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Faris Badwan recommended Scary Monsters by David Bowie in Music (curated)
The Craggus (360 KP) rated The Social Dilemma (2020) in Movies
Sep 17, 2020
If you enjoy this review of Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma (2020), please remember to like, share and subscribe.
In format, it’s a curious mix of twee sitcom family wrestling with their addiction to social media interrupted by a seemingly endless parade of silicon valley Frankensteins who, having made their millions in stock options, queue up to deliver sincere but vaguely milquetoast mea culpas as their various monsters run amok.
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Read the full review here: http://bit.ly/CraggusSocialDilemma
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Read the full review here: http://bit.ly/CraggusSocialDilemma
JT (287 KP) rated Monsters (2010) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
Not so much a film about monsters, more about the human struggle to come to terms with the aftermath of an alien invasion. Whether the title was given purely for marketing reasons or not, I’m not sure, but it certainly doesn’t deliver a plethora of monsters to the screen.
Instead, what is delivered here is an interesting and powerful character study of two people on a journey across a derelict and dangerous territory. A slow building drama and romantic relationship is the focus with the vast, perilous repercussions of man vs. monster as the intriguing backdrop.
Just like Jaws, it is about what you don’t see that makes this film intense viewing. Edwards builds tension with the creepy, predator like noises that emanate from the squid-like monsters and with the ever present danger of the likelihood of a monster appearing I was totally captivated from start to finish.
The visual effects, especially the glowing alien eggs that I would liken to a Louise Bourgeois piece of tactile art add a magical air. I wanted to reach out into the screen and touch them. I was totally immersed in Gareth Edwards’ apocalyptic vision; his use of location and the handheld camera filming transports you into Mexico with veracity. He cleverly uses locals as the supporting cast and as they interact with each other and the two main characters I felt like I was watching a documentary.
There is one particular scene that stood out for me; they are camped out in the forest for the night and as they sit round the fire with the locals a really natural, jovial conversation starts to flow. The director cleverly puts the viewer off guard and just as I started to relax the tone of the scene changed into one of horror. There is much of this muted drama throughout but Edwards intersperses it with some truly grim, realistic footage.
Considering the small budget used to make Monsters, it is a remarkable film. If you are in the mood for a beautiful, well thought out film that has been directed with precision then go and see it. If you are expecting a monster extravaganza you may want to steer clear.
Instead, what is delivered here is an interesting and powerful character study of two people on a journey across a derelict and dangerous territory. A slow building drama and romantic relationship is the focus with the vast, perilous repercussions of man vs. monster as the intriguing backdrop.
Just like Jaws, it is about what you don’t see that makes this film intense viewing. Edwards builds tension with the creepy, predator like noises that emanate from the squid-like monsters and with the ever present danger of the likelihood of a monster appearing I was totally captivated from start to finish.
The visual effects, especially the glowing alien eggs that I would liken to a Louise Bourgeois piece of tactile art add a magical air. I wanted to reach out into the screen and touch them. I was totally immersed in Gareth Edwards’ apocalyptic vision; his use of location and the handheld camera filming transports you into Mexico with veracity. He cleverly uses locals as the supporting cast and as they interact with each other and the two main characters I felt like I was watching a documentary.
There is one particular scene that stood out for me; they are camped out in the forest for the night and as they sit round the fire with the locals a really natural, jovial conversation starts to flow. The director cleverly puts the viewer off guard and just as I started to relax the tone of the scene changed into one of horror. There is much of this muted drama throughout but Edwards intersperses it with some truly grim, realistic footage.
Considering the small budget used to make Monsters, it is a remarkable film. If you are in the mood for a beautiful, well thought out film that has been directed with precision then go and see it. If you are expecting a monster extravaganza you may want to steer clear.
Jesters_folly (230 KP) rated Monster Hunter (2020) in Movies
Jun 25, 2021
Contains spoilers, click to show
First off I'll start by saying that I've never played any of the Monster Hunter games so I went into this with no real point of reference.
