john-138-904908 Reviews

The Silver Branch (2018)

A surreal spiritual beauty

[10/10 · 4 September 2020]

I just watched this and it's one of the most beautiful pieces of film I've seen in years.

It's based on a legal battle about preserving a unique landscape but it's so much more, it's a bout a man's connection to the place and all our connections to the Earth we live on. It mixes poetry, music and the beauty of that landscape.

I will watch this again, I would have loved to see it on the big screen but the TV was good enough.

Personally I know the Burren well as I hiked it a few times and after seeing this film I feel it calling me again, mythical mystical Ireland.

Ares (2020)

This show is a S lot better than 'this' current 5.7 rating.

[10/10 · 19 January 2020]

I can't understand the low IMDB rating, I'm still thinking about the last episode a week later, it's full of symbolical meaning and context which I still haven't fully grasped. It all reminded me of the classic Suspiria. The series was like reading a beautiful and meaningful novel. It's also has the most beautiful sets I have ever seen in any show, the makers even seem to have unfettered access to the world renowned Rijksmuseum, in one of the scenes the Nightwatch was used in the background. it's all eye-candy

It's one of those shows with a meaning that's not served on a plate, but when you get it, it will linger long after..

8 Days (2019)

6.6 are raters on IMDB serious

[10/10 · 30 November 2019]

This is the greatest bit of binge TV I've watched this year and I am already excited in the directions it could go in 'hopefully series 2, a kind of intelligent Walking dead without the zombies.

Babylon Berlin (2017–2025)

OK *8'3* So who the hell is giving this less than 9

[10/10 · 10 November 2017]

Its a dizzying assault on the senses, each scene is a painting, its decadent, sexy, violent, bloody, edgy and yes, beautiful, I'm only 2 eps in and I think so far it's a masterpiece. It has a graphic novel feel to it, it's noir but to spite that it feels authentic. This is simply must see TV.

Sense8 (2015–2018)

This is a beautiful allegorical story

[10/10 · 17 May 2017]

I get wondrous I love humanity feeling from this show. It's roughly about the lives of 8 people who are connected and live their lives while feeling the life of the other 7. But it's overall simple theme is we are all connected, we are all in this life together, what we do in our lives in a way effects the lives of all of the humanity.

Watch it and walk away with a momentary sense of love.

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)

The Emperor has no clothes.

[5/10 · 28 December 2015]

I have just seen the film, and jumping away from the hype and comparing it to Star Wars, I thought the film was rubbish. The storyline lacked an engaging structure, the characters were wooden and 2 dimensional and that includes the originals, I wasn't looking at Star Wars I was looking at a dystopian teen drama like Hunger Games etc. The effects were spectacular but with me that no longers sells a movie, as I have seen them all, as we all have, they have become routine, storyline is the most important, as it has been since story-telling began eons ago. This story was corny with absolutely no character or relationship building, everyone became instant best friends and were labeled good or bad. Its runaway success owes more to marketing and capturing the good and evil zeitgeist in the air at the moment and the almighty supposedly rebooted brand of the most famous of all movie franchises, which compelled us movie/ Star Wars/ lovers to have a look. It's success went from there. But in all the Emperor has no clothes.

Jodorowsky's Dune (2013)

OK Documentary But The Jodorowskys Dune Would Have Been Rubbish.

[7/10 · 27 April 2014]

I watched this last night. As documentaries go about a doomed project, it was okay. Interesting in places with interesting characters and a decent story. As for failed projects, I am sure there are many. but why did this failure merit a documentary, the reason of course it was connected to Dune.

In literature there are few SciFi books that invoke depth of feelings and reverence that Dune does, when Scifi fans first read this book, it becomes an event and a book you never forget. It's epochal in scale, it not only creates a universe but a world which even now seems possible and could actually exist. Although that book and its follow ups have great set pieces of a desert planet, giant worms, guild highliners, great characters, battles, spirituality, and other ideas that make your head zing. Ultimately the book is about human beings and their loyalties, their loves, hates, but ultimately the books are about power and power is the crux of it. If an adaptation focuses to much on the world Herbert created and forget that,the project wont work.

I first read the books when I was 15. again when I was 30 and recently I listened to the audiobooks. Each time I noticed something new in the tales and it was like visiting the saga for the first time. I didn't mind the David Lynch effort. But it was to compressed, camp and lacked story in favour of spectacle. The TV series was better but ham in places, too cheap and it omitted too much detail, it lacked a gravitas and balance. If they are going to successfully put the saga to screen a HBO series like Game of thrones is the only way to go.

