LoneWolfArcher Reviews

Black Widow (2021)

Pugh as Yelena steals the movie!

[10/10 · 2 December 2023]

I don't know why this one gets bad reviews. It's got out all. And Florence Pugh is amazing as Yelena. Good action, good story, great humor. Definitely one of the best MCU movies since Endgame.

I know she are upset that Scarlett finally got her Black Widow film only to be upstaged by Pugh, but this sets up future movies with Yelena and even the Red Guardian.

Maybe since didn't like that this movie predates the events of Infinity War and Endgame, but that's the only way it makes sense.

And then maybe some didn't like it that there were no other Avengers in the movie. But even that makes sense considering Natasha was in hiding.

I'm short, ignore the haters and enjoy a great film.

Non-Stop (2014)

So was Liam Neeson's character in on it?

[8/10 · 12 August 2023]

His text before the plane took off.

Scoot McNairy giving him back the gun.

The ending when he asks "What money?"

It's the twist that he was in on it the whole time?

I know this is a strange theory but there are things that make you wonder.

Overall a decent movie. I like the kind where you don't know what is going on. With many twists and turns. This is a movie will worth a watch.

Really good cast too. Well acted. Typical action movie at the end with too much going on all at once, but that it Hollywood.

And Liam is a great actor but he is essentially playing his Taken role here. Again.

8 stars.

Blockbuster (2022)

Forget what I said before.

[1/10 · 5 November 2022]

I love laugh-trackless comedies. I love not hearing the f-word every 5 seconds. I love being able to watch a show and not worry about the content.

And of course the ratings are low. No swearing, nudity and sex will always get this kind of rating. Entertainment can be clean! Thank you Blockbuster and thank you Netflix!!

Also Melissa Fumero is awesome!! She's the one that brings this one home. Her acting and her character really drive this show.

I also love all of the pop culture references, the insults on the internet and internet companies, and Michigan mentions.

This is a great show. Ignore the bad ratings from haters and give it a watch.

EDIT: I'm out. Third episode lost me. TV-14 should mean no dudes kissing. So I change my rating to a 1. And am not finishing this show.

The Matrix Resurrections (I) (2021)

Suffers from wooden performances

[5/10 · 13 May 2022]

I was hoping for a great sequel. Considering its been 19 years in the making. And while the story had potential, it was the direction, specifically, of the actors, that ultimately brings the film down.

As stated, the story, while a bit convoluted, had the potential to move the franchise forward. While overly complex, with too many characters old and new, it actually kind of works. To avoid spoilers, I won't go into details, but suffice it to say the story isn't the problem here.

The film does rely too much on CGI at times, but that is typical for this franchise. The real problem are the performances of most of the actors. One bad performance is just an actor performing poorly. Two even could be blamed on the actors. But the fact that the majority of the performances are so bad means this is on the director. Either the actors weren't directed properly, or there were not enough takes. Only those involved know for sure. But those terrible performances by most of the actors ruins the film.

In fact, the other problem here is the dialogue. I can't decide whether the dialogue is just bad, or if the delivery just makes it seem worse. It could be that it is both. Whatever it is, it just makes this movie nearly unwatchable.

Also, even at nearly 2 1/2 hours long, the pacing feels rushed. Part of it could be that it is really slow to get started, but once it does it feels like it was rushed to pack everything in.

If you're a fan of the original trilogy, its worth a watch. Just grit your teeth for some terrible acting. Though Priyanka Chopra is a bright spot.

The Batman (2022)

Kudos to the filmmakers!

[9/10 · 18 April 2022]

This is the first Batman movie where Batman gets significantly more screen time than Bruce Wayne! That made this an enjoyable movie. Just like in the comics, you saw Batman more than an out of costume Bruce Wayne. Christopher Nolan's trilogy did a decent job with this, but this film took it to the next level!

I watched this on HBO Now, and glad I did. I feel the pacing could have been better, so only a 9. They could have cut this down to 2 hours 20 minutes pretty easily.

The Middle: The Other Man (2018) Season 9, Episode 12

Funny episode, though not the best

[7/10 · 16 January 2022]

Mike and Axl becoming close and Frankie getting jealous is a funny trope, though done plenty of times before. Also liked the slapstick humor with Sue and her uber clumsy boyfriend.

