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Reviews
Rebel Moon - Chapter Two: Curse of Forgiveness (2024)
What happens when you give a director power to do anything
Zack Snyder is an amazing director. This is a man who went from making a Kia commercial to getting a shot at directing the Dawn of the Dead reboot. From that movie to 300 I've followed this directors evolution. The DC films I enjoyed. Suckerpunch wasn't the best but it really was unique. Once he made an open ended deal with Neflix though it was too much. Just like Shyamalan with Sixth Sense he was able to basically do pet projects. M Night came out with a few stinkers until he was humbled a bit by fans. Honestly even Nolan's Tenet was just too much to be enjoyable. Ridley Scott's Napoleon was equally horrible. Now it's gonna happen but I sense it happens more often when a director is completely unrestrained. I feel between Snyder's goofy ass Army of the Dead which was a horrible mess of comedy, no edge like Dawn of the Dead to his recent terribly written and poorly cast Rebel Moon films. So cliche sci-fi world building just so bad. It like a fabulous looking gourmet meal but tastes bad and has no flavor. I mean at least add some edge to the film, some extreme violence or nudity. I mean I would expect this from JJ Abrams (except with lens flare and not slow mo). Very disappointed again with Scargiver. Some directors should explore their roots again and realize they can't always create fabulous source material from pet projects. Like what Peter Jackson did with LotR or Villanueva is doing with Dune please Zack get some awesome screen writers and build off their material. I appreciate your work Zack good luck with your future projects.
Dune: Part Two (2024)
A remarkle achievement by Villeneuve
Villeneuve has done what many have tried. The Dune saga of books written by Frank Herbert beginning in 1963 has captivated and intrigued people for decades. The stories are strange yet very familiar, filled themes within themes, they describe a world much like our own. Filled with alot of narrative thought many have been tried to bring their vision of Dune World to film and TV. Some are good, some are just ok. In my opinion, even with some of the story adaptation done by Villeneuve, he nailed it especially in this second film. It's been years since I've seen anything like this. Reminiscent of Peter Jackson's epic vision of Lord of the Rings, Villeneuve brings Dune to life. Now is it perfect? Can any art be perfect? I find some aspects here and there that are lacking slightly but for me honestly are not worth nitpicking over. I'm guessing there will be some Herbert purists who probably won't like some of the story changes. They are entitled to their opinions of course. For me it was beautiful sci fi. I especially enjoyed the focus on Chani in relation to Paul's changes as he becomes the kwisatz haderach. She's not just a subservient concubine and an extra character but a strong lead. Looking forward to the 3rd film. Exciting.
X (2022)
Alot of different opinions in the reviews
I love horror movies. What I love best about the genre is a writer and director can really do whatever they want. Now is this movie up there with the greats? No probably not. But this movie is what it is love or hate it. It's an ode to some of the greatest 70 and 80 horror. Nods can be seem all over from Texas Chainsaw, Evil Dead, The Changeling, The Shining, Friday the 13th, Halloween and probably alot more than I noticed. The cinematography is exceptional with interesting camera angles and excellent use of shadows. Alot of long distance camera shots and unsettling music score as well. Campy acting by an interesting cast. Some T&A as well. Now the movie is weird I admit but that it is original. Also, it really displays some extremely awkward visuals from something simple as stepping on a nail to watching old people copulate the feel of the film makes u uncomfortable. Yes there are too many cliches from horror movies to count but I feel this is on purpose. This is a horror movie in is made for a niche of horror movie fans I'm guessing that Ti West is one of a select few. This explains the reviews as either a 2 or a 9 me I'll go with a 6.
Napoleon (2023)
Couldn't finish this
Let's make this short. Let's imagine Gladiator or the Duelists but without the antagonist. Yep! This is it! Russell Crowe's Maximus by himself honestly would have been quite boring. Just like Bales Batman without Ledger's Joker. Boring and unbalanced. So in a nutshell a poorly written film. Like a Bugatti with a lawnmower engine this film looks gorgeous but sputters along. Do I care about accuracy? Not really I don't watch a fictional account looking for documentary levels of facts. I do however wish to he entertained and immersed. We know Joaquin can act. Here he seems pushed into a portayal he doesn't really get into. Maybe Scott's direction was too forceful on how he wanted his Napoleon to behave. Either way it falls flat. Vanessa Kirby is the most entertaining but just doesn't play well off Joaquin's Napoleon. Joaquin just ain't feeling it. Probably a better casting would have helped this film as well. Either way I'm sad O could sit through a Ridley film. I love Kingdom of Heaven but this just stinks.
