Reviews

The first episode of this show gets off to a slow start but it's worth waiting for this series to warm up. It's not the cleverest, all stuff I've seen before but repackaged well enough that it feels refreshed and fun. Great actors even though a few were given hackneyed characters and scripts. My kind of show and one I stumbled upon after starting multiple shows and films that were so boring I quit less than halfway through. I'm only on episode 5 so maybe there will be some surprise twists but I don't think so, thus far heavy foreshadowing has taken the wind out of the metaphorical sails of any potential aha moments. Still, very enjoyable, something you can easily get sucked into. I probably found this more enjoyable than is warranted because watching in German with English subtitles made it fun for me (because I love languages/etymology and regret only getting to take one semester of German in middle school).

...cheesy and dumb and messy and emotional.

If one of those adjectives appeal to you but not all three and if that one adjective is cheesy or dumb or messy or emotional then...

...then yeah, you should definitely watch it.

The people and weddings featured were definitely interesting and the cinematography was stunning, it's such a shame that this was so poorly produced in every other aspect. First and foremost...the most egregious error...let's talk about the music. SO WRONG. Clayton Hogermeer's "I Love You Like" is a lovely song...and it's the worst possible choice for a show about big fat Indian weddings. I could've born it...just skipped the intro and watched the episode...but the sappy so-not-Indian soundtrack continues throughout each episode. I tried watching."A Family Affair" ("Collection 2")...kept waiting for the slow intro montage to end and for the episode to begin in earnest but no...it's a full 45 minutes of Shaadi montage with a jarringly western score (again, it's nice music, but it's so out of tune with what you're watching...how on earth did everyone involved in this production agree that this was the way to go?) I'm so bummed, would've really loved to watch and enjoy the beautiful footage and some lengthier interviews (as opposed to a stream of snippets set to sappy songs) but I just couldn't take another minute.

Cast - brilliant Slime - ew so gooey! Graphic art - awesome Opening scene - perfect Surprise moments - surprising! Comedy - delightful, with several laugh-out-loud moments Effects - top notch, with just the right amount of retro kitsch And the cameos, end credits and soundtrack are just the icing on the cake.

There's some good stuff in this movie...watching Ruby Rose kick ass in some scenes (some fun choreography but toward the end choreo is laughable) and listening to Reno...but the list of what's just plain bad is longer. Truly awful dialogue (I actually think the cast deserved better, though accents were all over the place), dumbest plot ever--riddled with plot holes any writer should be able to spot--and lazy (at best) direction. I chose it because I was in the mood for action and I've pretty much seen every other similar movie out there. Bearing that in mind, The Doorman was entertaining enough to watch to the end (between marveling at Ruby Rose's athleticism and laughing at the amateurish plot and ridiculous dialogue). Overall, though, seems no one was really thinking on this one.

I'm so glad I got to watch this movie at this particular time in my life (on pandemic lockdown). It's a total trip...as expected, a visual feast...and the music is fun and surprising, a nice variation on the original. I loved the first film-I could watch it over and over again, it's timeless (gave it a 9 out of 10). But this is one sequel that truly does not stink (8/10).

I did see some eye-roll reviews lamenting that this kid's movie has a moral but really, how is that a bad thing? Or at all unexpected? And who says the world doesn't need a little joy and cooperation right now? In Trolls World Tour, it works...a fun, trippy film with some good lessons to boot.

Stay well, stay safe, grab a little joy wherever you can.

#BeAGoodTroll

This is a movie for the fans...of wonder women. So enjoyable!

And wow...it's incredibly amusing to see reviews trying to convince moviegoers that this film has less of a plot than any other popular superhero movie! Um, please...this flick has more heart (and yes, more of a plot) than...well, I love superhero movies and don't want to start a rumble so I'll let you fill in the blanks. Don't buy all the hype. Watch and decide for yourself!

