Search
The Myth Seekers: The Legacy of Vulcan
Games and Stickers
App
FANTASTIC HIDDEN OBJECT PUZZLE ADVENTURE GAME FROM THE CREATORS OF ENIGMATIS AND GRIM LEGENDS! As...
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966) in Movies
Nov 10, 2020
King Not Prince
Dracula: Prince of Darkness- is a slowburn film. It takes it time to build of Dracula and once Dracula shows than it really gets started. Christopher Lee isnt in this movie very much even though he is Dracula himself, but once he is one screen, he stills the show.
The plot: Four English travellers arrive at a tiny hamlet in the Carpathian Mountains and ignore warnings from the locals not to travel to Carlsbad, the domain of Count Dracula. A dark, driverless carriage arrives to take them to the sinister castle, but they discover too late that they have been lured there to provide the blood which will allow Dracula to rise from the grave once more.
Dracula does not speak in the film, save for a few hisses. According to Christopher Lee: "I didn't speak in that picture. The reason was very simple. I read the script and saw the dialogue! I said to Hammer, if you think I'm going to say any of these lines, you're very much mistaken.
Screenwriter Jimmy Sangster disputed that account in his memoir Inside Hammer, writing that "Vampires don't chat. So I didn't write him any dialogue. Christopher Lee has claimed that he refused to speak the lines he was given...So you can take your pick as to why Christopher Lee didn't have any dialogue in the picture. Or you can take my word for it. I didn't write any.
The film was made back to back with Rasputin, the Mad Monk, using many of the same sets and cast, including Lee, Shelley, Matthews and Farmer. Shelley later remembered accidentally swallowing one of her fangs in one scene, and having to drink salt water to bring it back up again because of the tight shooting schedule, as well as there being no spare set of fangs.
Its a decent Dracula film.
The plot: Four English travellers arrive at a tiny hamlet in the Carpathian Mountains and ignore warnings from the locals not to travel to Carlsbad, the domain of Count Dracula. A dark, driverless carriage arrives to take them to the sinister castle, but they discover too late that they have been lured there to provide the blood which will allow Dracula to rise from the grave once more.
Dracula does not speak in the film, save for a few hisses. According to Christopher Lee: "I didn't speak in that picture. The reason was very simple. I read the script and saw the dialogue! I said to Hammer, if you think I'm going to say any of these lines, you're very much mistaken.
Screenwriter Jimmy Sangster disputed that account in his memoir Inside Hammer, writing that "Vampires don't chat. So I didn't write him any dialogue. Christopher Lee has claimed that he refused to speak the lines he was given...So you can take your pick as to why Christopher Lee didn't have any dialogue in the picture. Or you can take my word for it. I didn't write any.
The film was made back to back with Rasputin, the Mad Monk, using many of the same sets and cast, including Lee, Shelley, Matthews and Farmer. Shelley later remembered accidentally swallowing one of her fangs in one scene, and having to drink salt water to bring it back up again because of the tight shooting schedule, as well as there being no spare set of fangs.
Its a decent Dracula film.
Awix (3310 KP) rated On the Basis of Sex (2018) in Movies
Mar 1, 2019
Legal bio-pic has a title that makes it sound like a recipe for a failed marriage; unfortunately it's not as interesting as that. Felicity Jones plays a young Ruth Bader Ginsberg, battling the patriarchy first at Harvard and then in the courts, aided by her husband Marty (it's Armie Hammer time!).
Well-mounted and with some decent performances, and there are some startling revelations (sex discrimination was not considered unconstitutional in the US until fairly recently), but the actual story of the main case covered by the film is not that gripping (a lot of discussion of legal procedure and tax law), and the earnestness of the film also threatens to make it a bit indigestible: of course RBG is an important figure fighting for a good cause, but that doesn't mean any film about her has to feel like The Lives of the Saints. The documentary about Ginsberg is also flawed, but more peppy than this.
Well-mounted and with some decent performances, and there are some startling revelations (sex discrimination was not considered unconstitutional in the US until fairly recently), but the actual story of the main case covered by the film is not that gripping (a lot of discussion of legal procedure and tax law), and the earnestness of the film also threatens to make it a bit indigestible: of course RBG is an important figure fighting for a good cause, but that doesn't mean any film about her has to feel like The Lives of the Saints. The documentary about Ginsberg is also flawed, but more peppy than this.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) in Movies
Mar 18, 2019
Much-mythologised musical spoof of 50s American pop-culture probably isn't quite as transgressive or shocking as everyone thinks it is, or it would really like to be. Newly-engaged couple Brad and Janet end up at the mansion of the peculiar Dr Frank N. Furter where equally strange experiments are in progress, not to mention dance routines.
