MovieJunkie1976 Reviews

No Hard Feelings (2023)

Average In someways..not in others.

[6/10 · 6 July 2023]

This looked like it would be funny and enjoyable. This one is why the term " Hit and Miss " exists.

Maddie is a middle aged menizer who can't get past 30 days with any guy. Percy is a 19 year old that can't get to day one.

** I found it very difficult to suspend disbelief at the idea that Ferris Bueller's kid could not score.***

That being said after having her car towed , with a crushing tax bill looming , Maddie answers the parents desperate craigslist post under , make our son a man win a free used Buick.

The movie demonstrates role reversal which cannot be distinguished from predecessors based on any real factor. Lawrence does well as the pursuer. The trademark teenage awkward moments are filmed neatly , as well as some surprising cross generational digs that were not mean but fairly obvious. However , this lead to the overall problem. This movie gets real , seriously real , and there is nothing wrong with what it does in that area and nothing wrong with that road being filmed at all.

This was pitched as a rom com or sexcapade depending on your take. In no way did this film come close to being either.

Lawrence did her job and carried the film through. I can't fault the writers unless they headed the marketing. It's not Casablanca nor revenge of the nerds.

It is entertaining and a little thought provoking at the end. Cocaine!

Air (I) (2023)

2 pts.

[6/10 · 26 April 2023]

While on the road for business this week , I actually caught this movie in Beaverton , Oregon. If the movie was good at all you can usually tell by the ticket buyer. Unofficially , I over heard Nike is buy entire viewings for its employees. Anyhow , to the review.

The story is what it is if your from the 1980s/1990s you know Jordan is the microcausmic representation of the exploding sports culture of the era. This is telling of the story of events related to and about the single greatest basketball player and maybe the athlete of a century. It's a straight forward vehicle who's stew and sound tracks tell the early 1980s well. I loved the wired remote control. You follow Damon's character as his passion drives him to the aim of the signing of Jordan.

Humorous in their own right are in time gaffs of the era that prove people really did not know how well the 1984 draft class was. " nobody wants to see Charles Barkley on tv" , " John Stockton? " the guy went to Gonzaga where is that? The Beaverton 7-11 cashier , Jordan? He's just a guard...he's really not all that...and then his reversal.

It's not entirely accurate and it doesn't pretend to be , but if you were around for the sports craze of that period of time it hits the mark.

A Good Person (2023)

Well done

[8/10 · 5 April 2023]

Very much a story driven piece , once again a film is elevated by the above A game of Florence Pugh.

Pugh plays a young woman who's life is thrown into chaos after a tragedy. We watch as the consequences of the events stack on her life , seeing her bad decisions and struggles with the damage that has been caused all around her. Morgan Freeman gave an above average performance that was almost drown out by Pugh. The film is well constructed and a good reminder that when Zach Braff is focused good things can happen. The supporting cast had good all around turn in elevated by their lead.

Honestly only the transparency in deliberate scene construction was a minor down side. I mean minor , because the jump from thought point to thought point was an exceptional logic pattern it left you wanting to see what was on the next page.

No question if it's the type you like or the movie your considering , it won't disappoint.

Spatiodynamisme (1958)

testing 1 2 , Testing 1 2....

[6/10 · 27 March 2023]

So get ready for a five minute something tour.

You'll be given a lens eye view of the 16mm mid century modern camera as it tests , light , shadow , shape , form , contrast , sharpness , obfuscation, symmetry, disparity , Depth , motion , background and color.

And that's all folks.

Don't quote me on it but this maybe by the people that brought you color bars late at night. It really is a good example of the impact color camera technology had on the ACE and other such individuals in this era of filming. I don't mean to wax poetic so strongly on what appears to be such a short subject , or to imply that you should add weight to a film that had a firmly trenched point accumulated score in the areas of both film relevance and effort. It's just that when faced with a blast of such edited images one cannot help but reflect on an important question :

Why does this need to be a 600 Character review? Anyone?

Cocaine Bear (2023)

Pawsativley an Up-Roar.....

[6/10 · 8 March 2023]

Settling in with popcorn I almost left when I saw Nicholas Cage as Dracula in a trailer. However , self control got the better of me.

If you want to see a cocaine addicted mama bear ( and her cubs ) wrecking everything and everybody in sight in a drug fueled rage...

