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Reviews
De slag om de Schelde (2020)
Detailed and realistic
As I started into the opening scenesI realised I had seen this before but thankfully couldn't remember too much about it. It was nice to watch a film where although one of the Netherlands most expensive it was when compared to some others, low budget and thankfully because of that it wasn't loadedwith CGI. It had a very good story to it which really kept me interested throughout and was based on a real battle. The acting was first class with Susan Raddar, Tom Felton and Justus Von Dahrányi in three of the leads and I thought the Director Matthys Van Heijningen did a pretty good job, as did the Cinematographer In the 'Trivia' info it gives some insight into the lengths the Producer and financial backers were prepared to go to in order to find the best and most suitable location but I wish there was more shown about what the Production Designer had to create or maybe remove.
Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
Incredible film of a true hero
I have to say that I did know about this man, his beliefs, achievements, his stoicism and his absolutely unwavering faith. When I listened to a programme about his life story it was not so dramatic as the film but this really was a story that needed to be told. He believed in God, the Bible and was faithful to it. He knew that he was being watched over and it was impossible to shake him from anything. He offered the other cheek to anyone who ridiculed him, bullied him or generally scolded him. Garfield played the character perfectly and the film complemented the radio programme exactly. A wonderful story about an extraordinarily brave man who sought nothing for himsef. As he said, he didn't think it right or fair that others signed up, many who he personally knew yet he was going to languish in relative safety while they were being killed. He would be unable to live with himself if that happened. Convincing acting, photography particularly very realistic battle scenes and really took the viewer to what hell it was for everyone.
The Deliverance (2024)
Ignore the worst reviews
I went into this with an open mind, I'd never heard of the Director Lee Daniels or anyone else involved except for Glen Close. I immediately wondered how close the writers and Producer had stuck to the "real events" as in most cases they never do. However, after I sarched and found several articles and pieces about the original happening, when, where, how likely true and any independent witnesses then it became much more interesting and the film DOESN'T veer too far off course from what allegedly occured. The house which was a run-down dump being rented by Ebony, her mother and 3 kids had various faults with things not working but the biggest problem was that it also had a "sitting tenant" that even the owners didn't know. Themany instances shown are purported to have happened and to have been witnessed by a Priest and other people of good standing. I saw the Exorcist when it first came to the screen in 1973 and it was the only paranormal film or horror film that scared me though I think Deliver Us from Evil is interesting and The Deliverance was another sound film. Good convincing acting especially from Andra Day, Glen Close and Mo'nique.
The Forest (2016)
Absolutely DIRE!
I am almost at a loss of what to write. The whole film from the acting throughout to the end titles is so bad, so awful I can definitely say this would have to feature on my list of "worst films ever" I have read several books about this "suicide forest", the people that frequent it, how they often change their minds and why. I have to say that I did NOT find a single scene in any way frightening or chilling in any way. Even the landscape, not that the viewer saw much other that "the forest", was bland. The plot was unnecessarily convoluted. Whether this was some attempt to put a little bit of life into it I don't know but it never worked and for me at least neither did anything else. It did act positively as a sedative though!
One Ranger (2023)
Boring!
Always a pity when you see actors in their later years after having watched them in many films during their respective careers which were very good and for reasons unknown they HAVE TO accept roles in films like this! The concept of a Texas Ranger (Thomas Jane) having to venture across the pond to assist a British cop is well past its sell by date. Added to that is the mainly awful acting, although the main reason for this was the terrible script.. Thomas Jane who I remember from The Punisher, USS Indianapolis and The Mist seemed to struggle on occasions. John Malcovich looked and sounded as if he was regretting taking the job and Dominique Tipper was the UK Agent who had the foulest mouth in the film using the "F" word about a dozen times which maybe she or the Producer made her sound very Butch. Didn't enjoy it and wouldn't recommend it either.
Coming Home in the Dark (2021)
A Truely bad film:
I've watched some really good S. African, Aussie and New Zealand made films in the last 50 years although they only really started to be noticed about 30 years ago. I think " The Go-Between" one of the best, THIS film however was really awful in every respect and after an hour I had to use the "fast-´forward" button. The story was all over the place, too many "coincidencies" included in the plot of which I was no wiser at the end than at the beginning. SPOILERS COMING UP How did Mandrake and his side kick come across the travellers in that vast space:? Why did he return to the Petrol Station to attack the old cashier, he was of little significance. And because the film was set basically in late afternoon and night the viewer didn't get to see the normally beautiful New Zealand landscapes.
