RussHog Reviews

Abigail (2024)

Take a bite out of crime!

[8/10 · 20 April 2024]

Abigail is what happens when you mix Interview with the Vampire with The Usual Suspects. It tells the story of a bunch of crooks who are gathered by a shadowy figure to kidnap a girl and keep her locked up in an old mansion for 24 hours until ransom is paid...but the girl turns out to be the daughter of an old Vampire and she uses this schtick to hunt and kill her victims.

The whole film takes place inside the mansion and the set, dialogue, and action are all a lot of fun. The movie gets super bloody towards the end and has a lot of fun moments throughout. This was defiantly a great movie experience, even if it wasn't always the best movie. (Albeit - it's never bad.)

The rules of the world are hard to hard to follow and inconsistent towards the end. When they find out she is a vampire they kind of act as if maybe this is a world where it's not uncommon for their to be vampires, but then again, it was hard to tell one way or the other. Also, the film went from day to night to day to night in a really short period of time, and there were windows that let light in even though the house was supposed to be shut up with steel barriers. But, I guess that was all part of the fun.

Abigail is a great time at the movies! Def recommended.

Civil War (2024)

Absurd dystopian film with ok moments

[6/10 · 14 April 2024]

This film is well acted and the cinematography is well done, but the story is filled with so many plot conveniences that it is hard to take the story serious. First off, there is a battle-hardened war reporter (who never wears a helmet in the field, and would have been an older lady by the time this civil war started in the first place so just how battle-hardened could she be) and she is famous to some young girl, who just so happens to meet her in NYC, and they just so happen to have a co-reporter who agrees to let the kid go on a dangerous road trip to try and interview...oh I dunno...the President of the war torn United States in a part of the US where the press are routinely killed. How did this Civil War begin? How does the economy of this war-torn land function? Who is the opposition leader (s)? How does any of that make sense, doesn't matter.

Along the way, instead of bringing gas with them from NYC, they decide not to bring gas and instead will need to buy gas from a random gas station strangers in the middle of nowhere just so there can be a scene where the kid sees some people hung up on wire. Then, they just so happen to have some friends who follow them who just so happen to do strange things like jump into moving vehicles and that just so happens to lead them down a road where they bump into more danger and the bad guys just so happen to talk to them instead of kill them (like the bad guys would be motivated to to since they are committing some kind of war crime) to buy JUST enough time for them to be rescued by a a van that the bad guys just don't happen to hear. And, then, they just so happen to get where they need to go JUST in time to be at the forefront of a battle that leads into the White House, where instead of there being a massive resistance there is just a few random people with weaponry that no one bothers to explain how they got (or how they held off any resistance) and that just so happens to make it so they can get to the President just in time.

This film would have been better if it laid off the big journey and focused more on the small nuances of the world it was trying to build. By the time all is said and done, it's hard to take any of this serious and that is a shame because you can see the filmmakers wanted to make a serious dystopian film. In the end it's just a by-the-numbers dystopian film that could have been a classic with the right script changes.

Grace and Frankie (2015–2022)

If I were married to those women, I'd change too.

[7/10 · 6 April 2024]

Wow - I had to binge watch this show with a friend who had depression and I don't know where to begin. This show is about Jack McCoy from Law & Order married The President of the United States from West Wing, and their ex-wives live together in a beach house and they basically just date people, talk about sex, and have odd romantic encounters. And - that is it.

Shout out to June Diane Raphael who is smoking HOT as Jane Fonda and Martin Sheen's daughter who has tons of misadventures in her romantic life and watching her was defiantly the highlight of this series.

This show wasn't meant for me, but it is watchable and kinda charming and super strange to see all these actors from other shows be in these weird romantic misadventures.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)

This movie made a monkey out of my lizard brain!

[1/10 · 31 March 2024]

The plot to Kong Godzilla: New Empire is that below the Earth are face painted tribal people who use crystals to control gravity, and who are a looking for a psychic deaf girl because they need her to awaken a mother moth that shoots magical spider webs, in order to unite old man King Kong, his mini-me, and nuclear Godzilla, to stop a big red monkey with a bone bullwhip and an ice breathing lizard dog.

