Search
Search results
Blazing Minds (92 KP) rated Beast (2017) in Movies
Nov 1, 2021 (Updated Nov 3, 2021)
Beast is the story of a troubled woman (played by Jessie Buckley) living in an isolated community who finds herself pulled between the control of her oppressive family and the allure of a secretive outsider (played by Johnny Flynn) who is suspected of a series of brutal murders. As the relationship grows between them, the movie takes us on an uneasy journey as she breaks away from her family and movies in with Pascal, after he is suspected of the murders, Moll stands by him against her families wishes and the suspicions of the town-folk where she lives.
Directed and written by Michael Pearce, Beast, which is his first full-length feature is a stunning movie, he takes his time to build up the points in the film that have your jaw dropping and treats the production as something that you don’t just watch, you get sucked into and feel as if you have become part of the community watching from afar an still being shocked by the outcomes.
Directed and written by Michael Pearce, Beast, which is his first full-length feature is a stunning movie, he takes his time to build up the points in the film that have your jaw dropping and treats the production as something that you don’t just watch, you get sucked into and feel as if you have become part of the community watching from afar an still being shocked by the outcomes.
Daniel Boyd (1066 KP) rated Independence Day: Resurgence (2016) in Movies
Aug 11, 2017
Poor CGI (3 more)
Rubbish script
Uncharismatic performances
Lazy direction
Why did they bother?
You know that way when sequels to 90's movies are released and you think, "if this came out 20 years ago it might have worked, but there is no place for this in today's movie landscape?" Well this movie is the prime example of that sentiment.
Sloppy writing, lazy performances, and cheap call-backs plague this poor attempt at resetting up this franchise. The whole thing feels so dated, how can this be? CGI and filmmaking in general has advanced so much in the last 20 years, yet this piece of trash still feels two decades old.
I didn't love the original and to be honest I don't really feel that the first movie has stood the test of time very well, but next to Resurgence, the original film is a masterpiece.
Don't give this crap your time. Fans of the original will be disgusted at this sorry attempt at a sequel and folk that haven't seen the original will just see an outdated, lazy, sci-fi flopped attempt at a blockbuster.
Sloppy writing, lazy performances, and cheap call-backs plague this poor attempt at resetting up this franchise. The whole thing feels so dated, how can this be? CGI and filmmaking in general has advanced so much in the last 20 years, yet this piece of trash still feels two decades old.
I didn't love the original and to be honest I don't really feel that the first movie has stood the test of time very well, but next to Resurgence, the original film is a masterpiece.
Don't give this crap your time. Fans of the original will be disgusted at this sorry attempt at a sequel and folk that haven't seen the original will just see an outdated, lazy, sci-fi flopped attempt at a blockbuster.
Erika Kehlet (21 KP) rated The Devil's Music (Emory Crawford Mysteries #1) in Books
Feb 21, 2018
***I was provided with a free copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review***
The Devils Music was a quick, easy read at only 218 pages, but also an enjoyable one. The story is sprinkled with plant lore as well as bluegrass and folk music tidbits that add interest to the story. I would suggest not reading this book on an empty stomach, however, as the descriptions of all of the delicious sounding food served at various functions are sure to leave you hungry!
The Sleuth, Emory Crawford, is a likable protagonist. Even though she aspires to be a young Miss Marple, she has her faults, and they add to her charm. Her occasional fumbling around after clues makes her seem all the more genuine. I did appreciate the fact that she wasnt all-knowing despite the gift that she realizes she has part of the way through the story. She still had to rely on her wits and ability to make logical deductions, not solely on her intuition.
Overall, a nice start to a new cozy mystery series.
The Devils Music was a quick, easy read at only 218 pages, but also an enjoyable one. The story is sprinkled with plant lore as well as bluegrass and folk music tidbits that add interest to the story. I would suggest not reading this book on an empty stomach, however, as the descriptions of all of the delicious sounding food served at various functions are sure to leave you hungry!
The Sleuth, Emory Crawford, is a likable protagonist. Even though she aspires to be a young Miss Marple, she has her faults, and they add to her charm. Her occasional fumbling around after clues makes her seem all the more genuine. I did appreciate the fact that she wasnt all-knowing despite the gift that she realizes she has part of the way through the story. She still had to rely on her wits and ability to make logical deductions, not solely on her intuition.
