fullam-david Reviews

D.C. Follies (1987–1989)

An extremely cheap knock off of a better product.

[1/10 · 5 November 2020]

At the time of writing, this, and the far superior show it was ripped from (Spitting Image) are neck and neck in terms of viewer rankings. How? Spitting Image was a trendsetting classic, this was a cheap knock off by folks who should stayed on Saturday Morning. The Krofts made a ton of great shows for various Saturday Morning blocks, top of which was the way ahead of it's time "Land of the Lost." But DC Follies falls totally flat, proving that the Krofts needed to stay in their niche and not try political humor. Fred Willard can't even save it, or was he even trying? One wonders if he knew how off the mark it was and there picking up a quick payday, Cheap, unfunny, and not worth your time.

Joe Piscopo: A Night at Club Piscopo (2012 TV Special)

Wish I could go lower than 1.

[1/10 · 5 November 2020]

Back in the 1980s, Piscopo was not too bad on Saturday Night Live. He also had some pretty funny beer commercials. So what happened? Nothing in this is funny. His dated impressions are maudlin in the extreme, plus way, way, off. He rips off Eddie Murphy's James Brown schtick, just very, very, poorly. How bad is this? Have I mentioned the tired old "white man who raps?" The only man who found this remotely funny is Joe himself. he laughs at everything. Well, at least someone did. You won't. A lot of comedic promise from way back ends as below Borst Belt level.

The Twilight Zone: Walking Distance (1959) Season 1, Episode 5

God bless Rod Serling.

[10/10 · 5 August 2019]

Nothing, and I mean nothing I write can truly explain just how utterly brilliant this episode of The Twilight Zone is. I feel it is the finest Zone of all time, Serling's masterpiece work, and simply one of the most brilliant and powerful works in the history of fantasy television. An episode that only gets more powerful and moving as the viewer grows older, Serling's teleplay gives up a heartbreaking story of how we simply cannot regain the lost childhood we once had. Love it and respect, but remember we can never live it again. And honestly, it's a sad message to be sure. If you had a wonderful childhood and less than fulfilling adulthood who would not want to recapture days of innocence and worrying about only one thing, having fun? But unlike another famous one, Kick The Can, childhood cannot be regained, and you only hurt yourself (literally and figuratively here) if you try. The tragic fate of Gig Young later in life only makes this one more heartrending. And kudos must also be given to the magnificent score by Bernard Hermann, a perfect companion to the heartbreaking visuals. Television was Serling's medium, he was it's greatest writer. Walking Distance is the greatest reason why.

Doctor Who: The Woman Who Fell to Earth (2018) Season 11, Episode 1

The series has been saved!

[8/10 · 7 October 2018]

The previous season of Who was absolutely the worst of the revival, the worst since Trial of a Timelord, and perhaps the worst of all time. Moffat, Lucas, and Mackie seemed hellbent on totally destroying the series, and they very nearly succeeded. Doctor Who was left broken, a laughingstock. It was amazing how a series could be very nearly be tanked by one, truly horrid season. But like a Phoenix, like Jesus Christ, Doctor Who lives again. Chibnall, Whitaker, and all involved did the near impossible. They have saved the series in one episode. And it is only getting started. This is going to be a great ride.

Twisted Nerve (1968)

Unjustly maligned and ignored.

[8/10 · 9 July 2017]

Like many I knew this film only from the review in Phil Hardy's "Encyclopedia of Horror Films." Based on that I expected a piece of totally exploitative trash that would prove highly offensive. Having now seen it, I ask "what film did he watch?" The Twisted Nerve I just watched is a surprisingly good, well made thriller that does not deserve it's critical drubbing or audience ignorance (It is also not a Splatter" movie as the review states). Back in the day it seems that it caused a firestorm of controversy in it's native England as many mistook Martin/Georgie's split personality for mental retardation. It is his brother, not Martin, that is mentally retarded and in no way a threat to anyone. Martin is in fact, a split personality. As Georgie, he is a very likable man/child, sweet and innocent. But as Martin, he's cold, calculating, and dangerously clever. I think this makes for a fascinating hero/villain and Hywell Bennet carries it off with extreme effectiveness. Hayley Mills and Billie Whitelaw are at their loveliest, and overall the cast does extremely well. Could be a tad overlong at nearly 2 hours, but the film never drags once. Forget what the critics say and it's controversial legacy. Give it a chance, you'll be rewarded.

