trepessa Reviews

Taking Earth (2017)

Scifi action, invasion movie

[7/10 · 28 June 2017]

I have seen hundreds of scifi movies and low budget ones. These types of movies are how new actors learn their craft. Quite frankly, I didn't think the acting was that bad. They did a lot on a low budget. The main problem was diction. The accent is OK but some slurred their words and I couldn't understand what they were saying. The object of the chase, the younger teen boy, was really bad for it. I couldn't understand a lot of what he was saying and it was supposed to be English. One thing I liked was they didn't make aliens like monsters. There is only one type of humanoid. The only differences should be in coloring, height, language and culturally; food, dress and the like. This movie was far better than District 9, which I hated.

Comparing it to movies like I Am Number 4 wasn't a good comparison because, I'm 70 and have seen a lot of scifi in film and series form and their idea wasn't really original either. It is how it is presented that makes all the difference. The special effects were pretty good for a low budget film. I have seen far worse. The first thing the human boy didn't ask was why the other boy was being chased. I waited for that and it never came. What I figured out is he was some form of royalty or of a leadership class. He has special powers that possibly could stop the other aliens it would seem, but it's a guess. They needed to flash back so we could see why he ran from his planet and more about who they were and who their enemy was and where they came from. I found it very entertaining if you aren't looking for some big budget movie. It's like a TV movie. I thought they did a decent job except in the area of getting the actors to speak clearly so anyone from anywhere who speaks English could understand what was being said. The lead actor they were chasing was very hard to understand. He wasn't a good choice although his acting wasn't that bad and he was a cute kid; very personable.

Just a tip for South Africans. Don't pick actors with really heavy accents. Your people may understand but if you want it to fly internationally, someone most can't understand isn't a good choice. I'm going to watch it a 2nd time so maybe I can get a better grasp of the story they are trying to tell. Also, human military didn't know something was going on? I highly doubt that especially when they came low into the atmosphere. They should have been involved. It was like they represented humans as totally stupid. Didn't like that much. Otherwise it's not half bad.

Time After Time (2017)

Historical characters, time travel and romance

[9/10 · 12 May 2017]

I loved this show but found it on HULU. I only have a vague recollection of it being advertised at all. This station did NOT jump on the bandwagon of Timeless. That series got sued as well as canceled. This series has a good rating and yet it was canceled and in my area was pulled after only 5 episodes.

The series is based on a novel by Karl Alexander and was made into a movie in 1979. This is not the first adaptation of this book. Time travel series have been around for a long time. I remember the Time Tunnel but this story line is different because it deals with Jack the Ripper and H.G. Wells traveling in time. Wells is traveling in time to bring him back to their time line to face prosecution for the murders he has committed. It is tied to a specific group and conspiracies that go back generations. I loved this show and it was a mistake to take it off. The two main actors were very appealing and the one playing the villain was excellent. Even if you can only watch the first five episodes it is well worth watching regardless. Too many networks jump the gun on canceling shows and leave on some series that are not worth watching. I can bet baby boomers like myself watched this show but we aren't counted, no one after 49. What a shame because this series had a great premise and was well acted. I saw no factual reference that anything was used from Cyndi Laupers song Time After Time. They are unrelated. A very enjoyable series that was canceled too soon.

The Haunted (1991 TV Movie)

Paranormal activity in a duplex

[6/10 · 30 March 2017]

I have watched this movie many times but I haven't read the book this is based upon. Even though this is a TV movie it was done tastefully. What did bother me about it was a couple of things. First, I knew the Warrens were fakes. I know people in the field who knew relatives of theirs is all I will say but for the sake of the movie, I guess that part doesn't matter. Those that believe they are perfectly viable, more power to you. The other thing is, if this family was actually Catholic, the Lord's Prayer ends at "Evil" and does not go on to "the power and glory forever" line. They wouldn't have said that part. It was added later during the Reformation and is not in original writings. Catholics, and these were supposed to be devout, don't say that part. The priest did not know how to pronounce the Latin words. Do I? Yes I had two years of Latin. They needed to do more basic research instead of assuming all say the Lord's Prayer the same way and into how Latin is pronounced. All words starting with a V are pronounced like a W and Cs are hard like K. I know in some places where they still use the Latin, they have Italianized it but that is incorrect technically.

The movie is very well put together and does have some scare factor but they spent too much time showing the mother constantly smoking. It is an addiction she should have stopped due to the nature of what was going on in her household not to mention health issues. Trust me, it was an important aspect when you know anything dealing with the paranormal. As for the rape of the father, that is what they call "The Hag" and those not familiar with folklore and/or the paranormal wouldn't have known. They could have brought that out but they didn't. Over all if you want a light scare and you believe this is even remotely true, which I do not, at least as shown in the movie, then it will entertain you.

Beauty and the Beast (2012–2016)

Beautiful fantasy love story

[10/10 · 13 March 2017]

I'm a huge fan of the original Beauty and the Beast TV series by Koslow; a die-hard fan with collectibles. I love that series and had my misgivings watching this one since the first one was so good until Linda Hamilton left the show and that killed it. Therefore, I thought I wouldn't like this series but after watching the pilot I found I was terribly wrong. I fell in love with all the characters and the story unfolded. Luckily this one lasted four seasons.

