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Reviews
Spirited (2022)
How does this not have a better rating?
This movie was fantastic! A fresh look at a classic tale led by two hilarious actors. The humor was irreverent and meta, which I loved. It looked and felt fresh.
The dancing and singing was top notch, too (not just the leads, but the whole cast/chorus). It somehow took all the best parts of musicals and yet managed to tease itself about being a pastiche of musicals without being mean. This had to have been written by theater nerds like myself. (Can we talk about the Howard Hill flavor in the Christmas tree number? *swoon*)
And I have to shout out the cast/chorus again. With such big names heading this, they probably don't get the applause they deserve. They were amazing!
The leads were pretty good - honestly way better than I expected (except for Octavia Spencer because I already knew she'd be incredible). I don't think I've heard Ryan Reynolds sing before, so I wasn't sure how it'd go. And Will Ferrell is a comedic genius - when he's in the right film. He can sometimes play the exact same character over and over. Luckily, this film was the right one because it allowed him to show heart, gravitas, silliness, and depth.
The costuming was intensely good. The costumes told a story as much as the writing did. And now I totally want that Santa bomber jacket.
I just finished watching it for the first time and now I'm going to go watch it 30 more times.
Inside Man (2022)
Intense, well-written
A fascinating exploration of morality, made even better with exceptional acting. The writing is sharp and witty without being over the top. Some of the roles are kind of standard (the "as you know, Bob" stand-in for the audience), but the actors bring a fullness to them that makes them feel real.
Stanley Tucci is stellar, of course, but so is the rest of the cast. David Tennant also shines in his role, one that shows how "normal" can go so wrong so fast without being preachy (ironic considering his character is a priest).
The cinematography is amazing as well. The colors and framing highlight the characters and plot. The lighting director deserves an Oscar with how much the light tells the story as mu h as the writing does.
West Side Story (2021)
Utter perfection
As a fan of the original movie, of the play (and actually worked on a production of it in high school), I have to say this version was the most perfect production I've seen. Every scene beat, every note sung, every swish of costume was on point.
I was afraid it'd be the travesty that the Butler Phantom of the Opera is, but this was sublime. In fact, it's been a while since I cried watching WSS and I absolutely bawled. What an absolutely perfect film!
A Castle for Christmas (2021)
I wanted to love it, but...
Cheesy Christmas movie with Cary Elwes? Yes, please! And then I watched it. Some of it was fun and funny and as delightfully cheesy as I could hope, including the total tourist-trap portrayal of Scotland and Elwes' terrible, but adorable accent.
Then there was Brooke Shields. She had all the charm and expression of a concrete wall, and lacked any kind of chemistry with Cary Elwes. She looked like the whole thing terrified her. I really wish they'd chosen a different actress.
Some of the directoral choices were pretty weird, too, like the strange quivering the actors did when they were supposed to have an intense moment. Or the sudden outbursts from Elwes' character that seemed completely unprovoked, as if we missed half the scene leading up to it.
The side characters were cute and very likeable, if a bit two-dimensional. I feel this would have been a much better book than movie. In a book version we could at least get inside the characters' heads.
Shadow and Bone (2021)
I hadn't read the books, but I definitely will now!
I absolutely loved this show and cannot wait for the next season! High production values combine with excellent acting and great writing to produce a show that grabbed me from the first scene. I loved the characters! They weren't stupid - sometimes they made dumb choices, but it was true to their character and situation. It wasn't that they were too stupid to live and the only reason they won their battles was the script was with them. (*cough*Letter for the King*cough*)
Now I'm going to go binge the books and wait impatiently for the next season!!
Moxie (2021)
I expected better from Amy Poehler
The movie was really good at first, but it tanked in the end. Nothing was resolved and nothing changed. Pointless property damage stood in for actual change.
The principal's trophy was a good example. Real change would have been shown by her realizing, thanks to the actions of our spunky heroines, she was contributing to the problem. Then she looked at that trophy and understood she wasn't the best principal and destroyed it herself.
Or the rape accusation - sure, it's great the girl said it out loud and was believed, but does anyone think anything will come of it? We all know what the legal and social system is like. He'll claim it's more of the persecution he talked about in the morning announcement segment. Plus, the one girl admitting she tripped the guy who's the Pirate mascot? That's not feminism, that's assault.
And what did they do when the girl lost the scholarship? Nothing. They didn't find someone to give her another scholarship that was even better. They didn't show the guy giving the scholarship that the soccer team was worth supporting, they didn't ask for a count of the votes. It was just forgotten about.
Vivian never took responsibility for her unhelpful and cruel actions - we never see her apologize to her mom or her mom's boyfriend. She gives a small "I'm sorry" to Seth, but I wasn't convinced.
This seemed exceptionally performative and poorly thought out. Rah rah, girl power, but let's not do anything to actually change the underlying paradigm that has serious flaws.
