deideiblueeyez Reviews

Rick and Morty (2013– )

As good as they say (and no, it hasn't been hijacked by "SJWs" or "the Leftists")

[10/10 · 3 November 2021]

If you're looking for a smartly written, self-deprecating, nihilistic, pop culture-referencing show, this is for you.

What makes Rick and Morty stand out from a lot of the adult animation chaff is that this show is indeed predicated on a cynical cheapening of life and extreme violence orchestrated by sociopathically sane genius scientist Rick Sanchez, but it does not allow the joke to simply settle at that. Much of the humor is in fact derived from the sincere empathetic connection and commitment that is highlighted by bit characters that we never see again. Ironically, it is that humanity played straight that makes it funny because it is played straight, because we as a society have grown so accustomed to the cheapening of happiness and the allure of apathy to shield us from our own pain that we find genuine happiness and love shared between two characters to be humorous. Finding such gags funny, finding them to be punchlines, feels as much cathartic as it does traumatizing, in a way.

And what's more is that these serious moments infiltrate the lives of the Smith family and touch Rick, too. The relationships among its members hem and haw over episodes and seasons, primarily between Beth and Jerry, Morty and Rick, Summer and Morty + Rick, and Rick's presence within the family dynamic overall. Conversations are had, anger is vented, decisions are made. That they are "settled" in an episode or two to me doesn't detract from the fact that relationship lines were still drawn and carry over into future episodes. Subtly, you feel the characters grow or else shift uncomfortably in the skin of the character they were assigned in episode 1 over the course of the series. There are 'soft resets', yes, but you always feel like they have those past adventures in the characters' memories. It isn't episodic amnesia, but rather 'looking forward'. They may not successfully break completely from their shell or their habits, and that in of itself may be a moral about the futility of attempting self-change, but that the creators wrote a struggle in the first place might be a symbol of hope for some viewers: Trying is better than not trying at all.

In essence, this show has given me very much to think about. It is a perfect balance of nihilism and finding meaning in what doesn't matter; in living vicariously through the sociopathic antics of Rick and grounding yourself in the stable morality of 14 year old Morty; in confronting your mortality while finding comfort in the fact that you are a tiny speck of something in the great universe. Like Bojack Horseman, this show has something to say and it does so with a disarming poignancy that catches you off-guard.

To anyone who says that the show has been hijacked by SJWs or PC culture, it's painfully obvious your brain is stuck in 2014. Get over yourself. There are multiple episodes that make fun of, and highlight, the perceived differences and tensions between the sexes and Rick's apathy toward it all. I have watched every single episode to date and nothing stuck out as out-of-step or 'trying too hard'. From start to end, the series progresses perfectly. Yes, even Season 4 and 5. I see nothing wrong with them.

God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness (2018)

The best out of the three

[5/10 · 21 January 2019]

Despite all the odds, this film actually came out decent. Of course it is still heavy-handed with its ideas that the country disproportionately hates Christians and Christianity, there is still an underlying message of "We as a nation are not talking to each other as we should. We are screaming and not listening to other peoples' views". The movie does undercut its own message by featuring news pundits who espouse the typical "Liberals don't listen to Christians" but this is supplemented by several scenes where actual conversations, however brief, are had between these so-called liberals (read: atheists) and Christians. What the film does best is open itself up to be called out for hypocrisy with its typical "Christians are being persecuted" and, instead of chanting the mantra to itself throughout the film, actually turns to face the accusations and defend its stance. The Lawyer (played by David Corbett) and Reverend Dave (played by David A.R. White) are the main example of this phenomenon, and David A.R. White's earnest convictions are matched by Corbett's charming, needling lawyer character. This is the first time that the film series ever actually takes the time to establish a dialogue between these two forces that the film itself claims are tearing this country apart, and that sort of self-awareness in a film genre that seems eager to play the victim card can not be understated.

I would not recommend this film as anything but for the curious, and I would dissuade everyone from watching this until they've seen the first two in order to truly appreciate the level of growth that this series experienced in its writing and storytelling.

Voiceless (2015)

A dangerous and ill-informed film

[1/10 · 1 February 2018]

Whether you are Christian or not, I don't care. What matters is what this film tries to teach the audience and where it falls flat.

Just off the top of my head:

1) The clinic that our main character glares daggers at all the time is a clinic that offers abortions as a service. It is *not* a clinic that *only* offers abortions. The women there get contraceptives, pap smears, exams, and other checkups to guarantee their health.

2) The main character acts like something is up when he is not allowed to know personal CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION about the people who visit there. Sorry, but you're not a doctor, you're some random guy on the street. You do not have the privilege to know anything that's not your business, least of all because you are not a friend or family member.

