An original story, great casting and fun movie overall! Will it win an Oscar? No. But this is definitely a fun way to spend 2hrs and it's one of the better Christmas movies I've seen recently. Very well done! I thought the effects and CG were actually really well done too - obviously make believe but still popped in 4K Dolby Vision. I thought they could've made a bit better use of the surround channels, especially during climatic scenes, but it was subtle. I originally had lower expectations based on some of the other reviews I've seen, and was pleasantly surprised. Must've been some grinches watching.
Reviews
11 Reviews
The Lost City
(2022)
OK popcorn movie but that's it
1 April 2022
A good effort but it felt hollow - maybe I was in a mood but the jokes weren't very funny to me and the story felt flat. A few people in the theatre laughed. Sandra, Tatum and Daniel did a decent job but I likely won't recommend this to anyone beyond catching it on streaming.
Halloween Kills
(2021)
Uninspiring midsection to an over-milked franchise
16 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I really liked the 2018 reboot. Even in this one, they did lots of cool things. I was impressed with bringing back the old cast + the magic they used to recreate Dr. Loomis (hint, it's a combo of a lookalike with a voice actor overdubbed - no archive footage, no CGI - the execution was brilliant.)
I found some of the acting over the top and things being said cheesy. (I laughed at another critics review where he referred to JLC's monologue as "bloviating" - I am so going to use this word going forward). I wanted to like Tommy Doyle's character but I found him annoying and off-putting. Like with Candyman, I am being especially hard on this movie as it was delayed quite a bit due to covid - there was ample time to try this on test audiences and re-cut the movie a bit. Another thing that was irksome for me is that Michael Myers is now almost 70, and the damage he undergoes in the movie is too unbelievable. Like so much more than previous movies. On the plus side, loved Judy Greer and Andi Matichak's performances. Everyone else, meh. (Except for pseudo-Loomis).
TLDR - I wanted to love it, but couldn't. Movie did some really neat things but I am tired of this franchise. Let's see if Halloween Ends will change my mind.
I found some of the acting over the top and things being said cheesy. (I laughed at another critics review where he referred to JLC's monologue as "bloviating" - I am so going to use this word going forward). I wanted to like Tommy Doyle's character but I found him annoying and off-putting. Like with Candyman, I am being especially hard on this movie as it was delayed quite a bit due to covid - there was ample time to try this on test audiences and re-cut the movie a bit. Another thing that was irksome for me is that Michael Myers is now almost 70, and the damage he undergoes in the movie is too unbelievable. Like so much more than previous movies. On the plus side, loved Judy Greer and Andi Matichak's performances. Everyone else, meh. (Except for pseudo-Loomis).
TLDR - I wanted to love it, but couldn't. Movie did some really neat things but I am tired of this franchise. Let's see if Halloween Ends will change my mind.
Candyman
(2021)
Ok but not what it had the potential to bee. (See what I did there?).
31 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Overall:
1. Cinematography - Great
2. Sound + Mix - Great
3. Score - Great
4. Acting - Great
5. Story - Good
6. Pacing - Good for the first 2/3rds, last 3rd felt rushed
7. Effects - Great in some scenes (killing of the critic wide shot, elevator scene, Candyman only visible in the mirror), bad in others (screen shearing, bee on compact mirror in bathroom, Daniel Robitaille face - all looked amateur/unconvincing). In my opinion, CG is good only when you can tell it's not being used.
Some things that wowed me as a fan of the original:
1. A nod to Phillip Glass' original score
2. The puppetry incorporation
3. Seeing Vanessa Williams again (does she age?!)
4. The incorporating of audio from the first film plus new dialog for Helen Lyle
Some things that plagued the movie in more detail:
1. The movie seemed to be missing important plot points (for example - why did Brianna see Daniel Robitaille? Was there a connection to her father's backstory that didn't make the final cut? Also, Anthony/Ruthie Jean's scene felt rushed).
2. The scene of the girls in the bathroom felt superfluous and unneeded.
3. Why did no one bring up Anthony's hand sooner?
4. The gay sass. I am gay and love sass but this was a serious, brooding movie and didn't need it - it didn't suit the intended tone. (I did love Brianna's "nope" though which is the same reaction I'd have and obviously a nod to Jordan Peele's upcoming 2022 movie of the same name).
When we as fans see issues like this, often times the culprit tends to be budget or studio interference. It is very difficult to take an existing piece of well loved IP and come up with a compelling sequel. Mike Flanagan managed to pull this off with "Doctor Sleep" and I feel like Nia tried her best (and succeeded in many regards) but maybe wasn't given the runway she needed? I feel like there is lots of stuff on the cutting room floor.
I am being especially critical of this movie as it was delayed almost a year due to the pandemic - these issues could have been addressed with a few small reshoots during that time. I really hope we get to see a proper director's cut in time.
