punkmonk-12521 Reviews

Aftersun (II) (2022)

Possibly the best movie I've seen this year.

[9/10 · 3 June 2023]

The film is steeped in the language of cinema and much of the story is conveyed visually. There is dialogue (obviously) but does it carry the narrative? I would argue that the cinematography, editing, sound design, angles, and lighting, all entangle the spectator in a mystery. The director creates a great deal tension that doesn't let up from the beginning of the movie to its end. And by the end of the film you are left pondering. The actors were beautiful and natural, and the father's performance was heartbreaking. It's not a film for everybody; I imagine some would say WTF? Nothing happened: a kid goes on holiday with her dad, who is into Persian rugs and tai chi!!!! And why are Persian ruggs do exy and where did he get da cash to buy one. What a mystery your parents are. This is probably the best movie I've seen so far this year.

The Time Traveler's Wife (2022)

Worth it

[7/10 · 5 July 2022]

I read the one star reviews cause I always do: they were ferocious! I only write reviews like that when I'm bitterly disappointed. I'm a fan of Theo (if you ask me he should do more) I was going to give it a go bad reviews or not. I loved it. I might have teared up every ep, what sweet story telling. If only it was made by the CW Network instead of HBO we'd be enjoying 7 seasons instead of the one.

Ocean's Eleven (1960)

Rapey ugly men real pack of rats; literally.

[3/10 · 26 February 2022]

Terrible movie. Profoundly ugly men, hard to believe this was the height of cool back in the day. The best talent Vegas had to offer; yikes!! The only talent in the move was Sammy Davis Jr. Didn't get to see much of him. Sickening to watch him grovel and pander to those losers. The only reason he kept their company was the money and notoriety. Never seen so many overtly rapey old men in a movie. The only kinda women to find this guys attractive were the desperate kind. Hard to believe this movie started a franchise. Fyi the 3 stars were for Sammy.

The Beatles: Get Back (2021)

Great stuff

[9/10 · 18 February 2022]

I thought more effort went into writing a song? These lads were just in their 20s I thought they were so old when I was a kid. What a pack of rat bags.

It all looked a little slap & dash. I swear if I heard 'Get back' one more time.. it felt like the series consisted of 9 hours of outtakes of the one song.

The bromance btwn Paul & Lennon was painfully obvious, they couldn't take their eyes off each other. Harrison must have felt like a shag on a rock and Yoko yikes - what's all that screaming about? Dreadful. Linda McCartney's kid did a hilarious job of sending Yoko up.

Who da a thought George (the wise old sage) was the baby out of the foursome. I had no idea they were desperate for a 5th Beatle and what a ray of sunshine he was; deep dive into Billy Preston's story- terrible life, sexuality abused as a young boy, drugs & alcohol abuse, you just can't tell what's behind a beautiful smile.

The final ep was anticlimax, for some reason I thought it was a build up to the legendary concert on the roof? It was just a couple of songs with bewildered onlookers (Poms not knowing wtf).

Thank god nobody fell trying to get a peak cause that's all we'd be talking about today.

If you're curious but not a fan give it a go you might enjoy it. I can see why they captivated a generation. Great stuff.

It Happened One Night (1934)

Classic

[9/10 · 18 September 2021]

A must see if you're into old movies it's a classic. If you're looking for a quick 3000 worder the sexual politics are priceless for a 1yr feminist essay. But if you couldn't give a toss the acting is smart & well crafted for it time. The social comments are heartbreaking considering the era. Above all else it holds up as a cosy feel good movie considering it was made 90 yrs ago. Funny I don't know why it makes me sad. Off topic it's appalling America thinks a decent social welfare system is communistic. What the hell do they pay taxes for & what must they think of Australia, England & Sweden?

ABBA: The Movie (1977)

Wasted opportunity

[5/10 · 6 September 2021]

Sadly the film could've documented the group making pop history instead we have to suffer watching a weirdo chase the group around Australia trying to get an interview. They should have turned the Cameras on the group and let us see them warts & all. Can't imagine what it must have been like for them, children screaming at them like caged traumatised animals. Horrible, it would have given me nightmares. No wonder they didn't step foot back in the country again. I remember being totally disgusted when reporters went on about Agnatha's backside; embarrassing. They treated her poorly. She must have thought Australians were revolting; I would have. I doubt if she got any emotional support. Can we talk about the actor Martin Kelly imprisoned for sexual assault how ironic we see him in the film drooling over naked baby pics of Agnetha. They should cut the guy out of the movie. Film doesn't do the group any favours.

Clickbait (2021)

Boo get off

[1/10 · 2 September 2021]

Terrible, I won't go about Pia cause its unanimous she stank. If the series was a somber, sad, moody Scandinavian drama centred around the elderly couple it might have been interesting. Garbage.