3) The medical professional will not, can not, and would not perform abortions on unwilling women because it would mean they would be sued to kingdom come, not to mention that there are laws against performing surgery on people who have not given the OK. That abusive husband would have had the cops called on him immediately. If anything, the staff working there would have tried to stall him as long as possible while keeping the pregnant woman safe, perhaps into protective custody or a women's shelter while they dealt with the one-dimensional villain.

4) If abortions are not available to women, they will find more dangerous, back alley ways to do it. Women have been having abortions since forever and if it wasn't through a doctor it was drinking herbs or throwing themselves downstairs. Barring access to something as clean and safe as an abortion clinic for someone who is committed to aborting the fetus will only drive them to find other dangerous means to do it.

As for people who claim it's "killing children", millions of children die all around the world from hunger and disease that are aggravated by severe poverty, famine, war, terrible orphanage systems, or abusive/neglectful parents. Lives that were statistically inevitable because of the people who birthed them, their country of origin, and the state of affairs in the region they were born. I say that it is only humane to prevent such suffering by stopping it before it could ever occur. To allow people to suffer through life knowing nothing but empty stomachs and battered bones and a numb tongue is a fate worse than death.

Ghost Stories (2000–2001)

Watch the dub for the love of God

[8/10 · 9 June 2017]

This anime is a typical Ghostbusters/Scooby Doo anime by itself. I don't see why it's so highly lauded when the storyline is not that compelling. It's the dub that truly makes it worth watching. I can't describe how hilarious the dub is, only that they chose well when they decided to shred the script and go with their own thing. It was an experiment that paid off immensely because I was laughing every episode. The episodes themselves seemed to go by so quickly, I was having such a good time.

Don't bother with the Japanese subs for the "real experience", just watch another ghost story anime instead. Watch this dub because you need this hilarity in your life.

Too Cute! (2011– )

Perfect for kids of all ages

[8/10 · 2 June 2017]

If you're sick and tired of watching shows for preschoolers but want the kids to settle down while you enjoy your 8 AM coffee, put this on. Kids LOVE cute things. Honestly, I think it's good for their development to become familiar with baby animals and the like. Since there are so many different breeds of cats and dogs that are featured, it's basically an adorable teaching tool to help them differentiate the different kinds. My baby sister is 5 and she can name a dozen dog breeds from sight alone from watching this show all the time.

Sing (2016)

Plays its tropes well

[7/10 · 18 April 2017]

This film isn't unique nor is it out-of-the-box, but it plays its tropes and clichés perfectly, making them so much more enjoyable than I thought they'd be.

Pretty much all the characters are likable, their family lives are relatable, the soundtrack is on point, and the voice acting is superb.

Even though it's a vehicle for catchy pop songs, they're GOOD pop songs, darnit. Though I don't see myself seeing this over and over again like I would for Zootopia, it's something that you'd and yes I'll admit it was heartwarming for me at the moments where it was supposed to be and I smirked at a few funny moments.

Like always, Seth MacFarlane has a great voice, as does everyone else.

Oh just watch it, it's not going to kill you. I thought it would, I thought I'd find it droll, but I actually got into it and I loved it. My little siblings love it too. It's a great family film for the car that'll have the little ones singing along with it.

Black Butler (2014)

Don't expect a faithful adaptation

[6/10 · 10 September 2016]

I have seen Black Butler's multiple seasons and am a faithful reader of the manga, but I am not the die hard fan that some reviewers on this website are, so I think that I can look at the film more objectively than they can in this brief run-through of the film:

Black Butler is based on a manga of the same name by Yana Tsuboso. The original story is set in c. 1880s London revolving around a young earl named Ciel Phantomhive strikes a bargain with a demon so that, in exchange for his soul, the creature will act as his right-hand man as he tries to figure out who murdered his parents and sold him into slavery. The demon's name is Sebastian Michaelis and his capabilities far exceed that of a normal human being, naturally.

The film twists all this into something that is half n half of "then and now". Instead of a young man, it is Ayame Goriki playing Shiori Genpou who nonetheless poses as a "young earl" as Kiyoharu Genpou in order to remain the head of her family's company (when it comes to realism, it makes sense she would do that). Her butler is Sebastian Michaelis, played by Hiro Mizushima, who isn't too hard on the eyes. Really, my eyes were drawn to Goriki and her honestly pretty well done acting. I could have been distracted by the fact that she had a really, really cute haircut, though.

For all of my fellow Japanophiles, you're well aware of the fascination that Japan's fashion district has with European Victorian-era clothing, and the actors certainly seemed to have walked straight out of Shinjuku during a Lolita meet up. Very fashionable period pieces are featured by the actors, and the mansions and scenery is all very proper and European in nature, so much so that you forget the film is set in the present until you see a car or a cell phone in a new scene.

