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Reviews
Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne (2003)
Amnor Vincit Omnia
As a sequel, it surpasses its predecessor in every way. As a video game, it surpasses the very boundaries people thought allowable, and possible. The photorealistic effects, ingenious use of lighting and incredible colour palette mixed with a thumping and brooding soundtrack (Poets of the Fall) create the world of Max Payne. It is slick but incredibly violent and woven extremely taught; the love affair between Mona and Max if anything is simply beautifully told; and the storyline itself is conceptually impressive. Max Payne 2 is a game for mature players: and it will take multiple replays to fully understand the achievement set down by Rockstar and Take 2.
War of the Worlds (2005)
All's well that ends H.G. Well's
Spielberg and Cruise have a passion for movies. This is the first hurdle many critics fall at, and whilst this is an adaptation it is also a popcorn sales catalyst. Plot holes and mistakes so obvious to even the 12A kiddie audience seem justified by big bangs, thrills, spills, shocks, knocks, and aliens. Big. Aliens. It's true that the movie can be seen in three different parts, the first being a quick build up and focus on naturalistic abnormalities as the first Lightning and Bangs strike. The second and for the majority of the film a 'saving private Ryan' camera style as the Ferriers escape invading Alien tripods; forget the highbrowed crassness of Independence Day this is brutal realism and 'dead eye' surrealism working in a graceful harmony in some sort of sick and twisted kind of Goethian Nightmare. It surprises any expectations of the level of violence within its 12a context; some moments are genuinely scary, or at the least, heart pounding. Cruise then flicks into stand alone Heroic Cliché mode with the third and final stage; which seems abrupt, pointless, and shockingly deadpanned;though some literary purists might argue it is Faithful to Well's novel this is a movie which, despite its adaptation tag; is still a Spielberg and Cruise movie from which we would demand more and some serious anarchical ending working into the vibes that might echo a 21st Century Kubrick for example; with so much initial horse power behind it this movie falls at the last hurdle, throwing the audience off with a violent jerk of the director's wrist. Hell, it coulda had class, it coulda been a contender, it coulda been something. To all intents and purposes still an exceedingly good slice of Hollywood high powered product entertainment running a refreshingly different race from other 90's disaster movies. Worth the ticket price? Well's worth it. **** a- 88% 8.5/10
Ying xiong (2002)
I owned 47 DVD's. What i needed to make number 48 was something truly exceptional; Hero was exactly that.
I owned 47 DVD's. What i needed to make number 48 was something truly exceptional; Hero was exactly that.
With respect, nothing in this Earth is perfect; 9.999 is about as close a rank i can give Hero. What i thought would be a re-run of 'Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon' turned out to be an unbelievable experience that has raised the bar clean out of sight. A nameless warrior (Jet Li) is given time alone with the Great King to recount how he killed the three most deadly assassins in the land: Sky, Broken Sword and Flying Snow. With each story told the entire movie expands and contracts as multiple events eventually come together by the end, and what happens in between will break your imagination. The cinematography is something that inspires and amazes; you find yourself in awe that such beauty could be created on screen; the fights are expertly choreographed, directed and edited; the high wire methods allow for some of the worlds best fight scenes ever committed to screen. The movie creates it's own myth; shrouded in an invisible sheen of the stuff of legends. Some of the major army battle scenes force the viewer to go temporarily numb (Sky and Flying Snow take on the 3000 bodyguards as they launch their assault on the King's fortress/ the hundred thousand arrows ripping into a small calligraphy school as Li and Flying Snow try their best to shield Sky) What you see here is something you will find yourself watching over and over again, seizing the same amount of emotion that you did the first time, because no matter what, a Hero's spirit never dies.
9.9/10 ***** A* Buy the DVD and experience true brilliance.
