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RyanCamplin
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Mean Streets (1973)
An interesting film, very real.
This film is classic Scorsese. It's so real you almost forget you're watching a film. A great example of this is the fight scenes, they're not Hollywood fights, they're like a real life bar fight and this really does add to the grittiness. There are a few scenes which are just so iconic. The soundtrack is fantastic and the way that they play the exact opposite of what you want to hear really catches you off guard, whereas in most films you can tell when something's going to happen because the music changes, this doesn't happen in Mean Streets and makes the entire thing feel so much more real. The characters are brilliant although I feel they could have elaborated on Charlie's uncle a bit more. De Niro as the uncontrollable, arrogant good-for-nothing and Keitel as his attempted saviour works a treat and both deliver fantastic performances. You can tell that Scorsese has grown up in and around this kind of life and the whole thing is believable as a result of this. If you're looking for an all gun's blazing action you'll be disappointed. If you like realistic character studies, then you'll adore Mean Streets.
The Warriors (1979)
One of all my all time favourites.
The warriors is an amazing movie. It has so much action and such a great story. The film, interestingly enough, is based on the exact same story that '300' is based on! A story dating back to ancient Greece about a small number of Greek warriors, fighting against a large number of Romans. In the film, The Warriors are accused of killing an almost messiah figure among New York gangs and as a result are the target of every gang in the city. They must run from and fight their way past every gang that tries to kill them, so they can return to their turf on the other side of New York. The film was done in a comic book style, which really makes the film what it is. You can see the comic book style clearly in the transitions between scenes. It doesn't take itself too seriously but at the same time it's serious enough to be a believable story you can throw yourself into. The gangs have extravagant costumes and this really adds to the enjoyment of the film. I mean, who wouldn't love a group of baseball bat donning hooligans dressed in pin- stripes and face paint? The whole thing is bizarre but brilliant. The soundtrack is one of the best things about this movie. The radio show throughout plays some amazing songs and the score is probably one of my favourites of all time. The only reason, and I really do mean the ONLY reason, I can't bring myself to give this film a 10, is the acting. Some of it really is quite bad. But if you can look past that, which I hope you can, this film is brilliant. Swan and Ajax are such brilliant characters, as is the villain, Luther. There are a handful of great quotes and some of the camera angles are absolute genius. I can't recommend this film highly enough.
Gone Girl (2014)
One of the best thrillers in years.
Gone girl is an excellent thriller with so many twists. It keeps you guessing through the entire film, I thought it was a little slow on the uptake, but as the film goes on, you realise it really needed that slow start to help build up the image of the perfect life slowly falling to pieces. The quality of acting is brilliant, especially Rosamund Pike. The only exception being Missi Pyle as Ellen Abbott who I thought was awful, I cringed every time she was on screen. But don't let that ruin the film for you. I must admit, the ending lets the film down a little bit. After sitting through a two and a half hour film, you want an eventful end, something that makes it feel worthwhile. Unfortunately, it just kinda finishes... it's an interesting but largely unsatisfying end. I would have rated this film a 9 if the ending had have been more satisfying. Overall, one of the best thrillers in years, needs to be watched.
Taking Lives (2004)
Worth a watch for sure but nothing too special.
This film is alright. It's nothing to rave about but at the same time I'm glad I watched it. Angeline Jolie is quite good in it, as is Ethan Hawke. There's nothing too amazing about it, there's a couple of alright twists here and there. You can probably see them coming though to be honest. There are some pretty exciting scenes, and without revealing too much, probably the best jump-scare I've ever experienced in any film. The soundtrack is pretty good, any film that opens with U2 then follows it up with The Clash is a winner in my eyes. Overall, a good thriller but pretty run of the mill. Worth a watch though if, like me, you are fascinated by all things serial killer and cat and mouse thrillers.
The Thing (1982)
Excellent Horror Film
This film is brilliant. The setting of the antarctic is perfect, it adds to the idea of isolation and really makes the film semi- believable, I mean if there's one place a killer alien can go unnoticed for so long, surely it's here right? The special effects are unbelievably good considering it was released in 1982. It works on so many levels. You can take whatever you want from this film. You can watch it just for pure horror and shock value, or you can watch it for a rather interesting look at the human psyche. The paranoia running through the film makes it stand out from other horrors. Mac isn't your typical hero but that makes the film seem much more real and adds to the horror. Overall, a fantastic film and you can take as much as you want from it.
Defiance (2008)
Must see for fans of factual films / war films.
