jeffcour Reviews

Elemental (2023)

Beautifully done, amazing!

[10/10 · 20 January 2024]

Wow. Just wow. So many parallels to my own life, falling in love and marrying someone outside my own culture, outside my own race, and the uncomfortable, funny, awkward, and sometimes painful situations that arise when trying to combine two beings that are so different. Trying to bring together two families that are vastly different. Racism, sexism, family duty, tension, honor, loss, pride, tradition, and love are all themes this amazing work of art from Pixar tackles. This film is just gorgeous, well acted, heartfelt, funny, touching, and just awesome.

When it came out, this film was not marketed well, buried under whatever summer and holiday dreck and mindless sequels the other major studios barfed out on us. But sometimes, if you look and listen carefully, sift through the noise and detritus, you will occasionally find a precious gem like 'Elemental.' Give it a chance. It is truly an amazing work of art.

Baaghi (2016)

Why do you go to these movies?

[8/10 · 20 December 2023]

Are you expecting the film adaptation of the Bhagavad-Gita? A James Cameron masterpiece? No. You are here because of Shradda's sultry moves and Tiger Shroff's exquisite form. You are here because you wanted to be entertained by beautiful bodies performing exquisite dance moves and martial arts, with a hint of romantic conflict and angst. This film succeeds because of our deep desire for art and good old fashioned escapist fantasy. Do not over-analyze. Enjoy yourself. Enjoy the spectacle! This movie delights in its cheesiness, comedy, drama, and utterly incredible martial arts action scenes. A very enjoyable watch.

Pathaan (2023)

Utterly absurd

[2/10 · 10 December 2023]

I wanted to like this movie. Been a fan of SRK for years. But we tried twice and just couldn't get through it. Bollywood movies are generally derivative and formulaic, but 'Pathaan' is just ridiculously absurd. Utterly and completely, over-the-top, bombastic and unbelievable stupidity. It almost plays like an old Wile E. Coyote cartoon from the 1970's. Could not get past the scene where Jim and Pathaan are doing Shao-lin kung fu on top of a speeding semi truck, and then Jim pulls a HELICOPTER towards him (a helicopter that came out of nowhere) on a dangling chain and flies off among the skyscrapers. Oh. My. God. Skip it and save your brain cells.

Love Actually (2003)

Amazing

[10/10 · 9 December 2023]

'Love Actually' came out about 20 years ago, but is an essential Christmas movie. Some of the actors have been dead for years ( RIP Alan Rickman). Many of the actors you will recognize from other excellent blockbuster films. This movie has a ton of talent, from America, Portugal, France and of course, England. But still, the emotional wallops and gut-wrenching comedy are as fresh and invigorating as if it was filmed yesterday. An absolute and timeless, slightly raunchy, wonderful and modern Christmas classic. Please make this an annual tradition for your family, as we do. You will love this film!

The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)

So smart, so funny, so good

[9/10 · 22 September 2023]

Made during the height of the pandemic, this film wryly weaves its way around the misadventures of a modern family trying to make it to California in the "road trip from Hell," during a world-ending, robot apocalypse. The story centers around the relationship-building between Katie, a smart, savvy film student with modern sensibilities, and her father Rick, an old-school, old-fashioned handyman who is terrified of the internet and all things electronic. Awkwardness and arguments abound, but that is just the tip of the iceberg to this amazing film. There are fantastic side characters that steal the show at every turn: their dog, the little brother, the over-protective mother, the too-perfect neighbors, the two "defected" robots that join the Mitchells on their road-trip, and the super-nerd of Silicon Valley that accidentally started the apocalypse with his omnipotent, omnipresent mobile operating system PAL. This film is a deeply intelligent, touching, exciting and funny spectacle you don't want to miss.

Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar (2023)

Very enjoyable

[8/10 · 15 June 2023]

First off, I am a "Gora" that married into an Indian family here in the US. My wife's family is from Delhi, and they are very, VERY old-school, traditional, and conservative. They begged me not to marry her because they would lose face in the Desi community here in Colorado. That was 30 years ago. They eventually came to accept me and our relationship. Our marriage is strong and we have 3 great kids. Mickey's family in 'Tu Jhooti Main Makkaar' is FAR less conservative than my in-laws. This film is not "regressive" as some reviewers complain. It is actually one of the more racy, scintillating Indian movies we've seen in a long time. TJMM pushes a lot of traditional Indian boundaries and customs, and clearly, it tweaked a lot of your nerves. Relax. India is coming into the 21st century. Enjoy TJMM for what it is! Young people have sex, fall in love, have awkward relationships with their future in-laws, get cold feet, crack under pressure. Old-school India conflicts with progressive India. This film portrays that with style and heart, with some show-stopping musical numbers. You can't get "Show Me The Thumka" out of your head. We thoroughly enjoyed this film!

