alternapop Reviews

Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis (2022)

An enjoyable watch for fans of music and art

[8/10 · 12 December 2023]

I wasn't sure I could watch 101 minutes of this but it went by quickly. I could've watched another couple hours with these stories, although not likely in one sitting.

I laughed multiple times at the anecdotes about Storm's personality. It was great to see them told by people, musicians and friends, with firsthand knowledge and not just by fans. It was very well done.

I appreciate the work of Hipgnosis, and have been familiar with them for many years, although I prefer the work done by Peter Saville more.

Storm did design the cover for one of my all time favorite albums though, the Catherine Wheel's Chrome, from 1993.

The Most Hated Man on the Internet (2022)

An hour too long

[5/10 · 10 August 2022]

It's a somewhat interesting documentary but it's longer than it needs to be, easily by an hour. They could've saved 30 minutes if his girlfriend, Kirra Hughes, spoke faster.

1883: Racing Clouds (2022) Season 1, Episode 9

Racing Clouds > Chasing Elsa

[9/10 · 21 February 2022]

I really enjoyed this episode but you have to suspend a little bit of disbelief.

The first time is when they come upon the dead Indians and don't realize they made a mistake by leaving tracks until too late. Shea (Brennan), James (Dutton), and team have too much experience to make that kind of mistake. Plus if the real perpetrators had just recently been there, how are their tracks any different from 3 more horses?

The other time is when the Indians track them all down later. There are no signs of their stolen horses. I would think the Indians are also too experienced and would've realized they had the wrong group. That's ignoring that they catch up to the cook first, who left earlier and was on a faster pace. I did think the main Indian's jovial banter seemed a bit out of place seeing that he just found his family killed. I don't think he would be so quick to laugh.

I had a feeling that somehow Elsa's connection to Sam was going to have an affect on the outcome. I was hoping that the Indians would realize they had the wrong group, perhaps talk to Elsa, then turn around to find James and the real perpetrators.

And for those who complain about the other woman being shot with an arrow yet being shot dead by the cowboy, you're missing that she was also scalped.

I realize the show is supposed to center around Elsa. However, the focus on her seems too great and her relationships move a bit too fast, even for an 18 year old. I would prefer to see a little more time spent on other characters and slow the show down a bit.

Real Time with Bill Maher: Martin Short/Steve Martin/Donna Brazile/Michael Moynihan (2021) Season 19, Episode 23

The Martins were great, rest of the show stunk

[5/10 · 14 August 2021]

Steve Martin and Martin Short were great. The rest of the show, not so much.

Why does Bill clap so much during his monologue? Seems like a bad habit for a stand-up comic. Once you notice how much he does this, you can't ignore it.

Donna Brazile ruined the rest of the show, and I felt sorry for Michael Moynihan.

McCartney 3,2,1: These Things Bring You Together (2021) Season 1, Episode 1

great series

[9/10 · 8 August 2021]

Rubin looks like he just rolled out of bed, or was expecting it to be a meditation class. He couldn't show up in something slightly more stylish than barefeet, boxer shorts, and an oversized t-shirt?

That's really my only negative. The rest is great and Rick does a nice job interviewing Paul, and the various mixing board tweaks are entertaining, as are Paul's stories.

Celebrity IOU: Kris Jenner's Backyard Retreat Surprise (2021) Season 3, Episode 1

too. much. makeup.

[1/10 · 14 July 2021]

I don't know why she (kk), or anyone, thinks this is a good look but it's clownish.

The Big Interview with Dan Rather: Mick Jones and Lou Gramm of Foreigner (2019) Season 7, Episode 4

like watching an old couple therapy session

[5/10 · 23 May 2021]

What a sleeper of an interview. Both Mick and Lou seemed half awake.

I usually like Dan Rather but he seemed ill-prepared for this interview and I'm only a very casual fan of the band. At one point Mick mentioned Lou's previous band, which Lou sang in, and then later Dan asked Lou if he had sang before.

Selling the Big Easy (2019– )

Terrible Host

[2/10 · 19 April 2021]

Was instantly turned off from the opening intro, "you're welcome". She comes across as rude from the beginning. Then got 3 minutes in and the introductory meeting with the client was the same. Rude/inappropriate questions or comments. Change the host and I'll give it another chance.

Creation Stories (2021)

Few redeeming qualities

[3/10 · 29 March 2021]

That was bloody awful, and I'm a huge fan of Creation Records.

There were a few funny lines but overall it felt like a Saturday Night Live movie that was derived from a moderately funny skit that shouldn't have been made.

It was meandering and was incredibly hard to understand what was being said half the time.

I almost turned it off with 45 minutes left, and in hindsight wish I did.

Greater (2016)

A good story but a hokey movie

[4/10 · 19 May 2020]

A film that takes a good story, albeit one with a sad ending, and paints it with a heavy dose of Christian propaganda that feels like something Kirk Cameron would be a part of.

