"We're not critics. We're professional fan-girls." --- This blog is dedicated to movies and the entertainment industry. We use random selection to bring into light the best and worst of streaming films and entertainment news.
Streaming Service: Peacock Movie Name/Year: Bray Wyatt: Becoming
Immortal (2024) Genre: Documentary Length: 2h 3min Rating: TV-14 Director: Steve Conoscenti Writer: Matt Braine, Steve Conoscenti, Ben Houser Blurb from IMDb: The story behind one of the
most revered and mysterious characters in WWE history and the man himself,
Windham Rotunda, has never been documented, until now. Selina’s Point of View: Trust the dice doesn’t
often cover documentaries. Both Cat and I have ADHD and most documentaries will
put us to sleep. Even quicker if it’s on a random subject that neither of us
have any interest in or emotional connection to. We’ve been able to do some,
mostly on subjects we’re very close to. So, that begs the
question: why this one? When I was young,
I followed the WWE religiously. As a child, my uncle used to take me to the
shows – even to a convention once. As a teen, I had weekly gatherings with my
friends and pizza in order to watch RAW. I fell off of it for reasons I don’t
think I’ll go into here. For a long time, it was just something that stayed on
my periphery. It was interesting, but not something I could bring myself to
watch again. I still listened to our friends at he Basement Bookers Podcast, of
course. One of them was a regular at my pizza RAWs, after all, but that was
where my interaction with professional wrestling ceased. The dulcet tones of banter
between Basement Jer and Rich the Riz. Until recently. After a Royal
Rumble party, I started to get interested again. The last time I watched,
female wrestling was relegated to bra & panty, wet & wild, and the
occasional evening gown matches. It felt less like wrestling and more like a
page from a porn magazine. What I saw at the Royal Rumble this year was
anything but that. It reignited my interest. Naturally, I’ve
been looking to the Basement Bookers to get my feet wet on the new WWE. I learned all
about the new storylines and factions. Triple H’s new role in the company. Who
the heels and faces are and why I should care. Most of it I was able to pick up
from watching the shows and the occasional one liner from Rich or Jer. The subject of
Bray Wyatt proved to be a bit more complex. During a visit
with Rich the Riz, he suggested watching Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal.
I was skeptical. Although interested in the subject, it was still a documentary.
I decided I’d give it a chance. The documentary is
solid. There’s none of that monotone, Ben Stein style narration that makes my
eyelids heavy. Each guest has a unique perspective of Bray Wyatt and is
undeniably a large part of his story. Either they were family, a boss, a
friend, a mentor, or someone he mentored. There were no fluff interviews
conducted with people that had barely a tertiary connection with him – as can
sometimes occur. What sold me on
it, however, was not the content. It was the reactions I saw in my viewing
buddy. I’m an outsider.
