amba9 Reviews

Past Lives (2023)

keeps you thinking about it afterwards

[8/10 · 3 September 2023]

This was a great surprise as love stories have been done to death and more-so rekindling the past often lead to predictabilities, not so this one.

Nearing the conclusion I'm fearing they're going to stuff up this great movie with a more typical ending, but they didn't.

This movie lingered with me for a while afterwards as especially the last 20mins is powerful, that could have gone in several directions. We have two peolple so connected almost oblivious to the world around them.

Greta Lee is superb, is no natural in every scene and some of her best expressions leave an impression.

This is an example of a simple story line resonating with many making it so watchable.

On the Line (II) (2022)

the ending decides the viewpoint

[6/10 · 24 November 2022]

I walked out of the cinema not knowing how I'd review it as the movie's type of conclusion can polarise us.

Gibson is still so watchable with that familiar type of expression he's brought to the screens for so long.

The suspense is maintained from the moment he as nightime radio host receives a call (then needs to call back) from someone who says he's about to kill Gibson's wife and child, to near the ending.

The standing on the edge of the rooftop and looking down when contemplating a decision is a tense moment.

Kevin Dillon plays a minor part but makes you recall his outlandish 'Drama' Chase character.

ZeroZeroZero (2019–2020)

unmissable

[9/10 · 17 March 2021]

This Series shows me again how the writing, not the actors, dictates if I watch or not. The storyline is quite simple, and the breathtaking cinematography alone wouldn't suffice, but the unrelenting tension as the story unfolds making you gasp for air at times is what sets this apart from other similar crime dramas. Of note :a couple of pig scenes might be uncomfortable viewing but important to the story and in Mexico Harold Torres is outstanding as the special forces supremo.

The Immortal (2019)

Ok as a standalone but don't compare to the Series

[5/10 · 13 April 2020]

If you're a fan of the series Gomorrah then you'll be disappointed with this. We learn more about Ciro and some of his upbringing but the story doesn't contain much of the bite and suspense the series is so good at.

Gomorrah (2014–2021)

Unmissable crime drama

[9/10 · 2 April 2019]

From police to politicians to councilmen to developers to ordinary men and women and children you can't escape la Camorra. Their own power thirst make some episodes so tense, heightened by the superb selection of music. Can't recommend highly enough.

Hereditary (2018)

Worth seeing if only for a couple of strong performances

[6/10 · 18 June 2018]

Yes, moody, suspensful and at times feeling of terror, and Toni Collette just owns this movie, but the ending is utterly over the top.

A Quiet Place (2018)

Unconvincing horror

[6/10 · 17 April 2018]

Another movie you'll forget soon after seeing it. Somehow women and babies/children often survive anything and everything thrown at them, which then makes it predictable, nothwithstanding you ride the wave of action along the way. The premise is good, delivery is fair.

Miami Vice: Little Miss Dangerous (1986) Season 2, Episode 15

brilliant

[9/10 · 27 May 2010]

One of the best Vice episodes directed by Leon Ichaso which also directed several other good MV episodes...

In this, Tubbs befriends a show actress/prostitute/killer. She has a jealous boyfriend who grudgingly supports her 'after the show' work because of the extra money... In fact the boyfriend is initially suspected of the killings as Crockett and Tubbs focus in his direction...

The final 5 minutes is absolutely superb, with the typical MV colour combined with Crockett on the chase, Tubbs the prisoner and a great track choice in 'Order Of Death'.

Miami Vice: Out Where the Buses Don't Run (1985) Season 2, Episode 3

Superb

[9/10 · 18 May 2010]

One of the best episodes of Miami Vice that I've seen several times... Bruce McGill plays superbly the part of Hank Weldon. Is this ex-Vice a nut job or not? ... The value of what a working partner means to each party is a strong theme that is revealed at the end. How far would each go to protect the other? Certainly Crockett and Tubbs have gone into bat for each other many times in the past..... The ending is fascinating. Tubbs is called by Weldon saying he has found Acarro and he's talking. Sounds like a trap so Crockett and Tubbs go ahead of backup. With great choice of Dire Strait's 'Brothers in Arms', crank up the volume as the ending is not to be missed! . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Descent (2005)

Not to miss

[8/10 · 11 April 2009]

This was a pleasant surprise, as I too thought that with only a cast of young women would lend it self to sexiness, women would win the day etc etc. Write/Director Marshall does a supreme job from the first minute with a graphic fatal car crash for all except the lead actress, which would haunt her a year on when this trip takes place. It is certainly claustrophobic as most of the time it's filmed in the dark cave but I thought it only added to the tenseness. It comes with some very good unsuspecting frights and the 'creatures' that live in the caves are convincingly portrayed as a thoroughly ravenous species. **Spoiler *** One of the final scenes where Juno, the Asian woman that mislead the other women but not in a bad mischievous sense, is left with only a flare and a badly severed leg amongst a hoard of these creatures leaves an imprint in your mind for a while. A superb horror movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout.

Cloverfield (2008)

Too short

[6/10 · 25 October 2008]

After the 15 minutes of party at the beginning it leaves about 60 minutes of movie time. I felt a little 'robbed' because it ended suddenly. In fact you hear 'Rob' said too many times by Hud.

The hand-held camera effect(like it was used in '28 Weeks later') was great, it maximized the suspense.

The main characters could probably could have escaped the monster and the city but Rob had a conscience. He had to find his ex-girlfriend and so headed back to her apartment.

We need more of these types of movies where **SPOILER ** the good guys/pretty girls don't survive.

Overall though, it didn't achieve the heights it promised at the beginning.