smnbee-11586 Reviews

Knights of Newgate (2021)

Good, but...

[6/10 · 1 January 2023]

Okay, let's be honest 10/10 for effort of making what could have been a great movie on a limited, and I do mean extremely limited budget.

When the film opened, I thought it was the opening for The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall, including the same hammy performances from the actors.

So let's break it down.

Plot. Fantastic ideas, great story. Love the fact it was set in London, my hometown. This covers 4 out the 6 score of what I scored it out of 10

Cinematography. Again, some very dynamic shots here. Excellent effort.

Special Effects. I would expect this from a 90s B movie, or a 90s video game. Obvious this was filmed entirely on green screen and no sets were used.

Acting. Not good, but not too awful. Some hammy performances but the action scenes wasn't that bad.

So. If this had a much better budget. Christopher Nolan directing it. Location filming and physical sets, a better cast (and extras, not CGI extras, good way of saving money though). Then this would have been spectacular.

Final verdict? Not a complete waste of time, good for a laugh. Quite entertaining.

Someone please remake this with a decent budget, it could be a hit.

We Still Kill the Old Way (2014)

A blinder, as they say in the old days.

[9/10 · 28 February 2020]

The premise is simple, a hoodrat gang causing havoc on an old school gangster's manor and end's up murdering the old man, his younger brother comes back to find out what happened, and to exact revenge. Simple, but brilliantly told. One of my favourite scenes is when the old crew brutally interrogate gobby young villains who annoyingly say "When we get outta' this we're gonna-", and is met by Arthur, (Played by James Cosmo, who normally plays much gentler characters, such as Santa Claus) angrily interrupts him with. "WOT THE FACK MAKES YA THINK YER GETTIN' OUT OF THIS!!" before another member of the old firm, Roy (Played by cockney actor Chris Ellison) drills his kneecaps.

The movie kinda' gives the viewer a pleasant hope about what would happen if by some miracle, an old face comes out of retirement with a younger, more morally appropriate crew to clean up the streets of these. Also, hats off to Danny-Boy Hatchard who plays Aaron in such a way that makes the viewer hate him so much (Hanging a buggy with a baby in it over a balcony and threatening to drop said buggy if the mother doesn't comply with his demands).

All in all, a brilliant movie.

Dredd (2012)

An awesome adaptation of a childhood hero of mine.

[10/10 · 12 February 2020]

I grew up reading 2000AD and my love for a lot of characters came from this awesome comic (Strontium Dogs, Robo-Hunter, Rogue Trooper, ABC Warriors and so on). But Judge Dredd is on top of that list.

I won't go into detail about how things have changed around the world in Dredd's timeline, but basically Judges are now street cops who can arrest criminals (or perps as they're called in this product) and sentence them on the spot without a trial. Judge Joseph Dredd (Karl Urban) is the most feared and respected Street Judge on the streets of Mega-City One (a huge city that stretched along the East Coast), he's a no nonsense type with a mean streak and doesn't take any crap from perps. After executing an armed robber, he is tasked with evaluating a rookie Judge, Cassandra Anderson (Olivia Thirlby), a screw-up who possesses Psychic abilities due to being a Mutant. The Justice Department wants to hang on to her because of this.

Dredd and Anderson are called to Peach Tree's, one of the many 'Blocks' that dot Mega-City One, (Blocks are self contained mini-towns 200 stories high), to investigate a triple homicide. Peach Tree's is controlled by Ma-Ma Madrigal (played fiendishly by Lena Heady), a drug manufacturer/distributor and psychopath who makes and distributes a narcotic called Slo-Mo, a drug that slows time down from the perspective of the user. (The slow-motion action sequences are stunningly shot, you really feel like you're off your nut on Slo-Mo)

Ma-Ma puts the Block on lockdown, so the Judges can't escape and Dredd and Anderson slowly have to make their way to level 200 whilst being hunted by Ma-Ma's army of enforcers. Of course the Judges are well equipped to deal with them, armed with Lawgiver's, a pistol that has multiple ammo types ranging from High-Explosive, Incendiary and Hotshot, and a few other weapons at their disposal.

So after many action sequences involving miniguns, corrupt judges and Anderson's psychic abilities proving to be an asset to her and Dredd. Ma-Ma is disposed of in spectacular fashion.

All in all this is an excellent, and faithful adaptation. Dredd never removes his helmet (Unlike Stallone) and thankfully no token comedy characters. A good effort to all those involved.

10/10

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)

A superb, almost perfect movie that ended in a way I wish were true.

[10/10 · 3 January 2020]

Tarantino not only carried the Ball, but planted a field goal with this fantastic example of storytelling.

