sweetdreamer512 Reviews

Shooting Dogs (2005)

Best film I have ever seen - my tear ducts ran out of tear water by the end of the movie.

[10/10 · 15 January 2010]

Where do I start.

It has been a very very long time since I have seen a decent film. The last film I felt so touched and moved by I had seen was the pianist and the (harvey) milk film from 2008.

Those 2 fantastic movies aside, this film absolutely wiped the floor with its emotional attachment. Being of African descent myself, rocked me with even more tears and sympathy watching this film.

The film is set in the genuine places all the genoicides and massacres hasppenned. Many of the actors in the movie were there at the time of the genocide in 1994. Afterall this is based on a true events.

Watching this film truly immersed you deeply into the conflict of 1994. You truly feel like you were there and unfortunately powerless in being able to change what has already been so dramatically written into history.

I felt so guilty that I, like many thousands if not millions of people living in the West had very little idea of what had happened in Rwanda. Granted I was only 11 years of age at the time; such a potent event in history deserves to be remembered by the world as a whole and never forgotten, especially by those who played little but an obvious participation in the events that occurred.

The acting/cast and soundtracks are all faultless in taste and selection. I have not only never been so moved but never cried so much in one movie.

It is only when you watch a movie like this you realise how so for granted you take your life and opportunities bestowed upon us here in the UK.

The producers/actors/directors should be applauded for making what will be remembered at least in my heart as one of the best films in movie history. Such a pity that it will never get the worldwide acclaim even if silently, it truly deserves. Perhaps this is a reflection of the world we still live in. I honestly believe with time this will become a timeless classic and grow notorious as more people find this treasure in their local movie store.

Buy it, rent it...just make sure you watch it.

Breach (2007)

Finally a decent film worth watching

[8/10 · 7 January 2010]

Well executed and involving throughout.

Based on a true story, and it does seem whilst I can not verify, that the film sticks faithfully to its roots. You will find no unrealistic plots and excess script here.

The film keeps grounded and seems very low key but realistic in nature whilst never giving too much away throughout keeping you guessing on how it'll all end.

Some may find this tedious, depending if you are an action junkie. If you are, perhaps this isn't the film for you. That said, it isn't a film which needs your 100% devotion and attentiveness. I.e. you could easily watch this late at night before you go to sleep as I did.

The choice of actors is excellent and the acting can't be knocked. Cast is unusually very good (given what films I have seen of late). You will find no supermodel agents here but realistic looking actors and actresses who fit the role for the character they play.

Very well executed and the director didn't bother trying anything fancy or new to the camera work, which worked superbly. Not too long or short a film either - its balanced just right in length.

The ending is just as good as the start and finish. Lastly the few notes on the real life character is equally as interesting as the film itself. Expect to be talking about this one on the way home or with your friends and partners the next day.

Definitely worth a watch. It's been a while since I have said that I can assure you!

Prom Night (I) (2008)

Not as bad as I expected

[5/10 · 6 January 2010]

OK, I gave this a 5, on the basis that I watch 30-50 horror movies a year so believe I have a fairly balanced view on what makes a good and bad horror flick.

I have seen many terrible films in the genre recently and whilst this one offers little which is original, it's not a flawed as many of the others.

It is relatively enjoyable but falls short in some departments - e.g. there is no real mystery at all in this horror film. That alone is quite unusual for a horror flick involving teenagers and school kids etc.

On that note the casting is bad. I mean its not unusual for directors to cast actors older than they actually are. But this film cast near actors who looked near 30 to play teenage prom kids. It really did detract from the look and feel of the film.

The other note on casting is that strangely the main killer is very good looking. Whilst many horror flicks involves a creepy mask and so on, this guy is not creepy at all to look at. Very strange indeed - and even though I am a hetero sexual male it made me very unphased by staring at this killer who is meant to freak me out. It simply didn't. I was even contemplating how 'cool' his look was.

Whilst there are obvious flaws in "why didn't she do this and that" throughout they are by far not that noticeable compared to other similar horror flicks.

I was quite surprised this film received a 3 overall. I thought it deserved at least a point or two more than that.

I'd comfortably give this film a 5. Merely for the fact that although its not original in story, it does follow a strange pattern where what you expect to happen half way through doesn't entirely happen. Without spoiling it I'll leave it at that.

Worth it if you are under 30 and like films like the craft/urban legend. If you are older you may find it a little hard to swallow being more mature and all.

The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

I'll keep this very simple

[1/10 · 5 January 2010]

The day the earth stood still was the day this film's script, budget and cast was greenlighted by a Hollywood studio.

Absolutely terrible on all fronts. Weak story line, poor acting (unfortuantely almost hand in hand with Keanu) and poor cast (the kid in the film I can assure you will confirm this for you).

Don't let this film paralyze you with boredom and terribleness like it says in the title.

Avoid at all costs.

I repeat...

Avoid at all costs...over.

Ghosts of Mars (2001)

WHY,...why why why - TERRIBLE!!

[1/10 · 22 December 2009]

This film is without doubt one of the worst horror films I have seen in years.

Wait one moment,.....Let me say that again...

This film is the worst horror film I have ever seen.

Everything which could be terrible,...IS TERRIBLE.

ACTING - CHECK CAST - CHECK SOUNDTRACK - CHECK UNIFORMS/COSTUME DESIGN - CHECK SCENERY/MOVIE SET - CHECK FAKE WEAPONS - CHECK STORYLINE - CHECK

I am not sure if there is anything I could miss out. Everything which could be terrible really is. Ice cube or ice tea or whatever his name is plays a fantastic job of re-inforcing the black male with an attitude stereotype. Good job ice tea.

No substance at all to the characters. Poor humour at the wrong times.

Scare moments which actually do catch you off guard are dismissed way too quickly so you forget about them as quickly as they came.

I can't emphasize how bad this film is. John Carpenter, hold your head in shame. You should be truly embarrassed to have this film in your repertoire.

Once again, I'll reiterate, this film is AWFUL.

The Return (2005)

Unfortunately it is deserving of its rating...terrible

[3/10 · 19 November 2009]

I had high hopes for this film. Not particularly a big fan of Sarah Michelle Gellar but she isn't a bad actress by any means and provided my teen years with countless horror movies I enjoyed.

That unfortunately is where the connection stops. I am not even sure this title should fall in the horror section, which is where I found it placed in my local blockbuster.

The film starts off well, keeps you guessing and involved. However as it goes on I find I am constantly looking at my DVD timer thinking,...hmmm we are 45 mins in and nothing substantial has happened yet.

This is indeed one of those films you'll get bored and itchy and glance at the back of the DVD case to see the runtime minutes. Up until the end I kept looking at these runtime minutes at the back assuming it must be wrong,..nothing has happened.

Unfortunately it wasn't wrong. It was another movie where the credits seem to pop up at the most inappropriate times claiming the film/script is finished.

No its not,...and thats why it doesn't deserve anymore than a 3 rating.

And the film and story (if you can call it that), is very confusing and unrealistic. I'd think its fair to say this film never intended to be realistic but the parallels between the dimensions of reality and fiction are just too blurred and silly. Watch "the jacket" for a much much better demonstration of where this practice truly works.