Unfortunately, I only skimmed the surface when reading the reviews, which led me to losing the price of a cinema ticket and two hours of my life. It's amazing how many fake reviews there are for this film. Lesson learned. Sort by "Hated it" next time....
Reviews
23 Reviews
Blockers
(2018)
Absolute rubbish
9 November 2018
Seeing the positive reviews from early on, I almost went to watch this pile of rubbish in the cinema. I thank my guardian angel that I didn't. The positive reviews were obviously given by the film promotion company. Absolutely despicable people. Go to hell.
Fahrenheit 11/9
(2018)
Thought provoking insight into what modern day society has become
30 October 2018
What do you do when the one person or establishment, to whom you have placed all your trust and hopes, turns around and betrays you? Most of us give up and step away from the crap where our efforts don't make a difference anyway. Some even think, "To hell with it..." and join the other side to swipe back at the people whom you wasted your energy with. This happened in the UK back in the mid 2000s when the average Joe Bloggs was called up and asked why he didn't go to vote. "Vote for who, vote for what?" was the big question. Because no matter who you voted for, the end result was the same. So is the stance that modern society has taken. This is not complacency. This is the objective which certain parties have striven to accomplish, and thereby eliminate any hope of resistance. When all trust is betrayed, people no longer believe in the herd. People fend for themselves as best as they can. The one mistake the film makes is saying they people have become complacent. Instead, people have been betrayed and the real ugliness of human nature has won over the the good nature that the alleged majority of the population all possess. History certainly has a weird way of repeating itself. We, as a (global) nation are like an individual who has been given multiple chances to relive their own past. And yet, we go through the same motions that result in the same cycle of events.
Justice League
(2017)
A mindless film. Good action but that's it.
19 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I had high hopes for Justice League. From BvS I would have thought that the scriptwriters had enough feedback to come up with a tighter script that would avoid the mistakes made in its predecessor. Sadly, they didn't. The only two highlights for me were: 1. Seeing the Justice League altogether in one film, albeit incomplete.
2. Seeing the right (badass) version of Deathstroke, instead of the lame Will Smith version. I hope they completely ignore the "Suicide Squad" when making the next films cos it was rubbish. What is confusing is that the same Batman and Flash are in "Suicide Squad".
And this is my first complaint. In one flashback scene we get to see a Green Lantern fighting Steppenwolf during his first invasion. So why is Green Lantern missing from the current day threat? He is meant to be the protector of Earth so it just does not make sense why he is missing.
Here are my other complaints: Where the hell was Darkseid. After all the hype, he is nowhere to be seen. Nor is there any hint of him being in the next film.
The pacing was off. Some parts of the film were too slow, whilst some crucial scenes were rushed. The prime example was the scene where Superman is revived.
What was the point of the family? They served no purpose whatsoever.
Flash was written as the butt of the film's jokes. I didn't think he deserved that, but they are basically trying too hard to copy Marvel's light-hearted tone. Even Superman makes some cracks in this movie. The script writers are trying too hard to be what it is not.
Steppenwolf defeated the Amazonians and Atlantians way way too easily. You would think that after his first defeat, the races would have passed down their knowledge on how he was defeated the first time, to prevent him from succeeding the second time. And why were there only 3-4 Atlantians guarding the cube.
The whole cubes thing was so obviously a ripoff of the Tesseract cube.
Where were the Amazons and the Atlantians? Why weren't they helping our heroes? Why was Martha Kent forced to sell her farm? If she could not keep up the mortgage payments (which is what the script implied), then surely Bruce Wayne would have rescued her (especially since she has the same name as his own Mother...).
Why was Martha Kent's reaction one of joy when seeing Superman alive again. WOuldn't it be one of sadness and anger that her son was not left to rest in peace?? How was Alfred able to bring Lois Lane so quickly to the scene of destruction to stop Superman? If they were "around the corner", then surely Lois Lane would've known what they were planning and would have insisted on being there to meet Superman instead of staying hidden as the "big gun".
Steppenwolf was kicking Wonder Woman and Aquaman's asses. And yet, Superman came and beat the crap out of him like he was nothing. Again, there was no credibility in the script.
How is it that the first two cubes activated exactly when a major character came to look at it? (Queen Hippolyta and Aquaman, respectively).