It tells a kind off fictional tale parallel to real life, and takes one of Hollywood's biggest tragedies (I speak of the death of the beautiful and kind Sharon Tate at the hands of the Manson family), and gives it a much more heroic ending.

Basically, the three murderers of Tate and her friends in the home of Roman Polanski that took place in 1969, were interrupted by a fictional Character (Rick Dalton, an old-school western actor, played brilliantly by Leo DeCaprio). So the three would-be murderers attempt to kill him instead of Tate. However when they make the attempt, they are met with Cliff Booth (A second fictional character, a ultra-masculine stuntman and Rick's oldest friend). Booth, buzzing off his nut on an Acid dipped cigarette he purchased earlier in the movie. Questions the three murderers, and when they attack...

HE ABSOLUTLEY OWNS THEM IN THE MOST HEROIC AND HILARIOUS WAY... (Using his Pit Bull dog, a can of dogfood, and when Rick works out what's going on... A flamethrower.

This scene had me cheering and laughing.

The ending is heartbreaking, when Sharon Tate asks Rick what happened, then recognises him from his old TV show, and invites him up for drinks.

If I could travel back in Time, I'd go back to that fateful day, tell Clint Eastwood and his stunt double to be there on that date, and tell Cliff "Tell the hippies to Fxxk off"

The Irishman (2019)

Another Scorsese Masterpiece

[10/10 · 2 December 2019]

Like most Scorsese movies, this one is an absolute masterpiece. Yes it's slow paced at some points, yes the CGI faces are 'questionable', but who cares? You get excellent performances from De Niro, Pacino, Pesci, Kietel, Romano and Graham.

This isn't about dodgy CGI or length, this is about storytelling, and it's excellently acted and shot.

Goon (2011)

Rocky for Ice Hockey

[7/10 · 27 November 2019]

Sean William-Scott plays Doug Glatt, a kind hearted, naïve, sensitive man who happens to be a very talented brawler who will stop at nothing to protect his pals. After protecting his friend from a thuggish 'Enforcer' at an Ice Hockey match by beating the crap out of him. Doug is recruited by a Hockey Team as an Enforcer. Doug antics on the ice rink, protecting his team mates from the opposition's enforcers, earning the nickname Doug the Thug. His kind nature earns him some gentle ridicule from his team mates. But you really don't want to mess with Doug as he can beat anyone to a pulp.

All in all, a good sports underdog movie, and class acting from Sean William-Scott.

The Mandalorian (2019– )

Star Wars is back!!!

[10/10 · 19 November 2019]

After the disappointment of The Last Jedi, I was apprehensive about a live action TV series, I wasn't expecting it to succeed.

Boy! I'm glad I was wrong.

The titular Mandalorian protagonist (Pedro Pascal) really seems to be faithful to the 'underground phenomenon' of the Mandalorian Culture that exists within Star Wars ("Weapons are part of our religion") that embraces warfare and a code of honour that I really look forward to exploring in future episodes.

My only gripe is that the Episodes seem too short. But that could change.

So far so good, so looking forward to seeing what this has to offer.

Hard Men (1996)

Okay, not brilliant but entertaining.

[7/10 · 18 November 2019]

Hard Men was your typical British Gangster flick that were flying out of studios during the mid 90's. It tells the tale of 3 debt collectors/enforcers, the chilled out professional Tone (Vincent Regan), hot-headed Bear (Ross Boatman), and the cocaine addled and psychotic Speed (Lee Ross). After a botched collection turns into a triple-murder. The trio have to explain their actions to their boss, Pops Den (played by the legendary 'Mad' Frankie Fraser). Tone objects against not being paid for the job, and reveals he has become a dad. Pissing off his Boss and his pals. To make up for lack of payment for the Job, the trio decide to collect a few debts of their own to raise some capital for an epic all-nighter. During which, Tone reveals he is leaving the firm to spend some time with his new family. Bear tells this to Pops Den, who orders Bear and Speed to kill Tone and deliver his severed hand to him. Bear decides to give Tone a night to remember, and at the same time attempt to persuade him to stay in the firm.

After a 'miscommunication' with a couple of drag queens, robbing the wrong nightclub, and an epic bar fight with the owner and employees of a Maltese Strip Club (Trust me, our trio kick the out of everyone here!). Tone leads them to an old girlfriend's for a game of poker. As morning comes, Tone is cornered by Bear and Speed, Speed cuts off Tone's hand, and as they're about to shoot him, Tone reveals that he knew about Pops Den's plan for him, and had emptied Bear and Speed's guns, leaving them dry, he then shoots Bear and Speed, and then exacts his revenge on Pops Den. He then Steals all of his boss's money, and escapes the life.

