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The Manhattan Alien Abduction (2024)
The Manhattan Fraud
A fraudster claims to be abducted by aliens and a brave woman then tries to show it was all a scam but is threatened by the criminal who made it all up.
Bring in some hypnotism and other junk science and we have a series that could have been shortened by a couple of hours.
Nevertheless, the show as a whole is watchable and compelling.
Who on earth in their right mind can come to the conclusion this was anything other than a fraud and the that one claiming to be abducted is delusional, intentionally or not.
And the use of a child to propagate the scam is unforgivable.
There is simply no scientific or other evidence at all for aliens or alien abduction and saying that people experienced such a thing or witnessed it has for years been discredited.
I just wish the production had done more to uncover the falsity of the claims:
7/10.
She Said (2022)
Hey she should have said...
Well, the topic of this movie is so important, yet I thought it was poorly presented, badly directed and lacked any charisma at all.
It's based on the true story of a monster film mogul who uses his powerful position to exploit and rape women and then to influence, threaten and intimidate and settle out of court. He and his henchmen are criminals.
But why make such a boring picture about it?
Not one single performer gave any kind of real intensity to capture my empathy. Sure sympathy especially the cancer sufferer.
But viewers have given a high rating and it won several awards.
So maybe I am out of step:
1/10.
Nope (2022)
Am I going Insane?
Started to watch this movie but after less than 20 minutes turned it off.
It is complete garbage.
There was a screaming highly irritating woman in it and other characters who seemed to be in a daze.
Goodness knows what the story is about as I was lost from the very first few minutes.
But then I ask myself:
it's won a clutch of awards and some critical acclaim.
But why?
It is absolute nonsense and, in my view, unwatchable.
Everything about this picture is wrong.
Music that makes no sense, a story which is unfathomable, dialogue that is ludicrous and performers who seem not to know what they are doing.
But then I again need to ask myself:
Am I crazy?
1/10.
Barbarian (2022)
Zombies Are Us
Unbelievable that is film is rated highly by many, as the story ultimately is ludicrous.
Its' is just another variation on a Zombie tale.
A young woman finds herself in a house of horrors and rather than leave the place she just stays put.
The first half of the film is maybe watchable but rapidly after that it goes downhill and seems the picture is made-up as it goes along.
On the plus side some decent make up and special effects and the lead actress gives a credible performance but even she cannot save this nonsense.
But who I am I to judge when some film fans and movie critics found this a good movie; of course the IQ levels of these individuals maybe in single figures:
3/10.
Patterns (1956)
Life at the Top
This is a super drama deserving a high rating!
What makes it so good is some 1st rate performances especially from Ed Begly and an excellent, thoughtful and intelligent script.
It all about executives in a large company who vie to be top dog and the man in charge who is ruthless but perhaps realistic.
One feature about this movie that stands out is there is absolutely no physical violence, yet it is film of violence in the exchanges of verbal arguments and put-downs.
Rare to find such a unique and well-made picture that at least had me gripped from almost beginning to end by the intensity of the story:
9/10.
Boy Erased (2018)
Can you handle the truth?
No matter how much the public know now about gays and gay life and the joy such can bring to many people there is still a lot of people who hate gays, and these haters do everything they can to try to stop us from being who we are and living our life as happy and enjoyable.
The story:
A devout religious family try to use conversion therapy to try to stop their child being gay.
The therapy- perhaps unknown to the family- employs bullying and brainwashing tactics to try to achieve their purposes.
All sorts of horrific methods and hideous discriminatory means are used to attempt conversion and this film examines what goes on and how deluded religious fanatics seem to be behind this conversion nonsense.
Many experts have already shown us that gayness comes naturally to some people and exists amongst most living creatures.
Yet no matter how much evidence to support this is proven there will always be those who cannot accept the truth and their non acceptance is often because of religion.
A very decent and watchable film:
8/10.
Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult (2024)
Everyone A Loser
A 3-part series about a so-called pastor who decides to make even more money by exploiting dancers to enrich himself at the expense of vulnerable and gullible individuals.
And to make it worse he is accused of severe sexual assault over many years.
We are also being asked to believe that the innocent ones are grieving parents and others who want their brain-washed offspring back.
