Joseph Baneth Allen's Blog, page 92
November 27, 2021
Bloodshot
Just finished watching "Bloodshot" released Columbia Pictures.
When attempting to launch a shared movie universe in an attempt to cash in on the still lucrative superhero movie, it's usually best to start with a character that most comic book readers would have heard of and not attempt to rewrite the character into a bland rip off of Universal Soldier. Just saying...
Yes, I'm sure Vin Diesel's name on a movie poster can help sell tickets, but if the story's lacking or in this case a watered down version of the original comic book.
"Bloodshot" focuses on the current incarnation of the hero, who is, or at least thinks he is Ray Garrison, a soldier who is brought back to life after seemingly killed in the line of duty. Only his reality is being altered each and every time after he kills the man he thinks is responsible for the death of his wife multiple times.
Needless to say "Bloodshot" failed to capture any large part of the box office at its time of release, killing any chances for a shared Valiant hero movieverse. At least for now.
Not a great movie.
Not Recommended.
One Star.
https://www.amazon.com/Bloodshot-Blu-...
When attempting to launch a shared movie universe in an attempt to cash in on the still lucrative superhero movie, it's usually best to start with a character that most comic book readers would have heard of and not attempt to rewrite the character into a bland rip off of Universal Soldier. Just saying...
Yes, I'm sure Vin Diesel's name on a movie poster can help sell tickets, but if the story's lacking or in this case a watered down version of the original comic book.
"Bloodshot" focuses on the current incarnation of the hero, who is, or at least thinks he is Ray Garrison, a soldier who is brought back to life after seemingly killed in the line of duty. Only his reality is being altered each and every time after he kills the man he thinks is responsible for the death of his wife multiple times.
Needless to say "Bloodshot" failed to capture any large part of the box office at its time of release, killing any chances for a shared Valiant hero movieverse. At least for now.
Not a great movie.
Not Recommended.
One Star.
https://www.amazon.com/Bloodshot-Blu-...
Beasts Before Us
Just finished reading "Beast Before Us - The Untold Story of Mammal Origins and Evolution" by Elsa Panciroli.
Dr. Panciroli perhaps is the best poster child of the Woke ideology running amok in the scientific community and elsewhere right now. Instead of taking readers on a thrilling discovery of scientific journey, the good doctor decided also to go full Woke and take every opportunity to blast White Men as evil and blame them for everything bad that has ever happened in the past, present, and future. I wonder if the White Men who mentored and encouraged her in her career have also earned her disdain.
When Dr. Panciroli stays on subject, she writes a compelling story about how mammals arose here on Earth. Sadly when she chooses to spew hate and her own political opinions she goes way off track. There is also no logic to her the hate and racism she promotes. Oddly, she focuses on the discoveries and work of her White Male colleagues, with only a few mentions of her work done by her female colleagues. And yes, when you openly denigrate someone based on the color of their skin and gender, like the Woke ideology she embraces in her book does, you're a racist and someone who promotes hate.
So as frequent readers of my reviews know, I do deduct stars when writers decide to go down the Woke route for no rhyme or sane reason. While the scientific content is spot on, Dr. Panciroli's woke commentary is offensive and promotes hate.
Not Recommended.
One Star - the science is good, her personal hate isn't.
https://www.amazon.com/Beasts-Before-...
Dr. Panciroli perhaps is the best poster child of the Woke ideology running amok in the scientific community and elsewhere right now. Instead of taking readers on a thrilling discovery of scientific journey, the good doctor decided also to go full Woke and take every opportunity to blast White Men as evil and blame them for everything bad that has ever happened in the past, present, and future. I wonder if the White Men who mentored and encouraged her in her career have also earned her disdain.
When Dr. Panciroli stays on subject, she writes a compelling story about how mammals arose here on Earth. Sadly when she chooses to spew hate and her own political opinions she goes way off track. There is also no logic to her the hate and racism she promotes. Oddly, she focuses on the discoveries and work of her White Male colleagues, with only a few mentions of her work done by her female colleagues. And yes, when you openly denigrate someone based on the color of their skin and gender, like the Woke ideology she embraces in her book does, you're a racist and someone who promotes hate.
So as frequent readers of my reviews know, I do deduct stars when writers decide to go down the Woke route for no rhyme or sane reason. While the scientific content is spot on, Dr. Panciroli's woke commentary is offensive and promotes hate.
