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Reviews
Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
Lets remind ourselves all over again
I first saw this movie when it opened in the theaters, I was blown away by it. The juxtaposition of nature with our human environment and suggesting gently that ours is out of balance, leaves little doubt. But this is for people with more than a little ability at self examination. Without it, the movie makes little sense at all.
Now many years later the images remain, stuck in my memory and while this makes a re-viewing of it less than ideal, the message remains. Sadly our human environment has not gotten better, it is worse. Man's inhumanity towards our fellow man has gone to the point where the examples offered by this film pale in comparison. So as a warning it failed.
Spy (2015)
Great spy spoof
Spy turns the whole world of international spies on its head and gets great laughs in the process. Of course those who love the Bond movies just might get miffed since they are the ones being skewered. Bond could not hide anywhere in the world without someone recognizing him, but Susan Cooper, no one would ever suspect her of being a spy.
For those who could only see a fat lady, trying to be a spy they need to get a life. High fashion and size zero models are just as ridiculous when it gets down to it and this movie plays off of that theme to great effect. Its about time those folks got a comeuppance.
No this is hardly great literature but so what, I loved this and was rolling in the aisles many times during this movie. The only negative I could see what far too many uses of the 'f' bomb. It was totally unnecessary, might work better without them since they seemed to stick out like a sore thumb.
Babylon 5 (1993)
Story arcs
Sadly the vast majority of US TV is a 30 minute completely solved issue with no connection with anything before or after. People claim this tendency has actually dumbed down the US populace do spend their evenings watching that stuff.
Scifi in general does require their audience to think harder and open their minds to potentials. Still even the best TV Scifi follows the same sort of plot resolution even if they are continued to next week where it is solved.
Babylon 5 is not that way. You really have to pay attention to everything in B5 since connections from one episode to another far in the future is typical here. Granted there are many side plots that are resolved in a single episode but the big main themes flow clear through from first to last episode.
As anyone reading this will note this is written long after B5 was over, but I would remind you that TV series like Breaking Bad follow in this trend and that show received many Emmys for their work too. Joseph Michael Straczynski and Vince Gilligan come from a higher level of writer and director and the effort required to enjoy their work is well worth it.
Dual Survival (2010)
What is this, survival?
Does anyone actually believe these two will not be rescued? Seriously folks there are two camera men who we never see but who are constantly present (probably with satellite phones at the ready). The producers know exactly where they are. None of the situations they get stuck in are realistic I would never expect to ever see a similar situation so there is virtually no reason at all to "learn" what to do from what these experts in survival offer us. More importantly there is little to suspend belief and nothing to make me believe they are at much risk.
I have no doubt that the information these two experts is show us is legit, but I just cannot muster up enough to care. Aside from the basic humanity there is nothing in common for me.
The Giver (2014)
Filled with cliché plot points and lacked originality
First off I must start off with admitting I knew nothing at all about the story line not having read the book. Having said that and admitting that I have read extensively in American literature, I found this movie filled with ideas from other authors arraigned in a way used many times before. This is one more example of Hollywood's lack of originality but maybe, just maybe it is the book itself without originality too.
Talk about telegraphing the end, this one took about 3 minutes to figure out where it would end and no I wont share it since it is so painfully obvious.
There have been several YA movies lately and maybe I am just too old to appreciate them since none of them share much originality having read so many books. I am 62. This may work for those youth who are illiterate cant say for myself though. But based upon what other presumably younger critics say maybe not.
Bigger Stronger Faster* (2008)
This is not about steroids
Yes in fact this is about a culture in America that is a win at all costs, of hero worship and acceptance/excuses made for those willing to go the "extra mile" into substance abuse just to exceed their own limitations.
And it is about the fact that some folks literally hate the idea of being less than the best for any reason at all. Hate being average in any way. Of all things it is a picture of America that cannot be reconciled with the rhetoric spouted by politicians and those outside the arena making dire claims about the results of using those substances.
It is a culture where only winners are true Americans, and we ignore how they got there as long as they look and play the part. About how the fear of being a loser will drive Americans to do things they ordinarily wouldn't do. Because nobody loves a loser in America, no one.
It is a waste of effort to call those who use steroids cheaters, when the culture all around us in America is this way. Until we begin to learn that good people come in second place, and learn to love those who finish in last place too, then maybe there wont be the pressure to be a winner at all costs and we wont need steroids.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: What You Leave Behind (1999)
Greatest Star Trek ending ever
Clearly free of the influence of Gene Roddenberry since he has died before this was broadcast. This series is far more about spiritual values and allows each of the characters to grow and mature individually. Instead of facing a new and contrived crisis each episode we can see the ongoing relationships among the various characters and frankly one must see more than a single season to see the connections and growth. Because of this the depth of caring we have for the characters is far higher, and this final episode is just overwhelming in its emotional contents.
