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Viet Nam combat veteran....
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Ratings
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Reviews
Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)
Drivel....
I am 25 minutes into this piece of unmitigated crap, and all I can think is how much I want this idiotic family to all die. I hope the upcoming CGI is worth the pain of watching the humans.
So far, it looks like the studio told some computer geeks "Here are some monsters - give us 15 minutes of them fighting." Then they hired 2 interns from an unrelated genre to fill in the blank spots. Welcome to the new Hollywood.
If there was any semblance of justice left in the world, nobody involved in this epically sophomoric garbage would never work again.
Resident Alien (2021)
Great start...keep 'em coming
Alan Tudyk has been one of my favorite comedic actors since Firefly and Serenity )which I am shocked that no-one else here seems to have mentioned). He has a rare knack for delivering great lines in a deadpan manner that only increases the humor. Here's hoping this is in for a long run.
Auto/Biography (2019)
Rivaling "Seinfeld" as the ultimate show about nothing
I just suffered through episode 4 of season 2, where two abysmally clueless (and annoying) beta males discuss the possibility that "dead man's curve" in LA was purposely designed to be dangerous/deadly....a 10 minute discussion that took a mind-numbing hour to accomplish. This has been their modus operandi from the beginning, but they have really screwed the pooch here.
Since there was pretty much nothing to begin with, the writers filled the segment with side stories about Jan & Dean, a short history of the Corvette , and interviews with assorted 'experts' regarding road design. This pile of crap (and all previous episodes) has been forever banished from my DVR - if I could only erase it from my memory as well.
Apparently, the new direction for all the channels affiliated with the Discovery Network have been engaged in a secret competition to lower the bar for 'educational' programming to simian levels (or if you prefer, the public schools).
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
Art imitating life
I am wondering if Patty Jenkins arrived at this point in her career in the same fashion that Kamela Harris got to be VP elect....it certainly can't be on the basis of talent.
Trans Am (2018)
More cut/paste junk
I just had the unpleasant experience of sitting through two of these. The once decent Speed (turned Velocity) channel has picked up massive downhill speed since its takeover by Motor Trend. It actually follows the MT modus operandi - a bland car magazine for non-car posers). The only saving grace for this entry is the fact that (to date) only 6 episodes of this heavily scripted, humorless, phony deadline pablum exist - that limits the chance that I'll keep running across it.
Strange Evidence (2017)
WTF
It seems that the cretins who used to write for supermarket rags like the Star and The Globe have been hired by what used to be "educational" cable channels to produce mindless drivel like this. There was once a time when channels like these were intended to enlighten - now they seem more intent on simply reflecting the wave of abject stupidity that has swept across the country over the past couple of decades (thanks, in large part, to the demise of public 'education'). The new norm has become glorification of stupid or obnoxious behavior instead of pointing it out for what it is. There is no longer any 'science' to be found on the Science Channel......anyone rating this above the required minimum of 1 should really consider a CAT scan - or just stick to You Tube.
UFOs: The Lost Evidence (2017)
Opinion stated as fact
Where do they find these bozos (both commenters and interviewees)? I would love to ask just one question: Nearly all of the 'evidence' is crap from decades ago, when a camera was not something carried by everyone 24/7, and required a fairly long process to even get ready to shoot. Today nearly every planetary resident capable of standing on two legs is carrying a mobile device that is as close to automatic as ever produced, yet there seems to be a complete lack of any recent photography of aliens, UFOs, or anything else of that ilk. Geez, one would think that someone would get one, even by accident, during the billions of selfies taken every day. I am soooo fed up with the over-dramatized drivel foisted on us, masquerading as 'science' - this isn't the only piece of crap being sent our way by what was once the 'education' channels. I assume that Millennials in general have IQ levels equal to (or even higher) than previous generations, but apparently only put in enough effort to utilize around half of whatever that number is. Steer clear of any show with 'UFO', 'NASA', or the words "mystery', 'revealed', or 'unexplained' in the title and you stand at least a 50/50 chance of not having your intelligence insult very 3 or 4 minutes.
