waterman1976 Reviews

ALF (1986–1990)

Original and still funny±

[9/10 · 1 January 2022]

I started to watch this (again) in 2021, expecting a trip down to memorylane with a few good laughs and a decent shot of nostalgia, but I had a blast watching this. Yes it's old and the writing of the plots is a bit corny, but the character of ALF is so well written... he's ruthless, manipulating, dominating and everything you don't want in a houseguest, but it's so funny. His relationship with Willie is always good for a laugh, also due to the acting qualities of Max Wright.

I didn't remember how the show ends, so there was my only disappointment, but still: ALF is 4 seasons of good, innocent fun with an alien.

Goodfellas (1990)

What's left to say?

[10/10 · 28 December 2021]

This is a perfect movie. The script, the cast, the score, the camerawork... it's a perfect storm. And since iMBD demands that a review is at least 150 characters, I added this last sentence.

The Manchurian Candidate (2004)

Denzel is great as always in this paranoid thriller

[8/10 · 25 December 2021]

I didn't know this was a remake of an earlier movie so no comparison here, but for me this is a good movie. Denzel Washington scores high on my list of all time greats and he doesn't dissapoint in this movie. His paranoia, focus and overall likeability keeps the viewer entertained from beginning till the end. The movie itself has a great premise and although it feels farfetch'd with the use of technology it carries an energy of paranoia, suspense and believability throughout. If they've kept it purely with the whole hypnosis thing it would have been more believable I guess. But the script is great, it has some good eery moments and the whole cast with Washington,Streep and Schreiber as the main leads is fantastic. I love this era of moviemaking, where actors were more true actors somehow. The camerawork with its full closeups is also great. I enjoyed this flick and in my opinion it desesrves more then the 6.6 here in iMBD.

Allied (2016)

Casablanca mixed with film noir during WWII

[9/10 · 21 December 2021]

This was a pleasant surprise afer clicking on it without knowing anything about the storyline and the plot. It took me about 10 minutes to get settled in with the slow pace and the amount of silence, but the opening shot was so well executed, I had to give it a chance.

The movie in its whole is a mix of a lovestory, a tail of war and a good spythriller. The story mainly involves around the lives of the characters played by Pitt and Cotillard and they're great. I'm not familiair with Cotillard, but she's fantastic and Pitt shows again he's perfect for a role as a soldier: grimm, but with a decent human side. Hardly any cgi makes it a welcome change for once and the moderately timed actionscenes are tough and visually beautifully done and serve the story well. A good script with a believable storyline and great ending make this a must watch for everybody who loves a well told story. The supporting cast complete this original flick.

2067 (2020)

Most watched in The Netherlands?

[4/10 · 21 December 2021]

Amazon has this movie on the top 10 of most watched in The Netherlands and I make it a habit to only review movies that I watch completelely, but this one is an exception. Why is this movie in the top 10?

It starts out with a glimpse of hope of a decent B-movie: cheap sets, a B-cast and not the best script. But it falls apart so rapidly that I had to turn it off after an hor of watching. The lead keeps on whining, there's no logic in his journey and why his friend shows up and so on...

No spoilers here. Just find out for yourself and I like to be proven wrong.

21 Bridges (2019)

Boseman is a good lead

[7/10 · 19 December 2021]

I've seen a couple of movies from the Amazon productions house and I must say, they seem to have a decent team on board. 21 Bridges is a good movie if you look at it as a whole: good visuals, really good camerawork, good pacing and a cast that delivers the story and ties everything together. The action is fastpaced and overall, you won't be disappointed if you're in for an entertaining ride. But... (and this seems to be showing up too in other Amazon movies) the script isn't the best. Loads of explaining stuff between characters to pull the story forward and some really unbelievable moments that remind me of older movies with Van Damme or Seagal.

But again, if you're in for the ride you won't be disappointed. It's the only movie I've seen with Boseman, but he carries the role of the lead effortlessly.

