redmaxdrive Reviews

Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich (2018)

This is just WRONG XP

[1/10 · 30 May 2022]

This is one movie I should have avoided. I can understand the creative staff wanting to take the franchise in a new direction, but this T. Rex-sized pile of manure was SO not the way to go.

First up: Turning Andre Toulon into a Nazi sympathizer was too big a change for my mind to handle. This may be a different continuity, but reinventing his personality was such an incongruity that I couldn't wrap my head around it.

Second: I was expecting a certain level of blood and gore, but what I saw here....... Ye CATS! There was enough of both that it could've made Hellraiser's Pinhead nauseous. Case in point: There's this one particularly gruesome scene involving a pregnant woman that I will NEVER be able to get out of my head, it was that disgusting.

Third and biggest gripe: The puppets. TOO MANY! The previous entries were effective because there was only a handful of them in each movie. For me, it added to the fun and suspense. This one has dozens of the little monsters running around, and a lot of them are variations on Blade. I love that little guy to pieces, but this is a good example of "too much of a good thing".

Third gripe, Part 2: Another thing I liked about the franchise was that the puppets were actually alive. They had their own minds, feelings, and occasionally agendas of their own. They were capable of independent thought and action, while these new puppets have less personality than a slice of burnt toast . Their creator is using them like unmanned drones -- not quite controlling them from beyond the grave, but it's pretty *BLEEP*ing close.

All in all, I think I'll give any future entries in this parallel universe a hard pass. It lacks the charm and quirkiness that made the main continuity so entertaining and I advise anyone reading this to do the same.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: What We're Fighting For (2020) Season 7, Episode 13

Best.....ending.....EVER!! :D

[10/10 · 28 August 2020]

I have to say, this was a great season in general and a fantastic episode in particular. It made me laugh, frown, and cry; it brought out the entire rainbow of human emotion in me just as any good drama should do.

Tamara Taylor did a great job as Sibyl. I enjoyed her work on Bones and it was refreshing to see her play a bad guy.

It was good to see that the team survived even though they had to split up at the end. Seeing where they each ended up was a special treat: May teaching at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Coulson Academy with Flint as one of her students; Daisy, Daniel, and Kora roaming the stars; Yo-Yo leading her own field unit; Mack doing a great job as director; Fitz-Simmons enjoying married life and parenthood; and Deke running the agency in an alternate timeline. Talk about happy endings.

And Coulson decided to stick around in order to "re-evaluate" his circumstances. I just about busted a gut from laughter when I saw Lola waiting for him outside the building. He started the series with that car; it's only fitting that he finish with her too.

All in all, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is a great show and I couldn't have imagined anything better than what we got.

In conclusion, I'd like to make a virtual toast: To the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Thank you for your service and seven years of quality entertainment. It was one hell of a ride.

Doctor Who: The Doctor Falls (2017) Season 10, Episode 12

Lots Of Endings And Some New Beginnings

[10/10 · 26 July 2017]

This episode is easily one of the best I've ever seen: drama, action, suspense, and even a little romance. Everything I look for in a good story.

To start: Bill isn't one of my favorite companions, but she did a hell of a job keeping the Doctor on his toes. When I first saw Bill as a Cyberman, the first thing I thought was, "This is way worse than what happened to Donna!" But thankfully, Bill retained her sense of self and helped her friends survive the assault of her metallic brethren. And to top it off, Heather shows up and saves her from an eternity of stomping around in a tin suit. Bill gets a new life with the woman she loves, traveling the universe a lot faster than the TARDIS could.

Next up: Missy. Missy, Missy, Missy..... They would have to kill her off just as I was starting to like her! I'd had my doubts all season as to whether her desire for redemption was genuine, and her actions in the previous episode and the beginning of this one cast them in even darker shades. But I was happy to see that the desire was real, even thought she did kind of stab herself in the back. The Master couldn't wrap his mind around the concept that his future self would actually choose to turn good, so he decided to destroy her instead. But I wouldn't count Missy out just yet. The Master has proved to be extraordinarily resilient even for a Time Lord, so we might not have seen the last of her (Michelle Gomez's departure from the role notwithstanding).

