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Reviews
Pachinko (2022)
Waiting for S3
If you have yet to start to watch Pachinko or just starting ...... you are in for an awesome experience.
If you have finished as I have you are anticipating the notice that Apple has optioned a S3 and more ... what ever it takes to finish the story. I will admit after the third episode I did go back and start again to engrain the characters squarely in my memory as this show was going to be an amazing experience.
I recognized the elder Sunja from a previous show I had seen but all others were new to me but all exceptional in their portrayals of the characters. As others have stated .. the cinematography will blow you away totally.
Sit back and enjoy and then email Apple to get S3 on schedule to film. I am now waiting for the book to be delivered .... I have to find out what happens next.
The Good Ship Murder (2023)
"Murder She Wrote" on a cruise ship.
.........or "Love Boat". Similar to a Hallmark Movie in touristy locales.
The only thing that hooked me was scenery shots of where they were suppose to be. I am still shocked I watched all of S1 in one evening but that was also speed streaming through most of the last half of the shows.
If you watch other crime shows you would know that anything evidence Jack or Kate touched or moved would not be allowed into evidence of any trial and as such they all the killers would be getting off.
As said before .. the location scenes are the best and for many you may have said .... "I know where that was ... I was there!"
I would be curious as to exactly how much was actually filmed on the ship itself ... probably not much and also "think" at the end with Jack singing ... the band is really not there but on a screen behind him. Who knows.
The Gentlemen: The Gospel According to Bobby Glass (2024)
Exillerating 3 day ride ... whew!
The cast is the major incentive to continue to watch this series. Totally. Ingenius casting here. I loved that IMDB did not put how may episodes the actorw were in as to keep you guessing. Unsure who plays Gospel John's .. was it his brother?? WOW
I have to admit that the first episode hooks you and draws you in but then the next few you are wondering if this is a Dramady or a Comedrama ... it is really over the top in so many ways. You are lauging one minute than OMG'ing the next.
I was thinking about stopping but didnt .... I had to finish it fast and be done with it so 3 days later fiinished. Last scene .... predicable and a great ride to get there.
Feud: Phantasm Forgiveness (2024)
Last episode not worthy!
This last episode was totally not worthy of the rest of the episodes. It was if they HAD to make 8 but ran out of ideas towards the end. Seriously you can miss Ep 8 totally. Also as the Episodes go along the commercials get longer and longer.
The casting and acting was amazing, Tom Hollander as Truman Capote was inspiring. He said in an interview he went after one of the movies that were done prior but lost out on it. So glad he got this one. All of the other actresses in the movie were also well cast and performed.
I was always a fan of Truman's works ... Breakfast at Tiffany's and In Cold Blood and all his appearances on the talk shows .... Dick Cavett, Johnny Carson and Mike Douglas etc. I really have to wonder how much influence he may have had on Harper Lee's writing of TKaM. I still wonder that the person who wrote "Go Set a Watchman" is also the same person who wrote Mockingbird as the writing is not the same at all.
Tracker (2024)
Great start but something missing .....
If this show had not come on immediately following the Super Bowl I may very well have missed it but hopefully caught later. I thought it was very well put together, the story line, actors and scenic spots made for a great fiirst story. As it was going along I was checking out the cast on this site and the only name that was well known was Justin with a few other names sort of ringing a bell but then we get to the end and ... and .... I DIDNT SEE WENDY CREWSON'S NAME IN THE CREDITS!!! I went back to check and nope ... not there .. went into Wendy's bio and nope not listed there. I know she was there. I did find an article where it says she plays Justin's mother .... thank God I am not going nuts. PLEASE FIX THIS !!!
Beef: Figures of Light (2023)
I knew by Ep 4 ......
I stopped watching at Ep 4 as I knew the ending would be somehow they would get together at the end. Many convinced me to keep going .... stopped again at Ep 6 . THEN it started to win all the awards REALLY ... give me a break. OMG .. what !!! Is there really so much disfunctiong in this somewhat small group of people and major criminal activities on both side.
The background episode and the last episode were a waste of time. The last few minutes .... there is no way they would have allowed her to be with him in the hospital .... how did George find them .... why did he shoot Danny .... why why why so many things.
