Dukes_Sheep Reviews

Tomorrowland (2015)

Not sure what's up with the reviews

[7/10 · 25 May 2015]

Saw this with my daughter continuing a long tradition of a movie on Memorial Day. Neither of us thought it was bad. Actually was pretty good.

I'm not a Clooney fan but this is the best thing he's done since "Oh Brother Where Art Thou." He turned in a good performance, the supporting cast was good and the story line was not hard to follow.

Most of the pro critics reviews I have read seemed to not like it because it was not what they expected. So rather than judge it on what it was they let that perception cloud their acceptance of the movie.

So nice movie to enjoy on an afternoon.

Into the Woods (2014)

Painful

[3/10 · 25 January 2015]

First, I went because my wife wanted to go and I actually like musicals. Then the movie started and I changed my mind. Not sure but I think I fell asleep 4x during the movie. I know I woke up right at the end just in time to get out of the theater.

Reading other reviews I'm glad to know I'm not the only person the Johnny Depp pedophilia scenes made feel creepy. He needs to return anything he was paid.

I have not seen the play, don't have any desire to now, so have no clue how true to it the movie adaptation was but it can't have been close or the play would have closed after a week.

I gave it a 3 because the scenery was excellent, shame the rest of the movie wasn't.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)

Wasn't terrible

[5/10 · 24 July 2014]

Just wasn't very good but it didn't miss by much. I enjoyed every scene Luke Goss was in, all of them, just needed more of him. To this would have been simple.

Get rid of the fish guy. If there was ever a more irritating character I'm not sure who it was. OK, Jar Jar Binks and all the Ewoks were worse but fish guy is in the top 3.

Take all the time devoted to fish guy and add more Like Goss.

Movie is fixed. Simple

Now I need more lines of text. So I can talk about my flatulent dog who is far more entertaining than fish guy or just meander about other things till I test my line count again. Made it.

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (2013–2018)

Low on food content

[4/10 · 5 July 2014]

I really liked "No Reservations" then lost "The Travel Channel" on my cable provider and was glad to see Bourdain move over to CNN. Then I watched a few episodes and quit watching since it was less about different culture's food and more about social commentary.

Every now and then I'll flip it back and can catch one to see if its returned to a food focus and its seems to be sliding towards more social.

I can understand that focus due to its being aired on CNN but its not why the majority of people tune in to see a show starring Bourdain.

So I'll pass and whenever there is absolutely nothing else on I'll tune in again and see if it back to food but I doubt it will happen.

Ender's Game (2013)

Not bad in every way possible

[4/10 · 4 November 2013]

but it tries.

I went into the movie with high expectations having read no reviews or any feedback on the film. Loved the book "Ender's Game" but didn't really care for any of the sequels.

Had my drink and popcorn and was set. Then with the previews/trailers it all started to go bad. Great movies coming out shortly and we get to see none of the trailers for them. Instead we get 4-5 trailers that I could not tell you one of now.

Then the movie starts and it gets worse. The draw of the book was the character development of Ender Wiggens and the battle school. Both were almost completely left out of the movie. Ender's character might have had less screen time than Harrison Ford. I'd have to sit through it again with a stop watch to make sure but its an even bet. So no empathy developed for the character as he remains 2-diminsional at best.

Then battle school and the "Dragon Army." 1 battle, 1, yes, ONE, not two, not two or three, one. So one test battle is supposed to demonstrated Ender's drive and brilliance for tactics. Of course it did.

It could have been a decent movie but this drivel is not worth watching. I'd expect it to drop out of the top 5 on the box office list next weekend and then nose dive from there. The fans of the book have seen the movie and they are not happy.

Skip it and see Thor 2x. You will be able to catch "Ender's Game" on the SciFi channel in a year or so.

The Walking Dead: Prey (2013) Season 3, Episode 14

Disapppointing

[18 March 2013]

This season to me has been a transition season and not up to the first two. Its predictable. Two episodes left and I can pretty much tell you what happens.

The Governor heads off to the ambush/meeting.

Milton then frees Andrea. Does it either A) with Tyreese and Sasha's help or B) He enlists their help after freeing her.

They then head off to the meeting to warn/save Rick and the prison group.

Next episode is filler with Milton realizing he is headed for the biter fight club and rescue.

Then show down the following week. Its whether they finish the fight or carry it to the next season. Cliffhanger demands its carried to next season.

Adrea is too dumb to live. They may have lost me.

