jaythor70 Reviews

The Iron Claw (2023)

So Much Missed Potential

[6/10 · 22 December 2023]

I grew up watching the Von Erichs on TV. I know the timelines pretty well. So, watching this movie left a lot to be desired.

On the good side- the actor playing David was spot on. He looked, sounded, and moved like David did. The actor playing Fritz was also a good likeness, and captured the passion, if not the reality, of Fritz towards wrestling. The actress who played Pam was very good, though the accuracy isn't really a big deal, since Pam isn't a celebrity. Same for Doris, played with very few lines by the usually reliable Maura Tierney. Mike is also portrayed well, if not physically accurate.

Sadly, that's all the good. Kerry got really shafted in being portrayed by an actor so short, he should have played Chris (who was omitted entirely!) Zac Effron plays Kevin like he was a brain-damaged simpleton.

The Freebirds and Harley Race looked good, but were barely used, the timelines are all screwed up (many months passed between Kerry winning the NWA title, and the motorcycle accident) (Mike died years after David, but the baby didn't age like that) (Kerry and David were both married and had children, David losing a baby that ended his first marriage.) This would have been much better as a series on Amazon or Netflix, to give the time to really develop the characters.

Batman Forever (1995)

Where to begin with the problems?

[4/10 · 28 November 2023]

This movie is so bad, it could only be made worse by changing out the one good part. I though Val Kilmer looked the part, and did an admirable job replacing Michael Keaton.

Jim Carrey is horrible. Robin Williams should have gotten the part. Tommy Lee Jones gives a rare bad performance, basically just being a Joker rip-off. I blame the change in director, as Joel Schumacher is just the ruination of the franchise. Robin is played by a much-too-old Chris O'Donnell, and his performance is arrogant and unlikable. Nicole Kidman was ok, (but looked too much like Vicki Vale), and the supporting cast of Michael Gough and Pat Hingle were refreshing. Had Two-Face been brooding, and Robin Williams been Riddler- perhaps with Tim Burton directing- this could have been decent. Too bad WB didn't learn before the 4th installment.

Creepozoids (1987)

Soooo bad

[2/10 · 7 December 2022]

Ok, so the premise is cool- there is a nuclear holocaust, acid rain resulting from that. The deserters, our cast, seek shelter in an abandoned lab/warehouse. The women are gratuitously braless, and their is a naked shower scene. But that's the highlights.

On the negative, The acting is subpar, and the characters, all supposed trained soldiers, act more like teens in a slasher movie. They scream and stand around watching each other get mauled by a lame looking monster and bitten by giant rats. I can believe that they filmed this over 15 days. It shows that there weren't any retakes to get a better offering from the cast. Director should not have been paid for this.

True Grit (1969)

John Wayne finally gets his due.

[9/10 · 19 October 2022]

The Henry Hathaway classic is a movie i love. The story, action, scenery and characters are all well written. John Wayne gets his due as he plays a decidedly non-John Wayne character, Rooster Cogburn, perfectly. He won an Academy Award for his performance. He's charismatic, boisterous, funny, sad, and you are rooting for him in the climax battle. Jeff Corey and Robert Duvall make excellent antagonists, easily despicable. Glen Campbell is along for the ride, not much of an actor, but good enough to play off John Wayne. Strother Martin is also good, less scrungy than characters he's played, and funny. The only blemish on this movie is Kim Darby. She is dreadful. I have read a list of the other young women that could have had this role, and any of them (Tuesday Weld, Mia Farrow, Sally Field, Aissa Wayne, and Olivia Hussey) would have been better than Darby. She doesn't look right, and her acting is dreadful. That said, it's not enough to detract from an otherwise classic.

Coming 2 America (2021)

So disappointed

[5/10 · 16 March 2021]

I wanted to like this movie, and the nostalgia factor was there. But, the storyline was weak, and too preachy. I don't know what "Woke" is, and I rarely watch new movies, but the old cast was great to see, and the new members were not. Leslie Jones was an awful stereotype. as was Tracy Morgan, and the movie could have done without either of them. Solving all the problems in the nation in a storyline week, including 2 trips of over 12 hours was far fetched, and the CGI lion was terrible. There were a few laughs, and I did enjoys seeing the old characters 30 years later, but I'm glad I didn't pay to see this movie.

The Boondock Saints (1999)

If you like profanity and meaningless violence

[4/10 · 2 December 2019]

I had never seen this movie until 20 years after it's release. I found it very unrealistic (the roof plunge, church/mass scene, courthouse/courtroom scene), over-acted (Stecker's meltdown at the crimescene going unreported), and poorly dialogued (had to have beat the record set by Casino for f-bombs). Willem Dafoe must have owed someone big-time to take this role, and the scene of him tonguing the mobster turned my stomach. The best actor is the mobster who acts like he thinks Dafoe-in-drag is a woman. Not since John Amos talking of the beauty of Esther Rolle has a man acted so well......

