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Reviews
Monsterland: Newark, New Jersey (2020)
The best episode, IMO
I liked this anthology overall, but it is ridiculously cryptic. I sometimes like that, but most of these episodes are so cryptic that it almost seems like they just end. I prefer stories that have a metaphorical theme, but aren't overly difficult to surmise. I think about "No Country for Old Men" as an example. The final scene with Shagur (spelling ?), where he is severely injured but can still manage to just evade the police by walking away ties in perfectly with an earlier quote by Edtom's brother, "You can't stop what's coming". A perfect metaphor relating to the war on drugs, and how nothing can stop it.
The Newark episode was, IMO, the best of them all. It had an ending that tied up the story clearly. It was emotionally stirring and a welcome finale vs. The cryptic endings of all of the previous episodes.
I'm not really surprised at the overall low ratings of all of the episodes, but I think that is really more because people don't like to feel like they missed something, or couldn't "figure it out". It can be frustrating. I'm going to have to rewatch all of them to get a second take, as I still haven't quite made a determination on them yet.
Monsterland: Iron River, Michigan (2020)
Just my take...
As with every episode of this anthology, this one leaves you with no clear ending. So here's my take...
Lauren is obviously unhappy with her life, mostly due to a lack of love from her mother (and apparently non-existent father). She is befriended by a spoiled girl who apparently loves her (not sure why) but is also manipulative and controlling like her mother. Lauren realizes that her friend doesn't appreciate her mother's love and feels like she doesn't deserve it, and is also jealous.
So the 3 storylines presented about what happened after her bedroom show that she equates Elena with her mother and finally stands up for herself, that she goes to the woods and accidentally kills Elena, and then that Elena disappears in some sort of distress. Although the 2nd line was what Abby believed happened, I also believe Lauren killed Elena after she kissed her, feeling overwhelmed with fear (at Elena hiding and pretending to be the lumberjack), then anger at her supposed friend being that cruel towards her, combined with the weed I think Lauren snapped and murdered Elena as a sort of proxy for the hatred Lauren has for her mother.
The dream sequence in the cabin brought Lauren's psyche to a crossroads, where she could either come clean about the fact that she murdered Elena, or continue to live Elena's life. She chose the latter, feeling that she deserved it more.
Monsterland: New Orleans, Louisiana (2020)
I liked this one the best so far...
I thought this one was not only creepy, but made sense as to why she was being tortured.
I'm currently on the mermaid episode, which is starting off kind of cool. I did like the New York and Illinois episodes as well. Thought they were pretty interesting, and the NY episode had the gore that would classify it as horror, which apparently most people reviewing here think this series is lacking I prefer the psychological horror stories like these, although I have to admit that some of these are insanely cryptic, which to me can be frustrating.
Overall, I like this series as it's not just the same old crap.
Things (1989)
Absolutely the worst movie I've ever seen!
It looks like something a group of early teenage kids would make when one of them got a video camera for Christmas. Absolutely horrible.
Wise Guys (1986)
One of my favorites!
DeVito (Harry) and Piscopo (Moe) are a great team. Both of them play their parts to perfection and Piscopo (in the funeral/suicide attempt scene) even sells his extreme grief without even saying a word. I think he is highly underrated as an actor. DeVito plays the well intentioned snake oil salesman to a T. Every idea he has goes wrong in his quest for "respectability", and he drags Moe down with him in every endeavor. But their loyalty to each other keeps them going.
This movie is funny from the get go and even tosses in the tear-jerking twist that throws you for a complete loop. Lou Albano is perfectly cast as Frank "the Fixer" Acovano. He's a major highlight of the movie. It's well written, acted, and just a very funny film. If you haven't seen it you should rent it ASAP.
The Master of Disguise (2002)
It takes a few viewings to appreciate.
The production of this movie is pretty weak. It's disjointed and doesn't flow very well. I have to admit, after the first time seeing it I thought it was awful, but my 8 year old daughter and 4 year old son have it on tape and think it's hilarious. So I watched it with them again and after seeing it for the second time I remembered some really funny characters Dana Carvey does. The third time I watched it I found it to be extremely funny. It definitely grows on you.
One of the reviews I read here said that the characters Dana does aren't funny, but they couldn't be further from the truth. He does a character based on Tony Montana from Scarface that is hilarious! He also does a character named Gammy Numnums, which is an older snobby woman and is one of the funniest characters in the movie. The problem is that he does so many characters that none of them last long enough. His turtle-man character is really funny and gets funnier the more you see it.
Dana Carvey is an absolute brilliant comedian and this movie SHOULD HAVE been his gateway to super stardom (i.e. Jim Carrey). Unfortunately the movie really isn't very good and it shows upon first view. But give it a chance and watch it with you kids and I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much you like it and want to watch it again.