markmelsh Reviews

The Bacharach Sound (1965 TV Special)

Great show from the dawn of the Bacharach-David era

[9/10 · 4 November 2023]

This was a nostalgic look back at the early successes of the great Burt Bacharach, lyricist Hal David, and some of the greatest interpreters of their music ever. The show starts with cameras showing Burt driving around London in a Ford convertible, so we get a little snapshot of London 1965. The music then gets underway and Burt and orchestra accompany Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield, Chuck Jackson, the Searchers, and the Merseybeats in their classic versions of early Bacharach hits. The female vocal trio the Breakaways provide superb vocals, both lead and backing. They were also featured on many of the hit recordings of the day by Petula Clark, Cilla Black, Dusty and others. I notice Cilla was conspicuously absent. She was very popular in the UK with Bacharach songs, but Dionne viewed her as a major rival. Anyway, no love lost between those two so better one or the other. Dusty's appearances were my favorite, but all the music was first rate. Burt does a pretty natural, relaxed job of hosting. This is a treasure of a show that was never shown in America. I am glad that it was preserved so well and highly recommend it for fans of the songs of Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

The Blind (I) (2023)

Simple, old-fashioned 70's B-movie that kinda sucks

[5/10 · 9 October 2023]

I did enjoy the photography but that was all. Phil and Kay tell their stories in a mid-life chat held with a friend. It's a fictionalized, family-authorized "true story" that's equal parts "Where the Crawdads Sing" and a classic Christian redemption story of the "Sergeant York/Apostle" variety. We see the selfish, childish hellion Phil was before alcoholic rages and the near end of his marriage led him to Jesus. A classic narrative of white Southern culture that is wildly loved by those with hard lives who recognize the turning point that faith might have offered them. Still, the film is sometimes amateurish. It lets the Robertsons have it both ways by boasting Phil as a s-kicker and ties his success in life to his Baptism. One cannot vouch for the truth of the Robertson family lore related here. The acting is indifferent, the production values single-wide/wrecked pickup cheap, with a score built on plaintive violin solos and cut-rate covers of pop oldies. Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top covers "La Grange" for a version for use in the film's 1970s scenes. Whatever potential it had, the film just isn't very good, with or without fact checking. Redemption stories work for a reason and done right, it touches people. Director Andrew Hyatt can't make this one work and the script's humorless, emotionally flat treatment of the material smothers "The Blind" in the crib.

Once Upon a Time in Tombstone (2020)

Many people did not tell me this was a bad movie

[1/10 · 10 September 2023]

And that was because they fortunately never saw it or heard of it. Imagine the EGO involved in this failed waste of time. Plus, the whole idea of yet ANOTHER movie about Tombstone is overkill. SC has some nice beaches and people, but it also gave us Lindsey Graham and Nikki Haley and the inappropriate Southern accents you hear, that are out of place in the story of Tombstone except for Doc Holliday. This is a VERY slow-moving mess. It opens with some nice exterior shots of the Tombstone area but much of the movie are interior shots, adding to the intense boredom. The existence of this stinker proves that anybody can get a movie made with enough financing.

Legends of Chamberlain Heights (2016–2017)

Not nearly offensive or racist enough

[5/10 · 31 May 2023]

This could have been a great cartoon if it had been more offensive and racist in its humor. This would have made it funnier to more people and the show might have had a chance. This cartoon seems to be based on stereotypes of Cooley High-type characters from the 1970's. However, in the last few years, political correctness has invaded the culture and has done serious damage to humor. Legends of Chamberlain Heights is one of those cartoons that had some good animation and funny main characters and a couple of mildly offensive moments here and there. It really created no controversy other than the eerie Kobe Bryant episode. Too bad.

The Collection (II) (2012)

I'd like to have the director alone for just five minutes

[3/10 · 23 April 2023]

Regarding the ending of the movie, I'd like to ask him why, and when he said, "It pissed you off, didn't it?", a hospital stay would be a satisfying reply. In this film, there was a lot of blood spilled, torture and pain inflicted by the martial artist and serial killer maniac known as the Collector. Enough to make you really want to see HIM suffer a spectacularly gruesome death, the worst one of all. GET IT, director? To SEE him suffer. Instead, all I have to ask is what kind of pathetic ending is this? I suppose that when the world is running down, you make the best of what's still around. Mostly, this was time wasted due to a very unsatisfying ending.

Star Trek: The Omega Glory (1968) Season 2, Episode 23

Not the worst, not the best. Just OK.

