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Reviews
The St. Francisville Experiment (2000)
Better Than I Was Expecting
Most of the reviews say the acting is terrible, but I found all the characters to be quite believable. They came across like real people, reacting in a way I thought real people would under those circumstances. Tim was probably the weakest, but he was still okay. Madison seems to be the one most point to as the worst, but anyone who's ever met a "real" psychic, or even just seen one on TV will tell you that's exactly how they act. Towards the end there she stumbled a bit, but for most of it she was fine. The twist was telegraphed so badly I saw it coming a mile away, but finding out I guessed correctly still proved satifying. I usually hate found footage, but I actually liked this one. Is it a Blair Witch ripoff? Sort of? Do I hold that against it? No, because aside from the found footage format the two movies are completely different. If you like horror, I'd recommend it.
Leprechaun Returns (2018)
Don't listen to the sayers!
I went into this movie expecting to be disappointed. I was wrong. I feel like everyone saying that Linden Porco can't fill Warwick's shoes decided beforehand that they were going to hate it, because Porco nailed the character. I'm one of those people who reject recasts too, but Porco surprised me. If you're a fan of the original you have to see this movie. They brought back Ozzie, and really went the extra mile to tie this one to the original so you can believe that this is taking place in the same universe 25 years later. I wish they could have got Aniston to reprise her role, but that would never happen in a million years. Her loss. I really enjoyed the new cast as well. Those claiming the acting wasn't good are lying. It's a Leprechaun movie, it's not meant to be taken seriously. This was the perfect sequel to the original, and I hope it's successful enough to make more. The practical effects were top notch, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that the CGI parts weren't very good. However, they didn't have much of a budget so I'll forgive them for it. Go into this movie with an open mind and you won't be disappointed. This is a horror/comedy worthy of your time.
Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins (2009)
Better than the big budget Scooby Doo
Much like everyone else on this planet I grew up watching Scooby Doo, and have since seen many of the countless TV shows and movies over the years. My son and I ended up catching The Mystery Begins one night on Cartoon Network, and my son and I instantly fell in love with it. For a CN movie I wasn't expecting much, but I couldn't believe how good it actually turned out to be. I was never really a fan of the two big budget films that were released in the 2000's. I didn't like the cast. I didn't like the story. The whole thing just felt wrong, and I felt that Scooby and his gang deserved a better representation. Well they got it with this movie. The effects are really bad, but the cast more than makes up for it with their superb performances. I feel like all four of the main cast were born to play these roles. Unlike the big budget Scooby films where those actors couldn't have been more wrong, these four couldn't have been more right. Things can get a bit silly at times, but it wouldn't be Scooby Doo otherwise. The plot is simple, and easy for kids to follow with plenty of twists and turns along the way to keep you interested. This movie came out in 2009, and Robbie Amell seems to be the only one of the main cast to go on to other notable things, and that really is a shame because this group of actors are really talented. Their chemistry, specifically between each other, really comes across on screen, and really that's the most important thing for a Scooby Doo movie to get right. My only real complaint, and it is a minor one, is that Fred's hair isn't blonde, but other than that it really is a great movie that the whole family can sit down and enjoy together. I'd recommend it for kids and families or just any fan of Scooby Doo. A solid 10 out of 10.
Mutt & Stuff (2015)
Does Calvin Millan ever stop smiling?
I'm just going to come right out and say that I am not a fan of Mutt & Stuff. I love dogs, but even that love is not enough for me to put up with this show. Calvin Millan might very well be the worst actor I have ever seen. Seriously, does this guy ever stop smiling? Watching him actually makes my face hurt. It's clear that he's only on this show because he is the son of producer Cesar Millan, which only makes me despise them both even more than I already did. I have never liked Cesar, and this goes back to his previous show the Dog Whisperer. All that show ever did was point out things that most dog owners should already know (a lot of common sense things), and the fact that this guy is so highly regarded is baffling to me. The trend continues with Mutt & Stuff, only this time around they seem to be under the impression that their audience are absolute idiots. As the mother of a 5 year old I take offense to that. My son watches the show from time to time, but admits that he's not crazy about it. This show has no educational value. The only thing that's even remotely entertaining are the dogs themselves, who all consistently outperform their human counterpart. A point that really spotlights Calvin Millan's nonexistent acting ability considering that it's obvious these dogs are reacting to a trainer off-screen. Nick Jr. shows are nothing like they used to be, but at least the majority of them attempt to teach kids something. This one, however, does not. A lot have suggested that this show would be better if the Millan's remained behind the camera, and while I agree that a change like that would make the show more bearable, it still wouldn't make the show any more educational, which is something I thought Nick Jr. was striving for. Maybe I'm wrong about that.
