Idiocracy, a movie about a future society of dumbed down humans, is dumb in itself - it's a silly movie about silly people - but very enjoyable at the same time. It's not a massive thought provoker but a fun ride into the realms of sci-fi comedy. It would have been nicer if it'd gone a bit deeper but it works and the depiction we are given of this "stupid" future is highly original and thought provoking. It's low brow comedy that also remains very intelligent at the same time - a rare trick. The style reminded me a bit of Woody Allen's "Sleeper", but not too much. It has a style and charm of it's own and remains very original. Definitely worth watching if you like the genre or if you're just a comedy fan.
Reviews
27 Reviews
Children of Men
(2006)
Beautiful
10 May 2011
What a wonderful film! I thought I'd seen all the best sci-fi and then came across this title to my surprise in the top 50.
A beautifully conceived, powerful and moving depiction of a dark Orwellian future that we can all too easily visualise. Maybe it's just because I'm having a hard time at the moment, or maybe it's just just because I've watched so much crap lately, but this movie is so well written and engaging that it really hit me - I even cried towards the end, something I'd never expect from a sci fi.
A rare British treat. It gets a bit too action packed for me at the end but it works well. You get to see some great future shots of London and even a happy ending in the very last few seconds of a credits that really plays on your emotions.
Must see
A beautifully conceived, powerful and moving depiction of a dark Orwellian future that we can all too easily visualise. Maybe it's just because I'm having a hard time at the moment, or maybe it's just just because I've watched so much crap lately, but this movie is so well written and engaging that it really hit me - I even cried towards the end, something I'd never expect from a sci fi.
A rare British treat. It gets a bit too action packed for me at the end but it works well. You get to see some great future shots of London and even a happy ending in the very last few seconds of a credits that really plays on your emotions.
Must see
The Man from Earth
(2007)
Has everyone gone crazy?
9 May 2011
This is a TERRIBLE film. I can not believe it has such a high rating. I watched it because it's in the top 50 sci-fi films - it's my favourite genre and I was looking for something new..
The whole thing is over before it starts. The idea is laid out within the first 10 minutes and then you are left watching a group of awful stereotypes sitting and recited misplaced facts in the same room for two hours. This can be amazing (12 Angry Men etc) but the film is so poorly visualized it only bores you to tears. I am not one for big budget block busters but this is nothing more than made for TV crap - the direction and writing are dreadful, the throwaway music is annoying, and the acting wooden.
Yes, the premise is interesting, but if (like me) you like sci-fi you would be better off READING A BOOK and not watching this film. Seriously
The whole thing is over before it starts. The idea is laid out within the first 10 minutes and then you are left watching a group of awful stereotypes sitting and recited misplaced facts in the same room for two hours. This can be amazing (12 Angry Men etc) but the film is so poorly visualized it only bores you to tears. I am not one for big budget block busters but this is nothing more than made for TV crap - the direction and writing are dreadful, the throwaway music is annoying, and the acting wooden.
Yes, the premise is interesting, but if (like me) you like sci-fi you would be better off READING A BOOK and not watching this film. Seriously
1408
(2007)
Boring
10 April 2010
This movie is not worthy of the high praise. There is nothing new or intelligent here
There is barely any plot - A horror novelist who gets his inspiration from visiting murder sites decides to stay in "infamous" hotel room 1408 - what unfolds is nothing more than souped up Twilight Zone episode.
The whole film hinges on John Cusacks solo performance which badly cast and without any depth. The character is badly written, his egocentric attitude annoying and some of his actions so idiotic they are beyond belief. For the seasoned horror fan this all left for a very uninvolved experience.
There is barely any plot - A horror novelist who gets his inspiration from visiting murder sites decides to stay in "infamous" hotel room 1408 - what unfolds is nothing more than souped up Twilight Zone episode.
The whole film hinges on John Cusacks solo performance which badly cast and without any depth. The character is badly written, his egocentric attitude annoying and some of his actions so idiotic they are beyond belief. For the seasoned horror fan this all left for a very uninvolved experience.
Shutter
(II) (2004)
Why is this rated so highly?
9 April 2010
I'm rating this 1 just to even the score up.
This film is nothing but a cash-in on the Ju-on/Grudge films, and the worst I've seen in a long time. The direction and timing is awful, the acting is bad, and none of the intended scares have any effect at all - well at least not to me. With the lack of fear-factor it's really nothing more than a boring drama about a couple unearthing some of the less finer moments of their past, to terrible, but very boring, consequences. It has the overall effect of a made for TV film. It's basically just a Dawson's Creek special in Japan with added ghosts. This film has been a waste of time.
This film is nothing but a cash-in on the Ju-on/Grudge films, and the worst I've seen in a long time. The direction and timing is awful, the acting is bad, and none of the intended scares have any effect at all - well at least not to me. With the lack of fear-factor it's really nothing more than a boring drama about a couple unearthing some of the less finer moments of their past, to terrible, but very boring, consequences. It has the overall effect of a made for TV film. It's basically just a Dawson's Creek special in Japan with added ghosts. This film has been a waste of time.
The Grudge 3
(2009)
Actually not that terrible
13 June 2009
I had very low expectations for this film. I had read some of the reviews on here (good and bad) and wasn't holding out much hope. If you've fallen in love with the Ju-On and Grudge films in the way I have in the past month your curiosity will probably get the better of you. That's what happened to me, but being prepared for a bad movie I was able to enjoy it for what it was. Yes it changes the storyline, yes it's cashing in, yes parts of it were illogical, but something about it wasn't that bad. I'm not going to even bother going in to all the ways it's wrong because I'm sure people must have done that many times already on here. It wasn't the worst movie I've ever seen or even close. For me the Grudge 2 still had the power to scare but here the fear factor was gone completely which was a great shame. Some die hard fans of the series are saying it's just as scary as the first two, some people are even saying it's one of the scariest films they've seen which makes me question their mental age. If they found this film scary I don't know how they even got to it because by all rights the first two would have scared them so much they'd have probably had a heart attack - literally scared to death... This film wasn't even slightly scary but something about it was still quite enjoyable. Maybe it's just because I love the series so much, maybe it was the characters, the pace, I don't know, and sitting through the whole thing was worth it for the last twenty minutes which I found to be actually pretty exciting. It's no surprise to hear rumours that Grudge 4 is in the works , and after that Grudge 5 is a pretty safe bet, they'll be cashing in on this series 'til the cows come home. W*nkers. Thanks
REC
(2007)
Maybe the best Spanish zombie film ever?
