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Reviews
Monkey Man (2024)
Tough......to watch
I had an internal battle whether to give this a harsh 5 or generous 6.... I eventually went for a 5 as I ultimately never felt satisfaction from watching the film.
On the positives, Dev Patel showcases that he should be considered for a broader range of roles and can deliver in both action and drama when the script allows for it. As his directorial deput, the film was certainly not flawless, seen by a number of vanity shots that failed to serve or move the story, that being said he clearly has the capacity to develop into a quality director when armed with stronger scripts and perhaps DOP.
On the negatives, the motivation for the Protagonist, despite being glaringly obvious and stereotypical, arrives far too late in the film and you fail to build any sense of sympathy or connection towards the character. The constant references to John Wick became irritating and only served to reinforce the poor efforts taken to clone a successful franchise. The cinematography and musical score lacked cohesion and consistency, something you can forgive and forget if the story grips you, alas it did not and shortcomings such as this merely became more noticeable.
Overall, I was hoping and expected more than the action filmed that was delivered. The hope was to see something more thought provoking or character driven compared to the John Wick clone which was delivered.
You can forgive a lot with action films, but this fell flat with a script that seemed written as if it was done in the 1980's (the completely unnecessary training montage being a prime example) and the number of scenes that failed to add value to the story....what little story there was (could have easily removed 15-20min).
It's not unwatchable nor one I would recommend, but certainly no rewatch value.
Fight Club (1999)
Tick Tick Boom
Admittedly, this is a film that grew on me more and more with each viewing, in particular as the nuances of the scenes and characters evolved with each screening.
The combination of David Fincher and Chuck Palahniuk created a narrative that kept audiences scratching their heads while blissfully debating various facets of the story.....something that doesn't happen nearly often enough with movies today.
The performances of the cast were of equally high standard and deserved all the plaudits which they received.
This film perfectly blended the features of Seven and The Game into a film that was just as unique in 1999 as it is today. For anyone that enjoys this style of film making, then this is an absolute must for you.
Gladiator (2000)
Vintage Epic
A master piece from Ridley Scott that brought back the lost art of the "Epic". Gladiator is the closest anyone has come to one of my all time favorite films "Ben Hur" (the original and not the bad remake).
From Russel Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix all the way through to Djimon Hounsou and Ralf Moeller, the chemistry of the cast was impeccable and elevated each of the scenes throughout the well crafted narrative story.
I believe that Gladiator has something for all audiences, whether it be the gripping story or captivating action sequences.
As somebody who enjoys historical series, such as Rome and Tudors, this struck all the correct notes for me.
From the Earth to the Moon (1998)
Timeless
I was inspired to watch this after seeing "The Right Stuff (1983) and have since rewatched multiple times.
As a series, this was ahead of its time and should go down as a timeless classic that any generation could watch, appreciate and learn from.
The series seems to marry the correct level of cinematic entertainment whilst instilling the audience with a good perspective on, what I can only presume are accurate, accounts of history as the space race between the USSR and USA commenced.
I would highly recommend to anyone who has enjoyed the more recent Netflix, HBO and History channel biopics.
Napoleon (2023)
Failed to stick the landing
Highly anticipated....at least from myself.... I went to cinema with a great deal of expectation. Ridley Scott and Phoenix reuniting to tell the story of Napoleon, it couldn't go wrong....could it?
Sadly for me, the film missed the mark on many levels. The character development, story arc, the depiction of Napoleon himself and, manner in which they compressed time periods simply failed to coalesce into an enjoyable story. Given the big budget I expected far more than what was delivered.
Perhaps my expectations were too high but for me this may have been the worst film delivered by Ridley Scott and leaves me somewhat apprehensive with what might be delivered in Gladiator 2.
The Outpost (2019)
Beat Expectations
The film fared far better than I expected. The writer, director and cast managed to deliver a solid amount of punch for a film where one would typically expect a relatively thin storyline.
Despite the films description largely giving away the premise, there is more than enough to keep you intrigued and interested for the duration of the film.
If you were a fan of Black Hawk Down, and films of a similar ilk, then I think you'll find a good level of entertainment value in The Outpost.
At first I thought this would play out like a typical B Grad film with name actors planted to sell tickets, but this deserves more credit than that.
Three (2024)
Well worth a watch
Three makes a concerted effort to provide viewers with a unique twist on the Exorcism narrative. If you're looking for a cheap jump scare horror film, then this may not be for you.
However, if you're looking for a more intricate thriller that actively seeks to entertain, then I highly encourage you to experience Three.
By no means is it a perfect film, there are certainly shortcomings....as with many films....but for a small budget film, the performances, by largely a novice cast, are authentic and the voice of the director certainly refreshing.
It gets a 10 from me for the team's ambition, throwback to a more mature vintage horror film, and genuine belief in supporting the underdog.
Summit Fever (2022)
Worse than expected
There was a good film in in here somewhere, however, I feel that poor execution, casting, and weak writing (specifically the first half) let the entire concept down. If you can manage to get past the first 45min the film does become significantly more eventful and entertaining.....aided by lower reliance on the character "background" stories and any actual acting.
That being said, it's the first time since The Avengers (1998) that I kept looking at my watch praying for the agony to stop.
In terms of redemption, the climbing scenes were well executed and there are some beautiful cinematic sequences of the mountains.
Probably not the worst film I've ever seen, and I've likely been harsh with my rating so take with a pinch of salt.