miscellaneous-657-353933 Reviews

Mythica: The Godslayer (2016)

Well-handled ending to the series

[7/10 · 2 September 2022]

Following the less serious "Iron Crown" (ep 4), this final episode was back to its charming seriousness again.

Aware of it being the conclusion, it had more of the steady, epic feel of a final journey, different from the others, more reflective on life as a process. It was nice to feel this difference, like that of an evening walk.

It contained the essentials of what Mythica is all about - magic, dilemmas, sacrifice, successes and failures, plus 'the ending'.

If you've come this far, you will undoubtedly be watching this final episode whatever the ratings, but it's a good one to close the series.

If you've not watched them yet, do certainly watch all five in their order if you generally enjoy the genre.

Mythica: The Iron Crown (2016)

Somewhat silly-comic, but enjoyable once you get into its flow

[5/10 · 28 August 2022]

First off, the first three were light-hearted in a charming but serious way, this fourth is a comedy of a less serious nature, from a different director.

Whilst they therefore don't match well in terms of continuity of feeling, if you can put that behind you and feel this as separate from the others, yet connected, it will work and can be enjoyed, so long as you don't actually mind a sillier version of the genre. Perhaps for some that may mean allowing a little time to elapse between seeing 3 and 4, and for others just entering with the right expectations about it, much as one may appreciate seeing how an artist can paint a subject in more than one interesting way.

So I enjoyed it, maybe you will too. I did prefer the more serious charming form of the earlier episodes, but appreciated the variety this gave too.

Mythica: The Necromancer (2015)

A solid continuation of the battle of Merak against evil

[8/10 · 27 August 2022]

The first was excellent, the second pretty good, and this third rises up toward excellent again! It is very promising that a series can maintain itself so long. They should be watched in order.

Of course, every film has detractors where the film is not for them, so decide if you like the basic premise and look at the positive reviews.

It held well in adventure with battle scenes at the right moments and magic not overused, a good plot with interesting and unexpected turns without being complex, a dialogue that was enough to carry you without being wordy, principles of sacrifice you connected to - there was never a moment where your mind stopped to wander, and was able to capture a number of symbolic moments where you really felt triumph and success.

Very much recommend, and well done to the producer and cast, I'm sure they all had a lot of fun!

Mythica: The Darkspore (2015)

It continues to work - well done

[6/10 · 13 August 2022]

Because it's a continuation movie, it lacks the "newness" factor that always gives the first in any series a boost.

For those who enjoyed the first of the set, it's certainly worth seeing this second one too - it's an enjoyable watch with its own story, and it has a few surprises. The characters work well and have their own personalities that all get a chance to properly take their part in the story.

For those who have not seen the first, I would recommend watching them in order, beginning with the first.

Mythica: A Quest for Heroes (2014)

Recommend : a delightful watch

[7/10 · 10 August 2022]

Fantasy, action, magic... There are no intellectual twists or huge novelties, but the characters are so enjoyable to watch and the adventure so charming I would recommend this film to everyone who enjoys this genre.

Alita: Battle Angel (2019)

Perfection, an all-time great of sci-fi action

[10/10 · 27 July 2022]

If you can define film perfection as gripping your attention from start to finish without the slightest momentary annoyance or sense it could have bettered, leaving you at the end of the film on a perfect high, then this for me is just that. Clearly not everyone likes sci-fi action, but for those that do, this has surely got to take its place amongst the foremost film experiences.

The Dark Tower (2017)

Worth watching for the things it does well, but you hanker for more depth

[6/10 · 22 July 2022]

If like me you've not read the books and enjoy fantasy (sci-fi & magic) then you will enjoy watching this, so go ahead. It creates many visually appealing scenes from beginning through to the end, however its main weaknesses are that there are few elements of the thought-engaging kind, and you expect the boy to contribute more to the story, and so the end then feels like you need a followup movie where he is older in order to carry out the potential of his character. Despite that, the things it does on the visual side carry you along so well that you will enjoy the entirety of the viewing.

If on the other hand you have read the books, I presume the other reviews comparing it to the books will be the relevant ones.

Moonfall (2022)

Superb - listen to a balance of reviews

[8/10 · 3 July 2022]

Really I'm shocked at all the bad reviews. I presume they were going in with different expectations.

