ashfordofficial Reviews

Hobo with a Shotgun (2011)

A fun time

[6/10 · 12 August 2023]

Based on the faux-trailer featured in Grindhouse (2007).

Rutger Hauer in... One of the best performances in his career. A low-budget exploitation thriller with B-movie production quality and gory violence.

Based on the faux-trailer featured in Grindhouse (2007).

Rutger Hauer in... One of the best performances in his career. A low-budget exploitation thriller with B-movie production quality and gory violence.

Based on the faux-trailer featured in Grindhouse (2007).

Rutger Hauer in... One of the best performances in his career. A low-budget exploitation thriller with B-movie production quality and gory violence.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

Outstanding

[8/10 · 11 August 2023]

Out of this world stylized animation and art style, breathtaking and outstanding music and a gorgeous visual feast packed with wholesome moments and well written emotional dialogues.

Out of this world stylized animation and art style, breathtaking and outstanding music and a gorgeous visual feast packed with wholesome moments and well written emotional dialogues.

Out of this world stylized animation and art style, breathtaking and outstanding music and a gorgeous visual feast packed with wholesome moments and well written emotional dialogues.

Out of this world stylized animation and art style, breathtaking and outstanding music and a gorgeous visual feast packed with wholesome moments and well written emotional dialogues.

Shin Kamen Rider (2023)

Ending was disappointing

[4/10 · 30 July 2023]

Produced to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Kamen Rider and the fourth and final film? In Hideaki Anno's Shin Japan Heroes Universe.

Epic Kamen Rider adaptation with stellar cast and production quality. The questionable campy style, pacing and editing confused me a lot. The story didn't had any anchor or fleshed out characters for emotional weight. Also the ending was sad and depressing and thus disappointing for my personal taste.

Produced to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Kamen Rider and the fourth and final film? In Hideaki Anno's Shin Japan Heroes Universe.

Epic Kamen Rider adaptation with stellar cast and production quality. The questionable campy style, pacing and editing confused me a lot. The story didn't had any anchor or fleshed out characters for emotional weight. Also the ending was sad and depressing and thus disappointing for my personal taste.

They Cloned Tyrone (2023)

Ending was unsatisfying

[6/10 · 28 July 2023]

One of the impressive and original movies of this year. A stylish genre-bending social satire with quality filmmaking and aesthetic focused neon drenched cinematography, spectacular music and a gorgeous visual style. The performances were outstanding and the writing + dialogues were top class. I can imagine the production budget just by looking at the scope of the production design.

Unfortunately the ending wasn't quite satisfying or fulfilling and it never quite reaches its full potential. So I had to slash the rating.

One of the impressive and original movies of this year. A stylish genre-bending social satire with quality filmmaking and aesthetic focused neon drenched cinematography, spectacular music and a gorgeous visual style. The performances were outstanding and the writing + dialogues were top class. I can imagine the production budget just by looking at the scope of the production design.

Unfortunately the ending wasn't quite satisfying or fulfilling and it never quite reaches its full potential. So I had to slash the rating.

Biohazard: Death Island (2023)

Decent

[5/10 · 23 July 2023]

The fifth installment (including Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness) and fourth film in the animated Resident Evil series. I loved the impressive, stunning and realistic animation style and the wonderful voice cast.

The fifth installment (including Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness) and fourth film in the animated Resident Evil series. I loved the impressive, stunning and realistic animation style and the wonderful voice cast.

The fifth installment (including Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness) and fourth film in the animated Resident Evil series. I loved the impressive, stunning and realistic animation style and the wonderful voice cast.

The Flash (I) (2023)

Disappointed

[4/10 · 18 July 2023]

So many miscalculations and poor decisions. A movie at this scale should be interesting, enjoyable and entertaining, not boring, tedious and uninteresting. Also the VFX should be groundbreaking, outstanding and should be look realistic, unfortunately this movie for some reason opted for mediocre and poorly done weak looking VFX. Up until the third act I have minor complaints, but the the third act totally diminished the quality with its cheap VFX. The third act with the fight with Zod was boring and tasteless. The location and unscrupulous VFX shots with ugly smoke effects ruined the whole sequence + the movie. In my opinion the "best part" in this movie is the first 30 minutes or so before Barry decide to time travel. This movie felt like a Frankenstein's monster with different screenplays and ideas mashed together into one. A convoluted story with unsatisfied and confusing ending. They wasted the return of Michael Keaton's Batman and they should've stick with the comic book storyline. Instead of using deceased actors' likeness for atrocious VFX lookalikes they should've used living actors for live-action cameos.

Andy Muschietti should stick with mid budget horror films that he's very good at it. Big budget tentpole films is not his speciality.

Kisaragi Station (2022)

Didn't liked that twist

[5/10 · 18 July 2023]

Could she be... some hero?

