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Reviews
Naked Attraction (2016)
The Brits have a different idea of what's attractive to them.
Trust me, if this idea was Americanized, there would only be the prettiest, fittest, most coiffed group of people allowed to be on this show.
I had my opinions on who the person should pick and a lot of times I was surprised who got chosen. The British seem to see something more than just the surface beauty at times. I guess I'm Americanized to only pick the surface physical beauty. I think this show opens one's eyes to see something more than just the physical beauty.
The discussion of body parts and what to do with them seems the most "shocking" thing about this show. All in all, interesting.
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
I didn't hate it. Star Wars Episode IV redo?
Warning Some Spoilers.
I walked out of the original movie way back when and never looked back. I couldn't stand Tom Cruise's character. I was dragged to this last night and kind of liked it. Cruise's cocky Maverick has been humbled over the decades which made him different. It was great to see Val Kilmer and recognizing his current health conditions, it was utilized in this portrayal. It was poignant.
Okay, did anyone else see the similarities to Star Wars Episode IV? The mission was right out of the Death Star attack. The trench run and the target being only a few meters. The widened mentor who served with the dead father of the son who now needs to be trained and has some issues to overcome. The words of wisdom from the mentor that you think too much about it, just go with your feelings (Use the force Luke).
Good Joe Bell (2020)
I wanted more
First off, I am the inland northwest and a small town in Idaho (smaller than LaGrande, OR) and know what's it like to be gay in high school. For my own survival back in the early 80s, I kept that part of me hidden as much aa possible. I know what Jadin was going through on some levels.
Now to this movie. I don't know how much those who know Joe, Jadin and the rest of the Bell family but I hope they had a voice in telling us who these people were. One other reviewer said that Joe wasn't as annoying as was written in the movie. The journey was important for Joe but I wanted to see and know more about how it began and came to be. It's played in the movie as a sudden epiphany and then he's putting on his shoes and out the door. For me, more of that emotional journey to go on the road might have helped make more of an impact. How did his wife and other son handle that decision?
(Spoiler) The "gimmick" of Jadin on the journey with him and the revelation shocked my husband but I saw the trailer which made it obvious to me.
Mark Wahlburg has proven himself as an actor and this was a good performance but the script should've given him more. Reid Miller is great. Connie Britton is wasted here (and that wig?). It was good to see Gary Sinise on screen again but it's so brief.
The movie is worth the watch but I expected more of a heart-wrenching story. Reid Miller's scene walking out of house, reading another hateful text and calling friends for help was the most emotional scene.for me.
Sean Saves the World (2013)
Terribly Forced
I really wanted to like this because I think Sean Hayes is a really talented comic actor but this show is terribly forced. It wants to be funny but isn't. I found more natural acting on a Disney channel tween show.
Scrap the whole thing Sean, bring back Jack and his mother (from one episode) played by Veronica Cartwright in a "Will & Grace" spin-off.
It is great to see Linda Lavin but "kiss by grits" she isn't strong enough to help this.
I saw that James Burrows directed - at least - the first episode but his creative genius isn't evident.
Make the pain stop...
Oh wait, I did by not watching after the second episode.
Fame (2009)
The American Idolization of "Fame"
I was and am a major fan of the original movie and of the first few years of the TV show. My partner wanted to rent this on NETFlix and we watched it...I walked into this wanting to hate this movie...and I walked away almost completely hating this movie.
There is no depth in this movie and no character development. Sure we want to see the starry-eyed youngsters get hit in the face with reality as they work their butts off on their crafts. What we got was just an "American Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance" take on how acting/singing/dancing is...quick, easy and only about being famous.
I wanted to know more about the teaching staff than I did the students (perhaps it's a generational thing) but we got more of that in the original film which was completely absent from this new version. We had one scene with the voice teacher starting to explain why she was teaching and not "performing" and I wanted to know more. Kelsey Grammar's character looked like it could've been very interesting but it never emerged.
There were two good nods to the original version(s): Debbie Allen as the Principal and the Oscar-nominated "Out Here on My Own" - Ms. Naughton does an incredible performance with this beautiful song. I didn't like the version of "Fame" at the end.
