wizard-64 Reviews

Don't Look Up (2021)

Monumental Waste of Talent

[2/10 · 22 January 2024]

I can't believe the high ratings for this film.

It is basically a one line joke. Characters are totally unbelievable. It is supposed to be a comedy, but there is little to laugh at.

I also cannot believe the A-list stars who signed on to this project. Sure there is some cleverness in the script that will probably float over the heads of most viewers.

(Please read the trivia and goofs sections before viewing. And please be advised that if you waste the two hours and eighteen minutes watching it, you will never get that time back. )

Some films like Godfather and Shawshank Redemption can be watched and enjoyed many many times. I doubt that anyone would watch this film more than once.

The only redeeming feature if this film is the CGI, otherwise I would give this a 1.

On Native Soil (2006)

Fair Account of the 9/11 Commission Hearings and Events

[10/10 · 17 August 2006]

On Native Soil is a fascinating, gripping, compelling and comprehensive even-handed documentary on the events of 9/11 and the failures that lead to the tragedy.

Excellent collection of seldom seen footage of the disaster interlaced with 9/11 commission testimony, animated diagrams and a no-nonsense time-line. (Michael Moore should take a lesson from this!) Contains interviews with some of the family members of those who fell that day, interviews with some of the survivors, and interviews with the people who were in charge of protecting the public.

Unfortunately shot in 2005 (before the report on the lack of progress in implementing the commission's recommendations). I would have liked to see an epilogue pointing this out. An edited version will appear on Court TV soon. Rent or buy the DVD instead.

Bubble (I) (2005)

Interesting Character Study but Abrupt Underdeveloped Ending

[4/10 · 26 January 2006]

At the start, you may find the story slow and labored. This may be intentional to reinforce the tedium of the characters' lives, but I found my mind wandering.

The main characters work in a doll factory. I had a hard time believing that anyone would actually still produce dolls in the USA. This labor intensive product should be produced overseas at one twentieth the cost. Do we really need industries like this in America?

The characters are all very poor, but if they are really that poor, why are they spending their hard earned money on fast food for lunch?

I also expected that a director as strong as Steven Soderbergh to pay attention to details but inconsistent cigarette length errors abound.

Martha's trances would be better represented with a fantasy sequence and the abrupt ending could have been done in a less "hit you over the head" manner.

This project is more reminiscent of a film school project than a commercial film. I would rent the DVD rather than pay to watch this in a theater.

4 out of 10.

The Chumscrubber (2005)

Wonderful cast , great acting, good direction, solid script

[9/10 · 27 July 2005]

The name almost caused me to forgo seeing this gem. How they managed to obtain all the big name talent is a testament to how powerful the script is. There are some laughs in this film, however it seems that only older people appreciate the humor. Director Posin commented after the showing that the movie was test screened before a group of teenagers in the 17 to 18 age bracket and NO ONE laughed. I also heard from the producer and was shocked at how close this move came to NOT being made. Wish i could think of a better title that would get more people to see it. Opens nationwide August 5th (except NY and LA). Other trivia is that Ben Kingley and Robin Williams committed to do parts in the movie but because of the on again and off again shooting schedule, both had conflicts when the production actually got off the ground.

True Heart (1999)

Poor Script, Poor Dialogue, Poor Acting. Avoid this.

[1/10 · 17 January 2005]

Contains Spoilers Sorry I can't see how this movie was ever green lighted.

I recognized a young Kirsten Dunst instantly. Written for very young viewers.

Anyone older than ten will not put up with this crap. The continuity is awful, with many things (like Khonanesta somehow escaping being locked up in a shed), never explained.

There is sloppy editing, lousy dialog, and poor acting to boot. Gunshot wounds that appear to bother the victims less than a mosquito bite. More than once, the poachers have a clean shot to kill the Kodiak, yet somehow fail to pull the trigger and let the bear attack them. The bear even chases 4 men with loaded rifles away from their camp. Hmm, come to think of it, if their gunshots were so ineffective, I would run too.

Kirsten Dunst leaves her jacket in one direction while they escape in another, only to kick up dirt and gravel in the opposite direction so they could easily be tracked.

A poacher shot with an arrow, in a scene that looks fatal, later re-appears later without a scratch. An old clue cloth (that looks plastic coated), with an insipid riddle that leads the way to a sacred Indian place.

Writer/director Cyran's script may have looked good on paper, but the low budget, poor acting and bad direction make this a film to avoid.

Interesting only to Kirsten Dunst enthusiasts (she looks very very young here) One Star