anthonyandsandy Reviews

Beta Test (I) (2016)

Decent action film

[7/10 · 29 August 2016]

Beta Test is a decent action film with a small similarity to that of Tron(1982)just that a person from our world is trapped in the gamer's world and has to do their bidding.

What we have here is Max as stated above is testing a new game where what happens in the game , happens in real life. Many are comparing this to Gamer with Gerard Butler, I feel however this is a far better film. Convincing actors able to pull of a film that is not original but with the effort of the entire group this makes for a good thrill ride and the fight scenes are really well choreographed near the end of the film.

Also the images of the game play are good as well(above)our "hero" in the film Orson Creed is being controlled by a chip planted at the base of his neck

The story deepens as the men responsible for making Orson play out their wishes in the game, have a pawn if you will -they have his wife and if he does not do their bidding they will kill his wife. Yes I know seen this so many times but this is a good action film , I really enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I may.

Action films are only as good as their villains are said a wise man(Gene Siskel) and he was right. I have seen so many action films where the rest of the film was fine but missing that really good villain -- there is one here in Kinkaid

A decent story and good character development are key here and even though the payoff is what I expected I was still thrilled to see how it all turned out.

Bloodline (III) (2010)

This was a nice gory venture from Italy

[7/10 · 4 April 2013]

(Please note I did just receive this film last month from the North American Distributor)

This was an unexpected film from the studio that sent me screener's for this film-9 Days and Sloppy The Psychotic-the latter I received the film direct from the filmmakers. I enjoyed this film for a variety of reasons the film centers around a man they call "The Surgeon" who snaps when his wife dies as they do not have what it takes at the hospital to save her life with body parts so he goes on a killing spree to get body parts to stock up on. So I realize that this sounds similar to that of other horror films bent on vengeance but this is done somewhat differently it also is from Italy and has subtitles-there half the audience just left right? If you are a horror fan like myself then you will watch any films you can get your hands on and for me that is all genres. There are some graphic removal of body parts so be warned if you find and watch this. The premise is that surrounding a porn movie and they are shooting the film with The Surgeon running around killing members of the crew. Then the films takes a detour and some of the people come back as zombies-this part of the film really lost focus and would have played better had they just stuck to the original storyline. But all in all the acting was really good and the special effects were also top notch.

Savages (I) (2012)

Oliver Stone shows he still has it

[8/10 · 13 December 2012]

Let me start by saying that if Benicio Del Toro is not nominated for an award for Best Supporting Actor then that is a travesty. He is fabulous and captivating when he is on camera, his scene with John Travolta-he controls the entire mood of. This film directed by Oliver Stone, here he shows that he still has what it takes to make a movie work-there are some incredibly tense moments in this film that had another director filmed those scenes they would have fallen apart. There is a scene where Ben is forced to "finish what he started" and for us we get close ups of the faces, they are in the working process of working with the Mexican drug cartels, we are their witnesses.

Ben & Chon are the biggest pot growers in California with their girlfriend O, yes they both are with her. She explains that to us in a narration that is very well orchestrated from the start. Trust me when I say this is not an easy film to sit through there are some instances where I was nervous and tense, but if you like movies about corrupt cops, drug deals gone bad, kidnapping and many other things-then I think you found your movie. This is a thinking man's film, please note if you have to leave the room-remember to press pause you might miss something that would mix you up as this is quite involved.

Golden Winter (2012)

Nothing Golden Here

[3/10 · 13 December 2012]

In the tradition of Air Buddies The Asylum now has their own cute & cuddly dog film, is that good though for a studio that has been putting out some pretty decent flicks this year? The answer is no. This film sticks to the cuteness way too long and gets tired about 20 minutes in. Andrew Beckham plays Oliver who wants to join the local group of bad guys?So they break into a house and hold up fort in a house that is up for foreclosure that Oliver's father is working for the bank that is forcing the family out. In this house is a pack of puppies that have been separated from their mother, the film has some of the most annoying voice overs I have heard. I have seen a number of the Air Bud, Air Buddies & Beethoven etc films so I am familiar with these types of films and the fore mentioned films are better. This movie is just a platform for the dogs to show their cuteness but they are put in situations like being locked in the garage and they grab a mop and open the door with it, because they are too short to reach the doorknob. This did not work on so many levels even the heist at the end of the film is poorly done and the conclusion to it is even worse. Shannon Elizabeth lends her name to the film, that's about it she does her best(I guess)but this is far from anything remotely entertaining or good. There is a scene where she and her husband Jeff(Jason Brooks)are talking about Oliver who is at the other house with his buddies but in the families kitchen his backpack and bike helmet sit on the counter, he just had them at the other house in the scene prior.

Transit (I) (2012)

When in doubt "Transit"

[10/10 · 15 January 2012]

I was expecting the average run of the mill action flick, but having seen the trailer weeks before I had an idea of what the story was, well that was somewhat right. What starts off is a film about a family of four going camping as the husband and wife are having some difficulties, they want to try and work things out as a family. Upon stopping at a rest stop they go to the washroom and during that time four crooks who robbed a armored truck the night before decide to stash the money on the families roof rack. What happens after that is a VERY believable chase and many, many plot twists. The deal maker here for me was all, and I do mean all the characters are well done in terms of everyone is strong here, no-one really getting over emotional about things just kind of accepting things the way they are. The way the writer and director allow the audience to think for themselves and not have every little detail bore us but instead help the story, the editing is quite well done as well. I was totally impressed by the casting of this movie and with enough people watching this I hope this gets noticed for being one of THE better action films of the last 5 years and that's coming from someone who sees almost every action film that comes out. Thanks hope you liked this review Anthony Nadeau

Transparency (I) (2010)

Film about sex trade fails to enlighten

[5/10 · 16 September 2011]

This film wasn't half bad(some of it really was)but all in all it was a movie that meant well, but fell apart at some of the scenes. Like David(Lou Diamond Phillips)goes to a woman's shelter that has signs posted in clear view that say "Absolutely No Men" however when he comes back later to check and see if anyone else is around, he checks the mens washroom?? I did not know what to think of this film although I did notice right away near the end of the film he has a moment with his other daughter , they shot it in "Marina's Gelato" on 224th street here in Maple Ridge. Also to confirm the location when they shoot Lou in this scene outside across the street is Cash Canada(closed and for sale)

This was about the sex trade industry however it was another Die Hard film where it is he against the rest of the world where EVERYONE is corrupt.The ending did not sum anything up at all as the previous writer mentioned. Their take on it also is just that, their trying to make something out of nothing.The sex trade industry has been going on for years, does not make it right but it just gave them a topic to shoot a movie.In the end all the people that tried to end this industry either ended up dead or in jail, that the kind of hope we want to leave the viewer with?If someone helps it had better be more than one man taking on yet another army of heavily armed men,he is a security guard they make no mention of him receiving any further training in arms or fighting but yet he takes them all down.