airdavewinfield Reviews

Monster Mash (2024)

Thank goodness for fast forward.

[1/10 · 8 April 2024]

Is this a joke?

I was honestly waiting for the punchline.

Waiting for the scene that would indicate this was meant as a comedy or parody of vintage Horror films.

But it never came.

The movie contains every frickin' monster Universal could imagine jammed into one film, and not comfortably.

Poor acting, poor lighting, painfully long dialogue and...Micahel Madsen.

Oh how far you've fallen from Reservoir Dogs.

This film should be dropped into a reservoir.

Listen, I think classic Universal is some of the best celluloid ever produced.

And I understood the homage paid to the classic era of monsters.

Even the scary warnings theaters used to show before a cheesy bad monster flick.

Before...before!!...not three quarters of the way into the movie!!

This was a joke right? ...right?

The Old Way (2023)

Contrary to other reviews, I actually enjoyed this film.

[7/10 · 19 February 2023]

I was going to review this film positively, and say " Cage occasionally makes a decent film, and this is one of those times."...but then I read the other reviews!

Wow, was I surprised.

I hesitated just for a moment, and decided to soldier on with my own opinion.

I generally agree with most of the reviewers around here, but in this case, I have to go against the largely negative opinion of this film.

No, its not Eastwood's Unforgiven, or any of the other great Westerns.

But, its got its moments, I liked the story flow, and Cage didn't "over-Cage".

I think, if you're into Westerns, its definitely worth a look.

If you like Nick Cage, its worth a look.

Maybe don't look for movie magic...each cage film needs to be judged on its own merits and not against other Cage films (good or bad).

Glass Onion (2022)

Someone called it rubbish...I'm not sure. But it ain't a collectable.

[5/10 · 31 December 2022]

In case you are wondering, its not a sequel to Knives Out...I'd call it another weekend in the life of that odd detective.

I'm not an Edward Norton fan so I was very disappointed with him as a main character...I admit my bias before I go any further.

The rest of the group in this film were an interesting and off-beat group of actors and characters. No complaints.

I especially liked Bautista in this and wished his character was fleshed out more.

Spoiler...the story is over in the first half of the movie. All is revealed too early.

Unlike the first Knives Out film, the climax action is poorly written, sloppy and severely pointless.

Not to mention completely unbelievable.

Its not all bad, there was one moment... like many, I said "whos that guy? What happened with that guy? What that guy's story? Why is that guy...?" A funny addition, but unfortunately the only thing that gets a thumbs up from me.

If you really really liked the original Knives Out", you probably will be very disappointed with this not-a-sequel.

Crimes of the Future (2022)

Had it been made in the 80s...

[2/10 · 31 December 2022]

Apparently this film got a six minute standing ovation at one of those European Film events, like Cannes or something.

For what, I really don't know. Maybe the audience was so glad it was over, they couldn't contain themselves?

Don't get me wrong, I've always been a fan of Cronenberg.

He has created some amazing masterpieces, along with some real duds, this being one of those duds.

He has always pushed the limits of censors, graphic realism and disturbing content, his best works being those of the Sci-Fi and Horror genre (in my opinion).

This movie however offered nothing new as far as decent special effects or shocking scenes.

The story is muddled and not that easy to follow and seems to be incomplete, ending without warning or sense.

I'm glad Lea Seydoux replaced Natalie Portman in the lead role, otherwise there would have been no worthwhile characters at all.

Kristen Stewart took on Seydoux's original lesser role, but is almost impossible to understand as she puts on a strange sped up, out of breath, almost whispering voice. Why?

Viggo Mortenson is an extremly interesting man in real life, stuck in an oddly uninteresting role here.

His character reminded me of a tired Obi Wan Kenobi with massive indigestion.

Oh, and the "indigestion chair" made zero sense, and just appears to be some left over practical effect from Naked Lunch (1980s).

I'm sorry, but this movie left me stunned at why Cronenberg bothered.

I didn't find it artistic or newly creative, I didn't find it interesting or (good or bad) worth my time.