It's a good movie to watch for a laugh with your mates.

Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010 Video)

An emotional masterpiece of revenge for a fallen hero.

[10/10 · 11 October 2019]

Batman: Under the Red Hood is THE best piece of work ever put onto a screen adapted from a comic book. An emotional rollercoaster that contains one of the best voice acted scenes in any DC Animation movie ever.

The Movie opens with Batman (Bruce Greenwood) rushing to rescue Jason Todd, AKA: the second Robin, who is being beaten to death by Joker (John DiMaggio) with a crowbar (how he died in the 'Death in the Family' comic series.) Batman almost makes it before the bomb Joker sets explodes, killing Robin. Batman is obviously grief stricken.

A few years later, in Gotham, Batman and Nightwing (Neil Patrick Harris) are investigating a series of crimes perpetrated by someone using Joker's old 'Red Hood' persona. Red hood as been making a series of moves into Black Mask (Wade Williams) who is the current big player in Gotham. So far Red Hood has control of the Drugs trade, and is looking to dismantle Black Mask's weapons trade. Black Mask, obviously seriously pissed (to the point he punches random people working for him) and hires a group of assassins to kill Red Hood (voiced by the awesome Jensen Ackles) during an ambush.

Red Hood's methods are brutal, and he's not afraid to kill, after the ambush fails (during which Red Hood receives some help from Batman. who was now shocked to learn the identity of Red Hood as Jason Todd. (One scene we learn that Ras Al Ghul was responsible for hiring the Joker to kidnap Jason to distract Batman, but deeply regretted this as he didn't intend Jason to die, and tried to make amends by resurrecting Jason using the Lazarus Pit. Which works but Jason his severely damaged and escapes.) Batman tries to appeal to Jason to come home and get help, but Jason is determined to clean up Gotham his way.

Desperate, Black Mask breaks Joker out of Arkham Asylum to draw Red Hood out, which works. Red Hood however kidnaps Joker and takes him to an abandoned apartment building where he beats him with a crowbar. He is confronted by Batman. After a brief fight and chase, they both end up in the apartment, where Jason (now unmasked but wearing his trademark domino mask) gives a speech, where he says the following.

"Bruce, I forgive you for not saving me. But why, why on gods green earth..."

He kicks the door open to reveal a beaten Joker.

"... IS HE STILL ALIVE!?"

The Joker looks at them both, realising what he's caused, and begins laughing manically.

"Gotta' give the boy points, he came all the way back from the dead to make this shindig happen. Oooo! Who's got a camera? Get one of me and the kid, then me and you, then the three of us and one with the crowbar."

Jason silences the Joker, and asks Bruce why he didn't avenge him. Bruce gives an impassioned speech on how it would have been too easy to kill the Joker, and how he thought nothing more about doing so, but he knew if he went down that path he wouldn't have stopped at the Joker.

In my opinions, one of the best sequences in terms of voice acting in any DC Animated productions ever. You can feel the sadness in both Jensen Ackle's and Bruce Greenwood's performances, and John DiMaggio's work as Joker was amazing.

Even if you're not a fan of DC's animated work, you will still love this, and the voice acting performances from all involved would melt the hardest of hearts...

... Maybe even Batman's

Batman: Bad Blood (2016 Video)

Could have been better, but not bad. Sad that most reviewers think of Political Correctness when they review this.

[6/10 · 11 October 2019]

Okay first off, the movie was alright, not brilliant like TT: Judas Contract or Batman: Under the Red Hood, but good and somewhat enjoyable. The VA was okay, I exceptionally liked Damien Wayne's 'worried kid but trying to hide it' portrayal.

So, Luke Fox/Batwing. And original character, the son of a long established African-American character, who happens to have military training and able to utilise a prototype Batman themed 'Iron Man' suit. Although I question the use of his name (Batwing is the name of Batman's jet... I'd have personally called him something else such as Flying Fox) I quite liked the character, he and Nightwing would make a good team. His race would quite well be obvious seeing as has father as far as I know has always been portrayed as African American.

Kat Kane/Batwoman. She's been a lesbian since her inception, so what's the issue here? I would have been majorly pissed if they portrayed her as straight.

Truth is, this movie isn't a PC lickfest, it's just what it is. Good, but not brilliant.

The Highwaymen (2019)

Bonnie and Clyde are not the protagonists in this movie

[10/10 · 3 April 2019]

You could have called Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow the first 'Media Sensations' who captured the hearts of millions of young Americans who followed their adventures. This movie portrays them as what they were... Murderers.

