laurelhardy-12268 Reviews

Rushmore (1998)

Aggravatingly tedious

[3/10 · 10 May 2024]

First, upstart Jason Schwartzman does a pretty good job in this role. Baritoness Olivia Williams is a real doll; and Murray does ok as well. No problem with acting.

The main character is the problem. We are supposed to see his eccentricities as charming and/or pitiable.

Unfortunately, his selfish, self-absorption is so bad; he comes off as a presumptuous and pretentious jerk.

He does have an amiable side to him, but it is extremely overshadowed by his 'Richard Craniumism'.

Moreover, he actually crosses over into the mentally unbalanced category. Several times in fact.

What really aggravated me is that the movie never moves on. There is no real plot. Just kind of an autobiography by quasi nutcase (despite the Director's best efforts to make him seem like something more.) Anywho; we were 1/2 way thru this flick when I asked my wife; "Ya wanna keep going? I have the strong feeling the next 45 minutes are going to be more of the same." Evelyn, said, "I do indeed wonder where it's going, but not sure if it's worth the risking another 45 minutes of our lives." But regrettably, we pretty much did.

Two more things; our star looks kinda looks like a young Peter Sellers (Without the humor.) And the object of his affection (Williams), on several occasions, looks like she could be Ferris Bueller's sister no kidding.

Clearly I (we) cannot recommend. I gave it 3 stars because.....because.... Well, maybe because I'm a gracious person filled with charity.

This movie ultimately left a bad taste in our mouths. We quickly cleansed our palates with something even less cerebral, but far more scenic: "Romy & Michelle's HS Reunion":)

Thx

Bob R.

Broken Arrow (1996)

A lot of fun & even more action.

[9/10 · 5 April 2024]

Sure, while the premise (steal nuclear weapons to sell), is as real as it is old; the tactics & strategies are far fetched. That's ok.

I get somebody giving this a 6 or 7, but those who give it a 1 or state it's the worst movie they've ever seen, have got some real issues of their own, let's face it. My guess: Angry and/or disturbed. (I know, thanks for your psychoanalysis Sigmund Fraud:)

Another reviewer accurately states that Travolta hams it up. It's almost comedic. But the evil in his character is palpable and he did well to that end. Promoting the psycho element was the funny part at times.

Christian Slater has always been a house fav here. His reserved, inward demeanor serves him well. Slater is very likable as a good guy. Even in True Romance, same demeanor, and, very likeable there as well.

I don't know Samantha Mathis, but I confess, she's as lovable as she is tough in this movie. She really does well going from Park Ranger to Co-hero.

Howie Long got teased by his football buddies about his role, but he does pretty well. Plus, who doesn't love a Hall of Fame linebacker, and pull for him in his post-football, professional acting career, however (justifiably) short it may have been.

Okay, so the well planned strategies and tactics of our bad guy, Travolta, are a little bit ridiculous. Who cares? Probably over 80% of all good action movies share that attribute. That said, the writing is not 1/2 bad.

The fact is, this flick moves well by any account. I won't detail much, other than there are a few twists in it, with great action & some good suspense. Woo has directed movies I've liked and those that I've disliked. This one I liked a lot. My wife thought it was a good ride as well.

I gave it a 9 simply because it's good entertainment pretty much throughout the entire movie.

Compared to EVERYTHING being put out by Hollywood, and other studios after 2019, it's a 99.

Thx

Bob R.

Interstellar (2014)

Great movie, uniquely executed production

[10/10 · 21 March 2024]

First things first. A side point:

I'm a pretty objective old guy. Like other movies, when I see a really good film that is rated highly by (say), 100+ reviews; one might argue/infer that such a preponderance leaves the realm of 'opinion', and enters the realm of 'empirical evidence'.

With that said, doesn't it make you curious about those who give this movie (or any confirmed great movie), a "1" rating? I sure does me.

So, out of curiosity, I typically tap the options tab (on the right), for that reviewer, and there's an option (in the pull down), to see ALL REVIEWS by that reviewer. Not surprisingly, in nearly every case, he loathes ALL movies he's reviewed. I say "he", because they all appear to be males. Why that's not surprising I'm not sure, but it's not.

So, this phenomenon then begs the question, what's wrong with this person's perception. The reviewer I checked for this movie, had reviewed a good number of flicks, some beings decent movies. But, ALL his ratings were between 1 & 3.

So, since cinema is such a confirmed disappointment for this individual, why not take up a new pastime?

Oh well, let's do the best we can with this phenomenon. It's either a tweaked mind, or somebody on a paid mission. Across the board, I estimate both (for different reviewers.) Sorry for the diatribe, but I've been meaning to share that. Thx for bearing with me.

--- --- Interstellar, is a bit longish. That's the worst I can say about it. I (we) rated it a 10, because of the imagination and subtle accuracies to science. And of course, it's very entertaining The production as a whole is more than impressive.

So much about this movie is refreshing. From chasing the drone at the beginning, to how they handled the technical aspects of space travel, to time/space warping. I really congratulate all involved for the set designs.

The writing is pretty sharp and realistically tough at times. I. E.; not over done trying to achieve shock rather than reality.

Matthew did a great job. Heck, all the acting was really very good. And it sure helps that the writing & direction are on point as well.

And there's plenty of heartstring-pulling scenes let me say. The daughter, Murph, was a doll, (at any age.).

I said the flick was a bit longish. So that falls on the editor. Believe me this is a very small criticism if that.

But for me; there were a couple parts where I said out loud; "Ok, you've made your point; let's move along already!"

Lastly, I congratulate the writer(s) and those involved with the screenplay. In particular, the ending. And here's why: They allude to gravity several times as the key factor. That is very 'on point.' After all, The reason a black hole is black, is because the gravity is so great, light cannot escape.

