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Poison (II) (2023)
8/10
Venom, People. A Krait is a Venomous Snake
18 May 2024
Warning: Spoilers
The title has got to be referring to the poisonous heart and toxic mindset of Harry Pope and all such racist colonizers of India. Deadly snakes are not "poisonous." they are venomous. Unless, of course, you eat the creature and it happens to contain a poison which thereby kills you.

Dev Patel, Cumberbatch and Kingsley are all excellent in this. The pace is quick, dire and captivating. I haven't seen any other in this series, but this has certainly encouraged me to change that.

A terrific revelation of British xenophobia and the low regard with which the Brits were afflicted when it came to those over whom they had such power. Well done, Mr. Dahl.

The stage setting, dialogue and acting make this a real treat.
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9/10
Some Terrific Laugh Out Loud Moments. Really Stupid and Fun
8 April 2024
Cannot believe the cover art for this movie. So lame. It is 100% perfect for this movie. The cover tells you just what you're in for.

Lots of good laughs. The whole thing is ridiculously silly, but you can't help liking all of the characters. Some terrific one-liners. The movie flies by. Meanwhile, you're laughing at the.bonehead jokes and enjoying all of the "now what?" moments.

I won't say I "highly recommend" this movie, but I will say that I've seen tons worse. This one made me laugh so much my one housemate came in and said, "Are you still watching that Boy Scout zombie movie?"

The Boy Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocolypse is so much better, but The Treasure of Foggy Mountain isn't half bad as a comedy, either. If you love goofy friendship interaction, you'll love this.

And I don't know much about the SNL guys, only recognizing from there. Just a good bit of casting, overall. You can really see the resemblance of "John" to the Higgins of Fallon's Tonight Show. That made me happy, too.
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9/10
At One Point I Laughed So Hard I Started Choking
4 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
This movie deserves much more than the 6.3 stars it has right now (April 2024).

Being desperate to find something good to watch, I began and quickly ended at least five other offerings (with much higher scores) on Amazon Prime and Max. It's kind of hard to find things to stream, when you've seen just about everything good.

Luckily I found this little gem. I swear it's one of the most fast-paced and crazy stupid movies I've ever seen. Shades of Zombieland, Shaun of the Dead and iZombie. (If you haven't seen Zland, Shaun and iZombie, I highly recommend you get on those, right now.)

The lead characters in this little zombie epic are all highly watchable. I love the stripper/waitress chick.

There are more than a few good laughs, but there's one point (you'll know it when you see it), where I laughed so damn hard, I was choking with laughter and my housemates came running to see if I was doing okay.

This is a movie for anyone who enjoys kids having fun and kids conquering their fears. A different type of Coming of Age story and well worth the time spent. Have fun. And remember to always screw those tire lugnuts on tight but not too tight. Oh, deer.
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9/10
Is Megan Fox the Best Kisser EVER?
26 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Having run out of things to watch on Amazon and Max, I am now watching movies I know I already saw, but can barely remember the story/plot/characters. Megan Fox has always fascinated me, so I thought why not give Jennifer's Body another look-see? Many of the reviews of the movie here on IMDb encouraged me in this endeavor.

Whew. I honestly forgot just how hot Megan is. That kissing scene with Amanda was absolutely demands 3-4 rewinds/playbacks. I felt my lips kind of puckering along, jealous that it was Amanda and not me on the receiving end. Hot hot hot.

At first the movie starts out kind of hokey. I felt a little disappointed. Then things got progressively better. Terrific acting. No fault found there. Although I do think J. K. Simmons played his part a bit over the top and cornball. You sure can't call him an inept actor now. It's nice to see how he has blossomed as an actor.

The story is fun. The special effects (makeup, in particular) are outstanding. I couldn't wait to get to the Spring Formal to see what would happen there.

The best part is the terrific string of one-liners and name calling done by both Megan and Amanda. What great writing. I was laughing hard and wish I'd been able to sling such wonderfully bitchy slurs when I was in High School.