Instead the movie focuses on the two real heroes of the story, two dogged old former Texas Rangers, Frank Hamer (Kevin Costner) and B.M. "Maney" Gault (Woody Harrelson), who are reluctantly assigned to Hunt down the notorious couple by Miriam Amanda "Ma" Ferguson (Kathy Bates).

Costner and Harrelson play off each other well, the banter between the two characters is well written, they make a perfect 'Old school buddy cop team'. Both men were alive during end of the wild west period and you can see them both struggle with 'modern' investigation techniques. (A scene where Hamer explains 'Phone Wire Tapping' to Gault, shows this perfectly) And two old style gunfighters adapting to 'how things are done these days'

What is interesting is that you never see the faces of Bonnie Parker or Clyde Barrow until the end. The final ambush scene is brutal and not for the faint hearted.

One of the best period pieces of American history brought to life through movie making I have ever seen. A real credit to everyone involved making this modern masterpiece.

The Trap Door (1984–1986)

Fond memories of this.

[9/10 · 14 March 2019]

Trapdoor was a stop-motion animated children's 'Horror' series that left little to the imagination.

Berk, which I'm surprised was allowed as the word 'Berk' is A) An insult and B) Rhyming slang for a rather severe profane word (Berk=Berkshire Hunt=... Well, you know) was a butler with a thick Cornish accent to "The thing upstairs" (Who we never saw) but heard shouting "BERK! FEED ME!"

He's joined by Boni, a dismembered skull who sometimes ends up as a bookend or holding something upright. And Drutt, a mischievous spider with a taste for worms.

Then there is the Trap Door itself, which when left open (by Berk) would often 'let something out' and we'd follow Berk, Boni and Drutt in the hapless adventure of putting whatever escaped back down the Trap Door.

The funniest thing was the familiar dialogue in an unbelievable world. And like most British children's programmed was written so that Adults would understand also (Bonkin'?).

As a kid, I used to watch this religiously, as did my parents who also found it funny.

Absolute classic TV.

Cockneys vs Zombies (2012)

Is exactly what it says on the tin...

[8/10 · 14 March 2019]

The title says it all, a bunch of Cockney ne'r-do-well's have to fight their way out of a Zombie infested London. Along for the ride are two brothers, their female cousin, their 'ard-as-nails granddad and Honor Blackman... Yes a former bond girl who seemed to have a lot of fun making this movie.

Some of the characters are instantly recognisable, some are exaggerated but in a humorous way. Some scenes really do tickle the funny bones (the Zombie football supporters from rival teams, I'm guessing Millwall and West Ham, fighting each other in a hilarious Zombified way being a prime example)

Expect lots of swearing from the cast. Blood, guts and brain fragments like you do in any Zombie movie.

A good laugh, great for a night in with your mates.

Fighting with My Family (2019)

Funny, entertaining, sometimes heartbreaking. But Awesome

[9/10 · 14 March 2019]

Add to dictionarySplitFighting with my Family tells the true story of WWE Diva Saraya 'Paige' Bevis, a young British wrestler that took the WWE by storm. Saraya (played brilliantly by Florence Pugh), comes from a family of Wrestlers from Nowrich in the UK, her mother and Father, Ricky and Julia Knight (Hilariously played by Nick Frost and GoT's Lena Heady) are also wrestlers and encourage Saraya and her bother Zak (Jack Lowden in his best performance IMHO) to follow in their footsteps. Zak lives and breathes wrestling and he and Saraya train local children and teenagers in the family Wrestling gym (including a blind lad and a weak willed weed dealer who Zak attempts to steer in the right direction). Ricky and Julia constantly phone the WWE to try and promote Zak and Saraya.

The Knight family are very close (there is an elder brother, Roy who earlier in the movie is in prison for a Violent crime, his release is shown later). Zak announces his girlfriend is pregnant and he wants to settle down with her, and meet her middle-class parents in a hilarious dinner scene. During this scene, Saraya gets a phone call from Hutch Morgan (Vince Vaughn), a WWE scout who tells her he's very impressed with her and Zak's tape that Ricky had sent them previously and that SmackDown (one of WWE's brand shows) was coming to London, and would like for them to try out. This is the break that the whole family were waiting for.

They both go to the try outs and impress the coach, but only Saraya gets chosen to go to Florida to train at WWE's developmental centre, leaving Zak heartbroken.

