SomeBlueDevil Reviews

The Creator (2023)

Beautifully Made

[8/10 · 17 December 2023]

The reason this production has a lousy 6.9 rating at the time of this review is because it shows Americans in an unflattering light.

The only nation that dropped not one but two nukes in real life can't possibly be depicted as anything but great in a fictional story.

This is a visually stunning movie and while not perfect by any means, it is masterfully cast, splendid acted and directed, plus it gives food for thought. They did well with the special effects and for the most part do a good job with the story line, which is simple but no less decent.

If you like sci-fi and aren't too concerned about how certain nationalities might be portrayed, you will enjoy this movie.

The Bear (2022– )

Came for Lip. Left for my sanity.

[1/10 · 8 July 2023]

I love dysfunctional, they don't get much better than Shameless, a truly fantastic show. This isn't that kind of show. It certainly isn't a comedy either, I don't know what they were thinking when they picked that category.

If you're expecting to find greatness here, especially after trusting the reviews and star ratings here, you will be disappointed.

Yes, kitchens are noisy and there's always some stress, but this is just chaos without anything to attribute it to. My stress levels went up just listening to the constant barage of NOISE from this show. There's no story to speak of, nothing that will grab your attention or root for any of the characters. Not a damn thing happens in this dirty @$$ kitchen and a really unhealthy, unclean looking chef that handles food without gloves and doesn't keep his sweaty hair under a hat...

I honestly don't know who would rate this production higher than 5 stars other than show participants and die hard Lip fans...

Nummer, but best to skip this one..

Better Call Saul: Saul Gone (2022) Season 6, Episode 13

Saul out of Character...

[1/10 · 22 August 2022]

I'm going to agree with the reviewers who are disappointed with the last handful of episodes of season 6, and this one as the final outcome.

I wasn't hoping for a fairytale happy ending but one that made sense and was true to the characters.

For me, it started going south when Gene decided to go to the cancer guy's house and break in.

He was a) not that dumb and b) not that desperate / greedy. I also don't think he would have taken this poor sod to the cleaners because his disease made him in some ways an underdog, the type Jimmy looked out for.

The character Gene was a completely different person. Lacked the charm and by all accounts smarts to get away with things.

He would never have put the physical hurt on Barnett's character.

Then there's Kim. Also not the same character. Yes, seeing Howard get killed was a shock and made her feel horrible for what they both did to him. She knew that they were too alike and trouble would find them, so she split.

But she always stood by Jimmy, even after they split up. For her to tell him after 6 years to turn himself in and to write that confession was 100% not her character. Nothing was gained by it. To unburden herself she could have TALKED to Howard's wife without giving her anything to take to the authorities. Her own life was beyond not Kim and she wouldn't have stuck with it for that long,wasting her tine on that farce of a life she had in FL.

I expected a clever "con" that nobody saw coming where Jimmy and Kim pulled off another round to minimize the damage while somehow still showing real remorse for what happened to Howard and Chuck.

The real Jimmy wouldn't have turned down the 7 year deal. If anything, he would have come up with another Ace in his sleeve to shorten that some more...

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022– )

Another Disappointment

[2/10 · 5 July 2022]

Just because they managed to implement a vintage vibe doesn't mean that this is a good show. It's nowhere near what TOS was.

They got that vintage looks part right but failed in casting and writing. I'm not connecting to any of the characters. I love Anson Mount but Captain Pike was written as an anti authoritarian push over with a bridge full of women, many of which look too young and act immature to be serving on a Starfleet vessel.

I'm as woke as they come but there's some serious "politically correct" overboard going on, same as with Discovery.

They just can't seem to get back to the quality of TNG, DS9, Voyager, even Enterprise which deserved better than being canceled after 4 seasons.

This one is a hard pass for me.

Britannia (2017–2021)

Not for the faint of heart

[9/10 · 11 December 2021]

Just finished binge watching season 1 and 2 on Epix and absolutely love this show. I'm very pleased to read that season 3 is being released January 16, 2022.

