N2GJ Reviews

In Plain Sight (2008–2012)

Binge-watched this show!

[10/10 · 3 July 2019]

After watching all 5 seasons over the past couple of weeks, I took a peek at the User Reviews on IMDB to see how others felt about "In Plain sight." I didn't notice any reviews (OK, I haven't read them all) that mentioned what made this series so special to my wife and me: it's filmed in, and around, Albuquerque, NM USA! OK, so the geography is occasionally off and some of the venues have disappeared in the intervening years, and some sequences involving travel to other New Mexico places were helped by "movie magic," but so what?! The writing is brilliant, the dialogue and acting are endearing and the characters are fleshed out nicely. My recommendation: watch the entire 1st season and decide then whether you want to proceed with the rest of the series. I doubt you'll be disappointed.

By the way, we watched it on Amazon Prime at no charge as it's included in Prime membership.

Superman Returns (2006)

Singer is a genius

[10/10 · 1 July 2006]

West Windsor High School's favorite son, Bryan Singer, is a genius. The movie is the best action/adventure/comic book adaptation I've ever seen. Move over, Spiderman, you've been trumped! Superman Returns is a faithful, loving homage to the genre, and to the memory of Superman stories past. Brandon Routh is an eerie reminder of Christopher Reeves, and Kevin Spacey's Lex Luthor will always be remembered. Parker Posey, as ever, is a delight, as Luthor's befuddled and bemused gun moll. In short, everyone in the film is delightful.

Bravo, Bryan...may you live long and prosper...hey, wanna do the last three parts of the Star Wars saga? You've got MY vote! Give Superman Returns a TEN!

One Six Right (2005)

Even for non-pilots!

[10/10 · 2 January 2006]

I just received both the DVD and the companion CD-ROM from my oldest (non-flying) son for Christmas. One night between Christmas and New Year, we had dinner with our best friends from college, Doug & Andrea, who came back to our house for dessert and coffee. I had been watching "One Six Right" earlier in the day and left it on pause on the player. When I flipped the TV on "to see what was on" my friends asked what the DVD was I had on the screen.

They know I'm a private pilot but they've never flown with me...in fact, I'm not sure they've ever gone up in a small plane. However, they sat entranced by the lyric beauty of this film. The music, the narration, the cinematography, the poignant stories, all meshed to create an atmosphere they really enjoyed, possibly as much as I did.

The next day I got an email from Doug, who said his wife talked about the film the whole way home! He said she commented that she never thought about how important airports are for our nation's economy. She commented that it was a shame so many small airports were being paved over to create mall upon mall.

I wonder if that might have been part of the producers' motivation for making the film.

She had an epiphany that I hope many others will have -- with the concerted effort by the Federal Government to limit general aviation in the wake of the war on terrorism, it's nice to know the non-flying public can take away a message of hope for the future.

For more information on the film, visit HTTP://www.onesixright.com/ -- you can purchase it at Sporty's Pilot Shop at HTTP://www.sportys.com

DISCLAIMER: I have no connection to anyone associated with the production, distribution, or sale of this movie or associated products.

NASCAR: The IMAX Experience (2004)

This film gets a checkered flag!

[10/10 · 14 March 2004]

First, I confess I'm a HUGE fan of the IMAX format. I also admit to being a fan of racing (although I also admit I'm not a huge fan of "go straight, turn left, go straight again...repeat for 500 miles" type racing). Having said that, if it's got some kind of propulsion unit and goes fast, I'm there!

So, it didn't take much incentive to get me to travel from central NJ to Exit 24 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike to see this movie. Even the thought of shelling out $55 for the five of us to see it (advanced purchase tickets via Fandango) didn't dissuade me. Was it worth it? IMHO, you bet!

The 3-D effect has been perfected. You are there. If you don't like loud noise, don't go! I've never been to a NASCAR race, as our two adult fan-sons have, but they tell me the noise at the track is so loud, it's palpable. Even IMAX's multi-thousand watt setup doesn't really do it justice, they say. I think I got the idea, though.

Kiefer Sutherland performs his lines well. The script is pretty much secondary to the action, although there are some moments of genuine nostalgia (perhaps even melancholy) triggered by some of the images.

Funny footnote: just as the picture was beginning, two rednecks in the audience started shouting at each other, "I can't hear the daggone movie cuz your kid's jabberin' away!" "Oh yeah, come over here and say that!" My sons said "Gee, it's just like in the grandstands!" At least they didn't start shooting....

Of course, once the action starts, who would have heard a gun go off?!

Biker Boyz (2003)

Doh!n't Waste Your Time!

[1/10 · 24 January 2004]

Unwatchable. And we're motorcycle racing fans (sanctioned tracks only, please). Laurence...what were YOU thinking when you signed onto this disaster flick?! Did you think by participating in this that folks would think better of "Matrix Revolutions" by comparison?!

I think this is the first "1" I've ever voted....

GJ

The Animatrix (2003)

I'm going out on a limb...

[10/10 · 8 June 2003]

OK, here it is: this is fiction, very well-done fiction. "The Matrix" is a wonderfully-crafted work of film-making. I can watch it again and again, like many of my favorite films, and gain some new appreciation for the craft of the artists involved in the project.

