Reviews
Étoile (2025)
Difficult to review..many pros and cons
The concept of this show was promising and as it was advertised as a "comedy," I binged it and now have mixed feelings.
Gilmore Girls and Mrs. Maisel have tons of fans. I have watched several episodes of each, but after a while, find myself screaming at the screen, "just shut the f. Up." That rapid, cute, insiders dialog between protagonists was super annoying and both shows relied heavily on that style. There is a lot of that here, but luckily the incredible dancing and behind the scenes of a pro ballet company is worth watching this show.
Having just finished watching, The Inside Man, a detective story about a crime inside a retirement home, almost every character is quirky and adorable, there is an attempt to do so here, but most are just annoying and mean (example Jake's Fish family, Crispin, the American choreographer, little Susu). I don't include Cheyenne, as her role is more diva (etoile) than quirky.
I did like that there was an attempt to infuse the Paris group with some french funkiness. The entire scene of the young ballerina Mishi spending a day with her crazy landlady was charming and a sharp contrast with Jake's elitist and creepy 45th birthday party in Manhattan.
So I"m still in a quandary of whether I liked this show or not, but for me the dancing and a few other components kept me interested and watching and I look forward to season Two.
Batman: Caped Crusader (2024)
trying hard to like this
I've watched several episodes at different times and kept going back hoping so hard to like as I am a huge Timm fan, but I gave up. This show is so boring, dark and depressing. And the animation? Too retro/stylistic to the point that all the female protagonists are drawn as wide as they are tall and look as dumpy and unsexy as possible.
I know this series is a tribute and/or guided by Batman TAS, which who doesn't love, but I remember that both Batman and Superman TAS as both retro, funny and serious as well.
This show is not. At the end of each episode, I find myself depressed, and isn't superhero stories suppose to do the opposite....take us "out of ourselves? Give us hope? Entertain us? Even make us laugh? (check out the Brave and the Bold Batman, plus the and Scooby doo collaborations.
Unfortunately, I watch, Merry Little Batman, around the same time, a show featuring Batman's son, Alfred and their cat. I found that movie funny....an inspirational, lovely holiday story with several animation styles.
I know that DC has different audiences (kids, adults, fans, and non-fans). In my opinion, Merry Little Batman is enjoyable to any level of fandom, regardless if you are a Batman fan or not. I don't find this version of Batman to be interesting to any fan.
North of North (2025)
love it!
What a wonderful show about a unique and unusual community that many of us are not familiar with. I have worked and volunteered on the Navajo reservation and have experienced many similar situations (except for the fact that Navajo is on the other side of the thermometer.) Actually there is some research that Navajos might have some connection with Alaskan natives. Some similarities: respect for elders, embracing and enjoying tribal jewelry and fashion, coming together in times of emergencies, storytelling, living off the land, other natives living within the community (Maori radio guy), and the white folk (billiganas) who either respect and blend in with the community or try to change things. But what I love the most is the humor, fun and love in the everyday life of a small community. And, of course, the wonderful quirky characters.
Of course, there is tragedy and horrors underlining the past and present of indigenous populations, but like the old man that comes into the community center to discuss the death of his brother, the strength, love and interconnectedness of these small communities is what makes them so special. Don't miss out on this wonderful Innuit slice of life sit-com.
I'd love to know more about the dream long-haired woman from the sea and their gorgeous tattoos...on to the internet to do research in hope of a season two!
Towards Zero (2025)
why, why, why?
Why do they keep redoing Agatha Christie's stories when there are great original PBS adaptations? The Marple version, season 3, episode 3 with Miss Marple is a classic. In that version, Miss Marple has many wonderful humorous scenes, (my favorite is her pushing a poor suspect into the river), most of the characters are likable, and as usual, the bumbling detective slowly admits that Miss Marple knows everything and just lets her take over to solve the murder.
Don't bother here. Every character is horribly unlikeable. There is no adorable Miss Marple but a ubiquitous alcoholic detective. So many things in this adaptation are so unnecessary. Where the Marple version has subtle layers of intrigue, humor and mystery, here the relationships amongst the character are just gross. So many scenes were unnecessary and often just yucky, like the sex scene of the protagonist and ex-wife on the staircase of the mansion in front of everyone. Why?? Why is there a kleptomaniac orphan girl running around? Why does cousin, Thomas, keep shouting, , "I'm not mad," and then pounds his chest and have seizures? Why did the housekeeper exchange love letters with said Thomas in Malaya for no apparent reason? ...and why does the alcoholic detective keep trying to commit suicide? These scenes don't serve as red herrings and don't add anything to the story. My main question is why waste your time here, check out the older version of this Christie story and skip this one.
