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Rim of the World (2019)
Needs more trucks
Due to the extreme number of plot holes in this sham of a film I would liek to see more trucks to plug them up. I have to assume they were going for an 80's goonies type film but this clearly misses the mark. the only likable character in this film is Zhen Zhen. Obviously nobody wants to give McG enough money to do a decent film any more.
Zero Charisma (2013)
I good movie with heart
I see that some people are offended by this film. I can only guess that it is just a bit too close to home for them. The main character is both unlikable and pitiable in many ways. Some of us grew up identifying with the character. His journey forward requiring him to examine who he is and what his friends mean to him is an interesting one. I liked the ending and found the last scene both poignant and eye opening with the character showing his true self. While this movie is not for everyone I think it is an interesting study in how other perceive gamers and how they perceive themselves. In the long run are they really any more pathetic than the hipsters, jocks, or popular kids?
Conan the Barbarian (2011)
Oh My God...It is time to bring out the pitchforks and torches.
First off let me preface that I am a movie junkie. I rarely hate a movie and will find as much good as I can in one. My friends feel that I love everything regardless of merit. That being said I have to state that this movie was the WORST film I have seen in decades. After about 1n hour and 20 minutes I got up, walked out and got a refund. The last movie I did that for was the awful Bo Derek Tarzan movie. This movie has NOTHING to do with Conan. The writers should never be allowed to work in cinema again if this is the kind of trash they are going to pass off. I can understand being lazy and not wanting to some up with something new but to take something established and just crap all over it and expect to get paid for it is beyond belief. Most of the casting was terrible. There are actors in this movie which are fine in the right film but this movie was not one of them. The story thinks that by using the name Conan and mentioning the heart of the elephant in passing that they have done their due diligence. The characters are as flat as they can be and when talking about Conan this says something. Conan in the books is VERY 2 dimensional so I expected that. This movie in fact makes them 1 dimensional. The speech patterns are reminiscent of any modern "look at how hip we are" movie, and the story has nothing to do with any kind of real plot. The costuming is atrocious and the music is a cacophony which only serves to distract and usually can't even manage that. I would wholly recommend that all actors involved in this have their names removed and the people who actually wrote directed and made this abortion never be paid to foist off this awful awful garbage on an unsuspecting public again. Free would be too expensive to see this. When you check your watch 4 times in the first hour it is time to throw in the towel.
Gentlemen Broncos (2009)
Great Movie!
Well I had not heard of this movie when I saw it at the store. I picked it up on a whim and really loved it. I think that this one rivals Napolean Dynamite for its surreal world view. I can see both of them happening in the same world. The snake scene almost had me falling out of my chair and the actor playing Chevalier was excellent. I loved watching the interpretations of the book throughout. I would recommend this to people with a quirky sense of humor. People who hate everything anyway won't like this any more. I am looking forward to more work from Jared Hess and his oddball casting. The music fit well and the titles while reminiscent of Napolean Dynamite were still interesting and funny and set up the mindset of the rest of the movie.
Castle (2009)
An excellent series
Well once again we have an excellent series on televisions. Let's hope that the suits can pay enough attention and not let this one die and early death as well. I am normally not one for cop shows or mysteries but the chemistry between Fillion and Katic is very good. I even try to figure out whodunnit during the show. I have to admit I haven't been surprised by the twists very often but that doesn't really matter. Nathan Fillion is a total rogue. Had Star Wars been made in this century he would have been an excellent Han Solo. Katic is attractive without being unbelievable and a good hard foil to his rakishness. It is nice to see a single father portrayed as a good and responsible dad and his mother is an absolute hoot. I am looking forward to several (if not more) season of this show but I am sure that it will go the way of Pushing Daisies, Firefly and the Dresden files as a show that I really like which can't survive because it is not a reality based piece of junk. After all we must always write for the trailer trash public rather than the intelligent since they can always go read a book.
Dead Like Me: Life After Death (2009)
Almost perfect
When I heard this was coming out I was totally stoked. This show ranks with Firefly as one of the great shows that the suits have killed for their sadistic glee. That being said I picked it up an watched it with my wife last night. The movie feels a bit different from the series but I was most struck by the hole left through the loss of Rube, Der Waffle House, and the changing of the actress who played Daisy. Rube and Der Waffle House I can understand as the movie is about change and moving forward. The Daisy thing felt like the quick switch they tried with Saavik in the Star Trek Movies. The new girl felt more like a has been actress than Daisy did and just didn't pull of her devil may care sunny disposition. I was surprised to see Georges sister all grown up since it didn't feel like 5 years had gone by, but that fits with he story as well. Overall the movie did an excellent job of showing the pain of reconciling loss and moving forward with your life and I hope to see more of these in the future. An excellent job all around.
Happily N'Ever After (2006)
all I can say is WOW!
This movie was terrible. The animation reminded me of those low budget Barbie movies, and the plot was about as original. I am normally a HUGE fan of CGI films but this was was stinky to the core. The jokes weren't funny, the animation was bad, the modeling was blocky and unrealistic. Too bad really with such a great lineup of actors this could have been a worthwhile film.
I would say that you could rent this cheap but DO NOT let your kids talk you into getting this stinker on DVD. I have only ever given a few movies on DVD away because they were bad and this is one I was considering dumping even before the credits. Save yourselves! It is too late for me...
The Lost Room (2006)
Excellent storytelling - a must own for DVD
I decided to watch this since the premise seemed fairly original. I was totally blown away! This show should be made into a series. Luckily they left the end open enough that we might actually see that in the future. With shows about superheroes becoming more and more common it is nice to see a storyline that allows those powers (useful and not so useful) able to transfer from one person to another. Excellent casting and set design. Kevin Pollak shines as an object collector obsessed to the point that he will sacrifice the world to get what he wants. Julianna Margulies is also excellent. It is nice to see her on something since ER. I was never quite sure if I should trust her completely or not since the objects seem to prove that power corrupts even when you have what you think are the best interests at heart. A must own on DVD when it finally comes out.
Fantastic Four (2005)
Enjoyable romp through the comics
I have been a fan for years and felt this movie captured the essence of FF. Those who don't like the movie are obviously the types who hate any movie that was not directed by them or did not come to their houses asking their opinion. After the debacle that was Daredevil I thought this movie got it right. The action was well paced and the skills were well represented. Mr. Fantastic is an easy character to make look like a cheap Stretch Armstrong ripoff but they did him quite well. Overall a great movie for both kids and adults!
While it is not Batman Begins, I would not take my 6 year old to that. This was one movie that I could take her to without worrying too much. She thought it was great as well.