srussell1234 Reviews

Waco: The Aftermath (2023)

Cue the Tinfoil Hat Crowd

[4/10 · 18 May 2023]

OK - yes - this is a terrible series. Inaccurate and fodder for the fire that burns in all who see a government conspiracy behind every bush. So - if that is your thing - then definitely watch this series - it will work hard to confirm that your ethos is indeed valid.

If you are a relatively normal person who watches network news and reads occasionally and does not rely on Reddit for your "secret" news than you will not have an enjoyable time.

Huge gaps of logic abound and you might get dizzy from shaking your head so often. On the positive side - the acting and writing is top notch - the flow and pacing is good - this is an idea that could have been so much more than it turned out to be.

The Class (2022)

Arguably the worst thing I have seen in 2022

[1/10 · 11 September 2022]

So a bunch of 20-somethings once again play teenagers and they decide to rip off the Breakfast Club. Sure what could go wrong with such an inspired genesis.

This thing is execrable.

Cringeworthy acting - paper thin characters - two adult leads phoning it in. Oh wait a minute they are actually all adults just about three-quarters of them are playing kids.

And the sad part is - someone with a modest amount of sensitivity and talent could probably update the Breakfast Club - just not this ensemble

I have no idea who wrote it - green lit then decided to actually make it - but let me save you a wasted couple of hours - SKIP IT.

The Wedding Ring (2021 TV Movie)

This is a delightful well acted romance

[8/10 · 6 February 2022]

The leads are great - Lauren is especially dazzling. The story is cute and there is real chemistry all around. As usual the crisis is a bit manufactured but if you signed up for the premise then just enjoy the ride.

Other reviewers are too harsh - if you like the genre then you will enjoy this little trip into it.

The story and direction are OK and you don't feel anything intrudes into a basic story.

Famous (I) (2021)

Yeah - fake reviews - a really bad movie

[2/10 · 13 December 2021]

Come on - it has Chris Kattan in it - he is as reliably horrible as the other b-list varieties we see popping up.

It tries so very hard to be cutting edge - theater and film - let's mix em together but it fails horribly.

Says nothing new or profound - not funny - not tragic - not really much of anything.

There is such a low barrier to entry now for making "films" that I wish people would try harder to make good ones.

Playing with Beethoven (2020)

Sigh... more fake reviews - Trust me - It is OK

[6/10 · 1 December 2021]

I love Beethoven and especially his piano sonatas so this movie did not have to work too hard to charm me.

It is somewhat lame - the actors are kinda stiff and wooden and the writing/plot is execrable.

That being said - it is an OK way to pass an hour and a half.

Just ignore all those 10/10 ratings.

Finch (2021)

Has Apple become Disney?

[2/10 · 9 November 2021]

Proving yet again that Apple really... really... wants to be Disney - sappy stupid - refusing to deal with even modest ethical questions or challenges - truly a movie for the really... really... dumb that like their food pre-chewed and tasteless.

At least Apple has not wrecked a franchise like Star Wars yet.

Naked Singularity (2021)

Someone clearly liked the phrase "naked singularity"

[2/10 · 14 October 2021]

Yeah - is is from theoretical physics - and no - the movie has nothing to do with it. In fact the movie has really nothing to do with anything vaguely interesting.

Save your time - read a physics book.

Time Is Up (2021)

Just as bad as you proby think it is

[2/10 · 25 September 2021]

When you conjoin the three words: Bella Thorne Movie - you think you know what to expect. I was fooled again - it was just as bad as I thought it would be.

I was amazed how rapidly they took the lead protagonist from spouting Quantum theory nonsense to running around in her underwear. If it was supposed to be a parody then it totally escaped me - if it was supposed to be serious then it failed.

The Tomorrow War (2021)

So very stupid it will break your heart

[5/10 · 8 July 2021]

Where to star - the metaphysics - the physics - the chemistry - the plot - the dialogue?