Very distinctive if nothing else, even if Richard O'Brien's claims that it's a mash-up of Hammer horror and the Carry On films seems a bit spurious on reflection. The plot is, frankly, incoherent, and becomes increasingly peripheral as the film continues - this is basically just a collection of pastiche rock 'n' roll songs belted out with great gusto by a cast who are really going for it. Luckily, most of the songs are really good. I'm not entirely sure why this has become the type specimen of the modern cult movie, but it's entertaining enough to watch.
Very distinctive if nothing else, even if Richard O'Brien's claims that it's a mash-up of Hammer horror and the Carry On films seems a bit spurious on reflection. The plot is, frankly, incoherent, and becomes increasingly peripheral as the film continues - this is basically just a collection of pastiche rock 'n' roll songs belted out with great gusto by a cast who are really going for it. Luckily, most of the songs are really good. I'm not entirely sure why this has become the type specimen of the modern cult movie, but it's entertaining enough to watch.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Masque of the Red Death (1964) in Movies
Mar 26, 2018 (Updated Mar 26, 2018)
Visually lavish Poe adaptation eschews easy shocks and fake gore (mostly) in favour of a more impressionistic and literary flavour of thoughtful horror. Devil-worshipping nobleman (Price) takes refuge from the plague in his castle, but decides to try and corrupt the soul of pious young village girl (Asher) while planning a big party. Will Satan turn up for the shindig, or will it be something worse...?
Classy, well-mounted movie, with a marvellously poetic script ('I have tasted the beauties of terror', and so on) - a bit like a feature-length Twilight Zone episode in glorious technicolour. The various subplots about a vengeful dwarf and Price's jealous mistress could be a bit sharper, but Price absolutely rocks the house in a role you can't imagine anyone else playing nearly as well. If Ingmar Bergman had ever got together with Hammer Films this is the kind of film which would have resulted.
Classy, well-mounted movie, with a marvellously poetic script ('I have tasted the beauties of terror', and so on) - a bit like a feature-length Twilight Zone episode in glorious technicolour. The various subplots about a vengeful dwarf and Price's jealous mistress could be a bit sharper, but Price absolutely rocks the house in a role you can't imagine anyone else playing nearly as well. If Ingmar Bergman had ever got together with Hammer Films this is the kind of film which would have resulted.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Vengeance of She (1968) in Movies
Feb 26, 2018 (Updated Feb 26, 2018)
Bargain basement Hammer fantasy sequel manages to ditch almost everything that gave the original film its class. Plot is basically a role-reversal of the original film; Richardson's character has gone mad (we are invited to infer) and regressed to the personality of his previous incarnation (film doesn't actually make sense otherwise); awaits the arrival of the reincarnation of Ursula Andress (not that Berova looks that much like her); cult of sorcerers offer to speed her arrival in return for the secret of immortality.
Basically just quite pedestrian and dull, with lots of messing about on a rich man's yacht that doesn't do a great deal to advance the plot. Some potentially interesting ideas are ignored in favour of potboiler romance and fantasy melodrama. Production values basically scream that the movie was made on a very low budget. Andre Morell is the best thing in it, and he's not in it all that much.
Basically just quite pedestrian and dull, with lots of messing about on a rich man's yacht that doesn't do a great deal to advance the plot. Some potentially interesting ideas are ignored in favour of potboiler romance and fantasy melodrama. Production values basically scream that the movie was made on a very low budget. Andre Morell is the best thing in it, and he's not in it all that much.
Awix (3310 KP) rated One Million Years B.C. (1967) in Movies
Feb 12, 2018
Not-bad Hammer dinosaur movie probably best-known for its special effects (by which I mean Ray Harryhausen's animation and Raquel Welch's costume). Bit-thick hero is kicked out of his own tribe, crosses a desert mostly populated by photo-blow-up monsters, meets another tribe who are so advanced they have discovered peroxide hair-dye and leg-waxing. Meanwhile Raquel Welch watches her dreams of being taken seriously as an actress go up in smoke.
Takes itself impressively seriously, all things considered; the decision to do the whole thing in made-up caveman language (sample dialogue: 'Tumak! Akita Loana!') makes it difficult to even have a coherent plot, let alone subtext, but I doubt that was the first concern. Harryhausen's dinosaurs are obviously rather wonderful; the decision to include photographically-enlarged lizards at certain points is questionable. It is what it is; the poster's claim that 'This is the way it was!' should probably not be taken too seriously.
