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shaunaruss
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Jack Ryan: Cargo (2019)
The intro for the second season is GREAT!
The intro is beautifully done! Each separate section is impressive and stands on its own for texture, color, appropriate sizes, etc. Then you notice the skillfully executed segues! It's like watching a classical dance - some elements seem familiar, but there is an elegance that keeps you focused, waiting for the next sensual treat! Really, a treat for your senses separate from the show itself.
The Wilds (2020)
"Lost" for teens w/extreme profanity
The scenery is beautiful, but there's really no mystery about the plot. Like too much American "entertainment" there is excessive profanity. The liberal use of profanity does not indicate that anyone with half a brain is celebrating their 1st Amendment rights (maybe some with less than half of a brain). It's become indicative of immature audiences being titillated by such things and writers who substitute what could have been authentic dialogue. While Hollyweird would like to convince people that this is truly how families communicate, it is not really true. What was offensive to our parents is still offensive to most young parents today. Is Hollyweird going to give up? Not likely, it has gone on for too long with too few speaking out against it. The best way to voice that opinion? Shut it off and find something decent to watch.
The American Bible Challenge (2012)
Fun to watch
Yes, like most game shows, that I never watch after figuring this out, there is too much fluff around the interesting bits. I understand the need for amping up excitement, taking time to explain the rules and just personality buffing. I agree that I'd prefer to just see/hear the game, but . . . I completely understand starting with easy questions and giving contestants a chance to settle into the game before throwing the hardest questions at them.
There's a nice variety of ways the questions are presented and Jeff Foxworthy is a good host.
The American Bible Challenge (2012)
Fun to watch
Yes, like most game shows, that I never watch after figuring this out, there is too much fluff around the interesting bits. I understand the need for amping up excitement, taking time to explain the rules and just personality buffing. I agree that I'd prefer to just see/hear the game, but . . . I completely understand starting with easy questions and giving contestants a chance to settle into the game before throwing the hardest questions at them.
There's a nice variety of ways the questions are presented and Jeff Foxworthy is a good host.
Indian Matchmaking: Take the Elephant out of the Room (2020)
A MUCH Better Reality!
I would not, do not, never want to watch most reality shows from America. Except anything about Pittie/Staffy/Bullie breeds (Pitbulls & Parolees) just because advocating, rescuing & training these great family dogs is a passion of mine. When I saw this was a reality show, I almost automatically dumped it!
Then I saw the title of this episode, "Take the Elephant Out of the Room" and I just had to see this one. I found it to be humorous, interesting and even entertaining! I liked the amount of animals included, I loved any scenes shot in India & fell in love with the young man, Vyasar, what a sweet & funny guy!
I am actually going to watch more episodes and I recommend at least a trial episode for anyone who has found this lonely, little review by the old, broken, single woman! Tee hee hee!
Suryaganga (2019)
Excellent - entertaining as well as educational!
A really well done documentary with excellent content, full explanations, good cinematography which showed pictures I had not seen of India and using Naseeruddin Shah was an effective way to get my attention!
The dilemma of natural resources vs power creation is so very multi-faceted and this show packed a great deal of information into a short time. Really useful, but enjoyable to watch!
Ramji Londonwaley (2005)
I'd go for a sequel!
This was a fun, entertaining, emotional movie and all those aspects work together to make it memorable. This is the type of movie that made me fall in love with Indian cinema and more movies like this, serve as enjoyable reminders! The ending came as a very pleasant surprise that made me laugh!! Perfect!
Waiting for God (1990)
Really delightful!
This show is funny & bittersweet - great entertainment. The acting is very good and the writing is excellent. Too bad they could not have left the laugh track in the very distant past! If not for the laugh track, I would have given this 8/10 and just might anyway by the end of the series!
Freak Show (2017)
It's too bad that . . .
