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Reviews
Come Play (2020)
Perfectly good monster movie
It was good. And genuinely creepy. Sure it's not an expensive blockbuster, but solid, original storyline, coherently told, with good acting from a cast of unknowns and kids with some actual suspenseand unnerving moments without relying on the same old jump scares. I liked it. Much better than most of the crap out there and deserving of a much better score average. Definitely worth a look if you're looking for something a bit different and willing to take a chance. Definitely draws from the Babadook, but is different enough that it's not a rip off. Also has some nice representation of neurodiversity, if that's something you are interested in.
Nobody (2021)
The way Better Call Saul should have ended
No spoilers, but this is a great movie. Takes the tired, overdone "mysterious character pushed too far" premise and breathes new life into it,this time with a believable everyman! Not a deep think piece, but a lot of fun, not recommended for kids.
Last and First Men (2020)
Existential solipsism
The visuals of the other worldly Yugoslavian sculpture was great, and Swinton's narration was right for the part, I just didn't like the story. There was no narrative arc, and the "resolution" at the end was pretty bleak. I can appreciate it as an exercise in writing from a posthuman, unknowable perspective, and, really, as an exercise in postmodernism it is quite beautiful. Not really the sort if thing for relaxing on a Friday night, though. Look, if you liked Koyaanisqatsi and are in the mood for the same sort thing, watch this.
Moonfall (2022)
The effwcts were good, if you like that sort of thing
This was a very silly movie. The underlying story had some interesting elements, but there was a lot of tacked on nonsense. Some powerhouse actors doing their best with a pretty ordinary script, a lot of the interpersonal interactions didn't make much sense. The physics were way off, although the special effects were, to be fair, very well done. Fun enough if your suspension of disbelief is up to it, but mostly an idea with a lot of potential that ended up being a bit of a damp squib. If there's nothing else on and you have time to kill, go for it, but don't go out of your way. Probably a good movie for tween sleepovers.
The History of Future Folk (2012)
Beuatiful little Indy film
Never heard of it before, but there was nothing else on so I took a chance and, wow, am I glad I did! Funny, heartwarming and a little silly without ever descending to farce. Solid performances throughout, which is rare in a cast of unknowns. Very limited effects or special sets, this one relies on a good story and characters you want to watch. Simple film making at it's best. Caution, may lead to red bucket purchases.
Hondo!
Rambo: Last Blood (2019)
It's a Rambo movie. If you like Rambo movies, you'll like it
Bloody, gratuitous violent, and, let's be honest, a little bit jingoistic and silly, but come on, it's a Rambo movie, what did you expect? Basically similar to Taken, except the goodies aren't invulnerable. If you liked previous Rambos, this one rounds out the series about as well as you could want. If you're not a Rambo fan, you aren't going to like it, but then, you probably wouldn't like it no matter how it was made. Delivers exactly what it says on the box.
The Dead Don't Die (2019)
Such a disappointment
Bill Murry, Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Tilda Swinton! This should have been a runaway hit!
Instead, it was very slow to start, but OK, I stuck with it. It established multiple plot lines, and seemed to be leading to a meaningful resolution, when... nothing.
The movie itself seemed to be trying to play straight horror, dark comedy, Cohen Brothers farce and even deep social commentary all at once, and as a result, failed to hit any of the targets.
This movie had so much potential, instead, it just disappoints. I really WANTED to like it, I was so keen when I found it, it looked like it had to be good. But really just a waste of time. Superstar actors and high production values can't save what is a mess of a script.
Predestination (2014)
Very true to Heinlein's story
There are a couple of embellishments and a little bit of extra material, but the original story is 9 pages long, so it's to be expected. I watched it not expecting much, as Heinlein's work has been brutalised on screen before, but I was very happy to be surprised by this. If you know the story, you'll love it. If you don't know the story, watch it twice, second time to see all the clues you missed the first time. Fine acting from Hawk and Snook. It's hard to successfully bring a piece of literature to the screen, but this managed very well.
Guns Akimbo (2019)
So Radcliffe can act
Always found Daniel Radcliffe to be a flat, one note actor, but in this he was actually compelling and emotive. The movie itself is fun enough, in a gratuitous sort of way. Interesting set up. Worth a look.
Future Man (2017)
Seriously good TV
The first episode was a little rocky, and I almost didn't bother continuing. This would have been a mistake. The show really hits its stride around ep 3, and from then on I couldn't turn it off. If you are a science fiction or gaming nerd, or like dark humour, this one's for you. Not recommended for little kids; there's a bit of gore, not over done, but if that's something that bothers you, be aware. Also some pretty strong language. But all in all, 10/10, the story holds together better than most straight sci-fi, the characters are surprisingly likable and the production values are high. I hope you enjoy it.
Color Out of Space (2019)
Solid, give it a shot
It's not the mega blockbuster Lovecraft deserves, but it's a solid adaptation. If you like the novella, definitely worth a look. Not scary, as such, but a couple of genuinely unnerving moments. Better than a lot of the schlock coming out these days, and hey, if you support it, it will only encourage the bigger producer to give Lovecraft a proper large budget treatment.
