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Sarah (7800 KP) rated Darkest Hour (2017) in Movies
Jan 23, 2018 (Updated Jan 23, 2018)
Fantastic turn from Gary Oldham
This is a very fascinating story about Churchill and a hugely interesting film. Gary Oldman's performance deserves all of the hype, he's almost unrecognisable and he really convinces both with the serious, vulnerable and numerous sides to Churchill. Indeed the film itself shows a different vulnerable side to Churchill that I never knew existed and it was nice to see. My knowledge on this part of history is lacking, so I found the wartime politics really interesting. The supporting cast do well and the dialogue is brilliant.
But the dialogue is the problem with this film too as it's far too dialogue heavy. They throw in a few bits of action and humour, but it doesn't quite break the dialogue heavy scenes. Which I found made the film drag a little and I think they could've cut parts out without being of a detriment to the story.
Worth seeing for Oldman's performance alone, although not one I'd necessarily rush to see again.
But the dialogue is the problem with this film too as it's far too dialogue heavy. They throw in a few bits of action and humour, but it doesn't quite break the dialogue heavy scenes. Which I found made the film drag a little and I think they could've cut parts out without being of a detriment to the story.
Worth seeing for Oldman's performance alone, although not one I'd necessarily rush to see again.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Early Man (2018) in Movies
Jan 29, 2018
Like Wallace & Gromit meets Mean Machine meets the Flintstones
As a massive Wallace & Gromit fan, I was really looking forward to this being released. I had no idea it revolved around football, but this didn't dominate too much.
The stone age tribe are merrily going about their bunny-hunting business when their happy little valley is invaded by bronze age man looking for a new source of their beloved metals. But unlike the Bad Religion song "We're All Gonna Die", early man didn't walk away when modern man took control, early man stood up to the challenge. This ultimately leads to the throwing down of a football challenge where the brutes will take on Real Bronzio in a football match.
The plot was nothing new, but there was enough humour injected throughout the film to make it an entertaining watch, and the cast of voices really add a lot (Rob Brydon in particular).
The stone age tribe are merrily going about their bunny-hunting business when their happy little valley is invaded by bronze age man looking for a new source of their beloved metals. But unlike the Bad Religion song "We're All Gonna Die", early man didn't walk away when modern man took control, early man stood up to the challenge. This ultimately leads to the throwing down of a football challenge where the brutes will take on Real Bronzio in a football match.
The plot was nothing new, but there was enough humour injected throughout the film to make it an entertaining watch, and the cast of voices really add a lot (Rob Brydon in particular).
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Horror of Frankenstein (1970) in Movies
Feb 24, 2018
(The other) Young Frankenstein
At the start of the 1970s Hammer tried to relaunch both their main series with new leading men (Ralph Bates replacing Christopher Lee in this case); this was the only reboot which eventually happened. The basics of the Frankenstein story are (just about) retold; young Victor decides to make a man, if not of himself, then from some body parts.
There's no doubt that Ralph Bates could have been a brilliant Frankenstein, but not in a film with a script like this one's. The film attempts to appeal to a hip young audience by including cleavage by the yard and lots of sub-Carry On film humour; script is also thick-headed and repetitive. The moment Frankenstein's experiments included resurrecting a tortoise everyone involved should have realised there was a serious problem here. Not funny, not scary, not interesting, barely worth watching except for Hammer fans. They got Peter Cushing back for the next one.
There's no doubt that Ralph Bates could have been a brilliant Frankenstein, but not in a film with a script like this one's. The film attempts to appeal to a hip young audience by including cleavage by the yard and lots of sub-Carry On film humour; script is also thick-headed and repetitive. The moment Frankenstein's experiments included resurrecting a tortoise everyone involved should have realised there was a serious problem here. Not funny, not scary, not interesting, barely worth watching except for Hammer fans. They got Peter Cushing back for the next one.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Dredd (2012) in Movies
Feb 25, 2018 (Updated Feb 25, 2018)
Stripped-down, intensely violent adaptation of the classic British comic strip. More faithful in many ways than the reviled 1995 version with Stallone. Ruthless lawman Judge Dredd and trainee Judge Anderson find themselves trapped inside a vast tower block with a bunch of bad guys; community policing ensues.
