badland Reviews

Shannon (1961–1962)

Man with a camera

[10 April 2016]

Nobody's here, but I remember Shannon. It was one of those series that were mostly syndicated rather than network. It's not another Shannon which was in the 80's. I remember this with George Nader who was sort of another hunk guy like Rock Hudson but never made it to the big show. It didn't help that he took being out in order to cover Rock Hudson. Apparently Hudson left him money since George took the fall.

Anyways, I just liked his syndie show where he was an insurance guy who looked for people who lied about their insurance claims. He had a neat film camera in his car, between the front seats and he could flip a switch and the camera would rise up and film the bad insurance claims.

I suppose this is more about me as it was one of those TV shows in early 1960's that were syndies that I always liked because they didn't have as much money so they had to work out better ideas. Wish I could see more of those syndies.

Well, George, never knew you, but I remembered you with all the other syndie shows like Sea Hunt and many others.

IMDb should find more about this series.

Small, Beautifully Moving Parts (2011)

Very nice indie movie, good cast

[7/10 · 27 June 2015]

First of all, I don't understand why one of the negative reviews spent so much time to tell us what she thinks in a bunch of paragraphs. Sounds like someone who never got to make their movie.

Anyways, it's a very nicely made indie, a surprisingly good cast that follows a cliché story about that first baby thing, but the lead carries it off well and I enjoyed the trip. The Vegas idea worked well, but it always can do that when you're not sure where to go. I'm okay with the blonde girl and African American husband/lover, just seems to me it's become a cliché but again, I like all the characters.

Okay, being an old DP, I liked how it was shot for what was probably a minimal budget, angles were excellent and it was edited nicely, again for whatever the cost was.

While this baby/uncertain/who am I story has been seen before, it settles fine with me, the lead actress gives us a fresh look. I've done a few road films so I can't help going with her to locations like the Grand Canyon and again... it WORKS. I loved her shooting photos of strangers at Grand Canyon. Very revealing subplot here and it WORKS.

Dialog is good, it's simple, especially Grand Canyon. You should see Francis Coppola's Rain People which is strikingly similar, which was Coppola's second movie before Godfather.

The idea with using the kid's audio-video thing to speak to her mother works neatly, I liked it. Only thing near the end is that mom looks more like grandmother rather than mom.

A nice 72 minutes spent.

Preservation (2014)

Not so bad -- good 3rd act

[7/10 · 28 April 2015]

I was working on a project and found this similar and decided to have a look. I'm not one of those "it's the worst movie ever" types as those people don't really know what they're talking about, more about understanding something more clear. I didn't know anything about this movie, watching it on streaming netflix. I wasn't crazy about the two male actors, they really don't have the chops to carry their characters but the woman is good as most of the women seem to be when cast right.

The first part, or act, is pretty lame and not much to talk about but when things change. It's the same old story in some ways, incidentally I watched Sam Ramii's Evil Dead which is sort of similar and way better, in it's time, and found some resemblances. So the first half is basically "how we got into this trap." When the bad guys show up it was interesting, but when they ride bikes I was really curious... and this led up to the 3rd act and a real surprise for me and they had me from this point to the end. I never really expected the twist; ie: the bad guys. Would never have suspected it and that's why I think it's a worthwhile view.

It was perfect, a total new take on evil from a complete new generation. There's lots of comments on the director and the corny script, and I agree with some of it, but that third act works for me. Clever, very clever, loved the scene where one of the bad guys (spoiler)is about to kill the girl but has to talk to mom on the phone. Brilliant. The bike pay-off was another lead to the bad guys in a really surprising way.

Certainly not a great movie but the third act pays off in a surprising way.

The Cabin in the Woods (2011)

Not bad - not great

[6/10 · 25 April 2015]

Having to watch this movie for a project I'm working on, I was curious about the reviews, love it or hate it. Or sorta like it and kinda don't mind it.

It was disappointing to me, sorry for the rabid fans, I liked the setup and was curious about the two levels, one with the group that went to the classic cabin in the hills, etc. and what the reality is. I have to say it let me down, and if you rabids want to see a really good "science goes wild", watch Westworld, which has a smarter setup and payoff, similar to what they do here. In a way, the spoiler is very much a spoiler even when you see what's really going on. And then the finale with the you-know-who cameo is a cheap shot, really.

All in all, it's a collection of all the past horror movies since Halloween,which changed it all way back and which stands miles above this movie with it's zombies, creatures, basements, etc. Simply put it's a collection of clichés all spun together and to me, a disappointing end. It could have been a lot better if the creators were a little bit older.

What I really didn't like is the ending, there was obviously no real ending after using all the clichés so when you're stuck without an ending, use something that doesn't have anything to do with the original characters.

It did $70 million plus $12 million in other venues so it did okay. But I just wished they came up with some real ideas than just tired old clichés that didn't really work all that well.

The Discoverers (2012)

A family in pieces

[6/10 · 8 March 2015]

It's not a bad little movie, good performances from all, its a story about a messed up family that's trying to find something in their lives among each other. The other review didn't like the "f...word, but that's a reality in today's movie unless you just watch Hallmark movies, of which I know well, since I've done two of them.

The story revolves around the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1803-1805 (I might be a year off). Actually I'm a Lewis and Clark fan, I've driven in many areas that the first Americans explored even though the French-Canadians were all over the place.

