bradencn Reviews

The Beekeeper (2024)

If you're making a movie for action chasers, don't DE&I it

[5/10 · 4 February 2024]

Listen, I knew what to expect going into this film as far as what kind of movie it would be. Statham plays a great bad ass, and good guys (or guy) are fighting bad guys, and it's clear who's who.

But by golly, folks, can we stop pretending that women are hard core police agents and leaders/directors of secret mercenary organizations? It just distracts completely from what I came to watch, it is dishonest and disingenuous, and it's an insult to viewers who just want to enjoy a work of art. For a work if art to have relevance, it HAS to reflect the human experience.

So - will this movie resonate with action thriller chancing movie goers? Yes, it's worth watching on a steaming service, but...will the macho women scenes bother and distract you? Yes...further, they will annoy you.

I wish Emmy Raver-Lampman a great career, but this movie makes it seem like she is just begging for relevance, and it's probably not even her fault... It's the fault of the writers, the casting requirements, etc.

I didn't even mind the dumb dialogue. I came for the action, and I got the action... But it somehow got mixed with visual preaching that women can only be bad asses if they can be like men. Nah...not buying it.

The Mummy (2017)

Zombies in England? Count me in!

[7/10 · 8 January 2024]

Guys, I play Zombies game modes in Call of Duty. All I could think about while watching this film was my incredible ability to mow down the undead. Tom Cruise and the film overall delivered for exactly what I wanted this movie to be.

I'm used to the old fashioned Mission Impossible Tom Cruise movies - it was fun to watch him play a "weaker" character, and it cracked me up. The relationship tension between him and Jenny (and the constant shouts of desperation to Jenny had quite the funny flashbacks to Forest Gump).

I'd recommend this movie to people that are in for a feel good fun time in a fantasy adventure. Be ready to laugh at the ridiculous and root on the good guys over the bad guys.

Making a Murderer (2015–2018)

Addicting, yet a Mockery of the Case

[1/10 · 28 September 2023]

The Halbach family must be heartbroken by what this documentary pretends to reveal.

As a viewer, I feel insulted. When this series launched, I was hooked and, in anger, certainly wanted to support the activists for Avery's freedom. Now, especially after "Convicting a Murderer" from Daily Wire +, I feel ashamed at myself for letting my good natured self, and my innocent desire for justice, to be manipulated so easily.

Looking back at how riveted I was to this show before I learned the real truth of this case, I can't help but ask myself: Who else and what else do I let manipulate me so easily? What do I desperately need to change in myself to "discover" the truth rather "assume" the truth? What can I do to allow my rational mind to be stronger than my emotions?

If you are looking for incredible documentary storytelling, sure, this show puts on an amazing story. But that's all it is... It's someone telling a story. If your looking for the truth, well, learn the truth from actual truth tellers rather than just showmen.

I'm at a loss as to how I move forward with Netflix now. Truly. How did this get through the editing room? How was this considered moral? What other Netflix series have the same level of dishonesty and the same goal of manipulating the truth to drive a false narrative?

The immense sadness I feel from this case and from what this show must have done to the real victims is impossible for me to describe accurately at the moment.

Where the Crawdads Sing (2022)

The way fiction should be

[10/10 · 21 November 2022]

The 'issue" I have with so many modern movies and shows these days is that the stories don't show an honest or realistic view of the human experience. I'm not saying genres like fantasy and Sci-fi can't have good movies; they can... I'm just saying that regardless of the fictional story, the emotions and experience have to mirror the human experience in order for me, the human, to be able to relate.

Well, this film not only did the book justice (carefully choosing what and how to depict the story as close to the book as possible), but the story itself is one of rare occasion these days that puts the story before anything else. Before politics, before race, before gender, before any sort of message they want to send, these movie makers cared about one thing and one thing only: the real story. And this story is a beautiful depiction of the human experience.

I couldn't keep myself from keeping my eyes glued to the screen, wondering what would happen next, how the story would resolve. I rooted for the good guy, then the bad guy, then the good guy again, I asked myself questions about morality and what I would do in certain situations. I wondered how the (thankfully rare) occasions I have suffered abuse of some sort may have shaped me and my personality. I wondered if I was holding the good qualities I saw so beautifully portrayed in the film, and if I was really ridding myself of the bad traits which repulsed me.