Gathering of Heroes: Legend of the Seven Swords (2018)

Not that bad, but not good

[4/10 · 2 December 2019]

Imagine you and some adult friends made your own costumes for a fantasy D&D game and did live-action role-playing, and someone filmed it, then added special effects from their PC. The storyline is classic, the characters are D&D standard, and the martial arts/battle scenes are decent. The acting (especially by the lead) is wooden, but that is the fault of the director (who happens to be the lead). Martin Kove and Christopher Atkins are both long-time veterans, and have had good performances in their pasts. But here, both are not good. That is lack of direction.

Midsomer Murders: Midsomer Rhapsody (2005) Season 8, Episode 8

Good episode, great music

[7/10 · 12 August 2019]

I enjoyed this episode, as I was able to truly "feel" the characters. I commented to my wife how upset I'd be if "Hedge" was killed, and felt for him selling the letter to buy dinner for his daughter. The best part of this episode, though, is the music. The Rhapsody was truly beautiful.

Highlander: Revelation 6:8 (1997) Season 5, Episode 12

Series was really rolling

[10/10 · 1 March 2019]

Great beginning to an awesome story. The 4 Horsemen were perfectly cast. Their characters each have a roll on the team that fills a niche. MacLeod is true to form- too noble to comprehend the atrocities committed by a man he called friend, in a time before civility was part of civilization. This makes for drama between them and shows the effect immoral behavior should have on us all.

The Godfather Part III (1990)

Highs and Lows

[8/10 · 18 February 2019]

I enjoyed this movie the first time and every time I've watched it. There are some negatives, which I will get ride of first- Tom Hagen/Robert Duvall is missing, and George Hamilton is no Robert Duvall. Not greedy, but feeling underpaid, he chose to skip this one, and it hurts the finished product.And second- Sofia Coppola is awful. That said- I loved Garcia as Sonny's son and the heir to the mafia throne. I liked Talia Shire's growth as a character into a true "Corleone". And I like how Michael Corleone's life of crime didn't end with a happy retirement. While I disagree with the cardinal's assessment (or at least, his blaming God) there are certainly consequences for actions, and Michael is certainly reaping his criminal harvest. It is dark and depressing, as his life of crime should be, and that is when he should seek redemption. But this shows that redemption isn't something you can earn, but is a gift from God. The scenery is beautiful, the interplays of the characters (minus Sofia) are well done, and though not up to the first 2 installments, very few movies are.

Highlander: The Blitz (1996) Season 4, Episode 12

Dumbest Women On The Planet

[4/10 · 1 March 2016]

This is a poorly written episode, as far as the women are portrayed. First, Ann, a very pregnant woman, ignores common sense, firemen, and her body, and goes into terrible danger. A building had an explosion, and people are trapped. So, despite the professionals telling her of the danger, she sneaks past these professionals with a fellow moron, and gets trapped and goes into labor. This reminds Duncan of another stupid woman who wouldn't listen to reason and avoid danger during the Blitz. She gives a very unprofessional radio broadcast, and survives due to dumb luck. I am very surprised women all over the world didn't boycott the show after this.

Highlander: Timeless (1996) Season 4, Episode 11

Disappointing Episode

[5/10 · 29 February 2016]

While the Methos back story is very touching (getting the 5 points for this episode), Rae Dawn Chong is horrible. She ruins that part of the episode. Her acting is amateur, and makes me want to turn it off. You will find yourself rooting for someone to take her head. I couldn't see why Duncan wanted to save her, or Walter Graham would want to be around her. I was surprised she survived the episode. If you can fast forward to the Methos/Joe parts, it makes for good watching. Really enjoyed Peter Wingfield as a more regular member of the cast. Adam/Methos was a great character, and he played him well. If you haven't watched an episode of this show before, STOP, watch any other episode or 10, and come back if you must to this one. But I wouldn't want you to base the series off this episode.

Charlie's Angels: Angels Belong in Heaven (1978) Season 3, Episode 11

Bad writing

[1/10 · 25 June 2014]

Though I love this show, this is a poorly written episode. The sole grace is the "mystery" of who is being targeted. I guess the writer's figured it would be enough. The killer is terrible at tailing, but the girls and Bosley are worse at noticing. He is sitting out front of the office looking menacing, but these women who just heard they were being targeted for murder, don't notice him. He was literally parked 3 feet behind their car, standing by the open hood IN FRONT OF KELLY'S HOUSE, and no one batted an eye. Same bright red car, and it takes half the episode for these detectives to notice him! Really can't tell from this episode that they are very good at their job.