I won't spoilt anymore, I'll leave you to enjoy Saraya's story. I'll comment on the performances of the actors. Florence Pugh seems to have captured Paige's attitude, and her struggles to fit into the world she's thrust into. Jack Lowden's performances as devastated Zak is nothing short of spectacular, you really feel bad for him as he comes to terms with his huge let down, cheer for him when he accepts his fate and makes the best of it. Nick Frost and Lena Heady play her parents hilariously (the dinner scene when explaining to their son's girlfriend's parents about wrestling injuries will make you burst out laughing, and the training gym's "Stiffy" scene). The film shows, with a degree of truth, a slice of Working-Class culture in England, and how Saraya adjusts to the glamourous US WWE lifestyle. You can expect the usual small cameos of real WWE wrestlers playing themselves (The Rock, Shamus and Big Show) and members of the Bevis family playing smaller parts).

All in all, this is a British/American comedy that both UK and US audiences will understand as it contains scenes of both nation's lifestyles (in wrestling) but the fact it's based on a true story certainly adds to the feel-good factor.

Grange Hill (1978–2008)

Watched this every week from 82-89 ---SPOILER ALERT!!!---

[10/10 · 29 May 2015]

What can I say about Grange Hill? Plenty...

Okay, for those of you that have never seen it, Grange Hill was a children's TV drama set in an inner-city School set somewhere in North London. The show dealt with serious issues (bullying, racism, sexual harassment, young love, drug use, health issues from Nits to Bulimia and rival school fights). Both teachers and pupils were portrayed excellently by adult and child actors respectively and to anyone who was a pupil at such a school (modern comprehensive) will feel a jarring nostalgia when watching.

What was most impressive was the memorable characters, Every type of teacher and pupil was represented here, the more famous being Peter 'Tucker' Jenkins, a lovable, streetwise rogue, Norman 'Gripper' Stebson, a nasty bully with a speciality in extortion and racism. Douglas 'Pogo' Patterson, a fun loving entrepreneur who tried to make a few pence selling whatever he could get his hands on. Roland 'Roly' Browning, a fat, bespectacled victim who suffered at the hands of Gripper. And teachers, Mr Hopkins, a firm but fair woodwork teacher, Mrs McClusky the stern head-mistress who took no nonsense from the pupils or teachers, but was approachable. Mr McGuffy, an art teacher who was liberal. Mr Baxter, the no-nonsense PE teacher with a (very) small soft side, and the terrifying Mr Bronson, an ultra-strict French teacher (former Latin Master at a grammar school) now forced to work with more rebellious working-class pupils, including his nemesis Danny Kendall, a true pint-sized rebel who suffered abuse from no one, and one of the best pupil characters in the show. All of them made their mark on whoever had the privilege of watching them at the time of airing.

The most covered issue was bullying, and the retaliations from the more confident pupils, there were no shortage of bullies, or heroes. One scene in mind was when Gripper was trying to tax money from Roland who was buying some pens from Douglas 'Pogo' Patterson, a wannabe Donald Trump who would sell everything he could get his hands on. Pogo, who was slightly older than Roland attempted to stick up for him against Gripper, but ended up with a bloody nose. But Pogo's friends came to the rescue and suddenly Gripper was surrounded by his victims. Quickly stripped of his profits from extortion and given a threat of a good beating if he tried it again. Gripper temporarily shied away from the crowd, only to come back with a new motive for making other kid's lives a misery, Racism.

The more famous issue was drugs, more specifically the addiction to Heroin by the once cheeky scrapper, Samuel 'Zammo' McGuire, who blasted onto the show in 82 with stink bombs in hand. As he got older, drugs took hold and the plot showed the full affect that drugs can have on addicts and their friends and family. I will never forget the shocking (and brilliantly acted) scene where Roly (now slightly older and wiser from his troubles with Gripper), working in an amusement arcade, finding Zammo strung out in the back room with a piece of tin foil and a rolled up paper in his hands after chasing the dragon. The whole plot gave birth to 'Just Say No'. A single recorded by the young actors, most of whom were involved in the plot, to spread the dangers of drugs. The lovely Allison Bettles (Faye Lucas in the show) sang lead on this. It got to Number 5 in the UK charts and was a huge success.

Remember I mentioned Danny Kendall? His 'exit' was the most shocking to date. His rivalry with cold-shower disciplinarian Mr Bronson climaxed with Danny stealing Bronson's car (Drawing a white outline in his parking space)... and being found dead in the back seat after a neurological condition took it's toll. But that wasn't the first death, (A young lad fell off the roof of a multi-storey car park in 1980, and later in 1984, another young lad drowned in the school swimming pool trying to honour a dare).

The show was raw (for it's time) and hard-hitting (Fights were realistic and language was 'borderline'). But it was required viewing for any English child growing up in the 80's or 90's.