12 June 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I heard about "Rec" through all the fuss over the remake, "Quarantine", and the debates and justifiable anger of many people against the remaking of films just for the sake of the language; for people who are either too lazy or illiterate to read subtitles. I'm glad I saw this. It wasn't an amazing film and neither was it an awful one, but it was good entertaining cinema and very much the kind that I like. It's obviously in huge debt to films like Cloverfield and the earlier Blair Witch Project (not relevant here but terrible in my opinion) but it really doesn't matter because this is a good film all on it's own.
The progression of the film from laughable El Dorado fly-on-the-wall style docu-drama to full-on seat-jumping horror was fantastic. At times shakiness of the hand-held camera style made it hard to work out what was going on, one scene that comes to mind is when the Chinese family were killed, but this was obviously deliberate and only added to the shocks that were to come. It was also pretty funny as well, especially when it played on racist stereotypes, ie: one neighbours disgust at the Chinese family who are "always eating feng shui" and raw fish.
Sadly, there were in my opinion some big faults with this film and it's always easier to point out the bad than the good. The illogical reasoning behind the building being quarantined, the hacking together of the storyline behind the infections origins in the last 20mins (which was lame and could've been left out) and the incredible annoying lead from Manuela Velasco, but in the end these things didn't matter that much and Velasco's character was killed (Yes!). It ended perfectly, any other way and I would have felt cheated. We don't want her to survive or get rescued, and she doesn't.
If you can look past the faults in this film, and like I had to, try not to use your brain too much, you are in for a very enjoyable ride. Parts of it were wonderful, particularly the use of - or absence of - sound, and some very creepy and well put together shots of the zombies. An excellent effort and worthy addition to the Zombie genre with some original and genuinely scary moments. I won't bother watching the remake, I've seen the original. Thanks
The progression of the film from laughable El Dorado fly-on-the-wall style docu-drama to full-on seat-jumping horror was fantastic. At times shakiness of the hand-held camera style made it hard to work out what was going on, one scene that comes to mind is when the Chinese family were killed, but this was obviously deliberate and only added to the shocks that were to come. It was also pretty funny as well, especially when it played on racist stereotypes, ie: one neighbours disgust at the Chinese family who are "always eating feng shui" and raw fish.
Sadly, there were in my opinion some big faults with this film and it's always easier to point out the bad than the good. The illogical reasoning behind the building being quarantined, the hacking together of the storyline behind the infections origins in the last 20mins (which was lame and could've been left out) and the incredible annoying lead from Manuela Velasco, but in the end these things didn't matter that much and Velasco's character was killed (Yes!). It ended perfectly, any other way and I would have felt cheated. We don't want her to survive or get rescued, and she doesn't.
If you can look past the faults in this film, and like I had to, try not to use your brain too much, you are in for a very enjoyable ride. Parts of it were wonderful, particularly the use of - or absence of - sound, and some very creepy and well put together shots of the zombies. An excellent effort and worthy addition to the Zombie genre with some original and genuinely scary moments. I won't bother watching the remake, I've seen the original. Thanks
Ju-On: The Grudge 2
(2003)
Ju-On Two - Twice as Good
12 June 2009
I was disappointed by the original but this sequel was much, much better. Everything about it has been improved - the plot, the character development, the direction, the mood, the fear factor. The over all feeling of this film is very very creepy. It's exactly how a ghost story should be. It doesn't give you the kind of scares that make you jump out of your skin like some movies do but what it does give you is a very uneasy and haunting feeling.
The arrangement and fragmentation of script was excellent. It's broken up into separate stories or chapters like the first one but they've played with the time line in this one in a very wonderful way which contributes to the ghostly feeling of the film as a whole. The story with the banging on the wall was a particular favourite of mine, and, I think, pretty genius.
I am so glad I watched this! It has now become one of my favourite Japanese horror films.
The arrangement and fragmentation of script was excellent. It's broken up into separate stories or chapters like the first one but they've played with the time line in this one in a very wonderful way which contributes to the ghostly feeling of the film as a whole. The story with the banging on the wall was a particular favourite of mine, and, I think, pretty genius.
I am so glad I watched this! It has now become one of my favourite Japanese horror films.
The Spirit
(2008)
The Spirit?
11 June 2009
I had not read any reviews of this film (which I now see are very bad), I didn't even see a trailer for it, so this is my unbiased opinion. Having really enjoyed Sin City I was really excited when I started seeing posters for this movie come up around town. Sin City this is not. This film is like a pale imitation trying to cash in on its success. Gone is the sheek black and white and replaced by a dull tobacco stained monochrome coupled with flashes of red that just do not have the same impact. It doesn't work.
The plot was awful and the distinct lack of sets made this film really trying. Through the ridiculous and pretentious garble that is associated with anything to do with Frank Miller and every other scene being filled with so much dry ice I was practically choking on my sofa I had no idea what was going on. I couldn't sit still. I kept picking up the guitar, making cups of tea, and chain smoked through the whole thing just for something to do.
The only thing that saved this film was Samuel L Jackson as the "Octopus" - the man can do no wrong in my opinion - and Eva Mendes' behind. Gabriel Macht's "Spirit" character was neither here nor there. What exactly he is, or has supposed to have done, other than repeatedly getting killed and resurrected, was beyond me. There is no character development at all. You just keep waiting and waiting and nothing happens.
