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Evil: How to Build a Coffin (2024)
Why are we so alone?
The more precise question would have been..."Why do we FEEL so alone?" Very few people are actually alone in this world. Even the elderly in nursing homes have caregivers, if they have no family. Smart phones, the internet, and social media connect us all. So why DO we feel so alone? Could some of the institutions that we once relied on to keep us together now be tearing us apart? Could we have turned away from the things that once gave us fellowship with others? Americans once spoke with a single voice. When there was a war, we knew who was right and who was wrong. We all supported our government, and its policies. We now know that our leaders sometimes did and do not act in our best interests. That they have often lied to us. The media that we once relied on for the truth now has many "truths" and people pick the one that they like. They call it "My Truth," ignoring the basic fact that there is truth, and then there is everything that is not truth. The same is done with differing religions. This episode showed us the power of words. God SPOKE the universe into creation. The demon that was eating a hole in the side of Father Ignatius was one that afflicts many of us. The Demon of grief. And it comes with loss, or an improper action that you regret. It has many names. Sorrow, sadness, trouble, pain, misery. It will eat a hole in your soul just as it was eating one in the Father. You can't see it...but you can feel it. It's a real entity. Is the "powersite" that took everyone's words in the episode a real Demon? I guess that depends on your definition of the word "Demon." If the things that take from our lives, the things that make us confused, weak, and ineffective, or make us angry and bitter are demons, then yes...the "powersite" is a Demon. Maybe the same Demon that is causing our separation, from each other, and creating the feelings of loneliness. Maybe the same one that is causing our division, and intolerance of one another. MAYBE that Demon has control of us, though the media. Turn it off, occasionally.
Evil: How To Slaughter a Pig (2024)
DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE
David steps over the line, and sees nothing until later when he then sees what he was warned about...and a lot more. Andy is still cowering under the bed...and I don't know why, and why Kristen isn't more alarmed about it. 'How to Slaughter a Pig' is based on a story from the Bible. Jesus casts demons out of a man, and into a group of swine, who then drown themselves. We are definitely down the rabbit hole now...and going deeper every week. It's been 38 days, and it's time for Kristen's baby to be born. It doesn't appear to be abnormal...but there's got to be a story coming. His name is Timothy. It's a biblical name...but one that means "honoring God...or fearing God." That doesn't seem to fit the idea that he is the anti-Christ. Kristen gets drawn into a relationship with the baby that she doesn't want. You can tell she's hooked, once she starts feeding Him. I love the little things in the story that might go unnoticed. Nurse Bloch walking down the hallway in her squeaky shoes. In the delivery room, just audible is an old nursery rhyme playing..."Hush little baby don't say a word." Ben the magnificent hums the theme song to "Green Acres" as he walks alone in the tall grass, looking for a soil sample...but finding a feral hog. And what about Kristen tearing her jeans, and getting cut? Will that be a way for Evil to enter her? It doesn't seem like something that would have happened...unless it was taking us somewhere. This episode had just the right infusion of humor and horror. The perfect mix of comedy, and revulsion. I'm appreciating every new week as a gift that will never come again. As it is.
Evil: How to Split an Atom (2024)
The beginning of the end
The final season has started off with just the right amount of creepiness. A single episode of Evil has more suspense, tension and uncertainty than any full length movie. The three main themes are coming together perfectly. David's dream of a coming apocalypse. The birth of Kristen's Evil child, and the start of the particle accelerator, all events occurring in 38 days. Kristen thinks this is hilarious. She's obviously not a believer...yet. And it looks like the blast that Ben took through his head is going to open up new worlds for him. I wish this series could go on for more seasons, but I appreciate what we have. This is as good as it gets.
