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Awix (3310 KP) rated I Walked with a Zombie (1943) in Movies
Jan 8, 2020 (Updated Jan 8, 2020)
One of the granddaddies of the modern zombie movie is almost unrecognisable as such: no blood to speak of and the plot is derived from a novel by Charlotte Bronte. Nice young nurse goes off to morbid, doomy Caribbean island to care for the creepy wife of her employer (can't speak, has no will of her own following strange 'fever'); finds herself falling for her boss (though God knows why, he's so disagreeable). Perhaps the local voodoo spirits can help cure the afflicted woman?
A zombie movie in the traditional sense, and all the creepier for it. The plot is rather melodramatic, and the gentility of the film is quite amusing to the modern eye (male worshippers at a voodoo ritual all turn up in suits and ties), but it scores hugely for atmosphere, though, and there are some genuinely eerie sequences. Usual studied ambiguity and lack of overt 'horror' you often get in Lewton movies, but this just adds to the sense that this is a classy piece of work.
A zombie movie in the traditional sense, and all the creepier for it. The plot is rather melodramatic, and the gentility of the film is quite amusing to the modern eye (male worshippers at a voodoo ritual all turn up in suits and ties), but it scores hugely for atmosphere, though, and there are some genuinely eerie sequences. Usual studied ambiguity and lack of overt 'horror' you often get in Lewton movies, but this just adds to the sense that this is a classy piece of work.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated The Black Cauldron (1985) in Movies
Mar 9, 2020
Dark Disney Movie
In the 80's disney released alot of dark twisted movie. Like "The Watcher in the Woods", "Dragonslayer", "Something Wicked This Way Comes" and "Return to Oz". This movie is. Including with those movies. This movie is dark and twisted. But at the same time, its a excellent animation movie. About love, betrayal, mystical power and evil vs. good. Its like "Robin Hood" mix with "The Sword in the Stone". Combine those two films you get this film.
The plot: In the land of Prydain, lowly pig herder Taran (Grant Bardsley) dreams of becoming a gallant knight. Young Taran receives his heroic calling when the evil Horned King (John Hurt) kidnaps Hen-Wren, a prophesying pig that had been entrusted to Taran. Now, with help from his furry sidekick Gurgi and Princess Eilonwy, Taran must locate the magical black cauldron before the Horned King is able to use its mystical powers to summon an army of the undead.
Its a very underrated animation film, that i highly recordmend watching it.
The plot: In the land of Prydain, lowly pig herder Taran (Grant Bardsley) dreams of becoming a gallant knight. Young Taran receives his heroic calling when the evil Horned King (John Hurt) kidnaps Hen-Wren, a prophesying pig that had been entrusted to Taran. Now, with help from his furry sidekick Gurgi and Princess Eilonwy, Taran must locate the magical black cauldron before the Horned King is able to use its mystical powers to summon an army of the undead.
Its a very underrated animation film, that i highly recordmend watching it.
TacoDave (3508 KP) rated The Hunt (2020) in Movies
Mar 13, 2020
Dark humor (3 more)
Cast
Unpredictability
Outrageous violence
Much better than I anticipated
When I first heard about "The Hunt" I didn't have much interest in it. I like most of the movies that Blumhouse produces, so I intended to go see it, but I didn't expect much.
The concept - liberal elites trying to hunt and kill conservative "deplorables" - seemed ripe for one-sided over-politicization. I expected to see the liberals shown in a better light than the conservatives for sure.
Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to find a no-holds-barred, skewer-every-perspective story that used every stereotype to good effect.
I won't go into spoilers, but I will say this: 20 minutes in, I knew that my expectations had been subverted. People died quickly that I didn't anticipate. The humor, which is pitch black, caught me off guard and I found myself laughing out loud several times. And the plot shifted in ways I never would have predicted.
All in all, it's a quick, fun, funny, violent, profanity-laced ride that I am glad I took.
The concept - liberal elites trying to hunt and kill conservative "deplorables" - seemed ripe for one-sided over-politicization. I expected to see the liberals shown in a better light than the conservatives for sure.
Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to find a no-holds-barred, skewer-every-perspective story that used every stereotype to good effect.
I won't go into spoilers, but I will say this: 20 minutes in, I knew that my expectations had been subverted. People died quickly that I didn't anticipate. The humor, which is pitch black, caught me off guard and I found myself laughing out loud several times. And the plot shifted in ways I never would have predicted.
All in all, it's a quick, fun, funny, violent, profanity-laced ride that I am glad I took.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Mulan (1998) in Movies
Mar 24, 2020
Mulan- is a strange movie, cause it came out after "The Lion King". And the movie's after "The Lion King" were stange. What im saying is after "The Lion King", disney decided to go really strange/a huge left turn/didn't expect that/disappointed and overall a huge downfall. But i will get to those movies. Oh this is one of them.
Mulan does have good songs like.."True To Your Heart", "Reflection", "Honor To All Of Us" and "Ill Make A Man Out Of You".
The plot: Fearful that her ailing father will be drafted into the Chinese military, Mulan (Ming-Na Wen) takes his spot -- though, as a girl living under a patriarchal regime, she is technically unqualified to serve. She cleverly impersonates a man and goes off to train with fellow recruits. Accompanied by her dragon, Mushu (Eddie Murphy), she uses her smarts to help ward off a Hun invasion, falling in love with a dashing captain along the way.
Its a good movie, i liked it.
Mulan does have good songs like.."True To Your Heart", "Reflection", "Honor To All Of Us" and "Ill Make A Man Out Of You".
