Phr3d Reviews

Caprica (2009–2010)

from Wanda: Dissa-POINTED (bang)

[2/10 · 9 March 2011]

What a total loss, not sure what happened mid-season, and now wouldn't waste my time to find out. Suffice to say, I liked it and then it became what it ended with. I kept watching one point five so I could at least have the satisfaction of seeing all the 'stars' killed off... BRRRT, no such luck. It was the only reason I could think of for the writers to have gone so very far to make them all irredeemable. That is the only thing that might have blunted my instinctual demand that -cliche- I really wanted those hours back.

FWIW, I waited for the DVDs, so I could watch it in two episode groups, complete with (endless) deleted scenes. I purposely avoided the background and commentary as Moore and Eick have such a knack for dumping spoilers into that content - near ruined a couple episodes of Gallactica in assuming that their audience was willing to watch the cable commercial version and had already seen it. I avoided all references to Capricuhh on the web, due to morons that live to dump spoilers, so I missed all the very good recommendations saying 'avoid'.

Pardon the personal and emotional as I know this is hard to read, English is my fourth language - but I will never submit to the real possibility of disappointment of this level again. I cannot think of a single nice thing to say about the writing or the actors.

Mr. Moore and Mr. Eick, please stop listening to whoever convinced you to make characters completely unlikeable. Gallactica was near perfection (no, I didn't like season four point five either, but it did complete without turning into a bad Bronson movie).

Gallactica Wish III, more bare upper-body men, completely PO'd women, and mind-numbing brutality than you can imagine imagining-

Bordertown (1995)

Well worth the time

[9/10 · 21 March 2007]

9 of 10 -- I went ahead and got this for the same reason many will, as it becomes more widely known - Hugo Weaving and Cate Blanchett BOTH thought it was worth doing? 'Hell, Yeah, lemme lookit that...' The characters in this TV mini-series are slo-oo-wly... splendidly developed... At the end of the second ep., I thinks 'yeah, this was worth the buy...' then the fourth, fifth and finally the absolutely devastating sixth eps., I will be telling everyone to give this a look... no Netflix folks, gonna hafta' pony-up. I recommend that you do. The deep love for the characters in the screen-writing makes up for the budget and the occasional loss of focus. These characters deserved the screen-time -you wanted more from every one of them- and I found myself thinking about them and the series quite a lot the following day / week that it took to get back. The acting is top, and the story-line is unusual...

note: as mentioned by another reviewer, this is -probably- not for kids. There is really no way to explain why without spoilers, but I'm not the most conservative person. I believe that it would be rated 15 in Australia, and I would agree with that.

I don't write reviews as a rule, and reading this you know why - but as a US Aussiephile I was looking, as a fan of the two widely-known actors, I bought (the actors that I didn't know very well have pages of credentials in international films that I've not seen - a terrific cast and casting work - Alex Menglet has a new and dedicated fan).

I'm so glad I took the chance...

War of the Worlds (2005)

not QUITE as bad as Independence Day

[1/10 · 27 February 2006]

But otherwise a top contender for worst movies of all time. Unlike many of you, I don't allow low-budget movies in the running. The 'worst movies of all time' contenders must be major motion-pictures, notable cast, notable director, etc. In other words, they need to have EVERYTHING going for them, and still be stupifying bleak nauseating depressing incredible failures. For a total failure of this magnitude everyone has to fail, as opposed to just bad acting/directing/marketing, etc.

And 'Independence Day' tops that list.

And 'War of the Worlds' is a close second.

My (personal) special criteria: If you are Hoping throughout the film that the lead characters will only somehow be killed by the enemy, monster, what have you.

1 star out of a possible 1000

(steps quietly down from podium).

Interstate 60 (2002)

A Depth of Lightheartedness

[10/10 · 10 June 2003]

This is my first review (commented):

In the thousands of movies that I have seen, Princess Bride *Always* being near the top of the list (so that you know where I am coming from)Here, I have a movie that Instantly supplanted several favorites. I cannot recommend this movie enough.

My first mistake is always that others won't give a film enough time to surround, and I say something like "give it some tii-ii-ime" which is a deathstroke for many people. Here is a movie that needs no such preface.

I was able to make my OWN version of this film, and therefore able to show others what a miracle it is... I wish I could vote 10 times for the others that also now count it in their (at the very least) top 25 films. ALL of us wish we could have seen this in a theatre, and would flock to a "re-issue" of this film. My copy SUX in a big way, but you take what you can get when the execs are this clueless.

If the opportunity "arises" and you are able to find this film for personal viewing, DO so... Until we have a release date, don't even feel bad about 'stealing' one of the best films of all time.

I DO NOT feel bad about stealing this one... I'll buy multiple copies *when/IF they release the damn thing* for every movie-lover I know that might miss it -- the dvd will, no doubt, have all the support that the release had and I'll have to Force it on them *heheh*. 10/10 and No regrets about giving a ridiculously high rating -- I cannot imagine how this film could be improved upon.