Aside from a middle-of-the-road twist, this was a surprisingly good horror film. It's shot with plenty of technical skill that mixes the original's color scheme with a more modern aesthetic, and the characters are, at worst, fairly relatable. Plenty of suspense and some genuinely disturbing kills make for a solid use of your time.
Surprisingly good Scottish horror film. The only real flaw here is that the hook isn't terribly new or inspired, but it's presented with enough style and quality acting/writing that it's hardly an issue.
Given the limited material we're presented with, the film still works surprisingly well. I was prepared for a real slog through archive photos and title card after title card of description, but the actual "restored" version is still one heck of a piece of cinema. Highly recommended.
This was a surprisingly good neo-noir that's been unfairly written off on account of its relation to a certain Polanski classic. Sure, there's not quite as great a pedigree as with that film, but enough talent and style goes into this sequel to at least make it deserving of a watch.
I'm legitimately surprised at how few lists this film is on. It's an exceptionally well-crafted, tense thriller with quality performances and surprising twists.
On a side note, the allegation that this film is somehow misogynistic or contains some sort of "rape scene" is greatly exaggerated. If you actually watch the scene and listen to the dialogue, it's a very grey point in the narrative that shows how good our lead is at analyzing a situation, while also providing him with some escape. It's not a necessary scene, but it's by no means gratuitous or mean spirited.
One of the great, sadly underrated biopics. Being a Ken Russell movie, it's bound to be an outlandish narrative, but compared to many of his other works about real world artists, this one is actually fairly accurate.
Rudolf Nureyev is very good and likable in the lead role, although there are times when his thick "Italian" accent is incredibly hard to understand. Still, his performance gets the message across.
Easily one of my favorite Russell flicks, although that seems to be the case any time I watch one of his movies.
Maybe a little melodramatic in parts, but otherwise a very entertaining way to spend two hours. I think it could have gone a little crazier, but that may be because the concept itself is so over the top in the first place.
Lackluster camerawork aside, this is a very lovely documentary that gets by mainly on how great the people are that it follows. They're all interesting characters, some likable, some not, and some who are Mick Foley and defy all explanation by just being awesome.
Surprisingly not bad. Not particularly good, but also not a total waste of time like you might imagine. There were a handful of really good gags (my favorite: the zit transformation bit) and some OK acting, plus a clear reverence for the original.
One of the best movies I've seen this year. The final scene is a bit too predictable, but it's also extremely satisfying after the madness we've experienced with our protagonist.
Agreed with the other commenter. Could be good with friends and beer, but on its own it's just an aimless revenge flick without anything to really propel itself above the rest. It's a cool title with little to show for it.
Camera work was OK for the most part, and the actors looked right, but the acting itself was very dull and the fight scenes were either poorly choreographed or drenched in awful CGI blood.
Seriously though, this was a pretty fun documentary. The editing was a little shoddy, and I hated the animated bits, but the depth of information and range of interview subjects was very enjoyable.
This is a solid documentary that does exactly what it says on the tin. It's not a super in-depth flick, but then at 88 minutes what would you expect? It charts the history of the genre in broad strokes, hopping speedily from point to point with some great interview subjects.
If I had one criticism, it would be that the camera work in the interviews seems to be going out of its way to be different, maybe even edgy. It just came off as distracting to me. Minor quibble.
I thought it was enjoyable. The only reasons I see to hate it are that it's super long (which is a very, very fair criticism) and that it's directed by Michael Bay. Sure, there are plenty of negatives, but they really didn't hinder the entertaining elements. The Tucci was excellent, and Wahlberg was as fun a protagonist as ever.
Tonally, this is all over the place. The disturbing violence and emotional relationship between the two leads never seems to mesh quite right... but despite that, it's incredibly entertaining. Highly recommended, but definitely not for the more conservative viewer.
Also: what a weird shot to end on! You'll see for yourself, but it's just so weird. It felt like they only had one chance to get the shot, unless I'm just missing some subtle message.
Surprisingly good and a nice take on the original. It's only real problem is that it's a remake of a film noted almost entirely for how it helped change cinema. This film simply isn't going to do that, and instead has to rely on two very enjoyable actors and a director with a great deal of flare.
Comments 1 - 25 of 79
Movie comment on Blood Diner
mbkeene
I'm a total mark for Little Jimmy Hitler.Movie comment on The Town That Dreaded Sundown
mbkeene
Aside from a middle-of-the-road twist, this was a surprisingly good horror film. It's shot with plenty of technical skill that mixes the original's color scheme with a more modern aesthetic, and the characters are, at worst, fairly relatable. Plenty of suspense and some genuinely disturbing kills make for a solid use of your time.Movie comment on Let Us Prey
mbkeene
Surprisingly good Scottish horror film. The only real flaw here is that the hook isn't terribly new or inspired, but it's presented with enough style and quality acting/writing that it's hardly an issue.Shout out to Steve Lynch on a quality score!
