alex-fry Reviews

The Ark (2023– )

Initially, I had my doubts but ...

[7/10 · 6 May 2023]

... the show is actually quite good. Quite, I say. I thought it was going to be some sort of "brilliant teenagers in space" series but soon discovered that it was something completely different.

The story revolves around Ark 1 (or Ark I if we're using Roman numerals here) which was launched toward a faraway planet for colonization purposes because-not hard to believe-humanity has trashed earth and sending colonization arks to the aforementioned planet is our best chance of survival.

Of course, bad things interrupt Ark 1's journey and everyone has to adapt, work with each other and so on. Actually, pretty good show. Anticipating season 2.

The Night Agent (2023– )

Starts out okay ...

[5/10 · 6 May 2023]

This miniseries starts out okay, with an FBI agent working in the basement alone in a room waiting for a phone to ring ... but which never rings ... until episode 1 (not a spoiler).

Of course, the FBI agent is good-looking ... and so is the person who calls him ... and of course they are essentially the same age ... and ultimately attracted to each other et cetera et cetera et cetera. Oh, and, of course, they are both very brave and skilled at physical and computer stuff.

The Asian actress from the overrated "The Whale" (Colin Farrell got robbed of an Oscar for "The Banshees of Inisherin") is in this as the White House Chief of Staff and while she's got decent acting chops she drops F-bombs throughout this show as often as she breathes.

The show gets pedestrian, predictable and formulaic quickly. It's also overlong. I had to force myself to finish the last two or three episodes.

Kevin Can F**k Himself (2021–2022)

Clever concept

[8/10 · 18 October 2022]

Yes, a clever concept that is well executed. The premise is that everything revolves around Kevin and, when Kevin's in the scene, on stage, the lights are bright and everyone's speared by his sitcom-ish humor. If someone goes into another room-i.e. Kevin's not around-the interior and exterior lighting is Massachusetts' bleak. And, true to sitcom comedy, the male star is doughy and not so smart while the wife is attractive and level-headed yet, despite all that, somehow wound up with a bozo husband.

All this comedic abuse, however, takes its toll on all the characters in Kevin's sphere and the fallout ensues in the Kevin-off-camera scenes.

The creators of this artful, funny and dramatic show deserve a lot of credit for something this inventive.

The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020)

A rare gem

[7/10 · 16 October 2022]

This movie was great! Jim Cummings as the frustrated, recovering-alcoholic, divorced father AND new sheriff overly stressed about a string of grisly murders is something to see. The movie is funny, dramatic and full of horror and Cummings-also the director-pulls it all off with aplomb. Yes, aplomb.

What's revealed to the audience each time a slaying takes place is, initially, a growling sound followed by a terrified victim and, yes, the slaying. With each progression, a little more is revealed ... like you see what/who's doing the slaying.

Cummings' stressed out rants are great to watch. I'm definitely going to check out his "Thunder Road" and "Beta Test" ventures.

Moonfall (2022)

Just enjoy the ride (if you can)

[6/10 · 10 October 2022]

Farfetched as this is, it can still be an enjoyable watch as long as you don't bring your engineering and cosmological acumen into the room. Sure, there's a lot of stuff to throw darts at but why bother. It's a Roland Emmerich disaster flick. He's this era's Irwin Allen. Unbelievable entertainment with decent special effects. Patrick Wilson and Halle Berry need lunch money like the rest of us and the "Game of Thrones" fellow probably needs to eat, too.

All that being said, I much prefer Michael Pena in funnier roles. A bad sci-fi movie that he's in that is nowhere near as entertaining as this is "Extinction" from 2018.

The Undeclared War (2022)

Good but ugh

[6/10 · 27 August 2022]

Okay, no ha ha has at all in this show. Everyone serious as cancer. Simon Pegg is the most refreshing character in this show, at least displays some personality. The main character is as dull as a fifty-year-old steak knife and, oh, she suddenly turns/becomes a lesbian for whatever reason. Her borrowed-from-the-NSA lesbian cohort has a confident attitude but is, for reasons unknown, interested in the drippy main character. General storyline of the show is good/promising, but main character is straight outta Dullsville. A lot is made of creating fake news and the end result is that no one knows what to believe, who to trust, etc. That's all very well done.

The Pentaverate (2022)

Breath of fresh air

[8/10 · 2 August 2022]

After the hilarity of "So I Married an Axe Murderer"-where we learned of the Pentaverate and "The Meadows"-Mike has returned to fill us in on the rest of the story ... finally. The "shooting pool" scene in episode 2 is a side-splitter with a Netflix-exec interlude. This show comedically tries and comedically succeeds. Bravo, Mike and Co.

Dark Winds (2022– )

Solid show

[7/10 · 8 July 2022]

This show is based on a series of Tony Hillerman novels that focus on Navajo Police activities in the early 70s. I'm five episodes in and enjoying the ride.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: The Elysian Kingdom (2022) Season 1, Episode 8

Oh no!