I wasn’t around for any of Bray Wyatt’s time in the WWE. I didn’t get to see
his fireflies as the phenomena occurred, I didn’t follow the Fiend. If I had
been watching at the time, I would have adored him, but that doesn’t make me
the target demographic for Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal. People like
Rich the Riz are the target demographic. And the effect
this documentary had on him was beyond anything I expected. In fact, I asked
him to write a few words and, instead, he took over Cat’s portion of today’s
review. (Don’t worry, she’s happy for a break.) Basement Bookers’ very own Rich the Riz’s Point of View: Bray
Wyatt: Becoming Immortal
was a documentary that I was greatly looking forward to watching but was
equally anxious about. Anyone that saw his work in WWE, whether you loved it or
hated it, knew that the man behind the character was of a different breed. His
was one of the most truly unique minds ever to perform in pro wrestling, having
created four distinctly unique characters - five if you include the Uncle Howdy
character that he created for his brother to use alongside him. Bray Wyatt’s
relatively short but legendary career was highlighted by interactions and
matches with other well-respected greats in the industry, including Randy
Orton, John Cena, and the Undertaker. This documentary covers his pre-WWE life
growing up as the son of a former WWE performer, his college football
aspirations, his WWE career, his untimely passing, and the legacy he left
behind. We even get a glimpse into what the future would’ve held for the late,
great superstar. Like many
WWE-produced video projects, I found Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal to be
quite thorough, particularly with respect to how in-depth it dives into the
personal life of Windham Rotunda (the man who portrayed Bray Wyatt). I also
felt it was very tastefully done, featuring interviews with his family and
peers, and narrated by an icon in the wrestling industry, the Undertaker. Whether he was
loved, feared, or misunderstood, the Bray Wyatt character will always live on
in the hearts and minds of WWE fans worldwide, and this documentary is a
fitting tribute to his legacy. Follow the
buzzards… Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – None Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 100% Metascore – None Metacritic User Score – None IMDB Score – 8.7/10 Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 5/5 Trust the Dice: Rich’s Rating – 5/5 Movie Trailer:
5 – Skinwalker: The Howl of the Rougarou (2021) Reviewed on: September 10, 2021 Genre: Documentary Rated: Unrated Length: 70
minutes Selina’s Rating: 1 Cat’s Rating: 3 Difference: 2 IMDb Blurb: For centuries, stories have persisted throughout
the southern swamps of something truly otherworldly: a terrifying, hirsute
creature known by locals as the Rougarou. These legends predate the first
immigrant settlers who made their way into the murky waters and dark forests of
the south, yet the Rougarou has only recently made its way into pop culture via
appearances in horror films, a regional festival and even a roller coaster
ride. It's almost unfair of us to paint this film as divisive. There’s
a reason that Trust the Dice rarely covers a documentary. I find most documentaries to be boring, monotone, and hard
to concentrate on. If my husband puts one on, I’m likely asleep within the
first fifteen minutes. I love learning, but I have an auditory processing issue
that stems from my ADHD, so learning through lecture simply doesn’t work for
me. If I am interested in learning about something, I have to read it. Skinwalker: The Howl of the Rougarou was chosen for
the schedule because it had some content that appealed to both me and Cat. I
have always been interested in the mythology/legends of werewolves, and Cat is
fascinated by subjects that explore Louisiana in any way. I thought having that
innate interest would alter what lens I viewed the documentary through. Cat seemed to enjoy the majority of it, though she had some
issues with the transitions. I, however, simply couldn’t concentrate on it at
all. Watching it, for me, was like sitting through a boring 8am history course
in college. Some films just don’t have a chance from the start. In this
case, none of it was the fault of the creative team or the finished product. 4 – False Positive (2021) Reviewed on: June 25, 2021 Genre: Horror,
Mystery, Thriller Rated: R Length: 92
minutes Selina’s Rating: 1 Cat’s Rating: 3 Difference: 2 IMDb Blurb: As if getting pregnant weren't complicated enough,
Lucy sets out to uncover the unsettling truth about her fertility doctor. I’ll admit that not much stuck with me from False
Positive. The ending still sticks out in my mind a bit, but that’s all. If
anything, the only thing that comes to mind when I think back to this film is a
feeling: anger. I don’t mind triggering subjects in film. In a lot of cases,
I think watching a film showcasing something traumatizing could be cathartic. It
