Change Your Image
faramirjcb
Reviews
1883 (2021)
Great start to modern spin mid season
I will start with the problem we encounter mid season. Another review was right to state the story becomes too entwined with the narrator. The way the young girls run around with men, and the parents just shrug it off? Not realistic. I think the writers decided to put a modern lens on the show which ruins it. I can deal with the black man and the gypsy. The idea that a white person would seek hooking up with a black man would never happen. But fine I will roll with it. But the main character going native let's say is just too much for me. And of course we get into some historical revision. White man bad and dumb. Natives wise and wonderful. It's fine to remind us of the sins of America in regards to its native population but to turn natives into angels is just more dishonesty.
Okay I rate it a 7 because the first half of the show is great. Well written and very entertaining. The writers decide to spoil it later with a post modern look of the era.
Munich: The Edge of War (2021)
Movie's conclusion is a strong piece of pro-Chamberlain propaganda.
The movie itself is entertaining, and the acting was fine. Irons creates a perfect pompous Chamberlain that we rightly conclude he was out of his depth with Hitler. Yet the end credits claim that Chamberlain bought time with his deal with Hitler. LOL. What a load of dung. It is Hitler who bought time, being in a much stronger position a year later. And it makes the lofty presumption that the UK used this time to get ready - which it did not. Iron's Chamberlain clearly illustrated that Chamberlain believed diplomacy can fix anything. That everything always is fixed with a little bit of understanding. Again, entertaining especially to watch what Chamberlain says and does, but the end credits pissed me off.
I Care a Lot (2020)
Uncomfortable to watch
I gave it a 6 as it held my interest but it was really really really hard to watch. The main characters are abysmal human beings. You get the idea that the main character hates men but then why does she rip off little old ladies? The feel of the movie is that the director actually liked this waste of a human being. I kept hoping she would die. As others have said, I was rooting for the Russian mob. Maybe the writers and producers of the movie thought it was a good female rise above it all adventure. I don't think racing men to the bottom is something anyone should feel good about. Or be proud of. It was icky to watch and this was my second time seeing it. It was worse the second time.
Hunters (2020)
Not a tired rehash of Nazism.
I'm at the point that I am tired of the whole Nazi obsession in America these days, so you would think that this series would bore me. But it's not boring at all. Of course it is pure fantasy. Viewers need to look at it that way. The way the main character justifies the hunting of Nazis is refreshing and thought provoking. Aside from the great writing there is plenty of action, and it is worth warning more sensitive viewers that the violence is very graphic. So if you like Walking Dead and Game of Thrones level of violence you will like Hunters. Set in the 70s you get the real 70s vibe hear. There is no digital versions of the data the protagonists sift threw. Everything is in folders and filing cabinets.
Dune (2021)
Disappointing
It was a movie about Paul and his mother. We didn't get to see the true barbarity of the Harkonens, understand the rivalry of the 2 camps, or how the Emperor snuck his soldiers into the Barron's. The Barron appeared to be able to float like some gesserit witch. It just didn't have the passion of the books, and hands down the mini -series from 2000 is way better.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013)
Out of the closet a thon
I didn't even make it to season 8 to discover the show going totally woke. It IS a funny show, but I am not at all interested in the coming out of the closet narratives. It is pushed on us shamelessly and aggressively. And they tend to be the least funny episodes.
Aliens (1986)
One of James Cameron's best
Watching Aliens I almost forget this was 1986. The special effects still looked great. As good as Alien. Alien was a little more creepy while Aliens has more action. Disney Plus has it and I think it must be the extended version because there were scenes I didn't remember. The extra scenes add even more to the feel of the movie. Get a bit of background on the company and the settlers on the original alien seeded planet.
Escape Room (2019)
Lots of action and cool sets
I don't quite get all the hate for this title. Yes, the very last scene did not make a super amount of sense, but it was pretty much non stop action once the movie got going. Fair acting but great acting from the lead.
Only Murders in the Building (2021)
Entertaining but do without profanities
We are watching this with my teenage girls as they really enjoy it finding the two old men quite hilarious. But was it so necessary to use the F word so often?
Bailout: The Age of Greed (2013)
Courageous Movie if not a bit unrealistic
Kudos for the producers of this film to portray the violence the way they did. Will turn some off, but I enjoyed it.