The balance between past and present tips a bit in either's favor, sometimes becoming a bit unbalanced, sometimes just right so that I didn't feel too out of it while watching. The acting is fine and for the spin they put on the story it isn't too bad.

The special effects are easy to see through (that fire in the opening scene was a bit laughable), and everyone's attempts to appear very proper and serious sometimes feel a bit over the top, but maybe that's because anime and manga is so dependent on extreme emotion that seeing it in live action just makes it hammy and melodramatic.

Info-dumping and chatter is a problem this film has. When action is happening, it's all fun and entertaining. When the characters stop to stare moodily at each other an inform the viewer about what the deal is with everything, not even pretty actors can make the scenes that enjoyable...

Don't listen to people who give this less than 5 stars. Simply judge it for yourself how it is. And if you don't feel satisfied with the story, think of the film as an overly long music video. It's certainly pretty and convoluted enough to act like one.

Pan (2015)

Don't know whether to laugh or grimace

[5/10 · 8 June 2016]

This film...oh man this film.

So Cinema Snob aka Brad Jones and his posse did a Midnight Screening of this, and their overall thoughts coincide with my own in that the film is...not BAD-BAD but just...what.

I think I read somewhere in an article in Time magazine that all the actors thought they were in a different film and boy does it show. Hugh Jackman must have thought he was in a campy pirate musical, Garrett Hedlund in some film like that of an Indiana Jones version of "Journey to the Center of the Earth", Levi Miller in a knockoff "James and the Giant Peach", and Rooney Mara in...I have no idea.

I am not a film buff by any means but even a casual viewer like me could tell that the beginning of the film was rushed, very rushed. It was all here's Peter. Hey kids are missing, nuns are meanies, oh no I'm kidnapped! Just scene, scene, scene, scene, no real character development of Peter other than what you probably assume Peter Pan to be from previous media-- that he's a bit of a curious "brave" kid, plucky, and obviously "special".

When we get to the mines and are introduced to Blackbeard, it's bizarre yet strangely entertaining. Yes, they do sing "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and oddly enough, the rendition kind of works. It was riveting in a way to see a whole canyon of people sing this grunge song like some kind of battle cry/war chant in a Capella, but when they did Blitzkrieg Bop I had to go "what the...?" in a half-smiling bemused way.

Blackbeard as played by Hugh Jackman is the most enigmatic and entertaining part of this film by a country mile. It isn't like he's the most fleshed-out character or overly compelling, but he is like...like a giant Victorian crow with feathers, a bustle (?), a black wig, and devilish facial hair to match. Despite hearing from Brad that Jackman played Blackbeard, I had to check the movie's IMDb page to confirm with my own eyes that yes this is Wolverine Jean Val Helsing we're seeing.

Honestly, I greatly enjoy it when a villain fakes tenderness and moments of intimacy with the heroes to lull them into a false sense of security, or else truly drive home how mercurial they are; you see this in a few scenes between Blackbeard and Peter when the two are alone after it is revealed who Peter is. Given Blackbeard's backstory with Peter's mother, it's undoubtedly a cauldron of mixed feelings that Blackbeard has for Peter.

Unfortunately (!) that possibility is given almost no attention because right away after Peter's first talk with Blackbeard he makes a Prison Break with Garrett Hedlund/James Hook, who had a way with his voice that I have no idea what it was about. It was like the first and last consonants of each word were capitalized - emphasized, and the weird swaggering demeanor reminded me of Indiana Jones and Flynn Ryder from Tangled. His attempts at one-liners fell flat with me every single time: His character was just not funny or suave or charming at all, he was a bit annoying. There were maybe a handful of times that the character didn't make me roll my eyes but they were far and few between.

Again, I want to emphasize how quick this film seems to go with too much stuff happening, because it just seemed to be a mishmash of the Blitz, Close Encounters of the Scurvy Kind, Avatar for a split second, and then when the tribal people come in, it's like National Heritage Month and Holi wrapped into one. The director circumvented the possibility of pissing people off with portraying natives as stereotypes by including ALL tribal peoples from around the world. All races are featured in traditional costume and it doesn't all match. My guess is, is that these people also come from all over the world like the Blackbeard's miner kids. How did the natives get to Neverland you ask? I dunno.

I immediately knew Rooney Mara was Tigerlily as soon as I saw her, and it disappointed me. Yes, because she was white. Yes there are Saami people and white natives but...but more representation of interracial relationships in films is what I like to see.

When Blackbeard descends on the village I thought to myself "Man, this feels like a climax to something that had no build up. How much is there left of the film?" I checked and it was 3/4ths done. And that made me realize another large part of the film. Not only does it rush, there is no great build up. It's just action and things happening but there really isn't any time or effort to get me emotionally invested in any of the characters. Honestly I just wanted to see Blackbeard be weird and eccentric like the walking music video he is.

