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Prospect (2018)
7.0
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A teenage girl and her father travel to a remote alien moon, aiming to strike it rich. They've...
David McK (3562 KP) rated The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) in Movies
Apr 10, 2023
This was a movie that, while I had no real plans to see it in the cinema myself, if somebody had asked me to go along with them I probably would have said "aye, why not?" to.
In this, Nic Cage plays a fictionalised version of himself who is thinking of giving up acting and then accepts a 1 million dollar pay-day from a superfan (the internets current BFF Pedro Pascal) to come and visit him for his birthday celebrations, unaware that the FBI believe that superfan to be a drug kingpin and with the FBI then suborning Cage to spy on said fan.
The rest of the film then plays out as a sort of buddy comedy, with Cage and Pascal (not all as he seems) then finding themselves caught up in various, sometimes ridiculous, situations and as they start using their experiences more and more towards the plot of a film that Gutierrez has dreamed up for Cage to star in.
So, yeah, better than I was expecting and it did even make me laugh once or twice!
In this, Nic Cage plays a fictionalised version of himself who is thinking of giving up acting and then accepts a 1 million dollar pay-day from a superfan (the internets current BFF Pedro Pascal) to come and visit him for his birthday celebrations, unaware that the FBI believe that superfan to be a drug kingpin and with the FBI then suborning Cage to spy on said fan.
The rest of the film then plays out as a sort of buddy comedy, with Cage and Pascal (not all as he seems) then finding themselves caught up in various, sometimes ridiculous, situations and as they start using their experiences more and more towards the plot of a film that Gutierrez has dreamed up for Cage to star in.
So, yeah, better than I was expecting and it did even make me laugh once or twice!
Kevin Phillipson (10072 KP) rated Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) in Movies
Jan 13, 2021 (Updated Jan 13, 2021)
Gal gadot (3 more)
Chris pine
Kristen wigg
Pedro Pascal
Want to start by saying there will be spoilers here in my review for those who haven't seen the film. Okay what can I say was it worth the wait yes three lockdowns cinemas closing and everything else there was a point where I didn't think I was going to see the movie is it as good as the original yes coulda been shorter than 2 and half hours but that's my only gripe overall excellent performances from the cast especially kristen Wigg who almost steals it from gal gadot would I watch again yes just wished I had seen it on the big screen in IMAX instead on Amazon prime
Greg Norvick (23 KP) rated Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) in Movies
May 1, 2021
Wonder woman 84 has sequeitis basically the first one was great we have to pump the other one fast. Patti Jenkins (hopefully I spelled it right) just was like I know what I'm doing also getting limited production with covid didn't help. I felt like steve would just come back not in someone else body would work because they did dangerous stuff and they didn't think twice or acknowledge that he really shouldn't do that. Also not rally acknowledge it I didn't think he was inhabiting another body till the end also kristen wiig's character was such a change to evil. It didn't feel like a villain for Diana, also it seems she does that character slot overall great character growth on Diana. Cheetah look could be better. It's ok
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated The Great Wall (2016) in Movies
Jul 12, 2019
Universal Studios and Legendary’s latest monster film is from the brilliant mind of Zhang Yimou. I must say that though this was a Yimou film I was not really intrigued with the trailer and almost skipped it however I’m glad that I didn’t!
William (Matt Damon) and Toval (Pedro Pascal) are mercenaries trying to make it rich. They are on a mission in China on the lookout for legendary exploding black powder. Instead they find a huge Great Wall and are mystified as to why it was built and what it is trying to keep out. The Tao Tei, are prehistoric looking monsters who are a danger to all of humanity and the only thing stopping them is the wall. William is a skilled archer and Toval a witty fighter. With their help they might be able to save humanity from the onslaught of the Tao Tei.
I thoroughly enjoyed this film and found it extremely entertaining. The action and unexpected humor is what sold it for me. The casting of Matt Damon and Pedro Pascal was brilliantly thought out and kept the audience laughing with the duos chemistry and how well they played off of each other.
