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Reviews
Persuasion (2022)
Review of a Jane Austen enthusiast
I read every Jane Austen novel, both in english and italian (my country language). I saw almost every movie and series inspired by her incredible novels; some were good, some were bad, some were masterpieces that will stand the test of time.
I tend to separate the novels from their TV counterparts, because I believe it's not easy to depict her work in its entirety.
When it comes to adaptations like this "Persuasion", however, things are different.
You have to take them for what they are and in this case, the changes are huge, colossal, but still I appreciated the view.. Mainly because Dakota J. Is wonderful, she totally shines in this new attempt on Ann Elliot.
Give this a try, separate movies and novels, for once.
A J. A. lover.
Metal Lords (2022)
Praise the Lord of good music
Great coming-of-age film, a story of friendship, teenage, love, illness and of course... MUSIC. Very sweet and genuine.
It kind of reminded me of Deathgasm (2015), in a way, except without the horror.
I will definitely see it again, to experience the character development once more, I thought it was really well done.
It's not Oscar material, I get it. But as a musician myself, it's hard not to love a film like this! This is what modern kids should see, in order to get a real opinion of what music really is.
The Russell Girl (2008)
Not for everybody
I don't think people can understand a movie like this, without actually being able to know the difficulties of dealing with cancer.
I am 30 years old and fighting with cancer, and I am aware of how hard it is to tell your loved ones how sick you have been.
Please, think of this movie as a guide, don't judge it for anything else.
The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020)
Fresh, intriguing, funny and suspenseful.
I believe many of the reviewers, here, either missed the point of this movie or are just Jim Cummings haters.
I feel this is a largely underrated horror flick, and I'll try to show why with some general thoughts.
The thing I enjoyed the most of "The Wolf of Snow Hollow" is the cool setting.
The frozen little town, with great Fargo-vibes, sharing its same sense of darkness and oppression, even during daytime.
The script was completely original and unexpected, at least for me, expecially considering the theme, which we saw in a thousand other movies, maybe a lot more.
Acting was, if not great, at least very adequate.
Cummings portrays his character in a way that you are forced to find odd and overreacted, at the beginning, but that grows on you as long as you begin to understand him.
Other actors did a good job too, Riki Lindhome was interesting and Chloe East did remarkably.
It was also well directed, with intelligent camera works, mostly evident in the scenes involving the killings.
There is some drama, there are some well-put comedy moments and an ending with clever plot twists, which I never would have guessed.
So, does this qualify me as a bad person If I totally enjoyed this movie? I think not.
This is no masterpiece but let me assure you: speaking as a thriller/horror long-time enthusiast, flicks like these are a real gem.
Discover it for yourself.
CODA (2021)
A sweet, real feel-good drama with powerful moments
There is one scene, half way into CODA, that represents what this movie is all about.
We see the performance of the choir, then Ruby and Miles' duet act.
And then the sound suddenly.. disappears.
I can't express the feelings this scene gave to me, it was so unexpected.
It made me think how hard it has to be, not being able to experience the most beautiful thing in life, music.
This is a rare gem, please don't miss it.
Lost & Found Music Studios (2015)
I'm psychologically hurt
It fisically and psychologically hurts me to see people hitting the wrong chords, while the song played uses completely different ones.. I mean, come on! It's a show about music, guys!
I don't wanna rate this, I give it a political 6.
The Witches (1990)
Faithful and funny!
The Witches used to be the book of my childhood. I read it and read it all over again, it was one of my first approaches to the "horror" genre and I loved it.
Many years later I finally saw the 1990 movie, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised, almost shocked, by its faithfulness to the book (the ending choice is what it is, I admit it, nevertheless I agree with it).
Besides this premise, this film was also well done, with some excellent special effects, stunning make-up and a fantastic, thrilling performance by Angelica Huston, she was funny and.. evil. I also enjoyed Mai Zetterling as Granma Helga.
I am glad I watched this and I believe this deserves more recognition, expecially in terms of IMDB ratings.
The Jane Austen Book Club (2007)
So much more meaningful if you actually know the books!