This is your movie.

I can Bear-ly wait for Cocaine Jaws.

Clearly its writing was designed as a move from one scenario to the next , but I have to give to production they kept the gaps that would have jammed flow up smoothed over well giving a seamless effect , also while short , the film benefits from the reduced length leaving it just right at the end credits. Really good job bringing the 1980s atmosphere to the film , it felt like I was there for 90 mins again , of course having been there before it was a joy to leave ...again.

See it. It is a good one.

Don't Look Up (2021)

Contemporary Satire at its best...

[8/10 · 14 February 2023]

Granted it was released in the middle of the pandemic. Granted it has no disc release and only made back 800,000 dollars of its 75 million dollar budget. Making it strangely enough one of the best four star bombs in history.

There is no question it is entertaining , between Streep , Blanchett , Lawrence and Leo there are what around 10 Oscars? Then you get Tyler Perry , Timothee Calamet , Jonah Hill and Ron Perlman. Even Ariana Grande played her part well but it probably was not to much of a stretch for her to pretend to be a pop star. The writing was top notch and stinging in its social commentary , and joke value. The Director clearly knew what he was doing here and got it done in style. Though I suspect he may have watched Deep Impact one time too many. All this and Meryl Streep's Naked @$$. How can you go wrong here?

You know it's true and this movie proves it , no matter how much you mean it there is some kind of meaning behind it.

I'd tell you it's one you should own , but well Netflix won't let you. Sorry.

Glass Onion (2022)

Butt Numbing...

[4/10 · 26 December 2022]

Rian Johnson has become known for the spectacular and Glass Onion is no different.

As always the script is spectacular, but this time it was as though Johnson was on a quest to bury himself alive all so everyone knew he could handle a shovel.

The sad truth about glass onion is two fold.

1. To Johnson: You give them to much credit. They should know it's a mystery they should look for the clues , but let's face it that kind of mind has been in decline in the post internet world.

2. To the viewer: That is your fault not his.

Now I was not kidding about the butt numbing effect of the film , this was caused largely by the phoned in acting and flat cinematography of the film , the pace of the film literally drug by like an unloved season. It felt like the 21st century version of Ishtar only half as long because the move was only 70 minutes long the rest instant replay.

Not knives out in anyway. Cut.

Serenity (I) (2019)

If you think it you can film it.

[6/10 · 28 November 2022]

This movie is a mess but in the future it will be noted.

It's problem is in the unclear communication of its message. More accurately the production teams inability to put the audience in the correct frame of mind.

For almost a hundred years Hollywood has made film about cool stunts , beautiful thespians and catchy phrases. For the most part it works. However , it does not in anyway live up to that famous utterance by Kubrick.

This was not a movie about a video game or a disjointed social message. This movie is about a teenage boy trapped in a domestic violence situation in his home , and how his actions unfolded , in other words this is the very thoughts and experiences of this person. Certainly , the sex scene on the boat between the two leads had to feel like Middle School level and for a reason.

The clues are all there if you look , sadly an industry not well practiced at this sort of product coughed up a hairball here. If movies are to make it to the 22nd century in any form , the focus on diversity of thought is the key , but maybe it is just not time right now.

See How They Run (2022)

Nothing serious here

[6/10 · 13 October 2022]

A movie director is murdered and Saoirse Ronan and Sam Rockwell must figure out whodunnit. Was it the adulterous movie executive? The angry screenwriter? Richard Attenborough? Agatha Christie? The detective and constable bumble from one clue to the next , weaving as gracefully as a whale through the plot with in a plot they are to present. Naturally , in that manner of presentation , presentation itself trumps coherence and on occasion you are left in the gap.

The characters are entertaining as well as it's obvious poking fun at , movies that poke fun at the genres of murder mystery film. Ronan is pretty good in this one , on e of the films high points , but the whole plot is a ride to enjoy. Not overly long at its 100 or so minutes.

Don't take it to seriously and you'll love it.

Amsterdam (2022)

Good character play

[6/10 · 13 October 2022]

Amsterdam is a type of movie regularly seen in Hollywood. The ensemble cast. Not a particularly catching plot though based on a real life event.

