Turgid, Turgid, Turgid. Incredibly slow plot development, none of the characters are likeable, and by time you reach the final act you'll either be looking for something else to watch or playing with your phone. Avoid like the plague.
Reviews
7 Reviews
The Forsaken
(2001)
Nice Budget, shame about the story.
1 July 2007
You know, sometimes you'll see a B-movie horror flick where the story really grabs you and you think, man, if they just had a better budget, cast, effects, this really could have been something. Then in turn you'll see a movie with a decent cast, director and money to spend, but its obvious the script was written two days before shooting began.
I'm sorry to say that the Forsaken is more of the latter and less of the former. For us boys, there's plenty of explosions, car chases, the odd bit of nudity, but the plot is so wafer thin it falls to pieces at the first breeze.
As a 'popcorn' 'no-brainer' of a movie it's pleasant enough, the cast perform well with what little they've been given, but for me personally the ending felt like it had been 'tacked on' in a rush. That and the fact the whole thing feels like a marketing ploy to earn a sequel spoiled it for me really. Still if you're at a loose end and you like your horror flicks might be worth a watch for Johnathon Schaech (Star turn in my opinion) as the head vampire. Just don't get your expectations up.
I'm sorry to say that the Forsaken is more of the latter and less of the former. For us boys, there's plenty of explosions, car chases, the odd bit of nudity, but the plot is so wafer thin it falls to pieces at the first breeze.
As a 'popcorn' 'no-brainer' of a movie it's pleasant enough, the cast perform well with what little they've been given, but for me personally the ending felt like it had been 'tacked on' in a rush. That and the fact the whole thing feels like a marketing ploy to earn a sequel spoiled it for me really. Still if you're at a loose end and you like your horror flicks might be worth a watch for Johnathon Schaech (Star turn in my opinion) as the head vampire. Just don't get your expectations up.
Silent Hill
(2006)
Such a Long, Looooonng film....
23 September 2006
I've got to admit that I've been really looking forward to seeing this film for some time. I'm a big fan of the video game series and it's one of the few video game to movie conversions that realistically stood a chance of being good, no mention of Uwe Boll amongst these credits ;) After watching the film, and trust me, it's a long film. Both literally and mentally, I was left feeling indifferent. Which is probably a good way to sum up the film. For fans of the video game they can rest easy at least because it is a faithful adaption and very respectful of the game and its cult status.
What made the game such a hit was the feeling of claustrophobia and the creepy story. When you're playing a game in the first person, that tension and dark setting keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you want to keep following the story. When that converts to film and you're watching in the third person. You need to empathize with the characters, they need to be 'rich' and have a good back story. There were several points in this movie where I simply didn't care what happened to the characters.
The best analogy I can give is that it was a beautiful artistic creation of the game with all the story and excitement sucked out of it. If you were ever a fan of the game it's still worth a look, just to go 'oooh I remember that bit', or 'wow! That's exactly like the game'. For someone who's a neutral, I'll think there will be chunks of this film where you're left confused and disenchanted. It's a shame because you can see all the effort and reverence that went into it...
What made the game such a hit was the feeling of claustrophobia and the creepy story. When you're playing a game in the first person, that tension and dark setting keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you want to keep following the story. When that converts to film and you're watching in the third person. You need to empathize with the characters, they need to be 'rich' and have a good back story. There were several points in this movie where I simply didn't care what happened to the characters.
The best analogy I can give is that it was a beautiful artistic creation of the game with all the story and excitement sucked out of it. If you were ever a fan of the game it's still worth a look, just to go 'oooh I remember that bit', or 'wow! That's exactly like the game'. For someone who's a neutral, I'll think there will be chunks of this film where you're left confused and disenchanted. It's a shame because you can see all the effort and reverence that went into it...
Teachers
(2001–2004)
a cult show for the 00's
3 May 2001
The First time Andrew Lincoln came to British Screens, was in the cult TV show "This Life" in which he played a quirky, neurotic and often confused lawyer. The reason the two series of "This life" were so good was due to the rich array of characters who played off one another so nicely, and a strong story line that was fast paced, witty and realistic.
Teacher's feels like it was written as a vehicle to show case the strongest characteristics of Lincoln's character in "This life". His character, Simon, in teachers is even more neurotic and confused about life than Egg was. On paper this sounds like it runs the risk of type-casting Lincoln and ruining the show from the out set. In reality Lincoln manages to pull it off; in fact he does so, so superbly that he avoids all the clichés and pitfalls and really shines.
While Andrew Lincoln twinkles his socks off, the rest of the cast refuse to be out done, Raquel Cassidy and nina Sosanya who play susan and jenny Respectively, do so subtly if not sublimely again avoiding the clichés, and Simon's two slobby mates (also teachers) Brian and Kurt played by Adrian Bower and Navin Chowdhry, provide the perfect foil for Simons ever growing neurosis.
At the end of the day, Teachers again has a strong storyline with a lot of fast paced humour and wit, while maintaining a degree of realism and showing teaching from both sides of the black board, teachers has all the potential and as I'm sure time will show has all the makings of a cult show in it's own right.
Teacher's feels like it was written as a vehicle to show case the strongest characteristics of Lincoln's character in "This life". His character, Simon, in teachers is even more neurotic and confused about life than Egg was. On paper this sounds like it runs the risk of type-casting Lincoln and ruining the show from the out set. In reality Lincoln manages to pull it off; in fact he does so, so superbly that he avoids all the clichés and pitfalls and really shines.
While Andrew Lincoln twinkles his socks off, the rest of the cast refuse to be out done, Raquel Cassidy and nina Sosanya who play susan and jenny Respectively, do so subtly if not sublimely again avoiding the clichés, and Simon's two slobby mates (also teachers) Brian and Kurt played by Adrian Bower and Navin Chowdhry, provide the perfect foil for Simons ever growing neurosis.
At the end of the day, Teachers again has a strong storyline with a lot of fast paced humour and wit, while maintaining a degree of realism and showing teaching from both sides of the black board, teachers has all the potential and as I'm sure time will show has all the makings of a cult show in it's own right.
The Thin Red Line
(1998)
longest 3 hours of my life.
19 June 2000
Without doubt this film was the longest 3 hours of my life, and while this film focused strongly on the introspective, and the fears and worries of the characters personal lives,we don`t really get a chance to build an empathy with them. Although I must admit Ben Chaplin`s American accent was very believable, and George Clooney got the shortest cameo in the world ever. Maybe my vision has been tainted some what by films like "Saving Private Ryan" and "Platoon", but I found this film totally unengaging. Combined with the fact that this film could have been based in the Second World War, Vietnam war or the banana U boat war, because you can`t tell - other than it`s in the pacific. I found the film slow and muddled and left me wishing I`d done that extra batch of laundry i`d promised to do.
Brokedown Palace
(1999)
more filler and thriller
19 June 2000
While this film is based on a good idea, I felt it never really got to grips with it`s subject, or explored the potential depths of the issues it focuses on. While Danes, Beckinsale and pullman give competent performances they never really shine, and I found the film sluggish in places.On current standards this film doesn`t really live up to other psychological thrillers, eg "instinct" and By the time i`d reached the end of the film, I found it boring and mediocre, perhaps it would have been more suited as a made for Tv film.
My So-Called Life
(1994–1995)
The wonder years it`s ok to like
19 June 2000
This television series has become a bit of a cult these days, the only way I can describe it is as "the wonder years" it`s ok to like. I managed to watch it first time round, but like so many American drama serials the budget was cut after just one series.
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