Wreck It Ralph:
Story:
Story:
Ralph, a bad guy in the videogame Fix It Felix, realizes he wants to be a good guy, and goes on an adventure to find out what being a good guy means.
Review:
Review:
Finally a film with good videogame references, humor for both adults and children, emotional story and some surprisingly thinly veiled deep commentary on the negatives and positives of imminent domain as well as how guns are perceived in videogames. Wreck It Ralph succeeds as both a childrens film and a film for those that love subtle social commentary.
There is one part that bothered me about Wreck It Ralph, and that was the sometimes apparent and sometimes subtle displays of gun/weapon violence. I get that this film has a slightly veiled political agenda, but why display so many weapons in a kids movie? Throw in a weapon every now and then, but isn't displaying so many kind of telling children that weapons are good?
Regardless, I enjoyed the delightful and at times tear jerking story, amazing effects, awesome humor and references (including a quick Portal joke as well as the universal cheatcode).
I recommend Wreck It Ralph for those that like videogames as well as those looking for a lighthearted movie for the holidays.
There is one part that bothered me about Wreck It Ralph, and that was the sometimes apparent and sometimes subtle displays of gun/weapon violence. I get that this film has a slightly veiled political agenda, but why display so many weapons in a kids movie? Throw in a weapon every now and then, but isn't displaying so many kind of telling children that weapons are good?
Regardless, I enjoyed the delightful and at times tear jerking story, amazing effects, awesome humor and references (including a quick Portal joke as well as the universal cheatcode).
I recommend Wreck It Ralph for those that like videogames as well as those looking for a lighthearted movie for the holidays.
---
Seven Psychopaths:
Story:
A struggling writer gets involved in the wrong side of a gangster's search for his Shih-Tzu. The wrong side being the side that kidnapped the Shih-Tzu in the first place.
Review:
Review:
funny, sometimes tragic, and all the time clever, Seven Psychopaths is a brilliant movie. An all star cast portrays the Seven Psychopaths and their company of friends in this rather excellent film.
Unfortunately, the humour is not for everyone. only two people in the theatre, including myself, we're laughing at most of the scenes, a big chunk of which were very controversial in nature.
Brilliant writing, acting, and perfectly timed moments all light Seven Psychopaths up.
I recommend this to people who like somewhat dark humor in their movies.
Unfortunately, the humour is not for everyone. only two people in the theatre, including myself, we're laughing at most of the scenes, a big chunk of which were very controversial in nature.
Brilliant writing, acting, and perfectly timed moments all light Seven Psychopaths up.
I recommend this to people who like somewhat dark humor in their movies.
---
The Pact:
Story:
Story:
After her mother's death, a woman comes under attack from a mysterious presence in her childhood home.
Review:
Review:
The Pact was more or less the same typical bland horror that we've been getting lately. It tries to have scary moments and some mysterious story surrounding a house, but it doesn't really amount to too much in terms of scare factor, or entertainment factor for that matter.
Think Silent House, but more cleavage.
In fact, Caity Lotz cast as the main character, Annie, removed any compulsion to watch this movie. I mean, I'd understand if the model/actress was cast in a big budget action movie to provide eye candy, but has eye candy ever produced anything useful in the horror industry? Not really.
Minimal writing, overdone/barely done acting by the cast, and predictable jump scares all amount to a huge pile of nothing.
Regardless, I forced myself to watch this with no expectations and an open mind, and still got to the ending feeling like I wasted an hour and a half.
I can't recommend this movie to anyone.
Think Silent House, but more cleavage.
In fact, Caity Lotz cast as the main character, Annie, removed any compulsion to watch this movie. I mean, I'd understand if the model/actress was cast in a big budget action movie to provide eye candy, but has eye candy ever produced anything useful in the horror industry? Not really.
Minimal writing, overdone/barely done acting by the cast, and predictable jump scares all amount to a huge pile of nothing.
Regardless, I forced myself to watch this with no expectations and an open mind, and still got to the ending feeling like I wasted an hour and a half.
I can't recommend this movie to anyone.
---
Skyfall:
Story:
Story:
After a hard drive containing the identities of undercover NATO agents is stolen, James Bond is tasked with pursuing the ones responsible, uncovering a vicious revenge plot against M.
Review:
This is probably the best Bond film I have ever seen. Dark, action filled, and full of classic Bond as well as references, this has to have also been the best film I've seen so far of 2012. My worries of Sam Mendes delivering a good 007 film have been washed away. This is an amazing film.
The settings are luscious, with the cameras perfectly positioned so you always get a good feel of where they are. Writing is top notch, with some of the best lines I have heard in the series being delivered by Bond, M, Q, and countless others. To shorten this I will just say that overall I immensely enjoyed Skyfall.
I recommend this to anyone and everyone who wants to see a James Bond movie that's amazing. And action fans as well. Skyfall delivers.
Advice: Don't watch this on a weekend. I arrived at the theater an hour early and barely got a seat.
Review:
This is probably the best Bond film I have ever seen. Dark, action filled, and full of classic Bond as well as references, this has to have also been the best film I've seen so far of 2012. My worries of Sam Mendes delivering a good 007 film have been washed away. This is an amazing film.
The settings are luscious, with the cameras perfectly positioned so you always get a good feel of where they are. Writing is top notch, with some of the best lines I have heard in the series being delivered by Bond, M, Q, and countless others. To shorten this I will just say that overall I immensely enjoyed Skyfall.
I recommend this to anyone and everyone who wants to see a James Bond movie that's amazing. And action fans as well. Skyfall delivers.
Advice: Don't watch this on a weekend. I arrived at the theater an hour early and barely got a seat.
