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Reviews
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Marvelous Radio (2019)
Excellent Episode and People Need to Chill.
The point of the whole Phyllis Shlafly thing was not to " pick on a dead person" Grow up and use your common sense. She is someone who was noteworthy at the specific time period Midge was doing commercials. She was a controversial person. Abe telling Miriam she should know who she is putting her voice behind before she does it is wise advice. Not just because of that specific Senatorial candidate, but in all cases. Once Midge had a chance to learn about her platforms, she decided she could not support her. Personally, I could not support someone who thought the U.S. having and using the A Bomb was a "gift from God". Certainly others could, and that's their right. But this show is supposed to be from Midge's perspective, and it makes sense that she would feel that way and that people around her might too. Note the two men in the scene had no issues. The show writers were not trying to persecute anyone. They were reflecting a real event of the times.
That being said, I loved watching Susie and Midge run from appointment to appointment and their complaining on the subway. The whole bris scene cracked me up. Abe handing out papers, Joel and Moishe taking bets, recruiting the milkman. Rose becoming a matchmaker. And OMG Miss Julie! I felt like Gavin Hawk was going to just strangle her at any moment! And I love how Susie read her off. I didn't think what Midge said on stage was that big a deal. She wasn't saying them in reference to Shy being gay, so why should they expect an audience who adores him and only wants to think the best of him take the jokes in that vein? It's 1960. People were still pretty naive. It would have been a rare fan who heard those jokes and decided suddenly that Shy was gay.
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life (2016)
Highs, Lows and Pet Pigs
**CONTAINS SPOILERS**
There is no way they could do a revival and make everyone happy. Fans are bound to be disappointed in something.
I can't write all I'd like because of IMDb.com limits, but will try to get the highlights.
The Bad:
1: Rory is not who we would ever expect her to be. She has a completely forgettable boyfriend that clearly cares more for her than she does for him. It's supposed to be a running joke that she keeps forgetting him, but it's not funny, it just makes Rory look like a jerk. To compound that, she is Logan's mistress. Really? After the whole Dean thing, Rory would be "the other woman" again?
Also, it seemed against character for Rory to be so upset at the suggestion she become a teacher. I'm not saying she should be psyched about the idea, just that it didn't seem right that she found it almost offensive.
2. The Naomi Plot Line: The character was beyond obnoxious and we knew from the get go it would fall through. A waste of time.
3. The Musical: Just a bad idea. So painfully bad. And when all was (finally) said and done, it added nothing but cringes galore and chances for the writers to make a lot of pop culture references. But aren't they supposed to do that anyway?
Side note: Sophie from the music shop, always a grouchy curmudgeon, has apparently been reborn as a smiling, chipper, joiner. So wrong.
4. Life and Death Brigade: At first I was sure it was a dream. Why would she be going to the paper late at night? What's up with the talking bird? And Esther would never go in on anything with them. Another musical number? Rory breaking into Doose's? Shooting golf balls off the roofs? The dance number in the tango club? Sorry, should've just been a classic Logan Grand Gesture to say good-bye to Rory.
5. The Chef Parade: I know Sookie couldn't be there, but the story line fell flat. We got it. Michel was angry and Lorelei can't accept anyone else. Could have been done without the hoopla and name dropping. Would've been better to write it in a way that moved the story and characters along.
6. Needless Cameos: I realize they wanted to have as many characters reappear as possible, but some were SO incredibly forced and unnecessary to any plot line that they were almost an insult. Dean - no point. Seriously there just long enough to say he was there and no purpose. Francine? Really? Why? Just why? April, ugh! It didn't further anything. No show of her and Luke's relationship. And Lane's dad! One of the biggest mysteries of the show and we get the lamest cameo. Either make him a real character or leave him a mystery.
7. Wild: I thought this was the worst departure in the whole series. Lorelei and Luke are set. They have been together 9 years. We didn't need another Lorelei road trip. She was in therapy. She could have had her epiphany there. And come on, we ALL knew she was never going to hike.
8. Emily's New Maid: Emily Gilmore, who holds the World's Record for firing maids would never, ever, under any circumstances accept a maid she cannot understand and she would certainly not allow her whole family to move in and over run her home.
