markthomassintek Reviews

The Last Bus (2021)

What true love is all about

[10/10 · 19 August 2022]

REVIEW - THE LAST BUS

A heart-warming tale of Tom (Timothy Spall), a pensioner whose wife, Mary (Phyllis Logan), has just passed away, who travels from Britain's most northerly point, John O'Groats, to his original home town at its most southerly point, Land's End, using his free bus pass. He carries with him only a small suitcase, travelling the length of the country with it. Along the way, his adventures are recorded by the people he meets and helps, and by the end of his trip he has unwittingly become a social media celebrity.

Amazing film!

Rating 10 out of 10.

Dune (2021)

Not for me

[6/10 · 19 August 2022]

REVIEW - DUNE

Release date 21 October 21

I remember when I was much younger watching the original Dune with David Bowie and not understanding a single second.

It's taken years for someone to try and adapt this and remake it and yes I finally understand the story.

There is a planet which is all desert, the sand is called Spice and is used by space ships to navigate, Spice is only found in one place, on this planet.

The planet has been harvested by one species after another forcing the inhabitants to hide.

The Emperor sends a special envoy and his family, a son who has been taught by his mother to use his voice to command people to do things and other powers.

The Emperor is scared that the boy will use his powers to overthrow him, hence being sent to the planet

Ok that's enough for now but its certainly enough to tempt.

2 and a half hours for............ no spoilers.

Basically a good film if you can stay awake because it is very drawn out and the ending....... no spoilers.

I'm glad I watched it but honestly I wouldn't rave about it like the internet seems to be.

Rating 6 out of 10.

Halloween Kills (2021)

Far better than the previous

[9/10 · 19 August 2022]

REVIEW - HALLOWEEN KILLS

The latest Michael Myers is finally in cinemas and was co produced by John Carpenter and Jamie Lee Curtis, so why am I starting my review with this?

Simply because as with the previous film ignore all of the poor sequels cashing in and simply watch the original, the follow up from a few years ago and this because 2 people who helped create this franchise and who obviously love it just want to do it justice, which I totally approve of.

Halloween Kills plays homage to the original by actually enhancing the story from the original and what a cracking film this is too.

Of course no spoilers but the trailer makes you think one thing when.......

If you like a good horror with an intelligent story that keeps you hooked this is definitely one for you.

Rating 9 out of 10.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)

Average

[6/10 · 19 August 2022]

REVIEW - VENOM LET THERE BE CARNAGE

OK what can I say about the sequel to get across to you just how terrible this film is?

Literally watching this is like watching a pot boil or watching paint dry.

Story that was written on the back of a stamp that simply wasn't interesting and actually as the film went on made you care even less about each of the characters.

Of course the fight sequences between Venon and Carnage are excellent SFX but other than this especially the interaction between Eddie and Venom I honestly just found to be annoying.

Such a shame (again) Hollywood churning out a weak story hoping that people will go to see it because of the SFX and humour between Eddie and Venom, but........

Don't waste your money paying for a cinema seat, wait for it to be on TV.

Acting great (with what they were given to work with), action and SFX great but I'm afraid to say these may entice a number of people to the cinema but, for me a no, no.

Rating 6 out of 10.

Shock and Awe (2017)

A MUST WATCH

[10/10 · 19 August 2022]

REVIEW - SHOCK AND AWE

17 years troops engaged in the area, most recently against ISIS.

$2 Trillion the cost.

Over 36,000 American troops killed or wounded.

1 million Iraqis killed or wounded.

0 weapons of mass destruction found!

0 politicians held accountable!

Trade Center is destroyed by the Al Qaeda terrorist organization.

In the resulting turmoil, the reporters of the Knight-Ridder news service, Jonathan Landay and Warren Strobel under the editorship of John Walcott, hear odd reports that President Bush's senior administration is not so much concerned with finding the Al Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden, as they are in blaming the secular dictator of Iraq, Saddam Hussein.

Despite their intelligence sources saying that Hussein had nothing to do with 9/11.

The reporters discover that the White House is obsessed with finding any excuse to attack Iraq with cherry-picking intelligence reports and blatant lies by its officials. As the journalists dig deeper, their competitors uncritically repeat the Bush Administration's falsehoods that too much of the public is gullible enough to believe, making their quest to find and print the truth proves as a frustrating struggle as events barrel to a needless war.

