papabearEG Reviews

Gravity (2013)

A parable on loss

[10/10 · 14 February 2014]

Discounting one condescending reviewer who enjoyed flaunting his high IQ and disdain for all of us parasites, my intellectual friends are missing the point. This is not a movie about physics and what is or is not possible. It is a parable of accepting loss. Anyone who has experienced loss on the level of the main character will certainly benefit from this film. As one who worked in CG I could rant on mistakes as they were aplenty, however the film left me deeply moved and reconsidering my own life. Loss of such a caliber is shattering. Moving on so very difficult. Thank you for a wonderful experience, physics boondoggles and irate high IQs who have yet discovered emotions aside, this movie has made me think about moving through pain.

Spoiler: Some people felt howling seemed silly. I was stunned when that happened. Some of you may at some point in your life be so overwhelmed by grief and pain that you find yourself sitting in the bottom of the shower howling until you are horse and the water long gone cold. It is a deep, primeval response that will take you by surprise and leave you empty afterward. It is my fervent wish that you never experience it.

Lunopolis (2010 Video)

Two days later and I'm still mulling it over

[10/10 · 8 October 2012]

All in all an excellent film.

Due to its very nature and the complex ramifications it represents, there's a short segment mid-film that attempts to explain the narrative from the distorted point of view of the fictional film makers. After all, in a way, it's a film within a film within a film...that's all within a film you are watching. If that doesn't make sense, don't worry, that's one of the points of the film... And I'm not saying which one.

Even its own way of fictional complexity shows the sincerity of the filmmakers attempt at something truly unique. Even though it's not. Damn.

It's hard to explain without giving anything away except to say that the singularly most impressive aspect of the film is its acting. Well that, and it all makes sense somehow.

I wasn't sure I would like it at first and now it's all I've thought about since. Maybe I'm one of those who shows up at protest rally's and I don't even know it.

Crap. Now I went and made myself scared.

Skyline (2010)

A fun ride and no easy way out

[8/10 · 20 September 2012]

I have to strongly disagree with those who panned this film. It seems the biggest complaint is that it's not a Hollywood formula film. That's one reason why I liked it so much. That and the fx are amazingly well done. The movie takes place in an intimate setting and I liked the every day regular folks feel to it. The sense of no one knowing what is happening combined with deeply flawed characters let me feel as if I were along for the ride myself. The characters are on their own and left to make mistakes. Skyline definitely has a plot, just not a typical Hollywood plot most people are used to. If you ever watch foreign films, you know that in comparison, American films always tie everything up with a bow. Skyline reminded me of a lot of French films that don't have typical happy endings. Just endings, which let you think about what might have happened afterward. I enjoyed using my imagination and coming up with our own theories after the movie.

SPOILER ALERT Film ending discussed below.

I was really taken by the graphic novel feel during the final credit roll. It certainly left you with more questions than answers. I can't wait for a sequel.

There is only one thing about the film that bugged me. There is no clear reason why the main character ended up as he did at the end of the film (red instead of blue made him easy to spot but why was he different?) nor why there weren't others like him if he wasn't special or a hero. It had a rushed feel to it as if it were tacked on to the end of the film to satisfy critics. I think It would have been much better to end with the kiss.

The Twilight Zone: Cavender Is Coming (1962) Season 3, Episode 36

My Favorite

[10/10 · 10 August 2012]

I know you can't please everyone, nor should you try. That said, I'm surprised by the depth of loathing by some reviews of this episode. I grew up on twilight zone. The Carroll Burnett show was a staple in our weekly fair as well.

Back when this show aired, Carroll was a young, budding comedian. All these shows were competing for the same audiences in a small market compared to today. There were only 3 channels available. Likewise, the actors and writers all knew each other and often worked in the same complex of buildings. In context of the era, this show makes complete sense to me. It was a breath of fresh air to see the Zone not take itself so seriously, and as a result, strengthened my appreciation for the show. Puzzlement aside, this is a brilliant episode from this time period in television history. As said in other reviews, this episode is a tip of the hat to "It's a wonderful life", and is a cleaver tribute to it at that.

I suppose your attitude toward certain episodes depends on how much of a purist you are, how much humor you have towards yourself, and how old you are. I don't know anyone my age who dislikes this episode with the venom I see here.

