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mattstorm-12206
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The Heart of Christmas (2011)
Some of these reviewers are quite shocking.
I'm not a "pearl clutching" type but my oh my, the venom being hurled at this film as being "just a commercial", well, no it's not just a commercial it's a movie and yes it's also trying to raise funds for....sick kids and desperate parents, what's wrong with that?
Then there seems to be this bickering over the acting with some feeling they have to praise it and others ripping on it. Reality is, the acting was acceptable and got the job done, really not the point of the film.
So, how about I actually review the film itself eh? I don't want to spoil stuff but I'll just say I popped it in a few Christmases ago not super paying attention at 1st cuz figured it was gonna be another standard fare Candace/Hallmark film - which I enjoy them - but just saying I had no idea how serious this was going to get.
I do recommend this film and won't give away specific plot details but will "forewarn" parents, this does deal with the often harsh realities of children getting sick, there's no graphic surgeries shown or anything like that, but this is about a real childrens ward and not all the characters are going to have a happy ending.
Amazing Stories: Santa '85 (1985)
The cast really makes this.
Sure you may find the actual story in this episode as treading some familiar ground but it's the performances that really make this something that should be in your Christmas playlist.
The deputy was really good in all his scenes and played perfectly off the grumpy sherriff. I always love the scene when Santa turns and smiles at the boy whose home he was "robbing".
The icing on the cake is the ending, as said earlier you'll likely predict it but the look on the sherrifs face when he opens that present....you really do feel it.
Sadly, had to take a point off for tacking on the carolers right after, maybe the writers had runtime to fill but it was unnecessary and kinda kills the mood.
The Twilight Zone: Little Boy Lost/Wish Bank/Nightcrawlers (1985)
The Genesis of the cat lady.
While "Little Boy Lost" does hit the feels I gotta wonder how many of those "independent women" in the 80's are now senior citizens wishing they'd chosen "Kenny" instead of their career.
I am baffled by how many people buy this nonsense that most men have careers, most men have Jobs, and they go to them to be able to have food, a roof, heat, etc, not to "follow their dreams".
Coming home to the wife/kids is the dream and the main reason why they do it.
The woman in this story even gets to meet and bond with her son then just tosses him and a loving bf/future husband away to go take pictures, seriously lady? Putting off family "till later" pretty much never happens.
The other 2 eps were good, "Nightcrawlers" was especially wild and a rare treat for skits that are usually simple and on a budget.
"Wish Bank" was a tad too short tho it did make it's point.
Idiocracy (2006)
Movie's funny, comments are depressing
I've noticed everyone who watches this film seems to say the same thing, "it's happening now", while I don't necessarily disagree everyone feels the film's referring to "the other guys", righties think it's about the lefties, lefties the righties.
Having watched Mr Judge's career since the 90's I never found him to be firm in either camp, don't know the man personally just going by his shows/movies he seems to be 1 of those rare types who realizes most people on all sides are followers mindlessly repeating what they've been told.
Does that mean I'm claiming I'm 1 of the geniuses, no, I'd say I'm more in the camp of Joe, pretty average, but there does seem to be less and less average people anymore and I'm surrounded by parrots repeating whatever their particular "owners" taught them to say.
At any rate, guess I should finally say is the film good or not. I found it both funny and insightful, only thing is it doesn't quite stick the landing with the points it's trying to make at times.
In the beginning we see the genius couple giving rational reasons why they aren't rushing into parenthood, ok makes sense, but then the explanation why they don't have them when they're ready is...the man's low sperm count?
That's the cause of the extinction of smart people? Likewise in the future parts, the stupidity of the people was very inconsistent, I mean, they can't grow a plant but can still keep high tech electronics working?
Ah, well, guess you had to make the story happen and it is a goofy comedy but when you're trying to make a deeper point these things stick out more. Still, fun movie overall, I recommend it.
Howling: New Moon Rising (1995)
Come on people, it's harmless fun.
Alright, is this movie scary, no. Is it brilliant, no. Aside from a rather convoluted attempt to tie it to what few clips they could afford from H4, H5 did it have anything in common with the series, no.
But my oh my is this film fun. Nice little small town, "actors" from that town who certainly can't act but are clearly a community in real life and having a good time.
Also unlike most "so bad it's good" films they don't seem to be unaware of their limitations and they just say heck with it making it more charming.
