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Reviews
Last Man Standing (2011)
Way too much politics now
I don't know how so-called "professional" writers can believe that changing the formula of this show into polarizing political crap was a good move. After week after week of hammering away with annoying political topics in the episodes to start this second season, I'm done watching. I have taken it off my DVR and I sure won't be recommending this show to anyone. This is the quickest killing off of a once-likable show that I can remember seeing. The actress change for the oldest daughter is also disrupting, but not a big deal to me. And the useless addition of a grandson is usually the sign of a shark-jumping moment in shows that have run out of story lines. That is a bad sign in only their second season. I wouldn't bet on a third, except, oh yeah, Tim Allen is a favorite Disney actor; and ABC is owned by Disney.
Top Cat (1961)
Wonderful comedians with one-of-a-kind voices
A little trivia. You can see Arnold Stang (Top Cat) and Marvin Kaplan (Choo Choo) together as a hilarious duo in the classic comedy "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World" 1963. They play the hapless gas station owners that take on the crazy Jonathan Winters' character, a truly funny highlight in a movie that is filled with great comedy. They make such an absolutely wonderful team that I wonder why they never got paired up again; except that it might have been feared that they would steal the show. I can't recommend their scenes and the entire movie enough. Marvin Kaplan was also on a half dozen episodes of the TV show "Becker" as a returning patient, Mr Gordon. It's funny just hearing these voices.
The Terminal (2004)
Absolute insulting waste of my time_Shame on Spielberg
This colossal piece of amateur film is preposterous scene after scene, shameless advertising, and insulting to the
intelligence. I just can't say enough about how foolish it is.
Every two minutes I said "You've got to be kidding me!"
A ten year old could write a more sensible story and dialog.And the overwhelming product endorsement is insulting. I should have
been paid to watch these commercials. Just absolute trash.
I want my money and time back! In the end I said too my wife, "This has been so foolish that I wouldn't be surprised to see
Zeta-Jones' character to drive up in a taxi to pick him up. It turned out to be almost that ridiculous.
Ride the High Country (1962)
I just didn't find it honest
This is definitely not the great classic I was lead to believe. The acting is fine but the movie has improbable events and nonsense throughout. I blame it on the director ultimately. Just don't expect a four-star movie and you will enjoy it enough if you are a fan of westerns.
My Name Is Bill W. (1989)
I channel surfed onto it and couldn't leave, plus add'l info
This was a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation. James Woods won the lead actor in a special or miniseries Emmy for this. James Garner's role is quite small, but key. This movie wisely spends most of its time with Bill W before the AA formation to give us a strong sense of the long hell that he lived before he found his answers. It is about him more than about AA. A very intelligent, well written, well acted, important story.
The Seven-Ups (1973)
Some other good chase scenes recommended
This is a good enough movie and you probably won't be disappointed, but it again has Roy Scheider, right after he did "French Connection", playing a cop with the name 'Buddy'. They also use the same too-memorable wheelman from "Bullitt". At first you'll think you've seen the car chase before if you have his face still in your memory. The car chase is a great one, but as in many car movie scenes, it has some technical and editing errors. Check "Puppet on a Chain" and "French Connection II" for some other good, long, intense chases.
Brinks: The Great Robbery (1976)
I like the factual "Dragnet" style
A very 70's TV-cop-story style. It is a "Quinn Martin production" and if you remember "The FBI", "Streets of San Francisco" and his other shows you know what I mean. This seemed like the straight story and made me curious to learn more about the crime. "Just the facts ma'am."
Eat the Peach (1986)
good for motorcycle fans; see the "wall"
I did not find this movie to be the piece of crap that some here thought it was. Of course, then again, I'm not from Ireland and didn't see it through their (perhaps personal) eyes. I found it to be an honest, not stupid, little slice of life story about struggles of life and personal dreams, small though they may be. I surely saw a countryside unlike any in the states. The star, as it should be, is the wall-of-death these guys build. I was pleased that it is a focus here, and is shown a lot. It is shown throughout, as they actually had to build it from the ground up for the movie. It is very real. Watch it flex. It's hard to find an old wall-of-death touring in the US anymore. The riding-the-wall shots are frequent, done well, and show these actors honestly riding. This is refreshing. Compare that to movies about any other action-activity or sport like climbing, racing, football, horses, etc.
