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Reviews
Cats (2019)
Totally don't understand the bad reviews of this film!
We watched the movie Cats Sunday and were hugely entertained. I've since read any number of reviews of the film and they are all negative and I can't see why. For that reason I'm writing this review.
First I'll mention the films weakness, in my opinion. Dame Judy Dench, Idris Elba, and Sir Ian McKellen (likely the three biggest names in the show) really don't have the vocal chops.
The point of a musical is to enjoy the singing, the dancing, the choreography, and the set designs. Even the weakest singing (as mentioned above) was more than adequate. Taylor Swift did a great job singing about Macavity - and I'm not a fan of hers. However Jennifer Hudson stole the show (singing wise) as Grizabella and her rendition of Memories was the best I've ever heard. As good as the singing was the dancing was absolutely out of this world with special note going to Steven McRae (Skimbleshanks) for his tap dancing and Francesca Hayward (Victoria) who totally carried the show on her paws. There were a too many entertaining bits to mention, but we found the whole movie absolutely wonderful and entertaining.
As cat owners we were even entertained by the movement of the ears and tails - how they did this... (CGI?)
Just a totally wonderful way to spend an afternoon - much better than watching lasers and things blow up...
Mountain Monsters (2013)
Warning: you may get dumber watching! Well probably not....
Our Niece claims that you actually can become dumber just by exposure to this show.
Flat out my wife and I love it. Sadly, it is the only show on TV that we keep up with.
First a disclaimer - my last name is Grassman. I have never lived in Ohio and as far as I know I have no kin there. None of our family members were hunted in Ohio to the best our of knowledge, had they, then perhaps my feelings for the show would not be so great.
Additionally the disclaimer at the end of the show should end any silliness about the show's documentary nature. The show also states that the shooting takes place largely in West "By God" Virginia.
While the gang is traipsing through the wood looking for "witnesses" you get to see some really beautiful country. It is actually breathtaking. Probably the true "Star" of the show is the land in which it is shot.
The show is an amalgam of The Blair Witch Project, The Beverly Hillbillies and Warner Brothers Cartoons. The plot of any given episode is a take-off on the BWP. The primary differences are that the cast is, for the most part, likable; and they don't spend a lot of time back biting; and the obvious difference is that none of the cast perishes at the conclusion of the show (just to be safe I called this a spoiler).
Clearly Trapper is Jed Clamplett (look at the hat!) and Buck is Jethro Bodine. Jeff and Huckleberry are an odd merging of Granny and Elly May. Willie is Wile E. Coyote, his traps are just as elaborate and effective.
This brings us to "Wild" Bill. Frankly William Neff must be a master thespian. He is The Tasmanian Devil, with less self control. No human could possibly be this goofy, but he sells it. I can not wait to see him in future Marine Corps recruitment commercials. I think he must be a veteran of the Shakespearian stage from some large metropolis, Paris perhaps; I don't know.
IT'S TV SHOW - LOOK AT IT FOR ENTERTAINMENT!
Stage Door Canteen (1943)
This is a great movie.
This is a great movie, but not for any traditional reason. This movie, like Hollywood Canteen, was made to make money for the canteens (I don't know if it was just this one or a group or all). There is a slight plot to the movie. It is really a vehicle to see some of the great stars of the period do their thing. Gypsy Rose Lee does a G strip. If you don't like big band music or vaudeville style humour this is not for you.
We watched last night on TCM and really had a great time. Picking out the stars was pretty cool. Helen Hayes we did not get until she was named. Several others we did not know. Harpo Marx was great and so was Ray Bolger. Edgar Bergan was Edger Bergan. If you don't like their style you won't enjoy them here. Katherine Cornell's Juliet dialogue with a solder was terrific and touching. Peggy Lee was great with Benny Goodman.
We had the long version about 2 hours and 15 minutes. We stayed up to see how the sappy plots played out. We were that hooked.
The Falcon and the Co-eds (1943)
Good fun if not great art
I have to admit that I am an unabashed fan of Tom Conway. For the most part, Falcon movies are highly entertaining. Certainly no one will ever confuse a `Falcon' movie with great art, but it is impossible to watch them and not be amused. In this case the interaction between the Falcon and the three Ughs is terrific, humorous and, in its manner, touching. I can not help but smile as the young women of Blue Cliff cast eyes at the famous and romantic Falcon.
As with most `Falcon' movies the plot is secondary. You watch to see Tom Lawrence out smart the police (ably played by Cliff Clark and Ed Gargen), flirt with pretty women (Jean Brooks) and in general act as a proto-Bond (without the gadgets and violence).
If you want to a new view of life, look for a Bergman film. If you wish to see film as art I would recommend The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. If you want to spend a fun evening with a loved one (or ones) and a bowl of Orville with root beer, it is hard to beat a Falcon movie, and this is a good example of the serial.