samanthaoehley Reviews

Dream Home Makeover (2020– )

Ignore the critics!

[8/10 · 17 January 2024]

A few of the reviews here are negative, and it's important to remember this show IS going to be same-same because it's based on Studio McGee's style. Everyone has an opinion and taste - if you don't like the Studio McGee style, well you don't have to watch or take inspiration from it. If you want variety and more challenging designs, you should watch an interior design competition series (and those ones are generally horrible because amateurs are competing and it's intended to be judged).

I enjoy watching Dream Makeover because it's bite-sized, you get to see some of the process but get to the resolution fairly quickly. I love seeing the outcomes and take inspiration from Shea's style. Syd and Shea are super likeable, I find Syd hilarious, and to be honest it's nice having a reality show free of scripted drama with some sense of urgency and rush that makes one feel stressed.

The only con is that the clients are always happy. Surely they have the odd client who is disappointed? What does Studio McGee do to remedy this? This would be interesting to watch. With the huge expense involved, lots of which is probably spent on space fillers, nick-nacks and decoration, and unforeseen costs, I wouldn't be surprised if a few clients openly say that they spent a fortune so wish to have exactly what they want? In saying this, again, it's nice to have a reality show where it isn't all nastiness and complaining, so if the show's pitch is to focus on the good, then that's their prerogative.

One factor I agree with the negative reviews on is the lack of consideration with sustainability. This is something they probably should be looking into as a business, and that should filter into their show also.

A Walk to Remember (2002)

A Christian propaganda film

[5/10 · 3 September 2022]

"You have to promise you won't fall in love with me". I mean... I know this is a Nicholas Sparks film but, *CUE BARF*

This film depicts Christians, in the form of perfectly sweet Jamie, to be the moral compass of the world. Anyone who isn't Christian is clearly out of control, breaking the rules and hurting themselves and other people. Who better than a perfect Christian Jamie to come save the heathen from his lost cause?

I remember loving this as a child because of the cute romance between the VERY unlikely pair, but the cliches, the stereotypes, the innocence and purity of poor Jamie was a bit much. If Hollywood is trying to convert atheists with this movie they have a very poor understanding of people outside of the church. This movie just made me want to jump off a platform into a shallow pool of water.

5 stars because I like Mandy Moore and yet she made me hate her. Not bad acting for a 17 year old.

The Starling (2021)

Thank you to the writer for this authentic story.

[10/10 · 16 August 2022]

It wasn't until about ten minutes into the movie that I realised this movie was about neonatal loss. Having lost a baby shortly after birth I thought this movie would be quite triggering, mainly because I thought they would sensationalise the experience, but I was wrong.

I cried throughout the movie but only because I related to it so much. While I never experienced that level of depression, there were many lines in the movie that explained feelings I didn't even know how to explain. Whoever wrote this movie certainly had a grasp on the experience of losing a baby and nailed every feeling. I hope the writer reads this, as I want to express my gratitude for telling (a version of) my story so delicately but truthfully.

Hook (1991)

The magic of my childhood in one movie

[10/10 · 18 March 2021]

Growing up with Robin Williams, us millennials were a lucky generation. The magic of our childhood was largely due to Robin Williams, and this movie was a huge contribution to the nostalgia I hold for the 90s. I know so many lines off by heart from the movie that I don't have to see it for ten years and yet I'd still remember every word.

The movie has been over-critiqued and over analysed and no one can seem to pin why they hate it, or why it's bad.

I can tell you why people don't like it. It's easy.

It was simply because they took an old British classic and made it ... American.

It's a poor quality knock off that cost 80 million dollars.

Put that aside, it's actually a wonderful concept and story, with brilliant actors and clever filming and mis en scene. If I ignore the Americanism, it's wonderfully magical.

Next time, they should have kept it British, and then it wouldn't have been so cheesy. No tough-guy Rufio and obnoxious American orphans. No baseball juxtaposed with cool pirate scenes. No punk kids singing songs that aren't funny and Julia Roberts crushing on A-Type American lawyers.

