Media Notes: Roundup for May 2024

 

  

 

This is a somewhat random selection of the movies and series on DVD and/or online I watched during  May 2024.

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):

• A Haunting in Venice (2023. Crime. Drama. Mystery. Horror). Plot description: "In post-World War II Venice, Poirot, now retired and living in his own exile, reluctantly attends a seance. But when one of the guests is murdered, it is up to the former detective to once again uncover the killer." This is the latest at this time of Kenneth Branagh's Agatha Christie adaptations. This time he is doing one of her lesser known works. The set up of the seance, which Poirot exposes, with the typewriter and the confederate and a magnetic remote was an interesting detail in contrast to other seance forms. When the seance gets a bit complicated, Poirot is still skeptical, but Ariadne believes so much she wants to write a book on the seance. When the medium is killed, the mystery really is on. One thing this movie has going for it is the look, the cinematography, and atmosphere. It looks great, even in the dark scenes. The viewer is immersed into the scene. Another thing, which this kind of film often has, is a solid cast. However, it is a movie not sure if it wants to be a horror film or a straight mystery, and the back and forth at times of tone and scares does the film no favors. It is a Poirot tale, so we know there will be something rational to explain the case, and yet the film tries to ramp up the paranormal. Not sure the vagueness it attempts in terms of the paranormal is that effective. Also, as these adaptations often do, they do take some liberties with the original material that fans of Christie may not appreciate, in this case, the character of Ariadne Oliver, who in Christie's novels is one of Poirot's friends. By the end here, things are not quite friendly. The mystery itself is fairly solid, though it departs from the source quite a bit. I think if you put aside the book it is based on, and see it as its own story, it may work better for viewers. For me, this is certainly better than Branagh's Death on the Nile, but mostly average. In the end, still willing to give it 3 out of 5 stars. Via DVD from Eastside Branch, Lexington Public Library. Watched 5/4.
  
• The movie is ostensibly based on Agatha Christie's 1969 novel Hallowe'en Party.
• Acorn Media as part of their Poirot series starting David Suchet also did an adaption of this story. I watched that film back in November of 2023. The film is part of their Poirot Movie Collection, Set 6. This one, as I understand, is much more faithful to the source material. I may need to pick up the book, but if you've seen the Suchet version and then watched Branagh's version, you will notice the difference. 
• The Nun (2018. Horror. Mystery. Thriller). Plot description: "A priest with a haunted past and a novice on the threshold of her final vows are sent by the Vatican to investigate the death of a young nun in Romania and confront a malevolent force in the form of a demonic nun." This film is part of the universe from The Conjuring films. As of this time, I have not seen those films, so I am coming to this on its own. If you missed the previous films, this one does give a brief scene highlighting the previous, or later events, since this is a prequel, which by the way, the story itself starts in 1952. At its core, this is a haunted house tale, just in a medieval abbey that the villagers below know is best avoided. I am sure if you have seen the films you might appreciate the evil nun's character better, but you get enough the film can stand on its own. To be honest, it is very atmospheric but it is also a relatively slow paced film with very minimal stuff happening until the end when you get the confrontation with the evil. It looks nice, but that is about it. Plot is seriously thin, if at all. It does feel like there could have been a plot there; they certainly had the elements for it, but no one bothered to do the work developing it. The story is slow for the most part, and the film is just not that interesting. This is highly optional viewing. 1 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 5/12. 
• Ouija Shark (2020. Horror, allegedly). Plot description: "A group of teenage girls summon an ancient man-eating shark after messing with a spirit board that washes up on the beach. An occult specialist must enter the shark's realm to rid this world of the deadly spirit ghost once and for all." First off, to set up the spooky vibe, opening credits start with some photos of medieval woodcuts and other classical art, some depicting monster fish or other sorts of magic. Anyhow, after thirty minutes in, the ghost shark, which growls by the way, finally appears and chases a couple in the woods. Not a very committed couple, since the girl was pretty much more than glad it went after him first. That's love right there, and some serious bad acting. The so-called occult specialist is one of the girls' dad who does some research after daughter calls about a dream, after messing with the board. At one point, he reads a very cheap Tarot, and naturally gets the Death card, which in movies is a bad thing. The local cops are barely competent, and one of them is a nepotism hire. The nepo cop soon gets eaten by the ghost shark, and to be honest, glad he did because who cares about that guy? Not us viewers suffering through this. Film is not really gory. Shark appears, and as he gets close to a victim you hear the crunch sound and that is pretty much it. There may be a random bloody body part but nothing major. Towards the end, not sure what is more ridiculous, the last girl putting on a leather jacket and grabbing a shotgun, or the owner of the board who appears to the end to reveal the details of the shark escaping the board. While the premise may have had some potential, the movie overall has bad acting, cheesy special effects, and a mostly slow pace. This is not one of those so bad it is good. This is just plain bad. By the way, the movie poster really has little to do with the film, as often is the case with these bad movies. The "presidential" ending was just a ridiculous add on to hint at a sequel, but I would not expect a sequel, and would skip it if they make it.  I do like some cheesy movies now and then, but this is bad. Barely 1 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 5/18.
• Lake Placid vs. Anaconda (2015. Action. Adventure. Comedy). Plot description: "A giant crocodile goes head to head with a giant anaconda. The town Sheriff must find a way to destroy the two monsters before they kill the whole town." Another entry in the Lake Placid series, this one is a crossover with the Anaconda series. I watched the previous Lake Placid films back in March of 2022, so I figured what the heck, I will watch one more. Yancy Butler and Robert Englund come back for one more film, so that was a good reason for me to give it a shot too. The film starts with some rich guy, not too bright, leading an experiment to crossbreed one of the giant crocodiles with a giant anaconda snake. Englund again plays the hunter Jim Bickerman, hired to lead the rich guy and his team in and out of the restricted area. However, the croc they are experimenting on wakes up from the tranquilizer sooner than expected, and mayhem ensues as the croc escapes the lab. Movie then goes from there as the croc escapes the enclosure and heads to the lake. Meanwhile, turns out rich guy works for a corporation that needs the hybrid for some miracle cure. So they need to get back to get the baby "crocacondas" as they call them. So movie has lake horror, science without ethics, hybrids, and crocs and anacondas plus a bunch of sorority girls going to the lake for a vacation and soon to become monster food. What else can one ask for? Overall, a bit silly but it still had entertaining moments. To be honest, aside from Tully, the federal wildlife agent, his daughter, the sheriff (Yancy Butler), and of course Jim, you are cheering for the crocs and snakes to eat everyone else. The lead sorority girl was particularly odious, so when she gets it you smile. The film was OK, so I would say 2 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 5/18.
  
