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xavboy4
Reviews
Terra Nova (2011)
I require something more!
I started watching this programme in the hope that it might indeed be worth watching. I've watched the first 4 episodes now and have to admit that I'm severely disappointed by the quality of the writing and the special effects too. I struggled to get through the first three episodes, just about managing to put up with the unlikely event of Jim breaking out of a maximum security prison (in the nick of time); I turned a blind eye to the fact that instead of the 3rd illegal child having been incinerated for being born, she had in fact been hiding in a big rucksack for two years (presumably); I shrugged at the fact that the teenage boy was thoroughly unlikeable (but not in a good way) and 'meh'd' at the fact that the CGI was only a few notches up from Primeval. However, the straw that broke my back was the third episode where everything that was going to happen in the episode was clearly signposted early on and the lamest of contrivances and happenstance were used to flesh out the show and make it totally impossible to suspend my disbelief for any longer. I have to give up on this show as it's given me no reason to want to invest any more time in it unfortunately. A wasted opportunity in my eyes - it seems to be aimed at a demographic of 8-14, which is fine, but it would have been nice to have been told this upfront. Sigh.
Skyline (2010)
Whyline?
It's rare that I'll give a movie an 'awful' review - I can usually find something of interest, even if it's only of interest to me! Having just been to see Skyline however, I felt numbed and cheated - I hadn't paid, but I still felt I was owed some money back... With no likable characters, a 'plot' that goes from bad to worse to literally nothing, it's difficult to recommend anything about the movie. I've already had my fingers burnt by the Brothers Strause before - when they took 2 much loved franchises in Alien and Predator and made their fans weep. That film, just like this one, has some cool looking set pieces but absolutely nothing of value to tie them together - totally refusing to give the viewer any reason to care about what they've churned out.
Avoid. Avoid. Avoid.
Hostel (2005)
Golden Boy Roth? Cliché boy more like..
Cabin Fever was OK - good fun in places but no more. Now we have Hostel, handily championed by Tarantino (smart use of your new friend there!), is nothing special either. I've nothing whatsoever against Eli Roth (except jealousy maybe coz he seems to be getting away it), but is it me or is his output a bit average and uninspiring? All the magazines I see are proclaiming Roth as the new chosen one when it comes to horror but I see nothing special here. There's stereotypes a-plenty and I found myself wondering if this was all tongue-in-cheek, but if it is the humour doesn't come through and it just feels like cliché-city. Roth has an undoubted talent for making your toes curl and that's great, but it cant sustain a full film especially when the gore is limited to 10 minutes or so. The gore itself is good, but nothing amazing or revolutionary (bringing up comparisons with Pet Sematary of all films). If someone can tell me what all the fuss is about I would be very grateful!!