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Sasquatch: The Legend of Bigfoot (1976)
Goofballs on the trail
At first, it seems like it will have what it takes to make a decent '70s Bigfoot movie, but then it shows a computer that somehow collates given "Sasquatch" data and draws a rough rendering of what it will look like. Even as a dumb, gullible kid I would have known that was a load of bunk, even for a fantasy film like this.
Then they head out for weeks, if not months, on the trail of Sasquatch. But rather than show an ever increasingly scary series of encounters, we're given some goofy footage of incompetent wilderness men chasing varmints, critters fighting, and other silly footage that even Wild Kingdom wouldn't use.
Judging by the quality of the soundtrack, it seems they spent most of their budget on the music. They sure didn't spend it on believable actors. Being filmed in Oregon, it should've been very easy to find an actual Indian to play the Indian instead of a Caucasian with a horrible wig and a very straight accent. The music was well written and well recorded, but not at all proper for the subject. The only tracks that really work well are in the last five minutes of the film, during the big showdown.
The best thing about this film is the Sasquatch howl. It adds a second star to my rating. Too bad it's always mixed with music, or it would make a fantastic ringtone. The stupidest thing is leaving a burning fire behind. Way to teach others to be irresponsible firebugs.
Hawaii Five-O: To Hell with Babe Ruth (1969)
Far from a worst episode - it's exciting!
People sure do get all worked up about the silliest things. Sure, there were plenty of Japanese actors in Hawaii at the time, but few we've seen in other episodes of this show have the outright emotion and power to play a convincing psycho like Mark Lenard did here. And yes, his makeup was a bit cheesy looking, but you have to consider the time and the budget for this show. There are many episodes less entertaining than this. As for the acting seen by the guest stars, it was very good, far better than what Jack Lord has ever delivered in any episode. This is an action packed episode that holds your interest all the way through. There are many episodes that don't have that ability.
The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy (2023)
A good show ruined by trendy editors
Who doesn't like Eugene Levy? He's funny, witty, and has some great suits (if those are really his). Travelogues have been a film and TV staple since the days of James A. FitzPatrick's "Travel Talks" were shown in theaters (and now on TCM). Having Eugene show us around is as good a way as any to see the world. Better him than me.
There are only two drawbacks that I've seen.
1. The "I don't want to do this" attitude does start to wear on you after so many episodes.
2. This is by far the worst part about the show: The speed ramp editing used often and with no good reason. We get it. It's probably a button on their software that zooms the speed of the video up, compressing time into a split second, then slows it back down, and always accompanied by the same "whoosh" sound effect. Stop it. Just stop it. Just @$&#ing stop it! I doubt if they can go a full minute without using this stupid, annoying, trendy, lazy effect. Seriously, never ever use this in any video.
Kojak: May the Horse Be with You (1978)
Kojak can also be fun
Aside from having two actors who are hard to watch (Conaway and Roz), there are plenty of other interesting character actors to fill out this episode. The story is a fresh step outside the normal grimy city episodes that make up the bulk of the series. It also features some fun music that adds a lot of uncharacteristic flare to the action scenes. The shooting locations allow us to see some less urban areas we would never get to see otherwise.
And even though there are so many un-Kojak elements here, that doesn't mean it's a bad episode. It certainly is NOT an hour of 1-star entertainment, like some people think it is. Watch it and enjoy it. It's '70s cop TV-nothing less.
Kojak: The Captain's Brother's Wife (1978)
A very good episode with tons of great actors
This episode is like a breath of fresh air from the normal Kojak stories. It has bookies, the mob, a great actress who excels at portraying nervous, annoying women, a covey of amazing guest stars, some fantastic lines from Stavros and the rest of the squad. What more could you want? It seems that some people gave it a bad review simply because they don't understand Shelley Winters' talent at being a grating woman. Had it been Angie Dickinson, you can be sure they would have given it 10 stars and rave reviews.
The best Kojak episodes are those that involve a close friend or family member, just like this one. Telly always shines in these situations.
Leave the World Behind (2023)
Interesting first part, boring middle part, stupid last part
Why start off the film with a stylized mystery/thriller/not-who-you-think-they-are storyline complete with tension-building music and unnerving camera angles if the rest of it is something completely different? In the consumer world, this is known as "bait and switch", and it's illegal.
I should've known it would go off the rails at some point when I saw the Obamas listed as executive producers. That's not a good sign at ALL. And of course they have to stick in some blatant "all white people are horrible" misinformation.
It really derailed when Archie's teeth fell out, but he could still speak clearly, and again when the deer gathered around the two women at the shed, as if controlled by aliens. No amount of weird sounds or environmental disasters is going to cause either of those reactions.
All in all, this ends up being far too much of a "message" movie instead of something actually interesting. So the next time you see "Obama" in the credits, run away.
Leave It to Beaver: Lumpy's Car Trouble (1962)
Classic car caper!
If the story conveys anything, it's how kids will say fib after fib to stay out of trouble. Even good kids like Wally and Beaver aren't above telling a few little white lies to keep from getting clobbered. It's just part of childhood and growing up. It happens so often in Leave It to Beaver episodes because that's really how real kids are. The writers always do a great job of making the plots realistic and entertaining. One can watch these shows over and over and never get bored with them.