Mysteries of the Abandoned (2017)
Another nail in the educational coffin
Once again, we are given an interesting premise, then immediately insulted by the blathering of a group of so-called "experts" instead of having the genesis, history, and ultimate demise of these structures simply explained in a reasonable narrative. Gough desperately needs a prescription for Xanax, and Nussbacher (used to be Aryeh when he was a military and weapons "expert"), who was annoying as a male, is utterly disgusting in 'his'new gender. The rest of them range from just boring to laughable stupid.
I see this as the slow, but inexorable, demise of educational television - many channels have already gone down the proverbial toilet bowl - it looks like the Science Channel, Discovery, AHC (once known as the Military Channel), and the History channel are aspiring to be as vapid and un-informing as TLC (once known as "The Learning Channel"). I guess it won't be long before NatGeo follows the trend as well. I have been spending far more time watching the BBC - they still haven't forgotten how to do documentaries that inform and are a treat to behold.
This series should be abandoned......
Abandoned (2016)
Broken Dreams
To quote a song title from the '80s, "You Don't Know What You've Got 'Til It's Gone", the series goes beyond the ongoing cycle of build/use/abandon/repeat to explore the effect is has on real people who relied on and/or loved these bits of land and architecture before they became obsolete or out of fashion.
This show takes the decaying results of what were primarily business decisions and puts a personal, human edge on them - mostly disappointment at the demise of something that was used or loved for years, then removed from their lives unceremoniously. It has a pathos untapped by other such shows, and is a pleasure to watch - unassuming and simple, without staged drama or dire predictions. Give it a try - many of you will be glad you did.
Ghost in the Shell (2017)
What the Hell did I just see?
This is NOT a remake - it is a travesty. As a fan of the 1995 original, I was lured in by the trailer, which comprised all the actually good scenes in the entire movie (probably because Scarlett Johanssen didn't speak). After seeing her in a number of movies, I have finally figured it out - she is Keanu Reeves with tits - no discernable acting ability, but marketable to adolescent fanboys. At least Keanu takes parts that fit his personality (or lack of same).
Added to the disaster of the 'star' are the lack of a coherent plot, insipid dialogue, marginal CGI, truly stupid vehicles, and mostly wooden performances by the rest of the cast. Beyond the title and the water fight scene, there wasn't much to link it to the 1995 version.
I am glad I waited for this to come up on cable - if I had paid to see it in a theater, I would be seriously pissed. The entire experience would be similar to going to bed with Heidi Klum, the waking up next to Rosie O'Donnell. It would get a '0' from me if allowed.
How the World Ends (2017)
Intelligent programming ended with this one
There is a wide array of shows these days where one can go to have his/her intelligence insulted - many of them on what used to be 'educational' channels.
This show lowers the bar to a point that may be unattainable in the future. When you take a conspiracy nut, dress him in a suit, and call him an 'expert' on some arcane topic, all you really have is a well-dressed imbecile. This program has enough of them to put together the hockey team from "Strange Brew".
Avoid this....especially if you have eaten in the past two hours. In this case, a spoiler alert is the listing on the guide screen.
Maleficent (2014)
Better than expected
I have been ignoring this for some time, but finally decided to sit thru it and was more than pleasantly surprised. While I find Elle Fanning even more annoying than her sister, and I needed my super secret decoder ring to decipher any of Sharlto Copely's lines, Angelina Jolie put on a fabulous performance that overcame both of those speed bumps and made it more than worth the time.
Roadkill (2012)
FUN !!!
Finally, a "car" show where the stars actually have a sense of humor, and absolutely do not take themselves seriously.....a truly enjoyable view of guys enjoying themselves without a hint of forced timelines, homeboy shorts with tall black socks, ghetto hats, personality disorders, or jerks paying obnoxious sums of money to make a vehicle an extension of their annoying personalities. Bravo......
