djak-43049 Reviews

The People (1972 TV Movie)

Why 9? See below

[9/10 · 4 April 2024]

I love Henderson's books and I've read them many times over the years. I cherish my paper copies and re-read them every now and then.

Does this film live up to the book? Of course not, but it's still nice to see some of Henderson's characters come to life, even if they are mixed together in ways never found in the book.

Some years back, I contacted the Coppola Studio and the Henderson estate to find out where to get this film The studio didn't even know it had produced the film ... go figure.

In some wildly ambitious moments, I think about writing a script based on Pilgrimage, trying to remain true to the collection of stories and the characters living in them.

For those who have read Pilgrimage and No Different Flesh, there are some glaring liberties being taken; such as the Francher Kid being in Bendo and the school teacher not knowing about 'The People' because, in the book, this was not her first encounter.

It's a classic TV movie; it has lots of flaws; it's a movie of the times but it is the only visual representation of Henderson's work which might otherwise not exist. I was able to get a copy of this movie and, quite frankly, despite its limitations and liberties taken - I love it.

Tig Notaro: Hello Again (2024 TV Special)

When does it become funny?

[1/10 · 27 March 2024]

I loved Trig's Commander Jett Reno character in Star Trek: Discovery, so my expectations were high when I watched this.

I sat patiently, waiting for her to be funny and had to conclude that the laughter of the audience was due to the expectation that all things 'non-binary' must be appreciated and applauded.

Trig bears no relationship to Jett Reno, that could be because others have written the material so it was easy to build a context in which Trig's deadpan approach to life could be appreciated.

Standing on that stage, relaying one medical incident after another was painful to watch and I was waiting for something to be funny - nothing was.

I really wanted it to be funny; I was waiting for it to become funny; I love deadpan humour - it never did.

I felt the audience only found it funny because they didn't want to be cancelled in this world where diversity is so much more important than meritocracy.

Trig used every diversity hook in the book, but nothing gelled; nothing was really funny.

I can't wait to see Trig as Reno in the next series of Discovery but I won't be indulging in any more stand up.

Good Omens (2019– )

If Terry were alive, he'd be spinning in his grave.

[2/10 · 26 August 2023]

I loved the original series, it was Pratchett through and through. This new series was disappointing from start to finish, it depended on regurgitated humour from the first series without adding anything new.

Crowley and Aziraphale seemed to steamroller their way through the storyline with none of the finesse or nuances we expect from Pratchett's wonderful way with words.

Typically, the story included two subplots. Something that producers and directors appear duty bound to include - it was all quite unnecessary and added nothing to the main plot.

I like all things Pratchett and I like this, after a fashion, but it wasn't a smidge of the original series. Then again, the brilliant mind of Terry Pratchett is no longer around to twist reality like a pretzel.

The Weapon (2023)

Good Gawd Almighty!

[1/10 · 19 February 2023]

The acting is sub-par, the dialogue is stunted and delivered as if by recent graduates of Madam Pickle's Backstreet School of Acting.

A meaningless soundtrack overlays everything - I got 16 minutes into the film before turning it off, going to bed and crying myself to sleep at the rapid demise of quality cinema.

I couldn't even wait for Gooding to make an appearance who might have improved the quality of this movie - I couldn't take it any longer than I did.

The script is full of clichés and don't worry, there are no spoilers here because I've already forgotten every utterance of every actor in this ridiculously bad movie.

Sense8 (2015–2018)

Love it, love it, love it.

[10/10 · 1 October 2022]

I watched part of the first season but got distracted. I recently revisited and plowed through both seasons with absolute absorption. I want, no *need* more.

What makes this show so special is the diversity of characters, the interaction and, perhaps most importantly, the connection they have - I'm jealous; I want to be connected in the way the eight are. It makes one feel that this is precisely how humans should be, living your life connected to seven other people; sharing experiences, knowledge and skills.

Being part of a cluster makes sense; living a disconnected life doesn't and you can't help but wonder if we took a wrong turn somewhere in the distant past.

Scary as the connection was for each of them in the beginning, as the cluster matured and shared more experiences, gave one another support, their strength and love grows. Those best suited to handle a given situation slipped seamlessly into place; protecting those in danger through physical and cerebral interventions.

