kimcoxmonm Reviews

CSI: NY: Indelible (2011) Season 8, Episode 1

A very memorable episode

[9/10 · 2 January 2022]

This was a very good episode. I saw it on the original run and now another 10 years later. I enjoyed the flashbacks to were each character was on 9/11. I remember what I was doing; how can you forget that. There were a few inconsistencies but continuity has a tough job.

It's not very often you get to see Adam in a very heartfelt scene because he is usually a complete goofball, albeit a very dependable one. There were many people around the world and in this country who likely missed it first hand. Then there are millions who did and for them, including me, the world stood still during that time.

I did appreciate the flashback to Jo in Washington because, though the entirety of the events horrifying, the attack on the Pentagon and United Flight 93 can be overlooked.

The scene when Mac and Claire are talking on the phone just before the 2nd hit was chilling. In a matter of a few seconds, she is gone. Mac joining the team of lab techs trying to identify remains and the conversation he and a tech had was very moving.

I have to say, I totally agree with "LovesAStateOfMind"'s comment about Danny's uniform as a sergeant made me laugh because it also made ME giggle. I told my husband as we are watching it that Danny didn't "fit" that uniform. Some actors can convincingly play a cop; he can't. He looked like someone trying to dress up in costume.

The most heartbreaking in real life - there are 1,106 bodies still unidentified at the 20 year mark. So sad that the families of those people still have no closure. There are roughly 36 cities in New York alone that have that many people (give 50 either may). Imagine one of those towns being wiped off the map and can't found!!!

Encino Man (1992)

A funny comedy yet formulaic of the typical high school comedy.

[7/10 · 26 December 2021]

I haven't seen this in a while but have watched it a few times. I really enjoyed it; some hysterical moments and some eye rolling ones. Brendan Fraser and Michael DeLuise are the stand outs for me. Pauly Shore is really funny in the first go around but in later viewings and with his other movies, his schtick wears on you quickly. Fraser's goofball antics played out so well and DeLuise really nailed it as a douchbag. Sean Astin's "Dave" became an annoyance as he was so desperately trying to become popular and get his dream girl by using Link as his "in".

The supporting cast was good. You have the typical popular, sweetheart who is dating the douchebag and is best friends with the quirky hormonal girl. Dave's parents are a little dull and clueless. The douchebag has his minions who terrorize the nerds. The eccentric outsider (VERY outside) becomes the popular guy. Best buddies have a fall out. Guy and his dream girl have a falling out. They all dance around the eccentric new guy. All works out. The end.

I have really enjoyed Brendan Fraser's work over the years with the exception of the goofy cartoon-to-live action movies. He had a tough go of it personally in the past few years and it's great to see him coming back. I think he is very talented and has a very unique style that has been missed.

Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure (2003 TV Movie)

Better in small doses.

[1/10 · 21 December 2021]

I watched this a few years ago and went into it knowing it would be stupid. It was. There are enough scathing reviews that say it all. Randy Quaid could have just borrowed money from Dennis if he was that hard up.

Cousin Eddie is like the SNL character skits that are turned into failed feature length movies - they are better in small doses.

Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003– )

Funny and entertaining.

[8/10 · 19 December 2021]

I only watch Kimmy's monologue, the guests I like and some of the recurring segments. My favorite segment is when "Mike Lindell" comes on with one of his insane rants. My cheeks hurt from laughing. I'm from Minnesota and the real man is an embarrassment to our state. I cringe when I see he is in the news. John Lithgow's "Rudy Giuliani" was superb, as well.

The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974 TV Movie)

It's the hair!!! Heat Miser's hair.

[8/10 · 17 December 2021]

There are 45 reviews detailing this show, mine won't make a lick of difference. If you have never seen this; Welcome To Earth!!

I grew up on this (I'm 54) and still watch it every year, more than once.

I eagerly awaited for it when the commercial announced its airing date. I was obsessed with Heat Miser's hair; that crazy poof of multicolored fuzzy fur with lights flickering in it to resemble flames. His minions also had it.

To this day, I can't wait for that scene and it's accompanying song.

Santa Claus (1959)

I watch it every year but it still rates a "1".

