natefishpa's Reviews

Rebel Ridge (2024)

2/10

25 October 2024

Warning: Spoilers

I liked where this was going. I think the lead could be an action star someday. Problem is, this guy's super power in this movie was....doing nothing.

What do I mean? You know in Rambo how he was restrained...and kept his calm. It built and percolated and built more - until he exploded and all hell broke loose?

This was building. And building. And...nothing. No guns shot, in fact his super power may have been to disassemble a weapon. I waited for some ass kicking. Nothing. And then the movie was over.

You think the name of the movie might have been some military location in a war movie. No. It's not a big deal at all, and no real meaningful reason to name the movie that.

I just don't know how this got a 6.9 as of this writing. There are a million better options.

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Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)

6/10

I wanted to love it

29 June 2014

Warning: Spoilers

Great cast. Well, mostly. I got this on pay per view at home and had no idea Kevin Costner and Keira Knightly were in this. I thought the supporting cast did extremely well. Unfortunately, Chris Pine wasn't given a ton to work with.

The movie starts out in a 5 minute segment where he joined the marines and almost immediately gets into a helicopter accident. I wish they did a little more with this, give him some sort of special forces training or the like that would make his CIA moves a little more believable.

10 years then working as a financial analyst while covertly working for the CIA. Doesn't really seem legit, but OK. Working as a compliance officer, he ends up going to Russia to investigate. Apparently, they don't have conference calls, email, etc. So they uncover a ploy to destroy the dollar. My first thought is, why doesn't the president halt trading? My second thought was when 9:00 happened, the bad guy needed to wait for the bombs to go off to cause issues. It still would have had the desired effect.

So ultimately, I really wanted to like the movie. But the plot was really kind of mailed in with the writing. Here's how this went: 1) 5 minute action intro to give character credit 2) scene to show him recovering and meeting his girlfriend 3) weird recruitment into the CIA and do nothing for 10 years 4) fast forward 10 years. Financial nerd finds glitch. Goes to investigate in Russia. 5) The guy picking him up tries to kill him. This is the only person in the movie that Jack Ryan should not have trusted. 6) After almost getting killed, CIA orders him back to the room, where apparently, the CIA also recruit the best handymen in the world. Don't worry, you'll be safe in the room they just tried to kill you in. 7) Meet bad guy. Bait him to dinner to steal his s*** when he's at dinner. 8) Bring your fiancé, because it's always good to leave her with FSB when you try to break into his office. Oh, this was sort of lame, by the way. 9) Nail biter scene to escape office. Girlfriend is then abducted. No one saw this coming. 10) Bad guy threatens girlfriend with a light bulb. I kind of missed how this would be effective. 11) Jack Ryan stops a SUV with 4 heavily armed men with a crowbar. Saves girl, for some reason leaves the bad guy sans bullet in his head. 12) Jack Ryan then saves the day miraculously.

Nothing original. God I wanted so much to like this.

Great supporting cast, OK for Pine, good direction, poor writing. 6/10

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Fringe (2008–2013)

10/10

Best show I never watched...but should have

24 April 2013

I search for crack-addiction type of shows like "Lost". A few years ago, I saw one of the standalone episodes of "Fringe" and I just didn't understand how this mad scientist had these weird answers to everything. It just seemed far fetched and something a little "out there".

Wow, was I just completely wrong. Big time. This show has replaced my "Lost" and "24" crack addiction to TV.

A few months ago, the Science Channel or the like put Fringe on one night, and I decided I'd give it a shot from the beginning. It changed everything to see it from the start, and potentially why people like myself couldn't really pick it up to start.

I have spent 10 hours straight clearing my DVR of "Fringe" at times, I'm sad to admit. Then, there was a long hiatus on the Science Channel and just recently it came back on, where I quickly devoured all of season 3 in a few days from my DVR. I am frantically searching now how to find season 4. I thought the production would continue on the Science Channel, but it now seems like it was just going there for syndication.

This show I never watched, and is by far one of the greatest shows of my life. I'd like to thank Fox for producing it, but also in the same breath get miffed at them for not packaging this better or putting it on during great time slots, which ultimately can lead to a show's ending...the Friday evening death slot.

