smokskren Reviews

Burn Notice (2007–2013)

Superb

[10/10 · 26 October 2007]

This series - although it has a 'spy' plot - is amazingly captivating. Donovan is truly fascinating!! I've been watching Burn Notice and trying to figure out why he looked familiar and I finally had to look it up here...he was on an episode of Monk in which he played a totally unlikeable character. I cannot believe this is the same actor!! Donovan even affects a slight accent for this series...or he dropped it for Monk. Anyway - to me, the barely there accent implies a slightly European side to Donovan's character, which lends credibility to his wordly spy persona.

Plot could be James Bond redux but it's not - new twists, Michael's narration of the stories and terrific character development keep this series fresh. Michael also has a fairly complex childhood background which is revealed in pieces which helps to explain Michael's life. Michael's mom is quite the character played by the quintessential Sharon Gless!

Donovan is super sexy and that's what originally caught my eye, (I'm sure the male watchers find Fiona irresistible in spite of being so difficult!) but I've kept watching because of the tremendous development of the characters and the unique presentation of the episodes.

Michael & Fiona's friend Sam is quite complex and masterfully played by Bruce Campbell. I'd never heard of him before but after checking out his page on IMDb I realize he's quite the accomplished actor which explains his capability in this series.

Love it!! I believe you'll thoroughly enjoy it!

Black Dahlia (2006 Video)

Possibly the worst I've ever seen

[1/10 · 26 November 2006]

I wasn't expecting this to be the caliber of a box office hit but I was hoping it'd be palatable. I watched something like the first 15 minutes and decided it probably wasn't going to get better (it didn't), so I watched the rest of it at 1.5 speed. The photography was unreal, or too real - the outdoor scenes looked like someone just took their video camera outside & took pictures in the alley. In view of the other horrible 'special effects' maybe this was supposed to be special too but it just came across as bad. The only way I could tell it hadn't been filmed by someones personal camera was that the voices were clear in all of the scenes, no extra background noise. In addition to the not-so-special fx the plot couldn't have been worse. It has the same situations that every bad scary movies does where the young innocent walks into a situation that no sane person would enter and then lo & behold...the bad guys are there!!! Totally predictable as well. This movie isn't worth 10 minutes of your time. The ONLY thing that I have anything even remotely good to say anything about was the music soundtrack, an odd mix of swing/Frank Sinatra type songs with some seriously heavy acid rock. If you've read to the end of this review, you've already spent more time on this movie than it's worth. Terrible. Lousy. Bad everything. Really, really horribly done.

Ring Around the Rosie (2006 Video)

Very good movie....you actually have to WATCH it.

[8/10 · 19 June 2006]

Having read the other reviews I am surprised at the number of people who apparently didn't understand the fairly clear plot.

This is the story of Karen who has been charged with having to sell her grandparents house, in which she spent a lot of time as a child. Upon returning to the house she begins to have episodes which we (the audience) can't yet determine to be dreams or hallucinations or entire psychotic breaks. Through subtle and ingeniously creepy camera work they soon reveal to you that Karen was molested by her Grandfather as a child. That particular inference was, apparently, very difficult for a portion of the audience to determine. I thought it was very clear.

Once you begin to understand that you do have to THINK to comprehend this movie you begin to second guess yourself as to what is actually going on. I found this (and the cool camera work) to be part of what kept us 'unsettled' during the movie. You're never quite sure what's real and what is in Karen's mind.

Karen's sister, Wendy, unexpectedly shows up just as Pierce (Sizemore) is becoming a bit to close for comfort.

Scary stuff ensues and the movie ends with Karen coming to terms with the past her Grandfather put her through and we (the audience)'discover' that her horrid experience as an adult was all a function of her mind finally accepting the past. We thought it was fairly obvious that Sizemore was the manifestation of Karen's guilt for her inability to stop her sister's accident years ago. (we also think that may not have been an accident, but a suicide because Grandpa moved on to Wendy, but couldn't find anything to confirm our suspicions).

It has been years since I've enjoyed a horror movie that I hadn't figured out halfway through. It wasn't until just before the very end in Ring Around the Rosie that we did figure it out. It kept us interested and guessing and quite startled throughout the entire movie.

