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Reviews
L.A. Confidential (1997)
A solid cop drama!
L. A. Confidential was a solid cop drama! What makes L. A. Confidential a solid cop drama: The casting: a new comer Crowe, Pearce, DeVeto etc. I love report DeVeto's narration" on the qt hush hush" just sets the tone for the movie. Crowe as the tough cop vs Pearce the cop with brains was a good story contrast. The 1950's L. A. backdrop with media, film, and police corruption makes for great story juxtapositions
which bleeds into a good tale. Great plot devices such as Rolo Tomasi, Smyth with an S, and It's a big rat all give plot twists and a Mike Hammer feel. The director knows how to use plot twists, characters, movie sets to create a old style 1950's cop drama with updated material. Just fun to watch. 8 stars.
Blind Date (1987)
under rated
I remember watching Blind Date with my buddy Joe and Joe's girlfriend Crystal. Joe and I wanted to see a Burt Reynolds' movies. Who's this Bruce Willis guy? The guy on Moon lighting! Ugh! Willis never did movies and Blind Dates was a surprise. Before action films Willis was known for comedy. Blind date was awkward comedy . Someone called it a modern day version of the movies The Party. The un known Kim Basinger was the knock out blind date who mixes her medication and destroys Willis reputation at a work outing in a silly The Party (1968) style of odd, silly uncomfortable situations. Willis comic style does a pay back in the second part which was hilarious. Of course there was romantic conclusion for Blind Date for a good tie in for a memorable movie. I wonder what would have happened if Willis stayed with comedy. Crystal was right Blind Date was a good film. 7 stars.
The Twilight Zone: The Once and Future King/A Saucer of Loneliness (1986)
Well I see a patter here.
The Twilight Zone I notice ropes the viewer in with the stronger first story and the second one, well, is the lamer story. The Once and Future King/A Saucer of Loneliness follows the formula. The Once and Future King ropes the viewer in with a Elvis vibe. The Elvis impersonator, wants to do the real Rock and Roll and hate going to Vegas doing cheesy Elvis rock. There is car accident time warp and the impersonator meets the King himself. Trying to correct the Kings mistakes creates a bizzarro twist. Did the agent know this plot twist ending? A Saucer of Loneliness was about a lonely gal. Shelly Duval was perfectly cast as a women who get a U F O message. Interesting, but drags along. The message in the bottle theme gives me mixed feelings. 8 stars, and 6 stars so I give 7 stars for the season opener.
The Twilight Zone: A Day in Beaumont/The Last Defender of Camelot (1986)
Good and bad!
A day in Beaumont was a solid episode. What works with the last installment of season one, there is a homage to grade b alien horror movies. The small town feel. 50 cars and back drops gave the old movie details for older films. The bug people was great homage to past movies. The sheriff, guy with the girl friend with the panic to warn others give a 50's panic movie. Much like Invasion from Mars, or Invasion of the Body Snatcher for fans of the past. The ending was a great twist. Fun and entertaining. The Last Defender of Camelot well starts out interesting with Sir Lancelot as an older guy in modern England. The plot becomes bogged down in past historical beefs. More of a mellow drama of Merlon being a jerk. A reach at humor, but a reach too high. Mmm not as good as the first installment. I give the season ending ugh 6 stars. The first installment saves the season final.
Cruising (1980)
Left an impression on me!
Cruising left an impression on me! Dark and depraved like one of those dark episodes from the Miami Vice series. Great casting, Pacino undercover, Sorvino the lieutenant, and supporting cast push a gritty story about murders in New York in the underground gay S & M scene. Pacino has to go deep cover into the S & M culture and the undercover detective experiences a plethora of depravity, and malice, which effects detective and viewer alike. The clubs, leather/style and music has a surreal effect (similar to an 80's rock video or Miami Vice episode) which hit the viewer hard. Cruising left and impression on me, and the ending ask did the impression change the Pacino character? 7 or 8 stars. Leaves a heavy burden on the viewer.
The Twilight Zone: Shadow Play/Grace Note (1986)
Charles Beaumont classic!
Charles Beaumont wrote some of the best scripts for the original Twilight Zone. The New Exhibit comes to mind! Shadow Play was one the better episodes of the first season of the new series. A man is on death row gets the death verdict and explains that the trial is not real. A play with characters, who are members from his past life, playing different parts before the execution happens! The execution starts a re-loop, which has the viewer wonder is this hell and what did the prisoner actually do? Grace Note has an opera singer and death. Goes back and forth Lesson of gifts and death. Hard to watch. The weaker of the two episodes. Shadow Play/Grace Note I give 7 stars.