This film just did not hold any interest. It's rare for me to say a film has wasted my time but when I had a number of others I could have watched this evening I feel this one has. Lacklustre, uninteresting, boring, and a huge possibility lost at the chance to use Roots Manuva's song of the same title but after seeing this I doubt he would have wanted anything to do with it. Like the dull monochrome this film will fade quickly and be forgotten. Really, do not bother with this one. Thanks
The plot was awful and the distinct lack of sets made this film really trying. Through the ridiculous and pretentious garble that is associated with anything to do with Frank Miller and every other scene being filled with so much dry ice I was practically choking on my sofa I had no idea what was going on. I couldn't sit still. I kept picking up the guitar, making cups of tea, and chain smoked through the whole thing just for something to do.
The only thing that saved this film was Samuel L Jackson as the "Octopus" - the man can do no wrong in my opinion - and Eva Mendes' behind. Gabriel Macht's "Spirit" character was neither here nor there. What exactly he is, or has supposed to have done, other than repeatedly getting killed and resurrected, was beyond me. There is no character development at all. You just keep waiting and waiting and nothing happens.
This film just did not hold any interest. It's rare for me to say a film has wasted my time but when I had a number of others I could have watched this evening I feel this one has. Lacklustre, uninteresting, boring, and a huge possibility lost at the chance to use Roots Manuva's song of the same title but after seeing this I doubt he would have wanted anything to do with it. Like the dull monochrome this film will fade quickly and be forgotten. Really, do not bother with this one. Thanks
Ju-on: The Grudge
(2002)
Now I understand why it was remade...
10 June 2009
This is a comparative review based on the original Ju-On and the American remake. I am ashamed to say I saw the remake first but let me get one thing clear straight off I am a BIG fan of Asian horror - I love films like Ringu, Dark Water and Audition. I was saddened and disgusted by the pointless Ringu and Dark Water remakes, but I feel the American remake of this film is a whole lot better.
I liked this film a lot because, basically, I love pretty much all things Japanese. It was a good ghost story with a nice dreamlike quality to it, but I'm afraid that's it. The remake scared me sh*tless where as this did nothing. The Grudge (remake) scared me so much it took me two weeks before I got it together to watch the second instalment (a little disappointing). The only thing that scared me about this film, was the last two seconds. In fact it was so unscary I'm not even sure if it was meant to be.
The Americanised version has benefited greatly from the bigger budget it got. It looks beautiful where as this looks cheap and drab, the sound effects and make-up are better, and the scares are bigger. The plot was straightened out, it's a bit all over the place here but it adds to the dreamlike quality of the film. This was a real disappointment, but Takashi Shimizu got it right the second time around. Thanks
I liked this film a lot because, basically, I love pretty much all things Japanese. It was a good ghost story with a nice dreamlike quality to it, but I'm afraid that's it. The remake scared me sh*tless where as this did nothing. The Grudge (remake) scared me so much it took me two weeks before I got it together to watch the second instalment (a little disappointing). The only thing that scared me about this film, was the last two seconds. In fact it was so unscary I'm not even sure if it was meant to be.
The Americanised version has benefited greatly from the bigger budget it got. It looks beautiful where as this looks cheap and drab, the sound effects and make-up are better, and the scares are bigger. The plot was straightened out, it's a bit all over the place here but it adds to the dreamlike quality of the film. This was a real disappointment, but Takashi Shimizu got it right the second time around. Thanks
Terminator Salvation
(2009)
Low expectations = a better film
9 June 2009
I can't believe the press about this film, it's really not that bad at all. Obviously it's not going to be as good as the first two films - they were two of the most spectacular and best sci-fi/action movies of all time - but by the time you get to the forth film in a franchise what do you expect? One thing all the bad press has done is lowered our expectations so much this actually comes out as a good movie. I guess it's to do with all the hype surrounding the making of it. People have been really hard on Christian Bale and he really isn't that bad at all here, and like another reviewer said; his on-set out burst is understandable when you see the character he was playing.
It's a dirty gritty film. It tries to give us what Terminator 2 only showed us for a few seconds - the war between humans and the machines they created - and it does an okay job. Personally I think it could have been a bit darker but it wasn't at all bad and certainly a lot better than the comicesque sunshine of Terminator 3 (this film should have been T3). It gives us a wide variety of terminators and even a digitalised Arnie that was so life-like I had to check the cast listing - small terminators, huge Titan like terminators, flying terminator aeroplanes, motorbike terminators, terminators with massive chins, and even terminator fish!! The only thing this film doesn't give us, which is what I personally wanted to see, was thousands of terminators all together marching en masse.
Yeah the plot-line has holes. It had me pondering on the point of it for a while (what so J Conner has to save Reese who has to go back in time to save J Conner who when he grows up has to save Reese who has to go back in time to... so what would happen if we just removed these two people... ahh... OK I understand...) but f**k it... it's an action film, and it's good solid science fiction.
Surely the best film by a pretentious and ridiculously named director ever.. I just hope he either stops making films after this or starts using a proper name... Thanks.
It's a dirty gritty film. It tries to give us what Terminator 2 only showed us for a few seconds - the war between humans and the machines they created - and it does an okay job. Personally I think it could have been a bit darker but it wasn't at all bad and certainly a lot better than the comicesque sunshine of Terminator 3 (this film should have been T3). It gives us a wide variety of terminators and even a digitalised Arnie that was so life-like I had to check the cast listing - small terminators, huge Titan like terminators, flying terminator aeroplanes, motorbike terminators, terminators with massive chins, and even terminator fish!! The only thing this film doesn't give us, which is what I personally wanted to see, was thousands of terminators all together marching en masse.
