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Reviews
Star Trek: Voyager: Friendship One (2001)
Good ideas. One plot point ruined it for me.
I remember watching this back when it first aired and.the biggest issue I had with it then is the same one I have with it now over twenty-two years later: (spoiler) the death of Lt. Carey.
They brought this actor back, a few episodes shy of the series finale, just to arbitrarily, needlessly, pointless kill the character off when a random officer like they have done countless times before would have worked.
If it would have been a random character, I would have been more inclined to see the point of the alien society but since it was a somewhat familiar character, I had no sympathy for them and would have been more than happy for Voyager to rescue their people and leave. The use of Lt. Carey undermined the entire point of the episode for me. This could have been a 7-8 star episode but because of that one insignificant decision, it makes it a 4. Just a bad taste in my mouth and I tend to skip this now when it airs in syndication.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More, with Feeling (2001)
Not quite perfect but one of the greatest episodes of any television show
*Only minor spoilers of storylines but not what the storylines entail*
I remember watching this when it originally aired in 2001. I was just out of college and started watching Buffy during season 3 though even then it was more casual viewing than dedicated. This episode struck me as a gimmick being used on a new network to drum up so viewers and mostly just odd. While that isn't entirely wrong, I now know that is not at all what it was intended to be or certainly all that it is. I've seen it several times over the years and while I have enjoyed it more with time, this recent viewing (a tv channel is airing it in syndicate now showing two episodes a night. Though I watch on Amazon without commercials, I limit myself to the two episodes that are airing that night on the TV channel) has taught me this a beautiful almost perfect episode of Buffy and indeed any television episode.
The songs are poignant even when they are silly songs and more so when they are meaningful songs. They reveal secrets but also set up storylines for the future: Anya/Xander, Tara/Willow, Buffy/Spike, Dawn/klypto.
Despite any feelings toward Joss Whedon these days from people, his talent as a writer/director is not in question and is far above anything we have now. This was his world and knew it intimately.
The only thing keeping this from being an absolutely perfect episode of television is that it does require some prior knowledge. If you watch it somewhat standalone as I did originally, it's quirk and entertaining but kind of weird. However, if you watch it with the full knowledge of the Buffyverse, this episode is beautiful and sad and funny and silly and painful and uplifting...almost perfect.
Highlander (1992)
Starts mediocre and ends mediocre but great in between
Season One is ok. Good character interaction and development and story. It builds from the excellent first movie although season one starts kind of slow. The series as a whole does drastically improve past the first season until the last season and half which seems like everyone involved was just phoning it in and didn't know where the story was supposed to go. However, the intervening seasons are excellent. Duncan is outstanding as a character and Adrian Paul plays him beautifully both physically and artistically. The supporting characters that come and go do a good job and sometimes are underrated but definitely add to the overall charm and appeal of this show. Additionally, the guest stars are top notch: Richard Moll, Roger Daltry, Roland Gift, etc. I encourage everyone to check out this series.
Psych: Tuesday the 17th (2009)
This is one of the best episodes of the series
I'm a horror movie fan and also enjoy quirky comedy so this episode was a perfect introduction to Psych. Shawn and Gus interact beautifully, as always. Clive's (Foggy Nelson from Netflix's Daredevil) references were awesome. Plenty of spookiness, subtle jokes and references, interesting story and plot twists should easily make this one of the top 10 episodes of the series for anyone. Probably top 5 for me but I'm biased since this was the first episode of Psych I watched back when this episode originally aired on Friday the 13th of February 2009.
Only gripe about this episode is the B storyline but I think it just was some filler to have the Chief and Lassie in this episode and kind of break up the tension from the main story. However, that does keep this episode from being a 10 for me.
Sleepaway Camp (1983)
A must-see standard slasher fare
It's not masterpiece as far as acting or directing or dialog or even the general premise but it has enough of its own uniqueness to make it stand out from the slew of other summer camp slashers.
The movie uses actual teenagers which is quite realistic and different for the genre and tone of this type of film and works out decently despite that most of the kids, understandably aren't the best of actors. I think the main actress does a pretty good job.
The aunt of the main character is extremely creepy in the few times we see her and the end of this movie is classic. The sequels get a little more generic and passable but this one is very enjoyable and a can't-miss for any fan of slasher movies.
Yummy (2019)
Could have been decent with a better script
Main review is that it's a mildly passable gore fest zombie flick that holds your attention for a few minutes but then the writing issues got in the way for me and I kept having to pause just rub my temples at how annoying it was. If the issues below weren't there, I'd have probably given a 6.
The average "great" guy with the beautiful, insecure, big-breasted, vain girlfriend soon turns into a complete loser that constantly bangs his head on things, knocks himself out, faints or pukes and can't even open a door. And the girlfriend naturally begins to degrade him and overcome the situation despite her sudden loser boyfriend and not because she does anything great but just because she now looks great in comparison. That get old quickly.
Minor characters that get saved from a tense situation one minute are immediately killed right off. By the end, I was pulling for everyone to die.
Spoiler part here: they all did die and even the way that happened was so completely unsatisfying.