Also, did I mention the cringe worthy effects of this film? You can clearly tell that the majority of it was green-screened, and those skeleton birds were atrocious.

This film is not going to age well technologically speaking, not at all.

Brad Jones said that he could see this film turning into a cult hit, but I'm not seeing it. Maybe if the film had been better constructed and actually had decent visuals like Waterworld or The Labyrinth, but with it being all over the place and the majority of the characters being bland and uninspiring, I think this will continue to be seen as a "What the...Hollywood, you okay?" kind of film.

No, but seriously, I must stress how much fun I got out of seeing Hugh Jackman be a Visual Kei Raven on screen. It was kind of magical.

World's Most Amazing Videos (1999– )

I was addicted to this show

[7/10 · 5 January 2016]

Apparently this show isn't well-liked, but I remember vividly in middle school I would watch this and then "World's Wildest Police Videos" afterwards after coming home from school. I don't exactly know what draw I have to this show, but perhaps it's a tiny case of rubbernecking and sometimes the historical footage you get from the 70s or 80s. It isn't often that scores of people are killed in the footage, so in another sense this is basically "Stuff People have Miraculously Survived" which also makes for good TV. I know that sounds a bit shallow but what can you do. This is a guilty pleasure of mine, and I think I'm allowed to have just one when it comes to television.

Dante's Inferno (2007)

Darkly humorous with a unique presentation

[8/10 · 6 November 2015]

Having read the Inferno of Dante's works, it can become a bit stale with all of the adaptations and re-adaptations. The video game based on the works was okay but limited only to the horror/action genre that it had set itself up to be. I find this take on the classic to be NOT watered down, but a modern interpretation that a layman can view and perhaps be inspired to look more into it.

All of the snobs that say that it's dumbed down apparently don't realize that very old classic literature--especially ones with heavy religious themes--don't click with everyone and can appear on the surface as holier-than-thou to a modern reader. With this film the basics of not only the horrors of Hell and Dante's enduring love for Beatrice (which would probably seem obsessive and maudlin for today's audience) are presented in a digestible way. I was already acquainted with the Circles of Hell even before watching this film, but making parallels and connections to what I knew and the "updated" version of it proved to be just as entertaining as if I came knowing little about the source material.

The Odyssey (1997)

Stays fairly true to the original, but a bit cheesy

[6/10 · 1 October 2015]

The depiction of Greek life during the end of the Mycenaean era was accurate (as far as I've read and researched), and the costumes were exemplary. Odysseus, Anticlea, and Penelope's actors nailed their parts with nearly perfect consistence.

Some parts of the movie felt a little awkward or stilted for me in regards to the delivery of the lines, such as Circe's character. Hermes was also a bit...odd. My personal image of him is that of a cheeky teenager, not the September issue for Hot Daddies Monthly, but what can you do.

Much like Odysseus, I wanted the journey to just end already, and only 10% of that feeling was derived from the film's length. I was emotionally invested in his quest to return home and was overjoyed when he and Penelope finally reunited. It does succeed in breathing life into these characters and if you had to entertain your college students with a film that ties into Greek mythology, let it be this one.

Peeping Tom (1960)

A much more subtle Manhunter (before Manhunter was even a thing)

[7/10 · 29 June 2015]

This film is not a thriller but more of an experience in which you put the pot of water on the stove but remove it before it begins to boil furiously; a slow-burner, if you will. What really matters is the aura that cloaks the male protagonist Mark. There is something fragile about him, something *vulnerable* that Vivian--the daughter of the couple renting the bottom floor of Mark's house--immediately notices and attempts to reach out to him.

The viewer already knows that Mark is dangerous, but despite the psychopathy he has demonstrated in the precision of his killings, despite the perverseness of him filming it while it happens, and despite him developing said film so he can relive the moments over and over in the comfort of his makeshift studio, you pray that not only will Vivian be able to slip from his fingers unharmed as she unwittingly treads closer and closer to finding out his secret, but that her desire to know him better and to smooth out the kinks in his demeanor (the visible ones, anyway) makes for a surprisingly endearing couple.

As the title of this review should tell you, it reminds me a lot of Francis Dolarhyde's relationship with Reba in Manhunter (much more pronounced and tragic in the Red Dragon version), in which the killer finds temporary solace in an unlikely 'Morality Pet', which, despite her attempts to help their secret killers, are in the end unable to do so, and to me they serve as reminders to the viewer that compassion and empathy are indeed imperative in the handling and treatment of the mentally ill or disturbed, but they alone cannot solve the psychosis (as Vivian's intuitive mother hinted to Mark near the end of the film).

I would recommend watching this for those who are curious about the psychological horror genre but are intimidated by David Lynch and Stanley Kubrick's works.