THIS is what you want a work of art to extract from you as you consume it. If it doesn't, the film becomes a chore to get through. The last thing you should ever have to do as a consumer of art is to "force" yourself to like something just because other people tell you it's good. You won't have to do that with this film, and you don't have to try and weed through any uneccesarry messaging that doesn't relate to the story.

This one was a beautiful breath of fresh air.

Dead to Me (2019–2022)

Could have been shorter, but I liked the laughs

[6/10 · 20 November 2022]

Season 1 was engaging and fun - you enjoyed getting sucked into the captivating story, wondering who was lying and who was telling the truth, and wondering who was going to get caught and who was going to be covered up. It was fun.

Season 2 brings in some twists that seemed unnecessary, but for Applegate and Cardellini fans, they were probably happy to see the show get a bit longer, even if the plot twists seemed just like filler.

Season 3, likewise, took too long to finish. It felt like they had to really extend the content to 10 episodes, but kudos to Applegate that filmed while diagnosed with MS. There were not many jokes that fell flat, but there were a lot of jokes that felt repetitive that made me groan once in a while for lack of creativity.

The plot eventually became repetitive as well - a lie was told, tears were shed, Applegate dropped the f-bomb several times, and Cardellini kept being the nice wild card character. It's not a show I would watch again, but one I'm glad to have watched. Admittedly, nearly the entire 3rd season was watched at 1.5x speed, as the show got very heavy in dialogue, where I really didn't need to watch what was going on and just listen to the characters speak. I get frustrated when shows get to that point for me, because it's almost the same as reading a book, but alas, it's how the show affected me.

I do hope other viewers enjoy it more than I did, though. If they made this series shorter and crisper, I would have enjoyed it more.

The Greatest Lie Ever Sold: George Floyd and the Rise of BLM (2022)

Why can't we just be truthful?

[10/10 · 13 October 2022]

This documentary is depressing and enlightening all at the same time. Depressing because you realize the tragedies of the world, how bad consequences come from bad actions, how otherwise well meaning people can get their name twisted and lied to in the media to convert an entire nation to an untruthful narrative. Enlightening because you are shown the truth. It is literally laid in front of you on the screen, without apology. You realize just how much you were lied to, and the effort that went into that lie.

My question after watching this is why... Just... WHY can't the media care about the truth anymore? Why is it about narratives? Why is it about a money grab. Why do we need to rely on small market journalism like the Daily Wire to get truthful information about what is happening in the world?

If anything, this documentary reveals the greed of the media and political activist organizations, and it shows the lives of people they ruin to feed their greed.

The Terminal List (2022– )

Hollywood made something Patriotic?!

[9/10 · 7 September 2022]

This didn't quite give me the feels like "American Sniper" did, but this has a very strong patriotic pull and a sense of needed justice that keeps you watching. I appreciate shows where right and wrong are not always black and white, as life is never that simple - and James Reece's and all the characters' actions and the consequences of them make you ask yourself: "if you were in their shoes, would you do the same?"

The writing is spot on, you can tell they consulted with incredibly competent military know-how's, and they even had the author of the book that inspired this show as a consultant throughout the entire filming. That, in fact, is what pushed me to give this a shot beyond anything else.

I hope this takes you for as fun and intense ride as it did for me, and that it leaves you wanting more.

Choosing Death: The Legacy of Roe (2022)

Powerful Truths Many Hide their Eyes From

[10/10 · 14 May 2022]

Look - this is not a popular thing to talk about. It's uncomfortable. It's not the mainstream narrative.

This documentary is a non-religious, scientific, secular understanding at the reality of abortion. It's bold for the Daily Wire to put their name, and the names of those they interviewed, front and center against a large and expansive left-wing media that preaches for pro-choice.

Here are some facts that this documentary defends, and I challenge people on both sides of the issue to digest this information and ponder its truthfulness.

1. Abortions were NOT accepted during the time of the Constitution.

2. Those that voted for the 14th amendment in 1868 did not have any context of the idea of abortion being included in the interpretation of its reading.

3. Minority communities (even on the left and democrat/civil rights leaders) were strongly against abortion, likening it to murder.

4. Abortion does not, as Planned Parenthood and the left claim, "alleviate social and racial inequality." It doesn't protect the vulnerable, women, or the impoverished. You cannot abort your way out of high welfare costs.

