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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated The Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018) in Movies
Jun 19, 2019
Originally slated to appear in Feb. 2017, but delayed due to the onset
injury of Dylan O”Brien; the final part of the “Maze Runner” trilogy has
arrived with the release of “Maze Runner: The Death Cure”. The film picks
up shortly after the events of the previous film where the heroes are
trying to rescue their friend MinHo from the forces of WCKD who are
looking to find a cure for a devastating virus in his blood. Since Minho
and his fellow “Gladers” are immune, the hope is that they hold the key to
the future of humanity, so WCKD is willing to do whatever it takes to find
the cure even if it means torture and killing individuals and other
captives I n their lab.
Against the wishes of his newly found comrades, Thomas, Newt, and their
friends set off to the last city to rescue their friend even though they
know they will face legions of troops and fortified defenses as well as
swarms of infected individuals along the way.
At the same time, Teresa is busy working with WCKD on a cure and seems to
have had little lasting effecting from betraying Thomas and his friends.
Ava and Rat Man seem to be in a perpetual state of conflict over their
next course of action and with time to find a cure growing shorter and
shorter, desperation begins to grow.
The arrival of Thomas only worsens the situation as the characters find
themselves in a very complicated situation fighting not only for their own
survival but for that of their friends and society as a whole.
The film is over two hours long and at times drags, but does have some
good action sequences and does up the action compared to prior films in
the series.
While it remains to be seen if either of the two prequel books that
followed the trilogy will be adapted, the final film in the trilogy does
offer a satisfying and at times exciting conclusion to the series, as long
as you are willing to be patient with the long run time and slower
portions of the story.
http://sknr.net/2018/01/24/maze-runner-death-cure/
injury of Dylan O”Brien; the final part of the “Maze Runner” trilogy has
arrived with the release of “Maze Runner: The Death Cure”. The film picks
up shortly after the events of the previous film where the heroes are
trying to rescue their friend MinHo from the forces of WCKD who are
looking to find a cure for a devastating virus in his blood. Since Minho
and his fellow “Gladers” are immune, the hope is that they hold the key to
the future of humanity, so WCKD is willing to do whatever it takes to find
the cure even if it means torture and killing individuals and other
captives I n their lab.
Against the wishes of his newly found comrades, Thomas, Newt, and their
friends set off to the last city to rescue their friend even though they
know they will face legions of troops and fortified defenses as well as
swarms of infected individuals along the way.
At the same time, Teresa is busy working with WCKD on a cure and seems to
have had little lasting effecting from betraying Thomas and his friends.
Ava and Rat Man seem to be in a perpetual state of conflict over their
next course of action and with time to find a cure growing shorter and
shorter, desperation begins to grow.
The arrival of Thomas only worsens the situation as the characters find
themselves in a very complicated situation fighting not only for their own
survival but for that of their friends and society as a whole.
The film is over two hours long and at times drags, but does have some
good action sequences and does up the action compared to prior films in
the series.
While it remains to be seen if either of the two prequel books that
followed the trilogy will be adapted, the final film in the trilogy does
offer a satisfying and at times exciting conclusion to the series, as long
as you are willing to be patient with the long run time and slower
portions of the story.
http://sknr.net/2018/01/24/maze-runner-death-cure/
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated The 5th wave (2016) in Movies
Jun 19, 2019
Films about invaders from space have been a staple of film and television since the golden age of cinema. Playing on many Cold War fears in the aftermath of W.W.II, aliens bent on destruction has been an enduring staple of cinematic culture.
In the new film “The 5th Wave” which is based on the book of the same name, Chloe Grace Moretz plays Cassie, a teen who has her entire life turned upside down by the arrival of a mysterious craft. A few days after the arrival of “the Others” as they are known, a pulse wipes out all electronics on the planet. This is soon followed by tsunamis and earthquakes as well as disease and death.
Cassie along with her father and brother find shelter but their community is soon disrupted by the arrival of the military who say that the invaders are now amongst them and posing as humans.
The military under the leadership of Colonel Vosch (Liev Schreiber) has a plan to train the children to spot and defeat the alien invaders thus setting in motion the main conflict of the film. The secondary story consists of Cassie attempting to reunite with her family and her relationship with a mysterious stranger named Evan (Alex Roe).
The film is clearly aimed at a young adult market and as such I was able to spot the big twist in the film a long ways off as the clues were blatantly obvious to me. That being said, the film is better than you might expect and being the first chapter in a trilogy of books does set up the possibilities of sequels.