The Holdovers (2023)
Well crafted story and a slice out of time
Excellent drama/comedy. Well crafted with nuanced retro details. Great character study as well with strong performances throughout. Also, the 70's cinematography if fabulous, especially the fade scene editing. My favorite was the details though. Every location, every costume and vehicle looked authentic to 1970. Driving without seat belts, smoking in the movies! Exquisite detail hats off to the director. The three main characters are our Holdovers learning about one another during a unwanted Christmas break bonding over the loss and regret that hold them back from living a full life. Amazing film and highly recommended.
Leave the World Behind (2023)
Doesn't know what it wants to be
This film is one of the more disappointing types of film because of the potential. The actors assembled, camera crews at the ready, editors and effects studios payed to do their best, set designers and costume and make up and even producers putting their money together and then? A horrible screenplay. This film has no idea what it wants to be. I've seen this alot in the past with Shyamalan films like the Happening (which was honestly more cohesive). Is this action, is it horror, is it a drama? Is it a character study? Is it a steaming pile of dung? 4 great actors here forced to recite terrible lines of dialogue. Wierd camera angles. Loud music score stolen from the Shining but basically played non-stop so the viewer doesn't know what the tension is building up to. A ridiculous scene with Julia Roberts screaming like a maniac at a bunch of mean mugging deers without any explanation. I kinda figured about 30 minutes in this was gonna be a stupid movie but I wanted to see the extent. Ultimately a very cliche ending and exactly what I expected. The movie I guess if just satire and a character study full of dumb conspiracy theories and no real culmination. Sloppy waste of time.
Interview with the Vampire (2022)
Interview with the Vampire in title alone
Film is like art. It's a matter of enjoyment. I'm sure there's a large audience of people who love this adaptation. Especially people who aren't familiar with Rice's novels. But the pattern of disrespect and disregard continues for horror/fantasy writers like Poe, Howard, Lovecraft and now Rice.
It can be argued that this show is good and I believe it is in a way. The acting is good, sets are well done, lights and cinematography are good and even the writing seems ok but......not one line was written by Anne Rice. Someone has taken a title and character names and decided the actual writing wasn't up to par. There's alot missing from Rices character building and the nuanced way she introduces us to Louis and Lestat. If this was a novel I purchased to read I would have stopped after 3 chapters. It doesn't work for me. Please come up with your own stories and characters. Disappointed with AMC in this one.
Akelarre (2020)
I really enjoyed this film I choose to watch to put me to sleep
SOME SPOILERS AHEAD
This movie didn't put me to sleep actually it kept me awake until the end. The synopsis of the film and preliminary plot unfolding seemed to be quite similar to other witchhunt films but as I continued to watch I realized this was a much different film. Somewhat like watching Apocalypto where the events on the screen tell a story about humanity and simultaneously a folk tale with a moral compass. The innocent girls accused of witchcraft and the typical zealot inquisitors at first seem contrived. But as the story progresses the girls through an effort to survive their inevitable burning, make up tales of witchcraft based on their adventures. The lead actress begins to seduce the main Inquisitor actually bewitching him in a way. In one scene as she describes the Sabbath she talks about Satan taking her over and makes orgasmic sounds which cause the priests and guards to become uncomfortably aroused. Finally the inquisitor submits and brings them to the woods to summon Lucifer. As the viewer watches we see the churches own inquisitor give in to his desires, in effect becoming Satan as conjured which in turn makes the girls real witches in a way. The ending leaves the veiwer wondering if they watched a brutal medieval film or a fairy tale. Did the girls really become the witches they made up and fly away?
For me it was a bit of both with the director never going over the top and giving the viewer just enough. The violence and torture was never excessive but very measured. There is brief nudity by the main actress Amaia Aberasturi but just enough to get the point across. Suprising little gem of a film with alot of imagination. Yes there are some flaws here and there but worth a watch. Love the ending alot especially the editing it was poetic. Well written and well acted. Many of the negative reviewers seemed to go in expecting horror or period drama but this is neither it's a folk tale.
Dune (2021)
I've read the books and seen all the media adaptations. This is a masterpiece
I'm an avid Dune fan. I've read the books and seen the tv adaptation. I'm actually one who greatly enjoyed Lynch's 1984 Dune very much. All I know is that as a fan if Mr Villeneuve reads this I'd like to say thanks so much. I never ever thought I would be this impressed. Excellent work sir excellent.
Btw this review is 100% real. Don't let the haters fool you. And of course this is Part One for people who complain about the ending. Villanueva is spreading the story out as it should have been in the past. Many here say it's just a remake of Lynch's and it is close but regard the fact that Lynch does try to follow the novel and Villanueva is also a huge fan of the original.