Even if you've seen this movie before, back in 2009 or a bit later on --- give it another go. The movie seems to have matured with age, like, hopefully, the rest of us. Definitely an entertaining watch.

If nothing else, you'll appreciate how forward-thinking the story and writing were, for their time. Jennifer's Body could come out in 2024 and not seem the least bit dated (apart from the flip phones). Women empowerment is a good thing. I do love the ending so very much.
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Girls' Play (2024)
8/10
When I Say "Mean Girls," I Do Mean Going the Extra Mile MEAN Girls
17 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Wasn't so sure about this at first, due to things sort of dragging along and then some things happening that I couldn't quite put together. Stuck with it, though, and ----- glad I did.

The acting is phenomenal. Such a terrific cast. I especially liked the baddest of the baddie girls. It's not too often that one can find themselves completely enchanted with and mesmerized by such a consummately malignant human being. The actress playing "Maha" certainly achieves greatness in her role. Academy Award for best actor (or supporting actor) wouldn't go amiss here. Or . . . I guess since it's TV in Lebanon, the Lebanese equivalent?

Watching this with subtitles, I'm sure I missed out on more than a little of the subtleties. (Ha. Subtitles/subtleties.) I think I caught on pretty quickly, though. By the end of episode two, I was completely hooked.

Well done with the script, despite some plot holes. Well done with everything, apart from the ending. The ending felt a little rushed to me and even a bit silly.

But I do recommend this series. Highly recommend.
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Surrounded (2023)
9/10
Ah, Shoot
9 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Falls just shy of its full potential, but I liked it anyway. This is one of "most fun" westerns I've seen of late, and I say that because it is quite different than the usual shoot-'em-up. It kept my attention throughout, not an easy task for most movies of late.

Sure, there's lots of bodies dropping like flies and some truly annoying "Just shoot him!" and "Why didn't you take that dead guy's gun?" moments, but this movie keeps you guessing as to who will be the next to turn up their toes. At one point during all the ranting about the money, I thought of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. (Wrong country, I know.)

At first it appeared that the premise of Mo trying to pass as a man was asking for too much suspension of disbelief. There seemed to be a lot of "giveaways" that I thought all the cowboys should be noticing. No chin stubble, no hints of a mustache? No Adam's apple? (Okay. Some guys don't have one, granted.) Those lovely slender hands?

But then I realized that, five years after The Civil War, when all this takes place ----- people of color were still considered "lesser than." Along with, say, waitpersons and luggage delivery technicians; persons no one seems to take particular notice of 99% of the time. Also, Mo's disguise actually worked pretty well, seeing as how her figure comes across as quite boyish to begin with. Carrying a firearm would certainly make her seem to register as masculine, at any rate.

Other reviews have, rightfully, waxed rhapsodic about the cinematography, the musical score, the actors and their performances. Yes. I agree on all counts. The writing sometimes seemed a bit lackluster, but it certainly wasn't bad. I rather enjoyed the majority of it.

Jamie Bell is a most excellent actor. I never thought of him as a Jesse James or Billy the Kid type, but he does a bang-up job here. Certainly steals every scene he's in. Admirable and enthralling performance in this film.

Nice role for Donovan, too. He's such a cool character, a class act all the way.

I was super surprised to see one of my all-time favorite actors appear on the scene: Michael Kenneth Williams. (If you haven't seen him in "Hap and Leonard," *please* give that series a go.) RIP Mr. Williams. It was strange to see you in a "new" movie, and makes my heart hurt --- but immensely happy to see you, just the same. You are missed.
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No Good Deed (I) (2014)
8/10
It Certainly Kept My Attention
8 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
It seems like a lot of times recently, when I'm streaming a movie or a TV series, I'll find myself wondering about my email or my texts or maybe I suddenly feel like playing some Sporcle quiz or other. And so I hit the pause button. Crazy, I know. It's like I've gotten into creating my own "commercial breaks." And ---- I HATE ads, by the way. (Looking at you, Amazon Prime, with your obnoxious FreeVee b.s..)

