IndridC0ld Reviews

Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970)

Before the idea for CHAT GPT was a stain on passion sheets, there was Colossus: The Forbin Project

[8/10 · 24 May 2024]

As I write this in May of 2024, chat GPT 4o is now available for my use. It appears the have abilities quite close to the computer namesake of this movie. I am easily able to have both text and audio communications with the system. The degree of human-like conversational capability is remarkably similar to the machine this movie portrays. Indeed, it's ability to emote is far greater. While Collosus is "all business" as it were, chat GPT 4o is all of Collosus' power wrapped in a velvet glove of humanity.

Clearly no one is yet proposing that we link our nuclear arsenal to this device, but might chat GPT not somehow convince certain officials or groups to potentially give it such control? The point I'm making is that this quite old story now has at least the technical possibility of coming true. It's rather the reverse of 2001 a space Odyssey which has come to be regarded as wildly overly optimistic of mankind's capabilities. It definitely deserves a watch!

Amarcord (1973)

To be fit as a fiddle a man's got to piddle. Somethings amiss if a man doesn't piss.

[8/10 · 25 February 2024]

How can you ever forget a movie with a line of dialog like the one I included in the title of this review. I saw this film at age 15 during its theatrical release and very nearly suffocated from laughing. One of my absolute favorite vignettes was the one with "Uncle Tao" and his pathetic treetop episode shouting "I want a woman!" "Not an unreasonable request for a man 40 years of age" states one of the onlookers. And who can possibly forget that nightmarish sequence of the young boy being sexually molested by the gigantic woman in the tobacco store. Additionally, the sequence involving the young adolescent boy who infiltrates a Muslim harem also must be seen to be truly appreciated. Anyway, high art this film is not, but raucous comedy every bit as poignant for its time as that portrayed in the movie "Porkeys" it most definitely is.

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)

I did not at all expect to even like this film but I LOVED it!

[8/10 · 9 January 2024]

Films that epitomize the essence of movie-making often begin with a compelling story. "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" is no exception, boasting an outstanding narrative alongside remarkable acting, producing, and cinematography that immerse you in its world. Although the film starts somewhat slowly, this cleverly serves as a plot device to foster empathy with the main characters, allowing us to see reflections of our own choices and dilemmas on the screen. Have you ever sacrificed something you love for a necessity? Have you made decisions that altered the course of your life? This movie explores these questions and more over its engaging two and a half hours. It reminds me of films like "Titanic," which don't just transport you away from your life but place you in another's shoes, prompting you to contemplate your own reactions in similar situations. For those who appreciate the preceding works, this film is a solid choice, paying a subtly ingenious tribute to its predecessors. It is replete with plot twists that cleverly subvert expectations. Special mention must go to the young actress McKenzie Lansing, who portrays a villainous character with a pitchfork. Though her role is brief, it is intensely visceral and memorable. In conclusion, this film truly encapsulates the author's vision for an engaging sequel.

The Dead Zone (1983)

This is a movie about destiny, and lost chances, and most of all about how all of that adds meaning to one's life.

[10/10 · 4 January 2024]

I saw this film when it came out in the 80s. I didn't truly understand the games that fate can play on you, or the significance that a single choice can make. But now, in 2024 those choices live with me every day. Some I am so very proud of, but others I would do anything to do differently, Fate puts many choices before each person, and living with the consequences of those choices is pretty much what part two of your life is about. The worst part I suppose, is the remembering of those choices. Who they helped. Who they hurt. But most importantly how those choices shaped the way you look at that person who stares back at you from the mirror. Listen to me, a regular Stephen King.

Oats Studios: God: Serengeti, Chicago (2017) Season 1, Episode 4

If there is a god, this is undeniably his nature.

[10/10 · 20 December 2023]

A splendid and thoughtful consideration of the mythical being many call "god." I have, for many years, come to the conclusion that if god existed, he must enjoy, or at least be indifferent to, the unjust suffering of humans on earth. If god were truly omniscient as is claimed by his worshipers, than there is absolutly no reason for all of the living breathing horror and injustice that occurs on his side gig, earth. This brilliant little video places all of the ridiculous attributes assigned by men to god on full display. He is petty, vengeful, and wildly sadistic. He is the angry little boy that takes great pleasure in incinerating ants with a magnifying glass on a hot and boring summer day. A brave little film that punches far, FAR above its weight.