5. The black community has only been hurt and further impoverished because of Margaret Sanger's plan to advertise abortion mainly to minority communities.

6. The reality of Planned Parenthood's plan to turn profits through abortion, taking advantage of vulnerable pregnant women.

7. Legal abortion does NOT save women's lives. Bernard Nathanson's work has documented this extensively. Maternal deaths prior to Roe v Wade is essentially identical to what it is today. When women have an abortion, there is an increase to maternal mortality - 3x higher risk.

8. Most statistics the promote pro-choice claims are falsified or misrepresented and are not held accountable by the media on social media sites.

9. Pro-life advocates are misrepresented to simply be anti-women: people that want to control women's lives. In reality, sexual abuse is often covered up in abortion clinics to keep abortions secretive and "off-the-books." Abused little girls are sent for abortions by their abusers, and then sent right back without issue or reporting to police.

10. Is a fetus a "human?" When does human life begin? Scientific consensus (5,000 biologists), in 95% agreement, say that moment of conception is when a fetus is a living human being. Babies kick and push away at abortion tools. In addition, those that go unsuccessful, those babies are victims of infanticide as well - with a myriad of issues and developmental problems in their lives because of botched abortions.

11. There is blatant disrespect to the most vulnerable, the voiceless: the infant human in the womb. Who is their voice?

12. Law enforcement does not often question "botched" abortions - where a baby seems like it may have been actually born and THEN killed (drowned, left alone, etc.).

Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)

It's OK: Mormon Perspective vs. Secular

[7/10 · 29 April 2022]

I grew up a mainstream Mormon. I know the culture better than most. I've attended BYU, and have served a Mormon mission. I still attend church and appreciate the togetherness with my local church-going community. We bond. I do not currently live in Utah, but I HAVE lived in Utah.

That being said - I would probably be considered the "PIMO" Mormon - physically in, mentally out - in the sense I no longer adhere to the fact that we are the one true church, and this is for reasons very similar to what this show (and book) bring to light.

With this in mind: this show does not portray mainstream Mormons or fundamentalists Mormons properly. For those that are not Mormon, but are FRIENDS with Mormons, I know they would say the same thing. Mormons can be weird, me included, don't get me wrong, but the weird things you see in the show are not fully accurate to our "weirdness" today.

The show is accurate in that we constantly wonder and hope that we are doing things according to "Heavenly Father's will," but we don't communicate about it all the time as if we are some massive cult blindly doing just whatever people tell us to do. Mormons started off that way, and fundamentalists might be like that, but mainstream Mormons generally like to blend in with the crowd, and just be that: normal.

We can be kooky, perhaps, but some people, and especially the fundamentalists (Mormons that still live in polygamist colonies and the like), can perhaps portray us as being culty. However, it is not as intense as this show seems to indicate. The show makes us seem as if the Mormons are as much a cult as those that followed Warren Jeffs, or the Branch Davidians, which we simply aren't.

Now, watching this as a "PIMO" Mormon, the show is not my personal favorite just based on the story telling. The music is engaging, they keep it spooky, but they don't do the best job at connecting the dots and moving parts. It seems like it is slightly unorganized. Essentially, they leave me thinking TOO much, rather than guiding me along this story.

Worth the watch? Yea - it has me hooked right now. If it keeps going too heavy on the "kooky" side of Mormonism, though, I might have to step away simply because the story's fiction is not a depiction of the truth, which is what fictional stories should be.

The Hyperions (2022)

I mean, it's "OK," but I had to force myself to finish it

[5/10 · 10 April 2022]

I love the Daily Wire and am a happy subscriber. I am also a nostaligic Cary Elwes fan (Princess Bride anyone?! Haha). This film just didn't do it for me. It's slow, the script is simple enough, but lacks depth to make me feel interested in the story. I hope they keep trying, though.

My recommendation to them would be to start a studio comedy series akin to That 70's Show, The Cosby Show, Happy Days, etc. I think we need some real down to earth comedy, and they might be able to get it right.

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

If you are Marvel Super Fan, you will Like this

[6/10 · 19 December 2021]

This genre just isn't for me. I enjoyed the Toby Maguire Spider Man - I was a kid at the time and was like, SWEET - the real story of Spiderman brought to the movies! ... and then I realized there is this "multi-verse" thing that lets people make any story of Spider Man you want, with several trilogies going along with them, and that with Doctor Strange, the multi-verses can somehow converge, and then it makes for some fun movies as you converge the different stories, etc. So many super heroes in so many places that can converge at any moment with a quick flick of the wrist or miss-hap by someone. I mean, it just doesn't turn me on anymore.

