a plot concept that has been done several times before? Answer: You focus on doing it well and put your own creative touches on it. That is what was done here. You get a light rom-com story with a sweet message about living life to the fullest. You are kept guessing just a little bit. You get to laugh a little bit. You also get some really interesting visuals, especially in the resetting of the day. In fact, the cinematography for Map of Tiny Perfect Things is perhaps the best of its "time loop" mini-genre.

Call Me Kat (2021–2023)

Maybe it will get better???

[8/10 · 6 January 2021]

I really wanted Call Me Kat to be better. I love Mayim, and Leslie Jordan is always excellent. Swoozie Kurtz is usually good. The premise is great. Breaking the 4th wall is refreshing. And of course, it has cats. What could be wrong with that?

Sadly, the pilot just doesn't work. It has some ok jokes and a good dance scene, but so much is just off. Breaking the 4th wall got so annoying. Swoozie Kurtz is a disaster. You want to punch the best friend character. And on top of that, not enough cats.

But then...the final scene. One moment of brilliance. Funny and hopeful and slapstick, all at the same time. A Bridget Jones moment. This one gets another chance, just for that. Maybe it can find its stride.

Edit: Yes it got better, so much better. Bye to the awful "best friend" and much better writing for the rest of the characters (and Leslie Jordan deserved an Emmy).

The Three Investigators and the Secret of Terror Castle (2009)

Great Scooby-Doo Ending

[8/10 · 26 September 2020]

Like many movies based on a book, this one takes many liberties with the story. That is understandable considering that the plot of the original book would not have worked in the 21st century. However, being a fan of the books saying that this movie has a great Scooby-Doo ending isn't exactly a glowing compliment. The biggest lure of the books is the intelligence written into them. The science in the books has an air of plausibility, especially for the time when they were written. The movie does have glimmers of that, but it falls apart at the end like the stereotypical cartoon. Not a bad movie at all, as long as you aren't expecting a Three Investigators quality story.

My 11 year old grandson, a recently initiated fan of the books, was much more receptive. He was excited to see many of the book aspects come to life, and he was happy with the 21st century updates. He was clearly the target demo for this movie, and he loved it. My rating is a combination of his 10 and my 5.

Escape from Tomorrow (2013)

Interesting but Certainly not Magical

[7/10 · 31 August 2020]

Having spent much time at WDW, and also having spent many years working for a company that plays a big part in the movie, this was a must watch for me. I am surprised I had not heard of it before.

The quality of the movie leaves something to be desired. That most of it was filmed secretly inside both WDW and Disneyland was not only intriguing but also lowers your expectations. I have to say that many of those scenes are surprisingly well done. A lot of planning obviously went into the filming. At one point there are several shots of empty areas that were clearly shot after hours by a Disney employee. The movie is in black and white, which was reportedly done for technical reasons instead of artistic reasons. It does add to the surreal effect though, and it is possible that the technical need for monochrome video was tied to the decision to make the movie so surreal in the first place.

However, there were also a lot of scenes that were filmed green screen style with background video, and they were poorly done. I suppose that with the surreal nature of the film this might have been intentional to add to the effect, but it was distracting. The scenes filmed at Disneyland were also a bit distracting since the setting was supposed to be Disneyworld. Again, perhaps this was some intentional "Disney mash-up", but still distracting.

One thing to look for is the number of references to WDW trivia and urban legends that are embedded in the film. Some are well known (or were at the time the movie was filmed). Some are pretty obscure.

As for the overall film, it is an interesting concept. The plot owes a lot to American Beauty, with a much more surreal tint. The commentary on the theme park experience is actually pretty spot on. Families that visit "the happiest place on Earth" aren't always happy, and some are really messed up. Telling this in a "reality" where the urban legends and conspiracy theories true helps to make the commentary a bit less of a direct attack. Watching the movie in the midst of the COVID pandemic adds some unintended meaning as well.

The Haunted (2018)

Basic

[2/10 · 30 June 2020]

This is a very simple movie with a very simple plot. Most of it is the female lead exploring the house. She acts it well, which is good because she is almost the entire movie. The creep and the scares are good. The thin shadow of a plot is almost forgivable, but the "twist" at the end is not. It doesn't match the rest of the movie, which ruins what little there was to ruin.

An English Haunting (2020)

Not Great, but Passable

[6/10 · 21 June 2020]

English ghost movies seem to rely more on the creep factor than over the top horror. This one isn't bad. It lets you know right away that you are dealing with some real supernatural action. There are a few jump scares, and some misdirection. The ending is a little too cliche, but workable.

One bothersome part is that based on the dialog, the male lead is apparently supposed to be younger, possibly high school age. The actor is much older.

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist (2020–2021)

Hope it Lasts

[9/10 · 12 January 2020]

Person gets inexplicable intervention to help others. It has been done many times before, but this version is a real pleasure. The start was slightly weak, and when Zoey discovers her "gift" the musical numbers made me wonder if it was going to be too much music. But then it settled in to a very nice groove. It is a good concept nicely done, with great music to boot. With dozens of singers and dancers and the music rights, this can't be cheap. Hopefully it isn't too expensive to last.

Moms' Night Out (2014)

Funny and Clean

[8/10 · 11 May 2014]

Mom's Night Out is reminiscent of 80s movies like License to Drive and Adventures in Babysitting. If you remember those movies fondly, then you will probably love this.

It is also squeaky clean with a good message. It has been billed as a "Christian movie", but if that type of thing turns you off, don't let it worry you. It is really more like a fun romp without sex or bad language thrown in.

There are a few clichés and a few corny jokes, but there are also a lot of laughs, especially in the second half of the movie. Overall, I liked it more than Date Night.

FYI, stick around until the credits are over.