Tape (2020)
A question of intelligence and priorities
I've seen several F rated movies recently, and have some observations about them. Most have the same destination. Men are scum, and either fool, or force women into doing things that they would not normally do, or that they don't like to do. This movie's intent was obvious...to call attention to the way that some men abuse women. These women were taken in by a desire, or dream, or a need of being famous, or socially popular. They were all over 18, and signed waivers stating that the films that would appear in was of their own volition, and that they were not coerced, drugged, or drunk. At what age, or what point do women no longer need protection from their own actions, due to their naivete? There were several women shown at the end. I do not know their ages. Would a woman of 21 have been more savvy? 25...30? At what point do men stop being responsible for women that want fame at any price? No doubt, the filmmaker, played by Tarek Bishara, is a despicable guy. No one should do what he did. I'm not defending him. But the world is full of liars, and women seem to easily fall prey to them, at every age. The world knows that young men, and older men lie to young women for sex. This is not a new story. Women seem to lack the required judgment for keeping themselves safe. It makes me question their basic intelligence. It seems that every woman has a story of abuse to tell. The women themselves say the same thing. They name names of sex offenders, and then say..."we know the names..."but nothing ever changes." Should ALL filmmakers stop making stories involving sexual situations? Should all High schools and colleges become gender segregated? As long as men and women are together, there will be instances of either accused assaults, or actual assaults. It's going to continue until human nature changes...and I don't see that happening. It's already legislated. Will we start condemning men for enjoying the sight of a woman? Thomas Otway wrote... "O woman! Lovely woman! Nature made thee
To temper man: we had been brutes without you.
Angels are painted fair, to look like you:
There's in you all that we believe of heaven,-
Amazing brightness, purity, and truth,
Eternal joy, and everlasting love." ..... Men are always going to pursue women. When women are willing to do whatever a man wants, men will continue to want it.
Giving It Up (1999)
This was a pleasant surprise
I was looking for something to drone on in my headphones, while I went about cooking dinner. Audio turns to video in my head anyway, so i thought I'd try this romcom. I expected it to be a chick flick, and it was, but I didn't expect it to get as much of my attention as it did. I found myself chuckling at times, and actually laughed out loud a couple of time. It was the usual bad boy, and good girl formula, and the guy has to change, because he falls in love...but it was so well written, with unexpected and appreciated original dialogue, that I stopped what I was doing a few times, and watched the action on the TV. The two main characters were unknowns to me, but both did an excellent job. It was an unexpected treat, and lifted my spirits. There's nothing groundbreaking here, but it still leaves you with a better feeling that you had before you watched it. I recommend it for the laughs, and the message that it sends that life can sometimes be fun.
Laced (2023)
The heart is deceitful above all things
I liked it. It kept my attention from start to finish. That's not an easy task for a story that takes place in one location...in this event, in a house, and generally in the kitchen and living room. Also, only four characters. Yet it didn't get boring or drawn out. I was a little puzzled by Molly's apparent attempt to seduce her husband in the beginning of the movie. It wasn't clear if she was doing it to keep his mind off of her nervousness, or if she wanted to relieve her own stress. But it didn't seem to fit with someone that hated her husband and intended to kill him. I thought there was very good acting by all involved, and as a matter of believability, I think that there have probably been murders committed for lesser reasons than abuse. It was nicely paced, and seemed shorter than the running time. It wasn't extremely violent, or full of gore. .It was just another day in the life of a bad relationship. One with an unexpected, but not surprising ending. It's harder than it might seem, to commit an act like this, and retain your composure, or even your sanity. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
Unidentified (2006)
We do not wrestle against flesh and blood
This was better than I expected. The acting wasn't great, and the script could have been better. It suffered from a low budget, and some wooden dialogue. But it offered a different view on the UFO phenomena, and its message was clearly and simply delivered. I've thought for about 40 years that Aliens are probably what the Bible called "Watchers", or some other supernatural being. Erich Von Daniken got my mind working about it with "Chariots of the Gods, when I was 13 years old. As time went by, and the reports of Alien encounters grew, so did the circumstances surrounding them. More and more reports were from reputable people. Now we have top government and military leaders giving their oath that non human beings are in control of these craft. Other galaxies are so far away, that travel to our planet, as we know it, is unlikely. Unless of course they have time travel, or power over the fabric of the universe. That, and the way the craft behave...accelerating at speeds that flesh and blood could not survive, lead me to believe that these are supernatural beings. Or beings from another dimension. Is that any more unbelievable than thinking they come from all over the universe? Tucker Carlson recently talked about this, suggesting that their is a supernatural component to it all, and saying that information on it was emotionally "dark," So dark he said, that he refused to discuss it with his wife. The kind of darkness that might lead to madness, if confronted. The Apostle Paul said "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." That would also explain a lot of other things, like why people's memories are blurred after contact, and why there's never been any good pictures, or videos taken, after billions of reports. It also explains why all of us on earth have never been able to find peace. It's because we ARE wrestling against evil. Everyone gets to decide for themselves. But to me, at this time, this is the most logical explanation.