The Good and Bad (Mixed Things)
1. Rory's Book: I love the idea of Rory writing about her and her mom. But Lorelei's reaction was wrong. She is always Rory's biggest champion and never shies from being the center of attention. I can see her saying she wouldn't want certain things written about, naturally, but not to be dead set against it.
2. Jess: I have never liked Jess one bit. Could not stand his character. But the scene where he suggests the book to Rory is one of the best. It makes sense he's there, and their dialogue is easy and authentic.
3. Rory Takes Over the Gazette: I love the idea of her saving the paper, but ... trite stereotypes and jokes. Eh. Seemed lazy.
The Good:
1. Back to Stars Hollow: it was like visiting an old, dear friend to go back to the endearing, quirky town that celebrates everything.
2. Remembering Richard: The way all 3 of the Gilmore girls mourn the passing of their patriarch feels true and right.
3. The Evolution of Emily: More than any other character, we go on a journey with Emily. We watch her deal with her grief and her new situation in a way that is satisfying like nothing else in this series. Relocating to Nantucket, Emily finally puts her history degree from Smith to use along with her flair for the dramatic (that she would never admit she shares with her daughter).
4. Kirk: The town chips in and buys him and Lulu a pig (named Petal) when they discuss having a child. Petal gets a starring role in Kirk's second short film. Not as funny as the first film by Kirk, but it's funny. And you will never hear anyone say Uber again and not think "Ooo-ber".
5. Emily Tells Off the DAR: Seeing Emily tell off the DAR ladies and tell the trophy wife she wasn't getting in was one of the best moments of the whole thing.
I'm sure I'm forgetting lots of stuff. Plus stuff that doesn't warrant enumerating, like what the heck is up with Cesar's hair?, why can't anyone figure out what language Berta speaks? etc. But all in all, I have to say I enjoyed it more than I disliked it.
American Gothic (2016)
Entertaining and Fun
I'm really surprised at some of the reviews. Perhaps it's because I binge watched all the episodes instead of waiting week to week, but my husband and I enjoyed it immensely. It's the story of a family in crisis as it deals with the discovery that one (or more) of them may be involved in a string of notorious serial killings. As is always the case, there are subplots and mini dramas aplenty. The Hawthorne family closest is full to bursting with skeletons. But as a good mystery should, you're not really sure those skeletons are what they seem.
There are no gimmicky special effects. No mysterious sci-fi elements. No flashy cinematography to distract from the story. No gratuitous sex or violence. No unnecessary graphic scenes at all. Just straightforward storytelling. Amazing, huh? So, I guess for some people that equals boring TV. Although, how a macabre 11 year old who wants to be a pathologist can be boring I have no idea!
I saw someone comment that they felt the filming seemed all gray. ? I don't see that. It didn't seem like that to me. Yes, a great many scenes take place at night, or in places that may not be brightly lit. It also takes place in Boston in the fall - cloudy, overcast weather is pretty common here for that time of year. Not a lot of opportunity for brightly lit spaces, but colors seemed true to me.
I don't feel the acting is bad at all. I do feel that the director made a choice to have the actors hold back and open up as the show progresses. You definitely get to know them better as the show goes on, as would happen in any show, but I felt the actors bloomed slowly with each new episode and that it was deliberate. It made it very interesting.
This is not the most riveting drama or mystery you will ever watch, and for my fellow New Englanders, Deirdre Lovejoy's Boston accent will be cringe worthy, but it's a good show with an interesting plot and diverse characters (Dana in DNA is a hoot!) and plenty of mystery to keep you guessing. I recommend you give it a try.
******* SPOILERS ********
For the person who commented on the harm to animals:
1. Obviously, no actual harm was done to any animal, so calm down.
2. Also obvious is the set up of Jack as a deeply disturbed child. Most serial killers and other psychopaths have a history of harming animals in their youth, so..... it's setting up Jack's psychopathy. Also, again, obviously, the cat wasn't actually harmed. (Jack is supposed to have cut the tail off of the neighbors cat in a 'medical experiment' and his father takes the cat to have the tail sewn back on)
3. Many people trap raccoons and other animals that cause problems on their property. The traps they showed were humane, and should not cause harm to an animal. In the story, a raccoon got part of himself caught in the trap and Gunther killed it rather than see it suffer. Sometimes things like that happen. Of course, nothing was ever shown, not even a raccoon in the yard. So I have no idea what the fuss was about.
