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cymonerry
Reviews
After Earth (2013)
Not that bad
Well it took an effort to watch this, mainly because of the bad reviews. But after all is said and done, I didn't think this was a bad performance. I know people have been saying that the boy performed badly, but what I really hear is; your lucky your dad is William Smith. Well you are lucky to be true, but provided you don't get cocky, you may have a future in the acting business. Another great effort after KK2. I wish I could spend millions proving that I love my son. Also talented.
Plot: Earth is abandoned and crash landed on by WS and son. he needs to find a beacon and himself as a man.Or dad dies.
If life were only that simple.
Cy
Building the Impossible: The Roman War Machine (2002)
missing the meat
Here we have a mediocre history story, in most cases missing the meat of the story.
There are frequent mistakes and omissions. It is a very basic history lesson.
For example: at the battle of Alesia they neglect to mention the women and children sacrificed by both Versengetarix and J Ceasar. When they refer to the crossing of the Rubicon they say " the dice is cast high" this is not the correct translation it should be " The die (dice) is cast(thrown).
The narrative sends me to sleep. This is a very poor production based on a load of guys who like dressing up as Romans. I suspect this was made by the Roman tourist board. It has an EU feel. However it skims the surface.
This is s fascinating period of history, but there is much more to know.
Blitz (2011)
Not so bad
If you like Jason Statham this movie is OK.
Not his best sure but a reasonable action film. A cop killer in London seems to be untouchable and our boys gay and straight seek to bring him to justice.
On the whole the film is fine except for one glaring fault. There is no way that the Met would let him leave with a stolen envelope containing £50,000 from a newspaper that would most certainly have kept records of the notes (you always follow the money). It would prove that he was a murderer and a thief and was the evidence that on its own could have convicted, but nevertheless would have held him in custody.
If you gloss over this you have a reasonable action movie. Statham is what you expect, at least the scripts have not yet descended to Steven Segal levels of bullshit, thank god.
If you like this kind of macho, this movie will give you a couple of hours entertainment. Worth a watch
The Three Musketeers (2011)
The tradition continues with a twist - spoiler
Here it is again, The Three Musketeers.
So what's new? Nothing except the ridiculous use of cgi to create an impossible act of physics. Flying English warships, bullshit. I found this part of the movie unnecessary.
Having got that out of the way I love Mila Jovovitch since The Fifth Element. Her hatred of the English in The Messenger Joan of Arc makes her ideal for the part.
Roy Kinnear died making one of these Musketeer movies, he was a gem. I think he would like this movie it has all the stuff they did in the 70s with the likes of Oliver Reed, Faye Dunaway and Charlton Heston. I loved those films and this one is also lots of fun. Check out the originals before or after seeing this. They are truly classics.
All said, a great performance by all, just a bit annoyed by the overstatement of English Naval power for that time. Airships? We hardly had a Navy during this period. We would soon be entangled in civil war, plague and fire all involving the French before being whipped by the Dutch. This is Pure French propaganda translated to English, but surprisingly embraced by the English soon after its publication.
In homage this is definitely Hollywood doing its version, in that they overdid it with their flying rubbish that would never get off the ground. The ship has an enormous wooden double steering wheel. Airships need to be light. But It is definitely worth the watch if you consider it your average violent kids film with comic values. I Think Hollywood confused this classic with The Pirates of the Caribbean and could not resist adding their "magic" puke!
The tradition continues, only slightly perverted by Hollywood.
Fortress (2012)
shame, it could have been so much better
I had read the IMDb reviews on this prior to watching it and it sounded good.
I imagined something like "catch 22" a masterpiece of similar description. That being US bombers working out of North Africa in 1943 during operation 'Husky' and the general Italian campaign that was so costly to those crews.
I recommend you see "Catch 22".
Just about everything did not quite work. The script and the acting was wooden, hardly anybody came across as real except the mechanic. I was tempted frequently to give up. The film is bubblegum entertainment on a subject that deserves more quality of everything. Having said that the historical side was not wildly inaccurate like many other movies and the bomber footage (CGI/FX) was quite beautiful in places. Although the script could have been written in the 1950's.
It's the sort of movie I can watch once, but would rather not see again. mainly because the lack of script. It is so boring because it just deals with the facts of doing such a job like a robot. Personalities are not established there are no compfortable laughs and even if these actors could act there is no chance with such a flimsy script. This is the way warmongers would have war, not the way it is. It's like comedy from the GOP. They may be a great source but they think they are being serious. That's what makes them funny. It's also what makes the world very sad.
Anonymous (2011)
History, Hollywood, hidden secrets? Spoiler alert
I have heard of this theory for quite some time... That William Shakespeare was a front for various people like Francis Bacon, in this case Edward De Vere and many others, who at the time feared that their free thoughts could be interpreted as treason against the crown due to the extreme religious hatred and politics of that time. Consequentially they hire a fool actor to play the playwright and risk him under the axe instead.