Yeah the plot-line has holes. It had me pondering on the point of it for a while (what so J Conner has to save Reese who has to go back in time to save J Conner who when he grows up has to save Reese who has to go back in time to... so what would happen if we just removed these two people... ahh... OK I understand...) but f**k it... it's an action film, and it's good solid science fiction.
Surely the best film by a pretentious and ridiculously named director ever.. I just hope he either stops making films after this or starts using a proper name... Thanks.
The Grudge 2
(2006)
Not as good as the first but what sequel is?
9 June 2009
This movie is receiving a lot of bad reviews on here. For sure it's not as good as the first (the first remake), but most sequels aren't. In fact hardly any sequels are. If you, like I, enjoyed the Grudge then watch this one too - it's not all that bad.
It does have a couple of shots which are disappointing and almost verging on cheesy, but for the most part it still holds the power to scare (for me), not as much as the first but that fear is still there. No new tricks are deployed, the same gimmicks are used, but this film still had me curling away from the screen in some parts - and that same feeling afterwords that I was a bit nervous to go into dark areas of my flat - and that really is quite an amazing thing and homage to the director.
For what this film lacks in scariness it attempts to makes up for in a multi layered storyline. The story of the curse and it's history are gone in to more detail. In doing this it starts to tread on similar ground to the Ring films but not so much that it ruins anything. It doesn't gives you any idea of how the curse can be stopped but it at least tells you how it was started. I think that the idea that the curse can not be stopped is basically the point anyway. Read "katia_iz_here"'s review entitled "I understood it", it is excellent. Although I think she misses out the idea of the possible new grudge curse being born within the American family, which mirrors the story of the original Japanese family - at least that's what it suggested to me.
Overall the film is beautifully shot. The dull muted colours interspersed with vibrant ones is stunning. Very nice cinematography. I have no grudge about spending one hour forty minutes watching this. If you enjoyed the first then give it a go... Thanks
It does have a couple of shots which are disappointing and almost verging on cheesy, but for the most part it still holds the power to scare (for me), not as much as the first but that fear is still there. No new tricks are deployed, the same gimmicks are used, but this film still had me curling away from the screen in some parts - and that same feeling afterwords that I was a bit nervous to go into dark areas of my flat - and that really is quite an amazing thing and homage to the director.
For what this film lacks in scariness it attempts to makes up for in a multi layered storyline. The story of the curse and it's history are gone in to more detail. In doing this it starts to tread on similar ground to the Ring films but not so much that it ruins anything. It doesn't gives you any idea of how the curse can be stopped but it at least tells you how it was started. I think that the idea that the curse can not be stopped is basically the point anyway. Read "katia_iz_here"'s review entitled "I understood it", it is excellent. Although I think she misses out the idea of the possible new grudge curse being born within the American family, which mirrors the story of the original Japanese family - at least that's what it suggested to me.
Overall the film is beautifully shot. The dull muted colours interspersed with vibrant ones is stunning. Very nice cinematography. I have no grudge about spending one hour forty minutes watching this. If you enjoyed the first then give it a go... Thanks
The Grudge
(2004)
One of the scariest films I've ever seen
24 May 2009
I am a big fan of Japanese horror but when I don't have a TV, don't have a radio, don't read newspapers or buy magazines, as I do, I can sometimes be a bit late catching on to things. The original 'Ring' films and 'Dark Water' where amazing and I was shocked and disappointed at the American remakes. The remakes of those films were f**king dreadful. On the whole remakes of anything are bad, and when a film is being remade scene for scene just in a different language it is beyond pointless. Why can't people watch the film in it's original language for God's sake? It's probably got something to do with the rising levels of illiteracy... and that's why I was so disappointed in myself when I watched this film all the way through and realised it was itself a remake! But wow! What a film it was! Great acting, a great cast - I even liked the annoying Sarah Michelle Gellar - and executed perfectly. The bringing together of East and West was beautiful.
I pity the other reviewers on here that say it isn't scary. If this film doesn't scare you nothing will. It scared the sh*t out of me and I'm a 28 year old adult male. I was still scared literally hours after - walking around the flat on my own, walking the dog - pretty much until I managed to get off to sleep. Fantastic. I am now very much looking forward to catching up on the original films I missed out on. Thanks.
I pity the other reviewers on here that say it isn't scary. If this film doesn't scare you nothing will. It scared the sh*t out of me and I'm a 28 year old adult male. I was still scared literally hours after - walking around the flat on my own, walking the dog - pretty much until I managed to get off to sleep. Fantastic. I am now very much looking forward to catching up on the original films I missed out on. Thanks.
Synecdoche, New York
(2008)
Almost genius
24 May 2009
Synecdoche, New York is amazing.
This is everything a modern film needs to be. Good acting, great cast, and intelligent. It's a film that asks serious questions about the human condition - about the self, the ego, about life, love, and death. What is the importance and role of one single human being is this whole vast mass of existence. It draws on the old philosophical metaphors between life and acting - we are all actors in God's great play, only some of us are trying to do the directing, when really we shouldn't be. It's a film that makes you think for a change. Yes, you will have to use your brain for this one, and for that reason I can understand why some don't and won't like it...
If this film is not recognised as a masterpiece now I have a feeling it will be in years to come. The traditional story-line film has been done to death. This is the way forward. A constant stream of consciousness. It does what is one of the hardest things to achieve in film, mimics the real dream-like state. Gone is the continuity and logical process. If you can't get into the dream space this will go over your head, but this is a film that had to be made. The radical has to happen before change can start to take place. Does it sound like I'm being a bit over the top? Please give this film a go...
My only fault is that at an epic two hours in length it is a bit overly long and does drag on in places to try to get some ideas across, but with this film it really doesn't matter. Hugely important. Thanks
This is everything a modern film needs to be. Good acting, great cast, and intelligent. It's a film that asks serious questions about the human condition - about the self, the ego, about life, love, and death. What is the importance and role of one single human being is this whole vast mass of existence. It draws on the old philosophical metaphors between life and acting - we are all actors in God's great play, only some of us are trying to do the directing, when really we shouldn't be. It's a film that makes you think for a change. Yes, you will have to use your brain for this one, and for that reason I can understand why some don't and won't like it...
