Bonz99 Reviews

The League (2023)

Outstanding documentary of the Negro Leagues

[10/10 · 22 December 2023]

If you are a serious fan of baseball history, you may have read "Only the Ball Was White", an in-depth account of the Negro Leagues which flourished in the first half of the last century and where some of the greatest men who were ever in baseball played. Although the book has many good photos, this documentary has a good quantity of rarely seen live-action film.

This documentary is a must-watch, with photos and film of the Negro Leagues, along with excellent commentators including Maya Angelou.

Players like Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson and many others were the equals or betters of many of the top white players of the time, but thanks to the inexcusable bigotry of many white players, team owners and MLB officials were excluded from major league baseball until Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947.

Very highly recomended to all baseball fans!

Belle (2013)

Excellent story; phenomenal actress; outstanding direction

[10/10 · 22 November 2023]

Having watched this film several times, I can say it is riveting.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Dido Bell is astonishing and ranks among the most beautiful women God ever made. She is a treat simply to watch.

I did a bit of research into both the actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw as well as the historical Dido Bell, using IMDB and Wikipedia. Although many details of the historical Belle are either unknown or vague, Hollywood did a good job of scripting plausible details. However, the wonderful painting that is revealed at the end of the film is real; it was quite unusual for its time and is still on display at Scone Palace in Perth, Scotland. I now have an excellent copy hanging in my living room.

What struck me was the intentional (or fortuitous) fact that Gugu Mbatha-Raw is herself of mixed-race as was Dido Belle, which may have informed her portrayal of Belle.

Ms. Mbatha-Raw is supported up by an excellent cast and script, but she absolutely carries this film. After watching this film three or four more times, I realized how good the direction is. Even minor characters like the maid (Bethan Mary-James) who helps brush Dido's tangled hair, and the hapless coachman (Alan McKenna) who helps Dido when he knows it could get him in trouble are well played. Amma Asante clearly had her heart fully in this story.

Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964)

Fabulously Goofy!

[9/10 · 2 November 2023]

This may be the most inventive of the Godzilla movies, certainly the funniest. (Watch for the scene where Rodan deliberately knocks over Godzilla in the shallow water near shore.) It can be watched several times without getting tired of it. (I lost count after the first half-dozen viewings.)

My comments would echo most of those with 7+ stars, but I didn't notice any other reviews that said much about. Akiko Wakabayashi (the girl from Venus and Princess Selina Salno of Sergina). Watching her is alone worth the entire movie.

She is blindingly beautiful, and I'd guess the director thought so as well, judging from the number of lingering closeups on her face. Three years after this movie, she became the first Asian Bond girl. Not long after that, she abruptly retired and never made another movie.

The regrettably brief IMDB biography indicates that she had six children. Perhaps she found motherhood more satisfying than acting. An incredibly beautiful woman.

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

Frenetic nonsense!

[4/10 · 16 July 2023]

This was the first movie in many years that I've walked out on. Enjoyed previous MI flicks and had high expectations for this one, with an IMDB rating over 8, but it was not to be.

Almost left after an hour of non-stop pointless action, but hung on out of curiosity. Finally walked out after another hour, when the story failed to jell and Ving Rhames lectured everyone on computer science. The stunts and f/x were excellent, but the story was improbable and incomprehensible, with too many groups duking it out for a physical key that would somehow control an almost omniscient AI "Entity" that had sucked up all the knowledge in all the databases in the world and uses that knowledge to blow up submarines.

The female leads provided lovely eye-candy, but had mysterious histories with Ethan that seemed pointless and irrelevant. Ethan's sidekicks always seem to have suitcases containing unlimited computing power, but it reaches a new level of goofiness here. Also, there were a few too many rubber (plastic?) false faces that are apparently realistic enough to deceive anyone within two inches of the wearer.

I should have started with the IMDB synopsis and saved myself the time and $$$ of actually going to this movie. If this was Part 1, I'll skip Part 2.

Ancient Impossible: Monster Monuments (2014) Season 1, Episode 3

Fascinating topic; irritating narrators

[6/10 · 2 June 2023]

This review applies to both "Moving Mountains" and "Monster Monuments".

