webwizardbe Reviews

Elvis (2022)

Entertaining but not a bio

[6/10 · 10 August 2022]

Hi from Europe,

First of all the movie is entertaining enough. It's only a few steps away from being a musical. But luckily we get 40% real time dialogue or maybe a bit less, but ok, hey it's Elvis.

If you expect a movie about the life of Elvis off stage too, you'll be disappointed. It's all about the performances. There's no private life with his wife, Sun, friends or groupies featured, it's all just a bit of back noise. His years and habits at Graceland are not even touched.

So don't expect too much, just enjoy. This movie was supposed to see Elvis through the eyes of The Colonel. But even that was weak, Tom Hanks is just a cardboard figure. It's more about Elvis trying standing up against him.

Anyway, a nice semi fictional picture of Elvis intertwined with the politics of the 50's and 60's and his twisted relation with his manager.

But in the end, I'm still waiting for a more realistic biography. I'll stick to the documentaries, not grounbreaking here to find. Just have fun with the music.

And Just Like That... (2021– )

still refreshing

[8/10 · 28 January 2022]

Hi from Europe I was in my early 20's when my wife and I rented the original series, and I felt a bit rushed, the series could be nervous at some times, but still liked it.

And just like that so many years later my wife and I binged the first 9 episodes. Because of the low ratings I was stacking episodes instead of watching them.

Well, the word woke has been used by several critics in the most negative way. But that's just crap. The writers have their finger on the pulse of society. I'm younger than the cast but if you keep an open mind getting older this series may enlighten you a bit. If you're rusty and old fashioned, hello!!! We don't live in the 90's anymore.

It's still a good dramady and if you can't stand things like non binary sexual oriantation, lesbian experiment, LTGB etc and sex problems above 55 years old then this series can be confronting sometimes.

When I binge a series it deserves at least a solid 8, could grow into a 9 if they keep the balance between comedy and light drama.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

Disappointing

[4/10 · 13 January 2022]

Hello from Europe.

I don't get the high rating for this movie. This ain't a ghostbuster comedy movie. It's weakly based on the first one from the 80's as far as it goes for the ghosts. One can even argue it was a lazy thing to do.

As for the story, it's weak, humorless, borderline boring.

The set is now in a small town with only a few actors in clothing and with hairstyles that should remind you of the 80's but in the end it's dusty and ugly.

It's just a cheap movie to milk the cow one last time.

Respect (2021)

Well done, a solid 9

[9/10 · 29 August 2021]

Hi from Europe.

My wife and I are musicians so we are suckers for every biography about artists, and this was a good one! I never give a 10 rating for biographies but because of so many bad comments I was tempted.

First of all it's not a biopic, it's a story from childhood till the seventies and the rest of the summary you get at the end of the movie. That was the time when she rised and put her mark. Why drag it further out...

I see comments saying it's a lifetime movie, others saying it focuses on the misery in Aretha's life. That kind of comments are laughable.

Many biographies suffer from too much interference of the director's and writer's outlook and wander too far away from the truth.

Well, with this one I had a feeling the production team wanted a hommage to Aretha without wandering too far away compared to the docu's we already know.

Don't believe the haters, this movie is well produced and all the actors do a great job. J. Hudson is not in my playlist 'cause I don't like her singing style, she's just too loud, but her performance as Aretha I enjoyed a lot.

Reminiscence (2021)

A solid 6.5, entertaining enough, so a 7 for extra support.

[7/10 · 26 August 2021]

This movies is a mix of influences. You have H. Jackman who goes on a quest for a mysterious woman in a dystopian world. He has mostly a bad temper and there's that typical narration by the protagonist you mostly see in film noir detective movies. But in this case it ain't about a detective per se.

The dystopian world, the darkness, the despair, the unhappy protagonist theme alternates frequently with beautiful scenery, happy days, hope and "light". And you have the bonus of a sort of time travel movie influence too.

The pace is nice, just the good amount of action versus more quiet scenes.

The story itself ain't that complicated, so yes you will see the end scene coming from the start of the movie but not what happens in between. I believe the writer/director meant it this way, it's embedded in the premise, and it makes the audience feel smart: "I knew it would end this way!"

Don't expect a groundbreaking movie, and you will be satisfied afterwards.

Jungle Cruise (2021)

Good adventure movie

[7/10 · 25 August 2021]

This movie is entertaining. It takes you on that typical adventure ride with action and comedy but at a nice pace not at hyperspeed. It's an amusing ride through the jungle the whole family can enjoy.

Just a feel good movie in a magical world, and it worked.

Black Widow (2021)

If you like CGI and fast action...

[4/10 · 25 August 2021]

Just another non stop action movie with a lot of CGI effects in a superhero environment. And don't get me wrong some superhero movies I really liked but this one is all about the action. The character development is poor, all figures are kinda bland and the villain is your typical guy but this time surrounded by women fighters.

I made it till the end but a forgettable movie that takes itself too seriously and hence won't make my collection of hero movies.

The Serpent (2021)

watchable

[6/10 · 20 June 2021]

For a slow burner of a series The Serpent is watchable, but not for more than 1 episode every few days.