Not Recommended.
One Star - the science is good, her personal hate isn't.
https://www.amazon.com/Beasts-Before-...
November 18, 2021
F9 The Fast Saga
Just finished watching "F9 - The Fast Saga" released by Universal.
I suspect one of the reasons why "The Fast and Furious" franchise has expanded in an sprawling movie epic is that its a soap opera filled with all the usual unexpected twists and turns with angst filled with lots and lots of over-the-top psycho-melodrama.
For example, who knew that Dom Toretto had a brother Jakob who suddenly reappears as an elite assassin who just might be responsible for the death of their father - only the past is never just black and white and with the sudden disappearance of Mr. Nobody causes Dom and his team - family - to spring into action, but they do not know that Cipher is back in the game and is still pulling the strings in an attempt to kill Dom and his family.
Oh yes, and what other movie do you know that would actually have the chutzpah to launch a car into space on a homemade rocket with homemade spacesuits in an attempt to disable a satellite capable of disrupting the world?
Great mindless fun.
Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/F9-Fast-Direct...
I suspect one of the reasons why "The Fast and Furious" franchise has expanded in an sprawling movie epic is that its a soap opera filled with all the usual unexpected twists and turns with angst filled with lots and lots of over-the-top psycho-melodrama.
For example, who knew that Dom Toretto had a brother Jakob who suddenly reappears as an elite assassin who just might be responsible for the death of their father - only the past is never just black and white and with the sudden disappearance of Mr. Nobody causes Dom and his team - family - to spring into action, but they do not know that Cipher is back in the game and is still pulling the strings in an attempt to kill Dom and his family.
Oh yes, and what other movie do you know that would actually have the chutzpah to launch a car into space on a homemade rocket with homemade spacesuits in an attempt to disable a satellite capable of disrupting the world?
Great mindless fun.
Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/F9-Fast-Direct...
Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard
Just finished watching "Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard" released by Lionsgate.
Never underestimate Darius and Sonia Kincaid's ability to make even the simplest of situations into a catastrophe of epic proportions. Conned by Sonia into helping her husband again, Michael Bryce is thrown into crisis after crisis of the Kincaids' own making until he discovers that his own father is in cahoots with the criminal mastermind who is threatening to rule the world, and oh yes, he was once married to Sonia.
A fun sequel - yes. That's all that matters. Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, and Salma Hayek obviously have great chemistry and had a hoot making this movie.
Recommended.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Hitmans-Wifes-...
Never underestimate Darius and Sonia Kincaid's ability to make even the simplest of situations into a catastrophe of epic proportions. Conned by Sonia into helping her husband again, Michael Bryce is thrown into crisis after crisis of the Kincaids' own making until he discovers that his own father is in cahoots with the criminal mastermind who is threatening to rule the world, and oh yes, he was once married to Sonia.
A fun sequel - yes. That's all that matters. Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, and Salma Hayek obviously have great chemistry and had a hoot making this movie.
Recommended.
Three Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Hitmans-Wifes-...
Mickey Mouse Mystery At Disneyland
Just finished reading "Mickey Mouse Mystery At Disneyland" released by Whitman in 1975.
"Mickey Mouse Mystery At Disneyland" is actually not a book I read as part of my "Great Re-Reading of My Favorite Books When I Was Younger Project."
Frequent readers of my reviews here on Facebook, Goodreads, and other social media sites may recall that I was banned from posting on the Big Little Book Club page here on Facebook and kicked out of the Big Little Book Club of America when I read and posted a review of the "Bugs Bunny Double Trouble on Diamond Island" Big Little Book several years back. Yes, I do collect Big Little Books, and while I didn't think it would harm anything to actually read a Big Little Book that was in fair reading condition, oh boy, was I ever wrong! Okay, now I don't pay the yearly membership fee. My life isn't over and I'm still in contact with a good many Big Little Book collectors.
"Mickey Mouse Mystery at Disneyland" is a book attributed to Walt Disney Productions and there is no writer credited with the story, so I suspect it was probably written by a marketing team at Disney - it lacks the sense of fun that Don R. Christensen, Don Glut, George Elrick, and the other staple of Whitman writers would have given it. Fans of the Gold Key Comics, which were published by Whitman held true to the scope and sense of fun and adventure of Walt Disney's original creations like Mickey Mouse.
