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Erika (17788 KP) rated Surviving R. Kelly in TV
Sep 29, 2019
So, after a tireless search yesterday, I decided to watch this documentary miniseries. It was very disturbing in multiple ways.
For one, it made me glad I never paid for any R. Kelly songs. The only song I have on my iPod was provided to me, courtesy of Limewire. Secondly, it made me feel incredibly terrible for laughing at all of the skits and jokes surrounding R. Kelly, like the Chappelle Show and South Park.
This series features multiple survivors, and the families of women still trapped in this strange sex cult. That dude is sick and likes children. I have to say Vince Staples' rant that was featured in the last ep was my favorite part, because it was purely the truth.
As always, it's interesting to think about that if the victims weren't the race that they are, maybe something would have been done sooner. It really makes you sick to your stomach.
The only thing I didn't like is that some of the episodes repeated portions of the interviews again.
For one, it made me glad I never paid for any R. Kelly songs. The only song I have on my iPod was provided to me, courtesy of Limewire. Secondly, it made me feel incredibly terrible for laughing at all of the skits and jokes surrounding R. Kelly, like the Chappelle Show and South Park.
This series features multiple survivors, and the families of women still trapped in this strange sex cult. That dude is sick and likes children. I have to say Vince Staples' rant that was featured in the last ep was my favorite part, because it was purely the truth.
As always, it's interesting to think about that if the victims weren't the race that they are, maybe something would have been done sooner. It really makes you sick to your stomach.
The only thing I didn't like is that some of the episodes repeated portions of the interviews again.
Acanthea Grimscythe (300 KP) rated It (2017) in Movies
May 12, 2018
Contains spoilers, click to show
My mom took me to see the new It – and it was great. It does have a few changes that are worth noting though – and I’m curious as to how they will play out in the next part. Presently, the film only covers the part that takes place in 1957-1958 (though in the movie, it’s 1988), which leaves things open for another film.
First, I want to say that I have a thing for Bill Skarsgård. I have since I watched Hemlock Grove, where he plays an upir. So finding out that he would be playing Pennywise somehow dispelled my fear of clowns (which actually formed when I was eight and watched the It miniseries – or at least, the first bit of it). Skarsgård performance is spectacular and I have no complaints regarding his acting.
For the most part, It follows a line between the miniseries and the book. When it comes to a tome the size of It, obviously things have need cutting out. To expect more would likely have mean an entire series (not that I’d complain). There are a few things that really bugged me though. First, Richie does not do his voices in It. This is a major character trait that I feel should have been included – especially since he uses his voice imitations in the book to get past Pennywise. To leave out one of Richie’s defining characteristics is disappointing, as I really wanted to see how it would play out.
Second, once again, what Stan sees differs from the book. Those that have read It know that Stan ends up trapped in a standpipe. Here, a corpse comes at him and in order to escape, he recites the names of birds from a book he keeps in his pocket. This causes the door to open and thus Stan Uris lives. His obsession with birds, like Richie’s voice imitations, is another defining characteristic of the boys that is left out.
Because the movie is pressed for time, it’s easier to understand why other elements are left out – such as the real reason behind Eddie Corcoran’s death (which is left simply at “missing” in the film). In fact, several of the disappearance are touched upon just enough to remind viewers how threatening Pennywise is – and that’s perfect for this film.
Overall, I really enjoyed It. I feel that leaving out those two defining characteristics of Richie and Stan was unnecessary. Despite that, It comes in as one of my favorite film so far this year and I might have to bug Mom to get it for me on DVD.
First, I want to say that I have a thing for Bill Skarsgård. I have since I watched Hemlock Grove, where he plays an upir. So finding out that he would be playing Pennywise somehow dispelled my fear of clowns (which actually formed when I was eight and watched the It miniseries – or at least, the first bit of it). Skarsgård performance is spectacular and I have no complaints regarding his acting.
For the most part, It follows a line between the miniseries and the book. When it comes to a tome the size of It, obviously things have need cutting out. To expect more would likely have mean an entire series (not that I’d complain). There are a few things that really bugged me though. First, Richie does not do his voices in It. This is a major character trait that I feel should have been included – especially since he uses his voice imitations in the book to get past Pennywise. To leave out one of Richie’s defining characteristics is disappointing, as I really wanted to see how it would play out.
