jmillerjr-00983 Reviews

Little Richard: I Am Everything (2023)

Decent Documentary. I actually think less of LR now though...

[6/10 · 24 November 2023]

Perhaps we could just agree that it's silly to coronate anyone the "king of rock and roll." It's clear from this documentary that Little Richard often felt overlooked, despite his crucial contribution to rock and pop music in the middle of the 20th century. Let's give him the due he deserves. He is the originator, the architect, and the emancipator (whatever that means). He was also a bit of a one trick pony. The man basically gave us a handful of rock 101's greatest songs and then spent the rest of his life milking them. And the funny thing about that is, if the documentary is to be believed, he barely got any money for that. If you look at music from the mid-60s on, it's just a rehash of old hits and uninspired covers. No genius albums. No incredible tours. No inspiring collaboration.

Placing him in the same league as the Beatles and the Stones is just silly. The man never outgrew his pride (hence the documentary's title) and his career suffered for it. Sad to say, the best song he released in the final 50 years of his life was the theme song to "The Magic School Bus." I'm actually surprised that didn't make it in the documentary.

Napoleon (2023)

See it in the Theater

[7/10 · 24 November 2023]

My son and I saw it this morning and as we walked out of the theater, I asked him what he thought. "Better than Oppenheimer," he said. He was absolutely right. Despite the middling reviews, I'd say this film was a solid effort. If anything, it did feel a bit too self-aware and because of that it often poked fun at itself (and its main character). The accents were a bit distracting, but I'm not sure what could have been done there. Phoenix's Bonaparte often overplays his American accent and it seems in stark contrast to Kirby's English. By the way, Vanessa Kirby was the best thing about this movie. Shame we couldn't have seen more of her. The action sequences were also very well done and I'm glad Scott didn't try to make them more artsy. In many ways this film is a reach back to Gladiator and other period dramas of yesterday that we need more of in the future. Definitely worth your while.

Frasier: Freddy's Birthday (2023) Season 1, Episode 7

A Peculiar Episode

[7/10 · 16 November 2023]

First of all, whoever that lovely young lady was, please bring her back. Freddy could use a long-standing love interest. Anyway, it's the first episode of the new series with Lilith. The good news was that there was some laugh out loud moments. That first part where Frasier says, "serpent" I think got the biggest laugh out of me of the entire series so far. I though the bit with Alan was also pretty funny, especially as we're supposed to believe that he and Frasier had been close friends for 40+ years and we're only now just hearing about him.

The challenge of the show is the relationship between Frasier and Lilith. It just seemed off. The two of them always had banter. I would expect that. But they always got it together for Frederick. Throughout the original Frasier series, you always got the impression that Frasier did his best to stay invested in Frederick's life. And Lilith didn't seem to have a problem with Frasier living in Seattle. Granted, we're 20 years removed from "Guns N' Neuroses", that night the two of them were set up on the blind date, but things ended there are pretty amiable terms. It actually resolved the relationship quite well. Now I realize that they needed to stir up something to create tension for a new plot line, but I would have though they'd have been a bit more clever. And of course, I would have liked at least one Cheers reference.

But seriously, bring back that girl.

No Hard Feelings (2023)

More Please

[6/10 · 31 October 2023]

Overall I felt that the film was funny and engaging. Lawrence is as beautiful as she is hilarious, so no problems there. The premise seemed a bit awkward, but I guess that's why it's a movie. What I liked the most about it was the generational commentary. The movie shined a spotlight on several ridiculous characteristics of the current generation of youth. Everyone has there phone out all the time, parents are always hovering, kids are crippled by political correctness, and there is a refusal to grow up. It would be funnier if it wasn't so sadly true. Man I miss the 90s. Anyway, a good movie, but nothing special.

Harlan Coben's Shelter (2023)

Overused Cliche

[5/10 · 18 August 2023]

I'll admit that I'm intrigued by the mystery. My initial thought was that it was going to be a back-and-forth between 90's kids and 20's kids. But three episodes in that it's just a pile of overused high school cliches. On top of that, they use such an unnecessary amount of vulgarity that it really takes away from any warmth present amongst the characters. I'm not sure why productions need so much vulgarity in their shows these days. It feels like it's just because they can. In the end, it ends up being bad writing (for example: having a likeable character use the phrase "wtaf." Just poor writing. I'll likely finish the show because I'm intrigued by the mystery, but the characters aren't great and the writing is poor.

Jesus Revolution (2023)

A Film to Jumstart Your Heart

[8/10 · 4 August 2023]

I liked this movie a lot more than I was expecting. So often, Christian films are filled with superficial characters and cheesy lines of dialogue. I found this film genuine and warm. It reminded me that the reconciliation of all things is happening right now. Either we can get on board with it or we can stand in opposition to it in our stubbornness. This film reminded me that we are living the legacy of the movement that was started some 50 years ago. Most of the acting was solid, but for me it was Kelsey Grammar who stole the show. His performance was magnificent and I'm very thankful for the story of Chuck Smith. What a movie!

