ijtfalcon Reviews

Bill Nye Saves the World (2017–2018)

Be a Scientist

[5/10 · 28 April 2017]

This write up is not about the show. Not really. When I came to the page, I decided to look at the user reviews to see what other people thought. I figured people would probably be disappointed with the product as was I but I was shocked to discover pages and pages of one star reviews.

Even though Bill's current show might not be that great, he has inspired me in my life to proceed like a scientist. Looking at the page I quickly made an observation: not only are these all one-star reviews but they seem to all be focused on one subject - FAKE science. It just seemed weird to me that a page would be flooded with permeations of a single train of thought.

Having made this observation, I developed a hypothesis: many of these accounts must be from a single person. Naturally, the next step in the scientific process is to test my theory and I proceeded to do so by clicking on the user names of those who had left reviews. Sure enough, a majority of the reviews left came from accounts created on the same day the review was written.

It still remains a hypothesis (I have no illusions of having proved my theory) but my conclusion is that someone devoted an extensive amount of time to creating dozens of accounts and writing dozens of reviews specifically to drive down the ratings for this show. The alternative is that there's something about "Bill Nye Saves the World" that has driven a veritable horde of people to creating accounts and writing reviews decrying its propaganda tendencies.

Bill, you didn't create a great show here but you know what you have done? You've been a rational voice in a world who has taught me to observational and studious of the environment I live in. This time it only led me to reveal what I believe to be a rather unstable internet troll but I can assure you the lessons have been and will continue to be applied to my life as a whole. Thanks.

American Beauty (1999)

Beautiful

[10/10 · 11 October 2007]

So much has been said about this movie that it's hard to think of what else I could add. I wasn't even going to comment on the film for this precise reason, but then I figured I needed to give my favorite film of all time a shout out.

To start, I honestly believe that this is one of the true masterpieces of the decade. This is a beautifully crafted movie on absolutely every level but it's the use and exploration of character throughout that makes it truly astonishing. I find each of the characters incredibly fascinating and very rich. The tagline "Look Closer" is spot on because there's always more going on than what you observe on the surface. If I'm ever missing the beauty in my own world, this is a great work of art to remind me that I don't have to look very far.

Wedding Crashers (2005)

Funniest thing I've seen in a long while

[9/10 · 13 November 2005]

Sometimes it's nice to see a good little art film that offers up a movie so unique, so true, that you wonder if cinema even existed before its conception. Other times, however, it's nice just to laugh your butt off and that's exactly what "Wedding Crashers" dishes up. Now I'm not saying that "Wedding Crashers" isn't unique, because, in reality, it is. It's unique in the fact that I can't remember a movie that made me laugh so long and so hard. In that regard, I think "Wedding Crashers" is actually one of the best films of the year because I truly feel it was one of the most entertaining. It's too bad that there aren't more films out there like this; that more films can't make me laugh until I cry, even on the second viewing. If you haven't yet seen this movie, then give it a chance and hopefully you'll laugh as much as I did because you probably deserve it. If not, and you think this film is terrible, then please don't hate me. I'm only trying to spread the joy.

Batman Begins (2005)

Batman...the way it was meant to be

[10/10 · 15 June 2005]

OK, let me just preface this by saying that I have been waiting for this movie for years. Ever since the debacle that was "Batman and Robin," I wanted to see Warner Brothers go back and get Batman right. Having waited so long, I was worried that, when the time finally came, I was bound to be disappointed. Fortunately, I was not. Not only has Batman been brought back to respectability, but it has exceeded the Tim Burton films by a mile. While they may have been entertaining flicks, one has to admit the first two Batman films, or any Batman film for that matter, was never about Batman. They were always about the villains, and it always made me feel somewhat shortchanged. Psychologically, Batman is the most interesting superhero around and none of the films ever got what he was all about. "Batman Begins" turns that all around and gets everything right that all the other movies got wrong. Batman/Bruce Wayne is finally that tortured and confused individual he was always meant to be: a borderline psychotic, only one step away from going down the path of the criminals he battles. Overall, the acting is first rate, the story is excellent, the direction is slick and the action is exhilarating. The only downside of this movie is the fact that now I have to wait another few years for the next installment.

Garden State (2004)

Under-appreciated Gem

[9/10 · 14 February 2005]

I must say that from the moment I saw this movie's teaser trailer I was quite intrigued. It's rare for a teaser trailer to intrigue me like this one did, but it's probably even rarer for a movie to go beyond the expectations its trailer set up for it.

