Change Your Image
stacm-white_06
Reviews
Strangerland (2015)
?? Watched the end twice to be sure.
Seriously. I backed it up, assuming that I surely MUST have missed something. Nope. Nothing there to miss. It's like the Winchester house- stairways to no where and rooms with no door. Might look kind of interesting w/ some neat architecture, but serves absolutely zero purpose and was nothing but a fever dream. Just plain odd.
Nothing wrong w the acting. Too bad they didn't have anything more to work with. The movie even manages to keep your attention with multiple appetizers while you wait for the main course. In the end you're left with so many loose ends that it feels like the spool was re-wound at some point without telling you, and you can't figure out why so many little pieces and parts are all left cut apart. Were you saving it for later? Later never came. All I ever got was peanuts and tortilla chips.
The Lady Vanishes (2013)
Painstakingly slow and grossly pretentious
It took me 3 attempts to finally get all the way through this movie. I kept hoping there was a reason to endure it. Nope. The only character you even want to like is the missing old lady. I've seen high school plays more engaging. I don't care what it was SUPPOSED to be (the story and old movie) it was drivel. How does this get above a 5 rating? Most of the acting is so-so. It's choppy. The writing awful. Characters shallow. Scenes 2 dimensional. I love period pieces and usually find some enjoyment from the props, costumes, hair, customs of the time, history. But none of that even drew me out of the drudgery. All I could focus on was the constant gnawing question, "What am I supposed to be watching?" I wasn't missing anything. There was nothing to miss. The entire movie should've been a half an hour short, and even then it would be a relatively boring half hour.
Extraordinary People: The Woman with 7 Personalities (2004)
Now some insight from an actual Multiple
Look...I don't care how 'interested' you are in psychology, how 'fascinated' someone is with DID (It is Dissociative IDENTITY Disorder, not Dissociative 'personality' disorder. Start with that). In fact, it often seems to me that those most 'fascinated' by what they THINK DID should look like are the ones usually vastly disappointed by the real thing. Why? Because it doesn't look like Sybil or the Exorcist. I rate this from the perspective of an actual MULTIPLE who is here to tell you that those of us who actually live with it are so sick to death over trash like Split and Identity and whatever excrement Hollywood cranks out, that we welcome more documentarian efforts like this one. Are you all seriously rating this with the beef that it wasn't 'directed' very well? That the director who said she was a friend doesn't seem very friendly with Helen? So what? This woman did Helen and all Multiples a favor by putting something out there that is trying to bring awareness and enlightenment to a condition that people have because they've suffered unspeakable, severe trauma since before they even had a 'me'. Multiplicity only comes to be when a VERY young child endures evils most can't imagine. So please don't say you're very 'interested' in 'Psychology' and act like you know what it SHOULD look like, while picking apart Helen and her alters, making your not even amateur judgement that it is or is not real. Let me clue you in on something about DID and OSDD (ya...go look that one up if you really want to learn something): It is messy. It doesn't follow a protocol. It doesn't look or act or behave exactly the same for all people with Multiplicity. You are dealing with PEOPLE here. People who went through their OWN, very personal traumas. There is no such thing as 'the same thing' with Complex trauma and Dissociative Disorders.
The degree of trauma, types of trauma, ages during the traumas, support and validation by others or LACK thereof, the degree of amnesia one has, etc etc, all factor in to what any one system may look like. There will be differences. But I guarantee you that this is real and it does a much better service to Multiples than the crud you THINK you know about DID and what you EXPECT to see for entertainment purposes. Sorry this tiny budget, two woman show documentary wasn't as entertaining as a multimillion dollar box office hit. If you want to be fascinated and entertained, stick with the excrement. If you truly are interested and want to LEARN about the condition, watch things like this and The Many Sides of Jane. If you are not at least a Masters level, better yet PhD Psychologist or a Psychiatrist, OR someone who actually IS Multiple.....save your 'expert opinions' about the validity of Helens DID. Even many of them get it wrong. Flat earthers are still stuck in the 1980's, decrying iatrogenic and 'fake' and worried about false memories, etc. Can alters actually be called to 'front'? For some, YES, they can and do respond to people they trust. No, it is not always unpredictable and rapid 'rolodexing'/switching at random. Helen probably didn't 'refuse' to talk, she probably legitimately doesn't have access to the memory, emotions or context of some aspects of her trauma at different times. That is what Dissociation IS by nature. A protective barrier (or several). Read up on the leading experts in the field of Complex Trauma disorders and Dissociative Disorders today. Talk to actual people who have the condition and find out what it really CAN look like and what it usually doesn't look like.
