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kendelldavenport
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Dune: Part Two (2024)
Stunning and Grandiose... Wasted Talent
This film was stunning in its visual and audio presentation. Full of grandiose scenes and drama. But Dune is a complicated human drama, not an action story. And there is a tremendous amount of talent in this well cast tale. But that talent, and the story, is wasted on a script devoid of story telling.
The best scene in the entire pair of films is near the end, when Muad Dib declares himself Duke of Arakis. Finally, a great actor gets to act. There should have been so much more of this.
If Villanueva had taken the script from the SciFi mini series, with this terrific cast and his amazing visuals, he would have created a masterpiece. Instead, scene after scene of grand visuals and moody characters just became tedious.
And I just have to add, Emperor Shaddam was terribly miscast. I almost laughed out loud in the theatre. Charismatic, brilliant and ruthless, not a creepy and disturb psychopath, LOL.
The Days (2023)
Tediously Drawn Out
I was torn. Was this series drawn painfully out with slow decision making, gross misinformation and the gross negligence involved for d Or was that the way things really went? Either way, this was very hard to watch.
Maybe that was the effect the director wanted to achieve, to have the viewer screaming at his screen over the ridiculousness of the actions in the face of a national crises.
Spoilers. Firstly, there were more people pushing papers and staring at their laptops than were on the ground actually assessing the damage. 200 people just in one government/industry committee while 40 workers struggled to lay down fire hose from 3 barely functioning firetrucks with 4 overheating reactors. A Prime Minister who could fly out to the site by helicopter in the first few hours, but no helicopters EVER brought in generators, pumps or personnel. They all had to navigate in through Tsunami block roadways. Refusal to accept expert help from foreign governments because of the political appearances. And a corporation that hid information from its own government in the face of an unmanageable disaster because they didn't want to look bad.
I gave this only 4 stars because I believe they could have told this story without having nearly every character seem unable to take action or make a decision without painful doubt, hesitance and cowardice. As far as the upper managers were concerned, they deserved this portrayal. But the workers at the plant deserved better.
Kimi (2022)
Contrived and unsatisfying
The story hinges around an agoraphobic tech geek who discovers disturbing audio data as a home bound tech analyst for a voice activated home helper similar to Siri. There is an important side plot involving her neighbors, people who over the course of pandemic restrictions have "gotten to know each other" through contact from over looking windows. Something that would have been creepy in a more normal time.
I would have given the story a 5 if it were not for the totally unsatisfying side plot. A 5, because the entire drama hinged on the agoraphobia of the main character who faces the challenge to leave her building, instead of just calling 911 like any normal person would do, and especially a shut in.
But in the end the side plot romance is completely without charm. The guy who wins her heart is the one who comes to her apartment for intimacy, and then has self absorbed temper tantrums because she won't leave. The apartment for him. He totally disrespects her emotional illness. While the other neighbor, the one who is equally a shut in but leaves his apartment to save her life? We don't even see him again, even a wave in his direction.
Movie could have gotten a 6 or 7 from me if it had at least recognized that some people deserve to be given a chance for their heart and courage and not just overlooked in favor of the arrogant self absorbed good looking guy.
Strange Weather (2016)
Poignant and Real
This movie didn't go a single step to cater to the action and twist driven drama that is the usual fare for the simple minded audience. Instead it tells a heartfelt story that feels profoundly real. The primary characters have deep friendships that can survive telling each other hard truths that need telling. When I realized where it was NOT going it gripped me even more firmly. I loved this film, cried twice, and adore Holly Hunter as much now as I did my first time seeing her in Raising Arizona. She is 6 weeks older than me and still makes my heart beat fast, dangerous at my age. This is a real drama that will survive over time and someday be a classic.
Shock and Awe (2017)
Bravely Done.
Most films like this start out with the disclaimer "based on real events". This film says "true story". Don't dismiss the very real meaning of this statement. Everything in this story is true. And in stating this the creators are saying, sue us for libel or slander if you dare. No one has.
Every citizen of this country and in fact the world needs to understand what this film represents. It is calling out the leaders who knowingly and with deliberate purpose lie to create a narrative that fulfills their personal goals.
George Bush, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfield lied to the US public deliberately to begin an unjustified war for a false purpose. The 10s of thousands of US citizens killed and wounded in Iraq and the MILLION of Iraqi men, women and children killed and mutilated are victims of treason against this country by 3 of its top leaders.