The actors were amazing together and clever, precise editing made transitions between characters and global locations seamless and believable.

I developed a genuine hatred for the protagonist. The one who would break, wreak or abuse the pure connection between those in a cluster. It was very satisfying to contemplate his downfall.

I genuinely cared about the characters and wanted to protect their connection; wanting it to flourish and make the world a better place; for such clusters to be the wave of the future - for everyone to be able to experience what these eight shared.

I hope that this show is brought back for at least one more season to see the outcome of the war and, of course, to see the cluster flourish and become victorious.

MORE PLEASE!!

Know Fear (2021)

The most generous thing I can do is NOT to review

[5 June 2022]

If you thrive on moronic cliché horror moves, you'll love it. Otherwise, don't waste time that you will never recover.

The final scene really says it all

*MINI SPOILER*

After being controlled to the point of shoving an electric drill in his shoulder, the character then screams at another character "what did you f'ing do" when watching aimlessly while a knife is plunged over and over into yet another character ... the plot is lame to the point of being ridiculous.

Erasing His Past (2019 TV Movie)

By morons for morons

[1/10 · 17 May 2020]

What an absolute disappointment. Written by morons for morons, with no more depth or subtlety than a dried up puddle - what an complete waste of time and effort.

Collision Earth (2020 TV Movie)

Run ...

[29 April 2020]

Please, for the sake of your children, your sanity, run, run as fast as you can from this film.

Continuity was shot and killed before the titles had finished running. The plot murdered the effects and the actors died from a complete and utter lack of any conviction or talent.

Save yourself the pain and avoid this at all costs.

Bloodshot (2020)

Low expectations - wholly met!

[2/10 · 25 March 2020]

I watch movies for diversion, a laugh, a bit of fun or perhaps a twist or two in the plot. When I watch a movie based on a comic, there's a good chance that it's going to be silly but entertaining.

Big names are often indicative of a sensible budget to do the movie some justice but it seems that the budget didn't extend to paying for both cast and location.

Being a Brit, I thought "aye, aye, some London action". Erm, hold on, there's no teleportation in this movie is there? Nope, there isn't but for some reason the producer thought no one would notice that the fight scene switched back and forth between the streets of London and what I assume to be the suburbs of Hollywood.

The initial scene may have been set by a black cab trundling along the road and the aerial views from the spy drones were certainly more indicative of London but the running, jumping and ground level scenes were certainly NOT shot in London. Houses, alleyways, cars were all US, number plates included.

I enjoyed the premise of the film but this ruined it for me because it was an insult to the intellect and intelligence of the film goer; this assumption that no one would notice such shocking inconsistencies - very sad.

I had no particular expectations but to see a bit of Sci-Fi action but even with the bar set so low, it was a disappointment.

Alien Outbreak (2020)

Not impressed...

[2/10 · 14 February 2020]

Okay, it's an indie and well done for making it. The premise was good, the acting not so. Others have said it better so I'll leave it at that.

Trauma Center (2019)

What did I just *try* to watch?

[25 January 2020]

I had high expectations but was, sadly, very disappointed.

While I understand that we're all on the aged conveyor belt and eventually past our prime but poor Bruce seemed barely able to deliver his performance. He really didn't come across as very well, perhaps he should have been in a hospital bed getting some rest?

The premise was okay, a little predictable perhaps, the storyline was, well, borderline to say the least but delivery and acting of most members of the cast was not at all convincing and there were plot holes you could have driven a London bus through.

Not at all impressed, I only got about half way, maybe I'll try again some rainy Sunday where there is nothing else to do, although perhaps not.

Be Here Now (2015)

Poignant, courageous, moving and sad

[10/10 · 25 January 2020]

I've never seen the TV series and didn't really know who Andy was. I've had the movie tucked away for some time and finally decided to watch it. I cried, I hoped, I wished, I rallied, I wanted so much to believe in a certain outcome because I really knew nothing before watching the film.

We all have loss in our lives, we see things, we battle with situations that cause us to want to give up hope, throw in the towel and just let the pain wash over us and take us away. To see Andy and Vishti fight their battle with such humanity, love, humility and fervour was a real inspiration.