The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

Technically good but

[6/10 · 22 December 2008]

But a miserable script. I hate movies and books where they hit what I call "the stupid spot." It where the writer has a good book/movie going and then they get stuck. They hit a point where they just can't advance the plot from the corner they have written themselves into. So rather than go back and change something they did earlier or give the problem the time it needs to to get past the difficulty and write something believable they have the main character do something totally stupid and unbelievable. At that point the reader is thinking "No one would ever do that!!!" and the rest of the story is tainted.

This movie does it at the start. They gather all these "expert" to cope with the aftermath of a large space object collision that is going to devastate the major city its aimed at. So what do they do with these experts? They put them all at ground zero. Then just before the object is due to impact, just in case they might possibly be sheltered by something on the ground between them and the impact, they put them all in helicopters and fly them up just above the impact site at roof level.

After this I just couldn't take the movie seriously.

Reeves is Reeves. If you've seen him in one movie you've seen him in every movie he's ever done. His style fits the character in this though.

Technically it's well done, just a bad script.

Beowulf (2007)

Pretty darn Bad

[4/10 · 31 March 2008]

To be honest I have never even been curious about this movie. Then a odd series of events led to my viewing of it.

1. I got a call from the rental store Saturday night telling me I had a free rental.

2. My wife told me she was interested in seeing it.

3. Sunday was cold and rainy.

4. My wife had a chocolate craving and I needed dark chocolate to make brownies.

So while I was out I swung by the rental and picked up the movie. Cost $0. Went home, made brownies and watched the show. It sucked. I knew it was CGI but I vaguely remembered Jolie warning Brad how realistic her "nude" was. She shouldn't have bothered unless she was lying to suck in the younger viewer. Everyone moved funny, looked funny and acted funny. Everything was off just enough to make it distracting.

Then they butchered one of the great pieces of literature.

So I wasted time that would have been better spent watching a rerun of "Soggy Bottom USA" which is saying a lot.

Cloverfield (2008)

Absolutely worthless

[3/10 · 19 January 2008]

I just saw this and checked to see what the user rating here were. AN 8.3? What movie were these people watching?

At the end of the move as the black screen popped up with the "DIrected By" the comments I was hearing were "Can I get my time back I wasted watching this? and a lot of "What the ****?". It was a terrible movie. Poor plot if any, poor dialog, poor direction and the hand held camera stuff decision didn't help.

I thought hard about giving this a "1" rating but then decided there are worse movies out there and I didn't actually get up and walk out although my daughter did.

Should have been released directly to video and even then it's not worth the rental fee.

Highlander: The Source (2007 TV Movie)

Awful, Just Awful

[2/10 · 16 September 2007]

From IMDb Trai for "Highlander: The Source" Quote Joel Soisson's version of the script featured Duncan MacLeod living in a gas station in the middle of the desert, next to a run-down airplane. Also in the script, MacLeod smoked, wore cowboy boots and a hat, and had a pet monkey named Connor.

Unquote They should have used Joel's script because the one the movie used it awful. But it goes will with the awful acting, the awful directing, and the awful camera work.

Duncan McLeod. No sword Duncan. Who's bright idea was that? The ending? What a stupid premise for the origin of the Immortals.

I've seen all episode of the TV series even the last season that should have been aborted before started. I've watched all the movies.

It's a shame something as good as what this could have been went out on this dreadful abortion of a movie.

Skinwalkers (2006)

Spoilers Follow

[4/10 · 13 August 2007]

I originally gave this 3 stars and then changed it to 4 stars. I did so simply because the acting wasn't that bad nor was the film quality. It's just the story line that annoys me.

I HATE books (and scripts) where the author has characters do things that are stupid just because they are too lazy to figure out a way to advance the story plausibly.

This movie had enough of those spots that it was just irritating.

1. Bad werewolves interrogating good werewolves with torture. Why? Feed them human flesh per the story line and they join you willingly.

2. Why is it everyone in the movie carries 47 guns, rifles, a couple thousand rounds of ammo and no one can hit anything? 3. Wait. A good werewolf was captured and held hostage by the bad guys overnight then rescued with no opposition. Don't you think as you are strapping in for the night that it might be a good idea to strap them in first? 4. The savior is not a savior in the classic sense and killing them prior to the 13th birthday wasn't really necessary.

And it goes on and on. Stupid move after stupid move.

Total waste of time and money and should have been released straight to DVD or sold to the SiFi channel to add to their collection of bad movies.

The Covenant (2006)

Not bad, just not good

[5/10 · 16 September 2006]

My daughter wanted to see this. I suggested the Black Dahlia instead because I could at least look at Scarlett Johansson.

