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Reviews
Project Power (2020)
Entertaining
All I ask for in a movie is to be entertained and not be brought down with bad acting or writing. This movie hit the right spots for me, and did its job.
Vivarium (2019)
Not for everybody
A film that's about 30 minutes too long, it has an interesting premise but a delivery that goes on and on and on. After hearing the little boy scream randomly for the 5th or 6th time, forcing me to continuously turn the volume down, then up, the movie became almost unbearable to watch.
If you can get past that, and you're into an art house Indy film style, you may gets more from the movie than me.
It's good that I'm watched this at home, as there's a very good chance I would have walked out of the theater, or fallen asleep.
The Ghost Writer (2010)
Well acted, in the vein of Chinatown
After watching Chinatown recently, this movie (including the ending) was very much in tune with the former Nicholson classic.
Good acting and writing, but for me there were too many similarities.
7.5 rounded up to 8.
Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
If you liked T2, you'll enjoy this one
I had low expectations going into this movie, but came out of it happy.
Sure there's some unnecessary editing and the movie can move at an uneven clip (especially at the beginning) but there was heart in this movie, especially with Carl and Grace, something the most recent sequels lacked.
It's too bad other reviewers on here are going out of their way to try and spoil the movie for you. It's best to go in clean, as this one starts off as a direct sequel to T2.
The Simpsons: Bart vs. Itchy & Scratchy (2019)
Funny episode
Yeah, I thought it was funny. I usually don't like "woke" episodes but this one had a lot of laugh-out-loud moments.
For those who didn't like it, or didn't think it was funny, I feel bad for you.
NOS4A2: The Graveyard of What Might Be (2019)
Dragging but getting there
First off, this show is based on the book, which was rather crazy, but isn't the book. Based on the second episode, they're taking their time. And the show feels like it's dragging because those who've read the book are looking forward to a certain scene centering around a house and gas station happening. The show feels off-kilter to me, and it's hard to put my finger on it. Though I think it's because the book felt off-kilter as well.
Captain Marvel (2019)
Hit all the right spots
I really enjoyed this, and looking forward to seeing it again. Brie Larson's Carol Danvers was a great likeable character.
Roma (2018)
Wow
This movie tells the story of a year in the life of Cleo, and it brought me to tears quite a few times. Not just for parts of the dialogue and drama, but also for some of the shots.
If you like beautiful movies, you need to see this. It will be sitting with me for awhile.
The Handmaid's Tale: Unwomen (2018)
First episode with poor writing
Not sure if the writer had issues writing Emily's character, but it was pretty bad in comparison with the rest of the series.
Bumblebee (2018)
Underwhelmed
I think Michael Bay has ruined live action Transformers movies, as long as they're in the same universe.
If I saw this movie as a kid, I'd love it. It had everything. But being a guy who grew up on the cartoons, this movie was just lip service. It pulled in what we had wanted from the Bay movies, but still under-delivered. After seeing it once I see no reason to watch it again.
If the Bay movies had never existed, this would be a classic. But it's too hard for me to see it without thinking of those last 4-5 horrendous live action movies.
The Rookie: Pilot (2018)
Wow
I only tuned in for Nathan Fillion, who's the only good thing about the show.
Bad writing, annoying music, random bodycam shots, and stereotypical characters and situations make this a poor first episode.
I'll watch another episode to give it a shot, but this one stank.
Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)
Too long, boring, and pretentious
While watching this movie I thought I've seen it before. All the beats, all the flashbacks, all the music.
The acting was good, but seemingly dialed in at the same time.
Even the ending was one that came at a boring pace. If I hadn't seen it before in many other movies I would have liked it more.
I kept expecting a twist, but just got twists that I saw coming, and I really hate seeing the twists coming a mile away.
If you haven't seen a movie like this before, you will probably enjoy it. But if you've ever seen a QT film, you've seen this one too.
This was a tough review to write because I was expecting at least something new.
The Mist (2017)
Horrible
Barely made it through the first episode. Bad writing and unlikable characters. I won't watch any more, but I'm cheering for the actual mist to take everybody out.
The Mist: Pilot (2017)
Terrible
Most characters (except for one, who plays the chicken little) are unlikeable in this poorly written show that follows bad TV trope storylines. I enjoyed the original story and movie but struggled to finish this one episode.
Annihilation (2018)
Edge of your seat
I heard the movie was good, but that was it. I went in not knowing much about the plot.
