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Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
Best part of the movie was the end ... When they played the theme music.
Dreadful. So disappointing. Used to better stuff from T Crizzle and Chris. Sad, sad, sad. How does this film even get put together in this state? Where do I begin ... ? Well, stunts were majority CGI. At least when TC did a mad stunt in the previous films you could see he did the real thing, and it heightened everything. Here, the most dangerous thing he did was a parachute glide or two and ride a bike with some funny goggles on. Writing - abysmal! The lines the actors were given - yikes! Cliché after cliché permeates the whole film - not just the writing - all of it! Seems like they were trying so hard to explain everything to everyone, without realising that people are going to get confused anyhow with such a terrible plot, and you're better off pumping it full of decent action instead. About time to get Senior Bay to take over, I'd say ... At least he knows what he's doing action wise, and doesn't just result to a bunch of digital effects. So looking forward to Part Two ... -_-
The Whale (2022)
Uninteresting. Another "trendy ratio" waste.
Nothing new. Nothing interesting or noteworthy. No need to go into the lack of empathy solicited for the characters. Or the poor blocking and framing. The academy ratio, or "trendy ratio" as I like to now call it, seeing as the significance of such has been wholly ruined in the last five plus years, is another thing which stirs the heart. No need for it. What was the point? The 3:4 ratio wasn't taken advantage of visually for one second of film. It's contrived to say the least. Brendon is a great actor, but that's about it. Scenes were rote and laborious. It's just boring. Predictable. Uninteresting. Sad. Give the cash to someone else next time.
Memoria (2021)
The most unpredictable ending in cinema history. Brilliant.
This film does what few are able to. It pulls you into the world which it depicts. You feel you are living the film. And while this particular world may not the most exciting for many, it is a nonetheless intensely intriguing, captivating and challenging one.
While one really needs to be in the right mindset or mood to watch it, I feel in any case, Memoria has an originality and flow of not necessarily poetry but philosophical suggestions within it to be rewarding for more than one viewing. In fact, I'd recommend at least a second go at it. If not only for clarity's sake, but to immerse yourself again in such a warm bath of cinema.
The Square (2017)
Meandering Mess
There are some funny bits, a few good exchanges, and of course some on the nose moments concerning commentary about so-called modern art ... However, the rest is a little like that which it seems to poke a stick at - shock value for views. Mostly not enough happens of any great worth or interest. The lead character didn't give me enough reasons to care about him, and the whole piece ended up dithering away into a melodrama ... By this I mean that I wanted to know what happened in the end, but ENDED UP skipping more than half of the film to see what the result was. Bit of a waste of time.
Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)
The Critics Are Idiots
1. People who proclaim to be critics of life, have no idea what it is like to truly live.
This is one of those special occasions when the public and the critic's opinion is utterly split. And here I am, from the party of filmmaker and life participant, to tell you who is correct. Well, in actuality, there is no "correct", just those who open themselves to be swept into the life of a movie. And if you are one of those, and not a soulless register of opinions, then watch this film, be happy, sad and scared, and keep on living :)
Shadow of the Dead (2014)
Something different!
It's difficult to fully explain "Shadow of the Dead", as it's not your regular short film. For starters, there isn't any actual "film" in it, the whole story being told through the use of black & white photographs, on screen text, music and sound effects. The story is about Hugh, a man who has seemingly become estranged from his wife. At the beginning of the film he tries to reconnect with her, but when she refuses, he is left to wander alone. As he does so, a homeless man calls him by name and reveals a kind of prophecy. Hugh is left confused, going home to sleep, but still being greatly effected by the homeless man's words.
The next morning is when the tale takes a turn towards science fiction, with Hugh awakening to be confronted with a world completely devoid of any other human being or animal. He wanders alone though an empty city, before finding his way into a tunnel and then out into a wilder and wilderness landscape, also empty of people. As he walks for days and days, still alone, Hugh finally comes across some signs of civilisation, but they hold yet another twist for Hugh, and not in the way he would have hoped for!
All in all, the idea of showing the film without any actors on screen or even voiceover is cool and different, but it does mean you need to read a lot of the on screen story. This of course isn't a problem for anyone used to watching films with subtitles ... And the ending has a heavy sense of ambiguity, which some people may like, but others may hate.
Overall, if you're looking for something a little different, with mystery, fantasy and sci-fi elements, then definitely give this film a go!
Thoughts of Light and Dark (2016)
Thoughtful and Meditative
An interesting film using duel narration to tell the story of a man with a quandary. Shot mostly at night, "Thoughts of Light and Dark" follows the inner thoughts and wanderings of an artist, as he contemplates his next moves in life. He questions his motivations as well struggling with decisions about which path he should follow next.
With some nice low light images, the story really is only a snippet of what could be a much longer tale. If anything, though, this is one of its flaws, as it really doesn't contain a traditional beginning, middle and end. Despite this, the ideas raised are intriguing enough to hold your attention, and may move you to apply some of the same thinking towards your own goals and dreams ...
That's Not Me (2017)
Comedy is Difficult
Comedy IS difficult. It's difficult to do, and it's difficult to get right. This film, sadly, fails on both accounts, and more ...
The movie is shot OK, looking quite presentable, and the acting from a lot of the characters is alright too. But where "That's Not Me" really falls into its deepest hole is in failing to meet up to the expectation of its apparent genre - it's just not funny. Not even remotely. In actuality, it has more than a few cringe worthy scenes throughout which were clearly intended to be comedic, but aren't.
In short - the movie is uninteresting, boring even, with little or no plot and/or emotion to make you care what's going to happen next. There is also nothing dynamic, either visually or in the storytelling. In shorter than short - it doesn't do what it says on the tin.
The Kettering Incident (2016)
Imagination - if you don't have it, nor understand it, don't watch. Simple.
OK - first review on IMDb because this show needs a voice, and the people who don't understand the point of "mystery" need to be answered to.
First off - don't listen to any of the negative reviews of this series. They are written by people of limited imagination and/or patience. They are from people who wish their stories to be all nicely concluded with a tight shiny bow tied up at the end, all explained. People who do not understand, nor appreciate fantasy and sci-fi elements in storytelling. These are people who take ambiguity as a bad thing in fiction.
The series is by no means perfect. The writing and the direction is not flawless. However, the setting and intrigue in the narrative are enough to earn it more than a seven out of ten. The imagination and abstract nature of the show are its largest positive attributes and facets. Ambiguity makes you think, and leaves you with a resonance of thought, one which you take away and keep from the visual and auditory experience you have just bared witness to.
If you enjoy watching something which keeps you thinking, sees you going to bed at night feeling that little bit more uneasy about the world you live in and makes you try to guess what is going to happen next, but without giving too much away to the person you are telling your predictions to because in all honesty you aren't at all sure what's going on - then this is the show for you!
In short - if you like stories which are not predictable, do not tell you what happens to everyone and everything, then watch 'The Kettering Incident' and make up your own mind.
On the other hand, if you are the type of person who watches 'The Walking Dead' or some other such nonsense, then maybe this is a little above your imagination scale, so best to leave it alone.