The dialogue and acting is pretty groan inducing at times, but again, remember the target audience, the film should entertain and it is nice to see Moretz deliver a solid performance in what in many ways could have been a limited role.
While it is not going to make you forget “The Hunger Games” anytime soon, the film is still a decent escape for those willing to overlook the flaws.
http://sknr.net/2016/01/22/the-5th-wave/
In the new film “The 5th Wave” which is based on the book of the same name, Chloe Grace Moretz plays Cassie, a teen who has her entire life turned upside down by the arrival of a mysterious craft. A few days after the arrival of “the Others” as they are known, a pulse wipes out all electronics on the planet. This is soon followed by tsunamis and earthquakes as well as disease and death.
Cassie along with her father and brother find shelter but their community is soon disrupted by the arrival of the military who say that the invaders are now amongst them and posing as humans.
The military under the leadership of Colonel Vosch (Liev Schreiber) has a plan to train the children to spot and defeat the alien invaders thus setting in motion the main conflict of the film. The secondary story consists of Cassie attempting to reunite with her family and her relationship with a mysterious stranger named Evan (Alex Roe).
The film is clearly aimed at a young adult market and as such I was able to spot the big twist in the film a long ways off as the clues were blatantly obvious to me. That being said, the film is better than you might expect and being the first chapter in a trilogy of books does set up the possibilities of sequels.
The dialogue and acting is pretty groan inducing at times, but again, remember the target audience, the film should entertain and it is nice to see Moretz deliver a solid performance in what in many ways could have been a limited role.
While it is not going to make you forget “The Hunger Games” anytime soon, the film is still a decent escape for those willing to overlook the flaws.
http://sknr.net/2016/01/22/the-5th-wave/
Marylegs (44 KP) rated The Name of the Wind in Books
Aug 14, 2019
The Name of the Wind can only be classed as an epic fantasy. The first installment in a series of books I will definitely be carrying on with. I am a great lover of fantasy books, I will not compare it to others as I don’t believe it is that similar to others I have read. True, certain elements seem familiar, the loss of loved ones, finding one’s self, falling in love with an unobtainable person, continuing an education above the class of the main character… I could go on but I won’t. However for all these similarities, it still felt new and fresh in its delivery.
The main character Kvothe is likeable and I was really routing for him. The bulk of the story is told from his perspective as he endeavours to tell his story to a scribe who had come seeking the truth about his extraordinary life. We follow his story from his unlikely beginnings as part of traveling troupe to him becoming nothing short of a hero.
As a sucker for love, I have to say some of the most enjoyable sections of the book involved Denna, as soon and the two meet I could feel the glimmerings of hopefully first love. Without giving anything away, this love doesn’t go the traditional way that most stories would travel. But it is obviously there and knowing that there are more books to read I am sure there is more to Kvothe and Denna story together.
My least liked character has to Ambrose (what a silly girly name to begin with). He is petty and unlikeable from the on start. I feel the dislike between Kvothe and Ambrose will culminate into something sinister which no doubt will be an integral part of the tale…. But I really wish he would get his comeuppance…. Soon.
If like me you want to read a fantasy book that has all the elements you would want; love, conflict, revenge, magic, friendship and injustice. But doesn’t play by all the rules and is obviously building strong foundations towards what hopefully will be an impressive ending, then I believe this book is for you.
The main character Kvothe is likeable and I was really routing for him. The bulk of the story is told from his perspective as he endeavours to tell his story to a scribe who had come seeking the truth about his extraordinary life. We follow his story from his unlikely beginnings as part of traveling troupe to him becoming nothing short of a hero.
As a sucker for love, I have to say some of the most enjoyable sections of the book involved Denna, as soon and the two meet I could feel the glimmerings of hopefully first love. Without giving anything away, this love doesn’t go the traditional way that most stories would travel. But it is obviously there and knowing that there are more books to read I am sure there is more to Kvothe and Denna story together.
My least liked character has to Ambrose (what a silly girly name to begin with). He is petty and unlikeable from the on start. I feel the dislike between Kvothe and Ambrose will culminate into something sinister which no doubt will be an integral part of the tale…. But I really wish he would get his comeuppance…. Soon.
