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Erika (17788 KP) rated Darkest Hour (2017) in Movies
Dec 28, 2017 (Updated Dec 28, 2017)
Another solid Joe Wright film. Gary Oldman did an amazing job as Churchill, the ultimate spin doctor. It was a good year to bring this film out, since Dunkirk came out a few months earlier. The movie did a good job, building the tension between the various political figures, and the war. It was also nice to see Ben Mendelsohn not play a villain.
Nickg24 (492 KP) rated Captain Marvel (2019) in Movies
Aug 26, 2019
An enjoyable origin movie to introduce one of the most powerful superheroes in the MCU.Plenty of good special effects and performances from larson,jackson and ben mendelsohn as "Talos"
Does fall a bit flat during the mid way point when she finally meets up with her best friend and goes over old times etc.Not a bad film overall.
Does fall a bit flat during the mid way point when she finally meets up with her best friend and goes over old times etc.Not a bad film overall.
Erika (17788 KP) rated Robin Hood (2018) in Movies
Nov 21, 2018 (Updated Mar 25, 2019)
I thought this new iteration of Robin Hood was going to be awful, much like @King Arthur: Legend Of The Sword (2017) . BUT, I was pleasantly surprised. I was entertained throughout, and the action was good. The film didn't stray far from the original bones of the story, which was a good thing. Taron Egerton did well as Robin, and, Ben Mendelsohn is completely menacing. I won't be surprised if this film isn't a lot of people's jams, but I still completely enjoyed it.
Erika (17788 KP) rated Captain Marvel (2019) in Movies
Mar 9, 2019 (Updated Mar 9, 2019)
The Stan Lee Marvel opening title (1 more)
Ben Mendelsohn
Firstly, this was a typical, Marvel origin story movie. They didn't exactly reinvent the wheel. BUT, who really expected them to?
I've been a fan of Carol Danvers in the comics since she was Ms. Marvel. For one, I was glad they kept her personality close to the comics. I've seen complaints that Larson's delivery of some jokes was flat, but, Carol tells bad jokes all the time and no one laughs (or, she did, I'm not into the new teen-centric Capt Marvel comics). Honestly, a lot of the story wouldn't make sense straight away for people that have never read a comic about Danvers.
Ben Mendelsohn was absolutely fantastic as 'the villain', and completely had fun in the role. Also, thank you Marvel for allowing him to use his real accent. SLJ was fantastic as the younger Nick Fury, and his interactions with Chewie...sorry, Goose (dumb name change) were hilarious.
The Kree weren't really in the film much, and, of course, anyone who knows anything about the Kree can figure out what's going on.
The ONLY thing that was a bit of a groaner for me was the source of Carol's powers.
Definitely stay for the credit scenes, that mid-credit scene made me hyped for Endgame.
I've been a fan of Carol Danvers in the comics since she was Ms. Marvel. For one, I was glad they kept her personality close to the comics. I've seen complaints that Larson's delivery of some jokes was flat, but, Carol tells bad jokes all the time and no one laughs (or, she did, I'm not into the new teen-centric Capt Marvel comics). Honestly, a lot of the story wouldn't make sense straight away for people that have never read a comic about Danvers.
Ben Mendelsohn was absolutely fantastic as 'the villain', and completely had fun in the role. Also, thank you Marvel for allowing him to use his real accent. SLJ was fantastic as the younger Nick Fury, and his interactions with Chewie...sorry, Goose (dumb name change) were hilarious.
The Kree weren't really in the film much, and, of course, anyone who knows anything about the Kree can figure out what's going on.
The ONLY thing that was a bit of a groaner for me was the source of Carol's powers.
Definitely stay for the credit scenes, that mid-credit scene made me hyped for Endgame.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Captain Marvel (2019) in Movies
Mar 8, 2019
Predictably solid Marvel brand-extension is another of those movies where the main character is never actually referred to by their superhero codename, which is a little odd as the film is unafraid to embrace the silliness of its subject matter elsewhere. Slightly convoluted plot concerns Brie Larson's character, who is a fierce alien warrior or a feisty USAF jet pilot (finding out exactly who she is is central to the plot). Aliens infiltrate Earth in 1995, Larson has to team up with Samuel L Jackson (pre-eyepatch) to stop them.
Generally pretty good fun, especially once you get past the (intentionally?) cryptic first act. Good jokes, good action, and the film's big moments are well staged. Larson, Jackson, and Ben Mendelsohn all contribute thoroughly tongue-in-cheek performances which are exactly what the material demands. Dances lightly around the potential girl-power subtext, although arguably misses a trick by not putting the Spice Girls on the soundtrack. Maybe next time.
Generally pretty good fun, especially once you get past the (intentionally?) cryptic first act. Good jokes, good action, and the film's big moments are well staged. Larson, Jackson, and Ben Mendelsohn all contribute thoroughly tongue-in-cheek performances which are exactly what the material demands. Dances lightly around the potential girl-power subtext, although arguably misses a trick by not putting the Spice Girls on the soundtrack. Maybe next time.
