Change Your Image
greekalymnian
Reviews
Streetwalkin' (1985)
A Hidden 80's Gem
Seen this on Tubi and recognized the actors that were in it, so I decided to give it a watch. Surprisingly, I actually loved it.
Yes it rivals other 80's movies like "Angel" and "Vice Squad" with similar plots about hookers and pimps and the sleaziness of it all, but I appreciated the acting and dedication the two main actors brought.
Melissa Leo and Dale Midkiff both gave great performances for their first movie roles while they were just starting out in their 20's. They ended up going on to bigger and better projects, but you could tell they were both invested in their roles here and carried the entire movie beautifully.
Like usual, Dale Midkiff went from charming to psychopathic, similar to his character in A Cry For Help: The Tracey Thurman Story, as if he flips a switch in his head and becomes a homicidal maniac on command. I so wish he had played more roles like this as I feel he is a very underrated and talented actor that knew how to go crazy when needed. Him also being one of the sexiest men to ever grace the screen had a hand in it as well. ::swoon::
Melissa Leo also did a stellar job portraying Cookie, and you can't help but feel empathetic for her and her brother. Stuck between a rock and a hard place where someone is giving you a roof over your head but at the expense of your morals and integrity.
If you're an 80's kid, or did the whole 80's club NYC scene back then, you'll love Streetwalkin'.
One Day (2024)
Such a letdown...
I'm a huge fan of the film with Hathaway and Sturgess, as it stayed pretty close to the book. This series though... was not it. I was excited to see that there was going to be a lengthier version of the movie, hoping there would be scenes that added to the emotions that I felt while watching it.
After the first two episodes, I had to turn it off. Not only was I completely bored, but the lack of chemistry between the two who played Emma and Dex was cringe. While the actor who played Dexter did a great job at portraying the role similar to Sturgess, I can't say the same for the actress who played Emma. She seemed forced to be there, forced to like him, thereby seemingly forcing a connection that just wasn't there.
Chemistry in movies/series like this are literally the entire point. If you're making a romantic drama, especially one that has been done before, you better make sure your two lead actors have some serious onscreen chemistry to make it believable and watchable. It needs to be so strong that you say to yourself, "I wonder if they're dating in real life."
Woodall would have made this an amazing series had he been given a different leading actress. Someone that had more depth and didn't look pissed off the entire time.
I'm okay with the fact that they changed the ethnicity of the lead actress, but she was just wrong for the part in so many ways. I really wanted to love this but I just couldn't.
This remake reminded me of the movie Priscilla trying to redo the film Elvis and Me from the 80's. WHY do they always seem to get the casting completely wrong the second time? After years of waiting for another version to come out, these casting directors have had more than enough time to try to come up with two actors that show some sparks on screen. This? Nada.
I feel like the public could do a better job at casting actors in movies lately. It makes me wonder how long these people have been doing their jobs, because they continuously love to choose the wrong actors for these roles.
If you've never read the book or seen the film, you'll probably enjoy this. Or maybe you'll see what many of us see which is a lack of chemistry between two important leads.
If you're a fan of the movie, I don't think you'll enjoy this as this gives an entirely different feel. Which is lack of emotion, lack of empathy for the characters, and complete boredom. I would only continue watching this if I absolutely HAD to.
I just don't see the appeal in this one. Sorry. 1/10.
The Idea of You (2024)
Pleasantly Surprised
I seen this featured on Prime and figured I'd watch it since it just recently came out. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised with the movie.
While it wasn't meant to win academy awards, I think the message behind it was portrayed clearly: How society views older women dating younger men as something that is frowned upon, but has a completely different viewpoint when it comes to men doing the same. A double standard, yes, and while I don't necessarily think huge age gaps are always appropriate (really depends on the age and the maturity levels of those involved), I do believe that you can fall in love at any age, with someone who is not always in the same age bracket as you.
Having dated a lot of different men in the spotlight, I was able to relate to Hathaway's character in this movie. Watching someone you are no longer with on TV can sometimes be the hardest thing because it's right in your face without you even asking for it. You suddenly become flooded with memories and start missing that person all over again. The pain can almost be unbearable.
The movie had some corny parts, and may have been a little cliche at times, and I wasn't too crazy about the fact that they had to throw the word "feminism" around, but it worked for what it was. An entertaining watch with two good actors that had chemistry and an easy plot to work with.
Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that love can come to us at any time, at any age, with anyone.
I'd definitely watch again. 8/10.
Elvis and Me (1988)
Amazing Performances by Midkiff and Walters
Elvis and Me is a narrative biography of Priscilla's life told from her point of view. This left many people either upset or disappointed with how the story was told, but who are we to criticize someone who's telling a story the way they remember it? None of us were there to see what really happened or took place, so we have to go into it with an open mind.