The actors have perfected their roles so much that you know you can always rely on seeing a thoroughly enjoyable episode.
The Brady Bunch: Love and the Older Man (1973)
A truly classic episode and story
It's one of those episodes that always comes up when people talk about The Brady Bunch. That's what makes this a classic, memorable episode. The story of a girl falling in love with an older man is nothing new, as it had been used hundreds of times before on TV, in movies, plays, and books. It's hardly creepy. One highlight is the many daydreams Marcia has about what it would be like to be married to her dreamboat dentist, especially the one featuring the baby blue dentist chair in their living room. Who wouldn't love to have that?! Marcia looks especially beautiful and wears some very attractive outfits. The wardrobe department outdid itself this time.
Jan delivers one of her classic lines when informing Marcia that the dentist is married. Eve always had the best lines and knew how to deliver them effectively.
Northern Exposure: Old Tree (1993)
Some people just can't understand entertainment
If Northern Exposure is anything, it's quirky. If it's something else, it's unexpected. Fans should know that. Those qualities are what draw us to it. So when Shelly gets an odd symptom during pregnancy-like most women do-we shouldn't be at all surprised that it's something *very* quirky and unexpected.
But that's just one sub-story in this episode. The real story is the sick tree. Cicely's love of this tree is so very, very "Northern Exposure". Of course, Ed is the first to notice the problem and is one of those most distressed about it.
The other sub-story is the yin and yang of Joel and Maggie's emotional battlefield, which is a fairly common go-to, being that it's what feeds the fire of their relationship.
So don't let a few musical numbers (that are really part of a very plausible plot) bug you. They only make this episode even *more* "Northern Exposure". To give the entire episode a poor rating is just lazy and over-reactionary.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)
Best one in a long time
There hasn't been a truly great Resident Evil film since the first one, but this origin story really is fantastic. The casting is nothing to complain about. Not one actor is the least bit hatable, and all turn in solid performances. The atmosphere is spot-on Umbrella-controlled Raccoon City. As far as creatures/mutations go, they did a very good job coming up with good looking ideas, especially the mystery girl in the orphanage and the many eyeballed mutation. My only complaint is that some automatic weapons appeared to have limitless ammo, while the one revolver correctly ran out after 6 shots. In all, it's one of the best Resident Evil films so far.
The Brady Bunch: Getting Greg's Goat (1973)
Classic sitcom hijinks
This is quality comedy writing. Classic sitcoms must have plots far beyond real life, otherwise it's just a drama. The characters here are also typical of great comedy; the stern vice principal using formal names, the over-reactive PTA mothers. This is what creates comedy. Nobody "mailed in" this episode. For a Brady Bunch episode, it's a solid 10.
Deadly Friend (1986)
Just plain horrible, and not in a good way
The stereotypical miscreant guys on cycles. The psycho, incestual dad. The wimpy good boys. The crazy old lady with a shotgun. The robot's idiotic electro-babbling (he can design an electronic brain, but can't give it even rudimentary speech capabilities?). Sam's hooker-blue eye shadow after she's been roboticized, not to mention her constant switching between moving like a robot and moving like a human being. There is nothing at all good here. Even as a "Saturday morning after a long night" movie, it sucks. The only thing that raised it from 1 star to 2 is the evil robot mask at the end, because it's so hilarious.
Columbo: No Time to Die (1992)
No such thing as a worst Columbo
It seems that so many people want the exact same formula used for every episode of Columbo. Well, just like Columbo has varied sides, the show should too. This is still very much a Columbo episode. To go off the rails giving it 1 or 2 stars and deriding the episode is not how a true Columbo fan reacts or thinks. This is Columbo under pressure. Additionally, he has very Columbo-like scenes with Bailey, as well as his scenes at the reception. It's still a very good episode.
Night of the Living Dead: Resurrection (2012)
A realistic zombie film, for once
Don't let the obvious poor taste of the other "reviewers" turn you off. This is a well told story that meshes well with the original story: it's just people trying to survive in a single location, for the most part. Great music, cool effects, nice surprising kills, a zombie baby (that we really should have seen), although the hoodies weren't necessary. They're just vile piles of puke.
The Turning (2020)
Very well done and interesting the whole way through
You don't have to understand a film in order to enjoy it. This must have been the problem with nearly all the reviews-they just don't have the creative brain power to let themselves enjoy this scary, creepy, dark, great film.
Superdome (1978)
Not horrible at all
This is a TV movie made in the golden age of TV movies, not an overhyped commercial sporting event. Hence, you shouldn't watch this if you're expecting a loud, obnoxious waste of time and money such as the Super Bowl. Like most TV movies from its time, this is a collection of A, B, and C actors, as well as some pro athletes, telling the background story of these brainless sports extravaganzas and all the human drama-and crime-that supposedly goes along with them. If you watched this expecting an hour and a half of overpaid jocks grunting, you don't understand TV movies and shouldn't be handing out 1-star ratings like they were watery beers.
Like many, I was lucky enough to see this because of MST3K. Gladly, it was from their very early years, so they didn't hav much to say and showed the film without so many cuts like would become standard later on.
And no, not everyone watches the Super Bowl every year. Less than one third of the US population wastes their time on it. The majority of us have lives and good taste.