Smallville: Doomsday (2009)
Could Clark Kent be more selfish? No, he cannot
I'm not going to whine about the disappointing Clark/Doomsday confrontation. With a show full of disappointment why should we expect anything less? I am going to complain about two parts though, and as for the rest I'm not invested enough to really care at this point. First off, since it took me until 2016 to watch Smallville I knew full well from the moment Jimmy Olsen appeared on screen that he wasn't the "real" Jimmy Olsen. However, I cannot believe that this was always the show's original intent. If it was, then why name him Jimmy Olsen, make him a photographer who works at the Daily Planet, have all these foreshadowing references involving Clark/Jimmy and Lois/Jimmy, and the great photographer he'll become someday? Why? Because they did intend for him to be the "real" Jimmy Olsen. Why they decided to scrap it in the end is anybody's guess. I'm sure it's spelled out somewhere on the internet, but I really don't care enough to look. Then, there is the ending. Once more proving what a selfish little prick Clark Kent is he has to make the death of Jimmy all about him. To a degree it is his fault, yes, but if Chloe hadn't lied to Davis, and told him that she was helping him when in truth she was only ever doing any of it for Clark then maybe he wouldn't have killed Jimmy. Davis was never a saint, but Chloe in a sense led him on, made him believe that she really wanted to be with him, only to reunite with Jimmy, right in front of him mind you, when it was all said and done. Can anyone really blame Davis for being upset? I can't. What did Chloe think was going to happen? Chloe's my favorite character, so if I can find fault in what she did, then that's saying something. Another thing about this ending is Jimmy's willingness to accept what Chloe did with open arms. In a sense Jimmy was saying, "It's okay that you threw away our marriage, because you were doing it for Clark." Yes, Clark, the same person Jimmy felt insecure about Chloe's relationship with from the very beginning. All her actions did was confirm his insecurities in my opinion, and as someone who literally despised Jimmy Olsen on this show, that's not something I enjoy pointing out. But no, from Jimmy's point of view, this is all okay, because Clark is the Red/Blue Blur. He's a super hero, so it's okay that Chloe put him, and everyone else ahead of their marriage. So, in the end, Chloe did all of this to protect Clark, and how does Clark repay that kindness? By turning his back on her, and everyone else. I find this especially selfish on his part considering that Chloe has just lost everything, and lost it all because she was trying to protect him. The show can try and justify his actions by saying he's doing it for the good of humanity, but that's not the way I see it. Clark on Smallville is a selfish jerk. He always has been, and he always will be. What good marks I give this episode I give for the good acting, and the fact that I am finally rid of Aaron Ashmore's whiny performance. Good riddance.
Smallville: Requiem (2009)
Another pathetic attempt by this show to make me feel something for Clark and Lana
Why is it that everyone but Clark can see what a threat Lex is? Clark gets to act like he's taking the moral high ground by not killing Lex, even though Lex has killed, and will continue to kill if he's not stopped. By not killing Lex, and not allowing anyone else to Clark is in effect causing the deaths of whoever Lex decides to kill next. I also feel the need to agree with another reviewer over the way Clark and Lana's relationship ultimately ends. Not because either choose to walk away, but because they don't have a choice. The season 7 finale would have been a better way for their love story to end, but the writer's just couldn't resist forcing Lana back in there for one more go round. I'm sorry, but Lana's story should have ended 3 or 4 seasons ago. Dragging it out only hurt the show in the long run, and this episode's lame attempt at making me feel something for these character's "heart-breaking" sacrifice is pathetic. I stopped caring about Clark and Lana long ago. That is if I ever cared about them in the first place. I don't think I did. I always thought Chloe was a better fit for Clark, but Lana always stood in the way of that. As another reviewer said this makes it seem like Clark is settling for Lois in the end, and that if he'd had a choice he would have chosen Lana. Clark and Lois are meant to be, but the way this show is written you would think it's Clark and Lana who were meant to be. The whole thing is just ridiculous, and not fair to the character of Lois. Lois deserved better than to be Clark's consolation prize on Smallville. If I weren't (for some insane reason) dedicated to seeing this thing through I would walk away right now. Good riddance Lana. By overstaying your welcome you have essentially ruined any chance at a believable Clark and Lois love story given the limited 2 1/2 seasons remaining. It's wrong to put this blame on the character though? It's the writer's who are truly at fault here. Just one more addition to the long list of things Smallville got wrong about Superman. What else is new?
Smallville: Legion (2009)
Chloe has to die, yeah right
I wasn't crazy about the Legion, mostly because having not read the comics I didn't know much about them. The actors did an okay job I guess. Wasn't really crazy about Lightning Lad, but he did hit the nail on the head with one of his comments. This Clark is nothing like the Man of Steel. No he is not, and as far as I'm concerned he never will be. The thing that bugged me most about this episode, though, was everyone suggesting that the only way to stop Brainiac was to kill Chloe. I can't stand it when a show does that. I knew good and well they weren't going to kill Chloe, so to hear them just keep going on and on about it really ticked me off. Chloe Sullivan isn't mentioned in any of the history books. So what? Is every single person someone famous ever knew mentioned in the history books? No, they aren't. The way the Legion members talk, does everyone in the future know that Clark Kent is Superman? I was always under the impression that he kept that little fact under wraps, yet Lightning Lad says something about seeing Clark's high school letterman jacket in a museum or something. Is his identity only revealed after his death? This show has always acted like Clark was immortal, so that can't be it. As usual there's no shortage of questions without answers on this show. Only two and a half season to go, and I will finally be finished. As much as I would like to rate this episode higher the constant references to Chloe having to die when the show never had any intention of following through get old pretty quick. Had Chloe actually died it wouldn't have been so bad, but if anyone ever believed that was actually going to happen I feel sorry for them. And lastly, who is this Clark Kent Lana is speaking of in this episode? The Clark Kent that never doubts himself? Never waivers? That's all Clark ever does. Constantly questioning what he should do, and always looking to someone else for assurance that what he's doing is right. Except of course when he's lying to protect his secret, or wiping someones memory. Then he never once considers the consequences, or stops to consider how anyone else feels. I love the ending where Chloe reveals to Clark that she still remembers his secret. In the end his pathetic little attempt at "protecting" her is all for not, and it's impossible not to notice the clear disappointment on his face. It serves him right though. He had no right to take Chloe's memory in the first place. For everything I love about Superman, his whole erasing other peoples memories thing is one of his most selfish character traits. I didn't like it in Superman 2, and I like it even less now. For this episode's useless attempt at trying to make the audience think Chloe was going to die I give it a 5, and I'm being generous with that.
