maue-19674 Reviews

A Night to Remember (1958)

The most authentic of all the Films on the loss of the 'Titanic'

[9/10 · 2 April 2024]

I first saw this Film many years ago as a child and liked it back then. There have been many Films (& TV Series) about the loss of the 'Titanic' in 1912 - most famously James Cameron's 1997 epic which set the Box Offices of the world alight. Cameron, in the researching of his Film, became 'obsessed' with the loss of the liner, prompting him to dive the actual wreck many times.

But which Film is the most accurate (or FEELS the most accurate?) Having just seen 'A Night to Remember' again for the first time in decades, it struck me as STILL the most believable and 'authentic' account ever! The fact it is in Black & White serves the story well and the Film (adapted from Walter Lord's book) splendidly tells the tragedy of the sinking from a number of viewpoints. The Cast captures the 'time' extremely well and the Film shows the 'Class' aspects of the various passengers - from 1st to 'steerage' and how they were treated very differently.

The important aspects of the 'other' vessels involved in the sinking is also well documented - the SS Californian's seemingly 'lax' crew (who could SEE the Titanic's rockets!) & did nothing contrasts with the RMS Carpathia's immediate turn & mad dash towards the location of the sinking (her Captain knew he couldn't get there before Titanic sank).

The Film uses what tiny amounts of REAL footage of the Titanic exist to great effect.

Overall, this is a superb telling of the most famous maritime loss in history and, in some ways, the most moving...

Deepwater Horizon (2016)

Accurate & Understated telling of a dreadful disaster

[8/10 · 16 December 2023]

In April 2010 the drilling rig 'Deepwater Horizon' is getting ready to leave it's current 'Well' drill site and move to another, which is now a priority as it is well behind schedule for this move and costing BP Millions. In their haste to get away as early as possible the BP Execs and Managers are trying to cut as many 'corners' as they can - for the 126 crew of the 'Deepwater Horizon' this will involve them in the worst oil disaster in history...

This is NOT a 'Disaster movie' because it is the story of a REAL event and I was interested in how the makers would approach it. I think they have done a commendable job of inviting the audience, most of whom have never seen an oil rig, to at least appreciate how difficult working in that industry can be. Although the Film focuses on a few main characters involved in the unfolding nightmare - it also shows the ordinary guys just trying to do their best, the BP Execs pushing for a 'quick' departure and the litany of failing equipment, systems and unsatisfactory 'Tests' that all contributed to a colossal failure. The Film also deals with the nightmare of those who also' stand and wait' - at home, powerless to do anything but listen to the news media for information. That survivor Mike Williams was the main 'Consultant' on the Film assures that it is as accurate as can be done and that the facts are not compromised.

Wahlberg, Russell, Rodriquez and Malkovich all play their roles well and the scenes after the entire Rig has exploded and is an inferno are extremely well done.

The Film has an emotional depth to it that I hadn't anticipated because it portrays ALL of the participants as real Human Beings at the centre of an almost unbelievable series of catastrophic events. By the end I think most people would agree that it was all down to 'human error' - and that it was nothing short of miraculous that 'only' 11 people lost their lives.

Prey (I) (2022)

Predator becomes Prey..."This is as far as you go..."

[8/10 · 29 November 2023]

It is 1719 on the Great Plains and the Comanche go about their daily lives, foraging and hunting. Among them is Naru, a young Comanche girl who dreams of being a warrior - just like her Brother. She feels she is ignored and unfairly disrespected as she is female, but still wants to test her mettle against her male peers. Fatefully for Naru, her tribe and the white settlers on these plains, they are about to encounter something that will change their lives forever - a battle for survival against a newly arrived extra-terrestrial threat - a 'Predator'. It will give Naru the chance to prove herself.... The Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic 'Predator' from 1987 became the benchmark for 80's 'Action' movies and kick-started a new Franchise. 'Predator' is among the very best Sci-Fi action films of all time but the sequels, reboot and 'Alien vs series' are just not good enough.

Now, 35 years after 'Predator' comes 'Prey' - and it's about time!

It is a shame that this Film didn't have a Cinema release because the super cinematography shows awe inspiring shots of the huge skies, dense forests and beautiful scenery of the Comanche world that deserve to be seen on a big screen. The decision to set THIS Predator in the past is a good one and the choice of the story being told through the eyes of a native American tribe makes this a VERY different Film to all of the others. It takes the time to show us the culture of the Comanche - that they are also 'warriors' - and there are many references to 'predators' and 'prey' through the film.

Amber Midthunder plays Naru superbly and you get a real feel for her anger - and fear - of this dreadful adversary. Some Reviews here are concerned with how a small Comanche girl can take on the 'Predator' - well, if you actually remember the original correctly, Arnie does NOT triumph in the end by firepower or strength - but by outwitting his enemy. And here little Naru observes, learns and waits for the right moment to outwit her deadly opponent. The fight scenes are superb and bloody and the 'predator' design and it's weapons have been slightly changed to reflect the fact that this is 300 years ago.

All in all, this for me is the best 'Predator' film since the original!

The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

A 'Very Nice' Award-Worthy Film - but it is dull...

[7/10 · 2 February 2023]

On a remote Island off the coast of Ireland a tiny community scratch a living as best they can. Two long time friends suddenly have a falling-out that leads to ever more desperate reactions by the two protagonists... Brendan Gleeson is Colm, who has abruptly made the decision to disassociate himself from his long-time friend Pádraic - Colin Farrell - who is, needless to say, utterly confused as to why this has happened. Despite attempts by Pádraic to mediate the situation, Colm resorts to increasingly drastic measures to keep his old friend away from him, which ultimately leads down some dark paths.

Firstly, the cinematography and look of this Film is wonderful - the opening shot of falling out of the clouds to suddenly see the very green fields below us is a superb opener and the locations chosen really do place the viewer firmly in the remote Irish setting.

