Reviews

Regardless of content ... it is beyond me how someone could put together a production that is frequently totally inaudible! Yes I'm talking about all the courtroom recordings that sound like they were captured by a 1970 cassette recorder from Radio Shack (the one that was $9.99). The fact they would not take the time to augment with subtitles tells me this is a very questionable and lazy production.

Regardless of content ... it is beyond me how someone could put together a production that is frequently totally inaudible! Yes I'm talking about all the courtroom recordings that sound like they were captured by a 1970 cassette recorder from Radio Shack (the one that was $9.99). The fact they would not take the time to augment with subtitles tells me this is a very questionable and lazy production.

Regardless of content ... it is beyond me how someone could put together a production that is frequently totally inaudible! Yes I'm talking about all the courtroom recordings that sound like they were captured by a 1970 cassette recorder from Radio Shack (the one that was $9.99). The fact they would not take the time to augment with subtitles tells me this is a very questionable and lazy production.

I love a great western series ... especially one that provides the historical context of the settlement of the west. 1883 (2022) ... Hell On Wheels (2011) ... Into The West (2005) ... Deadwood (2004) ... and Centennial (1978) are great examples.

Sadly, How The West Was Won isn't ... and to be honest it has not aged well at all. It's all there ... the worst of the late 70's television miniseries. We're talking B grade actors ... bad acting ... poor direction and a really weak script that fails to tell a big story.

My biggest complaint is the incongruity ... the inconsistencies ... between season 1 and season 2. It's like season 2 is a whole new show and the season 1 cliff-hanger is a total after thought. Combine that with the late 70's made for TV quality and I was looking for the doors.

My advice ... don't waste your time on this 46-year-old made for TV schlock! Focus on the series I mentioned above.

POST: Godless (2017) is by far the best western miniseries ever! It is light in historical context but man is it outstanding in every other way!!!

This is a great documentary ... about a great president!

It cannot be denied that the first African American president would need to be a great man ... much like the first African American major league baseball player (let's hope you know who that was). Simply put, it's not an easy row to hoe and you need the greatest courage and conviction

Let's be real ... BHO is a great person ... a great human being ... a person who lives to make the world a better place ... and most importantly a person who lives a moral life. To be honest he is the man they told us in Sunday school to emulate ... he is in fact a great "role model."

Haters should know that this is not an unbiased documentary. It is a puff piece that admires the man for all he has accomplished and all he aspires to be. That said ... those with closed minds ... those with prejudiced minds ... should go and watch something else because they will not like what they see. So why watch it? Why make yourself angry? Why make others angry?

In the end this documentary must be judged as a "puff piece" about a man that is not only historically significant but is greatly admired by a huge number of fellow Americans ... and I for one loved it!

There is no longer a need to discuss whether there will be a S5 ... as the miserable S4 has clearly sunk the franchise. I mean it's hard to even think of this series as Fargo when it takes place in Kansas City ... with Italian and African American mobsters. WTFIT???

Such a shame ... S1 - S3 were 9.0's ... S4 is a 5.0. Somebody needs to get fired!!!

Most folks couldn't care less where their food comes from ... as long as it's cheap and tasty and readily available. Yet when you think about it ... is there anything more important than where our food comes from ... the quality of that food ... and the negative consequences associated with bringing that food to our tables?

These are things we need to be aware of and I applaud Netflix for shedding some light on these issues. In many ways this is a series that that follows in the footsteps of the great documentaries "Food Inc" and "Cowspiracy"

Feeding the people of our planet is big business. It has traditionally been the livelihood of millions of individuals around the world, but this is changing. There are billions of Dollars at stake and anytime that kind of money is on the table we need to be watchful as the profit motive can be a very evil force that crushes the individual.

I enjoyed this series and I learned a lot from it (whoda thunk that drug cartels were taking over the avocado crops). I hope Netflix will produce a 3rd season because there's a lot more to talk about. Sustainability, livelihood and food safety are huge issues for us all.