Smallville: Bride (2008)
Another good one from Season 8
I didn't care for the video camera opening, but I never care for episodes that give the ending away, and then flashback to show what led up to it. I have to admit that I thought this episode was one of the strongest of the season so far. As always the show tries to make Jimmy seem cute, and as always it just makes me loath him even more. Why is it that every time someone is getting married on a TV show the groom always sees the bride before the wedding, and then something bad always ends up happening? It's a tired plot device that should have been retired long ago. I know Davis is Doomsday, and dangerous, but if I were Chloe I would take that over Jimmy Olsen any day. I also find it odd that of all the places in the world they could choose to get married, they decide to get married in the Kent barn. Another thing that's been troubling me is Chloe losing her memories of Clark's secret. Pretty much every scene she's shared with Clark since learning of his secret has consisted of them talking about his secret. So how could those memories be erased, and Chloe still retain any memory of her time with Clark over the past how ever many years it's been? It doesn't make any sense. The whole Lois and Clark thing is another thing that's been bugging me. Maybe it's because I've been binge watching the entire series, but it just seems like Clark's gotten over his infatuation with Lana a little quick. I was never a Clana fan, so if I think it's too quick that's saying something. One of my favorite moments of the episode came when Clark pulled the boutonniere Chloe gave him at the Spring Formal out of his yearbook and gave it to her. It was a touching moment, and a painful reminder of what could have been if Clark hadn't been so blinded by his "love" for Lana. I'll never forget the "I'm the girl of your dreams masquerading as your best friend" line. The Clark and Lois stuff was great. It's been clear for awhile now that Lois has feelings for Clark, but it still seems a little quick on his end. Another great moment was Lana arriving just as they're about to kiss. Priceless. I wasn't too pleased with Clark's belief that Lana not knowing his secret would have made things different, and then him not being able to understand how Lana wouldn't have been able to forgive him if he'd had Jor-El take her memories away like he did with Chloe. God, is he really that selfish? I didn't think it was fair for him to take that away from Chloe, and now he wants to do it to Lana as well? What right does he have to play god? Yet somehow he still sees himself as being in the right. It makes me sick. If someone erased part of my memory that person would be dead to me. It's as simple as that, but he never even once considered what Chloe would have wanted. Clark knows, and gets to decide what's best for everyone. What he did isn't protecting Chloe, it's controlling her. Which is just one of the many reasons why he will never be Superman to me. Then, just when everything's going great, Doomsday crashes the party. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Doomsday plow right through Jimmy though. Why would Jimmy ever think that little board would work as a weapon? Did he not just see what Doomsday did to Clark? I'm sorry, but anyone that stupid deserves what they get. All in all one of my favorite episodes so far. I loved the way they incorporated Lana into the episode, and look forward to seeing what happens next.
Smallville: Instinct (2008)
Jimmy's insecurity strikes again!
Jimmy finds Chloe's letter that she wrote to Clark way back in season 2, and freaks out once again. What does Chloe have to do to prove her love to this guy. She (foolishly) agreed to marry him, what more does he want? Chloe is way out of Jimmy's league to begin with, so he should be thankful that she's willing to settle for him, and back off before it's too late. Not to mention the fact that the letter was written a long time ago, back when her and Clark were still in high school. I can't for the life of me understand why Chloe even puts up with his crap. I wouldn't. What's worse is he actually seems to think that he's in the right, asking why Chloe never said those things to him. Well maybe because she never had to. Clark was always chasing after Lana, and it's kind of hard to admit that you have feelings for your best friend when you know they don't feel the same way. Jimmy, on the other hand, is completely transparent with his feelings. A simple I love you should suffice, but that's just not good enough for him. Then, what does Jimmy do? He goes to the Ace of Clubs, and starts making out with the first girl who hits on him. He has a moment of hesitation, but in the end makes out with her anyway. The little prick gets his though, because the girl is none other than Maxima, who's kiss can be deadly to humans. Serves him right. I actually liked the Maxima character though, because she reminded me of the Neila character from Superboy. Neila was actually based off of Maxima originally, but my introduction to the character came courtesy of Superboy. I was less than pleased with Clark's reaction to Jimmy's cheating though. Maxima may have had a power over him, but I think Jimmy would have succumbed either way. It's not everyday a beautiful woman goes after a guy like him. I also wasn't too happy with Chloe just blowing off the whole thing, or feeling guilty over the letter she wrote to Clark where Jimmy was concerned. I mean she admits to Clark that she no longer feels that way, so what is there for her to feel guilty about? Jimmy's feeling? He's the one who got all bent out of shape over ancient history. It's not Chloe's fault that he's unable to trust the fact that her and Clark are just friends. The Clark and Lois stuff was great in this episode, as it has been so far this season. All in all not a bad episode. Minus Jimmy I'd give it a 7, but I just can't overlook his idiocy.
Smallville: Arctic (2008)
The truth is revealed!