Short-sighted establishment Astronomers & scientists insist that all of the hydrogen in the universe will eventually be converted (via fusion), and we will end up with a dead universe full of iron. Really?

Heck, radio photography illustrates that the field around a black hole actually resembles a birth canal. Add in the weighty fact that nobody knows what happens to the massive amount of matter sucked into a black hole. Where'd it go? What did it become? And "when" and how is it released into the universe?

If you come to understand that we will never know the answer to these questions, then perhaps you'll also come to realize that's just the tip of the iceberg.

All that to say, the ending to the flick is one interpretation of a single space/time warp interface.

And honestly, it is really imaginative. Remember, it's Sci-Fi! But, considering (my text above), it is no more unbelievable than what we don't understand. This I promise. Hence, (again) it's merely one interpretation. And it's done in a fairly fun way at the same time. Kudos to the filmmakers. The scene from behind the bookcase was pretty good. The artistic rendering of Matthew in flux was extremely cool, no doubt about it.

And so, we rate this a great flick, and Evelyn and I obviously recommend it. It is unique in a few ways with an high entertainment value. And, it is entertainment that is often thought-provoking as well. And that tough to do.

Thx

Bob R.

1984 (1984)

Good for insomnia. HORRIBLE direction.

[2/10 · 13 March 2024]

Yes, the message is not just important, but pertinent more than ever now in 2024.

To me, the best part of the movie is the prologue which has the script, "first they fascinate the fools, then muzzle the intelligent." (if that quote is not exact, it's close.). Wow is that spot on!!

I've known about this movie, but didn't bother to watch it all these last 40 years. Until tonight. I'm 70 years old, and was a leader for a (PAC) political action committee within a large corporation for decades, so I'm up to snuff on what's happening here in our country. So when I say the relevance of the subject matter is right on target, you can imagine I was looking forward to a pretty good movie.

One word comes to mind again and again: "DRAB".

And I don't mean depressing as it should be based on the tyranny involved here. I mean drab as in it'll put you to sleep. It's so very slow for too long.

I'm sorry to pick on the director, but the movie is lifeless in so many ways, And not on purpose.

Kudos to the actors for doing everything they could with fairly innocuous writing, and poor direction.

Direction isn't everything, but often, it's pretty darn close. And every scene in this movie is drab rather than imposing or suspenseful. Even the suspenseful parts seem mostly inconsequential by virtue of the direction.

Yes, the pace finally picks up about the 1:12 mark. Then in comes to a grinding halt again and again.

To its credit, it does demonstrate mass surveillance, repression, and overall, the attributes of the Totalitarian State that drives same. With such great material from the book, you'd expect a pretty engrossing movie, but such is not the case. This movie is like taking two Valium (even though I've not had one in 50 years.)

I'm happy for those of you that enjoyed the film. I did not however.

Thx

Bob.

Silverado (1985)

7.2 is an underrating

[9/10 · 11 March 2024]

One of the top 10 Westerns of all time easy.

Scott Glenn and Kevin Kline form a great alliance early in the film that's sets the pace.

The movie moves well, has a solid storyline, with good writing and directing.

Brian Dennehy is especially good as the antagonist, along with his other ne'er do wells.

Glover does really well (in his pre-communist days as an actor.).

Lawnmower man Jeff Fahey is a convincingly mean & evil cohort of Dennehy's. .

Getting back to Kline, he has the pivotal role here, joining up with the 'good guys', while being ever connected to the bad, until the end. He also (along with Arquette), provides the lust (oops), I mean love in the movie.

But it's Scott Glenn that is the chief protagonist, a voice of reason, but also, a consistently badass hero with ample bravura.

I still feel Rosanna was Arquette was miscast, but she does a faithful job in character.

The only drawback is Kevin Costner. He just hams it up too much. Drives my wife and I nuts. When he says (toward the end), "LET'S GET 'EM!!"; it's not only laughable, it's downright embarrassing. And I like Costner in so many of his roles in many movies.

Linda Hunt is great as she always is.

It's an enjoyable watch, and receives multiple viewings by a large audience. That says a whole lot.

And, it's a fun watch.

Thx.

Bob.

Invasion of the Bee Girls (1973)

Invasion of the R Rated Bee Girls in a C movie.

[3/10 · 2 March 2024]

So ridiculous, it's hilarious.

First things first, where the heck does Amazon dig up these old bombs?

When it comes to camp movies, this one is the breast.

The women are so versatile. They must be working across film industries.

To be fair though, it was 1973 sexy I guess. And unlike the women, the movie's budget was not well endowed.

Harmless soft core porn for sure, the Bee Women, during coitus, suddenly develop giant, Stepford Wife giant pupils, then the sound track plays a horrible screeching noise. I couldn't turn down my 12.2 theater system fast enough. It was so annoying.

I spent 15' valuable minutes (that I should've spent doing crossword puzzles), going through this Clokey Production, and I must say, it was titillating.

Several Guy reviewers basically said, it's so bad, it's good. I can see that. Bud mostly, it's ridiculous. All the victims screamed Mammary!, Oops, I mean Mommy before being killed. I don't think the Bee girls actually killed their Johns. I'm pretty sure they died from that screeching soundtrack.

The ending is no less ridiculous, when the chief investigator (Richard Cranium), walks into their Willy Wonka, Woman>Bee conversion lab, and blows up the place by firing a shot into some electronics. Yep, a real face melter, oops, I meant mind melter.

It TRULY is good for a few laughs. I would normally say, just skim through to the good parts, but that would take you directly to the credits.

I don't know any women (my age), that would venture a viewing of this, but it is pretty hilarious fun for guys.