If this film is not recognised as a masterpiece now I have a feeling it will be in years to come. The traditional story-line film has been done to death. This is the way forward. A constant stream of consciousness. It does what is one of the hardest things to achieve in film, mimics the real dream-like state. Gone is the continuity and logical process. If you can't get into the dream space this will go over your head, but this is a film that had to be made. The radical has to happen before change can start to take place. Does it sound like I'm being a bit over the top? Please give this film a go...
My only fault is that at an epic two hours in length it is a bit overly long and does drag on in places to try to get some ideas across, but with this film it really doesn't matter. Hugely important. Thanks
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
(2009)
Wolverine
24 May 2009
I tried to watch one of the first two X Men films, I don't know what one it was, and it bored me to death, but despite that when I heard they were making a Wolverine film I was curious. As a teenager I went through an X Men phase, it didn't last long, but what I really liked was the Wolverine character. I even spent a small fortune (for a teenager) buying all the original Wolverine comics. This film did not disappoint (much). Dumb muscle bound fun. It's not intelligent and it doesn't try to be. It's actually quite a rare thing, a film that knows it's place. An exhilarating thrill ride from beginning to end. My only complaint was it should have been a lot darker...
Fantasy not horror
21 May 2009
By all rights, after the the last scene of 'A Nightmare on Elm St' (1) the lead character of Nancy should be dead, but here she comes back as a psychologist to mentor a bunch of haunted kids in a mental asylum to become "dream warriors" and fight Freddy. What a load of dribble...
By reading the reviews by the fans of the Elm St series this film is supposedly better than the second. People even say on here it's the best in the series. I have to disagree. This film doesn't even touch on the first. I've just watched the film for my first time and I have to say it was so boring I struggled to sit through it. I said to myself I wouldn't bother writing a review but the film bored me so much it must have spun me into some kind of perpetual state of boredom, making me become boring myself and come on to write about how bored the film made me feel and probably bore you that is reading.
I guess you can call this a horror film, yes, but it does not scare, not for one second. This is a teenage fantasy film, and this film is prime reason why franchises are bad. I will happily never watch this film again.
By reading the reviews by the fans of the Elm St series this film is supposedly better than the second. People even say on here it's the best in the series. I have to disagree. This film doesn't even touch on the first. I've just watched the film for my first time and I have to say it was so boring I struggled to sit through it. I said to myself I wouldn't bother writing a review but the film bored me so much it must have spun me into some kind of perpetual state of boredom, making me become boring myself and come on to write about how bored the film made me feel and probably bore you that is reading.
I guess you can call this a horror film, yes, but it does not scare, not for one second. This is a teenage fantasy film, and this film is prime reason why franchises are bad. I will happily never watch this film again.
Not a good film but actually quite interesting in a sociological context
21 May 2009
I just watched the first "A Nightmare on Elm St" for the first time all the way through, in one viewing, a few days ago. It wasn't fantastic by any means but it was an enjoyable movie. I thought to myself I would have fun over the next week watching all the sequels in turn, which unlike the first I haven't even seen bits of, but after this, and the even worse (in my opinion) third instalment, I am definitely not going to bother.
Most of the "Elm St" fan's reviews on here say this film is the worst in the series. I don't know if that's true because like I said, after the third I'm not going to bother watching any more, but for me this film at least stands a chance of a second viewing, maybe 30 years from now I might consider watching it again, but the third... no way.
This is a below par sub standard horror film. There is nothing scary about it, maybe it was in it's time, but as one reviewer pointed out "this film was 80s even in the 80s" and I can see why, but despite being a really crap horror film this movie is actually quite interesting in a sociological way. The "unintended" homosexual subtext is great. The director Jack Sholder has unintentionally and accidentally created a coming of age film about a young man coming to terms with his sexuality. I'm sure this film must hold a special place on a lot of guys shelves. If you watch it in this way it is actually pretty funny, but sadly even within this context the film is ruined by the awful ending and the lead man Jesse (who is gay in real life) being swayed by the love of his beau Lisa.
Most of the "Elm St" fan's reviews on here say this film is the worst in the series. I don't know if that's true because like I said, after the third I'm not going to bother watching any more, but for me this film at least stands a chance of a second viewing, maybe 30 years from now I might consider watching it again, but the third... no way.
This is a below par sub standard horror film. There is nothing scary about it, maybe it was in it's time, but as one reviewer pointed out "this film was 80s even in the 80s" and I can see why, but despite being a really crap horror film this movie is actually quite interesting in a sociological way. The "unintended" homosexual subtext is great. The director Jack Sholder has unintentionally and accidentally created a coming of age film about a young man coming to terms with his sexuality. I'm sure this film must hold a special place on a lot of guys shelves. If you watch it in this way it is actually pretty funny, but sadly even within this context the film is ruined by the awful ending and the lead man Jesse (who is gay in real life) being swayed by the love of his beau Lisa.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
(1984)
They are right... This is a classic
19 May 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I've been on a bit of a Wes Craven trip recently. Not a good one I must say. I watched "The Last House on the Left" and "The Hills Have Eyes", two shocking terrible movies and thought I'd better give this one a viewing after having never really seen it properly. I grew up in the wake of it and it's sequels, it was the talk of the school yard, I was very familiar with the story line, the general principles and even how Freddy got to be the way he was, I even went dressed up as Freddy to a fancy dress competition at the school summer fête one year, to my dismay not winning but I did get my picture on the front page of the local newspaper. Why didn't I win? I don't know, probably because the idea of a ten year old dressing as a homicidal mass murderer was a bit sick. But still I don't think I'd ever watched the film all the way through in one viewing.
