Comedy & Movie Reviews 2020

Woof-o-meter :-
0-Die Bastard : 1-Crap : 2-Rubbish(watchable) : 3-OK : 3.5-Nice : 4-Good : 4.5-Very Good : 5-WOW

Other Movies seen, but at home - Other Movies

01.01.21 - Due to a second wave of virus I can't go anywhere anymore because I might infect old people here, so this blog will probably go dead for a while.

16.12.20 : Christmas is F#cking Cancelled; Artist Fundraiser : GD live-stream

Xmas is cancelled until Santa gets his sh!t together and gets PC. It kind-of was a shambolic, half-heated, ie, only 1, 1hr rehearsal type feel - which is what it was supposed to be -, with piss-takes, breaking the 4th wall, and some mimed songs, play. It seamed ok to the audience, but for me online, I couldn't hear every word, ie, I don't know if it was funny. Kinda ok 2.5

13.12.20 : The Big Squid FauXmas Show : GD live-stream

Justin Hamilton and Ben Ellwood hosted, guest Alex Jae covered Xmas movies, Richard Fidler told of the origin of Father Christmas, Alice Fraser told of a Jewish Buddhist Xmas, Rove McManus did Xmas Dr Who, and Georgia Mooney did a Dolly Parton song. Can't complain. 3.25

11.12.20 : Words on Bathroom Walls - movie

Drama, Romance : Diagnosed with a mental illness halfway through his senior year of high school, a witty, introspective teen struggles to keep it a secret while falling in love with a brilliant classmate.

It's Babymetal, ie, a lot of different genres mashed together that shouldn't work, yet somehow it does. It starts serious, then goes nice teen movie, mild comedy, romance, drama, serious, religious, then nice. It kept me interested. 3.5 maybe 3.75ish 

10.12.20 : Easey Comedy : COMEDY.COM.AU live-stream

Lewis Garnham(MC), Denise Scott, Anna Piper Scott, Grace Jarvis, David Quirk

It wasn't as good as last time, but it was still ok except for Quirk. There was a Zoom call with Adam Hills, Denise was the only truly funny one, Lewis's snake joke was good, and everyone else was ok, but Quirk went on for ages that his set was ruined when a phone went off. I hate when comics have an exaggerated sense of their own importance and destroy their own set by exaggerating something so trivial that simply continuing and talking louder would'ave had it forgotten instantly - it's as disruptive as a heckle -. Even if he had a perfect set he would've been least funny on the bill, so in fact all he did was spoil the night. 3

09.12.20 : A Gift from Bob - movie

Drama , Family : Sequel to the feature film 'A STREET CAT NAMED BOB'.

After 1 hour of bad things happening one after another, I figured it wasn't worth another hour of the same just for a 10min payout at the end. It was also a bit slow, and full of artificial cats shots to give the impression of cuteness. Like Rams(2020), just not as depressing. 2

08.12.20 : Christmas Jars - movie

Drama , Family : It tells the story of reporter Hope Jensen who uncovers the secret behind "Christmas Jars" - jars filled with money and given anonymously to people in need. 

If you don't count the tragedy in the first 5min, it's gentle and sweet, and for a PG it has an intelligence level that is suitable for adults, be it that it's simple enough that you can see the setup for the fall at the end. Maybe too saccharine sweet for most people, but for oldies it's probably right up their alley. 3.75

06.12.20 : Judith Lucy & Denise Scott - Disappointments : COMEDY.COM.AU live-stream

The first half was very funny, but then the second half died. It started as a type of Gogglebox after the fact, ie, a book club but with TV shows, and their reviews on the Crown and a penis documentary was super funny, but about halfway it changed to some sort of live dating interview with people, that wasn't funny. It could've been brilliant if they kept up the Improv riffing. 3

06.12.20 : The GIGANTIC Comedy Show : NYC live-stream

It's kinda similar, but also very different. It's a Zoom meeting from homes where the audience is supposed to connect with video and mics, so that it gives the feel of a live audience, ie, laugh track. And if that wasn't difficult enough, the other problems are that there are regional and cultural difference that make it difficult to get the references when you are on the other side of the world. Then there is also that it's a free/donation show, so it was never going to be high-end comics - it's like our beginner standup shows -. Not much to laugh at, but it was adequate for a first time O/S standup viewing. 2

05.12.20 : The Witches - movie

Adventure, Comedy, Family : A young boy and his grandmother have a run-in with a coven of witches and their leader.