Bale is a down on his luck medical practitioner and WW 1 veteran. His friend is an attorney and they are friends with a nurse/spy. The Doctor and his attorney are called to resolve a case believed to be murder. The man murdered is their regiment leader. After determining his death was by poisoning they inform his daughter. Taylor Swift is then thrown under a car.

Later the two discover that it was in fact their former partner from the war that told the dead daughter to hire them. Then they meet her family and the plot thickens.

If you enjoy actors playing characters this movie is enjoyable. However , it's plot drawn from life it maybe , is stretched thin. This does mildly cause drag in the films flow.

All the cast give the best with what they have and it carries it well.

Rachel's Dream (1992 TV Movie)

Techo-electronica dystopia

[6/10 · 6 October 2022]

Kate Beckinsale is Rachel. Rachel is like all other twenty somethings , living and drifting through life. Dreaming of what can be and brutally facing what is.

Rachel's dreams are reflected in her video monitors. They reflect her desires and her contempt. Her desires take shape in the form of a nameless fantasy man conjured by her imagination. At the same time her contempt surrounds a man named Mc Cloud. Vicky , Rachel's older sister is attempting to set her up with Mc Cloud , whom Rachel knows is the wrong type. After dinner goes wrong , Rachel leaves her sister and reports Mc Cloud leaving her uncertainty behind.

Interesting ....

Bullet Train (2022)

Moving jigsaw puzzle

[6/10 · 11 August 2022]

Nice to see a movie like this done by someone outside marvel and DC.

Brad Pitt is a wet op giving his handler fits with his new zen approach to life. On a temporary " easy " assignment he leaves his gun behind. Across the station arrives a father who son has been assaulted and he will have his vengeance. Both would be assassins board a bullet train to Kyoto. Sadly they are not alone as the train is filled with every thing from a fruity pair of hitman , a kinky stripper willing to do anything for 200 bucks , to a " victim school girl and anime mascot who's colorful moves really take a bite of anyone they are aimed at. All that and one hacked off hombre who's wife was killed by one or two of them , maybe. Only grandfather and the white death really know what the truth is. No matter ladybug is certain it is all his fault.

This movie is really entertaining , especially if you love mini solve it before it happens plots contained within the plot itself. It is tightly woven together leaving nothing unexplained at the end and giving you all the explosions , one liners , jokes , references and crashes/ stunts that are requisite. While not the greatest action epic of all time it is satisfying.

3 stars of 5.

Where the Crawdads Sing (2022)

If you like good mysteries.

[8/10 · 6 August 2022]

This is the In-between time of the movie year the summer schedule is winding down and nothing really big will be out for a couple of months. During this time you find all the narrowly targeted , independent and off blockbuster hits till the holiday season comes. I like murder mysteries so that was my buy in.

This is not the Shawshank Redemption but far from average. I don't usually read the source material behind Film I let book nerds tell me where things differed. I have to say the strength of this film was character development , to be honest the murder itself should only take a person a few seconds to figure out. However , that simplistic truth is what reveals the strength of the screen writers pen. And behind it , obviously the author. If you know your setting and know human nature in said era , you will see this fact clearly. While I have not run into anyone yet who has read it , I've seen enough screen plays and movies to know this movie was intentionally condensed in nature. Like Anne Rice we just cannot in some cases nor do we want to sit through the whole nine hour yarn.

Nothing violates disbelief , the flow is about what you would expect from such a film based on setting and characters. As mentioned writing is the strong point along with development , I'm pretty certain the director was in cruise control here.

4 stars ( of 5)

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

Thor 4 : A Sequel for the business year.

[6/10 · 5 August 2022]

Folks this directors work is a study in inside jokes and commentary. When the first reference is to Star Trek V , your in trouble and you know it.

It seems as though some guy who much like everyone else is disappointed that his God does not in fact care. Lucky for him he found a really nasty sword to take care of his God with. However if his God is evil they all must really be correct? Off he goes on a whole vengeance trip . Meanwhile on a distant planet Thor is getting in shape and helping our the guardians of the galaxy when asked. Until Lady Sif is disarmed and Thor is of to save her. After Thor returns to Tønsburg now a tourist trap and private torture chamber of Matt Damon. Shortly after his arrival the dark knight arrives to steal all the children and hold them ransom. Along the way Thor discovers Jane is playing with his hammer and dying of cancer. The rest is the usual our hero's save the day.

