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Reviews
The Unborn (1991)
This Film Can Stop Wars By Reducing Desire To Get Pregnant
Brooke Adams is totally believable as a mentally unstable but highly intelligent character played with depth and all the correct emotional changes as her horror unfolds.
It exposes the husband's role in wanting the child more for his progency desires than the relationship. Although he wrestles with it and plays a good role.
While there are subliminal and overt messages throughout (most not pleasant), the messages are harbingers of pitfalls of having children to satisfy some fabricated fantasy 'to promote the species'. We're approaching 8 billion polluters, wars over real estate and resources beginning, and in 1991, the observation on display here.
The movie's subliminal subtext is why it has there are some 'Karens' (pun not actually intended for the actor playing the DNA Doc) slamming the film. I found it particularly well thought out, and well done on a low budget. I'm glad it was not done 'campy' or 'gory' to either extreme. Moderately cheap kept it from being a few notches more creepy, which could do real mental damage if it was too perfectly done.
Like any good movies, you'll be reflecting on this one a bit afterwards. So if you already have kids: It's just a movie. Nurture them and love them. Be patient and understanding, but firm. So they don't turn into little monsters you'll regret. But if you're on the fence about having kids, this movie definitely would sway you away from that desire. And this why lots of bad reviews.
The director should get some credit. I think every actor cared and really tried. Remember: This was analog era still for most budgets. And lots of scenes may seem underappreciated until you understand all the set work that also had to be incorporated in actors' performance. Just the scenes with the cat are pretty impressive. And I'm glad that one scene with the cat wasn't too realistic. Good call.
Very good movie. But probably young parents shouldn't watch it.
Tin Man (2007)
So Much Budget... Such Terrible Script & Acting
While this sci-fi blended with cartoons and goth is probably great fun binge watching buzzed on some organic weed, the vast majority of the scenes feel like the actors didn't rehearse with good direction building their emotions into the story. Just another formula of nonsensical 'evil with power because, evil !' script to fabricate interest where there isn't any. The special effects and sets vary from fantastic to 1960's Star Trek bad costumes (not a slam against Star Trek, which accomplished amazing effects on low budget production).
I suppose if I'm an RTF student or teacher, Tin Man is a good teaching platform. It could have added some gratuitous nudity to get another star from male viewers, but even that wouldn't save it. Cummings is a good character in traditional character development with good script movies. In sci-fi he's miscast. And his costume is ridiculous.
Terrible Script, Acting and Direction. But commendable special effects and some of the props. For the budget burned: Probably investors learned good writing is greater than big productions.
Virtuosity (1995)
Bullets and Boom Booms, 25 Million Last Second Saves!
You have money to do any movie, and you do this? It's not a low budget brain eraser. They had funds, chose this? Who?!! Whyyyyyyyy??? I watched this at home. Kinda. The plotline moving in and out of reality and other dimensions for some farfetched kidnapping plot to control the world? What was the end game? Who thinks like this? Oh I suppose Jared's GAZA BEACHFRONT CONDOS PLAN pals. A little expensive distraction from what's really happening among us?
I didn't walk away with anything but feeling repulsed by all the real scripts without budgets and this was something someone deemed worthy?
Denzel Washington has a few good movies but he definitely fell into the Bruce Willis ninny scripts. They have names big enough to have chosen better scripts, but apparently their agents thought 'better'? Making all that money for what? What's the legacy? They both did a handful of decent films, but overshadowed by gun slinging and fabricated combat scripts. It's going to be studied who the criminals were pushing those gun products in media, glorifying senseless violence. I really hope the industry sees the genocide result in Gaza is directly connected. And our daily gun violence here at home. Gun Panty Boys ruining life for everyone. It's not my opinion. Statement of fact. Movies like this shouldn't be made. Just more Cadet Skid Marks nonsense.
America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston (2022)
Baratunde Is What America Is All About
I've caught a few episodes randomly and each time I see how Baratunde lifts the spirits of those around him. This gift allows him to connect with others with good souls, and I expect some relocate what's been missing in all of us. Granted, some among us may be too bitter, malicious, mistrustful and fearful to reach. But the bulk of us can do so much more seeking peaceful and friendly interactions without getting upset over differences around the edges.
I recommend anyone have difficulty getting along in life, unable to say a simple hello or not caring if you're upsetting neighbors or family, imagining it's ok to intimidate strangers over superficial appearances and such: Watch a few of these episodes.
It's the people in the different places Baratunde goes to that you come away with finding just as interesting as the places he goes
Proper Job!!!
The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970)
Proof Script, Sets, Great Actors and Direction MATTER!
Wandering grifters end up in a desert with one canteen of water, and from that, many stories begin. What follows is a totally unique plot and lots of adult language. Some humor along the way and rustic characters to go along with the authentically illiterate but intelligent main character. The number of persons without formal education in our frontiers and wild west were most people. Functional spoken English without ability to write it probably the norm and it's a fun part of the movie that brings the viewer into the era. Without adding to much more to spoil the experience for first time watching, while there's some gun play and gun violence, it's not anything that is gratuitous to the plot and isn't overwhelming like too many wild west (and modern 'action movie') plots. Because it's a good script not needing too much embellishment. One thing I can't say is I saw the edited for TV version. The uncut version is on my 'bucket list' as Stella Stevens is quite a specimen who shows all. Fantastic acting to go with her beauty. All characters are top notch and well done by the actors. Very well done. Jason Robards was perfectly cast himself and realistically fit the imperfect main character. Highly recommend this for any genre movie fans but don't take the kids. Nope.
Vanquish (2021)
Notable For Being Morgan Freeman's Worst Movie
Senseless violence, painting all law enforcement as corrupt (which would be full anarchy long ago if true), terrible sound and no real script of note. The Gulf Coast mansion featured is tasteless and sterile. Interesting motorcycle. It felt like the whole movie was sponsored to sell her gun holster and the motorcycle. There are the usual outlandish stunts and amazing physical recoveries from injuries by the main character, with her adversaries unable to hit her with their guns but she of course is able to instantly kill with one shot everyone she comes up against. Some scenes they know she's there to kill them and take their stash, but they taunt her like they want to string it out.. well it's all lame, terrible soundtrack and typical 'goth' gel lighting in every scene because it's trying anything to seem interesting. I can't tell if it's bad direction or the acting ... Or just done on a deadline with only so much budget to do one take scenes but the only interesting thing really is how terrible it is. Surprisingly terrible. Embarrassingly terrible. It's now on my top 10 worst movies I've ever sat all of the way through wishing I did something else instead.