Based on a Japanese urban legend that first appeared in 2004. Shot with a beautiful cinematography, production quality, creative POV style storytelling and a fantastic cast. Atmospheric, creepy and scary moments with trademark J-horror experience with some touch of light humor. Yuri Tsunematsu delivered a fantastic performance. But unfortunately I didn't liked that twist, even though it was surprisingly clever by fooling the audience.

Could she be... some hero?

Based on a Japanese urban legend that first appeared in 2004. Shot with a beautiful cinematography, production quality, creative POV style storytelling and a fantastic cast. Atmospheric, creepy and scary moments with trademark J-horror experience with some touch of light humor. Yuri Tsunematsu delivered a fantastic performance. But unfortunately I didn't liked that twist, even though it was surprisingly clever by fooling the audience.

Yellow Dragon's Village (2021)

A surprising twist

[5/10 · 17 July 2023]

I'm addicted to Japanese horror films and I don't mind the overall quality. It's all about experiencing and immersing into the Japanese culture. This film is in one of my favourite horror genres with a blend of comedy and action and I loved the raw and realistic production quality and unhinged performances. A surprising twist that I didn't see it coming.

I'm addicted to Japanese horror films and I don't mind the overall quality. It's all about experiencing and immersing into the Japanese culture. This film is in one of my favourite horror genres with a blend of comedy and action and I loved the raw and realistic production quality and unhinged performances. A surprising twist that I didn't see it coming.

Asteroid City (2023)

Disappointing

[4/10 · 16 July 2023]

The most Wes Anderson film ever, I think. The meticulous auteur seems like noticing memes and recreations about his work and decided to apply all that to this film. A pleasant visual feast to the eyes, kind of. But unfortunately the auteur seems lost touch with a good story and screenplay. A $25 million metatextual movie that get lost in its unnecessary 105 minutes of runtime.

The most Wes Anderson film ever, I think. The meticulous auteur seems like noticing memes and recreations about his work and decided to apply all that to this film. A pleasant visual feast to the eyes, kind of. But unfortunately the auteur seems lost touch with a good story and screenplay. A $25 million metatextual movie that get lost in its unnecessary 105 minutes of runtime.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

Kind of satisfying conclusion

[6/10 · 8 July 2023]

A dark and emotional entry in the MCU with a kind of satisfying closure for this ragtag group of family. The High Evolutionary was one of the most menacing and unhinged villain MCU ever produced and Chukwudi Iwuji delivered a threatening performance. Personally, I find this movie just an okay installment and nothing out of ordinary. Unpolished, kinda colourless and overall a film that failed to meet its expectations.

A dark and emotional entry in the MCU with a kind of satisfying closure for this ragtag group of family. The High Evolutionary was one of the most menacing and unhinged villain MCU ever produced and Chukwudi Iwuji delivered a threatening performance. Personally, I find this movie just an okay installment and nothing out of ordinary. Unpolished, kinda colourless and overall a film that failed to meet its expectations.

Sadako DX (2022)

Disappointing

[2/10 · 8 July 2023]

The Ring and Ju-On (The Grudge) are two of my favourite Japanese horror franchises. I'm kinda sad that both Hoga and Hollywood neglecting both of these franchises and I'm here waiting for more sequels, reboots, remakes and spin-offs.

This latest installment is science focused with unnecessary humor, sudden loud noises that was annoying af and also a sequel to Spiral (1998). I loved the production quality, cast (except Kazuma Kawamura, his clumsy nonsense was irritating and one of the worst parts of this movie) and the familiar feel. But unfortunately the overall quality was quite disappointing.

Knights of the Zodiac (2023)

Bland and tasteless

[2/10 · 29 June 2023]

We have yet another Dragonball Evolution situation here. Why Hollywood never learn? Let this film be another reminder that you can't adapt an anime for live-action with a half-assed production with a "self-taught" artist as director, screenplay written by three amateurs, low budget and mediocre production quality. Although, for a mid-level production budget I'm impressed by the VFX quality. The performances were flawed yet enjoyable, especially Madison Iseman and Mackenyu.

We have yet another Dragonball Evolution situation here. Why Hollywood never learn? Let this film be another reminder that you can't adapt an anime for live-action with a half-assed production with a "self-taught" artist as director, screenplay written by three amateurs, low budget and mediocre production quality. Although, for a mid-level production budget I'm impressed by the VFX quality. The performances were flawed yet enjoyable, especially Madison Iseman and Mackenyu.

Becky (II) (2020)

Entertaining

[6/10 · 28 June 2023]

Lulu Wilson is a talented actor with so much potential. Her performance felt natural and impressive. This was one of those movies that I can't find any negative criticism because it was well made for the budget they had. Also this film was a testament that you don't need tens of millions of dollars to create good movies, just real talent.

