johnyysmith Reviews

Midway (2019)

Could have been so much better

[5/10 · 28 January 2020]

But if you are a teenager it's probably ok with the over acting script. If you are simply anyone else you probably realise the realism is not really. That's a shame because so much work has gone into the cgi and much of the work in creating old ships etc seems spot on. But the computer guys seem to have a hang up with anything that goes bang being simply a fireball - there is no high explosive to be seen. Just traditional flame pots.

And if you are an aviator you will marvel at fully loaded planes being able to climb 200 feet in a couple of seconds on takeoff.

If you are uniformed you will marvel at one pilot being a 'maverick' and wonder why he was not in the brig for insubordination - and for practising an engine out side-slip, undershoot, landing on the carrier. Or the other pilots shouting at Nimitz when he arrived. Oh dear no

I prefer the original and hoped this would be better. But I did not pay for a seat - the teenagers did

Churchill (2017)

Modern drivel

[1/10 · 15 January 2020]

Historically inaccurate. I am reminded of many Hollywood abomination re-writes of history like the idiot U-571 which shows an American ship making the capture, and thus securing a naval enigma machine. The capture was in fact by the British ship HMS Bulldog and the U Boat U110.

Churchill wanted a different invasion, Greece, since the plans of an invasion were first considered. But Britain with the entry of the US had become a relatively minor partner and they wanted Normandy - and so did the British military. Churchill. He did not interfere like a besotted, addled, inebriate still living in the past. He took his lumps.

What on earth was Brian Cox thinking to involve himself with this pap?

Squadron 303 (2018)

Oh dear

[3/10 · 12 November 2019]

Polish Squadron 303 were arguably the best RAF squadron to take part in the Battle of Britain. Their memory should have been honoured with a great film. This film was not great. I saw little evidence that anyone with a good knowledge of WWII or the Battle had any say in the matter. Or anyone with an aviation knowledge.

It was disjointed. Filled with rather silly dialogue. All the British officers were idiots. Playing roles, probably never played by WAAF's at that time, all the women were beautiful. In other words it was made for teenagers. Shame

American Assassin (2017)

Made For Teenagers

[4/10 · 26 November 2017]

Only good thing to say was the production values. Keaton cashed in on a film beneath him. Hollywood wasted another book which could easily have been scripted far better, and been the basis of sequels.

Apparently all that is needed to find an international terrorist cell is hang around outside their bank. And then allow a hormone driven nearly man to punch anyone he wants and they spill the beans. Pathetic

Another grown up not going to the cinema for a while now. There is little else to add.

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

MFT - Made For Teenagers

[4/10 · 12 February 2017]

Watchable but don't expect Band of Brothers or Saving Private Ryan

A lot of clichés and over the top behavior about a conscientious objector. It's as if they were expecting none of their recruits needed to be medics.

Somehow the concie goes to war with his recruit platoon, seemingly without going anywhere for any medical training.

The first battle scenes could have been so good. But they were spoiled for me by fire pot explosions instead of high explosives. It would seem also that US soldiers thought it was a good idea to stand up and completely expose themselves to enemy fire.

Was looking forward to this because it's been nominated it must be good right. But oh dear. It's not Oscar material. But that does not matter as the Hollywood lovies always prefer to go mad about a film about themselves

Too syrupy for me. Spielberg and Hanks have spoiled me for realism

Jason Bourne (I) (2016)

MFT - Made For Teenagers

[4/10 · 2 September 2016]

I love the series, including Legacy, and for years we have been waiting for this sequel. What a let down

Somehow this intelligent agent is drawing attention to himself, albeit in a remote location, by winning at prize fighting. And the first indication that this is not 'our' Bourne.

Suspension of disbelief starting to erode

Nicky has changed from the thoughtful and timid back office worker into a dynamic go anywhere, hacker burning dynamo who must move around with the surety of a treadstone agent. Wtf

Mindless computer tech follows. The tired Hollywood clichés where computers are given one command and do some very complicated things

And Athens riots meant not simply that Parliament Square is mayhem. As Jason rides the back streets gobs of flaming (petrol bombs?) are occurring in every street for no foreseeable reason. To top it all a satellite manages to track Jasons every move and somehow someone on another continent can predict where our dynamic duo on a motorbike will be in the backstreets in 50 seconds time. I have ridden the back streets of Athens on a motorcycle and at no time could I have said where I would be in even 30 seconds time - and that was without the possibilities of pedestrian staircases and alleys. As stormin Norman would have said 'bovine scatology'

And that's when I got sad for what could have been. I can only imagine that anyone who calls this a good action movie is satisfied with the comic book pap released every holiday time