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Car 54, Where Are You? (1961)
The Funnest Sitcom of all Time
Before Fred Gwynne and Al Lewis went on to play Herman Munster and Grandpa Munster in The Munsters they both stared in "Car 54 Where are You" currently available on various streaming services.in what I think was the funniest sitcom of all time. The show is about the fictional NYC Police Department 53rd Precinct in the Bronx. The laughs never stop all 2 seasons of episodes are classics. Toody and Muldoon drive there Captian Block Nuts Just sit back and enjoy
The Flash: Elongated Journey Into Night (2017)
A Weak Flash Episode
I like The Flash it's my favorite current TV Show it seems to run hot and cold episodes 2 weeks ago "Mixed Signals" IMO opinion was the top episode to date in it's almost 4 season run with the A and B Plots really strong this episode "Elongated Journey Into Night" was more a comic story then a attempt atsomething serious I can understand some mild comedy to lighten thingsup. This went way beyond that it was played to be funny it was notfunny I thought it was just plain stupid
Star Trek Beyond (2016)
Worst Star Trek Series or Film of all time
To long time Star Trek fans or "Trekkies" if you prefer we all seem to agree on one thing throughout the 50 year history of Trek in all It's inclinations THE ORIGINAL SERIES, THE NEXT GENERATION, DEEP SPACE NINE , VOYAGER, ENTERPRISE and the Films that the worst of them all was "SPOCK'S BRAIN" from the original series. Well let me tell you BEYOND makes SPOCK'S BRAIN look like it belongs in the top 10 of all time episodes. Seeing BEYOND in IMAX 3 D was amazing you were literally part of the film but you did not have the option of leaving that film. I should not even call this piece of garbage a film it was a video game not a film there were explosions, crashes, firefights, hand to hand combat even a motorcycle chase one in which where Captain Kirk emit's a sort of Amber taken from the FRINGE TV series that J.J. Abrams had a hand in making all that would have been fine if their were a plot any plot . This film is going to leave a stain on the storied history of Star trek O it may find a audience one that likes action films but could not care less if there was a plot . To trek Fans Load Phasers and Photons fire at will this disaster needs to be destroyed.
The Flash: Rogue Time (2015)
Rogue Time Complaint
Right now it seems the entire world knows Barry Allen is The Flash except Iris West and that is annoying. It was as annoying as it it was back in The Adventures of Superman when Lois Land and Jimmy Olsen never figured out Clark Kent and Superman were one and the same person Rather then changing the time line I would be happier if there were multiple timelines Barry and the team had to deal with. The Flash if done correctly can be one of the best Science Fiction TV series ever it has a good looking young cast and some good story lines if they can keep it up I would really be angry if like FRINGE they kept up in suspense for 4 seasons they just shut it down over night.
Fringe: An Enemy of Fate (2013)
5 Season much to short for FRINGE
For 4 Seasons FRINGE may have been the best Science Fiction series ever in television but it's move to Fridays was it's eventful demise. The writers had 1/2 a season of it's normal number of episodes to wrap up the series and it did. I diid not like how it ended and wished it could have continued for another 4 or 5 seasons. Hopefully it still continue on in the alternate universe. The entire case and producers kept us in suspense and wonderment for 5 years you had to pay attention and remember what you paid attention too because questions would be askedand they were in each new episode. FRINGE is missed good TV is few andfar between. I think fans would be happy with a made for TV Movie
The Babadook (2014)
A Monster under the Bed ?
I read a few newspaper and online reviews of The Babadook saying it was one of the scariest films ever made. I was planning on going to see it but while scrolling through the films available on the On Demand menu from my cable company I seen that it was available to view so I purchased it. It was a scary film but nowhere as scary as the reviews indicated. That might have been different I guess if viewed at a Theater in wide screen and Dolby Digital. The film more than focusing on the evil Babadook focused on the mental breakdown of the mother in the film and her young son who was just as batty. All children seen monsters under the bed and in the closet in this case those monsters are really there or are they. I wish there were more of a background of The Babadook it seems like it is exist in just from one children's book . The son/ child in the film Samuel played by Noah Wiseman when not saying lines that he is pretty good at just screams and screams at his mother Amelia (Essie Davis) who looses it more and more at each scream. It's not a great film but I can see some younger people and those scared easily having nightmares from it.