For the most part I found 'Monster Hunter' a pretty average film, the story has been done many times before, a group of solders find themselves in another reality and try to find there way back. Excepted (Spoolers) most of the solders are killed off near the beginning and there is no explanation as to why Artemis (Milla Jovovich) comes back to life (or if there is it's a blink and miss it explanation), I'm guessing that this is something explained more in the games.
There is no real investigation to how they got there they just see a storm by a strange tower and figure that a storm brought them there so that must be the way back.
This all leads to there being almost no story, there are hints to back story's, Artemis keeps looking at a wedding ring, the Hunter (Tony Jaa) preys to icons of his (assumed) family and the Admiral (Ron Perlman) states that people from Artemis' world (earth) had been there before. But that's it, apart from one or to other one liners that's all the back story we get.
The essence of 'Monster hunter' is that it's a journey, mostly Artemis and the Hunter going from the dessert to the tower, but a journey with monsters. The monsters are part of what pushes the film (just) above average, TOHO were involved in the production of the film and, for those of you who don't know, TOHO were the people behind the original, Japanese, Godzilla monster and they have continued do monsters eve since so you know that, when they are involved the monsters are going to be more than just cannon fodder.
The other thing that raises the film up are the action scenes, especially the fights between Artemis and the Hunter.
If you have nothing better to do then maybe give 'Monster Hunter' a watch, just don't expect a master peace, there is nothing wrong with the film but I feel that I've seen it all before in other films.
For the most part I found 'Monster Hunter' a pretty average film, the story has been done many times before, a group of solders find themselves in another reality and try to find there way back. Excepted (Spoolers) most of the solders are killed off near the beginning and there is no explanation as to why Artemis (Milla Jovovich) comes back to life (or if there is it's a blink and miss it explanation), I'm guessing that this is something explained more in the games.
There is no real investigation to how they got there they just see a storm by a strange tower and figure that a storm brought them there so that must be the way back.
This all leads to there being almost no story, there are hints to back story's, Artemis keeps looking at a wedding ring, the Hunter (Tony Jaa) preys to icons of his (assumed) family and the Admiral (Ron Perlman) states that people from Artemis' world (earth) had been there before. But that's it, apart from one or to other one liners that's all the back story we get.
The essence of 'Monster hunter' is that it's a journey, mostly Artemis and the Hunter going from the dessert to the tower, but a journey with monsters. The monsters are part of what pushes the film (just) above average, TOHO were involved in the production of the film and, for those of you who don't know, TOHO were the people behind the original, Japanese, Godzilla monster and they have continued do monsters eve since so you know that, when they are involved the monsters are going to be more than just cannon fodder.
The other thing that raises the film up are the action scenes, especially the fights between Artemis and the Hunter.
If you have nothing better to do then maybe give 'Monster Hunter' a watch, just don't expect a master peace, there is nothing wrong with the film but I feel that I've seen it all before in other films.
Sethea Spidell (5 KP) rated Pokémon GO in Apps
May 18, 2019
This game is so much fun to play. As long as you have an internet connection, you can play anywhere or anytime. The graphics are great and it really makes the monsters come to life. You can battle (2 more)
other players that you're friends with and send gifts back and forth. Hatching eggs and getting candy is so much easier with Adventure Sync and you get points for tasks done over a week. And to top
it all off you can now take pictures with your pokemon!
This game is so much fun to play. As long as you have an internet connection, you can play anywhere or anytime. The graphics are great and it really makes the monsters come to life. You can battle other players that you're friends with and send gifts back and forth. Hatching eggs and getting candy is so much easier with Adventure Sync and you get points for tasks done over a week. And to top it all off you can now take pictures with your pokemon!
