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Dean (6921 KP) rated Whiteout (2009) in Movies
Sep 12, 2017
Icy cool thriller
Well this seems to have been panned by the critics. Seems a few got the wrong idea and thought this was going to be like The Thing not sure why? ok it's no oscar winner, but it has an original setting for a whodunit thriller. Some of the actions scenes are hard to make out but that was the effect they went for. Overall it's not that bad, it has a twist or two and some action scenes to satisfy most people.
Dean (6921 KP) rated Underworld: Blood Wars (2017) in Movies
Aug 26, 2017
Cgi again is poor quality in places (1 more)
Not that different to the last 2 films
Another cash in
I was excited to hear about another Underworld film. The first was great but they have gone rapidly down hill ever since. This is slightly better than the last outing and carries on shortly after where the last one ended. However it's been basically the same story for the last few films now. Unless they can come up with something fresh it might be time to put a stake through the heart of this franchise.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Jolt (2021) in Movies
Aug 3, 2021
The main thing that Jolt has going for it is Kate Beckinsale. Her protagonist is likable enough to just about carry the finished product through the finish line, and into vaguely entertaining territory. The rest of the cast ain't to shabby either - Bobby Cannavale, Stanley Tucci, Laverne Cox, David Bradley - all do pretty well with a patchy script (patchy sure, but I will admit that it made me laugh a few times...)
Other than that though, Jolt feels so familiar. It doesn't do anything new, which wouldn't be such an issue if it was exciting, but it just isn't. The action scenes are underwhelming, and it leans too heavily into the humorous side of things to be a serious thriller, whilst simultaneously trying too hard at the serious thriller aspect to be overly funny. The twist during the films finale is dumb as well - the whole thing would have worked better as a straightforward revenge flick. I also found the obvious sound stage set completely distracting. The scenery looked like and episode of Friends pretty frequently!
Got to admire the ambition to include a blatant set up for a sequel thats probably never going to happen though (complete with a mid credits scene...)
Jolt is a movie that thinks is smarter than it actually is, but it's entertaining enough (thanks in no small part to Kate Beckinsale) to justify a one time watch.
Other than that though, Jolt feels so familiar. It doesn't do anything new, which wouldn't be such an issue if it was exciting, but it just isn't. The action scenes are underwhelming, and it leans too heavily into the humorous side of things to be a serious thriller, whilst simultaneously trying too hard at the serious thriller aspect to be overly funny. The twist during the films finale is dumb as well - the whole thing would have worked better as a straightforward revenge flick. I also found the obvious sound stage set completely distracting. The scenery looked like and episode of Friends pretty frequently!
Got to admire the ambition to include a blatant set up for a sequel thats probably never going to happen though (complete with a mid credits scene...)
Jolt is a movie that thinks is smarter than it actually is, but it's entertaining enough (thanks in no small part to Kate Beckinsale) to justify a one time watch.
David McK (3180 KP) rated Van Helsing (2004) in Movies
Aug 28, 2019 (Updated Oct 7, 2019)
Early 2000s (2004?) movie, that re-imagines the role of van Helsing (from the Dracula novel) as a Monster hunter, rather than the elderly scientist he is usually portrayed as, and with Hugh Jackman stepping into the central role as just that character.
Also starring Kate Beckinsale as Anna Valerious (and, yes, again wearing tight fitting trousers a la Underworld) and with Richard Roxburgh doing all but chewing the scenery as Count Dracula, this see's Van Helsing travel to Transylvania in an effort to uncover the mystery of his past and aid Anna in stopping her family's curse in a film that also sees many of Universals 'classic' monsters (Wolfman, Dracula's brides, Frankenstein's Monster, Jekyll and Hyde) involved.
