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Reviews
Debris (2021)
Excellent show! Too bad it's on NBC
This is a promising show with a compelling story. Unfortunately, it's on NBC, which means that if it actually even makes it to a full season order, it'll get pushed around the schedule so nobody will every watch it, or they'll find some vapid brain-in-neutral "alternative programming" reality show that will marginally do better in the ratings among the sub-70 IQ crowd before it comes back as a post-mid-season filler.
Extraction (2020)
Excellent popcorn action movie!
After reading many of the "reviews" here, I have to wonder if they actually watched the movie at all. You saw the previews and knew what you were getting, so the logic of people complaining that this wasn't "Citizen Kane" is lost on me. For those who don't know, this was a film adaptation of a "graphic novel" (comic book, for those over 30) and that genre is not well-known for its engaging storytelling.
Let me say up front -- the cinematography, fight choreography and seamless special effects (camera behind the car, pulling up alongside, outside the car, panning back and forth, then suddenly *inside* the car, exiting the other side in a long, unbroken chase scene... take a bow FX guys!) combine with a story that's unexpectedly complex for its simplistic origins.
All the actors turned in amazing performances, even though all but the two leads didn't have a great deal to work with. Randeep Hooda was particularly memorable as his character wasn't the cookie-cutter character as his motivations are revealed.
In short, if you have a couple hours to spare and need a bit of high-octane escapism that doesn't require you to turn your brain off, you may enjoy this. I certainly did!
52 Pick-Up (1986)
Pretty thin (spoilers)
Spoilers ahead -- proceed at your own caution.
My main problem with this movie is that once Harry learns the identities of the three blackmailers -- with relative ease -- he continues to cave into their demands. And then the whole scene with his wife being kidnapped, he decides to wire his classic car up to explode (with the money in it), which makes us take a pretty tall leap of logic.
Okay, so he wanted to keep his affair with Cini out of the public eye due to his wife's involvement with the DA campaign. This I can see, but why not hire someone to slap these turds around a bit, or even kill them once he'd determined there was no actual blackmail evidence (e.g, Cini's body?) This was a pretty interesting movie for the first 2/3 of it. After that, it sort of falls apart.
The Island (2005)
Excellent movie
This was a Good Movie. Of course I missed it when it came out in the theaters, but a quick poll of co-workers suggests that a lot of people simply did this as well. Here's hoping its' DVD release generates some significant revenue for the filmmakers.
I won't give a synopsis here -- that's been done many other places, but let's just say that this movie is both engaging and tense; it will keep you on the edge of your seat.
This is not meant to be a serious commentary on the dangers of cloning, but rather a nice piece of fiction which happens to revolve around the subject. Such movies are generally more watchable anyway because instead of trying to drive its' points into your head with a hammer (e.g. "Gattaca"), "The Island" lets you enjoy a good action thriller without coming away feeling like you've been to church.
I highly recommend this movie if you're looking for an entertaining and engaging thrill ride. If you're looking for a serious depiction on the effects of genetic replication with serious and sensitive social commentary, look elsewhere -- in fact, stop watching movies altogether and read a damn book. It's called the "entertainment" industry for a good reason.
People I Know (2002)
Almost as bad as "S1m0ne" -- don't waste your time.
I rented this movie based on the strength of the cast -- Pacino, Schiff, Leoni, and Bassinger should make for a decent film. Unfortunately, this wasn't.
Horrible movie. Hollow acting -- Al Pacino is to the point of almost phoning his lines in, although the supporting cast did well with what little they were given, especially Tea Leoni.
We're only teased a bit with slightest bit of intrigue, the story advances only in jerky motions, and once the character has been developed enough, you find you really don't care that much for him. The rest is pretty much self-absorbed crybaby antics.
And the ending -- well, what a complete cop-out. Foreign film buffs may be mildly interested in this movie, but the producers fail to realize it's called the 'entertainment industry' for a reason, and this fails to entertain.
Ultimately, this film is a narcissistic exercise in self-loathing, which you won't come away from enlightened or entertained, and that makes for two hours of your life you won't get back.