Apparently one of a series of TV movies "____ at 17" that all seem to be pretty B quality, high channel cable stuff. In this iteration, Holly discovers that her friend was murdered in a club and she is the prime suspect. She is fortunate to be a bystander in a prison break and takes advantage to run herself. Now she can use her formidable hacking skills to track down the real killer. Definitely higher quality the later you watch this, and for me it was a midnight-2am viewing. So... pretty OK...
2 stars (out of 5)
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Sniffer (Serial)
A Russian made (and set) cop drama where the protagonist is a consultant for the Russian equivalent of the FBI. This consultant has a peculiar condition where he is able to isolate smells and odors (think Monk with a great nose). Couple this talent with the arrogance and deductive reasoning of Sherlock Holmes and you begin to get the picture. Lot's of peculiar Russia specific flavorings that I am sure that I only see half of.
3 stars (out of 5)
3 stars (out of 5)
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Fences
Based on a play. Oh so obviously based on a play. Troy (Denzel Washington) is a working class guy in the 60's, in his 60's. He goes to work, has a drink on weekends and tries to support his family out of a deep sense of responsibility. This family consists of an older son (trying to be a musician), a second wife and their teen son, and a brother who is a mentally impaired war veteran. The film/play follows Troy over about a year. I emphasize play because there are lots of speeches and long monologues. I felt very "preached at". So an interesting look into these characters, but I could have done with less words, I guess?
3 stars (out of 5)
3 stars (out of 5)
Friday, March 10, 2017
Kong: Skull Island
Set at the end of the Vietnam war, a helicopter squadron (led by Samuel L. Jackson) is tasked with escorting a geological survey of a newly discovered island in the south pacific. Turns out this is an interface between the hollow earth (where large creatures live) and the surface. So this survey crew encounters (and is decimated by) King Kong after dropping seismic charges all over the island to verify this hollow earth theory. Consider the theory verified. We then follow the science and military cohorts as they work to escape the island. In many ways a classic Kong film, which could also be viewed as derivative. I will say that Samuel L Jackson does not once use his inside voice in this film. Take it for what it is worth.
3 stars (out of 5)
3 stars (out of 5)
Monday, March 6, 2017
Santa Clarita Diet (Serial)
Season 1
Silly, I know. Silly in the vein of Weeds but with zombies. Drew Barrymore, stereotypical suburban mom and realtor becomes a zombie. She has a hankering for human flesh. The show works out over several episodes how she is going to find her meals without tipping off the two neighbor cops, how she is going to track down a cure, and how she is going to maintain normality with the rest of the family and neighbors. Like I said, pure silly. But well done and just enough plot to pull me through to the next episode. This is an example, I think, of where having the entire series available at once allows me to watch. If this was a once per week viewing, I am sure I would have lost interest.
3 stars (out of 5)
Silly, I know. Silly in the vein of Weeds but with zombies. Drew Barrymore, stereotypical suburban mom and realtor becomes a zombie. She has a hankering for human flesh. The show works out over several episodes how she is going to find her meals without tipping off the two neighbor cops, how she is going to track down a cure, and how she is going to maintain normality with the rest of the family and neighbors. Like I said, pure silly. But well done and just enough plot to pull me through to the next episode. This is an example, I think, of where having the entire series available at once allows me to watch. If this was a once per week viewing, I am sure I would have lost interest.
3 stars (out of 5)
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Logan
This film has been getting rave reviews. Partially because this is R-rated, it is targeted toward adults and, like Deadpool, that has its pro's and con's. In effect, this is the dramatic counterpart to Deadpool's comedy. The story is set a decade ahead with Logan taking care of a physically failing Professor X. This physical failing is coupled with mental failing, so he has "psychic seizures" that are potentially deadly for anyone nearby. Enter into the picture a young girl seeking transport north. She is being hunted, and only Logan can help her. So... road trip.
The film earned its rating via gory body count and language. But the dramatic themes were lost on me. I saw the thinking about legacy, the struggle with responsibility aging parents, care for the next generation. But this, to me, came across as standard issue drama. The fact that it was in a superhero world might be different, but not different enough to say this was a high quality drama. It was an average drama. And a pretty good superhero flick.
4 stars (out of 5)
The film earned its rating via gory body count and language. But the dramatic themes were lost on me. I saw the thinking about legacy, the struggle with responsibility aging parents, care for the next generation. But this, to me, came across as standard issue drama. The fact that it was in a superhero world might be different, but not different enough to say this was a high quality drama. It was an average drama. And a pretty good superhero flick.
4 stars (out of 5)
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