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Reviews
The Rig (2023)
Been there seen it done it
This has all the trappings of a great story but it very rarely delivers. It's hindered by a clunky script and some clichéd characters....oh, and looking at times like an early 70's Dr Who episode. The CGI is below par and overused. The Fog/mist looked like a plug in offered on a budget video programme but I was prepared to forgive all that if it had moved along a little better and with some originality. All the classics are here, the Fog, The Mist, The Thing , Alien and sadly it never properly reared its head above the formulaic approach.
It's not terrible but it's not great either.....shame .
Three Pines (2022)
Atmospheric whodunnit
I haven't read the books so I'm watching this with no preconceptions and purely on merit. So far the series has played like an Agatha Christie with many possible antagonists while also running a backplot about disappearing indigenous girls and corruption. Alfred Molina plays the part of troubled detective brilliantly and his selection of sidekicks are excellent character driven parts. The locals that populate 3 pines are very quirky and all carry their fair share of secrets. The setting is beautifully imagined and cinematography is great. Having said all that this series is nothing new but just well done and the characters interesting enough to keep you invested. Recommended.
Black Adam (2022)
Lord luvvaduck
I may not be the target audience for this film being of relatively mature years but I do enjoy a good superhero movie if it's done well. This feels derivative from start to finish with a story that has to be explained to us via voice over so we're not left scratching our heads. It takes a lot of the clichés from every other(Marvel) film. We have the Rock, clad in a suitable lycra suit with armoured leg warmers and then we have a Pierce Brosnan led Justice league type bunch who are sort of rip offs of various other superheroes. The real issue is you just don't care about any danger or imminent death of any of the characters. It's all very smashy and crashy and the fight sequences are all start stoppy(currently in vogue for action movies) The CGI is pretty good (there's loads of it). The jokes are thin on the ground and it's all a bit too serious. Ol' Dwayne doesn't get his chops round some decent one liners ....something he's rather good at but humour is thin on the ground. The comic character, looks like a giant Deadpool but without the potty mouth and ....well, the jokes.
I wasn't expecting much with this movie and I wasn't disappointed. It entirely lived up to my meagre expectations.
Prey (2022)
Blood and guts
This has a lot in common with the second predator movie in terms of its gory content. Disembowellment and beheading is not shied away from and the predator dispatches its victims in a number of creative ways. It is a beautiful looking film and makes good use of the natural setting as a backdrop to the carnage. The actors l do their job admirably making it all the more believable. This is not a "woke" movie in the same way that Alien is not either. It features a strong female lead ......that's it. If that upsets you then maybe it's you who has the problem. Comes in as a close second to the original. Recommended.
Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
Obi....Where art thou?
Look, if this has come before The Mandalorian i would undoubtedly be more generous with my review. It simply lacks the pace of the ol' helmeted one. It knows how much time it's going to fill and it languidly delivers. The action pieces don't excite and of course we all know what happens to the main characters. Their time is not up during this series so any threat has to really be directed in a dynamic exciting way.......... It's not. However, It all looks great and it's nice to see Ewan McGregor doing his best Alec Guinness. It pootles along merrily but will not ultimately add anything of note to the Star Wars backstory.
Bennett's War (2019)
Motocross melodrama
Soldier,injured in Afghanistan regains his motorcycle mojo and saves his Dad's farm.
This movie definitely falls into the casual watching territory. It has all the familiar tropes of triumph over adversity but it never really explores anything to any great length. It has a 70's made for TV vibe about it which i found quite endearing .The motocross racing scenes never really get the adrenaline going which is a shame because it's certainly a visually exciting sport. Strapping a go pro to a rider's chest only goes so far. The editing has to be snappy and revealing of the different positions of the riders. The characters in this all had the possibility of being really interesting but they needed to be a little more complete. Underneath all this there's really a rather good movie trying to get out. Put it in the Sunday afternoon watching bracket.
Against the Ice (2022)
Character driven adventure
This is a solid movie which documents the incredible hardships endured by the early 20th century explorers. By its very nature this is not going to be a fast film. It's pace is languid and considered and vividly captures, through some very believable performances and some great photography the atmosphere and near descent into madness and desperation.
Reacher (2022)
It's Jack Reacher
If you like the novel then you'll like this. Unusually, it is pretty much the first Childs book captured on film. With only a few little changes it is pretty much a blow by blow (literally) version.
Casting is great. Script is funny and moves along at a good pace. Any criticisms should be aimed at the source material. Jack Reacher is not Harry Bosch and this is not Scand nor.
Refreshing to see a show being so loyal to its origin. Recommended.
Peacemaker (2022)
Check your brain at the door
Treading an irreverent path , similar to Deadpool, Peacemaker delivers on many levels. I wasn't a fan of Peacemaker in The Suicide Squad but here he really comes to life with a certain amount of bozo charm. The humour is adolescent and generally below the belt and if this is not something that you feel comfortable laughing at then I recommend you give this a miss. The choice of 80's style hair metal throughout is intrinsic to Peacemaker's character and the whole show and with many, will probably be a first introduction to this much maligned style. Like much of hair metal this show should probably be filed under guilty pleasure or just leave your brain at the door entertainment.
