Space Sweepers

I think you'd appreciate this one TAZ -- Space Sweepers. Came out this year. It's little guys vs the big-bad guys, with lots of action and a redeeming message. Plus the lead actors are very good, their ensemble work excellent. And there's a cute kid everyone falls in love with, even at first when they think she's an android with a hydrogen bomb inside her.  

I've been watching a lot of Korean cinema and really like Kim Tae-Ri, the female lead. She was in the 2018 historical drama (ok melodrama) series Mr. Sunshine. You would not have liked that I'm pretty sure but this action flic -- yes. Weaponry fancy-slick as Men in Black. In space fight scenes Star Wars level. Fight like hell moxy that's been compared to Guardians of the Galaxy. And lots of nanobots doing all sorts of things.

The plot does this recursive move we're seeing a lot know, where we think one things a done deal and then see a flashback showing what everyone actually did to save the day, fooling the big-bad guys and us as well. 

The captain, Kim Tae-Ri, gets in a cop's face.

I don't want to spoil the ending. Well, I do but I won't. Somehow we have 3 million plus hits (!!?) so I figure someone is reading this. So I'll say to them what I'd say to you if you were here -- watch this movie! 

And an extra neat thing is that the lowly space sweepers class of which our heroes are part, a motley crew of grungy mechanics, laborers and seat of the pants pilots, are from all over the earth. As in the wonderful Chinese sci-fi epic The Wandering Earth they unite in the end to . . . woops: I'm not saying. But it's heart warming and rousing. Corny, you'd probably say, especially the way the male lead, the pilot, is driven by guilt over his daughter's death, but the actors pull it off. 

I'm giving this 3 1/2 stars. It's not great art but it's darned entertaining. I'd give it 5 except for the rough pace of the exposition: we learn the interesting history of the leads very near the end, and the father-daughter flashbacks are satisfying but perhaps a bit too long or too . . .  something, peripheral perhaps. Maybe I just wasn't watching closely enough at the start to absorb the characterization and so wasn't as interested as I might have been in the pilot's backstory.  And also the villain seems a caricature and badly acted, sort of like the Governor in The Walking Dead. The casting of the non-Korean actors as well as their make-up and wardrobing felt off...cultural signals crossed. But that's a small quibble.  

Space Sweepers swept me away. Let's see if we can get one or more of the triplets here to start reviewing. Jamarr the 2nd said he's look at ways to monetize it. That'd be cool. 

Jamarr Jr.

Jamarr's son Jamarr Lamont has moved to Albany and is down with me to fade in to flipside. Carry it on. I'm thrilled. "Ragnarok" has been assigned. May have to re-join Netflix. Again.  

Welcome Jamarr. Long live Jamarr, The KING.

Jamarr brings tech skills so you may see some changes here. But it's still going to be us to reviewing and speaking and putting it out there.   

What Men Want

Oh man all the stars except half off because it's not art quite but superb entertainment. Better than What Women Want with Mel Gibson, and minus the creep factor. Henson is great, Black Girl Magic to the max. And the dynamic with the gay sidekick assistant AND the love interest -- so fun to watch. And slips in an uplifting feminist message without slowing the plot. Also a great single-dad message. Overall, very pro-guyz in a good way, with a big cheer for solid male allies, and a fun spoof of the white friend (with a lotta truth in it....). Smart Movie.

But you the damn fool who drove into a bus. Still pissed at you about that, yr death. Preventable. At 33. ALL these movies you missed. And here we are with almost half a million hits (only 100k exaggeration lol). We could a been something. We were, we are. Wish you were here. I wonder what you'd give this. No chase scenes, but some fine cars (I think, new sports cars) and a very satisfying ending. I guess you'd give it at least 3 stars, maybe 3 1/2. I'm giving it 4 1/2, for those who like comedy. OH, I forgot to tell you - Erykah Badu plays a fortune teller. Distinctive.  Love you TAZ. **** 1/2

Awkward at first, this mean boss/cringing assistant pair takes wing. 

Aeronauts

Amazon prime taking my time again this cold January day TAZ. Wish you were here or at least in the world. This flic is out of this world. Some awkward moments -- seems the directing -- but also some pulse propellelent in this based on a true story account of a scientist and a balloon pilot in the Victorian era who risk life and limb and skin (frostbite!) to ascend higher than any human has before through layers of atmosphere and mechanical and atmospheric perils.

I like Eddie Redmaye but he seems the wrong actor for the role. Perhaps I've seen too much of him too. Felicity Jones is bouyant and brave and fits her role better, an the Amelia Arehart bravado. 

