Change Your Image
Phidippides
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
Sneaky Pete (2015)
Nicely done with weaknesses
Enjoyed this cleverly-done series quite a bit and am impressed with Giovanni Ribisi's acting. His conman character was really enjoyable throughout as you know you're watching a master craftsman at his trade, especially when he schools other con artists who aren't quite up to his level. One of the main devices of the show is the interweaving of storylines, so that Pete's own problems get co-mingled with the family's own problems and they nearly spiral out of control.
All three seasons are worth the watch, but the finale to Season 2 is a bit contrived. Season 3 is the same way, except the finale there is rather ludicrous and kind of stupid (just think about what the Pitbull-lookalike inexplicably ends up doing at the end).
Still, this is a well done series with some good acting all around.
Extraction (2015)
Less enjoyable than a tooth extraction
I have found that a typical formula for successful (i.e. decent to good) action movies involve adding one part mega action star and one part juicy action story involving espionage or military engagement or something similar. "How can it go wrong?" is my thinking. "A mega action star would never agree to this movie if the story is bad." Well, this movie proves my formula is not exactly foolproof.
I settled in to watch "Extraction" knowing only that it featured Bruce Willis and possibly that it involved the CIA. By the end of the movie, it's fair to say that this isn't really a Bruce Willis movie at all since he plays second fiddle to actor Kellan Lutz, who plays a character named Harry Turner. Now if someone asked me, "Do you want to watch a Kellan Lutz movie about the CIA?", I might say, "I don't know...it might not be good if a familiar actor isn't the lead." Having watched this movie, my words would be justified.
A fundamental clue that it would be poor was in the editing. The producers decided to adopt the kind of accelerated-timeline editing approach which is the death knell for action films. I don't know the motivation for this approach, but it really needs to stop. Nothing says "STOP SUSPENSION OF DISBELIEF" as does the speeding up of events to cram as much action as possible into a very small window of time. It makes a story much less believable, it saps characters of development, it can be hard to follow for viewers, and it makes it a challenge for the viewer to care about what is going on.
In addition to the editing, the story line itself was rather horrid. The use of cliches has already been commented on, but beyond that it was just boring and lacked credibility. Would a desk-level CIA employee really decide to crack the heads of four other agents because he couldn't go on a rescue mission to help his father? Is one agent still working for the CIA going to feed secret information to that now-rogue CIA employee? I guess they don't really care about job security there. Was there a reason that part of the story takes place in Prague when we only get to see office shots? The list goes on.
All of this was aggravated by the ridiculous acting performances we see here. Bruce Willis, should be ashamed of himself. D.B. Sweeney has seen better days. I actually did not mind the performance of Kellan Lutz, but the real sore thumb was the acting of Gina Carano. Before watching "Extraction", I did not know who she was, but she looked vaguely familiar. I eventually realized that her performance was so wooden that she must have received her starring role for some reason other than her acting chops (I suspected she was a singer trying for a move to the movies, but it turns out she's an MMA fighter trying to get into acting). If you don't know what I mean, simply contrast her performance with the animated performance of the actress who played her roommate. Even if you think the roommate's performance was nothing special, it was still noticeably better than Carano's.
Overall, there was too much dragging this movie down. A few positives might be found, but not enough to make this movie anything but one to skip.
3801 Lancaster: American Tragedy (2015)
An eye-opener about the abortion industry
This documentary chronicles the story of the notorious abortionist, Kermit Gosnell. Told through a combination of accounts such as police testimony, stories by women who visited Gosnell's clinic, and a shocking interview with Gosnell himself, the film paints a harrowing picture of the tragedy that unfolded over several decades at 3801 Lancaster.
Although this documentary primarily focuses on the brutal career of Gosnell, it ends up indicting a whole crowd of people who served as enablers for Gosnell's evil to perpetuate. This crowd included people within Pennsylvania state agencies or prosecutors who simply swept the atrocity under the rug after receiving reports of heinous wrongdoing.
At the end of the film, we are given some sense of closure when prosecutors uncover Gosnell's butchery and put him behind bars. This closure, however, is short lived. We hear from the women who continue to suffer from Gosnell's actions, and we also hear how the kid-gloves treatment of Gosnell wasn't really unique after all. Former Planned Parenthood workers are interviewed who tell us that abuses at their former place of employment have also been swept under the rug and essentially given a pass.
I should add that while watching the film, it's not extremely clear whether the filmmakers were creating this as a "Pro Life" work or a "Pro Choice" work. This is a credit to the sobering statement of facts that they present. Nevertheless, after watching it, I couldn't but help come away with the conclusion that the "abortion rights" movement as a whole is pushed not by concerns about justice but instead by a force that is downright sinister.