Ancient Aliens: The Top Ten Alien Influencers (2024)
It's back!
For a twentieth season, Ancient Aliens is back. I hope that they have not permanently changed their format. I'm accustomed to the opening chord that sounds like a note struck, then stretched out, and bent over a nearby planet, or a moon, or even over a galaxy. It's that note that once alerted me to expect the unexpected. I didn't hear it in this episode. I hope it's not gone for good. Ancient Aliens was once considered just another fantasy show by most, with its wild claims of Aliens that existed in our past. But due to recent revelations by the government, and whistleblowers, it's suddenly considered a serious series. This episode covers the different cultures that believe they were guided by extraterrestrials in the past. Almost all civilizations have stories of "Gods" that came down from the sky. It's amazing how universal that theme is. Maybe we'll get an answer to our UFO questions soon. The only thing now keeping this show from being as serious as a documentary, is Gorgio's hair!
Monica Z (2013)
Remarkable women
Wonderful. Both Monica, and Edda. I'm a jazz fan...or thought I was, but had never heard of Monica Zetterlund until I saw this film. The actress portraying her is Edda Magnason, and as soon as I saw her, it felt like i had known her all of my life. She has that kind of appeal, and charisma. Her singing was spot on...even eerie. I'm assuming that it was her singing. I was hoping to find her in many other films, but believe there is only one. That's a true loss, for us. Monica Zetterlund herself came across as a driven woman, looking for approval from an apparently soulless father, and also from everyone in general. I hope that most women do not look to their fathers for approval and validation at the level she did. Fathers have a difficult relationship with daughters in the best situations. Her father couldn't seem to find a good thing to say to her, or about her. If this was an accurate assessment of their relationship, it's no surprise that she sought approval at every level, and from everyone. She had an interesting life, and left us with some beautiful music. My only real problem with the film is that her daughter never aged, over the years! And we don't get any information about how she felt about her mother's neglect, at various times. I thought the film was a good effort at the life of a Swedish legend. It wasn't perfect, but it left me searching the music that she left behind. I'm happy that I watched it.
End of Days, Inc. (2015)
Godfry....God free
This was brilliant, in every way. From the title to the storyline, to the cross section of workers, and of course, the ending. I loved how the employees had worked there for years, and had no idea what the company did. What service, if any, it performed. As the night passed, they slowly become aware of the job that they have been performing for much of their lives, and try to fight the inevitable. I see that one reviewer suggested that this represents the way that corporations are strangling individuals, our lives, and our country. That's not a bad comparison. Made in 2015, that Idea has even greater credence now, as we see how Evil...,in the form of companies, corporations, and big money are able to ignore our laws, and dictate what our behavior must be, if we want to continue eating, have healthcare, be employed, and to have a modicum of enjoyment in our lives. Freedom, as it was originally intended to be in the constitution, or even as our grandparents enjoyed it no longer exists. This is certainly a "dark comedy." Light on the comedy. What good can you say about the almost complete extermination of everyone on Earth? The saving grace, at the end was those that escaped, and the punch cards that one of the workers had hidden inside her clothes...representing other people that were spared. As I've said, I thought this was a brilliant movie. That doesn't mean that I liked it. The supernatural angle may be the most logical one in the film.
