A_Different_Drummer

To get right to the point, South Korea is not known for comedy films. But can they do it? Seems yes. Actress Kim Seon-a puts on a rubber face and hits the right note in a lot of setups. Honestly I laughed. This review is done in 2024 and not a lot of humor is coming from either Hollywood or Washington these days. The high school setting has been done a lot on this side of the pond, but remains fresh in the Korean perspective. Overall I would say this film, like many others of the pre-2019 area, gets better with age.((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Not merely a bad movie, but one of the worst in my 2000+ reviews. Why? Well, the cast is OK. Chandler is generally an under-used asset, and it is nice to see him working. (Compared to over-used assets like Tatum and Reynolds who are everwhere.) Money was not spared, they had a budget. But the story, OMG, the story. Not only is the story uninteresting but it is actually annoying and vexing. If you consider bestselling novels like the Reacher series, you will see that human beings like logic in their tales. They like to follow along, and ask thenselves what they would have done in a similar circumstance? In this sense, movies are actually interactive on a subliminal scale. Here there are multiple instances where the characters do things that make no sense and infuriate the viewer. Ugh. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Do you like irony? Most of the contemporaneous reviews of TWISTER 1996 make a fuss about the effects. In fact (this review written in 2024) the number of reviews for TWISTERS 2024 that insisted this older version was the better version made me pop back for a quick revisit of the original. The modern critics were right. Billions of dollars of new, advanced, SFX in the modern version cannot compensate for the humanity and the heart of the original. Hunt at the peak of her Hollywood career practically glows. Paxton plays himself, as always, and Gertz has to suffer being the "contrast" to Hunt -- an old trope, but it works well. Newer isn't always better. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Here is the key to this film. First, the idea, the arc, has been done before and will be done again. That is the nature of the industry. But this production stands out from the crowd for two very unique reasons. First, the budget. Someone wrote a blank check. Even those of us who have seen a lot of Asian productions are impressed by the way no expense was spared ... for the sets, the costumes, the music, the choreography. Wow. Second, the original language for the production was English. That is a considerable risk for an Asian production, and shows that the project was an experiment to develop an international blockbuster. And experiment which failed. It failed because, in spite of all the time and resources thrown at this film, there is no moral center. None. Viewers are human and need human values to connect to a story. By the half-way point, the viewer is lost. Everything about the story seems wrong. Interestingly, the creators seemed to understand this and belatedly brought in a sub-arc involving the mother of one of the assassins. Too liitle. Too late. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

One of the most misunderstood aspects of the film biz is that there is constant demand for product to fill space. Regardless of whether the product is Oscar-worthy. So, imagine you are just out of High School, and you are convinced that you can not only produce a 90 minute feature, but you can do it on a shoestring. For the Hollywood equivalent of a catering budget. So that, when a distributor offers you a low-ball offer just to fill a gap in their lineup, the joke is on them. You accept their low-ball offer and you are laughing all the way to the bank. Want an example? Watch this film. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

One of the most sacred rules in Hollywood is never involve the viewer in your business. Yet, off the top, unless you are from another planet, it is crystal clear that JCVD, instead of retiring and opening a restaurant, decided to invest his money in a franchise that one of his own early films unintentionally launched. So, by joining the audience, you are supporting his enterprise, just like dining at his restaurant. The second rule broken is that the cast and crew are having more fun than the viewer. Chris Lambert is not only chewing up the furniture on set, but if you watch this at home, you will find teeth marks on the sofa. So many tricky camera angles, so many twisty story arcs, all to disguise the fact that this is just a glorified Rocky knock-off. This could all be forgiven of course if the result was solid entertainment. It isn't. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

FNL does not always get the credit it deserves. When it's good it is just good, but when the writers find their groove, the show is theatre quality. Much the same way that the classic show FATHER KNOWS BEST locked in an era we no longer see, FNL does the same thing for the current generation. The future is always a mystery but I can gurantee that viewers of the future will look back at this episode and go ... OH WOW. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