Doctor Who: The Return of Doctor Mysterio (2016) Season 10, Episode 0

It's not looking good.

[1/10 · 7 January 2017]

If this, the latest special, is any indication, then new show runner Chris Chibnall can't get here quick enough. This is without question, the worst special episode of the New Who and inarguably the single worst episode of the run yet. And I am in no way a Moffat hater. Last year's special, with the exception of the horrid Matt Lucas, was the best ever. Moffat has shepherded, in my opinion, one of the show's finest eras and has written shome of the show's finest scripts. This is not one, and it's extremely low quality in all respects was shocking. This is Moffat Doctor Who? Was it supposed to parody the super hero genre, or pay homage to it? You simply don't know. I feel it would have been better if Moffat had turned this over to someone with a better grasp of the genre, because he seemingly has none. The superheroics are extremely lame as is the very generic menace. Of all the characters that could have been brought back from previous seasons, we get the astonishingly obnoxious and hateable Nardole, played by the equally obnoxious and hateable Matt Lucas. And the moment he asked for the little boy's room? That was without doubt, the single most disturbing television moment of 2016. I simply cannot believe that passed the script editing process. What's next for the show, an appearance by Gary Glitter? I sincerely hope the series did not jump the shark. But even if it didn't, this one had the show strapping on the skis. An absolute new low for Doctor Who, a total insult to the fans and the hard work of Peter Capaldi. I pray it doesn't get worse than this. Jerry Warren's "Wild World of Batwoman" did superheroes better. And yes, I know how horrific that sounds. Doctor Who may be in for his greatest threat yet, Moffat's final season.

The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)

Complete and utter garbage.

[1/10 · 23 November 2016]

It's pointless to go into all that went on behind the scenes of this monumental turkey, superb articles and a truly excellent documentary (Lost Soul) have already done so. Suffice to say, had we gotten the original Richard Stanley film (the script is to be found online), we might have gotten a modern Science Fiction/Horror masterpiece along the lines of John Carpenter's The Thing. Instead we got one of the biggest film fiascos, perhaps, of all time. Marlon Brando looks (and acts) an utter fool as Moreau. So sad to see what was America's greatest actor as an overweight mime/clown, his glory days long gone. Val Kilmer is equally horrible in his role, on an incredible ego trip via the Batman film he was in, he gives a truly embarrassing performance that rightfully helped to derail his career. Fairuza Balk, at least, tries real hard. She was utterly disgusted at Stanley's firing and wanted desperately to quit the film. But contractually bound, she was forced to stay. She does well to hide the strain and give a good performance. But it's a shame she has to be associated with this. Other than that, it's the magnificent make up FX of the Stan Winston Studio that shines, and the beast men and women are very, very impressive.

In the end, it gives misfire a new name and only further sullied the later, downward spiral, career of John Frankenheimer. Island of Lost Souls easily trumps this. Even the 1977 version is better. Honestly.

The Internet Ruined My Life (2016)

Disservice to the real victims of Internet harassment.

[1/10 · 26 August 2016]

Internet stalking, doxing, bullying. It's real. It's there. And it is truly awful for the real victims. All honesty, I had to go to court to get an Internet stalker off my back. So pity we get no "real" victims on this series. There is no truth in 99.9% of what is presented here. And it does a major, major disservice to the true victims of these crimes. The Briana Wu episode is so wrong on the basic facts, that the makers of the series should honestly retract it and offer an apology to the public. Wu long ago admitted that the video of the crazy man and the burning car was a hoax! But here, she, and the show, presents it as real and true. Wrong! Yet another great idea ruined by the biggest joke of a network on cable.