Such a great idea ... and such poor execution! Recommendations are presented at breakneck speed and are not supported by a book or website ... making it extremely difficult to learn from this show. More so the endless flow of happy horsepoop ... in a 20 minute show ... gets really tiresome. Such a bummer ... this could have been really helpful to many families!

BTW ... check out Amazon ... you see the same comment form many reviewers

We have heard it a million times ... good nutrition is almost impossible for those on food stamps or a food budget. Here you see it first hand. The more fortunate in our society should watch this documentary and thank their lucky stars for their lot in life. More than anything this doc shows ... we must teach all about nutrition and we as a society have failed miserably in this regard!

Predictions tell us that by 2050 33% of the US population will be diabetic ... that will devastate our healthcare system. So much there will be no care for the afflicted. Remarkably, these rates are already occurring in a few SE Texas counties and we can see today where the country is going. Action is desperately needed people! An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

This doc lays it all out and as docs go this is one of the most important I have seen. Kudos to the filmmakers ... job well done ... now get off your arses America as dark days are a comin!

I found this film to be difficult to follow. I kept thinking how are all these folks related and what is the overall point of the film. Perhaps that was due to the lack of a proper narration. And yes I agree that a WFPB diet is a great way to address your ills so I am receptive to the message but this just seemed to be bad writing that lacked a clear message. And what's the deal with the endless shots of the lil red car? Talk about a literary failure!

Why the hate? Sure this is a humble and modest film yet it tells a great story that many can benefit from! Tracy is a morbidly obese woman in her late 20's and through hard work and dedication she is able to shed over 200 pounds by going whole foods and working out daily. This is a message that is applicable to many and perhaps by watching this film they will be inspired to take action. Go forth brothers and sister. Great things can be yours!

This video consists of two distinct narratives ... blended into a single documentary. One is comprised of interviews with some of the biggest names in the Whole Foods Plant Based movement (T Colin Campbell, Caldwell Esselstyn Jr, Thomas M Campbell and Michael Greger) on the benefits of such a diet ... while the other features a wonderful whole foods cooking demonstration/instruction by narrator and director Craig McMahon.

It's an ambitious undertaking ... all told the video is over four hours long ... but there is a huge problem. The doc bounces between interviews and cooking so much it becomes distracting and even annoying. It's like trying to have a serious conversation with someone that keeps changing the subject. This is disappointing because both narratives had great potential.

I wish McMahon could have foreseen this unfortunate synergy and in turn released both halves individually ... as compatriots ... in the same package ... because this would have been really instructive and beneficial.

More so, had this documentary been available on DVD this would not be a problem as DVDs have chapters while the Amazon Prime viewing app on Roku does not ... which means you are constantly fast forwarding.

In the end the interviews are OK ... but it's the cooking demos that make this worth enduring a little frustration. Sorry Craig ... please consider a redo.

I cannot understand why a certain population finds documentaries like this so freaking threatening??? It's like they feel victimized. The facts are simple the earth cannot sustain man's hunger for meat so things will be changing. This documentary gives you a glimpse of what our future may look like as we shift to a plant-based diet. More so it gives you a look at many present trends as this shift is already underway, as well as the technologies that will play a role in this transition.

Like global warming (AKA climate change) this is reality not fanaticisms ... so please open your eyes and try and keep up. Economics dictates that almost all of us will need to change our diet ... meat as we know it today will be a thing of the past. This is evolution ... change comes whether you like it or not. Watch this and you will see where we as a species may be going as we approach a population of 10,000,000,000.

POST: For those who like fact ... this doc has nothing to do with AOC.

POST: Those parts about animal justice ... that was getting pretty silly!

I had high hopes for this film because of the other reviews on IMDB ... what I missed was the 6.6 rating ... which in hindsight is very generous. This film did not work for me at all. First off where did this story come from? Seriously they tell us this is based on a true story but Google Irme Rose and you won't find much. Secondly, the film does a really poor job of explaining what happened in Budapest in 1944 when the Arrow Cross took control and the Nazis deported about 600,000 Jews & Roma in under 6 months. Many other films do a much better job of this.