Hunter Hunter (2020)
SPOILERS!! Overall just okay but shows promise for the director
"Spoilers" The first 45 minutes of the film are actually quite good. You feel like your on to something. I compare this movie to The Platform somewhat as I had the same experience. As a viewer your trying to figure out what the movie wants to be and following events in the story hoping they lead somewhere.
A bit disappointed. The wolf theme? No real connection unless it implies the mom turns into an animal. This is what I believe the director is trying to convey. A message just like The Platform all set up to he either a good crime thriller or horror movie andbit ends up a deep messages basic revenge horror? It turns into The Hills have Eyes, Last House on the Left style but just in the last 6 minutes. The close bond of the dad teaching the daughter in the beginning? Nada, all set up to have her use her skills to save the day. Even little details like the mention of the sat phone as it was foreshadowing? Nope. Of course this doesn't even mention the huge plot holes other reviews have left like why didn't the hunter call the cops? How did the killer get the drop in him!? How has the wife been in the woods her whole life bht can't do anything outdoors.
On the bright side the camera work, editing and pacing as well as the acting were quite good. That's why I feel a bit cheated perhaps Knowing what this movie almost achieved. I suppose if your ok with moral ethical movies you'd leave more stars but I just can't when there are so many others to compare like Wolf Creek or I Spit on your Grave or Straw Dogs all knowing what type of movie they wanted to be. Anyways everyone should watch it not the worst or best
The VVitch: A New-England Folktale (2015)
My kind of movie! Horror with a deep theme! Not the Conjuuring OK!
I can see why many people misjudged this film. For me it falls into a list of films that include a base theme while telling a story. Apocalypto it was fear, Revenant was about forgiveness, Remember was about revenge. For me the VVitch was about temptation and evil. All of these stories strongly connect with good acting by your characters, especially the character you begin to relate to. In the VVitch the eldest daughter Thomason is the focus. As the story progresses we can relate to her.
The puritan lifestyle pretty much sucks. It's a hard life riddled with guilt and tedium. As she begins to realize the evil out in the woods she is drawn to it. The director gives us very shocking glimpses of this evil to let us know it is real but the witches are not the focus of the story. As an audience we want to see more even the brief images we see are ghastly. We want to see more just like our protagonist.
Beautifully filmed, well acted with good themes this movie is not a monster movie. It certainly isn't shallow entertainment and it had me thinking the next day. My kind of film. Loved it although I know it's not for everyone especially the douchebags who gave it a 1 thru 5 stars probably gave London has Fallen a 9!
Gods of Egypt (2016)
Ray Harryhausen would have loved this one!
As soon as I started watching this movie I knew it was a little different from the movies that generally suck like Scorpion King 2 or Immortals. We had over the top monsters and good actors hamming it up. Annoying but fitting music! I felt like a kid again watching Clash of the Titans or Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger. I see some commentors went in expecting The Color Purple, lol. If you like Harryhausen films or Flash Gordon movies you'll like this movie. It's a movie for fun people rating poorly must not understand a film like this. You could tell Geoffrey Rush was having fun as Ra! Gerard Butler portrayed an excellent Set. The young lead actor was probably the weakest link. All and all over the top with creative effects and a romp
Ride with the Devil (1999)
Watchable western drama without any spice
I watched this film at random on Netflix. I knew nothing about it and picked it at random. I watched the film all the way to the end and felt pretty much unmoved. I kinda just thought "Umm OK..." When it finished I was curious to see what IMDb fans thought about it. I was quit surprised and see this film is another movie mis-reviewed by it's fans who chime in at how great and wonderful it is while regular people watch it and then go on with their lives. I mean by reading some of these reviews you would think this film puts Casablanca to shame and makes One Flew Over Cuckoos Nest look like an episode of Three's Company. The "Best Film Ever Made" 10/10! Really? This film had some of the great things over reviewers harped about. Attention to detail, historical accuracy, a daring screenplay about little know Civil War events, brutal violence.....
...but, the movie was boring. If I want all those things I watch the history channel or catch a documentary. This movie seemed to suffer from identity syndrome in the end it could no less than be summed up as period drama...very BBC period drama.
The violence, although harsh, was few and far between. The story was straightforward but at the core very uninteresting. I watched a movie to be entertained.
The casting feel short here I think. Drama is all about a good story and acting. Toby Maguire is at best a good supporting actor but a lead in an epic drama? Wow no way. From the beginning of the film to the very end his character shows emotion. Does he cry, laugh a lot, rage, joke around...nope. We are left unmoved. Little Big Man was a period drama/comedy with a great actor at the helm. Sorry Tobey.
