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Reviews
Candy Cane Lane (2023)
Am I Easy?
I loved this movie! I've always loved Eddie Murphy, but I was hesitant about this one. A PG Christmas movie when I was in the mood for Die Hard wasn't what I was thinking of. But I wasn't quite ready for my fave yet, so I took a chance. And I'm glad I did!
This was so much fun! There were so many actors I love, which was a good start. The story wasn't original, but no stories are. It's kind of Faustian, actually. That whole "deal with the devil" thing. I thought it was going to be a version of "Christmas Vacation" but was totally surprised and delighted at the direction it took. Zany and creepy a the same time. I'm a sucker for zany and creepy.
Bodies (2023)
Awesome Series!
Very few time travel stories measure up. This one really rocks!
The characters are all engaging and amazing, the story line all made sense and fit within my understanding of time travel theory, and the overall arc of the story came to a very satisfactory conclusion. I don't recall when I've enjoyed a limited series this much!
One thing that stood out to me in the story line was how a small thing one person can do can change the course of history. That whole "butterfly effect" thing played out in an entirely unexpected way.
The different time sequences were all integrated so seamlessly and the overlapping stories just worked on so many levels. I can't recommend this enough!
See How They Run (2022)
This was so much fun!
I have seen The Mousetrap twice. The first time was in 1968 in my high school where it was the senior class play. The second time was truly special as it was in London's West End in 1994. I would watch it again, given the chance. This movie was so much fun, using The Mousetrap as the vehicle for the mystery and also the historical actors in the story. I think Agatha Christie herself would've liked this one. I loved all the little homages to other Christie characters and stories and Ronan and Rockwell were outstanding in their roles. Very enjoyable and fun!
I'm going to add more stuff here as IMDb is requiring so many characters in the reviews. I wish they'd be a little less stringent in these things. You can write a proper review without being excessively wordy.
Ghosted (2023)
Great Fun!
All these 1s and 2s are ridiculous. I gave it an 8 rating just to bring the average up, because I'd hate for anyone to miss out on the fun due to the poor average rating. This movie was just fun, silly, and over the top action. I think a lot of people take movie watching way too seriously. But sometimes you just want to watch something that doesn't challenge your mind in any way, but just provides relaxation and fun.
I had no expectations of a great film, just the hope of entertainment, and that's exactly what I got. The cast was perfect, the story was formulaic but fun, and the whole thing was like an amusement park ride.
Dexter: New Blood: Sins of the Father (2022)
I get the hate, but...
All the people hating on this ending clearly never read the books. I felt like this was a much more satisfactory conclusion than the one in the novels, as well as being superior to the one in the earlier TV series. Seems to me like this is the only possible outcome that could guarantee Harrison an even close to normal life. I did hate that coach died. That murder alone clearly outed Dexter as a sociopath with only his own interests at heart, and not some justice warrior. Harrison saw that, too.
I'll admit I was kind of hoping Dexter might wiggle his way out of this one, too. But with the boy's future at stake, Dexter finally did something that really was almost noble and righteous.
The Night Agent: The Call (2023)
Action and mystery and I'm hooked
Another reviewer mentioned the movie Three Days of the Condor (the book was Six Days 😉) and I saw that, too. There's a lot of that flavor and many similarities. But this definitely stands on its own as an intriguing and exciting story. This first episode is off to a great start with almost nonstop action that actually also moves the story forward. I watched the trailer thinking I'd put it in my watchlist for later, but I was so intrigued I had to start in on it immediately. I won't stay up all night binging, but it sure is tempting.
I think Netflix has a major hit in The Night Agent. I'm certainly hooked!
The Menu (2022)
Dessert is the best course
I don't even know how to rate this. I both hated and loved it. I get the satire (lots of laughs over the bread course, especially), and the characters were all despicable (except for Margot). It was tense, stressful, and made me feel really anxious. I love a good dark comedy as well as comedic horror, but this one is in a category all by itself. I honestly can't remember when a movie made me this uncomfortable.
Nicholas Hoult's character was brilliant: So calm in the face of all the weirdness, and persisting in eating the courses with gusto, regardless of how ridiculous they were. Anya Taylor-Joy was, as usual, amazing. Her eyes alone give her an edge, but her performance was both understated and over the top. Ralph Fiennes was sinister and creepy and imperious.