As far as likes and dislikes. I am under the impression those buttons are a poll as to how helpful a review is to me personally. If I find a critical review that I feel is way off the mark, I tend to mark it unhelpful. For my purposes, a review that misses the point IS unhelpful to me. If a criticism of a show is warranted, then it is helpful to me and i mark it as such. Getting bent out of shape over how your review polls may have a lot to do with why you may find this particular episode so distasteful. (wicked grin)

Ted (2012)

Aside from some annoying stereotypes, it's worth the price of admission.

[7/10 · 2 July 2012]

It was much better than I expected and I laughed the whole time with few exceptions. It has a much more mature plot than I expected and has touching moments offset with raunchy humor. All in all a good investment of time and money for an evenings entertainment.

-------Spoilers --------

Pro: There are some inventive routines and imagery that's just soooo wrong... It's terrific. the animation and rendering of Ted are spot on. I only stopped laughing a few times and felt disappointed in Macfarlane for a few things that left a bad taste in my mouth.

Con: The raunchy humor in this film is hysterical and I am by no means a prude. I draw a line though, when it comes to deeply offensive stereotypes used to bully people, particularly at a time when bullying is epidemic. How do you tell kids to stop bullying and not to use certain phrases when they are constantly used in Macfarlans shows? Macfarlane can't resist the old worn out gay jokes or racist characters. If he could just avoid rehashing tired old routines, his shows would be much better. For example, I have a hard time with animated shows that continue to use "That's so gay", giving teens the impression that it's acceptable to use this phrase. That one really grates my nerves and I only hear it repeated continually in South Park and Macfarlanes shows. These kinds of gay jokes went the way of black faced Minstral shows a long time ago. Additionally there are a few obnoxious racial stereotypes in this film that really bugged me.

I saw this movie with my brothers adopted Korean daughters. An obnoxious and deeply offensive Asian stereotyped character made them very uncomfortable and tarnished an otherwise wonderful evening.

Bottom Line: Aside from these few ridiculously over done routines, the show is fresh and very funny. I had a great time watching it and left the theater wondering when I can see it again.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Quick Review & a puzzler.

[10/10 · 1 July 2012]

There's nothing I can add that hasn't already been said ten times in a hundred different ways. This is for those who want a quick opinion. Here's all you need to know

-Good film -Watch it -All attempts to remake aren't nearly as good or exciting so don't bother.

I suggest a darkened room and few distractions. Watch this film on a rainy day with a loved one in your arms (i.e.. the distraction).

My partner is what I call an anti-sci-fi fan. He hates the genre (Im certain it's just to annoy me). He loved this film. He wanted to see it again. It a 1956 production so it has 1956 sensibilities. Adjust expectations accordingly.

----SPOILER ALERT -----

If this film has a flaw, this is it. It's not a deal breaker by any means but it's one of those things that bugs me. The scene where Becky is in the cave, unable to stay awake, and Miles kisses her. She seems to instantly become a pod person which is vastly different than the rest of the film. I have always wanted to know what the director or writers intended. Was there a pod in the cave and pod-Becky is pretending until she is exposed? I'm surprised that this is never mentioned in the goofs section so there must be a justification I've missed that everyone else knows. Must be a pod thing that only pod people know.

Noein: To Your Other Self (2005–2006)

I'm oddly fascinated

[9/10 · 15 February 2010]

I'm not an anime fanatic so my list of anime series Iike is short. As an animator I tend to like the higher budget shows like Akira. Most are so crudely animated it's painful to watch. I almost didn't bother with this series for that reason. However, the story captivated me. I knew it was going to be difficult to follow until more of the future plot line had been exposed and so far, I'm not disappointed.

Animation The only reason I'm going to this much depth in my review of the animation is because other reviewers didn't feel qualified to make comments. As an animator I don't feel much more qualified but like most animators I'm stubborn and opinionated when it comes to my trade. Take with a grain of salt. Obviously my taste in animation is a bit different than the style represented here, so I'll do my best. To poke at those Sins committed in this film that are basic to any animated show. Animation is, after all, a form of acting and a story telling tool. The way it's drawn and timed can impact a story just as much as a actors reading for a voice or editing does. I want to get this out of the way first. The line work is intentionally rough and I really like the sketchy look of the show. It has an unfinished, raw quality that influences your reaction to the characters and gives the show a more honest impression, if that makes any sense. The lack of polish let's you feel that the characters are more personal and believable. The one thing, and it's a big thing, is they extended this rawness to the frame count as well. Here it has the opposite impact on the story, making it feel cheap and rushed. There are entire fight sequences that are around 12 frames per second or much less. Often to the point it looks more like an animatic (placeholder) than a finished product. I had a difficult time watching those sequences. Over all the show stays around the 12 fps range, which is really a shame. This story deserves better. It's obvious this is where the shows budget hit hardest. I especially dislike the exaggerated reactions (screaming, crying, anger) that are often the hallmark of anime. I expect them in anime but the bad frame rate makes it seem as if they were cheating or trying to avoid working on something difficult to animate, and in the end made me feel the people with the money were stingy or didn't get the story well enough to invest in it properly. I've seen work come out of high school art departments that were far better. I hate when things are handled so carelessly. It's an insult to the audience.

