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david_w_gibson
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True Blood (2008)
7 stars till season 5, then 3 stars
I see why this had such great reviews and a high rating. It's like watching a series porno with vampires. Mostly sticks to historical views except indicating some are just fiction made by the vamps themselves. I've never seen so much nakedness and sex in a mainstream tv show. I only came across thiss several years after it's end because of looking for other work of JANINA GAVANKAR from Big Sky, who's in this for 5 epis or so, and was surprised to find it starred Oscar winner Anna Paquin, and even had Melissa Rauch in it for several episodes while she was on Big Bang Theory. Anyway, even when the storyline was weak, the fresh nude scenes just kept coming. SI swaer I've never seen so many bare nude sex scenes outside of hard core pornos, but maybe I'm sheltered. I kept watching until I was really offended by some writer's blasphemous rewriting of the Bible, which turned me off in a second. Can't really watch after that, and I saw the story going in the trash anyway from that point with the show being overtaken by an international group called The Authority. Anyway, watch the 1st 4 seasons and have fun, but only if A LOT of nudity doesn't offend you.
Echo (2023)
Slowwwww, and built on farcicle premise
Besides al the very slow leading up to current and reiterating all the events in the Hawkeye series, this so slow and then I find out it built on such a farce of a premise that Maya didn't kill Kingpin when she shot him in the eye at point blank range, like 2ft away from his face. That would also make her really bad at what she's been doing for a living, killing people. Like she wouldn't make sure someone like Kingpin was dead, dead, dead, rather than looking over her shoulder the rest of her life. Sorry, if the plot had been any good, and I wasn't so annoyed by the constant ASL interpretations(nobody is going to speak the words while talking to a deaf person in ASL, at least no one good at ASL)
Anyway, maybe there's hope for those that can get past the absurdness of Kingpin surviving, I can't.
Bodies (2023)
Huge plot hole violates logic
This is a good story, although VERY slow at times, like many British dramas, and the gratuitous unnecessary gay sex scenes were a put off for me, as they don't contribute to the story at all, just to get that minor audience views or the agenda still trying to be shoved down consumer's throats. We get it already, not every story needs a gay couple! Anyway, here's the spoiler, story is based on one character kicking off a time travel loop that changes Britain to an authoritarian socialist society,supposedly so "everyone knows they are loved", but being forced on people doesn't go well like most socialist ideas. The plot hole is, the person who kicks off the time travel loop is his own descendant,which means, without him starting it, the loop doesn't exist,his kids,grandkids,greatgrandkids don't exist. They would have needed a person who exists before the loop, to start the changes that make the loop. In this movie, the flaw is that the totalitarian socialist society already exist BEFORE he travels back in time to cause the events that create it. Other than that breaking your brain, the acting is good and story line ok if you ignore or try not to think about the giant flaw, which, really doesn't reveal itself until halfway through. It was a day's worth of viewing, with a lot of fast forwarding through some of the really slow part and gratuitous sex scenes.
Journey to Bethlehem (2023)
Finding & watching this made my day
While I see others here may be too orthodox or too hard core to enjoy this wonderful tell of the greatest story ever told, I found it's original music mixed with more traditional music at the end, along with it's light hearted, but in many ways very realistic approach, very refreshing as well as entertaining. If you truly think on the subject, regardless of the faith of Mary and Joseph and their families, the overall situation the found themselves in had to be truly overwhelming, which the way this script is written, is portrayed very well and with superb acting and sing, with a few very cute musical numbers to original music thrown in. Antonio Banderas really does a superb job, if maybe a little over the top, at being the evil King Herod, and Joel Smallbone is excellent as his loyal, but somewhat disenchanted son. The portrayal of the 3 kings is maybe a bit cheesy, but enjoyable none the less.
All in all, a great film to watch for Christmas, a keeper, and if the last 20 minutes don't stir the Christmas spirit in you, you have none.
