bobdude-2 Reviews

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)

Intergalactic Teddy Bears

[7/10 · 12 April 2023]

This was entertaining and it used the star wars characters. It was the end of an arc and for that it was pretty cool. We def needed to know what was going to happen with Han.

There were a lot of issues for me. Rehash of the death star. Luke rarely used his Jedi powers so we could have silly moments like a Jedi being caught in a trap and relying on that lightsaber being sent at the exact right time for the escape. Good thing R2D2 wasn't below deck lol. The whole teddy bears thing told me it wasn't really meant for me - i was a 17 when this came out, so they were a little silly and inconsistent.

There were still some great moments in there. It was still a shame they never got those three together in a movie again. The last three movies were junk, which makes me want to up the rating for this to 8 or more lol.

Don't know if i am alone but watch history of the Star Wars movies: 4 and 5 i have watched countless times. 6 i have watched this one several times.

1 i have watched 3 times. 2 and 3 once each.

7 i have watched once in theater. 8, 9 i watched once on streaming. It took several starts and stops to finish, boy were they dumb.

So, number six, while not up to the greatness of 4 and 5 is light years beyond the rest of this stuff.

The Matrix Resurrections (I) (2021)

Didn't finish it

[4/10 · 30 December 2021]

I didn't get that far. As soon as they were showing that the first 3 movies were video games created by Keanu, i started to lose interest. It seemed to me that they were negating the first 3 movies. Then when Keanu and Trinity didn't know each other, i was out of there.

So The Matrix - i have watched many, many times. 2nd and 3rd - i watched once each. #4 - i didn't finish. Maybe someone will convince me to finish it.

Columbo: Fade in to Murder (1976) Season 6, Episode 1

A very re-watchable episode for me

[8/10 · 18 July 2016]

Big fan of Columbo and Star Trek, so I really enjoy two of my favorite old time leads going head to head. And that is what is so watchable to me.

As a one time acting student, I have often wondered why Shatner decided to play the role this way. Yeah, the way he is written is uneven. Sometimes smart, sometimes not so bright. Ultimately playing Fowler the way he did, while somewhat inconsistent, was a fine choice. In fact, Columbo, the smartest detective ever, must know from the first moment he meets Fowler, that Ward is guilty. I can't see it any other way. Fowler keeps describing things he knows about Claire and why the killer would do the things he did (like not take Claire's purse during the robbery) - and Columbo wonders how the killer would know that!

So, Columbo works to get the proof. The ultimate reason he is able to nail Fowler is one of the weaker reveals of the early Columbo run. It is also something that would have been known from about the middle of the episode on. Instead, the interplay between these two continues.

With all these faults, I have watched this episode countless times. The scenes between Falk and Shatner are super fun. There are some good laughs. I still use the phrase "bundled up like a downhill racer" whenever possible!

Dead Man (1995)

Somehow I made it to the end

[21 June 2012]

I was reading some various Buddhist blogs and I came across a recommendation for this movie. A very strong recommendation as in favorite-movies-ever-kind of recommendation. Being a big fan of Johnny Depp, I was surprised I'd never heard of it. Filmed in black and white, William Blake (Depp) takes an endless train ride from Cleveland to Machine in the Southwest. Now I am a fairly literal guy. Well for this movie, I did try a bit to figure out what it is about. Everything I suppose is a metaphor for something. Here are my takes:

Long train ride - boring

Doesn't get the job - plot device

Kills the girl's ex-fiancé - plot device

On the run with nothing - boring

Scene with Iggy Pop and Billy Bob Thornton - WTF?

Dies in canoe - Why did I watch this whole thing?

So the scenery/photography was pretty awesome. I am a big Neil Young fan, but I ain't looking to buy this soundtrack any time soon. I did like Nobody, Blake's helper along the way to death.

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)

Wow - why did it take me so long to see this movie?