Audio I hope someone can clear this up for me. why is it that anime has such horrible over acted voices? At first I thought that it was intentional from the start. A trademark if you will. Then I got Akira on laser disk and watched the program in it's original language. The acting was subtle and very well done. The English translation, however, was loud and horribly exaggerated. It was like someone trying to talk to a hearing impaired individual. I felt as if they think American audiences are dumb so they scream at you instead of acting naturally. For example, a bar scene at the beginning of Akira, a patron leans back in his chair and yawns. In Japanese, it's a normal, somewhat subdued yawn. The English track the guy leans back and in a very loud exaggerated voice goes ERRRR YAAAAWWWWWNNN! AHHHHH It bugs me. Badly. Am I just missing the joke here? Story professional complaints aside, I found myself unable to turn off the player and go to bed. The characters are charming and easily identified with. I wasn't happy with the explanation of quantum theory but it was one of the better attempts at a very difficult to grasp concept. I felt they brushed over important concept and focused on less important ones. The explanation of "entanglement" confused me and I understand the theory! They Have an animation depicting Schrödinger's cat. Rather than explain that theory they used a more convoluted example of sand on a beach, all the while using boxes holding the cat rather than sand. I found the description confusing and far less effective than if they had just stayed with Schrodinger's Cat.

The concepts around quantum mechanics is what make the story hard to follow at first. Eventually you get it just because the events around the characters.

I was enamored with all of the characters. The lady with the southern accent cracked me up. I grew up in Texas so the accent was a bit hard but it coming out of an anime character was jarring to say the least. Ioved it.

This review sounds far more negative than I intended. I have very positive feelings toward the show and highly recommend it. It's entertaining and has a unique take on a common sci if element in today's shows. It is creative and refreshing. I agree with all the other reviews. Don't give up after only a couple of episodes. You won't be disappointed. That being the common theme in other reviews. I really don't see many people doing that though. After all, none of us did, and Im not even that much of a fan. Not to mention animation problems that made my eyes bleed. If I can enjoy it that much then you should love it.

2012: Supernova (2009 Video)

Eeek! The 70's didn't die!

[1/10 · 3 February 2010]

Take "I Dream of Genie", keep the shots of NASA footage pasted over old monitors. Hope people don't recognize shots of Space Shuttle Chlenger blowing up...mate it with 70's Saturday morning series "Far Out Space Nuts"... dumb down the dialog...Splice in high end CGI of planets blowing up...Hire your kid brother at the last minute to create mattes of LA holocaust on his home computer...toss in a heaping bucket full of stereotypes...check for anything scientifically plausible and remove it....Whala! Yove got this movie. I had intended to do a list of continuity errors but quickly felt overwhelmed. I had no idea Tucson could substitute for anywhere USA. It's almost worth watching for the one thing that really puzzles me. Who green-lighted this? That alone brings so many disturbing questions to mind that....that....I need a Valium and a nap now. I feel so dirty. My brain has been assaulted. Mommy!

Pocketful of Miracles (1961)

Davis is wonderful. Confused about ending

[9/10 · 21 October 2009]

Often people say these older movies are too smarmy and sweet, but thats the reflection of a generation raised on violent hard hitting films. Films of this era were about escapism from the harsh reality of the world outside the theater. They were a kind of childish hope for a world that could never be for the audience of that time. That said, Bette Davis gives a fantastic performance in this film. I watched it over and over again just to see the master at her craft. She plays the last half of the film as if she's stunned in a dream state, unable to quite grasp the kindness shown her. An element of fear of being found out, trying to pull off the elegance of a lady of stature, yet never loosing the the character of the first half of the film. She manages to pull off being a lady more from being shell shocked than from any real attempt by her character to try to be something she is not. I half hoped she would tell the truth to the count toward the end. Its a lovely film and is right up there with I remember Momma as one of my favorite films of this time. One thing I didn't quite understand that I hope someone here might can help me with. I have a 30 year old TV so I have a authentic experience watching these old movies. I suppose. The problem being the sound quality is horrible. That may have more to do with my aging ears but I'd rather blame it on the set.As a result I missed a lot of dialog toward the end and I couldn't figure out what the payoff for attending the party was for the Mayor and Governor. I felt as if an entire scene were missing between Dude and the officials. Did he turn in the mob boss he had been hauling around in the semi? Did he give himself up? Or was this just a Capra miracle that is never quite explained and we're to think that they were touched by Apple Annies story and wanted to do the right thing by her? I'm interested in what others with better viewing equipment took away from the end of this film.