The plot: Fearful that her ailing father will be drafted into the Chinese military, Mulan (Ming-Na Wen) takes his spot -- though, as a girl living under a patriarchal regime, she is technically unqualified to serve. She cleverly impersonates a man and goes off to train with fellow recruits. Accompanied by her dragon, Mushu (Eddie Murphy), she uses her smarts to help ward off a Hun invasion, falling in love with a dashing captain along the way.
Its a good movie, i liked it.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Treasure Planet (2002) in Movies
Mar 26, 2020 (Updated Mar 26, 2020)
Pirates Ahoy
Treasure Planet- is a strange movie, it came out in the early 2000's and thats when Disney was running out of ideas or starting to. I believe that their were starting to run out of ideas. Treasure Planet- is a strange movie, cause it came out after "The Lion King". And the movie's after "The Lion King" were stange. What im saying is after "The Lion King", disney decided to go really strange/a huge left turn/didn't expect that/disappointed and overall a huge downfall. But i will get to those movies. Oh this is one of them.
The Plot: The legendary "loot of a thousand worlds" inspires an intergalactic treasure hunt when 15-year-old Jim Hawkins stumbles upon a map to the greatest pirate trove in the universe in Walt Disney Pictures' thrilling animated space adventure, "Treasure Planet." Based on one of the greatest adventure stories ever told - Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island" - this film follows Jim's fantastic journey across a parallel universe as a cabin boy aboard a glittering space galleon.
Its a very underrated film.
The Plot: The legendary "loot of a thousand worlds" inspires an intergalactic treasure hunt when 15-year-old Jim Hawkins stumbles upon a map to the greatest pirate trove in the universe in Walt Disney Pictures' thrilling animated space adventure, "Treasure Planet." Based on one of the greatest adventure stories ever told - Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island" - this film follows Jim's fantastic journey across a parallel universe as a cabin boy aboard a glittering space galleon.
Its a very underrated film.
Cori June (3033 KP) rated Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH (Rats of NIMH, #1) in Books
Jul 20, 2020
The movie is better
So the 10 yr old in me (who never finished the book) would have rated this a one. That's unfair however, because it would have only been based on the fact that it was sort of like the movie, and there was none of the movies mysticism. (I still want to know what that dang red stone is all about.)
That being said the older and mature me rated it a 6 because about 30 pages of interesting history about the Rats of NIMH, were mostly unneeded summary. I realize that the book is meant for young audiences I also gave points off for overly explaining an object or idea. ex: "tin foil (or aluminum foil)" this happens frequently. For a book about animal testing and super intelligent rats, I guess the author could have a point.
This is a good book for young readers that wants to read something that isn't overly scary that has male and female heroes.
The story itself is good. I may never read this book again, although I will recommend it.
That being said the older and mature me rated it a 6 because about 30 pages of interesting history about the Rats of NIMH, were mostly unneeded summary. I realize that the book is meant for young audiences I also gave points off for overly explaining an object or idea. ex: "tin foil (or aluminum foil)" this happens frequently. For a book about animal testing and super intelligent rats, I guess the author could have a point.
This is a good book for young readers that wants to read something that isn't overly scary that has male and female heroes.
The story itself is good. I may never read this book again, although I will recommend it.
LeftSideCut (3778 KP) rated Psycho Goreman (2020) in Movies
May 21, 2021
I fully understand why Psycho Goreman may not be for everyone, but dammit if it wasn't right up my street.
This film is so ridiculous. From it's sudden bursts of hyper violence to kids playing ball games backed by the sounds of completely over the top guitar solos, to it's abundance of offbeat humour, PG is obviously trying to be exactly the kind of film that it is, but it stops short of feeling overly try-hard.
The young cast are pretty great, heck, all of the cast are pretty great. The commitment to practical effects is admirable, no matter how cheap it looks on occasion. The alien characters look like creatures out of Power Rangers, but it honestly just adds to the experience.
I'm not sure if anything written can truly explain what to expect from this. If you like these kind of 80s throwback B-movies like I do, then you'll surely get a kick out of Psycho Goreman. It's a blast from start to finish.
This film is so ridiculous. From it's sudden bursts of hyper violence to kids playing ball games backed by the sounds of completely over the top guitar solos, to it's abundance of offbeat humour, PG is obviously trying to be exactly the kind of film that it is, but it stops short of feeling overly try-hard.
The young cast are pretty great, heck, all of the cast are pretty great. The commitment to practical effects is admirable, no matter how cheap it looks on occasion. The alien characters look like creatures out of Power Rangers, but it honestly just adds to the experience.
I'm not sure if anything written can truly explain what to expect from this. If you like these kind of 80s throwback B-movies like I do, then you'll surely get a kick out of Psycho Goreman. It's a blast from start to finish.
Sonofdel (6251 KP) rated Always Look on the Bright Side of Life in Books
Feb 21, 2021 (Updated Feb 21, 2021)
Whenever i think of Eric Idle, two things come to mind. One is the obvious one, that he was one of the Monty Python team. The other is that he wrote and sang the theme tune for One Foot in the Grave. After reading this autobiography its clear i hardly had even scratched the surface. Over a very long career, he has starred in several movies including the brilliantly funny Nuns on the Run. He has written stage shows and plays. He has travelled around the world more times than Phillaes Fogg and he has met more famous people that i would have thought possible. In this book he tells it all from his early days writing, to organising the final Monty Python tour. He also covers the amazingly brilliant Spamalot (I saw it in Blackpool). He pulls no punches and his honest and frank appraisal of his behaviour is something you don't see very often. A very good read and very informative with lots of anecdotes and real life stories