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Twisters (2024)
Predictable; script can't decide if it's a sequel or remake; characters too over-the-top
Some characters of the new movie were a bit too over-the-top, almost caricatures of who they should play, which is quite sad. A movie directed by Lee Isaac with a deep cast of fantastic actors that were grossly misused, it should have been a lot better. The story was okay, but the ending tornado scene felt completely anticlimactic... I thought there was still a whole Third Act left of movie to tell, and then it ends at the airport. The movie also could not decided if it wanted to be a sequel (inclusion of Dorothy) or a remake (blatantly copying themes and incidents from first movie), which was incredibly frustrating to me. The movie's story was also completely predictable from start to finish, unlike the tornadoes it chases...
The Franchise (2024)
Show says what it wants to say in first episode, but still grows on you...
I was "with it" for a brief period, and even to me, I feel out of place laughing at some of the show's jokes about situations I have not personally been in. The show centers around an Assistant Director, which unfortunately gives its viewers a bit of imposter syndrome as pretty much none of us have actually been Directors or Producers on multi-hundred dollar superhero production.
That said, the more I watch the show, the more I have grown to like it. Episode 3 may be the best yet for nailing the subject matter, albeit there is nothing particularly new about its social commentary on misogyny in MCU, nor is the satire in the least bit subdued. It is what it is: Lighthearted laughter through parody. I will continue to watch the show, as it's easy viewing and at least good for several laughs. My recommendation is watch at least a few episodes before deciding if it's for you.
Matt Rife: Lucid - A Crowd Work Special (2024)
A crowd work special, because it turns out Rife fans didn't actually like stand-up...
Off-the-heels of his Natural Selection flop, Netflix delivers Lucid to try and recapture the weird enigma of Matt Rife. Rife's sudden rise to fame from social media shorts basically had exchanges like this:
Matt: Where do you work?
Guest: Victoria's Secret
Matt: (ADHD screaming) Oh my God! You work at Victoria's Secret?!?!
Audience: *Seal noises of middle-aged woman cackling*
That's pretty much the gist of it. It follows much of the same generic crowd work form factor as Akaash Singh joking about Indian IT workers or Phil Hanley joking about special needs teachers. There is little new or particularly interesting to see with Lucid. If you're not into the same, you probably won't like this special. If you are one of Matt's fan, chances are you will still be disappointed Lucid wasn't a continuous highlight reel.
The Bikeriders (2023)
The revenge story of the Final Act appears to be MIA...
The Bikeriders feels like a movie missing its final act. There is a groggy timeline that is told - we are to believe - in the accuracy of the 1968 book, however there is no real story of good and bad, right and wrong, nor clear message to be said. As the movie sits, it feels like a metaphor for Boomers ignoring the world's problems and retiring to Florida. The revenge story most people want simply never comes and the movie ends.
While Jodie Comer was fantastic in this, Michael Shannon and Tom Hardy both felt grossly misused. I also believe casting Austin Butler was a huge mistake. The recurring theme is 'new and young' versus 'the old guys', yet Butler plays one of the old guys.
The construction of the film itself, from the cinematography to the editing is well done, but overall the story is the big issue with this movie. It left me feeling very melancholy at the abrupt and unexpected end.
Joe Rogan: Burn the Boats (2024)
It feels like a regurgitated set from three years ago
Burn the Boats was designed to ride the wave of the Brady Roast with a live comedy stand-up show; and Netflix making an offer that Rogan could not refuse...at least, it certainly feels like that is the way it played out. Most of the subject matter within Burn the Boats primarily discuses social issues and the pandemic. If you showed this special to anyone who didn't know when it debuted, they would probably guess we were still under a different administration.
Much like his podcasts, Joe Rogan's comedy style is incredibly polarizing. I'm always inclined to give Rogan a pass on his delivery style, because sometimes he does have interesting jokes. Unfortunately if you have seen a number of Rogan sets, you definitely will be thinking you have seen this one before. Nothing feels particularly new or exemplary in this set. This special feels like Joe just using his current rotation of jokes that you could see anywhere - jokes inspired and adapted from the past few years.
If you want to see Rogan, you'll definitely get Rogan here.
Hand (2022)
A tasteful and sincere tribute to half a century of Japanese Roman Porno films
First, a primer: The Nikkatsu Roman Porno movies were a series of films over the last half century designed to pass Japan's Eirin regulations (Japan's movie rating system that dictated how much sex could shown, runtime, etc), with over 1,000 movies being made. In 2002, for the 50th anniversary of Nikkatsu's Roman Porno films, three films were produced to commemorate the history. 'Hand' is the first of three said films. Make no mistake, there is nothing inherently pornographic about this movie - your typical French film has more nudity than this.