I read the critic reviews and thought they were silly and jaded sounding. There is nothing wrong with the acting in the series. It's spot on for the parts they are playing. I didn't think there was anything predictable other than the underlying fact there would be a love story underneath all of it between Catherine and Vincent. That's the story. How scary the beast appeared and the reaction of the audience isn't relevant. There will always be those negative people that will put things down. They didn't show close ups at first. He was pretty scary when they finally did. I thought the way Vincent changed into a beast and why was very clever. They left the higher fantasy idea for something that made more sense in modern times; a very creative idea.

Since Ryan is from New Zealand he did a good job with his accent. I was amazed when I found out he was from that country. He is outstandingly good looking so it plays well with the change into an animal-like monster. The show is not as poetic or uplifting like the other one but it is still filled with the romance and just the right amount of action. I didn't think Catherine's partner had any better acting than anyone else on the show. She was all right but no more appealing than any other cast member. They all did a great job. Too bad they didn't run this show longer but the CW is notorious for canceling good shows. I'm not surprised and usually don't invest much time in their shows knowing they will be cancelled sooner rather than later. This is a tremendously entertaining show and moves slowly in the first few episodes to set up the storyline which is what the first series did as well. After all, she wouldn't have fallen into his arms at first sight. I'm sure anyone who watches this series will like it and if not, it was a matter of taste and not the quality of the show.

Reign (2013–2017)

Drama based on historical characters set in a romantic fantasy

[8/10 · 28 May 2016]

This show is fiction and not a documentary and definitely not true to history but it doesn't have to be. The costuming and hair styles are wrong but the underlying story is there on the overall happenings of the story of Francis and Mary. People are saying a teenage story but all the main characters are adult actors. In real life, Francis was 15 years old when he took the throne of France and Mary was 17. He died about a year later. They were teenagers. If you want to watch the show do it for the general story because the acting is superb and it is based on history even if not exact. This series is not boring, far from it and not overly bloody which I like. I don't want them to dwell on that end of things and even though there is intrigue and murders it is balanced in the show. It definitely shows the intrigue and stabbing in the back and how a family member would not hesitate to kill the other in those times. It's a very good show that people need to watch as only a work of fiction. In that way, they will enjoy it. It isn't the first historical drama to stray from being exact. It's for entertainment purposes and not education. So watch and enjoy it. All the actors are very talented.

The 5th Wave (2016)

Science fiction, aliens, invasion

[8/10 · 14 May 2016]

I have never read the book this movie is adapted from or even heard of it but movies will never be exactly like the books. It is an entirely different medium and things are changed for expediency and sometimes flow of the story.

I have seen more than a hundred science fiction movies and my favorites deal with alien invasions or outer space. Independence Day isn't the first movie to have alien ships come to Earth and hover and won't be the last. It's not relevant. This is also not a Dystopian movie. Dystopian is what is left after a culture is totally ravaged but in this movie they are fighting. This movie is highly under rated and I guess it is because people are so jaded about science fiction movies and many are too young to have seen many other than in the last decade or so. I pay little heed to the critics. They are always hard to a fault on science fiction movies.

This is a very good movie. It makes sense and it isn't a copy of any other movie I have ever seen other than there are aliens and they have invaded the Earth. How many ways can that be shown? It actually is very clever in a number of ways. Just because some of the actors are young doesn't make the movie necessarily young adult. I'm a senior and really liked it. There were many adults in the movie too. All the actors did a fine job and I thought it was excellent. I am not going to rehash the movie because that has already been done. I hope they do indeed make another film. This movie had a relatively low budget but it made three times as much as they spent. People need to quit being negative because it was better than the last Star Wars movie which was all right but no better than this movie. If you don't like movies with both adults and children in them then this won't be for you but I always look at the big picture and it made sense under the circumstances to go this direction.

Ouija (II) (2014)

Teenagers, deaths, Quija Board, haunting

[7/10 · 20 March 2016]

This was actually a good horror movie. It's not the best I have ever seen but good. I have seen several movies where a Quija board played a major role in the story line but to say it is cliché or boring was simply not the case. This movie was geared for a young audience and not really adults past early twenties. I see some mention The Shining which is a movie I didn't like. It was over acted and silly but still entertaining to most. It definitely isn't a gold standard to hole anything up to.

I don't know what people expected given the fact the story was about a group of teenagers who were using a Quija board. That portion was typical because most think of the boards as toys or evil. It is neither. Any movie made concerning these boards will have to attach possession or something dark and evil or there is no story. This is what people do, sit at a table and use it. It is actually supposed to be two people and the board is supposed to be between laps. I have seen the planchette move so quickly you have to have someone else write the letters down. NEVER has there been anything evil that followed. That is tied to religious beliefs but the movie wouldn't be able to go anywhere unless it went that direction. So I agree that part would be predictable but this story didn't follow others except in the fact there was a board.

The acting was fine and the movie was well cast. I have seen horror movies that were so bad this one would win an academy award. Nowadays you can read synopsis or watch a trailer. There is no reason for anyone to go to a movie and not have a remote idea of what it was about. The bottom line here is there weren't enough blood and guts in it to satisfy some. I enjoyed it and it was a good jump at the shadows type of movie with a decent plot and that was, "Why did Debbie kill herself?"

