Pee_dee Reviews

Mrs. Brown's Boys (2011– )

Drop Dead Hilarious

[10/10 · 6 June 2014]

Some of the funniest slapstick I have seen in years. The live audience and the accidentals ( on stage flubs) only serve to make what is already hilariously funny, even funnier. I usually have an issue with unnecessary bad language, but it serves a purpose here as Agnes is the only one who uses it (for the most part). The situations are really funny and Brendan O'Carroll is a comic genius as he writes and directs most episodes. Great filming and sets, with a talented cast. As soon as they come available I will be buying the DVD's. Unfortunately there are only 3 short seasons but there is a movie coming in the summer of 2014. I recommend the series highly for adults that want a great half hour of wet your pants comedy! Probably watch it without the kids first time around though.

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)

Good overall, with distractions

[8/10 · 31 May 2013]

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, but found some of the filming techniques distracting and think they took away from the enjoyment. LENS FLARES! Get rid of them... they are NOT enjoyable and detract from the overall look of an otherwise good movie. Buy a STEADYCAM if you want to do the hand-held look. Better yet a tripod or a dolly. Save the shaky shots for the occasional extreme action scenes. Many filmmakers now seem to think that distorting the color or shaking the crap out of the camera adds to the experience... It doesn't! The lens flares are a sign of Bad photography and lighting, not and enhancement. I would have rated this film 9.5 out of 10 had they not spoiled it with these "enhancements". J.J. Abrams is a fantastic filmmaker but he has lost his way in the photography department in my opinion. It sounds as if I didn't like the movie, but truth be told, I did. I just think they are overdoing this "Documentary" Style of filming. I just watched The Last Stand and found the camera work to be excellent in it, nice steady shots, slow sweeping pans and zooms, and shaky camera only in a very few shots, (but they distorted the color) Much more enjoyable.

Cloverfield (2008)

Questionable story , Awful Photography!

[2/10 · 14 April 2008]

Story ends unresolved... Where did it come from, was it defeated? The photography was atrocious, I know it's supposed to be from the point of view of one of the characters, but you can't see most of what's happening. The shaky camera with inadequate light doesn't contribute to the story or feel thereof, it just serves to annoy. Also, where there is color, there isn't much of it. It's a shame, because, if you could see most of the film, that might offset the unresolved storyline, which I could handle. Godzilla (1998), which was put out by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin got average reviews and was a similar story of a monster attacking New York City. It was well filmed and the scenes were exciting and easy to see. The color was great and the story showed the origin of the monster, and followed a smooth storyline to the resolution. The special effects were awesome. In my opinion, Cloverfield fell short in every area. The actors were wasted as they were portraying their characters well, but you couldn't see them most of the time. In many scenes , the camera was pointed at the floor and all you saw was the ground blurring by. It may be the intent of the movie, but what a difference it would have made to have filmed it in a similar style to Godzilla. I sure hope film makers get over this shaky camera and poor lighting and color kick they are on. There are some good movies out there, Minority Report, War of the Worlds to mention a couple. If only they weren't distorted by lighting and color manipulation and shaky camera work to set a mood.... an annoying one.