THANK GOD MY LIMIT HAS BEEN MET.
FOR ME .... WHAT A POS BUT OBVIOUSLY OTHERS DONT THING THAT.
The Zone of Interest (2023)
Read the book or wait to stream it at home for free!
Out of 8 people in the theatre this afternoon, 6 of us hung around in the lobby to talk about the film. We all felt the same way .... sooo boring!! After 25 minutes of commercials and we finally get the Feature Presentation sign then we get over 3 minutes of a black screen. We thought it more like 5 but usher said it was 3.
Film finally starts with banal chat by the banks of a river with family fishing, swimming and beach type activities. Appr 10 minutes of what some would say notihng. BUT .. the son was picking up something on the beach which turned out to be teeth he had found to add to his growing collection.
My feeling is I would probably gotten a lot more from the book that this movie. . Waste of a nice afternoon but figured correctly there would not be many in the theatre. Last few minutes is of the Museum there and displays of shoes and cloting but again .... why did we have to see cleaners washing the floors and the windows while showing this??
Leave the World Behind (2023)
Love it or Hate it ... I see both sides.
If you saw the movie "Dont Look Up" you will rate this movie most likely the same. It is similarily scary but in a different way. This in my mind is a B-slap to some people saying .. YES THIS COULD HAPPEN.
Half way through I thought ..... Do I really want to know what is going to happen??
Acting is A-ONE all round ... everyone is on their game but Ethan Hawke excels. Julia Roberts character is way overboard but maybe we all know a person like this in our real lives and maybe a family member so ... will give her a break. Mayershala Ali as always superb and Kevin Bacon terrifing.
Comments were made about how the daughter may be "challenged" ... NO WAY ... if anything she was gifted. But I get that some may think that way as she was so fixated on a certain thing.
Interestingly the viewers have increased by over 100 in 12 hours and the rating decreased from 6.7 to 6.6.
All the Light We Cannot See (2023)
Main part of the story is intact !!
All The Light We Cannot See - 4/5 or 8/10
This miniseries was very worthwhile to watch and happy "for the most part" how it turned out. It is not as good as the book ..... BUT maybe could have been if given a few more hours. You cant have everything. You really cant compare any book to a filmed project., the book most itme wins. I have read this book and still enjoyed it.
It seems today you are now expecting a French or German character to speak their language but not in this series ... all in English with French or German accents. You really had to ignore the pretend accents of Mark Ruffalo and Hugh Laurie. They were very good in their roles.
The lead actress Aria Mia Lobert (Maria) who is blind in real life was amazing and it was her first role. Louis Hoffman (Werner) and Lars Eidinger (Rumpel) all excellent. Lars is German born and a numerous winner of many theatre and movie awards. Will have to check into him more thoroughly.
Due to the time restraits YES stuff missing and things have changed. But again .... all in all the piece itself tells the main story.
The cinematography, costumes, set design was pretty exact for the period. If any nominations I will expect more in the technical categories.
At the end thre are a few minutes of actual photos and film of what St Malo was like before, during, after the war and today. The last two photos you see are a b/w of the town prior to the war and then reverts to a colour one of today.
No wonder ghosts remain there.
Above Suspicion: Silent Scream: Part 1 (2012)
Again .. just okay!
I was planning on quitting on S3 but finished it off and basically the same feeling as I said for S3. Way too many characters and plotlines, way too many possible suspects. Who screwed Langdon on his promotion .... too many to count. On that front ... 100% totally correct!! As in all the other Seasons and episodes .... Travis is as always high heels and tight clothes. Her character just turned me off from S1 ... if you have read any of my reviews ... I didnt like her from the start and it stayed that way. But in regards to the whole show ... nice to see Ciaran Hinds and S3 it was great to see Julian Sands ... that was a defiante bonus.
Above Suspicion: The Red Dahlia: Part 1 (2010)
Not as good as S1
I was surprised that all the reviews for all 3 episodes are here on Ep 1 so I also will do the same.
