Rinette Reviews

Gemini Man (2019)

Not worth watching in the cinema - stream it on a rainy afternoon, if you must

[4/10 · 19 October 2019]

This movie was not good. The script was laughably poor and the plot was predictable; a cat and mouse game across the world and something we've seen many times before. The action was alright but was often boring. A few of the characters felt superfluous, like they were only there for Will Smith to talk to and exposition for the audience - they had very little impact on the plot themselves.

The CGI was alright but nothing special - we've seen it before and any time Young!Smith moved it felt like watching a cut scene in a videogame.

Overall, I wouldn't recommend you spend money watching this movie - stream it when it comes out, it's cold and rainy outside and you have nothing better to do.

Assassin's Creed (2016)

Very Enjoyable

[7/10 · 6 January 2017]

I have not played the Assassin's Creed games. However, this movie did not make me feel as though I needed to have played them in order to understand or enjoy the film.

The cinematography was great, and there were some magnificent aerial views of 15th century Spain along with modern day. Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard both gave excellent performances, managing to deliver the occasional corny, melodramatic dialogue with poise, and the supporting cast were equally great in their roles. Despite the occasional cheese, this film had some excellent dialogue that were thoughtful and poignant - unexpected in a fantasy action movie! Speaking of action - this was the best part of the movie. Gorgeous choreography, and I loved all the various weaponry and free running.

This is by no means an award winning film, but overall it was incredibly enjoyable, and I don't think it quite deserves the negativity critics and fans of the games are giving it.

Suicide Squad (2016)

Colourful, trashy fun

[6/10 · 8 August 2016]

Suicide Squad is visually stunning with some great performances. Will Smith and Margot Robbie are fantastic as Deadshot and Harley Quinn and are the two characters that are paid the most attention, and whose backstories we see the most of. However, that doesn't mean the rest of the cast aren't as interesting and fun to watch. Jai Courtney did a nice job as Captain Boomerang and was actually pretty entertaining. Cara Delevigne is good as Enchantress, though she wasn't a stand-out like Robbie, and Jay Hernandez did a great job as El Diablo; he brought an unexpected heart to the team. Jared Leto's Joker was a wild card, and not as prominent as fans were expecting. However, his joker was a lot of fun. He admirably portrayed the Joker's complete psychosis and brought a colourful Mob Boss aesthetic, in contrast to Ledger and Nicholson's portrayals. Some people won't be a fan of Leto's Joker, but I found him engaging and want to see more of him.

The film is very action heavy which, while entertaining and beautifully shot, was to the detriment of the plot and pacing of the rest of the movie. Background information had to be revealed to the audience through characters telling other characters, rather than have it play out visually and naturally, and there were flash-backs spread liberally throughout the film because there wasn't enough time evolve the events linearly. The flashbacks weren't uninteresting to watch, but there were so many of them that they did make the film feel disjointed and a little patch-work.

Overall, I give Suicide Squad 7/10. It's a wonderfully shot movie; great action, entertaining, with witty and engaging characters.

Sucker Punch (2011)

Love it, hate it, get it, don't.

[8/10 · 29 May 2011]

(*This review may contain spoilers*)

I have not seen much of Zack Snyder's work before, but I seriously enjoyed this movie and I think he did a brilliant job. It is fantasy. It is bad ass. It not meant to be realistic. It is a result of pure imagination and beautiful girls that kick ass - and that concept seems to be eluding many critics out there.

The movie revolves primarily around a girl known only as, 'Babydoll'. After the traumatic event (orchestrated by her shady stepfather) of her mother's death, followed by her sister's, she is institutionalised. It is unclear how this happens, be it by shady dealings between the stepfather and the boss of the asylum, 'Blue', or if she really has broken. It seems to be both, because as the next scene begins, so does the audience's experience of her desperate and imaginative psyche. She is determined to escape, and she enrols the help of the other girls in the asylum to do it.

Visually, this movie is a treat. The cinematography and structure are fantastic, the use of metaphors and parallels was a genius move, and the battle scenes very well done and exciting to watch. It appears to be set in present time, but with definite links and hints to the past - especially the asylum and it's brothel-like set-up, not to mention the futuristic Nazi-style German soldiers - and an almost anime/cartoon element to the costume, weaponry, and colouring. It's not a masterpiece by any standards, but the performances were very good, and you do feel for the characters and become involved - more so with Babydoll than the others, but that is because you know more about her. Little more is learnt about the others. Special notice should be paid to the music in the film - the soundtrack. It was incredible, and went a long way to making the movie. I had chills.

Overall, it was a fantastic adventure filled with imagination, fantasy and fight scenes. Harmless, but nevertheless impressive fun I would watch again and again.