The_DATo Reviews

AlphaGo (2017)

Putting one's hand on the third rail of the universe

[10/10 · 2 March 2024]

What is the last numeral in the Pi sequence? What is the meaning of infinity? Where is the transition located between the two views of a wire frame cube? And what has actually taken place when one has played a "God move" in the game of Go - a game whose possible iterations are greater in number than the sum total of all the atoms in the universe?

This documentary enthralled me from start to finish and I am neither a Go player nor someone versed in computer science. It is one of many stories involving mankind's first faltering steps in the development of artificial intelligence. This movie summarizes one of these attempts against the backdrop of what is believed to be mankind's oldest and most difficult strategy game. Perhaps the greatest human mind to have ever played the game of Go is pitted against a computer system which has taught itself to play Go through a process known as "re-enforced learning" in which a program driving a computer played itself through millions of iterations and learned from its mistakes, much the same way as humans do, but with unbelievably greater speed.

The movie demonstrates the greatness and the limitations of both the machine and the man - the greatness and intelligence of the computer scientist, and the greatness, spirit and nobility of the human heart. When watching this movie I was reminded of the legend of John Henry, "a steel driving man" - a man pitted against a machine in an almost superhuman competitive effort of honor and determination.

This movie is probably not for everyone, all I can say is that virtually everyone I have recommended it to in the past has later expressed their sincere gratitude to me for having appraised them of it.

Brooklyn (2015)

A Movie About Immigrants ... and perhaps more

[9/10 · 29 February 2024]

This wonderful movie speaks for itself and there are so many other excellent reviews here which sing its praises that anything I could add would simply be redundant. So I'd like to do something a little bit different in this comment and speak directly to the movie's theme, and its message.

Our family is first - generation Italian and we had so much in common with the Irish especially, and all other immigrants as well; things like Elis Island, religion, family clans, poverty, the tenements; but perhaps most importantly the craving for freedom, liberty, and an opportunity if for only just the chance to build a better life, a life which was not afforded by the mother country. Maybe this is why America became as great as it has become. Those immigrants, when you think about it, were extraordinarily courageous - to leave everything they knew behind and boldly sail with only the things they could carry into the unknown, bringing with them elements of their own culture which mixed with those elements of the cultures of other countries like ingredients in a cook pot ultimately creating by their blending a magnificent stew of talent unknown anywhere else on earth.

America lauds its historic pioneers who traversed the continent in covered wagons, but was it less courageous, less bold, or less of an achievement to cross an entire ocean? And how many of the sons of those immigrants shed their blood or their lives fighting in defense of their adopted country? How many immigrant hands were calloused, lives lost, families torn asunder building the America we now enjoy ... analogously, brick by brick in every trade and professional endeavor? The countries which saw them leave their shores little knew that one day the efforts of those bedraggled masses would one day lend their weight to create a magnificent superpower.

Anyone reading this might find it interesting to know that my Italian brother, from our own immigrant family, much like the movie, also married an Irish girl.

The Fourth War (1990)

Fine entertainment

[8/10 · 13 December 2022]

I base my star ratings on one and only one criteria - entertainment value. I am not knowledgeable enough to know about the authenticity of the weapons depicted, or about tactical deployment of forces. I only know that I enjoyed this movie and it had me guessing what would come next from beginning to end. Maybe I am too naive but I was totally duped by the twist involving the girl which was cool. I also really liked the metaphorical ending.

The movie involved two Cold War warriors: one from the USSR, and another from the USA. They shared the same rank (colonel), and both had seen combat - the American in Vietnam, and the Russian in Afghanistan. They were also cut from the same cloth where toughness and determination was concerned. The contest for personal supremacy in their private feud involved calculated personal risk as well as being fraught with the danger of military combat escalation on a massive scale.

Perhaps it cannot be considered a great movie, but it is one of the better ones I've seen lately. So ...... 8 of 10.

The Sea of Trees (2015)

A Sea Of Dreams

[8/10 · 16 November 2022]

I would like to add my small voice to the chorus of those who have posted to these reviews and have encouraged you not to take the word of the critics on this one. I don't know how the critics come up with their opinions, but in my case there is only one criteria: did I find the movie entertaining? In my case the answer to that question is a resounding YES!