I'm easily bored with shows and have a pretty high standard with regard to what I consider watchable. This series had my interest from the first episode. I found all characters unique and engaging, both the good and bad guys so to speak. There are no big names actors attached but the show is very well cast. The acting by everyone is spot on. Intriguing story telling and stunning cinematography.

From what I can tell, people that dislike the show seem to think that it's a documentary. It isn't.

You do have to pay attention or you will get lost in the story. And you probably won't like this show if you're squeamish about foul language, nudity, violence and various other ideas of religious practices and beliefs.

Otherwise I'd highly recommend it to anyone who likes something different.

Sweet Tooth (2021– )

Starts out interesting, downhill from there

[3/10 · 22 July 2021]

I started watching this after a coworker recommended it. He had watched the first episode or so.

It started off interesting enough but by episode 3 I gave up. Too many WTF moments and people not making sense. The story begins to unravel and lose direction. You can only suspend disbelief for so long... And the chemistry between the two main characters - the hybrid child and his protector - is being unnecessarily challenged with dumb writing.

At one point this show had a 8.6 star rating. It's 7.9 now and I'm sure ratings will drop further as people get deeper into the season.

Damages (2007–2012)

A Must Watch in the Streaming Era

[8/10 · 20 April 2021]

I can't imagine watching this or many other shows on a "week to week" 1 episode at a time basis. So hallelujah for the age of streaming! This one is a binge-watch gem.

It's not your ordinary "lawyer" procedural show, hardly any court room drama.

But it's very cleverly written.

You get star power featuring Glenn Close, Ted Danson, Timothy Olyphant, William Hurt, Lily Tomlin, Martin Short, Judd Hirsch, John Goodman and John Hannah just to name a few.

They work together flawlessly and this show really brings out their acting talent.

The 5 seasons cover roughly 7 or 8 years worth of story lines, so the math is just fine. There are no plot holes - not, if you watch the entire show carefully without distractions. It all comes together - any question marks will eventually get answered.

I do enjoy the way they put flashbacks with a little bit of info as they fill in the gaps to complete the puzzle. It just adds to the suspense as you're trying to figure out or anticipate what will happen next.

It's such a clever show - just bring focus and patience. Not for people with short attention spans who then come on here and leave a low star review...

The Glades (2010–2013)

A&E pulled a fast one on its audience. Best to skip the final episode.

[1/10 · 14 April 2021]

Good, light-hearted entertainment seasons 1 through 4, this was one of A&E's most watchable shows. Likable characters, good chemistry, mystery and humor made this a fun show to watch.

Then A&E pulls the plug a week after airing the season 4 finale, ending in a major and very upsetting cliffhanger, without giving the writers a chance to wrap up the show.

Well, A&E - your viewers invested HOURS into your show and how do you thank them? By leaving them stranded with an unfinished story - and I mean the worst kind of unfinished...

Beware of A&E shows. They don't care about their viewers, not even enough to put out a final episode that pulls everything together.

And if you do watch this show, I recommend you skip the last episode.

It will only leave you mad and ruin everything you've watched prior.

For All Mankind (2019– )

What part of "alternative version" is lost on so many?

[8/10 · 29 March 2021]

Reading through the reviews, it boggles the mind how so many complain that this series is "rewriting history" - if you read the tag line, you would know that it isn't meant to be a documentary.

I'm GenX and was still knee high to a grasshopper when man landed on the moon. With that said, I'm a space exploration enthusiast and this show looked interesting.

I like the "what if" style shows that explore the possibility of alternate realities if some major event had a different outcome. That's what this show does.

Season one is spell-binding. Yes, lots of smoking - it's the 60s through early 90s and that's what people did, so it's true to that time. Yes, there is a lot of emphasis on social justice / female empowerment. Can't believe in 2021, people still feel threatened by that idea.

Season 2 is notably slower and more focus on personal drama. I'm not going let it invalidate the original concept. It's certainly worth a watch and you can always stop after season 1 - no cliffhangers.