---
REC3: Genesis
Story:
A wedding goes awry when a virus spreads through the guests, causing chaos and destruction as the bride and groom fight to survive a swiftly deteriorating situation.
Review:
REC3 unfortunately abandons the formula that became the staple of the previous movies, instead seeming to parody the great work accomplished by REC and REC2. That being said, REC3 could have been one of
Story:
A wedding goes awry when a virus spreads through the guests, causing chaos and destruction as the bride and groom fight to survive a swiftly deteriorating situation.
Review:
REC3 unfortunately abandons the formula that became the staple of the previous movies, instead seeming to parody the great work accomplished by REC and REC2. That being said, REC3 could have been one of
the defining films of the year if it was more serious.
The parts I did like are the sometimes comic dialogue and the intense encounters with the zombies.
For a series that bases itself on realistic scenarios, the latest installment is disappointing. To change up the style is one thing, but to make fun of the seriousness that the previous filmmakers achieved was going too far. While the humor is great, REC3 would have been better as a serious film.
I recommend this only to people who want to finish the series. REC3 had potential, but unfortunately the wrong approach was taken.
The parts I did like are the sometimes comic dialogue and the intense encounters with the zombies.
For a series that bases itself on realistic scenarios, the latest installment is disappointing. To change up the style is one thing, but to make fun of the seriousness that the previous filmmakers achieved was going too far. While the humor is great, REC3 would have been better as a serious film.
I recommend this only to people who want to finish the series. REC3 had potential, but unfortunately the wrong approach was taken.
---
Chained:
Story:
Story:
a serial killer takes a young boy as a student, training him to follow in his footsteps.
Review:
Review:
Chained is a horror/thriller which actually wasn't completely bad, but lost itself near the end.
Serial killer films in the horror/thriller genres don't seem to be as terrifying if they're in the serial killer's point of view since there's no mystery as to who's doing what, though Chained had a slightly unique element to it.
The camera work was great, as most cameras were positioned so the viewer can either see everything or hear everything and let their imaginations fill them in on the rest.
The story was okay, though I found the idea cliche. Enough is explained for the viewer to understand, yet there's not enough to engage the viewer.
Acting was a highlight, Vincent D'Onofrio provided a very intense and controlling serial killer. Unfortunately, Eamon Farren isn't up to par in his portrayal of the damaged student, lowering the intensity of what could have been some effectively realistic scenes.
I recommend only checking Chained out if you're a horror film fan that wants to kill some time. It wasn't a great movie, but it's a decent one to watch for those days when you can't find a good DVD to watch.
Serial killer films in the horror/thriller genres don't seem to be as terrifying if they're in the serial killer's point of view since there's no mystery as to who's doing what, though Chained had a slightly unique element to it.
The camera work was great, as most cameras were positioned so the viewer can either see everything or hear everything and let their imaginations fill them in on the rest.
The story was okay, though I found the idea cliche. Enough is explained for the viewer to understand, yet there's not enough to engage the viewer.
Acting was a highlight, Vincent D'Onofrio provided a very intense and controlling serial killer. Unfortunately, Eamon Farren isn't up to par in his portrayal of the damaged student, lowering the intensity of what could have been some effectively realistic scenes.
I recommend only checking Chained out if you're a horror film fan that wants to kill some time. It wasn't a great movie, but it's a decent one to watch for those days when you can't find a good DVD to watch.
---
Safety Not Guaranteed:
Story:
Story:
Two interns and a journalist investigate an ad by someone stating they have a time travel machine.
Review:
Review:
Safety Not Guaranteed is funny in normal and odd ways, while giving us a varied bunch of characters who are all very entertaining in their own ways.
The humor is what I have to say is the best part about Safety Not Guaranteed. Frequent amusing moments help set
the tone and also give people time to relax after the few serious moments.
Overall an entertaining heartwarming movie that turned out to be a lot better than expected. I could write more, but there really isn't any need to. Check out Safety Not Guaranteed if you like those odd comedies that have a tiny bit of romance in them.
Overall an entertaining heartwarming movie that turned out to be a lot better than expected. I could write more, but there really isn't any need to. Check out Safety Not Guaranteed if you like those odd comedies that have a tiny bit of romance in them.
---
Paranormal Activity 4:
Story:
Story:
Based on Stephanie Meyers sequel to the Twilight quadrilogy, a 30 year old demonic Lindsay Lohan and her unholy minions terrorize some white people.
Not really. But wouldn't that make more sense than a demon serial killer hell bent on kidnapping a teen virgin and some twerp?
Review:
Not really. But wouldn't that make more sense than a demon serial killer hell bent on kidnapping a teen virgin and some twerp?
Review:
Paranormal Activity 4 is basically the same as every other installment. Sure, it has some new and creative jump scares, but if you're looking for a genuine scary movie, you want to look elsewhere.
The same lack of emotion and lack of overall acting skills ruin what could have at best been an okay horror film, not helped any by unconvincing attempts to make a scene seem realistic.
Oh and the cameras...what are they going to do for the sequel? Skype video calls? Facetime via iPhones? Yes, their use of cameras doesn't help the scares when it's from a stationary camera.
I can't recommend this to anyone other than fans of the previous movies or people that like jump scares. Or you know...people that want a cheap scare Halloween movie.
The same lack of emotion and lack of overall acting skills ruin what could have at best been an okay horror film, not helped any by unconvincing attempts to make a scene seem realistic.
Oh and the cameras...what are they going to do for the sequel? Skype video calls? Facetime via iPhones? Yes, their use of cameras doesn't help the scares when it's from a stationary camera.