Incredible character development, great mystery, high production value, terrific writing...with today's consumer dynamic going towards cheaply produced reality TV, I'm scared that this may be the best, and last, crack addicting show of my lifetime. Great job everyone who put this together, you have a TV junkie here who is grateful for having this art as part of his life.

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Cybergeddon (2012)

8/10

Very entertaining for cybergeeks

21 November 2012

So in a week or so, I graduate with a master's degree in cybersecurity. I heard about this a few months ago and never had the time to get around to it, but now I found 2 hours to watch the whole thing and was extremely entertained. I want to review this and address some points..

1) Technical. Not bad. They can't dive into great details of what a buffer overflow is, but they attempt to get more technical than something you'd see on a major network. I found some of the instant hacks not believable, but the overall point is made. I think 95% of my friends are in complete denial of what dangers exist, and this movie does the justice of leading up to a point where a "cybergeddon" could happen. As a technical guy, it definitely entertained, and I think the sponsorship by Norton probably helped with this significantly.

2) Performances. The lead actress I didn't recognize but was stunning in appearance while having great range. Emotional, physical, thoughtful..she definitely has a very bright future. She looks a ton like Alana de la garza, which I'm sure she gets a lot. I instantly recognized Oliver Martinez as the bad guy from a lot of things, and he was pretty good as the villain.

3) Director. Wow. I liked how different it was right from the start with seeing bank accounts on a computer screen in a split screen or sort of overlay. I was really entertained by this style, which almost had a "24" sort of feel to it, without the lead getting shot 3 times an episode.

Overall, it was fast moving, interesting, entertaining, aesthetically captivating....a few hollow performances, but I'm more than willing to overlook it with a low budget web series. The subject matter may be too narrow to take to the "big screen" without having to dumb it down and make more explosions...see Bruce Willis in Die Hard 4 if you want that. See this if you are more of a techogeek and want the small screen indie experience.

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An Idiot Abroad (2010–2012)

10/10

I love this show!!

3 April 2012

I must say I haven't seen all of them yet. I live in the United States and like Karl, I'm somewhat hesitant to travel beyond my comfort zone. While most of my family and friends love to travel, all I think about is getting kidnapped in Mexico or eating bad food somewhere.

I think you have to first watch a clip of Karl eating traditional sushi, there is a clip out there I saw after I've now seen it on TV twice. He makes mention of putting the lid back on it, nailing it shut, and burying it. I think I almost suffocated/laughed/cried myself so hard I nearly stroked out. Definitely worth a look and they need to play this more on the Science Channel in the united states, which is one of the Discovery channels.

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The Island (2005)

8/10

The best worst film of the year

3 January 2006

I keep hearing about these movies that tank and this was one of them. I think people are setting their standards too high. We have been spoiled by unprecedented spending and film quality over the last 15 years, and not everything that hits the theaters screams to us: we MUST pay $10 to see it.

With home entertainment options today, movies like this are on people's must see for when it's released on DVD. But, my value does not translate to $10 at the theater.

Movies like this, with a great plot and interesting characters with moderate twists are high in quality, but do not have star appeal.

Hollywood may try to tell people who the stars are, but the consumer catches on quickly.

I give this movie an 8 because it was pretty captivating. I just think that this is something I'd like to be pleasantly surprised while renting but don't want to be disappointed while paying $10 for it.

In that, we are finding the value of movie tickets. A movie is worth only what people want to pay for it. Hollywood is complaining of a "down" year. Dude, gas prices are $2.59 a gallon and Jude Law makes $20 million a film or whatever? Maybe I'll watch it on DVD.

Therefore, I'd be VERY happy with a $4.25 rental cost but disappointed with a $10 movie ticket. I'd say it's worth $7.50. And that, my friends, is Hollywood's problem. Not worse movies, but the prices have gone up so much in the last few years that people would rather pay $4.25 and watch it on their 46" TV with a DVD player.

Why would I pay $10 for two seats, $6 for each popcorn, $5 for each soda, and $4 for each candy when I can do that total for $8 at my house? $50 to see the Island and be mad, or $8 and be happy? Hmmm....

