Search

Search only in certain items:

Get Out (2017)
Get Out (2017)
2017 | Horror, Thriller
“It really doesn’t matter if you’re ‘Black or White”.
Due to a mixture of holiday, work commitments and sickness (I would not wish to inflict my bronchial cough on ANY cinema audience for a while) I haven’t been to the cinema in over a month… shocking. But it has given me a chance to catch up on some of the films in 2017 (and a few from last year) that I hadn’t got to see. So this will be the first of a series of such “DVD” reviews.
“Get Out” was written and directed by Jordan Peele and was his directorial debut. And a hot item on his resume it is too.

Daniel Kaluuya (“Sicario”) plays African-American Chris Washington who, nervously, takes a trip ‘upstate’ to meet the parents of his cute white girlfriend Rose (Allison Williams). The parents, Dean (Bradley Whitford, best known as Josh Lyman from “The West Wing”) and Missy (Catherine Keener, “ Captain Phillips”), are extremely welcoming.

But the weekend coincides with an “annual gathering” of family and friends, and events quickly take a left turn into “The Twilight Zone”, with anti-smoking hypnosis and a bizarre game of Bingo where the win is so substantial that playing becomes a ‘no brainer’. Can Chris ‘Get Out’, with his mind still intact, before it’s too late?

This is a really clever script by Peele. The film baits you into thinking this is some redneck-inter-racial-revenge flick, but actually the colour of the skin is almost irrelevant. (Or is it? This angle is left deliciously vague). Some of the filming is spectacularly creepy, with the hypnosis scene being reminiscent to me of the excellent “Under The Skin”. And never has a teaspoon in a cup of tea been a more devastating weapon.

I seemed to have talked at length this year in this blog on the subject of the “physics of horror”: the story elements hanging together in a satisfying – albeit sometimes in an unbelievable – way. “Get Out” delivers this to perfection, keeping its powder dry until the closing moments of the film before delivering a series of satisfying “Ah!” relevatory moments.

While the ‘physics’ of the film is good the ‘biology’ is bonkers, featuring a plot point from the terrible first episode of the 3rd season of the original “Star Trek” (if you can be bothered to look that up!). But I’ll forgive this, parking my incredulity, to salute what I think is one of the year’s most novel and impressive low-budget indie horror films.
  
The Killing of a Sacred Deer  (2017)
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017)
2017 | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Unique and wonderful
Certainly not for everyone, The Killing of a Sacred Deer tells the story of a cardiologist and his family who befriend a teenage boy only to discover he has secrets to tell. His involvement with the family becomes more profound having grim consequences once his true motives are revealed. The doctor has to make some extremely difficult choices, not only to clear his conscience, but to save his family as well.

The screenplay for the film was remarkable in many ways mostly using awkward conversations and unique and interesting situations to move along the plot. The deadpan acting choices by the actors and "The Lobster" director Yorgos Lanthimoskeep you from being bored as the story moves through as you don't know where the twists and turns are going.


I would equate somewhat to the recent films, "Mother!" or maybe "Under the Skin" as in reactions to this film will tend to be extreme in loving it or hating it. Having seen so many films throughout my life, I am at the point now where anything interesting and unusual stands out.


I enjoy the occasional CGI explosionfest as much as anyone, but usually strive for something more interesting.


  
T(
Titanium (Bionics, #2)
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Here we have the next installment following "Bionics," and it picks up right where the first left off: from Dax's point of view. I can't tell you how much I wanted to hear his thoughts and feelings after reading that epilogue!! He, Blythe, and Gage, along with the rest of the leading players, are gearing up to rescue the other Resistance members who were taken over by the MP's in the first installment. They plan a dual attack, one team heading to the prison where members are being kept in D.C., the others heading toward the Resistance stronghold in Tennessee. Blythe and Dax head to TN, and we see everything from Dax's perspective, from taking over as a leader to his feelings for Blythe and issues with Gage. This was such an awesome continuation of the series, and it leaves off with our characters in a very interesting situation..... =)

My favorite quote: "Loving her is like holding the stem of a rose tightly in your fist. The thorns might prick and tear my skin, but I can't let go because the beauty of the bud has me entranced."

Next up: Gage's POV, I can't wait!!!

5 stars
  
Annihilation (2018)
Annihilation (2018)
2018 | Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Heavy sci-fi greatness!
Let me start by saying I love movies love 2001: A Space Odyssey, Memento, Under the Skin, even The Holy Mountain or The Fountain. In other words, movies that are nonlinear, vague, ambiguous or maybe lack a large amount of point.

That being said, based on reviews and some I had read I had kind of expected this to be a crossbreed of The Mist and Aliens and it was kind of that, but so much more.

I love "heavy" sci-fi like Solaris, 2001, Interstellar, movies that make you think and just aren't about explosions and CGI. This movie does have exceptional visuals and the music score is amazing, but the story and ideas here are very compelling and not something you see in most movies made nowadays.

I am not putting down those who disliked the film, I love a great movie debate and respect others' opinions. I just thought this movie is exceptionally unique and striking both visually and emotionally.

I was really invested in the story and couldn't wait to see how it turned out.

If you love movies that are out there, give this one a shot.

  
Show all 4 comments.
40x40

Lee (2222 KP) Jul 2, 2018

Well, I love both of those movies so you've definitely sold it to me!

40x40

Andy K (10823 KP) Jul 2, 2018

Cool. Let me know what you think once you've finished it.

40x40

JT (287 KP) rated Knowing (2009) in Movies

Mar 10, 2020  
Knowing (2009)
Knowing (2009)
2009 | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Contains spoilers, click to show
Nicholas Cage is one of those hit and miss actors. One minute he’s acting out of his skin and the other he’s bumbling his way through another disappointment with a quietly spoken drawl.

Knowing is a film of two halves. The first half is a well thought out disaster thriller, the second is quite simply a shambles and totally ruined it. Why you ask? SPOILER ALERT: Aliens, the ending was all linked back to beings from another planet. Why they felt the need to go down this route is beyond me? But I lost any respect for director Alex Proyas .

It’s a real shame as there were some spectacular disaster sequences that ramped up the tension. Cage was accomplished in his role and was edgy enough to win the audience over. However, that all fell away in the later stages as his acting became desperate, as he tried to clutch at emotional straws.

The film’s ending has a very ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’ feel about it. I felt like snapping the DVD in half and mailing in personally to screen writers Ryne Douglas Pearson and Juliet Snowden. I would only recommend this for the special effects and not at all for the weak script or storyline.
  
40x40

Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) Mar 11, 2020

A good movie, but that ending through.

    Anatomy 3D - Organs

    Anatomy 3D - Organs

    Medical and Education

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

    App

    Expand your knowledge of the organs with this robust application that combines 3D models, video,...

    ECG Interpreter

    ECG Interpreter

    Medical and Education

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

    App

    This app helps you to expertly interpret ECGs in seconds. ECG Interpreter includes an extensive...