The topic of these presentations is fascinating; i.e., how ancient cultures (Egyptians, Romans, Stonehenge builders, etc.) created enormous structures without the aid of modern machinery, leaving behind great mysteries as to how they could design, move, cut and erect such structures with manpower alone.

In most cases, best guesses are offered as to the engineering techniques used to create these structures. The narrators are either engineers or Ph. D scholars, but there are far too many "Gee, golly, whiz!" exclamations where they tell us how awed and amazed they are at these creations, to the point where the viewer wishes they would take a Valium and calm down.

Yes, we are indeed awed and amazed by these structures; the narrators don't have to wear us out by continually acting overwhelmed by them. The topics and photography rate at least a 9 or 10, but the overacting of the narrators brings my rating down to 6.

Ancient Impossible: Moving Mountains (2014) Season 1, Episode 2

Fascinating topic but irritating hosts

[6/10 · 2 June 2023]

This review applies to both "Moving Mountains" and "Monster Monuments".

The topic of these presentations is fascinating; i.e., how ancient cultures (Egyptians, Romans, Stonehenge builders, etc.) created enormous structures without the aid of modern machinery, leaving behind great mysteries as to how they could design, move, cut and erect such structures with manpower alone.

In most cases, best guesses are offered as to the engineering techniques used to create these structures. The narrators are either engineers or Ph. D scholars, but there are far too many "Gee, golly, whiz!" exclamations where they tell us how awed and amazed they are at these creations, to the point where the viewer wishes they would take a Valium and calm down.

Yes, we are indeed awed and amazed by these structures; the narrators don't have to wear us out by continually acting overwhelmed by them.

The Adventures of Marco Polo (1938)

Silly, barely watchable

[3/10 · 17 April 2023]

Except for an idiotic plot, an execrable script, moronic casting and poor acting and bad direction, this is a wonderful movie. Even in 1938, moviegoers were accustomed to seeing Asian actors in films, even if those actors rarely held the top parts. There were a few, however; think Keye Luke, Anna May Wong and a few others..

But this movie has zero Asians in *any* speaking part! The casting is utterly ridiculous, and no amount of makeup can make. The only (barely) redeeming feature of this film is watching pre-Sherlock Holmes Basil Rathbone play his part to his evil, if predictable, best.

The only reason to watch this movie is to learn how stupid Hollywood writers and directors seemed to think the average American viewer was, and to wonder how some otherwise good actors could let themselves be in such a terrible film.

Real Steel (2011)

Fun, with heart

[8/10 · 11 March 2023]

"Atom" is a robot with a very Rocky-like heart. Acting, script and f/x are all excellent. It's a pleasure to see Hugh Jackman without his trademark Marvel scowl. Many other reviews recount the movie's premise and basic plot, so I'll skip it here.

Although you can sorta-kinda guess the ending, it doesn't really matter. If you have a pennyworth of sentimentality, you will cheer at some places and might even fight back a tear here and there.

In this age of "A. I.", this movie leaves you pondering the extent to which a machine could actually become conscious, or be aware of the affection a young human has for him. But although the film wisely does not attempt to delve into this area, you leave the theater feeling that you know the answer.

An excellent family movie, even if you watch it alone.

Disturbing the Peace (2020)

Worth Your Time

[6/10 · 19 February 2023]

I don't understand the large number of one- and two-star reviews. This film stands up to many B-movies from the 1940s, 50s and 60s. It is pure entertainment with few pretentions.

Although this movie won't go down in history, Guy Pearce is a fairly convincing lawman in the unsmiling style of Burt Lancaster and the plot is, if not startlingly original, decent.

The supporting cast is adequate, from an inexperienced but brave deputy to a butt-kicking cafe waitress.

If you're looking for an ok 'B' action-movie, this is not a bad choice. You won't have trouble finding a few plot holes, but they are not enough to sink the film.

Rome: The World's First Superpower (2014– )

Interesting but hackneyed presentation

[6/10 · 31 January 2023]

Having read many classical commentaries such as Plutarch, Herodotus, Xenophon, Thucydides, Suetonius and others (yes, including Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic War), I guess I could be called a history buff, although hardly an expert.

This series on Rome is interesting, if not fleshed out with enough detail, suffers from many similar documentaries in which some scholar/narrator engages in what feels like a vanity show in which we watch the narrator lecture us from various locations. We see a lot less of the location than closeups of the narrator's face. We also get to see the scholar staring in awe at one historical location after another, and pretending that he/she is seeing all this for the first time.

