petewood-59951 Reviews

Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities: Lot 36 (2022) Season 1, Episode 1

I really wanted to like this

[1/10 · 7 November 2022]

A great premise that could have been told in a little over twenty minutes like most episodes of Alfred Hitchcock and the Twilight Zone. Instead it drags and drags and drags thanks to padding, illogical moves by the characters, and scenes that just aren't needed.

Where to be begin?

1. Suppose you are a loan shark and somebody owes you money and you promise him one more day? Do you give him time to get the money? No, you have a thug beat the crap out of him and vandalize his truck, his only possesion with any real value.

2. Suppose you are the schmuck who owes the money and you potentially have a piece of propety worth three hundred thousand dollars and you encounter somebody willint to pay. Do you follow the very specific instructions of that person to get your money which you need that night? Nope. You continually antagonize the guy and disobey him even when you encounter a trapped demon even if you don't beleive in demons.

3. Suppose you are a collector and you encounter somebody who has a very dangerous demon summoning book in a storage locker. What do you do? Do you take charge of exploring the locker, pay the guy a little extra cash, maybe a few thousand to stay out of the way? He can watch, but he can't interfere? Nope, even though it is a very dangerous locker, you let the moron run the show.

The demon when it finally appears is just a writhing monster. It kills and then bam the episode ends. Two people die pointlessly.

So many scenes they could have cut. The opening death scene. The episode doesn't really take off until the demon expert shows up.

Very disappointing.

The Outer Limits: The Tipping Point (2001) Season 7, Episode 19

Idiot Plot and Reverse Engineered

[1/10 · 5 November 2022]

The writers wanted the bad guys to win. So, they came up with the ending and then tried to make the story work.

1. Law enforcement act like morons and do a cursory investigation of the murder. Check.

2. Computer program can't be stopped, because it is all knowing and can access every surveilance camera on the planet. Check. Never mind that many cameras aren't online and many cameras only record to a tape and cameras don't cover everything.

3. The good guy has to let the bad guy win. So, let's make him into a bad guy for the shock ending and let's let him betray his friend so she can be killed by the computer. Check. There is zero reason for his character's change. Zero.

Horrible writing.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Crystal Trench (1959) Season 5, Episode 2

I just couldn't feel sorry for these people

[1/10 · 3 August 2022]

The ending is a twist, I guess. I found it underwhelming, because the two main characters were just so pathetic. The husband is frozen literally, but the widow and the suitor are frozen too emotionally for forty years. At some point they should have just moved on with their lives.

One of the worst episodes of the series.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: A True Account (1959) Season 4, Episode 34

this town needs a new district attorney

[2/10 · 30 July 2022]

Three people die under the watch of the same woman in very similar circumstances. Don't they do autopsies in this town?

Completely unbelievable.

And the death of the attorney at the end especially makes no sense. He knows his wife is a murderer, but still is a victim. Why didn't he just confront her or get a divorce?

Ridiculous underwhelming episode.

Cheers: Carla Loves Clavin (1991) Season 9, Episode 22

My least favorite episode of Cheers

[1/10 · 27 July 2022]

I hate this episode for the simple reason that Carla should have won that contest and Sam threw her under the bus. I thought they were friends. It was not funny when the most attractive contestant, an incompetent waitress, wins over Carla. Not funny at all. And then when Sam puts the moves on the winner instead of consoling his friend who should have won - or blessing out the judges-- that's just another kick in the teeth. Carla deserved to win and messing with her for a joke that doesn't even deliver is just wrong.

Maid: Ponies (2021) Season 1, Episode 2

A little research, please

[7/10 · 5 October 2021]

I really wish that tv shows would bother talking to real attorneys before depicting one. You can't give somebody notice of a hearing over the phone. You can't end of story. And no judge in the world is going to proceed to a termination of parental rights based on a mother, who hasn't been properly served, not showing up for an emergency hearing. Not to mention that judges aren't fools. Dad is hardly in the drivers seat here. The phone call from the lawyer yanked me completely out of a pretty good show.

Midnight Mass: Book VII: Revelation (2021) Season 1, Episode 7

What a letdown

[4/10 · 1 October 2021]

Honestly, I liked the series much more before they brought in the supernatural elements. It worked just fine for me as a story of some compelling characters in an unusual setting. I liked the relationship between Father Paul and Riley before all the vampire b.s.

