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Ross (3284 KP) rated Quantum Leap in TV
Feb 14, 2018
Possibly the best TV show ever
Technically sci-fi (Sam is sent back through time into the body of people whose lives went wrong to try and stop certain events from happening) but each episode was a mini-drama in itself with a sci-fi overlay. Whether Sam became a pregnant woman, a struggling aging baseball player or a young man with down's syndrome, Scott Bakula's character had to work out who they were (starting with the standard "Oh boy" in the mirror), and with the help of his hologram assistant Al (Dean Stockwell) what events they would be trying to avoid. Once the task was complete, Sam would "leap" out, each time hoping the next leap would be the leap home.
Truly brilliant and I have nice warm fuzzy memories of watching with my family throughout the early 90s.
Truly brilliant and I have nice warm fuzzy memories of watching with my family throughout the early 90s.
David McK (3562 KP) rated Men in Black (1997) in Movies
Dec 23, 2019
"Protecting the earth from the scum of the universe"
The second of the mid-to-late 90s of Will Smit's one-two rapid ascension to movie super stardom (following Independence Day), which sees him recruited by Tommy Lee Jones to join the Men in Black: a top-secret government organisation set up to monitor alien presence on earth.
While we're now up to four entries in the series as a whole following this summer's (2019) by-all-account-disappointing Men in Black: International, it's easy to forget just how well this movie still holds together, alongside some classic exchanges such as:
"Why the big secret? People are smart"
"A person is smart. People are dumb panicky dangerous animals and you know it"
"You do know Elvis is dead, right?"
"No, Elvis is not dead. He just went home"
The second of the mid-to-late 90s of Will Smit's one-two rapid ascension to movie super stardom (following Independence Day), which sees him recruited by Tommy Lee Jones to join the Men in Black: a top-secret government organisation set up to monitor alien presence on earth.
While we're now up to four entries in the series as a whole following this summer's (2019) by-all-account-disappointing Men in Black: International, it's easy to forget just how well this movie still holds together, alongside some classic exchanges such as:
"Why the big secret? People are smart"
"A person is smart. People are dumb panicky dangerous animals and you know it"
"You do know Elvis is dead, right?"
"No, Elvis is not dead. He just went home"
David McK (3562 KP) rated Spider-Man: Hostile Takeover in Books
Jul 21, 2019
Mention the words Spider-man, and I'm sure the first thing most people think of is the Marvel comics.
Maybe closely followed by the 70s TV series or 90s cartoon, and the more recent big-screen outings.
What I'm pretty sure is not commonly thought of, however, is a Spider-Man prose novel, which is exactly what this is, alongside being a prequel tie-in to the really-rather-enjoyable 2018 PS4 game.
That game - and, by extension - this novel, sees Peter Parker roughly already 7 or 8 years into his career as Spider-man, with the novel serving to set up the entry levels into the game in which (no spoilers) Spider-Man takes on Wilson Fisk aka The Kingpin of Crime, and showing how he got to have his contact in the police force Yuri Wattanabe (sp?)
Maybe closely followed by the 70s TV series or 90s cartoon, and the more recent big-screen outings.
What I'm pretty sure is not commonly thought of, however, is a Spider-Man prose novel, which is exactly what this is, alongside being a prequel tie-in to the really-rather-enjoyable 2018 PS4 game.
That game - and, by extension - this novel, sees Peter Parker roughly already 7 or 8 years into his career as Spider-man, with the novel serving to set up the entry levels into the game in which (no spoilers) Spider-Man takes on Wilson Fisk aka The Kingpin of Crime, and showing how he got to have his contact in the police force Yuri Wattanabe (sp?)
CZ
Convergence Zero Hour: Book 2
Tony Bedard, Cliff Richards and Kieth Giffen
Book
The past and present of every alternate DC Universe collide here in literally the biggest story in...
David McK (3562 KP) rated Demolition Man (1993) in Movies
Feb 1, 2021
"There's a new Shepherd in town..."
I think I first saw this movie in the cinema when it came out.
In 1993.
So nearly 30 years ago now (writing this in early 2021).
Starring a pre tax evasion Wesley Snipes, Sylvester Stallone and a very young Sandra Bullock, this is a sci fi actioner set in a (supposedly) utopian future where there is no crime, and in which Snipes character of Simon Phoenix escapes from his cryo-freeze prison (in which he was placed in 1996!), leading the hopelessly outmatched police force of the time to reanimated his original captor John Spartan (Stallone) at the suggestion of the 90s-mad Sandra Bullock Lieutenant Huxley, who was also put on ice after being framed by Phoenix for the killing of 30 civilians.
Yes, it's aged.
Yes, it still well worth a watch.
In 1993.
So nearly 30 years ago now (writing this in early 2021).