'Hand' is ultimately a story of a young woman in her 20's and her diminishing relationship with her aging father and his cognitive decline. The story is told through her lust for older men's companionship, ultimately discovering her preference of older men is questioned when she falls for a much younger co-worker her age. Her younger sister is the complete opposite in personality of sexual preference and fatherly affairs.
The film is a bit of a slow burn, but the story is actually an rousing one, with the shifting father-daughter relationship keeping interest.
Overall 'Hand' is more than some cheesy porno for Japanese businessmen, it's a solid story that could stand on its own. And it probably would have got significantly more recognition as a great film if it wasn't attached to the Roman Porno name...
Inside the Mind of a Dog (2024)
Surprisingly engaging documentary with emotional connection
Inside the Mind of a Dog offers a comprehensive collection of the latest studies and understanding into our fury friends' personalities, intelligence, and behaviors. This documentary develops in a way that is both entertaining and compelling.
Rob Lowe narrates a series of stories and interviews, from the history of canines to ongoing research, intertwined with the main story of the documentary - the development of service dogs from puppyhood to when they are graduated. Although I knew most of the recent research which was discussed, I did learn something, and believe most people will also find something new to take away. The connection between service dog and recipient is one that will make most viewers teary eyed.
This documentary is best watched with your dog(s) by your side.
The Blue Angels (2024)
It's a visual feast for aviation lovers, but lacks satiable technical discussion
The Blue Angels delivers what may be some of the most amazing videography ever seen in aviation, at times even surpassing much of Top Gun: Maverick's blend of real and CGI. For an aviation fan like myself who has grown up near 40 years with the Blue Angels and calls Pensacola home, the action shots are worth the IMAX experience in every way possible, especially as many camera angles have never been seen before due to the unique and unprecedented way it was filmed.
The documentary largely follows the jet demo team and focuses on their hectic season - from El Centro winter training, to weekly demonstrations, selection of the next Blue Angel members, and all the way to the Homecoming Airshow. Above all, the documentary focuses on showing the culture and purpose of the Blue Angels organization through lived experiences of its jet demo members.
What ultimately lacked for me in this documentary was the technical discussion and behind the scenes look at the jets themselves. Outside of a visualized rehearsals and a centrifuge session, there was little discussion about the technical aspects of the jets and flying them. I would have loved to learn more about what kind of work the maintainers do throughout the season given how many hours these old fleet jets are flying. I would have liked to know what simulator sessions newcomers go through and how they time and place their maneuvers before even stepping foot in El Centro.
While there is certainly more I would have preferred, it understandably was slimmed into a more palatable format for the average person. Aviation fan or not, it's definitely worth the watch.
Dream Scenario (2023)
A clever and original story, but not quite clever enough to decide how to end...
Dream Scenario is a very intriguing film that immediately draws you in with an inventive and hilarious story. Unfortunately the third act starts to unravel a bit, with the film not sure how it wants to end - comedically, dramatically, or romantically. The film chooses a bit of all three, then abruptly ends. I don't mind ambiguity, but the window is so small there's little to interpret or inference. It cannot be understated how good Nick Cage can be when he wants, giving one of his best performances in recent years. The film is certainly worth the watch, even if it's not entirely sure what it wants to say.
Hit Man (2023)
It is a banausic Rom-Com, sans the comedy, with overplayed plot
This was billed as a quirky, clever Rom-Com by both its trailers and critics. The trailers looked fantastic, like a spirited passion project between Linklater and Powell that would parody the whole Rom-Com genre in witty fashion. The reality is this is just another Rom-Com film with critics falling head-over-heels with Linklater (as they always do). The most interesting part of the film is actually the first act, when Glen Powell gets to shine in a diverse portfolio of characters, including a long, gritty dialogue exchange. By the time the love interest appears in the second act, the film has already fallen into just another collage of good cop/good person/bad circumstance entanglement. Unfortunately the film never really redeems itself, nor its characters in unforgiveable acts. Its story feels mundane and outcome certain. While I had hoped for more, it was at least an easy viewing.
Tires (2024)
A satiable, easy watch that pays off because of Steve Gerben
If there is any reason to watch this show, it is Steve Gerben - he makes this show what it is. The indie project aura of the trailer is exactly what you will receive in the show. Six, 20-minute episodes make the entire series an easy watch in one sitting. The show ramps up over time as characters slowly develop, although it feels like we never really get to know all of the cast due to the short series format. There are plenty of humorous moments, so long as you're willing to accept the premise of the show is looking through the narrow lens of a male dominated work environment. Steve Gerben plays a convincing role of ineptness and innocence, creating the perfect launching pad for comedic antics. With the announcement of Season 2 being ordered by Netflix, my only hope is the next go around has more time to highlight individual characters.
Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV (2024)
Very light on evidence with lots of speculation made for sensationalism
The entire premise of the show relies on a personal assistant being convicted of solicitation of a child and a linguistics manager molesting child star Drake. The show aims to paint Dan Schneider as guilty of far more than workplace harassment, but the evidence beyond speculation is almost non-existent aside from on-set massages. Some of the child actors and their parents offering to tell their stories of means words offending them comes off as nothing more than vindictive anger when it's revealed their contracts were not renewed.
With thousands of various employees and contractors in Nickelodeon's history, I am sure there were those who were truly evil. That is just statistics. Without first-hand testimony from people like Amanda Bynes or Jennette McCurdy, it is hard to feel empathetic. All we can do is interpret the Schneider situation much like Weinstein, where the industry still protects them because it wants to protect itself. This documentary offers contradiction, with Drake saying that Schneider was the only person who reached out to him and offered any help whatsoever. This documentary also wants it both ways, blaming every sexual innuendo made by prop, joke, gag, or otherwise, in the entirety of Nickelodeon, on strictly Schneider. It's impressive that Schneider is so talented, he writes for every show that hundreds of other writers are completely unnecessary, merely on the payroll out of charity (yes, that's sarcasm).
Is this a story that needed to be told? Maybe, but it definitely did not need to be milked over four episodes...
Pacific Blue (1996)
Watch the first two seasons for 90's nostalgia; show quality declines with every season
I recently rewatched all five seasons of Pacific Blue over the span of a month and can definitely see the gradual decline and reason why it was cancelled. As an impressionable teenager when the show came out, who was also into mountain biking at the time, this show had the ultimate cool factor for me.
Upon rewatching the entire show recently, the first two seasons are exactly what I remembered: Corny 90's that played on the whole extreme sports theme with segments of skydiving, street luge, trials stunts with Hans Rey, fictional mountain bike endurance racing. There were also lots of the infamous bike chase sequences many remember. The overall premise of the show in the first two seasons was mostly small crimes with hopeful messaging. It has a roundness of characters like the station bike mechanic played by Lander.
The third season went downhill quick, with too much drama and love relationships that hurt the overall flow. The ending to the season is a cheap ploy of emotions.
The fourth season was starkly different... The show lost its two most suave male characters in Ferraez and Rossovich, so it lost a lot of that cool factor. The new cast took several episodes to get into the flow of matching chemistry. The writing in the fourth season is noticeably worse, as it becomes NCIS instead of Pacific Blue with ridiculous plots and undercover investigation work. The fifth season largely follows the fourth. People probably remember the last two seasons the most thanks to the addition of Mario Lopez and Shanna Moakler, but truth is, the last two seasons are the worst in the series.
In my opinion, if you want to watch this for nostalgia factor, just watch the first two seasons. If you watch the entire show in chronological order, you'll be disappointed as the quality declines.
Poor Things (2023)
A female empowerment film that emasculates its "good men" down to cucks
There is a brilliant film here, one that can be devoid of the pro-socialism commentary and sexual liberation messaging that is largely absent from the source material in Alasdair Gray's 1992 novel. The film's runtime was a bit portly for the substance within. Some of the sets (though mostly CGI) are brilliant and the costuming is superb for a fictional time piece in turn of century Victorian era.
If you like the movie, you'll probably dislike the novel. If you liked the novel, this movie is a completely different story.
This film reads like a euphemism for upper class white girls that decide to take a year off after school to 'find themselves', only to spend a whole summer being reamed by hairy foreigners. The most dishonest part of the film was not having Max develop a single love interest while Bella was gone, only for Bella to return and be indignant with a surprise-Pikachu-face that Max dared to find love without her.
It's worth the watch for what it is, but I was rather let down with what feels like wasted potential for heavy-handed empowerment cliches consuming the bulk of its runtime.
They Called Him Mostly Harmless (2024)
Perspective from someone who is experienced where he died...
I am a Florida Trail hiker. I know the area he died. The only real mystery you'll find in Mostly Harmless' story is the struggle to identify him. I do not know why the media continues making his death some grand mystery.
Here are the real facts. He would have known there was a road, a tourist-filled animal adventure park, and even a town with emergency services just a half-day's hike away; because that is the direction he came from! If he had an emergency (i.e. Caught giardia) and was able to hike out, he could have just turned around from where he came from and went for help. A fatal snake bite is a high possibility, but an autopsy report would have shown that.