And finally: the Doctor. Like Bill, the Twelfth Doctor isn't one of my favorites, but Peter Capaldi has done a hell of a job in the role and I'm going to miss him.

I can understand why the Doctor is trying to resist the regeneration. Going through the same old grind over and over again, having to start from scratch with a new body and personality, wondering if he should invite anyone along for the kind of adventures that could wind up getting them killed..... That would be enough to put anyone in a bad mood. But it usually turns out for the best in the end, and here's hoping that meeting the First Doctor will help him sort through all the tangled emotions and allow the transition to proceed.

Well, we'll just have to wait for Christmas to find out more on that last one. I, for one, am already on pins and needles. How about you? :)

P.S. All in all, a VERY good story.

Jem and the Holograms (2015)

A worthy homage to a classic series

[7/10 · 21 July 2016]

I grew up watching Jem the series in the '80's, so I did have certain expectations going into this. And while it wasn't everything I'd hoped for, there was enough of the original spirit left for me to recognize the things that I enjoyed so much about the series. There were a lot of changes to the original story, but that was to be expected, given that this movie was aimed at a new audience in a new millennium. This film has a good story with a lot of heart, some excellent music, and performers who worked hard to make this the best film they knew how to make. And at its heart, this movie has a message of inspiration, courage, strength, and perseverance for anyone who has something they want to share with the world. Like Jerrica says near the end, "We're all Jem."

I heard that there might not be a follow-up and I am a little disappointed by that, since Erica's meeting with the Misfits all but promised one. Perhaps something in the made-for-cable category? Who knows? In any case, this is one film that should be viewed at least once before forming an opinion. You never know; it could be a diamond in the rough. Thank you for listening.

Wayward Pines: Cycle (2015) Season 1, Episode 10

A depressing end for a great show

[6/10 · 25 July 2015]

I wasn't sure what to make of Wayward Pines at first. It seemed like a standard missing-persons story centered around a Secret Service agent and his family. The show sucked me in with the force of a hurricane and would not let go. Imagine my surprise in later episodes when I learned the truth.

I was shocked to learn that the series was set in the early 41st century, exactly two thousand and fourteen years from now. The world had changed so much and humanity had devolved into atavistic creatures known as aberrations, or "Abbies." Wayward Pines was the only bastion of human civilization left on Earth. Some of the townspeople were creepy, Sheriff Pope and Nurse Pam being the prime examples.

As the story went on, I found myself liking Pam more and becoming more disturbed by Dr. Pilcher's facade of altruism twisting into the kind of megalomania that gave rise to dictators such as Hitler. Right before he died, he said that his ideas would live on and he was right. The First Generation took control of the town (I'd love to know how) and returned to the brutal reckonings of anyone who disobeyed the rules. It depresses me to say this, but if perpetuating such evil is the only way humanity could survive, then maybe it doesn't deserve to.

I took one good thing away from this experience. Much like Syfy's Dune miniseries, Wayward Pines got me interested in reading the books that inspired it. Here's hoping that they'll have a more optimistic ending.

Doctor Who: Into the Dalek (2014) Season 8, Episode 2

Definitely A Good Man

[9/10 · 1 September 2014]

This isn't one of the better episodes of Doctor Who I've seen; it's not in my top five, ten, or even fifty favorite episodes. But it is still an intriguing story that sheds light on the character of the newest Doctor.

Near the beginning of the story, the Doctor asks Clara if he is a good man. The answer she gives him is the same then and at the end of the episode: "I don't know."

I want to give my own answer to this question. In my opinion, the best (and only) measure of a freshly-regenerated Doctor's character is how he handles an encounter with the Daleks.

In this episode, the Doctor meets a Dalek who's been turned good by radiation poisoning. He, Clara, and several soldiers shrink down and go into the Dalek to repair it. They succeed, only to reinstate its original personality. The Doctor then shows the Dalek its memories of a star being born and gives it access to his own memories as well, allowing "Rusty" to see just how much the Doctor hates the Daleks; Rusty then takes it upon himself to hunt his own species into extinction. Before he leaves, he calls the Doctor a "good Dalek" and heads out to complete his new mission.

