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jburger-85818
Reviews
Dune: Part Two (2024)
Not Trying To Be A Jerk
Let's get it out! I have read the books up to Chapterhouse.
I'm That person and I wish I wasn't! It would've made the experience so much more pleasant than it was.
I rate it as I do because of the effort taken to make something special. If you haven't read the book and really enjoyed this movie- then don't read them! The movie has succeeded and you are happy!
If you have read the book, I can't imagine that you are pleased. The movie is atrocious! I'm not going to be the book guy and belittle anyone for not reading the source material. The worst part of seeing a jam style band are the people who go to see jam style bands. So I don't go. Love Red Rocks? Love how no one shuts up? So, I don't go. But, I had to see this movie. I did not like it and I can go on and on why and how, even on a second viewing (it can't be That Bad!?) I just got more angry. The more I think about it.....that does not help in any way. Goodness, I want to say names! I want to just say two names that were destroyed by this incredibly fallible movie! That deserved so much better!
I won't because I'm not That person.
At least, I hope not.
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)
Hello
Why write a review now? I recently created an IMDb account to give my thoughts on Gummo. I get it. I've, most likely, lost you. That's understandable. Moving on. There's so much that I could get lost on here, but I'll try to keep it simple. My aunt had to buy a another Christmas tree decades ago because she had so many Star Trek, the first series, ornaments that my uncle had to say something. The whole tree, not a small one, was nothing but Star Trek. Then came The Next Generation and she was sure it would, well, if you know any True Trekkies, you know what she thought. It took some time, but it won her over. I, shame on me, still don't care for the first series or any iteration. I was excited about Deep Space 9 because I liked Spenser for Hire and Hawk was in it. Not for me. This series has been with me for decades. It came out when I was a junior in high school- stop counting- and All Good Things 1&2 when I was 24. I still feel that the plane crashing in Breaking Bad was due to Q. Of course he'd crash the plane! I'll try to end this. I worked at a restaurant when I was much younger. The entrance was a split level bar that had a, by today's standards, shockingly small television. Every Sunday all of those seats filled up and for one hour it would be silent, until commercials, to watch Star Trek: The Next Generation. It was wonderful. I won't rant about phones and kids today and blah blah. Because I don't care. And to do so would, somehow, cheapen my memory . Many of those folks are no longer here with us. And if Whoopi Goldberg appears on my screen I mute it. Not because of politics or other empty junk, but because, you got it, she's, to me, still tending bar. She's still has Picard's ear. I love this show. I could go on forever. I'm happy not to be too knowledgeable about Star Trek lore. Don't care. This! Right here! I still watch this show! I'm protective of it. I cherish it.
The Iron Claw (2023)
It's Not Enough, You Say?
To get it out of the way, I have been Professional Wrestling fan since I was 7. I'm now 54. I get it. I'm very aware of this beyond tragic story. I know what was not in this movie or what was changed. I, truly, do sympathize with those reviewers that are crying 'foul' due to what they feel is not only falsifying information, but downright omitting many aspects. Many truths. I was quite shocked when I heard that someone was going to make a movie about this subject, much like when I heard someone was going to make a movie about The Lord of the Rings. It's not the same! Yes it is. Someone is attempting to take something you hold so dear and...take it from you. Without any concern, seemingly, for the "true fans". Well, if you were a fan, you see what they did to LOTR! What will they do to the Von Erich family? Remember all of that time they spent in the woods in the first part of The Fellowship of the Ring? Who wants to watch that? Sorry, Tom! Remember that Frodo, in the book, is the same age that Bilbo was as he begins his journey! Did they just skip about 50 years in the movie? Yup! The Iron Claw does play fast with the truth often. It has to. It's not a documentary. And the scope, the true SCOPE of what happened to this family is awfully immense! It's beyond tragic. How much do you need? Does the baby need to be electrocuted in front of you? Do you need Kerry to carry on, have daughters, then kill himself? Some say it should have been a mini series type of thing. What? There's already plenty of stuff out there to watch if this movie was not enough to evoke your sympathy. And it is a movie, so there should be a modicum of entertainment value. Did you see how enormous Zac Efron was? Those abs! I told my best friend that I was staring so long at him, I began to question my marriage to my wife! This is a very good movie and if you know nothing of this story, it will still resonate strongly with you. So, do I have a gripe? Yes, one. And it's the same that I had with the film version of Into the Wild. I guess film makers feel the need to guesstrospect ( yeah, I just made that word up) what others saw before they died or what happens when we die. What this movie does in that vein makes you kind of feel bad that Kevin didn't die, as well. I don't think anything is spoiled there. But, I guess makers feel goers need that in some way. They don't. And it feels disrespectful all the way around. I really enjoyed this film. You know what I mean. And it did make me sad, of course. Sad for them. Sad for me.