Now that Brad is in the open, him being gay is no longer funny like it was. And though I understand why they brought a love interest in (to prolong Sue and the Aidan's relationship), this family show's audience wasn't ready for this being front and center in the story. Thus the low review score (lowest reviewed episode of the entire series run)!

Brad is awesome, but he needs to be a side player to be effective.

Stranger in the House (2015)

Not great but has Tammy Blanchard in it!

[8/10 · 6 October 2021]

It is an ok movie. Slow. Predictable.

But it gets an 8 for having Tammy Blanchard in it. As usual, Tammy steals every scene she is in. What an underrated talent!

Battlestar Galactica: The Lost Warrior (1978) Season 1, Episode 4

Love this episode, Apollo shines!

[10/10 · 20 May 2021]

Great episode. High Noonish. With Apollo on a collision course to have a old fashioned shootout with a reprogrammed Cylon. On a planet that Apollo crash lands on.

Doesn't do much to advance the overall trek to find Earth, but this is the late 70s and TV was much more episodic. I miss those days. Nowadays you miss one episode of a show and you're lost.

Anyway, this is a classic.

Battlestar Galactica: Experiment in Terra (1979) Season 1, Episode 19

This episode gets undeservedly panned

[7/10 · 18 April 2021]

BSG is one of the best shows from my childhood. So I may be biased, but I don't understand why this episode is rated so poorly.

It is ahead of it's time. Broadcast in 1979, years before Ronald Reagan's "Star Wars" initiative (SDI). Two enemy forces armed with nukes pointed at each other are trying to broker peace, when one launches all of their nukes.

The Battlestar Galactica uses it's lasers to blast them while still in space. (See, SDI!) This prevents a counter attack and causes the aggressors to settle for a brokered peace!

Heck, Apollo even gives a "peace through strength"speech, foreshadowing Reagan's handling of the cold war! BSGe was prophetic.

Bumblebee (I) (2018)

Best Transformers movie so far!

[10/10 · 12 April 2020]

Just watched Bumblebee. I thought the trailers made it look good but for some reason or another I couldn't get around to seeing it until today. Wow!

First, I'm a huge fan of Hailee Steinfeld. I thought she was awesome in the Coens' remake of True Grit. And she did not disappoint in this movie. I'd love to see her as the heroine of more action films.

Also, while I loved the original Transformers, I thought the sequels have all been giant turds. So when I saw the preview for this movie I was excited to see it as it appeared to be more than just dozens of Transformers fighting.

Having been a casual fan of Transformers comics in the 80s, I was happy with this movie being set in the 80s. Steinfeld's Charlie also has a good backstory that makes this movie work.

I saw another review call this movie cliched. And yes it is a typical American "I'll rescue you and you rescue me" movie. But with the Transformers background it works. And Charlie is brought to life so well by Steinfeld that you can't help but root for her. And of course for Bumblebee.

Bumblebee has always been my favorite Transformer, so I may be a bit biased. But this was a fun movie that draws you in and keeps you entertained.

Loved this movie and look forward to future viewings!

Annabelle: Creation (2017)

I liked it but could have been better

[8/10 · 22 November 2017]

I have been a fan of The Conjuring universe since the first film. I think as far as horror goes they are among the most well done films in the genre.

Before I get into the review of this film, I'd like to address a common criticism of Annabelle. "It just just like Chucky." That is so wrong. Chucky was an animated doll with snarky one-liners. Annabelle, as is the case in The Conjuring universe, is much more sinister and foreboding. Other than rocking in a chair, you never see her move. That adds to the fright factor. And the doll is just beyond creepy.

Now that that is out of the way, this film doesn't deserve the ratings it is getting here. I felt it was fairly well done and written. The best criticism I have heard of it is the poor decisions of the characters in the film. Yes, they do make some bad decisions, but then who hasn't? It isn't like the young ladies in the film were expecting their to be an evil doll locked in the closet of the house.

In fact, this is the biggest criticism I can think of for this film. Why the Mullins didn't explain to the orphans that they had a daughter that died, and that for sentimental reasons her room was off limits is beyond me. The secrecy of it all leads to juvenile curiosity, and the unleashing of the banished evil in the doll in the closet.