Honestly? Williams, Hoffman, Maggie Smith, Hoskins and the supporting and guest cast were amazing. Their parts were funny and enjoyable. I think we need to cut Spielberg some slack and thank him for this classic kids movie.

The Kissing Booth (2018)

More of a guilty movie than a guilty pleasure

[3/10 · 16 March 2019]

Yuck! Who told me this was a good movie? It's just a teenage girls fantasy movie, in which the main character - as plain and boring as can be - wins the attention of her friend's hot older brother when WOAH who would have guessed? The friend was in love with her the WHOLE TIME!

WHO KNEW?

The plot was unrealistic and cliched, the main character unlikeable, the chemistry lacking, and the climax scenes overacted and overdramatised.

I watched this as a sort of, chill out play-in-the-background movie and it still grinder my gears and left me irate.

Still, it's better than twilight I suppose.

A Star Is Born (2018)

Tedius. Overrated.

[4/10 · 4 November 2018]

My partner and I sat through the majority of the movie wishing a) it would hurry up and that b) we went to Bohemian Rhapsody instead. I'm never going to trust the critics and audience reviewers again: this movie was straight up disappointing.

Lady Gaga can sing, and Bradley Cooper can act, and that's the extent of it. The plot was slow and shallow, if not predictable. Lady Gaga's character started out quite intriguing, then sold herself out to become some version of Lady Gaga herself anyway. She wasn't authentic at all (which probably summarised the music industry quite well, but her music didn't add to the soundtrack). About an hour in, I started checking my watch repeatedly ... I think I even fell asleep at one point. I haven't fallen asleep in a movie since The Revenant. I guess it's one of those movies trying so hard to be Oscar Nominated they forgot that viewers are paying to be entertained.

On the way home from the cinema we tried to figure out why we hated it. Was it because there was no depth to the characters despite potential for it? Was it because Lady Gaga was trying to play Barbra Streisand (rather than, like Judy Garland and Janet Gaynor before hand... playing someone original?), was it because the music was too Lady Gaga-pop instead of ballad? I mean, we're both musical fans with differing tastes, I hated the Greatest Showman and he loved it, I loved Hairspray and he hated it (so we both have different opinions on what makes a good musical), and we bring agreed that this was Bad. Or at least Boring. It simply wasn't all it was hyped up to be.

It might have been different if it was slightly faster, and it was about Jack's story. Then they could have renamed it a Star Dies or something less cliche. Anyway. Overall, 4 stars.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018)

From a usually scathing critic....

[7/10 · 30 July 2018]

Usually I would absolutely hate movies with loose plots, inconsistencies and cheesy endings where everyone finds love (except poor old Pierce!) but something about killing off our beloved Meryl made me into a weeping mess and all I could do was love the movie for what it was: pure entertaining fun.

All the articles out there ripping the timeline to shreds is worth it. Enjoy it for the mindless distraction from reality and the awesome characters (they may have killed off the star of the show but her Tanya, Rosie, Sam, Bill and Harry make up for her!). Don't over think it. It's well worth the fun.

... but on a side note, this movie does NOT deserve a higher rating than the first. Meryl makes the Mamma Mia franchise!

The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years (1996 TV Movie)

Did the writers even READ the book?

[1/10 · 9 September 2016]

I could have handled the change in characters - if they showed any resemblance in looks or character to the book or miniseries versions.

I could have handled the adaption of script - if they kept to the general plot of the book.

But everything was changed. Everything was different! The only thing that was similar apart from Richard Chamberlain was their names!

Why the heck did Luke O'Neill turn up on Drogheda? Why did Justine even like him? Why the heck was Vittorio fat and unkempt? Why was Dane a red headed chump of a kid? Why was Meggie some cold-hearted cow? What on earth possessed Richard Chamberlain to think it was a good idea to reprise his role in a shitty version?

This was appalling, and totally ruined the integrity of the story. This wasn't based on The Thorn Birds novel at all, this was an entirely made up story that used the same names and locations!

(If I could credit anything, was at least they cast Australian actors.)