Overall, a nice start to a new cozy mystery series.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Midsommar (2019) in Movies
Jul 10, 2019
American attempt at folk horror retains most of the strengths of the same director's Hereditary but also manages to come up with a more coherent plot. A young couple in a moribund relationship head off to a nine-day community festival in rural Sweden with several friends. It goes without saying that there is more on the festival's schedule than they have been told about - given the Swedish background, this is not so much the Wicker Man as the IKEA Man.
It is very easy to see where this is going from near the start, but the various grisly sights and ideas that Aster has come up with are much more difficult to predict. The slowly building atmosphere of unsettling, creeping wrongness is probably at least as effective as any of the film's more shocking moments. In these terms the film is undeniably successful, but the central metaphor of the film remains unclear, and while a slow build is all very well, the film arguably outstays its welcome at nearly two and a half hours long. Nevertheless, an extremely disturbing and powerful film, the simple label 'horror' doesn't do it justice.
It is very easy to see where this is going from near the start, but the various grisly sights and ideas that Aster has come up with are much more difficult to predict. The slowly building atmosphere of unsettling, creeping wrongness is probably at least as effective as any of the film's more shocking moments. In these terms the film is undeniably successful, but the central metaphor of the film remains unclear, and while a slow build is all very well, the film arguably outstays its welcome at nearly two and a half hours long. Nevertheless, an extremely disturbing and powerful film, the simple label 'horror' doesn't do it justice.
Ben Watt recommended Blue Afternoon by Tim Buckley in Music (curated)
Rachel Unthank recommended How Sad, How Lovely by Connie Converse in Music (curated)
Xanderath (690 KP) rated It: Chapter Two (2019) in Movies
Sep 6, 2019
the funs just beginning
Contains spoilers, click to show
Im not usually a big horror movie lover, but having watched the IT double bill, i can say im getting more accustomed to the strange pleasure that a horror can bring. Bill skarsgard is honestly terrifying as pennywise. As the movie follows on from the first installment, youd expect a slow introduction onto how the kids have all grown up. But the movie surprised me by diving in early with a quite brutal scene that highlights some of the deep seated issues of the Derry folk. As with the first movie Pennywise wastes no time making an appearance. Some of the scenes in this movie were quite shocking even when you expect whats about to happen because of the way the suspense is built. One of my favourite things about this movie is the way it is actually hilarious, there are so many funny moments it keeps you off balance. The effects were so unsettling with how good they were. No tacky CGI here, its top notch. Also the best cameo ive seen in a long time. Overall a very good movie which i thoroughly enjoyed even though it was quite long.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Lake Placid (1999) in Movies
Jun 11, 2020
So-so freshwater Jaws spoof with lots of extra irony; somehow managed to spawn a gajillion sequels, all of them made by and featuring much less distinguished people. Folk start turning up dead in a lake in Maine; various scientists and eccentrics descend, annoying the local police and game wardens; culprit proves to be a giant Asian crocodile which has somehow found its way to North America (this is not the kind of film which worries too much about the details). All the usual tropes and plot twists ensue, played very much tongue in cheek.
You get the sense this is a film everybody involved made on a week off as a kind of joke - the snappy dialogue between the characters is the only bit of the film which truly shines, and it's the gory bits - beheadings and dismemberments which feel out of place (even some of these are played for laughs). Sort of mildly amusing and the croc model is good, but not funny and certainly not scary enough to linger in the memory. I seem to recall the 1980 movie Alligator being a lot more fun.
You get the sense this is a film everybody involved made on a week off as a kind of joke - the snappy dialogue between the characters is the only bit of the film which truly shines, and it's the gory bits - beheadings and dismemberments which feel out of place (even some of these are played for laughs). Sort of mildly amusing and the croc model is good, but not funny and certainly not scary enough to linger in the memory. I seem to recall the 1980 movie Alligator being a lot more fun.
Andy K (10821 KP) rated Dogville (2003) in Movies
Nov 23, 2019
Humanity sucks!
The town of Dogville is a simple one. Set up in the mountains, it only has one main thoroughfare dividing its rows of homes and businesses. Its simple folk mostly keep to themselves or occasionally adjourn together. Some have a craft or livelihood which passes their time, others mostly stay to themselves contemplating their thoughts or maybe waiting for something interesting to happen.
Enter mysterious stranger, Grace.
