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Reviews
Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
Its a great pre Christmas tale
One of the funniest films for the lead up to the Holiday season, the movie makes light of being constantly inconvenienced and you have to make light of the situation putting up with strangers. Whilst Del seems to be annoying to Neal it seems Dels lonely life and the need to have a friend seems to be the glue that keeps bring Del and Neal together when they are apart. The Movie is funny, sometimes emotional and at times frustrating that inconveniences would pop up that would make the movie continue if they weren't there the movie would end its very symbolic in life and one can relate to the frustrations. Although if one is following their plane and road journey on a map today like Google Maps turn a blind eye to a plane being diverted 2 hours south west from Chicago, a train that is travelling for 2 hours east breaks down. A connecting bus that goes only to St Louis then the believability goes out the window as the journey from St Louis to Chicago is at the worst case scenario without tolls 3 hours to 4 hours tops even if Del was driving in the wrong direction for what seems to be 2 mins it just doesnt add up, the sign during car burning scene is 102miles which pin points them some where near Pontiac if their were going via Springfield IL Way. Anyway the next day they forced hitch a ride in a semi truck and Del says they be 3 or so hours which makes no sense as they easily 1hr 30mins on thanks giving day there be hardly any traffic being a public holiday. Which then wrecks the belief on the timeline of the journey, so its got that filling up time just like the Blue Brothers Movie overnight car chase which had to fill in time. Perhaps they jump ahead of themselves in the cities too quickly or they tried to rush the ending i minus 1 star for stuffing up the timeline but anyway very entertaining in the lead up to the Christmas films.
Charlie & Boots (2009)
Its a great Australia Road trip flick
I keep my review short i thought this hits home for many a trip of a life time to the northern most tip of Australia with father and Son, you know mum just died and Dad is shore getting along in his life he might fall in a deep black depression. Lets save dad from his darkest days and take him on a journey that should of happen years ago. But its too bad dad has become estranged with his son to the point of being vindictive, mule attitude, untrusting, slimy, even using excuses really hits home with many father son relations. This film is a great film its starts of Warrnambool Victoria and thru all the lovely country towns of Echuca, over the border to NSW at Hay, it deviates off course at Tamworth for our young lady dreamer typical teenager a beautiful singer and yes i think the Tamworth hall like it was in the film is easy as that to get into perform like our teenage lady easily did but i love it how a long lost cousin visit is thrown in theres always a long lost family visit in the country and Dad now wants to drive the car to save embarrassment and have pride he can still drive a car. The journey continues thru Tenterfield i want to go to Tenterfield to try the thick shakes it looks like a beautiful town now the relations become deep, as they across the border over QLD the train crossing gives em time to reflect, as the journey progresses north Father and son relations become closer but the larrikins in dad and boots comes out and its petty arguments and finally heated to boiling point outside Emerald including the car. It takes a tough sheila from Mareeba to put an end to the antics and silly petty arguments of the two. Its a great ending i too would make the same error in judgement and if i wasn't given the opportunity like Dad and Son did in this film and ask the question and obtain a favour to cheat their way to the northern tip i too would of just gone fishin at Port Douglas. I love the film because its the moments and the memories on these long road trips even thou it could of been done in 24 hours but was staggered out to pause at our great country towns i too wanna take a road trip similar to this perhaps not starting at Warrnambool but Stay for the end credits even the credits was worth watching.
