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Nekrotronic (2018)
I really liked this
I thought the tongue-in-cheek approach really sold me on this movie. I cared about the characters and although sometimes the movie felt a little bit like "Ghostbusters" it still had its originality.
The slick music, the quick cuts and the opening montage gives this movie an edginess not given to most movies of this genre that I've seen.
And that's another point. This isn't my usual fare. Although science fiction is my favorite genre, horror and ghosts and all that monster stuff doesn't quite do it for me.
This movie was definitely worth a watch and I'm likely to watch it again. The gore may turn some off and the language isn't anything I haven't already heard at family reunions.
Star Trek: Discovery: That Hope Is You, Part 1 (2020)
The wokeness is killing me
No white main characters? What's non-racist about that? Better put, what's with the in-your-face hypocrisy? I can handle an entire cast of non-whites. Nor does every character have to be white. But don't try to tell me how progressive this show is supposed to be while exercising such blatant racism. Star Trek is supposed to be a vanguard against racism. Cancelling Pararacist+ after posting this review.
Foundation (2021)
A very interesting series to this outsider
I never read "Foundation" but I'm very happy to have discovered it in series form on Apple TV. I've always been a fan of science fiction and find this story compelling both in the telling and the visuals. The casting is wonderful and even with the woke elements, I cannot dismiss it on any term. Absolutely a great production.
Oh, if I may, I'd like to ask others if they noticed a certain constellation in the series finale. Just as Gaal and Salvor are about to speak on the pier, if you look overhead and under the ring of the planet, there appears to be the constellation Cassiopeia. I wonder if the mythology has any tie-in to the "Foundation" mythos. It would be interesting to know how others feel.
Invasion (2021)
Invasion of the Plot Snatchers
I know producers like to stretch out a story line, but I need more than the breakup of a marriage, an Aghani and American trying to talk to each other without knowing one another's language, a lesbian affair that ended due to external forces and a bunch of stupid schoolkids to afraid to tap into their inner ape to climb their way out of a predicament, to keep me enthralled.
This series may help cure insomnia. I don't need to be told everything, but after the third episode, something needs to be revealed.
Lot's of foul language and sexual suggestion in this one. And uh, keep the Sominex on the shelf.
Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Insufferable, over-loaded and unworthy
I'm glad it's over folks. This isn't going to be so much a review as it is a complaint.
When what is now called Episode IV debuted, I was seventeen and needed a distraction. "A New Hope" fit the bill. I was mesmerized by the range of characters and the mythos of the "Star Wars" universe. I paid to see that movie 23 times during its first and second runs.
I wouldn't watch "The Rise of Skywalker" again if someone paid me to. The Disney influence has rendered the long ago and far away story to our time and our galaxy with cultural expressions, more Earthly names and enough current wokeism to make me choke on the popcorn.
The lack of seriousness (light-skipping) is typical of the generation who love the work of J. J. Abrams (the Dark Lord of Ruin). It's like the canon laid out by George Lucas was used as a playground by juvenile delinquents. Although Lucas never intended these films to be geared to adults, it seems as if this film was meant for attention deficient seven-year-olds who simply like action.
I never could take Kylo Ren seriously. That goofy mask and his anger issues aren't even close to those of Darth Vader's. Perhaps that's intentional in this world of children coddled by over-protective mommies. I know I'm much older now, but that character is about as menacing as Mickey Mouse.
I never had a problem with the female lead hero. Daisy Ridley handles the anemic script well, but she's no real-life magician. Action (like anything else) is fine in moderation. But today's attitude is "more is better" despite evidence to the contrary.
Film's like this one seem geared to satisfy the studio with little regard to the fans of the Star Wars universe. Just a slap in the face in both the story and its telling.
There's too much to this film. Too much action. Too much dialogue. It's as if you turn your oven temperature to maximum in the misguided assumption that it will cook the food faster. This turkey was overdone.
Three stars for scenery.
