seattlebruin Reviews

Suits (2011– )

Good characters, except for one

[8/10 · 15 September 2023]

Suits dropped on Netflix and I am plowing through it. This show is compelling, has good characters, and the good far outweighs the bad.

With that said the guy who plays Louis is a terrible actor, is creepy as hell, and in some universe I can't relate to someone felt he would be the comic relief one moment and then the bad guy the next. I don't even mind the schizophrenic story lines revolving around this character. Whether he was trying to be the firm clown or absurd bad guy the thread that permeates both is this guy is a flat out cartoonishly bad actor and a literal anchor on a show that could have been great, but was still pretty good despite that Absolutely atrocious actor who played Louis.

You Hurt My Feelings (2023)

A great little movie

[9/10 · 14 July 2023]

Please give me more movies like this. Real people dealing with real things with such authenticity and humor. The director and Julia Louis Dreyfus have really captured something with their first two movies.

Anyone who has been in love or who has kids can relate to this on so many levels. It is just a little slice of their lives that is played so well by the actors and set up so nicely by the director. This little slice really gives you a beautiful glimpse into who they are. I just want move movies like this and their first collaboration that included James Gandolfini's last performance. Please team up again!

Smallville (2001–2017)

Impeccable casting

[10/10 · 21 January 2023]

This show is great on so many levels, but none of it works without being cast right. Welling is really the best Superman we have had except MAYBE Henry Cavill. Rosenbaum IS the new Luthor we have ever had....and Erika Durance really captures the essence of Lois Lane. I could go on, but without those 3 it just doesn't work like it did.

This is my first time watching it. My dad loves it. He doesn't have much time left so I am so grateful we got to watch it together. Tears were flowing for me at the end. So many memories flooding my brain. A perfect ending.

Finally, I love how the show is evolved. The first couple of seasons had all the meteor freaks, but then it transitioned into more serious themes without losing its charm. I can't recommend this show strongly enough. Stick with it. It evolves and that is why the ending is so satisfying. Kudos to all.

Halloween Ends (2022)

Saying I hated it isn't strong enough

[1/10 · 16 October 2022]

I saw the original in the theaters. To this day it still is one of the most incredible theatrical experiences I have had. David Gordon Green and Danny McBride professed when this whole mess started that they too loved the original, but I haven't seen any evidence of that and worse yet they are incompetent and lazy filmmakers

This movie fails in many levels, but I will focus on the two most obvious. First, as I am sure as many lamented it isn't a Halloween movie. Michael is barely in it and when he is it is not Michael Myers or at least the one originally conceived that these two dopes say they revere.

Some have said the alternate storyline of Corey was well done. It was not. Setting aside the fact it shouldn't have even been done because after all this is the end of the Original Halloween cannon, this story is lazy and full of holes. I don't believe Corey's descent into madness and Allison's love for him is even less believable.

I didn't have high expectations. Halloween 2018 was ok and Kills was dreadful, but at the very least I thought they would attempt to make a Halloween movie. At least I only spent $4.99 for Peacock and didn't have to endure this in a theater. It still doesn't change my feelings for the original, but how cool would it have been if they just stopped after he original? Everyone who saw it would still think he is out there somewhere lurking in the shadows.

The Terminal List (2022– )

What I could see was asinine

[1/10 · 11 July 2022]

I lasted one episode. The opening scene was so implausible and stupid, but I wanted to give it a fair chance. The problem is the episode is so poorly lit, which I am sure was purposeful because Fuqua is talented, that I had to strain to follow it.

I go online to check how it is tracking and see the autocrats on the right have adopted it as their little cause. Since they don't actually believe in anything beyond holding power and endless culture wars this and the fact that I really didn't like anything about episode 1 made it an easy decision to stop. I like the genre too. Sigh.

Defending Jacob (2020)

As each episode came and went....

[5/10 · 11 June 2022]

I found Michelle Dockery's performance to be poor and grating. The brooding look stamped on her face from the beginning was like fingernails on a chalkboard.

Chris Evans was good. I was hooked, but ultimately the ending and the stupidity of it fit well with how poor her performance was to bring this from engrossing to ultimately just irritating and nonsensical.

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

The supporting cast was great

[10/10 · 4 June 2022]

Tom Cruise is getting richly deserved credit for putting this together, but what makes this movie a 10 instead of a 7 for me is the supporting cast. In particular, the crew of Lewis Pullman, "Bob", and Monica Barbaro, "Phoenix". I cared what happened to them and the rest of the crews. Miles Teller was great as Rooster. I could go on and on. It is being covered how amazing the action and nostalgia is, but the casting took it over the top for me.

A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014)

Neeson always delivers

[7/10 · 27 April 2022]

I will watch anything he is in. It is a very good redemption story that is nothing like Taken for the dense few who have said that on here.

It is very dark, but that fit well with the him having to go through what he did to redeem himself for what he had done.

There were a few plot holes and it was far from perfect, but if you like Neeson and solid storytelling in this genre then you should like it.

John Wick (2014)

Just watched it for probably the 5th time

[10/10 · 16 January 2022]

I'm astonished at some of the bad reviews complaining about plot or reality. They created their own universe. In this universe you either get swept up by the action, characters, and atmosphere or you can think it is real world and nit pick.

This movie is exquisite. No major star has ever committed to supplying great action on his own without any doubles or CGI like Keanu here. I like this one more than the sequels, but they are all great and my advice is suspend disbelief, take a ride in this alternate universe, and enjoy........or not. I'm only writing this for the people giving it bad reviews. Watch the special features and see Keanu's commitment. Much respect.

