Search
Search results
Rickstrong23 (216 KP) rated X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) in Movies
Mar 3, 2018
I love the xmen as a small kid i used to read the comics over and over .ive seen all the xmen movies this one is not that great not terrible but not awesome apocalypse is one of there most powerful characters .the last few movies with the new cast i really liked .first class and the one where they go back n forth in time.i really liked psylocke storm and death angel .but honestly they could have done better.the special effects were good.idk it needs something new .dark phoenix should be good .i dont rember seeing wolverine rouge (who is my fav)ice man .but just like the comics they constantly come and go.if u like xmen you will like this movie.i wish i could write a xmen movie team up with say spiderman and a crazy villian like mestphito (spelt wrong sorry)and throw in a love story gambit and rouge collousis and kitty pryde.some thing to give the movie character and feeling.cant wait for the next one
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961) in Movies
Mar 3, 2018 (Updated Mar 3, 2018)
Weather Forecast says 'Sun Everywhere'
Apocalyptic British SF movie shows how this sort of thing should be done. Nuclear tests shift the Earth on its axis, send it closer to the sun: civilisation struggles to cope with the prospect of looming extinction. Story is told from the point of view of the journalists of the Daily Express (don't laugh, it was a newspaper back in the 60s).
Very similar in its downbeat tone to the Quatermass movies Val Guest had previously made for Hammer - no B-movie this, but a serious, hard-edged naturalistic drama. Personal story of romance between lead journo Edward Judd and met office secretary Janet Munro is woven into the main plot with considerable skill; scenes of devastated London are well-mounted. A bit dated in some of its attitudes, but its concerns with the disastrous effects of climate change and its political cynicism mean it still feels surprisingly relevant today. Much better than any of the Roland Emmerich movies which have arguably ripped it off.
Very similar in its downbeat tone to the Quatermass movies Val Guest had previously made for Hammer - no B-movie this, but a serious, hard-edged naturalistic drama. Personal story of romance between lead journo Edward Judd and met office secretary Janet Munro is woven into the main plot with considerable skill; scenes of devastated London are well-mounted. A bit dated in some of its attitudes, but its concerns with the disastrous effects of climate change and its political cynicism mean it still feels surprisingly relevant today. Much better than any of the Roland Emmerich movies which have arguably ripped it off.
The Nature of Monkey is Irrepressible
Only mildly unhinged Japanese adaptation of the famous Journey to the West stories, which became a cult TV show when exported to the UK, Australia, and South America. Classic 16th century Chinese novel is transformed into something almost indescribable; a mixture of off-the-wall humour, hyperactive martial arts sequences, and cheesy special effects - the English dub may take a few liberties with the original scripts as well.
A representative episode sees our heroes visiting a small village terrorised by a giant catfish monster, which proceeds to eat three of them; they end up going to a disco which is held in the bad guy's stomach, before persuading him to vomit them up so they can fight him and his followers. Frequently silly, and the low budget often shows, but made with relentless energy and cheerfulness; hugely imaginative, often genuinely very funny. A generation of UK viewers grew up able to sing the theme tune 'Monkey Magic' (and misremember the name of the show as a result).
A representative episode sees our heroes visiting a small village terrorised by a giant catfish monster, which proceeds to eat three of them; they end up going to a disco which is held in the bad guy's stomach, before persuading him to vomit them up so they can fight him and his followers. Frequently silly, and the low budget often shows, but made with relentless energy and cheerfulness; hugely imaginative, often genuinely very funny. A generation of UK viewers grew up able to sing the theme tune 'Monkey Magic' (and misremember the name of the show as a result).
Dana (24 KP) rated The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings, #2) in Books
Mar 23, 2018
Again, I listened to the BBC radio play for this book and again it did not disappoint. I love it when there can be plays of the books because the actors get really into it and the sound effects make it that much more fun. I do want to, at some point, go back and read the physical copies of the books, but this is doing just fine!