Morbius (2022)

Actually pretty fun

[8/10 · 14 June 2023]

This movie is a lot better than the negative reviews lead you to believe. Give it a chance! My family enjoyed it immensely, watching Dr. Morbius struggle with his disorder and then trying to figure out how to live with himself and contain "the beast within" after accidentally transforming himself into a form of vampire. In trying to cure his bloodborne illness, he combines his DNA with that of vampire bats and injects himself with the concoction after 100+ failed experiments. He also invents a synthetic blood substitute so he doesn't have to feed off living creatures. So he's a very conscientious vampire. Jared Leto is a great actor, and you can really feel and see his inner conflicts. And oh yeah, when Matt Smith shows up, a man with ZERO moral convictions, things really get interesting. Enjoy!

Tenet (2020)

Nolan tied himself in knots trying to make this film

[2/10 · 20 May 2023]

This film tries to be high-concept and brainy. It tries to make you understand there are objects and people that can be "inverted" in time and actually go through their existence backwards. Like a bullet can come flying backwards out of a chair and hit you butt-end first while traveling back to the barrel of its gun. But you, of course, since you are not inverted, are just walking by and get hit by this random bullet flying backwards. This film has been dissected and analyzed till all brains and reason have fizzled, to no avail. Three years after its release, no one knows what the hell 'Tenet' is about. It is arguably the weirdest, most confusing and nonsensical film ever made. Like Nolan took wayyyy too many hits of acid whilst behind the camera. It's like we are experiencing his bad acid trip from a third-person perspective.

Belle (2021)

Utterly stunning

[8/10 · 4 April 2023]

Absolute beauty. Incredible animation and emotion. Very likable and relatable characters, A masterclass in reflecting our universal obsession with the internet while treasuring our privacy...we can be cruel or beautiful, talented or wasted, our opinion known to the world... but no-one knows who we truly are. We can be world-famous, but in reality a painfully shy introvert. Oh yes, let's toss a Beauty and the Beast undercurrent to this story, as well. Wow! If you enjoyed 'Wolf Children' by this same director, and if you have even an ounce of emotional maturity and an appreciation for irony, if you have a passing interest in incredible and well-done anime, 'Belle' is for you.

Dostana (2008)

Funny and fabulous

[8/10 · 3 April 2023]

I honestly can't remember the last time I laughed so hard. My wife and I bust a gut watching this! I have a bit of a unique perspective, in that I am a "Gora" (white man), who married a "Desi" (Indian girl). We truly enjoyed how director Tarun Mansukhani ('Kuch Kuch Hota Hai') joyfully pokes fun at stodgy, conservative Indian society with this hilarious and irreverent film, about two young Indian men who pretend to be gay in order to score a fancy apartment in Miami with a beautiful and successful young ad executive, a Desi woman named Neha (Priyanka Chopra). Initially, they are just desperate to find an affordable place to live, but soon they both fall madly in love with this lady. Hilarity ensues when one of the boys' mother arrives to visit (Kirron Kher who steals every scene she is in), who wails and screams and begs God for death when she finds out her beloved son may be gay. The two young men also go to the Immigration Centre to try and get "civil union" status to cement their ability to stay in the apartment. THIS little fiasco opens them up to visits from many in the gay Miami community, where they find it harder and harder to keep up the lie and the farce they are living under. Very worth a watch. This little gem of a movie is an anomaly in the Bollywood community, where you will be hard-pressed to find two leading actors who are ever even allowed to kiss on screen. Kudos to director Mansukhani for being so bold with comedic vision!

Ready Player One (2018)

Spielberg's love letter to children of the 70's and 80's

[9/10 · 5 March 2023]

Spielberg hits a home run AND a slam dunk with this one. Even though this story takes place in 2047, I could not believe all the clever and sometimes obscure 70's and 80's pop-culture references it had. I was the only one of my family of five to get the "charm of making" reference toward the end of the film, which is the virtual key to the main character having a chance at winning the life-or-death struggle. No spoilers, but go watch John Boorman's Arthurian epic "Excalibur" to understand what I mean. All you Gen-Xers that grew up in the 70's and 80's will thoroughly enjoy this film. I think I uttered "Oh my God" like 30 times. Good job, Spielberg, thanks again! BTW, if you're NOT Gen-X, you will still enjoy the hell out of this film.