Am I the only one who was actually rooting for Lex in this episode? Oh, who am I kidding, I've been rooting for Lex all along. As far as season finale's go, this one was pretty decent. I do have a slight issue, though, which I will address here. Did Chloe suddenly develop amnesia or something? When Clark contemplates that maybe Kara is right in thinking that he hadn't done enough to stop Veritas, Chloe says that he has done everything he can, and more. Um, no he hasn't. Was it not just a couple of episodes ago when Chloe herself was telling Clark that he needed to do more, because Lex already had the two keys? And what was it Clark said in response to that? Oh yeah, he said, "I don't care about Lex." Does that sound like somebody who's doing everything they can, and more? No it doesn't. But then again, when has Clark ever done everything he possibly could? Never? Yeah, that's what I thought, but there wouldn't be much of a show if he did now would there? Worse yet, is that Clark agrees with Chloe's statement, and they determine that Kara is wrong in her belief. Kara may actually be Brainiac, but he's not wrong. As always, though, no one except Clark is ever right, even when they clearly are. I also find it odd that when Clark has Brainiac cornered it never even occurs to him to try and ask him to help Lana, considering Brainiac is the one who made her catatonic in the first place, and previously said that he was the only one who could reverse her condition. It probably wouldn't have made a difference, but would it have hurt to try? No, but as usual Clark is only worried about himself. None of this matters in the end, because, wouldn't you know it, Clark returns to the hospital to learn that Lana has made a full recovery. Of course she has. If the show had left her catatonic, more people would have been asking the same questions I am, and we can't have the audience questioning our hero's motives now, can we? If Lana only knew how little Clark had actually done to try and help her, but she never will. As usual Clark gets to get away with being completely selfish. The worst part about it is Lana's video goodbye message. She needs him, but the world needs him more. Give me a break. You couldn't leave without inflating that ego of his one more time, could you Lana? At least he's lost her though. It's not the retribution he deserves, but it's probably the closest to it he will ever get. And why in the world would Chloe ever agree to marry that bumbling idiot Jimmy. He is so pathetic. The show tries to make his antics seem cute, but I can't imagine any self-respecting female ever accepting a proposal from such an insecure joke of a man. I know in the end it is revealed that he's not the real Jimmy Olsen, but that doesn't stop the show from making him out to be on more than one occasion. What with the one day you'll be a great photographer, and all the other references made throughout. The best part of this episode though is that at least finally, FINALLY, Lex knows Clark's secret. And what did all of Clark's pathetic attempts to prevent it accomplish? It only made Lex hate him more, exactly as I predicted it would from the very beginning. Congratulations there Clark. Are you proud of yourself? Are you proud of the lifelong enemy you've created? A little trust could have went a long way, but it's too late for that now. It's a bitter sweet finale though as this marks the departure of both Lex, and Lana. Can't say I'm sad to see them both go, but I will miss Lex. All inconsistencies aside I give this episode an 8, my highest rating yet, just for the confrontation between Clark and Lex in the fortress. A confrontation that was long overdue.
Smallville: Apocalypse (2008)
It's a not so wonderful life, as usual
While I appreciated the nods to classic Clark and Lois, this episode really didn't do it for me. It was cool to see an alternate version of events, but I can't help but disagree with the way things would have turned out. I find it hard to believe that without little ole Clark Kent Brainiac would get Lex elected President, which would then lead to Lex nuking the entire planet. As much as Clark already thinks the entire world revolves around him, this episode made me sick. For the entire series Clark's felt that everyone would have been better off if he never existed, and you know what I've agreed with him. Look how many lives that first meteor shower destroyed. I've gotten sick of Clark always feeling sorry for himself, but to have the fate of the entire world depend solely on his arrival in Smallville is utterly ridiculous IMO. I could continue this rant, but I feel the need to point out my biggest problem with this episode. At the end Lex shows up at the Kent Farm, and offers to try and help Lana, but Clark refuses to tell him anything about how she ended up catatonic in the first place. Why? Even if Lex's motives are less than pure, isn't it at the very least worth the risk if it helps Lana in the end? If someone I loved was in a similar state I would stop at nothing to try to help them. But no, Clark refuses to work with Lex, even when Lana, the woman he claims to love, life is at stake. So that means Clark would rather let Lana remain catatonic than give Lex the benefit of doubt for the sake of helping her. His distrust for Lex, and his own selfish need to keep his secret (which Lex pretty much already knows anyway) is obviously more important to him than Lana. Can't say that I'm surprised though. This is Clark after all. This episode was a joke.
Smallville: Traveler (2008)
Am I the only one who notices these plot holes?
You know, if not for the giant sized plot hole I would probably give this episode one of my highest ratings ever, but seeing as I've been binge watching the entire series over the last few weeks it makes all the inconsistencies of this series all the more apparent. For the first time we learn that Lionel, the Queens, and Swan were part of a secret society called Veritas that was apparently founded to protect the "Traveler" aka Clark, or something like that. Not really clear on the details considering this all came out of left field. I'm sorry, but this makes no sense to me. Looking back at the earlier seasons I find it hard to believe that all that time Lionel was aware that there even was a Traveler. It seems to contradict just about everything he did early on. It seems to me the writers were running short on ideas, and just decided to try and throw in this little twist. It might have worked great if it made any sense whatsoever, but it doesn't. Unlike the people who had to wait 7 years to see this episode, and probably forgot a good portion of the earlier seasons along the way, those episodes are still fresh in my mind. I find it hard to believe that this wouldn't infuriate the die-hard fans though. Of all the plot holes, and inconsistencies I have to say that this one is the worst. It is absolutely ridiculous. I'm happy Kara finally got her memory back. I was starting to get a little peeved at Clark for not telling her the truth. I did kind of hope it would come back to bite Clark though, seeing as his not filling Kara in had pushed her right into Lex's waiting web of deceit. It would have served Clark right. Kara had a right to know, and who was Clark to deny her the truth. I can only imagine what he would have done if someone had done the same thing to him. Which is one thing that made his kryptonite cage in this episode all the more enjoyable. Clark is such a self-righteous hypocrite, who thinks he can control, and knows what's best for all those around him that it was kind of nice to see him suffer a little bit. If not for the impossible storyline that brought it about I would probably rate the episode at an 8, but because it makes no sense at all logically I can barely bring myself to give it a 4. And believe me, I'm being generous with that.
Smallville: Siren (2008)
Lana Lang has finally won me over!