It would have been better if this plot had been all monster and no humans, but like the rest of this universe its mostly humans who are dumb and unlikeable and stupid and in this one the humans are the most dumb and unlikeable and stupid than any of the previous films.

All four prior films had some charm this one lacks. It's super dumb and not worth seeing in theaters. Just stay home and don't watch.

Dune: Part Two (2024)

Dune: Part Deaux

[8/10 · 11 March 2024]

I liked D2 quite a bit more than D1. The visuals are superb and the action is a lot of fun. The main villain is terrific and the scene where Paul rides the worm is wonderfully put together and exciting. There are some gaping flaws in this film - the script isn't terrific and the acting is pretty flat. I do think it's fair to say "The Chosen One" trope is exposed as a little silly when the production value is so high. But overall, this is a good film that honors the source material as well as it can and also entertains.

The story is that Paul unites the clans on Arrakis and leads them into battle against House Harkonen and avenge the death of his family. Although this film has flaws, I praise it for being a visually spectacular action packed film that honors a very complicated novel and makes an important science fiction milestone accessible to ass audiences.

Deadpool 2 (2018)

Brilliant funny movie

[8/10 · 26 February 2024]

I saw the first Deadpool and enjoyed it but didn't love it. So, for whatever reason I didn't go see this one in theaters and somehow ended up watching it Sunday morning when I had nothing to do. This was a hilarious film with a good message and a big heart. Also, it was a really good X-Men (or, X-Force) film.

All of the mutants in this movie are very well done, including Josh Brolin's Cable and Zazie Beets Domino. Also, CGI Colossus is really great, and as a fan of the X-Men and Colossus I have to admit I thought it was just hilarious them pairing him with trying to help Deadpool be a better hero.

This movie also has terrific action. The people who made these Deadpool films really did a spot on job.

True Detective: Night Country: Part 6 (2024) Season 4, Episode 6

Trash!

[2/10 · 24 February 2024]

This season started off pretty good with a cool crime, but what followed was six episodes where nothing happened culminating in a final episode that made no real sense what-so-ever. It's pretty clear the people who made this show had no idea what was going on - and the story feels like it was written in a few drafts without much thought.

There was still good cinematography in this show, and the acting was ok enough. It was watchable. But, int he end, it was a lazy meaningless disappointment that was saying old tribal women overpower the patriarchy. (And the patriarchy are some scientists in Alaska.)

The cops in this show were terrible. Dreadful. No detective work whatsoever. They didn't solve any crime more than they stood around and learned about the crimes and did nothing. And, apparently, they were guilty of murder themselves.

Oh lort - this show as a mess.

Poor Things (2023)

Give Emma STtone the Oscar

[9/10 · 17 February 2024]

Frankenstein is considered one of the first great feminist contributions to Western literature. So in that light, comes a somewhat retelling of Frankenstein where the beautiful woman is created by a mad scientists and goes off into the world on a journey of self discovery, enlightenment, and empowerment. (Oh, and she has a great deal of physical relationships with a wide range of very strange men.)

This was an oddly beautiful film with terrific acting, a good script, and spectacular set pieces and costumes. The direction is pretty darn good, and it somehow holds your interest even though it's a very talky movie without a whole lot of action.

Mostly, it's just our main character going about the world meeting new men and having strange relationships with them and gaining her independence. This becomes so interesting because the main actress just crushes this role, she really is engaging is watch. Funny, innocent, cruel, sweet, heroic yet somewhat of a villain at times.

Also, there is an interesting mystery in this film about who she was before she was turned into the Frankenstein-like monster, and just when you least expect it the film goes back to these questions for a pretty good conclusion.

Who is to say whether the events in this film accurately capture what the female experience in a journey towards empowerment really is. But, this is a type of female empowerment that was true to the story of the main hero and her journey in the film.

Overall, very recommended film with terrific acting that should hopefully get Emma her well-deserved Oscar. Oh, and Mark Ruffalo is hilarious in this film.

The Retirement Plan (2023)

Grandpa, take a nap!