Deliverance (1972)
"Bring us into Deliverance"
'We're gonna rape this land, we're gonna rape it' Its Stand By Me for grown ups. Deliverance contains something simplistic that never fails to shock, excite and horrify altogether. Yet even since 1972 it is a testament to the golden oldies that never diminish from the audience's mind. It is very fast paced and aggressive from the start, something you can watch in an hour and a half, yet still the naturalistic approach of director John Boorman remains true to the original story; it is not over sensationalised with music or flimsy acting, or under achieved in any way. It is an account of the terrors that lurk in the backwater, small country towns where strangers are neglected, threatened, terrorised. Much of the movies' story balances on the horrific male rape scene; perpetuated with slow burning use of editing that builds up the tension to danger levels. It's a modern classic; the year of Clockwork Orange; ultra violence at it's best when it seems to come true. Yet still, Deliverance remains even after the land is gone beneath the raging waters.
Halo 2 (2004)
ULTIMATE FPS ACTION GAME EVER! *HALO 3 SPECULATION*
Halo was a hugely original, unique game that offered an unprecedented method of playability to the gamer. Halo 2 expands in every way; graphics, narrative, character, accessories. This time it offers you the covenant perspective as you play another character, ARBITER; a disgraced covenant elite who must stop a rebellion in the galaxy; along with the consummate professional MASTER CHIEF as he vows to stop the destruction of Earth during the war. HALO 2 reeks of quality; nice fine touches of witty, purposeful additions to appeal to the hardcore, loyal players of the original; rock music used in the BUNGIE opener; Johnson and Chief at the awards ceremony; Captain Keyes daughter's introduction; the return of Blood Gulch in the multiplayer. Hell; this is so far the best sequel to a game ever. Ever!!!! Halo 2 is a sweeping; hugely epic adrenaline shot straight to the heart, with occasional cinematic breaks directed by the legendary Joseph Staten; of course the real battle begins when you clock the game on easy, normal and hard; and you find your way barely breathing through LEGENDARY mode. I can say that; as i have completed the game, it finishes comparably to the Matrix 2; you know there's going to be a third and it ends rather abruptly which is one of my main gripes; damn the excitement, this is not halo 2 but halo vanilla. A perfect consumer product that diversifies but never quite fulfills expectations as to the original. I would expect Halo 3 to ship in no more than 3 years time; rounding up the story with a thrilling climax; the end of a trilogy, the best FPS trilogy created by man...well, BUNGIE then (they're not quite human y'see) and if sales records are anything to go by it will probably be the best selling game ever. You owe your forty quid, your twenty hours time and infinite fun to BUNGIE; slaving away under fluorescent bulbs to perfect their craft! C'mon guys; the next step; TOTAL WORLD WIDE DOMINATION!!!
The Evil Dead (1981)
Evil Dead: Dead Good *some scene spoilers*
Sam Raimi's first of a trilogy is the most darkest and haunting of a series of modern-classic horrors. Catch "Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn" and "Army of Darkness: Evil Dead 3" for some of the same body horror but also some unequaled comedy, they are extremely funny "Give me some Sugar, baby" THE EVIL DEAD was perhaps for me the first and only movie I have had to genuinely physically leave the room (in daylight)because i was always haunted by it as a kid; not so much now but my VHS copy has disappeared so i will be getting DVD version soon. It is set up nice and slowly; with the five main characters arriving in (DIRECTOR SAM RAIMI'S) battered oldsmobile to a small isolated, derelict cabin in the middle of the woods. (BLAIR WITCH PINCHED THIS)Unfortunately it is home to a series of GHASTLY, PERVERSE, DEADLY, ROTTEN, Horrific, and downright URGH! DEADITES; or the Evil Dead; spirits, poltergeists, zombies and anything you can think of (TREE ROOTS) that in one night make it their mission to terrorise and kill, murder, bludgeon, butcher, massacre the group before daylight. Every room is haunted ground and even the surrounding woods are brought to life where a young woman is raped by the roots; SAM RAIMI'S trademark POV and ATHLETIC camera shots give the piece a macabre air in which every climax is paid off by screams from the audience; ASH (everybodys favourite cult hero BRUCE CAMPBELL) soon becomes an unwilling leader of the group and is forced to fight against the nightmare before they all die. This movie features dark, cramped, claustrophobic cinematography and some chilling BODY HORROR as seen in the likes of John Carpenter's 'The Thing' where the emphasis lies on the destruction of the flesh rather than the soul. The soundtrack (DIEGETIC AND NON-DIEGETIC) is memorable simply for the fear effect it induces on the audience throughout; the initial thuds of the synth score cruelly seem to give the woods life before the horror as you'd imagine a large tree moving would make the similar sound; and of course it's also the result of a possessed swing-rest hitting against the side of the house. One of the few horrors that never lets up; it simply moves from horror to horror and forces you to deal with it.