[10/10 · 21 June 2012]

Once Upon a Time in the West - This was the first time I ever saw this flick. Wow. It is so great to sit down with a movie that you know nothing about and have it turn into a real gem. This movie was beautifully filmed. A real master at work. The story starts with a brutal attack that had me wondering why? I wanted to know right away. However, Sergio was on his own schedule as slowly, but surely, the layers of the story are revealed. The pacing reminded me a bit of Kill Bill. I figured Tarantino was a fan, and it turns out he is. Henry Fonda usually plays the good guy, but I really didn't know if his Frank or Charles Bronson's character was the good guy. Of course, good and bad are especially relative in cases like this! Charles Bronson doesn't have a name and IMDb lists him as Harmonica. He was played as a real mystery. A man with his own agenda, who didn't have problems killing anyone. He also played the harmonica with a wild tone that was pretty sweet. Due to the deliberate pacing of the movie there were a few times where I was on the edge of my seat. Waiting for what I thought should happen to hurry up and happen! Ultimately, the whole thing worked. The reveal of Harmonica's back story was a surprise. It left me wondering, now that his goal in life was finished would he stick with the girl?

Speaking of the girl, that whole thing was relative too! The more I learned about her, the more I wondered would living with her really be a happily ever after? Early on, I was a little perplexed by her behavior. Even wondering if she was just acting poorly. I suppose after learning all about her, it is possible that is how her character would behave. That was a great watching experience. According to IMDb, Once Upon a Time in the West is number 23 all time. Certainly better than any of the Oscar nominees that year. No surprise there.

Blade Runner (1982)

Blade Runner - movie vs book

[8/10 · 21 June 2012]

Blade Runner is a freakin' classic of Sci-Fi. Me and my friends used to do our best Harrison Ford voice "tell me about your mother." Recently, I had been going through some of Philip K. Dick's work including Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. Now there are books that are so close to the movie it seems tough to tell which came first such as "The Princess Bride." Other movies don't resemble the source book much at all like "The Door in the Floor." Blade Runner was between the two but, boy, a lot was missing from the movie. The book contains some interesting pieces of the story involving how the remaining earthlings deal with the lack of people after the wars. This includes a lack of animals resulting in... yes, electric sheep! There are other bounty hunters who work for the androids who have escaped back to earth and have actually have set up their own police department. That makes for an interesting development.

Rachel is in the book. She is a little different than the movie. Although the scene in which Deckard questions her is very close to the book. Blade Runner is an excellent movie, but it is only loosely based on the Book. There is one problem that leaves the movie a bit empty though. Spoiler alert for a 30 year-old movie and 40 year-old book! Later in the book Deckard sleeps with Rachel, too. However, in the book it is an empty experience. After the act, he realizes it is nothing like a relationship with a real human female. So you can see the problem. In the ending of the movie he goes off to spend Rachel's remaining years with her. Now the movie needs a new ending!

Forbidden Planet (1956)

Forerunner of Star Trek

[8/10 · 21 June 2012]

Forbidden Planet - Starring Leslie Nielsen! It was fun to see a strapping young Lieutenant Drebin in full starship captain mode. The thing that struck me about this movie is that so much of it made its way into other science fiction. There was the precursor to the Star Trek transporter effect. Although here it wasn't used for transporting. Along with that, there is a captain in a military type of operation. He's flying a spaceship around with his group of officers. He takes his doctor with him when he leads the "away teams." It almost played like a 1950's Star Trek episode. They had a bigger special effects budget - the effects and colors were great! There was also Robbie the robot that must've been the basis for the robot in Lost in Space. Mythology is an interesting thing. The story Shatner gives in his book Star Trek Memories is that of Gene Roddenberry as a little boy playing in a cardboard box dreaming of space. Well he would've been 35 when he saw this possible basis for his Wagon Train to the Stars.

The Room (2003)

How bad is it?

[3/10 · 21 June 2012]

The Room - Wow. This movie was wrong on so many levels! Lets start with the acting. Sometimes, er, often, the acting didn't match the script! They would say one thing, but either have no emotion or the wrong emotion! The way Lisa acted, it was really unclear that she was a total lunatic. The way Johnny acted, SPOILER ALERT, I didn't think he cared enough about Lisa that he'd be distraught when she left. Sure, in the script he said it - but the actor never sold it. About that script - "Don't worry about it!" A little in joke because at one point Lisa's mom says she has breast cancer, and Lisa says "Don't worry about it." So they don't - they never mention it again! This plays right into the wheelhouse of the Rifftrax gang and they don't disappoint. This movie had a few sex scenes (one of them was run twice) and that made the Rifftrax guys uncomfortable - but they did find a way to handle it that was pretty funny.

