philbo_baggins Reviews

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law: Whose Show Is This? (2022) Season 1, Episode 9

What a perfect finish to a fun season.

[10/10 · 14 October 2022]

I enjoyed the entire season because it was funny and so different from the typical Marvel movie. Unlike action driven shows you really need to pay attention to what is actually said in this show. But the finale pulled out all the stops. Complaints all season long were often about the lack of superhero action and/or courtroom drama. It was billed as comedy from the day it was announced, not an action or drama series. It doesn't mean action or drama won't be part of it, but as a comedy it's not going to be the focus. But there also seems to be this notion if she's a lawyer why aren't there more episodes in court? I answer that question with this question- How often was lawyer Matt Murdoch in court compared to his office? Being in the office is still being a lawyer at work. Meeting with a client anywhere is also doing your job as a lawyer. Even hanging out in the lawyer bar, much like a cop bar, is a reflection of her job. The show isn't a courtroom drama it's simply about a lawyer who has superpowers. She said "lawyer show" in episode one, not "courtroom show". Again, pay attention to what is actually said and don't make assumptions. We also saw both Pug and Mallory being lawyers in and out of court - lawyer show.

The entire season was a reluctant hero storyline bucking the typical hero/villian plotline that ends with a big action finish. But despite the reluctant hero storyline they still inserted the blood subplot, setting up the typical hero/villian action finish. Leading to Jen saying in this episode, "This doesn't feel right. This isn't a reluctant superhero story, I'm just getting screwed over". Pointing out the deviance from the season long main storyline. But it still proceeds towards the big confrontation and then Jen completely pulls the rug out from under it. Jen not only breaks the fourth wall when she's had enough, she jumps frame as she did in the comics. Confronts the writers, as she did in the comics, with one even stating, "Ok, there are certain things that are supposed to happen in a superhero story". Unsatisfied with the writers she then confronts Kevin Feige who is portrayed as a formula driven robot. A truly hilarious conversation pointing out all the cliches.

In Jen's final scene the season long reluctant hero story, that started as an either/or with Bruce saying she's now a superhero and Jen saying no I'm still just a lawyer, is fully completed when a reporter asks if she going after bad guys as a lawyer or superhero and she responds "both".

This series isn't 1 star in any single area let alone overall. It simply shows how childish some are about not getting what they want - everything MCU needs to be the same thing over and over again. Then there are those that their political, or ideology view, completely taints their opinion of the shows quality. The acting is very good (particularly Tatiana Maslany), the story (both the episodic comedy and overall season) was great and a real change from the typical Marvel, and the CGI (although not big budget blockbuster level) certainly isn't a 1 on a 1 to 10 scale. I didn't find the CGI a distraction at all so it has to be at least above average.

The Lost City (2022)

Not high art but very enjoyable.

[8/10 · 29 May 2022]

This movie was bound to draw comparisions to Romancing The Stone. It doesn't rule it out from being very enjoyable in it's own right though. There's some very funny dialogue and the story moves along at a nice pace. Brad Pitt's cameo was perfect. Some complain his role was too short because his character was so good. I think his role stood out because it was short. Great character, great fun, and key to the initial rescue. But keeping him longer would have detracted from the comedy main characters in the jungle.

The big difference between Romanincing The Stone and this movie is in the leads. Michael Douglas was much like the heroes Kathleen Turner wrote about in her romance novels. He was competent, macho, and comfortable in the jungle while she was utterly out of her element. Tatum on the other hand is the cover model for Bullocks novels and as much as he likes to believe he is the character, he's actually far from an action adventurer. Bullock is the widow of an archeologist. So she's not as far out of her comfort zone as Tatum is although she's not entirely comfortable in it either. So both are out of their element and this leads much of the comedy. This is why Pitt's competent macho character needed to be brief. When Pitt appeared I thought "Ok, this is the Douglas character, the type the author actually writes about". I burst out laughing when it became clear he wasn't going to be "the guy".