Greenland (2020)

A decent disaster movie

[7/10 · 19 December 2021]

With a weakness for Morena Baccarin, this was an easy to click flick for me. And Gerard Butler seems to deliver most of the times, so I was sold.

I guess you can say that the script follows the rules of a predictable disaster movie: a couple with relational issues, a sick kid, the impact of the disaster and the unfolding where everything goes wrong, but ultimately ends out well. This isn't to say that it's a bad movie. It has a great pace, the cgi is good (I don't agree with a lot af the negative reviews here) and the cast delivers a believable performance within the range of the movie. If you're in for 2 hours of decent action and fear, you won't be disappointed.

Wrath of Man (2021)

Not the best from Ritchie, but still OK

[7/10 · 17 December 2021]

Statham always delivers and in this movie he doesn't disappoint. I had no idea what the story was when clicking on this flick and I was pleasantly surprised by the way Ritchie chose to tell the story. In its essence, this is a revenge movie that uses the theme of a heist as the leading plotline. It's gritty, has no humor and the whole pace is steady from beginning till the satisfying end. But it lacked good dialogue for me. Everything felt a bit to straightforward and misses the wit and humor from Ritchies earlier movies. But it's still a good action movie and the timeline jumps give it the element of surprise that it needs.

Outbreak (1995)

A great cast and a solid story

[8/10 · 17 December 2021]

I love this era of moviemaking. Great actors, there's a more analogue feel to the whole movie and the plots have a certain kind of innocense te them. Outbreak fits well in this description. The cast consist completely of great A-status actors and Hoffman is fantastic as the rebelious colonel of the CDC who disobeys every rule in the book and therefore saves the movie. I don't think that's a spoiler to be honest... The plot is solid and one could argue that locating the source of the virus turns out to be a little too much relying on coincidence, but I'm fine with it. A nice backstory of divorce and reuniting, a good pace and again a great cast. Spacey, Gooding Jr., Russo, Freeman and as the big bad general we see Sutherland. What a great face this man has. Watching this in 2021, I had a blast.

The Last Castle (2001)

A classic hero's journey

[9/10 · 15 December 2021]

What a surprise this movie. Scrolling through the selection of Amazon Prime I stumbled upon TLC and I clicked because of the era it was made in, the cast and a vague memory of watching it. With Redford, Gandolfini and Ruffelo as the main characters, but the whole casting and acting is great.

This movie has all the elements of the hero's journey. The protagonist taking the high road by admitting guilt, where he could have gotten away with a mistake, the antagonist who's immediately recognised as such and all the obstacles that make this genre.

A solid script, really good action, solid acting and a great setting make this 20 year old movie a classic that still holds its ground in these days.

Infinite (2021)

Ejiofor brings his A-game in a story full of plotholes

[6/10 · 14 December 2021]

The positive:

Ejiofor and Wahlberg. Where Wahlberg always makes me smile in a movie and Ejiofor is just bringing his A-game.

Really good camerawork, good cgi, great visuals and well choreographed action scenes.

The negative:

A really bad script full of plotholes.

As an action flick for a lazy evening this is recommendable. For critics of a decent story you better skiip this one.

Electric Dreams (2017–2018)

Don't expect Bladerunner action

[7/10 · 13 December 2021]

I've read a couple of books from Philip K. Dick and in all honesty, I didn't like them as much as they are hyped. The stories are good, but they lack something in suspense for me. But I'm also not a big reader... Having said this, I like the series Electric Dreams. Not all episoded are equally good and overall they all lack a certain tension. But I think that's because of the stories of Dick. They're more philosphical than action driven.

But as a whole: it's a good series, some episodes are carried more by the appearance of great actors than the story and don't expect 10 action packed stories in the line of Bladerunner.