The Acting is on the money by all of the major players - both Gleeson and Farrell, who played so well together in the directors previous In Bruges, again show their acting chops and the supporting Cast, especially Kerry Condon, all bring something to the roles.

However, the Film unfolds at a glacial pace and almost all of the characters seem to be suffering from boredom or depression.

Colm's reason for ditching Pádraic appears to be because he now feels he is just 'dull', prompting Pádraic to keep asking all and sundry 'Am I dull?' He receives a back-handed compliment that he is a 'nice' person but Colm merely scoffs that nobody remembers 'nice' people.. Pádraic on the other hand, seems to misjudge his dealings with Colm, even when it is plain that he really needs to stay away. The way the two central characters seem to have no idea what they are doing, or why, is a flaw in the Film.

The only character with any spark is Kerry Condon's Siobhan, who recognises the sheer drabness of the place and takes firm steps to get away. It is she who confronts Colm about why he has taken this action against Pádraic, to which he again mumbles something about him being 'dull', to which her exasperated response - Your ALL dull' - kind of sums up the film.

For me, the central 'feud' between the two men doesn't ring true and the we never get to know why Colm has acted this way in the first place. The Film really seems to meander looking for a resolution.

Banshees is a very well made film - beautifully shot and acted - BUT the dramatic thrust seems to go nowhere. It is a 'nice' award-worthy Film....but it IS dull and nowhere near the masterpiece critics are saying it is.

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

Pandora - A world building Experience like no other!

[9/10 · 23 December 2022]

How to describe 'Avatar Way of Water'? It isn't easy because there is nothing else like this series. It has taken over a dozen years to bring the second instalment of the Avatar story to our screens and, in doing so, it has created the usual dichotomy of Avatar 'fans' and Cameron 'haters'. So, what was MY take on this Sequel? Well, firstly I watched this in IMAX 3D, which is the top of the range experience. I would certainly NOT bother with this format for 95% of the other Films out there, however, this is a Cameron production and he does nothing by halves. Having seen the recent 'Avatar' re-release, I anticipated that this would look visually incredible - and it DOES. The VFX are SO far ahead of anything I have seen (it 'trashes' recent MCU efforts like the risible 'Thor: Love & Thunder'). So the VFX and indeed, the fabulous cinematography, are astounding, with the underwater sequences in 3D being particularly stunning and effective.

The story has been criticised by many people, probably because it is the ONLY element left TO have a go at, but again, the story is a continuation of the relationship between Jake and Neytiri, only decades after the events in the first Avatar. Briefly, the 'Sky People' are back - yes, those Humans are a real pain - but this time they bring a whole new motive for landing on Pandora AND they bring a 'Quaritch avatar' with them, no doubt because he has the proper motivation to hunt down Jake. Problem is, Jake now has a Family and pretty soon he decides to move from the Forests out beyond the seas to live with the ocean 'na'vi'. Needless to say, it isn't long before the 'Sky People' in the shape of Quaritch, start closing the net... Yes, a straightforward storyline - as if most Hollywood blockbusters have anything else! - but it is HOW it is executed that counts. All of the characters, from the members of the Sully Family to the 'new' Quaritch are given screen time to develop, extremely unusual in Films this large. The most fascinating is Sigourney Weaver's 'Kiri', who appears to be more than just an 'old soul' in a teenage body.

The middle section of the film looks like a nature documentary on 'Pandorian ocean life' and the relationship between the wildlife and the sea Na'vi 'Metkayina' is especially focussed. All this gives way to the third act, a typical Cameron 'tour de force', of a battle between the 'mechanised humans' and the more primitively armed 'Na'vi'.

Overall, this is a Film I actually want to go and see AGAIN. It was packed full of detail, much of which viewers would struggle to take in on the first viewing.

THIS is exactly why I ignore the 'haters' and also the rather childish reviews of some 'so-called' serious Film Critics, who for some reason write trite reviews that show no objectivity at all.

Cameron's greatest skill is to give us something that is entertaining, spectacular AND with a serious underlying message. Unfortunately, there are still cinema-goers who just want to watch movies with NO message at all.

Avatar Way of Water wears it's creator's heart on it's sleeve - Cameron does care about the natural world and what we are doing to it. It comes through in every frame of this 3 hour magnum opus.

The 'world Building' for just these two Films leaves everything else in the shade and I for one will wait with eagerness for the next Chapter in this saga.

Keep going Jim Cameron, I want to see more!

The 355 (2022)

Female Spy caper that could have been so much better

[5/10 · 29 August 2022]

I managed to catch this recently - looked reasonable with a very good cast. Indeed it COULD have been very much better. The 'Plot' is a by the numbers 'macguffin' - in this case a drive that can infiltrate & control everything. If it falls into the wrong hands, it would be very bad for the whole world. After a botched operation several female Intelligence Agents from different countries combine forces to acquire the dangerous item back from the bad guys. That is pretty much it, so it's in Charlie's Angels/Bourne films territory.

The Actors are all decent enough but the first issue here is a terrible script which doesn't do any of them any favours - Chastain is OK as the CIA lead and Nyong'o's MI6 Brit is the tech wonder, Cruz is wasted as the Columbian Psychiatrist so it is really only Diane Kruger's damaged and relentless German BND Agent that really hits the spot as a character. Given the talent involved, this never really get's going and has some major flaws. All the Intelligence Agencies concerned seem to be so useless that they have corrupt Agents everywhere and can be infiltrated by the 'bad guys' at will. The fight sequences and action scenes are not well handled and the entire film is shot in such a way as it really LOOKS like a cheap made-for-TV film & NOT a major theatrical Film.

All this piles up at the door of Director Simon Kinberg who gets this entire Film WRONG in almost every area.

I doubt this will get a sequel, though I would be intrigued to see more of Diane Kruger's Agent Marie Schmidt - she IS a badass!