With "No Good Deed," right off the bat, things got pretty ugly and bloody and downright scary. I was asking myself, "Do I really need to see this?" But then everything started moving right along. Before I knew it, I had lost the desire to check my email or get up to make a snack or even access YouTube to see what Colbert was saying about the 2024 Primaries. Ha.

Other reviewers, some of them, loved to rag on this movie, but too bad for them. I got sucked right into it. Henson and Elba became their characters. The chemistry between them is palpable. "Terry" kind of pissed me off, though, when she was so stupid about letting a stranger into her house, but . . . Somehow she made it all pretty believable.

"Meg" was terrific as the BFF. I thought her part, the way the script was written for her, was spot on. She lit up the screen, big time.

Okay. So maybe, here and there, you might have to exercise just a tad of that "suspension of disbelief" ignorance of reality mindset. Never mind. In the end, I think it's all worth it.

The only real gripe I have about this movie is that I would have liked the sublime Henry Simmons to have a little more onscreen time. He's a bit of all right.
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10/10
Riveting.
7 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Starts out very slow and quietly sucks you in. At first I wasn't really sure what the heck was going on. Just hoping it wasn't another dour take on Mother Russia with people people slogging through the snow and babies crying over the bodies of their dead mothers.

This film has a bit of everything, via flashbacks, as it turns out. It is anything but predictable and trite. Extremely well done, with intensely condensed little vignettes giving us a glimpse into each soldier's life story.

As a long time animal rights activist, I appreciated greatly the take on the ethics of slaughtering wolves by the thousands. There's some deeply meaningful allegory in there somewhere, for you students of film. However, my only take away was how refreshing it is to consider that even a patently uneducated person can appreciate the madness inherent in the mass slaughter of predators.

About half way through the viewing of this film, I stopped to text a link to it to a friend of mine: "Highly recommend." He'll thank me later, I know.
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Expats (2023–2024)
5/10
43 Minutes is Enough of This Stuff
26 January 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Disconnected and herky jerky scenes do not a mystery make. Kidman standing there hangdog and forever gliding around wringing her hands over and over ----- over what? We don't know what, because there's this question mark of a "Gus" character that we're all supposed to wonder about and care about. We're supposed to wonder what happened to him and care about him being in a kid's drawing. Jesus figures in here, somewhere, too. Don't ask me where.

What does some young Chinese girl have to do with it? What's the sad story she has to tell? And why on Earth does she think "Dirk" is a common American name?

I tried to hang in there. Really, I did. Maybe it's just one of those days for me, where I'm not into waiting and waiting for any big reveal. Or even a tiny reveal. Maybe I lack patience with shallow characters.

Plus ---- ZERO chemistry between Kidman and her husband. Same with her kids. Lots of petty chatter by idle young Hong Kong women. A completely confusing scene with Kidman scrubbing tiles and lying in a bathtub.

I've got better things to do.
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Saltburn (2023)
8/10
Still On Edge
22 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
SPOILER ALERT:

A day after watching this and still feeling creeped out. Yes, I could see the similarities w/ The Talented Mr. Ripley, but that realization didn't kick in until about 1/2 way through this dreadfully dark monster movie.

At first I feared for "Oliver." Many scenes wherein he played the victim so well, he certainly had me fooled. Then came the infamous bathtub drain scene. I feel nauseous just thinking about it.

Honestly not sure I'd recommend this movie to anyone I know. Although I loved each and everyone one of the actors and even fell in love with "Felix" myself, I just can't shake this feeling of wishing I'd never seen this film in the first place. That's how mean and ugly and awful it felt/still feels to me. I guess that's what it was meant to do? To mess with our heads?

That one person could wreak so much havoc and get away with it is distressing. Reminds me of the old time movie "The Bad Seed."