I Care a Lot (2020)
So disappointing
What started as a taut thriller quickly devolved into an unmitigated mess. Pike's Marly was sociopathic enough I'd be willing to see her taken apart by an equally sociopathic Dinklege, but the early intensity of his character drained away because of his incompetent people. If any of his minions were good at their job, I would believe he was a man to be feared. Instead, he looked like the evil version of a Keystone cop. And Pike's character's success was so stomach churning that even her eventual murder in the middle of the street wasn't enough to make up for the fact that she never got her comeuppance. This was a celebration of vile people and not an exploration of any psychological terror or social issues. I only give this 5 stars because the actors excelled with the crappy script they had to work with and for the costume design, which was on point.
The Stand (2020)
Forgettable
I was very excited when I heard they were remaking the Stand. I haven't read the book, but I loved the 1994 mini-series. It's a great story with some serious current relevance. But after slogging through all nine episodes I was left at the end with only disappointment and anger. The first thing that pissed me off was Frannie. The actress had no affect and the character was cruel. I just loathed her in this version.
The second thing that upset me was the almost-ending in episode 8. It made even less sense than the earlier version. If their god is so powerful, why not just destroy Flagg before all this happened? Why let all the horrific stuff go on just to kill everyone later? I do not get it. Then the actual ending in episode 9 was just as wtf. What was with the "indigenous people are stupid and will worship anyone"? Or the "random black girl comes out of nowhere to save the day and then completely disappears"? It left a bad taste in my mouth.
I liked a few things. I thought Greg Kinnear's performance was pretty good. Brad William Henke's Tom was a pleasure to watch, charming and insightful. The visuals were good in a lot of places (except for the unfortunate tendency of every gosh darned action movie and TV show to do everything so dark you can't see what the heck is going on).
I was agnostic about the non-linear timeline. If they'd used it to better effect, if they'd built some character development into it, it would have been pretty neat. Instead, it just... was.
I've watched the 1994 version at least half a dozen or more times. It's one of my favorite movies. This one, I watched once and as soon as I finish this review I will forget about it completely. That's the saddest thing about this version.
A California Christmas (2020)
Slow and sweet romance
I really enjoyed this movie. It really reminded me of a romance novel - and as a lover of romance novels I mean that as a high compliment. (I also enjoyed it as a small farmer. It came the closest of all the farm-based romance flicks to actually representing the reality of farm life and it's challenges and didn't denigrate farm life as something to laugh at. It wasn't perfect, but it came as close as I've seen on screen.)
The chemistry between the leads was powerful, yet subtle. It wasn't insta-love or sheer lust. They learned to respect and care for each other. Definitely quite enjoyable!
Star Trek: Discovery: The Vulcan Hello (2017)
These characters are not smart
The characters make such stupid decisions! I don't understand who could have read this script and decided it passed muster. Starting with the captain and the 1st officer being sent to dig a well. They expect be able to beam out from the well, but they beam in miles away? And the dumb choices just keep going from there. The Klingons are, frankly, boring. There's no nuance, no actual culture or character development. And then the sickbay scene is ridiculous. Why didn't the doctor or whoever it was just tranq the stupid officer who was running away from life-saving treatment. The show is so pretty, visually. I just wish there was some similar quality in writing.
Spinster (2019)
Understated but so good
This is one of those quiet indies that you start off thinking "why am I watching this" and end up going "that was one of the greatest movies!" I really loved it. Peretti's portrayal of the anger and hurt was so real and the growth felt earned. I really loved the changes in the cinematography and colors that mirrored her character arc. Definitely going to watch this one again.
Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019)
A surprisingly enjoyable flick
I have never seen the TV show and to put it mildly, I'm not in the target demographic. I only watched it on a whim when Amazon recommended it to me. I'm so glad I gave it a whirl. It was hilarious! The acting was good, though deliberately over the top. The script gave some cute nods to other adventure flicks (I especially enjoyed the Indiana Jones reference at the climax). Well done and worth a watch.
Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020)
Hilarious and so much potential
I just watched the first episode and loved it! The set up for character growth was a clearly laid foundation. Plus it was so funny! I laughed through the whole thing. I can't wait to watch the rest of this show!
The High Note (2020)
Formulaic, but with awesome music
There was a lot wrong with this movie, from thoroughly unlikeable characters to a plot so formulaic it was practically a paint by numbers kit. Dakota Johnson especially grated with her one-note performance and completely unearned character arc. What saved it was the acting by Traci Ellis Ross, who sparkled even in this thin vehicle, and the music. That said, I'm really glad I waited for normal rental rates and that I didn't pay $20 for early access.
Love Finds You in Sugarcreek (2014)
Surprisingly good!
The editing was a little choppy and the plot a little thin in spots (like villain characterization) , but frankly I enjoyed the heck out of this film! The acting was quite good and I really loved the setting and supporting characters. Anyone else definitely prefer Joe in a beard?