Miss Scarlet & the Duke (2020– )

Should have titled it The Duke and Miss Scarlet

[5/10 · 6 March 2021]

I watched the entire season just so I could write a proper review.

My main beef with this show is the amount of #$% Miss Scarlet takes from the duke. Even in that era, women (esp. smart ones like our main character is supposed to be) had more self-esteem and resourcefulness than returning to a person who has been treating her disrespectfully and downright mean over and over. It's painful to watch. It isn't until the last couple of episodes that "the duke" finally comes around a little. Unfortunately, at that point, it feels almost out of character and the dislike the viewer has developed for him leaves him with no redeeming qualities to speak of. Also, I didn't feel any chemistry between them and that may well be because how can she fall for a person that for the most part has shown nothing but contempt for her, while taking advantage of her to further himself?

Raised by Wolves (2020–2022)

Exceptional SciFi.

[9/10 · 28 January 2021]

At the time of this review, there are 428 "10, 9 and 8 star" rating reviews vs. 243 "1, 2 and 3 star" rating reviews. From what I can tell, a lot of the 1 and 2 stars are "revenge ratings" for the season not ending the way they wanted. We saw this same thing with GOT.

The rest are complaining that it wasn't pro atheism enough or pro religion enough or they had trouble grasping the plot. Part of the fun with this show is that it provokes both sides and you do have to pay attention, it is easy to miss important parts and then stuff won't make sense.

I enjoy a good scifi show and they are hard to come by. While not perfect, this is a quality production. Superbly written and filmed. Great acting by everyone - yes even Ragnar. :)) Cinematography and special FX are breath-taking. The pace is on par with other SciFi classics. Ridley Scott at his finest.

I'm going to rewatch this show. It is that good.

A Touch of Cloth (2012–2014)

Thoroughly enjoyable - if you get that kind of humor!

[8/10 · 24 December 2020]

I first started watching this, not realizing that was supposed to be a spoof. It made its way into my watch list because I like John Hannah and thought, why not check this out? It starts out seriously looking and then goes goofy. Definitely a British version of "Naked Gun" style goofy. :)) Is it perfect? No. Will be there be duds? Flat jokes? Scenes where the "haha" attempt was overdone? Yes. But overall, it is very much worth watching - if you're into that that kind of humor.

The Undoing (2020)

Not worth watching.

[4/10 · 3 December 2020]

After watching the first two or three episodes, I rated this an 8. It keeps you coming back for more because you want to know "whodunnit".

Now that I've finished watching it, I wish I hadn't wasted my time.

It had a lot of potential but ended up being a real stinker as far as the story line goes.

Great acting all the way around and who doesn't enjoy Mr Sutherland who is like a fine wine that gets better with age. But in terms of writing, it was a wasted opportunity to make this stand out.

If you're looking for a surprise ending, don't. The last 20 minutes ruined this show.

Blood Simple (1984)

Just too far fetched.

[6/10 · 23 November 2020]

I give kudos to the Coen Bros for trying something different and this was their first of the sort. Love the overall style and love the "noir" aspect of it.

Beyond that I agree with the reviews that say this story is simply too far fetched. You can suspend disbelief only for so long before it ruins the show. Too many "OMG" plot sequences where you go "why would anybody do that?" And even for people who don't communicate well, this was hair-raisingly bad. What's sad is that it would still have worked if they HAD communicated.

Beyond that, it had a few too many ceiling fan scenes... :) Thankfully, the Coen Bros have evolved since.

I Know This Much Is True (2020)

Well-Acted but too drawn out.

[7/10 · 23 November 2020]

I watched the whole show, so my review is based on that fact.

I'm giving Mark a 10-Star performance review. He very convincingly portrayed two different characters in the same show. That takes skill.

Writing gets 7 stars. I think they could have done better.

Editing gets 5 stars. Way too much footage that doesn't add anything but bores the audience. It's too much for a series - this would have made a great 2 hour movie adaptation.