[6/10 · 19 February 2023]

I did not find this episode to be the worst in the series. The pseudo-patriotic ending was to be expected from NBC in December 1967, when this was filmed. This was before Vietnam's TET offensive and My Lai Massacre and the CIA murder of MLK. By 1968, even the uber-patriotic US South/Midwest began to have doubts about the Vietnam War, but anti-war protests were only ever on college campuses anyway. Love/peace hippiedom was unknown outside of the West Coast and Northeast. The phoniness of the Pledge of Allegiance was only beginning to be realized, so Kirk's BS speech at the end reflected the trust in our government that the "greatest generation" had at the time and that the baby boomers laughably still have, depending on if the POTUS is R or D. I enjoyed the action in this episode. TV western actor Morgan Woodward made a good villain. Spock got to show that "put your hand on my shoulder" is quite effective, as usual. All in all, an OK episode.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Appointment at Eleven (1959) Season 5, Episode 3

If you liked this episode, you need to be examined by a shrink

[1/10 · 31 January 2023]

I cannot believe that there were ANY good reviews for this trash and I feel sorry for those people who gave it more than a failing grade. They are either mental or just have unbelievably bad taste and judgment. The disastrous acting by the lead is just ONE of the things wrong with it. If there was ONE person in the story who sympathized with this horrible lead character, THAT would be ridiculous enough. However, there are THREE different supporting characters who do sympathize, when each one of them should have called the police on this nutcase. Another reviewer made a very good point that in Hollywood, with TONS of actors aged 18-21, why did they hire someone 26 years old? If he HAD looked 17, MAYBE it would be at least a little bit believable that others would feel sorry for him and want to help the "boy". And even then, they could hardly been blamed for calling authorities of some sort. So Clint Kimbrough's miscasting and his resulting failure to come across as a teenager in distress was enough to make this the worst AHP episode in the series. A bartender asks for his ID? HILARIOUS! The validity of the whole story depended on the lead character at least LOOKING like a teenager. Is this a TOTAL loss? Yes, even with fairly decent performances by Clu Gulager, Sean McClory, and the doomed-to-die-young Norma Crane. We also see a very early brief appearance by Michael J. Pollard. I don't blame writer Evan Hunter, a talented man, but for casting and directing such a weak performance by Okie-born Kimbrough, both the main director and casting director should have forfeited their salaries for their collective incompetence. Obviously, Hitchcock himself was too busy making the back-to-back cinematic treasures North by Northwest and Psycho to care much.

Peppermint (2018)

Generally not a fan of badass women movies but this one shines

[8/10 · 16 April 2022]

Of course, I SHOULD have trouble with tough, hot, sculpted, non-obese American girls kicking ass because it is so non-existent in real life. The female empowerment thing is done to death, and it's not what 99% of women are about, anyway, thank God. Peppermint was still a knockout, and I agree with another reviewer that Jennifer Garner knocked this out of the park. It really never lets up and is pretty thrilling all along the way. The revenge motive does nothing but help you root for the Mint even more and Garner makes all of her believable. I recommend this one over some of the others I have seen. It may be the best since my main girl Jodie Foster in The Brave One about 15 years ago. Probably even better than that one, with certainly more action. This is a very entertaining, well done action movie worth a view.

Serge Gainsbourg and Charlotte Gainsbourg: Lemon Incest (1984 Music Video)

From Chopin to Jo Stafford to Serge Gainsbourg, the melody lingers on

[8/10 · 10 April 2022]

I love the music so much that I am a fan of all three virgins of Frédéric Chopin's Étude No. 3 in E, Opus 10. This a video showing that piece being sung by Gainsbourg and his then-nubile daughter, Charlotte. Lyrics were by Gainsbourg and this video was shot the same year as Charlotte's acting debut in a French film. She was only 13, only 13, and Daddy was 56. She was too young to fall in love, but in this video, incest is somewhat implied. It may or not really be there, but for 25 or so years before this, Gainsbourg was known for a sense of humor that screams, I don't give a f*** what you think." So maybe it's all just for controversy. The music is essentially four identical performances, copied and pasted in succession, of the main melody, complete with 1980's drum machine sequencing, sung by the two while laying close to each other on a big bed with the camera circling. Pretty hypnotic.

Democracy Now! (2001– )

One of the many places to find biased news

[4/10 · 17 March 2022]

There are so many biased "news" programs and podcasts and such in America and all over Planet Irth. Democracy Now! Is just another. It is one of the most egregiously WOKE shows in the mainstream media. It is NOT independent news. Some of the programs I love the most are ANYTHING but independent, which does NOT refer to opinions or ideology, but simply to the fact that a show does NOT have advertisers. So Democracy Now! Is like every other so-called "independent" program. It is best to watch or listen with a mind that is discerning, critical, and uses reasoning. There ARE objective facts that exist, such as the fact that America has socialism in the guise of corporate bailouts and subsidies; the fact that Congress is a two-party system with legislation obviously made in favor of the wealthiest in the country; that the American economic system is not free market capitalism but is a military-corporate-Congressional-mainstream media oligarchy; and that the war within America is not racial, but the poor and middle-class vs those that own all three branches of the government. NONE of that is subject to argument, so Democracy Now! Is at its finest journalistically when it has stories that remind us of those indisputable facts. Have a mind of your own or you may end up like aromand.