[1/10 · 16 December 2021]

Every year, I watch the usual Christmas classics from "It's A Wonderful Life", "Miracle on 34th St.", "The Christmas Story", "Home Alone 1 and 2", "Christmas Vacation", et al. Then.....I have to watch the schlocky, cringefests like this and "Santa vs. The Martians".

It is so BAD but it is appealing in a demented way. Everything about it stinks up the place but it kind of has a moral to it. When you're a kid, you know you're not suppose to look directly at the sun but you do it anyway.

The scenes where the children are singing and representing their respective countries is so funny and cute except it's not acceptable by todays standards, well, it never was. It was a different time. In my opinion, you don't cancel the past, you learn and grow from it. You can't understand what other cultures dealt with, and still do, if you're willfully ignorant of it.

I will be watching it again, laughing at it's absurdity and thinking, "not as bad as the sugary sh** they play ad nauseam on Hallmark".

Let your mind channel MST3K, it's more fun that way.

Popcultured (2005–2006)

This was torture!!

[1/10 · 15 December 2021]

I love reading IMDB reviews on the most horrible stuff ever put to the big and small screen. I read all the reviews because I have never seen anything yet where ALL the ratings were "1" or nothing.

I hoped to find an episode on YouTube and I was successful. First off, we have some incredibly horrendous programming and movies being cranked out in the U. S.. It's rather embarrassing with all of the reality shows and crap TV shows and reboots/remakes of everything. (Yes, you Disney, with Home Sweet Home Alone). Popcultured was right up there. If it were made now, Netflix would have probably have bought the rights to produce it.

I watched Episode 63 (at least that many made it to air, huh) and what is sad is that a few things actually made me snicker but the delivery was awful. I did laugh at the bit about the porn star running for Governor of Washington and then having to go to court. The woman was scary and too dumb to live. I have never heard of Elvira Hurt but if she is a comedian, she should have memorized her monologue instead of reading from a cue card. Her voice and cadence were that of a discount Ellen DeGeneres and I'm not a fan of hers either.

Elvira interviewed Leonard Maltin. She kept talking over him and asked the dumbest questions. He was engaging enough to make it tolerable. They talked about the litany of bad movies that year, in hindsight they get that honor for the worst show. Humor in Hindsight!!

Every segment had a person who was worse than the previous. The correspondant dressed as an egg at a horror convention was insufferable. Then, of all people, she had to talk with Crispin Glover. Yikes!! That man is in his own orbit.

The two "battle of the..." sequences were cringy. The content was actually kind of funny but the voiceover was not.

The nail-in-the-coffin was the guy who talked about gadgets. Obviously reading from cue cards and a voice all over the place.

I like Canada as a country so I will bow my head in sympathy for you for having to claim that mess!

Home Sweet Home Alone (2021)

Obvious cash grab and Disney wins everytime.

[1/10 · 13 December 2021]

I won't watch this. Previous to seeing the trailer, I already knew I wouldn't watch it. Aside from the first two beloved classics, I saw the 3rd and I was horrified at how bad it was. Why on Earth would I watch the 4th and 5th? Now Disney acquires 20th Century Fox and makes a 6th!!!!!! I saw the trailer and it was enough to nail that door shut in perpetuity because you know another and another will keep coming BECAUSE PEOPLE WATCH THEM!!! (Whether out of curiosity or, well, who knows). Disney gets new subscribers for it and people watch it.

If you really liked it and/or the kids did, awesome, it was worth your time and expense if you subscribed for the first time. Everyone is allowed their opinion. We all have different tastes. But if you went in knowing you would hate it but curious, then don't complain it's a crime against the originals. Disney wins. Nearly 12k rated this, some were probably new. Imagine how many actually watched it and hated it??

I get the service because I love the live action from the 60's and 70's, the classic Christmas and Halloween movies, Pixar and the Simpsons. I have seen the Marvel movies and the series'. I, however, will not pay the premium for some of the new movies. That's absurd. I can wait.