And there are some other disgruntled people including sisters who claim their lives have been ruined by this pastor who was and is running a cult.
I have little or no sympathy for the so-called parents or the other apparent victims. They seem almost as weird as the crooked pastor. If in particular the parents had brought up their children correctly, they would have taught them not to be fooled by false prophets.
This series is too long and what it does in my opinion is reveal how a criminal can exploit and use others who have been raised to be susceptible to being scammed and conned:
5/10.
Eric (2024)
Tedious and Stupid
This 6 part series is far too long and almost all the characters in it are unlikable, and unpleasant.
Basically a middle aged couple have grown to hate each other and argue all the time to such an extent their only child who is a spoiled brat walks out and disappears. We are then subjected to hours of tedium.
The family are self-centered and self-indulgent.
We are also exposed to side plots about police corruption and gay relationships etc but basically this film is about child neglect.
The father of the missing kid is an alcoholic and works as a kind of puppeteer and all the booze he consumes causes him to have illusions and we need sit through that nonsense.
The lead actor thinks he is a good performer and sometimes he can be but not in this overlong tedious silly series.
The only reason I give above the lowest rating is there is some half decent music:
3/10.
En helt vanlig familj (2023)
Helps if your mother is a lawyer...
Started watching this on Netflix and after barely 2 episodes I was hooked.
This is a first-rate murder drama with super performances from all the lead performers.
A young woman is accused of murder and her concerned parents do all they can to try to prove her innocence.
Not only is the acting so good but the 6-part series is dubbed into English and the film makers do an excellent job in giving us a decent and believable translation.
Overall, I thought the actress playing the mother of the accused just about stole the show.
The way the movies is presented is very cleverly done with flashbacks interwoven into the main story concluding in a brilliant climax:
8/10.
The Last House on the Left (2009)
Deliverance meets Carry On Doctor
A professional couple living at a holiday retreat in the woods help a crazy gang who just happened to have kidnapped and mutilated their daughter.
This movie recently came on Netflix and is worth a look. Good special effects though very gory details.
At times I felt like a voyeur.
And the picture is almost a black comedy. We all know the brutal scenes are made up and no matter how realistic we are watching fiction.
This is a remake of some other picture; goodness knows what that is.
But who cares.
I thought the ending was ridiculous though in between plenty of compelling action and drama to keep us all amused if not shocked:
7/10.
A Nanny's Revenge (2024)
Worth Watching!
This is quite a decent drama.
A family need a live in Nanny and one of the applicants for that position seems deranged and intent on causing havoc and worse to the family if she gets the job.
I thought there was some decent players, and the cast gives fairly credible and professional performances.
An outstanding feature of this movie is unlike other similar type stories by the very end of the picture there is a proper compassionate story to be told.
The actresses playing the Nanny and that of the wife more or less vie to steal the show though the husband also gives a believable showing.
Because the story ends up better than expected I can give this:
7/10.
The Stepdaughter (2024)
Stepdaughter from Hell
This is an enjoyable thriller with plenty of good action.
A distressed daughter is taken in by her father's new wife and when everything starts to go wrong suspicion falls on the adopted girl.
I thought the acting was often very much full throttle and this picture had my attention throughout.
Decent direction and amongst the pluses the make-up and hair styles deserve merit.
Also the house interior is eye catching.
Plenty of decent performances from all the performers though maybe the one as the stepdaughter just about wins for being the best.
All the players give decent performances and seems to me this film deserves a part 2.
6 and a half rounded up=
7/10.
The Minimalists: Less Is Now (2021)
Do not clutter yourself by watching this
A lifestyle of a minimalist is something I want to try but this film does absolutely nothing to assist me in doing so. In fact after about 15 minutes of players giving scripted sob stories in particular of how they grew up in a poor family I fast forwarded and ended watching it.
We all know we live in a consumer society and companies try to persuade us to buy thing we do not need.
Also, many of us have do much stuff so it's a good idea to get rid of things by selling them or giving them away.
By uncluttering our lives in some cases that can make up happier and more contented. But not always as it depends on the individual concerned.
The main characters in this show did nothing to convince me that a minimalist lifestyle is the way to go. If it is for me then I will do it in my own way and not by anything shown in this picture:
1/10.
