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Reviews
Sugar: Olivia (2024)
Captivating
I love Colin Ferrell and that he can do such a good USA accent is amazing. Aside from the fact that he's gorgeous, he can portray a sympathetic character so very well and an evil one. This John Sugar grabbed my attention with his kindness and skill with in Japan. I admire anyone who can speak multiple languages, and Mr. Sugar speaks English, Japanese, and Arabic in this first episode which shows a highly intelligent person. He sees everything and what I really liked is he sees it without judgement. His interaction with the Carl, the homeless man, was just lovely. I actually done a similar thing when I've interacted with someone down on their luck, bought them dinner, asked their name and sometimes their story. I figure giving 20, 50 or 100 bucks is something I can afford and if 10% of the time it goes for food, shelter, or something necessary it's a win. Oh, and i love dogs, cats, and all animals and this character does too and the whole reason I started to watch was that he does end up with a dog. And his Corvette is just one of the most beautiful cars ever built, and it is a rolling piece of art. I hope all the episodes are as good but even if they are 1/2 as good I'll watch it.
Masters of the Air (2024)
OK, but just.
I had high hopes for this series but was somewhat disappointed. Character development was either choppy or non-existent, and jumped around way too much. If the aviation history of WWII was the goal they sure did miss the mark. There was so much more to aviation, many more planes, and other topics that could have been covered. Perhaps the title was just too misleading. Many of the characters were quite good as was the acting but the whole series jumped around too much and seemed rushed and incomplete. It feels as if they tried to cover too much. I think they should have stuck with be B17 base in the UK and kept that perspective as that would have been enough. The Tuskegee Airman could make its own series, same with the prison camps, and the horrors of the Nazis. Visually very interesting. Some of the procedures in the cockpit were done poorly (I'm a commercial pilot, 45 years over 10,000 hours) and either ignored technical advisors or just didn't care. Worth watching, sure but won't go back to watch again.
Lessons in Chemistry (2023)
Surprisingly Moving
Maybe it's a "woman" thing, but watching Elizabeth Zott move through a very male world with all it's struggles, especially then, and find a way to continue was so very moving and encouraging. I really was so sad in the tragic parts and watching her daughter grow up, and I loved the total lack of prejudice that Calvin, Elizabeth, and their daughter showed. There is a lot of history going on in the background, civil rights, and the way that marginalized peoples have been abused being two. Being told you are not capable just because of you color, or sex is so demeaning and belittling that it rips at one's very soul. It's not perfect, but given that I cried so much watching this yet left feeling some hope was enough for a 10 star rating.
Three Thousand Years of Longing (2022)
Lovely way to spend a few hours
I love both Tilda Swinton and Idris Elba so it was an easy choice to watch. I live alone, somewhat academic and seemingly boring so I could relate some of what she was feeling. Her turn of feeling was too quick in my view, but on the whole the movie was lovely visually, and the stories were interesting and lovely. I did like the narrative of "stories" as a way to explain things (as religion does) and science as at least part an answer. His stories broke down her wall of isolation and broke open her desire to love and be loved. For me it was personal, I don't think I want to find love again (I'm 63) and that is either from a true lack of desire or one in which is derived as a wall to protect me, I don't know. I think humans all long for acceptance and ultimately love but few find it for a life time. After watching the movie I felt glad that I watched it, and somewhat moved by the thoughts and experience.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Subspace Rhapsody (2023)
I don't like musicals
Musicals make no sense. But the premise of this is that it's not normal, they are forced to do it by some weird improbability thingy. So the illogical nature of musicals are eliminated and I guess the spontaneous nature of the singing is just fun. And, the singing is actually really good. I like that they go from a stressful episode with death just inches away to whimsical and fun episodes, much in the way they did back in the 1960's when I watched the original Star Trek. It went a little serious, but it remained fun. Spock sang remarkably well, as did everyone which makes me wonder how many were really singing and who were being dubbed. Good characters, and of course Captain Pike is a hottie!!!
