crb-00494 Reviews

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

Pure visual and emotional expression

[18 December 2022]

The story is straightforward and works. The characters are interesting, including the environment and fauna of Pandora. The visuals and sounds are candy for the senses. The action is satisfying and the losses are sad. Smiles, wonderment, tears, and hope. It's more than a movie, it's a cinematic experience. It doesn't try to be overly complex or light hearted. It simply is what it is, pure expression of visual story telling and emotional expression.

Thanks for not making a bogus cash grab and for including a worthy message for the movie going masses.

This is a very solid sequel, looking forward to what James Cameron and team have in store next. 10/10.

Vampires (1998)

Kind of sucks

[3 October 2022]

Wasn't expect a bad flick from John Carpenter but I just didn't get into this one. I liked Baldwin and the female actress but this movie felt mean spirited and cheap. Some gore effects were nice and some scenes and production design was fun, but I found it all a bit boring and lame. Some really stupid dialogue and cringe. James Woods was a d**k and I didn't like him. Master vampire didn't really seems like a master at all. He had this ancient looking cloak and when he was climbing something, underneath you could see he was wearing black socks and black shoes... Like give this character some gothic boots or something. The vampire hunters were woefully inadequate and the vampires themselves one dimensional monsters. Surprised that I didn't like this, wouldn't recommend unless your a hardcore Carpenter or Vampire fan.

Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)

What makes a great sequel?

[3 October 2022]

You know what makes a great sequel? Doing something new with a seasoning of what we know and love from the original. Or taking the original concept and amping it up to an incredible level to outdo the original, with sprinkling in new ideas.

Hocus Pocus 2 fails at this. It literally rips off the entire first movie. Town of Salem? Check. Old Sanderson house/museum set? Check. Witches summoned with a virgin candle? Check. Fish out of water in the town? Check. Singing scene? Check. Halloween Party? Check. Black Cat? Check. Flying vacuums? Check. Biting lines from original script? Check. On and on and on, and nauseum.

Now, there were a few clever ideas sprinkled throughout such as the roombas, glade plugin, Walgreens drinking lotion, along with a few others. The spell book was more lifelike and the back story on the Sanderson sisters was cool. Effects looked decent and the film had some atmosphere to it.

However, they simply played it too safe and rehashed almost the same story as the first movie but not nearly as good. Not as funny, and not as interesting. Zero creep factor, way less laughs, all with a layer of Disney's finest sterile politically corret modern inclusive don't be too scary or dark approach.

The first movie had way more charm and actually a slight creepiness to it with the witches going after the children, wanting to kill the child, the luring song in the meadow etc. More adult humor too and less politically correct.

The sequel is unfortunately a lame rehash cash grab and isn't really worth your time. Just rewatch the first movie unless your a diehard Hocus Pocus fan.

DC League of Super-Pets (2022)

Squandered Potential

[7 September 2022]

How is this movie rated so high? It didn't capitalize on Kevin Hart's chemistry with The Rock. It didn't have many wow moments. It didn't have cutting edge animation. The story was cookie cutter basic. I know it's for kids but zero creativity here when they could've done so much more. I love kids movies and grew up on Disney so most animated films I rate quite highly. I had to turn of my brain completely with this one and I nodded off during the middle section. There are some good moments and a few solid laughs but for the most part very by the numbers ho hum affair. Really more disappointing than anything. A cash grab film with squandered potential.

The Fifth Element (1997)

I finally get it

[27 June 2022]

I saw the fifth element at home for the first time on Netflix, many years after it had come out. I enjoyed it a lot. Didn't love it, but had a great time. Bought if for my wife since she loves the movie. We enjoyed it again.

Recently, the movie was playing at one of our favorite theaters for it's anniversary. I was blown away.

This movie is such a great adventure, a visual feast, and just alot of fun. I love all the characters and the action holds up. They don't really make movies like this anymore. It's a weird one and I love that about it. On the big screen I really felt like I finally experienced this movie the way it was meant to be seen.

This movie rocks, check it out!

True Lies (1994)

True Lies is my favorite movie

[26 June 2022]

I am a huge movie buff and True Lies is my all time favorite. I remember first watching it as a child back in 1995 over a friend's house with my friend, his dad, my brother, and my dad. I was blown away. Always remembered the cover of that VHS showing Arnold with a silver pistol and a grenade with an engagement ring on the pin. What a classic.

This movie combines three of my favorite things in cinema: Jim Cameron (fav director), Arnold Schwarzenegger (my fav action star), and Action/Adventure/Comedy my favorite genre. Toss them all in a blender and then season with James Bond, 90s kill the bad guy's Americana, and a love story. Served with a healthy side of Jamie Lee Curtis, Bill Paxton, and Tom Arnold.

This movie started as a vision from Arnold after seeing the original French movie. He brought the script to Cameron and asked him to do the project.

Somewhat of a cult film, not everyone has this movie and it hasn't even been released on blu ray. But everyone I know that's seen it, loves it. It has something for everyone to enjoy. The direction and production quality is top notch. Great set pieces, music, and story. It's so much fun everytime I watch it. I've probably seen it 50 times.

Please hunt down a copy and check it out. Highly recommended.

Date Movie (2006)

Worst movie I've ever seen

[16 March 2022]

I genuinely hate this movie. It's the crap you scrape off the lowest point of the grossest barrel in Hollywood. When I saw it in theaters many years ago, a friend and I walked out after 30 minutes. The filmakers do not know how to make comedy. They do not know how to parody anything. It's the worst movie I've ever seen and a vehemently despite it. To call it drivel would be too kind.

An American Pickle (2020)

Painful

[16 March 2022]

Even approaching this as a light, easy watch didn't work for me. It's just not funny and the plot and script are too stupid to carry it beyond that. Disappointing, pretentious waste of time and painful to get through. Just missed the mark in every sense.

The Batman (2022)

A memorable and weighty Batman experience

[6 March 2022]

I tried to think of something in this movie that could make me give it a 9/10 but it's just not there. I could find no faults with this movie.

Smart script, well written, well acted, beautifully filmed, edited, and a dark, grisly, depressed view of Gotham. So serious, so weighty, Batman feels powerful. Gadgets feel real. The fights bring some creativity and the direction is superb. Love the script and the music, especially the ballad, pumping three note Batman theme.

This was an awesome movie to see in the theater. I honestly wasn't that excited when I saw the original trailers but boy am I glad I saw this. Hands down an epic movie, long, and beefy. I felt like it was kind of exhausting overall but too enjoyable to complain. Loved the direction and momentum above all. Well done on all levels, do yourself a favor and see this is theaters.

No Time to Die (2021)

Didn't like the ending

[11 October 2021]

Enjoyed the entire movie but hated how James Bond died. Didn't like the idea and was a depressing end. The only Bond that wasn't uplifting (outside of OHMSS) and it definitely brings it down for me. I see what they were going for it just doesn't jive with my love for the character. Bond is not a character you can kill off it's like what if Superman died. Just wouldn't happen. Disappointed that they were this route. I prefer TWINE and DAD instead of Spectre and NTTD.. Bought this on Blu ray and upon further watches and consideration..... The death wasn't earned, safin is lame, and the plot is holier than the pope.