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chrisfoster99
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The Mandela Effect (2019)
Could have been an exceptional Twilight Zone episode
I can imagine reading this in one of the sci-fi short story collections I loved when I was younger. The film maker has a story to tell based on an intriguing premise, took about 80 minutes to tell it and it was told well.
I could certainly have stood further exposition or character development, but what we saw of the characters was very well written and acted.
There is no filler - every scene moves the plot or characters forward. Our protagonist has a well defined arc and the script takes us along with empathy and precision.
It reminds me of Primer (2004) in many ways. I just hope the team behind the film don't sink without a trace as those behind Primer (2004) did.
Not blockbuster material, but I felt the time spent in watching this film was time well spent and the acting, writing and direction were all easily up to par.
Grizzly Man (2005)
A sometimes voyeuristic view of a clearly disturbed, well intentioned, man.
Werner Herzog pieced this documentary together with the use of Timothy Treadwell's many hours of footage. In addition, he visits people from Treadwell's life - some more sympathetic than others (both the viewer to them and they to Treadwell).
To us, the film began to feel voyeuristic. Herzog used rushes clearly not intended for broadcast and, although they did give some insight - along with Mr Herzog's commentary on some of them - I felt that any of us would not want this type of material used after we had gone.
In addition, some of those from Treadwell's life also seemed like they may have had unresolved problems of their own and the film seemed to seek to observe these, rather than help in some sort of cathartic way.
Some scenes filmed by Herzog we felt crossed the line in seemingly making an awkward situation and continuing to film when most would have said "cut!".
I get that this is the point and, with some film makers, the awkwardness helps the viewer and subject into an insight, but for us, not in this case.
Some of the footage is beautifully shot and there are some genuine insights, but at the cost of the dignity of Treadwell and perhaps some particpant's already stretched dignity.
Perhaps had the film been made 5 years or so later than it was, the perspective of time would have helped although by then perhaps Treadwell's memory would have faded too far for the film to feel relevant to the maker.
Ultimately, we felt the film exploitative rather than informative.
Ang-ma-reul bo-at-da (2010)
45 minutes too long. Overly dramatic. Plot holes abound.
The film is visually satisfying. The use of colours is pleasing and scenes are well - if overtly - lit.
The dialogue is melodramatic and this and the acting become more so as the film progresses.
However, there is little horror or suspense here. As each set piece opens, it is fairly obvious what will happen and the running time of the film is a give away as each plot point unfolds. The film feels like a vehicle for Lee Byung-hun as much as a film in its own right.
I feel the film would have benefited from better editing. By the final half hour we felt we had to continue watching just to see if it ended as we thought it would at the start.
Spoorloos (The Vanishing, 1988) did this so much better and for a quality Korean thriller with none of the melodrama and vehicle like qualities, I recommend The Wailing (2016).
Do Something, Jake (2018)
Over rated, amateur acting. Way too long
This may have made a good 30 minute short, but it is way too long, with amateur acting and a clumsy script.
It looks like a college/university project and I am afraid is not up to scratch.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1988)
Low budget in Hollywood terms, but better than the 2005 film
I remember this TV series being broadcast in the late eighties. At the time, it was widely trailed as state of the art and "big budget". Having said that, "big budget" back then for the BBC would have been similar to the budget for an independent film maker.
Watching this after the recent Disney film of the same book, 2 things strike me.
1) It (this series) is more faithful to the text.
2) Much of the recent film seems a direct copy of scenes in this series - down to details such as the internal decoration in some scenes and the shape of jars etc.
Finally, don't forget that this was a *series*, not a film, and the market it was aimed at.
Overall, well worth getting this on DVD - although time has not favoured the quality of sound.
If you or your children enjoyed the books (or not) then this makes excellent watching.
Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005)
Good old fashioned family movie
"Does Herbie win?" - the constant and earnestly concerned questioning of my 3 year old throughout the film told me how much she enjoyed it.
My 8 year old did too and so did I.
I didn't have to worry about swearing, sex or violence and Herbie did win in the end too.
I'm certain all the movie snobs will hate it - IT'S A HERBIE FILM! Why on earth go to see it if you expect anything more than good music, clichés and plot holes by the bucket-load and a little car who can smile with his bumper?
I hope they make more.
Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Genius
I was forced to read Romeo and Juliet in school over 20 years ago and didn't really "get it".
I have latterly learnt to appreciate Mr S for his plays etc. etc.
My 8 yr old daughter and I watched this tonight. She didn't understand much of the language, although remembering the lessons from school I could explain the double meanings etc. etc. in the script.
The upshot was that I enjoyed a stylish, colourful and thoughtful filming of a 400 year old script and my daughter very much enjoyed Bill's wonderfully scripted masterpiece. To my surprise, after the first hour she had begun to understand the slightly topsy turvy language of our past and understood some of the subtleties in the plot.
Thank you Mr Luhrmann.