David's Time-Waster
My personal views on all things Entertainment....whether it be movies, television, books, theater, CD's, etc.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Movie Review-----THE WOMAN IN BLACK
Thursday, June 14, 2012
TV Review-----DALLAS
Monday, June 11, 2012
TV Review-----BUNHEADS
Friday, June 8, 2012
Movie Review-----PROMETHEUS
I am an enormous fan of the ALIEN movies! I think ALIEN is one of the greatest thrillers of all time and its sequel ALIENS is a masterpiece. ALIEN 3 was disappointing and ALIEN RESURRECTION is virtually unwatchable. So when I heard that Ridley Scott was returning to his ALIEN roots with a prequel to the Series, I was immediately excited! First, Ridley Scott has been hesitant to call PROMETHEUS a direct prequel to ALIEN and now that I've seen it, I see why.... It's not really a prequel to the 1979 film ALIEN, it's more like a prequel to the prequel of the 1979 film ALIEN. I don't believe that at the conclusion of this film, it leads directly into ALIEN. There is more of THIS story to be told and perhaps that's the plan. It's only in the last 30 seconds of PROMETHEUS that the connection is made. As far as a science fiction movie, PROMETHEUS is terrific. It looks incredible and I am glad I saw it in 3D, although 2D would be perfectly acceptable. The performances are great from top to bottom, with especially good work from Noomi Rapace and the always wonderful Michael Fassbender. The screenplay is well written and keeps the pace moving at a nice rate. Not a surprise that the art direction and visual effects are top notch. All in all, PROMETHEUS is a well made taut sci-fi film. But as the start of the ALIEN series, I was left dissatisfied. I have to admit that I wanted more...well....aliens! It's only in the final half hour that the action begins and the aliens we have come to know and fearfully love aren't the culprits at that point. Which leads me back to the thought that this entire film is a setup for what will be the TRUE prequel to ALIEN. So....if you are a fan of the ALIEN series, go into this realizing that it really is a stand alone film until the final few moments. PROMETHEUS is worthwhile, just not what I had expected and hoped it to be.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
TV Review-----WEB THERAPY
Monday, June 4, 2012
TV Review-----LONGMIRE
A few years ago, a member of my Church asked if I had read any of Craig Johnston's popular series novels revolving around Sheriff Walt Longmire. I hadn't but I said I would check them out. I read one of them and greatly enjoyed it. I didn't feel the need to read anymore of them, but I truly did appreciate both the writing and the great characters. So I was anxious to see if after watching the Pilot episode of A&E's new drama LONGMIRE, I would feel compelled to continue viewing each week. And based on the excellent first episode, I think I might have a new addiction. LONGMIRE takes place in a small Wyoming county in the present day. Walt Longmire has been widowed a year and is just able to return to his daily job as Sheriff of Absaroka County. His first day back at the job, a dead body is discovered high in the mountains and the murder investigation begins. The characterizations are as complex and interesting as they were in the novel. Australian Robert Taylor plays Longmire and it's a very subtle and affecting performance. Mr Taylor doesn't make a wrong move in the Pilot and makes you truly care about this character. Katee Sackhoff plays one of Longmire's Deputy's and she's terrific. Lou Diamond Phillips is wonderful as Longmire's best friend. Bailey Chase plays the local heartthrob who is also running against Longmire for the Sheriff position in the next election. As with most television procedurals, the coincidences needed to solve the mystery in 60 minutes stretch the imagination at times, but the script is so smart and the performances are so good that you overlook the few false moments. LONGMIRE can please several members of the audience. It's part Western, part Detective Drama, part Family Drama, and has enough attractive people in the Cast to keep the eye candy plentiful. I greatly enjoyed LONGMIRE. Might make me want to pick up another one of the books in the series.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Movie Review-----PARIAH
PARIAH garnered a lot of attention on the Festival Circuit in 2011. It won several Independent Film Awards and was given a limited theatrical run throughout most of the country in hopes of possibly garnering some Oscar attention. And although it didn't receive any nominations, as Meryl Streep was accepting one of the numerous awards for her work in THE IRON LADY, she gave a specific shout out to PARIAH and called it one of the best films of the year. PARIAH tells the story of a 17 year old African-American girl who is 100% sure about only one thing....she knows beyond a doubt that she is gay. She lives in a middle class family where both parents have steady jobs and both she and her sister earn good grades. She writes poetry and has ambitions to be a well known writer someday. Her sexual identity is so natural to her that she is comfortable being "herself" everywhere except in her own home. Both of her parents know that there is something different about her, but they continue to delude themselves that whatever she is going through, it is absolutely just a phase. PARIAH is incredibly well written and beautifully performed by a note perfect cast. It handles the subject of teenage homosexuality extremely tastefully. The language is raw but incredibly realistic. I sincerely hope that this film finds an audience. It should be viewed by parents and teenagers together. "God doesn't make mistakes...."
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