dawnr470 Reviews

Y: The Last Man (2021)

At a loss.....

[3/10 · 10 July 2022]

OK, I made myself finish the entire series before writing a review thinking that maybe it would redeem itself. I feel bad writing a bad review because there really is some excellent acting. But the storyline is just horrible. Are we really expected to believe that without men to do all the hard work for us like farming, gardening, keeping the electricity on, keeping retail stores open, keeping schools open... You get where this is going. And in just a few weeks it all fell apart? There is no rational explanation for this. None whatsoever. I do understand that there would be a severe labor shortage, but I also understand that consumption would be drastically reduced as well. It is just completely unbelievable to think that women are so helpless that society will crumble without men.

Pam & Tommy: Drilling and Pounding (2022) Season 1, Episode 1

Why the bad reviews?

[8/10 · 3 February 2022]

I don't understand these bad reviews, I was really impressed with the first episode. Sebastian Stan NAILED Tommy Lee (no pun intended), and yes it was over the top, but so is Tommy Lee. Seth Rogan (almost unrecognizable) does a great job of showing us how and why things happened the way they did....you can feel his anger and his need for revenge. I'm really interested to see how the rest of the series. Goes.

The Shrink Next Door (2021)

Compelling real life drama

[8/10 · 22 November 2021]

First of all, read that title again. Compelling real life DRAMA. A lot of the negative reviews on here are from people saying it's not funny. Well it's not supposed to be, it's not a comedy. Too many people have become accustomed to these actors playing comedic roles but they forget that not everything is a comedy and that actors can try different roles. And if you can watch this and accept it for what it is, you will find that the actors do an excellent job portraying these complex characters. So if you're expecting a comedy, or even to laugh a few times, this isn't the show for you. If you're interested in the story behind what really happened between these two very real people, then you're going to enjoy it.

Kevin Can F**k Himself (2021–2022)

Still holding out hope, but it's fading

[4/10 · 20 July 2021]

The concept sounded pretty interesting. I was excited to see Annie in the lead role. And yes, I do get what they're trying to do. It's just not working for me. The guy who plays her husband is so ridiculously over the top that it goes well beyond believable. Any one of his friends would have been better, but this guy is the worst of the worst of over acting sitcom stereotypes. I was about to give up completely until I saw the episode with Robin Lord Taylor. I'm giving it another shot only because of him. We shall see.

Hercules (I) (2014)

Not everyone can play every role

[4/10 · 11 January 2020]

Let me start by saying I did not choose to watch this film. It was playing in the cardio cinema at my gym, so that is how I came across this mess of a film. I don't even know where to begin. The writing was terrible. The Rock was terribly miss cast, and is evidence that not anyone can play any role. He was totally wrong for the role of Hercules. I am a fan of his, but this was not a good role for him. The only reason I even gave it four stars is because of the acting of the other members of the cast, specifically Ian McShane and John Hurt. Had it not been for them, this would have been completely unwatchable.

Prodigal Son (2019–2021)

I'm trying, but.....

[5/10 · 29 October 2019]

Let me start by saying I love Michael Sheen and Lou Diamond Phillips, and I loved Hannibal which is what the premise of Prodigal Son seemed like. And I think deep down, PS wants to be Hannibal when it grows up. They've had some decent writing & story lines, but the casting & acting are SOOO bad. The mother, sister, and the oh-so-stereotypical lab nerd are just annoying. The lead actor is weak and not convincing. Without some major recasting, I just can't see myself sticking with this one.

Deadwood: The Movie (2019 TV Movie)

As disappointing as Game of Thrones

[2/10 · 16 June 2019]

Such a disappointment! First of all, what's with the RIDICULOUS aging of these characters? It's 10 years in the future, not 30. It's only been 13 since the show ended, so why not just let the actors look like themselves? They've aged naturally. No need for the stupid makeup & bad hair. Second, the writing was just horrible. Jane sounded like she was doing a high school play, the opening scene was cringe-worthy. If this was some cheesy western musical I'd get it, but not Deadwood. And what was the point of that whole speech about Buffalo Bill? Sophia, all grown up, STILL has almost no lines. And what's with this new girl just showing up & NO story development? Why on earth did they keep Seth with that wooden & stiff Martha? And all the flash-backs? Just gratuitous. This show deserved better.

Father Figures (2017)

Ignore those bad reviews...this is funny!

[7/10 · 31 August 2018]

Really, all this bashing on this movie! I found it to be very entertaining, nothing that blew me away but still very funny with a great cast and lots of cool cameos. I really don't understand the negative reviews on this. I've seen bad movies, and this is not one of them.

The Big Sick (2017)

Beautifully Funny

[8/10 · 29 April 2018]

I knew I wanted to see this after seeing Kumail make the late-night talk show circuit, and it far exceeded my expectations. His humor is so real, so effortless, and the chemistry between them was amazing. Holly Hunter and Ray Romano as the parents were perfect, bringing both grief and humor in the same scenes. This is one of those movies I can watch over and over again, and not get tired of it. The only down side for me was the scenes in the comedy club and his "one man show". I understand the importance of them to the story, but for me they were really just good points to go get a snack.