3022 (2019)
Darkness everywhere
I like Omar Epps, as an actor. As far as I'm concerned, he's one of the best. And I like science fiction of any kind. I thought that this was an interesting idea as a storyline. In space, with no home left to return to. The plot could have found a better direction, after the discovery that the Earth was gone. I can understand the depression, and panic...knowing that your days are ending. What I don't understand is ANY normal male that wants to kill the only two remaining women in existence. It's not logical. I'm working from the assumption that he's an average man. I guess that it's possible that he had no desire for women. But he didn't consider the possibility that others might be alive elsewhere, and that they would be needed to repopulate humanity? Maybe some kind of miracle scenario. It was dated far into the future, 2089. If Pangea was feasible, there were doubtless colonies on other planets, or moons. I've been wanting to complain about the following for decades. The darkness. The darkness that permeates almost every science fiction movie. Especially the ones that take place inside of ships. They are ALWAYS dark! You can't see the ship, you can't see the actors, everything is bathed in the brilliance of a 40 watt bulb! Why?? Why?? Through entire movies! It's annoying as hell! Everything is always in shadow. Even the control panel. It's not ONLY science fiction movies, but they are the main offenders. Is it to save money? Is it so they can get away with inadequate technical parts of the ship? Do they save money by not showing us what things REALLY look like? There has to be a reason, other than the director's need for a sense of doom, and foreboding. Someone turn on a light!
The Irrational (2023)
A man that's easy to like
I thought that I would like this series, when I saw lead actor, Jesse Martin. I've seen him on other things, and have always enjoyed his acting and demeanor. He seems like the kind of person that the world needs more of. Personable, intelligent, and kind. I know nothing of his morals, but suspect that what you see is really the way he is. The show itself is decent entertainment, not great, but not awful. I'm hopeful that it will improve. It's a vehicle for the writers to express their views on what is wrong and right in our world. The acting is fair, and the first episode script was serviceable. As Alec Mercer, a behavioral scientist, he brings an interesting idea into play, the process of human memory, and how others can affect it. Something to think of in our age of disinformation. The pilot lays out his life story, as he remembers it, and sets us up for the rest of the season. Here's hoping that it results in a more relaxed, yet more intricate storyline, with some guest stars that will bring some intensity to the show. I hope it evolves into a sum that is more than its parts. It looks like an opportunity to examine multiple problems that we all struggle with every day, without, so far, pushing an agenda. I hope that it stays that way. I'm giving it 8 stars, not only for what it is, but for all of the things that it is not, and what it may become.
Suitable Flesh (2023)
In the beginning was the Word
As long as humans have lived, there has been a belief in the power of words. Incantations, spells, charms, enchantments, curses. The Holy Bible says that God SPOKE the universe into existence. And so stories about the power of words are as old as time. And there's no disputing that words are indeed powerful, able to bring change to our lives. But are they able to shape reality...to create seemingly magical effects on people? Can they defy logic, and the laws of the universe, as we know them? That's what happens here, and there are probably hundreds of stories written with the same message. I really like this one. I initially watched it just because of Heather Graham. And she DOES look great! Most women start to show their ages in their necks. That's why so many start wearing scarves. To hide their necks. Heather is 53, and looks like 35 in most angles...maybe 40 in a bad light. She's still beautiful, and still a great actress. No signs of age on her neck. I thought this was a good effort, with an interesting plot, and mostly superb acting. You have to suspend your disbelief for ANY horror movie involving the supernatural. It was well played, with no doubt when the "switches" were taking place. The only weak spot to me was the acting skills of her husband, or maybe the writing was just lacking. Other than that, I enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed watching "Fallen", with Denzel Washington. Suitable Flesh is not as strong as that, but it's pretty good!