Still, the movie is pretty well done and I love (minor spoiler alert) the way it was tied into the first Annabelle movie.

Definitely worth a watch if you are fan of The Conjuring and its universe.

(Note, one other tie in I enjoyed was the picture of the nuns with the evil nun from The Conjuring series showing on the right.)

Hour of the Wolf (1968)

Very well done.....and I have my own theory

[8/10 · 31 March 2017]

Max von Sydow is amazing as always. And Liv Ullman turns in a brilliant performance. But Ingmar Bergman is the real star of this film. His direction is top notch.

The premise, a couple (wife pregnant) come to an island. He to paint. He has a past that haunts him. Troubled childhood, affair with a married woman, and an accidental, self-defense killing of a young boy.

But the real issue at hand is his wife Alma's jealousy. As she becomes aware of his past affair, she begins to imagine him pulling farther and farther away. Bergman does a masterful job of making us believe that Johan is having illusions, but really the illusions are all Alma's.

He tries to shoot her, I believe in self-defense. My belief for what became of Johan is that Alma killed him and ate him. She invented the "demons" and Johan's "insanity" as a way of playing this off.

I believe this is one of the conclusion's Bergman was going for. The original script title was "The Cannibals". We are made to believe the "demons" ate Johan. But the demons never really existed, only Johan and Alma did. The only logical conclusion is that Alma's jealousy over Veronica drove her to the actions she took.

Very well done film. And even if my theory is wrong, it is a reasonable conclusion for a viewer to come to. Consider that Alma even talks to us as if we are there, yet there is really no one there for her to talk to.

I highly recommend this film.

Redemption: For Robbing the Dead (2011)

Incredible film

[10/10 · 21 August 2015]

Unbelievable no one knows about this film. Very well done, great performances all around.

However, John Freeman's performance was especially poignant. And to think he was such an inexperienced actor at the time. His performance was befitting and seasoned veteran. I look forward to seeing him in more films.

Very intelligently done, I love how the direction of this film left so much to the viewer. This proves that great film doesn't have to show/explain everything. The violence was inferred yet not glorified nor shown in graphic detail.

Thank you to the cast and crew for a truly incredible film. And as another reviewer pointed out, Barry Corbin continues to just be such a pleasure to watch. From Six Pack and Permanent Record to No Country For Old Men, Mr. Corbin always knocks it out of the park.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

What a timely movie!

[10/10 · 13 December 2013]

Love this movie. While the charm of the first movie was in its uniqueness, this one didn't have that as we've seen much of this before in the first movie. However, this movie more than made up for that in its message.

An overbearing president. The need for revolution. The urban capitol vs. the outlying rural districts. To me the this movie is a parallel for what we are seeing in our country today. How more viewers haven't noticed this parallel is beyond me.

The love story/triangle is secondary to the above. And the ending is brilliant. SPOILER ALERT! When Katniss learns of District 12's demise, and her sadness turns to anger, it reminded me of when the affordable care act got ramrodded down our throats.

10 stars isn't enough. And I can hardly wait for the third film!

The Postman (1997)

Very good movie, how was this so poorly reviewed?

[10/10 · 3 January 2008]

Very surprised and impressed by this movie. Not sure why this movie was written off so quickly. I assume that the vitriol Costner inspired with Waterworld carried over to this film. The cast is excellent, the direction superb, the camera work stunning and the acting brilliant.

But it is the story that surprises the most. A loner that is trying to survive gets wrapped up in the anti-American revolution that has successfully destroyed American civilization. The loner eventually escapes, and dons a found postman's uniform and begins to deliver the mail found along with the uniform for personal gain (food).

The hope he inspires eventually convinces him to fight the revolution, led by a very hard, evil and unfeeling man, and further hope is provided to the survivors of the United States.

Personally, I think the attacks on this movie were politically motivated. The late 90s began the current wave of internal anti-American sentiments that the left is so fond of. It is no secret that most movie reviewers lean heavily to the left. A movie that speaks to the spirit of Americans and the inspiration the United States provides its citizens is not shockingly going to be panned.

This movie is well worth watching.