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Sarah (7800 KP) rated Priest (2011) in Movies
Oct 8, 2018
Stylish but badly executed
This film was such a disappointment. On paper the premise of priests versus vampires sounds like it could be fairly promising, but sadly in reality they just don’t manage to pull it off. Some of the set and costume design is quite good and the cgi is a lot better than I ever would’ve thought on something like this. However the plot is horrendous. It doesn’t make a massive amount of sense and has a very short run time to fit in any explanation. The ending too is also over far too quickly. It touches on how a alternate dystopian future would look if governed by the Church, and this for me was the most interesting part of this entire film. The problem is that they barely touch on this side which is such a shame.
Eilidh G Clark (177 KP) rated Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in Books
Jul 2, 2019
A good book for its time
It takes a while to get into this book mostly because of the narrative voice. It is the narrative voice that makes the book as good as it is. Written in 1st person, the unreliable narrator fools the reader into just how uneducated he is (he did write a book after all). Huck has bags of common sense but relies on Tom for silliness. There is however, a lot of innocence in Huckleberry and a huge desire for freedom but I do think he secretly wants to civilised. The last few chapters of the book are more like a children's adventure story showing the child like Huckleberry compared to the innocent and uncivilised boy at the start of the book. I liked this. I enjoyed the ending very much.
TV
The Vietnam War Through Film
Book
This book, through studies of eight feature films, each concerned with a particular key stage of the...
TI
This isn't the Sort of Thing That Happens to Someone Like You
Book
Tender, sad, funny, and riveting, this is an astonishing collection of work by one of Britain's...
Carrie Brownstein recommended track Sanaga Calypso by Pasteur Lappe in African Funk Experimentals by Pasteur Lappe in Music (curated)
Dean (6927 KP) rated Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) in Movies
Mar 30, 2021
A better cut
Well I gave this a go as the first film was noticeably cut quite a bit and just didn't feel like a complete film. This version is considerably longer, 3hrs 45mins before the credits roll, but it does feel a more complete film. With more back stories on some characters and longer battle scenes. The SFX for Steppenwolf is better. Overall the tone and feel of the film is better.
To be honest I didn't feel like the film dragged despite the long run time as so much is crammed in. I've seen other films over 3 hours long that felt tediously slow in comparison. So if you haven't seen it yet definitely watch this version, worth checking out if you already liked the first version.
To be honest I didn't feel like the film dragged despite the long run time as so much is crammed in. I've seen other films over 3 hours long that felt tediously slow in comparison. So if you haven't seen it yet definitely watch this version, worth checking out if you already liked the first version.
Veronica Pena (690 KP) rated Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) in Movies
May 19, 2020
James Stewart is brilliant. Bloody brilliant. As a political science major and buff, watching this film was so satisfying, especially in a time like this. If only our entire government was full of men like Jefferson Smith, I wonder how different it would look. He is kind and honest and truly just wants the best for the countries citizens and it radiates, unlike anything I've ever seen before. Stewart is the standout, no question about it.
I think this is a film everyone should watch and it's absolutely worth it. I can't say too much about the actual film itself without spoilers but I will say that I would find it hard to believe if anyone regretted watching this film. If they did, I'd love to meet them. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a masterpiece if I've ever seen one.
I think this is a film everyone should watch and it's absolutely worth it. I can't say too much about the actual film itself without spoilers but I will say that I would find it hard to believe if anyone regretted watching this film. If they did, I'd love to meet them. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is a masterpiece if I've ever seen one.
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Men in Black (1997) in Movies
Jan 6, 2021
Visually Brilliant and Gorgeous
A New York police officer gets thrown into a crazy world when he stumbles upon a special group trying to stop intergalactic threats.
Acting: 10
Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones have to be one my most favorite duos of all time. Playing Agent J and Agent K respectively, their partnership is one of new blood versus old head. I love how each of them took on their respective role, Smith with air of cockiness and bravado and Jones with the nature of one who has been there and done that too many times before. And I haven’t even dove into the fun performances of actors like Rip Torn and Tony Shalhoub. Very well casted movie.