Deliverance (1972)
Does for camping what Psycho did for showering!
This is truly a fantastically written and developed story. Other people here have critiqued it more than enough and better than I can, but I want to point out a couple things. It is nearly 30 years old, but who does not know the Dueling Banjos song/scene. It is one of the most memorable bits of any movie. But, not only did it not win the '73 best song Oscar,( who can forget the winning theme from the Poseidon Adventure!) it wasn't even nominated. That's an indication of what the academy awards are about. I also want to point out that the author of this novel and screenplay, James Dickey, appears in a noticeable role as the sheriff at the end of the movie. It is good to see this man "immortalized" with his story on the screen. Check out his biography!
Sex and the Single Girl (1964)
Embarrassingly juvenile
It's amazing to see how much smarter we've become in the 37 years since this movie was made. It's as big an intellectual leap as in the 37 years between, say,1944 and 1981. An eleven year-old of today could put together a smarter picture. Were people in '64 really not insulted by this immature depiction of their intelligence? Well, maybe it's just a bad movie. I have to consider just how poorly some of today's movies will reflect the general public of 2001, when seen 37 years from now.
Fireball 500 (1966)
I guess I have seen worse movies...but
I guess I have seen worse movies...but not lately. If you're a race fan you might be able to get thru this as a curiosity, but as is often the case, this movie was written and directed by people who wouldn't know a race car from a loaf of bread. At least it has Annette! I think it's similar to an Elvis movie without Elvis, or an old beach-blanket movie style.
The Errand Boy (1961)
A couple good bits, but mostly disjointed and strange paced
I rented this movie lately after determining from a long search that it had the bit I had remembered ever since I saw it in '61. That scene is the boardroom pantomime Jerry does to a big-band song. That piece did turn out to be as clever (though not as elaborate) as I had remembered. Check it out. It is about 75 minutes into the movie. I had forgotten the rest of the movie, and after seeing it last night, now I know why. I think only Jerry-fans will be able to sit through it all. The "story" is so choppy I kept thinking I must have fallen asleep and missed something. Jerry was pretty full of himself (and preachy) when he did this collection of skits.
Radioland Murders (1994)
Sadly, Anita Morris' last role; Movie just stupid, not funny
Hard to believe that such a vibrant and young person as this died soon after this role. As for the movie, it could have been written either by some twelve year olds or some ninety year olds. I was interested in seeing this movie, what with all the well-known names involved, from actors to producers, etc. I was completely disappointed. It was just terribly un-funny, barely watchable. I hate to guess who would find this enjoyable.
The Pelican Brief (1993)
Believable intrigue, but foolish behaviors.
This was a very plausible idea of corruption, manipulation, and politics to a cynic like me. There were, however, many coincidences, plot holes, and just plain stupid moves made by the characters. Not enough to really ruin the movie, but enough to make me say,"Nobody would do that!" or "Why didn't..." etc. Typical movie nonsense. I haven't read Grisham's novel, but I hope he "detailed" it more smartly than this. The foundation of the story is enough to overcome this, but it could have been great. There is no profane language and the visual violence is quite minimal. In my book it's a solid B grade.
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966)
A really enjoyable, funny movie for all.
I liked this movie when I saw it in '65 as a kid and after seeing it a few more times lately with my kids and their friends I love it. I can't say anything bad about it. I recommend it to anyone who can have simple tastes for a couple hours; but it's not sappy, stupid, or annoying; just simply funny. It has given me some oft-repeated lines, like "..and they used Bon-Ami!" "Let me clarify this." "Attaboy Luther!". Don Knotts is this movie. His nervous speech scene is truly a classic. In my book this is an A+.