Sous la Seine (2024)
Toxic
As Jaws seems to be the best measure or guide on films involving Sharks, I had it in the back of my mind to remind me of some aspects missing from this effort. Jaws had many established actors, one of the Top Directors, Musical score (part hinted at here) by Cinemas Master composer and a good budget. I don't think this film had ONE of these things. Unfortunately, the acting was stilted, screenplay ridiculous and scripts followed but the actors can only do so much. The Mayoress and Prefect of Police were standouts for their work. I was delighted when I saw someone who was rude bossy or nasty to others
disappear below the water but the film was beyond redemption, it had more holes than Gruyere.
Stay Out of the F**king Attic (2020)
Awful Movie - Avoid
We all make mistakes and I made one when deciding to watch this. I like to give 'new or unknown actors' a fair shake but that's only on the assumption that they CAN act but it started off.badly when it was 20 minutes or so into the film before we knew whether or not the "removers" were going to keep up their end of the contract. The three 'leads' are ex-cons who are starting up a removal service and unfortunately their characters don't blend together. I don't want to mention too much about the plot because I don't want to give the game away. However , I don't think anyone will naturally guess what happens because there's no real lead up to it. There is plenty of gore but I actually think that a certain percentage of the viewing public won't appreciate the subject matter or content and I couldn't help finding it offensive and unnecessary.
[Rec] (2007)
Over-rated Rubbish
The only reason I made a "User Review" on this tripe was because I had seen it years ago so knew what it was about but having watched the film "Veronika" recently, I was truly amazed of the bad reviews that film received then astounded when many of the people stated how inferior they thought 'Veronika' was when compared to Rec, how frightening they found Rec was when compared to Veronika which was based on true, checkable incidents. Having AGAIN sat through Rec I can only say I found it offered nothing more than a hundred other Zombie films made. They ALL tend to have the same pattern of the Living Dead wreaking havoc, lots of very high pitched screaming and shrieking generally all at the same time and the necessity to be physically fit to cope with the continuous running up and down stairs. The ability to act is secondary. The hand held camera was used but justified as the lead is a reporter and "hand held" is her cameraman. I honestly cannot say I found anything positive to say about this film from the acting (very poor) to the boring story line.
The Covenant (2023)
One of Ritchies best and some!
I read several of the critics reviews of this film and quite frankly most were well off track with regards to exactly what the viewers actually want from a film. Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim play US Army Sgt Kinley and Interpreter Ahmed. Numerous gunfights with the Taliban, Ahmed's unique ability to know when someone is lieing pr laying a trap. Salim has wonderful screen prescence. Though NOT based on a real life incident it's easy to read through the lines and it gives you a good idea how the hundreds of REAL Interpreters of the US Army felt when they and their families were left behind and at the "mercy" of the Taliban when the USArmy pulled out of Afghanistan. Everything about this film seemed right, beautiful photography and landscapes, good and convincing acting from all concerned.
The Fatal Game (1997)
One saved or two die?
An account from famed New Zealand Mountain Climber Mark Whetu of his attempt in 1997 to conquer Mt. Everest for the 3rd time by way of the North Ridge, recognised as one of the most dangerous routes but this time in the company of 53 year old Aussie friend Mike Reinberger who had tried to reach the summit of Everest 6 or 7 times previously which ALL resulted in failure. Reaching the summit had become an obsession with Mike but at each attempt he had become a year older, muscles and bones began to ache earlier in the climb and there was now a definite feel for Mike, that perhaps time was running out so this latest attempt was like "it's now or never" time. So what happened? What went wrong. Were they succesful in their goal?
Last Seen Alive (2022)
Good, fast moving film
First, to me it made a real change to see Gerard Butler having a bit of the "butt end of the stick" instead of the story being Gerard Butler saves the World as many are. I thought the plot was well put together, well acted and believeable. It must have been pretty good because I was quite tense at times wondering if Butler was going to survive so much so that I re-started nail biting which I had stopped! Jaimie alexander played the wandering wife and she really seemed to have some weird idiosyncrasies because she appeared to have a pretty comfortable lifestyle but still wanted more It was a pretty even paced film throughout.