Knock at the Cabin (2023)

You know, decent...

[7/10 · 24 July 2023]

My favorite Shyamalan films are those that explore the human condition. Signs, The Village, and Lady in the Water are masterpieces that not only tell amazing stories, they also show the power of storytelling itself and its impact on life in the real world.

This film wanted to be like those others, but didn't live up. The acting was decent. Dave Bautista was probably the best part of the film. But for the most part, I didn't really feel that the movie had anything to say. And that's disappointing because I'm such an M. Night fan. Hopefully he'll get back into the lab and the next project will be a return to form.

Oppenheimer (I) (2023)

Almost Walked Out

[6/10 · 24 July 2023]

The love for this movie is very perplexing. I keep reading words like "masterpiece" to describe it and I just don't see it. What I saw was a disjointed mess! No character development and very poor story telling. I suppose its erratic quality was intentional on the part or the director (perhaps to help us into the mind of Oppenheimer), but it most certainly didn't land for me. I checked the clock a lot. Had I been watching it on streaming, I'd probably have turned it off after the first 30 minutes or so.

A lot of folks seemed to have problems with the sex scenes, saying they didn't add to the movie. I actually disagree. I felt the sex scenes stressed Oppenheimer's immature attitude toward women and really his general attitude towards others. I suppose this could have been accomplished without nudity, but I thought the sex scenes made sense in the context of an otherwise confusing narrative.

I suppose the acting was decent, but the script was so boring it gave the actors little to work with. It felt so emotionless and lifeless to me. Most of Nolan's work feels that way to me. Even Murphey seemed bored by the role and not always sure of the character he was playing. Emily Blunt had that pointed scene towards the end, but for the most part, I was unsure of her character and her place in the film. I'd have been curious to see this same story told by Aaron Sorkin or Ron Howard or Wolfgang Peterson. Bottom line - snore. In fact I think I did doze off a few times.

Bridesmaids (I) (2011)

Had it's moments...

[6/10 · 3 July 2023]

This movie definitely had its moments (most of them involving Melissa McCarthy), but the fact that it was nominated for two Academy Awards is just silly. McCarthy was very funny, but not Oscar-worthy. And the screenplay wasn't anywhere close to being worth a nomination. Deathly Hallows 2 and Captain America (both released the same year) deserved more attention that this movie. Overall, the film was a raunchy mess with a sub-standard plotline and shallow characters. It would appear that the only reason this movie got the attention that it did was because it involved so many talented women. I'm all for female representation, but we shouldn't be nominating movies for Oscars just because we want certain people to win them. Do better Hollywood.

Field of Dreams (1989)

Bout as Good as Movies Get

[10/10 · 19 January 2023]

There is no other way to put it. This is WHY movies are made. The charactera, mysteries, settings, music, all of it adds up to a masterpeice. And the funny thing is, I'm still not 100% sure what I'm supposed to take away from it. Maybe the mystery and the peculiar place baseball holds on American mytheology points us in the direction of a film that insists that we sit with it. Maybe each of us can take away something different. The father/son dynamics and the relationship between Costner and Jones get me every time. This isn't just a movie to watch, it's one to soak in with people you love. It's truly amazing.

Plane (2023)

Exactly what I paid for

[9/10 · 14 January 2023]

Here was a movie that delivered exaxtly what I paid for. I went on a Friday night. Got a burger and a beer at the bar next to the theater, then got to watch a perfect Friday night movie. We need more of these types of films. Thrilling, edge of your seat action. Cool characters. Beautiful women. Dangerous bad guys. I think the important thing is not to over think it. Gerald Butler was perfect for the role. I could have seen Harrison Ford play this part well 30 years ago. Mike Colter was great as well. Looking forward to more with him. Overall, this one is definitely worth your time if you want a action 101 Friday night flick.

Nope (2022)

Ok, but a little boring

[6/10 · 3 January 2023]

I watched a few videos that picked this film apart and truth be told, they saw a lot more than I did. I didn't dislike it, and I see the connection to spectacle. I suppose a connection could be made to grasp of the material to the expense of the mysterious/supernatural. I get that. But it was still a boring movie. It felt like no one in the film really wanted to be there. They all sort of had this melancholy expression on their faces the whole time. I'd imagine that was intentional, but it also made it difficult to connect to the characters. I didn't find the sci-fi/horror elements all that compelling. I see the thematic connection with the mad-monkey, but still, I didn't need that in my life. Overall, it was ok, but I could take or leave it. Probably leave it. Looking forward to the new M. Night film.