In S1 you or I was under the impression that Travis was new but not really green that she had some real training to get put in this specialized department but really not so. In this season we still have to walking in fields and muck and bodies in high heels and tight fitting clothes. When a newpaper reporter who has just scooped a lead that was not revealed by the police .... asks her out on a date .... she accepts and then accepts a second date and sleeps with him. While asleep he goes through the file she has in her handbag ..... WHY DID SHE HAVE IT IN HER HANDBAG? Either of those two things should have gotten her booted out .. no apolgy should be accepted just done and over.
Agree with other posters ....the one sister assaulting two officers and not being charged ????? An old house like that ... hidden rooms or passages .... of course.
The story line connecting LA's old Black Dahlia case was interesting but silly in todays day and time.
And the teaser we had at the end of S1 we have another one at end of S2. My question is ....... did her father know ...... about what ....you will have to see it to find out.
Pamela, a Love Story (2023)
Interesting time waster !
This was definetly not something I was planning on watching but I had some time before dinner and thought "what the heck" and turned it on.
I take it that she is being honest and upfront as as she is doing this with her son, she wants it done right. She says what happened with after effects of the tape being stolen .. and how that alone kaboshed the rest of her career. All I can say is to any other celebrity out there .... dont tape anything ... it may not last private for long. Then just recently they do a mini doc on it and there it is all again ... FK!
I am somewhat surprised at all the other tapes she does have and maybe if THE tape was with those ones it may have been safe. Who knows.
Most of all I really did enjoy seeing her rehearse for "Chicago" for Broadway and she got rave reviews. I have to agree with her sons statement ... "everyone thought she would fail miserably" and they were wrong. I also thought the same thing when I saw she was going into it ... shocked me as well.
I hope she has great sucesss with her book. Go Pam Go.
Jamestown: Episode #3.8 (2019)
Sad
The last episode of the series ends in a major cliffhanger which most know before getting into it S3 Ep 8 is the last of the series. For me I was very depressed knowing they did not get a S4.
Even knowing from the first episode the episodes are a bit over the top, the people and envioument are way to clean .... and Jocelyn alone has a new hate or dress evertime you see her ?? But still the writers I think came very close to how it was back in that time period.
In March of 2022 it was 400 years since the Indian attack occurred where this show ends so dramatically. It is not a spoiler as it is not part of history and the show but the reality was anyone in the barrier surrounding the main part of Jamestown mostly lived but hundreds of settlers in outgoing areas were killed.
Last Tango in Halifax: Episode #5.4 (2020)
Finally its over .....
I am a completist so had to finish what I started and only wish someone had said NO DONT DO IT!! You really cant like any of the characters only the artists portraying them.
What a mess of a family ... every single one of them. In the first 2 seasons you are hoping that the remainder will be a bit more normal but so much other crap is thrown in which makes it utter nonsense.
I got into this due to Derek Jacobi and Nicola Walker but did come to respect some of the others actors but had to really dislike the people they were playing. Egads .. what sh&t. I know I am repeating myself so I can get the required number of characters in review. Done .... and finished.
Hope Street: Episode #2.1 (2022)
Not the same show as Season 1
After such a long break in between I watched the last 3 episodes in S1 again to remind me how we ended the season. I am up to Episode 8 and it is hard to believe this is the same show we saw and LOVED in S1. Very sad. I will review in total at end of E10 and classify it totally as SPOILERS.
But as I need another 300 characters to submit I will just say the scenery and music was the same as before ... probably stock footage, which I just did a lot of 10 second ahead clicks and shortened my viewing time. I dont recall Brits using the US style of Miranda warnings before arresting someone before .... it really got annoying. Ah limit met .. yeah.
Alaska Daily (2022)
Scenery, story and cast .... A Plus !!
Just heard about this show tonight and binged the first 3 episodes and waiting for the west coast feed of Ep 4.
The story line starts with the Indian women/girls who have gone missing in a small community, but actually in all the west coast areas, then moves to other misc issues that come up along the way. We never lose the fact of the main story and how important it is and is in reality today. The writing is A 1.
Scenery is amazing wow the views are magnificant. The performers are also great with Hilary Swank leading the cast but it is the first two things mentioned that does it for me.
Hoping there will be a S2 it is that good.
