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Reviews
Stranger Things (2016)
Unbelievably Awful
To quote Arnold Rimmer, "I thought it was the worst pile of blubbery school-girl mush I've ever been compelled to endure. I consider it an insult to my backside I was forced to sit here growing carbuncles through such putrid adolescent slush."
How this steaming pile made it to 8.9 stars on IMDb seriously eludes me. The writing was cliché and riddled with plot holes, the pacing was agonizingly slow, and with the exceptions of Winona Ryder and Millie Bobby Brown, the acting was beyond cringe-worthy across the board. As we slogged through season 1, my wife and I said repeatedly to ourselves, "This has *got* to start getting good at some point," but it never made it there. It didn't even come close to the hype we'd been fed. By the end, we threw up our hands in despair and bewilderment at its popularity.
To be fair, the one redeeming quality was how the production design captured the '80s look and feel, which we have to admit was done exceptionally well.
Beyond that, I fail to see why virtually everyone seems to have embraced this series as Netflix's preeminent title, especially in the face of such mastery that House of Cards brings to the table. I'm normally very forgiving about my entertainment, so I rarely say this, but I honestly feel cheated out of the time I spent watching this drivel.
So, for those of you all excited about season 2, I can say only this: I sincerely hope you find it as enjoyable as season 1, and may God have mercy upon your benighted souls!
Not Necessarily the News (1982)
Excellent political satire without the bias!
Political satire of today has much to learn from Not Necessarily The News. The humor is generally steeped in topical humor pertaining to the politics of the Regan White House era, yet there are no golden calves, as they're not afraid to poke silly fun at both sides of the political aisle. They focus on being funny, rather than remaining politically correct.
Some of the highlights are Mitchell Laurance in his Phil Noir sketches, Rich Hall with his sniglets, and the many and sundry "commercials" the entire crew put together to break up the news stories. All of it wrapped up in a mock-up of serious newscasting. Brilliant stuff!