Change Your Image
a-ross1-941-927078
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
The Recruit (2022)
No comparison to any "spy" series, ever
I've seen a number of reviewers who claim this is either spy stuff, or a comedy, or a GenX teen movie and maybe it's intended to be all of those, but it seems it has no idea what it wants to be. I only made it through about 40 minutes of the first episode and saw more than enough to know I'd only waste more time trying to let it grow on me.
The pretext of the story is ridiculous , the plot line is laughable, the characters only paper cutout stereotypes of people the creators think they needed to fill the screen. Not a single one is believable, save maybe the gruff CIA head, tho his judgement in turning the Recruit loose on his adventures certainly calls into question how he holds any responsible job.
If it's supposed to be just funny fantasy, a la James Bond, then let it be that. But those that saw humor in any of this mess have pretty low standards.
The Diplomat (2023)
I'm only through three episodes...
.... But after reading many comments here on IMDb I can second my praise for all of the complimentary reviews. The many comparisons to the West Wing reveals a demographic of viewers who were old enough to remember Sorkin"s creation from twenty or so years ago. I recall those day well, but The Diplomat does not seem to encompass a political ideological position, whereas the West Wing was a decidedly Liberal administration. Keeping the Red vs. Blue schism that has afflicted our country out of the context of the show is a great thing. I'm so tired of all the Woke vs Redneck stuff that has been stirred up to create the division we see today. It's nice to enjoy a show that is political but not divisive.
BattleBots: Champions (2022)
Have to agree...
...with the reviewers who have gotten more and more disappointed with the formats that have evolved .. Giant Nut, Silver Bolt, Bounty Hunter, etc. I can't keep track. I still record three hours or so of content every Thursday but would never watch it live. With a max of four fights an hour, that makes 12 minutes of action, less with knockouts, and the efforts to fill the remaining time with a million commercials and stupid " fight, fight, fight,'" screaming from the "fans" makes it worse.
Are these teams competing to win money? Who sponsors them? A little backstory on competitors would be interesting. More time showing working on repairs in the pits. How much does it cost to field a bot? Other human interest things to break up the show. And get rid of the interminable announcements. From the minute Farouk gets the mike to the start of the fight is 3-4 minutes, plus 6 more minutes of commercial time. And always the same. Makes it easy to fast forward and i guess the sponsors are aware nobody will ever see their stuff.
If We Built It Today (2019)
Turn on closed captions and mute the narrator
This looked like it might be an interesting anthology of all the monuments, bridges and other structures. It's a shame there was very little new information but the thing that makes it unwatchable .or maybe listenable s a better word, is the presentation style of the narrator.
Our narrator is "over-emoting" and seems to believe he s disclosing the most shocking incredible details of virtually every step of every project, and after all it's just history.
Maybe he is trying to interject a "wow" factor into what is after all middle school history stuff. If the objective of the series s to rerun it in classrooms when the substitute teacher doesn't have any other content available it might keep a few kids awake.
Alaska Daily (2022)
Fact check on Defense Secretary
I've enjoyed the first several episodes as Hilary joins the crusade to help the cause of the Alaskan women who have been disappearing. One of the side story plots involves her "exile" from Washington after a problem documenting the corruptness of the Defense Secretary. When he finally shows up in Alaska.... About episode 4, I'm surprised to see he's appearing in the uniform of a General .. the writers who dreamed this up have obviously little or no knowledge of our government . The Secretary of Defense is always a civilian, and a former military officer cannot even be considered for the post until he's retired for a number of years. Sad to see this factual error get in the way of a good story.
Road Trip Romance (2022)
Can I write a review based on ten minutes viewing?
Another road trip Hallmark movie. Wow. I never wondered how it was going to end, and I couldn't bear to go thru another one with what had to be the most predictable plot that Hallmark uses. I noted a number of reviews that all the couples in the movie follow the new woke "diversity" push, and there have been a number of actors, producers, etc that are deserting Hallmark Channel for GAC. I don't like to think of myself as bigoted but when this obvious theme takes over all the plots it just gets in the way and is distracting at least.