Of course the plot is a little thin and far fetched. But we get to finally feel a little bit angry again at what the politically connected Wall Street did to so many of us.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)
Good action marred by with woke fest
So great action and great characters. Until episode 5. Just one long woke lecture and hate whitey marathon. I was tempted in not finishing the show but it only has 6 episodes. First half of episode 6 ends with awesome action scenes. But then we are treated to a 10 minute lecture from the falcon about respect and grievances of other people. I had to keep fast forwarding the rest of the boring lectures. I think it was written by a team of woke globalists and socialists. As others have said there is too much cringe in the last 2 episodes to give it higher than a 6.
Relic (2020)
Slow burn to nowhere
Yeah nothing really happens in this movie other than a few evil stares and the occasional creaking of a house.
Shadow and Bone (2021)
Great show with some issues
First off I would like the address the gay sex. Was it really that important to virtue signal by adding that in? It is not in the books, and frankly the books are aimed at young adults, who are now watching this. It seems Hollywood must tick a box by adding LGBT situations.
My second issue is the complexity. I have to ask my daughter who has read the books to explain to me what the heck is going on.
With that said the show is very entertaining. Well acted. I find myself wanting to watch more of it and the sets and special effects are top notch.
Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
The Lebron James and Warner Bros movie
The whole movie was begging for viewers to "look at me". How great am I says Lebron James. Heh, remember us, says WB characters. Please look at us. We are just as relevant as Marvel characters. Yes, we really are. It was a showcase for Warner Bros and a vanity moment for James. He has a massive fan base, if you didn't know.
The Outsider (2020)
Good acting but story hard to follow
The producers just didn't do the greatest job of conveying the story. Sometimes it's not clear if the story is in the present or past. As one example. Great acting and a good story just not explained well.
Titans (2018)
Disheartening to read that season 1 was their best.
If I could rate season 1 based on the last and 11th episode I would give the show solid 8. Great episode. The rest of the season though? Ho hum. I'm not going to trash the series as there is nothing that makes it a stinker. It is just plain fair is all. Frankly watching Teen Titans Go is more entertaining. I will try season two hoping things get better from there,
Brightburn (2019)
Slow to begin but ending very satisfying.
I have to say watching to about the half way point I was starting to think how much I wasn't sure about this movie and how it was handling some of the unanswered questions.
But it picks up halfway through and towards the end it is exciting to watch how a twisted version of Superman would act.
The ending raises the possibility of a sequel.
Quantico (2015)
Did Peter Strzok write season 2
I feel that Peter was feeling a little guilty for using an unelected government agency to try to oust a President so this was his first attempt at a mock defense of his actions. The second season is all about the justification of the 3 intelligence agencies interfering in the democratic process "for the common good". The first season was just pure pro-FBI propaganda, a season long defense of the murky FBI past of playing fast and loose with the law. But Season Two was a brazen defense of how the FBI was used in the real world to derail the sitting President.
Brave New World (2020)
If I had known I would not have bothered
Now that I watched all 9 episodes. If I had known how the series would have gone I would have chosen not to waste my time. Basically does a horrible job at catching the themes of the book. But was it at least good enough to be entertaining? No. The dialogue was terrible most of the time. Even the acting by John was not up to par. The other two main characters were fine as far as acting. But the writing just was not good enough.
Blood of Zeus (2020)
Better than ANIME
I know they call it anime, which is strange as the creators seem to be Greek or at least from the Balkans. I guess the style is in anime, but without some of the annoying elements of anime. It's much more serious in tone. Just a great great story. It got my 7 year old son quite keen on Greek mythology - though I confess it was probably not appropriate for him. Mostly the violence. Anime level violence of blood gushing. Sex is implied and of course the situations are uncomfortable to explain to young ears but so is Greek Mythology in general. 'Yes, son, Zeus was unfaithful to his wife many times over". The word "bastard" used many times so that requires some explanation. So great for adults and kids, but 12 may be a bit more suitable age considering the violence. Solid plot. Unlike some anime where the plot is very nuanced in this one there is a solid story through and through.
The Angel (2018)
Really great movie
I sat there the whole time unable to get up and get something to eat, it is so interesting. Of course, the movie leaves you wondering, which makes sense, since to this day, no on can decide on the motives of the main character. Despite complaints I find the movie rather apolitical. More of a thriller than a movie that tries to hit you over the head with ideology. If anything it paints Egypt and its leadership in a fairly positive light. Mixed portrayal on Mossad. They will do anything to get information, which I guess is par for the course for intelligence agencies. Acting I perfect. Cast well.
Hard Sun (2018)
Brit police stupidly don't carry
Good God. The detectives are entirely helpless when up against a man with a sawed off shotgun because they are not armed. Are the British allergic to guns?