I didn’t think I liked whole grain brown rice, but, aside from Salt, it’s the only thing on the ingredients list. There is “no high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors or added colors”. These Rice Cakes are also “gluten free” and “cholesterol free”.
That makes them a healthy snack; or at least it means they’re not an unhealthy snack; one of the rare ones that actually taste good. That’s partly because of the Styrofoam-like texture, which also makes them fun to eat.
my rating : 4 of 5
The refrain of this Christmas anthem is indeed Wonderful. Paul McCartney seems to know it too as he reverts to it after every four, or is it two, bars of verse. That gives the song an odd structure in which the bridge is the longest bit.
Not that anyone at the party is paying attention to the structure of the song. Everyone’s too busy having fun, dancing and singing along. “The mood is right, the spirit’s up,” McCartney observes, “We’re here tonight and that’s enough.”
my rating : 4 of 5
1979
This is a horror flick based not on killer deer but the wendigo; a mythological creature that “devours mankind”. It’s a decent concept, but the plot, which reminds me of Stephen King’s Gray Matter, is riddled with cinematic clichés and implausibilities. It seems even the most horrendous villains have a weakness for protagonists.
The boy the man turned wendigo fathers is fine. It’s his nosey school teacher; the wendigo is less creepy; I was hoping he’d use as beast feed. Instead, while her cop brother, attacked and injured, lies conveniently out of commission, she ends up playing a heroine of sorts. The movie is about as silly as the folklore it encompasses.
my rating : 2 of 5
2021
This would be an amazing showcase for Khamzat Chimaev if not for Li Jingliang’s defensive skills. The way Chimaev holds him up in the air like a rebellious toddler and slams him to the ground, all while talking to Dana White, is certainly, as Paul Felder suggests, impressive, but Jingliang is able to survive for a couple of minutes.
Chimaev is a scary prospect. He’s currently the most hyped “phenom” in The UFC. This victory puts him near the ranks of the top lightweight, not to mention welterweight and middleweight, contenders. He says he’s come to “kill everybody” and, considering his ten-fight MMA win streak; all early finishes; he might not be playing.
my rating : 4 of 5
2021
After his last five fights, including surprising wins over Dominick Reyes and middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, I thought Jan Błachowicz would beat Glover Teixeira relatively easily. What happens is the opposite. Błachowicz predicted a second-round finish and he was right. This makes Teixeira, at 42, the oldest-ever UFC champion after Randy Couture.
my rating : 3 of 5
2021
This is the best movie in the Paranormal Activity series, but that’s hardly a compliment. There are now seven parts and still none of them are good. The reason Next Of Kin comes the closest has to do with how far it trips from the original concept; labeling this a Paranormal Activity sequel comes across as a total cash grab; and unshackles itself to become a traditional horror flick.
The last third is actually quite thrilling. At that point, Margot; the Kin bit is about her and the mother she never knew; is allowed bloody grimaces because she no longer has to carry the movie with her cute looks. There are plenty of narrative flaws; her Amish family is scary enough without all the supernatural cowshit; but the ending leaves you wanting more. That’s a first for the franchise.
my rating : 3 of 5
2021
This could’ve been a good concert video. Instead the stage bits are repeatedly interrupted by what’s supposed to be a movie. The acting is porn bad; the only two real actors are Clarence Williams and Olga Karlatos as Prince’s dysfunctional parents; but the girls are pretty; Jill is my Apollonia; and the music rocks.
Of course the music rocks. This is a Prince movie and Purple Rain is his best album. The fictionalization of it is off-putting; for some inexcusable reason, his name is changed to The Kid; but its songs shine. Some are poignant enough to leave the ladies in tears. Perhaps the title is a metaphor for running mascara.
my rating : 3 of 5
1984
audio review : Purple Rain ( album ) … Prince And The Revolution
Rza’s beats are still the most interesting thing about Wu-Tang Clan. Over the years, it’s transcended into an experimental mix of acid hip-hop and ghetto soul with old Kung Fu movie samples mixed in for nostalgia’s sake. This album presents it amid some of the rawest vocals the eight remaining Clansmen have to offer these days, but, despite guest crooners like Erykah Badu and George Clinton, the album is weak at the hooks; one of the main Diagrams to consider when it comes to making a good rap album.
my rating : 3 of 5
2007
Short Circuit 2 is better than the first one. They’re both corny, thanks mostly to the personality of the star robot, but this one has a better plot. It sends Number 5, now known as Johnny 5, to New York City to build toy replicas of himself. Of course all hell breaks loose from there.
There’s a ridiculous sequence involving a restaurant freezer and an answering machine; in a movie about a living robot, this bit comes across as the most implausible; but it’s a decent sequel. It would be better if it took itself seriously though. Johnny 5’s sense of humor is cringey.
my rating : 3 of 5
1988
Number 5 is alive? No, but he thinks he is. He’s a military robot created at Nova Laboratories. It’s when he gets struck by a magical lightning bolt and inadvertently escapes to the home of a girl named Stephanie that the plots kicks into gear.
A potentially interesting concept is ruined by the movie’s chosen genre. Short Circuit would be better as serious science fiction. Instead it presents itself as mostly comedy; the star robot is constantly making jokes; except it’s mostly corny.
my rating : 2 of 5
1986
This Frosty is a Classic but only in the sense of historic significance; it’s been on the menu since Wendy’s first restaurant opened back in 1969; not when it comes to the taste. It’s good, mainly because the flavor of Chocolate is actually diluted with vanilla, but not as good as its unadulterated counterpart.
my rating : 4 of 5
It’s often best to keep it simple and McDonald’s Sausage Biscuit is a perfect example of that. It’s just a sausage patty sandwiched between two buttermilk biscuits, but it’s one of the best-tasting items on the menu. Two is all you need for a filling 19th-century-style breakfast that also happens to be delicious.
my rating : 4 of 5