pjr235 Reviews

The Orville: Electric Sheep (2022) Season 3, Episode 1

All Good! Welcome Back The Orville!

[9/10 · 11 June 2022]

Really strong first episode. Great fx and music everything great the story and actors. -1 star bc it was a tiny bit heavy handed on the main subject of the episode concerning Isaac. Also things seemed a tiny bit too mixed up as in too many things going on at once and the emotional delivery around Isaac was a little stiff at times. But the show has been through a lot and over a long time during the pandemic restrictions. Im so fripin glad they are back.

Hopefully > More mature Lamar, Less Bortis-filler clep.

Also I too noticed that Goof about the training scene. Completely out of their minds to do that with the Pterodon but as its a show and for entertainment, I let it go. But I was like: "Woah wtf are you doing?!"

Also very sad to hear about Norm MacDonald I must have missed the news :( rest now sweet prince.

PS: If you somehow read this before watching S3Ep1 I kind of regret not watching a recap on youtube, I rewatched S1+2 a couple of times but yeah I guess it has been a long time.. I was like: "Hmm, I guess I remember most of this."

Night's End (2022)

True garbage!

[2/10 · 10 June 2022]

I have watched hundreds of horror movies in my 35 years and this is just C-movie trash. Like high school project, uninspired shlop. Unfriended or I cant even fire off movies right now, trust me, throw a dart at a horror movie catalog and you can do better. Im angered at what a waste of time this one was, that I signed into my damn account and searched this on IMDB to leave a review and warn people away. I struggle to think and remember a worst time or worse horror movie. I would rather watch some of my other least fav horror movies than watch this again. This movie is below the stuff I would throw in the trash.. worse than that weird part of youtube. How did this get green lit by anyone???!!!!!!

From (2022– )

Quick review

[3/10 · 5 April 2022]

This is more of an IMO, Eion Bailey, is the worst. Before I say anything else about this show, can we throw him into a void and pretend he never existed? He his terrible acting and stale character really drag this show down and he is by far the weak link of the whole cast who has done a really nice job and all play very believable parts.

As for the show. I can stop imagining the Sheriff yelling WAAALT! Whenever he comes on screen (specially if he's coming from or going somewhere in a scene.) but that's just for a bit of my own fun.

Now about the actual show and story, As I said earlier, I like all the characters, I'm enjoying the mystery, and I'm into the whole thing with the freaks in the woods.

8 episodes in, its what I would call a 'good show' its nothing overly special but its also not so cookie-cutter that I'd pass on it. However I fear it may not be renewed bc what even is Epix? Lol. But tbh I wont lose any sleep if it does. That being said, I wouldn't mind seeing where it goes and getting some sort of conclusion or reveal.

Possible spoilers/my theory: The freaks seem to act on those old vampire laws about not being able to enter uninvited and they only come out at night. I'm starting to guess that an a tribe of indians or witches or witch-indians cast a spell to separate the town from the real world, trap the freaks in it and draw in people from their bloodline who can vanquish or recast the spell or act as guardians. But whether Im right or not, I'd like to see what the actual show does with all this. Some part of the town seems to be 'magical' in stuff like how the electricity works and where it comes from. Moving trees, tree portals. All seem kinda magical but in this show its the opposite of Harry Potter whimsy and very very real and dark. I could dig it.

______________________________

Edit for season 2: Rating reduced form 7 stars to 3. This show has become a master class in how to waste screen time and pad and buff away everything. Season 1 had enough going on with introducing new characters learning/figuring stuff out - Dont want to list it all - but like the murder mystery on top of it ect - it had a lot going on. By the end of S1 and going into S2 they did not have interesting or strong enough characters to justify the slow pace of the first 2 eps of S2. They seemed to realize this at some point and figured, here's a whole bus load of new people.

Look Im not trial jury and executioner. But my rating was on the lower end of passable at a 7. Now its a 3 because instead of wondering what's going on and figuring out something new, Im wondering what they'll do next to waste my time again. Cmon a house collapse on a character nobody cares about and it becomes 70% of the episode. Walking through the woods. I cant even go on with this review. This would have done so much better as a mini-series where they could take all the meaty bits they spread miles apart and condense it a little more. It suffers badly with pacing issues.

If I was the guy with his thumb on the big button, I have no idea if I would green light a third season, rating and money making aside, although that usually points to how well the show is being received. I've watched a lot of television in 30+ years. I usually like shows like this. I was there for LOST. As for this one particular viewer, me, I might stick with it. Ep3 has to give me a lot more, make it real interesting. Im kinda interested in the Deputy's love story, Dont care about the sheriffs sons romance. Did anyone care about him beyond being a touchy subject for the main character the Sheriff? I have not bothered to learn names as you can tell. They just imo dont have strong enough characters or stories to tell with those characters. I'd mention the Deputy's father dying but that was part of the eventful S1. All Im saying is if the first 2 eps of S2 are the tone and pace they are setting for the rest of the season, its a pass for me, I'll watch Yellowjackets. I wish The Mist got another season.

Fear Street: Part One - 1994 (2021)

I there such a thing as off-beat Horror?

