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Micheal_Williams
Above is my devoted movie site, where I review films.
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Dolores Claiborne (1995)
Stephen King's Dolores Claiborne.
This film absolutely spoils the viewer for the first hour and fifty minutes. It really does screw up when it turns from a greatly constructed thriller from the mind behind the most terrifying novels that have sold million. Turns into a badly leaded, and cheaply constructed court room movie.
A girl has to go to her hometown. In small pieces of sea-bedded land, in a small community. Where her hardworking mother has been arrested for killing someone. But when she returns, she opens a door to old memories, about nasty little things she had forgotten that had really happened. She hated and judicated her mother for it.
Its a dramatic movie, that moves, loses and scares the viewer in ways the contemporary audience would'nt have expected from a King inspired story. Its ending is its only flaw. It dribbles on too long when the film should finished, but it had to tell what happens to the protagonists. Before that, it feels like a film directed by Sam Raimi with close ups and inventive shots of painted scenes and dark subject matter scenes have the contrast liquefied. And the film is always jumping into the past with injecting the colorful years back into the shot as it tells its story non-linearly in flashbacks.
Its story is its attraction. So I will not spoil it in this review. But give you idea of what you're going into; get ready to be uncomfortable, both for an old film that has a slow start; and pathetic characters who wont be easy to like. Now to contradict that, this must the best casted film I've seen in awhile. Kathy Bates as Dolores Claiborne; she showed how good she is as a frighting number 1 fan in Stephen King's Misery and she is just as phenomenally entertaining in this film. Jennifer Jason Leigh is probably the worst casted member, she falls through most scene and makes it when its counts.
But to be honest she playing a pretty messed up and broken, conflicted young woman in world where she has no control over what she wants or has any idea how bad thing really are. Christopher Plummer is easily the best performance and Judt Parfitt. But more memorable is the supporting role by John C Reiley; he's easy to dislike but makes the final scene a bit more bearable when his character finally makes sense.
It has a cut-off small town in New England with each actor giving away that, with a borderline accent. It has two main plots, one about the past and redemption and revelation and the present that is like I said always coated in a dead dark and dramatic aesthetics that makes the well tolled tale more moving. A long time housekeeper is the main suspect to a murderer, but of course its not all that easy; its find by Selena (Jennifer Jason Leigh) that in fact they loved each other and even help each other in terrible moments in the past. Then the second plot is about Selena herself taking control of her life by reciting her abusive alcoholic father and accepting her mother has always been there for her.
A very sweet film when you don't think about some moments that are really dark, but King and the director Taylor Hackford; mash up their story telling talent with some really great filmmaking. with scenes like this; when the character is effortlessly looking into the past without prompt to whether the audience is ready. Or this scene when the mirror resembles how ruined their lives are. And this just amazing looking transcendence scene from the second act to the final act with a polarizing moon eclipse.
But again; the only thing that would stop me from watching this stylish mystery drama is the ending. It could have ended somewhere before the final moments, before Jason Leigh gave the whole second degree in an unshabby courtroom scene and makes the other actors seem like they're saying your ruining this film. But I digress, a nice film is a nice film. And Dolores Claiborne is a Stephen King film made by Sam Raimi -- that's what the film felt like for me. But more seriously its a drama film for dramatic narrative. And looks way too nice not work on some less hardhearted viewers.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
The longest hour and half in a horror movie experience.
Jack Torrance + Frankestein = Leatherface
The opening alone, with the fading documentary type text that reads as if it was found in old newspaper, makes the terrorizing idea of it being real (it was based on a serial killer, but not chainsaw wielding lunatic and his family). The prologue sets you into the most unique, originally dark slasher of grotesque horror "in the annals of American history, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre".
In case you were not already tensing yourself in first few minutes for what will be the most raw-meaty chunks you've ever tasted in the petrifying mold your sinking into, it sounds off Polaroid shutters of snippets of your next nightmare of decaying bodies.
