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Ken_Kearns
Mono, stereo, Sensurround, Dobly, DTS, SDDS, the tv and movie experience technology only enhances good story telling and that is what makes all the shows engaging.
I give many 10's based on a simple metric...was I entertained. 9's are as good as a 10, but just not in my Top Ten list of preferences for what I would take with me on a stranded island.
Another observation, the context of the era when a film or TV show was watched. Obviously, Captain Kangaroo and Gilligan's Island are the world for a 6 year old...and will remain timeless perfection.
Cheers!
Ratings
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Reviews
Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (2012)
Excellent Series
Essie Davis shines in this series.
Each episode builds the story to the next episode while adding more characters into the development of a day in the life with Miss Fischer.
This is often reminded me of a female Sherlock Holmes and far more enticing within the context of the time.
Thoroughly enjoyable and recommended to all my friends. 10 out of 10
Shadow of the Thin Man (1941)
Timeless Classics
This was a Gem of a movie series discovered in the Cinema History class at EKU in the mid-1980s. A highlight of the 1930s and with Prohibition ending in 1933 it assists in the context of this 1934 debut.
The instructor asked if any students watched Hart to Hart on TV. It was a popular program at the time on network television. It was good, but it was not this.
William Powell and Myrna Loy have great writing and give this series a timeless chemistry. Of course, Asta provides his skill and credit for his role as well.
In essence, Powell is a James Bond without the gadgets and add in a touch of Columbo's method to the madness, but with his one and only best girl; Loy, his wife.
The visuals on a big screen are excellent. The story telling brings the audience into the journey and into solving each mystery.
Masterful story telling, superb ensemble casting and Asta stealing scenes make this a Timeless Classic Series.
See them all:
The Thin Man
After the Thin Man
Another Thin Man
Shadow of the Thin Man
The Thin Man Goes Home
Song of the Thin Man
Hat-Tip: Director, W.S. Van Dyke for setting the standard.
After the Thin Man (1936)
Classic Series
This was a Gem of a movie series discovered in the Cinema History class at EKU in the mid-1980s. A highlight of the 1930s and with Prohibition ending in 1933 it assists in the context of this 1934 debut.
The instructor asked if any students watched Hart to Hart on TV. It was a popular program at the time on network television. It was good, but it was not this.
William Powell and Myrna Loy have great writing and give this series a timeless chemistry. Of course, Asta gets credit for his role as well.
In essence, Powell is a James Bond without the gadgets and add in a touch of Columbo's method to the madness, but with his one and only best girl; Loy, his wife.
The visuals on a big screen are excellent. The story telling brings the audience into the journey and into solving each mystery.
Masterful story telling, superb ensemble casting and Asta stealing scenes make this a Timeless Classic Series.
See them all:
The Thin Man
After the Thin Man
Another Thin Man
Shadow of the Thin Man
The Thin Man Goes Home
Song of the Thin Man
Hat-Tip: Director, W.S. Van Dyke for setting the standard.
The Thin Man (1934)
Timeless Classic Series
This was a Gem of a movie series discovered in the Cinema History class at EKU in the mid-1980s. A highlight of the 1930s and with Prohibition ending in 1933 it assists in the context of this 1934 debut.
The instructor asked if any students watched Hart to Hart on TV. It was a popular program at the time on network television. It was good, but it was not this.
William Powell and Myrna Loy have great writing and give this series a timeless chemistry. Of course, Asta provides credit for his role as well.
In essence, Powell is a James Bond without the gadgets and add in a touch of Columbo's method to the madness, but with his one and only best girl; Loy, his wife.
The visuals on a big screen are excellent. The story telling brings the audience into the journey and into solving each mystery.
Masterful story telling, superb ensemble casting and Asta stealing scenes make this a Timeless Classic Series.
See them all:
The Thin Man
After the Thin Man
Another Thin Man
Shadow of the Thin Man
The Thin Man Goes Home
Song of the Thin Man
Hat-Tip: Director, W.S. Van Dyke for setting the standard.
Rocketman (2019)
Musical Fantasy hiding a Biography
For fans of Elton John, the songs are the calling cards. Using the complete discography to tell Elton's story is accomplished with great selections that we all know and love.
Interestingly, nothing from Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, which was the biography LP in 1975 of Elton and Bernie's career, made it as a song selection. (the first LP to debut at Number 1 in music history)
Fortunately, I was able to watch Rocket Man a second time which brought into focus how the fantasy process was being used to tell Elton's story.
Overall, this is very enjoyable and reveals that it will take a mini-series to chronologically and accurately tell Elton's story. I mean he has had a Number One song in FOUR different decades.
That is the internal conflict for long time Elton fans when a movie shows Grow Some Funk of Your Own as a song earlier in his life and career than Madman Across the Water. The first was from 1975 and the second was from 1971.
(note: neither song is in the movie and only serve as examples)
So really, what you have is a musical fantasy that is hiding a biography and it is really well done.
Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
Great Story Telling
This is a movie that found me. Having been enchanted by Disneyland in California in the early 1970s at a young age.
Nothing like watching color tv and The Wonderful World of Disney and then traveling to visit the Magical Kingdom.
1968's Jungle Book was my first Disney Movie in the theater, however, just as the Mickey Mouse club allowed for the building of Disneyland, it was Mary Poppins that brought further success not only in movie making, but the building of Disneyworld in Florida.