What likely happened is he starved himself on his journey southward to such a frail state that he ended up getting heat stroke that was fatal. He probably had not been drinking, felt delirious and cold, so he went inside his tent to lay down, lost consciousness, and that was it... The time of year and conditions are brutal, and there is some uncertainty about his water filtration/supply. It is possible he was also rationing water because he did not want to drink water from the swamp and canals.
The only unanswered question about this case is: Was the starvation intentional (to end his own life) or was the starvation due to his hubris and penny-pinching? He was unprepared for basically the entirety of his journey. Was he just trying to just be cheap and buy/eat as little food as possible? He was known to work for free meals along the way, despite having more than enough cash to make it to Key West (his final destination where he wanted to get a job). He was likely saving that cash for rent money and refused to buy basic supplies, having previously had an eating disorder where he refused to eat, he would be accustomed to it.
Either way, it is a sad story, even if he was (supposedly) outcasted for being violent toward other people in his past. I just personally don't believe there is anything very mysterious here other than a story that makes people gossip.
Dave Chappelle: The Dreamer (2023)
The return of preachy Dave... Has some humor, but there isn't much.
Fortunately for comedy, The Dreamer and Chappelle once again go out of their way to prove no one deserves special treatment or should be off limits from being the recipient of a joke. Unfortunately for us, Dave spends a large chunk of this special for 'story time with Dave' rather than focusing on the laughs. The setups for many punchlines are often too stretched and segue into other life stories.
Preachy Dave is back, going on a long-winded and somewhat incoherent set of stories from Russian Mobsters to Lil Nas X. The ending of the special really ruined an otherwise typical set for Chapelle. It came off as a self-absorbed sermon devoid of humor. Chapelle is one of the GOATs, and it's disheartening to see him feel the need to flaunt such borderline narcissistic behavior.
I hope Dave can get back focused on his next special. Give us a comedian doing an hour of comedy ravaging everyone and everything, not a pastor preaching a life full of dreams.
Matt Rife: Natural Selection (2023)
Overlap between Amy Schumer and Matt Rife fans must be uncomfortably high...
...I'm just saying, on the venn-diagram graph, the overlapping circles of (predominately female) viewers between Amy Schumer and Matt Rife must be pretty high. While Rife may not steal jokes like Schumer, he certainly is full of hubris and overconfidence, leaning into his forte as eye candy for the mid-30 something female audience member. Most people probably recognize Rife from his viral social media videos doing crowd work. His first big special in 'Natural Selection' is the exact opposite: lack of spontaneity, bland, predictable, and chasing the low hanging fruit. It's middle-of-the-road fodder found at every comedy club. If someone's first and only impression of Rife is his crowd work videos, they will probably be disappointed by their first experience of Rife with a scripted set. On the other hand, if you enjoyed 'Natural Selection', you probably land in the center of that venn-diagram...
Naked Attraction (2016)
Completely flawed premise of being "regular" people
The concept is novel: Normalize regular bodies and start with sexual attraction first. Unfortunately it is anything but. This is still a TV show, which means all the people featured had to have the desire to appear naked on the show, they had to audition for these parts, and then casting directors still hand selected each and every one of these people to ensure they were screen-ready candidates with the right personalities (and bodies). This is all pretty evident by the fact the average penis size of the men appearing in the show are above the national UK/US average penis size. This is also evident by the fact the average woman's BMI (body mass index) on this show is substantially lower than the UK/US national average BMI. There a few exceptions here or there, but let's be honest: if there were six naked, ugly, and morbidly obese people in every selection round, no one would watch this show. At best, this show is low brow fodder to make us not feel the same guilt as watching porn guised as normalizing that everyone of us has a different body.
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar (2023)
So good it almost makes up for Asteroid City!
Theater lovers and set designers rejoice. Wes has returned with a new world of pastel laden backdrops and tasty dialogue. Fresh off the heels of a very mediocrely received Asteroid City, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar dazzles in short format. Those who are into theater plays with long monologues and vivid sets will adorn Henry Sugar's story. The film's structure is well composed and cut down to such a necessity-like level that it almost becomes candy. While absent anything particularly award worthy in performances, the ensemble is an extremely likable cast who deliver truthful to their characters. There is little by way of dislike...unless Wes' style has never been appealing to you, because this very much feels like Wes giving an encore acoustically.
Mark Normand: Soup to Nuts (2023)
Very middle-of-the-road fare...
