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Charlotte Ozanne (108 KP) rated Klaus (2019) in Movies
Dec 4, 2019
To my knowledge, 'Klaus' is the first Christmas film to combine the magic of Father Christmas with the everyday work of a postman - bringing heart-warming results. This movie succeeds on every level; the animation, the music and the script fuse to create a film that deserves a place in everyone's Christmas catalogue, no matter what age.
The concept of this film is extremely touching - a young man spoiled by his father is sent to a remote island with the goal to deliver 6000 letters in a year. There, he meets Klaus, an old toymaker who lives in a wooded part of the island, out of sight of the townspeople. Together, they create Christmas for the island with the help of the resident schoolteacher and foreign settlers. The result is magical, as children and adults alike who have never experienced Christmas, get to soak in the wonders of the season.
The artwork featured in the film is somewhat disproportionate which really builds the tension, especially when Jesper first steps foot on the island. Colour-wise, the whole film is quite dark and drab which perfectly emphasises the change when the island is transformed into a Christmassy wonderland at the end. Together, these elements really help to convey the moods in the film, and the audience really goes on the same journey as Jesper.
This film cleverly sheds light through the use of music in several scenes. For example, when Jesper's attitude changes towards the island and his task, there is a wonderful moment where he transforms his workshop to the sounds of a popular 80s song. I couldn't help but smile as I find that era of music very infectious.
As a postwoman myself, I loved this film because it has made me look at my job in a different way. Especially at this time of year, I help to deliver lots of presents to households which will make people's Christmasses the best of their lives. I bring joy to people, just as this film brought lots of joy to me.
The concept of this film is extremely touching - a young man spoiled by his father is sent to a remote island with the goal to deliver 6000 letters in a year. There, he meets Klaus, an old toymaker who lives in a wooded part of the island, out of sight of the townspeople. Together, they create Christmas for the island with the help of the resident schoolteacher and foreign settlers. The result is magical, as children and adults alike who have never experienced Christmas, get to soak in the wonders of the season.
The artwork featured in the film is somewhat disproportionate which really builds the tension, especially when Jesper first steps foot on the island. Colour-wise, the whole film is quite dark and drab which perfectly emphasises the change when the island is transformed into a Christmassy wonderland at the end. Together, these elements really help to convey the moods in the film, and the audience really goes on the same journey as Jesper.
This film cleverly sheds light through the use of music in several scenes. For example, when Jesper's attitude changes towards the island and his task, there is a wonderful moment where he transforms his workshop to the sounds of a popular 80s song. I couldn't help but smile as I find that era of music very infectious.
As a postwoman myself, I loved this film because it has made me look at my job in a different way. Especially at this time of year, I help to deliver lots of presents to households which will make people's Christmasses the best of their lives. I bring joy to people, just as this film brought lots of joy to me.
Scott Tostik (389 KP) rated Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019) in Movies
Feb 6, 2020
The man writes some hilarious dialogue (2 more)
The return of the View Askew-niverse
Some pretty sweet cameos
Kevin Smith returns to his roots... And it's awesome!!!!
When approaching Kevin Smith's work, I am apprehensive... His past forays into the realm of horror proved to ve a little too fucking weird for me... Red State was cool. Tusk was...well.... Tusk... And Yoga Hosers was almost a complete bust... Johnny Depp was hilarious... But it was still a fail for me.
Enter Red Bank New Jersey... The land of Askew... The home of the Stash... And the birth place of Clerks...
What could go wrong???
I admit I was skeptical to have him return to the characters that made him a superstar in the writer/director world. But my apprehension soon faded during the opening 5 minutes... I was nearly crying with laughter and I'm not ashamed to admit it.
This return proves that you never forget where you came from...
Smith reopens a universe he never should have left. It felt like he became comfortable writing a script for people he loved. He returned to what was fun for him... Making a movie with his friends. And if that is where he is comfortable and does his best work. Then that's where he should be.
Jason Mewes is the unsung hero of this film. He took a different turn playing Jay this time around. He kept up with the dick and fart jokes that made him who he is and expanded it to include a performance that was actually heart felt. Little bastard almost made me cry ffs.
With appearances by Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and even Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth... Reboot is going to put Smith back where he belongs... On top of a game that he started, making movies with his friends and family... And making people laugh their asses off....