Alley Cat (1984)

Attractive lead lady and that is pretty much it

[3/10 · 28 February 2022]

Possibly the worst fight scenes ever filmed. This lady could not hurt a fly in real life and it is made clear here. Too many times when she "taps" guys with her foot instead of kicking them. Ignore the great reviews here and just DO NOT overlook the obvious flaws. THANK GOD for fast forwarding. I plan to cancel Amazon Prime this week, mostly due to their absurd and unreasonable price being just raised yet again for no justifiable reason makes that decision easy, but this Alley Crap makes it an even easier decision.

A Century of Black Cinema (2003 Video)

Decent history of black cinema

[7/10 · 17 February 2022]

I love film, history, and documentaries in general, so this was just right up my alley. The first half was most interesting to me since it dealt with the more obscure black figures in cinema during the first half of the 20th Century, the time in which I am most interested, whether it be black or white cinema. The second half deals with the blossoming of the blaxploitation 70's through to the end of the 90's. Here you see several rare clips of "behind the scenes" action from the making of these movies. If anything, they may have tried to cram too much into the approximate 100 minutes allotted. No big complaints from me. I would have preferred a more serious and in-depth look at Oscar Micheaux and other black film pioneers and a higher quality of documentary, such as you might find on American Masters, but this was obviously made rather cheaply. It mainly gets a 7 rating from me because of all the great clips. Entertaining but not very cerebral.

The Fugitive: The Witch (1963) Season 1, Episode 2

One of the most ridiculous episodes

[5/10 · 21 November 2021]

If you can stand the way Kimble coddles the little liar and BELIEVE that his coddling led to the liar all of a sudden getting religion near the end, then you probably vote Republican or Democrat and expect good things from either. You probably enjoy commercials and are so gullible that your vote depends on the political ad you just saw. LMAO.

White Fire (1976)

Attractive women in this flick. Only an idiot reviews this as an "attempt at serious porn" LMFAO!!!

[10/10 · 15 October 2021]

Who claims this is "an attempt at serious porn" that fails "BECAUSE OF A BAD SCRIPT????" WHAT an idiotic fool. Hot girls and hot action. And you want a good "SCRIPT?"

Gunsmoke: Gold Mine (1965) Season 11, Episode 15

Absurd

[4/10 · 3 October 2021]

Everyone in town is evil. When Kitty is in this town and later sees Thad, it's not clear as to if Thad is in on it all. Where do they get these ridiculous situations? Gunsmoke is a good, entertaining show but really stretches credulity too many times, like in this episode.

Gunsmoke: Jeb (1963) Season 8, Episode 37

Hi there. My name is stupid

[3/10 · 2 October 2021]

Hampton's character goes around telling everyone, "Oh please, don't hurt me, I'm so weak and stupid!" This hayseed is dumber and more naive than most, so much that I had ZERO sympathy for him. I guess the hillbillies in the Gunsmoke audience sympathized.

Wanted: Dead or Alive: To the Victor (1960) Season 3, Episode 8

The most action-packed episode of the series

[8/10 · 13 September 2021]

However, the action is mostly concerning the age-old war between men and women. The women of a town rebel against their men and Josh is hired to intervene because the men are getting tired of their own inferior cooking. Josh is given a week to teach the women of the natural superiority of male over female outside of the kitchen. Will Josh be up to the task? This review does NOT contain spoilers, so watch it yourself.

Gunsmoke: Comanches Is Soft (1964) Season 9, Episode 23

Early example of Burt Reynold's natural flair for comedy

[7/10 · 14 July 2021]

The character of Festus changed a bit from this, one of his early appearances. He is more obnoxious here and I prefer what he became, more courageous, a bit less obnoxious, yet still a pain in the gluteus maximus to Doc. The humor is pretty broad here but Quint opens up a bit more than usual and the interplay with Festus works. If this had been real life, Festus would either be dead or in the hospital, but it says a lot about both actors that they succeeds here as a mild comedy duo. There are a few things said in fun near the end of the episode that could be offensive to women's groups, especially what a woman herself says regarding physical abuse. Some native Americans might be offended at times throughout, but it was still the era of the traditional Western and pretty much traditional everything, so wisecracks should be laughed off, given the relationship of the characters involved. Kathleen Nolan is here as the object of both men's affections, playing a more outgoing version of her character Kate McCoy from ABC's The Real McCoys show, which Nolan had left in 1962 after a contract dispute with Desilu Productions. Loved her on the McCoys and I like her here. Overall, a good episode that leans on the humorous side and shows some of Burt's flair for comedy.