[1/10 · 17 February 2024]

This movie is utter trash. The plot is ridiculous. The acting is terrible. The fight scenes are horrible. It looks like it was filmed in one or two takes and there was only one person with a camera. Feels like someone just gave some silly-heads some cash and they blew it parting and yet somehow this drivel was created.

The corny-ass plot is that some driver for a gangster stole the "hard drive" - which is really a thumb drive - for some criminal empire and the bad guys are looking for him. So he has his wife send their daughter to meet Nicholas Cage - her grandfather - who is an old guy in the Camas Islands but he is also supposed to be a more deadly killer than Rambo - and Nicholas Cage fights the gangsters and saves his family

There are awkward dumb as hell scenes in this film. Like, they stay at a "remote hotel" where the good guys and bad guys are neighbors and don't know it - and Ron Perlman quotes Shakespeare to the child he has taken hostage. It's just totally stupid.

Rick Fox is in this movie - and he is one of the worst actors on the Planet. Somehow, Ernie Hudson, the guy from Watchmen, and others show up in this awful trash abysmal mess of a film that is so unwatchable it will make you want to break your tv.

The Zone of Interest (2023)

Cinematic Masterpiece - Scary Film Too

[10/10 · 27 January 2024]

This film caught my eye because it was nominated for best picture and the trailer was intriguing. Always been a bit of a WW2 buff, and have read many books about the rise and fall of Nazi Germany. Having seen this, I don't know if I've ever seen a film that more captures the madness and evil of Nazi Germany - but also a cautionary tale of people who keep silent while atrocities are being committed.

This is the real life story of the Commandant of Auschwitz, who perfected the Final Solution for Adolf Hitler, and how kills several thousand people a day. He lives in a home connected to the wall of the camp, as he tries to keep his family together when he is transferred to another job. The wife refuses to go and so our anti-hero goes about his duty while using the bureaucracy of the Nazi machine to keep his wife in their home.

Most of this film is just people going about life as normal. Servants set up the house. Neighbors and family come to visit. Kids play. Dogs bark. But, in the BG, the sounds of the Auschwitz camp haunt the land. At night, most people in the film are traumatized in one way shape or form by the camp...the kids begin to mistreat one another, the daughter sleepwalks, the neighbors are bothered by the ash.

Most eerie of all is that this is all true stuff. This family really existed. The Commandant was known to be soft and gentle with his kids. Most eerie of all is the very final scene...which I will not reveal but Mayne one of the most haunting memorable scenes of all time.

Definitely worth the watch for fans of good cinema, not only as a history lesson but as a warning for today.

No One Will Save You (2023)

Fun movie with wonky plot holes

[7/10 · 7 January 2024]

This was a really engaging alien attacks movie. It is about a woman who is socially ostracized by her community who has to fend for herself during an alien invasion. There is almost no dialogue in the film, which is probably all for the better. The aliens are pretty cool designs. The action scenes are engaging. I was never bored watching this film, and I also noticed a lot of nods to films like Communion, The Shining, and other classics.

The film has two flaws which I think hold it back from reaching greatness. The first is that the rules of the aliens don't really make any sense and become convenient for the story. How can they travel through space in saucers but not have the tech to find a lone woman in a house?

Also, the woman has a secret from her past which really makes her unlikeable and I don't know if that is the intent - or not - but it makes for a recipe where you have kind of stupid bad guys and a not so likable hero.

In the old Twilight Zone this was compared to, the aliens were very small and that made some kind of sense space travelers might encounter a land of the giants and explore. But, beings who have come to colonize or terraform a planet but can't even use tech to find a lady in a house is just plain silly.

All in all, recommended for a good late night binge. Especially you are with a lady. :)

The Creator (2023)

Very good sci-fi movie

[8/10 · 1 January 2024]

My friend told me if I saw this in theaters some of the gaping plot holes would stand out more - but as it is I saw it at home and frankly I could care less if there were some plot holes this is a very good film with incredible world building.

It tells the story of human v AI and our hero is a former soldier who is sent to track down the AI's ultimate weapon. Turns out the weapon is a child AI - who may or may not have the secret to his seemingly dead wife's location - and now our hero betrays his people to keep the AI safe and try to find his wife.

