wolvesguardmycoffin Reviews

The League of Gentlemen (1999–2017)

A Forgotten Gem in Dark British Comedy.

[7/10 · 27 February 2012]

The sheer thought of being trapped in the Local Shop causes my spine to shiver and my mind to laugh...

The League of Gentlemen is, as the title of this review says, something that has been forgotten by the comedy-freaks nowadays... At least it seems so to me and the network I associate with. It's a brilliant mixture of stereotypical satire, horror, perversions and (obviously) comedy.

Now, being Swedish, I had never heard of this series before I visited some friends in Rome, Italy and I can never thank them enough! We get to see many varying characters in different environments in the small town of Royston Vasey and as the series go, their stories become darker and more morbid by each episode. It's basically a trip from a dark kind of almost-innocence into an inferno of pure perversion and evil. It's brilliant.

The downsides of this series, is that the comedy is decreasing in the later episodes and they might lose track of you. It's still funny if you are into dark humor, but I can imagine that the series lost some of it's fans along the way.

The minds behind this series are very good at demonstrating their excellent acting-skills, portraying everything from inbred shop-owners to transvestites and failing stand-up comedians, among others. I would not recommend it to sensitive people. But for the ones that can separate reality from comedy, it would definitely be worth your while.

Fubar: Balls to the Wall (2010)

For once, a worthy follow-up!

[8/10 · 12 February 2012]

If you have been watching this movie, I assume that you saw the first Fubar as well. Otherwise you would probably miss out on a lot of details that are useful for the entertainment of this sequel.

The main thing about this movie, in contrast to the first Fubar, is that the concept has changed. This is no longer a mockumentary of the decadent Headbangers Dean and Terry, but instead it evolves into a regular acting-movie. Which is an idea that I absolutely can cope with. Too often you see the sequels of various films just copying the concept right off (The Paranormal Activity-series is a perfect example of just that) and rarely leaving any space for innovation and fresh ideas.

Fubar II is just the opposite of the average half-ass sequel! By turning the concept of Fubar into a sort of regular movie (with some moments of documentary-like filming) they automatically gained room for more than just the perspective of one persons eyes. We can follow the plot through multiple angles and everything melts together perfectly! The head actors David Lawrence and Paul Spence are keeping the cemented picture of Dean and Terry true to it's origin, and these two characters fits perfect for the plot in this film.

Basically, the story begins with a house party that goes out of control in every way. Everything except for Dean and Terry has changed in the past ten years, they are still the same decadent Headbangers that love to party and sees no need for a life better than the one they already have... Until their house burns down. Their old friend "Tron", in his drunken haze, offers them employment at an oil-plant in Fort McMurray, also referred to as "The Mac", in northern Canada.

The two Headbangers immediately set off to work at 'The Mac' the morning after and there they meet a not-very-happy to see them 'Tron'. Either way, they manage to find themselves working and finally making the big bucks.

I feel no need to further guide you through the story, as this is a review and not the back of a DVD-box.

Great acting, many laughable moments and in general a great movie, enjoyable for most people blessed with a sense of humor. It's original, ironic and at times emotional. If you liked the first Fubar, you will definitely enjoy this sequel.

Solomon Kane (2009)

Mediocre, yet somewhat enjoyable!

[6/10 · 14 December 2011]

As some of you probably know, Solomon Kane is based on a character by Robert E. Howard, the creator of also Conan the Barbarian (Notice Mr. Von Sydow casting in both movies).

What one might expect from watching the poster or DVD-box of this product, is slightly something else from what you will get from watching the movie itself. Some might find it disappointing, others might not even care.

Lets begin with the environment and setting of this movie. Keeping in mind the not-very-high budget, I must say that this is the most impressing. This is the main reason why I finished the whole movie. And putting James Purefoy, the sneaky Mark Antony from the great series "Rome" from 2005-2007, into this aura of misery, darkness and evil, really makes one expect somewhat more out of what it is that you are watching. But he still manages to keep a good standard in his acting- skills and he is without doubt the most talented actor put in the casting (besides Max Von Sydow, of course).

The main problem for me with this movie, is that there is no one else we see nearly as much as we see of the Protagonist. No side-plots, no one to share his road towards his goal. What we see is Solomon Kane riding through the land tortured by the evil sorcerer Malachi, rescuing prisoners, killing the possessed minions of the evil sorcerer and meeting potentially interesting people, that could have had far more important rolls in the movie, than they did.

The plot of this movie kicks off quite late in the movie, I feel. Making some earlier parts almost pointless. The Monastery-part could definitely have been left out for heavier foundations in the plot itself, since it plays no role at all in his adventures later in the movie.

The actor who casts as Malachi, the evil sorcerer that conquered the land and enslaved the people, to me feels very unmotivated and everything he speaks of is pure nonsense... "Are you still the good, loyal son?". Obviously, from the flashbacks of Kane containing him leaving his father and pushing his brother off a cliff, Kane is neither good, or loyal. So what in heavens name did he mean by that?

The lines of the Antagonist were very poorly written and without much thought. This could have improved essentially, in my humble opinion.

Still, it's a movie worth your while and the environment is perfect for the story of Solomon Kane on his quest to find the puritan daughter Meredith (which also could have had more background in the plot. Maybe a love story?) and rescue her from the servant of Satan, Malachi. And I encourage watching of it.

Highlander: The Source (2007 TV Movie)

The sad end of a great legacy

[2/10 · 31 October 2007]

Since childhood, one of my few passions was and still is the Highlander universe... In the age of five i was watching the animated series, following the adventures of Quentin MacLeod. When i got a bit older, i went for the Original Highlander movies, starring Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod, the Highlander. I never really got to watch the series though as it was Broadcasted in Sweden during all the wrong times.

A few years later, i discovered the next movie, Highlander: Endgame. Devoted fan as i was, i bought this movie also, i watched it and enjoyed it. Although i was very sad at the end, seeing my childhood hero being murdered by a cheap replacement...

And now, after a few years in the dark THIS movie comes out of the closet. Believe me, after watching Endgame, i was sure that it meant the end of the Highlander universe such as it were. But oh no, they had something up their giant asses and what they pulled out was this...

The movie begins with some random guy we never heard of before getting killed by the evil bad ass "The Guardian"... One of the smaller (yet important) charms in all the highlander movies (including the second one and endgame) is that the antagonists always had motives of being after the Hero of all these movies. They all had some sort of connection to the main character... But they didn't even leave us that...

The guardian here is all to fed up with killing people and spitting out stupid words no one listens to...

The Main story is poorly backed up, and there are at least 3 "immortals" we don't know jack about... they could at least provided us with some background story before setting out these gentlemen on this...quest.

This movie is not for the average highlander-fan. This movie is not for anyone who likes good movies! This movie is a violation against Connor Macleod.