Dragon Wars: D-War (2007)

When she's good she's very very good but when shes bad shes horrible

[3/10 · 30 September 2007]

I am a novice student of Korean culture and language so the movie didn't seem completely nonsensical to me as it did many American viewers. I had been warned that it was a modern Godzilla flick and with that in mind I enjoyed the film. As an animator it was hard to watch in some places. The composites were blurry and the human animation in some scenes were animatic level quality. When you realize that this was their first jab at a project of this scope however, it is easy to forgive the occasional bad edit or overlooked scene without any CG characters in it*. The "wow" moments were truly good ones. I found myself saying "cool" out loud several times. A lot of the huge battle scenes reminded me of the attempt at Star Wars episode I. Unfortunately this film did have a heavy Jar jar element, only without the funny bits. Not in that it had a CGI character, but rather as if Jar Jar were the one directing the film. There are some very strange moments, such as the sudden cut at the end to a wasted landscape that has no explanation except that the hero is rendered unconscious and wakes up there. For most audiences this is unforgivable. There were many such moments in the movie but this was the most jarring of them all. Then there are the "wow" moments that left my jaw hanging open at the absolute badness of …the utterly horrible…the amateurish way they were done. The scene where the hero saves the girl by taking a bullet meant for her at point blank range, and then stands up as if nothing had happened. The stereotypical FBI bad guy might as well have sneezed on him. Again there is no explanation for this seemingly inexplicable moment in the film. But if you take the film at its face value, it can be enjoyable. You just need to lower your expectations a few notches. Well, make that a lot of notches. I wouldn't mind seeing it again if I can fast forward through all the dumb bits to see the action again.

Papa

* In one shot the military is firing on the horde coming down the canyon between the buildings. The camera is behind the tanks looking toward where the enemy horde should be but behind the smoke is an empty street.

Lost: Exodus: Part 2 (2005) Season 1, Episode 24

Where there's Smoke...

[10/10 · 12 December 2006]

I only just began to watch this series. A late comer. As a result, I have been watching one or two episodes a day. My week came to a standstill, unable to pull myself away from these DVD's. This particular Episode left me puzzled for awhile, as most of them do. Excellent writing. While a part of me wants to know what the island is about, I dread the reveal because it will signal the end is coming to a great story line. I thought a lot about the "others" and why they had not come for the baby as Rousseau had expected. I am a bit slow on the uptake. It took me a few hours to realize the men on the boat were the "others" and they had come for a child, just not the one everyone supposed. At least that is my thinking on this right now. I may have to come back and edit this comment after I have seen the next show. I loved the sequence of Hurly running through the airport. He is the comic relief of the show and does a fine job of it. The black rock was a fantastic surprise as well as the black mist they see in the corner of their eyes. It creeped me out in such a great way. The struggle Charlie is having over finding the smuggled drugs is relevant and wonderful. I wondered how long it would take for him to learn of the Beechcraft being stuffed with this torment. I have a whole season to go to be caught up. I hope I have another week to put on hold. Watching a show a day is a wonderful way to see this series. I cannot imagine having to wait a week to see the next episode. it would have been agony.

Keeping Up Appearances: The Hostess (1995) Season 5, Episode 10

Titled "Scintillating Socializing" on the DVD

[8/10 · 8 November 2006]

Hyacinth wanting to attract people to educate in the ways of elegant socializing runs an add in the paper for "experienced hostess offers her services for your special occasion". Obvious misunderstandings over the add lead her into an awkward situations with phone calls and later with her father. The Milk Man has a small side part in coming very early to the Bucket home with a younger man to teach him the ins and outs of not actually running into Hyacinth. Hyacinth comments that she doesn't understand why he comes so early these days and how she misses their little chats. Hyacinth, impatient for the paper to come bearing her add, repeatedly pops in and out of her house, making an escape for Emmet difficult. Emmet quips that she is "like a demented coo-coo clock". The paper boy avoids the Bucket house and we find out that Hyacinth made him clean his ears. Hyacinth ends up chasing him down the street after he spots her waiting on him. favorite quote Daisy: "what was it you liked about my pink one?"

