racedowling Reviews

I Am (III) (2010)

Woo Alert

[1/10 · 29 June 2013]

It started out OK just long enough to suck me in, then it went down the path of pseudo-scientific new age idiocy (aka woo) as bad or worse than "The Secret."

Real science is not going to lend legitimacy to your pet beliefs. Non scientists need to refrain from trying to make their unscientific beliefs sound scientific, because they always come off as naive, ignorant and stupid to anyone with more than a high-school understanding of science.

How do I know it's woo? Here are some selected quotes:

"Studies show that ..." Were these studies performed under controlled test conditions and were appropriate tests of significance used? They don't say, so the answer likely is "no."

"The science tells us that ..." No, it doesn't, unless you can show exactly how it does. Prefacing an unproven assertion with the word science only fools the naive and ignorant.

"Quantum entanglement ..." If you aren't showing me the math, you obviously do not understand quantum physics, stop bringing it up.

"The human heart can predict the future." Really? How exactly does the heart violate causality?

I'm Not Jesus Mommy (2010)

Idiotic

[2/10 · 26 June 2012]

So rife with scientific errors, but since apparently the film was written for entertaining homeschooled Christian wingnuts, they probably didn't feel scientific accuracy was important.

First, you cannot clone from red blood cells because they contain no DNA. But assuming that you got some white blood cells, you couldn't clone from them since there has been 2000 years of degradation; the information is completely lost. That aside, assuming you could clone Christ and as they say make an exact duplicate (which you cannot BTW), why would he have no Semitic features whatsoever? The kid is the whitest white boy on the block. Finally, and I hate to break it to you if you don't know, but the Shroud of Turin was identified as a complete fraud by carbon dating it to the 13-14th century, so it would be like cloning someone from 1000 years after the alleged existence of Jesus of Nazareth (which again, you couldn't do anyway).

This is billed as a science fiction, but more properly it is just a Christian religious film regarding an interpretation of the end-times. I rated it a 3 rather than a 1 because you cam have it on as background when working on your computer. I only give ones to films that are so bad you have to watch the trainwreck.

Prometheus (I) (2012)

Plot holes and scientific inaccuracy ruined this film

[1/10 · 15 June 2012]

With all the money these film makers had to make this film one would think that they could hire a few graduate students at any local university for peanuts to check for scientific ignorance. This film is just sloppy. The list of things that made absolutely no sense would go on for pages: from placing themselves somewhere between Mars and Jupiter to not knowing the difference between abiogenesis and evolution. From performing archeology with the equivalent of a bulldozer to having a hodgepodge of symptoms from identical infections.

It was like spending two hours kissing someone with a halitosis. I suppose it would be an entertaining film for someone who isn't bothered by scientific ignorance and is willing to forgive gaping plot holes that make no sense.

Knowing (2009)

I want to poke out my eyes

[1/10 · 24 July 2009]

Worst mainstream "science" fiction in recent memory. The science was idiotic, the list of ridiculous lines would exceed the maximum characters for IMDb. They could have paid a physics undergrad student peanuts to get it better.

The references to biblical fairy tales are ridiculous to anyone but a fundie Christian: Angels (aliens), garden of Eden, Adam & Eve, Noah's Ark, etc.

Where did the trees and grain come from considering that this massive solar flare would have killed EVERYTHING? I was expecting that the new earth would have been comprised of only white people and rabbits.

Worst science fiction since "Battlefield Earth." That this is a popular film just makes me want to kill myself.

V for Vendetta (2005)

Strains Credibility

[6/10 · 4 September 2006]

**WARNING** entire text contains **SPOILERS**

I had no idea that this was based on a comic strip. I haven't read a comic since I was 12. I can suspend quite a bit of disbelief because it's a fantasy, but does anyone really believe that V could:

survive being horribly burned without medical intervention? amass a fortune without detection? alone convince an entire nation to revolt? take Evey prisoner and perpetrate an elaborate ruse while doing all this?

I think the final straw was when that armor plate stopped a hail of high powered bullets. Come on, these bullets will pass through cars. Also, police aim for the head as well, just in case someone is wearing Kevlar.

I was very disappointed. Usually an IMDb rating of 8 with this many votes is something I like.

Safe (1995)

New age Enviro Propaganda BS film

[2/10 · 8 April 2006]

I actually had to cringe when I checked "Contains Spoilers" because there is nothing that I or anyone else can spoil. This film starts nowhere, goes nowhere, and ends nowhere.

Apparently the only reason for its existence is to warn people that evil 20th century technology will kill us. Never mind that raw nature likely will kill you much sooner. Never mind that pollen, plants and dust from the ground can do you more harm than any alleged fumes from new furniture. Never mind that power line EM fields have been proved harmless.

