Change Your Image
RMBittner-777-930003
Reviews
The Parallax View (1974)
2/3 of an intriguing thriller
Beatty plays a likable man caught up in a conspiracy that seems to deepen with every new fact. The script is unnecessarily vague with any real information, preferring to just keep adding questions...and bodies. But the performances are strong and it's tempting to keep watching to get the answers we've been waiting for. And then we reach Act 3, an extended (I'd say grossly overstretched) sequence where everything falls apart. Suddenly, the movie stops caring anything about addressing the mystery we've been following and focuses entirely on an overlong, near-silent, and virtually action-free "chase." And the ending is a pure cheat: no answers, no resolution, just a self-consciously ominous scene that was cliché before this movie came out.
Suspiria (1977)
No tension, no scares, no plot
I have to agree with reviewer dbboroughs who pointed out the lack of tension and scares in this supposed "horror" film. Even the gore fails to elicit anything other than eye rolling, because it's so obviously fake and so comically over the top. It isn't nightmarish, and it isn't dreamy; it's tedious, lacking any kind of characters we might actually care about and any kind of narrative drive from an actual story. An overheated and repetitive soundtrack-not to mention the filmmakers' decision to dub everything-doesn't do the film any favors.
Ojing-eo geim (2021)
OTT Acting Spoils Intriguing Story
Maybe "Train to Busan" spoiled me with its naturalistic performances, but this series seems proud of characters that scream every line and act so over-the-top and hammy that it's ridiculous. I've sampled both the original Korean version as well as the English dubbed version, and both are equally guilty. Some of the leads are better than others, of course, but the hams overshadow them, making this feel oddly amateurish in places.
Cinderella (2021)
Ill-conceived Musically
This frenetic production would have been far more effective in my opinion if there had been more thought given both to the musical choices and the way they were produced. "Rhythm Nation"? I love the song but it serves absolutely no purpose here. (As opposed to the use of "Somebody to Love.") And it's not alone, as if someone tossed a random handful of song titles into a hat and chose most of them without looking. And while I know the lead can sing, her tracks are so overproduced, with noticeably heavy compression and obvious tuning (as an effect), that it robs her performances of anything approaching a natural voice. I wish she had been allowed to sing live - or at least have her performances treated more carefully. In short, the music could have accentuated this kind of modern reinterpretation; instead, it tends to weaken everything around it.
Midsommar (2019)
Largely pointless reimagining of The Wicker Man
Despite some fine performances, this is an unfrightening, listless re-imagining of "The Wicker Man" that brings nothing new to the story. We care little for the characters involved-except for Pugh's-and learn virtually nothing about the members of the Swedish cult. It is all a very slow build that leads to nothing surprising (unless you've never seen the original).
War of the Worlds (2019)
Okay Story, Ridiculous Invaders
I am four episodes in and enjoying the story of these characters connecting with one another. But, honestly, the "alien threat" really does seem to come down to cyborg dogs that appear to be cobbled together from old machine-gun parts. They are in no way frightening or mysterious or threatening; yet judging from the characters' reactions, we are meant to be terrified and anxious. It's baffling that the creators made such a choice, because it pulls the dramatic rug out from under all the work being done by a fine British/French cast.
Assassin's Creed: Origins (2017)
Great setting, lackluster storytelling, and glitches galore
I loved the setting; Egypt was beautifully realized and, apparently, extensively researched. But the plot and technical issues ultimately made this experience less fun than it should have been. The plot is at once simplistic and bungled, with lead character, Bayek of Siwa, being driven by an incident that simply doesn't ring true. And that backstory is told in such an offhand, broken way that it simply doesn't resonate the way it should. (Without giving away any spoilers, there is a dramatic event with an NPC at around the 50-75% mark that carries far more emotional weight than the incident that originally triggered Bayek's mission.) As a result, Bayek ends up being a fairly shallow character (though well-acted).
Story beats are seriously impeded by a constant stream of interminably long loading/saving screens, sometimes breaking up cutscenes into a disjointed string of sequences that play out in-between black-screen pauses that can each last 30 seconds or more. (There were whole sections of gameplay where I sat waiting more than I was playing.) Add in NPCs with bizarre behavior (and some truly over-the-top voice acting), near-constant graphic pop-ins, and frequent graphic tears.
For the record, I played this game in 2020, on a PS4 console. There should have been sufficient time for Ubisoft to patch this game to near-perfection.