Michelle Monoghan recommended Animal Kingdom (2010) in Movies (curated)
Ameeka (131 KP) rated Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) in Movies
Jul 14, 2017
Best Darth Vader scene (4 more)
Cinematography
Special Effects
Characters
Story
Very engrossing film
I was blown away with this movie, I thought this was the best Star Wars prequel and it's the best out of the very disappointing prequels.The plot to Rogue One is very simple, but it's the characters that really take this movie to new heights. The characters make this movie worth watching, and the droid, K-2S0, was able to bring great sources of humour while still being of use. Felicity Jones did a great job as the female lead, she was tough, rebellious and reckless, making her a well-crafted character that has a great backstory.Though Star Wars creates great protagonists, Rogue One's main antagonist Orson Krennic is definitely up there with the best. Ben Mendelsohn is powerful, able to give you a villain that any Star Wars fan would want. The action was spectacular, with the final climatic fight one of the best in the franchises history. Full of wonder and delight, you never drift your eyes away from the screen, with the special effects and digitally recreating some of the characters of the originals. Darth Vader has little screen-time, but he steals the show. One scene in particular was very special, as we see him in action for the first time in years.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Ready Player One (2018) in Movies
Mar 30, 2018
Good, but doesn't live up to the book
I've read (and loved) the book, but I really tried to go into this with an open mind and I think for the most part, I succeeded.
Visually, this film is spectacular. But considering its Spielberg, that isn't a surprise. The pop culture references are a lot of fun, and the soundtrack is fantastic. The cast are great, Tye Sheridan plays Wade very well and he's a likeable character. Mark Rylance as usual is very good, but I feel like we could've seen a bit more of him. The only one who didn't come across well was Ben Mendelsohn - his Nolan just doesn't come across as evil enough. He just isn't that threatening.
The main problem is that this is very different from the book. Some things have been changed for the better (the 2nd challenge in the film was a huge surprise and very enjoyable), but for the main I feel like too much of the detail from the book has been left out, leaving just a hollow shell of the story. It's a shame really as i think this could have been fantastic, if it had just stuck a little closer to the book. Instead of coming out of this feeling in awe, I came out feeling a little underwhelmed with the sense that something was missing.
Visually, this film is spectacular. But considering its Spielberg, that isn't a surprise. The pop culture references are a lot of fun, and the soundtrack is fantastic. The cast are great, Tye Sheridan plays Wade very well and he's a likeable character. Mark Rylance as usual is very good, but I feel like we could've seen a bit more of him. The only one who didn't come across well was Ben Mendelsohn - his Nolan just doesn't come across as evil enough. He just isn't that threatening.
The main problem is that this is very different from the book. Some things have been changed for the better (the 2nd challenge in the film was a huge surprise and very enjoyable), but for the main I feel like too much of the detail from the book has been left out, leaving just a hollow shell of the story. It's a shame really as i think this could have been fantastic, if it had just stuck a little closer to the book. Instead of coming out of this feeling in awe, I came out feeling a little underwhelmed with the sense that something was missing.
Ryan Hill (152 KP) rated Captain Marvel (2019) in Movies
May 9, 2019
A solid, if unremarkable entry for the MCU's first female outing
The 21st instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the penultimate feature in their Phase 3 plan, and the final stop on the road to Avengers: Endgame, Captain Marvel welcomes another superhero into its family and applies the same formula that Marvel Studios has relied on to manufacture their episodic products but their latest is also their weakest film in years that never truly realises its full potential.
Set during the mid-1990s, the story follows Carol Danvers who has extraordinary powers at her disposal but no recollection of who she is or where she comes from. However, when she crash-lands on Earth after a recent mishap, she begins tracing her step towards her origins in order to unravel her identity, finds assistance from a low-level bureaucrat working for an espionage agency, and discovers a secret that unlocks her full potential.
Written & directed by Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck, the first act of Captain Marvel is a mess that tries to acquaint the viewers with its own world yet hurries through it in a way that leaves the audience confused. The story begins to take some shape once the plot moves to Earth but other than the back-n-forth banter between its primary characters, there isn't really anything that's appealing or refreshing about it.
That montage of snippets from Carol Danvers' past in which she is told by others that she can't do anything, she is no good, she is weak, she doesn't belong & she will never make it will reverberate with many, and it is a welcome element in the picture. But instead of digging deeper into this aspect, the filmmakers head for a rather simplistic approach and narrate the story with half-hearted zealousness.
The action segments are seldom impressive, storytelling is very basic, predictable & bereft of surprises, and some key moments are executed in a rather lacklustre fashion. Editing paces the plot inconsistently, fails to provide a rigid structure to it, and splices together action scenes so monotonously that they are missing the sense of wonder & excitement. The score is fine but only a few incorporated songs work out in its favour.