Once the supernatural mumbo jumbo started, people started acting like idiots. A half dozen people disappear on an island of only a hundred some folks, no big deal. No need to search for them.

The doctor, the most credible person on the island bring up a theory to explain the miracles and disappearances? By all means, assume she's delusional.

Ask the sheriff to do his job? Are you kidding? Suddenly he has some 9/11 backstory and doesn't want to investigate Christians. So, why did he take the job in the first place.

The ferry stops running. Oh, gosh, we're trapped. Nevermind, calling the mainland law enforcement or just having a boat from the mainland come to rescue them. Or, heaven forbid, just have the sheriff force someone to take the doctor and friends to the mainland due to a medical emergency.

The last episode was really hard to take. And, completely uncool on killing all of the characters we were rooting for.

Just a mediocre ending to a show with great promise.

Midnight Mass: Book VI: Acts of the Apostles (2021) Season 1, Episode 6

Stop stalling. Get on with the story.

[3/10 · 1 October 2021]

I used to hate on Lost when they would drag out the storyline by people never asking questions or giving incomplete accounts of things. Now Netflix is dragging out the series by suddenly going full blown idiot plot.

Riley's mother screams at her son's girlfriend and accuses her of joking when she tries to explain what's going on. The girlfriend doesn't explain further. She just walks away.

Then the sheriff listens to the doctor, who has been nothing but pragmatic and sensible the entire series and refuses to take her theory seriously. Then he refuses to investigate, because he can't, because of 911. Give me a break. He has been diplomatic and investigated everything brought to him by the locals and suddenly he has reservations and is questioning the motives of probably the most reliable person on the island? Why? Because if he did his job, there wouldn't be an episode 7.

The Movies That Made Us: Ghostbusters (2019) Season 1, Episode 3

Great documentary with two minor flaws

[9/10 · 21 September 2021]

If you like the movie, you'll like the documentary. Interesting glimpse behind the scenes.

Two drawbacks. First, it's too short. Second, I could have done without any of the Ernie Hudson interview. He pretty much just whines about how his part got cut. Have you seen the movie, Ernie? Do you really think they should have cut the scenes of any of the other characters to give you more screen time?

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Museum Piece (1961) Season 6, Episode 25

A rare misfire

[1/10 · 1 September 2021]

The only compelling thing about this episode is seeing Ed Platt, the Chief from Get Smart, with hair.

Nothing works otherwise. The characters are unlikable which admittedly is not unusual for the show, but poor writing a complete lack of logic sink the episode.

I've seen the episode twice and for the life of me I just don't see what the Dad's beef is with the D. A. As far as I can tell Ed Platt's character is just doing his job. He's professional from start to finish and doesn't seem to have any sort of political agenda. I don't know that he had a whole lot of choice but to prosecute the kid.

If anyone in the movie has a legitimate beef, it is the D. A.'s office who have to put up with incompetent law enforcement who can't seem to solve the mysterious disappearances of the head D. A. and the detective. Even after the Detective goes to the museum on behalf on an official investigation and nobody connects his disappearance with the sudden appearance of yet another skeleton.

And, who would want to go to that museum anyway?

Skip this episode.

Who exactly would go to Dad's creepy museum?

And.

Oxygen (2021)

Dull and stupid and padded beyond belief

[1/10 · 12 May 2021]

This movie had maybe 15 minutes of story, if that. Idiotic plot contrivances drag it out. Like the 911 operator who thinks she's joking, because that's what 911 operators do. Or the A. I. programmed to not answer questions or be helpful in any way. Or the sheer stupidity of basically tying somebody up inside a life pod and then not having a way to open it from the inside. Can't see the point of that except to stretch out the first ten minutes of the film. This is the future and the best solution for somebody trapped inside who needs to escape is to bang on the door and scream. You gotta do better than this, Netflix. First Stowaway and now this. Hire some damned writers.

Red Oaks: Body Swap (2015) Season 1, Episode 7

Bait and Switch

[1/10 · 2 April 2021]

If I wanted to watch a lame fantasy show, I'd watch a lame fantasy. What a huge misfire. Why in the name of God would you change the format of a charming, funny, and authentic coming of age dramedy by inserted a ridiculously out of place body swap plot? There is nothing good about this episode. Nothing.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Happy Birthday (1986) Season 1, Episode 18

Just implausible

[1/10 · 18 March 2021]

With friends like this guy has, who needs enemies? I figured out the big twist as soon as the fake cops showed up at Lane Smith's house to arrest him for murder. So, he is clearly having heart issues and possibly a heart attack five minutes into the oh so funny joke. When he keeps getting worse and worse physically at what point were the fake cops planning to tell him it was all a joke? Better to let him keep panicking and risk a heart attack then to risk spoiling the big surprise party at the end. What an absolutely idiotic plot.