Warm Bodies (2013)

Romeo and Juliet...with zombies!

[10/10 · 10 February 2022]

Don't be fooled. "Warm Bodies" is not some syrupy teen romance brimming with tears, angst and regret. This film is artfully done, brilliantly acted and directed, and really, really good. It is by turns exciting, funny, thrilling, and touching. It is literally a modern remix of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," told from the perspective of "R," a young man recently killed and zombified, but who still retains a glimmer of human consciousness. He cannot remember his name, only his first initial, "R." During a hunting raid in the city as a part of a zombie pack, R kills and eats the brains of a young hunk, and gains his victim's memories. While envisioning these memories, he realizes the young hunk had a hot girlfriend named...Julie. R (the word "Romeo" is never uttered in the film) starts to feel strange feelings he thought were impossible. Instead of killing and eating Julie, R is overwhelmed with a sudden surge of protectiveness, and rescues her from the zombie horde. His sudden alliance with a living human sets in motion a chain reaction of events that just might change a world decimated by plague. I'm only scratching the surface. You owe it to yourself to see this film, which I believe was Nicholas Hoult's first.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Really, really good

[8/10 · 30 October 2021]

I was greatly impressed by this movie, much more than I thought I would be. I actually thought Ben Affleck was great in the role of Batman, contrary to pre-release public angst. Henry Cavill, of course, is awesome as Superman. Jeremy Irons is perfect as Alfred, the scolding father-figure-conscience that Bruce Wayne needs, although every time he opens his mouth I hear Scar (Jeremy Irons' iconic Lion King role). Laurence Fishburne was a welcome surprise as Perry White This movie touches on a lot of subject matter, and takes its time nicely to develop back-story, side-plots, and flesh out Batman's violent and evil side. He's really a sadistic vigilante. But that's why we love him. Ben Affleck plays it gritty and angry, and it works. The casting of Eisenberg as Luthor was a little iffy and more annoying than evil, but he makes up for it in craziness. I don't want to give away anything else. This movie is definitely worth a watch. Really, really good!

Caveman (1981)

So much cheesy fun

[8/10 · 10 June 2021]

This movie is a cheese-ball blast of a good time. I remember seeing it in the theater back in 1981 with my brother and father. They invented a new "language" for the film, so the theater handed out a pamphlet with English translations. You don't need the translations, it's pretty obvious what they're saying. It's all fun, super cheesy and hilarious slapstick comedy. The music will stick in your head until the end of time. The best part of the movie is the animatronic T-Rex that tries so hard to chase and eat the cavemen but, like Wile E Coyote, always ends up in disaster...or stoned on berries. Enjoy!!

Harley Quinn (2019– )

This Harley is superb

[10/10 · 21 March 2021]

This is Harley Quinn done right. Hilarious and touching, smart, witty, sarcastic, exciting, gloriously gory, and a tremendous send-up of the whole supervillian / superhero genre. Even though these are superheroes and villains, they all have very real human flaws, and the creators have a LOT of fun making them (especially Batman, Bane and Commissioner Gordon) as ridiculous as possible. Harley and Ivy are bad villains, but they are good people. Their chemistry is electric. The Joker is at war with himself and Harley while determined to blow up the city. And the supporting cast, voiced by stellar actors, is just icing on the cake. This show is addictive and pure fun. You WILL enjoy it.

Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions the Movie: Take on Me (2018)

Well worth the wait! Ties up the series nicely

[10/10 · 10 October 2020]

The characters are endearing and relatable. The series that led up to this movie was one of the most thoughtful, heartwarming, funny, and beautifully animated that I've ever seen. Love Chunibyo and Other Delusions is an amazing series that deals with things all teens deal with: hope, pain, loss, friendships, peer pressure, burgeoning sexuality, and psychological coping skills that help them heal (or hide) from tragedy. Eight years passed from Season 2 of LCandOD until fans demanded the studio either make a season 3 or at least resolve the conflicts with a movie. Thankfully all the original voice actors are back for this one. Our whole family loved it, and it provided some closure. Fans will still want more, because that's what great art does, pulls you in and wraps you up in its world.

Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions (2012–2014)

Very deep. Astounding in its animation and portrayal of teens dealing with loss, change, love, and growing up. The English dub is excellent!