Voces (2020)
Tense and chilling
This boldly goes where many ghost/horror films have gone before but it does with a greater sense of style and audience understanding than most Hollywood fare.
The story is a familiar one but it dives straight into the spooking within a few minutes of its opening and then it doesn't let up. Special mention to the sound design and the music. Very effective.
If you're in the mood for a tense ghost story then this could be for you.
Something's Gotta Give (2003)
Jack Nichokson plays...er...Jack Nicholson.
First and most importantly this is a fun movie. You know what's going to happen from the start but the journey is an enjoyable one. It's a romantic movie for the older generation, yes but not exclusively. There's a lot to enjoy here. If you're not looking for arthouse you won't be disappointed. Just a fun movie with a big soft centre.
Café Society (2016)
Woody does old Hollywood
Every movie Woody Allen does is like a monologue .....every character could be him. This can be viewed as endearing or annoying. I like to think of them as endearing. This film does the usual Allen self deprecating, unsure of himself style but of course women ultimately find him alluring and interesting ....or rather his main character which of course is him . The performances are all wonderful and I very much enjoyed the atmosphere throughout. Not a perfect film but if you enjoy humorous character driven stuff this may be for you.
The Harder They Fall (2021)
Spaghetti blaxpoitation
This was an enjoyable new take on the western, well, I say new take. It's a black western using modern language and music. It's a familiar tale of revenge but it all motors along at a good pace. Stylised violence aplenty and overflowing with wise racks it plays more like a spaghetti western blended with New Jack City . I was not a fan of the look of the film. Very film set like and overly stylised. Every shot seemed like a set piece. Apart from that, highly enjoyable.
Puppet on a Chain (1971)
Dated thriller
With a male lead who looks like a fish out of water this was going nowhere fast. Directed in a very point and shoot fashion it sits firmly in the time it was made. Saved by the source material and a great speedboat chase at the end this is a film for nostalgia fans only.
Stratton (2017)
Bond lite
A completely passable Bond lite movie with the usual Hokum. The screenplay is pretty holy in parts ...and I don't mean religious. Filmed in a very by the numbers sort of fashion with no particular flair but it all romps along pretty well. Derek Jacobi adds a a certain amount of class to proceedings with Dominic Cooper doing a completely passable job as a Bond like agent.. Nice to see a London bus in a car chase. No awards but completely watchable. Just don't expect Skyfall.
Jolt (2021)
Cliché ridden thriller
Obviously hoping for a sequel this movie treads a familiar path with action sequences done lots better in the likes of Atomic blonde or Salt. Kate Beckinsale looks great, there's some ocasionally funny dialogue but this tale of Crank-like sub Jason Stathamdom never treads it's own path.
The Ice Road (2021)
Not a disaster movie
Wow ! A lot of hate for this movie. Yes, the CGI is a little ropey in parts but its a pretty sad state of affairs when you judge a movie on its FX. The setting is cool (literally) and film plays out more of a thriller than a disaster movie. It has some edge of seat stuff and you feel invested in the characters. The fight scenes could've been handled a bit more deftly but all in all an undemanding action/disaster/thriller.
Mare of Easttown (2021)
Gritty, well acted series
Do not watch this if you're after the familiar grizzled cop routine. This has more in common with a Scandinavian crime series than the usual Hollywood fare. Yes, it's all a bit bleak and the first episode requires patience for characters to unfold. However, patience is rewarded with empathy and yes, disgust, as these characters etch out their place in Easttown. I'm looking forward to seeing how it all plays out. Recommended.
Outside the Wire (2021)
Unbelievable digitised nonsense
In a future which has robot troops and AI special ops but still has current model gasoline cars this is one mixed up picture. It tries to put a moral backbone into its proceedings but you just end up feeling manipulated. The action is done with a bit of style which is why I give it 5 stars. The digitised explosions and effects wear a bit thin. The acting is by the numbers. This is a movie to watch with a few beers after being down the pub.....in the days we could go down the pub
Gangs of London (2020)
Bloody and Violent
I dont think that the producers set out to make a realistic portrayal of gang life in London. This was created for entertainment purposes and needs to be viewed as such. Gareth Evans forte is extreme action sequences and this is undoubtedly where this series excels. The action set pieces are truly intense and very over the top. People don't just get killed on this show. they are butchered and the concept of less is more is left on the floor as teams of machine gun wielding mercenaries do battle with crazed criminal families and drug kingpins in seemingly never ending gunfights. The police never seem to hear all this gunplay and the criminals are able to "clean up". Now, i find all this totally acceptable ...as I said this is not an in depth of portrayal of gang culture in London it is a series made in the spirit of entertainment for those of us who like their action as stylised as a Kung Fu movie with a side order of extra tomato sauce ...by the bucket load!!
Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
Run its course
Like many other viewers, I would agree that this latest instalment in the Terminator franchise proves that it has indeed run its course. The originality of the first two films has been replaced by increased Cgi and preposterous set pieces which would seem.far fetched in a video game. I ended up not caring what happened to who or why.
Arnie and the return of Linda Hamilton contribute greatly to this film and almost save the day but can't raise it past the retrodden story line and ,in the main, a lacklustre script. Please no more ...but I fear we havent seen the last of this