Caligula (1979)

Not nearly as good as it could have been, but I was entertained

[6/10 · 18 May 2015]

I watched the 160 minute version, which may have been a mistake on my part (or not?) because it had all of the pornography that wasn't in the original script added to it.

If the film had had more direction, if it truly had buckled down and focused on Caligula and simply had the sex as an *element* of the film and not an overall theme --though that may have been difficult as the Romans were more liberal than many at the time, even more so than the neighboring Greeks when it came to sex in some aspects--and while that may paint the background, I do not think it was really necessary to be a part of nearly every single scene. Naked slaves and worker bees I can understand, and of course Caligula's reign did have a very promiscuous color to it, but there were, in my opinion, much more pressing matters that the film only touched upon that could have served as more entertaining. Him naming his horse as senator was obviously a joke and with Malcolm McDowell's wonderful acting you are left guessing how many of his actions are due to mental instability and how many of them are as a means to belittle the system that he rules over.

Don't take this the wrong way, readers, but I never thought I would have ever rooted for a brother-sister couple like I did with McDowell's Caligula and Savoy's Drusilla. Their chemistry was beautiful and lovely, their sibling bond plunged into erotic and romantic waters which never ebbed up until the very end. Again, it is very, very weird to me that I *felt* for them during their time on screen and wished them to be happily married (shivers) but somehow McDowell always seems to make the most taboo into a "Eh, why not? It can't hurt".

I recommend you watch a fairly well-edited version instead of the full 160 minute slog. Too much porn ruined the story telling. Goddamn Guccione. There's no way a film like this could ever be made again with the same Shakespearean seriousness, stifling awkwardness, and on- screen lasciviousness that for the latter may be a good thing in the end.

All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

A very sobering depiction of war in general

[7/10 · 30 April 2015]

I cannot really say much except that this film is a piece of work that would make anyone who watched it a pacifist; the grim anti-war message is further supported by the loss of innocence by the main character Paul, the ignorance of the slaughter on the home front by the folks and general behind the front lines in relative safety, and the romanticism of the glories of war held by Paul's professor. With all this is a dark coming-of-age story and a test of manhood and what it means to be a "brave, noble soldier" in spite of terrible conditions and unwinnable battles.

My personal problem with this film is that, due to the time it was made, over-acting and melodramatics are employed by the young guys in the film. The adults are very believable and play their part succinctly and without a thespian air--the young men in this film are almost wincingly bad in some places regarding subtly: It's almost non-existent in some scenes. Thankfully, all of that goes away when the characters are forced to charge enemy lines or retreat under shell fire.

Another bump in the road that I don't know if it was intentional or not was that when a person fell I had no idea if they had been indeed hit by enemy fire or shrapnel or if they were simply taking cover. It was surprising when someone I thought must have been sniped actually continued to move forward, and somebody I thought was fine turned out to have a bullet in the leg.

The slightly jarring fast-forward of enemy/ally advancement towards one trench or another with absolutely no sound calls upon the style of a silent newsreel. It's horrifying and sobering to watch, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Big Hero 6 (2014)

A very eye-pleasing kids film with something for the adults

[6/10 · 1 March 2015]

There are quite a few people who claim this film is boring. Having just watched it I will admit that yes, there are a few spots where the action and drive seem to slow down considerably, but honestly I think that, overall, the main characters are too lovable to not enjoy. The source of conflict is thin and perhaps if the movie had been centered around the misadventures of Baymax and the Harada family it would have been a bit more enjoyable for some, but for what the final product was I'm not too terribly disappointed. Can you believe that some people were up in arms over the fact that Honey Lemon was Hispanic but not "Hispanic enough"? Talk about splitting hairs over technicalities of a film!

Anyway, I almost cried twice during the movie which seems to be a common occurrence when cute things are feeling deep emotional pain on my TV/computer screen (what happened to my emotionally- insensitive exoskeleton of middle school? Oh to be young).

The setting is San Franstokyo, a beautiful mix-mash of a city in what I can only assume is Japerica/Ameripan that seamlessly blends East and West together. The characters I found were quirky and dimensional in their own ways. Go Go, Fred, Wasabi, and Honey Lemon were great believable sidekicks who brought their own personalities to the table despite their limited screen time. Big brother Tadashi was one of the most endearing characters I have ever had the pleasure to meet in a piece of fiction and I was heartbroken when he died.

Despite it being a bit muted and brief, the topic of loss of a loved one plays itself into the film though it was a bit bogged down by "THE MISSION" that Hiro sets himself on.

The animation is beautiful and sleek though, and I can never fault a film for using neon colors. Ever.

What struck me during the scene of Baymax and Hiro flying in the air over the city after acquiring their new super suits was that it echoed of Osamu Tezuka's works like Astro Boy which sought to fuse Western and Eastern cultures and people together into one satisfying coming-of- age story. I don't want to speak for Osamu Tezuka, but I think he of all people would have been a bit impressed by how far we've come in regards to "A boy and his robot" story. The film also reminded me of The Iron Giant but what movie with kids and robots doesn't?