Here Mickey Mouse and Goofy are more like bystanders in there own story. Someone is stealing small, doll sized furniture, clothing, and other items and the police chief of Disneyland calls on Mickey and Goofy to solve the problem - which has elements of Lilliput. Naturally, the arch criminal pirate Black Pete and his henchman Weasel are involved.
When "Mickey Mouse Mystery At Disneyland" was released back in 1975, Big Little Books and Whitman were nearing the end of decades long run that began in the early 1920s and lasted until 1980 - the year ironically I graduated from High School and started college as a Physics undergraduate at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
Neither Michelle's Bookstore nor Ron Cor - the only retail bookstores in Jacksonville, North Carolina that sold new books - sold Big Little Books. Roses - a department store - sold Big Little Books in their Children's Toy Department.
Now for those who are curious, the last original Big Little Book published in 1980 by Whitman before it closed down it's publishing company, was "Tom and Jerry Under the Big Top" - I believe, I could be wrong and I am using "Lowery's The Collector's Guide to Big Little Books and Similar Books" as my reference.
Mickey Mouse and Goofy fans can safely skip this outing.
Not Recommended.
One Star.
https://www.amazon.com/Mickey-Mouse-M...
"Mickey Mouse Mystery At Disneyland" is actually not a book I read as part of my "Great Re-Reading of My Favorite Books When I Was Younger Project."
Frequent readers of my reviews here on Facebook, Goodreads, and other social media sites may recall that I was banned from posting on the Big Little Book Club page here on Facebook and kicked out of the Big Little Book Club of America when I read and posted a review of the "Bugs Bunny Double Trouble on Diamond Island" Big Little Book several years back. Yes, I do collect Big Little Books, and while I didn't think it would harm anything to actually read a Big Little Book that was in fair reading condition, oh boy, was I ever wrong! Okay, now I don't pay the yearly membership fee. My life isn't over and I'm still in contact with a good many Big Little Book collectors.
"Mickey Mouse Mystery at Disneyland" is a book attributed to Walt Disney Productions and there is no writer credited with the story, so I suspect it was probably written by a marketing team at Disney - it lacks the sense of fun that Don R. Christensen, Don Glut, George Elrick, and the other staple of Whitman writers would have given it. Fans of the Gold Key Comics, which were published by Whitman held true to the scope and sense of fun and adventure of Walt Disney's original creations like Mickey Mouse.
Here Mickey Mouse and Goofy are more like bystanders in there own story. Someone is stealing small, doll sized furniture, clothing, and other items and the police chief of Disneyland calls on Mickey and Goofy to solve the problem - which has elements of Lilliput. Naturally, the arch criminal pirate Black Pete and his henchman Weasel are involved.
When "Mickey Mouse Mystery At Disneyland" was released back in 1975, Big Little Books and Whitman were nearing the end of decades long run that began in the early 1920s and lasted until 1980 - the year ironically I graduated from High School and started college as a Physics undergraduate at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
Neither Michelle's Bookstore nor Ron Cor - the only retail bookstores in Jacksonville, North Carolina that sold new books - sold Big Little Books. Roses - a department store - sold Big Little Books in their Children's Toy Department.
Now for those who are curious, the last original Big Little Book published in 1980 by Whitman before it closed down it's publishing company, was "Tom and Jerry Under the Big Top" - I believe, I could be wrong and I am using "Lowery's The Collector's Guide to Big Little Books and Similar Books" as my reference.
Mickey Mouse and Goofy fans can safely skip this outing.
Not Recommended.
One Star.
https://www.amazon.com/Mickey-Mouse-M...
November 17, 2021
Full Metal Alchemist - The Sacred Star of Milos
Just finished watching "Fullmetal Alchemist - The Sacred Star of Milos" released by Funimation.
Sometimes it does take a while for me to get around watching a movie - I received this back in 2010, and I finally gotten around to watching it. It is a stand-alone movie in the Fullmetal Alchemist series.
A mysterious jail break by a person who previously exhibited no signs of having alchemical powers sends the Elric brothers to the slums of distant Milos where they encounter Julia, another alchemist who will stop at nothing to gain the secrets of the Philosopher's Stone in order to free her people - even if it may mean the destruction of all she holds dear.