Starting with the actors: Ken Watanabe is, in my opinion, one of the greatest living actors whose performances never disappoint. I knew before I watched this movie that he would turn in a stellar performance, and he did. Matthew McConaughey also turned in a masterful performance which exhibited the entire spectrum of psychological nuances: humor, grief, shock, anger, hopelessness, fear and, at times total numbness. Naomi Watts' acting, especially toward the end was, in my opinion, worthy of an Academy Award. I have always thought of Watts as a "somewhat pretty" actress, but in this movie, at times even without make up (indeed, even without hair), I thought she was breathtakingly beautiful.

The end of a movie, to me, is like waking from a dream. We know it is not real, and yet we yearn to complete the journey. Sometimes we even attempt to reenter the dream through the misty memories of that enchanted plane of consciousness when we wake, though much like a movie we cannot. We can take away only what we can remember and then attempt to sort it out and make sense of it. This movie, once again like a dream, is replete with metaphorical suggestion: the children's book, the orchid, the sounds in the forest, the medications, the ribbons etc. It is a much better and deeper story and screenplay than the critics have given credit. And finally we must come to grips with what Arthur Brennan actually experienced, which offers a portal to a great degree of interpretative speculation.

It was not a "great" movie, but it was still a very very good one, and any critic who would "boo" it is in my opinion not worthy of being taken seriously.

These Final Hours (2013)

Pleasantly Surprised

[8/10 · 2 November 2022]

I often check the rating of a movie here at IMDb before choosing a movie to watch, and the relatively low rating of this movie (currently 6.6) initially put me off, but after reading some of the reviews I thought I'd give it a whirl, and I am so glad I did. I have only two criteria for judging a movie, the first is the quality of the story itself, and the second is the quality of its presentation. This movie scored high with me on both points.

I think all of the actors turned in fine performances, but the performances of Angourie Rice (Rose) and Nathan Phillips (James) were exceptionally good. The cinematography was not as good as might be found in higher budget films, but it was totally acceptable in my opinion.

I think the thrust of this movie is less a depiction of Armageddon and more the flavor of a psychological thriller as well as perhaps a bit of a morality play. The movie examined the different ways the human mind deals with the inevitability of an impending disaster knowing that it is powerless to avert or survive it.

Thanks to those of you who posted positive recommendations regarding this movie. Your well-penned comments inspired me to watch it and I totally enjoyed it.

After Armageddon (2010 TV Movie)

Eerily Prophetic !!! (after Covid-19)

[8/10 · 31 October 2022]

I recently found this video at the local library. I thought it was just one more movie about the collapse of society after some traumatic event. As I watched it I came to believe that this was someone's idea of capitalizing on the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 by taking events to the next level of "what might have happened" if things had gotten worse. Imagine my shock when I later learned that this movie was made in 2010! There were so many instances of scenes in the film which were actually broadcast on real TV during the crisis such as people on the lawns at hospitals for lack of space and narration talking about the inability to bury the dead as a result of the enormous number of casualties. There was also something about the rush to develop a vaccine - all of which made me feel that I was reliving those terrible days.

Thankfully things did not become as dreadful in reality as they did in the film, but the uncanny accuracy with which the film depicted the early events presented this viewer with the horrifying question of how accurate to the film the Covid-19 pandemic might have actually played out had containment efforts failed.

An exceptionally prescient film !!!!

Jeeves and Wooster (1990–1993)

A View From Across The Pond

[9/10 · 27 October 2022]

Allow me to begin my post by referencing a comedic American movie called 'Big Night'. At one point in this film, after experiencing the fare of a lavish feast prepared by an excellent Italian chef, a young American woman is seen crying. When asked why she was crying she replied, "My mother was such a terrible cook." Such is my dismay when comparing American comedy to British comedy. I must confess that I came to the party late and met the writers Wodehouse, Munro and Jerome in my more mature years. Perhaps this was for the best as I can appreciate them better today than I might have before imbibing decades of American sitcom inanity.

Though I have read a few opposite opinions in these reviews I thought the series captured the essence of the books quite well. The characters of Jeeves and Wooster were, in my opinion, masterfully imagined by Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie as were the characterizations by all members of the supporting cast. Wodehouse's biting satire of the British upper class, much like the writings of H. H. Munro, was very cleverly engineered, and the overarching premise of the upper class being at times as desperately dependent upon what Bertie might call "the proper feudal spirit" of the lower classes (as the titled characters of the series often were upon Jeeves) did not go unnoticed or unappreciated by this observer - a satire worthy of Swift.

Salutations to my British cousins across the pond and my gratitude for sharing your excellent television productions with us ..... umm ... despite that unfortunate ruckus back in the 18th century.

