Reviews

8 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
Maid (2021)
9/10
The importance empathy and the hardship of sacrifice
4 October 2021
Maid focuses on a topic that is rightfully such a tough subject to talk about, let alone write about. However, Maid is written with such due consideration and offers a different perspetive into the world of domestic violence in a way that is not typically seen. Through the lens of emotional and financial abuse do we truly see the complexities that is domestic abuse.

Alex (Margaret Qualley) was perfectly cast and her acting was honest and pure, it took me no convincing to see she was the right person for the role. The supporting cast where also all great, in particular Andie MacDowell.

Despite this TV series being about domestic abuse, it remarkably highlights the importance of human empathy, the hardships of sacrifice and the fact that even the smallest of support can change the course of someones life.

This is an excellently written and acted piece of TV, loved watching it and I'm glad it's getting the recognition it deserves.
3 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Cherry (I) (2021)
7/10
Dark but good film. Incredible acting from Tom.
13 March 2021
Ultimately, this is a dark film with an even darker story about incredibly serious subjects, mainly PTSD and drug addiction. There is little to laugh at in this movie and for good reason. The serious tone was set at the very start and this theme continues right till the very end.

Cherry was an interesting film in more ways than one, it's storyline wasn't particularly original but the way it was told and how it shot certainly was. There is only really two main characters in this Russo film (Nico & Emily) and they were developed with great thought. Nico's character especially, not the typical 'Jarhead' in most movies which was refreshing to see. It was a good call to focus on jut two main characters and give them the depth they deserve. I personally wasn't sold on this film until about 2/3 of the way in, I thought it took a while to get going but when it did boy did I enjoy it. Additionally, I would have loved to have seen the further character development in the latter stages of the film, especially in the end.

It's important to mention Tom Holland. He has quickly become one on my favourite actors and this film puts his skills on great display. He was the perfect choice for this role and gave an incredible performance. I have also seen Ciara in the TV series Wayne, she was great in that and very good in this film.

This film is a good watch and definitely a new take on topics done to death. But Tom's performance definitely made it better than it would have been without him.
1 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
Brilliant. Individualism, years ahead of its time.
19 February 2021
Dead Poets Society to me was just brilliant. The obvious being the amazing Robin Williams, truly great performance with a perfect balance between a comedic tone with a powerful but subtle voice. All the other actors were great also, having kids be the focul point in movies isn't always a hit but it seems back in the 80s casting was more thorough. They were all great, my favourite of the characters being Charlie Dalton, "I'm exercising my right not to walk". Fantastic.

Without revealing spoilers, this film is not just about coming of age or rebelling against the system. A big take away for me was the story of how a great and passionate teacher can touch so many but not all of the students. How reaching and understanding young adults at such a tender age can have huge impact on their current and future lives. Shaping the men they are to become.

An utterly brilliantly written story, each line of script was crafted just as eloquently as the poems they recite.
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Enjoyable Watch with An Engaging Sub-Storyline
18 February 2021
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society surprisingly impressed me.

There is a surplus of these kind of films. A passionate writer who has it all, money, fame and a seemingly perfect relationship, but despite all their prosperity they are desperate to 'break free', subsequently to find the love of her/his life. It's a classic story, certainly this movie had all of that, but it also had much more.

The acting is commendable, Lilly James is always a great choice for an intriguing female lead. I thought the supporting actors playing the rest of the society members were also good, especially Penelope Wilton who really stood out. My favourite element of this movie was the story within the story. That the film isn't necessarily about the main love intrest but about the Romo and Juliet esc relationship that we uncover throughout the film. This movie has fairly dramatic moments but is very emotionally steady throughout, that's not always a bad thing. Additionally, for me the ending was very corny. I can appreciate the writer wanted a happy ending, but it could have been done differently in my opinion.

A really enjoyable film, definitely worth the watch. Offers a different perspective of post WW2 times in a fairly light hearted but impactful style.
0 out of 0 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
9/10
Chilling, Powerful and Beautiful
22 March 2020
After watching this documentary I am dumfounded by the power and complexities that this story has produced.

Ultimately, this documentary is encapsulated around a profound and disturbing childhood experience, but what makes this documentary so different is that the uniqueness of not only the story, but of how it was told. Ed Perkins (Director) has done Alex & Marcus's story (The brothers) an incredibe justice. This traumatic journey was told in a way that i've never witnessed before; fastpaced shots, intense music, fancy graphics are not relevant here, nor needed. Perkins relies on the genuine emotion of the brothers, from how they individualy recall their childhood to finding out each other realities. In every essence of the word this documentary is powerful, discovering their story, watching them re-live traumatic memories and to see them both break down on multiple occasions is frankly heart wrenching and chilling.

Impressively, this story is one of triumph, one of re-connecting and certainly something that is beautiful to watch. Watching the two brothers genuinely fully re-connect after over 20 years is magnificent, to watch them go through so much emotion and dig up horrible memories in such a short space of time is not only brave but admirable.

If you want a documentry that is real and honest then I would highly reccomend. Well done Perkins and well done to the brothers.
2 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
The Witcher (2019– )
8/10
Brilliant First Season - Season Two Will Have Higher Expectations
27 December 2019
My experience of the Witcher's lore and history goes as far as playing Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt, therefore my review may not hold much gravitas as others due to my lack of book knowledge. On the other hand, knowing that this show is based upon the books and NOT the video game allows me to approach this TV series with a fresh set of eyes whilst still appreciating some of the history, characteristics and existing relationships between Gerald and the rest of this vast fantasy world.

