Reviews by charidotes20

Well, it was an expensive, artsy, history-y show that ran for two seasons before getting cancelled, but it would have been great if it had gone for 12 or 20 or something, because everybody who watched it was so *clever*, you know.

*But*, aside from all of that crap, it actually was a pretty decent show, actually, I think. I mean, you'd be kindof an ass about it if you just glossed over the characters and only cared about it for the witty historical nonsense, you know, *but*....

I don't know; it's hard to explain how my opinions of things have changed....

"You did not ask me for my allegiance. You demanded it at swordpoint. I betrayed nothing."

And as much as I can see how some people might want to sympathize with the stout, hardy, common Soldiers of the Republic, (even though they are the makers of the Caesarians), more than with the subdued Senators and their cowardly spies and so on.... I don't know. I don't like Vorenus and Pullo the way that I used to.... They just killed too many fucking people, if you ask me....

Who are the real heroes of Philippi, you know? The victors? Or the ones who *deserved* to win?

"Heavens, I entirely forgot! Today's your birthday, isn't it?"
"Is it? I believe you're right."
"*shakes hands* Happy birthday. Sorry there's no cake."
"Next year, eh? You bake me an extra big one."
"I shan't forget."
"No cinnamon, it makes me sneeze."

And, no, I won't try to talk your ear off about the thing with Catiline; I know now that people get tired of hearing about it, after awhile....

Anyway.

......

Well, like I said, it's a little over-rated. It's not so bad, though.

Kevin McKidd is a pretty good decent actor.

Ten is too many; it is over-rated, by.... I don't know, you know who. Nine's not a bad rating, but just because historical stuff is a little over-rated, (and it's not as good as "Downton Abbey"-- which is also over-rated but which is better than eight of ten.... if that makes sense. I suppose that's sortof what I'm going to go on, here.)

{And just because you could learn from it.... sometimes it's judgment of character wasn't right itself-- sometimes it did save the wrong people, and judge the wrong ones. I'm not sure it was really bad in that respect, but I suppose that maybe it really was just no better than average or anything.}

{I don't know-- I don't mind it or anything, but that's sorta how I look at it now.}

It's really not a bad show; it's really not, I think. There are some things that I feel bad about, or thought was a waste of time.... And in a way I spent too much time on this, but it wasn't a time-waster in itself, this particular thing.

It had it's better days and it's more, eh, another one after the one before.

It's not bad though.

(8/10)

So, yeah, I watched this movie, even though I missed the first twenty minutes, or something.

I mean, it's not the best movie; it's not the most.... Best. Or whatever. But, eh. Okay, yeah.

It's not as good as "Black Swan", nor as bad as "V for Vendetta".... And, yeah, I'm not exactly the biggest fan of the small-town preacherman who passes communist laws in the name of Jesus.

"There is a time to dance."

And there is a time to be all predictable and courtroom-y.

(7/10)

All that I can really say is, that if I had my younger years to do over again, I wouldn't have wasted quite as many of them on this sort of quasi-military crap.... I mean, to meander a bit, in the in-game wiki for *Mass Effect*, they actually take the trouble to explain all of the subtle shades of difference between, "Yes, sir", and "Aye, aye, sir"-- *Sulu voice* And that's truly a vital piece of information for any young man to consider, no matter what his field of endeavor. Consider real estate, for example. When closing the deal, do you say.... *Spock voice* And one must always be absolutely certain to maintain a grim demeanor of detachment during even the most jovial of social circumstances. (So say we all.)

And, after reading Takei's (the Sulu actor's) book, it is kinda funny how they basically just cast him for the job because he was an Asian, and he basically just took the job because he wanted work. (And then, when he had travel issues and couldn't make it back to the set on time after the hiatus was over-- because he had been making a movie about Vietnam with John Wayne (!)-- that's when Chekhov happened! Did you ever think about how they're basically the same character? I mean, how many guys do you need to say, 'Aye, Aye, Captain,' anyway? And, of course, *Star Trek* being *Star Trek*, they just *had* to name him after a dead Marxist-- totes *de rigeur*....) There was no test about Official Star Fleet Idealism, (as promulgated by Gene Rodenburry himself, if and when he actually showed up), and all that crap. In fact, it actually took him awhile to remember what the name of the show was called. I found something about that to be funny, almost hilarious.

And I mean, the show does have its redeeming characteristics.... *every so often*....

And, if I wanted to be really mean, I might mention something about Bill.

But, you know, it didn't *always* suck. Just usually.

'I'm a doctor, Jim, not a miracle-worker!'

(7/10)

I write a lot of my reviews from memory-- for me, it's a lot like journaling.

I saw this movie a long time ago, because Laurence Fishburne, (Morpheus), was in it.