can offer a viewpoint that is otherwise obscured to a victim, or it can offer
up a revenge fantasy in a world where justice isn’t always in reach. I’ve been a victim of violence in the past, and I can’t tell
you how much a love a revenge story now. That said, it needs to be done right. I did not believe False
Positive had good intentions where the triggering scenes were concerned. I
found them gratuitous and utilized for nothing more than shock value. Cat, however, saw some benefit in what False Positive was
selling. Although she was not available to review it when I did, she
watched it later. She lauded the acting and, despite admitting the ending was
exceptionally bleak, believed the rest of the film did what it set out to do. Different people with different experiences will always see
things from different perspectives. In this case, Cat’s ability to see art
through an optimistic perspective allowed her to absorb things about False
Positive that I just couldn’t see. 3 – The Reckoning
(2021) Reviewed on: May 10, 2021 Genre: Action,
Thriller Rated: Unrated Length: 110
minutes Selina’s Rating: 2 Cat’s Rating: 4 Difference: 2 IMDb Blurb: Evelyn, a young widow haunted by the recent suicide
of her husband Joseph, is falsely accused of being a witch by her landlord
after she rejects his advances. The Reckoning did not stick with me at all. I had to
pull it up on Shudder just to remember what it was. Even then, very little of
my memory was triggered. I thought it was way too melodramatic and so much of it was
just unnecessary. There was a scene used as flashbacks over-and-over again. Repeating
the same flashback with no alterations – especially one that’s relatively
pointless to begin with – is just inexcusable to me. I also felt like the story was a bit too convoluted to end
as neatly as it did. Cat was satisfied with how The Reckoning played out,
though. She wasn’t in love with the fact that it was advertised as a
supernatural story, since that was never a factor, but she otherwise saw it as
a strong film. The acting and settings allowed her to see The Reckoning
as a movie that was not only worth watching, but one that was worth picking up
a Shudder subscription for. There were no huge differences that caused our varied
responses to this film. She simply saw things differently. The things that
caused me to roll my eyes, didn’t leave an impression on her at all. The things
that stood out as exceptional to her, didn’t impress me. Which of us did you side with? 2 – Stay Out of the Fucking Attic (2021) Reviewed on: March 10, 2021 Genre: Horror Rated: Unrated Length: 80
minutes Selina’s Rating: 1 Cat’s Rating: 3.5 Difference: 2.5 IMDb Blurb: A group of ex-cons-turned-movers are convinced by
their creepy client to pull an all-nighter. As the night progresses, they
uncover the horrors that exist inside his old Victorian mansion. It is my firm belief that awful historical figures like
Josef Mengele should never be forgotten. As important as it is to remember the
people who made a good difference, it’s more important to protect our futures
from the kind of people that set out to destroy it. As a result, I think having
horror stories and legends about them is fine. Much like having triggering subjects, though, plots need to
use those historical figures correctly. I was insistent that Stay out of the
Fucking Attic did not do that. In fact, I thought it made Mengele less scary
– which I find borderline offensive. Cat doesn’t have the same hang-up that I do. So, she was
able to watch Stay Out of the Fucking Attic with less expectations. She had some issues with the dialogue, but otherwise got
caught up in the building tension. She admitted that not everyone would be able
to tolerate the amount of body horror involved, but otherwise thought it was a
decent offering from Shudder. Our different cultural backgrounds and ethical beliefs can
be a huge factor in how we view art. 1 – Thunder Force
(2021) Reviewed on: April 9, 2021 Genre: Action,
Adventure, Comedy Rated: PG-13 Length: 106
minutes Selina’s Rating: 1.5 Cat’s Rating: 4 Difference: 2.5 IMDb Blurb: In a world where supervillains are commonplace, two
estranged childhood best friends reunite after one devises a treatment that
gives them powers to protect their city. Thunder Force was a huge mess in my eyes. It was
super basic and full of cringe. I also thought the trailer lied to the
audience. I’m guessing it was made before post-production had wrapped and they
wound up changing things, but I found the distance between what was shown and
what happened, to be unacceptable. The bottom line was that I just didn’t find it funny. Cat’s sense of humor is skewed in a different direction,
though. Everything hit the right spots for her. She found it funny, she loved
the action, and she thought the friendship between the main leads worked. Everyone has a different sense of humor. What I might find
obnoxious, someone else might find outstandingly hilarious. It’s all
subjective.
