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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated A Monster Calls (2016) in Movies
Sep 11, 2017
Tearjerker, exploring a young boy's grief
This was an unexpected little gem of a drama showing how a boy, who is having to deal with tremendous trauma, manifests his grief.
From being bullied, abandoned and dealing with a mother dying from cancer, one day a monster in the form of a tree visits him to reveal various tales with a moral context. These come in the form of beautiful animations, not too dissimilar from The Three Brothers sequence in one of the final Harry Potter films. What we have to establish is whether the boy is actually encountering this monster or whether it is part of his repressed emotions.
Acting from the entire cast including Felicity Jones and more so the young child actor was fantastic. An interesting watch.
From being bullied, abandoned and dealing with a mother dying from cancer, one day a monster in the form of a tree visits him to reveal various tales with a moral context. These come in the form of beautiful animations, not too dissimilar from The Three Brothers sequence in one of the final Harry Potter films. What we have to establish is whether the boy is actually encountering this monster or whether it is part of his repressed emotions.
Acting from the entire cast including Felicity Jones and more so the young child actor was fantastic. An interesting watch.
Sarah (7798 KP) rated Gifted (2017) in Movies
Feb 8, 2019
A great surprise
I hadn't really expected very much from this film, but it was actually a brilliant and heartwarming surprise. It has a great cast and is wonderfully acted - McKenna Grace is exceptional for a child actor and I was even impressed with Chris Evans, it's been so long since I've seen him in something that isn't Marvel related and it's nice to see.
The film itself is a mixture of humour and a sometimes heartwrenching and emotional story about a gifted child. It has a fairly short runtime which is also refreshing, but I actually think it could have been a little longer. It's well shot and scripted and was just an all round delight to watch. And seeing Chris Evans with cats? Kinda hard to resist.
The film itself is a mixture of humour and a sometimes heartwrenching and emotional story about a gifted child. It has a fairly short runtime which is also refreshing, but I actually think it could have been a little longer. It's well shot and scripted and was just an all round delight to watch. And seeing Chris Evans with cats? Kinda hard to resist.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Theatre of Blood (1973) in Movies
Feb 14, 2018 (Updated Feb 14, 2018)
The Play's the Thing
Indisputably the best of the Vincent Price 'madman on a vengeful killing spree' movies from the early 70s, allowing Price to give full reign to his remarkable talents. Ham actor Edward Lionheart gets his own back on pretentious critics by performing various gory Shakespearean scenes for real; this gives him the opportunity to disguise himself as such diverse characters as a chef, a policeman, Butch the gay hairdresser, and many more; Price is having a whale of a time throughout, as you'd expect.
Notable also for an astonishingly good cast of British character actors, most of whom are only in a couple of scenes before they get murdered. Consistently witty and inventive, even a little moving in parts as well. Point knocked off for not letting Price get away with it!
Notable also for an astonishingly good cast of British character actors, most of whom are only in a couple of scenes before they get murdered. Consistently witty and inventive, even a little moving in parts as well. Point knocked off for not letting Price get away with it!
Awix (3310 KP) rated Prehistoric Women (1967) in Movies
Feb 12, 2018
The Land That The Budget Forgot
Pretty much a one-man show for Hammer supremo Michael Carreras, who writes, directs, and produces, and in the process demonstrates why he should really have stuck to producing. Then again, the whole movie was intended as a cash-saving measure so there's a limit to how much you can complain about the slapdash plotting, absurdly cheap 'monster', or painful non-acting from most of the cast.
Martine Beswick does her best to rise above it all, but this is even less entertaining than it probably sounds; it's not even that interesting as an exploitation movie. Noted actor, director and playwright Steven Berkoff can be spotted hanging around in the background hoping not to be seen and planning on calling his agent.
Martine Beswick does her best to rise above it all, but this is even less entertaining than it probably sounds; it's not even that interesting as an exploitation movie. Noted actor, director and playwright Steven Berkoff can be spotted hanging around in the background hoping not to be seen and planning on calling his agent.
Vegas (725 KP) rated Last of the Summer Wine in TV
Nov 13, 2018
Gentle Humour (2 more)
Cast always gel
Idyllic Setting
The (miss)adventures of the retired generation... Over the years a who's who of British stars have turned up in this long running show which started by following 3 completely different retired friends but over time developed into following the supporting cast of the village too... Clegg was a mainstay of the trio, Compo was there for many years until the death of the actor playing him and then various different 3rd character - probably the most well known being Foggy... It would be impossible to sum up the escapades they had over 30+ series in a short review but if you want an easy, silly and quintessentially British comedy - this would be the one to go for...
Rachel Maria Berney (114 KP) rated The Holiday Calendar (2018) in Movies
Dec 4, 2018
Solid feel good Christmas film
I enjoyed this Christmas film. It had magic, romance and drama. The acting was good and the storyline was a nice Christmas story line.
The main character will be familiar as Bonnie from The Vampire Diaries and as good an actor as she is, she is more annoying than likeable. That is the case in this film too. It's a shame, but the mistake she makes that causes the drama, seems like something a spoilt pentulant toddler would do. You take an instant dislike to her, not that you loved her from the off though.