The first frame of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" I saw at a young age by some forgotten circumstance (I think maybe my uncle had it VHS and got my hands on it); when played, it was in the middle of the movie, when the disabled character in the wheel chair get's chainsawed by Leatherface. It was only a few seconds of one or two frames. The after effect on me was so strong, it took me long enough to watch all the other horror movie monsters, Freddy, Michael Myers, Ghostface, Pinhead. Before my subconscious felt I was ready for a horror fueled, heart pounding experience that this movie is. It still is one of the few guaranteed horrors to still give me goosebumps, with every watch.
5 young, dumb and full of cum college aged friends are on route through the colorful county of Texas to check on a relatives grave sight, after some gruesome "macabre" reports, that the bodies were being exhumed and put on display as corpse art. Right after finding the grave was undisturbed, the group pick up a greasy-green hitchhiker who give them a freak-show like they ain't ever seen. When he starts to cut his palm bloody and then lunatically cut the forearm of Franklin, the disabled member of the lot. After the run-in with Charles Manson, that would question anybodies further intention of heading further into this land of madness, they head to their old, abandoned family home. Where their worst nightmare lives just next door. The family of cannibalistic, inbred, crazed killers whom treat outside people like cattle of food and meat. They witness terror in its most animalistic - broken - taboo - tribal - mechanistic - bloodthirsty - fiendishly sweet - rotten flesh of decaying puke - uncensored - ripping - inhuman, form in the Sawyer family.
The first few minutes is a slow descend into "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" world, to let the psychology changing motion picture do something that wont ever be achieved again with a talented, mainly lucky capture of a screenplay in the most rough style and actuation with pin point attention to detail & with the help of a screeching, heart stabbing soundtrack; they all create something that can only be done with an endangered horror breed, that seems almost extinct since the 80's with copying, un-original evolved version that seem to never reach it's own style, like "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre".
"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" conveys every phobia imaginable: spiders, sharp noises, blood & guts, death, disability, CHAINSAWS, isolation, being chased, everything.
"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," Evil Dead, I Spit on Your Grave; have made the chainsaw the most elegant, terror invoking weapon in horror films.
Conclusion; I really need to start watching Tobe Hooper's (the director & co-writer) filmography - all I have seen of his is this and Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. I am sure I am missing out on some great films.
One of the surest reason this film is great is Marilyn Burns performance in the final act. Where she, at multiple times releases a frighten state of hysteria you only feel when your in a bad dream and the watcher's relation to the film is with her survival, if she dies, so do we. Watching this now, after a long time, I can see how great it is. Easily in the top 10 greatest horror movies ever made. Where Stanley Kubrick's, The Shining's horror is driven by pure genius, Tobe Hooper gives it to you raw, border crossing, angry and your face.
Star Wars (1977)
I knew all that was well in the galactic empire and Star Wars was back!
As soon as the Storm Troopers came in, through the slide-doors, after they blasted it with there 70's laser effects, and they emerged from the misty smoke of alien mist, I knew all that was well in the galactic empire and Star Wars was back!
I can totally see the design of the Trooper's helmets being based on the Samurai Armour, because of the inspiration George Lucas got from Jidaigeki. A Japanese film genre, a western version of the Japanese films.
"Set lasers to Stun!", right from the Trek.
Plans for the evil Empires Death Star (Destroyer of Planets) are in the possession of Princess Leia (Carrie Fischer)- shes passes them off to the two most lovable droids in film history, before Sith Darth Vader (James Earl Jones) finds & prisons her.
R2D2 and C3-P0 get off the captured star-ship with the plans and make it to the desert ridden planet of Tatooin. On the planet they are both captured and enslaved to the sand people, but by blind chance they get brought by Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). Thanks to sub-par R2D4. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) takes Luke and his new droid friends with him to make sure the important Death Star plans get to the rebels, and like his father he will teach him the ways of the force. The Republic order has been completely liquefied by the Emperor, he no longer holds a Council- he takes complete control, with his Death Star he controls the Galactic Empire like a dictatorship. The Death Star Captures Han-Solo (Harrsion Ford) & his band of friends, Skywalker and his droids. After successfully escaping with Princess Leia. The most unexpected group of friends are the leading force in taking back the Empire and restoring The Republic.