It's really too bad that they were unable to pull off a movie that celebrates so much realism - the confusion of teen years, the unique personalities our world is populated with, the importance of friendship, inclusion and tolerance - without falling back to old, worn out, mostly incorrect, stereotypes of Christians. For a group who preaches tolerance, acceptance and understanding I have yet to see Hollyweird pull off even a close representation of Christianity.
The music was good, the humor was fun and it was a sensitive show EXCEPT when it comes to Christianity. The lines the so-called Christian homecoming queen blurted out, "all gays are going to hell!" is not an accurate teaching of the Bible nor Bible based Christianity, but Hollyweird never tires of attacking Christianity & pretending to know what Christians believe.
The Last Full Measure (2019)
MOH presentation ceremony held multiple messages/lessons
I really enjoyed the entire movie and was caught off guard by the depth of emotions that were examined on screen and those the movie pulled from viewers! Their representation of PTSD was very accurate. Until my life was threatened again in 2001, I didn't know that I had lived most of my life with PTSD and knowing that helped me to forgive myself for some poor decisions and misunderstood reactions to others. It's not an easy diagnosis to live with or to fight to get rid of and this movie showed us that many victims are struggling all the time, but often out of sight. I was really grateful for the scenes where folks were encouraged to remember/talk about the issues. Sometimes people try to stop you from remembering/talking because they are afraid you'll stress out and blow a gasket or something - exactly the opposite, learning to talk about the issues with less emotions is what we are subconsciously driven to do. Being told, even indirectly, that you are a dangerously, emotional person who needs to be silenced and controlled does not encourage you to trust the person making that assessment. Some just don't want to hear your story as it makes them uncomfortable, but those are often people who either suffer themselves in silence (pray and sympathize for them) or they are just selfish - enough said on that! If you have someone in your life who needs to talk, try to allow that or help them find a safe place to do so.
Although I kept the tissues handy throughout the movie, the dam broke over the Medal of Honor presentation ceremony. Having grown up in the time that many of my friends served and some died during the war the government officials still can't/won't call a war is still depressing and frustrating. People died, a lot of people, people are still bearing scars or minus limbs and families are still mourning the loss of young adults who gave their lives/peace of mind and sometimes pieces of their bodies - just like in a real war!
I'm not very good at naming my favorite type of foods (probably the last meal eaten - Mexican, Thai, Indian or a huge salad), my favorite color (well, finally I do have one - purple, the color of our dog's vests for Psychiatric Service Dogs) or my favorite movie, book or song - again, probably the last one I watched, read or heard.
The MOH presentation ceremony near the end of this movie is easily my favorite part of this fine film. It was great watching group after group rise to their feet until almost the entire room was standing. This should be a reminder to politicians and others that war, even when it's not officially called a war, spreads it's tentacles and touches lives far removed from the participants. And, it affects those lives, not for just a little while, but for the rest of the time they are alive.
Wars, even those that aren't called wars, are serious, destructive and life altering for many. All who respond to protect others, are in my mind, heroes worthy of recognition - those in our armed forces, law enforcement, fire fighters, ambulance personnel and medical personnel treating others from the emergency room to the operating theater.
This is an excellent movie to share with friends and family, Based Upon Real Life, historical with an outstanding cast!
Bharat (2019)
Entertains history & good movie!
The negative reviews and low ratings cannot be from those who enjoy Indian cinema because this is a very good & memorable movie. I know it's one that I'll want to watch again.
If you are critical of this movie, do you even understand what happened in 1947? Sometimes the things that happen half way around the world don't seem personal to some people, but Partition was by far more disastrous than any of the tsunamis, earthquakes or other natural disasters that seem to catch people's attention. It was a monumental disaster perpetuated by one group of humans that destroyed families and changed millions of lives; it was not a result of weather or tumultuous natural events. I think that's just one reason it so completely shatters my heart and stories about the victims captures my attention.
Beyond the historical significance, I found "Bharat to be very entertaining - there is good work from all cast and crew, with kudos to the children who played important parts in telling this story.