Alien Code (2018)

A B-flick that's worth watching

[7/10 · 8 December 2021]

I actually liked this movie, taking into consideration that it's a B-flick with low production cost. It has a nice flow, a satisfying ending where some decent philosophical and spiritual elements explain the storyline and the lead is doing a great job and carries the movie with a convincing performance. It's not s solid script and there's some (too) rapid jumps from scene to scene, but overall I think it's worth more than the 5.7 it's currently rated. Don't expect a big movie though :)

The Death of Stalin (2017)

Scary good

[9/10 · 6 December 2021]

I coudn't help thinking of JoJo Rabbit when watching this great movie. Telling the story of horrific episodes in human history with great humor is a genre that I can truly appreciate and TDoS is a great example.

I'm not a historian and lack the knowledge of Sovjet history, so I can't tell if the main story lines are accurate. But I know enough from general human history to get chills in scenes where the fear of death, the arrest of family members and the corruption in places of power are told with a great script, fantastic actors and a constant underlying stream of humor, irony and cynisism. It's done a way that keeps the viewer entertained on one hand and informed on the other.

The cast is fantastic and to see Steve Buscemi again was a treat. The score is really good and suits the whole timeframe and everything is filmed in a washed out color palet that also suits the lack of hope and light under the regime of Stalin.

My only (little) critic would be, that the last half hour gets a bit flat and uninteresting, so no 10 like JoJo Rabbit, but still a great movie as a whole.

The Tomorrow War (2021)

Not a complete disaster

[7/10 · 5 December 2021]

I haven't watched a movie in a while, but I consider myself a veteran watcher with a keen eye for good scripts, acting and visuals. Having said this, TTW is a good paced, visually beautiful, more than moderate acted movie with a lousy script.

The movie starts out promissing: The main character is introduced, the plot is laid out and as a viewer you get sucked in a story with believable characters and a good score with good cgi. But after the first big action scene (which is definitely very good) it all falls apart. All trick are used to make the story emotionally believable, but it feels forced. The whole timejumping setup is filled with holes and the characters say things that just don't make sense. But the maincourse of disbelieve is served with the second act of the movie where "the team" rushes off into Russia (together with China and Korea already mentioned is the source of the alien invasion...) where so much is happening in such an unbelievable scale, that it all fell apart for me. I might be too much of a critic here.

But... it's still a good action flick. Pratt is good leading actor and the rest of the cast are perfect for the movie. Ofcourse the whole cast is based on a PC perspective (which is a good thing when there's some natural logic and in TTW there is), but it all feels natural and not forced. Which is a treat in times where every movie, sitcom, talkshow, ratingslist and TV-show is overflown with fear of not being inclusive.

Defenitely watch this movie if you want more than 2 hours of good action.

The Big Bang Theory (2007–2019)

A smart promise ends in a trainwreck

[6/10 · 24 November 2021]

I've seen this show two times now and it's such a shame what the writers did to the original setup of this show. In its basic form it's a good show: great actors, smart jokes and an original script with the intelligent fysics jokes. The group of friends have a great dynamic and on a personal level I can relate to being an outcast with all of the strange habits they all have. It's really funny when it's only these dynamics.

But somehow it all changes around the 3rd or 4th season and what used to be a funny sitcom changes into a soap opera with a laughing tape behind it. The smart jokes stay, the nerdiness is still there, but all the relationshipdrama, the guilt tripping, the slamming doors and the endless amounts of "being sorry for not taking your feelings into consideration" ruin the whole lighthearted premisse of the first seasons. And there's a lot of strange violent outbursts written into some of the episodes that don't fit into the "sit" of this sitcom. Bernadette plays a lot of them out. And this is really personal and not a critic on the writing, but the whole show sometimes feels like a big commercial for alcohol consumption and take-away food. And in the last seasons it starts to normalize porn. A lot of shows do this, but I'm not a big fan of these suggestions.

The Mentalist (2008–2015)

A great whodunnit!

[9/10 · 9 June 2021]

What a great show this is and I really enjoyed binging the whole series in a couple of weeks!

