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Reviews
Hard Cell (2022)
Not your typical mocumentary.
I enjoy British humor. For the first 5.8 episodes I thought it was a typical British mocumentary, the ending changes all that. I would have enjoyed the show with the expected ending as well.
I can normally predict what is going to happen in a show because the shows aren't usually as clever as they think they are. This ending caught me completely by surprise.
The show is well written and the acting is good. The empathy shown it great.
Catherine Tate really shows how talented she is.
Red Notice (2021)
Does what a movie should do
This movie was fun to watch and kept me entertained for the entire movie.
It has a good pace, it is funny, and has enough twists to keep it interesting.
Will it win awards, no. Does it entertain, yes.
Trying (2020)
Very real
We, like a lot of people, have been through this. We adopted our 2 children.
This show brings back memories of taking classes, the home inspections, the safety plans, the reference checks, etc... It is a long process and you worry every step of the way. Will you be deemed worthy? Is your home big enough? Are your bedrooms for the children close enough to your bedroom?
While the exact process and requirements vary from, state-to-state in our case, and I am sure the requirements are different in England than the USA, the basics are the same.
This shows does a very good job of conveying the emotional rollercoaster ride that all couples hoping to adopt go through. It brings a touch of humor to a rigorous process.
I highly recommend this show and season 3 can't come soon enough.
Justice League (2017)
Just okay
I watched this movie a while back and found it unremarkable. It wasn't bad, it wasn't good, it wasn't memorable.
Now that I have seen the Zack Snyder version I see what the movie should have been.
The secret to a good superhero movie is a good to great villain. This movie doesn't have that. Without an actual threat it is just people running around in silly clothes.
Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)
The way it should have been.
Wow, just wow.
I never once thought, "is it over yet?". With a movie that is 4 hours and 2 minutes that is an amazing feat. It kept my attention and interest the entire time.
I have always liked the DC Universe heroes and this movie does them justice.
Resident Alien: Love Language (2021)
Wow.
My wife and I are really enjoying this show. I really hope that SyFy doesn't mess it up. This show deserves another season. Every time I think I know what is going to happen, because that is always what happens in alien on earth shows/movies, something else happens.
Alan Tudyk is amazing in the lead role.
The Midnight Sky (2020)
Why
Most movies have a beginning, a middle, and an end.
Most movies have character development.
If those two features bother you than this movie is for you.
Find something else to do for 1 hour and 58 minutes. Almost anything would be more fun and beneficial.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Drumhead (1991)
A Lesson to Learn
This episode should be required viewing for everyone studying history. In this episode we see exactly what can happen when fear is allowed to cloud judgement. This has been a recurring theme throughout history, the Salem Witch hunts, the McCarthy hearings, and too many more times to count.
I think people can learn from fiction, oftentimes more effectively than through documentaries.
The acting in this episode was great. My wife and I recently rewatched this episode. We had both forgotten how much we each grew to hate the character played by Jean Simmons. It takes a great talent pull that kind of emotion from an audience.
Perry Mason (2020)
Very Good, just short of great origin story
There are a lot of haters reviewing this show which is why I am reviewing it.
The books never provided a back story for Perry Mason. This is the origin story of Perry Mason. It starts in the trenches in WWI. The scenes during WWI made me think I had accidentally started watch "1917" instead of Perry Mason. War isn't pretty nor are the opening scenes.
The show continues being graphic and depicting ugly scenes because murder is ugly. Some people can't handle a show that contains nudity, violence, and dead bodies that got that way do to violent circumstances. To those people, don't watch the show. But just because you don't like seeing that on TV doesn't make it a bad show. This show airs on HBO, not Hallmark.
Some people are saying Perry is an attorney, not a detective. This is an origin story. You didn't really think Perry Mason started life as an attorney did you? Came out of the womb with a contract in one hand an affidavit in the other.
Honestly the show starts a little slow. Character development is spread over 8 chapters, not 8 minutes so if you are patient you will quit watching before you know the characters.
Chapter 8 left me wanting to see season 2 ASAP. Unfortunately it will probably be longer than normal due to the global pandemic.
Now for some brutal honesty. Some people are having a fit that Paul Drake isn't white and Della isn't straight and wants to be an attorney instead of knowing her place and accepting her role as secretary. Those people must have flips a gasket when Perry introduces Della as his associate and the fact that Perry talks to Paul Drake, a black man, as if he were equal and a human.
I grew up watching Perry Mason. The show was vanilla but Perry Mason depicted a good man. I have no reason to believe the character Perry Mason wouldn't have been open to a black Paul Drake and a strong Della Street.
I am surprised I am not reading complaints about the leads, expect for Chris Chalk, being foreign born.
The Morning Show (2019)
Amazing start for a new streaming service
This show is exceptional.
I think a lot of people saw who was in the cast and assumed it was going to be a light silly comedy. With Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carrol that is an easy assumption to make. Wrong. This is a drama.
I have never seen Jennifer in anything that I thought she did better. She brings a lot to the screen. I never would have guessed she could play a role like this so convincingly.
Now, after watching the first 3 episodes I am forced to wait until the next batch of shows are available to stream next week.
Raising Dion (2019)
Better than I expected
I liked it, my wife liked it. Probably just a little too scary for my 7 yo to watch.
The acting by the children isn't great but it isn't terrible either. I am not sure how most 7 yo kids would respond to finding out they have powers. I have seen lots of reviews that say his reaction isn't natural. I am not sure. I am around a 7 yo boy everyday and his reaction to strange new things is similar to Dions.
There are slow parts. There is more back story than may be needed. The mom could be more efficient in spending her time at work. Those are my complaints.
The villain reveal was surprising. There was a nice handoff to allow for a second season.
We liked it and look forward to season two.
Soapbox time:
Some reviewers have mentioned it is too political about racial issues especially. I am sure those same people don't like that the girl in the wheel chair is often over looked. They probably don't like the lesbian couple either. To them, get over it. I am a middle aged white guy but unlike them I am not blind. This is an accurate portrayal of life, especially in the south. If they don't like an accurate portrayal of life on TV then fix it. Make it so this is no longer reality but just a distant faded memory.
Apollo 11 (2019)
Great Documentary
This brought back lots of memories. I watched Apollo 11 live when I was a kid. My mom basically had nothing else on TV from launch to return.
The quality of this documentary is very good. The idea is to let the story tell itself like we heard it the first time. During the evening news the newscasters would describe what was happening and what was going to happen. It is those same voices we get to hear in this movie.
I am thrilled that there was so much footage available.
Another Life (2019)
Not the worse show on TV
It might be the worst show on TV but I have the courage to believe there is something worse.
The bad:
1) Writing
2) Acting
3) "Special" effects, good for the 1980's.
4) No likable characters
The good:
1)
I read another review where the viewer made it 15 minutes into episode 5. That is what I call stamina. I made it part way into episode 2 and throw in the towel.
Jack Ryan (2018)
Do yourself a favor and don't watch season 2
This is an updated review. First, I like the casting for Jack Ryan. Season 1 was very good. Season 2 is crazy bad.
If you like action flicks you will like season 2. If you like Jack Ryan novels you will not like season 2.