This is the story behind the story and although I did not see it in the theater, I stood and Clapped at the end of this movie. Bravo!
10 out of 10.
Phantom Thread (2017)
Brilliant Character Study
A great and engaging story line and a surprise find for me as their was no prior knowledge of the movie. A selection by mistake if you will.
My father was an Engineer and spent countless hours concentrating and focused on problem solving and developing those ideas into tangible things.
This captures an element of the human spirit that is overlooked and brings into focus everyone has a someone.
This is a keeper and worthy of a 10 out of 10.
Arthur (1981)
A Classic
The story is good, but the One-Liners in this film are endless.
I took everyone I could find to see this movie repeatedly at the theater when it was released. (some 16 times)
The Christopher Cross Theme Song is just perfect for the movie.
John Gielgud is the perfect Butler and serves as the perfect foil to Dudley Moore and the banter is timeless.
Truly, so much to just enjoy and be entertained with in this film and worthy of 10 out of 10.
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
Top 5 Reference Movie
Another Cinema History movie from the EKU class, that is just great timeless story telling.
An 18 year old neighbor came over during a "movie night" and given the movie history being action or The Waterboy as favorites this was going to be interesting.
It appeared the guest had fallen asleep in the big easy chair as the rest of us watched the movie until the court room scene and boom!
We were all surprised to see this figure JUMP out of the chair and yelling HELL YEAH!
Amazing story telling from a previously 'boring' Black and White movie that created a new movie fan who to this day now talks about characters and writing of movies instead of ku-fu fighting.
Interestingly, I had been introduced to the movie unknowingly years before my college movie class on the 1977 LP from Rush's A Farewell to Kings and the song Cinderella Man.
10 out of 10.
Rear Window (1954)
Top 5 Reference Movie Genius
The introduction of Rear Window for me was in Cinema History class at EKU. Thelma Ritter is pure gold and the perfect foil for James Stewart and Grace Kelly.
Masterful story telling and the writing/dialog is excellent. One of my top 5 reference movies and highlights the genius of Hitchcock.
This film has a little of everything and is a "Readers Digest" filled with character studies all from the Rear Window.
10 for 10
Grumpy Old Men (1993)
Laughing at the Theater
I saw this upon the initial release in the theater. I was a surprise movie and WOW! I could not tell you the last time I had laughed out loud in a movie theater.
The story between these two main characters could not have been better. This cast ensemble works to perfection!
Of course, you have to appreciate the catch phrase: BACON!
This is a must watch every time it is on tv and a keeper for the home video collection.
10 for 10
The Mask (1994)
100% Entertainment
This is one of those movies that seemed to stick in your mind from the beginning.
This is a fun filled romp that mixes the best of the cartoon world with the real world to give total unleashed laughs.
This is just 100% Entertainment and again a perfect catch phrase: Smokin!
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
Unexpected Classic
The first time viewing this movie it was turned off 2-3 minutes into it and put back on the shelf.
Two days later, a guest came over and wanted to watch it. I was laughing and asking who is this guy? Aaaaaaaalllrighty Then! is such a catch phrase.
Having no idea who Jim Carey was at the time this is just comic gold. Easy 10 stars.
Not sure while my first viewing was a total rejection, but falling off the couch funny it was for the second viewing and the few 100 times afterwards.
Echo in the Canyon (2018)
Wonderful Time Travel
"How everyone could be so happy and have such fun on Coca-Cola and Lemonade" 1964-1967
(excerpt from last line of The Byrds Greatest Hits liner notes)
The re-birth of these classic songs from 1964 to 1967 is worth all Ten-Stars. Listeners would be well served to search out the original songs to appreciate the context of the times and sheer enjoyment of music from an era of greatness when AM radio ruled.
Jakob Dylan has assembled a great collection of talent to share a musical legacy worth remembering.
Jade Castrinos
Fiona Apple
Regina Spektor
Cat Power
The song selections highlight how impressive their talents can be with this timeless material. I did retrieve my Byrds, Mama and Papa's, Buffalo Springfield and Beach Boys for a spin and they still shine in all their musical glory.
This is Jakob Dylan's masterpiece tribute akin to the Traveling Wilburys magic that Tom Petty was involved in. The whole is superior to the parts.
A producer never goes wrong with great material and this is packed with performances that outshine any of the artists previous efforts on their own. This is a win for the listeners.
10 Stars
Covert Affairs (2010)
Mix of Ian Fleming, Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, John Le Carre and Graham Greene
Season One to Five: Just outstanding story telling. The cast, characters, locations and gadgets mixed just right with a tight ensemble are on point.
This would be a interesting movie franchise to see developed for the big screen given Atomic Blonde, Red Sparrow, and Peppermint were limited and not as fully developed as this series.
Piper Perabo is amazing in bring her character to life, along with Christopher Gorham, Kari Matchett, and Peter Gallagher being the core of amazing story telling.
The natural weaving into the story line of Hill Harper, Anne Dudek, Sendhil Ramamurthy, Nic Bishop, and Oded Fehr really brings the extra spice to this series. I used their real name, because I had never heard of any of them before and the casting was spot on for the characters they played.
This gets 100% and all 5 stars. Matt Corman and Chris Ord get a Hat-Tip for the writing. I never watched this during the Five Season run on USA Network so I am late to this party, but Bravo!
Highly recommended.