Media Notes: Roundup for May 2022

 

     

This is a somewhat random selection of the movies and series on DVD and/or online I watched during May 2022.

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):

• The Accidental President (2020. Documentary). The only reason I broke my self-imposed moratorium on politics/social issues/activist material is that Chris Gore of FilmThreat.com recommended this, mainly as an example of a relatively objective documentary about Trump. It is made by a British filmmaker and studio. Anyhow Gore's conversation that I was watching on YouTube was speculating a bit how a movie about Trump, a commercial movie, would be marketed given the divisions in the U.S., and the documentary came up. So I got curious enough to go find it. The narrative starts looking at how not many took Trump's run seriously, featuring clips from serious folks  like CNN, semi-serious like Jerry Springer, and comedians like Stephen Colbert, and I remember those days. Not many thought it was either possible nor a serious option; now we know better. I recall not taking it too seriously, but I was also highly skeptical given, in my opinion, that Hillary Clinton did not campaign as strongly as she could have (yes, I know, say that to a hardcore Democrat, and it would be blasphemy, but that does need to be said and considered). Not to mention that, let's be honest, you can never underestimate American stupidity. Then the documentary looks at the U.S. before the election to provide a context, and it may seem far away now in the COVID era, but a lot of things were going on, and a lot of people had concerns, especially working class folks, which if we are honest, the Democrats pretty much left behind and on the table. Trump managed to tap into much of their resentment as well connect to some of the worst inclinations of the American people: racism, sexism, etc., basically letting those folks feel they could freely express what they before had to hide. Add to it that Trump was quite the master marketer in selling himself, in contrast to Hillary who was anything but, and suddenly the joke candidate became the next president. Watching the early days with the hindsight we have now is both interesting and a bit scary because we keep wondering, as the film maker set out to answer, how did Trump get elected? Some of the answer I have commented on already, but as we learn, he managed to tap a certain dark part of the American people with a mastery of marketing that would make P.T. Barnum blush. On an interesting note, at one point the Zenger News reporter remarks many people saw Trump the way they used to see Elvis Presley; when you think about it, it can make sense. Overall, the strength of the documentary is that they strived for balance given they got people from both sides of the aisle from the U.S. and from abroad who had observed the elections such as journalists. What the documentary does well is to provide the context. Does it answer the initial question: how did he get elected? For Americans, it may still boil down to their party affiliation, but for the rest of the world, it does provide the context, and I will add, not a very favorable view of American competency or democracy. It also looks at the role the media had in enhancing his campaign, mostly or often because the conflict he created was great for ratings. The conclusion makes some good points, including Springer saying that while Trump was labeled the accidental president, given this country, the rise of a guy like him was not really accidental. And as I often say, the signs were there to see. I'd give this overall a 3 out of 5 stars. Found it on YouTube. Watched 5/7.  
• Needless to say, reviews by other people in places like IMDB go along political lines. Republicans mostly hate it because how dare anyone criticize or question their precious leader. Democrats tend to like it because it does criticize the despot. Since much like Gore, I pretty much despise both political parties in the U.S. (but I do admit I do despise Trump a lot), I am did my best to look at this as objectively as possible. 
• The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973. Action. Adventure. Fantasy). Plot description: "Sinbad and the vizier of Marabia, followed by evil magician Koura, seek the three golden tablets that can gain them access to the ancient temple of the Oracle of All Knowledge." This is another old film that I loved in younger days with special effects by the great Ray Harryhausen. Cast includes John Philip Law in the title role plus Caroline Munro and Tom Baker, better known for being the 4th Doctor in Dr. Who, as the villain Koura. For me to this day, a favorite scene is the battle with the Shiva statue that comes to life. Overall, this is a fun and light movie, great to watch on a Saturday evening. I think it still holds up pretty well. Some light humor, and good adventure. This is a fun movie just for the sake of good entertainment. Overall, of the Sinbad films in this series I liked Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, which I saw last month, a bit better, but this is still a pretty solid fun movie, and it is certainly a good movie a family can enjoy. 4 out of 5 stars. Found on YouTube. Watched 5/7.