The narrative is never "We are now in XXX and this is YYY". It's always "Now I am going to XXX to learn ZZZ", as though the narrator had no clue what would be found and what could be learned that is not already well explained in dozens of books.

Perhaps the History Channel feels this repetitious format is necessary to draw viewers, but it does get tiresome in program after program.

I'm more inclined to go with the line from Dragnet, "Just the facts", rather than watch.

Law & Order: Impossible Dream (2022) Season 21, Episode 2

Predictable, Formulaic, Fake-Looking Sets

[5/10 · 27 August 2022]

Other reviewers captured most of what is wrong with this show's revival. The writing could be a lot better; the writers and the set designers should be required to watch the first two seasons of the original show.

In the original seasons, the courts were always busy, with real-appearing people wandering around on their own business and DA offices were usually piled high with paper. The sets in the revived show look like they were designed by L. A. people who never came within 3,000 miles of a New York precinct station or courtroom.

Sam Waterston as DA is a bad mistake. At 82 (and looking it), he is way overdue for retirement. His primary function seems to be to listen to his ADA, tell him a conviction will be difficult, then go ahead. Period. Steven Hill in the first few seasons was far more involved and far more realistic.

One egregious moment is purely due to poor writers, where Detective Cosgrove (Donovan) expresses surprise that his partner Detective Bernard (Anderson) would know anything about tennis. When Bernard asks why Cosgrove is surprised, Cosgrove says "Because you're..." and seemingly bites his tongue before adding the word "black". Why would script writers even let us think that is what Cosgrove was thinking? Has he never heard of Venus & Serena Williams, two of the best tennis players who ever lived? (And who, if memory serves, happen to be black?) How could one possibly believe black people would not be aware of the Williams sisters?

On the plus side, Odelya Halevi is delicious, somewhat exotic eye-candy. But the show needs more than eye-candy to remain watchable.

Law & Order: The Right Thing (2022) Season 21, Episode 1

Too Polished; Poorly Resolved

[5/10 · 26 August 2022]

I recently purchased & watched the first two seasons of the original Law Order. The differences are stark. Everything from the lawyers' offices to the actual courtroom is neat and tidy, none of the realistic-appearing clutter and untidiness shown in the original sets, where you frequently see papers taped to walls, peeling paint, etc.

As to this particular story, the jury's verdict, although it followed the law, did not seem realistic. Although it might have been unlikely that the full jury would find the defendant innocent, it seemed highly likely that the result could have been a hung jury. Again comparing this episode with those from Season 1, in Season 1 E. A. D. A. Ben Stone actually lost some cases where he was probably on the right side. I.e., the "messiness" of the original sets was mirrored in the jury verdicts.

One more complaint. In the original series, Stone's assistant was A. D. A. Paul Robinette, a black man. Robinette was far from ugly, but hardly a male model. In subsequent years (as well as in this newest incarnation) the assistant was played by one drop-dead gorgeous female after another. Why not a male? Or an Asian or Hispanic? Odelya Halevi as A. D. A. Samantha Maroun is a knockout, but why did that have to be so utterly predictable? If she had to be female, why couldn't she be middle-aged and/or overweight?

In a Lonely Place (1950)

Outstanding but little-known Bogart film

[9/10 · 24 March 2022]

Recently came across this movie. Was surprised at how good it is -- it is one of Bogart's outstanding characterizations. Gloria Grahame is excellent as his love interest, and there is a strong supporting cast. (Don't miss much-too-short scene with the incredibly beautiful Hadda Brooks as a lounge singer, in one of her few movie appearances.)

Bogart is great as a tortured, somewhat demented personality. Can't give too much detail w/o possible spoilers, so will simply say this is an outstanding film noir entry.

One word of warning: after seeing the movie, I read the book of the same name on which the movie is supposedly based. Although the book is a gripping read, its plot is utterly different from the movie. Don't read or watch either expecting it to be like the other.

Left Behind (I) (2014)

Not as bad as the reviewers say!

[7/10 · 20 January 2022]

I came across the "Left Behind" novel in a Target store and stood by the bookcases speed-reading it for about an hour. (I.e., I never actually bought the book, which is probably why I was not taken in the rapture.)