Re: the socio-political commentary people raise - at first I recoiled (I am a cisgendered white gay male) but then remembered that brutal police killings of black people continue to happen all the time - there is no point in sheltering audiences from reality. And to those who say no black people died - were you watching the same movie? William Burke's sister was killed, so was he, Sherman and ultimately Anthony - not "nicely" either.
I will re-watch this again when it's out on VOD to see if I missed anything the first time around. All in all, it's worth a watch and I applaud what was produced here, even if imperfect.
1. Cinematography - Great
2. Sound + Mix - Great
3. Score - Great
4. Acting - Great
5. Story - Good
6. Pacing - Good for the first 2/3rds, last 3rd felt rushed
7. Effects - Great in some scenes (killing of the critic wide shot, elevator scene, Candyman only visible in the mirror), bad in others (screen shearing, bee on compact mirror in bathroom, Daniel Robitaille face - all looked amateur/unconvincing). In my opinion, CG is good only when you can tell it's not being used.
Some things that wowed me as a fan of the original:
1. A nod to Phillip Glass' original score
2. The puppetry incorporation
3. Seeing Vanessa Williams again (does she age?!)
4. The incorporating of audio from the first film plus new dialog for Helen Lyle
Some things that plagued the movie in more detail:
1. The movie seemed to be missing important plot points (for example - why did Brianna see Daniel Robitaille? Was there a connection to her father's backstory that didn't make the final cut? Also, Anthony/Ruthie Jean's scene felt rushed).
2. The scene of the girls in the bathroom felt superfluous and unneeded.
3. Why did no one bring up Anthony's hand sooner?
4. The gay sass. I am gay and love sass but this was a serious, brooding movie and didn't need it - it didn't suit the intended tone. (I did love Brianna's "nope" though which is the same reaction I'd have and obviously a nod to Jordan Peele's upcoming 2022 movie of the same name).
When we as fans see issues like this, often times the culprit tends to be budget or studio interference. It is very difficult to take an existing piece of well loved IP and come up with a compelling sequel. Mike Flanagan managed to pull this off with "Doctor Sleep" and I feel like Nia tried her best (and succeeded in many regards) but maybe wasn't given the runway she needed? I feel like there is lots of stuff on the cutting room floor.
I am being especially critical of this movie as it was delayed almost a year due to the pandemic - these issues could have been addressed with a few small reshoots during that time. I really hope we get to see a proper director's cut in time.
Re: the socio-political commentary people raise - at first I recoiled (I am a cisgendered white gay male) but then remembered that brutal police killings of black people continue to happen all the time - there is no point in sheltering audiences from reality. And to those who say no black people died - were you watching the same movie? William Burke's sister was killed, so was he, Sherman and ultimately Anthony - not "nicely" either.
I will re-watch this again when it's out on VOD to see if I missed anything the first time around. All in all, it's worth a watch and I applaud what was produced here, even if imperfect.
Breaking In
(2018)
A fun way to spend 90 minutes
26 February 2019
If you are looking for avant-garde life changing cinema, look elsewhere. If you are looking for a well directed/acted/edited popcorn movie - this one is great. The premise is not new but it is well done - I originally thought it would be bad based on other reviews but I am glad I gave it a chance (caught it on the movie network this month). Care was taken in the cinematography, scoring and general look - even the computer systems look realistic (not some crappy Linux or MS paint interface). I enjoyed it - I don't feel like it was trying to be something it's not.
The Predator
(2018)
Purists are annoyed but I loved it!
1 February 2019
I watched this on a flight recently and I loved it. I was looking for a fun action movie and this delivered. Sure there was some cheesiness but I am not looking for a clone of the original series and am open minded. It was more "fun" than scary/horror. Despite poor reviews I say give it a chance.
Ready Player One
(2018)
Press Start to Continue...
2 April 2018
Steven Spielberg's new nostalgia laden flick "Ready Player One" hit theatres this past weekend and I was there. If someone is going to whip up a nostalgia flick, who better to do it than the 'Berg himself? He is the REASON for movie nostalgia, having churned out a string of 80's hits including E.T. (1982), Poltergeist* (1982), and Gremlins (1984), amongst others. Ready Player One, in my humble opinion, did not disappoint.
Set in 2045 in a dystopian Ohio, Ready Player One follows the story of Wade Watts, a teenage gamer who spends most of his waking moments (like the rest of society) in a virtual world called the OASIS. OASIS is a virtual game world created by eccentric gaming pioneer James Halliday, touted as the new "Steve Jobs". The story gives us the back history of Halliday's creation, and how it started as a passion project, quickly to become extremely successful and then threatened by corporate greed. Halliday then passes away, but before doing so, offers a challenge to OASIS users - find the three keys using "easter eggs" left behind by Halliday himself, and the kingdom is yours.