A haunting tale of love, loss, and redemption in the Fullmetal Alchemist universe.
Oh yes, I do know the full story behind Fullmetal Alchemist and I would put in on the same subversive levels of a certain Norman Spinard novel. Sometimes a good allegory doesn't need to be overthought.
Strongly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Fullmetal-Alch...
Sometimes it does take a while for me to get around watching a movie - I received this back in 2010, and I finally gotten around to watching it. It is a stand-alone movie in the Fullmetal Alchemist series.
A mysterious jail break by a person who previously exhibited no signs of having alchemical powers sends the Elric brothers to the slums of distant Milos where they encounter Julia, another alchemist who will stop at nothing to gain the secrets of the Philosopher's Stone in order to free her people - even if it may mean the destruction of all she holds dear.
A haunting tale of love, loss, and redemption in the Fullmetal Alchemist universe.
Oh yes, I do know the full story behind Fullmetal Alchemist and I would put in on the same subversive levels of a certain Norman Spinard novel. Sometimes a good allegory doesn't need to be overthought.
Strongly Recommended.
Five Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Fullmetal-Alch...
Free Guy
Just finished watching "Free Guy" released by 20th Century Fox through Disney - which now owns Fox.
Written by Matt Lieberman and Zak Penn, Ryan Reynolds plays Guy, a minor background character in an online game who goes about his Walter Mitty Good Guy existence every day in the city where he lives and works until one day he sees the woman of his dreams and through self-discovery, learns that he's not real and that his world is in danger of being erased unless he discover what his world is truly meant to be.
"Free Guy" is a fun quirky movie that isn't afraid to poke fun of not only the online world, but the real world as well. And at the heart of the movie is a rather unexpected love story in the real world that ends with a realization that online gaming prevents you form living life and finding the one who loves you.
Highly Recommended!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Free-Feature-B...
Written by Matt Lieberman and Zak Penn, Ryan Reynolds plays Guy, a minor background character in an online game who goes about his Walter Mitty Good Guy existence every day in the city where he lives and works until one day he sees the woman of his dreams and through self-discovery, learns that he's not real and that his world is in danger of being erased unless he discover what his world is truly meant to be.
"Free Guy" is a fun quirky movie that isn't afraid to poke fun of not only the online world, but the real world as well. And at the heart of the movie is a rather unexpected love story in the real world that ends with a realization that online gaming prevents you form living life and finding the one who loves you.
Highly Recommended!
FIVE STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Free-Feature-B...
Ancient Aliens Season 14
Just finished watching "Ancient Aliens - Season 14" released on DVD by the History Channel.
"Ancient Aliens" kicked off it's 14th season rather brilliantly by having a two hour special hosted by William Shatner who challenged the usual suspects to prove to him that there is validity to the Ancient Alien theory. Who ever thought of this season premiere had a purely brilliant moment of sheer genius. Shatner gave the season opener a gravitas that it would not have otherwise had and he was smart enough as a guest host to leave to door open on his doubt.
Though the pioneer when it comes to pseudo scientific documentaries, Ancient Aliens this season has taken a page out of "The Curse of Oak Island" and "The Secrets of Skinwalker Ranch" and added a situation room presided over Giorgio Tsoukalos where he and a select few go over such topics as space travelers, UFO pioneers, and lost cities in Peru. Yet, curiously Giorgio hosts four top ten episodes in this season - a potential sign that the series is running out of original ideas.
Still I suspect that Ancient Aliens still can pull a few more seasons out of the stock footage it has and come up with more desperate twists to make old ideas look like new ones.
Recommended for the nonsensical fun. I want to believe, but we're going to need a bit more proof than Giorgio saying "ALIENS!"
Four Stars for the episode "Willian Shatner Meets Ancient Aliens" well worth the price of admission.
https://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Aliens...
"Ancient Aliens" kicked off it's 14th season rather brilliantly by having a two hour special hosted by William Shatner who challenged the usual suspects to prove to him that there is validity to the Ancient Alien theory. Who ever thought of this season premiere had a purely brilliant moment of sheer genius. Shatner gave the season opener a gravitas that it would not have otherwise had and he was smart enough as a guest host to leave to door open on his doubt.