Gods of Egypt (2016)

An Old Fashioned Family Action Movie!

[8/10 · 19 June 2022]

This is one of those movies about which a lot of nonsense has been written! Some have complained that it is not accurate as regards 'Ancient Egypt' etc? Claptrap - what about 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'? Is that an accurate portrayal of archeology? Of course not...which leads me to 'Gods of Egypt'. This reminds me of several Films I enjoyed when younger such as 'Golden Voyage of Sinbad' or 'Clash of the Titans' - movies that are entertaining and can be seen by the whole Family. The leads do a good job, with Coster-Waldau the cynical Horus, having to battle Set, played with bells-on by Gerard Butler as they fight for the throne of Egypt. Thrown in are great VFX of an Ancient Egypt world, a young persons romance and Geoffrey Rush as the Sun God - Ra.

I found the film entertaining and the humour well done. It has great visuals and the production design is excellent. The late Chadwick Boseman makes for an interesting Thoth, while Elodie Yung's goddess of love - Hathor - is a delight.

If you just want an entertaining, old-fashioned, Family action Film, you could do FAR worse than watch this!

The Nightingale (I) (2018)

An Unrelentingly Brutal Colonial Nightmare

[8/10 · 10 February 2022]

A young Irish female convict endures rape and the murder of her family in 1820's Colonial Australia by Soldiers led by a brutal and ambitious Officer. Wanting revenge she enlists the help of an young Aboriginal guide to track down the Officer and his men, who have set off on foot ahead in the hope of gaining a promotion in another town.

This a brave Film and is not for the faint hearted - nor anyone who flinches at depictions of rape, bloody violence and strong language. It does shed light on an extremely dark period in Australian history, where convicts, settlers and the indigenous Aborigines are all at each others throats.

This is one of the most pitiless and relentless films I have seen in a while - the acting is superb and the cinematography is excellent. There is discrimination of every kind within all of the characters involved - the English look down on Irish Claire as inferior - Claire initially views her Aboriginal guide Billy with contempt and mistrust - he in turn thinks that ALL 'bloody Whites' are ENGLISH, which the Irish Claire has to refute. The paranoia and brutal violence seem to be 'normal' and there is a total indifference to dead Aborigines hanging by the side of the tracks and the kidnap of Aboriginal women. The Convicts are totally at the mercy of their 'guardians', while the settlers are battling increasingly desperate Aboriginal attacks on their farmsteads.

The central story is about Claire's journey to exact revenge but it is also about the destruction of the indigenous people and their way of life. As Claire and her guide Billy slowly catch up with their quarry they both learn a lot about each other and a tentative respect emerges.

Both Aisling Franciosi as Claire and Baykali Ganambarr as Billy are excellent and Sam Claflin convinces as the dreadful Hawkins.

It is a sobering journey into a part of History that is not well known - the story is fiction - but the details and realisation of 1825 Tasmania are very well done. When you also consider that 1825 is only a few years after the death of Jane Austen, whose novels depict this period as genteel and ultra-mannered, the squalor and sheer brutality comes as a shock.

History records that the result of the long war between the 'Bloody Whites' and the indigenous Aborigines led to the virtual destruction of the latter and their culture.

This Film is a noteworthy addition to great Australian dramas and is not afraid to raise awareness of what happened in their past.

Walking with Dinosaurs 3D (2013)

Superb Cinematography & CGI - Trashed by Film Studio Dimwits

[3/10 · 30 November 2021]

The original 'Walking With Dinosaurs' TV Series offered viewers the chance to see Dinosaurs in their natural environment. It was created and made as a 'Natural History Documentary' as if the viewer is watching a David Attenborough production. It works brilliantly because it did not trivialise the subject and brought the worlds to life in a unique way. So successful was the Series, the makers went on to make two more - 'Walking With Beasts' and 'Walking with Monsters' - taking in Life before and after the Dinosaurs.

I sat down to watch this with my 11 year old Daughter and - what can I say? The actual CGI depicting the various Dinosaurs/creatures of the Cretaceous is extremely well done and the Cinematography is also excellent. Unfortunately it appears that before it's release pea-brained American Studio Execs decided that, being a 'Movie', it needed to be dumbed down to 'their' level. Cue stupid and ridiculous 'anthropomorphic' Dinosaurs spouting absolutely bargain-basement 'frat-type' dialogue written by some idiot with an IQ in single figures - much like the Studio Execs who ordered this rubbish done. It could have been a fine addition to the 'Walking With Dinosaurs' franchise, but alas, just demonstrates that you can pay millions of Dollars for idiots in suits who know nothing about Films.

Eventually my Daughter asked me to turn it off, for which - sadly - I was very grateful. This may 'entertain' kids of a very young age, 5 or thereabouts, but it is an irritating, badly executed mess for anyone older. It is obvious that the 'talking Dinos' were decided on very late - so late in fact - that the mouths don't even sync with the awful dialogue.

I rate this mess 3/10 - mostly for the hard work of the animators, who did a solid job - only to be totally let down by the 'morons' running the studio.

I reckon they should all be fed to the nearest 'Rexy'!!!

If you too were disappointed with this - I recommend a similar Story but executed the CORRECT way - try 'March Of The Dinosaurs' - it's WAYYY better than this...

Event Horizon (1997)

Event Horizon - A Trip into the total darkness of space

[7/10 · 29 November 2021]

The 'Event Horizon' is an experimental ship that can use a drive to 'fold space' allowing it to 'bend' the rules that govern physics. Unfortunately, the ship 'disappears' on it's maiden Test run - only to re-appear 7 years later near the Planet Neptune. A rescue Team is sent - along with Doctor Weir the designer of the Event Horizon to ascertain what happened.... On reaching the vessel it is evident very quickly that something went BADLY wrong. Soon the rescue Team are fighting for their sanity... This is a bold Science Fiction film that really 'mashes-up' a few other Films 'The Shining' and 'Alien' immediately come to mind as influences. That this Film chooses NOT to have the usual Alien-type presence is a bonus - instead it goes it's own way into a twisted psychological and visceral horror.

