March 1, 2022

The King's Man

Rating: 2 of 5 sword canes Well, it’s a prequel. It’s got some great action, interrupted by like an hour and a half of over-complex plots, layered over a terribly simple plot. Oh, and a bunch of silly action. So much dialog, of which I remember none. The big secret reveal? Meh. Ralph Fiennes is great, as always, but he can’t save this one. I expected so much better.

February 27, 2022

The Tragedy of Macbeth

Rating: 5 of 5 shadowy archways
It’s Macbeth, so no surprises there. Spectacular use of light and shadow and really sparse sets. Looked like a great 50’s film noir. Good performances. Denzel and McDormand play the happy couple with all their amazing talents.

February 26, 2022

Free Guy

Rating: 4 of 5 experience points Fun premise, an NPC is suddenly able to evolve and act on their own in a video game. A thin plot ensues with a bad guy (gleefully overacted by Taika Waititi). Not for Ryan Reynolds haters, since he mostly just plays the same character over and over. Lots of laughs and entertaining situations, fun special effects. Ending wasn’t the best, but had its moments. Kinda want to watch it again soon, just to look for more cool things in the background.

February 24, 2022

No Time to Die

Rating: 4 of 5 Bonds. James Bonds. It’s a Daniel Craig Bond film, so I liked it. He’s my favorite Bond, and I probably rate his films higher than an unbiased reviewer. It’s got a DB5, chases, explosions, conflict, epic lairs, and evil villains. A great wrap-up for Craig’s character arch. It has issues, but all Bond films have some flaws.

February 12, 2022

Nightmare Alley

Rating: 3 of 5 creepy carnies Nightmare Alley was visually stunning, had great actors doing their thing, and an interesting, straightforward plot. Nothing complicated, more style than substance, but enough style for days. Kept me interested, and just marveling at the sets and photography and lighting.

January 23, 2022

The Starving Games

Rating: 3 of 5 dystopias Lazing around on Sunday. Saw “The Starving Games” on Amazon Prime, a lampoon of The Hunger Games. Surprisingly good for a parody. It’s no Zucker Brothers comedy, parts worked, parts sucked, but we both enjoyed it and laughed throughout.

January 21, 2022

Black Death

Rating: 1-1/2 of 5 Sean Beans
Pretty slow, plodding, gory film about a group of guys with swords, lead by Sean Bean, heading off to find a village that’s rumored to be free of the pestilence, and to kill the witch who’s obviously keeping it that way. Not really recommended. Even for Sean Bean fans.

January 18, 2022

Matrix Resurrections

Rating: 1 of 5 Matrices Well, that was a movie. Not sure how to rate it, or why it was made (other than the usual making bank). Lots of action, barely comprehensible plot, so, it’s much like the second and third installments, but not as good. All the characters you know and love are there, except they’re now played by younger, prettier actors. Except Neo and Trinity, who the younger actors remember as legends, but think are too old to be of any use.

January 7, 2022

Power of the Dog

Rating: 1 of 5 Cumberbatches An unpopular opinion, I know. Many people loved this movie. Every character was unlikeable, I didn’t like them. Or the depressing story. That is all.

January 5, 2022

East Side Sushi

Rating: 5 of 5 California rolls
It’s a local (to me) story about a Hispanic single mom in East Oakland who wants to be a sushi chef. Super low-budget, self-financed by the writer/director. Loved the story and characters. Yeah, it’s a predictable story, but as a very frequent sushi bar patron, and Bay Area native, it felt like a warm pair of socks.