I wish I had watched the original, un-remastered film for this review, for my blog. It does not ruin the film but it reminds me of the prequels bad special effects. After Han-Solo is introduced in the the bar there's no need to review how brilliant this film is. With all the ingredients the film just goes on to excite, move and above all entertain whoever is watching,
I hate to argue its re-storing, over and over, like a angered fan, but it takes away the filmmakers hard-efforts to make a film that was a hundred years ahead of it's time- those hard working men and woman efforts are dis-honored each time there's a pointless CGI alien in the background. The only thing good about the re-master was the infamous Storm Trooper who bumps his helmet on the slide-door that was just a little to low. They added a sound effect to it and a murmur from the victim, funny for once Lucas.
One thing I like about the prequels, if thou adds them to the equation; R2D2 & C3-P0 'know' everything; they 'know' Anakin is Darth and they had witnessed the fall of the Jedi and the termination of The Republic, they may have had there memory banks deleted but they were there to see it at least, a cool idea I thought.
Only thing about the original films that angers me is that I was not there to be a part of the phenomenal sensation that spread across the world and language barrier. The new films Disney are pumping out to make Star Wars dough, wont even come close to generate that type of first-hand experience. It changed cinema, like many have before and many more to come.
This Star Wars has a more faily tale story then the rest (saving the princess from evil or prison) Greatest moment, Obi-Wan realizes Luke is the chosen one not Anakin, in the middle of his battle with Vader. When he becomes a Force Ghost, so sensitive to his force, he denies Death and is able to live on.
A brilliant film, Simply! It's impact, unspeakable, but strong, like the force. Why didn't the the Death Star shoot down the Millennium Falcon when it appeared first time, just another ship, Why tractor beam it in. Everyone has a geeky question, this film is better then questions, just enjoy it.
The Shining (1980)
Nobody can conquer this movie, you think you have cracked its purpose, you have not even come close. It is just too damn tremendous.
Watching this horror masterpiece from the Kubrick of Stanley (Stanley Kubrick), I personally never understood nor entirely loved, but with this re-watching; I accept "The Shining" is something on it's own level and deserve it's labels, "first epic horror film." I may have seen it over and over, so much so I reference it in other reviews as a fine film, the film itself is an enigma to me, which is why I watched Vivian Kubrick's the making of The Shining just before sitting through the real thing, hoping it would help me have a good conclusion on this orchestra of a horror film.
I think there may not be a huge massage behind his weird and irregularity of showing you something profound and questioning, I think his huge IQ helped him understand a film that is hard to pin down is just entertaining throughout, never once is "The Shining" or Kubrick or other unique movies (Clockwork Orange, Dr. Strangelove) boring. I'm thinking it is all to keep the suspecting viewer on there toes, like a game of chess. Get ready for this craziness, the owner of The Overlook looks a lot like John F Kennedy and the American flag on his desk as well as stenciled name on his desk is well, and his saying goodbye to the beautiful girls walking by as he shows Jack around, JFK was a ladies man. Kinda like the fake moon landing theories addressed in the reality poking documentary about "The Shining," Room 237. But leaving secret massages out of it, it is just an excellently made film, stating the obvious of course, with it unquestionable Kubrick style that can not be cloned or even reached in today's cinematic experience. It's movies like "The Shining" that proves what a daisy of beauty the art form of film, can be.
