The way Roger Ebert felt toward “Bucket List” is kind of the way I feel toward “Poms.” While it is a movie that’s meant to be life affirming and celebrating old age, “Poms” watches like a patronizing, exploitative last gasp of a once excellent actress. For a movie that is meant to be fun and light hearted, “Poms” is painfully depressing while also being embarrassingly bland and silly when we get down to it. I’m all for movies that confront the idea of ageism and that nothing can hold us back from accomplishing our dreams, but “Pom” is absolutely disingenuous to its very foundation.
Earwig and the Witch (2020) [Blu-Ray/DVD]
I’m one of the traditionalists that think Studio Ghibli should have stuck to hand drawn animation, but sometimes there’s just no fighting change. With “Earwig and the Witch” there’s so much new, that you’re almost tricked in to forgetting that the movie almost has no real narrative. At all. This is one of Studio Ghibli’s more aimless movies that doesn’t have a whole lot to it. Substantially, the movie packs in some great animation, and it’s quite startling how some of the motion for some scenes looks so realistic. I’m not going to say that the movie is an accomplishment in regards to Ghibli because Pixar has pulled off so much better.
Hell, Dreamworks has accomplished so much more with this medium.
Linnea Quigley’s Paranormal Truth
I wish I could have loved “Paranormal Truth” but the fact is that the show is about twenty years too late. The series, produced with twelve episodes, is one of the many, many (many!) documentary shows that investigates stuff about the occult that we’ve all brushed with time and time again. There’s episodes about vampires, zombies, exorcisms, devil worship, and so much more special interest stuff that you probably already know too much of.
Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge (2020) [4K UHD/Blu-Ray/Digital]
I’m glad there’s a lot more momentum being picked up with “Mortal Kombat” as an IP, as the series deserves a cinematic universe. It’s a series filled with mythology, and alternate universes, and monsters, as well as some vicious gore. Despite past flubs with animated attempts at “Mortal Kombat,” Warner Bros. “Scorpion’s Revenge” is a solid return to the animated medium. It doesn’t re-invent the wheel as far as “Mortal Kombat” goes, but it’s a basic meat and potatoes primer that can act as an entry way for new fans.
You Have to See This! Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie (1996)
By 1996, “Mystery Science Theater 3000” was known as a cult comedy series that had gained enough mainstream traction to earn a feature film. By 1996 the once unusual comedy had become very much a hit for fans of cult cinema and science fiction. The series as a whole, when first stepping in to it, is weird. I fondly remember first watching the series and literally thinking “What the hell is this?” But when you get in to the nuts and bolts of the concept, it’s not only genius but hilarious. Suffice to say, I was hooked, without apology. Essentially you’re watching a man watching bad movies with two robots.
That’s the gist of the whole shebang.
Honeydew (2020)
A couple goes camping in nature to reconnect and concentrate on what is important to them. They soon find out they are on a man’s property, but can’t easily leave due to car trouble. As they go walking to find phone service, they stumble upon a farmhouse where they are welcomed with open arms by an elderly lady seemingly wanting to help. As they spend the night there, things take a turn for the odd and dangerous.
The Deep Ones (2020)
A couple who rented out an Airbnb are welcomed by the more-than-involved owners who take a liking to them and decide to bring them into their own seaside community.