Zodiac (2007)

Pretty good reenactment.

[8/10 · 27 February 2024]

There's a few things I liked about this movie.

• First, I thought that the actors were anything but cookie-cutter in their dialogue. The dialogue and interaction seemed pretty real life. Sure, during many heated discussions around the case, it could've been a cop show on TV but that's to be expected.

• I thought all the actors did a real good job with good writing.

• All of the graphic scenes are right upfront to establish the existence & MO of the zodiac.

• There are a few pretty suspenseful scenes in the movie. And the audience doesn't know who might be the zodiac killer, any more than the police did back when this was actually occurring.

• This case went on for years. The Director does a good job in demonstrating the frustration of the investigators involved in the case. And after a long enough time elapses, that frustration morphs to resignation. That comes through well.

On the flip side:

• Years, after the zodiac was inactive, several FBI agents stated that the case was mishandled by local police. I don't think we'll ever know for sure, but it seems odd that they didn't get closer than they did. And in the movie, they pointed out where certain leads were ignored as irrelevant or disregarded as untrue. That seems very possible if not probable.

It doesn't mean the police officers and investigators involved didn't work their asses off for a very long time, because they did. Oh.

• The movie was a bit longish, but I think justifiably so. For other viewers, they stated it moved by at a rapid pace. For us, not so much. However, it did remain interesting throughout.

It's a different kind of movie in so many ways. It does not play like a documentary, but you get the sense of this based on how long ago this happened.

I recommend for a one time viewing.

Thx

Bob R.

Cars 3 (2017)

Just awful in almost every way

[2/10 · 25 February 2024]

Lightning McQueen has been thrown aside. The newcomers are faster, but also as lifeless as the writers of this bomb.

Our grandkids love the original. I have it on blu ray for grandpa's 12.2 home theatre, and on DVD for the grandkids when traveling in our Pathfinder. Great flick in so many ways. Been viewed countless times.

My wife & I screened this (Cars 3), the other evening to see: 1) If it's any good; 2) To assess the probability of our grandkids being/staying interested.

It fails miserably on both counts. And badly.

By & large, it's pretty boring. I get the work hard message, but the film completely fails to be entertaining.

Just terrible.

The Lords of Flatbush (1974)

It's amazing how bad this movie is.

[1/10 · 20 February 2024]

Over & over again, playing pool, or, at the cafe tables, or, trying to make their girlfriends. Even if the dialogue could be semi-accurate, these wanna-be tough guys are as boring as they are self-satisfied.

You if you assume that it's accurate that they're just lost semi hoodlums, it's still a really crappy movie.

And who doesn't like Rocky & the Fonz? They were victims of the movie makers as well.

No spoilers. The whole movie is already spoiled. Yes, it's "turned", looks and smells rotten.

The boring dialogue and monotonous direction is punishing. And there's no real plot.

Ya know Easy Rider was a ridiculous movie. I was 15 when it was released. Saw it at the walk-in with my buddies 1/2 loaded. And probably a couple times since of course.

At least it had a lot of beautiful scenery, a funny as heck Jack Nicholson; and maybe most of all, an incredible soundtrack (for the period.). And there was always a change of scenery as they rode across the country, running into adventures & rednecks. Karen Black was a bonus as one of the hookers too. (And who could've guessed, that just 5 years earlier, Jack Nicholson would jilt Karen black in "five easy easy pieces.").

But in the "Lords of Flatheads", there's no oddyssey. They never went anywhere. Didn't do much of anything either. And the guy in charge of music should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. That's how bad the music choices are. Holy cow! Really bad! Not just forgettable, but nauseating.

Save your time, this movie is beyond bad.

Thx Bob R.

Facing Nolan (2022)

This is a 12 really. Remarkably well done.

[10/10 · 15 February 2024]

I told my wife I'd like her to take a gander at this. I had watched 15 minutes the night before and then saved it on Netflix.

She had watched the grandkids all day, so typically she would've bombed out early. And she is not big on documentaries, particularly ones around sports.

Evelyn was glued to the TV for the entire hour and 45 minutes. I know y'all don't know my wife, but that's a testament to just how good this documentary is.

Here's the thing: so many documentaries, even with fascinating subject matter, quite often become slow and/or stale. Not so here.

The balance between Nolan's life in Baseball, his wife & family, and his childhood; are perfectly balanced. And with guests such as Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens & others, it's really excellent.

Keep in mind, it probably should be with Nolan's incredibly storied career.

I'm 70, so I saw Sandy Koufax play for the Dodgers. And, Nolan Ryan, when he started out. And I watched him suffer for so long playing for the 'Disneyland Angels'; (as my older brother so aptly dubbed Autry's terrible team back in the day.)

And I was always amazed that a fireballer could have a career go on over 15 years. Well, he blew that number out of the water.

The crux of it is twofold: His longevity and the 51 major league records he still holds to this day. 7 no hitters!?!? Really? 5800+ strike outs!?!! Really. That's a 1000 more than the 2nd place guy Randy Johnson (who sings Nolan's praises throughout this documentary, as well as other great players.).

So that's it. Best moving documentary ever. Kept light, fun and breezy, but doesn't scrimp on the heavy moments.

This is a 12 on a scale from 1 - 10. And I've never said that before about any movie or documentary.

Nolan's career in the majors was not just remarkable, not merely stellar, but indeed, it was truly astonishing.

And this documentary captures it in a very accurate and fun fashion.

Thx

Bob R.

X (II) (2022)

Porn that bad deserves death I guess.

[1/10 · 15 February 2024]

The wages of Stupidity is death in this case.

Glad I fast forwarded here & there. But felt I should watch & listen as much as possible in order to give a fair review.