Girls Trip (2017)

Embarrassing for women everywhere

[1/10 · 29 April 2018]

Seriously, is this what people think women do when they get together? I'd heard people say how funny this movie is, how they laughed so hard......obviously they have a much different sense of humor than I do. The casting was awful, the script was unimaginative, the acting was stiff, and the plot was WAY overdone. Everything was so predictable, including the "twist" at the end. The most interesting thing was all of Queen Latifah's hair styles. I've heard people compare this to Bridesmaids, and I'm just baffled. It doesn't even come close. And honestly, even if it did, Bridesmaids was done already.....why not try something new and refreshing? The scene with two women fire-hose strength urinating all over a crowd of people was just beyond disgusting. I just hope this was worth it for the women who did this film, as I doubt they'll ever be cast in anything of any significance ever again after this mess.

Blockers (2018)

Surprisingly funny!

[7/10 · 29 April 2018]

I admit, I've been known to not like a movie just because of the title (cough, cough....Knocked Up....cough, cough) and wasn't looking forward to this one. But my 21 yr old niece was visiting & wanted to see it, so I went with her, and I'm glad I did! It's been a while since I laughed this much in a theater. Yes, there were some parts that were predictable or ever caricatures, but overall it was entertaining and had some REALLY funny moments. These girls are hilarious, and who knew John Cena could be so funny? So if you can get past the bad title, you may actually enjoy this movie.

A Wrinkle in Time (2018)

Why?

[1/10 · 29 April 2018]

I was SO looking forward to this movie. I had such high hopes. I'd told all my friends to go see it, many of whom had never even heard of the book. I went to see it with a friend who'd never read the book and had no idea what it was supposed to be about, so I thought it would be interested to compare our perspectives. Sadly, we both thought it was awful. I can't fault the actors, this falls entirely on the director. Why on earth do these directors think the stories need to be altered so much? The story was beautiful the way it was written, maybe it should've been updated to make it work with modern times, but not by much. But this monstrosity was a mess, was entirely too rushed, did not explain anything that was needed to understand the plot, skipped MAJOR parts of the story altogether, and honestly left me just feeling like I couldn't wait for it to be over. The visuals were beautiful, but some of the costumes and makeup just left me shaking my head. Seriously, Oprah's eyebrows were nothing more than stick-on fake rhinestones like you'd find at the Halloween shops, and they weren't even straight! So much money spent on this, so much hype and wasted talent, for THIS?

Mud (2012)

Slow

[6/10 · 9 August 2013]

The story line was a good concept (although lacking in details), and the acting was good. But it was way too slow, & really needed more detail to help the viewer feel a connection to the characters. It really just left too many unanswered questions, leaving me frustrated. It would have been nice to see some of the background between Mud and Juniper, or to understand more about Tom's background. Or even to see more of the relationship between Ellis's parents. Or to know what happened to Neckbone's parents. Or why Mud was willing to get rid of his gun but not his shirt? It had a lot of potential, but really left me feeling like something was missing.

Life of Pi (2012)

Excellent adaptation

[10/10 · 9 August 2013]

After reading the book, I wasn't sure what to expect from the movie, but had high hopes. And I wasn't disappointed. Ang Lee was able to capture every emotion, every important detail and spin a very compelling tale, while leaving out a couple of details from the book that, in my opinion, needed to be left out. The flashbacks between present day and past were perfectly timed, and the actors playing Pi were flawless. And a big thumbs up to the animal trainers! The tiger displayed just the right amount of ferocity balanced with compassion and a recognition of the precarious situation he was in . And the visual effects.....simply amazing!

In most cases, I (as most others do) find movies based on books to be sorely lacking. This was not the case here. The entire team did a superb job in bringing this excellent book to life.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

A little disappointing

[6/10 · 22 July 2012]

I'll admit, after The Dark Knight, it would be hard to make a movie that would top it. And I applaud the effort, but for me, this fell short. There were way too many scenes that dragged on, and while I get the need to build the drama it just didn't flow well for me.

I will say that I was pleasantly surprised with Anne Hathaway's portrayal of Selena Kyle.....side note: I DO like that they refer to most of the villains by their REAL names, not the comic book nicknames. She was a great blend of good and bad, arrogance and pain to make her likable and believable. In my opinion, this was her movie, not Christian Bale's or Tom Hardy's. She stole the show.

As for Bane.....not crazy about the voice. I understand that it has to have a unique sound, but it sounded "off" when heard with other characters in the film, almost too comic-bookish. Instead of sounding intimidating, he sounded almost jolly, like a demented Santa Claus.

My son and I had a debate going in about Joseph Gordon Levitt's character....I said he'd be Robin, my son said he'd take Batman's place. Turns out we were both right, but as my son pointed out, Robin's name isn't really Robin, so that kind of took away a little bit of my thunder. Oh well.

Overall, it was a good but not great movie, entirely too long, and not one that I think I'll watch again.