Point Break (1991)
Its an ok film - Australian point of view
Spoiler this movie ends at Bells Beach Australia now i couldn't believe the sight or my own backyard in 1991 or 92 or when ever the weather event occurred, the concocted Australian accents and voices here in the finale aswell. The Australia federal police i suspect not the Victorian Police are prooved to be clowns at the lapping of the waves trying capture old mate i was embarrassed how Australia was portrayed. Gee wizz all you had to do is ask a real radio DJ from Australia to provide the weather forecast not some fake actor along with all the fake Aussie accents and actors on the beach and really a 1970 Land cruiser discovery with those number plates in Australia hah! More like some foreign country. Anyway what a crappy ending to a overly long movie dont get me wrong but the movie reminded me of Beverly hills cop 1 and 2 probably reminded me of Mel Gibson and Danny Glover film. Point Break is just overly long but it captures the surfing and beach culture very well the scenes in the film that just cant be watched on Ipads on iphone screens you need a big screen for this one. The vision that is captured is outstanding from deserted plains, huge waves and large water catchment area during the skydiving. The acting was good but the lead men are great its mind games between Jonny and Bohdi i suspect bohdi already knew Jonny was a copper even before the botch robbery getaway. Something tells me Bohdi knew jonny wasnt what he said he was at the first instance at the beach when they met Bohdi knew after robbing 30 or so banks the coppers would be out get bim and bis team but turned a blind eye in hope Jonny would be more lenient and he offered his ex girl friend as hush money. These mind games continue it shows as both actors don't have the heart to finish each other off, but there comes a point a breaking point where being nice isnt going to work anymore and they mean business hence the double meaning of the title point break in surfing and point break in breaking point of two lead actors that have had patience of a saint until the law gets too close. The movie could of ended early at the famous LA aqua duct but the direction was to give a 2nd chance to the buddy baddy in hope oldmate grew a conscience like our lead copper. A good movie i probably will watch it again but possible in fast forward some of the slower scenes could of been done quicker.
What About Bob? (1991)
This is great film a true to representation of living and coping with life challenges not a hollywood up 1990/80s film
What about Bob? What about other films with fakeness, action, crashes and hollywood blockbusters. This aint big blockbuster this aint Lethal Weapon or a Terminator or even Die hard film, What about Bob? Is a film one can connect with right away, the actors grabbed our attention and they didn't need SFX to assist. There's allot of films from the 90's that were hollywooded up, become silly this film i can see had Genuine acting from the characters Bob, Dr Leo, Faye, Anna and Zigmond i think most people will relate to all the characters. What about Bob? Is a film about personal discovery in ones lives all the characters not just Bob all discover they have to change their way of thinking from Negativity, ignoring problems or being too weak. I put What about Bob? Up there with Quick Change, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and Uncle Bob, and other films that didn't need special effects to get their message across, there's a lesson to be learnt from these films. There is one part of the film where there is a Live explosive effect but it makes sense and believable unlike the many films of 1980's and 90's where you watch it in 2022's and you couldn't believe the rubbish they produced like Jean Van Damn film or Stephen Segal film or even when i watch True Lies it might have been cool back then with the hollywood stunts but watching True Lies in 2022 is unbelievable but watchable, Another film its like the Blue Brothers 2000 its watchable but unbelievable. I think that's what people are looking for these days well thats what im looking for these days is a film that is believable yes the sequences checks out, has genuine acting and i could see Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss playing their parts to a T i could see the family play their parts perfectly. Can you connect with the Characters? Yes i felt i could connect to many of the characters. What about Bob? Has all this and is a much loved film i keep in my DVD collection always to watch every year i never tire of it and i can quote most of the lines in the film if i could give it 11/10 i would. Regardless of the rumours or what ever interviews Richard and Bill had on this film if they hated each other on set well i take that hatred as Genuine getting into character that led to a great film i just wished it went a little longer and we saw life after combating these new discoveries.