I kept thinking I was going to turn it off (watched on HBOMax), but couldn't stop watching. I love weird, but this one takes the cake (weird food reference).
Die Hard (1988)
I've never gotten tired of this one
Die Hard is my one "must watch" movie in the Christmas holiday season. Since 1988 (the year it was released) I have watched it every year. I just finished watching it in 2022 and it's still not dated, still relevant. Father Nathan Monk called it a "reverse Hallmark movie" because the girl went to the big city, became wildly successful in her career, and the boy followed her. Monk wasn't wrong. Others have talked about all the things that make this movie great, and they were all correct. It's truly an iconic story with iconic characters and the female protagonist is just as kick-ass in her own way as the male. When Holly was so assertive with Hans Gruber and, later, when she punched the asshole reporter, you could see why she was the perfect mate for John McLane.
And, as the meme we always see on Facebook proclaims, "It's not Christmas until Hans Gruber falls from Nakatomo Plaza!"
House of the Dragon: The Green Council (2022)
The beast beneath the boards
So, the best title I can come up with for this week's episode is "The beast beneath the boards!"
I watched it for the second time tonight to make sure I didn't miss anything (I'm finding that it's easy to watch these twice, as they're so intriguing). I had read a bunch of articles that claimed to tell me something new, but the only thing I really found that I didn't already figure out was that the Red Queen that we keep hearing about is actually Rhaeynys's dragon, Meleys. And that Meyleys was originally ridden by King Veserys's mother.
And it seems to me that Heleana is maybe doomed like Cassandra in the old Greek myths. All her prophecies are coming true, but no one believes her, and they all think she's just crazy.
We see once again that Aegon is a nasty piece of work and has no morals (child fighting rings and marrying his own sister are the least of it). And it looks like his brother Aemon is likely much more well-suited if they're going to usurp Rhaenyra's claim to the throne. I've liked him ever since he stole the dragon and lost his eye, so he's someone to keep an eye on.
I loved the feminist vibe in the confrontation between Alicent and Rhaenys, where Rhaenys tries unsuccessfully to appeal to Alicent as a woman under the thumb of the patriarchy. That subsequent scene with the murderous foot fetishist Larys was so vile and disgusting and really pointed up how much Alicent has bought into the testosterone-fueled atmosphere and is willing to be a victim of sexual assault as a way to further her aims instead of standing up as her own woman.
I also very much appreciated the brother against brother situation where Erryk helped Rhaenys get out of the Red Keep instead of helping his brother capture Aegon.
There is so much to unpack in this episode that I could keep writing all night. However, I'll stop with my joy at the beast beneath the boards (Meleys) bursting through (Rhaenys in her dragonrider armor was amazing!) and Rhaenys demonstrating power, domination, and refusal to be cowed by the insurrectionists. Rhaenys rocks and I didn't expect this at all (from what I understand, Eve Best didn't even know this was coming!).
Werewolf by Night (2022)
More of This!
I was completely unaware of these characters, but I want more! This was about as fun as it gets with monsters and hunters and sheer funny fantasy!
Gael Garcia Bernal is a total cutie and makes a fantastic werewolf. And I already loved Laura Donnelly from The Nevers. Man-Thing was the Best Monster Ever. All the other hunters were just brutal, nasty sadists, and Verussa (Harriet Sansom Harris) was nastier than any of the hunters.
The story was fun, the performances were over-the-top perfect, the makeup and costumes were amazing, the effects were wonderful, and the monster heads on the walls were both horrific and sad.
I hope we are going to see more of Jack Russell, Ted, and Elsa!
Recipes for Love and Murder (2022)
Where is the rest of it?
Acorn has the first 6 episodes, but there are 10 in the season. And it looks like they aired earlier this year. So will we be getting the rest?
I've given it 10/10 because I love what I've seen so far: Fun and intriguing mystery, quirky characters, entertaining script, and great performances. But I'm a lot disappointed that we don't have the other 4 episodes.
Maria Coyle Kennedy (Tannie Maria) reminds me a lot of American actress Mary McDonnell, who I also love. Kylie Fisher is brilliant asJessie, and Arno Grieff's Regardt is clueless, sweet, and adorable. I've fallen in love with those three characters.
House of the Dragon (2022)
Wow! Episode 3!