I really hope most of the parents have introduced the originals, though. They are a treasure. My husband was at the grocery store today and I was on the phone making dinner. There was a little boy about Kevin's age who come up to the checkout behind him with a small cart. He was wearing winterwear with a pompom-topped stocking cap. He put the separation bar down and my husband looked at him and said to the checker, "Kevin McCallister". She apparently gave him a dumbfounded look. He said to me he was waiting for him to take a Stouffer's Mac and Cheese out of the cart. (Yes, the mother was there, she ran back to get something.). So sad, a young person not knowing who Kevin is.😱

I digress...if you know you are going to hate it, then don't watch it and then b**** about it. Curiousity killed the cat but it doesn't kill the bottom line.

NCIS: Collective Memory (2021) Season 19, Episode 9

Really starting to lose a little of it's charm.

[7/10 · 7 December 2021]

I am not sure what the issue has been with the writing so far this season. Its as though the departure of Gibbs has put the writers in a creative funk. They are reaching so badly and some of the dialogue is so corny and amateurish.

The crime and the investigation itself is clever and though I was fairly sure of the perp, the reasoning behind it and the backstory of that person and the victim was great. The hologram aspect was interesting but full of holes. Some questions she (the hologram victim) was asked were detailed, yet she couldn't answer them but then she could give specifics of a certain person when she was only asked about "he"- not their name,etc. When they went to the lab to talk to Kasey about the hologram, mind you a first on this show, she just HAPPENS to have a clandestine area in the back of the lab where she has been programming the very same technology, albeit on a smaller budget. So, of course, this foreshadows the eventual need for her expertise to set up and operate the program they had to retrieve from the maker since the original was stolen.

Then the "roll of the eyes" in the opening scene when a male Navy staffer and Jimmy both knew that the light blue satchel belonging to the female victim, not a purse as stated, was a Balenciaga. The females had no clue.

There are more but I'm already bored. I did like the in-story about mom's, that was touching and heartfelt.

Personally, I would have liked it if they had done a storyline around something related to or mentioning the 80th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor tragedy.

NCIS: Peacekeeper (2021) Season 19, Episode 8

What is with the pink guns?

[6/10 · 3 December 2021]

It was a decent episode because it kept me guessing on the perp and they addressed PTSD in a sincere and thoughtful way. On the other hand, though I agreed with the dialogue responsible gun ownership, it was unnaturally presented. These people are very good actors so the fault lies with the writers who could have worded it to sound more natural, not "scripted".

Oh, and the overwhelming amount of pun usage in the dialogue. I HATE puns, Dad jokes, et al, and I cringed through those.

Lastly, what on earth was with the brightly colored gun grips meant for women? Really??!! They look laughingly like toys and they are most certainly not. If you want to be treated equally and taken seriously, buy a regular gun to suit your needs, not to match your outfit. I suppose you can get ones with bling as well?

8-Bit Christmas (2021)

Quite funny and touching.

[8/10 · 25 November 2021]

This was a really solid, funny movie with some great Easter eggs, nostalgia and warmth.

My formative years were in the 80's so everything came flooding back. I wasn't a gamer but I was very much aware of everything surrounding this system. Back then, everything going on in the world was via television, radio and newspaper. If it was a scandalous, it made the 5pm and 10pm (central) news or a newspaper headline. Black Friday was only on Friday and it always made the news with insane, and oftentimes, violent people. To this day, I have NEVER gone shopping on that or the days around it now. It was asinine bedlam to save a couple bucks or buy the newest and in reality, some of the most stupid crap imaginable. I hated those awful, homely Cabbage Patch Dolls. When I went to visit my Grandma in Georgia back then, she HAD to take me on a tour to the BabyLand General Hospital in Cleveland, GA. She lived outside of Atlanta so it was near there. It was home to Xavier Roberts (the Cabbage Patch creator) and it was actually a nice concept. I didn't have the heart to tell her I hated those things!!!!

The kids were all great. It is believable that they would be friends. Jake's parents were a cross between The Christmas Story parents and most of the parents in John Hughes movies. In fact, the storyline was very reminiscent of The Christmas Story and sprinkles of other movies back then. It was set in Chicago - I guess another nod to Hughes - and they travelled to Minnesota, my home state, so that was nice.

