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Reviews
Dungeons & Dragons: The Book of Vile Darkness (2012)
pleasant surprise
I went into this film expecting it to be awful. I hated the first two films in the franchise - unlike many here, I thought the 2nd film was far worse than the 1st, and the 1st one was bad. I was pleasantly surprised by this one (the 3rd).
Sure, it is cheesy at times. Some of the dialog is stilted, and the acting is spotty in places (like the shopkeeper, for example). The first battle sequence was worrisomely bad (as in, oh no. . .), but mercifully short. However, the rest of the fights scenes were well done. The CGI was much better than the first two films. While it was still obviously low budget, I have seen worse in theatrical movies. So, it was money well spent.
Remember how embarrassed Jeremy Irons looked in the first movie? There's none of that here. The actors try, and for the most part succeed, in playing their parts well. Some of them were quite good, others are amateurish in parts, but over all they were good.
The story was decent. The script could have used some improvements. Without spoiling anything, the end felt rushed and forced. The tone was a much darker take than previous entries in the serious, and that turns out to be a vast improvement.
I am puzzled by a lot of online reviews / summaries of this film, which describe the plot inaccurately, and even list characters and actors that are not in the movie. Even IMDb lists Meagan Good in the cast, when she's not in it. Clearly, these reviewers have not bothered to watch.
In conclusion, I would watch this for free on cable or Netflix, but it might not be worth paying to see. If you are a fan of D&D, RPGs in general, or S&S films, give it a shot, and you may just like it.If you're not a fan of any of the above, I can't relate to you, so this review may not apply. :-)
Threshold (2005)
Shows like this need relatable characters
I did not like this show for one simple reason: I could not relate to any of the characters. Although I'm a well educated individual (Master's Degree), I have zero knowledge of any of the specialties possessed by the "Red Team." Seriously, how many viewers are skilled in microbiology, astrophysics, or linguistics? All of the characters possess knowledge in specific fields that are far beyond anything I can understand. Watching this sort of show expects you to just sit back and say, "Okay, I guess that could happen," counting on the fact that you will have no idea if it actually COULD happen.
For me to keep coming back to a show every week, I need at least one (and preferably more than one) character that interests me on a personal level. It helps if I can envision myself in the character's role, at least on some level. So far, the only stand out performance is Charles S. Dutton, and even that relies on the strength of the actor, not the character.
Note to producers & writers: Create your shows based on characters with more of a down to Earth, everyman personality. Don't have them uttering techno jargon with every other breath. It doesn't make the show sophisticated, it makes it unwatchable. You shouldn't talk down to the viewers, but make sure to talk TO them, if you see what I mean.
Battlestar Galactica (2003)
Truly Awful 1/10
This miniseries is just about as awful as awful can be imagined. The story is incredibly weak, few of the characters are even remotely likeable, and the special FX are worse than the original. The cylons look laughable, and their ships are almost as bad.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS
I could not wait for Starbuck to die, but unfortunately, she doesn't. not only did they make the character a chick, they made her a butch, obnoxious chick. My mother and sister were equally disgusted by this. When Colonel Tigh offers her the olive branch at the end, and she proceeds to mouth off to him, I wanted him to jettison her out the airlock.
I could go on for days about all the other characters I hated (Baltar, Number Six, Boomer, The President, etc.) and the laughable plot points (particularly the ridiculous Starbuck/Apollo viper stunt - if you saw the movie, you know the one I mean). However, I can't justify to myself spending any more time dwelling upon this travesty.
1 out of 10 stars (and I'm being generous!)