The English translations did not do the story justice as there were several key points that I didn't catch ... and yes I do understand that Hungary does not translate well. Additionally, the production values were obnoxious ... especially the sound track which was totally unreal and focused on recurring noises like dripping water and clocks ticking and dogs barking. The script was not tight at all and editing was horrible!

I found this film to be obnoxious and really slow paced ... in other words skullduggery! 3 of 10 stars

18 reviewers ... 61.1% give this doc a 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 ... while 38.9% ... 8 total ... give it a one. One cannot help but wonder if they were paid to come here by some organization to slam the doc as it challenged the "Liar In Chief" and the Koch Industries. I am quite sure that they never even took the time to watch it ... let alone write a review it!

Dear trolls ... I got news for you, climate change is very real and if the world does not come together to find ways of rolling back the process the costs to this country and the world are going to be staggering. As a matter of fact, they already are!

I thought this was an exceptional doc that illustrated just how climate change is affecting our country this very day and some of the things local and state entities are doing to prepare as well as curb the process. It should be pointed out that the doc was backed by National Geographic who has always tried to be factual and non-political as well as Bloomberg Philanthropies.

History will not be kind to our "Very Stable Genius." Climate change is a great opportunity for America to lead the world and once again be great ... MAGA. Hopefully our next POTUS will see the opportunity and necessity.

POST: I loved the part about the Associates Degree offered at Iowa Lakes Community College where grads are making up to $90,000. Talk about opportunity!

POST: For more information on the film check out the article titled "Paris to Pittsburgh' film: Climate change doesn't have to divide us" from the December 8, 2018 Detroit Free Press. It was written by Fiona Kelliher.

This series has 30 forty five minute episodes! How is that possible? I watched X-Ray Mega Airport (5 eps) & British Airways: A Very British Airline (3 eps) & City In The Sky (3 eps) & Heathrow: Britain's Busiest Airport (15 eps) and they all ran out of original material and became very redundant. Of all of the aforementioned City in the Sky was by far the best so save your time ... unless you like the same thing over and over and over.

PS: Please know that I could be wrong as I did not watch this ... but there is no way I am investing that kind of time in this series

The only thing good about this 5 X 60 mini-series is the typical production values we find in modern BBC Masterpiece productions. This looks and feels like Northern Ireland in the 40's during WW2 and that is commendable. Beyond that everything else is downright horrid! Seriously, the story is remarkably weak in historical context ... especially when you consider it's unique and intriguing setting (Ireland was neutral during WW2).

Worst of all ... the lead character ... the bug-eyed Rose Coyne ... as played by Hattie Marahan. Dear God, did Marahan over act the part (watch for the non-stop bulging eyes and you will know what I mean ... she acts as if everything is horrifying). This is honestly one of the worst performances I have seen on Masterpiece and I couldn't help but wonder why the director did not intervene???

Sadly, it is nothing more than a silly soap opera ... that features a lot of bad acting & directing & writing ... and it's easy to understand why a season 2 never occurred. Twas a merciful "cutting of bait."

3 of 10 stars in respect of the production values

I liked Last Ship a lot! It really shed a great light on the USN and illustrated the capabilities of a modern warship very well! More so, the characters were compelling and were played by very competent and likable actors. At times the show became a little overly patriotic and dramatic but I can live with that. As for the story arc ... the first three seasons were better than the last two but that didn't stop me from watching. My biggest problem was the totally unbelievable and idiotic last 15 minutes of the series ... which made me drop this show down to a 7.0. It really is hard to believe that was the best the writers could come up with. In retrospect it should have ended after S3.

This Swedish series was the inspiration of the AMC series Humans ... which ended in August of 2018. I loved Humans and thus wanted to watch the original. I found and purchased Season 1 with English subtitles ... region 1 ... rather easily (it was a Canadian release). I assumed season 2 would also be easy to find ... but it is not! As a matter of fact it appears that season 2 was never released anywhere with English subtitles. That's pretty dumb ... English is the most common language in the world.