I will say, no sarc, several of the songs were good, even if set to some bizarre in the dark line dancing :)
Sgt. Bilko (1996)
Maybe not for fans of the show
Tho I plan to get around to seeing the show -which I wouldn't know of if not for this film - as of now I haven't but I have noticed most of the neg reviews for this film come from fans of the show who feel it doesn't measure up.
If like me you watch it as it's own thing this was a great film when guys like Martin and Ackroyd still had it. Phil Hartman is great too and this was one of his last performances.
I also really liked relative new comer (at the time) Daryl Mitchell playing the "straight shooter", the contrast between him and Bilko's platoon made some great jokes.
Only criticism I have is the whole Rita subplot, I don't know if that was part of the original show but the movie would come to a dead stop in those scenes.
Halloween Kills (2021)
Strange direction to go in.
The Pros:
Soundtrack - kind of a given, tho many times the music's suggesting we're watching something much cooler than we are.
Some of the kills - while I found most kills to be pretty pointless some were good.
Michael...sorta - I don't like the direction they took him in but I grew up in the slasher hay day and in this current time where everything I liked is now "bad" there's a bit of satisfaction to this icon from my era immersed in modern "woke" society tearing it to bits.
The Cons:
Fan Service - Wow, basically character from the '78 or '18 film now have some prominent past connection or end up somewhere in the thick of things. Then it's the constant reusing of lines from before, basically flat out copying scenes/ideas from other films. Loomis wasn't the worst CGI face ever but it was still weird and just to say "Did Michael kill again?"
The plot/s - The end of the last film gets ret-conned cuz of course, so he's loose and moves into an idea lifted from the drunks in pt4 where townfolk go hunt Michael, not bad in theory but how they do it is so cartoonish, most the extras aren't good actors and the dialogue's so silly even the seasoned actors have you laughing.
The "fake-out" - This plot line with a mental patient was so obvious from the start. I understand how nuts people get when they're scared but it just had me rolling my eyes.
Characters - I've seen many complain about JLC absence but honestly she's a wrinkled old Grandma, why does anyone think there should be some action packed showdown with her? Many characters were brought from the original who were just there to be there, no one was memorable.
The Finale - The physical aspect of it was just a goofy over the top action scene and what they did with Michael was just too out there. The original/'18 film walked a fine line between Michael being a man or something more, say goodbye to that.
I could write so much more cons but overall this film just does nothing other than say "hey remember this guy or girl, line or scene?" "Did we check off all our diversity boxes, set up a sequel, OK then, it's a wrap".
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)
2 different story lines trying to live together
By this point lets face it, the "Halloween" series had run it's course and then some. The whole point of Michael's appeal is he's the unknown, he was never "Jason" or "Freddy" just there for the gore and kill count, the more you do with him the less effective he is.
So now here we are at the 6th film and the 5th had taken a turn that left quite a mystery for even the best writers to answer. That's not to let this film off the hook, it's horrible and I don't know what on earth anyone was thinking here.
The most glaring problem is evidenced by the fact that there's 2 different versions, a Crazy Thorn Cult film and a Michael film both unable to ever truly tell their story because they're always having to try and somehow tie into the others story line.
Had the "Producers" just been a standalone film not named "Halloween" about a cult who create a brutal juggernaut to kill for Thorn it might've worked.
Had the Theatrical solely focused on the Michael story it wouldn't have been on par with the earlier sequels but it would at least have been a step above your usual mindless slasher as for all it's faults 6 did maintain the eerie feel and look of small town America at Halloween.
It's a shame, I would really like to have seen the 2 "camps" have been given the chance to fully make the film they wanted, coulda got 2 decent films instead of 2 horrendous cuts of the same film, at least Danielle Harris was spared this embarrassment, too bad she later did the Zombie films :-/
Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
People sure do hold a grudge
I truly am baffled that it's been nearly 40yrs and people are still whining that this movie isn't part of the Michael storyline.
What's even crazier is I notice any positive review gets a flood of downvotes, really guys? You actually sit here waiting on someone to write a good review just to downvote it. How pathetic.
So yeah, for those who haven't heard by now, this movie has nothing to do with the "Halloween" series aside from unfortunately being given it's name.
It should've been called "Season of the Witch" and I'm confident it would've been received better, I mean 9 out of 10 of the neg reviews are a complaint about "no Michael"
It's a gem from the time Carpenter and crew were at their best and I urge people not to miss out on this great film simply because of the title.
To the people still complaining about the deviation, my goodness, get a hobby.