I lost and had to see this. It had potential and I'm not sure if it lost it through some wooden acting, bad editing or if it was the effect one of the worse score's I've ever heard in a movie had on the whole experience. Probably a combination of all of the above.

I was also wondering if I was the only person that had trouble telling Caleb and Shane apart in the fight scenes. Too guys, similar looks and build, put them in similar clothing and poor lighting and I had trouble.

Save your money and if you really have to see it wait for the DVD rental because it sure isn't good enough to buy.

The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)

Just awful

[1/10 · 30 August 2006]

I rented this movie and watched it with my son. Based on the trailers we'd seen it looked interesting enough to rent but not interesting enough to warrant a theater trip.

I wish I could get my money back for the rental along with the wasted watching the movie. i like some Bill Murray stuff but his has no semblance of humor whatsoever. It didn't elicit a single chuckle much less a laugh from either of us the entire time we wasted watching.

For the life of me I can't understand what people are seeing that would justify a rating over a 2-3.

Miserable film deserving a 0 rating.

Serenity (2005)

Absolutely Great

[9/10 · 16 October 2005]

I don't write too many reviews. Don't see the need and I don't like the technical aspects of reviews most people try and write. Who cares about discussions of lighting or sound or whether the director captured the essence of the work. I either like a movie or I don't.

I had never watched FIREFLY. To be honest I don't even remember it ever being on which probably shows how little it was promoted although I must admit I watch very little television.

When SERENITY came out I broke down and bought the DVD collection of of FIREFLY and watched. Then tried to figure out why this series was not still running and a huge hit. Probably the best SF series ever to run on television.

Went and saw SERENITY last night. Again, its one of the best SF movies I have ever seen and I'd remove it from the genre and say its one of the best movies I have ever seen period.

It has everything. Characters you care about, plot, good dialog and fast paced action. At one point my wife, who sat through SAVING PRIVATE RYAN with no problems got too involved with the development of one of the characters and had to leave the movie.

My kids, 16 and 18, who had never seen a episode of FIREFLY loved it.

Its going to be a shame when its totally ignored at the Academy Awards.

A must see and a sure DVD purchase when released.

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Has there ever been a more rapid decent into evil?

[7/10 · 22 May 2005]

Darth Vader, a name that for most people (even with his redemption in E6) is the very pinnacle of evil. George Lucas took him, from basically a shallow egotistical kid, to cold-blooded baby killer in the span of about 45 seconds. I think more time and effort should have been given to this transformation. Would have cost less money than the special effects that fill the bulk of the movie and would have developed the character to make the transformation more believable.

Going to make a ton of money but fell short of what I hope for. I compare George Lucas to Anne Rice. Wrote one great movie and has been making a killing serving up lesser works to its fans ever since.

I debated hard between a 6 and 7 for the rating and finally gave it the benefit of doubt for a 7.

Sin City (2005)

Just wasn't my kind of movie

[4/10 · 2 April 2005]

I came into this movie not really knowing what I was going to see. I knew it was based on the graphic novels and knew it was going to be in black and white.

I've walked out of one movie in my life and contemplated it on one other, that being the first Harry Potter movie. This was another that I thought about walking out of. Ony reason I didn't was I had my wife and kids there.

Not sure if its just because I hadn't read the novels or that I just couldn't find anything about the movie that drew me into the story but I just never connected and sat there wondering when it was going to end.

I think it finally boils down to the three separate story lines that didn't give me a character or story line to follow through the progress of the movie. This approach would have worked better for a TV movie.

Technically its great. As a story its a 4 or 5.

Blade II (2002)

Just another Sequel

[3/10 · 5 October 2002]

I liked Blade. Blade was another look at the concept of vampirism.

Blade 2 however was another movie.My wife and I sat around and tried to figure out just why Blade 2 didn't work. The special effects were good as was the general plot line and script. We finally decided that was the movie lacked was a good villain. Blade had Deacon Frost. An execellent adversary with plenty of screen time. Blade 2 had an adversary who was most noticable for being absent most of the movie. Additionally the concept of a new species of vampire who's head splits open just didn't work. If they had left that part out (and saved about a bazillion special effects dollars doing so) we both agreed it would have been a better movie.

5 out 10

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)

Better than the Ewok Disaster

[7/10 · 4 June 2002]

Sometimes things work sometimes they don't. Although Episode I was not what diehard Star Wars fans were looking for it did have it's moments. The costume changes and makeup for Natalie Portman for instance kept people from realizing just how limited she is as an actress. Nothing in E2 prevented this.