After the Doomsday incident, why is the resuscitation chamber still existing? Surely, the US government would've ordered it to be dismantled and scrapped?? Did they really want to risk another Doomsday being created? Many of you will disagree with me on this but Gal Gadot is not Wonder Woman. Bring on Megan Fox!! Any fan of the animated feature movies will agree on this. Gal Gadot should at least hire a voice coach.
2. Seeing the right (badass) version of Deathstroke, instead of the lame Will Smith version. I hope they completely ignore the "Suicide Squad" when making the next films cos it was rubbish. What is confusing is that the same Batman and Flash are in "Suicide Squad".
And this is my first complaint. In one flashback scene we get to see a Green Lantern fighting Steppenwolf during his first invasion. So why is Green Lantern missing from the current day threat? He is meant to be the protector of Earth so it just does not make sense why he is missing.
Here are my other complaints: Where the hell was Darkseid. After all the hype, he is nowhere to be seen. Nor is there any hint of him being in the next film.
The pacing was off. Some parts of the film were too slow, whilst some crucial scenes were rushed. The prime example was the scene where Superman is revived.
What was the point of the family? They served no purpose whatsoever.
Flash was written as the butt of the film's jokes. I didn't think he deserved that, but they are basically trying too hard to copy Marvel's light-hearted tone. Even Superman makes some cracks in this movie. The script writers are trying too hard to be what it is not.
Steppenwolf defeated the Amazonians and Atlantians way way too easily. You would think that after his first defeat, the races would have passed down their knowledge on how he was defeated the first time, to prevent him from succeeding the second time. And why were there only 3-4 Atlantians guarding the cube.
The whole cubes thing was so obviously a ripoff of the Tesseract cube.
Where were the Amazons and the Atlantians? Why weren't they helping our heroes? Why was Martha Kent forced to sell her farm? If she could not keep up the mortgage payments (which is what the script implied), then surely Bruce Wayne would have rescued her (especially since she has the same name as his own Mother...).
Why was Martha Kent's reaction one of joy when seeing Superman alive again. WOuldn't it be one of sadness and anger that her son was not left to rest in peace?? How was Alfred able to bring Lois Lane so quickly to the scene of destruction to stop Superman? If they were "around the corner", then surely Lois Lane would've known what they were planning and would have insisted on being there to meet Superman instead of staying hidden as the "big gun".
Steppenwolf was kicking Wonder Woman and Aquaman's asses. And yet, Superman came and beat the crap out of him like he was nothing. Again, there was no credibility in the script.
How is it that the first two cubes activated exactly when a major character came to look at it? (Queen Hippolyta and Aquaman, respectively).
After the Doomsday incident, why is the resuscitation chamber still existing? Surely, the US government would've ordered it to be dismantled and scrapped?? Did they really want to risk another Doomsday being created? Many of you will disagree with me on this but Gal Gadot is not Wonder Woman. Bring on Megan Fox!! Any fan of the animated feature movies will agree on this. Gal Gadot should at least hire a voice coach.
The Survivalist
(2015)
Spits in the face of Hollywood
1 May 2017
This film is a prime example of how well researched material can take the smallest of budgets, minimal dialogue and a complete lack of soundtrack and turn this into a masterpiece.
The viewer is given no background story and none of the characters are fleshed out. There is next to no information on anyone in the film apart from the main character, and even with him, there is very little information given. But that is the point. The strength of the film lies not in the story but the idea of what one does to survive when life goes back to basics. The viewer's attention is drawn to the intensity of the situation, the survival skills that are actual knowledge one needs to survive in the wild. The cold and barren undertone of the film should have been the reason for its failure. Instead, it serves to emphasise the stark and bleak situation that all the characters are faced with. The script does not pull any punches and a strong stomach is needed for some scenes. And if you get the gist of the film so far, then you will already know whether there is a happy ending or not...
The viewer is given no background story and none of the characters are fleshed out. There is next to no information on anyone in the film apart from the main character, and even with him, there is very little information given. But that is the point. The strength of the film lies not in the story but the idea of what one does to survive when life goes back to basics. The viewer's attention is drawn to the intensity of the situation, the survival skills that are actual knowledge one needs to survive in the wild. The cold and barren undertone of the film should have been the reason for its failure. Instead, it serves to emphasise the stark and bleak situation that all the characters are faced with. The script does not pull any punches and a strong stomach is needed for some scenes. And if you get the gist of the film so far, then you will already know whether there is a happy ending or not...