As a massive fan of fantasy in both movies and TV I'm always sceptical when it comes to widely publicised or highly hyped new series, re-makes, or re-vamps. However, the Witcher's first season was brilliant. Sure, they spent an average of about $10 million per episode but the Witcher offers so much more than the impressive camera angles and expensive visuals. Digging deeper and past the ascetics of the show there are so many underlying elements that make this show more than an emotionless Michael Bay-esc production.

The dialog, emotional suspense, character interaction, lore appreciation and complex relationships amongst other elements are all there. Each character has their own story, personality and weaknesses which get revealed more and more throughout this first season, doing a great job at introducing potential character arcs and hinting at future character development. As for the casting, Henry Cavill playing Gerald is worthy of noting, his performance on screen is perfect and attitude to the character off screen has made him an instant hit for this show, can't really fault his performance so far. Anya Chalotra as Yennefer is definitely a good casting, the chemistry with Cavill is definitely there and it's notable that she's a confident actor, looking forward to seeing her and Gerald's relationship develop. The young Freya Allan as Ciri is the last cast member of the 'main three', compared to the other two her performance isn't as convincing or captivating - This isn't unexpected to due to acting experience of the others and screen time they got compared to Ciri, however I do believe Allan will drastically improve for season two. It is very hard to fault this show, but if I was cherry picking I would mention that the chronology and constant 'flash-backs' in the first season got me slightly confused. I was nearly half way through the show and realised that some characters where on different timelines.

Season two is set to release in 2021 and I can't wait. There is probably more expectations for season two now than for the first, having now gathered a fan base and diverse viewers pleasing all of them will be near impossible, so I'm intrested to see which route they take this show - Full on fan service or a complex and compelling story. The countdown begins!

One last thing - This is not GoT, do not compare the two. Yes there are swords, yes there is magic and yes there are mythical beasts but this is a completely different fantasy world. Detach yourself from the huge expectations and enjoy the show on its own.
3 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Game of Thrones: The Iron Throne (2019)
Season 8, Episode 6
1/10
A Message to Dan and Dave
20 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Dear Dan and Dave,

I have long been a huge fan and an avid supporter of Game of Thrones all the way since Season 1, granted I regretfully have not had the joys of reading any of the wonderful George RR Martins books. I have, however spent hundreds of hours exploring the Game of Thrones lore, history of Westeros, fan theories, detailed interviews and everything in-between - It's fair to say I'm a more passion fan than most.

I am no Hollywood writer - or in fact any writer for that matter - but I believe I share the opinion of so many GoT fans. I want to start off by saying thank you. Thank you to the visual effects crew, stunt co-ordinators, body doubles, extras, set designers, costume designers, camera men, George RR Martin, directors, the brilliant actors and so many other people behind the scenes of this once all-time great show - Not only have we the fans been incredibly let down, but the people who have put their physical blood, sweat and tears into the show have also had their beautiful hard work defiled.

I could go into incredible detail about all the things wrong with this season, some notable events: Jon being exiled for killing Danny who murdered hundreds of thousands of innocent people, Jon's heritage being seemingly not important, the woeful execution of Danny going mad, Bran being king even though he didn't do anything at all, Drogon flying off into the 'sunset', Rhaegal being killed, missing the reaction of Sansa and Arya's when Jon revealed his real parents and most of all for me, no one sticking up for Jon in the meeting with all the powerful lords... He literally killed the woman he loved and saved countless lives in the process and he gets nothing in return, its shameful.

With the holes in the show - and there as so many - I think it's a pathetic excuse of an ending. HBO wanted 10 seasons, but foolishly Dan Weiss and David Benioff decided they had enough, they wanted to wrap the show up so they could make mountains of money butchering yet another beloved franchise (Star Wars). I understand that not everything deserves a happy and perfect ending, nor can you please everyone. However, we spent nearly a decade following these wonderful characters, watching them develop and intelligently interact with each other since season 1. The ending to this show will never be forgotten, for the wrong reasons unfortunately. I hope Dan and David come out and apologise to the fans, we are the people that kept the show running, without the fans support there would have been no Game of Thrones on TV at all.

The characters deserved better. The whole crew deserved better. The fans deserved better. George deserved better.

Regards,

A Game of Thrones fan
13,455 out of 14,734 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Utterly brilliant - The 'Critics' are deluded
5 January 2018
Not sure who all the 'Critics' are and why they have anything negative to say about this film. If you want to watch more than just a feel good film then this is your cup of tea.

Right from the get go the first song sent shivers down my spine, not only that but it had my mouth wide open which soon turned into a beaming smile across mt face. I didn't have many expectations for this film due to me not knowing who P.T Barnum was or what he did, but my god did I know him after this movie!

Every single song is great. No really, there wasnt one song I didn't like, as soon as I got home I found it on spotify immediately. The singing that the actors did was amazing, from Hugh Jackman's big pipes to newcomer Zendeya's brilliant voice. I understand that there probally was slight studio adjustment, but who cares?

For someone who loves TV and film, and has watched a vast amount of movies/musicals/theatre I can honestly say you will love this film, forget the critics.This musical did what it is suposed to, It left me feeling elated with joy and humming every song out loud!
3 out of 7 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

Recently Viewed