• They made yet one more in 2018: Lake Placid Legacy. If I can find it, I may give it a shot to say I've watched the whole series as of now.
  

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 52 (out of 65) as I continue catching up on watching the series this month.  
• Hell's Kitchen (2005-). Description: "Twelve aspiring restaurateurs compete before chef Gordon Ramsay." I commented on this  in January. Tubi brought in Season 21 that recently ended on broadcast TV, so catching up. For openers, they divided the two teams between youngsters (in their 20s or so) and older (in their 40s or so), and so it begins. Theme for the season is "Battle of the Ages." This season has 16 episodes including a 2-part season finale. 
• The prize this time is a head chef position in a new restaurant Ramsay is opening, at the time, in Atlantic City plus $250,000.
• By now, the show has its formula down pat. You can sort of see certain challenges and plots coming down the road. For example, a team starts losing too fast, lose too many members, so Ramsay will recombine the cooks to even the teams out. 
• Again, actors you've seen elsewhere. Danny Trejo appears in episode 10 to set up a taco challenge for the remaining contestants at that point. Also, early in the season, Gene Simmons from KISS is among the diners. 
• They have streamlined the finale. It is still a two-hour finale, but they made it more fast paced, eliminating the part where the final two design a whole restaurant. Now they design a menu and pretty much go from the same kitchen they worked on all season. It feels like they took out some of the filler.
• Ice Road Truckers (2007-2017. Reality. Documentary). Plot description: "It features the activities of drivers who operate trucks on ice roads crossing frozen lakes and rivers, in remote territories in Canada and Alaska. Seasons three to six also featured Alaska's improved but still remote Dalton Highway, which is mainly snow-covered solid ground." I started watching this in April 2024. This month I finished Season 3 and made it to through the first two episodes in Season 4. I think I am going to stop there given after a while the show does start to get repetitive. Truckers go up and down the road, there is some drama (some of it fairly petty), then repeat. Not sure how it managed to last 11 seasons, but I watched enough to recall why I stopped watching it after a while. Via TubiTv.
  
• NYPD Blue (1995-2003. Police procedural. Drama). Finished seasons 6, 7, 8 and 9.
  
• Continue from Season 6. Again, because this is the show that loves to stick it to Andy, this is also the season where his wife, Sylvia Costas, is shot, leaving him a widower with a young child. And this not long after his previous partner Simone dies. 
• And so we move on to Season 7. In this season, Detective Martinez leaves the squad; the character gets a promotion to sergeant. Henry Simmons, as Detective Baldwin Jones, replaces Martinez. Meanwhile, a lot of the drama in this season is about Detective Kirkendall's ex, who is arrested as a drug courier but still makes her life hell. 
• Again, in actors you've seen elsewhere. Frank Vincent, who you may know from various roles including Casino and The Sopranos, appears in Season 7, Episode 11.
• As Season 8 starts, the repercussions of Kirkendall's ex and the corrupt cop case spill over from last season. 
• In small pop culture references, early in Season 8, they get their first computers in the detective squad room. Also, a detective is trying to use a Palm Pilot personal device with mixed results. Technology gradually making its way in. 
• In how the show messes with Sipowicz again, in Episode 12 of Season 8, Lt. Fancy gets promoted to captain, and squad gets a new lieutenant. Just when Andy is getting along with Fancy. Replacing Fancy is Lt. Susan Dalto (Denise Crosby, who some folks may know from Star Trek: the Next Generation among other places). Unlike Fancy, Dalto comes from IAB and is a serious hardass bringing disruption to the squad. She does not last 48 hours, replaced by another lieutenant, Lt. Tony Rodriguez (Esai Morales). Also, at the end of the season, Sipowicz' partner Detective Sorensen (Rick Schroeder) goes missing; we later find out he was murdered. 
• In Season 9, Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Detective John Clark, Jr. joins the squad replacing Sorenson. You may know Gosselaar from younger days from Saved by the Bell. 
• Also in Season 9, it's around the time 9/11 happened, and like other series especially cop and medical shows, they integrate references to the plot. 
• In Season 9, Episode 4, the detectives had a suspect in. The crook has no real alibi, but suggests since he was watching TV, could they maybe check with the cable company to see if the company kept a record of what he watched and when. Yes, seems stupid, and I giggled a little, but the way surveillance and such has grown since then, does not seem that farfetched now. 
• Again, actors you may know from elsewhere. Claudia Christian, well known as Commander Ivanova on Babylon 5 makes an appearance in the Season 9 finale. I linked her Wikipedia entry where I learned she has done quite a few other roles including voice work.