Jack Torrance (Nicholson) with his wife Wendy (Shelly Duvall) and his psychic son Danny (retired: Danny Lloyd) are gonna spend the rest of the year util May in The Overlook Hotel, Jack Torrance has taken the job as the caretaker for the empty hotel, because of the frost biting snow storm that hits leaving any body inside stranded. Leaving Jack with a abundance of time to get through writers block, that seems to be caused by his family more the seclusion of the Hotel. Wendy cleans and cares for the hotel while Danny enjoys the spoils of a child, while he keeps getting weird premonitions from his psychic ability, the cook who also has some supernatural ability tells him in the beginning it is called the shining, it seems his shining is centered around room 237, which the cook, Dick tells him never to go inside. When Danny finally breaks the advice Dick gave him and walks through the threshold of room 237 he sets in motion unintentionally, an uninvited, gruesome set of events that leads agitated Jack Torrance on a roller coaster of inanity, or could it be the ghosts of Overlooks past dealing a contract to execute a gory unjust killing.
I feel Kubrick exploited his cast in this- Jack Nicholson's talent to express raw emotion with his iconic acting and Shelly Duvall's beautifully weird looming presents equal of annoyance, to perfectly get the same felling her role is given to Torrance, of unintentionally annoying him to the point were we see through her acting in itself making us hate her as much. Keeps this horror/frightening presents in every frame like a stretched jumpscare. With the kids plain acting skill for him to dully and act frightful in a bowl of elixir of casting along with Stanley Kubrick question mark of direction and brushed screen of weirdly dark purple and red colors painted on the Overlook canvas of plain white. The output is something that baffles and amazes whoever watch's and always finding something with this film with every watch, pushing the unanswered question that looms in the form of horror what exactly is happening on screen in this simple plot that seems to become trivial compared to the unquestionably masterclass look of movie magic.
Unfriended (2014)
It looked like an awful step on Found Footage films
I watched the opening that contained only a leaked view of a bruised kneed chicks desktop as she watched a girl commit suicide. Now I could have waited and see if it was going to try to do a Locke of sorts. And set the whole film on the girls desktop, but then came the boringly douche'y acting. The chemistry-less dialogue between a skype call with her boyfriend. I could not bare thinking about getting hooked when the film skips the bull### and just dips its toes into horror. A better found footage effort (one these 'filmmakers' should take notes from); Noroi. That film is a found footage masterpiece. A scaring enveloping urban legend come true. Not a film based on a kids suicide and fruitless scenes of boring teens who a one film away from pornography.
Goodfellas (1990)
All my life, all I wanted is to be a Goodfella
Martin Scorsese's films are a movie historian creating his perfect movies. Unlike Quentin Tarantino who simply adapts his films to what he thinks would effect him the most if he was just an audience member. One of the original bad boys of cinema creates absolutely sweltering narratives that makes the filmmakers brilliant storyteller. With a editing style that is more like a long montage, then a feature film. The inner-monologue he uses, and has used in Wolf of Wall Street, The Departed, Gangs of New York makes utter sense in telling these confessions of... stories that are familiarizing the life of a mob with an audience who are not familiar with stashing dead rats in ice boxes or being a made men. Its almost genius.
The more you watch - the more familiar it gets - the more funny it gets. By the end, even the nastiest moment is hilarious. I don't see Goodfellas as his best film, maybe for some of the outstanding cast, but it has stuck in a stigma to the average movie goer for the longest time. And it will eventually be his most revered and appreciated Crime film in decades to come. Like Orsen Welles' Third Man or Kubrick's Space Odyssey; it will overpass his other filmography. Its an entertaining film, funny as Wolf of Wall Street, while as thrilling as Cape Fear.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
Heading in the right direction
After learning about, what they intend on doing with the series, I was thinking it would turn into a train wreck. But like other reviews have already stated it is surprisingly good, it leaps and bounds better then the first, but still has a certain style that is off putting for any fans of the original movies.
All in all Garfield's spider-man is getting better on the screen, Gwen Stacy has paved way for Mary Jane and I can already see the kingpin in the sequel bringing together the sinister six to fight Spiderman in all out battle royal, maybe with the help of a few friends.
