rootleafdinner Reviews

Spectre (I) (2015)

Awesome flick! and a review (of sorts) from a mid forties long term Bond fan

[14 November 2015]

I grew up watching Roger Moore Bond flicks in the theatre as a child. I liked his movies then since they did have the humor as well as the fun effects, toys, gadgets and the recurring villain Jaws! At that age I didn't care for the Connery films, I felt they were my old mans Bond and they seemed boring and boy did the George Lazenby one put me to sleep. Then I grow into my late teens and start to realize the Moore movies are getting more and more ridiculous to me. Now enter Timothy Dalton. I was excited to see his first movie and enjoyed it, but didn't care as much for License to Kill. Well that was then. Enter Brosnan, man was I stoked to see a Bond that felt like he was born to be Bond! I watched each one in the theatre from my mid twenties to early thirties. I loved Goldeneye, and I believe it was because of the long wait for another Bond movie from the last Dalton movie. But the Brosnan movies quickly got goofy, gimmicky, hokey, and totally jumped the shark. For the same reasons I enjoyed the Roger Moore movies as a kid, I started to hate the Brosnan movies for repeating over the top ridiculous stunts and scenes. I guess thats what growing up does, you appreciate things to be more realistic rather than those moments of disbelief for the sake of using cgi and special effects. Just because you can make a cool big screen special effect or make someone look as if they are pulling off something unbelievable doesn't mean you should do it! So, since I had pretty much given up on the Brosnan films I was looking forward to the first Daniel Craig film. Although I must admit I was on board with others that said you cant have a blonde Bond, but I quickly changed my view on that after seeing Casino Royale. I do like the Craig films. They have their moments of disbelief but they have not jumped the shark yet at least I don't feel so but others may disagree. I must admit, QOS I did not care for. But otherwise the other three have been good and now with SPECTRE I feel its the best out of them all in the DC series of films. It was exciting, a great story to follow with multiple villains, awesome action scenes and just an exciting journey... well I guess as an old Bond fan I felt it took from every good formula from all the past movies all actors playing Bond and made it an great ride from start to finish. Oh, and FYI i did grow to like my old mans Bond films with Connery, and when I got older I watched OHMSS again without falling asleep and feel that it is an excellent gripping Bond movie, and I now feel License to Kill was good and a pretty violent Bond film for its time. So, to sum up go see SPECTRE, its was great. 8.5/10

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

boring, juvenile, ignorant, what a BIG letdown. Shouldn't have been made!

[3 June 2008]

The part that is so ironic is that Lucas and Spielberg created the template in the 70's and 80's for what all action/science fiction movies strive to be today. Yet now they cant keep up with making what they used to make or what others are making today. Lucas ticked me off when he ruined Star Wars with the new saga. Now him and Spielberg have ruined Indy. Ruining all of our fondest memories of what these movies and characters were by dumbing them down and making the movies geared toward 4yr olds. Heck I was a kid and a teen when I saw the other movies in the 70's & 80's. I never thought they were kids movies, just good movies. Adults and children loved those movies. Now they just make movies that a 4yr old may laugh at a couple times but then they would even be bored and think its immature. This movie was an empty, shallow disaster. I haven't even thought any about any scenes or moments afterward from a week ago, simply because there was nothing worth remembering and it was uneventful trash. I took my little kids to see this movie, and was pumping it up beforehand to get them excited. I sat embarrassed in the theatre in front of my kids feeling bad I took them to see this crud.

Batman Begins (2005)

Way above expectations

[22 October 2005]

I'm literally blown away right now. Just saw it on DVD. Wish I had seen it in the theater now. The commercials while in the theater didn't start to represent how much this movie was about. I'm from the Tim Burton era of Batman movies and enjoyed the first and second ones. Now this movie is a different world, different style.. almost so much its nonsense to compare the two directors Batman movies here. This was a very powerful movie well directed and really wraps you in. Really was a perfect balance of action and drama. The characters were great, the acting on spot and the dialogue and script couldn't have been better. Now I am at a point where I wonder if another should be made or not. The ending eludes to another. But this was so good I hate to see a crummy sequel franchise ruin the name of this one really good one.

My Name Is Earl (2005–2009)

FINALLY! Been hungering for something fresh and new like this!

[2 October 2005]

I haven't gotten into anything new as far as a live action series since Seinfeld went off the air. Most comedy series are lame, not funny and predictable with laugh tracks.. Its like, "Oh, I was supposed to laugh at that?". Finally with "Earl" there is something new to get into watching again with an original idea. This show is very funny, has great characters, scenes, directing and doesn't prompt you to laugh with a laugh track. Jason Lee was on Leno a week or so ago pluggin his show and is really funny, and talks much the same as his character. Guess thats how he delves into it so easy. I hope this show sticks around for a while. After years of Reality TV and a bunch of played out stupid comedy series this is a welcome treat!

Strangers with Candy (1999–2000)

I laughed my butt off!

[3 October 2000]

This is the best comedy I have ever watched that was not a cartoon (the south park types). This show is definitely not for those that have no sense of humor; and like watching those mundain sitcoms on the "big three" channels that prompt you into laughing at things that are not funny with there stupid laugh tracks. Strangers is very witty, quick and smart humor that will have you rolling and they do not even use a laugh track. I went through a phase were I did not watch any sitcoms for several years since "Seinfeld" left. I have relied on comedy central since then for SNL reruns and Southpark, or renting something funny just so I can get my daily dose of humor. Then comedy central brings this new show to us that just blows you away with its off the wall humor, cracks, jokes that some people may not catch if they are not quick enough. I saw the commercials for the show for a bit and thought it looked silly. Then after seeing one episode I was a total fan that couldn't wait until the next episode! I love how almost every line is something that is humorous if you can catch it quick enough. When I catch a rerun I have already seen, I find myself catching more humour hidden at every turn. The season finale episode was great, one scene has two teachers having fun wheeling each other around real fast in a wheelchair and having fun. The two teachers look down the hall and say "you are so lucky!", then the camera pans down the hall and they are addresing a handicapped kid laying on the floor that they "borrowed" the wheelchair from! No show out there can touch this kind of humor. I think I like it so much because I live this kind of humor, no matter what I am doing I often throw a warped view on things that makes people laugh. When are they going to put all the previous episodes on tape so I can see the ones I missed?