From a top down analysis; all the victims are remarkably slow, mentally and physically.

Let us remember, the perpetrator landlords appear to be 200 years old between the two of them.

Let's just take the first guy trying to split from the place; taking off in the van by himself. He sees the (ancient) lady of the house strolling around outside in the dark, looking like an extra from 'Night of the Living Dead'. Better get out and investigate. Welp! I guess I have a moral obligation to comfort Zombie girl. Man am I a Good Samaritan!

As stated above, the old lady is weird to the nth degree, and when the guy gets out of the van, you can see she's holding something behind her back. No problem, let me get as close as possible to her. Oh look, she's slobbering on me. I better get even closer to this bizarre freak of nature. What could possibly go wrong? Uh Oh!! What a surprise! She put a knife through my throat! How'd that happen? Guess I shoulda slobbered back. Yep, considering I have no reflexes, I sure am glad I made that brilliant decision. Oh bummer, she's slashing me repeatedly as I lay on the ground. Who'da thought it? What a little spitfire this old dame turned out to be. Maybe she's mad because we didn't put her in a porno.

Then underwear boy is strolling thru the barn, and look!; there's a 16 penny nail pointing straight up from a board. An obvious trap. I found myself pulling for the nail. Yay!!! You go nail!

I don't wanna spoil the ending for you. Come to think of it, I can't; the Writers and Director beat me to the punch.

The porn is a joke. The characters aren't just unlikeable; they're annoying. If you do watch it, you'll pull for the psychos.

I broke my own rule. Never watch a movie produced after 2019, because there's about a 99% probability that it will be garbage.

Spoilers? Don't get me started.

Er, uh, I guess you could say I don't recommend.

Thx

Bob R.

The Long Riders (1980)

Very Good Saga with a packed set of families

[8/10 · 6 February 2024]

Composite positive reviews are on target. However, one reviewer (never give a 10), gets it wrong. Giving this film a "3", isn't just inaccurate, it's either dishonest, or the product of something else obtuse. But to entitle this movie as "Doesn't Stand The Test of Time; is just dead wrong. This film has played well throughout its history, up to and including today. Just watched it recently with my wife and we commented on just how it has not ever become campy.

I'm surprised James Keach didn't do more. His serious demeanor is impressive. As Jesse, he was all business.

Having these sets of brothers really worked pretty well. With no aliens in sight, Randy Quaid did really well. They all did. I know they all had different mother, but wow, have ya ever seen three more different looking brothers that David, Keith & Robert?

The knife fight between David Carradine & James Remar was ok. I was hoping Carradine would've thrown Remar a few 'grasshopper' moves. Man those guys had strong teeth!

If I was in a fight like that, with a tether between both of our sets of teeth, my retainer would've flown on my mouth and hit the other guy in the eye. Does that count as a win?

And all for what, Pam Reed's (absence of) Virtue:)??

They should have added one more set of brothers. Alec & Stephen Baldwin, where the former keeps shooting his own guys accidentally.

Ok, this movie (just under 2hrs) plays longer than it is. It is as much about the personal interactions between the gang, as it is about robbery & the law chasing them. The movie plays kind of slowly, intermittently, due to this fact. The action stalls with all the personal drama. And the personal drama is fine, it was just not balanced properly with action.

Speaking of the law, assigned by the Pinkerton, Mr. Rixley, is James Whitmore Jr., something I completely overlooked the previous time I viewed this so long ago. He sure looks like his pop at times.

The actors, story, writing, are all pretty good. Direction of course is pretty good with Walter Hill. But it's the imbalance I alluded to that results in a slightly lower score.

Still, darn good film.

Thx

Bob R.

Kindergarten Cop (1990)

Action + Surprisingly Heartfelt a few times.

[9/10 · 5 February 2024]

I can't believe it's February 2024, and this is the first time I've taken a gander at this movie. I simply skipped it because the premise just sounded ridiculous. IMDb reviews persuaded me to give it a shot. It showed up on Netflix.

The players are all, really, very good and cast well.

Arnold looks good in this movie. Having to impersonate a kindergarten teacher, of course, he obligated to be all spiffied up, primped & preened. And when he smiled, it wasn't too big, which is good because it makes him look like an alien sometimes, with bulging eyes & arms.

Pamela Reed will always be a favorite in our household, after her role in the hilarious flick, "The Best of Times", a mid 80's fare with Robin Williams & Kurt Russell (Reed's husband), leading the charge. And she does a fine job here.

Tyson is the antigonist. That might be putting it lightly. More of a psychotic, obsessed, murderous freak. He works in concert with his freakizoid Mom. And after getting to know her, you'll see the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Penelope Ann Miller is drop dead gorgeous. Tough, sweet, and elegant. She plays a key role as a fellow teacher.

And then there's the ever wonderful, Linda Hunt, the school principal. She doesn't like the idea of an undercover agent working there, but she's been forced to do it. She's keeping an eye on Schwarzenegger, hoping he'll fail. At least initially.

Perhaps the greatest surprise, is the sensitivity Arnold emotes, both in facial characteristics and body language as he struggles to find his own method to relate to the kids. It's actually pretty cool. It's the only time I've ever seen Arnold actually act. Usually he's shooting somebody or just breaking all their bones manually. (Don't worry, you'll get a little of Arnie in his true form as well.)

After he finds his own formula, Linda Hunt pulls him into the office for a discussion. This, immediately after Arnie spots a father standing in front of his car in the street. The jerk has had long history of beating the hell out of both his wife and his kid, both suffering fresh bruises daily. Use your imagination. With one punch to the gut, the jerk goes down like a rock. Problem is, everybody's watching, faculty and students.