It has to be 10 line for some stupid reason
Zulu (2013)
SPOILER, It feels like a detective novel
A thrilling, doom and gloom detective story about two detectives. One on the edge of revenge (Forest Whitaker) for his past which will only end in his demise and the other tip toeing on the other edge of destruction (Orlando Bloom) and his journey to accepting his past and present state, a good watch, reminded me of those old stories in Detective Magazines.
Orlando's African accent in the begging is off putting, it really start to sound good the more you ride through the film. Its ending could have been a tiny bit better but in some kind of way I like how it ended, but really its theme and the way the story was, a walking into the sunset ending really wouldn't have fitted right.
Gone with the Wind (1939)
The journey of selfish, uptight women, who is put through war.
A brilliant story of Scarlett- although it text describing how the era of the time is gone with the wind, I see the story in a whole different light- I see that this films show a character who while you watch wander what she like, her obsession with the love of her life of her constant chase for what she wants (rather spoiled women) while you notice she is only worried about her own desires and no else's felling's or there own needs, even while there is a civil war on. There is a women in the movie who is almost perfect and is the goody two shoes of the film- she is spouse to be the example of what Scarlett is meant it's to be like a real women with nothing be care. Scarlett realises when to late she had the man of her dreams is already with her, but she is left with the only thing she had, the bit of dialogue she had with her dad in the early parts a brilliant film.
Shichinin no samurai (1954)
What a truly great film, director inspired Clint Eastwood
This film needs to be seen, half way through it was going to be my absolute favourite of all time, but the trouble with long films is that the character and as many as there are in this (all great characters and actors) they start to dilute a bit (that is my only reason for such a low rating), but it was good, in any case I don't particularly like long films but- Im betting whom ever is reading this watch that film, they will certainly strike an argument with me about the rating I gave i. Great film truly would suggest to any one who can watch a subtitled films.
5 STAR-OKAY FILM
Escape Plan (2013)
"you hit like a vegetarian..."
They (Stallone and Arnie) really should have made this in the 80's it would have been so kick-ass but, I guess this will have to do.
For me I thought the movie was going down the wrong street from the start, I hate digital films- what I mean is you watch a digital film (sin city, Evil Dead) and then watch a Film FIlM (Taxi Driver, Dark Knight) you can textures and lights and colours you would get with a HD digital camera making the movie look fantastic, plus it makes the crew have to worker harder which always results in the film being better.
If Stallone and Arnie weren't in this I would have never finished it, and it definitely watchable and is pretty good but you know me I fussy with the visuals of a film.
3 STAR= really bad + Stallone + Arnie = 5 STAR= alright
Her (2013)
"I'm dating a operating System..."
The visuals and when I say visual I'm trying to act all artistic but I'm saying when you watch a movie like Sharknado and then watch this (Her) you can see how they tried not just making it to make money or type of Hollywood symbol the film industry is turning into these days but this looks like it really took risks and in 50 or 100 years time this film show the audience what it would look like.
I there's holes (plot holes - missing key story details)like what happens to Sam or weather itS a forever after ending so I rated it 6, which in my mind means more then good.
Forgive me I don't remember his name but that actor was unrecognisable I will forever know him as the emperor from Gladiator but this film shakes that a little- he looks different with his little moustache he was a different person and this should be the example for all actors for the average performance in a film Great film, 6 STAR
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
"Sell Me This Pen...."
A movie can be absolutely perfect.
But its ending can be a staine on film history.
I mean the film was awesome not douting that for a second, even though it was 3 hours long.
But you drive me through a 3 hour epic about Wall Street its ending has to be so good it makes the look like Terminater 1 compared to Terminator 2 But it just ends were the story feels like its not finised unless there's a Wolf Of Wall Street Part 2 or a sequel I think there is something wrong with this ending therefore the is a 6-STAR when it had the potential a 8-STAR. But thats just Me, in any case watch this film and get ready to for some classic Scoresease and Di Caprios voice breaking when he screams to load.