We've come a long way. We still have a longer way to go. But rejecting the real thing while praising the garbage is going the opposite direction. So good for Helen and her system for having the courage to make this! Good for her director and yes, friend, who elucidates for people what it can actually be like. And I'm sorry....you're really worried about how much money the director got from this little snippet?? PLEASE!!! How much did the writers, directors and producers of rubbish like Split get?? Do you care about that? At least this director is telling the truth and spreading awareness while she breaks even or makes a little.
No. I'm sorry. The general public knows nothing about DID. So please...don't pretend to be the critic here on Helen and whether her experiences are real. If you didn't like it and would rather watch Fight Club, then you just want sensationalism, not truth.
Why did I only give it 7? Well because I would have liked to see more involvement from experts in the field and I did think it could be choppy. But so can DID. Overall a wonderful and brave effort by Helen and her director/friend to portray something beautifully horrific in a raw and real way.
Rim of the World (2019)
Mindless excuse for shock value in kids
I would say that this movie is a waste by pretentiously adding in heaping doses of childish versions of smut and excrement, but that would indicate that there was something of substance to it to waste. It's painfully obvious that they were deliberately trying to go out of their way to bombard kids with this crap, and shock any parent conscientious enough to pay attention. It's rated for and geared for the young teen crowd, but it isn't fit for even adults with any kind of palate for class. But hey, you won't be missing much anyway. You want to spank most of the characters. You get stupid aliens attacking. Totally worthless 'staff'. Ya. Great way to waste your life. But then again, I guess that's 'in' these days.
Off Season (2012)
Not Off Season....just...OFF
As the other existing review says, there's simply nothing here. It's boring. You go through the movie aimlessly. There's not really a plot. You don't care about the protagonist at all. Why should we, really? I care more about her 'delivery boy' than her. Cursed money? Give it away. Hated? Go public and give it all to charity! Who knows, but this movie tries to make ....well...a movie, out of nothing. The hauntings? What the heck are they even? Her guilty conscience? A memory of her 'past'? Some message about how it happened? But you never feel that vibe. This is SLOW, boring and shallow. And what the heck is up with the sound?? Everyones a million miles away and in a box. The camera work is poor too. No lighting, ambience or moodiness. No real mystery. Nothing. Not even the 'surprise ending' is a surprise, nor is it even an ending.
Expedition Unknown (2015)
Look...you still learn something!!
I understand some of the lower ratings and their critiques. You get an appetite for answers and actually finding something significant and then....well I guess we'll never really know. Still....the show takes you to places and people that you may otherwise never encounter. It takes the time to provide cultural background and often rich historical information. My 13 yr old daughter loves learning from this show.....and most adults don't know much more than she does about many of the things covered in it. So it certainly isn't a waste of most peoples time. It's much more intellectually minded than most crap on TV today. Ya wanna tune out and watch reruns of Sienfield instead? Josh does well conveying facts while being entertaining. In this show, I think it keeps peoples attention to actually listen to the 'lesson'. Now I cannot say the same for his show 'Destination Truth' which is so very UNlike Expedition Unknown in every way. Don't even try going there. I will always look forward to EU though.
To quell above 'the never find anything' complaints....it seems that, in this season at least, they do. We just saw a reconstruction of what 'may' be Cleopatra.
An overall fascinating show with many learning opportunities.
I much more enjoy Gates in this role than as ghosty guy selling tours of the local haunted house.
Destination Truth (2007)
Uuggghh. An insult to the intelligence that likes Expedition Unknown.
