rick-keseley Reviews

Stanotte a Pompei (2018 TV Movie)

Abbreviated version from MHz

[7/10 · 23 August 2022]

This doesn't actually reveal anything new about Pompeii.

The reason I gave it a 7 is because I appreciated the cinematography and the attempt at animating the Roman life In Pompeii before the volcano. I didn't think this was worth watching.

Glee: Dance with Somebody (2012) Season 3, Episode 17

Ugh - so whitney can sing

[1/10 · 24 April 2012]

Why do people watch this show. They've abandon character and plot. I miss whitney!!!! I resent that gay relationships are so shallow that gay people can't have friends. Have the writers ever been in real gay life? Wtf? Mean time we're supposed to believe that straight people can love wheel chairs because they can see beyond the chair, but gay people are so shallow that we can't see a friend? The writing that defined this show in the first season is gone. This is hateful and anti-gay even if gays are writing it, that doesn't make it right! A 10 line minimum on an iphone? Nice music and a few moments of pleasure when i think what whitney meant to me. She was amazing when i saw her in the 1980s. There is something crude about co-opting her memory.

Glee: Dream On (2010) Season 1, Episode 19

unbelievable

[1/10 · 25 May 2010]

I have been a fan of glee, because the first group of episodes had characters that I understood. What a difference six months make!

What are these creators thinking? This series has become MTV with performers that nobody cares about. Nice songs done in a "broadway" kind of way, but I need to like the people doing the songs, because they're just OK. I'm not going to buy the record! This is truly the end for me. They have lost me as a viewer and I'm really sorry to say this.

I absolutely loved the first half season. I bought the HD versions of the episodes, because I couldn't imagine not being able to see them when they weren't available on the fox website. My only regret is that I don't have someone who will watch this crap and report back when they figure out that this doesn't work so I can start watching again.

I'm out of here (and the people who think this is good are grateful).

Glee: Laryngitis (2010) Season 1, Episode 18

omg

[3/10 · 11 May 2010]

I've worked my rating up to 3. I love the two dimensional characters from the first episodes. Too bad they are totally nonsensical in these episodes. Destroying the original character arcs is unforgivable. What happened to the original cast?

Kurt is straight! Only one of the curious changes in season 1 1/2. Puck is an A-hole. Who knew? Kurt's father is confused and so are we! Who are these new pod people? I want Rose Russell! Kurt can't pull off a song from Gypsy and still be the new Kurt. Is he really changed? I'm confused. (Not really).

"I will fight for your right ... doesn't mean a thing when you sing mellencamp..." Yeah, I buy these people!

wtf? (apparently you can't use caps and still be posted on this site!) I apologize for shouting! 8 - 10 ratings before the show started. I salute the teens who are smitten.

Glee: Bad Reputation (2010) Season 1, Episode 17

Let's get physical

[2/10 · 4 May 2010]

The worst episode yet with poor writing and no apparent direction. Isn't this supposed to be a comedy with funny lines? I didn't laugh once in the first half hour. No director in the credits is no surprise.

What's amazing to me is that Sue can tell Will last week that she is blackmailing the principal, but this week, Will sits still for an ultimatum from that same principal about a Glee list probably created by Sue which puts the Glee Club at risk?!? What the heck?

Olivia Newton-John is willing to cameo on this episode. I wonder if she saw the script. Her lines are not funny at all, but Sue's responses to her provided the only smiles I got from this.

I did enjoy the music this week. Performances by some of the lesser characters like Puck were well done. The remade video of "Let's get physical" with Sue and Olivia with auto-tune in over-drive was the weakest, but because I've always been a big fan of Olivia, I gave this turkey a 2 instead of the 1 it deserves.

Glee: Hell-O (2010) Season 1, Episode 14

Gleek no more

[2/10 · 13 April 2010]

How to destroy the Glee franchise in one episode; Sue would be proud. Have the writers lost their minds? In one episode they have destroyed the character arcs and removed any pretense of plot.

Gee, I guess Sue is the new protagonist and she achieves her power by drugging the principal. Why didn't she just tell him to reinstate her AND kill the Glee club? Will is now too weak and screwed up to oppose her and we're supposed to believe that she needs to be cunning to win.

The series has lost its cartoonish, lovable characters and now it's just a group of vaguely bad feelings. Bring back the previous writers and especially the editors from last season! Being a "creator" doesn't mean you can write a script that works and sustains the franchise. The alone music is NOT enough.

I want to love this show and I feel betrayed. To rephrase Kurt, "Curse your lack of talent!"

An American Carol (2008)

lets get personal

[6/10 · 5 October 2008]

The major problem I have with this movie is that it is a personal attack on Michael Moore and to a small degree, Rosie O'Donnell. While there is much to dislike about both people who often confuse truth and fiction or, more accurately, lie to reveal what they insist is truth, this movie is not their story. It is, instead, a slander in the same way the "W" is a slander about Bush. While some might believe that it gives Hollywood a dose of its own medicine, I think it just furthers the politics of personal destruction and is not very funny as a result.

I'm struck by how successful the movie, "Dave", was at making political points precisely because it was not about Bush, Reagan or any recognizable conservative politician. The terrorists in this movie are the funniest characters, because we are able to project an understanding unencumbered by a false sense of who we believe them to be.

The final viewer insult is Michael's conversion to the "right" which is completely unbelievable, but would have worked nicely if the character wasn't supposed to be Michael Moore. Save your money.

