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Reviews
Unforgiven (1992)
Clint Eastwood's Haunting Western Magnum Opus
This film is quite simply one of the greatest stories ever told in the Western genre. Everything from the sharp and smartly written screenplay, to the visually arresting cinematography, to the insanely talent cast, to the thematically rich storytelling all gel together perfectly to create a truly unforgettable movie.
The film presents a harsh, gritty, and morally ambiguous view of the American old west that is firmly grounded in the reality of the time period. There are no true heroes or villains and each character in the story is deeply flawed in their own ways.
However, what makes the story of Unforgiven truly captivating is it's timeless exploration of the cyclical nature of violence and how the act of murder can have severe consequences for both the perpetrator and the victim. The prospect of killing another person in Unforgiven is portrayed as extremely mentally scarring for the person pulling the trigger and not something that should ever be taken lightly. The film also repeatedly makes clear that using violence as a solution to a problem will almost always make said problem far worse than it originally was.
This gripping and enthralling story is brought to life by a phenomenal cast of veteran actors at the top of their game. Morgan Freeman, Gene Hackman, Richard Harris, and the legendary Clint Eastwood all deliver some of most engrossing and compelling performances of their respective careers. Eastwood and Hackman in particular both have incredible screen presence and command your attention whenever they appear.
The cinematography is also undeniably breathtaking and fits with the tone of the film perfectly. There are numerous grand sweeping shots of the American countryside along with great use of shadowy lighting to enhance the suspense in key scenes.
Overall, Unforgiven is a thrilling, fascinating, and incredibly well made movie that will continue to stand the test of time as one of the greatest Westerns ever made. If you have even a passing interest in the Western genre, this is undoubtedly a must watch.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
A breathtaking and emotionally powerful finale to a great film trilogy
The Return of the King is the renowned final chapter in Peter Jackson's legendary Lord of The Rings film trilogy. The films in this trilogy are widely considered to be some of the greatest fantasy films ever made.
It is a testament to the quality of Return of the King that it is without a doubt the best film in the trilogy. The story, characters, world building, and cinematography all combine to create one of the most magnificent franchise finales of all time.
The Return of the King boasts an emotionally powerful and moving story of how sheer perseverance, love, loyalty, and friendship are more important qualities than mere physical strength. It also brilliantly showcases how even the smallest person can accomplish great feats of heroism and courage. These were always the core themes of Lord of the Rings and this film makes sure they take center stage in the narrative.
The story is also brilliantly grounded in human emotion which makes for a very emotionally stirring watch. Many of the most powerful scenes in the film are after the great battles have died down and the characters share intimate, bittersweet, and touching moments with each other. Some of these moments are enough to bring tears from nearly anyone's eyes.
This timeless story is elevated by what can only be described as a near flawless cast. The amount of acting talent on display here is astounding with greats like Sir lan Mckellen, Viggo Mortensen, Andy Serkis, Karl Urban, and Orlando Bloom all giving memorable acting performances in an enormous ensemble cast. The performances of this top notch cast perfectly bring the characters to life and help to immerse the audience into the film's captivating world.
The Return of the King's spectacular visuals are some of the finest in the history of blockbuster filmmaking. The larger than life cinematography vividly conveys the unimaginable vastness of Middle Earth. Grand sweeping shots of mountain ranges, nearly endless fields, volcanoes, gigantic ancient cities, and other arresting vistas are shown with stunning detail. The way Jackson effortlessly blends CGI locales with real places in these shots is astonishing and something I have not seen done nearly as well in any other movie outside of the other Lord of the Rings films.
On the subject of CGI, the special effects work for this film is truly state of the art. The impossibly realistic motion capture on Gollum's face, along with the marvellously sinister monster and creature designs are both impressive to behold.
This great special effects work and the audacious cinematography both work in perfect union during any of The Return of the King's jaw dropping battle sequences. The battles in this film simply must be seen to be believed. I do not speak lightly when I say that Return of The King has some of the most epic, breathtaking, and blood pumping battle scenes in movie history. Peter Jackson's excellent direction and the overwhelming visual spectacle of these scenes are enough to make them endlessly exciting on every re-watch.