In the end just an OK film. Don't let the fanboys fool you. Mildly entertaining at best for the aesthetics and the spotty violence. Yes historically accurate but really...who cares?
The Cabin in the Woods (2011)
Hmmmmm...
Hmmmmmm...what do I say about Cabin? Is it the most brilliant horror movie ever made? No. Is it the worst trash ever? No. So what is it?
It's a twist of a script that doesn't just explain itself from the beginning. Thats why the reviews are so mixed. If you expected and enjoyed straightforward movies like Wrong Turn or Wolf Creek this ain't it. Definitely not a serious film.
But.....even if you enjoy horror movies with a twist I found it lacking. The reveal near the end wasn't worth the 45 + minutes of "huh whats going on?"
It was very funny. I found myself cracking up quite a few times. The jump factor is also good along with some creative CG. All and all the movie is just OK entertainment. Reviewers who call it groundbreaking must be teenagers who really haven't been around the block with Hitchcock and Corman.
It does however remind a lot of a film I watched awhile back and really enjoyed which was called Waxwork. A fun campy horror movie not to be taken seriously and no CG. Check it out if you liked Cabin in the Woods.
The Hunger Games (2012)
average sci-fi adaptation
Like many films based on books peoples opinions will vary dramatically based on the source material. I haven't read the book this film was based on so I can't make a comparison and can only judge it based on how it fares against other sci-fi. That being said...
The things I enjoyed about the film wold have to be the acting, which was strong enough to carry the film, especially the lead actress. Supporting cast was also entertaining. The effects and sets were good and not overdone. Decent dialogue and costumes as well.
Things that set it back for me. Definitely the overuse of close up with shaky camera. Very distracting. Editing was also a distraction for me as well as it seemed choppy. But my main issue was the lack of violence.
It would seem to me that to demonstrate the stark misguided nature of this society the main characters (very well developed too) would have to suffer great anguish. The film seemed too PG-13 for me and left it very unbalanced. The horror that is the violence of the arena, much less using children, is just not there so the film really lacks the hard edge it would seem this screenplay needed to be effective.
All in all though it was an enjoyable film well made for it's target audience, young women. I rate it 6.0 compared to sci-fi classics that hold the deserved rating of 7.0 and 8.0.
Insidious (2010)
Decent film, stays fun! Lighten up movie know it all!
I will say that most of these reviews are correct about Insidious. It does borrow a lot from other films. No there are no Academy Award winning performances. No it's not the Exorcist. All that being said for the so called movie review "experts" here on IMDb lets remember what movies are for. They are for entertainment.
What this film wasn't was the waste of money some people state here. Come on guys. This film was fun. Great camera work here akin to House on Haunted Hill. Awesome music, combined with the odd camera angles makes for unsettling suspense. I also liked the new angles on old concepts.
This movie ultimately does not take itself too seriously and that is important. Maybe thats what causes some fellow movie goers to go out of their way to rip this movie to shreds. There are very serious horrors that are the comparisons. The Exorcist, the Sixth Sense, Night of the Living Dead...these classics are for the most part totally humorless and damn scary. Insidious does not fall into this bracket. Phantasm, the Evil Dead, Nightmare on Elm Street, Poltergiest...these movies remind me a little of Insidious.
If you haven't seen it it's worth watching to judge for yourself. People go way overboard with these reviews. Its not Shawshanks Redemption but it's not Superbabies 2, lol.
Monsters (2010)
Not bad for the budget but boring.
The name was misleading for me. Very little action and even less "monsters". A lot about the movie was very good. Camera work, acting, ambiance, music, editing and effects were well done. Of course this does no good with an uneventful script. Maybe this was one of those thinking persons monster films but that didn't save it for me. Perhaps the directors next effort will bear more fruit because I can see the potential. Maybe the director should choose a drama or suspense film next time. The lead actress reminded me of Cameron Diaz a little bit. I liked the mood of the film also. Kinda built up that suspense that John Carpenters the Thing had but this movie just wasted it.
Salt (2010)
Not bad for a Jolie action flick!
I did not have high hopes for this film when I went to see it. I'm not a big Jolie fan really. This movie did do pretty good in many ways though.
the Worst: Script was way too predictable. Some of the events just seemed silly to me. I had the plot twist figured out in 20 minutes. Some of the action for Jolie was just not believable by any standards, like the jumps. Her acting was predictable as well, really nothing new to set her apart. The bad guys had very little character.
the Best: The action and editing were very good. The chase scenes and violence was overall quite entertaining. Jolie's fight scenes were good too. The sets and costumes were good as well as the camera work. Casting I did enjoy. I especially enjoyed watching the operations center and the CIA style procedures displayed throughout the film. It was very much like the Jason Bourne series in that respect. Non-stop action with a very fast pace.
