Change Your Image
elobdell
Reviews
Ticket to Paradise (2022)
Fun, feel-good rom com in a beautiful setting
Many reviews here are calling this movie formulaic. Are there any new movies that can't be compared to some other? If you need every film you see to be completely different from every other one you've ever seen, this probably isn't for you. If watching favorite actors in a movie that has quite a few good laughs, and some tender moments, where you leave feeling happy, you'll love it.
It's a great date movie, with good acting and directing. Will you be talking about it for days? No. But it will make you think about and appreciate the things that are truly important in life.
And who doesn't enjoy watching two accomplished actors doing what they do best? There's a very good supporting cast and some interesting, though limited, exposure to an interesting culture many aren't familiar with.
Law & Order (1990)
Season 21: It's like a restaurant where new chefs are trying to make the original chef's recipes
I've never been a major fan of Law & Order but my wife likes it so I've watch many episodes. It follows a formula, as some series do, but I know what to expect. I've found the stories engaging and the characters to portrayed well. But this latest season is a faded copy of the original series. I love seeing Sam Waterston still going strong into his 80s, and some of the courtroom segments start to have the glimmer of the original, but the acting is sub-par. Jeffrey Donovan in particular is awful. It's like watching a guy trying to act like an actor. He never seems like a real person the way all of the previous actors have. I'd expect it to be canceled but knowing how TV goes, it'll probably go 10+ seasons. Meh.
Downsizing (2017)
This is a movie that could've done so much more with its premise.
A rich idea, well-made sets, good special effects, quality actors and a good director make for a great film but only if the writing delivers. With this movie, it does not. It seemed as though it couldn't decide which direction to go and ended up just lightly touching on so many things there was never anything of substance. The social and political impact - a few interesting lines and then nothing. The way some things like telemarketing jobs or the Internet would be the same regardless of size, a mention. The intriguing way life would be different for a shrunken person was just barely probed. Even comedic opportunities were bypassed except for a few funny moments. None of the characters had time to develop either. So disappointing.
Also, this is a movie where, good or bad, you have to overlook obvious physics or scientific incongruities such as the tiny people still having normal voices, existence of technologies that look normal (a bus, plumbing, even clothing) on a tiny scale with no explanation (whereas some, like cell phones, DID look different in the tiny world.) Also, a miniature boat on a regular lake, yet the waves are not huge. Or the fact that wasps, flies, etc would be deadly predators. If the movie is great, these things can be ignored. When it isn't, they become glaringly annoying.
Don't get your hopes up about this movie. Also forget what you saw in trailers as there are scenes and themes portrayed there that did not make the final cut.
Sneaky Pete: Pilot (2015)
Amazon, please make this a series
The potential here is enormous for a hit. Ribisi is excellent, as are the supporting actors. The surprise appearance of a well-known guest star was a big bonus (and it seems like he'll at least be around for a few episodes) but said star is not a requirement for this show's success. I'm a suspense junkie, and the tension is palpable throughout the pilot episode, especially when "Pete" has plans that don't work out as expected. It seems much more real as a result. Not to mention the overall premise of the show. The unpredictability is refreshing and quite suspenseful.
There's a need for quality shows that are not TV-MA and can be enjoyed with a family of teens. Please give Sneaky Pete a go and if you like it, complete the Amazon survey if it is still up.
Barnyard (2006)
Fun time - not supposed to be documentary accurate!
OK, first of all, I love how many other reviewers here cannot get past the fact that the male characters are cows with udders, but they readily accept the fact that they talk, walk upright, grasp with their hooves, and so on. It's a STORY, not an educational film. I explained to my kids (5, 7, 9) that real cows are female and have udders, and real bulls are male and do not have udders. No mental problems or confusion - they get it.
It was entertaining, with great voice talent, a good lesson, and a nice new variation on modern computer animation. There are some things that are cartoonish (shapes of animals and things), and other things that are amazingly realistic (sky/clouds, hair/fur, fire). It was an intriguing mix, in my opinion.
All three of my children and my 12 year-old nephew loved the movie. There was humor on their level, jokes that adults could relate to, and a somewhat predictable but satisfying storyline.
I consider movies "worth seeing in the theater" OR "wait and watch at home." They have to have something special to pay $60 for the family to see, without the ability to pause, no guarantee of good seats, noisy neighbors, etc etc. I have a soft spot for animated features, and I think the special factor of going to the theater makes it worth taking the kids to this one.