If you're a fan, you'll love this film. The life lessons. The love story. The mythology (admittedly could've been explored more fully by the screenplay writers). The amazing action sequences glorifying (woohoo!) female athletes...there are so few movies that do this (just compare to all the awesome but guy-centric action/martial arts/fantasy/superhero/etc films out there, from Karate Kid to the LOTR movies).

As a fantasy/sci fi/superhero fan who loves (the original) Charmed, the Charlie's Angles movies (all of them), The Hunger Games, Ultraviolet, Jessica Jones, The Fifth Element, Aeon Flux, Divergent...I am adding this to my list of thoroughly engrossing, entertaining, must-watch-again action films.

I can watch Taraji Henson in just about anything, so I didn't hesitate to order when this movie popped up on my video on-demand options.

I checked the reviews but there were a ton of 1s (signifying that this is the worst movie ever made...please) which I've found always means they are not genuine, thoughtful reviews.

I'm not going to give this a 9 or a 10 to try to even things out.

In my honest opinion it was a cute movie (a solid 6.5) and that's about it...just like its precursor, What Women Want...which wasn't nominated for any Oscars or anything so reviews calling that one a classic (PUH leeze) and this one a cheap remake don't sound right to me either. If you are in the mood for something playful and fun...some good eye candy and absolutely nothing traumatic or tear-inducing...then go ahead and watch it, and then please rate it honestly.

I'd heard that this film had gotten poor reviews and, being a fan of the previous movies featuring Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, and Cameron Diaz, I thought: 'well, maybe I don't need to see the reboot.' But when I saw that the Internet trolls were, once again, ganging up on the film with ludicrous one-star ratings, I of course decided that I had to see it for myself.

Is this movie truly bad or is it just--like many a recent film--wounding a lot of fragile egos?

Well...I was pleasantly surprised! Not a dull moment. Stewart is funny and tough in this film...and I love that she's not an exact replica of Barrymore's Angel (sweet and a total rock n' roller, into wrestling, bikes, monster trucks...). Stewart's Sabina is "really annoying," doesn't "fight like a girl," and she's (characteristically, for Stewart) a bit of a misfit. Lots of laugh-out-loud moments. Elizabeth Banks is, as usual, brilliant as a director, writer, and actor (seriously, Banks...is there anything you can't do?). Naomi Scott reminds me of Linda Cardellini (especially as Velma) and was perfect for the role. And Ella Balinska is an excellent actor...great stunts, too...one to watch!

If you're easily offended by women poking a bit of fun at men, then this movie isn't for you. For everyone else in the universe--sit back and enjoy the ride!

Love the cast...always so great to see Jackée...and there were some fun laugh-out-loud moments. I would give it more than 6 stars if it weren't for the watered-down plot...everyone's nice, no bad or even silly men here. The best thing about Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice is the way it highlights issues faced by women of the time (many of which persist to this day...being judged on appearance, falling prey to the unscrupulous, etc., etc., etc.) A wonderful idea for a film and enjoyable for a tv movie...but PLEASE someone make a big-screen version with all the trials and travails of the original, lots more Atlanta humor, and costumes, sets and landscapes to rival 2005's Pride & Prejudice featuring Keira Knightley. I'll be waiting :)

I just finished watching this movie and I'm so happy I took the hour and forty minutes or so out of my day for this delicious little slice of high school nerdvana flick. Speaking as a Gen Xer whose teenage years are long gone, this is a movie you can enjoy at any age--provided you're not offended by real 21st century life.

Cinematically speaking, this film is just the right amount of surprising, quirky, smart, sweet, baffling, hilariously implausible, and satisfying. Olivia Wilde is a genius, writers Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel, and Katie Silberman are geniuses, and these actors were perfect...all the different teenage characters were great (so much more real and complex than in other "teen movies" in which kids are caricatures with one-sided personalities...the bully, the deb, etc), but especially Kaitlyn Dever (who had a memorable role in Bad Teacher) and Beanie Feldstein...wow, gorgeous, fearless actors.

