bluzman Reviews

The Addams Family (2019)

Animation Fail

[5/10 · 20 October 2019]

The story was cute and several of the actors gave pretty good performances as the voices of the characters. Chloë Grace Moretz gave the best performance as Wednesday...too bad her character looked like Casper the Friendly Ghost doing an imitation of a bowling pin.Charlize Theron was pretty good as Mortica. I am not sure she would ever wear any except black, but I think she was the best animation. The rest were mostly decently acted while fair to poorly animated. Overall, I could easily forget about it.

A Scanner Darkly (2006)

Liked the movie - hated the animation

[5/10 · 10 September 2006]

I am a fan of this type of story and have never stuck a nickel or lower on a big name writer/movie, until now. The story was sound, but the movie lacked in action and depth because it was easier to talk, talk, talk through the animation.

I saw the animation as a failure, in the same way the first attempt at combining animation and live action in the Lord of the Rings failed about 30 years ago. Only Tron managed to pull it more or less off.

I could have dealt with it in shorter segments, like the way Tarantino got around the pedophilia issue in Kill Bill Vol. 2.

I would have much preferred live action, but the price of the real life stars would probably have broke the budget.

Sahara (2005)

A Fun Time

[8/10 · 10 April 2005]

I get tired of people over-analyzing movies. Just go and enjoy it for what it is...a movie. Quit trying to compare it to actual history...it doesn't present itself as history recreated like Galdiator, Titianic or King Arthur. And quit whining because it doesn't compare...they didn't say it was supposed to be REAL history. Overall, it is a fun time at a time when most of the movies in the theaters were not even within consideration for us to attend. It gave us a lot of action with decent special effects. And the characters were enjoyable and realistic, although they were underdeveloped, which seems to be the norm in Hollywood these days. They just drop someone in a say he used to...once did or met...has special knowledge...but never back any of it up with a little character development. Still, I would like to meet the good guys in this show. The seemed real and likable. Finally, I got some decent laughs as well with the liberal amount of hum-our that was sprinkle throughout the movie.

The Specialist (1994)

The Wrong People Saw This Movie

[6/10 · 19 December 2004]

This was an okay, but not great movie. With a little work it could have been much better. They needed less over-dramatization and cartoonishness concerning several of the characters. They needed more development of a few characters. They needed to work more inside Stallone and Wood's heads beyond simple character development -- Dennis Hopper or even Charles Bronson could have done a good job in Stallone's role.

But, to get to the point of my comment title, this movie was probably pulling the wrong audience from day one -- the right one never showed up. Everyone saw Stallone's name and they wanted Rocky and Rambo, or stayed away because of Rambo, more than Rocky. They are going to be disappointed. This is not a John Wayne Shoot'em Up movie, it is more a Clint Eastwood Spaghetti Western. They are not gonna see 10+ knockout punches per round complete with slo-mo flying sweat, grimaces and groans. They are not gonna get a guy who carries more ordinance than a Hummer and can walk through a hail of lead from "professional" shooters and shoot them at will.

3: The Dale Earnhardt Story (2004 TV Movie)

You can look at this two ways

[5/10 · 12 December 2004]

I will preface this by say I have been a Dale Earnhardt fan since nearly the beginning of his NASCAR career. Dale was born 2 day before me, which I initially thought was cool, but later became an inspiration to keep at it, always do your best and never give up or accept second best. Additionally, he owned a Chevy dealership which sold vehicle, some of which were made in the GM plant where I work. Fully half of my NASCAR collection is Earnhardt memorabilia.

They casted this movie well, especially Dale. The older race footage was great. Many of the regular scene were well done. But as for the character development...I feel that Hollywood invention was used a little too often, and too many known points were omitted. Granted, much of Ralph Earnhardt had to be created using sketchy material. Surely, there was not a long line of eye witness/friends/acquaintances to draw from. However, there was a lot of Dale info that seems to have been passed over.

Overall, this was not a happy story, start to finish. Yes, there were a few bright moments, but never any happy periods. And there was always a club waiting to knock down any happiness that dared to raise its head. While it makes for a good movie, there are far too many factual stories that create a happier, more optimistic person than the one created in this movie.

Known stuff that coulda/shoulda made it into the movie.

Dale was a AVID hunter and fisherman...not just a person who enjoyed it. He was once quoted as saying the only 3 things he wanted to do his whole life was race, hunt and fish. He also said he couldn't picture a time when he wasn't racing anymore. He frequently appeared on hunting and fishing shows. It was more than a pass time to him. And anyone who saw him on these shows saw a happy, not melancholy individual.