The story itself is deceptively simple enough being about a young man who comes back home after a long hiatus to his mother's funeral. He subsequently begins to reconcile his past while learning what it means to live and feel again.

This movie has some genuinely inspired moments, but is primarily the piece it is because of the acting it contains. Zach Braff, Peter Sarsgaard, and Natalie Portman are all great in their respective roles. Natalie Portman especially so.

This is one of the few movies this year that I truly connected with. All I can say is that, if you know what it's like to feel like you're always having to be someone you're not, then this movie just may be for you too.

Spider-Man (2002)

Good first effort

[7/10 · 13 February 2005]

I must say, when I first saw this movie I thought it was absolutely fantastic. Maybe it was simply because I had been anticipating watching it for so incredibly long that in a first viewing, it could do no wrong. I liked it so much, in fact, that I went and saw it again the very next day. Since that first viewing, and with the added fact that I immediately bought it when it arrived on DVD, I have finally started seeing the cracks. I think the long and the short of the movie's faults lay in its screenplay, which leaves a person wanting. Aside from some some pretty weak dialogue and a climactic scene which mirrors a similar scene in Batman Forever, this is still a pretty good movie. See this if only to give you the ground work to see the sequel which is vastly superior. Let's hope number 3 follows suit.

Dead Poets Society (1989)

Excellent

[10/10 · 20 January 2003]

I have no need to summarize this movie seeing as how most people tend to do that anyway so, therefore, any addition of such would simply be frivilous. However, I am somewhat disappointed to see how people tend to misinterprate this film by proclaiming that the movie's message of carpe deium is derailed by the fact that those who apply it end up losing. This could not be further from the truth. In the beginning, when the young men are first introduced to this idea of sucking the marrow out of life it is applied by the students when its results prove to be fun and joyous. The point really driven home by the movie though is to stand up for one's beliefs throughout all of life no matter how hard it may prove. Now, while the character of Neil, does try to do what he feels he must without regard to his father, in the end, he doesn't stand up at all, but simply accepts his father's authority. Some may not like it but his story serves to prove just how important it is to stand one's ground no matter how hard it may be. It's not only his character, but in fact every character in the film that does not fully understand Mr. Keating's message until the very end by finally doing what they feel is right now matter how much the opposing forces deny this basic truth.

I urge everyone to give this movie a chance and to see it for what it really is. It may just change your life.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Fantastic!

[10/10 · 2 April 2002]

What else is there to say about this movie? Every single element is great from the direction all the way down to the score, which accents every moment fantastically. And then there's the acting, which I cannot praise enough for everyone's excellent portrayal. There is not a single moment in the movie which I felt an element to be untrue to how the characters would actually be all the way to the extras which is an extremely rare achievement. But the thing that makes this so great is that for some reason it never seems to get old no matter how much I watch it, in fact, it even gets better and better because I realize how much of a gem this really is. If you are one of the few not to have viewed this, please do yourself a favor and watch one of the most incredible movies of our time.

Zapped! (1982)

Genius!

[2 April 2002]

Words escape me, when commenting here...I can't think of a single flawed moment throughout the whole picture. This is simply great! Especially the part where Barney (GREAT NAME BY THE WAY!!!)and his friend beat up those guys at the park with Barney using his telekenetic powers....absolutely hillarious!!! How this didn't receive recognition at the Oscars eludes me! This is an absolute gem that won't get it's deserved recognition until about 2300 when the aliens from Cintron come down and take things over (just don't tell anyone). Oh, and did I mention the ending? Didn't think so. Anyway, rent this movie today, or better yet, don't.

The Sixth Sense (1999)

Great Everytime

[10/10 · 14 April 2001]

There is just so much you can say about this movie. It intrigues you. It thrills you. And it astounds you. But with a movie such as this, and the ending the way it was (incredibly surprising), very rarely does it provide a second viewing as good. This one hits it right on the nose. And not only for a second viewing, but every time I see this movie, I love it again. That simple fact says that this is more than most movies are, which is, a masterpiece.

Baby Geniuses (1999)

Dare I say Genius?

[1/10 · 14 April 2001]

I think not. This, by far, is the worst movie I have seen in my entire lifetime. There is not one single funny moment in the entire film and it tries......and tries......and tries. But it only gets worse...and worse...and worse. How could Christopher Lloyd subject himself to this trife? The answer alludes me. There simply aren't enough words in the English language which can describe the crap that is Baby Geniuses.