Also starring Kate Beckinsale as Anna Valerious (and, yes, again wearing tight fitting trousers a la Underworld) and with Richard Roxburgh doing all but chewing the scenery as Count Dracula, this see's Van Helsing travel to Transylvania in an effort to uncover the mystery of his past and aid Anna in stopping her family's curse in a film that also sees many of Universals 'classic' monsters (Wolfman, Dracula's brides, Frankenstein's Monster, Jekyll and Hyde) involved.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Van Helsing (2004) in Movies
May 14, 2021
Adventure Lives Forever
Van Helsing- tired to atempt starting a universe that didnt happen. Tired to start a franchise/spin-offs that didnt happen. But other than that its good. Hugh Jackman is good as Van Helsing.
The plot: Famed monster slayer Gabriel Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) is dispatched to Transylvania to assist the last of the Valerious bloodline in defeating Count Dracula (Richard Roxburgh). Anna Valerious (Kate Beckinsale) reveals that Dracula has formed an unholy alliance with Dr. Frankenstein's monster (Shuler Hensley) and is hell-bent on exacting a centuries-old curse on her family. Together Anna and Van Helsing set out to destroy their common enemy, but uncover some unsettling secrets along the way.
Its a good film.
The plot: Famed monster slayer Gabriel Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman) is dispatched to Transylvania to assist the last of the Valerious bloodline in defeating Count Dracula (Richard Roxburgh). Anna Valerious (Kate Beckinsale) reveals that Dracula has formed an unholy alliance with Dr. Frankenstein's monster (Shuler Hensley) and is hell-bent on exacting a centuries-old curse on her family. Together Anna and Van Helsing set out to destroy their common enemy, but uncover some unsettling secrets along the way.
Its a good film.
David McK (3180 KP) rated Pearl Harbor (2001) in Movies
Oct 24, 2021
Movie set around the events of the surprise Japanese attack on the US naval base of Pearl Harbo(u)r in 1941, that mixes the action around that attack with a love triangle between Kate Beckinsale, Josh Hartnett and Ben Affleck with the latter two playing two best friends in love with the same girl, and with both Hartnett's Danny and Kate's Evelyn believing Ben's Rafe to be dead - at least, for about the first half hour or so - after he is shot down in Europe.
Of course, he returns from the dead after Danny has fallen for Evelyn and she for him, and just before the attack on Pearl Harbour begins ...
Obvious how said love triangle is going to end.
Of course, he returns from the dead after Danny has fallen for Evelyn and she for him, and just before the attack on Pearl Harbour begins ...
Obvious how said love triangle is going to end.
Bob Mann (459 KP) rated Love And Friendship (2016) in Movies
Sep 29, 2021
Beckinsale excels in a comic tale of Girl Power in the 1790’s.
Set in 1790, Kate Beckinsale plays Lady Susan Vernon, an 18th century cuckoo-like ‘MILF’ (actually, more ‘LILF’, but using the ‘Lady’ term loosely) who with her glamourous demeanor is lusted after by both younger beaus as well as married aristocracy: an example being Lord Manwaring (Lochlann O’Mearáin).
Playing many different ends against the middle, Lady Susan – with the collusion of her American friend Alicia (Chloë Sevigny) – attempts to both find a suitably rich suitor for her daughter Frederica (Morfydd Clark) as well as finding a rich husband for herself to allow her to stay in the manor (sic) to which she has become accustomed. A tale of deception, pregnancy and a marriage of convenience follows: does Lady Susan have to choose between her sexual desires and the rich, stupid and dull Sir James Martin (Tom Bennett, “David Brent: Life on the Road”). Or can she have her cake and eat it?
Based on a Jane Austen short story, “Lady Susan”, this is a delight from beginning to end. However, it does require the attention of the viewer: characters get introduced to you in rapid fire succession, and keeping track of who’s who and how they interrelate is quite a challenge.
But this is a tour de force for Kate “Underworld” Beckinsale who delivers a depth of acting ability that I’ve not seen from her in the past. Her comic timing is just sublime, and while comedies are often overlooked in Awards season, this is a role for which she richly deserves both BAFTA and Oscar recognition.
