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Sarah (7798 KP) rated Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) in Movies
Aug 25, 2018
Could've been better
I think I must be the only person who could take or leave this film. I'd heard a lot of good things about it, but in all honesty it wasn't what I was expecting.
Firstly, I'm glad they didn't completely remake the original and instead gave this it's whole new spin by being a video game. This actually works, and works quite well. And the main cast do very well, especially Jack Black playing a teenage girl and Karen Gillan when she's trying to flirt. There is some good humour in this too, it's just not always my kind of humour.
My main issue with this film is that a lot of the script and humour seemed aimed at the teenage instagram generation. The odd joke isn't too bad, but this was a bit too much. There's also the plot, which seems a little too basic even for a video game and there is far too much explanation going on. There also isn't much in the way of threat and danger in this film. The bad guy is a bit lame and the whole Jumanji world is nowhere near as threatening as you'd have imagined from watching the original film.
This isn't a terrible film and it's not quite as bad as I'd have expected, but its not one I'd rush out to watch again.
Firstly, I'm glad they didn't completely remake the original and instead gave this it's whole new spin by being a video game. This actually works, and works quite well. And the main cast do very well, especially Jack Black playing a teenage girl and Karen Gillan when she's trying to flirt. There is some good humour in this too, it's just not always my kind of humour.
My main issue with this film is that a lot of the script and humour seemed aimed at the teenage instagram generation. The odd joke isn't too bad, but this was a bit too much. There's also the plot, which seems a little too basic even for a video game and there is far too much explanation going on. There also isn't much in the way of threat and danger in this film. The bad guy is a bit lame and the whole Jumanji world is nowhere near as threatening as you'd have imagined from watching the original film.
This isn't a terrible film and it's not quite as bad as I'd have expected, but its not one I'd rush out to watch again.
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Sonic the Hedgehog (2020) in Movies
Apr 29, 2020
Super Sonic Speed: Chill Dog
Sonic The Hedgehog- i wanted to see this film so badly in theaters and didnt. Now after two months, i finally got a chance to see it and what did i think? It was really good. I liked the comedy, the action, sonic himself, the jokes were funny and Jim Carrey.
The plot: The world needed a hero -- it got a hedgehog. Powered with incredible speed, Sonic embraces his new home on Earth -- until he accidentally knocks out the power grid, sparking the attention of uncool evil genius Dr. Robotnik. Now, it's supervillain vs. supersonic in an all-out race across the globe to stop Robotnik from using Sonic's unique power to achieve world domination.
It is a good movie based off of a video game, now thats hard to believe, cause movies baded off of a video game usually suck. This one though is really good.
The plot: The world needed a hero -- it got a hedgehog. Powered with incredible speed, Sonic embraces his new home on Earth -- until he accidentally knocks out the power grid, sparking the attention of uncool evil genius Dr. Robotnik. Now, it's supervillain vs. supersonic in an all-out race across the globe to stop Robotnik from using Sonic's unique power to achieve world domination.
It is a good movie based off of a video game, now thats hard to believe, cause movies baded off of a video game usually suck. This one though is really good.
Andy K (10821 KP) rated Rampage (2018) in Movies
Sep 16, 2018 (Updated Sep 16, 2018)
Corny but fun!
The self proclaimed "franchise Viagra" is at it again in the film adaptation of the classic 80s video game where you get play as a giant monster out to destroy a city.
As long as you accept the corny premise and go along for the ride, the film is pretty harmless. Kind of felt like I was watching The Mummy with Brendan Fraser, but that's not a critique.
Some of the acting and dialogue was almost enough for me to turn down the volume completely and just watch the pretty pictures flashing across the screen, but I was never bored while watching.
Overall, an entertaining romp.
As long as you accept the corny premise and go along for the ride, the film is pretty harmless. Kind of felt like I was watching The Mummy with Brendan Fraser, but that's not a critique.
Some of the acting and dialogue was almost enough for me to turn down the volume completely and just watch the pretty pictures flashing across the screen, but I was never bored while watching.
Overall, an entertaining romp.
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Blazing Minds (92 KP) rated Army of the Dead (2021) in Movies
Oct 29, 2021 (Updated Nov 2, 2021)
It’s a movie I’d been waiting to see since Netflix starting teasing us with the trailer, so last night I sat down to watch the almost two and half hours of Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead!
I have to say that after the introduction in the film on how the zombies first took over Las Vegas I absolutely loved the opening credits with the slow-motion action, amazing soundtrack and the pink lettering that really stood out on the screen, the style of the opening reminded me of a video game which is no bad thing as it certainly got me intrigued on how the film would play out through the two and half hours.
