Search

Search only in certain items:

In Darkness (2018)
In Darkness (2018)
2018 | Mystery, Thriller
An average thriller
I’m pretty sure this went straight to tv over here, so I wasn’t expecting much however it is slightly better than I expected, even if it still a bog standard thriller.

The soundtrack is great, and the first part of them film is very well executed and comes across as quite arty, with some great music. The problem is that the rest of the film seems to get bogged down with a convoluted plot that’s made more complicated than it needs to be. Natalie Dormer is very good, it’s nice to see Joely Richardson in something recent, and it’s always nice to see Neil Maskell (even if he does play a similar character in everything he’s in - he seems to be the go to bloke for British cops). It’s just a shame that the cast can’t rise above the average plot. And the twist ending I saw coming a mile off.

One of those films that’s watchable but instantly forgettable as being distinctly average.
  
The Goldbergs  - Season 1
The Goldbergs - Season 1
2013 | Comedy
Quoteable lines (2 more)
Nostalgia galore
Likeable characters
The Goldbergs looks and feels like the American family based sitcoms I grew up with in the UK, this is the big appeal from this show, the familiarity and soundtrack of simpler days. The characters are clearly defined from the start and you can identify each of their strengths and vulnerabiltes and how these are used as the season progresses.

When watching this with my daughter aged 11 she gets the humour and she has a sense of wonder at how technology used to be and how the fashions have changed. It gives us more to talk about and shows the universal appeal of the Goldbergs.

Sometimes there is no need to reinvent what works and with the clever writing in this show makes it enjoyable and each episode can be viewed repeatedly. This is the benchmark I use for sitcoms and this works for me. Long live the 80s and all who use mind deloreans to travel back there.
  
40x40

Awix (3310 KP) rated Worzel Gummidge in TV

Jan 3, 2020  
Worzel Gummidge
Worzel Gummidge
2019 | Comedy, Fantasy
Writer-director-actor-everything Mackenzie Crook's new take on the famous scarecrow draws much more from the original books than the first TV series with Jon Pertwee forty years ago. It certainly sounds like the stuff of classic children's literature: two children visiting the countryside discover Worzel Gummidge, a walking, talking scarecrow.

What makes it special is that, firstly, it is genuinely very funny, with strong performances from all concerned, and, secondly, when it's not trying to be funny, it is actually quite eerie: as the Unthanks' soundtrack played and the scarecrows of Albion stirred into awkward life, I felt a genuine shiver down my spine. It's not quite folk horror for kids, but there is a mystical atmosphere to the whole thing which suits the story extremely well. All of this is handled with a surprising but very welcome lightness of touch. One of the best things I saw on TV in 2019 (not that this is necessarily saying much).
  
40x40

Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated Pulp Fiction (1994) in Movies

Mar 2, 2020 (Updated Mar 3, 2020)  
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Pulp Fiction (1994)
1994 | Crime
Is Pulp Fiction a gangster film? Well, if you define the genre as a morality tale about organised crime, then yes, it is. Of course, it is so much more than that. There is so much going on in Tarantino’s opus that it can’t be clearly defined – which is obviously part of the appeal. You can try not to enjoy every minute of it, but why bother? Once you are in on that amazing soundtrack, and the interwoven tales so unique it hurts, you are in to the end, no matter how many times you’ve seen it already. Incredible dialogue, naturally; colourful characters everywhere, it goes without saying; violence, remorse, betrayal, guns, cars, a gold watch, a samurai sword and a briefcase. A moment of decision or hesitation has a consequence that plays out in strange and mystical ways – as a theme, that in itself connects it to the gangster / crime genre.
  
500 Days of Summer (2009)
500 Days of Summer (2009)
2009 | Comedy, Drama, Romance
This is not a love story, that is made very clear. It is a boy meets girl story. It is a boy loves girl story. And there it diverges. Some of the best moments of this film are not in the comedy or cuteness, which are abundant, but in the darker moments of sadness and self-discovery that are painful and harsh. Amidst an amazing soundtrack, and lead performances of utter charm, this is a story about growing up. Tom wants romance, he wants love, he wants happiness. What he finds is disappointment, disillusion and let-down on every level. So, why does it feel so good? Because the writing transcends the idea of every love story ever told on the silver screen and reminds you that, in the end, Autumn follows Summer and that is exactly how it should be. Love yourself and let the rest fall away with a wistful smile.
  
