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Reviews
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (2011)
It's a wonder Amy Tan didn't sue
I realize that when they adapt a book into a film that a lot of license is taken with the storyline. I also realize that to expect a film to lay out word for word is unrealistic. I have seen films that have surpassed the book they were based on and then there are the films like this. I seriously wonder whether ANYONE on the crew read the original material to understand exactly what this is supposed to be about.
I see a lot of reviews that think it has only to do with the friendship between two friends and how it is the same in different centuries. So doesn't come close to the themes in Amy Tan's beautiful story.
While the surface is about two friends, its also about the nature of people and how we change as we grow but how we should never forget the importance of our past. In the original text, Lily forgets this when she marries into an important family. She tries to change Snow Flower to be more like her not knowing the full situation. In essence, she forgets where she came from and who she is.
The movie only concentrates on friendship. That's it. Just a surface friendship. None of the subtleties of this special friendship at all. This is truly disappointing and I hope some day someone who has actually read the book will do a MUCH better job as I think this book should reach a farther audience that only film can do.
The Princess (2022)
Hyped
I want to meet the 'critics' that are raving about this absolute nonsense. Seriously. What is the big?
The movie starts with some girl waking up in a tower & starting to kick butt. Then, for the next 90 minutes, we have to watch her do nothing but be 'tough' and fight all of these soldiers a la Doom.
There is no back story or explanation WHY the princess finds herself in this situation until about a quarter thru the 'film' where we find out that she stood up some prince at the alter & as a man, he is NOT taking the rejection well.
Who is this prince? Don't know...was never explained. Where did he come from? Can't guess other than some rival kingdom although he makes a big deal out of being king so I don't know how he can be a prince if his daddy isn't a king as well.
From start to finish there are plot holes you could drive a Sherman tank thru.
Everyone is saying what a great feminist role this is but yet, her father won't make her the successor because SHE IS A GIRL! Of course, because she is a girl she has to prove herself (cuz we haven't been thru this over & over with any other princess) to be worthy. UGH. SOOOOO tired of these vapid movies!!
6 Underground (2019)
All that money for this?
Oh it's a good thing that Ryan Reynolds is pretty. I don't know why Hollywood feels the need to keep casting him in these movies where he plays Deadpool in every single thing he does. Oh, and with obvious product placement of his Aviator gin.
I'm ok with popcorn movies. I fully realize that you leave reality at the door. The thing is, you have to have some sort of feasible working plot for us to just sit thru 90 minutes of constant guns and vehicles killing people. Otherwise, it's just a glorified snuff film. This movie starts off with a car chase in Florence and doesn't slow down once.
Supposedly the 'plot' is about some billionaire that NOONE has ever heard of (really?) that decides on his own to 'make the world a better place' by killing the bad people. Anyone with half a brain knows the world doesn't work that way. There is ALWAYS someone waiting in the wings that is worse.
There was a point in the movie where some sort or organization was mentioned but that was it. The unheard of billionaire supposedly had a whole list of bad guys that he wants to take out but we just saw a single one.
I get that there are hard core action fans out there that don't mind plot holes that a Sherman tank could drive thru. I know that if there wasn't a market for these, Michael Bay would be out of a job. It's sad though that there is a market for this because I miss movies with actual believable plots.
Red Notice (2021)
Not even close
I love hardcore cheesy movies. They are the bread & butter to my ability to completely tune out all of the daily stress. The problem with a good cheesy movie, is that it walks a fine line of awful and clean fun.
I watched this today hoping that this would be a fun cheesy movie. Afterall, what else is Ryan Reynolds good for anymore? Sadly, this was a big ole fail.
It tried way too hard to be the sort of irreverent spy movie that Reynolds is constantly doing. What put it solidly in the fail column were the tasteless product placements (Aviator Gin, constant reference to cell phones & plans etc). Do all of his businesses really need this much help? Does he (Reynolds) need to fire his accountant for giving such bad advice?
Sadly, this is also a big spotlight on how bad an actor Dwayne Johnson is. It also didn't do any favors for Gal Gadot but we all knew she wouldn't win any Oscars. Mr. Johnson seemed to just be going thru the motions in this movie. There was none of his usual energy, heck, he didn't even pretend to show his 'charm'
So, to sum up. A big ole waste of Hollywood money in making this movie.