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Reviews
The Shack (2017)
Disturbingly manipulative
This is the first film I have ever watched that has left me feeling angry. The reason I was angry was because I couldn't work out why I disliked it so much.
The film was visually quite appealing the acting wasn't awful, the dialog wasn't the worst. The direction was not too bad. The reason came to me after thinking about the film for a while.
It tries to manipulates you in a similar way that church ministers would try to manipulate children at school assembley (British thing). The ministers would come to school and preach to children making arguments which made little or no sense, mix in some truth into the nonsense to try to make his point.
In a nutshell that is this film, a huge amount of muddled nonsense mixed in with a tiny bit of something that makes sense, and concludes with a predetermined answer which makes it feel like the story has been written backwards so the argument fits the answer.
Terrible film.
Rogue One (2016)
THE Star Wars prequel
i was afraid Star Wars the franchise was bleeding to death, with each new instalment giving hope then draining the life from it. This is the first instalment since return of The Jedi that I felt they have got just about everything right.
The mood, the special effects( very little cgi), and most importantly the interactions between the characters were excellent. The characters somehow felt more real like the original a new hope. The sets also felt real and gritty a throwback to a great films such as aliens, blade runner or a new hope. No longer are cgi storm troopers riding cgi Dewbacks or equally unrealistic cgi floating vehicles. Instead there are vehicles that you know will take an actors finger off if he puts it in the tank tracks.
The cgi is virtually unnoticeable and you could be mistaken for thinking the shots were done with traditional cameras techniques and models. There are a couple of bad exceptions but these are quickly forgiven and forgotten once the scene moves on.
The two main actors work very well together and become more likable together as the story goes along. All the actors are very good. There is a feel of the original star wars with the minor roles still given a voice. There is also a real Moments of emotion which comes primarily from the acting but also the very good dialogue and direction.
This film as a whole is not perfect, but the blemishes are so insignificant that to dwell on them would be doing the film a major disservice.
The force is with me I am one with the force again
Review from an 80's child watched in 2d
Children of Men (2006)
Great film, surprisingly great
I went to see this film not knowing what it was about and perhaps the no preconceptions helped my surprised enjoyment.
Every character is perfectly acted and seems well casted. Owen, Caine and Moore are all at their best with believable and touching performances. The effects were great especially the battle scenes and camera technique is particularly effective taking you into the middle of the scenes.
The story is believable and perhaps the most realistic portrait of a possible future for the world we have seen recently. The scenery and costumes world wonderfully in creating an emersive world, and with the afore mentioned camera work we are a step behind the actors .
The film gets better and better all the way through and the end is the coffee at the end of a great meal, hope there will be a sequel.
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Don't know what all of the fuss is about.
This fun fantasy film meanders it's along nice and gently without making you laugh out loud
or jump or cry but it does make you smile. It's a pantomime on film. One member of the audience laughed out loud , but she was the only person in the cinema. It is a film for the open minded for the person who can see fun in lunacy. How ever ithe film will not be to everyone's taste one friend just didn't get it. Some people won't. It's deliberately amateurish effects will amuse some and bemuse others.
It is good but not as good as Wes Anderson's previous films, the life aquatic or the royal tenenbaums, Even though I enjoyed the film I know it could have been much better and was not better than what he has made to date.
Its a fun watch, but don't expect too much.
Divergent (2014)
I believe this is just average
Having saw the film yesterday, it not great, it is not good, it is average. Some will say it's better some will say it's worse.
The story is a little unbelievable but is packed full of action and drama. The problem is the action isn't great, and the drama isn't that exciting. Even the props had a feel of low budget or just not enough thought had gone into them. The actors were not great. The male lead was increasingly wooden and just seemed unable to dominate the screen the way his character should. The female lead was at times very good but she just didn't do enough for it to be better than that. Kate Winslet was good also but she was not involve nearly enough.
Even with some good performances the film seemed a bit dull and obvious. Divergent is an OK film it's just OK, and that is its biggest problem it is a very safe very middle of the road sci fi film.
Moon (2009)
An emotional roller-coaster
What can I say about this film it was thought provoking it was thrilling full of suspense and an emotional roller coaster and completely emersive. Duncan Jones well done on this low budget masterpiece. Sam Rockwell, in my opinion one of the best actors around today, is simply brilliant.
The special effects and scenery are modest, but this just adds to the film. Less is more they say and this is certainly the case with moon.
The film is simple it has a beginning which is hugely absorbing leaving the audience not knowing which direction the film will go in a middle with character development and an ending which like a nice desert finishes the story perfectly. The film is set over a few days and this only adds to this great emersing film.
Meet Joe Black (1998)
Really really bad
Now to be fair to the film I am reviewing it from memory having seen it many years ago but it stands out as the worst film I have ever seen. So let's see how good my memory is. I went with a girl to the cinema who afterwards said the film was so great because of brad Pitt. I questioned her why and she said he is how a man should be the way he touches a women the way he is with a women.
He was clearly directed to act so slowly like he had been edited in slow motion his speech his actions his thought process were all redicous. The scenes were also so slow a mind blowingly dull. The love scenes were a soft core for the female audience it could have been constant diet coke adverts with the six pack slowly being revealed. It was a love story with no emotion with no connections. I felt nothing towards any of the characters. I can only blame truly awful directing as all the lead actors/ actresses are well know and so good in other films.
The end was truly remarkable. It was so good they did it over and over again! The fireworks went off they look into the distance thank goodness it's over, no it isn't . Another set of fireworks another walk another look into the distance thank goodness it's over no it isn't another walk towards the bridge some more fireworks please is it over, thank god it's over!
Pacific Rim (2013)
A gem of a film which doesn't take itself too seriously
I thoroughly enjoyed his movie fro start to finish, even the comical parts which in an other film would have been out of place. I initially thought it was the follow up to cloverfield. But filmed totally differently but i think I am wrong about that.
There were some lines/ designs throughout the film which plays homage to star Wars, but done in a way which enhances the film.
This is a film that can be watched so many times over the fight scenes are great but are grounded by the actors. If the film has one problem it is the main character sounds a bit punch drunk and the acting is a little wooden but Sean slater (eastenders) is great apart from his slightly dodgy accent and Luther is awesome as always. It all ties together so undoubtedly thanks to del toro's direction and story telling which left me putting some pieces together which is clearly deliberate. There will hopefully be a sequel.
Gravity (2013)
Amazing and very bad at different times.
I was thoroughly looking forward to this film seeing 10 out of 10 everywhere so was perhaps letting myself in for a fall. Let's not get away from it, just as so many other space films this was visually stunning, probably as mind blowing as Jurassic park at the time. These effects give the movie such a believable and realistic feel that you are gripping your feet to the floor and hands to the seats in fear you fly into outer space. A movie is not great because of special effects though and this movie is a let down for a number of reasons.
The main reason is bullock, she was not the correct actress for this and does not hold the attention of the audience in gripping scenes. If you want the character to fail Something ain't right. Bad acting or direction either way she didn't fit the film. Clooney on the other hand was great and believable and carried the film.
Also For such a believable movie visually the storyline needs to be just as believable which it was not. So I stopped believing and was only amerced in the action scenes. The last 40 min was just an uncomfortable wait for the inevitable. Not really caring which way the story line will go.
In having said all of that it is still a visually stunning and in parts thrilling film. It's amazing and very bad at different times overall good.