[2/10 · 26 June 2022]

I tried to stick with this episode but simply could not. After the medieval-type bridge scene, I skipped to near the end, where the doctor gets closure etc. Not a good episode ... sadly.

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

OMG! Not all that good ...

[4/10 · 25 April 2022]

I heard about this for years, how it's great, funny, got some great lines.... It's okay at BEST. Mediocre comedy. Like others have said ... it's like a stretched out SNL skit ... that wasn't all that good to begin with.

Vivarium (2019)

Very symbolic ... pay attention

[7/10 · 26 February 2021]

Don't get me wrong, the movie is an entertaining enough watch, but the ending is somewhat unrewarding and predictable.

Noticing the symbolism here is key. The beginning of the movie shows a video of a cuckoo-like baby bird shoving another non-cuckoo-like baby bird out of a nest. The cuckoo-like bird then gets raised by the non-cuckoo-like bird's parents until it's ready to leave the nest.

Keep that in mind when you watch.

A.P. Bio (2018–2021)

Funniest show on TV

[9/10 · 11 February 2021]

My family and I came across this when watching "Parks and Recreation" on Peacock. Hands down, this is the funniest and most clever comedy I've seen in a long time. It's better than "Parks and Recreation" and "The Office." It's lack of viewership/user reviews likely originates from the "fact" that nobody knows about it. Great show ... except in Season 2 they changed Howerton's hair and three students-good characters-disappeared with no explanation.

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)

Quite a curiosity

[6/10 · 4 December 2020]

Not sure what was going on with NPH in 2004, but watching him in 2020 in this movie and knowing he is gay kind of killed his character for me ... because his character is the real Neil Patrick Harris, a real "swordsman" with the ladies in this venture. All that aside, an okay movie. Generally entertaining. Definitely worth a watch.

Hustle & Flow (2005)

I kinda liked it but ...

[5/10 · 4 December 2020]

The main character appears to have neither a musical inkling, talent or genuine interest and then suddenly starts fiddling with a small keyboard and then BAM he's got the stuff. Accept the premise, accept the bit. Good watch no matter what.

Dash & Lily (2020)

Contrived

[4/10 · 2 December 2020]

D&L hit all the Manhattan hot spots circa Christmas in their little game of cat and mouse. How about a visit to scenic Staten Island or the Bronx? I made it through episode 4. My wife and daughter are watching #5 right now. I've seen Hallmark Christmas movies better (and worse) than this. I love Fred Savage (we go in and we grind!), but I did not love what I saw of this. Just not for me.

Barkskins (2020– )

Good show but ...

[7/10 · 11 July 2020]

... the ending is rather open-ended. More like wide-open-ended. Conclusions are hinted at, but never quite revealed.

BuzzFeed Unsolved: Supernatural (2016–2021)

Interesting but too much swearing

[4/10 · 5 July 2020]

Yes, I swear too. Not the point. These guys overswear and swearing isn't necessary at all for their documentary-style subject matter.

Seems like virtually all Netflix shows and much of what gets produced today has to be riddled with "F" and "S" words not to mention the "D" word. Probably about time to just throw the "C" word into everything.

Ugh!

Dark Was the Night (2014)

I liked the whole thing, ending too

[7/10 · 2 June 2020]

First, totally a movie you can watch with your 11+ kids (semi-arbitrary). No F-bombs, no nudity, not really any gore, just a good story, well told.

Second, ending is fine, just open-ended.

Third, Durand, Haas and the rest of the cast do a good job on this. Watch "The Strain" and "Brick" for more or D & H.

Another Life (2019–2021)

Foul-mouthed community college in space

[4/10 · 18 April 2020]

I'm only giving this four stars because the premise of the show is good and because it's generally entertaining. Whoever wrote and whoever approved this show should maybe go back and watch "Alien Covenant" to get reminded how scientists and space travelers SHOULD NOT be presented and then watch "Apollo 13" and "First Man" ... and even "Red Planet" or "Mission to Mars" to see how they SHOULD. The doctor is the most likeable character on the show.

Westworld: Genre (2020) Season 3, Episode 5

Show continues its nose dive

[4/10 · 18 April 2020]

Aaron Paul was good for Breaking Bad but either he, his character or both don't seem to be at all necessary in season 3. In fact, season 3 itself doesn't seem necessary. I gave up trying to remember who's really human, who's not, etc. and am just trying to enjoy the ride. This episode's car chase was tedious and the associated gun battle had Star Wars' stormtrooper like thugs who couldn't hit the broadside of a barn. Westworld was better inside Westworld.

Avatar (2009)

Good flick, but it's just a sci-fi version of "Dances with Wolves" with a Kobayashi Maru ending

[8/10 · 4 January 2010]

Don't get me wrong. This was a very impressive endeavor in IMAX 3-D, with astounding special effects, a solid script and good acting, but it's like watching an ultra-expensive futuristic version of "Dances with Wolves," except that the main character in "Avatar" pulls a "Capt. Kirk at Starfleet Academy" move and changes the ending so the natives win.

