LovesBlues Reviews

Payback: Episode #1.6 (2023) Season 1, Episode 6

Excellent Plot; Fabulous Actors

[9/10 · 8 November 2023]

I'm up episode 5 and although I'm pretty sure I have it figured out I am fully prepared for what I think to be proven wrong because that's just how this feels.

The story is straightforward enough, mom of 2 suspects her Au pair may be up to something when she takes the children for a walk so she decides to follow her. At the exact time her husband, a sneaking smoker, pops into the convenience store for a pack of cigarettes. He is exiting when he is fatally stabbed by 4 youths. Lexi is right there, watching the nanny and sees her husband's attack so she runs to his side and he dies in her arms.

Before you know it the police suspect her but worse than that a criminal enterprise leader believes that Lexi knows something about her husband's stealing millions from him.

The rest of this complex story is paced just right and has me waiting for BritBox to update the story with episode 6 today... hurry up!

I recommend this mystery to anyone who loves mystery shows.

The Disappearance of: Natalee Holloway (2017)

Not worth the time to watch.

[1/10 · 30 October 2023]

I wish I had the hours back that I spent watching some bozo calling himself an investigator (dude didn't even check to see if his GPS device was charged!!) and an 'informant' handling a (achem) former heroin addict trapse back and forth to Aruba with Natalee's bereaved father.

John the junkie takes them up a hill, looking at cactus and then says that no, she was farther back, and no she buried in a pet cemetery, and on and on.

Then he magically produced a sandwich bag with 4 bone fragments weighing less than 3 grams and turns in in to Aruba law enforcement who say they have had them anthropologically tested, they are not human.

They give Mr. Holloway the bones and he has them tested in a lab. The bored audience gets to wait the two months just to find out that they are human but not Natalee. The end.

The investigator lead was so awful that I can't believe he could pass a basic investigation test.

His associates acted improperly on a few occasions, specifically in meeting with the informant to give him the near dead GPS unit.

There's no addendum at the end. The viewer is left with an anger towards the Aruba police and scratching their heads as to what the purpose of 6 episodes was actually for? So all parties could go to Aruba 4 times? Including the junkie, who is never charged with anything despite his possession of human remains. WTH!?

I hope I saved you some time.

This isn't a spoiler because the information is public and available on the internet.

Alice, Darling (2022)

Did the "plot" reflect the actual movie? NO!

[2/10 · 4 July 2023]

I read the plot of this movie and based on that decided to watch it thinking I was going to see a thriller. There was nothing thrilling at all about this movie. Alice has a crappy boyfriend and she has two lifelong friends who don't like her boyfriend. The intervention mentioned under "plot" is really more of her boyfriends making, rather than intervention. They will ask at the time of submission of this review if it contains any spoilers, I can honestly say, "no," as absolutely nothing happens to these people. I'm giving it 2 stars and one of them is simply because Anna Kendrick has a bigger mustache than I do.

The Child in Time (2017 TV Movie)

I though this movie, Marvelous!

[9/10 · 30 June 2023]

I put off watching this movie for several years, possibly because I feel my own grief loss of a child (to divorce). The movie spoke to me on those levels, grief pain, worry dare I say it, hope?

This movie is very hopeful watching for people, as parents to a lovely daughter work through their grief and there is light at the end of the tunnel. Unlike so many couples faced with the loss of a child. Unlike so many films for today. Some viewers might cry "BS"! Accuse it of being unrealistic, so what? Miracles happen every day. Love and hope prevail every day.

I very much wanted to see what happens to this family say five or 10 years from the ending point of this movie, I doubt there will be a sequel but I'd love to know what happened to them.

I understand the negative reviews because many people, thankfully, have not experienced such pain but for those of us who have it is a beacon of light.

Crater (2023)

The movie that could... have been good.