The First (2018)
Strong Acting, Weak Storytelling
The actors deliver fine performances across the board, and some of the dialogue is very well-written. However, the storytelling is done in such a slow-burn way that almost any opportunity for drama or engagement is sacrificed in favor of mood. Given the topic, this should have been a powerful story. But even with just 8 episodes, the story drags terribly, with at least two episodes exploring issues that have nothing to do with the central plot and are just merely explorations of backstories that are neither sufficiently relevant nor compelling. There are also random flashes and voice-overs regarding a subplot that, for at least six entire episodes, is never explained or elaborated upon; as a result, these "glimpses" come off more like a plot delay or an additional layer of unnecessary-and baffling-intrigue.
If you're curious about this series or you're a fan of any of the actors involved, certainly give the first episode a watch. One of the most dramatic moments of the series occurs within the first 30 minutes. See how the producers handle that drama. For me, it was weak, turning a key turning point into a passive event drained of most of its impact. If you feel differently about that, you may enjoy this more than I did.
American Horror Story (2011)
Generally Strong (and for strong stomachs)
Overall, this is a strong series that is often truly terrifying, with an undercurrent of very black humor. My only complaint-and it's significant-is that later seasons too often glorify real-life murders for the sake of entertainment. Those episodes seem incredibly disrespectful to the survivors of those murders and ethically questionable.
Quarantine (2008)
Very close to the Spanish original
I'm not sure why "Quarantine" gets slammed so much when comparing it to the original Spanish-language version, "Rec." This one is almost a shot-by-shot remake, although slightly less gory, with much of the same dialogue appearing in both films. Where "Rec" does stand out is in its use of light/darkness; so much happens in near darkness in "Quarantine" that it is often difficult to tell what's happening, which limits our ability to be frightened by what we're supposed to be seeing. Also, "Rec" actually includes audio from the tape that is found and allows viewers to hear it, which goes a long way to making sense of the ending. In "Quarantine," the tape is played, but it's as if it were on the wrong speed; the audio content is unintelligible both to us and to the characters in the scene, which makes it, essentially, pointless. As a result, the presence of the final antagonist is baffling and unexplained. We have no idea why that person is there or what his presence means to the overall story. (Although, I'll add that, for me, "Rec" still doesn't offer a sufficiently detailed explanation for why these events are happening.)
However, "Quarantine" is the superior film when it comes to character development. We spend more time with both the firemen and Jennifer Carpenter's character early on, which helps us care more about them. There are also small moments in the film that, for me, showed us more insight into the characters than anything I saw in "Rec." Carpenter's character also seems to have a slower slide into the hysteria driving much of the film, which seems a bit more believable. She is numbed for a while, which makes sense. Having said that, though, this may reflect a difference in Spanish culture; perhaps Spaniards don't tend to internalize emotions to the same extent that some Americans do. Or it may just be a difference in interpretation between the two actors or how they were directed. But as an American viewer, I resonated more with Carpenter's character.
To be honest, I can't really pick a favorite between the two versions. Each has strengths and weaknesses. But I guess I might come down slightly more in favor of "Quarantine" because of that early character development, a few more quiet moments, and more humor early on.
Ruby Herring Mysteries: Silent Witness (2019)
A Note about the Casting
For the reviewers complaining about Shawn Christian not being old enough to be Taylor Cole's father, look at the actor bios and do the math: He's 19 years her senior. Plus, IN REAL LIFE he is Taylor Cole's stepfather.
Debbie Macomber's Dashing Through the Snow (2015)
A delightful surprise
How anyone can call this a "typical" Hallmark movie baffles me. This is a comedy/romance with a light thriller element that I've never seen in a Hallmark Christmas movie. The writing occasionally sparkles, with Meghan Ory delivering a charming performance. The emphasis is more on comedy than many Hallmark Christmas movies, and the spy intrigue just spices it up nicely. This isn't a great movie, just a delightful surprise and a truly enjoyable 2 hours.
Station 19: Under the Surface (2018)
First, probably last, time watching
Followed this episode only because it continued a storyline begun on Grey's Anatomy. I was surprised how poor the writing/direction were. There were long scenes without any drama and with little point. The scenes set at Grey Sloan Hospital accentuated the deficiencies; we're used to seeing these actors with much more to work from in terms of both situations and script. Maybe it just doesn't compare well with the caliber of material usually on display on Grey's. But it does make me wonder how this series got picked up for a second season.
Tomb Raider (2018)
Play the Game
I loved the 2013 video game they claim to have used as the basis for this movie. But other than a character name or two and the names Himiko and Yamatai, virtually none of the story remains. Which is a shame, because the game is terrific and the movie lacks both interesting characters and drama. (It only starts to feel like "Tomb Raider" at the 65-minute mark!) Almost nothing is explained. In addition, the filmmakers somehow got approval to rewrite established Croft history...but to little point. If you really want a great story, play the game. Vikander is fantastic, however.