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andymhancock
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Der schweigende Stern (1960)
Remarkable special effects for the time
The story ain't bad, either. Some aspects of it are quite cheesy, but given what we knew in the 1950's, completely understandable.
Bob-45 also commented as follows.
What's wrong with this picture? This movie is neither highly regarded by critics nor IMDB voters. Yet, it contains some striking visuals; thoughtful comments on the "human" condition; an attractive, multiracial, coed international cast (daring for the time); and a pretty good storyline, to boot.
Excavators at the site of the 1906 mystery explosion in Tunguska, Siberia, discover evidence that the explosion was the destruction of an alien spaceship. Evidence includes a "memory spool." Scientist determine the alien spaceship came from the planet Venus, and cryptographers and linguists begin to translate the memory spool.
Before translation can be completed, an international crew is assembled and an enormous nuclear powered spaceship constructed (a stunningly beautiful piece of matte work) for a flight to Venus. The ship begins its voyage before the on-board linguist makes a startling announcement. The memory spool contains plans for a Venusian invasion of earth!
The ship lands on a eerie, vapor-cloaked Venus (Striking art direction; just how did they do those strange, microbe-like vapors?). The crew discovers, a burned out, uninhabitable planet. The Venusians, apparently attempting an invasion to escape either overcrowding or an impending nuclear war, have destroyed themselves, leaving only the shadows of their disintegrated bodies. Further exploration discovers a strange, living amoeba-like organism and a damaged, super-gravity beam weapon aimed toward earth. Many members of the crew are lost, and the ship is eventually deflected back to earth by the accidental discharge of the gravity beam.
The movie IS choppy, without a doubt because the American distributor, Crown International, cut the film by over one half hour. I'd certainly LOVE to see the excised footage; however, since the film is East German, I doubt if a complete print still exists. Besides, we Americans are having enough trouble finding obscure fifties and sixties from ENGLISH-speaking countries, including our own.
Delete (2013)
Great entertainment
The military folk were over the top with their irrationality. I like to think that they are more like other people than that. But it made for great entertainment.
Aside from entertainment, though, there are some concept holes and plot holes. First, if you liken the internet of things to the neural substrate of the AI, with human society being the body that keeps the brain fed, then it is unreasonable for the sentience to want to terminate its own body.
Second, the AI should be able to see the cop speeding out to derail its delivery of cyanide and change plans. Heck, even deploy drones to prevent it.
Third, and finally, how does an emergent AI imply that there is technology to upload and merge a human consciousness? Because that was the solution at the end.
History 101: The Space Race (2020)
Entertaining, but sometimes a bit too vacuous
The story about the space race is interesting, but these mindless jingoisms that get thrown in can do more harm than good. For example, the little melodramatic implication that space will save us from the environment. I know it's not part of the story, and is just used as a dramatic tag line on which to close-out, but still. This is supposed to be an information series. They should know better. Much better.
I can't believe that the review above was not sufficiently long. Has the appreciation for brevity been lost? A minimum of 600 characters is needed. Well, I don't have much more to say about the episode.
Casual (2015)
Everybody in the show behaves like a train wreck
Want to see the worse in humanity? This show "casually" dishes it out as it was normal ... Their foils aren't even interesting -- just pathetic. However, the dramatic enactment is engagement, but only up to a point. Specifically, up to episode 10 of season 1. There's only so much you can watch people behave like ignorant self-absorbed sub-humans, then it doesn't matter how good the acting or drama is. Somehow, every single character is disrespectable, even the teacher (who makes adult decisions, but really mistreats people unnecessarily in doing so).
Kateo (2022)
It's as bad as they say
When some reviewers say that this movie isn't for everyone, boy, are they right. This is essentially footage of a 1st-person shooter video game. There is no story, and there's not even any redeeming fight action. You know the martial arts movies where the actors aren't good martial arts performers or lack skill, so they make up for it with shakey cam? This is that, on steroids.
The Hitman's Bodyguard (2017)
Middle of the road romantic humour
Yes, it was a romance disguised as a shoot-em up action movie. Mr. Jackson dispenses love advice pretending to be a tough guy with the profane language. The action was over the top, and honestly, I doze off during the extended scenes. The fight scenes were shaky cam. But that's OK, that's not what the movie brings to the table. The humour was the big thing. It was middle-of-the-road.
Zone blanche (2017)
Having a hard time wanting to resume watching
I'm only on episode 3 and having a hard time returning to it. If only there was other stuff on Netflix. It's got some drama going for it, but also a lot of challenges. The artificial dreary blue-gray colouring seems like an effort to turn the audience off. It doesn't lend to the viewability. The extremely unlikely personality and stature of the police chief. The annoying teaser cave scenes, and many other flashbacks that seem to make no sense -- all-the-time. It's like, come on, piece together *some* sort of sensible plot. If I make it through more of the series, I may post back to update this review.
Post Mortem: No One Dies in Skarnes (2021)
Hoping for a season 2
Season 1 really piqued my interest. A tad slow at times, but never for too long. Quirky! Lends a very human face to monsters and humans alike. Absolutely no plot holes that I can think of. Well thought out, enacted, and shot. Why isn't it more than a 7? I'm not sure whether the story is going. I enjoyed following the twists and turns, however.
The Master Cleanse (2016)
Wacky idea and great acting, but nonsensical story
Freshly wacky idea, and the acting was great. The story...well, it progressed, but in the end, it was vacuous. Mid way through, you think it's going to go in one direction, but in the actual ending was uninspiring to say the least.