Movie Name/Year: Skinwalker: The Howl of the
Rougarou (2021) Genre: Documentary Length: 70 minutes Rating: Unrated Director: Seth Breedlove Writer: Heather Moser, Seth Breedlove Actors: Lyle Blackburn, Santino Vitale, Amy Davies, Grayden Nance,
Adrienne Breedlove Blurb: For centuries, stories have persisted throughout the
southern swamps of something truly otherworldly: a terrifying, hirsute creature
known by locals as the Rougarou. These legends predate the first immigrant
settlers who made their way into the murky waters and dark forests of the
south, yet the Rougarou has only recently made its way into pop culture via
appearances in horror films, a regional festival and even a roller coaster
ride.
Selina’s Point of View: Any of our
consistent readers know that I’m not a documentary person. I watch movies for
entertainment value. If I want to learn about something, I prefer to pick up a
book. So, why would I voluntarily choose a film like Skinwalker: The Howl of
the Rougarou?
My interest in
all things werewolf simply outweighs my distaste for documentaries. Between
that and Cat’s interest in a subject that affects her home state of Louisiana –
watching this was always in the cards. I’ve opted not to
give it a number score, though Cat will be reviewing it normally. I’m going to
operate on a pass/fail kind of mentality. A number score coming from me just
wouldn’t be fair to the project. It would be like a vegetarian judging a piece of
steak. That said, let’s
jump into it. It wasn’t what I
expected it to be.
From the promotional
info, I thought the documentary would be laying out an argument on the
existence of the Rougarou. Instead, it was almost an anthropological look at
the importance, and cultural impact, of the stories that have been told. I have
to say, that actually worked out better for me. I’m from NYC –
home of the eternal skeptic. It would have been a hard sell to get me to believe
in any kind of Rougarou reality. The fact that the documentary didn’t even try
to go that route, meant that I wound up much more engaged than I would have
been. Instead, there
were interesting stories told about Louisiana and its people, the etymology of
the Rougarou word, history of the legend, and some engaging visuals that went
hand-in-hand with recreations. I also couldn’t ignore that the voice of the
narrator reminded me of the Natural History Museum and some of its exhibits. Would I choose to
watch Skinwalker: The Howl of the Rougarou again? No. It didn’t change
my opinion of documentaries. Would I recommend it to people who DO like the
genre? That I would. If you’re
interested in learning more about the Louisiana cryptid known as the Rougarou,
you will be able to rent/purchase Skinwalker: The Howl of the Rougarou on
most streaming platforms Sept 14th.
Cat’s Point of View: We’re stepping a
little bit outside of our usual box with today’s review. We were given the
opportunity to view a screener for an upcoming documentary focusing on a bit of
lore from my home state of Louisiana. I realize that anyone familiar with our
monthly trailer-viewing stream, which preps for our Top 20 Movies article, will
likely be a bit surprised. We don’t generally cover documentaries unless they
really grab our attention. Skinwalker: Howl of the Rougarou did just
that. Rougarou are
creatures of folklore primarily in South Louisiana, where swamps, bayous, and
marshland abound. They’re akin to werewolves but with a twist. I have lived all
but one year of my life within the state of Louisiana, yet I’d really only
heard of the Rougarou in passing. This particular cryptid doesn’t make
appearances up here in the northern part of the state where I am. You find
tales and sightings far down at the other end of ‘the boot’. We’re talking
rural areas, at the level of New Orleans or below. All the same, I’m
absolutely fascinated with this sort of thing and am down for learning more
about it, so this documentary checks all the boxes. Now to the
nitty-gritty. I’d have to say
that this was a fairly solid offering for the documentary genre. I could have
done without some of the shaky-cam swamp scenes used as transitions or the
filters used to create an old-timey film reel visual. It didn’t really need
those extra bells and whistles.
I consider a
documentary a success if you learn something from it, or it calls attention to
something that needs more awareness. Skinwalker: Howl of the Rougarou
did both. We’re offered
some history on both the Cajun people’s arrival in southern Louisiana and also
the Native American tribes of that area. I learned about some things that my
school classes on Louisiana History didn’t cover. That’s always a bonus. There are often
unexplained sightings attributed to this elusive cryptid, as well.