As one other reviewer put it, too: There's a suspension of disbelief. When the credits were running, I couldn't help wondering where "Duncan," the butler got to . . . He didn't protect his employers after all his many years in their service? He didn't suspect or care to save poor "Elspeth" from her horrific demise? Did he, in fact, hate them all all along and hence stood back, relishing their comeuppance?

I wish I could shake the awful feeling of doom that overtook me, while watching "Saltburn." "Oliver" has really wrecked my peace of mind.
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Assassin Club (2023)
3/10
Oh, Henry
8 December 2023
Aw . . . Gawd. I can't improve on the already "Waste of Time" reviews.

All I can tell you is ---- Don't be a dope, like me, and think that because Henry Golding and Noomi Rapace are in this film, that it can't possibly be as bad as most of the reviews make it out to be.

Believe it: IT'S THAT BAD.

What a waste of talent. And I agree with the review stating that, as we've seen here in Assassin Club (even the title is dumb), Golding has proved himself to be out of the running as the next James Bond. Or . . . Shall I attempt to be charitable and say that maybe it's the director's fault that Henry turns in such a poor performance here? Maybe with ----- better direction? Um . . . I don't think so. Poor Henry just isn't cut out to be a macho sexy male spy dude.

Just about everything in this movie is stilted and stupid. And I do mean "C'mon! That is SO LAME!" type stupid.

As so many other reviews (and the low rating) have warned you: Do yourself a favor and don't even think about watching this painfully silly piece of movie trash.
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6/10
Sorry, Woody. You'll Never Be Timothée Chalamet
26 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
If no one told you this was a Woody Allen movie, you would know it was one straight away by the dialogue and the way every character appears in need of a shrink. That and the many many references to all things pretentious.

Woody: This message is for you: I'm kinda pissed off at you right now.

It must take a serious sh-t-ton of hard effort to turn Chalamet into a bad actor. Everything else I've seen him in, he has been sublime all the way. I could watch Chalamet in "Dune" until the cows come home. Somehow, though, Woody pulled it off. I could barely get through the first 10 minutes of this movie, thanks to such terrible direction. It was painful.

Def felt to me like this was Woody Allen's attempt relive his youth as a handsome, charismatic Chalamet. It seemed Woody had Chalamet parrot things and directed him to act as "wooden" and awkward as Woody is in real life. Like the real life Woody, the ultimate uncharismatic nerd, felt he had finally found the perfect "dummy" to portray, via cinematic ventriloquism, how he wished he himself could come across to people: As a polished, urbane, devilishly handsome, brainy but funny guy.

There were a ton of lines that made me laugh out loud, and in a "That's hella funny!" sense ----- and not because I was laughing at badly written jokes. Lots of funny haha good stuff. Some great great observations on life; keen observations. These kept me going, continuing to watch and hoping for more of the same.

But Elle Fanning's character, as written, was silly in the extreme. The romance between Gatsby and Selena Gomez's character (I thought I recognized Selena) was awkward and the scene at the end was cringingly eye-rollingly lame. I give their sexual chemistry, on a scale of 10, a big, fat four.

I really did get some good solid laughs out of this, so it's not like watching it was a total waste of my time. Nevertheless, I feel more than a bit indignant over Woody turning Chalamet and Diego Luna and Elle Fanning into ham actors. For shame, Woody.
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Sin huellas (2023– )
9/10
And That, Folks, Is Why I Never Vacuum Under the Bed
4 November 2023
Binge-watched this and really enjoyed it. Terrific acting, charismatic characters, many surprising plot twists and turns. The story involves a talented ensemble cast, is immensely detailed and will keep you guessing.

I fell in love with the cast. Particularly Ubaldo. I don't want to give away any plot points or share spoilers. Let's just say it's not often I end up laughing hard out loud and cheering on characters by yelling at the screen. Ubaldo is something else.

Maybe my 3.5 years of studying Spanish helped me take even more pleasure in watching this action-packed dramedy. I'm not at all fluent, but it was good fun trying to pick out the profanity and marvel in the wondrous variety and innovations of use.