While it is well known that Marvel occasionally drops the ball, this film is not merely a poor representation of their brand, it is arguably one of the worst films ever made. Everything about it is wrong. There is no hook to capture the viewer. None of the characters are sympathetic. The SFX/CGI are terrible. The scenes in the present are weak, but the flashbacks to Ancient Whatever are 'way worse. It fails the 20 minute test. It runs for 2 and 1/2 hours, suggesting that the Editor decided to go do laundry and didn't tell anyone. It's only standing in film history is for the Gemma Chan fanboys, because (unfortunately) it represents one of her only major screen roles. Ultimately ETERNALS is proof positive that, for several years now, in Hollywood, the Suits and the Creatives seldom talk to each other. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Irony everywhere. We live in a world where standup comics have to tone down their material for fear of triggering, and email users have to watch the words they use for fear of "misinformation" laws (Canada). But, wonder of wonders, this film teaches us that there yet remains a sacred space where ANY topic can be mocked, riffed, and deconstructed, with no fear of reprisal. In fact, the money just rolls in. No matter that 7 decades of canon and character-building are sacrificed. No matter that an entire generation is growing up thinking this is the way films are supposed to be made. The good news is that Jackman gets a payday (which he deserves), and Reynolds thinks he is funnier than Robin Williams (which he isn't). All in all, a merry time was had by all. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

There is a fundamental contradiction, a logic loop, in basing a low budget horror film on a script whrere the characters essentially deconstruct low budget horror films. The first 15 minutes here are impressive, with lots of unexpected hooks to make the viewer think this movie is going to be different, special. Maybe even fun. But alas that is not meant to be. By the halfway point all the promise of the opening scenes is gone, and what remains is -- who knew -- just a typical slasher film. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

If you spend a lot of time with movies -- guilty as charged, M'am -- then you will notice that, once a blue moon, you come across a certain rare kind of film. A film that should never have been made. A film that should never have been greenlighted. Or funded. Or distributed. Or seen. Not because it is so bad. Lots of bad films out there. Tens of thousands. But because it is such a waste. Of talent. Of resources. Of theatre space. London Fields is a perfect example. The concept -- a heroine who can forsee her own death, and an amoral writer more than willing to exploit that -- might have worked in more capable hands. But here the audience is the victim, not the fictional character. The creators even managed to take one of the most likable actors in Hollywood, Billy Bob, and make him cringe-worthy. Extraordinary achievement. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

In the last two years I have seen several extraordinary productions from India. Unfortunately this is not one of them. All over the world, countries have been trying to recreate the John Wick vibe in their own specific cultural style. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. KILL has a setup that fans of Bruce Willis or Steven Seagal will recognize immediately -- the hero who is in the wrong place at the right time. But setup and execution are two different things. The story never flows as easily as it should, and the fight scenes are not convincing. The story would have worked better with fewer action scenes that were better planned. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Do you remember the times in your life when hired a professional, or asked advice of an expert, and the moment you did so you found yourself relaxing because you realized that what came next was out of your hands, you could just sit back and let someone else do the heavy lifting? TROPPO 2022 is the entertainment equivalent. The people behind the camera, the people you never meet or see, are very good at what they do. Regardless of the story, which you will either like or dislike, you just feel comfortable watching. I had the same vibe with the 2024 series SUGAR, also a guilty pleasure. Recommend. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

This review will not do a deep dive into why, after the massive burst of script creativity we saw in 2021-23 -- a period many commentators are now calling the "Golden Age" of modern TV -- so many content creators are now falling back on old (safe) stories and remakes of old (safe) stories. Not going there. Tempted. But not going there. Instead I will refer to the general guideline that, if you are going for a remake, at least do something better than what was done before. Here, at least, the team behind PRESUMED INNOCENT 2024 pick up points. A lot of points. The writing is sharp and the acting is wonderful. Recommended. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

