A lot of the humor is based on simple misunderstandings which are not realistic. There are several examples in the final season which are wrung out to an absurd degree. Don't get me wrong the players all do the best they can with the lines they are given. My favourite Benny Hill girl, Jane Leeves is a stand-out as is David Hyde Pearce and Peri Gilpin. Kelsey doesn't really get to do much except look stupid, vapid and self centred. Oh and rampantly promiscuous which for a MD is remarkable. John Mahoney doesnt get to do much either except to interact with a pretty smart dog. The show hasn't aged well at all. I can't bear the thought of taking the DVD out to play it which is why I won't. If you compare it to Cheers from which the Frasier character sprang, Frasier runs a very poor second. The show could have finished after two seasons. We would have saved a pile of time and Kelsey could have gone and done something amazing like he did in Boss. And that show finished far too soon. Stay away. And if you can't, stay asleep.
Reviews
11 Reviews
Orca
(1977)
Ridiculous
20 May 2022
You probably already read it but "killer" whales aren't whales. They're dolphins. And they are whale killers. It's a stupid movie with a lazy plot and terrible acting. Its not worth seeing. I made that mistake the year it was released here in Australia. Trust me. Save your money and more importantly don't waste your time.
Dreadful
22 April 2022
I can't believe Gervais thought this is a good idea. The one joke is spread so thin there's nothing left by the middle. And Gervais laughing at himself in that lame attempt every seven minutes. For goodness sakes. Absolutely dreadful.
Our Time
(1974)
Some people call this the good old days
12 April 2022
It was supposed to be scarey in the 70s like Reefer madness in the 50s. Its a very bad movie. Amazing that the US is heading back there except the religious right think they have a monopoly on decency. When Roe v Wade gets overturned dont come whining to me.
Splitting Up Together
(2018–2019)
Im only giving it nine stars
25 January 2021
The show was great the writing was very good the performances were mostly great. The final episode which I only found out just now is for series two was very disappointing. Im not giving anything away but I think the narrative completely lost it. It wasn't funny and it wasn't nice at all. The big surprise for me was Olivor Hudson. I never liked him in rules of engagement. I never really liked the show at all really. I thought he was probably the weakest link in it. In splitting up together he displays much more emotional range and even through the plot is pretty ridiculous in places and the premise is a bit thin, they do make the most of it. Id like to see him in something else a tad more dramatic. Thank you all for your time.
On the Rocks
(2020)
Sofia does it again
27 October 2020
I love it. Smart, witty, funny, great casting, great acting, perfect story arc. It's great to see normal people put in wierd situations and just stand back and watch from a safe distance without judgement. I really like the relationship between the father and the daughter the stuff that's not stated. I wasn't expecting much when I saw it on Apple+ plus but Ive come back to bits of it several times now. Okay its not as good as Lost in translation but its still really nice to watch. Recommended.
A Night in Casablanca
(1946)
Letter from Warner Brothers threatening legal action over the name
10 January 2006
This letter from Warners to the Marx Brothers threatening legal action over the name "A night in Casablanca" was just printed in the paper today.
Dear Warner Bros., Apparently there is more than one way of conquering a city and holding it as your own. For example, up to the time that we contemplated making this picture, I had no idea that the city of Casablanca belonged exclusively to Warner Brothers. However, it was only a few days after our announcement appeared that we received your long, ominous legal document warning us not to use the name Casablanca.
It seems that in 1471, Ferdinand Balboa Warner, your great-great-grandfather, while looking for a shortcut to the city of Burbank, had stumbled on the shores of Africa and, raising his alpenstock (which he later turned in for a 100 shares of common), named it Casablanca.
I just don't understand your attitude. Even if you plan on releasing your picture, I am sure that the average movie fan could learn in time to distinguish between Ingrid Bergman and Harpo. I don't know whether I could, but I certainly would like to try.
You claim that you own Casablanca and that no one else can use that name without permission. What about "Warner Brothers"? Do you own that too? You probably have the right to use the name Warner, but what about the name Brothers? Professionally, we were brothers long before you were. We were touring the sticks as the Marx Brothers when Vitaphone was still a gleam in the inventor's eye, and even before there had been other brothers - the Smith Brothers; the Brothers Karamazov; Dan Brothers, an outfielder with Detroit; and Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?. (This was originally "Brothers, Can You Spare a Dime?" but this was spreading a dime pretty thin, so they threw out one brother, gave all the money to the other one, and whittled it down to "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?") Now Jack, how about you? Do you maintain that yours is an original name? Well it's not. It was used long before you were born. Offhand, I can think of two Jacks - Jack of Jack and the Beanstalk, and Jack the Ripper, who cut quite a figure in his day.