It's a shame that it took 6 seasons and 11 episodes for the character of Lana Lang to win me over, but I am happy to report that she finally has. While arguing with Clark over Bizarro and the things she's done recently, Clark does what he usually does, and tries to make her the bad guy. But Lana does one better, and throws his constant hypocrisy in his face. Lana says, "every transgression I have made you have answered with a hypocritical judgement." Nail on the head Lana. Nail on the head. She follows that up with "no one can live up to your self-righteous standards." I give this honor away more often than I should, but truer words were never spoken. Do these words get through Clark's thick skull though? Of course they don't. Lana points out how she wakes up every morning knowing that she is going to fail in the eyes of the only person she's ever really loved, and then Clark throws the fact that she fell in love with Lex and Bizarro in her face. Worst of all, this actually seems to hurt Lana, while her words seemed to fall on deaf ears. I mean, is this guy for real? What does he expect? The only reason Lana ever fell for Lex was because Clark didn't trust her. Her and Lex had that in common. And as for Bizarro, not only does he look exactly like Clark, but from what I could see he seemed to be more considerate of Lana's feelings. Bizarro had his issues, but he genuinely seemed to care for Lana. None of that should matter though, because in the end Lana chose Clark over Bizarro. Does that mean anything to Clark though? Apparently not. God, what a jerk! Lana is better off without him. Another thing that bugged me in this episode is how Clark jumped all over Oliver for getting Chloe's help. The exact same thing Clark himself does in every single episode. How many times has Clark almost got Chloe killed? Too many to count? Yeah, that's what I thought. Just because the show is all about Clark Kent shouldn't give him a pass to be a complete jerk. Why is Clark allowed to get away with everything, and yet Lex, Lana, and sometimes even Chloe get painted as the bad guys when a lot of the time, what they've done, isn't any worse than what he's done? Just once I'd like for someone to throw the truth in Clark's face, and it actually get through, but it never does. If anyone could have succeeded I would have thought it would be Lana, but not even her can get through to him. He is so freaking ignorant! As much as I enjoyed the return of Green Arrow, and the introduction of Black Canary, as usual Clark's hypocrisy is too big a hurdle for me to overcome. He tried to make up for it by admitting to Lana some of the bad things he did in Metropolis way back when he was infected with red kryptonite, but it was too little too late. Props to Lana for her earlier points, even though she ultimately backed off in the end. For that brief moment she was the one who really shined in this episode, and made it worth watching. Still only worth 6/7 stars though.
Smallville: Bizarro (2007)
Bizarro, and what's with this Clark being immortal thing?
While I wasn't crazy about Smallville's take on Bizarro (no more so than I have been with most of the other character they've completely retconned) this episode was halfway decent. I especially liked how they focused on the yellow sun giving Clark his strength, and how since everything had the reverse effect on Bizarro the yellow sun would be his weakness. Unlike most things on this show, that actually made perfect sense. I do have one question that has been bugging me for awhile now though. Since when is Clark Kent (aka Superman) immortal? He specifically says in this episode that someday everyone he cares about will be gone. As in they will die. This isn't the first time this has come up either. It's been hinted at in several of the previous episodes. I'm not questioning whether or not Clark can be killed. I know he can be, either by Kryptonite, Doomsday, or something else. My issue is what makes him think that he won't one day just die from old age? I don't read the comics, but I was always under the impression that Superman was NOT immortal. I've even seen incarnations of him where he is an old man, so why has Smallville decided to make him immortal? I don't like it. It's these little things that have made me really come to despise this show. I can't express how glad I will be when I've finished these last four seasons, and can finally just be done with the whole thing. The immortal references aside I would probably rate the episode at a 7, but seeing as I can't get over that hump I'll give it a 5. If I actually liked Clark at this point my rating would probably be higher though.
Smallville: Nemesis (2007)
Inconsistencies with Clark and Kryptonite
It amazes me how so many times Clark's been incapacitated by one little piece of Kryptonite lying a foot away from him, and yet when he's trapped in a mine, surrounded by the stuff, with debris on his back, he is able to just rise up, and keep moving. Not to mention the fact that he also had a piece of shrapnel in his arm. I know he's Superman, but there have been plenty of times when he was uninjured, and one little piece of Krytonite dropped him. So, was he just being a baby then, or what? Considering how he usually passes out from exposure until someone comes in to rescue him he should have never been able to get back to his feet. Of course I always felt that he should be able to crawl away from one little piece of Kryptonite anyway, but whatever. The one saving grace of this episode for me is that it's very similar to an episode from the Superboy TV series called Mine Games, where Superboy and Lex end up trapped in a mine, and have to work together to escape. Still, it's not enough for me to look the other way on such a blatant inconsistency. You can't have Clark be completely incapacitated by one little piece of Kryptonite in every instance up to this point, and then have him get to his feet, and retreat with several pieces scattered around him, and shrapnel in his arm. It just doesn't make sense. The only way I can make it work is to assume that Clark really was just being a baby all those other times, and could have crawled away from the Kryptonite if he had wanted to. I mean, he didn't even appear to be weakened by it all that much when he got up, and he'd been exposed to the Kryptonite on top of an explosion that left a piece of shrapnel lodged in him. Then, later in the episode there's a piece of Kryptonite, across the room from him, and he winces and hesitates. Seriously? That affects him, but the four pieces surrounding him earlier in the same episode don't? Then, when he gets to it, just as close as he's been countless times before, he soldiers through it? Give me a freaking break, and don't say repeated exposure lessened the effects on him. It was just in the previous episode where Chloe crippled him with one little piece of Kryptonite, and he passed out until his mom came home, and found him. Now he can suddenly crawl away from it? It just makes me feel like the writer's have zero respect for the audience, and doubted anyone would notice. The rest of the episode is decent aside from Clark's never ending hypocrisy. I swear if he weren't such a hypocrite the stuff he throws in everybody's faces wouldn't bother me so much. Clark may save people on a daily basis, but that doesn't excuse his behavior. I was glad when Lex left him for dead, but then of course he had to come back. I figured he would, but still. Part of me hoped he wouldn't. In real life I would never advocate for leaving someone for dead, but Clark is always such a self-righteous prick. I wouldn't have blamed Lex if he had made a run for it. My favorite part of the episode, though, would have to be at the end when Clark's talking to his mom, and wonders if he's partly to blame for who Lex has become. Questions if maybe he gave up on him too soon. I've always kind of felt like Clark not trusting Lex, is what made him turn on him. Then his mom says that Clark never gives up on people. I'm sorry Mrs. Kent, but your son is not as virtuous as you think he is. He gave up on Lex, and almost never gives anyone else the benefit of doubt. I rate the episode a 3, but I don't even want to give it that.
