Reviews
The Orville: Majority Rule (2017)
This a fantastic episode!
I've always thought Seth MacFarlane was a clever writer but this episode (an allegory of present-time social media) was fantastic. A "true" democracy and why it cannot work in the real world. I loved it!
This series continues to impress: the writing, the production values, the special effects -- all just terrific.
I hope it continues for many years.
Go go, Seth!
The Orville (2017)
Well, I liked the pilot.
I really like Seth Macfarlane and I really love Star Trek. And a parody is good idea; a really good idea. After all it's been 50 freakin' years!
The production values seem extremely high for a weekly series. Yes, much/most is CGI but the actual sets and makeup are very impressive.
I'm expecting clever writing. I think I'm going to love it!
Fargo: Somebody to Love (2017)
I loved Season #3, but...
This season captured my interest more, I think than the prior two. I couldn't wait until the next episode to see the way things would work out.
I knew tonight was the finale and eagerly waited until all the loose ends were tied up. And then I watched the episode.
Emit (I spelled it properly but the editor keeps removing the second "m") was out of gas on the side of the highway? Yes? And then, after the shooting, he just drove away?
Really?
I'm OK with the unresolved future of VM Varga but, BMWs driving without fuel. I guess they could have added a scene of Emit siphoning gas from either the police car or Nikki's truck -- bu they didn't.
Oh, well.
Deception (2008)
When an entire movie turns on a 30 second scene...
..then I'm annoyed throughout the whole film.
Others have summarized the plot; I won't do it again. The spoiler alert should warn you not to proceed unless you've already seen this film! Here's my point: Jonathan spots "S" on a subway platform and falls instantly in love. If he hadn't noticed her, or hadn't found her the most appealing woman on the planet -- then there's no film. No plot. Nothing.
The entire plot turns on that setup "viewing" of "S"; not even a chance-encounter, and Jonathan falling head over heels for her. How could Wyatt have known that was going to happen? That insult to my intelligence turned me off right then -- but since I love movies (all movies), I watched it and found the acting quite good (all parties) and the cinematography excellent.
BUT... y'gotta have a plot that I can believe in -- not just a device to get the story going.
Oh, and as others have written, we've seen all of this before.
Someone once said that there are only seven plots and the film community keeps repeating them over and over and ...
The Village (2004)
Well, I liked it a lot -- but there's just this one thing..
Shyamalan's films are always visually impressive and I thought the cinematography here was just beautiful. And young Miss Howard will be a BIG star; a demanding role, excellently performed.
I've read all the comments here (so far) and no one has focused on this issue: How, pray tell, could a blind girl make a solo trek through the forest all alone? How could she tell what direction she was going at ANY time? Oh, once she found the road I could believe she could stay on it -- but how in the world could she have found the road? What did I miss? Notwithstanding that impossible "suspension of disbelief" moment I thought The Village was an excellent film (and a worthwhile rental).
The Great Impostor (1960)
It's almost impossible to believe..
That this movie, made in 1961, wasn't the inspiration for Frank Abagnale (Catch me if you can), the bit Spielberg/DeCaprio/Hanks hit currently in theaters. When I saw the promos for CMIYC I thought, "Hey! This is a remake of an old Tony Curtis film!"
The IMDB search shows that The Great Impostor was made in 1961; Frank Abagnales adventures as an imposter started in '62 or '63. Wonder if he saw the film?
I can't remember if I loved The Great Impostor or not but I'm guessing I did; the plot is sooooooooo similar to Catch Me If You Can and I liked that film quite a lot!