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Reviews
Leave the World Behind (2023)
6.5 - It's definitely worth a watch, with an open mind :)
I can certainly understand the need of movie goers wanting the story wrapped up and answers offered, but for me that's the beauty of this.
The movie is about peace, it's about respect and appreciation of all things; it's about the subtleties of human behaviour and how we each experience seismic change. It's about the unknown and not having site of the script beforehand.
My favourite part of the movie is the girl's desperation to see the end of Friends and what this means to her; her acute awareness of what's occurring and her importance on Friends to escape is something I think many of us can relate to. The theme tune, 'I'll Be There For You' was poignant.
It's definitely worth a watch, with an open mind :)
This Is Christmas (2022)
Predictable festive viewing of the OK variety
This film is ok in terms of it being the wholly predictable festive affair we enjoy now and again.
I enjoy the anticipation of a feel good factor and although this does eventually get there, I was bored en route. The writers seem to have stuck with the bare bones blueprint and seemingly not bothered about adding a richness - something that will make this stay in the memory. It's all a bit reliant on being twee.
The acting is fine and the characters likeable (those meant to be liked anyway).
It was nice to see something new of this ilk - rather than semi watch the usual Christmas shows, but I won't watch it again.
National Treasure: Edge of History (2022)
Yeah it's pretty poor
I'm afraid I'm also in the camp of the tired - where the Disney agenda pushing is concerned.
That aside, the story is standard treasure hunting, cloak and dagger stuff - but there is no depth and the acting is low grade; I really can't believe how bad Catherine Zeta-Jones is!! I think she might be stoned when this was filmed.
It's a shame as I don't think it needed to miss the mark of the movies like it has. I'm a real Disney fan but it's testing my resolve. They need an umbrella principle at their planning meetings which says 'stick to why this show was popular' and keep asking this question at various junctures.
Uncharted (2022)
A generous 4/10
Before watching I was thinking of a Goonies, National Treasure, Indiana Jones type vibe; but this doesn't come close. It's kind of like Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg were on their way to make another movie and quickly stopped off on the way to do this. I swear Wahlberg sometimes smirks at times as he knows how bad the movie is he's making.
The Gray Man (2022)
Solid 7
This movie is exactly what it says it is. Predictable all out action and that's what I hoped for when watching it. Yes it's been done before and yes it had a big budget (a few folk posting reviews have a real bee in their bonnet about the 200mil budget!) - which is evident - and a movie like this, done well, will always be a solid 7.
On Ryan Gosling - not a massive fan of his previous shows, but he was good in this. Doesn't overdo it
Chris Evans - I struggled having Captain America playing a psychopathic mercenary but I eventually come round. I really enjoyed his 'Ken doll' quip 😀
Ana De Armas - I've been fairly critical of previous movies where they have a female bad ass who beats up multiple male badder ass's and it's one of those eye rolling moments; but De Armas doesn't do this, she is really good and sets the bar.
Silent Witness (1996)
Don't need a doctor to tell me this is dead!
Watching Silent Witness of late is so boring. It used to be really exciting and interesting and - while the characters were great - it was about more than them.
These doors it's about how many men Nikki can bed and how many stories they can pull from Jacks life. The crime is second fiddle which means it's done.
I mean, they've attempted to 'modernise' the cast with a soil expert - so now there is always some soil to examine! They were lucky to get them before all these criminals started leaving the garden/the beach/the path at the crime scene.
RIP.
Two Distant Strangers (2020)
Intrigued to meh
I was excited about this short and became even more interested as it progressed.............until it completely missed its opportunity to do something good and instead chooses to lazily stoke the tension. Is that needed right now?!
As the story developed I thought it was going to end with a message that the most intransigent racists can change if they allow themselves to get some perspective and give relationships a chance.
I felt really let down at the end with the message that a racist is a racist so no point trying to engage and educate.
I have to agree with other reviewers that this was a propaganda piece.
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
I'd go 6.5 - it's not that bad
Bit of a slow burner waiting for some superhero action but in the main it was a fair and easy watch; once it gets in to the swing it's fine. You aren't going to be blown away and you'll maybe never watch it again but it doesn't deserve all the hate.