From the very start of this episode, I could see where the first two were leading us. Every second of this episode had me on the edge of my seat. This is what I've been waiting for. The political and personal intrigues, the motives and ambitions of Viserys (especially where Rhaenyra is concerned), and Rhaenyra herself finally proves to be a real badass! And Daemon shows his heroic side, finally!
And dragons! We finally get to see real dragon action and I'm not hating the dragon design as much as I did in the first couple of episodes (though they still don't measure up to the original GOT dragons, in my opinion).
Vicious Fun (2020)
Very aptly titled
Vicious Fun was both fun and vicious. This is one I've had on my watch list for a while, but kept passing it over. I'm glad I finally gave it a chance. It's a fun storyline that kept me on my toes waiting for the next gruesome scene (and I generally hate gore flicks), because it was all so very funny.
One of my favorite bits was the recurring "gag" theme. That would definitely have been me in that situation!
The casting was spot on, the premise itself was entertaining, and I loved to hate Ari Millen's Bob character. I was also happy to see the way it ended. For me, it was a perfect horror comedy.
I hope there will be a sequel.
The Lost City (2022)
Romancing the Tomb
This was a lot of fun! I love that it's a parody of so many other flicks I really liked. I think the reviewers who complained about the plot being a "copycat" just completely missed the point. The early scene with the snakes actually set the stage for what to expect so blatantly that you'd have to be oblivious to miss it.
I love Sandra Bullock, I've come to love Da'vine Joy Randolph (a la Only Murders in the Building), and Daniel Radcliffe was fantastic as the villain. Brad Pitt's role was fun, as I've always thought he was great in comedic parts like this. I don't recall seeing Channing Tatum in anything before (I know I'm behind on this one), but he was perfect: So funny and sweet.
I gave it a 10, because I had so much fun watching it that I know I'll see it again.
She's Funny That Way (2014)
Worst. Therapist. Ever!
What a delightfully fun movie! It's got an early 70s vibe, with a lot of Audrey Hepburn era flavor. Certainly evokes a mood reminiscent of Bogdonavich's "What's Up, Doc?" In fact, this is what those early 70s flicks should've been.
All the performances were both over the top and absolutely down to earth, and Imogen Poots was perfect! This should have an overall rating much higher than it does. It's brilliant, funny, fun, and surprising. Jennifer Anniston's insane therapist was bizarre and hysterical. Not one performance missed the mark.
I loved, too, the format using an interview with a former nobody and now-famous actress as the narrative tool. Ileana Douglas gave the right mix of bored Hollywood reporter and against-her-will interested party. And Rhys Ifans totally cracked me up as the egotistical star with some serious romantic issues.
I can't remember having this much fun watching a movie all by myself.
Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
Goes in my top vampire movies of all time list
I so loved this movie. I've had it on my watchlist for a long time, but kept passing it up because I was afraid it would be too artsy or something like that. I was wrong!
I'm saying that this review has spoilers, because some of what I'm saying might be considered such by some folks. I don't give away any plot points, though.
I consider myself a vampire story aficionado. Movies, TV series, books, short stories, folklore, anything about vampires is in my wheelhouse. And there's a lot of awful, schlocky, boring stuff out there, including a lot of stuff that just relies on gore and action, which mostly is a turn off for me. (I say mostly, because there are exceptions even there.)
I loved the romantic angle, with lovers that have loved through the ages. I loved that their relationship didn't have the silly jealousies and ego trips that we see in most romantic stories. The romantic love part was just constant and abiding. And their love wasn't limited to just the two of them. Their love had room for all the kinds of love they had for their many friends.
I also loved that the vampires had evolved from vicious hunters to considerate creatures who, even though they were contemptuous of humans ("zombies"), still cared about them and preferred not to savage them.
Then there were the wonderful historical references in people from music, poetry and literature, and science that just rounded out the characters and gave them depth and humor and joy.
I think it would take pages and pages to write what I loved about this movie. Right now, I'm sorry I was alone when I saw it, as I'd so love to be talking about it in great detail with friends.
Could actually be the perfect vampire love story. Heck, it may be the perfect love story of any kind.
Red Riding Hood (2011)
Wonderful retelling of an ancient fairy tale
I really don't understand the low ratings and bad reviews. My sister and I watched this tonight and we both loved it so very much. The only explanation we could think of for the low ratings overall, was that perhaps few people have actually read the old Grimm's story.