Secrets of Playboy: The Truth Hurts (2023)
Bitter old woman?
I was browsing through the internet and caught an episode of this show. Secrets of Playboy. THIS episode. I thought that it might be interesting to see some of the secrets of Playboy. I grew up in that time period, and appreciated the magazine, and yes, for more than just the models. All of the cutting edge fiction AND science was printed in those pages. If it was new, it as there. This episode is about how Sondra Theodore and her daughter have different perceptions of Hugh Heffner, and his empire. It's not a surprise, I suppose, that Sondra, now that she's old, and LOOKS old, has become bitter, and angry. That seems to happen to a lot of older women. They mourn the loss of youth, and their looks. They act as though the things that they did in their youth were mistakes...but it's always a man at fault. Men don't really care how old or ugly they get, themselves. Here, Sondra blames Heffner for the decisions that SHE made. To pose nude...to stay at the mansion. To take Heff's money, and do what he liked to do. There's nothing like attacking a dead man, eh? But no one forced her to do that. She wanted the money, the fame, the fun, everything that came with being a playboy bunny. It wasn't Heffner's fault that opportunists copied the pictures out of playboy, and put them on the internet. He didn't profit from it. If anything, he lost revenue. The internet ended a lot of magazines. She shouldn't whine. She made her decisions. She had the life she wanted...until that life didn't want her anymore.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Hegemony (2023)
To be continued
To be continued...but not for a long time. With the writers strike expected to continue for an extended period, it may be summer of 2025 before we find out what happens. That's time enough for memories, and interest to cool. That's TWO YEARS! This episode started off with the narration explaining that the Cayuga was overseeing the human colony world Parnassus Beta. It had been designed after a small town model, to mimic the old midwestern United States. 1950's to early 1960's by appearance. This was not by accident, but choice, as it represented a time in America when the majority were if not rich, at least prosperous, the most moral, and the happiest in the history of our nation. And hopeful of the future...not fearful. Hegemony is a great title for this episode, as its definition means leadership or dominance by one country or social group over others. It seems as the though the Gorn will become this series Borg. It also seems like an occult nod to the censorship occurring in America. Great writing and acting by everyone in this episode. But two years or more is a long time to wait for a resolution. Many people will die of old age and illness before the next season. Maybe even some of the lead actors. I don't know who is to blame. Are the writers being greedy, or is it those that pay them? This year has been an uneven one, as there have been great episodes mixed in with terrible ones. If the writers want more money, perhaps they should be more consistent.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Lost in Translation (2023)
The Nucleus
I like the concept that there may be life forms that we cannot see, or communicate with. Not with our normal senses. They may be legion. They may outnumber us ten to one. Or a hundred to one. Or more. We can't see the wind, or gravity, but we feel their effects. Perhaps our thoughts and decisions are in part guided by things that we are only aware of subconsciously. Maybe that why we have the need to dream. The universal mind. Carl Jung's theory of a collective unconscious. I've noticed in my long life that Ideas seem to form all at once, at the same time, at different places all over the world. AS though they are grasped or understood simultaneously, by everyone. How many times were inventions created at virtually the same time by different people, thousands of miles apart, with no way of contact? Some people seem to be more intensely tapped into thoughts common to all of us that are being constantly upgraded as time goes by. Every death, every life or combinations of certain lives may add to the collective mind. I especially appreciated the final scene, where we see Uhuru, Spock, and Kirk meet for the first time, forming the nucleus that later became the family that was The Enterprise. A mingling of minds, that formed a new center of awareness. It seems as though it was inevitable.