Smallville (2001)
A Binge Watching Review of Smallville Containing Very Light Spoilers!
It may have taken me 15 years to get around to watching the show, but I finally decided to put my dislike of Tom Welling as Clark Kent aside, and give Smallville a chance. Unlike most of my reviews that usually come from either an absolute love or hate, this one falls right down the middle. Let me start by saying that I am a huge Superman fan. So when I first heard about a show that was going to follow a young Clark Kent I was super excited. I had been a huge fan of the Superboy TV series of the late 80's/early 90's, and always refused to give Lois and Clark a chance due to it's role in the demise of the aforementioned Superboy, so my Superman fix was long overdue. Because of Welling and the lack of suit I decided to pass on it. I still contend that Tom Welling was a bad choice to play Clark, but all that aside the show wasn't terrible. So with that here are my dislikes. The casting of Lana Lang. I'm sorry but Kristin Kreuk is no Lana. She looks nothing like the character. It always ticks me off when a show/movie completely disregards what a character has always looked like. My love for Superboy has made me biased though. As far as I'm concerned Stacy Haiduk IS Lana Lang. Haiduk looked just like her whereas Kruek has dark hair, and dark eyes. That's not Lana Lang, and no matter how hard she tried she never will be. My next complaint might not have been as noticeable if I hadn't binge watched the entire series, but the amount of people cast in multiple roles is astounding. Several actors appeared over and over again. You'd think they could at least bring in new people instead of recycling old ones. This was never more apparent than with the casting of Aaron Ashmore as Jimmy Olsen. Aaron may not have appeared on the show previously, but his identical twin brother Shawn did. Even without this though, his Jimmy Olsen annoyed me beyond comprehension. His constant insecurities got old, fast, and overall I just didn't like him. This show also took way too many liberties with canon leaving me less than pleased more often than not. They bring in a lot of characters from the comics, but most of the time they completely rewrite their backstories so much so that the only thing they have in common in the end is a name. I think my biggest gripe of all though would have to be the hypocrisy of the main character Clark Kent. I have never been subjected to a more self-centered version of Clark Kent in all my life. He could tell all the lies he wanted, especially to his so-called friends, but if one of them kept the truth from him they were the bad guy. At times this would even come at the expense of his friends well being. I understand him wanting to protect his secret, but when this lie causes direct harm to come to the people closest to him I feel that's pushing things a little too far. What was worse is how the show tried to play it off like this was okay because he's Clark Kent, and this is his show. I'm sorry, but there was nothing okay about his actions in several of the episodes. Now on to the things I actually did like. Michael Rosenbaum was a great Lex Luthor. Not on the level of Sherman Howard's Lex on Superboy who to this day remains my favorite version of the character, but worthy of the admiration he receives nonetheless. The casting of Jonathan and Martha Kent was another bright spot, especially in the case of Martha who was played by none other than Lana Lang from Superman 3, Annette O'Toole. I also loved the appearances of both Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder as well as Terence Stamp (General Zod from Superman 1 and 2) doing the voice of Jor-El. Any show that pays homage to the past deserves major props in my book. Erica Durance gets a lot of hate as Lois Lane, but I feel her addition in season 4 was the shot in the arm the show desperately needed. My favorite thing about her was how she never failed to put Clark in his place, which helped to dull the sting of his never ending hypocrisy. Throughout the series though I think my favorite character would have to be Allison Mack's Chloe Sullivan. As far as I'm concerned she was the heart and soul of the show from day one. The show may have wanted you to root for Clark and Lana/Clark and Lois, but I couldn't help shipping Clark and Chloe. I'm sorry, but Clark was an idiot. To quote a line from the show Chloe was the girl of his dreams masquerading as his best friend. The fact that Clark would rather chase after Lana instead of seeing what was right in front of him was the biggest tragedy of the series IMO. Overall Smallville wasn't a bad show. I just wish it had made better casting choices, and been a little more faithful to the source material, but it at the end of the day it is what it is. Is it worthy of all the praise it gets? I don't think so. It seems most people either love Smallville unconditionally or flat out hate it. My opinions are admittedly biased, but I think I've judged it as fairly as possible, and give it 5 out of 10 stars. It's a little heavy on the teen drama at times, but if you're a fan of Superman, and haven't yet checked it out I would definitely recommend it.
Superboy: To Be Human: Part 2 (1992)
Possibly the most illogical episode of the entire series...
Let me start by saying that I love Superboy. During it's short four season run it was my favorite show. Sure, it was campy and all that, but that was part of the show's charm. However, the reason I decided to review this episode in particular is because there's something about it that's always bothered me. In Part 1 Superboy and Bizarro go to this research lab run by Dr. Danielle Lynn (played by Patricia Helwick) with hopes of increasing Bizarro's intelligence, and integrating him into society. That seems like a noble enough cause. Anyways the two of them enter this machine which deals in brain wave transferal. Upon exiting the machine it's revealed that Bizarro has become smarter, but at the same time Superboy's powers have been weakened. Later in the episode Dr. Lynn performs a graft with synthetic skin to make Bizarro appear more human. No side effects are incurred. At the end of the episode Chaos (played by Paul McCrane) captures Superboy, and in Part 2 vows to drop him off the tallest building in Capitol City. After learning of this, Dr. Lynn and Bizarro discuss what can be done to help Superboy, and Dr. Lynn suggests reversing the procedure. This is where my gripe lies. All this procedure should have done is return Bizarro's intelligence to it's original state. It should not have affected his skin grafted face which was achieved through a separate procedure altogether. So why then does his face revert back to it's original form? I know I'm nitpicking here, but this is something that has bothered me since I first saw the episode as a young child. I get that it was done to show how Bizarro was capable of committing a selfless act in order to help Superboy, but it really bothers me, and makes no sense from a logical viewpoint. If I didn't like the show so much as a whole, and were it not for the soft spot I still hold for this episode I'd rate it a lot lower than 6. Aside from that, though, it's a good episode.
