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rhwells
Reviews
Young Sheldon: A Tornado, a 10-Hour Flight and a Darn Fine Ring (2023)
Might be better WITHOUT Sheldon
Young Sheldon started out as the story of Sheldon Cooper of the Big Bang Theory as a young child. Somewhere along the way, the story became better when it was about Missy, George, Georgie, Connie and sometimes Mary. Sheldon is probably the least likeable character because he gets away with too many things because Mary protects him.
Almost nowhere to be seen in the early season was Sheldon getting the treatment he referred to when he was an Adult (being locked into a locker, being given swirled, etc.). Mostly, it was Sheldon being a rather nasty little creep.
Meanwhile, Missy and Georgie grew as characters. George was shown as a caring father who (has he not been blocked by Mary) might've helped Sheldon become a more aware human.
Extended Family (2023)
Bad. Very Bad.
The show's tagline is "Marriages end. Facilities don't."
They should. Really, this "family" should never has started, but it SHOULD END.
The comedy is questionable, at best, It is based on punchlines we already know, physical bits that have been overdone, and rehashes of VERY OLD plot notions. (I can't say "ideas" because these are barely notions and sucky ones at that.
Did the network order this before seeing the pilot? That is the only way I can understand how it got onto the air. Perhaps they saw the list of a winning cast and never took into account that they could manage to come together SO BADLY.
Bad acting, bad directing, bad comedy bad everything.
Okay, well maybe it wasn't THAT bad, but Lord, it wasn't good.
House of the Dragon (2022)
House of Boredom. If only...
It makes me wonder why didn't the creators take on the far more logical tale of how the Targaryen's come to Westeros and captured it. What machinations were used and what allies were made to make it work.
Instead we get this storyline. It isn't always comprehensible and is definitely not very intriguing, but you get more of the story of how the platinum blondes managed to have such a broad base that it included black ones and how desperately they wanted to have women assume their role as equals (only to need to lose it later since they won't have it in the later stories) and more pointless drivil.
A great family (perhaps the first rulers of Dorne would have been more logical for a great house which was black, It could have been shown as more courageously a house fought for and managed to remain a kingdom until the end (perhaps even with the family that cut the successful deal being the House of MarteL).
But no! We get this very poor tale of a very weak king.
The Cable Guy (1996)
This may be Jim Carrey's best, and that is sad
Yes, this has been called Jim Carrey's best film, something I would agree with, because the guy isn't a good actor. He mugs for the camera far too much and isn't very good for much real acting.
Jim Carrey was good at sketch comedy - when he can basically just steal scenes and act goofy, but once the bit has to go on very long, he just can't hold it. Considering how much he got paid for this film, I would've cast someone else.
It's one thing for his acting style on TV or so, but he just hasn't got the chops for a full-length film.
So to the reviewers who keep saying this is his "best film", I agree, but that is the sad part. He may be doing his best, but that just isn't good enough.
It's too bad Chris Farley (the original intended star) wasn't available, It might have made this film more of a success.
Ahsoka (2023)
Actually, Ahsoka is the weak link
I enjoyed Rebels and I like Rosario Dawson, but I felt she was far too wooden and stiff in the role of Ahsoka, In fact, the best parts were with Hera and Sabine, not the titular character.
Most of the characters held up pretty well, but Ahsoka herself seemed to be glowering the entire time. No matte what, she never seemed to capture the characterization from Clone Wars or Rebels, which is sad,
I will admit that even Hera suffered a little in the translation from animation to live action, her eyes in particular looked more blue-ish than green, but that was minor. At least she still retained some of the energy from the time before the Empire collapsed.
I hope we get a Season 2, I would hate to leave things hanging.
Turn-On (1969)
The other rumor
I watched this show for about 5 minutes (I was 15) and joined millions in turning it off. (Funny, I did the same thing to "Caveman" this year.)
The rumor I heard was that the head of ABC actually canceled the show BEFORE the first episode ended. (At 13 minutes into the show, supposedly the head of ABC told someone this was the ONLY episode ever to appear on the network.) That would have to be a record for anyone.