A Remarkable Place to Die (2024)
Enjoyable NZ murder mystery ...but disjointed
Love my NZ, Aussie and British murder mysteries. This was one is very promising, but there are a lot of disjointed issues. It feels like some departments got a better budget than others. The cinematography/scenery/drone department got the best budget as the vistas are gorgeous. The fact that the name of the Remarkable Mountain Range is in the title this makes sense. But other departments such as costumes, script writing, directing, and sets did not.
Script: show is episodic and serialized. Great! The detectives solve one murder per episode, but we have to deal with murder of protagonist's father and sister, which one is not resolved in last episode. This show wanted to be serious (One Lane Bridge, Toppo) but also quirky/funny (Brokenwood, My life is Murder) which is OK with me (don't enjoy One Lane Bridge) but it is done heavy-handily. The quirky character is usually the coroner or a nosey relative/friend, but here they loaded all the shows quirkiness on the poor youngest detective. Kudos to the actor who plays him and puts up with it.
Relationship between mother and main detective drove me crazy. If any viewer made a drinking game of how many times Anais went to her mom's house to make up with her or get help with the cases and got slammed out they would be sloshed. None of these scenes moved the plot forward or made any sense.
The details of the car accidents (both the first murder and detective's sister) and helicopter are played out forever in the first 3 episodes, but the finale was literally the last 10 minutes of episode 4. It happened so quickly I had to rewind to make sure i hadn't missed anything.
Anyway an OK way to see Queenstown and NZ outside a documentary compared to other murder mysteries, but not a top notch show.
Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke (2025)
a metaphor for life today!
So frightening that the Father and son, believing that they were being lied and deceived to by police about Jody and Ruby all the way until the very end of the documentary. Father still loving his wife despite everything she had done. And, from the very beginning, the millions of followers believing in the "cult" of Ruby despite evidence of craziness.
Not only is this family nuts, but the neighbors, the male therapist, everyone being interviewed sitting in their perfect living rooms all gave me chills. ...and then, OMG, reading that the son is now an internet influencer despite all the abuse he received from day of living in front of the camera all his life. His scars are not physical like his baby brother, but boy will they be mental.
As observed by other reviewers, the only breath of fresh air and sanity is the oldest daughter. I"ll also add to that the police officers. The one that found the daughter, stating he that couldn't help but break down and the female cop that said this was the weirdest interviews she had ever.
This documentary is not only a metaphor but cautionary tale of life in the U. S in the 21st century, where seems like everyone is brainwashed about everything via the bombardment of info via the internet.
And the craziness didn't stop there as every ad (in the version I watched) was sponsored by HIMS and HERS and how hair loss, weight loss, depression can all be achieved discreetly via ordering online pills and/or potions. These ads remind me of the snake-oil salesmen of the Old west.
Invitation to a Murder (2023)
got a headache within 20 minutes and stopped watching
WTF? WTF? This show appears to be a fun Agatha Christie-type murder mystery. It is not. I Love murder mysteries, crime drama and anything Christie, and have watched some clunkers, but this movie is nutso. Nothing coming out of any ones mouth makes any sense. The actors must have done their scenes out of sequence, cause if they filmed in order, they would have walked out.
A group of people are invited to an island for no apparent reason $$?, a prize, a Vacation? Some Sunshine? No, no reason that I can see, just an invite and tickets to come to an island. The dumpy main Misha character immediately takes over the proceedings and starts analyzing the situation. She makes everyone play 2 truths and lie, yet interrupts them before they even finish their sentences. The Two main male actors yell at each other and at Misha. At dinner the yank throws a glass on the floor while lighting a cigarette every second. The doctor and spanish woman fall in love within seconds of meeting. Then there are a bunch of rabbits in a shed. That's when I stopped watching. None of what I just wrote has any connections, explanations or rationale. So no more waste of my time.