A flashy production with no substance
1 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
At the time of writing, there are only 7 out of 120 user reviewers that did not like the movie. I know I will receive a multitude of unhelpful votes for voicing my honest feedback about this movie. However, I hope that my feedback will be helpful for people who are able to judge a film in an objective manner so that they, at least, will be able to save their hard earned cash.
Firstly, the main antagonist is a Marvel character that has been completely changed for this movie. It bears no background similarity to the character in the comics whatsoever. I understand that the Marvel movies are all about making a spin on the comic book story arcs, but this difference was far too large for me to accept.
Whilst watching the movie, I had to ponder whether I had stepped into a Marvel Superhero version of "Fast and Furious". There was a continuous message that family is important and how the protagonists became who they were due to disenfranchised childhoods. Whilst this is a valid point, I do not feel that it belongs in a superhero action movie as it serves no purpose. Worse was when the message contradicted itself when we see Peter Quill betrayed by his Father. The clumsiness of this contradiction did nothing to alleviate the sickly sweet message that the movie was trying to convey. I get that James Gunn is trying to send out a message to the younger generation but I would think that kids go to watch a superhero movie for the action, and will not really appreciate or acknowledge the message that he is driving.
Unlike the first movie, there was a distinct lack of character focus and their abilities. It could easily have been an action movie without superheroes. In fact, the movie seemed to be focused on two characters when it came to showcasing their abilities. One of these had a sequence that was inspired by the Quicksilver scenes in the X-Men movies. The other was extremely underwhelming and was defeated far too incredibly when you consider the differences in age and experiences. None of the characters were interesting with the exception of Nebula and Mantis. However, Pom Klementieff played her role like a stuttering female cyborg that I even thought the role was played by an East Asian actress before I checked the cast members. The actors paid to play the new characters were miscast in my opinion. Sylvester Stallone's performance reminded me of his Judge Dredd and not in a good way.
It was clear that the popular factors in the first movie were taken and overdone in the second movie. Drax was made to look like a dumb fool once again but even more than in the first movie. While the CGI effects were good, the cuteness factor of Baby Groot served only to market the movie to kids and geek girls, and to rake in merchandise profit. There was also constant mention and focus on the cassette mix which was totally unnecessary (again, for merchandise promotion).
With the exception of Captain America and the first two Avengers and Thor movies, why do the Marvel movies have to be over-saturated with humor? It's one thing to market the movies to a wider audience but it's totally another thing when it's taken too far, and the humor becomes so clichéd.
Firstly, the main antagonist is a Marvel character that has been completely changed for this movie. It bears no background similarity to the character in the comics whatsoever. I understand that the Marvel movies are all about making a spin on the comic book story arcs, but this difference was far too large for me to accept.
Whilst watching the movie, I had to ponder whether I had stepped into a Marvel Superhero version of "Fast and Furious". There was a continuous message that family is important and how the protagonists became who they were due to disenfranchised childhoods. Whilst this is a valid point, I do not feel that it belongs in a superhero action movie as it serves no purpose. Worse was when the message contradicted itself when we see Peter Quill betrayed by his Father. The clumsiness of this contradiction did nothing to alleviate the sickly sweet message that the movie was trying to convey. I get that James Gunn is trying to send out a message to the younger generation but I would think that kids go to watch a superhero movie for the action, and will not really appreciate or acknowledge the message that he is driving.
Unlike the first movie, there was a distinct lack of character focus and their abilities. It could easily have been an action movie without superheroes. In fact, the movie seemed to be focused on two characters when it came to showcasing their abilities. One of these had a sequence that was inspired by the Quicksilver scenes in the X-Men movies. The other was extremely underwhelming and was defeated far too incredibly when you consider the differences in age and experiences. None of the characters were interesting with the exception of Nebula and Mantis. However, Pom Klementieff played her role like a stuttering female cyborg that I even thought the role was played by an East Asian actress before I checked the cast members. The actors paid to play the new characters were miscast in my opinion. Sylvester Stallone's performance reminded me of his Judge Dredd and not in a good way.
It was clear that the popular factors in the first movie were taken and overdone in the second movie. Drax was made to look like a dumb fool once again but even more than in the first movie. While the CGI effects were good, the cuteness factor of Baby Groot served only to market the movie to kids and geek girls, and to rake in merchandise profit. There was also constant mention and focus on the cassette mix which was totally unnecessary (again, for merchandise promotion).