I first watched "The Jane Austen Book Club" without the slightest knowledge of Jane Austen and her breathtaking novels. I, of course, enjoyed it, but I knew something was missing, I knew it was an incomplete experience.
A couple of years later it happened: I became a true Jane Austen guy-fan, but allow me to say there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, for she is not so much "girly" as one could think (as Grigg himself says in the movie).
So I saw every film, every TV-adaptations and some were really good, some were not, some were an ablosute masterpiece (P&P 1995, to name the best).
THEN I made the step forward and decided to read all her novels..
Boy, I am 30 years old and still, my world was changed forever.
How could I see or read modern rom com fiction, without thinking Jane Austen's work was actually the reason it all existed?
I was finally prepared to watch this movie again with all the knowledge required, and I finally understood what was missing: the immense, touching acquaintance with all of Jane Austen's world. Then, and only then, this film was a complete and fulfilling experience.
Thank you Jane, wherever you are.
The Road Home for Christmas (2019)
Best first scene of any Hallmark/Lifetime movie
The first musical number is something spectacular, I say this as a musician myself.
I was literally blown away by the powerfulness of their performance, they were absolutely amazing and believable.
I don't know if they can play in real life, I don't think so, but considering the scene, they made it so believable they could rock the stage, that it was like seeing a real concert. Just wonderful.
You should watch this movie to experience the emotions the first scene was able to give me, but you should stay to see how they manage to reach their happiness in the most wonderful way.
Chalet Girl (2011)
Bill Nighy could act in an Asylum flick and still be awesome..
Just like every movie with Bill Nighy in it, Chalet Girl surely deserved much more of him. Seriously, he's a such a genius, he can literally rock every single role in every single movie. He's simply awesome.
I still enjoyed this film, though, Felicity Jones was great and charming, as usual.
Give Chalet Girl a go if you want 90 minutes of simple, nice romantic comedy and clever sport sequences.
Summer of 84 (2018)
I'm so disappointed
I wanted to rate this at least a solid 7, even 8, but the frustrating ending ruined the whole thing for me. Let's analyze why.
I was having the best time watching this. The 80s atmosphere was excellent and perfectly recreated (thanks, in large part, to Stranger Things, you can feel they got inspired).
Tha acting was adequate, the young kids did a nice job and they were well characterized. Maybe the love interest segments were a little out of context, but the chemistry was true, though I'm not sure if completely realistic, considering the fact that the two had a large age difference.
The mystery was there, the tension was great and clever, for an indipendent film such as this.
But bloody hell.. What's with productions completely SCREWING movies and TV shows lately?
The ending spoiled the entire thing for me, it was stupid, it was frustrating.
Okay, I get it, you, Director, want to do your best to shock me, the Viewer, but why here? Why in this film? It was completely unnecessary, it felt forced and totally different from the rest of the movie's tones.
So I decided I'll just pretend the last 10 minutes don't exist, because I want the experience to feel complete, not ruined. That's a shame.
Go! (2020)
Is this underrated or - am I getting old and nostalgic?
I don't know, it's probably the edge of my 30s speaking for me, but I have to say.. I really liked this film!
Let's start with the story. It's nothing original, I give you that, but it's developed in a way that it never gets boring or out of focus.
Here we have a kid and his personal struggle trying to fit in in a new city, a single mom doing the best she can to fulfill her son's dreams and a Miyagi-like coach who has to redeem himself; I loved this character, though I hope they could have developed him better.
Now, if you can't be entertained by this premise, here come the Kart sections, which are REALLY cool and adrenalinic; I can't say if they were legit or realistic, but I was still emotionally involved with all the races.
The actors did a decent job, expecially the women. I loved the relationship and the chemistry between the young trio, they did a very good job, if you exclude some cringy-ish scenes here and there.
Overall, give this film a try, it's a nice deviation from all the race movies, even in a formulaic kind of way.
WolfWalkers (2020)
A very Lupus experience
I liked WolfWalkers, it was really different from anything I've ever seen, a very heartfelt story with unique characters and mechanics, great music and incredible drawings.