[6/10 · 23 July 2021]

I had such a hard time pinning this movie down. For the life of me, what ever tune they were playing, I couldn't find the rhythm to dance to it. Maybe its the fact that they were so young - like it harkened back to the old slasher flicks but the actors were almost always adults.. dealing with sex drugs and rock n roll. This is like a coming of age love friendship and murder fest but on The CW.

I've seen other reviews talking about the opening, it was decent and set the tone but idk I just couldn't "lock-in" for this movie. And I'm a full spectrum kind of person, the other day after realizing Im out of Zombie movies to watch, I saw Warm Bodies, 30 mins in and I just agreed to let the movie take this new direction, be all cutesy Twilight-y, I knew what it was, it knew what it was. And I kinda liked it.

Maybe that's it? An identity problem? Maybe Fear Street tried to throw so many nods it couldn't keep its own head straight. I read articles saying the characters being different was intentional or some other nonsense and I was like 'uhh they were pretty standard, focus on something else.' I had such a hard time locking on I felt compelled to write a review and take this time.

Spoilers ahead:

Then there were the inconsistencies. Like the father who works day and night but finds the time to be a drunk and leave beer cans everywhere but also never be seen once in the movie. They weren't in a cabin in the woods, where is everyone's parents? They all had these character details that never panned out. The drug dealing friend who we've only ever seen with the pills but never dealing, no challenges to face from it = leave it out. The main character was going through a break up but it turns out she was just sabotaging herself for the dumbest of reasons, felt like crocodile tears. Would have been way more powerful if even a bit cliche if the ex-gf was in denial and the ex broke it off.

It didnt move the genre forward, it didnt do anything new really and it added some twists where they werent needed. Hence the 'off-beat' part of the title on this review.

I could go on but lets just skip to the verdict. IMO you are not missing much at all if you choose to skip. I imagine this would bomb if it was released in theaters and was only greenlit bc of the apparently well-known books and lack of horror content these days. It just wont be making into my rotation of classics. Warm Bodies wont either but I still liked. This was one notch above passable for the 2 or 3 satisfying kills, but not enough to keep it around. Freaky 2020 was more fun. I'd say go for that.

Remote Viewing (2018)

Stay away

[1/10 · 19 December 2018]

Video quality is subpar and the sound wasnt cleaned up at all. This film is only a notch above some friends cooking up a story one night and going out to shoot it the next day. Im sure some work had to go into putting all this together, and anyone who does, deserves some kind of credit but the acting was 'blegh' the story was 'blegh' and the execution was less than 'meh'. Points for making your own dreams come true and entertaining yourselves but the problem is that it wont entertain anyone else at this level and quality. I think the money and time and resources would have been better spent trying to pitch this to a studio, any studio; even The Asylum might have put together something barely worth the audiences time.

The issue isnt money, its story and story telling. You guys did nothing to draw the audience in with the story other than a botched film shoot and botched RV class with a few sprinkled in scenes of the younger 'friends' or coworkers or whatever.

Not sure how many takes there were but the acting from every single person was pretty bad to terrible. There was no tension. Without going into a mode where Im beating on this movie, it was like a stale cracker or a flat soda, so flat, flavorless, tasteless.

Want to see a film done on zero budget by a bunch of kids I was able to sit through, and at the end ask for more? Youtube > Year Six.

A short with atmosphere and a story and MC to care about.

The Void (I) (2016)

I think it should be watched for sure. Don't miss it. Ignore bad reviews

[7/10 · 25 June 2017]

I've com to realize that nothing in life is perfect. The Silent Hill movies were utter garbage and this film is the first in a very long time that has managed to deliver a solid nightmare experience.

First, we start with the weak points and end strong just as the movie did.

The writers, fkn kill them.. literally drown them in a bucket of their own puke. There weren't many cringe moments but there were a handful such as that Asian chick's (wake up) "Or what?" line that was so out of place. (maybe the director is partly to blame for not recognizing how much certain lines didn't work.) What's crazy is that this movie does NOT seem to lack in creativity, imagination or budget but instead suffers from some bad writing/dialog. BUT STOP, AND TRUST ME. This movie should be watched!!! Why? There are ONLY a handful (as in about 5 lines) that were unforgivable. The rest was quite passable. Now on to the good. The sound work/score very nice work. Camera work, 6 to 8 out of 10 (pretty damn good in most scenes, kinda bad in one or two, awesome where it counts) The acting, pretty good considering the sludge lines the writers gave the actors to work with. The acting, not the best, not great, but not at all bad either.

So on to the bottom line: 1. Don't pass this up. 2. The opening was kind of rough but you might not notice if you're not a writer, so jump in as this story does. Stick with it. The opening was kind of slow but the slow pace DID NOT last long 5-15mins (nothing really wrong with the opening and it didn't drag on too long but they could've used their time a little better.) Honestly they could have fared better with actors that have much more exp. in acting.

I don't want to spoil it, I had to get some of the bad out, but the bad was not that bad when I consider the whole. my mouth hung open for at least the last half if not 3/4ths of the movie, and in a good way! If you're a fan of Silent Hill (the games, starting from 1) you will totally click with this movie. I feel like it was an Ode to Silent Hill or at the very least, a welcome nod. I just wish they got a deal with Silent Hill/ Konami or someone/studio that would have given them better access to higher quality writers/directors because the actors weren't even that bad.