I should've researched it better, because it was too kids level for an adult - I though it was going to be like The Witches of Eastwick(1987). The first half had no fantasy, ie, it was too real, so I was pretty bored. The second half got better when they introduced the CGI fantasy stuff, which made it tolerable, but overall it's probably too dull for mature audiences. 2

04.12.20 : War with Grandpa - movie

Comedy, Drama, Family : Upset that he has to share the room he loves with his grandfather, Peter decides to declare war in an attempt to get it back. 

It was always going to be simplistic because it's PG kids, but it's fun enough to not be a chore. Think of it as a mild Home Alone(1990) type feel. ok 3 

03.12.20 : Easey Comedy : COMEDY.COM.AU live-stream

MC Tom Ballard, Lano & Woodley, Michelle Brasier, Nick Cody and Annie Louey.

Gee that was some dumb luck - lol -. I saw Colin Lane on Qi and wondered what happen to Frank Woodley, and the first thing on his FB page was a live stream for tomorrow night. Because I hadn't seen standup for so long, and that there are different comics in Melbourne with material I haven't seen, it was quite good to watch. 3.75

03.12.20 : Fatman - movie

Action, Comedy, Fantasy : A rowdy, unorthodox Santa Claus is fighting to save his declining business. Meanwhile, Billy, a neglected and precocious 12 year old, hires a hit man to kill Santa after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking. 

The trailer was unfunny, but the idea of the movie looked interesting because it was a different/weird style of movie. Unfortunately the movie was neither interesting funny or fun, it was just a story that had no hook to discern it from something that was everyday occurrence. Nothing special. 2

02.12.20 : Happiest Season - movie

Comedy, Romance : A holiday romantic comedy that captures the range of emotions tied to wanting your family's acceptance, being true to yourself, and trying not to ruin Christmas. 

It's advertised as a Rom-Com, but it's closer to a drama. It starts off nice enough, but you quickly realise there is nothing to laugh at. Then at halfway it becomes not fun, ie, serious, as the characters faults appear. I guess they wanted something different to boy girl, but it's too serious to be a Rom-Com. 2.75 

27.11.20 : The Zest is History; Live Podcast Recording : GD live-stream

I don't know the history of the show, and why it's so popular, but for a first time viewing of someone from the outside I would say it's ok, just not super funny. Even though I didn't laugh much once the stories started it was engaging enough that I was able to focus on it, which is pretty good because I easily drift if something doesn't grab me. 3

23.11.20 : The Comeback Trail - movie

Action, Comedy : Two movie producers who owe money to the mob set up their ageing movie star for an insurance scam to try and save themselves. 

I can't say it's brilliant, and it is rather simple at times, ie PG simple, and it also telegraphs everything that is going to happen, but I found it amusing enough to be fun. 3

19.11.20 : Jenna Suffern & Brendan Hancock: Daddy I’m Home : GD live-stream

Unfortunately it wasn't very funny. Jenna had a bit of construction to her set, but Brendan's was as thought out as your neighbour telling you about his weekend, but with slow delivery pauses everywhere. 2.75

19.11.20 : Robyn Reynolds & Madeleine Stewart: Tea Time : GD live-stream

Very good. Robyn is warm and fuzzy delightful, and Madeleine is seriously funny good. 3.75

18.11.20 : Freaky - movie

Comedy, Horror, Thriller : After swapping bodies with a deranged serial killer, a young girl in high school discovers she has less than 24 hours before the change becomes permanent. 

It was so unfunny it got annoying, and coupled with the lame logic - not the body swap logic but the general logic -, I quit near the end. The lesson is, Comedy Horror is never funny unless it's ridiculous, eg, Zombeavers (2014), and this wasn't even close on any account. I keep waiting for it to get interesting, but I gave up 30 min from the end. 1

17.11.20 : Natali Caro: Seeking Representation : GD live-stream

There was some impressions, some life story, some skits, and some singing. I was the wrong demographic and didn't get some of the references, plus I couldn't hear any of the "supposedly" impromptu extras because they weren't mic-ed up. I don't know if it was good, but I didn't laugh that much. NA

17.11.20 : Rams - movie

Adventure, Comedy, Drama : A decades-long feud between two sheep farming brothers comes to a head when disaster strikes their flocks. 