This is an absolutely superb disaster film with very engaging special effects that obviously took considerable artistic skill to devise as some of them are fairly mesmerising.

The premise of the film is way out of orbit but truly enjoyable for anyone that can take their down-to-earth science hat off and just enjoy a sci-fi story line, in which case the premise adds greatly to the story's charm and opportunity to take you into a different world.

The actors were all enjoyable, my main issue was that Wenwen Yu wasn't scripted with a role that gave her a shine, there were some obvious opportunities in the later scenes, to do so would have resulted in a more international feel in a positive way.

Billy: The Early Years (2008)

Accurate but lacking energy

[6/10 · 24 June 2022]

My impression is that the content is accurate, but the feel is generally flippant and energy-less, and to me it doesn't provide an accurate feel for the man, such that you are left wondering why he was made the youngest president of the Bible College - this tells you he must have had something powerful about him, which the film doesn't convey. When Charles says he is the most sincere honest person, again you feel confused, because the film has never portrayed that, but made you feel the opposite about him. He starts to get his energy in the very last frames, but then the movie ends - I think it would have been appropriate to extend that to show something solid about the character he certainly became so that that is remembered (I've listened to various documentaries about him; and I'm not a christian), but you're left without that: just (as mentioned) this feature-length rather flippant, energy-less film, without any feeling of conflicts except in a single brief scene. Verdict: interesting, but doesn't seem to convey his character well or why he is held to be a giant by so many people.

The Gate: Dawn of the Baha'i Faith (2018)

Overall a nice watch on its own merits

[6/10 · 29 January 2020]

Firstly, I enjoyed watching this film. It's a good introduction to the standard Baha'i history through the medium of film, and anyone who wants a quick entrance into that history should enjoy it - typically Baha'is, people enquiring about the Baha'i Faith, or those learning about it for other reasons, such as religious studies. Films bring things to life in an enjoyable way. If you're going to watch it in the expectation it will be a major film with Charlton Heston playing then of course you'll only be disappointed, but if you go into its viewing to enjoy seeing something in film about the Baha'i history, you will enjoy it and it will have been time well spent. In particular its format mixes re-enactment with narrative conversation/expression, but it's not one that provides debates and maybes, which I would myself have enjoyed seeing, it presents a pre-packaged story, so-to-speak; but every production has its style. It's not though a substitute for a deeper reading of the history from a wide range of accounts, which should always be carried out, and it does contain some 'wonders' that likely never happened, but they are only a minor element. Note that contrary to various comments, it is an individual initiative, not a production etc of the House of Justice, who in my experience provide in their productions a very high-quality experience combined with (in distinction from this) a free download.

Behemoth (2011 TV Movie)

Not Bad

[6/10 · 4 January 2018]

Contrary to the impression from the ratings, this is an enjoyable film to settle down to. It's not top notch at all, but it's not bad either. If you don't mind the premise of a vast monster living in a mountain, give it a try.

Creation (I) (2009)

Wretched, Dark and Twisted

[2/10 · 23 June 2015]

Apart from a rosy opening, a truly wretched film, depicting Darwin as delusional and constantly hallucinating, everything as dark, twisted, conflicting and psychologically disturbed, more like a horror film. It was too dark to watch to the end and I went and looked up his bio to see if the film was true to life: it seems it isn't, apart from his stomach upsets: the black wretched delusional conflict that runs throughout the film reflects more a product of an ill film production than the reality. Look forward to a different film that I'll enjoy watching and go away feeling some benefit from. Obviously some like the film, but if you want something either true to life or balanced or uplifting, give this a skip and watch something else. d

Saige Paints the Sky (2013 TV Movie)

Good Film, Clear Message for Children

[8/10 · 10 January 2014]

I've just watched this a few moments ago with my 7 year old. The theme throughout is about change, overcoming fear of change, and restoring things lost. It also promotes the value of art and music, has some nice examples throughout. It promotes the importance of friendship and cooperation. It is a very good, safe film for young children to watch. Its plainness of presentation makes the life messages clear for them. For the adult watching, it might seem cheesy at first (there's rather a lot of "cool"s and "awesome"s), but as you continue watching it with your child, the film continues getting better and better to the end and you enjoy and are really affected positively by it. Definitely a film to recommend! David