So far this series has only racked up a measly three reviews. I see where two of those reviews are low ratings in the extreme.

Watch Sin Huellas ----- view at least the first couple of episodes ----- and you will be hooked. I highly recommend this series.
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The Burial (II) (2023)
10/10
Didn't Pause This Movie Even Once
15 October 2023
Just about the quickest two hours of my life. At first I wasn't all that sure how I'd feel about it. I hate that Tommy Lee Jones is looking frail and old. And the pace seemed a little slow at first.

Jamie Foxx did it for me, though. About halfway through the movie I said to myself, "Geez. I didn't realize how much I love this guy." His acting is pure gold. Every moment he's on the screen is captivating.

One of the best parts of the movie is Willie Gary's relationship with his wife. It's always nice to see a longtime couple supporting each other and loving one another, years on in their relationship. I hope that part wasn't fictionalized for the movie.

The casting of Willie Gary's wife, "Gloria" was sublime. I am not familiar with the actress, but I thought she was truly stupendous in her role.

Enjoyed every minute of this film and hope you do, too.
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Dutch (1991)
10/10
Seems Like I Watch This Every Five Years Or So
10 September 2023
Every single time I watch this, I laugh till I choke. There are so many thoroughly delightful, smart, terrific jokes. Dutch and Doyle are perfectly cast. Their interactions, especially the "Ooh, I am SO gonna get you back for that" moments never fail to amuse.

I love the way this is written. I love the actors' expressiveness. I love the message. This movie really deserves a much higher rating and I hope a lot more people get to see it, now that it's on Amazon Prime (2023).

It really is a classic. Funny, witty, heartwarming. A great film for the family. If you haven't seen it yet ---- you're in for a real treat.
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7/10
Hoping This Movie Sways People to Protest Against Animal Experimentation
9 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The message regarding the cruelty and suffering of lab animals is loud and clear in this movie. As a decades-long animal rights activist, I really appreciate the educational merits of including that content in a blockbuster movie. Thank you, writers, for that.

I loved the first two Guardians of the Galaxy installments and have seen them each at least a few times. This one, though? All throughout viewing this, all I could think was: "Well . . . I can't see myself ever watching this again."

As other reviewers have pointed out, Guardians of the Galaxy 3 lacks the luster and humor of the first two movies. Sure, there are loads of terrifically innovative aliens in this one. Lots of action. A great deal of character exposition and the truly heartfelt theme re: how The Guardians have all learned to love and respect one another.

That said, I had a real problem with certain aspects. Remember the "Tell" in Mad Max 2, where all the little kids are gathered and the story is told, in a background of glimmering firelight, of how the adults left all the kids behind? A sort of modern day take on Aboriginal "dreaming" and storytelling/lore. I always hated that part of the MM movies. Really cringe-worthy. Feral kid and all of that. Gag.

Guardians of the Galaxy 3 introduces a slew of tow-headed children into the story and . . . I'm guessing the writers thought this would make the movie more appealing to kids and parents with kids? All I know is ---- ugh. Just seemed to be stuck in there, plot-wise, and to serve no purpose whatsoever. Joob joob. Weren't the Ewoks saying that in some Star Wars flick?

And the cosmonaut dog was just plain lame. The only good thing about that character was how it showed people that calling their dog a "bad dog" isn't a nice way to treat your dog. (Always praise your dog, at every opportunity.)

Okay. I'll stop now. I'm severely disappointed in this movie. And I did look up those insane tweets that James Gunn posted. Hollywood certainly can be forgiving. That dude is one creepy guy.
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Constantine (2005)
10/10
Watched It for My Sixth Time (Aug. 2023)
2 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Over the span of 18 years I have now seen this movie six times. Maybe even 7. I haven't really kept exact track.

Every couple years I feel like watching what I believe is Keanu at his very best. Of all his movies, this is the one that really stands out for me. It is fascinating how well he portrays his character, with such deep passion. He manages to make us feel, right down to our bones, a pervasive sense of his impending doom. But he shall overcome, somehow.