Lovely scenery and very good photography. Good for this grey day/week. Patel stands out as the best friend and supporter. I'd rather he have been the lead. The score worked well. I'm glad I didn't pay for it (I get prime with my phone), but it was worth the time, engaging if not memorable. Giving it 3 1/2 stars. The 1/2 is for her shoe. And what she did with it.

Warning: Vertigo moments

The Number 23

Just watched this, procrastinating on grading essays. I usually don't like voice-over narration but endured it because I'd paid my 3 bucks already. Five stars for plot. I think you'd have liked it for that reason TAZ. Also there's a random bull dog with a key role in the plot. Pretty good actor too. And despite some gore an uplifting ending. He does the right thing, after doing the wrong and forgetting it. The main Jim Carey character devolves into paranoid superstition around the number 23. Then thanks to the love of a good woman -- a really lovely Virginia Madsen (is she ever not lovely and good?) -- he recovers.

Or does he? And does the film believe the numerology? Does the film care?  No. It's a message about the power of love to save us, even from a self we left so far behind we forgot it.

I remember you liked slapstick Carey, TAZ. As an actor in a serious role he's not bad, but when he plays the bad guy in the flashbacks here he's not so scary. And the explication is crammed into the last 1/5 of the film, too fast to keep track. (Ok, I was multi-tasking, but still.)

I'm giving this one a grade-inflated ***.  Wish you were still here my friend to tell us what you think. You really would have enjoyed the dog.

Ocean's 8

I'm not sure if you liked Ocean's 11 Jamarr, but I did and I think you'd agree Ocean's 8 is a disappointment. I wanted to like it, because I like Bullock and Blanchett, and Rihanna seemed as sharp in the previews as other supersmart geek heisters but I don't think they used her as they might have. It all feels pretty corny.  I usually enjoy a heist caper but the ensemble and script have to have more chemistry and speed.

Were Blanchett and Bullock lovers or not? Did every single detail HAVE to go exactly as planned? And SOOO much money, with a little side heist we didn't know about, in fact that most of the 8 didn't know about, until after the fact. And the reveal -- no wonder in it.

I tried to laugh at the quippy banter, mainly because I'd dragged along your son Ahmad and was trying to make it fun. But, Lord, what a lame script.

So you didn't miss much when you missed this one Taz. Still wish you were here though to spice up our critique. Oh, did I mention No Action. Whatsoever. I figure you'd give this one a Aah. Imma agree and give it 2 stars. I just asked Mahd (he's living with me now). He said 2, too. So...But luckily we got in free. I had enough points on my regal card and someone had given him a free coupon. Nice huh?

Hey heist movie -- where was the action??

Denial

Looks like a lotta talkin but I'll give it a try. I like Rachel Weisz. Be back to fill you in.  Mick Jackson of The Bodyguard did the direction, so... courtroom drama. What's your favorite TAZ? They didn't read To Kill a Mockingbird at your jr high or high. The Lincoln Lawyer would be my guess. Oh no no no. It's A Few Good Men, for the Nicholson melt down scene. Or Slade's ending speech in Scent of a Woman? I doubt Denial will match that, let's see. Can a woman yet speak that coldly and unself-consciously?  

Spectral

Here's one you might have liked TAZ. Spectral.The CGI effects were pretty good. It's a civil war, Moldavia, future-ish I guess. Some ghost-like wraiths of energy are attacking the Americans, who are there because...we'll because we're everywhere. They fly in the handsome good enough geek actor who whips up a way to see these things, and then after lots of running and fighting and uncounted flash-frozen bodies finds a way to fight them. According to Wikipedia, Universal decided to send the movie right to Netflix. Something real flat about it, though the bombed out city looked very bombed out.

Everybody's scared the whole time.
Sorta like North Philly huh TAZ?

And two cute kids with a clue -- iron shavings are a barrier. They're dead dad discovered it. The movie nods toward sentiment a few times but can't muster much execution because of the mediocre acting and so-so script. And there's all that rushing around and running from the many spectres, and implausibly figuring out they must have been made at the power plant, weaponized nervous systems. Or something.

Whoever designed the rigged up weapons and the power plant, with its secret, diabolical weapons program, did a pretty good job. It looks real enough, almost A movie level. But overall this dog gets a low C from me -- Eh.

Not sure what you'd give it. You were always pretty generous as long as the action kept moving and the CGI effects weren't too dismal. Maybe I'll ask one of the trips if they've seen it and what they think. Maybe they'd even want to take over your spot. We'll see.