7/10, looking for a scary wtf movie? This is it. I was so scared of ending up with another 'indie waste-of-time' movie but I was so splendidly surprised by this movie that I just had to write this review and add my voice (instead of just thumbing up some other review.). As soon as the movie gets going, which is quite soon enough, it keeps going and doesn't let up, instead, it gets crazier and more nightmarish. Im so impressed that I'd love to see a multi-million dollar reboot. At the same time, the job they did was so satisfactory that all they might be able to improve was a handful of lines and maybe plug in a few semi-big name actors because the effects and everything else was great.

TL:DR. 7.5/10 Do Not Miss Out On This One!

Powerless: Wayne or Lose (2017) Season 1, Episode 1

That was fantastic!

[4/10 · 2 February 2017]

It was light and it was funny! I liked it. Some might argue that the fx were cheap, but I might counter that if it were any more rich, the show might have to take itself seriously. The train scene was among the worst with all the green screen action BUT it still worked.

The effects were somewhat laughable BUT the show made me laugh, so to me, it worked. Powerless' first episode gave me a few chuckles and a couple of smiles. I love the whole vibe of the show. It was great to see Danny Pudi on screen again (R.I.P Community. #AndAMovie ). Vanessa Hudgens did a great job and over all, Im looking forward to more from everyone. Alan Tudyk seemed to be on a slippery slope after Suburgatory and was supposedly part of the reason we never got another season. Anyway, he seemed perfect for the role and was a joy to watch.

Better Off Ted does come to mind, I loved that show. Maybe Phil and Lem can join the team in a few seasons :P (fingers crossed) Honestly that idea is neither here nor there because here we have Powerless. It is what it is and the description says it all.

Perhaps you've seen an episode or two already. If not, I recommend it, and I'm sure fans of shows like The Office, Better Off Ted, Community and comic book super hero nerds will agree.

P.S I nearly tuned out in the first few minutes but decided to give the entire ep a chance to show me what its got, and, imo, it paid off. The Office is done and so is Community; this really seems to have the potential to fit the bill.

UFO Chronicles: Contact with Aliens (2013)

It's a good interview but...

[5/10 · 12 January 2017]

This film is an 1hr 30min interview featuring retired U.S Army Sergeant Clifford Stone. He (Stone) tells a compelling story about his time in the service and gives us information about it. Along with, a detailed account of how he was part of a UFO crash retrieval team a few decades ago.

The good: Fairly well edited and put together interview. Sound is clear and so is the direction.

The bad: For as detailed and vivid his story is, there is nothing provided in the way of hard evidence. That's not to say that this film is a waste of time. I enjoyed listening to his story. But there wasn't much to really grab me or hold my attention. Though I did manage to watch it all the way through in one sitting.

There also isn't much we haven't already heard. Most of us have heard rumors about the retrieval teams. Most of us believe we are being visited, some of us believe that they are multi-dimensional or interstellar. Many people assume that they must be using some sort of anti-gravity and that their instruments emit some sort of radiation.

Stone touched on some fringe aspects of the subject but never got into the best parts of what we might want to know. He claims to have had or still has regular communication with an entity known as Karona. I'd like to watch a part 2 where he goes into very deep details on exactly what the aliens are saying, what they believe, and how they operate. He withholds information about the more intriguing aspects of his experiences. Frustrating. I kept waiting for him to get into the meat of it.

Thoughts: I believe that this video could benefit from some visual stimuli. I don't mean cheesy pictures of supposed UFO's or Alien bodies (I feel like any inkling of a possible fake/hoax photo/video would seriously dilute the aim of this video. It would also hurt to show common footage of popular UFO videos, especially without proof). But I think it would help to inter-cut some of what he said with public and historical footage of some kind. Mention the A-Bomb, give us a few pictures what we have of it, etc. Talk about certain bases or geographical locations, some visual cues would help give us something to look at and ground the viewers.

I found myself thinking this could be a still-image of Stone in a Youtube video/podcast type interview and I don't think I'd notice the difference. Maybe a few photos of him when he was younger, might help, or in the service. (Something to give us more than what we are just seeing or hearing.) I would have at least liked to see a picture of his home (even without disclosing the actual location, as he mentioned paranormal happenings surrounding the house). I also would have liked to see some images of the equipment he worked with, the radios and HAZMAT suits - something. But I guess my point is that it needs some element of movement and action. But it needs to be done in such a way that it doesn't detract from the still/quiet/serious feeling of the interview.

Would I recommend it in its current form? Only to those who have served or those who are struggling hard with their experience and need no visual cue or evidence. %90 of everyone else might need to look elsewhere for any talks about UFO's. Because, as it is, it just seems like some guy telling a story. We don't even get an old photo of him in the service. So no way to even begin to think he's legit. That being said, the details and accounts of his past are very interesting, well remembered and recounted. I still lean more towards believing his story, because of all the minor details that would seem hard to forge without actually having lived it.

With the right combination of inter-cut photos and videos I'd give it like a 6-7, with hard or very compelling evidence a 7-8. Undeniable evidence and well put together presentation would earn it a 9-10 in my book. But its far from any of that.

5/10, for a very interesting story and the film not being a total waste of time. Alongside with, a few tiny tidbits of 'new' information about 'them' or his 'work' that perhaps not everyone on the UFO community is privy to.