WarGames (1983)
Timeline
I have seen this movie so many times. I just love it! When West Wing was on, all I could see Spencer as was the one guy talking about the girl chanting over her 'plants' in the silo. When Mr. Blonde was hacking away in Reservoir Dogs, same thing, except he's having to hear about the chanting. And even when Corbin was talking about pride in No Country for Old Men- he's still looking for a spark plug to...urinate on, if it would help. Prince once said he wished he had written the song Purple Rain later in his career because he felt it was his best. That he 'peaked' too early. Calm down, I'm not going to compare Ally and Matthew to Prince, but....is Eugene the guy dropping fruit from a Ferris wheel in 1941 or is he the computer nerd illicitly talking about 'back doors' before he figures out to go through Falken's maze to find out how to play thermonuclear war? I haven't forgotten about Mr. Coleman. I see you! By today's technological advances, it feels more Star Trek. Phone booths. Huge floppy disks. The WOPR needed a team of people to operate, diagnose and a whole room to keep it in! All to be felled by a game of tic tac toe. But Alex gets 'caught' the same way people do today. Feeling that he'd learn to swim later because he felt he had more time. And that Ally is introduced as not being very intelligent, but is completely smart and beyond loyal. Someone you're going to wish your whole life to meet. What Wargames has always meant to me is that, no matter how times the we move on and how silly the technology looks, and how different the world has become- it's essence is the underdog saving the world, and, then, falling in love. And those themes are timeless. Right, Spock?
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (2014)
Take it easy
Do I think John Oliver is funny? Yes.
Do think John Oliver is intelligent? Yes.
Do I think John Oliver and this show are honest? Well...
I should get this out of the way. I don't care about this show's politics. I don't care about your politics.
How do I feel about capital punishment? Would my opinion be altered if one of my loved ones were murdered? How do I feel about trademarks? Does Steamboat Willy being available for cruel fun change my opinion of...you get it. I'm being very simple here, so be quiet, already.
I don't care if you're over on the right. Hello. Or over on the left. Hi there. Or in the middle. What do you have to eat?
It's Sunday night. Relax. Be intolerant and intolerable tomorrow.
And if it is simply impossible for you to keep it down for 30, or so, minutes once a week, then turn off your tv and fire up that tablet and be fed a steady diet of nothing that fits into your empty world. I think it is quite dangerous to hate a tv show as much as it is to hoot and holler over one because it 'thinks' like you do.
All of that is easy for me to say since I'm so benign. Or am I?
The Right Stuff (1983)
Loveless
It really hard to write a review of this movie without getting lost in the ocean of it. I have given this movie away, along with My Bloody Valentine's "Loveless", multiple times. If you came over and said you had never seen The Right Stuff or heard Loveless, it was yours and you took it home. Are there better movies? Sure. Are there better albums? Sure. That is, obviously, not the point. I first had this movie on a VHS tape I had recorded off of the tv. Then the store bought double VHS tape. Then dvd. Then blu ray. Then extended...you get the point. How can this be a "review"? I haven't even talked about the movie, yet?! I was at a 'function' many years ago. You know the drill- a party of wife's co-workers. You know. The worst. Like small talk? Like feigning interest as someone endlessly talks about their love of IPA? Check all the boxes. Then there was one guy who came up to me, looked at my Grateful Dead shirt and said they were "wall paper music". In other words, if you're listening to them, especially live, you'd better be doing something else, like hanging wall paper. I instantly found him interesting. As the night went on we talked about motorcycles, heroes, books, etc. After a while, I felt comfortable divulging my dislike for these events. He looked at me and said " ****ing A, Bubba!" I have known him since. I love him, his wife and their children. Was privileged to, unfortunately, be asked to help bury his father. Have I not talked about the movie, yet.
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
I Get it
Why review a movie I gave 10 stars? Why waste the time? Yes, it is one of my favorite films of all time! How Hackman did not win, much less, was even nominated for this- no words! And I understand why you don't like it. L do. My mom took me, at my request, to see this for my birthday. Not only was I aware that she wasn't laughing along with most of the audience- i was aware of how funny I thought it was. It's ridiculous! Isn't that alright? Especially because it is so well made that, even if you hated it, don't you have to admit that at least Wes and the actors were trying? That alone should give it some gravitas in your estimation. No? Ok. I quote this movie. I've owned this movie in multiple formats. It is funny. It is tragic. It is surreal. It has elemental truths in it. It is a simple story of loss and what that means for everyone involved. It's a good, hot meal disguised in a distracting gourmet wrapper. You can, quite easily, be led down the lane of style over substance. There's more than enough frills to allow you to dismiss it entirely and be fine. And you may look at my feelings and think that I have been misled by the Emperor's New Clothes, that I'm ignorant and have bought into the whole charade! I'm absolutely fine with that. And while you're doing what you're doing, I'll be taking it out and chopping it up!