Maybe I am making some sense.

Loved the movie. But it wasn't Deniro or Pacino in a classic.

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Avenging Angelo (2002)

actually surprisingly good

2 June 2003

I could be one of the first to bash some of Stallone's recent dreadful works, with him moping about most of his works. What I found with this movie was that is was actually very refreshing, and I found myself very much drawn into this. The 5.0 rating that this movie got, I severely disagree with. Most of the movies on here I see I can usually guess within about .2 of a point, and I felt this was about a 6.6.

Stallone plays a very protective mob guy who was "watching" a mobster's daughter grow up over 20 years. She doesn't even know that she's his daughter, and it's stallone's job to break the news to her when the mobster dies on Stallone's watch. The plot itself is actually pretty fresh, and the direction is very light, entertaining, and moves from scene to scene very well.

What was cool about this was how he had fallen for her over 20 years or so without her even knowing he was there...it showed a great appreciation for not just her outward appearance, but everything about her, like a true love. She, in turn, does not play a typical damsel in distress role, and seems to begin to embrace her "mob" roots as the picture moves on, signalling character growth.

This movie is spelled with some comical features which made me laugh out loud, such as Madeline Stowe driving the car right out the back of the garage. Her chemistry with Stallone on the screen was actually pretty strong, and she is looking amazing now, more than ever.

Overall, I couldn't understand that after several hitman go after her in a dept store, then at her house, and then at her house again, that "Frankie" would keep her there and not move her to a safehouse. Other than that, it was something I thought would be a cheesy Van Damme movie where someone close to them gets offed in the beginning, and then they are justified to kill everyone on screen. Instead, Stallone stays back in the shadows and whacks guys coming after her in kind of a comical way, and it was very refreshing.

If you thought I wrote a good deal about a Stallone movie, well, you're right. This was a very, very good effort by Stallone and a great script choice, regardless of this horrible 5.0 rating on here...

Not a godfather scale movie, but definately not bad by any means. 6.8/10.

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Possession (2002)

3/10

nothing really worthwhile

10 March 2003

The movie drags on and the two poetry researchers somehow seem to stumble upon new clues and evidence that paint the lives of little known poets much better than I could tell you about myself. All of this is gathered from love letters that were kept by each. You really have to see how they jump to conclusions and somehow come up with these clues pretty much when they snap their fingers. The main guy in this was pretty good in Erin Brokovich, but I think he was a little lost in this. Paltrow was broody, cold, and overall not a very likeable woman. Somehow, within 2 days these two wind up in bed together and commiserate in their sins while the audience thinks about how they wish they hadn't canceled that root canal they had scheduled. Overall, just not a good story to draw from.

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Good Advice (2001)

8/10

hidden jewel

10 March 2003

I saw this one night on HBO with a date and it was a perfect movie for it. Sheen has had an up and down career, but found a great vehicle for his skills. Angie Harmon's usually husky voice and imagery as an ADA on Law and Order is how the movie started for her, but as the movie went on, her character subtly transformed, which is impressive. Denise Richards was priceless and nailed her part. She is usually just eye candy in most movies, but really was just the perfect part for this. Not Amistad or Schindler's list, but I have to give it an 8 for satisfying the date movie niche which can appeal to both men and women.

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Love Stinks (1999)

9/10

funny funny funny

10 March 2003

I have searched and searched for great date movies out there, and this is up there. I give it a 9 in the romantic comedy genre, and this is not the equivalent of a Godfather 9. French Stewart I find irritating, but his personality in this movie was a perfect match. Casting was terrific. I still cannot believe that Bridget Sampras is not more highly regarded. Sure, she's got great looks, but more importantly than anything, she does far more than what's expected of her roles and writing. When you look at someone like her, you cannot help but wonder why any man would not want her....then you get 18 months into the story and things unfold. The story reflects a lot of the push/pull that's in relationships today and how each partner fights for their independence/togetherness. The gags in this hurtme from laughing so much, namely the hair loss scene, the bedroom scene (with gas), and the ending. Definitely a movie I saw 10 times and recommend for not a first date, but perhaps a 5th or 6th.

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