Naturally (because this film depicts real teenage life, with all its challenges--yes, including raging hormones) the fundamentalist internet trolls have ganged up to give it 1-star ratings. I am against giving the films that I like 10 stars merely to try and even out things (you can see my past reviews, I give between 6 and 8 stars to most of the movies I like)...but this film truly and independently of anything else deserves a 10-star rating, so that's what I'm giving it.

Wonderful, just wonderful.

Speaking from the point of view of a Gen-Xer who still loves animated films, I enjoyed Frozen...but I loved this second film even more. I was entranced by the incredible pearlescent visuals (I dare you to watch this and not think of Xanadu, especially a certain scene in which Elsa finds herself), tickled by the rock opera-esque numbers, and thrilled by Elsa's freedom and athleticism in this sequel. There were parts of the story that weren't as well-developed as Elsa's and that I wish hadn't been quite so cliché (re: Anna and Kristoff) but overall, this is a masterpiece (that I think was partly made by and for Gen Xers).

COMPARISON TO PREVIOUS FILMS? The change in Hellboy's appearance was jarring to me at first, but David Harbour's acting was spot-on. I loved the previous two Hellboy movies, directed by Guillermo del Toro and featuring Ron Perlman and Selma Blair, whose character was seriously cool. In addition to being fun action flicks they were visual feasts. This film, directed by Neil Marshall (nominated for an Emmy for the second-to-last Game of Thrones episode), not so much. Don't get me wrong, there are some really cool visual moments...and there's some really disgusting stuff, I watched quite a few segments with my hands over my eyes.

WHAT TO KEEP IN MIND I have to thank the reviewer (I believe it was lantzstumpp) who compared this one to a Sam Raimi horror flick, it put me in the right frame of mind to watch and truly enjoy this.

THE ACTORS I wish they'd given Milla Jovovich a bit more to work with, I'd say she's underutilized here. Loved Sasha Lane as Alice, especially at the end (in the early end credits scene), though some of her lines seem written for someone not quite so posh-sounding. Daniel Dae Kim's character seems like it's going to be very one-note at the start, but there's more development as the film goes on, so give it a chance.

DO YOU EVEN LIKE HORROR? I generally avoid scary films but there are some that are so good--comedic or otherwise--that I do have a list of favorites, including Scream and The Sixth Sense. If you're the same then you may well enjoy this film.

WHY DID SO MANY RATE THIS 1-STAR? These days you really have to sort through reviews, find the honest ones (hint- they're almost never the ones featuring one- or ten-star ratings) and splice together your own idea to figure out whether or not you'll enjoy a film. There are SO MANY TROLLS giving out 1-star ratings for (sometimes obvious, sometimes obscure) reasons. I don't know that there were any major political issues with this film or the folks behind it so my rating is based purely on entertainment value. The plot isn't terribly imaginative (some aspects I found simplistic and as one critic pointed out, it's a whole lotta lore packed into one movie) but, bottom line, it's a thoroughly engrossing blockbuster film.

Well well...a lot of people are giving this film 5 or less stars while they give similar films based on comic books 7 or more stars. As if this film had less of a backstory or credible plot!

Also strange that some are saying this is a "man hating film" when all it does is portray reality in the 70s with a cool femme fatale fantasy overlay...Charlie's Angels meets Jackie Brown.

Like I say, one helluva ride, and entertaining through and through. Love Elizabeth Moss, Tiffany Haddish, Melissa McCarthy, Common, and everyone else in this cast. Brilliant. Fun. Will rewatch.

