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amichaelsmith
Reviews
Ghostwatch (1992)
Way too slow in getting to a nice finish
The first 65 to 75 minutes is HORRIBLY SLOW. I know what they are trying to do but they could have done it MUCH faster. The last 15 or so minutes is genuinely good. Especially when u consider how far ahead of its time it was. But I bet that most people bailed long before we got there. In fact I'm certain that make of the bad reviews on here never made it to the climax which, again, isn't bad at all. In fact the scope of events at the end is pretty good and amazing (the idea of a giant virtual seance)
Anyway, I wouldn't watch it again. I'm not sure I could even really recommend it but it isn't as bad as people are making out and the truth is you HAVE to consider that it was made in the early 90's and the English view gratuitous violence the way most Americans view gratuitous nudity so what shocked English audiences is different from what would shock an american one.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)
Great fun!
Fantastic show!! Beautiful visuals, tons of action and lots of fun!!!!!! Impossible to not enjoy and not even 5 slow minutes. Everyone clapped at the end in the theater I saw it in.
Mamoa is a blast and tons of fun. And black manta was a great villain. I'm not optimistic because of those idiots in LA but I hope there's another one! You have to like James Wan! He's so so much with the core material and made it appealing to a wide range of people.
The underwater photography is even better than the first one and so well done. Not to mention all the shots of Atlantis and the pirate city.
You'll want to see it more than once!
Oldboy (2013)
Really sick
Ok, they had me right up until the "big reveal". It was so unbelievably sick and twisted I went from an 8 to a 2. It's just a horrible ending. How could anyone think that was acceptable. I realize that it's derived from source material that is normally rough but this was disgusting in every way. It's unfortunate too because the movie itself is interesting with excellent action. It's just the ending crosses so many lines it's literally abhorrent. I can't recommend this to anyone because to be candid I'm embarrassed that I watched it. Stunned at who was in this movie accepting the roles knowing the ending. I will look at them as people differently going forward.
Finestkind (2023)
Slooooooowwwwwwww
Unbelievably slow. And grossly misleading. It's 2 hours of my life I want back. Surprising because it's a great cast and an interesting concept but I've literally seen grass grow more interestingly. I cannot recommend under any circumstances.
The entire first half of the money is stupid and not related to the plot description. And then, when there finally is some activity, the movie goes in a completely different direction and ends in a shockingly stupid way. It's literally painful.
And again, every supporting actor/actress is TERRIBLE. I can't say enough bad about this movie.
And how did they get Tommy Lee Jones in this dog? I assume he lost a bet or something.
The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
Emotionally devastating.
There is maybe 10 minutes of comedy in this mess. The rest is completely unnecessary emotional trauma. Killing the little donkey was unnecessary and disgusting. The self-mutilation, suicide, abandonment, and overall bleakness accomplished nothing and served only to traumatize audiences. I was expecting something along the En Brugge or Waking Ned Devine space but OMG this was literally horrible. I can't believe the way they marketed this movie. There isn't a remotely comedic part about it. People left the theater i was in.
I just don't understand why this was necessary? They had a good little story that good have been resolved a thousand Better ways. So sad.
Morbius (2022)
I have to assume the critics were out to tank the film
It's literally impossible for me to reconcile the film I watched with the reviews I read in advance. I know most critics don't like comic book films but the vitriol directed at Morbius was insane. And the funny thing is that the reality is literally the opposite of what u read. The story is in fact amazing. It's dark, because it's about an anti-hero vampire. So yes, it's heavy. But that's the point. Also, it isn't "confusing blurry cgi" it's effective special effects capturing two vampires fighting. It's hard to understand why I have to explain that. Also they even go out of their way to complain about the post credits scenes which are only "stupid and confusing" if you are stupid or didn't want watch Spider-Man no way home.
In Short the movie is amazing. The action is awesome. The special effects amazing and they perfectly captured Morbius from the old comics.
The only way u can't enjoy this film is if you are trying to or if you forgot what comic book movies are all about. I'm going back next weekend and can't wait to see it again!
The Reckoning (2020)
Not bad at all!
I truly don't understand the negativity on this film. Everything about it is 70's Hammer horror films! I loved it. It's fun and very gothic. The movie this one is shamelessly patterned after (witchfinder general wirh Vincent price) is essentially the same story only more graphic. Lol! I had fun, I don't care what anyone else says.