In many ways, it was a faithful retelling of the old Grimm's tale. But it was also a wonderful reinterpretation of it. We thought the casting was perfect, the story was spot on, and the ending was more than satisfying!
Last Night in Soho (2021)
Certainly not Midnight in Paris!
But this was brilliant. I'd expect no less, though, from the genius who was responsible for "Hot Fuzz". Like that film, "Last Night in Soho" starts out deceptively as something else entirely, then takes you into a bizarre and wonderful world of chaos. The performances were spot on, and I loved seeing the usually wholesome Matt Smith as a sleazy villain.
Bravo!
Astrid et Raphaëlle: Fulcanelli (2020)
Can I rate this one 11?
This was already the consistently best TV series I've ever seen (and I'm 70). And this Fulcanelli episode has topped them all so far. The story was so well crafted, the dialogue is superb, the performances are amazing and the two leads are people I'd really love to know.
These are not run of the mill police mysteries. These are amazing adventures with wonderful characters. Bravo!
Signora Volpe: Truffles & Treachery (2022)
Comfy shoes and everything
I love this series so much! I love the notion of a kickass woman who isn't a bitter and jaded character. She's got empathy for others, optimism about life, and a steel backbone. She's the best heroine I've seen since the original Wonder Woman in the comics.
The story lines are so intriguing, the characters are fantastic, and the scenery can't be beat. I so hope there's another season where we can see what she discovers about her father and where we see more of the romance with Capitano Riva. I want to see more of her fascinating artist sister, as well.
And, for me, one of the best parts is that she wears comfortable shoes! Those stupid things where the heroine runs and fights with stiletto heels have always been ridiculous. Sylvia wears sensible shoes, even when she's wearing a dress! Brava!
The Time Traveler's Wife: Episode #1.2 (2022)
So incredible
I really liked the movie (hadn't read the book), but this series is just blowing me away. Moffatt is the perfect person to turn this fabulous story into a series. He did such a great job with Doctor Who, so he was already a whiz with time travel stuff. I was sobbing at the end of this episode. That final scene in the library was so intimate, so heartbreaking, and so joyful.
A Nice Girl Like You (2020)
Really Cute
It's really more of a 6.5, but I wanted to boost the score a bit. I thought it was quite fun, I laughed out loud several times, and it left me with a smile on my face.
Was it silly and a bit too squeaky clean? Yes it was, but it was still significantly better than I anticipated based on the reviews. Worth a watch just for the cute characters.
The Rite (2011)
Not a horror movie
I still can't believe I watched the whole thing. There were some intriguing bits and interesting scenes, but mostly it seemed just like Catholic religious propaganda. If I hadn't already been a fan of Colin O'Donoghue and Anthony Hopkins, I'd have stopped watching after the first 30 minutes. I'm a horror fan, so I'm willing to give all sorts of horror flicks a chance (though I hate slashers in general, but even some of those work for me). But the possessions weren't especially compelling, the rituals weren't very interesting, and the characters were quite shallow overall. A real disappointment.
Beautiful Creatures (2013)
Needed to be longer
I'm giving this a 9 to boost the ratings, because this is a great story and a fairly good movie. I'm a 70-year-old woman and I found the characters endearing and engaging and I wanted more. It was a great cast, a really good story, and I felt like it needed more time (another hour, but I know that doesn't play well in our short attention span culture) to work as well as it should. I felt like we missed important story elements and the ending seemed a bit rushed.
This would make a great limited run three or for part television movie. There were some hokey bits, but overall I loved it.
Old (2021)
Loved this!
I think bashing Shyamalan has become a nasty sport for viewers and critics alike. He has a unique perspective, a fresh take on stories, and manages to take the viewer on a real joyride into the improbable, the impossible, and the bizarre. There is nothing wrong with this movie and so much that is right. And, just as we've come to hope for in a MNS flick, we get a delightful twist at the end.
I haven't loved all his movies, but I've found something to like in them all and have honestly loved most of them. And this one was truly satisfying. The story itself finally made perfect sense at the end after all the little hints that someone was watching (evil drug company using natural phenomena to profit was a very believable premise and was a great indictment of capitalist greed at the expense of real people). The characters were endearing or frustrating or obnoxious, which runs the gamut of humanity. I love that Shyamalan continues to be a minor but significant character in his films and I love the quirky stories he chooses to make into movies.
Extremely satisfying, creepy, disturbing, and fun!