Change Your Image
neil-moffatt
Reviews
Shazam! (2019)
Violent 2nd half at odds with 1st
The reviews that took me to watch this film praised it as funny and smart.
The first half was very much this. But the film industry are beholden to intense, ultra-fast, extreme, loud, dark violence. It swamped the 2nd half and was totally at odds with the nature of the first half.
That web sites reviewing this barely mention the violence presumably indicates a kind of conditioning. Gratuitous violence that adds nothing to the story is simply expected. How many times must good throw evil around or vice versa? Dozens in this film.
A fun 90 minute film was bloated to 120 minutes entirely unnecessarily.
3 Days of Normal (2012)
A gentle, subtle, delightful film too easy to overlook
What drew me into watching was the opening music. Then I was lured further by great characters and excellent acting. Sure, it has small town America and small independent film feel, but that becomes its charming feature.
But what lifted it to the 10 rating for me was the gentle, flowing lyrical music that just warmed my heart and added more than any visual could.
Take it as it is and watch it lightly. It should then beguile you.
Eungyo (2012)
Haunting and atmospheric
This was a very tricky script to film whilst retaining plausible performances.
Yet the result clearly is delicately, sensitively and authentically acted out, with immaculate pacing, intelligence and passion, carried by splendid camera work (especially the closeups), and astonishingly perfect music. At times the score felt more appropriate than anyone could ever have dreamed of.
It is not without its flaws, but it is brilliant nonetheless.
I am an instant fan of Korean cinema, pushing as it does so very much Hollywood material into the bin of mediocrity.
The Odd Life of Timothy Green (2012)
An expression of joy
It is expected, but not relevant, that the critics were not moved by this film, for a critical mindset will find fault because if its delicate nature. But suspend such judgment and you will be swept up in a simple, sweet expression of happiness and fun.
This delightful film created the same feeling of pure, unbridled joy that 'Ponyo' had a few years ago. Both films are vehicles for the harmonious nature in humans that is too often cast aside by the hectic, often callous nature of modern life.
The casting was superb, and the autumnal leaf-filled scenes were each a work of art. So so I often found myself crying just because it was so pretty and the film so in touch with the kind of joy that only young children normally experience. It felt like I was young again.
I even cried on the way home reflecting on the film.
It will not suit many people, especially those that like 'dark' films, for it is the antithesis of that depressingly common genre. But for those it does, you will leave feeling exquisitely relaxed and puffy eyed.