In its core, this is a classic whodunnit: each episode has its own crime to be investigated and within 45 minutes there's always a great solution brought on by the very charismatic Patrick Jane. With the use of cunning tricks, human behaviour and charm, suspects are caught with unconventional methods. Always satisfying and (for me a big plus) without too much gore and violence. It carries a vibe of older shows like Columbo.

It's not perfect though. The cast is great, but Van Pelt acts like a naive girl most of the times and is not convincing as a policing agent. I'm not sure if its just scripting or her acting abilities. The lovestory around her and Rigsby also feels a bit out of tune.

But the show stays interesting throughout the seasons and I love the change of pace, scenery and cast in the beginning of season 6. But the main reason to watch The Mentalist (for me at least) is the truly convincing Simon Baker as a charming, but deceiving, manipulator. Great watch!

The Goonies (1985)

Blast to the past!

[8/10 · 18 May 2021]

Yes... to the past. And yes... from the past. Having seen this a couple of times in my childhood with my best friend on VHS and with chips and softdrinks, this really was a pleasant surprise on Amazon Prime.

Watching this again in 2021, it truly stirred up some really good childhood memories. The friendships, sneaking away from home and all the rest that made my childhoodyears more bearable. The Goonies had so much good stuff in it, that it never got boring and was fun to watch every time.

Looking at it now, it's still a good movie. Yes, outdated, but a solid story with a great cast and that "magical" Spielberg quality that is so recognisable. I loved watching it again!

Dexter (2006–2013)

Sympathy for the devil?

[10/10 · 17 May 2021]

I started watching this show a couple of years ago and for some reason, I never watched it all the way. And to be honest, It was more of a "let's watch this, because there's nothing else" impulse to continue.

But wow... this is a fantastic show on so many levels. Beautiful shots of Miami, a great cast (every single person), a light and sometimes comedic undertone and there was something else.... yes: a psychopathic serialkiller as the main lead. In 8 seasons, the show takes you on a very entertaining ride where Dexter is followed in his double life as a forensic analyst on one side and a killer on the other. Very well written, great suspense and each episode is a big hook to the next one.

I've recently seen the movie Joker and in this show, something similar is being done. You cannot help feeling sympathy for a killer. You get to know his background, you see people accepting what he is and does and somehow you understand the why and the how. In a lesser way, this is also done in Breaking Bad.

Are we arrived in an era where criminal and unlawful traits are glorified, or are these shows examples and oubursts of the darkness that is rooted in human history to reflect our shadowside, so we can heal?

I'm rooting for the latter and in the meanwhile I enjoy shows like these!

Motherless Brooklyn (2019)

A very pleasant surprise

[8/10 · 21 April 2021]

I really enjoyed this movie. A bit hesitant at first, when reading that Norton portrays a man with a handicap (maybe I've seen him too much in similar roles), but he plays his role perfectly and it adds to the character.

The movie has a good story, great dialogues and a great casting. It's not tagged liked this, but for me the movie carries a slightly comedic undertone. It's not the dialogue and it's not the story, but the overall feeling is just light and entertaining. It might have something to do with the era that reminds of movies like LA Confidential, maybe a bit Sin City... I don't know.

So, if you're looking for a nice, light movie with a good story, than Motherless Brooklyn won't disappoint you.

Tenet (2020)

No likability and too complicated

[5/10 · 13 April 2021]

In all honesty... I didn't finish it. I watched 1,5 hours and my thought was: let's see if I can finish it tomorrow... I couldn't. I get the intention of the movie, but it just didn't persuede me. The characters all lacked a likable personality, the story was grey and dull and I think, that if you'd remove all the diffusion and timeplay, the acting wasn't that great either.

There's a small part in me that has lost "movielove" because of the current hype in movies and I don't really "connect" anymore with most of the modern day actors, so that might be at play here.

Gemini Man (2019)

Not a fan of the CGI

[5/10 · 9 April 2021]

I really like Will Smith in movies, whatever people might say. He might not be a truly gifted actor and yes, he is a bit one-dimensional, but he has great likability and I believe his action and his emotions on screen. And in this movie he does his thing, but the movie just didn't do it for me.