So why would you watch S1 if you cannot watch S2? Don't waste your time folks. But do watch AMC Humans ... which has three seasons.

In December 2014 ... when James Joseph Harbaugh (AKA Jarbaugh) "assumed the position" ... he told us "this is Michigan, there are no "turnarounds" at Michigan, there is greatness, a long tradition of it!" That was kinda weird since the team had gone 46 - 42 over the last 7 years but whatever.

Whatever was right because the minions went giddy!!! The "Corn & Blue" Kool-aide flowed endlessly!!! The prodigal son has returned ... the quintessential "Michigan Man" ... who surely produces Golden Easter Eggs from his "nether regions" ... will lead us to the Promised Land! Confidently they made "Harbs" the highest paid coach in all of football and then went over to Wall-Mart to celebrate (cha-ching). These were indeed the greatest of times in that cozy little hamlet of Ann Arbor.

But two and a half years and $27 million later things were not as pleasing in the village. Jarbaugh was 20 & 6 during his tenure ... a mortal 77% winning record ... and most importantly 1 & 3 against his rivals ... the Mighty Spartans and Merciless Buckeyes. Rumors even circulated that corrosion was found on the Golden Easter Eggs but that was never confirmed.

But Jarbaugh had a plan! In the summer of 2017 ... before camp ... he would go the head of the Holy Roman Catholic Church ... the Pope himself ... and present "His Eminence" with an authentic Michigan Wolverine football helmet made by Riddell. Surely that would make things right in the land of the Wall-mart Wolvies! It was a bold and arrogant plan!

Alas Jarbaugh had made a horrendous assumption ... he presumed that the Pope not only liked American football but Michigan football in particular. Stupid Jarbaugh!!! The guy is from South American, nobody in South American likes American football!

It's since been confirmed that the helmet was sold on Ebay for $39.99 ... Buy It Now ... just three days later! Jarbaugh never learned of this "Papal Smack Down" and broke camp in the fall of 2017 adopting the "All or Nothing" mantra.

Clearly the Pope has a sense of humor as Michigan won their first four games of the season and was ranked #7 when they hosted unranked Michigan State. Surely Jarabaugh's time had come to deliver on that $27 million cash cow. The minions held their Golden Easter Eggs to the heavens! But fate is a fickle mistress and she controls the storm clouds, and once again "Little Brother" had "Big Sister" right where they wanted and handed the "Arrogant Ones" a 10 to 14 loss! Wow, considering "Little Brother" has beat "Big Sister" 8 of the last 10 games you can imagine that the "Big House" had once again become the world's largest vomitorum!

Jarabaugh had once again been exposed and the rains kept coming as Michigan went on to lose to Penn State and Wisconsin and once again to those "Nasty Buckeyes" in that fall of 2017 ... leaving Jarabaugh with no conference titles in three years and a stunning record of 1 & 5 against his rivals! Obviously the golden Easter Eggs had become corroded copper pennies!

But wait there's more! The Big Ten would send 8 teams to bowl games that holiday season, and the 8 & 4 Wolverettes ... because of their "brand" ... were slotted into a New Year's Day appearance against an unranked South Carolina team. Talk about a layup ... yet once again the Pope had the last laugh as the feisty Gamecocks took the "Arrogant Ashes" behind the woodshed for some old school dis'plin!

The Big Ten went 7 & 1 in bowl games that year ... a feat that has never been done before. But that long tradition of "greatness" that Jarbaugh talked about in December of 2014 ... it was nowhere to be found looked! Pride does indeed come before the fall.

So ya, sign me up for 353 minutes of Jarabaugh in his 3rd glorious season (61.5% winning record). Sign me up for 10 episodes of the "Quintessential Michigan Man" showing the world he is the most over paid coach in all of college sports!!! Let's hope those scenes with the Pope and John O'Korn made the cut. GO GREEN ... GO BUCKS!