Someone else mentioned that tears are a common reaction to parts of this movie and I agree. I was especially touched by the singing of Vanda Matram and the televised search and reunion of people lost to each other for decades.
This movie is one I would recommend to others without hesitation.
Breathe (2018)
Excellent entertainment!
Earned an emotional 12/10 from me, but a practical 8/10!
What to do when your child is dying in need of an organ transplant and the system will not save him? How do you continue functioning as a successful investigator when your heart and soul are shattered and guilt ridden over the loss of your own child?
A truly great series, but without most of the unnecessary sex, profanity & nudity of American TV & movies. That being said, this would not be suitable for young viewers due to rough language and extreme violence. Besides, the subject matter is not for children and most youngsters could not appreciate the finer points of entertainment/culture/integrity used in this great series.
The dialogue is good, as are the background settings/locations for the story. I came to really care about the characters through the acting and the story itself.
The story is the real star of this series: flows logically and with ease, builds the background stories in well placed and paced additions to the present day actions. As the story builds and the plot thickens, some of the story can be foreseen, but the surprise twists usually are surprising even as you are viewing them!
Very skillfully handled and highly entertaining! There are "edge of your seat" thrilling moments as well as sucker-punches that will leave you breathless and reaching for tissues!
Best TV series I've seen in a loooong time. High quality TV that won't soon be forgotten!
A great reminder of just how far Indian cinema/TV has come! Jai Bharat!"
Dérapages (2020)
Overly Emotional/Dramatic/Soapy
Must be my day to pick out shows that are too similar to soap operas which I don't watch, don't want to. I really enjoy foreign movies/TV Series, but my favorite source is Indian Cinema in any of the many languages. I just reviewed a Turkish TV series with the same criticism I'm giving this French series - they remind me of American soap operas.
There's a lot to enjoy about movies and TV series from paces other than USA ore Hollyweird. Some countries still have writers who use the language of their country to beautifully describe emotions, actions, or other items instead of generously sprinkling a dialogue with profanities. There are also very talented and interesting stars who don't seem to consent to exposing the audience to them sitting on a toilet (what is that all about anyway? It's pretty standard that we're all doing it once or more a day, so why would anyone find it entertaining? I quite like my privacy and appreciate others who keep such things private. I'm not shocked, scared or excited by such scenes; I just don't find them entertaining.)
I especially enjoy learning about other cultures, listening to the languages, and watching beautiful scenery that I've not had the opportunity to see in person. Unfortunately, I do not enjoy and am annoyed by high drama or soap opera type exaggerated emotions. Made it partway through E04, but that was all.
Avlu (2018)
Too Emotional/Dramatic/Soapy 4 Me
I really like Turkish movies and especially enjoy the cultural details, listening to the language, the stars and especially the fantastic scenery! So, I don't like rating this one so low and based upon it's own points it should be higher.
However, I also have to be fair to myself and others like me. I have watched several Turkish TV series from beginning to end and with each one, it gets harder and harder to finish the series. Not because there are not wonderful entertainment aspects, but they are too similar to American soap operas and I will not watch even one episode of those! If the highly emotional/dramatic scenes don't bother you, then I heartily recommend you watch and enjoy this.
Delhi in a Day (2011)
Enjoyed this movie and liked the ending
Sometimes we are all short-sighted and see the world in terms of that which is local to ourselves. The young are often guilty of this because they have limited world experience - their world is often Hometown, parent's house, schools and eventually place of employment. It takes awhile to begin to really see what the rest of the world is like. This movie does an excellent job of laying out a few truths about relationships between people of different socio-economic classes in an honest and open manner. My mini lecture at the beginning is in response to other reviewers limiting this reality to their country alone. People are people are people and there are all kinds of people distributed throughout the earth. In the USA, in the UK, in Spain, Germany, Italy, Japan and certainly China you see the same prejudicial and hateful attitudes between those with more money and the poor that they use and often abuse. However, it's also the truth that there are many wealthy employers throughout the world who care for their employees & treat everyone they meet with kindness and respect (at least until they have evidence that the person is not respectful of others and does not deserve respect).