[4/10 · 21 May 2023]

This movie had so much potential! Squandered completely squandered moments denied to us by writer and Director. This movie could've gone in so many directions; towards social injustice, toward future and time travel; and many other sci-fi, realms; toward a love story; or just ... anywhere! They took us to the top of the cliff, and left us standing there, saying "You could have! Too bad you didn't try harder!"

Unlike the little engine that could this movie doesn't accomplish anything at all. The main character's conflict is a non-starter. A discussion on what indentured servitude is could have been enlightening to kids about to get first jobs, the audience is there-where's the writing?

The Wonder (I) (2022)

Artsy movie, that I adored

[8/10 · 17 November 2022]

Just as I adore children; their minds so willing to please they would do anything, even some of them would die, for the sake of their parents continued love and support.

That very thing sits at the heart of so many stories about children and their private childhoods.

It's up to adults to open their eyes to what is best for children and not use them as purports for any sort of gain.

The drama laid bare from start to finish here is believable, slightly predictable, but worthy of bringing the subject matter to bear each time you look into a child's eyes.

Florence Pugh is always an actress capable of the Wonder of, well, it all. This is going in my top ten for 22. How about you?

Purple Hearts (2022)

Not researched, not even close to real, and I'm sick of the 2 songs already

[4/10 · 10 August 2022]

There's much wrong with the writing in this movie.

1) You need 2 witnesses to get married at the San Diego court house.

2) Without the ability to walk they would have processed him out.

3) no drug dealers word would be acceptable to the military to garner a court martial, and charge the man with a crime.

4) the songs that young artist wrote weren't good enough for most bars in Oceanside, much less the Hollywood Bowl or get her a gig at whiskey a go go.

5) meh -- Having said all that the couple were adorable together; seeing oceanside and Camp Pendleton was a real treat and the acting wasn't bad for a B movie.

Paradise Highway (2022)

Half baked b movie with a list stars

[4/10 · 7 August 2022]

This movie could have been so good but it fell short in every way.

I can't believe they got the stars to agree to be in this. Didn't they read the script? The ending was not a surprise: what was surprising was that they left so much information out of the storyline.

I would say don't see it except for the little girl in it. Maybe she reminds me of my own daughter I don't know, but I thought she was adorable.

They could have explained how she wound up in her situation but they didn't. They could have explained how the brother was led to betray his own sister, but they didn't; they could have explained so much but they just didn't.

I PPVed it, I wish I could get my money back.

Into the Ashes (2019)

How NOT to tell a story

[2/10 · 29 July 2022]

This editor/director team went to a lot of trouble to ensure that their story gets told in the least engaging way. No action is ever shown; just aftermath after aftermath, big puddles of blood and bloody silhouettes that make the viewer say, "which one of them is dead on the ground"?

Boring.

I have 20 minutes left to get to the end, I'm not sure if I will make it.

Tell No One (2006)

Good acting horrible storytelling! Cliché

[3/10 · 29 June 2022]

This story is very convoluted, it was ahead of its time in many ways covering gay marriage and male on male rape. The acting was supreme.

The storytelling however, just awful. You know those cartoons we watched as children where the madman at the end tells exactly what happened and why and everything leading up to the madman's final confession was convoluted and nonsensical? This is exactly like those Saturday morning cartoons, and as adults we are asked to believe that this is an excellent story for our age, but it just isn't anything more than a Saturday morning cartoon for adults.

Harlan Corbin (sp?) wrote the book this is based on. I don't know if they followed it well or not, but the movie writing was stinky!

Witch Hunt (I) (2021)

Don't let predjuce Cloud Your Vision

[8/10 · 6 June 2022]

If you want a scary horror movie this is not it. Metaphorically speaking this film is brilliant. I think people that have it a bad review expected more magic, but they missed the point. I shouldn't really HAVE to explain this but I will. The movie is about the removal of "undesirables" from society and shoving them behind a wall built wrongfully of fear of those who are different. Be it skink color or the ability to make an inanimate object fly.