But in the closed door session, at the end, the Principal, says, "I just have one more question. How did it feel to punch that rotten son of a b....?"

Maybe the most sensitive scene, is where Linda Hunt tells Arnold, what an exceptional teacher he's evolved into. Or it could be, where Arnold gets teary-eyed as he comes to control the children, and suddenly changes his regard of them from monsters, to wonderful children. (Another very cool thing, is that his formula for success is totally retro.).

Arnold does a good job emoting here, he really does. His best ever. Crap, I'm sure he has that many entries along this attribute, but he's great just the same.

My only beef, is with the ending. Of course, there's a happy ending, but one small element around the bad guy being vanquished, is nothing short of hokey. But it's only for a moment. And in all fairness, that element I speak of, does have a degree of irony to it.

Hero Ferret.

And this movie's got romance, our star falling in love with of course Penelope baby,

I'll watch this movie again that's for sure.

I highly recommend. If for no reason, the scenes in the movie where Arnold is forced to, and indeed delivers heartfelt performances.

Ok! That it.

Thx

Bob R.

Lucy (I) (2014)

Interesting (Crime meets Philosophy) flick

[9/10 · 5 February 2024]

Having unilaterally finished writing 'The Fifth Element' at the age of 16; I think it'd be safe to say, Luc Besson is a talented writer. And director.

In 'Lucy', although interconnected, Besson does a good job maintaining two unique stories. And by & large, it works fairly well.

The only contrivance here, is the means (another goofy designer drug), by which Lucy's odyssey is unwittingly launched.

Now, the intermittent classroom instruction by the tenured Philosophy professor, (Freeman), is pretty cool. There is some profundity in this, but it is his later interaction with Lucy where theory ventures in fact (within the framework of the film that is.). And this is not to denounce the film's statements around the human brain. Many of us believe, that higher brain power leads to a lot of what is played out in this movie. I've seen Criss Angel 2x live at the Luxor, (not, including his magic performed at the tranquility bar, going from Table to Table, no more than a foot away. I'm a retired engineer, and what I witnessed on multiple occasions; simply defies everything that is mass, gravity, & space.

Well, all that to say, I probably found this movie more interesting and fun than most, and so, the higher score.

Scarlett is always a knock out, and a pretty darn good actress.

Choi Min-Sik was the ultimate evil, and done well.

Amr Waked does a great job as the tough & honest cop, and most importantly, the vehicle by which Lucy can hold on to her dwindling humanity.

Visuals: the visuals that accompanied Morgan Freeman's instruction, are right on target, and easily understood. But they were impressive just the same. It was directed well.

The changes going on in Lucy's brain as she continues to accelerate her intelligence, is of courses beyond speculative. Maybe even a bit hokey at times. But what are you gonna do here? I liken it to Kubrick's 2001:A Space Odyssey, where Dave goes to "Jupiter & Beyond".

Rating: Sci-Fi, like Horror, seems to have a lower ceiling going in. There are so many reviewers who are averse to these genre's. My wife is admittedly this way. An 8 is a 10, and they go down from there.

Anyway, I highly recommend.

Thx Bob R.

Burn After Reading (2008)

Yes, amusing in somr ways, worst ending ever.

[4/10 · 29 January 2024]

Who doesn't like the Cohen brothers? They do a lot of great movies.

I have to go with most of the dissenters in the list of reviews. They never really connect the different pieces and players together as they should have. And so, there is no real resolve whatsoever.

Among the reviewers, the naysayers have my vote. So I won't repeat their feelings/opinions.

But I must say, that ANY movie without a respectable climax, is typically a disaster. This movie fits that category.

I gave it 4 stars, only because there was an atmosphere of fun through many scenes.

The actors and actresses in this fare do a pretty good job as you might expect. But the writing, and some of the direction, kills this movie; especially the former. And everybody in the movie is pretty much is either a scumbag, or in transit to get there.

The different players' stories, are largely disjointed. I.e.; the viewer is left with a lot of empty space.

I was quite happy when Pitt's character got blown away. Ignorance is ok, heck, commonplace. But when coupled with arrogance and assumed impunity, well; your glad Clooney nailed him, however accidental.

Same thing for McDormand's character, who was worse actually. It's too bad she survived.

Malkovich, however obnoxious, was the only character who earned and sympathy.

I'm on the fence about giving my recommendation. Yes it somehow landed a composite avg score of 7.0, but I strongly feel that's way too high. Once again, different strokes for different folks. That's cool.

I certainly know that I've enjoyed movies from time to time, that have garnered a fairly low, composite average score.

If you do take a chance and opt to take this movie in, I don't think you'll get burned too badly. After all, you might be part of the 70% that found this flick pretty good. I did not.

Thx Bob.

Meet the Applegates (1990)

Not bad really. Good fun. Entertaining.

[6/10 · 27 January 2024]

I would say the most important statement in this corny flick; has to be that societal (social) influence can be much greater than anything else (including your priorities for survival) in this case.

Yeah, they're aliens trying to fit in. Transformed into a human appearance, pretty much every member of the alien family ends up succumbing to the (not so virtuous) practices (and vices) of those (humans), with whom they interact. And that does have its funny moments, however predictable.

I think the alien son (getting stoned with buddies), is pretty funny. Kid plays it well. Begley too, is fairly funny.

It's worth the watch. And; vs the hearltess, mindless releases of today, who knows, this might be a masterpiece.

Antz (1998)

A funny & refreshing fare with traditional themes.

[10/10 · 19 January 2024]

For all his faults, Allen is (& probably always has been), the best comedy writer for the screen. In fact, he's done many non-comedy movies that have been fantastic, including "Midnight In Paris", which the wife and I have watched at least three times..