The final message is beautiful and so true but what is it about we human beings that makes us forget so quickly about the important things in life? I suppose it's like the memory of pain, it quickly fades because it doesn't do to carry it around all the time.

Be inspired, be moved, be sad but don't be afraid and above all, "be here now".

Thanks for telling this story so openly and profoundly.

Code 8 (2019)

Shame

[5/10 · 23 December 2019]

After seeing the proof of concept short film, I was eager to see the film itself and waited patiently. Unfortunately, the film did not stay with the story-line of the short and I was disappointed because of that. I don't believe it's a spoiler to suggest that in following the same recipe as other such films (i.e. non acceptance) an opportunity was lost.

In, and of, itself, the film is okay but five stars is generous.

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Life-long comic-book fan, what's not to love? A lot!

[5/10 · 31 July 2018]

I've grown up in the Marvel (and DC) universes, since a kid, I've read everything in comic book form, having my favourites of course. Thor: Ragnarok began a new trend in tongue-in-cheek Marvelism, submitting to humour while ignoring the basic qualities of the characters.

Infinity War was a disappointment because it paid no heed to the capabilities of the characters. Going back to Thor as an example, we have the God of Thunder enduring the blast of a neutron star while in Ragnarok, he couldn't even extract himself from a magnetic chair.

Back to Infinity, we find Dr Strange almost without a single trick up his sleeve and my all-time favourite, Vision, who couldn't hold his end up against any of Thanos' minions.

The Scarlet Witch is supposed to distort the fabric of reality yet she choose only to move herself and objects around, giving very little evidence of the great power she had that suddenly allowed her to destroy an infinity stone with one hand while holding Thanos back with the other.

Having achieved his goal of collecting all of the infinity stones, he then blows a fuse, where did that come from and where was he sent? Was it back in time to his home to retire in splendid comfort or was he stuck in a fantasy realm created by the fusing stones?

And then, the final disintegration of many of the heroes, apparently at random, why Spiderman and Dr Strange and not Ironman? Why the Black Panther and not Captain America? Why Bucky and so on....

Did I enjoy the film? Yes, of course I did - it's part of the universe I know and is pure unadulterated fantasy, as it should be. I'm just sad that the makers didn't see fit to honour the legacy of Stan Lee and the Marvel artists of by-gone years.

The Titan (2018)

Hhmmm

[3/10 · 31 March 2018]

This may be a bit of a spoiler, so be warned.

Overall, I think I liked this film. It has a good cast but it failed on one very important point ... why?

The ethics of bio-engineering aside, sending the so-called saviours of mankind on a one-way trip after they have been adapted to the point where they can no longer live on Earth simply doesn't work.

As it turns out, the single survivor of the process is sent alone on this one-way trip, has no way to get back, has no building materials, has no, well, anything remotely appropriate to saving the human race.

Another severe plot hole is the attempt to erase his memory before sending him off into space. So this bio-engineered human, who has already shown signs of such significant change that he does not relate to being human, is sent to a world to which he has been adapted, with no memory of his mission, with no memory of his family and no memory of his origins. Therefore, even if he had all the building materials in the world, he would not know what he was expected to do with them.

It's really sad that this film could not reach its potential. Putting aside these plot holes, I did like the film, so it wasn't all bad.

I Kill Giants (2017)

Despite the apathy of others, I liked this movie

[8/10 · 24 March 2018]

I'm not going to dissect this film but for those who like to see emotions explored in an expected way, this is worth watching. Some particularly poignant words near the end give you something to think about. I don't think that constitutes a spoiler but I'll tick yes just in case :)

Atlantic Rim: Resurrection (2018)

Sorry, not good; not good at all.

[19 March 2018]

** SPOILER ALERT **

Like it's predecessor, I am left wondering why there are such attempts to beat a mainstream title with a lesser offering.

An areal shot shows the CG 'monsters' apparently rampaging around downtown LA, while those driving to the rescue of the ill-fated city poodle along as though on a family picnic.

The dialogue is awful (and often repeated in the scenes I could bear to watch), the acting is yawnful, interactions are so poor you'd think the actors are in different films. They discuss the fate of the world as if discussing the price of soap detergent.