Stephen Fry joins what is a superb ensemble cast. But outstanding among them is Tom Bennett who is simply hilarious as the nice but dim Sir James. The comic routine about his misunderstanding of “Churchill” (Church – Hill) – a running gag – is sublime and a challenger (with “Was that it t’were so simple”) for the comedy routine of the year.
Directed by Whit Stilman (“The Last Days of Disco”) from his own screenplay, this is one for the more sophisticated viewer: requiring of your full attention, but a treat for the eyes, ears and brain.
Playing many different ends against the middle, Lady Susan – with the collusion of her American friend Alicia (Chloë Sevigny) – attempts to both find a suitably rich suitor for her daughter Frederica (Morfydd Clark) as well as finding a rich husband for herself to allow her to stay in the manor (sic) to which she has become accustomed. A tale of deception, pregnancy and a marriage of convenience follows: does Lady Susan have to choose between her sexual desires and the rich, stupid and dull Sir James Martin (Tom Bennett, “David Brent: Life on the Road”). Or can she have her cake and eat it?
Based on a Jane Austen short story, “Lady Susan”, this is a delight from beginning to end. However, it does require the attention of the viewer: characters get introduced to you in rapid fire succession, and keeping track of who’s who and how they interrelate is quite a challenge.
But this is a tour de force for Kate “Underworld” Beckinsale who delivers a depth of acting ability that I’ve not seen from her in the past. Her comic timing is just sublime, and while comedies are often overlooked in Awards season, this is a role for which she richly deserves both BAFTA and Oscar recognition.
Stephen Fry joins what is a superb ensemble cast. But outstanding among them is Tom Bennett who is simply hilarious as the nice but dim Sir James. The comic routine about his misunderstanding of “Churchill” (Church – Hill) – a running gag – is sublime and a challenger (with “Was that it t’were so simple”) for the comedy routine of the year.
Directed by Whit Stilman (“The Last Days of Disco”) from his own screenplay, this is one for the more sophisticated viewer: requiring of your full attention, but a treat for the eyes, ears and brain.
Dean (6921 KP) rated Total Recall (2012) in Movies
Feb 7, 2018
Good Sfx (1 more)
Good cast
A very decent film in it's own right, and no it's not a straight remake! If you watch the first film again today it sure does look dated now. The main theme or plot is similar but put into a different context and setting altogether. The technology you see in the film was very interesting as well and there is plenty of action and very good SFX. It has a few nods towards the old film but seems to borrow elements from a number of Sci-Fi films including Blade Runner, especially for the look of the city. Even Star Wars Attack of the clones, Robocop. Throw in Jessica Biel and Kate Beckinsale, it's not a bad way to treat your eyes for 2 hours!
Lee KM Pallatina (951 KP) rated Van Helsing (2004) in Movies
Aug 19, 2019
The original beginning of the Dark Universe
In the early 2000s we saw a drop in great movies, even good ones and was left with the occasional sleeper hit and the obvious box office hits.
In 2004 universal released 'Van Helsing', with pretty decent promoting, and some neat casting with rising stars Hugh Jackman & Kate Beckinsale at the helm - with Richard Roxburgh as Dracula (also Robbie Coltrane as Mr Hyde)
The Story:
Van Helsing is on a mission from God, to rid evil from the world. After a 'paris job' goes wrong, Helsing returns to the Vatican to be briefed on this next assignment which sees helsing and his ally and friar named carl heading to Transylvania, to hunt down and kill count Dracula.
Joining forces with a Gypsy Princess named Anna who also seeks to kill Dracula in order to break her family's curse before her bloodline ends allowing her family to enter the kindom of heaven.
In 2004 universal released 'Van Helsing', with pretty decent promoting, and some neat casting with rising stars Hugh Jackman & Kate Beckinsale at the helm - with Richard Roxburgh as Dracula (also Robbie Coltrane as Mr Hyde)
The Story:
Van Helsing is on a mission from God, to rid evil from the world. After a 'paris job' goes wrong, Helsing returns to the Vatican to be briefed on this next assignment which sees helsing and his ally and friar named carl heading to Transylvania, to hunt down and kill count Dracula.
