Change Your Image
sundevil86
Reviews
His Only Son (2023)
Didn't Fulfill Its Potential
This movie made up elements and left out such important ones. God's covenant with Abraham, God's speaking with and providing for Hagar, the visitation by the Lord and prophecy of Issac's birth in the coming year (when Sarah laughed, giving Issac his name). I would have preferred the story to be told linearly so we could have agonized with Sarah over her infertility, rejoiced at Issac's birth then really felt the gut punch when God tells Abraham to sacrifice his only son. Also I would have liked to have seen more clearly portrayed Abraham's faith in God's promise that Issac would be the seed to generations and therefore God might even resurrect Issac if necessary. (Hebrews 11:17-19). The movie fell short of my expectations, but I'm glad it has spoken to so many. Hopefully the director will consider sticking more closely to scripture in his future endeavors.
Spencer (2021)
Just horrible
What a horrible film. This was so disrespectful to Diana's legacy and an insulting slap in the face to anyone who loved her. It was a fabricated tale based on tabloid headlines, the soundtrack was annoyingly grating the entire time and the acting was forced. Plus we couldn't understand one word Kristen Stewart said until we turned on the captions. I would have turned it off 5 minutes onto the movie, except we are watching all the Academy Award nominees. Spoiler alert, I don't think she will win with this. It was utter rubbish.
Don't Look Up (2021)
Decent satire, not Oscar worthy
This dragged somewhat but in the end I was glad I watched it. Good performances, wry, dark humor. I told my kid this would be a great movie to watch with friends because it will give you a lot to discuss afterwards. It was a little long because the writers had to make *all* the points.
I felt it resonated more in terms of the global response to Covid rather than climate change, and I think I figured out why. The time frame of this movie created a sense of urgency that climate change does not. You just wanted to shake some of these people and say "Hello??!! Are you even hearing what these scientists are telling you??" Kind of like one might want to with Covid deniers. And then all the ridiculous divisiveness that followed in the movie aligned with what happened in the world following the start of the pandemic. But I also now see that the whole message that billionaires and lobbyists in bed with politicians are trumping the data and facts is more aligned with climate change. So, yes, pretty political movie either way you look at it.
Entertaining, worth watching, not a waste of my time, but an Oscar nominee? I don't think so. Hollywood nominated it so we'd go watch it and they could preach their message to more of us.
In the Heights (2021)
Entertaining, but too long and not as good as Broadway
Gotta start by saying I was SO excited for this and wanted to love it. The first time I saw In the Heights on Broadway I went expecting to hate it (not a fan of rap) but LOVED it instead. But for me, the movie adaptation fell a little flat, so I left the theater disappointed. Honestly, I think it would have been much better without the added dialogue, as 1) it made the movie a bit too long and caused it to drag in spots and 2) some of the actors, who are clearly excellent musical stage actors, just weren't that great during the straight up dialogue parts. I'm not sorry I saw it or spent the money, but it just didn't wow me the way I expected. Loved, loved Lin-Manuel's cameo. That might have been the highlight of the whole movie for me.
Vice (2018)
Just so dull and biased . . .
. . . which, if you stay until beyond the end credits must make me either an ignorant Conservative or a clueless Millennial, take your pick. At least I did stay until the end which is more than I can say for the couple next to us who left mid-way through. Its pretty simple-if you are liberal you will ignore the way McKay plays fast and loose with facts and blames Cheney for everything from the start of ISIS to global warming and you will love this movie. If you are conservative you will ignore the fine acting and hate this movie. If you are a Millennial you'll leave scratching your head and go see Fast and Furious.