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mddwave
Reviews
The Christmas Candle (2013)
Miracle about a Miracle Movie
I went to church and saw a woman that is still alive! She was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer a few years ago. When I first saw her, my first thought was I am seeing a living miracle!
I wanted to see a movie about miracles. I searched "miracles" in the title but found very little.
When my family decided to watch one more Christmas movie, we decided to try " Christmas Candle". To me surprise, this movie is exactly the "miracle" movie I was looking for! Hence my high rating.
I liked the actor that played the preacher. The interactions between the members of the congregations was really good. A good Christ in Christmas movie.
The World Is Not Enough (1999)
Most evil villain
I am rewatching most of the James Bond movies, but the villain Renard played by Robert Carlyle, is the most evil to me. Generally, the evil character is borderline eccentric, almost too silly. But this character, Renard, made me nervous.
I have seen this movie before but didn't really like it, but I was unfamiliar with the actor Robert Carlyle. Since then, I saw him as the Devil "In once Upon a Time".
Most of the Bond movies I enjoy watching, but this time I watched and got tired of it and stopped watching it with 50 minutes left. Eventually, I finished the movie. I could careless if "M" died.
Things to Come (1936)
Two tales
I was intrigued on the first half of movie with war destroying culture and people just surviving. I lost interest on the second half for it was too far into the future. Scientists still have human frailties so I couldn't agree that the future the scientists wouldn't become corrupt too just like before the war.
At the beginning, I was amazed how the community teamed together when the war started. I can't imagine that happening today.
Although the use of gases was horrible in World War I, you would never think mankind would ever use it again as shown in movie. It was true in World War II, but it was still on their minds after 30 years. After 100 years, who knows how evil mankind can do. Interesting how diseases did the finishing touches in destroying culture after 30 years of war.
The 30 years of war was interesting because it eventually destroyed the manufacturing capabilities of the regional society. Without that capacity, nothing would be produced. It wasn't shortages. It was producing nothing. How fragile is our society.
Spirited (2022)
Two comments
First, Will Ferrell can obviously produce a movie, but there are much more talented performers than him for a main lead.
Second, I know the comedy is a farce, but the plot helps me understand the meaning of this phrase.
"And there shall also be many which shall say: eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God-he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God."
Enchanted (2007)
High Rating because one scene is so great
There are movies that have conic scenes that no one can forget. The scene "How does she know" is one of the greatest movie scenes that I cannot forget or ever get tired of. It is uplifting and inspiring. From the spontaneous introduction to the grand final chorus around the fountain.
Later, I walked through Central Park looking for all shots of the song. I remember sending a link to sister in law at the time dying of ovarian cancer to lift up her spirits.
Of course, I rewatched the movie to prepare to see the sequel "Disenchanted". If it wasn't for my favorite scene, I would rate it 7. Worth seeing again.
The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
Utah Canyons as the Holy Land?
With most of the movies film location in Southwest United States including Utah, all I could think during the movie was where the filming locations were. Beautiful scenery, but too colorful to be like Israel.
Overall, this version of the New Testament Gospel is not my favorite. It had interesting take on secular world such as King Herod and Pilate, but most of the story was out of sequence with the gospels so it was hard to follow.
I difficultly liking Max Sydow as Christ, because I associate him with his evil character Joubert in "Three Days of the Condor". John Wayne's one liner is so bad I laughed out loud!
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Mixed Feelings
This movie has some of my most favorite scenes such as Eowyn destroying the Dark lord; Sam killing the spider. Shelob; and the destruction of the ring and Sauron.
In contrast, I had to watch too many melodramatic scenes and endless battle scenes.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Before and after reading the books
My initial impression of LOTR: Fellowship was that It was really long , three hours (I had to leave the movie briefly for a bathroom break) and that their was too much violence.
Ironically, when the DVD was released, I had to get the extended versions that were four hours long. I really liked the character and settings.
Unfortunately I read the books. I couldn't stand the movies after the great LOTR storyline was corrupted by melodramatic scripts. I couldn't even stand to watch it after readings the book and didn't even finish fellowship.
As time passed and I forgot the details of the book and understood it was melodramatic, I watched it again. As stated earlier, great characters and settings. I really like to go to New Zealand l!
Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)
I like the Jack Reacher Character
I like the Jack Reacher character better than Ethan Hunt. Although It seems odd that the wise Jack would go into situations unarmed where the enemy is armed.
The evil contractor is stealing us military arms in Afghanistan brings up an obvious problem. How will the United States remove all the military arms when the military leaves Afghanistan? History shows how. Just leave $80 billion worth of military equipment in Afghanistan.
The Lost City (2022)
Only reason
I really liked Brad Pitt's Trainer character, but then he was "killed". As silly as this movie was, I was hoping that his character would have miraculously survived.
The only reason that I continued to watch the movie was to see Brad Pitt character return. I had to wait till the very end past closing credits.
Deadpool 2 (2018)
Three great things about the movie.
Overall, I didn't like the sequel but there are three things that make it stand out.
1. Deadpool (Wade) near death experiences when he sees Vanessa. Although the movie was a comedy, these scenes were very dramatic and touching. I really liked this portrayal of the afterlife. I wish a movie could "spin off" inspired by these scenes.
2. The character "Domino" with her superhuman power was being lucky. I get tired of all the Marvel movies with superhero powers. The character "Domino" Is my favorite of all time.
3. Celine Dion song "Ashes" was truly an 11! Like most all movies, I casually watching the intro credits, but not really listening to movie theme song. Celine's singing/ song was so impressive. I couldn't help waking up a really listen to it. Subsequently, I found the song on YouTube and listened to it many times since.
