Search
Search results
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Lone Survivor (2014) in Movies
Jan 21, 2019
Gripping and intense
Based on a true story, a team of American Navy SEALS is sent to Afghanistan in pursuit of a Taliban leader they must take out by any means necessary. They must make there way to the remote village where they discover their mission will be more difficult than expected due to the surprising number of enemy soldiers.
Once the firefight begins, the SEALS band together, use their wits, cunning and brute force to try and stay alive while waiting for pick up.
I was unaware of this story before seeing the film. You are enthralled and immersed in the characters almost immediately and become quickly invested in their fate. Their heroism is incredible and we should all be proud such remarkable human being exist and that they are sworn to protect the rest of us.
The gunfire action sequences are extremely intense. I'm not usually a jumper during movies, but this one made me quiver from a sudden gunshot or explosion several times. I believe this was the first Mark Wahlberg/director Peter Berg collaboration and it was a good one. Also check out Patriot's Day and Deepwater Horizon if you are in the mood for similar quality.
Once the firefight begins, the SEALS band together, use their wits, cunning and brute force to try and stay alive while waiting for pick up.
I was unaware of this story before seeing the film. You are enthralled and immersed in the characters almost immediately and become quickly invested in their fate. Their heroism is incredible and we should all be proud such remarkable human being exist and that they are sworn to protect the rest of us.
The gunfire action sequences are extremely intense. I'm not usually a jumper during movies, but this one made me quiver from a sudden gunshot or explosion several times. I believe this was the first Mark Wahlberg/director Peter Berg collaboration and it was a good one. Also check out Patriot's Day and Deepwater Horizon if you are in the mood for similar quality.
Christine A. (965 KP) rated Turtles All The Way Down in Books
Jan 23, 2019
John Green's "Turtles All the Way Down" introduces us to sixteen-year-old Aza, a teenage girl with mental health issues who is desperate to blend in and just be a normal teenage girl. After giving in to Daisy's, her best friend, nagging, the two girls attempt to solve the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Russell Pickett and collect the reward. Aza was not planning on connecting back with Davis, Russell's son, whom she knew when they were kids, but she does.
Of course there is romance, but it is not the focus of the story. It is more than just a typical YA romance novel. It deals with handling mental illness, going to counseling, thinking you are crazy, and knowing your uncontrollable behaviors are not normal. It is about trying to manage the pressures of being a teenager - family, school, friends, and a boy.
John Green's novels have probably touched as many people today as had John Hughes's movies in the 80s. He focuses on real teenage problems and allows a glimpse inside their thoughts and feelings. He allows young adults to realize they are not alone, that others feel the same way, and “Your now is not your forever.”
Of course there is romance, but it is not the focus of the story. It is more than just a typical YA romance novel. It deals with handling mental illness, going to counseling, thinking you are crazy, and knowing your uncontrollable behaviors are not normal. It is about trying to manage the pressures of being a teenager - family, school, friends, and a boy.
John Green's novels have probably touched as many people today as had John Hughes's movies in the 80s. He focuses on real teenage problems and allows a glimpse inside their thoughts and feelings. He allows young adults to realize they are not alone, that others feel the same way, and “Your now is not your forever.”
Erika (17789 KP) rated Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) in Movies
Jul 27, 2019 (Updated Jul 27, 2019)
This has been the only film I've seen in theaters this July (too many kids movies), and it was completely worth it.
The only gripe I have, to start out with, was the length. QT definitely took his time to develop the characters, and to enjoy the overall nostalgia of Hollywood in 1969. I'm not really a Brad Pitt (Cliff) fan, but his chemistry with Leo was a joy to watch, and highly amusing. I really loved Leo in this, aside from his persistent Calvin Candie accent.
I really enjoyed Moh's Bruce Lee, and the scene with Cliff was one of my favorites. Another of my favorites was the ultra-creepiness of the Spahn Ranch with the Manson family.
