Well, that didn’t last long; this fight nor Jéssica Andrade’s title reign. Rose Namajunas, the other former Women’s Strawweight champion, exposed the flaws in Andrade’s striking during their UFC 237 bout. Weili Zhang, fighting in her homeland China, destroys her less than a minute into the very first round.
my rating : 3 of 5
2019
“I Forgot That You Existed,” Taylor Swift tells a past Lover, “It isn’t love; it isn’t hate; it’s just indifference.” If that were true, she doesn’t seem to realize, the song itself wouldn’t exist. Perhaps it shouldn’t, at least not where it is. It’s a decent ditty for my money but an odd way to start an album about the “love” she claims it isn’t.
Cruel Summer, the album’s worst song; it’s the annoying chorus that’s cruel; should also be cut. That would put the lush title track in the lead where it belongs. Not that editing the playlist would make this a Lovable or even likeable set. It’ll Get Better, but not by much. There are maybe a couple of good songs in the whole bunch.
False God resurrects Prince in his prime with its beatific groove and even Taylor Swift stretching “love” out to five syllables can’t ruin the experience. Me, featuring Brendon Urie, is flawed by a cringey pitch change during its otherwise wonderful chorus. For some reason, they decide to go high on the “you” in “fun of you”.
my rating : 3 of 5
2019
Snoop Dogg shouldn’t be thanking himself for these songs. Most of them are decent enough, thanks mostly to an assortment of Long Beach hood beats; the Looking For You summer anthem is the best in that regard; but some parts are annoying.
It’s good to hear Slick Rick in 2019; he was also featured on Mariah Carey’s newest album; but the song he’s on is on some tired race card bullshit. It’s also disappointing hearing banal Bob Marley, Whodini and Boyz 2 Men song bits used for hooks.
The title is silly, but it’s not Snoop’s worst. Remember Malice N Wonderland? It would be appropriate if this were his final album. I doubt it is; the Thank Me concept is based on his Hollywood star acceptance speech; but maybe it should be.
my rating : 3 of 5
2019
Hulk Hogan may as well be playing Hulk Hogan. That’s how close WWF superstar Rip is to the real-life entertainer. His nemesis here is a beast of a man named Zeus who, at one point, puts a brutal beating on Rip’s little brother.
It’s Rocky with a wrestling slant and trainer Charlie is Mickey Goldmill. The movie is hackneyed and somewhat predictable from beginning to end, but there are funny moments and the peak showdown is better than expected.
my rating : 3 of 5
1989
This song is rather dull and dreary until about the final third when Tori Amos, over spacey electric guitars, starts listing chemical elements from the periodic table. That whole end section, in which she sings of wanting to be “the very best machine I can be”, is rather dazzling. The whole song should sound like that.
my rating : 3 of 5
2017
“M&M’s” are the most overrated candy in America, but this Peanut Butter version is probably the best among them. It would taste better without the chocolate, which is sandwiched between the peanut butter filling and colorful candy shells, but then it would be Reese’s Pieces.
my rating : 3 of 5
Quentin Tarantino says he wants to retire after ten movies. This is number nine. If he were to ask me what I think he should do to end his career on a high note, I’d sum it up with one word; suspense. That’s what makes his best movies; Inglourious Basterds and Jackie Brown; the classics they are. They’re filled almost to the brim with moments of suspense.
There’s a scene in Hollywood in which one of its two leading men; Brad Pitt as stuntman Cliff Booth; drives a sexy hitchhiker girl to Spahn Movie Ranch, where she says she lives. She invites him on the premises to meet her hippie friends. The tension that follows could be cut with a knife, but it leads nowhere. The suspense doesn’t return until the movie is about to end.
That ending, in which members of Charles Manson’s killer cult target Cliff and his famous actor buddy Rick Dalton; Leonardo DiCaprio as the other leading man; is violent and enthralling. Most of what comes before it is relatively uneventful. A lot of the movie is spent watching Dalton act in movies that are more entertaining than the one you’re watching.
my rating : 3 of 5
2019
E-40 announced this album about a year ago. It was supposed to be the third in a trilogy having to do with the definitions of the title phrases. The first was The Gift Of Gab. The second was supposed to be Rule Of Thumb. He either changed the order or canceled that one. This does seem to be two albums combined into one.
There are 26 songs, one of which features Scarface. I remember E-40 saying in an interview that Scarface was the one rapper he wanted to collab with but never have. Also featured are Rick Ross, Redman and Method Man. E-40 is never outshined though. Even when the hooks are lacking, as is often the case, he’s spitting game.
my rating : 3 of 5
2019
This Child’s Play remake, however unnecessary it may be, is, at worst, as watchable as most of the other movies in the series. That’s not saying much; I don’t think most are particularly good; but it makes for a surprisingly amusing experience.
Chucky, who doesn’t really look or sound like Chucky; Brad Dourif is replaced by Mark Hamill; dabbles not in Vodou but smart home technology. The story, which relies heavily on horror/comedy clichés, brings the old killer doll to 2019.
my rating : 3 of 5
2019
The title song, also the official theme song to Mister Rogers Neighborhood, is damn good. It’s the one part of the show I still enjoy as an adult. The show itself hasn’t aged nearly as well. This documentary; featuring biographical monologues from Fred Rogers, his family and associates; serves as a reminder. It teaches viewers a lot of new things about the Neighborhood, but nothing interesting enough to justify its existence.
my rating : 3 of 5
2018
It’s hard not to make noise. That’s the problem for a family trying to survive in an apocalyptic world. Their Earth has been invaded by blind space aliens who hunt humans thru sound.
With that, it’s like a cross between Signs and Tremors as the family tip-toes around and communicates via sign language. If you so much as fart too loud, you’re dead. How’s that for tension?
A Quiet Place works as a nod to the silent film era of a century ago, but it’s ultimately just another average horror flick that doesn’t have a lot to offer beyond its gimmicky premise.
my rating : 3 of 5
2018
Judging from the looks, also the stated height and reach advantage, you might think Megan Anderson would make quick work of Felicia Spencer. Their win/loss records tell a different story.
Anderson lands the first punch, a right-hand cross to the face, but once Spencer takes her back, she isn’t able to get her off. The fight, which is short and sexy, ends with a submission.
my rating : 3 of 5
2019