Three Days of the Condor (1975)
Higgin's plan
After just rewatching the movie (2022), I heard something that was interesting on a movie made in 1975.
The United States invaded the Middle East twice! It was like the CIA planned the invasion 28 years before the Gulf Wars.
Crack in the World (1965)
Rip the cardboard
I remembered seeing this movie when I was a child and vividly especially the seen where cardboard is ripped till it stopped at the hole to show how crack in the earth would be stopped. As I later learned, it is a great visual example of shear stress arriving at a singularity point.
When I recently saw the movie, the scene I remembered was much briefer and minor than I remembered.
One interesting item is that it demonstrates that peoples egos while motivate people to do strange things at the loss of millions of lives.
RoboCop 2 (1990)
Side story of ads and news stories
I was entertained by the side story of the of Robocap 1 and 2 movie of the ads and the news feed.
Although the tv was shown to show the news stories of Detroit events, the non Detroit news stories were huge disaster shattering news stories like nuclear war. There was ad for game were you use a nuclear bomb to end the game. The Robocop news stories seemed trivial.
The Taming of the Shrew (1967)
Really Good but I wished for different ending
I finally watched this movie as part of my Shakespeare movie binge. I really liked the acting. Elizabeth Taylor is astoundingly beautiful in her wedding dress.
I understand this is one of Shakespeare comedies, but it disturbed me on how lightly Shakespeare treated marriage. I wished Shakespeare would have had different ending. The Kate was tamed, but not the husband, Petruchio. Petruchio was more like the beast in "Beauty and the Beast" and didn't seem to change much. I wished their love would have developed more clearly instead of "Kiss me Kate"
As Good as It Gets (1997)
Improbable Threesome Road trip
Up until the road trip, I liked the movie. Then the road trip happened and it became too unbelievable.
The road trip of Melvin, Carol, and Simon is improbable. There is no way that could happen.
Cliffhanger (1993)
Lithglow character
I original liked the movie better the first time I saw it, but this is the first time I saw the whole movie completely from the beginning. In the old days, I would watch parts of it on TV.
If it wasn't for Lithglow's evil character and some great stunts like the plane to plane, it wasn't very believable.
The Breakfast Club (1985)
Favorite quote
I never watched the movie until now. Overall, I didn't like it. Maybe I have been out of high school too long.
With the state of politics in 2021, I really liked this quote.
Richard Vernon: You think about this: when you get old, these kids - when *I* get old - they're going to be running the country.
Carl: Yeah.
Richard Vernon: Now this is the thought that wakes me up in the middle of the night. That when I get older, these kids are going to take care of me.
Carl: I wouldn't count on it.
Father of the Bride Part II (1995)
Hair color
Although it has been 30 years, I distinctly remember the scenes where George gets his hair colored to light brown. I had always seen Steve Martin with grey hair. When he colored his hair, he look so profoundly differently.
When I mentioned it to my wife, she wanted to rewatch the Father of the Bride movies. With my recent daughter's marriage and son's daughter, the movies had a different perspective.
The Healer (2016)
Interesting story concept but could have been better
I like the story concept and watched the movie to see how the story developed. As I watched, several things didn't make sense to me. I endured the rest of the movie hoping it would get better, but it didn't.
I did like the scene of all the villagers showing gratitude to Alec for healing them. It would have been humbling experience.
I wish the script writer would have been more creative on the interaction of the healer to the healed. It seemed odd that all he had to do was to have been in his presence. It seemed like poof and they were healed. The healer could have done something more interactive such as touch, talk, etc. Alec could have been physically weaker temporarily after he healed someone.
The girl Abigail was good, but should have a more direct relationship to Alec's brothers cancer. Either Alec's sibling died as a teenage girl. Abigail should have been a teenage boy with the Alec' brother died as a teenager.
Maybe it is my belief system, but I didn't like how Alec pleaded with God to have his healing powers back. Rather than Alec being humbled, repentant, kind person, Alec was a demanding, angry person. It seemed unjustified that Alec received his healing powers back.
The January Man (1989)
Funniest capture of the murderer
I saw many reviews before I finished the movie and some mentioned that it was a comedy. I thought is strange for description of detective murder mystery.
But in the final scenes when Nick tries to capture the murder, I thought it was one of the funniest scenes I ever saw in a movie. When Nick couldn't break open the door with a sledge hammer while the women was being strangled was so ironic. Although Nick was smart cop, he didn't think of every detail completely such as opening the door!
Lost in Translation (2003)
Business trip
This movie was about the life of business trips, this one was to Tokyo. It isn't hard to write a screenplay when Bill Murray ad libs for most of the movie.
Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)
Seeing family again
The overall premise of going back in time knowing what we now now was interesting.
There were some touching scenes to me
1) When Peggy Sue sang the national anthem with feeling!
2) When she saw her mother, sister, and father for the first time
3) When she got the phone call from her grandmother and later the visit with her grandparents.
With the recent passing of my mother and father, I look forward to seeing my parents again in the afterlife. The movie presented the joy that I would have seeing my parents again.
The Toast of New York (1937)
Tragedy of Fisk
I really enjoyed this movie. Although Daniel Drew was made fun of because of his pious lifestyle, the real tragedy is Jim Fisk. Although corporation boards were funny, I suspect it is closer to the truth I real world. Nice romantic storyline weaved into the story.
Enola Holmes (2020)
Take a chance
My wife and I took a chance and saw the movie. We were both entertained and intrigued.