Watched this because I was in the mood for something light and entertaining...you know, when you don't want to be jolted back into the real world with horrific scenes and atrocities, just need an hour or two of escape and enjoyment. This isn't one of those over-the-top wacky movies that make you laugh out loud while cringing. Aside from one of those ubiquitous, gratuitous vomit scenes (while they're all on the roof in case you want to look away!), this movie is actually a bit more low key, but it kept my attention with engaging actors and plenty of chuckles. Well worth watching when you're just not in the mood for melodrama or films that try too hard to be thought-provoking. Oh and by the way, this movie actually shines a (somewhat encouraging) light on learning disabilities (not to mention the plight of overeducated, underpaid teachers) and victim mentality versus a willingness to address problems and try, try, try again.

Given the mediocre reviews for this movie I didn't go in with high expectations. I mostly wanted to watch it because, from the trailer I saw, it seemed like a cool role for Neve Campbell (and I usually enjoy the Rock). The plot is bare bones and there are oh so many plot holes--there is so much that the characters do that makes ZERO sense. They should've hired someone to improve that and the dialogue. There were some interesting elements that would have benefited from a better screenplay--we barely hear anything about or see Neve Campbell's character but what little we learn is intriguing. The Rock's character is interesting, too, shame they didn't give him some decent lines/more to work with. I'd love to see a sequel featuring Neve as action hero number one...well, a well-written one (never gonna happen). I'd say give it a pass, unless you want to watch it purely for the stunts.

When I decided to watch this it had a 7.6 star rating and a metascore of nearly 70, so I was pretty sure that it was going to be better than average...cleverer than average, certainly. Unfortunately I found it to be utterly predictable, which was such a let-down. Not clever at all. And there were no other redeeming qualities to make me feel like watching it had been worthwhile. The acting isn't that great, the character development is nil, and even the special effects / portrayals of "technology of the future" are pretty unimaginative. No great fight scenes or car chases, boring dialogue, and anyone who's seen Venom has already seen a (much more entertaining) movie about a dude with a voice in his head and controlling his body. So disappointed!

This movie is funny and different--the humor is smart, snide, and subtle (for the genre).

From the other reviews it would seem that folks went into this looking for an over the top comedy or spoof with crazy action sequences and lots of puke/sex/poop jokes and bits...that's what Hollywood does to get big laughs, right? Well, The Spy Who Dumped Me doesn't rely on the same old, same old...not entirely.

Yes there's action...yes parts of it are potty humor-ish...but with a bit of restraint and intelligence, this film delivers on another level. The two lead actresses were allowed to shine. Kate McKinnon gives us another zany, lovable character who is immensely fun to watch and listen to, while Mila Kunis, with her trademark sincerity, gives us a real woman...one who falls in love, and who hasn't quite found her way, and who drops f bombs (not every second, but just as much as any other "red blooded American girl"...and yes, everyone knows where she was born.)

I'll admit that I went into it with super low expectations, but I knew I wanted to see it, given the cast and how fun recent movies with strong female leads have been (Girl's Trip with Tiffany Haddish, Spy featuring Melissa McCarthy and 2017's Rough Night with its awesome ensemble cast).

I say in the title of my review that I find it really suspicious that so many reviewers gave this either a 1 or a 10.

You should, too!

See it for yourself. I give it a 7 out of 10 because I laughed out loud in several places and because I definitely want to see it again.

This movie didn't get the greatest user reviews—and they gave away too much in the trailer, which can often lead to a let-down (if you haven't seen the trailer then I recommend skipping it)—but when I saw some of the critics had been kinder, I decided to give it a whirl. I wanted to like it, given the cast and writer/director.

A word of advice: don't go into this thinking it's just a female version of the hangover. It's a different animal. The beginning is a little slow, not many laughs… actually the first scene that made me laugh out loud involved the boyfriend, not the bride-to-be. I almost gave up on the film then, but the movie started getting better (and it kept getting better).

I did find one of the characters to be dull/annoying but that didn't kill the film for me. Dialogue isn't the best but there are fun elements to the plot. I don't want to give anything away.