I did find a few scenes a bit over the top, with lengthy shouting sequences where it's like "way past time to clam down" - overkill - the point had long been made. I resorted to MUTE. Same with some of the music score sequences, particularly during the journal reads. Felt overly dramatized.

It's still very much worth a watch, esp. if you like Ruffalo, Just know beforehand what this is. To the "so depressing" complainers: Why watch a DRAMA if you're not mentally up for it? Nobody is making you watch what you're not into. Plenty of light-hearted entertainment to chose from.

Star Trek: Picard (2020–2023)

It felt forced...

[6/10 · 10 September 2020]

I'm a sucker for quality sci-fi and while not a Trekkie, I do love Star Trek. Even the not-so-well loved Deep Space Nine and Captain Archer's Enterprise that had a lot of hardcore fans up in arms because it wasn't close enough to the "original" St philisophy. Sorry, I think they were great shows.

Admittedly I didn't enjoy Discovery - tried twice and just couldn't warm up to the show. But I was cautiously looking forward to PICARD. Some of our favorite characters, Picard, Data, Seven! But ultimately in a mediocre show.

The story was so-so. Character development was not there. Heck, I couldn't even get into the characters I know and love until episode 6 or 7. That's poor writing/story telling.

The "space elf" felt like he was in the wrong show LOL Would have loved to see more Borg action, more actual "synths are bad" demonstrations, more emotional involvement tying the main cast together somehow. They had 10 episodes to make that happen. And they failed.

Also, I'm sorry - I love him dearly but Sir Patrick Stewart is really too old for this. I'm actually glad Brent Spiner decided not to return as Data ever again.

The Murder of Laci Peterson (2017)

Pro Scott Propaganda Piece

[1/10 · 5 September 2020]

First off, my heart goes out to BOTH families. Neither deserves what they've been going through. And RIP, Laci and Connor.

Unfortunately, the jury - while not the most likable - did get the verdict right. They messed up the sentencing, though. In circumstantial cases like this, a LIFE sentence, not death would have been more appropriate. And it was overturned this year to LIFE.

I've watched quite a few crime documentaries and not one was this biased towards one side.

I do agree that sensationalism and 24/7 "news" networks milk high profile cases to the Nth degree and should not be trying cases on national TV and taint the jury pool. So shame on those people who make a living doing that. And yes, I'm sure the talking heads got some things wrong, plus the police department didn't do the best job with this case.

But please turn on your brain and DO look at the big picture. Motive? Check. Opportunity? Check. Means? Check.

Dude tells his mistress he lost his wife (first Christmas w/o her coming up), buys a boat shortly after that and two weeks later it's Christmas and she is gone. Along with most of the content of that 90 lb bag of concrete. No, he did not patch his driveway with that same cement, as the petrographer expert testified. Yeah, that wasn't part of this docu, might want to google it. Then, four months later the bodies pop up at the exact spot he said he went fishing...

You can dump a body from that boat without capsizing it. If you don't sit all the way in the back, with the motor and body weighing down the back end of the boat. Seriously?

People saw her after Scott left? Eye witness statement are notoriously unreliable. That's why the defense didn't call them on the stand. People see something and vaguely remember but are not very likely to pinpoint what day, let alone TIME it was when they saw what they saw. Laci didn't walk her dog twice that day. There was no reason for the dog to be wandering around out front with collar and muddy leash on unless they had already returned from the walk. Yes, the mailman may be mistaken in his believe that the dog ALWAYS barks when he comes by. Maybe it was asleep. Maybe it just did not hear him. It was an old dog. The baby's age at death testimony is ridiculous and sounds like junk science. It died the day his mother died, on Christmas Eve, not a few days later. Whatever was around his neck / face area is debris from the Bay. And yes, currents can shear off decaying limbs that have heavy weight tied to them. Also yes, a decomposing body can lose its internal organs in a watery grave with currents, rocks and ligaments cutting into it and wildlife doing its job.

Nobody had them. No cult, no burglars decided to take her and then frame her hubby. Seriously, if she HAD confronted the burglars and they did something to her, they would have left her at the empty home or dumped her long before the police put the word out about the boat in the marina Jan. 2nd.