American Nightmare (2024)
Gone Girl It Ain't
This is a three-part documentary based on real events.
A young couple claim they are the victim of a home invasion, and they are assaulted, and the woman kidnapped.
Her boyfriend later reports to the police who decides that he is unreliable, and the story is fictional.
Despite the fact the couple are both of good character yet the police including the FBI decide that the whole incident is a scam by the couple.
The media also joins in to condemn the couple.
This film is a true story and whilst it takes place in the USA it could occur anywhere in the world.
The police and FBI are once again exposed as useless. No proper investigation, and just venom towards the couple. Awful police work who had no right to behave as they did.
Its only long after thanks to a decent police investigator that the truth is revealed.
Shocking how brazen and dishonest those who should know better really are.
I feel sorry for the couple though eventually a form of justice belatedly is done.
Excellent filmmaking.
9/10.
The UFO Movie They Don't Want You to See (2023)
The Truth Is Out There
An excellent documentary showing and proving the truth about so called UFOs.
When I came across this film not knowing its' contents, I expected the movie to tell us once again about a massive cover-up with government lies etc., and not wanting us to know about the Aliens in our midst.
Instead, we get a very refreshing, truthful and accurate scientific explanation concerning :
i) the impossibility throughout the universe including earth about Alien visitations.
Ii) many major past and present examples of UFOs are examined and more or less fully explained.
Of course, life of sorts - intelligent or otherwise- is statistically likely on other planets but there is barely a thread of evidence about the existence of visits by UFOs to Earth in the Hollywood sense, and this picture proves it.
But rather like Richard Dawkins who tries to tell it as it is about another field of humanity the truth is out there, but does anyone want to listen?
Take One False Step (1949)
Film Noir: North By Northwest Style
An entertaining and humorous yarn about a respectable man who through no fault of his own is drawn into a series of adventures to clear his name with a climatic conclusion on a ledge.
A bit like North by Northwest...isn't it, though maybe I am reading too much into the story.
Good acting all around with super stars of this era doing their best to entertain.
A clever script and smart direction.
No matter how much trouble they are in all the performers are immaculately attired, especial the lead players.
Pity about the tobacco intake but hey this was a different time period.
Anyone looking for an escapist film noir from the past need look no further:
7/10.
Wil (2023)
Unconvincing
One of the problems with viewing this movie is that from my perspective it is dubbed into English and the accents are modern English accents.
The accents do not match the time period.
But more: many of the spoken words do not match how the actually characters they portray would speak.
To me the movie looks like actors wearing uniforms and pretending to be police and military.
The movie- despite the graphic evil- is unconvincing and no way could i believe in it.
Seems there were budget restrictions as some of the scenes were the same or similar locations throughout.
Many time I very nearly switched the film off and the best I can do is:
2/10.
Elvis (2022)
Tom Hanks is no Col Tom Parker
A long but interesting movie about superstar Elvis Presley.
The star is the actor playing Elvis.
Cinematography is fabulous .
A movie that suggests that one Col Tom Parker was exploitive and used his cunning to make money to feed his gambling addiction.
I have to say that the actor playing this "baddie" was in my view a total mis-casting and awful.
Whenever he appears in the film all I see is Tom Hanks with body padding and other fakery and a ridiculous false accent.
What a shame that a picture with so many decent attributes is almost ruined by a massive casting error.
Nevertheless because of other winning attributes it is still a decent watch.
Six and a half rounded up:
7/10.
Mr Bates vs. The Post Office (2024)
Guilty until proven innocent...if ever...
A brilliant mini-series about the true story of how hundreds of innocent people were framed by a corrupt computer program and the awful people who contributed to it and then did all they could to cover it up.
"Justice delayed is justice denied": is a well know saying that is appropriate here.
After decades still waiting for proper justice and now for most its too late.
The show does a superb job of exposing the events and the reasons for it.
In real life it is a total disgrace the lives and livelihood ruined by the hideous behavior of some awful cowardly people who will continue even now to try attempt to deny the truth:
10/10.
La sociedad de la nieve (2023)
Thy Kingdom Come
This is the true story of a plane crash in the Andes when some survived the crash itself and tried to stay alive in appalling conditions.