Despite all of the controversy about having Matt Damon as the lead in a Chinese film is crazy and I think Zhang has made the right choice in doing so. To be successful in the American film industry sometimes you have to use a big star to bring in big results. Though the story and script are basic and easy to follow the action, scenery, costumes and humor are fantastic and what makes the film great. This film should definitely be viewed with the 3D option as it fully immerses the audience into and becomes a part of the story. A lot of CGI was used and though normally I am not a fan of a lot of CGI, it works with the film rather than against it. I would definitely recommend this film but the monsters might be too much for kids to handle in 3D.
William (Matt Damon) and Toval (Pedro Pascal) are mercenaries trying to make it rich. They are on a mission in China on the lookout for legendary exploding black powder. Instead they find a huge Great Wall and are mystified as to why it was built and what it is trying to keep out. The Tao Tei, are prehistoric looking monsters who are a danger to all of humanity and the only thing stopping them is the wall. William is a skilled archer and Toval a witty fighter. With their help they might be able to save humanity from the onslaught of the Tao Tei.
I thoroughly enjoyed this film and found it extremely entertaining. The action and unexpected humor is what sold it for me. The casting of Matt Damon and Pedro Pascal was brilliantly thought out and kept the audience laughing with the duos chemistry and how well they played off of each other.
Despite all of the controversy about having Matt Damon as the lead in a Chinese film is crazy and I think Zhang has made the right choice in doing so. To be successful in the American film industry sometimes you have to use a big star to bring in big results. Though the story and script are basic and easy to follow the action, scenery, costumes and humor are fantastic and what makes the film great. This film should definitely be viewed with the 3D option as it fully immerses the audience into and becomes a part of the story. A lot of CGI was used and though normally I am not a fan of a lot of CGI, it works with the film rather than against it. I would definitely recommend this film but the monsters might be too much for kids to handle in 3D.
Game Of Thrones - Season 4
8.8
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Summers span decades. Winters can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne continues. ...
Rodney Barnes (472 KP) rated Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) in Movies
Jan 18, 2021
Not a Good Follow Up
Contains spoilers, click to show
Wonder Woman 84....wow. This was not a very good follow up to the first Wonder Woman movie. For me, there just was not enough Wonder Woman and the story was slow moving. Even the evolution of Cheetah, of which she was never referred to as that, was slow too. The way that Steve Trevor returned was odd to me and kind of silly. Pedro Pascal is a great actor but the villain he played seemed to be too much of the stereotypical old mustache twirling, monologing type of villain. He was not very compelling to me. Kristen Wiig did an excellent job at her character but I did not like the Cheetah angle. This movie under achieved royally in my opinion. At this point I don't know what is going in the DC movie verse but this movie is not a good part of it. I really like Patty Jenkins. I hope the next movie will overshadow this one.
David McK (3562 KP) rated The Last of us in TV
Mar 14, 2023
Stellar adaptation of a very good game
Some adaptations stick too closely to their source material for their own good.
Some are barely recognisable.
This is neither. Based in the video game of the same name by Naughty Dog (as an aside, I actually always preferred their Uncharted games over TLOU), this sticks incredibly closely to the source game, although there are some noticeable differences (particularly in the third episode, which Joel and Elly are barely in).
For this unfamiliar with the game, it is set in the USA after an apocalyptic event that sees those bit turn into zombie-like creatures (note: they're not technically zombies), with Joel (here, played by The Mandalorian's Pedro Pascal) hired to accompany Elly on a dangerous cross-country trek, as she is immune to the disease.
Initially distant, along the way he grows closer and closer to Elly, leading to a finale where you're not sure he has done the right thing or not ..
Superbly cast and directed, this is definitely one of the better adaptations I have ever seen. Of course, it helps that the original is also held up as one of the best narrative games ever created ...
Some are barely recognisable.
This is neither. Based in the video game of the same name by Naughty Dog (as an aside, I actually always preferred their Uncharted games over TLOU), this sticks incredibly closely to the source game, although there are some noticeable differences (particularly in the third episode, which Joel and Elly are barely in).
For this unfamiliar with the game, it is set in the USA after an apocalyptic event that sees those bit turn into zombie-like creatures (note: they're not technically zombies), with Joel (here, played by The Mandalorian's Pedro Pascal) hired to accompany Elly on a dangerous cross-country trek, as she is immune to the disease.
