thefensk Reviews

Absorbing Junior (1936)

Not all that bad

[6/10 · 30 December 2023]

Madcap 30s short featuring past and future stiooge Shemp Howard. The script was a bit derivative but Shemp pulls off the material with ease.

This is a very rare film, but it illustrates Shemp's obvious talent. As the original third stooge, he had a long career with Moe and Larry and that extended into a solo career with shorts like this.

The weak part in this was his partner, Johnnie. He just didn't sell the part.

Spoiler: the best bit was the partner putting the cleaned plates away in the blinds. You could see the result coming a mile away yet it was still funny when the inevitable happened.

Making Him Famous (2023)

If you do good works, it comes back

[8/10 · 25 February 2023]

If this wasn't such a Christian-based film I'd say it illustrates Karma, but in this context Karma is definitely a universal concept.

I admittedly went to see this movie on the big screen because I was a background extra (I'm in there at least a half dozen times in different scenes).

Working on a film as an extra one is only presented with snapshots of scenes, a bit like hearing one side of a conversation. Plus you never know which scene will make it into the finished product. So I went into this film with a clean slate, with only a vague notion of what it was about.

I was quite pleasantly surprised. The acting is good and the story is good. It's not going to blow you away, but you'll find yourself entertained. Oh, and you'll feel a bit better about the world when you come away from it. It's because you experience life with "Devin" as he progresses from a precipitous fall from grace to a renewed faith in himself and his ability to have a positive impact on the lives of others. It starts as a reluctant transformation to be sure, but he eventually gets it. If you get a chance to see this little gem, give it a try, you'll thank me later.

Last Looks (I) (2021)

Surprisingly adequate

[7/10 · 12 January 2023]

Let's face ir, not every movie is going to be the best movie you ever saw. But this quirky film has a lot of surprises. Mel Gibson as an egotistical drunken actor? Who knew? (nod, nod, wink, wink).

The viewer rides along with Waldo on his bicycle as he reluctantly gets pulled in multiple directions centering on the same investigation. Surprises to the end.

I have to add, I watched this after a marathon of watching schlocky Christmas movies, and my running joke with my wife is: Where's the snow? Haven't they visited a Christmas tree lot?

Spoiler: a dramatic chase scene might just extend across a certain holiday-themed movie set. I howled. Jolly good show.

The Bear (2022– )

Surprising and Endearing

[9/10 · 7 July 2022]

I admit it has a deceptively slow place, but the ever-present back story just digs into your soul and holds you tight. It's Downton Abbey in a rundown Chicago family sandwich shop. An award winning fine dining chef struggles to pick up the broken pieces of his brother's tragic train wreck, navigating family drama and realistic pitfalls like unpaid vendors, loan sharks, and the IRS to find some light at the end of the tunnel.

Settlers (2021)

It had potential

[3/10 · 4 November 2021]

This probably should have been a limited series. Visually interesting, with a potentially fascinating story, yet the storytelling falls flat. We only get glimpses of background of either the opening characters or the interlopers. The title "Settlers" hints at some sort of organized effort . But what are presented with seems more like a prison. "Exiles" would have been a better title.

I have no problem with the technologies presented, which are mildly reminiscent of Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars series. Yet we have no sense of who financed and built this singular outpost. With what we are given it makes no sense.

There was a lot of moviemaking going on here, but very little development. The high rankings talk about it being an art film. I can see a little of that, but an art film ultimately has a point. No point here.

To the filmmakers: if you cut half of this to fit into a normal film timeline, re-edit it and give us the story, snd re-release as a limited series.

Navillera (2021)

Outstanding

[10/10 · 20 June 2021]

No spoilers here, but this excellent series is even more well-done than most Korean dramas. It puts American TV to shame. I don't give many "10" scores but this one effortlessly earns it. Acting, story, staging, music ... this one scores in every category. Not to be missed.

Better Watch Out (II) (2016)

1002 Uses

[7/10 · 15 December 2019]

Extremely disturbing story set during the Christmas season. No big spoilers but expect more than a few surprises. Not your run-of-the-mill Christmas movie. Expect nightmares.

The Moodys (2019–2021)

No comparison - REVISED

[8/10 · 5 December 2019]

It's very disappointing when compared to the Australian original. The actors are good, but there is something missing in the scripts. Hopefully episodes 3-6 will get better. I'll report back. -- Watched the entire series again and changed my rating. It IS disappointing when compared to the original, but on a second viewing the performances and script make for an endearing and enjoyable show. Keep it up.

Fences (2016)

Nice!

