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cory5521
Reviews
True Detective (2014)
Season 2 was depressing.
Season 2 was similar to 1 in that it was dark and brooding. The problem is that it was too dark. Very, very freaking depressing. I really enjoyed it until the final episode. I just finished it so maybe I'm too emotional, but what the f*** is the point. I binge watched it in a couple days, which is the best way to watch any series, so that made my connection to the characters even greater. Also, I just got through watching season 1 about a week before I saw season 2 so my expectations were high for season 2. Maybe if I were drunk for the whole thing I wouldn't have been bothered so much. If I knew it ended like this I wouldn't have watched it. Still, it was done very well. And since I guess this is a review of both season 1 and 2 ... 9 out of 10.
Fast & Furious 7 (2015)
Ridiculous and unbelievable but fun
The only reason I gave this a 7 was because the final 10 minutes of the movie were done very well and was a nice homage to Paul Walker. Actually 7 is a little high but the movie is better than a 6. Now there were 3 parts of the movie that really irritated me. 1. Kurt Russell and his super-secret special ops agency need Vin Diesel and his street racing crew to help get back a hacker and her special program from a terrorist group. Really? This U.S. black ops agency's only hope is a mechanic/street racer, his street racing girlfriend suffering from amnesia, a tech savvy black market dude, a former FBI agent and Tyrese whose skills are a mystery to me other than bad jokes and the ability to complain more than everyone in the crew combined. 2. The military air drops equipment and vehicles all the time. But not on 2 lane mountain road from 30,000 feet. At one point someone says the parachutes are guided by GPS. What? They looked like normal parachutes to me. If they weren't going to take the time to explain or maybe show some special equipment that guided the parachutes then they should have said nothing. 3. By far my biggest gripe with the movie was the attack chopper flying through L.A. wreaking havoc and chaos. How long does it take the police to realize there is a war in progress in downtown L.A.? How long are terrorists flying a war machine equipped with rockets and machine guns before the National Guard gets alerted? Not to mention the drone that the chopper craps out which blows up enough stuff to make Die Hard fans proud. I didn't hate the movie though. Parts of it were really cool and like I said, the ending was done very well. This is especially impressive considering that one of the main actors died before completion of the movie. Makes me wonder what the original ending was going to be?
Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)
Thought it was going to be better
Like so many other movies I have seen, it started out great but ended weak. Gosling was perfect in his role and Carell was hilarious as always. Emma Stone was also very good, and crazy hot. The problem I had was that the situations between everyone became more unbelievable as the movie went on. But those situations, while not great, weren't terrible either. The one thing I did have a major issue with was the son. Every time I saw him I wanted to slap him and shave his head. Maybe that is a little cruel for a child that can't act to save his life and has an absurd haircut, but whatever. Still, if the movie had wrapped up nicely it would have all been worth it. But the speech at the end went from dumb to just plain ridiculous. And if what's her face's dad was mad before, I wonder how he will react to being the father of a registered sex offender. You know, the polaroid deal. I mean, seriously!?!?!
Meet Joe Black (1998)
A different romance
I just got through watching this again. I didn't remember that What A Wonderful World/Over the Rainbow by Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole played at the end during the credits. What a beautiful way to end a beautiful movie. I would have made a few different decisions, the main one being a different leading lady. She is crazy attractive but not the greatest talent. Still, she was far from a mistake. Brag Pitt was awesome. I mean, GEEZ! I'm not gay but is this guy good looking or what. It was stupid. And his attitude was perfect for the role. Like the girl said in the movie, his indifferent attitude was sexy...or something like that. Hopkins was Hopkins. This dude couldn't turn in a bad performance if his family was held hostage and the captors demanded a bad performance for their safety. The ending was amazing. It captured the sorrow of love and goodbye perfectly. In closing, this whole movie reminded me of that first love, where you couldn't quite get a good breath and where every second was filled with thoughts of them. Still sad in the end but very romantic. I would think, the perfect date movie...although it is 3 hours. Maybe too long for a date. But try it anyway.
Seven Pounds (2008)
Tragically beautiful
I may have rated this a little high because I'm fond of Will Smith. He has a very natural and realistic style that works well on film. I also like watching anything that lets me look at Rosario Dawson's face. I think this was one of Smith's better performances. Not as good as Pursuit of Happiness but still very enjoyable and Smith and Dawson seem to have a special chemistry in this film that makes for a very moving experience. Barry Pepper also does a nice job as Smith's friend. Hopefully this movie will help you realize, like me, how important seemingly small moments in life can be and how even the smallest moments should be lived to the fullest.