Runaway Romance (2018)
Atrocious
I love cheesy romance movies. But I couldn't get more than 30 minutes into it. The actress who plays the main character looked so plastic. Her face was so unreal I couldn't stand looking at her. I didn't expect this to be a documentary on Plain Folks, but the heavy makeup on the Amish lady and the exaggerated accent (what even accent is that supposed to be?) were so offensive. Writing was lazy even for this genre and acting was painful to watch. Give this one a pass.
Little (2019)
Underrated comedy!
I enjoyed the heck out of this movie. It was funny and sweet, and the actress who played young Jordan was outstanding. I have no idea why this didn't do better in theaters!
The Half of It (2020)
Amazing retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac
What a beautiful, moving version of a great story. I loved the writing, the acting, and the cinematography. A fun and deep update to a story that has its own vibe, its own soul yet still captures the pathos and wit of the original.
Lost Worlds (2005)
Sheer speculation
The animation and graphics on this are really wonderful, but the content is questionable at best. So little evidence is provided for why they are suggesting certain uses/traditions/rituals/meanings described for the archaeology. I watched one episode and was yelling at the screen. I much prefer Time Team - at least they say they don't know and do actual archaeology.
The Letter for the King (2020)
Two episodes in and the only character I like is the horse
Our "hero" is whiny and cowardly. The characters are beyond stupid and make stupid decisions. And the plot is half D&D campaign and half rip off of the Witcher. The accents and costumes are ludicrous. Maybe if I were 12 or 13 and had never seen a psuedo-medieval fantasy I might find this enjoyable. As it is, I think I'm pretty much done at episode 2.
Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019)
Hilarious wrap up
I adored the self-referential, ego stroke of this movie. I mean, it was hilarious and all the cameos were fantastic. It was really disturbing, though, to see all these stars looking... well... old. I watched the earlier movies so many times that I forgot they (and I) have aged. I loved how this dealt with that, loved Milly, and thought this movie was one of Smith's best. I don't think it'll draw a huge number of young fans into the franchise, but damn if it didn't hit the spot for this (please gods, I can't really be this old, can I?) old fan.
Troop Zero (2019)
Absolutely charming and uplifting movie!
This was a pleasant surprise. I am not sure what I expected from the trailer, but it was such a joy to watch. I am in love with the characters and wish I had my own Christmas and Hell-No and Rayleen in my life.
Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020)
Loved every moment of the chaos
So, objectively this wasn't the best movie ever. It certainly could have used a bit more character development and plot development. That said, it was so much fun! I adore Robbie's Harely Quinn. It's just so beautifully messed up. And the colors, chaos, and humor made it a wild ride I very much enjoyed.
Stumptown: Bad Alibis (2019)
Ansel makes this show
While I adore this show for many reasons, Colbie Smulders among them, the actor who really makes this show shine is Cole Sibus. His portrayal of Ansel is so smart and on the ball that the other characters revolve around him, not Dex. The writers don't dumb him down, either. In the most recent episode as of this writing (Bad Alibis), Ansel's quick thinking literally saved the day. I love when writers let their characters be smart - Ansel's going along with the bad guy wasn't him being a sheep, but knowing that to refuse would put him in danger. So he kept calm and took the first opportunity to get help in a manner that wouldn't raise any red flags with his captor. That kind of clever writing and sharp portrayal just make me love and root for the characters. Dex is fantastic, of course, but she's pretty standard to the genre. PTSD, check, over-drinker, check, quick-tempered, check. Gray, the friend with a mysterious past and Hoffman the dedicated, rebellious cop are also common tropes. (The only plus in this show is that the genders are flipped from the standard, which is nice.)
I'm really excited to see where this show goes. I do enjoy seeing Dex get some real wins - specifically in actually obtaining her PI license (though honestly, it would have been far more surprising for a show of this nature if she'd actually had to do the studying and apprentice hours instead of having them hand-waved by Artie signing off on her hours). I am looking forward to more episodes!
Falling Inn Love (2019)
Adorable commercial for New Zealand
This was... not the best romantic comedy ever. It's clear the writers and director don't understand the difference between a complete narcissistic jerk and a flawed, neurotic heroine, and Christina Milian's two-dimensional performance doesn't help the unnuanced portrayal. The writers also seemed to understand the beats of a rom-com, but didn't realize that those beats are supposed to support the flow of the story, not land on the viewer like clanging church bells falling from the bell tower thirty feet up. This was definitely a "paint by numbers" script.
That said, I enjoyed the heck out of this anyway. The supporting cast was adorable and I wish the lot of them had more screen time. The setting was - well, it was New Zealand and therefore drop-dead gorgeous. It's hard to go wrong with those views. Music was heavy-handed and bubble gum, but that was to be expected and I had fun bebopping along to the tunes.
Adam Demos was well worth watching, not only for his stunning looks, but because he seemed to actually put some effort into the character. I couldn't figure out exactly what his character saw in Milian's, but I could tell that his character actually felt something for her.
This definitely doesn't match the quality of Netflix's Always Be My Maybe, but it was still fun to watch.