What was predicted happened, after the American troops finally left the area was left destabalised leaving Bin Laden to gain power and the development of ISIS resulting in further conflict.

The cherry picking of intelligence and ignorance of fact causing unimaginable loss of life.

0 weapons of mass destruction found!

0 politicians held accountable!

Rating 10 out of 10.

The Virtuoso (2021)

Actually I enjoyed it

[8/10 · 19 August 2022]

REVIEW - THE VIRTUOSO

Now I always say that films are like music, we all have different tastes and none can be a better example of this than the Virtuoso.

With a current rating of 4 out of 10 on IMDB AND as its new out I thought I'd give it a look see.

Actually I really enjoyed the film from start to finish, just proving what I've said above.

During the story you follow a hit man through a number of jobs, until he is given one in a sleepy town where no one is as they seem.

Very good writing, acting excellent and just simply a very enjoyable film, as the hit man tries to establish who his next target is.

I guessed very early in the film but this did not detract from the film as a whole.

If you want a story, great acting then this is one to try.

Rating 8 out of 10.

No Time to Die (2021)

No time to die but he finds time to do so

[6/10 · 19 August 2022]

REVIEW - NO TIME TO DIE

I have been asked by quite a few people how the latest James Bond film was so here goes.

I grew up with Roger Moore, Sean Conery and the others but like most things those womanising films had to be brought into the times we live in now, I certainly appreciate that this needed to be done but even now I still remember the one liners, the comedy and of course the gadgets.

Now this is going to be one of the most controversial reviews I have ever done, please remember everyone's tastes differ.

So honestly, long winded, slow and confusing in places, a story that could have been written on the back of an envelope and actually (honestly)the only parts of the film I enjoyed were the few car chases, the fights etc.

Briefly, the UK government secretly create a poison that can be targeted to someone's DNA and Bond is tasked to stop the villain who has stolen it.

Honesty I was expecting a lot more and was actually quite let down by the entire film, but of course with Daniel Craig getting older he obviously can't do now what he could 12 years ago when he started to be 007.

Rating 6 out of 10.

The Vault (2021)

Great film

[8/10 · 19 August 2022]

REVIEW - THE VAULT

Who loves a good bank robbery movie, by far the best of course is The Italian Job which will never be touched.

A long lost sunken treasure is salvaged but is found to belong to Spain, so a team is brought together to break into the national bank of Spain to break into the impossible vault.

As the film progresses we learn why this vault is so impossible.

Of course things go wrong which has you on the edge of your seat but......

Set during the 2010 world cup as with the Italian Job but that is where the similarities between the 2 films end.

Great film, jointly made by the UK and Spain and definitely worth a watch if you enjoy a good bank job, good story and characters you actually find yourself cheering for even though they are the bank thieves.

I especially loved the bit right at the end, no spoilers, this did make me laugh out loud.

Two things that unfortunately lower the score on this film, if they had full access to the area below the vault why do what they did, why not just jack it up into place, also again why didn't the guards access the area below the safe, there must have been access somewhere for maintainance.

Otherwise a very enjoyable film indeed.

Rating 8 out of 10.

Nightbooks (2021)

Better than I expected

[7/10 · 19 August 2022]

REVIEW - NIGHTBOOKS

Scrolling through one evening and in the new releases I came across this, saying it's a kids fantasy horror I became interested how you could possibly have a fantasy horror film for children so......

Actually very pleasantly surprised as a very original story with a young boy being kidnapped by a witch, the young boy writing horror stories being told he must write an original horror story every night to read to the witch or she would kill him.

Unknown but which becomes apparent during the film these stories hold another meaning.

Very original story with enough twists and turns that certainly kept me interested to actually say I enjoyed this child's fantasy horror and I'm an adult.

One to certainly give a try, one to certainly sit with you're children and watch, horror family time, what else could you ask for especially in time for Halloween.

Rating 7 out of 10.

Beckett (2021)

Holiday turned bad

[9/10 · 19 August 2022]

REVIEW - BECKETT

Whilst on holiday with his girlfriend they have a car accident, before falling unconscious a child is seen.

This sparks a series of events which puts Beckett in the firing line, literally, being chased and shot at whilst trying to escape Grease by making his way to the American embassy.

While trying to escape Beckett finds out who the child seen earlier was.

A very good (like) spy thriller with a story that unfolds and twists and turns whilst being told.