Dale was also a very accomplished guitar player, and a fair singer. Videos of him playing with some of Country Music's biggest star exist. They played one at his funeral. His guitar sat prominently beside his coffin.

Teresa, behind Dale and with Dale built a powerful business empire, including DEI and the aforementioned Chevy dealership. Teresa has a very skilled business mind. Anything with him or his name on it was licensed through DEI. The company made millions off his name, and will for years to come.

Dale loved racing of all kinds, he would be up early talking to other racers about races from all over the world he had listened to on the shortwave or satellite the night before. His veins and arteries were filled with race cars instead of blood.

Dale used to love his fans as much as they loved him. He signed autograph and took pictures more than almost anyone else. One of my friends has a stunning full face of Dale in his car getting ready to go onto the track for practice. When Dale saw the camera, he smiled and waved to my friend. It is poster grade and worth a mint if he ever decides to part with it.

Dale did as much or more to bring up young drivers than anyone else. He loved to see other success as well. Junior, Rob Hornaday, Steve Park, Kevin Harvick are just a few he aided. Despite the way the built and played on the animosity angle between Dale and Darrel Waltrip, who did more to help Darrel's brother Michael? Dale gave the perpetual also ran Michael a ride and coached him to be a winner, lest we forget Michael got his first career win after hundreds of starts just seconds after dale's fatal crash.

Kelly might be the best driver of the Earnhardt kids. Anyone who follows racing knows Kerry has never made it, while Junior is right there at the top. Several people who know the Earnhardts claim Kelly is the best driver of the three kids, but being a girl, never received a chance to prove it.

Aside from that, my one complaint with the movie is the created race action.

It was like Rocky or any martial arts film. While you can bump and grind a lot at a Bristol, Martinsville or other short tracks, the kind of interaction between cars on the bigger tracks just doesn't exist, at least without a crash occurring. It makes for good movie, but the crunches they show on the bigger tracks are fantasy, any true race fans know it.

The Polar Express (2004)

Not For Everyone

[5/10 · 14 November 2004]

I think this movie poses and also answer the question of whether or not CGI. even in 3-D, can successfully carry a movie with nothing else substantial to offer. To paraphrase my 14-year old daughter and her friend with their own slanguage: It was totally without a story. It was like all specially effecty and stuff, and that was cool, but it was no story. Little kids liked it, but it was so boring for older people.

I think that gets to the heart of why I rated it a 4. Success in animation has grown, mostly through Pixar, by offering up movies that have appeal across the age spectrum. Toy Story, Nemo, Shrek 1 and particularly Shrek 2 thrilled little kids while giving plenty of laughs and enjoyment to older kids and especially parents who would otherwise be struggling to stay awake in movies like Polar Express.

Catwoman (2004)

Unrealistic Expectations

[6/10 · 25 July 2004]

SO...this movies was mostly about getting Halle Berry is a leather dominatrix outfit complete with whip and letting her bounce around for an hour or so...I can live with that. I mean what is wrong with Halle in leather...she is not exactly Rosanne Barr, after all.

My biggest complaint with this movie will be the same as most of my complaints with DC Comic characters on the big screen...not enough character development/background for the sake of more action. That is the defining difference between DC and Marvel. I would have liked to known more about what made her who she was and also the history of catwomen.

Within the movie, itself, my other interior complaint is that Lone seems to be the only cop working in New York, a city with something like 30,000 police officers. And he seem to work as a beat cop as well as a detective. I think they could have done better with that aspect.

Halle's character was a little too powerful in her abilities, as well. They seemed to be going for the Spiderman powers without the webs. Cats are nimble and all, but that point seemed a bit stretched.

The ending, I won't elaborate, was too unsettling. I can't buy into that being the final resolve. Other than the fact that they are hoping for a sequel, as with most movies of this type, I think that ending scenario needs to be worked out to a more plausible solution based on the character's personalities, etc.

Stanley and Livingstone (1939)

The wild west moves east

[7/10 · 25 July 2004]

This is an interesting movie for a couple of reasons. It suffers from coming out in 1939, which may be the great year of movie releases in history. Its history might be quite different if it was not buried amongst the movie icons that also came out that year.

The first thing I found worth noting was how Hollywood converted the basic western format into an African safari. You could see/hear so many western standard devices as you viewed the film. It was once stated that all movies can be converted into a cowboy movie. This movie was a very short trip in that respect.