Skinwalker: Howl of the Rougarou gives us some tales of harrowing
encounters with the beast via witness interviews. Of course, there’s a
historian’s perspective provided also. I found listening to the tales
fascinating. My maternal grandmother’s family comes from South Louisiana and
some of the people interviewed had accents that reminded me of listening to my
great aunt when she came to visit. I appreciate that
members of our Native American tribes and their stories were represented, as
well. One of the most
important features of the Skinwalker: Howl of the Rougarou documentary
is the attention it brings to the coastal land erosion in southern Louisiana.
Every year, swaths of Louisiana simply erode away to be lost to the Gulf of
Mexico. Saltwater intrusion creeps in and decimates freshwater ecosystems. As
sea levels rise, this is something that will only worsen in the future. All told, Skinwalker:
Howl of the Rougarou is a nice slice of Louisiana folklore with a generous
helping of environmental awareness.
Production/Distribution: Comedy Dynamics, New Wave
Entertainment, Netflix
Director: John Asher
Writer: Theo Von
Actors: Theo Von
Blurb
from IMDb: Southern
comedian Theo Von offers up a twisted take on his dating mishaps, meeting Brad
Pitt, chasing down fugitive chimpanzees and more.
Selina’s
Point of View:
With
a title like Theo Von: No Offense, you have to expect a stand-up set
full of offensive comedy. Luckily, I tend to like some edge to my stand-up, so
I didn’t really feel the need to prepare myself at all. If you’re a little more
thin-skinned, though, I would recommend giving yourself some extended prep time
or not watching at all.
Theo
Von (Bobby Khan's
Ticket to Hollywood, Why? With Hannibal Buress, The Story of Our Times) got about as offensive as I
thought he would. He discussed everything from mundane subjects – such as
meeting Brad Pitt – to incredibly touchy subjects like child molestation.
In a special
like this one, you need to make sure you don’t take anything too seriously. You
know the comedian is going to go balls out, so you have to remember that it’s
all a persona, everything is a joke and likely doesn’t represent how he really
thinks. A lot of the time, people forget that.
As
for the actual content, some of it was funny and some of it just didn’t hit for
me.
For the
parts that were good, they got some small chuckles out me. Nothing had me
really roaring with laughter, but it captured my attention enough that I did give
a few giggles. Unfortunately, none of those moments really lasted long enough
before he felt like he was trying way too hard again.
I
want to stress that my dislike has nothing to do with offense – the jokes and
the delivery just weren’t good at times.
For
example, take some classic controversial comedians like Andrew Dice Clay (Entourage, Whatever it Takes, No Contest) or
Dave Chappelle (Chappelle's Show, Half Baked, Laugh Factory). They have content that relies on offensiveness, but when they’re
doing a special, you can’t look away. Their delivery is sharp and it catches
you off-guard enough that even if you are offended, it’ll get that knee-jerk
laugh out of you before you can stop it. Theo Von didn’t quite get that.
Von was
more on the predictable side. He tried to be offensive instead of falling into
it more naturally. It the end, the special felt a little forced and unnecessary.
One
of our readers recommended this special to us, so I tried to watch it with even
more of an open mind than I normally do, but it just didn’t click with me.
Cat’s
Point of View:
The world is
sort-of inside out and upside down right now. We’re all shaken up to one degree
or another because of the pandemic. Laughter is an excellent stress reliever.
What better time to watch a comedy special, right?
Wrong.
I feel myself
beginning to channel Yosemite Sam. What in tarnation did I just watch? That was
a waste of an hour.
I have sat here
and tried – TRIED hard, mind you – to come up with something positive to say
about the Theo Von: No Offense stand-up special. I’m the eternal
optimist that can find something positive in everything. I’ve got nothing.