Aside from his talent, Neil Patrick Harris was a good cast as adult Jake because he was Doogie Howser in the 80's; a kind of Easter Egg in itself. His recollection of his childhood, suspect as it was very overdramatic, may be the case of part purposeful entertainment and part selective narration. We never really remember everything as it actually happened. I assumed that was Jean Shepherd's motive in his narration of Christmas Story.

The story took it's twists and turns; just as you think they may have stuck gold - nope - a roadblock. Of course not, or the movie would be over. The game box getting run over like the ham in Christmas With The Kranks - yes, it was the 90's) was great.

The LiteBrite gift was hilarious. A Clark Griswold moment when they were headed outside toward the end was Dad yelling "Jake" when he was standing in front of him.

I didn't mind the inconsistencies; again I take these as recollection issues instead of goofs.

I normally don't get emotional in movies unless I can relate and I did at the end of this one. I lost my Dad five years ago and the memories I had of the two of us doing things together was enough to let it break through. I did my girly things with Mom but I loved watching and helping my dad with his projects. I learned a lot and it serves me well now. I think the younger generation is missing out on practical skills and having an appreciation for the world outside of their devices.

I definitely recommend it.

Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

Darby murder one of the top movie nightmares for me.

[8/10 · 11 November 2021]

I love this movie. The storyline is, of course, very far-fetched but that is what makes it great. It's the rare movie where I root for the vigilante and that the actions are justified.

The movie has a great cast: Gerard Butler, Jamie Foxx, Viola Davis, Bruce McGill, Regina Hall, etc.

The scene where Shelton injects Darby with the neurotoxin and, well, cuts him to pieces while alert and feeling everything - but paralyzed - stuck with me for a long time. They didn't show everything but it was my wild imagination that replaced the visual; that freaked me out. It's what makes those kind of scenes effective. I've seen it many times so I go through it each time.

It's like a John Grisham novel on steroids!!!!

NCIS: Docked (2021) Season 19, Episode 7

Really good episode.

[9/10 · 10 November 2021]

There is finally some humor injected into an episode again. It's about time they brought Delilah back; the team members personal lives do not overwhelm the theme of the show but it's nice to see their loved ones on occasion. To see Patricia Richardson (Home Improvement) again was wonderful and pretty comical with her character's personality and boyfriend issues. Her scenes with her "helicopter daughter" Delilah were sweet and funny.

I snickered at the comment Parker made about his large "Brady Bunch"-sized family, a little nod to his portrayal of Mike Brady in the Brady Bunch parody movies. He is really gelling with the team, maybe a bit longer with Torres.

The only thing that annoyed me a bit was the constant reference to the "Bandio"(sic?) app Parker was getting them to use. I'm not sure if it's real or not, but it came across as a marketing gimmick - not very naturally done.

It had some great twists/turns in the plotline to keep you guessing. Keep the humor flowing!!

Saturday Night Live: Kieran Culkin/Ed Sheeran (2021) Season 47, Episode 5

Really solid show.

[7/10 · 8 November 2021]

I happened to like this week's show. There is always a stinker here and there but this week's was solid; outstanding in some. In my opinion, Cecily Strong is most talented cast member. She owns her characters and gets better every year. Her "Judge Jeanine" character is priceless. The "clown abortion at 23" was very good and you have to read between the lines to get it.

Speaking of the Judge Jeanine segment, James Austin Johnson's debut of Trump was jaw-droppingly excellent. Adam Baldwin's was great, albiet campy, but Johnson's was spot on; the mannerisms, cadence, his ignorant and buffoonish rants - nailed it.

Kieran Culkin was really good. My favorite segment was the cable cancellation skit. He plays a young man trying to terminate his cable service with Spectrum. If anyone, like me, has or had their service, you will relate. If you haven't and thought it was over-the-top satire, you would be wrong!!! A slight parody at best. The company is a nightmare and I can attest to a couple of things I related to: I cancelled the TV portion because we stream; a month later they added it back and sent is MORE equipment (I hadn't sent the other stuff back), they added a fee for the app which we said we DIDNT want, they talk about their personal lives (don't care and I get why I wait so long to get someone on the phone), etc. Okay, I was never transferred to Dominos but I never have a problem with them.

I just pray they continue on an upward slope because I'm actually enjoying it this year, except the Kim Kardashian episode. That was a blatant grab for people who follow her. I would think it would be past her fans' bedtimes and they wouldn't get the satire. You have to have a thick skin and open mind to watch this.