Peace out. and ps thanks for that advice in a dream last night. Not sure of it was YOU you or just my sub-conscious wearing a Jamarr face to catch my attention. I read somewhere it's a real spirit contacting you if they speak, if you hear words, and yet their mouth doesn't move. It was at the house in Kingsley. 4-5 of your guys were hanging around too. You had a new flat screen TV set up in the back yard. It was good advice. And then you were crawling through a PVC sort of tube. Coming back for another go 'round?

I'm back wish you were maybe you are - spoiler alert

Jamarr I was thinking of you while I was watching The OA. On Netflix. yes I binged it in a night and an afternoon, with a couple of ice cream sundaes and some attempts at other meals. I keep feeling, with you as with my brother who died at 16, that you're around. In and out. Not far. And this show was about Near Death Experiences, connections between dimensions, caged people escaping through the mind through mystical leaps.

Are you more mystical now, where you are? Are you free of addictions?

Why do I think you'd like this? Well, I'm not sure of that. I'm sure you'd appreciate it. The OA. Eight amazing episodes. Maybe just one, the 7th, a bit slack with climax-prep exposition those of us who were binging didn't need. A little weak too was the dream premonitions thread, or maybe it was just me watching the middle patch in the mid-AM after a long day at work. Maybe that was developed more. The lead, a beautiful Brit Marling (also a producer), has three dreams that foretell three disasters. With the third she successfully prevents the disaster. But what's amazing and riveting are the scenes of the five people held prisoner in a mad scientist's basement. (And no I still haven't watched past the first few minutes of The Human Centipede).

Brit Marling as the OA

For most of the series, we believe the survivor's story of the amazing things that happened among the five. At the end, it seems possible, even likely, her story is a fantasy overlaying something more sordid and banal. But like the five people she tells the story to, we want to believe. And we're changed by wanting to believe.

We're among angels, the spirit of the show seems to say. We live beside a miraculous river we can jump into any time. I jumped in. I binged. I'd love to light up with you and talk about it. But you're stupidly dead. Drove head on flooring it into a bus. WTF Jamarr. What were you thinking were you thinking at all. Outta yr mind on that shit. Where are you now? Where are any of us? We live in our prisons. We escape through our minds, if we can, with help or on our own. If we feel like lab rats maybe we are lab rats. Lab rats and mad scientists too.

Well, being as I can't seem to stop watching and binge watching I'll keep writing to you here. As if you could read our blog. As if we could share again this little rectangle of common ground. We can add to our clever description: one alive one dead. Both (I believe this) still in love with movies.

Peace out big guy. I'll be back.

The OA - I'm giving this one 5 stars, EXcellent. And I'm going to guess TAZ would give it just 4, Dope. Because limited CGI and gore effects. But great acting and ideas.

Rest in Peace TAZ. You were The Dopest. You made us family. Leaving, you don't ever really leave that. I will see you again. Rest in the peace beyond our understanding. You live in your sons and your stories, and in me. Many weep for you. You will be missed, always loved.

It was a car accident, after everything. A damn car. He survived so much growing up and now this. Please drive with care and tell the people you love you love them over and over and over.

Every movie I watch I'll be watching with you.

Dopest??

Better than I thought it might be(just), this heavy-handed condemnation of homophobic Christians almost creates three likable and believable characters but kills them off too fast for us to care. A haggard and limping John Goodman is a relief but the script hobbles him further, with his final monologue embarassingly long-winded, irrelevant and borderline incoherent (and he somehow shows he knows that). So too is the jab at post 9-11 curtailment of civil liberties. And the preacher nutjob leader is so badly cast and acted there's little satisfaction in the fast that this homophobe is likely to live out his life as some guy's (or guys') bitch. Not no satisfaction mind you, but little.

It's scary, in parts. I'll give you that TAZ. But once I realized there was no way the flick was letting any of those 3 kids live the chase scenes lost their kick. Lots of bullets between the eyes, or thereabouts. Lots of multi-tasking on my part.

How can you call this the dopest TAZ? Must be a post-30 lowering of standards. All I can give it is two stars. Eh, with some stretches of abysmal and maybe a little not bad for Goodman and one of the "believers" who tries, with some semi-plausible acting, to save the kids.

I may regret this

So TAZ says Red State is the dopest in a long time. I'm about to watch it. Hope I don't regret it. But I'm hoping he gets his self back here and starts reviewing again because we're the dopest.

