matbriggs76 Reviews

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020)

Great start with lots of potential

[8/10 · 27 September 2013]

I'm not sure why some of the reviewers have already dismissed this show. I wonder what people expect from a pilot but I think there are too many expectations based on The Avengers (and other superhero films). It's a TV show so there's going to be a lot of differences with respect to pace, storytelling and character build-up. Don't expect an hour packed full of action like a film.

In my opinion the pilot was a really strong start to what looks like will be a really good TV show. It's obvious a lot of money has been spent on the show because the special effects are better than the majority of films. The cast has been well selected as the acting was strong and no characters looked out of place. Even from the first episode you can start to warm and empathize with most of the characters. Visually it looks great. For fans of the superhero genre this is a sure winner (if you leave your expectations at the door). I watched it with three friends and we're all really looking forward to the next installment.

Nice work Joss, keep it coming!

Ritual (2012)

Original and engrossing

[8/10 · 25 March 2013]

I'm not sure why this film is receiving low scores as I really enjoyed it. Basically, a guy wakes up in a shallow grave in the woods with amnesia and has to work out what's going on. He finds a cabin and the mystery begins to unfold. Or does it. It's not until the final scene where the plot takes a huge leap and, in my opinion, it's worth watching it just for that.

There are hints of Korean film-making in it, like Old Boy. It's atmospheric and tense throughout and it's quite an original film. I think what makes the film a cut above the rest is the sound. You really need to watch the film in surround sound as the sound is one of the strong points that adds to the tension. The mystery kept me guessing until right at the end. It's a very dark film on retrospect and I'd recommend you go into it without any expectations. Just enjoy the ride and wait for the awesome final scene. As I said, it's very original. I hope we see more films from Joko Anwar as he's certainly got talent and the potential to bring Indonesian film into the limelight.

The Wicked (2013 Video)

Dreadful film

[1/10 · 24 March 2013]

I was skeptical of the 9.3 rating from 11 users. I was right. There's nothing going for this film whatsoever. Those 11 users must be friends of the producers, or even the actors themselves. I've seen quite a few bad horror films in my time but this is possibly the worst. I knew straight away that it was low budget by the special effects at the start. I've never seen anything like it. I can watch some low-budget horror films as they're quite humorous, but the acting is so terrible that I had to turn it off. I did skip through the film to see if it picked up but it didn't. I wouldn't waste your time. The story, acting and special effects are so awful that this is possibly the worst film I've ever seen.