As to the cult, I'm left wondering what the point is. Was he for or against new age pop psychology BS? I don't know and please don't bother telling me.

The only similar movies to this one that I've had the misfortune to see were Left Behind I and II. Equally terrible acting, equally wooden characters, equally bad script and direction.

If you want to kill a few brain cells, go ahead and see this stinker or better yet, why not go on an all-night drinking binge: at least that would be more fun.

L.I.E. (2001)

Sexual Honesty

[9/10 · 22 February 2006]

As a sexuality educator I was impressed by the straightforward, nonjudgmental nature of a rather difficult topic. I vacillated between giving this film an 8 or a 9 and decided on 9 because we need more films like this. This topic requires understanding, not acceptance mind you, but real honest understanding. The very fact that it was given an nc-17 rating is part of the problem with our society. There was about as much sex as I've seen in R or even PG-13 movies, the rating was obviously ONLY because of the uncomfortable subject matter. How can society solve a problem that it clearly does not even want to talk about, let alone understand?

A Dirty Shame (2004)

Get the NC-17 DVD and watch the commentary

[8/10 · 8 July 2005]

I didn't bother with the neuter version of this movie - it was neutered simply to make money for Water's investors as the NC-17 DVD would not be sold in blockbuster or walmart. Only the NC-17 version shows the true genius of Waters. It should have received an R rating as I've actually seen more sex in R movies, but even talking about sex now appears to cause the MPAA to "slap it with an NC-17." On the DVD special features is a commentary on making the movie that runs over an hour and is definitely a do-not-miss. If you're kind of a neuter and find yourself befuddled after watching the main feature, try watching the special feature, and then go back.

Collateral (2004)

Just Annoying

[5/10 · 13 March 2005]

Warning. SPOILERS! Come on folks, an 8? I'm willing to suspend some disbelief with an action film, but the plot just totally strained credulity. The film is just a grade B thriller/crime drama with better than average production values. There really isn't much to it besides the plot, so one would think that it would have a few unexpected twists and turns, but NOOO, the plot just plays out like a hackneyed crime novel. Their one attempt at theme where Vincent tells Max that he's never going to get his dream was the rather sophomoric. No S**T? That was obvious for anyone with an IQ over 80 ten minutes into the film. It was like the writers had to strain to be obvious and then to be absolutely sure you got it, they had to also tell you!

The icing on the cake for this film was the awful ending where Annie (a FEDERAL PROSECUTOR) leaves the scene of a crime. Does she try to notify the BART police, or the station master or even prop open the door of the train to keep the train from moving? NO! She and Max just walk away and allow the now deceased Vincent to ride on to the next station. SHEESH!

And how about that federal building? Does anyone really believe that federal buildings are so carelessly guarded? Just try getting into one some day. They always have a team of federal police on hand to prevent that very thing from happening. This was worse than another Tom Cruise film "Mission Impossible" where they easily got into CIA headquarters by posing as firemen. What a joke!

I give it a 5 because it was worth the 5 bucks for OnDemand, but I'd be rather disappointed if I'd Spent $20 to see it at a theater.

Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

Definitely not for fossils like me

[3/10 · 13 March 2005]

My 25 year old daughter rented this during a family gathering. Out of 10 people who watched it 4 were under 30 and 7 were fossils (like me). Without exception the over 30 crowd thought it was the stupidest movie in recent memory. The under 30 crowd seemed to enjoy it, even though they all had already seen it. I'm giving this a 3 from my admittedly parochial view of a 50 year old.

Younger adults will probably like it, but the older crowd will sit in complete befuddlement as to what's going on and amazement as to how they've failed as parents in that their kids actually like this film.

My suggestion is that if you rent this, it would be more enjoyable for the parents to find "something else to do" while they're kids are mesmerized watching it.

The Butterfly Effect (2004)

You'd be better off reading "The Lathe of Heaven"

[19 February 2004]

The film was well done on the whole, and the acting was good although some of the plot elements were improbable. As a science fiction buff, I left the movie somewhat unsatisfied, thinking "I've seen this plot before." The plot appears to be the major feature of the movie, but the plot as it stands alone, fails. I was unsatisfied that other more subtle ethical and sociological themes weren't better drawn out.

From the trailers alone, science fiction buffs will easily recognize the plot as a variant of an oft-used time travel theme. To experience the definitive use of this theme, I suggest the reader obtain a copy of "The Lathe of Heaven" by Ursula K. LeGuin, which uses the plot (correctly) merely as an element to draw the reader into serious ethical and social questions.