Girl Haunts Boy (2024)
very surprised...lovely movie
Not interested in teen angst movie, or creepy ghost/monster movies, but i do like murder mystery type movies, so picked this since nothing was currently available. I was so surprised as this is a very Lovely, gentle movie that can be enjoyed by all. No drugs, alcohol, or teen angst. OK, a bit of teen angst as the guy is shy and withdrawn cause father has passed away and he's had to move to a new school, but these weren't the main issues. It was about two lonely souls coming together across the century learning from each other and sharing a love of music.
Just wished that his new friend (from high school) had a bigger role as the kooky ghost wrangler. Also I kept waiting for him to end the movie with him singing in the talent show, as he has a lovely voice and the songs were beautiful. With all the creepy stuff going on with this year's movie, It Ends with Us, and the hoopla surrounding the two older mature protagonists, it was a lovely surprise to watch a positive feature with two likable teen actors that enjoy good chemistry..
Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion (2024)
bit slow at first...then gets into his story
I had no idea he was the sketch guy for Monroe's dress. My family always looked forward to seeing The sonny and Cher/Cher show with her lovely dresses plus her songs were the highlight of the night. I was Looking forward to this documentary and was bored at first with him and two others in the car going to the Met and almost stopped watching. But be patient. Slowly the documentary delves into his fascinating life. The incredible work ethic, discipline, meticulousness of this man work and life will blow you away. Carol Burnett quotes that he designed absolutely everything in her show and that it amounted thousands of outfits blew me away. Then the contrast of discovering his grandaughter and her kids later in life living a normal life in a suburban home in Idaho is quite the contrast. Watch it. I plan to buy his book for my B-day.
Darby and Joan (2022)
#5 rating only for the dog and scenery
I love murder mysteries and detective stories and being in the age group represented by the protagonist, you'd think I would like it, but this is a slow poke of a show. Is it the Australian sun, but everyone in this show looks 15 years older than their roles require? They all walk around like they are at their last stop. The scene at the beach when he/she were surfing was pathetic. I should be more forgiving, bit I am a lifelong competitive swimmer, and even some member of my Master group are in their 80s and 90s and walk/talk faster than everyone portrayed in this show. I assumed that Aussies were good swimmers and athletic...but not so as portrayed by this show.
Biggest issue is it needs an input of different generations. Ben-10, animated cartoon has grandpa and 2 kids in an RV and take almost every Detective show available: Vera with her two young hunks, Midsomer Murders, Brokenwood Murders, MacDonald and Dobbs, Chelsea Detective and Vienna Blood (yeah premiered tonite), and Harry Wild. They all have old/young pairings that provides the tension and laughter. Every episode, I keep waiting for someone to keel over and that includes the protagonist, the people they visit and even his daughter, surrounded by old coots in her police station.
Thank goodness for drone work as the scenery is spectacular as well as diesel, the Aussie Shepherd (why not a heeler.... I'm also a 3 heeler fur mom). I only watch this when I have nothing else.
Vera: The Dark Wives (2025)
beginning to end....perfect because it wasn't...it was always just Vera.
Perfect, cause it wasn't. Some reviewers already complaining about the story, the theme, the flashbacks, etc., But none of us ever watched Vera for that. We all watched 'cause of Vera Stanhope and the breath taking scenery (plus her two cutie assistants). In the past few seasons, my biggest complaint was that the writers and producers stop writing and featuring Blythe in every scene, solving every crime. I asked that they please, please give more work to all the other actors so we could have more than 14 seasons of Vera! But no one listened.
Vera is very much in the category of Poirot. I can go back and watch Suchet as Poirot over and over and not care who killed who. All I (we) want to watch is these seasoned actors perform in the role of their lifetimes, and boy did Vera deliver. From the top of her khaki hat down to her cute boots and her Land Rover, we all looked forward to every episode and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I knew this would come and I bawled my eyes out during those last 15 minutes. She never joined her team for a drink, and I'm glad she didn't because it wouldn't be Vera. Vera is perfectly happy with a scruffy dog, binoculars and a glass of whiskey at the end of a day birdwatching.
I was in a car accident and had many surgeries to put myself back together. This was one show that always delivered and I always enjoyed. Thanks Blyth!
The Batman (2004)
Appreciate much more with 20/20 vision.
Focusing on his early years, I originally thought this TV Batman version weak compared to the classic, Batman, the animated series. But now watching after all the 21st century movies, and the very dark TV shows have been premiered, I am appreciating this classic much more.
