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Darren Fisher (2474 KP) rated The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015) in Movies

Dec 11, 2020

The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015)

2015 | Biography, Drama, History

7.9

(8 Ratings)

Movie Rating

Interesting adaptation of the notorious experiment

Along with the Milgram Experiment (1961) the Stanford Prison Experiment (1971) has been widely discussed. Both attempted to investigate the psychological effects of perceived power and its effect on the human psyche. The SPE focused on the struggle between prisoners and prison officers. The randomly chosen participants were university students who agreed to take part in the two week experiment (in a prison recreated under the university itself). Of course things take a turn for the worst when the guards revel in their power and push the prisoners beyond their limits in the name of scientific research. The experiment lasted only six days before psychology professor Philip Zimbardo pulled the plug on the whole sorry mess.
The film is mostly faithful ,offering a lean, straight to the point account of the events. No boring or irrelevant subplots going on. The actors are convincing and appear to relish their roles (maybe a sense of irony on the directors behalf..?). A good solid adaptation. Recommended.

Note: Footage from both the actual Milgram and SPE Experiments are available over the internet to watch (including youtube)

Kudos

Sarah (7800 KP) rated Supernatural - Season 2 in TV

Oct 7, 2019

Another great series

I have to admit that this is a second series that actually surpasses the original, and that's fairly unusual although I'm intrigued to see if it can hold out over the 14+ seasons there's been so far.

The one thing that does lack a little in this series is the spirits/demons themselves. They don't seem quite so inventive as the first series, however this is only because there is a much bigger wider plot going on with the psychics and yellow eyed demon. This makes it a lot more serious and darker, but that's not to say it doesn't have it's lighter moments. The episode with the Trickster is downright hilarious, and there are some wickedly funny one liners and interactions between the brothers. It is looking a bit dated now, unsurprising seen as it first aired over a decade ago, but it's still good and also has a killer soundtrack. My only other criticism is the beyond irritating opening credits and recap scenes that plague every single episode. I really hope they don't carry these on across every season...

Kudos

Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Predator (2018) in Movies

Sep 14, 2019

The Predator (2018)

2018 | Action, Horror

6.1

(46 Ratings)

Movie Rating Watch

Wasn't entirely terrible

I'd heard a lot of truly terrible things about this film so hadn't been expecting much, and whilst it isn't great, there are worse ways to spend 90 minutes.

The first part of the film is actually quite good. I like the Predator's arrival on earth and subsequent escape, and some of the nods to the original film. The problem is the second half with the ridiculous super Predator and turns it into even more of a farce. The cast could have been good, and there's a decent amount of names in this, but they've been let down by a very poor script and characterisation. I mean Olivia Munn's biologist who can fight and handle weapons too without any explanation? And Sterling K Brown's ridiculously hammy villain was beyond cheesy. A lot of the deaths in the second half of the film were also farcical but sadly not in an enjoyable way, and unsurprisingly the ending has been set up yet another sequel. Do we really need another Predator film after this?

This wasn't as bad as Alien vs Predator at least...