The Twilight Zone: Take My Life... Please!/Devil's Alphabet/The Library (1986)
Average!
Take My Life... Please!/Devil's Alphabet/The Library here is the rundown! A stand up comedian does a show a dies in an accident! We think we know, but the comedian has to do a show which everyone laughs at all the evil the comedian has done. Over and over I get it! It's comedy club hell. A bit of a hook there but mmm okay. Devil's Alphabet has and old English club which the boy agree to be members until death. Regrettably the supernatural bond causes spooky death etcetera until the bond was broken. Starts out strong, but ugh ends flat. The Library has a gals new job of moving books about peoples life to the next world. Starts to rewrite some books to change events for better and can not get it right. I liked the ending. Best of the bunch. 6 stars the last one was the best.
The Twilight Zone: Need to Know/Red Snow (1986)
Not bad, but the second one could be better.
Need to Know was one of the Twilight Zones crazier episodes. People are going mad in a small town. Some recuse tells a tale which drives the town mad. Well written, acted, and perfect sets for the bizarre tale. The viewer just keeps watching, and wondering how and why? The ending with the twist just keeps the viewer wondering. A disturbing ending that leaves you bothered but laughing. Red Snow starts out strong. Good casting and back drop for the Soviet Union era. There was a harden K G B agents, and one suspected agent. After an arrest and guessing of the agents loyalty, the doubtful agent was sent to an exile town to investigate murders. The characters, circumstances, and wolf back drops makes for a compelling episode. Red Snow keeps the viewer in anticipation. Regrettably, I found the ending disappointing. Just did not rap it up well I guess. Both stories I give a six or seven out of ten.
The Twilight Zone: Profile in Silver/Button, Button (1986)
Out standing! 8 stars!
Profile in Silver/Button, Button are out standing! What makes Profile in Silver was strong sci fi writing. A Kennedy who is a future historian observers the J F K assignation and has to stop the deadly day! Time line implications, realistic scenes, and the flaw in the plan glues the audience with anticipation for wanting to know more. A coin and sharp secret service agent is the plot device which drives the story forward! Great ingredients for a memorable story and plot twist ending. Button, Button was great short story. Great back ground story of poor white folks, and accurately develops the back struggles of stress, problems, and desperations of poverty. (reminds me of when I was broke) Surprisingly a man arrives with a button which kills and a 200 000 dollar offer. The low budget one room, slow wait episodes usually kills T W Z episodes. With Button, Button the low budget enhances the tension and build up of the waiting in a room which creates a memorable twisted ending. 8 stars of the two opposite episode which compliment each other.
Se7en (1995)
Well not bad, but not good either.
Se7en was well was not bad, but not good either. The90's gritter version of a detective movies. There was a bizarre gritty murder and the murder wants to do such with the seven deadly sins. What works: The gritty sets, film quality etcetera was good. Morgan Freeman has a strong role which carried the movie. What did not work Fincher made too dark of story. Dim lighting and decrypted sets. Dead bodies and horror of the victims ends was just too much. Se7en was a film which was made well, but maybe to well. A over load of the scenes. Memorable, in a way the leaves the viewer with a feeling after experiencing Se7en! Se7en is a six out of ten.
The Santa Clause (1994)
Not bad!
The Santa Clause was not bad! I never wanted to see this one. My mom asked when I was in my twenties, and my girlfriend was working at the casino so I said okay. Well, I was pleasantly surprised. What worked: The plot of the old Santa dying by Tim Allen caught my attention. Tim Allen made the movie in the Tim Allen way! The average guy who's get weight gain etc was funny. Well what did not work: A bit sappy with the boy and his dad side story. The Santa Clause ending was kind of formulated with the usual ending an special effect. But! Hey the Rudolph part at the ending I liked. 6 stars out of 10.
Star Trek: For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky (1968)
Well not a memorable episode.
For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky well not a memorable episode like Mirror Mirror, but watchable. I was watching this episode and I found C T V sci fi channel actually cleaned up, and digitized the 60's episode to a wow level. Special effects were much more impressive in the new format. For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky started out strong with special effects of an asteroid which turns out to be a ship. Of course Kirk, Spock, and Mc Coy all go down. Side story of Mc Coy dying from and incurable disease. Of course the mid part the old 60's effects look cheesy. Some times digital enhancement show more flaws. The middle gets bogged down with too much dialogue. A romance between McCoy and a new alien leader. A count down of trying to alter a collusion cores between the machine and planet. Of course all ends tie up with the usual formulated Star Trek conclusion. 5 stars.
The Twilight Zone: Number 12 Looks Just Like You (1964)
Lame with a strong message.
