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Reviews
Napoleon (2023)
The epic fell well short of expectations!
This movie didn't disappoint in that I knew covering his entire life from the post revolution to his death was just too much to cover "well" and still satisfy. With such an epic life done by a giant of a man, Ridley Scott tried but just couldn't wrap up all the important details in the scope of a 2:30 hour movie. This was a movie that draws history lovers...particularly military history lovers, and so much of his life regarding his military prowess and weaknesses were omitted. It was like reading bits and pieces of our history books and left empty at the end. What was interesting was the scenes following the revolution and how he came to power. The movie concentrated on his relationship with Josephine...also a very important part of his life and part of what drove him to greatness. It was just to spotty to me. It left so much of how the man formulated his pre-battle plans and why he executed them. Many important battles were completely omitted. I think a few more would have been nice to see. I think Joaquin Phoenix did a fairly decent job but seemed haggard towards the end. I do concur with many critics in regards to the superb acting done by Vanessa Kirby...she should be decorated with many acting awards for her contribution. I thought the battle scene at Waterloo was semi-well done. So much was left out of that fight but it was payed out out where viewers without and background study could appreciate the scope and key strategies. The most I can give the movie is a three though. Any movie covering. This much of Napoleon's life should be done in two parts! It was more disappointing than noteworthy and I was so looking forward to seeing this.
After Death (2023)
Worth seeing!
I thought the movie (really a documentary) was pretty good. No new ground is explored though. The writers did try and work in solid scientific opinions regarding NDEs. What was interesting to me is that some of the empirical research had well established doctors like Dr Sabom asking hard questions and maybe believing that there could be consciousness after death...beyond experiences from the dying brain. We've seen these spiritual documentaries on cable and they are always interesting. This production is no different and the verbal experiences described by some of these people, personally reenforce my faith and hope that there is an afterlife to look forward to after we pass. Now, this movie was created by the same folks that produced "The Chosen" and "Freedom". Although, it has strong Christian influences, the testimonies aren't heavily faith based. It's a positive movie and worth seeing. Esp for people who may need a spiritual boost or for some that may be suffering from depression. In fact the producers ask that the viewers pay the experience forward to someone in need. It will most likely come out on cable soon too. I recommend it to all people.
Desperation Road (2023)
Slow...but well done
Based on Michael Farris Smith's celebrated novel, Some audience critics like me call it a "slow burn". That it is, however I think the story was directed as well as it could have been. It was not a disappointing movie though. The story and the acting kept my attention and it was splendid all the way through.
Garret Hedlund, reminds me of a young Sam Elliot and and Willa Fitzgerald are both seasoned actors and did a darn good job staying true to the characters as written. Mel Gibson was in a supporting role in this movie and didn't steal the limelight. He is such a good actor and consummate professional.
. It's not an action movie. It's a story of broken people trying to find their way in life. People that don't have a lot of material means. I highly recommend a viewing.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
Very Disappointing!
The worst of the three. Well the only substandard of the three. I'll put it that way. Wilson and Farmiga were great. They really do an awesome job together and tried their best to carry this film, but the directing and story line were awful. It totally departed from the true version. In fact the Shock-Doc on Discovery was much better! Please don't disappoint the next time. It needs more thought and a psychological impact than the slapstick predicable scenes it morphed into. The producers and the director let us all down, esp the hard working actors and the series itself.
Next (2020)
It's awful..a "Deputy" revision
The producers hold nothing back as they shove an overly diverse cast right in your face. So diverse that it was comical and not even close to a the current demographics in this country. This is common now with most of these new shows on Non-cable channels. These power brokers in the media will stop at nothing from manipulating you into being part of the so called "Woke, 1619" far left in this country. This show is no exception
Then they made sure they had the FBI's setting in Portland of all places...working on getting those bad "Alt-right" threats to national security because they are everywhere...except the people actually destroying and rampaging through the national news. Where not even through the first 5 min of this show yet!! I mean get to the plot and main storyline instead of worrying about pushing the producer's political social engineering in our faces. We just see too much of this on the national networks now. It reminded me of the last FOX bomb "Deputy" laying it on thick in the first ten minutes. I have the distinct feeling this will follow in its footsteps.