I love Pippin, he will forever be my favorite, but all of the characters in these books are so compelling. It is really fun to read the godfather of modern fantasy and see how much of what he wrote is influencing the books written today. I can say that this is my favorite genre of all and I could not be any more pleased to be reading these books. I just have to wait until my library has the last book opened up and I will be reading that so fast!
Honestly though, so good. If you have the chance, listen to the radio plays. They are very well produced and just phenomenal!
I love Pippin, he will forever be my favorite, but all of the characters in these books are so compelling. It is really fun to read the godfather of modern fantasy and see how much of what he wrote is influencing the books written today. I can say that this is my favorite genre of all and I could not be any more pleased to be reading these books. I just have to wait until my library has the last book opened up and I will be reading that so fast!
Honestly though, so good. If you have the chance, listen to the radio plays. They are very well produced and just phenomenal!
Awix (3310 KP) rated Godzilla Vs Mothra (1992) in Movies
Mar 1, 2018 (Updated Mar 1, 2018)
Barnstorming monster movie delivers everything you want from this kind of film, as well as reintroducing Mothra for a new generation. Meteorite manages to stir up Godzilla, Battra, and Mothra simultaneously (crikey, that's unlucky); explorer Takuya must help the benevolent Mothra and its fairy spokespersons protect humanity (while also sorting out his family problems: it's that kind of a movie).
Essentially a remake of both Mothra (1961) and Mothra Vs Godzilla (1964); as such Godzilla doesn't turn up properly until quite near the end. The storyline with Mothra and Battra is still very engaging, though, and the various call-backs to the 60s movies are fun. Excellent special effects, banging soundtrack, and the tone is pitch-perfect for this kind of film - dramatic without being absurdly serious. You could possibly argue that Battra is a fairly dull monster and superfluous to proceedings; apart from that, in every area that matters this is as good a Godzilla (or Mothra) movie as you can find. A highlight of the franchise.
Essentially a remake of both Mothra (1961) and Mothra Vs Godzilla (1964); as such Godzilla doesn't turn up properly until quite near the end. The storyline with Mothra and Battra is still very engaging, though, and the various call-backs to the 60s movies are fun. Excellent special effects, banging soundtrack, and the tone is pitch-perfect for this kind of film - dramatic without being absurdly serious. You could possibly argue that Battra is a fairly dull monster and superfluous to proceedings; apart from that, in every area that matters this is as good a Godzilla (or Mothra) movie as you can find. A highlight of the franchise.
Derek Terry (5 KP) created a post
Jun 22, 2018
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Phantasm: Ravager (2016) in Movies
Jul 15, 2018
Great end to the Phantasm saga!
The final Phantasm film focuses mostly on everyone's favorite former ice cream man ,Reggie, and takes place through multi dimensions..
He keeps shifting through time and locations and is desperately trying to figure out which is real and how he can stop the Tall Man and his death spheres one final time.
The film find of reminded me of the final episode of Star Trek TNG when Captain Picard was kind of doing the same thing. It made the story interesting and not just more of the same. It also was mostly a continuation of the same story with some nostalgia since there had been almost twenty years since the last Phantasm film was made. I liked the continuity, but attempt to make something original.
The make up and special effects ranged from pretty good to almost Sharknado bad, so that was a little distracting.
I enjoyed watching and had a fun time with the Phantasm films in general. Generally speaking a cut above the normal generics horror schlock.
He keeps shifting through time and locations and is desperately trying to figure out which is real and how he can stop the Tall Man and his death spheres one final time.
The film find of reminded me of the final episode of Star Trek TNG when Captain Picard was kind of doing the same thing. It made the story interesting and not just more of the same. It also was mostly a continuation of the same story with some nostalgia since there had been almost twenty years since the last Phantasm film was made. I liked the continuity, but attempt to make something original.
The make up and special effects ranged from pretty good to almost Sharknado bad, so that was a little distracting.
I enjoyed watching and had a fun time with the Phantasm films in general. Generally speaking a cut above the normal generics horror schlock.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Apollo 13 (1995) in Movies
Jul 21, 2018
No problems here!