As to what I think Jodorowsky's Dune would have been like. I believe us Dune fans were saved from Jodorowky's "rape" of the story. From his creation of Duke Leto being castrated and Paul conceived by a drop of the dukes blood in some act of magic, to the end of "his" story, where the universe achieves cosmic consciousness from Paul's death. Then using his own son to star as Paul, which to me is more evidence of self indulgence. To spite the reverence some of the contributors say about what could have been, I shout "The emperor has no clothes" this film would have been complete and utter incomprehensible, unwatchable shyte. LSD or self indulgence do NOT make good films, so thank you Hollywood in your wisdom for not supporting this abortion of the original novel as it would have been absolute dribble. I give it a 7/10 for the way it provoked me.

Ender's Game (2013)

A Ripping Yarn, A Great Film.

[9/10 · 25 January 2014]

I feel it is my duty to write a favourable review to this film, and just to get more to see it. I took my nephew to an almost empty cinema expecting a children's tale, a kind of Hogwarts in space. I wasn't expecting too much from the film, but I was very pleasantly surprised.

It follows the usual formulaic tale of a person with a destiny goes on a journey faces adversary and blah blah to the end. But it does it brilliantly, the tale is a ripping yarn, it's just a great story, with a great cast and dazzling effects. Its my first surprise film of this year

It is only later I learned this is taken from a famous Scifi saga, I would love to see the rest of it.

Her (2013)

A Very Sweet Electric Dream

[9/10 · 11 January 2014]

My 15 year old nephew's computer's hard drive crashed just before Christmas leaving him socially stranded and almost bereft. He wanted a new one and wanted it then and joked about selling a kidney, at least I think, and hope he was joking.

That episode showed me just how dependent people and mainly young people, have become with their computers and how connectivity has become a huge part of their lives. This is now; we know all this tech will be refined, and encroach further into our lives.

So this film starts in a near future with a guy played by Joaquin Phoenix who has just suffered a relationship break-up. He buys a new computer operating system. The system is an AI which tailors his needs and personality and forms a relationship based on his needs. The AI's voice is performed by the sweet sounding Scarlet Johansson whom I could listen to all day with its nuances and delicious laugh. They form a relationship which morphs into a loving one which seems right and in no-way creepy. Then that relationship journeys towards a conclusion which leaves you guessing at what that will be and in a way hoping for a happy one.

The film is beautifully shot, and the atmosphere is tangible you really enter this rather pleasant future. This film is SciFi at its best and has an originality to it coupled with film making and storytelling also at its best. I will watch this film again, it's a strange social commentary that's not a warning of how bad things can get, as we turn over more of our lives to our various devices. To me it seems a good world to come. Yes we have our very convenient devices but we are still human, and they're not worth a kidney, real human contact will always trump.

Anyway I turn this review in using my Windows 8.1 word envious and wishing the movies Scarlet Johansson's OS was here to assist me. The film for me was 9/10 I suspect it will creep into my top 10 favourite films as I re-watch it time and time again.

The Act of Killing (2012)

JAW DROPPING you have to see it to believe it.

[10/10 · 2 January 2014]

Mark Twain said "Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't." and in this film you are hit a raw and unbelievable impossible truth. You are left wondering how the hell the film makers got such confessions from such mass murderers who now seem more eccentric then evil.

" If we don't learn from history we are bound to repeat it" and I begin this paragraph with another famous but empty quote. But when you see this film you understand what that means. You may have read about political death squads, as I have, but I confess I never knew exactly what that meant. I thought they consisted of disciplined military units who targeted activists in a clinical way, and I thought that appalling. But death squads are unleashed thugs and these targeted communities, ethnic groups, communists and anyone else they wanted, to a tune of 2,5 million dead. This was another 20th century genocide and in the film the criminals still talk about "extermination" as if it was a good thing.

In such an ethnically diverse place like Indonesia politicians should not talk or hold in respect war criminals who participated in genocide and in this film they openly do. Do they realise they are sending a message out, that this behaviour is acceptable in certain circumstance, which generally means it will happen again. Also, the international community should insist these men are taken to account and brought to the court of human rights in The Hague, as "we" should also insist this is always unacceptable. I urge all to watch this film, it is disturbing, jaw dropping, and something you will never forget. After the last scene of the film and thinking about what I just seen I let the credits run and even there, a poignant message, the amount of "anonymous" from makeup artists, producers and even one of the 2 directors shout volumes.

Syrup (I) (2013)

Brilliant

[8/10 · 12 November 2013]

Ahhhh IMDb reviewers what is wrong with you people. I sat down to this after reading the reviews (5.5 average) and thought maybe its just another romcom flam which will fill in the evening, it will be nothing much.

But what I got was an original storyline and an engaging non cloned romcom I never seen before which zinged with ideas and concepts which I am still thinking about 2 days later, that is very rare with films these days.