I wasn’t
laughing. That was pretty much the sum of it. I believe that the set was
organized intentionally to offend as many people as possible, in order to make
the title seem even more sarcastic. If that was the case, they were wildly
successful. I wasn’t amused by the ploy, however.
There were a few
moments, and I use that period of time generously, that I half-chuckled. Then
the comedian said something else that wasn’t funny and nuked the laughter
before it even fully formed.
Dave
Chapelle: Sticks and Stones
(2019) was more successful at getting me to laugh. Even then, I only enjoyed
the epilogue after the actual show was over.
I don’t find
bully humor funny, and that’s really what this show came across as. Making fun
of people with disabilities, ethnic groups, and gay people squarely puts you
into that category for me. It wasn’t tastefully done. I’m embarrassed this guy
came from Louisiana, honestly.
Larry the Cable
Guy (Witless Protection, A Madea Christmas, Cars 3) has more class than
this guy, and he has some messed up jokes – which part of his schtick is
apologizing afterward.
Maybe it’s Theo
Von’s delivery. I don’t know. What I do know is that I will be praying that we
don’t end up watching another one of this Von’s comedy sets any time soon, or
ever again.
Movie
Name/Year: Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias: One Show Fits All (2019)
Tagline: None
Genre: Documentary,
Comedy
Length: 90
minutes
Rating: TV-14
Production
Companies: Netflix
Producer: Gabriel
Iglesias, Joe Meloche, Ron De Blasio, John Bravakis, Jeff Thorsen, Alex
McKinzie
Director: Manny
Rodriguez
Writer: Gabriel
Iglesias
Actors: Gabriel Iglesias
Blurb from
Netflix: Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias discusses his teenage son and
encounters with Snoop Dogg, Chris Rock and Vincente Fernandez, in this stand-up
special.
Selina’s
Point of View:
This was Gabriel Iglesias’ (The
Nut Job, Magic Mike, Ferdinand) best. Show. Ever.
I’m a big fan of Iglesias. I love his jokes, his timing, his persona…
just everything about him. I always enjoy his shows. He’s one of the few
comedians that can make me laugh out loud. Most of the time I’m a chuckler. I’ll
let out a ‘heh’ and then go back to what I’m doing. Gabriel Iglesias gets my
undivided attention along with actual sounds.
Save your ‘that’s what she said’ jokes. I’m getting to the point.
This show ranks up there with one of the best comedy shows I’ve
ever seen – not just from Gabriel Iglesias, but in general. That’s saying a
lot, because my husband used to interview comedians on a show and we’ve seen a
ton of comedy sets together.
Now, stand-up comedy is going to affect everyone differently. That’s
just a fact. Humor is a very personal thing. The way people react to jokes
changes along with their age and experiences. Hell, nature itself might be
behind why some people think one thing is funny while other people don’t. I can’t
tell you what’s going to be funny for every person, but I can explain my own
take.
Personally, I love comedy that has an edge to it. Dark jokes or
aspects of social commentary woven into the story telling will often get me.
My
favorite comedian, without a doubt, is George Carlin (Cars, Dogma, The George Carlin Song). I loved how he could tell a
story about something actively going on in the world, something that was
controversial and sensitive, and still make it funny. At the end of a George
Carlin show, I was always lost in thought. He made me reconsider things. I
could argue that he helped me become a better person.
In One Show Fits All, I
believe Gabriel Iglesias solidified his quality in my mind and became a legend,
pretty damn close to Carlin. He made think, he made a point, he had me laughing
out loud, and he still touched my heart.
I think that any comedy that brings people together is incredibly
important right now. It feels like the world’s gone crazy and most voices can’t
be heard. Iglesias used his comedy set to try to bring people together and I
think that’s amazing. It’s difficult to do right, to not sound preachy or
biased, but he managed.
I’m going to be watching this special again. Probably a lot.