There are tweaks to the characters that enhance vs changing them completely. Current shows have changed characters so much they have become unrecognizable.... Like for example making the Penguin a female with two sons in current BAS iteration. I find that, the Joker with his crazy dreadlocks, bare feet and lovely gravelly voice, fascinating. And the multiple-jointed scarecrow is so creepy, that he needs no fear gas.
The Last years with Robin and Batgirl added some wonderful humor, which, except for Batman the Brave and the Bold and Batman and Scooby Doo is often lacking to make fora DARKer knight. Rewatch and enjoy. I think you will.
Dalgliesh (2021)
Deadpan
Love this mystery show. I've never watched the previous iteration or read the books, but I feel that this show follows the feel, spirit, grit, and the time period of the source material. The British and PBS, etc. Are always great at this. Carvel...fantastic..as Dagliesh and as both of his side kicks mention he makes for a great detective and mentor.
But, for me, this show suffers from two issues:
1. It is so dark (visually)!! Seems like they've filmed all the episodes in the middle of a British winter. I live in Santa Fe, NM, (super high altitude sunshine), and I literally have to close all my curtains so I can see what's going on. It was very noticeable in this current episode (a couple of murders in a seminary/church/boys school). In one scene, a protagonist runs by some daffodils. They are so bright they look like they are fake. When the flowers are brought in, they seem to glow, and the entire background fades into grey/black.
2. Dagliesh is so deadpan!!! If there were a drinking game about taking a shot any time anyone in this show smiled or laughed, the bottle would never crack open. OK, so this show is not a funny, laugh-a-minute procedural a la "Murder in Paradise," or "Harry Wild," or "Shakespeare and Hathaway," but even the darker show, "Vera," has a handful of laughs and smiles per episode.
Red One (2024)
surprisingly fun movie for the holidays.
The reviews seemed all over the place, but My girlfriends and I decided, "what the heck," and decided to spend mid week afternoon at an Imax movies with tons of popcorn and we all agreed that this movie was fun, fun, fun.
How can anyone go wrong with the Rock, Chris, Lucy Lui, RK Simmons, a giant polar bear soldier, and Bonnie Hunt (perfectly selected as Mrs. Claus)? One reviewer suggested going IMAX or big screen which was great advice as it provided a great environment for all the wonderful CGI effects, especially the monstrous reindeer. I Hate the movies were the trailer contains all the jokes, one liners and special effects and thank goodness this is not the case here.
Just one cautionary note: First half of the movie is an FBI/CIA modern day, kidnapping/missing person type story. But the Second half of the movie was more of a dark fantasy/East European Grimm fairy tale driven story. The second half with the Grumpus, a witch and other fairy tale creatures could be scary for little kids. It scared me.
Thanks Hollywood for this Xmas escapism tale.
Ellis (2024)
if you like Viera, you'll like this show
I'm surprised over the many negative reviews and comments about the "angry black woman," but I can forgive the reviewers, because this is exactly how I felt when I first watched Vera. She was a grumpy old woman, always yelling at her staff. Now, after many years, I'm addicted. If you like detectives in the style of Vera, Van der Valk, a super grumpy smart detectives with lots of quirks and sly humor, you'll like this show.... it has a lot of similarities. Give it a chance, I think it will grow on us.
Every season I worry that Vera will be canceled. She is in every scene, and given her age this could be challenging. Wish they would look to Slow Horses and give all the very interesting, smart, secondary characters more screen time.
Inside Out 2 (2024)
boring!!!!!
I"m surprised at all the high numbers, yet mediocre and negative reviews. Are reviewers afraid to give a Disney movie less than a five?
All the animation, colors, and world building are the exact same as first movie..no new changes. Seems like every scene there's a group of emotions climbing and carrying up and down those giant dream dunes. My sister always says that when a niece or nephew turn 13, we shouldn't bother with them for 8 years until they go to college. This should apply to this movie. Given that the protagonist is a sweet lovely child in the first version, they went out of their way to making her very unpleasant and unlikeable and that includes her new main emotion, anxiety. You would think, given the obstacles she faced in the first movie, that she would have the confidence and strength to get through her teen years, but no...it's the opposite. She is mean to her new friends and parents and a brat to her new group. Hey life is tough and most Disney characters and princesses go through immense challenges (example Moana), but not here...so don't waste any of your own formative time. I"m sure there will be a series...here's hope it's better than this borefest.