His journey with the AI takes him deep into the heart of this world, and he eventually grows to care for the AI and rebels against his own people. It may sound cliche, but these kinds of stories need to be told again and again.

By no stretch of the imagination is this corny like Avatar, this was a very good by the numbers sci-fi movie. Well acted, great special effects, good action scenes, and a big heart with a cool final showdown.

Def recommended, too bad I didn't watch this in theaters.

Godzilla Minus One (2023)

The Godzilla movie fans have waited for!

[9/10 · 3 December 2023]

Godzilla Minus One is a reboot/remake of the original Godzilla movie set in post WW2 Japan. Our hero is a disgraced Kamikaze Pilot who survived the war, but will he survive Godzilla? What follows is the best special effects of any Godzilla movie I've ever seen, the best city rampage choreography I've ever seen, and the best Godzilla underwater action I've ever seen.

Godzilla is a true destroyer of worlds in this film. A monster who was once a strange Dinosaur type creature that lived near a small island who was mutated by nuclear power and is now angry as hell about it - and out to trash whatever gets in his way.

Everything about this new Godzilla movie rules! Where the US Version gets silly and watered down, this is a little silly but mostly gritty reboot. Would love to see an entire series of films based in the Minus One universe.

I only give is 9 out of 10 because I'd like see another one that tops this one.

Five Nights at Freddy's (2023)

Made ZERO sense but was FUN

[6/10 · 31 October 2023]

This movie was about a security guard who, as a child, lost his little brother to a kidnapping. Now he works at a weird abandoned fun house park for kids where the animatronics are possessed by the ghosts of dead kids. His journey to unravel the disappearance of his brother is linked to these animatronics, as they take liking to his little sister who they want to turn her into one of them, and in return they will tell the security guard who kidnapped his brother.

The film really makes zero sense. The rules of the world are all over the map and incoherent and contradictory. But the creature designs and the overall aesthetic of the film is really pretty fun. Hardly a horror classic, or even a good movie, but it's kinda fun and weird and trippy in its own right. I didn't hate it but I never felt it rose to the occasion to become an iconic horror monster classic.

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

Well acted informative historical crime saga

[7/10 · 21 October 2023]

Killers of the Flower Moon tells the real story of a group white settlers who try to murder a bunch of native people's to steal their oil money. The main character is in love with a native woman, and her family is the main victims that his uncle is systemically killing. This is a really unpleasant film in many ways. The only likable character is the wife and she's drugged out half of the movie. The acting and set pieces are terrific, and the film very much deep dives into these horrible crimes and make you understand them. But it's a VERY long film that feels even longer than it is, the pace of the film is bogged down by a script that is more like a documentary than a real character study - but at the same time - you do learn a lot about this period of history. This film is recommended for anyone who likes Scorcese movies and good cinema.

Saw X (2023)

It was good to see the Old Cast Back!

[6/10 · 4 October 2023]

I've always been a big fan of the Saw movies. The cool music, plot twists, and the genius of Jon Kramer. This movie takes place between Saw I and II, and it tells the story of Jon Kramer and his pupil Amanda putting a bunch of crooks who ripped Jon off on his cancer treatment through some "games."

I liked moments of this film a lot, but I felt the final twenty minutes or so the film kind of went away from what made it work so well.

But, it was GREAT to see Tobin back as Jigsaw.

One big problem I had with the film was that it didn't get to the good music until the final moments and I should add that I saw the plot twist a mile away.

Anyhow, there was still some great moments in the movie and it was good to see the old cast back.

Not a terrible Saw movie but also not as good as I-VI,

If you like SAW _ I recommend this film.

Bottoms (2023)

Slightly uneven but good film

[7/10 · 3 September 2023]

Bottoms is a teen coming of age comedy that is both vulgar and surreal. It tells the story of some girls who want to score with the cheerleaders so they start a self defense course in their high school. They get sponsored by their teacher, who is former NFL superstar Marshan Lynch (which is very strange and kinda cool.).

The town the teens live in is under threat from rival football team who has come to murder the star QB of the school, and the girls need to get their lady allies into full self defense mode in order to defend their territory from the outsiders.