"The Matrix Reloaded" was far more enjoyable, thought-provoking, entertaining, etc., than the other two films I saw last Saturday: "X-2" and "Bruce Almighty," although I enjoyed all three to one extent or another. Like many sequels, it may leave some of the more rabid fans, whose expectations seem to be far in excess of any objective reality, to come away from the experience more than disappointed.

My motto for them: "If you set your expectations low enough, you'll never be disappointed."

"The Animatrix" is a wonderful addition to my DVD collection. Whether it adds an iota to the Wachowski brothers' franchise is irrelevant to me as a film viewer. I appreciate the art and the fantasy and the extras (especially the "History and Culture of Anime" and the "making of" featurettes). The only anime I've really ever seen was "Akira" so I'm pretty much a neophyte (does "Speed Racer" count?). I found the comments by the artists and historians to be very interesting.

My favorite piece in "Animatrix" is probably "World Record" because it is done (for me) in such a unique, fascinating style. I'm sure experts in the field will chide me for not knowing there are 400 other Japanese films drawn EXACTLY the same way! Oh well...it was enlightening to me, enough so to drag my almost 55 year old body down to the video store to see what else might be found in the anime section. Gotta find out more about this "manga" phenomenon, too (never heard of that before, either!)

So here I am, out on the proverbial limb on IMDB...waiting for the inevitable buzz saws....

GJ

Memento (2000)

Excellent DVD!

[10/10 · 5 September 2001]

Bought DVD (arrived from CDNOW on 04-SEP-2001 by mail!) Watched movie last night (sometimes with wife). Finished Special Features this evening (while wife read mystery). Enjoyed film (as much as anything I've seen this year). Very original, highly non-linear (not sure I've seen anything quite like it).

If you like beginnings, middles and ends, don't bother (you'll be disappointed and apt to think there are plot holes or black holes).

If you are looking for something to see again and again (like I've seen "The Matrix" about fifty times now) give this a try. The rental folks should have it now (definitely try it).

My wife says "it's a ten minute story told in a two hour movie" (she likes beginnings, middles and ends). Besides, there's no butler to do whatever butlers are supposed to do in mysteries (does anyone have butlers anymore?). Vote: 0 of 10 (ouch!)

I'm going to see it a few more times, but I'm more inclined to give it 9 of 10, after my first watch (I'm probably the only person on the planet who liked "Gattaca" after all).

Hey, different strokes (for different folks).

Frequency (2000)

We enjoyed it!

[9/10 · 29 April 2000]

Hey, it's a story...a good one. Lots of interesting twists and turns. The big star is my oldest hobby: ham (amateur) radio! My wife and I are both hams. While we enjoy talking to each other and friends, along with "strangers" around the world, I do worry that some who see this movie will think it's really possible to talk to their dead friends relatives via ham radio! Please don't be disappointed!

Dennis Quaid affects an odd little Queens, New York accent in this film. Actually not too bad for a Houston-born Texan I thought. He carries the weight of the story....

I guarantee that, unless you have a heart made of silicon, you'll feel a twinge of sentiment at least once during this fine family (except for some mild language and effects) film.

Suspend your disbelief and just go to have a good time!

As we say in ham radio...73 and 88 to all!

Any Given Sunday (1999)

LT Surprisingly Good!

[6/10 · 28 December 1999]

Fun: lots of football greats and near-greats in cameo roles; NY Giants legend Lawrence Taylor plays defense again; Pacino believable as coach; apparently very realistic

Not so fun: dark, loud, lengthy (almost as long as a real game), frenetic, non-linear, no sympathetic characters; very realistic; Strong 'R' for language, full-frontal (male) nudity;

The Matrix (1999)

Original!

[10/10 · 28 December 1999]

I thought that "The Matrix" was the most original film I've seen since "Gattaca" and "La cité des enfants perdus" -- very thought-provoking, incredible special effects, eclectic (and loud) soundtrack -- VERY dark picture!

Spenser: Small Vices (1999 TV Movie)

Where is Robert Uhrich et al?

[7/10 · 21 July 1999]

Y'know, my wife and I have EVERY Robert Parker book ever published. We've even read a few of them several times. We've seen EVERY "Spenser for Hire" TV episode at least a few times I think. So....it's awfully hard to sit through this decent outing thinking "Geez, Joe Mantegna isn't bad, but he isn't Robert Uhrich!" And Hawk: we REALLY miss Dr. Brooks! Couldn't Rutgers free him up from his teaching long enough for ONE more project?!

On the flip side, Vinnie and Gino were lots of fun, and it was cool seeing Mr. Parker himself (and possibly his very own canine, playing Pearl, the Wonder Dog?) in cameo roles.

The movie was pretty faithful to the book (after all the author also penned the screenplay). By the way, we're glad we videotaped it: A&E is AWFUL with commercial breaks (but aren't ALL broadcasters these days?!)

So 7 of 10 is all it gets from us. 9, if it's Uhrich/Brooks in the remake!