Keeping Up Appearances: A Crafts-Woman Scorned (1995) Season 5, Episode 9

Titled "a Crafts Woman Scorned" on the DVD

[7/10 · 8 November 2006]

Hyacinth dejected by taking second place in a crafts fair tries to do one better than the first place winner. Bad enough to come in second to Lidia Hawksworth, but to know that it will be rubbed in her face is just too much. Of course Hyacinth felt that if she had won her natural modesty would have not allowed her to show off in such a way. On the way home from the craft show, Lidia passes Hyacinth and Richard in a new car. Richard fearing the worse attempts to keep their current car polished but Hyacinth can't be swayed. Hyacinth hatches a scheme to make Lidia Hawksworth think they own a Rolls Royce and convinces Richard to take one for a "test drive".

RV (2006)

Blue Poo?

[7/10 · 29 October 2006]

This movie kept playing on the TV in our cabin aboard the Disney Magic. The scene with the sewage was very odd. It was blue. bright Ultramat blue. I wondered if this is how they filmed the scene and changed the color later, but I still don't know why they would show the movie with it all blue instead of natural brown. it didn't have quite the same impact. At first I thought it may have been because we were in a Disney venue, but there were other shows being aired that had far worse content unaltered. I wondered if anyone else had seen blue poop in this movie.

Loved the movie in spite of quite a few plot holes and obvious continuity problems. It was much better than I expected and being an RV owner, it all hit a bit too close to home. The part dealing with the sewage fountain was one we lived in Palm Springs with disgusted neighbors looking on.

Open Water (2003)

My days snorkeling are done

[5/10 · 29 August 2006]

Slow pacing and low budget filming does not detract from the holding on to the edge of your seat terror in this film. Normally a movie paced this slowly would have lost me early on but I could not stop watching. I would like to have given it more stars but I'm worried that would bring more like it into my recommendations and to be honest, I'd rather not see any more like this. You see, I'm not a horror/terror film kind of guy. I thought this would be on the low end of scary. The last movie that scared me was Alien, and that was when I saw it in the theater at release. What makes this film so scary is the lack of polish and lack of movie scores. It's very real in its execution and if you have ever been on a trip like this, it will feel very real indeed. I look back at our watching the turtles in Hawaii and think I'll never go near the water there again. If you like suspense/thriller/horror films this one is for you. There are many movies I really liked and were very good but I can't ever watch again. Schindler's list is one of those films. Unlike Schindler's list, I don't think this is a ¬_MUST_ see, but I wouldn't write it off just because of the slow pacing and bad reviews from people who wanted everything tied up with a pretty bow. ***spoiler below*** Part and parcel of the "authentic" feel of this film is how it ends. I have no doubt that most lost at sea stories do not have happy Hollywood endings. The ending of this film is hard to swallow. It left me hollow and very sad and most of all, unable to sleep. The hardest part for me to watch was her having to let her husband go. If you have ever been madly in love, you'll know why. How the film ended was a shock and for me, a disappointment. However, I can understand why it is ended in the way it was. Not all stories have happy endings and neither does this one.

The Village (2004)

the plot twist for me was at the beginning

[9/10 · 27 August 2006]

I rented this movie thinking it was a cheap horror/thriller flick because my partner loves that kind of tripe. So for me the plot twist was a very pleasant one at the beginning when i became engrossed in the film and realized it was a beautifully crafted drama/suspense. It isn't horror at all and thriller doesn't work, suspense is better for a choice of categories. I found a lot of similarities between this story and Little Red Riding Hood. My partner was dreadfully bored and disappointed. I was enthralled and loved it. Like so many other good movies it was badly marketed (like the Iron Giant). Marketing people in Hollywood need to go back to flipping burgers. I suspect they would be better at it. There was one goof mentioned that has me puzzled. The goof on this site mentions a point where an elder is wearing a more modern suit when they are meeting behind a barn. When I first saw him in that scene I thought so too. Later there was a close up of him and while the tie is modern, the rest of his clothes aren't. I think its more likely that its an intentional foreshadowing element. Or maybe its just a tie.

Tiny Planets (2001– )

Cute and Educational for preschool audience

[16 March 2006]

I stumbled upon this show surfing one afternoon. Even though it is intended for a preschool age audience, I found myself recording it every day.