The Mystery of Matter: Search for the Elements (2015)
Who would have thought learning about chemistry could be fun?
This three-episode series on the history of the "search for the elements" is a fascinating exploration into what otherwise might be a rather dry topic. I was never really a fan of chemistry class growing up, so I was surprised by just how much I was drawn into this. I think it was so enjoyable because it presents one of the most basic quandaries in the universe - what is matter? - and goes through historical man's attempts to solve this with clear and thoughtful explanations.
The episodes bring us into the story at a moment in history (late 1700s) when the prevailing theory of phlogiston is about to be upended, thereby bringing humanity into the age of modern chemistry. Over time, we see how a handful of key figures are able to isolate various elements, study their properties, arrange them systematically in the periodic table, and uncover new and unusual elements through increasingly sophisticated methods. But this isn't just a purely scientific examination of the story; we also get to know the historical contexts in which these figures lived, as well as the personal and professional challenges they faced while making their discoveries.
Michael Emerson does a surprisingly good job as the narrator of this series, and the historical re-enactments are done with professional polish. The stories are accompanied by commentary from various experts who provide context for different discoveries, and on-screen graphics give much-needed visual assistance to help viewers understand the increasingly complex theories that are discussed.
Overall, this is an excellent series for anyone interested in the history of ideas.
Lark Rise to Candleford (2008)
Highly enjoyable, light-hearted series
"Lark Rise to Candleford" was an unexpected pleasure to watch for my wife and I over the past several months, and we are sad that we have no more episodes to enjoy. We came across the series after getting interested in "Downton Abbey", and I was pleased to find in "Larkrise" a period-piece show which was relatively free of intense drama (my wife likes "calm" shows).
The series chronicles life in two neighboring English towns around the late-nineteenth century: the smaller, agrarian Larkrise, and the slightly larger and more commercial town of Candleford. While the series' initial focus is on the activities of Larkriser Laura, who moves to Candleford to work at the post office, it eventually becomes an ensemble cast show which brings us a touching view of many aspects of life during this time. We watch as romantic relationships grow and falter, as happiness is gained and destroyed, and as human nature reveals its better and worse sides. Issues such as poverty, neglect of family, and temptation with money are dealt with courageously, and modernist issues - such as sexual ones - are thankfully virtually absent from this show.
In the end, the pleasure of watching this show is in seeing life in a simpler time and a simpler place. I almost hope they come out with a U.S. adaptation of this show, just so I could watch more episodes; however, this could very well be a let down since the British version is so good on its own.
I gave 9/10 stars as the show is a joy to watch in its story development, characters, and the scenery is beautiful. I do admit, though, that Season 1 is rather slow moving for the first few episodes, and it may be a struggle to stay interested early on. Yet if you stay with the show, you will be rewarded with four seasons of touching drama.
Fratello sole, sorella luna (1972)
Moving story covering the general life of St. Francis of Assisi
I first saw this movie in the mid-1990s just before a trip to Assisi and decided to watch it again recently. What I did not catch the first time around was the cultural lens through which Zafrelli must have shot the film in the early 70s. It was all too apparent to me now. The movie has a heavy dose of flower power feel to it, with the fields of flowers, halcyonic nature images, and social justice messages sprinkled throughout. At one point when Clare runs through a field I had a flashback to "Little House on the Prairie". Be aware of this, and take it with a grain of salt.
Despite the dating of the film, the message it contains is so strong that it "turns the tables" on our modern values in life and impacts us in ways that movies don't usually do. In this regard, the movie is quite remarkable. You see Francis begin with his conversion from a Crusader-of-the-world to a person wholly dissatisfied with material belongings and the ways of contemporary life. The life Francis begins to lead, and the message he then lives out, is so radical to Assisi of the 11th century (not to mention to our own times) that he is thought of as "mad". Nevertheless, to us Francis makes too much sense. Some of the most remarkable scenes in the movie when his infectious message overcomes friend after friend, all of whom decide to join him in his simple way of life in love of God. It is indeed in Francis' transformation, and the transforming effect he has on others, that makes the film so moving.
I think it has been pointed out that the movie is a somewhat fictionalized version of the life of St. Francis of Assisi, and the movie only covers the important years of interior conversion he experienced rather than his later life. I should also point out that the overly-dramatized acting (check out the overly-slow gestures the characters tend to make at times) eliminates an aspect of realism from the story. But as a movie reflecting the basic message and youthful life of St. Francis, it is quite moving. The impressive medieval filming location, the ornate costumes, and the landscape scenery add to the Middle Ages feel of the time and help bring us closer to the authentic life of the Saint.
