The Nice Guys

Crowe (The Mummy - remake) is a man for hire - beats people up. Gosling (La La Land) is a private detective. They have both suffered some set backs. They come into each others lives over a conspiracy with Detroit car manufacturers, and the porn industry. It had potential - script wise to be a really funny film. It kept falling short. It was good, but it could have been great. All in all, I say: STREAM IT when it's free. I watched it on Directv OnDemand.

The Huntsman: Winter's Tale

A prequel and a sequel to Snow White and the Huntsman. Same actors and characters except they added Ravenna's sister played by Blunt (Girl on a Train). She has an army of orphaned children she calls The Huntsman. We see the huntsman's wife played by Chastain (Plus One). The special effects and costumes are cool. The fight scenes with Chastain's stunt double are amazing. The rest is predictable and boring. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - I watched it on Directv OnDemand.

Hello, My Name is Doris

Haven't seen Field (Lincoln) in awhile, so this was a treat. It was quirky and funny. I was so embarrassed for her character though that I watched most of the movie from behind my hand. It made me physically uncomfortable. Greenfield (New Girl) was funny like I remember him from Veronica Mars. Daly (Judging Amy) was her best friend. Root (Office Space) was her brother. All in all, I say: RENT IT. I got it from Netflix.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Amazon writes, ""The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later.

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne,Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016.
It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.
While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places."

It was a quick read. It was fun to see the characters as adults. I wish I could see the play. Still just as dark and funny as the others with those fantastic quotes you love to read again and again. All in all, I say: READ IT if you have read all the others.

The Remaining: Extinction

Last book in the 6 book series.

Lee has a master plan to protect not only his group, but the entire east coast. He is going to trust a group of Marines, a group of pilots out of Fort Bragg, and a small group escaping a religious cult. He also has to rely on his people despite most of them being injured. Will he managed to prevent the hordes from arriving, kill the zombies already in his territory, and do it all while staying alive? An action packed ending. All in all, I say: READ IT - if you read the other 5 - might as well now how it turns out.

Ladd Springs

Amazon describes the plot as, "Delaney Wilkins finds herself at odds with hotel developer Nick Harris over a deathbed promise and a mysterious find in the Tennessee forest. Both are after title to Ladd Springs, a mecca of natural springs, streams and trails in the eastern Tennessee mountains, a tract of land worth millions. But Ernie Ladd, current owner of the property and uncle to Delaney, is adamantly opposed to them both.

Felicity Wilkins, Delaney’s daughter, deserves to inherit her family’s legacy, but neighbor Clem Sweeney is working against her, ingratiating himself with Ernie Ladd. Clem is also harboring a secret that will make him a very wealthy man—unless the others stop him before he can bring it to fruition.

Complicating matters is Annie Owens. Ex-girlfriend to Jeremiah Ladd, Ernie’s estranged son lining in Atlanta, she declares her daughter Casey is Jeremiah’s, making Casey every bit as entitled to the property as Felicity—only Annie hasn’t proven this claim. Yet.

All are fighting to get the property, but only one will walk away with the gold."

I say, it's free because they hope you will buy the others in the series. I also say, don't because it so bad. The plot and the writing are just bad. It also puts Tennessee in a horrible light - very stereotypical. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

The Remaining: Allegiance

Book 5 of 6 in the zombie apocalypse series. Lee has one group off trying to stop the horde, one group trying to get things back to normal in the compound, one guy with The Followers, and a group of marines who are not allied with the new President - all happening at once and demanding his attention. He and Angela are getting closer, but not fast enough for me. I can't wait to read the last book - I hope it resolved - because I can't take this anymore. The horde is upwards to millions by now - things are tense. All in all, I say: READ IT - if you have read the other 4.

Blood and Justice

A married couple have become private investigators. In this book they are looking for a missing girl. Every other chapters is the crazy guy that has her - I hate books like that - I just don't like the back and forth. Honestly, I don't care about the bad guys - I don't care about the why. The book was just too slow and irritated - I skimmed most of it. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Fresh Doubt

Ingrid Skyberg is an FBI agent assigned to the UK Embassy. She investigates crimes with the Met when Americans are involved. She gets hung up with a murder everyone wants pushed under the rug and an arms dealer who has his laptop stolen. Too many unnecessary characters, too much subterfuge, and too many unnecessary extra plots or story lines. The character is good - the writer needs to focus more on her and have her focus on one case that seems plausible without all the other nonsense. It has potential if someone else wrote it - even a top notch screenwriter could do better and it would make an interesting film. All in all, I say: SKIP IT though.