First, this is a cartoon kids "could" watch; but it is truly animation for adults. And I'm not alluding to merely sex, (of which there are a few allusions), but honestly, everything in the flick.

Comedy Example: Early on, this piece made me laugh. Woody Allen's character, "Z", (our star), is in the psychiatrist's office, expressing his discontent around his entire life being arbitrarily dedicated to digging & moving tiny pieces of earth. At one point, Z dejectedly says to the Shrink, "I just feel so insignificant." When they're all done, the psychiatrist says to Z, "Congratulations Z! You've made a breakthrough!" Z smiles & excitedly replies "I have!?!?" The smiling shrink says "Yes! You ARE insignificant!"

Good story line. And it's got it all.

• Our protagonist: "Z", our rebel. He's truly

defiANT. It's just by chance, that he comes to know the princess. One evening, Princess Bala decided to "slum it". So, with a couple of her girlfriends in tow, she went down and had a drink at the bar where the grunts drink, dance & relax in the evening. And of course, the moment their eyes meet, (even though she's not his daughter), WoodyZ Allen has to have her.

• Our antagonist & BAD guy; (General Mandable), very aptly portrayed by Gene Hackman. The psychotic General has designs on pretty much killing all of the ants in the colony for his own insane reasons. He knows how to control and manipulate the masses.

• Love: Sharon Stone is absolutely delightful as Princess Bala. And when she gets caught with Z, there's your foundation for a love story. She is stuck up, yet bored & looking for some action.

• War
• Adventure
• Comedy

Without giving too much away, what's cool about this movie, is the quest. Most of the fun is had on Z & Princess Bala's adventure above the colony, on earth, searching for the legendary, "Insectopia".

Sly Stallone (Weaver), is just great as Z's best friend. He's a soldier, unlike Z (who is merely a "soil relocation" worker .). Weaver plays a critical role in accidentally getting Z into trouble, and of course, Z's adventure.

There's a short stint, where the cowardly Z gets caught up in a suicidal war against termites, and in the process, witnesses the ugliness of death that war brings. And, it's actually very effective & heartfelt. This reality is accentuated by the painful death of Z's new found friend, (and soldier) Barbatus (Danny Glover),

Anne Bancroft does a great job as the queen albeit a small part; and the same goes for Christopher Walken as Colonel Cutter, (General Mandible's main hatchet man). Cutter has a key role at the end of the movie.

I saw this movie many years after it was released. I just assumed it was a children's movie, which I'm sure many others did as well.

When I did see it, it was just a small part that happened to be running on the tube, wherever I was at the time. But after laughing a couple of times, during that small piece, I opted to watch the whole movie shortly thereafter.

I think we have this on DVD. It's on a bookshelf in the den with maybe a 1000 others.

Yes, there's a statement around "individualism vs collectivism". And there's a bit of irony here: Z represents the individualism, but in an environment that absolutely thrives on collectivism.

But what's more, is (in real life), Woody's own party has gone completely off the rails, and now represent everything he has so vehemently detested his entire life.

That aside;

Always good for a laugh and yes I do recommend. It's a nice departure, and an easy, & fun/funny watch.

It gets a 10 rating because of the aforementioned points I've made, along with the fact that I've continued to enjoy it more than two additional viewings. And inevitably, will again in the future.

Thx Bob R.

Bandidas (2006)

Are you in the mood for fun & sexy revolutionaries?

[9/10 · 16 January 2024]

Reviewer Sonia90028 hits the nail on the head. Read hers please if you haven't already. No reason for me to reiterate what she has already so aptly described.

So many movies flop with either unfunny toilet humor; or, by taking itself too seriously.

Not here. Bandidas possesses the right amount of light-heartedness along with good action, a decent plot, and yes, two gorgeous gals in the lead roles.

I've (we've) only seen it once, and that's probably just 9-12 months ago. I happened to run across it again just recently and my wife agreed; saying "Roll it Bob, this movie is a kick."

The women are lots of fun yet tough, all while being ridiculously sexy.

When my wife and I both like a goofy B movie such as this, it's a thumbs up.

Bob R.

Yes,

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Disjointed and not much fun

[4/10 · 15 January 2024]

This movie is just plain MARVEL-less. I do not get the higher reviews. Big surprise.

First 1/2 hr wasn't too bad. But there was too much going on with different parties, all stuffed in.

• In IM1, Tony was slick, elegant, suave, cool & sophisticated. I understand he's got a large medical problem in this offering, but he just seems annoying. His narcissism doesn't work in this fare, and he seems to be going to the motions in certain parts.

It's all on the writers.

• Gwyneth: Still adorable here, but the writers relegated her to the role of "nag". I have no problem with a woman nagging me, provided she's the one I sleep with. This was the love affair the audience was waiting to see flourish. Just aggravating. Ok, he's lays a minor sloppy one on her toward the end, then declares "Weird!" She says "No it's not". Give me a break! In real life, he'd drink her bathwater!

• Woke Chump Cheadle is horrible.

• Scarlett does well here I think. She tough as nails as the BW (I guess), and looks beautiful.

• Love Mickey. His character though seemed to be

1/2 wrestler; 1/2 Harley Davidson. Also, he didn't strike me as a tech guy exactly. He didn't seem to be in the movie much considering he was the primary antagonist. But he had to share the bad guy role with his COMPLETELY unlikely ally, Sam Rockwell.

• Speaking of Sam, he's got the greatest smile ever. He just shouldn't be cast as a bad guy ever. Even in the Green Mile, as a rapist & murderer, he managed to come off as both funny & likable. And that's not to impugn him. He's just one of those people.