There are a number of truly impressive scenes - the initial approach to the Event Horizon - floating in the upper cloud base of Neptune is well done and the design of the production is excellent.

In it's present Form and running time it achieves the chills it needs but there was a LONGER version that really went for the blood-soaked maximum of horror before the Studio ordered the Film cut down. It would certainly be interesting to see THAT version as the one we have only hints at the horrors of 'Hell'. It appears that if you wish to bend the Laws of Physics, you may not like what you find...

Passengers (I) (2016)

Loneliness & Living the life you have - A great little Sci-Fi Gem

[9/10 · 30 August 2021]

Passengers is a Science Fiction Film with a small cast but some big questions. Chris Pratt plays Jim Preston, a Passenger on the Star ship Avalon on it's way to a new world with 5000 odd people looking for a new life away from Earth. Unfortunately, the ship encounters a large meteor storm which damages it's reactor and things start to go wrong. Jim Preston's pod malfunctions - waking him 90 years TOO EARLY. He is not able to go back into stasis, so finds himself wandering a huge ship, totally alone, knowing that he may spend the rest of his life in this position. With only an Android Barman for company (an excellent Michael Sheen) Preston slowly becomes obsessed with a fellow Passenger - Aurora - played by the always watchable Jennifer Lawrence. He COULD wake her also BUT SHOULD he?? She would then also be stuck in the same dire predicament? The morals and decisions made are always questionable but Preston's longing for a REAL human to interact with overcomes his deep knowledge that what he is doing is so wrong.

The Film is much more a study of the characters - the two leads having a romance that is charming but also - for the audience - leaving questions - would the obviously high-flying educated Aurora in other circumstances even notice Jim Preston at all?

The second half of the film introduces Gus - Laurence Fishburne - a crewmember whose pod has also failed and who now finds that the damage to the ship will soon become fatal - unless he and the two Passengers can fix the problem.. The two leads are extremely engaging, especially Lawrence whose outrage at learning she was deliberately awakened is palpable. Pratt is also good and having to challenge himself more as an actor than usual.

The Special effects are beautifully done and the sheer magnificence of the cosmos along with the design of the Avalon make for a very satisfying visual palette.

Having read some critical Reviews before watching this film, I am beginning to understand why many people are turning their backs on so-called Film Critics. In this instance I found their Reviews misleading, badly thought out and ultimately unrepresentative of what Passengers is all about.

For people who like Science Fiction but want a more human and personal story, Passengers is for you. A tiny but great Cast will take you on this journey which I found very uplifting.

Downfall (2004)

Gotterdammerung - a Brilliant & Unflinching Masterpiece

[10/10 · 26 July 2021]

Der Untergang or 'Downfall' is the very best, most realistic and historically accurate Film I have ever seen on this subject. Researched down to the smallest detail, this is an unflinching look at the last few days of Hitler - and the Third Reich - in the Bunker in Berlin. It is gritty & realistic - there are NO Hollywood niceties here, just a slowly creeping sense of doom and almost disbelief at the irrational and incoherent rantings of a doomed Nazi 'cult'. For that is what 'Nazism' in it's purest form is - more a Religion than a Political movement. What makes this entire experience even more stunning is that it is based on real eyewitness accounts by the people who were there - and survived. Principally through the experience of Traudl Junge, Hitler's Secretary, who witnessed virtually everything in those final few days, we get to experience the 'death' of the Reich as it really was - chaotic, murderous, bloody and INSANE. Bruno Ganz delivers a stunning performance as Hitler - seemingly rational on occasions - tempered by violent outbursts of rage when he feels his orders have not been followed. The German cast are excellent across the board - Kohler's Eva Braun is vivacious and daring, and Harfouch's Magda Goebbels is the epitome of Nazi motherhood - not even wanting her children to survive if Nazism doesn't. Matthes' as Goebbels is almost the devil's spin-doctor and horrifically believable - still crafting empty, useless, speeches as the Soviet guns thunder overhead. His totally uncaring response to SS BF Mohnke's observation that the 'Volkssturm' Units - old men and boys - are being slaughtered is the very essence of Nazi ideology - they NEED to die for the Fuhrer. Time and time again this nihilistic ideology comes through - Hitler dismissing the German people as not worthy of HIM and therefore expendable, Goebbels exclaiming that the Germans gave the Nazis a mandate for what they did (not mentioning of course that they took away any democratic opportunity to get rid of them!) The scenes where Nazi Police hunt the streets for 'deserters' or 'Cowards' - hanging German civilians for the slightest infraction - even while Soviet troops and tanks are yards away - shows the utter insanity of the Nazi position.

What REALLY comes across is just how ordinary most of the high ranking Nazi's actually were - only concerned with their status, all trying to evade the Fuhrer's wrath and, even at the end, STILL playing inconsequential political games in their own fantasyland - all this while the ordinary soldiers, civilians and children are fighting on in Berlin.

Alexandra Maria Lara plays Junge as a young, idealistic and utterly gullible woman who only slowly realises what she has been serving as the utter madness of the Regime consumes it.

The entire film is bookended by clips from an interview with the REAL Traudl Junge, who came to realise that her 'acceptance' of the Nazis was exactly the problem - they grasped power, destroyed any opposition ruthlessly, pursued their own demented ideas with no remorse whatever and, finally, in going down to defeat, determined to take virtually everyone else with them.

I would like to say that times have changed, that this simply could not happen again - BUT beware - the enemies of reason and their pursuit of total power have NOT gone away.

'Downfall' is more than a Film about the insanity of the 'Third Reich' - it is a warning to us all that this is what happens when people allow dictators to take away our basic freedoms and impose their ideology on a society.