With the exception of Captain America and the first two Avengers and Thor movies, why do the Marvel movies have to be over-saturated with humor? It's one thing to market the movies to a wider audience but it's totally another thing when it's taken too far, and the humor becomes so clichéd.
The Monkey King 2
(2016)
Much much better than the first movie
29 April 2016
I wasn't expecting a sequel after watching the disappointing first film that was 2 years behind the original scheduled release. Despite the plethora of well-known actors/actresses, it turned out to be a huge disappointment due to the deviation from the original story. Chow Yun Fat was the most miscast actor when he was chosen to play the Jade Emperor :(
I'm glad to say that this sequel is much better than the first movie in every aspect. The script focuses mainly on Sun Wukong and the Bone Demoness. The monk is left to look like a bumbling idiot. He looks and acts like the same role in the Stephen Chow's Journey to the West. Aaron Kwok's portrayal of Sun Wukong is much less flamboyant than Donnie Yen's portrayal - and for that, I am glad.
The special effects are very well done, which is a relief considering the disaster in the first movie. If I hadn't watched Iron Man or Harry Potter before, I would be even more impressed with some of the effects in the final battle scene.
Gong Li visual presence was, for me, the epitome of womanhood :)
I'm glad to say that this sequel is much better than the first movie in every aspect. The script focuses mainly on Sun Wukong and the Bone Demoness. The monk is left to look like a bumbling idiot. He looks and acts like the same role in the Stephen Chow's Journey to the West. Aaron Kwok's portrayal of Sun Wukong is much less flamboyant than Donnie Yen's portrayal - and for that, I am glad.
The special effects are very well done, which is a relief considering the disaster in the first movie. If I hadn't watched Iron Man or Harry Potter before, I would be even more impressed with some of the effects in the final battle scene.
Gong Li visual presence was, for me, the epitome of womanhood :)
The Boy
(2016)
A refreshing mish-mash
6 April 2016
The Boy really shines as a standalone horror flick. However, it is not original. The script owes a debt to three (possibly 4) old horror films. Two that are successful brands and the other, not well known at all but underrated. There are several glaring holes such as people being able to enter a house that would normally have been locked. There is also an unexplained scene concerning the Parents that I won't describe, since this is supposed to be a spoiler free review. For the budget, it is certainly worth a watch, and the scares are far better quality that the average slasher flicks. The pacing of the film is just right and the conclusion was neither ambiguous nor cheesy. The acting was perfect for a horror film.
This is to China what Gladiator was to Italy
28 February 2016
"Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" was the first film that introduced the western audience to classic Chinese "wu xia" back in 2000. It featured two veteran actors who were both relatively unknown to mainstream western cinema goers, and boost started the career of a fresh-faced Chinese actress. It was a feast consisting of computer-assisted imagery and martial arts sequences full of wired-up actors. For audiences used to martial arts films from Hong Kong and China, it was nothing short of average, particularly with the bog-standard storyline and the misplaced love story that ended in a cringeworthy conclusion... I would dare to say, the only reason for its success came from its global marketing in Asia as well as the west.
16 years on, and here comes a sequel out of nowhere. There has hardly been any marketing and it arrives at a time when superhero movies are in, and fantasy movies are stuff of yesterday. Martial arts films are anomalies, with a few odd masterpieces in between. But by no means are they the "in-thing" anymore. Which brings forth the speculation on why this sequel was ever sponsored or made (and indeed, who managed to secure an American-backed sponsorship). Whilst Donnie Yen has finally been "discovered" by Hollywood (which, in my opinion, is a shame), it is a fact that Michelle Yeoh is way past her prime. It hurts to say that for an actress who has achieved so much, but I personally feel that she would be much better suited to roles that give her character more depth. That she is still drafted to be the female lead of a wu xia film is testament to the fact that there are no other actresses who are talented enough in this niche area to take up the mantle. And the reason for this is, as I explained, that martial arts films don't have a place in the film industry anymore.
I was a fan of Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" when it came out. Imagine my surprise when my girlfriend, at-the-time, remarked negatively about it and stated the reason of her dislike as "A film about Italy should be spoken in Italian". Hence, the title of my review. A film with Chinese Characters should contain Chinese dialogue. For those who take offence to my sentiments.. stretch your minds and imagine a sequel of "Titanic" starring the original leads speaking Mandarin with an American English accent...
