brownjoea Reviews

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

An Iconic Masterpiece that Deserves a 10

[10/10 · 22 March 2025]

By today's standards, this movie may not seem like the revolutionary hit that it was. It's still one of the highest grossing films of all time when adjusted for inflation and essentially shot Disney into the stratosphere of legendary status.

It's a simply told story with beautiful hand drawn animation. Not a single frame is wasted. Every moment serves the narrative well, and every scene looks like a painting that you could hang on the wall. The artistry here is incredibly, especially for 1937, but even holds up today.

The songs are also memorable and known by anyone who is even remotely familiar with Disney and animated movies. "Heigh-Ho, Whistle While You Work, With a Smile and a Song, Some Day My Prince Will Come" packs a lot of heart into this short run time.

There is a little bit of everything here including a despicable villain, a sympathetic lead, and heroic co-stars. They somehow cram drama, comedy, intrigue, despair, and uplifting moments into one cohesive, delightful experience.

There will truly never be another groundbreaking movie like this, and it deserves a 10 for that alone.

The King Tide (2023)

A Magical Kid's Effect on Isolated Island Life

[7/10 · 2 March 2025]

This is an unusual movie but mostly a good one. It's a slow burn and may not be for those who desire more action, but if you enjoy thought provoking ethical dilemmas, then this is a movie for you.

Basically, a magical kid shows up to a remote island and turns the small community upside down. It is beautifully shot and well acted. I wouldn't call it a horror movie, but it has a creepy vibe. Events happen that alter the dynamic of the kid in relation to the others on the island. Perhaps a bit more could have been done with the premise, as it feels like they are stretching the story a little too much with some dull filler scenes to pad the 100ish minutes running time.

It's not a great movie but it is good, and it's different than much of the typical movie fare that is released nowadays. I enjoyed it for the most part, and it's currently free to stream on Tubi, so you might as well give it a try if you are even remotely interested.

The Usual Suspects (1995)

8.5 is Criminally Underrated

[10/10 · 7 February 2025]

The 90s was a superb decade for movies and this is one of the absolute best. I had seen it once many years ago and recently rewatched it. It still holds up as a perfect plot executed in the best possible way. Everything here is a masterclass in filmmaking, including the storytelling, acting, directing, and writing. It's so quotable!

If you haven't seen this and you even remotely enjoy crime thrillers, do yourself a favor and watch it. There is not a wasted scene, no filler for the nearly two hour experience, and it is an experience that few other movies can offer, particularly in the crime drama genre.

It's a shame that Hollywood struggles these days to make masterpieces like these anymore. It's movies like these that prove what is actually capable when outside politics are left aside and the focus is purely upon entertainment. I wish I could see this again for the first time, but even the second viewing was still engrossing.

Jingle All the Way (1996)

Ugh...A Mean Spirited Christmas "Classic"

[5/10 · 14 December 2024]

Wow, talk about a baffling Christmas movie. I recognize this has its fanbase, probably based on nostalgia mostly, but I just don't get it. I remember being amused by it as a kid in the 90s, but I never thought it was great. After. Recent rewatch, I realized it has almost zero redeeming qualities.

This is one of those fake sentimentality movies that is filled with a horrible message about a father trying to buy his son's affection instead of spending quality time with him. He spends excessive amounts of time in chaotic situations while competing with another dad chasing around a toy and his neighbor creeps in on his wife. That's essentially the plot.

The bulk of the movie is wacky hijinks and filler with very little actual humor. Arnold is badly miscast as an Everyman. His inability to portray any kind of likability makes it a slog to sit through. Sinbad is a little better in his role as a goofy antagonist, but his character isn't interesting. Arnold's wife comes across as a nag who makes little effort herself to get the Turboman toy when there doesn't seem to be a reason why she doesn't try.

Ultimately, this movie is a bumbling mess of one unfunny and pointless scene after another to reach a bizarre conclusion that tries to make it seem like Arnold is such a great father and good person despite all of the terrible stuff he does to get to that point. Don't waste your time with this one when there are dozens of wonderful family Christmas movies available.

