What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Film Reviews and Release Comparisons
Post Reply
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by Markgway »

Kill Me Again (1989-USA-UK) **½
Quite impressive debut from neo-noir specialist John Dahl. Doesn't hold up until the end, but deserves some recommendation.
Image
User avatar
grim_tales
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 22071
Joined: 25 Oct 2004, 18:34
Location: St. Albans, UK

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by grim_tales »

Masterofoneinchpunch wrote:
Markgway wrote:M (1931-Germany) **½
Dated, though still reasonably effective thriller about the hunt for a child murderer.
The finale tends toward preaching and is unduly abrupt, but for most part this is worthwhile.
As you whistle In the Hall of the Mountain King when you go out in public. I thought Lorre was fantastic in this. In a few years he would be off to Hollywood. One of my favorite of his earlier roles would be 1935's Mad Love.
I agree he was excellent in M, pretty damn scary.
I don't think the finale was necessarily preachy, it presents both arguments imo (capital punishment v prison/rehabilitation) but reflects fear, replusion and anger (Lorre's character was based on a real person, "The Monster of Dusseldorf). Nothing the parents or police could have done to Lorre would bring the kids back.
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by Markgway »

The Dark Wind (1991-USA) **
Navajo cop Lou Diamond Philips investigates plane crash, drug smuggling, and ritual murder.
Muddled, sluggish mystery from Errol Morris (known for his documentaries) fails to capitalise on intriguing subject matter and setting.
Image
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by Markgway »

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice Ultimate Edition (2016-USA) **
Interminable, po-faced superhero saga pairs crunchy violence and sadism with childlike plotting and gargantuan F/X sequences; the result is an odd and uncomfortable mix. Neither terrible, nor good, but somewhere in-between, just around the corner from mediocrity. I'd be interested to see Ben Affleck's Batman in a better (and much, much shorter) film, Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman, too; Jesse Eisenberg's excessively mannered Luthor is best scrubbed from the mind. Amy Adams gets a pass for being Amy Adams, Henry Cavill is adequate, if one-note, but Jeremy Irons is disappointingly grouchy and irritable. The BBFC must be trying to prove a point by giving such a brutal film a '12' certificate (makes one wonder what the 15-rated Suicide Squad is like).
Image
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by Markgway »

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015-USA) **½
Enjoyable, long-awaited sequel to The Original Trilogy should bring new fans into the fold, as well as supplying existing fans with the nostalgia they crave. It's not a great movie by any stretch, and good will sure goes a long way, but it's churlish to over-criticise a romp that in the era of dour self-importance tries to be simple fun. Nice to see Harrison Ford back in a familiar leading role, while newcomer Daisy Ridley makes a fine impression. Adam Driver is perhaps miscast, but Domhnall Gleeson gives the hammiest performance. Mark Hamill, despite outrageous second billing, appears for about 30 secs at the end; they should've left him unbilled this time. All the money's on the screen, but CGI will never replace the joy of practical effects in this viewer's mind. John Williams score is adequate, at best revisiting past themes. Oh, and the 12 certificate is harsh; this is easily PG material throughout. When this gets the same rating as Batman V Superman it's no wonder parents are confused.
Image
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by HungFist »

I went in not knowing who was going to be the main character. Seeing the opening scenes with Oscar Isaac I thought "oh, this guy's gonna make a decent lead". Too bad it turned out to be just a supporting role. I think he had more charisma than the rest of the new cast.
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by Markgway »

I wan't sure about Oscar Issac, seemed a little too "contemporary American" for some reason. I know that's a strange comment, but it was something I picked up on instantly; a small niggle. I also think John Boyega's American accent was a mistake, they should've let him use his own as they did everyone else. Maybe they were worried about having too many British accents?
Image
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by Markgway »

The Unbelievable Truth (1989-USA) **½
How you respond to this mannered Hal Hartley comedy depends on your tolerance for quirk; mine goes only so far.
Image
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by Markgway »

Bad Guys (1985-USA) *½
Dopey, sloppy comedy in which a pair of suspended cops (one of them Adam Baldwin with a hideous blonde dye job) become a wrestling tag team; the depiction of villainous Russians here makes Rocky IV look like the work of the United Nations. Sgt. Slaughter cameos as "himself".
Image
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by Markgway »

Lies (1983-USA) **½
A struggling actress is tricked into a participating in a murder plot, which sees her locked away in an asylum. Engagingly sinister little thriller, similar to but better than 1987's Dead of Winter. The plotting is clever, the direction largely pedestrian. Brian DePalma could've done something great with this material.
Image
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by Markgway »

The Treatment (2014-Belgium) *½
Extremely unpleasant thriller wallows artlessly in degradation and abuse; it would've taken a filmmaker with the skill of David Fincher to make this work.
Image
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by HungFist »

Conan the Destroyer (USA, 1984) [DVD] - 3/5
Solid adventure film doesn't reach the quality of the original, but is an entertaining watch anyway. Arnold is in amazing shape, the special effects are fantastic and the film manages an entirely convincing fantasy world. I kept thinking throughout the film that modern CGI flicks don't look half as good. I also kept wondering when is Olivia d'Abo gonna get her boobs out but she never did. I later found out she was 15 during filming. Oops. She looked older.
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by Markgway »

My Science Project (1985-USA) *½
D-
Disney's dismal, dumbed-down disaster...
(well, it's actually Touchstone, but that would've ruined my alliteration).
Obnoxious sci-fi adventure tripe for older kids who missed out on Back to the Future.
Image
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by Markgway »