Krakowskie potwory (2022)
Boring
I'm a fan of mythical fantasy and demons, etc. But lord, this was slow and boring. It might be interesting if editted down by 40% or so.
Strange that I can't submit just the above review. I am asked to stretch it out. Like the series. Volume versus quality.
The Dead Don't Die (2019)
It's OK to have on the background for amusement
It's certainly deadpan and understated. *Some* of that is funny. The explanation is over the top. It's almost like a long YouTube short. Apparently, the above is too short. It looks like I'm being encouraged to say what can be said succinctly, but with much more verbosity than necessary.
First Kill (2022)
The romance isn't too heavy, action is decent, plot & lore are well conceived
I thought that the series might be too heavy on the romance, but no, it is well integrated into the story. The lore behind the unique type of vampire is well thought out. The vampire hunters are too stereotypical, but doesn't overly detract from the story. All in all, a respectable undead series.
I Still See You (2018)
Unique premise, imaginitively done, interesting plot twists, well executed
It was imaginative. The underlying premise is relatively unique. And the execution was well done. The story plot had enough twists to keep me engaged, but not too outlandish as to prompt my dismissal of them.
Afterlife of the Party (2021)
Fun for its genre
It was saccharin at times, but genuinely sweet and heartfelt at many other times. Not exactly original or memorable, but it was fun to watch, and not time wasted. Those who rated this poorly because they prefer something more deep, anxty, and gritty -- come on, there are different movie genres, and you have to apply the right lens.
I gotta say, the afterlife is portrayed as visually spectacular, but I'd be bored stiff in under an hour. I'm more inclined to think of heaven as a gratifying earthly life, properly navigated, and of course, having been dealt a reasonable hand.
Manifest (2018)
Started slow, but is getting better
At episode 3 it seemed like the impossible fictitious situation was created merely to allow for interpersonal melodrama. That changes somewhere around episode 3 and it is getting better. I may bump up the rating with a few more episodes.
Stranger Things (2016)
OK upto season 3, boring starting with season 4
Seasons 1-3 are engaging and entertaining. Season 4? Just total protracted indulgence in anxt. It was a lot of filler and painfully stretched out scenes.
The Protégé (2021)
Not worth the time.
I was hoping for some skillful fight scenes and such. What a waste of time. The was just senseless shooting, blood, and gore. Pointless. And excuse to indulge in depravity.
Beautiful Creatures (2013)
Good in its own right
People compare this movie to the book and other YA stories, and then pan it for not trailblazing away from the norms, or departing from expectations. For someone who isn't into all those tropes and stereotypes, I found the movie quite good. Certainly not too wildly and unbelievably intense, imaginative enough, not ruined by too much CGI, the acting was good, the scenery was good, the portrayal of small town culture (for entertainment purpose, to be sure -- I have no idea what *real* small town culture is like).
Deadly Class (2018)
Mixed feelings about episode 1
The first episode typically portends how a series will sit with a viewer, and is often the best foot put forward (though there are many exceptions where a series warms up through the season). Having watched the first episode, my feelings about it went up and down. On one hand, it's a self-absorbed poor-me indulgence. While I'm not too familiar with the subject area, I'm have no doubt that its over-the-top glamorization of the assassin profession is almost the opposite of what it is likely to be in reality. I am disturbed by the glib portrayal of rather graphic violence, and its routine role in the lives of the students. The portrayal of the "master's" philosophies is borderline gangsterism, wrapped in a veneer of self-righteousness. All in all, I feel compelled to watch more, in the same way that I'd feel compelled to look stare at a spectacular highway accident. For now, I find acceptance in this by saying that it is a weird switch that flips in my head, similar to separating Tarantino movies from reality, and from one's actual values.
Last Christmas (2019)
The core plot twist balanced off all the cheese
I get that it is a Christmas rom com, so cheesiness is to be expected. But this movie took it to a whole new level. Unrealistic doesn't quite capture it. Fake is more like it. Despite that, however, the key plot twist makes it worthwhile. Stick with it. You might consider it worth it, too.
Superstore (2015)
The best workplace sitcom ever
Amazing the parallels between Cloud 9 and the real workplace, even though we are not even remotely in the same industry. They pull no punches when it comes to distinguishing between reality and political correctness. I'm glad they came back for a final season. The finale was a great way to close things out.
Red Notice (2021)
Mindless levity
If you don't want to think too much and just want a light-hearted ride, this is the movie. For that purpose, it is well done, well enacted, and just enough special effects to drive it home.
Locke & Key (2020)
A perfect fantasy series for all ages
What a great mixture of fantasy, good acting, great story, fantastic screen writing, fantastic special effects used in a measured fashion. I can't think of a single thing that is needed to improve this series.
Kate (2021)
It was OK.
I watched this because reviewers said good things about the action scenes. I found them acceptable but not great. Not too much shaky cam. Pretty realistic since the protagonist takes hits as well. It's remarkable, however, that the hoards of profession body guards weren't any match, either in fighting or aiming a gun. I guess some things never change throughout the decades. I'm also surprised by how long and far one can push one's wrecked and destroyed body at peak performance. Seemingly for countless hours of continuous over-exertion just due to adrenaline shots. Who'da thunk that adrenaline can overcome physical and physiological impossibilities. Oh, I guess some of that was due training, force of will, and a brief nap. At this rate, you could train for indestructability.
Stardust (2007)
What's not to like?
Magic, fantasy, pretty women, sky ships, kung-fu wall guards, spells, sword fighting, humour. I agree that some of the attitudes are a bit dated, but it came out almost two decades ago.