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H_F_Jones
Reviews
The Condemned (2007)
A film that delivers what it promises!!!
A great film.
Great Location, great camera work and on the whole, great acting.
Most films have "goodies" and "baddies" and you would think that all ten of the "guests" to the island were all bad.
So subtly are the characters written and played, that some of them stay easily "bad and evil monsters" in our minds that "deserve to die" whilst others you find yourself liking, feeling sorry for, or routing for to save the day.
Vinnie Jones plays an excellent "baddie" in this film. Is he clever, mentally sick, evil, perverted or is he simply disillusioned after he is left out to dry by the S.A.S.? Whatever he is - he plays it well - not bad for an ex-footballer! I have not seen Steve Austin before but I was very impressed with his ease and ability in front of the camera. Possibly a tad clichéd but it was nice to see a "big man with a big heart".
A well paced film with well-done action shots and stunts that pulled me along for the ride and never let me go - there was never a time when this film let my thoughts drift away to anything else..
2012: Doomsday (2008)
I never knew the end of the world could be so funny!
Oh where, oh where, does one start with this film? Thankfully, I did not pay to watch it, or I would have been more upset than amused by this truly awful film! It is like an unintentional spoof - perhaps they should re-market it as one! The actors had obviously been on a two day "how to act with your hands/arms" seminar as they all seemed to think that acting requires a great deal of flailing of their upper limbs in order to get the message across.
The "special affects" were anything but special with snow falling but never settling on anything, hail stones falling in front of the car but not behind.
I found the footage of the impending fearful onslaught of a twister in town to be very dramatic. However, it was not the fear of the tornado that was making its way towards the characters that was scary! I was more afraid that the person who was obviously in front of a large fan (slowly pulling apart a hay bale) might have been blown into the scene itself! The editing was pitiful. They used the same bits of footage of the "actors" acting (sorry flailing) at least twice in quick succession, on at least three occasions throughout the film.
The part that made me roar with laughter (the most) was when the camera panned back from a "moving moment", between Mr "I want to be Indiana Jones" and Mrs "I am coughing because I am dying", to blatantly show the metal tracks that the camera was running on!!! Are you saying that they could not afford to lose a couple of seconds of footage at this point? Religious content aside, I think it is fair to say that this film and everything about it is ab-so-lute-ly awful.
But get it if you want a laugh!
Persuasion (2007)
More 'am-dram' than drama
Having watched and enjoyed many period dramas over the years I was rather disappointed by this adaptation.
Some of the acting was just too painful to watch, depicting the upper class' snobbery and silliness to an almost clownish extent whilst other more pivotal moments that should have been more dramatic seemed under-played.
The camera work made this film uncomfortable to watch and there was entirely too much staring. I mean I understand unrequited love and longing as much as the next person but I am sure it could have been portrayed in a more pleasing manner!
What was (I am sure) intended to be the heart-pounding, breath-taking climax of the film sadly ended up being THE most unromantic kiss in television history. I know I did not expect Hollywood, but I did not expect a gasping guppy either!
The storey line is a good one but I do not feel this adaptation did it any favours.
Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo (1984)
There's not stoppin' them
You have just finished watching Breakin' - and feel like you want to go out onto the streets and find a group of people to dance with, then you realise that your about 20 years too late and the only gangs hanging around your neighbourhood are not interested in dancing.
Your spirits drop, realising that you can never get back your youth...
But then you remember, you also own Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo and you get back on your sofa and spend another couple of hours with a friendly group of Break Dancers who only want to support their local amenities... They don't use violence (apart from perhaps some suggestive popping' and lockin' moves), they don't use guns or drugs and they even get their rival street gang to kiss and make up with them in order to protect their hood from the City Suits.
Where else could you get a story line like that? Take it for what it is - great music, great dancing, great fun!
Breakin' (1984)
Takes you back and keeps you young!
I remember seeing this when I was about 12 years old and from that moment I fell in love with the Music. Now at 34 I still cant keep my feet still when I watch the film or hear the music! OK, so the acting may not come from RADA's finest, and seeing Jean-Claude Van Damme "Dancing" in a small spandex one piece may not be everyone's cup of tea, but the music just makes you want to get on up and do some breakin' - sadly it would probably be my hip! As for the infamous 80's outfits, big shoulder pads, baggy trousers and belts worn anywhere except through the loops of your jeans; the copious amounts of hair gel and vivid, vibrant make up - it's pure 80's
Up the Garden Path (1990)
Brilliant
Without wishing to be Sexist, I would think that most women can relate to Imelda Staunton's portrayal of this ditsy, desperate-for-love teacher.
The episodes of Izzy's confusing and often stressful personal life, normally of her own making, could probably be found in many women's personal diaries!
Falling for handsome married men,ex-students, basically anyone considered as "off limits" or "dangerously exciting" whilst ignoring her caring and considerate flat-mate Dick should perhaps be viewed as negatives of her character,but the subtleties of the writing also shows she is only human.
Searching, like so many women do, for "Mr Right" and getting it oh-so wrong along the way! The Search for Happiness is never easy or straight forward and this series managed to get this across with humour and taste and without her looking cheap or devious.