Everyone was waiting to see what Tom Hanks would do next after winning his back-to-back Oscars for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump. It ended up being another wondrous film about the true story of the doomed space mission and the many people who banded together to help save the lives of the three astronauts.
Everything about the film is fantastic including the acting, screenplay and special effects. If this film were made today, I think filmmakers would have tried to go too high tech and CGI when this is a human story and a triumph of the human spirit vs. something more savvy.
I really miss Bill Paxton most of all. His performance in the film was magnificent and hilarious, just like all his memorable characters. I truly miss him every day.
Through my melancholies, I was able to enjoy a perfect film like this. You know you are watching something truly awe-inspiring when you know how it's going to end and it still chokes you up.
Everything about the film is fantastic including the acting, screenplay and special effects. If this film were made today, I think filmmakers would have tried to go too high tech and CGI when this is a human story and a triumph of the human spirit vs. something more savvy.
I really miss Bill Paxton most of all. His performance in the film was magnificent and hilarious, just like all his memorable characters. I truly miss him every day.
Through my melancholies, I was able to enjoy a perfect film like this. You know you are watching something truly awe-inspiring when you know how it's going to end and it still chokes you up.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Hunter Killer (2018) in Movies
Oct 23, 2018 (Updated Oct 23, 2018)
Oh-lord-must-we submarine thriller with GERARD! BUTLER! toning it down for once as maverick navy commander Joe Glass, sent to investigate the loss of a US vessel off the Russian coast. Quite how detached from reality this film is is perhaps suggested by the fact that the female President of the USA ends up ordering Butler to save the Russian President (nothing like you-know-who, by the way) from an attempted coup. The film attempts to offset how absurdly silly the plot is by taking itself very seriously indeed; this just results in making it dull.
Special effects are competent, some rather good actors (Oldman, Stephens) phone in reasonable performances - there is very little that is flat-out bad about Hunter Killer, yet it never generates any real tension or excitement. Anything that would actually make it interesting or original seems to have been machine-tooled away. Butler's attempts to avoid going over-the-top are not necessarily for the best. Really just a very tedious, derivative, and formulaic movie.
Special effects are competent, some rather good actors (Oldman, Stephens) phone in reasonable performances - there is very little that is flat-out bad about Hunter Killer, yet it never generates any real tension or excitement. Anything that would actually make it interesting or original seems to have been machine-tooled away. Butler's attempts to avoid going over-the-top are not necessarily for the best. Really just a very tedious, derivative, and formulaic movie.
Andy K (10823 KP) rated Threads (1984) in Movies
Jan 12, 2019
Bleak and uncompromising...
I read about this film online and thought it sounded interesting. I had never heard of it but purchased anyways and I was not disappointed.
Maybe some of you British people may remember this film which aired on BBC 2 in 1984 and was basically about what would happen if Britain was caught in the crossfire between the US and USSR and the effects of not only the atomic bombs used, but the torturous unrelenting aftermath. Portions of the 2nd half of the film were reminiscent of scene's from Schindler's List or even a WWII holocaust documentary. The ravages of war make humanity do unspeakable things to each other and this film depicts it all.
The contrast of the "before" and "after" are what are the most striking. How the filmmaker sets a tone at the beginning and then turns everything on its end mid way through. I wasn't entirely sure where it was going or how things would end up; however, I was intrigued throughout.
Watch it if you are able.
Maybe some of you British people may remember this film which aired on BBC 2 in 1984 and was basically about what would happen if Britain was caught in the crossfire between the US and USSR and the effects of not only the atomic bombs used, but the torturous unrelenting aftermath. Portions of the 2nd half of the film were reminiscent of scene's from Schindler's List or even a WWII holocaust documentary. The ravages of war make humanity do unspeakable things to each other and this film depicts it all.
The contrast of the "before" and "after" are what are the most striking. How the filmmaker sets a tone at the beginning and then turns everything on its end mid way through. I wasn't entirely sure where it was going or how things would end up; however, I was intrigued throughout.
Watch it if you are able.