Luca (2021)
Luca is a Good film it suffers in holes and back stories im sure future released shorts will give more information about Luca and Albertos pasts and futures
Disney's Luca is an interesting take on accepting the first peoples of the land or in this case the sea into the established community White people vs the Aboriginals of the land, my Review will only touch on the film characters to try to piece together a film that leaves more questions then answers, I won't give the whole plot of the film but give assumptions to fill holes in the film. Luca Paguro is a wide-eyed poorly educated sea monster boy but thrives to learn more he is maybe 10 or 11 years of age, hasn't really had a proper education. Lucas Parents especially his Helicopter Parent Mother Daniella is always putting the fear of mixing with the humans above water into him and is obsessed to protect her only child, Lucas Father Lorenzo well a little dumber and it shows thru out the film, doesn't really pay attention to his only child more interested in the crab his readying for the show to beat the Branzinos albeit probably more free-spirited in his parenting ways, his Brother "Uncle Ugo" who lives in the depths of the ocean floor ain't too sharp neither. In contrast, Lucas Maternal Grandma is a street Wise old sea monster with many years of experience in the human world often playing Cards in her human transformation and giving Luca above the sea freedoms and excuses. Luca at a young age is sent off daily to slave at the family fish goat farm, he is often seen agitated, flustered, nervous, bored (he loves to blow bubbles), he daydreams a lot thru out the film esp. About riding Vespas, space, and freedom from his overzealous parents... On the other hand, we got another Sea monster Boy an orphaned Alberto Scorfano who could be 12-13 years old going by his height (growth Spurt), is uneducated as well and who already been converted to the great life of being above the sea (Sea Monsters are able to change into human form when out of water or not wetted by water), his daily and nightly task is to "take" / "Steal" from the land monsters sea boats, terrorizing old men on boats and retrieving drop human items from the seafloor and bring them to his crumbling lighthouse on a small island. Alberto used to live with his Father his name is unknown, but a photo is shown of his possible father with a Moustache when riding the makeshift Vespa, and Father Scorfano's name is most probably Bruno as Alberto refers to Bruno a lot thru out the film. Bruno Scorfano leaves Alberto alone one day it is unknown if the father was harpooned by the land monsters for stealing and/or killed or become mentally unstable maybe the father was having a marriage breakdown affair and was caring after Alberto on the island and it became too much, we don't know anything about Mother Scorfano, but we know it's been possibly a year and bit since Alberto has been left by himself on the island. And so, when Luca and Alberto first meet in the film, they are like little adopted brothers running amuck around the lighthouse island and Portorosso district, Lucas's life prospects have opened up, he falls in love with being a human form boy and wants to learn more about the world he sees around him whether it's right or wrong information, he doesn't want to go back to his goat herder job and overprotective parents. The relationship of Luca and Alberto are just good friends and act like long lost brothers but when Giulia Marcovaldo interrupts their lives one day and becomes the third wheel Alberto who hasn't had any contact with sea monsters or humans since his father left becomes very Jealous that Jealously is just something he has acquired from being lonely/separated on the lighthouse island for a 1 year and bit, and explodes into violence come near the end of the film, his eyes are coloured Green and thought to be of Jealously. And when you throw in town bully Ercole Visconti into the mix and his so-called bully mates the two human transformed boys who can turn to Sea monsters when wetted by water are kinda monster hunted in a way for trophy money by the town folk of Portorosso esp. The very annoying character villain of Ercole, The way Ercole behaves is aggressive, Jealous, and immature for his age could be 18-20 years and is maybe seen as overgrown bully child, doesn't have a stable job dresses to impress, has catfish Moustache has an expensive pink wool sweater which he hates getting wet, owns a very expensive Vespa and survives life by cheating in the Portorosso (summer cup) pretending to be 16 years old every year or killing Sea monsters for trophy money. Giulias Father Massimo Marcovaldo is a divorced quiet Single father (fisherman and Fishmonger) with living by the catch of the daily expenses and daily struggles and only survives on cooking Pesto Pasta for the duration of the film one can only assume he doesn't cook what he catches. Giulia his only daughter is 13-14 years old going by how many Portorosso cups she's lost and also sweats like a teenager, has a summer job to deliver fish to customers of Portorosso, participates in the Summer Portorosso cup, has