Mistress America

Independent NY film written by and starring Gerwig (Francis Ha) as an eccentric woman in her 30s trying to get her life on track. She is about to become sisters with Kirke (Mozart in the Jungle) who is a writer in college - trying to find her voice. They have escapades and help each other find their true selves. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - unless you're into believing eccentric female characters like this really exist in the real world.

We Are Your Friends

A group of 4 20 somethings want to find their way in the world. One is really lost, one is a DJ, one is a builder/club promoter, and one is an actor. Efron (Neighbors) is the DJ who forms a bond with an older successful and famous DJ played by Bentley (The Four Feathers). It's ok for a lazy day or tv, but I pity anyone that paid money to see it. All in all, I say: SEE IT

All Yours

Sheridan (Desperate Housewives) is a single mom who lost her husband and is trying to become a partner at her law firm while juggling her family. [Sometimes I get the feeling Hallmark believes the only women that should remarry are those who had their husbands die - hmmmm]. Payne (Good Witch) is a wealthy man who becomes her manny and falls in love with her. It felt a little forced - the plot was decent, but something felt a little off. All in all, I say: SEE IT - if you like happy endings and Hallmark movies.

Summer Love

Hallmark movie time - this one stars Cook (She's All That) as a single mother who lost her adventurer husband. She goes back to school and takes an internship at a google style place. There she finds ways to make her dream come true. Bryant (Haven) also stars probably because one of the director/writers from Haven happens to be the director of this. It will a decent plot, excellent acting, good editing, good filming, excellent filming location, and overall excellent. All in all, I say: SEE IT - It's one the best Hallmark movies I have ever seen!

Concussion

Smith (MIB) plays the real life doctor who uncovered what football truely does to the athletes. Baldwin (30 Rock), Brooks (Mother), and Moyer (Tue Blood) all play doctors that helped uncover the truth. Some recognizable names also play the football players and NFL organizers. I think the problem with the movie is that is wasn't as "holy crap!" as perhaps the previews made it seem. Also, it was SLOW - there were scenes of 10 minutes or more where really nothing was going on that mattered anyways. All in all, I say: WATCH IT on TV for free, but I can see why it didn't really get nominated or win much.

The Burn

Amazon writes, "The Burn is full of nuclear fallout, roving gangs, anarchy, unreliable plumbing. That's what Terra's father tells her. She has lived her whole life in comfort in a colony at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. She hates it. And she would pay any price to leave. But when Terra finally escapes the colony, she finds out her father is right. She finds a group of survivors that quickly become friends, and every day with them is a race for survival. But then she witnesses and commits unspeakable acts, and she must decide where her loyalty lies: with the colony she despises or The Burn, where every day is filled with nightmares." All in all, I say: READ IT - It's a young adult novel with a novel idea.

MI-5 (movie)

Starts a few years after the season finale of the tv series. Firth (Northanger Abbey) is still Peter and he has an elaborate plan to not only catch a terrorist, but also catch a traitor. Harington (GoT) also stars. If you like the tv series this will blow your socks off on the big screen. All in all, I say: SEE IT - I watch on Directv OnDemand.

Big Driver

You look at Stephen King - you look at the actress - and you think - maybe....
Then you see Lifetime and hopefully you read this and...
DON'T
JUST DON'T
All in all, I say: DON'T!

Zero Reset: A Guide to the True Apocalypse

Amazon writes, "Man was never meant to be the dominant species. Over eighty years ago in 2019 Earth’s original apex predators reintroduced themselves to humanity. Their arrival shouldn’t have been a surprise. We had countless records alerting us to their eventual return, but we ignored each warning because we assumed they were works of fiction. Every myth and legend our ancestors passed down wasn’t intended to be for our entertainment, but cautionary tales of the primordial beasts who once ruled the planet. Due to our ignorance we were relegated down the food chain by the source of every horror imaginable. But in the end we were the ones who won.

After the world resettled, for some reason the entire event vanished from history. The generations born after the fact were oblivious of the devastation their parents faced. Instead we were told a disease ravaged the planet. I fell for this lie, but after finding my grandfather's journal I saw everything in a new light. From then on I made it my life's work to inform every one of the truth so the same mistakes weren’t repeated again.