Renegades (2017)
Bad script, acting and all
I thought the story was a bit "hackneyed" and far fetched. Typical "Americas Navy Seals have singlehandedly won another war" - swoon. Do Yanks actually believe this crap? The acting was laboured, the storyline or others very similar have been done 20 times before and even JKSimmons played his part comedic. There was little of a serious story to it. No wonder it lost more than 60 million at the box office. Apart from 'JK' I can't say I knew a single actor and was it so necessary to have the local whore play such an important role. The ENTIRE storyline was unbelievable, far.fetched and by the finish, boring and nonsensical.
Oliver's Deal (2015)
A Story of Life.
A huge financial deal 2 years in the making, cancelled. A nurse who finds ulterior means to help her Mother who desperately needs an operation. A young boy whose Father behaves like an ogre towards him and a good man who is torn between his position,loyalty towards his people and his best friend, and with all this in the mix "something" has to give and when it does the price will be heavy. Excellent acting from the greatly under-rated David Strathairn, Stephen Dorff, always watchable and this time he plays against type as a man who is prepared to tread on as many toes as is necessary to get what he wants - but has he a redeeming factor? Watch and see. Elsa Olivero who is faced with a really life-threatening decision just when she believes she has at last succeeded, Alberto Ammann as Riccardo. I really enjoy these types of dramas where so many irons are in the fire at once and they gradually ALL come together but NOT always in a good or happy way.
Jacob's Hammer (2012)
Bad, Bad and Bad.
I realised after the opening few minutes that this was going to be bad BUT I would never have believed HOW bad it would be. Totally dysfunctional story, the "acting" was so amateur and I'd estimate the Budget for making this, including all wages etc would be about 30K. And to think it was advertised as "horror" in the category section. The film lacked any realism, was NOT dramatic in any way and I would like toknow where there was ANY that could be classed as horror? How this film has an IMDB rating of 5.2 I don't know, I hope that where the 'ZERO' is shown in the RATING that it truly gives ANY reviewer the opportunity to rate it as such. For me, this is unadulterated rubbish.
Bon Voyage (2006)
Holiday from Hell!
If for no other reason I would watch this to see Daniel Ryan. Here he plays an English Father, Simo. Whose two children aged 16 and 12 drowned while at the families second home in France. He told his wife Linda (Fay Ripley) it was an accident but there were no witnesses so anything could have happened. Another couple, Neil and Lizzie on holiday with their own kids , are "poles apart" in everything from the first couple who continually turn up exactly where Lizzie and Neil stay for the night, on route to Lindas' sister home and THEY ask themselves "are we being stalked"? If so "why"? As a drama it's OK, even if Neil and Lizzie are bickering throughout while trying to save their marriage. The other two creeps more than make up for it.
Wild Is the Wind (2022)
Good all round Crime drama
Direction and screenplay for this film from Netflix was very good with a fair mix of racism, corruption, crime and greed therown in. The cycle begins with the two protagonists a Supt and Sergeant stopping a car for speeding and being more interested in how much they were going to be offered to let the driver go they accept the bribe and let the car continue on its journey with its hidden cargo! The film is packed with various acts of violence and at times is more like "Gunfight at the OK corral". Stars Mothusi Magano and Frank Rautenbach. Good music through the movie , in English, Afrikaans and Twansbo (local language)
In the Forest (2022)
BAD in every department
Where do you begin with such a movie as this? The story, screenplay, plot - whatever you call it doesn't make it any better, the so-called acting was in most cases peurile. I always wonder HOW any of these people make a living! Plot - totally nonsensical and it was played as if neither the director, writer or producer had made up their own minds if it was a black comedy or drama or what genre it actually fitted into. It certainly wasn't TERROR or HORROR. Was there ANYTHING that the character Emily wasn't afraid of? Didn't like blood, descending into the basement, guns. Just the type of person you want to stake your life on in a life-threatening situation and every time a situation cropped up that she didn't like she went and found herself a cupboard to hide in.
This is one that needs to be given a wide berth.
The Alpinist (2021)
Why, Marc-Andre?
An exceptional film about an exceptional person and group of people. I can never make up my mind whether they have nerves of steel or none at all. Many of the most famous climbers in the game appeared, Meisner, Honnold and others but this belonged to Marc-André LeClerc who appeared to knock-off the World's most difficult climbs almost condescendingly. He came across as being a little "arrogant" at first but then as the film moves on he shows a completely different side, one of respect and humility. He followed his dreams and lived life on an edge. He and his fellow climber pushed the limits and raised the bar.