Texas Metal (2017)
another Texas turd
What prompts these people to continue foisting garbage on us? This one is just one more in a long string of loser shows looking to emulate the first few seasons of Gas Monkey, but coming out like the crap Gas Monkey has become. There are plenty of car shows that don't glorify low-life excesses - this one doesn't even make for good background noise (the dialog sounds like it is from the writers of Duck Dynasty.
Please Velocity - find something that doesn't insult my intelligence any further..
Star Trek: Discovery (2017)
This belongs on Nickelodeon...
Apparently, this is what you get when the CGI (not all that good either) only leaves enough budget for interns at every other level - acting, writing and production. There can be NO other plausible reason for such an epic failure.
Ten minutes into this turd and I have been assaulted by 9-1/2 minutes of mindless SJW drivel (I had to go to the bathroom). This crap makes the junk produced by Asylum for the SciFi channel look like Academy award material. Anyone willing to watch this on a pay-as-you-go channel is also dim enough to rate it above a 3.
What on Earth? (2015)
Mindless drivel
If the one reviewer here who rated this a 10 can't see the difference between actual science, and the veneer used to drag the audience through impossible hyperbole, then he/she/it is an imbecile (or a paid troll.)
Every episode is filled with sketchy evidence of some unique object or occurrence, then built to a crescendo, followed by "Just kidding". The asswipes responsible for this crap should be on the bread line someplace, and the garbage they have already produced belongs on the Comedy Channel.
I fear that Discovery is headed down the same path as so many other once-educational channels - pandering to the lowest common denominator in search of ratings (and they found it in Mr.IGaveItA10ToOffsetTheLowScores.)
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Road to the garbage dump
My actual rating would be negative 10, if only to balance one of the obviously paid shills that gave this a 10. In reality, it should have an average score of around 3. Rotten plot, pitiful acting, and marginal effects (except some explosions). This drivel makes The Expendables look like Schindler's List by comparison.
An even bigger shame is that a lot of untalented losers made a shitload of money at moviegoers' expense. If you liked this, chances are you are just another loser (with 10 dollars less in your pocket.)
Fury (2014)
Ratings by losers....
After going through pages of reviews, I have come to a singular conclusion...the majority of low scores seem to come from basement- dwelling cretins whose most distressing moments come when they realize their cell phone batteries are at 5%, with a sizable contingent from the British Isles. The former were, are, and always will be cowardly losers, but can be somewhat excused because they have never actually had to live in reality of any sort.
The latter share some of those loser traits, but should know better. If history serves me correctly, we expunged them from our shores (not once, but twice), then showed up to help bail them out in their own back yard (gee...not once, but twice). If you twerps want to see Brits in wartime action, make your own damn movies (you haven't done a good one in 45 years or so).
Having gotten that out of the way, I just finished watching Fury for the third time, and was as amazed as the first two times. There have been precious few films that have truly showed the utter brutality that is war, none as frankly as this one. No flag-waving, no nationalism beyond hatred of the Nazis, and NO reset button if you screw up. All in all, a stellar telling of the lives of tank crews (without a transformer or comic book superhero in sight).
Graveyard Carz (2011)
Road trip becomes ego trip
Mark Worman has replaced Adam Sandler as the most annoying asshole in "entertainment" (unless you count Chris Matthews or Rachel Maddow). The fact that he is a walking parts catalog/repair manual cannot overcome his abrasive personality and sophomoric antics. It seems that this show only exists to allow him to get paid to rant (I can't imagine what it would like for his therapist).
When this piece of crap was in the planning stages, the producers called me to inquire about using one of my custom automotive turntables...after discovering that they wanted it for free (which I did do for Jay Leno's Garage and Esquire's Ultimate Bachelor Pad Hollywood). I nearly did, until I spent 10 minutes talking to Mark (which convinced me to take a pass). Good thing I did, given the dismal ratings and predominantly juvenile audience. Here's hoping for a cancellation - and replacement with a show about the CARS.
