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superfastcarl
Reviews
Deja Vu (2006)
A great achievement in mediocrity
This film succeeds in three ways. The first: you can smuggle a sci-fi plot onto the big screen if you put enough A-list actors and big money behind it and use the leftover music from Bad Boys 2. The second: You can totally destroy a sci-fi script if you load the production with A-list actors in a vain effort to pass it off as a mainstream film. Thirdly and most importantly, if you are an aspiring filmmaker or screenwriter, you have hope. This was reported the biggest "spec" script ever picked up by a studio for seven figures and it's not that good, although there are some interesting plot elements. One can only hope that merely decent writing can do even better. This film has so many needless visual elements and effects it's comical. If I didn't know any better, this film was made as a writing lab exercise for film students to learn what NOT to do in film-making. The dialogue is laughable. There are two lines in the film that the entire movie seems to be written around. Once again, as destiny prevails, a sci-fi film will never win an Oscar.
Bill's Gun Shop (2001)
really, really promising story. really, really bad movie
If one considers acting merit, production values and directing....this movie is disappointing. Lighting and cinematography remind me of hastily taped soap operas or a teeny-bopper drama series on MTV. Pretty cheesy overall. If one considers that extreme portrayal of the characters in this movie, it's worse than any hyped, unrealistic action movie that portrays unrealistic violence. This movie is the polar opposite of American Gun, which is an extremely well done, even-handed film that shows the gray area around gun issues and the wide spectrum of people associated with guns and how violence and guns affect people's lives--without being judgmental. Instead of an intelligent discussion on gun issues, this film shows every stereotype of gangbangers, wacko cops and gun nuts. An extremely inaccurate portrayal of gun issues. I disagree with another viewer's comments here in IMDb that this movie is not slanted in it's views. Perhaps there is no overt bias, but by being inaccurate or relying on stereotypes, in effect, makes the viewpoint slanted and inaccurate. During one scene, the main character doesn't even perform the federally mandated instant background check required for all firearm purchases in all states. It simply shows him handing over firearms for cash over the counter to gangbangers. This just doesn't happen in a legal setting in this day and age. This movie is a disservice to any intelligent discussion about gun issues. And I'm a lefty liberal saying that! Guns and violence are extremely complex issues that are almost impossible to portray with both accuracy and fairness..however, this film doesn't even make an attempt to explore them with any depth for the sake of it's own contrived plot. Too bad. Sounded like an interesting movie from the plot summary on the back of the DVD cover. Watch Americn Gun instead if you want to get even an inkling of the complexities of gun ownership in America...and make up your own mind.
Extreme Tribes (2004)
the only 'extreme' thing about this TV show was how bad it was
Holy cow. What an embarrassment. Imagine the worst climbing movies ever (K2, Vertical Limit, etc..) which make anyone who knows anything about mountaineering or climbing absolutely cringe. Now imagine something twice as bad, only it's real. This show is an extremely self-indulgent venture which follows a band of so-called "extreme" athletes who spend time dreaming up extremely pointless stunts for this particular TV show. Ego-centric Miles Daisher takes the cake by explaining how safe and serious the sport of BASE jumping is...and then later giggling to the camera after a jump because the chute he used was packed a year previous. ha ha. At the end of this show, the weary band of adventurers blows up and sets fire to the vehicle they were using in their travels. Not exactly eco-friendly. What a bunch of idiots. This show certainly puts a marker on the actual time the terms "extreme" and "tribes" no longer became cool to use.