Starring a pre tax evasion Wesley Snipes, Sylvester Stallone and a very young Sandra Bullock, this is a sci fi actioner set in a (supposedly) utopian future where there is no crime, and in which Snipes character of Simon Phoenix escapes from his cryo-freeze prison (in which he was placed in 1996!), leading the hopelessly outmatched police force of the time to reanimated his original captor John Spartan (Stallone) at the suggestion of the 90s-mad Sandra Bullock Lieutenant Huxley, who was also put on ice after being framed by Phoenix for the killing of 30 civilians.
Yes, it's aged.
Yes, it still well worth a watch.
Anders Holm recommended World Clique by Deee-Lite in Music (curated)
Awix (3310 KP) rated Gemini Man (2019) in Movies
Oct 11, 2019
Long-in-the-works Will Smith vehicle certainly feels like it's from the 90s. Government assassin decides to retire, but knows too much and finds himself the target of his own clone replacement. First and foremost a decent action movie, with a rather better performance (or performances) from Smith than you might expect; on a procedural level it rattles along engagingly enough.
However, the movie almost wholly fumbles all of its potential for addressing deeper issues in any but the most superficial manner - nature vs nurture, second chances, issues of identity, and so on. The manner in which it is filmed (for the special high frame rate 3D) is blandly appealing but not exactly atmospheric. In the end it is reasonable entertainment but all things considered you could be forgiven for expecting something rather more substantial.
However, the movie almost wholly fumbles all of its potential for addressing deeper issues in any but the most superficial manner - nature vs nurture, second chances, issues of identity, and so on. The manner in which it is filmed (for the special high frame rate 3D) is blandly appealing but not exactly atmospheric. In the end it is reasonable entertainment but all things considered you could be forgiven for expecting something rather more substantial.
David McK (3562 KP) rated Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (2023) in Movies
Aug 11, 2024 (Updated Aug 11, 2024)
Sequel to the late 90s/early noughties (edit: the year 2000, to be precise) family-friendly Aardman Animations flick, which itself was a riff on The Great Escape and starred a then-still-in-vogue Mel Gibson as the voice of Rocky the Rooster.
Here, Gibson is replaced by Zachary Levi, with the film set a good few years (decades?) on from the original, and with Rocky and Ginger now having a kid of their own and living - alongside the other escapees - on a remote island. Until such time as their kid goes exploring the mainland and has a run-in with a face from their past ...
Inoffensive stuff, by and large - although parts (specifically the 'Stepford Wives' collaring/mind control bits - might be a bit too strong for the younger ones in the audience!
Here, Gibson is replaced by Zachary Levi, with the film set a good few years (decades?) on from the original, and with Rocky and Ginger now having a kid of their own and living - alongside the other escapees - on a remote island. Until such time as their kid goes exploring the mainland and has a run-in with a face from their past ...
Inoffensive stuff, by and large - although parts (specifically the 'Stepford Wives' collaring/mind control bits - might be a bit too strong for the younger ones in the audience!
Andy K (10823 KP) rated I, Tonya (2017) in Movies
Jan 13, 2018
Great acting (2 more)
Great screenplay
Unique storytelling
I'm glad this movie finally came to my town and I was able to see.
Although I remember "the incident" and the media frenzy, I either forgot or never took the time to immerse myself in the details while it was going on in the 90s.
I thought the acting throughout was top notch led by Margot Robbie and Allison Janney. They really got lost in their roles and you forgot you were watching them.
There is enough emotional material and unique storytelling where some of the characters break the fourth wall and speak to the camera which keeps the viewer engaged throughout the story.
I was sort of torn to feel pity or empathy for Tonya or dislike what she knew, when she knew it and how she chose to keep silent.
Highly recommended.
Although I remember "the incident" and the media frenzy, I either forgot or never took the time to immerse myself in the details while it was going on in the 90s.
I thought the acting throughout was top notch led by Margot Robbie and Allison Janney. They really got lost in their roles and you forgot you were watching them.
There is enough emotional material and unique storytelling where some of the characters break the fourth wall and speak to the camera which keeps the viewer engaged throughout the story.
I was sort of torn to feel pity or empathy for Tonya or dislike what she knew, when she knew it and how she chose to keep silent.
Highly recommended.
Ameeka (131 KP) rated Power Rangers (2017) in Movies
Jul 7, 2017
Casting was great (1 more)
Cameo at the end
Slow to suit up (3 more)
More effort put into action sequences than on the storyline
Character introductions felt a little forced
As the movie progressed, it felt more generic
Promising origin movie
A nice modern take on the cheesy 90s series that fleshes out its characters with unique traits and different stories. May resemble The Breakfast Club more in that sense, but doesn't abandon the source material with the action and lore. Saban's Power Rangers offers enough action and fun to compensate for its semi-cheesy concept. The character buildup does its job for most of the characters, and the first couple of acts of this picture takes its time morphing into shape. The finale is where all the fun happens; however it speeds up too quickly for its own good. Some characters like Elizabeth Banks' suffered from from a sufficient lack of character development.