Elephant (2003)
Elephant Never Forgets
Elephant is a movie you will never forget easily; it is a visceral uncompromising look at the reality based around the Columbine massacre. The long; engaging tracking shots follow random characters around like you would see them in any normal day; with this voyeuristic look the characters need not speak for their every action tells a thousand words. This shot; though a popular medium of cinematography is pushed to the limits (in one scene it lasts about four minutes continuously)so we are connected with each of the characters we encounter; we build up our comparisons and contrasts; formalities and familiarities, which sets the tone for much of the film before the carnage begins.
The characters are all amateur actors and so bring a fresh and frivolent atmosphere to the piece but award the audience with career performances. The docudrama/observational shooting style could not paint a more grim unfolding of events but some now traditional Hollywood stylisation and poor continuity spoil certain scenes; however the young audience demographic in the UK (16-18's) this must appeal to lacks a voice for the two Antagonists, here portrayed rather questioningly as homosexual depressants; and clearly lacks in showing their motives. We are simply shown around the school; are introduced to a bunch of characters who are to be executed before the credits roll and left to deal with the consequences, and concerns behind the "Mail Order Firearms" scene which may be closely accurate in America around the time of the events.
The picture is a clear and crisp Digital and so it seems to be happening as if you were there; amongst the screams of fear and shooting; the piece builds up beautifully to it's nightmarish, unrelenting, mercilless, deeply horrific climax; or anti climax? The fact that the shooting is calmly premeditated and emotionlessly and uncaringly executed spares not a single horrified face in the audience. Possibly the most important piece of Artful realism in many years; i personally recommend this movie for 8.5 stars, it should be within the top 250 all time greats!
The Asphyx (1972)
The Ace-Pix (Why wasn't this filth banned?) but we like it.
A Victorian scientist works to entrap the mythical "ASPHYX" a spirit engorged in agony; forever condemned to screech and wail until it finds another human body to take. After realising that trapping it will lead to immortality before the clutches of death; he pushes his experiments to the extreme in order to control life. With harrowing and very, very deeply disturbing scenes and consequences. Be warned. yep. I know what you want to think; maybe Christopher Lee dancing round in a woman's wig get's your freak on; your horror movie penchant.No. Sadly not. I saw this movie a while ago and had no idea what it was: i only knew that it had the word asphyx in and now; about five years after seeing the movie i am reminded about how engaging it was; but it has serial scary moments. Whereas the likes of the Exorcist and Halloween exercise subtlety with scary points; this well made BRITPIC serves you a colourful rendition of the screeching banshee phantom with the more underlying tone of immortality at a price; it's sometimes painful to watch not because it's bad but because it's good. Very good; consider this a 70's Brit Horror B movie/ a little gem which i don't think has been touched upon by Hollywood yet. It's not Body-Horror like the Thing but rather the condition of the human spirit/ tragedy/ death; which are played to the extremes. The very minutely close shave extremes in some cases. Masterful storytelling combined with sheer perverted black comedy and some proper man's horror, this movie may well stay with you for the rest of eternity.
Bio Hazard (1996)
play that moonlight sonata like you MEAN it!
The best ever franchise debut and perhaps the best ever selling game on the playstation. Resident Evil is plot driven - but the special forces you command (Chris or Jill) still hold character: the story holds up extremely well and the subsequent movie producers and directors should be shot or at least eaten alive by bio-infected gimp zombies for their crappy introduction to the world of raccoon city. The opening FMV's create the tension between the unexplained body count and the S.T.A.R.S team sent in to investigate: BOOM! the chopper goes down- you find a hand; a severed hand still clutching the gun in a field; something ripped it off, the magazine is still in, whatever it was it is fast...extremely fast "WAHHH!!!!!!!!" the roar of infected HOUNDS pierces the night air and you pitch a running- gun battle to an isolated mansion. Closing the double large oak doors in just enough time; your team is safe. OR ARE THEY. CHRIS/JILL/BARRY/WESKER you are unwelcome guests at the mansion of RESIDENT EVIL. The definitive SURVIVAL HORROR video game that defines the console world like the Exorcist for movies. (but this is better) Triumphant escape from the labyrinth of corridors and puzzles or a slow agonising death to befall you and your comrades: Gameotography is excellent: the realist pre rendered scenery is beautiful to behold and the bloodletting is superb. One word: please delete the movies from our minds and start the TRILOGY off with the proper introduction for it is the best.
