I had read so many bad reviews, so I came to Dial of Destiny with extremely low expectations. For the first 40 minutes I was confused by what all the hate was about. There was a rattling good action sequence in the castle and on the train, the usual Nazi hating humour and a set up with a nasty baddie. Then we saw the older Indy with his deficiencies and I happily joined what I expected to be the regular roller coaster ride but then......oh my. Everything went downhill quickly. His God daughter is annoying and as she takes over the story arc it was difficult for me to care about any apparent peril they encounter. There were many times when I felt the finale was beginning only to have hope snatched away by another meaningless twist. So many times I am left with the feeling, as I know many others are, that contemporary films are too long. What has happened to good editors? Maybe if this film had a running time of around 1hr 40 it would've been fine. Long before the 2 hour mark I had just become completely bored. I give 4 stars for the first 40 minutes of nostalgia.
Reviews
12 Reviews
Finding Steve McQueen
(2019)
Easy going treat
15 March 2023
My expectations were low and it's taken me some time to get around to watching this. I'm pleased that I finally made the effort. I liked the easy going atmosphere and found the narrative structure interesting and never difficult to follow. The romantic leads are charming and I was rooting for them throughout. There are some lovely touches of humour and I particularly enjoyed the hot tub argument with the golfer. How much of it is true is questionable as the credits only inform us of one of the characters later life....a bit of a giveaway that maybe we only got the one viewpoint. Forrest Whittaker is a safe pair of hands too. It's relatively short running time is welcome in an era where studios have lost the ability to tightly edit.
Mr. H Is Late
(1988 TV Movie)
Mr S is a comedy genius
4 March 2023
A homage to Laurel and Hardy's Music Box. This was a wonderful trip down memory lane for me with so many familiar comedy faces that I grew up with in the 70's. Short appearances by the likes of Spike Milligan, Charlie Drake and Jimmy Edwards all add to the comedy genius of Eric Sykes. There is very little dialogue as we are catapulted back to the silent comedy era and a plethora of sight gags, the majority of which hit the spot. It's a simple premise with the band of undertakers manoeuvring a coffin down a high rise block of flats. The wobbly sets all add to the simple idea. If you are after sophisticated comedy you've come to the wrong place. Many laugh out loud moments and I happily smiled throughout the whole running time.
Rear Window
(1954)
If it's genius you're looking for you've come to the right place
27 March 2020
This is, without fear of contradiction, a masterpiece. Before setting out on the journey, if you are given a synopsis, it's difficult to imagine how the slight story can hold one's attention for nearly two hours. There are in effect multiple plots extending beyond the suspected murder. Each apartment holding it's own narrative and inviting the viewer into the private lives of the block. We care about all the characters in these sub plots, holding both humour and tragedy in their confined spaces. The developing relationship between the two excellent leads is the icing on the cake. Grace Kelly is stunning, and did James Stewart ever make a bad film? Hitchcock in his prime.
Dolittle
(2020)
Well intentioned mess
20 February 2020
It's comforting in our unsettled world that Hollywood still wants to make this type of escapist family fayre. It ticks lots of boxes, cuddly CGI animals, wacky lead, cute kids, OTT baddie and the message that animals have an important place and should be respected. However alongside all that we need a coherent story and a good script. This has neither and is simply a series of set pieces strung together with very little to link them or care about. Disappointing and hopefully not another tired franchise waiting around the corner.
Way Out West
(1937)
Funniest film ever made...
13 February 2020
Everything is in my title really. This is a comedy that all other's should be judged against. Sure there are some standout set pieces - the mule/block and tackle, Ollie's head through the trap door to name two. It's also the throwaway gags though, a strategically placed hanging frying pan just waiting for Stan's head. Then there's the two musical numbers, not something that you associate L&H with other than in this film, but they are things of great beauty. 10 stars all the way and it never gets any less funny. I often laugh just in anticipation of what's coming. Marvellous
Murder Ahoy
(1964)
Charming
31 January 2020
A proper rainy Sunday afternoon film. Cosy up and let the old fashioned charm wash over you. Yes the plot is daft but with the performances on offer who cares? Lionel Jeffries is the standout for me, the all knowing Captain regularly caught with his metaphorical trousers down.
Bad Boys for Life
(2020)
Only for those who have never seen an action movie
31 January 2020
If you've never seen an action movie before then maybe you'll get something out of this. Otherwise it's just a boring rehash of everything that's gone before. For a film that is supposed to revolve around the chemistry of the two leads it fails dramatically. Did Will Smith do it as a favour to a less famous mate who needs a career lift? The jokes fall way wide of the mark as they are so predictable and the twist is ludicrous. Clearly there will be more to come but include me out.
Knives Out
(2019)
Whodunnit perfection
9 January 2020
Everything you could wish for in a whodunnit, or any genre for that matter. A great script at the centre of it. Excellent performances, humour, lavish sets, cracking cinematography and twists aplenty makes this a wonderful two hours of cinema.
Plotless Drivel
6 June 2019
There is no plot. It looks like a game and I wish I'd had a controller so I could've closed it down. The blue and grey hues that appear to dominate every action sequence just makes it look dull. I was also puzzled about where all the people are, other than the scientists and military there is no one. That takes any emotional involvement impossible. Very poor
The Hunger Games
(2012)
Insulted as a viewer
24 March 2012
Warning: Spoilers
I've just seen this at the cinema and about 30 minutes from the end we have a change of rules that made me want to stand up and ask the audience if they were really prepared to accept what had just happened. It made me angry that I was expected to go along with it. The film has a lazy pace and if an hour had been trimmed off the running time maybe I could have left a little more satisfied. The build up to the "game" is acceptable if it was to be topped off with some interesting and tense exchanges between the competitors - instead of that it gets increasingly dull. I came to this with no knowledge of the book and wonder why there is such a fuss, and how there can be any suggestion of this being a franchise. It left me completely cold
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