The show is a wonderful platform teaching children about how to deal with things from anger to the basic principles underlying science.

I wish there were more shows like this when I was a kid. I may have done better in math and science. The show does a good job of explaining simple ideas in an entertaining manner.

As animator I have a few issues with the production of the show but I can imagine the deadlines they are under to crank these out quickly. With that in mind, I'm impressed with what they are able to deliver.

Doom (2005)

Inside Jokes. Fun. and not nearly as bad as I expected.

[5/10 · 6 March 2006]

I rented this out of desperation. A Saturday after 7pm got to the rental place after it had already been combed over twice kind of thing. Being a movie based on a game, I anticipated a criminally bad film. Typically these kinds of films are flawed to start with. So with this level of expectation, I found myself actually enjoying the movie and only hit fast forward once. I like that there are inside jokes from the game, like the "BFG" and a few others. The biggest flaw with this film is that it takes itself just a tad too seriously. It could have done with a bit more self effacing humor and tongue in cheek bits. Bottom line: this is a 20 something guy film. A gun loven, brain dead, straight with nothing to do but play paint-ball kind of guy film. If you watch it with that kind of expectation, you will enjoy it. Trust me, you could do much worse like Frankenstein Unbound. The creature FX were very good and the doom like game sequence was worth the watch, but don't go wanting a story line that makes any sense or has any depth to it. It's a horror monster flick, not Gods and Monsters.

The Andy Griffith Show: Divorce, Mountain Style (1964) Season 4, Episode 25

Barney interferes in a strange mountain divorce

[5 March 2006]

Charlene Darlin Wash hitchhikes to Mayberry and asks Sheriff Taylor to take her somewhere. She is very secretive about her destination and motives but Barney convinces Andy to go along. They arrive in a secluded wooded area and stop when the mountain girl spots a specific tree she is looking for. She then buries a sack near the tree and does incantations over the spot. Bernie explains that someone must be sick in the mountains and this is part of the cure. She motions for Andy to stand on her right side while she finishes the ceremony, unaware that it is a divorce incantation, not a spell for health. By his standing next to her, he unwittingly becomes her bridegroom. The episode revolves around Andy trying to escape being forced into marrying this mountain girl. Barney finds a book on mountain folk lore and tries to find a way out of this mess, only making matters worse in the process. This is a very strange and funny episode involving superstitions and ways of secretive mountain folk and their ways that are so different than those of the people in Mayberry. I'm often reminded of Beverly Hillbillies watching this episode because the mountain folk are very similar to the characters of that show. The character of Charlene in particular reminds me a great deal of Ellie May. The divorced husband who is upset and Andy and keeps wanting to fight is a very young Bob Denver before he stared in Gilligan's Island.

The Andy Griffith Show: The Loaded Goat (1963) Season 3, Episode 18

A goat eats dynamite

[5 March 2006]

The Mayor determined to bring progress to Mayberry is involved with having a underpass built nearby. Town people joke that the motivation is more to do with having the freeway run by the mayors brothers filling station more than progress. The result are constant booms from the road crew using dynamite to clear way for the underpass. a local farmer brings his goat to town because the noise is making his goat nervous and he's afraid to leave it home alone. The goat chews through his ropes and wanders around town, eventually finding a stash of dynamite and eating a bunch of it. The show revolves around trying to keep the "loaded" goat from blowing up.

Frankenstein Unbound (1990)

A B movie complete with a clapper

[2/10 · 18 January 2006]

Tivo recorded this for me, so at first glance I thought I was watching a movie made in 1970 judging from the story and cheesy props (ala Logan's Run). I kept thinking, "Wow, these effects are really good for a B movie from the 70's". Then I hit info and saw it was made in 1990 and my jaw dropped. I wonder if this had been intended as a camp classic. When Hurts character uses a clapper to activate the laser effects in the ending sequence, I would have laughed if the movie didn't take itself so seriously. I can't decide if it was a really lame attempt at high camp, or a miserable attempt at science fiction. Apart from clap on clap off laser effects projected on the side of a castle (I've seen better in gay night clubs), there wasn't much to like about this film. I wondered why such high profile actors with such obvious talent agreed to such a bad film. The car was cool though. I wish I could have one of my very own. Maybe I'll watch it again, but make sure I'm in an altered state first, and then it might seem worth watching. I'll have lots of munchies on hand so it will be a really good experience. clap clap...laser On! Hey Car, go get monster... clap clap. where's my copy of the Logan's run series?