I mean - sounds cool, but man that is so overkill for me. The movie is exciting, the sounds and action scenes are cool, but with the over crowding of super hero movies, I'm just not feeling the emotion anymore. The actors are good at getting teary eyed when they need to, they put on serious faces when they have to, but each scene, I'm just like, "yea, yea...I get it...you have to bring some emotion into this to make it relate to me..."

The funny one liners are fine - like, it's well scripted to that point, but they fall flat for people that are tired of the same old same old super hero movies where everything is fine in the end (in some way).

I guess I'm stuck enjoying the super hero movies like Deadpool - where there is blatant acknowledgement that everything is a bit ridiculous, so they add very witty humor to the whole thing making it very enjoyable.

8-Bit Christmas (2021)

This one Fell Flat

[5/10 · 27 November 2021]

Well, I won't be adding this to my Christmas movie playlist each year. Let me talk about the positives first, though.

This film isn't horrible. If I was a kid watching this (sub 12 years old), I might find this a bit more enjoyable. It shows a kid's adventure with his friends and helps show the importance of family. All of that is good.

As an adult watching this, however, and comparing it to the excitement, the laughs, and the emotion this movie should create, this one sadly didn't perform. I'll bullet point below my frustrations:

1. The ending wasn't inspiring. The son (Jake) realizes how Christmas isn't about toys, it's about family. The movie ends with the son appreciating his bond with his father, and therefore his whole family in generall. It fell flat, though, because the movie didn't let you see enough of their relationship at all. Sure, you had the cute moments with Jake getting in trouble for losing things, him getting one-upped by his sister, etc., but you don't wonder in the movie if Jake dislikes or doesn't appreciate his family at all. The ending just didn't work right.

2. They had to bring in the politics. Every movie, it seems like, makes sure it throws in some subtle hint to the woke culture in 2021. In this movie, it was purple "girl boots" with flowers. The adult Jake Doyle's daughter is confused as to why he was made fun of as a kid for having "girl boots." Older Jake Doyle goes on to comment that people were more close minded back then - VERY close minded. The girl boots came up several times throughout the movie. I can see right through the virtue signaling, unfortunately. Girl boots are still something boys do not feel like wearing - boys don't just wear pink and purple with flowers without being different from other boys. Just because movies try to pretend this is so doesn't make it reality. Other one liners were scattered throughout the movie as well (girls not being able to be in boy scouts, etc.). We get it, girls can do things just as good as boys...let's not pretend girls and boys aren't different, though.

3. It doesn't feel like a Christmas movie - except for the time period and the Christmas presents at the end. It's almost like watching the Goonies, to be honest. It's just kids being kids, figuring out how to game the system and work hard to get what they want. I mean, I guess they tried, but I didn't finish the movie wanting to wear Christmas sweaters, drink eggnog, and make sure my Christmas tree had sufficient lighting. Elves were laughed at for Caroling, young Jake Doyle's daughter "intelligently" questioned Santa and his reality (making Santa look dumb), etc.

4. It was SO. SCRIPTED. I understand kids aren't the best on-point actors, but, MAN...you could tell this was a script. The jokes felt read out loud rather than naturally delivered, you could predict the lines that would follow, you knew exactly how the parents would react to different situations, etc.

So, there you have it. Just a bit frustrating of a film for me. They tried but didn't get to my heat strings.

The Hunt (II) (2020)

Well now I know who Betty Gilpin is...

[7/10 · 4 September 2021]

I haven't seen "Glow," so, apparently Betty Gilpin and her incredible acting work is all new to me. She (and Hillary Swank) MADE this movie. The show is a flat out comedy and you find out within the first 10 minutes of how ridiculous the comedy is going to be. The director and writers wanted to be very clear: this movie is meant to be laughed at.

I'm not a huge fan of most R-rated comedies, but that is usually because of their lame, boring, and lazy attempts to use sex, gore, and language to catch my attention. The gore and language in this movie reminded me of "Deadpool." They used it cleverly to tell the story, to catch attention when you needed to be paying attention, and to make you laugh when normally, you wouldn't. Kudos to them.