Cat’s
Point of View:
My family and I were rather excited to see that Netflix had
released a brand-new comedy special from Gabriel Iglesias. Fluffy is quite
likely the stand-up comedian most enjoyed by my household. We made a night of
it, ordering pizza and sitting down to watch One Show Fits All.
As usual, we weren’t disappointed.
Where do I start? There are so many reasons to enjoy Fluffy’s
specials – this one included.
I love the fact that he’s so grounded. Watching one of his shows
almost feels like you’re hanging out with a buddy rather than some famous
person who is being paid to make an appearance. Part of this is his delivery,
but also because his comedic perspective comes from life experiences both
professionally and personally. It’s almost like getting a back-stage sneak peek
into his life when he discusses moments in his relationship with his son, his
buddies, and things that have happened to him because of his growing fame.
Even when he’s talking about events that have come to pass because
he is so well-known now, it comes across as speaking from a humble place.
Fluffy passes on to his audience his sense of awe and excitement at the
opportunities that are available to him because of his body of work. It’s
really refreshing because it feels genuine and conversational rather than
rehearsed and lofty. He never comes across as being too big for his britches
(even though his big britches are often a comedic topic).
This special is also generally family-friendly. There are a few
mature references here and there but they’re brief, and colorful words are
generally in Spanish. If that’s a language spoken in your household, then it
might not be as great for small children – but I’d say it’s generally a safe
bet for the PG or PG-13 crowd.
This show, filmed in Houston, TX, has some really touching moments.
I don’t want to give it all away – but maybe have some tissues handy in case
you hop on the feels train. I also have to give him credit for including such
moments in his show that aren’t geared for laughs, but rather connection with
his fans; and without missing a beat in the flow of the production over-all.
I guess you can say that I have zero hesitation in recommending
this special to anyone that likes to laugh – and especially to fans of Gabriel
Iglesias. My family and I enjoyed every moment of it and will likely watch this
more than once.
Blurb from Netflix:
Shot over a year under strict government control, this film reveals the
conflicted life of a young girl chosen to join North Korea’s Children’s Union.
Selina’s Point of View:
My first thought when watching this was that it didn’t seem
like a documentary. Then I read the IMDb description and saw that it was
labeled a ‘propaganda’ documentary. That makes much more sense.
‘Propaganda’ felt like a more honest description of the
film.
I get the point of continuing to film between scripted
parts. It’s to show the face of what propaganda looks like when there’s
brainwashing involved… and to show the little bits of truth they were able to
show. Still, I found it unbearably boring.
Even if I could have watched it without subtitles, it still
wouldn’t have made anything any better.
There was absolutely no substance to Under the Sun. I might as well have been a kid in that class,
staring out the window because the teacher couldn’t hold my interest. It was just
a really long mandatory middle school assembly.
The attempts to be harrowing simply didn’t work. The only
thing I’m left knowing about North Korea that I didn’t know before is that it
must be boring as all hell to live there as long as you’re not blatantly causing
any issues.
Cat’s Point of View:
Our foreign film days are generally extra random, but I
think this one takes the cake.
I rather enjoy the occasional documentary, if the subject is
interesting enough. I grew up watching shows like Wild America (1982-1994) and Nova
(1974-), and I still enjoy them. I also love the shark-centered shows during
Discovery Channel’s Shark Week. I’ve even been known to watch an episode or so
of those programs that show you how things are made.
While I didn’t have any lofty expectations for this
particular documentary, I certainly hoped that it would be interesting. It’s
not every day that you get a chance to take a peek into the mysterious and
xenophobic North Korea. Given current world events, it’s also quite topical.
Sadly, I was rather disappointed. Aside from being rather
disturbed by the propaganda aspect as it pertained to the children, it just
couldn’t keep my attention. It’s abhorrent that the country actually teaches
its children to hate.