Jiu Jitsu (2020)

So Stunningly BAD - it is nothing but a kick to the face of Cinema!

[3/10 · 11 April 2021]

To quote another famous franchise I had a 'very bad feeling' about viewing this from the start. For instance, Cage needs the right Director and material and God, this is NOT it. That he IS this best thing in this is not saying a lot. I won't even bother to explain the 'Plot' - the Film makers didn't manage it so why should I bother! I didn't realise that even now, second-rate 'B' movies were still being churned out. I'll be honest, if all you want is a load of 3rd rate actors in second rate 'Staged Martial-Art' fights, then this is for you. If you are actually looking for anything more than that, give this a WIDE berth.

The Film comes across as a thinly disguised 'Martial Arts' rip-off of the 1980's Classic Sci-Fi film 'Predator' - and the effects in this are barely better than that 35 year old Film. The Acting, Direction, Effects and Script are SO POOR, you will think this is a cheap made-for-TV movie - but no, apparently they spent $25million on this, though where it went is as big a mystery as how this was ever made.

However, if you are a Film buff that thoroughly enjoys watching movies that are SO badly made that they make you laugh or shake your head in amazement - well, then, this may be worth 100mins of your time - in fighting parlance - KNOCK YOURSELF OUT!

Pulse (2001)

An Eerie & Unsettling slow burn of a Film

[8/10 · 27 March 2021]

The Horror genre isn't one of my favourites, so I watched this without any real expectations as to how it would unfold. Well, not in the way that I thought is the answer. This is a VERY creepy, slow-burn of a Film where the premise is that the 'dead' have filled up their 'realm' and are now 'leeching' back into our 'real' world via our Internet, which is the connection between the two.

The Film is unsettling because it does not rely on gore and jump shocks (traditionally the staple of Horror films) but let's the viewer go on this ever collapsing reality with the characters themselves, who too late, have woken up to the slowly emerging threat. The scenes with the web cameras showing 'alternate' rooms and realms are very effective and the slow mental disintegration of many of the characters is again eerie. There are many themes here - the vast loneliness of great swathes of humankind, the depression of feeling alone, the desperation of people to 'connect' with others - albeit on the web - all meshes together into an ever spiralling descent. This is not a 'Horror' film in it's truest sense, more a hugely disturbing psychological drama where the chills occur in slow-time - people gradually 'fading away' to simply become shadow markers on walls. The scenes in the deserted city also increase this fatalistic loneliness.

This Film may not be for everyone but I found it a well-made mood piece with more than a little to say about our modern way of life and our almost complete dependence on the impersonal 'web' for so-called 'contact'. The irony being that it has made us more 'alone' than we have ever been before.

The Terror (2018–2025)

A Frozen Nightmare & descent into Hell - Season 1 Only

[10/10 · 22 March 2021]

I really had no idea what to expect with this Series - I knew of the Franklin Expedition - so I decided to give this a chance. I was immediately hooked by the superb atmosphere, the acting and the sheer suspense of it all. I found it SO gripping I could not stop watching the Episodes. It must be said that many scenes are not for the faint hearted but they DO give this production a real sense of what it might have been like to be stranded in the Arctic in ships of the 19th Century. The Cast are superb across the board - Hinds, Harris and Menzies three Captains are a well balanced trio of different personalities. Adam Nagaitis' scheming Cornelius Hickey is hugely watchable and the inclusion of native Actors playing the local netsilik people adds credibility. The suspense and unease gradually increases as we move towards the inevitably tragic conclusion - the expedition's nemesis 'Tuunbaq' is horrifically realised. It all adds up to a first rate chilling Tale that thoroughly entertains and repays repeated viewings. It also may want you to learn more about the Franklin Expedition, as it did me. Great Television!!

Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)

Ridley Scott's modern Re-telling of a Biblical Tale

[7/10 · 8 February 2021]

As someone who recognises Ridley Scott as a force in Cinema and a fan of many of his Films, I have to say that 'Exodus: Gods & Kings' is not among his best. Scott has decided to modernise the Biblical tale in ways that make the entire story more 'plausible' to a modern audience. Thus, he starts with the Battle of Kadesh to give the film an exciting opening before moving on to the Moses/Ramses face off and the well known aftermath. Religious purists criticised the Film for 'inaccuracy' and changing the 'known facts' of the story - absolutely astounding thinking as the Bible is not an 'Historical Document' and, indeed, there is no mention of a 'Moses' in any surviving texts of the time. Even the idea that the Hebrew slaves 'built the Pyramids' etc is now seriously in doubt as Archaeologists can find no evidence at all for this assertion. Even the inclusion that the pharaoh referred to was Ramses II is a total guess as the name is never quoted in the biblical texts. Leaving aside the source material, the Film looks fantastic - ancient Egypt looks fabulous and the cinematography is superb. All of the main sequences are well done but the entire Film suffers from a curious lack of emotion and connection. The Cast does it's best - Christian Bale tries to convey Moses as more of a rebel leader than a spiritual one and Joel Edgerton struggles with the role of Ramses. The real issue here is that the Script does allow the two main protagonists to really gel. I do give credit to Scott for attempting to make the tale more realistic for today's audiences but for a number of reasons this film doesn't quite work as well as it should.

1917 (2019)

The First World War was hell - and this is NOT it..

