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Reviews
Harlan Coben's Shelter (2023)
Much better than the IMDb Average rating
Started watching this on Amazon, and my attention has been piqued from the very beginning. Never heard of Harlan Coban, but based on other reviews I'm inclined to explore some of his works. Anyway, I've only been through the first episode, but I can't wait to continue with the ones that follow. So glad this isn't bombarded with politically correct garbage and I find the storyline intriguing, entertaining and engrossing. I don't think you can go wrong as it also seems to be pretty clean (as far as language and sex are concerned). It's worth the watch. I hope I don't have to come back and change my rating.
Fire Country (2022)
From loving it to absolutely despising it
This is a really good show, up until the last episode. That ending is so ludicrous and unbelievable. Bode Leone is made out to be the bravest and also the dumbest human being ever. Give us plausible story lines, otherwise don't expect us to stay along for the ride. Will I be watching the Season 2 premiere? Absolutely NOT. Tired to death of getting jerked around like that. Next time, think it through. It's a horrible shame, because otherwise there's SO MUCH to like about this show. Now I'm going to repeat this line to get the minimum number of characters requirement down. Only 23 characters to go!
Devour (2005)
Not worth it, even as a Jensen Ackles fan
Those are 90 minutes I'll never get back. Honestly, there are about 10 million other MUCH more worthwhile things to do than watch this garbage. Avoid the torture I went through. Not even with "spoilers", because that would imply there was something to look forward to. If you think putrid diarrhea is worth looking forward to, then you'll watch this.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
Absolutely LOVED this!
I'm NOT a Harry Potter fan, but this I found delightful. I know, delightful sounds way over the top, but honestly it's the kind of movie that makes you feel like a child again. Excellent message and just pleasant all around.
Goliath (2016)
Had SO much promise, but alas, it is for the masochist at heart
I was going to give this series a glowing review, but then the 2nd season came along, and at some point you just loose empathy for these characters and the realism behind the first episode just completely has no semblance to reality. The Mexican American father who helps Billy in episode 1 is literally salt of the earth. He's practically angelic. Somehow NONE of that rubbed off on his kids, and even the gentler/promising one can't help keeping out of trouble. Billy's alcoholism finally catches up to him toward the end (and who knows how many other times during his life), ultimately calculating into the devastating results to those around him. That, and his willingness to look away to the many signs that his gf keeps too many secrets and strange company. Anyway, he's supposed to be smart, but really mostly the innocents pay in this. I'm done with this type of messaging. It isn't intriguing. It's just pathetic. But hey, it's California, so I guess it goes with the territory.
Yellowstone (2018)
How to demean, dehumanize, manipulate and destroy people - starting with your own family
This show had SO much potential. I kept looking for something to take a turn for the better. I watched all through Season 2 Episode 5. Not gonna lie. I really don't like watching shows that are just one long, fiery s*** show and that have me rooting for 3/4 of the characters to die painful, long deaths. The Duttons and company make the demons in Washington seem like desirable citizens.
Dune: Part One (2021)
Not your Father's Dune 1984
My father was a huge Dune fan. I remember watching the 1984 version when it came out and being BORED out of my mind. This version is not just WAY better. This movie has to be the best thing I've seen in at least 10 years, and that's a conservative estimate. Villeneuve hit a freaking HOMERUN. The only shame is that we'll have to wait 2 years to see the sequel.
IGNORE any review that is less than an 8. It's a classic. It's better than 80% of all the Star Wars movies. In fact, in the Scifi genre, there's little that's on par with this - EVER. Watch it. You will NOT be disappointed.
Manifest (2018)
Good themes, mixed with sci-fi, mixed with "spirituality"
This is a family-friendly show. It's got an interesting story arc, and better than 90 to 95% of what's on TV. I'd recommend it and I actually got hooked on it a bit. Certainly safe viewing for 12 and up.
Happy! (2017)
Evil, Twisted, Demonic on just about every level
I can't believe this was given the same rating by Netflix as Stargate SG-1. TV-MA. Stargate SG-1 is a truly wholesome, yet entertaining show. This is the extreme opposite. This thing is pretty much only evil all the time. Instead of "Happy!", they should have called it "Demonic!". It was extremely stupid of me to have watched this, and I fully regret it. I hope I can save somebody the grief through this review.