• Snakes on a Plane (2006. Action. Adventure. Crime). Plot description: "An FBI agent takes on a plane full of deadly venomous snakes, deliberately released to kill a witness being flown from Honolulu to Los Angeles to testify against a mob boss." This is one of those movies that you hear about because people keep saying how ridiculous it is, so I decided to take a look. Now that I have seen it I can say that yes: this is a ridiculous movie. The movie does have a bit of dark humor, and let's be honest, when the big snake gets that one British asshole, you are cheering for the snake. The premise overall is pretty ridiculous and out there. The pace at times is seriously slow, at least until the snakes break out on the plane. Once the mayhem happens, you get a blend of ridiculous situations, some good scares here or there, but still not enough to make a good action movie. The few dramatic moments are not that good either. A few times the movie is unintentionally comedic. Overall, it is like a B-movie with a bit bigger budget. Is it terrible? No, believe me I have seen worse. But it is not quite in the so bad it is good category either. In the end, this was just OK, so 2 out of 5 stars. 
• On amusing details, you can tell this movie takes place way before the pandemic for one. Two, the plane was half-empty, enough so they could move the first class people all in coach with space to spare (the FBI took over 1st class with the witness). Today, that plane would be overbooked, and those 1st class passengers would likely be routed to another plane. Plus a Karen or two would be making a serious scene if they got bumped out of 1st class. 
• That snake vision special effect (the green view from the snake point of view) I do not think does any favors to the film. 
• On the other hand, once the snakes break out on the plane, people pretty much trampling each other without regard to anyone else and being hysterical is about spot on. 
• Dick Tracy (1990. Action. Crime. Comedy. Comic book adaptation). Plot description: "The comic strip detective finds his life vastly complicated when Breathless Mahoney makes advances towards him while he is trying to battle Big Boy Caprice's united mob." Warren Beatty's adaptation of the comic; in addition to portraying Tracy he did produce and direct the film. I have a soft spot for this light film, so when Tubi brought it in I decided to revisit it. The movie does have a very good cast. In addition to Beatty, we get Madonna, who honestly looks great in this film, along with Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, and William Forsyth among others. The soundtrack is by Danny Elfman and songs by Stephen Sondheim. The movie has a lot going for it. The movie features bright colors to reinforce the comic book nature as well as some one-liners (some work better than others). Al Pacino as Big Boy Caprice really hams it up in the role; I hope he was having fun with it. I was amused. Overall, it is a bit cheesy, has a melodramatic moment or two, but it is an entertaining and light film. It keeps the comic book feel even as it tries to be a crime drama as well. The performances are pretty good. The villains, played by very famous actors, may be a bit reminiscent of the Batman series in the 1960s where they got famous actors to play the guest villain. In a time where so many movies try to be serious, this one is fun and just entertaining. I'd say Beatty did a good job of bringing the comic book to life. It really feels like an old time comic book on the screen. Very colorful and good setting. If you saw it back in the day, it may be worth it for you to revisit it. If you have not seen it, I'd suggest you do. This feels like a movie everyone had fun making and shows appreciation for its source material. 4 out of 5 stars. Watched 5/14. 
• Movies with a similar appeal can include The Shadow (1994) and The Phantom (1996). 
• On a side note, the late 1980s into the 1990s was a good time in terms of comics adaptations, some better than others. Batman, with Michael Keaton in the title role, came out 1989. Later on, Spawn came out in 1997, and Blade came out in 1998. 
