rwfanj Reviews

Night Court (2023– )

It's ok, I expect it will improve.

[6/10 · 28 January 2023]

I like it so far, it's definitely not the old Night Court but it's beginning (after 3 episodes) to feel a bit familiar.

It certainly wouldn't be as good without John Larroquette....he's definitely the soul of this version. It. Melissa Rauch and Lucretta are funny and seem to be relaxing a bit more in the third episode.

In time it will, I believe, do a bit better and be a little more funny. It sometimes takes these shows some time...especially when it's a reboot of such a beloved show with such a memorable cast.

I'm continuing to watch it and will revisit my rating after a few more episodes.

This is one that I really want to like so I'm giving it a chance.

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

Visually awesome, too long and rather empty/overused plot

[6/10 · 1 January 2023]

My son and I went to see the movie about one and a half weeks ago and it was enjoyable enough. First things first, it's absolutely a stunningly beautiful piece of animation. The only issues I had were with the story...it's the same old "evil settlers vs the peaceful natives" storyline. It's overused and beaten to death. Way too predictable, you know exactly what is going to happen before it happens. The characters are the same, too predictable to the point of being boring. You know exactly who is going to be captured and held for "ransom", who is going to fight back & get killed and who is going to be "defiant" and screw up all of the best laid plans. It's BADLY formulaic, simplistic and a bit silly.

Finally, it's just too long for the plot. It got to the point where it was just dragging on for the sake of dragging on.

Overall it was ok, not nearly as good as the first one.

Dune (2021)

Very good!

[9/10 · 23 October 2021]

I read the novel YEARS ago, it took me quite a while because Frank Herbert just stretches things out SO much. Then came the first film, the theatrical version was HORRIBLE...it was too much to try to plug into a couple of hours. The DIRECTOR'S CUT was better, but it still suffered.

Now, this new version has gotten it so much better, it's still not perfect BUT you simply cannot translate everything in the novel onto the big screen. Still, this is just ONE HALF of Denis Vilneuve's vision...and so far I am VERY impressed.

Snake Eyes (2021)

Disappointing...

[5/10 · 1 August 2021]

Not really much to be excited about with this movie. They completely changed the origin story of Snake Eyes & not for the better. It really just bounced around too much for my liking, the storyline was inconsistent and the acting was "wooden". Just was not impressed at all with it, I was certainly expecting a lot more. Disappointing...

Danger Close (2019)

Absolutely brilliant!

[9/10 · 14 July 2021]

Thank God that someone recognized the heroics of these young Australian & New Zealand boys! They definitely deserved more than just this movie. As an old retired soldier, and one who has studied the War in Vietnam, I am so happy to see the 6RAR recognized!

Dienstbereit - Nazis und Faschisten im Auftrag der CIA (2013 TV Movie)

A fairly comedic production with lots of conspiracy theories

[3/10 · 31 March 2021]

Basically what you have here is a short conspiracy theory film that blames the CIA for everything u see the sun since WWII. Much of the information about the Nazis involved is fairly correct, but they jump to some serious conclusions about how deeply they were involved in CIA activities. I watched it thinking it would be about Nazis being used as intelligence assets post WWII, but it just quickly devolves into a conspiracy laden CIA "hate fest".

The cast includes a known 9/11 conspiracy theorist, Adrian Von Bülow, a far right terrorist and some decidedly FAR left wing "usual suspects" that are definitely part of the "blame America first" crowd. It's good entertainment for those that like conspiracy theories but it's about 85-90% false.

The Equalizer (2021– )

No...just no. Completely unbelievable & just bad.

[1/10 · 19 February 2021]

I decided I'd go ahead and stream the first two episodes...we're snowed in right now so I have plenty of time. I'm sorry I wasted the time. It's just not even worth watching! The fighting is unbelievable and is obviously fake..it's like a bad movie. Queen Latifah is an awesome actor but this role is too contrived for her, she doesn't come across as a former "secret squirrel" type and just not convincing. It's just a bit of a downer because she always does a good job. I was certainly expecting this "reimagining" of the series to have some of the same "feel" as the original, but it's just too forced.

It just tries too hard to make everything fit and like I said, it all feels too contrived. I can't believe it got renewed.

Crazy, Not Insane (2020)

Interesting, but full of a lot of holes.

[3/10 · 2 December 2020]

Purely an "anti death penalty" movie based on the notion that ALL murderers are brain damaged or have multiple personality/dissociative identity disorder. A lot of it is just pure BS based in nothing close to real science.

Lights in the Sky (2020)

I just can't even...