Second, once again, what Stan sees differs from the book. Those that have read It know that Stan ends up trapped in a standpipe. Here, a corpse comes at him and in order to escape, he recites the names of birds from a book he keeps in his pocket. This causes the door to open and thus Stan Uris lives. His obsession with birds, like Richie’s voice imitations, is another defining characteristic of the boys that is left out.
Because the movie is pressed for time, it’s easier to understand why other elements are left out – such as the real reason behind Eddie Corcoran’s death (which is left simply at “missing” in the film). In fact, several of the disappearance are touched upon just enough to remind viewers how threatening Pennywise is – and that’s perfect for this film.
Overall, I really enjoyed It. I feel that leaving out those two defining characteristics of Richie and Stan was unnecessary. Despite that, It comes in as one of my favorite film so far this year and I might have to bug Mom to get it for me on DVD.
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LoganCrews (2861 KP) rated Conor McGregor: Notorious (2017) in Movies
Apr 22, 2021 (Updated Jul 4, 2021)
Your standard sports doc - and if there's anyone in the sporting world right now who *isn't* standard, it's Conor McGregor. The general rule of thumb I use for these is whether or not it's more insightful than what I can find from ~10 minutes of research, this is not. For following this guy around for 4+ years you'd think there would be something under the hood but there isn't a single for-the-doc interview in this - just a broken collage of quick 5/10 second conversations that rush right past anything half interesting. I swear this is like 90% B-roll footage. Seems like it's in such a hurry to be another generic, surface-level rags-to-riches documentary for people going into this already knowing they're going to love it. I'm not saying you have to deflate the guy's ego, I like the guy - but if you're going to make a puff piece like this at least make it a good one. It would be so easy to sit back and just let this unique, caustic, energetic performer breathe rather than cutting his screen time to shreds - let it be 3 hours who gives a shit? Would have much preferred a 90+ YouTube compilation of his famed trash talk + fight footage over this "the world isn't going to stop me!" snooze. Should have been a miniseries.
Steph Freeman (26 KP) rated It (2017) in Movies
Jan 4, 2018
IT was unique from the book and previous miniseries while still maintaining the story line. (2 more)
The kids were funny, and the personalities were similar to those in the book.
Bill Skarsgård played on the fluidity of Pennywise without forcing too much comparison to Tim Curry
Most of the movie was spent wondering how they were going to finish within the time frame. (1 more)
Henry Bowers and crew were much less prominent than in the book, this might be corrected during flashbacks in the second movie.
Contains spoilers, click to show
As a die hard Stephen King fan this book entered my consciousness at 14, before the mini-series which is unusual for my age group. I've devoured all 1400 pages of the novel at least 5 times in the last 20 years, and always felt the mini-series was "good for it's time".
This movie has delivered on the promise for more in a way that was amazing and over the top. Bill Skarsgård clearly did his homework on both Pennywise from the novel and Tim Curry's terrifying rendition. I loved his ability to show the infinite being's vulnerability and desire to be included, while at the same time showing it's ferocity and anger.
The special effects delivered what the promotional material promised, and sucked me right into the world of Derry without a second thought. I loved the references to the shed burning down, the refrigerator where Bowers suffocated the dog, and the phenomenal rendition of the Neibolt street house.
If the next movie is anything like the first it's worth seeing opening night. I look forward to seeing the Loser's Club as adults.
This movie has delivered on the promise for more in a way that was amazing and over the top. Bill Skarsgård clearly did his homework on both Pennywise from the novel and Tim Curry's terrifying rendition. I loved his ability to show the infinite being's vulnerability and desire to be included, while at the same time showing it's ferocity and anger.
The special effects delivered what the promotional material promised, and sucked me right into the world of Derry without a second thought. I loved the references to the shed burning down, the refrigerator where Bowers suffocated the dog, and the phenomenal rendition of the Neibolt street house.
If the next movie is anything like the first it's worth seeing opening night. I look forward to seeing the Loser's Club as adults.