RoidDroidVoid Reviews

Altered Hours (2016)

Incoherently inconsistent

[2/10 · 12 January 2022]

Let me preface my review by saying that I am a huge fan of time travel films and I'm definitely okay with low budget films.

This film was so absolutely incompetent.

The story was weak at best with questionable motives and characters that are terribly inconsistent.

The acting isn't too bad with one or two glaring exceptions.

There was so much wrong with the accuracy of storytelling that it would be pointless to attempt a list.

Overall, this film added nothing to the genre and stole time from me.

Invasion (2021–2024)

Life Thieves

[4/10 · 12 December 2021]

This series is terribly uneven and lulled me into watching way too much before I realized that they'd stolen part of my life from me.

It is a real mess. It's bad family drama with a dash of sci-fi as another reviewer put it.

It is completely derivative and unoriginal

The direction is good some episodes and terrible others, but the editing is consistently bad.

It is disappointing in every way.

Save your life for something more worthy.

Midnight Run (1988)

OK, but lose no sleep for missing it

[5/10 · 17 April 2021]

It's an unlikely companion buddy road farcical adventure film.

Now, you have no need to see it yourself.

Seriously though, this is a fine movie to blow a lazy afternoon and have a few laughs.

The plot is continuously edged along by the ridiculous actions of characters. For instance, the plot would not otherwise advance in many of the scenarios if anyone involved did anything realistic.

Guys with guns having a shoot out are not usually dumb enough to just walk around, without cover, aiming at one target while there are dozens of people shooting at them.

That does allow the buddy team to escape and reach the next page of the screenplay.

It's okay. It feels super-contrived which is okay for mindless entertainment, but not any kind of serious attempt at furthering the art form.

Watch it if you've got time to kill and nothing better available. These days, it is hard to imagine a situation in which this movie is the best choice to consume your time.

The Mist (2017)

It couldn't be any worse and it won't be missed.

[3/10 · 23 July 2017]

After watching the first 5 episodes, I just can't take any more. This show is absolutely horrible. From the completely ridiculous decisions made by the characters throughout to the uninteresting and poorly written drama, this show needs to be put out of it's misery (no pun intended). I hate the characters. I don't care to know anyone's backstory. The acting is uninspired. The story is a re-hash of a re-hash and, even then, the main story takes a back seat to the contrived nonsense meant to inform us about the characters. Even though the writers are brutal and relentless in their quest to force us to watch their family/teen drama instead of the horror show we tuned in for, their efforts only made me hate everyone. This show is truly insufferable.

Okja (2017)

Amazing!

[10/10 · 28 June 2017]

Bong Joon-ho has brought us yet another masterpiece. Before viewing Okja, I was a little concerned that it would be just a sappy feel good family film about a kid that developed too much of an attachment to a farm animal. Now, I'm simply amazed at how Bong manages to always give us such emotionally and politically complicated films.

If you understand his style and knack for subtle commentary, then you will see this as another excellent film in the same vein as The Host.

The obvious commentary is clear but not overwhelming and the subtle bits are in true Bong style. I think many may misinterpret some of his choices, particularly with Gyllenhaal's character and performance, but if you grasp Bong's social and political stances then you'll appreciate the choices.

For anyone who is unaware, all of Bong's movies contain certain elements. There are the overt elements that include humor (sometimes within the least humorous of situations), suspense, emotional connection, the folly of man and a lack of responsibility on the part of a government or corporation. But these elements are supported by subtle inclusions which are dotted throughout his movies like little watermarks and always serve to say the things that should be said without saying them.

Besides these factors, and for those less inclined towards analytical movie watching, there is always a great story and magnificent cinematography. Okja is no exception.

The only disappointing aspect of this movie is that it just came out, I've already watched it and now I'll have to wait another 2-3 years for another Bong movie to enjoy. I have seen The Host at least 10 times and I could watch it again right now. I'm certain to see Okja at least two more times with those with whom I enjoy seeing his movies and I don't think it'll feel like a chore either. In my opinion, Bong is one of the most consistent filmmakers to have ever made a movie and that streak remains unbroken with Okja.

Third Person (2013)

Writer/Director certainly took risks in creating this interesting film

[9/10 · 13 August 2015]

I just finished watching this film for the first time. It was on-demand on my cable service and I, initially, chose it as background noise and set my TV timer, hoping to fall back to sleep since I had, for no particular reason, awoken abruptly after having slept only 3 hours.

It turned out to be a poor choice for that purpose since I quickly became too engrossed to return to my slumber.

I will start by saying that, throughout the majority of the movie, you are witnessing personal dramas unfold in three different spheres of relation. These stories, though slow at times, are told well and will hold most people's interest.

There is more to the film than that, including some suspense and twists and outcomes that are surprisingly tricky to call. That is one way that this movie manages to separate itself from the typical.

I have intended to create a spoiler-free review so I must keep the rest to myself.

I encourage those interested in a cerebral and emotional drama to watch it for themselves. Chances are that many will appreciate it as I did.

I can see how this film could be difficult for many to interpret. I believe Mr. Haggis was overshooting the mark a bit to believe that the majority of his audience would "get" it. That is typically what you want when making a film, even if you intend to challenge your audience. If they don't "get" it, they walk away confused and angry. That's not good for business.

I'm also sure that is why he included the thanks to his father in the end credits for teaching him to take chances.

He definitely took a chance on this film. I though it was ultimately pretty brilliant but not destined for widespread acceptance and success.

Finally, I will also say that I found it to be rather depressing so this is in no way a "feel good" drama.

The Land That Time Forgot (2009 Video)

Not great

[3/10 · 29 July 2009]

I really wanted to like this movie as I have always liked C. Thomas Howell but unfortunately I can't say that I liked it. I can say that I watched it, but that's about it.

I was able to sit through it and that may be the best that Howell can hope for. The dialog was a bit unimportant and even somewhat silly at times. The whole thing seemed like a compromise - which I am sure to some degree (as with anything under budget constraints) it was.

There was no effort exhausted in building characters that you could care about or for that matter knew anything about. When someone got killed you just did not care - at all.

The more fascinating and cerebral aspects of this story were completely glossed over or avoided altogether; although I did find it interesting that there was a brief discussion on the details of refining petroleum. which I had expected would be ignored (okay in movies I guess).

Overall, it barely held my attention and came off as another lame Sci-Fi channel, low budget, bad CG feature.

Don't get me wrong, there were some things to like, but I think in this case, Howell probably had his hands tied as far as time/money are concerned and more money/time could have been invested in script, effects and filming.

Autumn (I) (2009)

Absolute Garbage!

[1/10 · 8 June 2009]

I am generally a fan of zombie flicks, many of which are low budget and most of which will not be regarded as cinematic masterpieces. This film, however, is the worst piece of garbage that I have ever seen. I know that phrases like this are used too liberally on IMDb, so believe me that I am using the phrase as appropriately as possible.

The sound engineer must be deaf. The director (if there was truly a director) should permanently resign himself from film-making. The actors although terrible should probably not be blamed because the sense is that the script and directing sealed their fate before the first line of dialogue was spoken.

The editing is horrendous. It's so bad that in many parts of the movie, you can't really tell what's going on because of the atrocious scattering of clips.

There really is no excuse for this piece of rotting manure. Budget is not the issue. I could make a better movie than this for the price of a used lawnmower.

Skill and talent are the ingredients that are missing from the start. Money can't buy those and unfortunately for those involved in this film, they will never possess either.