Overall a decent action flick though. Some cool violence and action. Was like Tomb Raider with a vengeance!
Machete (2010)
Not the best and not the worst
For me this movie started out quite well. The beginning had that cheap B-movie feel to it. Grainy video, a little gratuitous nudity and lots of bloody violence. It had all most of what I enjoy about a Rodriquez film like Dusk til Dawn had. After about 45 minutes though the movie started to lag a bit. The violence, although still present, began to be replaced by a script that was for the most part kinda silly. After Machete leaves the hospital I became pretty disinterested and just waited for the movie to finish.
I did enjoy seeing Danny Trejo in a lead role though. He deserves it and did no worse than Stallone, Arnold or Van Damme. In fact I really liked his character. Steven Seigal is terrible though. Lohan is, well, what can you say, she's Lindsay. Michelle Rodriquez does an excellent job, better than Alba in my opinion. Plus Michelle is like way hotter! The ending is just plain silly and seems like they just didn't feel like finishing the script.
Acting = 6 Script = 4.5 Action = 6 Editing = 7.5 Sets = 5 Costumes = 5 Lighting = 5 Camera = 5.5 Action = 6.5 Sex = 4 Directing = 6 Creativity = 6.75
Clash of the Titans (2010)
Nothing wrong with this film 6/10
I'm a devout follower of the original movie and from reading these user reviews I almost didn't go to the theater, I'm glad I did though. I took my 5 year old son with me and we both loved it. All I can say is wow you reviewers are harsh. I thought this movie was fine. If your trying to compare it to a faithful re-telling of the original or are expecting Gladiator then think again. This is a Clash of the Titans for the next milennia. First you have to get one thing straight. The story has been completely re-written from the original. I mean totally re-written. But it works, at least for me. All the characters have different motivations and are brand new. For example, Perseus fights the Kraken but it is to seek revenge and save a city. Calibo's character is totally different too. Then some new characters are added, most notably a love interest for Perseus named Io.
This movie is entertaining period action. It's fast paced and full of effects. I think it delivers what the message that the directors intends. I was entertained until the very end. The acting was good, sets and costumes were excellent, dialogue was action movie grade, monsters were good, the action flowed nicely.
The Medusa was not as scary as I would have expected. The movie could have run a little longer too. This would have accommodated improved character development. But I tried not to be too harsh on this film. As I recall the some of my favorite sword and magic films were very cheesy. Movies like Beastmaster, Dragonslayer, Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger, The Sword and the Socerer, Conan the Barbarian to name a few. None of these movies were close to an Academy Award and neither was the original Clash of the Titans, it was entertaining and thats what this film was. I you don't expect a faithful epic remake then you won't be let down. If your expecting Lord of the Rings then wait for DVD.
Snakes on a Plane (2006)
Has good action, but a high level of silliness!!!
This movie has great B movie action, decent camera work, decent musical score and fairly good performance (but not the best) by S. Jackson. The effects are also quite good and the action flows pretty well. This movie suffers from a mediocre supporting cast, poor dialouge (which would have sounded better with a stronger supporting cast of ham actors like Ricardo Montalbon!), poor character development and a high level of silly snake behavior. Reminiscent of Samuel Jackson's shark movie Deep Blue Sea. Good drive in date movie!!!
Excellent movie if you enjoy seeing people die in creative ways by snakes. Also has some gross Final Destination style deaths other than snake fatalities.
Clash of the Titans (1981)
One of the best of the Harryhausen films!
Ray Harryhausen and producer Charlie Schneer at their best. Good casting and an upbeat score helped this one along. Laurence Olivier's presence hangs over the rest of the cast and amplifies their performances. Having good seasoned veteran actors like Burgess Meredith and Claire Bloom also lent to this films integrity. Harry Hamlin and Judi Bowker's performances were never really very charged, but became sort of focal points for a supporting cast of interesting characters. The musical score was good like many Schneer productions (I personally like the score from Mysterious Island the best). The effects were some of Harryhausens finest. Good charismatic mythical creatures that were familiar to a wide audience. The character of Calibos was definitely a unique and well acted bad guy. His character, with exception to Zeus, seemed to have the most substance. I found the lighting to be a bit poor in some scenes, most notably the giant scorpion scene. But some scenes were extraordinary. The Medusa encounter was quite suspenseful for a fantasy film. This film also teaches kids a lot about classical Greek fables. A gem of a film and one that has so far endured past it's 1980's origin to become one of Ray's most memorable. If you liked this film see also Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger and watch for a very young Jane Seymour.