healingpampered Reviews

Malignant (I) (2021)

A Love Letter to Horror B Movies

[8/10 · 12 September 2021]

I heard a lot of chatter about Malignant being some kind of neo-Giallo film, but I really think that was just an attempt to distract from the true nature of this film, to protect the twist in the third act. Sure there are elements of Giallo here but they are just nods. The true parentage of Malignant is over-the-top violent, frenetic paced and usually at least SEMI tongue-in-cheek horror B movies from the 70's and 80's. James Wan sets the viewer up for the ride in the opening sequence with an absolutely bonkers set piece that lets you know his intentions right off the bat. It's gonna be bloody, violent and poke fun at it's own parentage. I truly believe that this is done as a way to communicate to the viewer - "Stay with us on this ride. It's going somewhere great. The 2nd act will drag a little but there is a good reason." Once you see the reveal, you understand a lot of the more puzzling elements earlier on.

Now, is this film an acting class? Nope. It is the most clever plot you'll ever see? Not even. Will you guess the twist early on? That depends on how many of these types of films you have seen before. I figured out what sub-genre this was early on but I didn't get the twist until about five seconds before it dropped in all it's glory. I only had time to get out "NO WAY." before my wife said "What?" and then we were both like - "WT actual F?!?!"

I just have to applaud James Wan for attempting something fresh and semi-original here. There is so much to like about this film. The cinematography, most of the special effects, the humor, the way it doesn't pull punches with the violence - and the fact that there is no gratuitous sexuality. This film is on a mission. If you relax, have fun with it and don't take it (or yourself) too seriously, this film is a blast and a joy to behold, for fans of bloody disgusting horror, anyway. If you don't like violence, DO NOT watch this film. There are no jump scares and no silly Deus-Ex-Machina resolutions. In the end it all makes glorious, ridiculous, bloody, violent sense.

If you dig movies like My Bloody Valentine, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Basket Case, Dead Ringers, Sinister, etc... you will most likely be grinning like an idiot at the end of Malignant. Invite some friends over, order a pizza and have a blast with this one. It's definitely worth checking out.

Project Power (2020)

Better than most major studio releases

[9/10 · 19 August 2020]

If you can look past the wildly implausible premise, which you have to with every superhero movie, Project Power is a knockout punch of a movie.

Dressed up as a Summer Action Blockbuster, this film actually sneaks in heaping helpings of heart, humor, pathos and clever storytelling that all add up to a truckload of fun for the viewer with her/his willing suspension of disbelief glasses firmly affixed.

Without the three leads, this film would just be forgettable eye candy. But the casting director(s) made a wise decision not only in snagging Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt but mostly in choosing Dominique Fishback for the role of Robin. She steps up and goes toe to toe with both of these A-listers in scene after scene. She is the heart and soul of this film and the main reason that it works as a character piece and affecting drama.

Things don't really start clicking into place until after the first 15 or 20 minutes but after that everything falls together nicely. Little throwaway jokes or visual gags come back around later with deeper meaning attached. Just when you think you know where the bottom is, the floor gives way again.

The visual style has flair without bring gimmicky. The dialogue is fresh and immediate without being forced or overwritten. The performances are all polished without coming off as brash or showy.

This is one of the best Netflix productions to date and hopefully it will boost the already ascending profile of Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman as well as pull Dominique Fishback's acting resume to the top of casting directors' lists from Toronto to Tokyo. This young lady has an Oscar in her future.

Project Power is an exciting, fun film worth checking out for fans of Sci-Fi Action films.

The Chosen (2017– )

We almost felt like we had gone back in time and witnessed his life first hand.

[10/10 · 23 December 2019]

Everyone should watch this groundbreaking new tv series (season one) that is meticulously based on the life of Jesus! We have watched numerous dramatic portrayals multiple times. However, this is the only one that we feel truly captures the reality on this level. We almost felt like we had gone back in time and witnessed his life first hand. It has definitely strengthened our faith and our ability to comprehend the ministry of Jesus in human form. We highly recommend it! It will give you a whole new enlightened perspective. Season two is in production right now! We are so excited!

The Chosen (2017– )

A whole new enlightened perspective.

[10/10 · 19 December 2019]

Everyone should watch this groundbreaking new tv series that is meticulously based on the life of Jesus! We have watched numerous dramatic portrayals multiple times. However, this is the only one that we feel truly captures the reality on this level. We almost felt like we had gone back in time and witnessed his life first hand. It definitely strengthened our faith and our ability to comprehend the ministry of Jesus in human form. We highly recommend it! It will give you a whole new enlightened perspective.

Divination (III) (2011)

I'm giving this eight stars but a couple of those are for effort.

[8/10 · 26 July 2017]

OK... so my husband has been bugging me to watch this for a long time. I have been resisting because I thought it would probably be terrible. However, when I watched the trailer I was impressed by the special effects. So tonight we finally watched Divination and you know what... it wasn't bad at all. I'm giving this eight stars but a couple of those are for effort. It's easy to see that the budget was relatively small for this production and that the actors didn't have a ton of experience, but despite that, the film hangs together pretty well. Let's just say I was never bored, and I was entertained throughout. I'm not going to get into a theological breakdown of the Christian aspect here... and I'm sure some would have quibbles just based on that. But for the budget and experience of the cast/crew, I have to give them a hand for the job they pulled off. I noticed a lot of little things, like the lighting, sound production, fight choreography and stunt coordination. A+ on all of those. If you are trying to compare the fight scenes to a $100 million dollar movie then you will be disappointed but this cast actually did a decent job. During a scene where the two main characters are running through a forest at night, the lighting actually works well. Lighting a scene at night is not easy. You have to know what you're doing.

