Another Man’s Poison - 1951

A woman’s husband shows up out of nowhere, and she isn’t happy. She’s got a whole life built for herself, and he’s a threat to that. When his partner in crime shows up, he finds out she’s not above getting rid of people that get in her way. In fact, her husband's corpse is lying in another room.

After that, they team up and pretend the partner is her husband. She already has a lover, her secretary’s fiancé, and that just makes her worse. They show up and muddle the works. The woman (played by Bette Davis) flirts with the fiancé under her secretary’s nose. The partner gets fed up with the whole thing, and when Davis tries to make him “disappear,” he strikes an injury in the only place it really hurts her. Fury.

There isn’t really anyone to root for in this movie, except for maybe the horse and the secretary. For the most part, people get what they deserve, and that makes it a pretty decent story. But with all the unlikable characters, who am I supposed to root for? Am I supposed to be happy at the end? I may put it on for background noise, but it isn’t one I will rewatch because I like it.

Rope - 1948

This is an Alfred Hitchcock film starring Jimmy Stewart. Looking at the list of Hitchcock's filmography, this movie falls near the middle. It was in a classic thriller list, and I was interested in watching it.

Brandon has teamed up with his friend, Phillip, and killed their other "friend" David. And now, Brandon is basking in the glory of getting away with it, but Phillip isn't bouncing back quite so well. But yes, Brandon is annoying the whole time, and I wanted to punch him in the face.

I want to give this movie some credit for being engaging for an hour and a half and being entirely shot in one location. We spend the entire movie in Brandon's living room and a few brief moments by his front door. The only other time I've seen that work is in 12 Angry Men. My main annoyance was when they actually bothered to show Phillip "play" the piano. They said something about him having an audition or something, but the man can't play...

I'm definitely torn about the movie. Not because it wasn't good, but because I felt so bad for David's father. The man was breaking my heart when he was so worried about David, and the whole time Brandon is basically mocking him in little ways. I thought the movie overall was good, and I would probably watch it again. I liked Stewart's character and the realization he had at the end was really good. Good Movie!

Carnival Row 2019-2023 – 2 Seasons

I’ve watched a lot of shows. I’ve enjoyed a lot of shows and gave up on a lot more. But I wanted to take a moment and rant a bit here.

I really liked the first season of this show. I liked the characters and the mystery. There was depth to the choices each person made, and time was spent on the story arc. And the music? Loved that. I bought that and still listen to it often.

I looked forward to the second season, but I’m always afraid something will go wrong. And guess what? It did…

I read some of the reviews, and a lot of people mention the word “woke.” I’m not going to disagree some of that was stuffed in there. For me, the bigger problem was the choices made with the characters. Okay, so up until the last episode, I was holding out hope it would turn out. And then, at the end of the last episode, I saw red. WHAT?

MAJOR SPOILERS…

So, Vignette is awful this whole season. She’s selfish and a brat. I seriously disliked her, but everyone else (minus Darius) seemed to love her. Why? Philo deserves better, but what did he end up with? He’s alone and walks with a cane. Even his friends are dead. Speaking of that, they killed Darius?! He was clearly in love with Tourmaline, and he cared about her all the time. Unlike Vignette, who only ran to Tourmaline when she was pissed at Philo. And the Sparas? That thing was horrifying and weird. It also made for a muddy mystery that I didn’t like as much as the first season.

Overall, I’m not going to say the show is awful, but I won’t watch the second season again. I didn’t see anything in it worth a rewatch. I’ve seen the first season a few times, and I’d gladly watch it again. The only thing I took from the second season was the soundtrack. It was another great musical outing for a disappointing season. Congrats to Nathan Barr on that one. For me, the show ends at season one. So, Half a Good Show?

Captain America (serial) - 1944

This Captain America probably isn’t going to fit into what you’re thinking. My daughter and I nicknamed him “Muffin Top Captain America.” He’s not exactly fit, he’s got a strange outfit (especially his cowl), and he murders a lot of people. And I mean a lot. We weren’t prepared for that.

One of my favorite things in these serials are the fight scenes. I don’t think they choreograph them, it’s just some guys throwing things and jumping at each other. It’s epic, and I love it.

The Scarab’s identity isn’t a mystery, and in the beginning, he’s trying to get his hands on a leading scientist’s vibrator. Yeah, some of the language doesn’t age well. Hearing an old man say, “How did you find out about my vibrator?” is a little uncomfortable.

And why is Captain America the District Attorney? That’s such a random thing. Cause when I think of investigating, I think the District Attorney! And why is he always sending his secretary off to get herself into trouble? Anyway, I love these, and they put me in a good mood. Good Watch!