American Sniper (2014)
A Tragic American Life
The reviews of American Sniper consist of two camps 1-Pro War 2- Anti War I feel neither is correct I think it was a simple tragic film. The Tragic Life of Chris Kyle a American Military Sniper. A early scene was Chris as a young boy was taken hunting by his father deer hunting and let Chris shoot and l kill a deer whereby his father praised him for the killing Chris felt he did something cool and manly. Although it's never said in the scene it does suggest this is where Chris first feels the thrill of killing a thrill not unlike every serial killer that ever lived has felt We jump ahead a few years to where Chris is watching the CNN news coverage of the terror attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. Which proms Chris to become all patriotic joining the navy and not just the navy but the nave SEALS. During four tours in the Iraq war Kyle looses all humanity referring to the Iraqis as "Those Savages". shooting and killing those savages Men, Woman, Children it mattered not to him it was just another day at the office. During those four tours rotating from his home in Texas back to the war it Iraq as if it was normal to do so. What ruined Chris Kyle's life was misguided loyalties that he put that God and Country nonsense ahead of his family His attention, loyalty and his entire being was his fellow soldiers and protecting those back home by doing this his wife and children became a afterthought just another piece of furniture in the room. He did not realize this until he was in a battle during that fourth deployment. All during the film a verse of RESCUE MISSION a Kris Kristofferson song written by Kristofferson, Roger McGuinn and Bob Nuwirth that goes "The hell with all your heroes and the wounds they hope to show I'm just a simple soldier with one more year to go" meaning do your duty then get the hell out and let someone else take over where you left off. The war scenes were loud, bloody and violent but director Eastwood does not not go as far as what the late director Sam Peckinpah knows for his bloody battles would probable have done. In the end Poetic Justice was served as Chris Kyle's life ended in the same way he lived it at the wrong end of a bullet.
Selma (2014)
A Look Back at a Troubled Time in America
Selma offers a look back on the attitudes of the United States particularly the deep south during the period just after the passing of The Civil Rights Act in 1964. At that time Negroes were granted the right to vote. But in those deep south States The film focuses on Alabama where although Negroes were given the right to vote the state government of Alabama put every obstacle in there path to prevent them from voting from Poll Taxes to test of Civics knowledge. We see how The Reverend Dr. Marten Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo- in a remarkable performance) led the marches into Selma over the Edward Pettus Bridge where the marchers were met with both a State Police and Armed Citizens attacking them so they could not march over that bridge . As the peaceful protesters being met with violence started showing up on the front pages of morning newspapers and nightly network newscast the attitude of the nation began swinging in favor of Dr. King and the protesters posed a huge problem for President Lyndon Johnson (Tom Wilkson) who was going through a election season. It was tough watching some of those violent scenes with police clubbing and kicking protesters both black and white marching in a peaceful manner. Fifty years later those same scenes are playing out today on our HD TV Screens as police still are attacking and shooting unarmed citizens dead without retribution. It's a awesome film that moves a bit slow in segments of it's 128 minute length. AL Governor George Wallace (Tim Roth) is portrayed as a out and out racist not willing to step in for what's right thus angering President Johnson. to the point where the President talking to Wallace on how history will look at both men in 1984 telling Wallace I don't want anyone putting me in the same light as you (not exact wording) There was one major error of one scene The segment in the film where President Johnsonis addressing a joint session of Congress on "The Voting Rights Act" (March- 15-1965) The House Mace which sits on it's pedestal when the House is in session is missing. (The design of the mace is derived from ancient battle weapon and the Roman fasces. The ceremonial mace is 46 inches high and consists of 13 ebony rods – representing the original 13 states of the Union– bound together by silver strands criss -crossed over the length of the pole. Atop this shaft is a silver globe on which sits an intricately cast solid silver eagle) is missing
Interstellar (2014)
On par with 2001 A Space Odyssey maybe just not yet but it might be.
