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LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Truth or Dare (2018) in Movies
May 22, 2019 (Updated May 22, 2019)
A sometimes fun, mainly mediocre teen horror
I didn't expect much going into Truth or Dare, and I got what I expected.
The concept is kind of cool, although it's a very slight variant and knock off of Final Destination.
It's low on scares (it's one of these more recent PG-13 horrors, to appeal to a wider audience after all), and as a result, shies away from any impactful violence or shocks.
The script is pretty laughable and the ending is dumb for sure, to the point that I kind of found myself accidentally enjoying it at times.
The acting is pretty sub par from most of the cast, as well as the characters being (mostly) selfish and unlikable, it's hard to care when they slowly get picked off.
I'd say it's maybe worth a one off watch, it's not the worst way to spend part of your day, but it's a by the numbers teen horror, with stabilisers firmly in place
The concept is kind of cool, although it's a very slight variant and knock off of Final Destination.
It's low on scares (it's one of these more recent PG-13 horrors, to appeal to a wider audience after all), and as a result, shies away from any impactful violence or shocks.
The script is pretty laughable and the ending is dumb for sure, to the point that I kind of found myself accidentally enjoying it at times.
The acting is pretty sub par from most of the cast, as well as the characters being (mostly) selfish and unlikable, it's hard to care when they slowly get picked off.
I'd say it's maybe worth a one off watch, it's not the worst way to spend part of your day, but it's a by the numbers teen horror, with stabilisers firmly in place
Sarah (7800 KP) rated BlacKkKlansman (2018) in Movies
May 25, 2019
Powerful
I have to be honest, I haven't seen a lot of Spike Lee's work although I loved Inside Man when that came out. So I wasnt entirely sure what to expect with this film, but I was pleasantly surprised.
This is definitely a strange film. It packs a powerful message but then is full of moments of sheer hilarity, which is definitely welcome in otherwise heavy scenes. But for the most part this doesn't detract from the true story this is telling. To be frank, some of this film is very disturbing to watch and the last 5/10 minutes that link to more recent events is harrowing and almost verging on overkill. The acting is second to none, especially Adam Driver and John David Washington, and the script and dialogue are very clever and witty. I do think this may be a little heavy handed at times and a little too long, but it's still a powerful and moving film.
This is definitely a strange film. It packs a powerful message but then is full of moments of sheer hilarity, which is definitely welcome in otherwise heavy scenes. But for the most part this doesn't detract from the true story this is telling. To be frank, some of this film is very disturbing to watch and the last 5/10 minutes that link to more recent events is harrowing and almost verging on overkill. The acting is second to none, especially Adam Driver and John David Washington, and the script and dialogue are very clever and witty. I do think this may be a little heavy handed at times and a little too long, but it's still a powerful and moving film.
Awix (3310 KP) rated X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019) in Movies
Jun 6, 2019 (Updated Jun 6, 2019)
Final main-sequence entry in a film series that made a lot of noise about celebrating difference is likely to be met with indifference (at best). The sense that the X-Men franchise has finally run out of steam is only emphasised by the fact that this is another swing at the Dark Phoenix storyline, which somehow manages to be even less satisfying than the first time they did it.
A thin script and lacklustre direction are mainly to blame; there is the odd decent moment but they are not strung together effectively. Most of the X-Men feel like cardboard cut-outs this time. The usual charisma and acting skill is also largely absent, with only Michael Fassbender making much of an impression. I think it's fair to say that without the X-Men series there would not have been the MCU movies, so this franchise's place in history is assured - but the superhero movie has, ironically, evolved, and this film feels very tired and irrelevant.
A thin script and lacklustre direction are mainly to blame; there is the odd decent moment but they are not strung together effectively. Most of the X-Men feel like cardboard cut-outs this time. The usual charisma and acting skill is also largely absent, with only Michael Fassbender making much of an impression. I think it's fair to say that without the X-Men series there would not have been the MCU movies, so this franchise's place in history is assured - but the superhero movie has, ironically, evolved, and this film feels very tired and irrelevant.
Joe Julians (221 KP) rated Daddy's Home 2 (2017) in Movies
Feb 6, 2018 (Updated Feb 6, 2018)
The first Daddy's Home was hardly a comedic masterpiece. It was sub par for the most part and only really borderline enjoyable thanks to a cast that seemed enthusiastic and game to play a part in it. For the sequel, like Bad Mom's (a franchise where it's first movie was actually great) it has decided to bring in the grandparents. That didn't work out well for A Bad Mom's Christmas and it doesn't work for Daddy's Home 2 either.