Overall I would recommend seeing it at least once.

Silent Hill (2006)

It wasn't perfect but it's not a huge disappointment

[6/10 · 17 January 2015]

The Silent Hill video game series has become a household name in its ability to captivate audiences with its symbolism, characterization, dark and at times gruesome subject matter, interesting and complex monster designs, among other things.

This film is a loose adaption of Silent Hill 2, with some major changes present including the main character being gender-swapped and the cult's antics being in the forefront of the movie (I believe you are shown a bit more in Silent Hill and Silent Hill 3 than Silent Hill 2, the latter being more of a "this is what happened before the game takes place" where the former two are occurring as you play).

Now, knowing perfectly well what occurs in the games, the scenes felt a little...short at times, not stilted exactly, but a few extra seconds, a bit...more in some scenes could have made it seem more fluid. Now to me the story and execution of said story deserves perhaps 5 stars, but the scenery and sets and CGI warrant an extra star simply because how raw and absolutely life-like it all looked. The abandoned and rotting buildings *look* abandoned and rotting and not something..kitschy or overly dramatic. The wheezy clunking of the rusty machinery in the Other World were artfully recreated in the film and while not exactly *pleasant* to the eye in a traditional sense, were still gratifying to see on screen. There's something satisfying in this odd disintegrating, stripped-away mechanical heart of an alternate universe that is blanketed over by a somber 'reality'.

The soundtrack was beautiful and hit all the right moments, adding to the atmosphere and never sticking its head out too much that I didn't focus what was playing out.

I really have nothing to say on the acting. It wasn't bad. James Sunderland of the Silent Hill 2 video game was disjointed and lifeless, and that would have made for a pretty bad character in a movie, so his gender bent stand-in Rose played the part of a concerned and yet level-headed mother very well.

I will say that I was both saddened and frustrated by the ending. Aaaagh, why couldn't they be reunited?! Despite the husband's limited screen time, I still was hoping that the family would join up again. It's not fair. Damn you, Silent Hill!

If you're a fan of the series, don't be too disappointed. The video game script and storyline wouldn't have been able to be translated effectively onto the big screen, please don't delude yourself into thinking otherwise. While I think some bits were sort of "You didn't really need that" (Pyramid Head, for example, and the over-the-top death scenes in the finale) overall the film promotes a sort of underlying dread within the viewer while titillating the eye with the visuals of the Other World and delighting the ear with the moody and varied soundtrack. It isn't hard to follow if you're completely new to the series, but the one-off characters such as Pyramid Head will probably make you want to research more about the franchise and learn the more intricate story that can be found in the video games.

Shock Treatment (1981)

Not as good as I thought it would be, but not as terrible either

[6/10 · 31 December 2014]

I was watching Cinema Snob and one of his reviews was on Shock Treatment. I learned that this was a sequel to Rocky Horror Picture Show and I was entranced by the footage that was shown in said review, so I watched it in full for myself.

I was hyped and it did meet some requirements that I enjoyed in Rocky Horror, such as the bizarre setting, the slightly off characters, and the catchy songs.

My complaints would have to be that most of the songs were sung by Jessica Harper as Janet, who makes full use of her deep second soprano/salto voice. Now that was good--once she transformed into a diva her songs were full of life and very catchy--I would have liked to see more songs featuring lead vocals by the doctors or even those from Denton.

Richard O' Brien was phenomenal to watch as Cosmo McKinley. Intense and measured with obvious chemistry between him and his co-star Patricia Quinn (playing Nation McKinley) as they played the two sibling doctors who were previously under the employment of Doctor Frank n Furter in Rocky Horror. I loved Brien's vocals and his slightly mischievous character (the very last scene with the flashing of the car keys comes to mind) and for the most part the direction that the movie took was enjoyable. Apparently O'Brien not very proud of this movie or his role in it (he thought his singing and dancing sucked or something) but him being in the film was honestly one of the things that made it entertaining.

The movie features that layered electric guitar sound in most of the songs that is prominent in 80s music despite it only being released in 1981, and while that is enjoyable to listen to, it dates the music because of that era's signature sound. Not really a criticism or a compliment, just an observation.

I think what I had trouble with was the uneven pacing. The movie's plot does not have a large driving force behind the characters like in Rocky Horror: In Rocky Horror, Brad and Janet wanted to find some help and eventually escape Furter's castle; in Shock Treatment, Brad is deigned to receive treatment and Janet just goes along with it while being groomed to be the new poster child of Farley Flavors's business. A lot of down time was shown with little action, is what I'm saying.