Siren (I) (2016)

So good, I had to write up a review :)

[8/10 · 9 December 2016]

I really liked it. Loved all 3 VHS movies and fondly remember "Amateur Night". I was so intrigued by that and I'm glad Hannah Fierman got to do this movie and we got to see 'all that she was' in action.

When they pulled the Medusa thing, I thought it was a stretch but I couldn't get over how cool it was so I ended up liking it - just didn't know they were gonna get that crazy on me.

Great attention was paid to sound and atmosphere. I think Hannah did a great job and so did the rest of the actors. I enjoyed this movie a hell of a lot more than I enjoyed The Lazarus Effect (2015). I think it deserves more than a 6/10 on IMDb. **I found this to be a solid movie with an intriguing story and a satisfying ending. ***8/10*** in my book.

The VHS movies seem to exist in an alternate reality where many of our nightmares exist. I think that VHS and Bloody Disgusting should expand on all their shorts and show us more of this hellish world. Granted, not all the shorts were gold, as I think there were various directors involved for each but there were some gems in there like "Amateur Night", "Tuesday the 17th" LOVED that one,"A Ride in the Park" Zombie movie VHS style.. yes please. "Safe Haven" stuck with me. Im not sure how "Vicious Circles" struck others but I like it enough to want a bigger and better job done on it like they did with "Amateur Night"s The Siren. Might be something with "Dante the Great", but the actors were kinda sub par, good idea, meh execution. "Bone Storm" wasn't 'spot on' but it was classic VHS stuff. Cant get enough of the good FF films like As Above So Below, VHS, The Bay, Afflicted, Grave Encounters, The Tunnel etc.

Bloody Disgusting films are tricky.. it's like they want you to take them seriously.. but not toooo seriously. It's a hard balance to strike with things suddenly getting very real but, are at the same time, being very unreal. I'd love to see more from Bloody Disgusting and the like.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Big boom, little drama

[5/10 · 16 July 2016]

Wow. what to say about this movie. It was the longest movie I've seen in years. The writing and character development was spotty for a 3hr flick. Eisenberg carried the whole movie with the best performance followed by -- idk the movie took an odd time to for these super heroes living right next to each other to notice one another. If what happened in the last three batman movies were true especially Bain/Bane idc, captured the entire Island of Manhattan/Gotham/idc once again, superman would of heard of this or at least The Batman by now.

This movie seemed like the 'movie itself' (BvS:DOJ) was a toddler discovering a mirror for the first time and discovering what it looks like in this mirror. Everything was 'oh look these guys exist,' Batman never heard of Superman in 20+years that he was crime fighting? Why did we have to go through Waynes childhood thing again, wasted 1/3 of the movie or really made it seem like they had nothing better to do with Afflecks time.

Not my first choice for a Luthor character - but the stone cold businessman with a curiosity seemed like it'd be another boring peg in this movie so Eisenbergs joker-esk portrayal of a young, rich and crazy Luthor was one of the more fun things to watch in this film.

It just seemed like they tried really hard to get these two guys to notice each other and then give them this reason or any reason to want to fight. I think the future lies in Nextflix/Amazon mini series (5-15 eps long) that come out for each character before doing a big movie like this. Without the character development and time needed to work all these things out, it seems as it was, rushed and jam packed into 3 convoluted hours.

The X-Files (1993–2018)

Yes!

[9/10 · 25 January 2016]

OMG it was perfect! Incredible! They're back! It's back and better than ever! Wow! What an ending to the first ep. I'm totally bouncing off the walls. I thought the acting might be offbeat or out of step, but g-damn! Everyone was right back in at the top of their game! There were a very small, tiny handful of lines that were a little weak but the other %98 was spot on. So close to a perfect 10 but I am so excited they achieved a 9 in my eyes. I want to go running down the street yelling X-Files is back after that first ep.

All I can hope for now is strong filler eps. I know they're coming; I'm not gonna hate. But the acting and the writing is a lot more mature now. Im just hoping they have a feel that is a lot less R.L 'Goosebumps' or cheesy 'Supernatural.' Speaking of more exp. Scully still 'got it' lookin great.

Mulder's lookin nice and seasoned and Mchail.. it's the guy from The Soup and Jeff Winger from Community (which I love). He seems a tad out of place on the show. I love him, hes great.. but it's like Adam Sandler trying to take on a serious role like Tom Hanks in Bridge Of Spies (which I did not see but the trailer looked pretty serious).

I respect McHail trying to stretch out into different roles and types of characters.. but for now, he seems a bit out of place(he was 'on-point' though, kudos there). Im sure we'll get used to him as time goes on. I'm not upset about his casting at all, but it does feel kinda weird. Again, we'll give it a few more eps. But lets be honest, with how they started the first ep of S10.. they done bought me right out for the whole season.

Skinner's back, everyone is back! Im .. I just couldn't be happier to see them all again. Thank you show writers, creators, directors and actors. TY so very much for coming back.

The Revenant (I) (2015)

This is one of those movies

[9/10 · 22 December 2015]

Awesome in every way. From the breath taking scenes, to the wonderful and masterful use of music/bgm to the amazing story.