Miami Vice: Deliver Us from Evil (1988)
The return of Caitlin...ugh...but WHAT AN ENDING!!!
It was a mistake to ever have Crockett get married and this episode features the return of Caitlin, his current wife, who took a couple episodes off doing her L.A. music thing. The series took a serious dip when Crockett got hitched, complete with a ridiculous hair style that was some sort of rock band mullet (that has since been trimmed). So when I saw Caitlin was back I was worried this episode would suck and his hair would start creeping down his back again. However, this episode also features the return of an enemy of Crockett's who's acting is excellent, as it was in his first appearance.
There are nice splashes of style here and there including Sheena Easton's MV singing debut (I was wondering when she was going to) which actually isn't that bad.
Up to half way through, this episode was less than impressive until a dramatic occurrence changes everything. Now you get to see some great acting by Johnson, a couple decent appearances from Thomas and an ending that nobody saw coming, which was one of the best in all of MV.
Not a bad episode. I'm sure you will enjoy it.
Miami Vice: Heart of Night (1988)
Not bad, but not that good either
This wasn't so much a bad episode as it was just missing something. The loss of Mann, Hammer and many of the others that made this series a classic, is truly evident.
The acting is solid with Castillo taking the point, which is fine since Olmos is a terrific actor. The story is a little dry, but if you were to read the script I'm sure you would see the potential. In the past, this would be where the MV style crew headed by Mann takes over and polishes this raw material into a gem. Since everyone has bailed, this gets cut and polished at a pawn shop instead of the "Diamond District" in NYC.
The only thing that saved this from a 4 or less was the acting. Lets hope this season gets better.
Miami Vice: Redemption in Blood (1988)
Another home run!!!
This is the 4th and last episode in, we'll call this, the "bad boy" series. Like the others, this one doesn't disappoint. In my opinion, it wasn't quite as good as the other even though everyone else seems to think it is.
The episode starts off nicely and is great up until the end where it seems rushed and is rather boring. The acting however, by both Johnson and Thomas especially, is some of the best ever in Miami Vice. This is probably where the rave reviews come from. The supporting acting is great also, with most of the guest stars coming back from the last episode. Matt Frewer, does a particularly nice job.
I think the MV crew would have been smart to continue this "bad boy" story until the end of the season, which would have set up a particularly AWESOME season finale. No matter, this was a great one. 2 episodes in to season 5 and I'm loving it.
Miami Vice: Hostile Takeover (1988)
Now this is how you start off a season.
My only complaint about this was I wish they would have had a 2 hour season premier, especially since this was that last season. It deserved it.
With "Hostile Takeover", Season 5 picks up, with spectacular style, right where it left off from season 4 and does so with one of the best MV episodes ever. This installment is completely different from past great episodes like "Smuggler's Blues" and "Out Where The Buses Don't Run" from season 1 or 2 but it is equally awesome. The way Johnson handles this new role is fun to watch, as is often with great actors that are given bad guy roles after spending most of their career as good guys. If you look at the credits you'll see Johnson directed this episode (kudos). I believe the production and directing crew knew this was the last season and they were all on their way out the door, including Jan Hammer, which explains the complete change in musical style. This left much of the creative control in the hands of Johnson and he doesn't fail. He did however have Yerkovich still writing for him.
This episode also has great supporting acting which is common throughout most of this series. Polito's "El Gato" is a little weird though. OK, a lot weird (shoulder pads?), but he doesn't pop up enough in the episode to do any real damage. I would have gone in a different direction with his character, but all in all, the supporting acting is great. You aren't going to experience the Michael Mann esque night time driving scenes with pastel backgrounds accompanied with Jammer's moody synthesized tunes, all of which I love. But don't be despaired because Johnson's acting is the best of the series and a real joy to watch.
I'm watching season 5 for the first time and the way this has kicked off just cemented Miami Vice as my all time favorite show. Not that it wasn't already.
Miami Vice: Mirror Image (1988)
Best of season 4, no doubt.
This was not only the best of season 4 but one of my top 10 MV episodes. I knew how they were going to set up season 5 but I wasn't sure if they were going to do it right. I wasn't sure if they were going to get gritty enough for this to work. Well they took Miami Vice to another level with this and the several following episodes.
Its always refreshing to see an actor break from his usual role and try something risky, and this couldn't have came at a better time. I was sure season 4 was going to end leaving a bad taste in the viewer's mouths. But just when I thought the MV highlights were over, they end it with a bang leaving everyone wanting more.