Attack the Block, inner city vs outer space

This intense, close-quarters ensemble movie is just the kind of character-based, tightly scripted sci-fi I love. I know TAZ under-rates character development but if he watches this he'll see what I'm talking about. People change. Yeah they run and scream and get eaten by creatures--these ones with oddly glow-in-the-dark incisors--and the tension IS more important than emotion, but the two together make for entertainment and thought. Plus there's a lovely little expository lump of biology near the end, from a goofball pothead rich kid sidekick who justifies his existence, to the tough gang and in the movie all at once. yes saving the day Jeff Goldbloom style. Via pheromes again...a real sci-fi motif. But I think it works better here than I've ever seen it work. And the two pre-ten sidekicks who come through big time is top notch. An awesome movie all around. I think my first 5 star flick. Excellent. The script gets an excellent-plus. And the white guy with the heavy heavy south London accent in the gang is great.

Taz says it's near perfect - Rise of the Planet of the Apes

I just saw it, loved it. Near perfect? Let's think about it. What IS a perfect movie? Holds your attention the whole time? Yes, but there were a few plot shortcuts. More soon.

pop and cob corny

K-Pax. Yes Kevin Spacey turns in a stunning and so forth but - hey how many violins can we fit in the recording studio Harry? And I guess I just don't like Jeff Bridges. And yet, some ideas, some science, and an excellent hypnosis scene, played well on both parts. Some fun minor characters too, and a seductive plot. Have it either way. Have it both ways. and float away on violinsyrup river. I give it three stars - not bad. But then i forwarded through the real thick scenes, so maybe 2 1/2.

no not this

Look at this review of The Human Centipede from Vulture, TAZ. You really want me to watch this? Could we take m-fkg turns suggesting movies pa-lz?

He's back!

Look out now, TAZ is back. Back getting me to see movies I'd never even think of seeing. And maybe like them, or anyway appreciate their special genius which i might not see on my own. ttyl

TAZ on The Human Centipede Sick Fun I Must Admit

I First heard about this movie a few months ago on youtube I instantly thought Nah it looked like a low budget suckfest, but it still made me curious. Fast forward a few months of constant teasers,trailers and a promise of 100% medical accuracy and I was drooling the marketing for this movie was great. I'm not going to spoil any of this for anyone it can be seen in theaters and on paidperview on cable its a gem in the sense of a Texas chainsaw massacre tobe hooper great, U know what's going to happen from the title but somewhere in your sick mind U just want to see it happen. The cast is pretty bare bones with the setting being a rural great house in Germany U have the victims who are pretty much nameless in the movie But we will improvise It stars Akihiro Kitamura(The Head), Ashley C Williams(The Middle),Ashlynne Yelle(The Tail)and Dieter Laser(Hitler wait I mean the doctor when U see it U will get it). The movie starts randomly with a car sitting bye the side of the road and Hitler I mean the doctor looking at a picture of 3 dogs nose to tail in a line, A big rig pulls behind it and out runs a huge guy with toilet paper in hand running it to the wood to take a mean shit meanwhile out jumps Hitler with a dart gun in hand creeping up behind him to knock him out to kidnap him without even letting him wipe,and it fade to black. I don't want to spoil anything else but this movie has a few point the I don't know how to cover without sounding raciest but there's a lot of black comedy in this movie I don't know how much they meant to do but it works the movie just touches everyone I know that saw it the same way no matter the race its funny,scary,exciting and just down right interesting. Akihiro was great from the start being that he only spoke Japanese(wait subtitles its a foreign flick to everything I tell Ya!)He cursed him the hell out from his first shot it was great, and Dieter was a classic psycho in every sense of the word genius, after a little research I found it to be 100% medically accurate to and that's the farthest I will take it U have to see this movie. It has a few plot holes but what movie doesn't one word dope!

Jacob the Liar

omg I found a watch instantly Robin Williams film I haven't seen. It's next in the marathon. "Jacob the Liar." Has Alan Arkin in it too.

Williams was exec producer on this one. Like nearly every film he's starred in, the thesis is implausibly and powerfully healing. Suspend belief and believe.

Believe what? "That nothing in this world moves," as Mary Oliver writes, "but as a positive power." Whether he's a doctor, a teacher, a father, a robot or a Jewish cook trapped in a Nazi ghetto, he's a positive power. (Okay, he was a psychopathicly lonely film developer once, but even then all he did that time was peep on a happy family - could have been worse).

The film froze half way through...buffering now. It's slow, admittedly. Once the premise is set up it's all stilted dialogue and same-old WWII ghetto sets. No one looks hungry or cold really and the orphaned girl RW helps out is way too jovial. "When the war's over I'll be your waitress. You don't have to feed me I'll just eat as many pancakes as I like."

It's fairytale holocaust. It's a happy story of how one reluctant schmo brings hope to the hopeless.

Us.

Enough. If you like RW, watch it. I'll come back and rate it when it's over.

Not bad. *** 1/3 corny; 2/3 moving