The Final Destination (2009)
Worst CGI I have ever seen!
I couldn't bring myself to rate it as low as 1, but I wouldn't blame anyone else for doing so. I've always been a fan of the first 3 Final Destinations, but hadn't gotten around to watching the last two until a day ago. The other reviews are 100% correct. This is the worst one in the series. The acting is pathetic, and not the least bit convincing. The CGI is literally the worst I have ever scene. Most of the time you can tell CGI is fake, but it's usually not so in your face obvious. This looks like it came out of a TV movie from the 90's. Yes, it's that bad. Maybe the 3D has something to do with it, but that's no excuse. The characters themselves are all dull, as are the actors who portray them, and I can't for the life of me figure out how they ever got the roles in the first place. This was seriously the best they could find? All the Final Destinations are over the top, and almost all of the actors in the series have seemed to be trying a little too hard, but in this one it's like they're not trying at all. Look, I like 1, 2, 3, and 5, but 4 doesn't even deserve to be included in the franchise. The CGI in 5 is just about as bad, but at the end of the day it's still a better movie. I hate to keep harping on the CGI, but it doesn't make sense for CGI in 4 to look worse than it did in 1, 2, and 3. CGI is supposed to improve over time, not get worse. I'm honestly embarrassed for everyone involved in the production. The story was absolute rubbish. Even the editing and cinematography was garbage. I can't believe anyone actually got paid to make this movie. It's horrible. I won't go so far as to say that it's the worst movie I've ever seen, but it's pretty darn close. I'd only recommend it to fans of the Final Destination franchise, and as an example of how not to do CGI. Otherwise, just stay away from it. You've been warned.
Final Destination 2 (2003)
A Worthy Successor to the First Film!
Judging from the other reviews it seems most people either love this movie, or flat out hate it. I fall somewhere in between. I saw the first Final Destination in theaters, and at the time thought it was one of the better horror movies I'd seen. I no longer feel that way, although I do think it's one of the better ones to come out of the late 90's/early 2000's period. In the first one I felt like the lead Devon Sawa overdid it a little bit, in turn making the movie more unbelievable every time I watch it. While I wouldn't go so far as to say that Final Destination 2 is better, I will say that I think A.J. Cook played a better/more believable lead. Aside from her I liked Michael Landes as the cop, but the rest of the cast left a lot to be desired. Ali Larter, who played Clear in the first movie, returns for the sequel helping to bridge the two stories together. Clear was my favorite character in the first, so it was nice to see her return. The deaths are much more elaborate in this one, and quite gruesome. Which shouldn't come as a surprise considering that by that time all horror movies had become disgustingly brutal. A lot of people seem to think that that's the appeal of horror movies, but it's not. At least not for me. I've always been more interested in the plot/story aspect, and one thing I've always liked about the Final Destination series is that they make you think. I'm not saying the deaths aren't cool, because they are, and considering how lackluster I found this supporting cast to be I got much more enjoyment out of watching their untimely demise than I would have had the characters been more likable. If you liked the first Final Destination chances are you'll like the second. That's about all I can say without giving anything away. I'd recommend it to any horror fan though. Instead of some deranged psychopath tormenting the characters, it's death itself. Which is pretty cool if you stop and think about it. As a horror fan I'd like to rate it higher, but the supporting cast is so disappointing that I just can't bring myself to do it. Although Ali Larter, A.J. Cook, and Michael Landes carry the others as best they can, it's still not enough to justify a rating higher than a 6 for me. As far as early 2000's horror goes though, this is one of the best, and without question a worthy successor to the first film.
Fuller House (2016)
If you liked Full House, you'll love Fuller House!
Let me just start by saying that I rarely ever give anything a 10 star rating. I just finished watching all 13 episodes in one sitting, and I couldn't get enough of it. I'm sick to death of all the negative reviews this show is getting. I don't know how you can be a fan of the original, and not love Fuller House. I went in with very low expectations, and still can't believe how much I enjoyed it. Look, I'm not above criticism. I can't even watch a rerun of Full House without cringing, and though I found myself cringing a couple of times during Fuller House it wasn't bad cringing. The show didn't try to reinvent itself to match today's times. It was Full House part 2. Anyone criticizing Fuller House either wasn't a fan of the original, or hasn't watched it in so long that they forgot what the show actually was. It was never must-see TV. It was fun. A lot of people tend to get all bent out of shape over fan service, but I am the complete opposite. The more fan service the better. I can never get enough of that stuff. If you're looking for callbacks to the original, and classic catch phrases you won't be disappointed. Fuller House delivers in every way that it could, and more. It's nice to see that in a world where everything else is different, the Tanner's remain the same. They say that this was for the fans, and whether true or not IMO they fully delivered. Don't listen to the negative reviews. If you liked the original you most likely will like this one as well. I know I did.
Song of the South (1946)
Why is this movie banned???
I'm 30 years old, and before today I had never even heard of Song of the South. After learning of it I knew that I had to see it, and judge it for myself. Well, I did, and I thought it was a pretty good movie. Is it the best Disney has to offer? In my opinion, no, but had I been allowed to see it as a child I might have viewed it more highly than I do as an adult. For the life of me I can't understand why Disney banned it. Because it portrays slaves as happy? Because it portrays them at all? It's a kids movie, and one that was made when segregation was still prevalent for that matter. Frankly, I'm surprised a movie like this got made at all in 1946. With everybody up in arms over political correctness these days, I feel Song of the South hasn't got a chance of getting an updated release, and it's a shame. My four year old watched part of it with me, and he thought the animated scenes with Br're Rabbit were hilarious. I'd love to see a version of this movie cleaned up and restored as the version I saw was pretty dark, and some parts were hard to make out. It baffles me how James Baskett could win an honorary Oscar for his role as Remus, and Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah could win for original song, and then Disney pretend that this movie never even existed. How does this happen? It's a disgrace that more children aren't given the chance to see Song of the South. I hope one day that changes, but for now I'm not going to hold my breath, and just be glad I was fortunate enough to see it at all.