I knew it was going to be tragic at the start, but it was too tragic for too long and never got fun. I guess they were going for the comedic "avoiding the law" - maybe like Hunt for the Wilderpeople -, but even at half way when I left, it was still tragic. I figured it wasn't worth waiting around for it to get good, so I'll just read the Wiki for the rest of the story. 1

16.11.20 : Jacinta Gregory: Jacintervention : GD live-stream

I like comedy songs when they are simple and good, but this was more a musical. Musical songs are renowned for being word heavy, and that obscures the comedy, ie, it's basically a songs without a catchy chorus. Not bad, and one of the better musicals I've seen, but not really my style. It should be NA, but 3ish would be my rating.  

14.11.20 : Annaliese Constable: Perfect Child : GD live-stream

It took 15min to get going, ie, not many laughs, but after that it ramped up and got quite good. Basically it's Annaliese life story, but the biggest part was growing up with alcoholic parents. It kind-of puts your family into perspective when things aren't going well, because some stuff was tragic. It's not all truth-bombs, and most of it was covered with humour, but you can clearly see a mother making bad decisions due to being out of control. 3.75

12.11.20 : Zoë Coombs Marr: Hello Again, Hi There : GD live-stream

Good. A humorous breakdown of what comedy is. 3.5

11.11.20 : Radioactive - movie

Biography, Drama, Romance : The incredible true story of Marie Sklodowska-Curie and her Nobel Prize-winning work that changed the world. 

The reviews are pretty right, in that it's not very exciting. When you make a Bio into a movie you dramatise the interesting points to add excitement, so it's more entertaining, but in this one they didn't dramatise anything, eg, they treated the glowing radium as a normal, rather than be astounded by it's first time glowing. If you watch a 1hr dramatised documentary, or even a plain documentary, it would be more entertaining than this. Ok. 2.75 

10.11.20 : Beth McMullen: Why Am I Still Single : GD live-stream

That was different to what I was expecting. I've seen the promotional picture around for a long time and it conjures up something sad where I'm compelled to help by going to see it, hence why I have been trying to see this show for years. But the pic is nothing like the show, because it's not sad, it's kind-of fun/nice - be it that it has a lot of sex talk -. Basically it's about failed relations and dating, punctuated with songs - she's an alright singer -. Quite good 3.75

10.11.20 : The Craft: Legacy - movie

Drama, Fantasy, Horror : A group of high school students form a coven of witches. A sequel to the 1996 film, "The Craft". 

You know how daytime soaps have that amateurish feel, acting, logic, and quality, well this feels similar. I guess it's aimed at a juvenile audience, because the characters acted juvenile, and the logic and execution was a bit juvenile. Slow at times, and there was hardly any special effects. Eh. 2.5

08.11.20 : Rosie Piper: Goddess : GD live-stream

Really good, but at the end it gets serious. It's mainly a comedic take on the terms used in a persons sexuality, ie, bisexual, with some experiences thrown in. But the end was the reality of the situation, and what it's like being Trans, ie, you can't really win in a choice like that. Basically people want individuality, but they also want to be accepted in a group, and that is polar opposites. It was laughs right from the start, and that carried on throughout until the truth-bomb at the end. 3.75

07.11.20 : Alex Reynolds: Curly and Coordinated : GD live-stream

Not super funny, but it might be because I've seen it, or parts of it, before. The first half I tuned out - maybe it was familiar -, but the second half I tuned back in - maybe this was new stuff. It's ok, but I didn't laugh much. 2.5

27.10.20 : Honest Thief - movie

Action, Crime, Drama : Hoping to cut a deal, a professional bank robber agrees to return all the money he stole in exchange for a reduced sentence. 