The second, and best part, was the whole historical concept of the story, despite the difference from the actual story, which were so eloquently detailed below. The story of this journey, along with the journey of Lewis and Clark, or one-armed Capt. John Wesley Powell through the southwest, especially the Grand Canyon, make up some of the greatest adventures of modern times.

All in all, this movie is a good adventure.

Next of Kin (1989)

Many people miss the underlying theme of this movie

[7/10 · 12 June 2004]

Okay...this is not a perfect movie, and it is hard to categorize because it is not violent enough for today's action movie label, funny enough for today's comedy tag or serious enough to earn the drama moniker.

We also have to realize that this is early in the career of some of the performers. Helen Hunt, liam Neeson, Ben Stiller and Bill Paxton are big today, but you cannot measure this movie by today's standards.

What a lot of people seem to have missed here is the theme about family and friendships. You had the hillbilly vs. the mob family -- hard to compare -- not really. The movie accented that their were more similarities than differences. There are too many examples to be worth singling any of them out.

You also had the loyalty/friendship theme. Think of how Michael J. Pollard, living in the basement of society, had high morals, or how the guys in the hillbilly bar could family up. You could measure that to the members of the bosses crime family against the character of Adam Baldwin.

All in all, this is not a great movie...good at best. But there are some interesting points worth pondering. And seeing an Irishman, Liam Neeson, playing a classic redneck hillbilly is worth seeing it all by itself.

Finally...another overlooked part of this movie is the excellent soundtrack. It is among my small collection of movie soundtracks, that should sum it.

The NeverEnding Story III (1994)

This story must end

[2/10 · 25 May 2004]

The first movie was such a wonderful movie, like the Princess Bride, for example. The characters were real in a fantasy sorta way. You could relate to them and the mission. The second movie was a horrible, anemic shadow of the original on a sub-level only rival by Lawnmower Man II (Jobe's War)as opposed to the original. My only thought as to why anyone would make a third installment of this movie after the second one was to prove to the critics that things can always get worse, which is to say that the second looks pretty good compared to this...how is that for damning with faint praise? The director, creators, producers and such of this movie should be banned from touching another camera or even going to the movies in the future.

Yongary, Monster from the Deep (1967)

Cheesy, in a limburger sort of way

[3/10 · 18 May 2004]

I cannot imagine to much good that can be said about this muddle. It is amateurish even by the standards that defined the genre of cheap, japanese monster movies of the sixties and seventies. The set, especially the backgrounds are so obviously phony and the rockets, army equipment, etc. might as well kept the tags on them from the toy store. The buildings were so hokey as they toppled (they had nothing inside, even fake floors, to give the illusion of reality. And to top it all off was the guy in the rubber monster suit. How hard is it to look like a monster in a monster movie??? Six-year old Trick or treaters give better performances.

The only redeeming aspect I can point to is that it made in Korea, instead of Japan, which is kind of interesting to see on a why would anyone think copying cheap Japanese monter movies was a good idea level.

Secret Window (2004)

The window may be secret, but not unused

[7/10 · 20 March 2004]

This is a decently made movie with currently hot commodity Johnny Depp. He is the modern version of Dennis Hopper, getting his best stuff from damaged/offbeat characters. Hopper is a master of these roles -- Feck in River's Edge, Lyle from Dallas in Red Rock West and many more like Speed. Depp is still cementing his place in these roles.

My biggest complaint about this movie is that it is not a new concept. There are multiple movies and stories about people writing stories getting sucked into them. It certainly has the King direction to it, but it is still a copy of others. Has King run out of new ideas? Maybe, maybe not.

In summation, good, not great movie. Without Depp, it probably fails. If you are a Depp fan, you will like it. If not, you may be disappointed.

Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004)

a few safe for the family laffs

[5/10 · 20 March 2004]

This is a fairly weak follow-up to the original. It lacks the newness and novelty found in first movies, which is to say it offered nothing really new or exciting.

In his movie we already know who he is and what he does. The gadgetry is nothing stunning or new. The special effects are fairly standard.

The biggest chance to go anywhere, and it was completely missed, was for him to at least get a little distracted by the cute flute player, or even the bassoon, woodwind buddy, girl. Granted we cannot let him go into full James Bond mode, but it was an opportunity to make a little something extra in the movie, and it was squandered.

All in all, I am not so wrapped up in or concerned with the stuff critics get off on. I don't need to say something special or controversial to get published. I don't need to rag on a film to feel superior to the great unwashed who pay to see it at the local cinema. I am concerned in being entertained and seeing my family equally entertained.