The fact that this was not your run-of-the-mill horror movie is confirmed for me, not only because I truly enjoyed it but because my boyfriend managed to watch the whole thing without falling asleep!! (That NEVER happens!)

Fear X (2003)

Tuturro is the only saving grace for this movie

[3/10 · 3 January 2006]

The plot starts out with great potential and fails horribly in the end. Tuturro is the only thing that even made this worth watching. I wouldn't waste your time. I logged on to find out what I'd missed - because I thought it COULDN'T have been as bad as I thought it was, therefore I must've misunderstood it. Wrong. It is simply a waste of time. I rated it a 3 for John's ability to keep us watching. He does do a great job of obtaining empathy from the viewers. There are parts which seem to have tremendous potential, such as the house, but they lead nowhere. The special effects are distracting. There are so many extra threads that lead nowhere and mean nothing that you spend your time wondering what you missed! I simply couldn't believe I'd actually understood the movie. It's surreal in parts that turn out to be irrelevant. Don't waste your time.

Ned and Stacey (1995–2017)

one of the few shows that actually was funny

[11 March 2004]

Church was supremely funny in this twisted comedy. The show was cancelled way before the story line was expended - a great disappointment. I have just discovered the reruns on cable and STILL enjoy them as much as I did the original run 6 years ago! You have to have a dark sense of humor to appreciate this comedy. Things between Ned and Stacey sometimes get vicious! The premise itself (Ned & Stacy marry so that he can obtain a promotion)just begins to touch upon how self involved and materialistic Ned is. With Messing's Stacy being sometimes ditzy, overreactive and overly sensitive, she becomes the perfect catalyst to put Ned completely over the edge. The situation itself is absurd, but if you accept that you can begin to imagine the many possible hilarious scenarios!!

SPOILER:

In one episode Stacy finds a bed that is perfect for her only to find out it's sold. Ned, for his own personal reasons, bribes the salesman. Stacy gets the bed, finds out about the bribe, HAS to return the bed because she feels she stole it from someone else. The store won't accept returns. Ned bribes the salesperson to take the bed back and now Stacy won't return the bed because of THAT bribe.

The Ring (2002)

Campy, predictable, not worth your time

[3/10 · 1 November 2002]

My first inclination upon hearing the storyline to this movie was that it was going to be another in a long string of predictable un-scary movies. In an attempt to keep an open mind (and find a truly riveting, scary movie) after reading the fabulous reviews The Ring was receiving, I decided to give it a try.

I should have listened to my first instinct.

This movie starts out so poorly that I (and the person I saw it with) thought it was going to turn into a show the people in the actual movie were watching. That didn't happen. It was the real movie.

This is simply another Urban Legend that has been put to the screen and the lengths to which they went to contrive some of the scenes are incredible. There was 1 scene which had a startle factor of about 4 on a scale of 1 to 10. I jumped a bit, the person I was watching the movie with didn't move at all.

I am not familiar with any of these actors but I suspect they're fairly good actors subjected to horrid scripting. The little boy appears to have potential but they actually used the Sixth Sense technique & had him whispering on the phone. (remember the "I see dead people." scene?) They actors were good looking for the most part, if that's a redeemable quality, then The Ring gets a point on that. There is a surprise albeit predictable (if you've watched more than 3 scary movies in your lifetime) ending. Surprise in that you think the movie is over but then it continues on. Surprise.

Scary? No. Good for a laugh? Yes. A laugh worth 7$? No. Not even worth watching on a rainy Saturday afternoon when the only other choice is to wash the dog.

Wash Rover. It'll be more entertaining.

The Dead Zone (2002–2007)

Well worth watching -

[1 September 2002]

Not being a Stephen King fan I was very pleasantly surprised! I tuned in because the trailers were so intriguing and I was stunned to find that the series was actually better than the advertisements promised.

Johnny handles his new found psychic ability with emotions that are believable. I fully expected him to have his frustration and inability to interpret his vision corrected by the 2nd or 3rd episode but that wasn't the case.

Johnny also handles his situation with Sarah with the frustration and feelings that make it realistic.

Well worth another season. PLEASE, PLEASE keep the quality of the plots up to the standards set by this first season!!

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999– )

Great plots, good actors - well worth watching!

