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Reviews
Velma (2023)
Don't waste your time
I couldn't finish one episode and I pride myself on staying till the end. I don't know what the messaging was meant to be, stay away I'm guessing. The people responsible for this had no love for the source material and it shows. They don't add to any of the history or attempt to expand on the characters motivations. Unless the motivations of the character was always hate loathing and demeaning of everyone she's come across in her lifetime. All I can relate is there was no hook to keep me vested in this show, just bad humor, preaching, and bile. Don't waste your time, watch a classic like Jaws or the Godfather rather than wast a minute on this dumpster fire.
Quantum Leap (2022)
String theory or string along theory?
Up front I'm deeply disappointed that Sam (Scott Bakula) isn't involved in the series at all. The single biggest piece of the puzzle is puzzlingly absent. I understand that the people who are working on this show want to do a show that speaks to their audience, yet they're doing an established show with a built in audience and they'll say we didn't get it, or understand their vision or lack there of. Now to say I didn't expect them to change the show around a bit would be foolish of me, but to ignore the people who gave you the universe your playing in is truly short sighted. The show itself looks like a cheap knock off , the few sets they used are back lot fodder and lab sets with led lighting that screams style over substance. The hook to the show seems to be Ben's attempt to leap to a certain point (save Sam...... maybe). The leap and Ben's weekly plight takes a backseat to the mystery of why and where is he going and Al's daughter has something to do with it. To say they've missed the point is an understatement of epic proportion's. I get setting the stage and big picture aspects of story telling apparently this show doesn't. The greatest disappointments have to do with Sam's absence and the lack of attention Ben's leaps get in every episode. I'm sorry I know a lot of people work hard to bring this show to life every week and I hate to dump this review in their lap, but I don't have the time or inclination to watch a subpar reboot of a beloved show. If your that talented that you think you can create a great show then create it instead of riding the coattails of a truly great show. The sooner you stop reinventing the classic television of the past and are creative enough to create your one show you'll have my respect. Adding your voice to a classic should be done in concert with the original voice, less you have no voice to speak of.
Christmas by the Book (2018)
Bookmark this for never
Sorry for all the people who worked on this to be writing a negative review. First off the premise is laughable and the chemistry is on the cringy side. I have a problem when the actors won't wear winter appropriate clothes, and when they wear spring appropriate and pretend to shiver I find it hard to pretend to care. As Hallmark Christmas movies go I usually let things slide (like no breath in a cold air scream). Sometimes the story is silly, but the chemistry works. Others have a fill the heart with gladness that elevates the flaws. This one is flat on chemistry story and heart, and it's a shame. I know everyone has different taste and some may love this movie, I have favorites that might not be for others. My one piece of advice for those involved in making this, is it's easier to sell you look cold than feel cold. For those who are going to watch this make it the first in a marathon you'll sleep better.
No Time to Die (2021)
I expect you to die Mr. Bond
Alas poor Yorick I knew him well.
The good
The opening sequence (minus the Swan song) is truly great Bond cinema it's every thing that the Daniel Craig era has come to be known for. Fast gritty and tense. Then he has trust issues with Madeline and he walks away. Later in the film he's working for Felix Lighter trying to extract an asset in Cuba, that again is a great action sequence, his CIA contact kicks it into high gear. They extracted him to a boat and he gets betrayed. Bond finds Madeline and her daughter and rescue them from the person who betrayed him on the boat, and does so only to lose them to the movies real villain. Then leading up to his final confrontation with the main villain is truly the last best Bond this movie has to offer.
The bad. This isn't a James Bond film it's a Madeline Snow film, it opens on her and closes on her the villain is her villain. While Bond films in the past have told wild stories, this ones a doozy. Seems the villain kills Swans dad because Specter told dad to kill his family. Why, huh, what. Then saves her after they trying killing each other ya you read that right. Then the villain saves James and kills the rest of Specter ALL OF THEM boom done end of movie right, he killed everyone responsible for killing his family right....right. Wrong seems he wants to kill almost everyone else, why, cause we climb Everett because it's there we're there so why not. I'm not kidding, his reasoning is more or less because I can.