The Scout (1994)

Taken Out of the Oven Too Early

[7/10 · 1 January 2023]

This movie just needed more time to bake. It never really decided what sort of movie it wanted to be. Albert Brooks neurotic jokes? A man looking for help with a troubled past? A screwball comedy where balls fly around a parking garage like a cartoon? A buddy movie?

Or a baseball movie? It felt like they tried all of these a bit but never really landed the plane (or should I say heliopter). It should have introduced Fraser a lot sooner, got to Dianne West a lot sooner, included more of the therapy scenes, and had a whole lot more baseball. For a baseball movie, there wasn't enough of It. The movie could have been 30 minutes longer with more character development and a stronger message.

Inside Man (II) (2022)

Awful Considering...

[4/10 · 30 December 2022]

This was a really awful show. Especially considering the fact that you had Stanley Tucci and David Tennant to work with. Horrible script. Pathetic plot. Boring characters. I blame myself for watching the whole thing. I don't need a happy ending, but I actually think it would have worked here. And what happened to the wife was just criminal. I am so sick of shows about people's lives falling apart in crisis. Crime dramas are great, but can we have them say something? There was certainly a Silence of the Lambs quality to this show. I was intrigued by the premise. But the execution was a big failure for me.

The Undoing (2020)

Well Acted, but...

[6/10 · 27 December 2022]

I'm getting a bit tired of the melancholy mysteries where people's lives fall apart after a tragedy. A rich families' life gets undone after a heinous murder with lots of sex thrown in. I feel like I've seen it over and over again. That said, I supposed there can be something to be said for the fact that I watched all 6 episodes because I wanted to see how it ended up. In the end though, the ending was a big disappointment. The last few twists in the final episode kept my attention, but when the final reveal came, the whole show just seemed underwhelming. Great acting made the show a lot better than it could have been.

Glass Onion (2022)

Decent but nothing special

[7/10 · 24 December 2022]

Think of it as a tv episode. It has a character you love, a funny script, and a generaly pleasant tone. But in the end, it's not very clever. The mystery itself wasn't even as compelling as an average TV show script. Murder She Wrote and Monk had better reveals. At the end I was like, "yeah, ok."

I actually found myself checking the clock several times to see how much longer I had before it was over. Daniel Craig is great. Kate Hudson is beautiful. Drax is funny. Ed Norton is Ed Norton. And the rest of the characters were also there. That said, I'm looking forward to the next one in the same way I look forward to the next episode of a show I like.

Avatar (2009)

I Wanted More

[6/10 · 18 December 2022]

Well, no one can argue that this wasn't a visual masterpiece. It really was sensational in that regard. Cameron was able to deliver a George Lucas quality production that will be hard to beat for decades to come.

That said, the plotline was recycled and completely unoriginal. Pocahontas, Fern Gully, Dances with Wolves...we've seen it again and again. The evil white military capitalists disturb the peace-loving indigenous tribe and one of them learns their ways, becomes part of the time, and ends up fighting against his former people. Completely unoriginal.

But the thing is, this is Hollywood. I'd allow unoriginality if it means giving us a fun time at the movies. What I have a much harder time forgiving is the HORRENDOUS screenplay. I mean the script was unnecessarily vulgar, haphazardly trite, and just plain lazy. The thing that made Dances with Wolves amazing (even though it was a very similar plotline) was that the script was incredible. Avatar's script is everything that is wrong with entertainment today. I hope for better things from Way of the Water.

Game of Thrones: The Iron Throne (2019) Season 8, Episode 6

I Liked it Much Better Than Most

[9/10 · 13 December 2022]

I don't know if anyone will read this, but it's in my head and I have to get it out. First of all, I didn't hate the ending. In fact, I think the writers did the best job they could with what they had. They didn't have source material, so they knew they had to paint with broad strokes. All things being equal, I think they ended it well while still leaving some room for interpretation and perhaps even further story.

Now, if I was writing the happy ending I wanted, I would have had Jon bend the knee to Daenerys after she saved them from the dead at the ice lake (as it was in the show). Then, just before the dead attacked Winterfell, I would have had Sam tell her that Jon is the true heir. That could have been in reaction to Sam finding out that Daenerys killed his father and brother. But then, after Jon's heroic deeds in the Great War, Daenerys should have returned the favor and bent the knee to Jon. They kiss, pledge themselves to each other and to the realm, and co-lead an attack on King's Landing; dethroning Cersi in a responsible manner and bringing peace. And if you wanted a cliffhanger ending, Daenerys could have given birth to a daughter at the same time that Cersi gives birth to a son. The implication being that a war between them could be coming in future sequels.