Though the pioneer when it comes to pseudo scientific documentaries, Ancient Aliens this season has taken a page out of "The Curse of Oak Island" and "The Secrets of Skinwalker Ranch" and added a situation room presided over Giorgio Tsoukalos where he and a select few go over such topics as space travelers, UFO pioneers, and lost cities in Peru. Yet, curiously Giorgio hosts four top ten episodes in this season - a potential sign that the series is running out of original ideas.
Still I suspect that Ancient Aliens still can pull a few more seasons out of the stock footage it has and come up with more desperate twists to make old ideas look like new ones.
Recommended for the nonsensical fun. I want to believe, but we're going to need a bit more proof than Giorgio saying "ALIENS!"
Four Stars for the episode "Willian Shatner Meets Ancient Aliens" well worth the price of admission.
https://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Aliens...
November 8, 2021
"John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme - Series 9"
Just finished listening to "John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme - Series 9" released by the BBC.
Mom, Dad, and I greatly enjoyed listening to John Finnemore's hysterical comedy "Cabin Pressure" about the goings-on of a one plane airline, and I know that they would have greatly enjoyed his previous Souvenir Programmes.
Only Series 9 is a real stinker. Nothing about it is funny, and I'm really sorry to say that. Finnemore has shown that he is a comic genius with "Cabin Pressure," "Double Acts," and the last eight series of his Souvenir Programme. Sadly, the failure of Series 9 is self inflicted because Finnemore deliberately choose to focus on the Covid-19 pandemic in a series of tragically unfunny sketches that are played in reverse, with the series concluding with a child throwing up in a top hat.
Yes, living during pandemic times sucks, and some kudos for being willing to strike off in a new direction - a very unfunny direction.
Sadly, I can not recommend this latest outing from John Finnemore.
Zero Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1529138604?...
Mom, Dad, and I greatly enjoyed listening to John Finnemore's hysterical comedy "Cabin Pressure" about the goings-on of a one plane airline, and I know that they would have greatly enjoyed his previous Souvenir Programmes.
Only Series 9 is a real stinker. Nothing about it is funny, and I'm really sorry to say that. Finnemore has shown that he is a comic genius with "Cabin Pressure," "Double Acts," and the last eight series of his Souvenir Programme. Sadly, the failure of Series 9 is self inflicted because Finnemore deliberately choose to focus on the Covid-19 pandemic in a series of tragically unfunny sketches that are played in reverse, with the series concluding with a child throwing up in a top hat.
Yes, living during pandemic times sucks, and some kudos for being willing to strike off in a new direction - a very unfunny direction.
Sadly, I can not recommend this latest outing from John Finnemore.
Zero Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1529138604?...
October 31, 2021
The Final Countdown
Just finished watching "The Final Countdown" originally released by United Artists back in 1980. Now the distribution rights appear to be owned by Blue Underground, a company specializing in releasing authoritative editions of cult and exploitation movies. Though, I'm not exactly sure of that "The Final Countdown" has obtained "cult" status. I could be wrong.
Transported back in time by a freakish electrical storm, the crew of the American Nuclear Carrier the U.S.S. Nimitz, finds themselves back in the past, a mere day before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Apparently lost in time, and mindful of how history has played out, the crew of the Nimitz must decide if they will intervene and change the outcome of history, and possibly wipe themselves out of existence.
I do remember when this movie first came out, and if memory is serving me correctly, Dad and Mom went to see it as part of their annual dinner and a movie anniversary celebration.
Great fun. Some movies should not be overthought. Oh, yes, it may have "cult" status because "The Final Countdown" was actually filmed on the U.S.S. Nimitz.
Highly Recommended - especially for Alternative History fans.
Ten Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
Transported back in time by a freakish electrical storm, the crew of the American Nuclear Carrier the U.S.S. Nimitz, finds themselves back in the past, a mere day before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Apparently lost in time, and mindful of how history has played out, the crew of the Nimitz must decide if they will intervene and change the outcome of history, and possibly wipe themselves out of existence.
I do remember when this movie first came out, and if memory is serving me correctly, Dad and Mom went to see it as part of their annual dinner and a movie anniversary celebration.
Great fun. Some movies should not be overthought. Oh, yes, it may have "cult" status because "The Final Countdown" was actually filmed on the U.S.S. Nimitz.
Highly Recommended - especially for Alternative History fans.
Ten Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
