Category Archives: Pleasant Surprises

A Walk to Remember Offers Hope to Bullied and Bullies Alike

Posted on July 26, 2016 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

I want to share something near and dear to my heart this week. When I was a kid growing up in Washington state, I was very socially awkward and some of my classmates made fun of me mercilessly. Mocks became … Continue reading →

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Pleasant Surprises: Law Abiding Citizen

Posted on March 16, 2016 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

I don’t usually describe films as “stunning,” but that’s the best word I can find for 2009’s Law Abiding Citizen. I am stunned by this film, from its opening scene to its finale it’s constantly surprising me and leaving me … Continue reading →

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Pleasant Surprises: Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

I never enjoyed the classic Scooby Doo cartoon shows. Even as a child, I found them repetitive and formulaic. In every episode Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby Doo would drive into some spooky town in the Mystery Machine and … Continue reading →

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Why Terminator: Genisys Is a Good Movie

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

Terminator: Genisys ends the series on a high note by bringing back a lot of what made me love this series in the first place. It shows that all that stuff may be old, but it’ll never be obsolete. Continue reading →

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Pleasant Surprises: Penelope

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

Penelope is a whimsical little film about a girl who spends the first 25 years of her life with a pig snout for a nose. I thought it was bizarre the first time I saw it. But then I gave … Continue reading →

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Pleasant Surprises: Scream 4

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

Why would I talk about a horror film like Scream 4 in January? Isn’t that more of an October thing? Well, it’s a new year with new rules. I’m not a huge fan of the horror genre. I enjoy Alien, … Continue reading →

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Pleasant Surprises: Robots

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

Remember Robots – the most generically titled animated film until Cars came out the following year? I skipped it when it first came out because if the title was that uninspired I was sure the rest of the movie wouldn’t … Continue reading →

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Pleasant Surprises: High School Musical 2

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

I’m fascinated by High School Musical 2, not because it’s a particularly deep movie but because I absolutely love it. By all rights, I should hate it. It’s a TV movie that bridges the gap between two utterly forgettable (if … Continue reading →

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Pleasant Surprises: Ernest Goes to Camp

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

Ernest Goes to Camp perfectly captures childhood in a way I’ve never seen another film pull off. I loved this movie as a kid because it spoke to me on a very personal level. That might sound strange because it’s … Continue reading →

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Pleasant Surprises: Pride and Prejudice (1995)

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Robert Lockard, the Deja Reviewer

As a man who likes Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice, I feel like I’m in on a huge secret. By that I mean that the book is a gem that is hiding in plain sight, and it requires … Continue reading →

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