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Reviews
The Ruins (2008)
Trainwreck effect
A very pretty girl and two you've-seen-their-faces actors get you through this one, but it's a maddeningly idiotic experience.
I suppose the tone and the decisions the characters make may appeal to some, but it's mostly just incomprehensible and absurd.
For positives, it's only 90 minutes.
Indigenous (2014)
Boring, trope-treading, meh
I couldn't finish this one. After an hour of make-out scenes and weak attempts at character building, and a pneumonic gasp of plot-building, the reveal of the monster was so underwhelming it was sort of the last straw. It was pretty, but that only makes up for a nothing-burger if you're Marvel.
Northmen: A Viking Saga (2014)
Fun, engaging, and convincing
This is a simple adventure story set around the time of the uniting of Norway, and the consequent settlement of Iceland by men seeking allodium--and these guys who shipwrecked in Scotland.
Major points for historicity and excellent casting, as well as excellent costume design and hair and makeup. The baddies feel like baddies, but otherwise there's enough moral and ideological (heathen vs xian in this case) ambiguity and respectfulness to engage the viewer. Characters' motivations are satisfyingly fleshed-out, which is only right given the straightforwardness of the plot itself.
Hard to think of any negatives. Charlie Murphy is beautiful, Tom Hopper looks every thew and blond lock a Viking, and unknown Danny Keogh looks like a medieval Scottish king. Totally rewatchable and just plain cool.
Arthur & Merlin: Knights of Camelot (2020)
Perplexed by all the hate
This movie is nowhere near as bad as the reviews here.
The acting reminds me of Shakespearean stage acting, which works well with the natural lighting.
The plot is essentially scenes from the legends relevant to the theme of the film.
The take on Arthur's character as conflicted and ultimately redeemed by his passion for his folk and homeland is inspired and uplifting.
The set design is simple, but all the more realistic (with the exception of the CGI castle).
As far as negatives, hair and makeup could have used some work (especially Mordred, very 1990s Blink 182). The historically inaccurate bedmate at the start pulls you out a bit, but I suppose it's there to show just how far Arthur's fallen. There are a few more nitpicks on casting (Arthur looks like a Roman...kind of bizarre), but no real issues of substance.