The movie is enjoyable , the effects are there and if as needed in movies of such type you enjoy the inside material you'll enjoy it , but the writing is a little simplistic and it's flow suffers from the deliberate construction efforts of the aforementioned inside comments.

Three stars (of five)

The 355 (2022)

Your average run of the mill action flick..done by chicks

[6/10 · 26 July 2022]

During the filming of X-Men : Dark Phoenix , Jessica Chastain had a bright idea , a female entourage espionage spy thriller movie. This something that she managed to get fill in director Simon Kinberg to go for and 355 was born. Now remember folks Kinberg was the driving force behind Mr. And Mrs. Smith. This is not the wrong person to draft for such an idea. I guess it's fair to mention that it was from the female thought perspective when written. Which automatically makes it fodder in the woke debate.

While I am putting myself at risk for " mansplaining " here , we should get to it. This is an action movie. What is required in an action movie? Explosions. Gunfire. Witty one liners and nudity. Notice I didn't say plot , drama , life meaning or Oscar caliber performance. Jack Nicholson did not win an Oscar for the departed , Leo deserved it but didn't either. Really , John wick has one of the most cerebral and thought provoking plots in the history of film. Which is why it's fourth installment is located around scenic lake.... NOT. I don't think the one liners in this film made the cut so I'm not defending that one here. Ladies enjoyed the " Flick " scene in THOR 4 , and I enjoy the top rack displays in most standard action films yet both were absent here? No really good reason why. If anyone says there was no real point , yes there was , as we all know people like to get actors/actresses naked. Ugly but truth. It also defines the problem of this film. It sucked up too much.

Action films are predictable so can't really complain there , if you didn't know Penelope Cruz would be the one to shoot Sebastian Stan by the time they left for the hotel you do not watch this genre. The movie was too long for the storyline and that created drag which is a poison pill for action movies. The kid glove approach to the female on male violence sequences did not help at all. Chastain plays a government assassin , like Natasha Romanov , this is not the girl next door. As was proven in Terminator 3 once you establish a female character has a trait that precludes her being the defenseless woman , let the ass kicking begin. Chastain's character should have put the security guy in the museum fight down in half the time.

Like Elizabeth Banks Angels , we get our dose of wokeness at the end with the " we really did need a man to explain it to us , we got it from here " line. Ok , and I suppose Stan was not in anyway appropriate for the bad guy role . Um hello , killed Ironman's parents anyone , sorry Tony not trying to twist the knife. Speaking of Elizabeth Banks , she should have directed. Other question marks include the absence of Jennifer Lawrence and the terrible acting reaction during the death sequence.

The abysmal flow and half hearted overly compromised script killed this operation at HQ.

Most of my life movies have indulged my desires. Yet I am only 1/10 th of the target audience , and it seems to me I dish it out I should be able to take it. After all I would rather have a Hollywood where all points of view manufacture film targeting all groups. Instead of politics.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Exactly what I Expected...

[6/10 · 30 May 2022]

I got everything I paid for. Everything went as expected. Satisfied. If you go expecting to a decent marvel movie sequel you should not be disappointed.

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)

Really entertaining

[6/10 · 4 May 2022]

Nicholas Cage finally plays the role he was born for...Nicholas Cage.

He is so natural in the character it's really uncanny. It's like he's played it all his life. It comes across authentic , organic and completely spontaneous. It may be the single greatest acting performance I have ever seen from an actor. You can tell he really studied this one. His enthusiasm is an energy that brings his character a feeling of realism that is unshakable during the entire film. It may as well have just been shot with a camcorder by a stalkerazzi following him all day.

I'm very Cagy about Oscar predictions ( no pun intended) but this may be worthy of a second look for him.

As for the rest of the movie it's the action vehicle you would expect. With all the plot twists and needed lines inserted. Good turn ins by Pedro Pascal , Tiffany Haddish and Lily Sheen. Jacob Scipio was a good henchman.

Packed with laughs , one liners , gratuitous explosions and car wrecks , you get what you want here . Entertainment.

The Batman (2022)

Bat Noir

[6/10 · 7 April 2022]

I bought my ticket at 11:30 and watched commercials , previews , I phone game plugs , children color on the movie screen , the staff wipe it off and the previews that ended with an all familiar train ride. At 12:30 my 12 noon showing of The Batman began. Oy vey!