Grace arrives in Dogville on her own without much fanfare or explanation other than mysterious gun shots heard in the distance and the brief appearance of a vehicle with a mystery occupant. It appears she might be more interesting than initial reaction. A Dogville resident, Tom, meets Grace and talks with her. He says he will discuss her situation with the locals at their next meeting and assures her they will protect Grace and allow her to stay in Dogville if they deem her worthy of friendship. She has to gain their friendship and trust within two weeks in order to do so.
As Grace starts to move within the townspeople, she discovers their interesting, eccentric personalities and tries to figure out any "work" they have either around their houses or within their businesses she can assist them with to further show her devotion to being a good person. Although after making the rounds she does not acquire much work, the members of Dogville eventually open up and welcome Grace to assist them.
Grace starts to fall for Tom who is also smitten with her.
The police eventually arrive to post a sign of the missing Grace and to attempt to gain information on her. The town is unsure what to think and some folk start to question whether Grace is being truthful. A dark and winding road eventually develops and Grace is put through some difficult travails and her will tested. Emotions run high.
Writer/director Lars Von Trier produces another truly unique film. Not as shockingly, visually jarring as some of his other work, this time the screenplay is the ultimate star producing vast emotional turmoil and shocks with words and deeds instead. All the characters presented have quite the emotional arc during the 3 hour run time of this film and it is so interesting to endure the ride. Grace really disrupts this small, mountain community and helps the folk show their eventual true personalities in all their various forms.
The physical setting of the movie is an actual "sound stage" look of the main main street strip of Dogville shown only in building outlines with minimal props or decor within. When looking from above where extensive sections of the film are shown, the audience can view almost the entire township engaged in their daily activities either among one another or by themselves. A lot of the view from the street feels very real as the camera weaves through the conversations almost like another human being.
The slow erosion of the township to Grace, her situation and the way they treat her is the crux of the film. The way human beings can be so kind to each other and then the opposite is what struck and moved me while watching Dogville. Von Trier really took the time to use the right amount of words and craft them in a loving and vicious way made the film tough to watch at times, but also captivating.
I haven't always been the biggest Nicole Kidman fan; however, her performance in this film is amazing. She cautious vulnerability and warming personality have the town be initially enamored with her, then her willingness to please erodes her relationships down the hole of darkness and betrayal. Her quirky smile and subdued emotion suits the character perfectly as you are truly trying to unravel her character's mysteries.
Really enjoyed this one.
Enter mysterious stranger, Grace.
Grace arrives in Dogville on her own without much fanfare or explanation other than mysterious gun shots heard in the distance and the brief appearance of a vehicle with a mystery occupant. It appears she might be more interesting than initial reaction. A Dogville resident, Tom, meets Grace and talks with her. He says he will discuss her situation with the locals at their next meeting and assures her they will protect Grace and allow her to stay in Dogville if they deem her worthy of friendship. She has to gain their friendship and trust within two weeks in order to do so.
As Grace starts to move within the townspeople, she discovers their interesting, eccentric personalities and tries to figure out any "work" they have either around their houses or within their businesses she can assist them with to further show her devotion to being a good person. Although after making the rounds she does not acquire much work, the members of Dogville eventually open up and welcome Grace to assist them.
Grace starts to fall for Tom who is also smitten with her.
The police eventually arrive to post a sign of the missing Grace and to attempt to gain information on her. The town is unsure what to think and some folk start to question whether Grace is being truthful. A dark and winding road eventually develops and Grace is put through some difficult travails and her will tested. Emotions run high.
Writer/director Lars Von Trier produces another truly unique film. Not as shockingly, visually jarring as some of his other work, this time the screenplay is the ultimate star producing vast emotional turmoil and shocks with words and deeds instead. All the characters presented have quite the emotional arc during the 3 hour run time of this film and it is so interesting to endure the ride. Grace really disrupts this small, mountain community and helps the folk show their eventual true personalities in all their various forms.
The physical setting of the movie is an actual "sound stage" look of the main main street strip of Dogville shown only in building outlines with minimal props or decor within. When looking from above where extensive sections of the film are shown, the audience can view almost the entire township engaged in their daily activities either among one another or by themselves. A lot of the view from the street feels very real as the camera weaves through the conversations almost like another human being.
The slow erosion of the township to Grace, her situation and the way they treat her is the crux of the film. The way human beings can be so kind to each other and then the opposite is what struck and moved me while watching Dogville. Von Trier really took the time to use the right amount of words and craft them in a loving and vicious way made the film tough to watch at times, but also captivating.
