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Reviews
Monster Madness: Mutants, Space Invaders and Drive-Ins (2014)
Disappointing
These compilations of classic science fiction films never seem to hit the mark. This one's strength is the interviews wit the people who acted in or directed the films. The problem, once again, is the limited footage beyond the movie trailers and any intelligent commentary. i would like to see some probing, intellectual discussion beyond the cold war, nuclear testing, and so on. Quite average in every way.
How to Get Away with Murder: Stay (2020)
Astonishing
Once again some kluck gives this a one. This was an astonishingly well written episode to finish the series. There were no contrivances other than giving us a final view of the characters and their fates. Michaela who was the first to sell out ends up by herself with her career intact and that manipulative father. Others face the music, some dying. I had binged on this before and am not much of a TV watcher during prime time. When Netflix finished it off, I was so excited. Not every episode was perfect, but then it steamrolled to the end. I've always considered Breaking Bad my favorite series. This one isn't too far behind (apples and oranges anyway). Viola Davis is a national treasure.
How to Get Away with Murder: Annalise Keating Is Dead (2020)
Can I Give It an Eleven
All the characters have now revealed their flaws. The bad guys are exposed. Now it is up to the writers to do a slam bang final episode. As crazy as this show has been (I'm constantly amazed at how the truth can be stretched), I have enjoyed it from beginning to end. It doesn't mean I like anyone. It's like watching a train wreck.
How to Get Away with Murder: What If Sam Wasn't the Bad Guy This Whole Time? (2020)
Whoa!
All this subterfuge! And we eventually get news about a bonafide psychopath. We revisit the original crime and the participants with details about Annalise's awful youth. Sam is at center court, but what can he say. His angst appears to have some cred. Off we go into the next to last episode.
How to Get Away with Murder: Let's Hurt Him (2020)
Nose to Nose with the FBI
Connor and Michaela are so full of guilt that this episode had to happen. Meanwhile, Xavier is at the Mercy of Frank. The forces that have brought about the old man's death for political gain are still out there. This episode has it all and with only three left, I can't wait.
How to Get Away with Murder: The Reckoning (2020)
Packs a Wallop
I'm glad Annalise is back on he own terms. Also, we get to see how deep the tentacles of the FBI are here. This episode focuses primarily on who killed Asher and all the guilt that is spread around. The characters act much more normal here than in some of the other offerings.
How to Get Away with Murder: We're Not Getting Away with It (2020)
Stack That Deck
Annalise is gone to what appears to be Mexico or Cuba or someplace. Meanwhile, Asher's "killers" are arrested. Michaela goes back to Daddy who is the scum of the earth. The FBI dirty tricks everyone, but they really want Annalise. It's an intense episode where everything turns dark.
How to Get Away with Murder: Are You the Mole? (2019)
Roosting Chickens
This was non-stop, forcing us to check our minds every few moments. We have so many plot elements still at work. We have surprises and we have the loss of a major character. Annalise is going off the deep end. We know she is still in the game, but in what way? Did someone really give this episode a single star. That's just juvenile selfishness and tampering with the averages. Anyway, I've been at this for over 20 years and there's always one. I can't wait for the next offering.
How to Get Away with Murder: I Want to Be Free (2019)
So Good! No Other Reviews!
The Castillos are bad boys, for sure. But somehow they hold sway over everything that happens here. This is a masterful episode with some great twists and turns, but someone is going to pay big time. Frank, once again, is at the center of things. He can be the worst of the worst. Anyway, the whole world is seen as a cesspool from top to bottom as each character maneuvers his or her way through it. The scene at the end with Annalise is really captivating.
How to Get Away with Murder: I'm the Murderer (2019)
Criminals Helping Criminals
I'm tired of focusing on characters who are so unlikable and so crass. After their initial crime, they can't seem to come to grips with anything. Annalise is beyond repair and her entourage should break up and find individual jobs.
How to Get Away with Murder: Family Sucks (2019)
I'm Just Along for the Ride
I'm putting my faith in the writers ability to untangle this web. One thing that we have to be patient about are the quick cuts, moving a person from a serious scene to a whole different place. Asher is front and center here, no longer the idiotic party boy. Lets keep going.
How to Get Away with Murder: We're All Gonna Die (2019)
The Pot is Boiling
Since I really couldn't care less about Laurel, I am a bit flummoxed by people willing to give their lives to protect her. She has been a thorn in the side for most of the show. That said, I thought that there were some well acted moments in this episode. Once again, Michaela refuses to grow up and move on with her life. Her father does what he can but "her snottiness" can't realize that sometimes when people are young they do things they can't take back. Anyway, this season has its tentacles in me and I am being dragged under.
How to Get Away with Murder: I Hate the World (2019)
The Unlikeables
I don't think anyone likes anyone else in this show. Annaliese has barbs out for everyone and has hurt everyone. Michaela won't listen to anyone and is obsessed. Frank is in deep doo doo. Then there is the ridiculous threesome that is being set up. There's more. The last five minutes has more stuff than three episodes combined. As is my soap opera prurience kicks in, I will watch again to see how they manipulate things.