Although I am utterly non-religious, the story was mildly gripping, as is this film. Cage did a creditable job, as did most of the cast. If you're looking for a reasonably good disaster movie (where God provides the disaster), this is not a bad time-waster.

The movie was almost universally panned by critics, but I'd bet the overwhelming majority of them are not only non-religious, but actively anti-religion. If this movie had been made in the 1950s or 60s, I suspect it would have done quite a bit better at the box office, along with the Charlton Heston and Victor Mature biblical epics.

The Strange Woman (1946)

A Strange Film

[7/10 · 9 May 2021]

The Strange Woman is a strange film. It is worth watching for the views of Hedy Lamarr's face alone; she is simply incredibly beautiful.

Others have reviewed the actual story, which is mildly offbeat. While you keep expecting Lamarr's character to perform evil and dastardly deeds, she mostly hews to the straight and narrow, even with the men who fall for her.

The direction was uneven, along with poorly selected background music, which frequently sounds like vaguely Wagnerian bits from Tristan. Several times, just when you think something violent or passionate is about to happen, nothing does and we simply cut to the next scene.

Good cast, ok story, Hedy Lamarr's face. Very watchable.

Whistle Stop (1946)

It could'a been a winner

[5/10 · 2 April 2021]

Aside from an odd story, poor script, bad acting and worse direction, this movie is almost worth watching just to see a young Ava Gardner and Bogie wanna-be George Raft.

In real life, Ava Gardner was on the way up, very charming and pretty, while Raft was starting to slide. His tough-guy facade was beginning to wear out and his roles were decreasing.

Oscar winner Victor McLaglen is mostly wasted and Tom Conway, as usual, plays Tom Conway.

If you have ice cream or beer on hand, and nothing else to do, this is almost a passable time-waster.

His Kind of Woman (1951)

Not the best noir film

[5/10 · 11 March 2021]

This movie has a "big" cast, which is not well used. The plot is murky, as are most of the players' motivations.

Jane Russell was never my type, as her mouth always seems to be either sneering or about to sneer.

Robert Mitchum is ok, but is not used to full advantage, as he gets knocked down a lot but always seems magically to recover far too quickly.

Vincent Price does his usual over-acting and is not particularly believable.

The ending could have been better. I was hoping Mitchum to break free of the bad guys holding him down and somehow inject Raymond Burr with the brain-destroying sedative, rather than Mitchum simply shooting him. (Borrrring!)

In short, while the movie may be an ok way to waste two hours, there are far better ways to do so.

The Shadow (1994)

Outstanding, Fun Movie, Seriously Underrated

[9/10 · 23 January 2021]

Saw this movie on first release, which didn't last long. For some reason, reviews were poor. But having seen it several times since, and having just rented it once more on Amazon, it gets better each time. I own 200+ MP3's of the original radio show; this movie does them justice. (Did you know that Orson Welles was the first radio Shadow?)

The casting is excellent. A younger, thinner Alec Baldwin and "his constant companion, the lovely Margo Lane" (from the radio show's intro), played by a radiant Penelope Ann Miller, make a great team. John Lone plays the last descendant of Gengis Kahn amazingly well, a real departure from his usual smooth, cool screen persona. And Peter Boyle adds a light touch as Cranston's aide. (This is also the only movie I've ever seen where a very spooky dagger (Phurba) is listed in the credits.)

The story line is well-done, albeit with a few minor departures from the original Shadow stories. Anyone who likes super-hero, Marvel-type movies (this is not a Marvel product) should enjoy The Shadow.

I suppose if the movie had done better at the box office, there might have been a sequel or two, but alas it was not to be.

The Last Starfighter (1984)

Fine, fine film

[10/10 · 11 January 2021]

There are some films where everything comes together: the writing, directing, casting, effects and most of all, the story itself. The music is also quite good. The script contains an astounding number of memorable, original and funny quotes, as you can see by googling "Starfighter quotes".

I'm in my 70's and have seen this film several times; in fact, just bought the DVD and watched it yet again, twice. It gets better each time. Even (maybe especially) knowing exactly what happens still makes me smile or laugh, and of course tear up at the very end when Maggie tells Alex she cannot go with him.