The Instigators (2024)
eeeh...too much Boston references, no male bonding and not funny
A buddy heist movie where nothing goes right. There have been many of these type of movies (all the Oceans, Midnight run. Etc.) with a lot more fun, charm and zest than this one. So many Boston references, it gets annoying. Many reviewers write that the movie is funny. Must be Boston humor 'cause I didn't get it. Affleck is the stereotypical protagonist that can't keep his mouth shut, supposedly the funny guy and Damon plays the straight one, but here he's almost too straight, he's morose the entire movie. For a while I thought he was mentally handicapped and find he is an ex Marine dealing with Issues, but he plays him like an idiot.
At the end, Affleck asks Damon if he finally laughed. "When?" Affleck asks, and Damon responds, "the second time you were shot." No one laughs in the scene and I didn't think it was funny. The credits lists Affleck as a writer, and maybe everyone is laughing when the cameras were turned on, but definitely not when they are on.
I"m thinking of Midnight run, and what a masterpiece of the genre. De Niro and the criminal he takes across the country and I"m laughing at every scene.
Another problem is that there is no chemistry between the two protagonists despite the fact they are friends in real life. Even the psychiatrist is serious, although she actually said a a few lines about how she enjoyed pulling bullets out when she was a resident. At one point, she mentioned she's from Lynn and Affleck replies "oh, a Lynn girl," and what that means i haven't a clue. Skip this and find and watch Midnight Run.
The Good Ship Murder (2023)
very mediocre
Several reviewers have compared this show with Mallorca Files, Shakespeare and Hathaway and other "unlikely pairings" murder mystery shows. I take umbrage at these comments. I love these shows. Goofy, funky, fun murder mysteries and police procedures are my secret addiction. Even the cheesy Murder in Paradise (the one in the Philippines) and the couple who are tour guides (the chunky bus driver and the red headed tour guide...can't remember the name as each episode has a different title)are watchable and somewhat believable.
But this show...yuck...switch ASAP, select something else. The only reason I watched all episodes was I was working on a project spread out in my living room and had this on in the background. Lot of issues, but the Number one problem is that these two actors have absolutely no chemistry. I've read reviews about good and bad chemistry, but this is the first time I've really understood the concept of "bad chemistry." It's like two blocks of cement talking to each other. The female first mate, although beautiful, has recently played the British version of a Karen in recent shows of Midsomer Murders (a canine rescue agency owner) and McDonald and Dodds (a con woman). She is so good at that b#$tch role, it was hard for me to see past that. The other main character, the ex-cop turned singer on a cruise ship is a poor man's version of a tough macho cop.
This seems to apply to everything on this show. British shows have very interesting character actors that are delightfully opposite of the plastic beautiful Hollywood stereotypes, but here I felt they hired the bottom of the barrel. In addition, the wardrobe for everyone seemed to have been purchased at Walmart and the sets!?!? Omg, the last scene, in every episode, were he sings to an audience on a cruise ship...I could set up a better backdrop in my backyard. Also those "beautiful European settings," were mostly images of giant cruise ships parked at Mediterranean ports of call that only highlights how gross and disgusting these ships are and why Europeans want to get rid of tourist.
The Dresden Files (2007)
good show, so of course it was canceled after one season
I read the books and love the series. I am re-watching them now more than 10 years later and except for cell phones, and most using flip phones or old cell phones. It has aged well. Ironically, in a couple scenes he's using payphones (are there payphones anywhere in the world anymore?)... because as a wizard he's allergic to IT.
Still wonderful to watch after all these years. Each episode can be watched separately with just a few issues overlying issues like the murder of his father and the Romance/chemistry between him and the detective ...other than that you can watch any show in any order.
. It's a great combination of murder mystery, detective show, and fantasy. I have been watching Evil and I find that this older show is much more relaxing and fun to watch. Some of these newer fantasy shows just have much evil/horrors/teen angst, etc. Except for a few scenes you could have your kids watch it. Blackstone plays the funny sexy protagonist Harry, funny that now he plays the old and wise father detective in other shows. Good 11 hours of weekend fun to watch. Don't skip it.