I guess they wanted to go with something different than the usual manhunt chase type movie, but what they came up with wasn't that interesting or exciting. Ahh, it's a movie. 2.75

21.10.20 : ITS The News : GD live-stream

This one had more Pros so I was banking on it being better than the last - I pretty much hated the last -. It did have disjointed scenes that went nowhere, but this time they were the minority, so overall it was fairly good. I think the fundamental thing I don't like about this format is the depressing downer news stories, but if the players can turn that around and make it silly, it kind-of makes it a touch less depressing. 3

20.10.20 : Totally F*ct Trivia: 'Hamilton' Edition : GD live-stream

I don't know what a 'Hamilton' is, just that's it's a musical and I hate musicals, so I'm kind-of hoping Julian Morrow(The Chaser, The Checkout) can make it worth watching. As expected knew nothing, learned a tiny bit of useless info, and Julian made a small portion amusing. Not for me, but it was short, so I didn't really mind. 1.5

15.10.20 : Big Vibes : GD live-stream

The scoring is loose and random, yet the rules are very elaborate and detailed, and because of the many rules you would think it's quite controlled, yet it's very loose and uncontrolled. The host comes up with a scenario - it was going out partying from 6pm to 6am - and the teams have to come up with what happens next. Good Vibes team makes up good things that happen, and Bad Vibes counter with bad scenarios, and the most convincing get the vibe meter leaning in their direction. If an idea is too far fetched the referee disallows it, and if it's not plausible but can happen they to roll a dice, or act it out so people can be convinced. On top of that the players are asked at the start what scenario they would like to happen at the end of the night, and the ones that turn out correct get more points. Other rules are, 5min in the show is 1 hr in real life, when they mention drinking the alcohol meter goes up until it reaches the top where that team spews. There is also a made up song off contest, bonus joker cards, and mini games. It's something new, and I found it interesting. 3.5

14.10.20 : Comedy Fundraiser for the Aboriginal Legal Service : GD live-stream

Oliver Twist, Becky Lucas ,Bea Barbeau-Scurla ,Dave Woodhead ,Nina Oyama ,Nat Damena ,Suren Jayemanne

It was pretty good it's just it was the younger comics, which is not a problem because they did short sets. 3.5

06.10.20 Totally F*ct Trivia : GD live-stream

The thing about quiz shows is, the more you know, the more you relate to it. This one I didn't know much because I have a black-ban on the news - it's too depressing -, so I usually learn stuff. Unfortunately the questions seemed obscure, and that means I didn't know most people's names and  what half the stories were relating to. It felt like TV show Randling, in that no one knew any answers - even the contestants -, so everything was a blind sh!t-house guess. 3

05.10.20 : Jimeoin: Ramble On : online

As for laughs, this guy is as safe as houses. Good 4.25

03.10.20 : Kitty Flanagan: Smashing : online

You can tell it's good, but you can also tell that if you were there it would've been better. 4

03.10.20 : Big Squid Podcast Live : GD live-stream

It was alright, but I guess not being there makes you less tolerant, ie, I thought some sections went on a touch long. 3.25

02.10.20 : Lawrence Mooney: Like Literally : online

He's rude, crude, disgusting, offensive, and not PC, and that's why he is so good. Being there live would've been even better. 4.25

30.09.20 : ITS The News : GD live-stream

Improv. When the pros got a riff going it was funny, but that only happened once. The rest I didn't find that much fun, but I also couldn't hear it that well either. 2

26.09.20 : Andy Ryan - Off The Piss : GD live-stream

Ryan tells us about his experience with addiction, suicide, self-harm, drugs and alcohol, but the way he delivers it isn't a downer. He's good, the show's good, it's all good. 3.5

25.09.20 : The High Note - movie

Drama, Music, Romance : A superstar singer and her overworked personal assistant are presented with a choice that could alter the course of their respective careers. 

Initially this looks like just another version of the simplistic "PA with a skill wanting something better for herself", which was nice enough, but by the second half this gets better and you realise this is a more professional/competently made version. On a side note, they must've got someone professional to do the songs, because I don't really like this genre of music yet I liked the songs instantly - lol -. 3.75

24.09.20 : The Secret Garden - movie

Drama, Family, Fantasy : An orphaned girl discovers a magical garden hidden at her strict uncle's estate. Too real, be it by the archaic standards of the British aristocracy at the time. 