A Whale for the Killing (1981 TV Movie)

Read the book

[3/10 · 8 March 2021]

It's sad that only two movies have been made from the works of Farley Mowat, Canbda's master storyteller. Never Cry Wolf is much better. This movie whitewashes a rather complex situation. Good outsider v. evil locals. The truth is that Mowat comes across as a bit of a jerk in the book. Many of the locals resent the attention he brought to their small coastal Newfoundland town. And I can't say I blame them. Was the way the locals treated the whale wrong? Admittedly, yes, but the impression I had was that Mowat turned the locals into proxies for the entire wasteful and somewjhat criminal whaling industry. The Newfoundland locals didn't hunt whales and, for the most part, lived somewhat in harmony with nature. They didn't overfish and lived fairly simple lives. They shouldn't have shot at the whale, but whales getting caught in coves was pretty rare. Mowatt himself admitted that. And there was a pretty good chance the trapped whale would have starved to death anyway. The locals behaved horribly to the whale, but in the grand scheme of things they proved over and over again that they were not the bad guys. Skip the movie. Read the book.

The Love War (1970 TV Movie)

Lloyd Bridges can't carry this by himself

[3/10 · 25 February 2021]

The only thing I liked about this movie is Lloyd Bridges. Everybody else is just way too wooden. The ending makes no sense given the paremeters of the game. If this three on three matchup of the two planets is really a substitute for war, it's really hard to swallow that it is so easy to cheat in the game. The evil side breaks the rules constantly even to the point of having four aliens instead of three. Wouldn't somebody be monitoring things?

Behind Her Eyes: Behind Her Eyes (2021) Season 1, Episode 6

Idiot plot

[1/10 · 19 February 2021]

For Rob's scheme to work, two things have to happen. One, David has to act like an absolute asshole to Louise so she can sympathize with the fake Adele. Check. Two, Louise, even after she realizes that Adele is a sociopath, has to confide crucial information to her and behave generally like a moron. She ignores the warnings of countless people to get away from Adele. Then when Adele contacts her and threatens suicide, Louise astral projects over so Rob can pull the old body swap again. I mean, why wouldn't Louise bother to do what most of us would do and call the cops? Cringe worthy.

Behind Her Eyes: The Second Door (2021) Season 1, Episode 5

You lost me

[1/10 · 19 February 2021]

So a pretty decent psychological thriller becomes mediocre fantasy. I cringed when the astral projection popped up.

Behind Her Eyes (2021)

Reverse Engineered

[1/10 · 19 February 2021]

I think the whole problem with this series is that the ending was going to happen come hell or high water. Rather than have the characters behave logically, the characters had to reach that twist ending which wasn't that much of a twist, because it was pretty much telegraphed in episode 5. I honestly liked it better as a straight psychological thriller. When they brought in the hokey magic, I just cringed and hoped it wouldn't end the way I feared. Great acting, but way too much implausible behavior. Rob meets Adele's fiance and after one day decides he loves him so much that he's willing to switch bodies with Adele and kill his old body. Then he has to hope that Adele stupidly goes into his almost overdosed body before his old body dies. Then he has to convince David to dispose of the body and hide it instead of calling the cops. Then he in Adele's body has to somehow convince Louise, David's mistress to be friends with him so he can teach her astral projection so he can switch bodies with her. Uh huh. Then David, who is really the good guy has to act like a damned asshole to Louise so she sympathizes with "Adele." And even when Adele and David are alone they speak cryptically about the past instead of just coming out and saying stuff. And David when he tries to warn Louise about Adele keeps acting like an asshole and his warning about her comes out more like a threat from him. But I cried BS the most when Adele contacts Louise and tells her she is going to kill herself. Instead of calling the cops like any sane person would do, Louise astral projects over. WHERE SHE COULDN'T HAVE HELPED ANYWAY!!!! And Rob/Adele pulls off the body switch again. God, I really hate the body switch trope. I was loving this show until episode five when the hocus pocus took front and center and nobody behaved sensibly. Very disappointing.