The entire movie, I was waiting for the signature violence, and while there was a little at Spahn Ranch, the end was amazing. The last scenes had me laughing so hard, I was crying, I loved it. QT really let us know how he feels about the Manson family.
Of course, this is a fairy-tale, so the end result was different than what happened in real life. I'm for sure going to try to catch this flick again tomorrow.
Also- RIP Luke Perry, he got very little screen time, but it was great screen time.
The only gripe I have, to start out with, was the length. QT definitely took his time to develop the characters, and to enjoy the overall nostalgia of Hollywood in 1969. I'm not really a Brad Pitt (Cliff) fan, but his chemistry with Leo was a joy to watch, and highly amusing. I really loved Leo in this, aside from his persistent Calvin Candie accent.
I really enjoyed Moh's Bruce Lee, and the scene with Cliff was one of my favorites. Another of my favorites was the ultra-creepiness of the Spahn Ranch with the Manson family.
The entire movie, I was waiting for the signature violence, and while there was a little at Spahn Ranch, the end was amazing. The last scenes had me laughing so hard, I was crying, I loved it. QT really let us know how he feels about the Manson family.
Of course, this is a fairy-tale, so the end result was different than what happened in real life. I'm for sure going to try to catch this flick again tomorrow.
Also- RIP Luke Perry, he got very little screen time, but it was great screen time.
Lenard (726 KP) rated X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019) in Movies
Jul 4, 2019
The producers behind the X-Men series once again rush to tell one of their best storylines from the comic series. Unfortunately, The Dark Phoenix Saga does not lend itself to a one-off movie. Once again, the people with the money are too afraid to gamble on breaking the story into two or three movies. Imagine It, The Lord of the Rings, or Infinity Gauntlet as just film. You can't because all of them were split up into two or three films and they all made huge profits. Dark Phoenix needed the same care and guidance. Jean Grey was not introduced in this timeline until Apocalypse. We the audience did not have time to get to know her and her backstory so we have no sympathy for her when she is taken over by an alien force or any understanding why she is able to battle within herself. There is no real tension in the relationship between Scott and Jean since they have only been together in our minds for 1 movie even if the movie was set ten years ago. We have not experienced those ten years along side them. Every detail is cobbled together in an effort to jam this story which lasted ten issues in the graphic serial.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Sorry We Missed You (2019) in Movies
Nov 5, 2019
Another fiercely committed piece of social drama from Ken Loach. The husband and father of a family on the breadline takes a job as a delivery driver in the so-called 'gig economy'; meanwhile, his wife is on a similar zero-hours contract for her work as a carer. The sheer relentless grind of the work and the ceaseless stress that accompanies it - along with the gradual realisation that they have no rights or protection - slowly tears the family apart.
A fairly typical Loach movie, in that it doesn't really aspire to entertain, nor does it attempt to be impartial. The film's thesis - that zero-hours contracts and the gig economy are just mechanisms to exploit the most vulnerable section of the workforce - is left implicit, but is put across with the customary power. This is no-frills film-making, and rough around the edges in places - but the decision to cast non-professionals in key roles pays off as they give deeply affecting performances. I have seen movies about homeless children in Syria which were less emotionally wrenching to watch than this one. An angry film, and one which seeks to communicate that anger to the audience; quite possibly a very important film, but not at all easy viewing.
A fairly typical Loach movie, in that it doesn't really aspire to entertain, nor does it attempt to be impartial. The film's thesis - that zero-hours contracts and the gig economy are just mechanisms to exploit the most vulnerable section of the workforce - is left implicit, but is put across with the customary power. This is no-frills film-making, and rough around the edges in places - but the decision to cast non-professionals in key roles pays off as they give deeply affecting performances. I have seen movies about homeless children in Syria which were less emotionally wrenching to watch than this one. An angry film, and one which seeks to communicate that anger to the audience; quite possibly a very important film, but not at all easy viewing.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated End of Days (1999) in Movies
Nov 21, 2019 (Updated Nov 21, 2019)
Arnold vs. The Devil
Arnold has foughting alot of things over the years and the last thing that you expect him to fight is the devil and well that happened. And out of all the years it came out, it came out in 1999, before the new millennium and its about the devil to come and raid the new millennium. If you filp 666 you get 999 like in 1999 was the dumpest thing in this movie. That and other movies like a grandma overpowering Arnold, how is that possible, well its not, but it happened. Also the devil's pee is fire? IDK.