I was just disappointed in the way Anakin Starwalker was portrayed. In E2, after 10 years of intense training as a Jedi, the best he can manage is being a whinny brat. Where is the underlying darkness that should allow him to be turned to the darkside? I kept expecting him to lie down on the floor and kick his heels until he got his way. It may have been direction or it may be Hayden Christenson is also limited as an actor.

In rating among the rest of the Star Wars movies. I put this one in 3rd place behind E4 and E5 with the Ewok disaster coming in last.

Modern Vampires (1998 TV Movie)

It was supposed to be funny?

[3/10 · 29 January 2002]

Wasn't really sure what to expect from this movie. After watching I'm still wondering what someone can expect from it. I think it was intended to be funny but it just doesn't work. Casper Van Dien, Kim Cattrall, Udo Kier. All actors I have enjoyed in prior work doing an absolutely miserable job here.

The only redeeming aspect of this movie is Rod Steiger as Van Helsing. The interaction between him and his band of "Crip" vampire slayers is almost worth sitting through the remainder of the movie, which at the best, is painful.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Excellent

[10/10 · 30 December 2001]

I went and saw it the Friday after it opened. I had reservations as to how true it could stay to the book. While it did not cover all aspects of the "The Fellowship of the Ring" it remained an excellent adaptation of the book.

First movie I have ever been to where the audience applauded at the end.

My son and I went back and saw it again yesterday. The first time I have ever gone back and paid to see a movie in a theater. Was just as good the second time as the first.

Now if only I didn't have to wait two years for "The Return of the King."

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

Needs Editing

[6/10 · 18 November 2001]

Well, I rode down early on the Saturday after it opened to get tickets. Shouldn't have bothered going early. Tickets were not a problem.

The movie was fine but slow. If I had been by myself about 30 minutes into it I would probably have walked out. Staying awake was a problem. Now I am a fan of the books but the movie at 2 1/2 hours was way to long. Stretching it out this long created periods of absolutely nothing happening.

Good movie for the kids but it really could stand to be tightened up with some good editing.

Highlander: Endgame (2000)

It could have been so much better

[4/10 · 24 April 2001]

I didn't bother to see it at the theater and now I know why. Finally rented the VHS version and watched. Was a poorly scripted movie and while I enjoyed the TV series Adrian Paul does not seem to work on the big screen.

Silly things I didn't understand:

1. Seems it should be quality of kills and not quantity. Duncan in the series took out Grayson and Kronos. Both extremely old and extremely skilled immortals. (Kronos and his buddy were both approximately Methos' age and Duncan wacked them both.) Based on the way the movie presented the kills for each immortal then Duncan wacking Conner should have just given him one more kill leaving him far short of Kell.

2. Duncan was never married in the series. It wasn't really necessary to the movie to have him married so I think no one really checked with the series continuity.

3. Disjointed and poorly edited. If you watched the first movie and the series you had a vague idea of what was going on. If not then you were lost. Probably why it did so bad at the box office.

4. If that watcher was so concerned with there being at least two immortals why would he attempt to shoot Duncan during the fight with Kell?

5. Duncan beat to ground numerous times, multiple slash wound, multiple abdominal stab wounds, manages to recover and take out Kell with the super secret jump and flip move. Give me a break. I kept waiting for the "Rocky" theme music to start.

6. etc.

A waste of time and money which is a shame, it could have been a good movie.

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

Excellent

[10/10 · 29 January 2001]

An all around excellent film, it's refreshing to see a movie where every sentence does not have at least one F*** in it. Tim Blake Nelson as "Delmar" has got to be one of the best comedic performances I have seen in a long time. I even enjoyed George Clooney even though I am not a fan of his. Add to it having Charles Durning and it's a must see for me.

Dune (2000)

Why didn't they read the book?

[5 December 2000]

I was really looking forward to this after the previous effort. You know, the one where they decided the viewers who hadn't read the book might get confused so they explained everything by having the actors think out loud. This one they decided to have the actors think silently and have the viewers who have read the book be confused since the script writers obviously haven't.

Princess Irulan partying on Dune? Must have missed that part

The Lady Jessica weak and uncoordinated? Must have missed that also

Paul chooses him Freman name as just Mu'ad D'ib? What happened to the Paul part?

Paul saves the cutie from the seeker? Missed that also.

Lousy actors Lousy direction Lousy script Lousy you name it.

Rating? Don't waste your time.

Galaxy Quest (1999)

A Bugs Life with real people

[31 December 1999]

Probably the best movie I have seen this year and one that I will buy when it comes out on video. What really got me were the kids were having a good time watching but the adults were laughing their heads off. It was a good spoof of most Sci Fi movies. I'm not a Tim Allen fan but look for a sequel on this one.