Fargo (2014)
Relax...
I'm ashamed to be writing about this show.
But I feel forced to.
There are two remarks that make this so and they have to do with Year Four.
THIS IS NOT FARGO!
WHAT A GREAT SHOW, UNTIL SEASON FOUR!
Other than Year One, it seems the intent was to be very independent of the movie. Is Year 2 brilliant? Yes. As was Year 3. And Year 4 was great as well! And I'll say Year 5 was great, too!
So why do I say "relax"? It's a television show. A really good television show! But a television show. That is really obvious to most, but I'm worried about many of you. Should such vitriol be unleashed on a television show whose only sin is to try and be different? Yes, we can discuss the triumphs and the downsides of that endeavor, but in doing so, aren't we supporting that attempt? Where repetition is the delight of most, a show that tries to be different each season should be celebrated. And for those of you who instantly want to shout "What about the end of four and the link to Year 2?" I would whole heartedly tell you to, ugh, never mind. I can't expect to covert all of you.
Aftersun (2022)
This is one
I do enjoy silly movies. No thoughts! Just laughs! Potato chips! This is not those. While many have found, within the discussion of this movie, a time to reveal their own battles with depression and/suicide, this is not those. Simply, this movie was continual. I have visited many sites talking about this movie and I agree with many of them. Mostly, the idea that what is being filmed is truth, all else is remembrances or an attempt to fill in the missing parts. This movie is heartbreaking! Make no bones about it. It is about tragic loss. It is about parenting on another level. It is about being a child on another level. Even as that child has grown and has a child of her own. The performances are otherworldly. The direction is staggering. When you look at the books stacked by the television- that he is/was trying anything to control that which was destroying him for the sake of his daughter! Other than her, you are quite sure he would have been lost far sooner. That it was only her that he cared anything for. What makes this film amazing is it complete openness for interpretation. I can tell you what I think. You can tell me what you think. And you, over there, you can tell us what you think. And we're all right. Where this kind of fluidity is complete laziness most of the time- here it is not only unique, brilliant, and inspiring, but absolutely essential. I am thankful that this kind of movie exists rarely. That way we can celebrate it. Embrace it. Allow it to live in us. All of it.
The Zone of Interest (2023)
It's this simple for me
I cannot, in any articulate way, discuss the inhumanity of humanity. It is incomprehensible how we have treated each other and this world. I'm am not lost there, though. People are also beautiful. Compassionate. Forgiving. In ways that are, quite often, impossible for me to understand. Alas, that is not why we're here. This was my experience with this movie. First, the idea of spoilers. Guess what happens? Now that's out of the way. This movie moved me. Not in the way you think. Or what I thought going into it. What is "evil"? We all know it when we see it when it's frothing at the mouth and bearing fangs.... I found myself being much more impacted by this movie later. What did I see? I was talking with anyone about it which, I'm sure, made all of them so very happy! I had to go back and see it again. This time I wore ear engulfing headphones. What an experience! This movie still hasn't left me. The last movie I remember having this kind of effect on me was Under the Skin. I was surprised, yet not, that both movies were directed by the same person. That both movies had periods of total boredom. Under the Skin is quite graphic! In the obvious sense. This one is too, just not as obvious. I haven't seen much as horrific as I did when one women dons a fur coat. As both movies ended, I was speechless. Do you need to be beaten over the head? Do you not? Is it ok that both exist?
Gummo (1997)
Makes me laugh
I'm not going to argue a thing. What is amazing about Gummo is the feelings it illuminates. Some love it. Some hate it. Someone actually argued about how unrealistic it is towards the people of Xenia. Who cares? Is it also not portraying glue sniffers properly? Or cats? I bought this movie 20 years, or so, ago and didn't understand it. Still don't. Here is what I will say about this movie based on what I've experienced the past decades- watch it- at least once. The reason is you will be with a group of people. Maybe it's a party. Maybe you're talking with people after a professor's lecture. Whatever. Maybe it will be you. Maybe it will be someone else, but the moment anyone says "Gummo", an instant bond forms with anyone who has seen it. And they will want to talk about it! As will you! And it doesn't matter one bit how anyone "felt about it"! The group is formed. Is it art? Who is to say? Does promote discussion?