Jupiter's Legacy (2021)
Watching it because I like Sci-Fi, not because the "Code" makes any sense whatsoever
I'm towards the end of the first episode, but this Sheldon's a complete retard. If his son hadn't killed Blackstar, they'd all be DEAD. How many billions of people would Sheldon's "honorable" Code sacrifice just for a hollow sense of "superior" morality? This kind of stuff is pretty rampant in the comics, but I would like to point out that is the EXACT opposite of Biblical morality, and civilization would NEVER last without the recognition that the actual honorable thing to do is defeat evil by any and all means possible, and yes, certain evil MERITS the death penalty, and foregoing it doesn't make us "enlightened" or "virtuous" or "moral", but rather it is the opposite of those things, because NOTHING can be considered holy and we are likewise declaring that we know BETTER than God about how to manage His creation. Sheldon's is both illogical, immoral, and completely LETHAL to all of humanity.
Frequency (2000)
Thriller that tugs on the heart strings
I loved this since it first came out. Sci-fi/fantasy + thriller excitement. Good, relatable storyline. Excellent acting and heart-warming message of family and triumph over adversity. Saw it again on HBO Max and decided to watch a portion of the Spanish language adaptation. That was some of the worst translation I've ever heard. Entire sections of dialog are completely cut out. What a disgrace. If you're a Spanish speaker with decent English language skills, by all means do NOT watch the Spanish version. It will horribly rob you of the totality of this movie, both artistically and dialog-wise. It was actually quite surprising to witness such a shoddy translation job done on a movie seen by millions. Both the translator and the one who hired him should be blacklisted (yeah, it was that bad).
The Weight of Gold (2020)
The heart, culture, values of a community is what matters
Phelps and company put together an excellent documentary on what really matters in a society - a community that values and supports the building of strong mind, spirit, and body, but also caring for your fellow man. These Olympians need to monetize their efforts. World championships, Olympics, should be done pay per view, with most of the money going to support the athletes, without whom there would be no Olympics. I wouldn't mind paying $100 every 4 years to get around the clock coverage of that 17-day sports extravaganza. Maybe there are a variety of packages that can be created (per day, per sport, etc.). Also, the same could be done with the world championship events that occur every 2 years, etc.. Monetize it, and reward those participating. We're a nation of 330+ million. We waste money in a sordid amount of things. These athletes should be afforded a living stipend for what they do. Obviously, it can't be all athletes, but say the top 200 ranked in each sport? That's about 60,000 tops nationwide. Let them get $50K/year, for 4 years. That's $12 billion over 4 years. 120 million households - that's $100/household every 4 years, or $25/year. Anyway, I'm sure that collectively we could come up with a bevvy of solutions.
***Beware, there are a few truly heart-wrenching moments in this documentary.***
Project Almanac (2015)
Time what? No, no. It's a colossally bufoonish waste of time
Seriously, I patiently endured the teen morons (oh, yeah, they just "happen" to invent time travel when their ADD isn't acting up) a third of the way into this movie and decided then to come here. Thank God I did! Just read dna-1138's review and save yourself the aggravation. Why are 98% of all movies just pure garbage lately?
Trickster (2020)
Total letdown
I really wanted to like this. Rarely is a fantasy/supernatural narrative overshadowed by a depressing loser narrative, but this one takes the cake. It's a shame, really. Almost every adult surrounding the main teenaged character, isn't just a loser, but really should be behind bars. It is so irrational and unrelatable. This show is a strange, uncaptivating melee of a lot of depressing narrative mixed in with a sprinkle of fantasy/the supernatural. I watched 4 episodes and I just kept hoping that any number of these people, but especially the parents, got arrested. Downer television.
Alex Rider (2020)
Other than portraying British Intelligent as Utterly incompetent - good show
Nothing that hasn't been done before here, but at least it's good entertainment provided you can suspend some disbelief. Good for a 2nd season and at least they haven't ruined it with insufferable political correctness.
Strike Back (2010)
The first 5 seasons - stellar (10), the seasons that follow - garbage (2)
This TV show was, in my book, one of the top 10 TV shows ALL time, and certainly top 3 in its genre. Drama, suspense, ACTION, tension, sex, humor, intrigue. You name it, it had it all. Then they had to go write off the stars (?), get inferior writers, and add political correctness to boot. Ah, nothing like killing off success with personal politics that have zero reflection on reality and that practically nobody can relate to. Good job!
A Gifted Man (2011)
Ditto with the High-Praise Reviews
What sets this TV show apart is the unique perspective/outlook expressed on the common experiences of life that you don't get from the other TV shows out there which so often, while dramatic, also seem formulaic.
It's got heart and it's got depth. Also, it makes you think. Refreshingly, it's not mired in political correctness like SO much garbage nowadays that passes for "cinematic art". It's different, which is probably why it got canceled (probably not palatable to the lab-rat average viewing audience).