Archie (2023)
How to ruin an already successful story
I was excited when I first saw that this was based on Cary Grant and assumed it, as many of the early stars stories, would be interesting. That said, the only thing this did do was to peak my interest in his ACTUAL life, as this movie IS NOT that. I can't possibly imagine how a scriptwriter could take a story, already interesting and pre-written, and absolutely ruin it by simply changes all the FACTS of the story, then have the gall to put a foreword on the movie saying "This is a true story" and "It has been carefully researched", when nothing could be further from the truth. They changed when(before he was even born) his brother died, why his father committed his mother, when(by 30 years) he found out his mother was alive instead of dead like his father told him, left his 12 yr male roommate out altogether, and the details of his death changed completely(he was rehearsing his show, not in middle of a performance). They even got the wrong movie as his last film as Father Goose(1964), which he says in this movie he was away for 3 months filming AFTER his daughter was born, when in actuality, Father Goose was released 14 months prior to his daughter's birth, so even before she was conceived. His last film was released in 1966, the year his daughter was born, Feb 1966, so it's doubtful he was ever away filming after she was born. So I have no idea why they even wrote that into this movie.
All of these EASY to research FACTUAL errors make anything in the rest of the movie doubtful and makes the entire film a work of fiction.
Had this been a fictional story, I'd have given it a 6 or 7, but I love historical dramas and believe that, with minor exceptions of minor parts, they should be retold as accurately as possible, otherwise it's like a teacher purposely teaching millions into the future the wrong history. Movies like this are half the reason why the average person is completely ignorant of world history, which, in my opinion, is partly why history keeps repeating the bad parts.
Mr. Monk's Last Case: A Monk Movie (2023)
really wanted to like it more, but...
I was a big fan of the original series, so, I was glad to see when this came out, but to me it was poorly written compared to most of the originals. My biggest complaint is the murder method was obvious at 32 minutes in. Second, the Monk type OCD scenes were played too long and just became tedious, slowing the plot. Third, Monk's death scene was absurd. You would think for an actual movie, they would have devised a much more intricate plot, especially considering the obvious cost and bring 2 actors out of retirement to reprise their roles. At the end it is a bit less interesting than the average Monk series episode, still enjoyable, like watching a lost episode or an alternate series finale. Maybe they'll reprise the series with better writers.
The Last of Robin Hood (2013)
Wonderfully sad account of his last days
I've always been a huge fan of Errol Flynn's, especially after reading his wonderful autobiography "My Wicked, Wicked Ways", one of the best I've ever read. Most of this movie stays true to what little of his later life is in that. It so sad that his final wishes weren't followed, likely due to his last wife, Patrice Wymore,from whom he was separated who caused problems after finding out about Woodsey. I've also read Woodsey's 1980's interview with People magazine and this movie follows her own account. Although I read another review saying this movie was lackluster, it was exactly what I expected in the winding down of a great actor's career and him finding a last love along the way. It is a biography after all that we already know the ending before we start, that's the thing about watching biographical movies, the ending is never a surprise. You have to accept that before watching or just don't watch. I think most women to Flynn were play things, but all I've read about this last love of his, sounds like it was also his best love, a great way to go out, although very sad for Woodsey.
Justified: Sounding (2015)
Great except for a main plot driver being a huge error
The series is great and so is this episode, except for a main plot device it revealed, that I speculated was wrong from beginning of season 6, to be a fact. That is, if the jail guard that accused Ava of stabbing him actually did recant his testimony against her, which is revealed to be the fact in this episode, then why is she still a forced CI which they constantly threaten to send back to prison? Up until this episode, I thought maybe they were just using the story that her accuser and the cellmate witness recanted to get her out of prison to make her a CI to get Boyd. But in this episode we find it as a fact, as Ava's false accuser got a deal also. If you remember, she was to get out of county jail the next day before the jail guard faked her stabbing him, which is why she was then sent to prison instead. With his testimony against her being recanted, they not only have no grounds to hold her, she also has good grounds to sue(guard was working for the county when he lied), like Dewey did previously, which is another reason they not only wouldn't, but couldn't force her to be a CI.
