The One Reviews

Don't Look Now (1973)

Could have been great

[8/10 · 23 November 2003]

SPOILERS***

This movie was wonderful, slightly unnerving and quite engaging up until about the point where his Laura leaves for England. After that things kind of drift a bit. Then he locks the gate, and what the hell is going on. Now I'll gladly accept the film as it is, since after the point I talk about reality really starts to blur and symbolism is more important than what is actually going on. But I just think that it could have played out so much more interestingly than how it did. The ending left me disappointed thinking of other things that could have been.... if only they hadn't thrown a little old midget woman into it. Or at least John could have drowned by the midget's hand, I would have enjoyed the closure and it would have made it somewhat happier... but even that would have left me wanting.

The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989)

captivating

[10/10 · 1 February 2002]

Yes, cringing also.

hmmm. I have not commented on a film in some time... mainly because I tend to agree with /everything/ everyone else has already written, sans some confusing comments that are... anyway.

well, the same goes here.

I didn't find it terribly pornographic in any real sense... unless Prospero's Books could be called thus. The love scenes rather providing respite from the constant onslaught of Albert..

Why didn't they kill him in the beginning? Why did they kill him in the end? I do love some good healthy cannibalism... currently I think I agree most with the users Ian(Ian23) and Oleh

hmmm.... ......... I think it needs another viewing.

A feast for the senses is wonderfully correct, though. I need to see more Sacha Vierny, and The Three Crowns of the Sailor again, wherever it can be found...

Black Mask (1996)

Kick butt movie!

[9/10 · 14 May 1999]

I am a massive fan of Jet Li! He is THE best HK action film star alive... and consequently - This film rocked! I saw it in the video store and, as it was in the mainstream section of this mainstream video store, I didnt register its presence at first, and had to look twice. I immediately knew what I would be renting out. My only qualm (I suppose I expected it) is that it was dubbed (AAARGh) and not subtitled. Elsewise, the movie's original/strange/cool plot, and full on action made it one of Jet Li's better movies... even though they all fall under that category....

Kazaam (1996)

Yes, it is that bad

[1/10 · 30 April 1999]

This film was utterly crap. I had to do a school project on it (for art), only because ONE kid in our class wasn't allowed to see M rated movies. I regrettably chose a scene from the movie to focus on - one of the totally not-fight-scenes. Poor acting all round, as usual the kid outshines Shaq......only just. And Shaq is VERY poor indeed. I really can't understand what was going through my (usually really good) teacher's head when he got out that video....

Braindead (1992)

Yay!

[10/10 · 30 April 1999]

I was thinking about Peter Jackson, what with the LOTR movie buzz and all, and I remembered BRAINDEAD from a few years ago. Realising that I hadn't seen it, I went out. borrowed it. watched it. And laughed like I haven't done in so many years (I mean, playing cricket before they escape the island!). It's a superb film, and having only seen THE FRIGHTENERS, I'm extremely inclined to see BAD TASTE, MEET THE FEEBLES, and other such Peter Jackson works. I can see nothing wrong with this film : ********** (10 stars)

The Matrix (1999)

Kick ass movie! A must see!

[10/10 · 11 April 1999]

As soon as I saw the ad for this film I began counting down the days until its release. I also managed to catch a two second glance at the web address on the ad. The page then proceeded to take up all my time up until the film was released. The webpage was good in not giving away anything, and I highly recommend the comics based on the Matrix universe, and comments can be entered in the forum, which has degenerated into a chat session discussing the movie...

That was until I saw the movie - despite the fact that I saw it in a slightly less than good cinema, even though I tried to get to a good one - I was blown away, I knew the special effects would be good - but the Wachowski-dubbed "bullet-time photography" (the slow motion bits - actually a little more complicated than slo-mo) - was stunning. The storyline had me hooked from the moment I read about it on the webpage. The only fault of the movie, and I hate to say there was a fault, was the cliché-only-way-to-save-the-hero, which I think could have been replaced with something a lot more enlightening and inventive. Otherwise I wanted to be part of the Matrix. I wanted to be in the world, understand the code, _manipulate_ the code. Superb - I can't wait for the sequel (obviously there will be one). I hope someone makes an rpg fast.

Casting was amazing - especially Lawrence Fishburne (I want his shades!!), he fits the role right down to his voice - I can't think of a better person to play the role of Morpheus. Keanu Reeves proves himself to be a good actor after all, doing a really good job of looking confused - then realising what is going on around him. All the minor actors are superb, fitting their roles snugly.

Anyway - for anyone who is going to watch this movie - go into it prepared to think fast - to keep up with the storyline.... if you don't - the agents will be able to move faster. which will probably result in your dislike of the film and consequent bad reviews to your friends.

10/10/10.

Delicatessen (1991)

Stunning!

[10/10 · 20 February 1999]

I watched this movie on dirty heads, so the picture was continually jumping. This disappointed the people I was watching it with, so they left. This did not stop me, however, from watching and, in turn, loving this beatiful piece of cinematic masterpiece. I am a huge fan of any movie (or thing) that is off-centre, and not-quite-right. "Delicatessen" fits this perfectly with its distorted camera angles and equally distorted characters. Jeunet and Caro have made one of the best movies ever!

