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Awix (3310 KP) rated The Terminator (1984) in Movies
Feb 18, 2018 (Updated Feb 18, 2018)
Undoubted leader of the pack when it comes to post-punk low-budget SF movies is, let's be honest, highly derivative, but makes up for this with sheer inventiveness and economical storytelling; unusually grim tone helps, too.
Future warriors from post-apocalyptic future arrive in 1984 Los Angeles; one is intent on killing hapless young waitress, the other seeks to protect her. Time travel plot is cleverly retooled as the basis of gritty action thriller; performances are much better than you might expect, too - you can't imagine anyone being more perfectly suited to their role than Arnold Schwarzenegger is here (and I don't say that very often). Every other film and TV series in this particular franchise ultimately does nothing but diffuse the impact of this brilliant movie.
Future warriors from post-apocalyptic future arrive in 1984 Los Angeles; one is intent on killing hapless young waitress, the other seeks to protect her. Time travel plot is cleverly retooled as the basis of gritty action thriller; performances are much better than you might expect, too - you can't imagine anyone being more perfectly suited to their role than Arnold Schwarzenegger is here (and I don't say that very often). Every other film and TV series in this particular franchise ultimately does nothing but diffuse the impact of this brilliant movie.
Dork_knight74 (881 KP) rated Annihilation (2018) in Movies
Dec 9, 2018
Huh?
This movie-while having decent acting, cinematography and a few cool "creatures"- had a storyline that made no sense to me. The main theme of it seemed to be summed up in a line that was repeated frequently throughout the storytelling - "I don't know". Nothing was explained or seemed to have any point. Was it an alien movie? Was it something else? I don't know. I somehow made it through the movie, but only because I was expecting something to happen that would give it some kind of sense/ explanation - even if extremely far fetched or fantastic- only to be left with that phrase repeating in my head...I consider myself fairly smart, but I just didn't get this one. While visually interesting, this movie really is NOT worth a watch.
Barry Newman (204 KP) rated WarGames (1983) in Movies
Feb 29, 2020
Contains spoilers, click to show
A film that had passed me by up until now I found to be a bit of a mixed bag. The central plot is very interesting and the theme of a fear of the power of technology and being only a few button clicks away from starting a war is still relevant and timely today. What I did struggle with it being a 1980’s film about computer technology it is of course now incredibly outdated. I laughed at the WOPR , the enormous war games simulator with its sinister blinking lights. The storytelling is strong though and a fresh faced Matthew Broderick makes for a likeable lead but I think it might actually be a rare film that I would prefer to see a contemporary remake of than watch again.
Barry Newman (204 KP) rated Lucky Number Slevin (2006) in Movies
Feb 29, 2020
I had avoided this film up until now being put off by the awful title and hearing about Ben Kingsley's insistence of being called Sir on the poster and the credits. Stylistically it's a bit of a poor mans 'Lock Stock' but its not actually a bad film at all. A tale of mistaken identity , revenge and multiple double crossings it's quite compelling storytelling (if a tad convoluted at times) and I liked how it all came together and even explained the awful title. The cast all put in good performances but barring Lucy Liu's bubbly character are a thoroughly unlikable group of assorted villains and scum bags. All in all not sure if I would come back and re watch it but its certainly worth a couple of hours of your time.
Eleanor (1463 KP) rated The Testaments (The Handmaid's Tale #2) in Books
Apr 1, 2020
I enjoyed this and although maybe controversial to admit to but preferred it to the Handmaids Tale (gasp.) It was no doubt helped by a decent cast on the audiobook (Ann Dowd, Bryce Dallas Howard, Derek Jacobi, Mae Whitman, Margaret Atwood, Tantoo Cardinal.)
Although set in the world of the Handmaid's tale we are in the POVs of different characters this time and three of them at that. With accounts from Gilead, a view from a Commander's daughter and also from an Aunts, and a look into the nation's relationship with Canada it's a very different experience from the Handmaids Tale. I found it a more satisfying storytelling experience than its predecessor.
It may not be the direct follow on from the previous novel some hoped for but it worked for me.
Although set in the world of the Handmaid's tale we are in the POVs of different characters this time and three of them at that. With accounts from Gilead, a view from a Commander's daughter and also from an Aunts, and a look into the nation's relationship with Canada it's a very different experience from the Handmaids Tale. I found it a more satisfying storytelling experience than its predecessor.
It may not be the direct follow on from the previous novel some hoped for but it worked for me.
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