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Reviews
Spooky House (2001)
Sir Ben, how could you?
Fans of anything " Spooky" will be sadly disappointed. Not even Sir Ben Kingsley could resurrect this Zombie of a movie! It moves around in stilted acting, a contrived plot, and a story line that's improbable. The only real star is the house itself, as there isn't a young boy anywhere who wouldn't want to live there. A character named " Yuri" speaks in American Russian immigrant stilted speech, and a mechanical black Jaguar gives the same mechanical performance as most of the performers here. If you loved the haunted houses of the Bowery Boys, Abbott and Costello, Adams Family, the Munsters, etc, this ain't it! And Mercedes Ruehl must have needed to pay a tax bill, otherwise why would she be in this unfunny movie? And the " Young Punks" went to the " Three Stooges School of Acting". Sir Ben did come across as a sad, unloved recluse, and the kid " Max" was charming in his role.
Mayberry Man (2021)
" Doc Hollywood " Without the Humor
If you aren't over 50 years old, don't watch the movie. Almost everything is dated and is primarily for the older folks who grew up on " The Andy Griffith Show". The premise is almost identical to " Doc Hollywood ": Narcissistic actor has to stay in ancient America due to misdeed of some sort and actually learns to become human.
Read " Grinch Gets a Heart ". But after the first really slow 10 minutes, a true Mayberry fan gets to enjoy the character reminiscing and the plot slightly picks up with some Trivia tidbits tossed out and that actually makes this movie interesting. You can't help but get a warm feeling if you remember small town America without all the electronic gizmos. People actually sat outside and talked to each other, can you believe? Life was indeed simpler, and the Mayberry characters were interesting in a silly, aw shucks way.
Jackass Forever (2022)
Watch a Homeless Guy Defecate and Save Yourself Some Time
The original Jackass and Bad Grandpa had some humor that originated with writers getting high and then coming up with some funny, out of the box ideas. Or maybe also they reminisce about the really dumb things teenagers do when they're bored and in the middle of summer. Sure, some of it was rude and sort of gross, but we were teenagers and indestructible. That we were stupid and Sophomoric never really dawned on us until someone got hurt or our parents got called ( I preferred the Cops, they went easier!).
But we didn't do anything other than mischief all in all. This movie, though, passes almost every boundary for tasteless, gross humor (?). If they were trying to disgust their old fans, it worked. I turned it off after a very short while because it's obvious the writers wanted to make the LGBTQA++++++++ crowd applaud with enthusiasm. From other reviews it appears that the first 2 minutes is pretty much like the following. Absolutely disgusting.
The Walking Dead: Infected (2013)
" Clumpers" Needn't be a Problem!
This is a riveting episode, as most are, as you can never really anticipate what's going to happen. Any real life Corrections Officer in a prison will tell you that you can never let your guard down. Just when you think things are calm, the proverbial krap hits the fan! Every other episode has a mystery guest, this one has a feeder of Rats. If you watch previous episodes, you know that the majority of this series is in farm country. You see numerous Combines, tractors, spreaders, farm implements, etc. With that in mind this episode concentrates on an early problem of " Clumpers". There is a natural pond near to the prison. Any right thinking farm boy would dig a ditch from the main road to the pond, realizing of course there would be fighting " Walkers" while doing so. Just another day! Then breach the wall from the ditch to the pond and " Voila" you have a moat! Just like castles in times of yore! If it was done 600 years ago by workers with few tools, why not today? Any of you see " Walkers" who could swim? I didn't!
The Walking Dead: Hounded (2012)
Big Time Mistake Shoots Down This Episode
This episode is interesting as it does indeed answer some questions. However, a major mistake makes this episode sort of unwatchable from the get go:
When Rick gets a phone call and they won't say where they are calling from, he's upset when they hang up. Here are the mistakes: 1. ANYONE who ever had a rotary phone, ESPECIALLY a Law Enforcement Officer, knows to dial *69 to make a callback to that number.
2. There isn't a direct line to any office in a prison, Police Station, or Sheriff's Office that doesn't go through a Dispatcher or Switchboard, so how would anyone just dial random numbers to reach Rick?
All this makes the phone call very suspicious.
1941 (1979)
Older Californians and WW II Buffs Will Love It!