Person of Interest (2011–2016)

Science Fiction crime drama

[10/10 · 26 January 2016]

I'm not giving a synopsis of the show because that is not a review. What I am going to say is this show is dynamic with a very intriguing story. The casting is superb with a variety of races and ethnic groups all playing a part in the show. Not only that but women with parts that are equal to the men. Even when some have left the show they come back here and there in flash backs in time. Root is a female character played by Amy Acker. She does an outstanding job in the part. She is waif-like with a high pitched voice to make her deceptive because in all actuality she is smart and lethal. I like the fact she communicates with one of the AIs directly at the whim of the program. This is one of the best crime dramas I have seen on a network in a very long time. I know there are others but they have become basically redundant at this point. Each one is entirely different from this series. Person of Interest is unique and covers all levels of law enforcement as well as the underworld. There are many characters that aren't in every episode but they are reoccurring and played by outstanding actors. The writing is excellent and they have made the characters they have created very appealing. I find myself rooting for them. If this series were to be canceled it would be one of the biggest mistakes a network could make. It is unique in its story line, so much so I'm addicted to it and I didn't start watching it on the network but in Netflix and was astonished at the quality of the show. As far as I'm concerned, the series is genius and better than any other now airing on any network of its type.

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)

Action, Adventure, Violence, Nostaligic Science Fiction story.

[6/10 · 26 December 2015]

I'm not going to give a synopsis but a review of what I saw. This movie is a continuation of the others but in the future where Han Solo and Princess Leia are now seniors. The focus of the movie is finding Luke Skywalker. I did find in a couple of places I was teary-eyed but some of it was totally corny. There was too much violence in the film for children but they are being taken to see it. I like the two new additions of the young female and the Storm trooper gone rogue. Both were great in their parts but I hated Adam Driver and felt he was totally miscast for his part. He gave me the creeps and he didn't fit who he was supposed to be by looks alone. Obviously his uniform made him look extremely tall since he is only an actual inch taller than Harrison Ford. The movie was entertaining and nostalgic but that is the best I can say for it. Most are looking forward to the next movie to see where it is being taken. I hope Driver's part is considered dead because I don't like that character and wouldn't want to see it again in the next movie. People wanted to see a new Star Wars movie, so it's been highly over-rated. The fact that it is rated higher than Martian says it all. It's being rated by the fact it's a Star Wars movie and not its real quality. It was entertaining and a good movie but not as good as the ratings here are showing. It did it's job to reopen the series of movies, but to rate it so high because it is connected to the old series of movies now is not using good judgment and realizing it is a nice movie but not academy award material other than maybe special effects. It had a lot of that taking away from the fact there wasn't much of a story line.

Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)

Sensuality, humor, control, BDSM

[10/10 · 24 November 2015]

I knew when I came here that some would say this movie was bad but I totally disagree. I'm a senior and I have seen hundreds of movies and I know the subject matter somewhat even though I was never involved in it. I had to do research for writing projects. The movie is tame to say the least and explores the relationship of these two people who enter into a very unusual bond that most people never experience in their lifetimes or even know much about.

Those that have said it was awful didn't watch the same movie I did. The movie is very sensual and the male lead does a superb job showing how he has kept his emotions in check. Some of it dealt with the abuse from childhood before he was adopted by the Grey family. His drive and detachment were excellent for being a successful businessman. He isn't the most attractive man but this actor has a presence that is unmistakable. The two actors had a lot of charisma between them. They showed it in their body language and facial expressions. I have known a couple of men very much like this one but I didn't have a relationship with them on this level but I recognized the personality type and was amused all through the film. Most don't know about this side of life that is not so underground anymore.

Christian is naturally very controlling and becomes obsessed by Ana (for some reason Alison stuck with me even though that wasn't the character's name) He recognized her naiveté and purity and it made him want her more. This is a romance he has a hard time accepting because he was always able to keep himself removed from any feelings. Ana grew on him and he respected her, desired her and by the end of the movie was in love with her but still wouldn't admit to it. She couldn't accept the dark side of him and in the end breaks it off. I was memorized by the movie. I think too many people these days are jaded. It is the heavy romance movies that have a darker side to them that they bash. I'm sorry but this was an excellent movie going into what drives people and their emotions and how Christian Grey begins to awaken to another path in life. The movie ends at that point. I haven't read the books which I understand are far more graphic and violent but the movie is not. I loved it.

Exploding Sun (2013 TV Movie)

Commercial space flight gone awry

[7/10 · 10 October 2015]

This is a TV movie which is about as good as most. People want this to match science but it is science "fiction" and most reviewers who are lay and some professionals always forget this issue. Compare it to Star Wars, there's nothing believable in any of those stories. Star Trek is the same way from the beginning; TV or movies. What is different with this movie is the modern setting and the film gives a more real life feel to it but it isn't. It is pure fiction therefore nothing in it has to be scientific. This is fantasy and if someone doesn't like the premise of the story it doesn't mean the actors are performing badly. The acting was fine. This movie is about the first commercial space flight to do an excursion around the moon and back to Earth using experimental drives. It's not a documentary or is it advertised to be a docudrama. This is pure science fiction. Obviously it's not a movie that would be released in theaters but it is a disaster movie and if it wasn't, there would be nothing to root for. It explores relationships between the characters and their love ones. I have seen far worse science fiction movies than this one. This is what I do, watch movies. This is an overcome diversity movie. If you like that type of movie you'll love this one. Most reviews here are too harsh. If one is looking for science fact, watch a documentary. This movie is fantasy and doesn't need to be based in any science fact, just be entertaining. There is a definite sub plot; how to get the spaceship back to Earth. They have a side issue of one of the characters I won't go into based in a medical care facility helping people in Pakistan. It deals with the reason one of the passengers went on the flight to draw attention to their cause. They aren't able to save those on the space flight and the consequences of it crashing into the sun is the main plot of the movie due to the sun activity that drew the ship there.

Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)

Vampire love story

[5/10 · 29 August 2015]

The movie was quite overblown in comparison to the book. The book Dracula was never popular but when the idea of vampires became in vogue there was a resurgence of interest. The book in no way is linked to Vlad Tepes. Stoker used the word Dracula as the characters name because of its basic meaning and not because of a person. This is a point that shows that Coppola did very little research on the book and went along with previously believed ideas that have been debunked.

The choice of actors to portray the parts was not a good one. Winona Rider is a good actress but didn't fit the part of Mina in my opinion. Both Oldman and Hopkins over-act throughout the whole movie. It is an opulent and stunning rendition but too much for my liking and why I gave it a lower vote. It isn't enough to make it a good movie if the title is Bram Stoker's Dracula since it is Coppola's idea of the character Stoker created and is only partly true to the book. I realize it is only an adaptation but if one is calling it Bram Stoker's then the idea of Vlad the Impaler should have been left out of the story line.

The character in the book is Hungarian and of a warrior class and not Romanian at all. At the time the book was written, Transylvania was not part of Romania. Another thing that comes up is garlic but it was garlands of garlic flowers, not cloves that are mentioned in the book and should have been used in the movie. I did see some flowers around Lucy's neck but also the cloves which isn't correct.

In the book a box comes for Van Helsing containing garlic flowers which he uses to protect Lucy. "Garlic flowers are essentially the flowering seeds of the garlic plant. They emerge at the tip of the garlic's above-ground stem." In the case of the book, it was white garlic flowers and not the cloves. The essence of the story does have to be gleaned since the book is written in epistolary style and why it wasn't that popular. The overall movie is fine but not the best vampire movie compared to many others. Anne Rice was mentioned but there were books well before hers where vampires burst into flame. It became a popular idea used by many writers just not in this story, although it has been used in some theatrical versions of the book.

Overall, if you like a fanciful version of Stoker's story this would be the one.

Tomorrowland (2015)

Fantasy, overcome obstacles for a better future.

[8/10 · 10 June 2015]

People are writing the "worst movie I ever saw." How many of these worst movies can exist? Tomorrowland is not the worst movie ever made in fact it is a very good fantasy movie. Yes, it is science fiction but more towards the fantasy end of things. I think Disney spent too much on the movie. Movies will succeed with far less special effects but in the case of this one in particular I don't believe that idea holds up. I'm not going to do what has become so cliché by those who write reviews, compare it to any other movies as far as storyline, because it's not like any other movie I have ever seen and I have seen hundreds. There were nostalgic bits I really liked reminiscent of first going to Disneyland after it opened. That would enhance it for anyone who is a baby boomer.

This movie is being highly underrated. The number one thing wrong with it was casting George Clooney. He's a very lowkey actor and not suited to action and looking old and haggard. Maybe that's how they wanted him to look, I don't know. They needed a mature actor but one with more life in him. He is hardly the best looking older actor and not that popular among the younger set which this movie was set to appeal to. I was turned off as soon as I saw he was starring in the movie. He needs to be cast in movies far from those that have a lot of action and if he wants to remain in the forefront of things keep himself up.

The fact a company doesn't make back all the money they spent initially doesn't mean the movie bombed. They'll make it all back eventually in sales of the movie. The premise was fine and if people didn't appreciate the storyline then it is on them. If Hugo could be nominated for an academy award in best picture and it was awful, this one far exceeds that movie.

Anyone who went to see this movie and saw the trailer knew this was geared for kids. I like these types of Disney movies. Out of the Woods did well but I hated it. This one I liked so those who are saying this is an awful movie, all I have to say to everyone else is this movie is more akin to a Jules Verne type of movie in my opinion...old school. If you don't like the older style of scifi movies, I guess you won't like this one. It doesn't matter if other movies have had jetpacks or anything else. What matters is how it is used in this story and it was used well. It's long but so are many movies these days. I'm beginning to think many people are jaded by the blood and guts movies they have been watching. There have been too many zombie movies and people keep rushing into see mindless movies; chase, fear, gore and endless trying to find a safe haven or cure the problem. They are all pretty much alike except the actors. It's like Jupiter Ascending, lots of special effects and the number one problem is casting the lead role. Mila Kunis is a good actress and a cutie but she was wrong for that movie. They need to do the casting with common sense and not with who happens to be popular and will draw in a huge audience. If they are miscast it will stick out like a sore thumb and George Clooney was miscast for his part. I liked this movie and the other one despite the casting. People should realize it is not the theaters fault if they don't like a movie. No one should be asking for their money back. Do a little research before taking the kids but you know parents might not like the movie and the kids love it. Bear that in mind before making a choice that affects everyone including the profits of both the theater and Disney because the movie was good despite all the scathing reviews.

I'm not going to give a blow by blow but essentially it's about a man who was taken to a place when he was a child, who has been exiled. He is an inventor from an early age and builds a jetpack that doesn't work quite right as a kid. He's trying to get back to Tomorrowland with the help of a robotic female child and another female child both young teens. Tomorrowland is located in another dimension and with the help of the girl he brings along he believes she holds the key to saving the Earth from doomsday. There of course is much more to the story but this gives one an idea. I liked it and would recommend this movie to anyone with children. Let them decide if they like the movie.