If you like thrillers, spy films and the like this is one to try.

Thoroughly enjoyed it, kept me hooked until the end.

Rating 9 out of 10.

Malignant (I) (2021)

An original concept for a change

[9/10 · 19 August 2022]

REVIEW MALIGNANT

UK release date 10 September 21

And about time too!

Last year saw a shortage of films being made and those that were, were delayed because cinemas were not open, so about time. About time we have a good horror film that keeps you guessing, yes guessing, I thought I'd worked it out after 30 minutes but oh how wrong I was!

A woman is being terrorised by something she can't explain, witnessing murders which are somehow linked (no spoilers).

If you enjoy guessing, if you enjoy sitting on the edge of your seat and if you enjoy a good story then this horror is one definitely for you.

Rating 9 out of 10.

Respect (2021)

Story not all there but still worth watching

[8/10 · 19 August 2022]

REVIEW - RESPECT

UK release date 10 September 21

The story of Aretha Franklin and the struggles she faced both from the over powering men in her life to racism.

Jennifer Hudson plays the part of Aretha Franklin and whilst no one can come close Jennifer Hudson is simply amazing in the role.

Of course the story of a person's life can't be condensed into a film, only the high / low points and quite a bit is skipped over, for example the father of her first children but when making such a film about such an amazing singer I suppose at some point someone has to decide what stays and what goes, either way simply an amazing film to see and as a huge fan of Soul one I couldn't miss.

Compelling, acting amazing but of course the songs, need I say more!

Rating 8 out of 10.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Boring

[5/10 · 19 August 2022]

REVIEW - SHANG CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE 10 RINGS

Marvel Studios are at it again, releasing yet another movie!

I'm saying this because I can remember the day when you occasionally got a superhero film and actually looked forward to going to see it, the original Superman for example with Christopher Reeve, now these were an occasion. These days honestly it oh no not another one!

Yes I am getting bored of Avengers and the rest, but I do love these films with a slant to the story such as Brightburn.

This is the origin story how Shang got his powers and I couldn't really care less how but......

Actually except for the story not a bad film, martial art sequences great, acting good, STX of course up to parr with other Marvel films but......

The story for this reminded me of the Batman v Superman film we suffered a few years back with sheer lazy writing and I'm afraid this film suffers from the same, but what it loses out in story is certainly made up for in the fight sequences.

One thing I will say here is what was the purpose of Martin? A stupid lazy excuse for them to get to the village early even though you could only access it once a year!!!!!!! LAZY!!!!

Rating 5 out of 10.

This Is Your Death (2017)

Asks some very disturbing questions

[10/10 · 19 August 2022]

REVIEW - THE SHOW - THIS IS YOUR DEATH

Films in my personal opinion are made to make us ask questions, the best films again in my personal opinion are the ones that make us question ourselves.

WOW this film does exactly that!

Now before I get into the review there are a few things that I need to clarify.

I don't live in America so I'm not aware of what is and what is not available to people who may be in debt and about to lose their homes, I do know that in some states if you fall behind on rent by 4 weeks the Police can be sent to evict you from your home and no one is obliged to find you or your family alternative accomodation.

I do also known that in America you literary pay for any medical treatment, either directly or by having medical insurance.

As I live in the UK we have the NHS and get medical treatment for free and we have systems in place to ensure no one is homeless unless they wish to be.

Why an I explaining this? Because I will never know what it is like to work 3 jobs just to survive.

Those of you who are in America you will watch this very disturbing film and will associate better with this than I but even so I found this film to be disturbing, up setting and shocking.

Will reality TV ever be like this?

I personally HATE reality TV and what is seen in this film is exactly why.

Thought provoking definitely and I hope TV never goes down this dark path just for morbid curiosity, ratings and money!

Rating 10 out of 10.

Snake Eyes (2021)

Well I enjoyed it

[9/10 · 19 August 2022]

REVIEW - SNAKE EYES

GO JOE started as a series of toys made by Hasbro and become quite popular in the 80s / 90s then as Hollywood always does it jumps on the money making band wagon making 2 GI JOE films previously, but this latest is an origin story for one of the most popular and long lasting GI JOE characters, Snake Eyes.

But don't worry about not knowing about GI JOE because this origin film can be watched stand alone.

Recently we had a remake of Mortal Kombat and whilst watchable just didn't cut it with film goers, myself included but Snake Eyes should have been how Mortal Kombat should have been.