16 years on, and here comes a sequel out of nowhere. There has hardly been any marketing and it arrives at a time when superhero movies are in, and fantasy movies are stuff of yesterday. Martial arts films are anomalies, with a few odd masterpieces in between. But by no means are they the "in-thing" anymore. Which brings forth the speculation on why this sequel was ever sponsored or made (and indeed, who managed to secure an American-backed sponsorship). Whilst Donnie Yen has finally been "discovered" by Hollywood (which, in my opinion, is a shame), it is a fact that Michelle Yeoh is way past her prime. It hurts to say that for an actress who has achieved so much, but I personally feel that she would be much better suited to roles that give her character more depth. That she is still drafted to be the female lead of a wu xia film is testament to the fact that there are no other actresses who are talented enough in this niche area to take up the mantle. And the reason for this is, as I explained, that martial arts films don't have a place in the film industry anymore.
I was a fan of Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" when it came out. Imagine my surprise when my girlfriend, at-the-time, remarked negatively about it and stated the reason of her dislike as "A film about Italy should be spoken in Italian". Hence, the title of my review. A film with Chinese Characters should contain Chinese dialogue. For those who take offence to my sentiments.. stretch your minds and imagine a sequel of "Titanic" starring the original leads speaking Mandarin with an American English accent...
DC's Legends of Tomorrow
(2016–2022)
Extremely disappointed
24 January 2016
To be honest, with the exception of Arrow Season 1, the tone and direction of "Arrow" and "Flash" remind me of "Smallville". They are all full of this teeny American cheesy feel-good-factor that gets on my nerves. So disappointed to have to say that "Legends of tomorrow" manages to be even worse.
The first 10 minutes are so unbelievably rushed. No story or background build up, apart from seeing a terrorised city and a kid being killed by a B-rate villain. A villain who doesn't even strike any kind of charisma. I am wondering why the hell is he the main villain, when there were so many they could have chosen...
Time travelling? Seriously? Couldn't the producers have come up with something a bit more original?? And just like your Smallville, Arrow and Flash, everything is so conspired to the point of sickly sweet, with characters behaving totally against their usual selves.
Maybe this commercial product is good enough for teens but any self-respecting DC fan will steer clear of it. An absolute disgrace. I might as well be watching "Mutant X" all over again
The first 10 minutes are so unbelievably rushed. No story or background build up, apart from seeing a terrorised city and a kid being killed by a B-rate villain. A villain who doesn't even strike any kind of charisma. I am wondering why the hell is he the main villain, when there were so many they could have chosen...
Time travelling? Seriously? Couldn't the producers have come up with something a bit more original?? And just like your Smallville, Arrow and Flash, everything is so conspired to the point of sickly sweet, with characters behaving totally against their usual selves.
Maybe this commercial product is good enough for teens but any self-respecting DC fan will steer clear of it. An absolute disgrace. I might as well be watching "Mutant X" all over again
Seconds Apart
(2011)
OK to pass the time
25 December 2015
This film has Orlando Jones (the detective from "Sleepy Hollow") putting in an uncomfortable performance as a police detective with a troubled past. His acting is as wooden as it can be. I'm not sure whether this was a problem of the direction, but he is a completely different performer in "Sleepy Hollow".
The twin brothers gave a very creepy performance and their looks were well designed to enhance this effect.
The movie has serious continuity issues. But as a movie to pass the time, it's OK. It's instantly forgettable because there isn't a single character who will stick in your mind or make any kind of emotional connection.
The twin brothers gave a very creepy performance and their looks were well designed to enhance this effect.
The movie has serious continuity issues. But as a movie to pass the time, it's OK. It's instantly forgettable because there isn't a single character who will stick in your mind or make any kind of emotional connection.
Disappointed, even without the hype
25 December 2015
There is no need to go into the specifics of why I was so disappointed by TFA. Read other reviews and it is all documented. There is one major plot hole that others have not mentioned. But it seems that IMDb are blocking any kind of spoilers so I can't write it here...
Perhaps some things will be explained but I do not think the second part will be any better.
Even a storyline from one of the video game would have made more sense than TFA.
