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johncpickens
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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022)
exceptional storytelling
While not totally JRR TOLKIEN's writing style, it is very close. Detractors: race problem, did not exist in the original story. He let you visualize the characters. So it is a NOT a problem. Stop making it one.
Yes,, he had many races of beings, but no description of skin tone.
One must also remember that in the second age the Valar remade the world, changing everything.
In 2000 years everything will evolve and/or go extinct. Yes Tolkien did cause this to happen to human, elves and others.
Yes the characters, even MELKOR dies and is transform into Sauron. Thing, people, elves and others change and evolve.
The stories as you know them. THE HOBIT and THE LORD OF THE RINGS are but aftermath of the first and second ages. One must realize this and accept that what you first read or watched before RINGS OF POWER are advanced history. That you are seeing the precursors and the backstop to TOLKIEN'S beloved stories
Yes, he did leave us the precursor and blueprints for the back story. He however left it to our imagination to flesh out and developed. So to critics ans supporters alike, take a piece of salt called imagination, and enjoy the story.
The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018)
excellent
Funny, sarcastic, irreverent and magic. It all describes the cast, acting, the story line, directing. Designed and written for both adults and kids.
Naysayers put down this film,, they have taken themselves way to seriously.
This film is a classic. Watch it BEFORE reading the tilted reviews
loved the comedy, the set up and adult sarcastic banter.
Eternals (2021)
sorry marvel
Beautiful photography.
I do try and not say bad things.
This film is so one dimensional. The printed comic is better. No cohesive plot, wanders all over the place. The character and character development is as flat as can possible be. There were to many 'important' characters. None of them were allowed to develope. The dialog lack imagination. Staging and action is as flat as the characters.
The saving grace is the photography. It is beautifully done.
Do not waste time or money on this.
Onthakan (2015)
a love story
I see that the point of this story has been missed. Even the Key search words are not really correct. That is not surprising. This is after all a Thai ghost story.
In order to understand Thai Ghost Story you need to understand two things. The first and foremost is ghosts are real. Yes, they can be just a real as you or I. Because of this they interact with real people, Sometimes for a good outcome and sometimes of one that Is not so good.
Second: Thai Ghosts have a kind of hierarchy. There is a whole list of them you can find on Wikipedia. I am not a ghost expert but I suspect that Phum may be a Phi-Ka-Taihong. ( a person that does not know he is dead.) My reasoning for this is that Phum is protecting Tam from his actions.
Now to the ending.
The ending is brilliant. Why? Because Phum and Tam become united in the spirit world. Ah, but when does Tam die. He drown while looking at the sky.
There is one othr thing to remember, especially when watching a Thai Ghost Story, Time does not flow as we naturally Think.
Smoke Signals (1998)
One in a million and this is a real jewel
Excellent film funny poignant beautifully filmed well directed. An excellent film worth watching, worth owning. Some have criticized the dialog. It was written by Indians. Some have stated it is not a very good movie. It is an excellent work. Well edited, well directed, well acted. I am not going to go through the list of naysayers. I will just stay they do not understand .
Now lets get down to it. This is an Indy film totally made by Native Americans. That said there are things that will be lost on most of the audience. It is well scripted, well acted, and has a great sense of humor. Evan Adams is truly amazing he actually took and portrayed his character from someone that he knew and made the character believable, Frankly, he should have been given an award. For me he is the true or the epitome of an actor. He brings his character, which could have remained a flat story teller, to life. Excellent job Evan.
For the direction, the characters were believable, the film flowed nicely, with the changes from one time period to present day flawless. Excellent! The actors knew the story and knew their characters and portrayed them well. Again with Evan Adams being excellent.
For those that had low opinions please read the book, then get to know real Indians. You may learn something interesting. For those of you that know me, then you know that I truly believe that this is an excellent film and that I would not steer you wrong. It is a film worth watching. It is a film worth going out and spending 20 bucks for. It is a film that belongs in any collectors library, because it is that epic and that well done.
My reaction to this film, if you haven't figured it out now is in one word, EXCELLENT. It has it's 5 stars and deserves more. John