The ugly. The Swan show? His daughter, that she claims isn't his daughter. Blowfeld and Specter the ghost of girlfriends past The are you double oh (00) kidding me, you've been replaced stick. Which brings me to the villain Swan's villain the ageless wonder who has no motivation beyond the destruction of Specter. Who no one knows anything about except Swan and she doesn't offer much. Then now I start my master plan that NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT I'm going to kidnap the only two people James Bond give a flaming flip about to keep pushing the narrative further. Honestly had he not done this he could have pulled it off without a bump in the road. Leading to the death of Jimmy Bond yes I said Jimmy, like Woody in Casino Royal, cause he is a Jimmy. They'll paint it as emotionally as possible but it the last time I'll spend money on Jimmy Bond, who wants to watch a loser? I'm off to watch John Wick 4- infinity bye bye Jimmy.
The Tomorrow War (2021)
Easy to like this movie
This movie has a lot of things going on, but at its heart it asks how far would you go for your family. The human race has already gone to war to stop all sorts of evil despots through out history, would we do any less against aliens. So in a nutshell that's the story except the hook is the war is in the future and they need people from the past to fight because they're losing the war.
Now the premise is a fresh take on the usual time travel movie in that they ask us to go forward to fight the aliens. Chris Pratt's character has a nice life not perfect. His only broken relationship is with his father wonderfully played by J K Simmons. Now while the film has flaws as do most, I liked the journey these characters took me on. They pull you in and you care about the outcome as good characters do. I guess the ending of most movies, sometimes before the introduction of most of the cast. So for me a good movie is the ride I take with the main characters that makes a movie A above average and B a movie I'd watch again or even add to my collection. This movie has A B & C going for it.
To start with the characters are enjoyable. They could have fleshed them out a little more but you can make that argument about most films. The story is an interesting concept and I'd honestly love to see this as a mini series or a limited series. The pacing is good not great it seems rushed at times (remember I thought this would make a great mini series). The special effects and camera work are on par with your average SyFy outing these days. The aliens are relentless and menacing.
Now my one spoiler and the only thing that I didn't like about the film (stop reading here)
Perhaps the only thing that I can say I didn't like about this film was the conscription aspect. I get the draft arguments with every war. I just think the lack of training and preparation shown in the movie is laughable or ugly take your pick. If it's us or them everything's on the line I don't need you to March but I damn we'll need you to understand battlefield tactics. Again really good movie 8 out of 10. Peace out.
Turk 182 (1985)
A feel good flick that might have a plot hole or two, but makes up for it with plenty of heart.
I saw this film back in the 80's and thought it was a light hearted, man against the world charmer. I still, after all these years stand behind that statement, and more importantly, sentiment. I recently looked to buy this film digitally, but can't find it, at least digitally. So I'll buy it on dvd till then. Having said this I'm writing this review impart due to some negativity I found while looking for this film. It seem many reviews about this film focuses on the plot holes, as to how Turk 182 can accomplish all his feats of daring do. Really!? If you can't except a brothers attempting to right a wrong for his brother the only family he has than don't but this film, and turn your heart in on your way out the door. Timothy Hutton, Kim Cattrell & Robert Urich have wonderful chemistry and a palpable empathy that helps the audience bond with them instantly. If your a fan of Frank Capra and his man again world movies you'll love this film. To paraphrase "it's all about the characters stupid " don't get hung up on the hows just enjoy The Who's.
Midway (2019)
Good but still lacking in this oh by the way day of movies.
This IMHO is a much better outing in so far as covering the actual battle as apposed to Pearl Harbor. That being said it glossed over so much of the meat and bones of the battle in favor of added drama, (love store and such). I'm not against such things just not a fan of covering a half a year on a 1 day battle. While Layton's arc is excusable as the code breakers journey. The motivation for the Enterprise pilots could have been done in flashbacks as opposed to a nearly full retelling of Pearl Harbor yet again. The Doolittle Raid did motivate the Japanese to push for an engagement that would expose our Air craft Carriers but again to much time wasted on ANOTHER Battle. All that aside I liked the movie and it's cast immensely and thought some of the revelations quite interesting. The special effects while generally good IMHO could have been better. They were to clean and glossy they lacked a tactile feel of having been real. While I can recommend this film as fun just don't expect high art or a sense of wow after the fact.