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Reviews
Ad Astra (2019)
Yawn Fest
Wow - how boring was this movie. No, I don't expect big CGI action and things blowing up everywhere. What I do expect is a decent story line that I can follow. Well this was just 2 hours of nothing. There is no hook, no build up and the end will leave you disappointed because it is just an empty ending. How people rate this as good movie is beyond me. I can only assume they are such Brad Pitt fans they enjoy the millions of close up facial shots. Avoid at all costs.
The Yakuza (1974)
A Timeless Classic
I saw this movie several times when I was twenty something then several times when thirty something and just watched again as fifty something.. boy oh boy, it is still a friggin awesome movie. It just doesn't date. The script is thoughtful, respectful to culture and very mature.
If you are looking for a ton of useless violence then move along, it is not about that. In fact, some of the fight scenes are pretty realistic from the point of view that the antagonists appear to be well aware of their mortality and show their hesitation in putting their lives on the line.
There is no riddling nor intricate plot - it is straightforward and easy to follow yet portrays a brilliant story of respect, honour and tradition.
Robert Mitchum and Ken Takakura are simply brilliant. Sydney Pollack directs yet another masterpiece. If you have never seen this movie, it just has to be on the bucket list.
The Deep (2010)
Weak and flawed
This show is simply terrible. Episode one looked the goods but it has been rapidly down hill since then. The script seems to have been written by a 14 year old, terrible dialog and just ridiculous interaction between characters. To appeal to any kind of scientific based audience, you at least need some kind of viable and realistic science - it fails on all fronts here. Needing to go into a radioactive area to insert the control rods in a nuclear reactor... get serious; only having one motherboard that controls the whole of the ships systems and when it fails at 2000 feet, thats it.... hmmm. Very disappointing.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
Weak and disappointing
Most others have covered the same disappointments that I agree with.
The story is weak and all the action tries hard to make up for that flaw through the rest of the movie. Having such heavyweight Hollywood types involved in this movie, I expect far better than this. Yes, the movies made zillions at the box office, only because everyone expected something much better. If this had a money back guarantee on enjoying the movie, a lot of money would have been paid back.
What is up with movies these days? The only movies that seem to be any good these days are remakes from years ago - why can't do they do good original material anymore? I have been getting hold of movies from the 30's to 60's and they are fantastic.
Get Smart (2008)
Misses the target
I grew up on Get Smart - I still love watching it. The movie just misses the target. Sure, it has all the old gags but they seem to be almost thrown in blatantly in the wrong moments. Steve Carell is very good - a worthy choice to carry on the Don Adams legacy. He carries the movie as I was disappointed with the other regular characters. For seem reason the writers decided to change the qualities and quirks of most of the old cast. Since when was Larabee an obnoxious ass, Siegfried not German, 99 so pretentious and the chief so lifeless? Sigh, we will probably see a sequel that transcends the disappointment of this one but such is the Hollywood way these days.
For those who say this movie was really great, go back and watch some of the TV episodes and see how it all stacks up.......