Despite a traditional madcap/"things go wrong" premise, it's actually a quieter film…but that doesn't mean it isn't good or funny in its own way. If you do decide to give this one a try, I recommend you watch till the very, very, very end.

No, it's not a mind-blowing, must-see film…yes, there is a gratuitous vomit scene (just once I'd love to see a new comedy confident enough to NOT have one) but if you're in the right mood, this funny little film could be just the thing.

I totally get why this movie has garnered so many opposing reviews. It's a classic case of Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus...AND it is more than that. I'm not saying that you need to be a woman to "get" and like this film. IMHO you have to be the type of person who's been through therapy and understands how people can be passive-aggressive and yet loving/caring...all at the same time. If you have a true understanding of the human condition (not just female)--a TRUE understanding--then you'll have fun watching this movie. No, it's not life changing or transcendental. But it's very real and it's very engaging. Watch with a glass of wine. And enjoy!

This film was so interesting I am now starting the book.

Allow me to say first, if you're hesitant to see it, I totally get it. I was hesitant as well, and waited till the film was out on pay-per-view, because I had heard that certain characters written as Asian in the book were played by non-Asians, and deliberate exclusion of Asians is a real issue in Hollywood, though people scoff and say "not so" because it is an uncomfortable topic (or an invisible one...if you're not directly affected it's very easy to say it's not a problem). Plus, lately I've been bored with the Hollywood archetype and am thus gravitating toward movies and shows where the main character is not a white male. However, I am a huge Matt Damon fan and a friend convinced me to see it.

I loved how smart this film was (though still somehow comprehensible to a lay person or non-scientist/non-engineer). I did find the soundtrack a bit contrived and wish they'd gone another direction, rather than disco (pop would've been just as funny and a refreshing change of pace). Other than that, this film held my absolute interest from minute one till when the credits began to roll. And that's the most important thing (and very hard to achieve). One final caveat: this movie will make you want to eat potatoes. Make sure you have some on hand.

A wonderful story.

OK forgive me...but if I were to type the first thing on my mind without worrying about offending anyone, it would be this:

Anyone who didn't love this movie doesn't get family dynamics and emotions (especially when you've lost someone or simply feel misunderstood).

Granted, this isn't the kind of movie that wins a critics choice award...it's not a dark comedy or modern film noir.

But come on, we all feel this way sometimes...once in a while, you just want to watch an all-rounder...a movie that features a great cast, amazing setting, a bit of action, romance, and drama... laugh out loud moments and heartfelt moments, too.

If you have a family, this movie will move you.

Yes, I would love to see my people of color in more substantial/less stereotypical roles, but this movie has a slightly diverse cast, Terry Crews is an effing SUPERSTAR (so funny), and who doesn't love Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore?

Let's hope these funny, sweet, giving, powerful Hollywood moguls choose to make even better decisions in the future when it comes to featuring a truly diverse cast.

Should you watch this movie? YES! It is well worth your time.

I felt so blah about the movie that I gave it a 5/10 star rating and was going to click away. Then I got to thinking: I heard this film referred to as a masterpiece (which I don't dispute; to some people, it is). I just wish there'd been a review that answered the question: What kind of person likes Birdman?

So if you're on the fence about watching it, maybe this review can help.

Firstly, I love the actors in the film, so I was predisposed to like it. I saw Keaton get his due during the award season and my heart swelled for him...he came across as humble, and grateful, and moved. "I want to watch that film," I said to myself. I missed it in theaters, so I waited for it to come back around.

Secondly, if you love Iñárritu flicks, you should stop reading and just watch the film. I have seen two of his previous films...loved one, hated the other. (Best if I don't get into that here.)

Whether or not you'll like Birdman may depend on what genres you typically favor:

I like fantasy, sci fi, action, adventure, romance, documentaries, pretty much anything that either makes me forget the world's troubles or makes me think, or inspires me...art that touches you, cinematography that makes viewing an experience, dialogue that keeps you glued to the set (or, in the absence of copious dialogue, writing that makes you look up the screenplay writer because man, that was a good premise and it was executed flawlessly).