I can't recommend this to anyone other than fans of the previous movies or people that like jump scares. Or you know...people that want a cheap scare Halloween movie.
---
Blood Creek:
Story:
Story:
Two brothers on a mission to exact revenge, unknowingly get in the middle of an occult experiment that started during World War 2.
Review:
Review:
For those of you who like Joel Schumacher's bizarre movies, Blood Creek is one for you. Part supernatural horror and part thriller, this definitely excells when providing us with an imaginative scenario that's supported by both an intriguing and bizarre plethora of characters.
Unfortunately, this is also one of those movies that has its share of flaws.
Perhaps it was simply too campy for my tastes, but I found that the scares were not terrifying, the dialogue too quick, and the moments of suspense far too short. Blood Creek has a lot of too little, which is unfortunate considering Joel Schumacher's movies have sometimes been on par with the likes of Tim Burton.
Michael Fassbender was brilliantly cast as the villain, providing someone that by appearance was purely terrifying. If you're a fan of Michael Fassbender this is definitely worth checking out.
The story is easy to follow, and the plot simple enough that one can digest everything going on, but at the same time a little complexity wouldn't hurt. Considering the movies Hollywood throws our way, having a brain teaser every now and then helps us stay refreshed.
This is an intense movie with minimal build up, but will keep you entertained so long as you don't mind or notice the lacking components.
Check this out if you want a decent Halloween flick and/or are a fan of Michael Fassbender's acting.
---
Bad Ass:
Story:
Story:
A veteran of the Vietnam war is thrust into the spotlight after he handles a dangerous situation in public. After a few months of the quiet life, he uses those same skills to avenge his murdered friend.
Review:
Review:
This is essentially Gran Torino, but with an old Mexican guy and without the classic car.
Bad Ass is a very enjoyable movie, with the humor and the action scenes being the highlight. Danny Trejo is energetic for his age and constantly proves that you simply don't pick a fight with a Mexican.
Bad Ass is a very enjoyable movie, with the humor and the action scenes being the highlight. Danny Trejo is energetic for his age and constantly proves that you simply don't pick a fight with a Mexican.
I do have one issue with this movie, but it's about the opening credits so in all honesty you'll just have to watch the movie to find out.
The cast was chosen more for their comedic value than for serious acting, though this movie does have some serious moments.
Overall it's a funny movie with some very amusing scenes, both action and non-action.
Watch if you like comedic action movies.
---
The Collector:Story:
a thief breaks into a house unaware that someone with malevolent intent has chosen that house for their activities on the same exact night.
Review:
Review:
Despite a slightly classic type of villain that has the deadly trap knowledge of Jigsaw from the Saw series, The Collector fails to create anything new.
Given, there is some tension build up, but that's it. It's the equivalent of taking apart a Kinder Egg shell, taking half of it off to get to the toy, then discovering there is no toy. Or for more emphasis, it's the equivalent of buying a fancy brand new BMW built with the parts of an old Ford Taurus. It's a lot of build up for a disappointing result.
Given, there is some tension build up, but that's it. It's the equivalent of taking apart a Kinder Egg shell, taking half of it off to get to the toy, then discovering there is no toy. Or for more emphasis, it's the equivalent of buying a fancy brand new BMW built with the parts of an old Ford Taurus. It's a lot of build up for a disappointing result.
The characters were lifeless, and the only time you'd see something close to resembling real emotion is when they panicked or freaked out.
That's bad.
Camera work was good, providing somewhat appropriately placed cameras for different parts. One actually feels a tiny bit of tension or adrenaline during the faster paced scenes. Unfortunately that's it. No accompanying dread or sadness.
The story is typical. That's really all I have to say. It's basically a mashup, with the backstory being Ocean's 11, and the current story/plot a scattered mess of Saw, Halloween, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Unfortunately, the only parts The Collector takes from those stories are the bare minimum. Not enough for anyone to get pulled into.
This is apparently made by some of the same film crew that made Saw, so I guess that explains the somewhat unsteady attempt to make a slasher horror film on a first try.
I don't really know who I would recommend this to. If you're a fan of the Saw films, this is somewhat different and not as entertaining. If you're a fan of slasher films, there are better films out there. Watch the sequel when it comes out, because that movie looks like it's a more stable attempt at bringing something unique to the slasher horror subgenre.
---
Pontypool:
Story:
Story:
Strange events lead a radio crew to believe their town is in trouble.
Review:
For those of you who are History geeks, do you remember reading about the famous Orson Welles broadcast called, "War of the Worlds?"
Pontypool is basically the same idea, except it's a horror movie that plays out as a virus themed film. And the events aren't faked (in the world of Pontypool). As far as creativity goes Pontypool is extremely creative, intentionally making one's imagination run wild, as well as providing an all-new type of virus themed horror film for those of us who appreciate realistic scenarios. No, not talking about zombies. This is even better because of how original this idea is.
Review:
For those of you who are History geeks, do you remember reading about the famous Orson Welles broadcast called, "War of the Worlds?"
Pontypool is basically the same idea, except it's a horror movie that plays out as a virus themed film. And the events aren't faked (in the world of Pontypool). As far as creativity goes Pontypool is extremely creative, intentionally making one's imagination run wild, as well as providing an all-new type of virus themed horror film for those of us who appreciate realistic scenarios. No, not talking about zombies. This is even better because of how original this idea is.
For the record, zombies aren't horrible, I just don't find them terrifying. No seriously, they stumble around and groan. If you live in Florida they chew half your face off. Note, Americans already do the stumbling around and groaning perfectly, they just need to work on the face eating. They should practice at McDonald's or something.
