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jimdmurphy
Reviews
The Shift (2023)
The Sci-fi, multi-verse genre is intriguing
My first time to watch it I was distracted due to the fact I was expecting the film to appeal to a broad Sci-fi audience and to have a subtle spiritual theme. However, once I accepted that it is a strong spiritually-themed film, appealing primarily to God believers or at least God ponderers, I began to notice and appreciate its story line, cinematography, and acting.
The Sci-fi, multi-verse genre is intriguing and I believe writer/director Brock Heasley does a good job interweaving the good vs evil theme, the challenge to our brains that a multiverse story offers, and a smattering of Easter eggs. The acting of Neal McDonough (the ultimate evil guy), Kristoffer Polaha (main character who meets many of his doppelgangers from "other worlds"), and Elizabeth Tabish (the real Molly and the "dopps" of Molly) is excellent.
I also enjoyed the cinematography and editing that interweaves all the different timelines and worlds. The music, composed by lead singer of Jars of Clay Dan Haseltine and his friend Matthew Nelson (they also composed the music for the TV series The Chosen), ties it all together well.
I recommend the film. Before going, 1) review the basic "maintaining one's integrity in the midst of big challenges/loss" theme of the Book of Job (in the Old Testament of the Bible) and 2) ponder the concept of a multiverse where there are "a thousand different worlds and a thousand different versions of you". A Doppelganger ("Dopp") in The Shift is someone with the same name and same basic look but with minor or major elements of their life differing -- and living on a parallel world. Understand these up front and you'll be able to follow the plot -- and shifts -- more easily.
Enjoy.
Journey to the Center of the Earth (1988)
worst film I've ever seen
This film is the worst film I have ever seen. The story line is weak - I couldn't even follow it. The acting is high-schoolish. The sound track is irritating. The attempts at humor are not. The editing is horrible. The credits are even slow - I would be embarrassed to have my name associated with this waste of film. Don't waste your time even thinking about this attempt at acting.