Although, if ABC had any taste they would've done the same for "Caveman."
Alas, poor Tim Conway had found a way to get onto yet another falling rock!
Amazing Grace and Chuck (1987)
It it was better, it could be merely terrible
This film reminds me of how college students used to protest against the Vietnam War. As if, upon hearing some kids were doing without cheeseburgers in Cow Dung Collehe, the President was going to immediately change all US foreign policy.
The worst thing is that, while dangerous, the concept of a policy based on if the USSR and US went to war it could mean the end of the world, WORKED. The US and USSR NEVER WENT TO WAR.
Had we only conventional weapons, the notion of yet another war, a "win-able" war, in Europe and Asia was not unthinkable.
Not that I think they should get rid of this movie. It should be seen by film students as a splendid example of "How NOT to make a film."
It should be 0 stars or maybe black holes...
Defending Your Life (1991)
How would you be judged
I saw this movie at a significant time in my life, when I was trying to choose between the safe road (which was nonetheless dragging me into depression) and a new life.
Daniel Miller (Brooks) has always taken the safe road, not risking much and never getting much, either. He is fearful of what others think, say, fearful of risk.
Finally, when Brooks has been told that he will not "move on" he is on the safe bus to his next life and sees he may lose the one thing that has given his time after death meaning, fear is cast aside and he risks everything to reach love.
This film has a great message: Love is a risk. You must risk everything and make a leap of faith. But that leap can give you so much more, that it's worth it all.
The Civil War (1990)
Good -- but VERY Editorialized
Ken Burns took a great deal of Editorial liberty with this series. He overemphasized the importance of slavery as an issue to a good extent, but he also pulled at people's emotions by CHANGING facts.
Good example, the opening has a letter from Sullivan Ballow of Second Regiment, Rhode Island Volunteers. In the series, there is a line that reads:
"Sarah, do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for me, for we shall meet again."
But the actual letter reads (capitization to show the change):
"Sarah, do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for THEE, for we shall meet again."
The letter was also cut so as to emphasize the "prediction" of Ballow's own death a week later at Bull Run, but most the letter was NOT of that content.
Burns edited a lot of material in similar ways, so the series could meets his own ends.
The Cheerleaders (1973)
Dumb but...
The only reason I like this film is that part of it (outside shots) were done at my alma mater, Monta Vista High. In fact, when the film came out, I was too young to see it.
Our School District, anxious for the money paid for use of the school during the summer months as a setting, thought that the film was about life in high school (it was tentatively titled High School Daze) and didn't bother to read the script.
Of course, they changed the name of the school for the film, so for the Yearbook in 1973 we snuck in all sorts of references to the film that managed to slip by the faculty. I still have a copy of an ad for the film in my old yearbook.
Sometimes, it's fun to see how easily bureaucrats can be fooled.
I Dream of Jeannie (1965)
Every guy wanted to have a Jeannie...
What heterosexual male over the age of puberty wouldn't have wanted to have Barbara Eden as their own devoted and affectionate Jeannie?
Like most series built on some pent-up romantic tension between the leading characters ("Nanny and the Professor," to "Moonlighting") the problems arose when the series creators decided to put the couple together. It was a death knell...
It was hilarious that the network censors wouldn't allow them to show Barbara Eden's navel and a pity as well. She's closing in on 70 now but for those of us hitting puberty when the series premiered, she'll always have a special place in our...hearts.
RFK (2002)
The Summary Says It
RFK was yet another sentimental tribute to a man who was part of the "Royal Family."
The Summary says it, "Robert Kennedy is forced to rise to the challenge of leading his country." Yet THAT WAS NOT HIS JOB! He was the AG, not the President.
He's dead, Jim. Bury him and move on.
Possession (2002)
Excellent! Best work Gwynneth Paltrow has done in some time.
Despite her Oscar for Best Actress in "Shakespeare in Love," Ms. Paltrows films that have followed have been... lacking. Now she's made up for it and then some. This is a piece with depth and clarity. Excellent cast, wonderful cinamatography, a great story and filled with mystery and romance.