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Mcduff3601
Reviews
Noelle (2019)
A made for tv Christmas movie
That is what I would call a movie of this quality. It was a somewhat fun and cute movie. I have seen a lot of the bigger names in this movie act better in better movies. So would say that acting was a little on the cheesy side but what do you expect with this kind of story.
I think this movie was aimed at kids but it had a lot of more grown up ideas in it. Overall it is an entertaining Christmas movie that when all is said and done gives you what you are lookng for. Something new to add to the movies you watch to get into the Christmas spirit. Is it the best of them no but I will happily watch this with the little one who loves it.
Wicked: Part I (2024)
Not as bas as I was expecting
When my little one asks to go see a movie I grit my teeth and I do. I had almost no idea about this movie but knew it was about the wizard of Oz. I didn't even know it was a musical. When I saw the run time I thought I was done for. It did drag, I would have made it shorter but for as long as it was it was entertaining, funny and sad in all the right spots. I am not sure I like the reworking of old material, making the bad guy the good guy etc. But I was able to look past that in this movie. I did not like the fact that this is part 1 of 2. If I had to sit through 6 hours straight I would not be a happy dad. I was really surprised the two main stars proved to be capable actresses that were funny and provoked emotions. I would expect nothing less of a movie of almost 3hrs. Would recommend, makes me want to rewatch the original.
Spirited (2022)
Rounded up to a 6 but not sure i would watch again
This one had some pretty likeable ideas in it. I first thought well Apple TV makes good watching so good idea there, then mash two funny comedians together good idea two. Kind of poking fun at all the attempts at Charles Dicken's classic. Good acting, lots of high caliber talent, the choreography was pretty entertaining, the music was...ok for a tv movie. But the story was just ok. It was like watching a watered down version of the same old story you have seen over and over again. The humor between Farrell and Reynolds was not as sharp as I thought it would be, kind of dull in some spots. I was happy to have watched it to it's conclusion, there will be no surprises along the way and I for one will not be adding this to the list of classics to rewatch during the holidays. Good Afternoon!!
Shingeki no Kyojin (2013)
Wow, this was...complex but highly enjoyable
I was hooked on the story right away and would say it was something I hadn't seen before which is rare these days. The series is short each of the regular episodes are less than 20 mins with a recap, long intro and long credits the episodes whip by.
There are many twists and turns throughout the show but overall things felt consistent, no weird rush to the end. It has a satisfying ending as in a proper ending something a lot of series don't seem to get.
I don't think i will ever rewatch this series as it was too gut wrenching, I was really into all the characters so it felt like I was sharing their fate so to speak. I can see why some might not like the ending but it has nothing to do with quality or story but more hope for a bright shiny future.
I will give a warning this is pretty graphic, not something that bothers me usually in animation but it was more the situation in the last two episodes not for the faint of heart (kids getting killed in pretty grusome ways). Having said that I can't recommend this one enough. I am not big on anime and no one in my circle would expect me to recommend it to them but i will be this time.
John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
I love a good revenge movie
But I am spoiled. I don't think any of them have done it as perfectly as The Equalizer, so when I watch one of these I can't help but compare.
To be fair this is a sequel and rarely do movies like this get better the more numbers next to their name. This movie for me was just forgettable entertainment.
I enjoy McDonalds and pop music but most of the time they don't stand the test of time as something you look back on. I doubt I will remember this movie much longer after having watched it and that is ok, it did what it was supposed to do, entertained me for a brief period of time.
I am sure anyone that is a Keanu Reeves fan or someone who likes splosions and shooting will enjoy this but wouldn't recommend it to anyone not into that whole universe.
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023)
Was looking forward to Chicken Run 2 but I guess this will do
I don't get excited for new movies anymore especially when they are straight to streaming service but I couldn't help getting excited to finally have a sequel to one of my all time favorite stop motion animated movies. This was disappointing but at the same time still entertaining. I was also very much expecting to be disappointed by this movie which in some weird way helped cushion the blow and made it possible for me to somewhat enjoy the movie.
The story is weaksauce for sure. It's one of those situations if the main characters just communicated with each other the whole thing would have been avoided. There could have been better ways of handling some of the story but we have what we have.
If you are a huge fan of the first one this one is most likely going to be a let down, almost none of the original voice actors are in it and some of the voice acting is a little weak. The rating and reviews for this one are spot on you would be better off rewatching the original.