I don't know how this is PG because it's too sad and too depressing, and in fact I decided at the end it wasn't worth finding out what happened in the last half hour. Ironically Bridge to Terabithia(2007) was more fun, at least until the tragic death that scared everyone - lol -. Too many downs not enough ups. 2

23.09.20 : A Likely Story - Roll with the Punches : GD live-stream

Hosted by Concetta Caristo (PedestrianTV, ABC’s Fresh Blood, FBi Radio)

John Glover - Losing on the quiz show Think Tank.

Emma Ryan - Re-evaluating her drive to do sport after a wedgie in water polo.

Ange Lavoipierre (comic) - Returning the ashes of a veteran.

Grace Rouvray (Actor and writer) - Not knowing she has a broken foot.

Jack Gow (Radio National, ABC News Digital) - Mouldy apartment, and annoying neighbours.

3.5

23.09.20 : American Pickle - movie

Comedy : An immigrant worker at a pickle factory is accidentally preserved for 100 years and wakes up in modern-day Brooklyn. 

I didn't even smile at the trailer, but I thought the movie might be better. It is better, but it's not high laughs. Ok-ish. 3

22.09.20 Totally F*ct Trivia : GD live-stream

A current affairs/political quiz. I can't say it's super, but I kinda like it 3.25

18.09.20 : The Broken Hearts Gallery - movie

Comedy, Romance : After a break up, a young woman decides to start a gallery where people can leave trinkets from past relationships. 

It has the usual RomCom attractive people and a similar type story, but is different enough to be interesting as well. It's nice, it's fun, it's light. 3.5

17.09.20 : Tenet - movie

Action, Sci-Fi : Armed with only one word, Tenet, and fighting for the survival of the entire world, a Protagonist journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time. 

It might be because I couldn't hear half of what was being said, but I found this hard to follow. It also didn't help that there was no identifiers, because all you saw was everyone in the same uniforms and masks running around, and no context to what was happening, ie, something happens and you have to work it out. Also I don't think they explained the large rotating stainless door reversed you in time, because all you saw was someone come out of the door and start fighting, with some of the actions weirdly reversed. Also the SciFi didn't really start till after the second half. I should've really read the plot first. 3.5

16.09.20 : Bill & Ted Face the Music - movie

Adventure, Comedy, Music : Bill & Ted must travel through time to save the world. 

It's not funny, and it's rather simplistic, and all I can say is that it's visually light/bright, ie, up rather than down. It's only short at 90min, but by the last 10min I was wishing it was shorter. It's just not that interesting. 2

02.09.20 : ITS The News : GD live-stream

I don't think it was a good one, but then again I missed a lot because I can't hear that well when all the sounds aren't at the same level. With normal hearing the muscles on the ear drum tighten when things are too load to reduce the volume, and loosen to amplify soft sounds. With tinnitus it's 100% volume all time so you have to turn the volume down so the loudest sounds don't cause pain, and that makes the soft sounds too soft to hear. Plus it's hard to hear speech when there are background noises. 2

26.08.20 : A Likely Story - Pulling Out All The Stops : GD live-stream
The writing is probably not as professional as Story Club, but the entertainment value is the same. 3.75

Hosted Concetta Caristo (PedestrianTV, ABC’s Fresh Blood, FBi Radio)

Orya Golgowsky (Improv Theatre Sydney) - Being asked in for a job interview only for them to realise they called the wrong girl.

Hannah Pembroke - Blackmailing her parents for a birthday cake, when she realised her sister got one but she didn't.

Suren Jayamanne (Melbourne International Comedy Festival) - Boss Tony doing weightlifting rather than working.

Challito Browne (Frayed, ABC) - Playing D&D, but accidentally going to a B&D dungeon.

Patrick Lenton (JUNKEE) - Choosing Uni degrees that make you unemployable.

Bec Melrose (RAW Comedy, Comedy Zone) - Going to see a Volcano in Hawaii during a hurricane driven by an irresponsible captain.