Certainly the show is not encouraging violence against animals. They were moments that furthered the story for each of those characters. Animal lovers need not worry. My three cats are not offended.
Orange Is the New Black (2013)
It is based on a memoir - but it's mostly fiction people
I'm surprised by some of the reviews criticizing ONB for not being more realistic. It's clearly listed as a comedy/drama - you have to expect that it is going to be fictionalized for entertainment. Yes, it's based on real-life Piper Kerman's experience, but it isn't a true-to-life retelling nor does it ever claim to be.
Also, some reviewers have mentioned that they feel some of the characters are too stereotyped. I suppose if you only watch the first few episodes that is a fair complaint. However, if you watch the whole series, you will see that as they delve into the backgrounds of the characters they show us that these women are so much more than what we think we see on the surface - and that's the point. They put on masks/personas to survive in prison. Armor, if you will, to protect themselves. And yes, some of them may revert to stereotypes because it is familiar and safe. Sometimes in life it is much easier to be what people think you should be then what you really are. But then we get to know them and we see the real person that they only share with their prison families or the person(s) they are close to on the inside.
That's a big part of the attraction of this series for me: getting to know these characters and seeing how their relationships grow and change.
Another criticism is that the main character is annoying. Guess what? She is supposed to be - at least at first. That's the point. She is a spoiled, rich, privileged white woman who actually read up on prison life to try and prepare herself. The first few episodes take place over a very short period of time - it's not like she's been in there for a month or more - it's like a week and half, two weeks at most. Not a lot of time to adapt to such a drastic and emotional change. And part of Piper's journey is realizing just how self-absorbed she is. But if you try and understand who she is, where she is coming from and how a person like her might view this experience, she isn't annoying to watch - she's interesting. I have really enjoyed watching her perceptions change - of herself and others as well as life in general.
Yup - there is a lot of nudity and gratuitous sex. A lot - way more than is really necessary to the story line, IMO, but.... that's life post- Sopranos. Every new dramatic series feels compelled to out sex-scene all the others.
Overall, this is a great show. The characters are great and personally, I find myself greedy for more backstories and revelations. I can't wait to learn about all the ladies of Litchfield! The only thing I"m sorry for? I watched them all too quickly now I have to wait forever for new episodes :(
Two Moon Junction (1988)
No movie has ever sucked so bad
I'm shocked to see how many people want to just go on and on about how great this movie is!!! For the person who said when he/she gets someone to watch it, they want to watch it again - I find it hard to believe. I only watched it because I was at a friend's house one night with a bunch of other women and this one girl had brought it along to watch. It had been her mother's favorite movie (before she committed suicide) so no one wanted to tell this girl we didn't want to watch it. When I saw Sherilyn Fenn was in it, I thought I might like it after all (since I was a Twin Peaks fan). Well - it was terrible from the get go. The plot - if you can call it that - was so stupid and contrived. I couldn't believe it would hold anyone's interest. Then - personally - I found the lead man, Perry, repulsive. Yeah - great body - but did anyone bother looking from the neck UP? It was all just an excuse for soft core porn. A bunch of poorly scripted scenes thrown together to try and make an excuse for soft core porn. That's all this is. ** SPOILER ** A guy breaks into your home and you find him in your shower and start a hot and heavy affair with him? PLEASE! Flag on the play! No - you don't - you call 911. And no matter how horrible he was - she kept going back for the sex?? Yeah right! She was so pretty she could have had her pick of men. She could have found another hunk who wouldn't treat her like dirt if she wanted to step out on the boring fiancé. I had trouble holding my tongue throughout. "Give me break"! was heard frequently throughout, and not just by me. No one wanted to tell this girl after that not one of us liked that movie even one little bit and could not understand why it would have been her mother's (or anyone's) favorite. That's me and 4 other women - all thinking it was absolute trash. Now - if you get off on soft core porn - go ahead and get a thrill. Otherwise - PASS!