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michaelkeating2001
Reviews
Manhunt (2019)
Exceptional real life police story
So many police dramas are big on drama and not so much on actual police work (I'm looking at you Law and Order). Mercifully, that is not the case here.
Without trying to spoil the show, this is an exceptional drama that is extremely real. I was not in law enforcement long, but have worked closely with police investigators my whole career and the general public is not clear on how mundane good policework can be, how sometimes success or failure comes down to providence, and how police officers are also humans with a range of emotions that affect their job performance positively or negatively. This show captures all that very well.
It's a very good show and while I'd agree with some other reviewers that it can be slow at points, those never lasted long for me.
Strays (2023)
Hilarious if you can endure the language
Wifey picked this movie just about randomly. It was suggested for some reason but neither of us know why.
I have to start by saying the language is horrible. There are scenes where every sentence seems to have the F word for no apparent reason. The sheer gratuitous of the swearing is almost enough for me to not recommend the movie. It's a sign of bad writing.
That being said, the movie is legit funny. Voice acting was generally very good. There are a few scenes (including the opening scene where we meet Reggie) that are practically instant classics. If you've ever wondered what your dog thinks about all day, this movie answers it in a very funny way.
Recommended unless you avoid swearing in movies.
The Last Pirate (2023)
Wanted to like it
We watched based on good reviews here and other sites. Mostly I'm wondering who wrote them. Maybe the script writers saved their best stuff for review sites rather than the show itself?
I agree with another reviewer who thought the camera work was the best part of this adventure, but it was competent, not special in any way. If it was an amateur then they were punching above their weight.
Script and acting were both well below average which is a shame because the story had promise even if the linkage of time and space is not remotely clear. I think had someone red teamed the draft of the screenplay they could have built more continuity of the story so it didn't seem like random things just happen for no reason.
Band of Brothers (2001)
A must watch for those born after 1990
People under 30 tend to see the world thru the lens of social media and video games. They lack the grit of real life experienced by previous generations. Even their parents (my generation) have become detached from the difficulties of prior generations.
Band of Brothers wakes you up from that illusion and introduces us to the reality that shaped so much of the greatest generation. You can't help but be drawn into the confluence of desperation and hope these men have as they lean on one another to endure things that seem unimaginable today - even while much of the world still experiences them. Strongly recommended for all ages, but especially younger viewers.
Designated Survivor (2016)
Okay, not great
The funniest thing about the show is they portray Sutherland as an independent but every single position he has is radically left wing. I was hoping he'd be more like me - too left for the righties and too right for the lefties. No such luck.
I do give them credit for trying a new idea. Acting is reasonably good. Some of the plot lines are goofy but they are woven together well enough to make it generally work. Some good characters who are both likable and compelling. The exception is the First Lady who starts out okay but becomes less likable by the episode.
When I wrote this first I had only seen the first two seasons. I had to drop the rating after watching season three which is just one liberal cliche after another disguised as a plot. It's not entertaining to have someone relentlessly shove their worldview down your throat for no other reason than to be a jerk.
The Village (2004)
Remarkable movie
I don't understand a single rating on this movie under an 8. An original idea with an outstanding cast and a memorable plot deserves some credit. It is the most original movie I have seen in at least a year, probably more.
The Walking Dead: The Cell (2016)
Good character study but boring to watch
I'm really not sure how so many people thought this episode was great. It was so boring and other than really two scenes - one involving Daryl and one involving Dwight - it hardly held my interest at all. Very disappointed.
Is it good to get some Daryl time again after he's been off the screen? Sure. But I don't find Neegan all that interesting and have come to the same conclusion that many viewers have, namely that the writers are just running out of material. They take something that should be a 10 minute interlude of an episode and turn it into an entire episode. Is it just to save money on production? Did Andrew need a week off for vacation? This episode is generally not why people have been committed to the show for so long.