Actors only ever really play one part-- themselves. And whether Morpheus is playing a cop-killer, here, or "Othello"--which I actually didn't see, but I can see him in it-- or a young white boy's unofficial chess tutor, or the grand tutor of the One.... There's just something about him.... He's just that guy, you know, he's just that sort of guy that I used to know.

Funny how we change. Yes, in a different world, we were friends.... In that lost world-- the past....

But anyway, yeah, the movie was entertaining, although not great.... And I suppose that that's more or less what I *always* thought about it....

It's hard to explain.

And, I don't know if I can recall anything very quotable that he said in this one-- I mean, I remember that he said at least a few cool things, but not well enough to quote them-- but sometimes he just had that way of being that friend I wanted.... And of course he was that black friend, but what he really was was that friend that a guy has, you know.... And sometimes, he would just say something, and it would just be that way that you have of talking between yourselves, and it almost didn't matter whether he was being the coach or the conspirator in that moment.... Like, in "Bobby Fischer", he says, "Are you okay?", and in the "Matrix", he says-- "I know *exactly* what you mean."

But, I don't know, all of that is awhile ago now, for me. It was a nice 'pasatiempo' at the time, and now, it's a memory.

(7/10)

I'm not sure quite how to say it.

I mean, I can't quite remember what I was thinking along the lines of--let's get goofy! and I can't quite figure out what I want to say along the lines of-- this is still 1996 and you can't be Buddy Love.... (and why? because of your nervous girlfriend and your annoying research buddy?).... and it's also kinda funny that it kinda is more of a sci-fi comedy than a general-fiction one....

{And it's funny, sci-fi is so *franchised*, that "independent" sci-fi basically means, a smaller franchise, but, you know.... And if it's really *not* franchised, *at all*, the Trekkies won't even think of it as being sci-fi at all.... And especially if it's a comedy. After all, isn't the whole point of sci-fi--and science!-- to make it so that, we never have to deal, with the noises of the proles, eh....}

But I'm starting to think that I like Eddie Murphy better than Morgan Freeman.... Or Ben Kingsley, or Patrick Stewart.... Or even Robin Williams.

.... Because I may have forgotten how to say 'this movie is fun', or however I would have, you know, but at least Eddie Murphy got a few scenes without the fat suit, (like fucking Rammstein in that crazy music video-- 'I am cold, so cold.... I, am.... *duh-na-na-na-na.*' Fucking Germans, lol.), and even if Buddy Love needs a little work, I think that he's worth it, and what is it, really, that a little dancing might not fix.... Yeah, he might benefit from a little ballet, and a little Jane Austen.... And at least he's not a cold-blooded brute, like The Lizard....

And neither is Mr Klump, but.... he's more like that girl's father, than anything else, really.

So.... let's get goofy, okay.

.....

P.S. I had no idea that "The Nutty Professor" was like "Jack and Jill"; Eddie Murphy is a veritable master of disguise.

Oh, and his smile is rather epic. Did you ever see the movie poster for "Meet Dave"? You have to admire a sci-fi movie with a name like, "Meet Dave"....

So I guess that I'll just have to allow my sheer credulousness to overcome my difficulties with the concept.

Let's turn into wierdos, lol.

(8/10)

I suppose that I saw this when I was little, but I don't suppose that I realized what a *bad* movie it was, when I was little.

Ayn Rand once wrote an essay, the title of which I really don't remember, in which she wrote about why there were so many fucking chess players in her native Russia. Basically, she argued that, in a society based on insanity, chess was an escape mechanism for intellectuals who had nothing *meaningful* to spend their lives on-- no *real* use for their gifts....

And I suppose that it shouldn't really surprise anyone to hear that wasting Russian resources and gifts is almost the Russian national.... thing.

But, then, I suppose that, if America were as perfect as Ayn Rand decided that it was--or perhaps it's only perfect by comparison-- then Bobby Fischer wouldn't exist, now, would he? Or.... not like this.

And, incidentally, this is also the problem that I have with Gandhi.... I mean, I'm not quite in favor of mindless, violent, stupid competition, but, then, I suppose that *every now and then* one finds that there is something even worse in the world than European football....

(Because, after all, if *Sheldon* can call it that, then....)

(6/10)

Yeah, I'd really rather get a job at a county club, (rather than a hospital), even if they do play golf there.

And, you know, Jack Nicholson is always depressed, or whatever the fuck it is that he is, so putting him in the hospital is a bit like saying, Let's see how depressed and messed-up we can get you. Streched out of shape-- streched until it breaks. I mean, Jack Nicholson is in comedies, I suppose, but he's not really of the sort of comedy which is completely /*free* of drama/-- and drama is, you know, it always has to be aliens and the military and stuff: always streching life away from what it is-- and there's something of that that I can see in him....

(And *not* every movie has to be a big budget thing-- I once saw a Spanish-language movie, the name of which I cannot recall, which was made with, like $7,000....)