If (2024)
Head scratching at first but grows on you
I agree with many of the reviewers that that this is a lovely film, but there are some gaps. As for me, there were some annoying things, but hangnin there, once you get into the middle part with the protagonist, the IFs and Reynolds the movie is great. And at the end I felt all this wet stuff around my eyes.
I wish I could give different ratings for different parts of the movies:
1. CGI effects are fantastic. You can really get into each of these creatures, their personalities almost immediately. 2. the main protagonists is an incredible actor. Her face is it's so sweet, so delicate, and her empathy and understanding of the IF is what carries this movie. 3. Reynolsd was fun. His in your face Deadpool acting is very much toned down...thank goodness. And the ending tying together IFs with their kids will pull at your hearts.
The sections of this movie that I would award a five or less are the hospital scenes with her father. I guess because I've spent three months in the hospital myself after a car accident all that cute kiddie play-acting with her father is so annoying and it annoys Callie as well. Another annoying features (almost made me stop watching) are the seemingly endless flashbacks of the parents playing with the little girl: goofy playacting under a sheet, with a flashlight, wearing cardboard costumes, drawings with glitter, . It was almost too much. I know they were trying to make a contrast between cute family life and mother dying of cancer, but I found much of it stupid. Why can't these cutie-pie family movies find families having fun and laughter just washing dishes, doing chores, gardening?
My favorite animation show of all time and one my animation teacher "forced" us to watch was; Foster Home for Imaginary Friends. In my opinion it is the Best show about IFs ever filmed. Funny, the main IF was also called Blue. Definitely take the time to watch it, you will die laughing. I don't think there is a bad episode.
In summary, thank goodness for movies online. I can see myself watching 1/2 of this movie over and over while fast forwarding the annoying stuff. .
The Fairly OddParents (2001)
bizarre lovable series.
So happy to have found this. Apparently it is one of the longest running cartoons from Nickelodeon after SpongeBob SquarePants. It's funky and bizarre and the type of cartoon that many adults like because half the jokes go over kids' heads for whom the series is intended for.
It takes a while to get used to it but once you do, it's addictive. I did get frustrated with season 10 ....the only unlikable season. And can understand why it got canceled after season 10. In Season nine they brought in Sparky, a funky, sarcastic and lovable dog. (Love the extra video that shows how they created him.). Season 10 is reminiscent of other kids and their lovable crazy dogs shows like Johnny test, Life and Times of Juniper Lee, Moon girl and red devil, and, of course, the father of them all (which they honor in one episode), Scooby Doo. For some reason they get rid of Sparky in season 10, why? They replaced him with super annoying Chloe. How many high-pitched whiny voices can one put in one cartoon show before one's brain explodes. Well they did it here. I can barely get through season 10. Oh well,
Just watched first episode of the new 2024 of Fairy Odd parents situated in an apartment in New York. Hope it gets better because the first episode was unwatchable animation with roly poly ball cartoon figures is bizarre. There are flashbacks to the old episode, and all that does is to make you go back and watch the original and forget about the new version.
Doctor Who (2023)
trying so hard to like it
I've Only seen Dr Who from Eccleston on. And although there are great actors, sets, special effects, the heart and soul of Dr Who seems missing. Throughout this series what the Dr looks like is irrelevant. Whether a curdmugeon like Capaldi (my least favorite) or a woman (Whitaker) they all showed the same basic underlining personality: Extremely intelligent, serving mankind, battling evil, a funky sense oh humor, taking on and training interns, and fighting evil, this new Dr who and his assistant seem like two preteens giggling their way through the universe.
The Dr is an alien and the only TimeLord left. But at his/her basic heart and soul this character (from my perspective as an American) is your basic Englishman (or Scottish/Iris). This Dr Who doesn't click for me. From the first scene, these two main characters are hugging, giggling, laughing constantly. And for no reason, there is more PDA in10 minutes of this show than in the past 10 years. I I don't mean PDA in a sexual sense but more in the sense of cartoon characters. Is it because of the Disney connection?
I was appalled at the last episode. A young girl's father is disintegrated into a tube, a few minutes later a soldier is disintegrate into a tube immediately after finding out that the female soldier loves him as much as he loves her. Despite this horror we find the doctor giggling hysterically for a good five minutes, barely acknowledging how the daughter and soldier might feel. Then after a bit of interaction, he and his assistant (after several hugs) bounce back into the Tardis and away they go. What the f!?!? The mood, feelings, thoughts, and emotions of this show don't seem to jive, they seem to be written not by an adult, by a little kid who doesn't understand adult interactions.