Great White (2021)
Middle of the road
Many reviewers here seem to have expected this film and every one that they have seen or that's been made since 1975 to be another Jaws, which apart from "Bruce" and what we know about from docus etc STILL holds its own. The plot may have been following a well tried and tested formula but it wasn't as bad as many of the reviews on here say. OK, it's true neither theactors or support crew are going to win ANY awards anytime soon but there WERE SOME quite exciting moments. The locations were quite nice and I loved the final music when the cast etc was running up, quite catchy. One things for sure - I've not felt the urge to either fly or journey on a boat again, large or small for many years.
Devil's Island (2021)
A totally POINTLESS waste!
This rubbish would definitely be in my "All Time Worst 5 Films". After it finished I wished I'd NEVER bothered to watch it and had continued with the much more interesting job I WAS doing, of watching paint dry on a wall. I feel sure that somewhere down the line IMDB. Com must have an interest in this because when I checked out the reviews BEFORE I watched it, the reviews didn't exactly scream out " avoid like the plague" which it should have done - it is absolutely DIRE! First, the plus-points. The location looked quite nice. Now, the minus's. Acting, amateur and weak. Small cast, I especially wonder how Peter Berwick has survived "nearly half a century" in THIS cut-throat business? Story and script - there IS NO story, not an interesting or believable one anyway. The ending was the absolute worst - WHO or what were The Wolves? Why was the protagonist being threatend? What happened to Mort? What happened to Sam at the endand why did she appears as she did? Why did Michael behave the way he did towards her? It¡s way past time IMDB. Com gave a "Zero" option.
Killer Bees (2002)
One of the WORST!
Just how can anyone really be expected to use 600 letters in creating a "review" about a film with such a really bad plot and what there is has been done so many times already it's like a loaf of stale bread. I can only blame the actors so much because the plot is so old you can see what's going to happen about 10 minutes before it even arrives. C. Thomas Howell is a wimpy sheriff who is bossed around by the Mayor of the town instead of telling him to poke his job where the sun don't shine. A problem arises concerning 'Killer Bees', no one accepts it even though everyone if affected and people are dying quicker than the residents of Wuhan. Tracy Nelson (Father Dowling Mysteries) appears so amateur, all the other actors doa poor support job. Waste of time, money and effort. The bees outshine the human actors.
The Pale Blue Eye (2022)
Had me riveted!
A great story about a cadet who commits suicide, the theft of body-parts, love interests and duplicity. Good cast includes Christian Bale with yet another strong performance as Landor, Harry Melling is brilliant as young Edgar Poe, Toby Jones, Gillian Anderson, Timothy Spall almost unrecognisable as the camps Commandant, and Charlotte Gainsbourg who actually manages to keep her clothes ON? It's an eerie film, that has a solid story and good acting, scenery and direction and doesn't deserve so many bad reviews and it's hard to fathom exactly WHAT viewers want these days. Hiistory shows that Poe was actually at West Point and that he kept a promise made to Landor in the film andreal-life. Interesting.
As the Village Sleeps (2021)
I want to give this rubbish 0
I read the storyline of this film and that alone put me off. Sometimes it's good not to know any of the actors however that usually only works if the film has plus points in all or most of the other departments, which THIS TRIPE doesn't, NOT in a single one. I watched the first 29 minutes because I was hoping something, anything was going to happen to put some life into it but nothing did. More life exists in a morgue believe me. So, acting was excruciatingly bad, not even at amateur level. Script awful, juvenile behaviour throughout. Photography by way of landscapes, etc non-existent. The characters were like 20 going on 70. Horrid backing music. Give this a wide berth even if someone offers you money to watch it - DON'T.
Overdose (2022)
If you like violent drug films this is for you!
Well, I certainly don't agree with the majority of reviews here. OK, this is as far as I know the first film directed by Olivier Marchal that I have seen BUT I can compare this with some others of a similar nature like Heat. I'm not saying this is as good as I personally thought that was though this was fast-moving. Had a good plot/storyline and was without any CGI or similar. Drugs received/transfered/undercover cop/ unnecessary murders/investigation. A few sex scenes - nothing excessive but a violent film but nothing really gratuitous, although it did receive an R18 rating. Stars Sofia Essaidi, Nicolas Cazalé, Alberto Ammann. Dubbed into English from French Original.