kwheeley Reviews

Thank You, Mr. President: Helen Thomas at the White House (2008 TV Movie)

Give me a break

[1/10 · 21 August 2008]

This movie only confirms (Ms. Thomas literally admits that she's liberal)the truth that the media is infiltrated with liberals who "act" impartial until eventually showing their true colors.

Now, I'm not a right-wing wacko...I'm fairly middle of the road. But to watch this advertisement for the Democratic party's socialistic agenda just sickens me.

Helen Thomas, a reporter with 40+ years of correspondence within the White House, recounts her tenure and various stories of asking 8 different Presidents a variety of questions. Sounds cool, eh? Nope, not even slightly. Within the first 5 minutes, it became clear that this "documentary" was a Bush-bashing good times.

Of course, just look at the name of the director (Rory KENNEDY) and you understand the tone. Wait, KENNEDY? Ah, as in the KENNEDY family? Yep, that one. The one with at least three sets of allegations against individual family members and their relatives by marriage. (1 murder conviction, controversial rape charges and that little bridge in Chappaquidick). Liberal, yep, very liberal.

Again, it was basically 45 minutes of making quick, passing reference to Clinton (who REALLY DID LIE TO America) and then a fixation on current President Bush and his tet-a-tet with Ms. Thomas. Somewhere in there were some other references to other Presidents too...but not that much because that would take time away from taking shots at Bush.

The first amendment protects us all including the Ms. Thomas' & Kennedy's of the world. It also protects simple guys like me who are sick and tired of these talking heads on both sides of the proverbial aisle (Dems v Repubs). So, with that protection in hand, this movie is crap and both the director and subject should be ashamed of themselves: Ms. Thomas for misleading us all these years (unbiased? impartial? Lady, puhleesssse!) and Ms. Kennedy for creating this dreck that has removed 45 minutes from my life that I can never get back. (I know, I know - they didn't force me to watch it)

Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983)

A truly bad sequel

[1/10 · 10 February 2005]

Why can't Hollywood just let good movies die in peace? This 2nd sequel to the original (and quite good) "Smokey and the Bandit" stinks everywhere. The story is lame and the characters have been reduced to caricatures of themselves.

Let's start with the story. The premise here is that those Enos boys are at it again, wanting to have some fun at the expense of someone. That someone is none other than Sheriff Buford T. Justice (key the tuba) who has just put in for retirement. When those retirement plans aren't what he expected, our valiant Sheriff accepts the Enos' challenge: Deliver a plastic shark to the new restaurant the Enos boys opened up. While along the way, those rascally Enos dudes are going to try to stop him at any cost.

Okay, stop right there. In the first Bandit movie, the idea was a simple challenge and bet. The Enos boys were depicted as nothing more than a rich father and son team who were bored so they thought up a good challenge. No real maliciousness involved - just a challenge with some money put up to make people take it seriously. That was fun.

In the 2nd Bandit movie, the Enos reputation (such as it is) is on the line and they want to beat a political rival. Not as strong, but again, nothing terribly malicious involved.

This movie has them just trying to be mean to their new play toy. Namely, Sheriff Justice. So they send him on his way and start trying to sabotage his trip. When Justice beats them at every turn, they figure that they need a professional to deal with him. Since the Bandit isn't around (he's off making "Stroker Ace") they give the job (and the red shirt, belt buckle and hat) to Cledus, our old truck driving buddy.

So, Cledus chases Justice to get the prized shark and fun and laughter ensue. Well, not too much fun and little laughter but look on the bright side - it was a paycheck for Gleason and Reed.

Anyway, from there on out it becomes the now tired old cat-and-mouse game with one side giving chase to the other. But even the chases lack the polish to make you remember back to the ones in the 1977 original. They seem more staged and one dimensional. For example, there's a scene where Cledus and a new buddy "sneak" up from behind and take the shark off of the Sheriff's car. The shot is not technically difficult and it's rather boring. Plus, what law enforcement officer doesn't check his mirror to make sure of what's behind him? I learned that in 11th grade driver's ed.

Anway, to summarize, I think the use of the 1982 (anemic) Trans Am is allegorical to this movie: It's got the right name but is under-thought, underpowered and basically is just a diluted version of its former self.