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Reviews
Underwater (2020)
Under-rated
To clarify - I watch films to be entertained. I don't watch them for deep, meaningful reasons & to dissect every moment, critique it & compare to obvious classics. Underwater clearly pays homage to the classics of Alien & The Abyss amongst others.
Accepting that then the question is does it do what it says on the tin?
Answer is yes. Is there much character development? Not really. But with a 90min runtime of a film ostensibly about monsters, what are people expecting?
I felt all the actors were well cast, I found the film visually impressive, & I loved the simple story without unnecessary "clutter" added.
For me it went back to the streamlined creature feature/sci-if films of yesteryear.
Very happy to add this to my collection.
The Tomorrow War (2021)
All been seen before
This film had action, good CGI, the ever popular science fiction/futuristic plot of the world as we know it ending. It is watchable.
The trouble for this reviewer is that it had all been seen before, and although that in itself doesn't lose stars (as let's be honest there are not many novel ideas out there now!), the other films had done it noticeably better!
Even as a non-Tom Cruise fan, his "Live, Die, Repeat" with it's very similar premise was infinitely more watchable and memorable.
The complete rip off of what looked like a whole scene from the classic "The Thing" also seemed a tad too much that the novel ideas had run out. And that is only one example!
I don't mind Chris Pratt but he shines more as the reluctant hero when surrounded by dinosaurs or his Guardians co-stars. As a lone "leading man" hero, he does not have the star power to carry a film - or at least not this one.
The sort of film to have on in the background to keep kids quiet or to gaze at whilst doing your laundry. Watchable rubbish but instantly forgettable.
Swamp Thing (2019)
Why was this cancelled??
Great story. Great effects. Great characters that you actually cared about! This had so much good stuff in it that you rarely see on TV today. Really enjoyed every episode - actually binge watched which is highly unusual for me. Real shame it was cancelled. Glad there was at least one season!
Pride & Prejudice (2005)
A new adaptation of a classic love story!
If you have never heard of Jane Austen, seen the original movie or the 1995 BBC adaptation, or even seen a pop up version of the book, then this farcical attempt to show this classic love story may be considered vaguely endurable.
From the opening scene, this film must be remembered for its awful acting, abominable miscasting and complete lack of the classic wit of Jane Austen.
Whoever decided to cast actors (with the exception of the excellent Judi Dench) who have obviously never heard of Jane Austen, let alone read her, should be punished! Keira Knightley grimaces and grins through every scene, and came across as being so obnoxious that no-one would want to marry her! Darcy looked as if he was trying to remember his lines throughout the whole film and the rest of the Bennet girls were interchangeable in their lack of portraying their characters as they were originally written.
This version failed to show the proper Pride and Prejudice that both Darcy and Elizabeth suffered from and, at the end of the longest two hours of my life, who cared whether they got together or not! Absolutely abysmal - even the too few minutes of Judi Dench cannot save this rubbish. I cannot think of anything good to say about this film apart from that it eventually ended!
Rose-Marie (1936)
Musical romance with the singing sweethearts
This is one of my favourite films. It has everything - stunning scenery, great songs, and the beautiful pairing of Nelson Eddy and Jeanette Macdonald.
The plot scenario is Jeanette as a spoilt, self-centred prima donna who cares only for her brother but no other man (as shown by her constantly rejecting a very early David Niven!). When this brother (James Stewart) gets into trouble, she leaves her operatic life to go and help him meeting a manly mountie on the way (Nelson Eddy).
Although Jeanette originally is not impressed with Eddy, she starts to thaw to him amongst the Canadian Rockies and the classic Indian Love Call. And who could not fall for Eddy when he sings Rose-Marie whilst canoeing to an Indian reservation? Or when he is the hero of the hour and a gentleman when a very wet Jeanette needs food and a tent for the night? Having seen all of the Eddy/Macdonald films, this rates as one of the best. Eddy's acting talents may not be great but they work in this role perfectly. Jeanette is beautiful with a wonderful sense of humour that shows in her every scene but especially when singing in a rough canteen! Yes - this film is unbelievably corny. Eddy's trousers are terrible and would you really forgive him for arresting your brother? However, it doesn't matter. It is two hours of sheer enjoyment and escapism that has stood, and will continue to stand, the test of time. Watch and enjoy.
The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
A disfigured musical genius falls in love
Having never seen the stage show, I am unable to make any comparisons between the film and that. However, I am a fan of the book and the music and was very much looking forward to seeing this film.
The film starts on a magnificent note - it is in black and white and gradually changes to colour as the fallen chandelier is lifted back into position with the title song rocking in the background. Definitely one of those fantastic cinematic moments.
The film looks fantastic with its Gothic sets and the masquerade ball is a scene unto itself.
However, unfortunately films cannot be held together by sets and music alone, and this is where the film falls down. Emmy Rossum is beautiful and niave as the adored Chistine. Her voice is pure and sweet but does not really have the depth of emotion required for the climactic songs in this opera. Raoul was wet in the book and fortunately Joel Schumacher was able to find an actor to portray that perfectly in the film! As soon as Raoul comes on the screen, one can hear the audience groaning and clock-watching until he leaves.
Gerard Butler (as Eric) is the lifesaver of the film. He brings real emotion to the role of the Phantom and his scenes with Christine not only bring out the best in her, but they are filled with real sexual chemistry. The only real disappointment with his role of the Phantom was that he was too good looking! I appreciate that Hollywood would not have such a huge disfigurement as the book version requires, but when the Phantom's mask is ripped off, the audience should feel some of the horror that the whole tragic story is based on. Unfortunately, disappointment is the first reaction closely followed by a sense of incredulity that Christine could be so shallow in her affections that she would be put off this sexy singing bloke because of a slight facial defect! However, this is a film that I will be buying when it comes out. Overall, it is not a bad version of the classic opera and because it looks, and mostly sounds, so fantastic, it is recommended viewing.