Falling Down (1993)
Powerful....and current
Many have already commented on this film, but after reading volumes of them, I have come to one conclusion - by sorting chronologically, it is quite apparent that the basic story line seems to even more applicable now than it was nearly 25 years ago. Society has become more polarized than ever (especially over the past 8 years), and the ever-increasing daily frustrations suffered by many are reflected in the ratings - the more recent ones are overwhelmingly positive (8-10).
For the record, I find the message powerful....as society becomes more and more disjointed and divisive, my fantasies continue to move beyond money, fame, and love, into dreams of getting even with the self-important assholes of the world.
Mars (2016)
Bad....and getting worse
I started out with high hopes (premier was passable), but the terrible writing, bad acting, and blatant scientific errors have ruined it for me. It is painfully obvious that I am not the only one who feels this way.
Looking at the reviews in chronological order, they get increasingly bad as the show progresses. Watch if you must, but be aware that it is nothing more than a daytime soap opera interspersed with some fairly interesting science. The transitions, however, are confusing and ill- placed.
An epic fail from one of the few (and ever-decreasing) channels that I have come to rely on for quality and educational content - a fact that makes this all the more disappointing. Given the apparent amount of input (more than $$$, I imagine) from Elon Musk, the end result shows me that he is even more of a charlatan that I had originally assumed.
Altogether, a series of infomercials for Musk's endeavors, broken up by drivel that would be considered "not good enough" for the SyFi channel.
Ascension (2014)
Garbage with a spit-shine
SyFy seems to have made some minor improvement in production values, but until they find (or pay) writers that appear to be intern-quality, nothing produced in-house will ever rise above mindless drivel. Too bad I can't give it the zero it deserves. If this survives to become a "series", I'll finally remove SyFy from my program guide, to join an ever-growing list of channels that have gone astray (TLC, American Heroes AKA Military Channel, Discovery, A&E, DIY, etc.)
Ascension is no exception...better visuals, crap dialog, characters, bad acting, and idiotic story line. Other posters have decidedly pointed out the massive gaps, gaffes, mistakes, etc, so other than the big one for me that others seemed to have missed (50 years into a space flight, and NO ONE ever needed or wanted to go EVA?), I'll skip over the rest.
Those of you who think this is any more than a vapid attempt to fill 3 nights with so-called science fiction strike me as the same type that think our present POTUS is great because he's "cool", without ever considering that he is incompetent (sorry for the political jibe, but it is the best analogy I can come up with right now).
How It's Made: Dream Cars (2013)
Dreck
Who writes this drivel...a 12-year old intern? Does anyone actually know ANYTHING about cars? Is there no proofreader assigned to the script, or does that individual also lack any automotive knowledge?
Aside from insipid sing-song dialog that insults my intelligence minute- to-minute, I can generally pick out at least 15-20 factual errors in every episode, from mismatched clips/narration, to outright incorrect terminology.
The only way to watch this show is with the audio muted...just enjoy watching the video and, at the end, you will know more about the dream car's production than the writers.
Helix (2014)
To be expected............
Like everything else SyFy produces, this is unmitigated crap. When the channel debuted, I was ecstatic that science fiction was finally getting it's due......the resulting years have become surreal, as if one married a supermodel, then one morning woke up next to Rosie O'Donnell.
This show has bad writing, bad acting, bad special effects, bad music, and from what I've seen, paid posters as well. I've given it 5 weeks - now I'll stick to PPV. Anyone giving this more than a 4 needs a CAT scan.
With all the classic SciFi movies available (A, B, or even C) that are better than anything this channel produces, I simply don't get it. In fact, there are literally hundreds of science fiction masters' short stories and novellas that could be used (many of them Hugo and Nova award winners) instead of the house-produced junk they foist on us weekly. Sad, but then again, TLC used to stand for The Learning Channel (HAH).
I guess proper science fiction has no current place in TV land - again.