Over 6-STAR-GOOD FILM
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
good but not perfect
Going to this I had not known Ben Stiller himself directed it until the rolling credits which made like the film even more because his performance suttle but brilliantly along with visuals you expect with a Ridley Scott film.
Like other reviews I read I hated the boss or head of transfer dude I don't know his name, but I guess that shows how much I tried to ignore him in the movie that could have been better if the story starting rolling at the start.
The takes off when Stillers character gets off the boat and that's all I'm going to say enjoy this film.
good but not brilliant, but its visuals are pretty cool. Well done Mr.Stiller
Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013)
What can I say... :o
I enjoyed this movie more and more as I went through it, yeah... it has plot holes it has bad actors, you can probably direct the film better yourself, but...
It did what the other countless sequels spin-offs prequels did'nt- I finished the film and said to myself I would watch it again, don't get me wrong its not in any necessary case a perfect film- it a horror- you exspect crap younge good looking actors, you exspect a director who just wants a pay checks but I did not exspect to enjoy it whice I did mainly because the story (the proulouge).
I would suggest you go on Netflix and watch this horror but I don't expect your like if your exspecting a perfect film that could win best picture
The Matrix (1999)
Argubly Best Sci-Fi Movie Ever
This brilliant film, no this perfect film, is so revolutionary for filmmakers- so inspiring for story writers- and of course a huge leap for martial arts films, I would say it is the best science Fiction film I have seen.
I would make a bet against any type of person- to watch this film, all the way through and say they didn't enjoy just a little bit. It has everything for any type of person- it has romance, it has action- it has fantasy.
"Movie" a movie to me is a dream- a movie to me is an adventure- a movie for me is an escape, a drug to take from my life for and hour and a half or if I'm lucky two hours+ and this movie ticks all those box from start to finish forgot your problems and watch this "Perfect movie" Thanks for reading :D
Evil Dead (2013)
Sequel Should Be Better
First time I watched...... It was astonishing- brilliant- fantastic- Remakes that follow the original scene by scene just get on my nerves because they wasted money to copy the same thing they did 20 so years ago, not this time. But one thing remakes do wrong every time.
this was done brilliantly- the only thing they get wrong again and again with this movie and every horror movie is casting (the girl who played Mia was freaking bad-ass- best part of the movie) but the hippie dude and Dean Winchester looking guy and the others just made the movie annoying, I mean I don't see why they have to apply the same thing to every horror flick- good looking young teenagers- I mean come on. it would have been more interesting if they had a parent staying with them- even if he died at the start it would have been more interesting- maybe the parent could have been casted as Bruce Campbell and get the movie on the fans good side, but no- filmmakers are to scared to be creative anymore. Overall, they did a brilliant job- but they could have made a great movie, instead have just a good one
Carrie (2013)
Why Her ?
I found it really hard to enjoy this one, first things first its story, scene by scene is just copied from the original which really makes me feel like they did not try to be creative with such a chance to make a solid film- then I saw that they completely messed up the cast- Julianne Moore was perfect- but casting that girl with the unpronounceable name- who is not a bad actress- but she just not the right actress for Carrie the main character. I mean this is Hit-Girl from Kick-Ass they should have had someone who looked alone depressed and lonely- they should of picked someone who is not a good actress but a great actress, someone with experience and looks like a Carrie. the one who would have been perfect for this role if I had been the casting director, Saoirse Ronan.
The other actors who played the fellow students were even worse- overall I would rather watch Twilight saga then watch this again.
Django (1966)
Django, the "D" is silent !
Going into this movie at first I thinking how this movie was one of Quentin Tarantino's favorite films and how much it must of inspired him- the movie it self was surprisingly good, more then good it was brilliant actually- it drags you along with the man character- every second.
I really didn't see how it was considered the most violent film of its time, yeah it has action to drive the story along but it was mainly done, leaving you thinking what will happen next nearing the end of the movie. the ending is what makes the movie for me it did not end too soon or too late it was just right. Definitely watch this great western.
"You can clean up the mess, but don't touch my coffin..."