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Reviews
Ang-ma-reul bo-at-da (2010)
Thriller or Comedy?
More blood than Monty Python and the Holy Grail and about the same non-sensical plot.
If the Hero's plan was to keep the Serial Killer alive in order to make him suffer, I think my Retina Dr. Inflicts more pain than he did.
Also, in the time the Hero was "inflicting pain" on the Serial Killer, the Killer murdered and raped at least one woman, raped his sister-in-law and pretty much beat his father-in-law to death while also beating the hell out of the Hero.
I also don't understand how the Hero (supposedly a Secret Agent) can cut the Serial Killer's Achilles tendon and yet the Serial Killer still runs around like Usain Bolt.
If I was South Korea, I'd fire this "Secret Agent" and hire the Serial Killer. If I was North Korea I'd be feeling pretty confident.
Like I said, with all the excessive blood letting, bad dialogue, and gratuitous female nudity (although you can play down the rapes), this could have been a slapstick comedy (after cutting out about an hour of run time). As it is, it's a dumb, gory, bloodfest and not worth anyone's time.
A Man Called Otto (2022)
Good But Predictable
After hearing about this movie, from friends who saw it at the theater, I finally watched it on Netflix the other night. While the movie, overall, was good, the story was predictable although the acting was above average (as would be expected from Tom Hanks).
HOWEVER; having been born in 1955 (which is the birth years of both Otto and his wife Sonia) there were some historical fas' poux's that were very bothersome. First of all, the locomotive pulling the commuter train in the beginning is way out of date. While I remember such engines as a child, by the time I reached young adulthood they had been relegated to museums. Secondly, and more importantly, the draft had ended before people born in 1955 were eligible for induction. While we had to register, we did not have to take a physical. Thus, a major plot point of the movie would not have been valid. People born in 1954 did have to register AND take a physical but both requirements were eliminated for people born after 1955. Also, American involvement in the Vietnam War had pretty much ended by then (1973) although the war itself dragged on for another two years.
For a more realistic depiction of what people born in 1955 were doing then, see one of Tom Hank's (born in 1956) early movies 'Bachelor Party' or John Travolta's (born in 1954) 'Saturday Night Fever'. This movie makes those early years look like something out of the 1940's.
Laura Gets a Cat (2017)
Even a Baby Boomer Liked It
I rented this movie from my local public library and watched it out of curiosity and liked it, and I'm far beyond being a Millennial. It reminded me so much of the time when we were all progressing from, "still being a kid", in our 20's to, "becoming an adult" in our 30's. Baby Boomers are always told we are stuck in adolescence so, I guess, that is why the theme of this movie especially hit home.
I thought it was very well done and I, for one, liked the fantasy scenes, both of them, but especially the one with the Yoga Instructor. Reminds me so much of the Super Achiever people you meet who make you feel like a loser.
Not a bad way to spend a slow evening.
La La Land (2016)
Should Have Won Best Picture
In a year where there were no stand out movies, this is the movie that should have won Best Picture. Yes, it's a bit of fluff, but, at least it was entertaining and told a heartfelt story full of "what if's". It's a movie that is watchable and can be viewed multiple times.
Contrast that to the "politically correct" but slow and plodding Moonlight which was hard to watch even once.
Oh well, while this movie depicts one aspect of Hollywood, the fact that Moonlight won best picture, unfortunately, shows another side.
Mank (2020)
Slow & Boring Character Study of a Boorish Alcoholic
I had high hopes for this movie, based on its favorable reviews, but found it slow, overly long and boring. Basically it's a character study of a boorish alcoholic who associates with an array of equally unlikeable pompous jerks. The resemblance of some of the actors to the real people is interesting but the main "conflict" in the movie (i.e. who really wrote the screenplay for Citizen Kane) becomes a "so what?" issue after nearly 2 1/2 hrs. The brightest spot in this movie is Amanda Seyfried, who does a fine job portraying Marion Davies (and here again, the physical resemblance is uncanny) and an Oscar nomination for her in this role would not be undeserved. Overall though, a disappointment.