We're the Millers (2013)

Take note of MPAA before watching, people.

[7/10 · 30 October 2021]

This is a funny movie, point blank. It has a great cast of fan favorite actors and they all sell it so well. This is not for those who are easily offended by, well, just about everything. I've seen so many poor reviews and their reasoning is the offense of the content and kids shouldn't watch it. Of course it's not; it's rated R!!! The MPAA very clearly states it has "crude sexual content, pervasive language, drug material and brief graphic nudity". Were you missing something in the statement? You know that going in, so why watch it and then complain?

I like reviews that are germaine to the story as I can read the content rating.

The Andy Griffith Show: The Pickle Story (1961) Season 2, Episode 11

Favorite episode!!

[10/10 · 29 October 2021]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who loves this episode. It makes me laugh so much everytime. The one low rater is a poop!!!😀 A sour pickle!! Come on people, the drawn out morality breakdown was unnecessary. No, it's not honest to lie to someone, even to spare their feelings but I think they can be forgiven in this case. Would you feel bad if someone disputed your opinion of yourself and told you that you were a terrible cook, looked fat in your clothes or your singing was aural assault ?? Of course you would. It's sparing hurtful feelings and self asteem issues for something trivial.

It's just light hearted, silly fun. They pay in the end anyway. I always cringe when they bite into them as I imagine how gross they would be.

It's not unheard of that someone who is known to be a good cook can lack in areas. Some are not good at grilling, smoking meat, baking, pickling/canning, candy making, etc. They take far different techniques. Baking requires precise measurements, and preparing ingredients in a certain manner and order. Even great cooks struggle with some dishes.

It would have been funny if Otis ate them. If he can chug the moonshine, the pickles would probably be a delight!!

The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968)

An excellent series. The supporting and recurring characters are a delight.

[9/10 · 29 October 2021]

There is enough overview of this show so no need for that. You would have to have just crawled out from under a rock not to know the premise of the show. I've watched them all over the years and it never gets old. The adventures of Andy, Opie, Aunt Bea, Goober, Floyd and Otis are iconic. The later seasons weren't as good but still enjoyable.

I have to say I didn't care for supporters Goober (Judy Judy Judy wore out on me quickly), Warren (I think he was the inspiration Buzz Lightyear's face!!!), Howard (a complete stick in the mud), and Helen (no chemistry with Andy; boring).

The recurring characters that were a hoot were; Ernest T Bass (the squirrelly, hyper, rock throwing mountain boy) the Darlings (backwoods, ornery hillbilly with a spritely daughter and 4 musical sons who never utter a word), Emma (the elderly, squeeky voiced hypochondriacal gossip), Clara (Aunt Bea's friendly rival), Raif Hollister (the moonshiner with a golden voice) and the two blonde, bimbo gals that made life for Andy and Barney quite difficult at times.

My favorite episode is The Pickle Story. Aunt Bea makes a large batch of her pickles for the family. Clara is the blue ribbon winner for 11 years straight so Bea decides to bow out this year but knows Andy, Opie and Barney love them. Oh, but they do not. Barney even refers to them as "kerosene cucumbers". They devise a plan to rid themselves of 8 quarts but it backfires. They replace the pickles with store bought ones and,again, it backfires. This time they consume 8 quarts of pickles. Bea decides to enter the contest due to their apparent love of them and this time makes 16 quarts!!! Yep, time to start eating again. She also makes a marmalade that smells like ammonia!!! Great episode!!

I give it a nice because of the last couple of seasons and nobody rates above the Twilight Zone!!

Creepshow: Drug Traffic/A Dead Girl Named Sue (2021) Season 3, Episode 6

Again one good, the other not so.

[5/10 · 29 October 2021]

The series has been up and down since it's inception. The first season was solid but it's gone down thereafter. This season has been the worst but does have a couple of decent episodes.