Black Widow (2021)

Who have given it 10

[9/10 · 28 August 2021]

I don't rate anything 10/10. I'd have to say this is my favourite Avengers flick, a long time coming & now was the perfect time. Could you imagine how different the tone of the film would have been before 2017. Bad arse women running around in black latex kicking ass never gets boring. Since Black Widow was mortal not like himbo Thor (with his big hammer) or DC's fish guy (who always looks likes he just walk off the set of Magic Mike) the action in BW was like a Bond movie or Mission Impossible. Don't be fooled by the low meta score, well worth it; loved it.

Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)

If you've got nothing goin on in your life

[4/10 · 28 August 2021]

Wait there's always something going on. The film was so memorable I couldn't recall anything from my first viewing. Half way through this tawdry mellow drama I stopped watching. Surprisingly the film seemed to go at the same boring pace, no thrills or tension, the whole vibe was off. This behemoth is for fans only. If you're just a casual fan watch the studio cut.

Cruella (2021)

Garbage

[1/10 · 22 August 2021]

The CGI puppy was gorgeous I want one, but what a steaming pile, Thompson ate up everything including the set; what a ham. What's with the cheesy sound track, felt like ITunes was on random, totally didn't vibe with the action at all. The movie was void of imagination and genuine humour. It's a nanny flick nothing more.

Midsommar (2019)

Enjoyable

[7/10 · 8 August 2020]

The Director/writer doesn't get out much, has a real fear of naked old people too. Was this movie supposed to be a comedy cause I laughed a lot. I think Seth Rogan would have been perfect casting as Christian although I don't think I've met a Jewish boy called Christian & I'm sure being a Jew he wouldn't be offered a VagPie. The director has a fetish for the deformed & family grief. There were naked old people in Hereditary as well, were they supposed to be scary? The only thing scary in Hereditary was Toni Collette's appalling performance, my, my, just dreadful; embarrassing. I loved that the Swedish death cult euthanised their elders but it was melodramatic & looked like snuff theatre you'd stumble upon in the DarkWeb. The community should have came together, celebrated the elders lives & contribution to the community, have a huge dance party say their farewells & then give the elders a lethal injection. Short & swift. None of this smash their face in with sledgehammer, if their skulls weren't smashed after their swan dive to Valhalla. Still it was enjoyable.

Call Me by Your Name (2017)

Classic cinema

[10/10 · 17 May 2020]

It captures the pace of the 80's perfectly, I was the same age a Elio in 81, what an exquisite time of life. We should all live in such idealistic surroundings & be blessed with cultured parents. Elio's relationship with his parents was sparsely written but so intelligent and nurturing. It was like watching a foreign film. Timothee's performance was extraordinary, he brings it all: the temperament, immaturity, innocents, the potential, excitement, longing, sexuality, self loathing and insecurity. Such a free performance it was beautiful to behold. Oliver's mark after his accident, the bruise on his hip seemed symbolic: A.I.D.S? The only time I was moved was when Elio told his father he thought Oliver was better than himself, I thought wow dude your so much better. I would have ended the scene there because Timothee's performance spoke volumes. His dad broke the moment & talked on & on; adding nothing. I'm such a back seat director. That said Classic cinema.

Tales from the Loop (2020)

Not everyone's cup of tea.

[9/10 · 24 April 2020]

What an expression of pensive sadness. Sci-fi with a bland social surface, contemplating the human condition from the stand point of the eternal; it's as if 1978 just went on forever. Nuff said.

Locke & Key (2020–2022)

Binge Worthy

[9/10 · 8 February 2020]

Great cast, well crafted performances, there's a good balance of magic, drama and emotional depth; it's quality family television.

Another Life (2019–2021)

The least likely millennials to be sent up in space

[5/10 · 4 August 2019]

By Ep 6 I binged the rest. It was the big brother household in space or space surviver; and thank god the most annoying character ended up a puddle of sludge. They were the least likely millennials to be sent up in space, even the AI was a train wreck. Clearly once space tourism became viable the standards dropped. I liked the sexual politics. I was entertaining.

The Haunting of Hill House (2018)

Well worth a watch

[10/10 · 20 October 2018]

What a binge, loved it. It reminded me of Turn of the Screw, an old BW -watched it when I was 8, no jump scares just a psychological horror flick. This was great, worth a watch, you might need a box of tissues.

Castle Rock (2018–2019)

Sissy Spacek - The Queen

[10/10 · 26 August 2018]

Ep 07 this can't be Steven King - devistatinly beautiful.

Home Again (2017)

Not my cup of tea.