The Wedding Trip (2021)
Cannot understand the critical reviews
Yes.. it's an indie flick. So a lot of actors we've not seen, and sure they're maybe not A listers, but I found that getting to know them was part of the fun. The hippie nature photographer with the Jeep is really a Doctors Without Borders guy, the gal has a lot of creative entrepreneurial skills... but it takes time thru the movie to gradually learn who they are. The interactions with the guy's parents were the funniest part of the flick. We all know where everybody is going to wind up, but this is a Road Trip romcom you should really watch and enjoy.
Wayne (2019)
Who cares what happens to Wayne?
OK, I'm well past 50 so not in the target audience. But even to millennials and younger this has to be the darkest, trashiest "entertainment" available. I got thru episode one, then asked myself if there could be any outcome that might interest me, but the thought of wading thru nine more episodes of mindless violence and stupidity was gonna be too much. I just don't care.
Reacher (2022)
Really looking forward to more...
Only binged thru four episodes so far, but this. Is way more Reacher than Cruise could ever create. Most of the actors are relatively unknown which helps create a clean slate for the new Reacher. On the downside... haven't we done the "small corrupt Southern town" thing long enough? Too many fights early, with Reacher whupping ass with every redneck in town.... But it's what we expect, huh.? Lady cop that's a fixture in all Reacher books is played really great.... Tough and sexy and.... Watch the show!
Alita: Battle Angel (2019)
Big eyes?
I have not scrolled through the 2800+ reviews here, so this observation may have been made already. I'm not a watcher of anime or sci-fi but happened upon this movie on FX. Anita's eyes are described as "Margaret Keane-like" ie patterned after the paintings of Ms. Keane that inspired the movie Big Eyes. And who played the part of Ms Keane's husband? Christoph Waltz. Coincidence, or great casting??
A Valentine's Match (2020)
Stop the music!!
I usually enjoy the Hallmark stuff as a distraction, and like Lenz in a lot of other stuff but this one s so trite ..... I couldn't get 15 minutes into this without being TOTALLY annoyed by the incessant background music.
Christmas Inn Farmstead (2020)
Really? I checked "spoilers" but I'm not sure it isn't all pretty obvious.
We'll, I made it thru about 10 minutes until I realized that "Chad" (isn't that one of the male Karen names?) is gonna be the lead love interest and he's already such a sleaze. And the two sisters are probably good girl-next-door material, but not the typical Lifetime/Hallmark gals. And they're broke. Duh. I guess this will work on some level for all the struggling 30-something gals who still believe there is a Prince Charming out there, but he should at least be a kind-to-animals chap and not the arrogant dude depicted here. The plot's transparent as it's soon clear he will wind up with the older sister but already I don't care.
A Christmas Arrangement (2018)
Really cringeworthy
I must admit I didn't watch much of this movie, but the opening "cute meet" between our leading lady and a dude in a three piece suit (who dresses like that any more?) ..with his Tom Cruise smile... I knew this was gonna be bad. . I stopped the movie and checked him out and ..duh... he's FAMOUS for being a deep fake Tom Cruise. Other than his looks he has nothing to offer acting wise. And he's a flower designer too. Totally cringeworthy.
Nature of Love (2020)
Poor Olivia
I didn't get thru all of this for a lot of the reasons other reviewers have mentioned, but I'd like to add one comment. The actor (we used to say actress) who played Olivia is quite attractive but she'll alway be the loser in Hallmark movies until she invests in those gleaming pearly white teeth like Katie has.
It Was Always You (2021)
Another fiancé gets shot down.
Yes, it's part of the formula. But I pity the poor actor who signed on to play "George" and had to be a total Schlub from the opening credits. It's hard to put this acting credit on your resume reel. You KNOW he's gonna get dumped as our heroine discovers broader worlds to explore, etc. I hope no one considers this comment as a spoiler.... Ha.
Friends: The Reunion (2021)
I was only a casual viewer back in the day....
...but I was curious how a reunion might be handled. Who was it that said "you can't go home again"? And like many reviewers have said, Corden was an awful choice for hosting. How he stays on tv in any capacity is a mystery. Actually I shouldn't be commenting on the whole show as I was only able to get thru about a half hour of the insipid chatter. Maybe it got better later in the show.