IMHO, bringing back the original actors was a mistake. They are past their best and they should be remembered as they were when they were at their best. By all means, make references to them or use a plot that ties in with their history.
"Your review is not yet ready for submission"... hmmm what else can I write to fill up the gap...
Perhaps some things will be explained but I do not think the second part will be any better.
Even a storyline from one of the video game would have made more sense than TFA.
IMHO, bringing back the original actors was a mistake. They are past their best and they should be remembered as they were when they were at their best. By all means, make references to them or use a plot that ties in with their history.
"Your review is not yet ready for submission"... hmmm what else can I write to fill up the gap...
The Longest Ride
(2015)
Reminded me of The Notebook
15 November 2015
I caught a glimpse of this film on a flight and made a note to watch it properly . I'm glad I did. The title of the film is not what I thought it meant. This is one of the few films I've watched where the supporting cast steal the show. There are huge holes in the plot, and characters do things which people just wouldn't do in real life situations. But hey, this is a romantic fantasy story so I turned a blind eye to these points. It took me awhile to recognise the connection between the two stories and that is a lesson that modern society can learn from. And that is, for a relationship to work and really last, it takes sacrifice. If it were not for the back story, I would not have had any feelings for the film.
The Green Inferno
(2013)
Very Grisly
17 October 2015
I have no idea why there any positive reviews for this because some of the stuff is taken right out of the terrorist beheading videos. It is honestly that gruesome that I won't even care to describe how bad it is. For those who love to watch gruesome depictions of people being decapitated or mutilated, then look no further. But for non-psychotic people, then don't waste your time on this. The premise of the movie was good until the capture. But there is no real explanation why some were taken alive but some not. In fact, it got so gruesome that I had to fast forward to watch the ending because I just could not stomach some of the scenes.... Having said all that, it is still better than the piece of rubbish that is called Iron Man 3. Which is why I gave it 2/10.
Knock Knock
(I) (2015)
Don't bother
11 October 2015
"How the mighty have fallen" would be the perfect phrase to describe Keanu Reeves' movie roles these days. From the ultimate height of his glory starring in the ground-breaking Matrix movies to the present lacklustre range, that makes one really wonder if this is the same actor who was so highly sought after in the early 90's. I was not a fan of "John Wick". In fact, I thought it was a pile of ..... So I was not too surprised at how bad "Knock Knock" was. The worst part of the movie was Reeves' outburst. If there was ever a lowest moment in his career, this was it. It is very sad to see such a popular actor descend into such roles as this. It really makes me wonder if he is doing it for the money, or whether his Manager is stringing him up. Don't waste your time on this pile of .... life is too short.
Insidious: Chapter 3
(2015)
Worth a watch if you are a fan, or if you are struggling to find a good horror film
11 October 2015
I watched the previous 2 films and enjoyed the clever way in which the both films were a complement to each other. The third film is more a back story for Elise Reiner, and how her fate got entangled with her nemesis. I would say that this chapter is for fans of the Insidious films because it doesn't really complement the other two films at all. In fact, it is too contrived to make it fit into the main characters' eventual story. So, for this reason, I deem it to be the weakest of the three films. The ending was extremely contrived and cheesy which is a shame because, as a horror film, it does very well in sending the chills up your spine. I would have preferred a sombre / serious ending but some idiot decided to give Elise's character a positive uplift, which certainly did not match her personality up until that point. There are glaring holes in the storyline which do not add up at all. For this reason, I struck off two points. Worth a watch if you are a fan, or if you are struggling to find a good horror film.
Maggie
(I) (2015)
A zombie film like no other
23 August 2015
Warning: Spoilers
To see an average rating of 5.6/10 for this film is plain crazy. Raters are either corrupt or people just don't know a good film when they've watched one. This is a zombie film like no other which I've seen. Instead of the tediously boring violence we have a clever script that deals with the emotional effects of what such an affliction can have on friends and Parents. Users have been writing about how different the role is for Arnold Schwarzenegger and how he handles it so well. I fully agree. But aside from this, I was won over by the performance from Abigail Breslin. Her undeniable horror at having to live with this affliction, knowing that her days are numbered, really shone through and made me sympathise with sadness. For me, the most powerful scene was the last party that the friends held. The moving scene with Maggie and Trent was so heart wrenching. And her best friend says goodbye to Maggie. All the way to the film's conclusion. A true masterpiece which is so far unappreciated.