As the film went the main protagonists have a great on screen chemistry, the story is an in-depth look at shallow marketing and it does that brilliantly. I really don't have to say more.

People have a look at this film and don't trust the reviewers who have read the book. I am sure the book is better, but as a standalone film this is very enjoyable. I have just bought another of the authors books as I am eager for more of his views of this time we live in.

Reign (2013–2017)

Fairytale History But Its Alright.

[7/10 · 11 November 2013]

OK if you love history, which I do, or you are doing some course or exam in history about this period and "Mary queen of Scots". Do not take any material from this series, I mean nothing, from dates, figures, events to general impressions of this supposed period, as you will fail your test miserably and be put back a class.

But if you like an adult fairytale with romance, intrigue, wicked witches, beautiful princesses and handmaidens, handsome princes, goodies and baddies, give it a go. It's OK, turn your brain off and enjoy history for the youtube generation.

I give it 7 out of 10 for the gall of it and I really don't think it will see a second season, I can't see it getting that many viewers.

Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)

Banksy made me think again.

[8/10 · 25 October 2013]

I thought this was good. Without doubt would a gawk. By giving a summary I would be spoiling the mocumentary or documentary or commentary, in all it is simply a Banksy art piece and one of his very good ones.

Its ironic that this anonymous street graffiti artist is now one of the most famous and probably the richest working artist and deservedly so. In his short time some of his pieces have become iconic and he always gets in the news.

The world is a slightly better place with bananas as guns, kissing bobbies, provocative pictures on the Israeli peace wall and a meat van full of screaming stuffed animals.

See this you will laugh.

Under the Dome (2013–2015)

Dreadful

[3/10 · 17 September 2013]

It's so poorly written its annoying, to me it seemed to be a brained stormed narrative with little coherence and character motivations that would never happen in the real world. I am not looking at humans trapped in a dome but a bunch of drama merchants who over react at the slightest twist. People are not like these people even in a television scifi series.

I am a scifi fan, and when I read the premise I thought that would be interesting, it would have been if it had better writers. but whatever you do with a scifi premise the characters have to be real they have to stay, inform, with being human. This piece of siht seems to be like a computer game narrative of the old adventure games. The actors are not bad it is just the material and the script they are given, with this script even Dean Norris is wooden and going through the motions. 3/10 DO NOT BOTHER>

Pope Joan (2009)

The Best 2 Or More Hours In Front Of The Tele This Year. 2/9/2013

[9/10 · 2 September 2013]

This film was released in 2009, I was surfing Youtube, and I accidentally came upon the trailer. I love a historical drama, and I know a little about Pope Joan, and I didn't understand how I missed knowing about this film till now (2013) I suppose the promotion of foreign language films in Ireland is not great. Anyway I got hold of the film.

It started off a bit slow but still you could see that this was an intriguing story on its own. How could a woman become a Pope in one of the foremost matriarch hierarchical societies in the world. It was then and still is. So how could it ever have happened. Historical there are no details and there it is probably a myth rather then fact, but even the myth is compelling.

I watched the film and it was long but always interesting, any good piece on that period of humanity is. As "the life of man, is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short" as Hobbes put it. Stories and the history of that age gives you a sense of count your blessings you live in this age. The film did have an agenda, as a reflection of the position of women in this age. I didn't mind that, Joan was forced to struggle and overcome the cultural limitations placed on her sex to express her natural humanity and intelligence, as millions of women still struggle with the same in this age. I would love to say things are wholely better in this age for women, but I know in parts of this modern world it is still very much the same. Women's march for equality is very far from over. So that seemed a natural agenda to push for a tale about a woman pope and why not? I would regard myself as a male feminist and the message still needs to be told.

The film was far from perfect, and it could have been a whole lot better, there were scenes that could have been added and omitted, but I still found myself recommending it to friends, and it was one of the best 2 or more hours in front of the tele for me this year. I still loved it to spite its obvious flaws. In the end you can't beat a good story whether that story is true or not.

So watch it and see do you agree with the 6.5 rating for this epic film in scope and tale. I think 6.5 is very unfair, I rate it 9/10.

Dredd (2012)

Dredd was Dreadful

[5/10 · 15 September 2012]

I was looking forward to this and went on the first night of release in Ireland. I thought I would get a complex scifi about the concept of a man who is the law, a man who is police, jury, judge and executioner, in a post apocalypse world which is still trying to establish law and order. A kind of Wyatt Earp of the future.

But what I got was a first person shooter computer game, Dredd and his partner moving through different levels shooting up the bad guys and the storyline being driven by stops in the shooting and some dialogue from the queen baddie with absolutely no character development or humour.

I rated it 5 because I did enjoy Lena Headley performance as the villain and some of the action sequences and the 3D were spectacular.