Joining forces with a Gypsy Princess named Anna who also seeks to kill Dracula in order to break her family's curse before her bloodline ends allowing her family to enter the kindom of heaven.
JT (287 KP) rated Contraband (2012) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
This is an action film of epic underrated proportion, director Baltasar Kormákur, who was a producer on the original film Reykjavik-Rotterdam, gives us a good old fashioned heist where you root for the bad guys, or in this case the good guys.
When Chris Faraday (Whalberg) has to help out his brother-in-law Andy, after his attempts at smuggling in drugs for Giovanni Ribisi’s excellent villain go pear shaped, Faraday must go back to his criminal roots in order to save him and his family.
Do you feel lucky?
It certainly isn’t as slick as Ocean’s Eleven but it has a similar impact, in that you are desperate for these guys to succeed and pull off the job, and what a job it is! The heist or smuggle as you want to call it is as elaborate as anything that Danny Ocean himself could have put together, its all just a little rushed and certainly not all that conventional.
Whalberg’s crew, a band of misfits, all work on board a container ship heading to Panama where they will pick up a van and fill it with counterfeit bank notes, a plan which would seem simple enough. They’ve even gone to great lengths to make sure the ship stays in port long enough for them to get the job done.
Of course it doesn’t all go to plan, and in the mean time Briggs (Ribisi) is terrorizing Faraday’s wife Kate (Beckinsale) and his family. Andy still manages to try and pull off (and f*** up) his own job mid way through, and Faraday’s best friend Sebastian (Foster) has a little more about him that meets the eye.
The plot has a distinct Gone in 60 Seconds feel to it, with a relative coming to the aid of another family member which results in them racing against time to pay off the bad guys. The action is OK, an elaborate car chase and shootout is probably the most notable sequence, while the rest of the time we watch and wait as Faraday plans the heist.
I enjoyed this quite a lot, its a format that I find if done right works well which in this case it was. Ribisi was a standout for me, not just in his mannerisms as a psycho drug lord but his voice and look about him made me think he put some real effort into this role. Wahlberg is an action hero at the end of the day and here, he is out doing what he does best, Beckinsale is left out in the cold a bit but as a supporting role she does alright.
When Chris Faraday (Whalberg) has to help out his brother-in-law Andy, after his attempts at smuggling in drugs for Giovanni Ribisi’s excellent villain go pear shaped, Faraday must go back to his criminal roots in order to save him and his family.
Do you feel lucky?
It certainly isn’t as slick as Ocean’s Eleven but it has a similar impact, in that you are desperate for these guys to succeed and pull off the job, and what a job it is! The heist or smuggle as you want to call it is as elaborate as anything that Danny Ocean himself could have put together, its all just a little rushed and certainly not all that conventional.
Whalberg’s crew, a band of misfits, all work on board a container ship heading to Panama where they will pick up a van and fill it with counterfeit bank notes, a plan which would seem simple enough. They’ve even gone to great lengths to make sure the ship stays in port long enough for them to get the job done.
Of course it doesn’t all go to plan, and in the mean time Briggs (Ribisi) is terrorizing Faraday’s wife Kate (Beckinsale) and his family. Andy still manages to try and pull off (and f*** up) his own job mid way through, and Faraday’s best friend Sebastian (Foster) has a little more about him that meets the eye.
The plot has a distinct Gone in 60 Seconds feel to it, with a relative coming to the aid of another family member which results in them racing against time to pay off the bad guys. The action is OK, an elaborate car chase and shootout is probably the most notable sequence, while the rest of the time we watch and wait as Faraday plans the heist.
I enjoyed this quite a lot, its a format that I find if done right works well which in this case it was. Ribisi was a standout for me, not just in his mannerisms as a psycho drug lord but his voice and look about him made me think he put some real effort into this role. Wahlberg is an action hero at the end of the day and here, he is out doing what he does best, Beckinsale is left out in the cold a bit but as a supporting role she does alright.