They then use this erroneous plot device through out the whole 6th season as a major plot driver.
Haunting of the Queen Mary (2023)
Just a mess of incoherent shots
This is a movie begging to be recut. I actually think that if someone took the time to do that, they could get a decent movie out of it. For the most part, what ruins this movie is it's like someone filmed a bunch of scenes then slapped them together in a hurry with what they thought was an edgy jump from past to present and back again, when all they actually did was to completely lose the audience as there is no cohesion between the 2 timelines and the I was left asking "how did that happen?" or why'd he/she do that?" throughout the movie until the end, when there is the slightest of answers for the viewer, but I suspect most, unless actually in a theatre, had quit the movie half way through as I was tempted. This movie screams to be recut into a straight timeline with maybe a little flashing back or forward as that technique is overuse in general and in this film to the extreme. Acting was good, but dialogue between the couple in the present was very lacking. Cinematography was good except it looks like the camera was searching for something to shoot at times. If I had the time and equipment I think this could be recut into a decent movie.
The Survivalist (2021)
Really a shame, it's the storyline details that ruined this
I hated to rate a Malkovich movie so low, but had to on this one. It has a good premise, a good story, decent acting, but the story becomes quite absurd because of the details in how it was written. I'm guessing that was the fault of the director, as it could have been saved with just different direction at some of the most ridiculous parts. The worst of which are the fight scenes, from the 1st one where the girls brother defends her escape, The standoff when the group1st approaches the ranch, where after talking breaks down, the guy defending can't hit anyone with a scoped rifle and neither can the attackers so they all waste an absurd amount of ammo, that they then realize they're short on.. To the group's attack on the ranch. All are so absurdly choreographed to the extent the viewer is saying "why the heck would they do it that way" to "no way anyone would've done it like that". If it were reality, the group should've been dead on their 1st approach to the farmhouse, then, if they survived that, the guy defending the farmhouse takes long breaks that should have given them ample time to get the drop on him, but doesn't. Then, he shoots one in a out building, yet the other 2 attackers act like they never heard the shot and haven't a clue where he's at.
Anyway, maybe someone will redo this using some common sense, because it had the potential to be very good. It's really a shame that given the talent that was available, the director didn't use guide this to a better outcome.
The Blacklist (2013)
Individual cases are good, underlying backstory poorly thought out
The individual cases are good, until they return to the backstory of a poorly thought out bag of bones, DNA test, and is Reddington agent Keene's father.
1st they are the FBI, why has his parentage of Keene even been a question at all when they could, at any time, get his DNA or fingerprints off multiple items he obviously touches in their underground HQ. Real FBI would've answered that question long ago, not gone through all the hoops they did in an earlier episode of Harold snipping the fabric of some old evidence that had Reddington's blood on it.
2nd, what kind of criminal mastermind kills a guy who's place he's going to take, then buries the bones in an old suitcase so that they could be used against him later? So now, in this episode he finally realizes that burning the body is a better way to go? So stupid, it's laughable.
The individual cases are interesting until they keep falling back on this underlying storyline.
The Blacklist: Sutton Ross (No. 17) (2018)
Conclusion of a poorly thought out underlying story
This was the conclusion of a poorly thought out underlying story, the bag of bones, DNA test, and is Reddington agent Keene's father.
1st they are the FBI, why has his parentage of Keene even been a question at all when they could, at any time, get his DNA or fingerprints off multiple items he obviously touches in their underground HQ. Real FBI would've answered that question long ago, not gone through all the hoops they did in an earlier episode of Harold snipping the fabric of some old evidence that had Reddington's blood on it.
2nd, what kind of criminal mastermind kills a guy who's place he's going to take, then buries the bones in an old suitcase so that they could be used against him later? So now, in this episode he finally realizes that burning the body is a better way to go? So stupid, it's laughable.
The individual cases are interesting until they keep falling back on this understory.
And then, the henchmen are willing to die to let Keene get away?