Basically, if you're looking for high art and total originality this movie very likely won't be satisfying for you. If like to turn off, relax, and watch just for the entertainment this movie is a good distraction with good situational comedy and funny some dialogue. Plus Radcliffe as the bad guy and the eventual reveal of the treasure was great. The only real similarity to Romancing The Stone is they both have a romance novilist tossed into a jungle adventure. If you are stuck on that point you likely won't enjoy the movie nearly as much as I did.

A Christmas Movie Christmas (2019 TV Movie)

Making fun of themselves....

[8/10 · 23 February 2022]

First off I do enjoy Hallmark type movies (including UPTV, Lifetime, etc). I even make fun of myself for enjoying them. They do repeat their premise - the party planner, the baker, the chef, the inn keeper, the prince, the almost kiss before finally kissing at the end, slipping and being caught, etc. Rinse and repeat situtions. But individually for me it comes down to how entertaining the movie is in getting from point A to B despite the rinse and repeat premises and actions. I lean towards really enjoying the ones with some good humor in them the most. I do like to laugh.

This movie is a romantic Christmas movie that makes fun of romantic Christmas movies. A wish to Santa sends two sisters into a romantic Christmas movie and they hit on every Hallmark type cliche story line and event they can while often exaggerating them. One sister is thrilled to be living a Christmas movie (it was her wish) and the other sister wondering why she got dragged along into a wish that wasn't even hers. I really enjoyed picking up the cliches along the way, some more obvious than others, inserted throughout the movie along with the exaggerated movie characters the sister are stuck among.

If you're a fan of Hallmark type romances you may not like this one if you lean towards drama/romance as your favorites. But if you're a fan with a sense of humor, leaning towards comedy/romance, you'll likely not only enjoy this one but watch it again. I picked up a few more details (cliche moments) on my second viewing. I really did enjoy this movie and will watch it again.

The Right Girl (2015 TV Movie)

Some good humor

[8/10 · 15 May 2021]

When it comes to these Hallmark movies one has to set the bar to what they are: Girl meets boy, fall for each other, have a misunderstanding, and love wins out in the end. Rinse & repeat. As much as I like action, sci-fi, and even raunchy comedy, I like Hallmark romances because they are a complete break from violence and coarse language. Reminiscent of 1950's RomComs. Good clean fun where you don't have to think too much about it while being entertained.

What makes some Hallmark movies better than others is how they get there, For me, likeability of the lead and inserting some humor in the story really boosts how much I enjoy the movie. Although not quite as good as Harvest Moon, this similar movie also has some good humor in it that makes it very enjoyable. As unlikeable as the lead is to start, after getting a taste of her own medicine while poor, realizes just how awful she was. She does become very likeable as a result. Her journey is laced with humor and there's several other likeable characters involved as well. I really did enjoy this movie as a result.

Charmed: Out of Scythe (2018) Season 1, Episode 7

Hair of the dog

[10/10 · 19 December 2018]

This episode was just flat out entertaining with one of the best laugh out loud moments to date. It introduces mythology while still advancing the ongoing story. This series is entertaining and just keeps getting better. Kudos to the writers.

Charmed: Jingle Hell (2018) Season 1, Episode 9

Hooked on this show.

[10/10 · 19 December 2018]

Don't believe the crying fans of the original. The fact they're still showing up to give 1's at mid season speak more to their childish tantrum it's not a continuation of the original they wanted than an actual review of the quality of this new series. For example the anti-Christian/anti-Christmas review above. The original series never even did a Christmas episode in their eight seasons. Whereas this episode they had a Christmas tree and exchanged gifts celebrating Christmas. It's simply a new charmed sisters story and should be viewed that way.

This rendition of Charmed is entertaining. The actors are meshing and there's multiple story lines going on: from who murdered mom, attempts to release the source of all evil, to demonic love interests, and a group of rebel witches. In some ways it has a better flow than the original without giving up the humor to be found. I actually find the individual sisters more interesting in this series as it progresses.