If like me you want to read a fantasy book that has all the elements you would want; love, conflict, revenge, magic, friendship and injustice. But doesn’t play by all the rules and is obviously building strong foundations towards what hopefully will be an impressive ending, then I believe this book is for you.
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Trespassers (2019) in Movies
Oct 30, 2019
Not Memorable In the Slightest
In Trespassers, two couples looking for a weekend respite wind up getting way more than what they bargained for when a stranger randomly shows up.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 10
Things get off to such a good start, it makes me wish they had managed to keep this intensity for the rest of the movie. Your “What the hell?” moment comes extremely early and you know it’s only a matter of time before things reach that level of craziness again. When I watched the first ten minutes, I expected to be in for a serious treat. I was wrong…
Characters: 4
Cinematography/Visuals: 1
The film is shot in such a way that doesn’t do the best job of capturing the intensity of the moment. It left me wondering what director Orson Oblowitz was going for. It was uneven at best, feeling professional in some spots and juvenile in others.
Conflict: 8
From the moment that stranger shows up, the intensity ratchets up way high. There are a number of scare moments to keep you entertained. I also appreciated the interpersonal turmoil as well between the couples. From jump, you get the feeling that something is off and slowly each layer of the onion is peeled back.
Entertainment Value: 6
I would have been way more entertained had I given two shits about the characters involved. They all felt expendable to me which made it hard to reman rooted in the story. There are some pretty solid moments to be had, but there was definitely something lacking.
Memorability: 3
As I write this review, Tresspassers is playing in the background. I’ve already found myself saying a couple times, “Oh, that’s right! That happened!” The movie as a whole lacks staying power. When it’s all said and done, it doesn’t really stick to your ribs.
Pace: 5
Plot: 2
Resolution: 7
Overall: 56
There are certain movies you can only watch once and be done with them. Then there are movies that you can avoid altogether. Kind of like Tresspassers. Save your time on this one.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 10
Things get off to such a good start, it makes me wish they had managed to keep this intensity for the rest of the movie. Your “What the hell?” moment comes extremely early and you know it’s only a matter of time before things reach that level of craziness again. When I watched the first ten minutes, I expected to be in for a serious treat. I was wrong…
Characters: 4
Cinematography/Visuals: 1
The film is shot in such a way that doesn’t do the best job of capturing the intensity of the moment. It left me wondering what director Orson Oblowitz was going for. It was uneven at best, feeling professional in some spots and juvenile in others.
Conflict: 8
From the moment that stranger shows up, the intensity ratchets up way high. There are a number of scare moments to keep you entertained. I also appreciated the interpersonal turmoil as well between the couples. From jump, you get the feeling that something is off and slowly each layer of the onion is peeled back.
Entertainment Value: 6
I would have been way more entertained had I given two shits about the characters involved. They all felt expendable to me which made it hard to reman rooted in the story. There are some pretty solid moments to be had, but there was definitely something lacking.
Memorability: 3
As I write this review, Tresspassers is playing in the background. I’ve already found myself saying a couple times, “Oh, that’s right! That happened!” The movie as a whole lacks staying power. When it’s all said and done, it doesn’t really stick to your ribs.
Pace: 5
Plot: 2
Resolution: 7
Overall: 56
There are certain movies you can only watch once and be done with them. Then there are movies that you can avoid altogether. Kind of like Tresspassers. Save your time on this one.
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated The Christmas Chronicles (2018) in Movies
Dec 20, 2018
Solid Holiday Film
Two siblings have to help Santa save Christmas after they are responsible for destroying his sleigh.
Acting: 8
Beginning: 8
The movie takes a little bit of time to get ramped up, but it’s a somewhat understandable setup. Director Clay Kaytis is trying to get us emotionally involved in the characters and succeeds to a certain extent. I have to admit, I wasn’t fully invested in the movie after watching the first ten minutes. Once it gets going, though, you’re in for a treat.
Characters: 8
I wasn’t in love with the two main characters Kate (Darby Camp) and Teddy (Judah Lewis). They seemed very cookie-cutter, almost too “Hallmarky” for me. The acting could have something to do with it, I don’t know. I will say that I grew to really like them over time.
Kurt Russell’s Santa Clause was outstanding, hands-down one of the most creative depictions of Santa I have ever seen. He made the entire movie fun. He’s cool, but naive at the same time. He has a big heart, but he doesn’t take any crap either. He stole every moment of every scene he was in to the point where I wouldn’t mind seeing him again running the helm in a sequel. Call me crazy, but I think it’s one of his best roles. I could use another two hours of just him and the elves.
