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khamilton-11
Reviews
Ava (2020)
Wasted talent
Promising cast, which would have suggested this would at least hold it's own against other films of this type but sadly, very weak storylines, interspersed with fight scenes and gratuitous violence (very poorly done), made this really hard to watch.
An action film for the hard of thinking, something that is sadly becoming more and more of the norm these days. I watched to the end simply so that I never have to consider watching it ever again!
Small Axe: Mangrove (2020)
Insight into institutional racism
Steve McQueen has provided an insight into the institutional racism that was commonly faced by the West Indian community in London in the 1970's which sadly continued and, to an extent, continues far beyond the events portrayed. The Mangrove paints a picture of a community under siege, invited to the UK to fill employment needs after the war, but later resented for their mere presence and desire to create a sense of community.
A film of two parts, the early character development underscores the great diversity of the West Indian community, presenting the common dilemma to stay and to build a future or to leave and accept defeat. Growing up in the UK in the 1970's it's not hard to remember how much that casual racism was the norm, whether in the playground or in the streets. McQueen captures the normality of that and how it facilitated those in authority to act in a way that would now, in general, be seen as wholly unacceptable.
The film will draw obvious comparisons with the recent Chicago 7 film, but for me, this was a far more robust production with better character development and acting and less emphasis on dress up and wigs than Aaron Sorkin's effort. It certainly had a far greater sense of realism, place and time. Comparing the filmed version to the actual events, McQueen has been true to events and to the people involved - something which makes the continued harassment of the people involved for years after the events portrayed even more chilling!
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2020)
Limp, lame and lacking laughs
Enjoyed the first Borat film but this was pitiful. Felt very staged, humour was base and tried to use unimaginative crass humour to drive the storyline, which in itself was pretty much non existent.
Really struggled to watch to the end, with few laughs and nothing substantial that resembled any sort of meaningful social commentary on the current state of politics in the US. Contrived and lacking anything interesting bar a slightly creepy Rudy Guliiani - which seems to be the only selling point the media have latched on to (which is maybe a hint at how bad the rest of the content is for those bothered to watch to the end).
For what it's worth, I'm from the UK, left leaning politically and very much anti Trump and his lackeys, which maybe makes the missed opportunity to do something clever and insightful, the biggest disappointment.
What the Health (2017)
Challenging and informative
Interesting to see so many negative reviews from so many people who state they couldn't watch more than 30 minutes - yet always seem to claim they have a science/research background. : ))
A interesting film that builds on growing evidence that a plant based diet is extremely good for you and that over consumption of meat and dairy is not. And that much of that information is being suppressed by powerful lobbying bodies from large scale agribusiness.
By all means watch with scepticism if you love your meat and dairy, but look at the research and the evidence being released by credible academic sources before buying into the extreme negative reviews on here
Jack Ryan (2018)
Season 2 Abysmal
Season 1 was tolerable despite the expected American jingoism and predictable plot. Season 2 of 'murica saves the day has a body count that that would put Rambo to shame and a script that would put Rambo 4 to even greater shame. Utter hot garbage.
Olympus Has Fallen (2013)
Plot has more holes than the bad guys!
Gerard, where did it all go wrong! I remember Butler as a good actor on his way to being great. He has the personality and the talent to do so much more with his craft. This was formulaic with an absurd plot - which constantly contradicted itself. The entire US foreign policy changed to save the President. No, don't think that would happen - you just get another President. A major sequence where they torture staff to get missile codes with the President vowing never to give his up - which he doesn't, but they somehow tap it into the computer anyway. Eh??? The fight scenes are beyond dumb, the assault on the white House - might appeal to a ten year old. The C140 attack, was so cringe worthy as to make me actually rise out the chair. The General in the control room!!! Stop it. And the flag waving cringeworthy speech at the end - do any Americans still buy into that type of faux patriotism. I so hope not.
You take one look at the cast, and think this must be OK. In fact, you look at the cast and think this might be great.
It's not.