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Reviews
Captives (1994)
A Good and Misunderstood Film
I like this film and think it's misunderstood. If you take this film as a forbidden love story then it's not that interesting. I believe it's a psychological exploration into why some people are drawn into dangerous relationships with dangerous people. The Tim Roth character is not a good person and it's debatable how much he is using her. It's also debatable to what extent the Julia Ormond character loves him or is she looking for an escape from her unhappy life and develops an obsession with him. The 2 leads give great performances and have a very believable chemistry. The villains are the most one dimensional and least interesting part of the story. I didn't like the implication that the villains were gay, especially considering how few gay characters there were in the early nineties. Overall, if you like stories about human psychology and obsessive relationships then you should enjoy this.
High Low with EmRata (2022)
Interesting Podcast
I often listen on my way to work. Emily is articulate, relaxed and thoughtful as a host. She is open about her own life without dominating the interviews. She has had some good guests and explored some interesting topics. I like that she has people like sex workers on and is completely respectful towards them.
It taught me about some issues I was not aware of like the troubled teen industry. Some Podcasts ramble about nonsense quite a lot (which I don't always mind it depends how it is done). If you want one which is more to the point, you should like this one.
(And no it's not remotely anti Men)
Avouterie (2015)
Entertaining In a Sleazy Way
I enjoyed this film, while knowing it's far from great art. It was like watching an episode of Jerry Springer or a trashy soap opera. Watchable and fun. It was intense, quite well shot and had a few good plot twists. The acting is a lot better than most films of this kind. Sean Faris was over the top, but in a way I liked.
I get the impression that some of the scenes designed to appeal to people with interracial cuckold fantasies.
The only complaint I have is that I feel the film was wanting us to side with the character Sam a little too much. Yes, being cheated on is heartbreaking, but he does some truly indefensible things.
Overall, if you are looking for something that is the film equivalent of fast food and/or like films about sexual jealousy and revenge, you will probably enjoy this.
Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken! (2017)
Interesting but Flawed
Interesting film which does a great job of showing how the fast food/meat industry lies to us about the damage eating their food does to our health and cover up how horrifically the animals are treated. I don't agree with everything Spurlock does in the film and I don't think he goes far enough with what he shows, but still interesting to watch
Forks Over Knives (2011)
Very eye opening
A watchable and interesting film. Particularly if you like good documentaries and/or are interested in how the system is lying to and manipulating us
Carnage: Swallowing the Past (2017)
A Must See For Fans of Simon Amstell
Very funny and thought provoking. I've always been a fan of Simon Amstel and he doesn't disappoint. Great cast as well.
Vegucated (2011)
Entertaining ng and thought provoking
Very interesting film. Worth watching even if you have no interest in being Vegetarian just to make you think and help you learn while also being entertained
Dominion (2018)
Should Be Watched By Everyone
Very important film. Should be shown at schools and on prime time tv.
Earthlings (2005)
Excellent and important film
Should be watched by everyone in the US and to people who want to know more about how animals are treated, as the things that happen in this film happen all over the world.
Land of Hope and Glory (2017)
Very Important Film
Anyone who is against unnecessary cruelty should watch this film.
Very interesting and informative in itself. People who don't believe that this kind of cruelty would not be allowed should definitely watch this film as it provides proof that is does.
It Was Rape (2013)
A Simple, Thoughtful Film
Before I start by review to A Baron I would like to point this out - the woman Karen originally intended to have sex with a man, but changed her mind and he scared her into it anyway. Only a rapist would frighten a woman into having sex with him. People are allowed to change their mind. The other survivors interviewed are a woman who were forced to have sex. That is always rape. Anyone who says otherwise is the one with the twisted view of things.
As for the film. Anyone watching can expect women talking about their experiences of sexual violence. If you want to know more about police procedures or research you will not find it here. The film acts as a platform for women to tell their stories. The stories themselves and powerful and interesting and no other input is needed. The film doesn't preach, it just allows you to listen and learn.
Rape is still a crime that is all too common and yet difficult to talk about. This film helps people to share and to listen and for that it is worth seeing.
The Wicker Man (1973)
A Good Story But A Badly Made Film
To me the Wicker Man has the ingredients to be a classic horror film. It has a good story, a good twist at the end and doesn't have the clichés that most horror films are full of. But unfortunately apart from Christopher Lee and maybe Ingrid Pitt the acting is either average or downright bad - the landlord, Britt Eklands father looks like he should be in a pantomime - and it lacks suspense or atmosphere that a film (especially a slow paced film) needs to keep the viewer interested.
Many parts of the film are silly, the Landlords Daughter song where Britt Ekland's character laughs and dances happily as the men of the village label her a sex object that everybody gets to sleep with is a real low point, and the Scottish accents are terrible which is distracting and pretty disappointing considering The Wicker Man is a British film.
There is nothing wrong with the basic story and the way it is brought together and they keep you guessing till the end is clever and I also think it is interesting that they made the main character unlikable but unfortunately for me the faults of the film outweigh the good points.
Apparently the remake is terrible which is a shame because I feel that if this was well directed and acted it could be a really good film but sadly it isn't.
On the Buses (1971)
The Worst Film I Have Ever Seen
My family watched this film after receiving it as a present and the one person who liked it was my 8 year old cousin which tells you how bad it is.
One scene in the film shows a woman being blocked in and made to climb out of a bus window showing her underwear and burning her legs while the men laugh at her but the viewers are encouraged to view her as the villain. I have a friend who worked in a factory and was pawed, bullied and had her work deliberately disrupted by a minority of her male co-workers very much like the women in this film so to see this behaviour shown as acceptable and funny is pretty depressing and to see others call it harmless because there's no swearing is doubly depressing.
Some argue it's only a film and not to be taken seriously but I wonder if they'd feel the same if school bullying was being shown as good fun. Workplace harassment can seriously damage peoples lives and self-esteem so I don't think it's oversensitive to say that it shouldn't be glorified. It is not - as some other viewers have said - a film that everyone of its generation can enjoy as my parents and grandparents both hated it. Not because of the constant woman chasing - lots of shows have that - but because of the demonising of work women and the pantomime level humor.
I don't mind programmes like Till Death Us Do Part in which a character is bigoted but their attitudes are shown as wrong and I also don't like extreme political correctness partly because when there are cases like this and people comment on it others defend the sexism by complaining about "PC madness". Those who say that On the Buses wasn't bad because it was popular should remember that Baywatch was once the most popular programme in the world - though even Baywatch wasn't as embarrassingly awful as this. Some argue that if you don't like it don't watch it but you could say that about any negative film review and you don't find out you don't like it until you have seen it. I also notice that a few reviewers are quick to childishly insult anybody who disagrees with them. "SANDRASMALL (and she must be)"? Is that the best you could come up with?
But of course I'm just spouting a load of feminist rubbish because we all know women were treated much better when their were no laws protecting them from sexual harassment, no refuges for battered wives and a woman could be ostracised for leaving her husband even if he hit her which is what happened to my great aunt.
Anyway On the Buses is a painfully bad film which I don't recommend to anyone except die hard fans of the show and doesn't reflect what the majority of men, women or working class people are like.