I'll keep it short and sweet. This movie shines in how much Glass had to struggle and fight for every second. I could really feel that wind/chill and I could really feel the serenity of those quiet moments. Like Gravity, this movie is absolutely an experience. The Story was ... well it was alright. The ending was satisfying. There were moments where I was sad but nothing jerked any tears out of me. It kept me at the edge of my seat for most of the duration, so hats off to that.

Its got drama, strife, survival and combat. It was a real trip. So the bottom line is that this movie imo didn't blow me away story-wise but it was one hell of an experience. Hardy and DiCaprio did an amazing job. The other actors played their parts very well too. It really did feel like DiCaprio had to give his all in order to pull it off and he did. I cant imagine anyone giving more.

All-in-all, I think its a must see. Or at the very least, it's an experience that you'll be pretty sorry you missed. Definitely worth every single minute.

Experimenter (2015)

Fantastic

[8/10 · 24 October 2015]

This movie gave a great insight into human nature and so did the experiments. Yes it was a tad slow but it only felt like that to me after I had watched it. I was immediately drawn in by the whole setup of the experiment and with the progression of the rest of them. This won't get anyone's heart pumping or racing but nonetheless I was glued to the screen with what this movie was trying to show me. I was so fascinated by the whole idea of it, that putting up with any of the 'slow' parts seemed quite easy. If you're in any way interested in human nature and how or why people could bring themselves to do certain things, you'll definitely appreciate this film.

I didn't know anything about this man or his experiments but I always wondered about the very same things he did in regards to the tragedy's he spoke of and others. How can people slaughter others or commit heinous acts, bring themselves to do these things and then simply claim they were only the messenger? I believe it's definitely worth a watch to anyone.

Fear the Walking Dead (2015–2023)

With Season 1 over. Was it a flop?

[7/10 · 5 October 2015]

Yeah. Hmm. I didn't know this was a season finale. I agree with others who say they rushed into this. But with the money involved and them not knowing if it'd be liked or picked up, the show runners might have been put in a tight spot.

I thought it would be slightly more gradual, with news broadcasts and shots of the city getting worse. I think it would have been way better to have more action, unfolding of chaos, and more groups involved trying to survive the outbreak and show them all dying off until we're left with this group. (What happened to the scenes where family members were told to arm themselves and try to aim for the head?)

Then roll in the drama and focus some more in the next season. And I really dislike this Strand guy. Seems like not just a survivor or wolf but a vicious devil of a wolf who will say, do and manipulate anyone and anything to get his way. Comes off as a real bad guy. A king everyone dislikes who is looking for his flock of the poor and weak minded to rule over. You'll see.. mark my words.. he's the next villain.

I wish the junkie would have met his end in that hallway. That would have brought more impact to the show than killing off Liza. Which was like a cheap 'making-up-for' not killing off Nick. they had that moment, right there! And they let it go. (That was the first and only time in this show I felt like "Oh snap, here it comes!" The essence of The Walking Dead y'know?) Liza was their nurse, and an interesting thorn at the side of Madison who would have made the show an interesting love triangle and more 'family' drama. Now what are we left with? More ramblings and withdraw of a junkie? No thanks. Somebody drown him so that he can 'catch up' with the rest of the world.

Not once did Nick worry about getting back to his family.. he stuck to Strand like a magnet. He's weak. But here he stays and there Liza goes. Lets see what other bright ideas Fear The Walking Dead comes up with next season.

I would go as far as to say they should reboot it now before this gets worse.. its not a total flop.. but its not a total success either - as I noticed other comments throughout the season claiming that there was something wrong with the show they couldn't put their finger on and I think I just explained at least part of it.

Castle: XX (2015) Season 8, Episode 2

Fantastic two-parter-starter!

[9/10 · 1 October 2015]

Oh this conflict and love lost. What an amazing ep. The show only gets better as things get worse. Happily ever after is boring. This is winding up to be their best season yet. Kate is BA! And now Rick is getting even cooler. I liked the other light hearted side of the show but I love this side of it even more. The like 3Xk serial killer eps and stuff those, are the best. Though I miss the old fashion murder mystery cases, we did have plenty of seasons filled with those, some even wild and wacky. So I see this as a very welcome evolution leading up to the conclusion.

Don't let your anger of this being the last season cloud all the good stuff it has brought us through the years. Castle really is one of the best shows I've ever watched and it will be very sorely missed. Im just gonna grab on tight and enjoy the last big ride coming our way.

And who knows, maybe the fantastic writers will have a new show after this one. Of course the Castle cast will be missed - absolutely, but hopefully if there IS a new show by these guys, it will grow into one just as good as Castle. (Also I'm kind of sad bc Alexis is really just starting to bloom on this show, went from a supporting role to a more active one.) We need like at least 1 or 2 more seasons. But I fear that won't happen as everyone is saying their fate has been sealed. Fingers crossed for a 2hr movie? I do have to add in real quick, that the computer image enhancements were pretty cheesy and it would have only taken up an extra minute or two to show Alexis breaking open the Photoshop and getting what she needs in a more realistic way, heck all they had to do was cut the scene (saving more time) and then how her on an image editor picking up the phone, like "Yeah, I've got something." TV is still treating technology like it did in the 90's. Magical button pressing and tapping away on a KB doing magical ish. wtf. That hotel security cam must have been using military grade 40MP NASA Hubble technology :P Like there is simply no way to squeeze out a perfectly sharp image out of a low res camera with pixel information that simply doesn't exist. Slightly less blurry by maybe MAYBE 20-30% more clear/sharp, perhaps, but a perfectly sharp image out of a 20MP DSLR, you are NOT getting out of a maybe 5MP camera(if that).