Movie comment on The River
mbkeene
Given the limited material we're presented with, the film still works surprisingly well. I was prepared for a real slog through archive photos and title card after title card of description, but the actual "restored" version is still one heck of a piece of cinema. Highly recommended.Movie comment on Butcher Boys
mbkeene
Kim Henkel tries to craft another sequel to Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It somehow goes worse than TCM 4.Movie comment on Der Fan
mbkeene
Excellent film, with a very minimalist approach that works wonders once you reach the climax.Movie comment on Vertical Limit
mbkeene
Cliffhanger = Die Hard on a MountainVertical Limit = Wages of Fear on a Mountain
Lofty, unaccomplished goals, but at least it's a fun little actioner.
Movie comment on The Two Jakes
mbkeene
This was a surprisingly good neo-noir that's been unfairly written off on account of its relation to a certain Polanski classic. Sure, there's not quite as great a pedigree as with that film, but enough talent and style goes into this sequel to at least make it deserving of a watch.Movie comment on Three Days of the Condor
mbkeene
I'm legitimately surprised at how few lists this film is on. It's an exceptionally well-crafted, tense thriller with quality performances and surprising twists.Movie comment on Valentino
mbkeene
One of the great, sadly underrated biopics. Being a Ken Russell movie, it's bound to be an outlandish narrative, but compared to many of his other works about real world artists, this one is actually fairly accurate.Rudolf Nureyev is very good and likable in the lead role, although there are times when his thick "Italian" accent is incredibly hard to understand. Still, his performance gets the message across.
Easily one of my favorite Russell flicks, although that seems to be the case any time I watch one of his movies.
Movie comment on Zhil-byl pyos
mbkeene
Definitely check this one out. It's not a perfect short, but the story is fun and simple, and the ending gave me a good chuckle.Movie comment on Horns
mbkeene
Maybe a little melodramatic in parts, but otherwise a very entertaining way to spend two hours. I think it could have gone a little crazier, but that may be because the concept itself is so over the top in the first place.Movie comment on I Am Santa Claus
mbkeene
Lackluster camerawork aside, this is a very lovely documentary that gets by mainly on how great the people are that it follows. They're all interesting characters, some likable, some not, and some who are Mick Foley and defy all explanation by just being awesome.Movie comment on Spiste horisonter
mbkeene
Want to become gluten-free? Watch this.Movie comment on The Gay Shoe Clerk
mbkeene
That was surprisingly cute.Movie comment on Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation
mbkeene
Surprisingly not bad. Not particularly good, but also not a total waste of time like you might imagine. There were a handful of really good gags (my favorite: the zit transformation bit) and some OK acting, plus a clear reverence for the original.Movie comment on Das Leben der Anderen
mbkeene
Made my living room super dusty.Movie comment on Multiplicity
mbkeene
Harmless but worthwhile little film. Keaton is great four times over, and the script, while by-the-numbers, is very charming.Would be a great companion piece to Dead Ringers.
Movie comment on Stretch
mbkeene
One of the best movies I've seen this year. The final scene is a bit too predictable, but it's also extremely satisfying after the madness we've experienced with our protagonist.Also: best use of narration in a long time.
Movie comment on American Muscle
mbkeene
Agreed with the other commenter. Could be good with friends and beer, but on its own it's just an aimless revenge flick without anything to really propel itself above the rest. It's a cool title with little to show for it.Camera work was OK for the most part, and the actors looked right, but the acting itself was very dull and the fight scenes were either poorly choreographed or drenched in awful CGI blood.
Too bad.
Movie comment on Eurocrime! The Italian Cop and Gangster Films That Ruled the '70s
mbkeene
Man, Antonio Sabato is a dick!Seriously though, this was a pretty fun documentary. The editing was a little shoddy, and I hated the animated bits, but the depth of information and range of interview subjects was very enjoyable.
Movie comment on Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film
mbkeene
This is a solid documentary that does exactly what it says on the tin. It's not a super in-depth flick, but then at 88 minutes what would you expect? It charts the history of the genre in broad strokes, hopping speedily from point to point with some great interview subjects.If I had one criticism, it would be that the camera work in the interviews seems to be going out of its way to be different, maybe even edgy. It just came off as distracting to me. Minor quibble.
Movie comment on Transformers: Age of Extinction
mbkeene
I thought it was enjoyable. The only reasons I see to hate it are that it's super long (which is a very, very fair criticism) and that it's directed by Michael Bay. Sure, there are plenty of negatives, but they really didn't hinder the entertaining elements. The Tucci was excellent, and Wahlberg was as fun a protagonist as ever.Movie comment on Streets
mbkeene
Tonally, this is all over the place. The disturbing violence and emotional relationship between the two leads never seems to mesh quite right... but despite that, it's incredibly entertaining. Highly recommended, but definitely not for the more conservative viewer.Also: what a weird shot to end on! You'll see for yourself, but it's just so weird. It felt like they only had one chance to get the shot, unless I'm just missing some subtle message.
Movie comment on Breathless
mbkeene
Surprisingly good and a nice take on the original. It's only real problem is that it's a remake of a film noted almost entirely for how it helped change cinema. This film simply isn't going to do that, and instead has to rely on two very enjoyable actors and a director with a great deal of flare.Also, lots of Richard Gere peen for the ladies.
Showing items 1 – 25 of 79