With that said, Elvis and Me still manages to remain a favorite among many Elvis fans more than 30 years later, and we can thank the two main characters for their thorough and exceptional performances for that.
Walters looked absolutely gorgeous and was superb in how she moved through the times as Priscilla, ranging from a teenage girl first meeting Elvis, to becoming a woman and finally finding her own self. She not only looked the part, but she felt the part. She embodied what we have all felt as young girls with puppy love - nonstop day dreaming over that one guy who you are head over heels for. She showcased many emotions in this movie, and you could feel the pain Priscilla felt while being away from Elvis, trying to live life as normally as she could as a teenage girl.
Midkiff was perfect for this role, despite what some may say. To play Elvis, you need one thing above all else, and that is: sex appeal. Midkiff and Elvis, though they do resemble one another at times, both equally share that come hither stare, where they only have to look at you without saying anything and your knees go weak. Midkiff in my opinion is one of the most gorgeous men to have ever hit the movie screen, and his sexiness is what helped move this performance along effortlessly, Not to mention him and Elvis both have a similar sounding voice, making the story a little more believable.
With the newer release of the movie Priscilla, I can't help but compare the vast differences in the two, from the actors who were chosen, to the performances, the cinematography, and the way the story was told, even though it was based on the same book.
If you haven't seen either movie, I recommend starting with Elvis and Me first. You'll then see why Priscilla couldn't grab the audience the same. Not only was Priscilla a huge let down, but we don't get to hear any of Elvis's songs, nor any songs that fit in with the eras to help remind us of the different decades this took place in. We aren't able to grasp or understand why Elvis and Priscilla are so into each other because we aren't given enough time in each scene to really get to know the characters or care for them, even though we know exactly who they are based on. Couple that with the actress who played Priscilla that was void of all emotion, to the point you weren't even sure if she even liked Elvis.
If you want to see the story told from Priscilla's point of view, spend some time with this movie. Let the characters pull you in, sympathize with their feelings and try to understand why Priscilla and Elvis ended up the way they did together.
Their love story is one that will forever go down in history, but to really 'get it', you must watch the right movie.
Let it be Elvis and Me.
Priscilla (2023)
Disappointed
I went into this having already read the book "Elvis and Me", as well as having seen the tv mini-series "Elvis and Me" from 1988. I may be biased because I love the mini-series version and the portrayal of Elvis and Priscilla by Dale Midkiff (who had the same sex appeal as Elvis) and Susan Walters (who looked a lot like Priscilla), but I was really disappointed in this movie.
Most people didn't like Elordi in the film, but praised Spaeny, however I'm in the minority. I thought Elordi did a decent job, and he definitely sounded like Elvis at times and the way he mumbled (Elvis did mumble sometimes). Spaeny's portrayal of Priscilla was completely monotone the entire time. You never fully understand or know what she went through to be with Elvis while watching the movie. This film made it seem as though she was almost handed over to him, instead of showing you how her parents fought against her over the years all the times she wanted to fly out to be with him.
In the beginning scenes where she first meets Elvis, Spaeny doesn't remind you of that feeling you get when you first meet someone and you get butterflies. Watching her made it feel as though she didn't even like him. She showed 0 emotion, and instead of developing the characters, we start to feel nothing for them. No joy, no sadness, no anger, no tears. Nothing. Just meh.
For a movie that sort of drags on, (which I have no problem with if it's good), the scenes also felt rushed. We don't spend enough time in each one to get a feel for what the characters are feeling. We don't get enough time to see any chemistry. There is literally no "spark". As soon as you start to get into the scene, it changes.
And while they don't resemble the real Elvis and Priscilla, I just could not get into Spaeny's performance. I tried to like her in this role, I really did, but I just couldn't. I expected her to grow as the movie went on and she graduated high school and became a woman, but she stayed exactly the same from age 14-27.
Elordi did try to act and sound like Elvis and he didn't fail, but it wasn't Oscar-worthy. However, I did appreciate that he tried his best, which is what I can't say for Spaeny.
I wish I loved this movie, I really do. I had such high hopes for it because I love the 1988 version, which this movie is just a remake of. Instead of everyone comparing it to the movie "Elvis" with Austin Butler, they need to be comparing it to the original movie also based on the book.
The 1988 version had better actors, better writing, actual footage of Elvis and Priscilla throughout, a soundtrack filled with Elvis's songs and some other hits from the eras surrounding the film, a much more convincing storyline, character development, an emotional attachment, and an ending that actually made you *feel* something.