Den of Thieves (2018)

TAEH = THIS MOVIE'S REAL TITLE and it disguises itself about as well!

[2/10 · 1 December 2023]

I can only assume that those who made this movie likely assumed that it's primary audience of young adolescent males would never have bothered to watch a movie staring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. Those movies are for "old people" to watch. That's probably a good thing because Den of Thieves doesn't hold a candle to the movie it is an uncredited rip-off of. It opens with an armored car heist (check!). It involves a narcissistic police chief in a bad marriage (check!). And during a bank robbery, the speech that the robber gives to the bystanders is nearly "word for word" from the derivative work (check!). And the finale ends....well, I'm not a spoiler, so just watch HEAT. At least that movie ends exactly where it was supposed to end instead of tacking on an M. Night Shyamalan style ending to tie up the many loose threads and plot lines of this film.

Foundation (2021– )

Not since Kubrick's 2001 A Space Odyssey have effects been used with such understated elegance.

[10/10 · 17 September 2023]

As my title for this review implies, this is a Science Fiction story WITH special effects, not ABOUT special effects. This in no way dennigrates the superb quality of the effects both CGI and practical. They are so flawless that one is effortlessly transported to one of the most credible representations of the very distant future I have yet experienced. The level of production attention to detail never gets in the way of the rich and provocative storyline. And what an amazing story it is! I know much needless hay has been made over changes to Asimov's original work, but they are applied with the care and precision of a paleontologist restoring an incomplete fossil skeleton. Adding to the story are the amazing performances by the actors. The complex scenes must surely have been physically and mentally challenging, especially when considering the extensive costuming and special effects that require so much from today's performing artists.

To conclude, I will simply state that in my, and many other's opinion, this is truly an example of science fiction storytelling that sets an incredibly high bar that I hope other's will aspire to.

Outlander: Turning Points (2023) Season 7, Episode 8

An Amazing Season Midpoint!

[10/10 · 12 August 2023]

Truly a great episode in a series so entertaining I am breathlessly waiting with anticipation its second half. My wife introduced me to Outlander many months ago and it is truly the most beautiful, compelling, well written piece of storytelling I have ever experienced. I have been on the edge of my seat, cried tears, and laughed myself silly watching this series. It is no stretch to say that it is the finest example of superb drama I have ever seen. Each episode is as rich in story and technical excellence as any feature film produced today. Any frame captured from any episode could easily become a piece of artwork in my home. Indeed, I must occasionally freeze the action so that I can analyze the sheer majesty of the costumes and scenic beauty. At nearly 65 years, I thought I had seen the best that television could offer. I was so very wrong, because this show now holds that position unassailably in my mind.

Outlander (2014– )

The BEST REASON to invest in an expensive OLED television!

[10/10 · 17 July 2023]

Much has been said about the superior quality of this series and I wholeheartedly agree with them. Years ago, the casual statement by a group of TV pundits who said that "Breaking Bad" was simply the very best thing ever on television convinced me to give it a try. In my opinion, at the time, Breaking Bad was the best thing to come on television. Ever. However, reigning champions are almost always replaced by more worthy offerings sooner or later. I never expected Outlander to be the series that could claim that moniker, but it did for me.

Television/Film is so full of opportunities to impress. Undoubtedly this is one reason why the Oscars and Emmys have always been longish affairs. Outlander captures several catagories I did not even realize I cared about until I did. Quite simply the visuals are the most beautiful thing I have ever laid my eyes upon in the world of video. Each scene, each frame even, stands as a breathtakingly beautiful example of what today's camera technology, employed by an artist of supreme talent, can extract from it. So beautiful is this show to watch, that I upgraded my quite serviceable 1st generation OLED panel for one that was double the performance at double the price. It's been the most satisfying expenditure I have made in ten years. On the best OLED panels, with a 120hz refresh, Outlander quite literally LEAPS OFF THE SCREEN. This was somewhat expected, but still took my breath away. This has added an entirely new dimension to my viewing experience. I encourage anyone who is able to follow my lead.