The Last Supper (1995)

Beautiful!

[10/10 · 12 December 1998]

This film is beautiful! It has everything! It goes from humorous to profound to just plain corny, all in the space of a few minutes. Though widely unregarded( It didn't screened at my local multiplex or independent. ), it was definitely one of the best films of 1995, and is certainly one of my all time favourites. Its over-the-top killing of every stereotype the writers could think of just lets you see past the murder so that you can ponder more deeply the question that it raises : Should you kill someone if it will make the world a better place?

This whole film is backed up by superb performances (and performers )all round, from people like Cameron Diaz, Annabeth Gish, Bill Paxton, Courtney B Vance, and, the highlight of the film - Ron Perlman.

This is a great film that will get you thinking - 10/10.

The Day of the Jackal (1973)

Kicks Ass until the last 10 minutes

[9/10 · 12 December 1998]

Damn it! This film was brilliant! I loved it! The suspense was amazing - it kept me hanging on the edge of my seat right from the start. But I was sadly disappointed during the last 5-10 minutes. All through the film I was cheering for the Jackal and laughing at the frustrated police. So you can imagine why I was frustrated at the end.

I also liked the way that the Jackal was not completely invincible, and did make errors and nearly got caught on numerous occasions. This is what makes this film so much different from such films today.

Anyways - I enjoyed this film right to its climax, at which I was disappointed. 9/10.

The Usual Suspects (1995)

...

[10/10 · 10 December 1998]

...

That is the sign for breathlessness. ......

Man, that was a good movie. My head has never felt so inwardly dizzy without some provocation on my behalf. ... That ending... Whoah...

This is how most people probably feel after watching this movie. Though from then on opinions change. Some people, those that are control freaks, will dislike it for its manipulation of the audience. But hey - Isn't that what this film is about? Verbal is manipulating the cop, and, you just happen to be listening in.

A superb movie 10/10 - A must see!

Hero and the Terror (1988)

Dull

[3/10 · 10 December 1998]

"Hero and the Terror" is a fairly dull thriller - a la: no real character substance, predictable plot, and... Boring. For a thriller I found this movie slow in working up to its pitiful climax, as it just seemed to drag along until Chuck's wife's baby is born... and then it drags on from there until it reaches the end - which I can hardly remember already even though I only saw the film 10 minutes ago.

I give this film 3 out of 10 - for the first 10-20 minutes.

A Life Less Ordinary (1997)

Very Strange...

[7/10 · 27 November 1998]

I found this movie to be pretty entertaining - after I figured out the title probably should have been "A movie less ordinary" - it wasn't totally predictable (a la not throwing the cleaning robot out the window). It jumped around a lot, but once you got used to that it was very enjoyable. Anybody who thought this movie was bad, probably just weren't ready for it...

Alien: Resurrection (1997)

Outstanding Directing, crummy dialogue

[9/10 · 27 November 1998]

I loved this movie. It had a great plot, great cast, and great visuals. Being a big fan of Jeunet's directing ( His amazing work, similar to A:R, in The City of Lost Children ) I found myself immersed in the atmosphere from scene 1. The amazing cast - Sigourney Weaver as the cold, angry Ripley; Winona Ryder as the not-so-innocent Annalee; Dominique Pinon as the sly Vriess; and Ron Perlman ( also from The City of Lost Children ) as the masochistic, mean Johner. All these actors provide amazing performances, that really bolster the movie.

Almost everything about this movie, the directing, special effects, and acting, were excellent. The only major flaw is the dialogue. It was CRAP. I do enjoy Joss Whedon's dialogue most of the time and am a fan of "Buffy:tVS", though I thought that in this movie, what with it's dark atmosphere, his TV style ( quips like: Johner - in surfie talk -"Like, what did you do?", Ripley -"I died." ) didn't work or fit in any way possible.

Despite the dialogue, I thoroughly enjoyed this great piece of cinema, and recommend it to any sci-fi-horror who wants to be blown away...

The City of Lost Children (1995)

Very beautiful, very strange...

[10/10 · 27 November 1998]

This film is stunning, not just visually either. Though, as Philip Berry mentions - you do need to see it more than once. I have seen it only twice, and feel like more viewings would be very helpful. Having seen french, and other european films before( Like "The Three Crowns of the Sailor", and "Western" ), I knew what I was in for plot- and direction-wise, and so was able to enjoy the film unhindered...

Overall this was a very breathtakingly enjoyable movie...

Cabin Boy (1994)

A very weird, stupid, good movie...

[7/10 · 27 November 1998]

This movie is very strange... also very stupid... This makes it a very good movie... This is coming from someone who heard Letterman asking "Would like to buy a monkey?" on an ad, and deciding they HAD to see the rest... If you're like that - I recommend it. If your not - you'll probably think it's worse than "Chicken Park" ( Which is not possible ).