I haven't always been the biggest Nicole Kidman fan; however, her performance in this film is amazing. She cautious vulnerability and warming personality have the town be initially enamored with her, then her willingness to please erodes her relationships down the hole of darkness and betrayal. Her quirky smile and subdued emotion suits the character perfectly as you are truly trying to unravel her character's mysteries.
Really enjoyed this one.
BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated Saltburn (2023) in Movies
Dec 29, 2023
Interesting...Intriguing...and Dark
Actress/Writer/Director Emerald Fennell is turning into an artistic voice that bears noticing and with SALTBURN - her follow-up to PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN (the film that won her the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay) - Fennell’s artistic voice is in full bloom.
Starring Barry Keoghan (Oscar nominated for THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN), SALTBURN tells the story of an Oxford student who befriends the rich, cool kid (Jacob Elordi, EUPHORIA) who invites him back to his family compound, SALTBURN, for the summer with his eccentric (to say the least) family.
As written and directed by Fennell, SALTBURN is a satire on the elite rich, showing them in their extravagant, quirky isolation in their compound, looking down on the common folk from their piles of money (or…in some cases…oblivious of the common folk because of their money) while peeling back the layers to show the unhappiness and manipulation underneath.
Fennell layers this story richly, slowly folding back facades and layers to show the ugliness of inherently unhappy people who cover their unhappiness up with wealth, money and parties.
Into this world comes Oliver Quick (Keoghan) who is the audiences’ conduit into this level of living - and who has secrets of his own.
Keoghan is interesting to watch (as always) and the family…Elordi, Sadie Soverall (his sister) and Archie Madekwe (another outsider who is jealous of Oliver’s appearance) all are good looking, good enough performers who live the hedonistic lifestyle and deny the consequences and responsibilities thereof.
When a film needs an “ice queen” as the matriarch of a family, Rosamund Pike is, inevitably, brought in and she brings the goods to Saltburn. She is perfectly cast as the mother of the family who says what she thinks, does not show what she is feeling and doesn’t give a darn about anyone else. She is suitably balanced by the off-balanced, quirky performance of the always good Richard E. Grant as the patriarch of the family who is (usually) lost in his own little world of whatever fantasy he is currently involved in.
But if this was just a film about a quirky family, it would be a fun, interesting romp. But…in Fennell’s hands, it becomes something much more sinister - and much more interesting - to watch.
Saltburn is a film that one must sit with after watching to digest what was just witnessed, but…ultimately…is one that is very interesting….and intriguing…and dark.
Letter Grade: B+
7 1/2 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)
Starring Barry Keoghan (Oscar nominated for THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN), SALTBURN tells the story of an Oxford student who befriends the rich, cool kid (Jacob Elordi, EUPHORIA) who invites him back to his family compound, SALTBURN, for the summer with his eccentric (to say the least) family.
As written and directed by Fennell, SALTBURN is a satire on the elite rich, showing them in their extravagant, quirky isolation in their compound, looking down on the common folk from their piles of money (or…in some cases…oblivious of the common folk because of their money) while peeling back the layers to show the unhappiness and manipulation underneath.
Fennell layers this story richly, slowly folding back facades and layers to show the ugliness of inherently unhappy people who cover their unhappiness up with wealth, money and parties.
Into this world comes Oliver Quick (Keoghan) who is the audiences’ conduit into this level of living - and who has secrets of his own.
Keoghan is interesting to watch (as always) and the family…Elordi, Sadie Soverall (his sister) and Archie Madekwe (another outsider who is jealous of Oliver’s appearance) all are good looking, good enough performers who live the hedonistic lifestyle and deny the consequences and responsibilities thereof.
When a film needs an “ice queen” as the matriarch of a family, Rosamund Pike is, inevitably, brought in and she brings the goods to Saltburn. She is perfectly cast as the mother of the family who says what she thinks, does not show what she is feeling and doesn’t give a darn about anyone else. She is suitably balanced by the off-balanced, quirky performance of the always good Richard E. Grant as the patriarch of the family who is (usually) lost in his own little world of whatever fantasy he is currently involved in.
But if this was just a film about a quirky family, it would be a fun, interesting romp. But…in Fennell’s hands, it becomes something much more sinister - and much more interesting - to watch.
Saltburn is a film that one must sit with after watching to digest what was just witnessed, but…ultimately…is one that is very interesting….and intriguing…and dark.
Letter Grade: B+
7 1/2 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank(ofMarquis)