The Descent: Part 2 (2009)

Outstanding sequel! Amazing follow up! Mind boggling ending! Heart pounding suspense!

[9/10 · 29 September 2015]

Wow! That had to be the best sequel to a movie like this I've ever seen. If you liked the first one, this sequel will serve you up another fresh dose of The Descent. I have no idea what others were expecting or why ratings were so low. This was literally everything I could want from a sequel to the first movie. It even surpassed my expectations. There can just be no question about it, if you are a fan of the first one, TD2 is the answer to your prayers for more. Watch this one right now!

What an incredible ending, and a freaking twist I did not see coming. Now I have to do serious research to find out why this wasn't well received and didn't get the credit it deserves. Minus the creeping psychosis of the first film, TD2 delivered an incredible story that was made even better by how closely it was tied to the first. I know I repeat myself on here but I'm trying not to spoil anything.

It gave me all the jumps, heartache and struggle that the first one did matching it all almost pound for pound but in a ingeniously non-redundant way. Only, TD2 left me wanting even more and then had the balls to dump a huge stack of questions right on my lap in the last moment... there has to be a part 3.. there has to be more!

IDK if people were expecting a big reunion of heart-felt girly love - they all died! All that's left is Sarah and an uninformed rescue crew - a crew by the way, that was just as ignorant of the situation as the girls were in the first film so give them a g-dam break - they played their parts perfectly (Great performances all across the board). They were expecting a simple cave-rescue op. Sure they were a bit pompous, but that is to be expected of young, eager cave explorers.(Which made the movie better for me, not worse) As I recall, Juno's protégé was diving through holes and darting past everyone like a mad woman, it even cost her a leg. The rescuers in TD2 were not even nearly as careless.

Yes the first movie seemed darker in terms of lighting.. if you can see more its only because your eyes are adjusting to that hellish cave :P The style, tone and pace of the sequel was slightly different but made up for any flaws it might have against the first movie by giving us a faster moving, harder hitting film that builds wonderfully upon the first. It didn't match the first movie in terms of character investment but I felt like it didn't have to with it taking place literally hours after the first movie, in fact, I'm glad they didn't bog down the sequel with over use of flashbacks and hand holding and even managed throw in a few masterful refreshers/reminders in a marvelous way.

I really can't think of any way they could have made this better and for a sequel.. I'm going with 9/10 but only bc its like universal law that no one receives a perfect ten. I really couldn't ask for more because I felt like this movie delivered and then some. I was literally cheering at every new scene like "Yes! They fkn nailed it ... and again! And ... Again!" Right up until the ride was over.

The way I see it, If you didn't like the sequel, its bc you didn't like the first movie.

The Thirteenth Floor (1999)

Wow! Incredible movie!

[9/10 · 30 April 2015]

Soooo far ahead of its time, what an amazing film! Sure the Matrix had more money and better FX but I'd be willing to bet my left nut that if this were remade (for modern times with a generous budget), a smarter audience would agree that this film blows that cyber punk hacker crap called The Matrix way out of the water.

From beginning to end this movie had my attention and of course I could pick a little at the dialog here or there or this or that, but it was made in the 90's, over a decade and a half ago. I mean, in 5 years, we'll be 20 years ahead of where we are now, so considering that, this has just earned a 9/10 in my book.

I have absolutely no reason not to recommend this to anyone. Well, anyone with the ability to see beyond the (very slight) limitations of when this was made. Even then the 1930's was fantastic and so was the future. I'll stop there so that there aren't any spoilers, but if you have any interest in this sort of thing, I can guarantee that you'll at least be able to appreciate the movie and its ideas, if not, actually enjoy it and have a good time as I did.

(In order to avoid stone throwing, I have to add this >) There is quite a following for The Matrix and we can never really compare movies side by side as these stories were different and so was the 'feel' (unless its a remake of the very same movie, maybe.) and The Matrix had 4 times! the budget this movie had. So.. anyway:

DO NOT SKIP OUT ON THIS MOVIE. You just might regret it.

That's Allstate's stand ... are you in good hands? ;)

The Gambler (III) (2014)

Well made movie but...

[7/10 · 1 April 2015]

I was left 'wanting' for a sense of impact, the punchline or a twist. I was hoping for a bit of a Number Sleven situation with how the movie opened and the talk he had with his grandfather, I thought a long, winding, intricate plan was unfolding. But in the end, he pays off his debt, swears off money, and gets the girl. Sounds like every other movie and it didn't even 'get me' with a twist or impact.

I gave it a 7 for the fact that the movie, music and camera work was all very well done (this is for sure NOT something they just slapped together) but it still feels like something they didn't really push for either. Again though, all the actors/actresses did a great job... it just wasn't a very amazing or incredible movie worth the 2hr run-time. I would probably not recommend it and overall did not feel it was worth 2hrs of my life.

If you want a good movie along these lines try the Oceans 11-13 or Lucky Number Sleven.