The first episode would have been better if not for the overt preaching and politicizing. It was like watching a PSA at one point. You knew the motives of the Congressman but he becomes even more of a douchebag later on. Is that possible?? The border patrol officer seemed be all over the place in his ideologies. What the mother and daughter dealt with was a supernatural statement of what people deal with trying to get inexpensive lifesaving medication and the consequences when they are forced to do without. I did have to laugh at the effects of her disembodied head seemingly floating. It looked like it was hung on an IV pole and scooted around. THAT is a good classic Creepshow cheeky effect. I don't think todays filmmakers understand you can still tell an effective story, make a point without jamming down it down our throats.

Now... The second one does just that, like it's influence; The Night Of The Living Dead. It's set in the 60's, so the black and white filming is appropriate and effective. It's actually based on a short that EP Greg Nicotero read years ago. It wasn't until this season that it was finally made. There is a good backstory regarding this series that ties into George Romero.

The original movie had an allegorical message regarding injustice and prejudice without being preachy. It just told a story. What would have been better was to have had Michael Rooker (The Walking Dead) in it instead of the first episode. Nicotero is EP of that show as well so it would have been a nice tie in. I also liked the fact they used the "news footage" from NOTLD on the TV in the police station during this version. Overall, a good story.

Foodfight! (2012)

Read MartinHafer's review.

[1/10 · 28 October 2021]

I saw this movie a few years ago and it was one of the worst pieces of rubbish I have ever watched. I enjoyed Killer Clowns From Outer Space, Plan 9 From Outer Space, Attack of the Killer Donuts (and Tomatoes) and Santa Claus vs. The Devil much more. Those movies are trainwrecks but you laugh at the ludicrousness of them. This is a trainwreck caused by an earthquake that spawns a tsunami put out by a volcanic eruption!!!

Read MartinHafer's review. Every single word he said was exactly what I thought of it. He is like my Hallmark card on this.

If I were the companies parodied, I would still sue but you can't collect blood from a turnip.

Charlie was good in doses over the years (except Anger Management-unwatchable reincarnation of Charlie Harper). The Duff girls; they can't sing let alone act.

I am no animation expert but a 10 year old could see the blatant mistakes and amateurish rendition. The next Pixar? Oooooooohhhh no! I've seen better work in a coloring book.

Teen Wolf Too (1987)

Yikes, bad when I was a teen.

[1/10 · 28 October 2021]

It was awful!! No surprise it rates in the Top 100 worst on IMDB.

Jason Bateman is a fine actor which came from years of dedication because as a young man, not so much. Even on the set of Paul, (Simon Pegg/Nick Frost 2011) they razzed him about it. Sometimes you can't escape it even if you have a successful career.

The original was okay when I was a teen but in hindsight, nope.

Of course it's a far fetched movie; it's about a werewolf. That aside, if they are telling a story in the otherwise real world, then attempt to make it realistic. I mean, come on, who gives a boxing scholarship? Yes, some will say that football, for example, is barbaric and not worthy of the same consideration. I love football, so I'm bias. In all reality, no sport should get you a scholarship, academic excellence should. Very few people actually go on to a professional sport, let alone for several years, relative to the number who play in college. Then you have the chubby kid in fencing?! It's like movie portrayals of the chubby kid playing the baseball catcher. The constant squatting to standing and a rocket arm!! Haha!!!

Anyway, the storyline follows over-the-top impossibilities in a very corny, cheesy fashion. This is truly for kids and teens only.

Catwoman (2004)

Rating for the brave actors who signed on and sympathy for those who needed a paycheck.

[3/10 · 28 October 2021]

I was going through the worst rated movies of all time on IMDB. I was shocked that Manos and Saving Christmas were overtaken after years being the worst, well, because they are.

I'm not surprised this movie was down the list because it is a bad movie. Now, if it were meant to be campy and over the top, then I could appreciate it more. Movies like the aforementioned Manos or Plan 9 From Outer Space are cheap, cheesy atrocities but those trainwrecks are delightfully awful. This movie was trying to be serious but it was painfully awful.

The writing and directing are the starting point. The directors have their vision and the actors comply. A horrible script can't be saved by even the best actors. Halle Berry is an incredibly talented actress. She has proven that many times in her career. Unfortunately, there are times where you feel her looks are front and center over her talent. She is very beautiful but this character made her look a little trashy. Michelle Pfeiffer is also very beautiful and the direction,script and her performance put her miles ahead. She was more covered up but it was sexier and more sultry. The movie was very dark yet campy but she nailed it (and a bit spooky).