Rather mediocre all around.

Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee: Jimmy Fallon: The Unsinkable Legend: Part 1 (2014) Season 5, Episode 7

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[8/10 · 7 February 2020]

A good episode and Jimmy is a great guy but what's with the clapping?

Bill Burr: Paper Tiger (2019 TV Special)

Disappointing

[6/10 · 30 December 2019]

I've been a fan of Bill Burr for many years and have seen him twice in smaller clubs. He had me in tears the first time.

This show was disappointing, however. I think everything I've seen Bill do has been better than this.

I'm not one to get offended easily but the cursing seems more frequent which speaks, I think, to the lack of material.

It feels more like he's trying out new material in a small setting. Some jokes go on too long and nothing feels really all that new.

I was tempted to turn it off more than once but stuck with it. If you're looking to get your first taste of Bill Burr then go back to his earlier work.

Yesterday (III) (2019)

Started strong but fizzled

[6/10 · 30 June 2019]

Seemed like a great premise and I was excited to see it.

I enjoyed the beginning and the setup. Some early moments were great, like the "Let It Be" reveal to his parents, and his playing Beatles tunes in small cafes early on and no one really paying any attention because they didn't know the music.

Kate McKinnon's character seems a little over the top and played a bigger role than it needed. The Ed Sheeran plot line went on a bit too long, and wasn't that interesting.

They didn't touch on what I thought could've been interesting ideas. The lack of the Beatles invasion and cultural changes. (music, fashion, etc.) Kind of like a Back to the Future changing of time. While they had one scene with JL, which means he would still be alive if he weren't famous, he also wouldn't be John f'n Lennon.

The romance plot line was pretty boring and I thought it ended with a dud. The acting was great but the writing and story line could've been better.

Real Time with Bill Maher (2003– )

A good show but rough around the edges.

[7/10 · 11 January 2019]

I watch this show for the debates and interviews.

Bill Maher's jokes are mostly sophomoric. The large majority are based on sex or body parts. That doesn't bother me at all when done occasionally or creatively (I am FAR from a prude) but too many are juvenile and it gets old.

Bill comes across too often as condescending, and this is coming from someone who agrees with him most of the time. Also, the show closing bit comes across too many times as a diatribe. I realize that's partially what it's supposed to be but it makes me feel like a teenager whose parent just won't shut up about something.

He could also learn to stop clapping his hands during his monologue. It looks like nervous energy. I don't mean clapping as in applauding something, but he'll do a bunch of single claps like he doesn't know what to do with his hands.

Hired Gun (2016)

Worth a watch but missing

[6/10 · 17 December 2017]

I was excited to see this documentary after a friend told me about it. I've followed music pretty heavily for the last 30+ years and have appreciated its history and the 'behind the scenes' stories. A similar documentary, The Wrecking Crew, is a must see!

I enjoyed Hired Guns but was left wanting more. I felt they could've spent more time showing how a 'hired gun'/A-List player is different, or better, than the guy who is just not making it versus only talking about it.

I would've liked to have seen how an A-List player can quickly learn a tune. Show a couple examples of them knowing nothing about a song and picking it up quickly, a Randy Rhoads solo for example, and tell how that compares to a non A-Lister. Show what makes them different. (Seeing Jay Graydon play the Steely Dan solo was pretty cool. )

I found it a little ironic for Phil X to talk about not selling out for $200-300 but then this documentary has them all playing a couple of rather bland tunes together for a reason that I didn't really understand.

Maybe I missed it but also seeing some guys who were originally in successful bands and then went on to be session musicians would've been interesting too. Jeff Pilson for example.

Lady Bird (2017)

A cute and interesting film but leaves a little to be desired

[7/10 · 17 November 2017]

I went to see Lady Bird with moderately high hopes after reading some reviews. I enjoyed it and it was well done but I found the story and dialog to not be original enough or clever enough to give it equally high praise as some reviews have. It's good for a few chuckles but 'best comedy of 2017' it is not, or at least I hope there is something funnier.

Spectre (I) (2015)

wait for the DVD

[6/10 · 12 November 2015]

If you've ever played a shooter video game where every level takes place in a different and seemingly random part of the world then you have a good feel for what Spectre is. This movie feels like they dreamed up a handful of action scenes and then wrote a mediocre movie around that.

The opening Bond artistic sequence with the bad Sam Smith song gets it all started. You then spend every 30 minutes jumping from Mexico, to London, to Italy, to Austria (am I leaving anything out?) with each being interesting from an action movie / special effects perspective but other wise mostly bland.

The movie also suffers from quite a few times where the dialog is just plain hard to understand.

I wish I had waited for the DVD and spent my Veteran's Day off seeing something else.

Meeting People Is Easy (1998)

A fun watch for Radiohead or alternative music fans

[7/10 · 30 May 2015]

Meeting People Is Easy is an interesting rockumentary but leaves a little to be desired.