ANYWAYS, on the note of terrifying, the pacing is terrific, gradually speeding up to a rapid dash of tension and dread, as the camera is either panned out or zoomed in accordingly to fit the situation.
Dialogue is crisp and oddly more realistic. The characters interactions show us what an actual outbreak this extreme would cause people to do and how people would react.
Pontypool is an intelligently creative virus movie. So many movies try to be intelligent and achieve nearly flawless levels of stupidity, especially virus themed films. Pontypool shows how it's done.
Watch if you like intelligent horror AND can let your imagination run wild while watching.
Pontypool is a brilliant film.
---
Skew:
Story:
Story:
What was supposed to be a relaxing trip for three takes a turn for the worse when tensions rise and death follows the trio.
Review:
Review:
This isn't the first Canadian found footage film I've seen, but it's definitely not one of the greatest.
A repetitive point of view film that is dumbed down with an unlikeable protagonist and two side characters that no one feels any emotion for are a few of the many problems that plague Skew. The worst offense is that the director and writers tried too hard to emulate M. Night Shyamalan with the plot and style.
A repetitive point of view film that is dumbed down with an unlikeable protagonist and two side characters that no one feels any emotion for are a few of the many problems that plague Skew. The worst offense is that the director and writers tried too hard to emulate M. Night Shyamalan with the plot and style.
The only bright point of Skew was seeing what I believe were semi-familiar areas. This was filmed in Vancouver as well as nearby cities. It was nice to see those locales in the movie.
The story was unique and wasn't horrible, but there could have been more detail and explanation for all the events. The main character was actually explained to nearly full detail, which helps when understanding characters and their behaviour throughout films.
I honestly wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. Some of the camera work is nice as far as scenery goes, but unfortunately that's it. To be fair, as this is a locally filmed Canadian film, Skew would have been a better film if the budget was higher and the story more fleshed out. It's easy to tell that this movie had potential, and for a found footage film that is rare.
---
Wreck It Ralph:
Story:
Ralph, a bad guy in the videogame, Fix It Felix, realizes he wants to be a good guy, and goes on an adventure to find out what being a good guy means.
Review:
Finally a film with good videogame references, humor for both adults and children, emotional story and some surprisingly thinly veiled deep commentary on the negatives and positives of imminent domain as well as how guns are perceived in videogames. Wreck It Ralph succeeds as both a childrens film and a film for those that love subtle social commentary.
There is one part that bothered me about Wreck It Ralph, and that was the sometimes apparent and sometimes subtle displays of gun/weapon violence. I get that this film has a slightly veiled political agenda, but why display so many weapons in a kids movie? Throw in a weapon every now and then, but isn't displaying so many kind of telling children that weapons are good?
Regardless, I enjoyed the delightful and at times tear jerking story, amazing effects, awesome humor and references (including a quick Portal joke as well as the universal cheatcode).
I recommend Wreck It Ralph for those that like videogames as well as those looking for a lighthearted movie for the holidays.
---
Skyfall:
Story:
After a hard drive containing the identities of undercover NATO agents is stolen, James Bond is tasked with pursuing the ones responsible, uncovering a vicious revenge plot against M.
Review:
This is probably the best Bond film I have ever seen. Dark, action filled, and full of classic Bond as well as references, this has to have also been the best film I've seen so far of 2012. My worries of Sam Mendes delivering a good 007 film have been washed away. This is an amazing film.
The settings are luscious, with the cameras perfectly positioned so you always get a good feel of where they are. Writing is top notch, with some of the best lines I have heard in the series being delivered by Bond, M, Q, and countless others. To shorten this I will just say that overall I immensely enjoyed Skyfall.
I recommend this to anyone and everyone who wants to see a James Bond movie that's amazing. And action fans as well. Skyfall delivers.
Advice: Don't watch this on a weekend. I arrived at the theater an hour early and barely got a seat.
---
Triangle:
Story:
After an unexpected storm, passengers on a yachting trip board another ship only to experience disturbing events.
Review:
IMDB has Triangle listed as a Horror/Mystery/Thriller. While it definitely is a movie that could be listed in the Mystery and Thriller genres, it's strange that it's listed as a horror film. I think that Triangle is too bizarre and not scary enough for it to be labeled a horror film.
There is a very slow build up as the movie progresses, with suspense amplifying until after thirty to forty minutes have passed. Unfortunately, there's almost no character backstory to be provided with as the story progresses. We're given a tiny bit of the protagonist, Jess', story and that's it. If the camera wasn't focused on her for the majority of the film, it would be very difficult to tell who the main character is.
The camera work was okay for the parts focused on dialogue, but during the action sequences the cameras seemed to be positioned randomly. There is passable dialogue, but a big portion of the dialogue is just filler until the next action sequence.
I can't say that there's anyone I can really recommend this to as I didn't particularly like it. The lack of backstory for the protagonist, as well as just story in general, was the part that ruined it for me the most.
---
Taken 2:
Story:
Brian Mills, an ex-CIA operative, is forced into pursuing a group of Albanians hellbent on revenge.
Review:
Sadly, this wasn't a movie that raised the bar from the previous installment, but rather stayed on par.
The action, while intense, didn't last longer than five to ten minutes, though with how frequently they divide each action sequence with brief dialogue most won't notice.
As far as an action movie goes, Taken 2 delivers. The frantic camera work and equally fast pace provide action fans with a movie worth watching.
Be forewarned this is a slightly more comical movie, that given the serious nature of the first movie is a somewhat odd decision.
The soundtrack is rather typical of the genre, mixing in an orchestrated composition with a slightly industrial/digital sound. Not a bad choice, but not a defining choice either.