In 1968 I seen 2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY my first thought was "What the Hell" it made no sense. Then as time went on after a few more viewings and a reading of the book it all came together it made perfect sense it was so obvious it was right there in front of me why could I not see it / It was Stanley Kubrick's Masterpiece.My personal favorite film of all time. Yesterday I seen Christopher Nolan's INTERSTELLAR my first thought was the exact same "What the Hell" it made no sense. Let's not get ahead of ourselves I don't want to put INTERSTELLAR on the same level with 2001 just yet but it does have the potential to reach those lofty heights. One of Nolan's previous films INCEPTION also was as Lou Umenick says in his New York Post review of INTERSTELLAR" Nolan still makes wholly original movies that require audiences to pay close attention and think" Interstellar does require both. In it's 169 minutes Interstellar has human interest stories of love, trust, promises, bad guys good guys and most of all Worm Holes, Black Holes, The Space Time Continuum, Physics and Relativity. It would help a great deal if you posses a degree in Quantum Mechanics from Oxford to understand some of the hi tech jargon on the theory of Relativity. But don't let that stop you this film is Awesome go see it then go see it again and again and once you do get it let me know. just what the hell it was about
Muppets Most Wanted (2014)
The usual Muppet rapid fire one liners are missing
At the beginning of Muppets Most Wanted a song a dance number warns us as in all sequels this film will not be as good as the last. They were correct it was a OK film but most of the lightning quick one liners are missing in fact the first half of the movie was dull and slow moving. There were a few bright spots like my Hero Gonzo the Great new routing "The Running of the Bulls Indoors" Animal doing like a 4 hour drum solo. The villain of the film is Constantine "The Worlds Most Dangerous Frog" and a Twin for Kermit with a mole on his right cheek and Russian accent. Someone at the wedding scene is looking for a Usher and finds Usher the performer. The writers and producers missed what could have been a chance for a Awesome line. Tina Fey and Sarah Palin impersonator plays Nayda a Russian Siberian Gulag Warden and there was more than one chance where she could have said something along the lines of "I can walk onto the steps of my Gulag and see Alaska" but no they blew that chance. This film although disappointing to a long time Muppet Fan is one all Muppet Fans should go see. Non Muppet Fans may even enjoy it more because there are no running gags and jokes that make these Muppets films so much fun
Noah (2014)
What was Aronosky thinking?
The only reason I went to see "NOAH" and the only reason was it was directed by Darren Aronosky who's past work I loved Pi, The Wrestler, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain I was expecting with Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson to be captivated once again. Boy was I wrong NOAH was terrible it was not worth the film it was shot on. What was Aronosky thinking ? the entire film was shot in low lighting that alone was annoying Crowe's NOAH was a Psychotic Nut Case willing to kill member of his own family because he though that was what "The Creator" wanted please note anytime there was reference to "God" he was called The Creator as the work "God" was never used . It was amusing that there were 20 story rock people who helped NOAH build the Arc yes 20 story rock people. Who looked like the Claymation figures from the 1950's bad science fiction films. Don't waste you money on NOAH go out and rent / purchase one of Aronosky's early films.
12 Years a Slave (2013)
Too Long at 134 Minutes
The film was powerful and a Goog Cast but I give it only a 4 there were things that bothered me. There were too many times the camera left a scene to another while audio from the previous scene were still playing. Although being taken and in slavery for 12 years we never got a sense of time passing. He never mentioned today is my birthday or it was X years I was taken and sold into slavery at 90 minutes I think it would have been a good film at 134 Minutes it was torture to watch. It was a good cast and super acting I thought the scenes of whipping and beatings were going to be difficult to watch I did not find them disturbing.