The acting is actually fairly decent throughout the film. It's what you would expect - good enough to laugh at rather than cringe at, which I was surprised by.

Listen, if you want a good laugh and find the political climate right now as ridiculous as I do, this movie is worth your time. It's an hour and a half long - come ON...who makes movies only 90 minutes long these days? Perfect length for the type of movie this was meant to be.

Wee Sing in Sillyville (1989 Video)

I can't forget the songs!

[10/10 · 27 December 2020]

Like, kudos to those that made this. I was born in 1988, my mother had this at home, my sister and I watched it all the time. I'm 32 and still remember every single song. Yea... My kids are gonna be watching this gem.

Married at First Sight (2014– )

The Best Reality "Love" Show

[9/10 · 8 June 2020]

To understand my perspective, I started watching this show on Season 9, which I saw on Netflix. I was recommended this show by a friend. I am a man, married to a woman - just mentioning that for context.

When I watched this for the first time, I didn't look into reviews or the success rates of the couples, I simply started watching. What caught my eye right off the bat was that for a reality TV show, this is the one that is taking the most risks, and that is what intrigued me the most. The concept is that you have 3 experts on relationships and intimacy, working with a pool of about 40 men and 40 women and trying to find the best matches. They settle on 4 couples and they give them 2 months to determine if they would like to stick it out or get a divorce.

The risks? The experts are with them the whole time, monitoring their marriage, offering advice, and guiding these new couples (many of them that have struggled in past relationships) to make it work. The put it on themselves to make it work. For the couples themselves, their placed in a very vulnerable position and are followed in all aspects of life from marriage to honeymoon to normal life. You see everything, basically, and it can get emotional. They have a stake in the game to make it work as well. If it fails, you'll probably know why.

The show does SO many things right, especially compared to other love shows that I've watched (The Bachelor/Bachelorette are the main ones that come to mind). Most other love shows I've seen take a couple through the honey moon and fantasy stages of a relationship, but everything ends there. You don't see anything else, and everything is shallow. I typically watch these kinds of shows because they make me think of how I'm treating my own wife, and, while these shallower shows do give me pause and make me think, it's nothing very deep. Entertaining, though? Yes - the cat fights in the Bachelor mansion are pretty enjoyable.

Then comes along "Married at First Sight." At least in Season 9, I could tell that each couple was fairly serious about wanting a marriage and relationship - especially the women. As I watched, yes, the first few episodes go through the honeymoon phase of their relationship, but the show is so much more about how they get through life after the fact.

They STRUGGLE and the show isn't afraid of showing it, and the contestants talk about it - awkwardly at times, but they DO talk about it. These people are shown in their most vulnerable and emotional moments and what catches my attention is the TOPICS they are discussing. They are struggling with feelings of abandonment, sense of pride, breaking down barriers, virginity, understanding another human being, and being a good partner. And the role of the experts throughout all of this? They offer counseling to the couples - REAL counseling - not the shallow counseling you'd see in a host like Chris Harrison. There are serious problems/fighting/anxiousness that the love experts get to the bottom of like it was a couple's therapy session. They are unapologetic in their approach, which I appreciate. I don't want the show to be rose-colored all the time. This is as real as I've ever seen it get.

I thoroughly enjoy it because it makes me think how I am treating my wife - am I someone that is showing her the love and attention she needs? How do I compare to the men on the show in how they are treating the wives they just met? I wouldn't enjoy it if I didn't feel I was learning something from it and gaining an internal perspective from it. No, this show is not the Bible for marriage - but it is entertaining, and it makes me think deeper than I normally would, which I really appreciate. The genuineness of everyone involved in the show keeps me watching.

Regarding the success rate of the show? I hear that it's not good. There are success stories, though. That's not why I'm watching, though. The effort these couples and experts are putting into this is genuine. This is very real, and that is what I appreciate. I'm not watching a fantasy.

Klaus (2019)

Stunning

[10/10 · 17 November 2019]

This is the best Christmas movie I have ever seen. I grew up as a kid in the 90's surrounded by classics, such as Home Alone, The Santa Clause, Elf, and so many more. This movie is brilliant in its wit and humor, and it touches in the heartstrings of the human soul like no other movie of this genre ever has for me. I was awed by the creativity and the brilliance of the plot, writing, and animation. I will watch this movie each year with my family - a new family tradition.