My only major complaint is how choppy the fight scenes are, as they are extremely edited. A negative effect that I find takes away from a lot of movies (eg. Batman Begins). Gone are the fluid fist fights we know from the first movie, as they're replaced by heavy editing to hide the slower paced fights and lack of effort from the choreographer to provide much more than a quick punch-out segment.
Check out the movie if you're an action fan. Don't watch it if you expect a movie on par with recent spy/action films.
---
Apollo 18:
Story:
A research expedition to the moon goes awry when ominous events occur.
Review:
This isn't a bad movie, as far as found footage films go. Unfortunately, like found footage, there are too many phrases of stress or panic that end up sounding more or less the same throughout the movie.
I like the backgrounds, special effects, and the unique presentation. As the title suggests and the trailer states, the setting is the moon, and it is shown beautifully. Special effects seemed realistic enough that they pulled me in and I enjoyed them immensely. This is the first found footage film set on the moon/not on Earth that I've ever seen and the idea is in and of itself unique.
What I did not like was the dialogue, the acting, and the pacing of the plot. The dialogue as mentioned before was mostly panicked bits with an occasional droning that is supposed to be casual conversation. None of it is really helped by the acting, with everyone more or less reciting most bits with either lack of emotion or way too much emotion. Pacing is the one part that just ruined this for me. 45 to 50 minutes of nothing, then the pace suddenly goes into high gear and keeps accelerating. Even for a found footage film that's bad. Most tend to gradually increase the pace but Apollo 18 tries to shift from gear 1 to gear 4.
I recommend this movie as maybe a late-night rental. Also for those wanting a C-grade Halloween flick.
---
Grave Encounters 2:
Story:
Set 9 years after the events of Grave Encounters, a new group of film makers goes into the mental institution from the first movie.
Review:
I didn't mind the first movie, Grave Encounters, having thought of it as more or less a relentless jump scare film. This one tries to follow the same vein, but halfway through it loses all momentum.
I like that Grave Encounters 2 not only made fun of the first movie, but also makes fun of other films such as Hostel and Saw. I, however, did not like how much this movie seemed to cheaply remake the first Grave Encounters, and then threw in a story that didn't work with the plot at all.
That being said, some of the scares are genuinely creative, mildly successfully achieving a state of tension for the viewer. Unfortunately, all rest of the scares are predictable jump scares.
The actors and actresses are very unappealing. No character development meant no connection established between the characters and the audience. There is simply no way to develop any connection or even remotely feel bad for what the characters are going through.
Camera work is, of course, from a first person perspective, showing separate characters at the appropriate times, but failing to entertain in any way. Though I give points to the actors/actresses for being able to run with cameras and not smash into something or trip and fall.
Dialogue was more or less "oh my god," and other phrases along those lines, if it wasn't screaming.
Found footage is a type of horror that really just fails to scare or to even provide any feeling of realism. The best of the North American found footage films is probably Paranormal Activity, and that film is fairly predictable. Almost all they do is provide a temporary scare for mediocre movies.
All that said, the creepiest part of this movie is that most of it was filmed a 10 minute drive away from where I work.
Check this out if you're, uh, really bored and don't have anything better to do?
---
The Ring Virus
Story: based on Takashi Shimizu's Ringu. A reporter investigates the deaths of several teens seemingly caused by a cursed videotape.
Review: Ringu did something for its genre that put Japanese horror out on the playing field against North American and European horror films: it introduced a new type of antagonist and gave us a new view of the horror genre.
The Ring Virus tried to do the same, but like the North American adaptation The Ring, it simply failed to translate. To explain this more fully, Korean and Japanese horror are vastly different.
Korean horror films are usually more subtle and beat around the bush, so to speak. This is a great effect for some films, such as I Saw The Devil.
Japanese horror films tend to be more direct, and try to connect everything intricately so one event in the movie could have more significance than is immediately revealed.
The Ring Virus tried to add something new to the horror genre, but failed to connect.
There are some scenes faithfully recreated to near full effect, but the movie failed to scare.
Camera work was probably the lowest point of the movie, as almost everything is filmed via cameras in stationary positions. You don't often see cameras following characters around, and as such you can't at first establish whose perspective you're supposed to focus on.
The dialogue tried to be philosophical and at times intelligent, but I often scratched my head wondering why they bothered making certain scenes.
Performances were very hit and miss, with almost all of them being miss. Emotions are almost never expressed properly and are either overdone or underwhelming.
The soundtrack tried to be creepy, but ended up cheesy instead.
I wouldn't suggest watching this, unless you can think of it as a thriller film instead of a horror film.
---
Dogtooth:
Story:
A family isolated from civilization, begins to fall apart.
Review:
Bizarre, perverse, adult, imaginative, isolating, and in a lot of ways disturbing. The concept itself is relatively new, and to be honest, for all the unsettling content, the new concept for a film is a refresher. This isn't one of those overdone Hollywood films that try to introduce creativity. This is simply put, a unique creative presentation.
Dogtooth is one of those odd films that pop up every now and then for limited release because the majority of audiences won't watch a film that does not have a protagonist or an antagonist.
This is not a great movie, perse, but for what it tries to coherently do it is a good movie.
I'm not really going too far into depth with this review because this is one of those movies that goes so far out of its way to not have a clear depth. Dogtooth is a strange film, and I can't really say I've seen a movie like this inside a theater or outside of a theater, or on a TV screen for that matter. The closest I can think of is Martha Marcy May Marlene, and that movie doesn't even come remotely close to this.
Overall, Dogtooth is an odd, yet intricately designed movie.