Pikes Peak: On the Edge (2020)
Great documentary
I'm not a real car guy, but motor sports are always a good diversion when there's nothing else on. This show grabbed me on several levels... the challenge of drivers running this obviously dangerous "race". When the real winners are just those that finish. Production values are great... the off track interviews, the seamless editing of in-car video with aerial shots, etc. and the commentary bringing it all together. Great job.
Christmas She Wrote (2020)
It's not just the casting...
Hallmark needs to take a look at the aging of its stable of regulars at in these Christmas epics. Many comments about lack of chemistry between Dylan and Danica, and even though he's only 5 or 6 years older, they look like a father and daughter. Danica can still pass for a mid 30s single working girl, but Dylan is 50-something and looking like it. I'll not comment on the LGBT thing as immoral or anything, but it just seems to be thrown into the flick as a "we understand and support gay rights" editorial. Hallmark needs to recruit a new cast of under 40, maybe closer to 30, actors to play these roles.
As for the plot, dialogue.... I give it a 4.
Check Inn to Christmas (2019)
I can't quite put my finger on it....
..
but there's something about the cinematography and editing in this movie was jarring, and added to the normal cliches mentioned in other reviews, made this a less than average Xmas flick. The director seemed to think that shoving the camera less than a foot in front of every actor's face, rapidly cutting back and forth, was going to add drama to a scene. It just makes you nervous... sort of "get out of my personal space" discomfort.
The Christmas House (2020)
Refreshing new themes in a HHM. (holiday Hallmark Movie)
OK. The few negative reviews that are totally based on the inclusion of a gay couple just need to get over it. This is a pretty good Xmas flick with a few new plot lines and all the happy endings we're used to seeing. Sure, it's mostly predictable but the use of flashbacks, to two different times, was nice.. and of course the parents found a way to recreate their lives. I felt good at the end, and that's the point of a feel- good movie, right?
With Love, Christmas (2017)
Above average Christmas flick
So many formulaic stories.. and this one checks all the boxes. But it's Christmas, and we can just have a glass of wine and pretend our Iives can be this happy and we all live happily ever after. . My only observation is the beautiful girl's teeth whitening went over the top.
The Convenient Groom (2016)
Vanessa, please!
I have to echo all the comments on miscasting Vanessa. The Valley Girl vocal fry is annoying, and she's trying to look at least 15 years younger. But the hair is the worst. I suggest a drinking game where everybody takes a shot each time she flips her mane. Everybody should be asleep or hammered halfway into the movie, which would be a good thing.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
Eye candy for every guy out there
Kristen Bell....Mila Kunis.... what else do I need to say? A lot of creative humor, great scenery (my own memories of romance in Waikiki prejudiced me here). Very annoyed with Russel Brand, whose presence in any scene is like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Love Fraud (2020)
Lots of opinions, pro and con
Yes, it was painfully slow, drawn out much more than necessary. But I cannot agree with all the "1" ratings. It seems most of them come from watchers who say "gee, he was just looking for love". To those who wrote reviews before watching the final episode, watch how he was interrogated by one of the makers of the documentary. He's pleading for understanding, that he's the victim, etc... then he was asked how many times he was married. Spoiler alert. The biggest lies are exposed and his duplicity is apparent to anyone watching. It's easy to see how easily he can lie, manipulate, and take advantage of people. Anyone who excuses this behavior is probably thinking our president is a great guy too.
New Year's Kiss (2019)
Quarantine fodder
Searching for content during the lockdown, I happened upon the "Being Erica" series on amazon, found Erin Karpluk to be a charming romcom lead. Checking what else she might have done, I came across this...on YouTube, ..and found it almost unwatchable. I agree with another reviewer's opinion that the CONSTANT background music was a real distraction, but it was the camera work that was even more annoying. Every head shot in the opening scenes the camera was "in your face" back and forth, and I just got I,patient with how it was going. Getting to the "cute meet" with the accountant evolved into a terrible crowd scene with people coming out of nowhere,, again and again..where I just wanted to stay STOP! This is about as far as I got.
Having just watched the thirty year old Erin in Being Erica, meeting her ten years later was like running into a girl you knew in college and hadn't seen since... who has had a little "work done" and put on a couple of pounds. Yeah, I don't look the same either. We all mature, but trying to play the same girl somehow just didn't fit.