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Reviews
Oppenheimer (2023)
Ugh
I was already very familiar with the story of Oppenheimer and the project, but I was anxious to see it get the big screen treatment it deserves. However, I was sorely disappointed. Yes, it's long but Ghandi was long too and much better. The music is too loud and incessant, the constant flashbacks are confusing and annoying, and the story plods along. The director obviously wanted to create a "work of art" with this film. He may have done that, but he ruined a great opportunity to tell the story right. On second thought, this would have been better done as a mini-series. I want those three hours of my life back.
Aerial America: Indiana (2015)
Pretty videography but incomplete
This is nice overview of many of Indiana's most important cities and sights with drone shots from above. However, it is almost entirely ignores the southern third of the state. No mention of Evansville, its famous Indian mounds, the Ohio River or its communities, or the very important "Kentuckiana" metro area across from Louisville.
Titletown High (2021)
Don't waste your time
It's a very good thing that you can scan through Netflix shows, otherwise I'd be upset if I had wasted hours on this trash.
I actually live in Valdosta, and therefore, I was interested to see how the docudrama portrayed the city. About the only thing this series does get right is that, for some people here, high school football is a religion. But that demographic is fairly small compared to the entire population.
The vast majority of time in this series is concerned with seemingly semi-literate high schoolers who are more concerned with dating and sex than football and moronic, brooding coaches who act like drill sargents.
It was interesting to see a few scenes of the area on the "big screen," but this series seems like it was made by the same people who ruined MTV.
The Tomorrow War (2021)
Recycled sci-fi
First the good. Without a doubt, the CGI and other effects are spectacular. But, then again, pretty much anyone with a good enough computer today can do the same. The bad? The acting is mediocre, the plot is contrived, and the story is is largely a mashing together of Independence Day and Looper. If you've seen those two films, then you've seen this one. Hollywood is full of recycling of story lines lately, and this one is no different. No wonder I quit going out to the cinema a decade ago. If I had paid $20 to see this swill, I would have been livid.
Bodyguard (2018)
If you like MI-6, you'll love this.
I was a huge fan of MI-6, which was the most taut and intelligent thriller I'd seen in a long time. Now comes Bodyguard, which is very bit its equal. Run, don't walk, to your TV and be enthralled.
Designated Survivor: Grief (2018)
Jumped the Shark
While this show started out with an interesting premise, it is been steadily losing ground. With this episode, it finally committed suicide. It is blatantly obvious that the riders of this episode have zero understanding of Cuba, it's political situation, or even this geography. The characters are cardboard cut outs of stereo typical Latin American misconceptions. They don't even have Cuban accents. The suggestion that 30,000 rebels could be operating within Cuba, a country with one of the most powerful militaries iin all of Latin America and a internal political watchdog organization that rivals Stalinesque Soviet union is ludicrous beyond comprehension.
Dexter (2006)
Superb show but with minor flaws
Without a doubt, this is one of the best written and planned out shows ever made. Others have described all the good things about the show. The only thing I would add is that this show, like Nip/Tuck before it, suffers from a Hollywood interpretation of South Florida that frequently bears little resemblance to the real thing. Whether it be California landscapes that bear little resemblance to South Florida or inaccurate cultural references, these constant errors detract from an otherwise perfect piece of work. In Dexter's case, the composition of the cast is a great example. Since Miami is 3/4 Hispanic, the cast is grossly non-representative. Moreover, the lack of Spanish is glaring by its omission. While the show throws in a handful of words in each show, the reality is that Spanish is the majority language in Miami with a healthy dose of Spanglish on the side. A day with no Spanish is impossible in Miami. The architecture is equally wrong (e.g., no new wood construction in Miami because of hurricanes and termites). Lastly, the frequent burritos and other Mexican food shown is completely out of place whereas ropa vieja and arroz con pollo are common. If they would have simply filmed full-time in Miami, this would have been the perfect 10/10 show.
Hart of Dixie (2011)
Decent storytelling / ridiculous stereotypes
As a Midwesterner transplanted to the deep South, I see this show as a failure of insight and knowledge. I actually live less than a half an hour from where of this story is set, I can attest to the fact that the people, the place, and the accents are completely stereotypical and wrong. For starters, the setting of Baldwin County is portrayed the s completely wrong. The supposed small coastal town of Bluebell is a physical impossibility. The entire coast of Baldwin county is built up as a tourist trap, exactly as is found next door in the Florida Panhandle. It is completely covered with high-rise hotels and and white sand beaches. The type of deep South, Southern Belle culture that is portrayed in this TV show is essentially not found anywhere near the Gulf. As for the accents, none of the main actors are from the south or the Gulf Coast, and their attempts at the local accent are overwrought and ridiculously done. The existence of a black mayor in a small town in Ballwin county is equally unlikely. Baldwin County grew as a result of the white flight from Mobile County across the bay in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. It is still one of the most lily-white counties in Alabama. Additionally, the idea of young women walking around in southern belle costumes all the time is preposterous. Lastly, the flora is completely off, which is to be expected since this show is filmed in North Carolina and not in southern Alabama. The utter absence of palm trees is a good indication. Southern Alabama is filthy with palm trees.
Defying Gravity (2009)
Another BBC Ripoff
Having previously enjoyed the BBC docudrama, "Voyage to the Planets," I couldn't help but roll my eyes at hearing of yet another American "retelling" of a great British show. Hollywood is replete with "Americanized" versions of British, French, and occasionally, Japanese shows/movies (e.g., Dark Water), which almost always water down the content and intelligence level of the original. This latest effort is no exception.
Whereas the original emphasized the grandeur of the solar system and hardships on the crew of such a challenging voyage, "Defying Gravity" has chosen to focus instead on low-level interpersonal problems and--so far--has not even begun to inspire the viewer with the majesty and wonder of space flight like the original did.
In my estimation, "Defying Gravity" is bound for a fiery reentry into the wastelands of remakes of great British shows.