Invasion (2021)
Invasion of the Plot Snatchers
I know producers like to stretch out a story line, but I need more than the breakup of a marriage, an Aghani and American trying to talk to each other without knowing one another's language, a lesbian affair that ended due to external forces and a bunch of stupid schoolkids to afraid to tap into their inner ape to climb their way out of a predicament, to keep me enthralled.
This series may help cure insomnia. I don't need to be told everything, but after the third episode, something needs to be revealed.
Lot's of foul language and sexual suggestion in this one. And uh, keep the Sominex on the shelf.
Dune (2021)
I'm perplexed
Movies that I either like or dislike are easy to review. But once in a while, one'll come along to make me think much deeper for why I feel the way I do.
First of all, I will say I liked "Dune", but I'm not bowled over by it. I think it suffers from me liking David Lynch's version, which was clearer and crisper, and this version's placing too much emphasis on grandeur.
It is a visually stunning picture and the special effects are top notch. But I think it's my familiarity with the story that spoils this review and that's why I'm not a big fan of remakes.
And the characters mumble too much. I sat in the fourth row at an AMC theater and the volume was so high that it literally distorts the dialogue. I don't know if the theaters play the volume so high BECAUSE people are deaf, or that theaters are TRYING to make people deaf. I'm an old rock and roll fan who likes the music loud, but movies need to tone it down a bit.
This is a thinking man's film with a slight nod to buzzing spacecraft. But it's really a story focused on the substance (no pun intended) of the interwoven motives and choices made by the characters. I'm sorry to say that it failed to pull me in and feel like I saw a refreshing re-telling of Frank Herbert's classic.
Except for violence and a little gore, this is a clean film for you to bring near-teens to. But they should read the novel first.
Still, I gave it a 7 rating because they really did try to make a great film, even if it did come off as dry (again, no pun intended). I hope it does well enough at the gate to justify Part 2 - I'd really like to see it.
Settlers (2021)
A good character-driven study
As long as Hollywood insists upon cookie-cutter movies that vary only in the title and cast, this sort of film is a refreshing departure from such dreary blandness. It's probably why I find myself enjoying those sci-fi shorts featured on YouTube.
I'm too old to require all the explanations I've endured over the decades. Surely a primer like that of the 1984 version of "Dune" was necessary to the newcomer, but the lack thereof in "Settlers" was a refreshing gesture of respect for this viewers intelligence.
The lack of backstory is part of why my interest remained, although I was rooting for young Remmy to find an improved environment to exist in. Brooklynn Prince absolutely stole my heart as the young protagonist who endures hardship after hardship without handicap.
I can understand why some people have left negative reviews. If you haven't seen this film, I recommend you steer from it if the typical Hollywood sci-fi fare is your preference. There is no setup. The viewer is dropped almost mid-reel into what so many films unnecessarily spend a good deal of time on, and the ending can be deciphered in any number of ways.
So, don't expect any "she lived happily ever after" resolution. This is sort of an "Aniara"/"Hell in the Pacific" hybrid without the starships. If you like character-driven films, then indulge yourself.
Some profanity is used, several violent scenes are included, but nothing over-the-top gory. Also, there is no nudity although sexual situations are suggested.
Chaos Walking (2021)
An annoying television episode inflated to movie size,
With sincere apologies to the three main stars, whose previous works have distinguished them, their individual performances couldn't lift this movie out of the "seen it all before" heap.
Throughout this movie, all I could do from getting bored was to play a game of associating scenes with those of other films. After a while, I just became so annoyed at the distracting thoughts of Todd. Yeah, it was cute, melancholy and funny in spots, but it became a distraction before a third of the run time had elapsed.
More importantly, The Noise wasn't as integral to the main plot. It played more into the relationship between Todd and Viola, but not as significant to the story as the black floaters in "Alien: Covenant". Perhaps I missed something in relating The Noise to the plot. But it just held no importance as far as I'm concerned.