• Sam Jackson? What can I say, I like Samuel Jackson, in everything he does, including this movie.

And finally, I like Garry Shandling, but when I saw him in his role, all I could think of was, "what planet are you from?"

I had high hopes for this movie and didn't read any reviews going into it. I'm sorry to say, I was just waiting for it to be over. Iron Man 1 was a far, FAR superior film. #2 is not even close.

Thx

Bob R.

Long Shot (2019)

Another hopelessly pitiful Rogen Bomb

[1/10 · 9 January 2024]

Ok, so this moron shmuck is a self ass-cribed libtard. We know that. But I really don't care about political affiliations if the actor or actress does a good job, and there's a decent plot and script. After all, the entire establishment of Hollywood are Weinstein-loving degenerates. No big deal.

But Rogen is 100% talentless. Every character he (attempts to) portray has a believability factor of 0%.

Doesn't matter if the ratings good or bad. He's just a no-talent guy.

It's astonishing anybody with an IQ over 85 could enjoy this.

I watched "The Green Hornet". My wife asked me to shut it off a couple times. (she can't stand him either.) But I didn't, I watched it because I enjoyed Cato (Jay Chou). He was good.

And unlike Rogen, Chou has talent, both in acting, and of course, in his music. Take Kato out of that movie, and nearly no one would watch.

Seth Rogen makes some of Sandler's dumbest entries look good. (Not to impugn Adam, because some movies he has been in, whether he wrote them or not, were decent, starting with his earliest, The Wedding Singer.

Charlize Theron, is a great actress, and as luck would have it, uncommonly beautiful as well. Perhaps she liked the script, I really don't know. But I'm sure she was thinking during shoots, "what the hell am I doing here?"

Sorry for the downer folks, this guy shouldn't be allowed on screen at any time.

Thx

B.

The Retirement Plan (2023)

I loved it. Hilarious, and it's by design

[9/10 · 5 January 2024]

Ok, I'm happy to say I called this one.

Standard formula on the set up. Bad guys on the hunt for a Mom (and wife), to secure something important that she and her hubby lifted.

Through extenuating circumcisions (as I like to call them), after the feces hits the fan, to protect her daughter, Mom (wife) sends her daughter to the Bahamas to seek refuge with Gramps, (even though she (Mom) hasn't even seen him (her Dad) in 10 years.) Not coincidentally, Mom's super-estranged white bearded Dad, has been retired there for 20 years, living in a hovel on the beach, fishing & pounding Margs.

And that's what lured me: 70 year old beach bum Drunk GrandDad (Cage) to the rescue.

I laughed out loud many times; and that's really rare with flicks today (for all of us I imagine.)

Here it is: Yes, it's Nick Cage in a B movie, with a standard formula and numerous contrivances. But who cares? The director made sure that we laughed whenever possible. And Cage, while a tough guy (based on his livelihood so many years ago); nevertheless, basks in those grandfatherly eccentricities in between the action.

And that's what I was hoping for. Specifically, (as an example), the bad guy informing the kingpin that some rickety old grandpa keeps wasting their fellow bad guys, is LOL hilarious. The big boss, a mean, greedy, murderous, weird looking man, is constantly losing it. And he's never funny, but somehow, absolutely hilarious at times. I don't know if that was intentional or not, I think it was.

Grandpas initial interaction with his granddaughter (who suddenly showed up by herself, unannounced, on his beach), is similarly funny.

I understand the composite rating. Probably a fair grade. But I'm an old Grandpa and was hoping for this injected humor, and I got it.

The action gets heavier after the 1/2 way point, and unfortunately, the humor wanes. But it does so out of necessity.

Another surprise high point, is Ron Perlman's role. A thug BUT, with breeding, and an education in the fine arts. Even Sarah, the granddaughter who is being held captive, takes a bit of a shine to him. I thought he might be convertible (from the Darkside), You'll have to see the movie yourself to find out. The relationship he evolves with the kidnapped granddaughter, however brief, is a surprise.

Ok, enough said. Not for everybody, but definitely for some of us. Action with good humor works for me. However, your 'length in the tooth' might sway your opinion.

I will watch this movie probably 2 more times or more. Heck, I might even buy it.

Thanks for listening;

Bob R.

The Next Three Days (2010)

Great climax and suspense toward the end.

[8/10 · 4 January 2024]

I noticed the first review listed, gave this movie a rating of "1". Either the reviewer (reg), has serious issues, or he (she) is just on the take (paid.)

Curious, I hit the pull down, and asked to bring up all of this person's reviews.

For all the movies reviewed, there was a one or two ratings of "3", a few "2s", and the balance were of course "1s." The language accompanying these low reviews is brief, trite, and vague to the nth degree. In fact, it begs the question of whether or not the reviewer even watched the movie(s).

I say inaccurate as a matter of fact. Why? This is because (although an opinion), when the consensus over hundreds of reviews is universally 600 to 700% higher; over many movies, a confidence interval of over 99% can be calculated (with less than 2 to 3° freedom), to support that claim (statistically speaking.).

Ok, sorry; enough on that!

Well, IMDB reviews convinced me to put this on for my wife and I tonight. It was on Netflix. And the consensus concurs with our opinions pretty much.

We simply rated it a bit higher because we enjoyed it a bit more. That's ok. One thing is for certain, it certainly is closer to a 10 than it is a 1, by leaps and bounds.

THE NEXT THREE DAYS is a slow burn the first (maybe) 80 minutes. And that's a long time. There's some misery, and our star's 'learning curve' is every bit as painful. As a Jr. College instructor, our hero has to learn the ropes (however, painful), in order to achieve his objective of breaking his wife out of the slam. And that is not a spoiler, because it's listed as such, in the brief synopsis.