Snootch to the mutha fuckin Nuge...
Enter Red Bank New Jersey... The land of Askew... The home of the Stash... And the birth place of Clerks...
What could go wrong???
I admit I was skeptical to have him return to the characters that made him a superstar in the writer/director world. But my apprehension soon faded during the opening 5 minutes... I was nearly crying with laughter and I'm not ashamed to admit it.
This return proves that you never forget where you came from...
Smith reopens a universe he never should have left. It felt like he became comfortable writing a script for people he loved. He returned to what was fun for him... Making a movie with his friends. And if that is where he is comfortable and does his best work. Then that's where he should be.
Jason Mewes is the unsung hero of this film. He took a different turn playing Jay this time around. He kept up with the dick and fart jokes that made him who he is and expanded it to include a performance that was actually heart felt. Little bastard almost made me cry ffs.
With appearances by Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and even Thor himself, Chris Hemsworth... Reboot is going to put Smith back where he belongs... On top of a game that he started, making movies with his friends and family... And making people laugh their asses off....
Snootch to the mutha fuckin Nuge...
Scott Tostik (389 KP) rated Antichrist (2009) in Movies
Jan 13, 2020
Great script (1 more)
Amazing lead performances
Lars Von Trier you magnificent BASTARD you!!!
When you sit down to watch a Lars Von Trier film... You have to be prepared for a lengthy trip into the unknown.
Willem Defoe and Charlotte Gainsborough star as a pair of parents who's child dies because... and lets be honest here... They were too busy fucking to realize they left a window open... And the kid plummets to a violently horrible end...
What we see is the slow regression of emotional damage. A decent into insanity that holds no bounds.
Von Trier is a master of dread... A story teller that knows no bounds... No topic is too much for this man's keyboard.
I've often thought how his mastery of the genre could've been better served as a novelist.
His vision would translate well onto the pages of a 40000 page novel :)
This film holds together by the brilliant performances of Gainsborough and Defoe... Following the direction of one of the greatest minds horror has ever known.
The descent into madness is documented perfectly as Gainsborough's grief takes over her everyday life in a fashion that only she could translate onto the screen. She really is a magnificent actress.
Willem Defoe does his best to hold her together, but soon he becomes a victim to her insanity in a third act that will leave the viewer's head spinning with an awesome helping of WTF!!!!
Von Trier is a master of his craft. Leaving the watcher satisfied with the end result. Not a lot of movies can say that...
If this were a Thai Massage Parlour... You'd definitely leave with a happy ending...ish...
Enjoy this one weirdos... Its in my top 20 of all time great horror films...
Sure it's artsy fartsy type stuff... But its also brilliant in its imagery... No one shoots madness like Lars Von Trier...
Enjoy....
Willem Defoe and Charlotte Gainsborough star as a pair of parents who's child dies because... and lets be honest here... They were too busy fucking to realize they left a window open... And the kid plummets to a violently horrible end...
What we see is the slow regression of emotional damage. A decent into insanity that holds no bounds.
Von Trier is a master of dread... A story teller that knows no bounds... No topic is too much for this man's keyboard.
I've often thought how his mastery of the genre could've been better served as a novelist.
His vision would translate well onto the pages of a 40000 page novel :)
This film holds together by the brilliant performances of Gainsborough and Defoe... Following the direction of one of the greatest minds horror has ever known.
The descent into madness is documented perfectly as Gainsborough's grief takes over her everyday life in a fashion that only she could translate onto the screen. She really is a magnificent actress.
Willem Defoe does his best to hold her together, but soon he becomes a victim to her insanity in a third act that will leave the viewer's head spinning with an awesome helping of WTF!!!!
Von Trier is a master of his craft. Leaving the watcher satisfied with the end result. Not a lot of movies can say that...
If this were a Thai Massage Parlour... You'd definitely leave with a happy ending...ish...
Enjoy this one weirdos... Its in my top 20 of all time great horror films...
Sure it's artsy fartsy type stuff... But its also brilliant in its imagery... No one shoots madness like Lars Von Trier...
Enjoy....
JT (287 KP) rated Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (2014) in Movies
Mar 3, 2020
Exciting action (1 more)
Tension and drama
Enjoyable summer blockbuster
No question that this sequel went straight into my top ten films for 2014. Exceptionally shot with astounding special effects in part thanks to performance capture king Andy Serkis this is a film that delivers.