The Twilight Zone: The Wunderkind (2019) Season 1, Episode 5

Just insulting

[1/10 · 6 December 2020]

If you want to criticize Donald Trump there are better ways than poorly written thinly veiled allegory. Implausible, nay impossible, tripe. Don't waste your time. Simply insulting to the viewer. None of the events of this episode could ever happen. Even, though this is the Twilight Zone, where are manner of magic and fantasy make things probable, this episode assumes that a kid could become president under our current rules and laws. Give me a @#$#$@ break. This would have been such as easy fix, but, no, the writers had to make a point about the stupidity of the American voter.

The Haunting of Bly Manor: The Two Faces, Part One (2020) Season 1, Episode 3

I am done

[1/10 · 11 October 2020]

The Haunting of Hill House had great source material, a novel take on its inspiration, likable characters, suspense, horror, wonderful jump scares, a premise that made sense and even a sense of humor. This follow up has none of that. It's boring. Nothing scary has happened yet. The characters are all unlikable. I honestly couldn't care less what happens to any of them. I don't get it. How can this be so bad? It's got some of the same actors and some of the same production team, but it sucks. I am done after three episodes.

The Kominsky Method: Chapter 16. A Thetan Arrives (2019) Season 2, Episode 8

Strained credibility

[4/10 · 21 August 2020]

I love this show, but the whole Allison Janney guest spot just seemed idiotic. Why would an actress agree to guest lecture an acting class only to attack her host? Especially when her host's best friend is one of the most powerful people in Hollywood. I got the feeling that the Allison Janney bit was some sort of inside joke. I got a Cannonball Run feel. It didn't work for me and just came across as annoying and unrealistic.

Maniac: The Chosen One! (2018) Season 1, Episode 1

Can't wait for episode 2

[9/10 · 13 July 2020]

I have no idea where this is going, but Jonah Hill and Emma Stone have sold me on the series already. Rock solid acting by both who are playing against type. I like that this science fiction series is rooted in character and small technological changes. Its world could very easily be our world. No over the top gadgets, just subtle differences. Looking forward to episode 2.

The Chalet: Épisode 6 (2018) Season 1, Episode 6

A good series to binge

[8/10 · 12 July 2020]

I liked that. It wasn't perfect, but it held my interest. You can't think about it too hard, because it just doesn't add up. Why didn't they just rig something to cross over the broken bridge? The gap wasn't all that big. Nobody ever considered that option. For that matter, why didn't the two adult kids just go into town and kill the murderers on just about any given night? Nobody lived there except for the goons who killed their parents. Why the need for the elaborate Wedding scenario with so much collateral damage? Many people have compared this series to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. It is similar in premise only. One big difference is that Agatha populated her book and the movies with some pretty distinct and memorable characters. I honestly had trouble telling some of the people apart in the Chalet. Except for Sebastian, the guys all looked kinda similar as did the women. Few even had unique hairstyles. Sometimes that made viewing frustrating. I didn't really like anybody in this show, but I loved the set up and the suspense. But, everybody in the series, was either boring or evil. Not much of a choice. Anyhow, I was quite happy with it overall. Glad I saw it.

The Chalet: Épisode 1 (2017) Season 1, Episode 1

Well worth your time

[10/10 · 10 July 2020]

I had to watch the first episode twice to understand what was happening, but that's okay. Some shows I can't stand to see even once. The show tells two connected stories twenty years apart at the same chalet in the French Alps. There are a lot of characters and a lot of subtlety. Pay close attention and don't be afraid to rewind or pause or even watch the episode a seond time. Good acting and good writing make for a good investment of your time.

Tales from the Loop: Transpose (2020) Season 1, Episode 2

Is anyone in this town happy?

[3/10 · 9 July 2020]

I am done. The show ends with one of two teenage boys in a coma which reeally isn't much of a stretch, because everybody in the whole blessed town seems catatonic to begin with. Nobody laughs. Nobody seems to enjoy life. People kinda shuffle around like they are in the old Soviet Union and desperately need psych meds. I wouldn't want to hang out with any of these people. The second episode committed the same sin as the first. It stretched out a twenty five minute story to at least double that length. Nothing about this episode held my interest. Nothing. Not the tired plot, not the boring characters. Nothing. The story was just meh. Freaky Friday did it better, much better. I really wanted to like this show. I really did. But I am done.