[1/10 · 12 August 2018]

Saw the trailer -it looked bad and judging from the reviews most people think it's bad. Not a huge fan of Micheal Sheen and don't buy he would have hooked up with Reese back in the day, unless the guys were really ugly way back.

Was hoping it was a smart funny self-critical look at the older woman younger guy/s thing. Some gifted feminist writers can hold up the mirror make you look at yourself, make you laugh, cry and leave you feeling like you want to either slash your wrists or pick your face up off the pavement and go at it again. Judging by the reviews, good and bad, the movie doesn't do that.

Its harsh of me I know but anything with Candice Bergen in it is b-grade. If Barbra Streisand was her mother it would have been intriguing, still I'm sure its a light morale booster for 40 somethings -there's nothing wrong with that.

Still my thoughts -it's not my cup of tea. Is this a review? No -an assumption!

Red Sparrow (2018)

Why a rating of 6? Jennifer Lawrence.

[6/10 · 28 July 2018]

A movie reminiscent of films at the height of the Russia & America Cold War: the British actors ham it up playing violet, mean, perverted Russians; the Americans wearing their hearts on their sleeves. Even the American traitor is a sexual deviant. Hollywood has turned Demonising the Other into an art form -Making America great, propaganda at its most entertaining. Garbage.

12 Monkeys (2015–2018)

12 Monkeys ended at the right time, the series is a gem. I'd watch it again.

[10/10 · 15 July 2018]

A 'Predestination Paradox' based action series and just when we were thinking the characters were stuck in a 'Self-fulfilling Prophecies Paradox', with the occasional 'Polchinski's Paradox' thrown in for good measure, they reveal our heroes were trapped in a 'Bootstrap Paradox' (which the Primes knew all along).

The only way to save the day and bring the series to a close was a 'let's kill Hitler Paradox' which didn't ring true in Ep 12, but that Ep was tongue in cheek -Jennifer entertaining the NAZIS with a Pink ditty and Cassie in drag as a Dominatrix sporting a cigar and Bren Gun in hand -someone has a NAZI fetish: Kinky! Worthy of a Timeless episode (I loved Timeless disappointed it was canceled) ;o(

Final Ep10 flawless and what a tear jerker -i needed a box of tissues! They treated their fan base well. Curious: did Cassie shut it down or were the characters in the Red Forest? I think it was as it appeared, the last jump Cole was thrown out of the loop and it was happy days for everyone. Still if you think about it .... 12 Monkeys ended at the right time, the series is a gem. I'd watch it again.

A Quiet Place (2018)

A great date movie

[7/10 · 18 May 2018]

Setting aside the Cloverfield conspiracies, 'A Quiet Place' is a great date movie, a real creature feature. The actors don't miss a beat and who da thought something as simple as sound or lack of could be the major source of tension in a movie (well it's obvious really when you thing about it). 'A Quiet Place' was as intense as Alien 2 back in the day, I stopped breathing; a lot. The monster up close and personal was a little reminiscent of the clicker zombie, in the Last of Us and just as hard to kill (or maybe it was just me) although when it flashed its JAWS it was defiantly reminiscent of the alien in Alien (which has a RTmertor score of 97% hmmmm). Arachnid looking aliens are alway high on the Richter for the most creepy. My day after score for 'A Quiet Place' is 7 now did it make sense? Well does any creature feature? ahahahah Well worth the effort of braving the cinemas; or if your like me curled up in your jammies, heater on, cup of tea maybe a scone or three in from of the wide screen.

UnREAL (2015–2018)

TRashy and completely bingeable

[8/10 · 7 May 2018]

It's trashy, nasty, camp and the show is littered with despicable narcissistic individuals. UnREAL is one of my guilty pleasures, you could stop at season one but chances are you'll want to binge all Four seasons.

Season 4 is arguably the weakest season, i would have been happy with three. Graham saying "it was probably too painful to say goodbye to me" was probably my fav line whole season.

Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman was really rocking it 3 & 4, Shiri Appleby -extraordinary, and Constance Zimmer -always great.

Loved it.

The Post (2017)

Garbage

[6/10 · 6 May 2018]

I feel like this film was made in a hurry. The actors were eating the set most of the time, the humour fell flat and the directing was very heavy-handed. Was the movie based on a play, as the performances were very theatrical and caricatured. A lot of the shots were staged and the overlapping dialogue didn't work, at one point I thought holly Aspergers Batman why is this guy still talking it going nowhere. The rubbish about the press speaking for the people was corny and fitting from the director of ET and creator of the Indiana Jones franchise, how many billions is this guy worth? A cosy pop corn flick not worth the price of a cinema tick n should be available on Stan.