Unlike all the other star Trek series, this one actually comes to a real and genuine close, each character's growth lines, all the various relationships come to a new stage/end. There is no "going off into the sunset" cop out ending like all the other Star Trek series and the feeling created in the true fans of this story line is traumatic, "it's over" leaving a void where a dear beloved series lived. I also have a tear in my eyes when I view this last episode. I bought the whole series on DVD before Netflix came out and now I have access whenever I want.
Others have noted the lack of care about the Voyager series but when one looks in on the final for that series it is a cheat, little emotion except anger over how it is broken and thrown together and probably because the writers/actors just got tired of doing it all.
Both the original series and Next generation were the "going off into the sunset" ending as if future movies would automatically come for them and pick up their story lines which they did. Not so for Deep Space Nine, the mold was broken and there will be no movies to follow. It is complete, done, Fin and no more needed, sad to lose a friend but OK since we know it could not have been better.
Konferenz der Tiere (2010)
eco indoctrination at its worst
I am probably more eco friendly than many people, yet I found this movie offensive in so many ways. It is full of characters stolen from other places, plot lines from other places, and an unabashed hatred for humankind. Mostly it is an embarrassing attempt to indoctrinate the viewer that failed on multiple levels.
I watched this movie on TV on a Saturday when there was virtually nothing else worth watching and I felt ripped off. Its too bad that Direct TV doesn't give refunds because I would certainly ask for my $4.95 back. If you see the listing for this movie do not bother to look further it is a waste of time and energy.
Snowmageddon (2011)
Mysterious Snowglobe disaster movie
One awful disaster movie, with no explanations poor acting and clearly not worth the two hours it takes to watch it on TV. No connection is ever made to explain the connection between the snow globe and the disasters in the town, no explanation of why it was ever created or who might have brought these on the towns folk.
The viewer is clearly in danger of losing whatever intelligence they may have by watch this movie so run, don't walk away from it! Mysterious cracks show up all around the town with fire and yet there is no offer of how or why. Mysteriously trees pop out of the ground in random places that skewer folks and cars.
The most frustrating thing about this plot is the total lack of the presence of the creator of this mysterious snow globe and any reasonable explanation why it has appeared who its creator is and why all of these disasters are happening to this tiny town of Normal Alaska. It left me pulling out my hair in frustration.
Atlas Shrugged: Part I (2011)
Republican philosophy 101
This is it, the entire reason for the republicans to kowtow to the top 1% in all their policies, because if they don't the whole world will fall apart. John Galt and his friends will take all the marbles and move away.
As a talk fest this is a full plate, but to swallow the food it needs to be palatable and there is simply nothing tasty for the average person outside of the republican party, or for that matter outside of that top 1% of society which owns nearly everything.
Frankly after seeing this I would prefer they all go away. Simply because the common people, so abused in this scree, really can get it done without the geniuses of the world.
Exam (2009)
Idiot plot
For anyone who understands how to answer questions the answer is obvious from before the clock is started, an idiot such as myself would answer correctly because they would not complicate this whole issue far beyond what it is.
The cast goes through a whole emotional catharsis exposing each of the various weaknesses of their character and I found the whole thing silly in the extreme. If I wanted psycho drama I can always go to a therapist.
Frankly the answer is I would not work for such a company no matter how high the salary. Of all the characters though I think the right one ended up with the job though.
The only question that is asked is: are there any questions? and the answer is yes lots of questions. why would any company risk their future on someone who could and would submit to a process such as this? If the CEO is so incredibly dysfunctional as being unable to find his own assistant then why would I want to work for them? There are others but I'll save them for later.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Far Beyond the Stars (1998)
Dreamer or dreamed?
First off if we judge our star trek captains by their acting ability then this who series would never have engaged viewers from the 60's until today like it obviously has.
Concentrated effort, enough to write a great play, book or movie script requires a form of insanity, and Bennie Russell aka Benjamin Sisko is so affected by the vision he has created that to reject it causes a break with reality. And in fact this character does have a mental breakdown.
Immediately connect to an episode in the following season (Imagine in the Sand) where this same Bennie Russell aka Benjamin Sisko is into that asylum and the doctors are trying hard to stop him from writing his Deep Space Nine story. As a sort of unique "pair of episodes" this is quite the special event. If you cannot somehow understand the irony of juxtaposition Sisko is in and relish the angst he must deal with then there is no hope you'll be a Star Trek fan at all.
"Far Beyond the Stars" breaks the fourth wall of Deep Space Nine and shows each of the Star trek characters without their heavy makeup and appliances, "Image in the Sand" requires we join Bennie Russell in his insanity and root for him to complete the storyline. It is a first for Star Trek and something that everyone needs to be questioned about in their own lives. Just how willing are we to overcome our limits and go beyond convention.
There is noting better within the whole Star Trek universe than this "pair of episodes" But the first of them Far Beyond the Stars is the better of the two for breaking that fourth wall and showing the actors "au natural."