[1/10 · 27 November 2020]

Everybody involved with this so called "documentary" should be totally ashamed. I honestly don't know if this short film is meant to be taken seriously OR if it is simply an attempt at trolling. The majority of the "mysterious lights" shown early in the video are easily identifiable aircraft landing lights & strobes, satellites, etc. The blatant misuse of light spectrum analysis software at the beginning is laughable. The archive information that they show is interesting as is the US Navy/DOD gun camera footage (which is still unexplained)...but it's nothing new. All in all it's just a very silly waste of an hour's time.

The Right Stuff (2020)

Incredibly disappointing...

[4/10 · 17 October 2020]

How is it that writers & directors continue to try to pass off alternative/revisionist crap as historically accurate? While the events themselves may be accurate, the portrayals of the astronauts, NASA employees, their combined families, etc., is severely myopic and filtered through today's politically correct & fragile viewpoints. None of them were perfect, none of their families were...but they did what had to be done at a time when death could be all but guaranteed. I give it a D for this very narrow and shallow take on a classic novel & reality.

Lovecraft Country (2020)

Started off great...then went off the rails.

[4/10 · 15 September 2020]

I was really impressed with the first two episodes, the third episode turned a bit strange, while the fourth and fifth have just sent it off the rails. I'm a big Michael Kenneth Williams fan so I figured it'd be a great series, and there's nothing wrong at all with the acting or the actors, it's just not making sense. I'm really disappointed because the story is getting hard to follow, it seems like it just took off on a completely unrelated tangent away from the science fiction and historical baseline that was established at the beginning. It holds true to the times of the 1950's, the racial injustice, etc., but beyond that it just seems to be kind of aimless. I really don't know what to say beyond the fact that I'm disappointed.

Christopher Titus: Amerigeddon (2019 TV Special)

Totally UNfunny, pitiful, shrill and weak

[1/10 · 10 July 2019]

What is there to say, Chris Titus is an unhinged loon and can't even be original anymore. He's just another in a long line of goofballs that is trying to cash in with hate & BS political smear. Everybody hates Trump and you don't hear anything new (or funny) in this pitiful attempt at relevancy....it's more of what we hear EVERY SINGLE DAY in the 24 hour news cycle.

Two Degrees: The Point of No Return (2017 TV Movie)

Scaremongering at its worst...

[1/10 · 17 September 2017]

I've watched this twice to try to glean anything more from it than rambling generalizations, apocalyptic visions based on worst case scenarios and outright fear tactics. Number one, The History Channel has devolved into anything BUT history. It's become another "reality show" and science fiction channel that produces such gems as "Ancient Aliens", "Pawn Stars", "Nostradamus Effect", "Ice Road Truckers", "Counting Cars", "American Pickers" (which is actually a decent show), "America Unearthed" and other series' that have nothing to do with history or are in any way educational. This particular 2 hour piece mixes science fiction with a few scant facts based on scenarios that are, AT BEST, pseudo-scientific nonsense. It's a scaremonger's dream dealing with a VERY unlikely future, using the same old tired and incorrect "anthropomorphic global warming" temperature data sets...the same data that is continually being discredited because it's been tampered with. It should not come as a surprise that this is being presented as a "likely" scenario and as scientific fact. Indeed it is nothing more than a carefully disguised "disaster movie". It is simply pablum for many of the uninformed and frightened masses.

Mother! (2017)

I'm at a loss to explain just how BAD this movie is...

[1/10 · 16 September 2017]

I've been perplexed by the trailers and the talk so it was a given that I had to go see this "psychological thriller". After watching I feel that the only thing "psychological" about it is the utter confusion and disbelief that critics are rating it as high as they have. The movie makes absolutely no sense and it's simply a complete ripoff of Rosemary's Baby...that's the best explanation for it and I know I'm not the only one. It was obviously written in the six days that it was claimed by Aronofsky, as it seems most of his scripts are written without the slightest idea ORIGINALITY. It's a half baked script turned into an even less baked movie.... Don't waste your time or money.

The Exorcist (2016–2018)

Awesome series!

[9/10 · 15 October 2016]

This is a GRITTY and teeth clenching series that will make you think and feel that terror inside. Better than the latest big screen prequels BY FAR...and it doesn't shy away from incredible religious aspects that make some uncomfortable...yet doesn't promote religion. It is not shy about wryly criticizing the politics within the church while focusing on the good individual men, women, priests, nuns, etc who aren't afraid to defy said church (under threat of serious personal and spiritual consequence). I think it frames the truth of demonic possession along with everyday lives of normal people fairly well. Call it science fiction, horror or whatever you want....the show is certainly not afraid to push the boundaries of individual, societal and religious beliefs while providing an incredibly complex story line that is as good as any suspense thriller! Just one thing FOX Network....move the show to a better night than Friday!