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Reviews
Little House on the Prairie: The Godsister (1978)
Just so, so bad. And where is Carrie's diagnosis?
It's super weird, and frustrating having to listen to an entire episode of Carrie trying to choke out lines. Most importantly, though.... did they ever find out what was medically wrong with Carrie? Narcolepsy? Dissociative identity disorder or schizophrenia? Because it is NOT normal for a kid that age to just conk out asleep that easily any time she's left alone. I kept waiting for the *Carrie has a brain tumor with visual and auditory hallucinations* episode that never came. The constant ALLYSSAAAAAAA over, and over. Ma and everyone neglecting the kid who was OBVIOUSLY struggling, just like Laura did so many times in the past, to her parents eventual surprise. Ma whining because she's "lonely" - gosh I'm so glad women are evolving past this nonsense Michael Landon pushed for.
Finding 'Ohana (2021)
Heartwarming, fun and some tears
This was well done. One or two spots of awkward over-acting, but nothing awful. The "Drunk History" style flashbacks were great. Unexpected choice and hilarious. The night marchers segment at the end broke me. Cried for 20 minutes before I could go back and finish. What a **beautiful** thing. Also, handsome Hawaiian men are just about the most ridiculously gorgeous creatures. Not sure if I could have held back keeping some treasure. The sets and settings were beautiful. Watched this and the much older "Hawaii" movie a couple weeks after the heartbreaking Lahaina fires. Helps to remember what's important.
Cosmos (2019)
Pleasantly Surprised.
I'm glad I watched this. I'm obsessed with sci-fi and with apocalypse movies anyway, but if I'd known this was just 3 guys in a car for 128 minutes I might have passed it up. I'm glad I didn't. There were some pacing issues, and scenes that were dragged out a touch too long. I'm guessing budgeting kept them in one place, because other sets and characters get expensive, but in this case it worked just fine. The characters were likable - nothing irritating about anyone that was distracting. They were believable. The concept was interesting and plausible. I read the wikipedia page halfway through, otherwise I would have been surprised by the twist (in terms of how far out in to space they actually needed to be looking), but even then, it was fun waiting for them to figure it out. It was heartwarming - I love seeing underdogs come out on top and receive the accomplishment they were denied in the past. I would 100% watch a sequel, if one is made. Preferably something even bigger than this one - but without ruining it, of course. Especially after the revelation near the end that the aliens share an origin with us, biologically - I assume that's what he meant regarding the returned binary message. Really want to see more. Movie or.... series? I'd watch it.
Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles (2020)
Great but for one MAJOR misstep in editing
Enjoyed this overall, but bould have done without the multiple scenes of some guy mansplaining to Dinara Kasko how cream works, complete with bro-winks to her assistant when she had her back turned. Demanding she explain why he should allow her to use a piping bag? Weird. She's the invited chef, and there for a reason. He should have been edited out entirely simply because of that attitude. I didn't see any other invalidating, gratuitous nonsense in the whole doc, except for how she was treated, and it was jarring and a waste of her screen time. There's some interesting history, albeit too brief, and what the chefs created was unique, but I had to stop at the mansplainer and go take a walk to cool off and come back to it. Everyone has their story, but editing shouldn't single one person out just to add some drama. I love that she simply blew him off and spoke in Ukranian (or Russian?) to her assistant, essentially cutting him out.
Ekaterina (2014)
Beautiful - lead actress is compelling
Watching some Russian series (Sophia, Ekaterina, another I can't remember..) after having watched some Chinese series (Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace, Story of Yanxi Palace). Very much enjoying it. I love that we're seeing these scenes at the locations where they would have originally happened. Having visited St Petersburg after decades of wanting to, it's cool to see.
Confused to high heaven by season 3. It starts out earlier than the ending of Season 2, with at least one dead character inexplicably showing up again. I was looking forward to the story progressing, but it sounds like the backtrack to highlight some events missed the first time. Uncertain. I find it confusing.
But still beautiful and absolutely recommend for anyone who's worked through all the historical fodder available and needs new content.
Little Men (1998)
Okay, not authentic, wobbly acting
There's so much about this, but I'm still binging the whole series and about to finish. Enjoyable as a stand-alone. Awful re being true to the book (which it isn't at all). Very much a softball Hallmark channel take on a classic novel. The actor who played Dan got uber irritating only a few episodes in. Acts like Captain Kirk and one-dimensional personality disorder. Hyper impulsive and like a caricature of a teen with runaway testosterone. The sisters together were funny. Nat was the most likable. Emil... awful. Not sure why he wasn't expelled five times over before the end of the second season. Jo wasn't... Jo. She was more like Meg, in the book. Meg was... some sort of Beth/Amy hybrid. Amy, hilarious. Overall I've enjoyed it (except for the constant distraction of Dan).