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Reviews
Deadloch (2023)
raunchy dark comedy lesbian murder mystery
We're up to episode 5, and my wife and I think this is great summer fare. If you don't get a laugh at the women's chorus belting out "I Touch Myself," then maybe this isn't for you. All the characters are comedically goofy except for Kate Box who has to be the "normal" detective dealing with them. Her detective counterpart, Madeleine Sami, gives an over-the-top performance usually reserved for guys, but I have to say that her potty mouth concoctions are less objectionable to me than the f-bombs so casually thrown around in teen shows these days (e.g., Stranger Things, Outer Banks). The setting in Tasmania adds its own flavor to the show.
Miriam Margolyes: Almost Australian (2020)
Officer of the British Empire??
This show is much more about the self-important opinions of the presenter than it is about Australia. She spends much of the time interviewing indigenous people in Australia about wrongs of the past, but she doesn't happen to mention that she has accepted the "honor" of Officer of the British Empire (OBE). What hypocrisy! I invite you to look up the much more talented and famous people from the last century who REJECTED that so-called honor. She lectures a kid on a drought-stricken farm about global warming and decries the mine that produced the materials that built her house. She seems feel privileged to portray her opinions and values as superior to what presumably is the "typical" Australian. I'm disappointed that I didn't learn more about Australia.
Cinderella (2021)
Disney's Cinderella is not Shakespeare
This movie seems to be love it or hate it but I think it's pretty good. The fact that many reviewers are threatened by it (one sentence, one star--really?) seems an indication of their cultural fear. I'm not a big fan of the genre, but this is a fairly typical rock n roll musical, not a violation of holy scripture. Give it one star, bigots--your kids will probably like it.
The Stolen (2017)
Good period drama from New Zealand
Not sure about the negative "western" comments as if the US was the only place that ever had horses and gold towns. We thought the story, the acting and the scenery were all quite good.
The Fall (2013)
real deep, man
It's hard for me to rate any BBC-related crime procedural below 7, so it's worth watching, but I found this one tedious. Sorry, but if Gillian Anderson says this is her favorite role maybe it's because the camera lingers on her blank face and her ridiculous blond mane for minutes at a time while the viewer is supposed to feel... something. I was told in a writing class once that if the story has no likable characters, people may not like the story. I didn't find any characters I cared about in this series except maybe the almost pornographically portrayed victims. The frowning upon priest pedophiles, wife abusers and male sexists in various episodes is very morally instructive but I have to wonder about the show's underlying premise that women are turned on by a serial killer.
Ender's Game (2013)
real time comments as I watch
I thought this might be a good science fiction movie, but it's basically an after-school movie for pre-teens. Tweenie boy gets tweenie girl after exciting exploits playing video games. I have to write 10 lines for this review, and I realize you may not appreciate my comments, but I paid good money to see this. I'm still watching and I have to submit more lines, so let me add that Harrison Ford looks (and acts) like he died last month. Ooh, a teen boy just said "ten hut." Sir, yes sir!! Girl still likes hero boy. Whew! They have really cool iPads to play their games on that you'll have in the future. I hope the graphics then aren't as cheesy as they are here. The movie set, by the way, is about as original and sophisticated as the original TV Star Trek set. "Dragon Army" -- gimme a break. Now looks kinda like computer graphics from Disney's TRON from decades ago. Boys fighting in the shower just like middle school. Acting-- "wooden" is the kindest description. Now teen hero is being stubborn and recalcitrant, sort of like Harry Potter, but he must accept his burden to save the world. Good grief, Ben Kingsley just showed up as tattooed as Queequeg and wise as Yoda. I'm gonna bail here. If you're a teen boy with an appreciation for retro computer battle games, by all means see this!!! The rest of us would be better off watching Doctor Who, which is much more imaginative.
Three Kings (1999)
not so much
Because I really enjoyed a couple of David O. Russell's movies, I thought I'd try this one. Big mistake. Maybe it was more enjoyable when it was made -- before the US spent a decade fighting more wars in the Middle East. Maybe I'm just tired of seeing George Clooney in his usual smug tough guy with a heart of gold role. I know I'm tired of seeing white Southerners portrayed as stupid hicks who talk like Gomer Pyle. Mr. Russell obviously wanted to send a message with this movie, trying to wrap it in enough violence and low-brow humor and stereotypes to hold the attention of what he must think is a very stupid audience. Because I have to submit at least 10 lines of text, please excuse the repetition. Mr. Russell obviously wanted to send a message with this movie, trying to wrap it in enough violence and low-brow humor and stereotypes to hold the attention of what he must think is a very stupid audience.