[7/10 · 28 January 2021]

Sometimes I watch a Film that comes highly recommended - and can find it a little disappointing. '1917' was more than that - it struck me very soon into the Film that, whatever story this was, it was so Fictionalised it bore no semblance to the reality of the Year it was trying to portray. Supposedly the 6th April 1917 two (yes, TWO) British Soldiers are ordered to make their way forward to make contact with a British Unit that is being led into a 'trap' with orders to stop any such assault. I would like to say that there is more to the story than that BUT there isn't. The Film is shot in an apparent 'one continuous take' pseudo-documentary way which occasionally rankles. Make no mistake though, the Cinematography by Roger Deakins FULLY deserves the Oscar it was awarded - it is just that the actual depiction of WW1 and story make no sense whatever. There are real issues - firstly, I never felt that the dialog or the actors were in 'period' being too 21st Century and not Early 20th (for how to do this see 'Gettysburg' where the lines and pace of the actors match the 19th Century). Secondly, the story unfolds across a landscape in which all the elements are there BUT you never get the REAL horror of what it was truly like to fight in this hell-hole. I'm not even going to comment on some of the more absurd aspects. A General in a front-line dugout? Not likely! Save 1600 men from an ambush - by sending TWO? A RAT setting off a booby-trap in a German underground bunker? I could go on but it is pointless. The only 'enemy' to appear are not even stereotypes, just absurd - a German pilot who survives a flaming crash in his Albatros fighter because our two heroes pull him from the flaming wreckage - immediately decides to pull a knife and attack one of them. What?? The other German soldiers also conform to the 'Star Wars Stormtrooper Complex' - where, despite their military reputation, they simply cannot shoot straight. These would be the same troops who, the previous year, caused horrific casualties to the British on The Somme. Overall, this is a very well-made piece of Cinema BUT simply is NOT accurate in it's depiction of the 'Great War' and feel an opportunity has been missed. I even felt that it's award of the Oscar for 'Best Visual Effects' was undeserved as they just weren't good at all (that Oscar should have gone to Alita: Battle Angel). Once again, too many British Film critics were happy to jump on the Mendes bandwagon calling this a 'masterpiece' - it isn't - Kubrick's 'Paths Of Glory' is WAY superior to this....

Blade Runner (1982)

Beautiful Dystopia - the greatest most influential Sci-Fi Film ever made

[10/10 · 27 January 2021]

I remember the first time a saw Blade Runner - a thoroughly stunning experience overall - although the narration was distracting and the end just didn't match the overall dark tone of the Film. You can imagine then how I felt when it became apparent that Director Ridley Scott wanted to remove both! Whether you see the 'Director's Cut' or the recent 'Final Cut', Blade Runner is simply a dystopian visual masterpiece about where mankind is heading and the consequences of creating ever more complex AI. Loosely based on the Phil Dick novel 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep' Scott's vision is a dark, resonant, neon-lit cityscape, where giant Corporate adverts play in the rainy gloom. Rick Deckard is a 'Blade Runner' - an investigator who hunts down any 'replicants' (artificially created human-forms) who have rebelled against their programming. The new Nexus 6 are a problem - if they can imitate human behaviour well enough - they may be able to fool the Test that differentiates Humans from Replicants and several of the new Nexus 6 have arrived back on earth for reasons that are not immediately apparent. The entire Film poses a fundamental question - when do artificially created entities become sentient? What rights do they have, if any? Do they 'become' Human or merely imitate our feelings? There are no easy answers here. This is NOT Science Fiction in the Terminator-type vein - explosions, battle scenes etc. This is REAL Science Fiction, where it builds a credible world to ask difficult Questions - and what a world it is. We can forget now how extraordinary Blade Runner looked in 1982 when it was first released and maybe the reason it looks slightly more familiar these days is because the World DOES look more like the L.A of Blade Runner. Indeed, many Far-Eastern Cities look unerring like this. The design of the Film is stunning and inspired countless generations of Designers, not to mention Film Directors - Blade Runner has influenced Film like no other Science Fiction Film has. The Cinematography is astounding - it just couldn't be anything else if you mix Ridley Scott with Jordan Cronenweth - the sheer look of the City, the streets and the interiors, all lit in a dark foreboding shadow-scape, are as 'Noir' as you can get. The Cast are superb, Harrison Ford has never been better and the support he gets from the likes of Rutger Hauer, Daryl Hannah, Joe Turkel etc is spot on. The score by Vangelis fits the atmosphere PERFECTLY - the scenes in Deckard's apartment to his 'memories of green' - are just pure Art. In conclusion, this is a Science Fiction Film that takes it's subject seriously and consequently builds it's world to a standard that is rarely matched in Cinema. Many point to Kubrick's '2001' as the finest Film in this genre - I disagree - Ridley Scott's dark dystopian beauty has quietly stolen that crown.

A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence (2014)

I'm glad to hear you're doing fine - a Clockwork Existence

[8/10 · 24 January 2021]

Although this film is pitched as a Swedish 'Comedy' it is actually more of a morbid observation of human existence in todays world. A loose collection of small vignettes tenuously held together by some recurring characters, this film is not for everybody and is certainly strange. Very slow pace and a 'plot' that meanders may put a lot of general movie goers off seeing this. If you are into Art movies - or even slightly 'odd' ones - this may be rewarding. The REAL thrust of this Film is to highlight just how we have all been bogged down in 'routine' and just keep turning the treadmill towards death. Doesn't sound like a laugh - and for much of this film - it certainly isn't. Looked at from a certain point of view it shows how sad and appalling our 'modern' lives have become. People stuck in 'dead' Jobs, dead relationships, dead lives, until all these people have left is their base routine going round and round. There are other observations - the Hubris of Charles XII's Army as it leaves for an utter defeat - and slaves being being forced into a metal cylinder to tread it around and around (for an audience of obviously wealthy Capitalists). Overall, this Film is NOT for every viewer but it does have something devastating to observe about the way the current world is. Like machines, human beings now just spout soundbites - all through the movie people are heard to say "I'm glad to hear you're doing fine" - even when you know that is FAR from the truth.

The Civil War (1990)

A Documentary Triumph of an American Tragedy.