The Bear: Forks (2023)
The smudge
It's rare anymore, to find someone that will do their job efficiently. It's been my experience that past few years that the only time that people REALLY do their jobs adequately is when they are COMPELLED to. It's come to a point where you have to make people do their jobs, or they just throw any kind of garbage at you. And note that I said ADEQUATELY...not perfectly, or even flawlessly. Workers no longer take in any pride in their work. Because they have no pride in themselves. This episode brought tears to my eyes, as I saw the excellence that was portrayed. A smudge on a plate cost them 45...no, 47 seconds. And it was earth shaking. This storyline expressed the reality that only your best is good enough. That only your best effort is WORTH making. That only your best performance will bring you contentment and express your understanding of respect for others as well. Lastly, it imparted the parable that service to others is our highest calling. That there may actually BE no other calling in life. And that we should attend that with our most vigorous endeavor. Lives change forever in the space of 47 seconds. Don't leave a smudge.
Star Trek: Picard: The Last Generation (2023)
The Human Redemption
This season has been a reprieve from the first two. Its's been so good that it makes up for what was an attempt at changing the nature of Star Trek. Few liked the direction it was headed. So they shifted gears and brought back some writers that don't cater to the new cultural revolution. Added characters that Trek fans have been watching and loving for over 25 years. It's good to see them again. And it has an excellent plot! A government, or federation that has been taken over by imposters that seek to destroy it. Ultimately, we see that they are working with and for the Borg. The similarity between the storyline, and our own reality cannot be an accident. The Borg...seeking to assimilate everyone, is comparable to those in our current political system that want one world government. That want everyone to believe, and act as they do. As in our own reality, the enemy lies within, and is in power. The statement was made... Now they are coming after us. Who? Was the query. Everyone, was the answer. And so it appears in reality also. Episode nine, "Vox" is one of the best SYFY episodes that I have ever seen on any show. The third season, as a whole, is one that speaks to redemption. Of former values, and morals. Evil is trying to take over, and it is up to the standard bearers of the past to set thing right. Some of the leaders of the past must be the leaders of the future. Picard, Data, Seven of Nine, Troi, Worf, Riker, Crusher and Data. One of the guest stars stands out. Amanda Plummer, who plays Captain Vadic is a surprise, and a real treat! She's stealing every scene she is in. I can't get enough of her. She's the most intense and enjoyable adversary since Ricardo Montalban in "The Wrath of Khan." I wish that they hadn't waited three years to give Americans what they wanted. This is one of those seasons that will be forever remembered as a classic.
The Ark (2023)
We're going to need a bigger Ark.
That is, if we want to save all of the people that already hate this show. I've seen the ratings, and reviews. Here's some news for you. The original Star Trek wasn.t as good as this. It was just one of the first, in a world bereft of space travel tv shows. Now you can't turn on the tv without seeing one. It was one of the originals, and is NOW considered a classic. I grew up with it, and loved it, but it was as hokey as this. Worse, actually. Everyone is expecting a new SyFy show to be as good as "Star Trek The Next Generation." NONE of them are. These characters are young kids sent out to repopulate the human race. To save earth and mankind. Many of the most brilliant were lost in the ship's disaster. What's left are for the most part is the working class. Ordinary people. Give the writers and the characters a chance. See where it goes. Don't be a whiner like Dr. Smith.
Poker Face: Rest in Metal (2023)
Magpie
I recognized Chloë Sevigny immediately. She's always had a sleazy, grungy kind of look to her, and it fit in perfectly in this episode. She was great as the washed up singer looking for the past. Nicholas Cirillo added the energy that the rest of the cast lacked, and made this episode. Natasha Lyonne only made a brief appearance, but a little of her goes a long way. She's made her bones with "Orange is the new black", and "Russian Dolls." This current vehicle is letting her stretch her mental legs. She sees things and thinks a little differently than most of us. She NOTICES things that most miss, and has turned it into a formula for our amusement. Congratulations, and carry on, Ms. Lyonne. I am enjoying it immensely!