If you liked Rocky Horror, this will either be a great addition to it or you'll be disappointed. If you don't particularly like Rocky Horror, Shock Treatment is toned down in its sexual proclivities by a large margin, but it still has that kind of Twilight Zone feel that will either turn you on or off. If I had to, I'd give this a 6.5/10.

Despicable Me 2 (2013)

A wonderful and just as entertaining sequel to a delightful film

[8/10 · 15 December 2014]

Despicable Me was a blockbuster hit in 2010 with Steve Carell as the evil Russian doctor Gru handling fatherhood with regular hilarity and charm.

Now here's the sequel and I found it just as hilarious and entertaining as the first one. Gru returns as the cantankerous Russian scientist with a penchant for mayhem, only this time his selfishness extends to include not only himself but his three adopted daughters Margo, Edith, and Agnes. He is hired by some vague super secret organization to track down another super villain and has secret agent Cindy to tag along. I am absolutely *in love* with Cindy (played by Kristen Wiig). She has the right amount of professionalism and competence mixed with humor and

an off-the-wall enthusiastic personality. She plays along with the weirdness because she herself supplies a lot of it. Usually I'm hesitant to accept a female co-lead after becoming so used to a male lead but the characters played off each other and enjoyed the camaraderie they shared throughout their adventure, which I did so as well.

I will say the second act is a *little* weaker and less memorable, but it makes up for it with a over-the-top sing-along of famous songs in "Minionese" and the overall satisfying happy ending. I recommend it.

Wallykazam! (2014–2017)

My baby sister likes it and that's all that matters

[7/10 · 3 August 2014]

I think this show is cute, to be honest, and my baby sister, who is 2 as this review is being typed, absolutely loves the show. I think the songs are great and catchy and I think Norville the dragon makes a cute sidekick. The art style isn't that bad and I think the semi-flip book cut out look really works for it. And my baby sister is learning some top- notch words for her age like "vanish". I like this much better than Super Why! and Dora the Explorer, that's for sure.

Bobgoblin is a little rascal and my baby sis likes pretending she sees him in the bushes outside our house and scolding him for being naughty; my step dad plays along with the whole thing much to both of their amusement. I think Wally is a lovable little troll and I honestly don't see why this show is so bad compared to other shows aimed at a very similar demographic. To me it's kind of refreshing and sometimes hits some things on the nose for older people watching with their kids to enjoy. It's rare, but it happens.

Mysteries at the Museum (2010– )

Archivists and Anthropologists, Historians and know-it-alls will love this

[8/10 · 29 July 2014]

My dream is to have a job in one of my summary's listed professions. As you can probably tell, I freaking love history. I love everything about it, and what seems to make the present even more closely tied to the past are the artifacts: The clothing, the pieces of wreckage, the bullets, the bones, the letters, manuscripts, paraphernalia... All preserved so that we all may hold a physical remnant of what has occurred before us so that we may study it and perhaps learn from it, or as the show loves to say, "to serve as a reminder..."

That all being said, this show does have a few tiny bumps that I frown at: The one that I find a little grating is the fact that the show sometimes posits a useless question to the audience before commercial break on the possible outcome of some life or death situation in history, when many of us know what happened: I'm not sure if this segment occurred (I haven't seen every episode) but an example that would suffice in paralleling this phenomenon would be Reagan's armored car. He got shot in the chest by a stray bullet that ricocheted off the bullet-proof car from would-be assassin John Hinckley Jr. Most of us who have dabbled in American history, even a quick run-through of the presidents would know that he survived the assassination attempt and was discharged from the hospital after having the bullet removed. But the show, after setting the scene of what was to occur, would ask the audience something like "Will Reagan successfully pull through, or will this assassin accomplish his mission?", or whatever.

These questions at times do help propel the intrigue but for us who know what has already happened, they're kind of moot. But hey, maybe that's a sign that we're more knowledgeable than we realize, ha.

Overall this is a good show to watch late at night. When they have mini- marathons of three, four, five episodes back-to-back-to-back it makes for an entertaining evening. And the experts that are called to showcase the artifacts know their stuff. I recommend this show for any and all American history fanatics, or just a general history fanatic, like me.

Superjail! (2007– )

The psychedlia of an LSD trip, the blatant disregard for human life as in Deadman Wonderland, and the egregious violence of Metalocalypse..In other words: AWESOME

[8/10 · 11 May 2014]

Superjail! is one of those titles where you love it or hate it. Love it because of the morbid humor, the absurd situations, and the woefully irresponsible characters as they try to clean up the messes that the Warden somehow cooks up in that brilliant (read: completely and utterly insane) brain of his. Hate it because of its apparently "bad" art work and its little-to-no plot except via a reverse Deus Ex Machina where some little idea is run with in order to get the ball rolling in the first place as well the ruthlessness and apathy of the characters that will make trying to empathize with them a chore and ultimately pointless.