I also loved the ending leaving it entirely up to the viewer to decide what happened, just like "Thelma and Louise" yeah sure the likely hood that their car flew and they didn't die in a firey crash is probably zero, but both directors allowed some of us to imagine a scenario where they got away, uninjured. That's beautiful.

Ozark (2017–2022)

I have never given a 10 to a TV show until now.

[10/10 · 17 March 2022]

No spoilers- the Ethics of Drug Trade

I'm watching Ozark again (it's my 4th time watching it without skipping scenes) and I realized why I like it so much. It's because the ethics of drug trade are examined thoroughly and rejected ultimately by the writing based not on legal authority but on its societal impact and then after a clear consensus is reached, that drug trade is unethical on multiple levels they choose to show us just how deeply intertwined our American lives are bent to the will of cartel and government even people who have never tried drugs are affected by the drug trade in America.

I find it fascinating.

Please forgive me for my punctuation but that key is broken.

Above Suspicion (2019)

Redneck Woman tries to extort and FBI agent. No spoiler necessary

[7/10 · 8 June 2021]

I read the reviews here, and I understand the sentiment that true stories don't necessarily make great movies, what does make a good movie however, in my view, is a great script, a great director, excellent sound engineering (I can't stand movies where the sounds are unnecessarily loud or obnoxious) and great actors. This movie has all of those.

I don't need to tell anyone who wins when a drug addled redneck woman tries to extort a "new life with her FBI handler, it's obvious.

What is compelling here is Emilia Clark's performance as a Kentucky redneck drug addict, which is 100% believable, and her supporting actors, mostly unsung small part players who rise to meet her level of excellence.

Like with many true stories the ending is a screen of text and an interview with the real life FBI agent who summarizes the final act in his own words. That interview make the viewer understand exactly how this could have actually happened in real life. He looks damn good and I can see an ambitious climber like Ms. Smith being smitten by his real life nearly star quality appearance.

My criticism lies with the director and screenwriter who failed to research the way this story effected the lives of all the relatives of Ms. Smith and her FBI fixation.

I would have liked to have heard how the children, grandparents and siblings dealt with these people both before and after, not just in a few paragraphs on the screen but really depicted the reality of, or gravity of the way they became victims in this situation as well.

How can you write a review of this story without making spoilers, especially when the first line practically (think "Lovely Bones") gives away the ending up front? I'm trying my best not to ruin the movie for you, and I don't have spoiled anything.

It would have been a much more intriguing story if it had been written as a "who done it" as opposed to a strict recant of the facts of the case.

So that's why Emilia Clark carries practically the entire movie on her back. It is her excellent work ethic that fans like me depended upon after falling in love with her talent in GoT. She doesn't disappoint here.

I would have given it a 10 with better writing and direction, I would have given it a 3 without Emilia Clark.

One question, the movie was dedicated to someone named "Clarke" who exactly was he? If you're going to dedicate a movie to a deceased singer from the UK perhaps more than one line would have been appropriate.

And finally might I suggest to an excellent director and writer that Emilia Clark's own story might just be more compelling than this story? Has anyone ever played themselves in biographical movie? Just saying...

Shadow in the Cloud (2020)

So much fun- a real escape!

[9/10 · 5 June 2021]

It's my opinion that movies should be fun to watch.

This movie is pure fun from beginning to end! It is this far from "if I stay" that you can get. I truly love the performance by Chloe and her costars although unknown to me were very well cast.

I'm not going to give any of it away I'm just going to say if you want to escape for about an hour and a half from the Monday and and the political then this is the movie for you.

If you love the twilight zone you'll love this movie.

If you love women in power you'll love this movie!

If you loved science-fiction you'll love this movie.

If you love an exciting getaway you'll love this movie.

Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)

Where's the COMICbook?

[6/10 · 25 March 2021]

I have watched the four hour version directors cut twice now and just discovered the two hour plus theatrical release and I must say I way prefer the theatrical release. The extended version is ultra dark, you start to lose hope more than halfway through, and there isn't a single joke. Not one!