The Woman in the Window - 1944

An ordinary family man gets wrapped up in a murder plot when he meets a beautiful woman. He admired her portrait in a shop window, and when he goes back to her apartment, it ends in the murder of a man she knows. He now has to cover up what’s happened or risk his comfortable life.

My question is: why didn’t they call the police? This is never a good idea, and I can’t understand their reasoning in going through all this when a phone call would have been a much better choice. But then…THEN! Here’s the worst part – it’s not even real. None of it was real. It was all a stupid dream. I hate cop outs like this. The movie pulled the rug out from under me and made me instantly hate the movie. Oh, and it’s a dream over multiple days. DAYS. Have you had a dream that spanned a week? I haven’t. I guess you can say it’s like the Wizard of Oz, but Dorothy got smacked on the head, and this dude just fell asleep…

This is based on a novel, so it would be interesting to find out if they changed the ending. Maybe someday I’ll find out. In the meantime, I’ll avoid watching this again for fun. It was infuriating.

12 Angry Men - 1957

I’ve read a great deal about this movie. I want to make it known that I despise jury duty. I’ve never had great luck with it, so it’s a personal thing for me. But, saying that, I avoid courtroom movies/shows for the most part due to my aversion.

In this movie, a jury is deciding the fate of a young man who is charged with murder. It all seems very straightforward until one man decides to hold out for a not guilty verdict. That sets into motion a series of discussions where this one man calmly and logically talks to the others to find out why they’re voting the way they are and give them the opportunity to change his mind.

I was impressed by this movie, more by the fact that it’s practically in the same set for the entire runtime. And it doesn’t get stale. It really is a great movie, and I hate juries! It’s all the more impressive as it was the director’s film debut. Good Movie!

Rebecca - 1940

This is one of those stories where I have every intention of getting around to reading the book, but I just haven't done it yet. I ended up watching this on a plane, and it made the time go quicker.

I didn't realize when I started watching this that Alfred Hitchcock was attached. Knowing that, it didn't affect my opinion either way.

Rebecca is the story of a young woman who is swept off her feet and marries in a short amount of time. She was something of an orphan, so she didn't have anyone to teach her what to look out for as far as red flags or just taking the time to get to know someone. As a result, she's a bit mousy and ends up being a bit annoying overall. But, it makes sense for her character to act this way. Now that she's the mistress of the house, she has big shoes to fill. Rebecca's ghost seems to haunt the halls, and the housekeeper won't let her forget it.

I really liked this movie, even though I feel like the second Mrs. de Winter should have at least had a bit of a qualm toward the end at the revelations of her husband, but it's a minor thing and didn't ruin my overall enjoyment.

I'm definitely going to have to read the book. The ending was such a pleasant surprise, and I'm genuinely curious whether the movie followed the original material. I honestly didn't expect it to go that way, but I liked it. Good Movie!

Wiedźmin (The Witcher – Poland) 2002

This is a 13-episode series that aired in 2002. I found it on archive.org and wanted to give it a chance. I’d read somewhere that it was closer to the books than the Netflix series, and I was interested how the country that originated the Witcher interpreted the character.

I had subtitles, so there were times that my attention was divided. Toward the end of the series, some of the subtitles had to be interpreted, since they didn’t make sense on their own. I’m not going to judge the show on the writing because I’m not sure how accurate those subtitles were, and I’m certain they were wrong on numerous occasions.

I have to say that the special effects were pretty bad as well. The monsters were cheesy and super fake, but they didn’t show up very often, so it wasn’t super distracting. Also, the “spells” were questionable. I didn’t mind any of this. The fighting was a bit clunky at times, but it got better as time went on, and there were some pretty neat moments in there.

It may sound like I’m not a fan of this series, but I actually am. I liked the depth they gave Geralt’s character, and the way he fought with his own feelings. He knew he shouldn’t have them, but he also knew he wasn’t human either. I really liked that. The show only had time to get to the point where Geralt meets up with Ciri after they’d been separated.

I understand that I’m probably in a minority on liking the series. People have high expectations, but I’ve seen some really bad stuff, so I’m a little more lenient. If I end up being entertained and liking characters, that’s good enough for me. If you are bothered by bad special effects and subtitles, just steer clear. I personally give it a Good Watch! review.

Run Silent, Run Deep - 1958

This is a WWII submarine movie that has Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster. In it, a Commander wants to go back to the Bungo Straits, a dangerous area where he was previously sunk. His new command is not very happy with him, since they believed that Lancaster’s character was going to be in command. And then, when he starts them on strange drills, they can’t understand what he’s planning. It all leads up to the end, where they come across a large convoy of Japanese ships.