Visually it's stunning, it has a nice pace, but the story and the plot weren't all there and I lost interest around half an hour before it ended. But, maybe I'm not someone the movie is targeted at.

But my greatest turn-off is the CGI for his clone. Which raises the question: is the movie made because the CGI has to be introduced? And if so, is Smith chosen because of his "easy to create" facial expressions? But besides that, I get distracted by a the CGI in such a way, that it spoils the enjoyment of the movie. Which wasn't too good to begin with.

The Office (2005–2013)

Falling in love with an amazing group of people

[10/10 · 7 April 2021]

I was like a lot of people who initially steered away from The Office US, because of its original predecessor by the hands of Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. I love that show and a little voice inside me always whispered: "It's a cheap copy, don't watch it. The Americans will butcher its original feel". But then....

Out of boredom and nothing to choose from on my streaming service I decided to give it a try and wow... I am so glad I did. It is such a funny, heartwarming and non-agressive show with such a great cast and over the top idiocy. I can't remember laughing so hard out loud with so much of the episodes. And everybody fits in just perfectly. I'm not going into great detail about the why and the how, but this is the only show which doesn't get worse towards the last seasons. For me, most shows do and I always think: just stop at the peak and don't drag it out. The last seasons ofcourse are without Michael, but they manage to keep the energy and the dynamics at the same level and somehow it all makes sense in the final episode.

I'm really sorry Frasier, but you have to step aside for a nwe number one on my alltime favorites list.

Modern Family (2009–2020)

They should have stopped after season 8

[8/10 · 27 March 2021]

I haven't seen season 10 & 11 yet, because Prime doesn't show them in my country yet, so my review is not based on the whole series. But....

I've seen this show at least 5 times now and every time I get pulled in right at the start. The cast is perfect, the script is clever and very funny and the addition of the "documentary feel" adds a whole lot to the tongue in cheek humour. There's a lot to say about why this show is great and for me it's for a great part about Ty Burell and Ed O'Neill. The latter, ofcourse, is almost a culthero because of his role in Married with Children, but in MF he's just amazing. His agitated looks into the camera are spot-on and his fear of Gloria is played out great. Burell, in his own right, is a class apart. I wonder if his role could have written in the way is has been written, if it hadn't been played by him. Take away the physical element and his sarcastic undertone and you might end up with an annoying character that insults his wife on a regular base and is constantly dodging responsibility. But this show is about a group and not a lead and everything works. The gayjokes, the sarcasm, the familyfeel... I love it. But...

Somewhere it loses its magic. Not all the children grow up fine in the show. Manny gets annoying, little Joe could have been left out and Haley starts working in my nerves. But I guess this is always a big risk when working with young actors who have to keep playing their chosen role. Also, somewhere around season 7 or 8, the script loses its touch and this is showing in season 9: weird plots, overacting and more crudeness erode the original feel.

And please Hollywood... stop botoxing, lipfilling and plastic surging your actors. People are beautiful when they age in grace.

Bliss (I) (2021)

An ok effort to be spiritual

[6/10 · 27 February 2021]

I hadn't seen the trailer for this, so I stepped in unbiased. Both Hayek and Wilson are actors that I can truly appreciate and the synopsys spoke to me, so I gave it a try.

Overall, it's a good story. I can see what the writer(s) tried to conceive and everything has a smooth and etheric feel to it. But the movie as a whole lacks excellence on so many parts, that it's hard to rate this higher than a 6. Hayek and Wilson create believable characters, but they both lack true depth and this keeps the emotional hook below par. But it also might have had to with the script. It just lacks depth and it didn't capture me completely. Like it tried to hard to be "arthousy" and this comes for the biggest part to the surface in the ending. But... if you're looking for an easy, romantic tale with a twist into spirituality, then this might be a good choice. By far is it cringy and absolutely not a bad movie, but also not a great movie.