Change Your Image
shelsie
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Lists
An error has ocurred. Please try againReviews
The Twilight Zone: The Comedian (2019)
Passable as a first TZ effort - but leaves you a bit unsatisfied
I must admit, I had really high hopes for the very first installment for The Twilight Zone (2019-). The first episode was higher than mediocre, but not great. The first thing one notices is that there is absolutely not one comic line in an episode called "The Comedian". That's too bad. They should have written some real jokes. Even politics can be funny, guys, but economics! Fuggetaboutit! I absolutely loved the overall premise and the storyline, but it was fairly predictable and there was not really a true twist. What was most outstanding was the set design - it was gorgeous. Best use of blue ever. And I loved the way Jordan Peele came into the scene. Overall, I was so glad to have the TZ back that I can forgive first episode jitters. I can't wait to see the rest of season 1!
The Twilight Zone: Nightmare at 30,000 Feet (2019)
Captivating episode with contemporary references
First off, great episode and best of the two April Fool's Day offerings released for the new Twilight Zone. I thought it was captivating and really got me engaged from the beginning with the numbers connections right from the start. I fly a lot and the airport looked very realistic, as did the plane, packed full of people. I liked the fact that he was listening to a podcast; this is truly spot on for life as we lead it in the second decade of the second millennium (most of the podcasts I listen to are TZ related). The passengers were very realistic, and great twist in character identities.
I won't give all the plot points away and spoil it all, but I just want to ask if anyone saw all the potential connections I did to MH370? And a bit of a homage to Lost (TV series 2004 - 2010) as well. Eerie, thought-provoking and relevant, I thought. Just like the Twilight Zone should be.
The Twilight Zone (2019)
An Engaging Endeavor for a TZ Revival
With Jordan Peele serving as leader and narrator of The Twilight Zone (2019), it seems to be a promising show that definitely is reminiscent of its 60-year-old successor and ground-breaking television icon. So far, it is different enough from other contemporary anthology shows, such as Black Mirror (TV series 2011-) to stand out, but with only two shows under its belt, the jury is still out as to whether it is going to be able to fill the shoes of the original classic TZ show in an updated way. So far, there are some things I love about it, some things that I like about it, and some things I can do without.
Here is my list: Love it: the throw backs to the classic show; cross-references to current times, news items, politics, etc.; the lighting, set decorations and use of camera angles (two episodes with close up of sweat beads so far); and Jordan Peele in a suit (he does look GOOD!) and insinuated in inventive ways into the stories. Plus, the opening credits gave me goose pimples and I was so glad to not hear nostalgic music, instead of badly done, dated knock off themes like in the 1980's or 2000's versions of the show.
Like it: The writing and storylines (still has some work to be done here, as there are some major plot holes, predictability, so far, etc. - but this does pay homage to the original, I guess); the variety of actors/stars (keep the good acting coming); the variation in times (like Black Mirror, I guess it lets the storyline dictate the length of the show); and the color (I hope he will do some - at least a few - in black and white).
Not so happy with: The bitey-ness: I am glad it's on CBS All Access instead of regular television, so there is the ability to use colorful and adult language (it's about time, America), but come on, guys - let's not over do it! Seriously, we don't need to hear details about lady parts hurting and graphic descriptions of murders. It's a bit over the top, and I don't think Rod would necessarily agree with that amount of envelope-pushing. Homage to the original: I think this needs to be played up just a bit more. I really would like to see a bit more of the nostalgic stuff in the new show that made those millions of us TZ addicts out there (just check out how many TZ podcasts there are) the fans we are today. I think the homage is minimized, when it should be maximized. It must be done subtly, of course, and with class, but I don't think we need two Black Mirrors, so we need good stories that remind us of real-world (as well as imagined) challenges, events, societal issues, time travel, fears, alternate realities, etc.
I teach an English class and I engage my students in discussions about the classic TZ in 40 theme areas, and I'd like to see the new show broach all of these areas as well. Interestingly, the reviews I have read so far reflect the real dynamic that represents America, and so I think it is fitting that at the time I write this, there is a 1 and a 10 to balance it out. However, I think a true fan will at least love the fact that TZ is back in our midst, no matter its flaws. I think it is off to a great start. I wait with anticipation for the next episodes. I'm sure I won't be alone when I say, my attention is now firmly in The Twilight Zone.
Magellan (2017)
Frankly, I enjoyed it
I am an actor and this is actually my first review on ImdB. I chose to write this review to encourage movies like this to continue to be produced. It was a great effort on a shoestring (~$80K) budget, and a great sci fi plot similar to Mission to Mars (one of my top 10) mixed with Contact and 2001. It held my attention and was entertaining.
Yes, there were some unanswered questions in the storyline, there were one or two plot holes, and the ending was perhaps setting itself up for a sequel, but that would be okay in my book. I found it interesting, well acted overall, and worth the time spent. Also, the cinematography was spectacular!
Hit and Run (1999)
Margaret Colin was great on and off camera
Spoiler Alert I worked as an extra on this Lifetime TV movie (filmed in Seattle). It's really interesting when you take part in the production of a movie, because usually, they are still in the process of either still writing parts (as was the case here) or making editing cuts and major changes from the final parts.
My husband and I both worked as extras in this movie, and I recall them discussing on the set how it was yet to be determined whether or not the little girl dies in the end. Frankly, I never thought Margaret Colin's character really got adequate punishment for her crime of hit and run, lying to police, covering up, etc. Could you imagine how the ending would have had to change if she had ended up killing the hit and run victim instead of her ending up coming out of her coma okay? Just something to think about.
By the way, I play a police detective you can see for a split second and my husband plays another detective you can see quite often (we've counted four times). Margaret Colin was great to work with and very down to earth, although Lisa Vidal (now a Lifetime regular) was aloof.
Overall, the movie turned out to be about a 7/10, but like another poster commented, is still a real tear-jerker and makes a great Saturday afternoon cable flick.
Saturday Night Fever (1977)
Loved the music, loved John Travolta and have the 2001 Odyssey, how ironic!
SNF really brings back memories. Recently, I got the DVD for Christmas (the only thing I wanted). I thought I would watch it with my kids, but quickly nixed that idea after the first round of graphic sexual scenes and pungent expletives. (I was 13 in 1977, when this definitive 70's movie came out, so I was a disco wannabe and only remember seeing it as a PG-13 movie. I honestly think it could do with a NC-17 rating in its rerelease instead of the fairly tame R-rating. )
After sending the kids out (they love the opening "Stayin' Alive" sequence), I fell in love again, with the music (okay, like the Bee Gees are my absolute favorite group of all time), with John Travolta (my husband has a cleft in his chin, too), and all the generation-defining disco dancing. The Bee Gees have always been my favorite group (because of their work on this film), and I have a 25-year-old original soundtrack LP to prove it, so even though I never set foot in a disco, I feel I was really part of the disco generation. And, now, disco music (and weird 70's clothes) is cool and hip again (although I promised my tweens I'd never say either "cool" or "hip" again - sorry).
For those of you who think disco sucks, too bad - you're simply out of fashion - disco is back, man. My kids love the soundtrack, too.
And, in addition to all my posters of John Travolta, the Bee Gees, and Princess Diana (yes, loved her, too - great when they danced together at the White House), irony of ironies, I own the greatest, most obscure (and probably the most common) piece of movie trivia - a 2001 Odyssey (Honda).
I think all who love this movie should get together and watch it in unison every Saturday night a la "Rocky Horror Picture Show" and all act out the parts. "Tony, can I wipe your forehead..." Anyone game???
P.S.: This movie is a film flub lover's dream...