Not even win it's so obvious the joke should be there for example there is a scene where Aquaman wonder woman and Batman are all being held at bay by Superman, this leaves Flash all by himself, and in my minds eye available to produce the biggest laugh in super hero COMICS. Simply put all Flash had to do to get Superman to release the othe 3 super heroes was to pants Superman, yes, you heard me right; Flash should have made Superman'Flash' us his tidy whities and it would have not only been COMICAL but it also would have forced Superman to let go of his 3 captives.

Now that would have been funny!

Anyway I don't understand the concept of extending your movie by 2 1/2 hours and deleting every joke in it. Especially when it comes from a COMIC book.

Still Here (III) (2020)

Lacking in so many ways

[3/10 · 12 January 2021]

This movie is about a missing girl. The movie was poorly written and the acting was sub par with the exception of the players of the missing girls parents.

There was no 'mystery' the audience could begin to develop their own list of suspects from, no clues, just direct point a to point b to point c story.

The actor who played the reporter lacked the ability to speak the English language properly and was obviously NOT a writer, much less a reporter.

It says based on actual events, my guess is the author of the screenplay read 3 articles and based the whole movie on a poorly reported story, never digging deeper than what the paper said.

Finally the end was ridiculous in that this 2020 movie stated that Polly Klass was still missing.

I can't understand why STARZ purchased this terrible movie that had so much unrealized potential.

Birth (2004)

Great Actors, great director, Titillating Subject with a single flaw.

[8/10 · 30 December 2020]

I am a huge Nicole Kidman fan! I shot it from the mountain tops if I could climb them. She is the a pitta me of what every actress should be but can't. She's a princess she's a bad girl she is anything you can imagine her to be. And I think she took this role to stretch her acting muscles to the limits once again.

I can't give away the story and I'm not going to summarize what happens. The problem for me with this film is the glaring hole in the plot. It's all about the letters. I can't spoil it for you, I can say pay close attention to what the Anne Hect's (sp) character says about the condition of the letters. It's the only flaw I find in this film.

Having said the one negative thing I'm going to say about this movie it's worth watching 100%. The acting is superb on everybody's part including the little boy whom I can't comprehend the level of maturity it took for him to convincingly play his part.

I find myself wanting to peek back into the lives of those portrayed here say another ten years into their future.

I want to know if the evil one just what she deserves, I want to know if Kidman's character retained her second marriage and her sanity? I want to know what became of that little boy who so aptly faked maturity far beyond his years.

Logically I know that's the real point of great cinema, is to let us figure out where they all ended up, but this time I think the writer's idea and my idea would be completely different.

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

a fantasy no one would wish for

[2/10 · 28 December 2020]

Well I can't tell you how terrible this movie is because it'll spoil all the surprises ha ha Ha.

I can say this they pick two pretty women to play rules which I believe they will come to regret in their future. The story is absolute tripe. This might be considered a spoiler but here goes. When Pedro paschal's character wishes to become a wishing Stone he should've immediately turned to stone but they want us to believe that his wish was granted and he was able to maintain A human form and it just goes downhill from there.

I don't recommend is not even for "fun" value because it's not fun

All Creatures Here Below (2018)

You just have to ask Why?

[3/10 · 20 November 2020]

I could write a list of questions this movie brings up.

However I am content to say

Why make this movie? What was the goal? To make me sick? Well you succeeded.

The world does it need any more sadness it needs some joy!

And there was no joy in this movie.

A Strange Harvest (1980 TV Movie)

What is happening to America's cattle?

[9/10 · 16 April 2019]

"A strange harvest" was Linda Moulton Howe most famous documentary covering a very strange phenomenon still going on today that would be cattle mutilation.

She draws no concrete conclusions and lets the viewer make their own decision is it the government? Is it a private enterprise? Or could it be extraterrestrials in need of bovine biological parts for research?

Loaded with first-hand accounts, scientific evidence lab reports and lots of images that are very disturbing this is the movie that will really make you think about what's really out there.