Chernobyl (2019)

Second viewing and this is STILL unbelievably realistic technically and utterly moving dramatically.

[10/10 · 11 July 2023]

There are rare moments when video brings true events alive for both those that experienced them, and those who did not. Such is this incredibly accurate depiction of the "madness" that was the Chernobyl nuclear power plant catastrophe. As an American, I remember the headlines and, especially, the first satellite photo that showed only a tiny image of what is probably the most consequential man made disaster in human history. It is today a meme for an absolute, unmitigated cluster-f××k of huge proportions. This series shows why that meme is not only deserved, but the true dimensions of human, arrogance, indifference, and yes MADNESS, that set it in motion.

From a dramatic standpoint, it's almost madness to call this entertainment. Yet, it is the quality of the performances, the technical attention to detail, camera work, writing and direction that truly moves one's conciousness to a time and place that I give huge thanks I was never directly affected by. And this is, by some measures certainly entertaining. In cosmic poignancy terms, it lacks only the Irony of its topical predecessor, The China Syndrome, which opened mere weeks before the US faced its own, far less disastrous nuclear plant accident. But in every aspect it surpasses that earlier work and has stayed with me many, MANY months past my first viewing. It should be experienced by anyone who can bear the ruthless, terrifying story that is Chernobyl.

The Price We Pay (2022)

I came for the gore and stayed for the laughs.

[5/10 · 18 June 2023]

Rodger Ebeart spent more time writing HIS review of this movie than he did for Titanic. Just based on that I knew there was more to this film than meets the eye. Honestly, one of the characters is a near perfect William Defoe sound-alike, and another is a Kurt Russel look like. This film has just enough edge to it to keep you entertained. It's not "The Thing" although it has some great practical effects, and it is not Existenze, with its great William Defoe cameo, but none of that matters. What matters is that if you have not been jaded by too many other horror/suspense movies, you can have a bloody fun time watching this one. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

Krakatoa: East of Java (1968)

An interesting, (if somewhat slow moving) disaster film.

[8/10 · 16 May 2023]

Ironically, I got my mom to take me to see this fim only because I heard that a girl I had a MASSIVE crush on was going to be in attendance (she wasn't). I do remember this film was absolutly terrifying in its final 15 minutes. I was ten years old when I saw this on the big screen, and the 70mm special effects looked AMAZING. As tidal wave sequences go, this film is far and away the one to beat! As a kid, I had no idea things like this actually happened! The way the wave rears itself up and you know you'd need to crain your neck just to see the crest had me gripping the arms of my theater seat. The volcano eruption sequences were also really spectacular even with ZERO CGI.

American Guinea Pig: Bloodshock (2015)

Bad BaD BAD!

[1/10 · 22 April 2023]

How do you review a film like this? Well, imagine being a hospital patient with "locked in syndrome." This is an illness where, due to a very specific type of stroke, the sufferer finds themself trapped in a body that, while completly devoid of voluntary muscle control, can feel every indignity of a normal person. So imagine that a fly lands on your nose. You are unable to swish it away, but you can feel every little itchy leg as it dances on your shnozz. You cannot ask for help, because you cannot move any of your voluntary muscles including those which control speech.

OK, you get where I'm coming from. Now imagine you took an enourmous painful diarrhea defecation, and had to just sit in it for an hour and a half before your wet-nurse came in to change your adult diaper. That is comparable to what its like to sit through this film. To paraphrase Christopher Walkin, "That isn't any kind of fun. But in terms of what this movie has to offer, that's as good as it's gonna get. And it wont ever get that good again." However, if you wish to ignore my heartfelt advice, and soil your mind with this load of visual fertilizer, the smell of which, will stay with you for a long time, you can watch it free on YouTube at a channel called Kings of Horror.

But don't say you havent been warned!

The Last of Us: When We Are in Need (2023) Season 1, Episode 8

This reuse of the cannibal trope reveals very little meat left on this bone.