The Blacklist: Lawrence Dane Devlin (No. 26) (2018)
Totally the worst episode so far
Who writes this stuff? Do they have ANY real life experience? Have they ever held a tire iron in their hand? As another critic has said, they take a proven capable Mossad agent, Samar, and turn her into a damsel in distress, who is smart enough to get out of her restraints, but not smart nor skilled enough to take down the overweight fat guy who restrained her. Instead of kicking his ass when he opens the van doors, she just kicks him down and runs, and can't even seem to run fast enough to get away from him. Then, when he crashes the van, she gets impaled by a tire iron that magically appears(because if it had been there earlier, there's no chance she wouldn't have used it on him) because he passes out from her puncturing him with a stick, all of a sudden he wakes up and with full vigor escapes the overturned van. Then, after a bear gets him, the bear magically has the strength to push the van over and down a hill into the water. Then the magical tire iron breaks in half as she tries to use it to escape the cage in the van. That's a trick I'd like to see in person, a 130lbs woman putting enough pressure on a tire iron to not break the lock, but to break the tire iron in half(just to give the writers out there a clue, tire irons don't break in half, a super strong person might bend one, but even superman would only bend it). Then, when the van is almost submerged, she's trying to escape via the part that's fully submerged instead of the part that has an air pocket.
No wonder the studios want to use AI to write more scripts after watching this crap. My 4 rating is generous.
Space Pups (2023)
Very cheesy low budget, but very cute
When this 1st started I wasn't sure about it because it was so obvious it was low budget. Turns out that the the effects were actually good as was the story line and it was just too cute to turn off, even though the acting was definitely B movie quality. What it lacked in acting, it made up for with a great story that was well written. The 2 kids and Marvin were the best actors, although, to be fair, they also had the best dialogue, as did the pups and the CGI or AI, or however they did the pups mouths and movements was done very well.
I'd definitely recommend this for any family with kids or any adult looking for some light Sci-Fi comedy to pass the time as I did.
Deadloch (2023)
Could've been a decent show, but...
This started as what seemed like a decent show, then quickly descended into the ridiculous, culminating with the arrival of Madeleine Sami's overplayed character and from that point on is only watchable if you can grit your teeth and get through the absurd scenes where her character acts less like a detective and more like a character from Animal House, looking for the rest of the cast, stoned and drunk at the same time with no training and no ethics. It's bad enough that the whole town, including a police force that makes Police Academy cadets look smart ,is played like they all are trying to perform for a who can be the most absurd character contest. My advice, only watch this if you have a high tolerance for idiocy, not comedy.
Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023)
very poorly written
Wanted to like this, but as in the series, the writing is so bad, with factual, plot, character errors throughout and makes the police look totally unrealistically incompetent. And Luther must have mind reading powers bc he deduces things without even knowing any facts. Even the criminal "mastermind is so incompetent and unrealistic as to be dull, almost ridiculous. If you didn't mind the show, you won't mind this, but definitely not for the Sherlock or Columbo fan who enjoys a smart storyline with twist and a reasonably intelligent detective that actually uses facts to solve the case. I have to put in a spoiler to illustrate bc it's necessary, no one could find that many people who had a secret so dire that they would be willing to strap on a camera and video themselves committing suicide by jumping off a building.
And no one would walk a "mile and a half" (see, another ludicrous error, don't they use kilometers in England?) in an area with 20 feet deep snow(got to be way below freezing for snow to stay and get that deep) in street shoes and leave their long coats totally open. SMH.
And I REALLY want a cell phone that can transmit from 40 feet under water, LMAO.
A shame, Idris Elba is so much better than the writing this tripe had for him. They should ditch the Luther character and just make him the next 007, at least they get better writers for those movies.
