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ToodyMuldoon
Reviews
Northern Exposure: Seoul Mates (1991)
One of my favorite Christmas episodes
Seoul Mates is just a heart warming episode from Northern Exposure. Each main character from the show has an important role, and everything fits together. From Maurice discovering that he has a Korean son, to Dr. Fleischmann trying to get into the Christmas spirit even though he feels a little Jewish guilt, to Maggie dreading a Christmas visit to her parents, this show cleverly hits the mark in each situation. And Holling just blew me away in this one. I loved the explanation of the Native American tradition and their take on the meaning of Christmas. This is a show that has to be seen by fans. I'm so glad Prime brought Northern Exposure to streaming.
Tracker (2024)
Great premise, poor execution
Tracker is a show starring Justin Hartley, who was great in This Is US. I was looking forward to this show after watching promos all during the NFL season. However, after watching the first two episodes, I have reservations about continuing to follow this series. Lots of questions about how the lead character sustains his lifestyle. He travels across the Midwest and Pacific Northwest in a big pickup truck that probably gets 15 mpg while lugging an Airstream. His support crew checks all the boxes when it comes to being PC. How does Colt pay for all this? He only gets reward money, which doesn't seem like a lot. Also, the show doesn't reveal or show how Colt accomplished some tasks. An example is the first scene of the first show. I would have liked to have seen how he got the girl off the mountain side in a makeshift stretcher. I don't think this show will last in its current state.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
Nothing, nowhere, all over the place
I just finished watching Everything Everywhere All at Once. That's over two hours that I won't get back. What made this movie so Oscar worthy? A woman who has a lot of things on her mind, like a marriage she didn't want and a father who let her get away? Her mind makes her invent an alternate universe with all the people who are making her life miserable are portrayed as characters trying to kill her. The film is all over the place, and it's incomprehensible until the last five minutes. There are fight scenes that are somewhat entertaining, but not enough to call this a martial arts genre type movie.
If you want to see a great movie, ditch this and see "Kung Fu Hustle".
Leave the World Behind (2023)
Watch it for yourself
For all those reading the bad reviews, I say watch the movie and decide for yourselves. This is a film that shows how today's society wouldn't be able to deal with a downed internet. The panic, and all the things we take for granted are exposed. A lot of reviews are from people that want things immediately explained to them and who failed to see the irony in the characters. Julia Roberts' character was always looking to plan things out and looked for the worst in people. And her daughter was the first one in the family to see that there was something wrong going on, based on her interactions with the deer. While Julia was trying to find out how to help out her family's situation, the daughter was tired of waiting for an answer and found a way to survive on her own. And she got to see the "Friends" finale.
Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities: The Outside (2022)
A head scratcher
This was, so far the weakest episode of the series. How many times can they show a woman applying a cream to herself? What ever happened to story development in today's writing? "The Outside" concentrates on a woman trying a cream to make herself look like her co-workers. However, even though she eventually succeeded in her transformation from a plain Jane type outsider, she kills her adoring husband who liked her just as she was. But my biggest gripe was not showing any consequences for the murdering wife. Couldn't the writers of this show have spent less time showing the constant application of the cream and instead, write a scene that shows the wife caught by the police for her killing? I mean, she did leave her husband's inner organs exposed in her garbage can. Instead, it ends with the transformed wife making expressions of satisfaction yet showing a little remorse for her actions. Lazy writing.
Lonesome Dove (1989)
How did I miss this epic?
After 35 years, I found Lonesome Dove while looking for a show to stream. The word "show" doesn't do Lonesome Dove justice. This was one of the best, if not THE best, westerns to be produced. It's The Odyssey of Westerns. The main characters, played by Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones, a couple of retired Texas Rangers,
are convinced to leave a little nothing town in Texas called Lonesome Dove by another Ranger (Robert Urich) who's been on the road for 10 years. The wandering Ranger told them he's seen Montana and that it's good country to raise cattle. Duvall and Jones have no experience raising cattle. Jones is really gung-ho about this idea and talks Duvall into it. That's all I'll say about the plot, because Lonesome Dove is so much more than this. It has a great cast, beautiful scenery and a lots of adventures. Don't wait to see this if you haven't already. I loved it!