numerous libraries of books that she can handout, her appearance is a Ginger Raggy doll artsy like her mother and only visits Portorosso sea village and her father for the summer college break. Giulia lives with her divorced artist Mother at Genoa who seems to make enough money to pay for Giulias Genoa College who can afford a fancy Astronomy Telescope which Giulia will use in the next Grade of her schooling. What is quite annoying about the film is that a Train trip from Genoa or an out of summer visit from Giulia and later Luca is out of the question and the movie makes it clear that a train trip from Portorosso to Genoa was the end of the world back then for Luca and he will never see his parents again for a year. I can't buy this ending, to be honest I think the movie ran overtime in its making and they had to quickly finish it with sappy Train goodbye. The End credits is the longest ones I've ever seen there are happy snaps of life after Portorosso for Luca and Giulia and there are happy snaps of Rest of the family including the Sea monsters getting together quite clearly this looks like the animation board where the movie ran out of time and they cut and pasted to the credits. Anyway a few weeks ago a movie short of Ciao Alberto! Was released his Life with his new Father figure Massimo Marcovaldo and this quite clearly demonstrates that Alberto only wanted a Father Figure in his life again, and will attempt to please Massimo, and also teach Massimo how to be more loving of his new adopted teenage son and be more open in conversation. I give Luca 5 out of 10 it could have been better Ercole brings the movie down for me as well as the sappy quick ending 100's of movies used in the past to quickly end a film running overtime a Train goodbye. I expect more movie shorts to be released giving more information and painting a better picture of Luca and Alberto's life pre and post-film.
Red Heat (1988)
Dreadful acting, Characters poorly chosen
The film has a slow start. Lets address the elephant in the room casting of Arnold As a Russian or Soviet was a joke his voice goes from robotic, nonsense, German to Irish and Scottish accent its clear Arnold language training was poorly completed . I got no idea why James Belushi and Larry Fishburn are in the film for it makes no sense they are at half pay . So i watched the film half way and it felt as bad as a Van damm film Double impact in fact why they didnt cast Van Damm as Captn Ivan Danko role(Arnold) God knows and put Arnold into the American cop role. Red Heat is terrible its cringe worthy, James Bellushi is trying to be like Eddie Murphy in Beverley hills cop. In fact in a era where we had cop films this film i consider last to see this film is as bad and corney. I understand this film was out at the same time as Twins, this red heat is outta character for Arnold probably a mistake. Its so bad its watchable all for the wrong reasons just for comedy of bad acting as the saying goes "we laughing at you not with you."
Housesitter (1992)
I didn't like the film i LOVED it
I keep the review short, the star of the film is certainly the house it was gorgeously open planned living, light everywhere, well designed boodwa for a couple. I reckon Newton needed someone outthere like Gwen in his boring city life to fuel his ambitions to go up the promotional ladder. A great film its funny, i reckon its close to what couples these days would battle each other and the insults fly. Its not a lovey dovey romantic hollywood fiction rubbish with pretend, it feels really authentic in the ups and downs of a whirlwind relationship. Maybe more should watch this film to realise the airy fairly magic garbage we watch these days can be as simple as this film no special effects, no bull, no dancing bears. This movie reminds me of the other lesser known film called Funny Farm very similar its got that country theme that you will fall in love with the simple life. I am sure many who have seen the film would concluded that star of film is an Absolute gorgeous house.
Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
A movie of two halves
Christmas with the Kranks is a movie of 2 halves, i like the first half it was funny, believable and relatable for me the movie turns into a silly slapstick annoying almost hallmark film about the time that Blair calls and says shes coming home for Christmas eve. Then the cringe factor begins when the annoying neighbours come to the aid of the Kranks thats when the movie jumps the shark and makes the art of putting house Christmas decorations that would take many days to 1 and half hour rush getting the whole street involved to the whole town involved. including the firemen and their ladders and the only police officers in town to please Blair and her new Bo. Its unbelievable how the movie can change direction and you see the obvious hallmark moments in the 2nd half the halo Christmas by the front window effect. Anyways you cannot beat the movie Christmas Vacation for its dark humour, comedy, christmassy, but not going overboard with the halo effect and over the top family values something Christmas with the Kranks does which makes me puke.