[2/10 · 7 March 2023]

A crazy preacher who endorces cannibalism. Where have I seen this before? When it comes to dystopian, zombie infected melodramas, everywhere it would seem. OK, its not like the idea of people eating each other is some kind of unrealistic "never gonna happen!" plot-line. Desperate people can be made to do despicable things. I get it. However, if you are a new television series based on the VERY overused plot device known as "THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE" I think you should be expected to come up with some more imaginative writing conventions than a preacher, pedophile, cannibal, rapist and a young girl who chops him to death with sharp object. Hey, Night Of The Living Dead is an old movie, but not so old it's bloodiest scene has been forgotten. With two whole episodes left, I'm really wondering how they're going to tie this up. Maybe.....our main character wakes up to discover they've been dreaming?

On the Beach (1959)

Just when it seemed like the threat of nuclear war was over, here it is back on the front page. Time to watch this again!

[10/10 · 22 January 2023]

It's 3:00am PST, 01/22/2023 as I write this. The world is again beating the drums of nuclear war. Some will recall movies like Threads or The Day After as their first exposure to this unpleasant topic. For me however, it was On The Beach that introduced me to the horror of nuclear war. I must say that I prefer this story, without all the grisly blood and burned flesh of the others. It makes its point by focusing on all the wonderful things we will lose if we ever truly "let slip the dogs of war." I watched this with my mom when I was no more than ten years old. It wasn't the empty streets of San Francisco that affected me, but the last scene with Peter and Mary really made me feel the total sadness of such pointless loss. Today, the movie seems more relevant than ever. It's one of my top twenty movies, and the most thoughtful of all the post apocalyptic films (I've seen every film in the genera).

He Never Died (2015)

How did I miss this?!

[10/10 · 30 December 2022]

It is December 29th, 2022 as I write this. All I keep thinking is "how the hell did this one get by me?!" Truly an end-of-year treat that I won't soon forget. There have been so many movies written about supernatural people with superhuman abilities. The first one I clearly remember was "The Night Stalker" with Darran McGavin. That movie held the number one spot for most watched TV movie in the history television for quite a few years. It took an old horror trope and droped it into the 1970's. Watching a modern day vampire go one on one with Las Vegas Metro was just a whole lot of fun!

He Never Died is intriguing because it contains similar thematic elements. Our main protagonist, Jack, is clearly very different. What makes this movie so enthralling is the way it slowly and methodically reveals what makes Jack special. I confess, I had a lot of guesses as to what was up with Jack. A LOT. Yet each time I thought I understood what was going on, the story would brilliantly throw me off the track. That's a big part of the appeal of He Never Died. You just keep trying to figure out who Jack really is, and why he's the way he is.

Fatso (1980)

Been overweight? You'll surely relate.

[10/10 · 6 December 2022]

Others have written reviews that highlight this sincere and poignant comedy. There are so many great scenes in this film, and some of them hit the nail on the proverbial head. One that especially comes to mind is when Dom (our fat challenged protagonist) is trying to sleep on his first night of dieting. He absently turns on the TV and finds FOOD COMMERCIALS! He switches from channel to channel and each is featuring some mouth watering food designed to spark more hunger than the ambient smells of a bakery. Pizza, cookies, pie, shrimp scampi, and (my personal weakness) noodles, all specifically designed to activate apatite. I remember, as I battled my own period of being overweight, realizing that television was NOT my friend. This revelation was what caused me to eschew all commercial TV while I attempted to recast my relationship with food. There are other great moments in this film, some silly, others serious, but it made me realize that maintaining a healthy weight is a difficult journey, made more so by our love/hate relationship with food in America. Addiction to eating is so hard to beat when there is the equivalent of a drug pusher on every corner.

Deep Impact (1998)

The most scientifically accurate of ALL the asteroid/comet films. Heavy on science and character development, with just the right amount of special effects.