Krampus (I) (2015)

A Creepy Campy Christmas Comedy

[8/10 · 9 December 2024]

I don't understand some of the extremely low reviews of this movie. It reminds me of something like Gremlins where it's only mildly creepy and gory so that even younger family members, particularly young teens, can get enjoyment out of it without the nightmares. It's not exactly scary, but that's by design. Much of it is campy comedy with just an edge of horror.

The main plot is simply a bunch of awful family get together for Christmas, and then get a comeuppance from a mythical creature and his minions due to their bad behavior when a young boy gives up on the positive spirit of the season.

The best part of the movie are the technical aspects. The cinematography and especially the sound are excellent and really add to the atmosphere. The acting is fine, and while the writing is uneven, there are a few standout moments of greatness, such as the grandma telling her personal story of seeing Krampus as a little girl through the lens of a beautifully animated stop motion sequence. I also really appreciated the myriad of superb practical effects used without an over reliance on CGI.

Overall, I had a lot of fun watching this one and think it's significantly better than the mediocre reviews it has bafflingly received. I recommend giving it a watch during the holiday season, and you may be pleasantly surprised.

God of War: Ragnarök (2022 Video Game)

The Empire Strikes Back of Video Games

[10/10 · 4 September 2024]

God of War (2018) was an excellent retooling of Kratos and mythology into a completely different kind of game than his original Greek games. Ragnarok has taken everything that was great about that game to refine, enhance, and elevate it to a familiar but superior gaming experience. I finally bought a PS5 and this is my first game purchase.

Everything about this game is top notch including the puzzles, combat, exploration, upgrades, graphics, sound, and story. There is constantly something interesting and intriguing with which to discover and interact. Every area is chock full of details that are a sight to behold.

I like how the game jumps around to play from the perspectives of different characters through both their unique stories and play styles. Each section of the game has a main path, but there is plenty to do when deviating from that path, particularly in certain areas where a single side quest can lead to a whole side story full of things to do in addition to the basic hunt and collect quests.

The scope of this game is hard to describe. There is never a dull moment even when doing the more mundane tasks because the look and feel of everything is so immersive. It never ceases to amaze me at how much there is to do and see and all of it is challenging enough without being overwhelming, and just when you think you've seen it all, they throw another aspect of gameplay at you to keep it fresh. There is also plenty of player agency in how to approach combat, upgrade your characters, and explore the vast world.

This is what sequels aspire to be. It takes everything the original 2018 game did and does it better by adding significant improvements. I've been playing video games regularly for 40 years, and this is among the best I've ever played, particularly in its genre. It's a home run, and I honestly don't know how they would be able to top it if a sequel is ever produced. Like the title says, it's the "Empire Strikes Back" of video games, a sequel that is unlikely to ever be surpassed by future installments, but here's hoping that a third game gets made that is at least "Return of the Jedi" caliber. It would certainly be nice to get more in this game series even if Ragnarok is ultimately never surpassed.

The Orville (2017–2022)

Better Than Modern Star Trek and Star Wars

[10/10 · 27 January 2024]

Mainstream sci-fi and space fantasy has faltered in recent years due to poor corporate management of famous brands. Nothing illustrates that better than the devastating decline of the once revered Star Trek and Star Wars. Disappointment after disappointment with very little respite has been hard to watch. Thankfully, this is where "The Orville" comes in to provide a little water to the dry desert that is mainstream Hollywood sci-fi productions. I say little because this show is only 36 episodes, but I'm the kind of person who would rather have higher quality over a shorter time span than a bunch of dull filler interspersed with some mediocre content and occasional high points over a longer period of time.

"The Orville" started back in 2017 with the second season coming in very late 2018 into 2019 and the third and final season subtitled "New Horizons" released in 2022. So it clearly had production delays between seasons. That may have hurt its viewership to some degree but now that it can be watched in its entirety without that delay, the strength of the show's characters and world building gets to shine brighter than ever.