Sharon Stone is always a delight even though she is really not that great of an actress, it seems to work for her but not here.

What does puzzle me is the people who rate something like this a 10. I'm not insulting your opinion, it's all subjective, but why a 10 when many of those reviews do have issues with it. How do you give it a perfect score!!!!!!!! 10 on this scale is perfect. It doesn't fool enlightened people. We actually read reviews, not just an overall rating. If they are predominantly bad, though it may not deter watching it because, again, taste is subjective, it kind of give it credence. I do laugh at some perfect scores because some of these people love EVERYTHING (according to other reviews) even the worst crap ever made. What do you rate the truly great movies??? Ok, I'm done there.

I'm looking forward to The Batman. We will get another new version of Catwoman in Zoe Kravitz. Another beautiful young woman (look at her parents, no wonder). She will be Selina Kyle and I'm hoping for a convincingly strong portrayal. You couldnt pay me enough to watch the Twilight movies but Robert Pattinson is a very good actor so I'm praying it makes me forget Ben Affleck!!! We need to get back on the right track.

Separation (I) (2021)

Had a flashback to Momma in Kramer Vs. Kramer

[6/10 · 25 October 2021]

That would be Meryl Streep, Mamie Gummer's mom who played Mrs. Kramer. Though she left her husband and son, she returns after an injury to their son and a nasty custody battle ensues. A far superior movie.

This movie has the good, the bad and indifferent. The pacing was very slow and the cinematography was average. The editing was lacking as it bounced around aimlessly. The character development was minimal but you get an outline of who they are. Divorce is in progress and the custody battle ensues. Mom is the domineering, breadwinning shrew and Dad is the hapless milquetoast. Mom returns to work for her father as an attorney because Dad is in a perpetual pity party for one, due to his one-hit wonder of a comic book. Initially it's the chicken and egg scenerio but when you see that video in happier times, it's clear her attitude evolves as he devolves. Never good,though, when you have children.

He lives in this past glory futilely attempting to resurrect it but it appears he revels in his pity with the babysitter who thinks he's a genius. See where this could be headed??!!

Theeeeennnn...sheishitbyacarandkilled. Problem solved. No it is not...Now it's Daddy's turn.

The sitter is more interested in the father than her charge but the daughter is more interested in her imaginary world. This is where reality begins to clash with the otherworldly.

At this point, it's still slow. There are typical cliches such as; oh it's just a dream, now it's hallucinating and now it's supernatural in their world.

Then you have the requisite medical condition that foreshadows an upcoming plot turn. This time it's a peanut allergy. Though only approximately 1% of the population has such an allergy, it seems 75% of those are movie and TV characters.

The new trend seems to be the creepy contortionist creature. I've seen many in the past few years, the last being Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark, which is also a better movie. This is by no means an insult to the talents of Troy James, he is one of the highlights of the movie. If they continue using this trope, he will be working steadily for a long time.

I was sure of the killer in this and I was right, so that was anti-climatic, as was the ending. The pace picked up in the latter third but it was predictable.

Another plus were the sinister dolls and the artwork. It was a clever idea to have the Dad as a comic book writer/artist. It lent well to the story.

I personally will not watch this again but it wasn't a waste of time.

Saturday Night Live: Jason Sudeikis/Brandi Carlile (2021) Season 47, Episode 4

Return of some funny bits.

[7/10 · 24 October 2021]

I actually thought this episode was really solid. Aside from last week's show with Rami Malek, it's been a long time since there was a consistently funny 90 minutes. Jason Sudeikis at his best with his oft times dry and sardonic to the "deer in the headlights" goofiness he is known for. I enjoyed seeing him reprise is role as The Devil on Weekend Update , Joe Biden of 2013 and tracksuit-dancing dork in What Up With That; a nod to Fred Armisen in that as well. He received a wild reception during the monologue. The funniest skit, hands-down, was the Science Room bit. I was almost in tears as he went of on his idiot students.