• Yakuza Apocalypse (2015. Action. Comedy. Horror). Plot description: "In the ruthless underground world of the yakuza, no one is more legendary than boss Kamiura. Rumored to be invincible, the truth is he is a vampire-a bloodsucking yakuza vampire boss! Among Kamiura's gang is Kageyama, his most loyal underling.." Before Kamiura is killed, he bites Kageyama, passing the vampire powers to him. Kageyama now has to learn how to be a vampire as he seeks revenge for his boss's death. Kamiura is a pretty good mobster, at least based on fact he cares for his neighborhood and helps those in need even during an economic recession. He gradually takes Kageyama under his wing, and the young underling has no idea what he is about to get into. The movie does have an interesting premise, though the plot at times can be a bit messy. Yet the film is interesting, and the action parts are pretty good. What I like is that, it is a good vampire movie but not like most vampires where the vampire is all powerful right away. Kageyama has to struggle, discover his powers what he can and can't do. He has to figure out things, and we are rooting for him along the way. He can feel fear and vulnerability. Then the movie has some seriously weird, crazy elements like the frog guy. He looks like a guy in a frog suit, but he is, as described, the toughest terrorist. This movie has some moments that are seriously bonkers, yet like a traffic wreck you just keep watching. And when you think things cannot get any more crazy, they do. Plus what an ending. Movie goes from the basic premise of the Yakuza vampire to this crazy quest for Kageyama to put things right and save the world. Silly moments? Yes. Good fighting sequences? Got that. Some gonzo plots? You betcha. Takeshi Miike is the director, and apparently he is known for this kind of film. It is one I am not sure what to make of it at times, but it does have entertaining moments. I would add it could have been a bit shorter, so probably a bit of editing here or there would have been nice. I am willing to give it a 3 out of 5 stars, and I am willing to look for other Miike films just to see if they get this crazy. I think a way to describe this film is the word bizarro. Via TubiTv. Watched 5/21. 
• Zebraman (2004. Action. Comedy. Science Fiction). Plot description: "A down-and-out school teacher receives the calling to become the real life personification of an old television superhero, Zebraman." A movie directed by Takashi Miike. Shinichi is basically a failing teacher who takes some refuge from reality as the old superhero Zebraman. However, things get complicated when it turns out there is a real alien invasion, and he is the one called upon to save the day. Soon he starts getting the skills and powers of the superhero (it just happens), and meanwhile a couple of defense agency agents are snooping around for the green aliens rumored to be about. One of the issues with this movie is length. it is 1 hour and 55 minutes or so long, and that is just too long. This movie could have been 90 minutes at the most, so it could have used some serious editing. There is some silliness, but that is just part of the charm. Special effects are low budget, but again that is on par for the film. The movie has some charm, but it loses it in the slow times and fairly stiff long dialogues scenes. The movie could be a good look at nostalgia for heroes of the past and a spoof on superhero films, but it just loses steam and then it just drags to the end. I would consider this optional watching. I wanted to like this more, but it just squandered whatever potential it had. It was OK in the end, so 2 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 5/22. 
• Walk the Line (2005. Biography. Drama. Music). Plot description: "A chronicle of country music legend Johnny Cash's life, from his early days on an Arkansas cotton farm to his rise to fame with Sun Records in Memphis, where he recorded alongside Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins." This is the biopic with Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter. I remember seeing this probably around time it came out on DVD, so decide to give it another watch. The movie is a pretty good drama and music film. Much of the emphasis is on Cash falling for June and their relationship over time until he proposes to her during a concert. For me, an interesting element is Cash's early days in music when he is touring with other musicians who would go on to be big and famous as well such as Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. Another key element was Cash's drug addiction, which he has to overcome as well. Phoenix and Witherspoon put in great performances, including their own singing. To be honest, their growing relationship is the stuff of a country music song. Overall, this is a very good film, moving at times, good performances, and the music was good too. It does not cover all of his life, but what it does is pretty good. 4 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 5/29.
  