This isn't the first time the Doctor has encountered a renegade Dalek. The Ninth Doctor encountered one in Utah; Dalek Sec and Dalek Caan became allies of the Tenth Doctor after first serving as antagonists. Then there was Oswin, an insane Dalek who turned out to be the first of Clara's incarnations encountered by the Eleventh Doctor. So there is a precedent for good Daleks, even if they are few and far between.

My final analysis is this: The Doctor did his best to try and save the soul of this particular Dalek, and for that reason, I believe he is a good man.

CSI: NY: Today Is Life (2013) Season 9, Episode 17

A touching end for a great series

[10/10 · 2 July 2013]

CSI: New York is one of those shows where you come to care for the characters not just because of the work they do, but also because you can identify with many of the situations they deal with in their personal lives.

This episode touched on a few tender spots that everyone has: grief, loss, distrust of government and law enforcement, and pointless death. I could feel the protesters' anger over the death of an innocent man and the girlfriend's grief over losing her boyfriend. It was only through Mac's determination and gentle nature that the truth was heard and relayed to the public.

The moment at the end where Mac proposes to Christine had me tearing up; that's how touching it was. And it occurred to me that if the series was to be canceled after this episode, then at least it would end on a high note. It saddened me to learn that it was indeed the final episode, but I take some comfort in that I guessed right about it. This is one of the finest episodes of any TV show I've ever seen, and I certainly couldn't think of a better way for it to go out.

Bones: The Secret in the Siege (2013) Season 8, Episode 24

Pelant has to GO

[8/10 · 7 May 2013]

It's official: I can't stand Mr. Pelant anymore.

It's bad enough that he tried to destroy a all-girls school and bankrupted Hodgins and Angela in the attempt. He's killed several people and gotten into and out of places that he shouldn't have been able to enter. And in this episode, he gets his panties in a twist when it looks like he doesn't have Booth and Bones's undivided attention. He's turned into a spoiled brat throwing a tantrum; I can't take him seriously anymore. Case in point: threatening to kill innocent people if Booth doesn't call off his engagement to Bones is not a move worthy of Pelant's supposed genius.

He should've taken a little time to review their track record more thoroughly, namely when they took down the Gravedigger. She thought she could outsmart the team and she wound up not only getting caught, but also killed by a rogue sniper. I hope the audience is fortunate enough to see Pelant get taken down in such a spectacular fashion, preferably in the first episode of next season. The little monster has outlived his entertainment value and I want him GONE.

Abduction (I) (2011)

Not an Oscar contender, but not all that bad either

[7/10 · 8 October 2011]

I can't say that I went into this thinking it was Oscar material. I knew that it was most likely a pretty brainless piece of action fluff, but I went because I'm a fan of the main star and I wanted to watch something that didn't require too much intellectual involvement on my part. In that regard, Abduction succeeded admirably. While the acting could've been better, the action sequences were top-notch; I especially liked the parts where Taylor was able to use his martial-arts skills to near-lethal advantage. And Sigourney Weaver did more than I thought possible with her rather limited screen time. That's how good an actress she is. As for Mr. Lautner, I do believe that he has a bright future in action movies; he just needs a little more seasoning before the next time. To any moviegoers reading this: I urge you to ignore whatever negative comments you may have heard and give this one a shot. It may surprise you.

Star Trek (2009)

A Bold New Beginning For A Beloved Classic

[10/10 · 16 June 2009]

I went into this knowing that it wasn't the Star Trek I'd grown up watching in reruns. This movie has its own look and style that gave me goosebumps. I didn't know that a starship could have so many pipes and valves in it.

The first scene was very emotional. George Kirk had to pilot the Kelvin manually while his wife was in labor. I could feel the tears in my eyes as I realized that that brave man would never see his son grow up. And James Kirk being born on a ship instead of in Iowa was just the first of the divergences from the traditional Star Trek canon. The scene where he stole a vintage Corvette and drove it off a cliff was a real nail-biter, although it's kind of nice to know that the Beastie Boys' music will survive into the 23rd century.

The second most shocking moment for me was watching Vulcan implode. I was speechless, and I was angry at the bad guys for committing such an atrocious act.