Admittedly, the first season almost seems like a parody of classic Star Trek at times by leaning a bit too much into goofy humor. Still, season one is great overall. Then season two found a better balance between serious drama and humor and the show really hit its stride with season three ramping up the length and scope of the episodes to achieve a very satisfying conclusion of the series. Granted, it can be pleasant to get more of a good thing, but if there is never a season four then what we got is wrapped up into a nice bow of an ending.

I've watched the entire series twice, once during it's original run with the delays and once a few years after the fact as more of binging experience, and I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is among the most fun experiences I've ever had watching a show.

A Haunting in Venice (2023)

I don't understand the extremely negative reviews

[8/10 · 6 December 2023]

I acknowledge that Kenneth's version of Poirot isn't exactly the most accurate portrayal of the book character, so I can kind of understand why some people don't approve. However, as a longtime reader of numerous Agatha Christie books, I'm glad to see her works are still being made into movies despite the modern versions being significantly different for better and for worse.

This movie is based on Hallowe'en Party, a book I haven't read, so my experience with this movie is different compared to Branagh's other Christie movies because I had read those books. With that caveat, I very much enjoyed this movie for what it is, though I did have some accurate suspicions on the solution of the case before it was all revealed. One of the things I liked about it is that it's just spooky enough without constant jump scares like so many other modern horror movies. I was especially intrigued by the setting and the backstory of where the movie took place.

Ultimately, this is not what I would call a masterpiece but is on par with the other modern Agatha adaptations that Kenneth has undertaken. At the very least he is helping to keep alive the legacy of The Queen of Crime in his own way for younger generations. However flawed it may be, it's a fun thriller to watch on a cool Autumn night.

The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968)

It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This

[10/10 · 24 September 2023]

What more can be said that hasn't already been said about this enduring classic that hasn't been off the air since it originally aired in the 1960s? Not much, but I want to talk about it anyway.

The "Andy Griffith Show" is a unique show. It's one of those shows that somehow feels like a real place with real people instead of a scripted sitcom. The best word to describe it is "heartwarming." It's like good comfort food that never goes out of style. It's in the category of sitcom but never feels like anyone is cracking one-liners just for the sake of trying to make the audience laugh at throwaway jokes. Instead, the comedy is derived from the distinct personalities of all of the characters. Though I'm not a writer, I suspect it's far more difficult to write a show like this than a goofy sitcom with constant quips. That said, this show has such natural sounding dialog being delivered by skilled actors and actresses that don't even seem like they're acting, particularly when it comes to the expertly crafted dynamic between Andy and Barney, the unarguable heart of the show.

If you aren't accustomed to watching older shows, don't be put off by the black and white picture, as it actually benefits the show and setting better than color does, which becomes clear when watching the later seasons that are in color starting with season six. Speaking of which, the color episodes are a sharp decline in quality for numerous reasons with the most obvious reason being the departure of Don Knotts in his most famous and awarded role as Barney Fife, but that's not the only reason the early seasons are far better. So in my opinion, skipping the color episodes altogether is no great loss. Fortunately, seasons one through five are top notch television for all ages.

Given the popularity of this show over so many decades, the odds are that if you are reading this, you've already seen it many times over, but if you haven't, don't hesitate to give it a watch, and make the town of Mayberry your TV home for a while. You'll be glad you did.

Windfall (2022)

It All Falls Apart in the End

[6/10 · 5 September 2023]

I was so disappointed by this movie. It has one of those setups that I typically enjoy, a small cast of characters interacting with each other in one location where character development seems like it would be the centerpiece of the drama. And it is, to some extent but it never quite reaches the level of intrigue that it attempts to reach.

There is one particular scene that was so bizarre that I was confused as to exactly how it happened. Turns out there was one specific reason to have that scene but it could have been handled so much better. I was still enjoying the movie up until that point, but then it just went downhill after that with a conclusion that is nonsensical and barely makes any sense at all. It's like the premise had possibilities but they didn't ultimately know where to take the story to make a satisfying impact. Some good acting, dialog, cinematography, and music help it along quite a bit, but it turns out to be more style than substance that falls flat into mediocrity.