I was presently surprised. I thought the power for this film to shock or scare me was lost long ago but I was wrong. There were some pleasant twists and turns in the plot that I did not expect. Like Johnny Depp's death for one. I didn't see that happening, and the way in which it happened did make me jump a bit I must say. Also the ending was very surreal and unexpected classic bit of cinema.
The idea is genius. You can't go to sleep or he'll get you and no human being can stay awake for ever. Unlike the acting in Craven's earlier films he actually manages to get the actors in this one to do some decent work. It's still not brilliant, but it is an improvement. I myself have had times in my life when I've stayed awake without any sleep for 3-5 days. At the end of these spells I was sweating profusely, paranoid, delusional, and hallucinating, so when lead girl tells us she has been awake for seven days it is just not believable. I can forgive Wes this because of the beauty of the film as a whole, but it really is a shame. He could have gone so much further with the idea. It is far from perfect but probably as close as Craven has ever gotten to a "masterwork"
This is one good, classic, horror film. Do not miss. I am eagerly looking forward to the 2010 sequel and if the other recent remakes of Craven's films are anything to go by it will surely be a lot better and hopefully fix some of the holes in the original. Thanks.
I was presently surprised. I thought the power for this film to shock or scare me was lost long ago but I was wrong. There were some pleasant twists and turns in the plot that I did not expect. Like Johnny Depp's death for one. I didn't see that happening, and the way in which it happened did make me jump a bit I must say. Also the ending was very surreal and unexpected classic bit of cinema.
The idea is genius. You can't go to sleep or he'll get you and no human being can stay awake for ever. Unlike the acting in Craven's earlier films he actually manages to get the actors in this one to do some decent work. It's still not brilliant, but it is an improvement. I myself have had times in my life when I've stayed awake without any sleep for 3-5 days. At the end of these spells I was sweating profusely, paranoid, delusional, and hallucinating, so when lead girl tells us she has been awake for seven days it is just not believable. I can forgive Wes this because of the beauty of the film as a whole, but it really is a shame. He could have gone so much further with the idea. It is far from perfect but probably as close as Craven has ever gotten to a "masterwork"
This is one good, classic, horror film. Do not miss. I am eagerly looking forward to the 2010 sequel and if the other recent remakes of Craven's films are anything to go by it will surely be a lot better and hopefully fix some of the holes in the original. Thanks.
Freaks
(1932)
Beautiful Freaks
19 May 2009
I've been wanting to see this film for years, having been a massive fan of the band the Ramones since I was a teenager. Legend has it a screening of the film that they all went to see changed their lives, they even adopted the freak theme, changing it slightly from "goubble gobble... we accept her... one of us" to "gabba gabba... we accept you... one of us", recording it and displaying it on a massive placard that Joey would hold up on stage, it became the anthem of a misplaced generation.
I was not disappointed. This film is beautiful. It's not really a horror film at all except for the last 10 minutes, but really a drama about the lives of the freaks in the circus and the abuse they could receive. I had apprehension going into it, I thought it was going to be hugely offensive by today's politically correct standards but it's not, it's a sweet and endearing, ever so slightly haunting, fable, that shows the corrupt human mind to be the real 'freaks' of the title.
What else can one say about a film that already has 185 comments... I don't know... I was talking to my friend Jack, told him I'd just watched the film and asked him if he had seen it, which he had. I asked him what he thought and he said "I don't like CGI". I have to admit neither do I, but the computer-generated imagery wasn't heavy in this film and if anything could have used with a bit more on that last shot of the Chicken Lady. I am eagerly anticipating the remake with Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Thanks
I was not disappointed. This film is beautiful. It's not really a horror film at all except for the last 10 minutes, but really a drama about the lives of the freaks in the circus and the abuse they could receive. I had apprehension going into it, I thought it was going to be hugely offensive by today's politically correct standards but it's not, it's a sweet and endearing, ever so slightly haunting, fable, that shows the corrupt human mind to be the real 'freaks' of the title.
What else can one say about a film that already has 185 comments... I don't know... I was talking to my friend Jack, told him I'd just watched the film and asked him if he had seen it, which he had. I asked him what he thought and he said "I don't like CGI". I have to admit neither do I, but the computer-generated imagery wasn't heavy in this film and if anything could have used with a bit more on that last shot of the Chicken Lady. I am eagerly anticipating the remake with Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Thanks
The Last House on the Left
(1972)
Horrific? Yes. A horrific waste of time...
17 May 2009
Warning: Spoilers
Speechless... No... Let me gather my thoughts.... This was one of the worst films I've ever wasted my time on. My journey towards this film started with the remake of The Hills Have Eyes, I then watched the original which was worse, and then this. I was told by a friend it was pretty horrific and then after reading the same on here I thought twice about watching. I didn't really want to watch "the most disturbing film I've ever seen" as one reviewer called it, but I thought I'd watch it with a cultural viewpoint and braced myself.
Two girls, Mari and Phyllis, set out from their suburban countryside home to travel to New York to see the band Blood Lust in concert. It's all very coming of age, hippyish, and lovely. Mari talks about her breasts getting fuller, she feels like a women. Great stuff... Here I guess Craven is trying to set the mood of innocence but instead what we get is an incredibly boring and annoying first 30mins flicking between the two girls and Mari's parents at home, some really f**king cringey irritating dross. What really ruined this for me is the Music. The soundtrack to this film was absolutely dreadful. We then get Mari and Phyllis arriving in NY were they decide they want to buy some weed and quickly get taken hostage by three deadly rapist murders and their moronic female accomplice. They are taunted, threatened with knives, knocked around, and then stuffed into the boat of a car, all the while to the most abysmal inappropriately placed slapstick comedy music ever. The film continues in the same manner.
