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13 Assassins (2011)
7.5
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In this remake of a 1963 film based on historical events, Shinzaemon Shimada (Koji Yakusho) leads a...
13 Assassins Samurai
Darren Fisher (2454 KP) rated Savage in Books
Feb 27, 2023 (Updated Feb 27, 2023)
Having read a fair few Laymon novels I looked forward to reading this one. Jack The Ripper goes West is an interesting idea but sadly runs aground. The main issue I had was that there was too much cowboy malarkey going on in the main story. The horror elements are kept as bookends for the story, which follows Trevors travels to Tombstone to attempt to halt Jack The Ripper's reign of terror. As I am not much of a fan of Western novels I found it all a bit of a slog to get through. Not one of Laymon's best by a long mile.
Blazing Minds (92 KP) rated It (2017) in Movies
Nov 1, 2021 (Updated Nov 3, 2021)
My Blazing Minds review : The first thing that came to my mind while watching IT is that the movie is beautifully shot, the set pieces are framed very well in the 2.35:1 ratio screen, the colour used throughout the movie is also nicely done, especially when we see the vibrancy of Pennywise’s red balloons, dark scenes are well lit and even the terror of the old abandoned, spooky, house is nicely done with a nicely subdued colour palette. The use of the lighting and shadows to put you in a sense of insecurity works like a charm to give you those, “is something about to happen” moments.
Lenard (726 KP) rated It: Chapter Two (2019) in Movies
Sep 9, 2019
It: Chapter Two continues the story of the malevolent cosmic being that appears mostly as a clown named Pennywise. In 1989, a group of seven friends nicknamed The Losers' Club ended the reign of terror of It, swearing a blood oath (seen in both chapters) that if It returned they would come back. They had an unearthed a twenty-year cycle of terror so one would assume that they would be extravigilent in 2016. But you know how it is. You move away from your hometown, you lose track of your friends, the horrible things that happened to you when you were 13 tend to take on a glossy foggy shade of its former memory. As an adult, you forget about some of the things you did when you were younger, keeping only the happier memories of your childhood unless you were mercilessly abused and keep hold on the childhood traumas you escaped. Bill, Stan, Eddie, Richie, Bev, and Ben have no memories of the weird events of that summer. But sometimes the past comes back to haunt you or in this case, your old friend from back then, Mike calls you up and reminds you that you made a pact.
Now, The Losers' Club reunite to defeat the evil force that overtakes their town of Derry, Maine. Like any good Stephen King adaptation, the supernatural being that terrorizes is not such a huge component. It is the story of friends and the way they are able to colloborate and grow. It: Chapter 2 is a sort of The Big Chill if a murderous clown connected the friends. Bev and Ben rediscover old feelings. Richie hides a secret from his friend, Eddie. Bill is a writer who can't write an ending until the novelization of his childhood traumas are written. Stan is (spoiler alert) Kevin Costner, but still serves an important purpose for the Club to triumph.
The movie is a blueprint for horror movie direction. Andy is a master horror visual storyteller. The movie is not very scary if you are susceptible to that. It is more a terror than fearful. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie even if it did tend to drag in areas.
Now, The Losers' Club reunite to defeat the evil force that overtakes their town of Derry, Maine. Like any good Stephen King adaptation, the supernatural being that terrorizes is not such a huge component. It is the story of friends and the way they are able to colloborate and grow. It: Chapter 2 is a sort of The Big Chill if a murderous clown connected the friends. Bev and Ben rediscover old feelings. Richie hides a secret from his friend, Eddie. Bill is a writer who can't write an ending until the novelization of his childhood traumas are written. Stan is (spoiler alert) Kevin Costner, but still serves an important purpose for the Club to triumph.
The movie is a blueprint for horror movie direction. Andy is a master horror visual storyteller. The movie is not very scary if you are susceptible to that. It is more a terror than fearful. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie even if it did tend to drag in areas.
Mike Wilder (20 KP) rated The Thing (1982) in Movies
May 30, 2018
A true classic.
Contains spoilers, click to show
This is probably one of the best horror films ever made. A true classic.
The film is filled with great moments and incredible effects. Undoubtedly some of the best pre CGI effects ever filmed. The tension the film creates is perfect. The characters are believable and acted well. The story line starts off confusing as a helicopter with a passenger is seen shooting at a dog as it runs away. The dog runs into the camp and is rescued by a group of American scientists. The scientists head over to a nearby Norwegian research station where they discover that it has been abandoned and there are signs of death and destruction throughout. From there the story quickly progresses to one of terror as the scientists are killed off by a mysterious creature that can imitate them.
For those of a squeamish nature beware, the mutations in this film are expertly done giving a real feel of authenticity. It is a very bloody film with many violent deaths. But this is a horror film after all and you really get your money's worth here. It doesn't go too over the top like many creature films do. The direction of John Carpenter draws us in and along with it the terror felt by the characters.
In 2011, a prequel to this film was released showing what happened to the Norwegian team.