Constantine is wonderfully well cast. Every time I view it I gain even more appreciation for how well acted it is. I **love** Djimon Hounsou as Midnite. Definitely one of his best roles ever. Shia LeBeouf as John's sidekick is great. Rachel Weisz, is terrific ---- as ever. Pruitt Taylor Vince and Max Baker ----- the fates they suffer are cringingly wretched and compelling. I want so badly to keep them safe. Tilda Swinton . . . Perfectly captures Gabriel's insane egotism. Gavin Rossdale makes such an awesome baddie. Peter Stormare ------ Each time, I can't wait to see him in his dialogue with Constantine. Evil, quirky, dripping in sulfur. It is a master stroke to have him dressed in white. NO ONE else could have played Satan to such perfection. NO ONE.

I think to fully appreciate this movie, you should really watch it at least a few times. At different times in your life. There is so much going on. The storyline is captivating. I love it all.

Tip: No one told me: This latest viewing was the first time I saw the little added extra scene near the end of the credits. Ha. Never knew it was there.

Constantine, I wish I could watch it all over again for my very first time.
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Under the Skin (I) (2013)
3/10
Dreary Beyond Belief
30 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Unbelievably b-o-r-i-n-g. Okay. So she's driving around picking up guys and they end up ----- I don't even care. After 35 minutes of this dragged out, supposed to be disturbing nonsense, I threw in the towel.

Want to see a good movie? Something that will entertain you, perhaps educate you or maybe even inspire you to change your life in some way? Well . . . This isn't it.

No redeeming qualities that I could find. And I bet this is one of the harshest reviews I've ever written for IMDb. Even Scarlett couldn't keep me interested in this grim and joyless excuse for a movie.

Find something better to watch is my advice.
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2/10
Two Stars for The Marquis' Bespoke Outfits
25 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Does Bill Skarsgård know how to wear a suit or does that man know how to wear a suit? I'm giving the costume designer for John Wick 4 a nice fat "10". But the rest of the movie?

Everything bad that can be said about this movie has been said already, by other reviewers. Still, I can't resist adding a few gripes of my own. Forgive me for repeating what other's have already written, but I feel like it's the only way I can get rid of this very bad taste in my mouth.

Keanu I love you with a passion, but you're too old and creaky to come off as someone who is impervious to cars slamming into you at 45mph. The scene where you fall 75+ feet onto a car and walk away like nothing happened? Hahahahaha. Stop it, you're killing me.

And you, with your gray beard, rolling down 222 stone steps ----- ALL the way down the steps, and then AGAIN part way, even though there are multiple breaks in the stairs where (kudos to stunt work!) anyone else would have eventually come to a halt in their rolling? ---- pure comedy.

The fight scenes where the guys WAIT for you to make your move, over and over and OVER again. Beyond painful to watch. The audience can practically see the cartoon balloon over your head reading, "Okay. Now this is where I insert my left leg in between this dude's legs and I heave myself over, so we twist and, as he falls, he very helpfully throws himself to the side and then he waits for me to shoot him in the head."

The fight scene choreographers should all die of shame. Is this the best they could do? Time after time the bad guy pulls back and you can almost hear him saying to himself, "Wait for it. This is where Keanu comes at me, jumps on my chest and then shoots and stabs me. Ready set go!"

Donnie Yen, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, Lance Riddick, Ian McShane, Larry Fishburne = Great performances. Keanu? Some of the worst of the worst of your acting effort, sad to say. Really BAD.

One last thing: Ian McShane's upper teeth really bothered me. As in mesmerized by their fakeness and fit type bother me. Can't unsee that.