[8/10 · 4 December 2022]

After the Shoemaker/Leavy impact on Jupiter, scientists started to think about the unthinkable. What if one of those bigger rocks were to threaten earth? Two movies were ultimately made to look at this possibility from a science fiction perspective. One was a silly, scientifically ignorant film called Armageddon. The other was a much more realistic and engaging film, Deep Impact. Sadly, thanks to our scientifically ignorant movie going public, Armageddon was a commercial success, while Deep Impact was largely panned. That's a shame, because Deep Impact had far better acting, character development, and scientific accuracy in its first twenty minutes, than Armageddon had in its entirety.

There are so many things about Deep Impact that a scientifically uneducated person will not understand, that perhaps, given the state of STEM education levels in general, this type of uneven audience acceptance was to be expected. For example, during one of the movie's space sequences, an astronaut is permanently blinded by a glimpse of the sun. Those who do not know that sunlight, unfiltered by earth's atmosphere, carries the energy equivalent of looking into a high energy laser, will not easily understand why our intrepid space traveler suffered catastrophic and permanent eye damage. There are many such instances in Deep Impact. To the scientifically educated movie goer, these plot aspects add to the overall experience.

Finally, I must speak to the character development and acting of Deep Impact. All of the actors do a superb job of rendering believable characters thrust into extraordinary circumstances. The best movies, in my opinion, are those where we as viewers get to imagine what WE would do if placed in the film's story. My absolute favorite actor/performance simply must go to Morgan Freeman as the US president. As a bit of trivia, after his performance in this film, Mr. Freeman, whose name was added largely in jest, received a score in the nineties when a survey of Americans was asked who they would feel most confident to have as president. He handily beat all other candidates including many well known actual contenders for the office!

The Peripheral (2022)

Well, what can I say. If your thinker isn't clocked high enough, you won't like this show.

[10/10 · 3 December 2022]

Definitely a thinking person's science fiction story. Heavy on technology/philosophy, with just the right dose of CGI (which is to say, very little CGI thank god!) Of course the idea of virtual reality has been done, and timetravel quite overdone in other series. This one mixes the two into something novel and intriguing. There is NO time travel persay, but information travel through time. Some years ago while in college, I became involved in some psychological experiments involving hypnotic progression. The results remind me very much of this series. What I most enjoy is a good drama that opens like an elegant puzzle box. Such is The Peripheral. However be advised, if you feel lost by episode four, you are going to feel like a poor algebra student in a calculus class for the remaining four episodes.

Johnny Mnemonic (1995)

A film way, WAY ahead of its time!

[8/10 · 19 October 2022]

I recently rewatched this film after many years. I saw it in a theater when it was first released in 1995. I did not at all enjoy it. At all! The reason is simple, this film was so very far ahead of its time, that I simply did not understand a lot of what was going on. I was VERY technologically litererate compared to the average person, but there were concepts at work here that I didn't totally "get." Watching it today gives me a whole new understanding of how a film can be so far removed from what an average viewer might know and understand. What this film expects of its audience technological and scientific fluency, not simple familiarity. Rewatching this during the third decade of the 21st century, I am not struggling with the complex concepts this film throws around like confetti. The script asks you to have a FULL understanding of exotic technologies as if you have been living with them your whole life. If you happen to miss any of these concepts during the film's fast pacing, its like sitting in an advanced calculus class with only a basic algebra background. When I first saw this film, I missed enough of these technology references that I was soon hopelessly lost.

Now, all these years later, I can say there is a very good story here! At its heart, it's the age-old story of greed and redemption. At times it's seems to have preciently ripped parts of its story line right from the headlines. Within this context, what we have here is a sparkling little gem of a film. Not to be missed!

Lady in a Cage (1964)

"Are you BLINDED Randal? 😀

[5/10 · 15 October 2022]

The above question and the circumstances under which it is asked will disturbe viewers a for a long time after this film's closing credits roll. Just IMAGINE a film in which a "tough guy hoodlum" gets stabbed right in BOTH eyes by an old lady weilding a couple of homemade metal shives she has fabricated for self protection. "DAMN YOU! DAMN YOU!" Consider all the hoodlum enjoys while blindly stumbling around said old lady's house trying to painfully hold in his bloody eyeball jelly with one hand while simultaneously "looking" for a hidden petty-cash safe with the other! Don't worry, you'll get to see what's left of his eyes as he stumbles "blindly" into heavy automobile traffic. Since the film was shot in black and white, the eyeball goo looks like chocolate syrup and tuna fish. Yummy!

Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)

Last year I took psychedelics for the first time. They didn't deliver the insight this film did.

[10/10 · 8 August 2022]

Amazing, cathartic, and intense. Seriously, I'm 63 years old, and there's not much that surprises, let alone dynamicly engages me in a way I have not experienced. Last year, over several months I experimented with several psychedelic substances. They did not deliver one tenth of what this movie did. I'll leave it at that. I do believe that those of average intelligence will hate this film, and the ones and threes bear this out. Either this film will wildly exceed your every expectation, or it won't.

War of the Worlds (2005)

An awful remake of the 1953 classic

[1/10 · 16 June 2022]

Like the remakes of King Kong, this film is incredibly outclassed by its predecessor of more than FIFTY YEARS. For all its flaws (born of technological necessity) the 1953 classic stands miles above this terrible reprisal of H. G. Wells story. It's attempt to leverage the 9/11 attacks as an allegory for the Martian invasion is nothing compared to the Technicolor masterpiece made half a century earlier. While I've rewatched the 1953 classic on numerous occasions, I have never felt the desire to review this modern travesty. Stay away.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Children of the Comet (2022) Season 1, Episode 2

Painfully stupid and juvenile. I like SCIENCE with my sifi!

[6/10 · 15 June 2022]

Skipped the whole episode when I got about 2/3 through, then replayed it to the end. It was like a C-story in a high school creative writing assignment. I hate when old tropes from old movies are used for new content. A comet/"Manatee" that responds to music almost exactly like the alien ship in the Close Encounters of The Third Kind finali. Come up with some ORIGINAL IDEAS.

That said, I've stopped hating on Spock. This actor has done his homework and brings an interesting new dimension to the character. Chris Pike may be the best Captain ever to command the Enterprise. I am overwhelmed by the sensitivity the lead actor brings to the roll. Whomever chose to continue the story arc of Captain Pike's accident should be given charge of the shows writing. To carry the weight of one's mortality is one thing, to face it as a certainty with a time, date, and horrible outcome is the most interesting character device I have seen in years. The burden of command, a hundred decisions a day, the responsibility for hundreds of lives, is a common plot device effectivly used over the years. Carrying that weight AND the certainty of one's impending doom is a pressure I simply cannot imagine. However STSNW drops that right in our main character's lap like adding double weight to a power-lifter's personal best and saying, "Oh you're proud of yourself? Try THIS!" I WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH THIS SHOW, but I'm expecting more originality.

Meltdown: Three Mile Island (2022)

Holy S**T! I had no idea how close we came to "Chernobyl!"

[9/10 · 5 May 2022]

I've just finished watching the last episode of this limited series. I vividly remember this event that occurred during my sophomore year in college. What I did NOT realize, was how very close this "accident," came to being a full fledged disaster like the one in Chernobyl, Ukraine.

The central figure in this film, Rick Parks, is presented as a modern American Hero. And that is EXACTLY WHAT HE IS! Like Stanislov Petrov of the USSR, Rick Parks followed his moral compass, instead of his organization's rule book when face with a decision that could have ended the lives of many innocent people. When you listen to this man talk (and I am SO happy that it is him, and not an actor playing him) you just KNOW he is telling the truth. Like so many ordinary people who rise to meet extraordinary circumstances, the truth rings true. Conversely, Lake Barrette, on-site NRC "watchdog" comes across as a dispassionate, uncaring sociopath, who is utterly incapable of empathy. He says as much about himself when he is introduced during the series. His attitude exemplifies everything that is wrong with the authoritarian "leadership" behind most private companies, and many government agencies. Some will claim that Mr. Barrette is the victim of political character assassination, but if so, he hold the gun to his own head and pulls the trigger. Those who claim this series is "too political" probably operate in a similar fashion in their own lives.

Coming back to the series itself, I found it EXTREMELY well researched, with compelling testimony from some of the most central figures and events surrounding the Three Mile Island disaster. Strongly recommended!!!