Never Rarely Sometimes Always (2020)
Surprisingly Good
I read a review of this movie in the local suburban paper several months ago and put it on my DVD Netflix list to watch. Upon seeing this movie I found it surprisingly good. The two lead actors are great, very low key in their roles, and extremely believable. I was shocked to see it was both their first movie roles.
Once again I see the detractors of this film using the terms: slow, boring, nothing happens, etc. I think you know who you are and where you stand based on those terms. This is also a movie that ardent Pro-Lifers will hate just on principle alone.
If you have the desire and patience to see a well done story about two very young women trying to deal with a very big problem; as well as, all the sexist and moral junk that society hurls at them, then this is an hour and 40 minutes that you will consider well spent.
Gisaengchung (2019)
Disappointing
Like many of the Users reviewing this film, I had high hopes when I rented it.
I thought it started out well. Unlike some of the reviewers, I kind of liked the family of grifters (especially the daughter). In fact, my initial rating was 10 stars; however, as the movie continued, the stars began to fall by the wayside.
If the movie would have been about a family of grifters, who use imaginative ways to imbed themselves into the lives of a rich family, and then develop a storyline from there, this would have been a likeable, if less imaginative, movie. Unfortunately the plot veers significantly away from this by first introducing a weird, and unbelievable character living in a basement fallout shelter, and then, turning violent and bloody for no apparent reason.
It's too bad as the movie started out with so much potential and some truly comic scenes (i.e. leaving the windows open for "free fumigation" and the little boy's "surrealistic" paintings which are nothing more than scribblings).
And no, don't tell me that I need to have a better understanding of the socio-economic conditions within modern day Korea to truly appreciate this movie. It's not my job to educate myself in order to appreciate a movie. It's the movie's job to allow me to appreciate it. If it doesn't do that, it's a waste of time.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)
Some Obvious Continuity Goofs Spoil an Overall Excellent Film
While I'm usually not one to get "picky" over the details, some of the goofs in continuity with this movie were hard to ignore. The main thing I noticed is that the horses kept changing color. As an example, when the Bank Robber (James Franco) rides up to the bank, he's riding a white horse. Later, when the posse goes to hang him, he's on a brown horse and members of the posse are asking him to give it to them. Later in the movie the Prospector has a brown mule; however, as he leaves his claim at the end of the segment, the mule is white.
Overall though I thought this was the best Netflix Original movie I've seen. I also wonder, because the movie was so tongue in cheek, whether the changes in horse color weren't done purposely and I'm missing some deeper meaning.
The Irishman (2019)
Hopefully Not a Disappointing Finale for a Great Director
Given all the great reviews of this movie by the professional critics, some of my friends, and many of the User Critics, I guess I'm going to be a contrarian.
I did see The Irishman on Netflix last night but I was kind of disappointed after hearing all the high praise. The movie really needed some good editing as there were lots of unnecessary scenes and the film lacked a certain "tightness". Also, I know many people didn't mind it, but the "de-aging" of the actors didn't seem to work very well. We know what the actors actually looked like at the ages depicted in the movie and their "de-aged" personas didn't look close to reality. Plus, they walked around like old men. Instead of 'getting the band back together', so to speak, I think Scorsese would have been better off having a group of younger actors play the parts and then computer aging them. That seems to work better.
Overall I'd say it was "OK" but far from being one of Scorsese's best. Besides, if I'm going to spend 3 ½ hours watching a movie it better at least be the quality of Showgirls.
I'm not an experienced reviewer so I'd direct you to the review on this site, done by CarsonTrent, who was much more professional in his writing and whose thoughts I agree with totally.
Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957)
Campy, Amateurish, but Sincere & Not That Bad
After watching ED WOOD with Johnny Depp I made it a point to watch this movie (I got it from the public library no less).
I expected to see a campy, amateurish, but sincere movie and I was not disappointed on any of these counts. In fact, I was surprised that the movie "didn't suck too bad". Only being a little over an hour long certainly helped.
Is it the worst movie ever made? No way!!! If you want to see one of the worst movies ever made rent the GODFATHER PART III.
Overall, I highly recommend this movie for one of those nights where you have nothing else going on and you want to watch something mindless with a drink in your hand.