Sunshine (2007)

Space, Save the Earth and Futile Mission

[8/10 · 6 March 2015]

I personally don't compare movies to each other just because something in the premise might be similar. I'm also not going to rehash the plot. What I'm going to say in my review is that this was actually a very unique movie especially considering all the scientific advisers involved, an international cast because most likely in a circumstance portrayed in the movie this would be the case and since English is an International language, it was the most obvious language for the movie to represent. Personally I thought Solaris, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Silent Running were very boring movies especially 2001 which is touted. I'm a hardcore Science Fiction fan and I check out how they made the movie before reviewing. I know many on here think they are science gurus for some reason but when you read the background in the making of the movie those involved are far beyond the opinions of those who do not have the degrees and know very little about what they are talking about. They went to the trouble to give all the actors the most they could to be able to identify with the mission and the flight they would be undertaking in outer space. They also left in the human aspect. I find it odd that the billing for Rose Byrne is given such a high level because she had a very small part in the movie. Cillian Murphy and Chris Evans are the stand outs in this one. When you consider how many lectures, books they read and experiences the cast went through to make this movie, they did an exemplary job in their parts. It wasn't so much who these people were but the task at hand and how they interacted to get the job done, a more than difficult task. This was the most realistic of any I have seen regarding a problem with the sun. There always has to be an antagonist in any story to be viable beyond malfunctions. It was not surprising someone went crazy and became fanatical from a religious point of view when it became clear that their mission was futile, the first mission. Otherwise it would be just another boring space movie. It wasn't a documentary so besides the interactions of the crew from a psychological point of view, there needed to be that little bit of action to move it from boring to interesting. Just because movies cover a similar storyline, it is how they portray it. Ideas are not copyrighted and are not cliché. This word is used far too often. Just because someone got a similar idea about the sun doesn't make the movies identical. Even authors often write on the same topic but they are never portrayed exactly the same. This movie was excellent and for the hardcore science, visual effects or scifi connoisseur. The science behind the movie was rigorously watched given all those that helped make the movie. The visuals were excellent as well as the soundtrack. The ending was fitting for the movie. What more could they show but what the one character told his sister. She knew they had been successful. This is not a campy science fiction movie with joke lines thrown in but a serious movie about a calamity they are trying to fix. Yes it is a save the Earth movie and each and every crew member knows in their heart they will not be going back but they hope regardless. I think this movie is highly underrated and being reviewed by some erroneously because they didn't research the making of it first before the review.

Arctic Blast (2010)

Action packed, science fiction movie, severe cold front that kills

[7/10 · 14 February 2015]

This movie is not meant to be an A movie you would go to see at the theaters. It is meant solely for entertainment value. I really get tired of people who review and constantly say this is "the worst movie I have ever seen." There sure are a lot of worst movies in IMDb, even some that made tons of money. I have seen hundreds of science fiction movies and this one in no way is in the worst category. Be realistic about science fiction. It is not meant to be accurate science and most often show something that man did or nature to start the beginnings of what could be a holocaust on earth. In the case of this movie, it was pollution by man. It doesn't have to be scientifically accurate because it is science "fiction." Mr. Shanks and Mr. Davison are very good actors mostly known for television movies. If this movie did indeed go direct-to-video it most likely had a low budget and was meant only to be for entertainment value and it did indeed supply that. You only need a premise and something to overcome what is happening. If it deals with scientists generally there is one they never listen to until forced, overruled by another scientist or the military, government, etc. This was the basic premise of this movie and a malfunction in the ozone layer. I wouldn't say it is formulaic really. The only other thing that could have happened is aliens arrived to save the day. They wanted people to take the movie somewhat seriously. Suspend all your science knowledge and enjoy movies like this where man survives devastation. A lot of them are made and people seem to enjoy them. Nitpicking them apart solves nothing because they aren't made to win academy awards but merely give an hour or two of entertainment even if limited in some people's viewpoints. This one is another freak of nature type of movie where man overcomes the odds. If you like movies like this you will like this one because there is actually some very good actors in this movie.

Her (2013)

Geeky guy gets love from an artificial personality

[4/10 · 9 February 2015]

I gave this a four because the acting was pretty good given the nature of the story. Personally I don't understand the high ratings for this movie. It bombed at the box office. There is something going on I don't understand. Movies that are loved and make huge amounts of money are rated low by a lot of people and those no one goes to see are rated high by a minority of people and critics. This movie is totally inane. It could happen in the future I'm sure the way our technology is progressing, but even so this is a stretch. As for dialog, this is how people actually talk to each other. It isn't profound and people often ask if the other one is OK and the common answer, right or wrong, is "I'm fine." The movie shows how humans actually interact; its very redundant and not entertaining.

Juaquin Phoenix is a good actor but not a very attractive one so he needs the right platform to succeed. This wasn't one of them in my opinion. I felt like I was eavesdropping on a home movie. His reactions and behaviors with his friends were hokey and unbelievable. I was bored watching this movie. I don't care about predictability but how a story is told from beginning to end. I hated the score and felt it made the movie worse. The character, Theodore, loved to be sad. Everything he did seemed to lead to that conclusion with everyone he was close with. If this director is considered great, I wonder who is considered bad because I thought this was an awful, unappealing, boring movie. The box office sales back me up. If you like slow paced unbelievable drivel then this is the movie for you. The premise of a man falling in love with his computer's operating system is not unique. This has been done in a variety of ways. The song with the ukelele was absolutely awful.