As for you, Harry, you probably sign your checks sure in the belief that you are the first Harry of all time and that all other Harrys are impostors. I can think of two Harrys that preceded you. There was Lighthouse Harry of Revolutionary fame and a Harry Appelbaum who lived on the corner of 93rd Street and Lexington Avenue. Unfortunately, Appelbaum wasn't too well-known. The last I heard of him, he was selling neckties at Weber and Heilbroner.
Now about the Burbank studio. I believe this is what you brothers call your place. Old man Burbank is gone. Perhaps you remember him. He was a great man in a garden. His wife often said Luther had 10 green thumbs.
What a witty woman she must have been! Burbank was the wizard who crossed all those fruits and vegetables until he had the poor plants in such confused and jittery condition that they could never decide whether to enter the dining room on the meat platter or the dessert dish.
This is pure conjecture, of course, but who knows - perhaps Burbank's survivors aren't too happy with the fact that a plant that grinds out pictures on a quota settled in their town, appropriated Burbank's name and uses it as a front for their films.
It is even possible that the Burbank family is prouder of the potato produced by the old man than they are of the fact that your studio emerged Casablanca or even Gold Diggers of 1931.
This all seems to add up to a pretty bitter tirade, but I assure you it's not meant to. I love Warners. Some of my best friends are Warner Brothers. It is even possible that I am doing you an injustice and that you, yourselves, know nothing about this dog-in-the-Wanger attitude.
It wouldn't surprise me at all to discover that the heads of your legal department are unaware of this absurd dispute, for I am acquainted with many of them and they are fine fellows with curly black hair, double-breasted suits and a love of their fellow man that out-Saroyans Saroyan.
I have a hunch that his attempt to prevent us from using the title is the brainchild of some ferret-faced shyster, serving a brief apprenticeship in your legal department. I know the type well - hot out of law school, hungry for success, and too ambitious to follow the natural laws of promotion. This bar sinister probably needled your attorneys, most of whom are fine fellows with curly black hair, double-breasted suits, etc., into attempting to enjoin us.
Well, he won't get away with it! We'll fight him to the highest court! No pasty-faced legal adventurer is going to cause bad blood between the Warners and the Marxes.
We are all brothers under the skin, and we'll remain friends till the last reel of A Night in Casablanca goes tumbling over the spool.
Sincerely, Groucho Marx See The Oxford Book of Letters, edited by Frank Kermode and Anita Kermode, Oxford University Press, 1996.
Dear Warner Bros., Apparently there is more than one way of conquering a city and holding it as your own. For example, up to the time that we contemplated making this picture, I had no idea that the city of Casablanca belonged exclusively to Warner Brothers. However, it was only a few days after our announcement appeared that we received your long, ominous legal document warning us not to use the name Casablanca.
It seems that in 1471, Ferdinand Balboa Warner, your great-great-grandfather, while looking for a shortcut to the city of Burbank, had stumbled on the shores of Africa and, raising his alpenstock (which he later turned in for a 100 shares of common), named it Casablanca.
I just don't understand your attitude. Even if you plan on releasing your picture, I am sure that the average movie fan could learn in time to distinguish between Ingrid Bergman and Harpo. I don't know whether I could, but I certainly would like to try.
You claim that you own Casablanca and that no one else can use that name without permission. What about "Warner Brothers"? Do you own that too? You probably have the right to use the name Warner, but what about the name Brothers? Professionally, we were brothers long before you were. We were touring the sticks as the Marx Brothers when Vitaphone was still a gleam in the inventor's eye, and even before there had been other brothers - the Smith Brothers; the Brothers Karamazov; Dan Brothers, an outfielder with Detroit; and Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?. (This was originally "Brothers, Can You Spare a Dime?" but this was spreading a dime pretty thin, so they threw out one brother, gave all the money to the other one, and whittled it down to "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?") Now Jack, how about you? Do you maintain that yours is an original name? Well it's not. It was used long before you were born. Offhand, I can think of two Jacks - Jack of Jack and the Beanstalk, and Jack the Ripper, who cut quite a figure in his day.