First of all, what an amazing story. The fact that this film is based on real life events only adds to the awe. It helps you really connect with the characters and makes the whole thing so much more amazing.
The film itself is brilliantly made. The acting is outstanding across the board. The best thing about this film is that they resisted the temptation to turn this into an all out action film, because it really would have done the story a disservice. The dynamics between the characters is really intriguing and there isn't a dull moment. It's full of suspense, emotion and enough action to really give you your fill of pure action. One of the best films I've seen recently and can't think of a single area to criticise.
Evil Dead II (1987)
Worst film I've ever seen.
This film really is terrible. I really liked the first 'evil dead' and was so excited to watch this sequel, (if you can even call it a sequel), but I was left extremely disappointed. The first film was scary, filled with suspense and plenty of gore. The ending of the first one definitely left the possibility open for a sequel and I couldn't wait. However, Evil Dead II really does not follow on from the first film whatsoever. I won't write any spoilers, but if you watch both films you'll see what I mean about the beginning of Evil Dead II being very confusing given what happened at the end of Evil Dead.
The genre is listed as 'comedy, horror'. This is my main gripe with this movie. It is caught between both genres and achieves neither. Firstly, I don't understand why Sam Raimi decided to make this film a 'comedy'. The first film was a genuinely good horror film. Sure, the gore was a little over the top at times and I can see why some would have found it a little amusing, but to actively try to make Evil Dead II funny was a huge mistake in my opinion. There is nothing funny about it and there is nothing scary about it. It's just really cheap looking gore and stupidity. I have to admit I only watched the first 45 minutes because I found it so unbelievably bad. Who knows, maybe it redeems itself entirely in the last half an hour but I highly doubt it.
This film has amazing reviews as well... maybe I'm missing something or it's gained a cult following due to its strange attempt at comedy; or maybe its simply because it's an old film and the good reviews are the result of Nostalgia. Either way, I simply don't get it and would not recommend this film to anyone.
The Interview (2014)
Don't watch if you want sophisticated comedy.
I have seen a lot of terrible reviews of this film, complaining about its silly nature and immature comedy style. If you're familiar with any of Seth Rogen's other films then you know what to expect. I can't help but feel that some of the awful reviews on here are as a result of the publicity of this film attracting viewers who aren't typically attracted to Rogen's comedy style. Is it low brow? Yes. Is it silly? Yes. Is it funny? Yes. There were some scenes in this film where I just could not stop laughing. There's nothing subtle or clever about the comedy, but it works if you're in to this kind of comedy. Seth Rogen brings his usual style to the film and James Franco and Randall Park are absolutely brilliant, they really made the film what it is. The portrayal of Kim Jong Un is very funny and the character of Dave Skylark as the idiotic, gullible TV host is fantastic; James Franco plays the role to perfection.
Overall, a really funny film. If you don't like silly comedies, simply don't watch.
Mad Max (1979)
Worth a watch but don't expect too much action.
This film was not quite what I expected. From the synopsis about a post-apocalyptic cop seeking vengeance for his family and partner, I expected fast paced brutal action. I guess the film was limited by a low budget, but I still can't help but feel this film was very slow on the uptake. I couldn't really tell you what happened for the first hour or so of this film. It wasn't boring as such, just kind of nothing- y. I wasn't a big fan of Hugh Keays-Byrne as Toecutter but that's just personal preference. I have to say, I found the soundtrack to be awful. Both the score and the mixing. At times the dialogue was almost inaudible and I found myself reaching for the remote several times during the film turning it up and down according to what was happening, I'd recommend watching with headphones if possible. As for the score, it was rather cheesy and dated. Then again, this is often the case in movies from this era. Worth a watch but don't expect too much high-octane action, because you will probably be disappointed due to the film's low budget.
Footloose (1984)
A must see for all lovers of 80s and cheese
This charming, cheese-tastic 80s teen flick is packed full of great songs. The soundtrack alone is enough to make it worth a watch. But on top of the fabulous soundtrack, the story is surprisingly good and its actually well acted. Lori Singer's character is rather intriguing and her progression throughout the film is possibly the best thing about this film, despite Kevin Bacon obviously getting all the credit as the main character, Ren. Chris Penn is an exceptional supporting actor and this film really does not deserve some of the hatred it gets. It's almost 'cool to hate'. As long as you're not expecting too much and just want a fabulously 80s, uplifting, feel-good film, then you can't go too far wrong with footloose.