Dexter: New Blood (2021–2022)

Nice build up, horrible ending

[6/10 · 9 January 2022]

The first 9 episodes were solid. I genuinely anticipated the ending Clyde Phillips promised. It was supposed to "blow up the internet" and was the "best thing I ever wrote"

I have no problem with what happened in the end. It was more about how they did it. First and foremost, Dexter never panics. Never. He told Harrison he had gotten out of worse situations and he had many times and now based on almost zero evidence they'd never be able to do anything with Dexter panicked and killed Logan. Moreover, the expert in anatomy and killing couldn't manage to just have him pass out.

I knew he was gonna die or at least strongly suspected it, but as I said it was about the how. After he panics he then says he understands love for the first time and he shows it by allowing his son to murder him.

It was rushed and poorly executed. Clyde Phillips hype was absurd. They would have spent an entire episode on the interrogation. The few minutes they did was riveting. Dexter would have found a way out and then they could have killed him however they wanted after he was released. I was so irritated by this total departure in the essence of the character in the killing of Logan that I just rolled my eyes at the ending.

It wasn't a bad season. I thought episode 9 was well done. It set the stage for the big disappointment once again not because he died, but the way they did it. In my mind he is still a lumberjack roaming the Pacific Northwest.

American Reunion (2012)

Putrid

[1/10 · 13 December 2021]

Like most franchises, if this qualifies, they get progressively worse. I liked the first one and each successive movie got more tired regurgitating the same stupid jokes. I honestly don't know how anyone can find this funny or endearing in any way.

Equals (2015)

I'm a sucker for dystopian tales

[8/10 · 1 November 2021]

Anything that shows a dystopian future usually also involves the human spirit trying to triumph in spite of it.

The always underrated Kristen Stewart was moving in her portrayal of a "hider" living a hellish existence trying to suppress all feelings and emotions outwardly in a society that views them in any form as inherently defective and dangerous. Ultimately, it was her relationship with Nicolas Hoult's character that allowed her to fully realize the full spectrum of human emotion.

The progression of this story was well done, well acted, and satisfying when mixed with the visuals and contrasted with the bland, oppressive existence the "collective" is forced to live.

As I said, I am a sucker for dystopian tales, but the acting, story, and visuals all made this very engrossing.

Halloween Kills (2021)

Why is Danny McBride making Halloween movies?

[1/10 · 17 October 2021]

I saw the original when it came out. It astonishes me that David Gordon Green and Danny McBride profess to love the original and do nothing whatsoever to capture even an inkling of its essence. Gross, stupid, incompetent execution, and a big middle finger to the aforementioned two for saying they love the original and for delivering a bad slasher movie. Like all the sequels they get worse with each successive one. 2018 was ok, this was terrible. I shudder to think what the third will be with these two at the helm.

Imagine if the story just ended, as John Carpenter intended, with Loomis looking over the balcony and he was gone and we all had to wonder forever what happened to the boogeyman instead of having it sullied over and over with these putrid sequels.

Brightburn (2019)

Not scary, just stupid and gross

[1/10 · 14 September 2019]

Nothing about this kid was scary. Clever idea doing Superman in reverse, but if you are gonna do it then make parents who aren't morons and a kid you can feel for then fear. I like some of these actors so I'll chalk it up to bad writing.

So if it isn't scary because you don't care about the characters then all the gore is just gross.

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)

Quentin has lost it

[2/10 · 30 July 2019]

There was literally no point for that movie. No plot. Pointless scene after pointless scene. I can handle tangents and digressions, but this movie was nothing but that.

It was clearly made so QT could show his knowledge and love for those tv shows and movies and that era. Beyond that it a pointless and boring movie.

I wanted to like it. I am usually the first to defend QT, but not this time. What a waste of such an incredible cast. He keeps talking about this being his second to last movie. Might as well wrap it up now. The regression is getting worse and worse and that was by far his worst movie.

The Good Fight (2017–2022)

Poorly written and executed

[1/10 · 18 April 2019]

I don't really care if a show takes a vantage point of the left or right wing, but this show is overtly political and so over the top and ham handed in its execution I only lasted through half of the first season.

I can't believe much of the same team that wrote The Good Wife is responsible for this mess. That show had three dimensional characters that were interesting and stories that moved well. Conversely, the stories in this mess are disjointed and boring.

I love Delroy Lindo, Christine Baranski, and Cush Jumbo so it takes a special talent to then make such a terrible show from the first season on(presumably). I don't get the good reviews for season 1.

Selling Sunset (2019– )

Truly disgusting people

[1/10 · 24 March 2019]

I generally detest reality tv, but so like some shows about real estate. Calling this reality tv is a stretch like most anyways because it is clearly scripted.

The "women" are vapid, vain, and really awful people. Moreover, the potential best attribute of this show, the beautiful homes in Los Angeles, is merely a backdrop for the empty, superficial lives each of the brokers lives. LA has so much to offer, but this hits in every bad stereotype that there is about it.

Dating Around (2019–2020)

Painfully awkward

[1/10 · 16 February 2019]

Thanks Netflix. Just when my faith in humanity was slowly being restored you drop this on me and completely shatter it. A collection of vain, vapid idiots can be ok in a movie when it has a point, but like all reality TV they aren't in on the joke and therefore become unbearable. A good litmus test on whether to go running in the other direction from a new acquaintance is if they would do a show like this. Truly dreadful

The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

Great family fun

[8/10 · 25 December 2018]

To me Kurt Russell is one of the most underrated actors of the last few decades. He is great as Santa Clause. The rest of the cast, including the kids, are also very good.

The story itself is an updated story of St Nick. It is entertaining and fun for the whole family.