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joezyb
Reviews
UFO Cowboys (2023)
Set back and have a little fun
UFO Cowboys presents itself as an unscripted reality style show that takes place somewhere in the American west. However, it doesn't take long for you to realize you've been hornswaggled. The show follows a group of "cowboys" who call themselves the UFO Skywatchers, area ranchers (and maybe farmers too) who work together to observe and investigate the many reported strange occurrences that happen in this mysterious part of the country. While it doesn't take long to realize someone's pullin' your leg, you have to admit UFO Cowboys provides some entertaining, silly, corny fun. There's mystery, suspense, and B-movie acting, and the production values are pretty darn good for a show you stumble across for free on the Roku channel. My recommendation is to set back, put your boots up on the coffee table, dial down your critical thinking to about 52 percent, and enjoy a little escapist adventure with these good ol' boys.
UFOs: 50 Years of Denial? (1997)
Solid, Sincere Expose
Earnest early effort by producer James Fox and others to inform the public about the U. S. government's decades-long effort to prevent the the truth about UFOs visiting earth from being revealed. One of the film's strengths is its interviews with eyewitnesses, including former military personnel (Jesse Marcel & Phillip Corso) and other credible persons. Dr. J. Allen Hynek, astronaut Edgar Mitchell, physicist-investigator Stanton Freidman and others knowledgeable on the subject also provide expert testimony. The film also reveals government documents to make its case, and includes some fuzzy videos and photographs (one that has since been revealed as a fake). It also discusses motives for the cover-up, including possible negative implications disclosure could have on society, especially for those whose religious beliefs contain an earth-centric perception of the universe. Today, a quarter century after it's release, we are in the beginning of an era of disclosure wherein many former government officials are speaking out about secret government-funded studies on UFOs and that the discovery that the phenomenon is very real. New, comprehensive studies have been approved by Congress in the latest defense budget, and the Dept. Of Defense is required to provide regular, declassified briefings to the public about its findings. Therefore today, with the cat out of the bag so to speak, "UFOs: 50 Years of Denial" is less a shocking expose about a hidden truth, and more a film documenting how the government successfully hid the truth about UFOs from the public for so many years.
Emily in Paris (2020)
Fun, light escapism
As a guy who prefers to watch action and adventure (crime, suspense, thrillers, sci-fi, westerns and more) I will succumb to watching romance shows and movies now and then to please my wife. From first glance I could tell Emily was not intended as a real-life drama; it's a romantic comedy/dramedy. As such I'd expect to see it populated with beautiful, interesting and outlandish characters, multiple love interests and the ensuing complications and awkward situations. And, yes, even stereotypes thrown into the mix. Ino one should be expecting realism here. I've always heard Paris was a dirty, run down city. Here it looks like an urban paradise. Should I ever travel to Paris I won't expect it to look as amazing as it does in Emily. But that doesn't take away from this light, fun romantic comedy/dramedy. I find Emily in Paris quite tolerable and even enjoyable. I am pleasantly surprised.
The Meg (2018)
Fun summer popcorn flick ...
In a nutshell: Newly discovered monster fish is a threat. Heroic outcast is called in to help save everyone. Billionaire exploits situation but gets his comeuppance. Amongst lots of action and explosions, our hero risks his life many times, saves many people, kills monster fish and gets the girl.
The Meg does exactly what a summer action flick is supposed to do. I watched it on a TV, but would likely have given another star if I saw it on the big screen with surround sound, the way such films are intended to be experienced.
A Visit to Santa (1963)
It has some nostalgia value
I won't add to nor disagree with the many criticisms of the quality of this short, but I did find it interesting to see the clothing, hairstyles, autos, and general street scenes from the time. The toys the film focuses on are generic dolls, trains, firetrucks, musical instruments and such. I wished they would've showed some of the popular, name brand toys of the time.