Harbinger Down (2015)

What happens when you get your precious feelings hurt.

[1/10 · 20 October 2015]

Writer/director Alec Gillis is well known for both his make up FX, and his large mouth, a mouth that writes checks his rear end can't cash (Such as completely ripping off HR Giger's redesign of the Xenomorph for Alien 3 and working hard to make sure Giger never got credit for it. In the end, Giger won). Extremely butt hurt at having his "highly important" make up creations CGIed over in the infamous prequel to The Thing, he then decided to curry favor with those disappointed in that film, and those who love practical/hate CGI, and raised money to make his own Thing cash in. The result, Harbinger Down, makes the The Thing prequel look comparable to the Carpenter original, no mean feat! The film is little more than a FX reel showcase, and while the work is decent (at best), it's not a wise idea to make a film just because someone ticked you off. Anger is a poor motivator, and as a whole the project reeks of "I'll show ya, I'll make my own film where my FX don't get the CGI post treatment. you big stinky heads." In other words, it's childish. Maturity is not Gillis' strong point, and it shows in the direction and scripting. Basically a SyFy original with a slightly better coat of paint. Go watch the Carpenter version again instead.

Horror's Hallowed Grounds (2006– )

God awful.

[1/10 · 30 August 2015]

A good series about famed Horror movie locations is something that is way past due for the home viewer. So is Horror's Hallowed Grounds a good series? Not in the least. What could be funny and informative is totally ruined by host Sean Clark. Immensely unfunny and untalented (and obviously unable to see it, as the man appears to be his own biggest fan), he comes off as highly disrespectful to the films he covers, making a mockery not only of Horror fans, but Horror in general. Should an episode pop up on a Blu Ray you have purchased, I recommend you skip it and go to the next special feature. YouTube videos shot on Iphones are better produced and are less annoying.

Quatermass and the Pit (1967)

We are the Aliens.

[9/10 · 12 March 2015]

Although heavily condensed from it's original television mini series version(black and white and broadcast live) and thus, losing a little bit of story detail, this is still a remarkably fine, and highly intelligent film, certainly one of Hammer's finest. Arguably the finest. A superb mix of both Science Fiction and Horror, it gives us a wonderful Science Fiction explanation for demonic manifestations, and poltergeist like activity. What's more it stands as just about the best take on the idea of "we are the aliens" ever. We have some very heavy, well thought out concepts here, making for a highly original alien invasion story. We sorely need movies like this now, especially in a time of theaters being overrun with films where loud explosions mask a lack of intelligence and storyline. A shame that Science Fiction and Horror have fallen so far since then. But we have classics like this to remind us of better times. Come on back anytime Doctor Quatermass, you'd be most welcome!

Teletubbies (1997–2001)

The IMDb proves that the Internet should not be open to all...

[10/10 · 9 February 2015]

...if we are to judge by the reviews here by users. The hipsters who think they are funny by dumping on this show, only show themselves to be less than hip, jumpers on a band wagon. Regardless, Teletubbies is/was one of the best children's shows to come down the pike in a long time. Strange, funny, and wonderful, it totally trumps the creatively moribund (look it up up hipsters) garbage that has been force fed children for far too long on PBS. If you must attack a RagDoll production, BooBah is far more deserving of scorn. Now that one truly was ghastly. But for one moment, RagDoll hit the mother lode. Anything that was sweet, amusing, and also angered Jerry Falwell is tops in my book.

Boohbah (2003)

Bizarre failure.

[1/10 · 30 January 2015]

How on Earth could the team that made something as sweet, and lovable as Teletubbies, make something so totally off kilter wrong as Boobah? Instead of characters you want to hug, you get creatures who look like horrific, sentient alien scrotums. Instead of features with real children and families, we get people segments with participants who appear to have been drugged. If Teletubbies was a sweet dream, Boobah was a waking nightmare. All you need to do is watch one episode to understand why it never became as beloved and adored as it's predecessor. Perhaps those under the influence of mind altering chemicals could enjoy it, everyone else stay away.