Jeffronthi-950-543134 Reviews

Shut Eye (2016–2017)

Interesting worlds

[8/10 · 21 April 2021]

Jeffrey Donovan is really good in this, as is most of the cast. It is something of a slow burn and, despite the content of the show, doesn't rely on too many tricks.

If you are someone who enjoys being immersed into different worlds, don't mind blunt violence or decisions content, you might like this. This show is nothing if not interesting.

Check out out.

NCIS: Reasonable Doubts (2016) Season 13, Episode 19

Episode has big heart

[9/10 · 5 May 2020]

Another episode that deals with an LGBT issue, and it comes off very sincere and warm hearted. It is the side issue to the main plot, but it is the best reason to watch this episode.

Wagner does an excellent acting job...

NCIS: We Build, We Fight (2015) Season 12, Episode 13

Glad they did this

[10/10 · 28 April 2020]

They know at least half of their audience are old school conservative types. I'm glad that didn't stop them.

Great job, Gibbsy!

The Dovekeepers (2015)

Cote the GOAT (greatest of all time)

[8/10 · 21 April 2020]

I'm not typically into these types of movies, but I will watch anything with Cote De Pablo in it. I would literally watch a movie with her standing in place.

Having said that, she did a great job, and this was well worth watching. Beautiful scenery.

Top of the Lake (2013–2017)

Decent Show, But Wild Misandry Nearly Kills It

[6/10 · 19 April 2020]

If you live in a world where your chances of running into a monster misogynist every five minutes is real, this might be for you. It is unfortunate that such a promising show would lend itself to this. It is to the point of unreality.

Besides that, it is a good show. A slow-burner, moody and intense. Good acting, funny moments, decent mystery.

Check it out.

Get Out (I) (2017)

Creative Riff on Stepford Wives

[7/10 · 27 January 2020]

Full of odd shocks and surprises, and definitely worth watching for the psychology dynamics between blacks and whites, historically. It was a simple take, and for comedic purposes, maybe it had to be. We all know white folks are not monolithically like this, and they just ran with the tropes. On one hand, it's irritating, but on the other hand, who am I to say it should have been portrayed differently.

Still, it was a refreshing horror that works on multiple levels. That in itself is a feat. Not just worth watching, but worth owning.

Dark Minds (2012– )

Bring It Back

[7/10 · 9 April 2019]

The show is good, but it's a bit dramatic. Also, could use a bit more information and discussion. Too many little filler moments.

Still, I like the host, and it's a fine show overall.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

The Best That Slashers Get

[10/10 · 30 January 2019]

Despite some mediocre acting on occasion, this film stands head and shoulders above the many, including my personal favorite, Halloween, based on sheer inventiveness and psychological intrigue.

One of the greatest heroines in horror history is the character of Nancy. Her melodrama and innocence belies a steely strength of will and maturity that the other kids lack. She has endured the pains and drama of a fractured home, but from parents who do clearly love her, and this is part of the resonance we find in Nancy. Her strength has basis in the subtext of her reality. She's tough, but not broken. We believe her. We believe she is the prepared one. I do not think of her as a "scream queen", for she is 100% heroine.

The other kids are all real, too. For each character, we see exactly why they are who they are. We get to see the products of suburbia in decline. I remember these kids.

Cleverly written and directed by Wes Craven, on a budget of $1,800,000, the film was downright scary when I was a young teen. I remember having to watch this with the lights on. Watching it today, it is still an entertaining watch. You can not understate how great makeup and special effects look in this film. Robert Englud looks amazing and is very memorable.

The ending leaves a little to be desired, but what a damn imaginative horror film overall.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Captivates

[10/10 · 25 January 2019]

Shawshank captivates human emotion on a deep level. The characters are believable and deep, the story is immersive and captivating, and it is long enough to truly paint a canvass. The performances are powerful and true. I do believe this to be one of the ten to fifteen truly timeless pieces that will never age. It is amazing.

Definitely own it.

Prom Night (1980)

Underrated

[6/10 · 20 January 2019]

All of these characters look too old to be in high school, and it is a bit distracting. Jamie Lee Curtis looks too old for the part, even though she's just 21. She is rather ho-hum in Act I, but comes alive in Act III and especially the finale.

There's an effective, if rather by the book, setup to the movie, and that really is its saving grace, aside from a good score and willing cast. A little suspense, a decent mystery, and it is an alright slasher flick. Nothing overly special, but it is rather decent. I watch it maybe twice a year.

Decent enough, and if you are a slasher fan, it is a must own.

Semi-classic

Halloween (2007)

Grindhouse Myers

[4/10 · 19 January 2019]

Over-the-top, unbelievable dialogue and writing from Rob Zombie nearly killed this for me as a whole.

White trash taken to a hellish degree is one way to explain Michael's behavior, but it only serves to make this a revenge flick, as you will no doubt come to empathize with him. Also, the white trash dialogue is so over-the-top, it is unbelievable, and nothing I have ever seen before - and I am from a broken home! I grew up in chaos, in the Midwest, and the scene had no resonance with me, though the scumbag stepdad and poor conditions ring a little true. So, this, to me, is just stylistically grindhouse. It is purposely exaggerated, and I am just not feeling it. Too much.

The rest of the movie is rather bad. Loomis sucks. Laurie sucks. Lindsey sucks. The dialogue sucks (not that the original was terrific). Young Myers definitely sucks.

Only saving grace was that Taylor Mane was great as Michael. He was a ferocious, believable force. That is it.

Stylish and watchable for the superior part II, but nothing special. It's just grindhouse Myers.

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)

The Beginning of Folly

[7/10 · 17 January 2019]

6.5/10

I love this film. Incredible opening sequence, tightly paced, no frills, decent kills, quaint fall, mid-western mood, solid George P Wilbur performance, despite the bad mask. The mask was understandable from a continuity standpoint, as most cheap masks are about as good. But they definitely could have supplied an incidentally creepier one.