Of Mice and Men (1992)

The only movie I know that follows the book to a "T"

[10/10 · 3 December 2018]

If you are looking for a movie that has every scene, every character, and every part of the plot that is exactly accurate to the book, you have found it in this film. It was absolutely incredible to watch one of my favorite books come to life.

Well, well done.

El Camino Christmas (2017)

Dang Good. Dang Dang Good.

[8/10 · 30 November 2018]

It's a comedy, a tragedy, with a small touch of romance, and thank goodness it's not a try-hard film that tries to go too far. The producers knew their audience, and knew them well. Clearly a low-budget film designed to tell a simple story in 90 minutes. Well done.

Dax Shepard played the best dumb cop I've ever seen for this type of R-rated content...he isn't an "idiot," nor is he a Barney-Five. He's just a normal dude, trying to do the right thing, that stumbles, and it's funny because it feels actually realistic, as in, police departments probably do have this type of guy.

It was fun to see Kurtwood Smith, for all you "That's 70's Show" fans. He's the tough Sheriff that, too, is trying to do the right thing, but, dag nab it, just is struggling to have a competent force in a small town...and it's funny, because again, you can sense that this type of incompetence exists out there.

Then you have Vincent D'Onofrio, known best for "Full Metal Jacket," and he comes out perfect in this film as just a low-life cop, whose only pleasure in life remaining is to watch other people become more miserable than him. He is pivotal in to the story and again, the writers kept him simple, nothing overdone, and he plays his role BELIEVABLY. Man, I always appreciate good writing. Kudos to Melfi and Wehner for not playing to any political crowd, but just creating dang good art.

Lastly, among the key dudes to the story, you have Tim Allen and Luke Grimes. It's a good pair. It was quite strange to see Allen in this type of role, but he gave it his all...sometimes out of place, but believable, still. Luke...yea, he was good. Real good. Very well casted.

Some of the best comedy came out of Jimmy Yang ("Silicon Valley") and Jessica Alba...they were the perfect pair for the comedic relief you needed at times. I'm excited to see what Jimmy Yang will be pulling off in the future, he's dang good and landing hilarious comedic lines. They never feel forced. In the movie, they play as the rookie reporters...and playing into that role hilariously.

The side story of single mother and potentially autistic son added to the tension, and even romance, which kept things interesting. And seeing good old Emilio Rivera ("Sons of Anarchy") playing the tough but cool and collected guy was fantastic.

Can we not appreciate simple, low-budget, great acted films anymore? Indy films are like this, and they are some of the greats. There was scarcely any CGI, heavy explosions, etc...this move REQUIRED on-point acting, and I was extremely impressed. Not your typical Christmas film, yet I'll be recommending this each year for people looking for something to enjoy, something that's different from the norm.

The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

Poor Writing and Overall Boring

[3/10 · 28 November 2018]

Listen, Kurt Russel is one of my favorite actors, and it was fun to see Lamorne Morris (New Girl), and Steven Van Zandt (The Sopranos) make an appearance. That's for sure. But, MAN, this writing was horrible. All I wanted the whole time was to turn off the movie and head over to "The Santa Clause," a MUCH better written film, written for the same audience.

The film was played to the typical stereotypes: rebellious teenage brother, sweet and determined little sister...rebellious brother turns full circle, everything better again at the end, little sister was right all along. Typical, right? Done right, this is a sweet story, when tried to hard, it kind of falls flat.

The CGI made elves were not a big help, the elvish language was too much...we aren't in Lord of The Rings, here. They tried too hard to make this film believable, quite honestly. Just stick to the basics, you know? Let the teenage boy (Teddy) be rebellious, but stealing cars with friends, leaving little sister home alone on Christmas eve, I mean, it seemed quite out of character for the kid. You don't get that look and feel from him and it felt quite out of place, as did the scene where he fails in taking the camera away from his little sister once he's realized he was caught. Put me as a teenage kid against one of my little sisters? Yea, I'd have that tape in 2 seconds if I wanted to. All I'm saying is outside of the "scene" where he steals a car, etc. you don't get the feel that he's a bad kid in any way...he seems more of an effeminate kind of guy trying to find his place in the world, to be honest. Not a tough criminal.