I speak Flamish/Dutch & French myself, and I don't know why people are complaining about accents... The setting is well done, the characters are believable but it is all dragged out. Episodes are just a bit too long and that's a pity, it affects the experience of course. In fact a 3 episode mini-series would have done the job.

In the end I have to conclude I just watched it because it was available nothing more.

Tina (I) (2021)

a good docu, and Tina Turner isn't even in my playlist

[8/10 · 31 March 2021]

I liked the documentary a lot. Good interviews with people from her surroundings and compelling footage especially of the Ike and Tina days, sometimes it's even eerie.

The docu learned me also a bit more about the years when she tried to get her solo career of the ground, but it also left me a bit hanging. The "modern Tina" part is more focused on the artist, but her personal life moves to the background. It all gets a bit fuzzy from there, it's more a celebration of the artist from that point.

The same about her youth, growing up until she met Ike. Ok, she was very young when she went with Ike but the topic get's barely touched, so you have to fill in the blanks with your imagination. Like who's the father of her son, it gets mentioned one time without any background.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the documentary a lot, I was sticked to the screen.

Stallone: Frank, That Is (2021)

Ok, why not.

[7/10 · 19 March 2021]

If you gonna watch this docu, you already know this ain't about Sly but about his brother. And why not, all his life the world saw him as 'the failed brother', and now you get the chance to see a docu about a talented man with the surplus of knowing how it feels to stand in the shadow of a world star actor.

The pace is a bit too fast in the beginning, it feels sometimes like a fast summation. But further I really enjoyed this documentary. Good entertainment with a touch of light drama.

Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)

so many fake reviews I went in blind...

[2/10 · 19 March 2021]

Many reviewed this movie, and many we're fake promotion reviews. First of all, it's in 4:3 ratio, please, a square screen for 4 hours long in 2021!!! Maybe hard core fans will like this, but this is in general just a strechted out movie. I like these DC characters, and the 2017 movie was more than good enough for me. This thing was a nice try but failed miserably, I paused around 1h20min and didn't turn it on again.

Young Rock (2021–2023)

Three episodes in, 3 stars, 1 for each

[3/10 · 3 March 2021]

I can't believe DJ is sitting in his living room watching himself and liking this. Why did he sign off on this, it pushes him straight back to the B-circuit. I give any series always a 3 episode chance, if the third one doesn't lift the series up, I give up. And that's what happened here too. It's a cheap production with bad acting and zero comedy, it's just flat. Acting absurd isn't fun per se, it can be very anoying what's the case here. Not gonna spend more time reviewing this crap.

The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021)

A solid 7.5 but an extra 8 'cause of too many bad reviews

[8/10 · 3 March 2021]

I went very sceptical into this movie because of all the bad reviews here. I even postponed watching it until my wife found out there was a BH biopic, thank you Golden Globes. After watching and enjoying the movie I didn't get it why reviewers we're so harsh. First of all, it's a biopic not a biography, if you don't know anything about the life of an artist watch a documentary first or read a book. Although going through the movie they feed you enough information about what happened to her in the past and even the future, so the storyline "an sich" is strong enough.

The acting was very good and the production team was really able to catch that eerie atmosphere not only surrounding Billie, but coming from Billie herself too, without making it a dark alternative movie. The storyline was pretty chronological, so easy to follow with a good pace. Only if you don't know much about Billie's life the beginning can be a bit confusing or a bit too fast.

Firefly Lane (2021–2023)

A very good first season.

[8/10 · 20 February 2021]

Many have given already a good review for this show, and they are right, so I keep it short. The first episode didn't convince me immediately so I waited a day watching the next episode and I was hooked. It's a good multi layered story, well acted and executed. Light entertainment and drama alternate very well.

Freaky (2020)

Bad script & acting, low budget movie

[1/10 · 20 February 2021]

I don't understand what Vince V. was doing in this low budget movie. Is he the best actor? No. But this is even to low for him. The movie is boring, bad acted with a bad script & excecution.

I'm not gonna spent more time on it. After 40 minutes in I was asking myself why I was wasting my friday night on this. Do not waste your money on this one.

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021)

just a cheap neurotic mess, don't bother watching believe me

[2/10 · 14 February 2021]

Wiig co-wrote this movie so I expected something funny, but I ended up watching 2 hysterical women babbling, babbling, babbling. It was just annoying.

The storyline itself was absurd and very weak. It looked like it was written by a child or someone under influence. This movie was all over the place, even strange. It opens with an over the top villain in her secret lair with a plan, so don't expect a movie about two women in their 40's living out their midlife crisis in a vacation town.

This movie was just absurd but not in a good way. My attention drifted away and after 1 hour I didn't even want to know how this movie ended and turned it of.

Godmothered (2020)

Goes into my X-mas list

[8/10 · 11 December 2020]

Funny from beginning till the end. No deep crisis being dragged out, an overall feel good movie.

It's well acted, well written and well executed for a christmas movie. This one is the newest addition to my X-mas classics collection of movies I watch every year!