The acting is so bad and the script is horrible, yet the performances are so ripe for making fun of. It is like "Manos: The Hands of Fate" bad. So awful it has become a midnight movie and pop culture phenomenon. Since watching this, I am now in on the jokes that are all over YouTube. I am sure it would be hilarious without Riffrax, but for me it was a lot of fun to watch with Mike and the Gang.

SPOILER - At the end, when Johnny kills himself, they linger on the suffering of Lisa and Mark (fiance and best friend who have been doing it behind Johnny's back). Yet more egregious acting. I had to guess the writer was sending a message to someone who broke his heart! But he didn't kill himself - he sent his message this way. To the whole world. For that we are grateful!

Inception (2010)

Overrated - South Park's version is better

[5/10 · 21 June 2012]

Inception - I saw this a while ago. I only write about it, because South Park was making fun of it last night. I never got the enthusiasm for this flick. It was somewhat entertaining, although, certainly not mind blowing or even that inventive. I've seen more mind bending things on the Outer Limits from the 60's. It was not memorable. In fact, I had forgotten about it until last night. One of the things I remember was how poorly Ellen Page's character was rounded out. I remember laughing, not at her - but at the part she had to play, Ms. Exposition. Explain everything to her, so the audience knows what is going on. The action was cliché, and left me wanting more. The whole thing about going into someone's dream is so silly, but not funny silly - which leads me to...

South Park, on the other hand. Was a lot more fun. Throw in a Sheep Herder, a young Mr. Mackey, a random pizza delivery guy, and even a retired Freddy Kruger and you've got an entertaining 22 minutes. And, of course, Randy Marsh. Stan is trapped in Mr. Mackey's dream, so Randy goes in to save him. Stan sees his dad in the dream. But his dad has come into the dream as a Butterfly. Stan says "Did you come here to help me?" and Randy replies "I was gonna...Butterflies have no concern for these things, Stan. I'm gonna go find me some butterfly poon." So much better than watching inception.

Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)

Very Entertaining

[9/10 · 21 June 2012]

Exit Through the Gift Shop - This was pretty entertaining. The movie starts out as a documentary of Street Artists. The stuff these guys were doing was pretty cool and I would have happily watched 90 minutes worth of that. At some point in the film there was a switch and instead of following around the street artists, we started following around the original documentarian (Thierry Guetta).

If you haven't seen this, and plan to, stop reading now! I started to get a little suspicious around the time of this twist. First, when Thierry turned in his first cut of the documentary. They played it off as a completely unwatchable - to me it looked like someone with talent trying to make something unwatchable. Seemed a little odd. The second was when Thierry allegedly got detained at DisneyLand. There was no footage of that. We had to totally take is word about being grilled for hours - and the Disney police examining his video camera.

This suspicion did not, for one moment, lessen my enjoyment of the movie. It may have even made me more interested! As Thierry turned into Mr. Brainwash, it was fun to watch. The show he put on was pretty insane and I found myself doing some research on the web to see if it really happened. I did have to question if one person could really put out all that work in such a short amount of time. I know he didn't do the work - but even coming up with that many ideas would take a lot of time.

I could keeping going on about this flick. It was something else and I highly recommend a viewing.

Apocalypto (2006)

Good but not great

[6/10 · 9 December 2006]

I really wanted to like this movie, to be taken to another place for 2 hours. But it didn't quite happen. To be clear, this was no Braveheart.

It was good, and parts of it did have me in another world. But many parts lost the spell because I couldn't shake the fact that some of these actors were acting - and poorly, which brought me right back into the theater watching a movie.

There are a few scenes that are quite memorable. And even one long sequence that amazing. I was also taken out of the spell of the movie when a device was added to increase tension. To which I said "oh, come on!"

Overall while it was a good movie, I was disappointed.

Hoy y mañana (2003)

Unlovable heroine becomes prostitute

[4/10 · 11 June 2005]

The acting seemed wooden to me. She was the same person before and after she turns to the world's oldest profession.

OK, jobs are hard to come by, I get that - but then she can't even keep hers. Her uncle runs a restaurant, she could work there too. I'm not saying it would be biscuit city, but there appear to be other options.

So, in one night she becomes a hardened whore - the character never really changed. She jumps right in to a lifestyle where nobody is a real person and everybody wants something from somebody. And she was no different! She didn't need any training in becoming a hooker, she seems to have been born saying "where's my money?"

Pacing was slow and there were one too many "riding behind her on the motor scooter" shots.

