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Jason X (2001)
Jason X (2001)
2001 | Horror, Sci-Fi
3
5.4 (24 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Laughably bad
I will readily admit to not being a massive fan of the Friday the 13th sequels, especially not some of the more modern ones, and this is possibly one of the worst sequels there is. All manner of logic or plot continuity disappears out of the window for this one. It’s ridiculous from the very start and just gets more laughable as the film goes on. The cast go from the awful and annoying (most of the ‘students’ who’s names I couldn’t even bring myself to pay attention to), to the boringly average. Even the pairing of Lexa Doig and Lisa Ryder, an Andromeda “reunion” as such despite this coming during the time Andromeda was airing isn’t enough to keep this film being anything other than terrible. Lexa Doig especially is given so little to do in this which is a shame as the beginning makes out like she could be a proper kickass hero. And don’t get me started on Jason’s upgrade later on in the film...

This is one of those films that is so bad it’s vaguely entertaining, but not in a good way.
  
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Versusyours (757 KP) Nov 9, 2019

This brings nothing new to the series or genre. It's truly irredeemable

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JT (287 KP) rated Silent House (2011) in Movies

Mar 10, 2020  
Silent House (2011)
Silent House (2011)
2011 | Horror, Mystery
8
5.5 (4 Ratings)
Movie Rating
The tag line for The Silent House is “real fear in real time” the main premise being that the film is shot in one continuous take. You can believe it or not and debate how hard it would be to pull off?

Laura (Florencia Colucci) and her father Wilson (Gustavo Alonso) head to an old house with the intention of spending a few days clearing it out as the owner is looking to put it up for sale. Arriving late they settle in for the night, but it’s not long before all hell breaks loose.

With a noise coming from upstairs Wilson goes to investigate but when he comes back down a little worse for wear Laura has to embrace the darkness and avoid the terror within. It’s an exceptional piece of film making which will leave you breathless. There are a few little twists and turns and a great sequence involving a polaroid camera.

Of course Hollywood has capitalized on this success and churned out a pointless remake as they do with most other foreign films. But it’s not as good as this original horror gem.
  
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Roger Corman recommended Avatar (2009) in Movies (curated)

 
Avatar (2009)
Avatar (2009)
2009 | Action, Comedy, Mystery

"You know, I would pick Jim Cameron’s picture, Avatar, as a fifth. It’s the only new picture, I think, that can be up there in that group. Jim Cameron, one of our graduates — who started making low-budget science fiction pictures for us — went and jumped ahead and here’s Avatar, the most expensive science fiction picture ever made. Jim’s a technical genius, and the fact that he single-handedly brought back 3D — which had been up there, in and out a few times; in the ’50s and then forgotten — and he used it beautifully and sensitively. So many times when a director’s working with 3D you have the shot of the arrow coming out of the screen, shooting straight at the audience, and effects like that; he deliberately stayed away from that type of effect and just showed you the 3D world. And the use of computer graphics, green screen, motion capture and so forth for the blue-skinned people on the planet — I just thought it all came together as a brilliant film, both technically, in the way he used 3D, and in the beauty of the picture itself."

Source
  
The Sharpest Needle
The Sharpest Needle
Renee Patrick | 2021 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Blackmailing a Star
It’s August 1939, and silent film actress Marion Davies has been receiving poison pen letters from someone calling himself Argus. The letters threaten to reveal something from Marion’s past, something that could ruin her current relationship with William Randolph Hurst. When she turns to Lillian Frost and Edith Head for help, Edith can’t help but think there is more to the situation than there first appears to be. Then a dead body turns up. Can Lillian and Edith figure out what is going on?

There is so much to praise in this book. The plot is strong and always keeps us engaged. It does get a little convoluted as we reach the climax, but as long as you pay attention, you’ll follow what is happening. Real people and fictional characters rub elbows seamlessly, and they all appear fully formed to us. I love watching for cameos. The news of the day impacts the character, and therefore us. Yet we also have talk about the films coming out during that time, which I enjoyed. This is more than a Hollywood mystery. If you enjoy historical mysteries, you need to read these books today.
  
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Gaz Coombes recommended World Music by Goat in Music (curated)

 
World Music by Goat
World Music by Goat
2012 | Alternative, Psychedelic
6.0 (2 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"I got into this a few years back when I was really getting going with the solo thing. I thought, “This is unusual.” It reminds me a bit of ESG. I really love that delivery – those female vocals that have a drive, power and confidence but are punk and not flying around everywhere. It’s edgy and cuts through in a really cool way. It’s so refreshing in these days of immediacy to hear something like this. I hear some debut EPs that sound like really expensive records and you think, “Where’s the growth coming from here?” When we first started out it was always about playing together ’cos there was no other option – I was too young to get a gig and I wasn’t allowed in venues – so you play, write, mess around and watch movies. There were no distractions, we were just a gang in a living room in front of an open fire, messing around. We did some quick bashed-out B-sides and ropey gigs but it was about the attitude. I wish I saw more uncertainty and vulnerability in young artists."

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Honest Thief (2020)
Honest Thief (2020)
2020 | Action, Crime, Drama
Decent crime thriller. Liam Neeson plays the In-and-Out Bandit (snigger), who has nicked $9 million out of some obscure principle, and also because he enjoys it. When he wants to settle down with his new lady friend, he tries to negotiate his surrender, but comes up against corruption in the FBI and finds himself framed for murder...

Looks like another one of those movies where some bad guys really tick off Neeson, leading up to the moment where he gets on the phone to them and does his 'I'm coming for you!' speech. And this one is a bit like that, but the violence is employed sparingly and it has a rather neat plot, too. The characters have a bit more depth than you might expect, too - Neeson is giving the same performance as usual, but not an actual bad one, while everyone else manages to find something interesting to work with: Jai Courtney is actually really impressive as his character gradually loses it. It's still a fairly modest genre movie, but it's better than the usual Neeson vehicle and genuinely involving and enjoyable.