Yes Man (2008)
Its funny, and in most Jim Carrey films he goes into a trance
Like all the movies before or after. Jim Carey has starred in like Bruce almighty, Liar Liar and The mask to name a few there seems to be a trance that Jim gets himself into where the powers are overwhelming. The idea of Yes man, where a boring NO man who works as a banks loans clerk has said NO all his life or kinda says no. One day or night somehow some mystical powers (which we dont see) like a "God " in bruce all-mighty or somebodies wish "liar liar" tries to change Carl attitude to life these powers sends a long lost friend of Carl to Carls bank work the next day whilst Carl is having lunch, Carls long lost friend convinces Carl to go to the Yes conference as Carls job is in a No sort of job all day and needs to take control of his boring life and take risks and start sating Yes. Carl takes the pamphlet from bis friend about the Yes Guru and As usual Carl ignores the subtle invitations to the Yes conference until the last moment where he decides to go. Carl finally attends the Yes conference and is humiliated by his long lost friend amongst 1000s attendees who are in the conference presentation and is still unconvinced about saying Yes. It takes a baptism of fire to change Carls No or sorta mindset but its too late the Mystical Powers of saying Yes is given to Carl thru a Covenant ceremony at the conference unBe knowns to Carl he has the Yes powers and once he is forced to use these powers he starts to tests out the Yes and No boundaries. Then after being burned mentally by a few avoiding Saying yes incidents he is forced to go into a Yes trance where he cannot say NO and says YES to everything be it a Lucky thing that makes him happy for a period until the luck runs its course. And so let the Typical Jim Carrey hyjinx begin until it all gets out of control quickly and bad things start to happen and only someone he loves needs to knock some common sense to this 'Yes' habit and break this trance he stuck in. He learns that there are pros and cons from saying Yes all the time and like Jim Carey's previous films the mystical Powers that are given on to Main character can be too much to handle and wants relinquish them. The ending i think was well deserved as peer pressure is a bad thing.
Brain Games: Male Brain vs. Female Brain (2020)
The makes class at high school interesting
It obvious with todays Socials that TV shows like these need a revamp. Yep i enjoyed watching this on Nat Geo Australia channel, it kept my interest in science and i learnt a thing or two especially about the science of listening to music and eating chocolate. I consider a show like this to be shown in a high school science class to capture our youngans attention. Im not at high school anymore I'm in my 30s but im young at heart and love these sorts of shows that engage the audience. The host Keegan keeps me engaged and is very youthful and will run around like a chook without its head sometimes but I get it he is just as spun out as i am. whether you believe the world renown Psychic its up to you he seems to have the goods. It sounds more seasons of live studio brain games were planned but because Covid19 hit i don't think with Social distancing and some of the brain games that are played out this might not be Covidsafe. So whether this great scientific idea of a show will return in the future its hard to imagine until a vaccine comes out.
Science of Stupid (2014)
Entertains, kinda educates but becomes repetitive
Richard and Dallas narrate a show about doing Stupid things on Social media and then analysing the science behind the stupidity. And you know if the show had proper metric conversions instead of sometimes using metric and mostly using imperial measurements this show could be shown during science classes for the high school kids in metric countries as education. Whats better than reading a science text book is watching a real life examples of science in action, if only it had the metric conversions Dallas sometimes alternates between imperial and metric conversions which would confuse the students in Australia. Im watching this show part of the Nat Geo Australia channel and sometimes i feel that feeling ive seen the video clips too many times before, like a week ago and yes there is allot repetitive film clips when Dallas is narrating and i don't think the series order is being followed its all random episodes and you can pick the first 2 episodes the Dallas had done as he looks quite nervous taking over Richards role. In summary Science of stupid Its Funny home video show, meets the best of social media videos, meets social media commentary meets science i wish it had metric conversions cause it could be shown at science class so for that i give the show 7/10.