Not buying it - a waste of time.

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

I have seen the best movie of the year

[10/10 · 10 October 2003]

This is a freakin' masterpiece.

OK, it's gonna be a little harsh, a little rude, and very bloody.

But I digress, I have been watching the Akira Kurosawa collection lately and here we have Uma Thurman in a role reminiscent of Toshiro Mifune. And, I'd even guess that part of this film may be an homage to Akira.

But, I'd say this flick is better than anything I've seen from AK. I was blown away.

OK, so there isn't much plot, there is a lot of blood, and even some cartoons, er, anime. The acting, the scenery, the visuals, the direction - amazing. IMHO way better than Crouching tiger hidden dragon.

Can't wait for volume 2 - more anticipation for this than Matrix Revolutions or the LOTR (already know the story there!)

When I walked out of the theater, I was filled with emotion - that happens to me when I witness people at the top of their craft.

4 stars

Vanilla Sky (2001)

First two hours are well done

[6/10 · 18 December 2001]

The first two hours of this movie are well done - the last ten minutes are laughable.

* Spoiler Alert *

To put in a twist ending at the last minute is just plain bad storytelling.

The scene where Tom Cruise is yelling "Tech Support" while the Beach Boys play in the background was hilarious! End Spoiler

I would try to explain the movie, but I don't care. The ending was so sour I no longer care.

Spy Game (2001)

Cool Video, Music, Execution, but still Forgetable

[8/10 · 25 November 2001]

Another interesting comic book movie.

It was like a Spy Music Video. A very well done Spy Music Video.

The characters were all what the movie needed them to be, any love interest felt forced.

The music did a good job of adding to the movie. There were a couple of scenes where the music was the best part.

It was clever, it had some humor, it really didn't have any significant lulls.

With all of that, it doesn't stick. It was fun to experience, but there wasn't any connection with any of the characters. Nothing to connect to.

Don't forget the popcorn.

Waking Life (2001)

Booooooring

[3/10 · 2 November 2001]

I was pumped to see this with all of the great reviews that it has received.

I was so bored, I actually left before it was over!

It was like some one animated a series of boring conversations about theories of existence.

I was nearly monologued to DEATH! No character interaction, no story, no nuthin' but endless droning.

Ebert: 4 stars EW: A

bobdude2: 4 yawns - save your dough

Driven (2001)

Not Bad for a Music Video

[6/10 · 2 October 2001]

For some reason, this movie has a really bad reputation.

** POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT ***

Sure all of the characters were stock, several of the events were foreshadowed with blunt instruments, one character disappeared only to make a guest appearance at the end, etc.

But there was a misconception, people didn't realize it was a music video. It was car racing, set to music, for short-attention-span, feel-good theater.

Finally, it did have a bit of a message. Maybe I am a little emotional these days. But, there is something bigger than winning races. IMHO if you are driving at that level, you have already won the lottery in your career! Winning is just a nice topping.

*** End possible spoiler ***

Just let this wash over you, don't think about it later. Not that you would remember any of the characters. Maybe some of their lips...

Planet of the Apes (2001)

Save Your Money

[1/10 · 3 August 2001]

Ok, I know this is supposed to be cheese.

But will someone please entertain me! I can't imagine that Tim Burton was proud when he presented this turd to his executives for their first screening.

But I did notice a few things:

Marky Mark and Denise Richards must've went to the same drama club.

A few under-nourished humans can put off battalions worth of Apes.

Marky Mark is "special" - special because he had different clothes!

An obligitory kiss with blondie - WHERE THERE NEVER WAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS PERSONALITY_LESS ENHANCED-LIPPED BIMBO.

There was no tension ever in this movie. I remember the original keeping me on the edge of my seat and hating the bad guys - Here there weren't any real characters - EVERY ONE WAS A CLICHE!

Some of the long range scenes looked like the actors re-used the cheesy ape suit from Octopussy (or Trading Places)!

I could go on - but why waste time on this. I am looking for the next American Beauty. Will I find it in Ghost World?

Save your money on this beastie - 1/10.

Evolution (2001)

Not Quite Ghostbusters

[5/10 · 13 June 2001]

There were a lot of scenes in this movie that sort of fell flat. Scenes that Ghostbusters pulled off.

This movie had a lot of potential and delivered a few good laughs thanks to Mr. Jones.