Den 12. mann (2017)
Really good, gripping viewing
I do enjoy a fact based WW2 story - and there are so many out there which are retold (often really well) and therefore become well known; but I'd never heard of this one so it was nice to learn about this small group and their huge contribution to their countries resistance to the Nazis. I was gripped all the way through.
It leaves you with that reflection on the privilege we have today as a result of such levels of bravery which are unimaginable.
The acting is top notch too. Highly recommend if this type of film is your bag.
Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer (2021)
It's ok but mostly about cops and media egos
I didn't know too much of Ramirez so I binge watched this tonight.
It tells you who the victims were and gives time for survivors and other loved ones to have a say, which is always of the utmost importance.
But, its mostly an 'ego off' between police forces and the media. I was quite uncomfortable with how one of the main cops (Gil) came across - he spends more time boasting about himself than he does anything else; ultimately - on the night of the arrest - hot footing it to his cousins wedding to bask in his glory to a large crowd and no doubt steal his cousins thunder. I wouldn't be surprised if he leaves old newspapers around his house so visitors will enquire and he can talk about it because someone's brought it up; in fact, scratch that, I reckon he probably just introduces himself as 'Catcher of the Night Crawler who everyone doubted but I proved them wrong because I'm great let's talk about me all the time'
There's also the the main media woman who is devastated she misses his arrest as she was having her hair done! She then starts to tear up at the end and stare in to the distance like a victim - pretty uncomfortable too.
It's not unwatchable but it is one of those where you get to the end and spend an hour on Wikipedia looking for the details you thought you getting from your three hours of viewing.
Soul (2020)
Pushing a 5!
Maybe my expectations were too high but the film isn't that good, by Pixar standards anyway. I thought it was clunky, predictable, lacked depth and not too many laughs. The five is because I'm in a good Christmassy mood
The Hunt (2020)
Sounded good - looked bad
There was a film called Deadly Prey (1987) which I enjoyed as a youngster; when I watch it back now it's awful but I liked the premise. The Hunt whet my appetite as the stories are similar - people being snatched for rich self important folk to hunt them down in the countryside
I knew before I watched that it was always in the sights of a comparison with Hunger Games, so I left that out of my thinking.
Anyway, this one really misses the mark in its attempt to place women as the lead in a combative movie. I've seen this a few times now where movie makers are desperate to show that they aren't prejudice and of course women can be the Army vet, silent type, badass; but why oh why do they almost always do this whilst also scripting the male characters as generally stupid - and why do they always leave them in full, unblemished, makeup?! It's like someone's looked at all those movies where women didn't have a great time and said 'instead of trying to make things more equal, why don't we make another total imbalance the other way around'.
Main actor played the role quite weird as well - sometimes pulling faces like she was trying to divide Pythagoras Theorem by a Conference Pear.
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)
Trying too hard without trying
I found the movie to be a messy amalgamation of good movies we've all seen before - lacking originality (so I'm saying lazy). The narration and camera angles are akin to The Grinch - The 'belief' is just the recycled Santa Christmas spirit vibe; there's a bit Christmas Carol in there along with a number of others.
To be honest, it felt like this movie was more about demonstrating equal opportunities and diversity rather than delivering a good show.
Perhaps for kids who aren't aware it's plagiarised most Christmas favourites, it may be a decent watch.
Forest Whittaker is the saving grace in acting terms.
Jungle (2017)
Slow burner but remember it's a true story
As someone who cringed at Radcliffe's acting as the Boy who Lived, I looked at this a few time's before giving in; I have to say Radcliffe was great - brilliantly acted. I know he was just a kid as Potter but I didn't think he would have reached the levels he manages in this.
It was a slow burner but I reminded myself this is a true story and did end up engrossed in the battle for survival.
It's really worth a watch
Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)
Disney does Misandry!
Absolutely loved the first film and had high expectations of this but was sadly disappointed. The film is primarily gratuitous advertising for all the big internet brands we've come to love and loath.
The storyline is basically this - Venelope wants to seek bigger and better things outside her game, Ralph doesn't like change, Amazon, YouTube, EBay, Google, Disney man hating princesses, all Disney brands on show, all turns out good and you'll laugh 3/4 times.
Worst of all for me is the over the top attempt to assert female dominance. All the males in this movie are slobs, feckless and/or servile to females. For some reason the 'Wreck' in Wreck it Ralph now means emotional wreck.
Lazy stuff