Search
Search results
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Horror of Frankenstein (1970) in Movies
Feb 24, 2018
(The other) Young Frankenstein
At the start of the 1970s Hammer tried to relaunch both their main series with new leading men (Ralph Bates replacing Christopher Lee in this case); this was the only reboot which eventually happened. The basics of the Frankenstein story are (just about) retold; young Victor decides to make a man, if not of himself, then from some body parts.
There's no doubt that Ralph Bates could have been a brilliant Frankenstein, but not in a film with a script like this one's. The film attempts to appeal to a hip young audience by including cleavage by the yard and lots of sub-Carry On film humour; script is also thick-headed and repetitive. The moment Frankenstein's experiments included resurrecting a tortoise everyone involved should have realised there was a serious problem here. Not funny, not scary, not interesting, barely worth watching except for Hammer fans. They got Peter Cushing back for the next one.
There's no doubt that Ralph Bates could have been a brilliant Frankenstein, but not in a film with a script like this one's. The film attempts to appeal to a hip young audience by including cleavage by the yard and lots of sub-Carry On film humour; script is also thick-headed and repetitive. The moment Frankenstein's experiments included resurrecting a tortoise everyone involved should have realised there was a serious problem here. Not funny, not scary, not interesting, barely worth watching except for Hammer fans. They got Peter Cushing back for the next one.
Dramatic Story Structure: A Primer for Screenwriters
Book
A successful screenplay starts with an understanding of the fundamentals of dramatic story...
Coppola's Monster Film: The Making of Apocalypse Now
Book
In 1975, after his two Godfather epics, Francis Ford Coppola went to the Philippines to film...
Awix (3310 KP) rated Ronin (1998) in Movies
Jan 10, 2021
Solid but faintly generic thriller is given a distinct boost by a strong cast and script. Natascha McElhone plays a woman from County Leprechaun who assembles a team of mercenaries to steal a box (which is a McGuffin of the purest kind). On the roster are Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Sean Bean, and Stellan Skarsgard, not all of whom are wholly reliable. Soon enough engines are revving, bullets flying, crosses being doubled, and meets going bad.
Thematically (as well as chronologically) this is somewhere between Mission: Impossible and the first Bourne film, initially given a wistful, existential quality by the script (co-written by David Mamet under a pseudonym). It gives an extra lift to what was already a very robust and engaging thriller. What really makes it sing are the action scenes and car chases, which are superb. The movie cops out in a few places, particularly the end, but remains extremely engaging and polished: superior stuff.
Thematically (as well as chronologically) this is somewhere between Mission: Impossible and the first Bourne film, initially given a wistful, existential quality by the script (co-written by David Mamet under a pseudonym). It gives an extra lift to what was already a very robust and engaging thriller. What really makes it sing are the action scenes and car chases, which are superb. The movie cops out in a few places, particularly the end, but remains extremely engaging and polished: superior stuff.
Bob Mann (459 KP) rated Litte Fires Everywhere in TV
Aug 23, 2020
The ensemble cast: outstanding (1 more)
An intelligent and often uncomfortable script
Gripping study of racism in small-town america
Flighty artist Mia (Kelly Washington) moves into the picture-perfect community of Shaker Heights Ohio with her daughter Pearl (Lexi Underwood) and is welcomed by busybody mum Elena (Reese Witherspoon). But as racial tensions, teenage passions and secrets from the past emerge, a pressure-cooker of tension builds.
This is an outstanding drama in the mould of Big Little Lies, and equally supported by an outstanding cast. Kerry Washington is Emmy nominated and justly so. But equally impressive is the young cast, particularly Lexi Underwood as Pearl and Megan Stott, who has a magnetic screen presence as Izzy and who I would predict great things for.
It’s a script that buzzes with uncomfortable racial tensions in these days of Black Lives Matters, and is gripping to the end.
I just hope that - unlike Westworld - they call it a day with this one perfect series.
Watch it!!
This is an outstanding drama in the mould of Big Little Lies, and equally supported by an outstanding cast. Kerry Washington is Emmy nominated and justly so. But equally impressive is the young cast, particularly Lexi Underwood as Pearl and Megan Stott, who has a magnetic screen presence as Izzy and who I would predict great things for.
It’s a script that buzzes with uncomfortable racial tensions in these days of Black Lives Matters, and is gripping to the end.
I just hope that - unlike Westworld - they call it a day with this one perfect series.
Watch it!!
TT
Tracking the Master Scribe: Revision Through Introduction in Biblical and Mesopotamian Literature
Book
When we encounter a text, whether ancient or modern, we typically start at the beginning and work...
Erika (17789 KP) rated Hello America in Books
Dec 31, 2017
I'm slowly trudging through all of Ballard's books, and I really wanted to like this one. It kind of just left me feeling sick at the end. It was amusing that the president was Charles Manson. The description of all of the weirdness of Las Vegas after 'civilization' left was haunting and completely creepy. I feel like the makers of Blade Runner 2049 read prior to writing the script. I knew it seemed familiar!
Shaun Collins (3 KP) rated Star Wars: Shattered Empire in Books
Jan 12, 2018
Held off until having seen the movie for this one, and realistically... didn't need to. It's more a post script to Return of the Jedi, and features two rebels who will become Po Dameron's parents. Po of course, is the breakout, hot shot pilot from Force Awakens. But other than that connection, there's NO Journey to the Force Awakens contained within. Not a bad story, great artwork, just not what was advertised...
Fran Donohoe (856 KP) rated The Hitman's Bodyguard (2017) in Movies
Aug 25, 2017
Deadpool and nick fury
An unlikely pairing of Ryan renalds and sam l Jackson carry thus paint by numbers buddy movie ,with a great supporting cast like Gary Oldman and selma hayek this is a good film in which the trailers let it down which is unusual as the normal use the best bit for trailers