Their ending was sad but there really wasn't an ending because no real explanation was given that the average person could understand. It was too artsy to be successful except as a cult-type movie. I didn't like this movie or the casting. The music was annoying and I'm surprised I didn't turn it off. I have watched hundreds of movies but I have to put this on my worst list with a lot of others.

The Eleventh Victim (2012 TV Movie)

Serial Murderer haunting an ex DA.

[7/10 · 5 February 2015]

This by no means is a bad movie. Jennie Garth is a TV actress in a movie from Lifetime. It is a television movie and not a major motion picture that would be shown in theaters. It is meant to entertain only and that is what it does. I don't believe this would appeal to most men because it has a female lead who is strong but haunted by the violence and an incident with a very heinous murderer in court. Most Lifetime and LMN movies are basically geared toward a female audience. I have seen many movies of this type and this one is no worse. I write and I didn't see anything wrong with the plot or the characters. The acting is fine for the parts they are playing. It is actually very straight forward about a psychopathic serial killer who becomes obsessed with getting even with his prosecutor. Now this isn't a new idea but it doesn't need to be. It's how it is portrayed within the movie. There is no way any movie or novel is likely these days to come up with anything new or improved that hasn't been done one way or another, yet this had a secret that comes out in the end. I like Jennie Garth and she does a good job in the movie as well as the supporting cast. Cunningham is a good villain in this movie and is believably deranged. I think many of the reviewers simply have no expertise in writing, film making or judging acting. Be that as it may, the movie is average, entertaining for a little over an hour. I believe it deserves a better rating than most are giving and it is not a bad film. It all depends on the taste of the individual watching. If you like simple murder mystery psychological thrillers with a pretty straight forward plot you will be entertained by this one.

Amber (2014)

Girl gone missing and the tangled life she and her family led.

[8/10 · 2 February 2015]

I gave "Amber" a higher score than some. I have watched this twice and from what I can tell, someone snatched her between where she got off the train to where she was walking to catch the other one going back because she missed her stop. There is no way to know who but the last scene made it evident she had died. The fact that her light was found in the river only reinforced the idea she had been murdered. No young girl should go by herself anywhere in any country these days.

The acting was very good and the idea of the story good but the use of the flashbacks is getting tiresome to most people these days like found footage. I believe the intention was to write more episodes so they left everyone with the semblance of an ending left to one's own imagination. The father character was the only one I didn't like. He was a bit over the top and totally unlikeable. Therefore, he was a character that didn't arouse sympathy for his reaction to his daughter's disappearance. The actor was good but I didn't like the father characterized as a totally self absorbed bad person. He did with his zealousness, help find other girls who were still alive by what he did but he was far too impulsive; over the top for my tastes. This show should have been continued and time and time again I see networks in various countries making a mistake by not continuing a story and this is one that falls under that category. I don't think it is a waste of time watching the show because I believe they didn't necessarily write it about the missing girl but how her being missing impacted those related to the issue. It's not that long and not a waste of time. Dramatically I thought it superb but frustrating because of too many flashbacks and no real conclusion since it was not continued. If you can live with these things it is worth watching.

Total Recall (I) (2012)

Reoccuring dreams, memory loss, reality check and action packed

[9/10 · 1 February 2015]

Total Recall with Colin Farrell is not a remake, it is another interpretation of the short story that Philip K. Dick wrote. There is no harm in making another version later down the line. The first movie was geared for Arnold. It follows the short story very loosely. I wish they had used the original title for this one but it is sort of hokey.

The acting was fine and being that it stems from a short story the writers or writer of the screenplay has to extend the story in some direction. One thing this movie did was follow the fact that the main character wants to go to Mars and that is why he goes to Rekal, pronounced Recall, where they find out he has been there but they don't take him to Mars because in the original story it doesn't go that direction. It is merely a memory. It is futuristic as both movies. The Jimmy car is similar to something in the story and they eliminate it in the second movie but over all it follows the story much better. The short story does have humor but not the stuff that was tailor made for Schwarzenegger. This adaptation was geared to hardcore science fiction which was appealing to me.

Neither film brought in the element of aliens. I was hoping when I watched this version of the story, not a remake but another adaptation, they would bring that into the mix. It is something included in the short story. They did certain things as tokens to the fans of the first movie but people need to understand the first one didn't follow the story that much. I wonder why a writer writes when someone takes their story and makes it so extremely different. This film seemed closer to me and did make one, by the ending, wonder if he was still at Recall. I think it flopped due to expectations of how the movie should be. At least there was more background information in this one. Beckinsale's part encompassed two characters from the first movie and that is why she was chasing after him so frequently. If you saw the movie you know why. I really like the movie and I think it was doomed by the first one and people assuming it was a remake rather than just another adaptation of the short story instead. I noticed they continued with the name Douglas Quaid name instead of the original Douglas Quail. The special effects were great and the action. If you don't like action movies then I guess it's not for you but considering how many action movies do well at the box office I have to assume that people didn't want this movie to succeed even though it was really good. I saw no one stumbling over dialog or what I would consider bad dialog considering the nature of the storyline. I personally like the movie even though I am not a big fan of Colin Farrell, I think he did well in this interpretation of "We Can Remember It for You Wholesale."