The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018)
Yeah, not a bad little family movie
Was scrolling through my streaming service for a movie for my wife and daughter the other night. None of us had heard of this one, but nothing else was grabbing us and this looked young enough to appeal to a kid, quirky enough to appeal to adults, so we took a chance.
It's a nice little story. It's not the best film ever, but it was nice. The story was solid, it had a nice flow and character development, a couple of lessons about acceptance and overcoming fears and not following the cool kids and taking responsibility for your mistakes. The best acting I've seen Jack Black do since High Fidelity, and Cate Blanchett playing a very understated supporting role very well. Kyle MacLachlan was a very credible baddie, too. The production values were first rate. Sets, costumes and props all very nicely done. Frankly, I was surprised this didn't get more press than it did. It was never going to be a Summer blockbuster, but there were no corners cut and it was well put together.
My daughter saw it and enjoyed at 13.5. I wouldn't recommend it for kids younger than 8 or 9, maybe even older for sensitive kids. There weren't any really scary bits, but there were a couple of creepy moments that might bother little kids, but generally the movie was good wholesome fun. Take a chance.
Get Out (2017)
I just don't get the hype
Frankly, I really didn't understand the hype, and I found the racial aspect quite tacked on. I think the transfer of consciousness theme was explored much better in (underappreciated) Self/less (2015) - IMDb and I don't think the horror aspect really had anything The Stepford Wives hasn't thoroughly covered. The only memorable element of the movie was the best friend's comic relief.
Hey, I'm not saying it was bad, all things considered. It was a perfectly serviceable sci-fi/horror thriller. I just don't see it being anything particularly special. I think an awful lot of the accolades it's getting about exposing racial issues have far more to do with viewer's projections and wishful thinking than anything inherent in the film.
/2c
Battleship (2012)
Um, riiiiight....
So, convicted for breaking and entry one day, US naval lieutenant the next? Wow. I know the US military's standards are slipping, but seriously?
Liam Neeson seems to really be signing up for anything these days, and here I was thinking he'd come a long way from Darkman.
Guess not.
Fun to watch for its action, but yeah, don't even TRY to maintain a functioning suspension of disbelief.
Not even gunna mention theveterens manning a decommissioned battleship to save the day, while a token female helps bears an awful lot of similarity to Undersiege. What's it come to when you gotta rip off a Segal movie?.
If there's absolutely NOTHING else at the video hire place, take a chance...
Taken 2 (2012)
Meh, suspension of disbelief wasn't up to it
OK, first of all, the tacked on glurgey happy families subplot bugged me. I just don't believe the ex wives of international security specialist hard men are likely to drop everything and schlepp off to Constantinople with, what one assumes must be, their seriously traumatised, yet surprisingly fashionable and flirty teenage daughters at a moment's notice, no matter their current marital difficulties. I found the nouveau riche mother/ex wife to be thoroughly unlikable, apparently her raison d'etre was to be a weeping liability that Bryan had to keep going back for, when she wasn't being a vehicle to demonstrate the objective badness of the baddies. I get that well to do, sheltered soccer moms probably don't do well when suddenly thrust into the high stakes world of international terrorism, but her entire character arc seemed to go from "victim", to "unconscious victim".
While Mom the victim was being mindlessly terrorised by the baddies, spunky daughter was able to cope in circumstances that would reduce most combat veterans to tears, yet we're supposed to believe that in the vaguely recent past (i.e. "Taken") she was kidnapped, drugged and almost sold into sexual slavery. And no Rocky-esq montage of the years of therapy to get her over her PTSD needed? She's just meant to be fine? Oh, I get it... she has a boyfriend now. Well, I guess that fixes everything.
The sequence of locating the father bugged especially. Ever worked with grenades? They're loud, and dangerous. Loud, obviously, because Bryan can clearly hear them several kilometres away, yet Kim seems to be able to throw several around the roof tops of Constantinople with a. no one taking much notice, b. aside from one car, no observable destructive or injurious effect. While on the subject, someone get that girl a pitching contract! She was throwing grenades, with pin point accuracy, over distances grenade launchers would have difficulty with.
Couple of other things, apparently, like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Haiga Sophia is visible from every window in Constantinople, and no matter how many ferries one takes, or how many kilometres of back allies one drives down, its never further away than the middle distance? Did you know that ever motor vehicle in Constantinople with a visible badge is either a BMW or a Mercedes? Even the taxis? Did you know that Albanian crime syndicates use the Turkish national Flag as an identifying tattoo? I guess its easier to draw than the Albanian flag.
I sort of suspect that an ex CIA field officer would know what a Adhan was, and what a muezzin was doing, and not refer to the Muslim call to prayer as a "man singing".
Last point, and I know it isn't unique to this movie, but it bugs me that the dateline crawl just says "Albania", because thats all the info we need, but back in the good old US of A, we just get "Los Angeles". Also, Paris, France, so, you know, we don't think it might be "Paris, Arkansas". The way entire countries are given the same weight as single US cities, bugs me, and the way any city worthy of individual naming outside the lower 48 needs to have its country pointed out, bugs me.
All in all, the action was fine, but the niggles ganged up to ruin the story for me, and my suspension of disbelief wasn't strong enough.