Search
Search results
1500 Hotel Nights: A Black Comedy, the Straightforward Truth on the Absurd in Hotels, That Nobody Speaks Out
Book
An honest critique of hotels and restaurants is missing from bookshelves, and Daniel Tabbush would...
Refreshingly Simple Finance for Small Business: A Straight-talking Guide to Finance and Accounting
Book
Is fear of the money side of running a business holding you back? Would you love to turn your...
Jesters_folly (230 KP) rated Color Out of Space (2019) in Movies
Nov 10, 2020
Contains spoilers, click to show
Color out of Space Is a film based on a H.P. Lovecraft staring Nicholas Cage so you know it's going to be weird.
So, tell me if you've heard this one before. A meteor lands on an isolated farm and the farmer and his family have to fight off what it brought with it. If this sound familiar then that because it's been used so often it's become a common Sci-Fi trope but, all tropes have to come from somewhere and the works of Lovecraft have interwoven themselves into many modern works. I mention this because, as well as it's main premise, there are a lot of familiar scenes and concepts. You see creatures that remind you of the 'Thing' and transformations reminiscent of the original 'Quatermass Experiment' as well as creepy kids and a well but you have to remember that Color out of Space is most likely the source material and not the other way round (The Thing it's self is filled with Lovecraftian ideas even though it's based on a story by different author.)
As the films title hints, the actual creature is a color (or Colour if you're English) which is a strange concept in its self and the effects it has on the world around it only unfold slowly but, like in the other films I've mentioned, they end in horror (and body horror).
The theme of colour, even in it's strange use here, leads to the film being pretty in parts and as the film goes on the landscape takes on eerie life of it's own very much like the Martian weed taking over London in 'War of the Worlds'.
The film it's self is odd, you keep expecting the main family to be one of those stereotypical dysfunctional family's but, every time they seem to falling apart they pull together and, even their decent into madness doesn't pull them apart. The whole thing is made even strange by Nicholas Cage who is his usual, over the top self; Throwing tantrums and monologing to people who aren't really there, although, I'm happy to say his performance is not as OTT as it was in 'Mandy' where he went full Cage (which was great for that film but Color out of space is slightly more subdued, slightly but not much.)
There is blood but most of the horror either happens off screen or is just implied and even the monsters are just there just to be seen, although they do have a point to the story.
Color out of Space is a good but slightly strange cosmic horror with Nicholas Cage being as strange as usual aided in his strangeness by Madeleine Arthur, playing his daughter, Lavinia. with the exception of Tommy Chong's Ezra the rest of the cast play it mostly straight.
So, tell me if you've heard this one before. A meteor lands on an isolated farm and the farmer and his family have to fight off what it brought with it. If this sound familiar then that because it's been used so often it's become a common Sci-Fi trope but, all tropes have to come from somewhere and the works of Lovecraft have interwoven themselves into many modern works. I mention this because, as well as it's main premise, there are a lot of familiar scenes and concepts. You see creatures that remind you of the 'Thing' and transformations reminiscent of the original 'Quatermass Experiment' as well as creepy kids and a well but you have to remember that Color out of Space is most likely the source material and not the other way round (The Thing it's self is filled with Lovecraftian ideas even though it's based on a story by different author.)
As the films title hints, the actual creature is a color (or Colour if you're English) which is a strange concept in its self and the effects it has on the world around it only unfold slowly but, like in the other films I've mentioned, they end in horror (and body horror).
The theme of colour, even in it's strange use here, leads to the film being pretty in parts and as the film goes on the landscape takes on eerie life of it's own very much like the Martian weed taking over London in 'War of the Worlds'.
The film it's self is odd, you keep expecting the main family to be one of those stereotypical dysfunctional family's but, every time they seem to falling apart they pull together and, even their decent into madness doesn't pull them apart. The whole thing is made even strange by Nicholas Cage who is his usual, over the top self; Throwing tantrums and monologing to people who aren't really there, although, I'm happy to say his performance is not as OTT as it was in 'Mandy' where he went full Cage (which was great for that film but Color out of space is slightly more subdued, slightly but not much.)
There is blood but most of the horror either happens off screen or is just implied and even the monsters are just there just to be seen, although they do have a point to the story.
Color out of Space is a good but slightly strange cosmic horror with Nicholas Cage being as strange as usual aided in his strangeness by Madeleine Arthur, playing his daughter, Lavinia. with the exception of Tommy Chong's Ezra the rest of the cast play it mostly straight.
Erika (17789 KP) rated X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) in Movies
Dec 6, 2017
This movie was a complete mess. The plot was all over the place, and they kind of wasted Oscar Isaac. I always love James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender together, but there was close to nil of that action. Michael Fassbender seemed like he hated life all throughout it.
Also, I'm really tired of Jennifer Lawrence's Mystique. Can we please get some clothing for Mystique? I find it really strange that she has clothing in comics but close to none in the movies.
Also, I'm really tired of Jennifer Lawrence's Mystique. Can we please get some clothing for Mystique? I find it really strange that she has clothing in comics but close to none in the movies.
Dean (6927 KP) rated Doctor Strange (2016) in Movies
Jun 10, 2017
Benedict Cumberbatch (1 more)
Amazing range of Sfx
A mindbending strange film
Another super hero Marvel film that will dazzle your eyes, if not your mind. All the magic, space, time and other dimensions makes it feel less connected to the rest of the Marvel universe. It's totally over the top, but the range of Sfx shots it leads to are amazing. A bit like inception on steroids. Interesting visually but the story will probably wash over you.
Ruth Frampton (577 KP) rated Disney Manga: The Princess and the Frog in Books
Apr 10, 2018
Manga meets Disney may seem a strange combination to some but is one that works once you get your head around how they read. As an almost complete retelling of the Disney film, this is almost a junior novelization of the film version except in graphic novel/manga version. Lacking in colour and detail in it's illustrations the simplicity would serve this as a good introductory novel for youngsters. Tiana and New Orleans always make for a relaxing bedtime read.
Dean (6927 KP) rated The Tripper (2007) in Movies
Apr 30, 2019
A strange, stoner slasher produced and directed by David Arquette (Scream). It's quite a decent modern slasher, quite odd but the back story as to why this guy goes off the rails killing hippies is explained. Less so the high regard Ronald Regan is given. It's funny in places, has a fair bit of gore, I found the tripping hallucinations a tad annoying. There is even a brief cameo from Courtney Cox-Arquette. Overall pretty good compared to many recent slasher offerings.
Dean (6927 KP) rated The Grudge 3 (2009) in Movies
Feb 27, 2018 (Updated Feb 22, 2020)
An ok 3rd installment, although straight to DVD release. Lower budget but the production is pretty good. It's just not as creepy as the first two films. The boy that appears at times was weird in the first two, in this it looks like an older actor was used. The same goes for Kayako, in the first two she was very strange and creepy, in this she just looks very white? For those who really liked the first two films.
Rinnah Two Feathers is spending the summer with her two best friends at a cabin one of their dad's owns. But a strange note from a mysterious woman plunges all of them into more danger. Again, the characters are great and the plot moves along at a brisk pace. I sure wish this weren't the final book in the series.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-curse-of-royal-ruby-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-curse-of-royal-ruby-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.