Black Mirror (2011– )

Doesn't Feel Quite Like Black Mirror Anymore

[8/10 · 17 June 2023]

I've been a longtime fan of Black Mirror. It had always felt like a modern Twilight Zone with a focus on the potential downsides of future technologies. With season 6 it feels like they threw the premise out the window and went with an anything goes approach to storytelling, including the supernatural. In addition, the overall quality of the writing has declined in seasons 5 and 6. The first 4 seasons of the show is among my favorite TV shows ever, but they seem to have mostly lost their touch.

It's not that the most recent seasons are irredeemable because there are some pretty good episodes, but they are nowhere near the high bar that was set by the early seasons. Don't believe me? Go watch from the beginning and it will become obvious how much the show has changed. None of the newer episodes are remotely close to the quality of "The Entire History of You", "White Bear", and "White Christmas." Even the weaker episodes of seasons 1-4 are significantly better than most of seasons 5 and 6.

I suppose it's nice to get some new episodes of Black Mirror even if it isn't what it used to be, but I was hoping for much better. Despite my misgivings about the last two seasons, I hope there ends up being a season 7 because I am a big fan of the anthology series format. Overall, I still think the show deserves a solid 8 when considering the entirety of the series to this point.

The White Lotus (2021– )

Season Two is Far Better than Season One

[9/10 · 25 February 2023]

This is an anthology series, meaning that each season is a separate storyline with different characters, save for one main character that is in both seasons, and a different setting for each season. After watching season one, I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue onto Season Two. It was pretty good overall but nothing extraordinary. However, I ended up seeing a review online from a source I trust where the reviewer talked about how much he enjoyed season two. So I decided to watch it and was pleasantly surprised at the significant improvement in the storyline for this season.

Both seasons are focused on wealthy guests who stay at an international luxury resort brand called "The White Lotus," hence the title of the show. The show features a lot of character development and plenty of intrigue as the lives of all of the characters unfold over 7 episodes in each season. Both episodes start with an unknown dead body and then flashback to show what led up to the death. There are some surprises along the way in getting back to that opening scene. On a technical level, it's a beautifully shot show with plenty of great scenery and engaging cinematography. The characters are also well written and performed, so it's easy to get invested in the outcome. I also really like the limited series format so that the show doesn't drag on for too long but is long enough to tell the story effectively.

I give season one a 7/10 and season two a 10/10. It's a really entertaining show overall. Season one could be skipped and it would not negatively impact the enjoyment of the superior season two in any meaningful way, but if you plan on watching both seasons, then definitely start with season one first because it would be a letdown to watch it after season two.

Nope (2022)

At Least It's Not Another Generic Superhero Movie

[7/10 · 6 January 2023]

I finally got around to watching this on streaming. This is a weird movie, for better and for worse. Jordan Peele deserves credit for trying something different than the typical Hollywood blockbuster. There are numerous things that are implied without being explicitly explained, which I appreciate as someone who likes thought provoking movies.

There are definitely moments that don't make sense. In fact, the entire movie feels off somehow. It's difficult to explain but it's strangely unsettling and peculiar. One example is how the tie-in with the chimp incident is especially bizarre but does have an effect on the way that one character relates to the main antagonist.

I enjoyed watching this movie overall, mostly because it was so unusual. That said, I can't ever imagine ever rewatching it. I think Jordan Peele has a vision that is atypical for modern Hollywood. He's making stuff that doesn't feel like an assembly line corporate product and that alone is valuable in the mainstream movie industry. He still has a long way to go before being considered a legendary director, but I am looking forward to seeing what his next movie idea produces.

Pepsi, Where's My Jet? (2022)

Don't be stupid. Take the money.

[7/10 · 28 November 2022]

I generally despise big corporation shenanigans, but to me this was clearly a joke offer, and I never would have taken it seriously. I have to respect John Leonard for going all of the way, but when a company of that size offers you significant guaranteed money to let it go, then you should.

Pepsi has tremendous resources to fight this case, so the odds of John winning such an absurd prize was slim to begin with, and the money would have been far more practical for him than a jet.

It's a decent documentary overall. Nothing spectacular but definitely serves its purpose in conveying the story in a fun way. It's worth a watch.

