ProdigyReinEngel Reviews

The First Family (2012– )

Disgusting

[1/10 · 13 December 2014]

This has to be the laziest show ever made, and that's saying something considering we live in a world with House of Payne and Meet the Browns. At least those shows have somewhat comprehensible plot lines and structured characters... the people on this show are pitiful in their attempts at anything remotely related to acting or storytelling. It makes me wonder how low all-black sitcoms will go in the future, because there's obviously no end in sight and no one behind the cameras saying "this is awful." Sitcoms with black families, such as Family Matters and The Cosby Show were lovable. They were also historic. The reason? They didn't ram it down your throat that the characters were black, and that's how it should be. Shows like The First Family are the exact opposite. They exist only to inform you that the people involved are black people, talking like black people, dealing with black people problems and doing black people things. The derogation of white characters is also something that needs to be addressed. How can a race of people who were repeatedly insulted in television and film turn around and do it to another race? That's hypocrisy on a whole new level. The fact that it's being done in this day and age and that it's allowed is mindblowing. If it were the other way around the show would have been off the air before it had a chance to post its ratings.

Garbage like this shouldn't be supported, by anyone. It's lazy, racist and unfunny.

The Shield (2002–2008)

The perfect blend of styles

[10/10 · 26 September 2014]

In television, most notable with crime dramas, you either get a show which focuses on the characters or a show that focuses on how the characters interact with others. Serial and non-serial, I guess you could say. What I always loved about The Shield is that it mixed those two styles. While you're following the Strike Team along a continuous, evolving plot line, Dutch and Wyms provide the episodic style with (barring a few season-long exceptions) a different "case" each episode. Shows like C.S.I. and Law & Order rarely delve into the character's backgrounds or what their lives are like outside of the case they are working. The fact that this show does sets it apart from the rest.

What truly sets it apart, though, are the overwhelmingly emotional, creative and relatable story lines and arcs. Nothing on television was a gritty as The Shield and few shows released since have toed the line set by it. The characters are more human than any others I have personally ever seen, a perfect example being the bond between the Strike Team during the first few seasons.

Some writers back their characters into corners with no reasonable outcome likely, only to provide a very halfhearted and unrealistic escape. The Shield certainly creates those situations, but the way Vic and the team wiggle free is always very possible and very real... even if it usually requires a lot of luck on their part.

I used to debate over whether The Shield or Dexter was my favorite show, but after re-watching this, the acting and writing can't touch Dexter and the throne remains occupied by The Barn's crew.

The Fourth Kind (2009)

It has its moments.

[8/10 · 26 May 2013]

Though there are times when you might find yourself jolting at a scare, the horror in this film is more psychological and disturbing than anything else. If you find yourself frightened by this film, chances are it will be because the events depicted could be true and take place in any town, in any country or happen to any person.

When Scott explains to Abby that "it" is the worst she could ever imagine, I genuinely felt chills. The delivery of the line is superb. There are lots of moments like this that make you feel anything from discomfort to sheer terror. The videos supposedly recorded by Abby herself were extremely well done and realistic. In most cases the actors portraying the "real" version of the characters did a better job than the known actors.

On the other hand, there are other scenes that are typical Hollywood garbage, there only to drag the plot in a certain direction or to explain something far-fetched. The sheriff restricting Abby from leaving after things get too intense just because she was sitting in the same room with Scott when his injury occurred is ridiculous... all because the writer(s) needed a reason for Abby to stay in Nome. It's quirks like this that keep it from being a classic.

With that said, it's misrepresented, especially at Rotten Tomatoes. Last time I looked it had a 19% rotten rating. 19%? Pathetic. This movie is definitely better than most haters will have you believe.

It's easy to express dislike for something, but it can be difficult sometimes to express positive emotions, especially in a case like this. I'm not thrilled that this movie made me scared of 3:33AM, but hey, it did. The same goes for seeing my city in the end credits. People watch movies for a variety of reasons. If one of your reasons is psychological horror that makes you think, or worry, check this one out. If the topics of aliens and abductions interests you, what are you waiting for? You'll love this.

NWA: Total Nonstop Action (2002–2004)

It's like episodes of Thunder that you PAY for.