These unbelievable action sequences are enhanced further by a chilling and awe inspiring musical score by composer Howard Shore. This phenomenal soundtrack also permeates the film's more quiet character moments too where it is serene and beautiful to listen to. It works wonders to elevate these scenes as well
Overall, The Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King is one of the purest examples of an emotional rollercoaster you will find in American Cinema. It can make you cry, cheer, and smile like almost no other film. It is a timeless grand epic and a true landmark in the fantasy film genre.
Skinamarink (2022)
An extremely frightening slow burn scarefest
Skinamarink is definitely not a movie for everyone. It is very slow paced and minimalistic. It also lacks the traditional plot structure and character arcs associated with most movies. Moreover, it depicts helpless children experiencing truly horrific events which may make it too disturbing for many,
Whether you find this movie scary will really depend on your own personal preferences when it comes to horror. However, for me, this was one of the most genuinely unsettling and frightening pieces of horror I have seen in many years.
The plot is very vague with much of the story being left to the audience's imagination. It centers on two very young children being trapped in their dark house after all the windows and doors disappear.
Throughout the movie, the audience is also slowly able to piece together that there is a malevolent presence haunting the children in the house as well.
The film uses a very unique style of cinematography completely unlike anything else in the horror genre. We never actually get a good look at the children or the sinister entity present in the house. Instead, the film keeps the characters just out of frame and allows the excellent sound design to convey the major events of the story to the audience.
The cinematography focuses on long, lingering shots of pitch black darkness within the house that do wonders to build a sense of unrelenting dread in the audience.
Sometimes the film will give the audience a small, fleeting glimpse of what resembles an ominous shadow or face within the darkness. This causes the audience's imagination to run wild as they wonder exactly who or what is stalking the children.
The director of Skinamarink wisely understands that the fear of the unknown is more terrifying than any physical monster the film could show the audience. As such, the entire movie is an exercise in nerve shredding tension and suspense.
All of the shots in the movie are also covered in VHS like film grain which gives the film an uncannily authentic quality to it. As if we are watching a lost home video uncovered within the house where the children went missing.
The film's sound design is absolutely hair raising and spine chilling. Much of the film is eerily silent with almost no sounds being heard save for the occasional quiet footsteps of the children moving about the house.
This silence is then occasionally punctuated by ghastly disembodied voices and bloodcurdling screams to convey the children being terrorised by the demonic presence lurking within the house.
The combination of Skinamarink's abnormally suspenseful cinematography and horrifying sound design created scenes that made my skin crawl and absolutely shook me to my core.
Overall, Skinamarink is a wholly unique and experimental piece of horror. It is most definitely not for everyone due to it's extremely slow pace and the fact that the plot leaves much up to the imagination (as evidenced by the movie's VERY polarizing reviews).
However, the film truly terrified me in ways that few films ever have and I would recommend seasoned horror fans to give the film a shot. You may be surprised with the amount of terror the film generates.
Hereditary (2018)
The most genuinely horrifying movie I have ever seen
Hereditary is without a doubt one of the most frightening, deeply disturbing, and evocative pieces of horror I have ever seen.
Instead of scaring you right away, the film slowly takes its time to build a bone chilling atmosphere and genuinely get under your skin. Hereditary uses its isolating cinematography, tense dialogue, and bloodcurdling soundtrack to quietly whisper to you that something unspeakably horrifying is bound to befall its cast of characters.
The characters themselves are all impeccably acted and written to feel like real people. Each of the characters have their own multi-layered fears and traumas that they attempt to deal with throughout the story.
The film explores how a family can slowly be driven apart through grief and tragedy as well as the horrific consequences this can have on the lives of each of the family members. These themes are conveyed through palpably uncomfortable dialogue between characters and the raw, visceral acting performances of the film's two leads Toni Colette and Alex Wolff.
While Hereditary is slow paced, the unrelenting tension and dread present within the story as well as the mystery behind what exactly is going on are enough to keep you thoroughly invested. The second and third acts of the film are truly terrifying in a way that few films can hope to match. The ghastly imagery and scare sequences are so nightmarish that they are capable of staying in your head for days after watching the film. The characters feel so real that it is as if you are watching real people having their lives being torn apart.