[1 September 2002]

I believe that this Law & Order has the best, most intriguing plots. (LO:CI for the best actors) I am fascinated by what one human will do to another, and why, and this show gives us the 'nitty-gritty' of what people in the world (even here in the USA) are doing to each other. This show also gives us insight into why, possibly, these people do the horrible things they do. I know that these episodes are fiction but when I, daily, read in the paper, or hear on the news about the things people do I wonder 'Why?'. These episodes give you a hint into understanding a bit better.

B.D. Wong is superb as the staff psychiatrist (rather a switch from the Priest of OZ!). He portrays a doctor who, even though he has been trained to analyze and he has been trained to understand how the human mind works, he sometimes still has to shake his head in incredulity at the acts of the criminals. Very believable character.

The other character that I was really surprised by is that of Det. Tutuola played by none other than Ice-T (wasn't he a rapper??). I had seen him in New Jack City and had been shocked at his acting ability in that movie. Apparently he's been acting steadily since then but I've managed to miss him until LO:SVU. Det. Tutuola is a street-wise detective that uses his knowledge and understanding of how the street works to aid in apprehending the proper criminals.

Try it. I bet you'll find you are surprised by how much you like it!

Oz (1997–2003)

Gripping, edge of your seat, cringing drama!

[10/10 · 1 September 2002]

This is 1 of only 3 shows that I have EVER set aside time to watch. I have seen every episode and was watching from season 1. I am sorry to see that this hasn't been renewed, however I would much rather have the series end while it still had the ability to keep us watching.

The characters ranged from just totally loathsome to people that you could (sort of) be sympathetic toward. Admittedly, to be in a Maximum Security Prison, like Em City, you must have committed a particularly odious act.

The character development (watch Beecher's transition) was superb. The way the show was displayed (using Augustus' character as a narrator) was edgy and could be unsettling at times (intentional, I'm sure!). Some of the characters became survivors and other succumbed. Some triumphed and others drowned.

Well worth watching! Not for the younger viewers or those that like to believe that life in a max-security prison 'really isn't that bad'. HA!

Bonus: Ryan O'Reilly, played by Dean Winters is some great eye candy! His brother Scott Winters is also great to look at, but plays a convict who had suffered brain damage from an injury so it's difficult to picture him as a sex symbol from his portrayal in this show.

Down Periscope (1996)

Superbly scripted comedy!!

[10/10 · 1 September 2002]

The scripting of the subtle comedy is unmatched by any movie in recent years. The characters are interesting, even if a bit predictable. The comedic timing written into the script is more than enough to make up for a well-worn underdog plot. When you're sure you know the ending....SURPRISE! Highly recommended for all ages, although the younger set will probably not appreciate some of the more subtle references, they will certainly appreciate one galley scene in particular! Great movie!

Law & Order (1990– )

Solid, interesting & thought provoking - good show!

[1 September 2002]

Super actors who are believable in their characters have made this show the long running series that it is. In addition to the strong characters the plots are usually current event related.

The show is not scripted from one person's point of view but rather the script is written so that usually 2 or more characters will have opposing views even if they are on the same side of the law. Whether they're disagreeing over the death penalty vs. life imprisonment or if it is something more abstract such as whether NOT taking a specific action constitutes a crime, the characters present realistic views which they support with logical arguments.

Watch this series....bet you'll catch yourself thinking about it later in the week!

Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001–2011)

Series: OK Acting:OK with the exception of D'Onofrio

[24 August 2002]

Admittedly I am a huge fan of Law & Order, so I am probably a bit prejudiced with regard to Law & Order Criminal Intent. I have found that the story lines are up to standard the original series set. I feel that the character development in LOCI has tremendous potential.

Intended or not, one of the main characters, Goren, evolves as the central character in each episode. His ability and desire to understand the reasoning behind the actions of the criminals is captivating. He appears supremely intelligent but without a superior attitude. Each episode Goren is called upon to draw from his own eclectic knowledge base which, depending on the episode, might be a foreign language, the psychology behind the criminal mind, odd medical conditions, rare art values or something equally unexpected. His knowledge seems to be acquired because he is driven to know more, to understand more completely, to totally get inside the criminal's head, dissect whatever thought processes are happening and add this to his vast 'file' in his own head. This desire coupled with D'Onofrio's unusual mannerisms create a unique approach to 'cracking' a suspect and makes you sweat right along with the criminal. (Added bonus: D'Onofrio is INCREDIBLY sexy!!)