The Babadook (2014)

The movie was pretty good.

[7/10 · 19 November 2014]

There was one aspect of the movie that stands above the rest and that was the sound. The way they used noises, tones and other such sounds was quite masterful. The movie to me didn't have to be too scary as the video coupled with the incredible audio made it a true gem. There is a huge mistake that most horror movies cover up with cheap make-up and over-produced fx. It takes skill and a good idea of creepy sounds to stimulate the most fear and in that respect, The Babadook, to me, was an incredible experience. It didn't depend on cheap jump-scares and it really knew what it was going for. I mean it didn't have me pis'n my pants, but it sure got me to hold my breath quite a few times as the interesting dreamy camera effects got my attention and the sounds grabbed a hold of my fear of the dark.

I think that every single horror movie maker should see this and pay very close attention on how to capitalize on the audiences fear using sound and not always just visual scares and Hollywood soundtracks. That's not to say that the movie was the best or that there wasn't more they could do, but the way they put the sounds together with the way they shot it deserves mention and imho a little praise. Because this is how you do creepy. Bravo.

Oh and I used headphones, best way to watch any movie, but with this one, it is a must in my book.

Now on to the actual movie/story review. I'm not sure how I myself would quicken the pace, but I feel like they could have done less day-to-day and more things going wrong. I nearly stopped about 45mins in because still nothing was happening and 'the boy' was just pissing me off. The building blocks were important to the over-all story but it felt like they were a bit short on ideas as to what to do with the first half of the movie.

All that being said, and for the incredible (what I felt like it was) experience, I think it was totally worth it. And I would recommend it if you've seen all the latest horrors and need something new. I don't think it should be skipped, but no need to take hostages in order to secure your own copy. Catch it when you can, but don't miss it.

'Yes' this if it was helpful or if you agree.

Miss Meadows (2014)

Great Movie. A fun watch

[8/10 · 17 November 2014]

I saw the trailer but still went in not knowing what to fully expect. It was a rainy day so I just threw this movie on to sit back and enjoy. I was not let down one bit. The pace was steady. The action was evenly sprinkled and the over-all tone was a real sweet and sour kind of film - dark and witty. Katie Holmes was fantastic and pulled her character off like no other could. I can't say it blew my socks off or took my breath away, but after the very first scene, I was in love with her character.

I really liked the psychological twists that were interwoven throughout the story. It lost 2 stars because I felt like the moments where she had to exercise her vigilantism was a bit too soft. Although, the diner bit was as sharp as it was sad. I felt like there was a bit of spice/kick missing, but perhaps the film was shooting for a very specific tone. The internal struggle was very clear and I liked that.

SPOILER(skip over if you haven't seen it yet): The scene with the priest in the church for example. I wished it was more of a 'justice served' situation rather than a oops-I-spun-you-around and got shot by (what looked like) mistake. it took a lot of power out of her resolve in her views and execution of them. This took away from the over-all 3 kills in the film.

Final notes: I wish she had a little more of a Mr. Brooks meets Marry Poppins instead of whatever other people reviewers were suggesting she was a mix of. (no offense to them) but I wish there was a bit more craft to what she does, perhaps in part 2 (fingers crossed for a sequel) Apparently she moved around a lot because she kills often, but in the movie it didn't seem like she was bringing enough experience to the table in terms of her character, KH herself is a great actress though. And so all this typing was me trying to explain more closely why, for me, it was a 8 out of 10 and not a 10. That being said I would definitely recommend this movie to pretty much anyone. It's quite refreshing in what it does and well worth the watch. Thanks.

Stonehearst Asylum (2014)

Brilliant!

[8/10 · 30 October 2014]

Had a great time watching this movie. I'm not a fan of 'old time-y' films but this was a good watch. The story was so that it kept my interest as I kept wondering where it was going to go with all this and I felt at one point it would turn out a bit cliché. I was wrong, and never bored getting from one scene to the next. I recommend it but I can't say much more other than I liked the cast (Don't want to spoil it). Great actors/actresses.

I wondered what Kate Beckinsale was doing in such a film but then it all became clear, she did great, looked great. Micheal Caine, Brendan Gleeson, Ben Kingsley and even David Thewlis were all wonderful. It was my first time encountering Jim Sturgess in any film but he did a great job too, I mean, everyone was right at the top of their game.

The movie is not fast on its feet and contains little action but it makes up for it all with a well told and engaging story. Plenty of suspense.

Overall: I highly recommend it. Maybe not a 'must watch' but after you see it, you'll be glad you didn't miss it. Great ending too.

Hercules (I) (2014)

Great movie. Must watch.

[9/10 · 27 October 2014]

I loved the little bits of humor sprinkled throughout. The movie was very textbook and quite predictable, but in this day and age, all we can hope for is a good journey and that's where this movie got its rating(for me). It kept my attention, flowed at a good pace and didn't take itself too seriously.

I don't know why people are so stingy with their rating. I'm rating it on how good of a time I had and how well I enjoyed the movie, and it was great! I don't think there was much more that I could ask for.

I already got plenty of mythical beasts from Clash Of The Titans.(if I'm remembering the title right.)

Here, we get a different and more realistic take on the legend.