Luther (2010)
Really poorly thought out and written cop show
This makes English police look like keystone cops. Really poorly written plots and reactions by police. Police never handcuff suspects behind the back. Police allow victims onto crime scenes unescorted and walk suspect out, uncuffed, and victim comes up behind and kills him. Then finally, suspect cop in murder of his wife, when he made a cellphone call , from blocks away, to his superior telling her to send an ambulance to his wife's place bc his partner shot her. Yet, with all this evidence, they take the partner into confidence on a manhunt for Luther. All poorly written/thought out scenarios. I love Idris Elba, but can't believe this show kept renewing for six years.
Wolf Pack (2023)
terribly written
Really hoping this was better seeing Sarah Michelle Geller in it, but the writing really sucks,especially continuity. They have houses burned in a fire, but all the trees and bushes around the houses are just fine,green as ever. And people get OUT of thier cars and a bus, because a herd of wild animals is running from said fire,so the people mostly get killed by the animals EXCEPT, which is maybe even worse than the stupidity of having them get out of their cars, the people the wolves attack, SURVIVE! But, now they get a warning that because they survived, the wolf that bit them is coming back to finish the job. So bad, it's lauable that a screen writer actually got paid to write it and that SMG would co star in it.
The Rookie: The Choice (2022)
Lame storyline
Unrealistic, lame storyline with obviously ignored plot points where they could've save the girl, but just ignored obvious routes to prolong the story to a more dramatic conclusion to make it a close call. Fire dept could've not only used a chop saw on the tank once they were in the basement, but also on the electrics going to the tank. Instead they have the cop beat on the plexiglass with a hammer while they dig up a generator(and how do you bury a generator that can generate 2000v of electricity? Motors need air, and that would have to be one huge generator, which would also be noisy, even "buried"
Better Call Saul: Saul Gone (2022)
How could anyone think this episode was a good ending?
The last three episodes of this show are like they were written by a hack newbie trying to be edgy and different and blowing it big time. Especially this episode, the series finale. Total BS, no one no how would do what he did in this episode. The writers have obviously no clue what prison is, or the differences between particular prisons. But Saul would have known, and therefore, he especially, would not have done what he did. Only someone totally oblivious to the prison system would have written this.
Better Call Saul (2015)
Score is only for up to last 3 episodes then a 3
Great show all the way until the last 3 episodes, then it falls off a cliff like someone else wrote it. Trying to be edgy and different, I guess, but to me seemed more like filler because the show climaxed too early. They blew it as far as I'm concerned, especially the last episode, because no one, for any reason, would do what they wrote him doing. No way, no how, and especially not Saul.
The Forgiven (2021)
was liking it until
I was liking this up until the end bc it seemed a movie about forging others and yourself for some of the terrible mistakes we sometimes make in life, then it turned, so lost all that.
Better Call Saul: Nippy (2022)
total let down
So, Saul goes from major intrigue with international drug runners to...small time thief? Total disappointment and way below what anyone would expect. Haen't even finished the episode, it's running as I type this...hoping for a twist?
Done now, what a waste of an hour!
The First Lady (2022)
haven't watched, but worst casting ever
I don't mean to be cruel, but what idiot cast this show? Aaron Eckhart as Gerald Ford? Viola Davis would have been spot on, 15 years ago. And Gillian Anderson as Elenore Roosevelt? She was a great caring lady to be admired, but far from even close to Gillian Anderson, in looks and stature. And I hope they put that skinny guy playin Dick Chaney in a fat suit.
The Rookie: Real Crime (2022)
Way to ruin a great show
It's amazing that someone got paid to think up a way to ruin a great show by filming it like a reality show, which is the furthest thing from anyone watching a really good drama wants to watch. When wil Hollywood get it, that the reality TV niche, is just that, a niche, people either like that, or a really well written drama with great acting, rarely both. And these studios do it all the time, take a show that has one type of audience and do a "musical", or "reality", or "Blair Witch" type FPS episode. It's like they are trying to chase their audience away. I look forward to this show, The Rookie, every week, and expect iit to be done in the same style it normally is. I think it boils down to the writers being lazy when they run out of ideas. Which is really pathetic in a cop show considering how many well documented true crime stories are available to them to use as ideas.