Southpaw
(2015)
Rocky 3 with rap
23 August 2015
I can't help drawing similarities in the storyline between this and Rocky 3. Admittedly, I went to watch this movie for Rachel McAdams. The title "Southpaw" was a bit misleading because it doesn't really lend any importance to the character nor the story. The 2nd half of the movie was much much better than the first. In the first half, we see the main character portrayed as a gangster wannabe who thinks he's indestructible. When he is ultimately hit with a dosage of reality, we see him slide rapidly into stupidity and irresponsibility. I find this very hard to believe. The ending is very Hollywood and I hated it because it just would not happen in real life. Yeah yeah, escapism and all that... but honestly - so far fetched? In summary, not a bad film and a nice remake of Rocky 3. But that's all it was for me.
The Story of Luke
(2012)
A film to give hope above all else
19 July 2015
The story follows the main character Luke, who is an Autistic teenager whose objective is to find a job in order to woo a girl who he has set his sights on.
The film does have its holes and the way in which things work out gives false hope to the audience. In this sense, the film is set in a fantasy world with fantasy characters. The flip side to this is that the film sends out a positive message which was a relief. There are many places where the tone could have gone south and we would end up watching a tearjerker.
The ending was not happy but it was dealt with positively. I think that the positive feeling that the film tries to pass on would give a lot of hope to those who are facing similar circumstances. In today's complex society, one does not have to be mentally disabled to face social challenges.
The film does have its holes and the way in which things work out gives false hope to the audience. In this sense, the film is set in a fantasy world with fantasy characters. The flip side to this is that the film sends out a positive message which was a relief. There are many places where the tone could have gone south and we would end up watching a tearjerker.
The ending was not happy but it was dealt with positively. I think that the positive feeling that the film tries to pass on would give a lot of hope to those who are facing similar circumstances. In today's complex society, one does not have to be mentally disabled to face social challenges.
A Dark Reflection
(2015)
A film that raises public awareness
18 July 2015
In our world of capitalism in which greedy corporations seek to meet their year-on-year profit margins, collateral damage is regarded as acceptable risks. We, as the public, often pay no thought to the potential consequences and risks of placing our trust in such corporations. Indeed, the public often have no choice in some of the things that are used on a daily basis. This film deals with one of those things that is called flying.
It is concerning how little regard there is for collateral damages (in this case, the health and safety of the paying customer). Especially in light of the fact that the problem is known. And yet, what can the public do to force a change in regulations when the regulations are not set up with the customer in mind. It is disturbing that there has been no move to take any form of action (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Dark_Reflection#References).
The film's style and atmosphere is similar to many British-made political conspiracy thriller. It conveys a message without the need for theatrics or a melodramatic soundtrack. In this regards it is well done. My only criticism was the unnecessary introduction which served no purpose but to give a background introduction to the protagonist.
There need to be more films like this that promote public awareness, and help the struggle against multi-conglomerates that rely on us to meet their profit margins and yet, place so little importance on the customer's well-being. It is exactly because they can afford (and are allowed) to do so that this issue still remains.
It is concerning how little regard there is for collateral damages (in this case, the health and safety of the paying customer). Especially in light of the fact that the problem is known. And yet, what can the public do to force a change in regulations when the regulations are not set up with the customer in mind. It is disturbing that there has been no move to take any form of action (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Dark_Reflection#References).
The film's style and atmosphere is similar to many British-made political conspiracy thriller. It conveys a message without the need for theatrics or a melodramatic soundtrack. In this regards it is well done. My only criticism was the unnecessary introduction which served no purpose but to give a background introduction to the protagonist.
There need to be more films like this that promote public awareness, and help the struggle against multi-conglomerates that rely on us to meet their profit margins and yet, place so little importance on the customer's well-being. It is exactly because they can afford (and are allowed) to do so that this issue still remains.
Mad Max: Fury Road
(2015)
High Octane action which will kill the real world!
19 May 2015
I'm glad that there are actually people who hated this piece of trash. I would even go as far to say that it could possibly be worse than the piece of trash that is called "Iron Man 3", and that is saying something. Ironically, this film alone must have depleted enough of our remaining oil reserves that it will create an exact replica of the world which it depicts.