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 10
Genre: 8
Memorability: 9
It’s all about the creativity here as that’s what made the film so memorable. Christmas films have been done and redone so it’s always refreshing to get a new spin on things. While the basics are similar, I can guarantee you this is a Christmas film unlike any you have ever seen. The angry elves were probably my favorite touch, but there are a number of other fun things that stood out as well like Santa’s magic hat.
Pace: 9
Plot: 9
Resolution: 8
Overall: 87
While The Christmas Chronicles does few things exceptionally well, the film succeeds with a solid Santa and a big heart. It’s a solid holiday movie to add to the collection for adults and children alike. Well worth the watch.
Acting: 8
Beginning: 8
The movie takes a little bit of time to get ramped up, but it’s a somewhat understandable setup. Director Clay Kaytis is trying to get us emotionally involved in the characters and succeeds to a certain extent. I have to admit, I wasn’t fully invested in the movie after watching the first ten minutes. Once it gets going, though, you’re in for a treat.
Characters: 8
I wasn’t in love with the two main characters Kate (Darby Camp) and Teddy (Judah Lewis). They seemed very cookie-cutter, almost too “Hallmarky” for me. The acting could have something to do with it, I don’t know. I will say that I grew to really like them over time.
Kurt Russell’s Santa Clause was outstanding, hands-down one of the most creative depictions of Santa I have ever seen. He made the entire movie fun. He’s cool, but naive at the same time. He has a big heart, but he doesn’t take any crap either. He stole every moment of every scene he was in to the point where I wouldn’t mind seeing him again running the helm in a sequel. Call me crazy, but I think it’s one of his best roles. I could use another two hours of just him and the elves.
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 10
Genre: 8
Memorability: 9
It’s all about the creativity here as that’s what made the film so memorable. Christmas films have been done and redone so it’s always refreshing to get a new spin on things. While the basics are similar, I can guarantee you this is a Christmas film unlike any you have ever seen. The angry elves were probably my favorite touch, but there are a number of other fun things that stood out as well like Santa’s magic hat.
Pace: 9
Plot: 9
Resolution: 8
Overall: 87
While The Christmas Chronicles does few things exceptionally well, the film succeeds with a solid Santa and a big heart. It’s a solid holiday movie to add to the collection for adults and children alike. Well worth the watch.
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Bad Santa (2003) in Movies
Jul 26, 2019
"I'm On My Fucking Lunch Break!"
A crook poses as a mall Santa over the holidays to pull off a quick score.
Acting: 10
Billy Bob Thornton is, dare I say, brilliant in his role as Willie Stokes. His rage alone makes for a number of hilarious moments throughout the movie. In one of my favorite scenes, a kid walks up to him in the food court because he is still in his Santa pants. After the kid continues to pester him, Willie finally screams, “I’m on my fucking lunch break!” as pieces of food fly out of his mouth. It is still to this day one of the most memorably hilarious scenes I’ve ever seen.
Beginning: 10
Characters: 10
Just like Willie, Bad Santa features a bunch of broken characters that are messed up and dysfunctional. They are the reason this movie works as its fun watching everyone walk around so screwed up. Screwed up people have a tendency to leave a mark on scenes and this movie is no exception. Some of my favorite scenes involve the senile Grandma played by Cloris Leachman. Like most of these characters. You really just don’t know what to expect from her.
Cinematography/Visuals: 8
Conflict: 10
Entertainment Value: 9
This category fell short of a perfect score for me due to the fact that, while I think it’s absolutely hysterical, I also understand that this is a specific type of humor that may not cater to everyone. Speaking for myself, it had me in stitches. It is one of those comedies that’s just hard to forget.
Memorability: 10
Pace: 6
Plot: 10
I will admit, the story is a bit of a stretch in certain spots, but otherwise very creative. Its originality allows me to say that I have seen anything like it before it or since. The best part is though it follows the story of an alcoholic crook, it manages to somehow still stay within the spirit of Christmas.
Resolution: 10
Overall: 93
If you’re not watching Bad Santa during the holidays, you’re doing something wrong. It’s about as ridiculous as a softcore porn movie, but if we’re being honest, aren’t most Christmas movies? Ah, Christmas and porn. Yup, that just happened.