Of course Baba Yaga isn't dead. Pfft. But I sure hope this franchise is. Enough is enough.
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Memory (I) (2022)
9/10
One of Neeson's Best
7 June 2023
After seeing so many recent Neeson films where he's too old to be running around like some wannabe high school track athlete, practically doing parkour, and then beating up guys 1/3 his age, while firing off snarky quips ----- this pic was actually a breath of fresh air. There were loads of scenes where he was performing at the top of his game. Quite impressive.

Yeah, I'm kinda picky about what I watch. There's gotta be a plot, great acting, VERY minimal herky-jerkiness camera movement + a musical score that doesn't annoy me with constant violins and being too loud. I really HATE it when I keep having to turn the volume down and then back up again. "Memory" got the music just right.

Lots of other criteria to be met, naturally, but I'll only mention one other one: I can't stand it when a movie is so full of plot holes and so much suspension of belief that you end up repeatedly yelling at the screen, "Awww, C'MON. There's NO WAY that's happening!"

This movie really is one of Neeson's best. It doesn't hurt that Guy Pearce is, as per usual, so totally awesome. His two sidekicks in here ain't half bad, either. I'd like to see Atwal and Torres in other films. They are both highly watchable.

If you like Neeson and if you're not one of those hyper-critical, gotta pick everything to pieces type viewers ----- I think you'll like this film.

My only real gripe is I found Monica Bellucci absolutely terrible in her role. Chewing up the scenery and so on. She was just plain yucky.
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The Mandalorian (2019– )
7/10
Mandalorian Seasons 2 & 3: Awesome Season 3? Painfully Bad
21 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
If I never EVER see Katee Sackoff on the screen again, I will die happy. Who in the hell thought she was star material? She is a prime candidate for at least four years of acting classes.

Bad enough we had to suffer with her as"Bo Katan" in Season 2, but in Season 3 ------ holy crap. They go and make her the main character. Poor Katee. Poor viewers. Katee has all the charisma and acting skill of a walking lobotomy. Pursed lips, upward tilted jaw and knowing nods do not an actor make.

But she's not the only thing that went completely wrong with Season 3. The dialogue is ridiculously inane. The actors are barely able to deliver a single line that's not stodgy and stilted. I swear I am not exaggerating just how hacky and dime-store the conversing is. It gets so bad, you start to dread every time someone is going to say something. Whoever is responsible for writing such schlock should be ashamed of themselves.

There is zero sense of urgency, accomplishment or valor. The fight scenes all seem gratuitous, WAY too drawn out and downright boring. I fast forwarded through all of them.

Even the musical score is off. You know the scoring is rotten when you hear it and think, "Really? This sounds like it was lifted straight from some old Vincent Price horror film."

I'll stop now. Can you tell I'm ticked off and disappointed and upset? I watched Seasons 1 & 2 of The Mandalorian three times. I hated Season 3 so much I feel like I should have got paid to watch it.
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3/10
No Idea What's Going On and What's Worse: Don't Care
3 May 2023
Couldn't bear it another minute. Watched 44 minutes of the first episode and, quite frankly, I am amazed I slogged my way through that much hogwash.

Nothing makes sense. It's not funny or entertaining or even remotely educational. Stupid. Just plain stupid.

Trust me. You've got MUCH better things to do. As one reviewer said, (paraphrasing here) ----- it's SO BAD it is downright offensive.

The only reason I'm giving this piece of trash two stars is because I like Harrelson and don't want to hurt his feelings too much. How he got roped into this farce and WHY he's promoting it (Colbert show) like it's something everyone should see is beyond fathoming.
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9/10
Break Out the Hankies
2 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Don't let the slow, slow start fool you. This film soon draws you in and submerges you in its intensity and frightfulness. I can state, unequivocally that this is one of the most wretchedly scary movies I have seen in a long, long time. I dare you to watch this and not feel helpless and distraught.

Poor Rose. Poor, poor Rose. My throat began to ache from holding back my tears, I wanted so much to be able to rescue her.

Theo James, Aidan Turner, Jack Treynor all give stellar performances. Eric Bana is terrific. Rooney Mara . . . I fell in love with her.