If you want to lose some time in a WW II parody, this movie accomplishes just that! But if you love WW II aircraft, tanks and submarines and know a little bit about California history, then this movie gets an 8 Star review. One reviewer mentioned the War hysteria that had Angelinos spotting Japanese planes over L. A. but also there was a big riot / fight between Sailors and the local " Zoot Suits" that actually happened and part of it is in the movie. I think that's a hoot! And add the talents of John Belushi, Robert Stack, Warren Oates, Tim Matheson, Nancy Allen, Murray Hamilton, John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, Wendy Sperber etc and a host of others who will become celebrities later and it's worth the time!
The Terminal List (2022)
Disappointed after Episode 2
The first episode was a little disjointed but I got involved in episode 2, as the pace got faster and a mystery started to actually appear. However, Episode 3 must have been filmed mostly in the dark. At first I thought I had a phone issue, but nope, it was mostly in the dark. It was like listening to an audio book and I left. And btw, I was first a military pilot then for some years worked for some of the contractors overseas, including some former SEALS and S. O. G. Folks, so I was really interested in the series.
Really disappointed I couldn't continue.
American Siege (2021)
Curiosity Killed the Cat!
I was curious because Bruce Willis was in it. It started slow, then tapered off. First 14 minutes had beer drinking, donut eating , sloppy Southern Cops stereotypes a
" Military Spec" Guard who runs towards a threat while carrying a long distance rifle with expected results. I was pleased with myself for lasting 14 whole minutes before I clicked off. As a Combat Vet and former LEO I'm sorry I lost 14 minutes I'll never get back!
In the Electric Mist (2009)
You Need to Have Been to Louisiana to Like!
Any Tommie Lee Jones is always good! And although I worked International Operations for most of my adult life, I flew for oil companies in the early '70's and again in 2003 out of Lafayette, New Iberia, Fourche, Cameron, etc. I watched this movie and enjoyed the trip back in time, and that is the main reason I understood some of the local references and nuances. As a mystery movie it gets 5 stars, but the local/ Cajun flavor is 8 Stars! Law Enforcement portrayed is pretty much what it is, and the good folk of Louisiana portrayed properly. But if you haven't spent time in Southern Louisiana give this movie a pass.
Red Hill (2010)
What a Terrific Surprise!!
As a former LEO I almost quit watching after Constable Cooper fails to uphold his Sworn Oath to protect the public in the first 30 minutes . But I'm glad I continued!! I was riveted to the screen for the next hour, and the real surprise is in the last 10 minutes. A must watch movie!
Spaced Invaders (1990)
Dumb and Dumber and Dumber and Dumber gets even Dumbier!
It starts off really slow and then tapers off.
This makes " Dumb and Dumber " seem like a documentary about intelligent life forms!
I suggest you read the other one and two star reviews, I don't even want to waste my time on this really bad movie.
Big Man on Campus (1989)
A Great Romp on Campus
If you suspend a little disbelief and know a little bit about campus politics at the Universty of
" Just About Everywhere " you'll enjoy this feature. And anyone who likes Cindy Williams and Tom Skerritt will be glad to see them in top form 32 years ago!
Being the Ricardos (2021)
Monday Through Friday is Correct!
The acting was top notch, but the reason this movie only covers a period of 5 days, Monday through Friday, is because once it starts it seems like 5 days to the viewer. Very slow, time just drags and drags here.
A Score to Settle (2019)
Surprise for Cage Fans!
This movie was a surprise after reading some of the reviews! This isn't your typical Revenge saga. It actually has a plot with a real twist to the ending! And if you don't get a little teary-eyed starting around the 1:30 area, then sadly enough you don't have a heart.
The Somme (1927)
Authentic Must Watch!
The realism of the movie is beyond description! Mixing in actual WW I footage makes this a masterpiece that any War historians would love.
Anyone who thinks war is glorious needs to watch this movie, it is very sobering. As a Combat Vet I have to rate this as one of the best films of 2021!
Flashpoint (2008)
Technically Great, But lots of " Touchy Feely"
I was an LEO in Florida for a few years, and before that I flew for a DEA SWAT team in the early '90's, so I know a little bit about this stuff.
I have 2 issues here:
I love the action and technical parts, but in every other episode they bare their souls to everyone. I never saw that unless someone got drunk at a team party.
2. Every other episode a good guy does something bad for a good reason. Ed or
Parker always tells them " Everything will work out!". You might see the subject in cuffs briefly, but you never get to hear of their punishments.
That gets irritating because that's not a real conclusion.
Flight of the Phoenix (2004)
Realism Perfected!