A previous reviewer correctly pointed out that the mother was setting a horrible example for her daughter - she could have stood by her daughter and encouraged her to do the moral and right thing, but instead she showed that she herself was a liar and an accomplice to a thief - terrible to show that without guilt or conscience! And, we know that her daughter was not raised correctly because she chose to steal rather than earn or ask for money her boyfriend wanted. And the boyfriend? You don't even need to meet him to know that he is a loser who will take money from a girlfriend rather he knew it was stolen or not. She's not his wife, they don't share a bank account; I'm afraid they will only proceed to disappoint and hurt each other because of their lack of integrity.
I liked the use of contrasts in the movie: Mukund is the oblivious character who really does not pay attention to those around him - he never notices the false laughter for his supply of jokes, nor does he see how his wife, Kalpana, treats their faithful, hard working servants. Kalpana and the daughter plot and plan to decieve, they are even willing to steal freedom from a person by framing him for the theft! Then you see the love between Rohini and grandfather; she literally risks her life, her safety and her very dignity to help her grandfather not suffer for a crime she knows he didn't commit. And, Jasper, a bit surprised, a bit oblivious, but with a kind heart and good intentions.
After we get that out of the way, I really enjoyed the movie because it does provide an open look at common people, the actors were good and oh, I love the shots of Delhi. I'm a disabled, senior who had to give up plans of travel in my "golden" years, but I've been a dedicated reader all my life and good books & good movies helped me develop a sense of the world throughout my life. My jobs afforded me the blessing of encountering all types of people and learning not to be quickly disappointed or angry because: people are people are people - there are good and bad, kind and hateful, moral & lacking integrity every where you look! Even in these later years, I miss not having been to and possibly settled down in India. I am grateful for all that America has given me, but there is something that has always intrigued me and drawn me to Indian food, the languages, the people, the good and the bad. So, obviously, I greatly enjoy Indian cinema now and I'm learning Hindi in spite of the Devanagari alphabet! Tee hee hee!
Even though this review has a warning for spoilers, I'm not going to give my interpretation of the ending or even guess about Angeli Patil's (Rohini) very beautiful smile! I think the ending was perfect for each of us in the state of mind we happen to be in as we're watching it.
The Last Laugh (2019)
Granny enjoyed ths movie
My higher than average rating might be due to the fact that I grew up watching and enjoying many of the actors in the most popular movies of the day. From my POV, it's too bad this was not released as a family friendly movie. Would have been fun to have celebrated a movie day with my grandkids of some of the oldest movies and then this one, with Chase & Dreyfuss starring.
Since I'm of a similar age as the actors, I can relate to many of the situations they were in and I enjoyed the humor of this movie. I like that it shows the resiliency of both friendships and dreams.
The 100: The Chosen (2017)
A Roller Coaster Ride
As I prepared for Season 5, I watched the entire series again and I'm really glad that I did. I have enjoyed the series even more than the first time around because I really paid attention to each episode and I'm more impressed than ever that we have a science fiction show of this quality. Yes, it does have it's weak points and errors, but it's written in such a way that we are able to get to know the characters and rather we're cheering or booing for individuals, we have some actual emotion for these characters and the talented people who portray them.
Having said how very; much I've enjoyed this series didn't stop me from noticing that this particular episode, even with high drama/emotion, some good fights and very poignant moments, seemed to drag by because of certain scenes. Overall, this episode was exciting and really held my attention, but it seemed that some of the slower areas were really unnecessary. These long debates about how could I have done better, been a better person, killed fewer people, made everyone love me, etc., etc. are real attention killers when the show has moved on from the problem under discussion. It seems unnecessary and unrealistic for the self-doubt to be so emphasized. Many of the characters are responsible and caring leaders - yes, there are bad decisions made, regretted, talked to death, and then FINALLY moved on from. There is generally enough discussion when decisions are being made, that the rehash could be dialed back significantly. All these characters have enough going on in their lives that it seems wasteful to go over decisions that can't be changed now and have already been viewed and talked about from every angle.