In true Mark Norman fashion of speed balling the jokes, Normand fits more jokes into a single 50 minute set than most comedics would have spread across five different specials. The low tone zingers are plentiful, but so is the constant pacing back and forth and flailing hand gestures that become borderline nausea inducing. The jokes are wide ranging, but they never really push the edge or go too far. As social commentary, Soup to Nuts is a safe play. While I never found myself laughing hysterically, those who are removed from watching comedy regularly will probably find it just satiable enough to keep watching.
Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs (2023)
Possibly the funniest Netflix special in recent years...
With the oversaturation of cancel culture friendly, unfunny content from Bert Kreischer and Tom Segura, Shane Gillis returns to bring it all down. Shane really throttles the line the entire special, stepping over it and then crossing right back. Sure, there were a few jokes that didn't resonate with me, and watching Shane's awkward body mannerisms made me as uncomfortable as he probably was; but when the jokes hit, they hit hard. My only complaint is the set probably could have used another 10 minutes of material. The question most people should be asking after watching is, when do we get another Shane special?
Andrew Santino: Cheeseburger (2023)
A mediocre comedy set told in two parts...
This whole special feels like Santino was angry and drunk when he wrote it. Cheeseburger really is a comedy set that is divided into two parts. The first half is hyper focused on politics. It's fatal flaw is Santino can't help but parade his West Coast elite mentality around. As a comedian he should know how badly this alienates half his audience. The second half of the set detours slightly and becomes way too preachy, focusing more on Santino's personal views while being thin on jokes. There is one massive five minute setup for a single joke to land come the end. As someone who occasionally watches highlights of the Bad Friends podcast with Santino and Bobby Lee, I was expecting more out of Santino than this...
Bert Kreischer: Razzle Dazzle (2023)
Bert needs fewer comedic specials and more joke writing...
Bert Kreischer is easily at the top of the index of least funny people relative to their fame. I don't want to say I despise Bert, because he seems genuine in a lot of ways outside of standup comedy, but this special is pretty terrible. My prejudices aside Bert against, Razzle Dazzle really feels like Bert phoned it in, reusing old jokes and harping on overexaggerated mediocrity of family story time. Normally I can stomach one of Bert's specials if I am pretty bored, but this was on another level that I could not finish it. Bert has done himself no favors if he believes this special while serve as pasturage for growing new fans. This special is a hard pass for me on a recommendation.
Tom Segura: Sledgehammer (2023)
A Netflix special without any special jokes...
Most people would probably say Tom Segura does not have any specific style of comedy if you asked them. That's because his style is shades of gray tones, bland, and comfortable fodder for an older couple in wanting some 'spicy' entertainment for their evening date out. That's how I would describe Segura's schtick.
Segura's special Sledgehammer is Segura at his absolute worst: delivering some of the most banal and commonplace jokes possible. One specific set about his two boys versus his cousin's two girls wasn't even humor - you could honestly mistake it for some incoherent drunk at a bar just discussing his ordinary day. The humor in this Netflix special is so dry it feels like it is just a recording of a regular touring set he would do anywhere. If Segura wrote new jokes for this comedy special they sure weren't flushed out beforehand.
People who don't regularly watch standup comedy will probably find Sledgehammer acceptable enough, maybe even find a few chuckles here or there, but definitely not sidesplitting humor. To the people like me that have been watching standup going on 30 years now, you won't find what you're looking for here.
Untold: Johnny Football (2023)
This documentary lets down Johnny almost as bad as his parents did...
The most I can say about the way this documentary was pieced together is, it really makes Johnny look just how everyone sees him: A kid whose parents are 100% the reason Johnny ended up the way he did in life; parents letting Johnny do whatever he wants, and parents who would lie and be unethical to help their kid advance his way through life rather than force change and take accountability. I wonder if the parents are that tone deaf to even realize how badly they came off in this documentary.
For those familiar with Manziel and his story, this documentary offers little in terms of new material. At best, it just reaffirms suspicions most college football fans had about the rampant drinking, partying, alcohol, and improper benefits. The construction of this documentary was poorly laid out. Manziel's lightning-in-the-bottle, SEC record setting freshman season at Texas A&M was glossed over in less than 10 minutes of total content to pave way for the longer, drawn-out story of improper benefits (selling autographs). Scheming sobriety for the draft was a large portion of the film, as well. Manziel's season with the Cleveland Browns and his performance meltdown was incredibly terse, choosing to highlight battles off-field rather than on-field performances. About 90% of this documentary was solely focused on improper benefits and Johnny's addictions. What happened after Johnny's time with the Browns is completely omitted, as if it never even happened, including getting kicked out of the CFL.
The only way I'd tell someone to watch this documentary is if they needed help clearing their conscious, so that they don't feel any empathy toward the Manziel's...