thepooles-1 Reviews

The Mummy (2017)

I found the film bold and well done

[14 May 2024]

I did not find the Brendan Fraser versions interesting. They were too comical and corny. This appraisal is coming from a viewer who also felt the lambasted Aliens III was unique in a special way. Of course the concept is preposterous but so are all the Biblical blockbusters that were not critically evaluated in their time. None of those Bible movie ever honestly touched on the subject of monolatry to explain how Moses and the Hebrews pulled off an incredible ruse which for some bizarre reason caught on but it way past its shelf life. The Cruise MUMMY was imaginative and bold and pushed the concept of a cursed afterlife in interesting ways. The original with Karloff was truly exceptional for its time. It was bold and preposterous in a similarly compelling way that Cruise's THE MUMMY was written and filmed.

The Midnight Sky (2020)

Clooney's premise was too grim

[7 December 2022]

Barely noticeable in a few scenes is a small statue of Anubis- an Egyptian deity of the underworld/afterlife. Clooney seems to be implying that the entire earth is now a necropolis and any hoped for continuance will have to be on a distant world. That speculation is too grim a message for these very grim times and may account for the production's poor reception. It is a conflicting outlook since Clooney clearly points out that travel to other possible supportive worlds is fraught with daunting calamitous peril and mishaps.

There are too many plot impossibilities. I saw only one shuttle craft attached to the space faring and orbiting craft and since it was eventually used by two of the crew to return to their homes on earth how were the remaining crew inhabitants going to get back down to Jupiter's moon?

Flight (I) (2012)

A powerfully written and acted film in my opnion

[11 January 2022]

I've watched it three times along with my wife. I've also visited many scenes on YouTube. I have questions. Would a co-pilot have the right to curtail the "push" if he felt the PIC was impaired or would he be fired on the spot? Many pilots have said no such behavior from Whip would have ever been tolerated by copilots. Also was Whip's sequester in the hotel sabotaged and if so by whom? The misaligned lock, the booze frig stock full. My guess is the owner of South Airlines wanted Whip to take the fall instead of the airline's sloppy maintenance ethos.

Val (I) (2021)

I viewed it two times

[23 August 2021]

The five rating is because I am very conflicted about this film being a completely honest portrayal of Val's life (so far). How many actors with just as much drive, determination and serious studies had such early advantages? Would a Roy Scheider or a Powers Booth envy and resent the early family support and circumstances?

Jayne Mansfield's Car (2012)

I'm not sure what to make of this film

[24 September 2019]

My wife and I concluded it was one film that doesn't fit into a good or bad rating format. We are ambivalent about encouraging or discouraging friends from seeing it. That ambivalent stance is indeed a helpful review. They're all definitely on their own with this one.

The Alpha Incident (1978)

Why was Meeker's name in the headliner?

[11 September 2019]

I watched this because I'm a fan of Meeker but from what was portrayed he was some boozer who showed up hungover to shoot his minimal scenes. Stafford Morgan was the star and I had never seen nor heard of him. Now I'm curious about all the guys who never made the big time such as Morgan. He had a presence like a fusion of John Ireland and Frank Lovejoy. Well, like they say, Hollywood casting is like a lottery- you get the audition or you don't.

Roadie (2011)

A tale of arrested development with no compelling arc

[22 June 2016]

I feel the script failed to make the subject matter meaningful to mainstream viewers. One cannot expect the director, writer or actors to worry about the commercial viability of the project. Producers and backers should have a say and they perhaps failed to warn that the story would not be compelling to regular folk. One is free to make any movie one can imagine but just don't assume that it will make a profit for those who put up the funds.