Eve's Christmas (2004)
Enjoyable romantic Christmas movie
This is an interesting Christmas movie which combines stories of regret, second chances, and choosing love over worldly success. Not expecting much when I started watching, I was pleasantly surprised by the heart-warming story which sort of hit home for me.
Eva is a woman who had success in life except in the area of love because of a single decision she made eight years ago. Choosing a job over her fiancé, she left the warm confines of Oregon in 1996 for the fast-paced marketing world in Manhatten. On Christmas 2004, she's given a chance to change things with the help from her "Guardian Angel", who lets her go back in time and to the place where she made the decision to break off her engagement.
The most enjoyable parts of the movie involve Eva's experiences with her friends, family, and fiancé during her period of "deja vu". As nostalgic person myself, I though the story of her getting the chance to relive her younger years to be quite special and warming. Having gained eight years of knowledge and the realization of what's important in life, Eva was able to overcome her past foolishness and poor decision-making to create a new life which valued the more important things in life.
I also thought it was interesting how the storyline takes advantage of the year. Since e-commerce was just beginning in 1996, Eva has the revolutionary idea of helping her fiancé bring his family's business online. As a web designer, I wish I could go back in time and do the same thing!
That said, the storyline had areas that were a bit too incredible, thereby bringing the quality of the movie down a bit. Further, the story was not entirely original, as the same story can be seen in other Christmas movies such as "Family Man" and "It's a Wonderful Life". Nevertheless, if you want an unsurprising yet romantic and positive story to see during the holidays, this movie will fit the bill.
MacGyver (1985)
Solid series, now a classic
MacGyver was a series that I began watching during the mid-1980s while in grade school. Working for the enigmatic "Phoenix Foundation", MacGyver travels the globe on seemingly philanthropic missions of helping the poor or unfortunate, or perhaps working on some other charitable task. Sometimes the storyline takes place against a relevant backdrop for the time, such as Cold War politics or the Los Angeles gang scene. Like a charm, tension arises during the course of the show which requires MacGyver to rise to the challenge and finally defeat the baddies by the time the episode ends. This usually entails his escape from some sort of physical confinement and/or blowing stuff up with bombs made from pinecones, swamp gas, or household cleaning agents. In some episodes he becomes romantically involved with some temporary female character, though I believe these always stay within the bounds of general good taste. In other episodes he teams up with his circle of regular character friends, such as Bruce McGill as Jack Dalton, Dana Elcar as the Phoenix Foundation's Pete Thornton, or even Teri Hatcher of pre-Desperate Housewives fame. Whatever the episode, the show brought together enough action and adventure, science and engineering, romance, and interesting characters to make it worthy to enter the national consciousness - at least for guys who were but adolescent boys at the time.
Having watched some episodes now in my adult life, the show naturally looks a bit dated (notably with Mac's hockey player mullet common to the 80s). The acting is not all that great, particularly with the minor characters and extras. And although the episodes supposedly take place throughout the world, it's a bit unconvincing now; what is supposed to be an orphanage in North Africa looks suspiciously like something that might be found in a suburb in some California/West Coast park. But despite the deficiencies I now recognize, MacGyver is still entertaining. The battle of good against evil - where good always wins, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles - is the central theme of the show. The clever "MacGyverisms" - inventions Mac creates to get him out of tough situations - helped give the show a kind of originality which I don't believe has been repeated since. As such, MacGyver was a huge appeal to me as a kid, and even today it can hold my attention enough to keep me entertained for an hour.
Out of Time (2003)
Main question left unanswered (SPOILER)
The adultery aside, I thought this film moved well toward the middle and that some of the dialogue (especially when Denzel is trying to cover his tracks in the office) created a good deal of suspense. Had this suspense continued in a logical manner until the end, I would have enjoyed the movie more.
My main problem, however, is that Denzel's high school sweetheart, with whom he was having an affair, simply turns on him in a twist which was not only unforeseeable to me (the viewer), but also too far-fetched. Soon after that is revealed, ex-wife wants Denzel back, and Denzel wants her back as well. Surely, there was something between the two of them that caused the separation in the first place. How easily Denzel gets over 1) mistresses' attempt to kill him and 2) ex-wife's filing and service of process of divorce papers on him. In the world of make-believe, I suppose that this may flow; in my mind, however, it all seemed a bit too "convenient".