The Mole (2022– )

The Mole Has Returned With A Vengeance

[9/10 · 22 October 2022]

Back in the day of roughly 20 years ago, two of my favorite shows on US TV were The Amazing Race and The Mole. While The Amazing Race has continued to have tremendous success for the past two decades, The Mole was sadly cancelled after only a few seasons. So I was pleasantly surprised to see it pop up on Netflix recently after not knowing ahead of time that it would be returning.

So how did it turn out? Overall I'm happy to say that it had plenty of intrigue and fun challenges. The contestants were hit and miss in terms of entertaining to watch, but that is true of all reality and game shows. There were some nice surprises along the way as well. Of course, nothing is perfect. The identity of The Mole became undeniably clear to me with about 3 episodes to go, and there were too many obviously scripted interviews with the contestants during each episode, particularly with contestants making mole accusations. I would have liked to have seen more natural interaction among the contestants in between challenges instead.

That said, it's hard to complain too much about what we got. Even with its flaws, this is still a far superior reality show compared to much of the trash reality shows that are on modern TV. It's not quite up to The Amazing Race standards, but then again that's not a realistic expectation. It's a quality season one reboot, and I'm hoping for another season with a few adjustments in the right direction to make season two even better.

Stowaway (I) (2021)

A Waste of Time

[2/10 · 10 May 2021]

I noticed that the writer is also the director. It seems like he may have decent directing skills, but his writing is abysmal.

So many things are unexplained and illogical. I kept waiting for something to happen. I kept thinking that Michael was going to betray the others for some unknown nefarious reason and that he was manipulating Zoe with his tale about being his sister's guardian and making a statement about being burned in a fire. It seemed like it was leading up to him making her feel sorry for him, but it ultimately led to nothing.

Only a handful of scenes carry any intrigue at all in a nearly 2 hour movie. It drags something awful and has no satisfying conclusion.

Incredibles 2 (2018)

What happened? Disappointing Sequel

[6/10 · 16 June 2018]

I have always been a big fan of the original. In fact, I consider it to be one of Pixar's best. Maybe that's part of the problem. It's difficult to follow up the excellent original.

The Good: 1. The opening is a nice setup for a plot line that plays well throughout the movie and has an amusing conclusion.

2. The opening and ending action sequences are excellent. Nice teamwork sequences.

3. The Jack-Jack bits are fun and fleshes out his character significantly.

The Bad:

1. Far too much time is spent on Elastagirl. I thought this was supposed to be a movie about the entire family. Why is she doing pretty much all of the interesting superhero stuff while the dad and kids do mostly nothing for vast stretches of the movie (save for the aforementioned Jack-Jack bits)? I mean, I get that that's part of the plot, but it seems like a weird direction to go with the story in the first place.

2. The identity of the villain is obvious from the beginning. I realize it's a movie for kids, but Pixar is usually smarter with their writing. I understand it's hard to top Syndrome, but this villain is uninteresting for the most part.

3. The middle of the movie drags. It's far too long. At one point during the middle, I just wanted it to end. It was dull for too long. It would have benefitted from tighter editing and a shorter run time.

The Ugly:

1. Curse words and swearing in a Pixar movie. Really, Disney? There is no excuse for this. I should be able to take my kids to a movie like this without concerning myself with the language.

2. Political nonsense. Elastagirl is made to looks like a nearly perfect superhero while Mr. Incredible is made to look like an inept parent. Of course, feminism and SJW trash seems to be slipped into just about everything coming out of Hollywood these days. We hear this stuff in the media all of the time. Is it too much to ask to leave it out of entertainment made for kids?

3. Lack of humor. Maybe it's just me, but this movie doesn't seem to contain hardly any of the clever humor of the original. There are one or two scenes that are somewhat funny, but part of the charm of the original was the way the comedy was integrated. This one, for the most part, falls flat in that department as far as I am concerned.

To be fair, I really didn't have any interest in seeing this movie despite my fondness for the original because the trailer was uninspiring. Perhaps the story and execution would have been much better if they hadn't waited 14 years between the original and the sequel.