There were so many awful scenes I can't go thru them all, but one that really stood out is where they are in the woods and Phyllis tries to escape. She has a chance to leg it, and instead of running across the road to what happens to be Mari's parents house she runs in the opposite direction deeper into the forest!! We even have a frame where a road is clearly visible but instead of running for it she runs towards the river!!! All the while cutting back and forth between the girl's attempt to escape and the two bumping idiots, the Laurel and Hardy of the police force, the two most annoying cops ever to grace the silver screen, as they realise they've missed the chance to catch the murderers in some really pathetic comedic scenes. I don't know what Craven was aiming for here. It is beyond me. Is he trying to make us laugh, lighten up the mood? You sicko. I think the scenes with the cops are genuinely supposed to be funny, but they're not, they're just more crap layered on top of the crap we've already been given. I am talking about the scene with the chicken woman here... I could go on, there are so many idiotic lame scenes but I don't want to waste any more of my time.
The whole thing is like a farce. I don't know if it is based on a true story as it claims at the beginning, I can not really be bothered to find out now. I don't want to waste any more of my life on this piece of s**t. If it is then shame on you Wes Craven, if it isn't then you should have spent longer on the script.
The acting is appalling. Worse than Tromo, and they're not even trying to act seriously. Watch Phyllis as she Ohhs and Ahhs as her friend is cut up and raped.
This violence in this film is not horrific, not by today's standards. I'm sure it probably was by early 70s standards but not by today's. Disturbing? No, we've seen worse. Horrifying? Yes, horrifying that anyone could call it a good movie. The beginning was dreadful, the middle was dreadful, and the end was dreadful. Clockwork Orange it ain't. Thanks
Two girls, Mari and Phyllis, set out from their suburban countryside home to travel to New York to see the band Blood Lust in concert. It's all very coming of age, hippyish, and lovely. Mari talks about her breasts getting fuller, she feels like a women. Great stuff... Here I guess Craven is trying to set the mood of innocence but instead what we get is an incredibly boring and annoying first 30mins flicking between the two girls and Mari's parents at home, some really f**king cringey irritating dross. What really ruined this for me is the Music. The soundtrack to this film was absolutely dreadful. We then get Mari and Phyllis arriving in NY were they decide they want to buy some weed and quickly get taken hostage by three deadly rapist murders and their moronic female accomplice. They are taunted, threatened with knives, knocked around, and then stuffed into the boat of a car, all the while to the most abysmal inappropriately placed slapstick comedy music ever. The film continues in the same manner.
There were so many awful scenes I can't go thru them all, but one that really stood out is where they are in the woods and Phyllis tries to escape. She has a chance to leg it, and instead of running across the road to what happens to be Mari's parents house she runs in the opposite direction deeper into the forest!! We even have a frame where a road is clearly visible but instead of running for it she runs towards the river!!! All the while cutting back and forth between the girl's attempt to escape and the two bumping idiots, the Laurel and Hardy of the police force, the two most annoying cops ever to grace the silver screen, as they realise they've missed the chance to catch the murderers in some really pathetic comedic scenes. I don't know what Craven was aiming for here. It is beyond me. Is he trying to make us laugh, lighten up the mood? You sicko. I think the scenes with the cops are genuinely supposed to be funny, but they're not, they're just more crap layered on top of the crap we've already been given. I am talking about the scene with the chicken woman here... I could go on, there are so many idiotic lame scenes but I don't want to waste any more of my time.
The whole thing is like a farce. I don't know if it is based on a true story as it claims at the beginning, I can not really be bothered to find out now. I don't want to waste any more of my life on this piece of s**t. If it is then shame on you Wes Craven, if it isn't then you should have spent longer on the script.
The acting is appalling. Worse than Tromo, and they're not even trying to act seriously. Watch Phyllis as she Ohhs and Ahhs as her friend is cut up and raped.
This violence in this film is not horrific, not by today's standards. I'm sure it probably was by early 70s standards but not by today's. Disturbing? No, we've seen worse. Horrifying? Yes, horrifying that anyone could call it a good movie. The beginning was dreadful, the middle was dreadful, and the end was dreadful. Clockwork Orange it ain't. Thanks
The Skeptic
(2009)
Clever and scary
16 May 2009
I really liked this film. Like my title says it was clever and scary, maybe even a little too much in places. At one point, I must admit, I had my hands in front of my eyes.
A 30 something lawyer moves into his aunts large house after her death. He soon experiences signs that the house may be haunted, but is it haunted or is it all in his head? Either way it makes for a scary movie, and that is what's clever about this film. It leaves you with questions. Good questions, not holes in the script, but intelligent thought provoking stuff. OK maybe that's going a bit far, it's not Freud or anything but it is good solid cinema. Good acting and an evenly paced well executed script. Nice to see Tom Arnold too.
A 30 something lawyer moves into his aunts large house after her death. He soon experiences signs that the house may be haunted, but is it haunted or is it all in his head? Either way it makes for a scary movie, and that is what's clever about this film. It leaves you with questions. Good questions, not holes in the script, but intelligent thought provoking stuff. OK maybe that's going a bit far, it's not Freud or anything but it is good solid cinema. Good acting and an evenly paced well executed script. Nice to see Tom Arnold too.
Outpost
(2008)
Nazi's a go go
16 May 2009
I came away from this feeling a bit cheated but later on I feel this was a decent solid film. I'm weary of war/solider type films and even more so of British ones, but this had an excellent cast of characters and good acting. I especially liked the Russian and African characters but disappointingly, they were first to be killed. What a surprise...
This is very much a "B Movie" and a good one at that. The combination of crazy Nazi experiments and supernatural elements was excellent, but yes, again, like so many films, the ending was a bit lame, and doesn't leave the viewer with any kind of reward or insight for watching... but definitely worth a viewing and a good way to spend the evening... if you have nothing productive to do...
This is very much a "B Movie" and a good one at that. The combination of crazy Nazi experiments and supernatural elements was excellent, but yes, again, like so many films, the ending was a bit lame, and doesn't leave the viewer with any kind of reward or insight for watching... but definitely worth a viewing and a good way to spend the evening... if you have nothing productive to do...