Bad critics, well, they could use a touch of magic ;)

Spenser Confidential (2020)

6.5 movie, decent light action flick

[7/10 · 8 March 2020]

The theme of the movie is very serious and violent but luckily the production team was smart enough to add a lot of fun elements, every scene contains a joke or some irony. The movie ain't just a one tracked revenge or copper movie, there's enough side elements involved supporting the story line. In the end it's light entertainment, never boring, a solid 6.5 rating would be fair, so I pushed it a bit with a light 7

Charlie's Angels (2019)

entertaining, doesn't deserve the low score on imdb.

[7/10 · 26 February 2020]

Because of the low score I almost didn't see this movie. But I was stressed, so I said to my wife: "things can't get worse, let's put that one on, can't concentrate on a movie anyway." We put the movie on, and OMG it was entertaining from the beginning. Just a feel good action movie with some humor, just the way Charlie's Angels is supposed to be.

And all those guys complaining about the girl power. HEY DUDE, IT'S AN ACTION MOVIE WITH CHICKS AS MAIN CHARACTERS!!!

Ford v Ferrari (2019)

Boring and irritating

[1/10 · 30 January 2020]

If a movie gets that kind of budget and actors, you get punished with a score of one. This movie only made it passed the 20 minute limit 'cause I was thinking about what to watch next. I was immediately irritated by Bale's performance, and Matt Damon's character looked flat, boring, just doing his lines while trying constantly to put on his American charming smile. 5 minutes later I was done with this movie. Too many reviews promise a thrilling experience from beginning to end, don't go in with that expectation, and maybe you'll make it to the final lap.

Fosse/Verdon (2019)

good drama in the world of musicals & broadway shows, 7 Eps in.

[8/10 · 30 May 2019]

For starters this ain't a light drama, it's even a bit darkish, so it's that kind of show you like or not. If you don't like episode 1, this show ain't for you.

I'm one of the people who likes the show. It's well produced and the actors do a flawless job. It's a well blended mix of show life, hard reality, troubled relationships, psychological hardships and sometimes it's even straight out harsh in it's realism.

My only critisism is that they could have told the story in 6 or 7 episodes. And I'm not referring with that to the pace of an individual episode. As almost everybody knows something "happens" to Fosse, and they drag it out in episode 6. Therefore I took my rating from 9 to 8. I still have to watch the last episode, but ok a weak or strong ending, I dont care anymore 'cause overall I enjoyed the show a lot.

Glass (2019)

Really boring movie & nerve-racking

[2/10 · 3 April 2019]

I still like the first movie with Bruce Willis, and I hoped he finally got a good part again in a decent movie after all the years he spent in B-movies. But after an hour of psycho-analysis and treatment of the 3 superhero's I had it. People here are talking oscar for James McAvoy, why? For being annoying as hell? His acting was mediocre and not compelling enough for this sort of character. And the other two, we're they even making an effort. A movie with that actress of American Horror Story, the fallen Bruce Willis and oh yeah, Samuel L. Jackson he was there too. I should have known better. Money wasted, time wasted and a bad mood afterwards. My advice: don't waste your time on this, even if they offer it for free.

Vice (I) (2018)

entertaining & eye opening

[9/10 · 31 March 2019]

I was reluctant to rent this movie, fearing it would be another boring political movie that takes itself too serious, but oh no, was I in for an unexpected treat. The movie has pace, great acting and overall it's a very good production.

I do not think of the movie as a dark comedy, therefore it was too entertaining with a good sense of humor, even when the humor was occasionally very absurd. I think they call it a dark comedy 'cause in the end the movie makes you think about corrupt minds and world politics. But the balance was even, like my title says, an entertaining eye opener. Although for some Americans this movie feels offensive I see on imdb, but I can not care less about that kind of reviewer.

The Mule (2018)

Your typical Clint Eastwood film as a senior movie maker

[6/10 · 24 March 2019]

I can be short about this movie. If you like the movies directed by Clint Eastwood the last 20 years or so you won't be disappointed. I gave it a 6 because he did better things than this, but then again, he didn't write or co-write the script, and the man is getting old. My hat off even for still squeezing a movie out that gave me an entertaining evening. Must say my pal rented it on digi-tv, so I didn't had to pay for it, and I will never do. It's just a good enough movie for filling 1 night in your life, and it's fun to see the old man acting. He's still great.

The formula is light; it's a movie about an old guy who goes "drug mule" but coated with family drama & connections with relatives. In that sense it's more a family drama. As always with Clint, the movie is slow paced but all kinds of little stuff happens in between with comedy & drama. So no worries, it's not one of those netflix slow burners without any content. I think netflix would break a movie like this up in a 12 part series.

A good tv-movie when you prefer things a litlle bit more quiet that evening than action packed.

Creed II (2018)

Worked better than the Rocky version

[8/10 · 2 March 2019]

I just went in without any other info than the fact I liked Creed a lot. When I saw from the beginning it was kind of a rehash of Rocky vs The Russians, I tought, oh nooooo... Because I really don't like Stallone's original version. But he/they made it work. Ok, it is American propaganda again, but the drama line is so much better. Not too heavy, not too light. Yeah, the movie takes you in and is very entertaining. So I forgive the big USofA message, a solid 8 from Europe!