I was watching the press conference where Bush declared, 'our intelligence community has verified that Iraq has been seeking to purchase enrichable uranium from a central African nation.' What he did not say is that intelligence report was from 1964 when Iraq was our ally.
The A list cast that presents this story didn't do so for the money or to make a hit film. This film was made by the real patriots, people willing to stand up and say, "we as a nation did wrong and it should never happen again."
Unfortunately, it will fall on deaf ears. Too many Americans are so entrenched in the lies from our politicians we can't see the truth when it is right in front of us. Things haven't gotten better, they have even gotten worse.
This film is significant. You need to see it. Your friends and family need to see it. Your High Schools and Colleges need to show it in History and Political Science classes. Until we all realize just how far our leaders will go to lie to promote their personal agendas we will continue to be patsies to the greed and self interest truly running this country.
The Last Duel (2021)
Unexpected and Well Worth It.
This film takes a chance. It sacrifices the polished dramatic flair Ridley Scott is always capable of for a fascinating portrayal of the difficulty of determining the "truth" when multiple perspectives are involved.
Throughout Chapter One I was asking myself, where is the licentiousness of the Court of Charles 6th? Why are the 2 main characters so stiff in their friendship and nobility?
All revealed in Chapter Two when you realize the flaws of Chapter One were the flaws in the character who's viewpoint was being expressed.
From there on the film becomes a fascinating and dramatic portrayal of both real events and the character flaws of real people. And it does not disappoint in film story telling either. While the 3 person perspective has a certain awkwardness in the beginning it creschendos to a powerful conclusion.
Wednesday (2022)
Beyond dull.
There was a moment in the first 2 minutes when I thought this show had promise. And that was it, the first two minutes.
It is so dull I am wondering if I can possibly come up with the required 600 words for a review, but I will try.
Wednesday is portrayed well. She is completely flat. Not a single emotion. It was probably VERY challenging for the actress and I appreciate her effort. But to be entertained by that performance there needs to be contrast. Gomez has zero charm. No personality, no humor. Morticia pretty much the same. Flat, dry and completely unconvincing. Even her makeup lacks contrast. Lurch was completely unimposing, Pugsley barely there.
Out of the Addams family, the second best performance behind Wednesday was Thing.
I had hoped the dullness would be relieved once they get to the school, but the one bright and charming performance by Wednesday's roommate wasn't enough to save it. Even the school is dull and devoid of mystery. We are told as an audience from the outset the nature of the school clicks. No surprises and completely predictable.
My daughter insisted I get at least as far as the school dance, but when I saw that was episode 4 I bailed. Did not even finish episode 1.
Dark River (2017)
Miserable all round
This is a miserable story with no redeeming value other than the beauty of the environment and quality of the acting. A single rational conversation between the two main characters and all the needless loss of the film could have been worked through to a satisfying maybe even triumphant conclusion. Instead, they function barely one step ahead of animal instinct, driven solely by negative emotions, and with little or no use of their frontal cortex or ability to reason.
Yes, there was severe emotional trauma in Alice's past. There was NO excuse for Joe's behavior at all. He is angry at Alice for not coming home for their father's death knowing what he knew? And then he takes it out on Alice? And throws away any possible way of working it through, building a life, keeping what was still of value? Real people, and stories worth telling, struggle AGAINST the challenges. You don't feel empathy for people who throw their lives away by wallowing in self pity. And it doesn't make for much of a story.
This film was nearly as bad as Manchester by the Sea and for the same reasons. Skip it. Waste of time.
Uncut Gems (2019)
Awful
40 mins in and there weren't any characters I cared about. I wanted to turn it off. Suffered through the rest of this film to give it a chance before I rated it. This film is awful. I hated every selfish, loud mouthed, lying and manipulating character in it. Not a single main character displayed any redeeming qualities.
The best part of the film, best?, I mean ONLY good part of the film was the way it ended for the main character. Wish it had happened 15 mins in and saved me from having to endure him for another 2 hours.
I love Adam Sandler, so have to applaud his performance, 5 minutes in and I hated him so much I couldn't believe it was him.
Is the Jewish community happy about the way they are portrayed in films like this and shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel? God awful horrible people. Not a thing like the people I know in the real world.
Skip this piece of trash.
Dune (2021)
One line story changer....
I simply ask.. why does Lady Jessica bear a son, instead of daughter to her beloved Baron? Changing this simple fact changes the whole meaning of the story. Maybe the RIGHT answer comes out later, but it was the WRONG answer in this version of the film at this crucial point in the story. Everyone in my family, ex wife and 3 teenagers, looked at each other at this point in the film with a puzzled HUH? On our faces.