Usually, sci-fi films require a quick primer at the start in order to prepare viewers for the backdrop. Many times this does little to make a bad movie better. But I'll say for this one, the lack of backstory is actually a plus. I like trying to piece together the fictional reality in which the premise exists. I like mystery. I don't need to know as much as like not knowing. It's not an ignorant bliss mind you. It's more of an acceptable sense of intrigue.
I take no joy in panning this particular title. I respect the three big names. The acting is believable, the setting a bit of a stretch and the special effects are pretty cool. If you aren't too much of a critic, or will watch anything, then this one's for you.
Some light cursing, an out-of-focus view of a man's rear end and mild/strong violence are all a parent should be concerned about. Far from being the worst movie anyone could see, it was a bit bland for me. It had a lot of potential, but it came off as a humorless episode of "Firefly" more so than the movie it was no doubt meant to be.
Sorry Daisy, Tom and Mads. Those who put this together failed you.
Arrival (2016)
Overly-elaborated existential liberal mumbo-jumbo.
There's a really good science fiction tale here (on par with the original "The Day The Earth Stood Still") that gets lost in the very confusing parallel tale of the ill-fated Hannah.
In similar types of movies, flashbacks are the breadcrumbs to an interesting outcome that any viewer can use to follow along. This one is hard to understand.
The best I can come up with is that the timelessness of the alien language is the umbilical tied to the birth of the new relationship with Jeremy Renner's character and the subsequent birth of a new child.
But that feels like Swiss cheese to me because of a few little things. Like why does Renner utter "I'll stay" if the events in the movie suggest they met for the first time aboard the helicopter?
What does the flashback scenery of Hannah go forward, backward, forward, backward and again so many times disjointedly from events surrounding the aliens?
This one makes less sense than "2001: A Space Odyssey", which feels like I threw a sucker punch at a good movie. Everything else is up to snuff, but it's that side-story about Hannah, her death, how it affected Louise and what the hell it had to do with the story?
Equinox (2020)
Like a good meal dropped on the floor prior to serving
I was following right up to where Ida was part of the ceremony and everything just fell apart like many films or series of this genre do.
I've seen it too many times. A good - if not great - story keeps your interest, then drops the whole climax/explanation as if the remainder of the script was handed off to eighth graders to be written.
By the third episode, I was already thinking of a six or possibly a seven rating. By the end, I had to force myself to give it a four.
Enterprise (2001)
Gets better with time
I'm not a Trekkie, but I've always loved science fiction, especially when it takes place off Earth. The original series escaped my eye when it debuted. I can't remember why. I was eight, and the shows I liked were "Batman", "The Invaders" and "The Time Tunnel", but I don't recall ever watching Captain Kirk and company boldly go where no man has gone before. I discovered the series in syndication shortly after the Vietnam War ended.
I endured "The Next Generation", but never liked "Deep Space Nine" or "Voyager". They weren't consistent with what I grew to like about TOS. I also have to admit that "Enterprise" didn't capture my heart when I tried to first follow it during Season Three.
All these years later - as I reached my 60th birthday - I decided to binge-watch the entire series and I'm absolutely glad I did. It was dramatic and interesting. The character growth of T'Pol was the most interesting of all and the Xindi story arc was quite dramatic.
Captain Archer seemed a little too aggressive to his officers when he wasn't under the influence of some alien effect, but still better than Picard. The final episode was completely unexpected - being told from the perspective of Riker and Troi, and it was heartbreaking to see Tucker die for no unavoidable reason and ultimately see the series end.
I believe "Enterprise" was a very good series and one that could almost outshine the original one. I'm glad I gave it a second chance. It's unfortunate that it was part of an over-saturation of Star Trek. It's place in the timeline of series release could have been helped if that occurred before DS9 instead of post-"Voyager".
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
A bad way to end a spectacular franchise
I never did side with either DC or Marvel - even as a kid in the 1960's. There were superheroes I liked and ignored the rest. Now, while DC is showing us how poorly a film can be made (particularly "Justice League"), Marvel has aced 60% of their 22 films to date in my opinion. I wish that was the case with this one. It not only underwhelmed me, it didn't serve it's predecessor well.