The Hunger Games (2012)

Perspective from a VERY senior citizen

[10/10 · 24 May 2022]

This is not so much a review, everything has already been said in the other postings, but rather my experience with this movie and book.

OK, look, I'm probably old enough to be the grandfather of most of the people submitting reviews to this movie. I am not into the teen age drivel that seems to be everywhere you look these days but .....

I first heard about the story when the book came out. It seemed you couldn't turn around without hearing it being discussed everywhere. The enormous hype made me mildly curious, but not so curious that I wanted to read the book. Fast forward several years: the book had been out, the movie hade been out, the DVD had been out and only then did I accidentally stumble across the DVD at the library. I could check it out for free and if I didn't like it I could turn it off after ten minutes ... so, why not?

I immediately found myself captivated by the beautiful cinematography and background theme and despite the over-the-top and ridiculous costumes and makeup of the people in The Capitol I decided to continue watching. I was drawn deeper and deeper into the story and the characters and after about a fourth of the way through I knew I was hooked. The acting, starting with Jennifer Lawrence, was exceptionally good. I have to go through about 25 movies before I find one that I can say I absolutely loved ... this was a 25er.

To finish my story: unbelievably, when I returned the DVD to the library, on a table in the lobby of the library where they sold used books cheaply, I found a mint condition copy of the book (the big paperback format) for fifty cents. I grabbed it. I began reading the book when I got home and couldn't put it down even though I already knew the story. Collins' writing style was as captivating as her story and the very few differences between the movie and the book were not worth mentioning. Actually, I thought the movie version of the ending was better (just couldn't imagine Rue as a werewolf).

I now own, and have seen and read, all of the books and movies of the franchise and consider them among some of the best entertainment of my life. SO it seems the old adage is wrong because you really CAN teach an old dog new tricks. Other young adult movies came out after 'The Hunger Games' which tried to capitalize on the same type of theme and they, by comparison, have failed miserably in my estimation.

The Trip to Italy (2014)

An Incredible Idea !

[1/10 · 22 May 2022]

Needless to say by now, I didn't like it. It was like a couple of adults pretending to be children. A little of that is cute, an entire movie of it is a bit hard on the nerves. The best part of the movie was the scenes with the food.

I must say I did like the Pacino impressions .... all ... how many were there again? I ran out of fingers and toes to count on.

And now for my incredible idea: I just finished watching this movie and I had an epiphany of incredible proportion. If they would combine The Trip To Italy with My Dinner With Andre they could produce a film which would be to The Golden Raspberry Awards what Citizen Kane is to the Academy Awards!! Just think .. a Mount Rushmore of boredom and inanity!

Fracture (2007)

Is the logic of a proposed second trial valid?

[8/10 · 29 March 2022]

I have read many of the reviews here which malign this movie, but I have not come across any which address what I am about to state.

Let me begin by saying I liked the movie. It was a fun romp and I don't regret watching it. I love a twist ending and this one was a doozy. I do however have some issues with the logic behind re-arresting the Crawford character for murder. The (suggested) murder charge would be for disconnecting his wife from life support if I am not mistaken. I can find no evidence for murder in this. For a murder charge to be valid in this instance would require evidence from the first trial - a trial in which Crawford had already been exonerated. I am not a lawyer, nor do I have special training in legal jurisprudence or trial procedure, but even with my limited knowledge of the law I don't believe ANYTHING relative to Crawford's first trial can be introduced as evidence in the proposed second one. He is protected under the codicils of double jeopardy and as far as I know the prosecution could not even intimate that he had anything to do with her condition prior to taking her off life support.

I'd love to hear a criminal trial lawyer's take on this.

Tobacco Road (1941)

Poignant and Hilarious

[9/10 · 21 January 2022]

I've watched this several times. It might sound totally, nuts but I love it. It pushed all the right funny buttons with me - different kind of humor and maybe that's what I liked about it. Watching Love bust Dude and topple the car only to walk off still crying had me on the floor laughing.

There's also a touch of sadness in it because you know nothing is going to change after we leave. Jeeter's going to still be Jeeter no matter how hard all the Sister Bessie's of the world pray over him. Charlie Grapewin also played a similar role as grandpa in The Grapes Of Wrath.

Liz Patterson as "Ma" was priceless. She was one of the great classic character actresses of cinema and she will be forever irreplaceable.

Judging from the comments this movie isn't for everyone, but for those who "got it" I'm sure you'd agree - it is a winner.