[9/10 · 24 March 2019]

I don't understand the comments about the film's dramatic origin. So what? It's a compelling story about a flawed man and his struggle to resolve all "the whips and scorns of time" he's suffered through. The pace is slow and methodical, the man has issues to be sure. That is the point of the story. I streamed the movie expecting to pause it and continue it later, yet, I just couldn't do it. All I can add is the final scene made me cry. Me, a 66 year old man with my own long slate of "whips and scorns of time" to deal with, yes, I admit it, it made me cry. Good job!

Vacation (I) (2015)

The Uncredited Star of the Movie ...

[5/10 · 5 December 2017]

Okay, a remake is almost always going to pale in comparison to the original and this remake is no different. However, the filmmakers created an unofficial star with the vehicle. The Family Truckster of the original was funny, but only as a prop, but the erstwhile Tartan Prancer from Albania is the most awesome piece of fictional automotive film history I've ever seen. It IS the star of the film, hands down. If you are wavering on watching this film, watch it once just for this mini-van, I implore you. I gotta get me that GPS.

Many individual scenes of the movie are not bad, mind you and Ed Helms and Christina Applegate were well-cast. But overall, the movie didn't work. The few high points were offset with many low points. The good jokes are very good but many others don't hit their mark.

Watch it for the mini-van!

Never Too Young (1965–1966)

swinging sixties

[6/10 · 9 February 2016]

I was 13 when this premiered, but my 17 year old sister watched it all the time. I have to admit, I got sucked in and was more than a little disappointed when it ended and the next Monday, when Dark Shadows premiered in its place it seemed a tremendous loss. Yet, within the year, DS became a super-big hit. Go figure. At the time it seemed special, teen-aged angst-ridden drama. And Tony Dow plus Tommy Rettig to boot! One other thing to note: I remember them playing the hit "Groovy Kind of Love" at the end of the last episode. Can't remember if that was a regular thing or just for that episode. It was obvious that it was the last episode though. Also remember a lot of musical guests, but the one I remember best was Paul Revere and the Raiders because my sister was wild about them.

Who Killed Captain Alex? (2010)

So Bad it is AWESOME

[9/10 · 15 May 2015]

One reviewer laments the fact that it is obvious that these people never went to film school. They didn't, that's the point.

The director, to his credit, has built his film company from the ground up in the slums of Kampala. The film is a product of those slums. It is a film inspired by the best of Hollywood, but it is thoroughly Ugandan. Take the Video Joker ... this is a component of their distribution requirements because of the many languages and dialects they try to sell to. VJ commentary needs to be customized to their different customer's language needs. The English version is just one of the many they have to apply and market.

I encourage viewers to embrace the humor and bask in the raw talent of this incredible filmmaker.

It is wild and crazy and raw and illogical and funny ... so bad it is really good. This guy makes the exact kinds of movies he wants to make and figures out ways to do it within the realities he has to deal with on a daily basis. Kudos to him.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013–2021)

Season 1 so-so and Season 2 has dropped two notches

[4/10 · 17 October 2014]

I'm at the the point of season 2 where I might just give this show maybe two or three more episodes to pull out of its doldrums.

The one bright spot, always, is Terry Crews. He steals every scene he is in. He always does that.

In judging this show, consider the time/change for 2014-15. It has been lumped in amongst the cartoons. Which at first I thought was weird but it basically IS a cartoon. Even at that, they might have just kept the show at about the same level of humor as last year but they didn't. Melissa Fumero was a perfect straight foil to Samberg's character, but now she is just a shadow of her former self, mostly lapping at the captain's boots. So far, anyway. And Peretti's character was a high point of the show last year, borderline psychotic, but funny as heck. She is not the same character at all ... like she found her meds or something. I mean, it's okay, but it's definitely lost a good bit of its appeal. If you like poo-poo and pee-pee jokes, that's fine with me. But I'd be surprised if it makes it the entire year.

Shaft (1971)

Is it Blaxploitation or did it start Blaxploitation

[7/10 · 27 August 2014]

