Change Your Image
marks1356
Reviews
The Mandalorian: Chapter 24: The Return (2023)
It's good entertainment. What do you expect?
I enjoyed the season and this finale even though I would say Season 2 was better. It was what I expect from Star Wars. The characters that I like are of course Gorgu, but also Bo Katan and the Armorer. I will agree with those that thought Giancarlo Esposito's lines were a bit cartoonish and he could have been introduced a little sooner to draw out the threat. But, all in all, it was good entertainment. I'm not expecting Citizen Kane. It's Star Wars. The world depicted, that George Lucas came up with years ago, is what makes it fun and interesting. And having other characters like Bo Katan with bigger roles is fine. Din Djardin is a bit of a dull knife who knows just about nothing of the world he lives in outside of his own job and skills. We love him because of his strength and his character. That's always the boring guy in any story. There have to be sharper, funnier, more flawed characters to go along with his black and white view of the world. Looking forward to season 4.
The Mandalorian: Chapter 19: The Convert (2023)
A new twist that comes off flat.
What was that?. Honestly, I had to fast forward through most of it when it went to these former Empire characters. Can we get back to the Mandalorian please? Was the main cast on holiday this week? And who cares if this dweeb gets to continue his research? Or that he's been set up by his former brown shirt comrade and mind erased? I do like Bo Katan so it wasn't a total waste, Not sure she's going to be real thrilled to join the cult, as she called it. Funny that when Star Wars strays off into some nice city it's not as entertaining but a bit boring. A world where they have instant light speed at the touch of a button but the main characters live out in the wild.
Deadloch (2023)
Negative reviews? Why?
This is a hilarious show with great performances and dialogue along with the fantastic setting. Quick and witty. The actors are all fantastic with the age old formula of one normal, steady person (Kate Box) up against a whole town of lovable, (and some not so lovable) lunatics. Nina Oyama as the intrepid, eager Junior constable "Big Eyes" is especially endearing. Reviewers who can't stand the Madeline Sami character don't seem to get that her whole roll is based on her irritable personality as a foil/partner to our protagonist . Sami is hilarious and brings such a jolt, with her lack of a filter, when she walks into the police station you know this is going to be good. Don't pay attention to negative reviews. If you have an actual sense of humor and like smart comedy from an amazing cast to go along with a good, engaging, mystery, then this show hits the mark.
Palm Springs Weekend (1963)
The best of the 60's Spring Break films.
This is the best of the 60's beach (or in this case desert) party films. Robert Conrad. Troy Donahue, Connie Stevens, Stephanie Powers all went on to great success in movies and television. Add in great character actors Jack Weston, Andrew Duggan, Carol Cook, all were excellent Jerry Van Dyke was hilarious along with his girlfriend played by Zeme North. At a time when the world was about to change forever this escapist fun film brings back the memories of a more innocent time. Anybody who knows Palm Springs should enjoy a look at it in 1963 along with some of the classic cars we love today. The story can be described as light fluff but with enough drama and character development, on the part of Conrad as a spoiled, entitled, bitter young man, to add somewhat of a plot. Negative reviews seem to miss the reflection of the time period as well. If you haven't seen it and you like light entertainment and nostalgia this is one worth watching.
Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
Classic
Norman Jewison is an incredible film maker. And his adaptation of the legendary Broadway play was right on the money. The location shooting in that desolate place perfectly shows the hard life these people had. Russia is a harsh place and the Jews were persecuted by the Czar before the communists took over and continued the persecution. The Jews resilience and reliance on God to carry them through is all they had. I don't have a problem with the length of the movie. It was following the trend of the big productions of the time with intermissions, like a play, with the third act yet to come. You catch your breath in the lobby buy a drink and immerse yourself in the epic you came to see. Wonderful movie.
Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935)
What more could you want?
Incredible Busby Berkeley sequence capping off another tried and true formula of putting on a show and young stage performers falling in love. Blondell, Rodgers and Keeler aren't along for this ride but Warners veterans Glenda Farrell, Hugh. Herbert, Frank McHugh are joined by Alice Brady, Adolph Menjou, Dick Powell and Gloria Stuart. If you're looking for some kind of great detailed story instead of the light hearted comedy of 1930's depression era entertainment then why complain that it's not Citizen Kane with music? The ending is Pure Gold and something that nobody will ever see again but everybody should watch at least once.
Riptide (1934)
Hollywood Pre-Code
Watching Norma Shearer makes me think of the Hollywood crowd at the time always out on the town or at a party at Pickfair or The Thalberg beach house or next door at Marion Davies place. Somebody always playing piano or singing, entertaining each other. The Rathbones, Lady Silvia, Irene Mayer, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford. Joan Crawford. They might have overacted a bit but it's entertaining. Mrs Patrick Campbell is reason enough to catch this one and she doesn't disappoint stealing the scene even as Norma pushes to keep up with her. For my money it's these Golden Age Hollywood Stars that make these movies interesting.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Lessons (1993)
Love is Brutal.
Picard, a disciplined and private person is human after all and falls hopelessly in love, in spite of his reserved nature. With true love nobody is immune. And if Wendy Hughes is around I don't know how anybody could resist her in a great role and beautifully written episode. Of course our Captain can't just walk off in the sunset and the connection with his other "life" from "The Inner Light" episode is another reminder that the Captain of the Enterprise is a lonely place to be and Picard had to sacrifice a more normal existence long ago.
Three Smart Girls (1936)
Charming Movie.
I liked this movie when I first saw it and I like it even more now that I have seen it again. Deanna Durbin shows her appeal right off the bat in her first role. Nan Grey and Barbara Read were perfect as her sisters and their interaction like real sisters was very cute and charming. Alice Brady plays the gold digging Mother like only Alice Brady can. I was laughing out loud at many of her lines. Charles Winninger showed his Vaudevillian chops as the girls father. A young Ray Milland was the perfect leading man here and Read as sister Kay was cute as a button as a young lady finding love. If you don't like this kind of movie you must not have much use for the charm of family life or screwball comedy.
The Searchers (1956)
All time great.
When movies were great, this is one of the greatest ever. John Ford and John Wayne. Never see the likes of them again.
The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965)
Hollywood Golden Age
The grand scale of the sets and location are old time Hollywood at it's best. Every Oscar nomination is well deserved. Heston was fine I thought. He brings the weight of his outsize personality to the role of the incomparable Michelangelo. I am always amazed that he gets panned a lot and wonder if it has to do with his politics rather than his work. Harrison is tremendous as usual. You can't recreate these great epics now because you could never replace the stars of the Golden Age not to mention CGI replacing something like this amazing set in Rome.