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Reacher (2022)
Excellent adaptation
If your a fan of the books, you know Tom Cruise is no Jack Reacher. This is an excellent adaptation of the Reacher books and Ritchson plays the character very well. To find someone that big who can act must have been daunting. In fact, all the acting was done well and you soon find yourself rooting for this team centered around Reacher. There was something, too, about the photography that I cant quite explain, but I felt I was watching from my minds eye, like reading a book. If there's a style for this I would like to know what it's called. Thanks to the producers for creating a show that this Reacher fan hopes will be more in the future.
They Died with Their Boots On (1941)
"Mythical"?
I get a kick out of IMDB describing this movie as a "highly mythical" telling of the Custer story when just about every movie about historical figures is "highly mythical." It was my understanding that much of it was based on the memoirs of Custer's widow who campaigned for her husband's reputation for many years.
Whatever the case, the movie is very entertaining with an excellent cast . To me, it was great Hollywood storytelling with Errol Flynn in a classic swashbuckling role in his last pairing with Olivia deHavilland.. The cast featured some of the best character actors of their day including Arthur Kennedy, Sydney Greenstreet, and Gene Lockhart. Director. Raoul Walsh stages some exciting calvary scenes and Editor William Holmes keeps the film moving at a crisp clip.
Even if you consider this movie a promotion of the Custer "myth," it's close enough and a great example of late '30s and early '40s entertaining filmmaking.
The Tomorrow War (2021)
Could not last
I only made it about a third into this movie before I had to turn it off. Pratt and Simmons must have been paid big bucks to stoop into this.
Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood (2019)
So boring
So boring that I fell asleep about three-quarters through. I have never been a Tarantino fan, but because he can be over the top I thought what was billed as a poke at Hollywood would be fun. It wasn't. The movie lived up to my Tarantino expectations. Does it look good (cinematography)? Yes. True to period? Yes. But, the story is blah. The actors did their best with what they had, but there just wasn't anything there. I have to believe that all the reviews calling this film a "masterpiece" are either dilusional or planted reviews.
Outlander (2014)
Lazy history
Turned it off during third episode when apparently writers took the lazy, biased view of the Catholic Church and priest portraying them as medieval-like superstition.
In fact churchman of that era, which is supposed to be mid1700s, were the most educated of the people. All the while the whole premise of the show is about how the main character is whisked back in time through a Druid (who sacrificed humans BTW) stone structure.
So, the superstitions of the Druids are valid, but the Church's beliefs lead to a child almost dying because a boy ate a bad plant and is believed possessed. Of course, no one in the town apparently could figure out the plant made you sick when you ate it, you just were possessed when you visited the old, cursed church where it was. But, for some reason children of the village were still going there and eating the plant. Sorry. Just obsessed over that.
She also is also supposedly single-minded about getting back to her 20th Century hubby, but obviously flirts with an 18th Century Scot hunk.
Irish model/actress Catriona Balfe tries and is gratuitously nude each episode. The rest of the cast portray distrustful Scots over this strange English woman dropped in their midst, except for the hunk, of course.
The concept is great, although 18th Century Scotland looks a wee bit medieval to me. At least the costumes and the attempt to replicate the era are admirable.
Downsizing (2017)
Abysmally depressing
I watched the movie about half way through and stopped for a while because it is so depressing I just had to stop. The only bright spot is Thai actress Hong Chau who comes in late in the movie and finally gives some life, but it is like the creators decided they had to drag viewers back down again with the story line of eventual human extinction.
Delta Farce (2007)
On the level of "Dumb and Dumber"
Every now and then I need to watch a dumb movie. The last time I laughed like this was "Dumb and Dumber." This movie doesn't reach that level of dumb, but it's close. The makers of this movie were obviously aiming low and I think they hit their mark. If you are expecting something more than base, lowdown, politically incorrect, bathroom humor, then do not see this movie.
Don't listen to these pseudo-intellectuals who think humor has to be smart. Personally, I think it's healthy to laugh at stupid, and this is pretty stupid. In fact it's so stupid that of the three main characters, Larry the Cable Guy's character is the smart one.
The movie starts off predictable, using jokes and setups from Bill Engvall's and Larry the Cable Guy's comedy acts. But, the movie proceeds into new territory once it gets moving.
I mean c'mon! The three lame "reservists" bury their sergeant, who turns out is not dead, and the person giving the eulogy throws in a final prayer asking God to help him win the Powerball lottery. "I don't care who you are, that's funny."
It is perfect for what it is, and if you watch it with that attitude you'll laugh.