[10/10 · 22 January 2021]

I am British and love History - and there are many era's that I do not not enough about. One of these was the enormous tragedy of the American Civil War and decided to give this documentary a look. What an inspired choice this proved to be because Ken Burns does this subject justice. There are no re-enactments, instead the entire Series is based around original photographs, paintings and illustrations backed up with quotes from the people themselves. The result is that this period comes to life with the images and the words of those who actually lived through it. Historians who study the Civil War also appear to give some modern context but what is really astonishing is that this documentary flows freely in a continuous chronological fashion, each year of the War being brought vividly to life. The original photos are terrific but it is the letters - spoken by actors - that truly bring this to life - Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Grant, Lee but also lesser soldiers, slaves, abolitionists, wives and bystander witnesses - all contribute to give the viewer a real taste of what living through this War was actually like. So good did I find this series I have now acquired the series on DVD and can re-watch this whenever I feel the need. If only more documentaries were as thorough and well presented as this. A masterpiece...

The Lighthouse (I) (2019)

A 19th Century descent into Hell!

[8/10 · 27 December 2020]

This is a very daring piece of filmmaking - shot in Black and white and in an aspect ratio (almost 4:3) that is not in vogue today - The Lighthouse is not a Film that will be appreciated by everyone - but for those who love Cinema and strange storytelling it will strike a chord. The entire Film looks and sounds as if the viewer is truly back in the 1890's (when it is set) - a younger man arrives as the underling to an 'old salt' Lighthouse keeper - the two of them having to endure the loneliness and drab daily routine of keeping the Lighthouse functional - and then a storm arrives. Slowly, both men begin slipping away from reality, not helped by the isolation, boredom and excess drinking, not to mention an increasing paranoia as to what the other is 'up to'. This is very much a tale of maritime myths, mermaids and madness. Both Actors are excellent and the Cinematic storytelling is unique. The monologues are crafted from original writings of the period from nautical men of the 19th Century - and this certainly places the viewer into the time and place of the two main characters. The combination of monochrome photography and the strange sound effects - an insistent foghorn, screeching Gulls - combine to make this an unsettling experience. This is more of an Art Film than scary movie - and many will not appreciate the ultimate finale but for those who love their Cinema to be bold and challenging, this is a fine piece of work.

Alien 3 (1992)

Darkness & Pain - the Struggle for Redemption

[8/10 · 17 December 2020]

Alien 3 is the most divisive Film in the entire franchise, most viewers hated it's absolutely bleak tone, not to mention it's apparent lack of connection to it's predecessors. When I saw this back in 1992 I admit I was of the same mind but I also thought 'where is the rest of it?" as I was certain that sequences had been edited. In the case of Paul McCann's 'Golic' - he simply disappeared! ALL of the 'Alien' Films had Directors that have a very distinctive, strong, visual style - Scott/Cameron/Fincher & Jeunet. This was Fincher's first feature and what a baptism of fire it was to be. The Production of Alien 3 is a textbook 'How NOT to make a Film' - beset by Story, script and 'creative' changes. The Original Story by Vincent Ward was of a 'Monastic Community in space' where the hapless Ripley's EEV crashes. The look was Medieval and very low tech - and indeed some of this can still be seen in the final Film. But the Studio interfered to such an extent that Ward left and into this creative maelstrom stepped Fincher. Fox changed the Monks to 'convicts' working on a mining facility. The HUGE issue was that there was NO FINISHED SCRIPT in existence, so the Production had already built huge sets but there was no certainty that they would be used! In the end, Fincher was battling an ever-moving script, the Studio AND the elements and to no ones surprise he pretty much walked off the picture at the very end, leaving the final Editing to the Studio/Terry Rawlings. The original theatrical release in 1992 was met with a mixed reaction. Later, the 'Alien Anthology' Blu Ray release featured Fincher's 'Assembly Cut' as an option. It is THIS version that I am reviewing here:- and a VERY different Film it is too. Having seen it twice recently, I am firmly convinced that Fincher was trying to 'push' the Film back towards Vincent Ward's vision - the Religious references throughout this version can hardly be coincidence - the main Central Area looks like a 'Chapter House'? Another shot loiters on 'medieval-like' flying buttress Gargoyles - out of place in a Mining colony? Alien 3 is the most bleak, nihilistic and dark Science Fiction Film - there is no concession to the previous films and the tone is set from the very beginning - as the Titles open Elliot Goldenthal's doom-laden score slowly emerges a choir singing 'Agnus Dei' setting the Religious tone of this dark film and all through this version the Religious references are in evidence - the 'Inmates' have adopted a 'Religion' to contain their past impulses and bring some order to their lives. In Fact 'Fury 161' - their planet - seems a metaphor for 'Purgatory' each person struggling for some kind of redemption. Then Ripley's EEV crashes, turning their slow, Medieval-like existence upside down. Ripley has 'demons' of her own - in every sense. Her guilt is written on her face - she has survived whilst everyone else has perished. She has unwittingly also brought a Xenomorph with her - the superb inter-cutting of the cremation of the bodies, with Ripley's reaction, Dillon's 'sermon' and the horrific 'birth' of the Alien-by-Ox only reinforces the religious elements. Outside on the beach the inmates have erected a Cross made of 'junk' and, as the EEV crashes, the sun disappears behind the planet plunging it into darkness. The role of 'Golic' in this version is important - he is present when the Alien kills two of his fellow inmates - the blood spraying over his face in what he interprets as a 'baptism' - he is now convinced that the 'dragon' has been sent as 'god's judgement' on them all. In the meanwhile Ripley and the inmates manage to capture the creature in a huge bunker - but Golic has decided that the 'dragon' must be released. Again, this emphasises that the Aliens always profit from the weakness and greed of humanity - whether it is Golic's misguided beliefs or the greed of the Company wanting to obtain them as weapons. Now they have to capture or kill the creature - Ripley is only too aware that the Company wants it ALIVE & she also knows she has a 'Queen' inside of her. In yet another scene Ripley begs Dillon to kill her - spreading her arms out along the bars - again a very religious pose. - he refuses, demanding that Ripley help destroy the Alien currently at large killing his 'flock'. All through the finale inmates fight for the lives, mostly losing, as Dillon and Ripley try and cage-in the creature and force it into a furnace. Dillon has to make the ultimate sacrifice to keep the Alien in the lead works long enough for molten lead to be poured over it - a redemption of sorts. The Alien manages to free itself but Ripley manages to pour cold water over the boiling hot creature, causing it to explode. As Company men arrive one is familiar to Ripley - Bishop - he says he is human? Again, Ripley knows better than to trust his words of 'we can take it out of you' and 'you can still have a life' - Ripley knows what she must do for her 'redemption' - she deliberately falls backwards into the molten lead - killing herself and the Queen embryo. As she does so, the sun appears again to bathe 'Fury 161' in light. There are still some issues that cannot be resolved - sloppy script lines, and the creature itself - in 1992 Digital Effects were in their infancy and it shows here. However, this is a FAR more satisfying cut of the Film with real efforts being made to realise the characters & situation more. It's religious undertones and dark view of the future is unremitting - a nihilistic journey into a hell of man's own making. When we consider the massive issues that Fincher faced, a troublesome studio, no script and a chaotic production schedule - that he managed to produce any kind of Cinematic experience should be looked at as nothing short of a 'miracle'.