Lucky 13 aka Running Hot (1983-USA) **
Obscure adult thriller in which teenager Eric Stoltz goes on the lam with 30-year-old prostitute Monica Carrico after being sentenced to death for the murder of his father. A tragic love story, but very uneven, especially in the characterisations. Carrico's only major film role; a shame as she's very good.
Image
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by Markgway »

Just the Way You Are (1984-USA) **
Awkward romcom in which flute player Kristy McNichol takes vacation at a fancy ski resort and pretends to have broken her leg (she sports a cast) rather than admit she suffered polio (or something similar) as a child (leaving her in a leg brace). I didn't buy the setup; McNichol is too bubbly and confident for someone tormented by a physical insecurity she really should have gotten used to.
Image
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by Markgway »

Handgun (1982-UK) **½
A mousy teacher (Karen Young in her debut) is date-raped, joins a gun club to exact justice the old American way.
British-produced, American-set (also filmed in Texas) drama touches on important (and controversial) topics (gun culture, the law's inability to prosecute rape) and is as relevant today is it was upon initial release. It's not a great film, and has the feel of a TV movie, but the script has something to say. At one point a jokey remark is made about Burt Reynolds being a potential date for Young, just four years later she co-starred with him in Heat.
Image
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by Markgway »

Gwendoline (1984-France) *½
Campy, raunchy, goofy parody of jungle adventure films; total tripe, but it's got spirit (and nice tits).
Image
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by Markgway »

47 Ronin (2012-USA-Japan) **½
Or... The Last Samurai with monsters! Actually, this was better than I expected, and would've been rated higher had it focused less on CGI effects (apparently Universal's fault). It's a shame it bombed. A subdued Keanu Reeves capably fits the quiet, noble hero role, and the Japanese supporting cast are well chosen (I was tickled to see Battle Royale's psycho chick Ko Shibasaki as a demure love interest) .

Road Games (1981-Australia) **½
Enjoyable Hitchcock-lite thriller, though the pacing is a bit poky at times, and Stacy Keach's character gets progressively dumber as the movie goes along.
Image
User avatar
Masterofoneinchpunch
King of Beggars
Posts: 863
Joined: 10 Jan 2014, 19:36

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by Masterofoneinchpunch »

Markgway wrote:47 Ronin (2012-USA-Japan) **½
Or... The Last Samurai with monsters! Actually, this was better than I expected, and would've been rated higher had it focused less on CGI effects (apparently Universal's fault). It's a shame it bombed. A subdued Keanu Reeves capably fits the quiet, noble hero role, and the Japanese supporting cast are well chosen (I was tickled to see Battle Royale's psycho chick Ko Shibasaki as a demure love interest) .
...
I wrote a longish review on it for moviefanfare giving it ***/****. What was crazy was that the theater was absolutely packed when I saw it (which I was not expecting during the day, though it was a holiday.)
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by Markgway »

No Way Out (1987-USA) ***
Smart thriller starts slowly then builds up momentum and suspense; undermined by stupid tacked on ending.
Image
saltysam
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 9357
Joined: 27 Oct 2004, 19:27

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by saltysam »

Bastille Day
Idris Elba runs around Paris hunting terrorist bombers. resolutely average action flick,mercifully short at 90 minutes. i believe the home video release of this has been shelved/delayed.
working class blu-ray fan
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by Markgway »

saltysam wrote:Bastille Day
i believe the home video release of this has been shelved/delayed.
It's been retitled THE TAKE:

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/take-video-6
Image
saltysam
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 9357
Joined: 27 Oct 2004, 19:27

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by saltysam »

Markgway wrote:
saltysam wrote:Bastille Day
i believe the home video release of this has been shelved/delayed.
It's been retitled THE TAKE:

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/take-video-6
it's come out under it's original title in Australia. Under either name it's a totally unmemorable watch

Batman: The Killing Joke
The acclaimed Moore/Bolland graphic novel is brought to the screen via warners animation division. As the source material was pretty short they've tacked on a totally unneccessary Batgirl adventure for the first 30 minutes to pad out the running time. Not bad at all once we get past the flat opening half hour.
Money Monster
George Clooney is an arrogant tv presenter on a live financial series when he's taken hostage by an irate man who's lost his life savings on a stock tip from George. Julia Roberts is the director. Directed by Jodie Foster and played out in real time this is watchable but nothing more,i wouldn't revisit it any time soon.
working class blu-ray fan
User avatar
Markgway
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 20177
Joined: 18 Feb 2005, 02:04

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by Markgway »

Ninja (2009-USA) **
A contemporary update of the kind of DTV movies they used to do better in the 90s, with Scott Adkins taking over the David Bradley role of white saviour ninja. Adkins can sure fight well, but he's an uncharismatic lead, and the acting, apart from the Japanese co-stars, is terrible. Action, augmented by unwelcome CGI bloodshed, isn't bad. The story is incredibly derivative, which could be forgiven of a more entertaining movie.
Image
User avatar
HungFist
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 11704
Joined: 14 Dec 2005, 15:50
Location: Japan
Contact:

Re: What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

Post by HungFist »

Markgway wrote:Ninja (2009-USA) **
A contemporary update of the kind of DTV movies they used to do better in the 90s, with Scott Adkins taking over the David Bradley role of white saviour ninja. Adkins can sure fight well, but he's an uncharismatic lead, and the acting, apart from the Japanese co-stars, is terrible. Action, augmented by unwelcome CGI bloodshed, isn't bad. The story is incredibly derivative, which could be forgiven of a more entertaining movie.
About the lack of charisma... I friend of mine reviewed the film in Finnish, and he wrote something like "it is for men like this that ninja hoods were invented, but they don't use them, unfortunately" :lol:

I haven't seen the film, but I saw the sequel, which is generally considered to be better, and I thought it was quite alright (3/5).
Post Reply