Media Notes: Roundup for December 2024

 

  

 

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

It's the holiday season, so I am tried to watch some holiday movies. For the most part, these were comfort watches for me this month.

• A Christmas Carol (1984. Fantasy. Literary Adaption. Drama. Christmas). This is the adaptation with George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge. This is one of my top favorite performances, and I am rewatching this year. I commented on this previously back in 2018. I did not rate it back then, but this is one I would give a 5 out of 5. A good classic, and one worth rewatching. Scott does give a great performance in the role, and the rest of the cast do good work as well. I do like the Ghost of Christmas Present in this one. Watching this year via TubiTv on 12/15.
• A Christmas Karen (2022. Comedy. Holidays. Literary Adaptation). I commented and reviewed this when I first watched it in 2022. I also watched it in 2023, so it may be starting to become a holiday tradition for me.
   

 

Other movies I may watched. These were new to me:

• The Devil Conspiracy (2022. Horror. Supernatural. Science Fiction). Plot description: "A powerful biotech company has breakthrough technology allowing them to clone history's most influential people with just a few fragments of DNA. Behind this company is a cabal of Satanists that steals the shroud of Christ, putting them in possession of Jesus' DNA. The clone will serve as the ultimate offering to the devil. Archangel Michael comes to earth and will stop at nothing to end the devil's conspiracy"  It sounded just strange and a tad ridiculous enough that I figured why not give it a chance. The company basically clones babies from the famous people, then sells them for bid to rich folks wanting a seriously gifted child. Meanwhile, the satanists move with their plans after stealing the shroud. Michael returns, possessing the body of a young priest the satanists killed, because heaven forbid he just appears and starts kicking ass as an angel. Apparently angels need a host to manifest on Earth, so they hope to use a woman to carry the new Lucifer to term. Film feels a bit like Jurassic Park, just with humans instead of dinosaurs, Rosemary's Baby, and The DaVinci Code with a few horror elements. Plot has some interesting points, as long as you do not start asking too many questions about the rules the plot sets. It is a fantasy, but still some degree of making sense is needed, and at times, it seems some of the rules are there to either move the plot or restrict the main character somehow. Pacing is somewhat inconsistent, and Michael in the body of the priest suffers some serious restrictions that after a while just feel like he is being held back more for the sake of the plot. Most of the movie is also filmed very darkly, so there may be a scene or two where it is not easy to make out what is happening. Plot is a bit all over at times. The horror element is fairly tame to be honest. In the end, the movie drags at times and meanders at others, so it fails to draw you in. After about an hour in, you just want it done. The premise has potential but the plot and pace are just slow, inconsistent and all over the place, and just not that interesting. One good thing it has is some of the soundtrack with various songs referring to angels and demons. Whoever chose those songs had a good ear and connected to the film. I wanted to like this, but it really was a drag. This is one to skip. 1 out of 5 stars. Via TubiTv. Watched 12/7.
• Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy (2024. Documentary). Plot description: "Pulls back the curtain on the world's top brands, exposing the hidden tactics and covert strategies used to keep all of us locked in an endless cycle of buying, no matter the cost." Documentary combines people from various business industries who are basically whistle blowing and interviewed about how they got people to keep buying with news footage and other material. The speakers basically teach us and discuss the tricks of the trade. A detail that caught my eye, as often is the case, some of the former workers of these corporations were happy to do the work without thought for consequences. It was all about the greed and the good money. Then, for one reason or another, they found a conscience. Take that for what it may worth. By the way, the visuals are very good as well. Overall, interesting, compelling, but also a bit disturbing once folks start learning the truth. This is one I would highly recommend, though I have a feeling a lot of people who should watch it will likely ignore it. If you already know or stay informed, there is not much new here though. It's still pretty good. 5 out of 5 stars. Watched online on 12/13. 