How to Get Away with Murder: Do You Think I'm a Bad Man? (2019)
Getting Better
This episode may have too many plot elements for 45 minutes, but it is engaging. Knowing what I do of ICE, I found their role here quite unbelievable, but I guess it could happen. Once again, Michaela Pratt is tiresome. She continues to overact. Her emotions have no consistency. There are some secrets revealed that make the continuation of the series worth my time. Viola Davis has infused so much adrenaline over the year, it's surprising she can still function. On to the next.
Hamilton (2020)
A Great Representation
Having seen the play and loving it, I was set for a disappointment. No chance. With the one limitation of being confined to a screen, the portraya was extremely well done. With a minimum of close-ups, the filming of the staging worked well. The sound was very good, few words lost. Since this was the original cast, we got to see the thing at its best. I will leave it to others to get into the plot details. I was intrigued from beginning to end.
Grantchester: Episode #5.3 (2020)
Photogenic
Will goes to a movie theater with his new reporter girlfriend. While the movie is showing, there is a screen. A man we met early on, a supposed American projectionist, is found dead in the projection booth. There is a second plot involving a young Pakastani man who becomes the suspect in this case. It leads to some complexities in breaking the case.
Grantchester: Episode #5.2 (2020)
A Decent Episode
When a man, thought to be a model citizen, is run down by a reckless driver. It leads to two brothers who live on a gorgeous property, one of them with mental issues. We are also involved in prejudice against such a person. The vicar and Geordy begin to work well together. Finch acts in a risky way and the vicar comes to odds with his mother and her new fiancee.
Marcella: Episode #3.2 (2020)
Too Much Undercover
There is something missing in this series now. Marcella's character has absolutely no attraction to me. She walks around like a ghost. Critical question is what is in it for her. Does she have a death wish? This is my last excursion into this series. Too bleak.
How to Get Away with Murder: Vivian's Here (2019)
Science Fiction/Fantasy
I've always enjoyed this show. But it was so frustrating. What I finally decided was that the whole thing is so far fetched that viewing it with any sense of reality would be a mistake. So now I view it like I would a child's book. Full of impossibilities but fun anyway. Oh, by the way, after all these years are some of you sick of Michaela? She has to be one of the most tiresome characters I've ever encountered--not to mention the terrible acting.
13th (2016)
A Good Reminder
Let's face it. Years ago I read a book called "The Nature of Prejudice" by a man named Allport. In it we have the people who often have nothing to offer the world picking on the most vulnerable of our society. So they can feel "good" about themselves. If I had one thing reinforced, it is a world where a race of people allowed a part of America (the South) the ability to flourish without any benefits to these poor souls. This story needs to be told. And stop that "race card" crap. The anger over the race card means nothing to anyone but racists. This is not a perfect film, but it showed how pervasive this discrimination is. And finally, those poor MAGA people that are being attacked. How many Trump allies had rubber bullets fired at them? How many were confronted by the National Guard?
The Crown: Margaretology (2019)
Party Girl
Princess Margaret again is able to exhibit her boorish behavior. She manages to be outrageous because she has no ultimate responsibilities. Still, her portrayal is interesting. The scene at dinner with LBJ is quite funny and utterly tasteless. John Kennedy is barely in his grave. Only Avis is OK at number two.
Marcella: Episode #3.1 (2020)
Blonde Marcella
Marcella has been undercover for some time. She finds herself embedded with a sort of gangster family in Northern Ireland. She has been with one of the men for some time, but that comes to a dramatic close. I can't remember exactly the transitioning from the end of Season Two. I'm hoping there will be a bit more concision in the future.
How to Get Away with Murder: Say Goodbye (2019)
I Guess We Need a Transition
To much pillow pounding. I guess everyone has to get back on the same page so issues can be addressed. Since this is the final season, I wonder how much of the past will emerge again. Alanlise is still dominant. As for the rest, what a bunch of ineffectual characters all in the same place at the same time. Who's selfish? I'm selfish. You're selfish! We're all selfish. The whole therapy bit is contrived, so let's get moving with a plot development. Oh, yes, there's Laurel. She's sefish!
The Goldfinch (2019)
Disappointing
I have a hard fast rule. Never compare a movie to the book on which it is based. This, of course, is impossible in many ways. But one needs to accept the limitations of the silver screen. Little introspection, detail, character development, and so on. Obviously, with good direction and acting, we have a new telling of a tale. I really enjoyed the book here, but was astounded that a movie was being made of it. The dull portrayal of the cerebral nature of the plot doesn't stand up well. It kept my interest only in a how-are-they-going-to-show that kind of way. There is something so drab here. We are asked to glean all kinds of information from close-ups of the protagonist and Nicole Kidman. Connections fail. Suspense is non-existence and contrived. Some books just weren't meant to be movies.
Grantchester: Episode #5.1 (2020)
Reasonably Good Effort
As Season 5 moves ahead, we are brought into the realm of the exclusive girls school, where a young woman is found floating in a river. When investigated, it is found that she was struck in the head before entering the water. We get into a rather sordid world of female students organizing a kind of fraternity of sexuality. It's interesting but a bit slow moving.