Change Your Image
cmmkkmkr
Reviews
Boudica (2023)
Bad Film in just about every way
This film deviates from the historical record quite a bit. In this version, the Romans kill Prasutugas in an ambush. Boudica's daughters are murdered, not raped, but appear as motivating spirits to her. Paulinus is not on Anglesey fighting Druids: he is in Rome speaking to Nero in a disapproving tone. Nero rather undramatically kills himself because of Boudica. And so on.... Altogether it is kind of stupid.
Olga is very pretty, but her dialog here is badly written, so her performance is nowhere as good as in "Centurian." Also, Boudica is stereotyped as having red hair: here it is brown? The rest of the cast is forgettable, except the cute little girls (Boudica's daughters) who actually turn in among the better performances. I appreciate that CGI usage is limited, but the production has a very low budget feel. You can tell that they didn't have epic numbers of extras. Instead of Boudica's final battle fielding 200k Britains, it looks like she has a gang of about a dozen. The final battle is so badly staged, and filmed as if it is a black comedy. Paulinus apparently knows who Boudica is although he has been in Rome, and nods sadly from a mountaintop vantage point when she is killed a la Julius Caesar.
Boudica is a fascinating historical figure. This film is not the place to learn about her or her cause. It really is a hot mess.
The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023)
Pretty Decent Interpretation of Dracula
I saw the previews and thought this looked good. The critics struck with bad reviews and I forgot about. Just watched it and the critics got it wrong. The actors did an awesome job given that this film had relatively little dialog. For most of the film had to show their fear, grief and disgust wordlessly. The set, make-up, and plot are pretty great. Corey Hawkins as the ship's Dr. And (Aisling Franciosi) Anna, the alleged stowaway powerful performances. The Captain's young grandson, Toby (Woody Norman) almost stole the show with a perfect childlike innocence.
The thrills start slow, but eventually accelerate and we all know that Dracula is not a chill dude. The Voyage is when Dracula leaves his ancient home in Transylvania to come to densely crowded London to feed. No mention is made of Mina and indeed, there is little love onboard the Demeter. Dracula here is not campy or charming. Here he is reduced to his most base forms and instincts. There is a certain sadism in the vampire's murders. He is a bottomless pit of Evil.
The ending is interesting...