My only problem, If I must find one, is the final twenty-or-so minutes, which were a little too dramatic, at least for me.. And I probably would have opted for a slightly different ending, but this it's not a critique, it's just personal taste.
See this if you want to immerse yourself in a different but good experience with great, natural sceneries.
Enchanted (2007)
Easily one of the best Disney live movies
I can't even begin to review Enchanted properly, mainly due to the fact that I watched it at least 20 times, but possibly more.
And still, after so many reviews, It's almost like the first one.
This movie is magical, romantic, funny.
It also contains such wonderful songs, the best being, obviously, "That's how you know", performed by a wonderful and beautiful, in any way possible, Amy Adams.
You will fall in love with her, with her wonderful voice and with all that it's around her.
So watch it, and rewatch it all over again. It's never going to get old.
You will feel Enchanted.
One Royal Holiday (2020)
Finally a really good one
I have to admit, this has to be one of Hallmark's best productions in a long time.
Excellent cast and great chemistry between all of them.
I don't know, it felt new and I loved the improved concept of the royal element in this.
Also, the two leads were very great together, they seemed real.
Great job Hallmark, but keep this film in mind in the future.
Halloween (1978)
Halloween is just excellent
As well as being, probably, the best horror movie of all time, John Carpenter's Halloween has some moments that exquisitely depict the American 1970s adolescence, thanks to the great acting performance of Jamie Lee Curtis, here at her absolute debut.
I also feel obligated to mention mr. Donald Pleasence, for his great interpretation of one of the most clever minor roles in a horror movie.
Halloween will be up there forever and never grow old.
Bunks (2013)
Underrated
This has been a very amusing teen summer camp film, lots of laughs, I had fun watching it.
Sometimes I don't know what people expect from movies like this one..
Good horror (for teens) and comedy are always a good combination, and here they do it well.
I for one, have to say I was delighted.
Worth a rewatch.
Magic Camp (2020)
Adam Devine is (maybe) the new Jack Black
Seeing Magic Camp reminded me of the first time I watched School Of Rock.
I was, at the time, in the middle of my teenage years and I was literally blown away, that became the Comedy of my adolescence.
Now I'm almost 30 and Magic Camp brought back of all those feelings I had in those days. This may not be a perfect movie, but I had low expectations and it prooved me wrong, entirely.
Magic Camp had its funny moments, well scripted ones, but also presented its serious themes, like the loss of a parent, the relationship between parents and kids.. the rediscovering of oneself.
The ending was actually VERY moving and touching, something never forgone in a teenage camp film like this.
Also Adam Devine..
I saw some of his acting works, but I have to say THIS made me absolutelly love his style and comedic presence.. I believe he could be the new Jack Black, for the next generation to come.
In conclusions: give Magic Camp a chance, you'll absolutely love it, kid or adult.
Feel the Beat (2020)
Already underrated. Dance of Rock
Everybody who loved School of Rock back in 2003 has GOT to see this.
Good performances, good dance scenes, a good romance with some unique chemistry, some drama, excellent characters.
I expecially loved how they developed the relationship of April and Sarah, that was heartwarming.
Sofia Carson is great, she represents a new kind of protagonist, the "bad-attitude-queen" who struggles, in her own way, to win back her life and people around her, never changing who she is. She was actually great and extremely likeable.
There is a lot to love about this movie and it already feels like it's going to be considered low, whilst not deserving to be so.
It's at least a 7 for me, it really brought me back to the old days where I watched School of Rock twice a week, learning to play guitar, adolescensce.. A good escape.
Great job, kudos! Don't miss this if you love musical comedies.
Modern Life Is Rubbish (2017)
Overdramatic
There are some things of this film you can enjoy, but for the most part it's just a bit overdramatic.
It could have worked better if they had chosen a lighter style, maybe focusing on the main couple's chemistry in a better way, concentrating on their positive vibes rather than their negativity, which is sometimes too overwelming.
The way Liam acts is not so realistic, in my opinion. I mean, we are in the real world and nobody, even the most desperate musicians/artists, behave and think like he does for most of the screen time.
The confusing timeline was also strange and a little confusing, you have to try better as a director/screenwriter if you wanna base a movie on different times of the same story.
