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The Walking Dead: The Day Will Come When You Won't Be (2016)
Negan made show useless
The inclusion of Negan helped me realize what I enjoyed about this show in the previous 6 seasons. There were multiple sub-plots involving interesting characters with lives, personalities, and back-stories.
Season 7 opener and following 4 episodes centre almost exclusively around Negan, the shallowest, most boring, and most one-dimensional character so far. The random zombies are more interesting.
Why go from multiple plot lines to just one? To say nothing of the senseless escalation of brutality in the season-opener. to me this was a show about human interactions, decisions under peril and desperation, creativity, and overcoming. This was all lost with the inclusion of Negan.
I kept watching hoping to see someone finally come to their senses and take Negan down. Carl (who still needs to lose the ridiculous hat... more later) had gun in hand and could have taken Negan out. As could one of the people he previously brutalized... Dwight being one of them.
Negan burns Dwight's face and steals his wife yet Dwight is now loyal to him? And not one of his hundreds of gun-toting followers would oppose his mindless brutality and control... and take a shot at him?
Do yourself a favour and jump in at Episode 5 or 6. The sub-plots begin again with other characters and other communities.... not just Negan and his painful monologues.
Oh, and as mentioned earlier... Carl... lose the hat! Give it to Negan.
The Walking Dead: The Well (2016)
Kingdom clan totally bizarre, Negan still boring
The Kingdom clan felt like a desperate attempt to introduce a fresh dimension. I don't think it flew. A for effort.
Negan... oh please. Really? Boooorrrrrrrrriiiiiiinnnnngggg!
This singular story line featuring the most uninteresting character on the entire show to date.... I hope changes. What were the writers thinking? And the writers of Negan's lines?
Most interesting thing is the side plot of Carol and Morgan. And Carol calling out King Ezekiel for the silliness of his whole system. At least King E was honest enough to admit it.
Looking forward to return to better writing.
Narcos (2015)
Portrayal of Escobar left you feeling what a sick and evil man he must have been.
Wow... Did the producers ever do a great job of portraying a dislikable monster. I've read lots of criticism of Wagner Moura's accent. I didn't pick up on it as I don't speak any Spanish. However, I felt he did an amazing job of making you feel sick at the heinous nature of the Character he played. Right down to the poor posture, dumpy physique, and tasteless clothes including ever-present white runners.
But his appearance was only the frosting on the cake. Escobar was convincingly portrayed as a conscienceless mass-murderer of many innocent people. And like many sociopaths portrayed in film, we are shown these villains agonizing over the loss of and harms to people they care about such as their own families and friends.
How could a person order the killing of innocent women and children then turn around and be all drippy sentimental about the loss of his drug-trafficking, murdering Family member being killed..... And then pining his loss while creating a scrap book of gushy memories of him? What about the families of the people he killed? No gushy sentiment over their losses. Just cold blooded murder.
If 1/10th of the portrayal is accurate, Escobar must have been an evil, evil man.
I thought the production was refreshing. Not too much Hollywood flash and polish. Believable characters and settings.
Sons of Anarchy (2008)
set expectations low and you won't be disappointed
OK, to me this is entertainment only.
Yes, show contains some sprinkling of what documentaries and those who have live it, tell us what biker lifestyle is like. But in the end, really? Do gun-runners load and unload barrels of guns and examine them in plain sight? Do they wear their colours on hi-jacks, break- ins, and bombings? Do club presidents, vps, and secretaries do their own dirty work (including special-forces style attack on a house) while a prospect (only one) merely tags along? I'm thinking either not at all or at best, not very often.
I only made it half way through the first season and am leaving it at that.
Glad others enjoy it but not my cup-o.
Band of Brothers (2001)
By far the best war production I've ever seen.
As the son of a WWII combat veteran and POW, this series helped me understand my troubled father. He likely suffered from PTSD his whole life.
To imagine him in the shoes of the characters portrayed in B of B, it was clear to see that Dad was but a boy of maybe 19 when he enlisted. Then saw combat and quite likely many of his fellow foot soldiers horrifically killed or maimed. I don't know details as he never talked about the details of combat and few of POW camp.
But he would have seen much of what they men in B of B saw, and experienced what they experienced.
This show exemplifies the value that modern film production can bring. An graphic, accurate, and believable portrayal of war that impacts those of us fortunate to have been spared from it.
It gives us tangibility of what to be thankful for when we are thankful to our veterans for the freedom we enjoy today.
Acting... great! Effects... great! Props and sets... great! I could go on and on. But instead, I will just recommend everyone watch it.
Joe Dirt (2001)
I watched it for Walken, but ended up enjoying the whole thing.
OK, absolute silliness, yes. Yet, there was a depth to the movie that kept you intrigued, gripped.
I watched this movie solely to see Christopher Walken's cameo and tag line threat. But by accident, gained an appreciation for David Spade who I have never paid much attention to in past.
So once you come to grips with fact that this show is primarily a goofy comedy, and like many goofy comedies, plot weaknesses abound (why would one even expect a solid plot... duh). It is a succession of brilliantly executed comedic dialogues and settings. The naivety of the fireworks vendor's endeavors being a great example.
And the fact that a number of more notable actors of the time would participate in the film (Christopher Walken, Rosanna Arquette, Dennis Miller), tells me that there was something more to it than just a silly slapstick comedy. They must have felt something bigger was being created. I feel it was. A bit of a classic that not only has clever antics, but a positive, uplifting message.
I would recommend it.
La migliore offerta (2013)
Deep and unpredictable. Geoffrey Rush was brilliant yet again.
This was one of those movies that drew me in deeply. The intensity and intrigue were captivating... making it a great 'escape movie' that allowed you to detach from day to day thoughts.
This movie keeps you on your toes. I found it impossible to predict what would happen next. I could just sit back and let the movie take me on the journey.
Geoffrey Rush delivered a brilliant performance, yet again. Kiruna Stamell... this is the first movie I have seen her in. Her character was completely original.
I also enjoyed the fact that a lot of the actors were new to me. It made the movie very fresh. It is often hard to know which characters are significant to the overall plot, and which are just passing through.
I'd call it a bit of a psychological thriller, yet not in any way horror. Definitely keeps you on edge of your seat... but more in a curious way than in an anxious or frightened way. But dark... grey really. Not a chirpy date-flick.
Spoils of War (2009)
Very weak movie - couldn't finish it.
Most of what I would say has been said by other members in their comments.
Only thing I would add is the huge oversights in the sets. The barracks high in the Austrian alps in 1940's have metal frame windows.... possibly aluminium. I would imagine that they would have been wood frame back then.
In one scene, you can see two large propane tanks in the background. I am betting the barracks set is a summer camp, resort, or roadside motel.
In one scene, a barrack has a #2 on the door. In another scene, presumably at a cabin at a distance from the barracks, there is a #3 on the door. Again, indication of a resort or motel.
There is also in the cabin scene, what appears to be a steel-insulated door commonly used in residential construction in the modern day... the standard 6-panel design. Would a cabin in the alps have such a thing?
Effects were so incredibly weak.
Do yourself a favour, skip this one. I don't know what the producers were thinking.