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Reviews
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Ho Hum maverick
I was really anticipating this movie. I really enjoyed the original, but the sequel left me laughing at some parts of this film. A bit contrived, an incomplete story and just a showcase of hardware and special effects. I learned about 5th Generation Fighter Planes (or did I) and I appreciated the Co-Stars who needed a paycheck. Ed Harris? Jon Hamm? Jennifer Connelly? Val Kilmer was a nice touch though. Other than that, I was not very impressed and I dont know how this movie has the inflated rating shown. Is there a Top Gun 3 with the Grandson of Pete Mitchell shooting down UFOs in His Space Force Fighter? Sorry this is pretty much forgettable...
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
An unmatched Christmas Classic that is 57 years old!
I love "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Whats not to Love? Wonderful Characters, a Theme of the "Real Meaning" of Christmas and the Soundtrack of original and traditional Holiday Music. I have watched this maybe 100 times. I have bought countless copies on DVD for the little people in My life. So much to enjoy and so much to learn from these simple Characters. The Soundtrack by Vince Guaraldi stands by itself as a beautiful assortment of Music. The version of Linus and Lucy is especially good, with a too short Jazz Break right in the middle. Its like biting into Your favorite Chocolate and tasting the delicious center...
Entourage (2004)
The Best of Television
I watch this entire series about once a year. Its so well written and the acting is Top Shelf. Its a genius production all the way and Spoofs Hollywood in a Funny, Smart way. The Five Main Characters are never boring. The action is constant and hilarious. The many cameos by all kinds of Hollywood Names shows how much respect there is for Entourage. I'm glad they didnt try to make it about Mark Wahlberg exactly. It wouldnt have been half as interesting. The Premise is Golden and everything else just added to it. What is Adrian Grenier, Kevin Dillon, jerry Ferrara and Kevin Connolly doing today? I compare it to Seinfeld, where the Characters are so much identified, its hard for these Actors to ever top their Roles...
The Power of the Dog (2021)
Powerful Dog?
Hate to be harsh, but it took Me three tries in order to finish this Movie. And I wonder why I bothered. Some famous names and a noted Director involved, but I it is a Story with very narrow appeal. I love Movies and Good Movies can be viewed multiple times for my interest. Power of the Dog isnt one of them...
Reacher (2022)
Reacher on Steroids?
Having read all or most of the Reacher novels, I was first surprised at the Musclebound specimen they cast to play him. First departure from the Book. Also, it is taking 8 episodes to tell the Story of one Book. Thats stretching things out a bit. I think they could do 2 Books in one Season without jeopardizing the Story integrity. Entertaining but not compelling...
Long Gone (1987)
A Fun Baseball Movie
One of my longtime favorite sports films. Small town Flavor and good hearted American fun! Have always admired the Smoky Goodness of Virginia Madsen. She has a Great Character and wonderful Lines and She doesnt waste them. Easy to watch and very amusing...
Goliath (2016)
Whats the Story??
Season 1 was GOOD! Season 2 had interesting Characters but I still cant figure out the Plot. Season 3 is just too weird. Its like watching while high on Quaaludes. I had to cut it off after two Episodes. The Writing has become getting increasingly Dense and almost impossible to follow...
Kate (2021)
Unrelenting Violence
Unrelenting Violence? You bet. And it gets really boring after a while. There is barely a plot here, this is just an Action/Violence movie. The minor departures are the Female Heroine (?) and the DARK version of Japan. I wonder what the Japanese think about this. Its really hard to root for Kate, because You never get to know her...
Beckett (2021)
Another Weak Offering from Netflix
I began to Drift less than halfway through this Movie. While its always nice to see Alicia Vikander, Her early exit really doomed this. The Story is Murky at Best and the Characters are not very well defined. I suppose knowledge of Greek Politics might have helped. Netflix needs better guidance on the projects being Developed and Shown...
Contagion (2011)
Good Movie! Consistent with Reality
I enjoyed this movie. Good Writing and Good Performances by an impressive Cast. In the Special feature extra, there is an interesting Animated Short that does a Good Job explaining what a Pandemic Is and how it Works...
The Postman (1997)
Way Too Long
Yet another take on the Apocalypse but this film is at least ONE HOUR too long. Costner likes His epics, but this one lost my attention in hour three. Lots of mumbling and writing gaps...