As for you, Harry, you probably sign your checks sure in the belief that you are the first Harry of all time and that all other Harrys are impostors. I can think of two Harrys that preceded you. There was Lighthouse Harry of Revolutionary fame and a Harry Appelbaum who lived on the corner of 93rd Street and Lexington Avenue. Unfortunately, Appelbaum wasn't too well-known. The last I heard of him, he was selling neckties at Weber and Heilbroner.
Now about the Burbank studio. I believe this is what you brothers call your place. Old man Burbank is gone. Perhaps you remember him. He was a great man in a garden. His wife often said Luther had 10 green thumbs.
What a witty woman she must have been! Burbank was the wizard who crossed all those fruits and vegetables until he had the poor plants in such confused and jittery condition that they could never decide whether to enter the dining room on the meat platter or the dessert dish.
This is pure conjecture, of course, but who knows - perhaps Burbank's survivors aren't too happy with the fact that a plant that grinds out pictures on a quota settled in their town, appropriated Burbank's name and uses it as a front for their films.
It is even possible that the Burbank family is prouder of the potato produced by the old man than they are of the fact that your studio emerged Casablanca or even Gold Diggers of 1931.
This all seems to add up to a pretty bitter tirade, but I assure you it's not meant to. I love Warners. Some of my best friends are Warner Brothers. It is even possible that I am doing you an injustice and that you, yourselves, know nothing about this dog-in-the-Wanger attitude.
It wouldn't surprise me at all to discover that the heads of your legal department are unaware of this absurd dispute, for I am acquainted with many of them and they are fine fellows with curly black hair, double-breasted suits and a love of their fellow man that out-Saroyans Saroyan.
I have a hunch that his attempt to prevent us from using the title is the brainchild of some ferret-faced shyster, serving a brief apprenticeship in your legal department. I know the type well - hot out of law school, hungry for success, and too ambitious to follow the natural laws of promotion. This bar sinister probably needled your attorneys, most of whom are fine fellows with curly black hair, double-breasted suits, etc., into attempting to enjoin us.
Well, he won't get away with it! We'll fight him to the highest court! No pasty-faced legal adventurer is going to cause bad blood between the Warners and the Marxes.
We are all brothers under the skin, and we'll remain friends till the last reel of A Night in Casablanca goes tumbling over the spool.
Sincerely, Groucho Marx See The Oxford Book of Letters, edited by Frank Kermode and Anita Kermode, Oxford University Press, 1996.
Christmas with the Kranks
(2004)
I liked it.
12 December 2004
I was not expecting much and I wasn't disappointed. The premise is also pretty thin. I mean if you spent that much on Christmas, of course you would consider boycotting it. On the other hand, it ended up costing a lot more so it couldn't have been about the money. When did life (and Chrsitmas in particular!!!), get so complicated. I really felt for the old couple in the film. It must be just so hard to put up with all the enforced joviality when you are faced with such a serious challenge. Having said all that, there is a positive message in the movie about the value of community. It was almost capra esquire towards the end. . . . . . . . . .
Thunderbirds
(2004)
I cannot believe I waited forty years for this!!!!!
22 September 2004
My God it was bad! Parker wasn't even cartoonish in the way he was portrayed. The wooden acting of the original was star material when compared to Ron Cook. The story replaced the sexual tension between Alan and Tin Tin with juvenile. What were they thinking when they cast Ben Kinglsey as The Hood? Ghandi he may be, but he could not carry this off. The direction was grim indeed. Even the special effects were lame. I almost got excited about the space craft, they did look good but I think they were only looking to the merchandise tie ins. You know I was originally really looking forward to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I'm glad now that it was canned by Disney before they had a chance to ruin the magic like those morons did with Thunderbirds.
The Terminal
(2004)
I liked it
9 September 2004
I saw this on the first day of its release in Australia. I needed an antidote to The Ladykillers which I say about two weeks ago. I didn't like that movie at all. I liked The Terminal. It reminded me of those old frank capra movies, low key comedy, character based (cartoonish in parts!), but never really threatening. I wonder if anyone other than Spielberg and Hanks could make so much of the material. I won't see it again until the DVD release but I shall look forward to it just the same. . . . . .
I've just seen it again
9 June 2003
For about the millionth time and it's right up there with The Sound of Music. I love Doris and I love Gordon. There is such a chemistry between them that shines through on the screen it is remarkable. I really can't decide which is the better of the two, By the light of the silvery moon or On moonlight bay. Sheer brilliance.
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