And on and on... Sorry but no doubt in my mind that Scott is guilty.

Cursed (2020)

Wasted Potential

[6/10 · 20 July 2020]

This show has decent Fx and cinematography. There is a small number of characters you warm up to. But overall, I agree that Netflix missed the mark.

Nothing wrong with female leads and diversity but do it so it fits the story, not to pander to a popular trend.

Writing is sub-par. As others have pointed out, our heroine either isn't living up to her powers or goes completely overboard with it.

Watch at your own risk...

How to Get Away with Murder (2014–2020)

Loved it. Caution: Not for Puritans.

[10/10 · 10 July 2020]

I've scanned through the 1 star reviews and all I can say is: it's 2020. Time to lay down the puritan hat and get with the program. :)

This show drew me in from the first episode. It literally has you on the edge of your seat the entire time. They did an excellent job casting, writing, acting - the whole thing. Awards are well deserved.

Is it 100% "real life" legal stuff or how you get a college law degree? No. It's a TV show, not a documentary. Same as most all other shows dealing with legal, medical and what have you.

Some people wrote it's full of rich, spoiled kids. You clearly haven't watched the show. Of the original five students, two came from nothing, one was middle class, one upper middle class and only one had a wealthy family. Same with four of the five main adult characters. Watch and get to know each character, it's part of the fun and they did a super job bringing everyone to life. You will love some and hate some, just like real life. In the end they are part of the "family" and you will find yourself rooting for characters you may not have liked before.

The show employed a technique that shows you snippets of future events and then turns back the clock to show you how they got there. I love this because the entire time you're kept guessing WTF happened? Until you find out. :) It's done in just the right amount, not too the point of being unable to follow. So bottom line, you have to pay attention or you'll miss important stuff with the time jumps.

Yes, there is a fair amount of skin to be seen and sexual situations, but no frontal nudity or anything rated R. They cover just about every religion, political view, skin color and sexual orientation, which only adds to its appeal.

Watch it and be pleasantly surprised.

Roswell, New Mexico (2019–2022)

Not for Xenophobes, Homophobes and Religious Extremists

[10/10 · 29 June 2020]

I just scanned all the 1 star reviews and it confirmed what I already knew while watching this show. It's not for the closed-minded.

Other than that, whether you saw the original or not, if you're into alien/supernatural/scifi type shows this isn't the worst production to watch. It's not a "made for teenagers" type show that adults don't relate to.

I gave a 10 to offset the undeserved 1 star right wingers getting their panties in a wad over this. It's actually a solid 7: Entertaining, interesting plot twists, slightly racy and pretty close to what life is like as an alien - as in "not from this country". The cast could been a bit more diverse. Plenty of Latinx but a lack of Black cast in bigger roles. The soundtrack is decent as well. Good for binge watching.

Artemis Fowl (2020)

Just Because.

[10/10 · 13 June 2020]

This production doesn't deserve a 10 star rating. I'm just doing this to counter all the spiteful, ridiculous 1 star reviews.

7 stars seems appropriate, from an adult who hasn't read the books and understands that the target audience is KIDS.

It has nice cinematography and special FX, it's cute and entertaining. Not Shakespeare. Not Oscar worthy. Not a great cast. But definitely not "1 Star Garbage".

If you have kids, let them watch it. Don't ruin it for them with your endless whining about how it's not like the books.

Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (2020)

Powerful. (Caution: Not for Fans of DJT and WJC)

[9/10 · 29 May 2020]

I started watching this, already armed with a good amount of knowledge about the man, the victims and some of the other players. Now that I've finished watching, it really brings it home. All the missing pieces have fallen into place, to create a whole picture of not only who this man was but also the best corruption that money can buy. It's infuriating.

Is it "political"? By its very nature, it has to be since the first prosecutor Acosta was a total failure and as a result, was made to step down as Labor Secretary when the "plea deal" was overthrown and a new investigation began.