Overall Hereditary is not for everyone and isn't an easy movie to watch. It is very clammy, unnerving, and disturbing. But if you are looking for a well written and mature horror story that grounds its terror in human emotion this is the movie for you.
Shingeki no Kyojin (2013)
A gripping and unforgettable thrill ride
Attack On Titan has become a world wide phenomenon for a reason. It is one of the most epic, poignant, and breathtaking TV shows I have seen in years.
The storytelling of Attack On Titan is masterful in how it subverts viewer expectations and weaves an immensely captivating narrative that thoroughly grips the audience from start to finish. The plot of Attack On Titan is wholly unpredictable and full of mysteries. The show constantly finds interesting and creative ways to pull the rug out from under you and keep you guessing for it's entire runtime. Many shows attempt to create this feeling of uncertainty, but few manage to actually pull it off and keep it up as the show goes on. Attack On Titan does this in spades.
Throughout the story there are many huge revelations, plot twists, challenging decisions, and unforgettable moments that will completely take your breath away. The narrative also deftly evolves from a simple story of man vs nature to a complex and challenging allegory for how war corrupts the human soul.
Most of the characters in Attack On Titan are exceptionally well written and engrossing to watch. Characters such as Erwin Smith, Eren Yaeger, Levi Ackerman, and Reiner Braun are some of the most multi layered and fascinating characters I have ever seen on television.
Many of the characters are deeply flawed and morally grey, which helps to make them feel as human as possible. There are no clear good or evil characters in Attack On Titan and almost every character (including the characters you root against) has understandable motivations for committing their often heinous acts of violence. At times the show really makes you question who is right and who is wrong as well as who should survive and who shouldn't.
The action in Attack On Titan is entirely in a league of its own. There really is nothing like it. The battle scenes are so vibrantly animated and unbelievably fast paced to the point of being spectacular.
The show also establishes very early on that no one is safe in its world and that major characters can die. This adds an immense amount of weight to the battles, as you know that the lives of your favourite characters could be snuffed out in an instant.
In addition, the show undoubtedly has my favourite television musical score of all time. Almost every music track is unbelievably awe-inspiring to listen to and masterfully composed.
Moreover, the musical score is also incredibly diverse in its composition. Some tracks are hauntingly quiet and somber while others are bombastic and blood pumping, heightening the viewer's adrenaline to insane levels.
I have no doubt that some of the most emotional scenes in the show would not be nearly as effective if not for the music which speaks to how truly phenomenal the soundtrack is.
Overall, Attack On Titan is without a doubt one of the best shows of our time and will go down as a modern classic. It is a thought provoking, immensely entertaining, and riveting thrill ride. It grips your attention from the haunting opening episode and never lets it go until the end. Whether you are an anime fan or not, I would HIGHLY advise you to give this show a try. It may be one of the best decisions you ever make!
P.T. (2014)
The scariest piece of horror I have ever experienced
Despite only being a short Demo for a cancelled game, P. T. is a complete masterclass in building tension, suspense, and terror. It is without a doubt, the scariest piece of media I have ever experienced. P. T. Truly frightened me in ways I had never experienced before. This is due to a number of aspects of its game design.
The entirety of P. T. takes place in a single photorealistic apartment hallway that the player must repeatedly walk through while solving the game's cryptic puzzles.
Due to the game's small, isolated, and claustrophobic environment, there is never a moment where you feel safe. The entire experience feels akin to a nightmare, as it takes a relatable environment (a hallway in a suburban house) and distorts it in deeply unsettling ways. The dark, shadowy lighting and eerie silence immediately signal to the player that something is not right. This feeling is reinforced with each new loop through the hallway, with the environment gradually turning more unnatural and horrific as the game progresses. Eventually, the game becomes so suspenseful that even just the act of turning around becomes a daunting and frightening task.
This unrelenting dread is bolstered by P. T's absolutely horrifying sound design. The sounds of P. T. are extremely unnerving. There are some moments where the game becomes almost silent, and others where it chills you to the bone with a torrent of exceptionally freaky and sinister sounds. Disembodied moans, footsteps, blood curdling screams, demonic voices, and the eerie sound of a baby crying are just some of the spine chilling noises that players may hear throughout the game.