Speaking of Weekend Update - it was great. The news bits were hilarious and sometimes cringe inducing yet on point. It was nice seeing the extremely polically INcorrect perv with a small penis aka The Guy Who Bought a Boat. That is ALWAYS cringy but fantastic.

Even though the show has been spotty over the years, it's nice to still find a show that can parody and saterize what's wrong with society and it's offenders and have it's off color moments. They have a talented and diverse cast. We need a break from all the in-your-face "don't want to step on anyone's toes and screw telling a good story" crap. It's a show for adults, not kids. If you can't take it, there are plenty of other things to watch.

30 Days of Night (2007)

Dark, cold and delightfully gory!!

[7/10 · 23 October 2021]

As a whole, it was an above average horror movie.

There are inaccuracies about the town formally know as Barrow but it's fictional so they get a pass. It does have many similarities to Salem's Lot so if you loved this movie, read Stephen King's novel and check out the film and mini series versions.

Josh Barnett is much better in this than some of his other films. Playing the small town sheriff was convincing, especially when he had a couple of Barney Fife moments. He was fighting ferocious vampires and that would elicit terror in anyone. Melissa George was average as his estranged wife.

The vampires were nasty and the Nosferatu-like monstrosities. Those are the depictions I prefer. I do not like the romanticized, pretty boy vampires. Picture any movie with a pretty vampire... I never saw it. Okay, I did see Dracula 2000 a few years ago because Gerard Butler was in it. That's it. Hated the movie. (A reviewers comment that Transylvania 6-5000 with Bugs Bunny being better was hilarious. Abra-kapocus!! Always funny!!!) Danny Huston was spectacularly gruesome. I did laugh at the predator bird-like language. Squawk while sucking in air, that hurts a bit.

CGI was not the best quality. The editing was all over the place at times. The scene where a vampire is on the ground and rolls over and up to a crouching position looked painfully recorded in reverse. The gore was good but, again, the edits were a little off at the quick cuts. Those cuts where you use your imagination as to the gore; to further the psychological experience and to save a couple bucks on SFX. The ax dismemberment toward the end redeemed it. Yuck!!!

There were many predictable moments and foreshadowing. Asthma comes back but not as bad as some. The rock crusher; someone's going in it. Pipeline spill in town; it will be set on fire, dark and stormy night-well snow; dramatic effect and let's go out into it, "I'm leaving town"; but something happens where they have to stay.

Overall a decent movie. It's a one-off for me but I didn't waste the 2 hours with it.

The Twilight Zone: The Sixteen-Millimeter Shrine (1959) Season 1, Episode 4

A tragic tale of long ago fame.

[8/10 · 22 October 2021]

It's really a sad story and it makes me wonder what the real mindset is of those considered "past their prime" in Hollywood.

Barbara Jean spends endless hours shut up in a dark room reliving her golden years in Hollywood through her films. The still lovely actress yearns for yesteryear and the wonderful memories she had with her leading men, not her co-stars as she stated. Her domestic assistant(is that PC enough?) and her agent Danny are worried about her state of mind.

There is a part available through the studio and producer she once had an acromonious working relationship with. It sounds promising until the bombshell hits that it's a supporting part as a MOTHER!!! "I don't play bit parts and I don't play mother's!!!". Then it really hits the fan between the two with the final insult coming from Marty!!! She is a diva so you really can't fault him that much but conversely, you still kind of feel sorry for her.

So back to the dark room she goes until the next bomb drops and one of her former leading men shows up to visit, visably much older and operates a chain of grocery stores. Well, that is the final straw and it's back to the dark room and cobwebs.

Instead of resorting to horrifying plastic surgery or reality shows, as some do now, she opts to immortalize herself by entering into her own movie to live as her character. Rebooting herself, I guess!!

It really is a sad notion that many women in Hollywood seem to have an "expiration date" on their careers. If they played the sexy, nubile ingenues in their youth but don't have the acting chops to transition to more mature roles, then they are on the fast track to "Where Are They Now" lists and reality shows. They desperately cling to any branch available to stay relevant or they lose their status because they have decided that drastic plastic surgery is the way to go. It happens to men as well but more so the women.

A really good episode that depicts the despair and obsession to cling to what is perceived to be ones prime years. No one should ever be made to feel used up and irrelevant.