The MOST shocking moment for me was finding out that Spock and Uhura had a romantic relationship going on. That really blew my mind. That being said, all in all, there was enough action and emotion to satisfy any Star Trek fan.

One last thing and I'll be going: This old warhorse still has some fight left in her and I, for one, am looking forward to any future entries in this alternate Trek reality.

28 Days Later (2002)

No Actual Zombies Here!

[9/10 · 29 January 2009]

To be frank, this movie scared me *BLEEP*less. I thought it would be in the same vein as the Resident Evil films, and for the most part it was. An empty city, a virus running amok, people dropping like flies every other minute: a true recipe for fright in my book. But I wish people would stop referring to this movie's creatures as zombies. And now I would like to clarify something that I don't think anyone quite believes: There are no actual zombies in this movie! The virus carriers in this film aren't really dead, despite not eating or drinking anything for weeks and spewing blood by the gallon. A true zombie is a dead body that has been reanimated by any number of off-the-wall methods, while the creatures here are still alive, the unfortunate victims of a biological accident.

Now that I've gotten that off my chest......I enjoyed this movie very much. For me, the bulk of the horror came from the realization that something like this could happen in real life. Maybe not on such a gruesome scale, but it's still inside the realm of possibility. And now I bid you all a fond farewell.

Primeval: Future Foe (2007) Season 1, Episode 6

One of the scariest critters so far

[7/10 · 23 September 2008]

I was blown away by the creature in this episode. VERY scary! That thing was so far outside my frame of reference I just started thinking of it as a Demon. I couldn't think of a better name for it. And the babies, while cute, I dubbed Demonspawn. Some things are better left alone, and these animals are an excellent example of that axiom. And the fight between the Demon and the Gorgonopsid was GREAT! The past (Gorgonopsid) battling the future (Demon) with the present (humanity) standing witness to it. You won't see THAT on Jurassic Fight Club! As for Helen, I REALLY don't like her anymore. Not only is she conniving and treacherous, but she's become contemptuous toward her own species. That is just not right. Something needs to be done about her and FAST. As long as she's running loose, the team is in trouble.

I hope you found my comment helpful, and I hope you enjoy this wonderful British import. I'm looking forward to at least 5 seasons of this show.

Transformers (2007)

Transformers is the GREATEST!!!!

[10/10 · 16 July 2007]

I've been a fan of Transformers for as long as they've been around. I've seen them transform into everything from cars to planes to animals. In Beast Machines, one of the Maximals could transform into a plant! They've been everything under the sun and more besides, so it might have been a little difficult for the filmmakers to find a fresh direction for the robots. I prefer to think that this film was created for a new generation of robophiles who've never heard of Transformers, and the die-hard fans who wanted to see them go in a new direction. I, as one of the die-hard fans, love this movie and can't wait for the sequels to start pouring out.

I really liked Bumblebee's new vehicle mode. Going from a Volkswagen Beetle to a Camaro is a real step up the ladder for the little guy. And Megatron's new look is appropriately menacing. I can understand why some of the purists might have a problem about this movie, but I think they need to calm down a little. The Transformers mythology, like everything else, has to evolve or it'll go extinct. Think of this movie as an alternate universe that expands the possibilities for future storytelling, just like the comics did in the 80s. Sure, the characters might not be as we remember them, but I believe the changes are for the better and will only enhance the enjoyment for anyone with a flexible enough mind.

Boston Legal (2004–2008)

Hope this show lasts for another 5 years at least!!

[10/10 · 17 November 2006]

I am a big fan of "Boston Legal" and have been from the get-go. It's brought together several actors I've seen in other shows and movies. One ofmy favorite actors, William Shatner, does a fantastic turn as Denny Crane, a cheerful lecher who lives life the way he chooses and doesn't feel the need to apologize for it. James Spader is equally fascinating as Alan Shore, who comes across as amoral, yet articulate and charming with a heart of gold. He's the kind of lawyer I want defending me, should I ever need one. And rounding out my top four favorites on this show are Candice Bergen and Rene Auberjonois, who seem to be the only sane ones in the entire firm. This show is not only dramatic, it's also funny and engages the audience on an almost visceral level. I hope ABC keeps this one on the air for a good long while.