The sets! CG or not, some of those cities were breathtaking! I think it was Athens/Hercules' home where he lost his fams. All that marble!

I'd like to take this time to thank the makers for not getting cheesy with any crappy romance. They brought us up to it in the end and then let us decide. Thank you guys. I hate when the focus of the movie is clouded by that crap and I'm glad they showed that a movie can have all the right stuff and not have it be all about getting to screw the Queen or the Princess at the end, nice as all that is. We got a solid story with fantastic action. I loved all the characters.

I recommend this movie. If my review helped in any way please be sure to hit the like/yes button :) Happy watching.

Left Behind (I) (2014)

What a horrific waste of time this movie was!

[2/10 · 24 October 2014]

All the acting was bad, the soundtrack/music was terrible, the effects were sub par and every single minute of this film was a waste of my time. 'This is the end' was more entertaining and conveyed the message better. 'Left Behind' is an atrocity and a crime against mankind.

I cannot believe Nick Cage did a film this bad. I used to like him but damn he's hit rock bottom with this. I only wrote this line to fill the quota. But I just have to say: DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE. It was worse then a SyFy flick. 1 star for Nick and 1 for Chad for caring enough to show up and shoot this film. As for why? I really don't know. I truly believe this might be the worst movie I've seen in years. I can't remember seeing a movie this bad. I saw the World War Z mockbuster, can't remember the name, that was bad but I watched it with a friend with the sole purpose of seeing a bad movie and making fun of it.

Maybe the movie sounded better on paper, like in the script, but the execution of it was a total fail. Please just stay away and save yourself what limited time we have to live on this Earth. Save those 1:30mins for ANYTHING ELSE.

(If you agree and practically hated the movie, please 'like' this so that others might be saved and my sacrifice wasn't for nothing. Please.)

Grave Encounters 2 (2012)

Great Movie

[8/10 · 23 October 2014]

I want to give it a 10/10 but the FX weren't top notch(but maybe that was the point). Some of the camera tricks were awesome. The sound FX were good too.

I'm gonna rate this movie based on how entertained I was and how much it held my attention. I gotta say, I was intrigued at the start and at the edge of my seat by the time they got into the building. I had to turn the lights on at one point. That hasn't happened in years. Im 26.. and I watch a lot of scary films. And I've been all through Silent Hill; From Origins to Homecoming.

If this didn't scare you or at least have you on edge then, you were expecting a gore slasher like Jason or Texas Chainsaw or you had the lights on and a bunch of people talking and not immersing themselves.

I don't know what other people were expecting or why it got such a low rating. I loved it as a sequel and idk if I just click with the style of The Vicious brothers but I freaking love them, man! This film was a great follow up.

There were plenty of scares and they went further into the madness that is Grave Encounters. We learned a little more about the place but they also raised more questions. I loved what they did with the story line and how they didn't take themselves too seriously for most of the beginning, it really set me into a state of false security.

I would choose to watch GE3 over the next 'Paranormal' not that they even compare because all the Para-normal's were just stupid. These 'film makers' actually had a reason to seek contact. But I wont go any further into that; they are just separate films and I prefer GE over Paranormal any day.

It's just creepy as ship. And people who claim it isn't scary have no imagination AT ALL. You know damn well you'd be shipping your pants if you were in that situation and anyone who says otherwise is a liar and I'm saying it is a fact! It's also funny how people will say how it didn't scare them or the film sucked but they never mention why. What about that situation doesn't scare you? In the dark with shippy night vision, in an insane asylum with a bunch of friends who are dying all around you with actual demons chasing you through the halls. Halls btw that shift and change not only your direction but your perceptions of reality as well.

I'm willing to bet $100,000 dollars that no one would spend a week in that place. A week where you'd have to explore the entire building at night with a night vision camera, ALONE. Yes, even the tunnels.

Bottom line, if you watched GE1 and liked it, then I think you'll thoroughly enjoy GE2. Don't listen to the bad reviews like I did. I decided to watch GE2 after seeing how good Extraterrestrial was and I was not AT ALL disappointed.

Extraterrestrial (2014)

Fantastic!

[10/10 · 17 October 2014]

The movie was perfect in every way! What are with the bad ratings? They didn't skimp on the FX, they didn't skimp on the soundtrack and the actors and actresses were above average. So why the bad reviews? This is sure to be a classic. The shots and story telling was so formulaic and textbook, but in a great way! Graceful, y'know? Plus I wasn't really able to guess what was going to happen next and the surprises were sooo freakin far from cheesy. BRAVO Vicious Brothers! Bravo.

This is the UFO/Alien movie I've been waiting for. There wasn't too much found footage, everything was evenly distributed (story-lines/info) and they gave nods and mention to plenty of things, like hybrids, telepathic abilities, animal mutilation etc. Lighting, Atmosphere, Sound FX, ALL top notch! I liked it from beginning to end. The movie was great, but the ending was just soooo right. Sad? A little. True? You better believe it. I can't find better things to say except that this is a must watch! Finally 'The Greys' in our face! Thank you! This! is where the bar is at now. They raised it pretty freakin high, any to follow are gonna have a tough time matching this level.

Please keep it up Vicious Brothers! I really hope to see more movies of this quality.

Don't forget to thumbs up if you agree or if this helped you :)