Ten years on and with the epidemic wiping out most of the world’s population humans are very much becoming the minority species. A small band of immune survivors still hold out hope that there are others out there and look to make contact with anyone who might be listening.
The apes have now settled deep in the San Francisco forests building their own fully functioning civilisation led by chimpanzee Caesar. What makes this film rise above (sorry) the first is much of the attention focuses on the apes and deep-rooted character development.
Caser is supported by fellow performance-capture actor Toby Kebbell who plays Koba. An ape with a chip on his shoulder after years of being tested on. His dislike for the human race is made obvious to his best friend.
Their simmering relationship is one of the highlights of the film as they battle they decide whether to stay hidden in peace or go to war. With James Franco gone (albeit making a cameo via archived footage), the human-ape relationship is centred on Malcolm (Jason Clarke) and Caeser, who are bonded by a begrudging truce for peace.
It’s a film that soaks up tension extremely well. Grand battle sequences are cut between emotional and compelling moments interlocked by a very well written script.
The technical aspects of the film are simply stunning and the large set-pieces make for cataclysmic viewing. Caeser’s army arriving on horseback in a show of force to their human foes is captivating. As is the vertigo wincing finale and attack on the human stronghold.
This is was everything a summer blockbuster should be and is most certainly a template to follow.
Ten years on and with the epidemic wiping out most of the world’s population humans are very much becoming the minority species. A small band of immune survivors still hold out hope that there are others out there and look to make contact with anyone who might be listening.
The apes have now settled deep in the San Francisco forests building their own fully functioning civilisation led by chimpanzee Caesar. What makes this film rise above (sorry) the first is much of the attention focuses on the apes and deep-rooted character development.
Caser is supported by fellow performance-capture actor Toby Kebbell who plays Koba. An ape with a chip on his shoulder after years of being tested on. His dislike for the human race is made obvious to his best friend.
Their simmering relationship is one of the highlights of the film as they battle they decide whether to stay hidden in peace or go to war. With James Franco gone (albeit making a cameo via archived footage), the human-ape relationship is centred on Malcolm (Jason Clarke) and Caeser, who are bonded by a begrudging truce for peace.
It’s a film that soaks up tension extremely well. Grand battle sequences are cut between emotional and compelling moments interlocked by a very well written script.
The technical aspects of the film are simply stunning and the large set-pieces make for cataclysmic viewing. Caeser’s army arriving on horseback in a show of force to their human foes is captivating. As is the vertigo wincing finale and attack on the human stronghold.
This is was everything a summer blockbuster should be and is most certainly a template to follow.
JT (287 KP) rated Anna (2019) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
Tell me if you’ve heard this one before? A young woman is pulled from a life of drugs and abuse and given a fresh start as a deadly assassin. Once on the inside, she uses her skill set and good looks to complete various assignments while falling for her handler. She then decides that her new life is not for her after all and wants out.
Writer/director Luc Besson has pretty much rehashed the script for Nikita (aka La Femme Nikita). That film had a remake too, Point of No Return, which starred Bridget Fonda and Gabriel Byrne. This latest offering doesn’t do anything new whatsoever. There are several well choreographed and extremely violent fight scenes as well as a car chase which seems to be a staple part of any Luc Besson film.
It’s not the most intelligently written action thriller. And there are plot holes all over the place.
The sexual exploitation is not as fierce as Red Sparrow. Anna uses an array of colourful wigs and lingerie to entrap her victims before ultimately putting a bullet in them. This only seeks to justify her sex appeal. The supporting cast is OK but nothing special. Helen Mirren is probably the stand out of the bunch, although her character has a striking resemblance to Edna from The Incredibles – or maybe that’s just me?
When Cillian Murphy‘s CIA agent gets involved it becomes hard to know who is double crossing who, and the extra plot strand threatens to confuse things. What results is a kind of Cold War love triangle which gravitates towards an interesting finale only ruined by predictability.
It’s not the most intelligently written action thriller. But it is fun and film fans should appreciate Besson’s high energy and European flair. I prefer him as a writer than director. Anna doesn’t shy away from bringing graphic violence in a Wick-esque style which is often lost with Hollywood blockbusters, so that gets a big tick. But it’s hard not to look past a regurgitated storyline.