Number 12 Looks Just Like You was lame! The effects are lame even by 50's standards. Even the brain watch you mc call it looked like a salad bowl. The acting was okay, but the material was long winded like a play. Slow, slow and slower with all the dialogue and over play drags the episode. The ending had a good message. What was enhancing, or beauty was more of trick of assimilation and destroying free will. I got the message. Instead of telling the public you are going to be manipulated and controlled. Tell the public we are enhancing and improving them. Not a bad message but not worth the wait. 3 stars.
The Good Shepherd (2006)
I liked it!
The Good Shepherd was a hard movie too watch, but I liked it! What can I write about The Good Shepherd? The Good Shepherd is a movie you have to watch over again and you will like this film more. I noticed more details which make The Good Shepherd a cult classic. The movie was slow, cold and methodical which was hard to experience, but real life: What works: Damon's characters upbringing of being cold and harsh that builds the blocks of leadership which make and effective C I A. The cold, methodical Damon joins a cold and methodical creation of the C I A. The details of a Skull and Bones guy bread to lead as the quiet man unfolds the Damon character. Damon was ask by the Mafi. We got are culture what you have? Damon says the whole country was the reply which explains a movie. The Soviet lead who's sunglasses, and gloves from injuries from Siberia are the little details which makes the movie real. You leave the movie with a realism of spy craft and the character which creates a complex but realistic life of the spy which left a impact on me like the movie Red Sparrow. All reality is based on deception was the impression. Both hard to watch but good. 7 stars.
The Maltese Falcon (1941)
Not bad for an old movie!
The Maltese Falcon was not bad for an old movie! The Bogart character was the template for many a Private eye character. The grittily, slick P I reminds me of Jim Rockford and Mike Hammer. Like many a Rockford Files episode all the characters can not be trusted. Some characters are slick, others though, a rich guy, and a woman playing the other character as a marks. There was a murder and a chase for the Maltese Falcon to get the story rolling. Of course the P I has many slick moves, perfect cons, and a plan to get the police off his back. What did not work: My wife found the oldie had too much fast talking, Myself the Maltese Falcon was done of the cheap and fast. No car chases etc, and more character driven story. I believe the script was written like a radio play which pushed into a movie script. Not as good as when I watched the Sunday classic movie at age 5, but still entertaining. 7 stars.
The Twilight Zone: The Leprechaun-Artist/Dead Run (1986)
Friday night stories.
For the Friday night stories I remember watching these two at my buddy's Tony's place. Well the first episode was funny as a three kids catch a Leprechaun with the three wishes was hilarious. The parents who do as they told with a catch and the stolen limo was funny lessons which make you love this Leprechaun. Lessons learnt in a 80's teen comedy way. Dead Run started out strong like a Stephen King novel. Truck drivers to hell. The first half was interesting, but the story did not know how to end for the episode. The Leprechaun-Artist/Dead Run Not a bad series but not memorable either. Seven stars out of ten.
The Twilight Zone: Gramma/Personal Demons/Cold Reading (1986)
Well first one was scary!
Gramma written by King has chill which hits many young people who's Gramma was creepy. Many of old people kids hate because they look old, strange and creepy. Parents talk in whispers and strange stories of nanna. Kid was alone with the old mean gal, and should have just ran out. Personal Demons I like the idea of a writer seeing invisible creates which run havoc in the writers life. Creepy yet funny, how can the special effects of those little guy just give the viewers creeps but yet laugh at the same time. Cold Reading an African charm makes a radio story have real life sound effect, which was quite over the top. With one part more stupid/ silly then the next. 7 stars.
The Twilight Zone: In Praise of Pip (1963)
Little over dramatic!
In Praise of Pip was a Little over dramatic! Well, let's be honest way over dramatic. Like many Twilight Zone episodes In Praise of Pip was set on cheap sets with a panicky guy! William Shatner, or Liam Nissen could just crush the desperate over emotional role. A bet a trade of a father for a son. A fathers love for a dying kid. The start of the Vietnam war movement. All play a force in this episode! Rod must of added the dynamics being a Marine in Asia during World War Two. War and the impact on the father son relationship was the story line. But just one too many over acting Twilight Zone episodes. I prefer the Living Doll episode. In Praise of Pip just wares you out! Five stars.
Storm of the Century (1999)
Not bad for a long series!