Right away I knew no one would believe my words without proven facts backing them. While the majority of the information I needed had already been confiscated and destroyed, I managed to scrap together enough material to get my point across. I formed a three phase guide, a scientific explanation of each attribute of the creatures, a tertiary description of important battles, and a primary source from my grandfather’s journal. From these pages I hope our species won’t feel the terror once again. " I was bored with it - it couldn't hold my attention - I sort of zoned out in chapters. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - and remember I like Zombies

Broken Lines

A teaser, free book from Amazon Kindle. It starts the A Tale of Survival in a Powerless World. The 1st book starts with a family of 4 who live in a small neighborhood. An EMP is released and it's everyone for themselves. When the book ends the wife, two kids, grandfather, and a family friend are on their way to a cabin in Ohio. The dad is stuck healing. All in all, I say: READ IT if you want to continue the series.

The Beast

Book 14 in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. This one focuses on three plots. I only read one - as usual I only read the plot I'm interested in.  Rhage and Mary are going through a hard time in this. In comes a little "vampire" girl named Bitty. The scenes between the two and three of them were really well written and very emotional - they really should have been their own book - the other plots took away from the emotional power of those chapters. All in all, I say: READ IT if you read the other 13.

The Long, Hot Summer

Based on a story by Williams Faulkner, Newman (Cars), Woodward (Empire Falls), and Welles (Citizen Kane) all star. A drifter comes to a small Southern town and catches the eye of the local rich big shot. The big shot wants the drifter to woo and marry his spinster teacher daughter. He also hopes that by giving him a piece of his property his only son will grow a pair. Things get messy before they get better. Newman is super sexy in this. All in all, I say: SEE IT

A remake was done for tv in 1965.

Then again in 1985.

Johnson (Miami Vice), Robarbs (The Day After), and Ivey (The Family) all star. Plot is the same as the original. All in all, I say: SEE IT - it wasn't bad for a tv movie.

The Tunnel

A body is left between France and UK - in the Eurotunnel. This is the same season one plot that The Bridge (US & Mexico) series which had the same plot as the Bron (Sweden & Denmark) series. PBS has season one, but I don't know when they will release season two. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Cas & Dylan

Canadian film that appears to have gone straight to video in US. Priestly (Beverly Hills, 90210) directs this. Maslany (Orphan Black) is Dylan  - a young woman who feels trapped by her boyfriend and her pregnancy. Dreyfuss (Mr. Holland's Opus) plays Cas - a doctor with no family and a brain tumor. He wants to die in the cabin he spent time in with his wife - who has passed. Dylan helps make that possible. It's a road movie. All in all, I say: SEE IT - it wasn't bad for a road movie.

Jem and the Holograms

Good soundtrack. This was filmed in an unusual way - it was digital with large segements of real youtube videos - you know videos real people put up on youtube singing Jem songs, talking about their love of Jem, and so on. It almost felt more like a documentary. It's an updated version of the cartoon and I think it does the show justice. Ringwald (Breakfast Club) and Lewis (Strange Days) star. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you liked the cartoon.

My Summer Prince

In true Hallmark style - bad boy is tamed with love of good girl. He's a Prince - yeah right - and she wants to do a good job - prove herself to her boss. Holly (Picket Fences) is her boss, and Sirtis (Star Trek Next Gen) is the secretary for the Prince. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you like happy ending cheese.

Hyena Road

Written and directed by Canadian Gross (Eastwick). He takes a look at the Canadian forces in Afghanistan. He also stars as an intelligence officer. Sutherland (The Expanse), Hawco (Republic of Doyle), and Horne (Murdock Mysteries) all star. It is much like other such movies that look at the war. Someone dies, people want to go home, and the war goes on. It is a decent script and he does a decent job directing and acting. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you like war movies.

Tripwire

Book 3 in the Jack Reacher series by Child. This one is well written from beginning to end. It's class Jack all the way through. The plot is solid and believable. I like the characters. Normally, I don't like the chapters from the bad guys point of view, but these were well written. I was able to guess the surprise at the end once I as the reader was given all the clues as the characters. All in all, I say: READ IT - if you like the series this is the best of the three.

Suicide Squad

Smith (Focus), Robbie (Focus), Courtney (Man Down), Hernandez (The Expanse), and Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Oz) are criminals with special gifts we are recruited by the government to help protect against "special" people that come to attack Gotham City and Metropolis. Kinnaman (The Killing) is the military guy in charge, Davis (Prisoners) is the government official in charge of the project, and Delevingne (Pan) is both a good guy & a bad guy. This is the 3rd movie in a long line of DC Comic movies. Superman, Batman v Superman, and now this film. There are a lot of cameos. Leto (The Outsider) does an amazing job at being the joker. The soundtrack is great. Ayer also wrote the remake of SWAT and other films like Training Day - there is some comic cheese, but otherwise it's an ok plot. He does an ok job filming. Do I think it could have been better and more bad ass - yes - even if it meant being three hours long. All in all, I say: SEE IT - see the other two first - and see before Justice League comes out.