The interesting part of the movie is the real story of Lewis and Clark, and of the slave York, who figures in this story as his position among the others wasn't all that great.

A sub-story is about the thousand-page book that the Griffin Dunne character wrote about the Lewis and Clark expedition which the publishers cancelled,due to size and another book from the slave, York.

It's good for history buffs and also those who like mixed up family stories, I watched the entire movie.

The Nine Lives of Christmas (2014 TV Movie)

Very good Hallmark movie

[8/10 · 8 November 2014]

I've done two Hallmark movies and know the basics: one should be able to walk into a room and not feel awkward or uncomfortable. Okay, that's the rule so if you want to go into a Hallmark movie, be warned. This is one ahead of the rest, basically to a really great performance from Kimberly Soustad,whom I've never heard of, but is a cross between a regular good-looking girl to someone you'd want to know.

The story is basically built around cats, so if you like cats, they've done a good job rounding up cats that choose to play their parts. They don't really use the "Nine Lives of Christmas, they could have somehow written that into the story, but regardless, it works quite well.

Simply put, Soustad is going to vet school and needs a place to stay because she's thrown out because of her cat and she meets cool model-like boy who's a fireman and they mutually share the house. There's the stereo-typical bad girl which is a waste of time and a few subplots and not enough of "nine lives", which they could have used more.

The actress really holds the movie together, she's tall, looks a little bit heavy but that's just the camera. Basically she seems to look like the girl next door, but so much more.

Wasn't crazy about the DP however, but again,that's my choice. And the lead guy is too much of the model looking guy. The firehall guys are all good, the bad girl is bad but the whole movie falls on Soustad and she carries it like a pro.

Worth the watch.

Barefoot (I) (2014)

Nice little road picture

[8/10 · 13 September 2014]

Didn't know anything about this movie and I'm in the business. It's not a great movie, but certainly a warm, touching story about two strangers who just can't get their lives together. While Scott Speedman is okay, I fell totally for Evan Rachael Woods character, it just made the movie work. It has elements of Wedding Crashers and Cuckoo's Nest (would have liked to see more interchange with the mental patients) and any dozen road pictures that 30-somethings seem to hang onto. Music was nice enough, not forgettable but then what is in these indie movies. It starts off with typical gangsters wanting owed money but once it gets to Speedman's parents, it begins to work on it's own. The road part,though, becomes a cliché and I wish they could have found more of a Gable/Colbert connection. Still I watched the whole movie and had a nice evening.

Supporting Characters (2012)

No Ed or Woody

[2/10 · 14 February 2014]

Watched this film after watching Ed Burns Newlyweds. What's the difference? First of all I could understand Ed. The lead actor here speaks so fast you can't make out all he says. I understand he's a director, but neither Ed or Woody don't have to worry. Ed's movie had a great cast who had presence while this movie has one actress with a little presence, the blonde "actress" in the movie. She seems more alive than the boring dinner conversations.

The movie lost me after 10 minutes but I stuck with it because I thought it had to get better. It didn't. I also didn't understand all the scenes with him and his wife in bed that really didn't push the story forward, in fact it slowed down to almost stopping. The lead seems to not really care, he carries an arrogance that is annoying as hell. He really think's he's Woody or Ed. Maybe better.

I don't like to diss movies, I know how hard it is to make good movies, I just wish they would have given the money to someone else.

Movies about movies don't usually work with the exception of Sunset Blvd and The Stuntman and a few others that don't come to mind. This one doesn't hold together and the lead's monotone doesn't help. Trouble is, nobody really cares about what movie people do, believe me, I know that all too well.

Klondike (2014)

Not bad for Discovery Channel

[22 January 2014]

I watched it all and didn't mind it,know some of the producers who do a good job productionwise. There are errors, lots of them, like wolves chasing after humans, very rare. Also mounties, or North West Mounted Police were not against native Indians like American cavalry, in fact they were incorporated with the intention of keeping American whiskey traders in Montana.

There was not a lot of killing as portrayed here (stolen from Deadwood), in fact very little as the Mounties kept it clean. The idea of the Indians being hung is a little far fetched also. As with all things like this, the mounties didn't allow any murders, etc. Remember, this is Canada, not California gold rush or Black Hills gold rush where killing and lawbreaking was the norm. Women couldn't get into a beer parlour in 1969 without a male escort. Yeah, beer PARLOUR, not bar.

In truth, Klondike was not even close to Deadwood in crime. Eh? But anyways, a nice 3 episodes, not very true, but what the heck, neither was The Butler.

Open Road (2013)

A nice little movie

[7/10 · 27 September 2013]

Okay, first of all, it's not a bad little movie, very much like Francis Coppola's 2nd movie The Rain People, acting is fine, Juliette Lewis is as good as always, at least for what she's got to do with. Script is lean and it ponders along but with nice touches. It's very 60's in some way so I guess it brings back some memories being a boomer. Definitely not for everyone, much more for those who have a whimsical bent to their personalities, just a little drive in the country, so to speak. I don't know what the negative reviews go on about, it's clearly not for them so they should go watch Juno a few more times. Performances are fine for everyone here, not an earth-shaker but a nice bit of time spent. I give it a 7 not for my best-of films, but for this particular genre of what one might call drift movies.