Superjail! is about an alternate universe in which a comically oblivious and fairly psychopathic man-child named The Warden is in charge and the "Father" of his deceptively colorful and exotic project called Superjail, a penitentiary set some millions of miles--or perhaps dimensions--away from the rest of the world (as seen by the various opening sequences). Here prison life is taken up a few dozen dangerous notches with the prisoners attempting to brutally murder each other every chance they get, even during "down time" and the presence of the potentially lethal facilities designed to house and "rehabilitate" the prisoners, if rehabilitate could be the word to use. Really they are just cannon fodder for The Warden's weird and fatally whimsical factories, machines, and various creatures that have no qualms in completely massacring dozens of convicts every few seconds. This is normal and virtually everyone but the main characters are expendable. Even the recurring inmates, such as "The Gays" Jean and Paul; the mute Jacknife; the silent bird-lover are prone to cartoon deaths in which they are not to return to life until the next episode.

The story overall features plots that are surprisingly linear despite the chaos and due to certain forces that are beyond control, or the scheming of inmates, things take a turn for the crazy which results in a calamity that ultimately destroys what could only be assumed as billions worth in infrastructure damage and the loss of hundreds of prisoners in bloody and gruesome fashions. Indeed, the "execution" of these poor bastards is reminiscent of the freak accidents that occur at every Dethklok concert, courtesy of Metalocalypse: Squished, bludgeoned, shanked/shivved, stabbed, pureed, torn apart, eaten alive, stripped of skin, head explosions.. it doesn't matter, there are creative and absurd ways that people are going to be offed in each episode, one way or another.

Despite the seemingly shallow synopsis there are glimmers of humanity that are present within a few select characters, especially the most unlikely ones, and for the most part their emotions are played straight but in a way that would make you question whether to laugh nervously or genuinely feel for them: Jean and Paul, the aforementioned "gays", are together due to the circumstances of being incarcerated for such a long time, but they are a devoted couple and no one harasses them for it. Paul (the feminine half) is snippy with his beau but they make up in the end each time. Ash, a pyromaniac (and it shows since his body is completely covered in burns) with the ability to control fire. In one episode he discovers a little girl while working down at the Incinerator and takes her in, naming her "Sanser" (misreading her wrist band that said CANCER) and decides to throw her a birthday party. Despite the gruffness of the other inmates, they are fairly protective of her for that episode and reveal their vulnerable side while trying to entertain her, something I personally thought was touching.

What is also refreshing is how this story both imitates prison life and parodies it with the unsavory tenants, the brutality of the head prison guard (a trans-gendered woman named Alice), the spidery tattoos that color most of their bodies, their cravings (cigarettes, alcohol, women, and most importantly, freedom), and the bemusing innocent pleasure that The Warden takes in controlling and overseeing this rainbow-filled bloodbath of a prison, oftentimes with amusing "games" or activities that after a few adjustments have become a force to run away from as fast as your feet can carry you. Something also quirky are the presence of The Twins, two identical aliens that have made Superjail! their home, confusingly enough. They are prisoners but have the ability to teleport as well as conjure up objects from thin air; they apparently have their own lab and they are given free reign over Superjail! since it is pretty much impossible to stop them. They are the cause of a handful of disasters that occur in Superjail! but they aren't malicious per se, just mischievous. They also are frequent commentators of the chaos occurring around them and may even speed things along if they're bored.

This show is something that would be best to watch by yourself, then watch with a friend, then watch by yourself again, as you're sure to find something different each time (and your friend may bring something to your attention that you hadn't noticed before). As my review title notes, if you like at least one of those things then I recommend you watch this.

Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)

Wonderful adaption of the book

[8/10 · 4 May 2014]

I must admit that I didn't finish Dracula when I read it back in 6th grade. I got to the part about the zoo and then completely conked out and never picked it up again, so I'm glad this film followed the source material to the virtual T.

Gary Oldman shows his trademark chameleon ability to inhabit whatever role he is given and his accent was overall spot-on as well. Anthony Hopkins as Van Helsing was an odd choice but he played the part of the eccentric monster hunter/physician surprisingly well, though his German (?) accent seemed to slip just a bit at times, especially during his initial appearance. My standards for Keanu Reeves are always low because honestly I feel he is a very wooden actor, and he proves this again in this movie, but everyone else picks up the slack with their phenomenal acting.

The cinematography was clever in its fade outs and overlapping of images to convey simultaneous happenings, though sometimes it felt a little overdone. The outfits were well-researched and fit their respective characters perfectly in terms of their personalities, backgrounds, and of course for historical accuracy's sake.

The ending felt the tiniest bit...cheesy but that's neither here nor there when it came to the journey. Overall I'd give this film a watch since it makes an already entertaining Gothic horror story something entertaining and beautiful to watch.