Stephen Lang is awesome as the head of security in this movie and it's nice to see him get a great role. Giovanni Ribisi is also great to watch as the corporate guy focused on the bottom line. Excellent choices.

There were, however, a few issues, such as: 1) Why is it no big deal to transport billions of tons of people and equipment to a planet with a non-breathable atmosphere, hostile wildlife and resistant humanoid life forms, but getting "unparalyzed" is a hideously expensive venture? 2) How did Sam Worthington get some of the corniest lines you've ever heard in a movie? 3) Why didn't the humans just map out their various target locations from space and use tactical nukes (or something else), thereby eliminating the need for the line-of-sight mission at the end of the movie? I almost laughed when I saw a bunch of guys trying to shove a load of explosives out the cargo bay. 4) Why is it that the avatar technology (i.e. the brain link between human and avatar) works anywhere on the planet, but auto-guidance systems, FLIRs, etc. don't? Despite all these quibbles, Cameron and crew did a fantastic job and have raised the cinematic expectations of the movie-going public.

8 out of 10.

Stargate Universe (2009–2011)

This show rocks! Don't believe the naysayers.

[8/10 · 10 December 2009]

First of all, I'm a fan of the Stargate movie (the first half of it, anyway), Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, but I'm also a fan of Stargate Universe. This show is what good episodic TV is all about: people, their problems and their relationships. While I enjoyed the first two series, they--especially Atlantis--tended toward campiness and Hollywood-style stories where some crazy problem is suddenly solved with a complex solution that, lo and behold, works on the first try (generally speaking). Stargate Universe shows us how "real" people of varying backgrounds react when they're desperate and hopeless and hasn't gone the route of "everything our genius Ph.Ds try always works." And was I the only one tiring of the Atlantis team sneaking into yet another Wraith stronghold to run-and-gun its way back to the mess hall at the end of the show? And Vala from SG-1? I liked her, but she was a bit much and turned the show into more of a "comedy" than an adventurous sci-fi romp. That's my take.

Olive Juice (2001)

Annoying film crew

[3/10 · 25 August 2009]

Part of this turkey of a movie was filmed two houses down from me. I came out to go to work and there were movie people blocking the entire street, not to mention hogging up my lawn. Looks like you all wasted your time and money filming this movie. Boring movie with bad actors. The girl's easy on the eyes, though, but apparently she now relies on her Backstreet Boy husband for life support now. Who can he count on now that he's getting old?

Note: the movie "Sydney White" (and the Seven Dorks) was filmed around the corner from my new house, but at least that was several blocks away so I don't have any gripes on that. Word on the street is that that was much better.

Star Trek (2009)

A very enjoyable movie, but come on already, Hollywood

[8/10 · 22 May 2009]

First off, let me establish that I'm a long time Trek fan and even own a few Master Replicas' phasers, etc., but I don't possess a Trek costume. 'nuff said.

I have few issues with this reboot. In fact, I gave it a soft "8."

My big beef is that Hollywood continually treats time travel as though it's a piece of cake and that no one comes out mutated or crushed or whatever. In fact, everyone always comes out . . . period. One piece. Here I am and there you are, me in the future, or me in the past.

Examples of time-travel abuse: "Star Trek IV" The "Terminator" movies "Timeline" "Deja Vu" "Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis"

Yes, yes. I understand that it's all entertainment and that it's "accept the premise, accept the bit," but it's all starting to seem like sci-fi screenplay "deus ex machina." Just put time travel into the story and thus everything we do in the movie will be a cinch, plus we can bring back some old character everyone loves, blah blah blah. Plus there are never any significant issues with transporting a person through time via what's usually an unstable (i.e. variable) field. A piece of someone's left pinky could get crushed in normal time while another piece goes back three-thousand years to some faraway location while another piece gets transferred to an alternate universe. That all might be impossible, but it certainly seems more realistic. But, of course, that would screw up any story reliant on "perfect" time travel.

Time travel is probably the most incredible thing that could really happen, unless we're talking about time travel into another universe.

Sorry. Had to gripe. I was overdue.

Shoot 'Em Up (2007)

A pleasant surprise

[8/10 · 13 April 2009]

This movie was an enjoyable ride that didn't take itself at all seriously, which probably makes it better than many an action movie out there, where realism is suddenly interrupted by some unbelievable act of derring-do. Riddled with guns, violence and profanity, this flick pulls no punches and keeps the pedal to the metal. Funny, disturbing, graphic, foul-mouthed, sexy and touching and various and simultaneous times. Pays homage to John Woo's "Hardboiled" and is laced with Tarantino-like humor. The stunts and gunplay are phenomenal. A full-throttle adventure obviously designed to be over the top.

Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti both do a fantastic job. And Monica Belluchacabra isn't bad either as a lactating prostitute. I wouldn't watch it with the wife, though. Much more of a guy flick.