25.08.20 Totally F*ct Trivia : GD live-stream

It's a current affairs/political quiz, which isn't my favourite, but it was ok. The only thing that would make it better is if the audience was a bit louder, because it adds a laugh track. 2.5

17.08.20 : Dr Karl’s House Party : USyd live-stream

I missed half of it getting online to work, but you did notice there was no audience, ie, no laugh track makes it less entertaining. 2.5

20.03.20 - 17.08.20 - COVID 19
Probably can't risk any shows incase I give it to the folks, because for old people it could be terminal.

19.03.20 : The Current War - movie
Biography, Drama, History : The dramatic story of the cutthroat race between electricity titans Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse to determine whose electrical system would power the modern world.

The story was about DC V's AC, but what dominated the film was Edison's insistence that AC kills. The facts in this film differ compared to common belief, ie, Tesla invented AC, because Westinghouse already had AC, be it only for light. Tesla did induction motors and the AC electricity supply systems part. Quite good. 3.5.

17.03.20 : Enmore Comedy Club : Factory Theatre
You can tell it wasn't going to be that good when an audience of only 4 turn up because of the virus. Even with that, it wasn't a particularly strong lineup. I guess it's not worth doing anything until the virus is gone. Crowd : 3 - Me : 2.5

13.03.20 : Military Wives - movie
Comedy, Drama : With their partners away serving in Afghanistan, a group of women on the home front form a choir and quickly find themselves at the centre of a media sensation and global movement.

It's a nice movie, but there's always a reminder of sadness in the background, ie, they are dreading news that a loved one has died in the war. Good. 3.75

12.03.20 : Bloodshot - movie
Action, Drama, Sci-Fi : Ray Garrison, a slain soldier, is re-animated with superpowers. 

It would've been better if it was done by professionals. Like if the director knew what he was doing he would've re-shot Vin's scenes so his limited acting skills didn't make him look totally wrong for the scene. Clunky story, execution, logic, dialogue, etc. It's ok, but it did feel a bit plain for a modern day action movie. 2.75.

10.03.20 : Enmore Comedy Club : Enmore Theatre
I don't go to this comedy night anymore because I find the vast majority of shows a disappointment - I think the crowd is usually dead so there isn't a laugh track -, which is odd because when this is moved to the Factory it's fine. Either way I went, and it was one of the best shows that has been done here. There was a big female lineup that did well, with Rebecca De Unamuno stealing the show - she is good comic, but this was next level stuff -. Other mentions was Randy, JF Harris(USA), and Waka(JPN). Crowd : 4 - Me : 4

09.03.20 : The Way Back - movie
Drama, Sport : Jack Cunningham was a HS basketball phenom who walked away from the game, forfeiting his future. Years later, when he reluctantly accepts a coaching job at his alma mater, he may get one last shot at redemption. 

I dread going to see alcoholic characters because it's depressing, but this wasn't too bad and there wasn't that many drunk scenes. Overall it's quite good. 3.5.

07.03.20 : Goodbye 199 : Giant Dwarf Theatre
Becky Lucas, Ben Law, Cam James, Ben Jenkins, Alex Lee, Nakkiah Lui, Carlo Ritchie, Wil Erimya, Montaigne, Freudian Nip, Kate Mulvany.
The fundraiser was too serious because things looked bleak, but this one was fun because they found a new home for Giant Dwarf and everyone could enjoy themselves. Most of it was repeats from the last 6 years - they were from so far back that it was good to hear them again -. The standouts were Alex Lee and Ben Jenkins, who did this very clever recap of news stories for the last 6 years - it was that clever/sharp/fast comedy you expect from Uni troupe(The Delusionists/Project 52). And Carlo Ritchie and fake Steen Raskopoulos, ie, Wil Erimya - maybe these 2 should do a show -. Crowd : 4.5 - Me : 4.25

06.03.20 : Downhill - movie
Comedy, Drama : Barely escaping an avalanche during a family ski vacation in the Alps, a married couple is thrown into disarray as they are forced to reevaluate their lives and how they feel about each other. 

It's one of those things where they use awkward scenarios and long silence to garner some sort of a laugh response, ie, you laugh because you feel uncomfortable, not because it's funny. There is less awkwardness in the second half, but so that is more tolerable. There was maybe 3 laughs, so no, ie, not funny. 2.