Music and Lyrics (2007)

quips and less

[6/10 · 19 February 2007]

Great premise, but this movie failed in the script and direction. The real problem is that boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl requires both impediments and characters with a reason to overcome them. There is almost nothing at stake here. Too bad, because I enjoyed some of the witty lines. However, even Eminem couldn't spout lyrics with the ease of Barrymore's character and he lived on 8 Mile and practiced all the time.

Half way through this movie I got a little angry because I wanted the movie to be better. I was rooting for Drew and Hugh to do something terrific and it didn't happen. The movie would have been unwatchable without these veterans.

The music wasn't as compelling as the songs in "That thing you do!", but I enjoyed the spoofs on MTV and Wham.

Dreamgirls (2006)

What if Chicago were about Chicago?

[6/10 · 25 December 2006]

The main problem with this picture is that it tries to be about the music business instead of focusing on the people who sing. That's why the original Broadway effort worked well and this movie adaptation doesn't. This can not be an indictment of Berry Gordy Jr. and Motown and also be about people achieving their dreams.

Two easy choices from the musical, but not in the movie I think makes my case. When we hear Curtis sing "When I First Saw You", we don't hear the duet with Deena where we find she's not a pretty innocent. When we hear Clarence sing to Effie "I Miss You, Old Friend", we don't hear the duet with Effie where Clarence wins her over with the fact he's changing and so is she.

All told, I gave this a 6 because I liked the original music and it reminded me of an excellent musical called "Dreamgirls". This gets a 4 for character development and a 2 for factual context. Motown's contribution to American life was far greater then this film implies. Payola was not as important as this film implies.

Finally, anyone who saw or heard Jennifer Holliday as Effie can not possibly believe that Jennifer Hudson brings anything new to the role. Perhaps better editing would have overcome the lack of physical presence on songs like "And I Telling You, I'm Not Going", too much arm fluttering.

Eragon (2006)

Thought they could make Star Wars with dragons

[5/10 · 20 December 2006]

Reasonable acting, good special effects and bad writing. No need to worry about spoiling anything, because this is not the book and you've seen this one before. This is an attempt to recreate Star Wars with dragons and not a successful one.

One of the strengths of the book is the character development of the main character, but here he transitions from a farm boy to super hero as fast as you can say Luke Skywalker. The difference is that Luke is already an accomplished pilot when the story begins while Eragon can't even hunt, read or fight. Of course, within a few over edited minutes, Eragon could use a cape and save mankind. His mentor, not named Obie Wan, isn't sure Eragon has the force (dragon rider) within him even though he himself was quite a "Jedi" before his dragon was killed when the empire triumphed. Eragon's quest as super hero is to join the rebels, but are they on the same planet? The movie's not totally sure.

What a mess, but the dragon animation touched me so that's why this is a five.

The Ron Clark Story (2006 TV Movie)

Mr. Chips and Miss Dove don't get this movie.

[5/10 · 27 August 2006]

Much of what Ron Clark professes is missing from this movie if you dare to compare the movie with what he says when he lectures. I guess one might say this is "loosely" based on a true story.

As a new teacher of high school kids, I can't say for certain whether clowning around with 5th graders really makes them like learning, but I'm certain that when they get to high school and they can't read or do simple math, no amount of humor can overcome the attitude that years of social promotion creates. Hats off to any teacher that get these kids started in learning.

As far as the movie version, Matthew Perry does not capture the manic energy of the real Ron Clark; he's far too adult and restrained. Clark is a whirlwind; a person you can't quite believe is real. Clark literally sweeps people along with his personal energy while talking a mile a minute. Perry just doesn't get it. His scenes with children are unbelievable, because they are too easily won over. Now if he'd only known karate, he'd of had them at "hello" or so says Hollywood.

I gave this film a 5, because its message that all children can learn is inspirational. A far better recent film is "Stand and Deliver"(1988), but the reason I'm a teacher is because of movies like "Good Morning, Miss Dove"(1955) and "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" (1939).

The Lake House (2006)

A confused mess of "flashback" elements.

[5/10 · 1 July 2006]

The plot of this film is an attempt to explore a romance where the impediment is a two year time shift. The story is told in a flashback motif where Reeves is in 2004 and Bullock in 2006. Bullock's memories are Reeves' realities, but they can also communicate in real time. Unfortunately, throughout the film, the time gap keeps getting smaller between the characters so you don't know always whose reality is being referenced and the real chronology. The use of Valentine's Day in the three different years is especially confusing. Illogical plot elements abound. For example, how can they share the same dog and why is there a book under the Kate's floorboards.

More distracting is the inability of Kate Forster(Bullock)to make simple connections and obvious deductions in the present despite "prophetic" comments by Alex Wyler(Reeves)as he populates Kate's recent past with actual encounters informed by "realtime" communications from the present. It's really hard to believe that screenwriter/playwright, David Auburn, who managed such amazing depth of character in "Proof" provides so little character work here. Reeves' performance adds nothing appealing. This is no "Walk in the Clouds".

On the bright side, Bullock creates range in her role and makes the obvious ending work.(I actually teared up.) Christopher Plummer is finds unwritten depth as a self-obsessed father unable to connect with his son in a manner the son(Reeves)understands. I enjoyed Shohreh Aghdashloo as a coworker confidant to Bullock.