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InnoMan
Reviews
The Umbrella Academy (2019)
My rating is for Season 4 only
Wow. What a disappointment season 4 was. I was so looking forward to season four. I had taken the time to rewatch every episode and seasons one through three over the course of two weeks. I was really excited to start season four. And what a letdown it was. They took a really good sci-fi/fantasy show and turned it into some dumb slapstick comedy show. The characters were shells of their prior characterizations. My favorite character, Number 5, was a flat, lifeless shell of himself. A character, who stood out for his wit, sarcasm, and intelligence showed none of that during the season. He was more like a lost puppy during the season. They tried to replicate the fund that Hazel and cha-cha brought to season one with new characters, known as Jean and Gene. Not even close. Allison was still ticked off at everybody and Ben was just a total jerk the entire season. Both got really old. Diego and Luther were turned into clowns. The only character that seem to be himself when compared to the prior seasons was Klaus.
This doesn't even consider the plot holes in the story, the ending of the story and the unanswered questions that are left hanging. I mean nothing about Reggie and his background. I was truly disappointed with this season.
The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)
Well made Space Sci-fi
I had not watched this movie since it first came out on Netflix. But having recently watched the original Cloverfield, and then, 10 Cloverfield Lane, I wanted to give this movie another shot. And it was a lot better than I remembered, even though I liked it the first time I saw it. Sure, the Cloverfield monster aspect towards the end of the movie sort of feels tacked on, but when you think about it, it really wasn't. It did fit into the Cloverfield universe. As much as the monsters we saw at the end of 10 Cloverfield Lane, anyway. So, I disagree with all the poor reviews on IMDb and say give this a shot. This movie is heads and tails above Atlas, which, if you want an example of a lousy, sci-fi movie, it's that. So anyway, I really enjoyed this movie, and if you like space sci-fi, you should give it a shot.
Ripley (2024)
No one asked for a picture?
Come on. You're hunting for someone but no one asks for a picture of Richard Greenleaf? I mean the inspector was a sharp guy but his failure to ask for a picture, and the failure or Marge to volunteer one is unexplainable to me. I understand the story would have been over quickly if a picture had been provided to use in questioning every one who came in contact with Ripley. It was too big of an omission for me to completely buy into the story. Then the disguise when speaking to the inspector. Again, this took away from the entire story. Heck, he even spoke the same way with the same voice. The black and white was striking at first but I think took away from the beauty of the setting after a while. Andrew Scott did a great job. I felt he was an intelligent psychopath. I had no issues with his choice as Ripley. The show was a slow burn, maybe too long. I could have been done in 6 episodes. But p, in the end, I just wish I could forgive the lack of anyone asking for a picture.
Civil War (2024)
Good if you know what it is going in
As another reviewer stated, this is a war movie about four photo journalists who are making their way to Washington DC to interview the President in the midst of a Civil War being fought in the United States. If you go into the movie as I did, expecting a more political movie, with an explanation of what each side in the conflict stands for and what led to the war, you will be disappointed. I had that expectation and as a result, it's very difficult for me to rate this movie at a seven or an eight. However, if you know this going in, then it is a well-made film about photo journalism and the horrors of war. It is well shot, and well-made and the last 30 to 40 minutes of the movie compromise a battle which is really well done. I saw the movie in a Dolby Cinema theater and there was full use of the Dolby Atmos soundscape with helicopters, machine guns and tanks firing and munitions exploding. Again, as a war movie, it is very well done. Just don't expect to find out why there was a Civil War, or where the various parties in the war stand. Oh, and I don't think this is a spoiler, but Nick Offerman is in the movie for maybe four minutes, if that.
Damsel (2024)
Fun Fantasy Film
If you can't have fun watching a fantasy movie staring Millie Bobbie Brown going against a dragon voiced by Avasarala herself, Shohreh Aghdashloo, than I don't know what to tell you. I kept waiting for the Dragon to yell Holden! Anyway, this was a well made movie with a fantastic crew at the helm. The production values were excellent and it looked great in Dolby Vision and sounded great in Atmos. The effects also looked great. The story was a lot darker than I thought it would be. A warning for younger kids. But I didn't mind the darker tone. At the end of the day it's a Damsel against a dragon fantasy film. If you're looking for plot holes and such and can't check enjoy yourself for a couple of hours...oh well.
Last Sentinel (2023)
Well directed, acted and produced film
There are enough reviews of this movie that go over the plot so I am not going to do that. I did want to say that I completely disagree with the low ratings for this movie. If you are expecting an action movie or even some scenes involving action, then this movie is not for you. It is definitely not an action movie. But if you enjoy a well acted, directed and produced character driven movie, then I highly recommend this. Yes, it is a slow burn of a movie with only four characters. But the story is good. The Director definitely builds an excellent sense of tension in the movie and he keeps you guessing as to how the story will end. As long as you understand the type of movie, this is, I think it is very enjoyable.