I write this review as a retired Commercial Helicopter Pilot who flew for the oil companies and the UN in Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Western Sahara, Kuwait, etc in the early 70's and throughout the 80's. The desert and environmental challenges portrayed here are spot on! Coffee grinder ADF's, low power beacons at the oil rigs, long distances over nothing but sand, huge sandstorms, dancing compasses and intermittent VOR's made flying very challenging!! The actors were terrific, and the drama never let up. And unlike many remakes that didn't cut it ( Like " Of Mice and Men"), this remake is better than the original.
CHIPS (2017)
Not a Comedy, not a drama, not action, NOT ANYTHING!!
As a Motorcycle rider since 1964 to include funeral escort, as a former L. E. O., as a former DEA Pilot, and as a fan of CHIPS, I thought I would find this entertaining and I could associate somehow with the movie. WRONG! The humor was weak when it wasn't crass, the action was lame, the plot was thinner than a blank sheet of paper, the premise was implausible, and I would feel shame by being associated with any part of this movie! The only time I cracked a smile was when I saw the surprise actor in the last scene in the ambulance.
How to Fake a War (2019)
Implausible?
Normally I would agree the premise of this movie is absolutely ridiculous to a normal person. However, I'm not a normal person: I flew combat missions in Vietnam. Flew for the DEA in Guatemala and Columbia during the Pablo Escobar years, flew for the U. S. D. O. S. Between Israel and Egypt, flew for the U. N. in the West Sahara ( Minurso), flew for the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense and Aviation, etc.
Everything here is plausible. We lost the Vietnam War to a Liberal media and now that Social media is wagging the tail of the dog in current events.
Remember that of the two incidents that started the Vietnam War, one was entirely made up.
I'm just sayin'.
In Enemy Hands (2004)
Very Underrated Movie, Excellent Action!
Anybody who gives this movie a bad rating either hasn't been in the military or doesn't like war movies. The suspense is continually building and the acting is very realistic. The only reason I didn't give it a 10 was due to a few technical goofs that don't detract from the suspense. Grab some popcorn and enjoy the ride.
The real Swordfish disappeared with all hands after having a distinguished war career, something no one pointed out at the end credits. That would have been a plus.
Mother Riley Meets the Vampire (1952)
Watch Steady Decline of Lugosi
Much like the decline of Lon Chaney, Jr., Bela Lugosi's decline is highly visible in the chain of movies made after circa 1940. The great Karloff said he would take roles as he was an actor, and some were really good. Lugosi by this time was doing it simply for the money. This movie is absolutely horrible, and I'm a Lugosi fan. The fact the " Heroine " is a guy in drag does nothing for the comic value, nor does the cheesy, and I mean REALLY CHEESY, plot. Horror? No. Comedy? No. Don't waste your time.
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953)
One of the Greatest ' Zard Movies Ever!
The plot of Atomic bomb wakes beast may seem old now, but in 1953 this was new, scary stuff!
Much like King Kong, this plot keeps you in suspense the whole movie, not like so many " B" movies where you see the monster in the last 10 minutes!
James Best plays the Radar Operator in the first few minutes of the movie (You may remember him as the Sheriff in the Dukes of Hazzard T. V. series).
But in one of T. V.'s 1960's Science Fiction favorite shows, Twilight Zone, James Best starred in 3 episodes written by Earl Hamner that were written about Mountain Folk commonly know as " Hillbillies ": " The Grave", " Jess-Belle ", and
" The Last Rites of Jeff Myrtlebank".
In later years Best remarked that he would rather be remembered for those 3 episodes.
Werewolves on Wheels (1971)
Economy driven
This should have been about Vampires, because it SUCKED! Any scene of importance was shot at night so you couldn't see the cheap makeup at work.
The Last Ship (2014)
A Surprisingly Addictive Hoot and Holler!
I started this show to kill some time. A Pandemic here is almost unbelievable until it actually happens, who would have thought? But the continuous surprising events that come from every corner kept me coming back for more. And the fact that almost every crewman does something heroic in the series is admirable! And as I thought the series was ending, a new dreaded world crisis and another season! Pandemic to famine to dictator with the Captain ( And crew) being tested at every episode.
I served as an Army Pilot in Vietnam and later in civilian life and when the old Warrant Officer appeared with the Huey, what a surprise for me! Lots of mistakes about his ran ( And later the female flying under NVG !!) but who cares? Very riveting and I could have used one more season!!