The 1-5 Star reviews are almost all from people who dislike the fact that the current president was a known associate of Epstein. They fail to mention that this production also points out the verifiable fact that a former president (WJC) took 26 flights on Epstein's plane and visited his island on numerous occasions. Epstein had a painting of him in drag in his NY residence. So come on, people. At the very least, be as fair as this production.

Overall, the makers of this documentary did a good job. They balanced victim impact statements with those of investigators, Epstein himself, some of his employees, his neighbor and one "associate" - Dershowitz who made an appearance, lying on camera, denying he had relations with underage girls... As did Prince Andrew on a BBC interview, despite photographic and eye witness evidence.

Any person without those means committing these crimes would have been locked up for life decades ago. A thorough investigation would have been launched as soon as the first tip came in. But if you have money and connections, plus "dirt" on said connections, you have a few "get out of jail free" cards.

Victim blaming is easy but remember you are not in their shoes. A kid from a broken home, often out on the street won't always make good choices. For an adult to prey on the desperation of a child for his own depravity is unconscionable.

I feel a lot less empathy for the victims in their early 20s who said they were sexually assaulted by him, yet kept going back and/or sent others his way. At that age you are better equipped to judge a situation and have a better shot at "making it" / surviving without someone rich person's help.

While I'm not typically a conspiracy theorist, there is a huge amount of doubt about how Epstein died. This time around, they had him and with that many powerful men were shaking in their boots.

Unfortunately we will never know, because with his death they stopped investigating. Despite the fact that they pulled photographic (and maybe other) evidence out of that safe during the last raid. A LOT of people incl. his girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell should still be prosecuted.

But trust that the powers that be are making sure it won't happen. Must be nice to be untouchable...

The Outsider (2020)

Not A Murder Mystery. "Awesome" Only King Die Hards.

[5/10 · 26 May 2020]

If you're planning on watching this, expecting something along the lines of The Killing perhaps or even a "Stand By Me" / "1922" type production, this is not that type of show.

Yes, it's based on a Stephen King novel which I haven't read but I didn't realize how much of this was supernatural.

I was expecting a clever "Who Dunnit" with thrills and shills on a dark, gritty journey into actual police work with unexpected plot twists, that concludes properly.

Instead, they're killing off the main character (pretty unceremoniously, no less - skipped the whole "he actually died" part until a full episode later when someone mentions it in passing) whom you're rooting for because you feel he's innocent and want him either vindicated or end up with a "OMG he really did do it" plot twist.

But no, you're not going to get any of that. After he's dead, everything grinds to a very slow and exceedingly boring burn that trickles down to "a demon did it"...

I invested time into watching 5 episodes and do feel cheated LOL...

They could have done something with this, it started out very promising and has some interesting characters, plus you gotta love the cinematography. But in the end, it wasn't worth it for me. I like King but only King die-hards will swoon over this.

Last of the Dogmen (1995)

Really not that good.

[5/10 · 29 April 2020]

I like westerns that are true to life, with dirty, gritty, rugged everything. This isn't that kind of western. Like other reviewers said, it's more like a Disney production.

My top beefs with it: Annoying narration. Poorly written. Overall unrealistic and inauthentic.

Can't hold a candle to Dances with Wolves, that's for sure...

Tales from the Loop (2020)

Exceptional and not for Everyone.

[9/10 · 18 April 2020]

If you like action packed, fast paced sci-fi with lots of CGI and happy endings, this show isn't for you.

This is artfully crafted and involved with superb acting, writing and cinematography. Story-telling at its finest. Old school sci-fi. The pace is slow but just right to allow the viewer to deeply connect with the characters, as they are being carefully developed, one by one.

I've read people complaining how it doesn't come together. If you feel that way, it went over your head. It does come together beautifully. Perhaps with the exception of one, each episode connects to the whole story.

Yes, it's dark - it's not meant to be a feel good show. It's meant to put you in touch with yourself, provoke your thoughts, open your mind. Not plastic fly by night Hollywood trash that you forget a week after watching it.

If you have the capacity to open up to it, this will stay with you.