But it's the last part of the movie that is quite honestly, darned effective suspense. This movie was about a "6" rating, until that wild climax. And it's well done even if it is a bit fantastic at times. And it's not brief. But riveting throughout that lengthy phase.

Crow does a great job. And Thin Lizzie Banks is great as well. And she's a knockout which never hurts.

And finally, My honey Evelyn concurred heartily on the score of an "8".

We recommend for a single viewing for sure.

Thx

Bob R.

Jason and the Argonauts (1963)

A classic. One of very few well made fantasies.

[10/10 · 24 December 2023]

This is a 10 easy. Considering the year, and the challenge of special effects, this movie nevertheless, succeeds on every level.

The direction is effective. Mostly (fairly) unknown actors, it actually gives the story more realism.

The action is the strong point of the film. It does roughly follow Greek mythology.

Yes, I was 9 years old when this was released but I have taken into account, the often strong first impressions a child feels. Seeing it decades later, I still found it to be a well done fantasy.

I really got (get) a kick out of Hera & Zeus. Hanging out in gown/robe, lounging in the clouds above earth, eating grapes and drinking nectar, looking down on their subjects (mankind), they're pretty cool.

It is Hera that's has an interest in aiding Jason in his quest. Zeus tempers her involvement, acting the wise & fair one. But the truth is, Zeus slept with every maiden he laid eyes on, God or mortal. The entire world was a giant nightclub to Zeus. And his wife (and sister), Hera, was jealous and punitive around Zeus' follies. For that matter, all 12 of the major Greek gods, were all a bunch of spiteful, envious, vindictive philanderers whose frailties dwarfed those of mortal man.

But for this movie, Zeus and Hera we're both on their best behavior.

I won't issue any spoilers here. Because everybody should enjoy Jason's odyssey and quest for the Golden Fleece, at least once.

Thx

Bob.

The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

For children, Wow! Just great & Refreshing.

[10/10 · 21 December 2023]

This is Grandma & Grandpa, doing an evaluation for our younger Grandkids, who are 4 & 5.

First, we enjoy "The Santa Claus", which we own on blu ray and enjoy every year. But for grandkids, particularly the young ones, it's not conducive to keeping their attention with all of the strife early on.

First, with this entry, we'd never seen this flick until recently. Quite honestly, I'd never heard of it. Well, it was a delightful surprise, starring the one and only, Kurt Russell.

The gist of our delight, is the high percentage of action in the film, most of it fantasy.

The losing of the sled & reindeer early on, sets the stage for our brother & sister team (the former, still grieving and bitter based on the recent loss of his father), to aid Santa in getting his animals & sled back asap, such that Santa can finish his annual deliveries before daybreak.

I must admit, I found the movie pretty delightful myself. The little sister is the one of faith from the get-go, long before the adventure begins. And she is a pretty sweet kid. And throughout the movie, she never lets go of her old camcorder, which she hopes will prove the existence of Santa to others.

Some of the highlights were pretty good, including Santa's bout in the clink, and the music that ensues within. That was really good. Included in that scene is the lovelorn arresting cop who refuses to believe until he can deny the truth no longer. Very cool.

I thought the magic of Santa's Christmas bag was great, with shades of Narnia built in.

The thing is, it's good clean fun, a fast ride, with good messages, and some clever twists & turns throughout.

Kurt Russell was just great.

The end is slam dunk good too.

Bob & Evelyn.

Hillbilly Elegy (2020)

Dopey Taylor goes Soapy

[1/10 · 21 December 2023]

What the Heck? There's not much new to this story line. Players have little depth of character. In fact, other than Grandpa & Nana; they have no character at all.

Amy does a pretty good job as 'Problem Mom' with the pain in the arse kid. She seemed like she had it pretty together at times, while oddly, falling off a cliff at others. And when she did, the trigger was not weighty enough to justify her out-of-the-blue hostile and/ or abhorrent behavior. If she was a user throughout, it wasn't clearly indicated. I guess it could be construed as a classic Jekyll & Hyde complex, but who knows.

More importantly, who cares. I just didn't like these people at all. But I've LOVED plenty of characters in movies I didn't like. That's because, they had substance. But with this flick, they do not. It was trite soapy crap, ALL OF IT!

I was bored with Mom's outbursts 1/3 the way thru this borefest. But I recorded this off Netflix for my wife, so being the good husband I am, I suffered thru it. At one point, Evelyn busted me scowling and said, "Just shut it off Bob!" But I replied; "Heck no TigerLily, I'm lovin' it!" She just shook her head & giggled. It was one of the rare times where she was little miffed with me, but yet, at the same time, was on the fence about finishing the movie herself, but was hesitant to admit it.

So we continued wading through the putrid quagmire for another hour.

The actor playing the kid was miscast. But he did a pretty good job. Not much about him was likeable.

But as an adult; he was worse; just as obnoxious as it gets. Self absorbed & Self righteous to the nth degree. This is exemplified during the job interview process. Insultingly contrived, it made Vance look like the chump he really is. (So what if I didn't get the job, I sure showed him!!). Uuugh. Just gross!)

I don't know how Glenn Close was made to look so old. Those make-up artists are geniuses!!

This entire soap opera is Oscar bait I guess. Why not go for the Nobel? One's as absolutely meaningless as the other. Besides, nobody's watching.

As I was writing this review, the score kept falling.

Fortunately, it didn't have far to go.

Dopey has produced some great work over the years. This offering is poor rehash of many like fares over the years. It's one of the rare times I kind of agree with RT who gave it a 25%. But, like IMDB viewers, audience reviews were considerably higher.

Why, I'll never know.

I do not recommend whatsoever.

Bob R.