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Reviews
The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023)
Boring and lacks any imagination or horror
This movie missed so many opportunities. To be a horror movie, there has to be something that causes the viewer to be repulsed and feared. Everyone knows who Dracula is. We've seen many interpretations. This cuts no new ground. We've seen this bat monster guy many times, done better. There is nothing to be afraid of. We know his weaknesses and strengths. You know when he will strike, you know all the victims before you are more than 10 minutes in.
The characters are all good people , for the most part. No motivations and no conflicts within the crew. They are all out for a sail, to get a paycheck. There is no tension within the crew, so it's just a waiting game until they all die.
Then we have our two heroes. The female is the major lost opportunity for any horror or plot twist. She was written to inspire women. She's strong, a victim, and serves as no romantic slave to any man. So, she does nothing, and dies. No horror, no tension, no purpose. Had she turned out to be a bride of Dracula, a true early vampire, and helping to prey on the crew, that may have helped provide some horror. You go grrrl!
Then we have the hero. Brian Goodfellow has no weakness. No motivations, and an eternal victim. The only surprise - he is setup to be the Von Helsing for the sequel. Why? He is good for nothing. He saves no one, and is constantly outsmarted by Dracula. Again, no tension and completely predictable in the modern Hollywood machine.
The movie did appear well made. The actors were all decent. No glaring CGI issues, or bad acting. It was just tolerable, with no risks or plot twist.
Marc Maron: From Bleak to Dark (2023)
Should have been called Passive Agressive Hate
Maron hates himself. He tries to be self-deprecating, but it comes off as condescending, Lucky for him, his self loathing is overcome by his narcissism. He takes to the stage to begin his rant of things he hates more than himself. The only thing he hates more than himself - anything "right wing". Anyone who is right wing is antisemitic, unfunny, talent less and deserving of contempt. He is too cowardly to name the right wing comedians, who only have the same 3 jokes, but then proceeds to continue with his one note joke - hate. I think he is jealous of comedian who sellout theaters, when he is lucky to sell out tiny rooms. I used to enjoy his podcasts, and his standup, but his derangement since the bad orange man was elected has turned his observational comedy into a hate filled bigoted rant.
Monster House (2006)
Bad for kids
I'm an 8 year old boy who saw the commercials on TV. I saw the movie and I think it is wrong. The old man dying when he attacked that kid was wrong, just died out of the blue. The boyfriend and stuffed animal thing where he licked it and ripped it up should have been rated pg-13. It is not a movie for kids.
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As the parent of my son - he is correct. This is not a movie for "children", despite being advertised to children on TV, in movie previews and magazines. Many of the scenes are disturbing, and while OK for some families, it does not reflect the values I wish to teach my child. A list of some the more appalling images shown to small children are: An adult attacking a child. The child believing he caused the man's death. A teenager attacking a child in his sleep. The teenager "making out" with the child's stuffed animal. The teenager tearing the animal apart in front of the child. The teenager drinking alcohol.
If this had not been billed as a movie for kids, I wouldn't have had a problem. But once again, Steven Spielberg has shown that he must be a failure as a father if this is what he considers children's entertainment. I should have known better since this is the man who brought the foul mouthed Goonies to children.