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Category Archives: Reviews
An American Werewolf In London 4.5/5
This movie holds up, and remains one of the great comedy-horror movies, for several reasons. The transformation scene, done entirely using practical effects, still looks pretty great (apart from some of the elongated hands moments, but I stress ‘some’), the … Continue reading
Groundhog Day 5/5
Beautifully constructed film that does three things nearly perfectly: entertains, enthrals, and enlightens. The script is a million miles away from the A->Z scripts so often found in romantic comedies, and the turns taken keep you guessing, and you realise … Continue reading
The Nutty Professor 1963 3/5
Some rather fine comedy scenes, in particular the hangover scene, the first-person perspective of Buddy’s first appearance in public, the first jeckyll-and-hide-like transformation scene, Buddy sharp-talking the dean, and the parental family home flashback. Other bits didn’t work so well, … Continue reading
Star Wars 2: Attack of the Clones 3.5/5
Well, I think whenever Annakin is on screen in dramatic parts, it feels quite poor and drags by his mopey teenager persona, but there were two dramatic scenes I thought were decent. The first, the death-scene of Shmi Skywalker, was … Continue reading
Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 4/5
Rather charming, clever and extremely inventive animated movie, that starts well and just gets better and better. I like some of the great ideas in here, like the clever girl having her own protective behaviours such as hiding her own … Continue reading
The Man With The Iron Fists 2.5/5
This movie had some real problems, and I was getting bored in the first act. It looked pretty, the action scenes were decent to very good, and you could tell care was taken over the look and feel. However, it … Continue reading
White Zombie 3/5
Whilst not quite as good as some of the other great, weird horror movies of the 30s (Freaks, Island of Dr Moreau, The Black Cat), it really works well whenever the zombies are on screen. It works less well in … Continue reading
Vampyr 3/5
This didn’t really work for me for the first half. I really enjoy another movie by Dreyer, specifically The Passion of Joan of Arc, but the silent screen aesthetics employed in this, a talkie, seemed retrogressive. The quality of the … Continue reading
The Wicker Man 1973
Such an electrifying movie in the last act, made so by the baffling, unsettling buildup throughout the film. This staunch, upright policeman represents us, the viewer, as he first strides, then falters, through this strange island culture where everything seems … Continue reading
Stone Cold 3.5/5
Whilst Brian Bosworth has all the acting ability of a tree stump, the charm of this movie is generated by 3 things; the grandiose scene-chewing of Lance Henriksen, delivering lines like ‘This reminds me of my father’s last words: “Don’t … Continue reading
The Empire Strikes Back 5/5
A magnificent, driving narrative, with solid dialogue, great lighting, editing, framing, visuals, acting, music, tone, mix of drama and comedy, spectacular special effects for 95% of the time, and adding a depth to the space-fantasy genre in movies that was … Continue reading
Star Wars IV: A New Hope 4.5/5
A real thrilling spectacle. It’s been 10 years or more since I last watched this, and I have to admit, I was excited about rewatching it. And yes, it easily lived up to the expectation and excitement. My favourite part … Continue reading
Island of Lost Souls 4/5
The is amazing. Whilst there are some slightly better horror movies made in the 1930s (I’m looking at you, Bride of Frankenstein), this is definitely among the handful of really great pulp/graphic horrors of the 30s, before the Hays code … Continue reading
The Bad Seed 4.5/5
This is a startling movie about psychopathy. The acting is stagey and melodramatic (it’s based on a Stage Play, with most, if not all, the original stage cast), and there’s a lot of monologues, but hell, does it work. Central … Continue reading
How To Train Your Dragon 3.5/5
This started slow, but got better and better, and had a great, happy ending. Very enjoyable.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels 3/5
Reasonably charming comedy, with some laugh out loud moments (watch out for the mention of a ‘genital cuff’, and Caine testing the paralysis in Martin’s legs), and a ton of charm from Caine and Martin. Glenne Headly also does really … Continue reading
Never Sleep Again 4/5
Ridiculously long, but rather glorious documentary about all the movies of the Nightmare on Elm Street series (except the very recent remake). You get actors’ insights, special effects guys, producers, where the seed ideas for each movie came from, you … Continue reading
Posted in Reviews
Tagged 2014, 4/5, documentary, horror, N, Nightmare on Elm Street
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The Killer 3.5/5
Parts of this film have not aged well. The parts that have aged well are the insanely great action pieces – if there’s gunfire, you’re gold. To some degree if there’s doves, churches, candles, hospitals, or fast cars, you’re also … Continue reading
Fermat’s Room 3.5/5
Nicely made film that looks great, and solid script and performances. The central conceit intrigues right up until you find out exactly who is responsible, and the revelation doesn’t live up to the original promise, and as you think it … Continue reading
Plague of the Zombies 3/5
Pretty solid Hammer movie exploring Haitian zombie lore, with some tense scenes. The scene were huntsmen cut cards over a trapped woman is tense as was the scene where they hunt her down in the woods beforehand), and the old … Continue reading
Friday the 13th 2009 2.5/5
Dark reboot of the original series, which is boring when Jason isn’t around, and pretty good when he is. There’s numerous references to the ‘classic’ movies, especially the first 3 (but there are definitely other visual references to other ones), … Continue reading
Nightmare on Elm Street 2010 1/5
This was really quite poor. It had the flashy graphics, the beats, but it felt lifeless, characterless and pointless. I felt sorry for the actors, who did a sterling job with what they were given, but this really felt like … Continue reading
Jason X
Okay, we’re now on the 10th Friday the 13th movie, and this alone should alert you you’re heading for a barrel of crap. If so, your film radar is suitably developed, but switch that beeping screen off. It’s misleading you. … Continue reading
Freddy Versus Jason 3/5
Yeah, reasonably fun, but with long sections with too little Jason or Freddy, especially in the first half. When they actually were either fighting or terrorising the kids, it was decent enough, but a little more Freddy humour would have … Continue reading
Posted in Reviews
Tagged 2014, 3/5, F, Friday the 13th, horror, Nightmare on Elm Street
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Hound of the Baskervilles 1959 3.5/5
Fine Hammer take on Sherlock Holmes from Peter Cushing. Christopher Lee is also present and rather good as Sir Henry Baskerville, and I liked that the Watson in this was rather capable and less of a bumbling audience-substitute who only … Continue reading
Mighty Joe Young 3.5/5
I really expected this to be a rerun of King Kong, and for the first 2/3rd it mostly was, but it then wildly diverged into unexpected territory of a chase, followed by rescue that was genuinely exciting. The male lead … Continue reading
Friday the 13th 9: Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday 3/5
Completely bonkers Jason tale, that deviates wildly from the usual formula of kids in woods + Jason into a tale of body-jumping Jason hunting down a new body. Mixing elements of The Omen, Dog The Bounty Hunter, The Hidden and … Continue reading
The Quatermass Experiment 2005 3/5
A very interesting experience, a live broadcast reworking of the original Quatermass story. I like Jason Flemyngs interpretation, but stagey (by design) and a little too old fashioned for its own good. Mark discussing Quatermass on the Talk Without Rhythm … Continue reading
Quatermass and the Pit 4/5
Another great Quatermass film, with some fine tension building, acting and set pieces. It gets baggy and dissolute in act 2, but hell, is act 1 and 3 great. PS. WE ARE THE MARTIANS. Mark discussing Quatermass on the Talk … Continue reading
Friday the 13th Part 8: Jason Takes Manhattan 3/5
Decent entry into the Jason tales, with some creative deaths and a little tension, but needed to spend more time in Manhattan to be properly fun. Enjoyable enough though. Best kill: Jason punching a guy’s head off.