What a polar opposite to Expedition Unknown, which I truly like. EU is based in facts, archaeology, history, evidence. Destination "Truth" is based in....nothing but entertainment factor for ghosty ghoulie fans. Can't hardly stand watching this idiocy, except that once in a while they actually throw in some true culture and history that keeps my attention and makes me think that if I endure the crap, I might learn something worth my time. Big foot, large crocodiles, bats, animal noises, lights, urban and backwoods legends, over stating weather and normal natural obstacles.....all WAY over dramatisized deliberately, for nothing more than suspense to keep really bored people really duped. It's like one show is scientifically based and then....well hell, just in case we don't do well with intelligent, historical science (EU) let's do stupid, drunk hillbilly, sensationalistic bullcrap just in case. That way we get good ratings for EU from one demographic and some good, drug induced thumbs up from....another demographic. Seriously....if you're fascinated by paranormal (and plenty of intelligent, scientific ppl are) there are many other venues which are actually better suited to whet your appetite....that don't presume you're a total idiot.
Flipside....Gates is ingeniously two faced in these shows. He is knowledgeable, level headed, factually in-tuned and a good teacher in Expedition Unknown. It is much less theater and more genuine conveying of real info. Yet he is a silly peddler of tricks and drama in Destination "Truth" and betrays that he really sucks at acting.
Expedition Unknown raises my eyebrow. Destination Crap makes my eyes roll.
The Hateful Eight (2015)
Tries to capture with bizarre, then blows it with pointless sewage
This is classified as a 'mystery, drama, thriller'?? Try raunchy COMEDY.....poor comedy most of the time. Ya....there are some funny scenes. But as one reviewer above said......the first 3rd is fluffy goofiness....almost to draw in the average crowd...then the last 2/3 tries to overcompensate or suddenly 'Shock Jock' the audience by swinging swiftly to the obscene and violent. I can't believe that either Jackson or Russell chose to be associated with and descend into this. It had potential but T. and the crew chose to use this specifically to mislead. It's sort of a turd wrapped in Filet Mignon. The steak is good enough to make you keep eating but by the time you're halfway done with your meal you realize the steak sauce is just liquid feces.
MacGyver (2016)
CBS- Please CANCEL this sacrilege
Utter rubbish. Was a huge fan of MacGyver and this is NOT it. Not even close. Doesn't even try. I watched the majority of one episode and deleted the rest off my DVR without bothering. What on earth made any network think this was airable? Esp with the old cult following of the real MacGyver. Please apologize to Richard Dean Anderson. Dana Elcar is rolling and it insults his memory. Horrible acting....but then there isn't anything serious to act out. This Mac is the antithesis of the real one. Dalton? Where did they come up with this one? As someone else asked...did the writers or producers ever even watch MacGyver. If I want my kids to see MacG, I'll show them the original.
As Above, So Below (2014)
People missing the artful layers of this diamond
The only explanation I can think of as to why a too substantial crowd is giving poor reviews of this powerful film is that they are simply only looking at the shallow. I'm sorry......Descent?? The Tunnel?? Indiana Jones meets horror? National Treasure? And OMG the MOST ridiculous, Harry Potter?? What is the matter with people? Did the topic of the Flamel Stone trip you up? Alchemy existed long before J.K. Rowlings pre-teen interpretation. Did the barrage of bad 'found footage' crap just turn brains off? I have yet to read a review, even a good one, that touches much at all on the nuances here. I like horror but I don't have much respect at all for a plot less, mindless, slasher, insult to intelligence that is a majority of the genre. Here....well....you have to know a little before you 'get' it. Classical mythology, religious studies, human nature, philosophy, perception, and oh my word.....has NO ONE ever read Dantes Inferno??? The symbology is deep. The processes and the order in which they occur are rich with meaning. You just have to know how to find it and learn how to critique a movie (or book or any work of art) on more than just surface crap. 'Lame main female character', 'unoriginal', 'horrible shaky camera' (Uh....intended!), 'Tomb Raiderish'. Please, please at least give this a chance and try to figure it out for yourself. Look beneath the surface....below (pun fits whether intended or not), the camera, the girls, the 20 somethings, the ridiculous comparisons to utterly abominable references, and let your mind work on this one. Let yourself question your own perception, point of reference, assumptions, hang ups. I have not watched a 'horror/thriller' movie in years that I could walk away from feeling that the writers and producers actually gave me the benefit of the doubt of having respectable intelligence. This was a very pleasantly disturbing wreck to my nerves....and one I will never forget. Am certain I can give it a few days, watch again and find another gem I missed. What a wonderful surprise from a movie I expected little of. And perhaps therein lies the problem with too many opinions of this....you had way too LOW, high expectations and forced the film into them instead of thinking outside the limited box. Have never felt need to speak on behalf of a horror flick before. But then to even classify it as such..... People have just lowered their standards for what that even means. Is it perfect? No. There are certainly some things that could've been a little bit less 'bare minimum', But it's one of the closest I've seen. The build up is ingenious. The unique representations of evils and even the jump-scares, are another level entirely. Oh and....watch this in the dark with headphones! Even the sounds are straight out of classical lit and add yet another layer of just plain creepy.