Rhubarbio (27 KP) rated King of New York in Tabletop Games
May 26, 2019
Easy to learn (3 more)
Dice rolls give multiple options
Provides a game board, where King of Tokyo is lacking
Expands on King of Tokyo, by providing additional features
Lovely dice roller
This game is the successor to King of Tokyo, a game is beloved by many. Whilst I liked King of Tokyo, it bugged me that there was no board for when monsters are outside of Tokyo...a minor point, perhaps, but that's why I like that King of New York has a board that features all monsters in different areas of NYC. Additionally, this game alters the dice and includes buildings, that can be destroyed to give health or other benefits...sometimes, destroying a building can hurt you too. This additional optionality to the game made this a must play for me and some friends for about a year. I can't say it's had great staying power beyond this, but I have kept the game to teach my son when he is old enough, as I'm sure he will enjoy it too.
Mark Halpern (153 KP) rated Monsters, Inc. (2001) in Movies
Jan 22, 2018
Monsters under the bed or closet
The story of Sully (the monster who scares kids) and Mike (his assistant) who work at monsters inc where the more kids screams they collect the more energy they provide for their world. Sully's job is to scare kids and he is so good at doing it that he is closing in on the world record. Mike is assistant and sets up the doors for him to enter the kiddies rooms to help collect the scares. Then there is randle who wants to be like sully and is right behind him in the standings. If a kid touches them its like them being infected and need to be cleaned so they have to be very careful. However one night a little girl sneaks back with sully into monster world and he and mike take it as their responsibility to get her home. However something happens while they are taking care of her that begin to change their minds on the career path.
Another wonderful movie from Pixar
Another wonderful movie from Pixar
Awix (3310 KP) rated Godzilla Vs Gigan (1972) in Movies
Jun 13, 2018
Scraping-the-barrel Godzilla movie would be unbelievably silly and weird by the standards of any other franchise, but following Godzilla vs Hedorah it feels relatively restrained. Aliens invade again, monsters show up, blah blah blah. All the stuff that makes it distinctive is mad and inappropriate: Godzilla and Anguirus get dialogue together, for crying out loud, gory fight scenes show an unexpected Sam Peckinpah influence, villains are defeated when hippies carry large boxes clearly labelled TNT into their secret base, 'Everything was going so well!' cries a dying giant cockroach as its plans come undone.
But this is a Godzilla movie, and if you're watching this movie you'd probably expect no less. What is less forgivable than the unbridled strangeness is the cheap-ass nature of the fight scenes - one suspects Anguirus and Ghidorah are only in this film to allow lengthy clips from Destroy All Monsters to be included to pad things out. Probably a bit of a low point when it comes to giant radioactive dinosaurs on film.
But this is a Godzilla movie, and if you're watching this movie you'd probably expect no less. What is less forgivable than the unbridled strangeness is the cheap-ass nature of the fight scenes - one suspects Anguirus and Ghidorah are only in this film to allow lengthy clips from Destroy All Monsters to be included to pad things out. Probably a bit of a low point when it comes to giant radioactive dinosaurs on film.
Alan Widler recommended Aladdin Sane by David Bowie in Music (curated)
Lenard (726 KP) rated Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019) in Movies
Jun 27, 2019
First, I confess I had no interest in Pokemon, the cards, the games, the plush toys, or anything related to the Pocket Monsters and Gotta Catch Em All Fever. I thought Bulbasaur was a Squirtle and Cubone was a member of the Mewtwo phenomenon. However, unlike the animated film, I was slightly impressed by the live action/animated hybrid. While the central mystery Detective Pikachu is on the trail of is a red herring, the story is heartwarming and almost made me miss my dad. Tim, after his mom died, spends a lot of time alone and dreams of being a Pokemon trainer, but as we see his emotionlessness inhibits his ability to connect to the little monsters. HIs dad, a world famous detective, tries to connect with him, but he is a constantly absent presence in his life. When Harry is reported dead from a car accident, Tim comes to Ryme City and meets Harry's Pokemon Pikachu who believes Harry didn't die. The true story is very incisive about the lengths we go to protect the things and people we love.