The Great Gatsby (2013)
Ho Hum
Considering the Material, the cast and the $$ spent, this was not an interesting Film. I anticipated much more, but was tempted to turn it off early. It was difficult if not impossible to find a Sympathetic character...
The West Wing (1999)
Sweet Solace when a GOP Prez is in the White house
I am watching the West Wing for maybe the Tenth Time! I have a Framed Photo of Martin Sheen (As Jed Bartlet) on my Wall of Heroes! Whenever we have a Republican in the White House, especially NOW (with that A**hole Tr*mp), I watch the West Wing to ease my ANXIETIES! Kudos to Aaron Sorkin, John Wells and Thomas Schlamme! Along with one of the Best Casts ever assembled. Long Live America...
The Mule (2018)
Slow moving. Lots of name talent wasted here...
This was likely the Slowest Eastwood Film, of recent vintage. The Elements of a more interesting Film were there but sadly unused. Bradley Cooper was wasted here, as was Dianne Weist and Andy Garcia. The Great Moral of the Story was muddled and failed to add much to the conclusion of this film. A 7 score is Generous from me...
L'amica geniale (2018)
Story Telling Excellence
This is a wonderful show with true storytelling. I did not read the Book but I will now. Icant say enough good things about this! Engaging, Enchanting, and the ability to make an hour seem like 15 mInutes! The Technical aspects are top shelf (Cinematography, Editing, Direction, Location, Set Design, etc, etc). Bravo! Bravo! More Please!
Jack Ryan (2018)
Only 8 episodes?
I enjoyed this show. Good writing and a great cast. Poor John K looks like Paul Ryan's brother (ugh). I look forward to the next episodes (More Please?!) One Star for each episode...
Apparently, many reviewers dont seem to realize that this series starts BEFORE the written Tom Clancy Novels. He is just meeting James Greer for the first time! Wait until the timeline catches up to the Movie versions and then see how it works out. This is a damn good show. With Homeland ending, its good to have Jack Ryan on the screen...
There are now 3 Seasons in the Can, so here's an update:
Season 1 was Very Good> 8 Stars
Season 2 was Good> 7 Stars
Season 3 was Dark, the Story was murky and hard to follow, and I was surprised that such a lesser product came after 3 years of waiting. And yet, I give it> 7 Stars...
Man on Fire (2004)
Denzel delivers!
If you are a Denzel Washington fan, or just an action movie buff, you have to see this. Its a highly underrated film. A diamond in the rough if you will. I have watched it multiple times. Excellent cast, topnotch director and the golden voice of Linda Ronstadt singing Blue Bayou. it just works and I dont know why Denzel wasnt nominated. His character is fleshed out and easy o relate to. He is a Pro in his Craft. Watch it! And then watch it again...
American Pastoral (2016)
Great acting performances, unrewarding story
After watching about 30 minutes of this film, I wondered if I should plan on watching it again. Sometimes I have some difficulty with plot lines that have no clear direction. As I watched it to the end, I realized that once would be enough. Was it a historical piece? Was it another Ordinary People exercise? The daughter's problems were never adequately explained, even with a psychiatrist character with multiple scenes. It left me hanging, not understanding and with a very quiet ending...
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)
Never Go Back to See it Again
I am a big fan of Lee Child's Reacher novels and this is as poor a conversion from book to movie as I have seen. The plot never rises above Murky. It reminds me of the last batch of Steven Seagal movies. Lots of gunfire and martial arts that make me look for subtitles or dubbing. That bad. Tom Cruise is WOODEN and sometimes unintelligible. Don't waste your time. Just read the book...
The Cotton Club (1984)
The Cotton Club grows on you
This is a great movie. Lush music and dance numbers, love stories, gangster wars and a few laughs too. Great performances by Richard Gere, Diane Lane, the Hines Bros, Lonette McKee, Bob Hoskins, Fred Gwynne, James Remar and even Nicholas Cage. There are more than a few honorable mentions for; Laurence Fishburne, Tom Waits and the dancers of the "Hoofers Club" You have to watch this movie a few times to let it all sink in. I also bought the Soundtrack because the music is classic for the era portrayed. Makes me wonder what Francis Ford Coppola is doing these days. Perhaps he could regale us with a film once in a while. I love his style and attention to detail.I don't think the comparisons to the Godfather are fair. Coppola is known to do accurate period-pieces, especially the early 19th century. This is a fine film.