All that said, this is not a movie for people who like watching movies in theaters. This is not a movie intended for those who become quickly unsettled or very uncomfortable at extreme displays of emotion. Watch at your own discretion.
---
Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1
Story:
Based on the story arc by Frank Miller, The Dark Knight Returns chronicles Batman's return from retirement to combat a new vicious menace preying upon Gotham city.
Review:
NON-SPOILER PART:
As far as animated movies go, this is one of the best I've seen. Dark, grim, and at times both action and noir, this is one of the most faithful Batman films that has come out.
Frank Miller, known for creating the fictional landscape of Sin City and taking liberties with the story of 300 Spartans fighting to save Sparta from the armies of the Persian empire (aka 300), did Batman justice, and the animation team as well as the writers and director of this adaptation did Frank Miller's story justice.
The one greatest highlight, besides the amazing storytelling and action sequences is Peter Weller, aka Robocop, providing the voice for Bruce Wayne. He brings a darkly humorous Batman to light, faithful to both the character and to Frank Miller's original story.
Moreso, this isn't one of those animated movies that doesn't feel real. This is one of those ones that is very realistic, and if you've watched the Christopher Nolan movies, this movie could be viewed as a companion piece to help your understanding of the story.
The Dark Knight Returns is fast paced, with action sequences dashing by. The moments with heavy dialogue do cause the movie's pace to slow down, but only for those moments, which is in and of itself enough to keep one's interest and let them take breathers from the action sequences when they can.
Watching this made me feel like I was reading the dark noir-ish Frank Miller Batman comics again.
Watch if you're one of those types that likes the aggressive portrayals of Batman over the campy ones. Keep in mind this movie is a very adult movie, even for an animated film. Basically no children should watch this. This isn't the toned down Batman from the animated series, this is Batman as Bob Kane, the creator of Batman, intended him to be.
---
SPOILER PART:
If you've read the entire comic book series of Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns, keep reading the review. If not, stop here.
Besides The Mutants, the only villains that make an appearance are The Joker and Two-Face. But, as the title says, this is part one. Part two is going to have the involvement of Superman and other characters.
The Joker and Two-Face only have minor parts in this, but it is suggested by the ending, when The Joker manages to mumble, "Batman," and laugh, that he will be the primary focus of part two.
As far as the portrayals go, everyone is faithfully reproduced in animated form. Bruce and Robin especially, going as far as incorporating the bond that Bruce and the new Robin develop in the short time that they are a team.
I have to say, I am looking forward to the whole Batman vs. Superman fight, and I hope that it's faithful to the content from the comics. I hope it's still Peter Weller providing the voice for Bruce Wayne,
As I said before, watch this if you like the dark brooding Batman. Watch especially if you're a fan of anything Frank Miller.
---
Flying Swords Of Dragon Gate
Story:
A group of marauders attempt to find a city buried beneath a desert.
Review:
Flying Swords of Dragon Gate, or FSODG as I will be referring to it in this review, is a very very story heavy movie. There are at least four or five stories one has to follow during this very long movie, and while this is usually good for a wuxia movie, such is not the case for FSODG. The disorganized stories are in and of themselves really simple, but Tsui Hark went and complicated each thing by over emphasizing everything.
One would think that because this is a wuxia genre movie then there would be a fair amount of martial arts, but I found myself tirelessly waiting for the next fight scene to start, as the very divided and cluttered story played out. The choreography, as it turns out, was hit and miss. Some fights were spectacular pieces involving basically weapon dancing duets, and others were lackluster sequences that would have felt more at home in a Western action movie.
On that note, there is one particular part FSODG that bugged me to no end, and it's the dialogue. The dialogue really was just full of cliches and a rather dull and lifeless attempt to show a developing romance between two characters. The few moments the characters try to be philosophical, whatever point they try to make falls flat.
This is maybe good for a rental, but I'd highly recommend other wuxia films such as Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Hero, and House of Flying Daggers.
---
The Lost Coast Tapes:
Story:
A tv crew gets more than they bargained for when they investigate a hunter's claim that he killed a sasquatch.
Review:
Much like The Blair Witch Project and countless other found footage films before that, The Lost Coast Tapes attempts to provide a realistic story with impossible events by using first person perspective and low budget effects.
This isn't a scary film perse, nor does it give definite answer to anything, as it refuses to fully show any of the monsters. The Lost Coast Tapes instead provide 'dangerous' moments and footage of the monster's...uh...feet? The dialogue does nothing truly amazing for the story, as most of it either involves fame lusting stupidity or stupid people freaking out, a feature inherent in other found footage films such as Grave Encounters.
The acting is very overdone. It truly is. I never felt any emotion for the characters. Though that was also because of the horrible dialogue.
The camerawork was hit or miss, sometimes showing amazing footage of the area, and sometimes trying to show panic but failing to engage the audience.
The only explanation given for anything going on is from probably the best scene of the movie, as one of the characters explains his theory for the events.
Watch Trollhunter or Rec if you want to check out a decent found footage film. The Lost Coast Tapes isn't a horrible film, but it could have been a lot better. It's good for a rental or a checkout on NetFlix.
---
Occult:
Story:
After a mass assault with a knife that leaves several dead, a film crew sets out to document the events surrounding the case.
Review:
This is an odd movie, no doubts about it. Koji Shiraishi, the director, even goes so far as to insert himself into Occult as the director of the 'documentary'. An odd decision, but it does add some reality to the bizarre events that occur in the movie.
Even more strange is how Occult makes fun of low budget B- grade films from way back, but very subtly, and more specifically at the ending.