You can read many other reviews here, but I only urge anyone reading this review to watch the movie and make up your own mind. May the luck of the Seven Pillars of Gulu be with you at all times.

The Shadow Returns (1946)

Waste of Time, Very Poor Shadow

[2/10 · 27 December 2020]

Although many of the B&W crime movies from the 30s and 40s, this one is truly awful. It seems that the writer/directory/producer never listened to a single Shadow radio show or read one of the comics. The makers of this film could have done far better by adapting almost any of the plots used in the radio shows to film.

The Shadow had "the ability to cloud men's minds", becoming completely invisible. In this film, Cranston simply puts on a black mask and dark coat, then turns out the lights. He always carries a gun, which the radio Shadow never did.

The plot itself was pretty weak, with Cranston coming and going from crime scenes and donning his Shadow disguise for no obvious reasons.

Die Walküre (1990 TV Movie)

Incredibly Good!

[10/10 · 9 October 2020]

This was my second viewing this year of the 1993 production, thanks to the Met's streaming much of its video library during the pandemic.

I see a couple other reviews out there, and they speak for me as well.

Gary Lakes is a very impressive Sigmund and sings wonderfully with the elegant Jessye Norman. She and Sig don't look much like the twins they are supposed to be, but who cares?

To be a bit juvenile, it's rather cool that these two will produce the ubermensch. Hitler must be rotating in his grave! As if he weren't already ticked off enough by the great Jesse Owens in the Berlin 1936 Olympics. (If you are drawing a blank, look it up. A great piece of history, worth knowing.)

Enola Holmes (2020)

Fun but flawed

[6/10 · 2 October 2020]

Millie Bobby Brown is the main reason to watch this; she is delightful. Helena Bonham Carter is also quite watchable, but is not a major figure. Other major players were either poorly cast or poorly scripted.

Having read the entire Sherlock Holmes oeuvre,Henry Cavill was miscast as Sherlock. His older brother Mycroft, who in the original stories was considered "Sherlock's smarter brother", is scripted as a not very bright martinet. In the original stories, Sherlock occasionally goes to Mycroft when badly puzzled. These two poorly done characters cast a pall on the movie.

Similarly, the character of Adeel Akhtar as Lestrade was poorly written. Although the original Lestrade was competitive with Sherlock, he also consulted with him frequently and was a serious Scotland Yard detective, not a somewhat frenetic boob as in this movie.

If you have read the original Sherlock Holmes books, you will be disappointed by these characterizations. Nevertheless, Millie Bobby Brown is a treat worth watching.

Adventures in Babysitting (1987)

Some Great Lines!

[9/10 · 25 August 2020]

I'd give this movie a '9' just because of one line, where the "Lords of Hell" gang attempt to intimidate her and the kids on the subway.

When the gang leader whips out his switchblade knife, saying "Don't fuck with the Lords of Hell!", Shue grabs the knife and holds it to his throat: "Don't *fuck* with the babysitter!"

An all-time great line which Shue delivers perfectly.

3:10 to Yuma (2007)

Good but Unreal

[6/10 · 25 August 2020]

The movie is mostly good, up to the ending. The final 10-15 minutes just don't make sense, with Russell Crowe appearing to run to the station instead of taking any of several chances for breaking away from Christian Bale.

Russell is truly spooky in his laid-back portrait of evil, but the "good guys" make it easy for him.

Throughout the movie, the posse bringing in Crowe was incredibly stupid in never tying him down at night or onto his horse during the day, allowing Crowe to murder a sleeping deputy at night, then grab another deputy's gun during the day when the deputy was riding too close to Crowe. I started to sour on this movie after these two incidents, as not making a whole lot of real-world sense. The ending didn't help any.

Gangster No. 1 (2000)

Repellent Characters and Violence

[4/10 · 27 June 2020]

Paul Bettany seems to like to play oddly repellent characters, as in this hate-filled and gruesomely violent part. (He also played the self-flagellating priest in The Da Vinci Code.)

It takes a few minutes to figure out who is who, since Malcolm McDowell (also no stranger to repellent characters, as in "Clockwork Orange") plays the much older version of Paul Bettany while looking nothing like him.

The violence is over the top but utterly not "fun", as in, say, Scarface or Hateful Eight.

Wish I had passed on this movie. Suggest you do the same.