Writer/director Luc Besson has pretty much rehashed the script for Nikita (aka La Femme Nikita). That film had a remake too, Point of No Return, which starred Bridget Fonda and Gabriel Byrne. This latest offering doesn’t do anything new whatsoever. There are several well choreographed and extremely violent fight scenes as well as a car chase which seems to be a staple part of any Luc Besson film.
It’s not the most intelligently written action thriller. And there are plot holes all over the place.
The sexual exploitation is not as fierce as Red Sparrow. Anna uses an array of colourful wigs and lingerie to entrap her victims before ultimately putting a bullet in them. This only seeks to justify her sex appeal. The supporting cast is OK but nothing special. Helen Mirren is probably the stand out of the bunch, although her character has a striking resemblance to Edna from The Incredibles – or maybe that’s just me?
When Cillian Murphy‘s CIA agent gets involved it becomes hard to know who is double crossing who, and the extra plot strand threatens to confuse things. What results is a kind of Cold War love triangle which gravitates towards an interesting finale only ruined by predictability.
It’s not the most intelligently written action thriller. But it is fun and film fans should appreciate Besson’s high energy and European flair. I prefer him as a writer than director. Anna doesn’t shy away from bringing graphic violence in a Wick-esque style which is often lost with Hollywood blockbusters, so that gets a big tick. But it’s hard not to look past a regurgitated storyline.
JT (287 KP) rated The A-Team (2010) in Movies
Mar 10, 2020
It might be seen as a risk to make a film off the back of a successful T.V. show, especially if you take Transformers as the prime example of poor execution, but the A-Team was the big budget blockbuster that everyone expected it to be.
The back story is still pretty much the same, four decorated soldiers are framed for a crime they didn’t commit are out on the run to clear their names. The opening sequence allows for all the characters to be introduced in their own unique way.
Gruff talking Liam Neeson as Col. Hannibal Smith, Smooth talking Bradley Cooper as Lt. Templeton ‘Faceman’ Peck, Rough talking Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson as the iconic mohawk styled B.A. Baracus and the crazy talking Sharlto Copley as howling mad Murdoch. It really couldn’t be a more perfectly cast ensemble, only Jessica Biel’s Charissa Sosa proves to be the weak link in the chain.
Director Joe Carnahan is no stranger to full bloodied action scenes having previously helmed Smokin Aces, but with the A-Team he got the chance to push the envelope even further on the non believable. From a falling tank to a finale that does to a container ship what an iceberg did to the Titanic. It’s a balls out testosterone filled epic that is surely not going to cause any disappointment.
Its a film in its own right, of course everything and anything can be drawn to the original and long running T.V. series but as a plot goes it’s quite an entertaining script, with some of the trademark A-Team mechanical inventions…you know in the garage queue the music, and a few cheeky cameos you’ll do well to spot.
Talk of a sequel has been mooted, whether that actually happens would be anyone’s guess but the rumour mill is always churning and we should never say never. I do love it when a plan come together!
The back story is still pretty much the same, four decorated soldiers are framed for a crime they didn’t commit are out on the run to clear their names. The opening sequence allows for all the characters to be introduced in their own unique way.
Gruff talking Liam Neeson as Col. Hannibal Smith, Smooth talking Bradley Cooper as Lt. Templeton ‘Faceman’ Peck, Rough talking Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson as the iconic mohawk styled B.A. Baracus and the crazy talking Sharlto Copley as howling mad Murdoch. It really couldn’t be a more perfectly cast ensemble, only Jessica Biel’s Charissa Sosa proves to be the weak link in the chain.
Director Joe Carnahan is no stranger to full bloodied action scenes having previously helmed Smokin Aces, but with the A-Team he got the chance to push the envelope even further on the non believable. From a falling tank to a finale that does to a container ship what an iceberg did to the Titanic. It’s a balls out testosterone filled epic that is surely not going to cause any disappointment.
Its a film in its own right, of course everything and anything can be drawn to the original and long running T.V. series but as a plot goes it’s quite an entertaining script, with some of the trademark A-Team mechanical inventions…you know in the garage queue the music, and a few cheeky cameos you’ll do well to spot.
Talk of a sequel has been mooted, whether that actually happens would be anyone’s guess but the rumour mill is always churning and we should never say never. I do love it when a plan come together!
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