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Reviews
Babylon 5: A Call to Arms (1999)
devil in the details
Good pilot movie for the following Crusade series but the script left bothersome questions that only heightened my resentment as a viewer against Sheridan's new Alliance which by all rights, Earth should have revolted against. Here, five years after the events of the Bab 5 series, Sheridan is still President as is the Russian lady of Earth. Are there no elections for these presidencies? Not only that, Sheridan is secretly building two massive warships based on Volrlon tech without permission from anyone. Where's the legislature? Is Sheridan an unelected dictator? It's questions like these that have always turned me against Sheriden in the end and forced me to side with Earth.
Babylon 5: The River of Souls (1998)
fun
Strong first half especially scenes on Soul Hunter's planet but plot involving Babylon 5 blowing up is routine. Holo brothel sup plot is unfortunate as is writer/creator Strazynski's dialogue. In particular, scene where characters are discussing the soul, the word "afterlife" should have been used instead of "Heaven." But worth watching for any Bab 5 fan.
Bells Are Ringing (1960)
Pretty dull stuff
One of the slowest, most boring Hollywood musicals I ever saw. And I love Hollywood musicals! Not a single memorable song. Not a one with a catchy tune. The romantic plot and sub plot involving bookies is contrived and cliched. Dean Martin is wasted. Very stagy, and artificial. At 126 minutes, I found this film interminable. Only clever bit was in the bookie song where the lead calls out "Handel?" and the chorus replies "Hialea! Hialea!" I actually laughed at that. If you love musicals, I guess you need to get this one under your belt but if you're so so on musicals, avoid this one so as not to discourage you from ever watching any again.
Chato's Land (1972)
Awful
Pretty bad late period western influenced more by the spaghetti western style than traditional Hollywood. Does the film look cheap? Yes. Is there bad directing? Fer shur. Does all the dialogue sound like it was looped? Yes. And despite its stellar cast of actors, they all seem to be just phoning it in. Getting in an all expenses paid trip to Spain or Italy or wherever this travesty was shot. Anyway, direction by Michael Winner is all over the map with bad cuts, choppy editing, and bad dialogue. Add to that an early seventies hip anti-white man vibe versus the virtuous Indians and you've got a movie that leaves nothing but a bad taste in your mouth. Avoid at all costs.