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Reviews
Oppenheimer (2023)
Very difficult to make 3 hours of physics exciting, saw it 4 times
I think those who found this movie boring just do not understand how much went in to making this movie. It takes a lot for me to admit i could not have done it, even if true. The factual scenes were in black and white, the subjective ones in color. Oppenheimer saw beautiful abstract images of the universe until he realized what he had done and his visions become horrific. They had a techniques of keeping scenes short and dialog at a minimum. They would mention a character before he came on so you would understand the context. There is no way you could give me a character who was an elite nerd and do such an interesting job. Those who know nothing about him or the atomic era we live in or do not care, well do not go. For the rest of us it was just great acting, directing and writing too. There are movies I love and ones that are so good I am in awe.
Robin Hood (2010)
Good movie but misnamed. It is an origin story
I hated this movie when I first saw it but now I think it is a very strong movie. The mistake they made was in setting up expectations that this was the standard Robin Hood story so it seemed to wander and have no point. But it is a prequil origin story and if the expectation was set that it was so, I think it would have gone over much better with critics and audiences. It is original but it is not a retelling of Robin Hood. It was saying what led him up to being Robin Hood. Basically he was a soldier who left and through a series of happy accidents became an aristocrat and the king who was awful went too far. It is how he became Robin Hood but nothing of what he did as Robin Hood. It is well acted and beautiful. The plot is good as long as you are not sitting there waiting for his career as an outlaw to begin along with the movie. Calling it Robin Hood begins - the origin story would have changed everything. I blame it on Ridley Scott who seems to have gotten a head filled with cotten and an inflated ago after Gladiator. It is a good movie. It has big historical flaws but as a movie it is actually good.
Let Me In (2010)
Bad bad bad
This movie was a dumbed down American horror film based on a story that was about universal themes of alienation and first love made into a vampire move which is very original. Well the US made this into a standard horror movie. It would be OK if there was no magnificient first movie from Sweden. It is utterly devoid of merit as it stands, stupid to the maximum. The main character comes from a cliche cringy religious home and is based on Freddy Kruger and the vampire is no 12 year old but a sexy teen. Do not see this movie. It is rewarding some really bad ideas from Hollywood like people are really dumb.
Falling for Christmas (2022)
Pleasant, Christmas movie
OK this a well done Hallmark movie. If you are stressed out there is nothing in this movie but sugar. I can see why many dismissed it because it is not a deep movie. It is a family night out. But if you want escapist happy ever after, well this is a good movie. The actors and direction is good and the story completely predictable. That is quite fine when you have a Hallmark style Christmas movie. Cute boy meets overage pretending not to have worn herself out on drugs in real life, girl and she becomes a better person for it. Then they marry and live happily ever after I think, though we can only assume that part. I watched it twice but in my old age I like funny movies with out pain or terrible drama.
The Rookie: Feds (2022)
Good show but with no effort on the part of producers it looks like a short lives sppin off
This would be a good show. The woman Simone is acting her pants off. She is funny. The backup crew can also act but.....
But the background music totally brings it down and whoever wrote it should be fired. It is for a B rated show. It has the subtly of a 80s production which is distracting as well as bad. Being told what to think by music that looks like it was put ouit by cookie cutterr feels and is pretty much awful.
I am not sure any money was put into the writing team but it needs to be punched up also. It has great potential as a show but whoever is hiring these people has made a mistake. For the same money you could have half the music or none and a better team of hungry writers who want to prove themselves.
Pride and Prejudice (2003)
Well cast lead. Nothing else worthy of a look
This was close to the worst version of Pride and Prejudice ever and I can't believe I watched the whole thing. Now I am an Austen fan but I am not religious and am not of the marry or else culture. The good? Well Darcy and Eiizabeth were well cast and I hope this does not ruin their careers. But it was poorly written and intended to be PG. Lydia who is not her sister but one of four roommates does not marry Bingley, Mary does marry Collins. Everyone but the leads are indifferently cast. The characters are indifferently written . It is worthy however of a showing as an unmemorable Hallmark movie - which I would avoid.
Mr. Right (2015)
Strong characters, strong chemistry, a great movie
I watched this movie a bunch of time and my opinion of it got higher and higher with time. The acting of the two leads and the chemistry is first rate. The dialog is very clever but most of all I liked that this is something I have never seen before. Two very quirky people are much better together and they are attracted by their bad taste in clothes. In my opinion it is perfect. I sent off for it.
Stiff Upper Lips (1997)
Very funny but you really have to know the period pieces it is making fun of
This is a very funny movie and one of my favorites but you have to have seen the films they are spoofing. They are making fun of the class structure of EM Foster and his problems with homosexuallity. They are making fun of A Room with a View by Foster only in Rome not Florence with operatic music and the kiss. They are making fun of A Passage to India and of course Howard's End. In fact there is a lot they are making fun of from, the racism and sexism to the poverty in Victorian England. I am really into these period pieces but this one I love so much I bought it on VHS and then DVD.
Versailles (2015)
Good program not designed to be a documentary
I love the actors and a series is not a documentary. The first season was wonderful and you love Louis 14th who built Versailles to control the aristocracy who rebelled once before when he was an adolescent. The people who do not like it expected a documentary. (Yes he did place a black child in a nunnary and pay for her upkeep. She believed she was his daughter). I find it quite within acceptable limits for a program designed to take advantage of rumours and present them as fact, but keep viewers involved. The second season was less interesting because Louis got the Lord which was what happened as he got older. In the third season he is positively out of touch and bad, taxing the regular people to death. But his gay brother gets to be a more and more positive character. This show made the actor a star. In short I think this is a good show and if you want historical accuracy and that is your complaint I suggest you read about him or see a documentary.
Austenland (2013)
Very pleasantt, not serious, well acted
This movie is a lot of fun for those who know Austen films and even if you don't. It is not serious or heavy like Lost in Austen. But it is sweet and very rewarding. I did not like it the first time, but I watched it again and then again and strangely it is one of those movies that get better with each viewing. The actors are pleasant, the theme is pleasant and it engaging.
The Duel (2016)
Good Movie not a Western
This is a good movie, but it is not a western. It takes place in the west and is a stylistic tale of a mystery thriller. Woody Harrelson is absolutely perfect as the head of a religious cult. Liam Hemsworth is fine as the somewhat amoral protagonist and his wife Alice Bragga does a fine job though either of the two could have been replaced by someone else but they are not bad. The story depends on atmosphere and they do a good job on that from beginning to end. The problem is if you go into it expecting a shoot em up tale of good and evil you will be disappointed. If you want to see a weird tale with strange twists that no one would have in 1950 this is your movie. More for those who like the twilight zone than John Wayne. I watched it twice, could see it again.
The War of the Worlds (2005)
This is for a special audience not those who want an action flick.
This is a version to show in school in parts, and there is no other version that fits that bill. It was an historic story, the first to show aliens attacking the earth. I believe this film is worth showing in classes on literature and science fiction and even history. Your opinion of the film will vary if you want to be entertained with high tech monsters or you want a faithful retelling of the tale designed to be taken in three lumps of an hour each.
I thought the acting was very good. I don't care about special effects.
If you want to be entertained and are not fond of Jane Austen this is not your movie unless hard core science fiction can keep you interested. If you are a historian, this might be your version. If you are interested in Anthropology and our changing culture it might be your version. If you use film in the classroom to show any of the above and have the time it might be your version.