The warnings are true this is a rebooted , twisted and dark knighted Batman. It comes with an Olive too. Anyone and I do mean anyone who has ever seen films of that era will automatically by shot selection and set design realize that this movie Batman ( 9? ) is done in the styling of Noir film . Nothing wrong with that and it does in a certain way explain the movies 3 hour yarn length.

Characters are drawn from all areas of Batman lore and some are conspicuous in their absence. I can't say Robert Pattinson was the best Batman ever , but I will not say he is either George Clooney or Batfleck. In the needed dramatics of personal interaction he excels as we have come to expect. It is a tough ride for him and you can see it.

The support of Jeffery Wright and Zoë Kravitz does well to keep the film moving , and one cannot help but enjoy a batmobile made from a Pantera with a rocket engine.

The film was stretched thin. Several areas of scotch taped script were apparent , however that being clear to see , flow was decent enough to not leave your rear stuck to the vynil of the recliner.

If you have ever seen film noir , are a fan of such things , Bogart , Tracy , Bacall and Hepburn , you will get it early and love it. If not meh ,it's going to feel long.

It's a good turn in , not the dark knight , but not Batman and Robin.

3 stars ( of 5 )

Death on the Nile (2022)

A Winding Tale

[6/10 · 16 February 2022]

After Murder on the Orient Express I was looking forward to Death on the Nile in 2019. The ship was delayed first by studio delay , then covid and finally woke politics. In 2022 after every possible delay on earth put it in running to challenge James Cameron's Avatar sequels in longest wait time, it finally docked.

Well , it was not murder on the orient express. The quality was greater , Branagh has mastered his character in this , with Russel Brand bringing some clearly A game to his part. The flaws were numerous in acting by the ensemble, too numerous for this review. One glaring issue was Gadot's inability to draw sympathy / empathy. As the lead yeah it is appropriate to criticize the lead for not achieving this. I need to be fair Armie Hammer and Emma Mackey , camp was in the air when this love triangle did it's work. Each had a moment but collectively it fell off the mark.

The support is pretty straight forward , Russell Brand as said before best of all , then Tom Bateman who was in fact following up on his previous appearance . For the Ladies obviously Annette Benning , but a good turn in by Letita Wright who did well with her camera time. I rather enjoyed the wildlife going about it's business as transitioning shots , but as entertaining as they were they could not kill the films biggest issue , flow . Unlike the fast moving giant Nile River , this movie could not get going , I mean it was on a river boat but it was a boat clearly dragging its anchor the whole trip.

As for the writing it was compacted and there were scenes played with fast and loose , this will draw some ire with book purists , but on the whole , flow and acting contribute more to the decline in the journey.

I have come to really enjoy Branagh as a storyteller , I hope he continues for a good while at it. This however in hind sight , in this sub chapter of his filmmaking exploits will likely be regarded as the lesser of the two of these adaptations thus far.

Dune (2021)

Part one.

[6/10 · 19 January 2022]

Hard to rate half a film . It's a lot like saying 2001 is epic sci fi...at the intermission point.

So just about anyone who has followed this masterpiece of published words will tell you it is perhaps the single clearest book ever written. However , when it meets the camera it becomes clear...as mud. From South American millionaires to eccentric directors from Twin Peaks this work has been baffling the best for a good half century.

Even this filming it is a taped together approach and feel , done intentionally and understandably. The film borrows it's scene work from Lynch. The Writers borrow from the art of the re boot. The delivery of the era politics is stolen from Star Trek , subtlety's master. The Director borrows from experience instead of accepting it as a newbie. The studio borrows from extended editions , instead of cutting time to fit on a videotape. While millions are spent it does not cost anyone personally.

Everyone learned from the last two attempts and they are adapting. So yes it quite obviously feels like an adaptation. Like great pieces of music , some art must progress and often simply surrender to interpretation. Did we beat dune this round , did we finally achieve the perfect adaptation of this great work. No.