The Florida Project (2017)
Forced to watch ...... 2hr waste of time.
It was for a movie class I was taking and it along with another movie were up for discussion at the next meet. The first movie I didnt think too much of but after seeing The Florida Project the first one got a 9 compared to his movie.
With all the screaming, wind, traffic and helicopter noise it was just too hard to hear any of the dialogue and the CC didnt work on the DVD so still no clue what half was said.
I am very glad I do not know anyone similar as who was portrayed in this movie as I wouldnt want to associate with any of them. Seriously nothing worthwhile to watch here and no resolve at end.
Nebraska (2013)
Not much action but just a very well made film.
Nebraska was nominated for 6 Academy Awards which says alot even though it did not win any. Many of the films did not even get that many nominations which give some credit to this film.
I loved the way it was filmed in B/W and the slow moving pace of the scenes and the music as well.. The "quiet scenes" were the camera just pans over the scene were very well done.
Bruce Dern was not considered until after they wrote off Nicholson and Hackman as they had retired and then Robert Duvall and Robert De Niro turned it down as well as a few others. Frankly cant see any of the above doing this film any better than Dern.
My Nazi Legacy (2015)
Last 30 minutes .... powerful
I would like to know how Phillipe Sandes got these two men together and too talk about their family lives and their father. The old footage of their home lives, the trial and historical sites such as their family homes, photos and videos really brings you into THIS IS REAL LIFE. Seeing how different each mans persepective is on their fathers involvement in the genacide that took place. Hearing one person say in current time that growing up in that town they were never told of what happened in their country during WWI and then finding out was beyond belief and many even today do not believe it and that the world made it all up. WOW.
Echoes: Falls (2022)
Parent Trap with a bit of The Shining mixed in.
The series kept me interested that I watched it all in 2 nights. Well done story but a bit confusing. Would I recommend .... only if you dont have anything else that is an 8 or higher to watch.
SPOILERS BELOW IF YOU HAVENT SEEN ALL THE EPISODES.
I found it a bit confusing throughout as to who was who .. even at the end where they themselves or playing each other. In Charlie's diary he specifically says he knew who was who by their smell and this was never brought up. Also at the end Charlie is making a drink and puts a package of powder in the drink .... confused about that ... anyone???? Think the story of the father was not necessary.
House of the Dragon: The Heirs of the Dragon (2022)
Very good start
The first episode set up the characters and we get an idea where their alliances will lay. Cinematography was excellent, location scenes well done .... only one bad comment ... the garden scene looked so fake. Plastic leaves on trees and appeared to be a backdrop at the back. Still .... only will get better for sure.
Easter Sunday (2022)
Better than expected
I was not expecting to be laughing out loud at this movie but found myself doing exactly that at several times. At times very silly and stupid and yeah idiotic BUT it was hysterical in some scenes you gave it a bit more credit. And in some retrospecte .. every family has a few of these type of people. Since I really did not read too much about it prior to seeing it I was a bit stunned to see Lou Diamond Philips .... sort of made me really glad I came to see the movie. Sweet Lou !
Five Days at Memorial: Day One (2022)
Powerful
I am rating the first 3 episodes which I have just seen back to back. Each got more powerful as the episodes went on. Day 3 was the best of the 3 as they now all know they are not getting any help fast. I am not picking any actor out in particular ... they are all great and very familiar to their real life counter parts from the book which I just finished reading.
The filming and cinematography was amazing .... major kudos to our Toronto crews.
Elvis (2022)
Baz ... Please release the 4 hr version !!!!
The time spent went by so fast and didn't seem like 2 1/2 hrs at all.
I wish they had used Elvis's real voice in the whole movie and not start it from half way through.
I wish they had included the fact that the memorial for the USS Arizona would not be there in Hawaii if Elvis had not given the funds from his Aloha special to help fund it. I wish they had included other things .... so that is why I said in title ... release the 4 hr version. I for one will pay to see the added footage.
A Mother's Son (2012)
Waste of time
Mother overacted, Step father under acted until the last 30 minutes, Paul McGann as the real father best of the show. But not worthy of even a 6. Martin C could be asleep through most of it.