brent-45172 Reviews

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

Fans: it doesn't disappoint

[10/10 · 8 July 2023]

This installment of Indiana Jones doesn't disappoint. I'm not sure what all the negativity is about, but this is one of my favorites out of the 5.

It's sad it is doing poorly at the box office. Perhaps people expect sex, cussing and perversion, of which this movie has none. Aside from the action, fighting and killing, it's a movie for everyone.

Harrison Ford may be old, but he uses that to his advantage in the action. The movie has its typical Indiana Jones antics, which is why it doesn't disappoint. Harrison Ford delivers as an aging Indy.

EVERYONE, I've talked to face-to-face who has seen the movie has said they loved it. So, please don't get suckered by the negative reviews. Either they don't have a funny bone in their body, or they are up to no good. This is an excellent movie.

AmeriGeddon (2016)

Not the worst, but far from the best

[2/10 · 1 May 2023]

There are too many technology blunders in the movie. A nuclear EMP is set off, and from space they show the blast, but nobody sees it on the ground?

Get real.

This perpetuates the hype that EMPs don't kill people too.

"How did this thing survive an EMP attack?", one character asks.

How did all those soldiers survive the nuclear fall out from the EMP bomb?

The movie is a bad mix of liberal, right-wing and sci-fi propaganda. I'm trying to decide if it is a liberal attempt to discredit conservatives or a conservative attemp to discredit liberals. It fails either way.

The bad acting and script create a confusing message of fear mongering. One has to ask, what fools would launch an attack that would impact them on the same level as everyone else. It's like poisoning the water supply and then drinking from it. It's beyond implausible.

After the EMP attack, you have people sitting outside without any concern of the radiation fall out. Again, very implausible. Why aren't they taking shelter???

Imagine the panic an attack would cause. You don't see it after the attack. In fact, the characters are acting like it's just a power failure.

The Most Reluctant Convert (2021)

A Wonderful Story, But for Education not Entertainment

[8/10 · 21 February 2023]

This is a wonderfully told story, but I would not watch it if you're expecting to be passively entertained. This is thought provoking movie.

The story moves rather slowly, but it shows insight to the conversion of C. S. Lewis. It's not told in such a way to convince people that Jesus is the Christ, but as a mater-of-fact approach. It's not a full biography of the man, but a portion of his life where he changed some of his beliefs and why.

It's a great story for anyone - regardless of their religious convictions. It is especially interesting if you like C. S. Lewis' writings. Whether it be the Screwtape Letters or the Chronicles of Narnia, if you like C. S. Lewis' writing, I think this movie will give you some insight to the mind of Mr. Lewis.

The Way (II) (2022)

Couldn't Stomach It

[2/10 · 21 February 2023]

I couldn't stomach it. When I read the description I thought it would be good.

It wasn't.

It gets very weird from the very start. I made it about 14 minutes in to it before I shut it off. I guess if you're in to modern gospel singing and arms swaying in the air, it might be enjoyable. And, Kathy Gifford's appearances did nothing to sell me on it.

It was billed as, "Moving stories from the Bible brought to life as you've never seen before written by four-time Emmy award-winning TV personality, actress, and best-selling author Kathie Lee Gifford."

Perhaps it gets better, but when I shut off a movie after 14 minutes, it isn't a good sign. I love Biblical stories, and I don't mind a good musical. This is neither. In fact, it kind of reminds me of walking in to a warehouse Christian charismatic church service when you're expecting to be walking in to a quiet, reverent place of worship. It was a jolt to the system.

The Other Side of Heaven (2001)

One of My Favorite Movies

[10/10 · 21 February 2023]

This is one of my favorite movies. It has ever aspect of a good family movie.

Christopher Gorham portrays John Groberg, a young man belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who gets called on a mission to Tonga. A girlfriend whom he left behind and writes, Jean - portraited by Anne Hathaway, exchanges letters with him while he serves in the South Pacific Island nation known as Tonga.

What I like best about the movie is how it portrays what missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints deal with while on their missions. No, not every mission is like John Groberg's, but many return missionaries can relate to the situations portrayed in the movie. But, the icing on the cake is how Elder (a title given to male missionaries) Groberg develops a love for the people of Tonga and how they come to love him.

This old man cries every time during this movie. It reminds me of my service as a Latter-day Saint missionary in Kansas.

Princess Cut 3 (2022)

Disconnected Story Line

[4/10 · 21 February 2023]

The premise of this movie is great, but the script writing and edited feels so disconnected. I haven't seen Princess Cut 1 or 2, but this had the potential to be a great movie.

There are two separate and loosely connected stories going on. The second story is unnecessary and left me asking what-the-heck???

The story surrounding Tessa and the cop could have been more fully developed. It seems their relationship in the story wasn't developed well. While I liked the what happens in their relationship, it really could have been better scripted and more time spent on it. In a story like this, you want to "fall in love" with the main characters. I felt the movie failed in this area.

I'd still recommend watching it if you're looking for a clean movie. It wouldn't be suitable for younger children due to some domestic violence. Teens, yes. In fact, it could open a discussion about domestic violence in relationships and what to do if you're a witness or victims. The violence is not graphic, but pertinent to the story.

All that said, if they came out with a cut version that removes all that story about Ariana (no spoiler - when you watch it you'll see what I mean), then it would be a more connected short movie.