The radio present in the hallway is perhaps the most disturbing aspect of P. T's sound design. The radio is constantly droning on about unspeakable crimes and the voice on the radio seems to become more and more malicious each time the player enters the hallway,
The game also contains some of the most ghastly and disturbing imagery you will ever see in a piece of horror. These include the infamous crying fetus in the sink, the bloody hanging fridge, and the creepy poltergeist Lisa who stalks your every move throughout the game. Some of this imagery is so nightmarish that it will stay with you long after you finish the game.
Moreover, the game never gives a clear explanation of what the horrific things in the hallway actually are or why they are happening. It also does not give you any way of repelling or fending off the supernatural forces when they attack. This has the effect of making the player feel completely at the game's mercy, and taps into the intense primal fear of dealing with a force you don't fully understand or comprehend.
The story of P. T. is incredibly cryptic and ambiguous, but the game provides subtle clues through it's gameplay and visuals in order to give the player hints about the history of the hallway they are trapped in. The story touches on extremely taboo and disturbing subjects such as familicide, the death of children, and forced abortion. But it does so in extremely artful and unforgettable ways.
When all these elements are combined, you get an incredibly atmospheric, detailed, complex, and frightening psychological horror game that is virtually unmatched in the horror genre of gaming. Despite only being a "playable teaser" for a game that never even got released (Silent Hills) you would be heart pressed to find a better and scarier horror game than P. T.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
One of the greatest Spider-Man films ever made
"Across the Spider-Verse" is quite simply one of the best comic book films in years as well as a near perfect sequel. It builds upon the already fantastic "Into the Spider-Verse" to create a truly captivating, thrilling, and unforgettable experience.
The first film contained some of the most visually striking animation ever put to screen. It broke new ground when it came to how animated films are presented and filmed. It is a testament to the quality of Across the Spider Verse that it actually manages to improve upon the art design of it's predecessor while still keeping the genuinely unique style that made the first film so beloved. Almost every shot in Across the Spider-Verse could be framed in a painting. The dazzling visuals are so rich with detail that they often feel as though they pop off the screen.
In addition, the extraordinary use of colour in the film in regards to the action and storytelling is absolutely spectacular. The action sequences are also so fast paced and dynamic that they can feel almost overwhelming. However, the stellar art design is nowhere near the only thing that makes this film so good.
The characters and story are both remarkably well written and relatable. The characters are likeable with complex motivations and are brought to vivid life by an exceptionally talented voice cast. Moreover, the dialogue between characters is smart, witty, and flows incredibly well.
The story is also a significant improvement from Into the Spider-Verse. It understands the core themes and values of Spider-Man as a character and knows exactly how to challenge, subvert, and build upon them in inventive ways. The story grounds the breathtaking action and otherwordly plot in human emotion which greatly contributes to making the film feel immersive and personal for the audience.
Overall, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a generationally great superhero film. With its awe-inspiring visual style, memorable characters, clever dialogue, and emotional rollercoaster of a story, it is an instant classic and a must see for any Spider Man fan.
Schindler's List (1993)
Spielberg's Harrowing and Gut-wrenching Masterpiece
Helmed by one of the greatest directors of all time in Steven Spielberg, Schindler's list is undoubtedly one of the most powerful, unforgettable, and chilling movies ever made.
The film boasts a phenomenal cast with the three main stars, Liam Nesson, Ben Kingsley, and Ralph Fiennes, turning in some of the most believable and human acting performances I have ever seen. Nesson is particularly memorable as the film's protagonist Oskar Schindler. He masterfully conveys Schindler's slow transformation from a greed
opportunistic businessman who shamelessly profits off the suffering of World War 2 to an empathetic hero who saves over a thousand human lives.
Fiennes is also utterly bone chilling as the films true to life villain Amon Goeth, a psychopathic Nazi Commander who kills Jewish children as nonchalantly as one takes out the trash. Fiennes expertly portrays the almost unbelievable level of sadism and heinous evil that Amon displays throughout the story.
These phenomenal acting performances are enhanced by a brilliantly written screenplay which emphasizes the flaws, humanity, and moral complexity of the characters.
Cinematography and visuals are another area where this film is near perfect. The choice to shoot the film in mostly black and white works very well here as it helps to fully immerse the viewer into the oldschool time period that the film is set in. The brief flashes of colour seen during the film are used to powerfully emphasize the importance of certain imagery.