The film is filled with great moments and incredible effects. Undoubtedly some of the best pre CGI effects ever filmed. The tension the film creates is perfect. The characters are believable and acted well. The story line starts off confusing as a helicopter with a passenger is seen shooting at a dog as it runs away. The dog runs into the camp and is rescued by a group of American scientists. The scientists head over to a nearby Norwegian research station where they discover that it has been abandoned and there are signs of death and destruction throughout. From there the story quickly progresses to one of terror as the scientists are killed off by a mysterious creature that can imitate them.
For those of a squeamish nature beware, the mutations in this film are expertly done giving a real feel of authenticity. It is a very bloody film with many violent deaths. But this is a horror film after all and you really get your money's worth here. It doesn't go too over the top like many creature films do. The direction of John Carpenter draws us in and along with it the terror felt by the characters.
In 2011, a prequel to this film was released showing what happened to the Norwegian team.
Steve Fearon (84 KP) rated Sadako Vs Kayako (2016) in Movies
Oct 2, 2018
Versus movies claim another victim
I love Ringu.
And I love Ju-on.
So although I was skeptical about this movie (Damn you Alien v Predator: Requiem), I was intrigued by how it would work.
How does Sadako, a well dwelling ghost of a psychic little girl, that killed people through terror, end up battling with the curse/spirit of a murdered woman who now makes cricking noise and crawls down stairs and under sheets.
Both combatants kill via terror/mental means, so what does this mean in terms of this movie?
Well an hour or so of the film is basically a mediocre version of Ringu and Ju-On, with some good tension, and a skill for unsettling moments in that way J-Horror still possesses, and I was very much enjoying the ride.
However, as the two titular characters meet...it all starts to get a bit...well silly really.
I won't spoil anything specific, but the final act is a mess of new mythos, old mythos, off-screen battling and really, REALLY weird choices.
I was left feeling frustrated, and that the film had cheapened the brands with their choice of resolution, which though surprising, failed to really add anything to either franchise.
Not a terrible film, but not a great either.
And I love Ju-on.
So although I was skeptical about this movie (Damn you Alien v Predator: Requiem), I was intrigued by how it would work.
How does Sadako, a well dwelling ghost of a psychic little girl, that killed people through terror, end up battling with the curse/spirit of a murdered woman who now makes cricking noise and crawls down stairs and under sheets.
Both combatants kill via terror/mental means, so what does this mean in terms of this movie?
Well an hour or so of the film is basically a mediocre version of Ringu and Ju-On, with some good tension, and a skill for unsettling moments in that way J-Horror still possesses, and I was very much enjoying the ride.
However, as the two titular characters meet...it all starts to get a bit...well silly really.
I won't spoil anything specific, but the final act is a mess of new mythos, old mythos, off-screen battling and really, REALLY weird choices.
I was left feeling frustrated, and that the film had cheapened the brands with their choice of resolution, which though surprising, failed to really add anything to either franchise.
Not a terrible film, but not a great either.
Robespierre: A Revolutionary Life
Book
For some historians and biographers, Maximilien Robespierre (1758-94) was a great revolutionary...
Nowhere But Here
9.7
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Book
Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in...
Katie McGarry Nowhere But Here Young Adult Young Adult Fiction
Natalie (23 KP) rated The Walking Dead in TV
Jan 15, 2018
One of the best shows on TV in recent years
An apocalyptic drama that finally ticks all the right boxes. The 'zombies' (walkers, lamebrains, whatever you want to call them) are realistically frightening (not either dragging their heels or moving at super-human speed), already achieving what so many in the genre fail to do - a terror we can actually relate to. Enhanced further by (generally) realistic post-apocalyptic situations and dilemmas, the drama is able to develop characters with ferocious intensity.
This show keeps me on the edge of my seat and has me genuinely invested in its key players. There's nothing out there quite like it - it's a uniquely brilliant experience.
This show keeps me on the edge of my seat and has me genuinely invested in its key players. There's nothing out there quite like it - it's a uniquely brilliant experience.
Vicki Sloan (6 KP) rated War of the Worlds by Jeff Wayne in Music
Dec 4, 2018
A Real Piece of Art
Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds is an enduring classic, with stunning storytelling lyrics & drama building music aplenty. From the first bars I was hooked from first listen.
This takes the story to a new level, with a narration from the velvety voice of Richard Burton - it transports you from the fear of the unknown, to the depths of terror and finishes with hope and the sheer resilience of the human spirit. Great as a whole and some real stand out pieces, Forever Autumn being a hit in it’s own right & The Eve of the War being the ring tone choice of many (including me). Just unmissable.
This takes the story to a new level, with a narration from the velvety voice of Richard Burton - it transports you from the fear of the unknown, to the depths of terror and finishes with hope and the sheer resilience of the human spirit. Great as a whole and some real stand out pieces, Forever Autumn being a hit in it’s own right & The Eve of the War being the ring tone choice of many (including me). Just unmissable.