If Russell Davis wanted to prove that his writing was as sharp -- if not sharper -- than the best of the best of the DW writing team, this episode, and one just before, are making the point very well indeed. E04 was one of the creepiest horror stories ever. This episode, while told in an entertaining and interesting way, is a major condemnation of the future world which many of our so-called visionaries are pushing us towards. All the classic elements are there -- transhumanism, class, privilege, distraction, rules, cognitive dissonance, rules, dumbing down, rules, and predators in every corner looking to (literally) eat you alive. Very well done. Layers upon layers. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

(Film students: color-restored versions now available). Anyone seeking out this film from our current generation, whatever that might be, should be cautioned that this might not be what you might expect. It contains literally none of the usual tropes, arcs, and tricks that have been used to flesh out "ghost stories" for the last 75 years. Rather, this is a film version of a Noel Coward play which both reflects the ideas of Coward, and also the theatrical standards of British films at the time. The casting, acting, and direction are superb. A delight. But Coward was never interested in ghost stories, he was a student of culture. This is a story of morals, mores (Lat.), marriage, the sexes, and the mayhem that ensues when you mix them all together. The dialog is as risky as would have been allowed in films of that era. Hollywood has of course tried to remake this tale to their standards, proving once again that, beyond chasing dollars, Hollywood usually has no idea what it is doing. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Congrats. If you were thinking of checking out this film, my review will give you back 90 minutes of your life which you might otherwise have wasted. This is one of the worst movies I have encountered in my over 2000 reviews with IMDb. It breaks every rule. It is a "buddy" movie with two guys that have no chemistry. It is a comedy with jokes that are not funny. It is a waste of talent, especially Ewan McGregor, who would go on to do much better projects. And astonishingly it has no self-identifying female stars, which means the creators felt this material was somehow strong enough to carry itself with only a bunch of guys doing weak slapstick ... for 90 minutes? And now here is your Bonus Text: even though Hollywood simply cannot resist endlessly mocking the underlying material -- an entire COLUMBO episode was once tasked to this same purpose -- the notions expressed here, especially Remote Viewing, are now fully accepted by scientists studying String Theory, Quantum Mechanics, and Quantum Theory. If you are curious, track down the book MIND-REACH published in 1985. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Under The Birdge 2024 starts with a lot inertia to overcome. It is low-budget, it stars relative unknowns, the "mystery" is solved early in the series, it relies heavily on flashbacks, it takes place in a town better known for seniors' buffets than crime, and -- oh yeah -- it is Canadian. But looks are deceiving. The script is tight. And the rotating team of Directors know how to get the most of their cast. Best of all, lurking below the surface, are the time-honored elements of a battle between Good and Evil. The notion of teenage girls as killers was almost unheard of at the time of the events in the story. These days, the idea has a little more traction. The story, told over 8 episodes, always holds the attention. And the girls are always creepy. Recommended. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Based on a true story, this above-average geneder-bender holds the attention nicely through a runtime that goes a whisker over two hours. Some critics have compared it to SEABiSCUIT 2003 - a film that made my list of all-time greats -- but that comparison is a tad generous. The arc is predictable and the technicals are solid. Credit to Daisy Ridley for projecting a commanding presence throughout the film. To her credit, the viewer never once doubts that she can do whatever she says she can. Not a simple acomlishment! A hidden irony here is that, to do a film on gender rights, the Disney Studio is impliedly acknowledging that that there are two to begin with -- a concept almost certainly distressing to upper management. Recommended. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Korea remains in first place, continuously turning out scripts that are world-class, and heavily nuanced. Canada holds its place at the bottom of the heap, offering the least complicated stories in the category. The cotton candy of rom-coms. And, after this film, Cyprus makes a grand entrance onto our Leader Board, with FIND ME FALLING 2024, a gentle but engaging tale that never disappoints in terms of either story or scenary. An unintended sub-arc here is how men age. Connick sounds the young man from days of yore, but he looks different, and his energy is different too. Luckily, the newer (older) Connick is perfect for this part. Contrast Harry to Bob Joyce, for example, who, after an even longer absence from the public eye, has kept his hairline, his twinkle, and his unique lower register. Recommended.((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