I rarely choose straight up drama (though some of my favorite movies are dramas). I usually hate dramedies and about 50% of the artsy films I watch (art-house, film noire, you name it), because most of them come across as mere artifice.

And so did Birdman.

This movie had some serious hype:

"Oh cool. This film was shot in a totally different way!

"Oh man...it took two years to write. It MUST be good!"

"Michael Keaton can act! He is great, therefore the film is great!"

None of that jives with me. Yes, Keaton can act. Everyone did their job in this film. But I just didn't care. The writing didn't take me anywhere. I am a huge movie fan and I can't imagine ever not finishing a film once I start watching. But with this one I struggled. It was painfully boring. Going nowhere. Devoid of emotion or true connections. Piles of nothing heaped upon nothing.

I kept pausing and making up little tasks for myself...paint the armoire (not kidding, I actually did paint a chest of drawers), feed the monsters (our pets), do the dishes (ok that last one, I didn't actually do, I just stared at them and sighed and went to finish the movie).

There was one moment, toward the end, that made me tear up, but the rest felt contrived. Trying so hard to be artsy, to be different, to rouse the (yawning) viewer with an unusual angle or a surprise action scene or a long lingering shot of a hallway. All at the expense of story, of giving the viewer an experience in exchange for her 95 minutes.

So let me be the one to say it: The Emperor has no clothes.

At best, Birdman is a great (very true) portrayal of an "all about me" type. The delusional man in your life--father, lover, whoever--that isn't a bad person, but will never change. Trying to talk to him is insane (argh! And yet sometimes you forget, and you try, and you always end up disappointed). Even if he shows signs of progress--teeny tiny ones, now and again--he always goes back to his selfish behavior. He will never be anything more than a martyr/big man. Keaton plays this man amazingly well.

While not all were stellar, most of the actors were solid. Sam Parsonson (Murray Wills) deserves a special mention; I expect to see him in more films as his unique look and utterly believable portrayal are sure to make directors sit up and take notice. Brooke Ryan (Mary Jones) had a small but significant role and more than delivered. There's also something very special about Gary Abrahams (Sam Foley), who reminded me of T.R Knight, Peter Dinklage, and Justin Bartha (earnest eyes, lol). Ditch Davey's detective James Clint was too "Dirty Harry" for me. He overacted and came across as a bit ridiculous. I was actually about to give up on the movie during one of his early scenes but the questions being raised were too good for me to not finish watching. We've all seen TV shows and movies dealing with revenge and vigilantism but generally they focus on doling out revenge or "justice" and not with the moral implications of taking the law into your own hands. This movie, on the other hand, raised every question imaginable. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just conclude by saying that this is a very solid movie--a perfectly good way to pass the time if you, like me, enjoy a good revenge/vigilante flick. When it comes to the premise and screenplay, however, I can't praise this movie enough. If you, like me, are always looking for a film that is truly different (and goodness knows, there are precious few), then you must watch this.

I am a huge Liam Neeson fan so I can't believe I am about to write this, but this film was the very definition of blah.

There isn't much in the way of plot, the "whodunnit" moments are cheesy (you know, the camera focuses on someone's face, the person looks about in an intense manner...could he or she be the villain?), and the climax is a major letdown.

I think the film got better than average reviews from some because it touches on an issue that is relevant and of interest to many (security)...though the way in which this is done is lackluster and not deserving of anything above a 5/10. (I would have ranked it lower, but hey, it's Liam Neeson.)

The dialogue was mediocre, events and reactions weren't believable, and what little romance is in the film was obviously injected as a matter of formula (but without thoughtful placement, these scenes fall flat). All in all, less plot and entertainment in this film than you get in an episode of a good crime show on television.

Watch it if it's on TV but don't pay to see this film...you'll be unhappy no matter how little you spend.