The '88 version also brought you through her life, and went into detail about the things Elvis expected of her, his womanizing ways, how much time they actually spent together in Germany, and how depressed and miserable she was while they were apart. In order to understand her story, you need to know these things. That's what made the original so much better. Couple that with two amazing actors who felt much more genuine and authentic, who had chemistry and really reaaallly got into the roles, and you have yourself an amazing movie from Priscilla's perspective.
If you haven't seen either one, do yourself a favor and watch the 1988 mini-series on YouTube, and then watch this. You'll see exactly what I'm talking about.
Would recommend the mini-series. Not this one. Two thumbs down for me. 👎🏻
Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker (2020)
A Must-See For All Female Entrepreneurs
I seen this on Netflix and debated on watching it for several days before I caved in. The plot intrigued me since I myself am a female business owner in the beauty industry, so I guess it called to me.
I wasn't sure what to expect, which is sometimes better than going in knowing a lot of the background. I wasn't familiar with Madam C. J. Walker's story so I didn't know how the series was supposed to go, but I was pleasantly surprised at how well I enjoyed it.
I've always liked Octavia Spencer, and I don't feel she gets enough credit for her acting. She played the part extremely well, and for me, she was convincing enough as the Madam.
I'm sure parts were fictionalized, as many movies based off of true stories usually are, but that doesn't mean it's a cause for a bad review. And not sure why some people are upset they played hip-hop music and modern RnB throughout, it's really just a reference to bring us back to the present moment as we watch the film to remind us of how far we've come with women in business.
The series is inspiring and allows us to see some of the struggles that both women and African Americans in general faced back in those days, particularly those who knew what they wanted and went after it.
Madam C. J Walker was a go-getter, and she had a vision for herself and her future that no one else could see. I seen a lot of myself in her throughout the series, so being able to relate to that type of passion, drive and hard-work that she had for her business really helped put things into perspective as I watched each episode.
We're now in a day and age where we have so many more resources available, making it much easier for us to become anything and be anything we want. The moral of the story is that Madam Walker paved the way for so many women moving forward, allowing them to become business owners and dive into professions that otherwise would have been unheard of for females.
If you're a woman who owns her own business, or are looking to become an entrepreneur, this series is definitely one that will inspire you. Take the show for what it is - a way to show others that when you set your mind to something, you can achieve literally anything.
We Don't Deserve Dogs (2020)
It lost 5 stars for the ending...
Like others have stated, there was a segment about people killing dogs in Vietnam for dog meat. After watching so many heartwarming stories about how different cultures embrace dogs and love on them, this felt completely out of left field. Whether it's a reality or not, it didn't belong in this film. This was not expected, and the only reason I gave it 5 stars was because of this. The rest of the documentary was genuine and compassionate up until the ending. Although no animal cruelty was shown, they do show a dog waiting in a wired crate to be slaughtered and then marinated and it's dead body put onto a bike. That alone made me want to turn it off. Whether that part was trying to tell us that "we don't deserve dogs" or not, it could have been left out. If you are an animal lover as big as I am, I would say to at least skip the part where they get to Vietnam. Overall, eh. The ending honestly ruined it for me. And we truly do not deserve dogs. They are innocent, precious magical little beings that we must cherish and protect always.
Barbarian (2022)
C+ For Effort
First off, horror is my jam. I've seen hundreds of movies in this genre and it takes a lot for me to like a horror movie. Barbarian literally had one of the best opening scenes and plot ideas to come out of a horror movie in a long time. (Kind of the way I felt about Jeepers Creepers, but that also had a disappointing unrealistic ending). Skarsgard and Long did not disappoint and the main actress who played Tessa was great.
However, as soon as the second half of the movie started, it did a quick downward spiral. They could have went so many other places with this movie. You have the lead character Tessa, who is portrayed as an extremely strong character and very aware of her surroundings to the point she wouldn't even drink the tea that was made for her in the beginning. She looks out for herself. Yet she finds herself in this nightmare of a reality later on in the tunnel, escapes and wants to go back to save someone she doesn't even know? No one in their right mind would go back to save a complete stranger after witnessing whatever tf that was. Those are just facts.
They didn't go into the backstory enough either, unfortunately and very little was told of Frank and who The Mother was. Why did she come out at night? Cause she was inbred and used to the dark life in the tunnel? We don't know, we can only guess.
Then Tessa is supposed to survive a fall off of the top of a watchtower and so does The Mother?
What started off as such an amazing and realistic plot, turned into an unbelievable story of a mole family living way down in the basement instead of just wanting to live in the house itself (for whatever reason) and mother grown adults.