The film is well acted, pretty well written, and has a good soundtrack. My on real grip with the film is that i goes a little too fast and it feels like lot was cut out of this movie. I will bet there is a superior directors cut of this movie somewhere. But all in all a good coming of age movie with a unique twist.

I should add, even though this film is sort of a "queer" movie one of the things I liked most about it is that it never pushes this or uses that as a crutch. Its a solid film and the same-sex relationships in the movie are just a component of it - normal like any other coming of age romance/teen story - and I appreciated this film for that smart decision.

Black Mirror: Loch Henry (2023) Season 6, Episode 2

Great scary story!

[8/10 · 28 August 2023]

One of the better Black Mirror episodes (and there are many good ones) this one held my attention and paid off. It tells the story of a young couple in film school who go to his home in Scotland and decide they will make a true-crime doc about a terrible series of murders that took place in the town. They feel that this will be a story with a build in audience, and the closer they get to accomplishing their goal the more it tears them away from their families and loved ones and reveals a terrible secret. This episode is well paced, well written, with good twists and a memorable conclusion. Def recommended.

Strays (2023)

The end of this movie was hilarious

[5/10 · 27 August 2023]

Strays is about some homeless dogs who go on a buddy road trip to rip off one of their owner's genitals. It has a lot of bad language and crude humor. Some of the jokes are misses, but a handful of them are pretty funny. The end of his movie is actually hilarious and makes up for a lot of the parts that were kind of stupid. The guy who plays the bad dog owner is quite good in the role, and all of the voice actors do just fine. Strays is not a good movie, but it does have some funny moments in the end and I think it sticks to landing, and that is the only reason I don't give it below five stars.

Barry: wow (2023) Season 4, Episode 8

A Chevokian end to Barry

[7/10 · 12 August 2023]

If you are familiar with the Russian playwright Chekov, you may get a better grasp of the psychology and story elements of how this show ends. Chekov wrote very dark humor, and when done wrong or acted poorly it can come across just as a long drawn out bummer...but when done correctly and with the right understanding of the socio-political climate of when he was writing the humor really comes across and was brilliant.

Chekov plays almost always end with a gun or someone being shot. Relationships fail. The underdog ideology fails short of its goal. And in the case of Barry, the end of Gene and Barry is very Chekovian. All of their dreams and relationship and friendship is gone, Barry is dead and Gene goes to prison and their entire life story is mauled by the very industry they dedicated their lives too.

What does this say about us as a people? Don't trust what you see on TV - it's just a narrative the truth is far more complicated? Who knows. A good end ( but not a great end) to a wonderful show and I'll miss NoHo Hank and Fuches the most.

Barbie (I) (2023)

Strange film - like Twilight Zone or Black Mirror

[6/10 · 29 July 2023]

Barbie is a weird film that is pretty well made. It tells the story of how one of many Barbie's in Barbie-land leave and go into the real world to find the person who owns them as a toy. In the real world, they see what impact Barbie has, or fails to have, as a product on the minds of young girl consumers. This information changes her, and Ken's opinion of themselves and they return home and deal with the aftermath of this revelation.

Barbie is well played by Margot Robbie who is an excellent actress and is perfectly cast in the role. While Ryan Gosling is a strange choice for Ken he does adequate work as Ken and gives depth and subtext to the otherwise shallow one dimensional Barbie-companion.

This movie poses a lot of questions, makes some strange decisions, and has some intelligent (albeit shallow) things to say about the relationship between boys and girls. (Not men and women, but boys and girls.).

It's worth watching - but memorable more in how weird it is rather than how good it is.

Talk to Me (I) (2022)

Talk to the hand!

[5/10 · 29 July 2023]

Talk to Me (not a very scary name) is about some teenagers who promote themselves on social media by having strange seances where they use a hand that can summon the dead. But one night, one of them holds onto the hand a little too long and the demons start to chase the teenagers and cause chaos in their lives.

This should have been a more rewarding premise, but about midway through the film the story begins to have too many plots that it fails to develop and loses track of what made it such an interesting premise in the first place. Also, there are some really dumb things that happen in this movie. It's not a film where the main characters try to solve a problem more than it's just the character go around in circles.