I take issue with a few things, aside from the mask, like how in the hell MM got on that truck. Not a big deal, I know, but they could have supplied a scene showing this while they were rallying at the school. There was only a moment. We can forgive a lot, but a film should always try. Also, what is up with the blonde MM mask in the school? "Ah, they can deal with it, it's just a Halloween sequel..." must have been the thought, unfortunately.

People take issue with the ending, and I do not get it. To me, the transference of Evil to Jamie is an intriguing and creepy ending. Oh, the possibilities that could have come. Every one loves a mystery, but it kinda made sense that the evil was a sort of active force. So the ending was rather plausible to me.

From go, mechanically, this movie is one of the better movies in the series, regardless of faults.

Halloween (1978)

Classic For a Reason!

[9/10 · 13 January 2019]

This film gets by on its palpable sense of dread, atmosphere and suspense. Your mind is left to fill in much of the horror, and that is where much of it's strength lies. Also, The Shape is so well-conceived, so eerie and brooding, that it plays extremely well against the sincerely innocent Laurie Strode.

It is not as if this is a perfect film. There are a few streatches of credulity here and there, and the characters sometimes do things that are insanely idiotic. They are not so much flaws within the writing, as they are amateurish plot devices to move the story along. These things mostly happen in the 3rd act.

As a complete film, it is a near masterpiece. It is undoubtedly scary, suspenseful and well-made, despite a few fouls. In the slasher genre, Halloween still stands very tall. The impact of this can not be denied, and neither can its brilliance.

Halloween II (1981)

Solid Continuation

[7/10 · 13 January 2019]

A 7.5 is a more accurate rating.

This film starts off dead where the previous left off, and it moves along rather nicely, only slowing up to build tension. As far as sequels usually go, it is amazing this turned out as well as it did. The pacing is great, the acting is fun and believable, and while it is far more clinical than the original (bigger budget), it still retains the urgency and dread of the original. It is a bit hokey and made-for-TV-esque in parts, but for me, that is where the faults end.

The Shape is in true menacing form, and that is mucho appreciated. Dick Warlock was my favorite Shape, no question. He is agile, he practically glides, and his performance is mostly good, if not always consistent. Occasionally he is a bit too slow. But it's his body's quick, angular movements that are terrificly done. His pace is slow, but his movements are creepy. It is a cool juxtaposition.

For those of you who never read the novelization of this - do it!

Great sequel.

Species (1995)

Fun B Movie

[5/10 · 13 January 2019]

Why is the top-secret government "hit" guy (Madsen) running around side-by-side with the scientists? Why is he not heading his own ops, and why is the head scientist dude (Kingsly) running the point, like the general of some paramilitary unit? Why does Madsen look exactly like that in every movie?

Anyway. Aside from the lovely visuals (Natasha, not the "CGI"), this movie makes for a fun time, as long as you keep your expectations in check. This is no "Alien", but it does have an interesting premise and mostly decent acting.

Check it out.

Absolute Power (1997)

Missed Potential

[6/10 · 30 December 2018]

Despite the fact that this is one of my favorite Eastwood films, it is not without significant faults. Namely, the obvious stretches of credulity that are littered throughout, and the fact that this film needed maybe fifteen or so more minutes to play out. It is so rushed near the end, that we miss many key elements between Eastwood and the cops. Too much is simply inferred, and it comes off lazy and unsatisfying.

However, Clint is a joy, and it is definitely special seeing him in the roll of a jewel thief. Excellent cast, great performances, interesting story, and you have a decent flick. Again, not without significant folly near the end.

Check it out.

Chastity Bites (2013)

Heavy Handed Politics

[4/10 · 3 December 2018]

It's watchable, but the political messaging is obvious and heavy, and the insane amount of shallow stereotyping is gratuitous. Liberal though I am, the far left messaging was cringe.

It was a great idea for a movie, but it definitely fell short.

Warski Live (2017– )

If Andy Weren't So Malleable...

[4/10 · 7 January 2018]

This could be taken more seriously. But he seems to not have a grasp on the issues and is too prone to the ideas and attitudes of others. It is not so much that he is learning or growing, it is that if something sounds smart or intuitive, he latches onto it. Does not go and get information from other scholars or researchers. Andy's lackadaisical skepticism is troubling. I think these days he just enjoys negativity and apathy. It's part of his crowd now.

After the let down that has become Andy Warski, you're left with a show that actively bows down to attitudes that favor the Alt Right. Ethnostatists win the day with the superchats, and that's how the show goes. It is severely biased, though it pretends not to be. Don't upset the superchats is the name of the game, not interested honesty. They know they could find scholarly opposition, they're just not trying.

Anyway

Crashing (2017–2019)

Will Be Cult

[10/10 · 2 December 2017]

Very good show, but it is a slow burn. A little bit of a grower, actually, but half-way through episode two it starts to come together. I like how, situationally, things move on. There are recurring themes and people, but it is very natural.

It's great, actually. Check it out.

Burn Notice (2007–2013)

Effortless Fun

[8/10 · 4 June 2014]

This show, despite its breezy and ridiculous nature, is very fun to watch. It is driven mainly by absurd capers, a stellar and lovable cast, unforgettable characters, and the beautiful locale of its set, being shot wholly in Miami.

Jeffrey Donovan is perfect as the black-listed CIA operative, dead set on unlocking the mystery behind his dismissal. Bruce Campbell is the big dopey, washed-out former Navy Seal, and a prolific side-kick to our lead. I couldn't imagine anyone pulling this role off better than Campbell. I could go on, but the entire cast is excellent and fit their roles very well.

Recommended.