Trolls Band Together (2023)
Didn't hate it but its more of the same old stuff
I have seen every Trolls movie that has been made so far, mostly to appease my #1 fan. If she wants a Trolls movie she gets it. But I look less forward to the new one releasing everytime.
The story is getting worn and there is only so many scenarios you can place the same characters in that will make it seem interesting.
This one is still entertaining and the music is really top notch. The voice acting is mostly all the same from the previous movies and of really high caliber.
I think the only thing about it that is kinda meh is the tired story. I don't know what else they could have done but I feel like they are running out of ideas.
Would recommend this to anyone who likes the previous Trolls movies, if you have you know exactly what you will be getting with this one but still worth a watch.
Mean Streets (1973)
Meh I didn't see what the fuss was about.
Maybe when this movie came out this style of story telling about anti heros was a big deal but it was underwhelming in this story.
I think my biggest problem was my expectations for the movie. I hadn't heard of it before and was drawn to it because of the director and actors involved.
I didn't realize until it was over that this is a character movie and doesn't really have a plot or a point so much as follows along the main characters lives.
By the end of the movie I was left with the question, why? Why did that happen, Why did I care about it? Why did I watch it? I was left with no real answers.
I can see why people like it but it wasn't for me and would not recommend. There are a lot better movies out there with the same cast that would give you more bang for your buck.
Migration (2023)
Saw this one in theatres and it was pretty ok!
I didn't have high expectations for this movie just from the trailer I watched but the kid wanted to see it on the big screen so off we went.
The story is not super original and really predictable but that doesn't matter so much because the execution is pretty well done.
I found the voice acting all pretty spot on. The animation seemed less big screen and more like it was made with lower budget but that doesn't stop it from being entertaining.
All in all I would recommend this one to kids and for parents who normally have to endure their kids movies this one is pretty enjoyable with or without little ones forcing you to watch it.
Alice in Wonderland (1951)
I haven't seen this movie in decades but still holds up
I decided to grab this movie to show to my 9yr old daughter. I barely remembered the trials and tribulations, or at least the finer details until rewatching this one.
I was really surprised by how well this story holds up and is one of the Disney greats... before the fall so to speak.
It is highly entertaining and one of the few that I find is interesting and entertaining enough for all ages. It's very colorfully animated and their are coo coo bonkers characters all over the place making it mesmerizing to watch.
I would recommend this one to anyone, don't let the age fool you this one still packs an entertainment punch.
Paddington (2014)
An endearing entertaining kids movie
I usually dread watching kids movies, at least the ones that I am not that interested in. This one proved to be better than I expected.
The voice acting was pretty good, the story was compelling and the pacing made it feel like you weren't waiting for the movie to be over.
I actually felt connected to the characters and cared about what happened to them. If a movie does that it is worth at least a 6 in my books.
It is a bit dark in the beginning as the main character tries to find his place in the world but is a typical family movie where the good feelings win out by the end.
I would recommend to families and to parents this one isn't so hard to sit through.
Sisu (2022)
An entertaining John Wick style action flick
This is purely a revenge/vengeance type movie, there are no surprises or twists. You have you main character who is introduced as a sad solitary guy with a past full of violence and ghosts. This is all just talked about between characters.
They introduce the baddies... Nazis, I mean who doesn't like seeing them get their butts handed to them. The pacing is pretty good nothing drags. I was really surprised by some of the imagery and shots in this movie. They were epic or haunting, something more belonging to an art piece.
This movie delivers on entertainment and is like most other action flicks, the McDonalds of the movie industry. You consume it and forget about it because it satiated you for the moment but is nothing that you would remember fondly.
Mary Poppins (1964)
Was surprised at how much I enjoyed this 60 year old movie
I ended up getting this movie as something my daughter and I could watch without worrying about anything too violent/scary. I was expecting to be bored and wanting the movie to be over but was really pleasantly surprised.
It is dated and I am not talking about the time period it takes place in, the way the family behaves, the head of the house being a stern father figure that has no time for children or silliness. But all in all it works well and the musical numbers are pretty good.
There is a beautiful sadness to some of the musical pieces and hints at some other world that Mary Poppins and her pals are apart of but that we only get small hints exist.
I will probably watch this again at some point even without a kiddo watching with me I enjoyed it and would totally recommend.