This does have a more direct and upfront approach than Noroi did, making one see it directly from the perspective of involved peoples. Like Noroi, Occult's story connects everything, including the smaller events.
The conversations between characters involving religion and 'philosophy' all seem to mash together and it seems like Koji Shiraishi is trying to make some commentary in how religion ties into events that involve the deaths of many people, but he never makes his point.
The special effects tend to be very low budget, but with the way Occult is filmed, it helps carry the story along, proving that sometimes filmmakers don't need an insanely huge budget to make a good movie.
I wish some of the actors in Occult were better and showed more emotion, and I wish the ending was serious, but in that same respect, the movie still is very compelling.
This is definitely an unsettling movie, and in that case it does do a great job. The two big events in the movie, and all the religious dialogue do add an interestingly unique touch to this.
If you liked Noroi, or any horror movie that specifically requires you to pay a lot of attention if not your full attention to the movie, then definitely check Occult out. Occult isn't really for everyone per se, as it's more a thinking person's film, but for the thinking people it is a movie worth checking out.
---
Shirome:
Story: A popular Japanese dance group goes to a haunted school to pray for their continued success, unaware that their success comes at a price.
Review: For the first 20 to 30 minutes, this movie looked to be another Noroi (for more on Noroi, just ask). I mean, seriously, the same director filming in a similar style, what could go wrong?
A lot.
Even tolerating the fact that most of Shirome is screaming from the dance group, and that this is more intent on showing the exploitative and dangerous side to being famous, this isn't really a scary horror movie.
In all honesty, this could have been a lot better.
From the cliche dialogue to the poor acting to the so very lame special effects, there really is nothing special about this movie.
Koji Shiraishi messed up big time. I thought this movie would be great, like Noroi, but I was very wrong.
Shirome is almost as bad if not as bad as any of the Paranormal Activity movies.
Only watch if you have no other Asian horror films to watch. So basically what I'm saying is never watch this movie. Ever.
----
Dredd 3D
Story:
Judge Dredd, while evaluating a rookie on an assessment assignment, becomes trapped in a building by a powerful gang leader.
Review:
If you've seen The Raid Redemption, then you've basically seen Dredd. The plot is an almost exact copy of The Raid, but less martial arts and more shooting.
Surprisingly, that's not a bad thing. Karl Urban is still badass as Dredd and almost but not quite as awesome as Stallone was in the original, but still awesome.
There isn't a lot of story, so the movie compensates with action. Don't expect much backstory either as there's barely any.
Special effects are a highlight and slowmotion is used almost religiously to amp the movie.
I also noticed that while there was dialogue there wasn't much dialogue. Only dialogues for relevant parts of the movie. And for a movie that's mostly action that's not a lot.
Only watch if you're an action movie fan that can leave your mind at the door. It's a good movie for action fans.
---
Red State:
Story:
A group of teenagers are lured, drugged, then held prisoner by a cult. This chain of events leads to the FBI's involvement.
Review:
There's a lot to say about Red State. It's one of the few movies that has two types of villains. One of them is religion, the other and more threatening one is the government. It is also one of those movies that doesn't have a happy ending for anyone except the FBI characters.
This is also a Kevin Smith movie.
Yeah. That Kevin Smith.
Having seen other work by the man behind Dogma, Clerks, Mallrats, and If You Seek Amy, I was not expecting a movie so profoundly serious and at times terrifyingly sinister.
The dialogue switches from crazy cult gibberish to panicked screaming to stress and emotion very very quickly and realistically, as cameras are placed accordingly to match the tone and setting of each scene.
Suffice it to say, Red State is a scary movie. Not scary in say, the typical horror way, but scary in what it implies.
Also, this is another movie in which Kevin Smith makes it clear that he doesn't like a particular religion, even though that religion is not the particular point of focus towards the end of the movie, as the true villain is revealed.
Check Red State out. It's an interesting movie.
---
Megan Is Missing:
Story:
Based on actual events. Megan and her friend Amy encounter an online predator.
Review:
I almost couldn't finish watching this, and when I did finally get to the end credits I nearly broke down in pure revulsion and disgust.
This is a disturbing movie. I watch horror movies as a hobby, and this movie is still sending shivers down my spine.
Anyone who can watch this movie through and through without stopping or muting parts of it has severe psychological issues. I had to pause it at least 10 times just to take a break and distract myself with random funny videos online.
The fact that the acting is good and the camera work is even better really does not help. I would've actually preferred it if the acting was worse, then the scenes would be less realistic and thus less disturbing.
Megan Is Missing definitely achieves its purpose. I mean, it's a realistically disturbing horror/drama movie made to seem like actual events via found footage, and in that it succeeds. In fact, it does too much of a good job in that regard. Way too much.
Unfortunately, with how disgustingly revolting this movie is, I don't think I can recommend it to anyone. Anyone sane.
Er, if you're insane, check this out. Maybe you can enjoy it. I can't. I mean, on a technical level, this is good for a found footage film. On an enjoyment level, I don't know if anyone that is sane or partially sane can enjoy this movie. I felt more disgusted by this movie and stunned than anything else. I also had to take frequent breaks from watching it to distract myself with random funny videos on youtube.
If anyone ever recommends a movie, and I see that Megan Is Missing is in the "people who liked this also liked," section for that movie on IMDB, I will not watch said recommended movie.
---
The Tunnel:
Story:
An investigative journalism team goes into a series of tunnels underneath the city to discover why homeless people are going missing.
Review:
One part documentary, one part found footage, this low budget film from Australia is rather jarring.