Also, as mentioned, the highlight of this film really is the special effects, which help to ratchet up the tension of the drama and are pretty fun to watch. No, this film is not for everyone. If you are adamantly opposed to a Christian message in films, you won't like this. If you have a problem with low(er) budget movies and acting that's not top-notch then you also might want to skip it. If you don't mind those things, give Divination a shot. We were pleasantly surprised by how good this was and are really happy that we watched it! My husband says "I absolutely loved it! I liked watching the spiritual realm be visualized on screen."

Mr. Holmes (2015)

There seems to be an outbreak of mortality

[10/10 · 27 September 2016]

The opening scene of Mr. Holmes is affecting, quirky and memorable, albeit in a quiet and subtle way. It's a portent of things to come. As one would expect with a film with Sherlock Holmes as the title character, off-hand utterances and seemingly random, passing moments are pregnant with meaning and possibilities that are not apparent at first, or even third glance. Not, that is, unless you happen to have (super) powers of observation, which Mr. Holmes does, in excess. The comment made in this opening scene refers to bees and wasps... specifically their ongoing contentious relationship in nature. It all comes back around in the end, after a quietly rollicking, tender and affecting story which outlines the later winter of a cleverly hybridized version of the life of this famous detective.

Everything about this production is top notch, from the writing and acting to the cinematography, set design and costumes. It's Ian McKellen's performance that centers the entire thing though, like a sun centers a solar system... with gravity and brilliance. Of course, you pretty much expect genius level work from an actor like McKellen but seeing him in action here is a sublime pleasure. Some actors make acting look easy. McKellen is one of the rare actors that makes you forget he's acting and transports you to a dimension of total immersion where you really feel like you're a fly on the wall of these characters' lives. Everyone around him is also superb here, especially his three main co-stars, Laura Linnney, Hattie Morahan and Milo Parker, who plays Roger, the young son of his housekeeper and steals many of the scenes here. Holmes and Roger forge a genuine and touching friendship that in many ways is the heart of the film. Many actors, I'm sure, would be a bit frazzled by the prospect of trying to keep up with a thespian of such legendary stature and renown, but Milo Parker seems to take it in stride and gives as good as he gets. It's fun to watch.

Also, as you would expect in any story about Sherlock Holmes, there is a great mystery... accentuated by Mr. Holmes' advancing age and the mental decline that sometimes accompanies the process of growing older. It's a great dramatic device that the screenwriter employs expertly. The dialogue is witty, understated, intelligent and also echoes the mystery as it unfolds. The story folds back in on itself and jumps through the looking glass in a couple of interesting ways, with Holmes here being an amalgam version of his fictional self married to an alternate universe version where he is an actual historical figure, who has been immortalized in story form by Watson. We are treated to Sherlock Holmes standing in line for and then attending a filmed version of one of his real cases, that has been fictionalized then projected on a screen while he watches... in order to help stir his memory of the real case. Wow.

Fair warning - this is a quiet and somewhat "slow" film. It's never boring though. If you are into explosions, car chases, loud music, etc. in your cinematic fare, you won't find it here. What you WILL find is top notch writing and acting. This is a film for people who love movies that make them think and feel deeply. It's not confusing or hard to follow, but you do need to pay attention since things that seem like small insignificant details, end up being crucial to the overall narrative and where the characters end up. It's an exceptional piece of work and one of the best films of 2015.

Heritage Falls (2016)

Fantastic film for the whole family.

[10/10 · 26 September 2016]

Heritage Falls is a family film with a great story, wonderful performances and all around excellent production. This is a story that centers around a family which many real-life fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters and grandchildren will relate to.

A father who is very successful in the realm of local high school sports, to the point of being a local legend... is retiring. He has put his whole life into his student athletes, all of whom view him as a father figure and revere him. However, this father has never made a connection with his real son, partly due to his heavy involvement in his work and partly because they are simply very different people. The son is an aspiring writer and described as a "bookworm." The son has built a successful life on his own despite not following in his father's footsteps and also not succeeding in his chosen profession. He has a wife and son, both of whom he loves very much. HIS son has decided on a very different path from what was expected of him, echoing the relationship of his father and grandfather.

Due to an unforeseen circumstance, the retiring coach decides to take his son and grandson to the mountain retreat where he used to take his basketball teams in order to help them bond and build their character. Needless to say, this idea does not go over well and results in a "fish out of water" scenario, which is very amusing and well played by the actors involved.

There are a few surprises along the way and things are not as they seem, which provides most of the drama involved, but this film also hits many comedic moments along with a variety of scenes that run from heartwarming to tense to hilarious. The best known name in this cast is probably David Keith but the entire cast is great. Three actors really carry this whole film and are the cornerstone of the story... David Keith, Coby Ryan McLaughlin and Keean Johnson. They each take parts that could be relegated to clichés and elevate them to fully fleshed out and believable characters. Their chemistry is natural feeling and works wonderfully. They are all called on to produce a variety of emotions and scenes and it never falls flat or lags. The pacing is quick and the story keeps moving briskly in an interesting way.

This is also a film that you can take the entire family to see. There is nothing in this film that you wouldn't want your kids to see and the message (while not heavy handed or obvious) is a solid one about family, yet not hokey or preachy. The people represented here are complex, far from perfect and dealing with everyday issues - just like the rest of us. There is one sequence of mild tension, when the fate of one of the characters is unknown for a brief period of time, but it wouldn't be scary or overwhelming for younger kids.

Our family tries to support films that are family friendly and are also just really good movies. Heritage Falls is a perfect example of this. Here's hoping the team behind this film keeps going and makes more quality movies that the whole family can enjoy!