Change Your Image
ignatiuskafka
Reviews
Bad Ink (2013)
Not great, but disagree with bad reviews
A lot of reviewers lambast this show. Maybe I like it because of the hosts and I like cheesy (the other description I've seen here).
Honestly, there are so dang many tat shows now that it's gotten a bit ridiculous in general. At least this show keeps it fun and light.
Are they the best artists *ever*? No, but they aren't bad and they improve the bad tats they find.
This show is a good time killer if you want silliness and like tats.
Is it formulaic? Yes, but so is every other tat show.
At least it's not yet another "competition" show, which is something I'm truly sick of at this point.
Written by a Kid (2012)
Hilarious!
Ah kids! The series takes a story told by a kid between the ages of 4 and 9 in an interview, which is then acted out by adults, and filmed by professionals in the TV/Film business.
I love the complete freedom kids have when telling stories. With so much enthusiasm and creativity, you truly never know what will happen next, and that leads to some genuinely hilarious moments. Adults will also love trying to spot cameos by well known actors in many of the episodes. The episodes are short, but the behind the scenes video are often just funny and interesting. You'll hear how certain actors were cast, learn how the special effects were created with a low budget and a great deal of creativity, and more.
A description can't really do it justice. Just find an episode and give it a try. It's a delight that will put a big, goofy grin on your face.
Carlito's Way: Rise to Power (2005)
Ouch!
This was so lame that I turned the DVD off...maybe halfway through. It was so weak, I couldn't even pay full enough attention to tell you how far in I made it.Though I really wanted to believe that the depiction of the young Carlito would be somewhat different, I just couldn't buy it. I don't really blame the actors, because I think it was the script that may have fallen flat. I did find myself laughing a few times, but I don't think those lines were intended to be funny.
It's only saving grace is that I bought it in a 2 DVD set and I would have paid the price I did for the original alone. This is one of those cases when they should have let the classic stand alone.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
Ugh.
The first Transformers movie caught me off guard. It was perhaps one of my favorites in 2007. The first movie managed to be action packed and fast paced, yet meted out enough character development and plot to make it a good time and worth the 10 bucks I paid to see it. I couldn't wait for the sequel and I wish I had waited...forever or at least until it was in a el-cheapo DVD bin.
The most glaring flaw in this film was the apparent after-thought addition of a plot, if one could even call it a plot. And yes, I know it's an action film and didn't expect a deep plot, but something, anything to keep me interested would have been helpful. Here is how the film proceeds: Opening: great sound and cool robot fighting...
and then it just went on and on and on and on and on and on like that until I simply didn't care anymore. I began to think they put all of the money into repetitive effects and nothing else. Hey Hollywood! Special effects are only special if you don't try to build a film on effects alone! I was so bored at the lack of plot that I began to sing the Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny by Lemon Demon and hoping that Mr. Rogers would emerge the victor and save me from the trite, blurry robot fighting. That's right, cool robot fighting ceases to be entertaining when nothing else seems to happen for the first half of a movie. Close ups of Megan Fox scantily clad and pouty do not count as story. That seemed to be the only respite and she bored me quickly too. By the time the wafer-thin plot was introduced, they had lost me. If the sound effects hadn't been so loud, I would *chosen* to take a nap.
Overall this ended up feeling like an extended toy ad, a series of product placements, and an ad for the military. There were attempts at humor, most of which will amuse the 12 year-olds to whom they want to sell toys. If you are beyond puberty, you are likely to groan at most of the jokes, even occasionally wonder if the script writers were eating the "special brownies" Sam's mother enjoyed so much.
On the bright side, this would be a great movie for drinking games in frat houses, if the goal is hospital-bound alcohol poisoning. If you find it on DVD for 5 bucks and really like counting plot holes, continuity errors, and generally laugh at pitiful movies, you might have fun with it.
Up (2009)
A pure delight!
While I adore Pixar's films, I had no plans to see this on the big screen. It was an unusually hot night though, the air conditioner was struggling to keep up, and an escape to the theater was in order. I now consider that too-hot night a stroke of good fortune, because Up was terrific from beginning to end. I can't imagine how sorry I would be if I had missed it in all it's theatrical glory!
The characters were genuinely charming, the laughs plentiful and deep, and the story was tender and sweet without being insipid. The 3D effects were stunning without being over used.
Up was well worth the ticket price, which is more than I can say for most films!