I have to say that after the introduction in the film on how the zombies first took over Las Vegas I absolutely loved the opening credits with the slow-motion action, amazing soundtrack and the pink lettering that really stood out on the screen, the style of the opening reminded me of a video game which is no bad thing as it certainly got me intrigued on how the film would play out through the two and half hours.
Fred (860 KP) rated Rampage (2018) in Movies
Sep 15, 2018
The Rock is great, as always. Except maybe that tooth fairy thing. (1 more)
Great special effects!
This review is going to be very simple. Because this is a simple movie.
Sometimes, you just want to see a "I don't have to think about anything, and I can still be entertained" movie. This is one of them. I mean, it's based on a video game with the same idea. Just smash! Three giant monsters, smashing a city. Some silly T.M.N.T. backstory about a mutagen changing an albino gorilla to a white King Kong. And then "Let them fight!" That's it! It's held together by Dwayne Johnson & the others in the film. To be honest, I don't even remember who's in the movie with him. But it doesn't matter. The film is fun. Maybe a little intense for little kids. But some days, you just want to sit back & watch some great special effects & big things crushing little things. When that happens, here's a film for you.
Sometimes, you just want to see a "I don't have to think about anything, and I can still be entertained" movie. This is one of them. I mean, it's based on a video game with the same idea. Just smash! Three giant monsters, smashing a city. Some silly T.M.N.T. backstory about a mutagen changing an albino gorilla to a white King Kong. And then "Let them fight!" That's it! It's held together by Dwayne Johnson & the others in the film. To be honest, I don't even remember who's in the movie with him. But it doesn't matter. The film is fun. Maybe a little intense for little kids. But some days, you just want to sit back & watch some great special effects & big things crushing little things. When that happens, here's a film for you.
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Grandma's Boy (2006) in Movies
Aug 14, 2019
Life for video game tester is often filled with long hours, countless repetition and ever looming deadlines as the rush to get the latest games done and on budget is a key factor in the gaming industry. Often testers, much like the game coders toil away in obscurity with only their fellow gamers and personality quirks as their only companions. One such individual is a man named Alex (Allen Covert), a 36 year old professional game tester who suddenly finds himself out of his home thanks to a roommate who spends months of rent money at a local brothel.
Undaunted, Alex drifts from friend to friend often with disastrous results as he attempts to take stock of his situation and avoid the unpleasant alternative of moving in with his Grandmother (Doris Roberts) and her friends. With a deadline looming for his company’s latest game, a producer named Samantha (Linda Cardellini) is brought in to get the team on task. Faced with the reality of sleeping at his desk thanks to a rather embarrassing incident at a friend’s house, Alex is forced to reluctantly take refuge at his grandmothers.
Since Alex is the old man amongst the early 20’s testers who want nothing better than to break his unbeaten streak in head to head game challenges, Alex is forced to tell his co-workers that he spends his nights with three women and they wear him out. The sad truth is that Alex is worn out from 6:00 AM wakeups followed by three hours of chores before going to work. As if life was not complicated enough for Alex, the head game designer J.P. (Joel Moore), becomes more and more eccentric and this is only fueled by his interest in Samantha and his knowledge that Alex is attracted to her.
With a premise like this “Grandma’s Boys” has all of the ingredients to be a fun comedy that continues in the tradition of Adam Sandler’s comedies since his company produced the film. Sadly the film despite a few laughs becomes utterly predictable and drags in many places. The cast is enjoyable enough, but the jokes are too far between leaving the cast to carry the story which sadly is not strong enough to support the down time between jokes.
This is not to say that there are not some funny moments in the film as I can think of at least a half dozen good laughs. The issue is that when you have to wait 15-20 minutes between then in a film that is just over an hour and a half, it does tend to make the film drag. Also, much of the humor is derived from drug use. While it is funny in spots, the constant use of drugs, being stoned, and so on becomes old fast and makes the film seem like a one trick pony.
Covert who co wrote the film does his best in the film, but seems best suited as a supporting character as his character while likeable does not really connect with the audience the same way that one would with say Sandler, Schneider, or even Stiller. There are some good cameos in the film and Shirley Jones, Ms. Partridge herself is good as the older lady with a healthy libido, but I just could not help think that this film could have, and should have been much better than it was.
In the end, despite some good moments, there simply was not enough of them to save the film as the thin story, repetitive themes, and long gaps between good jokes ultimately sinks the film. It was nice to see a film about game testers as it is a group that is rife with comedic potential to be exploited, but sadly Grandma’s Boys barely scratches the surface.