The film was still very good up until the betrayal, in spite of this story changing deviation in the plot. But once the action began, it was loud, oppressive, overwhelming and changed the film from character driven drama into special effect big explosions and superhero like tedious combat.
We walked out with headaches with 15 mins left to go.
Enough said.
Mudbound (2017)
Wrenchingly meaningful
From the very outset there is a subtle tension in the background of this compelling story and is still true today. That truth? The hatred and bigotry that permeates the society upon which the oppressor stands has made those oppressors miserable people. Full of hate and spite. And the oppressed, in spite of their unjust position, are those with hope and faith and love in their lives.
When two young men return home from the war in Europe, they find in each other the only understanding of what each has been through. In defiance of all the rules of their society, and at great risk, they form a bond which rejects the racism they both know, and they become true friends. A friendship which SHOULD have been an example of what is RIGHT to all around them, but instead just leads to tragedy.
This movie broke my heart. 75 years later and we are just as, or in some ways even MORE broken than 1950 Mississippi....
Alpha (2018)
My Husky loves this movie too
Seriously, my family was watching this film on Blue Ray ( family is 63 yr old me and 20, 19 and 17 yr old young adults ) and my dog, who has never paid any attention to the TV woke up and watched this movie with us after the first wolf howl in the distance...
One of my favorite authors back when people actually knew how to read was James Kjelegaard, and one of my favorite books was Fire Hunter, a speculative adventure story about a young spear maker, Hawk, and a young woman, Willow, separated from their nomadic tribe of stone age bison hunters who have to quickly adapt to living alone without the support of a large group.
Its a bit unrealistic, but reasonable account of how a significant change in circumstance and the driving need to survive might force a dramatic step forward in technology. Alone and desperate, Hawk and Willow must look beyond the way of doing things passed down by the tribe and find new ways, or die.
Alpha takes this same premise and beautifully adapts it to tell the story of man's first domestication of wolves. The prehistoric reality is wonderfully rendered, from the tribal choice to settle permanently by a major flint deposit to the stacked stone monoliths acting as travel guides, things we know as real from archaeology. The bison hunt and cliff scene are also supported by science. And while the way man first bonded with wolf will never be known, it is most likely that such a dramatic change from predatory competitor and enemy to best friends was driven by desperate need. This a great story.
Could have used a slightly better musical score.
The Expanse (2015)
Intelligent and Real
Every few years a new Science Fiction show comes along that takes a giant leap forward in both drama and realism. The Expanse skips the utopian view of Star Trek, and the total fiction of Battlestar Galactica and instead presents a credible character driven drama that is realistic on three fronts. The science of interplanetary space. The probable political and social problems of an over populated one world government and its pioneering colonies seeking freedom and equality. No easy fixes for societies built on generations of hatred, prejudice and injustice, a very realistic extension of the very same problems we face today. And characters who behave like REAL people. Those with strong well defined "selfs" stick to their characters, only wavering under extreme duress. Those who have a chance to grow and change, do so, or fail to do so, just as in real life.
There are no unbelievable and shocking twists thrown in randomly just to surprise the audience. The surprises are instead the result of really good storytelling, with the audience as involved in the mystery as the main characters.
This isn't just great Sci Fi, its great drama. It's intelligent. It's real. It's immersive. It's too good for today's majority audience, who can sit and watch 90 mins of ridiculous robot or superhero fight scenes and call it "great". I am so glad Amazon saved it before it was too late. Just wish someone had saved Firefly as well.
A Quiet Place Part II (2020)
Great return to Theater
This was my family's first in theatre movie in 15 months and probably the same for much of the audience. And you could literally hear a pin drop. This movie had EVERYONE on the edge of their seats and involved. Our popcorn bag and soda cups were still full when the movie ended. On the way home we couldn't stop talking about it and none of us could sleep without decompressing.
Not to take away from the ALWAYS amazing Emily Blunt, but the kids were the real stars this time. The child actors really stepped up their performances in pace with the intensity of their roles. And as with the first film, this was more than just a suspense film, but also a great drama with characters we CARE about who falter, fail, recover and triumph.
Black Summer (2019)
The worst
I was hoping, really hoping, someone would FINALLY make a zombie story that made a little sense. If you watch the extras for Walking Dead, you will see the writers talk about how they wanted to "explore Rick's character" in new situations, new, unrealistic and profoundly stupid contrived situations which no experienced survivor would be in.
