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Reviews
Brave New World (2020)
If you like the book, skip this series
I listened to the book before watching this series. The series misses many of the themes of the book, and devolves into a celebration of violence that is absent from the book. It ignores the criticism of capitalism that the book contains - each group being designed to desire products to keep the economy going - and instead focuses on the violence in the Savage Lands and then in New London.
Each episode contains the request flashing of bare breasts, swearing, and some violence to give the episode warnings for nudity, sex, language and violence.
While the acting, direction, and technical effects are all well done, the script and plotting is poor as compared to the book. The series ignores the homage paid to Ford throughout the book, leading to it importing contemporary vulgarities rather than Ford-based praises and swearing.
Massive slaughter in both the Savage Lands and New London is just a cop out. Not thoughtful and certainly nothing new. The post slaughter ending follows the similarly opaque ending of TV's "LOST." And misses the simple but more impactful ways in which Linda and later John leave the world of New London in the book.
Again, if you like the book, this series will frustrate.
In Like Flint (1967)
Not worth your time
I had fond memories of the Flint films. I had seen them both on the big screen when I was in Junior High. Probably paid 50 cents, or even a dollar to catch a matinee.
To a 13 or 14 year old seeing a bunch of women in two piece swimsuits was pretty exciting and super spy Derek Flint was cool.
But 50 years later, this did not hold up. Watch an early (Sean Connery) James Bond instead.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
Beam me out of here Scottie, this one is boring me to death!
I think I saw this when it came out in 1979. Just watched it on DVD (got the boxed set of the Star Trek movies for Christmas). This movie is bad, a real stinker.
Plot is essentially a remake of one of the original series episodes. (Sorry, I'm not enough of a Trekker to remember them by name, but the episode was better.).
I have never seen so many reaction shots. Show a special effect (many similar to, but not as interesting as the sequences in "2001, A Space Odyssey" filmed a dozen years earlier). Follow special effect with reaction shot. Then another reaction shot. Then another special effect. Then another reaction shot.
The amount of interesting dialog could fit on the back of a cereal box, in large print.
Spends so much time showing the exterior of the Enterprise it seemed like porn for nerds. Slow pacing.
I was thinking it would be a good exercise for a film class on editing to see if you could get a good 45 minutes out of this. But I'm not sure it would be a fair assignment.
Look, I like Star Trek. I watched it in the '60s, watched it in syndication in the '70s, have seen most (perhaps all) of the movies. Have seen many episodes of each of the ST franchise. This movie stunk.
Most significant fact about this movie -- William Shatner appeared to be in better shape than when he was in the series, or in later films. Of course he may have been wearing a truss
I looked up Robert Wise's other credits, and he did know how to tell a story at one time. But I can't imagine he was proud of directing this one.
Ultimately, skip this one. Even if you got the boxed set and think it would be fun to watch them all in order. If you do watch it, keep the remote handy to speed through the many special effect / reaction shot sequences.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
Very Disappointing -- Needs a serious edit
I was very disappointed with this film. The pacing is slow, very slow. The narration is ponderous and should have been unnecessary, or at least greatly reduced. The film is long.
There is nothing shown about Jessie James that explains why the American populace treated him as a hero. There is nothing in the film to support the narrator's suggestion that he gave money to the poor, or cared about anyone outside of his immediate family. Did I mention the film is long?
The cinematography is ... wide open spaces ... lots of shots of tall dry grass ... and a way overused "technique" -- a focused circle surrounded by out of focus. The focus effect made no sense whatsoever. Was it supposed to be how Jessie saw the world? How Ford did?
The music only added to the slowness. Way too many sad slow violins and other strings. The music is lifeless and so is the film. Perhaps that was the point, if so it still could have been made in less time. Hey have you heard how long, and slow, and morose this film is?
I kept expecting it to pick up, or for there to be some twist, something beyond what is told in the title. There was not. It was like a bad documentary, only even a bad documentary would have been edited so that it moved faster. It should have run 40 minutes shorter. At least.
Body Heat (1981)
Can't be beat
This film has it all, and it still works 25 years later. Mystery, sultry Kathleen Turner and sexy William Hurt in several nude scenes. Ted Danson before Cheers. Screen sex at its non-porn but highly charged best. Excellent cinematography, excellent characters. Not a single unneeded scene. And a surprise ending. You can't ask for more from a film.
A film noir style, but using color, and set contemporary (post WWII and before the Iraq debacle. (This is a very sexy R rated film, if it was released today the 'epubicans would have a hissy fit. It is not for the kids.)
Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)
An excellent movie
This is a film you can watch several times over. It covers thirty years in the life of Mr. Holland, a musician who turns to teaching in a high school in 1965, to give himself time to compose. But of course the teaching takes over.
RIchard Dreyfus does a great job portraying a man who loves music, and learns that he loves teaching, as well. William H. Macy is perfect as the vice-principal we all knew and could not stand. The rest of the cast, and the music, is very enjoyable. A nice ending.
The film is long, and takes its time developing the characters and the times. Impatient types may get fidgety. There are many good scenes reflecting '65, '75, '85 and '95 in high schools. Including the budget crunch in our schools and the cut of arts and music programs.
The Last Man on Earth (1964)
Campy but poorly done
Saw this on a cheap DVD, terrible continuity, he's driving at night then in the day, then at night, all in what is supposed to be one short drive. Weak acting, weaker script. Sound out of sync. The story idea is not bad, perhaps a remake is in order. The ending is not satisfying. Seems like they used one exterior house to represent two or more houses. I like Vincent, but he must have been in dire financial straights to be in this one. I'd be surprised if they spent more than a few days filming it. Definitely camp, perhaps an inspiration for the Rocky Horror Picture Show? Watch it only if it doesn't cost you anything and if you like corny, camp, horror movies.
Newsies (1992)
Good family musical on a serious topic
We've watched this numerous times. It has all the elements needed for a good musical. Characters you care about, good dancing and singing, decent cast and performances. It's a useful way to introduce the sensitive topics of child labor, unions, and the abuse of power to children ages 8 and up.
It's not a documentary which is a good thing, cause if it was it would be much harder to get kids to watch it.