• Cocaine Cougar (2023. Horror. Thriller. B-movie). Plot description: "A Black Cougar high on cocaine escapes an animal testing facility and wrecks havoc on Los Angeles." Another entry in the "wild animals on drugs" genre. I saw someone mention this on social media, and given I've watched some other movies in the genre, I said what the heck, let's check it out. Film opens with a note it is based on true events, but I am doubtful of that claim. Then again, Cocaine Bear  (link to my review) was very, very loosely based on true events, so who knows. The heavy metal music opening with some black and white scenes of sort of shaky camera in a lab is not exactly impressive. It takes 6 minutes of the filler music and opening credits before we get into the film; keep in mind it is a film listed at about 50 minutes, so we got after the opening about 44 minutes to go. After a very brief news break telling us about the escaped cougar, we move to some bimbo and her boyfriend (we presume) filming her as she talks about being a breathatarian (I had to look up the term. I thought it was some made up bullshit, but it is just some plain bullshit). To be honest, I am rooting for the cougar to eat them within a minute or so. The plot goes downhill from there. By the way, the actual cougar is done in some really bad CGI; the cougar point of view is just red lens to let us know it is the cougar eyes. The acting is pretty bad. As I said, plot is downhill into practically non-existent, and what little horror effects the movie has are pretty pathetic, not even laughable. Also, the soundtrack is not much better. Then suddenly 40 minutes into the run time, the movie abruptly ends with about 10 minutes left on the clock, and we just get the cast credits, then the end credits. In reality you get about 34 minutes worth of actual film, if you can call what you watch a film. 0 out of 5 stars because this is not even worth rating. You can skip this in confidence you are not missing anything. Watched 12/14 on TubiTv. 
• House (1985. Horror. Dark comedy. B-movie). Plot description: "A troubled writer moves into a haunted house after inheriting it from his aunt." Part of what caught my eye is the cast. William Katt, known for The Greatest American Hero series, George Wendt, known for Cheers series, and Alan Autry, known often for In the Heat of the Night series, and Richard Moll, often known from Night Court series, are in this one. Katt is the protagonist. It's like they picked actors from here and there. Roger (Katt) is a horror writer who is having a bit of a writer's block, or rather, feels a need to write a book about his time in the Vietnam War when readers, his agent, and publisher want some more horror. His aunt commits suicide in the house he eventually inherits, though some suggest she may not have been "mad" enough to commit suicide. He tries to write, but soon starts seeing various things in the house, plus memories of the war. The movie has a tag of "dark comedy," but to be honest, the comedy elements they attempt are neither dark nor terribly good. Most of the humor is based on his eccentric neighbors who keep appearing to pester him at the most inopportune times, and George Wendt performs that role fairly well. The plot gets more ridiculous as the film moves on, less horror, not quite comedy. Basically we keep wondering what else can happen to the guy in the haunted house. By the way, the horror effects are basic; they are more practical effects. If they had gone for the horror elements, could have worked better. Gore is relatively minimal. After a while, the movie does start to feel a bit long. In the end, the movie is neither horrifying nor particularly funny. The humor is more on the awkward moments kind of humor, which I at least do not find that amusing. I am not sure what many see in this dragging  mess of a film that is neither horror nor that funny to qualify as comedy. Kind of boring to be honest. Based on this, I will be skipping the sequels. 1 out of 5 stars. Watched 12/22.
  

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.

• Sherlock Holmes (1984-1994 series). This is the popular run produced by Granada Television in the United Kingdom with Jeremy Brett in the title role. TubiTv just got it, and I am starting with the first series: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, which has 13 episodes. This is one of my all time favorite series, so when I saw Tubi got it, I decided to start watching through it again. I managed to watch up to episode 9 of the first series. I really like they did a very good job staying faithful to the original stories.
  
• The other series are: The Return of Sherlock Holmes, The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes, and The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
   
• Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1988-1999. British. Comedy. Improv). Plot description: "The programme's format was on a panel of four performers conducting a series of short-form improvisation games, creating comedic scenes per predetermined situations made by the host or from suggestions by the audience." I continue watching the original British series on Tubi. I am about halfway through the episodes on Tubi.