Acting: 10
Billy Bob Thornton is, dare I say, brilliant in his role as Willie Stokes. His rage alone makes for a number of hilarious moments throughout the movie. In one of my favorite scenes, a kid walks up to him in the food court because he is still in his Santa pants. After the kid continues to pester him, Willie finally screams, “I’m on my fucking lunch break!” as pieces of food fly out of his mouth. It is still to this day one of the most memorably hilarious scenes I’ve ever seen.
Beginning: 10
Characters: 10
Just like Willie, Bad Santa features a bunch of broken characters that are messed up and dysfunctional. They are the reason this movie works as its fun watching everyone walk around so screwed up. Screwed up people have a tendency to leave a mark on scenes and this movie is no exception. Some of my favorite scenes involve the senile Grandma played by Cloris Leachman. Like most of these characters. You really just don’t know what to expect from her.
Cinematography/Visuals: 8
Conflict: 10
Entertainment Value: 9
This category fell short of a perfect score for me due to the fact that, while I think it’s absolutely hysterical, I also understand that this is a specific type of humor that may not cater to everyone. Speaking for myself, it had me in stitches. It is one of those comedies that’s just hard to forget.
Memorability: 10
Pace: 6
Plot: 10
I will admit, the story is a bit of a stretch in certain spots, but otherwise very creative. Its originality allows me to say that I have seen anything like it before it or since. The best part is though it follows the story of an alcoholic crook, it manages to somehow still stay within the spirit of Christmas.
Resolution: 10
Overall: 93
If you’re not watching Bad Santa during the holidays, you’re doing something wrong. It’s about as ridiculous as a softcore porn movie, but if we’re being honest, aren’t most Christmas movies? Ah, Christmas and porn. Yup, that just happened.
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Midsommar (2019) in Movies
Mar 22, 2020
Can't Deny it's a Solid Movie
Typically when I write a review, I try to watch the movie as I’m writing to bring back any lost memories to mind. Now, as I watch Midsommar on Prime, I’m trying to type as fast as I can so I can move on from this movie. It’s not that the movie is bad, not in the least. It’s just unsettling as hell, a movie that leaves you with an eery feeling that’s undeniable. The plot: Trying to escape a family tragedy, Dani (Florence Pugh) escapes with her boyfriend to a Swedish village for a midsummer festival. What she finds is the furthest things from what she expected.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 10
Characters: 10
Here’s what I loved most about the characters in Midsommar: They are, all of them, true to form. When situations arise, they act just like you expect them to act based on their personality traits. If it weren’t for these main characters, the movie never would have played out the way it did as they all experienced their doubts about the village at one point, but continued to stay for one personal reason to the next. As a result, shit hits the fan and things get juicier by the minute.
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 7
Entertainment Value: 1
Memorability: 10
Pace: 8
Plot: 9
Resolution: 5
It was…an ending to say the least. Bananas. Crazy. Threw me for a loop. Did I love it, though? Meh.
Overall: 80
Thankfully, it’s only taken me about eleven minutes to get all this typed so I’ll be shutting Midsommar off real soon. In my overall opinion, the movie falls short a few paces of being in the classic category because it gets a bit humdrum after awhile. However, I applaud it’s bold originality and its desire to be like nothing else that’s out there right now. That is something I ultimately respect whether or not I loved the movie. It won’t have universal appeal, but I definitely recommend it if you are a movie buff and have yet to see it.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 10
Characters: 10
Here’s what I loved most about the characters in Midsommar: They are, all of them, true to form. When situations arise, they act just like you expect them to act based on their personality traits. If it weren’t for these main characters, the movie never would have played out the way it did as they all experienced their doubts about the village at one point, but continued to stay for one personal reason to the next. As a result, shit hits the fan and things get juicier by the minute.
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 7
Entertainment Value: 1
Memorability: 10
Pace: 8
Plot: 9
Resolution: 5
It was…an ending to say the least. Bananas. Crazy. Threw me for a loop. Did I love it, though? Meh.
Overall: 80
Thankfully, it’s only taken me about eleven minutes to get all this typed so I’ll be shutting Midsommar off real soon. In my overall opinion, the movie falls short a few paces of being in the classic category because it gets a bit humdrum after awhile. However, I applaud it’s bold originality and its desire to be like nothing else that’s out there right now. That is something I ultimately respect whether or not I loved the movie. It won’t have universal appeal, but I definitely recommend it if you are a movie buff and have yet to see it.
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