For the girl, Kate, well...come one, make her more like Charlie from the Santa Clause...frustrated for not being believed, still determined, but not a perfect angel. She wasn't exciting, you know? Despite being a fun and family film, you still want character development! Charlie grew in love toward others, at least, he learned that in life you didn't have to be cynical, everything about Santa was a huge "wow" moment for him, and for the audience. For Kate, everything was the same...everything was predictable. Even the things she discovered about Santa...you just weren't excited for her.

If you want a cute film to play in the background, sure, it's fine. But it's not one you'll be turning back to Christmas after Christmas. I want films to be believing, even if they are playing a fantasy. Taking the easy roads in writing isn't exciting. The story wasn't rounded very well at all.

Bad Samaritan (2018)

Decent Film, but Lazily Done

[4/10 · 8 May 2018]

*Only small, minor spoilers in this review*

You know where you are watching a movie, and something happens that makes you suddenly wonder..."wait, that's not what really happens in my life..."? Well, that happens a lot in this film.

You have good suspense, a great concept of a film, but it's as if the writers or director got a little bit lazy, making a film that was basically decent from becoming great...and I'm talking "Split" great.

Let me give you some non-spoiler examples: 1) The police in the film are all made out to be dumb, offering little to no help, showing complete lack of in-depth investigation. With something as serious as what's going on in this film...that would never happen as stupidly as it was portrayed.

2) Activating a credit card...there is a point in the film where someone attempts to activate a credit card that is not their own so that they can use it for the funds. They call the number to activate it, type in the card number, and voila...activated. All that they had to makes sure they did was call the number they hoped was "registered" to the card. Again, doesn't work like that. At all. You call, give at least some proof of identity with, let's say, the last four digits of your social, and then you're good.

3) There was a point in the film where someone went downtown to visit a federal building. They simply drove up...parked right IN FRONT of the building, as if there is always parking available there, and as if anyone is authorized to park there. They run in, get done what they need to get done, then leave. Again, doesn't work like that. If you go downtown, you need to park usually at a lot or a nearby street, walk a block or two, and then you're in. I'm sure the writers/director knew this, they just thought it unnecessary. This laziness does drive me away from assuming the film is a reality, though.

4) A girl in the film loves a man deeply, and the man loves her back. Something happens that deeply hurts the girl, something that, if the couple truly had as deep a relationship as the writers seemed to portray, they would at least talk about before making judgement. Unfortunately, the writers get lazy again, and the girl completely turns on her man, stonewalling him, with the man being completely unable to defend what happened. Again, not really the reality of things...unless a relationship is extremely immature.

Ok, with that being said, let me talk about some good points of the movie, and then why I still rated this a 4.

The story makes your head spin a bit...you are constantly wondering what is going on that makes the villain the villain. Why is he doing what he's doing? Also, everyone likes the unexpected hero story. Again, I wish it was better executed , but Robert Sheehan isn't bad. He and David Tennat do pretty well in the good guy/bad guy routine. I really enjoyed the ending, where you get the full picture of what is going on with the villain. The only part of the ending that was disappointing is that I couldn't fully appreciate it. During the whole film, I felt that nothing in it was real, causing me to never fully connect. The film was too easy to criticize for simple errors. If the writing was better, it really would have been a thriller.

Unfortunately, the film is quite predictable as far as knowing when you are about to "jump" and when something bad/good is going to happen. It's like they followed all the cliches of suspense. You'll know what I mean when you watch the film: something great happens, but you just know that they are celebrating too early and something bad is going to happen right after, the camera is angled in such a way that you know something is going to pop up and scare you, etc. I jumped once, and only once. You'll probably do the same. They got the scare right only once for me. Unfortunately it didn't last.

It's worth seeing. Suspense fanatics will appreciate it, I assume. I do feel like the story deserved better, though.

The Girl on the Train (2016)

Great, Tense and Thrilling Through to the End

[10/10 · 26 February 2017]

Disclaimer: I have not read the book.

As it is so important with any thriller: this film held its weight through the entire movie. Emily Blunt put on one of the most incredible acting performances as I have ever seen for her. It reminded me of Leonardo DiCaprio's performance in "The Aviator." Truly stunning.

Haley Bennett and Rebecca Furguson really made a stronger name for themselves. This film is dark...very dark. They performed in such a way that gave respect to the many women that, no doubt, have found themselves in similar situations. Their roles were taken very seriously, as they had little wiggle room given how easily it would be to call out poor acting in a film like this.