As they enter a cavernous space where stands three of the mechanical warriors, the entire chamber has six or seven armed guards who I felt looked quite embarrassed to be there. Other background technicians stand around seemingly playing with their smartphones.

I cannot recommend this film at all and I couldn't sit through even 5 minutes before wanting to shake the actors awake, wanting them to show some emotion that relates to the seriousness of the threat rather than the banal dialogue disguised as camaraderie.

Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

Soulless

[3/10 · 10 February 2018]

My expectations were high but this lavish rendition doesn't live up to its potential.

Branagh's accent is as illegible as his depiction of Poirot is soulless. This film is a huge disappointment despite its stellar casting. It does none of these fine actors any justice whatsoever.

Oceans Rising (2017)

I'm sorry I only have two thumbs, because this movie deserves more ...

[1/10 · 10 July 2017]

... thumbs down I mean.

What an awfully compiled, awfully concocted load of rubbish. I'd like the name and address of those who funded this film because I have some ideas and they obviously have none.

I've paused to wrack my brain to see if I can think of just one thing to redeem this movie ... ... ... ... sorry, nothing at all.

Sad face coming up: 8^(

The Shack (I) (2017)

An Atheists Perspective

[10/10 · 22 April 2017]

Being an atheist doesn't mean that I don't believe in a higher power, I simply reject the man-made concepts as written in the bible. In a vast universe, can it be that a few microbes on the face of an insignificant planet are the point of all creation, I think not.

Anyway, I loved this film for its humanity. **Slight Spoiler** The presentation of "god's plan", and "his mysterious ways" and "bad things happen because of free will" pervades the script - who can possibly say what's on his mind, right!

If you're looking for answers, this film has none. What it does have is love, despair, a new perspective on some "what if" questions and is quite therapeutic.

You don't have to be burdened by religion to understand the value of this film, nor the sensitivity and damned good acting of the characters. Sam plays the traumatized father very effectively, Octavia plays one facet of the supreme being very nicely, she exudes sensitivity and love. Sumire and Avrahim play the other two facets with equal compassion and (sometimes) fun.

See it or burn in hell for all eternity (oops, sorry, got carried away) ;)

Hidden Figures (2016)

Makes ya think!

[10/10 · 18 March 2017]

Born in 1957, I was too young to know in any detail what black people at the time were going through. I know what history tells us about slave plantations and the like, but this was the 20th Century and to me people have always been just.. well.. people.

Even at the time when modern man was leaving the planet for the moon, they remained quagmired in petty prejudices and felt they were somehow superior or at least different.

The three women of this film, who might themselves have modern day stories to tell, paid homage to those pioneering and brave women they were depicting. You can't help but watch something like this and feel tainted by the values and actions of white people of the time. Some will say nothing has changed, but I disagree - there are far few bigots around and it is thanks to these six ladies.

I'm not going to review the film in any more detail because many others have done that really rather well. I've just seen Octavia in 'The Shack' and other fans are in for a treat.

Hidden Figures does more than entertain, it hangs our historical washing on the line for all to see. Well done to the originals ladies and equally well done to their modern counterparts.

Decommissioned (2016)

Low production values, wooden acting - Potential Spoiler Alert

[4/10 · 9 December 2016]

I may revisit this movie when I have nothing else to do but I simply couldn't sit through it, no matter how hard I tried. The production values were low and the acting wooden from the majority of the cast. I hate to criticize other people's work but this had a solid enough story line which should have made it easy to deliver.

Interaction between the cast simply didn't gel, with the US President stumbling over his address to the nation with 'my fellow Americans' being used so much, it was distracting.

To be fair, the fight scene in the warehouse was well choreographed and very believable, making for pools of genuine excitement but when the big guns come into play, you'd think that the mob of gun toting agents were out shopping for groceries.

Vinnie was, well Vinnie. He used his natural accent, which was a relief as I'm not sure how he'd sound as an American but his role was almost a cameo and that, I assure you, was a bonus.

The main protagonist did, at times, have a well balanced family man / ex-agent balance but it's difficult to imagine anyone taking the beatings that landed on him and still be able to walk away but hey, this is Hollywood.

Not recommended unless you have nothing else to watch but keep the remote handy so you can skip some of the less watchable scenes - you'll know then when you see them.