There's nothing wrong with the performances in this one as such. Nobody is all that great, but they do the best they can with the material. The material however is the problem. This script is dire. It's a comedy without any jokes, a christmas movie without any heart and a family story where almost everyone is unwittingly unlikeable. I can't think of a single joke, a single moment that made me laugh and when a film contains Farrel, Wahlberg, Gibson and Lithgow- that's unforgivable.
There's nothing wrong with the performances in this one as such. Nobody is all that great, but they do the best they can with the material. The material however is the problem. This script is dire. It's a comedy without any jokes, a christmas movie without any heart and a family story where almost everyone is unwittingly unlikeable. I can't think of a single joke, a single moment that made me laugh and when a film contains Farrel, Wahlberg, Gibson and Lithgow- that's unforgivable.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Gods Of Egypt (2016) in Movies
Mar 17, 2018
Entertainingly bad
Let's face it, you know a film with Gerard Butler in it is never going to be good. But at least with Gods of Egypt it's that bad it's vaguely entertaining.
It's take on Egyptian mythology is actually an interesting one and it's just a shame they decided to take some of it too far with over the top and pretty naff CGI. Gerard Butler hams it up and it's quite funny to listen to his accent constantly switching between English, Scottish and American. Nicolaj Coster-Waldau is a good actor but he's given absolutely nothing to work with here other than a terrible cheesy and stilted script. Brenton Thwaites isn't too bad either but he does seem to be playing a very similar character to that of the latest Pirates film.
This is one of those films you watch just to laugh at how bad it is. And fortunately for this, I've seen worse!
It's take on Egyptian mythology is actually an interesting one and it's just a shame they decided to take some of it too far with over the top and pretty naff CGI. Gerard Butler hams it up and it's quite funny to listen to his accent constantly switching between English, Scottish and American. Nicolaj Coster-Waldau is a good actor but he's given absolutely nothing to work with here other than a terrible cheesy and stilted script. Brenton Thwaites isn't too bad either but he does seem to be playing a very similar character to that of the latest Pirates film.
This is one of those films you watch just to laugh at how bad it is. And fortunately for this, I've seen worse!
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Escape Room (2017) in Movies
Mar 23, 2018
Beyond stupid
Considering this was a straight to dvd/Sky film, I hadn't been expecting much and sadly it delivered even less than that.
I understand why this film has been made as escape rooms are huge at the moment, but this is such a poor attempt at a horror film. It's not scary, and there's no real suspense or nothing to make you care about the characters. There are so many ways they couldve done a horror escape room, and they picked the lamest storyline available. Put that together with a bad script and terrible acting and it makes for a tedious 90 minute watch. It's not even entertainingly bad, it's just awful.
All I can say is that for anyone watching this, please don't let it put you off doing a real escape room. Real escape rooms are really fun and entertaining and pretty challenging, and not in the slightest bit boring like this sorry excuse for a film.
I understand why this film has been made as escape rooms are huge at the moment, but this is such a poor attempt at a horror film. It's not scary, and there's no real suspense or nothing to make you care about the characters. There are so many ways they couldve done a horror escape room, and they picked the lamest storyline available. Put that together with a bad script and terrible acting and it makes for a tedious 90 minute watch. It's not even entertainingly bad, it's just awful.
All I can say is that for anyone watching this, please don't let it put you off doing a real escape room. Real escape rooms are really fun and entertaining and pretty challenging, and not in the slightest bit boring like this sorry excuse for a film.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Masque of the Red Death (1964) in Movies
Mar 26, 2018 (Updated Mar 26, 2018)
Visually lavish Poe adaptation eschews easy shocks and fake gore (mostly) in favour of a more impressionistic and literary flavour of thoughtful horror. Devil-worshipping nobleman (Price) takes refuge from the plague in his castle, but decides to try and corrupt the soul of pious young village girl (Asher) while planning a big party. Will Satan turn up for the shindig, or will it be something worse...?
Classy, well-mounted movie, with a marvellously poetic script ('I have tasted the beauties of terror', and so on) - a bit like a feature-length Twilight Zone episode in glorious technicolour. The various subplots about a vengeful dwarf and Price's jealous mistress could be a bit sharper, but Price absolutely rocks the house in a role you can't imagine anyone else playing nearly as well. If Ingmar Bergman had ever got together with Hammer Films this is the kind of film which would have resulted.