It shows how the tribulations of touring, interviews, promotions can wear on you. Constant repetition, unintentionally trite questions by interviewers, or the feeling you're being interrogated or psycho analyzed by a stranger would wear on anyone's patience.

It's a bit hard to understand at times due to the English accents, off camera speaking and music playing over top of the voices so closed captioning would be useful.

alternapop.com

Film Track List:

00:18 Fitter Happier 04:00 Paranoid Android 06:15 Lucky 10:23 Creep 13:26 Climbing Up the Walls (Zero 7 Mix) 15:52 How to Disappear Completely 17:11 Karma Police 19:06 Meeting in the Aisle 21:42 On Your Own Again (song by Scott Walker) 23:48 Airbag 25:47 A Reminder 28:59 Airbag 29:42 Creep 31:37 Paranoid Android 33:32 & 36:30 Life in a Glasshouse 37:16 Exit Music (For a Film) 42:41 Paranoid Android 43:58 Climbing Up the Walls (Fila Brazillia Mix) 44:40 No Surprises 48:42 Unknown song / random jamming 50:08 Climbing Up the Walls 51:09 Street Spirit 53:03 Palo Alto 58:19 Electioneering 1:01:10 Pearly* 1:06:55 Climbing Up the Walls 1:07:06 Paranoid Android 1:07:18 Planet Telex 1:07:52 Follow Me Around 1:13:33 I Will 1:15:48 The Tourist 1:18:16 Sit Down. Stand Up. 1:20:06 Big Boots 1:25:37 Nude 1:29:16 Exit Music (For a Film)

Whiplash (2014)

An interesting film with some suspense but lacking overall

[6/10 · 21 November 2014]

I went into the theater to watch Whiplash with very little knowledge of the film other than it's about a drummer.

I enjoyed the first 30 minutes or so of the movie and wondered which direction it was going to go. Obviously, something was going to happen between the music instructor and the drum student but what?

The movie ended up being primarily based on their relationship, which basically focused on excessive practice and verbal abuse. The movie failed to capitalize on other relationships such as with the drummer's girlfriend, or relationship with his dad or fellow students. Two other student drummers suffered through the same abuse and you'd think that even though they were competing for the same spot, they'd bond on their hatred for the instructor.

The only interesting scene dialog wise was really the family dinner which was funny yet short. Almost all of the other dialog in the film was the instructor yelling.

The final 30 minutes of the movie didn't sit well with me at all. The student and instructor meeting in the bar and talking over drinks was unlikely seeing how the student hated the man. I don't believe the student would've given him the time of day after what transpired.

Then the instructor, who for the entire film was 100% set on protecting his reputation intentionally tried to embarrass the drummer in front of a huge theater that also had people with connections to the industry. I don't believe the instructor suddenly would've been OK with potentially negatively affecting his already tarnished reputation just to ruin the drummer's chances after the student had already made the decision to give up his dream.

The final scene where the drummer and instructor/conductor seemed to come to terms also seemed unlikely.

In the end, there wasn't enough dialog and the relationship with most of the characters didn't go deep enough to make it a great movie in my mind.

Sex and the City 2 (2010)

Too long, too predictable

[3/10 · 12 June 2010]

I am a single, straight, fashionable, attractive and hip San Francisco male. Somehow, (ex-girlfriend?) I managed to get hooked on this television series and probably caught, and mostly enjoyed, every episode as they aired on HBO.

I didn't see the first Sex And The City movie in the theater but caught it on DVD. It was a bit long but I thought it was good and worth watching for anyone who liked the series. It was easy to skip past the few parts of the movie that were a bit much. (The closet cleaning scene?)

I went to see Sex And The City 2 on a date. First off, we were given the evil eye by a 'Devil Wears Prada' look-a-like in front of us for talking too much before the movie even started. Then during the entire movie a women next to me yapped the entire time and said "My Gawd!" at least 20 times and Devil-Wears-Prada didn't turn around once for her. Go figure!

I won't go into the psychology or social aspect of the film. Plenty of other reviewers of done that.

This movie too was too long. It seemed like they went crazy with story, plot and scene ideas and shot every last one to the Nth degree and left absolutely nothing on the cutting room floor. This was like the Directors Cut, extended Version, times two.

Many scenes were unnecessary and a bit boring with very trite and predictable jokes and dialog.

Do these girls ever do anything without wearing multi-hundred dollar designer clothes? They are on vacation in sweltering United Arab Emirates and they do everything in high fashion. They even go camel riding in nothing but over-the-top looking camel riding gear.

Someone needed to take an exacto knife to this script and movie design and edit out a good one-third of it. Multiple times I imagined a remote control in my hand to pretend to fast-forward the movie and to volume-down on the women next to me. Wait till the DVD and only if you were a big fan of the series.