If you want to see a good version of this, watch the original "FAME" - as 80's as it is...it does tell the story much much better.
Lost in Space: Follow the Leader (1966)
Episode inspires scenes for "Return of the Jedi."
George Lucas surely saw this episode when he was younger because various images and actions are taken from here and used in "Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi." Most of the similarities happen in the last act of this episode.
First of all, John Robinson (Will's father) wears a mask. Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader (Luke's father) wears a mask.
If you know the Luke/Vader/Emperor scenes near the end of "Return of the Jedi," you will recognize that in this description of this LIS episode: At the end, John has Will standing over a precipice with intent of throwing him over to kill him. Will begs to see his father's face one more time. John removes the mask. Will pleas for help from his father to save him. After some struggle, John breaks through and throws the mask (as well as the evil influence) over the precipice. A voice screams as the mask falls into the abyss and the evil is destroyed. Father and Son are reunited again.
Lost in Space: The Sky Is Falling (1965)
"The Sky is Falling" shows what LIS could have been but wasn't.
When the episode opens, Dr. Smith is gold-bricking, again, when a crab-like creature approaches him. In typical Smith fashion he panics and becomes paranoid at an impending invasion.
There is an invasion but not as Smith fatalistically expects. Just like the Robinson, another family of travelers - The Taurons - are looking for a planet to explore and inhabit. The father, mother and young son look like humans but they communicate telepathically and never speak a word in the entire episode.
As Will is out alone exploring, he comes across the Tauron boy who is off on his own as well. Will tries to communicate with him but they find a common interest as the Tauron boy throws a ball that acts like a boomerang; he can play catch by himself. While playing, Will sneezes and almost immediately the alien boy falls ill. Will tries to help and carries him to a small cave, he stays with him not wanting to leave him alone.
Back at their respective camps both families are worried about their boys. Smith incites paranoia about the visitors claiming that they have captured Will. John agrees to go to the alien camp. John tries to inquire about Will but fails, the Taurons are suspicious as well and pull a weapon on John. Aggressions mount and weapons are shot. Will shows up with the boy and John carries him back to his family. After bringing him back, the parents are ready to shoot again but their boy communicates the truth of what happened. The Taurons leave the planet by the end of the show.
This episode shows what LIS could have been but wasn't. It would explore concepts that were abandoned here and then done so well with "Star Trek" a year later on NBC. It shows where they were going but failed to do later on in season 1 and in the following 2 seasons.
The "Matter Transfer Unit" used by the Taurons is similar in concept to the Transporter on "Star Trek." This episode aired almost a year prior to Trek's first episode on NBC. It would be a key element in the episode, "Return from Outer Space." Don Matheson (Tauron Father) would appear in subsequent LIS episodes and would go on to star in Irwin Allen's "Land of the Giants."
Bless the Beasts & Children (1971)
Get "Bless the Beasts & Children" to DVD!!!
Like so many others, I saw this movie in school. I was in the 7th grade and a "dink" like the Bedwetters. I was also in the closet and wouldn't come out for another 20 years but I was already being called, "fairy" like Goodenow and the others in the Bedwetters' cabin. I connected so well with this movie when I saw it that it will ALWAYS be at the top of my favorites list.
Most favorites aren't usually the best that cinema has to offer but ones that strike a special chord in one's life. It helped that the Carpenters were my favorite music group at the time (still are) and "Lost in Space" had been my favorite TV show as a kid and now there was an older "Will Robinson" in this movie (doing a very good non-Will performance).
I have a very poor VHS copy of this movie recorded from a late-night TV showing back in the late 80's. I am holding on to that copy until (hopefully someday soon) the DVD version is released (and hopefully again) with lots of special features.
I am waiting to show my partner this movie on DVD because I want him to know more about who I was (and am) by seeing probably the most important movie of my adolescence.
Re: Actors' real ages. Who cares, adults have been playing teens in movies and TV since the beginning of cinema and still do. If they can pull it off, who cares.
LET'S PULL TOGETHER AS FANS TO GET THIS MOVIE FINALLY RELEASED ON DVD!