Undaunted, Alex drifts from friend to friend often with disastrous results as he attempts to take stock of his situation and avoid the unpleasant alternative of moving in with his Grandmother (Doris Roberts) and her friends. With a deadline looming for his company’s latest game, a producer named Samantha (Linda Cardellini) is brought in to get the team on task. Faced with the reality of sleeping at his desk thanks to a rather embarrassing incident at a friend’s house, Alex is forced to reluctantly take refuge at his grandmothers.
Since Alex is the old man amongst the early 20’s testers who want nothing better than to break his unbeaten streak in head to head game challenges, Alex is forced to tell his co-workers that he spends his nights with three women and they wear him out. The sad truth is that Alex is worn out from 6:00 AM wakeups followed by three hours of chores before going to work. As if life was not complicated enough for Alex, the head game designer J.P. (Joel Moore), becomes more and more eccentric and this is only fueled by his interest in Samantha and his knowledge that Alex is attracted to her.
With a premise like this “Grandma’s Boys” has all of the ingredients to be a fun comedy that continues in the tradition of Adam Sandler’s comedies since his company produced the film. Sadly the film despite a few laughs becomes utterly predictable and drags in many places. The cast is enjoyable enough, but the jokes are too far between leaving the cast to carry the story which sadly is not strong enough to support the down time between jokes.
This is not to say that there are not some funny moments in the film as I can think of at least a half dozen good laughs. The issue is that when you have to wait 15-20 minutes between then in a film that is just over an hour and a half, it does tend to make the film drag. Also, much of the humor is derived from drug use. While it is funny in spots, the constant use of drugs, being stoned, and so on becomes old fast and makes the film seem like a one trick pony.
Covert who co wrote the film does his best in the film, but seems best suited as a supporting character as his character while likeable does not really connect with the audience the same way that one would with say Sandler, Schneider, or even Stiller. There are some good cameos in the film and Shirley Jones, Ms. Partridge herself is good as the older lady with a healthy libido, but I just could not help think that this film could have, and should have been much better than it was.
In the end, despite some good moments, there simply was not enough of them to save the film as the thin story, repetitive themes, and long gaps between good jokes ultimately sinks the film. It was nice to see a film about game testers as it is a group that is rife with comedic potential to be exploited, but sadly Grandma’s Boys barely scratches the surface.
Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) in Movies
Jun 28, 2019 (Updated Sep 25, 2019)
Twenty years after the events of the first film, the infamous board game has evolved into a video game and while cleaning out a school's basement serving detention, four teenagers find it and get sucked into the same jungle setting that Alan Parrish got sucked into all those years ago. Having become their avatars inside the game the only way out is to play along and finish it.
You see Jumanji, and instantly you think "bleurgh, they're not remaking it are they?!"
Having missed the Unlimited Screening because of my work Christmas do, I dragged myself out of bed to see the preview the next morning... and oh my god was it worth the early start. Honestly, I would watch it again in a heartbeat. It is just good old fashioned fun.
I wasn't sure how they were going to turn the board game into a video game, but I really liked the way they did it. From there on I was completely sold on it. I love all four of the main actors, and watching them playing teenagers was so entertaining. Jack Black has to be my hero, diva to a T. Little upsetting to see Bobby Cannavale as the baddie though, that's one fantasy man out of the window, can't go dreaming about him after seeing creepy crawlies all over him.
This one will definitely be in my DVD collection when it comes out, and yes, I will be shouting "Jumanji" out at the end.
You see Jumanji, and instantly you think "bleurgh, they're not remaking it are they?!"
Having missed the Unlimited Screening because of my work Christmas do, I dragged myself out of bed to see the preview the next morning... and oh my god was it worth the early start. Honestly, I would watch it again in a heartbeat. It is just good old fashioned fun.
I wasn't sure how they were going to turn the board game into a video game, but I really liked the way they did it. From there on I was completely sold on it. I love all four of the main actors, and watching them playing teenagers was so entertaining. Jack Black has to be my hero, diva to a T. Little upsetting to see Bobby Cannavale as the baddie though, that's one fantasy man out of the window, can't go dreaming about him after seeing creepy crawlies all over him.
This one will definitely be in my DVD collection when it comes out, and yes, I will be shouting "Jumanji" out at the end.
Dean (6926 KP) rated Extraction 2 (2023) in Movies
Jun 17, 2023
Amazing action scenes (1 more)
Stunt and fight choreography
Even bigger and badder than the first
I've been looking forward to this for a while and it doesn't disappoint! Taken it up a new level from the first. Some of the action scenes involving trains, Helicopters, huge shoot outs were amazing. Shot in a similar style to the first film. Almost a @Hardcore Henry (2016) vibe at times or a feeling of watching a crazy video game action sequence but with real actors. One for the action fans!
Lights, Camera, Game Over!: How Video Game Movies Get Made
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Since 1993, Hollywood has been rendering popular video games on the silver screen, mainly to...