I just watched this film. The last time I saw it was when it came out. The flaws in the movie were the same flaws evident in a lot of late 60s and early 70s movies. Film had undergone a transition to a more gritty look ... by the 80s they seemed really bad. Now they seem almost nostalgic ... probably people felt the same way about film noir at the time and shortly after. One of the most interesting things it has going for it is due to that raw and gritty look, which included quite a lot of location shots in early 1970s NYC. The score matched the cinematography very well. In 1971 I thought it was entertaining. We didn't call it a blaxploitation film back then. I guess its moderate success spawned the genre so in that sense it was either the first or the inspiration. But I think to lump it into that basket is wrong. In reality it is a 1971 detective flick focusing on a black character, set among a lot of black characters, mostly hoods, poised against a bunch of white characters, mostly hoods. It's right there in the movie ... the police detective makes that same observation. Not Black against White ... it is a turf war between black hoods and white hoods. And between them all is John Shaft. Richard Roundtree plays it with a finesse that although almost corny now to the point of being a caricature, at the time it was easy to take it at face value. He was a hard nosed P.I. and he focused on his case. The absolutely smartest scene was when the guy helping Shaft save the girl was sent in to pose as a room service waiter in the dingy hotel where the mafia guys were holding the hostage. He seemed resentful at first but he got a look on his face sort of like, "hey, I KNOW HOW TO DO THIS." Sure, using the degrading stereotype to complete the undercover. Three drinks. Three dudes. He's got the information but he's got to play the role. He stands there waiting for his tip and gets it, generous in mafia fashion too. Anyway, I say throw the blaxploitation label out the window and enjoy the movie for what it was and what it is ... a better than average 1970s detective movie. I wish they showed it on TV more.

Lunopolis (2010 Video)

Shows you can make a good movie with a low budget

[8/10 · 14 August 2012]

I love low budget films. Or maybe I hate high budget films. I am convinced that some movies evolve out of somebody's idea for a grand and glorious special effect ... and they build a movie around that one scene. There is no such thing here. It is a classic formula ... they build the case for the premise while they are in fact telling the story. Sure it has some flaws ... even big budget spectaculars have flaws. The biggest flaw is the far too long interview with David James but that cemented the storyline together so I let it slide. It just didn't fit the shorter scenes in the rest of the movie. The really oddball thing ... is ever since we watched this movie we have been receiving mysterious phone calls ... like our time-lines are messed up now. Seriously. Hopefully this will sort itself out, with or without the help of the Lunarians.

New Girl (2011–2018)

I've tried to like it, I really have

[7/10 · 5 January 2012]

I've watched most of the first season ... and every episode has a chuckle or two, but almost every show (watching via a recording) I find myself pausing it to see how much time is left and I am always at about the fifty percent point. What's up with that? This is something I NEVER do with a thirty minute sitcom.

I think this boredom is due to the story lines ... they are tired and the pace is slow. So I find myself wondering, do I want to suffer through another episode for a chuckle or two?

She's cute and she's funny, and the rest of the cast seems adequate but there is obviously something amiss. Fox is usually pretty quick to pull the plug so obviously others are seeing something I am not seeing but I'll probably only watch it when there is a story line that strikes my fancy.

White Heat (1949)

I never get tired of this movie

[10/10 · 15 July 2010]

I can watch it any time it is on. At the beginning or in the middle.

Cagney is superb ... almost a caricature of all of his gangster roles combined into this complex and fascinating character.

Cagney brings to life one of the most evil characters to ever be portrayed on film. I get chills every time I see him go nuts in the prison cafeteria.

And when he shoots into that trunk "I'll give you a little air ..." while calmly munching a chicken leg ... we've all seen tons of cold blooded killers on film but this guy must have been born at the south pole.

This is just a great movie with a great story and wonderful characters. Everyone plays off Cagney and he makes them all shine in return. A classic masterpiece of film noir.

Fury (1955–1960)

one of the classics

[9/10 · 15 March 2010]

This is posted as a tribute to the late Peter Graves. This show was a mainstay in the lives of many baby boomer's' formative years. They would never get away with the format today. Even less than ten years later the Batman series had to bow to societal paranoia and insert an invented "aunt" to temper the all unrelated male household. Three unrelated males on a remote ranch? Ah, but I digress, there was no hidden agenda or meaning here. It was as wholesome as the 1950s. Good clean moral stories. Fury rivaled even Lassie or Rin Tin Tin for animal brilliance.

Peter Graves was memorable as Jim. For years I'd say, "oh -- that guy from Fury" whenever I saw him in something.

It was a great show. I wish they would re-run it.

The Ruling Class (1972)

O'Toole is brilliant

[9/10 · 6 January 2010]

They almost never show this on TV. Sad. It is a remarkable film and Peter O'Toole is simply brilliant as Jack.

The fight scene between the two "gods" is wonderful. Almost makes me wish they made a sequel about the life of the electromagnetic god who has to recharge via an open light socket. Great fun and then downright chilling at the end. The butler is one of the better characters, as is old Alastair Sim as the Bishop. "Why was he wearing a ballet skirt?" Poor old dear.

As good as Brando was in The Godfather, I still think O'Toole should have trumped him for Best Actor that year. I mean, Brando played a great character, but O'Toole ACTED in this, acted up, down, right, left, and sideways. He is not the same character at the end ... oh, no.