Message Man (2018)
Easily better than 85% of what Hollywood vomits out these days!
This is pretty simple formula, but enjoyable nonetheless. I don't like movies where the good guys are perpetually morally conflicted and are about as pathetic as the bad guys. This had none of that. Moral clarity and decisively dispatching the evil mofos as ought to be. Good action, good message. Message Man.
Hakan: Muhafiz (2018)
Talk about ruining a potentially good storyline
Bottom line, the "good guys" in this story are so pathetic, so annoying, so disorganized, so inept, so ever at odds with each other, that in the end I want to kill them myself and I'm rooting for the bad guys to do it so that they can put me out of their misery. I watched an entire season and the 1st episode of the 2nd season. Don't waste your time with this one. Truly a shame. It's like you have a headache that you're hoping will go away, but never does. Take it from me, there's no need to hate yourself that much. lol
The InBetween (2019)
Total s*** show
Horrible writing. Just saw 2nd episode. The motivation behind the characters isn't even believable. No amount of special effects or "supernatural" theme can overcome poorly developed characters, weak story lines and mediocre acting. At least ghost whisperer had heart. Don't waste your time on this one.
The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015)
One of the Best Movies I've Ever Seen!
"Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth, but supreme beauty..." Bertrand Russell.
Occasionally, we are reminded of the beauty that is inherent in the eternal. This is one of those movies that does that. I had not even heard of this movie, but only came across it 2 weeks ago while doing an unrelated Internet search. It's quite a shame that this is rated not even 2% higher than the utter s*** show that is "Captain Marvel", seeing as these works of art (and to call "Captain Marvel" a work of art is actually an insult to all art) - are not even in the same galaxy in their value. Yet, this movie won NO awards while the other scat production did. Upside down and soul-less.
Watch this movie. You'll be glad you did. More importantly, it will beatify your existence.
Stargate: The Ark of Truth (2008)
Enjoyable Scifi with an undeniable, inspiring moral arc.
I've never watched the Stargate series for its "unparalleled" special effects. If you value that more than the storyline or message, then this will be somewhat disappointing. However, what Stargate does better than any other Scifi series is deliver an entertaining, evolving, interesting storyline with action and an undeniable and inspiring moral arc. This is so lacking in today's self-adulating, often vacuous culture, and especially in today's Scifi that passes off so much PC, leftist evil nonsense in a fake morality construct. The segment from 24:30 to 26:50 is such an example. The type of dialog or thinking you'll never hear from the intolerant snowflake generation. Prepare to appreciate the definition of real heroism.
Vikings: The Most Terrible Thing (2019)
Used to like this show....gone south since Ragnar died
So, now King Alfred is a cucked little boy and by his own mom of all people. It's embarrassing to even watch lol. Nothing left to say here.
Ivar's a total power mad lunatic and his brother didn't see it coming. Right. What else is coming.... I can't imagine the show will last much longer at this pace. Oh well, at least there's other TV programming out there. Waiting for the "your review is too short" to go away. Clearly, they like a lot of content, even if the show doesn't merit it.
So, now King Alfred is a cucked little boy and by his own mom of all people. It's embarrassing to even watch lol. Nothing left to say here.
Ivar's a total power mad lunatic and his brother didn't see it coming. Right. What else is coming.... I can't imagine the show will last much longer at this pace. Oh well, at least there's other TV programming out there. Waiting for the "your review is too short" to go away. Clearly, they like a lot of content, even if the show doesn't merit it.
Travelers (2016)
Excellent TV Series, Few of This Caliber
Seriously, not just in SciFi, but in TV series in general it rarely gets better than this. I wanted to rate it a 10, but that would be perfection and in my lifetime I can count on 1 hand the number of TV shows that approach perfection lol. In my opinion, Canadian TV sci-fi series are actually now a little better than what's produced in the USA. That's the only country I can say that about. This show is intelligent, has interesting storylines, good acting and drama. Watch a couple of episodes. You won't be disappointed.
Nightflyers (2018)
Ridiculous, Incoherent, Illogical, and Not Believable
I concur with the opinion of another reviewer - The Expanse is an infinitely better TV show. This one's garbage. The whole story line is illogical and implausible. They're all doomed out of their effing minds from the very start of their journey. If I were the Volcryn and this were humanity, I too would want to exterminate them. lol.
This is simply not the least bit enjoyable. 2 episodes was my max. I kept hoping it would get better, but the BS knows no limits and I just can't swallow that hard!