Lulu Wilson is a talented actor with so much potential. Her performance felt natural and impressive. This was one of those movies that I can't find any negative criticism because it was well made for the budget they had. Also this film was a testament that you don't need tens of millions of dollars to create good movies, just real talent.

Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King (2023)

I missed my knights

[7/10 · 25 June 2023]

Black Clover is one of my favourite anime's ever and I missed these characters so much. Every single character has a special place in my otaku heart.

Peak visual and art style with smooth and flawless animation. Anime is transforming rapidly as qualitywise and I can't wait for the future.

Black Clover is one of my favourite anime's ever and I missed these characters so much. Every single character has a special place in my otaku heart.

Peak visual and art style with smooth and flawless animation. Anime is transforming rapidly as qualitywise and I can't wait for the future.

Black Clover is one of my favourite anime's ever and I missed these characters so much. Every single character has a special place in my otaku heart.

Peak visual and art style with smooth and flawless animation. Anime is transforming rapidly as qualitywise and I can't wait for the future.

Beau Is Afraid (2023)

One of the worst films of this year

[1/10 · 18 June 2023]

A surrealist tragicomedy (whatever that means) horror (gtfo) "film" that is a whopping 3 hour dystopian nightmare. An absolute heap of trash. One of the worst and horrendous movies of this year. I lost all the respect and belief in Ari Aster's filmmaking prowess after this "movie". This anathema reminds me of Charlie Kaufman's 2020 repugnant vanity project, I'm Thinking of Ending Things.

Ari Aster's first misfire after two back-to-back masterpieces. What a shame! A weird, boring, confusing and disturbing film that is "saved" by its stellar production quality, beautiful visuals and cinematography and a perfect selection of songs and music.

The Ghost Station (2022)

Flawed

[2/10 · 16 June 2023]

A straight to VOD South Korean horror film with cheap-ish production quality and noticeable amateurism. Kim Bo Ra carried the whole movie (flaws and all) and I don't have many complaints about the cast, they all performed decently. Lots of Japanese horror influence from start to finish.

A straight to VOD South Korean horror film with cheap-ish production quality and noticeable amateurism. Kim Bo Ra carried the whole movie (flaws and all) and I don't have many complaints about the cast, they all performed decently. Lots of Japanese horror influence from start to finish.

A straight to VOD South Korean horror film with cheap-ish production quality and noticeable amateurism. Kim Bo Ra carried the whole movie (flaws and all) and I don't have many complaints about the cast, they all performed decently. Lots of Japanese horror influence from start to finish.

Fast X (2023)

Disappointed

[4/10 · 11 June 2023]

The first 10-15 minutes or so was enjoyable with nostalgic and emotional moments that reminded me I'm part of the family, again. Unfortunately after that, the story and the direction felt unsatisfying and disappointed. Bizarre character choices and decisions, convoluted twists and turns that felt airless and many characters aren't given much screen time or development. Brie Larson's performance was like someone forced to do something that they're incapable of. She can't act. Jason Momoa is a powerhouse with his tremendous screen presence and infectious charismatic performance. His performance reminded me of The Joker.

Unlike previous installments, this film conceived as the first part of a finale with a cliffhanger ending. By doing so, they did some rushed "shocking" reveals that ends up confusing and not in a good way.

Universal Pictures needs to cut back the budget they're spending on these movies. They could've easily made this movie in $200-250 million range and they opted to settle with $340 million. Also the VFX was most of the time were cheap and phoney looking for an eighth-most expensive film ever made. At the end of the day it's all about profit and I want more installments from Fast & Furious family.

John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)

Decent

[6/10 · 10 June 2023]

Overall a decent yet deeply flawed and the weakest entry in the franchise. An utterly unnecessary and bloated running time with slow pacing storytelling that bored the crap out of me. The admittedly jaw-dropping and creatively impressive action sequences grind on for so long that they become borderline tedious. This one had too much style but not enough substance, courtesy of the convoluted screenplay and messy direction. Also I didn't liked some of the performances, especially Bill Skarsgård, because he didn't had any character development and his accent was off-putting. The stunt they pulled with that outrageous post-credits scene is like a middle finger to the audience. There better be a follow-up in the sequel.

On the positive side, this movie is packed with stunning visuals, eye-popping cinematography, stellar locations + set pieces, brilliant music and impressive worldbuilding for an original IP.

This movie is a reminder to all the major film studios that you don't need $200 million+ to make epic looking movies (that most of 'em turns out to be VFX monstrosity), you'll only need $100 million and real passionate + talented people behind the screen to create epic level of action spectacle with mostly practical effects and on location shooting without the over-reliance on CGI and green screen.