[9/10 · 10 October 2020]

The first time my daughter found this on Netflix, I rolled my eyes. "Not another teen romance," I whined. 24 episodes later, I was blown away. I was hooked. 'Love Chunibyo and Other Delusions' is NOT your stereotypical teen angst romcom. It deals with complex psychological issues, and some very deep subject matter. It is animated more beautifully than anything you can imagine. The characters are relatable, the premise is believable, and I'll be honest, speaking as the son and husband of psychologists, this show is INCREDIBLY smart in dealing with young teens and the pains and pressures that follow the transition into high school and young adulthood. Peer pressure. Love. Loss of family members. Sexual awakening. Trying to fit in while being embarrassed about your past. It is in turns moving, hilarious, frustrating, exhilarating, and romantic. There are times when the supporting characters will make you angry with their annoying personalities. The two protagonists, Yuta and Rikka, are trying to navigate first feelings of love while dealing with their "Chunibyo" (Japanese for 'Eighth Grader Syndrome') Which they use to escape the mundane life of high school and reconnect with their imaginative childhood. Yuta is embarrassd by it, but Rikka uses her Chunibyo to help her deal with the intense pain of losing her father at a young age. Her fantasy world is an escape from reality. One very welcome stabilizing character in this show is Rikka's older sister Toka. A very strong supporting female character who "battles" Rikka's imaginary character with a soup ladel. Sound ridiculous? Trust me. Watch it and you'll be amazed. After the final movie "Take On Me" aired, we were left wanting more. You will not be disappointed.

Castle in the Sky (1986)

Stunning epic masterpiece

[10/10 · 25 April 2020]

To say that this film, written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, outshines everything else he has ever done, I do not say lightly. 'Castle in the Sky' is deeply moving. Exciting and funny. Beautifully animated. Epic. Incredibly smart. A stroke of genius. There are not enough adjectives to describe this masterpiece. Other movies he made later may have won more awards, but I would argue that THIS film is his crowning achievement.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)

Jaw-dropping ridiculous fun

[8/10 · 22 October 2019]

The performances of the actors are sometimes cringe-worthy, and no one expects any of them to receive Oscar nominations. But who cares? This movie is two hours of ridiculous, earth-shattering, jaw-dropping, eye-popping fun. Forget the critics. The fans have spoken. This movie is an absolute blast, watching ginormous monstrosities battle each other and destroy major cities in the process. The visuals are unbelievable. It is without question one of the greatest monster movies ever made. You can feel the enormity and heft of these creatures. The cinematography is staggering, mind-blowing. Pop some popcorn, grab a cold drink, sit down and enjoy this remarkable film. Have fun!

Hilda (2018–2023)

Intelligent and uplifting animated series

[10/10 · 26 December 2018]

This is a very, very good show. It doesn't dumb anything down for young viewers, the story and animations are top-notch, and it's engaging and addicting to watch. Our whole family is hooked. Like a breath of fresh air, Hilda is a strong, fearless and independent girl, and this show is a welcome respite from inane and repetitive family fare. Definitely worth a watch!

Pacific Rim (2013)

Escapist fun, awesome movie

[8/10 · 28 June 2018]

This movie is deliciously cheesy, beautifully filmed, well-acted, .exciting as all get out, and an absolute blast. Very original and amazing in scope, with jaw-dropping visuals. Giant machines and monsters battling each other and destroying cities in the classic Japanese style. That said, the movie is NOT Japanese, but Master Director Guillermo del Toro's work. You feel the enormity of the giant war machines, the Jaegers. You feel their incredible size, and the earth-shaking vibration of every foot step. You feel the terror unleashed by the monstrous Kaiju from the depths of the Pacific. And you revel in the incredible technological wizardry of the battle scenes. It is awesome! And in classic del Toro style, he actually slows it down every so often so we get a glimpse into some very interesting characters. You are witnessing a master filmmaker at work. Go have fun and watch this film.

The Hunger Games (2012)

Very good adaptation!

[7/10 · 10 May 2012]

First, let me say that I am age 42 and I devoured the book in FOUR DAYS. It was that intense and personal. I was so looking forward to the movie, because I heard Susan Collins herself was helping write the screenplay in order to get a faithful adaptation. This is NOT just your average teen-angst soap-opera barf-o-rama like Twilight. This is intense, violent, addictive, guttural, emotionally-charged stuff. The book is phenomenal. The movie tries its best to get there, and although it is immensely exciting, it falls short on a few points. Here is my interpretation:

THE NOT-SO-GOOD:

1) Katniss' internal monologue is gone. The greatness of the novel lies in the mystery of the Capitol, the oppression, the visceral terror of the annual Reaping, the deadly perils of the Arena and unease of not knowing WHAT was coming next from the sadistic Gamemakers. This was because the book is told entirely in first person from Katniss' narration. It is vividly personal. The entire story involves her reactions to and wonderment about the brutal things that are happening to her. The movie goes more behind the scenes and delves more into the Gamemakers and the political personalities that inhabit the Capitol. This does our heroine a disservice, and leaves those who haven't read the novel wondering what the heck is going on a lot of the time.

