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Reviews
A Christmas Story Christmas (2022)
Nostalgic Christmas Story
I happened upon this one evening while spooling through channels looking for something to make me smile. Noting that it was starting a few minutes later, I decided to record it. I'm glad I did. I watched it twice in a row - and used a few tissues in the process.
Did anyone else notice that the bubble lights are hanging upside down on the tree? Having owned bubble lights, this was a distraction! I'm curious if this was intentional.
Many wonderful homages were presented in this film and I thought that they tied together nicely. I really enjoyed Julie Hagerty's "Mom", though she seemed a little edgier than the original; perhaps living with The Old Man after retirement gave her that crusty edge.
Many other commenters have said what I would say, so I will leave it at that. This is a nice bow on the story package and wish continued success to the actors and actresses who performed.
Snuff-Movie (2005)
Surprisingly entertaining
Presented at a small movie house on Halloween Night, Snuff Movie engaged us from the beginning and kept us interested until the end. The ending was an unexpected twist that left us glad to have avoided trick-or-treaters and wanting to see it again. Think "The Usual Suspects" for that are-you-kidding-me response.
The camera work was varied with long shots and POV that kept your focus moving across the screen. The lighting afforded an appropriate ambiance, and the somber colors kept the mood in synchronization with the story. Knives and guns are primary weapons of choice, but the greatest implement of torture came from technology.
There is one scene where the tension is built to an extraordinary level where the boyfriend is going crazy, helpless, watching events unfold live through an online link on a computer and his girlfriend is in grave danger. Resolution is not to be had just yet as more action develops involving police (in)action.
I am surprised that the rating on IMDb is so low because this film is worthy of horror aficionados and should be seen with good friends.
Django Unchained (2012)
Creativity to the very last frame
An homage to the Spaghetti Westerns, with influences by the finest western genre films of any era in terms of cinematography, "Django Unchained" comes across uniquely Tarantino with a story that has many layers of subtlety, yet obviously in-your-face violence that represents reality more than most folks give credit. Killing people with weapons is not neat and tidy as is portrayed in many films, I have to respect his choice to be graphic.
Mr. Tarantino's mix of music and mythology crosses from the past to present time with clever foreshadowing.
The 165 minute running time went by much faster than it seemed, but there were a couple parts that were a bit overworked. My suggestion is to not be afraid to laugh at the wrong places, much like one tends to do in Pulp Fiction after you become familiar with the film's perspective.
Foxx, Jackson, DiCaprio, and Waltz are amazing. Ms. Washington is not only very convincing in her role, she is beautiful. The costuming was superb.
Mr. Tarantino is not guided by anything other than storytelling in his own way, and this film shows another side of his creativity that will continue to raise the bar for the skills of a director. He doesn't churn out quantities of films, he brings us carefully considered craftsmanship that you will want to see repeatedly, just to see what you missed the first time through.
Three of us went: we give it six thumbs up.
Stay to the end, after the credits, until the very last frame.