04.03.20 : Stem Cells for the Brain: Are We Letting Australians Down? : Seymour Centre
Hosted by Dr Karl Kruszelnicki. The first third was the technical section - not specific technical, but more a research overview -. Next was the legal/red tape of using stem cells. And lastly was interviews with parents with kids with cerebral palsy. The technical part was the only bit I was interested in, ie, the state of the research, but since there isn't much funding or interest in curing kids by the government, not many test have been done. The limited tests done show more promise in curing kids than regenerative cures for older people, ie, Parkinson's/Alzheimer's, but the government is more focused on the old. Basically the night's aim was to redirect funds more toward kids. On a side note, cerebral palsy and autism is more a brain injury than disease. Basically it's the injury that causes severe inflammation of the brain, and it's the inflammation that damages the brain. 3.5

02.03.20 : Story Club - I Don’t Wanna Leave! : Giant Dwarf Theatre
Host Cait Harris (The Sturgeon General)! - All those years as a hypochondriac had her totally miss a dangerous mole on her back.
Eddie Sharp (The Mix, Erotic Fan Fiction) - The 6 year old nemesis.
Alex Lee (SBS The Feed, Dragon Friends) - Living next to a 60 year old drug dealer lady.
Patrick Lenton (Editor of Junkee, Uncle Hercules & Other Lies) - Irate customers force Patrick down the aeroport tunnel, which doesn't exist.
Jacqueline Maley (Sydney Morning Herald) - The overly large amount of O'Connors, of which singer Lorde is a part of, organise a family reunion.
Zoe Norton-Lodge - A suspicious group of council workers asks to borrow a bucket.
Crowd : 4 - Me : 3.75

26.02.20 : Comedyish – For Bush Fire Relief: Giant Dwarf Theatre
Host: Michael Hing, Suren Jayemanne, Rhys Nicholson, Bec Melrose, Ange Lavoipierre, Cameron Duggan, Kyran Wheatley. Good
Work In Progress: Sam Campbell
Exceptionally good. The scattered/randomness of the material is fun, and the fast delivery makes the laughs stack so it's even more funny. 3.75
Crowd : 3.5 - Me : 3.5

20.02.20 : Bombshell - movie
Biography, Drama : A group of women take on Fox News head Roger Ailes and the toxic atmosphere he presided over at the network. 

I was going to skip this film because the subject matter is too harrowing, but I figured if i couldn't handle it I could walk. Well it wasn't as bad as i though, and in fact it was good. There were bad bits, but there wasn't that many and they didn't show it directly, so i was able to handle it. 3.5

19.02.20 : Comedyish – For Bush Fire Relief: Giant Dwarf Theatre
Host: Nikki Britton - Lineup: Lauren Bonner, Rosie Piper, Sam Taunton, Michael Hing, Larry Dean, and more!
The standup was pretty good.
Work In Progress: Gen Fricker
Gen's trial show is pretty good, ie , funny, but the end is traumatic when you think about what could've happened during the assault and the life if fear she has to endure afterwards . Crowd : 3.5 - Me : 3.5

13.02.20 : A Guide to Second Date Sex - movie
Comedy, Romance : Laura and Ryan have been totally destroyed by previous relationships. In the hope of getting it right this time, they go out on a second date having no idea on what they are supposed to do. 

I don't know why this was pulled from a major release and changed to a few independent theatres, because ¾ of it if quite fun/funny. 3.75

06.02.20 : Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn - movie
Action, Adventure, Crime : After splitting with the Joker, Harley Quinn joins superheroes Black Canary, Huntress and Renee Montoya to save a young girl from an evil crime lord. 

Most of it is tiresome because it's not fun and it doesn't have much substance. I think they were going for a live action comic book feel, ie, not real, yet they added abhorrent graphical sadistic violence toward innocent people - it seems the trend to emphasise the evil villains these-days -, and that is something that shouldn't be in a stylised genre like this. Not fun. 2

05.02.20 : Dragon Friends Season 6 - Live D&D Comedy Show : Giant Dwarf Theatre
Usually the first show of the season isn't great because they are finding their feet, but this one was pretty good. When you think about it the DF's don't really need the game, because the improvised BS banter that is aimed at getting laughs is the highlight of the show.
Unfortunately Giant Dwarf Theatre is closing down so the show is moving to The Vanguard for the Mar show. I'm not sure if The Vanguard has changed but it only holds half the usual DF crowd, but more importantly it's not good/comfortable for general admission. If you get a dining table it's fine - upstairs is kind-of ok but small -, but for old people like me I don't think I can endure 3 hours of standing or backless stools. Crowd : 4.5 - Me : 4