I remember the actual event and it made headlines around the world.
The movie is a fitting tribute to those on the plane. A superb production with first rate acting, photography and direction.
The music is wholly appropriate and hauntingly right for the whole picture.
Also special mention for the dubbing from Spanish to English which is done brilliantly.
The genius of the film is to convey the isolation and lose yet at the same time to give us a feeling of hope and spiritual purpose.
9/10.
Hell Camp: Teen Nightmare (2023)
Camps from Hell
A deluded unpleasant person called Steve Cartisano who is basically a fraudster and criminal with no proper qualifications or training runs a Wilderness Camp for teens who need proper help. Instead of giving the children help and guidance his camps are awful places which generally abuses the children at the same time getting big fees from the parents who ought to know better.
Cartisano's family and associates are interviewed, and they came across as deluded and devious as he is.
Shocking how kids can be badly mistreated when it take so long for the authorities to try to take action,. We also learn that Cartisano also committed sexual abuse on at least one of the victims.
He had his own children who were addicts etc.
The producers ought to have been more severe on showing this was totally a criminal enterprise masquerading as doing good:
6/10.
Maestro (2023)
A Gay Maestro
Leonard Bernstein was a musical genius, including writing and composing. West Side Story is perhaps his main achievement.
This film reveals that this music Maestro did not just possess a unique musical talent but also a remarkable talent as a gay man to marry a woman and have children.
As his West Side Story collaborator, Arthur Laurents, is credited with revealing about Bernstein, "He was a gay man who got married. He wasn't conflicted about his sexual orientation at all. He was a gay man".
And apparently his wife went into the marriage knowing full well he was a gay.
So as sure as night follows day most women seek in a man monogamy yet many gays living the gay lifestyle indulge in the opposite.
In between examining their relationship, we get insights into the music and genius of Bernstein including his conducting and composing.
The lead actor gives a show stopping performance ousted by the actress playing his wife who is even better!
8/10.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)
"Turn on, tune in, drop out".
I am trying to be kind and generous about this film. What I never realized before viewing it, is that the picture is science fantasy about drug use, and it is only after around 2 hours that fact is revealed at least to me.
Apparently, the story is taken from a best-selling book.
Seems to me the writer was high on some substances when writing this fantasy and he uses perfume as a substitute for whatever he was on.
The story:
A lunatic is obsessed with perfume and commit murders in furtherance of his obsession and the question is can his perfume seduce the rest of the world?
Positive aspects include that the movie is beautifully filmed and has haunting music.
Also the cat and dog in the movie give good albeit brief performances.
Poor performances from all the leads who are ultimately unconvincing as the story and plot are totally ludicrous.
A few points added for the positives =
3/10.
Knock at the Cabin (2023)
No matter how good the acting, the story is nonsensical..
Writing this a week before Xmas. From now until after I think I better stay with happy movies as this picture is so intense and sad.
A same sex couple with an adopted child go on holiday to a cabin in the forest only to find they have been chosen to make the ultimate sacrifice. If they do not agree to do that the world will end!
Now lets get this right.
For same reason which to me is never explained in any proper way or at all, unless the trio do as asked the whole world will end.
After the conclusion of the movie, I tried to get an understanding of why these particular people were selected and why the world would end but then I realized why should I waste my time doing that when the picture ought to have told me alas it did not.
The acting and direction is first rate but no matter how good the preposterous and unexplained rationale of this story leave me no alternative to reduce my rating by at least 5.
If anyone can give me a reasonable explanation do please tell me!
3/10.
Leave the World Behind (2023)
Leave your sanity behind
More than 2 hours of total nonsense, which looks like it is made up as it goes along.
Fake dialogue with a ludicrous story.
A family decide to go on a holiday only to find they are in the middle of some kind of human disaster.
That family plus the others who join them are a bunch of very boring uninteresting characters.
But wait:
The animals know what is going on!
Which is more than the rest of us do!
Dear oh dear what a silly film!
And we need to endure hours of tedious lunacy which goes on and on and gets more and more stupid when most sane people are hoping -indeed praying -for this rubbish to end:
1/10.