But, all the horror, monster, science fiction, alien invasion type shows that I enjoy have their own weak areas, but The 100 shows enough strengths to keep me happy. And, I do appreciate it when they dial back the close-up reveal of intimate relationships. That is NOT why I watch such shows as this and it makes me think twice (or more) before suggesting that a young teen should watch this show. Save it for the romance stories or porn, it's not needed in this series.
Legends: The Legend of Dmitry Petrovich (2015)
Second season gives very satisfying wrap-up
When I first watched season two's premiere episode, I was somewhat puzzled and surprised by the distinct changes between seasons. And, I was a bit discouraged by the only review I could find for this season. But the choice was clear, stop watching just because there was a new format that didn't really make sense to me right away or continue watching Sean Bean! Of course I stayed the course! Once I realized that what I'd seen in episode one of the second season was now going to be the format for the entire season, I took it more seriously and paid attention to "when and where." And, that method paid off.
This is not a review for subsequent episodes and I probably won't review them at this late date, but for anyone who has watched the first season and at least the first episode of season two, I hope this will encourage you to continue watching.
I was more than half-way through the second season when I realized just how much I was enjoying a show that I'd almost given up on and began to think about what I'd been seeing and how I'd been drawn in. I've already covered the fact that like millions, I'm always drawn in by Sean Bean, but then I realized just how effective this new format was for this show. In the first season it was established that Martin's character had left a large part of his life behind him in a past that was lost to his memory. Through the use of the new format, the writers were able to start pulling his past and his present more closely together and, at the same time, filling in the backstories of significant characters. The entire effect intrigued me, even when I wasn't particularly paying attention to exactly what was encouraging me to gladly anticipate each new episode.
So, even if you are a bit disoriented by this first episode of the second season, I do suggest that you try a few more and see if you are not also pulled along and finding yourself eager to discover more. For me, I'm going to now watch the series' finale and yes, this was perhaps one way for me to stall just a little longer while preparing to leave this worthwhile series in the past along with so many others.
I will be giving the entire series 8/10. It was a good adventure to have stayed with until the end.
Designated Survivor: Suckers (2017)
Second season has more variety of situations/concerns, but less enthusiasm
When I rate episodes of a TV series, I usually pick a number that I believe is representative of all the elements that go into bringing that episode for our entertainment, looking for the average that includes direction, scripting, acting, SFX, scenery, locations, sound, music, etc.. However, I'm realizing in this second season of Designated Survivor that I'm much more inclined to try and find a number that best represents how I feel after watching the entire episode, that indicates rather I feel that I just witnessed something memorable, relatable and even inspirational. Then I try to average that number into my overall opinion of the episode.
I had very high hopes for this show when it was first broadcast; most likely because I'd become a real fan of Kiefer Sutherland and the "24" TV series. Even after the first season, I was hoping for yet another season. It had not turned out to be as polished, exciting nor memorable as "24," but given other shows, it was still good entertainment and I felt that the character of President Kirkman was interesting, believable and appealing. I enjoyed watching most of the main characters on the show and the mystery of the first season - who was responsible for the death and destruction of the Capital bombing - was interesting and not very predictable.
So far, I've enjoyed the addition of Lyor Boone (Paulo Costanzo) to the cast; Lyor gives us someone to admire and dislike at the same time and adds in a nice bit of tension through his dealings with the other characters. The character of Kendra Danes (Zoe Mclellan) as an attorney seems to be another good choice since the legal scenes add yet another interest/dimension to the series.