[4 October 2003]

Why the praise? Are wrestling fans this desperate for an alternative to the down right insulting WWE product? Just like WCW, the fed that TNA has a terrible time not looking and sounding just like, the production values, announcing and cheese totally overshadow the talent. It's seriously like watching WCW Thunder week end and week out.

However, this fed has a lot of good points. Most X-Division matches, while complete spotfests, are good and exciting... thanks entirely to the talent and no one else. They say the tag team cage match from a few weeks back is looking like the Match of the Year, but that's BS. Anybody can mat wrestle for five minutes then randomly jump off a cage for ten more.

One thing I do like about this promotion is that the main event matches often are better and more exciting than the undercard, something that's hardly ever been seen. Raven's the only reason to watch... he makes it believable, even overtop of Don West's rambling.

2/10 for a promotion, 8/10 for the talent.

WrestleMania XV (1999 TV Special)

Climax?

[17 April 2003]

How was this a "Ragin' Climax" between Austin/Rock when the two had a rematch a month later? Or was it a climax between Big Show and Mankind, who also had a rematch one month later? Wrestlemania is usually the turning point for WWF/E storylines, though with XV the event a month after, Backlash, was. Classic moments include: Undertaker's entrance, Mankind pulling a trick out of the Cactus Jack playbook and allowing Show to CRUSH him, Tori walking to the ring looking like her mother had just died because she had just found out she was losing, the Jarrett/Owen tag team and a sub par main event between Rock and Austin topped off with Rock's first overselling of the Stone Cold Stunner.

**1/2

Ready to Rumble (2000)

Is this in, or out of character?

[5/10 · 11 April 2003]

Like Triple H during a backstage promo ragging on whomever pushed his buttons that week, this movie tends to slip in and out of kayfabe.

If you don't know what kayfabe is then you've got your general grasp on this movie and you're sticking with it... good for you.

For those of you who do know, notice how DDP and King "work" the match up until DDP "shoots" and really attacks King... then they still work the match? I mean at one point King hits DDP with a chair... in real life he'd most likely have to be carted out of the arena with at least a large bruise on his forehead, yet in the next shot he's getting up.

Four headbunts from the top rope though somehow manage to kill Jimmy King, or at least drive him to enrole in the Pat Patterson school of drag.

This movie is a joke as far as wrestling movies go because half of it caters to the marks and the other half to the smarks and it all just turns to s--- somewhere in between. Either have a fun, enjoyable flick kids can watch or produce something like Beyond the Mat, you know? They basically SCRIPTED KAYFABE here... who the hell wrote this, Russo?

Oliver Platt does make this film worth something though. He takes a lifeless script, adds a funny accent and boom, instant wrestling character I'd pay $29.95 a month to watch on pay-per-view.

I bought this film on DVD for $10 and until I freeze framed Oliver's "amazed" face in the trailer scene I thought I had gotten ripped off. True comedy right there.

If the thought of Goldberg, DDP and VAN HAMMER on film gets you wrestling fans going, check it out... otherwise, eh... let's just say "Bodyslam" was better.

Jackass (2000–2007)

Hi, I'm Johnny Knoxville, welcome to Jacka--.

[22 April 2001]

`Jacka - -` tells the tale of a group of friends who, as seen in a recent episode when one guy was shown several years ago getting flour thrown in his head, for years have been doing insane pranks to one another and doing their own kind of extreme stunts and games. Well, thanks to the geniuses over at MTV and what is no doubt a multi million dollar contract, we get to watch these guys do what ever it is they do to each other every week. It all started with the first episode, in which the star of the show and/or leader Johnny Knoxville tested three personal security devices on himself, pepper spray, a stun gun and a tazor. Needless to say it was the day the Three Stooges got a run for their money. But maybe saying that doesn't fit in, because anything the Stooges did was fake and scripted, what the fellows at Jacka - - do is real, and painful, and hysterical. When Johnny was hit with the two projectile darts from the tazor and electrocuted to a certain extent, `poo' almost exited my body due to the fact I was laughing extremely hard. Dozens of stunts later, they keep getting better and more funny. The current king would have to be Steve-O, as he got his bunghole pierced together. You owe it to yourself to watch this show at least once, it's a bunch of today's youth doing what we all do best, having fun in a way most grownups don't want to understand.