The Death of Superman (2018)
I found this one a little underwhelming
Considering how long this story has been out there I was expecting to be more emotionally impacted by the movie.
I also realize it is rather short so getting too much into character development is not going to be as much as I want.
I didn't hate this movie but at the same time out of the animated movies I have watched about superheros it isn't really what I would consider top of the tier.
I think maybe because I already knew the story from the comic which came out a long time before this movie did the story was underwhelming, unlike when the comic arrived it was what people were talking about, even non comic book readers.
I think this one would have been better for me if I had seen it when it first came out. Still it was entertaining, would recommend to anyone who is a fan of Superman.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
A forgettable action flick that was mildly entertaining
I tried to not watch this one but it worked, they mashed together a nostalgia piece that was irresistible to me even though I knew it would be a let down.
Still there were things I did like about the movie. I thought how they de-aged Indy was pretty cool and well done, better than previous CGI attempts to do humans. Most of the early part of the movie was promising, lots of action in the typical style of Indiana Jones.
But then...
There was so much against this movie. It was to long for what it was, a shorter film would have been more fun I think and faster paced even though this jumped from one action sequence to the next they were long and kind of boring because... they redid ALL the action sequences from previous movies in some cases almost a shot for shot remake.
There was a lot of that in this movie, redoing scenes that people loved which part of me liked and the other part hated as it felt like pandering in its highest form.
I also didn't care so much for the main character which was not Indiana Jones... the supposed star of the movie felt like he was relegated to the back seat while Helena did all the driving. I found her character (maybe the acting?) was too forced, she was TOO happy during certain scenes, like over the top happy, cracking jokes but it wasn't charming, more like slighting annoying.
Overall everything was just flat. This movie has officially killed my enthusiasm for any "new" franchise movies that come out.. which is a lot. Unless I see people giving it great reviews I am stearing clear. Wish this series ended with The Last Crusade.
Maggie (2015)
Ouch my heart... this was not what I was expecting at all.
I am not sure why this movie got such a low rating. The few scores I saw that were lower were complaining about how slow this movie was. I can see why, this was I think mis marketed.
People watching this thinking it was a Zombie action flick would be dissapointed, or a horror flick or an Arnie movie. I have never seen Arnie in such a serious role.
I really enjoyed this movie, it really hit my dead zombie heart with feels. I felt true sympathy for all the characters in the film. This movie was all about family, love and loss. It was truly heartbreaking. Especially after having gone through the pandemic, if there was a zombie virus/outbreak this is how it would take place, a slow decay of what we hold dear instead of a bunch of well armed vigilantes killing hordes of the undead.
Don't go into this one thinking it will be a fast action movie, this is a drama designed to evoke empathy and heartfelt emotions. Ignore the low critic scores and give this one a watch.
Banshee (2013)
This one could have been great
This show started off strong but by season 3 started to fall apart. You could tell after the second season they didn't seem to have a plan for the show. It felt under developed in some places, rushed in others. One minute they are developing a character one way only to change direction later on making things seem off.
I found myself mid season three wanting to get to the end but fortunately season 3 picks up momentum the last 2 episodes. Then the shortened season 4 starts and the momentum is gone, replaced by a strange story arc.
However the final episode is satisfying enough that I genuinely felt a bit emotional. They do a decent job of shutting the show down in a satisfactory way, not like some shows that get cancelled and leave you hanging.
I don't think I would recommend this one it is a bit too prime time soap opera-esque for what it tries to be. It's not terrible however and if you like season 1 you will probably be ok for season 2 but then you will end up like me and feel obligated to watch season 3 and 4.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Classic Spielberg and Lucas at their finest
I first saw this at my Uncle's house during a party where they put on movies to entertain us kids. I was probably a bit too young to watch the last scene but I still loved it back then.
I still love it today, I rewatch this one every couple of years, it is timeless as it is an 80's movie set in the 30s so it looks like it could have been made today outside some of the special effects.
I think this is as close to perfect as an adventure movie can get. The acting is balanced between serious, corny and sweet. The pacing is perfect and the plot is fantastical. If you haven't seen this series PLEASE start with this one as the others don't hold a candle to it!!!
Outlander (2008)
I love little sci fi gems like this but it is a bit cheesier than I remember
I saw this one in the theatre and after our current state of Hollywood with the same stuff being pumped out, I can really appreciate the fact this was a different twist on a sci fi story.