That said, we were mildly entertained. It will be a safe choice for family movie night from the video store. No one is going to be annoyed by it, but few will be thrilled either.

Save your theater movie, and wait to rent it.

Daylight (1996)

Predictable Overdramaization

[5/10 · 7 March 2004]

If there is any sub genre of movies that is more predictable,more overly dramatic than these disaster movies with the hero things, then I am missing it. Whether it is Poseidan, Towering Inferno, Airport or any of the others leading to this, they are the same: Overly sensational, over acted and overly dramatic. This is good for about 5 minutes, but wears thin quickly thereafter. Someone nearly dies every time a piece of debris moves or a fly goes by (in concept). We have typical screaming women, the obligatory kid, and the guy who just doesn't get it and spends more time screaming at the hero than doing anything remotely useful like trying to help get out of the tunnel. This movie is a typical disaster disaster movie.

Casper Meets Wendy (1998 Video)

A Kids Movie

[7/10 · 14 February 2004]

As I started to read the prior comment, I thought I had accidentally brought up comments on Titanic or Gladiator.

Actually, I found this mildly amusing, It didn't have that humor/storyline for everyone of a Shrek or Nemo, but that is okay. Not every Kid's Movie has to appeal to the whole family. Since this is a Kid's Movie, and I don't like to rate/inflict adult standards onto purely Kid's Movies outside of appropriateness -- message, if any; language and type of action, etc. The whole thing boils down to "How did the kids react to it?"

Well, the kids liked it a lot. And at the bottom line, when the day is done, that is what counts when you rent or take your kids to see a Kid's Movie. That being said, I am not interested in the complexity of plot lines, holes in story or academy award quality performances.

The kids say 7, and that is good enough for me.

Continental Divide (1981)

A good film for family night

[7/10 · 10 February 2004]

I really enjoyed this movie. No, it is not the deep heady stuff, nor it is a slapstick comedy. It is a movie about two people living in different worlds that cross paths, fall in love, and so on. For Belushi, this role is as much of a course change as it is for his character when he goes into the mountains. This is as far from SNL, Animal House and The Blues Brothers and Being There is from the Pink Panther Movies and Dr. Strangelove for Peter Sellers. Blair Brown's character (Nell Porter) is totally hot in that special, wholesome, outdoors way. You can how a guy could fall for her.

All in all, this is a fine movie to rent for a night of popcorn, or maybe trail mix munching, with the family. Don't wrap yourself up too tight in trying to analyze every little nuance of the movie, like so many of the wannabe critics that inhabit these reviews. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

The Ralph Stanley Story (2000)

A Great Look at a Great Entertainer

[8/10 · 9 February 2004]

I suspect that most people never heard of Ralph Stanley until they saw O Brother Where Art Thou. He never went the route of the Buck Trents and Roy Clarks -- not that I am complaining, because I respect both of then and enjoy their work. What I am saying is Ralph stayed on the less lucrative, more obscure trail and stayed faithful to his roots and fans. People familiar with bluegrass festivals have known him forever as the king of the banjo and the guy with the voice that could serve at the encyclopedia example of how a mountain music voice should sound. One of my friends had met the Stanley brothers on occasion at festivals and remarked on how different they were. Carter had a terrible habit of getting totally smashed with fans out in the crowd before and after playing. Bottomline is the bottle killed him. That is why Ralph bans alcohol from his band and has fired some fairly prominent people over the years. This movie is a great bio and full of new information for just about anyone. It is also beautiful to watch. I give it an 8/10 within its genre.

Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004)

A lot of fun

[7/10 · 8 February 2004]

This is the kind of movie that can offend the easily offended. It is full of jokes, and jokes can be taken either the way they are intended or the wrong way. Hidden inside this movie is a basic look at a lot of reality. It may not be pretty or the way we think it is or should be, but it is reality.I have personally seen city and county government working pretty much the way this one did. One thing I have noticed about many of the roles Ice Cube plays is that they are honest people fighting against the system and even though temptation always seems to rear its ugly head, his character eventually does what needs to be done. Still, at the root it is a very funny movie with a lot of joking that can provide a recommended minimum daily allowance of laughing.

Red Rock West (1993)

Modern Film Noire at its Best

[10/10 · 7 January 2004]

This movie is proof that film noire is an enduring style, and extremely worthy of staying alive. For me, it is the best example of film noire since Chinatown.

It will, unfortunately, never get the recognition it deserves. It was never promoted properly when it was first released and has had to build its cadre of fans through venues like Vanguard Cinema and word of mouth rental referrals.