The Plot: A private security guard finds himself caught up in an apocalyptic conflict. The Devil's only chance of getting out of his eternal prison is to mate with a chosen girl in the last hour of the millennium, and the guard finds himself having to protect the woman from an enemy in whom he does not even believe.
I feel bad for Gabriel Bryne, such a great underrated actor. He was in this and Stigmata the same year. Both about faith, religion, god and the devil.
I like this movie, its entertaining, its so good its bad, its so bad its good.
If you havent seen this movie, than watch it.
The Plot: A private security guard finds himself caught up in an apocalyptic conflict. The Devil's only chance of getting out of his eternal prison is to mate with a chosen girl in the last hour of the millennium, and the guard finds himself having to protect the woman from an enemy in whom he does not even believe.
I feel bad for Gabriel Bryne, such a great underrated actor. He was in this and Stigmata the same year. Both about faith, religion, god and the devil.
I like this movie, its entertaining, its so good its bad, its so bad its good.
If you havent seen this movie, than watch it.
Veronica Pena (690 KP) rated Fifty Shades Darker in Books
Jan 12, 2020
I found myself having a really hard time getting through this novel! Having seen the movies and knowing what happens in this section of the trilogy, I still was fighting myself to finish. I read this and it's counterpart "Darker" at the same time to give myself a more comprehensive view of the story and that definitely helped - being able to know what Ana was doing when she was away from Christian and vice versa, but also being in both of their heads when they were together, having sex, fighting, whatever the situation may be. I still found "Darker" to be more compelling. I think Ana's strongest moment as a character, thus far in the series, is in this novel during her run-in with Hyde. I also greatly appreciated his character development from the beginning of the novel to the end. The excerpt given at the end of this novel is what makes reading "Fifty Shades Freed" so intriguing.
I said it in my review of "Darker" but I'm still angry that there isn't a third Christian point of view to match "Freed" but I'm still eager to round out this series and move on. I can't say I'll ever read them again, but I don't regret starting them, that's for sure.
I said it in my review of "Darker" but I'm still angry that there isn't a third Christian point of view to match "Freed" but I'm still eager to round out this series and move on. I can't say I'll ever read them again, but I don't regret starting them, that's for sure.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Paranormal Activity 4 (2012) in Movies
Jan 17, 2020 (Updated Jan 17, 2020)
Kinect Activity
Paranormal Activity 1- hated it
Paranormal Activity 2- Better Than One.
Paranormal Activity 3- Its getting good.
This one- Paranormal Activity with Kinect.
One of the strangest product placment of all time, im not sure if Blumhouse or Parmount contacted Mircosoft or if Microsoft contacted Blumhouse or Paramount, either or it was strange to see the Kinect in this movie.
Anyways what did i think of the movie, i thought it was good, thisond and the 3rd one are really intresting and actually horrorfying/terrorfying/creepy unlike the first and some of the second one , which were so boring i could sleep though both of them until the last 5-10 minutes of both movies.
The Plot: It has been five years since Katie (Katie Featherston) murdered her sister and disappeared with her infant nephew, Hunter, in tow. Now, a new family is about to fall prey to nighttime terrors. A mysterious accident next door leads to teenage Alex (Kathryn Newton) and her family becoming the temporary guardians of Robbie (Brady Allen), a very creepy neighbor boy. Cameras installed throughout Alex's home capture the sinister events that unfold after Robbie's arrival.
I can say you can watch this one and the 3rd one.
Paranormal Activity 2- Better Than One.
Paranormal Activity 3- Its getting good.