Storm of the Century before Hollywood destroyed films had producers which actually followed books. My dad said Storm of the Century followed the book closely. Well what works for Storm of the Century horror/drama was a slowly unfolding story which has characters in a supernatural situation with twists and turns keeping the viewer wanting to know what will happen next. Starts out strong with a stranger coming to a Maritime island, committing a murder and giving and ultimatum! Meetings, visions, narrations, and a tragic ending. The viewer knows the ending will be bad, but how, and the horns of the dilemma ending keeps the viewer watching. I guess the audiences' natural morbid curiosity keeps us glued to the screen. Probably, not worth watching a second time after know the ending so I give Storm of the Century 7 stars. Islander know how to keep s secret was a good line.
Secret Window (2004)
I forgot about this film.
Many years ago my wife and I went out on date night and saw Secret Window: Well, my wife was a big fan of Johnny Depp and Johnny did a weird enough role which worked well. On first viewing what I liked was the story with the plot twist. King's story evolved from a victim and who or what was happening. The writing and direction aroused my intertest. First half was who or what was tormenting this poor guy. This was creepy. Then the bottom third turn into creepy/sick story. Did not see it that coming. Memorable movie. Years latter, when I bought a King D V D set for X mass we got to watch Secret Window. Years latter I found Secret Window flatter. Another same strange Depp role. Secret Window was film a bit on the cheap. Not a bad movie, but not as good as I last watched. 6 star.
Wiseguy: Pilot (1987)
Forget about it (in a good way)
Forget about it (in a good way) Back in the 80's net work television did Pilot episode in a movie big way. Wiseguy Pilot had excellent casting Wahl etc. Vinny character with the handler who don't like each other was a good character story line. The lifegrad guy was strong. The cast of mobster was so well done. Steelgrave brothers, were believable. Mob rivals and side character gave a New Jersey feel. Good sets in Vancouver with believable side casting gave that old Jersey feel. The out of jail deep cover agent was a good story line. Mixed in with a double crossing mobster, with sit-downs assignations an arms dealing Miami Vice style ending was dada bing good. A good reflection of 80;s television which made Vinnie Terranova a household name. 9 stars.
Wiseguy (1987)
First season was solid.
Ken Wahl as Vinnie. Good casting for a story of Vinney doing a stretch to get street cred as a undercover agent who works way in the New Jersey mob. Mob rivals, a boss like Scarface mix with sub stories with a priest brother, and sick mother. The handler who has comic back an forth with Vinnie adds much comic relief for an intense series. Problem with Wiseguy was when the series lost steam, and ideas when the character had to do the storyline to some international killers James Bond style. Just did not fit into the feel of the first two season. Well still worth watching for the first two seasons. 7 stars.
Dreamcatcher (2003)
Dreamcatcher is Kind of like IT and stand by me
Dreamcatcher is Kind of like IT and stand by me. The adults talking about pasted events in town and living in the present. What works is the narratives of the characters which slowly unfold the main story. Like it and Stand By me there is a slow build up. What works is the story goes into a bulled friend, and snake type creatures. Dreamcatcher is just so weird. What does the strange friend have to do with Dreamcatcher's creatures? What is the bubbling impending story line with the snake create going to be about? Dreamcatcher unlike Sand by Me and IT has a better ending. So strange the movie works. I never saw the plot twist coming. King is great at writing about flawed character. The story took a big risk and payed off. 7 stars.
Eaten Alive (1976)
Psycho meets T C M
Eaten Alive was a mix of Psycho meets T C M. Eaten Alive is what we call a 70's exploitation flick. There's boobs, nudity, mixed with over the top gator eating kill. What works here: Not a lot, but the shock factor of the gator eating killer is the hook that draws the viewers in. What did not work: The dream style film was hard to watch on the eyes. Most of the characters were un likeable and flat which makes the viewer lose interest. The gator rambling hotel owner was a poor man character copy of Norman Bates psycho story line, which mixes a few Texas Chainsaw Massacre chase scenes! Well even for a low budget move this one was bad. 1 stars.
Smile 2 (2024)
Decent
Smile 2 was a decent movie. A throw back style from the 80''s. A mix of cold lighting and sterile set and clothes like the movie The Hunger. Monster special effect like the movie The Thing. With a storytelling like the throw back movie Videodrome with the infection with a count down story line. There is an artist style of film of a focal point the audience see with a three line strata of foreground midground and back group many scenes which give a creepy 80s feel of one cold picture frames at a time. Each scene sets a creepy feel as the infection worsens. We see a videodorme or the Ring style infection movie with the protagonist knowing a gradual supernatural death is coming. What was real and not storytelling with a movie mix of a social message about fame and the unreal of phony people pushing the protagonist like a meal ticket creates a balance story. Add in a few C G I monster effects which add scares push the film towards a grand climax. A good ending to start off a smile part three. Better then most modern films A good mix of old and new. 7 stars.