The character of Jimmy had no redeeming aspects. He was a teenage slacker and continued that pose for his entire life. A father breaking his guitar would have not made most rebellious teenagers totally quit. The viewer is left wondering what will become of such a callow male. Living with his mom for a few years? Maybe getting a job stacking cans at the local market? His mother's unconditional love won't save Jimmy. A compelling film just doesn't portray human failure. It must offer an uplifting epiphany or catharsis. Jimmy confessing to his mother about his mundane duties with BOC is hardly a notable catharsis that might lead to viable adult goals. Again, one can have skilled actors but if the story can't truly resonate with regular folk then expect to lose your investor's money. One DOES have an obligation to think of them as well as your own "artistic" ethos.

The Visit (I) (2015)

An excellent film with a needed message with spoiler

[14 February 2016]

This movie is staying with me like AFFLCTION did. The funny rap at the end by a traumatized and healing young boy was definitely needed after so much tragic action. I'm thankful for film makers who dive deeply into the human psyche. The transcending message of the film- don't let grievance, spite and anger diminish torment and haunt your life- is greatly needed and coming up with a clever horror film as the means of making that statement is just wonderful to me.

No one can say Shymalan shies away from introducing aspects of aging that most would rather ignore. I recommend it to discerning viewers. I think it far surpassed the current film 45 years.

House of Games (1987)

The opening Bach selection sets the tone for this spiky film

[10 March 2009]

Opening the film with a Bach Toccata is an aural hint of what is to unfold. All the compositional devices Bach perfected to keep his listener (and the performer) intrigued, delighted, surprised and entertained applies to this film. There isn't a mutual tenderness between the two lead characters and the lead female in the final scene I feel is justified in stating she was raped even though her victimizer feels she was forewarned that he was a cad. Mamet compellingly explores the emotional chasm and differences between the genders but I feel he is clueless about how they actually compliment one another given a healthy sense of humor. If Mamet ever developed a healthy humorous take on the interaction between the genders I wonder how this work would have ended? As it exists it is very somber and mean spirited. Maybe Mamet dislikes the female half of our species.

Alien 3 (1992)

Aliens 3 as an early 90s AIDS scifi parable?

[21 February 2008]

After viewing Aliens 3 in an almost empty movie theater during its original short release time I had the feeling that I had just viewed a cinematic parable for the AIDS scourge. There were haunting and elegaic sections of the film that were wrenching to view. Coupled with beautifully muted thoughtful music cues it was a somber but enriching experience. Being a social deviant was presented as a curse that keeps on giving regardles of the setting or one's vague search for redemption or atonement. A hetero female enters into the monastic/penal colony setting and shows that regardless of their determination she is the one symbol of gender purity that will not just haunt them but very likely be the catalyst of a terrifying death and oblivion. As other viewers have pointed out the film is rich in material to ponder much like BLADE RUNNER.

Cabaret Balkan (1998)

bleak commentary on a dysfunctional society

[11 January 2008]

For critical thinkers and discerning types this film most likely will be a gratifying and of course unsettling viewing. Serious ponderers know the good intent of directors who hope that a compelling presentation will engender mass social enlightenment. CABARET BALKAN's intensity and tension brought back the same sense of dread KANAL and ONCE WERE WARRIORS evoked from this viewer. IN THE VALLEY OF ELAH had a similar urgent message and again the native masses stayed away from looking into a darkened mirror. I guess it is that cursed "exceptionalism" meme that infected America very early and led to this country's arrested character development. I assume CABARET BALKAN met the same fate with native viewers.

Blade Runner (1982)

The replicant Roy ends up nobler than his creator or tracker.

[19 August 2007]

Just as man may have made God in his own image and not vice versa the replicant Roy transcends his created purpose in his final moments with an act of unprogrammed compassion for a human who most likely was incapable of reciprocation. The tracker Deckard was more monstrous than the rampaging Roy. I think Philip Dick's tracker cop Deckard could easily have transformed into an unwitting replicant and one cleverly used by the authorities. Another Sci Fi classic is SOYLENT GREEN which I feel captured the more likely dystopian near future. Both film directors were savvy in their scoring choices. Beethoven worked for SOYLENT GREEN and Vangelis's 80s synthesizer arsenal layering was perfect for BLADE RUNNER.