This film sees the RSC take it to that further level. You could not have a play that was more Shakespeare than this story of the playwright and his mystery. Nor more esteemed or talented actors.
This is most certainly a thought provoking and almost revolutionary challenge to the establishment view.
I loved it and consider it essential viewing, especially for Historians.
Straw Dogs (2011)
Not so bad
I've had this on my queue list for sometime. I'm a fan of the English movie with Dustin Hoffman. Being English I wasn't expecting much from this remake.
Having seen it I was pleasantly surprised. The obvious redneck America worked of course as the English film was supposed to represent the same thing juxtapose.
On the whole a credible remake and well worth watching, even if you know what will happen to some degree. Well acted and worth a look.
It was nice to see a True Blood Redneck in the centre of things, clearly a cinematastic organ is evolving in the American South. Good luck and may more good stuff follow.
Courageous (2011)
soppy religious rubbish
The IMDb reviews of this film totally fooled me and I sat down to watch what I thought would be a good film.
It started OK, dealing with a small sheriffs dept. Gradually God creeps further and further into the plot until the film descends into some quasi-spiritual evangelistic bible belt rubbish. As soon as I saw the little Mitchel girl and her direction I knew what was in store for her. From that predictable event the film spirals into a sack of religious bullshit.
It then became more and more difficult to watch without retching. Having said that, the action scenes were OK and about the only relief from the mind numbing churchy script.
If you go to church on a regular basis, preferably protestant evangelical, you might like this. As for being a good dad, there are a thousand films that send the same message without talking down to you from a pulpit.
Unless you're bulimic I'd give this one a wide berth.
Colditz (2005)
Not history love story
I nearly didn't see this because of the critical slating.
I'm glad I did. It certainly isn't historical fact, but neither is Robin Hood or King Arthur etc.
This is a love story based on the 'legend' of Colditz Castle the notorious POW from WWII.
If Mr Tarantino can get away with that nonsense of 'inglorious Basterds' I think a little artistic license can be granted here. At least they aren't misspelling the title and they made it in 2005 before you could get away with totally rewriting history. This is a movie whereas that was a cartoon.
Colditz did exist so did MI9 and other parts of the story are founded in fact, but this is a romantic drama FICTION! Get over it you anal historians.
It is well acted and has a reasonable plot, provided you believe that men will lie for sex. There I said it, people lie. It or 'shit' happens.
I enjoyed this movie as a movie not a historical document. Watch it before you criticize. I am glad that its not true.
The New World (2005)
Genesis of genocide
This is a tough movie to get through, mainly because it tries to be as historically accurate as it can. You can easily get annoyed by the narrated thoughts which tend to drag a little. Having said that this is the pilgrim story of the American excuse - or English excuse for transporting the desperation and greed of the old world to the new.
Pocahontas is a classic legend based on true history, this film is a beautiful interpretation (although you should always consider the propaganda aspect). If you are into history you have to respect the efforts made here. It shows the old world as the corrupt but hopeful thing it was and also reflects on the corruption of the new world by that invasion.
There is definitely something tragic about the whole thing 'Don't trust me' says Captain Smith and if you study history you say yeah right! On the whole it is an extremely well made film dealing with the American (Americ - guy from Wales) thanksgiving bullshit but adding the true indigestion that follows.
A must see for historians and those that can suffer such bitter lessons of history. But if you are looking for shallow entertainment this may be to rich.
Arthur (2011)
Overslated and underrated
I was very tempted to give this film a miss after reading the dreadful writeups, but Russell Brand usually delivers, so having watched it and seen the original 1981 movie with Dudley Moore I was pleasantly surprised. Maybe the humour does not translate or perhaps you either like Russell Brand or hate him, but I found it a good update and a role that fits Brand well. His genuine accent is very close to 'Duds' and he naturally pulls off the part as if it were made for him.
Dame Helen Mirren of course delivers Hobson impeccably as did Sir John Gielgud, however she lends a more maternal slant to Gielguds paternal. Greta Gerwig may come across as plain but this was also intended in the role played by Liza Minelli as the honest girl seeking love and happiness not money and power.
Perhaps the Arthur movies have a quintessentially British flavour that directly challenges the culturally right wing American lust for money and power above all things. But this is the moral story of both films. Life is fleeting enjoy it without flushing it down the toilet or losing your compassion and humour.
This is a tragic comedy love story that comes good in the end like any romcom is supposed to. A well tried and tested formula.
It was a decent remake with it's own scripted humour following the same plot but not a total copy like 'True Grit' which is a total homage and offers nothing better or different. I was glad that I ignored the bad reviews and saw for myself. Love it or hate it it's worth a watch especially if you liked the original.