Beast (2022)
Beast of burden
This film was a burden to watch. I couldn't finish it. It started off slowly, so I thought...it will get better. About halfway through I though "well, it couldn't get any worse. By the three-quarter mark, it was DETERIORATING, and I'd had enough. It has a poor storyline. It drops us into a trip to Africa, supposedly as a balm to a recent death. It has poor acting. They not only didn't act scared for their lives, but they also didn't even act like normal PEOPLE. It's like the director had his hand up their backs and was controlling not only their words, but their basic emotions. The teenage girls didn't even act normal. I don't know how it ended, and what makes it worse is that I don't CARE! It's time I'll never get back, but maybe I can save someone else the futility. Why is it ranked over 5 points? I don't know. Maybe people were pulling for the lions.
House of the Dragon: The Heirs of the Dragon (2022)
And so it begins...
Straight from the mind of George R. R. Martin, a trip back in time, to show us how we got to "Game of Thrones". It seemed a little slow in the first episode, which to me was not a bad thing. It gave me a chance to place the characters solidly in my mind. The various houses and their allegiances will no doubt be confusing. One thing that I noticed right away was that every time that I saw Prince Daemon Targaryen, I expected him to break out into the song "Frankenstein". It was also obvious to me that he was a real threat to King Viserys Targaryen...and if I could see that in five minutes, why couldn't the King see it after years spent with him? I also didn't like the choice of Millie Aycock as. The Young Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen. She just isn't that photogenic. But I like the pace, and costumes, and sets. I'm looking forward to every episode. Will it be as good as GOT? Not many shows are. It's got big shoes to fill.
Evil: The Demon of the End (2022)
At a certain point
"God keeps revealing himself...and at a certain point, you have to acknowledge it" This episode was a culmination of several themes that had been building the whole season. Kristen finds out where her egg is. Andy comes home ...changed. Evil stops hiding behind sounds and visions, and becomes apparent to everyone. Sheryl is exposed for the lying treacherous servant of Satan that she is. The blurred lines become clear, and people pick sides. David has Sister Andrea watching after him as he tries to resist lust. Monsignor Matthew Korecki is killed. The children are turning into adults. The stage is set. The players are ready. The war is on. What was that I saw, out of the corner of my eye?
Elvis (2022)
Epic story...Fair film.
I knew that Elvis had died young, but was surprised to learn that he was only 42. He had arguably the greatest voice ever. He didn't write the songs that we know him for, but he was an amazing performer. He seemed to know what kind of songs that people wanted to hear, and when. Was he a victim of his own excess? It would appear so.
Austin Butler was amazing, and gave the film credibility. Hollywood rewrote parts of Elvis's life, giving us THEIR version. But don't they always? I doubt that his divorce from Priscilla was that pacific. Tom Hanks is a known Elvis fan, and a good actor, but this time he overreached. He wasn't believable as Colonel Parker. The accent alone is cringeworthy. But I understand why he wanted to do it. The film resonates for a few reasons. It's a good time capsule of Ameria as it changed. We are reminded of events, and how they shaped everyone, not just Elvis. Then there's the music, and that magnificent voice that has no peer. Roy Orbison, maybe, coming closest. Elvis grabbed the American youth and turned them into Rock and Rollers long before the British invasion. If you lived back around 1959, you saw teenage girls all over America buying magazines like "Movieland" that posted pictures of him in the Army. Elvis was in the right place, at the right time, with the right look and sound, and became an unforgettable American icon. He had that special quality that all stars have. This movie grasps a little of that. The definitive movie has not yet been made, and probably never will be. But the music and recorded video are good storytellers.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: A Quality of Mercy (2022)
The Bell Tolls for Thee
A story of time, and times to come, and of choices and consequences. The years stack up on each other as we wind our way through life towards a destination. This episode was as good as any found on previous Star Trek series. It's been an enjoyable first season, but a little uneven. They saved the best for last. It's as if the kinks were worked out, and the finale was the culmination of everything finally fitting perfectly. There was an atmosphere of seriousness, of believability that had been missing before. The writers, the crew, the story all came together in an hour of time that I hated to see end. For the first time, I was engrossed as a participant in the events unfolding. I was drawn in as though I was there, and had a stake in what happened. And that's the way great television or movies SHOULD be. Thank you!