The film does not hold back in the slightest when portraying the horrors of the Holocaust. In fact, Schindler's List is perhaps the most realistic depiction of this infamous genocide ever put to screen. The nightmarish and grisly violence seen in the film feels as if it is happening to real, helpless people and as such is absolutely gut wrenching. The film also accurately showcases how horrendously Jews were treated in the Nazi labor camps and it is sickening to watch.
Truly Schindler's List can be said to have some of the most disturbing and shocking scenes in motion picture history, however it never feels exploitative. It simply feels like Spielbergs true to life recreation of some of the most horrific atrocities of the 20th century.
However, despite all the bloody carnage, fear, and dread that the film conveys, it still has plenty of uplifting qualities. The film showcases both the absolute worst and best of what human beings are capable of as well as how a person can maintain compassion and empathy in the face of evil.
Schindler's ending speech in particular is as heartbreaking as it is inspiring. It illustrates the selfess and altruistic man Schindler has evolved into over the course of the story, but also how many innocent lives might not have been lost had Schindler turned into that man sooner.
Overall, Schindler's List is a timeless, compelling, and moving masterpiece. It is a prime example of a film everyone should watch at least once in their life and I believe it will continue to stand the test of time for years to come.
Monster (2004)
A Remarkably Captivating and Suspenseful Psychological Thriller
In my mind, Naoki Urasawa's Monster stands out as one of the most gripping, well written, and underrated shows of the past 20 years. The show is an arresting deep dive into the inner workings of the human soul, bolstered by richly detailed animation and unforgettable characters.
The story of Monster wisely takes its time setting up plot lines and building tension. The show is slow paced yet deliberate. It truly immerses you within its tangibly realistic world and allows you to get to know each of the characters on an intimate and personal level. The story respects the viewer's intelligence in piecing things out for themselves and many key aspects of the plot (including several major character motivations and even the fates of certain characters) are left entirely up to the viewer's interpretation. This all combines to make watching Monster an immensely satisfying and engaging viewing experience
The story also explores extremely mature and compelling ideas that are well beyond most anime. The fragility of the human psyche, the consequences of unchecked ambition, as well as the true nature of good and evil are all themes that Monster examines in depth.
The characters are all astoundingly well realised and memorable, with each one having a palpable impact on the story. However, without a doubt, the most unforgettable character is the show's spectacular antagonist Johan Liebert, the titular "monster" of the title.
With Johan, the show crafts one of the most haunting, complex, and deeply disturbing fictional serial killers of all time. Johan is the embodiment of cold blooded, nihilistic evil. He sees no value in human life and is completely without remorse even when committing the most skin crawling atrocities. However despite this, Johan's outward persona is extremely charismatic and magnetic. Due to this, he can easily blend in to a crowd with no one noticing him and compel others to commit unspeakable acts against themselves and their loved ones. This makes for an unbelievably spine chilling villain.
The show masterfully conveys how Johan is able to kill almost anyone he chooses with minimal effort (often times without even lifting a finger) due to his expertise in manipulation and cunning. You truly feel as if no one is safe from Johan throughout the show and this makes each encounter with him feel tremendously heart pounding.
However, Johan's character is also shrouded in mystery and the show slowly reveals the sinister origins of Johan that lead to him turning into dreadfully unsettling man we see on screen. The show also spends a good amount of its run time delving into Johan's depraved world view and how he came to view the world this way. These elements add multiple layers to Johan's character and help him earn his place as one of the greatest villains in television history.
Considering that the show was made in 2005, the animation and art style of Monster is extraordinarily visually striking and holds up exceptionally well today. The marvelously detailed facial animations on character's faces, as well as the authentic and lifelike German environments are breathtaking to behold.
Moreover, the show's excellent quality is further enhanced by a beautiful, atmospheric, and powerful soundtrack that compliments many of the story's most emotional moments.
Overall, Monster is truly nothing short of a masterpiece. It adeptly explores compelling and poignant themes through an emotionally powerful story and brilliantly written characters. If you are into thoughtful and suspenseful psychological thrillers, this show is without a doubt a must watch.