Wild (2014)
Took 5 minutes to doubt and 10 to give up
Wow! Not a thing like I expected. Especially of Reese Witherspoon, of whom my opinion has just tanked. My fault for thinking she had integrity and wisdom. Characters a total twit. It would be utterly impossible for such an ill prepared, inexperienced, clueless ditz to ever survive the PCT. What a discredit to the people who actually have and do. She couldn't fare more than minimally at ANY multiple day pack. Aside from that there is the typical plummet in artistic and virtuous content....and lets face it, it's pretty hard to be inspirational while being devoid of either. Tasteless (and beyond irrelevant to damaging character empathy) smut, drugs, shallow unimaginative rank language.....oh yay, what entertainment! Nope. I have much higher standards...esp as someone who's actually packed. And I admit I probably couldn't do the PCT even with company. Disappointment on every front, but mostly in the actress/artist I thought RW to be. Big question mark on her radar.
Secret Cutting (2000)
from a cutter- this film helps dispel myths
As a cutter and one with mental health issues, I have been everything from disenchanted to outright offended by Hollywood portrayals of such conditions for the sole purpose of being entertaining and making money. Most films/shows about mental illnesses (and it's symptoms, like cutting) have done much more harm than good. Self injury remains today one of thee most stigmatized coping behaviors. I experienced the ridicule and shame at school that the main character experiences in this film. That was 24 years ago! In 24 years our culture has hardly moved forward at all. I went all of my adult life as an 'X'cutter..until my past caught up with me. Today I'm an adult cutter. Talk about UNHEARD of! It's not just a teenage thing. It is not uncommon for one with childhood abuse. Here's an example of a misunderstanding that persists from one of the commentators here: "how she acted on her psychotic tendencies to destroy her body". Cutting....is NOT psychotic. Do you know what psychotic means? Totally out of touch with reality. Insane. Episodes that schizophrenics have, or someone who is having a severely manic episode of bipolar. Seeing hallucinations, hearing voices outside your head. Those things are psychotic. But the inability to speak emotions and tolerate them...to the point of having to find an extreme coping mechanism like cutting, is not psychotic, it's resourceful. Down to it: Aside from other comments here from other cutters, which I shall respect as I don't speak for them all. I did not let myself get hung up on the 'quality' of acting...or seek to find fault with small details. I instead appreciated the fact that several myths about self injury were dispelled in this film. 1. Self injury is NOT suicide. In fact, it often prevents one from suicide. 2. It is NOT a ploy for attention. A large majority of SI'ers go out of their way to keep scars hidden. Whether they're personally ashamed of them or not, they know that others will shame them. 3. Self injury is NOT a behavior that one most could stop if they just wanted to badly enough. In fact, it can and does become repetitive. Whether because one actually becomes 'addicted' to a somewhat euphoric after state or...if just because it really does WORK to accomplish jolting one out of dissociated states, distracting from inner pain, letting out of anger...etc. If it works...you'll do it again. As I said, it is resourceful...i.e. useful. Most can and will only stop if other, better resources are made available first. Verbal communication, safe environment to express strong emotions, etc. and facing of the root pain. These are resources that they likely don't have or they wouldn't have started to begin with. So whether you liked the quality of acting or not...or thought the main character here was melodramatic about her immediate response to cutting...is beside the point. The film accomplished something no other has to my knowledge. It raised awareness and dispelled myths....and for that...as a cutter (NOT mutilator please, that's another myth)...I am grateful for any and all accurate information they did give here in this film. Is it short of the mark? Sure. But it's a lot closer. Now maybe someone will come out with one about adult survivors of CSA and show that cutting is not just a teenage thing. Maybe. Til then, I'll keep my sleeves down while I salute the makers of this film for their efforts.