Change Your Image
danj127
Reviews
Tales from the Loop: Parallel (2020)
You can skip this episode!
Now that I have finished the first season In retrospect this episode is totally out of place with the overall story arc. It does not serve the larger story so it is reasonable to ask why was it made? I hope we are beyond creating art to reinforce tolerance in sexual orientation. It seems like a well worn path that is unnecessary in 2020. For me the only take-away from this story is a confirmation of a theory I have had in regard to the universe in which the loop exists. On a larger note I felt "Tales From The Loop" is a masterful piece of science fiction storytelling. It is science fiction that is story driven and thought provoking. This hearkens back to an era of science fiction writing that operated on a deeper level. This is a real gem that I am sure will not get the credit it deserves in a time of short attention spans and immediate gratification. You have to relax into this, like a good book. I cross my fingers that another season is coming. This type of entertainment is sorely lacking today.
Alpha House (2013)
I wanted to like it
I really wanted to love Alpha House. The 1st season was entertaining and an easy watch. The 2nd season turned hard left and preachy and the writing seemed high jacked with an agenda. The result was predictable...the funny suffered. Such a shame and big turn-off. Now it just feels like a left wing production designed to highlight liberal perceptions of Republicans thinly veiled as entertainment. Satire can be fun and entertaining but it is obvious when it goes over the line into digs to reinforce liberal perceptions. I am debating whether to give Alpha House another go. Like I said I want to like it. Why not lampoon with right as well as the left. There should be plenty of crazy on both sides of the aisle to find funny. The show would be so much better if it was the comical voice of the political class.
Unbroken (2014)
Slightly more entertaining than a documentary
The story is amazing and inspirational yet I would rate the movie as good not close to great. What the script lacked was imagination and a story arch. Another disappointing failing was any attempt at character development. With such rich source material it is very disappointing. The potential was for so much greater. I was rooting for this movie! The movie represented simply a telling of events that occurred in this man's life. Perhaps the pressure was great to fit it all in but left a "matter of fact" feeling of the telling. Despite the movie's shortcomings the acting was solid and photography beautifully done. Overall the true life story of Louie is so inspirational that at the end of the movie the theatre erupted in applause which spoke more to the life lived than the quality of the movie.
Utopia (2014)
I want my time back....
I tried to watch it I really did but after a few episodes in it is just can't take it. The main focus is on the evils of capitalism and goodness of collectivism and generally how and where to hookup. Other than that it is basically hanging out not doing much. Pretty boring really and a shocking indictment of the ignorance in our society today. I mean you see it on the "man on the street" interviews but wow I guess I can see how Obama got elected twice. Sad future for this Country when free enterprise and individual achievement is seen as greedy and evil. If you want something along a similar vein that is really thought provoking check out "we live in public" a documentary of Josh Harris a .com pioneer and millionaire who conducted social experiments in the 90's. It is truly fascinating...
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
I enjoyed the film but too long
I enjoyed the movie. That being said it was too long. Typical of what happens when you have a celebrity director (who is amazing by the way) has final cut and can't leave anything on the floor. The debauchery was well established so could have easily cut 30-45 min from movie and the storyline would have been much tighter. I found it to be great adult escapism and so well directed and acted you have to respect the effort. I am basically the same age as Jordan Belfort so the film is great nostalgia visually. We live in such different times with the populist movement and attack on capitalism. If you read history there has always been excess on Wall Street but that being said it is Wall Street that consolidated capital to build America and fuel the technological advances that have improved the lives of countless millions. I would take 100 Jordan Belfort's in the system as opposed to the progressive movement of collectivism that treats capital as a finite commodity.
Under the Dome (2013)
Propaganda
The over the top propaganda of this show is so full of left leaning themes it is totally distracting and ruins what should be light Summer fare. I was actually looking forward to Under The Dome when I saw who was behind it. It insults on every level. Aside from throwing in a lesbian interracial couple...which for me is whatever (like I really care). You can almost feel in the dialog how proud the writers are that they are bringing this enlightened view to us ignorant Americans. They play every stereotype (seems like all the country folk have guns and simple thoughts). To me this all comes across as lazy dialog from the writers. Pretty easy for them to play to their own view of what lies beneath in the fly over country between LA and New York. What suffers is any type of real character development. I have tried to stomach it since I like SciFi but after a few episodes it is dull as dirt.
The Watch (2012)
Awful
Really...was watching on HBO and still could not stomach the entire movie. I have seen this same buddy movie like 4-5 times and it gets more tired each time. How do these films get green lighted? I kick myself that against better judgment I went to see the google movie. Vince Vaughn is proof that one good movie (Swingers) is all it takes to make a career. His range is about 3 degrees. You could cut and paste his facial expression and dialog into any of his last dozen movies. I suppose you have to give the guy credit for making the most of what he had. I can't see where in 15 years any of these actors will be playing at the box office. I know I have been tough on these guys but come on this is just not good and a waste of capital. Crowd Sourcing may be e better was to go to fund movies. Just bypass these studio executives...put some real movie lovers in charge!