wse-jack Reviews

Hunted (2012)

a brutal and superior take on the Bourne concept, well worth watching.

[8/10 · 12 October 2012]

I for one am a fan of Melissa George, her role in alias as a world class super b--- was impeccable, but it wasn't till I saw A Lonely Place to Die that I became a huge fan, as the movie explodes into graphic violence and tension her performance and looks suck you in.

Hunted is another grand example of taking advantage of her extraordinary screen presence.

As a spy thriller, its originality is mute, its not bad, not at all, but not all that special... but just as a thriller in general its wonderful. The picture quality is grand, and while it may make a few to many cuts, the whole picture put together is spellbinding.

It's plot and characters seem fully developed, just waiting to unfold and each seems psychologically sound to what they are, they don't just make things happen for the characters, it seems like the characters will react as if they should in that situation.

The show keeps tension well, Melissa's uncanny ability to suck you in (not unlike Jodie foster with her eyes) keeps you involved, and when the show bursts into its graphic and brutal violence, its all the better. The handful of action scenes by far outmatch those in the Bourne flicks and the adult plot is refreshing from the childish hollywoodised crap that those movies descended to.

I highly recommend this, just simply if anything for its balance between its violence, plot, and characters, not suffering one for any other like so many shows now days do.

If a show can do all three and do them well, than sacrificing one or both others do do one thing VERY well, well, thats just not good enough, let things happen as they do.

The only issues I have are a sh-- title sequence (very English, not in a good way, makes it seem far more cheeseball than it in no way is), and some spastic cuts on the violence, the camera work isn't shaky, in fact most of it is good, but the some (and i do mean only SOME) of the cuts don't fit together.

Copper (2012–2013)

An epic period crimdrama echoing the ghosts of Deadwood and Rome and so many others.

[8/10 · 14 September 2012]

Copper may not be the greatest show on earth but it is damned good. Every time I start and episode I am put off by it for a few minutes, into it for a few more. Then straight up Enthrawled in it as the plot gains weight and momentum.

The show has exception gripping scenes of violence when it has them though it usually doesn't, but when they are their they fully justify the TVMA rating (which is hard to get considering the stuff that hell on wheels does only manages them a tv14).

The acting is superb, the setting well done despite a few quirks with some virtual backgrounds, though totally understandable given the small budget. all in all the people seem rough dirty and brutal.

Most of the show consists of a our main character corky navigating up and down the lines of inner and upper class as he searches for criminals. sick, petty. and vial criminals. that are intertwined in both.

The mellow drama isn't up to par with some other shows other but its not trying too hard and its also not trying to rip off these shows. In that the echos of deadwood are seen, if only they could make this like that, but that wouldn't happen, never the less the spirit in deadwoods creation is in this, just with less articulate melodrama.

The characters are interesting and engaging, the violence brutal and bloody and the way the plot snowballs in mini stories is great.

Its also a touch relaxing to watch, for all its brutality, its very comfortable. you trust the characters to behave as they should and in that kinda in a bit of a trip./

Serenity (2005)

Intense, funny, almost touching in a sense, one of the best by far

[9/10 · 29 December 2005]

I watched only a few episodes of the Fox series Firefly before it was abruptly canceled, it seemed the moment I was hooked it was canceled. You can imagine my excitement when I saw the trailer for it in the theater early last spring.

To my amazement it was not only a good movie, but also the best one I had seen since Crash. Its the story of the price and value of freedom, its a story of love and friendship, it's also the story of an ordinary group of people just trying to get by in a world where it gets harder to do just that every passing day. A lot of people will be able to relate to it and that's what makes it so special and it's not just the story that rings home, but the characters as well.

In a world where good movies are few in comparison the to amount of cheap crap thrown out to the masses by backers such as Fox and Disney, Serenity is a rare gem. It actually had an original story (derived from the show of course) and put it together with smashing intense action and humor that failed to be corny despite that genre's reputation. Maybe it's the down to earth (no pun intended) attitude of the movie, maybe its just one of those things that just seems to work, but the move clicked with me and every one I know who has seen it.

I usually don't see pg-13 movies on account of most of the ones today being converted kids films but please don't let that stop you from taking it seriously, the movie is realistic, intense and adult. I grantee that once you see this film you will buy the TV series DVD set soon after wanting more of what you just saw.