Plague Town
(2008)
Unnerving
15 May 2009
I choose to watch this film while I was in a search for something scary after mistakenly reading that it has won an award at some "Horrorthon" festival. It hasn't won any awards and it most probably won't. It was just screened there, but I'm glad I watched it. It was pretty much exactly what I was looking for. A creepy and scary horror movie.
For a low budget and an unknown cast this was a very good effort. The other reviewer is right to point out that that it is mis-titled, "Plague Town" does not accurately describe the film, but so what! (And just for the other reviewers benefit, I do not believe they are eating corned beef and cabbage sandwiched, I believe they are eating pasties)
It has barely nothing for a storyline but then most horror films don't. A horror film is about setting the scene and then laying on the threat of what is going to happen next. An American family find themselves stranded in the middle of some Irish countryside near a village which they quickly discover, to their misfortune, is populated by demon children. It has hints of "Children of the Corn", a nudge towards "Rosemary's Baby", and I suspect an admiration for the Sadako character from the Japanese "Ring" films.
I watched this movie alone, in my flat, with the lights off, and it was pretty unnerving in places. It's the first film that I've watched in a long time where I've come away feeling slightly nervous to walk around my own flat. I for sure do not want to get stranded in any Irish countryside after watching this.
For a low budget and an unknown cast this was a very good effort. The other reviewer is right to point out that that it is mis-titled, "Plague Town" does not accurately describe the film, but so what! (And just for the other reviewers benefit, I do not believe they are eating corned beef and cabbage sandwiched, I believe they are eating pasties)
It has barely nothing for a storyline but then most horror films don't. A horror film is about setting the scene and then laying on the threat of what is going to happen next. An American family find themselves stranded in the middle of some Irish countryside near a village which they quickly discover, to their misfortune, is populated by demon children. It has hints of "Children of the Corn", a nudge towards "Rosemary's Baby", and I suspect an admiration for the Sadako character from the Japanese "Ring" films.
I watched this movie alone, in my flat, with the lights off, and it was pretty unnerving in places. It's the first film that I've watched in a long time where I've come away feeling slightly nervous to walk around my own flat. I for sure do not want to get stranded in any Irish countryside after watching this.
Star Trek
(2009)
Stupendous
15 May 2009
This film is amazing. I do not really have any thing else to add over what other people have said. Except, I am not a Trekky, I am not a sci- fi nerd (OK well maybe a bit), I just like a good film, and this is an amazing one.
It is probably the only sci-fi film ever made that rivals the original Star Wars in scope, action, and story line. This film is everything the last three Star Wars films wanted to be and failed at becoming.
If you like Star Wars and have never really been bothered about Star Trek watch this. It is amazing. I fear the only people that are slating this film are old school Star Trek nerds who can not get with the present. The use of CGI in this film is breathtaking and beautiful. Yes, beautiful. I am a big fan of good cinematography and who ever did this film should get an Oscar.
Everything about this film is good. The storyline, the ideas, the graphics, the scenery, the pace, the acting, and the humour, of which there are some genuine laugh-out-loud moments. Having always been a fan of William Shatner's hilarious Captain Kirk character I was weary of how anyone could live up to him, but the actor Chris Pine does a commendable job at portraying the young Kirk. Not to mention Zachary Quinto's Spook who is excellent.
I'm going back to watch this film again while it's still doing the rounds. Only this time to the IMAX
It is probably the only sci-fi film ever made that rivals the original Star Wars in scope, action, and story line. This film is everything the last three Star Wars films wanted to be and failed at becoming.
If you like Star Wars and have never really been bothered about Star Trek watch this. It is amazing. I fear the only people that are slating this film are old school Star Trek nerds who can not get with the present. The use of CGI in this film is breathtaking and beautiful. Yes, beautiful. I am a big fan of good cinematography and who ever did this film should get an Oscar.
Everything about this film is good. The storyline, the ideas, the graphics, the scenery, the pace, the acting, and the humour, of which there are some genuine laugh-out-loud moments. Having always been a fan of William Shatner's hilarious Captain Kirk character I was weary of how anyone could live up to him, but the actor Chris Pine does a commendable job at portraying the young Kirk. Not to mention Zachary Quinto's Spook who is excellent.
I'm going back to watch this film again while it's still doing the rounds. Only this time to the IMAX
The Hills Have Eyes
(2006)
A remake that is better than the original
15 May 2009
This came on Channel 4 the other day and I left it on not knowing what to expect. Wow! This was one the best horror movies I've seen in recent times. I liked it so much I sought out the original, and this is the first time I've ever said it, but, the remake is actually better. Far better.
This film is genuinely shocking, scary, horrorfying, and unnerving. It fills out all the holes in the original and more. With inventive and creative use of the original script this makes one very good film. The addition of the nuclear theme over the original, and weak, freak theme is excellent. The only thing I can compare this to is the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre. If you like scary slasher type films do not miss this one. If like me you not really a horror buff, you just like a good film that takes you out of yourself, then you won't go wrong with this one.
A word of warning though, it is not for the faint hearted. It contains a lot of gore, physical and sexual violence, the latter of which my girlfriend, who I was watching it with, found deeply upsetting.
This film is genuinely shocking, scary, horrorfying, and unnerving. It fills out all the holes in the original and more. With inventive and creative use of the original script this makes one very good film. The addition of the nuclear theme over the original, and weak, freak theme is excellent. The only thing I can compare this to is the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre. If you like scary slasher type films do not miss this one. If like me you not really a horror buff, you just like a good film that takes you out of yourself, then you won't go wrong with this one.
A word of warning though, it is not for the faint hearted. It contains a lot of gore, physical and sexual violence, the latter of which my girlfriend, who I was watching it with, found deeply upsetting.
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