Beginning: 10
Characters: 10
J and K are magnificent to watch, but it’s the broad scope of aliens for me that take the cake. There’s Jeebs whose head can explode and grow back. Then there’s Edgar who eventually becomes a massive bug wearing an “Edgar Suit” played by the amazing Vincent D’Onofrio. Those are only to name a couple from a large list of enriching characters that shed a fun new light on the underground of New York.
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 10
The first ten minutes of the movie gives you a taste of what the action is going to be like. That dives right into the next scene and the next. Great action with high stakes that races across the city of New York. I appreciate the high level of conflict that kept me engaged.
Entertainment Value: 7
Memorability: 7
Pace: 10
Ninety-eight minutes goes by quick in Men In Black. It’s one of those movies that you almost don’t want to end but you know it has to. It races through its story, but just quickly enough so that you don’t miss any important details. I love when movies can move at a pace like this without ruining with exposition.
Plot: 7
Resolution: 8
I wanted a little more from the ending but it was satisfactory for the most part. Definitely leaves room for the obvious sequel that follows it. Decent way to wrap things up.
Overall: 89
From the beginning, I had no doubt that I was going to like Men In Black. It wraps solid sci-fi action into a nice gift with quick pacing and a solid story for a bow. Director Barry Sonnenfeld masterfully captures the “aliens among us” idea and makes it inventive. Definitely a necessary piece of sci-fi movie history.
Acting: 10
Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones have to be one my most favorite duos of all time. Playing Agent J and Agent K respectively, their partnership is one of new blood versus old head. I love how each of them took on their respective role, Smith with air of cockiness and bravado and Jones with the nature of one who has been there and done that too many times before. And I haven’t even dove into the fun performances of actors like Rip Torn and Tony Shalhoub. Very well casted movie.
Beginning: 10
Characters: 10
J and K are magnificent to watch, but it’s the broad scope of aliens for me that take the cake. There’s Jeebs whose head can explode and grow back. Then there’s Edgar who eventually becomes a massive bug wearing an “Edgar Suit” played by the amazing Vincent D’Onofrio. Those are only to name a couple from a large list of enriching characters that shed a fun new light on the underground of New York.
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Conflict: 10
The first ten minutes of the movie gives you a taste of what the action is going to be like. That dives right into the next scene and the next. Great action with high stakes that races across the city of New York. I appreciate the high level of conflict that kept me engaged.
Entertainment Value: 7
Memorability: 7
Pace: 10
Ninety-eight minutes goes by quick in Men In Black. It’s one of those movies that you almost don’t want to end but you know it has to. It races through its story, but just quickly enough so that you don’t miss any important details. I love when movies can move at a pace like this without ruining with exposition.
Plot: 7
Resolution: 8
I wanted a little more from the ending but it was satisfactory for the most part. Definitely leaves room for the obvious sequel that follows it. Decent way to wrap things up.
Overall: 89
From the beginning, I had no doubt that I was going to like Men In Black. It wraps solid sci-fi action into a nice gift with quick pacing and a solid story for a bow. Director Barry Sonnenfeld masterfully captures the “aliens among us” idea and makes it inventive. Definitely a necessary piece of sci-fi movie history.
Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) rated Wind River (2017) in Movies
Sep 28, 2017
Brilliant performances (1 more)
Very well written and directed
A Satisfying Thriller
Taylor Sheridan has written two of my favourite movies over the last few years, Sicario and Hell or Highwater. This is only Sheridan's second time in the directors chair though and he proves that he is more than capable when put in charge of an entire film's production.
This is a fairly slow burn that focuses mostly on building character arcs and relationships rather than fast paced action. The structure that the movie follows to give the audience context and the backstory of the movie's respective characters though, is extremely effective and well crafted. The movie doesn't treat it's audience like idiots, nor does it act too smart for it's own good.
Renner and Olsen are both fantastic in the two lead roles and are able to make scenes that are purely dialogue focused, engaging and entertaining. I like Jeremy Renner, but when he stars in blockbuster movies like Bourne or Avengers or Mission Impossible, it is easy to forget how good of an actor he really is, in this performance, he does a good job of reminding you of his ability as a performer.