All in all I felt that it fell a little short.

Bring It On (2000)

A story of unrequited love

[3 March 2001]

This is obviously a story of unrequited love. Missy is hot for Torrence and that is the underlying theme of the movie - the rest is just window dressing. Missy is never shown goofing around with boys or acknowledging boys at all. However, when she is around Torrence - she lights up! Her world comes alive in a rainbow of colors and sensations.

A tragedy of almost Shakespearian proportions, I was almost brought to tears as Missy and Torrence were arm in arm walking into the finals of the UCA event. Missy was so happy to touch her dream girl even though the relationship was destined to go nowhere.

As a good little soldier, who understands her closet role, Missy actually helps Torrence and her brother get together - even though it must break her little heart. Every day that Torrence and her bro are together it must wound her a little more - I hope she finds some solace somewhere.

As stories of heartbreak go, this is right up there with the best of 'em.

Dr. T & the Women (2000)

Very, very, very bad-Awful-Not even worth poking fun at

[1/10 · 19 February 2001]

Whoa,

What a mess. Characters that do nothing and go nowhere. I didn't care about any of them. Helen Hunt's character was so hot and cold; I didn't care one bit about Dr. T's daughters (I was given no reason to care). Farrah was the only convincing performance - of course, all she had to do was reprise her Letterman appearance.

I need a rebate, This movie wasted almost 2 hours of my life and $4.07 at my local Hollywood Video. I assume that Richard Gere and Helen Hunt have enough clout to choose their roles, so why they tried to polish this turd is beyond me.

Bad, awful, incomprehensible, sophomoric, nonsensical, boring, lame. If I ever torture anyone, I will make them watch this endlessly - they'll break quickly.

Gladiator (2000)

Not Quite Braveheart

[1/10 · 8 December 2000]

Not quite Sparticus either. An entertaining effort as I was not bored and this was a long movie. The ending was pure Hollywood and that was the big separation from Braveheart (Sparticus too).

Braveheart ended how it had to, how it would have in real life. Sparticus showed the brutality, the way things were. Gladiator was fluffy Hollywood.

Entertaining. Worth a look. Not a classic.

Charlie's Angels (2000)

A delicious piece of cheese

[8/10 · 4 November 2000]

This is a T&A action movie. The opening sequence blistered on to the screen with a convoluted Bond-like opening (I swear I heard tributes to Bond and Mission Impossible in the musical score). The action was intense all the way up to the first dialogue. I began to hope that the dialogue wouldn't spoil the movie. For the most part the dialogue added to this tasty bit of cheese.

There were several scenes that were laugh getters, and the Cameron Diaz scene on Soul Train worked for me. There were a few low spots, but not enough to ruin it for me. First off, when you see this movie throw reality out the window. It is a comic book with comic book characters.

As a piece of great cinema, this won't compare. But as a fun-filled, care-free piece of cheese that will get you out of yourself for a little while, this is definitely worthwhile.

However, if you do not or can not enjoy cheese, this movie is not for you (RE).

Drunken Master II (1994)

So much great fighting, I started to get bored

[6/10 · 28 October 2000]

So far, Jackie Chan has been entertaining when paired with Americans. As the lone star, he just doesn't do it for me. Rumble in the Bronx entertained me, but not like Rush Hour or High Noon.

This is a comedy of errors with so much deception among the "good guys" I am not sure who really are the bad guys. At least I know what they want and they go about getting it. Every other line among the "good guys" is a lie and the master ends up looking like a joke.

The movie is about the fight scenes, which at times are endless. One thing about Steven Seagal when he hits someone they go down - a lot like real life. These are cartoon characters and this is cartoon violence. Some of the scenes were impressive and some were boring. I also thought I saw one of the ropes pulling Chan back at one point. It is so obvious they were being used, maybe my mind made them up.

So, if you like endless fight scenes with a few laughs, enjoy.

Mission: Impossible II (2000)

What is the fascination with life-like masks?

[3/10 · 14 July 2000]

I went in to this movie hoping for some cool effects. Instead I got a story with a mask fascination. By the time the tenth (do I exaggerate?) plastic face was removed my wife and I were rolling in the aisles!

This was lame with a capital L. Even the legendary John Woo action sequences bored me. And since there was no real story, there was little to entertain me and my wife except that we could do our own MST3K.