I highly recommend that people looking for something more than mindless entertainment rent this movie and delved into its highly convoluted plot.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Spectacular Finale

[10/10 · 17 December 2003]

It is hard to believe that all 3 films are out for all to see. It seem like just yesterday that i watched the first one. This trilogy is going to be a highwater mark by which other multi-movie sets are measure for countless years to come. The filming of all three at the same, while risky, has proven to be genius. The continuity becomes seamless. The momentum never lets up. And regardless of the petty snivelings of purist and self-righteous fault finders, this trio will gather at amidst the top of Top 250 of all time.

If I were to find any fault in the making of this final film, I would say that the ending dragged a bit, but with so much to sew up, it was hard not to labor it. As for the absence of Christopher Lee, yes I am disappointed, but not devastated. It will surely turn up in the extended version, which I will enjoy for years to come.

Crossroads (1986)

fun and a bit of education

[8/10 · 3 December 2003]

As a fan of blues, I enjoyed this movie. This is about the 3rd time I had watched it, but I had never commented on it before. There was some excellent playing in it (buy the soundtrack). But the thing I liked the most was that this movie is the education that a non-blues enthusiast can pull out of it. The movie School of Rock is going to be a good example of the same for Rock music. So many people just do not understand what the Blues is all about. To use the famous quote, which also is used in the movie, "The blues ain't nothing but a good man feelin' bad". It is a little simplistic, but essentially right. The blues is all about emotion, feelings. The music, when played right, is coming straight out of the heart. It is not about anything except expressing strong, emotional feelings. You can get a lot of insight into what the blues is really about from this movie.

The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

Lotsa Action -- Computer Effects Keep Getting Stronger

[8/10 · 9 November 2003]

If for no other reason, this movie series has been of major importance in the way it created, expanded and pushed forward the computerized special effects business. There is still a long way to go. Computer generated armies like in LOTR or the Mummy, for example, cannot match the human ones of movies like Hero -- at least yet. Recently, a university professor networked approx. 2000 new Macintosh computer with newly developed software that essentially created one computer matching the capabilities of a many times more expensive supercomputer. If someone in Hollywood grabs this technology, hold onto your lugnuts, Emma.

I enjoyed this movie, as I did the others. Lots of action and effects. The premise is good and makes for a good story. Without getting into spoiler, I will just say the ending disappointed me because of the unfilled holes/questions. They are the kind that create sequels, just the kind that qualify as loose ends.

Overall, I think most Sci-fi lovers will enjoy this movie a lot. Critics will hate it, cuz that is what critics do. They look at movies totally different than humans. Then they proceed to validate their existence by either trashing it, because it is trendy and makes them look real smart, or the coo and gurgle platitudes of praise, like they did for that dreadfully boring, predictable Gladiator movie to maintain their welcome status in the clique of self-congratulations.

I think the Matrix trilogy is going to set well in Sci-fi/Fantasy history with other multi-movie sets like LOTR, Star Wars, Star Trek. I am anxious to see the eventually special boxed set of all 3 with whatever special additions will surely be included.

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

Style Over Substance...but so what

[8/10 · 11 October 2003]

Anyone who goes to a Q.T. movie and doesn't realize going in that it is going to H-E-A-V-I-L-Y stylized hasn't been paying attention. If you don't like stylized, arty movies, then go watch a simple, predictable movie like Gladiator with its shopworn storyline and pretend you saw a masterpiece.

All of Q.T.'s works remind me of my 13 year-old daughter's work...i.e. twice as much time is spent artsying it up as was spent in doing the regular work. But that is okay as long as the necessary parts and work are there, and is right and solid.

This movie comes together and is the story is quite trackable, unlike parts of Pulp Fiction. You can question the lawn sprinkler effects when heads, arms or legs go flying off. But everything falls into place and the set up for Vol. is quite clear.

Spirited Away (2001)

Amazing

[10/10 · 26 September 2003]

This is truly the greatest hand animated creation of all time. The attention to detail, subtle nuances and complexity of the work are staggering. It is little wonder that Disney/Pixar were so envious that they bought up the rights to this and all of the other films by Hayao Miyazaki.

This is a must see for all fans of animation and also for fans of fantasy films.

The Magnificent Seven (1960)

Proof that all movies can be a western

[9/10 · 25 August 2003]

This movie, despite the comments of others, is a classic. It is one of a select few movies that can be used as the definition for western as a movie genre. In as much as it is based on the classic movie the Seven Samurai, I recommend renting both and watching them as a double feature. It is a good time.