Sinatra in Palm Springs (2018)

Typing sound completely ruins the documentary

[5/10 · 21 April 2021]

This could be a much better documentary without the annoying typing of information graphics repeatedly.

The Queen of Versailles (2012)

An average documentary that does NOT reveal how in America, them that's got shall get, and also keep

[5/10 · 3 February 2021]

Since this documentary was made when it was, it does not show how the Siegel's have been rewarded fabulously for simply being who they are - greedy and materialistic. An American success story, they are somewhat Franco-American, at least by way of the France of olden days. Just like the residents did at the REAL Versailles in the late 18th century, the Siegels love to conspicuously consume, but unlike the famous doomed royal couple of France, the Siegels have been rewarded for their sins. They were disgustingly spoiled, greedy people, having that in common with the top wealthiest who have owned the leadership of Congress in both parties for over three decades beginning with Reagan. So watching the Siegels here, and knowing that as of 2021, the net worth of the Siegels is nearly $1 billion, there is certainly no one who can "feel sorry" for them, IF you even consider for a moment the daily fight of most Americans financially. And that is AFTER a LONG day of underpaid toil. I wonder how much wealth the Siegels have gained since the pandemic began? What lesson can be learned from the Siegels? That once wealthy, it is far from impossible to STAY wealthy, especially in post-Reagan America where the game is rigged as never before. What is MOST damning is how average American citizens themselves worship money and celebrity and are of the belief that possession of wealth and fame is the meaning of life, to be pursued at all costs.

Yes, God, Yes (2019)

I liked the lead actress but NMS

[3/10 · 24 October 2020]

The evil Catholicism angle is tired. I kept waiting for the money shot, but no money shot. Natalia Dyer was appealing but not many other characters. This was totally unfunny with no real purpose for existing.

Radioactive (2019)

Pike's Peak in Uneven Biopic

[7/10 · 14 March 2020]

Rosamund Pike has a penchant for playing determined women navigating oppressive male-dominated environments, from the femme fatale of "Gone Girl" to war photographer Marie Colvin in last year's "A Private War." In the latest example, "Radioactive," Pike delivers a powerful embodiment of another tragic hero named Marie. As pioneering physicist and chemist Marie Curie, Pike delivers a dazzling performance rich with the struggles of a life defined by perilous discoveries and great personal loss. As directed by Marjane Satrapi, this discursive biopic struggles whenever it cuts away from her drama to explore the bigger picture - with peculiar flash-forwards to a nuclear future - but Pike helps fuse it together. Unfortunately, the movie's unorthodox structure stumbles when it veers off on heavy-handed tangents to explain the reverberations of the Curies' research. Pike remains a compelling figure into old age. Anyone unfamiliar with the Curie family legacy will certainly find much to appreciate about their various accomplishments under incredible personal duress and tremendous social upheaval. So overall, this is a gud moovie.

Time Traveling Bong (2016)

I have good taste in just about everything and I like this show

[7/10 · 26 November 2019]

If you don't like it, sorry, you have a deformed and underdeveloped sense of humor. This is like The Time Tunnel from the 1960's and later Quantum Leap from the 1980's but it's a comedy. The Michael Jackson episode was especially clever. Not surprisingly, it didn't last long. Most people don't have excellent taste. In anything. So trust me, it's funny, unless you are culturally bankrupt to begin with or a swing voter who believes what politicians say or somebody who actually likes commercials or thinks reality shows are real.

Gunsmoke: Root Down (1962) Season 8, Episode 4

She is just TOO beautiful

[6/10 · 28 January 2019]

I agree with others that this episode has nothing special to it. It doesn't help that Matt is not involved much in it, either. However, what I found ridiculous and what many men would find ridiculous is that a girl as gorgeous as a young Sherry Jackson could ever be, in any decade or century, would ever be attracted to a mildly-attractive-at-best hayseed with a limp like Chester. Even more ridiculous is Chester's reaction to her ultimate goal. There are many instances of beautiful females being paired with unattractive males, especially in TV, such as The King of Queens and The Big Bang Theory. Sherry Jackson is simply one of the most attractive women in the history of television and although she does a fine acting job here, she is just TOO beautiful for this role, which makes for the irony of her being the best thing about this mediocre episode and the only reason to watch it.