Slight spoilers follow, nothing major, but some might rather not know anything going in, so if that's you stop reading now. Jon Bernthal's cameo towards the end of the movie was such a delight, he is only in the movie for a just shy of ten minutes, but he was fantastic as he always is. That guy is quickly turning into one of my favourite character actors working in Hollywood.
I won't spoil the end of the movie, but I will say that it is extremely satisfying and makes the slow burn leading up to that point totally worth it.
If you are a fan of mystery thrillers and gripping dramatic performances, then go and see this film.
This is a fairly slow burn that focuses mostly on building character arcs and relationships rather than fast paced action. The structure that the movie follows to give the audience context and the backstory of the movie's respective characters though, is extremely effective and well crafted. The movie doesn't treat it's audience like idiots, nor does it act too smart for it's own good.
Renner and Olsen are both fantastic in the two lead roles and are able to make scenes that are purely dialogue focused, engaging and entertaining. I like Jeremy Renner, but when he stars in blockbuster movies like Bourne or Avengers or Mission Impossible, it is easy to forget how good of an actor he really is, in this performance, he does a good job of reminding you of his ability as a performer.
Slight spoilers follow, nothing major, but some might rather not know anything going in, so if that's you stop reading now. Jon Bernthal's cameo towards the end of the movie was such a delight, he is only in the movie for a just shy of ten minutes, but he was fantastic as he always is. That guy is quickly turning into one of my favourite character actors working in Hollywood.
I won't spoil the end of the movie, but I will say that it is extremely satisfying and makes the slow burn leading up to that point totally worth it.
If you are a fan of mystery thrillers and gripping dramatic performances, then go and see this film.
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Downsizing (2017) in Movies
Jun 30, 2019 (Updated Sep 25, 2019)
Paul and Audrey are like any normal couple, they plod along and everything is... okay. But when they meet one of Paul's high school friends who has "downsized" they wonder if this might be what they've been looking for to change their life.
Wow... just wow. Matt Damon is doing amazingly well at reassuring me of the reasons I don't like his films. I'm afraid to say that this one gets two stars purely for the fact that the story line had so much potential... and barely any of it was tapped.
If you go on to IMDb you can see that they've listed this one as comedy, drama, and sci-fi. Now, the last one is a given, as unless I've been missing something we are unable to shrink people. But the other two... I genuinely think that there were two versions of the script, one comedy and one drama, and when someone was taking them to production they accidentally dropped them and ended up matching the comedy beginning with the drama end... the worst type of pantomime horse ever created.
The trailer that I kept seeing for this one looked entirely like a comedy. I was really surprised that it became a "drama". It could quite easily have been one or the other, Damon would have fit well in the comedy version, and had they done some fun stuff around him and his wife trying to reconcile after she bailed on being Downsized I could have seen that working. Equally, with some different casting I could have seen the more serious ending to the movie working if they'd had an equally serious beginning. As it is though this movie seems to have no idea who it's trying to appeal to... and actually, thinking about it... I'm going to revoke one of those stars, talking over it has made me see the error of my ways.
Wow... just wow. Matt Damon is doing amazingly well at reassuring me of the reasons I don't like his films. I'm afraid to say that this one gets two stars purely for the fact that the story line had so much potential... and barely any of it was tapped.
If you go on to IMDb you can see that they've listed this one as comedy, drama, and sci-fi. Now, the last one is a given, as unless I've been missing something we are unable to shrink people. But the other two... I genuinely think that there were two versions of the script, one comedy and one drama, and when someone was taking them to production they accidentally dropped them and ended up matching the comedy beginning with the drama end... the worst type of pantomime horse ever created.
The trailer that I kept seeing for this one looked entirely like a comedy. I was really surprised that it became a "drama". It could quite easily have been one or the other, Damon would have fit well in the comedy version, and had they done some fun stuff around him and his wife trying to reconcile after she bailed on being Downsized I could have seen that working. Equally, with some different casting I could have seen the more serious ending to the movie working if they'd had an equally serious beginning. As it is though this movie seems to have no idea who it's trying to appeal to... and actually, thinking about it... I'm going to revoke one of those stars, talking over it has made me see the error of my ways.