Overall, I liked the idea and did enjoy the movie. Everyone needs a little magic at Christmas and The Holiday Calendar provides it.
The main character will be familiar as Bonnie from The Vampire Diaries and as good an actor as she is, she is more annoying than likeable. That is the case in this film too. It's a shame, but the mistake she makes that causes the drama, seems like something a spoilt pentulant toddler would do. You take an instant dislike to her, not that you loved her from the off though.
Overall, I liked the idea and did enjoy the movie. Everyone needs a little magic at Christmas and The Holiday Calendar provides it.
David McK (3372 KP) rated Mary Poppins Returns (2018) in Movies
Oct 27, 2019
It's arguable that Disney take a big risk in making a sequel to one of their most beloved movies (and the one that Walt Disney himself saw as their pinnacle), decades after the original, and with a different actor (Emily Blunt) taking on the role most associated with Julie Andrews.
And, while it's enjoyable enough, this doesn't really hold a candle to that original, despite Emily Blunt giving it her all (and, from what I remember, portraying a somewhat 'softer' Mary Poppins).
The structure is pretty similar to the first film, complete with a last-minute rush to the bank, with the film again focusing on the Banks family: the 2 children from the original now grown up, with worries and a family of their own providing the McGuffin that gets Mary Poppins to return.
And, while it's enjoyable enough, this doesn't really hold a candle to that original, despite Emily Blunt giving it her all (and, from what I remember, portraying a somewhat 'softer' Mary Poppins).
The structure is pretty similar to the first film, complete with a last-minute rush to the bank, with the film again focusing on the Banks family: the 2 children from the original now grown up, with worries and a family of their own providing the McGuffin that gets Mary Poppins to return.
Dean (6925 KP) rated Lethal Weapon - Season 3 in TV
Dec 30, 2019
Quite funny (1 more)
Lots of action
Good 3rd series
Well this 3rd series came as a big surprise as the actor playing Riggs is no longer a part of the show and wasn't replaced. So effectively it is no longer Lethal Weapon as we only have Murtaugh. Slightly odd decision but we now have Seann William Scott who is suitabley cast as a slightly crazy former CIA agent now partnered with Murtaugh.
The chemistry is good and generally quite funny a lot of the time, along with the usual action and shoot outs you expect. I didn't think I would enjoy this series as much with the big cast change. However it is nearly as good as the first two series. Maybe they should have called it something else though.
The chemistry is good and generally quite funny a lot of the time, along with the usual action and shoot outs you expect. I didn't think I would enjoy this series as much with the big cast change. However it is nearly as good as the first two series. Maybe they should have called it something else though.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Sorry to Bother You (2018) in Movies
Jan 16, 2019
Boisterous, anarchic satire with absurdist elements, concerning the socio-political awakening of a young African-American man. Cash Green (it's not always subtle) discovers a talent for telemarketing, but only while he uses his 'white voice' (the actor is ostentatiously dubbed at these moments). Success beckons, but can he overlook the moral consequences of the things his employers do?
Scatter-gun satire is mixed in with some not-especially-profound commentary on the nature of American society and economics; luckily the film is filled with enough energy and ideas to stay interesting and entertaining throughout. Comes a bit unravelled towards the end, but still features some of the funniest, most provocative scenes in recent memory. Very good performances from Stanfield and Hammer in particular. A passionate, vibrant, very inventive film.
Scatter-gun satire is mixed in with some not-especially-profound commentary on the nature of American society and economics; luckily the film is filled with enough energy and ideas to stay interesting and entertaining throughout. Comes a bit unravelled towards the end, but still features some of the funniest, most provocative scenes in recent memory. Very good performances from Stanfield and Hammer in particular. A passionate, vibrant, very inventive film.
Erika (17788 KP) rated The Warrior Queen of Jhansi (2019) in Movies
Nov 25, 2019 (Updated Nov 25, 2019)
I love period films, but I'm not sure this one was up to snuff. I saw the trailer and was immediately interesting. I'm all about historical girl power, when it's legitimate.
The main character, Lakshmibai, was obviously the best part of the film. The story was interesting, but ultimately the acting was sub-standard, excluding the main character.
Devika Bhise, who played Lakshmibai, had the best performance. Though, I found it interesting that she wasn't top billed. It actually bothered me, and I just had to look up who she was on IMDB: she's the 6th actor listed, despite being the lead character. There's something up with that...
Anyway, I would only recommend this if you're very, very interested in the story. I'll probably find a book on the Warrior Queen of Jhansi.
The main character, Lakshmibai, was obviously the best part of the film. The story was interesting, but ultimately the acting was sub-standard, excluding the main character.
Devika Bhise, who played Lakshmibai, had the best performance. Though, I found it interesting that she wasn't top billed. It actually bothered me, and I just had to look up who she was on IMDB: she's the 6th actor listed, despite being the lead character. There's something up with that...
Anyway, I would only recommend this if you're very, very interested in the story. I'll probably find a book on the Warrior Queen of Jhansi.