Still doesn't quite achieve the humour, satire, or general SF weirdness of the comic strip at its best, and to be honest the sheer brutality of the film is a little off-putting in places, but Urban is about as good as Dredd as you can imagine a major film star being, and everyone else does serviceable work (Thirlby's character is essentially Judge Anderson in only the broadest possible sense). Stylish and well-made, even if it struggles with the facts that a) the best Judge Dredd film ever made is still Robocop and b) it has (coincidentally) exactly the same premise as The Raid, which came out the same year.
Still doesn't quite achieve the humour, satire, or general SF weirdness of the comic strip at its best, and to be honest the sheer brutality of the film is a little off-putting in places, but Urban is about as good as Dredd as you can imagine a major film star being, and everyone else does serviceable work (Thirlby's character is essentially Judge Anderson in only the broadest possible sense). Stylish and well-made, even if it struggles with the facts that a) the best Judge Dredd film ever made is still Robocop and b) it has (coincidentally) exactly the same premise as The Raid, which came out the same year.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Ant-Man (2015) in Movies
Jun 9, 2018 (Updated Jun 9, 2018)
Long-in-the-works Marvel movie gets around lack of big names and (if we're totally honest) significance to the ongoing MCU meta-plot through sheer good humour, inventiveness, and charm. Loveable rogue gets recruited by curmudgeonly ex-superhero to take on his mantle as very tiny special operative Ant-Man. Possibly most famous for the fact that original writer-director Edgar Wright was fired from the movie, allegedly for refusing to stick with the Marvel house style - his influence over the movie is still very noticeable to the discerning, though.
Absolute originality probably isn't the movie's strong point (it is sort of vaguely reminiscent of various other movies in the series), but the caper-heist plot structure is at least a little bit different, as is the 'people get really tiny' schtick. Also, compared to the movies on either side of this one it's a relief to see something not in danger of buckling under its own weight. Doesn't take itself too seriously; piles of fun.
Absolute originality probably isn't the movie's strong point (it is sort of vaguely reminiscent of various other movies in the series), but the caper-heist plot structure is at least a little bit different, as is the 'people get really tiny' schtick. Also, compared to the movies on either side of this one it's a relief to see something not in danger of buckling under its own weight. Doesn't take itself too seriously; piles of fun.
Paul Smedley (141 KP) rated Colossal (2016) in Movies
Jun 5, 2018
Humour (3 more)
Special effects
Unique
Acting
Very different
Contains spoilers, click to show
Well I finally got round to watching this on Amazon Prime last night and really enjoyed it.
What starts as a very funny film, turns into something more dark and deep to which I was not expecting.
Overall I thought it was great and the only thing I had an issue with was that Oscar (played by the great Jason Sudeikis) changed his character literally overnight with no explanation. We can only presume it was known that Gloria did the deed with Joel or that we are to later find out that Oscar is actually a bad person (stemming back to a childhood incident involving his inferior diorama compared to that of Gloria’s and he still holds a grudge) but either way, it was all very sudden with no build up and made this part of the movie seem a little rushed.
Either way, would love to hear other people’s views on this!
What starts as a very funny film, turns into something more dark and deep to which I was not expecting.
Overall I thought it was great and the only thing I had an issue with was that Oscar (played by the great Jason Sudeikis) changed his character literally overnight with no explanation. We can only presume it was known that Gloria did the deed with Joel or that we are to later find out that Oscar is actually a bad person (stemming back to a childhood incident involving his inferior diorama compared to that of Gloria’s and he still holds a grudge) but either way, it was all very sudden with no build up and made this part of the movie seem a little rushed.
Either way, would love to hear other people’s views on this!
Chrissie-ann (78 KP) rated Terrifier (2017) in Movies
Jul 21, 2018
Cast (1 more)
Art the clown
I'm not sleeping tonight
IMDB is a bit confusing about the release of this movie, it says 2017 but also March 2018.
Art the clown goes on a killing spree on Halloween, targeting 3 teenage girls and anyone else who gets in the way.
I didn't hold much hope for it at the beginning, but being scared of clowns anyway I thought it might provoke a reaction out of me. Well it certainly did, the acting for Art the clown was, to me, amazing. I felt uneasy, nervous and on edge from the beginning to the end of the film. It's also very gory, but looks fake.
For a slasher movie I found this different and enticing, even though that clown made me want to run away and hide I had to keep watching. Also a little humour from the clown too. This guy's needs so recognition for his acting in THIS!
Art the clown goes on a killing spree on Halloween, targeting 3 teenage girls and anyone else who gets in the way.
