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Reviews
Brand New Cherry Flavor (2021)
All Filler No Killer
This should have been a 2hr movie. Stretching it into a series does the material no good at all. The scary moments are hair raising, no doubt, but the set-ups take too long. The Hollywood cliches are topped only by the witchy stuff. Normally, Catherine Keener is one of my favorite actors. Here she's miscast terribly. I did not buy her character at all.
Beckett (2021)
Denzel Has a Son? Who Knew?
This is bad. Didn't make it past the first 20 minutes. The acting by the main character was atrocious. It would have taken a herculean effort to overcome this awful script, however. Nothing that happened in those first 20 minutes is in anyway memorable. And that may be the kindest thing this movies does for its audience. Leave this one. Take the spanakopita.
True Blood (2008)
Different and Memorable (mostly for good).
This series represented a different path for me: normally I'd read the book(s) before viewing the movie/tv show.
Working in a library I had seen the many books by Charlaine Harris the series is based on. But I wasn't remotely interested until I started watching the HBO adaptation. The books are great, really entertaining. And the first two seasons of the series just about matched them. After that, things went a little haywire.
I'd still recommend the series for vampire lovers, or anyone who likes a bit of Southern Gothic.
The One (2021)
Compelling.
Gave this a 10 because of the negative reviews. Have no idea what they watched, or what they expected to see.
Have not read the book that this is based on, which generated some of the 1&2 star reviews. Long ago gave up on the idea that books are any more than loose references when adapted for the screen. If I had a nickel for every bad Stephen King adaptation, I'd be mildly well off. And don't get me started on LoTR and Peter Jackson.
All that being said, I loved this series. Watched it almost uninterrupted. Found the characters believable and, yes, compelling.
Years and Years (2019)
Days of Future Past
Watching this is like seeing the future thru a (very) cloudy window. You can't be sure what you see (and hear) is real. It kinda looks real. And sounds like it to. But you wish you had some Windex® handy. Or maybe a hammer.
You can't stop watching. You're compelled, like all good storytelling, to know what happens next. One of the characters says something very much like this, as her consciousness is uploaded into the cloud, maybe?
Ragnarok (2020)
Deduct one star for the teen love triangle
Got thru this in two sittings. It was obvious from the first episode that this was Thor (and Loki). My GF didn't think anything of the sort. But she hasn't been reading Thor (Marvel) since the 60's. We both were impressed with how the story unfolded. The cast is quite good with excellent performances from the lead and his main antagonist, the father of the old gods. I'd deduct a star from my original rating only bc the teen romance angle wasn't original or needed. Maybe bc they killed off my favorite character, Isolde so soon in story. She doesn't really leave bc her cause, the environment, underpins the first season's story arc. Looking forward to season two. Very much.
The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart (2020)
Earworms For Days
What a wonderful documentary. The Gibb Brothers have provided some of the soundtrack of my life. This film centers their place in modern music history. They belong at the pinnacle. If you don't know their music, this provides an invaluable roadmap.
It's all here. You won't be disappointed. What a deep pleasure.
Love Fraud (2020)
I Feel Defrauded
The set up for this show seemed so juicy. The delivery left a lot of unanswered questions. This wouldn't even qualify for a full "Dateline" show. "48 Hours" wouldn't waste their time. The producers need to go into some other business. They're not good at this. The guy was just not that interesting, once you took a closer look.
Cursed (2020)
Cursed by horrible script.
Saw Frank Miller's name attached to this, so had hopes of seeing something special.
To call this disappointing would be abusing the english language. Indeed, the entire thing is an abuse of a cherished English legend. What Camelot has to do with this dead awful travesty? I didn't stick around long enough to find out. Aside from an early appearance by Merlin the Wizard, I'd say nothing at all. I've got it: Excalibur!
Fatal Affair (2020)
Predictable diversion.
All too predictable seen-it-before script. Nia Long is fine in the lead. And Omar Epps gets to let out all the crazy. Not bad. Just easily forgettable.
The Old Guard (2020)
Dumbest setup on film.
Watched the first ten minutes and can't believe anything this dumb gets made. Doesn't make any sense. These people have survived this long being this stupid? Makes zero sense.
I May Destroy You (2020)
Riding on the Wild Side
Three episodes in and loving this. As a slice of life of a young successful writer, it is very compelling. The group of characters in Arabella's orbit is refreshingly eclectic. What a treat to see something other than cookie-cutter faces and fates. Want to see much much more of this. I hope the writing continues to sparkle. These characters deserve it.
Doctor Sleep (2019)
Welcome Back to the Hotel Colorado
Wish I hadn't watched this. Trashes the book to link back to the movie. Shining more unnecessary light on another failed adaptation of great fiction. The best of Stephen King gets ruined. Again.
This doesn't rise to crimes against humanity levels. But is bitterly disappointing nevertheless. Hoped for better.
The Goldfinch (2019)
Threads Unraveling Into Tragedies
Young Theo's life had one trajectory. A terrorist's bomb changes it utterly. Every thing that happens after seems like destiny. None of it feels inauthentic. The performances are all quite good. The kid playing the young Theo is excellent. A compelling story, well told.
Into the Night (2020)
Something Is Missing'. And it ain't the sun.
After watching 4, episodes finding it very hard to invest any more time in this. The stupid, it burns. I'm not convinced people faced with a situation like this would continually make 'decisions' so inane. Why continue to argue over stuff that happened in the past when the future, all futures are so tenuous? The writers keep adding human interest elements that seem ludicrous in those circumstances. I'm not interested in back stories. Sorry. It doesn't make the drama more interesting or compelling. The overall scenario is more than enough.