Movie_Enthusiast_1 Reviews

Castle Freak (1995 Video)

This movie deserves more rating.

[8/10 · 9 April 2023]

So far I've watched 4 of Stuart Gordon's movies -- Re Animator, From Beyond, Dagon and this one. 3 of them have Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton as leading roles, and to be honest I loved all three of them.

Castle Freak is a solid horror movie with brilliant acting, good script and visuals. I also liked the pacing of this movie. The tension was up all the time. It was a race from the first scene to the last one so you can't keep your eyes off the screen. Funny thing is, in all three movie I mentioned above, Jeffrey Combs dies at the end. But his death in this movie is probably the most meaningful one as it completes the arc of love and redemption for family, and gives a satisfying ending. Overall, a very well spent one and a half hour.

The Pale Blue Eye (2022)

Fascinating story with some of the best actings in recent years

[8/10 · 7 January 2023]

This movie kept me hooked from the very beginning to the last scene. The atmosphere is mind-blowing, especially when watched during a winter night. The costumes felt very authentic and the cast did amazing job, especially Christian Bale as a detective and Harry Melling (who has become one of my favorite actors) as Edgar Allan Poe.

Another thing I must mention is the screenplay. The writers do not exaggerate the info-dumping and let the on-screen actions tell the story instead, which felt very natural. Some may complain about the runtime or the movie being boring. But although the opening is slow, it was necessary to build up the characters and establish a brilliantly twisted climax.

To me, "The Pale Blue Eye" seemed better than most other films of this genre that are being made by Hollywood these days.

Overall, I spent an enjoyable 2 hours and would recommend to anyone who is looking for a decent murder-mystery movie.

The Witcher (2019– )

Good first season, trash season two.

[4/10 · 28 December 2021]

I'm writing about only season 2 here.

The first problem with this season that it's trying to tell too many story lines at the same time with no points of reference of time and place. So, often I have zero idea where the characters are visiting even though I've read all the books and played the games.

The dialogues are very clumsy, especially of the mages. Characters are musing every single thoughts of their head on screen. The screenwriters were trying to spoon-feed the audience which I didn't like at all. There are too much cursing without any significance. Even an honorable character like Mother Nenneke was cursing like a drunk. I think it's just a lazy attempt to make the show more "mature" or whatever was the writers' motivation.

Characters like Fringilla and Tissaia -- who are secondary characters in the books, are given too much screen time instead of focusing other important stuffs like world-building and exploring lore. Part of the reasons why Witcher books and games are so successful is all the traveling, meeting people and overcoming obstacles on the way. But on season 2 everyone is traveling great distance (i.e. Kaer Morhen and Cintra) in a couple of scenes that don't make any sense. First season did a way better job regarding this.

Except a handful of male characters, most of the men are stupid thickhead who bully women in every chance they get, especially the witchers of Kaer Morhen. They are supposed to morally strong, not some despicable thugs.

About the elves. Why in the world they are shown like this weak, tortured species? As far as I remember, they have their own motivation besides only this made up plot of "revenge for child killing".

Final conclusion: I'm very disappointed at how season 2 came out after an average first season. I don't have much hope for the future seasons and it's highly unlikely that I would watch any more.

Season 1: 7/10 Season 2: 1/10 So far average: 4/10.

Dune (2021)

Best movie from Hollywood in a long time

[9/10 · 24 October 2021]

Usually I don't write movie reviews. But I HAD to in this case.

To me, a movie is great when it stays with you long time after watching it. It makes you think the stories and characters. The villains and visuals. Dune (2021) ticks all the boxes of greatness. Everything was just what they were supposed to be. The casts and set design felt perfectly natural, the visuals outstanding. Couldn't differentiate between CGI and practical effects with "real things". And kudos to the director for making a perfectly paced movie that doesn't feel too rushed (like the '84 one) or too slow (Blade Runner 2049). I don't have any idea how two and a half hours passed after the beginning of the first scene.

Can't wait for Part 2 to witness the great conclusion... and believe me, it's going to be on the level of LOTR in term of epicness and enjoyment.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)

Best movie of the entire series.

[9/10 · 5 April 2020]

I don't care what people say about movies of this franchise, the original trilogy is my 2nd favorite fantasy movie trilogy after Lord of the Rings.

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019)

The Perfect Epilogue for a perfect series.

[10/10 · 14 October 2019]

Actually I had quite forgot many small things from the original show. But really it didn't involve all those backstory from the show. Rather it was a great tribute to the show as a perfect ending story for Jesse Pinkman. People who are thinking it as a revenge story and after watching this saying that it's no good, they really need to understand that it's not your typical action/revenge movie. Rather very similar "type" and very much faithful to the series. Thanks Vince Gilligan for making El Camino for the fans of the greatest tv show ever.

Breaking Bad (2008–2013)

Best TV Series ending ever...

[10/10 · 29 November 2017]

To me, the ending of a TV series is a very important thing. Many great shows fail in the ending which doesn't make them remember long.

But in case of Breaking Bad, the story building from season 1 to season 5, character development, the inevitable fate of these characters, friends and family of Walter White make this show even more memorable. As a complete ended TV series BB is still the best. No matter how good Game Of Thrones is, the ending will tell the difference of greatness between GOT and BB.....

Mirror Game (2016)

One of the best Bengali movies in recent years.

[8/10 · 10 October 2016]

Story & Direction - Director Amitabh Reza Chowdhury did really a very good job. Direction was just fabulous. The story is simple and unique but very charming. Twists and turns of the movie are also very effective and coherence with the story line. The most important thing of the story is that there is no unnecessary scene or event in the entire movie. Every person seen in the screen has some important role. But there are some things that i am not totally satisfied, the story could be more deep at some points, some things are not explained fully. But comparing to the other Bengali movies in recent years the story is more close to reality.

Acting - The acting of the casts makes the movie very enjoyable. Especially Chanchal Chowdhury did an over the top acting. This is undoubtedly his best and one of the best performance i have ever seen. I am convinced that he is one of the most talented actors in our country. Nabila also did a very good performance as her debut in cinema. Even the small characters of the movie also did very good acting.

Cinematography - We can see a renewed Dhaka in this film. The shots from the above was so good. Traffic jam, daily life, rainy day everything has been shown in such a way that it feels our life, our story, our beloved city.

Background music - The songs and the music is just awesome. Every song of the movie is perfectly coherent with the story.

At last, again thanks to the director, producers, cinematographer and hundreds of others behind this for giving us a good film. We expect more films like this every year from our film industry.