In THIS show, the rookie survivors are the lamest people on the planet. Dozens of abandoned cars, and not a one picks up a simple tire iron. In Walking Dead, the show centers on Atlanta Georgia, home of Atlanta Cutlery, Bud K Knives and Museum Replicas Limited... if you know what these companies are I need say no more... These shows have the lamest most ridiculous survivors. My three kids and I are better armed than any 30 people in these shows, and Black Summer is the WORST.
In one episode, this very likable lame O is alone and in a completely unlooted grocery store. He has just evaded a chasing zombie. So does he secure the entry?
Arm himself, hell a sharpened broom stick is better than your bare hands. NO.. he gets a cart and goes shopping.
Yeah, maybe the writers want to show how lame a@@ can develop to BAD A@@, but who can watch this drivel that long?
OK, so my family goes to Renaissance Faires and are maybe a little better off than most, with 2 full chain mail halberds and 2 dozen edged and blunt weapons.
As well as Samurai swords that were NOT replicas, but carried by Japanese officers who surrendered to my Dad in WW2.
Walking Dead's Michonne and Daryl are probably the only two realistic survivors on TV, and not a single person in Black Summer should have lived through the first 10 mins... spoiler alert... the kids in the High School are the only ones worthy of survival, and they are sadistic a@@holes
Eye in the Sky (2015)
Important
In a world where superpowers like the US are becoming increasingly capable of fighting battles by remote control, its important to remember that the casualties of this kind of warfare are NOT just numbers on a page.
This film had me shaking with suspense after the first 30 minutes, and in tears for some time afterward as well. ALL the characters were represented with realistic emotion for the role they played, and the drama that unfolded was intense, painful, and heartbreaking. I can't call this film entertaining, but it was meaningful, well done, and deserves recognition for such a thorough approach to the ethical questions faced by all the parties involved in warfare by remote control...
Everest (2015)
Ruined by Imax 3D, but Ill see it again in regular format
This movie was the first I have seen in IMAX 3D and will be the last. I had noticed in previous 3D films that the camera focus on the central shot of the scene is brilliant, but it washes out all the background and peripheral into a blur.
Well, this would have been a majestic film full of incredible shots if it had NOT been ruined by this fact of 3D. Perhaps not everyone feels this way about 3D, but everyone in my group of 6 that went left with headaches, eyestrain, and disappointment.
I know personally two people who have climbed Everest, and they say it is a harrowing life changing experience. This story is very well told, and reflects much of the challenge realistically. One thing it did miss though, the environmental problems at base camp. Base camp in reality is a trash heap, unlike most US National Parks and Forests which require backpackers to pack out what they pack in... the Everest base camp is a pit of garbage, The film makes one tiny reference to this when a character picks up a few items of discarded litter.
The story itself reflects the great and sometimes tragic conflict between personal ambition and common sense. Climbing Everest was a lifelong goal for these people. One that entailed great risk. But when faced with the choice between failure and death, personal ambition led some to choose the course which led to death. And the real tragedy is that others then died trying to help them achieve their goal, or trying to save them. There are no villains in this story, except perhaps the dangers of Everest, but there were several heroes. This movie is well worth seeing, but if you aren't really into 3D, see it in regular format.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
Unique and Excellent
The director breaks from the "action film" norm and creates a low key even tempo story that depends on character, acting, drama and humor instead of action and special effects. And it works beautifully.
I was expecting another over the top action remake of a TV classic, or worse, a spoof. What we get is an intelligent, (sometimes silly and humorous intelligent) retake of a classic. Many films that try to be too much.. both drama and action and comedy get lost and fail at it all. This movie blends all three in just the right dose and pulls it off smoothly and with class.
And surprise, instead of "updating" it to modern times, it was set in the original 60's!
From the beginning I was surprised by this film, and loved it.
On the Beach (1959)
Disappointing
I love the book. It is simply told yet deeply moving, and the characters feel like real people we all could know.
But the movie, in spite of its skilled cast falls far short. Each of the characters has a unique way of dealing with the crises at hand, which forces their emotions into the background, but only just below the surface. But only the two female leads, Moira and Mary, bring this out in their performances. The male leads are all too uptight, with the emotion which should be boiling just below the surface held too much in check. As the actors themselves are terrific in other roles, I blame the director...
But the real failure in this movie is the musical score. It relies nearly entirely on "Waltzing Matilda" and fails miserably to convey any drama or sense of emotion relating to the individual scenes. Worse, it becomes downright annoying by the end.
This is a great story, and I hope it gets remade someday because this version was a huge letdown.