I agree with the "edwardjamessmith" review. The beach dream scene was done very well with long needed MV style, complete with Jan Hammer music strumming away. One of the highlights of the episode in my opinion.
I can't say enough about this episode and I cant wait to watch season 5. You'll feel the same.
Miami Vice: A Bullet for Crockett (1988)
Good memories
I know this show was all flashbacks and clips, but it was most of the best, with a really good beginning.
I'm a sucker for the sentimental and this episode was chalk full of it. Also, when I rated this, I had to consider what it would have been like to see it as a Miami Vice episode for that week. Some of the scenes in this episode had not been seen for several years at the time which would have had a much cooler affect than if you were to buy the whole MV box set and hammer (no pun intended) through every season in a month.
One major gripe I do have is that I expected it to be flashbacks from Crockett's point of view, as in life flashing before your eyes. Instead it was a conglomerate of the past with everyone from Vice chipping in a memory.
As "filler" episodes go, they could have done much worse but also much better.
Miami Vice: Tale of the Goat (1985)
Voodoo & Miami Vice....what?
This episode could have been much better. Great music and good guest appearance acting, but the story was just too bizarre to be anything other than average. Trying to write voodoo into a Miami Vice episode was a challenge the writers should not have tried, especially when they were doing well with their current style of writing. I understand that they were trying to take risks with the show, but one look at the script should have let Mann know to scrap it. The episode might even have been a 7 or better if they had pulled the end together instead of letting it end so confusing, corny and just plain strange. Having said all that, it did have its highlights and it wasn't completely terrible, but a disappointment all the same.
Miami Vice: Blood & Roses (1988)
Not much to say about this one.
Not a bad episode. Tucci did an excellent job, as he did during his first appearance and it was cool to see Windcott in such an early role. The problem is the show never really did anything and had a very predictable ending. A "mail in" story as was common with many of the episodes in season 4 & 5. The guest acting saved this one from the gutter in my opinion. Not much else to say but I need more lines of text so here goes the blah.
It kind of reminded me of a season 1 or 2 episode but it was just completely weak. There was a scene where Crockett and Tubbs hop in the Testarosa and haul butt while some cool music plays, but even this scene was a watered down version of seasons past. You could do a lot worse as far as MV episodes go but don't expect too much.
Miami Vice: Badge of Dishonor (1988)
Worthy of being in season 1 or 2
I would have given this a 6.5 but IMDb doesn't allow half points so..., at any rate it was a good episode.
Solid acting with believable bad guys, much of which is due to the entertaining story line but, it didn't hurt that they hired guest stars that could act. The main guest acting was well above average and several of the bad guys in this episode were recognizable from earlier episodes and other shows(Victor Rivers, Julio Oscar Mechoso & Reni Santoni) which is good since it always helps when someone can pull off a potentially corny line with conviction and believability. This is something many of the episodes of season 3 were lacking.
Something I really missed was a nice pulse driven song at the emotionally charged climax of the episode, which it didn't really have. A climax that is. Or much emotion for that matter. But hey, every show can't be "Out Where the Buses Don't Run".
Miami Vice: Hell Hath No Fury (1988)
Predictably Lousy
I gave it a 3 only because the intro was sort of interesting, there were smidgens of significant guest acting and Crockett's wardrobe hearkened to seasons past, which was cool. But other than his wardrobe, there was nothing that related to the cool early seasons but everything there to remind you that MV is well on it's way down the drain.
There were outrageous, if not absurd stories in seasons 1 & 2 but they were often if not always backed up with moody music, witty dialog and awesome chase scenes. This had only absurd and outrageous which you figure out about half way through.
Another episode that I watched all the way through only to say I've seen them all.
Miami Vice: Missing Hours (1987)
WOW, that sucked!!!
The best way to explain this episode would be to say....WHAT??? This episode is a prime example of why the series took such a swift hit in ratings. Trademark Miami Vice cool melodramatic music, negative. Awesome night time chase scenes back-lit by said music, nope. Moving and intense dialogue among the vice squad, not a chance. There is no excuse for writing an episode this awful, especially when there were episodes canceled that were better than this. I could hand a crayon to the 4 year old kid my wife babysits across the hall and he could scribble out a better story than this, while watching Ben 10 (which he does like a zombie). The only reason to watch this episode would be to see how terrible it is, that and to say you have seen them all which I understand. My advice, have a couple drinks before you watch this stinker. Miami Vice is still my favorite show of all time...by far.