For a movie with as many jump scares as this one had, the difference between this and other movies is that most of the jump scares don't stop after a minute. The creature itself, a lanky humanoid giant, is brutal in how it hunts and kills its prey. Throughout the movie all it did was follow and hunt and follow and hunt, luring the protagonists to what should have been their death.
The acting was realistic. Each character was shown as any human would be shown in a situation like that, when the only emotions that are felt are pure fear and panic.
The hour of death was disturbing to the point where I had to take a break from watching every 20 minutes.
It's a truly scary movie that proves that sometimes the explanation for a monster's existence isn't necessary, it just needs to be there to be scary.
Aggressive, savage, and unrelenting, The Tunnel is possibly the most terrifying movie I have seen all year, with the exception of Lake Mungo, another Australian horror flick.
If you're a fan of other Australian horror movies such as The Descent, this is a movie for you.
It was advertised as free on some sites until midway through 2010. It may still be free on other sites.
---
The Bourne Legacy:
Story:
During the events of The Bourne Ultimatum, Aaron Cross, an Outcome operative, is dragged into a conspiracy to eliminate all connections to Outcome.
Review:
For a movie that took so long to make, it was definitely worth the wait. The action is a dazzling spectacle of excellently choreographed moments, mixing freerunning and fistfights with cars and guns. Every moment of dialogue is what any spy movie should be, mixing conspiracy with emotion and intelligence (think Girl With The Dragon Tattoo). And on that note, the shaky blur of the camera is used accurately for once, highlighting every moment with an immersive sense of urgency.
Despite others negative thoughts on the ending, I rather liked it. Leaving the movie open to another sequel is the best route, as the story isn't quite finished.
I do wish there was more work put into composing the score, as Moby's Extreme Ways was the only memorable part of that soundtrack.
It's a thinking man's (or woman's) action flick, so it's not a movie suited to everyone's taste. Watch only if you liked the previous Bourne movies.
---
The Expendables 2:
I actually watched this movie two days ago but never really got around to putting this review up until now.
Story: After one of their own is killed during a mission, Barney Ross and his team of mercenaries seek revenge.
Review:
Corny, funny, and at times violently brutal, The Expendables 2 delivers and does a better job than its sequel. Chuck Norris takes out an army of bad guys (and a tank), Arnold Schwarzenegger tears a door off of a smart car, Jet Li and Jason Statham show their martial arts skills off, and more in this immensely entertaining sequel.
There might not be a lot that separates this movie from the first installment, but as I mentioned before, it does add a lot to it. My only major complaint is that Jet Li doesn't have as much of a part in this, as he's replaced by Nan Yu, whose martial arts prowess is only seen in five seconds, but her presence does add a tiny dose of gender equality to this testosterone filled killfest. But seriously, why did they remove Jet Li from the other hour+ of the movie?
The best part of the movie, besides Chuck Norris being Chuck Norris, is the martial arts sequences. They're quick and brutal, like any fight scene should be. Jason Statham, Nan Yu, and Jet Li kill bad guys like the cannon fodder they are without using anything besides knives, sticks, and frying pans.
Also, the Chuck Norris joke is worth mentioning:
Barney Ross: I heard you got bit by a King Cobra.
Booker: I did. After five days of excruciating pain, the cobra died.
--
The movie was a brilliant action movie, though maybe my opinion of it would be different if I didn't watch it in the Ultra AVX.
Anyways, go to a fancy schmancy theater with surround sound and enjoy this movie. Leave your mind at the door too, it won't do you any good watching this and thinking about every scene.
Also note that the movie is a very genre-specific movie. If you're not an action movie fan you're not going to like it.
---
The Dark Knight Rises:
Story:
Batman returns after eight years of self-imposed exile to face the terrorist Bane.
Review:
To properly review The Dark Knight Rises, I have to mention the comics it takes material from: Knightfall and No Man's Land.
Knightfall is the epic tale of Batman's defeat at the hands of Bane, and his uprising from that defeat, while No Man's Land is about Gotham recovering from a brutal attack that leaves the city divided.
Christopher Nolan is what Batman movies have sorely needed for years and years, and he delivered an amazing end to an amazing trilogy.
Christian Bale finally finds a middlepoint in his portrayal of both Bruce Wayne and Batman, allowing people to see a shattered and destroyed man return from the ashes to becoming a symbol of justice in a dying city. Plus he finally found some semblance of a scary voice for Batman.
Anne Hathaway was amazing as Catwoman, which was surprising considering she doesn't look like a Selina Kyle type.
Tom Hardy as Bane was most definitely the highlight of the movie. He was a terrifying mass of evil personified and, dare I say it, was a better villain than Heath Ledger's Joker. Bane was the highlight of the movie, and his character may have just brought the 'super terrorist' character type into movies.
I could go on about all the cast's performance but it would spoil the inevitable outcome of the movie.
Dialogue, story, and effects were top notch. I just wish they had a better choreographer for the fight scenes, since seeing most of the same punch-and-grapple techniques again and again is rather tiresome.
The Dark Knight Rises is definitely not a movie for everyone, as people who haven't read the source material will more than likely find the movie to be boring and jumbled. Still though, most will find Bane terrifying. The supporting cast, including Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman, had amazing performances as well.
Seriously the best Batman movie yet. Christopher Nolan and everyone involved with the movie did the Dark Knight Story justice.
All that being said, those who are light of heart will not want to witness some of the scenes and instead may want them summarized. I was wincing at a few of the disturbing moments of the movie, and I was not the only one in the theatre who felt the impact. It is a very immersive movie. Definitely not a film you want to take your child to. Though on that note, The Dark Knight wasn't a film anyone should've taken their child to either.
No comments:
Post a Comment