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michael_sluka
Reviews
Tracker (2024)
Not saying much, but it's the best available on 2024 television
Given the times, most every tv/tv movie script has to present the male lead as a flawed person, while the surrounding cast of non-males and/or people of non-Caucasian origin are always presented as competent in their supporting roles. While Colter Shaw is scripted with the requisite flaw of a strange upbringing, it is amazing the script suggests he has somehow nonetheless achieved some competency in life. He doesn't embarrass is XY chromosome composition and that's why I like it. That's probably also the reason why Reacher, the Witcher, Night Agent generate good viewing numbers. Who knew the world would respond positively to the idea a man can be competent?
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)
Not Oscar stuff, but an enjoyable watch
When a 2 hour runtime goes by without you noticing, that qualifies as an enjoyable/engaging film for me. There's no heavy lifting here for the actors, except for the British government characters, which was passable but a bit overdone by means of stereotype. Otherwise, it is action with comedic overtones. Ritchson has a somewhat lesser role than Cavill in terms of elapsed time, but overshadows him by means of both script and role likeability. Honorable mention to the female protagonist and principal Nazi antagonist....both brought their characters to goal line. I'm sure the real story played out with more grit and less ease of success, but why spoil a romp with true drama.
Twas the Text Before Christmas (2023)
Same old, same old
I realize that GAF productions are obviously meant to be in the same ('tame") genre as another production company that makes you think of greeting cards, but geez, I was hoping GAF would 'up the game' a bit.
I enjoy the 'happy ending' romance genre with a certain select few of these actors (both male and female) but it doesn't mean I enjoy the same last 2 minute formula in so many of both companies' script-writing. Why are the characters scripted to be so annoyingly reluctant to express a bit of passion before the final seconds? As a male, I can't possibly fathom being such a dork in the company of a woman I am attracted to for so long of a time. It could work on occasion, but we are subjected to brainlessness most every time. I know that anything more than a close-mouth kiss is not going to be 'family-friendly, but do you really need to teach kids to be timid in expressing feelings to maintain family-friendly? How about you script a few where the relationship materializes in the first half of the movie and then have a story built around what transpires next?....just a thought to break some new ground. Unfortunately, the scripting in this movie, like so many from both these production houses, leave the viewer feeling the leads have no real chemistry throughout the movie, so much so that the ending comes across as effectively contrived.
Home Song (1996)
Predictable, but watchable
The IMDB summary gives you the whole movie but the ending. And once you read this plot premise, you know it can end only one of two ways.....and you can lay pretty good odds on which way will go. So, much of the 124 minute runtime is filled with the uncomfortable anguish of all the affected characters, except for grandpa, as they wrestle through the typical drama of such a circumstance. The anguish tends toward the melodramatic at times, but since you've got 6 characters to get through, you do get some variation off the same theme, which makes it watchable. The principal characters are all Hollywood good-looking and are otherwise portrayed as accomplished for their respective ages, which keeps this from being a 'sad' movie along the way.
Hawkeye (1994)
Action/Adventure Epic
I stumbled on this on FreeVee almost 30 years after its original airing. I guess I was too busy raising teenagers to notice it back then. The pre-Revolutionary War setting and history drew me in, but the action/adventure and intrigue kept me viewing all 22 episodes the last week or so. Each episode presents its own plots, with the principal characters growing/evolving within. As you can easily guess by the advertising jacket, Lee Horsely and Lynda Carter develop a romantic relationship, but put on a painfully slow-burn due to reasons within the story. Aside from the bloodshed necessitated by the French and Indian War surrounding the storyline, this is 'family values' viewing. A few episodes go into PG-13 level circumstances, but these are handled with carefully crafted morality lessons. It was a great watch...I am hoping I can unearth more gems like this.
Argylle (2024)
Beware the totally misleading trailer released
To make you think you will be seeing a movie with A-list actors only to be given 2 minutes of their screen time with B list actors making up the other 2 hours and 8 minutes. This is a silly movie along the lines of Kingsman and The Spy Who Shagged Me. You need only watch the free trailer to see the bulk of A list actor time. There is a lot of plot misdirection and some funny lines, which is the good. The bad is the complete scam of building a trailer off of first two minute cameos by high-draw actors but then running the remainder of the movie without them and a run time that is about 45 minutes too long. The B list actors do ok, but if their as good as the positive reviewers here say they are...why was the trailer constructed without all their fabulous acting scenes?