That's how it could have ended, but like Jules said in Pulp Fiction, "that s*** ain't real". What's real is that "when you play the game of thrones you win or you die, there is no middle ground." The truth is that the seeds for Daenerys' madness had long been sown. She repeatedly slaughtered people she viewed as "unjust" and neglected the role of mercy that good leaders must have. At the beginning of the 8th season, I don't know if she deserved to die, but she didn't deserve to be queen. After her destruction of King's Landing, Daenerys got what she deserved. I would have wanted better for Jon and worse for Cersi, but violence, war, and revenge never serve their intended purposes completely. Regardless of who "wins", the people lose when the game of thrones is played. We haven't learned that in the world of fiction or real life.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: The Great Wave (2022) Season 1, Episode 4

A move back in the wrong direction

[6/10 · 17 September 2022]

The hope I had after episode 3 has been diminished quite a bit. I sincerely want to like this show, but sadly it is just rather boring. Every scene slogs on and I still lack true interest in anything that's going on. The only thing that keeps me going at this point is seeing how it will eventually set up the events of The Hobbitt and LOTR. But, like the Star Wars prequels, that is just enough to get me to watch and not enough for me to say I truly am engaged with the plot. We're 4 episodes in and I just don't care about anyone. I'm in it til the end, dont get me wrong, but had hoped for much more by this point.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022– )

Much better with the 3rd episode

[6/10 · 9 September 2022]

The most celebratory thing about this show is its visuals. They are incredible. Clearly the production spared no expense. My main concern is that the show is a bit boring. Three episodes in and I have no connection with most of the characters. Maybe Nori a bit. And honestly, I'm usually not sure what's going on. What plotline is there is a bit tough to follow. Not really sure what the Dwarf storyline is all about. Hoe does that play into the larger story? Although I will say the third episode was the best so far. So hopefull it's getting better from here. The Numenor scenes are absolutely stunning.

Jackie Brown (1997)

The Worst of Tarantino, but still decent

[6/10 · 20 August 2022]

The film definitely has its moments. I love Pam Grier in it, her smile is just awesome. Music is great, Sam Jackson is Sam Jackson. Robert Forrester is the man. Bridget Fonda is sexy. And Micahel Keaton is an added treat. I also love how much the mall features in the film. That said, DeNiro is wasted in the film (in more ways than one) and the plotline just sort of slugs along. It's not a very compelling story and the dialoug seems forced at times. Overall, the movie seems like Tarentino needed to put out a movie after the success of Pulp Fiction and he rushed this out. Of the 9 QT films, this one is definitely my least favorite, but still watchable. QT is still the man.

Old School (2003)

The Standard

[9/10 · 22 July 2022]

I'll go ahead and say it. WAY better than Animal House. This movie is now the classic college/young adult/mid-life crisis comedy standard in my humble opinion. I don't know how they could have done a better job.

Jurassic World Dominion (2022)

Not really what we wanted

[5/10 · 16 June 2022]

Positives: 1. Bryce Dallas Howard - wow is she beautiful and talented.

2. The original cast - I've really missed them.

3. Some scientific/philosophical debate - This was something that I LOVED about the first movie. Hearing scientists debate the ethics of it all. I'm glad they brought it back a bit.

Negatives: 1. A plot - It was lackluster and unclear.

2. Chris Pratt - Seemed like his heart wasn't really in this one.

3. The setting - Jurassic movies work well in tropical environments. I wasn't feeling the snowy settings.

4. The lack of an overarching storyline - We've been waiting for sequel material to come from that Barbasol can for 30 years. But it didn't feel like this was the plan all along. It's like they pulled a Rise of the Skywalker. They got scarred because the plot lines they had used in the previous movies didn't really work, so they pulled in something from 5 movies ago to try and provide a big ending. It ended up just kind of being a dud.

Bottom Line - The original movie was a masterpiece. Everything after that was just struggling to recreate the magic.

Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey (2022)

Submit to One Another

[8/10 · 15 June 2022]

The documentary begins with a quote of Ephesians 5:22 about wives submitting to husbands. The rest of the documentary seems to show how horrific things can be when we take verses out of context. If you to read the rest of the chapter, you'd discover that Paul'd argument was that we would all be subject to one another. Wives to husbands and husbands to wives. All out of reverence to Jesus. In fact, the chapter makes it cleat that husbands are to lay down their lives for their wives...loving them sacrificially the way Jesus loves all of us.

Evidently the FLDS leaders hadn't read Ephesians.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Sorry, but this one misses.

[6/10 · 6 May 2022]

It was a disappointment for sure. Cumberbatch is always great, but he is overshadowed in this film by lesser characters. The villian doesn't make any sense, there is far too much woke girl power, the stakes are muddled, the characters fall flat and the action is cheap. This film made me miss Tony Stark working in his basement. I'm officially done with this multiverse crap. Time to regroup the Avengers and get back to basics.