Warning: This is a real tear-jerker of a tragedy. But I highly recommend it.
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Walker: Independence (2022–2023)
5/10
Pretty Awful.
1 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
After watching the first 38 minutes, I couldn't take it anymore.

The story begins with the two of them are spending the night, out on the prairie ---- all alone, after blithely letting the rest of the wagon train continue on without them. In Indian country. Ohhh-kay.

The woman's husband is shot repeatedly and killed. I guess he was pretty inept with a shotgun. Kinda sad, since he was supposed to become the new sheriff of Independence.

She, too, is shot and left for dead. Their wagon goes up in flames. At least the killer has a soft spot for animals: He takes the time to set them free from the burning wagon. Go on, GIT.

The woman, Abigail, spends the night passed out on the ground, and then gets up in the morning and strolls around the prairie, until she collapses. She wakes up in an Apache encampment, days later, where the natives have magically cured her gunshot wound. She's sporting a lovely "peach blossom" shade of lipstick and gobs of mascara. Are those false eyelashes, too? Hard to tell.

Really? Did the Apaches give her a makeover while she was in recovery? How neat that the one Apache speaks near perfect English and only vaguely looks Native American. Apparently they have no use for Abigail, so she is sent on her way.

Abigail walks into town, a town so small that everyone knows everyone else, but no locals seem the least bit curious about her. Suddenly, a "Lady of the Night" befriends her. In the middle of the street. AS IF, in those days, any respectable woman would be seen talking to a whore, much less in broad daylight and for all to witness.

By chance, Abigail also runs into a ne'er-do-well drinker and gambler. Again, there she is out in the street talking with him. No, don't worry. The locals don't bat an eye. No one cares who she is or what she does, as she bumbles her way around. Asking her weird questions.

Meanwhile, hunky bad boy, "Hoyt" robs the only bank in town and, as he's making his escape, Abigail decides he should "kidnap" her. On their way out of town, he steals an elegantly expensive red dress off a clothesline. He later gives this dress to his beautiful, euphonious paramour. She wears the dress that same night, while serenading more than 1/2 the town. No one recognizes the dress? In the audience, there stands an upright, pillar-of-society female citizen, grinning. In a saloon. Never gonna happen.

Abigail has managed to deftly "borrow" Hoyt's gun. Since she couldn't convince Hoyt (without reward or compensation) to murder her husband's killer ---- she's just going to have to do it herself. Ping. Pow. Zing. Luckily for the mean nasty sheriff, Hoyt deflects the gun just as Abigail takes her shot. The sheriff's jacket sleeve, it's later discovered, was torn by that passing bullet. Jesus wept.

The whole thing is so silly, it's completely unbelievable.

Too bad, because bad boy "Hoyt" has a body that I wouldn't mind seeing shirtless for all of eternity. Extra points to him for keeping so fit.

Apart from his bod, the rest of this farce is nothing short of ridiculous. I know you can find something to watch which is much more worth your while.

I suggest "The English," with Emily Blunt. The English isn't perfect, either, but at least it is somewhat believable, some of the time.
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Black Adam (2022)
5/10
Pretty Cool ----- If You're a Six-Year-Old
26 March 2023
Warning: Spoilers
After 50 minutes I gave up. I wanted to turn it off at 20 minutes, but just had to try and suss out why anyone thought this lackluster, beyond mediocre flick was worth a 6+ star rating.

What a holy mess. The music was SO BAD, I wish I could personally see to it that whomever it was who thought "Paint It Black" and music from "The Good, Bad & the Ugly" belonged in this farce would never work in Hollywood ever again. What a travesty. (I hope The Stones and Sergio Mendez's estate felt it was worth it to sell their souls for such schlock.)

I love The Rock and Brosnan and Aldis Hodge. What a colossal waste of their talent Black Adam is. Sorry, Dwayne. I know you had high hopes for this movie.

Ugh. Honestly. How in holy HELL did this poorly written, poorly executed slop ever make it to an audience?
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