The other characters are standard Law & Order issue. Very competent, fairly easy to understand without being too simple. They have lives and feelings and issues that some times conflict with their duties which gives them a dimension frequently lacking in television but always existent in Law & Order shows/spinoffs.

I am hoping that this series will be renewed for enough seasons so that the audience will have a chance to peek into the depths of Goren's mind and understand how HE works. All in all, I believe this is a series well worth your time and I sincerely hope that it continues. (I also want to see more of D'Onofrio!!)

A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2001–2002)

A superb and faithful rendering of an old friend -

[14 June 2002]

I have read every Nero Wolfe book printed and own most of them. I have been reading about the undertakings of the great Nero Wolfe and his right-hand man, Archie Goodwin, since I was in school. It was with great trepidation that I viewed this series; fully expecting to see miscast characters, loss of the very meticulous detail which makes the books so enticing, and a total loss of plot. I was genuinely and wonderfully surprised to find that my expectations were way off the mark.

I could not have cast the characters better had I been permitted to choose them myself. I have been casting these characters in my mind since I started reading the books. I chose Raymond Burr for the part of Nero Wolfe, and although I do believe he would have done the part justice I sincerely do not believe he could have done a better presentation than Mr Chaykin. I was never able cast Archie's part in my mind to any satisfaction and when I read that Timothy Hutton would be playing the part I thought that was a serious error. However as it turns out Mr Hutton plays a perfect Archie. I am at a loss for words to describe why he is so fitted to the character. He looks like Archie, he acts like Archie - he simply is Archie.

The detail that the series has managed to preserve is amazing. If you've read the books you are familiar with the red leather chair and the yellow leather chairs and who gets which and when! Not only are the chairs brought to life, the elevator, the decor, the orchids, Fritz in all of his self righteousness, Wolfe's pushing in & out of his lips, the froth on the beer, the milk, the typewriter....the adherence to the novels is outstanding!! This show feels familiar the first time you watch it.

As it turns out my estimation on the probability of the plots falling apart was also unfounded. The plots are not compromised. We are not shorted a good run down of the clues. I have yet to find a question unanswered. Another wonderful adaptation.

This series has also taken a fairly unique approach to casting the supporting roles in that with the exception of the recurring roles of Wolfe, Goodwin, Fritz, Saul, Orrie, Fred, Cramer and perhaps one or two other minor characters all of the supporting cast appear to be made up of the same actors every week. For example, Christine Brubaker has shown her wide range of acting capability playing parts from a night club singer to a newspaper columnist. This concept not only impresses the audience with the amount of talent but also adds to the feeling that this series is an old friend who has returned for another treasured visit.

I would highly recommend this series to anyone. If you've read the books, I promise that you will not be disappointed. If you have not read the novels then you will be introduced to some of the most complex, human and entertaining characters you will ever meet.

A+ to all involved.

Nuts (1987)

Superb cast - absorbing plot - all around good movie!

[9/10 · 24 May 2002]

Although there were not any real surprising twists to this movie, I felt that the plot was intriguing enough to make it a movie worth watching. The all star cast was a bonus and it was refreshing to see some really well known actors displaying their talents so many years ago. I recently watched this movie & enjoyed it tremendously. It was recommended to me by my 70+ year old parents who remembered it from 1987. I think that demonstrates the quality and timelessness of this film. Although it is emotionally brutal in some scenes, over all the movie makes you feel good without being one of those sappy films. I believe that it would be enjoyed by any age adult. It's on my very short list of movies to recommend.

The Time Machine (2002)

Mediocre at best.

[4/10 · 18 March 2002]

Throughout the entire movie it seemed that plot was trying to be true to the original but there were enough variations that it felt disrupted. Good special effects. Missing what I felt were very important parts of the original. Perhaps an adequate movie if one had not seen the 1960's version.

House on Haunted Hill (1959)

Superb, scary & scintillating!!

[10/10 · 18 March 2002]

Wonderful twists. You'll actually jump. Amazing that they could create a movie in 1958 that would make me as nervous as any movie I've ever seen. Fantastic & well worth your time. Good for a few chuckles too if your sense of humor is kind of warped!! Great entertainment.