Like I said, they could have done sooooo many other things with this movie, but they chose this route instead. While yes, inbreeding can be scary and creepy, this one just didn't make all that much sense. Why make her want to yearn for a baby? Where did the mattress and the bucket come from? Why was there a video camera in there? I still have so many questions.
Normally I don't care to know the "how's" or "why's" of a movie, but because this one had so much potential and just didn't live up to where I thought it was going... I had to make a review.
Hoping someone in the near future can take a plot similar to this one and do something amazing with it.
Enjoy it for the few jumps and minor scares, and to watch the chemistry between Tessa and Keith (who should have had way more screen time), but that's about it.
The Watcher (2022)
Creepy...
Not sure why there are so many negative reviews. I think people are forgetting this is based on true events, and think that Ryan Murphy is just going to conjure up a certain ending that doesn't align with the real story just to make it more appealing.
I'm a huge horror and thriller/mystery/suspense movie lover, so this reeled me in for all of the obvious reasons. With that said, I usually don't get scared. However, with this one, it kept me up at night after watching the first 3 episodes, (which never happens to me btw).
Not everything has to be about gore and guts in order to make it a good movie. A psychological thriller is way more scary IMO because it messes with your mind and sticks with you long term. Especially if it's based on true events.
If you really look at this story as a whole and imagine yourself being this family, this is downright creepy. And the fact that all of these weird coincidences keep happening as time goes on, makes it just all that much more creepy.
I think the "creepiness" of it is the element many people might not be associating with this, because they most likely don't know the outcome if they hadn't heard of the true story. I didn't, and when I watched this, I'm glad I didn't know about the real case already. As the story unfolds, it keeps you guessing and trying to figure it out along with the characters. So if you can, go into this blindly and don't read up about it until you've watched it.
People who wrote negatively about this probably expected something completely different. I personally find the whole thing to be spooky and twisted to say the least. No one wants to ever go through something like this and be scared to be in their own home, which is what we all consider our "safe haven". Especially with their kids.
So yes, watch this and form your own opinion before you agree with the negative reviews. And just picture yourself as the family in this story. Then see how you really feel.
Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)
Was this Hocus Joke-us?
Let me start by saying that I am a HUGE fan of the first Hocus Pocus. It came out when I was 8, and literally embodied the essence of everything fall and Halloween. The trick or treating, the New England leaves, the beauty of Salem, myths and legends about witches. This is what makes it so much fun to watch year after year.
I was hoping for a sequel for forever, and was super excited when they announced they were releasing one. The trailer looked promising, so I was really hopeful that it would bring that same "magic" that I loved so much in the first one.
Watched this the day it was released on Disney+ and I can honestly say I'm super disappointed. I really wanted to love it, but there were so many things about it that just fell flat.
I get we're 30 years into the future since the last movie, but so much of it felt corny and almost unwatchable at times. It was actually enjoyable until they got to the Walgreens store. That's when it went downhill for me.
They could have taken this movie in sooo many different directions... but this was just not it. I was hoping for an original character to return, or at least have Omri Katz or Vinessa Shaw play a teacher or a parent if they didn't want to mention the characters in the movie at all, (which they didn't), and that would have been the perfect opportunity to bring them back in for a cameo.
Bette Midler's performance was stellar though, and she stayed in character as if she'd never left. Parker, on the other hand didn't live up to her first role, and I just couldn't buy the performance. Najimy was good. But that's it.
The idea of having a little coven of witches was cute, except we didn't know enough about the girls to care about the characters the way we did for the ones in the first movie. I didn't sense a whole lot of chemistry with the three, so maybe that's why.
There were some cute moments, however. The jock boyfriend was the stereotypical idiot who reminded me of the guys I used to date, and the mayor was actually one of my favorite characters in the movie, bringing a little light-heartedness mixed with some comedy. All the guy wanted was a caramel apple, and he couldn't even get that. Another let down.
While I have been waiting and waiting for this moment to be able to have seen a sequel to one of my all-time favorite movies, and favorite Halloween movie... I can honestly say this one almost ruined the first one for me.
Instead of trying to go with the times and act like it's the year 2022, they should have just played it simple and kept it spooky without trying so hard.
The younger generation will probably enjoy this, and that's great for them, but for the ones who grew up with the original, there is no comparison.
While I went in knowing that nothing would ever and could ever compare to the first Hocus Pocus, I guess I was hoping for something a little more spooky and fall-esque. The Sanderson Sisters were nowhere near as scary and intimidating as they were in the first, which contributed to it feeling like a comedy more than anything.
Some movies are better left untouched, without a sequel, 'cause if you can't bring the sequel anywhere close to the first, you're better off not making one at all.
Thanks for trying though, Disney. ::sigh:: Think I'll go watch the first one now.