glen-93 Reviews

War of the Worlds (2005 Video)

A Nice Try, But...

[5/10 · 24 June 2006]

I wanted to like this film...I really wanted to. I watched the whole thing, and was somewhat charmed by the characters and the limited effects. However, Why...oh why were we subjected to about 30-45 minutes of whining and theological drivel by the "pastor". (I should have liked it, being an Episcopal Priest myself, but the writing became a mishmash of pop theology and over simplified thinking, all in the direction of the "why is God letting this happen" variety.) The answer given ("who knows?") is probably the best one possible, and after we hear this answer the question keeps being asked with no change of answer. If becomes massively distracting after a short while.

Worth seeing? Well, yes, I think so, even though I could only give it 5 stars. Cheer up! The SciFi channel will doubtless show it several more times, and more folks will watch it, enjoy it, and still have a chance for a nice little nap in the middle of the thing!

Retroactive (1997)

This is a joke, right?

[4/10 · 7 October 2004]

Let's see...Jim Belushi with the worst Texas accent imaginable. A time machine that only lets ya go back about 20 minutes at a whack. A trip across the dustlands of rural Texas, and a Shrink who shoots up about a hundred magazines and never hits a bloody thing she is aiming it.

When you have 90 minutes of blank film, and about 7 minutes of plot, this is what you get. How many times can one watch minor permutations on the exact scene before slumber ensues, and the brain glazes over.

This could have been so much more, but a promising cast, and a promising premise have been totally wasted in a sea of car stunts and shoot-em-up. Even as a two dollar rental this puppy is a bust!