But, I don't know.

*insert Morgan Freeman monologue here*

And at least they can play cards....

Bridge or blackjack?

(Trick question-- with two people, probably not bridge.)

*insert another Morgan Freeman monologue, because I regret having to talk about that Nicholson fellow that I don't like....*

But, you know, I don't think that I'd like to spend my last moments on earth with Jack Nicholson--and not my wife!-- unless, I don't know. There would have to be some story behind that, lol.

And, yeah, I sorta know the story, although the ending wasn't quite right.

Although, sure, if Jack wanted to do all of that stuff by himself, I think that that would be great....

After all, it is true that old people can not live forever, ha.

(7/10)

Roger Greenberg: Because not everybody is Roger Federer.

"Oh, I'm kinda doing nothing for awhile."

And (I think) it's funny; if you told people that you drink tea and play bridge because you like Jane Austen, they'd fucking tell you to go to hell, but if you tell them that you don't drive because you used to live in New York, they snicker and don't say anything.

"Life is wasted on people."

"There's so much crap out there."

'Why are you yelling at me?'

Because you're making me feel abrasive. Please stop.

But at least I'm not like Colin Firth-- 'Oh yeah, I read all of the novels.' Yeah, after the BBC ordered you to.

But I don't really like Florence either. I feel that she's a little fake.

And, yeah, I know-- letters....

But, I don't know. They're all assholes.

And I don't know, I don't like Florence. She's as innocent as a blank piece of paper, or seems so, I guess. And she thinks that she's practical just because she's boring, and, whatever, etcetera, etcetera. Indecisive, lets everybody just sorta talk at her-- except Roger, including Roger, (flip a coin), whatever, I don't know.

'I just don't know what I'm doing with my life.'

Yeah, well, it's not like I know anything about that.

And I guess that Federer really is the chill one, and not Greenberg, sure.

Eh, oh well, I'm not even doing this very well or anything....

Anyway: these have been my unbiased opinions.

'I heard that you killed our dog.'

"(The time by air to Australia:) That's like seven movies."

"I might have to kill one of you out of sheer frustration."

'What are you fighting against?'

"I don't know; what have you got?"

'I don't know; not much.'

"Then that's what I'm fighting-- 'not much'."

.... So, I don't know. (Just don't give a speech about irony-- yeah, just don't.)

'....to finally embrace the life that you didn't plan....'

"....And that's why I didn't want to be in a band with you-- you never look at your own shit!...."

'And we never talk about anything good.'

Yeah, but maybe you don't have to embrace everything if you think it's bullshit. And anyway, I hate abrasive the most when it goes with abstract and sarcastic, like some college professor. But who can blame you if you get a little irritable about the real world, and especially when everybody else does.... Or at least has a friend to be cynical on their behalf, or something.

So.... I don't know.

But at least his brother is in Vietnam *on vacation*.

"It's kinda trite, but it stayed with me."

This wasn't even going to be long, but, whatever....

"Roger Greenberg, from Hollywood, California."

(9/10)

Wow, how did I miss this one....

I remember once, that I knew this guy named Ed at school, and we had a lot of fun saying: "Hi Ed", "Hi Ted".

A lot of fun.

{Ok, this is one review that I'm actually going to keep short, but let me make just one joke:

"*standing in a wheat field* It's serious fun!"}

(8/10)

Wow, I almost forgot about this one.... Lol.

Well, the info blurb about how the dancer wanted to move them to Miami made it sound interesting--Marlins Park is my favorite stadium, lol-- but actually, she ended up being an exec who probs couldn't dance if she got kidnapped by pirates, *but*, you know, considering how long ago this movie was made, I guess that I just should have expected it to have been mediocre, in.... Certain ways, in general.... Yeah. (And, yeah, Taylor: I'm looking at you.)

But at least Willie Mays Hays did a little dance when he didn't get cut from the team, and Charlie Sheen--as *Wild Thing*-- upped the fun factor too.

"This is my kinda team."

And I really liked the vodoo guy, how could I ever forget him....

He's a pagan, just like Chief Wahoo himself!

And listening to him call the Christ-y guy a "cabron" almost made the whole thing worth it.

That, and having the *Yankees* be the random unsympathetic extras for a change.... hahahaha.

.... And, actually, the only Yankee that I liked was the guy who led the league in "saves, strikeouts, and hit batsmen", and who knocked Taylor down after the lout "called his shot"--ha!

Although I did like some of the guys on the Tribe--I mean, not Taylor, Dorn, or Harris-- but, aside from the awesome voodoo guy, who was almost a team unto himself, and the coach and the announcer that I was sorta neutral about, Willie Mays Hays (00), and Wild Thing (99) were a good pair.

*switches back to Music Choice: Light Classical*

Ah, *Frederic* Chopin--now!-- *that's* better!

(7/10)