How can people spend this much money and produce such dreck in this age of the business of show?

Listen - things blow up real good and if yoy loved the most recent super-hero or fast/Furious movie then you will be set - everyone else should stay away.

How does Chris Pratt still keep getting cast in these roles - he like a wooden boy-man.

And J. K - how have you fallen - you are rapidly becoming synonymous with bad movies - sheesh what a mess and not even the fun kind of mess.

The Republic of Sarah (2021)

Too Woke - Too Sad - Such Wasted Potential

[2/10 · 16 June 2021]

If you like your woke dialogue and all of its great buzzy words and ideas then you will love this show. Otherwise steer clear. Talky, silly not even remotely entertaining.

This could have been good!

A Perfect Enemy (2020)

Good, compact thought-provoking amuse-bouche - Nothing Blows Up

[8/10 · 14 June 2021]

OK - so let's get this out of the way - if you're an MCU fan then this is not the film for you. Nothing blows up - there are no clever quips in the middle of battles - just a tour de force of acting by two excellent protagonists and some amazing dialogue and story-telling.

NOTHING blows up - there are no fast and furious cars.

If you like good writing, acting - good cinema - then this is worth your time.

Chaos Walking (2021)

Another Daisy Disaster

[3/10 · 2 April 2021]

Interesting premise is about as far as you can get with this one. Both actors are wooden and unconvincing. You can see where the money was spent on the film but you have to ask why. This oft-delayed wreck is hardly worth your time - if you like either of the two leads then you can proby get through it - i did not even wait for the end.

Daisy Ridley is proving to be the anti-Natalie Portman and more like Hayden Christensen.

Wildcat (I) (2021)

Solid Movie - simple setting but great acting - need subtitles

[8/10 · 28 March 2021]

First of all - let me save you some time - get subtitles - I stopped about 1/4 way through to figure out how to get them up - the audio is terrible That being said - everything else is great - great character development and great acting.

Superior job on a budget premise.

Skins: Fire: Part 1 (2013) Season 7, Episode 1

No idea what other watchers were expecting

[10/10 · 3 January 2021]

This is a well-written and well-acted two arc story that perfectly captures what we might expect as Effy ages and enters the work force. Funny, sad, ironic - all of the attributes of the original series. Effy is consistently flawed as we are all are. Great act of closure for a brilliant series and the actress playing Effy is brilliant as always. You didn't like skins then you won't like this - but if you did like skins then this offers a brilliant closure. Honi soit qui mal y pense. And if you don't get that then you may not be smart enough to get this character arc.

The Screaming Silent (2020)

I went in assuming the film could not possibly be worse than the stupid title

[2/10 · 25 June 2020]

I was totally wrong. You can't make the background scenery bad but neither can it carry the film Skip - don't rent - don't watch - even if desperate for something new. The lead is not very good, the whole hand-held narrative over-done by now and some the decisions simply boggle the mind. If you really must seen the countryside then simply google the country - there are some amazing travel narratives available

Servant: Balloon (2020) Season 1, Episode 10

Did Lost Teach Them Nothing?

[2/10 · 18 January 2020]

It is what has become known as the "Smoke Monster" resolution ala Lost - it makes no sense - it leaves several gaping plot holes and it supposes magical powers that have been totally unearned.

What a waste of time watching 9 episodes only to have nothing worthwhile resolved in the 10th

The End of the Tour (2015)

So OK - if you're not super bright and have never read a challenging book in your life - you might not get it.

[10/10 · 4 April 2019]

Listen - the source material for this movie and the movie itself are brilliant. The book is called "Although Of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself" if you see that and shrugged - don't watch the movie. If you read that and said: "hey - that is paraphrasing Nietzsche" then watch the movie. Sorry to be brutal but if I can save one less than clever person from wasting his time and writing a review that simply states "i don't get it..." then my time will have been well-spent. For all you AP Lit drones - this is your film

Hint: the Nietzsche is the Gay Science Aph 270