The Marvels (2023)
Really fun movie
I don't get the negative reviews here other than it's popular to diss on Marvel. I guess people have forgotten how to have fun at a movie. The story takes place mostly in space which was great as well. It was a straightforward story. None of the multiverse stuff that we've been overwhelmed with lately. The straight forward story was refreshing, at least for me anyway. All three Marvels are incorporated into the movie nicely and we get the explanation for what happened at the end of the Ms. Marvel TV show. And the two end credit scenes are, well just wow. And one a nod to a wonderful scene from the first Iron Man. The people in my showing all clapped at the end.
The Winter King (2023)
Dark and Gritty King Arthur!!
I personally like a dark and gritty King Arthur tail. This show reminds me of the king Arthur movie that starred Clive, Owen a number of years ago. I really enjoyed that. Take on the story as well. The look of the show is fantastic and fits, I mean, Ian, is doing a fantastic job as well. All the actors are good. I have gone through seven episodes so far and with the decision that Arthur has just made, I'm sure the proverbial you know what is about to hit the fan in the last three episodes. It should be Epix, I mean epic. MGM is usually pretty good about renewing series so hopefully we will get a season two after this.
The Sea Beast (2022)
Wonderful movie
Very surprised by this movie. Wonderful, uplifting film. Did you know how it would end? Sure. But the journey was fun. And the animation was some of the best I've ever seen. If you have a 4K setup, it is a visual treat to watch this film. Looked absolutely superb on my OLED. Highly recommended.
All the Old Knives (2022)
Enjoyable slow burn spy movie
I enjoyed the movie and it kept you guessing for a good while. It's a slow burn but still enjoyable. But I thought the nude and make out scenes were way over done. We get that these two had a close relationship but after a while I yelled at the screen.... I get it!! They could have added more scenes integral to the main story.
Hit and Run (2021)
Fantastic Series
This was a well written, produced and acted thriller. I was enthralled from the first episode to the last. Segev is a bad*ss as is his cousin, Tali. I would have given it 9 stars but for the cliffhanger ending that came at an unexpected place. Was some of the story a bit far fetched? Sure. But no more than a great episode of 24. Sit back and enjoy a super series. Hoping for a second season.
Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)
Knocking off 2 Stars for 4:3 Aspect Ratio
The movie itself was a significant improvement over the original theatrical cut. However, I am subtracting two stars for the decision to air this in 4:3 aspect ratio. It looked awful on my white screen TV. This may play well in a true IMAX setting in the theater but for a home viewer, it was ridiculous. The huge bars on the side of the Screen was a distraction to me from the beginning. Sorry to all the purest out there, but this was a horrendous viewing experience as much as I enjoyed the new cut.
2067 (2020)
Really well done movie
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It was well done with excellent acting and a good story. The music score is fantastic. I rented it for $1 on Apple TV. Well worth the rental.
Challenger: The Final Flight (2020)
Fantastic Documentary
It shows the events leading up to and after the tragic explosion of Challenger. It brought back many memories of when I saw the launch live that morning. Knowing something horrible had happened and hoping that somehow those amazing astronauts survived. It pulls no punches as to why it happened. It also gives us some insight into the lives of the astronauts who perished on that frigid Florida morning as well as some of the people who made the fateful decision to launch that morning. Most regret that decision. One doesn't. At all. It was kind of eye opening. But the 4 episodes had me from the beginning to the end. The 4 episodes flew by. Well worth the time to watch.
Raised by Wolves (2020)
Ridley got his game back, so far.
Through the first 3 episodes, Ridley Scott has his game back. Solid sci-fi so far. Definitely watching the remaining episodes as they become available.
Tenet (2020)
Might be a good movie under the sound
I just saw this today in a Dolby Cinema at my local AMC. I didn't think I could have been more disappointed in a Nolan movie than Dunkirk. But I was with Tenent. I read a review elsewhere where the fist paragraph said something to the effect that this movie was perfect for BluRay because you could put subtitles on. I swear I couldn't hear half the dialog as the sound and music drowned it out. Some of the important dialogue, I think, was even given while the actors were wearing gas masks. Maybe the mix in the theater was off. But a number of other reviews have the same complaint. You'd think Nolan would have learned something from the Bane dialogue controversy. But he didn't. There might have been a good movie under all that sound, but I couldn't tell.
As for the time travel stuff, I think I understood what they were getting at, but due to the inability to understand a lot of the dialogue coupled with too much action, I don't think he pulled it off. There are better stories involving time travel out there. The TV series 12 Monkeys is one.
The Old Guard (2020)
Thoroughly enjoyable movie
I really enjoyed this movie. Having no idea what it was about before I watched it, the twist was very surprising and cool. The story was fun. The production was top notch. The acting was excellent, even Harry Melling was ok. Loved the ending and hope we get the sequel it promises.