Initially distant, along the way he grows closer and closer to Elly, leading to a finale where you're not sure he has done the right thing or not ..
Superbly cast and directed, this is definitely one of the better adaptations I have ever seen. Of course, it helps that the original is also held up as one of the best narrative games ever created ...
David McK (3562 KP) rated Gladiator 2 (2024) in Movies
Dec 6, 2024 (Updated Dec 6, 2024)
"My name is Gladiator"
It's only taken nearly a quarter of a century, and some insane ideas, before Ridley Scott made a sequel to his ground-breaking 2000 film Gladiator, often credited with kickstarting the resurgence in 'swords and sandels' films of the early 2000s.
In this, which plays a heavy debt to that earlier film, Paul Mescal stars as Hanno who, it turns out, also played a pivotal role in that earlier film (I don't want to give too much away, other than to say he's playing the same character circa 20 years later) and who, like Maximus before him, ends up fighting for his life in the Roman Arena for the amusement of the Roman mob.
Denzel Washington, this time, plays a role somewhat similar to Oliver Reed did in the first film, with - here - 2 Emperors instead of 1 (Commodus) in the persons of the twins Geta and Caracella - and with able support provided by the likes of Pedro Pascal (whom the trailers will make you think has a bigger role than he does) and Connie Nielsen.
Good, yes, but not up to the standards of the first.
In this, which plays a heavy debt to that earlier film, Paul Mescal stars as Hanno who, it turns out, also played a pivotal role in that earlier film (I don't want to give too much away, other than to say he's playing the same character circa 20 years later) and who, like Maximus before him, ends up fighting for his life in the Roman Arena for the amusement of the Roman mob.
Denzel Washington, this time, plays a role somewhat similar to Oliver Reed did in the first film, with - here - 2 Emperors instead of 1 (Commodus) in the persons of the twins Geta and Caracella - and with able support provided by the likes of Pedro Pascal (whom the trailers will make you think has a bigger role than he does) and Connie Nielsen.
Good, yes, but not up to the standards of the first.
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) in Movies
Apr 27, 2022
Nic Cage movies have become their own weird genre at this point, and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is designed to be a sort of pay off to his wonderfully erratic portfolio.
Cage himself is an intoxicating lead as per usual, with his performance here landing on the quirkier side of things (as opposed to the seriousness of last years Pig for example). He's an actor who has embraced his place in the minds of the public, and isn't afraid to poke fun at himself. Pedro Pascal has fast become another actor that I always enjoy watching and here is no different. The chemistry between the two of them is wonderful, and the character moments they share are frequently wholesome and equally hilarious. The humour on display is a nice mix of subtle weirdness, and all out silliness. Multiple moments had the showing I was in cracking the fuck up, especially one that revolves around Paddington 2.
My only real criticism is that it doesn't go far enough. It's relatively grounded for a film that is all about Nic Cage being Nic Cage, and it could have gone further in its absurdity, even if I did ultimately enjoy the direction it went in.
Massive Talent is a blast that even the most stone hearted moviegoers out there will surely enjoy, especially any Nic Cage fans. An unencumbered good time.
Cage himself is an intoxicating lead as per usual, with his performance here landing on the quirkier side of things (as opposed to the seriousness of last years Pig for example). He's an actor who has embraced his place in the minds of the public, and isn't afraid to poke fun at himself. Pedro Pascal has fast become another actor that I always enjoy watching and here is no different. The chemistry between the two of them is wonderful, and the character moments they share are frequently wholesome and equally hilarious. The humour on display is a nice mix of subtle weirdness, and all out silliness. Multiple moments had the showing I was in cracking the fuck up, especially one that revolves around Paddington 2.
My only real criticism is that it doesn't go far enough. It's relatively grounded for a film that is all about Nic Cage being Nic Cage, and it could have gone further in its absurdity, even if I did ultimately enjoy the direction it went in.
Massive Talent is a blast that even the most stone hearted moviegoers out there will surely enjoy, especially any Nic Cage fans. An unencumbered good time.