Some of the scenery was interesting, as well as the peek
into one of their festivals. The costuming employed was colorful but the
droning on about the ‘great’ leaders and such frankly made the whole thing a
giant snooze-fest. Not only did my mind wander, but I think I actually dozed
off for a minute out of boredom.
I appreciate what I think the film-makers were trying to do
here, but this documentary was dry and underwhelming.
Languages
Speech Available:
Korean
Subtitles Available:
English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, French, Spanish
Production Companies:
Hartbeat Productions, Universal Pictures
Producer: Dave
Becky, Dwayne L. Brown, Nichole Celistan, Jeff Clanagan, Kevin Hart, Blake
Morrison, Dana Riddick, Valerie Bleth Sharp, Pookey Wigington, Candice Wilson
Director: Leslie
Small, Tim Story
Writer: Kevin
Hart, Joey Wells, Harry Ratchford, Brian Buccellato
Actors: Kevin
Hart, Halle Berry, Don Cheadle, Ed Helms, David Meunier, Joey Wells
Stunt Doubles: Ben
Jenkin, Bethany Levy, Jalil Jay Lynch, Samuel J. Paul
Blurb from Netflix:
Frenetic comic Kevin Hart hits Philadelphia and dishes on suburban wildlife,
jean shorts and the fine art of getting even with a 7-year-old.
Selina’s Point of View:
I love, love, LOVE me some Kevin Hart (The Upside, Top Five, Central intelligence).
When I turn on a Kevin Hart special, I expect nothing less
than awesome hilarity. That’s a good thing, because I never get any less than
that. I always laugh, I’m always amused, and it’s always either relatable or so
unrelatable that it’s even better.
Although I love comedy that borders on the political aspects
of the world, like what you get from Lewis Black or George Carlin, Kevin Hart
offers that bit of ridiculousness that lets you forget the big issues for a
little while. We all need a break sometimes… and he’s always good for it.
There was a high-quality skit before the stand-up, it
continued after the show was over. I think it was kind of unnecessary, but it
wasn’t without merit. Just a little something extra for people who didn’t get
to see the show live, I guess. I enjoyed it, but it might not be for everyone.
Where the stand-up is concerned, though, Hart was on point.
At one point he mentioned being creeped out by raccoons. I
couldn’t laugh too hard at that, because I have my own animal kingdom creep-out
issue. I hate kangaroos. I don’t find them cute. I’m fucking terrified of them.
They’re like aliens, with their creepy limb-like tails and strange muscle-y
nature. Ugh.
Cat’s Point of View:
I can’t tell you how excited I was when we landed on this
comedy special as this mid-week review. I really enjoyed the last Kevin Hart (9mm, Get Hard, The Secret Life of Pets)
show we watched, and I enjoy him in movies so, I figured this was going to be a
shoe-in for a good time.
Hilarity ensued.
Upfront, I’ve got to say that I’m glad I didn’t try to watch
this while my daughter was around. This special has some decidedly adult
content in it – though, that’s not anything shocking or unheard of for a
stand-up show. I remember not being allowed to watch Comedy Central, even when
we didn’t have cable. My mom was just covering all the bases.
In any case, this was quite a different experience from the
last Kevin Hart special we reviewed. I enjoyed the cinematic opening to the
show. It paid homage to several movies while at the same time setting the
proverbial stage for what was to come with some funny moments including cameo
guests.
When it got to his Philadelphia show in the sold-out
football stadium, things focused down to just Hart on stage doing what he does
best – making fun of himself a lot. Of course, there was more to his act than
just poking fun at himself.
Some of it walked right at the edge of taste but he
pulled it off so that it wasn’t awkward at all. Some of his material didn’t put
him in a very good light – but you can bet I was still laughing. I just
couldn’t help it. It was funny.
We’re talking topics that REALLY shouldn’t be joked about –
and yet he did, and I’ll be damned if it wasn’t hilarious. I’m just saying.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this comedy special to
anyone that enjoys this skilled comedian – and hey the action elements involved
were actually pretty well done.