This one- Paranormal Activity with Kinect.
One of the strangest product placment of all time, im not sure if Blumhouse or Parmount contacted Mircosoft or if Microsoft contacted Blumhouse or Paramount, either or it was strange to see the Kinect in this movie.
Anyways what did i think of the movie, i thought it was good, thisond and the 3rd one are really intresting and actually horrorfying/terrorfying/creepy unlike the first and some of the second one , which were so boring i could sleep though both of them until the last 5-10 minutes of both movies.
The Plot: It has been five years since Katie (Katie Featherston) murdered her sister and disappeared with her infant nephew, Hunter, in tow. Now, a new family is about to fall prey to nighttime terrors. A mysterious accident next door leads to teenage Alex (Kathryn Newton) and her family becoming the temporary guardians of Robbie (Brady Allen), a very creepy neighbor boy. Cameras installed throughout Alex's home capture the sinister events that unfold after Robbie's arrival.
I can say you can watch this one and the 3rd one.
David McK (3562 KP) rated The Three Musketeers in Books
Jan 18, 2020
Let me start by saying that this is (was) one of the few novels I had abandoned, finding it very hard going and plodding.
And, truth be told, I still haven't actually read it.
You might be wondering, then, why I'm reviewing it?
Because, thanks to a well-known Amazon-owned subsidiary, I've now listened to it!
The subject of a fair-few movies over the years (most noticeably the 1970s Michael York duo The Three/Four Musketeers), I have to admit to being somewhat surprised at just how closely that Michael York fronted film actually sticks to the source material, with the first half of the novel (The Queens Diamonds) virtually transposed straight to the screen. And, as a result, I found this portion not really all that engaging, perhaps due to (over)familiarity.
However, things picked up once we got past the halfway point, and into more unfamiliar territory, before (roughly) the final third of the novel, which obviously served as the inspiration for The Four Musketeers (where d'Artagnan actually becomes one such).
Full of swashbuckling romance and acts of derring do, this - like many other classics - is one of those novels that you read simply so that you can say you've read it!
And, truth be told, I still haven't actually read it.
You might be wondering, then, why I'm reviewing it?
Because, thanks to a well-known Amazon-owned subsidiary, I've now listened to it!
The subject of a fair-few movies over the years (most noticeably the 1970s Michael York duo The Three/Four Musketeers), I have to admit to being somewhat surprised at just how closely that Michael York fronted film actually sticks to the source material, with the first half of the novel (The Queens Diamonds) virtually transposed straight to the screen. And, as a result, I found this portion not really all that engaging, perhaps due to (over)familiarity.
However, things picked up once we got past the halfway point, and into more unfamiliar territory, before (roughly) the final third of the novel, which obviously served as the inspiration for The Four Musketeers (where d'Artagnan actually becomes one such).
Full of swashbuckling romance and acts of derring do, this - like many other classics - is one of those novels that you read simply so that you can say you've read it!
Barry Newman (204 KP) rated The Irishman (2019) in Movies
Jan 11, 2020
Goodfellas is one of my all time favourite movies so this long awaited reunion of Scorsese, DeNiro and Pesci was a mouthwatering prospect. Whilst not a patch on Goodfellas this was still a very impressive and complex piece of film making. This is some of DeNiro's finest work in years and almost enough to forgive him those bagel adverts. Pacino is brilliant as Jimmy Hoffa and it's simply a joy to have Joe Pesci back on the screen. The deaging effects are very good but not quite 100% perfect, at times the characters have a slightly waxy look about them but you soon get used to them. However I did feel the film was lacking in real standout scenes that would become iconic in years to come like Scorsese's earlier work and was more consistently good than outstandingly brilliant. The 3.5 hour running time was a bit over indulgent as well and could easily have been trimmed a bit. The mammoth running time is also a factor likely to put me off watching it again as often as I would a shorter film. So definitely still much to enjoy and admire here and should definitely be in the running for plenty of awards.