Great story, action and the fighting fast and slick, great introduction to the GI JOE universe and I totally enjoyed this from start to finish. As I've said above if you are a fan of GI JOE or not you can still either consider this as an origin story or a stand alone film and you won't be disappointed.

Rating 9 out of 10.

Don't Breathe 2 (2021)

Anti hero better than the first

[9/10 · 19 August 2022]

REVIEW - DON'T BREATHE 2

I saw the first one of these way back in 2016 I think so watched this sequel as if I hadn't seen the first because I'd simply forgotten about it.

So to start, the film starts very strangely with the blind villain finding a young girl on the street, no explanation then jumps forward a number of years, as the film goes on you do eventually figure out what is going on but then again you don't.

Ok how to explain and not give anything away.

People are being kidnapped and found dead with body organs missing, heart, lungs ETC. So you assume that this will come into play as a strange group of people target the blind villain and the girl he found in the street earlier in the film, but.....and a big but......

After watching this I went back and watch the first one again and I am glad to say that the film makers didn't just revamp the same story from the first film, in fact by the end of this film I basically considered the blind guy to be an anti hero compared to the first film. Great story, definitely keeps you hooked especially with the reveal of why both the young girl and the blind man have been targeted.

Thoroughly enjoyed this film and better all around compared to the first one.

Rating 9 out of 10.

Sweet Girl (2021)

The edge of my seat with a twist

[9/10 · 19 August 2022]

REVIEW - SWEET GIRL

NETFLIX

Occasionally you do come across a good film and I do have to admit it that recently Netflix has certainly released some good ones, better than Amazon which seems to be more interested in TV Series, anyway I digress.

A family is experiencing the loss of the mother due to cancer.

Here in the UK we have the NHS so the medical treatment would be free but in the USA you pay for medical treatment, either directly or by taking out health insurance, but what happens when a cheap drug which actually can extend the life of a cancer patient is pulled off the market because it is so cheap?

Follow the story of a father and daughter getting revenge for the death of the wife and mother by hunting down those responsible.

An absolutely amazing twist which I literally didn't see coming that had me open mouthed and sitting on the edge of my seat!

Great story, acting brilliant especially from the young female lead and action which is definitely gritty but realistic and not as we see in usually all other films.

Definitely worth a watch.

Rating 9 out of 10.

Free Guy (2021)

Popcorn film enjoy without having to think

[7/10 · 19 August 2022]

REVIEW - FREE GUY

Interesting this film was written by the same guy who wrote the screenplay adaptation of Ready Player One, why am I saying this upfront? Because both were interesting and original but both these films suffered from the same problem, not very exciting ending for what had happened previously in the film.

Please don't get me wrong Free Guy is not a bad film at all and I enjoyed it very much but........

You follow Guy a none playable character in a video game as he starts to develop an artificial intelligence which helps him break free of the daily being killed off by the games players, helping one of the original programmers to discover their hidden code and helping Guy and his friends to.........

As ever Ryan Reynolds puts his own spin on the film with the appearance of a Deadpool poster but of course with Disney taking over other studies I especially loved where Guy is fighting Dude and the appearance of......

Definitely a popcorn film, go enjoy the explosions but don't expect to much from the ending.

Rating 7 out of 10.

The Swarm (2020)

Silly ending

[4/10 · 19 August 2022]

REVIEW - THE SWARM

French film so don't expect big budget Hollywood explosions, just a slow to start, slow middle and a confusing end to this locust slightly horror flick.

Follow an obsessed mother trying to provide for her children by breeding locusts and selling them to restaurants, yes you read it correctly.

I honestly don't know if the French do eat them and I honestly don't want to know.

The locusts get a taste for blood and start growing biggest and breeding more, so how does the mother provide the blood they need?

No, she buys it!

As I said not your usual Hollywood outing which would have had the mother kill people to feed the locusts.

Silly ending which I won't even touch on, but just made me shake my head.

Watchible just if nothing better is on

Rating 4 out of 10.

The Courier (2020)

True story

[10/10 · 19 August 2022]

REVIEW - THE COURIER

Uk release date 13 August 21

I bet you have never heard of Greville Winner.

Greville Winner was a businessman recruited by the British and American governments to bring back from Russia information supplied to him by a top Russian general.