30.01.20 : Zealot - Ange Lavoipierre (Trial Show) : Giant Dwarf Theatre
Damn, I had seen it before. There was something niggling about the name, so I went back an checked the 2 shows I remembered. The problem was there was a third show further back that I totally forgot about - probably because it wasn't great/memorable -. It's kind-of an abstract surreal telling of Ange's life when she kind-of joined a religious cult, was groomed by the Reverend's son, and then got very sick. The first time wasn't great, because it's quite disjointed, so you can imagine I had trouble concentrating on it a second time. Not enough laughs for me. Crowd : 3.5 - Me : 2

30.01.20 : Midway - movie
Action, Drama, History : The story of the Battle of Midway, told by the leaders and the sailors who fought it. 

It's like yo-yo in the first half, ie, it continually oscillates between some fast action and a lot of slow uninteresting. The second half is a lot better, because it's a lot of action punctuated with some slow interesting. As per usual with Hollywood, it's not perfectly done, ie, in edit, GCI physics, and logic. The first half seemed dull, but the second half made it worth watching. 3.5

29.01.20 : Underwater - movie
Action, Drama, Horror : A crew of aquatic researchers work to get to safety after an earthquake devastates their subterranean laboratory. 

It's the usual, endure lame challenges to escape a structure that has suffered a disaster, type film that has been done hundreds of times before. Not even the addition of a monster added to what is a repeat of the same usual story. A nothing film. 2

27.01.20 : Like a Boss - movie
Comedy : Two friends with very different ideals start a beauty company together. One is more practical while the other wants to earn her fortune and live a lavish lifestyle. 

That was a lot better than the trailer suggested. The trailer gave the impression it was going to be over simplistic and poorly constructed, but it was actually intelligent and put together quite well. I found it fun enough to pass the time. 3.25

25.01.20 : Michael Shafar - Getting Better : Factory Theatre
Jewish one testicle comic, was quite nice. Crowd : 3.5 - Me : 3.5

21.01.20 : 1917 - movie
Drama, War : Two young British soldiers during the First World War are given an impossible mission: deliver a message deep in enemy territory that will stop 1,600 men, and one of the soldiers' brothers, from walking straight into a deadly trap. 

It's kind-of like a simplified slow-ish Saving Private Ryan (1998) with less brutality - the direct killing is hidden -. Most of the film is just two characters so it's a bit sparse, but it's ok. 3

17.01.20 : Bad Boys for Life - movie
Action, Comedy, Crime : The Bad Boys Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett are back together for one last ride in the highly anticipated Bad Boys for Life. 

The original wasn't anything special, but this is so slow boring and tedious, that I couldn't endure the last 1 hour. A story that was written on the back of a packet of cigarettes, and action and stunt driving 20 years out of date. 1

13.01.20 : A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon - movie
Animation, Adventure, Comedy : When an alien with amazing powers crash-lands near Mossy Bottom Farm, Shaun the Sheep goes on a mission to shepherd the intergalactic visitor home before a sinister organisation can capture her. 

I should've known that I would've found this boring. I'm not a StS fan because the lack of dialogue removes any complexity that could make this interesting - especially for comedy -, so by 30 min I was yawing from boredom. I lasted 1hr before I left. 1

09.01.20 : My Spy - movie
Action, Comedy, Family : A hardened CIA operative finds himself at the mercy of a precocious 9-year-old girl, having been sent undercover to surveil her family. 

The first 30min isn't particularly funny, but after that it has laughs. Simple and quite amusing. Nice  3.25

06.01.20 : The Gentlemen - movie
Action, Crime : A British drug lord tries to sell off his highly profitable empire to a dynasty of Oklahoma billionaires. 

I'm not  fan of gangster movies because they usually use the gimmick of sadistic violence, but this one was pretty clean. And coupled to an interesting story told in an interesting way, it's actually an alright film. 3.25