2) That damn "jiggle-cam." In an effort to evoke a sense of "immediacy," I guess, the filmmakers employed a hand-held camera for about the first 45 minutes. Once Katniss arrives in the Capitol after the Reaping, it goes away, thank god, and you can put away your Dramamine.

3) Gale's character, so enjoyable in the novel, is wasted and flat in the film. He's like a cardboard cutout of himself. The whole love-triangle thing that Katniss employs to survive the Arena with Peeta is played way down.

THE GOOD:

1) Jennifer Lawrence as kick-ass Katniss, the Girl On Fire. 'Nuff said.

2) Rue's death at the hands of the boy from District 1 in the Arena, because Katniss is a split second too slow in firing her arrow at him, is as emotionally devastating in the film as it is in the book. You know it's coming, but you still don't want it to happen. Katniss has become protective of her. She reminds her of her own sister. Rue is only 12. She's a beautiful, innocent child. This scene alone illustrates, in a nutshell, the utter absolute cruel inhumanity of the Capitol, keeping their 12 districts in line by having children kill children on live TV and call it a "Holiday." It's clear that this is one of Ms. Collins' favorite scenes, because it is a lavish and beautiful tragedy.

3) The action is fast and furious. Donald Sutherland as President Snow. Woody Harrelson as Haymitch. Lenny Kravitz as Cinna. ALL excellent.

Enjoy! Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be EVER in your favor...

Apocalypto (2006)

Stunning and spectacular!

[10/10 · 25 May 2007]

This is an amazing work of art, a thrilling epic masterpiece that you cannot tear your eyes away from. It is so engrossing, so enveloping, you will feel as if you've stepped out of your normal life into the ancient Mayan world. Mind the R rating, these were brutal times, the film is NOT for young children, there are bloody moments.

But appreciate the film for its depth. It lavishes great lengths of time on the tenderness and familial aspects of the Mexican Indian village culture, the joys and sorrows of their everyday lives, the thrill of their hunts, the cruelty of nature and finally the conquering Maya.

Mel Gibson is a man of great talent, and with Apocalypto he has created an exciting, mind-boggling and realistic film with a fanatic attention to detail unmatched by anything you have ever seen. Everything you see was made by hand. NOTHING was CGI. ALL the sets, hand-made, life size. The Mayan temples, the villages, 700 extras, ALL real. An incredible amount of work went into this film, and it richly deserves to be seen and appreciated as the masterpiece it is. And don't miss the "making of" featurette "Becoming Mayan."

Outstanding work of art!

The Unit (2006–2009)

Very well done, tight, brilliant, exciting

[10/10 · 27 February 2007]

This is an amazing show, the production values top-notch. The team that puts this show together goes all-out for a gritty, realistic experience full of more intrigue and excitement than I have ever seen in any TV show in recent memory. Nothing else comes close. The Unit is TEAM-oriented counter-terrorism, not just one person against the entire Axis of Evil. As a military vet I can tell you, you will be glued to your set. The characters are fascinating, the writing is taut, the action and story non-stop. This is "Mission Impossible" to the Nth power for the ipod generation, but appeals to the baby-boomers as well. I am amazed week after week how the writers and production crew can come up with such brilliant situations, twists and turns, and make it seem so frighteningly real, so close to all of us. Blane's team runs missions from domestic counter-terrorism to Asian and middle-east recon. The producers have their finger right on the pulse of current events, and obviously have a very talented military consultant team working with them. Every detail is meticulously thought out. Excellent, smart entertainment that crosses gender and age barriers! Hunky, manly men for the girls, and Tom Clancy-esquire military thrillers for the boys. Enjoy!

King Kong (2005)

Absolutely brilliant. GO SEE IT.

[10/10 · 4 January 2006]

Peter Jackson has done it right. Yes, it is long (3 hours), but it NEEDS to be to explore the entire story. Yes, it is intense and NOT for young children (richly deserves PG-13 rating) but it is WELL DONE, a stunning achievement and work of art from L.O.T.R. director Peter Jackson and an incredible performance by Andy Sirkis (via motion-capture) as Kong. Naomi Watts' soulful actress and Jack Black's conniving huckster round out a nice ensemble cast.

Absolutely fantastic film. Go see it. You will laugh, cry, be startled and then glued to your seat with a white-knuckled grip, and experience every emotion imaginable through this movie. Peter Jackson is a genius.