Food Factory (2012)
Could of been better but commentary immature and full of dad jokes
This series could be better but audio commentary is immature, full of corny dad jokes. Im watching it from Nat Geo Australian channel and i don't understand most of the weight comparisons to a school bus? whats a school bus? I only know metric and sorry a regional translation could of been done rather better. I promise you 10mins in and those bad jokes makes me cringe and turn off.
Baby Driver (2017)
It Starts out great but becomes silly and unbelievable
I am going to be honest the begining sequences was good, but i start to think why is Baby's driving technique evolving from Rally car driver to the Italian Job to something out of a Tarantino flick with blood and sillyness. Sillyness like using word Rhymes and lines straight out of a Dr Seus book. I really thought this film was going to be innocent film and Baby will get away with his GF to mexico but maybe Baby has brain damage from the inital accident that killed his parents and is addicted to stay in the criminal life. Baby turns into a shoplifter and physco and the movie becomes the Terminator movie the "Good" trying to kill the bad guy, and uncessary comicial violence happens i haven't seen since a Die Hard film. The movie wanted to be commedic in parts i didn't understand the foster father bit of the movie and I guess the money that Baby was saving up was to put his foster father in a home, but he kinda was leaving it to the last minute there. I don't understand why the movie didn't just made Baby an Uber driver, a limo driver, bus coach driver you know play with driving words and thats how he makes his money or gets into misadventure, not this film where violence, uncessary blood and silly stunts happen.
Lo imposible (2012)
Excellent Portrayal of a typical family finding them
I cannot begin how excellent this film is, its not a documentary, its about story told from the survivors point of view. All the criticisms and nitpickers can watch the first 10mins and say they don't like it because of such and such. i couldn't fault anything the movie reminded me of taking a holiday in the tropics. Allot of emotion has gone into this film and i know 300,000 people died in the Tsunami but this film was about Discovery, it was a film where Lucas takes responsibility for his mother. it was a story from a point of view of a a family of survivors there could of been more done but how long do your want the film to go for? we live in a world of criticisms and this film will get criticised for its portrayal that it centred on the survival of the family. But think about it during the Tsunami wave Lucas and his mother could of been easily separated, The Mother could drown or knock unconscious but the impossible was accomplished. i did few a bit awkward at the end where the Travel insurance comes along and saves the family, and leaving the less privilege to evacuate themselves from Thailand i mean all those empty seats on the plane i kinda felt that maybe.... but this how the story was told, and the father was on a good salary, but the women was near death. Great cast, Great film and Let more of the survivors come out and tell their story in Film both natives of the Thailand and abroad their PoV would be great to see how they survive more of this and less of the Reality TV shows of big Brother and The Bachelor. because you take something from this film and its hope, faith, Discovery, spirit and responsibility.
The Pirate Movie (1982)
Funny I have watch it 100's of times and still find it funny
A bit of Australian Comedy from back in 1980's, featuring some of the most nicest places in Australia including Melbourne, Werribee Mansion, Polly Woodside, Palm Beach, Sydney where Home and Away is filmed. I haven't watched the stage show but these characters are pretty Funny Gary McDonald with his police inspector impression, the sissy police officers, the major General etc.. It is a quirky film and things don't make sense look in the scene where Mabel and Fredrick are kissing at the beach landing there is a Rock with graffiti on it. Much of the film is a Dream so allot of the things you see don't make sense but you just take the film not seriously and you will enjoy it. The Songs are catchy and from watching the film it has inspired me to visit Werribee Mansion in Victoria and Polly Woodside in Melbourne City. A Classic Movie leave reality at the door and just take in some great 1980's humour.