Enter Wade Watts and his band of merry misfits, a series of friends he plays along with in the virtual world, knowing them only by their virtual avatars and pseudonyms. Combine a journey for the keys, teenage heartstrings, a corporate villain, quirky comedy, nods to nostalgia, eye popping visuals and a mind blowing homage to Stanley Kubrick, and you've got the thrill ride that is Ready Player One.
While I find the overuse of CGI trying at times in newer movies, it fits here due to the subject matter at hand. You can't have a virtual world like this without CG, and the production team did a great job of flipping between reality and the virtual world, while maintaining continuity. I did see the movie 3D and I think it worked nicely to pull the viewer into the story - it was used properly and didn't feel gimmicky at all.
Story wise, there isn't much new here formula wise - you'll see what I mean when you watch it. I think the producers understood this and added some elements of mystery that work quite nicely. In some respects, you are playing the game right alongside the characters, which is fun and thrilling at the same time.
Overall, Ready Player One is a fun family film that earns it PG-13 rating for some mild sexual references and violent video game action scenes, but is definitely worth the experience (and will be joining my movie library). 8/10.
*yah yah Tobe Hooper blah blah
Set in 2045 in a dystopian Ohio, Ready Player One follows the story of Wade Watts, a teenage gamer who spends most of his waking moments (like the rest of society) in a virtual world called the OASIS. OASIS is a virtual game world created by eccentric gaming pioneer James Halliday, touted as the new "Steve Jobs". The story gives us the back history of Halliday's creation, and how it started as a passion project, quickly to become extremely successful and then threatened by corporate greed. Halliday then passes away, but before doing so, offers a challenge to OASIS users - find the three keys using "easter eggs" left behind by Halliday himself, and the kingdom is yours.
Enter Wade Watts and his band of merry misfits, a series of friends he plays along with in the virtual world, knowing them only by their virtual avatars and pseudonyms. Combine a journey for the keys, teenage heartstrings, a corporate villain, quirky comedy, nods to nostalgia, eye popping visuals and a mind blowing homage to Stanley Kubrick, and you've got the thrill ride that is Ready Player One.
While I find the overuse of CGI trying at times in newer movies, it fits here due to the subject matter at hand. You can't have a virtual world like this without CG, and the production team did a great job of flipping between reality and the virtual world, while maintaining continuity. I did see the movie 3D and I think it worked nicely to pull the viewer into the story - it was used properly and didn't feel gimmicky at all.
Story wise, there isn't much new here formula wise - you'll see what I mean when you watch it. I think the producers understood this and added some elements of mystery that work quite nicely. In some respects, you are playing the game right alongside the characters, which is fun and thrilling at the same time.
Overall, Ready Player One is a fun family film that earns it PG-13 rating for some mild sexual references and violent video game action scenes, but is definitely worth the experience (and will be joining my movie library). 8/10.
*yah yah Tobe Hooper blah blah
The Anniversary
(1968)
The "August Osage County" of it's time!
28 February 2016
If you are looking to see Bette Davis at her diabolical best later on in her career, look no further. Davis plays the satanic matriarch of a less than perfect family - gathered together for the anniversary of her deceased husband. Davis does a marvellous job of portraying a bitter mother that take pleasure in toying with the lives of her sons, and by proxy, their wives. Watching Davis poke and swipe at her sons and daughter in-laws is akin to watching a cat stalk a bird. This movie is mean, punchy, hilarious and even cloying at times, but definitely worth the watch. You will laugh, you will be angered, you will be shocked. Another Hammer classic. Hope to see this released on Blu-ray soon.
Solstice
(II) (2008)
Good Effort
11 September 2011
I personally felt that the story had some familiarity but also a bit of originality to it as well. The acting was reasonable for a teen crew, cinematography was good, and the score was eerie enough to keep it interesting. I agree with another poster who said this was more a mystery movie than a horror movie and it definitely had a "noir-ish" atmosphere to it. Also - completely irrelevant, but did anyone else think that Elisabeth Harnois looks like Taylor Swift?
I watched the movie from a R1 DVD with 5.1 audio (released by Alliance) and thought the mix was quite good. The DVD itself is pretty bare-bones with no real special features other than an audio commentary; kind of disappointing as it would have been neat to see a featurette on New Orleans post-Katrina in the area the movie was filmed. I couldn't help thinking of "The Skeleton Key" - another mystery/suspense movie filmed in New Orleans as well.
I watched the movie from a R1 DVD with 5.1 audio (released by Alliance) and thought the mix was quite good. The DVD itself is pretty bare-bones with no real special features other than an audio commentary; kind of disappointing as it would have been neat to see a featurette on New Orleans post-Katrina in the area the movie was filmed. I couldn't help thinking of "The Skeleton Key" - another mystery/suspense movie filmed in New Orleans as well.
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