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cjbbaugh
Reviews
Ashes to Ashes (2008)
Great follow up
Ashes to Ashes is a great follow up to Life on Mars (UK). I watched the first run US series Life on Mars and felt it was a great show (ending not withstanding). I then discovered the UK series and thought it was excellent. After watching Ashes to Ashes, I found that the show, while a little slow at times, really moved the franchise along. The ending was phenomenal. I won't give a spoiler, but trust me it is worth the wait. I wish the US series put as much thought into the finale as the finale to Ashes to Ashes did. Initially I did not think that Ray's character was indicativeof the character he played on Life on Mars (UK), but saw how it was played masterfully after seeing the backstory created on Ashes to Ashes.
Rise of the Scarecrows (2009)
Low Budget?
I've seen a few low budget flicks over the years, but this was probably the lowest. It seemed to me that a couple of buddies got a hold of some low end cameras and decided, why not? The acting is, to put it nicely, HORRIBLE. Listen mother trucker, what's your issue? Writing? Not so much. I could sit back, close my eyes and see where the idea could possibly work, but it would have to be done by at least high school drama students who have been taught the basics of acting. I'm not even mentioning the production value, if you can call it that. I am being hard, I have never made a movie. Kudos to the effort and balls to do it. Not one that I could ever recommend, but then again I've never attempted to do it.
Convict Concerto (1954)
Great use of music in a short.
When I first saw this short, around 1984, it was on a compilation Woody VHS that my dad rented for me, my brother and sister (it along with The Screwdriver and a few others). I was absolutely captured by the song that was used. Now I'm 13 at the time so I think that says something. The use of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 was perfectly used with this short. As great as most Woody shorts are, this one stands out because of the music. When researching the composer of the music, I learned that this piece was used with other shorts (Cat Concerto, Rhapsody Rabbit, Rhapsody in Rivets, etc). I still feel that this was the perfect song to work the short around or chosen for the short, whichever it was. Lantz's work is outstanding on a whole. The characters in this short are quickly defined and hilarious. Not only is the music outstanding, but the story is funny to boot, so it is a definite watch.