Overall it's pretty decently paced so even the lesser scenes are quickly replaced by battle scenes. Which for the budget were pretty well done.
The acting was overall pretty ok, the main character is a little too batmanesque "I am a dark loner because of my pain which only I can carry" and the damsel "Oh no batman just let me love you" type of story. But other than that it really did feel like what one other reviewer put it as the 13th warrior meets Aliens. Worth a watch if you haven't seen it, maybe a rewatch if like me you haven't seen it in a long time.
National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985)
Meh... not really worth rewatching this one.
It's virtually a carbon copy of the original Summer Vacation but everything is just a little flatter. It's still entertaining enough but I know now why I haven't rewatched this one in years, where Summer and Christmas are almost a yearly mandatory viewing for me.
The acting is all pretty on par, the kids are different which is a running joke in all these movies, they are never the same. Clark is his usual well meaning but clumsy oaf. His wife Beverly is also exactly the same as in the first one. Really the only change is the actors playing the kids and the fact it takes place in Europe.
I never found myself really loling in this one like I do with 1 and 3 even though I have seen them a million times. I would say it's still watchable and if you are a die hard fan of the series it's not terrible to sit through. The last one, Vegas is by far the worst out of the 4 but if you really want a funny Griswold story watch 1 or 3.
Big Trouble in Little China (1986)
Cheesier than I remember but a fun 80s action movie
This is such a bizarre little movie. It is an action movie along the same lines as a kung fu movie, you know it's not going to be winning any oscars but dang it if it isn't highly entertaining.
Kurt Russell plays a truck driver that is like a bad John Wayne impersonation but it really works well. It's super over the top in all aspects, the damsel in distress needs to be saved by the super macho hero. Mix in Chinese fantasy and lore, crazy monsters and a pretty decent bad guy.
The special effects were probably cheesy even for back then, think dude in super fake looking rubber gorrilla suit. But like I said it is fun to watch, if you haven't seen it you should give it a try.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
Just as good as the first one but...
Did you know this was a trilogy? I didn't. I saw the first one liked it then tuned out until I saw they made a second one. One of the few pet peeves I have is with the words to be continued in a movie. I mean it fits with a movie like this it is just unexpected, at least for me a 50yr old who only half pays attention to movie news.
Having said that if you haven't seen the first one you would probably be ok starting on this one, they do a good job of character development and the whole premise of the movie is showcasing every spiderman that ever existed.
While this movie is fun and the art style is crazy good it is a decent action movie with a complex and heartwarming story at it's center. It just leaves you wanting more which apparently is in the works. Totally recommend to anyone that likes Spiderman, SciFi or action movies.
Escape from New York (1981)
Amazing 80s action movie
I love this film. It was the first movie I watched where the good guy wasn't the perfect honorable do everything right type.
The supporting cast in this is fantastic. In fact they had more depth to them than the main character who is over the top macho bad ass which is also what works in this movie.
It is fast paced so even though we are surrounded by this apocalyptic world you only get a taste of what the universe is like. It doesn't seem good but I find myself wanting to know more which is genius storytelling. Even after the story is over it leaves you wondering about it. Not something I expect from a movie like this.
Sleeping Beauty (1959)
A classic that is still fun to watch
It's a dated movie for sure but it is simple and fun. The music pieces in this movie are some of my all time favorites from Disney. This was Disney before they became obsessed with messaging and maximizing profits over creating.
There are no surprises here but considering how old this is I was a bit surprised by how good the animation looked.
I also think the bad guy in this is one of the best in the Disney verse. It does feel a little rushed but I like that over sitting through something that is over 2hrs long when it shouldn't be. Probably felt rushed because I wanted more.
Don't let it's age keep you from this classic gem.
The Belko Experiment (2016)
Started off pretty good but crashes and burns once the killing is underway
I got suckered into watching this one and was really surprised by the talent that was showing up. Not huge name actors but not bottom of the barrel either.
Looking back after having watched it this is basically an 80s slasher pic. Back then you knew what you were signing up for, a no apologies reason to watch people get killed. Which is what this was just on a larger scale.
Unfortunately the plot starts thinning out nearer the end and the reasons behind the mayhem are mediocre at best.
If the writing was a little tighter this would have been a pretty good movie. If you just want a simple slasher and don't really care about plot this could do as it's well put together, with good acting but little else.