I really enjoyed this Christmas episode with it's cliff hanger ending. It's left me wanting more. As a matter of fact, I've rewatched (rewitched?) the series from the beginning already.

Charmed: Let This Mother Out (2018) Season 1, Episode 2

Getting to know you...

[9/10 · 29 October 2018]

I have to say I'm rather enjoying this series as I get to know the characters. The vast majority of knocks on this series are really unfounded. The acting is really no more awful than the original was. The special effects are as good, if not better.

As to stealing from other show's well the original did their fair share of that too. From I Dream of Jeannie, to Bewitched, Harry Potter, and even Snow White, The Sword in the Stone, and The Little Mermaid. So far at least the demons in the new series actually look demonic. A knock of mine in the original series. Not to mention the number of evil underworld females, all buxom and beautiful, showing maximum cleavage in the original.

The original had more than it's share of flaws in acting, story lines, and special effects. But it was quite entertaining. That's the bottom line. The new version doesn't have horrible acting, horrible special effects, or a horrible story line. In some respects it's better than the original, in others it's on a similar level. It certainly has room and potential to grow. Most importantly, it is entertaining.

The truth is if you can simply let the original go and approach this as a new series about three new witches you'll probably enjoy it. If your' so connected to the original that the only thing that would make you happy is a continuation of that show you likely won't. But when you go in with a negative attitude in all likelyhood you're just going to look for reasons to hate the new show.

Charmed (2018–2022)

If you want the original skip this and watch the original.

[10/10 · 20 October 2018]

If you're looking for great acting and high art this is no more the show for you than the original series. If you're simply looking to escape and be entertained it just may be right up your alley.

I've seen the entire original series at least a dozen times. There's certainly enough similarities to the original to justify calling this series Charmed. But there's also several differences which will make it worth watching further. I'm thinking this series is another branch of the Warren line that has finally had three sisters come into their power and thus become "Charmed".

Most complaints about this pilot I find rather petty. It's only one episode in but in my opinion of the acting there's nobody as strong as Combs (who I certainly didn't recognize as the strongest in the original pilot), nor as weak as McGowen. Acting wasn't exactly the strength of the original series. It was the story lines, humor, character development, and escapist entertainment that made the original series. You could overlook the flaws of the original series simply because it was entertaining. It too soon to judge the story line or character development of the new series with just one episode but I believe they made a pretty decent start in the pilot.

That said, the pilot was entertaining. They did succeed in setting up more of an ongoing story line in the pilot with the mystery of their mothers murder than they did with the "hey we're witches" in the original pilot. They also set the basics of the sisters personalities as was done in the original pilot. The special effects were not top notch but better than I expected. But special effects wasn't really a strength of the original either.

The bottom line is, if you have a strong connection to the original, go into this new show with a negative attitude, and spend your time making comparisons instead of simply watching it as a new show you likely won't enjoy it as a result. If you watch it with an open mind as a new show you will likely enjoy it as much as I did. It succeeded quite nicely in entertaining me and that's exactly what I want in a TV show.

40 Days and Nights (2012)

Bad dialogue, bad acting, bad special effects.

[2/10 · 18 November 2017]

The only reason this movie got a 2 is I've actually seen worse. I love disaster movies. I really do. But if you can't figure out this movie is truly bad in the the first 5 minutes there's no hope for you. If you want high art stick to dramas. That's been my complaint for decades when it comes to reviews on action, sci-fi and even comedies from some reviewers. If you want to be entertained you need to be able to suspend disbelief. What will make those movies is story, acting, dialogue, and, in the case of sci-fi, special effects. In the first 5 minutes you know you won't be getting any of those factors in this movie.

Despite there being actors in this movie I've truly enjoyed in other movies, you can tell immediately everybody is in this one is only there for a paycheck. I've sat through many a bad movie but only managed 20 minutes on this one before moving on. It speaks volumes when I pack it in 20 minutes in.