Tom Hardy does a poor rendition of the antihero. Even Jean-Claude Van Damme would have done a better job than him in this movie. Charlize Theron is an OK actress. But her flaws are exemplified by the lack of character depth in this movie. No proper introduction, rubbish ending. I'd choose to watch "Waterworld" any day of the week over this piece of trash.
Tom Hardy does a poor rendition of the antihero. Even Jean-Claude Van Damme would have done a better job than him in this movie. Charlize Theron is an OK actress. But her flaws are exemplified by the lack of character depth in this movie. No proper introduction, rubbish ending. I'd choose to watch "Waterworld" any day of the week over this piece of trash.
Before I Go to Sleep
(2014)
Very average thriller. Unconvincing Kidman.
7 December 2014
Trivia: This is the second film this year in which Nicole Kidman has played a British female character (the other title being 'The Railway Man'), and is coincidentally the second film this year in which she is the female lead to Colin Firth's male lead (the first also being 'The Railway Man').
The general atmosphere of the film felt very "empty" to me. There were only 3 main characters and not much supporting cast. The sceneries were very dark, miserable and devoid of life. Kidman's portrayal of a woman, suffering from amnesia, also felt quite contrived to me. None of the characters showed any glimmer of happiness, hope or positivity. In this regard, I did not like the film.
The theme of a woman suffering from amnesia is an old one but I believe this film comes at it from a mystery-thriller perspective as opposed to comedy. In my opinion, Colin Firth gave the strongest performance with his poker face expression. As mentioned, Kidman's performance was both contrived and unconvincing in my opinion. Mark Strong's character was the worst. Unbelievable, unrealistic and totally bland. To be fair, his character was doing impossible things as a Doctor who seemingly has all the time in the world for one patient.
As a mystery-thriller the film does have a few moments but nothing out of the ordinary nor anything which has not been done before. Previous reviews advising you to watch this with a pinch of salt are accurate.
The general atmosphere of the film felt very "empty" to me. There were only 3 main characters and not much supporting cast. The sceneries were very dark, miserable and devoid of life. Kidman's portrayal of a woman, suffering from amnesia, also felt quite contrived to me. None of the characters showed any glimmer of happiness, hope or positivity. In this regard, I did not like the film.
The theme of a woman suffering from amnesia is an old one but I believe this film comes at it from a mystery-thriller perspective as opposed to comedy. In my opinion, Colin Firth gave the strongest performance with his poker face expression. As mentioned, Kidman's performance was both contrived and unconvincing in my opinion. Mark Strong's character was the worst. Unbelievable, unrealistic and totally bland. To be fair, his character was doing impossible things as a Doctor who seemingly has all the time in the world for one patient.
As a mystery-thriller the film does have a few moments but nothing out of the ordinary nor anything which has not been done before. Previous reviews advising you to watch this with a pinch of salt are accurate.
Manny
(I) (2014)
Biased biopic but good for those who don't know him
29 November 2014
I agree with the comments from JustCuriosity.
The documentary film is understandably biased and tries to win over viewers by tugging at their heart strings. After watching it, I did some reading up and realized that the facts are not as rosy as this title makes it out to be. The documented facts, about why the Mayweather Jr fight did not happen, were not fully revealed. Many viewers will rain glory on the title character but I came out wondering why he is still risking his life, after having achieved what no-one else has achieved, when he has a wife and 5 children. I see only an innocent teenager who has been corrupted by fame, wealth and greed as he grew up. The documentary also throws bad light on his Management and Promoter. But the best part was when the sports conditioner said that boxers are essentially chewed inside and out, and then tossed aside for the new.
I'm also amazed at why the title is released so late in the Phillipines (1 year after being released in USA...)
The documentary film is understandably biased and tries to win over viewers by tugging at their heart strings. After watching it, I did some reading up and realized that the facts are not as rosy as this title makes it out to be. The documented facts, about why the Mayweather Jr fight did not happen, were not fully revealed. Many viewers will rain glory on the title character but I came out wondering why he is still risking his life, after having achieved what no-one else has achieved, when he has a wife and 5 children. I see only an innocent teenager who has been corrupted by fame, wealth and greed as he grew up. The documentary also throws bad light on his Management and Promoter. But the best part was when the sports conditioner said that boxers are essentially chewed inside and out, and then tossed aside for the new.
I'm also amazed at why the title is released so late in the Phillipines (1 year after being released in USA...)
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