Oppenheimer (I) (2023)

A good Christopher Nolan film.

[7/10 · 23 July 2023]

Oppenheimer is less of a movie and more of an experience. It tells the story of the man who was the head of the Manhattan project, and what his life was life before, during and after the creation of the atomic bomb.

Much like the biopic of Elvis that acme out last year, this movie goes fast and throws a lot of stuff at the audience at breakneck speed- but when all is said and done you understand the story of Oppenheimer.

The films strengths are the sequence that delve into the destructive nature of the weapons he built, and how that impacted the world and why he first championed them and later spoke against them and became an advocate for disarmament.

The weakness of the movie is that the lead isn't that strong to hold the film together (although he looks like Oppenheimer) and it's not knock on the actor but he isn't really leading movie material for a major motion picture of this nature. You never really know or care much about Oppenheimer, more than you observe him and while that may have been the point it was hard to watch a three hour film about someone you can't really identify with.

Some of Nolan's script choices in this film are kind of poor - such as he never lets us see Oppenheimer do much that makes us bond with him - and he never really establishes the relationship between Oppenheimer and his nemesis who puts the federal government against him.

The great moments in the film is when Oppenheimer goes to talk to Truman - and Gary Oldman delivers big time in that scene and you really get a sense of how history transpired.

Overal, Oppenheimer is a good Christopher Nolan movie and a thought provoking Biopic of an important historical character, but also a sort of spy thriller and a mystery wrapped into one. A few too many elements possibly - but it's never boring.

Recommended if you like Christopher Nolan movies.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

They should go back in time not make Indy 4 & 5

[1/10 · 1 July 2023]

Indiana Jones 5 sucked. It's not as offensive as the fourth one, but in a way...it's worse. Like how Disney Star Wars sequels are worse than the shockingly incoherent prequels. The opening scene is kinda cool and is the only part of the movie that feels like a classic Indiana Jones film. It might be worth it just to see the opening scene but that is about it.

The biggest problem with the film is the co-star is so annoying and Indiana Jones becomes a second fiddle sidekick in his own movie - and he loses all of the spark that made him such an incredible hero in the first three films. This really should have had Shorty from Temple of Doom and it might have sucked less.

Really, between aliens and time travel - I don't know how much more you can mess up a franchise that so beautifully made the ancient cultures of the world so mysterious and powerful - and they were truly the stars of the film.

I'm glad Indy got one final film that isn't Crystal Skull, I'm just sorry that it had to be The Dial of Destiny.

The Flash (I) (2023)

Should have been a third Keaton Batman movie

[6/10 · 17 June 2023]

The Flash has a bad script. The jokes are self-indulgent. The plot makes no sense. If The Flash can go back in time to save his mom from being killed by a mysterious killer, wouldn't he want to find out who the killer was and capture them? Instead, he just wants to swap out a can of tomato soup so her father would never leave home and she would be alone. Whatever. I'd want to know who the real killer was and capture them and a superhero would too.

Suddenly, there are two Barry Allen's and most of the film is cringe annoying dialogue between the two of them that mostly isn't funny.

Thankfully, the film picks up when they have to stop General Zod from the Man of Steel, and to do that they have go find more superheroes and the only who who exists in this new reality is Michael Keaton's Batman. And...it's awesome to see Keaton back as Batman.

Instead of having two dumb heroes, the film now has at least one hero who uses their intelligence, strength, deduction, and stealth to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Truly a cool thing to see, and easily the highlight of the film and if this is what it took to get Keaton back...at least someone got the job done.

Supergirl also shows up and it's actually pretty cool to see two Flashes, Supergirl, and Keaton Batman team up to battle Zod.

The final act of The Flash is ambitious and there is enough cool attempts to do something unique that it's hard to dock the film entirely. The real problem with The Flash is The Flash himself, and the writing. This isn't a well written film it has tons of bizarre logic and potholes and stupid unlikable characters...but somehow it all sort of makes something that passed the time and - if for just a moment - made me smile.

But, they should have just made a third Keaton Batman movie.