Ted (2012)

Live version of Family Guy

[3/10 · 22 July 2012]

Not sure what I was expecting when I went to this movie, and I HAD been warned to not waste my money, but my son wanted to see it so I agreed to go with him. About 10 minutes into the movie, I was regretting that decision. Why, you may ask? Well.....basically, this movie did little more than bring the Family Guy animated show to a live action movie. Many of the actors from the TV show were in the film, and the entire cache of jokes seemed to center around smoking pot, partying with loose women, and being immature and irresponsible. There wasn't even the distraction of the homicidal baby to take your mind off the ridiculous clinging to college days.

I can only assume that Mila Kunis agreed to do this film as a favor to Seth MacFarland, as she has become MUCH to good of an actress to lower herself to this level. Mark Wahlberg, on the other hand, has had a string of disappointing films, so this is right up his alley.

Throughout the film, I was forced to suspend disbelief as to why the entire world believes in a walking talking teddy bear, and why/how he can do some of the things he can do. Much like I'm often left wondering why nobody finds it odd that the dog talks and drinks martinis on the TV show.

Don't get me wrong, there were a few moments that made me chuckle, but nothing to make me feel I got my money's worth. It's basically $12 and 2 hours of my life that I'll never get back, and have nothing to show for it.

Magic Mike (2012)

Dancing makes up for bad acting

[7/10 · 22 July 2012]

I'll admit it.....just like many other women in my age group, I wanted to see Magic Mike solely for the dancing scenes and really didn't care about the story. But if we DO have to sit through the story, it should at least be a good one. Don't get me wrong....I like the idea that Mike is trying to improve his life, but find it VERY hard to believe that he'd give up his life savings and his dream to help out someone he barely knows. And for what? Some girl who he may or may not get lucky with? And as for the girl, can you say judgmental BITCH? There was nothing sympathetic about her at all, nothing to make me warm up to her and try to see things from her point of view. Yes, she's frustrated with taking care of her younger brother, but she plays the martyr very well and lays a guilt trip better than anyone I know, including my own mother. I just can't see what Mike sees in her.

However.....the dancing scenes do make up for a lot of the lack of character development. All of the guys do a great job but Channing Tatum absolutely owns that stage. If you haven't seen the clip of him dancing to "My Pony", you don't know what you're missing! There was enough humor thrown in with it to make it seem not so dirty, just a bunch of guys having some fun.

As for Matthew M, the leather chaps just really don't do it for me with him. He seemed sleazy, which I guess was the intention, but he just didn't have the appeal that he's had in previous movies. Of course, when standing next to Channing T, anyone would pale in comparison.

The Hunger Games (2012)

Very good, but not great

[8/10 · 29 March 2012]

First of all, I will say that I'm a 42 yr old woman, and my daughter had to practically force me to read the books. But once I got started, I couldn't put them down! With that said, I went into the movie with high hopes and moderate expectations, and didn't really leave disappointed. The movie was very well done, and covered most of the really important parts of the book. And I've read several reviews where people have complained about Rue's death....I actually thought it was handled very well, and was very much in line with the book. However, there were some things that I think should/could have been better.

1) If you haven't read the books, you're probably going to leave confused. They didn't do a very good job of giving you the background story, and didn't really allow much time for the relationship between Gale and Katniss to be seen. 2) They totally screwed up how Katniss came to have the Mockingjay pin. I don't know why they did this, as anyone who has read the books knows that this is KIND OF important later on. 3) Nothing at all was mentioned about Katniss's mother's healing services or of the book that Katniss and her parents have. This is also kind of important later on, so I felt like they should have at least mentioned it. 4) I wish they would have spent more time developing the relationship between Katniss and Rue, to explain why she was so distraught when Rue was killed. They also didn't show Rue explaining to Katniss about the berries, which again, was kind of important. 5) Would have liked to see more of Cinna and his team. 6) They REALLY screwed up the muttations at the end.......what happened to them being engineered with the dead tributes features?

I did think the casting was very well done,and really liked how they showed more of the inner workings of the game center. They did a very good job showing the excess and lack of reality from the citizens in the Capital. And the violence was nothing at all like what I thought it would be. Yes, this is a dark film with dark subjects. It is NOT for tender hearted youngsters or adults who are too sensitive. But it DOES shed a grim light on the true conditions of our country as it is, and shows the dangers we face if we don't correct our course.

The Grey (2011)

OK, but implausible

[6/10 · 29 January 2012]

Reading the other reviews, it appears that people either really love this movie or really hate it. I guess I'm in the minority of those that are right in the middle. I love Liam Neeson, and while I have nothing bad to say about his efforts (or any of the other actors, for that matter), they didn't have much of a script to work with. There were too many moments throughout the film that just seemed too unbelievable, some were too predictable, and some I felt like screaming "What are you thinking?" I've also read some complaints about the ending. I actually liked the ending, so I'll give a thumbs up for that much of it. Overall, I wouldn't recommend paying $10 a person to see this in theaters. Just wait for the DVD, or better yet...HBO.