Spooks (2002)
Mi5 not 9 to 5; the ESSENTIAL SPOOKS DVD
I'm in a predicament: i have thirty odd quid which IS going on enlarging my DVD collection; but what to buy. I'm split between Star Wars and Spooks. I'm thinking spooks; why? I'll tell you why; Standard edited format of the series means your getting at least 10 hours of film for your buck; whereas star wars is about six. Plus the uncensored version; add the special features; trailers; extensive biogs of cast and crew; documentaries; behind the scenes; your probably going to get 15 or so hours for thirty quid there;bargain! It's the best of British Series in my opinion; like a good magazine; thick,dense,glossy,informative and entertaining with some belter action scenes (waaaah S.A.S.!) the highly polished series was like watching a Michael Mann fantasy; rich vivid colours of blue; green, red ,and turquiose paint a very powerful picture of the best counter terrorism domestic service intelligence agency in the world. Tremendous feat from the crew; powerful and gripping acting especially from Quinn who is way better (i know) than Clive Owen in, say, the Croupier or even King Arthur! BUY THIS DVD RIGHT NOW! it's that simple; get it now! 5 stars; highly recommended. May the force be with SPOOKS.
Collateral (2004)
taxi!
Collateral serves up the thrills quickly and coldly in this tense portrayal of simple binary oppositions;
STRONG:WEAK The cruiser boils into the sub zero, emotionless, ruthless assassin who has 5 hits to complete with the aid of unwilling cabbie Max (Foxx) Both characters play off each other really well and when the movie really gets going,the tension between them mounts and the edge of morality and humanity swings wildly like a pendulum between the two. Cruise displays a rather darker turn in this piece than most other mainstream thrillers i know of; relaying the fact that a potential victim has a wife who may be pregnant to Max who is powerless to stop a potential murder (or five) Maxx stands up pretty well in front of the traffic light ; he doesn't burn and shrivel like most others who would dare to confront Cruise and Mann on home territory. Both characters are played almost to perfection, but Maxx and Vincent do swap certain qualities that should befall both professionalism and morality. The score (especially before the smash) drives the movie along almost like the intangible protagonist of the piece as it makes its merry way around the neon swept streets of L.A. Looking for another Heat: no! Heat and Collateral are similar in content but different in context; Heat exercised the cops and robbers theme whilst collateral shows us the more haunting aspects of how fragile life is; weakness; the will to hang on and how far would ou have to go? Collateral, though a bit flawed deserves a high rating and i would personally give it 7.8 stars.
Akira (1988)
Typical but groundbreaking dystopia japanime.
In between The Terminator (1984) and T2 (1991) and some 11 years preceding The Matrix; this movie was a groundbreaking feat which should be congratulated for it's light year vision. The cinematography blends Blade Runner-esque wide shots of a thriving neon lit future city with some themes of urban degradation and violence that can be compared to the likes of such movies as Menace 2 Society; The Lost Boys or; more unusually; The Running Man. Why this movie appeals to typical anime conventionalist's is because of it's inspiration from the mix of Samurai and John Ford Westerns of the 50's and 60's in terms of violence and black humour and compelling; claustrophobic music score. Look at more recent but fundamentally similar movies such as Battle Royale (1 for it is far superior than requiem) The Matrix anime project. Akira Kurosawa; Kinji Fukasaku; Sergio Leone; Martin Scorcese; Tarantino; Oliver Stone. Controversy should go hand in hand with these major players throughout the history of movies; but akira is not controversial. The violence may be graphic but should it is perpetrated by very young antagonists and protagonists who realize their worth in a world (which we should gratefully never have to experience) and their own attempts to survive in the more harsher reality. That'll do for now.