As a fan of film it is hard for me to admit this but having seen both attempts , well part of the second one anyway , it occurs to me that I may not get this perfect movie version in my life time . It has been almost 40 years between the two. The editor's remix of the 1984 version still has me , it's prologue and longer running time proof that dune may not ever be constrained by the clock as requisite. The actors in both almost mirrors of their predecessors. Versus the book and 1984 film the scenes are twisted and characters rebooted but not to harm of the plot. While I did not envision Jason Momoa as Duncan when reading , honestly Richard Jordan never crossed my mind either. I loved them both in their efforts.

Dune just cannot be done the way all other books are made into film . The person who does that will truly catch lightning in a bottle.

No Time to Die (2021)

Par for the course..

[6/10 · 13 October 2021]

So I was excited that the 25 official James Bond movie was coming out in 2020 and looked forward to it coming out , then as if SPECTRE themselves hatched it COVID spoiled my plans. So today I saw the first in theatre film of this decade I have seen. Of course , I had read all the reviews heading into the film. After muting out the ones containing people's politics and the one's complaining about people's politics , I gathered there were some distinct things people disliked.

I assumed that after the opening credits , which I should note ( and am wondering out loud if ) Billie Eilish was using the same inflection as Sam Smith , was this her choice or Eon's , anyhow , I assumed the overture of on her majesty secret service was signaling the death of lovers which Swan and Bond were. From that point forward the plot was fairly simplistic, you are supposed to believe that she betrayed bond which made no sense as she did not run and the cadre of bad guys were trying to kill her as much as bond . Bond simply dumps her on the train. Title credits hinted at Dr. No , OHMSS , casino royale and a few others so I was pretty well informed of the plot at this point.

All lot of reviews are discussing the death of bond and its infeasibility in the face of the films history. Of course we never actually see him die just like all the other deaths he has had. If finishing the movie with the OHMSS Louis Armstrong classic as the end credits wasn't a dead give away that Bond 25 was nothing more than a giant Collage of Homages to its own cannon shaped into a film , I don't know what to say because it was clear as day to anyone that would claim to know the films.

Lighters death. Seems like there is a new Felix every new bond. I would not have been surprised if Q had died. Equally un shocking was bond playing his own version of triple x by moonlighting for the CIA. Nor was it all that amazing that Sean Bean turned in to a loyal companion 00 , and yeah a black woman to boot. The fall of SPECTRE in the film is a nod to the fact that SPECTRE itself fell once before. Primo had less gold teeth but the same backstabbing MO as Mr. Bullion. I won't even address the eye vs. Teeth prostheses egg that Jaws had issue with in this film. Anyone see Bond using that Baretta so deftly. But he did say that he preferred them in Dr. No. Right?

I saw this movie for what it was a celebration of the previous 24 fashioned into a storyline. Was it the best bond. No. Was it the worst bond. No.

Three Stars ( of 5 )

The Guardians (2017)

Guardians of ......Mother Russia?

[4/10 · 19 September 2021]

Before beginning an in earnest review I would like to note the borrows in the writing of the film were very transparent. Then again , most movies have borrowed from others as far back as film goes. So the fact the Russians are doing it , I could care less. Whatever happened to imitation being flattery?

So the Russian Army is testing a group of heavily armed replicators from Stargate SG-1 when it all goes wrong. The new and improved machines turn on the army at the command of a mad scientist that looks like a Bane/Colossus cross breed. After it is revealed this guy is still hacked off about not being the " people's champion" in a nation now thirty years defunct , a desperate action is taken by the army. They decide that maybe Nick Fury was right , maybe a group of genetic freaks can save the day. I mean it worked in New York right? So they assemble their team . Arsus a cross between Logan and a Grizzly , no Adams , just Grizzly. Khan who clearly got over his issues with Kirk , a sickle wielding night crawler who looks like a descendent of Liu Kang ready for Mortal Kombat what is it 14 now? Ler. A Steven strange type that gives new meaning to the phrase " Rock on" , and finally Kisenya a nice mash up of Katniss Everdeen , Sonya blade and mystique , with clear training from the Bolshoi and the knack of turning invisible.

After the introductions go around the team goes off to kick the bad guys arski after he and a few of the rejects left over from the filming of Judge Dredd invade Mockba. Moscow I mean. After being handed the defeat in the first round by the bad guy , they politely refuse his offer of " comradeship" . Okay that felt a little dirty. Anyway they return back to base where some top level guy devises a plan to defeat the bad guys with a rocket launcher. He apparently had faith in the Fail class II delivery system. After smashing their way into the base and confronting the arski kicking of a life time the rockets arrive like scuds. No impact at all. Cue the evil villain laugh.