Grey's Anatomy: Now or Never (2009)
I have one problem with this episode, and it's a big one...
Let me start by saying that I liked the episode. I really did, and I understand why the other user's have given it high reviews. It certainly deserves it. With that being said, I have a serious problem with the episode. Before today, I had only ever watched Now or Never once, back when it originally aired. This time, of course, I was watching with the pre-knowledge that John Doe is in fact George O'Malley. The issue I have though is this. The last time we see George before he gets hit by the bus it's 4 1/2 minutes into the episode, when he tells Bailey he's joined the army. Exactly 1 minute and 1 second later the ambulance rolls up with John Doe aka George O'Malley inside it. How much time are we to believe has elapsed in this meer 1 minute and 1 second? I know it's only an hour show, so things have to happen off camera, but seriously? Now I must add that prior to George's reveal to Bailey that he's joined the army, he also mentions that he's on his way to scrub in with the chief for a surgery. Comments are made throughout the episode that lead us to believe that this actually happened. That George has been safe and sound in the O.R. the whole time. It's only later, at about 37 minutes in, that we find out that George never scrubbed in. That the chief, instead, after finding out that he joined the army sent him home to be with his mom. Can you say convenient? I can't help but think that this was a ploy by Shonda Rhimes herself in order to make the reveal that John Doe is in fact George O'Malley all the more shocking, and it worked. It clearly worked. I doubt anyone, including myself, ever saw it coming. I was shocked. Yet, when I watch the episode now, knowing who John Doe is, it just doesn't seem like that 1 minute and 1 second is enough time for George to leave the hospital, get hit by a bus, get picked up by the ambulance, and be brought by that ambulance back to the hospital. The only thing that happened in between was a conversation between Meredith and Christina about Meredith and Derek getting married. That was it. Had there been 10, or even just 5 minutes in between it would have been so much more believable. I hate to be one to nitpick, because it really is a good episode. I'm fine with everything other than the amount of time between the last time we see George and when the ambulance rolls up with John Doe. Were it not for that I'd probably rate the episode at a 9 or 10, because the actors, all of them really knocked it out of the park with this one. As it is though, I just feel like Shonda Rhimes pulled a fast one, and didn't think anyone would notice. I noticed, and I didn't like it. I want to give this episode a fair rating, in spite of Shonda's trickery, but I just can't bring myself to rate it any higher than a 6. If you don't believe me, watch it again. I felt like I'd just gotten whiplash it happened so fast. It's still a good episode though.
Grey's Anatomy: Some Kind of Miracle (2007)
Miracle, maybe, but still too unbelievable for me...
Okay, let me just start by saying that I am a huge Grey's Anatomy fan. A couple of days ago I decided to binge watch Season 2, because I hadn't seen it in a while, and I remembered it being my favorite. Once I finished with Season 2 I decided to re-watch Season 3 as well. Overall Season 3 is nowhere near as good as Season 2 was IMO, and this 3 episode ark is one of the things I have a major problem with. Some Kind of Miracle is the perfect title for this episode, but I have a hard time believing that even a miracle could have saved Meredith's life. I am no doctor, but really? There's no way. My mind refuses to believe that there is a way. I don't know how long Meredith was supposedly in that water, but the show makes it seem like a really long time. Much longer than I think any human being could survive, and if they did, I can't believe that they would just wake up, and be okay afterwards. There would have to be some brain damage or something, and that's assuming they ever woke up at all. Plus, the whole caught in between thing I found to be a little ridiculous. I know Grey's Anatomy is pretty much a prime time soap opera, but this was little too soapy even for me. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it is possible for someone to survive what Meredith did, but I would have to see it to believe it. Aside from the believability thing, the episode itself was alright I guess. The actors knocked it out of the park, as usual. As much as I love Grey's Anatomy, this episode started a trend that would continue, and ultimately lead me to walk away in either Season 6 or 7, I can't remember which. What I mean by trend is the overthetop, no way in a million years that would ever happen story lines. Anyone who's watched the later Seasons should know what I'm talking about. It wasn't only that though. The original cast was incredible. There are few shows where I can look at a cast, and honestly say that I like all of them. With Grey's Anatomy at one time I could say that. So even as much as I dislike Season 3 (these 3 episodes in particular) it's still one of the better ones, because it still had the original cast. If you can get past the soap opera feel of this episode, you should enjoy it
Goosebumps (2015)
An entertaining thrill ride!
I never read any of the Goosebumps books growing up, but I did watch the TV show. I have to say that I found Goosebumps The Movie to be incredibly enjoyable. Going in I set my expectations really low, and still expected disappointment, but this movie never failed to deliver. Out of all the movies I have taken my son to see this year, this one was without a doubt my favorite. Jack Black, as usual, was an absolute riot as R.L. Stine. I'm not going to get into the overall plot or anything, but I do feel that there were a few things that could have been explored more. As other reviewers have stated I would have liked to maybe see one of the individual stories adapted into a movie instead of condensing them all into one, but all things considered it worked well enough. The characters were mostly likable, with only one who kind of got annoying at times. Nothing too bad though, the kind of thing you'd expect from a movie like this. Some parents may fear that it might be too scary for their kids, but from a parent of a 4 year old that's highly unlikely. In truth, I loved it, but in trying to remain objective I'm only going to give it 8 stars, even though in my opinion it deserves 10.