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Reviews
Nick News with Linda Ellerbee (1991)
A happy childhood memory.
I'll never forget Linda Ellerbee's name because of what she did for me through this show. I remember often finding the "adult news" scary and confusing. Especially regarding things like 9/11. I remember Ms. Ellerbee always explaining things in a way I could understand as a kid. She didn't sugarcoat things, she just explained them in using language an elementary school student could understand. That was invaluable to me and my friends. As an adult I did wonder if looking back there would be a slant or a position being pushed. So, I went back and watched some of the episodes I had on tape. I'm here to tell you, they really were right down the middle, facts. I was pleasantly surprised, major kudos to Linda. She provided a great service for my generation!
Q-Force (2021)
Good gay braincandy
It's a cute show. Is it a nuanced thought inspiring series? Absolutely not. But it's cute. I've been craving more gays in action since Batman and Robin. I'm glad we've got it here. I suspect it'll hit an even better stride next season now that they've been able to try some things and see what works and what doesn't.
Debunking Borat (2021)
This series clearly had a goal, and they completely missed it.
I've always had a fascination with cults, extreme beliefs, radicalization, terrorism etc. I'm so interested in them that I studied them at university. Yes I was a very strange child.
While the goal of this series might have been noble, in that it shared alternative views on divisive topics. It did so in a way that studies have shown only increase polarization and radicalization. These methods only push both sides further away from each other. These radicalization studies aren't new or secret. So i'm only left wondering if this series is intentionally or unintentionally contributing to the problems it calls out.
Grandmother's Gold (2018)
Comfortingly surreal
A very wholesome and odd film. I always come back to it when I need a laugh or some perspective.
The Prom (2020)
Making the same mistakes they seek to criticize.
Just awful. I grew up gay in the Midwest and can certainly tell that none of the writers of this film have ever visited. It's clear this film's goal is to be some social justice piece yet falls decisively opposite of this goal. It only reinforces hurtful stereotypes about us. So disappointing.
Unverified: The Untold Story Behind the UNC Scandal (2016)
Great idea, mediocre execution
The storyline of oversimplification of facts and shaping of a narrative in media was very compelling. However, when it comes to the actual UNC scandal portion, this film is guilty of the same sin of which it accuses news media: oversimplification of a complex story and set of issues, and shaping a narrative to fit a preferred conclusion. The documentarian chooses to only interview those he knows will agree with his view of events, regardless of the facts. This "do as I say not as I do" attitude is a bit frustrating.
Additionally, the way this film is organized is a bit jarring. It would be nice to learn the facts and opinions surrounding the UNC scandal at the beginning of the film, then refer back as necessary while we explore his media storyline. Juggling two incomplete story lines at once gets confusing.
Simply Having (2019)
A departure from the usual tone from this crew
I love the films, shorts, and series BJA and crew put out. They generally have a surreal yet humorous tone which allows them to point out common flaws and quarks we humans share. This short was good but it had such a dark tone which was completely unexpected.