At last , by the river , nikita farina arrives to to inform our heroes that by merging their strengths they can defeat the baddie. Instead of a dance off ( thank heaven) , they decide a big emp burst will shut down the link between evil guys tower and goldeneye up above , well it does and there is a sudden housing boom in Moscow. Yay!

The reason I gave this movie two stars should be clear to anyone who watches movies. There simply was not enough time or development in the plot. Had this film been given 2 hr 15 min treatment I think it would have passed. Its very restrictive and cumbersome 89 min time window made scenes too short and character development weak. This is editing. I can not blame the writer who probably did borrow from every movie franchise of the last 25 years , nonetheless I am betting a lot of the script is laying on a floor somewhere in a camera room.

Jolt (2021)

Femchismo Shtick

[6/10 · 30 July 2021]

I love Kate Beckinsale in action movies so was happy to see this one coming out of the post covid pen. While dreaming of an awesome chick fight flick with great one liners , I got the same old market formula film. Beckinsale plays Lindy a woman who cannot control her emotions. Wow that's new. When aggravated her " hormone imbalance" causes her to go psycho. Novel. Also , when her boy toy of the minute is killed she loses all grip on reality and investigates his murder street fighter style.

Anyone mention to the writer we have seen all this before , along with the uneeded sex scenes. Her co star must have been 15 years younger than her. Every guy I know wants a partner on a pension. Such an obvious stereotyping , suggesting all men are gold diggers right?

I honestly believe the director wrote over several portions of the dialogue to include as many penis references as possible. The acting was barely passable. The cops chasing her in this film were so hammy and cliched. How many times have we seen the jerk condescending partner down her male partner while causing more trouble than the suspect. By the way , Mclaren's are all automatics , jus sayin. Or maybe it was an Easter egg of another penis joke we missed.

The ham fisted misandrist tones of this film are over the top and it belongs in the 1980s with its Machismo counterparts. Why do we keep making films like this? Not enough already?

Three stars.

Major Grom: Plague Doctor (2021)

Average movie with subtle dystopian jabs.

[6/10 · 12 July 2021]

If you have the spare time this is an interesting film. I think most of the movies strength was in its satirical commentary on the breakdown of society under the weight of competing corruption and incompetence on the part of a nations government and leadership. The lazy cops that tell the old man he is a victim and they do not care. The boss with no spine ordering Grom to resign so he does not have to make a decision as a leader and can him. For doing his job I believe it was. The court room scene where the judge won't let the witness testify unless he says what the judge wants to hear. The lecture Grom gives to the witness after the trail about just accepting a failed and corrupt system or else he will be sent to prison. The sad woman that apologized for the irritated witness being upset over a small child being mowed down and killed by a sports car driving entitled POS , almost as if to say he is wrong to be upset about it at all.

This was a very cunning and subtle dystopian hit on the world set to the comic hero style of film. Not the best I have seen , but I have seen worse.

1917 (2019)

A great entry into the theatre of war

[8/10 · 27 December 2020]

Couldn't wait to see this one last year but missed it. There certainly was much deserved hype behind it. After many 1000s of movies I have faced this situation many times. After two viewings it is difficult to give this movie anything short of perfection as a rating. Yet as I have learned even in perfection the 5 star may be denied , not for lack of effort in this case by any aspect of the product. More after so many films you just know what five stars should be. With regret I cannot give this spectacular effort such.

All the ducks lined up

Plot - Straightforward with no points where believability even entered in my head. This in itself is a rare achievement for writers in any script. Acting towed the mark.

Direction - Well if Mendes had not written the script there might have been a flaw . However , the project leader shooting his own work should yield a superior result and did here.

Cinematography - which was all the talk the entire year , the " one continuous shot " . Lensing in this film both firmly defeated disbelief and held rock solid attention contributing to flow. As it should.

Flow. Again back to the camerawork which held the attention of the viewer tightly with little respite for stray. The Writing again leaving little time for your ass to be numb.

Technical. As best as it can be with good detailed attention. Nothing out of place or really inappropriate for the setting. A good score for the times when needed.

At its face a five star movie. I know better.

4 of 5 Stars ( really only by a hair)