All The Bright Places (2020)
All The Bright Places (2020)
2020 | Drama, Romance
7
7.0 (4 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Locations (0 more)
Emotions not portrayed that well (0 more)
Contains spoilers, click to show
This week All the Bright Places was released on Netflix. Of course I watched it on the first night! I dont know if I built it up on my head, but I was a bit disappointed with the film in comparison to the book (but I suppose most book readers would say that about the following film). The acting was really good and I couldn't fault it. I feel like the feelings involved in both of the main characters issues weren't portrayed as well as they could have, I am very aware of how sensitive and difficult this could be. As always it is disappointing when small parts change: clocktower to bridge; tower to train carriage. I think if you were watching this not having read the book recently this would be a thoroughly enjoyable film. After all the cinegraphics were great. Some of the locations were beautiful. And the soundtrack was nice.
  
The Lion King (1994)
The Lion King (1994)
1994 | Action, Animation, Drama
Jeremy Irons and James Earl Jones. (0 more)
Hakuna Matata
The Lion King- such a classic. Its perfect, amazing, fantasic and phenomenal and than thier just had to remake last year, live action style because of $$$ and have beyonce voice one of the charcters and have a second soundtrack with rap stars??? Anyways, the songs are so excellent, you have... "Circle of Life", "I Just Cant Wait to be King", "Be Perpared", "Hakuna Matata" and "Can't You Feel The Love Tonight".

The plot: This Disney animated feature follows the adventures of the young lion Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), the heir of his father, Mufasa (James Earl Jones). Simba's wicked uncle, Scar (Jeremy Irons), plots to usurp Mufasa's throne by luring father and son into a stampede of wildebeests. But Simba escapes, and only Mufasa is killed. Simba returns as an adult (Matthew Broderick) to take back his homeland from Scar with the help of his friends Timon (Nathan Lane) and Pumbaa (Ernie Sabella).

A classic film.
  
Pompeii (2014)
Pompeii (2014)
2014 | Action, Drama, Mystery
9
6.1 (7 Ratings)
Movie Rating
A big movie with big sound.

Pompeii stars Kit Harington (Milo), Emily
Browning (Cassia), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Atticus), and Keifer Sutherland
(Corvus).

The soundtrack added a lot to the feeling of “rallying for the
good guys.”

The casting was well thought out & characters well
played, especially Cassia & Milo.

Sutherland made it easy to hate his
character Corvus, while Harington and Akinnuoye-Agbaje create a bond and
brotherhood that made me hold my breath in hopes that they survived their
trials.

The special effects were awesome and there was at least one time
that I even ducked in my chair from the falling debris!

While the premise
of this movie is well known, the plot gave it a smooth, easy to watch story that
kept me engaged the whole time.

It’s been awhile since I’ve been in a
movie theatre that had cheering at the end….even with such an unexpected ending,
but this one had people clapping all around me.

Thumbs up for this
one!
  
40x40

Ollie SB (2279 KP) created a post

Apr 22, 2020  
Hey Smashbombers!

I wanted to tell you about a cool feature we have here on Smashbomb!

Did you know that you can link items that relate to each other? For example: a Movie that is based on a Book, you can link the Book and the Movie together - or link a Movie with the Movie soundtrack - or link a Tech item with a corresponding App - or a Podcast that is based on a TV Show.

You can link these related items together to help us all discover more items!

It's really easy to do, simply go to one of the relevant items, for example Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (MOVIE), click edit, scroll down to 'related items' and search for the other item, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (BOOK) - then hit 'SAVE' and the items will be linked, just like the picture example below!

Hopefully you will find this feature helpful,
Happy Reviewing & Linking!
Ollie.
     
Show all 3 comments.
40x40

LeftSideCut (3778 KP) Apr 22, 2020

All I want to be able to do in my boring quarantine life is to be able to add DLC to Video Game items in the same way you can add seasons to TV items. I'm just sad like that 😭

40x40

Erika (17788 KP) Apr 22, 2020

I love the ability to link items! It's been super helpful!