Lego Batman: The Movie - DC Super Heroes Unite (2013 Video)

Flawed

[2/10 · 28 May 2023]

A film adaptation of Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes with compilation of cutscenes from the game as well as new scenes to replace gameplay.

The overall feel of the film was dull and tiresome. Lackluster VA performances and the weak direction and writing ruined this "movie" and the only saving grace was it's art style.

A film adaptation of Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes with compilation of cutscenes from the game as well as new scenes to replace gameplay.

The overall feel of the film was dull and tiresome. Lackluster VA performances and the weak direction and writing ruined this "movie" and the only saving grace was it's art style.

Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo (2006 TV Movie)

Boring

[2/10 · 27 May 2023]

The film that serves as the series finale of the original Teen Titans television series. I never seen the original series so maybe that's why I'm not a fan of this version of Titans voice by the same cast that also voices the superior and more likable Teen Titans Go! Version.

The humour was flat and the writing was unbelievably silly and stupid. Also the pacing and direction were tedious and dull.

The film that serves as the series finale of the original Teen Titans television series. I never seen the original series so maybe that's why I'm not a fan of this version of Titans voice by the same cast that also voices the superior and more likable Teen Titans Go! Version.

The humour was flat and the writing was unbelievably silly and stupid. Also the pacing and direction were tedious and dull.

Teen Titans Go! Vs. Teen Titans (2019 Video)

Very good

[7/10 · 26 May 2023]

A crossover between Teen Titans Go! And the original Teen Titans television series. A love letter to the franchise with fan-satisfying fun and well written and humourous dialogues with an outstanding voice cast.

It was so cool watching the multiverse iterations of Teen Titans in various style and medium in their own universes and the final fight with Teen Titans of Infinite Earths vs. Hexagon/Trigon.

A crossover between Teen Titans Go! And the original Teen Titans television series. A love letter to the franchise with fan-satisfying fun and well written and humourous dialogues with an outstanding voice cast.

It was so cool watching the multiverse iterations of Teen Titans in various style and medium in their own universes and the final fight with Teen Titans of Infinite Earths vs. Hexagon/Trigon.

Teen Titans Go! See Space Jam (2021 Video)

What was the point?

[2/10 · 25 May 2023]

Space Jam with Teen Titans Go! Commentary. What was the point of this film? I know this was a marketing tool for promoting Space Jam: A New Legacy but why made a "film" with Teen Titans Go! Characters front and centre if they only appeared in less than 10 minutes in an 83 minutes movie and the rest of the time it's just Space Jam?

Space Jam with Teen Titans Go! Commentary. What was the point of this film? I know this was a marketing tool for promoting Space Jam: A New Legacy but why made a "film" with Teen Titans Go! Characters front and centre if they only appeared in less than 10 minutes in an 83 minutes movie and the rest of the time it's just Space Jam?

LEGO DC: Shazam! Magic and Monsters (2020 Video)

Heartwarming

[7/10 · 19 May 2023]

Well written dialogues, story and a splendid voice cast (the kid versions were cute). Every joke hit the mark and the humour was organic. One of the best adaptations of Captain Marvel / Shazam. An emotional and heartwarming character arc and I loved the portrayal of other heroes too.

If Shazam! Fury of the Gods based on this story the film wouldn't have been a flop.

Well written dialogues, story and a splendid voice cast (the kid versions were cute). Every joke hit the mark and the humour was organic. One of the best adaptations of Captain Marvel / Shazam. An emotional and heartwarming character arc and I loved the portrayal of other heroes too.

If Shazam! Fury of the Gods based on this story the film wouldn't have been a flop.

Psycho (1998)

Very bad

[2/10 · 18 May 2023]

This movie felt like a parody version of the original. A shot-for-shot retelling than a full-fledged remake. Who wants to see that?

A pointless modern "remake" that wasted $60 million for Gus Van Sant's mediocrity. An exact copy of the original with a modern look. I'm not entirely satisfied with the modernized look of the Bates family house and motel. I prefer the original because it was the best.

Vince Vaughn as Norman Bates is one of the worst casting choices in history. His struggle to mimic Anthony Perkins' mannerisms and charisma failed miserably and it was embarassing to watch him doing all that subpar performance. R. I. P. Anne Heche. The only standout performance in this movie with her charm and beauty.

Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990 TV Movie)

A good one

[7/10 · 17 May 2023]

The fourth and final film in the original Psycho franchise, and Anthony Perkins' final appearance in the series before his death in 1992.

A thrilling origin story that was surprisingly entertaining and enjoyable. I loved the stylish direction, performances and the dialogues. I get to witness three versions of the Bates family house and motel; the lively and fresh looking, the most derelict and finally the burned version. Henry Thomas did a fantastic, emotional, empathetic and most relatable performance as Norman Bates. Perkins delivered a final satisfying performance and he concluded it on a high note.