Classy, well-mounted movie, with a marvellously poetic script ('I have tasted the beauties of terror', and so on) - a bit like a feature-length Twilight Zone episode in glorious technicolour. The various subplots about a vengeful dwarf and Price's jealous mistress could be a bit sharper, but Price absolutely rocks the house in a role you can't imagine anyone else playing nearly as well. If Ingmar Bergman had ever got together with Hammer Films this is the kind of film which would have resulted.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Scars of Dracula (1970) in Movies
Feb 24, 2018 (Updated Feb 25, 2018)
Hammer's sixth film with Dracula in the title was supposed to reboot the series from scratch, with a new actor in the title role; distributors insisted on Christopher Lee being brought back, which explains both the opening sequence in which Dracula is (somewhat bafflingly) resurrected, and the general sense of resignation in Lee's performance.
Script rambles, attempts to inject more gore and sex into the Hammer Dracula formula; director Baker doesn't seem to be really up for it, somehow. Some elements from the original novel reappear, also a few from previous Hammer Draculas. Patrick Troughton (looking like Liam Gallagher's granddad) is good value as Dracula's long-suffering handyman Klove. Some of the younger cast would go on to have decent careers; nothing to suggest that here, though. The rubber bat puppet from this film would go on to have no career whatsoever, which is not at all surprising. All really kind of perfunctory and mechanical.
Script rambles, attempts to inject more gore and sex into the Hammer Dracula formula; director Baker doesn't seem to be really up for it, somehow. Some elements from the original novel reappear, also a few from previous Hammer Draculas. Patrick Troughton (looking like Liam Gallagher's granddad) is good value as Dracula's long-suffering handyman Klove. Some of the younger cast would go on to have decent careers; nothing to suggest that here, though. The rubber bat puppet from this film would go on to have no career whatsoever, which is not at all surprising. All really kind of perfunctory and mechanical.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated The Shape of Water (2017) in Movies
Feb 28, 2018
Beautiful and bizarre
This is another one of those Oscar nominated films that for me didn't quite live up to the hype. That said, it is still a very beautifully made and intriguing film, albeit a very strange one.
The story itself is a little odd, and at times you have to suspend your disbelief that a woman could fall in love with a creature like this. However at times, their love story is actually quite sweet and romantic. Sally Hawkins is fantastic, she does brilliantly at portraying such emotion without words. The rest of the major characters too are well developed and there isn't one I didn't like. The creature itself is very well done, the visual effects a nice change to CGI. The cinematography and script are all very good too, and it is a very beautiful film. I feel it drags a little towards the end and it would have been nice to find out more about the creature itself.
The story itself is a little odd, and at times you have to suspend your disbelief that a woman could fall in love with a creature like this. However at times, their love story is actually quite sweet and romantic. Sally Hawkins is fantastic, she does brilliantly at portraying such emotion without words. The rest of the major characters too are well developed and there isn't one I didn't like. The creature itself is very well done, the visual effects a nice change to CGI. The cinematography and script are all very good too, and it is a very beautiful film. I feel it drags a little towards the end and it would have been nice to find out more about the creature itself.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Colossal (2016) in Movies
Mar 1, 2018 (Updated Mar 2, 2018)
Imagine the scene: you and your significant other are sitting down together for an evening in front of a movie but can't decide what to watch - you have your heart set on Manchester by the Sea, with its downbeat, naturalistic tale of small-town lives blighted by alcoholism. They, on the other hand, want to watch Terror of Mechagodzilla, a garish, barely coherent story about giant monsters battling equally big robots. What to do? Worry no more: here comes Colossal, to satisfy you both.
I mean, you have to admire a film for attempting to do something a little bit different, and this is certainly that, and good performances from the leads and an inventive script initially make this a refreshingly original film. In the end though, the sheer oddness of it, a problematic tonal inconsistency, and unconvincing characterisations mean that it doesn't quite hang together or completely satisfy. Still worth a look for sheer novelty value.
I mean, you have to admire a film for attempting to do something a little bit different, and this is certainly that, and good performances from the leads and an inventive script initially make this a refreshingly original film. In the end though, the sheer oddness of it, a problematic tonal inconsistency, and unconvincing characterisations mean that it doesn't quite hang together or completely satisfy. Still worth a look for sheer novelty value.