The Day After (1983 TV Movie)

Reaction to a nuclear attack in Kansas/Missouri

[9/10 · 31 January 2015]

If one reads the background on the making of this movie they would know it took a hatchet job before it could air. They did use footage from actually nuclear explosions, but some they had to create because of the government in the US and the censors. Things were different in the 80s from what they allow now in the 21st Century. It was long enough originally to be a miniseries. They didn't believe people could handle the truth although they portrayed enough to cause many to be panicked.

The acting was very good and the impact as well. It would be nice if they could piece this together and rebroadcast it in total. It is a reality check for most these days. This is only a small part of what could happen if there was a nuclear war. It tries to show that in no uncertain terms should anyone contemplate nuclear war. These are not atomic weapons but much more than that. The Day After, we would be our own worst enemy. It would be survival of the fittest and the ones who prepared for the worst. The fact that this movie only has a rating of 7 is unconscionable. It should at least be at a 9. It wasn't the fault of those who wrote the script and produced this movie that the government and the sensors caused it to be edited the way it was. This is why there are varying running times because when released for public purchase, certain versions had different running lengths and some that went to other countries. This movie is well worth watching to get an idea of what would happen after the initial strike. It is well done and all involved did a great job of acting and showing the drastic affects of nuclear war and the subsequent nuclear winter and contamination. It is still apparent that many have no idea about the consequences of a nuclear attack or how to survive. I don't think that has changed since they made this movie. Everyone should watch this and quit looking for goofs because they had numerous advisers on every facet of the movie. The movie should leave most people in tears so be prepared.

Wanted (2008)

Secret Society of assassins who vie for power

[9/10 · 29 January 2015]

Sometimes I wonder what people are thinking when they review movies here. This one did fabulous at the box office. It's a good scifi/fantasy, action movie. The fact it had James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie says a lot. It is not supposed to be taken seriously but as a comic book fantasy. I thought the weaving was very clever. It deals with fate and in Norse mythology you have the weavers, the Norns who control fate. They are connected to what is called Wyrd. I assume one of them knows something about this and loosely brought that idea into the story.

"Wyrd is a feminine noun, and its Norse cognate urðr, besides meaning "fate", is the name of one of the Norns. Between themselves, the Norns weave fate or ørlǫg (from ór "out, from, beyond" and lǫg "law", and may be interpreted literally as "beyond law"). According to Voluspa 20, the three Norns "set up the laws", "decided on the lives of the children of time" They are often called the weavers. Anyway I related to that when I saw the weaving going on and how it was connected to fate. One would have to know this mythology I suspect to get that. In my mind, they adapted that into a modern action/fantasy story. It doesn't have to follow any laws of physics or anything else because it is not meant to be factual but just a good story which it was. This movie is being so under-rated yet, the Matrix always gets applauded and it is just another action fantasy story. They are not alike except they both have great special effects.

If you like action and the unbelievable in a story that comes directly from a comic book then this is a good one. I'm not going to tell much more because it will spoil it for those who haven't seen the movie. Just enjoy it and don't try to make it connect to the real world. You have to listen closely and watch because there is subtle information imparted during the movie that makes the plot clearer. Most critics reviewed it pretty well. It is non critics that are making very bad reviews which should be disregarded. If you don't like the action type of movies don't watch this one because something is happening through the whole of the movie. McAvoy is outstanding in the movie!!!

Divergent (2014)

Young adults, developing love, disintegration of dystopian society

[8/10 · 25 December 2014]

When I sat down to watch this movie I wasn't sure at first if I would like it but I actually did. I'm not fond of dystopian civilization movies but this one was very good once there was momentum to the storyline. This is a trilogy so the first movie is setting it up for the other two movies or four if they divide the last book into two parts, which has become the standard for a series of books. People need to do a little research before going to see a movie like this. The book was published by Harper/Collins Children's Books, knowing that the novel is geared either for children or young adults. In this case, it was for young adults and that doesn't mean it is to attract fourteen year old teens. People keep bringing up Twilight and this isn't the same type of science fiction story at all. The other is more towards horror and this is not. Besides Twilight was wildly popular and with people of all ages. Those that didn't like the series are in the minority. My daughter was a manager at a movie theater when they were all released and they filled several at each opening and it wasn't all teens.

Divergent is a futuristic society that is after some cataclysm which can be natural or a war and in this case it was a war. People ended up divided by nature but some didn't fit into one category and this threatens this particular society. They kept the story in one city and how they resolved what happened to them and not all over the world. The cast was excellent and I saw no problem with the acting. There will be similarities with other stories of this type if they are based on a dystopian society. This one is nothing like the Hunger Games whatsoever. It follows its own storyline which is quite different but after a great cataclysm how the society was functioning. Don't go if you can't deal with the main actors being young. There were many adults in the movie with major parts and covered by very well known actors. This movie was about going through a test and getting placed in a segment of their society although you were free to choose regardless of the results of the test and once chosen that was it for life.