• The movie is based on the Johnny Cash's books Man in Black and  Cash: the Autobiography. 

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:

• The 50 Worst Movies Ever Made (Documentary. Movies). Description: "This is the finest collection of bad films ever compiled. The budgets are cheap, the acting is terrible, and the plots are nowhere to be seen. It's The Fifty Worst Films Ever Made!" I love how they say some you may have seen, some you have never seen, and some you will wish never to see. So I am watching to see if there are any I have seen, and maybe if I have not seen them, do I want to search for them. Via TubiTv. Watched 5/7. The narrator's script is a blend of smartass remarks and film description. You get a chuckle or a smile at times as he describes these seriously awful movies. The movie clips are pretty brief, after all, they are trying to fit them all in one hour, so you just get barely a glimpse of a movie trailer per film. You do feel a bit bad for actors like Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff who did some of these terrible movies at the end of their careers. Overall, amusing documentary, but you wish it had a bit more substance. Then again, given how bad these movies are, do we really need more? 2.5 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 5/7.
• If you are wondering, yes, Tubi has a good number of the movies on this list. 22 to be exact. 
• From their list, I have seen Smokey and the Bandit, Part 3 (1983). To be honest, I barely remember it, but I do remember it is a far cry from the original film. 
• 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 49 (out of 65) as I continue catching up on watching the series this month.  
• Gourmet China: a Living Legacy (2006. Documentary). Description: "An exploration of Chinese cuisine is seasoned with historical anecdotes and stories from Chinese-food connoisseurs." I could not find much information about this short documentary, but it seemed interesting so I took a chance on it. Most I could find, besides the link in the title to TVGuide was the director has a Wikipedia entry. I learned some new things, for instance, Confucius was not just a philosopher but also a gourmet who innovated Chinese cuisine and wrote about it. We also get highlights of women chefs in a culture that to this day very often refuses to let women become chefs; these women learn through sheer determination and a little deviousness at times. Particularly interesting was the chef recreating dishes from ancient times with painstaking research collaborating with a local museum. Overall, the documentary touches on some major cuisines in brief spots. Given the size and diversity of the country, this is a challenge to convey all the richness of Chinese cuisine in 45 minutes or so, but it is an interesting overview. The photography and scenery are quite beautiful too. Narrative is simple, blending English with Chinese (the Chinese is subtitled in English). I'd give this 4 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 5/22.
• Iron Chef (1993-1999. Japanese show). I continue watching this full run via TubiTv. I am into season four now.  
• Next Level Chef (2022. Reality. Cooking competition). The latest, as of this writing, cooking competition from Gordon Ramsay. This aired back in January of 2022 on Fox, and now Tubi has all eleven episodes. Eleven episodes is short enough I figured I could take a chance on it. This is a competition within a competition. Ramsay and two other chefs are competing to pick the next big star, and they each start with 5 candidates. The candidates then compete to get to the top. The final price is $250K and a year of mentorship with Ramsay and the other two celebrity chefs. The competitors who range from professional chefs to home chefs to social media influencers seem to know the other two celebrity chefs. Personally, I have no idea who they are coming to the show. To be honest, when it comes to shows like this, I prefer to binge watch a season later than watching one episode a week, so I appreciated Tubi having it. The show's concept is pretty. Naturally, being a FOX show, they do ramp the drama a bit too high, I wish there would be a bit more focus on food, less on the sappy drama elements, but it is still entertaining overall. I'd say for folks who enjoyed Hell's Kitchen, this may be similar but on a smaller scale, and I think that works better here. The addition of two other celebrity chefs as mentors and team leaders is a good touch. Watched 5/27-5/28.
• Police Academy: The Series (1997. Situation comedy. Spin off from film series). This spin-off of the movies series went for one season with 26 episodes. The cast is all new, except for Michael Winslow (Sergeant Larvell Jones) who is a recurring character from the films. Other characters from the films make a guest appearance now and then. Via TubiTv. 
• In episode 2, Dr. Joyce Brothers appears as herself as a psychologist evaluating Sergeant Ledbetter. 
• Episode 4, "Two men and a baby" was cute. Then again, adding a cute baby often makes for a nice episode. 
  
• Leslie Easterbrook, who was the statuesque blonde Lt. Callahan in the films, makes a guest appearance. She has moved on and become a D.A. Her D.A. character does appear in some of the other episodes.