Takes itself impressively seriously, all things considered; the decision to do the whole thing in made-up caveman language (sample dialogue: 'Tumak! Akita Loana!') makes it difficult to even have a coherent plot, let alone subtext, but I doubt that was the first concern. Harryhausen's dinosaurs are obviously rather wonderful; the decision to include photographically-enlarged lizards at certain points is questionable. It is what it is; the poster's claim that 'This is the way it was!' should probably not be taken too seriously.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Free Fire (2017) in Movies
Jan 12, 2019
Stretched a bit too much
Ever since watching Sightseers I’ve always been excited to see the next Ben Wheatley film, however recently they’ve been very hit and miss. And sadly Free Fire for me was no different.
It has a truly fantastic cast, you can’t really get much better than the likes of Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy, Armie Hammer and Michael Smiley. The cast themselves are faultless, and so is the direction. It’s brilliantly shot and does very well with such a limited set. The soundtrack is great too. My main issue is that it’s a simple plot that feels like it’s been stretched too thin. Whilst the run time of 90 minutes is very short, it still dragged and got a little boring and definitely feels too stretched. Don’t get me wrong, there are parts of this film that are hilarious and this did help, but for me it wasn’t enough. I could’ve done with a little more variety. Also the ending was a little predictable.
It has a truly fantastic cast, you can’t really get much better than the likes of Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy, Armie Hammer and Michael Smiley. The cast themselves are faultless, and so is the direction. It’s brilliantly shot and does very well with such a limited set. The soundtrack is great too. My main issue is that it’s a simple plot that feels like it’s been stretched too thin. Whilst the run time of 90 minutes is very short, it still dragged and got a little boring and definitely feels too stretched. Don’t get me wrong, there are parts of this film that are hilarious and this did help, but for me it wasn’t enough. I could’ve done with a little more variety. Also the ending was a little predictable.
Erika (17788 KP) rated On the Basis of Sex (2018) in Movies
Jan 14, 2019 (Updated Jan 14, 2019)
I am not a member of the RBG cult, and I honestly have no idea as to why it even exists. But, I was kind of bored yesterday and needed to get out of the house, so I decided to go see this.
I was equally bored. It started out with RBG at Harvard in law school, and, guess what? The Dean of the school and a lot of dudes were misogynist , color me shocked (heavy sarcasm). This film covers about 20 years, and dragged like it covered that amount of time. I think Felicity Jones did a good job with what she was given and her period clothing was one of my favorite things. How the court cases went weren't really a secret, so I wasn't sure why people were gasping during it. It was bizarre.
Honestly, the best part of the film was how smoking hot Armie Hammer looked.
In short, an over-hyped film, about an over-hyped figure.
I was equally bored. It started out with RBG at Harvard in law school, and, guess what? The Dean of the school and a lot of dudes were misogynist , color me shocked (heavy sarcasm). This film covers about 20 years, and dragged like it covered that amount of time. I think Felicity Jones did a good job with what she was given and her period clothing was one of my favorite things. How the court cases went weren't really a secret, so I wasn't sure why people were gasping during it. It was bizarre.
Honestly, the best part of the film was how smoking hot Armie Hammer looked.
In short, an over-hyped film, about an over-hyped figure.
Veronica Pena (690 KP) rated The Social Network (2010) in Movies
Apr 24, 2020
I really liked the format of this film. I think in some movies it's really hard to do a jump plot and do it well, but this film does it exquisitely. I loved the cast - Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Brenda Song, Armie Hammer, Rashida Jones, and obviously Jesse Eisenberg - they all did a phenomenal job.
It's really interesting to watch this movie now, 10 years after its initial release and see how Facebook and even the world, has changed. Especially with all of the drama and the rumors about Facebook and what it's involved in. I suppose it's fitting given the way that it was created.
I enjoyed this film. I'm not sure if I'll ever watch it again, but I know that I can't say I won't so I suppose that's a good thing. My favorite thing about this film is the way the plot roles, going back and forth between the depositions and what happened, it's really seamless and enjoyable.
It's really interesting to watch this movie now, 10 years after its initial release and see how Facebook and even the world, has changed. Especially with all of the drama and the rumors about Facebook and what it's involved in. I suppose it's fitting given the way that it was created.
I enjoyed this film. I'm not sure if I'll ever watch it again, but I know that I can't say I won't so I suppose that's a good thing. My favorite thing about this film is the way the plot roles, going back and forth between the depositions and what happened, it's really seamless and enjoyable.