65 (2023)
A nice twist to dinosaur flicks.
I don't understand all the negative reviews here. Maybe these viewers missed the movie because their eyes were shut during the suspenseful parts of the movie. And there were exciting and suspenseful moments throughout the flick. There were nice special effects. The dinosaurs were realistic. What I liked about 65 was that it got right into the plot of the film and didn't waste a lot of time. The film is short, about an hour and a half. No wasteful dialog, just 2 people trying to find an escape from an alien planet that's inhabited by creatures they have never experienced before. Just watch the movie and don't pay attention to the low reviews.
The Crowded Room (2023)
This could have been 4 episodes
I just finished episode 6 of The Crowded Room. I had read a review in the WSJ that said the series was a little dragging but wait until episode 6. Well, I still think the series has dragged on and on. The 6th episode wasn't earth shattering. It all was leading up to Danny having multiple personalities. And in the credits, it says the show was based on the book "The Minds of Billy Milligan", so you sort of know what's coming. Incidents are repeated and the slow pacing of the show is just annoying. So why can't the audience see what's on the VHS tape that was given to Rya by her boyfriend/cop? The show is just too manipulative by the writers to make you want to come back for another episode, but I am done with this show. I've seen enough of a show with too many questions with no answers through 6 episodes.
Shrinking (2023)
Good show, nice characters, except...
I really like the characters in the therapy practice. Jason Segal, Jessica Williams and especially Harrison Ford are great in this show. However, I really don't care for the neighbors who live next door to Jason Segal. The nosy wife who thinks she knows it all is just obnoxious and too much to take. She has to be in everyone's business. And her husband really adds nothing to the show. If the show comes back for another season, maybe the writers can say that they moved away. The daughter is good in this show, but very moody. But I guess given the situation it's understandable. Give the show a try. Don't shut it after 3 episodes.
Jack Ryan (2018)
Very good show, but.....
This show is like a cliff hanger after each episode. All the actors are great. But surprisingly, the star John Krasinsky is the least accomplished. Expressionless and monotone, he does an okay job as Jack Ryan. My favorite is Wendell Pierce as Greer. Season 3 (which was filmed before the war in Ukraine) is eerily forecasting what Russia's plans are to return to world domination. It was a great season, but I question a couple of things. Like why couldn't the U. S. President call the Russian President to tell him of a possible coup? And why couldn't a copy of the recording that Popov was ordered killed by Petrov be transmitted to the President?
Other than that, Jack Ryan is a great series.
The Old Man (2022)
Started Strong...but then...
When you have to search for recaps to find out what you just watched, and then think to yourself "did they just film that and expect me to believe it?", then it's time to give up on a show.
Night Sky (2022)
A story that needs some questions answered
We finished Night Sky, season1. Great acting by Spacek and Simmons. This is the second Amazon series that has left me with a lot of unanswered questions, Outer Range being the other. This show keeps you coming back for the next episode but you will be waiting for a big payoff.
The Batman (2022)
Bale Batman Better
Way too long. The Bale Batman films were much better, along with the villains. The Riddler could have been developed better. You really don't see the depth of his character until much later in the film.
Bang! The Bert Berns Story (2016)
If You Love 60's Pop and Soul, Watch This!!
You know the music, now know the man who brought a lot of it to you. This documentary of Bert Berns is narrated by Steven Van Zandt and contains interviews and performances by the legends who sang on the songs Berns wrote or produced. Van Morrison, Paul McCartney, Ben E. King, and Solomon Burke are all featured in this documentary. This is a must see.
The Lost Daughter (2021)
The Lost Two Hours
Move along, nothing to see here. An unstable woman alone on vacation, who's selfish behavior towards her children has defined her personality, is the main character in this slow moving film. Nothing is really explained. Character development is lacking. A poor Olivia Coleman vehicle.
The Many Saints of Newark (2021)
A waste of time
The only reason I gave it a 2 was because I liked the soundtrack. The Sopranos series is 100 times better than this "prequel".