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Reviews
Ready or Not (2019)
A dark, dark comedy
Ready or Not is a dark comedy. Not meant for the sensitive ones looking for a slap stick comedy.
If you can ignore the killing and blood and can focus on a very strange family with traditions that are bizarre, and a new bride being chased through the house trying to dodge arrows and shotguns, you'll have a blast.
Characters are great, as strange as they may be. The costumes and dark settings only lend to the atmosphere.
The finale is all you could ask.
It's a winner for me!
Rosemont (2015)
Rosemont or Christmas at Rosemont, whatever
I watched this movie at Christmas time because of the present title, Christmas at Rosemont, AKA Rosemont. After watching this movie, I find that although Christmas music begins the opening credits and a Christmas tree is present, this story isn't much about Christmas. It is more about love and understanding. If you want to watch it as a novel christmas movie, do so. If you want to watch it to feel emotion and be human, by all means, do so. I gave it an 8.
The story begins as a pregnant girl and a skateboarder begin a desperate road trip to Denver. The desperation is caused by a massive snow storm in their area. The two crashes through a snowbank and are left to walk to shelter. They come upon the Rosemont Lodge where they are met by shotgun wielding Josephine, (Grace Zabriskie) and caretaker, Abe (Brad Dourif).
Josephine and Abe relent and allow Lisa (Ayla Kell) and Brad (Brendan Michael Coughlin) to shelter in the Lodge. Josephine is a self described 'crazy old recluse' and Abe, the alcoholic handyman for over 20 years at the vacated Lodge.
Tensions warm after discovery that Lisa is very pregnant. Josephine cares for Lisa, and Brad share with Abe improvements that the Lodge could undertake to reopen successfully.
Lurking behind the scene is an unidentified man who is hunting Lisa, and later is identified as Craig (Lochlyn Monro). He has tacked missing person fliers, and portraying her as being kidnapped. Later as he is identified, it's related by Lisa to Josephine that Lisa has fled from Craig because he has contracted to sell her baby.
The Rosemont Lodge was once very famous, housing kings, presidents, and other famous lodgers. The Lodge has been shut down for over 18 years as a result of Josephine and her late husbands loss due to a plane crash killing there daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter. Abe relates that it was most famous for Josephine's cooking.
Josephine contacts Lisa's parents and find that they have no interest left in Lisa because of religious reasons. They do relate to Josephine that Lisa was adopted by them when Lisa was one, after she was originally abandoned at a hospital emergency room.
Before going on and creating a spoiler, I'll say that later the movie involves a great confrontation between Josephine and Craig, Brad getting to Denver and again seeing his girlfriend in Denver, and an eye-opening discussion between Josephine and her old friend, Dr. Molina (Michael Gross).
I loved this movie! The actors are not well known, with the exception of Dourif, but create true to life characters. It moves from tense and desperate, to defense, to understanding and love. Not a "hokie" Christmas "cookie cutter" movie, but a true representation of change, compassion and hope.
The Stand: Pocket Savior (2020)
Episode 2 much better
Episode 2 much better than Episode 1. In depth development of Larry and Lloyd.
A very good cast. There is less skipping around. Flashbacks are less numerous and more in depth. Can't wait for Episode 3. I give Episode 2, a seven.
The Stand (2020)
Glad I read the book and saw the mini-series
I loved the book and the mini-series. I am reviewing based on the presentation, not on how I would have made the movie. The first episode lacks character development. It attempts to develop those characters after introduction, through flashbacks. Without prior knowledge of the book and/or mini-series, I would think that an understanding of the character and their roles would be impossible.
The disjointed, or non-linear, presentation in this episode is very confusing because of their brevity and number. I'm hoping for better with subsequent episodes. It's a 6 because I know what it's all about, a 4-5 if not.