The Chosen (2017– )

Season 3 Begins to Fail the Viewers

[3/10 · 21 February 2023]

I was able to tolerate the editorialized and fictional portions in seasons 1 & 2, but season 3 has departed so far from the Biblical stories that it is starting to look like a soap opera set in the times of Jesus Christ. It's as though the writers are trying to stretch it out so they can keep the series going on for a long time.

An example of such fictional portions is how they portray the relationship between Simon Peter and his wife. That drama was drawn on WAY too long. Yes, I'm aware they are trying to portrait the 12 Apostles as human, but the amount of time spent on that drama was just too much.

I started watching The Chosen because I wanted to see dramatized stories from the New Testament in such a way as to not throw interpretations and biases in to it. As I mentioned at the start, I was able to over look things that are either inaccurate or falsely portrayed (visually) as long as it told the story accurately. Now, with season 3, both me and my wife have become disappointed and have stopped watching.

Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)

More filler fluff

[1/10 · 7 May 2022]

The writers do a poor job indicating the narrative is an "unreliable witness". While it's pretty obvious the Lafferty men are crazy and evil, they haven't done a good job divorcing the Lafferty's from mainstream Latter-day Saints.

The historical flashbacks tie poorly to the story, and the Mormon temple rite depiction was an another "unreliable witness" narrative.

This is the 3rd strike. I won't be watching anymore. The news tells us how it turned out. It's objective isn't to tell the story of the crime, but to sensationalize the crime and to get people hooked on watching. I predict it's only going to go downhill from here.

By the way, the part about the assassination of the Missouri Governor was complete fiction. Gov. Boggs had an assination attempt on his life, but hid wasn't assassinated as shown in the film. One Mormon, Orrin Rockwell, was arrested and acquitted for the attempted assassination. Boggs died in Napa, California, from natural causes.

This series is what you'd call "historical fiction". While it's based on a crime that actually took place, there's a lot of fiction thrown in there for entertainment.

More historical inaccuracies/omissions: the Lafferty Brothers were excommunicated from the LDS Church BEFORE they murdered Brenda and Erica. Yet, no mention of this important fact in Episodes 1-3. Ron Lafferty started his own church prior to the killings. Ammon Lafferty is a completely fictional character created by the show writers. The Lafferty father was the late Dr. Watson Lafferty, Sr. The character of Ammon Lafferty is based on his deranged son's description. His wife, Claudine, passed away at age 96.

It's also important to note the show creator is a disaffected Latter-day Saint also, so the historical inaccuracies may be intentional.

Under the Banner of Heaven: Rightful Place (2022) Season 1, Episode 2

Historical flashbacks worse than episode 1

[2/10 · 1 May 2022]

The historical flashbacks in this episode were worse than those in episode 1. The stuff about Joseph Smith's interactions with a rancher who killed a dog and Ammon Lafferty's killing the family pet are disconnected, at best and disturbing.

The scrip writers should stick to telling the Lafferty story without the feeble attempt to somehow make a tie between the Lafferty family dysfunction and Latter-day Saint historical figures. It's like trying to link killer Dan White's crimes to the Catholic Crusades. They are disconnected events.

There's also this bizarre implications in the series that Latter-day Saints have a prejudice against Native Americans. Nothing could be further from the truth. Native Americans make up a large portion of Latter-day Saint membership.

There's no reason to focus Detective Pyre's religious practice. To let the audience know he's a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is fine, but the rest doesn't add to the story about the murders.

If they were to remove all that, it would make for a good single episode 90-minute movie.

Under the Banner of Heaven: When God Was Love (2022) Season 1, Episode 1

Poor attempt to link history to Lafferty murderers

[3/10 · 1 May 2022]

First, the gratuitous nudity adds nothing to the movie or plot. It had no business in the show.

The flashbacks to historical events leads the viewer to believe that's either the killers' justification or that's what Latter-day Saints are taught. I didn't find that they added to the actual story. It should stick to telling the story of the murders and investigation without mudding the waters.

The Lying Game (2011–2013)

If only...

[7/10 · 6 March 2022]

If only the writers would have resolved some the major character conflicts and left the resolved. Instead you're left with a bad impression of everyone. They all have very serious character flaws and few redeeming qualities.

There's no "good guys" in the plot, only bad ones. Just as you think someone is honorable, the character goes and blows it.

The last episode was very disappointing.

When Calls the Heart (2014– )

Canada is Smashing It

[10/10 · 6 March 2022]

Canada is smashing it with the series. It's clean entertainment for the whole family. I'm beginning to think Hollywood has lost sight of their biggest audience - Families.

The series reminds me of some of the Levi shows I grew up with as a kid the kid, like Gunsmoke, Bonanza and the Wild, Wild West.

Dwight in Shining Armor (2018–2021)

Truly clean family entertainment

[9/10 · 6 March 2022]

It was refreshing to find this series. It's truly good Clea family entertainment. I wish more shows were like this. Moden-day Disney could learn a thing about CLEAN entertainment from this. There's no political-social hidden agenda. There's no trying to indoctrinate the audience. It's something I will let my grandchildren watch.

I Ship It (2016–2019)

Lost me in Episode 2

[5/10 · 6 March 2022]

The profanity in Episode 2 ruined what might have been a clean, decent comedy. When are writers going to get it that as soon as you throw vulgarity in a show is shows the audience of a lack of writing skills AND the shoe will go downhill after that.