I also need to make mention to Justin Theroux. He and Emily Blunt play the most complicated characters in the film. Justin's character builds so well until the very end, where his character shines in such a way that roots the viewer on the edge of their seat.

As far as filmography, it is generally filmed from the perspective of Rachel, Emily Blunt's character. Therefore, the film can feel either too dizzy, too still, or too sporadic at different times, given the situation and the state of Rachel. It is designed to get you into Rachel's mind, with very little narration from any other source.

Keep yourself away from the spoilers and let this movie take you on a ride. As with all good thrillers, this film keeps you guessing the entire time and will earn your respect.

The Arroyo (2014)

A Low Budget Truth Teller

[10/10 · 25 February 2017]

You have Hollywood that usually rides on fantasy, and then you have people that come out with films like this: created to just tell the truth. This film is politically charged, but in a way that expresses a real problem very few people truly recognize.

We are always brainwashed into thinking that people that want a secure southern border are racist and xenophobic, having no compassion on people in situations much tougher than their own. This film shows the reality of people struggling to secure their own personal property from constant drug traffic, and shows the real compassion they have for these people despite the criminal activity they conduct.

This film won't win any Oscars: the filming is fantastic (not always typical of a low-budget film), the acting is just on par, and the film doesn't really attract too big of an audience, although I wish it did.

It's a film you really won't see in mainstream entertainment. It's sad that Hollywood has essentially become an arm of left-wing political propaganda, there is ample evidence of this reality, and I sincerely hope that with so many more outlets for entertainment outreach that their influence will decrease with increasing speed.

Sing (2016)

All Star Casted Films Shouldn't Get Off this Easy

[4/10 · 27 December 2016]

First things first, the singing was fantastic, comical, and enjoyable. Who knew that Taron Egerton had a voice like that? The film did do a good job of tying several different genres of music nicely to make this enjoyable musically. That is perhaps the only exciting creative part of this film.

The story, however, was bland, flat, and boring. I don't quite understand how they could have missed the mark. To avoid any spoilers, I can safely say that the story is quite predictable-sure, some things happen that you wouldn't be able to guess-but, from the very beginning, you know generally what will happen in the middle of the movie, and what will happen at the end.

Generally, predictability is typical of a children's film, which this is; although, it does play to the hearts of adults, by bringing in elements of the burdens of family responsibility and the stress of going into debt. However, in stellar children films, that predictability is out-weighed by brilliant humor, emotional connections with characters, and a feeling of sinking into the world of the film. Think of "Cars (1)," "Finding Nemo," "Toy Story," and "Tangled." Great films, general predictability, but an incredible script and a unique story line.

This film, though, misses on so many levels. The characters seem to have neat backstories, but there is no depth to any of them. You can only barely connect to the characters. It was so disappointing.

It's a good movie to have on in the background, but beyond that, it really isn't worth it. It really could have just been so much better.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Potter will Never End

[10/10 · 15 December 2016]

The Harry Potter-based films are going to become a group of movies very similar to what Star Wars has become: movies based and written for the world that was created by genius writers. Fantastic Beasts is the first of many to come, no doubt, where movie after movie will be created with some sort of link to a part of the bigger picture. Rowling has hit the jackpot, no doubt, and she's not done yet.

This film is brilliantly directed, pulling on every emotion of the viewer (love, humor, evil, you name it), and keeps the film in a more dark and somber feel rather, similar to the final Harry Potter film, which I believe any Potter fan really appreciates. The films are not meant to be lighthearted, but meant to show true distinction between good and evil. It adds the perfect amount of comedic relief as well, which Potter movies are going to be so good at in the future, based on how well they were able to do so in this film.

Centurion (2010)

Entertaining, but...

[6/10 · 15 December 2016]

Listen, I'm a big fan of Michael Fassbender, a big fan of war movies, and a big fan of historical films. This, however, didn't hit the depth that I was hoping. It had nice historical significance, showed a side of the Roman Empire I hadn't seen before, but I was lost wondering who I was supposed to be rooting for, I couldn't feel the emotion that the characters were trying to portray on screen, and I was distracted by heavy violence that felt was put in the movie "just because."

They tried to make this an impactful film, with emotion that you would find in Braveheart, Saving Private Ryan, and We Were Soldiers, it just didn't hit it. It's worth seeing if you enjoy these type of war films, just don't expect to be blown away or to have your life changed.