Perry Mason (2020)
As much Perry Mason As City of Angels is Penny Dreadful
This Perry Mason isn't anything like the prior movie/TV shows. The Penny Dreadful show City of Angels is nothing like the original series. I think they've used the names just to draw viewers. Call them something different and they are both decent stand alone shows. PM is another who done it. Hideous murder, crooked cops, PI smarter than everyone. But I'll keep watching. It may turn out to be good and maybe it will even lay the ground work for the PM us older folks know. But I'm forgetting that this is called Perry Mason just as I forget that City of Angels is called Penny Dreadful. I'll give the show a chance to see where it goes.
Locke & Key (2020)
Second half much better tha. The first half
The first half of the season can be a bit difficult to get through. The parts about the discovery of the keys and their uses were very interesting and well done. The teen angst moments, not so much. Fortunately as the series gets darker and races towards its conclusion, the quality of the story telling really picks up as they focus on the mystery of the keys. I really enjoyed the second half of the season. Also, I've never read the material the show is based on.
Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood (2019)
Three hours I'll never get back
That was worse than I expected. If your going to make a pointless, plotless movie that's an homage to the late 60's Hollywood movies and TV, fine. Make that. But what was the point of the whole Manson stuff? It was just stupid and the ending was just dumb. As the title says, that's three hours I'll never get back.
Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
A great way to end the Saga
People have elevated Star Wars to a near religious experience. What George Lucas started in 1977 was a serialized space adventure. It was supposed to be fun. It was fun. But people take this so seriously now that they forget to have fun. Rian Johnson tried to go deeper into the characters in TLJ and got ripped for it. Now folks are ripping Rise for not developing the characters enough. Cripes. Star Rise is fun. Lots of it. Folks in my theater clapped and cheered and likely she'd a tear or two. I was one of them. Did I say it was fun? It wasn't a religious experience. If you want that go see something else. If you want a great time, go see Rise.
Game of Thrones: The Iron Throne (2019)
Awesome Ending
Loved the finale. I was one who didn't have a huge problem with Dany's heel turn last episode so this one was a great conclusion. I do wish the season had been longer and I agree that the Lord's counsel could have been an entire episode on it's own.
I would have like to have seen an ending with the last shot being a corpse laying in the north somewhere and it opens it's eyes and they area bright blue. End of series. that never would have happened but a man can dream, right?
And of all the Starks, Sansa scares me the most. She seemed the most power hungry and I fear she will become another Littlefinger and grow more arrogant, especially with no one, that we know anyway, around to keep her in check.
But thanks to HBO and D&D for bringing this great fantasy show to life and doing a wonderful job with it. As we have seen, it's not easy to bring any kind of fantasy to screen in a quality way, but these guys knocked it out of the park.
I remember back in the begining I had never heard of a Song of Ice and Fire but saw the first trailer on HBO that involved the WW and this medieval soldier running for his life. I was hooked. I watched the first 9 episodes but when they executed Ned Stark, I was in shock. I had learned the series was based on a series of books, so I did a quick Google to see if the books had killed off Ned. of course, George had done just that. As soon as season one was over, I bought the entire set of books and read them all straight through. I still think book 3 was one of the best books I have ever read.
And so our watch has ended. It wasn't always perfect and I didn't always agree with the creative choices made by the showrunners, but I am thankful I got to watch this epic fantasy series brought to spectacular life.
Get Shorty: Pickle (2018)
Awesome Show - Great Finale
I love this show. The finale didn't let down either. No spoilers but if you like this show you'll love the finale and the few season 3 teasers. Guatemala? LOL!!! Can't wait to see how that works out. Here's hoping for a season 3 announcement soon.
The Beyond (2017)
Interesting and visually stunning
I know this movie is getting a lot of bad reviews and I'm glad that I did not check them out before watching this on Netflix. It is definitely a slow burner but that doesn't mean it's a bad movie. I think people see that a movie involves potential alien invasions and other aspects of science fiction and want immediate action movie and are disappointed when it's not. But I thought this movie was pretty good at building and advancing it story. The story did feel a little derivative of the fantastic Jodie foster movie, Contact, but other than that I found it interesting. It's not for everybody but if you don't mind a slow-moving sci-fi movie then check it out.
Tomb Raider (2018)
Solid Action And Entertaining Film
I didn't get to see it in the theater but just finished watching it as a rental. Boy was I surprised. I was expecting an awful movie instead I watched a well made, action movie that was a lot of fun. I'll say I've never played any of the games so I'm not comparing this movie to them. But from an entertainment value this was great. I thought Vikander did a super job as Lara Croft. I liked that it wasn't as ridiculous as the Jolie films. And the story was better. Anyway, if your looking for an entertaining film, it's worth a rental. And I hope they do the sequel.