I enjoyed this movie and I'm a senior. I don't think there is any age preference to watching movies. The subject matter was very serious and very adult oriented. I await the next segment which if as good will have me watching until the last movie as I did Twilight and Harry Potter. This movie did very well at the box office and the reviews are mixed by professional critics. I am not paying much attention to reviews here who are not professional, because most of them are predictable because this side of science fiction is either you hate it or you love it generally speaking and I didn't love it but I thought it was a good movie and very creative. Even though I have seen dystopian movies in the past this one was inventive on many levels. If you know you don't like this type of movie don't do reviews and compare to every other movie with a young cast. The age of the cast isn't relevant it is the reason for them that is relevant, the place they fill in the society being represented. The movie shows how one got placed into the various societal groups when you reached the appropriate age and what they went through in a few of them by the choices they made. It was rigid and the movie showed how it was falling apart because there was no room for change and growth and rivalries began to form. It's violent like other movies of this type, so be prepared for a less than homey atmosphere in the future society created in this story.

Darkness (2002)

Teenage angst, mystery and the occult

[8/10 · 11 December 2014]

I saw this movie when it came out in the theaters in the United States and it was eerie then. I just watched it again. This movie is very clever and unique. It is nothing like Lovecraft and why someone brought that up I don't know. I understand it was toned down for American distribution. I found the subtle entry of the ghosts to be scary but I wouldn't consider the movie exactly a horror movie. It was more of an occult, supernatural thriller. The fact that the father is back into the house where a brutal ritual took place and he was part of it takes the focus to the dad being the antagonist of the film. That is revealed subtly near the end. Anna very ably does her part to uncover what is going on in the house but trusts the wrong person until realization sets in due to her father dying of a serious illness that affects his behavior and mood. Each time I have watched this I have been thoroughly entertained. I find no fault in it and those who like subtle slow build up supernatural thrillers will like this movie. It isn't like any other movie I have watched of its type and I have watched numerous. Why it is being panned is a puzzle to me.

Rosewood Lane (2011)

Suspense, murder, mystery

[8/10 · 10 December 2014]

I don't see this movie as a bad one at all. I am not going to rehash the movie because many have given a synopsis but this area is for reviews and not a synopsis of the storyline. This was a very eerie movie and not at all boring. I wouldn't call it a horror movie but a psychological thriller. Many in this genre have murdering psychopaths within them. Even though the story could be glossed over as reminiscent of this or that movie it still had it's own differences. Movies like this always have the characters doing something that the average person would not. They have to have that to move the story forward. I guess I'm the only one that noticed at the end, there was one who died, one who was only hurt and another not hurt at all. There appeared to be three of them. So to me there were three brothers who were identical and were doing all of these things. This explained why the old man said he saw him doing things a normal person couldn't because there wasn't just one. There were three, triplets. Whether it was one that could divide up supernaturally, that was never covered in this story and since one actually died I came to the conclusion by the ending there were three of them related to each other causing all the mayhem. They were all crazy and working together to terrorize first the father and next the daughter when she moved into her father's house. Obviously the whole town was scared of him (them) because they couldn't figure out how they could do some of the things like be in three places almost at the same time. The ending explained it.

The acting was very good and Rose McGowan was an excellent choice for the lead. As for the actor playing the paperboy looking too old, I have seen seventeen year-old young men that big and looking that old. Slicing and dicing all of the reasons they chose these actors particularly isn't helpful in a review. They wanted the characters to look a little off. It made you wonder what was going on and if there was something supernatural happening. I came to the conclusion there was not. There wasn't enough information to make one think so other than he was psychopathic. The conclusion explained why he could be on the phone and then be killing someone in the house. The character bled and could be hurt but it wasn't always the same person. I liked the movie and was never bored and on the edge of my seat. It isn't especially graphic which I liked. It could be that they had been separated at birth and found each other. I think they mentioned he had been adopted. I would have to watch it a second time I think to get all the details. The story left you wondering if the paperboy was a supernatural person or not. I decided that was what they wanted you to wonder and that the character was using the fact that no one realized there was more than one of them to terrorize the people of the town and Rose McGowan in particular. I am going to watch it again and see if I missed anything, because I thought the movie was very good. Not a prize winner but entertaining.

Scandal (2012– )

Political thriller

[9/10 · 21 November 2014]

I have watched hundreds of television shows on the networks over the years but this one even though about Washington politics, is very slick. I saw someone say they speak too fast but I don't agree besides one can turn on close caption to follow if they have a difficult time. I'm elderly and have no trouble following what they are saying. The acting is great and the chemistry of all the actors very good. Characters are written to be a certain way and that is that. The actors have a director and who wouldn't be naive about a secret organization with more power than the Presidential office. The show doesn't have to be plausible because it is a work of fiction period. Kerry Washington is amazing as a strong, savvy women that helps people solve things...fixers. I have watched most of the segments back to back so it's far easier than waiting for the next episode or season to follow the story. I love the way things twist and sometimes I can guess. If you are a person who watches a lot of suspense and mystery shows or reads books it doesn't get that difficult. That doesn't mean it's predictable or cliché. There are only so many things one can do to make a story twist and still be cohesive. This show keeps you on the edge of your seat, it has clandestine romance and big politics showing the seamier side of things. Some things are based on real happenings with false conclusions which is as it should be. It shows the strength and the weaknesses of the characters and flashbacks so you understand why in the present they are doing what they are doing. It unfolds slowly because of all the cast members. Many times I have found myself laughing because some scenes are humorous on purpose to cut the seriousness of some of the issues they are portraying. I don't know what people want but if this isn't your cup of tea it doesn't mean the show is bad because it is not, it is an exceptional series. If you don't like espionage, spies, murders and illicit relationships then don't watch this show. It is for adults plain and simple and all of the actors gel together superbly.