Overall, my rating of the episodes for the second season are lower than the first season - scripts often seem awkward and predictable and even the delivery seems more stiff and less enthusiastic. Some of the fights have appeared to be more drawn out, but less exciting or logical. There just seems to be an overall lack of enthusiasm. Because her mother was involved in the legal dilemma this week, it was somewhat expected for FLOTUS, Alex Kirkman (Natascha Elhone), to be emotionally involved and make a few poor decisions, but it ended up feeling as though the intelligent FLOTUS of the first season had been replaced with a less capable impostor.
The highest ratings given by me for the second season are for the actions and especially the speeches of President Kirkman. I was grateful and relieved when he didn't lower his standards to smear the reputation of Senator Alan Rouse this week and I was inspired by his conduct, conversations and speeches regarding SuckerGate and the pension bail-out. Even though the plot was mostly straight forward and simple, it drives home the truth that regardless of political affiliation, if a person stays true to their higher selves, they are best able to serve as an elected representative to the citizens.
There are also ample opportunities to witness how the media has too much influence over elected representatives and tend to steer headline stories in whichever direction and with an intensity designed to increase ad revenue. Really, why are situations like SuckerGate given so much attention in the media? Because of the attention given to certain "stories" in the media, they influence citizens to behave as though the stories are true and, even worse, that they define those involved and are actually important to improving or protecting our way of life. In a similarly harmful manner reasonably intelligent, elected officials are swayed to give too much attention, focus and importance to fake or garbage news. Just look at the proliferation of "news" stories based upon Twitter comments!
Dinotopia: Part 2 (2002)
Fun, Family Friendly, Fantasy
I had watched this when it first came out, but thanks to a memory damaged by PTSD, I mostly just remembered that I enjoyed it, so I watched it again recently on Netflix.
To be honest, the special effects probably appeared a bit outdated even when it was first released, but if you're enjoying it as a family friendly fantasy, you'll probably overlook that, also. As a fantasy, there should be latitude given to a director as to how a show should look, what the ambiance is like, and what's acceptable or what's not. It's a simple, but good story about a couple of boys whose father dies in the plane crash that brings them to a land they've never heard of - Dinotopia. In the first installment, as they are learning the codes and beliefs of Dinotopia, it seemed to come on a little strong in trying to show how great the Mother Earth or We Are All One with the Animals, Plants and Earth theories are, but again, it's fantasy and good entertainment. That type of preaching lightened up in the last two installments, but we did see how beneficial it is when you treat everyone - humans, animals, environment - with respect and caring.
The personalities of the dinosaurs are fun/funny and very endearing. The sets are attractive and seem believable if you've been able to step inside this fantasy while watching it. Some of the growing up and personality changes of the characters seem too fast/easy to believe, but given the limited time for the story, that's understandable.
What I don't understand are some of the reviews, Trivia or Goofs sections where people are lecturing from their own vast stores of (imagined?) knowledge and criticizing shows that are fantasy, sci-fi, etc. for not being fact based about small issues. Not only is it not interesting to read, it's not helpful to others who want to know if they are going to see a fantasy or science fiction show that's interesting and entertaining - these are not documentaries! Someone was criticizing Dinotopia for having not given the correct name to a dinosaur - really? What did they think of the SkyBax? Another show I was watching recently criticized the security or lack thereof for a supercomputer and lectured on and on about how this would never happen in real life - again, really? It was a thriller, science fiction show and even though I understood what the visiting professor was saying, getting from scene to scene was accomplished more easily without setting the supercomputer up as it would be in real life. I don't see the mystery in that. Please, IMDb was once filled with nonsense through the forums and those were eliminated, if you're going to give reviews or report Trivia or Goofs, make sure they actually apply to the entertainment and you're not using them as a platform to attempt to show off your knowledge when it's really not relevant.
I recommend Dinotopia as a family friendly, fantasy that can be enjoyed just for the fun of it! 8/10.