Monday, November 29, 2021

Media Notes: Roundup for November 2021

        


This is a somewhat random selection of the movies and series on DVD and/or online I watched during November 2021. After October and Halloween, things got busy, and thus my movie watching slowed down a bit. I hope to pick up the pace on movie watching again for December and the holidays, we'll see. 


Movies and films (links to IMDB.com for basic information unless noted otherwise). Some of these I watched via TubiTv.com or other online source. The DVDs come from the public library (unless noted otherwise). In addition, I will try to add other trivia notes, such as when a film is based on a book adding the information about the book (at least the WorldCat record if available):

  • Mortal Kombat (2021.Action. Adventure. Fantasy. Video game adaptation). The 2021 remake/reboot of the video game movie franchise. Plot description: "MMA fighter Cole Young seeks out Earth's greatest champions in order to stand against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe." The opening sequence has a bit of drama as we look back to before the current time and the threat of Outworld. As before, Outworld has won nine straight Mortal Kombat tournaments, and more win means they invade Earth. Naturally, the bad guys are breaking the rules, and it falls to Cole and the rest of Earth's warriors to unite to stop them. The movie features characters we have seen previously as well as some we have not seen before in films, and it does revise them a bit for the current story; the basics are still there. The movie goes right into the action, and we learn about the characters along the way. You get the basic bring the heroes together, they need to learn their powers quickly, then counterattack. It is kind of a drag that Cole seems to be a bit slow to figure his power out. Unlike the previous movie, the "cheesy" elements are cut out in favor of the movie being a bit more serious, with some small humor here or there, paying more attention to details like the fatalities video game players expect. The ending is adequate for the film, and it does set up for a sequel. We'll see if we get one. Overall, the movie is entertaining albeit some slow moments. The special effects are good for the film. The one things the original film has is the soundtrack theme; that one is better than the music here. I still liked it enough, but it was no big deal, so I am willing to give it 3 out of 5 stars. Via DVD from Berea branch, Madison County Public Library. Watched 11/20. 


Television and other series (basic show information links via Wikipedia unless noted otherwise). Some of these come in DVD from the public library. Others may be via YouTube, which, as noted before, I keep finding all sorts of other old shows in it, often full episodes:

  • C.O.P.S. (1988-1989. Animated series. Police. Action. Humor. Children and Young Adult).  See my comment on this in the May 2019 roundup. I've been watching this in and out. I start this month on episode 46 (out of 65) as I continue catching up on watching the series this month. 
  • Iron Chef (1993-1999).  TubiTv brought six out of the seven seasons of the original Japanese show this month, so naturally I started watching. They are not necessarily in chronological order but since these episodes stand on their own, that is good. This is not the Food Network package, but it still has the same dub just without the loud music Food Network had on it. This is one of my favorite shows, and one I enjoy watching when I just want something relaxing and interesting. By the way, they seem to have some episodes I have not seen before. From the first season: 
    • Episode 8: A mango battle featuring a Japanese chef trained in Mexico who does Mexican cooking. He got to battle Iron Chef Italian Kobe. Well, they wanted a "Latin" battle, and they got to work with that they had. It was fun to watch.
    • Episode 12: The Mishima beef battle featuring a female food critic also trained as a chef in France. By the way, Mishima cattle are extremely rare. At the time of show, they said only 20 head of cattle are available for eating at about $12K a head. 
  • Lewis Black: Thanks for Risking Your Life (2020. Stand up comedy. Comedy special). Description: "In this timely special, filmed at the start of the Corona closure of the country, Lewis Black unleashes his furiously funny indignation at consumerism, drug companies, and his favorite target-the perpetrators of public policy absurdity." The show was filmed on March 13, 2020 at the Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, Michigan, and it was the last he did as the pandemic began to shut things down. He had to cancel the tour he had just started at the time. This special is quite timely as he is doing it just as the pandemic is really taking off; I imagine it can be a challenge trying to be funny, but he still gets to work and delivers some humor. His routine does cover the events of the time, so for some this may be a walk back memory lane. This was only last year, but the pandemic in many ways has felt like decades by now with no signs of stopping. His observations are spot on. I think a few other reviewers who think he was not funny may be more upset over the truths he shares. The humor is not laugh out loud, but much like George Carlin, Lewis Black's observations make you think, make you see the truth, and you end up laughing now and then. He just describes the current situation of the United States and its mess perfectly. It may not always be funny, but often you do have to laugh. Maybe it is not as funny as some of his previous specials, but he certainly captured the feel of the time and still got us to laugh a bit. The special overall is a bit more serious, but again, reflective of the time it was filmed in. Having said that, the pacing on this one is a bit slow, and as mentioned it is not rapid fire laughter throughout. I liked it, but it does feel a bit put together to keep up with the times. By the way, the part when he speaks of his parents is both amusing and sweet at times; you can tell the affection he has for them. 3.5 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 11/26.




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