The Blue Max (1966)

The Best WW1 Aviation Film ever made

[8/10 · 15 November 2020]

The opening of 'The Blue Max' sets the scene perfectly - a German soldier fighting in the shell holes of no-mans land hears the drone of aircraft above him. Looking up he sees a two-seater observation plane being engaged by a fighter - the former is hit and slowly crashes to earth - the soldier inspired to learn to fight in the air. He quickly learns that most other pilots are from the higher classes, prompting him to respond to their prejudice by seeking to be an 'Ace'. If he can shoot down 20 enemy planes he will be awarded the highest Medal for Bravery the Prussian 'Pour le Merite' or 'Blue Max'. In the process he will have to fight not just the enemy but the class system & politics of war. The look of the film is superb, great Cinematography and excellent performances from the main Actors - George Peppard's Bruno Stachel has a hard & ruthless edge, Jeremy Kemp's Aristocratic rival has swagger and James Mason as the General exudes authority. Karl-Michael Vogler plays Stachel's Squadron Leader, a war-weary Prussian dismayed by Stachel's callous attitude to war. Ursula Andress plays the arrogant and selfish wife of the general to the hilt. The REAL stars here are, of course, the aircraft and the Fokker Triplanes, DVII's and British Se5's flit around the sky like lethal butterflies - there is no CGI effects here - all the dogfighting was done for real. Even the ground assault scenes are carried out with thousands of extras. The Film's score, by veteran Composer Jerry Goldsmith, is absolutely outstanding and one of his very best. All in all, this film delivers a satisfying glimpse into a rarely seen part of WW1 and has stood the test of time really well.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

EXTRAORDINARY AND EMOTIONAL - Best Film of 2019

[10/10 · 14 September 2020]

Sometimes you view a Film that is pure Cinema, beautiful images, an emotional story and a delight to the senses. I am not sure what I thought this film would be like - maybe 'Carol'? But, no, this is a visual masterclass from start to finish. Given the Painting and Art theme it is little wonder that the film looks astounding, the cinematography is gorgeous and the backdrops carefully chosen to enhance the story. This is a pure love story involving two women utterly stuck in the rigid and stifling conventions of late18th Century France. An Artist is hired to paint a portrait of a woman so that she can be married off to a rich Milanese man. The Portrait must be undertaken in secret as the subject is unwilling to pose as she realises that, once completed, she is likely to be married shortly afterwards. The two woman slowly begin to understand each other and their relationship develops. The two leads - Noemie Merlant and Adele Haenel - are absolutely superb and carry the emotional weight of the film. The reserve and stiff encounters of the time slowly give way to other feelings, not just love, but frustration, resignation and rage. The Writer/Director Celine Sciamma has captured perfectly the severe restrictions facing women of that time and the sad realisation that their forbidden love affair will only be a brief one. The final scene requires absolutely no subtitles at all - Adele Haenel's Heloise sits in a concert hall - her face carries all of her painful emotions and regrets and memories. She is so engrossed that she fails to see her love staring at her from the other side of the hall - never has a cinema audience wanted more a character just to look to her left.... This Film is an extraordinary and emotional piece of 'Art' in every sense - and my personal choice of Best Film of 2019...

Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Satire at it's very best...Laughter & tears

[9/10 · 17 August 2020]

Lets face it, JoJo Rabbit is a satire about one of the most dreadful periods of recent History. Many people are 'sensitive' about the WW2 era and believe that it is NOT a suitable subject for ridicule....or is it? The answer is YES, of course, if done in the right way. Many facets of the Third Reich ARE ridiculous and the film makes great play on the Nazi ideology, it's Racist and absurd beliefs and it's paranoia and utter control. Again, so-called 'Professional Film Critics' once again failed to get the point - many of them showing that they are not up to reviewing current films - any Critic that tries to compare this Film with Mel Brooke's 'The Producers' is not only lazy but WRONG. JoJo Rabbit delves into the very heart of what it meant to be a child in Nazi Germany - taught to believe in the Fuhrer and the ideology completely. The Film is not without it's dark side, which is entirely appropriate given the setting and the threat of the authorities is very real. The Cast are all superb - especially the child actors - who bring their characters to life in a believable way. Johannson does a superb job as 'JoJo's Mother and Sam Rockwell's Captain Klenzendorf is a suitably war-weary Wehrmacht soldier. This is a Film that satirises the utter madness of the Third Reich but does so in a way that will appeal to modern kids who can hardly credit that this really happened. It is also extremely emotional, as the various characters navigate their way towards a finale that is both sad - and uplifting... Oh and Taika Waititi's 'Imaginary Hitler' is fun too!!