Will keep watching a few more episodes, but this new iteration of Dr Who doesn't seem like the real Dr Who.
Dead Boy Detectives (2024)
fun weekend of movie viewing
I can't imagine the mind of Gaiman or his household. Must be crazy. If Crystal would touch him, what would she see? ...her mind would probably explode.
First of all, I enjoyed how Death from sandman showed up in the first episodes, and how the boys mentioned her often...Lovely character that I hope returns for season 2. Always liked her in comics. Gaiman is hit or miss for me. I liked Sandman (comic book...so complex, TV show a bit less), but this show is much more enjoyable and palatable. Sandman is a god, these two are relatable kids who just happen to be ghosts. Their backstory evolves slowly through the 8 episodes with much joy and sadness.
This is an example of why, as an old adult, enjoy this show and similar ones, (Alex Rider) and not the Spiderwick chronicles, which I watched the previous week. In Chronicles, you didn't know where the protagonist were coming from...were they Foes, friends, enemies, betrayer, mole? It seemed to change every few minutes. They were not very likable and had little charisma. Here they have it in spades, especially the two boys. Their personalities improved, evolved, and became stronger as they added the three girls. All of these Y. A. "coming of age, fantasy, Sci fi journey, stories are so much more enjoyable when it is a group of tight knit heroes against creepy, horrible, yet, occasionally likable (Cat King) adversaries. So see this and Alex Rider, Dungeons and Dragons. Avoid Spider-wick Chronicles. Add Tuesday to this group of shows, poor thing, she had to deal with everything by herself.
The Spiderwick Chronicles (2024)
hard to follow
I am editing my rating (lower) after just watching Dead Boys Detective Agency, a similar "coming of age" fantasy story. I gave DBDA a 9....loved it. Dead Boys is the perfect example and highlights what I don't like about this show. In DBDA, the two protagonist are wonderful kids, with great chemistry, charismatic, and good acting skills. They work together, learn about each other and themselves, evolve and gather other loyal followers throughout the 8 episodes. A great "coming of age" fantasy/sci-fi journey. Found similar positive traits with Alex Rider, Dungeons and Dragons, the live action manga of the sailor kid (can't remember name? One something?)
The reverse is true here. At one point the spiderwick daughter asks her sword wielding adversary, Bree, "what's with you, you're nice to me one moment and then your mean?" That's how I feel about this movie. This family hates each other, then they love each other, they lie to each other, don't trust each other, back and forth, it's dizzying. Mother constantly listens to the villain she's just met, but doesn't listens or trusts her own kids.
I"m an adult and these teen movies scare me. I love Alex Rider...and the reason is that the story is consistent, the kids and Jackie are super loyal against creepy traitorous adults. Scary suspenseful spy thriller. Here u don't know where anyone stands.
Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
Some OK magical moments, but doesn't touch the original
Blunt was great, kids annoying, but likable when they finally succumb to the magic of Poppins. Super classics like The sound of Music, Mary Poppins, The Wizard of Oz, etc., despite misogamy/and/or racism of their eras, are so timeless and magical that they are untouchable. Have any reboots, and/or part 2, ever equal or surpassed the original? These classics became classics because there was a perfect combination of actors, chemistry, music, dancing, plot, dialog that made them classics. We can all sing or quote lines from the original Mary Poppins and other classics (example: " a spoonful of sugar,", "we are not in Kansas Toto"). But i just finished watching this movie for the second time, and although music was lovely, I can't remember any of the songs or am I remotely interested in adding any song to my playlist.
Why Manuel Lin? I'd love to read or hear a British person's take on his accent, cause as soon as he opened his mouth about the London Sky my brain seized up. It was like nails on a chalkboard. He forced a British/cockney accent to every syllable that came out of his mouth, while still maintaining his New York/hispanic accents. Dick Van Dyke accent was bad, but his charm, lanky dancing and comedic talents overrode any vocal inadequacies. And Dyke's few minutes of performance at the bank proved it. There are tons of British song/dance actors. Too bad they took that role away from them cause Manuel happen to be the "it actor" at the time.
OK to watch on Disney channel with family, but wouldn't pay extra to watch.