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
The Alternate time line "Star Trek" Universe is as Good as the original
I walked into the theater with a closed mind I admit that I did not care for the J.J. Abrams 2009 Star Trek so I was not expecting much more from Into Darkness. First the Negatives The supersonic Loud explosions, crashes and fights were a bit over the top to true trek fans as Star Trek has always been about substance not visual tricks although in IMAX 3D they were impressive. Now the positives A Starfleet Officer sets off a explosion at a Starfleet records facility a library in essences. In a top brass meeting following that explosion Captain Kirk raises the question "A library why would anyone blow up a library? It's then revealed that that library was not exactly a library and that Starfleet in that facility was a top secret unofficial branch of Starfleet called Section-31. Holy s**t Section-31 only hard core Trekkies will get that one they were revealed in the Star Trek Deep Space Nine series as a sort of secret Star Fleet CIA doing things that Star Fleet could not do answering to no one but themselves with no rules. While this meeting is going on in a high office building in San Francisco it' s attacked by a single helicopter with a single assailant how could this be ? As we progress Captain Kirk is give the assignment of going to Kronos and launching a series of new photon torpedoes manufactured by Section-31. When they arrive at Kronos and do hand to hand combat with a patrol of Klingon Warriors and getting there asses kicked. Then someone arrives on the scene and singlehanded kicks the Klingon's asses he then removes his face covering and to Kirk's surprise it's the same guy that was shooting up the conference from the helicopter. As we move forward it's revealed that that superhero guy is indeed a superhero Noonien Singh Kahn. And in this alternate reality Star Trek universe still has his crew and want to be reunited with them. In reading reviews prior to seeing it I was expecting Mr. Spock and Lieutenant Uhura to jump each other's bones at every chance this did not happen and they did their relationship perfect. This a good film a very good film it's can be accepted by non Trek fans as a good action science film and there is enough Trek references to even the most hard core Trek fans. We even meet a certain female doctor friend of Captain Kirk who has a prominent role in Kirk future apparently in both realities. Go see this it is good
Argo (2012)
Arog f**k You
Through the film the people involved in what is going to be the fake film project keep saying to each other "Argo f**k you". That is correct now I understand all films based on a true event will take artistic license with the story to make it more riveting in this film they take that license and turn it into a fantasy worthy of J. R. R. Tolkien way over the top. I am not a fan of John Goodman but in this film he did a great job I will give him credit for that. Overall it's not a film I would recommend. In this year I have seen 3 of the films nominated for Best Picture Lincoln, Zero Dark Thirty and Argo of those 3 Argo would by number 3 I though that little of it.
Zero Dark Thirty (2012)
Zero Dark Thirty is not that Dark After all
I purchased my ticket to see "Zero Dark Thirty" for a 12:00 PM showing 2 weeks prior to the Nationwide Opening date. Going in from all the early reviews and notices I expected to be both disturbed and sickened by the supposed scenes of Advanced Interrogation Techniques AKA Torture. Thirty minutes into the film there were a few scenes of water boarding of about 60 seconds each. The sexual humiliation consisted of one detainees pants being pulled down and exposed to the films female lead Maya. Guys on the NYC subway expose themselves more. The same detainee was placed into a wooden box on a table that he was forced to crunch into. Once he is placed into it that box we never return to see if he was in this box for 10 minutes, 10 hours or 10 days? The other thing that really bothered me was that 99% of these detainees all spoke perfect English. I have seen professional female dominatrix in S & M clubs treat there male and female submissive more harshly. In the USA Network series La femme Nikita head strategist Madeline who also handled interrogations for the shows fictional anti terrorist group Section One would have gotten the information in under 4 hours. I did like the attitude of Maya in going up against the male dominated CIA boys club at one point in a conference room with a model of the bin-Laden camp on the table Maya spoke up saying she was sure bin-Laden was there a male member asked "Who are You" she replied I'm the mother-bleeper than found this place" The raid itself was annoying to watch as we had to see it through the night vision goggles worn by Seal Team 6. And it seemed to go on and on with no ending in site. Is this a good film ? Yea I guess I would say it was good but it's not Oscar worthy either for film or direction or acting. My biggest complaint was it did not fade out with President Obama standing at the podium in the White House on May-1 -2011making the announcement to the world that the United States had conducted a mission that resulted in the death of Osama bin-Laden.
Lincoln (2012)
Lincoln-A Different Viewpoint then we are used to
LINCOLN - - To start with how could you not like a film that Hal Holbrook is in ? Directed by Steven Spielberg the film at 149 minutes is a little long it starts out on the slow side then picks up the pace into a crescendo. The two themes of the film is President Lincoln's attempts to one end the Civil War and second to get enough votes in The House of Representatives to pass by a two thirds majority the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution that will end slavery the Amendment that has already peen passed by the Senate. I enjoyed that portion of the storyline immensely being a political junkie to see all the behind the scene wrangling to get enough Democrats on board to assure it's passage knowing that the exact things still goes on today 147 years later. Much of the film takes place indoors with low lighting giving it the feel of what indoor lighting was like in 1865. Daniel Day- Lewis was brilliant as Abe Lincoln as was Sally Field as Mary Lincoln. The highlight performance to me was Tommy Lee Johns as Thaddeus Stevens who will do whatever is necessary to see that the Amendment passes, we find out later the ulterior motives for that Point of View. Toward film's end General Ulysses S. Grant tells President Lincoln something along the lines of "Your appearance seems to have gained 10 years in the last 1 year" I guess the strains of being President was as difficult today as it was then"