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tedlandis
Reviews
Patriot (2015)
Best series I've ever seen...
... that got canceled too soon. This series is an amazing experience with some of the best acting and storytelling that blows away almost anything else streaming. It tells a story so slowly that you should expect to be bored, but the directing and production style keeps this from ever happening. It is funny, insightful, dramatic and because all of the characters care so much for each other, you begin to care for them. Nobody is a real hero a la Bourne, but there are many heroic acts and almost anyone can and will, at any moment, do something that saves the day. John"s brother Edward for example does not seem clever enough to help anyone, but even he consistently helps and becomes someone you love. I have never seen a series that deserved at least three more seasons. Such a waste of a winning formula and ensemble cast.
Extrapolations (2023)
Worth your time.
Nobody likes to be preached to, but we are facing worldwide challenges that we need to be educated on. Not in a five minute news story but in a manner which allows us to think things through ourselves. This series does just that. I am actually looking forward to the next episode each week. I have shared it with family and friends, and I think that once it can be watched in its entirety it will move up in the ratings. It does take some getting used to with its mix of technological advancements juxtaposed with the potential ramifications of climate change. The acting and production quality is top notch.
The LCD Soundsystem Holiday Special (2021)
Too cute intro but the music makes up for it
A little cringeworthy set up to this special but when the actual concert starts it makes it all worthwhile. If you are an LCD Soundsystem fan or would just to listen to some great music, check it out.
Another Life (2019)
Get past the first 5 episodes
And it will start to grow on you. It's a very dynamic plot and story arc style. Things change fast and usually for the better. It's still not great but it has more potential than a lot of the crap out there. I actually binged the lest 4 episodes. Looking forward to season two.
The Day of the Triffids (2009)
Not sure what you were expecting
I thought this was a perfectly fine sci fi made for TV flick. Do any of you remember what made for TV movies used to look like even 10 years ago? You can't compare this to Avatar for triff's sake.
Yes it did not stick too closely to the book and no the writing was not great, but I thought the acting was fine and the special effects were as good as one can expect for TV sci fi.
And it was scary enough that I did not let my 8 year old son watch past the first 20 minutes and he and I regularly watch Doctor Who.
Anyhow I think everyone should cut it some slack and enjoy the "free" movie.
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D (2005)
Good for its intended audience
My 4 year old son loves this movie. It's on the "On-demand" movie channel here and he watches it at least twice a day.
I've seen 80% of it and it's harmless fun (for kids his age certainly).
There are lots of imaginative things in there (like the extension cord/wire dogs). And the storyline is fine too. I agree with the person who compared it to The Neverending Story. It was very strange and "silly" when it came out, but now it's a children's classic (even parodied in Family Guy!)
While it's not as good as Spy Kids 1 or 2, it's on the same level as Spy Kids 3. This move is not bad at all.
Solaris (2002)
Watch it again
I had a very negative reaction to this movie the first time i saw it. I dismissed it offhand as a weak twilight-zone-like story about benevolent aliens interacting with human on a remote space station. Then, due mostly to the repeating schedule of the movie network I watched it again.
It is really a very good movie. It's not science fiction, although it reminds me most of the Martian Chronicles. Like those stories it is ultimately about what it means to be human. In this light it is quite successful.
Sure it's atmospheric and moody but really well done.
Try watching it again, late in the evening, when it is quiet.
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)
Keep watching until you get it...
It's worth the time. This is an excellent movie, it's not LOTR but for the scifi genre it is done amazingly well. I can't believe people would downrate it simply because they didn't "get it".
Think back to 2001 A Space Odyssey, did you understand the ending when you first saw that one? Do you even understand it today? Is it a great movie? OK.
This is the same kind of film. Groundbreaking in it's visuals and in many ways even more cutting edge in it's plot and story.
Watch it a few times, it will come to you.
Cheers.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Excellent
Excellent. Best of the best. I sat sweating through the whole thing. Emotionally draining. I will see it again.
Eight Legged Freaks (2002)
Just what you'd expect...
Spiders, webs, spiders chasing people... it's a fun movie with good acting all around and some laugh-out-loud moments. You get what you pay for!
Babe: Pig in the City (1998)
Great Movie! Not for young kids though.
The only problem with this great imaginative film is that it came out as a sequel to Babe. Babe is a great family film for all ages. Pig in the City is really only for kids 16 or older (maybe very mature 12 year olds). That is the ONLY problem with it. Please don't blame the film maker for poor product positioning. I loved this film, it is ingenious and endearing and I could watch it over and over again because it is chock full of wonderful performances (human and other) and brilliant visuals. In many ways it reminded me of Moulin Rouge with its hyper-kinetic pacing and sense of humour. Please don't miss this gem, just don't bother trying to explain it to small children.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Unbelievably Great!
This movie brought me to tears and it wasn't at the end where they might be expected. It was in the very beginning when they were in the Shire. It was so beautiful and so "right"... all through the movie I was nodding to myself as scene after scene played out as I imagined them... even more real then in my head. Maybe it was helped along by a sense of nostalgia since I haven't read the books in almost 25 years, but at that time I read them over 7 times and as a teenager I had my walls plastered with previous years calendar pictures... let's just say that I was a big fan of the books.
But the movie only added to all this... made it better and more real. I will watch this again when my 19 year old son comes home for Christmas, I am sure that he will have seen it at least once by then as well. Great movie. Touched me deeply. See it, even if you haven't read the books. It is amazing.
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
I laughed, I cried, it changed my life...
Well maybe not the last part, but this is an excellent film. Yes, it is a musical, and yes, there is a reference to the Sound of Music, but this is unlike any musical every made before. I am not really a fan of some of the high speed frenetic film editing that you can find in today's music videos but somehow I was not bothered at all by the video acrobatics that make up most of Moulin Rouge, it really seemed to fit with the whole picture.
But for all the flash, this movie is first and foremost a romance. And not a sappy sickly sweet love story but one that can really touch you... if you let it. It reminded me most of "Shakespeare in Love"... but actually was much more effective in showing the love between them.
It's also one of those movies that you want to see again... immediately!
Eye of the Beholder (1999)
Not THAT bad...
Boy that's a lot of negative reviews. I thought it was not that bad... not excellent, but certainly above average. The music and camera work were very interesting and fitting. Everyone did a respectable job acting-wise (although k.d lang seemed a little uncomfortable at times). I heard a lot of people compare it to Double Jeopardy... now THAT movie was certainly overrated and I would put Eye of the Beholder way ahead of that sad story anyday. It was a cool movie. Not Citizen Kane but certainly watchable. I would recommend it to friends. My only complaint was the ending... a little weak... but weak is always better than stupid.