I certainly don't fault the cast because outside the handful of main characters, the rest were merely background and foreground. After Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Hulk, Hawkeye and Black Widow, the rest of the cast were so many that they seemed like they were there for scenery. And like "Justice League", "Avengers: Endgame" suffered from the "more is more" syndrome that may please the under-10 crowd, but takes meaning away for us older viewers.
Let's not overlook the cop-out remedy in science fiction these days - the reliance upon time travel to get out of a script jam. I realize it was a necessity in this particular chain of fictional events, but after a while it seems like (pardon the musical reference) a long, drawn-out guitar solo that has you wishing the band would get back to the song.
This review isn't due to Thor (my favorite Marvel hero) growing fat and channeling his inner surfer dude, Tony Stark losing his life or Gamora 2.0 being the anti-Gamora. My regret is FOR the franchise instead of me as a viewer. They ended on a sad technical note due to unnecessary goings-on that I'm sure they worked very hard at trying to tie up in a movie.
Another point that detracted from this film, and a few others in the Marvel cinematic universe is their social messaging. They didn't need to preach woman power because superheroes already have that built into their character. Here, it's shoved into our faces to signal their fashionable virtuosity. In other words, if there is a female superhero in a film, I don't need to be reminded that there's a sexual revolution going on here in reality. Theirs are formidable personas without need to be underscored.
Using another musical analogy, this movie was like the members of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and The Who taking the stage at the same time and playing their sets. Apart, they're the best. Together, they're just noise. "Avengers: Endgame" would have been better if they pared down the scope, although I understand why they went the way they did. A franchise as successful as MCU set itself up for such a debacle. I'm grateful that it wasn't much, much worse.
I thank those at Marvel for bringing to life the characters I read about in comic books at the corner store. They did a very good job overall.
Aquaman (2018)
More like Alka-Seltzer...
I have seen some truly poor movies in my lifetime, but "Aquaman" doesn't deserve to be in that category. That's because I don't consider it a movie as to do so would be an insult to truly poor movies.
The special effects are so poor that this could pass for a cartoon. Plus, I'm all for stretching the laws of physics in science fiction, but human bodies (even if they can breathe underwater) don't fly backward into walls with such force as to break the wall.
I felt like I was watching an underwater equivalent of the "Thor" trilogy crammed into about 2-1/2 hours. The humor was more than flat - it was dead. Worst of all, this whole film was predictable. I say it a lot that I've seen this story under different titles. That's due to the dearth of imagination in corporate Hollywood.
The kiddies will be impressed. Their mommies and daddies will approve of the non-sexual nature of the relationship between the two main characters.
It can almost be said that there's too much story to tell and the writers had no idea of how to tell it - a DC movie trademark.
Miss this title at all cost.
His Kind of Woman (1951)
Not my kind of film noir
To me, every film has a role to fill according to its genre. This one flirts with film noir (mediocrily) and ill-placed comedy (passably). I certainly don't fault the actors, but I do fault Howard Hughes for his interference. I can see why people rate this film higher than I did. But I think they overlook the weaknesses for the sake of nostalgia and out of respect for the people involved. That's their right as reviewers. I see my right as evaluating an entire movie on how the scales read after considering the level of satisfaction without regard for loyalty.
There Was a Crooked Man... (1970)
Every which way but good
There exists a diamond in the rough here but it ends up just the same. Too much comedy to be dark and too dark to be comedy, this film spent too much time fleshing out characters to tell an interesting story. With all the name actors involved, it wouldn't surprise me if there was so much influence exerted by Douglas, Fonda, Cronyn, Hale, Oates and others that it undermined the production. It could have been a compelling work, but it all went to pieces in the last twenty minutes or so. My impression was this seemed like a "let's-get-together-and-have-fun-making-a-movie" piece more befitting a Burt Reynolds or Marlon Brando. It's worth seeing once, but no re-watchability.