I liked this movie, but I have to say, I would be terrible in a submarine. I commend anyone who had/has the guts to voluntarily be in one of those. Especially back in those days, when the technology wasn’t as advanced. I thought the acting was good, and the story was engaging. This is based on a novel, but I haven’t read it at the time of this review. Overall, it’s getting a Good Movie! Rating.

The Big Lift - 1950

This movie intrigued me due to the subject. After WWII, the tensions rose in Berlin to the point where Russia put up a blockade, and the Allies began flying in supplies for the people. We’re following two specific sergeants and their experiences in Berlin.

I really appreciated the cast for the movie. At the beginning, it states that all the military shown, except for two actors, are actual current (at the time of course) members of the military. Then, at the end, the camera goes down the line of military men and told me who they are. I loved that. And then it listed a few more. Also, the shots of the planes were really great. They often flew in bad weather, so that takes guts and skill. And if you take into account they went to the trouble of making sure they filmed in actual locations where these kinds of things occurred, this makes for an interesting movie.

Now, if I look at the plot of the movie, I’m a bit bummed by the title. Yes, they do talk about the airlift here and there. BUT, it seems like we deal with Hank and his prejudices a lot, but we’re mostly dealing with Danny and his instant love for a German woman. Before I get too far off track, I want to mention my favorite character in the film: Stieber. He’s a Russian spy, but he’s also the hero of the film. He’s down to earth, smart, and saves the day.

I was truly invested for most of this movie, but when Danny decided he wanted to marry a woman he barely knew, I got a smidge irritated. And then, when he found out she had straight up LIED to him (and her explanation was garbage), he was still willing to be with her. I know a lot of men and women made quick decisions in those times, but dang, sir! How many red flags did he need? At least Gerda (not the potential wife) was honest! She was probably my second favorite character. Mind you, none of my favorites are main characters, so does this movie deserve a Good Movie review? But then I think about the amount of hard work and passion that went into the project and the overall experience. Considering those things, I think it deserves a Good Movie! Rating.

Behind Green Lights - 1946

This movie is a prime example of why I started writing reviews for these movies. I just finished rewatching this movie, and I have no idea what the name has to do with the story. Oh well.

At the beginning of the movie, there’s a little blurb that lets the viewer know they will be watching a night in the police station and seeing what they deal with. In reality, it’s more of a one-hour murder mystery.

A private investigator is killed, and his body rolls up (in a car) on the steps of the police station. The lieutenant is just on his way out for an egg sandwich when he finds the body. Poor man. What follows is a twisty, turny story with lots of suspects and a surprising amount of politics. I think my favorite character (beside the lieutenant) was Zachary. The end was pretty clever, and I enjoyed the hour I spent with this film. Good Movie!

Adventures of Captain Marvel (serial) 1941

(A serial was a series of short films, generally shown consecutively and once a week, that were shown before the main film in a theater.)

I watched this with my younger daughter. We had a great time with this 12-part epic where mild mannered Billy Batson is in Siam on an expedition. There they find a tomb where Billy stumbles across, and is chosen by, the wizard Shazam. Now, he can turn into Captain Marvel anytime he shouts “Shazam!” And that comes in handy throughout the show. Also found in the tomb was a weapon, the Golden Scorpion. After the weapon destroys the tomb, the scientists on the trip divide up the lenses and go their separate ways.

Unfortunately, a villain emerges. The Scorpion wants that weapon, and he needs the lenses the scientists are hiding. The story is great, and we totally thought we had the mastermind figured out. It was so obvious! But guess what? We were wrong! It was shocking, fun, and such a blast! Good Serial!

M - 1931

Peter Lorrie stars in this movie as a serial killer who takes children. It creates a tension in the city where everyone is trying to find the killer. Even the criminals. I’m not going to say too much about the plot. I don’t think I’m going to forget this one anytime soon. (I’ll probably be eating those words later…)

I found it interesting the way the underworld came together and organized to hunt down the killer. The “M” was a clever title, and when I understood why it was chosen, I was blown away. This was written by Fritz Lang, and it was great.

This is another one that relies on subtitles for me, since it’s in German. I’ve been trying to learn German, and I could pick up some words here and there, but I totally needed those subtitles.

The only criticism I have is with the very end of the movie. The last couple of minutes brought the overall experience down for me slightly. I wish there had been a bit more of a resolution, but I’ll just make up my own ending. Sometimes you just have to! Good Movie!