These 2 heroes helped to prevent the Cuban missile crisis from escolating into neuclear war, these 2 heroes literally saved everyone.

This film shows the complete true story of three 2 heroes.

Amazing film, a part of history that I didn't know and am so thankful to these 2 heroes for doing what they did.

Rating 10 out of 10.

Odd Thomas (2013)

Brilliant

[10/10 · 3 August 2021]

REVIEW - ODD THOMAS

Ok so I totally by accident stumbled across this film and as my surname is Thomas I just had to watch.

If you remember a film called The Frighteners starring Michael J Fox then this is definitely the film for you.

Our anti hero Odd Thomas can see ghosts and tries to seek justice for those who were murdered but something big is going to happen and the only one who can stop it is Odd.

Totally loved this film from start to finish and will even go as far as to say I'm definitely going to watch this amazing gem of a film again!

Odd investigates strange sightings and events and you are carried along every step of the way, finding out what is planned.

Seriously I don't truly recommend many films but this literally has it all and should be recognised as a damn great movie, watch ASAP!

RATING 10 OUT OF 10.

Old (2021)

30 minutes = 1 year

[7/10 · 26 July 2021]

REVIEW - OLD

Interesting film this, I'll say right from the start I do enjoy films with new ideas as so many films these days are just revamped versions of others or modern remakes.

OLD however is different, image ageing 1 year every 30 minutes, ageing 60 years in 30 hours for example.

This is the premace for this film but actually I found it far more, one line in particular, "Do you think everyone our age feels as young as us" which is true.

I am a true believer that you are as OLD as you feel.

In essence us humans are / can be quite frail, especially if we are experiencing a health issue, but what if the health condition which could take years to develop develops in a couple of hours!

Silly in places, slow in others with an interesting twist at the end, watch this for what it is, a true exposure of us humans and how we cope with illness of us and those around us.

Rating 7 out of 10.

Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)

Amy Pond doesn't cut it

[26 July 2021]

REVIEW - GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE

FUDGE

Now I do try to keep abreast of new trailers when they come out so I can see what I want to watch and post a review, the trailer for this was literally released only about 2 weeks prior to the film being released, now I'm going to guess here why?

FUDGE

The film in itself is a great film with a lot of art noir thrown in which I love, the female leads are excellent, the action especially the slow motion sequence at the end wow but honestly the script sucks fudge and as for Amy Pond nooooooooo!

She doesn't do it as a lead, in her various outings as Gamora or in the Jumanji franchise she is the co star which works but as the lead to hang what should and could have been an excellent film doesn't work.

She's great at a cyborg but portraying a human lead, noooo sorry she simply can't act and this spoilt the entire film for me, cringing whenever I heard the accient.

Rating 5 out of 10.

Jolt (2021)

Still can kick it

[7/10 · 26 July 2021]

REVIEW - JOLT

Kate Beckinsale is one of the most versatile actors from dancing to emotional acting but she is possibly most well known for the Underworld franchise.

Now we are all getting older (unfortunately) but even though Kate was born in 1973 and is 48 years old she can still kick it.

Honesty as with my Gumpowder Milkshake if Kate Beckinsale had played the lead, now what an amazing film that would be.

Who recalls the Jason Statham film called Crank 2: High Voltage, this film is similar by using electricity but in this case rather than keeping her alive it is used to control her violence, which comes in very handy when her date is killed and the vest is removed.

Nowhere near as good as any of the Underworld films but definitely worth a watch. Rating 7 out of 10.

Blood Red Sky (2021)

Surprised

[8/10 · 25 July 2021]

REVIEW - BLOOD RED SKY

How many airplane heist films are there?

Passenger 57, Air force 1, The Commuter, And possibly a lot more that I simply cannot remember (if you do post below) but what about if you mixed an airplane heist movie with vampires!

I know, sounds silly and why would you want to watch a silly film about vampires on a plane (not to be mixed up with the terrible Snakes on a plane)?

Simply because it is a damm good film, starts off slow but honestly give it a chance because it's well worth it especially when the lead high jacker..........(sorry no spoilers).

Joint German and English film so some dialogue will either be subtitles or dubbed if watching on Netflix.

I was pretty well surprised by this film especially the amazing acting of the lead actress, scary! And oh wow the look on her sons face when the sun is coming in through the side door just breaks your heart!

One to definitely give a try.

Rating 8 out of 10.