First, let's get our facts stright. Ludlum was a bestselling fiction writer who knew his way around a thriller. In his era, the first Bourne book was unexpectedly more popular than others he had penned. The "amnesia" hook was hardly new -- it was a common arc in 1940 detective fiction -- but Bourne made it work. Then, as now, TV miniseries were in demand, so the notion of translating this story to the small screen, and casting Chamberlain and Smith, made sense. Unfortunately the final product was pretty bad. The script and direction were below par, even by TV standards of the period. Both stars looked uncomfortable. In fact, QB VII, a series made some 14 years earlier, was lightyears ahead of Bourne in terms of quality. This production was so awful that it was a miracle the theatrical remake with Matt Damon (2002) was even conceived. The Damon trilogy of course made film history and appears on my list of best all time films. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

Directed by A-lister Jeannot Szwarc, this is possibly the best episode since the first few (fastastic) seasons. Everything is pitch perfect, no sour notes, and Erica Durance by this point in the series has morphed into a picture perfect Lois Lane. However, to delve into the "why" of the success of this episode, we have to talk about the elephant in the room. And it's a big elephant. To get their legendary 10 seasons out of Smallville, the two creators of this series had to severely diddle with the accepted canon, or arc, of the main story. And of course, in S10, just when you think the diddling has come to an end, and the producers have finally embraced sanity, we come to learn that this episode is merely the preamble for the greatest switcheroo ever pulled in the Superman saga. In other words, if you are a purist, you may as well quit the series right here, and enjoy your memories of this 'sode. Because, arc-wise, the worst is yet to come. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

As you look back on the history of the last century -- especially the historic events that took place between 2010 and 2040 -- you will no doubt be looking for critical contemporary examples of media to back up your studies. Dopesick 2021 should be on your list. The underlying narrative was also handled by competing media products, but Dopesick was the best researched, and the most sincere. (Although for pure entertainement value, The Fall of the House of Usher 2023 can't be beaten). In many ways, Dopesick is a companion piece to The Big Short 2015, as well as other titles which I am sure you already have on your curricula list. Understand that these strories are accurate and unexpurgated. Rather than being eggagerated, they are in fact understated. This was America as it was in that time period. This was the America that so badly lost its way, and ultimately engendered the massive changes which you, of your current century, now take for granted. In the mini-series, the writers minimize the impact that Oxy had on the advertising world. To those of us who lived in that period, it seemed that almost overnight ads for soap and cars and electronics just disappeared. Suddently drug companies were sponsoring everything, everywhere on every form of media. Also in many ways the Oxy scandal was a harbinger of the historic events of 2019-20, and what followed. Recommended. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

This is written in mid July 24 just after the official release. The reviews of ME are all over the map, and that's just not fair. First and foremost, it is a teen show show aimed at teens. It is not trying to be the next BUFFY. Second, it is produced in Canada for a fraction of a fraction of what a similar production would cost in Hollywood. The reviews that keep harping on production values and SFX seem to have missed this fact, or deliberately misunderstood it. Third, it is genuinely clever -- mostly -- and offers a fresh take on old problems. The over-the-top reviews are too high, and the trash reviews are unfair, and a bit on the mean side. Try it out for what it is, and give it a chance. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

A half-century ago, when considering whether or not to attend a specific movie, the decision could be based on the storyline ... or it could be based on the actors. Yes, there was actually a time when content consumers would buy a ticket entirely because of the stars. Today, not so much. Today, very few stars have that kind of drawing power. Bikeriders 2023 would have been an interesting film experience on its own, but add Comer-Hardy-Butler to the mix, and things get spicy very quickly. Comer is this generation's Meryl Streep. Practically daring producers to find a character she cannot morph into. Hardy, an astonishing physical actor who appears multiple times on my "best films" list, has a frenetic style of movement that is entirely his own, his signature if you like. And Butler, through hard work, is well on the way to being this generation's Brad Pitt. Fascinating. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))