I didn't hold much hope for it at the beginning, but being scared of clowns anyway I thought it might provoke a reaction out of me. Well it certainly did, the acting for Art the clown was, to me, amazing. I felt uneasy, nervous and on edge from the beginning to the end of the film. It's also very gory, but looks fake.
For a slasher movie I found this different and enticing, even though that clown made me want to run away and hide I had to keep watching. Also a little humour from the clown too. This guy's needs so recognition for his acting in THIS!
Steve Fearon (84 KP) rated Ruin Me (2017) in Movies
Sep 9, 2018 (Updated Sep 9, 2018)
Campy, cheesy fun (1 more)
Good pacing
Predictable (1 more)
Some iffy acting
Low budget meta horror
Contains spoilers, click to show
Shudder exclusive 'ruin me' runs a similar line to 'Fear Inc' or 'Hellhouse LLC', with a meta horror experience blurring the lines between reality and fiction.
The cast is a mix of early 2000s tropes, the goth couple, the chubby film nerd, the silent loner etc on a slasher themed survival weekend where events take a turn for the bloody.
They twist and turn a few times, toying with the viewer using an unreliable narrator, our protagonist Alex, whom you aren't ever really sure is in the real world.
Not much will surprise you, but it is a fun trope laden film with no real pretence of being anything other than it is...a low budget meta slasher.
Not a bad 90 mins though, and it's watchable enough so long as you don't mind the sometimes clunky humour and meta elements getting front and centre.
The cast is a mix of early 2000s tropes, the goth couple, the chubby film nerd, the silent loner etc on a slasher themed survival weekend where events take a turn for the bloody.
They twist and turn a few times, toying with the viewer using an unreliable narrator, our protagonist Alex, whom you aren't ever really sure is in the real world.
Not much will surprise you, but it is a fun trope laden film with no real pretence of being anything other than it is...a low budget meta slasher.
Not a bad 90 mins though, and it's watchable enough so long as you don't mind the sometimes clunky humour and meta elements getting front and centre.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Men in Black International (2019) in Movies
Jun 18, 2019 (Updated Jun 18, 2019)
Actors move back and forth in front of a camera, occasionally saying words; armies of people sit before computers adding special effects to digital footage; lucrative deals are struck advertising cars, watches and sunglasses. But none of it really seems to mean anything to anyone - there is a vague, superficial resemblance to a franchise that was very popular 15-20 years ago, but everything that made it distinctive and entertaining has been scraped out of the carcass and what remains is almost wholly affectless.
Chris Hemsworth gives his usual performance (he will have to come up with another if he wants a viable career beyond playing Thor), Tessa Thompson has arguably been promoted too far in being given co-lead of a film aiming to be a blockbuster. Not much chemistry between the leads, though, and the plot is wholly transactional. This film is rarely full-on dull, but it doesn't engage the brain, emotions, or sense of humour either.
Chris Hemsworth gives his usual performance (he will have to come up with another if he wants a viable career beyond playing Thor), Tessa Thompson has arguably been promoted too far in being given co-lead of a film aiming to be a blockbuster. Not much chemistry between the leads, though, and the plot is wholly transactional. This film is rarely full-on dull, but it doesn't engage the brain, emotions, or sense of humour either.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Aquaman (2018) in Movies
Jan 4, 2019
By far and away, this is the best of the recent DC movies (though I haven't seen Wonder Woman). There is much more humour injected into it, that it finally feels like they've got something to rival Marvel films. It really feels like a normal, decent superhero film.
However, I didn't much like Jason Momoa and thought he lacked the personality to carry the role off and really needed Amber Heard to inject some life into scenes.
A fun enjoyable film but I'm not sure the final battle scene was necessary - why does every superhero film have to lead up to an epic battle these days? While the CGI made this visually stunning, I felt it was totally unnecessary.
And finally, I was so glad when Aquaman's mum's "trident" is broken in the initial challenge for the throne - it had 5 prongs so every time someone referred to it as a trident I wanted to scream.
However, I didn't much like Jason Momoa and thought he lacked the personality to carry the role off and really needed Amber Heard to inject some life into scenes.
A fun enjoyable film but I'm not sure the final battle scene was necessary - why does every superhero film have to lead up to an epic battle these days? While the CGI made this visually stunning, I felt it was totally unnecessary.
And finally, I was so glad when Aquaman's mum's "trident" is broken in the initial challenge for the throne - it had 5 prongs so every time someone referred to it as a trident I wanted to scream.