jodogo59 Reviews

Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)

I fell asleep

[2/10 · 28 December 2014]

My sister-n-law took me out for my birthday to see this movie. I took a nap in the afternoon prior to the evening show we saw. I still fell asleep around the time of the start of the plagues. I would have had a very restful sleep had it not been for the massive sub-woofer effects surrounding the subsequent scenes. I have never ever fallen asleep before in a theater.

I will say this. If you are looking for a story line somehow depicting events as recorded in the Bible, then be prepared for an alternate universe.

Really, the admission price is not worth watching this movie. Go rent "Plan 9 from Outer Space" (consistently and annually voted the the worst movie ever). It's money better spent.

Hawaii Five-0 (2010–2020)

Shows Promise but...

[7/10 · 20 September 2010]

Let's start with arguably the best and most recognized TV score of all time. If the producers want to use the original theme song, then why shorten it? It reminded me of the truncated TV tunes of re-runs in syndication.

Now for the pilot episode. I thought it odd that Hawaii 5-0 would open with a scene in South Korea. It's like stumbling out of bed in the morning not exactly sure what you're going to do that day.

There are also seemed to be to much gun play and not enough acting. The dialog and some of the background setup (Danno's family situation, for example) was a bit too cliché. Some of the personal background could be better developed over time rather than cramming it into one episode while chasing the bad guys.

The overall storyline for the pilot was excellent, though. It gave background to 5-0's beginnings and it maintained a certain consistency and plausibility with TOS while adding the dimension of McGarrett and his father.

Some of the dialog resulted in an approving chuckle from me.

The episode began to gel about 2/3 in and by the end of the show, I felt comfortable with the main characters and looked forward to the next chapter.

Ushpizin (2004)

More than a movie of faith it is a lesson in endurance and tolerance

[10/10 · 11 November 2005]

Normally, I am not a big fan of Israeli movies. Often, they embody poor acting and poorer directing.

This movie was a definite exception.

Everything was real. It is pure acting throughout the movie (no special fx to cover up bad acting or a bad plot).

The characters are believable (because for the most part they are acting their actual lives out in front of the big screen - which in itself is problematic but not here).

The end was fairly predictable but what made it so special was the humor mixed in with sadness and anger in the scenes leading up to the climax.

Miracle (2004)

One of the best I've seen in a long time

[10/10 · 13 February 2004]

The hockey action was awesome. Normally sports movies are a turn-off because the actors look horrible trying to be athletes. This was different.

Also, the director's precision matching of the original play-by-play with the movie's ice action is flawless.

With surround sound at the theater, you feel like you are in the arena during the action. You root for USA, hate the Soviets (just like old times), recall that horrible period we had in the late '70s and remember that there was something special through it all at Lake Placid.