Zorro (2024)
Watchable, but not a 'strong' Zorro per se
I'm old enough to have seen all the Zorro productions first hand since Guy Williams. On one hand, the numerous plot branches introduced here keep the 10 episodes from being repetitious, but at the same time, tend to diminish the 'hero' aspect of the Zorro lead, as he manages more to survive all of his antagonists than vanquish them. The original Zorros were cast as patsy Diegos contrasted with strong and noble Zorros. Here, the contrast is less stark.... Diego is more competent, except when interacting with 'Lolita' and Zorro is more fallible, both in fighting antagonists and character nobility. The acting itself is adequate with most of the principal actors, I just think the dialogue and screenplay construction doesn't do the Zorro concept full justice.
Tiptoes (2002)
Interesting premise, but the ensuing storyline (writing) falls miserably
Certainly, a story premise that has not been done dozens of times before...so kudos for the idea and kudos for the acting.... MM, GO and KB all do well despite limited meaningful lines to deliver. These are the 3 'serious' acting roles.....everybody else have cornball roles to play, so even if they do reasonably well with their character, nonetheless the serious story takes a backseat in elapsed screen time for relatively unimportant or cheesy, lowbrow humor scenes. The writer(s) should have used that wasted time to develop more of why McConaughey's character is ultimately flawed, more on how MM's and KB's marriage just falls apart after the birth, why KB just automatically writes MM off as a partner and a father going forward and falls for GO's little person character, both as a father....and a lover? I prefer movies that introduce and then develop characters' backstory from which a logical new story flows....in this instance, it feels like the main characters were just inserted into a pre-ordained outcome and you're left 'guessing' as to why that outcome is logical. If you want to be increasingly unsatisfied as the screenplay roles out, be sure to add this movie to your watchlist.
The Last Kingdom (2015)
Bring it back
There is certainly enough left in Bernard Cromwell's books to complete a Season 5 and 6 of this glorious piece of entertainment....and if you ask me, slow the years' progression down a bit and make it an 8 season run. Then you can quit. I also think 10 episodes doesn't cure the "Jones-ing" for fans. Make it at least 15 espisodes next season.
El dragón (2019)
Highly entertaining despite lack of realism
The characters are entertaining, although sometimes cartoonishly so.
The storyline premise is believable in principle, but it's ruined by script writers' lack of knowledge how the real world works. For one example, what United States IRS agent gets to jaunt around on the government dime chasing a foreign national on some wild-a*s hunch (and complete lack of knowledge of income tax law) he owes U.S. income tax? C'mon! And at least have him and his cohorts speak English in the Miami office and dub in for the Latin audience. At least have him chased around by the SEC/FBI for possible insider trading and stock price manipulation, not the IRS and one local cop, neither of whom have any chance of working together on a real world case and neither of whom would have any jurisdictional reason to give to their superiors. Second example, how does Tashco find out everyplace Miguel is going to be in and around Mexico and manages to get there ahead of time ready to shoot him? Third, what tech-savvy crime lord doesn't have security cameras in his house?
I am halfway through season 1, I will stick with it because it is entertaining and I like the protagonist crime boss using brain, not brawn (mostly) and the females are mostly easy on the eyes.....however, I will cringe mightily every time the script travels beyond the city limits of Cuidad Jimenez and basic drug trafficking business.
The Witcher (2019)
Last 3 episodes...."What the **** happened to this great show?!!
I'm rating a 9 based on the first 2 2/3rds season......however, the last 3 episodes of S3 released were not worth the time spent watching.
If the screen writing is going to be this off topic, drawn out and boring going forward and there is no Henry Cavill playing Geralt, then they should have had the intelligence to end it on a high-note with Geralt and Yennifer at the Mages' Ball.
The Last Kingdom: Episode #2.8 (2017)
Easily in my Top 10 historical/fictional drama series of all time
If you're reading this, you likely already have seen this series start to finish and can write better detailed reviews than I care to.
Rather, if you're old enough to remember the 80's miniseries, the 90s-200's HBO programming, then I will submit The Last Kingdom is right up there with Aspen, Rich Man/Poor Man, Thornbirds, Band of Brothers, The Pacific, early Sopranos, Six Feet Under, The Musketeers and Rome.
And even if you like your viewing less cerebral, this is also up there with Statham, Craig, Crowe and Diesel/Walker.
Not only do I crave more renewal seasons, how about 20 episodes per season?