A Man Called Otto (2022)
Very Emotional
(WARNING: Small Spoilers, on Netflix) Talk about an emotional roller coaster. Otto looses his wife, gets laid off, wants to kill himself..... THEN he mets a young man who his wife taught, and she accepted him as trans and helped others accept the real "Malcom". I'm old, was laid off, thought awful thoughts and wanted it all end....well, hit very close to home.
Took three days to finished it as it was so emotional for me: cried too much. Odd seeing Tom Hanks being a cranky old man but he sure does it well. AND it's based in Pittsburgh, where I live!
The movie shows love, kindness, changes in hearts, kindness to animals and I hope for some redemption and a will to live. Being alone sucks, losing family sucks, losing your job sucks, and it can get to the point where one wants out and the pain to stop. I've been through all that and more but I'm still here...barely..just as Otto was.
Unlike Otto, I try to give kindness and happiness when confronted with ugliness and misery. Who knows what that person has been or is going through. This movie is deeply emotional, but shows a side of human nature that we need more of.
Still (2023)
Remarkable
Even now, he has a wonderful sense of humor. He and I are the same age, and seeing how much Parkinson's has aged him but hasn't touched his optimism or sense of humor was wonderful to watch. He married young and how lovely it is to see that they are still married with wonderful children. I was amazed how intimate the filming was, his therapy sessions, falling, and exercising, but mixed in with cut a aways to his older movies as he told his story. Amazing rise from nothing story by a young man determined to succeed who by will power, perseverance, humor, and a wonderful sense of comedic timing pulled the rabbit out of the had and became an endearing movie star. I STILL love to watch Back to the Future movies, they never get old. Good things do come in small packages.
Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy (2021)
Soothing, informative, and fun
Mr. Gucci's voice, for me, is a soothing balm for my soul. His enthusiasm for food, historical interludes, and of course all the glorious food has had me watching this several times. I've even ordered olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and other food stuffs that are available based on this show. It has transformed my cooking. I have been to Italy and didn't understand why I couldn't reproduce much of what I ate while there.
Even the music is soothing and the scenery is just magnificent. I loved learning how the climate, the soil, and volcanic history affected Italian cuisine. I hope this series finds a new home to finish Italy and then venture to other countries.
Truman (2015)
Thoughtful and very moving.
I loved the acting, the awkwardness that death brings up with most humans, and of course being a Mastiff owner and dog lover it broke my heart in many ways. The friendship was lovely, and the whole film seems so real to me. I wanted to hug Julian so many times, I cried so many times that maybe I'm not a really objective critic/viewer. It also improved my Spanish a bit so there's that too! Most important theme to me was friendship and what it means to be a true friend, through thick and thin and even death. To be able to say goodbye to a close friend, to help them through their final days would be such a privilege. Just touching.
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Fun, but only average, Bale was great of course
A little too campy, but sort of fun. The Gods were jerks, so I didn't mind them going away, and Christian Bale was wonderful, of course. I almost didn't recognize him. Not too long fortunately, so it's worth seeing if you are bored or enjoy a bit of campy silliness. I enjoy watching Chris Hemsworth, he's always charming and funny. Taika Waititi the very definition of silly and camp and I did love the rock guy he portrays. But, if it wasn't for Mr. Bale I'd have fast forwarded a few times or shave stopped watching. A little too campy, but sort of fun. The Gods were jerks, so I didn't mind them going away, and Christian Bale was wonderful, of course. I almost didn't recognize him. Not too long fortunately, so it's worth seeing if you are bored or enjoy a bit of campy silliness. I enjoy watching Chris Hemsworth, he's always charming and funny. Taika Waititi the very definition of silly and camp and I did love the rock guy he portrays. But, if it wasn't for Mr. Bale I'd have fast forwarded a few times or shave stopped watching.
Eternals (2021)
Just a distraction
If you need something to watch to kill time, it's OK. Started out with scrolling text that friended now poorly the film is. I kept watching it due to them playing Pink Floyd hoping for more. Hard to connect and didn't explain things any better than the initial text. Drink a little wine first.