Things Heard & Seen (2021)
Really enjoyable mind candy
I find it hard to understand all the negativity about this movie but I imagine a lot of that has to do with lost people just not being smart enough to follow it. There IS a lot going on and it is a complex plot and it isn't a mindless ghost story. But that's ok for those of us who could follow it! I found it deep and interesting and loved the parallels of good and evil and the ending was absolutely perfect. Dante would have been proud! If you've read more than two books in your life and are even remotely aware of the tome that this story is derived from, you WILL enjoy it.
In short, the ramifications of evil decisions can be as scary and dreadful as any overt demon or ghost.
Willow Creek (2013)
Not bad at all
I think the negative reviews are people with short attention spans. It is slow at the beginning but unless this is your first found footage film, you shouldn't be surprised. And i thought the end builds nicely and is very scary. I also don't think the end is ambiguous at all. It's a tad traumatic. The man is obviously killed and the creatures take the woman away for procreative purposes similar to the way they obviously did with the woman listed as missing earlier in the film. I can't imagine a much worse fate. Still bothers me.
In the Heat of the Night (1988)
Good show not so good writing
I really liked the show and I loved the characters (especially being from the south. They were perfectly done!). However, the writing on an episode by episode basis was very hit and miss. Some of the episodes seem to be rushed to conclusion, some didn't conclude at all and left all kinds of questions unanswered, and some just randomly went different directions. It feels very much like too many cooks in the kitchen (writers wise) and I'm guessing that they had a hard time hitting deadlines too.
It's still a great show! I'm just sorry for not being able to see how good it could have been!
Mohawk (2017)
Questions
Look I just don't get it. It wasn't bad and it wasn't good. Is it a horror movie? An action film? What?
I honestly have no idea what they were going for and quite candidly it doesn't make a lot of sense. I loved parts of it. And I loved the young lady who played the hero, she did a magnificent job. I just don't know what the heck I'm looking at. I gave it a six mostly because of her performance. Although I almost dropped it to a 5 when they got preachy near the end.
Give it a shot! There is a lot to like but I just don't think the producers ever had a solid plan.
Spiral (2019)
Being overthought again
As it seems to be the de riguer, we are overthinking yet another horror movie. That's all it is. And, again, it has shades of an old twilight zone (there just isn't anything new anymore). I enjoyed it but to be candid the nature of the societal outcasts who keep getting targeted is honestly irrelevant. It's just about a psycho cult. Everything else is window dressing. Please don't over think it and just enjoy the art. My only complaint is that there are LONG stretches that move very slow. The editing could stand be a bit more crisp. The idea was good though and as Horror movies go, I enjoyed it. I like nearly everything that shudder is involved with.
Antebellum (2020)
Confused about controversy
If this same movie had come out last year there would be none of this political nonsense I keep seeing in the reviews. It's a horror movie, plain and simple. There's no message for society and nothing to gnash our teeth over. Truthfully it's an almost direct copy of an old twilight zone episode from the 50's/60's. Only then it was WWII and concentration camps. Let's not overthink it and just enjoy the art.
The Pool (2018)
Not the dog?!!!
The movie was an 8 until they killed the dog. 3 star penalty for that.
The Lodge (2019)
Disturbing in a good way!
My Son and I just watched this today and I found it exceptional. When I saw Hammer films was connected to it, I knew it would be amazing. We loved it. It was as suspenseful as they come and, to me, much better than Hereditary because the premise was "real". Abject cruelty and insanity trumps supernatural every time. Anyone who says there is no horror must have had a much worse life than I have because horror is the perfect word to describe it.
It was smart, creepy, well done, well acted and well written. Congrats!
Dolittle (2020)
Excellent fun afternoon!
Look, if u can allow yourself to disengage from the Hollywood and critic insanity for a while and just relax and have some fun.... as a family, then this is for you. We all loved it. We laughed throughout and all enjoyed our afternoon! Is it "war and peace"? No. Is it a "complex treatise on anything"? No. But again, if you want to relax and smile and have some fun.. this is for u. Ignore the haters. Everything doesn't need to be a "mental journey." It's Dr. Doolittle. Manage your expectations. Grab some popcorn and spend two hours in stress free elegance.
Underwater (2020)
Very pleasantly surprised!
Really enjoyed it and I wasn't sure if I would. And truthfully it works as disaster/escape movie at least as much as it does a horror movie.
The Grudge (2019)
Wow
Absolutely terrible movie. For sure it's the worst edited movie ever. It's like several directors shot some footage and another one assembled it. Literally terrible. I can usually find something good about nearly every movie but not here. It's pretty bad when a movie about a Japanese curse spends no more than 3 minutes in Japan (and most of that was stock footage).
Don't go. Ever.