The Last Light

Furlong (Karma), Fahey (Planet Terror), and Quinn (Eureka) all star. A group of people are hiding out in a psychiatric hospital because all the light has gone from the planet and the world is in chaos. As the movie progresses one by one people begin to die - so I was able to guess what was really going on in the first 15 minutes. The acting is ok, not great - it's low budget. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Anger of the Dead

A French Canadian film - not to be any way confused with or associated with any of Romero's stuff. A pregnant woman and a man that picks her up try to survive not only the zombies but also crazy humans. There are some sick scenes where a doctor is carving up a woman for what reason - don't care. It's just horrible. I don't like the acting, the editing, nor the hopelessness. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Just Yuck - Don't see these low budgets

Still: The Series - Amazon - All in all, I say: SKIP IT - too low budget
Remnants (tv series) - Amazon - All in all, I say: SKIP IT - too low budget
Grave Mistakes (movie) - Amazon - All in all, I say: SKIP IT - too low budget
A Killing Strain (movie) - Amazon - All in all, I say: SKIP IT - too low budget
Immune (movie) - Amazon - All in all, I say: SKIP IT - too low budget
Sick: Survive the Night (movie) - Amazon - All in all, I say: SKIP IT - too low budget
Sound of Nothing (movie) - Amazon - All in all, I say: SKIP IT - too low budget
Collapse of the Living Dead (movie) - Amazon - All in all, I say: SKIP IT - sucks!

Vyzhit posle

Someone writes on IMDb, "Also titled The Day After. A drug company, attempting to create a perfect human race, releases a virus which proves to be deadly. People are dying by the thousands, but eleven strangers, who wake up in a bunker with no memory of how they got there, find themselves responsible for determining the future of all mankind.
- Written by cpplvaldez"

I was only able to watch the first season on Amazon - it was good until the last couple of episodes.

I loved the stuff in the bunker - the actors are good - some very cute.

I sort of started to lose interest when the evil ended up being women who acted like predatory creatures.

Not technically zombies - because they didn't die - they just got a virus.

All in all, I say: SEE IT

Cold Squad

7 seasons in Canada?! I don't get it - the first couple episodes of season one were so so so so bad. Did I mention it was just painful to watch. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Jack Irish

Pearce (LA Confidential) is the star of these four movies - they are broken down into weekly episodes on Acorn TV. I made the mistakes of seeing the last one first, and therefore I learned about everything that happened in the other movies. Also, since I know how it all ends I decided not to go back and see the older films. It is well acted, well scripted, and well edited. It is funny, sad, and has action. Dusseldorp (Janet King) also stars. It's filmed in Australia. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Order (I think): Black Tide (2012), Bad Debts (2012), Dead Point (2014), and Jack Irish (2016)

Winter

She's an Australian homicide detective. She works with a group to solve a serial killer case in the first two hour premiere. The season that follows is her trying to solve the murder of a young woman which gets her mixed up in a federal drug case. Their version of internal affairs is in the mix too, as well as, her sister and nephew. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Janet King

Dusseldorp (A Place to Call Home) is a lesbian lawyer in the UK. She gets on the bad side of several key people her first week back to work after giving birth. The first season just focused on her life - drama - and not lawyer/crime stuff. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Zombies

Good read - quick too, but you really need to be a fan of Zombies to truly appreciate it. All in all, I say: READ IT

A Complaint Free World

A very quick read - if you're like me and skip all the personal stories that were used to fill the book out, but aren't really necessary to get the point across. The only problem is you can't buy just one purple band - the least you can buy is like 10. I underlined some stuff I thought was really good and lent it to my roommate. My boss is the one who recommended it to the entire staff. All in all, I say: READ IT

Jason Bourne

He's kind of stuck. He thinks he knows everything there is to know about his past. He's wrong - there is something with his father going on. Vikander and her deep American accented voice (Tulip Fever) and Jones having a hard time walking (Criminal) join the cast. Again, the camera is hand held digital which makes it difficult to see all the cool action moves and I got dizzy a few times. Not my favorite. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you have seen the others.

Madam Detective

Russian. A seasoned detective decides to teach at a police academy. The acting is pretty bad. I only watched the first episode and couldn't continue. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Vice Principals

As you can see from the poster - it's a new comedy on HBO and....I hate it. It is too over the top and it makes my head hurt. All in all, I say: SKIP IT