Coming to the performances, Captain Marvel packs a talented cast in Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Lashana Lynch, Annette Bening & Jude Law. Larson embraces the eponymous role yet it is her fine rapport with Jackson that stands out more than her individual input. But it's Mendelsohn who impresses the most, delivering a compelling performance that only gets better as plot progresses.
On an overall scale, Captain Marvel is enjoyable to an extent, packs few amusing moments, and features a marvellous superheroine. Like Carol Danvers, this film had limitless potential. But unlike her, the filmmakers fail to tap into that element and possibly weren't even aware of what was up for grabs here. Generic, mundane & underwhelming, Captain Marvel isn't the film that the most powerful superhero in Marvel faction deserves, and is no match to the studio's finest efforts.
Set during the mid-1990s, the story follows Carol Danvers who has extraordinary powers at her disposal but no recollection of who she is or where she comes from. However, when she crash-lands on Earth after a recent mishap, she begins tracing her step towards her origins in order to unravel her identity, finds assistance from a low-level bureaucrat working for an espionage agency, and discovers a secret that unlocks her full potential.
Written & directed by Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck, the first act of Captain Marvel is a mess that tries to acquaint the viewers with its own world yet hurries through it in a way that leaves the audience confused. The story begins to take some shape once the plot moves to Earth but other than the back-n-forth banter between its primary characters, there isn't really anything that's appealing or refreshing about it.
That montage of snippets from Carol Danvers' past in which she is told by others that she can't do anything, she is no good, she is weak, she doesn't belong & she will never make it will reverberate with many, and it is a welcome element in the picture. But instead of digging deeper into this aspect, the filmmakers head for a rather simplistic approach and narrate the story with half-hearted zealousness.
The action segments are seldom impressive, storytelling is very basic, predictable & bereft of surprises, and some key moments are executed in a rather lacklustre fashion. Editing paces the plot inconsistently, fails to provide a rigid structure to it, and splices together action scenes so monotonously that they are missing the sense of wonder & excitement. The score is fine but only a few incorporated songs work out in its favour.
Coming to the performances, Captain Marvel packs a talented cast in Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Lashana Lynch, Annette Bening & Jude Law. Larson embraces the eponymous role yet it is her fine rapport with Jackson that stands out more than her individual input. But it's Mendelsohn who impresses the most, delivering a compelling performance that only gets better as plot progresses.
On an overall scale, Captain Marvel is enjoyable to an extent, packs few amusing moments, and features a marvellous superheroine. Like Carol Danvers, this film had limitless potential. But unlike her, the filmmakers fail to tap into that element and possibly weren't even aware of what was up for grabs here. Generic, mundane & underwhelming, Captain Marvel isn't the film that the most powerful superhero in Marvel faction deserves, and is no match to the studio's finest efforts.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated The Outsider in TV
Apr 17, 2020
A great adaptation
I've had this series recorded on my box for quite a while, lockdown has finally allowed me time to watch it and it really is a brilliant adaptation of the King book.
It isnt an entirely accurate adaptation of the book, but it is a very good attempt. There are some changes but there are a lot of things that match the book too, and the majority of the changes aren't necessarily for the worst either. The story is a great one, not a surprise considering it's based on a King novel. It moves seamlessly from a detective crime thriller to a supernatural horror and the cinematography and soundtrack support this so well along with a decent amount of gore. It also has a fantastic cast. Ben Mendelsohn is perfect as Ralph and Cynthia Erivo is too as Holly, backed by a wonderful supporting cast.
There are some changes that I didn't appreciate as much though, some fairly small and minor nods towards the books - especially the references to Holly from the Bill Hodges trilogy series. Also I didn't appreciate the mid credits scene at the end of the final episode which appears to hint towards another series and a different ending. This series works so well as a standalone and I really dont appreciate them potentially looking at turning this into yet more series! It's also frustrating that the Bill Hodges trilogy has been turned into the Mr Mercedes series for another network, as really these 2 series should be linked with the same cast and theme.
Overall though this is a brilliant adaptation and definitely worth a watch.
It isnt an entirely accurate adaptation of the book, but it is a very good attempt. There are some changes but there are a lot of things that match the book too, and the majority of the changes aren't necessarily for the worst either. The story is a great one, not a surprise considering it's based on a King novel. It moves seamlessly from a detective crime thriller to a supernatural horror and the cinematography and soundtrack support this so well along with a decent amount of gore. It also has a fantastic cast. Ben Mendelsohn is perfect as Ralph and Cynthia Erivo is too as Holly, backed by a wonderful supporting cast.
There are some changes that I didn't appreciate as much though, some fairly small and minor nods towards the books - especially the references to Holly from the Bill Hodges trilogy series. Also I didn't appreciate the mid credits scene at the end of the final episode which appears to hint towards another series and a different ending. This series works so well as a standalone and I really dont appreciate them potentially looking at turning this into yet more series! It's also frustrating that the Bill Hodges trilogy has been turned into the Mr Mercedes series for another network, as really these 2 series should be linked with the same cast and theme.
Overall though this is a brilliant adaptation and definitely worth a watch.