More American Graffiti (1979)

yes, flawed, but entertaining

[7/10 · 29 December 2009]

First off, you can not expect a sequel to excel. We get lucky sometimes but usually they are either totally lame or they fall into some sort of formula hellhole. This film, as many many reviewers have pointed out, does have flaws. Most films do. It is not that different in structure from the original either, following different story lines with different characters, albeit in different years rather than in the same night. The Vietnam sequences with Terry the Toad and Little Joe from the Pharohs gang are the best part of the movie. They could almost have made a single full-length sequel following that story line. A lot of reviewers liked the Milner sequences more than the Debbie sequences. I sort of go the other way around. I thought the Milner storyline was weak and there just wasn't much there. Maybe the hippie sequences were more familiar to me, but I related to that and thought most of it was hilarious. They could have dropped the entire other sequence as well ... it just labored to tell their story against a backdrop that was much bigger than they were.

Also liked the cameo by Falfa, Harrison Ford.

Anyway, maybe someone will come back and make the rest of the Terry-the-Toad in Vietnam story. Feel the same way about D-Day "whereabouts unknown" in Animal House. There's a movie there waiting to be told.

The Lieutenant Wore Skirts (1956)

Almost worth it for one scene

[5/10 · 6 October 2009]

This film is an atypical 50's farce, and with that in mind it is mildly entertaining. The best scene, and it is worth watching it to see this one line, is when the upstairs neighbor comes down to the working Tom Ewell, Rita Moreno is wonderfully seductive and reminds Tom that this reminds her of a movie she saw, where the beautiful neighbor comes down to see the man who's wife is away (if you know Tom Ewell, you know what movie she's talking about). Tom looks up from his typewriter and with a wonderful deadpan says "I didn't see that movie." Okay, I love a good inside joke. The rest is just 50's movie silliness ... like I said, it is entertaining.

The Hypnotic Eye (1960)

hard to find

[7/10 · 22 September 2009]

I wish someone would re-release this, or TCM or somebody would show it. It was just another really bizarre offering from the late fifties/early sixties. It used to be a regular on the lat Saturday night TV horror show in my hometown (in Houston the show was called Weird) and this one fit the bill--really weird.

Cinematic excellence? Surely not. But it was offbeat enough to keep your attention. Even had a debunker who explained away a lot of the "magic" for the police (and the viewers).

The plot does have an interesting twist with the hypnotist's girlfriend. Sure it didn't win any academy awards but few movies do.

I give it a seven because it falls within the genre of movies that are so bad they are actually good.

Public Cowboy No. 1 (1937)

Most Bizarre Opening Scene in a Western

[7/10 · 17 March 2009]

This is a pretty typical early Gene Autry Western. Cowpokes and cattle and horses and cars/trucks/airplanes ... yeehaw.

Anyway, the most unusual scene in this movie, very subtle indeed, is the opening sequence. Gene, ridin' and singin' along, the titles rolling by. Check out behind him and see if you see anything odd.

What's that? Looks like a dummy or something. No, it's Smiley Burnette, riding backwards with a forward facing mask on the back of his head. Even funnier, once the titles and song are finished, Gene and another guy have a long conversation before they even mention the bizarre Smiley and his "disguise" ...

His explanation: It was a disguise so that he could keep an eye out so no one could sneak up on them from behind. Ah, Smiley. Ah, humanity.

No Arms Needed (2004 TV Movie)

a really inspiring individual

[10/10 · 4 December 2007]

This is a Discovery documentary about Marty Ravellette, who lived in the Chapel Hill, North Carolina area.

He was born without arms and did not consider himself disabled.

He just did things his own way and ran a local landscaping business. He saved a woman from a burning car in Durham, NC in 1998 and got some national news coverage at that time.

I used to see him cutting the grass all the time at a business next to where I worked. He was a great guy and was very inspiring.

He unfortunately passed away in November 2007, the victim of an automobile accident.

Tales of the Rat Fink (2006)

brought back lost memories

[8/10 · 13 September 2007]

Well, some of the silliness of the animations was a bit over the top but I figure they didn't have enough real footage to fill out an entire movie.

It was imaginative, and to its credit, it was a primer on the tremendous impact of this forgotten artist.

Forgotten? Well, I forgot about him. Wow, my brother was really into hot rods and he had all the magazines and the CARtoon books and such and I read all of the latter and marveled at Big Daddy's creativity, even in my early teens. Everything came rushing back when I saw this movie.

Let's face it, the guy was far out, he was into his thing, and he really did provide an inspiration for the art/media/design/culture that was to come in just a few years.

Wow.