The music was great.
I kind of enjoyed this film, don't get me wrong, but it could have been so much better, and I hate missed opportunities to build a great flick to be remembered.
A Rainy Day in New York (2019)
Woody delivers again
So, I am pleased to announce myself as a Woody Allen fan.
I wasn't sure before, but if I look back at all the single movies I watched directed by him.. there wasn't a single one I didn't REALLY like.
So, does this qualify me as a Woody Allen fan? I think so.
Maybe his comedies are not for everyone but I love their simplicity, their cleverness, their atmosphere..
This one has some GREAT performances of people I didn't even know and an excellent acting from Selena Gomez, who is, in my opinion, very underrated as an actress, because she's totally real and sincere (The Fundamentals of Caring gave an example as well).
Timotheé is new (at least for me) and I have to say I was pleased to see him in the role of the protagonist and his chemistry with Gomez felt deep and meaningful.. Maybe, as a hopeless musician myself, it was really easy to relate to him as he struggles to find his own way in a sick world, with a big wonderful city such as New York to fulfill his dreams.
Check this out. You will feel good at the end, and probably want to see it again, to experience the depth of the characters once again.
A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits (2016)
Sofia delivers
This is kind of different from the other installtments of Cinderella Story.
The evil stepmother is exhilarating, not as "evil" as the other films, I really laughed at most of her exaggerations, those were really funny and comedic, in their own silly way.
Sofia Carson, on the other hand, does a great job, as usual, we all know her.
She's got a great attitude and delivers some real feelings with her particular voice and her gorgeus dance moves and backstory.
Also, the chemistry with her and the loved one is palpable and sincere, which is never forgone, in minor romantic comedy music flicks.
You have to take movies like these as they are and enjoy them for WHAT they are, even if not a masterpiece.
So, it's not a 10 out of 10 but it's nice and light, nevertheless.
I give it a 6.
After Midnight (2019)
Boring or brilliant?
You can literally say what you want about this film, say that it's boring, that it's not horror, that it's a cheesy drama with a creepy stupid subplot, that the characters are flat and flawed, that they give away no emotion..
But damn...
The last 20 minutes are great. And the last scene, imdb brothers..
The last scene.. IS JUST B-R-I-L-L-I-A-N-T.
Never seen anything like it. Try the experience, you owe it to the last scene.
First half: 4/10
Second half and last scene: 10/10
Detention (2011)
See this. Don't think and SEE this.
I feel like this film needs to be understood and seen for what it is.
It is one of the craziest horror comedies out there, crazy to the point that I, more than once, asked myself: What am I even watching?
The only point of focus, at least for me, is that it could have been a GREAT film, if only they had chosen a less crazy way to evolve the story.
I really think so and I am concerned, because I hate seeing a film with potential not fully expressing it.
Yes, it could have been great, because he characters are damn good but not very well developed, mostly because of the length of the film, I guess, very short.
Shanley Caswell and Josh Hutcherson do a great job, but still, I was left a bit "empty" at the end, because of the wasted potential of their development.
The horror and gore are not over the top. Most sequences are more gross than gory, but I liked the choices, in this case.
Anyways, go see for yourself wihout being too judgemental: this movie is crazy and completely original, in its own mad way.
Bandslam (2009)
Eleven Years later, and I'm wondering why I didn't know of this gem
I'm actually, really, surprised of the low ratings for this film.
It's not a masterpiece, I must say, but it's a sweet, sincere take on the ordinary teenage life, and in such a more realistic way than the average "high school movies" out there.
The songs are great and not trivial at all, they are well played, with great energy and you can see yourself shaking your head to follow the rythm, which is always a good sign in a music flick.
I was really surprised by the performances of the three leads, expecially Hudgens, I loved her character and her spontaneus relationship with Connell, while Lisa Kudrow gave me the chills at some points, with her interactions with Aly Michalka.
So guys, what's not to like of this film? I mean.. not everything needs to be "Shawshank Redemption" material to be enjoyed.
I am someone who extremely relates on votes, but I'm glad I didn't, this time.
Enjoy this little gem, eleven years later, in these hard times we are facing.