Although I saw this one late at night, it kept me wide awake throughout. Very tense sequences and music, and folks in the small theatre were watching with rapt attention with a few "oooh"s at the appropriate time.
The movie was unsettling at times, with only the question of the bigger picture answered.
I'd definitely see it again. Now to listen to the soundtrack...
Now You See Me 2 (2016)
Hated the first, enjoyed this one
As per the summary, I watched the first movie at home, and it was a CHORE to watch. I started doing a play by play on Facebook, just hoping for it to end. But it kept going. And going. The movie was too slick for my taste.
The second movie might be Jon Chou's best as a director. That I've seen. Ahem. And I've seen way too many of his movies, not really liking any of them.
But this movie surprised me. My daughter dragged me to it. I only saw it because she wanted to see it. And huh... I was entertained. When it comes to magic, I let myself go with it. Magic is slight of hand, and this movie actually showed how a lot of the tricks worked. And if it didn't, I figured there was a trick to it, and I went with it.
There was good humour in this flick, with the best part being a hide-the-card trick.
This movie is getting both sides of hate and love, and I was surprised that I really liked it. Makes me rethink all of those movies on Netflix with low ratings...
The Interview (2014)
Just what were you expecting?
The plot revealed by the trailer of this movie is James Franco and Seth Rogen attempting to assassinate Kim Jung Un.
If you know of any of their previous recent movies together, you should have an idea what to expect here. A loose plot, slapstick, and lots of swearing. In other words, just a fun time at the theatre.
Of course, having a real person be the antagonist in Kim is going to make the movie a little edgy. Which is why they did it. You know, like Team America: World Police.
In other words, check your brain at the door, and then go enjoy. They wanted publicity for this movie? They got it. And all of the low reviews on here show that people went out of their way to see this movie due to the publicity, where they usually would have skipped it.
Europa Report (2013)
Realistic Sci-Fi
If humans came THIS CLOSE to discovering life on another planet, wouldn't you risk it all?
The theme of this movie is "firsts": - The first time anybody has been this far from Earth - The first time anybody has ever got this close to Jupiter - The first time any semblance of life is discovered outside of Earth
Reading through some of the bad reviews on here and I start to wonder if those people even paid attention to the movie.
Some of the bad reviews say these astronauts died unnecessarily or stupidly. If you were traveling 22 months to a distant planet, wouldn't you go out of your way to get that specimen sample of life on another planet? Wouldn't you take that risk? Your entire life has led to this moment.
This was not a horror movie where an alien was hunting them down. This was a movie about discovery.
This movie felt like an actual documentary to me, and it drew me in. Every moment was fascinating, from the cut-away "interviews" to footage outside the spacecraft.
It did remind me of The Abyss, but much more realistic (as realistic as landing on a moon of Jupiter could be).
And the final shot will stay with you, because it seems possible.
V/H/S (2012)
Would have been awesome 10 years ago, but still not bad
This movie came recommended, and after watching it via Netflix I didn't know why. There were times when I found myself checking to see how much time was left in the movie.
But since watching the film, I've found myself thinking about, and liking some of the "found footage" videos. The problem with this movie was not only was it over-hyped, but it's very similar to other movies of its genre, of which I've seen too many. If this film was released 10 years ago, it would have been a cult classic.
It's not a great film, as there is questionable acting and writing, but there are some inventive scares and effects. As long as you're not expecting the "scariest movie of the summer", but more along the lines of "hey, look at what we found on these video tapes!" you're probably going to like this movie.
Big Time Rush (2009)
Slapstick cartoon-like fun
After having to intention to watch the show, my 6-year-old daughter got me watching it. At first I would watch to appease her, then I found myself liking some of the characters, and pretty much enjoying the slapstick humour aspect of the show.
This show does not take itself seriously. If it ever did, it would end up poking fun at itself.
Sure the acting isn't always great, but there is some growth to the characters, especially the Gustavo record producer character. He may yell at the boys, calling them his "dogs", but he's also shown as the fellow who writes their songs, and tries to make them sound good. His childhood was taken away from him by his mother who wanted him to be a master pianist. Kinda gives the character some background.
The music is what you'd expect, but then again you should think the same about the Monkees music. C'mon now, "Big Time Rush" is about as catchy as "We're the Monkees", especially for kids these days.
Each of the boys have their own special characteristics, and it would be interesting to see more story revolving around each character.
With the sound effects, music, some of the story lines and most of the humour, it's very much a live-action cartoon.
I don't go out of my way to watch the show, but enjoy watching it with my daughter.